| WoS | WOS:000272445000006 | The Developmental Impact of Asian Drivers on Ethiopia with Emphasis on Small-scale Footwear Producers | Gebre-Egziabher, Tegegne | 2009 | WORLD ECONOMY | 32 | 11 | 10.1111/j.1467-9701.2009.01252.x | Addis Ababa University | None | (1252) Tegegne Gebre-Egziabher
This paper examines the developmental impact of China and India on Ethiopia by examining macro-level trade, investment and aid relation, and micro-level impacts on local micro and small-scale footwear producers. Both secondary and primary data were used. At macro level there are clear evidences of an increase in trade between Ethiopia on the one hand and China and India on the other, though the trade balance disfavours Ethiopia. China has displaced other countries as export destinations for Ethiopia. Similarly, the presence of China and India is also felt in the areas of investment and aid. At local level, Chinese imports of footwear have forced local enterprises to downsize their activity and lose assets and money. At the same time, however, firms have followed both the high road of competition (design and quality improvement, investment in machinery, product specialisation) and the low road of competition (lowering price and profit, reducing raw materials and inputs, and joining the informal sector) to withstand the impact of Chinese imports. The long-term effect of Chinese imports is to crowd out local efforts of using the sector as the basis for industrialisation. Government, non-government organisations and local producers should work together in order to withstand the negative impacts of footwear imports by raising the competitiveness of the local producers. | None | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000292102000011 | How has Government policy post-Global Strategy for Plant Conservation impacted on science? The Ethiopian perspective | Demissew, Sebsebe | 2011 | BOTANICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY | 166 | 3 | 10.1111/j.1095-8339.2011.01154.x | Addis Ababa University | None | In this paper, existing relevant Ethiopian government biodiversity-related policies and strategies, and mandates of various institutions prior to GSPC targets, are reviewed. Response to whether or not institutions responded to GSPC targets as the result of new policies or rebranded their work to fit within the context of existing policies and adjust their outcomes to fit into the GSPC targets is provided. The Ethiopian national report of 2009 submitted to the Convention of Biological Diversity Secretariat is reviewed and gaps analysed. The policies of the Federal government (and implementing institutions) post-GSPC so far have had only a limited impact on science, but research institutions have aligned their outputs to fit with the GSPC targets. Suggestions, conclusions and recommendations are made in order to work effectively towards the realization of the GSPC targets beyond 2010 in Ethiopia. (C) 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 166, 310-325. | ETHIOPIA,"government biodiversity policies","GSPC targets" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000295110800006 | Long-Term Impact of Residual Symptoms in Treatment-Resistant Depression | Cleare, Anthony J.,Fekadu, Abebaw,Markopoulou, Kalypso,Poon, Lucia,Rane, Lena J.,Wooderson, Sarah C. | 2011 | CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY-REVUE CANADIENNE DE PSYCHIATRIE | 56 | 9 | None | Addis Ababa University, Kings College London, University of London, S London & Maudsley Natl Hlth Serv Trust, South London & Maudsley NHS Trust | None | Objective: Although commonly encountered, little work has defined the longitudinal course of treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and the influence of residual posttreatment symptoms on longer-term outcome. The aim of our study was to assess the impact of posttreatment clinical states on longer-term outcome.
Method: Patients (n = 118) with TRD received specialist inpatient treatment and were followed-up for a median of 3 years. Longitudinal outcome dichotomized into good and poor outcome was used as the primary outcome and functional measures were used as secondary outcomes.
Results: Among 118 treated patients, 40 (34%) entered clinical remission, 36 (31%) entered partial remission, and 42 (37%) remained in episode at discharge. At follow-up, 35% had longitudinally defined poor outcome. Posttreatment clinical status was the main predictor of both poor and good outcome. Nearly 50% of patients achieved postdischarge recovery, and subsequently had longer-term outcome, comparable with patients discharged in remission. Patients who remained in episode posttreatment were more symptomatically and functionally impaired.
Conclusion: Posttreatment clinical states are a useful guide to clinicians for projecting the longer-term outcome of patients with TRD. The persistence of residual or syndromal symptoms predicts a poorer longer-term outcome, whereas treatment to remission is associated with better outcomes. | COURSE,"FOLLOW-UP STUDY",OUTCOME,"treatment-refractory depression","treatment-resistant depression",FOLLOW-UP,IMIPRAMINE,ISSUES,"MAJOR DEPRESSION",OUTCOMES,"PARTIAL REMISSION",RATING-SCALE,RECURRENCE,RELAPSE,STAR-ASTERISK-D | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000305234200008 | The impact of NERICA adoption on productivity and poverty of the small-scale rice farmers in the Gambia | Diagne, Aliou,Dibba, Lamin,Fialor, Simon C.,Nimoh, Fred | 2012 | FOOD SECURITY | 4 | 2 | 10.1007/s12571-012-0180-5 | Africa Rice Ctr AfricaRice, KNUST, Kwame Nkrumah University Science & Technology, NARI | None | The study assessed the causal effects of NERICA adoption on rice yields and income, using country-wide data of 600 rice farmers in The Gambia. To control for differences in socio-demographic and environmental characteristics of adopters and non-adopters and enable a causal interpretation of NERICA adoption on the variables of interest, the study used the counterfactual outcome framework to control for such differences. The results, based on observed sample estimates, showed significant differences in rice yields and income between the NERICA adopters and non-adopters. Further, the results of the framework, based on the Local Average Treatment Effect (LATE) estimates, which allowed a causal interpretation, showed that NERICA adoption significantly increased average rice yields and annual income of small-scale rice farmers by 157 kg per hectare and $148, respectively. | "causal effects",HETEROGENEITY,IMPACT,NERICA,"potential outcomes","THE GAMBIA","AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY",MODELS,PROPENSITY-SCORE,WEST-AFRICA | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000344612400016 | An Evaluation of Community Perspectives and Contributing Factors to Missed Children During an Oral Polio Vaccination Campaign - Katsina State, Nigeria | Achari, Panchanan,Ashenafi, Samra,Biya, Oladayo,Bwaka, Ado,Corkum, Melissa,Mackay, Susan,Mahoney, Frank,Michael, Charles A.,Newberry, David,Nguku, Patrick,Ogbuanu, Ikechukwu U.,Ohuabunwo, Chima,OPV Campaign Missed Children Study,Storms, Aaron D.,Sule, Ada | 2014 | JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES | 210 | None | 10.1093/infdis/jiu288 | African Field Epidemiol Network AFENET, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - USA, United Nations Children Fund UNICEF, US Ctr Dis Control & Prevent, WHO | None | Background. Unvaccinated children contribute to accumulation of susceptible persons and the continued transmission of wild poliovirus in Nigeria. In September 2012, the Expert Review Committee (ERC) on Polio Eradication and Routine Immunization in Nigeria recommended that social research be conducted to better understand why children are missed during supplementary immunization activities (SIAs), also known as "immunization plus days (IPDs)" in Nigeria.
Methods.aEuro integral Immediately following the SIA in October 2012, polio eradication partners and the government of Nigeria conducted a study to assess why children are missed. We used semistructured questionnaires and focus group discussions in 1 rural and 1 urban local government area (LGA) of Katsina State.
Results.aEuro integral Participants reported that 61% of the children were not vaccinated because of poor vaccination team performance: either the teams did not visit the homes (25%) or the children were reported absent and not revisited (36%). This lack of access to vaccine was more frequently reported by respondents from scattered/nomadic communities (85%). In 1 out of 4 respondents (25%), refusal was the main reason their child was not vaccinated. The majority of respondents reported they would have consented to their children being vaccinated if the vaccine had been offered.
Conclusions.aEuro integral Poor vaccination team performance is a major contributor to missed children during IPD campaigns. Addressing such operational deficiencies will help close the polio immunity gap and eradicate polio from Nigeria. | "missed children",non-compliance,OPV,"ORAL POLIO VACCINE","vaccine coverage" | None | 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 |
| WoS | WOS:000207805600007 | How Insecurity Impacts on School Attendance and School Dropout among Urban Slum Children in Nairobi | Izugbara, Chimaraoke,Mudege, Netsayi N.,Zulu, Eliya M. | 2008 | INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CONFLICT AND VIOLENCE | 2 | 1 | None | African Populat & Hlth Res Ctr | None | This paper discusses how perceptions of personal security can impact on school enrolment and attendance. It mainly focuses on threats of physical harm, crime, and community and domestic violence. These security fears can include insecurity that children suffer from as they go to school, maybe through the use of unsafe routes; insecurity that children feel at school; and the insecurity they suffer from in their homes. Although poverty can be a source and/or an indicator of insecurity, this paper does not focus solely on poverty as it is well covered elsewhere in the literature. The paper relies on qualitative data collected in Korogocho and Viwandani slum areas in Nairobi, Kenya between October and November 2004. The paper analyses data from individual interviews and focus group interviews and focuses on the narrative of slum dwellers on how insecurity impacts on educational attainment. The conclusion in this paper is that insecure neighbourhoods may have a negative impact on schooling. As a result policies that address insecurity in slum neighbourhoods can also improve school attendance and performance. | None | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000263321100001 | The impact of female employment on fertility in Dakar (Senegal) and Lome (Togo) | Beguy, Donatien | 2009 | DEMOGRAPHIC RESEARCH | 20 | None | 10.4054/DemRes.2009.20.7 | African Populat & Hlth Res Ctr | None | This paper investigates the impact of female employment on fertility in two urban contexts in sub-Saharan Africa: Dakar ( Senegal) and Lome ( Togo). The hypothesis that wage employment and maternal obligations are incompatible seems to be corroborated in Lome, where women are likely to consider work as a legitimate alternative to their role as a mother or spouse. Being involved in economic activity is a real option and can therefore impact upon their reproductive life. By contrast, in Dakar working does not seem to hinder family formation. Greater involvement of women in the labour force is not the main reason for fertility decline in Dakar. These findings illustrate how important it is to consider social gender-specific roles in order to accurately determine the influence of female employment on reproductive life. | ,MODELS,"WOMENS EMPLOYMENT",WORK | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000265567000026 | The univariate and bivariate impact of HIV/AIDS on the quality of life: A cross sectional study in the Hubei Province-Central China | Bapumiia, Mustaafa,Jackson, Felicia Williams,Kobelo, Theresia M.,Liu, LI,Mkangara, Ommari Baaliy,Mweri, Saumu Tobbi,Nie, Shaofa,Wang, Chongjian,Xiang, Hao,Xu, Yihua | 2009 | JOURNAL OF HUAZHONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY-MEDICAL SCIENCES | 29 | 2 | 10.1007/s11596-009-0226-x | Agakhan Hosp, Hondros Coll, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Huazhong Univ Sci & Technol | None | This study is aimed to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) for individuals living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in Hubei province-central China by using WHOQOL-BREF instrument (Chinese version). One hundred and thirty six respondents (HIV/AIDS individuals) attending out-patient department of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese CDC) were administered a structured questionnaire developed by investigators. QOL was evaluated by using WHOQOL-BREF instrument (Chinese version). The results showed that the mean score of overall QOL on a scale of 0-100 was 25.8. The mean scores in 4 domains of QOL on a scale of 0-100 were 82.9 (social domain), 27.5 (psychological domain), 17.7 (physical domain) and 11.65 (environmental domain). The significant difference of QOL was noted in the score of physical domain between asymptomatic (14.6) and early symptomatic individuals (12) (P=0.014), and between patients with early symptoms (12) and those with AIDS (10.43) (P < 0.001). QOL in psychological domain was significantly lower in early symptomatic (12.1) (P < 0.05) and AIDS patients (12.4) (P < 0.006) than in asymptomatic individuals (14.2). The difference in QOL scores in the psychological domain was significant with respect to the income of patients (P < 0.048) and educational status (P < 0.037). Significantly better QOL scores in the physical domain (P < 0.040) and environmental domain (P < 0.017) were noted with respect to the occupation of the patients. Patients with family support had better QOL scores in environmental domain. In our research, QOL for HIV/AIDS individuals was associated with education, occupation, income, family support and clinical categories of the patients. It was concluded that WHOQOL-BREF Chinese version was successfully used in the evaluation of QOL of HIV/AIDS individuals in Chinese population and proved to be a reliable and useful tool. | AIDS,BIVARIATE,"CENTRAL CHINA",HIV,IMPACT,univariate,"WHOQOL-Bref Chinese version",DISEASE,"SOCIAL SUPPORT" | 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 |
| WoS | WOS:000242694600004 | Development of a participatory monitoring and evaluation strategy | Forde, Sarah,Holte-McKenzie, Merydth,Theobald, Sally | 2006 | EVALUATION AND PROGRAM PLANNING | 29 | 4 | 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2006.08.007 | Agriteam Canada Consulting Ltd, Moving Goalposts Kilifi, Univ Liverpool Liverpool Sch Trop Med | None | This paper describes the process of developing a participatory monitoring and evaluation strategy for a Kenyan youth-based NGO. The iterative nature of the study including the process of narrowing down indicators to measure and methods to monitor/evaluate these is well documented. A discussion on the extent to which the process achieved participation and was empowering for the participants reflects on existing power relationships and cultural context of Kenya and points to the need to create opportunities for youth where they engage with the broader community. Lessons that emerge out of the study focus on the importance of prioritizing monitoring and evaluation, the potential of youth to carry out effective monitoring and evaluation, and the need for researchers to engage respectfully with communities and participants. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier Ltd. | "capacity building",EMPOWERMENT,evaluation,MONITORING,participatory,YOUTH,HEALTH-CARE,"WOMENS EMPOWERMENT" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000268766900003 | Do the socioeconomic impacts of antiretroviral therapy vary by gender? A longitudinal study of Kenyan agricultural worker employment outcomes | Bii, Margret,Fox, Mathew P.,Larson, Bruce A.,McCoy, Kelly,Rosen, Sydney,Sawe, Fredrick,Shaffer, Douglas,Sigei, Carolyne,Simon, Jonathan L.,Wasunna, Monique | 2009 | BMC PUBLIC HEALTH | 9 | None | 10.1186/1471-2458-9-240 | Boston University, Kenya Govt Med Res Ctr, Walter Reed Project | None | Background: As access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) has grown in Africa, attention has turned to evaluating the socio-economic impacts of ART. One key issue is the extent to which improvements in health resulting from ART allows individuals to return to work and earn income. Improvements in health from ART may also be associated with reduced impaired presenteeism, which is the loss of productivity when an ill or disabled individual attends work but accomplishes less at his or her usual tasks or shifts to other, possibly less valuable, tasks.
Methods: Longitudinal data for this analysis come from company payroll records for 97 HIV-infected tea estate workers (the index group, 56 women, 41 men) and a comparison group of all workers assigned to the same work teams (n = 2485, 1691 men, 794 women) for a 37-month period covering two years before and one year after initiating ART. We used nearest neighbour matching methods to estimate the impacts of HIV/AIDS and ART on three monthly employment outcomes for tea estate workers in Kenya - days plucking tea, days assigned to non-plucking assignments, and kilograms harvested when plucking.
Results: The female index group worked 30% fewer days plucking tea monthly than the matched female comparison group during the final 9 months pre-ART. They also worked 87% more days on non-plucking assignments. While the monthly gap between the two groups narrowed after beginning ART, the female index group worked 30% fewer days plucking tea and about 100% more days on non-plucking tasks than the comparison group after one year on ART. The male index group was able to maintain a similar pattern of work as their comparison group except during the initial five months on therapy.
Conclusion: Significant impaired presenteeism continued to exist among the female index group after one year on ART. Future research needs to explore further the socio-economic implications of HIV-infected female workers on ART being less productive than the general female workforce over sustained periods of time. | ,ADULTS,HIV/AIDS,HIV-INFECTION,ILLNESS,PERFORMANCE,PRESENTEEISM,PREVALENCE,SECTOR,SICK,SOUTH-AFRICA | None | None |
| 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 |
| WoS | WOS:000306406400015 | The impact of peer outreach on HIV knowledge and prevention behaviours of male sex workers in Mombasa, Kenya | Geibel, Scott,King'ola, Nzioki,Luchters, Stanley,Temmerman, Marleen | 2012 | SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS | 88 | 5 | 10.1136/sextrans-2011-050224 | Austin Research Institute, Ghent University, Burnet Inst, ICRH | None | Introduction Targeting most at-risk populations is an essential component of HIV prevention strategies. Peer education programmes have been found to increase HIV knowledge, condom use and safer sex behaviours among female sex workers in Africa and men who have sex with men elsewhere. The authors aimed to evaluate the impact of a peer-driven intervention on male sex workers who sell sex to men in Mombasa, Kenya.
Methods Using time-venue sampling, a baseline survey of 425 male sex workers was conducted in late 2006, after which, 40 peer educators were trained in HIV prevention, basic counselling skills and distribution of condoms and lubricants. A follow-up time-venue survey of 442 male sex workers was conducted in early 2008, and pre- and post-intervention changes were examined. The impact of peer educator exposure on HIV knowledge and condom use was analysed.
Results Positive changes in HIV prevention behaviours were observed, including increases in consistent use of condoms with both male clients (35.9%-50.2%, p<0.001) and non-paying male partners (27.4%-39.5%, p=0.008). Exposure to peer educators (AOR=1.97, 95% CI 1.29 to 3.02) and ever having been counselled or tested for HIV (AOR=1.71, 95% CI 1.10 to 2.66) were associated with consistent condom use in multivariate analysis. Peer educator contact was also associated with improved HIV knowledge and use of water-based lubricants.
Conclusions Peer outreach programming reached highly stigmatised male sex workers in Mombasa, resulting in significant, but limited, improvements in HIV knowledge and prevention behaviours. Improved peer coverage and additional prevention initiatives are needed to sufficiently mitigate HIV transmission. | ,MEN | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000326315200005 | Feasibility of adaptation of open source ILS for libraries in Kenya: a practical evaluation | Amollo, Beatrice Adera | 2013 | ELECTRONIC LIBRARY | 31 | 5 | 10.1108/EL-12-2011-0171 | Australian Studies Inst Lib | None | Purpose-Despite its fast growth and penetration in all sectors, it has been noted that open source software (OSS) is yet to find its optimal place in libraries, particularly libraries in the developing countries. Lack of documented information on the experiences and use of open source integrated library system (ILS) is a major drawback, and so the need for this study. The proposed study aims to help to investigate and test usability and cost effectiveness of a typical OSS for ILS. It will involve deploying the software from installation, configuration to creating customized user interfaces and structures that are specific to the requirements of the library's parent organization. The cost and performance of the OSS will then be compared with that of a typical commercial based software with the same functionalities.
Design/methodology/approach-A preliminary study has been conducted to collect data from libraries in the country through distribution of questionnaires to provide data for accurate analysis that will form the basis for recommendations. The target group includes library and IT personnel in the various institutions and the end-users within sample group. A case study is proposed to help establish OSS effectiveness in libraries. To test a typical OSS, parameters are to be drawn from two models open source maturity model and business readiness rating.
Findings-A casual observation of the Kenyan situation reveals that the majority of academic, public and research libraries depend on commercial, free or locally developed systems. This scenario may be attributed to lack of knowledge (or interest) in OSS alternatives and lack of sufficient technical expertise to support them. While there are quite a number of libraries and librarians worldwide that have shown a great interest in OSS, few library administrators have actually implemented OSS. Could this be due to fear of taking on the risks that may come with reliance on open source library automation systems? Is the low uptake due to lack of sufficient technical expertise in the libraries? The research outcomes will help formulate a model and guidelines to be used by systems librarians considering the use of OSS for library processes. Factors to be considered when deciding on OSS will be outlined.
Research limitations/implications-This paper is of importance to library personnel in Kenya as it establishes the effectiveness of OSS, with the aim of empowering the library staff who have for a long time relied on their IT departments and vendors for systems installation and implementation.
Originality/value-The study will result in a comprehensive evaluation of the economic and functional advantages of OSS as an alternative for the library in Kenya. Librarians involved in selection of software for their libraries will find this helpful when deciding on the type of software to select for their libraries. It will help to enlighten library professional about the value of OSS and how they can participate in the development of their own systems, instead of always relying on vendors. | "information systems","integrated software",KENYA,LIBRARIES,"LIBRARY AUTOMATION","LIBRARY SYSTEMS","OPEN SYSTEMS",RESEARCH,"OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE" | None | 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 |
| WoS | WOS:000284282200007 | Impact of occupational health and safety on worker productivity: A case of Zimbabwe food industry | Gadzirayi, C. T.,Katsuro, P.,Mupararano, Suzanna,Taruwona, M. | 2010 | AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BUSINESS MANAGEMENT | 4 | 13 | None | Bindura Univ Sci Educ | None | This research sought to assess the impact of occupational health safety ( OHS) on productivity in the commercial food industry. The objective of the study was to explore OHS problems of different work areas and their impact on productivity. The research targeted production supervisors, shop floor employees and industrial clinic nurses. Questionnaires, interviews and observations were used as research instruments to collect data. The study found out that OHS related problems negatively affect workers' productive capacity in the food industry resulting in reduced worker output. Workers develop a negative attitude and low morale towards work. High incidents of accidents at work also occur. The study recommends that food industry factories should upgrade their OHS through training programmes and use up-to-date equipment. | "Food factory","OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH",productivity.,SAFETY | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000306670300012 | The adult population impact of HIV care and antiretroviral therapy in a resource poor setting, 2003-2008 | Ackers, Marta,Adamu-Zeh, Mirabelle,Broz, Dita,Gargano, Julia W.,Laserson, Kayla,Marston, Barbara,Muttai, Hellen,Nyabiage, Lennah,Odhiambo, Frank,Orimba, Vincent,Owuor, Karen,Sewe, Maquins,Williamson, John | 2012 | AIDS | 26 | 12 | 10.1097/QAD.0b013e328353b7b9 | CDC Res & Publ Hlth Collaborat, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - USA, Ctr Dis Control & Prevent, Kenya Minist Hlth | None | Objective: To describe the population uptake of HIV care including antiretroviral therapy (ART) and its impact on adult mortality in a rural area of western Kenya with high HIV prevalence during a period of rapid HIV services scale-up.
Design: Adult medical chart data were abstracted at health facilities providing HIV care/ART to residents of a Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) and linked with HDSS demographic and mortality data.
Methods: We evaluated secular trends in patient characteristics across enrollment years and estimated proportions of HIV-positive adult residents receiving care. We evaluated adult (18-64 years) population mortality trends using verbal autopsy findings.
Results: From 2003 to 2008, 5421 HDSS-resident adults enrolled in HIV care; 61.4% (n = 3331) were linked to HDSS follow-up data. As the number of facilities expanded from 1 (2003) to 17 (2008), receipt of HIV services by HIV-positive residents increased from less than 1 to 29.5%, and ART coverage reached 64.0% of adults with CD4 cell count less than 250 cells/mu l. The proportion of patients with WHO stage 4 at enrollment decreased from 20.4 to 1.9%, and CD4 cell count testing at enrollment increased from 1.0 to 53.4%. Population-level mortality rates for adults declined 34% for all causes, 26% for AIDS/tuberculosis, and 47% for other infectious diseases; noninfectious disease mortality rates remained constant.
Conclusion: The initial years of rapid HIV service expansion coincided with a drop in adult mortality by a third. Continued expansion of population access to HIV clinical services, including ART, and program quality improvements will be necessary to achieve further progress in reducing HIV-related morbidity and mortality. (C) 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins | AIDS/HIV,"ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY",MORTALITY,"POPULATION SURVEILLANCE","COTRIMOXAZOLE PROPHYLAXIS",HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS,INFECTIOUS-DISEASES,MORTALITY,"PROSPECTIVE COHORT","RURAL WESTERN KENYA",SOUTH-AFRICA,TRIMETHOPRIM-SULFAMETHOXAZOLE,UGANDA,"VERB | 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 |
| WoS | WOS:000238591500004 | An evaluation of e-readiness assessment tools with respect to information access: Towards an integrated information rich tool | Mutula, SM,van Brakel, P | 2006 | INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFORMATION MANAGEMENT | 26 | 3 | 10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2006.02.004 | Cape Peninsula University of Technology | None | This paper is an offshoot of the findings of a doctoral thesis carried out at the University of Johannesburg (formerly Rand Afrikaans University) in South Africa on the assessment of e-readiness tools with respect to information access. The paper argues that information is a key component in the e-readiness equation and yet it is not given much emphasis in the e-readiness extant tools, but is instead subsumed under Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The paper notes that the various major segments of e-readiness as synthesised from existing tools are scattered in different tools making their use painstakingly cumbersome. The paper proposes a new e-readiness integrated tool that emphasises information access and also collocates the various segments of organizational, ICT, human resources, and external readiness into one single tool. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | "digital divide",e-readiness,ICTS,"INFORMATION ACCESS","INFORMATION MANAGEMENT","COMPUTER-MEDIATED COMMUNICATION",SYSTEMS | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000276219700027 | Evaluation of the Role of School Children in the Promotion of Point-of-Use Water Treatment and Handwashing in Schools and Households-Nyanza Province, Western Kenya, 2007 | Blanton, Elizabeth,Mwaki, Alex,Oluoch, Gordon Otieno,Ombeki, Sam,Quick, Rob,Wannemuehler, Kathleen | 2010 | AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE | 82 | 4 | 10.4269/ajtmh.2010.09-0422 | Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - USA, Cooperat Assistance & Relief Everywhere Inc, Ctr Dis Control & Prevent | None | We installed drinking water and handwashing stations in 17 rural schools and trained teachers to promote water treatment and hygiene to pupils. We gave schools flocculent-disinfectant powder and hypochlorite solution for water treatment. We conducted a baseline water handling survey of pupils' parents from 17 schools and tested stored water for chlorine. We trained teachers and students about hygiene, installed water stations, and distributed instructional comic books to students. We conducted follow-up surveys and chlorine testing at 3 and 13 months. From baseline to 3-month follow-up, parental awareness of the flocculent-disinfectant increased (49-91%, P < 0.0001), awareness of hypochlorite remained high (93-92%), and household use of flocculent-disinfectant (1-7%, P < 0.0001) and hypochlorite (6-13%, P < 0.0001) increased, and were maintained after 13 months. Pupil absentee rates decreased after implementation by 26%. This school-based program resulted in pupil-to-parent knowledge transfer and significant increases in household water treatment practices that were sustained over 1 year. | ,"DIARRHEA PREVENTION",DRINKING-WATER,FLOCCULANT-DISINFECTANT,INTERVENTION,KNOWLEDGE,PROGRAM,"RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED-TRIAL","RURAL GUATEMALA","SAFE WATER" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000280743400005 | EVALUATION OF A U.S. EVIDENCE-BASED PARENTING INTERVENTION IN RURAL WESTERN KENYA: FROM PARENTS MATTER! TO FAMILIES MATTER! | Buve, Anne,Marum, Elizabeth,Menten, Joris,Miller, Kim S.,Obong'o, Christopher O.,Ochura, Juliet,Otwoma, Nelson J.,Poulsen, Melissa N.,Vandenhoudt, Hilde,Wyckoff, Sarah C. | 2010 | AIDS EDUCATION AND PREVENTION | 22 | 4 | None | Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - USA, Ctr Dis Control & Prevent, Inst Trop Med, Kenya Govt Med Res Ctr | None | We evaluated Families Matter! Program (FMP), an intervention designed to improve parent-child communication about sexual risk reduction and parenting skills. Parents of 10- to 12-year-olds were recruited in western Kenya. We aimed to assess community acceptability and FMP's effect on parenting practices and effective parent-child communication. Data were collected from parents and their children at baseline and 1 year postintervention. The intervention's effect was measured on six parenting and parent-child communication composite scores reported separately for parents and children. Of 375 parents, 351 (94%) attended all five intervention sessions. Parents' attitudes regarding sexuality education changed positively. Five of the six composite parenting scores reported by parents, and six of six reported by children, increased significantly at 1 year postintervention. Through careful adaptation of this U.S. intervention, FMP was well accepted in rural Kenya and enhanced parenting skills and parent-child sexuality communication. Parents are in a unique position to deliver primary prevention to youth before their sexual debut as shown in this Kenyan program. | ,"ADOLESCENT DRUG-ABUSE",AFRICAN-AMERICAN,BEHAVIOR,COMMUNICATION,"CONDOM USE",EDUCATION,HIV,"PRIMARY PREVENTION",SEXUAL-RISK,TRIAL | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000303700600013 | Evaluation of integrated registers for tuberculosis and HIV surveillance in children, Ethiopia, 2007-2009 | Assefa, D.,Cain, K.,Click, E. S.,Fantu, R.,Feleke, B.,Gadisa, T.,Melaku, Z.,Menzies, H.,Pevzner, E. | 2012 | INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TUBERCULOSIS AND LUNG DISEASE | 16 | 5 | 10.5588/ijtld.11.0655 | Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - USA, Ctr Dis Control & Prevent, Int Ctr AIDS Care & Treatment Programs | None | In 2008, Ethiopia implemented tuberculosis (TB) treatment registers that included columns for recording human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) test results (integrated registers) to replace the previous system of separate TB and HIV registers (pre-integration registers). We compared the proportion of children with documented HIV rapid test results at eight hospitals before and after adopting the integrated registers. HIV status was more consistently documented in the integrated registers; however, HIV status for infants aged <18 months could not be assessed, as the registers did not capture results from polymerase chain reaction-based testing. Recording procedures should be revised to document age-appropriate HIV diagnostic results and ensure referral for appropriate care. | HIV,PEDIATRIC,TB,TUBERCULOSIS,"CHILDHOOD TUBERCULOSIS" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000331009000027 | Assessment of Quality of Life as a Tool for Measuring Morbidity Due to Schistosoma mansoni Infection and the Impact of Treatment | Abudho, Bernard,Blackstock, Anna J.,Foo, Karen T.,Hightower, Allen W.,Karanja, Diana M. S.,Kennedy, Erin D.,Montgomery, Susan P.,Mwinzi, Pauline N. M.,Ochola, Elizabeth A.,Person, Bobbie,Secor, W. Evan,Won, Kimberly Y. | 2014 | AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE | 90 | 2 | 10.4269/ajtmh.13-0361 | Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - USA, Ctr Dis Control & Prevent, Kenya Govt Med Res Ctr | None | Recently, health measurements have broadened to include the assessment of quality of life (QOL). This study was conducted to assess whether the short form of the World Health Organization (WHO) QOL questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) was an effective tool for measuring morbidity due to Schistosoma mansoni infection and whether it could detect an impact of treatment with praziquantel. A total of 724 adults 18-85 years of age were enrolled. At baseline, S. mansoni prevalence was 73.2% by stool examination and 75.4% by circulating cathodic antigen, and there was no association between infection status and WHOQOL-BREF scores. Six months after treatment, S. mansoni prevalence was lower and the proportion of persons with higher WHOQOL-BREF scores significantly increased among persons who were infected at baseline. However, a similar increase was observed in persons not infected at baseline. In areas of high prevalence, the WHOQOL-BREF may not be able to detect the benefits of schistosomiasis control programs. | ,"AGED CHILDREN",ANEMIA,CHEMOTHERAPY,DIAGNOSIS,"MASS TREATMENT",PRAZIQUANTEL,PREVALENCE,SCHOOLCHILDREN,"SOIL-TRANSMITTED HELMINTHS","WESTERN KENYA" | None | 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 |
| WoS | WOS:000324777300033 | A Qualitative Evaluation of Hand Drying Practices among Kenyans | Ogange, Lorraine,Owuor, Mercy,Person, Bobbie,Quick, Rob,Schilling, Katharine | 2013 | PLOS ONE | 8 | 9 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0074370 | Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - USA, Ctr Dis Control & Prevent, Kenya Govt Med Res Ctr | None | Background: Recommended disease prevention behaviors of hand washing, hygienic hand drying, and covering one's mouth and nose in a hygienic manner when coughing and sneezing appear to be simple behaviors but continue to be a challenge to successfully promote and sustain worldwide. We conducted a qualitative inquiry to better understand current hand drying behaviors associated with activities of daily living, and mouth and nose covering practices, among Kenyans.
Methods and Findings: We conducted 7 focus group discussions; 30 in-depth interviews; 10 structured household observations; and 75 structured observations in public venues in the urban area of Kisumu; rural communities surrounding Kisumu; and a peri-urban area outside Nairobi, Kenya. Using a grounded theory approach, we transcribed and coded the narrative data followed by thematic analysis of the emergent themes. Hand drying, specifically on a clean towel, was not a common practice among our participants. Most women dried their hands on their waist cloth, called a leso, or their clothes whether they were cooking, eating or cleaning the nose of a young child. If men dried their hands, they used their trousers or a handkerchief. Children rarely dried their hands; they usually just wiped them on their clothes, shook them, or left them wet as they continued with their activities. Many people sneezed into their hands and wiped them on their clothes. Men and women used a handkerchief fairly often when they had a runny nose, cold, or the flu. Most people coughed into the air or their hand.
Conclusions: Drying hands on dirty clothes, rags and lesos can compromise the benefits of handwashing. Coughing and sneezing in to an open hand can contribute to spread of disease as well. Understanding these practices can inform health promotion activities and campaigns for the prevention and control of diarrheal disease and influenza. | ,DISEASE,HYGIENE,RISK,"SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000309795000003 | Impact of a Hygiene Curriculum and the Installation of Simple Handwashing and Drinking Water Stations in Rural Kenyan Primary Schools on Student Health and Hygiene Practices | Faith, Sitnah Hamidah,Harris, Julie R.,Hoekstra, Robert M.,Juliao, Patricia,Kola, Steve,Nygren, Benjamin,Obure, Alfredo,Otieno, Ronald,Patel, Minal K.,Quick, Robert,Sadumah, Ibrahim,Were, Vincent | 2012 | AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE | 87 | 4 | 10.4269/ajtmh.2012.11-0494 | Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - USA, Ctr Dis Control & Prevent, Kenya Govt Med Res Ctr, NICHE Project | None | School-based hygiene and water treatment programs increase student knowledge, improve hygiene, and decrease absenteeism, however health impact studies of these programs are lacking. We collected baseline information from students in 42 schools in Kenya. We then instituted a curriculum on safe water and hand hygiene and installed water stations in half ("intervention schools"). One year later, we implemented the intervention in remaining schools. Through biweekly student household visits and two annual surveys, we compared the effect of the intervention on hygiene practices and reported student illness. We saw improvement in proper handwashing techniques after the school program was introduced. We observed a decrease in the median percentage of students with acute respiratory illness among those exposed to the program; no decrease in acute diarrhea was seen. Students in this school program exhibited sustained improvement in hygiene knowledge and a decreased risk of respiratory infections after the intervention. | ,CHILDREN,DIFFICULTIES,GUATEMALA,INTERVENTION,"NYANZA PROVINCE",PREVENTION,PROGRAM,PROMOTION,"SAFE WATER","WESTERN KENYA" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000323584700015 | Kenya's Health Workforce Information System: A model of impact on strategic human resources policy, planning and management | Kimani, Francis M.,Kiriinya, Rose N.,Oluoch, Tom,Riley, Patricia L.,Waters, Keith P.,Waudo, Agnes N.,Willy, Rankesh M.,Zuber, Alexandra | 2013 | INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICAL INFORMATICS | 82 | 9 | 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2013.06.004 | Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - USA, Ctr Dis Control & Prevent, Kenya Hlth Work Force Project, Minist Med Serv | None | Objective: Countries worldwide are challenged by health worker shortages, skill mix imbalances, and maldistribution. Human resources information systems (HRIS) are used to monitor and address these health workforce issues, but global understanding of such systems is minimal and baseline information regarding their scope and capability is practically non-existent. The Kenya Health Workforce Information System (KHWIS) has been identified as a promising example of a functioning HRIS. The objective of this paper is to document the impact of KHWIS data on human resources policy, planning and management.
Methods: Sources for this study included semi-structured interviews with senior officials at Kenya's Ministry of Medical Services (MOMS), Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation (MOPHS), the Department of Nursing within MOMS, the Nursing Council of Kenya, Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board, Kenya's Clinical Officers Council, and Kenya Medical Laboratory Technicians and Technologists Board. Additionally, quantitative data were extracted from KHWIS databases to supplement the interviews. Health sector policy documents were retrieved from MOMS and MOPHS websites, and reviewed to assess whether they documented any changes to policy and practice as having been impacted by KHWIS data.
Results: Interviews with Kenyan government and regulatory officials cited health workforce data provided by KHWIS influenced policy, regulation, and management. Policy changes include extension of Kenya's age of mandatory civil service retirement from 55 to 60 years. Data retrieved from KHWIS document increased relicensing of professional nurses, midwives, medical practitioners and dentists, and interviewees reported this improved compliance raised professional regulatory body revenues. The review of Government records revealed few references to KHWIS; however, documentation specifically cited the KHWIS as having improved the availability of human resources for health information regarding workforce planning, management, and development.
Conclusion: KHWIS data have impacted a range of improvements in health worker regulation, human resources management, and workforce policy and planning at Kenya's ministries of health. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd | "global health","Human resources for health (HRH)","Human resources information system (HRIS)","MEDICAL INFORMATICS","nursing informatics","Workforce surveillance" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000300245500017 | Economic Evaluation of a Child Health Days Strategy to Deliver Multiple Maternal and Child Health Interventions in Somalia | Durry, Elias,Everard, Marthe,Kamadjeu, Raoul,Mirza, Imran Raza,Nandy, Robin,Vijayaraghavan, Maya,Wallace, Aaron | 2012 | JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES | 205 | None | 10.1093/infdis/jir772 | Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - USA, Ctr Dis Control & Prevent, United Nations Childrens Fund, World Hlth Org Somalia Liaison Off | None | Introduction. Child Health Days (CHDs) are increasingly used by countries to periodically deliver multiple maternal and child health interventions as time-limited events, particularly to populations not reached by routine health services. In countries with a weak health infrastructure, this strategy could be used to reach many underserved populations with an integrated package of services. In this study, we estimate the incremental costs, impact, cost-effectiveness, and return on investment of 2 rounds of CHDs that were conducted in Somalia in 2009 and 2010.
Methods. We use program costs and population estimates reported by the World Health Organization and United Nations Children's Fund to estimate the average cost per beneficiary for each of 9 interventions delivered during 2 rounds of CHDs implemented during the periods of December 2008 to May 2009 and August 2009 to April 2010. Because unstable areas were unreachable, we calculated costs for targeted and accessible beneficiaries. We model the impact of the CHDs on child mortality using the Lives Saved Tool, convert these estimates of mortality reduction to life years saved, and derive the cost-effectiveness ratio and the return on investment.
Results. The estimated average incremental cost per intervention for each targeted beneficiary was $0.63, with the cost increasing to $0.77 per accessible beneficiary. The CHDs were estimated to save the lives of at least 10 000, or 500 000 life years for both rounds combined. The CHDs were cost-effective at $34.00/life year saved. For every $1 million invested in the strategy, an estimated 615 children's lives, or 29 500 life years, were saved. If the pentavalent vaccine had been delivered during the CHDs instead of diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine, an additional 5000 children's lives could have been saved.
Conclusions. Despite high operational costs, CHDs are a very cost-effective service delivery strategy for addressing the leading causes of child mortality in a conflict setting like Somalia and compare favorably with other interventions rated as health sector "best buys" in sub-Saharan Africa. | ,COST,EPIDEMIOLOGY,MORTALITY | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000282408400001 | Bed net ownership in Kenya: the impact of 3.4 million free bed nets | Akhwale, Willis,Buluma, Robert,Hamel, Mary,Hightower, Allen,Kiptui, Rebecca,Laserson, Kayla,Manya, Ayub,Noor, Abdisalan,Sharif, Shahnaz K.,Slutsker, Laurence,Vanden Eng, Jodi Leigh,Vulule, John,Wolkon, Adam | 2010 | MALARIA JOURNAL | 9 | None | 10.1186/1475-2875-9-183 | Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - USA, Ctr Dis Control, Kenya Govt Med Res Ctr, Kenya Natl Bur Stat, KNH Grounds, Off Director Publ Hlth & Sanitat | None | Background: In July and September 2006, 3.4 million long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets (LLINs) were distributed free in a campaign targeting children 0-59 months old (CU5s) in the 46 districts with malaria in Kenya. A survey was conducted one month after the distribution to evaluate who received campaign LLINs, who owned insecticide-treated bed nets and other bed nets received through other channels, and how these nets were being used. The feasibility of a distribution strategy aimed at a high-risk target group to meet bed net ownership and usage targets is evaluated.
Methods: A stratified, two-stage cluster survey sampled districts and enumeration areas with probability proportional to size. Handheld computers (PDAs) with attached global positioning systems (GPS) were used to develop the sampling frame, guide interviewers back to chosen households, and collect survey data.
Results: In targeted areas, 67.5% (95% CI: 64.6, 70.3%) of all households with CU5s received campaign LLINs. Including previously owned nets, 74.4% (95% CI: 71.8, 77.0%) of all households with CU5s had an ITN. Over half of CU5s (51.7%, 95% CI: 48.8, 54.7%) slept under an ITN during the previous evening. Nearly forty percent (39.1%) of all households received a campaign net, elevating overall household ownership of ITNs to 50.7% (95% CI: 48.4, 52.9%).
Conclusions: The campaign was successful in reaching the target population, families with CU5s, the risk group most vulnerable to malaria. Targeted distribution strategies will help Kenya approach indicator targets, but will need to be combined with other strategies to achieve desired population coverage levels. | ,CHILD-MORTALITY,COVERAGE,"INSECTICIDE-TREATED BEDNETS",MALARIA,MORBIDITY,PROGRAM,"WESTERN KENYA" | None | 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 |
| 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 |
| WoS | WOS:000239414300012 | Design and evaluation of a drama-based intervention to promote voluntary counseling and HIV testing in a south African community | Bekker, Linda-Gail,Middelkoop, Keren,Myer, Landon,Smit, Joalida,Wood, Robin | 2006 | SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES | 33 | 8 | None | Columbia University, University of Cape Town | None | Background. Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) services are a major component of HIV prevention and treatment efforts. We developed a drama-based intervention to promote VCT services in a peri-urban community in South Africa.
Methods: Young adults from the community received training in HIV/AIDS and drama, and developed sketches to address perceived barriers to VCT. Over 12 months, 80 performances were held in busy community settings. The intervention was evaluated through changes in VCT uptake at the local clinic compared with comparable communities nearby.
Results: After the start of the intervention in August 2003, a 172% increase in the uptake of VCT services was observed in the intervention community. This was significantly greater than demand for VCT in either of the control communities during the same period (P < 0.0001).
Conclusion: A structured, community-based education program based on drama can lead to substantial increases in the demand for VCT services in resource-limited settings. | ,BEHAVIOR,UGANDA | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000234123500003 | Context matters: interpreting impact findings in child survival evaluations | Amaral, J,Bryce, J,El Arifeen, S,HABICHT, JP,HUICHO, L,Manzi, F,Pariyo, G,SCHELLENBERG, JA,Scherpbier, RW,VICTORA, CG | 2005 | HEALTH POLICY AND PLANNING | 20 | SUPPL. 1 | 10.1093/heapol/czi050 | Cornell University, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Makerere University, National University of San Marcos, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Universidade Federal do Ceara, University of Geneva, University of London, World Health Organization, Ifakara Hlth Res & Dev Ctr, Inst Salud Nino, London Sch Hyg & Trop Med, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine | None | Appropriate consideration of contextual factors is essential for ensuring internal and external validity of randomized and non-randomized evaluations. Contextual factors may confound the association between delivery of the intervention and its potential health impact. They may also modify the effect of the intervention or programme, thus affecting the generalizability of results. This is particularly true for large-scale health programmes, for which impact may vary substantially from one context to another. Understanding the nature and role of contextual factors may improve the validity of study results, as well as help predict programme impact across sites.
This paper describes the experience acquired in measuring and accounting for contextual factors in the Multi-Country Evaluation of the IMCI (Integrated Management of Childhood Illness) strategy in five countries: Bangladesh, Brazil, Peru, Uganda and Tanzania. Two main types of contextual factors were identified. Implementation-related factors include the characteristics of the health systems where IMCI was implemented, such as utilization rates, basic skills of health workers, and availability of drugs, supervision and referral. Impact-related factors include baseline levels and patterns of child mortality and nutritional status, which affect the scope for programme impact.
We describe the strategies used in the IMCI evaluation in order to obtain data on relevant contextual factors and to incorporate them in the analyses. Two case studies - from Tanzania and Peru - show how appropriate consideration of contextual factors may help explain apparently conflicting evaluation results. | ,CARE,ILLNESS,"INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT",INTERVENTIONS,PUBLIC-HEALTH,TANZANIA | 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 |
| WoS | WOS:000244888900007 | Economics, adoption determinants, and impacts of micro-irrigation technologies: empirical results from India | Nagar, R. K.,Namara, R. E.,Upadhyay, B. | 2007 | IRRIGATION SCIENCE | 25 | 3 | 10.1007/s00271-007-0065-0 | Elecon, Int Water Management Inst | None | Micro-irrigation technologies are promoted for various reasons in India. Despite the reported significant economic advantages, and the concerted support of the government and NGOs, the current micro-irrigation area in India remains an insignificant proportion of its potential. This paper analyzes: (1) the economics of alternative micro-irrigation technologies, (2) the determinants of adoption, (3) the poverty outreach of the different micro-irrigation systems, and (4) the sustainability implications of micro-irrigation adoption. In line with the findings of other studies, this study indicates that micro-irrigation technologies result in a significant productivity and economic gains. The most important determinants of micro-irrigation adoption include access to groundwater, cropping pattern, availability of cash, and level of education, the social status and poverty status of the farmer. Contrary to the expectations, the majority of the current adopters of low-cost micro-irrigation systems are the better-off farmers. The study indicates that the impact of micro-irrigation systems on the sustainability of groundwater resources depends upon the magnitude of the overall productivity gain following the shift from traditional irrigation method to micro-irrigation system, the pattern of use of the saved water, and the type and potential number of adopters. | None | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000331797900011 | An Evaluation of Equitable Access to a Community- Based Maternal and Newborn Health Program in Rural Ethiopia | Barry, Danika,Sibley, Lynn,Spangler, Sydney A. | 2014 | JOURNAL OF MIDWIFERY & WOMENS HEALTH | 59 | None | 10.1111/jmwh.12133 | Emory University, MaNHEP, Maternal & Newborn Hlth Ethiopia Partnership MaNH | None | IntroductionThe Maternal and Newborn Health in Ethiopia Partnership (MaNHEP) aimed to promote equitable access to safe childbirth and postnatal care through a community-based educational intervention. This study evaluates the extent to which MaNHEP reached women who are socially and materially disadvantaged and, thus, at high risk for inadequate access to care.
MethodsThe data used in this analysis are from MaNHEP's cross-sectional 2010 baseline and 2012 endline surveys of women who gave birth in the prior year. A logistic regression model was fit to examine the effects of sociodemographic characteristics on participation in the MaNHEP program. Descriptive statistics of select characteristics by birth and postnatal care provider were also calculated to explore trends in services use.
ResultsUsing data from the endline survey (N = 1019), the regression model showed that age, parity, education, and geographic residence were not significantly associated with MaNHEP exposure. However, women who were materially disadvantaged were still less likely to have participated in the program than their better-off counterparts. From the baseline survey (N = 1027) to the endline survey, women's use of skilled and semiskilled providers for birth care and postnatal care increased substantially, while use of untrained providers or no provider decreased. These shifts were greater for women with less personal wealth than for women with more personal wealth.
DiscussionMaNHEP appears to have succeeded in meeting its equity goals to a degree. However, this study also supports the intractable relationship between wealth inequality and access to maternal and newborn health services. Strategies targeting the poor in diverse contexts may eventually prove consistently effective in equitable services delivery. Until that time, a critical step that all maternal and newborn health programs can take is to monitor and evaluate to what extent they are reaching disadvantaged groups within the populations they serve. | "access to services","community-based interventions",ETHIOPIA,"Maternal and newborn health","socioeconomic inequalities and inequities",CARE,"CHILD HEALTH",COUNTDOWN,DEVELOPING-COUNTRIES,INEQUALITIES,INTERVENTIONS,"NATIONAL SURVEYS",REPRODUCTIVE-HEALTH,SE | None | 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 |
| WoS | WOS:000344519500001 | Evaluation of a Communication Campaign To Improve Continuation Among First-Time Injectable Contraceptive Users in Nyando District, Kenya | Ambasa-Shisanya, Constance,Burke, Holly McClain | 2014 | INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES ON SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH | 40 | 2 | 10.1363/4005614 | Exceed Consultancy Serv | None | CONTEXT: Communication campaigns might be a viable means of improving contraceptive continuation; however, few such interventions aimed at reducing contraceptive discontinuation have been evaluated.
METHODS: Data were collected from independent samples of new injectable users in Nyando District, Kenya site of a communication campaign to increase contraceptive continuation and in a comparison district, nine months before and nine months after intervention implementation. Survival analysis was used to compare the intervention and comparison groups with respect to the distribution of time until first discontinuation of modern method use among women still in need of family planning.
RESULTS: Exposure to family planning information was high in both the treatment and the comparison district before (97% and 85%, respectively) and after the intervention (99% and 78%). Postintervention, 5% of women in the comparison district discontinued by 98 days, 8% by 196 days and 23% by 294 days; the proportions in the treatment district were 4%, 6% and 16%, respectively. No significant difference between the districts was found in the nine-month postintervention contraceptive continuation rates. Having method-related side effects or health concerns was the reason most consistently associated with discontinuation. Other factors associated with discontinuation differed between the districts.
CONCLUSIONS: Addressing method-related side effects and health concerns will be critical in improving continuation of the injectable. | ,"6 DEVELOPING-COUNTRIES","DEPOT-MEDROXYPROGESTERONE ACETATE",DETERMINANTS,DISCONTINUATION,QUALITY-OF-CARE,RATES,WOMEN | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000272135900011 | The use of routine monitoring and evaluation systems to assess a referral model of family planning and HIV service integration in Nigeria | Abubakar, Zubaida,Awi, Dorka D.,Chabikuli, Nzapfurundi O.,Chukwujekwu, Ogo,Gwarzo, Usman,Hamelmann, Christoph,Ibrahim, Mohammed,Merrigan, Mike | 2009 | AIDS | 23 | None | None | Family Hlth Int | None | Objective: To measure changes in service utilization of a model integrating family planning with HIV Counselling and testing (HCT), antiretroviral therapy (ART) and prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) in the Nigerian public health facilities.
Design: It is a retrospective survey of attendance and family planning commodity uptake in 71 health facilities in Nigeria that analyzes the preintegration and postintegration periods between March 2007 and January 2009.
Methods: A prepost retrospective comparison of mean attendance at family planning clinics and couple-years of protection (CYP) compared 6 months preintegration with 9 months postintegration period. An analysis of service ratios was conducted, relating completed referrals at family planning clinics to service utilization at the referring HIV clinics.
Results: Mean attendance at family planning clinics increased significantly from 67.6 in preintegration to 87.0 in postintegration. The mean CYP increased significantly from 32.3 preintegration to 38.2 postintegration. Service ratio of referrals from each of the HIV clinics was low but increased in the postintegration period by 4, 34 and 42 per 1000 clients from HCT, ART and PMTCT clinics, respectively. Service ratios were higher in primary healthcare settings than in secondary or tertiary hospitals. Attendance by men at family planning clinics was significantly higher among clients referred from HIV clinics.
Conclusion: Family planning-HIV integration using the referral model improved family planning service utilization by clients accessing HIV services, but further improvement is possible. Male utilization of family planning services also improved. The government of Nigeria should review the family planning User fee policy and scale up the integration in primary healthcare facilities. (C) 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins | CONTRACEPTION,"health services evaluation",HIV,INTEGRATION,NIGERIA,"ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY","CONTRACEPTIVE USE","HEALTH-CARE NEEDS",INTENTIONS,PREGNANCY,"PROSPECTIVE COHORT","REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH","RURAL UGANDA",SOUTH-AFRICA,WOMEN | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000302023400006 | Do peer educators make a difference? An evaluation of a youth-led HIV prevention model in Zambian Schools | Bratt, J.,Denison, J. A.,Kabaso, M.,Torpey, K.,Tsui, S.,Weaver, M. A. | 2012 | HEALTH EDUCATION RESEARCH | 27 | 2 | 10.1093/her/cyr093 | Family Hlth Int | None | Restless Development's youth-led model places trained Volunteer Peer Educators (VPEs), aged 18-25 years, in schools to teach HIV prevention and reproductive health (RH). VPEs also run youth centers, extracurricular and community-based activities. This evaluation assesses (i) program effects on students' HIV/RH knowledge, attitudes and behaviors using a non-randomized quasi-experimental design among 2133 eighth and ninth grade students in 13 intervention versus 13 matched comparison schools and (ii) program costs. Intervention students had significantly higher levels of knowledge related to HIV [odds ratio (OR) 1.61, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.18-2.19; P < 0.01] and RH (OR 1.71; 95% CI 1.21-2.49; P < 0.01), more positive attitudes toward people living with HIV and greater self-efficacy to refuse unwanted sex and access condoms. No evidence of differences in ever having had sex was found (28% in the intervention; 29% in the comparison schools). However, intervention students were more likely not to have had sex in the previous year (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.03-1.56; P < 0.05) and to have had only one sex partner ever (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.00-2.03; P < 0.05). The average annual cost of the program was US$21 per beneficiary. In conclusion, the youth-led model is associated with increased HIV and RH knowledge and self-efficacy and lowered levels of stigma and sexual risk-taking behaviors. | ,ADOLESCENTS,DEVELOPING-COUNTRIES,"HIV/AIDS PREVENTION",INTERVENTIONS | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000309891600011 | Evaluation of scaling-up should take into account financial access Comment on: Evaluating the scale-up for maternal and child survival: a common framework | Assefa, Yibeltal,Bermejo, Raoul,Hercot, David,Van Damme, Wim | 2012 | INTERNATIONAL HEALTH | 4 | 1 | 10.1016/j.inhe.2011.11.002 | Fed HIV AIDS Prevent & Control Off, Inst Trop Med | None | None | None | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000313929000021 | Evaluating feasibility, reach and potential impact of a text message family planning information service in Tanzania | Lasway, Christine,L'Engle, Kelly L.,Ndakidemi, Elizabeth,Vandat, Heather L.,Zan, Trinity | 2013 | CONTRACEPTION | 87 | 2 | 10.1016/j.contraception.2012.07.009 | FHI 360 | None | Background: The objective of this research was to evaluate the feasibility, reach and potential behavioral impact of providing automated family planning information via mobile phones to the general public in Tanzania.
Study Design: Data from users of the Mobile for Reproductive Health (m4RH) program were collected during the 10-month pilot period. First, contraceptive methods queried by each user were electronically logged by the mobile phone system. Second, four text questions assessing gender, age, promotion point and potential family planning impact were sent to every user.
Results: During the pilot period, 2870 unique users accessed m4RH in Tanzania, resulting in 4813 queries about specific contraceptive methods. Among those responding to text questions, 56% were female and approximately 60% were 29 or younger years in age. A variety of changes in family planning use were mentioned after using m4RH, with reported changes consistent with where users are in their reproductive life cycle.
Conclusions: Reaching younger people, women and men of reproductive age with family planning information delivered via mobile phone is recommended. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. | "FAMILY PLANNING",MEN,"MOBILE PHONES",Tanzania,YOUTH,COMMUNICATION,KENYA,MEN | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000250391300001 | The reliability and validity of self-report measures used to evaluate adolescent HIV/AIDS prevention programs in Sub-saharan Africa | Aastrom, Anne N.,Klepp, Knut-Inge,Komro, Kelli A.,Kugler, Karl C.,Masatu, Melkiory,Mnyika, Kagoma S.,Stigler, Melissa H. | 2007 | AIDS EDUCATION AND PREVENTION | 19 | 5 | None | Florida State University System, University of Bergen, University of Florida, University of Minnesota System, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, University of Oslo, Blue Cross Blue Shield Minnesota | None | The use of reliable and valid tools to evaluate theory-based health interventions is widely accepted as critical to the behavioral sciences. However, quite often the psychometric properties of survey instruments used to evaluate behavioral interventions are not published, limiting our understanding of how the theory works. The purpose of this study was to present the results of psychometric analyses on measures used to evaluate an HIV/AIDS prevention program for youth in Tanzania. We first began by pilot-testing a self-administered questionnaire with sixth-and seventh-grade students in nine schools in 11 villages throughout the Kahe ward of Tanzania (n = 524). Theory-based scales tapped into intrapersonal, social and attitudinal factors. Reliability was evaluated by examining internal consistency, while validity was determined by examining content, construct and discriminant validities. The results indicate that the scales constructed are reasonably reliable and valid measures. Use of these measures should be considered when designing, implementing, and analyzing interventions targeting youth in sub-Saharan Africa. | ,"AIDS EDUCATION","CONDOM USE",HIV,INTENTIONS,PREDICTORS,"PRIMARY-SCHOOL CHILDREN",RISK,SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR,TANZANIA,YOUTH | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000248879800001 | Predicted impact of HIV/AIDS on improved fallow adoption and rural household food security in Malawi | Hildebrand, P. E.,Kwesigal, F.,Thangata, P. H. | 2007 | SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT | 15 | 4 | 10.1002/sd.323 | Florida State University System, University of Florida, Forum Agr Res Agr Res Africa FARA, SADC Secretariat | None | Research was conducted to assess the impact of HIV/AIDS on improved fallow adoption and rural household food security in Malawi. An ethnographic linear programming model was created for a representative household with three scenarios: no illness, adult female illness and adult male illness. Results show that the impact of HIV/AIDS on food production depends on the patient's gender. If a male head of household is sick and later dies, available field labour is reduced as family members are expected to care for him and, consequently, less food and cash crops are produced, which creates a food insecure household. However, when a woman is sick and later dies, the effect on male labour is not as great, as males are not care-givers. We conclude that in an HIV/AIDS environment, agroforestry adoption is more feasible in households in which available labour is undisrupted for longer periods of time. Copyright (c) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. | Africa,AGROFORESTRY,HIV/AIDS,"IMPROVED FALLOWS",MALAWI,"Rural food security",SMALLHOLDER,AGROFORESTRY,CONSERVATION,FARMERS,HIGHLANDS,PROGRAMS,SOIL,TANZANIA | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000322531600001 | Views from the global south: exploring how student volunteers from the global north can achieve sustainable impact in global health | Dimaras, Helen,Ouma, Brian D. O. | 2013 | GLOBALIZATION AND HEALTH | 9 | None | 10.1186/1744-8603-9-32 | Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), University College London, University of London, University of Toronto, Daisys Eye Canc Fund Canada, Daisys Eye Canc Fund Kenya, Toronto Western Res Inst | None | Background: The body of research and practice regarding student volunteer abroad experiences largely focuses on ensuring the optimal learning experience for the student from the Global North, without equivalent attention to the benefits, if any, to the host institution in the Global South. In this debate article, we examine an often overlooked component of global student volunteer programs: the views of the local partner on what makes for a mutually beneficial partnership between volunteers from the Global North and institutions in the Global South.
Discussion: To guide our discussion, we drew upon the experiences of a Kenyan NGO with a Canadian student volunteer in the summer of 2012, organized via a formalized partnership with a Canadian university. We found that the approach of the NGO to hosting the student mirrored the organizational behaviour theories of Margaret J. Wheatley, who emphasized a disorderly or 'chaotic' approach to acquiring impactful change, coupled with a focus on building solid human relationships. Rather than following a set of rigid goals or tasks, the student was encouraged to critically engage and participate in all aspects of the culture of the organization and country, to naturally discover an area where his priorities aligned with the needs of the NGO. Solid networks and interpersonal connections resulted in a process useful for the organization long after the student's short-term placement ended.
Summary: Our discussion reveals key features of successful academic volunteer abroad placements: equal partnership in the design phase between organizations in the Global North and Global South; the absence of rigid structures or preplanned tasks during the student's placement; participatory observation and critical engagement of the student volunteer; and a willingness of the partners to measure impact by the resultant process instead of tangible outcomes. | "critical engagement","global health","MEDICAL EDUCATION","student volunteers","study abroad","volunteer tourism",ABROAD,EDUCATION,ELECTIVES,EXPERIENCES,PROGRAM,RESIDENTS,WORK | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000337685400006 | Single-Arm Evaluation of the AccuCirc Device for Early Infant Male Circumcision in Botswana | Abdullahi, Rasak,Lesetedi, Chiapo,Lockman, Shahin,Makhema, Joseph,Mmalane, Mompati,Ndubuka, Nnamdi O.,Nkgau, Maggie,Plank, Rebeca M.,Powis, Kathleen M.,Shapiro, Roger,Wirth, Kathleen E. | 2014 | JAIDS-JOURNAL OF ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROMES | 66 | 1 | None | Harvard University, Beth Israel Deaconess Med Ctr, Botswana Harvard Sch Publ Hlth AIDS Initiat Partn, Botswana Minist Hlth, Brigham & Womens Hosp, Massachusetts Gen Hosp, Northern InterTribal Hlth Author | None | Existing devices for early infant male circumcision (EIMC) have inherent limitations. We evaluated the newly developed AccuCirc device by circumcising 151 clinically well, full-term male infants with birth weight >= 2.5 kg within the first 10 days of life from a convenience sample in 2 hospitals in Botswana. No major adverse events were observed. There was 1 local infection, 5 cases of minor bleeding, and 1 case of moderate bleeding. In 3 cases, the device made only partial incisions that were completed immediately by the provider without complications. Parental satisfaction was high: >96% of mothers stated that they would circumcise a future son. The pre-assembled, sterile AccuCirc kit has the potential to overcome obstacles related to supply chain management and on-site instrument disinfection that can pose challenges in resource-limited settings. In our study, the AccuCirc was safe and it should be considered for programmatic EIMC in resource-limited settings. | AccuCirc,BOTSWANA,"early infant male circumcision",HIV,NEONATAL,PREVENTION,AFRICA,CLAMP,COMPLICATIONS,"HIV PREVENTION",INJURIES,MEN,"NEONATAL MALE CIRCUMCISION",NEWBORN,PLASTIBELL,RANDOMIZED-TRIAL | 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 |
| WoS | WOS:000260974800015 | Evaluating a school-based trachoma curriculum in Tanzania | Courtright, Paul,Geneau, Robert,Lewallen, Susan,MacArthur, Chad,Massae, Patrick,Somba, Margareth,Tharaney, Manisha | 2008 | HEALTH EDUCATION RESEARCH | 23 | 6 | 10.1093/her/cym097 | Helen Keller Int, Tumaini Univ KCMC | None | Trachoma remains a public health problem in a number of sub-Saharan Africa countries; behavioral change and environmental improvements are cornerstones of prevention efforts. Evidence of successful health education are few in Africa. Health education efforts through primary schools have recently been developed and adopted in Tanzania. We evaluated changes from 2004 to 2005 in knowledge and reported behavioral change as well as nasal and ocular discharge and clean faces in selected schools in central Tanzania. This was a mixed-methods study involving both schoolchildren and schoolteachers. We found a significant reduction in nasal discharge (from 4.5% to 0.5%) and dirty faces (from 3.6% to 0.9%) and improvements in some knowledge- and behavior-related indices by primary schoolchildren in the intervention villages. The teachers viewed the trachoma curriculum positively but reported that the lack of water at the schools limited application of the health education messages. The disparity between health education messages and environmental capacities for implementing these messages (no wells at the schools and minimal latrine facilities at the schools and homes) limited usefulness of the curriculum. | ,"ACTIVE TRACHOMA","BLINDING TRACHOMA",IMPACT,STRATEGY,VIETNAM | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000322310400001 | Protocol for the evaluation of a pay for performance programme in Pwani region in Tanzania: A controlled before and after study | Abdulla, Salim,Binyaruka, Peter,Borghi, Josephine,Maestad, Ottar,Mamdani, Masuma,Mashasi, Irene,Mayumana, Iddy,Njau, Ikunda,Patouillard, Edith | 2013 | IMPLEMENTATION SCIENCE | 8 | None | 10.1186/1748-5908-8-80 | University of London, Ifakara Hlth Inst | None | Background: The use of supply-side incentives to increase health service utilisation and enhance service quality is gaining momentum in many low- and middle-income countries. However, there is a paucity of evidence on the impact of such schemes, their cost-effectiveness, and the process of implementation and potential unintended consequences in these settings. A pay for performance (P4P) programme was introduced in Pwani region of Tanzania in 2011.
Methods/design: An evaluation of the programme will be carried out to inform a potential national rollout. A controlled before and after study will examine the effect of the P4P programme on quality, coverage, and cost of targeted maternal and newborn healthcare services and selected non-targeted services at facilities in Tanzania. Data will be collected from a survey of 75 facilities, 750 patients exiting consultations, over 75 health workers, and 1,500 households of women who delivered in the previous year, in all seven intervention districts. Data will be collected from the same number of respondents in four control districts. A process evaluation will examine: whether the P4P programme was implemented as planned; stakeholder response to the programme and its acceptability; and implementation bottlenecks and facilitating factors. Three rounds of process data collection will be conducted including a review of available P4P documents, individual interviews and focus group discussions with key informants working at facility and district level in five of the intervention districts, and at the regional and national levels. An economic evaluation will measure the cost-effectiveness of P4P relative to current practice from a societal perspective.
Discussion: This evaluation will contribute robust evidence on the impact and cost-effectiveness of P4P in a low income setting, as well as generate a better understanding of the feasibility of integrating complex intervention packages like P4P within health systems in resource poor settings. | "ECONOMIC EVALUATION","impact evaluation","pay for performance","process evaluation",PROTOCOL,Tanzania,"CHILD HEALTH",COUNTRIES,DISTRICT,HEALTH-CARE,PAYMENT,QUALITY,REFORM,RWANDA,SYSTEM | None | 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 |
| 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 |
| WoS | WOS:000257576500004 | Evaluation of a safer male circumcision training programme for traditional surgeons and nurses in the Eastern Cape, South Africa | Kanta, Xola,Nqeketo, Ayanda,Peltzer, Karl,Petros, George | 2008 | AFRICAN JOURNAL OF TRADITIONAL COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES | 5 | 4 | None | Human Sciences Research Council-South Africa, University of the Free State, Impilo Ya Bantu Hlth | None | Training designed to improve circumcision knowledge, attitude and practice was delivered over 5 days to 34 traditional surgeons and 49 traditional nurses in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Training included the following topics: initiation rites; statutory regulation of traditional male circumcision and initiation into Manhood (TCIM); structure and function of the male sex organs; procedure of safe circumcision, infection control; sexually transmitted infections (STIs); HIV/AIDS; infection control measures; aftercare of the initiate including after care of the circumcision wound and initiate as a whole; detection and early management of common complications of circumcision; nutrition and fluid management; code of conduct and ethics; and sexual health education. The evaluation of the training consisted of a prospective assessment of knowledge and attitude immediately prior to and after training. Significant improvement in knowledge and/or attitudes was observed in legal aspects, STI, HIV and environmental aspects, attitudes in terms of improved collaboration with biomedical health care providers, normal and abnormal anatomy and physiology, sexually transmitted infections and including HIV, circumcision practice and aftercare of initiates. We concluded that safer circumcision training can be successfully delivered to traditional surgeons and nurses. | ATTITUDES,"EASTERN CAPE",evaluation,KNOWLEDGE,"safer male circumcision","SOUTH AFRICA","traditional nurses","traditional surgeons","training programme",HEALERS | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000273689800002 | Impact of rural development projects on agricultural productivity in selected regions of Benin | Afari-Sefa, Victor,Yabi, Jacob A. | 2009 | AFRICAN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH | 4 | 11 | None | IITA, Univ Parakou | None | In this study, data collected from 120 rural households located in two distinct socio-cultural locales of Benin was used to assess the impact of 20 development projects on agricultural productivity. A 'withwithout' approach of impact evaluation is followed using ANOVA and econometric regressions. Results reveal no significant differences of projects on agricultural productivity between participants in the two study zones. Econometric regression estimates show significantly positive impacts on agricultural productivity for two selected project indicators in the two study zones. However, the goal achievement index was more remarked in the Adja area, where the projects were found to have better addressed development problems and provided higher impact. The results suggest the need to improve management of agricultural projects to enhance their impact. Likewise, objectives and activities of the projects should be oriented to deal better with development problems of rural people, in particular those of the poorest and marginalized communities. | BENIN,IMPACT,productivity,"rural projects" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000246162900008 | Voluntary counselling and testing: uptake, impact on sexual behaviour, and HIV incidence in a rural Zimbabwean cohort | Chawira, Godwin,Cremin, Ide,Dube, Sabada,Gregson, Simon,Kakowa, Memory,Lopman, Ben,Nyamukapa, Constance,Oberzaucher, Nicole,Sherr, Lorraine | 2007 | AIDS | 21 | 7 | None | Imperial College London, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, UCL Medical School, University College London, University of London, Biomed Res & Training Inst, European Ctr Social Welf Policy & Res | None | Objectives: To examine the determinants of uptake of voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) services, to assess changes in sexual risk behaviour following VCT, and to compare HIV incidence amongst testers and non-testers.
Methods: Prospective population-based cohort study of adult men and women in the Manicaland province of eastern Zimbabwe. Demographic, socioeconomic, sexual behaviour and VCT utilization data were collected at baseline (1998-2000) and follow-up (3 years later). HIV status was determined by HIV-1 antibody detection. In addition to services provided by the government and non-governmental organizations, a mobile VCT clinic was available at study sites.
Results: Lifetime uptake of VCT increased from under 6% to 11% at follow-up. Age, increasing education and knowledge of HIV were associated with VCT uptake. Women who took a test were more likely to be HIV positive and to have greater HIV knowledge and fewer total lifetime partners. After controlling for demographic characteristics, sexual behaviour was not independently associated with VCT uptake. Women who tested positive reported increased consistent condom use in their regular partnerships. However, individuals who tested negative were more likely to adopt more risky behaviours in terms of numbers of partnerships in the last month, the last year and in concurrent partnerships. HIV incidence during follow-up did not differ between testers and non-testers.
Conclusion: Motivation for VCT uptake was driven by knowledge and education rather than sexual risk. Increased sexual risk following receipt of a negative result may be a serious unintended consequence of VCT. It should be minimized with appropriate pre- and post-test counselling. (c) 2007 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. | counselling,"HIV INCIDENCE","sexual behaviour",VCT,ZIMBABWE,AFRICA,COUPLES,EFFICACY,KENYA,MEN,PREVENTION,RANDOMIZED-TRIAL,"RISK BEHAVIOR",TANZANIA,TRANSMISSION | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000208160600018 | Monitoring the millennium development goals: the potential role of the INDEPTH Network | Bangha, Martin,Bawah, Ayaga,Diagne, Alioune,Sankoh, Osman | 2010 | GLOBAL HEALTH ACTION | 3 | None | 10.3402/gha.v3i0.5517 | INDEPTH Network | None | The Millennium Declaration, adopted by the United Nations (UN) in 2000, set a series of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as priorities for UN member countries, committing governments to realising eight major MDGs and 18 associated targets by 2015. Progress towards these goals is being assessed by tracking a series of 48 technical indicators that have since been unanimously adopted by experts. This concept paper outlines the role member Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems (HDSSs) of the INDEPTH Network could play in monitoring progress towards achieving the MDGs. The unique qualities of the data generated by HDSSs lie in the fact that they provide an opportunity to measure or evaluate interventions longitudinally, through the long-term follow-up of defined populations. | "health and demographic surveillance systems","LONGITUDINAL DATA","millennium development goals","monitoring MDG progress" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000298383700020 | What Is the Impact of Home-Based HIV Counseling and Testing on the Clinical Status of Newly Enrolled Adults in a Large HIV Care Program in Western Kenya? | Braitstein, Paula,Kimaiyo, Sylvester,Mamlin, Joseph,Ndege, Samson,Wachira, Juddy | 2012 | CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES | 54 | 2 | 10.1093/cid/cir789 | Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indiana University System, Moi University, Regenstrief Institute Inc, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), University of Toronto, USAID AMPATH | None | Background. This article describes the effect point of entry into the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care program had on the clinical status of adults presenting for the first time to USAID-AMPATH (US Agency for International Development-Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare) Partnership clinics for HIV care.
Methods. All patients aged >= 14 years enrolled between August 2008 and April 2010 were included. Points of entry to USAID-AMPATH clinics were home-based counseling and testing (HBCT), provider-initiated testing and counseling (PITC), HIV testing in the tuberculosis clinic, and voluntary counseling and testing (VCT). Tests for trend were calculated, and multivariable logistic regression was used to compare the effect of HBCT versus other points of entry on primary outcomes controlling for age and sex.
Results. There were 19 552 eligible individuals. Of these, 946 tested in HBCT, 10 261 in VCT, 8073 in PITC, and 272 in the tuberculosis clinic. The median (interquartile range) enrollment CD4 cell counts among those who tested HIV positive was 323 (194-491), 217 (87-404), 190 (70-371), and 136 cells/mm(3) (59-266) for HBCT, VCT, PITC, and the tuberculosis clinic, respectively (P < .001). Compared with those patients whose HIV infection was diagnosed in the tuberculosis clinic, those who tested positive in HBCT were, controlling for age and sex, less likely to have to have World Health Organization stage III or IV HIV infection at enrollment (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], .03-.06), less likely to enroll with a CD4 cell count of < 200 cells/mm(3) (AOR, 0.20; 95% CI, .14-.28), and less likely to enroll into care with a chief complaint (AOR, 0.08; 95% CI, .05-.12).
Conclusions. HBCT is effective at getting HIV-infected persons enrolled in HIV care before they become ill. | ,"ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY",DISCORDANCE,GENDER,INFECTION,PREVALENCE,PREVENTION,SCALE-UP,SELF-DISCLOSURE,SEROSTATUS,"SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA" | None | None |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| WoS | WOS:000304290300010 | Impact of modern agricultural technologies on smallholder welfare: Evidence from Tanzania and Ethiopia | Asfaw, Solomon,Lipper, Leslie,Shiferaw, Bekele,Simtowe, Franklin | 2012 | FOOD POLICY | 37 | 3 | 10.1016/j.foodpol.2012.02.013 | Int Crops Res Inst Semi Arid Trop, Int Maize & Wheat Improvement Ctr CIMMYT, UN | None | This paper evaluates the potential impact of adoption of improved legume technologies on rural household welfare measured by consumption expenditure in rural Ethiopia and Tanzania. The study utilizes cross-sectional farm household level data collected in 2008 from a randomly selected sample of 1313 households (700 in Ethiopia and 613 in Tanzania). The causal impact of technology adoption is estimated by utilizing endogenous switching regression. This helps us estimate the true welfare effect of technology adoption by controlling for the role of selection problem on production and adoption decisions. Our analysis reveals that adoption of improved agricultural technologies has a significant positive impact consumption expenditure (in per adult equivalent terms) in rural Ethiopia and Tanzania. This confirms the potential role of technology adoption in improving rural household welfare as higher consumption expenditure from improved technologies translate into lower poverty, higher food security and greater ability to withstand risk. An analysis of the determinants of adoption highlighted inadequate local supply of seed, access to information and perception about the new cultivars as key constraints for technology adoption. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | "endogenous switching",ETHIOPIA,"household welfare","IMPACT ASSESSMENT","SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA",Tanzania,"technology adoption",ADOPTION,ALLEVIATION,NIGERIA,PIGEONPEA,"POVERTY REDUCTION",PRODUCTIVITY,SERVICES,UGANDA | None | 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 |
| WoS | WOS:000270679700008 | Evaluation of HIV/AIDS clinical care quality: the case of a referral hospital in North West Ethiopia | Alemayehu, Yibeltal Kiflie,Bushen, Oluma Yoseph,Muluneh, Ayalew Tegegn | 2009 | INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR QUALITY IN HEALTH CARE | 21 | 5 | 10.1093/intqhc/mzp030 | Jimma Univ, Tulane Univ | None | Objective. To assess the quality of clinical care provided to patients with HIV in Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital.
Approach and design. Normative evaluation based on Donabedian's structure-process-outcome model of health care quality Cross-sectional study design was employed to gather data in September 2007.
Setting. Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital is a government hospital in North West Ethiopia. The hospital is providing clinical care for patients infected with HIV free of patient charge since 2005.
Measures. The evaluation used 10 process and 5 outcome indicators of quality measured by reviewing 351 randomly selected patient records and interview with 368 patients. Resource inventory was conducted to assess the availability of trained staff, laboratory facilities and drugs required for provision of HFV care.
Results. All resources recommended by the national antiretroviral therapy (ARI) Implementation Guideline including trained staff, laboratory facilities and drugs were continuously available, except for a shortage of cotritnoxazole. Despite this, important components of care and treatment recommended by national treatment guidelines were not delivered for significant portion of patients. The study showed that only 45.9% of patients eligible for cotrimoxazole prophylactic therapy (CPT) and 76.8% of patients eligible for ART were actually taking CPT and ART, respectively. Compliance with national guidelines to monitor patients was also found to be a major problem.
Conclusion. Availability of resources alone does not ensure the quality of HIV care and treatment. The study results indicate a need for regular monitoring and improvement of processes and outcomes of care in the Ethiopian Health System. | "QUALITY IMPROVEMENT","QUALITY INDICATORS","quality measurement","ACTIVE ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY",BASE-LINE,"CD4 CELL COUNT","COTRIMOXAZOLE PROPHYLAXIS",HEALTH-CARE,HIV-INFECTION,MEDICAL-CARE,MORTALITY,UNITED-STATES,"VIRAL LOAD" | None | 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 |
| 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 |
| WoS | WOS:000315865700003 | Unintended Impacts and the Gendered Consequences of Peacekeeping Economies in Liberia | Aning, Kwesi,Edu-Afful, Fiifi | 2013 | INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING | 20 | 1 | 10.1080/13533312.2013.761828 | KAIPTC | None | Despite increased international attention to managing the potential impacts of peacekeeping on host countries, unintended consequences continue to emerge. This article focuses particularly on the alternative economies that peacekeeping operations generate and the differential economic impacts on individuals who come into contact with peacekeepers. Based on empirical evidence derived from fieldwork in Liberia, the article highlights the everyday lives of women whose livelihoods have been affected by the presence of peacekeeping missions. It also discusses how such economies adjust during the peacekeeping drawdown phase, and explores the dynamics that such economies have on specific segments of the Liberian population. The argument is that, while peacekeeping economies are critical in stimulating the local economy and providing livelihoods during and in the immediate aftermath of war, they have negative unintended impacts that need mitigation. | None | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000316158800004 | Review: Impact, Challenges, and Future Projections of Vaccine Trials in Africa | Agbenyega, Tsiri E.,Idoko, Olubukola T.,Kochhar, Sonali,Ogutu, Bernhards,Ota, Martin O. C. | 2013 | AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE | 88 | 3 | 10.4269/ajtmh.12-0576 | Kenya Govt Med Res Ctr, Kwame Nkurma Univ Sci & Technol, MRC Unit, PATH | None | Immunization remains the most cost effective method for the control of infectious diseases. Therefore, there is a global effort to deploy new vaccines for disease control and eradication. These new vaccines must be tested in the settings in which they will be used. This necessity has required the conduct of many vaccine trials in Africa, where several infectious diseases with significant public health impact are prevalent. However, these areas have peculiarities and are just beginning to gain expertise in the conduct of such trials. The vaccine developers and sponsors of these trials may also not be conversant with some issues unique to the trial site. The understanding gap from both partners can result in challenges if not addressed during the planning phase of the trial. This review seeks to highlight the issues surrounding the conduct of clinical trials in resource-constrained settings and suggests some ways of circumventing them. | ,CLINICAL-TRIALS,"CONJUGATE VACCINE",DEVELOPING-COUNTRIES,GAMBIA,HEALTH,INFORMED-CONSENT | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000247094100002 | Impact of small arms insecurity on the public health of pastoralists in the Kenya-Uganda border regions | Mkutu, Kennedy Agade | 2007 | CRIME LAW AND SOCIAL CHANGE | 47 | 1 | 10.1007/s10611-007-9056-6 | Kenya Inst Adm | None | Small arms must be considered as a public health problem, but quantifying the public health impact of small arms is difficult and studies are sparse in areas of conflict. This study considers the remote cross border area between Kenya and Uganda where pastoral conflict in the form of cattle raiding with the use of small arms has escalated in recent years, and where health facilities are scarce. Hospitals and clinics in Karamoja, Uganda, and West Pokot, Kenya were visited by the author, to collect any available data on small arms injuries. Interviews with hospital staff helped to provide further insight into the statistics. Statistics showed that most injuries were sustained during raiding, though worrying incidences of injury among noncombatants and young children were found. Many serious injuries and limb fractures were documented, likely to have some long-term implications for pain, growth, disability, and livelihood. Deaths and injuries are likely to be significantly underestimated by the statistics, due to problems of transport, insecurity, deaths prior to arrival, admission fees for some facilities, and fear of reporting injuries due to the criminal element. Police statistics support this conclusion. The situation appeared to be worse in Uganda as opposed to Kenya, but cooperation between the two countries is needed since pastoralists readily cross the borders both to raid and to attend clinics and hospitals. | ,CONFLICT,POLITICS,STATE,SUNGUSUNGU,TANZANIA,"VILLAGE VIGILANTE GROUPS",VIOLENCE | None | 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 |
| 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 |
| WoS | WOS:000259850000007 | The negative impacts of adolescent sexuality problems among secondary school students in Oworonshoki Lagos | Ajayi, G.,Ashiru, O. A.,Izegbu, M. C.,Oguntola, J. A.,Shittu, L. A. J.,Zachariah, M. P. | 2007 | SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND ESSAYS | 2 | 1 | None | Lagos State Univ, Med Assisted Reprod Ctr MART | None | This study was conducted to focus on the negative health outcomes related to sexual behaviour in adolescents and young adults attending public school in the Oworonshoki region of Lagos, Nigeria, Africa. Since, there is a relative dearth of knowledge on adolescents who face unique and challenging economics, health and education problems in our society. Data on the socio-demographic characteristics, prevalence and knowledge towards STD including HIV/AIDS, prevalence of sexual abuse practice/sexual behaviour, family planning awareness and acceptance including abortion practice were sorted out using self structured questionnaires and administered to 60% of student's population using a stratified random sampling technique. 55.8% lived with both parents. While, 50.3% of the mothers had basic secondary school qualifications, 72.4% of them are traders. 61.5% had sex education were from misinformed friends/peers while 51% had no basic knowledge about sexual behavioral practice and attitude towards STDs/AIDS (HIV). STD has a prevalence of 34 and 41% of boys used condoms for preventing STI/HIV transmission and unwanted pregnancies. One out of every five sexually active teenagers has experienced forced sex, especially among the circumcised girls who were more sexually active than the uncircumcised girls. 60% of girls between ages of 12 and 18 years had more than one unsafe abortion with severe vaginal bleeding (haemorrhage) as the chief complication. However, 65% of the girls did abortion for fear of leaving school and financial hardship as the reasons. | ADOLESCENT,ATTITUDE,KNOWLEDGE,LAGOS,LEGISLATION,SEXUALITY,ABUSE | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000296940900003 | Mentoring and its Impact on the Publication Output of Librarians in Selected Academic Libraries in South-West Nigeria | Yusuf, Felicia | 2011 | AFRICAN JOURNAL OF LIBRARY ARCHIVES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE | 21 | 2 | None | Landmark Univ Lib | None | The paper examined the possible role of mentoring in explaining the publication output of librarians in selected academic libraries. The paper sought to find out the number of papers that the academic librarians published annually, whether they are required to publish the same number of papers for promotion to particular grades as required of mainstream academics in their universities, whether they had mentors, and their perceptions of the impact of mentoring on their publication output. Data were collected from 66 academic librarians in four purposively selected universities in South-West Nigeria. Mentoring was perceived by the librarians to have a positive impact on their publication output, and that the major constraints on their publication efforts were their routine jobs and inability to conceptualise research topics. The study recommends that upcoming academic librarians should have mentors and collaborate with their senior colleagues until they are able to acquire the necessary skills to conceptualise research and publish quality papers. They should also transfer some of their routine duties to para-professionals in their libraries in order to be able to concentrate more on research-related activities such as reading extensively other peoples' works. | None | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000308717900019 | An evaluation of an operations research project to reduce childhood stunting in a food-insecure area in Ethiopia | Bulti, Assaye T.,Duffield, Arabella,Fenn, Bridget,Nduna, Themba,Watson, Fiona | 2012 | PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITION | 15 | 9 | 10.1017/S1368980012001115 | Le Rocher, Save Children | None | Objective: To determine which interventions can reduce linear growth retardation (stunting) in children aged 6-36 months over a 5-year period in a food-insecure population in Ethiopia.
Design: We used data collected through an operations research project run by Save the Children UK: the Child Caring Practices (CCP) project. Eleven neighbouring villages were purposefully selected to receive one of four interventions: (i) health; (iii) nutrition education; (iii) water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH); or (iv) integrated comprising all interventions. A comparison group of three villages did not receive any interventions. Cross-sectional surveys were conducted at baseline (2004) and for impact evaluation (2009) using the same quantitative and qualitative tools. The primary outcome was stunted growth in children aged 6-36 months measured as height (or length)-for-age Z-scores (mean and prevalence). Secondary outcomes were knowledge of health seeking, infant and young child feeding and preventive practices.
Setting: Amhara, Ethiopia.
Subjects: Children aged 6-36 months.
Results: The WASH intervention group was the only group to show a significant increase in mean height-for-age Z-score (+0.33, P = 0.02), with a 12.1% decrease in the prevalence of stunting, compared with the baseline group. This group also showed significant improvements in mothers' knowledge of causes of diarrhoea and hygiene practices. The other intervention groups saw non-significant impacts for childhood stunting but improvements in knowledge relating to specific intervention education messages given.
Conclusions: The study suggests that an improvement in hygiene practices had a significant impact on stunting levels. However, there may be alternative explanations for this and further evidence is required. | ETHIOPIA,"food insecure","impact evaluation","OPERATIONS RESEARCH",STUNTING,CHILDREN,GROWTH,INFECTION,INTERVENTIONS,"INTESTINAL PERMEABILITY",NUTRITION,UNDERNUTRITION | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000250834900004 | Adherence to HAART therapy measured by electronic monitoring in newly diagnosed HIV patients in Botswana | Anand, Bene,Cohen, Adam,Iwebor, Henry Uchechukwaka,Kristanto, Paulus,Rakesh, Pande,Stiekema, Jacobus,Vriesendorp, Reinout,Vrijens, Bernard | 2007 | EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY | 63 | 12 | 10.1007/s00228-007-0369-2 | Leiden University, VU University Amsterdam, Ardex Ltd, CHDR, Nyangabgwe Hosp, Pharmion Syst Ltd | None | Aims This pilot study was designed to evaluate the feasibility and benefits of electronic adherence monitoring of antiretroviral medications in HIV patients who recently started Highly Active Anti Retroviral Therapy (HAART) in Francistown, Botswana and to compare this with self-reporting.
Methods Dosing histories were compiled electronically using Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) monitors to evaluate adherence to prescribed therapies. Thirty patients enrolled in the antiretroviral treatment program were monitored over 6 weeks. These patients were all antiretroviral (ARV) naive. After each visit (mean three times) to the pharmacy, the data compiled by the monitors were downloaded. Electronic monitoring of adherence was compared to patient self-reports of adherence.
Results The mean individual medication adherence level measured with the electronic device was 85% (range 21-100%). The mean adherence level measured by means of self-reporting was 98% (range 70-100%). Medication prescribed on a once-a-day dose base was associated with a higher adherence level (97.9% for efavirenz) compared with a twice-a-day regimen (88.4% for Lamivudine/Zidovudine).
Conclusions It is feasible to assess treatment adherence of patients living in a low resource setting on HAART by using electronic monitors. Adherence, even in the early stages of treatment, appears to be insufficient in some patients and may be below the level required for continuous inhibition of viral replication. This approach may lead to improved targeting of counselling about their medication intake of such patients in order to prevent occurrence of resistant viral strains due to inadequate inhibition of viral replication. In this pilot study a significant difference between the data recorded through the electronic monitors and those provided by self-reporting was observed. | ADHERENCE,HAART,"MEMS caps","ANTIRETROVIRAL ADHERENCE",CLINICAL-PRACTICE,COMBINATIONS,DIDANOSINE,DRUG-RESISTANCE,"INFECTED PATIENTS",NEVIRAPINE,"PROTEASE INHIBITORS",SELF-REPORT,ZIDOVUDINE | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000240696300003 | Process evaluation of the teacher training for an AIDS prevention programme | Ahmed, Nazeema,Flisher, Alan J.,Jansen, Shahieda,Mathews, Catherine,Mukoma, Wanjiru,Schaalma, Herman | 2006 | HEALTH EDUCATION RESEARCH | 21 | 5 | 10.1093/her/cyl031 | Maastricht University, South African Medical Research Council, University of Cape Town | None | This paper provides a process evaluation of a 6-day teacher training programme which forms part of a sexuality education project. The training aimed at providing teachers with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively teach a 16-lesson Grade 8 (14 year olds) life skills curriculum consisting of participatory exercises on sexual reproductive health, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), sexual decision-making, abstinence, consequences of sexual activity, safe sex practices, substance abuse and sexual violence. Questionnaires administered prior to the training, on completion of the training and at two follow-up time periods were analysed as well as participant observation notes. Findings indicate that teachers reported increased confidence and comfort in teaching the sexuality curriculum. However, many struggled with the transfer of sexual reproductive knowledge and facilitative teaching methods into the classroom context. This highlights the need for HIV education to form part of teacher trainee programmes. Ongoing support and engagement with teachers is needed to encourage alternative teaching practices. | ,CURRICULUM,DIFFUSION,HEALTH,"HIGH-SCHOOL TEACHERS","HIV PREVENTION",IMPLEMENTATION,INTERVENTION,"SEX-EDUCATION PROGRAM","SEXUALITY EDUCATION",SOUTH-AFRICA | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000267828800005 | Process evaluation of a school-based HIV/AIDS intervention in South Africa | Ahmed, Nazeema,Flisher, Alan J.,Jansen, Shahieda,Klepp, Knut-Inge,Mathews, Catherine,Mukoma, Wanjiru,Schaalma, Herman | 2009 | SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH | 37 | None | 10.1177/1403494808090631 | Maastricht University, University of Cape Town, University of Oslo | None | Aims: This paper presents a process evaluation that assessed the fidelity and quality of implementation, as well as the acceptability and subjective evaluations of a HIV/AIDS intervention among students and teachers. Methods: The process evaluation was conducted as part of a cluster randomized controlled trial of a theory- and evidence-based school HIV/AIDS intervention in Cape Town. The intervention was designed for grade 8 high school students and delivered by teachers over a six-month period. Twenty-six schools participated in the trial, 13 in the intervention group and 13 in the control group. Results: The success of implementation was varied within and across the schools, with some teachers implementing the intervention with more fidelity than others. This was influenced by a combination of individual characteristics and institutional factors. The factors that aided implementation included compliance with the current outcomes-based education approach; provision of teacher training; provision of teacher manuals with detailed information and instructions about the lessons and activities; continued monitoring and support for teachers; and student enthusiasm for the lessons. Proper implementation was hindered by large class sizes; too many activities in the intervention; teacher resistance to and inexperience in using participatory methods; teacher turnover; the low status of life orientation compared to other subjects; and a general disregard for life orientation among students. Conclusions: These findings are important for improving the intervention and contextualizing the results of the outcome evaluation; and to better plan for further large scale dissemination of school-based HIV/AIDS intervention programmes. | ADOLESCENTS,HIV/AIDS,"process evaluation",SCHOOL,"SOUTH AFRICA","AIDS EDUCATION","DELIVERED SEX-EDUCATION",HEALTH,"HIV PREVENTION",IMPLEMENTATION,PROGRAM,TEACHERS,YOUTH | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000317444800005 | School feeding and educational access in rural Ghana: Is poor targeting and delivery limiting impact? | Bosumtwi-Sam, Cynthia,Essuman, Ato | 2013 | INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT | 33 | 3 | 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2012.09.011 | Management Consulting & Educ Res | None | In an effort to address social imbalances and equity in Ghana's education delivery and to achieve her Education for All (EFA) agenda, some pro-poor programmes have been introduced. Among these is the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) that aims among others, at providing safety nets for the poor, increasing school enrolment in addition to boosting domestic food production. While this programme has been implemented since 2005, there is paucity of information on the experiences of beneficiaries and implementers. The GSFP has been designed as a national programme to feed children in public kindergarten and primary schools, based on a single implementation framework. This single implementation framework does not make room for contextualization of programme implementation and allow the tapping into the knowledge base of both the school and the community in making judgments about who is really needy and who is not. Thus, the study sought to explore the experiences of beneficiaries and implementers of the programme within three rural communities in Ghana, using interviews and observations. Challenges of programme delivery, which include prolonged time spent on serving, eating and cleaning up, counter effective teaching and learning and pose a threat to education quality. There are policy conflicts, funding challenges and issues about targeting and sustainability of the programme. These give credence to the need to understand the local dynamics of poverty and how they affect demand for educational access in rural contexts. The paper finally proffers ways in which insights gained from these experiences can contribute to the current discourse on School Feeding Programmes in the context of developing economies. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | "educational access",POVERTY,"school feeding","social safety nets",TARGETING,OUTCOMES,POVERTY | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000251053500027 | The impact of lexicographical work on language use: The case of shona monolingual dictionaries in Zimbabwe | Mapara, J.,Nyota, S. | 2007 | LEXIKOS | 17 | None | None | Masvingo State Univ | None | This article examines the impact of current lexicographical work in Zimbabwe on some sectors of Shona language use, namely education, media, medicine and local government. It looks specifically at Shona monolingual lexicographical projects completed by the African Languages Research Institute (ALRI),. successor to the African Languages Lexical Project (ALLEX). It analyses how users of Shona in these particular sectors are responding to the different lexicographical products published by ALRI. The article maintains that Shona monolingual lexicography has resulted in language raising and awareness. It has also led to term creation and has contributed towards standardisation of the language. Shona has furthermore gained the abstractive power it needs to explain its own and other concepts. All these have caused diglossia leakage from Low (L) Shona to High (H) Shona in some areas of Shona language usage. The overall effect is that Shona is now used in some formal sectors such as the above-mentioned ones which previously were the preserve of English in Zimbabwe. | ALLEX,ALRI,DICTIONARIES,"GENERAL DICTIONARIES","language awareness","language raising","LANGUAGE USE","monolingual lexicography",SLCA,Specialised,standardisation | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000257863300008 | Southern African AIDS Trust - An evaluation of the process and outcomes of community-based partner graduation | Ismail, Hamida,Simon, Lisa D. | 2008 | CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH-REVUE CANADIENNE DE SANTE PUBLIQUE | 99 | None | None | McMaster University, University of Toronto, So African AIDS Trust | None | Objectives: To assess the partner graduation process used by SAT, the barriers partners face to graduation, and the outcomes following graduation, as well as to recommend directions for formalizing the graduation process into a more efficient and effective strategy.
Methods: The quantitative component of this evaluation described existing data on graduated partners. The qualitative component collected data through semi-structured interviews with SAT regional and national staff, and both current long-term and graduated partners, with an emphasis on SAT's operations in Zambia and Zimbabwe. A participatory staff workshop allowed for the review of findings and recommendations.
Results: SAT has graduated 31 implementing partners in its 5 core programming countries, after an average partnership duration of 6.5 years each. The graduation process has generally operated in accordance with SAT's guidelines regarding criteria and timeline, but has also involved considerable judgement, as SAT does not form explicit graduation strategies with partners. Key barriers to graduation included partners' challenges with resource mobilization and high staff turnover, as well as the reduced clarity around the graduation process itself for both SAT staff and partners. The outcomes of the graduated partners interviewed revealed strong sustainability of organizational systems, but mixed sustainability of financial resources and resource-dependent features. SAT staff provided many recommendations for addressing partners' challenges, and for improving and formalizing the graduation process.
Discussion: The efficiency and sustainability of SAT's work could be improved with the development of an explicit and individualized graduation strategy with each partner. An enhanced and earlier focus on fundraising, sustainability, and human resources would also remove barriers to graduation and help improve outcomes. | Africa,"EVALUATION STUDIES",HIV,ORGANIZATIONS,SOUTHERN,"World health" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000305644400001 | Social impact of HIV/AIDS on clients attending a teaching hospital in Southern Nigeria | Johnson, Ofonime E. | 2012 | SAHARA J-JOURNAL OF SOCIAL ASPECTS OF HIV-AIDS | 9 | 2 | 10.1080/17290376.2012.683578 | Med Coll Publ Hlth FMCPH, Univ Uyo, W African Coll Phys FWACP | None | People living with human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (PLWHA) face numerous social challenges. The objectives of this study were to assess the level of self-disclosure of status by PLWHA, to describe the level and patterns of stigma and discrimination, if any, experienced by the PLWHA and to assess the effect of sero-positivity on the attitude of friends, family members, health workers, colleagues and community. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study carried out among PLWHA attending the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Southern Nigeria. Information was obtained using an interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire, which was analysed using the Epi 6 software. A total of 331 respondents were interviewed. A majority, 256 (77.3%), of the respondents were within the age range of 25-44 years. A total of 121 (36.6%) PLWHA were single and 151 (46.6%) were married, while the rest were widowed, divorced or separated. A majority, 129 (85.4%), of the married respondents disclosed their status to their spouses and 65 (50.4%) were supportive. Apart from spouses, disclosure to mothers (39.9%) was highest. Most clients (57.7%) did not disclose their status to people outside their immediate families for fear of stigmatization. Up to 111 (80.4%) of the respondents working for others did not disclose their status to their employers. Among those whose status was known, discrimination was reported to be highest among friends (23.2%) and at the workplace (20.2%). Attitudes such as hostility (14.5%), withdrawal (11.7%) and neglect (6.8%) were reported from the private hospitals. Apart from disclosure to spouses, the level of disclosure to others was very low. Those whose status was known mainly received acceptance from their families but faced discriminatory attitudes such as hostility, neglect and withdrawal from friends, colleagues and hospital workers. There is a need for more enlightenment campaigns on HIV/AIDS by stakeholders to reduce stigma and discrimination and ensure adequate integration of PLWHA into the society. | DISCLOSURE,DISCRIMINATION,"enlightenment campaigns",sero-positivity,STIGMA,workplaces,"DISCRIMINATORY ATTITUDES" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000226574200004 | Evaluation criteria for district health management information systems: lessons from the Ministry of Health, Kenya | Odhiambo-Otieno, GW | 2005 | INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICAL INFORMATICS | 74 | 1 | 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2004.09.003 | Moi University | None | Introduction: There has been no comprehensive evaluation of the district health management information systems (DHMISs) since the establishment of these systems by the Ministry of Health (MoH), in Kenya. This is partly due to lack of defined criteria for evaluating the systems. The objective of this study is to design evaluation criteria for assessing the viability, sustainability and ultimate contribution of DHMIS in the management of the district health system (DHS) in Kenya.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken in three DHSs in Kenya. Empirical evidence was collected through interviews, complemented by a comprehensive review of relevant literature, reports and operational manuals of various health information systems in Kenya.
Results: A set of evaluation criteria for DHMISs in Kenya was designed for each of the three phases of implementation: phase one-pre-implementation evaluation criteria (categorized as policy and objectives, technical feasibility.. financial viability, political viability and administrative operability) to be applied at the design stage; phase two-concurrent (operational) implementation evaluation criteria to be applied during implementation of the new system; phase three post-implementation evaluation criteria (classified as internal-quality of information; external-resources and managerial support; ultimate-systems impact) to be applied after operating the implemented system for at least 3 years.
Conclusions: In designing a DHMIS model there is need to have built-in these three sets of evaluation criteria which should be used in a phased manner. Preimplementation evaluation criteria should be used to evaluate the system's viability before more resources are committed to its implementation; concurrent (operational) implementation evaluation criteria should be used to ascertain the status of the on-going implementation with the view to either fine-tune or abandon it altogether before more resources are used on it; and post-implementation evaluation criteria should be used to assess its overall effectiveness (if it has achieved its hypothesized benefits) towards the management of DHS. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. | "DISTRICT HEALTH MANAGEMENT","district health system","evaluation criteria","INFORMATION SYSTEM" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000288998900005 | Community resource centres in Mtwara, Lindi and Ruvuma regions in Tanzania: an evaluation of their development needs, usefulness, and the way forward | Charbonneau, DH,Mcharazo, Alli A. S. | 2008 | GLOBAL INFORMATION INEQUALITIES: BRIDGING THE INFORMATION GAP | None | None | None | Muhimbili Univ Hlth & Allied Sci | None | None | None | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000305821500007 | The impact of a psychiatry clinical rotation on the attitude of Nigerian medical students to psychiatry | Abayomi, O.,Adebowale, T. O.,Adelufosi, A. O.,Ogunwale, A.,Ojo, T. M. | 2012 | AFRICAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY | 15 | 3 | 10.4314/ajpsy.v15i3.24 | Neuropsychiat Hosp | None | Objective: Undergraduate medical students have ingrained and often negative attitudes towards psychiatry as a field and as a career. This in turn has affected recruitment of graduate medical students into the specialty Little is known about the impact of psychiatry rotations during undergraduate medical training on students' attitudes about psychiatry and eventual specialty choice in developing countries. This study examined the impact of a psychiatry clinical rotation on medical students' attitudes to psychiatry and possible career choice. Method: Eighty-one and one hundred and six fifth year medical students completed the ATP-30, socio-demographic and career choice questionnaires at the beginning and the end of a four week clinical rotation respectively Results: The overall attitude of the students to psychiatry was favourable at the beginning of the rotation with significant improvement following the rotation (p=0.003). Significant improvement in attitude was observed among female and younger students. Students who indicated preference for specialties other than psychiatry showed a greater improvement in their attitude to psychiatry following the rotation (p=0.011). The rotation however did not enhance students' preference for psychiatry as a future career. Conclusion: The four-week clinical rotation in psychiatry resulted in increased mean attitudinal score, but not in enhanced preference for psychiatry as a career. | ATTITUDE,"MEDICAL STUDENTS",NIGERIA,PSYCHIATRY,CAREER,CHOICE,SCHOOL | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000306624400004 | Job rotation program evaluation: the Niger Delta University Library | Baro, Emmanuel E. | 2012 | ASLIB PROCEEDINGS | 64 | 4 | 10.1108/00012531211244743 | Niger Delta Univ | None | Purpose - Since 2004 the Niger Delta University Library has adopted a job rotation program to help solve manpower and skills acquisition problems. The study reported in this paper aimed to evaluate the Niger Delta University job rotation program, including the impact of the program on newly employed librarians and their job performance, and the university library.
Design/methodology/approach - The study has two parts. Firstly, the paper reports results from focus group interviews with Niger Delta University librarians who participated in the job rotation program. Secondly, an interview was conducted with the Niger Delta University librarian who adopted the job rotation program to elicit insights into the impact and challenges of the library job rotation program. The Kirkpatrick and Kirkpatrick four-level evaluation framework was chosen to use as a framework for the evaluation of the responses.
Findings- The study revealed that the job rotation program is an important program for allowing librarians to acquire new skills, enhance staff productivity, develop new relationships across the university library and gain skills needed for gain skills needed for future career advancement. The participants in the career advancement. The participants in the job rotation program who were interviewed showed a high level of satisfaction with the program.
Practical implications - The findings of this study will inform library administrators or management about the adoption of job rotation programs in their libraries. Many university libraries have problems with a lack of skills experienced by new librarians and also as a staff development tool in the workplace.
Originality/value - The paper calls for proactive effort by university libraries to adopt new strategies to enhance skills development for efficient productivity. | "ACADEMIC LIBRARIES","JOB MOBILITY","job rotation","library management",NIGERIA,"skills acquisition","skills flexibility" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000209023900007 | Beyond Smiling: The Evaluation of a Positive Psychological Intervention Aimed at Student Happiness | Rothmann, Sebastiaan,Van Zyl, Llewellyn Ellardus | 2012 | JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY IN AFRICA | 22 | 3 | 10.1080/14330237.2012.10820541 | North West Univ VTC | None | The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a positive psychological intervention (PPI) aimed at increasing happiness of students in a tertiary educational institution. A convenience sample (n = 20) was drawn from the entire population of academic third year students in the field of Industrial/Organisational psychology (n = 109). The majority of the participants were Sesotho speaking (45%), black (95%), female (90%), and 21 years of age (45%). A single group pre-, post-, and post-post-test design was used. The PPI stretched across eight months and was presented in two phases: (a) a three day self-development workshop and (b) six sessions of individual coaching. The intervention focused on facilitating development on two levels, namely a psychological (engagement, meaning, person-environment fit, autonomy, competence, relatedness and authenticity), and emotional (pleasure, affect balance and life satisfaction) level. Data were collected using the Satisfaction with Life Scale, Positive and Negative Affect Scale, Orientations to Happiness Questionnaire, Basic Psychological Needs Scale, the Authentic Self Inventory and Person-Environment Fit scale. The results indicated that the overall happiness of a student increased through developing individuals on both an emotional and psychological level. The PPI affected all the aspects conceptualised in this study, except for two components of authenticity. Therefore, a multi-dimensional approach towards PPIs aimed at happiness of students in a tertiary educational environment may contribute to happy students. | COACHING,HAPPINESS,"Positive psychological intervention","positive psychology","TERTIARY EDUCATION" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000242174400002 | The implementation and evaluation of a behaviour-based safety intervention at an iron ore mine | Moller, G. P.,Rothmann, S. | 2006 | SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCES | 9 | 3 | None | North West University - South Africa | None | It is estimated that workers worldwide suffer 250 million accidents each year, with 330000 fatalities. This is despite the implementation of traditional safety interventions like safety engineering. Little emphasis has thus far been placed on behavioural interventions to improve safety culture and performance in the workplace. The aim of this study was to determine to what extent the safety culture and safety performance in an iron ore mine were affected by the implementation of a behaviour-based safety intervention. A longitudinal design was used. The sample consisted of 562 employees of an iron ore mine. The results showed that the implementation of the safety intervention brought about an improvement in the safety culture at the mine, and positively impacted on the number of lost-time injuries. | None | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000243641700005 | A performance evaluation of strategic environmental assessment (SEA) processes within the South African context | Retief, Francois | 2007 | ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REVIEW | 27 | 1 | 10.1016/j.eiar.2006.08.002 | North West University - South Africa | None | SEA has been described as being more about process than about product. Yet very little research has been conducted to gain a better understanding of how SEA processes perform within developing country contexts. To address this gap in knowledge the research underlying this paper aimed to evaluate the quality of SEA processes within the South African context against specifically designed key performance indicators. Comparison of the different data patterns revealed general SEA process features as well as three broad models, namely the 'stand alone', 'central to decision making' and 'integrated' models. The research results suggest a particularly poor performance in terms of process quality for the SEA case studies investigated. Moreover, it shows that there is no one understanding of SEA process within the South African context. The main limitations related to a weak understanding of the decision making processes SEA aimed to inform, as well as an inability to incorporate flexibility into process design. To take the debate forward it is proposed that SEA follow-up and effectiveness research be explored to determine which of these models (if any) ultimately contributed to influencing decision making and promote sustainability. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. | "key performance indicators","PERFORMANCE EVALUATION","process quality","STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000278488800003 | Evaluation of the Cummins theoretical framework for higher education in South Africa | Coetzee-Van Rooy, Susan | 2010 | SOUTHERN AFRICAN LINGUISTICS AND APPLIED LANGUAGE STUDIES | 28 | 1 | 10.2989/16073614.2010.488443 | North West University - South Africa | None | In the context of the successful bilingual education of children, the value of the theoretical framework of Jim Cummins is acknowledged by educators and researchers worldwide. This framework is also used extensively in South Africa to provide a structure for educators and researchers that are interested in the relationships between bi- and/or multilingualism and academic success in schools.
Cummins consistently describes the context (types of learners, educational and political system, language landscape) within which his theoretical framework is operational and is careful not to extrapolate findings and implications to other contexts. Despite this sensitive approach to context, the framework is extended to the higher-education context in South Africa regularly. The extension of this framework beyond its original context to the higher-education context in South Africa attests to the engagement of higher-education practitioners to understand the relationship between language (specifically medium of instruction) and academic success in South Africa, as well as to the 'face validity' of the framework.
In this article, the appropriateness of applying the Cummins theoretical framework to the higher-education context in South Africa is evaluated. Implications for the use of the framework in this context are explored. | ,LANGUAGE | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000267888500001 | Evaluation of HIV/AIDS secondary school peer education in rural Nigeria | Otte, Willem M.,van der Maas, Frank | 2009 | HEALTH EDUCATION RESEARCH | 24 | 4 | 10.1093/her/cyn056 | Nwofe Iseke | None | In this study, we assessed whether peer education is an effective method of HIV/AIDS awareness, in terms of knowledge, misconception and behavior, among adolescents in the rural area of Nigeria. A comparative case series (n = 250), cross-sectional structured survey (n = 135) and focus group discussions (n = 80) were undertaken among adolescents. In both the case series and structured survey, a questionnaire was used which addresses the following issues: socio-demography, knowledge on transmission and prevention of HIV/AIDS, accessibility to different sources of HIV/AIDS information, stigmatization and sexual behavior. Binary logistic regression was applied to compare responses from the peer-educated and not peer-educated populations. The model was adjusted for confounders. We demonstrated increased knowledge and decreased misconception and sexual risk behavior in adolescents receiving peer education as compared to adolescents not receiving peer education. These differences are apparent both over time (2005-2007) and cross-sectional (2007). In conclusion, peer education in rural areas can be effective in HIV/AIDS prevention. Knowledge and behavior can be influenced positively. | ,"AFRICAN YOUTH",AIDS,"HIV PREVENTION PROGRAMS",KNOWLEDGE,PEOPLE,RISK | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000285526700005 | The impact of internet use on teaching, learning and research activities in Nigerian universities A case study of Obafemi Awolowo University | Nwezeh, Chinwe M. T. | 2010 | ELECTRONIC LIBRARY | 28 | 5 | 10.1108/02640471011081960 | Obafemi Awolowo University | None | Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of internet resources and the evaluation of their usefulness on teaching, learning and research in Nigerian universities with particular emphasis on Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
Design/methodology/approach - The paper is based on a descriptive survey using questionnaires for data collection. The respondents constitute students (750) and academic staff (115) from OAU. Descriptive statistics (frequency counts and percentages) were used to analyze the data.
Findings - The results from the paper reveal that a majority of the surveyed academic staff and the students found the internet to be very useful. Internet resources mostly used by both groups were e-mail and the world wide web (WWW). Search interfaces were used for looking for research information. It was discovered that the users were not given adequate user education to enable them make use of the internet resources available.
Originality/value - That the internet is widely used is not a surprise, but the paper points to the fact that more conscious efforts must be made in the introduction of user education and information literacy programmes, as well as in staff training on information and communication technology resources in the library. | "INFORMATION LITERACY",INTERNET,NIGERIA,"university libraries","USER STUDIES",INFORMATION | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000317797800002 | Impact of health informatics on nurses' computer skills and the role of the library | Ajayi, N. A. | 2013 | ELECTRONIC LIBRARY | 31 | 2 | 10.1108/02640471311312357 | Obafemi Awolowo University | None | Purpose - The concept of the paper is how the library can be a useful framework for designing nurses' computer skills. The overarching aim of the research is to focus on how the computer skills involved in nurses' increasing access to health informatics can be used to improve nursing practice, consequently leading to better health care delivery. The objectives involved in achieving this aim include: finding out the level of nurses' computer literacy; finding out nurses' quest for electronic information for problem-based nursing practice; investigating nurses' level of awareness of research-based nursing practice; and finding out areas of desirability of informatics in nursing practice.
Design/methodology/approach - The measuring instrument used was a self-administered questionnaire to senior nursing cadres in the Teaching Hospitals Complex, lie-He, Nigeria. There were 230 nurses in these categories, of whom 180 were given questionnaires to fill in. The questionnaire was pre-tested and validated. A total of 167 copies were returned and found to be usable. Simple percentages and a summation weighted index were used to analyse the data.
Findings - The paper provides empirical insight into nurses' computer skills and the library's role. The majority of the respondents did not have knowledge of computers; in the School of Nursing they learned it through various means while practising, while a few could access and retrieve information from the available databases. Some difficulties were expressed, such as workload, lack of skills, location of the library with regard to the hospital, etc. The desirability of the introduction of health informatics to the profession is high.
Research limitations/implications - The study is limited to a teaching hospital and the results may not be generalisable to non-teaching hospitals, hence the need for further studies. Practical implications - The impact of health informatics on nurses' computer skills and the library's role will save nurses from routine work, enhance their productivity, and will equip them better for the challenges that information technology presents for health professionals.
Originality/value - This paper fulfils and identifies the need to introduce health informatics to nursing practice in order to improve patient care. | "ACADEMIC LIBRARIES","ELECTRONIC LIBRARIES",HOSPITALS,LIBRARIES,NIGERIA,NURSES,"SKILLS TRAINING",ATTITUDES | 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 |
| WoS | WOS:000294754600003 | Potential sociological impacts of unfair treatment of seafarers | Manuel, Michael Ekow | 2011 | MARITIME POLICY & MANAGEMENT | 38 | 1 | 10.1080/03088839.2010.533714 | Reg Maritime Univ | None | World trade is dependent on shipping. The ships which facilitate this trade are crewed by thousands of men and women from many different nations. In light of recent incidents/accidents which have drawn adverse media attention to the industry, there has been increased focus on international shipping via various legislative and administrative measures. One consequence of the adverse attention seems to be the way that individuals who crew the ships are being treated in various jurisdictions. This paper discusses some potential sociological impacts of what is often perceived to be the unfair treatment of seafarers and how such sociological impacts may have more technical consequences (impacts) related to risk. It generates some hypothetical positions for the purposes of discussion and is not based on empirical findings. | None | None | 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 |
| WoS | WOS:000305201600009 | Measuring and monitoring energy access: Decision-support tools for policymakers in Africa | Hailu, Yohannes G. | 2012 | ENERGY POLICY | 47 | None | 10.1016/j.enpol.2012.03.065 | United Nations Econ Commiss Africa ECA | None | A significant number of African States have adapted energy access targets. In evaluating progress towards these goals, measuring and monitoring energy access becomes relevant. This paper reviews energy access indicators and identifies their utility and challenges in their application. By focusing on Africa, a broader framework for energy access measurement and monitoring is discussed. along with implementation barriers and potential solutions. To demonstrate the utility of energy access decision-support tool in Africa, a scenario analysis in five regional energy pools is conducted using the Energy Spending Model tool. Institutionalizing monitoring and decision-support tools can provide valuable feedback to policymakers aiming to design and implement effective energy access programs serving a growing population in Africa. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | "DECISION SUPPORT","energy access","policy targets",URBAN-POOR | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000340988400006 | Priority setting for evaluation: Developing a strategic evaluation portfolio | Battaglino, C.,Norgbey, S.,Spilsbury, M. J. | 2014 | EVALUATION AND PROGRAM PLANNING | 46 | None | 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2014.05.008 | United Nations Headquarters Nairobi | None | Resources for evaluation are frequently scarce and best use should be made of them to deliver against the typical purposes of an evaluation function to (i) enhance accountability and (ii) promote operational improvement and learning. This paper presents a method for analyzing and prioritizing potential evaluations to improve the selection of a portfolio of activities that give the greatest pay-off. The method establishes the relative priority of 'evaluation opportunities' against criteria that relate to the usual primary purposes of an evaluation function. The method was developed in the context of a multilateral organization but is of general utility to the wider evaluation community and, with suitable adaptation can be applied to help ensure that scarce evaluation resources are used to their best advantage.
A range of benefits are expected to accrue to an organization from adopting a more thorough, analytical priority setting process. These include:
Enhancing the relevance of evaluations to the wider organizational agenda
Providing structured justification for allocating funds to evaluation activities
More transparent, predictable decision-making
Enabling realignment of evaluation priorities with changing needs and circumstances
Improved credibility with stakeholders
Providing a clear direction and sense of purpose to evaluation staff
Documenting a clear framework for the development of an organization's evaluation portfolio.
The paper describes a priority setting method, including the key criteria that are used to assess 'evaluation opportunities', and presents different analyses of an evaluation portfolio. Examples from a practical application of the approach to the preparation of an evaluation work plan in a multilateral environmental agency are given. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | None | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000277528100007 | THE IMPACT OF EXPOSURE TO MASS MEDIA CAMPAIGNS AND SOCIAL SUPPORT ON LEVELS AND TRENDS OF HIV-RELATED STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION IN NIGERIA: TOOLS FOR ENHANCING EFFECTIVE HIV PREVENTION PROGRAMMES | Adebayo, S. B.,Ankomah, A.,Anyanti, J.,Fakolade, R. | 2010 | JOURNAL OF BIOSOCIAL SCIENCE | 42 | 3 | 10.1017/S0021932009990538 | Soc Family Hlth | None | People living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHAs) often face stigma and discrimination, especially in developing countries. HIV-related stigma is expressed through social ostracism, personal rejection, direct and indirect discrimination, and denial from families and friends. Consequently, it is associated with reduced adoption of preventive and care behaviours, including condom use, seeking for HIV test and care-seeking behaviour subsequent to diagnosis. Ignorance about the epidemiology of the disease on modes of transmission and prevention aggravates HI V-related stigma in Nigeria. Behaviour change communication activities through mass media have been shown to be an effective approach in improving people's knowledge about the disease. This paper monitors trends in the level of accepting attitudes towards PLWHAs in Nigeria between 2003 and 2007. It also evaluates the impact of exposure to mass media and social support on the levels of accepting attitudes towards PLWHAs. A significant and positive trend was evident between 2003 and 2007 (p<0.0001). Furthermore, exposure to mass media communications on HIV and AIDS issues and social support were significantly related to the reduced stigma and discrimination against PLWHAs (p<0.0001). | None | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000293559000014 | Evaluating Agricultural Research and Extension in Tanzania: the Production Function Approach | Anandajayasekeram, P,Babu, S,Isinika, A. C.,Keswani, CL,Liebenberg, F,Rukuni, M | 2007 | IMPACT OF SCIENCE ON AFRICAN AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY | None | None | None | Sokoine University of Agriculture | None | Agricultural research in Tanzania began in 1923 on sorghum and cotton. Since then, the number of research stations and institutions involved in agricultural research has increased. However, there are very few evaluations of the performance of agricultural research. This study uses the production function approach to assess the efficiency of investments in agricultural research and extension from 1971 to 1992. Results of the regression analysis showed that the total factor productivity for crop production in Tanzania is responsive to expenditures on research while it is not responsive to expenditure on agricultural extension. The model also shows that total factor productivity for crop production was not significantly responsive to the literacy rate of farmers, rainfall and lagged export earnings. The study concludes that since the marginal rate of return of investment in agricultural research is greater than the social rate of return, continued funding of agricultural research by both government and private sector is encouraged. The marginal rate of return was found to be low. This calls for efforts to improve extension and enhance the linkages between agricultural research and extension. | None | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000226560400004 | The impact of adult mortality and parental deaths on primary schooling in north-western Tanzania | Ainsworth, M,Beegle, K,Koda, G | 2005 | JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENT STUDIES | 41 | 3 | 10.1080/0022038042000313318 | The World Bank, University of Dar es Salaam | None | Mortality of parents and other adults due to the African AIDS epidemic could reduce children's primary schooling by reducing households' ability to pay fees, raising the opportunity cost of children's time, and leaving orphaned children with guardians who care less about their education than would their parents. This study measures the impact of adult deaths and orphan status on primary school attendance and hours spent at school using a panel household survey from north-western Tanzania, an area hard-hit by the AIDS epidemic. Attendance was delayed for maternal orphans and children in poor households with a recent adult death; there was no evidence that children 7-14 dropped out of primary school due to orphan status or adult deaths. However, among children already attending, school hours were significantly lower in the months prior to an adult death in the household and seemed to recover following the death. In addition, girls sharply reduced their hours in school immediately after losing a parent.
Improvements in school quality and better access to secondary education would improve outcomes for all children, including those affected by adult AIDS mortality. Beyond that, public policy needs to focus on the special schooling constraints faced by children affected by adult deaths, both in terms of increased opportunity costs of their time and the psychological impacts, with an eye to how they might be mitigated and at what cost. | ,AIDS,COUNTRIES,"HIV-1 INFECTION","KAGERA REGION",PREVALENCE,"RURAL TANZANIA","SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000301791400094 | The impact of microcredit programmes on survivalist women entrepreneurs in The Gambia and Senegal | Casier, Bart,Chant, S | 2010 | INTERNATIONAL HANDBOOK OF GENDER AND POVERTY: CONCEPTS, RESEARCH, POLICY | None | None | None | TRIAS Reg Off | None | None | None | None | 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 |
| WoS | WOS:000344435700005 | How effective are countercyclical policy tools in mitigating the impact of financial and economic crises in Africa? | Bandara, Amarakoon | 2014 | JOURNAL OF POLICY MODELING | 36 | 5 | 10.1016/j.jpolmod.2014.08.003 | United Nations Dev Programme | None | Using panel vector auto regression (PVAR) and GMM estimates we provide evidence for the transmission of financial crises to African economies through foreign direct investments and exports. Although many countries resort to stimulus packages to mitigate the impacts of financial crises, we find no evidence for fiscal policy to be considered an effective countercyclical policy tool in the African context. Monetary policy could be an effective tool in mitigating the impact in non-resource rich SSA countries, but not in others. Limited policy space calls for African economies to reconsider their policies towards trade, investment, finance and macroeconomic management. (C) 2014 Society for Policy Modeling. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. | "financial crisis","fiscal stimulus","MONETARY POLICY",TRANSMISSION,"DYNAMIC HETEROGENEOUS PANELS",MARKETS,TIME | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000344366200005 | Impact of cost sharing on utilization of primary health care Services: providers versus household perspectives | Mushi, D. P. | 2014 | MALAWI MEDICAL JOURNAL | 26 | 3 | None | Univ Dar Es Salaam Tanzania | None | This study is set to match and compare results of the analysis of impacts of cost sharing on households with those on health-care providers in two selected districts in Tanzania. The setting is intended to establish and compare concurrently the impact of cost sharing on health-care utilization as viewed from both the providers and beneficiary households.
The findings of the study indicate that quality of primary health care has improved as a result of the introduction of cost sharing. Attendance and hence utilization in health facilities has also increased. Mortality rate, at least for one district has not worsened. By implication then, cost sharing appears to have a positive impact on the provision of primary health care, except for a few cases that fail to consult because of the fees. An appropriately managed exemption facility is likely to eliminate the negative impact. | ,FEES,KENYA,"USER CHARGES" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000259280900015 | The design and evaluation of a hope enhancement programme for adults | Pretorius, Charl,Temane, Michael,Venter, Chris,Wissing, Marie | 2008 | JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY IN AFRICA | 18 | 2 | None | Univ NW | None | The study evaluated the effectiveness of a hope enhancement programme for a group of adults and its impact on general psychological well-being. The intervention programme focused on participants' abilities to set feasible goals, planning ways to reach those goals (pathways) and increase determination and motivation (agency) to reach these goals. The workshop-format programme, consisted of six two-hour sessions conducted over five days. A pre and post-test design included an experimental group (n = 8), control group (n = 8) and 'chat group' (n = 8). Findings indicated that the programme increased hope levels of the experimental group as indicated by the Hope Scale and the Hopefulness Subscale of the Hunter Opinions and Personal Expectations Scale. Well-being also improved as indicated by a significant increase in sense of coherence along with a positive change in satisfaction with life. Recommendations for future research were made. | HOPE,"hope enhancement","programme evaluation","psychological well-being","SATISFACTION WITH LIFE","SENSE OF COHERENCE","COHERENCE SCALE",HAPPINESS,"LIFE SCALE",MENTAL-HEALTH,OPTIMISM,SATISFACTION,SELF-EFFICACY,SENSE,STRENGTH,VALIDATION | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000234123500009 | Impact of Integrated Management of Childhood Illness on inequalities in child health in rural Tanzania | de Savigny, D,Masanja, H,MSHINDA, H,SCHELLENBERG, JA,VICTORA, CG | 2005 | HEALTH POLICY AND PLANNING | 20 | None | 10.1093/heapol/czi054 | Universidade Federal de Pelotas, University of Basel, University of London, Ifakara Hlth Res & Dev Ctr, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Swiss Tropical & Public Health Institute, Swiss Trop Inst, Tanzania Essential Hlth Intervent Project | None | We examined the impact of the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) strategy on the equality of health outcomes and access across socioeconomic gradients in rural Tanzania, by comparing changes in inequities between 1999 and 2002 in two districts with IMCI (Morogoro Rural and Rufiji) and two without (Kilombero and Ulanga).
Equity differentials for six child health indicators (underweight, stunting, measles immunization, access to treated and untreated nets, treatment of fever with antimalarial) improved significantly in IMCI districts compared with comparison districts (p < 0.05), while four indicators (wasting, DPT coverage, caretakers' knowledge of danger signs and appropriate careseeking) improved significantly in comparison districts compared with IMCI districts (p < 0.05). The largest improvements were observed for stunting among children between 24-59 months of age. The concentration index improved from -0.102 in 1999 to -0.032 in 2002 for IMCI, while it remained almost unchanged -0.122 to -0.133 in comparison districts. IMCI was associated with improved equity for measles vaccine coverage, whereas the opposite was observed for DPT antigens.
This study has shown how equity assessments can be incorporated in impact evaluation at relatively little additional cost, and how this may point to specific interventions that need to be reinforced. The introduction of IMCI led to improvements in child health that did not occur at the expense of equity. | "CHILD HEALTH","CHILD SURVIVAL",EQUITY,IMCI,"SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS",CARE,INEQUITIES,MORTALITY,POOR | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000267930900003 | Nutritional monitoring of preschool-age children by community volunteers during armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo | Bisimwa, Ghislain,Donnen, Philippe,Dramaix, Michele,Mambo, Thierry,Mitangala, Prudence,Porignon, Denis,Schirvel, Carole | 2009 | FOOD AND NUTRITION BULLETIN | 30 | 2 | None | Universite Libre de Bruxelles | None | Background. The coverage of preschool preventive medical visits in developing countries is still low. Consequently, very few children benefit from continuous monitoring during the first 5 years of life.
Objective. To assess community volunteers' effectiveness in monitoring the growth of preschool-age children in a context of endemic malnutrition and armed conflict.
Methods. Community volunteers were selected by village committees and trained to monitor children growth in their respective villages. Community volunteers monitored 5,479 children under 5 years of age in the Lwiro Health Sector of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from January 2004 to December 2005 under the supervision of the district health office. Children weight was interpreted according to weight-for-age curves drawn on the growth sheet proposed by the World Health Organization and adopted by the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Results. During the 2-year program, the volunteers weighed children under 5 years of age monthly. The median percentage of children weighed per village varied between 80% and 90% for children of 12-59 months, and 80% and 100% for children of less than 12 months even during the conflict period. The median percentage of children between 12 and 59 months of age per village ranked as highly susceptible to malnutrition by the volunteers decreased from 4.2% (range, 0% to 35.3%) in 2004 to 2.8% (range, 0.0% to 18.9%) in 2005.
Conclusions. The decentralization of weighing of children to the community level could be an alternative for improving growth monitoring of preschool-age children in situations of armed conflict or political instability. This option also offers an opportunity to involve the community in malnutrition care and can be an entry point for other public health activities. | "armed conflict",COMMUNITY,"GROWTH MONITORING",MALNUTRITION,VOLUNTEERS,MALNUTRITION,RISK | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000305336100002 | Allocating Scarce Resources Strategically - An Evaluation and Discussion of the Global Fund's Pattern of Disbursements | Kinyua, Kelvin,McCoy, David | 2012 | PLOS ONE | 7 | 5 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0034749 | University College London, University of London, Aidspan | None | Background: The Global Fund is under pressure to improve its rationing of financial support. This study describes the GF's pattern of disbursements in relation to total health expenditure (THE), government health expenditure (GHE), income status and the burden of HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria. It also examines the potential for recipient countries to increase domestic public financing for health.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of 104 countries that received Global Fund disbursements in 2009. It analyses data on Global Fund disbursements; health financing indicators; government revenue and expenditure; and burden of disease.
Findings: Global Fund disbursements made up 0.37% of THE across all 104 countries; but with considerable country variation ranging from 0.002% to 53.4%. Global Fund disbursements to government amounted to 0.47% of GHE across the 104 countries, but again with considerable variation (in three countries more than half of GHE was based on Global Fund support). Although the Global Fund provides progressively more funding for lower income countries on average, there is much variation at the country such that here was no correlation between per capita GF disbursements and per capita THE, nor between per capita GF disbursement to government and per capita GHE. There was only a slight positive correlation between per capita GF disbursement and burden of disease. Several countries with a high degree of 'financial dependency' upon the Fund have the potential to increase levels of domestic financing for health.
Discussion: The Global Fund can improve its targeting of resources so that it better matches the pattern of global need. To do this it needs to: a) reduce the extent to which funds are allocated on a demand-driven basis; and b) align its funding model to broader health systems financing and patterns of health expenditure beyond the three diseases. | None | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000248904000009 | Setting priorities for safe motherhood programme evaluation: A participatory process in three developing countries | Achadi, Endang,Arhinful, Daniel Kojo,D'Ambruoso, Lucia,Hounton, Sennen,Hussein, Julia,Madi, Banyana Cecilia | 2007 | HEALTH POLICY | 83 | 1 | 10.1016/j.healthpol.2007.01.006 | University of Aberdeen, University of Ghana, IMMPACT Ctr Muraz | None | A participatory approach to priority setting in programme evaluation may help improve the allocation and more efficient use of scarce resources especially in low-income countries. Research agendas that are the result of collaboration between researchers, programme managers, policy makers and other stakeholders have the potential to ensure rigorous studies are conducted on matters of local priority, based on local, expert knowledge.
This paper describes a process involving key stakeholders to elicit and prioritise evaluation needs for safe motherhood in three developing countries. A series of reiterative consultations with safe motherhood stakeholders from each country was conducted over a period of 36 months. In each country, the consultation process consisted of a series of participatory workshops; firstly, stakeholder's views on evaluation were elicited with parallel descriptive work on the contexts. Secondly, priorities for evaluation were identified from stakeholders; thirdly, the evaluation-priorities were refined; and finally, the evaluation research questions, reflecting the identified priorities, were agreed and finalised. Three evaluation-questions were identified in each country, and one selected, on which a full scale evaluation was undertaken.
While there is a great deal written about the importance of transparent and participatory priority setting in evaluation; few examples of how such processes could be implemented exist, particularly for maternal health programmes. Our experience demonstrates that the investment in a participatory priority-setting effort is high but the process undertaken resulted in both globally and contextually-relevant priorities for evaluation. This experience provides useful lessons for public health practitioners committed to bridging the research-policy interface. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. | "participatory priority setting","programme evaluation","safe motherhood",REFORMS,"REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH-SERVICES" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000242756600009 | IT projects performance indices and evaluation | Akinyokun, O. C.,Chiemeke, S. C. | 2006 | JOURNAL OF TESTING AND EVALUATION | 34 | 6 | None | University of Benin, Bells Univ Technol | None | Information Technology (IT) is the fastest growing technology in the world today. Investment on IT projects in all the sectors of the world economy has been on the increase in the past ten years. This paper proposes 50 performance indices of IT projects and a tool for evaluating them. Some popular IT projects in Nigeria were surveyed by administering questionnaires and holding meetings with their principal actors. The performance indices were subjected to factor analysis by principal components using Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS). Eleven factors were extracted and the percentage contribution of each factor to the success of IT projects was estimated. The total sum of the percentage contributions of all the factors was found to be less than 100. This revealed that there were some extraneous factors whose related performance indices were not considered in the administered questionnaire which were liable to play a significant role in the success of IT projects. Moreover, a factor scores coefficient matrix that can be used to estimate and rank the assessment of each Assessor of IT projects was generated. | EIGENVALUE,FACTOR,INDEX,ORTHOGONAL,PERFORMANCE,TRANSFORMATION | 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:000273850100001 | Tuberculosis and HIV co-infection: its impact on quality of life | Apers, Ludwig,Belachew, Tefera,Colebunders, Robert,Daba, Shallo,Deribew, Amare,Hailmichael, Yohannes,Negussu, Nebiyu,Tesfaye, Markos,Wogi, Ajeme | 2009 | HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE OUTCOMES | 7 | None | 10.1186/1477-7525-7-105 | University of Antwerp, Inst Trop Med, Jimma Univ, Oromiya Reg Hlth Bur, Somali Reg Hlth Bur | None | Background-: Very little is known about the quality of life of tuberculosis (TB) and HIV co-infected patients. In this study in Ethiopia, we compared the quality of life HIV positive patients with and without TB.
Methods-: A cross sectional study was conducted from February to April, 2009 in selected hospitals in Oromiya Regional state, Ethiopia. The study population consisted of 467 HIV patients and 124 TB/HIV co-infected patients. Data on quality of life was collected by trained nurses through face to face interviews using the short Amharic version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument for HIV clients (WHOQOL HIV). Depression was assessed using a validated version of the Kessler scale. Data was collected by trained nurses and analyzed using SPSS 15.0 statistical software.
Results: TB/HIV co-infected patients had a lower quality of life in all domains as compared to HIV infected patients without active TB. Depression, having a source of income and family support were strongly associated with most of the Quality of life domains. In co-infected patients, individuals who had depression were 8.8 times more likely to have poor physical health as compared to individuals who had no depression, OR = 8.8(95%CI: 3.2, 23). Self-stigma was associated with a poor quality of life in the psychological domain.
Conclusion-: The TB control program should design strategies to improve the quality of life of TB/HIV co-infected patients. Depression and self-stigma should be targeted for intervention to improve the quality of life of patients. | ,DISTRESS,HEALTH,INFECTION,INSTRUMENT,VERSION | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000307437900011 | Prioritizing Child Health Interventions in Ethiopia: Modeling Impact on Child Mortality, Life Expectancy and Inequality in Age at Death | Eide, Kristiane Tislevoll,Johansson, Kjell Arne,Miljeteig, Ingrid,Norheim, Ole Frithjof,Onarheim, Kristine Husoy,Tessema, Solomon | 2012 | PLOS ONE | 7 | 8 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0041521 | University of Bergen, Int Ctr AIDS Care & Treatment Programs ICAP Ethio | None | Background: The fourth Millennium Development Goal calls for a two-thirds reduction in under-5 mortality between 1990 and 2015. Under-5 mortality rate is declining, but many countries are still far from achieving the goal. Effective child health interventions that could reduce child mortality exist, but national decision-makers lack contextual information for priority setting in their respective resource-constrained settings. We estimate the potential health impact of increasing coverage of 14 selected health interventions on child mortality in Ethiopia (2011-2015). We also explore the impact on life expectancy and inequality in the age of death (Gini(health)).
Methods and Findings: We used the Lives Saved Tool to estimate potential impact of scaling-up 14 health interventions in Ethiopia (2011-2015). Interventions are scaled-up to 1) government target levels, 2) 90% coverage and 3) 90% coverage of the five interventions with the highest impact. Under-5 mortality rate, neonatal mortality rate and deaths averted are primary outcome measures. We used modified life tables to estimate impact on life expectancy at birth and inequality in the age of death (Gini(health)). Under-5 mortality rate declines from 101.0 in 2011 to 68.8, 42.1 and 56.7 per 1000 live births under these three scenarios. Prioritizing child health would also increase life expectancy at birth from expected 60.5 years in 2015 to 62.5, 64.2 and 63.4 years and reduce inequality in age of death (Gini(health)) substantially from 0.24 to 0.21, 0.18 and 0.19.
Conclusions: The Millennium Development Goal for child health is reachable in Ethiopia. Prioritizing child health would also increase total life expectancy at birth and reduce inequality in age of death substantially (Gini(health)). | ,AFRICA,"COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS",COUNTDOWN,DEVELOPING-COUNTRIES,"LIVES SAVED TOOL","MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS",NEWBORN,PUBLIC-HEALTH,SURVIVAL,"SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000251095400016 | Monitoring maternity mortality in Botswana | Bowelo, Motsholathebe,Mogobe, Keitshokile Dintle,Tshiamo, Wananani | 2007 | REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH MATTERS | 15 | 30 | None | University of Botswana, Minist Hlth | None | This paper describes the maternity monitoring system in Botswana, developed in 1998, and the main methods used: maternal death and morbidity reviews at service delivery level, analysis by the National Maternal Mortality Audit Committee of data from the reviews as reported on two forms, perinatal reviews and surveys using process indicators. We carried out a study of these findings to examine whether the system was working well. Surveys using process indicators in 2001 and 2006 were analysed. Other data examined were from 2004-2006 and early 2007. The Maternal Death Notification Form was found to be comprehensive but not all health facilities were submitting them and some gave incomplete information. In 2001, 70% of pregnant women attended antenatal care but access to emergency obstetric care was uneven. In 2006, 28 facilities with Maternity services surveyed were providing 24-hour delivery care, but laboratory theatre and blood supplies were more limited, and only 50% of doctors and 67% of midwives had life-saving skills. Antibiotics were widely available, but there were shortages of magnesium sulphate, diazepam, oxytocics and manual vacuum aspiration kits. Recommendations for improvements have been made, training for skilled attendants is ongoing and a medical school has just opened at the University of Botswana. (c) 2007 Reproductive Health Matters. All rights reserved. | BOTSWANA,EMERGENCY,"MATERNAL MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY","maternal mortality monitoring systems","OBSTETRIC CARE","training of service providers" | 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 |
| WoS | WOS:000277591100005 | Residents' perceptions of the environmental impacts of tourism in the Lake Bosomtwe Basin, Ghana | Amuquandoh, Francis Eric | 2010 | JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM | 18 | 2 | 10.1080/09669580903298531 | University of Cape Coast | None | This study investigates residents' perceptions of tourism's physical impacts in the Lake Bosomtwe Basin in Ghana. Data were based on a resident survey conducted in the basin in January 2006. Residents perceived both positive and negative impacts of tourism development, but were more inclined to the positive side. Based on the findings, it is recommended that the district assemblies in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism should start managing the impacts, and also educate the local population on the dangers of underestimating the negative impacts of tourism on the environment. | "Bosomtwe Basin","ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS","Ghana tourism","residents' perceptions",ATTITUDES | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000232555300005 | Globalization: Its impact on scientific research in Nigeria | Ani, OE,Biao, EP | 2005 | JOURNAL OF LIBRARIANSHIP AND INFORMATION SCIENCE | 37 | 3 | 10.1177/0961000605057482 | University of Calabar | None | This article reports on a study which investigated the impact of globalization on scientific research in Nigeria. The research data were collected using a questionnaire survey which was administered to academics in science-based disciplines in four Nigerian universities: University of Calabar, University of Uyo, University of Lagos and University of lbadan. The results of the study show that ease of scientific communication, an increased access to current scientific books/journals and improvements in the quality of research were considered the main effects of globalization on scientific research in Nigeria. The findings of the study also show that the major factors considered to impede globalization of science in the country were frequent power cuts, a poor maintenance culture of ICT infrastructures/ facilities, and an inadequate knowledge/awareness of the potential and capabilities of ICT by Nigerian scientists. Relevant recommendations based on these findings are made. | GLOBALIZATION,NIGERIA,"RESEARCH SCIENTISTS","SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH",UNIVERSITIES | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000226082700001 | Knowledge base system for human resource evaluation in a university environment | Akinyokun, OC,Uzoka, FME | 2005 | JOURNAL OF TESTING AND EVALUATION | 33 | 1 | None | University of Calgary, Fed Univ Technol Akure | None | The statutory objectives of a university include teaching. research. and community development. The major assets employed in the attainment of these objectives include mail, money, materials, and time, Man, who serves as the major driver of the other assets, has three components, namely academic staff, administrative staff, and technical staff. An essential management function is the evaluation of the academic staff of the university in order to determine their contributions to the aims and objectives of the university. In this study, a knowledge base system has been developed for the evaluation of the performance of human resources in a university environment, with emphasis on the academic staff component. The system, christened HURES. is developed in a Microsoft Access and Visual Basic 6.0 environment. A case study of the academic staff of a university community is carried out in order to demonstrate the practicality of the system. | "ACADEMIC STAFF","cognitive filter","emotional filter",evaluation,"HUMAN RESOURCES","INFERENCE ENGINE","KNOWLEDGE BASE",UNIVERSITY | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000246542000007 | A multivariate evaluation of mainstream and academic development courses in first-year microeconomics | Edwards, Lawrence,Smith, Leonard | 2007 | SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS | 75 | 1 | None | University of Cape Town | None | This paper analyses the impact of the University of Cape Town's first-year microeconomics academic development course on performance in examinations. The paper makes two advances to existing empirical literature in this area. Firstly, we compare performance with a control group drawn from the mainstream economic course. Secondly, we evaluate performance in subsequent courses in first-year macroeconomics and second-year microeconomics. The results suggest that the academic development course has a major impact on students' performance in the structured/essay questions, relative to the control group, in first- and second-year microeconomics, and for the multiple-choice questions in first-year macroeconomics.
Matriculation results, mathematics, English first language, physical science and gender are also important determinants of performance. | "ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT","economic education","SOUTH AFRICA","student performance",ACHIEVEMENT,"COLLEGE PRINCIPLES",DETERMINANTS,EDUCATION,GENDER,"HIGH-SCHOOL ECONOMICS",IMPACT,"MALE-FEMALE DIFFERENCES","STUDENT PERFORMANCE" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000228804800024 | Evaluation of an HlV/AlDS peer education programme in a South African workplace | MYERS, JE,Sloan, NM | 2005 | SAMJ SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNAL | 95 | 4 | None | University of Cape Town | None | Objectives. To evaluate a South African workplace HIV/AIDS peer-education programme running since 1997.
Methods. In 2001 a cross-sectional study was done of 900 retail-section. employees in three geographical areas. The study measured HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS, belief about self-risk of infection, and condom use as a practice indicator. The impact of an HIV/AIDS peer-education programme on these outcomes was examined.
Results. Training by peer educators had no significant impact on any outcome. Fifty-nine per cent of subjects had a good knowledge score, 62% had a positive attitude towards people with HIV/AIDS, 34% used condoms frequently, and the majority of participants (73%) believed they were at low risk of infection. Logistical regression showed that a very small proportion of the variance in the four outcomes was.. explained by potential determinants of interest,(8% for knowledge, 6% for attitude, 7% for risk and 17% for condom use).
Conclusions. The HIV peer-education programme was found to be ineffective and may have involved an opportunity cost. The programme contrasts with more costly comprehensive, care that includes antiretrovirals. The private sector appears to have been as tardy as the public sector in addressing them epidemic effectively. | ,HIV,HIV/AIDS | None | 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 |
| WoS | WOS:000282002900019 | Better Antiretroviral Therapy Outcomes at Primary Healthcare Facilities: An Evaluation of Three Tiers of ART Services in Four South African Provinces | Bock, Peter,Fatti, Geoffrey,Grimwood, Ashraf | 2010 | PLOS ONE | 5 | 9 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0012888 | University of Cape Town, Kheth Impilo | None | Background: There are conflicting reports of antiretroviral therapy (ART) effectiveness comparisons between primary healthcare (PHC) facilities and hospitals in low-income settings. This comparison has not been evaluated on a broad scale in South Africa.
Methodology/Principal Findings: A retrospective cohort study was conducted including ART-naive adults from 59 facilities in four provinces in South Africa, enrolled between 2004 and 2007. Kaplan-Meier estimates, competing-risks Cox regression, generalised estimating equation population-averaged models and logistic regression were used to compare death, loss to follow-up (LTFU) and virological suppression (VS) between PHC, district and regional hospitals. 29 203 adults from 47 PHC facilities, nine district hospitals and three regional hospitals were included. Patients at PHC facilities had more advanced WHO stage disease when starting ART. Retention in care was 80.1% (95% CI: 79.3%-80.8%), 71.5% (95% CI: 69.1%-73.8%) and 68.7% (95% CI: 67.0%-69.7%) at PHC, district and regional hospitals respectively, after 24 months of treatment (P<0.0001). In adjusted regression analyses, LTFU was independently increased at regional hospitals (aHR 2.19; 95% CI: 1.94-2.47) and mortality was independently elevated at district hospitals (aHR 1.60; 95% CI: 1.30-1.99) compared to PHC facilities after 12 months of ART. District and regional hospital patients had independently reduced probabilities of VS, aOR 0.76 (95% CI: 0.59-0.97) and 0.64 (95% CI: 0.56-0.75) respectively compared to PHC facilities over 24 months of treatment.
Conclusions/Significance: ART outcomes were superior at PHC facilities, despite PHC patients having more advanced clinical stage disease when starting ART, suggesting that ART can be adequately provided at this level and supporting the South African government's call for rapid up-scaling of ART at the primary level of care. Further prospective research is required to determine the degree to which outcome differences are attributable to either facility level characteristics or patient co-morbidity at hospital level. | ,ACCESS,BARRIERS,CHILDREN,FOLLOW-UP,"INCOME COUNTRIES",MORTALITY,"RESOURCE-LIMITED SETTINGS","SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA",SURVIVAL,"TREATMENT PROGRAM" | 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 |
| WoS | WOS:000315631600006 | Community-level impact of the reproductive health vouchers programme on service utilization in Kenya | Abuya, Timothy,Askew, Ian,Bellows, Ben,Njuki, Rebecca,Obare, Francis,Sunday, Joseph,Warren, Charlotte | 2013 | HEALTH POLICY AND PLANNING | 28 | 2 | 10.1093/heapol/czs033 | None | None | This paper examines community-level association between exposure to the reproductive health vouchers programme in Kenya and utilization of services. The data are from a household survey conducted among 2527 women (15-49 years) from voucher and comparable non-voucher sites. Analysis entails cross-tabulations with Chi-square tests and significant tests of proportions as well as estimation of multi-level logit models to predict service utilization by exposure to the programme. The results show that for births occurring after the voucher programme began, women from communities that had been exposed to the programme since 2006 were significantly more likely to have delivered at a health facility and to have received skilled care during delivery compared with those from communities that had not been exposed to the programme at all. There were, however, no significant differences in the timing of first trimester utilization of antenatal care (ANC) and making four or more ANC visits by exposure to the programme. In addition, poor women were significantly less likely to have used safe motherhood services (health facility delivery, skilled delivery care and postnatal care) compared with their non-poor counterparts regardless of exposure to the programme. Nonetheless, a significantly higher proportion of poor women from communities that had been exposed to the programme since 2006 used the services compared with their poor counterparts from communities that had not been exposed to the programme at all. The findings suggest that the programme is associated with increased health facility deliveries and skilled delivery care especially among poor women. However, it has had limited community-level impact on the first trimester timing of antenatal care use and making four or more visits, which remain a challenge despite the high proportion of women in the country that make at least one antenatal care visit during pregnancy. | "Community-level impact",KENYA,"REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH","SERVICE UTILIZATION","voucher programme",ACCESS,AFRICA,CARE,DEMAND-SIDE,DEVELOPING-COUNTRIES,INEQUALITIES,OF-THE-LITERATURE,PRIVATE-SECTOR | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000242431900008 | Accelerating reproductive and child health programme impact with community-based services: the Navrongo experiment in Ghana | Bawah, Ayaga A.,Binka, Fred N.,Phillips, James F. | 2006 | BULLETIN OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION | 84 | 12 | None | University of Ghana | None | Objective To determine the demographic and health impact of deploying health service nurses and volunteers to village locations with a view to scaling up results.
Methods. A four-celled plausibility trial was used for testing the impact of aligning community health services with the traditional social institutions that organize village life, Data from the Navrongo Demographic Surveillance System that tracks fertility and mortality events over time were used to estimate impact on fertility and mortality.
Results. Assigning nurses to community locations reduced childhood mortality rates by over half in 3 years and accelerated the time taken for attainment of the child survival Millennium Development Goal (MDG) in the study areas to 8 years. Fertility was also reduced by 15%, representing a decline of one birth in the total fertility rate. Programme costs added US$ 1.92 per capita to the US$ 6.80 per capita primary health care budget.
Conclusion. Assigning nurses to community locations where they provide basic curative and preventive care substantially reduces childhood mortality and accelerates progress towards attainment of the child survival MDG. Approaches using community volunteers, however, have no impact on mortality. The results also demonstrate that increasing access to contraceptive supplies alone fails to address the social costs of fertility regulation. Effective deployment of volunteers and community mobilization strategies offsets the social constraints on the adoption of contraception. The research in Navrongo thus demonstrates that affordable and sustainable means of combining nurse services with volunteer action can accelerate attainment of both the International Conference on Population and Development agenda and the MDGs. | ,AFRICA,FERTILITY,INNOVATION,KASSENA-NANKANA,MORTALITY,"NORTHERN GHANA",PROJECT,PUBLIC-HEALTH | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000321917200007 | Public Hearing or 'Hearing Public'? An Evaluation of the Participation of Local Stakeholders in Environmental Impact Assessment of Ghana's Jubilee Oil Fields | Bawole, Justice Nyigmah | 2013 | ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT | 52 | 2 | 10.1007/s00267-013-0086-9 | University of Ghana | None | This article investigates the involvement of local stakeholders in the environmental impact assessment (EIA) processes of Ghana's first off-shore oil fields (the Jubilee fields). Adopting key informants interviews and documentary reviews, the article argues that the public hearings and the other stakeholder engagement processes were cosmetic and rhetoric with the view to meeting legal requirements rather than a purposeful interest in eliciting inputs from local stakeholders. It further argues that the operators appear to lack the social legitimacy and social license that will make them acceptable in the project communities. A rigorous community engagement along with a commitment to actively involving local stakeholders in the corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes of the partners may enhance the image of the partners and improve their social legitimacy. Local government agencies should be capacitated to actively engage project organisers; and government must mitigate the impact of the oil projects through well-structured social support programmes. | "ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT",GHANA,"public hearing","public participation","Social legitimacy and license",stakeholder,"APPLIED LINGUISTICS",COMMUNITY,EIA,INDIA,MANAGEMENT,"QUALITATIVE INTERVIEWS" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000235591700004 | Developing a performance measurement framework to enhance the impact orientation of the Food Research Institute, Ghana | Amoa-Awua, WWK,Noamesi, SK,Smith, DR,Sutherland, AJ,Yawson, RM | 2006 | R & D MANAGEMENT | 36 | 2 | None | University of Greenwich, Food Res Inst, UNDP | None | Research institutions in Ghana are facing various challenges. It is the contention that viable research and development institutions are needed for achieving sustainable change in areas of national importance. A key aspect of institutional viability is strong performance management. This implies clear and workable approaches to performance measurement. This paper looks at the initial experiences in a collaborative effort to develop a performance measurement framework for the Food Research Institute (FRI) and the application of the Balanced Score Card (BSC) at institutional level. The process of diagnosing and analysing institutional monitoring and evaluation capacity and systems is described using a mix of diagnostic tools. Stages in applying the BSC approach are documented and the added value of the scorecard perspectives in highlighting focal areas for performance measurement and management within FRI. These are placed in the context of ongoing changes in the external environment posing both threats and opportunities. Changes implied by the introduction of the concept are discussed in the context of current constraints and the way forward is mapped out in terms of enhancing FRIs' impact orientation through the application of improved performance measurement and management. | None | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000228730200006 | Evaluating the sexual behaviour, barriers to condom use and its actual use by university students in Nigeria | SUNMOLA, AM | 2005 | AIDS CARE-PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIO-MEDICAL ASPECTS OF AIDS/HIV | 17 | 4 | 10.1080/09540120412331319732 | University of Ibadan | None | This research quantified the barriers to condom use of a sample of university students in Nigeria. It further analyzed association between condom use at last intercourse and the barriers, in addition to HIV risk sexual practices. A total of 96 women and 128 men were randomly selected, and they completed a survey. Results indicated both men and women reported that condoms hindered their sexual satisfaction, caused health problems for them and reduced their sexual interest. The findings also showed that obtaining condoms from clinics and perception that condoms do not cause health problems predicted the likelihood of condom use for both sexes. In addition, the results indicated that obtaining first time information from family members or relatives predicted the likelihood of condom use for women. It was recommended that intervention efforts should make condoms freely available in tertiary institutions, and such interventions should be tailored to overcome the relevant barriers that interfere with condom use for both the women and men. | ,DETERMINANTS,RISK | 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 |
| WoS | WOS:000230838900003 | Evaluation of automated services in Nigerian universities | SANI, A,TIAMIYU, M | 2005 | ELECTRONIC LIBRARY | 23 | 3 | 10.1108/02640470510603679 | University of Ibadan, Natl Univ Commis | None | Purpose - To evaluate the status of automated information services in selected Nigerian universities with a view to identifying progress and prospects of, and constraints to, the technological transformation of Nigerian universities as the basis of strategic recommendations to the different stakeholders in Nigerian university education.
Design/methodology/approach - The study assessed the status of automated information systems and services in Nigerian universities in mid-2002 through site visits, and questionnaire and interview surveys of the views of administrators, teaching/non-teaching staff, students and researchers in the universities.
Findings - It was found that automated services were far from adequate and that, out of the 29 different automated services that one would expect in a modem university, only about 40 per cent were available and utilized. Federal universities that had enjoyed higher levels of funding for automated systems had higher output of automated services than the non-federal universities. Major obstacles militating against the automated services in the universities include inadequate funds, electricity supply and telecommunications connectivity, as well as inadequate human resources for the automated systems. Respondents were marginally satisfied with the services of the computerized accounting system and the MIS-related databases, but were very dissatisfied with the level of automated library services.
Originality/value - Clearly presents the challenges facing the Nigerian university system and individual Nigerian universities in the process of automating their operations. | "INFORMATION SERVICES","LIBRARY AUTOMATION",NIGERIA,UNIVERSITIES | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000314371300020 | 'Acquisitive Culture' and its Impact on Nigeria's Socio-Economic Development | Ademakinwa, Adebisi,COLLIER, G | 2012 | FOCUS ON NIGERIA: LITERATURE AND CULTURE | 40 | None | None | University of Ibadan, University of Lagos | None | This is an interdisciplinary study of the role of culture in the development of Nigeria as a nation. The essay raises questions, among which are: what are the externalized and internalized aspects of Nigerian national culture? Which innate concepts of this culture do contemporary Nigerians understand and which concepts are grasped or misunderstood by foreigners? Russian and Nigerian literary works - Nikolai Gogol's and Chinua Achebe's, to mention but two - are utilized to determine similarity and dissimilarity of the pervasive nature of materialism in two different cultures. The essay finds philistine the platitude of Nigerian cultural managers inherent in such externalized cultural fiestas as FESTAC '77 and Nigerian Carnivals, while the more beneficial one, the internalized aspects which we call the fundamental culture, are merely mulled over, wholly misjudged, and mostly left unexplored. The essay finds, furthermore, that development can only be strengthened when the internalized aspects of Nigerian traditional societies are understood and synthesized with modern hybrid cultures before human development can take place. The essay makes no pretence to being a specialist study; rather, it crosses the borders of fiction, the social sciences, cultural anthropology, and history. | None | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000244468900009 | The evaluation of an intervention programme for reception learners who experience barriers to learning and development | Rossi, June,Stuart, Anita | 2007 | SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF EDUCATION | 27 | 1 | None | University of Johannesburg | None | It is believed that learners who experience barriers to learning and development are at risk for formal education and that stimulation can offset these barriers, ensuring that learners are able to actualise their potential. An intervention programme was designed with the aim of improving abilities in learners who had not yet attained the learning outcomes in the areas of fine-motor and/or language development. Although many research studies support educational intervention, to date insufficient attention has been paid to researching programmes of this kind. This programme of intervention was effective in improving the Eye and Hand Co-ordination and Personal-Social subscales of the Griffiths Scales and the Draw-a-Person test scores of all the learners who experienced barriers in their fine-motor and/or language development. In male learners, improved scores on the Eye and Hand Co-ordination and Hearing and Speech subscales of the Griffiths Scales and the Draw-a-Person test were shown. The female learners improved on the Eye and Hand Co-ordination subscale of the Griffiths Scales and the Draw-a-Person test. | DEVELOPMENT,INTERVENTION,LEARNING,"reception learners" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000302027500004 | Climate Change Impacts in the Developing World: Implications for Sustainable Development | Brainard, L,Jones, A,Nyong, Anthony,Purvis, N | 2009 | CLIMATE CHANGE AND GLOBAL POVERTY: A BILLION LIVES IN THE BALANCE | None | None | None | University of Jos, Int Dev Res Ctr | None | None | ,AFRICA,"HEALTH SECTOR",MODEL,RISK,VARIABILITY | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000230393700002 | Major factors influencing HIV/AIDS project evaluation | Green, JM,Niba, MB | 2005 | EVALUATION REVIEW | 29 | 4 | 10.1177/0193841X05276654 | University of Kwazulu Natal | None | This article aimed at finding out if participatory processes (group discussions, enactments, and others) do make a valuable contribution in communication-based project implementation/evaluation and the fight against HIV/AIDS. A case study backed by documentary analysis of evaluation reports and occasional insights from interviews stood as the main methods. To identify values, the state of beneficiaries prior to and after project implementation/evaluation was compared. Participatory processes were noted to have created an enabling environment for project beneficiaries to become activists for social change, leading to the limiting of the spread of HIV/AIDS through sexual behavior and a change of attitude-the essence required for successful intervention. Group participatory processes were also noted to have contributed in overriding, to a great extent, limitations arising from sociodemographic differences in the attainment of project objectives and limitations arising from differences informs of evaluation (internal versus external evaluators). | EMPOWERMENT,EVALUATIONS,HIV/AIDS,INTERVENTIONS,PARTICIPATION | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000248626000010 | Evaluation of a workplace HIV treatment programme in South Africa | Charalambous, Salome,Churchyard, Gavin J.,Fielding, Katherine,Grant, Alison,Hamilton, Robin,Innes, Craig,Kumaranayake, Lilani,Muirhead, Debbie,Pemba, Lindiwe | 2007 | AIDS | 21 | None | None | University of Kwazulu Natal, University of London, Aurum Inst Hlth Res | None | Objective: To review the experience of implementing a workplace HIV care programme in South Africa and describe treatment outcomes in sequential cohorts of individuals starting antiretroviral therapy (ART).
Design: A review of an industrial HIV care and treatment programme. Between October 2002 and December 2005, 2262 patients enrolled in the HIV care programme.
Results: CD4 cell counts increased by a median of 90, 113 and 164cells/mu l by 6, 12 and 24 months on treatment, respectively. The viral load was suppressed below 400 copies/ml in 75, 72 and 72% of patients at 6, 12 and 24 months, respectively, at an average cost of US$1654, 3567 and 7883 per patient virally suppressed, respectively. Treatment outcomes in sequential cohorts of patients were consistent overtime. A total of 93.6% of patients at 14752 clinic visits reported missing no tablets over the previous 3 days. Almost half the patients (46.8%) experienced one or more adverse events, although most were mild (78.7%). By the end of December 2005, 30% of patients were no longer on ART, mostly because of defaulted or stopped treatment (12.8%), termination of employment (8.2%), or death (4.9%). Conclusion: This large workplace programme achieved virological results among individuals retained in the programme comparable to those reported for developed countries; more work is needed to improve retention. Monitoring treatment outcomes in sequential cohorts is a useful way of monitoring programme performance. As the programme has matured, the costs of programme implementation have reduced.
Counselling is a central component of an ART programme. Challenges in implementing a workplace ART programme are similar to the challenges of public-sector programmes. (c) 2007 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. | "ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY",COHORT,HIV,INDUSTRIAL,programmes,"VIRAL LOAD","ACTIVE ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY",MALAWI,"VIROLOGICAL RESPONSE" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000271954100006 | "The Uprooted Emigrant": The Impact of Brain Drain, Brain Gain, and Brain Circulation on Africa's Development | Afolabi, N,Falola, T,Okeke, Godwin S. M. | 2007 | TRANS-ATLANTIC MIGRATION: THE PARADOXES OF EXILE | None | None | None | University of Lagos | None | Worsening economic conditions in many African countries have uprooted many of its people from their home countries, voluntarily and involuntarily, in search of the "golden fleece" abroad. This has led to brain drain, brain gain and brain circulation. Brain drain is synonymous with knowledge loss or drain. Brain gain is the reverse side of brain drain, in which Africans in the diaspora return to their various countries with high skills to contribute to their countries' development. Brain circulation entails a continuous and counter-balancing in-flow of highly skilled personnel. The nature of most economies in Africa today has warranted this jigsaw puzzle. The outcome of bad management of the economy and the generalized violent conflict on the continent has not helped matters. Some survivors in war-torn countries, both skilled and unskilled, look outside of their countries for a better life. In some African countries people run away from economic hardship to improve their lives abroad where things are expectedly better. This phenomenon cuts across all manners of people, including professionals and other skilled labor.
This situation is true of many countries in Africa, including Nigeria, Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Niger, Senegal, Togo, Cameroon, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, to mention just a few. Some of those who are not well educated travel and get educated and develop and acquire better skills and make positive contributions to those societies. These movements do not take place only outside Africa, but also within Africa.
The consequences of these developments are many and varied. Aside from the image problem it creates for Africa, it portrays Africans as people who are not serious and their governments as irresponsible and corrupt, especially Africa south of the Sahara. There are also those who have made Africa proud in various fields of human endeavor. But the problem remains that the recipe which made them succeed abroad never works at home. Against this background, this chapter investigates the impact of this type of crisscrossing migration on Africa's development, and how far the benefits or otherwise can go to assist in the sustainable development of Africa. | None | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000248543300004 | A process evaluation of a school-based adolescent sexual health intervention in rural Tanzania: the MEMA kwa Vijana programme | Hayes, R. J.,Makokha, A.,Mazige, B. C.,Mshana, G.,Obasi, A. I. N.,Plummer, Mary L.,Ross, D. A.,Todd, J.,Wamoyi, J.,Wight, D. | 2007 | HEALTH EDUCATION RESEARCH | 22 | 4 | 10.1093/her/cyl103 | University of London, MRC, NIMR AMREF LSHTM Collaborat Projects | None | This study is a process evaluation of the school component of the adolescent sexual health programme MEMA kwa Vijana (MkV), which was implemented in 62 primary schools in rural Mwanza, Tanzania from 1999 to 2001. The MkV curriculum was a teacher-led and peer-assisted programme based on the Social Learning Theory. Process evaluation included observation of training sessions, monitoring and supervision, annual surveys of implementers, group discussions and 158 person-weeks of participant observation. Most teachers taught curriculum content well, but sometimes had difficulty adopting new teaching styles. Peer educators performed scripted dramas well, but were limited as informal educators and behavioural models. The intervention appeared successful in addressing some cognitions, e.g. knowledge of risks and benefits of behaviours, but not others, e.g. perceived susceptibility to risk. MkV shared the characteristics of other African school-based programmes found to be successful, and similarly found significant improvements in self-reported behaviour in surveys. However, a substantial proportion of MkV survey self-reports were inconsistent, there was no consistent impact on biological markers and extensive process evaluation found little impact on several key theoretical determinants of behaviour. Improvements in self-reported survey data alone may provide only a very limited-and perhaps invalid-indication of adolescent sexual health programme success. | ,"ABUSE PREVENTION","AFRICAN YOUTH","AIDS EDUCATION-PROGRAM",COMMUNITY,FIDELITY,HIV/AIDS,"HIV PREVENTION",IMPLEMENTATION,"NORTHERN TANZANIA","PEER EDUCATION" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000249645000014 | Biological and behavioural impact of an adolescent sexual health intervention in Tanzania: a community-randomized trial | Anemona, Alessandra,Balira, Rebecca,Changalucha, John,Cleophas-Mazige, Bernadette,Everett, Dean,Gavyole, Awene,Grosskurth, Heiner,Hayes, Richard J.,Mabey, David C.,Makokha, Maende J.,Mosha, Frank,Obasi, Angela I. N.,Parry, John V.,Plummer, Mary L.,Ross, D | 2007 | AIDS | 21 | 14 | None | University of London, Mwanza Ctr | None | Objective: The impact of a multicomponent intervention programme on the sexual health of adolescents was assessed in rural Tanzania.
Design: A community-randomized trial.
Methods: Twenty communities were randomly allocated to receive either a specially designed programme of interventions (intervention group) or standard activities (comparison group). The intervention had four components: community activities; teacher-led, peer-assisted sexual health education in years 5-7 of primary school; training and supervision of health workers to provide 'youth-friendly' sexual health services; and peer condom social marketing. Impacts on HIV incidence, herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV2) and other sexual health outcomes were evaluated over approximately 3 years in 9645 adolescents recruited in late 1998 before entering years 5, 6 or 7 of primary school.
Results: The intervention had a significant impact on knowledge and reported attitudes, reported sexually transmitted infection symptoms, and several behavioural outcomes. Only five HIV seroconversions occurred in boys, whereas in girls the adjusted rate ratio (intervention versus comparison) was 0.75 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.34, 1.66]. Overall HSV2 prevalences at follow-up were 11.9% in male and 21.1% in female participants, with adjusted prevalence ratios of 0.92 (CI 0.69, 1.22) and 1.05 (CI 0.83, 1.32), respectively. There was no consistent beneficial or adverse impact on other biological outcomes. The beneficial impact on knowledge and reported attitudes was confirmed by results of a school examination in a separate group of students in mid-2002.
Conclusion: The intervention substantially improved knowledge, reported attitudes and some reported sexual behaviours, especially in boys, but had no consistent impact on biological outcomes within the 3-year trial period. (C) 2007 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. | ADOLESCENTS,HIV,"PREGNANCY PREVENTION","SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS",Tanzania,"AIDS EDUCATION",HIV,IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS,PREGNANCIES,"REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH","RISK REDUCTION","RURAL TANZANIA",SELF-REPORT,"TRANSMITTED DISEASES",TRICHOMONAS-VAGINALIS | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000230897200004 | Sexually transmitted infections in pregnancy: prevalence, impact on pregnancy outcomes, and approach to treatment in developing countries | Beksinska, M,Mabey, D,MULLICK, S,Watson-Jones, D | 2005 | SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS | 81 | 4 | 10.1136/sti.2002.004077 | University of London, Reprod Hlth Res Unit | None | Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common in the developing world. Management of STIs in pregnancy in many developing countries has, however, been complicated by the lack of simple and affordable diagnostic tests. This review examines the prevalence and impact on pregnancy outcome of STIs in developing countries and recommends approaches to management of STIs in pregnancy for resource poor settings. | ,"CERVICAL CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS","GENITAL-TRACT INFECTIONS","GONOCOCCAL OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM",HERPES-SIMPLEX-VIRUS,HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS,LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT,"PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL","RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED-TRIAL","RURAL SOUTH-AFRICA","TO-CHILD TRAN | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000274138000015 | Evaluating Different Dimensions of Programme Effectiveness for Private Medicine Retailer Malaria Control Interventions in Kenya | Abuya, Timothy O.,Akhwale, Willis S.,Amin, Abdinasir A.,Fegan, Greg,Marsh, Vicki,Noor, Abdisalan M.,Snow, Robert W. | 2010 | PLOS ONE | 5 | 1 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0008937 | University of London, University of Oxford, Kenya Govt Med Res Ctr, Minist Hlth | None | Background: Private medicine retailers (PMRs) are key partners in the home management of fevers in many settings. Current evidence on effectiveness for PMR interventions at scale is limited. This study presents evaluation findings of two different programs implemented at moderate scale targeting PMRs for malaria control in the Kisii and Kwale districts of Kenya. Key components of this evaluation were measurement of program performance, including coverage, PMR knowledge, practices, and utilization based on spatial analysis.
Methodology/Principal Findings: The study utilized mixed quantitative methods including retail audits and surrogate client surveys based on post-intervention cross-sectional surveys in intervention and control areas and mapping of intervention outlets. There was a large and significant impact on PMR knowledge and practices of the program in Kisii, with 60.5% of trained PMRs selling amodiaquine medicines in adequate doses compared to 2.8% of untrained ones (OR; 53.5: 95% CI 6.7, 428.3), a program coverage of 69.7% targeted outlets, and a potential utilization of about 30,000 children under five. The evaluation in Kwale also indicates a significant impact with 18.8% and 2.3% intervention and control PMRs selling amodiaquine with correct advice, respectively (OR; 9.4: 95% CI 1.1, 83.7), a program coverage of 25.3% targeted outlets, and a potential utilization of about 48,000 children under five. A provisional benchmark of 7.5 km was a reasonable threshold distance for households to access PMR services.
Conclusions/Significance: This evaluation show that PMR interventions operationalized in the district level settings are likely to impact PMR knowledge and practices and lead to increased coverage of appropriate treatment to target populations. There is value of evaluating different dimensions of public health programs, including quality, spatial access, and implementation practice. This approach strengthens the potential contribution of pragmatic study designs to evaluating public health programs in the real world. | ,DEVELOPING-COUNTRIES,DISTRICTS,DRUG,"HOME TREATMENT",KNOWLEDGE,MANAGEMENT,PUBLIC-HEALTH,"RURAL KENYA",SERVICES,"SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000266645800007 | Impact of Ministry of Health Interventions on Private Medicine Retailer Knowledge and Practices on Anti-Malarial Treatment in Kenya | Abuya, Timothy,Fegan, Greg,Karisa, Baya,Marsh, Vicki,Mutemi, Wilfred,Ochola, Sam,Rowa, Yvone | 2009 | AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE | 80 | 6 | None | University of London, University of Oxford, Kilifi Dist Hosp, Wellcome Trust Ctr Geog Med Res Coast | None | Small-scale interventions oil training medicine retailers on malaria treatment improve over-the-counter medicine use, but there is little evidence oil effectiveness when scaled up. This study evaluated the impact of Ministry of Health (MoH) training programs on the knowledge and practices of medicine retailers in three districts in Kenya. A cluster randomized trial was planned across 10 administrative divisions. Findings indicated that 30.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 23.3, 39.0) and 5.2% (95% Cl: 2.1, 10.3) of program and control retailers, respectively, sold MoH amodiaquine with correct advice on use to surrogate clients (OR = 8.8; 95% Cl: 2.9, 26.9 P < 0.001). Similarly, 61.8% (950% CI: 54.2 69.1) and 6.3% (95% CI: 2.7, 12.1) of program and control retailers, respectively, reported correct knowledge on dosing with amodiaquine (OR = 29.8; 95% Cl: 8.2, 108.8). Large-scale retailer training programs within the national malaria control framework led to significant improvements in retailers' practices across three districts. | ,"CHILDHOOD ILLNESS",CHILDREN,DEVELOPING-COUNTRIES,"HOME TREATMENT","MALARIA TREATMENT",MANAGEMENT,PUBLIC-HEALTH,RANDOMIZED-TRIALS,"RURAL TANZANIA",SELF-TREATMENT | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000271602100001 | The use of schools for malaria surveillance and programme evaluation in Africa | Brooker, Simon,Gitonga, Carol W.,Kolaczinski, Jan H.,Noor, Abdisalan M.,Snow, Robert W. | 2009 | MALARIA JOURNAL | 8 | None | 10.1186/1475-2875-8-231 | University of London, University of Oxford, Malaria Consortium, Wellcome Trust Res Programme | None | Effective malaria control requires information on both the geographical distribution of malaria risk and the effectiveness of malaria interventions. The current standard for estimating malaria infection and impact indicators are household cluster surveys, but their complexity and expense preclude frequent and decentralized monitoring. This paper reviews the historical experience and current rationale for the use of schools and school children as a complementary, inexpensive framework for planning, monitoring and evaluating malaria control in Africa. Consideration is given to (i) the selection of schools; (ii) diagnosis of infection in schools; (iii) the representativeness of schools as a proxy of the communities they serve; and (iv) the increasing need to evaluate interventions delivered through schools. Finally, areas requiring further investigation are highlighted. | ,COMBINATION,"COMMUNITY COVERAGE",MORBIDITY,"PARASITE DENSITY","PEDIATRIC MALARIA",PLASMODIUM-FALCIPARUM,SOUTH-AFRICA,"SPOROZOITE SURFACE-ANTIGENS","SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA","TRANSMISSION INTENSITY" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000299789600002 | Cell Phone-Based and Internet-Based Monitoring and Evaluation of the National Antiretroviral Treatment Program During Rapid Scale-Up in Rwanda: TRACnet, 2004-2010 | Binagwaho, Agnes,Cishahayo, Shabani,Karema, Corine,Lowrance, David W.,Muhayimpundu, Ribakare,Nsanzimana, Sabin,Nyemazi, Jean Pierre,Raghunathan, Pratima L.,Riedel, David J.,Ruton, Hinda | 2012 | JAIDS-JOURNAL OF ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROMES | 59 | 2 | 10.1097/QAI.0b013e31823e2278 | University of Maryland Baltimore, University System of Maryland, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - USA, Minist Hlth, US Ctr Dis Control & Prevent | None | Background: Monitoring and evaluation of antiretroviral treatment (ART) scale-up has been challenging in resource-limited settings. We describe an innovative cell-phone-based and internet-based reporting system (TRACnet) utilized in Rwanda.
Methods: From January 2004 to June 30, 2010, all health facilities with ART services submitted standardized monthly aggregate reports of key indicators. National cohort data were analyzed to examine trends in characteristics of patients initiating ART and cumulative cohort outcomes. Estimates of HIV-infected patients eligible for ART were obtained from Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (Estimation and Projection Package-Spectrum, 2010).
Results: By June 30, 2010, 295 (65%) of 451 health centers, District and referral hospitals provided ART services; of these, 255 (86%) were located outside Kigali, the capital. Cell phone-based and internet-based reporting was used by 253 (86%) and 42 (14%), respectively. As of June 30, 2010, 83,041 patients were alive on ART, 6171 (6%) had died, and 9621 (10%) were lost-to-follow-up. Of those alive on ART, 7111 (8.6%) were children, 50,971 (61.4%) were female, and 1823 (2.2%) were on a second-line regimen. The proportion of all patients initiating ART at World Health Organization clinical stages 3 and 4 declined from 65% in 2005 to 27% in 2010. National ART coverage of eligible patients increased from 13% in 2005 to 79% in 2010.
Conclusions: Rwanda has successfully expanded ART access and achieved high national ART coverage among eligible patients. TRACnet captured essential data about the ART program during rapid scale-up. Cell phone-based and internet-based reporting may be useful for monitoring and evaluation of similar public health initiatives in other resource-limited settings. | "antiretroviral treatment","monitoring and evaluation",RWANDA,SCALE-UP,TRACnet,ADULTS,AIDS,"COLLABORATIVE ANALYSIS",HAITI,HIV,MALAWI,MORTALITY,OUTCOMES,SOUTH-AFRICA,THERAPY | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000313980800008 | Impact of Parental Socioeconomic Status on Child Health Outcomes in Kenya** | Mugo, Mercy G. | 2012 | AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT REVIEW-REVUE AFRICAINE DE DEVELOPPEMENT | 24 | 4 | 10.1111/1467-8268.12003 | University of Nairobi | None | It is widely acknowledged that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. Most developing countries such as Kenya record unfavourable indicators of population health. Existing literature recognizes the bidirectional causality between health and economic growth and development, though credible information on the causal links is scarce. Various studies show that parental characteristics have important influences on early child health. Such studies are few and report mixed findings. This study aimed to understand and demonstrate the impact of parental socioeconomic status on child health outcomes in Kenya using data from the Kenya Integrated Household Budget Survey 2005/2006, focusing on maternal labour force participation. We used two-stage least squares instrumental variable methods and the control function approach to cater for endogeneity, unobserved heterogeneity and non-linear interactions to estimate the causal links between child health outcomes and parental socioeconomic status. Diagnostic tests for relevance, validity and strength of instruments for endogenous regressors showed instruments were relevant, valid but weak. Our findings showed that maternal labour force participation has a positive but insignificant effect on child stunting and a combined indicator of stunting and wasting. We recommend policy that supports the provision of work opportunities for mothers will enhance child health outcomes in Kenya. | ,"EARLY MATERNAL EMPLOYMENT",ECONOMICS,EDUCATION,FERTILITY,IDENTIFICATION,"LABOR-FORCE PARTICIPATION",LEAVE,VARIABLES,"WEAK INSTRUMENTS" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000250115500017 | The impact of health education on reproductive health knowledge among adolescents in a rural Nigerian community | Mba, C. I.,Obi, S. N.,Ozumba, B. C. | 2007 | JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY | 27 | 5 | 10.1080/01443610701478991 | University of Nigeria | None | This intervention study was to evaluate the impact of reproductive health education on the knowledge and attitude of adolescents in a rural Nigerian community to reproductive health issues. It compared adolescents in a secondary school (study group), which received health education on reproductive health with another secondary school (control group), which did not receive any. The impact of the programme was evaluated with a pre-test baseline knowledge and post-test gain in the knowledge 6 weeks later, using the same questionnaire. A total of 180 students selected by systematic sampling from each of the two randomly selected schools in Item, a rural community in south-east Nigeria participated in the programme. While all the respondents have heard of reproductive health and could identify at least one of its components, their knowledge of it prior to the health education were defective and were obtained mainly from peers and the mass media. Such information was incomplete and often coloured with cultural and religious bias. However, there was a significant (p < 0.05) gain in correct knowledge following the health education. The students in the study group showed a positive and permissive attitude towards reproductive health education and there was a drop in risky sexual behaviour following the intervention. Pre-marital sex (94.3%), pregnancy prevention and abortion (88.5%) and sexually transmitted infections (82.8%) were common reproductive health problems raised by the students. Reproductive health education as part of the school curriculum will provide an effective means of improving knowledge and reducing reproductive health problems among adolescents in developing countries. | ADOLESCENTS,EDUCATION,NIGERIA,"REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000325501000001 | Impact evaluation of a quality improvement intervention on maternal and child health outcomes in Northern Ghana: early assessment of a national scale-up project | Atinbire, Solomon,Barker, Pierre M.,Boadu, Richard O.,Handa, Sudhanshu,Singh, Kavita,Speizer, Ilene,Twum-Danso, Nana A. Y. | 2013 | INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR QUALITY IN HEALTH CARE | 25 | 5 | 10.1093/intqhc/mzt054 | University of North Carolina, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, IHI, NCHS | None | To evaluate the influence of the early phase of Project Fives Alive!, a national child survival improvement project, on key maternal and child health outcomes.
The evaluation used multivariable interrupted time series analyses to determine whether change categories tested were associated with improvements in the outcomes of interest.
The evaluation used program and outcome data from interventions focused on health-care staff in 27 facilities.
Northern Ghana.
The project uses a quality improvement (QI) approach whereby process failures are identified by health staff and process changes are tested in the health facilities and corresponding communities to address those failures.
The maternal health outcomes were early antenatal care attendance and skilled delivery, and the child health outcomes were underweight infants attending child wellness clinics, facility-level neonatal mortality and facility-level infant mortality.
Postnatal care changes for the first 12 days of life ( 0.10, P 0.07) and the first 67 days of life ( 0.10, P 0.07) were associated with a higher rate of visits by underweight infants to child wellness clinics. There was an association between the early pregnancy identification change category with increased skilled delivery ( 1.36 P 0.07). In addition, a greater number of change categories tested was associated with increased skilled delivery ( 0.05, P 0.01).
The QI approach of testing and implementing simple and low cost locally inspired changes has the potential to lead to improved health outcomes at scale both in Ghana and other low- and middle-income countries. | GHANA,"impact evaluation","maternal and child health",MORTALITY,"QUALITY IMPROVEMENT","TIME SERIES ANALYSIS",CARE,COUNTRIES,PROGRAM,SOUTH-AFRICA,STRATEGIES | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000235531800004 | The social interaction of an adolescent who uses AAC: The evaluation of a peer-training program | Alant, E,Lilienfeld, M | 2005 | AUGMENTATIVE AND ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION | 21 | 4 | 10.1080/07434610500103467 | University of Pretoria | None | Challenges relating to social interactions of children who use AAC in school settings have been well documented. In this study, a peer-training program was designed and implemented with the Grade 8 peers of an adolescent who had severe physical disabilities and who used AAC. Interactions between the adolescent who used AAC and his classroom peers were investigated before and after implementation of the peer-training program, using a descriptive single case study. An analytical model to describe the interactions and potential changes in the interactions of adolescents who use AAC was developed. The model also included various measures to evaluate pertinent psychosocial factors of the interactions of a person using AAC with peers. Results of the observational data reflected an increase in the frequency of interactions as indicated by the number of messages per hour and the extent of the interactions as signified by an increase in the number of messages per interchange. Changes were also noted in terms of the discourse structures and communication functions achieved by the interactions, the modes of communication used by the adolescent who used AAC and the responses of his peer partners. | ADOLESCENCE,"Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)","communication competence","communication partners","PEER TRAINING",SELF-CONCEPT,"SOCIAL INTERACTION","voice output",COMMUNICATION | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000300690500004 | Looking beyond impact assessment to social sustainability | Aucamp, Ilse,Aucamp, San-Marie,Bron, Anita,Esteves, AM,Perold, Jan,Vanclay, F,Woodborne, Stephan | 2011 | NEW DIRECTIONS IN SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT: CONCEPTUAL AND METHODOLOGICAL ADVANCES | None | None | None | University of Pretoria, University of Witwatersrand, Environm Div Aurecon, Equispect Res & Consulting Serv, Ptersa Environm Management Consultants, SIA Working Grp | None | None | ,"ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000281682300025 | An impact assessment of a prototype financial literacy flagship programme in a rural South African setting | Tustin, Deon Harold | 2010 | AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BUSINESS MANAGEMENT | 4 | 9 | None | University of South Africa | None | This article applies experimental research to investigate the impact of the Bubomi financial literacy flagship programme developed by Absa Group Limited, one of South Africa's largest financial service organizations. The programme aims to improve essential financial literacy skills, habits and behaviour of South Africans. The impact of the programme is measured by comparing the level of financial knowledge, confidence, attitude and accountable management practices of statistically representative experimental (people exposed to the Absa training) and control (people not exposed to Absa training) groups residing in village areas surrounding the Giyani town in the Limpopo province located in the north-eastern parts South Africa. By accepting the test hypotheses that the financial knowledge, confidence, attitudes and accountable management of the experimental group exceed that of the control group at a statistically significant level, the article investigates the immediate and intermediate impact of a prototype training programme that can effectively improve the basic financial skills, habits and behaviours of consumers. The research findings is even more pertinent when considering that a prototype skills development programme has been evaluated and found to be most applicable to skills improvement in poor village communities where financial literacy are at acute low levels. The programme evaluation research represents the first of its kind in a rural setting and outlines unique elements of a prototype training programme that indisputably contributes to the urgent need for improved money management skills in South Africa. | "Financial behavior","Financial literacy","money management" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000238161000006 | Psychology and the art of programme evaluation | Potter, C | 2006 | SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY | 36 | 1 | None | University of Witwatersrand | None | This article suggests that psychologists may find value in the literature on programme evaluation, both theoretically and methodologically. Programme evaluation is an eclectic and diverse field and its literature reflects the contributions of persons trained within a variety of disciplines. It draws on a number of fields, which include management and organisational theory, policy analysis, education, sociology, social anthropology and the literature on social change. As such, the literature on programme evaluation may have value for psychologists planning evaluations of social programmes, in providing access to evaluation approaches and models developed within these different traditions. In terms of the breadth of perspectives and research traditions on which the evaluation literature draws, different forms of evaluation research can contribute to a psychology in South Africa which deals with multiple values and issues. On a theoretical level, this article suggests that the issues and debates reflected in the evaluation literature (e.g., those on empowerment) mirror debates that have occurred within the mainstream of psychology over the past 20 years. For this reason, the issues raised in the evaluation literature are relevant to the development of psychology as a discipline. The approaches and models proposed for the evaluation of social programmes are also potentially useful on a methodological level, particularly to those psychologists who work in community settings. | "COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY",EMPOWERMENT,methodology,"programme evaluation","PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORY","social programmes",ADVOCACY,SCIENCE,"THEORY-DRIVEN APPROACH",VALIDITY | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000299627900003 | Revisiting monitoring and evaluation strategies for applied drama and theatre practice in African contexts | Chinyowa, Kennedy C. | 2011 | RIDE-THE JOURNAL OF APPLIED THEATRE AND PERFORMANCE | 16 | 3 | 10.1080/13569783.2011.589994 | University of Witwatersrand | None | Most of the applied drama and theatre projects being carried out in African contexts tend to be one-off events with limited follow-up in terms of building the capacity of target communities and organising them for action. Besides bringing people together for workshops, performances and post-performance discussions, such projects simply pass by with little or no impact. The few that have been given attention remain trapped within a modernising paradigm that seeks to create external blueprints for monitoring and evaluation (M & E). This article focuses on the current drive among international donor agencies, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders in adopting more participatory strategies in M & E practice. The article argues for the adoption of a Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation (PM&E) framework where stakeholders at different levels share control over the form and content of the monitoring and evaluation process. While conventional M & E strategies mainly involve outside experts coming in to measure the impact of projects against prescribed social science-based indicators, PM&E seeks to engage all the stakeholders in planning, designing, implementing and assessing the outcome of projects. | "folk media",knowing-in-action,"local knowledge systems","modernization framework","participatory monitoring and evaluation",REFLECTION-IN-ACTION,"social science models" | 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 |
| WoS | WOS:000300690500018 | Conflict-sensitive impact assessment | Esteves, AM,Kapelus, Paul,Richards, Emily,Sherwin, Hope,Vanclay, F | 2011 | NEW DIRECTIONS IN SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT: CONCEPTUAL AND METHODOLOGICAL ADVANCES | None | None | None | University of Witwatersrand, African Inst Corp Citizenship, AICC, Buyani Trust, ClimateCare Trust, Natl Human Rights Commiss, Oxfam, Synergy Global Consulting, World Econ Forum | None | None | None | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000233072000017 | Achieving social change on gender-based violence: A report on the impact evaluation of Soul City's fourth series | GOLDSTEIN, S,Japhet, G,Scheepers, E,Usdin, S | 2005 | SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE | 61 | 11 | 10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.04.035 | University of Witwatersrand, Soul City Inst & Dev Commun | None | The Soul City Institute for Health and Development Communication-a South African multi-media health promotion project-together with the National Network on Violence Against Women, formulated an intervention to address domestic violence. Recognising that behavioural change interventions aimed solely at individuals have limited impact, the intervention was designed to impact at multiple mutually reinforcing levels; individual, community and socio-political environment. The intervention and its evaluation results are presented. Soul City successfully reached 86%, 25% and 65% of audiences through television, print booklets and radio, respectively. On an individual level there was a shift in knowledge around domestic violence including 41% of respondents hearing about the helpline. Attitude shifts were also associated with the intervention, with a 10% increase in respondents disagreeing that domestic violence was a private affair. There was also a 22% shift in perceptions of social norms on this issue. Qualitative data analysis suggests the intervention played a role in enhancing women's and communities' sense of efficacy, enabling women to make more effective decisions around their health and facilitating community action. The evaluation concluded that implementation of the Domestic Violence Act can largely be attributed to the intervention. While demonstrating actual reductions in levels of domestic violence was not possible, the evaluation shows a strong association between exposure to intervention components and a range of intermediary factors indicative of, and necessary to bring about social change. This paper reports on the evaluation, discusses its limitations and challenges as well as lessons learned regarding multi-level interventions on domestic violence. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | "behaviour change","DOMESTIC VIOLENCE",enter-educate,"health/development communication","soul city","SOUTH AFRICA","DOMESTIC VIOLENCE" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000248813700009 | An evaluation of infant immunization in Africa: is a transformation in progress? | Arevshatian, L.,Clements, C. J.,Lwanga, S. K.,Misore, A. O.,Ndumbe, P.,Seward, J. F.,Taylor, P. | 2007 | BULLETIN OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION | 85 | 6 | 10.2471/BLT.06.031526 | University of Yaounde I, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - USA, Ctr Dis Control & Prevent, IMMUNIZATIONbasics, Macfarlane Burnet Inst Med Res & Publ Hlth, Minist Hlth | None | Objective To assess the progress made towards meeting the goals of the African Regional Strategic Plan of the Expanded Programme on Immunization between 2001 and 2005.
Methods We reviewed data from national infant immunization programmes in the 46 countries of WHO's African Region, reviewed the literature and analysed existing data sources. We carried out face-to-face and telephone interviews with relevant staff members at regional and subregional levels.
Findings The African Region fell short of the target for 80% of countries to achieve at least 80% immunization coverage by 2005. However, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis-3 coverage increased by 15%, from 54% in 2000 to 69% in 2004. As a result, we estimate that the number of nonimmunized children declined from 1.4 million in 2002 to 900 000 in 2004. In 2004, four of seven countries with endemic or re-established wild polio virus had coverage of 50% or less, and some neighbouring countries at high risk of importation did not meet the 80% vaccination target. Reported measles cases dropped from 520 000 in 2000 to 316 000 in 2005, and mortality was reduced by approximately 60% when compared to 1999 baseline levels. A network of measles and yellow fever laboratories had been established in 29 countries by July 2005.
Conclusions Rates of immunization coverage are improving dramatically in the WHO African Region. The huge increases in spending on immunization and the related improvements in programme performance are linked predominantly to increases in donor funding. | ,IMPACT,VACCINATION | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000242192600012 | Using qualitative methods for course evaluation - A case study from Botswana | Brown, Marie Scott,Mogobe, Keitshokile D.,Ntsayagae, Esther,Sabone, Motshedisi,Sebego, Miriam,Seboni, Naomi | 2006 | NURSE EDUCATOR | 31 | 6 | None | Washington State University, Univ Botswana & Swaziland | None | This article is a report of a qualitative evaluation of a course on human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome carried out jointly by faculty from Botswana and the United States at a University in Botswana. It demonstrates the importance of both international nurse educator expertise in impacting a major pandemic and the use of qualitative methods for course evaluation. | None | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000327308500102 | Evaluation of the Ethiopian Millennium Rural Initiative: Impact on Mortality and Cost-Effectiveness | Abebe, Yigeremu,Andersson, Kyeen M.,Bradley, Elizabeth H.,Byam, Patrick,Curry, Leslie A.,Linnander, Erika,Thompson, Jennifer W.,Zerihun, Abraham | 2013 | PLOS ONE | 8 | 11 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0079847 | Yale University, Clinton Hlth Access Initiat, Futures Inst, Global Hlth Leadership Inst | None | Main Objective: Few studies have examined the long-term, impact of large-scale interventions to strengthen primary care services for women and children in rural, low-income settings. We evaluated the impact of the Ethiopian Millennium Rural Initiative (EMRI), an 18-month systems-based intervention to improve the performance of 30 primary health care units in rural areas of Ethiopia.
Methods: We assessed the impact of EMRI on maternal and child survival using The Lives Saved Tool (LiST), Demography (DemProj) and AIDS Impact Model (AIM) tools in Spectrum software, inputting monthly data on 6 indicators 1) antenatal coverage (ANC), 2) skilled birth attendance coverage (SBA), 3) post-natal coverage (PNC), 4) HIV testing during ANC, 5) measles vaccination coverage, and 6) pentavalent 3 vaccination coverages. We calculated a cost-benefit ratio of the EMRI program including lives saved during implementation and lives saved during implementation and 5 year follow-up.
Results: A total of 134 lives (all children) were estimated to have been saved due to the EMRI interventions during the 18-month intervention in 30 health centers and their catchment areas, with an estimated additional 852 lives (820 children and 2 adults) saved during the 5-year post-EMRI period. For the 18-month intervention period, EMRI cost $37,313 per life saved ($42,366 per life if evaluation costs are included). Calculated over the 18-month intervention plus 5 years post-intervention, EMRI cost $5,875 per life saved ($6,671 per life if evaluation costs are included). The cost effectiveness of EMRI improves substantially if the performance achieved during the 18 months of the EMRI intervention is sustained for 5 years. Scaling up EMRI to operate for 5 years across the 4 major regions of Ethiopia could save as many as 34,908 lives.
Significance: A systems-based approach to improving primary care in low-income settings can have transformational impact on lives saved and be cost-effective. | ,CHALLENGES,INTERVENTION,MOTHERHOOD,PMTCT,PREVENTION,PRIMARY-HEALTH-CARE,PROJECT,QUALITY,RANDOMIZED-TRIAL,TANZANIA | 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:000267029700010 | An Evaluation of the Quality of IMCI Assessments among IMCI Trained Health Workers in South Africa | Haskins, Lyn,Horwood, Christiane,Nkosi, Phumla,Qazi, Shamim,Rollins, Nigel,Vermaak, Kerry | 2009 | PLOS ONE | 4 | 6 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0005937 | None | None | Background: Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) is a strategy to reduce mortality and morbidity in children under 5 years by improving case management of common and serious illnesses at primary health care level, and was adopted in South Africa in 1997. We report an evaluation of IMCI implementation in two provinces of South Africa.
Methodology/Principal Findings: Seventy-seven IMCI trained health workers were randomly selected and observed in 74 health facilities; 1357 consultations were observed between May 2006 and January 2007. Each health worker was observed for up to 20 consultations with sick children presenting consecutively to the facility, each child was then reassessed by an IMCI expert to determine the correct findings. Observed health workers had been trained in IMCI for an average of 32.2 months, and were observed for a mean of 17.7 consultations; 50/77(65%) HW's had received a follow up visit after training. In most cases health workers used IMCI to assess presenting symptoms but did not implement IMCI comprehensively. All but one health worker referred to IMCI guidelines during the period of observation. 9(12%) observed health workers checked general danger signs in every child, and 14(18%) assessed all the main symptoms in every child. 51/109(46.8%) children with severe classifications were correctly identified. Nutritional status was not classified in 567/1357(47.5%) children.
Conclusion/Significance: Health workers are implementing IMCI, but assessments were frequently incomplete, and children requiring urgent referral were missed. If coverage of key child survival interventions is to be improved, interventions are required to ensure competency in identifying specific signs and to encourage comprehensive assessments of children by IMCI practitioners. The role of supervision in maintaining health worker skills needs further investigation. | None | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000232495400004 | Methodological issues in measuring the impact of interventions against female genital cutting | ASKEW, I | 2005 | CULTURE HEALTH & SEXUALITY | 7 | 5 | 10.1080/13691050410001701939 | None | None | With increasing efforts being made to introduce systematic interventions for encouraging abandonment of female genital cutting (FGC) comes the need to better understand how such interventions work and what effects they have. Many interventions are based on theoretical models of behaviour change and so studies to evaluate them should develop indicators appropriate to the type of behaviour change anticipated. Systematic evaluations need also to use some form of quasiexperimental design to be able to attribute change to the intervention and not to any 'natural' change in FGC behaviour or other activities that may be concurrent. A sustained change in the prevalence of FGC is the ultimate indicator and there are several ways this can be measured, although with many limitations given the intimate nature of the practice. Moreover, appropriate sample sizes must be calculated and used to be able to draw valid conclusions. Many of those implementing FGC interventions are not familiar with such basic research principles and so there is an urgent need to ensure that projects are well designed so that valid conclusions concerning their effectiveness can be drawn. | ,CIRCUMCISION,CONSEQUENCES,DECLINE | 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 |
| 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 |
| WoS | WOS:000266192600134 | The impact of oil exploration on the inhabitants of the oil producing areas of Nigeria | Omotor, Douglason G. | 2009 | JOURNAL OF FOOD AGRICULTURE & ENVIRONMENT | 7 | 2 | None | None | None | This study modestly assails to measure the impact of the oil industry on the inhabitants of the oil producing areas of Nigeria by adopting an analysis of variance (ANOVA) methodology to test various hypotheses using six socio-economic indicators (education, health, housing, power, roads and water supply). The results revealed that the overall impact of oil on the selected socio-economic fundamentals was only significant during the oil boom era. The oil industry significantly impacted more on the development of these indicators in non-oil producing areas than in oil producing areas. This might had awoken the consciousness of inhabitants of oil producing area; therefore triggering the crisis now ravaging the Niger Delta. The study suggests community participation in equity holding; what is more, a sum equal to 50 percent of proceeds of royalty or rent from extraction of natural resources be paid to the host region. | "natural resource curse","NIGER DELTA",NIGERIA,"OIL EXPLORATION",socio-economic | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000267953700006 | Keloids: Assessment of effects and psychosocial- impacts on subjects in a black African population | Olaitan, P. B. | 2009 | INDIAN JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY VENEREOLOGY & LEPROLOGY | 75 | 4 | 10.4103/0378-6323.53132 | None | None | Background: Keloids are vexatious swelling on the skin or the conjuctiva. The effects and impacts of these lesions have not been assessed in a keloid endemic environment like Nigeria. Aims: The purpose of this study is to assess the psychosocial impact as well as effects of keloids on the subjects in a black African population where lesions are commonly seen. Methods: This is a prospective study which assesses the impacts of keloid on keloid patients. Consented patients who presented to the Plastic Surgery Clinic of the Lautech Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria were recruited into the study. A set of questionnaires were administered to all consented patients. The administered questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS version 10. Results: One hundred and thirty one patients were involved in this study. They comprised of 61 males and 70 females. Most (96.8) of them had the keloid lesion for more than one year. Sixteen (12.2) of the patients felt that keloids negatively affect their works, 64 (48.9) of the patients felt stigmatized by keloids, 28 (56.0) of them who had lesions in conspicuous parts while 24 (46.2) had lesions in non-conspicuous parts. Females (59.1) felt stigmatized than males. Only 47 (35.8) of the patients believed that keloid swelling limit their social interaction. Conclusion: Keloids do not appear to have significant negative impacts on keloid patients in a keloid-endemic community like a black African population. | BLACK,IMPACT,KELOID,PSYCHOSOCIAL,MANAGEMENT,SCARS | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000264910100004 | An ethnographic exploration of the impacts of HIV/AIDS on soil fertility management among smallholders in Butula, western Kenya | Misiko, M. | 2008 | NJAS-WAGENINGEN JOURNAL OF LIFE SCIENCES | 56 | 3 | None | None | None | This paper shows how HIV/AIDS negatively affects soil fertility management strategies among Kenyan smallholders. The paper examines this relationship, using ethnographic interviews of purposively selected affected households in Butula Division, Busia District, Kenya. Soil fertility management was given low priority in the face of high HIV/AIDS prevalence although it is a critical resource for meeting basic needs. Findings show that HIV/AIDS poses a significant and complex threat to the already deficient soil fertility management practices among smallholders. The disease's synergistic relation with poverty increases the stress on soil fertility management. It destructs local social structures and households by taking away resource persons, overburdening traditional insurance systems, and obliterating any modest capital and labour useful for soil fertility management that has been accumulated by the household. There is need for robust soil fertility policy-action frameworks that can be sustained tinder the limiting conditions of affected households and that can mitigate HIV/AIDS impacts amidst high poverty. | CAPITAL,"HIV/AIDS prevalence",HOUSEHOLD,labour,POVERTY | None | 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-s2.0-84892454034 | 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-s2.0-33748902038 | Managing the impact of gold panning activities within the context of integrated water resources management planning in the Lower Manyame Sub-Catchment, Zambezi Basin, Zimbabwe | Zwane N., Love D., Hoko Z., Shoko D. | 2006 | Physics and Chemistry of the Earth | 31 | None | 10.1016/j.pce.2006.08.024 | Africa Management and Development Institute, P.O. Box 6146, Mbabane, Swaziland; Department of Civil Engineering, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP167, Mt . Pleasant Harare,, Zimbabwe; Department of Geology, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP167, Mt . Pleasant Harare,, Zimbabwe; WaterNet, P.O. Box MP600, Mt . Pleasant Harare,, Zimbabwe; United Nations Industrial Development Organization, P.O. Box 4775, Harare, Zimbabwe | Zwane, N., Africa Management and Development Institute, P.O. Box 6146, Mbabane, Swaziland, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP167, Mt . Pleasant Harare,, Zimbabwe; Love, D., Department of Geology, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP167, Mt . Pleasant Harare,, Zimbabwe, WaterNet, P.O. Box MP600, Mt . Pleasant Harare,, Zimbabwe; Hoko, Z., Department of Civil Engineering, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP167, Mt . Pleasant Harare,, Zimbabwe; Shoko, D., Department of Geology, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP167, Mt . Pleasant Harare,, Zimbabwe, United Nations Industrial Development Organization, P.O. Box 4775, Harare, Zimbabwe | Riverbed alluvial gold panning activities are a cause for degradation of river channels and banks as well as water resources, particularly through accelerated erosion and siltation, in many areas of Zimbabwe. The lower Manyame sub-catchment located in the Northern part of the country is one such area. This study analysed the implications of cross-sectoral coordination of the management of panning and its impacts. This is within the context of conflicts of interests and responsibilities. A situational analysis of different stakeholders from sectors that included mining, environment, water, local government and water users who were located next to identified panning sites, as well as panners was carried out. Selected sites along the Dande River were observed to assess the environmental effects. The study determined that all stakeholder groups perceived siltation and river bank degradation as the most severe effect of panning on water resources, yet there were divergent views with regards to coordination of panning management. The Water Act of 1998 does not give enough power to management institutions including the Lower Manyame Sub-catchment Council to protect water resources from the impacts of panning, despite the fact that the activities affect the water resource base. The Mines and Minerals Act of 1996 remains the most powerful legislation, while mining sector activities adversely affect environmental resources. Furthermore, complexities were caused by differences in the definition of water resources management boundaries as compared to the overall environmental resources management boundaries according to the Environmental Management Act (EMA) of 2000, and by separate yet parallel water and environmental planning processes. Environmental sector institutions according to the EMA are well linked to local government functions and resource management is administrative, enhancing efficient coordination. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Conflict resolution; Consensus building; Environment; Gold panning; Integrated water resources management; Small-scale mining | Degradation; Environmental impact; Erosion; Management; Rivers; Concensus building; Conflict resolution; Gold panning; Integrated water resources management; Small-scale mining; Water resources; catchment; environmental effect; gold mine; river channel; water management; water resource; Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Zambezi Belt; Zimbabwe | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33748122168 | Mortality and morbidity among postpartum HIV-positive and HIV-negative women in Zimbabwe: Risk factors, causes, and impact of single-dose postpartum vitamin A supplementation | Zvandasara P., Hargrove J.W., Ntozini R., Chidawanyika H., Mutasa K., Iliff P.J., Moulton L.H., Mzengeza F., Malaba L.C., Ward B.J., Nathoo K.J., Zijenah L.S., Mbizvo M., Zunguza C., Humphrey J.H., Mahomva A., Majo F., Marinda E., Ndhlovu M., Piwoz E., Pr | 2006 | Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes | 43 | 1 | 10.1097/01.qai.0000229015.77569.c7 | Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe; ZVITAMBO Project, Harare, Zimbabwe; Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe; College of Science, Institute of Nutrition and Family Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe; Research Institute, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Que., Canada; Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of Immunology, University of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe; Harare City Health Department, Harare, Zimbabwe; WHO, Switzerland; ZVITAMBO Project, 1 Borrowdale Road, Borrowdale, Harare, Zimbabwe | Zvandasara, P., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe, ZVITAMBO Project, Harare, Zimbabwe; Hargrove, J.W., ZVITAMBO Project, Harare, Zimbabwe; Ntozini, R., ZVITAMBO Project, Harare, Zimbabwe; Chidawanyika, H., ZVITAMBO Project, Harare, Zimbabwe; Mutasa, K., ZVITAMBO Project, Harare, Zimbabwe; Iliff, P.J., ZVITAMBO Project, Harare, Zimbabwe, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe; Moulton, L.H., ZVITAMBO Project, Harare, Zimbabwe, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Baltimore, MD, United States; Mzengeza, F., ZVITAMBO Project, Harare, Zimbabwe, College of Science, Institute of Nutrition and Family Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe; Malaba, L.C., ZVITAMBO Project, Harare, Zimbabwe, College of Science, Institute of Nutrition and Family Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe; Ward, B.J., ZVITAMBO Project, Harare, Zimbabwe, Research Institute, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Que., Canada; Nathoo, K.J., ZVITAMBO Project, Harare, Zimbabwe, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe; Zijenah, L.S., ZVITAMBO Project, Harare, Zimbabwe, Department of Immunology, University of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe; Mbizvo, M., ZVITAMBO Project, Harare, Zimbabwe, WHO, Switzerland; Zunguza, C., ZVITAMBO Project, Harare, Zimbabwe, Harare City Health Department, Harare, Zimbabwe; Humphrey, J.H., ZVITAMBO Project, Harare, Zimbabwe, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Baltimore, MD, United States, ZVITAMBO Project, 1 Borrowdale Road, Borrowdale, Harare, Zimbabwe; Mahomva, A., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe; Majo, F., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe; Marinda, E., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe; Ndhlovu, M., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe; Piwoz, E., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe; Propper, L., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe; Rambanepasi, P., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe; Ruff, A., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe; Tavengwa, N., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe | BACKGROUND: Vitamin A deficiency is common among women in resource-poor countries and is associated with greater mortality during HIV. METHODS: Fourteen thousand one hundred ten mothers were tested for HIV and randomly administered 400,000 IU vitamin A or placebo at less than 96 hours postpartum. The effects of vitamin A and HIV status on mortality, health care utilization, and serum retinol were evaluated. RESULTS: Four thousand four hundred ninety-five (31.9%) mothers tested HIV positive. Mortality at 24 months was 2.3 per 1000 person-years and 38.3 per 1000 person-years in HIV-negative and HIV-positive women, respectively. Vitamin A had no effect on mortality. Tuberculosis was the most common cause of death, and nearly all tuberculosis-associated deaths were among HIV-positive women. Among HIV-positive women, vitamin A had no effect on rates of hospitalization or overall sick clinic visits, but did reduce clinic visits for malaria, cracked and bleeding nipples, pelvic inflammatory disease, and vaginal infection. Among HIV-negative women, serum retinol was responsive to vitamin A, but low serum retinol was rare. Among HIV-positive women, serum retinol was largely unresponsive to vitamin A, and regardless of treatment group, the entire serum retinol distribution was shifted 25% less than that of HIV-negative women 6 weeks after dosing. CONCLUSIONS: Single-dose postpartum vitamin A supplementation had no effect on maternal mortality, perhaps because vitamin A status was adequate in HIV-negative women and apparently unresponsive to supplementation in HIV-positive women. Copyright © 2006 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. | HIV; Morbidity; Mortality; Mothers; Serum retinol; Tuberculosis; Vitamin A; Zimbabwe | placebo; retinol; adult; article; controlled study; female; health care utilization; hospitalization; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; major clinical study; malaria; morbidity; mortality; pelvic inflammatory disease; priority journal; puerperium; retinol deficiency; risk factor; tuberculosis; vaginitis; vitamin blood level; vitamin supplementation; Zimbabwe; Adult; Cause of Death; Dietary Supplements; Female; HIV Infections; HIV Seronegativity; HIV Seropositivity; Humans; Morbidity; Pregnancy; Puerperal Disorders; Risk Factors; Survival Rate; Tuberculosis; Vitamin A; Zimbabwe | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33646161233 | Modelled surface ozone over southern Africa during the Cross Border Air Pollution Impact Assessment Project | Zunckel M., Koosailee A., Yarwood G., Maure G., Venjonoka K., van Tienhoven A.M., Otter L. | 2006 | Environmental Modelling and Software | 21 | 7 | 10.1016/j.envsoft.2005.04.004 | CSIR Environmentek, P.O. Box 17001, Congella 4013 Durban, South Africa; ENVIRON International Corporation, 101 Rowland Way, Novato, CA 94945, United States; Department of Physics, Eduardo Mondlane University, Box 257, Maputo, Mozambique; Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Private Bag BR132, Gaborone, Botswana; Climatology Research Group, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050, South Africa; Sasol Synfuels, Private Bag X1000, Secunda, 2302, South Africa | Zunckel, M., CSIR Environmentek, P.O. Box 17001, Congella 4013 Durban, South Africa; Koosailee, A., CSIR Environmentek, P.O. Box 17001, Congella 4013 Durban, South Africa, Sasol Synfuels, Private Bag X1000, Secunda, 2302, South Africa; Yarwood, G., ENVIRON International Corporation, 101 Rowland Way, Novato, CA 94945, United States; Maure, G., Department of Physics, Eduardo Mondlane University, Box 257, Maputo, Mozambique; Venjonoka, K., Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Private Bag BR132, Gaborone, Botswana; van Tienhoven, A.M., CSIR Environmentek, P.O. Box 17001, Congella 4013 Durban, South Africa; Otter, L., Climatology Research Group, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050, South Africa | Monitoring of surface ozone over southern Africa has shown that ambient concentrations often exceed a threshold of 40 ppb at which damage to vegetation by ozone could be expected. The Cross Border Air Pollution Assessment Project (CAPIA) was therefore established to assess the potential impacts of ozone on maize, a staple food crop, in five southern African countries. Measured surface ozone data are scare in the region so it was necessary to complement the monitoring with regional-scale photochemical modelling to achieve the objective. The Pennsylvania State and NCAR Mesoscale Model (MM5) is used to produce gridded meteorological data for 5 days in each month of the maize growing season, October to April, as input to the photochemical model, CAMx. Gridded anthropogenic emissions from industry, transport and domestic burning and gridded biogenic emissions from soils and vegetation are input to CAMx. The model estimations indicate large areas on the sub-continent where surface ozone concentrations exceed 40 ppb for up to 10 h per day. Maximum concentrations may exceed 80 ppb, particularly in the winter when mean ozone concentrations are higher. The areas where the 40 ppb threshold is exceeded coincide with maize growing areas in South Africa and Zimbabwe. It appears that neither anthropogenic emissions nor biogenic emissions are dominant in the production of surface ozone over southern Africa. Rather the formation of surface ozone over the region is attributed to the combined contribution of precursors from anthropogenic and biogenic origin. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Anthropogenic emissions; Biogenic emissions; Botswana; CAMx; CAPIA; Maize; MM5; Mozambique; Photochemical modelling; South Africa; Zambia; Zimbabwe | Condition monitoring; Environmental impact; Ozone; Project management; Regional planning; Vegetation; Anthropogenic emissions; Biogenic emissions; CAMx; Cross Border Air Pollution Assessment Project (CAPIA); MM5; Photochemical modeling; Air pollution; anthropogenic effect; atmospheric pollution; biogenic emission; maize; Meteosat; ozone; Africa; Botswana; Mozambique; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Zambia; Zimbabwe; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-64649091129 | Mulch tower treatment system Part I: Overall performance in greywater treatment | Zuma B.M., Tandlich R., Whittington-Jones K.J., Burgess J.E. | 2009 | Desalination | 242 | 42372 | 10.1016/j.desal.2008.03.030 | Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa; Institute for Water Research, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa; Department of Environmental Science, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa | Zuma, B.M., Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa; Tandlich, R., Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa, Institute for Water Research, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa; Whittington-Jones, K.J., Department of Environmental Science, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa; Burgess, J.E., Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa | A mulch tower (MT) system for greywater treatment is introduced in this paper. Materials used to assemble the MT system included mulch, coarse sand, fine and coarse gravel. Limited removal efficiency of the MT system was demonstrated for alkalinity, total hardness, pH, Cl-, PO43-, NH4+, and SO42-, with the estimated cumulative removals ranging from 7 to 12%. Intermediate removal efficiency was observed for chemical oxygen demand (COD), NO3-, and S2- with the estimated cumulative removals ranging from 24 to 28%. The highest removal efficiency was observed for the total suspended solids (TSS) with the estimated cumulative removal equal to 52%. Given the minute residence time in the MT system, the results obtained were promising and justify scale-up studies for potential on-site applications. The MT effluent did not meet hygienic norms with respect to the faecal coliform concentration (FC) and the total coliform concentration (TC), and further effluent treatment is required before any discharge or reuse of the treated greywater. Further research should focus on characterisation of the microbial community of the MT, and the fate of Cl-, PO43-, NH4+, and SO42-. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Greywater; Mulch tower; On-site treatment | Characterisation; Chemical-oxygen demands; Coarse gravels; Coliform concentrations; Greywater; Greywater treatments; Microbial communities; Mulch tower; On-site treatment; Removal efficiencies; Residence time; Scale-Up; Site applications; Total suspended solids; Treatment systems; Alkalinity; Buildings; Chemical oxygen demand; Effluent treatment; Effluents; Oxygen; Range finding; Removal; Telluric prospecting; Towers; Wastewater treatment; Water recycling; chemical oxygen demand; estimation method; fecal coliform; microbial community; mulch; removal experiment | 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-s2.0-84931395794 | Evaluation of cross-protection of bluetongue virus serotype 4 with other serotypes in sheep | Zulu G.B., Venter E.H. | 2014 | Journal of the South African Veterinary Association | 85 | 1 | 10.4102/jsava.v85i1.1041 | Experimental Animals: Onderstepoort Biological Products, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, South Africa | Zulu, G.B., Experimental Animals: Onderstepoort Biological Products, University of Pretoria, South Africa, Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Venter, E.H., Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, South Africa | Bluetongue (BT) is a non-contagious disease of sheep and other domestic and wild ruminants caused by the bluetongue virus (BTV). Currently 26 serotypes of the virus have been identified. In South Africa, 22 serotypes have been identified and BT is controlled mainly by annual vaccinations using a freeze-dried live attenuated polyvalent BTV vaccine. The vaccine is constituted of 15 BTV serotypes divided into three separate bottles and the aim is to develop a vaccine using fewer serotypes without compromising the immunity against the disease. This study is based on previously reported cross-neutralisation of specific BTV serotypes in in vitro studies. Bluetongue virus serotype 4 was selected for this trial and was tested for cross-protection against serotype 4 (control), 1 (unrelated serotype), 9, 10 and 11 in sheep using the serum neutralisation test. The purpose of the study was to determine possible cross-protection of different serotypes in sheep. Of those vaccinated with BTV-4 and challenged with BTV-1, which is not directly related to BTV-4, 20% were completely protected and 80% showed clinical signs, but the reaction was not as severe as amongst the unvaccinated animals. In the group challenged with BTV-10, some showed good protection and some became very sick. Those challenged with BTV-9 and BTV-11 had good protection. The results showed that BTV-4 does not only elicit a specific immune response but can also protect against other serotypes. © 2014. The Authors. | None | bluetongue vaccine; core protein; live vaccine; neutralizing antibody; nonstructural protein 1; unclassified drug; virus vaccine; virus antibody; virus vaccine; animal experiment; antigen antibody reaction; Article; bleeding; bluetongue; Bluetongue orbivirus; Bluetongue orbivirus serotype 1; Bluetongue orbivirus serotype 11; Bluetongue orbivirus serotype 4; Bluetongue orbivirus serotype 9; cellular immunity; controlled study; cross protection; depression; dyspnea; humoral immunity; immunogenicity; in vitro study; nonhuman; sheep; vaccination; virus neutralization; animal; blood; bluetongue; Bluetongue orbivirus; classification; immunology; serotype; sheep; virology; Animalia; Bluetongue virus; Ovis aries; Animals; Antibodies, Viral; Bluetongue; Bluetongue virus; Serogroup; Sheep; Viral Vaccines | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78650664477 | Evaluation of the oxytocic activity of the ethanol extract of the roots of Alchornea cordifolia | Zuleikha N.A.M., Omonkhelin O.J., Buniyamin A.A., Paul I.O. | 2010 | International Journal of Green Pharmacy | 4 | 4 | 10.4103/0973-8258.74133 | Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria | Zuleikha, N.A.M., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria; Omonkhelin, O.J., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria; Buniyamin, A.A., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria; Paul, I.O., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria | Alchornea cordifolia has been used traditionally for the induction of labour as an abortifacient. This study is aimed at verifying the folkloric use of the plant by investigating the effect of ethanolic extract of the root bark on the isolated stilboestrol pretreated uteri of non-pregnant female rats. The extract (1, 10, 50 g/l), oxytocin (4105 to 8103 g/l), acetylcholine (4106 to 8104 g/l), atropine (410 3 g/l), phenoxybenzamine (4103 g/l), diphenhydramine(2101 g/l), and verapamil (12102 g/l) were used. Log concentration response curves were plotted and EC 50 and Emax were obtained. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Dunnet corrections using Graph pad Instat version 2.05a was used for statistical analysis. The extract produced dose-dependent contraction of the uterus. Its potency was less than that of oxytocin and acetylcholine (P<0.05), but the Emax showed no significant difference (P>0.05). The E max values of the extract in the presence of all antagonists were significantly reduced (P<0.01). The EC 50 in the presence of atropine showed no significant increase (P>0.05); however, in the presence of phenoxybenzamine, the increase was significant (P<0.05). The presence of diphenhydramine and verapamil produced an inhibition such that the EC 50 was unattainable. A. cordifolia stimulates the uterus possibly by binding to alpha-adrenergic or histaminergic receptors or both. This indicates the existence of active principles in the plant, which may be responsible for some of the applications in traditional medicines as an abortifacient and in the induction of labour. | Folkloric medicine; root bark; smooth muscles; uterine contraction | acetylcholine; alchornea cordifolia extract; alcohol; atropine; diphenhydramine; oxytocic agent; oxytocin; phenoxybenzamine; plant extract; unclassified drug; verapamil; alchornea cordifolia; animal experiment; animal tissue; article; drug antagonism; drug potency; Euphorbia; female; nonhuman; plant root; rat; uterus contraction | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84872360882 | Echocardiographic screening for subclinical rheumatic heart disease remains a research tool pending studies of impact on prognosis | Zühlke L., Mayosi B.M. | 2013 | Current Cardiology Reports | 15 | 3 | 10.1007/s11886-012-0343-1 | Division of Paediatric Cardiology, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital and University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Medicine, Old Groote Schuur Hospital, Groote Schuur Drive, Observatory, 7945, Cape Town, South Africa | Zühlke, L., Division of Paediatric Cardiology, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital and University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, Department of Medicine, Old Groote Schuur Hospital, Groote Schuur Drive, Observatory, 7945, Cape Town, South Africa; Mayosi, B.M., Department of Medicine, Old Groote Schuur Hospital, Groote Schuur Drive, Observatory, 7945, Cape Town, South Africa | The application of portable echocardiography to the screening of asymptomatic children and young adults for rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in developing countries indicates that the disease may affect 62 million to 78 million individuals worldwide, which could potentially result in 1.4 million deaths per year from RHD and its complications. The World Heart Federation has developed a guideline for the echocardiographic diagnosis of RHD in asymptomatic individuals without a history of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) in order to ensure the reliability, comparability, and reproducibility of findings of the echocardiographic screening studies. Early studies suggest that a third of individuals with asymptomatic subclinical RHD revert to normal echocardiographic findings on repeat testing after 6-12 months, suggesting that repeat echocardiography may be necessary to confirm the findings prior to consideration of interventions such as antibiotic prophylaxis. It is not known, however, whether echocardiographic screening for asymptomatic subclinical RHD or the introduction of antibiotic prophylaxis for affected individuals improves the prognosis of RHD. Furthermore, the cost-effectiveness of this screening method has not been established in the vast majority of affected countries. Therefore, echocardiographic screening for asymptomatic subclinical RHD remains a research tool until studies of impact on prognosis and cost-effectiveness are conducted. © Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013. | Echocardiographic screening; Rheumatic heart disease; Subclinical carditis; World Heart Federation guidelines | antibiotic prophylaxis; article; asymptomatic disease; clinical protocol; comparative effectiveness; cost effectiveness analysis; developing country; disease activity; disease classification; disease course; disease surveillance; echocardiography; health care cost; human; practice guideline; prognosis; reliability; repeat procedure; reproducibility; rheumatic heart disease | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33750579636 | Synthesis and pesticidal evaluation of novel quin-8- oxytetramethyldiphenyldioxaphosphonine analogue | Zubair M.F., Oladosu I.A. | 2006 | South African Journal of Chemistry | 59 | None | None | Department of Chemistry, University of Ilorin, P.M.B. 1515, Ilorin, Nigeria; Department of Chemistry, Bayero University Kano, P.M.B. 3011, Kano, Nigeria | Zubair, M.F., Department of Chemistry, University of Ilorin, P.M.B. 1515, Ilorin, Nigeria; Oladosu, I.A., Department of Chemistry, Bayero University Kano, P.M.B. 3011, Kano, Nigeria | Although a great deal of success has been achieved in the synthesis of dibenzodioxaphosphepin derivatives during the last few decades with the introduction of hundreds of its six-, and seven-membered ring systems, the search for more practical agronomic pesticides that is readily available and of good activity, remains attractive and important to an agronomic chemist. During the course of the development of synthetic routes to a promising pesticide, a facile preparation for a nine-membered heterocyclic dibenzodioxaphosphonine compound was discovered. Previously reported compounds consist of six- and seven-membered ring systems. The pure product was fully characterized by spectroscopic [IR, NMR (1H, 13C, 31P) and Mass] analyses. The pure compound possesses a LC50 value of 19.3 μg cm-3 in a brine shrimp lethality assay (BST). The preliminary field study on the cowpea weevil bioassay shows 51% success. Details of the synthetic route as well as bioassay results are reported herein. | BST; Candidate; Dibenzodioxaphosphonine; LC50 | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84892798175 | Impact of the 2010 FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) World Cup on pediatric injury and mortality in Cape Town, South Africa | Zroback C., Levin D., Manlhiot C., Alexander A., Van As A.B., Azzie G. | 2014 | Journal of Pediatrics | 164 | 2 | 10.1016/j.jpeds.2013.10.009 | Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada; Department of General Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Anesthesia, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Labatt Family Heart Center, Department of Pediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Trauma Unit, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; ChildSafe (Formerly Known As the Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Southern Africa), Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada | Zroback, C., Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, Department of General Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Levin, D., Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, Department of Anesthesia, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Manlhiot, C., Labatt Family Heart Center, Department of Pediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Alexander, A., Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada, Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Van As, A.B., Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, Trauma Unit, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa, ChildSafe (Formerly Known As the Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Southern Africa), Cape Town, South Africa; Azzie, G., Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada | Objective To examine how a mass-gathering event (the Federation Internationale de Football Association World Cup, 2010, South Africa) impacts trauma and mortality in the pediatric (≤18 years) population. Study design We investigated pediatric emergency visits at Cape Town's 3 largest public trauma centers and 3 private hospital groups, as well as deaths investigated by the 3 city mortuaries. We compared the 31 days of World Cup with equivalent periods from 2007-2009, and with the 2 weeks before and after the event. We also looked at the World Cup period in isolation and compared days with and without games in Cape Town. Results There was significantly decreased pediatric trauma volume during the World Cup, approximately 2/100â€̂000 (37%) fewer injuries per day, compared with 2009 and to both pre- and post-World Cup control periods (P <.001). This decrease occurred within a majority of injury subtypes, but did not change mortality. There were temporal fluctuations in emergency visits corresponding with local match start time, with fewer all-cause emergency visits during the 5 hours surrounding this time (-16.4%, P =.01), followed by a subsequent spike (+26.2%, P =.02). There was an increase in trauma 12 hours following matches (+15.6%, P =.06). Conclusions In Cape Town, during the 2010 Federation Internationale de Football Association World Cup, there were fewer emergency department visits for traumatic injury. Furthermore, there were fewer all-cause pediatric emergency department visits during hometown matches. These results will assist in planning for future mass-gathering events. | Federation Internationale de Football Association; FIFA; ICD-10; International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision | adolescent; adult; article; child; childhood injury; clinical examination; consultation; controlled study; cross-sectional study; emergency health service; emergency ward; female; football; human; infant; male; mortality; multicenter study; newborn; pediatrics; preschool child; priority journal; private hospital; school child; South Africa; sport; sport injury; young adult; Article; childhood injury; contusion; death; emergency care; football; intoxication; major clinical study; wound; Federation Internationale de Football Association; FIFA; ICD-10; International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision; Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Emergency Service, Hospital; Female; Humans; Incidence; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Soccer; South Africa; Survival Rate; Wounds and Injuries | 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-s2.0-34548169083 | Evaluation of global clustering patterns and strain variation over an extended ORF26 gene locus from Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus | Zong J.-C., Kajumbula H., Boto W., Hayward G.S. | 2007 | Journal of Clinical Virology | 40 | 1 | 10.1016/j.jcv.2007.06.013 | Viral Oncology Program, Department of Oncology, Sydney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Blunting Blaustein Cancer Research Bldg. 1650 Orleans St, Baltimore, MD 21231-1000, United States; Department of Medical Microbiology, Makerere University Medical School, Kampala, Uganda | Zong, J.-C., Viral Oncology Program, Department of Oncology, Sydney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Blunting Blaustein Cancer Research Bldg. 1650 Orleans St, Baltimore, MD 21231-1000, United States; Kajumbula, H., Department of Medical Microbiology, Makerere University Medical School, Kampala, Uganda; Boto, W., Department of Medical Microbiology, Makerere University Medical School, Kampala, Uganda; Hayward, G.S., Viral Oncology Program, Department of Oncology, Sydney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Blunting Blaustein Cancer Research Bldg. 1650 Orleans St, Baltimore, MD 21231-1000, United States | Background: Small 233-bp or 330-bp DNA fragments of the ORF26 gene of human Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV) have been used extensively to identify KSHV by PCR in clinical samples; to associate KSHV with novel diseases and to correlate KSHV strain differences with pathogenicity. Objectives: We evaluated the nature, extent and source of nucleotide sequence variability among a large and diverse set of known KSHV-positive DNA samples. Study design: Direct DNA PCR sequencing was carried out on 136 distinct Kaposi's sarcoma and primary effusion lymphoma-related samples from different geographic locations. Results: The presence of 26 diagnostic nucleotide polymorphisms across an expanded 965-bp PCR locus define eight distinct ORF26E genotypes, three being of Eurasian origin, one from the Pacific Rim, and five from Sub-Saharan Africa. Previous ambiguities between some genotype patterns in the 330-bp locus data are fully resolved. Conclusions: This analysis provides an expanded database for understanding and evaluating ORF26 polymorphisms. In particular, the eight genotype clusters correlated with specific ethnic and geographic origins of the patients. Furthermore, the very low level of additional sporadic nucleotide variation found permits detection of spurious sequence errors or contamination present in some published data. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Direct PCR sequencing; Multiple KSHV genotypes; Subtype discrimination | article; controlled study; correlation analysis; data base; diagnostic test; DNA polymorphism; DNA sequence; ethnicity; gene cluster; gene deletion; gene locus; gene sequence; genetic analysis; genetic variability; genotype; geography; Herpes virus; human; human cell; Kaposi sarcoma; lymphoma; nucleotide sequence; open reading frame; polymerase chain reaction; priority journal; virus strain; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; Base Sequence; Cluster Analysis; Demography; Genome, Viral; Genotype; Herpesviridae Infections; Herpesvirus 8, Human; Humans; Molecular Sequence Data; Open Reading Frames; Polymorphism, Genetic; Sarcoma, Kaposi | 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-s2.0-38649129788 | 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 |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79958150855 | Electrical performance results of an energy efficient building with an integrated photovoltaic system | Ziuku S., Meyer E.L. | 2010 | Journal of Energy in Southern Africa | 21 | 3 | None | Fort Hare Institute of Technology, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa | Ziuku, 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 | A 3.8 kW rooftop photovoltaic generator has been installed on an energy efficient house built at the University of Fort Hare, Alice campus, South Africa. The system, located on the north facing roof, started generating electrical power in February 2009. In addition to providing electrical energy, the photovoltaic panels also act as the building roofing material. An instrumentation and data acquisition system was installed to record the indoor and outdoor ambient temperature, indoor and outdoor relative humidity, wind speed and direction, solar irradiance, electrical energy produced by the solar panels and the household energy consumption. This paper presents the initial results of the electrical performance of the building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) generator and energy consumption patterns in the energy efficient house. | Building integrated photovoltaics; Energy consumption; Energy demand; Energy efficiency | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84877583730 | HIV-associated lipodystrophy in South Africa: The impact on the patient and the impact on the plastic surgeon | Zinn R.J., Serrurier C., Takuva S., Sanne I., Menezes C.N. | 2013 | Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery | 66 | 6 | 10.1016/j.bjps.2013.02.032 | Department of Surgery, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical HIV Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Zinn, R.J., Department of Surgery, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Serrurier, C., Department of Surgery, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Takuva, S., Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical HIV Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Sanne, I., Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Menezes, C.N., Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical HIV Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | SummaryBackground With 67% of the world's human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected population existing in sub-Saharan Africa and recent access to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), the demand for plastic surgical intervention in addressing lipodystrophy has expanded dramatically. We assessed the rate of lipodystrophy in a random clinic cohort, the demand for surgical correction and risk of treatment non-compliance. Method Questionnaire and database cross-sectional review of 554 patients over a 3-month period at the Themba Lethu Clinic, Johannesburg, South Africa. Results A total of 479 patients completed the questionnaire, 83% were female. Nearly 90% of patients were on, or had been on, stavudine (d4T). The prevalence of lipodystrophy was 11.7%. Nearly 5.9% of patients had considered stopping treatment due to the development of lipodystrophy; 47% would consider surgery to correct unwanted physical changes. Male patients were satisfied by the changes they noted in their physical features following treatment (pre-treatment satisfaction 38% vs. post-treatment satisfaction of 94%). Female patients had 6.5 times more breast hypertrophy-related symptoms than in their pre-treatment state. Conclusion We identify a prevalence of 11.7% of patients with HIV-associated lipodystrophy, of whom 5.9% would consider non-compliance on the basis of this side effect alone. The demand for surgical correction is significant and needs to be addressed. © 2013 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Keywords Lipodystrophy Compliance Stigma Highly-active antiretroviral therapy Stavudine | stavudine; adult; article; breast hypertrophy; cross-sectional study; female; HIV associated lipodystrophy; human; major clinical study; male; patient compliance; patient satisfaction; plastic surgery; priority journal; sex difference; South Africa; surgery; Adult; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health Services Needs and Demand; HIV-Associated Lipodystrophy Syndrome; Humans; Male; Prevalence; Proportional Hazards Models; Questionnaires; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures; Risk Factors; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84941746539 | Assessment of adoption and impact of rainwater harvesting technologies on rural farm household income: the case of rainwater harvesting ponds in Rwanda | Zingiro A., Okello J.J., Guthiga P.M. | 2014 | Environment, Development and Sustainability | 16 | 6 | 10.1007/s10668-014-9527-8 | University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053, Nairobi, Kenya; International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya | Zingiro, A., University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053, Nairobi, Kenya; Okello, J.J., University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053, Nairobi, Kenya; Guthiga, P.M., International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya | Rainwater harvesting is increasingly viewed as a major strategy for enhancing agricultural productivity and boosting farm income in many drought-prone areas. While this technology is being promoted in many developing countries, there is conflicting evidence in the literature about its impact on welfare of farm households. This study uses propensity score matching and discrete choice regression techniques to assess the impact of rainwater harvesting ponds on farm household income and factors that influence adoption of such technologies in Rwanda. It finds that households with rainwater harvesting ponds have significantly higher income than their counterparts of comparable observable characteristics. It further finds evidence that increase in farm income occurs via increased input use and that household size, asset endowments and participation in farmer organizations condition adoption of rainwater harvesting ponds. The study concludes that adoption of rainwater harvesting technologies has positive benefits on farm households. It discusses the policy implications that adoption of rainwater harvesting ponds presents a pathway for reducing rural poverty. © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht. | Adoption and impact; Propensity score matching; Rainwater harvesting ponds; Rwanda | adoption constraint; agricultural production; cost-benefit analysis; developing world; drought; environmental impact assessment; farmers attitude; harvesting; household income; literature review; policy approach; pond; poverty; rainwater; rural area; social conflict; sustainability; welfare impact; Rwanda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84880042718 | Effects of within-litter birth weight variation of piglets on performance at 3 weeks of age and at weaning in a Large White×Landrace sow herd | Zindove T.J., Dzomba E.F., Kanengoni A.T., Chimonyo M. | 2013 | Livestock Science | 155 | 42403 | 10.1016/j.livsci.2013.04.013 | Animal and Poultry Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P. Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209 Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Genetics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P. Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209 Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Animal Production Institute, ARC, P. Bag X2, Irene 0062, South Africa | Zindove, T.J., Animal and Poultry Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P. Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209 Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Dzomba, E.F., Genetics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P. Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209 Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Kanengoni, A.T., Animal Production Institute, ARC, P. Bag X2, Irene 0062, South Africa; Chimonyo, M., Animal and Poultry Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P. Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209 Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | The effect of piglet birth weight variation on subsequent weight variations and litter performance in Large White×Landrace sows is not well understood. The objective of the current study was to determine the relationship between within-litter birth weight coefficient of variation (CVB) and performance of piglets at 3 weeks and at weaning. A total of 1836 litter records, collected between January 1998 and September 2010 at the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), Irene, were used. The CVB had a linear relationship with survival at 3 weeks (SURV3) (b=-0.20; P<0.05) and within-litter weight coefficient of variation at 3 weeks (CV3) (b=0.50; P<0.05). Litters with high CVB had more deaths at 3 weeks (P<0.05). Increase of CV3 with CVB varied with parity (P<0.05). The rate of increase of CV3 with CVB was highest in Parity 1 (b=0.41) followed by Parity 2 (b=0.36) then middle aged (Parity 3-5) sows (b=0.32). There was no significant relationship between CVB and litter weight at 3 weeks (LWt3) or mean litter weight at 3 weeks (MWt3) (P>0.05). Weight variation at weaning was positively skewed (skewness value of 0.81). The survival to 3 weeks (SURV3) ranged from 13.3% to 100% with a mean of 87.6%. The CVB had a linear relationship with both within-litter weaning weight coefficient of variation (CVW) (b=0.50; P<0.05) and percent survival to weaning (SURVW) (b=-0.04; P<0.05). There was an unfavorable positive relationship between CVB with both CVW and SURVW. It can be concluded that litter performance at weaning is related to CVB. © 2013. | Coefficient of variation; Parity; Piglets; Survivability | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84906253269 | Climate change impacts and adaptation in South Africa | Ziervogel G., New M., Archer van Garderen E., Midgley G., Taylor A., Hamann R., Stuart-Hill S., Myers J., Warburton M. | 2014 | Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change | 5 | 5 | 10.1002/wcc.295 | Department of Environmental and Geographical Science, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; African Climate and Development Initiative, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; CSIR/School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Pretoria, South Africa; South African National Botanical Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Cape Town, South Africa; African Centre for Cities, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; School for Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, South Africa; School of Public Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; School for Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, South Africa | Ziervogel, G., Department of Environmental and Geographical Science, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; New, M., African Climate and Development Initiative, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Archer van Garderen, E., CSIR/School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Pretoria, South Africa; Midgley, G., South African National Botanical Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Cape Town, South Africa; Taylor, A., African Centre for Cities, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Hamann, R., Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Stuart-Hill, S., School for Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, South Africa; Myers, J., School of Public Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Warburton, M., School for Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, South Africa | In this paper we review current approaches and recent advances in research on climate impacts and adaptation in South Africa. South Africa has a well-developed earth system science research program that underpins the climate change scenarios developed for the southern African region. Established research on the biophysical impacts of climate change on key sectors (water, agriculture, and biodiversity) integrates the climate change scenarios but further research is needed in a number of areas, such as the climate impacts on cities and the built environment. National government has developed a National Climate Change Response White Paper, but this has yet to translate into policy that mainstreams adaptation in everyday practice and longer-term planning in all spheres and levels of government. A national process to scope long-term adaptation scenarios is underway, focusing on cross-sectoral linkages in adaptation responses at a national level. Adaptation responses are emerging in certain sectors. Some notable city-scale and project-based adaptation responses have been implemented, but institutional challenges persist. In addition, a number of knowledge gaps remain in relation to the biophysical and socio-economic impacts of climate change. A particular need is to develop South Africa's capacity to undertake integrated assessments of climate change that can support climate-resilient development planning. © 2014 The Authors. WIREs Climate Change published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. | None | adaptive management; climate change; environmental planning; environmental policy; socioeconomic impact; South Africa | None |
| 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-s2.0-48349091332 | Influence of different morphologies on electrochemical performance of spinel LiMn2O4 | Zhu H.-L., Chen Z.-Y., Ji S., Linkov Vladimir. | 2008 | Solid State Ionics | 179 | 27-32 | 10.1016/j.ssi.2008.01.058 | Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, Changsha University of Science and Technology, 410076, China; SAIAMC, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa | Zhu, H.-L., Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, Changsha University of Science and Technology, 410076, China; Chen, Z.-Y., Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, Changsha University of Science and Technology, 410076, China, SAIAMC, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa; Ji, S., SAIAMC, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa; Linkov, Vladimir., SAIAMC, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa | A controlled crystallization method was adopted to synthesize spherical MnCO3, then it was mixed uniformly with Li2CO3 in agate mortar, followed by calcinations at 600 °C and 800 °C for 10 and 24 h respectively, and as a result the spherical or sphere-like spinel LiMn2O4 was formed. The electrochemical performances of LiMn2O4 prepared by normal solid-state reaction and controlled crystallization method respectively were compared. It showed that the stoichiometric spherical LiMn2O4 had obviously excellent electrochemical performance, whose initial reversible capacity was 129.40 mAh/g with the high capacity retention of 95.28% after 100 cycles, than those of the polyhedral LiMn2O4 synthesized by the solid-state reaction, whose initial reversible capacity was 129.12 mAh/g with the capacity retention of 77.38% after 100 cycles. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Cathode materials; LiMn2O4; Lithium ion batteries; Polyhedral; Spherical | Controlled crystallization; Electrochemical performances; Spherical(pivot) | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-82555193672 | Gold nanoparticles show electroactivity: Counting and sorting nanoparticles upon impact with electrodes | Zhou Y.-G., Rees N.V., Pillay J., Tshikhudo R., Vilakazi S., Compton R.G. | 2012 | Chemical Communications | 48 | 2 | 10.1039/c1cc16407d | Dept. of Chemistry, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, Oxford University, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QZ, United Kingdom; Mintek, 200 Malibongwe Drive, Randburg 2125, South Africa | Zhou, Y.-G., Dept. of Chemistry, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, Oxford University, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QZ, United Kingdom; Rees, N.V., Dept. of Chemistry, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, Oxford University, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QZ, United Kingdom; Pillay, J., Mintek, 200 Malibongwe Drive, Randburg 2125, South Africa; Tshikhudo, R., Mintek, 200 Malibongwe Drive, Randburg 2125, South Africa; Vilakazi, S., Mintek, 200 Malibongwe Drive, Randburg 2125, South Africa; Compton, R.G., Dept. of Chemistry, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, Oxford University, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QZ, United Kingdom | Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in aqueous 0.10 M HCl are shown to be electroactive at oxidising potentials greater than 1.0 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) by means of voltammetric monitoring of AuNP-electrode collisions. The method promises the use of anodic particle coulometry for the detection and characterisation of the AuNPs. | None | chloride; gold nanoparticle; aqueous solution; article; coulometry; electrode; potentiometry | 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-s2.0-84901371918 | 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-s2.0-84901322224 | Family Evaluation for Sugarcane Yield Using Data Estimated from Stalk Number, Height, and Diameter | Zhou M. | 2014 | Journal of Crop Improvement | 28 | 3 | 10.1080/15427528.2014.906528 | South African Sugarcane Research Institute, Mount Edgecombe, South Africa; University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa | Zhou, M., South African Sugarcane Research Institute, Mount Edgecombe, South Africa, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa | Family selection in sugarcane (Saccharum spp.), as practiced in Australia, was difficult to implement in South Africa because of the non-availability of mechanical harvesting and automatic weighing machines. This study explored the potential of evaluating cane yield of sugarcane families estimated using stalk number, stalk height, and stalk diameter as compared to individual seedling selection. Data for stalk number, stalk height, and stalk diameter were collected from Bruyns Hill and irrigated populations and analyzed using the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) to estimate variance components and best linear unbiased predictors (BLUP). A sample of 500 seedlings produced a significant association (r = 89, P < 0.0001) between actual and estimated cane yield. The results showed significant differences for cane yield among families. Family estimates of broad-sense heritability (H) and percent predicted gains (%Gs) were larger than for individual seedling selection. Elite families within populations were identified using BLUP. Data from four replications and 10 seedlings per plot were adequate for family evaluation. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. | Best linear unbiased prediction; broad-sense heritability; cane yield component; family selection; predicted gains from selection | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79954439764 | Evaluation of genetic manipulation strategies on d-lactate production by Escherichia coli | Zhou L., Zuo Z.-R., Chen X.-Z., Niu D.-D., Tian K.-M., Prior B.A., Shen W., Shi G.-Y., Singh S., Wang Z.-X. | 2011 | Current Microbiology | 62 | 3 | 10.1007/s00284-010-9817-9 | Center for Bioresource and Bioenergy, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China; Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China; Department of Microbiology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Durban University of Technology, P.O. Box 1334, Durban 4001, South Africa | Zhou, L., Center for Bioresource and Bioenergy, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China; Zuo, Z.-R., Center for Bioresource and Bioenergy, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China; Chen, X.-Z., Center for Bioresource and Bioenergy, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China, Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China; Niu, D.-D., Center for Bioresource and Bioenergy, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China; Tian, K.-M., Center for Bioresource and Bioenergy, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China; Prior, B.A., Department of Microbiology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Shen, W., Center for Bioresource and Bioenergy, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China, Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China; Shi, G.-Y., Center for Bioresource and Bioenergy, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China, Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China; Singh, S., Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Durban University of Technology, P.O. Box 1334, Durban 4001, South Africa; Wang, Z.-X., Center for Bioresource and Bioenergy, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China, Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China | In order to rationally manipulate the cellular metabolism of Escherichia coli for d-lactate production, single-gene and multiple-gene deletions with mutations in acetate kinase (ackA), phosphotransacetylase (pta), phosphoenolpyruvate synthase (pps), pyruvate formate lyase (pflB), FAD-binding d-lactate dehydrogenase (dld), pyruvate oxidase (poxB), alcohol dehydrogenase (adhE), and fumarate reductase (frdA) were tested for their effects in two-phase fermentations (aerobic growth and oxygen-limited production). Lactate yield and productivity could be improved by single-gene deletions of ackA, pta, pflB, dld, poxB, and frdA in the wild type E. coli strain but were unfavorably affected by deletions of pps and adhE. However, fermentation experiments with multiple-gene mutant strains showed that deletion of pps in addition to ackA-pta deletions had no effect on lactate production, whereas the additional deletion of adhE in E. coli B0013-050 (ackA-pta pps pflB dld poxB) increased lactate yield. Deletion of all eight genes in E. coli B0013 to produce B0013-070 (ackA-pta pps pflB dld poxB adhE frdA) increased lactate yield and productivity by twofold and reduced yields of acetate, succinate, formate, and ethanol by 95, 89, 100, and 93%, respectively. When tested in a bioreactor, E. coli B0013-070 produced 125 g/l d-lactate with an increased oxygen-limited lactate productivity of 0.61 g/g h (2.1-fold greater than E. coli B0013). These kinetic properties of d-lactate production are among the highest reported and the results have revealed which genetic manipulations improved d-lactate production by E. coli. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. | None | acetate kinase; acetic acid; alcohol; alcohol dehydrogenase; formic acid; fumarate reductase; lactate dehydrogenase; lactic acid; phosphate acetyltransferase; pyruvate oxidase; pyruvate water dikinase; succinic acid; synthetase; unclassified drug; ackA gene; adhE gene; aerobic fermentation; article; bacterial gene; bacterial growth; bacterial metabolism; bacterial strain; controlled study; dld gene; Escherichia coli; frda gene; gene deletion; gene mutation; genetic manipulation; nonhuman; pflB gene; poxb gene; pps gene; priority journal; pta gene; wild type; Aerobiosis; Anaerobiosis; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli Proteins; Fermentation; Gene Deletion; Genetic Engineering; Lactic Acid; Metabolic Networks and Pathways; Mutation; Organisms, Genetically Modified; Escherichia coli | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84942279418 | Impact of pairing correlations on the orientation of the nuclear spin | Zhao P.W., Zhang S.Q., Meng J. | 2015 | Physical Review C - Nuclear Physics | 92 | 3 | 10.1103/PhysRevC.92.034319 | Physics Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, United States; State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China; School of Physics and Nuclear Energy Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China; Department of Physics, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa | Zhao, P.W., Physics Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, United States, State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China; Zhang, S.Q., State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China; Meng, J., State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China, School of Physics and Nuclear Energy Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China, Department of Physics, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa | For the first time, the tilted axis cranking covariant density functional theory with pairing correlations has been formulated and implemented in a fully self-consistent and microscopic way to investigate the evolution of the spin axis and the pairing effects in rotating triaxial nuclei. The measured energy spectrum and transition probabilities for the Nd135 yrast band are reproduced well without any ad hoc renormalization factors when pairing effects are taken into account. A transition from collective to chiral rotation has been demonstrated. It is found that pairing correlations introduce additional admixtures in the single-particle orbitals, and, thus, influence the structure of tilted axis rotating nuclei by reducing the magnitude of the proton and neutron angular momenta while merging their direction. © 2015 American Physical Society. | None | None | DOE, National Natural Science Foundation of China; 11105005, NSFC, National Natural Science Foundation of China; 11175002, NSFC, National Natural Science Foundation of China; 11335002, NSFC, National Natural Science Foundation of China; 11375015, NSFC, Na |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-35348913706 | Parasitological impact of 2-year preventive chemotherapy on schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis in Uganda | Zhang Y., Koukounari A., Kabatereine N., Fleming F., Kazibwe F., Tukahebwa E., Stothard J.R., Webster J.P., Fenwick A. | 2007 | BMC Medicine | 5 | None | 10.1186/1741-7015-5-27 | Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Vector Control Division, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Zoology, Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom | Zhang, Y., Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Koukounari, A., Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Kabatereine, N., Vector Control Division, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda; Fleming, F., Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Kazibwe, F., Vector Control Division, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda; Tukahebwa, E., Vector Control Division, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda; Stothard, J.R., Department of Zoology, Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom; Webster, J.P., Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Fenwick, A., Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom | Background: Schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) are among the neglected tropical diseases in Africa. A national control program for these diseases was initiated in Uganda during March 2003. Annual treatment with praziquantel and albendazole was given to schoolchildren in endemic areas and to adults in selected communities where local prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni in schoolchildren was high. Methods: The impact of the treatment program was monitored through cohorts of schoolchildren and adults. Their infection status with S. mansoni and STH was determined by parasitological examinations at baseline and at annual follow-ups. The prevalence and intensity of S. mansoni and STH before and after treatment were analyzed. Results: Two rounds of treatment significantly reduced the prevalence of S. mansoni infection in schoolchildren across three regions in the country from 33.4-49.3% to 9.7-29.6%, and intensity of infection from 105.7-386.8 eggs per gram of faeces (epg) to 11.6-84.1 epg. The prevalence of hookworm infection was reduced from 41.2-57.9% to 5.5-16.1%, and intensity of infection from 186.9-416.8 epg to 3.7-36.9 epg. The proportion of children with heavy S. mansoni infection was significantly reduced from 15% (95% CI 13.4-16.8%) to 2.3% (95% CI 1.6-3.0%). In adults, significant reduction in the prevalence and intensity of S. mansoni and hookworm infections was also observed. More importantly, the prevalence and intensity of both S. mansoni and hookworm infections in the cohorts of newly-recruited 6-year-olds who had never previously received treatment decreased significantly over 2 years: 34.9% (95% CI 31.9-37.8%) to 22.6% (95% CI 19.9-25.2%) and 171.1 epg (95% CI 141.5-200.7) to 72.0 epg (95% CI 50.9-93.1) for S. mansoni; and 48.4% (95% CI 45.4-51.5) to 15.9% (95% CI 13.6-18.2) and 232.7 epg (95% CI 188.4-276.9) to 51.4 epg (95% CI 33.4-69.5) for hookworms, suggesting a general decline in environmental transmission levels. Conclusion: Annual anthelminthic treatment delivered to schoolchildren and to adults at high risk in Uganda can significantly reduce the prevalence and intensity of infection for schistosomiasis and STH, and potentially also significantly reduce levels of environmental transmission of infection. © 2007 Zhang et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | albendazole; praziquantel; antineoplastic agent; adult; article; ascariasis; Ascaris lumbricoides; child; cohort analysis; confidence interval; controlled study; endemic disease; female; follow up; helminthiasis; high risk population; hookworm infection; human; infection prevention; infection risk; major clinical study; male; parasite control; parasite prevalence; parasite transmission; Schistosoma mansoni; schistosomiasis; treatment duration; trichuriasis; Trichuris; Uganda; animal; comparative study; disease transmission; helminthiasis; parasitology; Schistosoma mansoni; soil; Uganda; Adult; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Child; Cohort Studies; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Helminthiasis; Humans; Male; Schistosomiasis mansoni; Soil; Uganda | 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-s2.0-84882932531 | Use of APSDM and EM_press inversion to impact evaluation of a west africa deepwater discovery | Zhang M., Lazaratos S., Yu Y., Lee J.J., Boorman S., Anderson K., Illo O. | 2009 | SEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts | 28 | 1 | None | ExxonMobil Exploration Company, Houston, United States; ExxonMobil Production Deutschland GmbH, United States; ExxonMobil Development Company, United States; Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Deepwater West Limited, Nigeria | Zhang, M., ExxonMobil Exploration Company, Houston, United States; Lazaratos, S., ExxonMobil Exploration Company, Houston, United States; Yu, Y., ExxonMobil Production Deutschland GmbH, United States; Lee, J.J., ExxonMobil Development Company, United States; Boorman, S., ExxonMobil Development Company, United States; Anderson, K., ExxonMobil Development Company, United States; Illo, O., Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Deepwater West Limited, Nigeria | Summary: In this paper we discuss the impact of APSDM and EM_PreSS inversion technology on the evaluation of a West Africa deepwater field. The field is located in an ExxonMobil operated block. The trap was defined as a distributary channel complex (DCC) on the flank of a faulted anticline. The hydrocarbon bearing sands have a class III AVO response for gas and a class III or II AVO response for oil. An exploration well and its side track discovered multiple oil reservoirs in Miocene sands. Using pre-stack time migrated (PSTM) data, dual fluid contacts were observed and interpreted for multiple reservoirs in several fault blocks. In general, oil-water-contacts (OWC's) observed on the PSTM data conform better to the depth structure maps than the gas-oil-contacts (GOC's). The GOC's are inconsistent across the fault blocks. The imaging of the GOC's was improved by anisotropic pre-stack depth migration (APSDM) and further sharpened by additional EM_PreSS inversion processing. An appraisal well and its side track confirmed the GOC determined from seismic interpretation. Use of the APSDM and EM_PreSS inversion favorably impacted business decisions during field appraisal and development planning, increasing our confidence to pursue development without drilling more appraisal wells. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84901811985 | Receding horizon trajectory optimization with terminal impact specifications | Zhang L., Sun M., Chen Z., Wang Z., Wang Y. | 2014 | Mathematical Problems in Engineering | 2014 | None | 10.1155/2014/604705 | Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, College of Computer and Control Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China; School of Mechanical Engineering, Liaoning Technical University, Fuxin, Liaoning 123000, China; Department of Electrical and Mining Engineering, University of South Africa, Florida 1710, South Africa | Zhang, L., Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, College of Computer and Control Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China, School of Mechanical Engineering, Liaoning Technical University, Fuxin, Liaoning 123000, China; Sun, M., Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, College of Computer and Control Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China; Chen, Z., Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, College of Computer and Control Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China; Wang, Z., Department of Electrical and Mining Engineering, University of South Africa, Florida 1710, South Africa; Wang, Y., Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, College of Computer and Control Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China | The trajectory optimization problem subject to terminal impact time and angle specifications can be reformulated as a nonlinear programming problem using the Gauss pseudospectral method. The cost function of the trajectory optimization problem is modified to reduce the terminal control energy. A receding horizon optimization strategy is implemented to reject the errors caused by the motion of a surface target. Several simulations were performed to validate the proposed method via the C programming language. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm and that the real-time requirement can be easily achieved if the C programming language is used to realize it. © 2014 Limin Zhang et al. | None | Aerodynamics; Computer programming languages; Nonlinear programming; Optimization; Specifications; Trajectories; Gauss pseudo-spectral methods; Nonlinear programming problem; Real time requirement; Receding horizon; Receding horizon optimization; Surface target; Terminal control; Trajectory optimization; Problem oriented languages | 78673, National Research Foundation; 81705, National Research Foundation |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84938526082 | Use of the MSCR test to characterize the asphalt binder properties relative to HMA rutting performance - A laboratory study | Zhang J., Walubita L.F., Faruk A.N.M., Karki P., Simate G.S. | 2015 | Construction and Building Materials | 94 | None | 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.06.044 | Texas AandM University, College Station, TX, United States; Texas AandM Transportation Institute, Texas AandM University System, College Station, TX, United States; School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Wits 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa | Zhang, J., Texas AandM University, College Station, TX, United States; Walubita, L.F., Texas AandM Transportation Institute, Texas AandM University System, College Station, TX, United States; Faruk, A.N.M., Texas AandM Transportation Institute, Texas AandM University System, College Station, TX, United States; Karki, P., Texas AandM Transportation Institute, Texas AandM University System, College Station, TX, United States; Simate, G.S., School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Wits 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa | Abstract Permanent deformation (or rutting) is one of the common distresses occurring in hot-mix asphalt (HMA) pavements. HMA is predominantly composed of aggregates and asphalt binder; and the asphalt binder plays a significant role in the HMA performance including permanent deformation and rutting resistance. In order to characterize the properties of the asphalt binder related to HMA rutting, the Superpave performance grade system uses the high-temperature grade, which is determined based on the complex shear modulus (|G∗|) and phase angle (δ) parameter (G∗/sinδ) that is measured from the Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) test. However, G∗/sinδ is not a performance-based parameter. Therefore, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has developed a performance-based PG binder test, the Multiple Stress Creep and Recovery (MSCR) test, to supplement the conventional DSR high temperature test. The primary objective of this laboratory study was to compare the two asphalt binder tests (the MSCR and the DSR high-temperature grade) and two HMA rutting related performance tests (the Hamburg Wheel Tracking Test [HWTT] and the Repeated Loading Permanent Deformation [RLPD] Test) for characterizing the asphalt binder high temperature properties relative to HMA permanent deformation and rutting performance. For the asphalt binders and HMA evaluated, the MSCR showed a better correlation with the two rutting related performance tests (HWTT and RLPD) than the DSR high temperature grade. Thus, the MSCR test results shows promise to supplement or serve as a surrogate to the existing DSR test in characterizing the asphalt binder high temperature properties that are related to HMA rutting. However, more lab testing and field validation is still warranted to complement the results and findings reported herein. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. | Asphalt binder; DSR; G∗; HWTT; J<inf>nr</inf>; MSCR; Permanent deformation; RLPD; Rutting | Asphalt; Asphalt pavements; Creep; Deformation; High temperature properties; Highway administration; Asphalt binders; DSR; HWTT; MSCR; Permanent deformations; RLPD; Rutting; Binders | TxDOT, Texas Department of Transportation |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-67649920810 | Product development strategy, product innovation performance, and the mediating role of knowledge utilization: Evidence from subsidiaries in China | Zhang J., Di Benedetto C.A., Hoenig S. | 2009 | Journal of International Marketing | 17 | 2 | 10.1509/jimk.17.2.42 | Department of Marketing, Hong Kong Baptist University, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Marketing and Senior Washburn Reserch Fellow, Fox School of Business, Temple University, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Marketing, School of Economic and Business Sciences, University of Witwater-srand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Zhang, J., Department of Marketing, Hong Kong Baptist University, Johannesburg, South Africa; Di Benedetto, C.A., Department of Marketing and Senior Washburn Reserch Fellow, Fox School of Business, Temple University, Johannesburg, South Africa; Hoenig, S., Department of Marketing, School of Economic and Business Sciences, University of Witwater-srand, Johannesburg, South Africa | This study examines the interplay of product development strategy, knowledge utilization, and product innovation performance in the context of Chinese subsidiaries of multinational companies. When firms strive to develop highly innovative products (breakthrough focus), the amount of resources allocated has a U-shaped relationship to subsequent product innovation performance (i.e., market rewards of new products). When the aim of product development activity is to reinforce and maintain moderately innovative products (platform focus), increased resource allocation shows a positive relationship to product innovation performance. The amount of resources allocated to minor revisions (incremental focus) shows no significant relationship to product innovation performance. Knowledge utilization is an important predictor of the benefits of developing highly and moderately innovative products. Moreover, it helps to mitigate the drawbacks of a breakthrough focus and strengthens the positive impact of a platform focus. © 2009, American Marketing Association. | China; Knowledge utilization; Product development strategy; Product innovation performance; Subsidiaries | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-61449107995 | What contributes to the enhanced use of customer, competition and technology knowledge for product innovation performance?. A survey of multinational industrial companies' subsidiaries operating in China | Zhang J., Hoenig S., Di Benedetto A., Lancioni R.A., Phatak A. | 2009 | Industrial Marketing Management | 38 | 2 | 10.1016/j.indmarman.2008.12.007 | Department of Marketing, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong; School of Economic and Business Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Marketing, Fox School of Business and Management, Temple University, 523 Alter Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19122, United States | Zhang, J., Department of Marketing, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong; Hoenig, S., School of Economic and Business Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Di Benedetto, A., Department of Marketing, Fox School of Business and Management, Temple University, 523 Alter Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19122, United States; Lancioni, R.A., Department of Marketing, Fox School of Business and Management, Temple University, 523 Alter Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19122, United States; Phatak, A., Department of Marketing, Fox School of Business and Management, Temple University, 523 Alter Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19122, United States | This study extends an emerging research area in knowledge management to new product development by empirically examining the factors associated with the use of different types of knowledge flows from various sources and product innovation performance (i.e., market success of new products) in the multinational companies' subsidiaries in China. The findings seem to indicate the vitality of considering a broad spectrum of knowledge management related variables such as a subsidiary's product development strategy, market conditions it faces, its knowledge capacity and knowledge support structure. Furthermore, we found that subsidiaries with better performance are generally excel in the use of competition knowledge flow, the development of moderate innovative products, communication among different functional departments or product development groups, the codification of knowledge, and a supportive culture. © 2008. | China; Knowledge flow; Knowledge management; Product innovation performance | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84919837780 | Impact of culture on perceptions of landscape names | Zhang C., Gursoy D., Deng Z., Gao J. | 2015 | Tourism Geographies | 17 | 1 | 10.1080/14616688.2014.959991 | School of Tourism Management, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; School of Hospitality Business Management, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States; School of Tourism and Hospitality, University of Johannesburg, South Africa | Zhang, C., School of Tourism Management, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Gursoy, D., School of Hospitality Business Management, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States, School of Tourism and Hospitality, University of Johannesburg, South Africa; Deng, Z., School of Tourism Management, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Gao, J., School of Tourism Management, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China | This study examines the impact of culture on landscape-name perceptions of tourists from China, United States, and Europe utilizing both Hofstede's and Hall's cultural typologies. Data for this study were collected from visitors to two national parks in China. Culture is found to have a significant impact on both sub-dimensions of understanding (legibility and coherence) and involvement (mystery and diversity). Findings suggest that tourists from different cultures are likely to interpret landscape names differently. Those from cultures with a high power distance and low individualism would prefer landscape names that are mystical, dreamy, fictive, ingenious, original, and poetic, while those from cultures with a lower power distance and high individualism would prefer names that simply describe the landscape. © 2014, © 2014 Taylor & Francis. | cultural difference; destination branding; destination image; high context vs. low context; landscape naming; landscape perceptions; landscape preferences | culture; landscape; perception; tourist destination; China; Europe; United States | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84863838354 | Population pharmacokinetic model for adherence evaluation using lamivudine concentration monitoring | Zhang C., Denti P., Van Der Walt J.-S., Ren Y., Smith P., Karlsson M.O., McIlleron H. | 2012 | Therapeutic Drug Monitoring | 34 | 4 | 10.1097/FTD.0b013e31825c6067 | Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden | Zhang, C., Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; Denti, P., Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; Van Der Walt, J.-S., Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; Ren, Y., Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; Smith, P., Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; Karlsson, M.O., Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; McIlleron, H., Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa | BACKGROUND: Interpretation of antiretroviral drug concentration measurements could be aided by information about adherence to recent doses. We developed a population pharmacokinetic model of lamivudine in young children to propose reference lamivudine concentrations for evaluation of adherence to recent treatment doses. METHODS: The steady state pharmacokinetics of lamivudine were evaluated in 68 young HIV-infected children receiving antiretroviral treatment twice daily. A population pharmacokinetic analysis was conducted using NONMEM 7. RESULTS: A 2-compartment model with transit absorption best described lamivudine pharmacokinetics. After adjustment for maturation and body weight (using allometric scaling), the variability of clearance was small, hence simulations could accurately predict lamivudine concentrations. Higher lamivudine trough concentrations were detected before the morning dose, possibly owing to slower overnight clearance. Reference values for lamivudine concentrations that can be used to evaluate adherence to recent doses are proposed. CONCLUSIONS: Lamivudine concentration measurement can be used to assess recent treatment adherence. Copyright © 2012 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. | lamivudine; NONMEM; population pharmacokinetics | lamivudine; lopinavir plus ritonavir; allometry; article; body weight; child; compartment model; drug absorption; drug blood level; drug clearance; drug monitoring; highly active antiretroviral therapy; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; infant; major clinical study; patient compliance; preschool child; priority journal; steady state; Absorption; Anti-HIV Agents; Anti-Retroviral Agents; Area Under Curve; Child, Preschool; HIV Infections; Humans; Infant; Lamivudine; Models, Biological | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84886911648 | Model-based evaluation of the pharmacokinetic differences between adults and children for lopinavir and ritonavir in combination with rifampicin | Zhang C., Denti P., Decloedt E.H., Ren Y., Karlsson M.O., Mcilleron H. | 2013 | British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology | 76 | 5 | 10.1111/bcp.12101 | Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden | Zhang, C., Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Denti, P., Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Decloedt, E.H., Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Ren, Y., Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Karlsson, M.O., Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Mcilleron, H., Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Aims: Rifampicin profoundly reduces lopinavir concentrations. Doubled doses of lopinavir/ritonavir compensate for the effect of rifampicin in adults, but fail to provide adequate lopinavir concentrations in young children on rifampicin-based antituberculosis therapy. The objective of this study was to develop a population pharmacokinetic model describing the pharmacokinetic differences of lopinavir and ritonavir, with and without rifampicin, between children and adults. Methods: An integrated population pharmacokinetic model developed in nonmem 7 was used to describe the pharmacokinetics of lopinavir and ritonavir in 21 HIV infected adults, 39 HIV infected children and 35 HIV infected children with tuberculosis, who were established on lopinavir/ritonavir-based antiretroviral therapy with and without rifampicin-containing antituberculosis therapy. Results: The bioavailability of lopinavir was reduced by 25% in adults whereas children on antituberculosis treatment experienced a 59% reduction, an effect that was moderated by the dose of ritonavir. Conversely, rifampicin increased oral clearance of both lopinavir and ritonavir to a lesser extent in children than in adults. Rifampicin therapy in administered doses increased CL of lopinavir by 58% in adults and 48% in children, and CL of ritonavir by 34% and 22% for adults and children, respectively. In children, the absorption half-life of lopinavir and the mean transit time of ritonavir were lengthened, compared with those in adults. Conclusions: The model characterized important differences between adults and children in the effect of rifampicin on the pharmacokinetics of lopinavir and ritonavir. As adult studies cannot reliably predict their magnitude in children, drug-drug interactions should be evaluated in paediatric patient populations. © 2013 The British Pharmacological Society. | Adults; Children; Lopinavir/ritonavir; nonmem; Population pharmacokinetics; Rifampicin | isoniazid; lopinavir; lopinavir plus ritonavir; rifampicin; ritonavir; adult; article; child; clinical evaluation; controlled study; drug absorption; drug bioavailability; drug blood level; drug clearance; drug dose reduction; drug effect; drug half life; drug interaction; female; highly active antiretroviral therapy; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; infant; major clinical study; male; multiple cycle treatment; outcome assessment; population model; preschool child; priority journal; school child; tuberculosis; adults; children; lopinavir/ritonavir; nonmem; population pharmacokinetics; rifampicin; Adult; Age Factors; Anti-HIV Agents; Antitubercular Agents; Biological Availability; Child, Preschool; Cohort Studies; Drug Interactions; Female; Half-Life; HIV Infections; Humans; Infant; Lopinavir; Male; Middle Aged; Models, Biological; Nonlinear Dynamics; Rifampin; Ritonavir; Tuberculosis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33745076331 | Evaluation of linear mixed model case deletion diagnostic tools by monte carlo simulation | Zewotir T., Galpin J.S. | 2006 | Communications in Statistics: Simulation and Computation | 35 | 3 | 10.1080/03610910600716795 | School of Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of KwaZulu Natal, Scottsville, South Africa; School of Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Wits, South Africa; School of Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of KwaZulu Natal, Pietermaritzburg Campus, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa | Zewotir, T., School of Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of KwaZulu Natal, Scottsville, South Africa, School of Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of KwaZulu Natal, Pietermaritzburg Campus, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa; Galpin, J.S., School of Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Wits, South Africa | A large number of statistics have been proposed to study the influence of individual observations in the linear mixed model. An extensive Monte Carlo simulation study is used to evaluate the appropriateness of these influence diagnostic measures. The sensitivity of the diagnostic measures to outliers and leverages is examined, and helpful results are obtained. | Case deletion; Influential observations; Leverages; Monte Carlo simulation; Outliers | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84859880383 | On employees' performance appraisal: The impact and treatment of the raters' effect | Zewotir T. | 2012 | South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences | 15 | 1 | None | School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | Zewotir, T., School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | By putting in place a performance appraisal scheme, employees who improve their work efficiency can then be rewarded, whereas corrective action can be taken against those who don't. The aim of this paper is to develop a technique that helps to measure the subjective effect that a given rater's assessment will have on the performance appraisal of a given employee, assuming that an assessment of one's work performance will have to be undertaken by a rater and that this rating is essentially a subjective one. In particular, a linear mixed modelling approach will be applied to data that comes from a South African company which has 214 employees and where an annual performance evaluation has been run. One of the main conclusions that will be drawn from this study, is that there is a very significant rater's effect that needs to be properly accounted for when rewarding employees. Without this adjustment being done, any incentive scheme, whether its motive is reward based or penalty based, will ultimately fail in its intended purpose of improving employees' overall performance. | Best linear unbiased predictor; Fixed effect; Mixed model; Model diagnostics; Performance appraisal; Raters' effect | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80051611450 | Conceptions and practices in teaching and learning: Implications for the evaluation of teaching quality | Zerihun Z., Beishuizen J., van Willem O.S. | 2011 | Quality in Higher Education | 17 | 2 | 10.1080/13538322.2011.582793 | Department of Psychology, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia; Center for Educational Training, Assessment and Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands | Zerihun, Z., Department of Psychology, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia; Beishuizen, J., Department of Psychology, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia; van Willem, O.S., Center for Educational Training, Assessment and Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands | This study was conducted in two public universities in Ethiopia to assess the impact of conceptions of teaching and learning on the evaluation of teaching quality. Students' and teachers' approaches to teaching and learning and their conceptions of the meaning of teaching have been examined. Results indicated that both teachers and students predominantly perceive teaching as transmitting knowledge and assessment as recall of factual knowledge. For the students, the mean values for teaching as transmitting knowledge and assessment as recall of facts were significantly correlated. The experiences and conceptions of both teachers and students reflect a teacher-focused approach to teaching and learning. The teaching evaluation questionnaire also reflects teacher performance as indicator of effectiveness. Improving the measure should be considered as a means of changing teachers' and students' conceptions of teaching and learning. © 2011 Taylor & Francis. | Feedback from students; Feedback to students; Higher education; Quality; Teaching and learning conceptions; Teaching evaluation | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79960154650 | Fluoride in black and green tea (Camellia sinensis) infusions in Ethiopia: Measurement and safety evaluation | Zerabruk S., Chandravanshi B.S., Zewge F. | 2010 | Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Ethiopia | 24 | 3 | None | Department of Chemistry, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Zerabruk, S., Department of Chemistry, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Chandravanshi, B.S., Department of Chemistry, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Zewge, F., Department of Chemistry, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | The fluoride contents in the infusions of 21 commercially available Ethiopian and imported black and green tea brands; in leaf and bag forms was determined by a fluoride ion-selective electrode method. Of the samples analyzed twelve were products from Ethiopia and the remaining nine were imported tea brands. The effect of brewing time on fluoride release from tea was assessed. Results showed that fluoride release increased with increasing brewing time (3, 5 and 10 min). Fluoride level after 5 min brewing for black tea leaves, green tea bags, and black tea bags was in the range of 117-682 mg/kg, 111-190 mg/kg and 141-246 mg/kg, respectively. The WHO guideline for daily fluoride intake is 2 mg for children and 4 mg for adults. Assuming that one consumes 4 cups of tea everyday (400 mL) and each cup uses 2.5 g of tea leaves, the daily fluoride intake from black tea leaves may be in the range between 1.11 and 6.82 mg. For the same condition, if consumption of one green tea bag is considered, the fluoride intake can be in the range between 1.00 and 1.38 mg. Similarly, intake from the black tea bags may range from 0.86 to 1.81 mg. Considering the Ethiopian black tea alone, the daily fluoride intake may range from 2.48 to 6.82 mg. Thus according to the WHO recommendation for daily fluoride intake and ignoring other possible sources; the black and green tea bags and imported black tea leaves are safe for all age groups. None of the 10 Ethiopian black tea leaf brands are safe for children but 30% of the analyzed samples are safe for adults. © 2010 Chemical Society of Ethiopia. | Black tea infusion; Brewing time; Fluoride intake; Green tea infusion; Safety evaluation | None | None |
| None | None | Evaluation of four modelling techniques to predict the potential distribution of ticks using indigenous cattle infestations as calibration data | Zeman P., Lynen G. | 2006 | Experimental and Applied Acarology | 39 | 2 | 10.1007/s10493-006-9001-x | Medical Laboratories, Konevova 205, 130 00 Prague-3, Czech Republic; Veterinary Investigation Centre, 1068, Arusha, Tanzania | Zeman, P., Medical Laboratories, Konevova 205, 130 00 Prague-3, Czech Republic; Lynen, G., Veterinary Investigation Centre, 1068, Arusha, Tanzania | Efficient tick and tick-borne disease control is a major goal in the efforts to improve the livestock industry in developing countries. To gain a better understanding of the distribution and abundance of livestock ticks under changing environmental conditions, a country-wide field survey of tick infestations on indigenous cattle was recently carried out in Tanzania. This paper evaluates four models to generate tick predictive maps including areas between the localities that were surveyed. Four techniques were compared: (1) linear discriminant analysis, (2) quadratic discriminant analysis, (3) generalised regression analysis, and (4) the weights-of-evidence method. Inter-model comparison was accomplished with a data-set of adult Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks and a set of predictor variables covering monthly mean temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, and the normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI). The data-set of tick records was divided into two equal subsets one of which was utilised for model fitting and the other for evaluation, and vice versa, in two independent experiments. For each locality the probability of tick occurrence was predicted and compared with the proportion of infested animals observed in the field; overall predictive success was measured with mean squared difference (MSD). All models exhibited a relatively good performance in configurations with optimised sets of predictors. The linear discriminant model had the least predictive success (MSD≥0.210), whereas the accuracy increased in the quadratic discriminant (MSD≥0.197) and generalised regression models (MSD≥0.173). The best predictions were gained with the weights-of-evidence model (MSD≥0.141). Theoretical as well as practical aspects of all models were taken into account. In summary, the weights-of-evidence model was considered to be the best option for the purpose of predictive mapping of the risk of infestation of Tanzanian indigenous cattle. A detailed description of the implementation of this model is provided in an annex to this paper. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2006. | GIS; Rhipicephalus appendiculatus; Statistical prediction; Tanzanian indigenous cattle; Tick distribution maps; Weights of evidence | abundance; calibration; cattle; comparative study; discriminant analysis; disease control; distribution system; ecological modeling; environmental conditions; livestock farming; NDVI; regression analysis; tick; animal; animal disease; article; biological model; cattle; cattle disease; discriminant analysis; evaluation; parasitology; regression analysis; Rhipicephalus; statistical model; Tanzania; tick infestation; Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Discriminant Analysis; Models, Biological; Models, Statistical; Regression Analysis; Rhipicephalus; Tanzania; Tick Infestations; Africa; East Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Tanzania; Acari; Animalia; Bos taurus; Ixodida; Rhipicephalus; Rhipicephalus appendiculatus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84908032494 | Evaluation of the Effects of Reduced Personal and Corporate Tax Rates on the Growth Rates of the U.S. Economy | Zellner A., Ngoie J.K. | 2015 | Econometric Reviews | 34 | None | 10.1080/07474938.2014.944468 | Booth School of Business, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States; Department of Economics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States; University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Zellner, A., Booth School of Business, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States; Ngoie, J.K., Department of Economics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Using several variants of a Marshallian Macroeconomic Model (MMM), see Zellner and Israilevich (2005) and Ngoie and Zellner (2010), this paper investigates how various tax rate reductions may help stimulate the U.S. economy while not adversely affecting aggregate U.S. debt. Variants of our MMM that are shown to fit past data and to perform well in forecasting experiments are employed to evaluate the effects of alternative tax policies. Using quarterly data, our one-sector MMM has been able to predict the 2008 downturn and the 2009Q3 upturn of the U.S. economy. Among other results, this study, using transfer and impulse response functions associated with our MMM, finds that permanent 5 percentage points cut in the personal income and corporate profits tax rates will cause the U.S. real gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate to rise by 3.0 percentage points with a standard error of 0.6 percentage points. Also, while this policy change leads to positive growth of the government sector, its share of total real GDP is slightly reduced. This is understandable since short run effects of tax cuts include the transfer of tax revenue from the government to the private sector. The private sector is allowed to manage a larger portion of its revenue, while government is forced to cut public spending on social programs with little growth enhancing effects. This broadens private economic activities overall. Further, these tax rate policy changes stimulate the growth of the federal tax base considerably, which helps to reduce annual budget deficits and the federal debt. © 2015, Copyright Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. | Disaggregation; Impulse response functions; Marshallian macroeconomic model; Transfer functions; U.S. fiscal policy analysis | None | NSF, National Science Foundation |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-37349029400 | Environmental influences on pre-weaning growth performances and mortality rates of extensively managed Somali goats in Eastern Ethiopia | Zeleke Z.M. | 2007 | Livestock Research for Rural Development | 19 | 12 | None | Bahir Dar University, PO Box 1866, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia | Zeleke, Z.M., Bahir Dar University, PO Box 1866, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia | Records of 326 Somali goats born from 1994 to 2004 in eastern Ethiopia were used to assess effects of major environmental factors on growth and survival traits. Year of birth had significant effect (P<0.01) on birth weight, pre-weaning daily weight gain and weaning weight of kids. Male kids had higher (P<0.01) birth weight (3.35±0.18kg vs. 3.04±0.18kg), pre-weaning daily weight gain (61.60±7.06g vs. 55.87±7.15g) and weaning weight (12.27±0.89kg vs. 11.10±0.91kg) than female kids. Kids born from fifth parity dams had the least birth weight (2.98±0.23kg) and the highest pre-weaning mortality rate (33.33%) than those born from dams younger than fifth parity. Similarly, single born kids had heavier birth weight (3.17±0.06kg vs. 2.30± 0.20kg), higher pre-weaning daily weight gain (55.80±2.22g vs. 47.31±7.92g), higher weaning weight (11.47±0.28kg vs. 9.50±1.00kg) and less pre-weaning mortality rate (8.78 vs. 42.86%) than twin born kids. Similarly, mortality rate was found to be the highest (75%) in kids weighing <1.5kg. Improving feeding management for pregnant and lactating dams to assure moderate birth weight and adequate quantity of milk for twin born kids, and stringent culling practice of dams beyond fourth parity can be suggested to improve the productivity of Somali goats. | Birth type; Birth weight; Parity; Season; Sex; Weaning weight | Capra hircus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84871690641 | Impact of timing of antiretroviral therapy initiation on survival of cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions: A cohort analysis from South Africa | Zeier M.D., Nachega J.B., Van Der Merwe F.H., Eshun-Wilson I., Van Schalkwyk M., La Grange M., Mason D., Louw M., Botha M.H. | 2012 | International Journal of STD and AIDS | 23 | 12 | 10.1258/ijsa.2012.012040 | Department of Medicine and Centre for Infectious Diseases (CID), Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of International Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Epidemiology, Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stellenbosch University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Anatomical Pathology, Stellenbosch University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Cape Town, South Africa | Zeier, M.D., Department of Medicine and Centre for Infectious Diseases (CID), Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Nachega, J.B., Department of Medicine and Centre for Infectious Diseases (CID), Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa, Department of International Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa, Department of Epidemiology, Baltimore, MD, United States; Van Der Merwe, F.H., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stellenbosch University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Cape Town, South Africa; Eshun-Wilson, I., Department of Medicine and Centre for Infectious Diseases (CID), Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Van Schalkwyk, M., Department of Medicine and Centre for Infectious Diseases (CID), Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; La Grange, M., Department of Medicine and Centre for Infectious Diseases (CID), Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Mason, D., Department of Medicine and Centre for Infectious Diseases (CID), Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Louw, M., Department of Anatomical Pathology, Stellenbosch University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Cape Town, South Africa; Botha, M.H., Department of International Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa | To determine factors that influence excision treatment outcome and recurrence of cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) in women living with HIV infection, we analysed 1848 women who underwent excision treatment of cervical SIL at Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. We compared treatment failure defined as presence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) I (presence of CIN I or higher at first follow-up after excision treatment) and post-excision recurrence of lesions (at one year or later) between women of HIV-positive, -negative or unknown status and examined factors associated with excision treatment outcome and recurrence. HIV-infected women experienced higher treatment failure than uninfected women (53.8% versus 26.9%, P < 0.001). At treatment failure, more HIV-infected women had low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) compared with uninfected women (64.9% versus 37.3%, P < 0.001). Treatment failure did not differ with the type of excision used in HIV-infected women. HIV-infected women were more likely to experience recurrence of lesions after excision treatment than uninfected women (hazard ratio 1.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.59-2.39; P < 0.001). Antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiated before excision biopsy had a strong protective effect against recurrence (hazard ratio 0.70, 95% CI 0.55-0.89; P = 0.006). Our data suggest that women with cervical SIL initiated on ART earlier may be expected to have better long-term excision treatment outcome. Close follow-up should be maintained after cervical excision treatment, especially in a setting of high HIV prevalence. © SAGE Publications Ltd, 2012. | AIDS; Antiretroviral treatment; CIN; Excision treatment outcome; HIV; HPV; Recurrence; SIL; Squamous intraepithelial lesions; Women | antiretrovirus agent; article; cancer grading; cancer recurrence; female; follow up; hazard ratio; highly active antiretroviral therapy; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; major clinical study; priority journal; South Africa; survival; treatment failure; treatment outcome; uterine cervix carcinoma in situ; Adult; Anti-Retroviral Agents; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia; Cohort Studies; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Recurrence; Retrospective Studies; South Africa; Statistics, Nonparametric; Treatment Outcome; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79960573679 | Performance of six commercial enzyme immunoassays and two alternative HIV-testing algorithms for the diagnosis of HIV-1 infection in Kisumu, Western Kenya | Zeh C., Oyaro B., Vandenhoudt H., Amornkul P., Kasembeli A., Bondo P., Mwaengo D., Thomas T.K., Hart C., Laserson K.F., Ondoa P., Nkengasong J.N. | 2011 | Journal of Virological Methods | 176 | 02-Jan | 10.1016/j.jviromet.2011.05.021 | US-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kisumu, Kenya; Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, CDC, Atlanta, GA, United States; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Center for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya; Global AIDS Program, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, CDC, Atlanta, GA, United States; US-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Center for Global Health, Atlanta, GA, United States; Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium; Center for Poverty-related Communicable Diseases (CPCD), Center for Infection and Immunity (CINIMA), Department of Internal Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development (AIGHD), Netherlands | Zeh, C., US-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kisumu, Kenya; Oyaro, B., Kenya Medical Research Institute, Center for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya; Vandenhoudt, H., Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium; Amornkul, P., US-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kisumu, Kenya; Kasembeli, A., Kenya Medical Research Institute, Center for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya; Bondo, P., Kenya Medical Research Institute, Center for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya; Mwaengo, D., Kenya Medical Research Institute, Center for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya; Thomas, T.K., US-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kisumu, Kenya; Hart, C., Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, CDC, Atlanta, GA, United States; Laserson, K.F., US-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kisumu, Kenya, US-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Center for Global Health, Atlanta, GA, United States; Ondoa, P., Center for Poverty-related Communicable Diseases (CPCD), Center for Infection and Immunity (CINIMA), Department of Internal Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development (AIGHD), Netherlands; Nkengasong, J.N., Global AIDS Program, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, CDC, Atlanta, GA, United States | Performances of serological parallel and serial testing algorithms were analyzed using a combination of three ELISA and three rapid tests for the confirmation of HIV infection. Each was assessed individually for their sensitivity and specificity on a blinded panel of 769 retrospective sera of known HIV status. Western blot was used as a confirmatory assay for discordant results. Subsequently, one parallel and one serial testing algorithm were assessed on a new panel of 912 HIV-positive and negative samples. Individual evaluation of the ELISAs and rapid tests indicated a sensitivity of 100% for all assays except Uni-Gold with 99.7%. The specificities ranged from 99.1% to 99.4% for rapid assays and from 97.5% to 99.1% for ELISAs. A parallel and serial testing algorithms using Enzygnost and Vironostika, and Determine followed by Uni-Gold respectively, showed 100% sensitivity and specificity. The cost for testing 912 samples was US$4.74 and US$ 1.9 per sample in parallel and serial testing respectively. Parallel or serial testing algorithm yielded a sensitivity and specificity of 100%. This alternative algorithm is reliable and reduces the occurrence of both false negatives and positives. The serial testing algorithm was more cost effective for diagnosing HIV infections in this population. © 2011. | Algorithm; Alternative; Diagnosis; HIV-1; Immunoassay; Sensitivity; Specificity | antigen p24; glycoprotein gp 41; Human immunodeficiency virus antigen; immunoglobulin G antibody; immunoglobulin M antibody; recombinant protein; adolescent; adult; agglutination test; algorithm; analytical error; article; controlled clinical trial; controlled study; cost control; cost effectiveness analysis; diagnostic accuracy; diagnostic test; diagnostic test accuracy study; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; false positive result; human; Human immunodeficiency virus 1 infection; immunoaffinity chromatography; intermethod comparison; Kenya; major clinical study; parallel testing algorithm; predictive value; priority journal; sensitivity and specificity; serial testing algorithm; serodiagnosis; Western blotting; AIDS Serodiagnosis; Algorithms; Blotting, Western; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; HIV Antibodies; HIV Infections; HIV-1; HIV-2; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Kenya; Predictive Value of Tests; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; Sensitivity and Specificity; Human immunodeficiency virus 1 | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77951854168 | The impact of a 10-week physical activity intervention programme on selective metabolic syndrome markers in black adolescents | Zeelie A., Moss S.J., Kruger H.S., Van Rooyen J.M. | 2009 | South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education and Recreation | 31 | 1 | None | School for Biokinetics, Recreation and Sport Science, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa | Zeelie, A., School for Biokinetics, Recreation and Sport Science, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; Moss, S.J., School for Biokinetics, Recreation and Sport Science, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; Kruger, H.S., School for Biokinetics, Recreation and Sport Science, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; Van Rooyen, J.M., School for Biokinetics, Recreation and Sport Science, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa | The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a 10-week physical activity (PA) intervention on selective metabolic syndrome markers in black adolescents. All available adolescents (194 subjects), boys and girls, in the grade 9 class (15-19 years) attending a secondary school were recruited for the experimental group. A control group consisting of 57 adolescents from grade 9 of another secondary school in the same area was also recruited. The experimental group participated in a 10-week PA intervention. Body mass index (BMI), fasting insulin, fasting glucose, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), Windkessel arterial compliance (Cw), total peripheral resistance (TPR) and waist circumference were measured. After the 10-week PA intervention, adolescents from the control group had a significantly lower DBP compared to the intervention group (p=0.00005) and adolescents from the intervention group had a significantly lower SBP compared to the control group (p=0.000061). There was also a tendency towards a higher Cw and lower HOMA-IR in the intervention group compared to the control group. The findings of this study suggest that black adolescents had significantly lower SBP and a trend of lower HOMA-IR after a 10-week PA intervention. | Adolescents; Metabolic syndrome; Physical activity | None | 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-s2.0-78650304104 | Impact of tuberculosis cotreatment on viral suppression rates among HIV-positive children initiating HAART | Zanoni B.C., Phungula T., Zanoni H.M., France H., Feeney M.E. | 2011 | AIDS | 25 | 1 | 10.1097/QAD.0b013e32833f9e04 | Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Charlestown, United States; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Sinikithemba Clinic and Philani Program, McCord Hospital, Durban, South Africa; Division of Experimental Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States | Zanoni, B.C., Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Charlestown, United States, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States, Sinikithemba Clinic and Philani Program, McCord Hospital, Durban, South Africa; Phungula, T., Sinikithemba Clinic and Philani Program, McCord Hospital, Durban, South Africa; Zanoni, H.M., Sinikithemba Clinic and Philani Program, McCord Hospital, Durban, South Africa; France, H., Sinikithemba Clinic and Philani Program, McCord Hospital, Durban, South Africa; Feeney, M.E., Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Charlestown, United States, Division of Experimental Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States | Objective: To evaluate the association between treatment of HIV-tuberculosis (TB) coinfection and primary virologic failure among children initiating antiretroviral therapy in South Africa. Design: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 1029 children initiating antiretroviral therapy at two medical centers in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, a region of very high TB incidence. Methods: Data were extracted from electronic medical records and charts and the impact of TB cotreatment on viral suppression at 6 and 12 months was assessed using logistic regression. Results: The overall rate of virologic suppression (<400 HIV RNA copies/ml) was 85% at 6 months and 87% at 12 months. Children who received concurrent treatment for TB had a significantly lower rate of virologic suppression at 6 months (79 vs. 88%; P = 0.003). Those who received nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-based HAART had similar rates of viral suppression regardless of whether they received concurrent TB therapy. In contrast, children who received protease inhibitor-based HAART had significantly lower viral suppression rates at both 6 and 12 months if treated concurrently for TB (P = 0.02 and 0.03). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that age at initiation, protease inhibitor therapy, and TB coinfection were each independently associated with primary virologic failure. Conclusion: Concurrent treatment for TB is associated with lower rates of viral suppression among children receiving protease inhibitor-based HAART, but not among those receiving nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-based HAART. Guidelines for the care of young HIV-TB coinfected infants should be continually evaluated, as protease inhibitor-based antiviral therapy may not provide optimal viral suppression in this population. © 2011 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. | children; HAART; HIV; resource-limited setting; tuberculosis | antiretrovirus agent; ethionamide; isoniazid; lamivudine; lopinavir plus ritonavir; proteinase inhibitor; pyrazinamide; rifampicin; RNA directed DNA polymerase inhibitor; stavudine; virus RNA; article; child; cohort analysis; extrapulmonary tuberculosis; female; highly active antiretroviral therapy; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; incidence; major clinical study; male; mixed infection; nonhuman; patient care; priority journal; recommended drug dose; retrospective study; South Africa; tuberculosis; tuberculous meningitis; virus inhibition; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Antitubercular Agents; Female; HIV Protease Inhibitors; HIV-1; Humans; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Retrospective Studies; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; RNA, Viral; South Africa; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary; Viral Load | 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 |
| WoS | WOS:000285692100003 | Google Scholar as a source for citation and impact analysis for a non-ISI indexed medical journal | Sanni, S. A.,Zainab, A. N. | 2010 | MALAYSIAN JOURNAL OF LIBRARY & INFORMATION SCIENCE | 15 | 3 | None | Universiti Malaya | "Zainab, A. N.: Universiti Malaya" | It is difficult to determine the influence and impact of journals which are not covered by the ISI databases and Journal Citation Report. However, with the availability of databases such as MyAIS (Malaysian Abstracting and Indexing System), which offers sufficient information to support bibliometric analysis as well as being indexed by Google Scholar which provides citation information, it has become possible to obtain productivity, citation and impact information for non-ISI indexed journals. The bibliometric tool Harzing's Publish and Perish was used to collate citation information from Google scholar. The study examines article productivity, the citations obtained by articles and calculates the impact factor of Medical Journal of Malaysia (MJM) published between 2004 and 2008. MJM is the oldest medical journal in Malaysia and the unit of analysis is 580 articles. The results indicate that once a journal is covered by MyAIS it becomes visible and accessible on the Web because Google Scholarindexes MyAIS. The results show that contributors to MJM were mainly Malaysian (91%) and the number of Malaysian-Foreign collaborated papers were very small (28 articles, 4.8%). However, citation information from Google scholar indicates that out of the 580 articles, 76.8% (446) have been cited over the 5-year period. The citations were received from both mainstrean foreign as well as Malaysian journals and the top three citors were from China, Malaysia and the United States. In general more citations were received from East Asian countries, Europe, and Southeast Asia. The 2-yearly impact factor calculated for MJM is 0.378 in 2009, 0.367 in 2008, 0.616 in 2007 and 0.456 in 2006. The 5-year impact factor is calculated as 0.577. The results show that although MJM is a Malaysian journal and not ISI indexed its contents have some international significance based on the citations and impact score it receives, indicating the importance of being visible especially in Google scholar. | "CITATION ANALYSIS","impact factor","Indexation Status","Medical Journal of Malaysia",MJM,MyAIS,"publication productivity","BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS",INTERNATIONALIZATION,PATTERNS,PUBLICATION,SCIENCE,SCIENTOMETRICS,WEB | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77950156137 | Evaluation and potential of cocoyam as carbohydrate source in catfish, (Clarias gariepinus [Burchell, 1822]) juvenile diets | Zaid A.A., Sogbesan O.A. | 2010 | African Journal of Agricultural Research | 5 | 6 | None | Department of Marine Sciences, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos State, Nigeria; Deparment of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Federal University of Technology Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria | Zaid, A.A., Department of Marine Sciences, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos State, Nigeria; Sogbesan, O.A., Deparment of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Federal University of Technology Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria | The cost of feeding fish is about 60% of the total recurrent cost of fish farming, hence a need for non-conventional and cheaper ingredients to substitute the expensive ones. Seventy five juvenile of Clarias gariepinus mean weight 9.86 g were randomly stocked at 5 juveniles per tank of dimension 40 × 56 × 31 cm and fed five isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets containing graded levels of cocoyam at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% substituted for maize meal over a period of 70 days. The result of the experiment showed that diet 1 had the highest specific growth rate (SGR), 1.47%/day and diet 4 had the lowest of 0.89%/day. The best food conversion ratio (FCR), 1.81 was from diet 2 while the worst of 2.91 was from diet 4. Highest mean yield, net profit, benefit cost ratio and profit index of 26.58, 4.93, 1.23 and $16.11 respectively, were from diet 2 while the lowest of 22.91, 0.49, 1.02 and $9.47 were from diet 4. All indices considered were significantly different (p<0.05) between ≤50% cocoyam and ≥75% cocoyam treatments. The study showed that 25% replacement of cocoyam for maize is recommended for growth and economic benefit for sustainable aquaculture. © 2010 Academic Journals. | Clarias gariepinus; Cocoyam; Cost benefits; Feed utilization; Growth; Maize | Clarias gariepinus; Colocasia esculenta; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-36448936420 | Evaluation of some factors affecting milk composition of indigenous goats in Nigeria | Zahraddeen D., Butswat I.S.R., Mbap S.T. | 2007 | Livestock Research for Rural Development | 19 | 11 | None | Animal Production Programme, School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, P.M.B.0248, Bauchi, Nigeria | Zahraddeen, D., Animal Production Programme, School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, P.M.B.0248, Bauchi, Nigeria; Butswat, I.S.R., Animal Production Programme, School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, P.M.B.0248, Bauchi, Nigeria; Mbap, S.T., Animal Production Programme, School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, P.M.B.0248, Bauchi, Nigeria | This study was carried out at the Research Farm of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria (October 2003 - May 2006) to evaluate some factors (breed, season, stage of lactation and parity) affecting goat milk composition. The results showed that per cent crude protein, fat, lactose and total solid contents were significantly (P<0.05) affected by breed; with pH and ash contents differed non-significantly in the three breeds. The percentages of crude protein, fat and lactose contents were significantly (P<0.001) different in the four stages of lactation (colostrum, early, mid and late), while the differences in the total solid, pH and ash contents were not affected by the lactation stages. There were seasonal (P<0.001) variations in the per cent fat and lactose contents; with crude protein, total solid, pH and ash contents being not influenced by the two seasons (dry and wet). Similarly, fat and lactose contents showed significant (P<0.001) parity effects; with the crude protein, total solid, pH and ash values differed non-significantly in the three parities (first, second and third). It is therefore concluded that the goat milk composition studied is comparable to the levels obtained in improved goats reported elsewhere. It is therefore suggested that improvement in the goat milk composition of the local breeds can be made through improved management and cross-breeding with higher-yielding local or exotic goats. | Breed; Lactation stage; Parity; Season | Capra hircus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77954552890 | Investigating the global impacts of the agulhas current | Zahn R., Lutjeharms J., Biastoch A., Hall I., Knorr G., Park W., Reason C. | 2010 | Eos | 91 | 12 | None | Institució Catalana de Recerca, Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals, Departament de Geología, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain; Department of Oceanography, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa; Leibniz-Institut für Meereswissenschaften (IFM-GEOMAR), Kiel, Germany; School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom; Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar-und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, Germany; IFM-GEOMAR, Germany; Department of Oceanography, University of Cape Town, South Africa | Zahn, R., Institució Catalana de Recerca, Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain, Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals, Departament de Geología, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain; Lutjeharms, J., Department of Oceanography, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa; Biastoch, A., Leibniz-Institut für Meereswissenschaften (IFM-GEOMAR), Kiel, Germany; Hall, I., School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom; Knorr, G., Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar-und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, Germany; Park, W., IFM-GEOMAR, Germany; Reason, C., Department of Oceanography, University of Cape Town, South Africa | [No abstract available] | None | climate variation; paleoceanography; western boundary current | 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-s2.0-79960161803 | The evaluation of the analgesic activity of the methanolic leaf extract of Jatropha curcas (Linn) in experimental animals | Yusuf O.S., Maxwell E.I. | 2011 | International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology | 6 | 2 | 10.1504/IJBET.2011.041124 | Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria; Department of Veterinary Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umu | Yusuf, O.S., Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria; Maxwell, E.I., Department of Veterinary Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria | This study evaluated the analgesic activity of the methanolic leaf extract of Jatropha curcas (Linn) in-vivo using analgesic models viz. hot plate method in mice, tail flick or immersion method in rats and the acetic acid-induced writhing reflex model in mice. In all the models, Acetylsalicylic Acid (ASA) was used as the reference drug. In the hot plate and tail flick models, the oral administration of J. curcas extract at the doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg and the reference drug ASA (400 mg/kg) showed potent analgesic effects by significantly (P < 0.001) increasing the Pain Reaction Time (PRT) dose dependently in mice and rats. Also the reference drug and the extract of J. curcas significantly (P < 0.0001) decreased the number of the abdominal Keywords: Jatropha curcas; hot plate; tail flick; writhing reflex; ASA; acetylsalicylic acid. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Yusuf, O.S. and Maxwell, E.I. (2011) 'The evaluation of the analgesic activity of the methanolic leaf extract of Jatropha curcas (Linn) in experimental animals', Int. J. Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Vol. 6, No. 2, pp.200-207. Biographical notes: Omeh S. Yusuf is a Lecturer in Biochemistry and has BSc and MSc degrees, with specialisation in Medical/Plant Biochemistry. He is pursuing his PhD in Lipid Biochemistry, which is nearing completion. He is involved in research concerning medicinal plants. contortions in the acetic acid-induced writhing reflex in mice and increased the percentage protection in a dose dependent manner. In conclusion, this study indicates that the methanolic leaf extract of Jatropha curcas has significant analgesic properties and may be acting through both peripheral and central pain mechanisms. © 2011 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. | Acetylsalicylic acid; ASA; Hot plate; Jatropha curcas; Tail flick; Writhing reflex | Acetyl salicylic acid; ASA; Hot plates; Jatropha curcas; Tail flick; Writhing reflex; Acetic acid; Biochemistry; Biomedical engineering; Drug dosage; pH; Rats; Animals | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-55849126193 | Effect of decorticated fermented prosopis seed meal (Prosopis africana) on growth performance of broiler chicken | Yusuf N.D., Ogah D.M., Hassan D.I., Musa M.M., Doma U.D. | 2008 | International Journal of Poultry Science | 7 | 11 | 10.3923/ijps.2008.1054.1057 | Animal Science Department, College of Agriculture, P.M.B. 033, Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria; Animal Production Programme, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, P.M.B. 0248, Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria | Yusuf, N.D., Animal Science Department, College of Agriculture, P.M.B. 033, Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria; Ogah, D.M., Animal Science Department, College of Agriculture, P.M.B. 033, Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria; Hassan, D.I., Animal Science Department, College of Agriculture, P.M.B. 033, Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria; Musa, M.M., Animal Science Department, College of Agriculture, P.M.B. 033, Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria; Doma, U.D., Animal Production Programme, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, P.M.B. 0248, Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria | Two hundred and forty 7 days old Anak 2000 broiler chicks were used to determine the growth rate and economic of broiler fed decorticated fermented Prosopis africana seed meal (DFPSM). Five experimental diets containing 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% DFPSM replacement levels for full fat soybean meal were fed to broiler for 8 weeks. The experiments were in a completely randomized design (CRD) with five treatments, each replicated four times with 48 birds per treatment and 12 birds per replicate. The average live weight of broiler ranged from 2500-2850g in each dietary group and were significantly (P < 0.05) affected by dietary treatment, similarly the growth rate and feed conversion ratio were also significantly affected by the dietary treatment (P < 0.05). The study indicate that 20% inclusion of DFPSM with soybean meal could be used in a broiler diet. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2008. | Animal protein; Broiler diet; Developing countries; Fermented Prosopis africana seed meal | Animalia; Aves; Glycine max; Prosopis; Prosopis africana | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-76449105471 | Effects of computer assisted instruction (CAI) on secondary school students' performance in biology | Yusuf M.O., Afolabi A.O. | 2010 | Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology | 9 | 1 | None | Department of Science Education, Faculty of Education, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Centre for Educational Technology, Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo, Nigeria | Yusuf, M.O., Department of Science Education, Faculty of Education, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Afolabi, A.O., Centre for Educational Technology, Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo, Nigeria | This study investigated the effects of computer assisted instruction (CAI) on secondary school students' performance in biology. Also, the influence of gender on the performance of students exposed to CAI in individualised or cooperative learning settings package was examined. The research was a quasi experimental involving a 3 x 2 factorial design. The sample for the study comprised 120 first year senior secondary school students (SSS I) sampled from three private secondary schools, in Oyo State, Nigeria. The students' pre-test and post test scores were subjected to Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). The findings of the study showed that the performance of students exposed to CAI either individually or cooperatively were better than their counterparts exposed to the conventional classroom instruction. However, no significant difference existed in the performance of male and female students exposed to CAI in either individual or cooperative settings. Based on the research findings recommendations were made on the need to develop relevant CAI packages for teaching biology in Nigerian secondary schools. Copyright © The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34948858900 | Evaluation of the three-stage BCR (European community bureau of reference) sequential extraction procedure to assess the potential mobility and toxicity of heavy metals in roadside soils | Yusuf K.A. | 2006 | Pakistan Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research | 49 | 3 | None | Department of Chemistry, Lagos State University, Ojo, PMB 1087, Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria | Yusuf, K.A., Department of Chemistry, Lagos State University, Ojo, PMB 1087, Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria | The geochemical properties of roadside soils, specifically the association of metals with operationally defined solid fractions, were characterised. The new optimised four-step (acid extractable, reducible, oxidizable, and residual) sequential extraction procedure was applied to five roadside soils from an urban city, Lagos, Nigeria. Three elements were examined (Pb, Cu and Zn) in the < 250-μm fraction. Data so obtained indicated that more than 50% of the metals were associated with the residual fraction, reflecting lithogenic-pedogenic control. Zinc had one-sixth of its quantity in the most mobile and/or bioavailable fraction, which is susceptible to release into solution with the decrease in pH. The amount of lead associated with the reducible fraction was significant, while an appreciable amount of copper was associated with oxidizable fraction (19%). | Heavy metals; Metal mobility; Metal toxicity; Roadside soils; Sequential extraction | copper; lead; mobility; roadside environment; soil analysis; soil chemistry; toxicity; urban region; zinc; Africa; Lagos [Nigeria]; Nigeria; Sub-Saharan Africa; West Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34748814296 | Evaluation of groundwater quality characteristics in Lagos-City | Yusuf K.A. | 2007 | Journal of Applied Sciences | 7 | 13 | None | Department of Chemistry, Lagos State University Ojo, P.M.B. 1087, Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria | Yusuf, K.A., Department of Chemistry, Lagos State University Ojo, P.M.B. 1087, Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria | Most of the water requirement for Lagos is met from surface and ground water supplies. Lagos an industrial and highly populated city located in the Southwest Nigeria has urban migration problems and resource limitations. However, as found in many cities, a certain proportion of the population is forced to rely on the well water as sources of drinking water, a poor drinking water quality that may have health consequences. A study was therefore carried out to gain an idea of the inorganic quality of the water in the wells penetrating the shallow (< 20 m thick) alluvial aquifer in the city. Results from this study revealed that some of the ground water quality constituents exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) standards for drinking water irrespective of the sources of pollution: the total dissolved solids limit in 50%, the conductivity limit in 27.8%, the lead limit in 38.9%, the pH limit in 44.4% and the sodium and calcium limits in 11.1% of the samples. Thus, ground water from some of these wells requires further purification to ensure its fitness for human consumption. © 2007 Asian Network for Scientific Information. | Aquifer; Ground water; Water quality constituents; Wells | Conductivity limit; Ground-water qualities; Health consequences; Resource limitations; Surface and ground waters; Total dissolved solids; Water requirements; World Health Organization; Aquifers; Groundwater; Groundwater pollution; Health; Water quality; Water supply; Wells; Groundwater resources | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84915749577 | Availability modelling and evaluation of a repairable system subject to minor deterioration under imperfect repairs | Yusuf I. | 2015 | International Journal of Mathematics in Operational Research | 7 | 1 | 10.1504/IJMOR.2015.065955 | Department of Mathematical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria | Yusuf, I., Department of Mathematical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria | Many engineering systems are subjected to deterioration, meaning that during the course of time their conditions fall to failure levels. Such systems and their components are either repaired at failure or replaced before or after failure. However not every deterioration can bring about sudden failure of the system. Some deterioration can slightly reduce the strength of the system until at some point failure occurs. Such deterioration is said to be minor deterioration. This paper deals with the modelling and evaluation of availability of a system subjected to minor deterioration under imperfect repair. In this paper, we developed the explicit expression of system availability using probabilistic approach and determine the effect of failure, repair rate and number of states on system availability. The optimal availability level the system can attain is also determined. The results of this paper will enhance the system performance and useful for timely execution of proper maintenance improvement, decision, planning and optimisation. Copyright © 2015 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. | Availability; Deterioration; Imperfect repair; Number of states | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84957538919 | Enhancing students’ reading comprehension performance through think and search questions. A study of selected secondary schools in Kaduna, Nigeria | Yusuf H. | 2015 | Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology | 2015 | None | None | Department of Educational Foundations and Curriculum, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria | Yusuf, H., Department of Educational Foundations and Curriculum, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria | This study focused on using “think and search” questions to enhance student’s performance in reading comprehension. A sample of sixty (60) senior secondary schools from Kaduna metropolis was used for the study. Quasi experimental research design was used for the study. Government Secondary School, Kigo Road was used as the experimental school, while Government Secondary School Ungwan Muazu was used as the control school. Senior secondary two (i.e SS2) students were used for the study. Thirty (30) students (intact class) from each of the schools were used for the study. Both groups were exposed to six (6) weeks of teaching. Prior to teaching, both groups were exposed to pretest to establish the homogeneity of the two groups of students. Both groups were assessed after six (6) weeks of teaching using reading comprehension test. T-test was used to test the hypothesis raised in the study. The findings revealed significant differences in the performance of students taught reading comprehension using “think and search” questions. Teachers are encouraged to enhance students’ performance in reading comprehension by engaging students in “think and search” questions during reading comprehension lessons. Curriculum planners and text book writers are equally encouraged to provide think and search questions for students before during and after every reading comprehension passage as a means of evaluating each reading task. © The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology. | Enhance student’s | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84889633821 | Planning practices, strategy types and firm performance in the Arabian Gulf region | Yusuf A., Saffu K. | 2009 | Education, Business and Society: Contemporary Middle Eastern Issues | 2 | 3 | 10.1108/17537980910981778 | Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, Abuja, Nigeria; Brock University, St Catherines, Canada | Yusuf, A., Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, Abuja, Nigeria; Saffu, K., Brock University, St Catherines, Canada | Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate planning practices, strategy types, and the performance of indigenous firms in Bahrain and United Arab Emirates (UAE). Design/methodology/approach: Data are collected from cheif executive officers (CEOs) and top management of 95 local companies sampled from Chamber of Commerce and Industry databases in Bahrain and UAE using face-to-face interviews. Analysis of variance and univariate logistic regression are employed in analyzing the data. Findings: Although most of the firms are long-term planners, many of them do not have a planning process. Majority of the firms are Prospectors and Analyzers. Prospectors perform considerably better than all the other strategy types. Nevertheless, the firms that are included in this paper appear to be cautious and not aggressive in entering new markets or in taking the lead in introducing and marketing new products. Research limitations/implications: The paper suffers from selection bias by focusing on indigenous-owned companies. Also, the data originate from self-reported responses from business leaders and executives. The results do not establish causality. Finally, only broad demographic links are considered. Other individual and firm variables may influence performance in different ways than indicated here. Practical implications: Managers must pay heed to the usefulness of planning and ensure that their companies have a planning process in place. Given the performance of Prospectors, managers must adopt some prospector strategies. Experience and high level of education as essential ingredients to successful planning and performance require management consideration. Originality/value: The paper provides empirical support for Miles and Snow typology and corroborates the existing understanding that planning is beneficial to firms from an under-researched part of the world. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Bahrain; Business performance; Business planning; Corporate strategy; United Arab Emirates | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77956083220 | Evaluation of the feeding potentials of Vitellaria paradoxa, Nauclea latifolia and Terminalia macroptera foliage as supplements to concentrate feed for grower rabbits | Yusuf A.M., Garba M.H., Olafadehan O.A. | 2010 | Electronic Journal of Environmental, Agricultural and Food Chemistry | 9 | 2 | None | Department of Animal Production Technology, Federal College of Wildlife Management, New Bussa, Niger State, Nigeria; Department of Animal Science, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria | Yusuf, A.M., Department of Animal Production Technology, Federal College of Wildlife Management, New Bussa, Niger State, Nigeria; Garba, M.H., Department of Animal Production Technology, Federal College of Wildlife Management, New Bussa, Niger State, Nigeria; Olafadehan, O.A., Department of Animal Science, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria | The feeding potentials of Vitallaria paradoxa, Nauclea latifolia and Terminalia macroptera foliage as supplements to concentrate diets for grower rabbits were studied over a 13-week period. A total of 18 crossbred growing rabbits of equal sexes, aged between 6-8 weeks with an average weight of 515g were randomly allotted to the three dietary treatments consisting of three replicates of two rabbits each in a completely randomized design. Nauclea latifolia had the highest and least crude protein and crude fibre, respectively, which were intermediate in Vitallaria paradoxa but lowest and highest, respectively, in Terminalia macroptera. Organic matter was highest in Vitallaria paradoxa and lowest in Nauclea latifolia. Average daily feed intake (ADFI) and average daily gains were best in Nauclea latifolia followed by Vitallaria paradoxa and least in Terminalia macroptera (all (P<0.05)). However, feed conversion ratio was similar (P>0.05) among the treatments. Dry matter digestibility (DMD) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in Nauclea latifolia than in Vitallaria paradoxa and Terminalia macroptera. Average daily gain was significantly (R2 = 0.9998) influenced by ADFI and DMD. The forages have potentials to support growth of grower rabbits, with Nauclea latifolia forage having the best potential, followed by Vitallaria paradoxa and then Terminalia macroptera. | Feeding potential; Grower rabbit; Nauclea latifolia; Terminalia macroptera; Vitallaria paradoxum | Nauclea latifolia; Oryctolagus cuniculus; Terminalia; Terminalia macroptera; Vitellaria paradoxa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33646193106 | Planning and performance of small and medium enterprise operators in a country in transition | Yusuf A., Saffu K. | 2005 | Journal of Small Business Management | 43 | 4 | 10.1111/j.1540-627X.2005.00148.x | Corporate Planning and Development Division, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Nigeria; Department of Entrepreneurship, Brock University, St. Catherines, Ont., Canada | Yusuf, A., Corporate Planning and Development Division, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Nigeria; Saffu, K., Department of Entrepreneurship, Brock University, St. Catherines, Ont., Canada | This paper examines the relationship between planning and performance of small and medium enterprise operators in a country in economic transition. The literature on planning-performance relationship reports mixed findings. In a period of uncertainty, as exemplified by conditions of economic difficulties, one would expect firms to do more planning. On the contrary, our study shows that economic difficulties do not encourage firms to plan seriously. Our study also shows that firms that plan do not necessarily experience increased performance, with the exception of the manufacturing sector. Other findings of the study include a significant gender difference in the planning sophistication of small firms in Ghana, with firms managed or owned by males having sophisticated planning compared with female managed or female-owned businesses. Size did not moderate planning performance in our study. Planning affected performance equally in both large and small firms in our study. We found no difference among the planning clusters for education. Firms with the highest growth in sales had low-planning sophistication. This study contributes to our understanding and appreciation of situations in which planning does not necessarily add significant value to organizations (by way of increased performance). | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84928411834 | Performance evaluation of rain attenuation models in a tropical station | Yussuff A.I.O., Khamis N.H.B.H., Yahya A. | 2014 | International Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering | 4 | 5 | None | Department of Communications Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia; Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, Lagos State University, Nigeria | Yussuff, A.I.O., Department of Communications Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia, Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, Lagos State University, Nigeria; Khamis, N.H.B.H., Department of Communications Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia; Yahya, A., Department of Communications Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia | The non-uniformity of rainfall in both the horizontal and vertical directions makes the estimation of slant path attenuation complex. At frequencies above 10 GHz, the effects of attenuation and noise induced by rain are quite significant. One year satellite attenuation data were sourced from Malaysia East Asia Satellite at Ku frequency band; using ASTRO beacon signals to monitor and measure the slant path rain rate and attenuation at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai. Four years' one minute rain rate ground data at 0.01% of time exceeded were collected using rain gauge. The attenuation exceeded for other percentages of the time was obtained using statistical methods. Different rain attenuation prediction models were investigated and their performances compared. The validation results clearly suggested that the Breakpoint attenuation prediction model produced better results when compared with other models of interest. Copyright © 2014 Institute of Advanced Engineering and Science. All rights reserved. | Attenuation predictions; Breakpoint attenuations; Convective rains; Specific attenuations; Stratiform rains | None | 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-s2.0-84904390959 | Evaluation of standard magnetic resonance characteristics used to differentiate neoplastic, inflammatory, and vascular brain lesions in dogs | Young B.D., Fosgate G.T., Holmes S.P., Wolff C.A., Chen-Allen A.V., Kent M., Platt S.R., Savage M.Y., Schatzberg S.J., Levine J.M. | 2014 | Veterinary Radiology and Ultrasound | 55 | 4 | 10.1111/vru.12137 | Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A and M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States; Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A and M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States; Department of Production Animal Studies, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort 0002, South Africa; College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-7382, United States; Department of Anatomy and Radiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-7382, United States; Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-7382, United States; North Houston Veterinary Specialists, Houston, TX 77388, United States; Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-6610, United States; Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, United States; Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Center, Santa Fe, NM 87505, United States | Young, B.D., Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A and M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States; Fosgate, G.T., Department of Production Animal Studies, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort 0002, South Africa, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-7382, United States; Holmes, S.P., Department of Anatomy and Radiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-7382, United States; Wolff, C.A., North Houston Veterinary Specialists, Houston, TX 77388, United States; Chen-Allen, A.V., Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-6610, United States; Kent, M., Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-7382, United States; Platt, S.R., Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-7382, United States; Savage, M.Y., Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, United States; Schatzberg, S.J., Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Center, Santa Fe, NM 87505, United States; Levine, J.M., Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A and M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States | Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging characteristics are commonly used to help predict intracranial disease categories in dogs, however, few large studies have objectively evaluated these characteristics. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate MR characteristics that have been used to differentiate neoplastic, inflammatory, and vascular intracranial diseases in a large, multi-institutional population of dogs. Medical records from three veterinary teaching hospitals were searched over a 6-year period for dogs that had diagnostic quality brain MR scans and histologically confirmed intracranial disease. Three examiners who were unaware of histologic diagnosis independently evaluated 19 MR lesion characteristics totaling 57 possible responses. A total of 75 dogs with histologically confirmed intracranial disease were included in analyses: 51 with neoplasia, 18 with inflammatory disease, and six with cerebrovascular disease. Only strong contrast enhancement was more common in neoplasia than other disease categories. A multivariable statistical model suggested that extra-axial origin, T2-FLAIR mixed intensity, and defined lesion margins were also predictive of neoplasia. Meningeal enhancement, irregular lesion shape, and multifocal location distinguished inflammatory diseases from the other disease categories. No MR characteristics distinguished vascular lesions and these appeared most similar to neoplasia. These results differed from a previous report describing seven MR characteristics that were predictive of neoplasia in dogs and cats. Findings from the current study indicated that the high performance of MR for diagnosing canine intracranial diseases might be due to evaluator recognition of combinations of MR characteristics vs. relying on any one MR characteristic alone. © 2014 American College of Veterinary Radiology. | Brain; Dog; Inflammation; MR imaging; Neoplasia | contrast medium; animal; Brain Neoplasms; Cerebrovascular Disorders; diagnostic use; differential diagnosis; dog; Dog Diseases; encephalitis; female; male; nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; retrospective study; veterinary; Animals; Brain Neoplasms; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Contrast Media; Diagnosis, Differential; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Encephalitis; Female; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Retrospective Studies | None |
| WoS | WOS:000300869600003 | How Can Micro and Small Enterprises in Sub-Saharan Africa Become More Productive? The Impacts of Experimental Basic Managerial Training | Iddrisu, Alhassan,Mano, Yukichi,Sonobe, Tetsushi,Yoshino, Yutaka | 2012 | WORLD DEVELOPMENT | 40 | 3 | 10.1016/j.worlddev.2011.09.013 | The World Bank, FASID, Minist Finance & Econ Planning, Natl Grad Inst Policy Studies GRIPS | "Yoshino, Yutaka: The World Bank", | The vast majority of micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in developing countries are located in industrial clusters, and the majority of such clusters have yet to see their growth take off. The performance of MSE clusters is especially low in Sub-Saharan Africa. While existing studies often attribute the poor performance to factors outside firms, problems within firms are seldom scrutinized. In fact, entrepreneurs in these clusters are unfamiliar with standard business practices. Based on a randomized experiment in Ghana, this study demonstrates that basic-level management training improves business practices and performance. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Africa,GHANA,"INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT","management training","RANDOMIZED EXPERIMENT","survival clusters",CLUSTER,DEVELOPING-COUNTRIES,FAILURE,FIRMS,INDUSTRIALIZATION,INDUSTRY,MANAGEMENT-PRACTICES,PERFORMANCE,VALLEY | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84870751723 | Impact of the HIV infection on the evolution of tuberculosis among adult patient in Yaounde, Cameroon [Impact de l'infection à VIH sur l'évolution de la tuberculose de l'adulte à Yaoundé, Cameroun] | Yone É.W.P., Kuaban C., Kengne A.P. | 2012 | Revue de Pneumologie Clinique | 68 | 6 | 10.1016/j.pneumo.2012.10.001 | Département de médecine interne et spécialités, Faculté de médecine et des sciences biomédicales, Université de Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Service de pneumologie, Hôpital Jamot de Yaoundé, BP 4021, Yaoundé, Cameroon; South African Medical research Council, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Yone, É.W.P., Département de médecine interne et spécialités, Faculté de médecine et des sciences biomédicales, Université de Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon, Service de pneumologie, Hôpital Jamot de Yaoundé, BP 4021, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Kuaban, C., Département de médecine interne et spécialités, Faculté de médecine et des sciences biomédicales, Université de Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon, Service de pneumologie, Hôpital Jamot de Yaoundé, BP 4021, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Kengne, A.P., South African Medical research Council, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Background: Tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus infection are two major public health problems in sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HIV infection in all clinical forms of TB and investigate the effects of HIV status on the evolution of tuberculosis. Patients and methods: This is a retrospective study relating to the 1647 adult's tuberculous patients, HIV status was known in 1419 cases which were followed-up at the diagnosis and treatment center for tuberculosis of the Yaounde Jamot Hospital in 2009. Results: The prevalence of HIV infection was of 35% as a whole and 31.3%, 43.3% and 47.7% respectively for the smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis, smear negative pulmonary tuberculosis and extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Compared to HIV negative patients, HIV positive patients were older (36years versus 30years, P<0.0001) and included more women (57.1% versus 37.3%, P=0.001). The treatment success rate was 79% in HIV negative patients and 69% among HIV positive ones. The equivalent for mortality rate was respectively 1.9% and 10.5% (both P<0.001). In HIV positive patients, the death rate was 3.7% among those with CD4 above 200/mm3 and 13% among those with CD4 below 200/mm3 (P<0.02). Conclusions: The HIV infection is frequent among adult patients with tuberculosis in this setting, particularly among patients with smear negative pulmonary tuberculosis or extrapulmonary tuberculosis. It is associated with a high mortality rate especially on patient with severe immunodeficiency in spite of the antiretroviral treatment and prophylaxis with the cotrimoxazole. © 2012. | Antituberculosis treatment; HIV infection; Outcome; Tuberculosis | antiretrovirus agent; CD4 antigen; cotrimoxazole; adult; age distribution; antibiotic prophylaxis; article; Cameroon; controlled study; disease association; disease severity; extrapulmonary tuberculosis; female; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; immune deficiency; infection prevention; lung tuberculosis; major clinical study; male; mortality; prevalence; retrospective study; sex difference; smear; tuberculosis; Adult; Antitubercular Agents; Cameroon; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Male; Multivariate Analysis; Prevalence; Retrospective Studies; Tuberculosis; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84874853623 | Comparative evaluation of the Rose Bengal plate test, standard tube agglutination test and complement fixation test for the diagnosis of human brucellosis | Yohannesw M., Gill J.P.S., Ghatak S., Singh D.K., Tolosa T. | 2012 | OIE Revue Scientifique et Technique | 31 | 3 | None | School of Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, PO. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia; Department of Veterinary Public Health, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, PIN 141004, Ludhiana, India; Division of Public Health, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, 243 122, Izatanagar, India | Yohannesw, M., School of Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, PO. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia; Gill, J.P.S., Department of Veterinary Public Health, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, PIN 141004, Ludhiana, India; Ghatak, S., Department of Veterinary Public Health, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, PIN 141004, Ludhiana, India; Singh, D.K., Division of Public Health, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, 243 122, Izatanagar, India; Tolosa, T., School of Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, PO. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia | In this study, 241 serum samples from individuals exposed to brucellosis were subjected to the Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT); the titre was estimated by standard tube agglutination test (STAT), with positive > 80 IU/ml. Randomly selected sera (n = 81) were analysed by complement fixation test (CFT): titre > 1:4 was considered positive. Of 241 sera subjected to RBPT and STAT, 177 were negative in both tests; 5 samples tested negative by RBPT but positive by STAT. None was positive by RBPT and negative by STAT. Of 81 sera subjected to CFT, 23 (28.4%) were positive. Both RBPT and CFT found 18 samples positive; 5 samples were positive by CFT and negative by RBPT. Comparison of STAT with CFT showed 13 samples positive by STAT but negative by CFT, and 4 positive by CFT but negative by STAT. The sensitivity and specificity of STAT were 82.6% and 77.6%, respectively, with CFT as gold standard. No test is perfect, and the clinical history coupled with a combination of two or more tests will reduce diagnostic errors. | Comparative evaluation; Complement fixation test; Human brucellosis; Rose Bengal plate test; Standard tube agglutination test | bacterium antibody; diagnostic agent; fluorescent dye; rose bengal; agglutination test; article; blood; Brucella; brucellosis; comparative study; complement fixation test; cross-sectional study; evaluation study; human; immunology; sensitivity and specificity; standard; Agglutination Tests; Antibodies, Bacterial; Brucella; Brucellosis; Complement Fixation Tests; Cross-Sectional Studies; Fluorescent Dyes; Humans; Rose Bengal; Sensitivity and Specificity | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84857031403 | Long-term impact of the kenya postelection crisis on clinic attendance and medication adherence for HIV-infected children in Western Kenya | Yoder R.B., Nyandiko W.M., Vreeman R.C., Ayaya S.O., Gisore P.O., Braitstein P., Wiehe S.E. | 2012 | Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes | 59 | 2 | 10.1097/QAI.0b013e31823b4448 | Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, 410 West 10th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States; USAID-Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare Partnership, Eldoret, Kenya; Department of Child Health and Pediatrics, Moi University School of Medicine, Eldoret, Kenya; Regenstrief Institute, Inc, Indianapolis, IN, United States; Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States | Yoder, R.B., Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, 410 West 10th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States; Nyandiko, W.M., USAID-Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare Partnership, Eldoret, Kenya, Department of Child Health and Pediatrics, Moi University School of Medicine, Eldoret, Kenya; Vreeman, R.C., Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, 410 West 10th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States, USAID-Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare Partnership, Eldoret, Kenya, Regenstrief Institute, Inc, Indianapolis, IN, United States; Ayaya, S.O., USAID-Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare Partnership, Eldoret, Kenya, Department of Child Health and Pediatrics, Moi University School of Medicine, Eldoret, Kenya; Gisore, P.O., USAID-Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare Partnership, Eldoret, Kenya, Department of Child Health and Pediatrics, Moi University School of Medicine, Eldoret, Kenya; Braitstein, P., USAID-Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare Partnership, Eldoret, Kenya, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States; Wiehe, S.E., Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, 410 West 10th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States, USAID-Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare Partnership, Eldoret, Kenya, Regenstrief Institute, Inc, Indianapolis, IN, United States | Background: Kenya experienced a political and humanitarian crisis after presidential elections on December 27, 2007. We sought to describe both the immediate and long-term impact of this conflict for HIV-infected children in western Kenya. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of a cohort of these children for 3 periods: period 1, before the election (October 26, 2007, to December 25, 2007); period 2, immediately after the election (December 26, 2007, to April 15, 2008); and period 3, long-term postelection (April 16, 2008, to December 31, 2008). Two outcome variables of loss-to-follow-up (LTFU) were assessed: initial LTFU and complete LTFU. We assessed clinic adherence by evaluating the difference between actual visits and expected visits. Among children on antiretroviral therapy (ART), we assessed overall medication adherence and changes in medication adherence. Results: Two thousand five hundred forty-nine HIV-infected children ,14 years were seen in period 1. Children on ART had less initial LTFU (3.0% compared with 5.1%, P < 0.01) and less complete LTFU (2.6% compared with 6.8%, P < 0.001) than children not on ART. For children not on ART, clinic adherence improved in period 3 compared with period 2. For children on ART with a more strict measure of clinic adherence, clinic adherence declined over time. Orphans had better clinic adherence than nonorphans. Among children on ART, there were few demographic differences when comparing medication adherence between time. Conclusions: HIV-infected children are at risk for disruptions in clinic follow-up and medication adherence after a humanitarian crisis. Individual and contextual factors moderate the effects of these disruptions. Copyright © 2012 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. | HIV; Medication adherence; Pediatrics; Postcrisis | antiretrovirus agent; adolescent; article; child; child health care; female; follow up; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; Kenya; long term care; major clinical study; male; patient compliance; politics; priority journal; retrospective study; treatment outcome; Adolescent; Anti-HIV Agents; Child; Child, Preschool; Cohort Studies; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Infant; Kenya; Male; Medication Adherence; Patient Compliance; Politics; Retrospective Studies | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-70449413684 | Effects of single and dual applications of selected trichoderma and bacillus isolates on performance of dry bean seedlings grown in composted pine bark growth medium under shadehouse conditions | Yobo K.S., Laing M.D., Hunter C.H. | 2009 | Journal of Plant Nutrition | 32 | 8 | 10.1080/01904160903005996 | Discipline of Plant Pathology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Discipline of Microbiology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | Yobo, K.S., Discipline of Plant Pathology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Laing, M.D., Discipline of Plant Pathology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Hunter, C.H., Discipline of Microbiology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | A shadehouse pot trial was conducted to study the efficiency of single and dual inoculations with selected Trichoderma and Bacillus isolates on performance of dry bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) grown in composted pine bark (CPB) potting medium. All the plant treatments inoculated with Trichoderma spp. and/or Bacillus spp. had higher photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm values). Of the treatments, only B. subtilis B69 showed a significant increase (P = 0.02) in Fv/Fm values over the growth period. The Trichoderma and Bacillus treated plants showed increase in dry shoot biomass. The greatest degree of nodulation was observed in Trichoderma and/or Bacillus treated plants. Increase in nitrogen concentrations were observed in leaves of plants inoculated with Trichoderma and Bacillus isolates. Only T. atroviride SY3A significantly increased phosphorus concentrations in leaves. These results depict and highlight the role these organisms can play in plant root-plant growth promoting rhizobacteria or plant growth promoting fungi (PGPR/PGPF) interaction in a nutrient-poor growth medium. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. | Bacillus; Dry bean; Mineral uptake; Nodulation; Photosynthetic efficiency; Trichoderma | Bacillus subtilis; Fungi; Phaseolus vulgaris; Rhizobiales; Trichoderma; Trichoderma atroviride | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84869748833 | Imidazopyridine-based inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase 3: Synthesis and evaluation of amide isostere replacements of the carboxamide scaffold | Yngve U., Söderman P., Svensson M., Rosqvist S., Arvidsson P.I. | 2012 | Chemistry and Biodiversity | 9 | 11 | 10.1002/cbdv.201200308 | Medicinal Chemistry IScience, CNSP IMed, AstraZeneca RandD Södertälje, SE-151 85 Södertälje, Sweden; Neuroscience IScience, CNSP IMed, AstraZeneca RandD Södertälje, SE-151 85 Södertälje, Sweden; Project Management, CNSP IMed, AstraZeneca RandD Södertälje, SE-151 85 Södertälje, Sweden; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala Biomedical Centre, Uppsala University, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden; School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Westville Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa | Yngve, U., Medicinal Chemistry IScience, CNSP IMed, AstraZeneca RandD Södertälje, SE-151 85 Södertälje, Sweden; Söderman, P., Medicinal Chemistry IScience, CNSP IMed, AstraZeneca RandD Södertälje, SE-151 85 Södertälje, Sweden; Svensson, M., Medicinal Chemistry IScience, CNSP IMed, AstraZeneca RandD Södertälje, SE-151 85 Södertälje, Sweden; Rosqvist, S., Neuroscience IScience, CNSP IMed, AstraZeneca RandD Södertälje, SE-151 85 Södertälje, Sweden; Arvidsson, P.I., Project Management, CNSP IMed, AstraZeneca RandD Södertälje, SE-151 85 Södertälje, Sweden, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala Biomedical Centre, Uppsala University, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden, School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Westville Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa | In this study, we explored the effect of bioisostere replacement in a series of glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) inhibitors based on the imidazopyridine core. The synthesis and biological evaluation of a number of novel sulfonamide, 1,2,4-oxadiazole, and thiazole derivates as amide bioisosteres, as well as a computational rationalization of the obtained results are reported. © 2012 Verlag Helvetica Chimica Acta AG, Zürich. | 1,2,4-Oxadiazoles; Bioisosteres; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 (GSK3); Imidazopyridine; Inhibitors; Sulfonamides; Thiazoles | 1,2,4 oxadiazole derivative; 2 [4 (morpholin 4 ylmethyl)phenyl] 7 [2 (piperidin 1 yl) 1,3 thiazol 4 yl] 3h imidazo[4,5 b]pyridine hydrochloride; 2 [4 (morpholin 4 ylmethyl)phenyl] 7 [3 (propan 2 yl) 1,2,4 oxadiazol 5 yl] 3h imidazo[4,5 b]pyridine hydrochloride; 2 [4 (morpholin 4 ylmethyl)phenyl] 7 [3 (pyridin 3 yl) 1,2,4 oxadiazol 5 yl] 3h imidazo[4,5 b]pyridine hydrochloride; 3 [4[[2 [4 (trifluoromethyl)phenyl] 3h imidazo[4,5 b]pyridin 7 yl]sulfonyl]piperazin 1 yl]propanenitrile; 7 [2 (morpholin 4 yl) 1,3 thiazol 4 yl] 2 [4 (trifluoromethyl)phenyl] 3h imidazo[4,5 b]pyridine hydrochloride; 7 [2 (piperidin 1 yl) 1,3 thiazol 4 yl] 2 [4 (trifluoromethyl)phenyl] 3h imidazo[4,5 b]pyridine hydrochloride; 7 [3 (2 methoxyethyl) 1,2,4 oxadiazol 5 yl] 2 [4 (morpholin 4 ylmethyl)phenyl] 3h imidazo[4,5 b]pyridine hydrochloride; amide; glycogen synthase kinase 3 inhibitor; imidazopyridine derivative; n (2 hydroxy 1 phenylethyl) 2 [4 (trifluoromethyl)phenyl] 3h imidazo[4,5 b]pyridine 7 sulfonamide hydrochloride; n (2 methoxyethyl) n methyl 2 [4 (trifluoromethyl)phenyl] 3h imidazo[4,5 b]pyridine 7 sulfonamide hydrochloride; n (3 methoxypropyl) 2 [4 (trifluoromethyl)phenyl] 3h imidazo[4,5 b]pyridine 7 sulfonamide hydrochloride; n [3 (1h imidazol 1 yl)propyl] 2 [4 (trifluoromethyl)phenyl] 3h imidazo[4,5 b]pyridine 7 sulfonamide hydrochloride; n cyclopentyl 2 [4 (trifluoromethyl)phenyl] 3h imidazo[4,5 b]pyridine 7 sulfonamide hydrochloride; thiazole derivative; unclassified drug; article; drug design; drug potency; drug screening; drug stability; drug structure; drug synthesis; drug transformation; human; human cell; Drug Design; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3; Humans; Molecular Dynamics Simulation; Oxadiazoles; Pyridines; Sulfonamides; Thiazoles | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80155187752 | Evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides root bark extracts | Ynalvez R.A., Cardenas C., Addo J.K., Adukpo G.E., Dadson B.A., Addo-Mensah A. | 2012 | Research Journal of Medicinal Plant | 6 | 2 | 10.3923/rjmp.2012.149.159 | Texas A and M International University, Laredo, TX 78041, United States; University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana | Ynalvez, R.A., Texas A and M International University, Laredo, TX 78041, United States; Cardenas, C., Texas A and M International University, Laredo, TX 78041, United States; Addo, J.K., University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana; Adukpo, G.E., University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana; Dadson, B.A., University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana; Addo-Mensah, A., Texas A and M International University, Laredo, TX 78041, United States | The development of resistance to antibiotics by infectious agents has been a continuous challenge. Thus, in this study, the aim was to evaluate the antimicrobial activities of Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides, a potential plant source for novel antibiotics. Toward this end, dried powdered samples of the root barks of Z. zanthoxyloides were extracted successively to obtain Crude Petroleum Ether (CPE), Defatted Ethanol Ether (DEE) and Defatted Ethanol Chloroform (DEC) extracts. The antimicrobial activities indicated by the size of the Zone of Inhibition (ZOI) of each extract at concentrations 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 μg μL -1 were evaluated against Escherichia coli (E. coli), methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREF) using disc diffusion method. Two sets of Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were performed. The first set comprised separate ANOVAs for each microorganism because the positive controls were different for each microorganism, although the negative control (DMSO) was the same for all. The second set was a single combined ANOVA with all microorganisms included with their positive controls excluded. The first set of analysis showed that DEE had significantly (p<0.001) higher antimicrobial activity than DMSO, CPE, or DEC. No significant interaction between extract and concentration was detected. The second set indicated a significant (p<0.01) interaction effect between extract and microorganism. Although no significant differences in ZOI were observed for microorganisms exposed to DMSO, CPE and DEC; one particular microorganism VREF was found to be the most susceptible to DEE. In addition, findings of this study show the potential of Z. zanthoxyloides as a source of broad-spectrum antimicrobial compounds. © 2012 Academic Journals Inc. | Antimicrobial; Extracts; Methicillin; Vancomycin; Zanthoxylum | alcohol; antiinfective agent; chloramphenicol; chloroform; kanamycin; linezolid; novobiocin; penicillin G; petroleum ether; plant extract; streptomycin; unclassified drug; Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides extract; antibacterial activity; article; bark; concentration response; controlled study; disk diffusion; Enterococcus faecium; Escherichia coli; medicinal plant; methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection; methicillin susceptible Staphylococcus aureus; nonhuman; solvent extraction; Soxhlet extraction; vancomycin resistant Enterococcus; zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides; Enterococcus faecium; Escherichia coli; methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus aureus; Zanthoxylum; Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-82955168328 | Evaluation of soil expansion index from routinely determined geotechnical parameters | Yitagesu F.A., Van DerMeer F., Van DerWerff H., Seged H. | 2011 | Soil Science Society of America Journal | 75 | 5 | 10.2136/sssaj2010.0420 | Faculty of Geo-information Science, Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, 99 Hengelosestraat, 7500AA Enschede, Netherlands; Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA), P.O. Box 7129, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Addis Ababa Univ. (AAU), Faculty of Technology, Dep. of Civil Engineering, P.O. Box 385, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Yitagesu, F.A., Faculty of Geo-information Science, Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, 99 Hengelosestraat, 7500AA Enschede, Netherlands, Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA), P.O. Box 7129, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Van DerMeer, F., Faculty of Geo-information Science, Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, 99 Hengelosestraat, 7500AA Enschede, Netherlands; Van DerWerff, H., Faculty of Geo-information Science, Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, 99 Hengelosestraat, 7500AA Enschede, Netherlands; Seged, H., Addis Ababa Univ. (AAU), Faculty of Technology, Dep. of Civil Engineering, P.O. Box 385, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Correlations are essential to obtain information on soil geotechnical parameters, which are costly and time consuming to measure directly, such as expansion potential. A common procedure for evaluating and rating soil expansion potential is the expansion index (EI) test. The purpose in this study was to establish a multivariate regression model to predict soil EI, thereby classify and rate soil expansiveness. Soil samples were collected from the newly planned expressway connecting the city of Addis Ababa with the town of Nazret in Ethiopia. A regression equation was established from liquid limit (LL), plasticity index (PI), and soil fine fraction (percentage of material passing the ASTM 0.075-mm sieve aperture), using a partial least squares (PLS) multivariate calibration method. A coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.92 accompanied with a root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 9.87, standard error of performance (SEP) of 9.91, offset of 5.31 and bias of 0.04 was obtained. Response surface models showing three-way relationships among the predictors (Atterberg limits and fine fraction) and response variable (EI) may serve as classification systems for evaluating soil expansion potential. Apart from its basic scientific value as a simple method for estimating and rating soil expansiveness, the approach has the advantage of employing easily and routinely determined soil properties, to get information on soil expansion potential at minimal cost and time requirements. © Soil Science Society of America. | None | A-coefficient; Atterberg limits; Classification system; Ethiopia; Expansion index; Fine fraction; Geotechnical parameters; Liquid limits; Minimal cost; Multivariate calibration methods; Multivariate regression models; Partial least squares; Plasticity indices; Regression equation; Response surface models; Root-mean-square error of predictions; Scientific values; SIMPLE method; Soil property; Soil sample; Standard errors; Time requirements; Expansion; Least squares approximations; Mean square error; Regression analysis; Soil testing; Soils; Geologic models; calibration; correlation; expansion; geotechnical mapping; liquid limit; multivariate analysis; rating curve; regression analysis; Addis Ababa; Ethiopia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79958070455 | Evaluation of nutritive value of albizia gummifera foliages as fodder source for livestock in agrisilvipastoral system | Yisehak K., Belay D. | 2011 | International Journal of Agricultural Research | 6 | 5 | 10.3923/ijar.2011.389.399 | Department of Animal Sciences, Jimma University, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia | Yisehak, K., Department of Animal Sciences, Jimma University, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia; Belay, D., Department of Animal Sciences, Jimma University, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia | The study was conducted to assess nutritional quality of Albizia gummifera (J.F. Gmel) C.A.Sm., a multipurpose tree indigenous to Ethiopia, influenced to altitude and season at hot humid tropical climatic condition. SAS version 9.1 was used for data analysis. Albizia gummifera leaf was examined for their chemical components, in vitro organic matter digestibility, digestible nutrients and dietary energy values. On DM basis, analytical results ranged between 108 to 308gCPkg-\ 367 to 396 gNDF kg 1, 283 to 313 g ADF kg 1, 68 to 72 g CT kg 1 DM, 379.8 to 430 g IVDMD kg 1, 492.5 to 683.5 g CHO kg 1, 6.1 to 6.9 MJ ME kg 1, 9.4 to 28.3 g DCP kg 1 7.02 to 8.2 g DE kg 1 and 400.4 to 460.3 g TDN kg 1. Effects of altitudes and seasons had showed a wide significant variation among many nutritive value parameters studied (p<0.05). Significantly higher CP, IVDMD and DCP contents were recorded for the higher altitude region and wet season (p<0.05). A negative correlation was observed between CT and CP, IVDMD energy values and TDN. The altitude-seas on interaction had a significant effect on most of the parameters (p<0.01). The nutrient concentrations already suggest that A. gummifera have a clear potential for being used as sustainable feed resources in wide locations on top of seasons that can maintain normal rumen microbial metabolism and to supply the quantities and balances of nutrients for different productive states in the tropics. © 2011 Academic Journals Inc. | Condensed tannin; Digestible nutrients; Fodder tree; In vitro dm digestibility; Nutritive value | Albizia gummifera; Animalia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84874675805 | Evaluation of nutritive value of leaves of tropical tanniferous trees and shrubs | Yisehak K., Janssens G.P.J. | 2013 | Livestock Research for Rural Development | 25 | 2 | None | Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, P. O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia; Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Heidestraat 19, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium | Yisehak, K., Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, P. O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia; Janssens, G.P.J., Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Heidestraat 19, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium | This study was conducted to compare the nutritive value of indigenous fodder trees and shrubs (IFTS) and assess the relationship between farmers' IFTS preference, the perception of their characteristics, and analyzed nutritional value at two distinct altitudes within the same area (high altitude and low altitude). Results were based on laboratory analyses of plant samples and a diagnostic survey of randomly selected 360 livestock farmers. Fifty IFTS were identified and examined for proximate and fibre components, in vitro digestibility, digestible nutrients, energy and condensed tannins (CT). Farmers scored the identified IFTS on a scale of 1 to 4 on nutritive value, growth rate, biomass, compatibility and multifunctionality. Nutritive value ranged widely among IFTS from 66 to 242 g CP/kg dry matter (DM), 185 to 502 g neutral detergent fibre (NDF)/kg DM, 0.1 to 228 g CT/kg DM, 478 to 745 g total carbohydrate (CHO)/kg DM, 332 to 963 g total digestible nutrients (TDN)/kg DM and 5 to 15 MJ ME/kg DM. Trees showed higher CP contents than shrubs though CHO was higher for shrubs, especially at high altitude (P<0.05). Farmers' scores for nutritive value were positively correlated with CP content of IFTS (r = 0.36; P<0.05). Even though the association was negative for CHO content (P<0.01; r = -0.32), these scores were higher at high altitude (P<0.05). A negative relationship was observed between CT and TA, CP, DMD, OMD, ME and TDN (P<0.05). It was concluded that although variation within shrubs and within trees was high - CP was higher in trees than in shrubs and lower CHO in trees than shrubs, therefore warranting further research in the added value for ranging ruminants' nutritional status of providing fodder tree material instead of only access to pasture and shrubs. Farmers' perception of nutritive value of IFTS was partly associated with protein content, but other unidentified factors were contributing to their preference. Geographical differences exert shifts in the perceived and analyzed nutritive value of IFTS, thus care should be taken when developing recommendations for the use of IFTS in an entire region. | Fodder trees and shrubs; In vitro digestibility; Nutritive value; Tannin; Total digestible nutrients | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84899993796 | The effect of supplementing leaves of four tannin-rich plant species with polyethylene glycol on digestibility and zootechnical performance of zebu bulls (Bos indicus) | Yisehak K., De Boever J.L., Janssens G.P.J. | 2014 | Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition | 98 | 3 | 10.1111/jpn.12068 | Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium; Institute for Agriculture and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Animal Sciences Unit, Scheldeweg, Melle, Belgium | Yisehak, K., Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia, Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium; De Boever, J.L., Institute for Agriculture and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Animal Sciences Unit, Scheldeweg, Melle, Belgium; Janssens, G.P.J., Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium | The effect of supplementing leaves of four tannin-rich plant species with polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG) on nutrient intake and digestibility as well as on weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and N retention of zebu bulls (Bos indicus) was studied. Leaves of Albizia gummifera, Grewia ferruginea, Prunus africana and Syzygium guineense, containing, respectively, 85, 55, 76 and 172 g condensed tannins (CT) per kg dry matter (DM), were combined with natural pasture hay in a ratio of 40:60 on DM basis. The four diets were fed both without and with addition of PEG, at a dose of 40 g per kg DM, to eight zebu bulls during trials of 25 days in an 8 × 8 randomized crossover design. Supplementation with PEG increased nutrient intake, digestibility, FCR, N retention and average daily gain (p < 0.01). A diet × PEG interaction was observed for nutrient intake as well as for crude protein, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre digestibility (p < 0.05), but the effect size of PEG addition could not be attributed to the CT content as such, and also digestibility without PEG was not related to CT content of the diets. The reason why the efficacy of PEG addition did not relate to the CT content pointed the need to evaluate other factors that can help to predict the efficacy of PEG, for example, tannin type or interaction with other nutrients. © 2013 Blackwell Verlag GmbH. | Digestibility; N retention; Nutrient intake; Polyethylene glycol; Tannin; Zebu cattle | macrogol derivative; tannin derivative; analysis; animal; animal food; animal food; Bovinae; chemistry; controlled study; crossover procedure; diet; diet supplementation; digestion; drug effects; male; metabolism; physiology; plant leaf; randomized controlled trial; veterinary; Animal Feed; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Cattle; Cross-Over Studies; Diet; Dietary Supplements; Digestion; Male; Plant Leaves; Polyethylene Glycols; Tannins | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84883514870 | Impact of soil erosion associated factors on available feed resources for free-ranging cattle at three altitude regions: Measurements and perceptions | Yisehak K., Belay D., Taye T., Janssens G.P.J. | 2013 | Journal of Arid Environments | 98 | None | 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2013.07.012 | College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia; Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Heide Straat 19, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium | Yisehak, K., College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia; Belay, D., College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia; Taye, T., College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia; Janssens, G.P.J., Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Heide Straat 19, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium | The study was conducted to assess the status and trends of soil erosion and relate the perceptions of farmers on cattle productivity and botanical indicators to measured ecological conditions of rangelands in three altitude regions of southwest Ethiopia. A total of 342 farmers were interviewed. In addition, the ecological condition of rangelands was assessed. Severe soil erosion, ranked as the primary restriction to free-ranging livestock, occurred predominantly in the lower altitude region (LAR) (. P<0.05). More farmers in LAR witnessed an inadequacy of palatable plant biomass, grazable pasture as well as increased gully formation and expansion, which are strong indicators of soil erosion (. P<0.001). In addition to a decrease in grass cover and productivity of cattle, botanical composition, species richness and grazing capacity of herbaceous plants, less fodder trees and shrubs were observed (. P<0.05). There was a corresponding increase in the percentage of bare ground and soil erosion status along the degradation gradients (. P<0.05). The reported shift in botanical composition, and especially encroachment of invading plant species, can be attributed to soil erosion (. P<0.001). The results suggest that erosion is associated with reduced availability of feed resources and is related to altitude variation. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. | Botanical composition; Cattle; Feed resources; Gilgel Gibe; Overgrazing; Soil erosion | altitude; biomass; cattle; community dynamics; farmers attitude; food availability; nature-society relations; overgrazing; palatability; pasture; perception; productivity; rangeland; soil erosion; Ethiopia; Gilgel Gibe River | 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-s2.0-84877987870 | 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-s2.0-84897500506 | Urban cities and waste generation in developing countries: A GIS evaluation of two cities in Burkina Faso | Yiougo L.S.A., Oyedotun T.D.T., Some C.Y.C., Da E.C.D. | 2013 | Journal of Urban and Environmental Engineering | 7 | 2 | 10.4090/juee.2013.v7n2.280285 | International Institute for Water and Environment Engineering, 01 BP 594, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Department of Geography and Planning Sciences, Adekunle Ajasin University, P. M. B. 001, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria; Department of Geography, Univ | Yiougo, L.S.A., International Institute for Water and Environment Engineering, 01 BP 594, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Oyedotun, T.D.T., Department of Geography and Planning Sciences, Adekunle Ajasin University, P. M. B. 001, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria; Some, C.Y.C., International Institute for Water and Environment Engineering, 01 BP 594, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Da, E.C.D., Department of Geography, University of Ouagadougou, 03 BP 7021, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso | Cities in developing countries are faced waste management challenges in terms of quantity and quality. Most of the time, solid and liquid wastes are dumped on street and open spaces. Uncontrolled waste dumped has led to diverse kind of health problems. The purpose of this article is to characterize urban cities and evaluate their waste generation using the Geographical Information System (GIS). The focus is on two cities in Burkina Faso. Specific variables which were considered during the survey include urban fabric, grey water outlets and household garbage dumps sites/techniques. The study shows that in the two cities, the most dominant urban fabric is low standard of living (about 64% of housing in Fada and 62% of housing in Pouytenga). The urban fabric is also characterized by the existence of empty spaces. Overall, the average density of grey water discharge points is 0.85 points and 5.7 points per ha of street in Fada N'Gourma and Pouytenga respectively. The average density of solid waste dumps is 1.45 waste dumps per ha street and 7 waste dumps per ha street in Fada N'Gourma and Pouytenga respectively. In case of urgent waste management intervention, the priority areas for speedy intervention are area 10 in Fada N'Gourma, areas 2 and 5 in Pouytenga. GIS applied to waste management can be a decision making tool for urban planners in developing country. © 2013 Journal of Urban and Environmental Engineering (JUEE). All rights reserved. | Developing countries; Discharges; Fada N'Gourma; GIS; Pouytenga; Wastes | None | 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-s2.0-84856730758 | Effects of supplementing Erythrina brucei leaf as a substitute for cotton seed meal on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Sidama goats fed basal diet of natural grass hay | Yinnesu A., Nurfeta A. | 2012 | Tropical Animal Health and Production | 44 | 3 | 10.1007/s11250-011-9916-z | Dilla Agricultural Technical Vocational Education and Training College, P.O. Box 334, Dilla, Ethiopia; Department of Animal and Range Sciences, College of Agriculture, Hawassa University, P.O. Box 222, Hawassa, Ethiopia | Yinnesu, A., Dilla Agricultural Technical Vocational Education and Training College, P.O. Box 334, Dilla, Ethiopia; Nurfeta, A., Department of Animal and Range Sciences, College of Agriculture, Hawassa University, P.O. Box 222, Hawassa, Ethiopia | The replacement value of dried Erythrina brucei leaf for cotton seed meal (CSM) on growth performance and carcass characteristics was evaluated. Twenty-five yearling buck goats (15.8 ± 1.4 kg) were assigned into five treatments in a randomized complete block design: natural grass hay alone (T1) or supplemented with 100% CSM (T2), 67% CSM + 33% E. brucei (T3), 33% CSM + 67% E. brucei (T4), and 100% E. brucei (T5) on dry matter (DM) basis. Supplemented goats consumed more (P < 0.05) total DM and organic matter (OM) than the non-supplemented group, but the intakes were not influenced (P > 0.05) by the proportion of the supplements. The highest (P < 0.05) crude protein (CP) intake was observed in goats supplemented with CSM alone, whereas the lowest intake was observed in the non-supplemented group. Total CP intake decreased (P < 0.05) with increasing levels of E. brucei in the supplement mixture. The supplemented goats gained more (P < 0.05) weight than the control group. Apparent DM and OM digestibility was higher (P < 0.05) in supplemented goats than in the non-supplemented ones, but similar (P > 0.05) among the supplemented group. The digestibility of CP was higher (P < 0.05) for supplemented goats, except in those goats fed E. brucei alone, than the non-supplemented group. Slaughter weight, empty body weight, hot carcass weight, dressing percentage, rib eye muscle area, and total edible offals were higher (P < 0.05) for supplemented goats than for the non-supplemented ones. It could be concluded that E. brucei could be used as a substitute to CSM under smallholder production systems. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. | Carcass characteristics; Cotton seed meal; Erythrina brucei; Feed intake; Goats; Growth performance | cotton seed oil; animal; animal food; article; clinical trial; controlled clinical trial; controlled study; diet supplementation; dose response; Erythrina; goat; growth, development and aging; male; meat; metabolism; nutritional value; physiology; plant leaf; randomization; randomized controlled trial; standard; Animal Feed; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Cottonseed Oil; Dietary Supplements; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Erythrina; Goats; Male; Meat; Nutritive Value; Plant Leaves; Random Allocation; Capra hircus; Erythrina brucei; Gossypium hirsutum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84867679067 | Fecal progestin extraction and analysis for non-invasive monitoring of ovarian cycle in beef cows | Yimer N., Rosnina Y., Wahid H., Bukar M.M., Malik A., Yap K.C., Fahmi M., Ganesamurthi P., Saharee A.A. | 2012 | Pakistan Veterinary Journal | 32 | 4 | None | Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Malaysia; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Gondar, 196 Gondar, Ethiopia | Yimer, N., Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Gondar, 196 Gondar, Ethiopia; Rosnina, Y., Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Malaysia; Wahid, H., Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Malaysia; Bukar, M.M., Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Malaysia; Malik, A., Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Malaysia; Yap, K.C., Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Malaysia; Fahmi, M., Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Malaysia; Ganesamurthi, P., Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Malaysia; Saharee, A.A., Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Malaysia | The aims of the present study were to determine presence of immunoreactive progestins in feces, correlate fecal progestins with plasma progesterone (P 4) concentrations and subsequently assess the role of fecal progestins in monitoring estrous cycle in Kedah Kelantan (KK) beef cows. A total of 12 cycling cows were subjected to blood and matched fecal sampling twice a week for 9 weeks. The concentrations of plasma P 4 and fecal progestins extracted using a modified technique, were determined by a P 4 radioimmunoassay (RIA) kit. There was a significant positive correlation between the concentrations of fecal progestins and plasma P 4 (r = 0.6, P<0.01), as tested for the whole group except one animal. High performance liquid chromatographic separation of fecal extracts and subsequent radioimmunoassay revealed presence of four immunoreactive progestins against the P 4 antibodies. These results imply that the non-invasive measure of fecal progestins using a DSL-3900 RIA kit can be used to monitor the ovarian activity in beef cows. © 2012 PVJ. | Feces; Kedah Kelantan cows; Ovarian cycle; Plasma; Progesterone; Progestin | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84951266195 | Evaluation performance of diagnostic methods of intestinal parasitosis in school age children in Ethiopia | Yimer M., Hailu T., Mulu W., Abera B. | 2015 | BMC Research Notes | 8 | 1 | 10.1186/s13104-015-1822-4 | Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, College of Medicine and Health Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia | Yimer, M., Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, College of Medicine and Health Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Hailu, T., Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, College of Medicine and Health Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Mulu, W., Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, College of Medicine and Health Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Abera, B., Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, College of Medicine and Health Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia | Background: Although the sensitivity of Wet mount technique is questionable, it is the major diagnostic technique for routine diagnosis of intestinal parasitosis in Ethiopia. Therefore, the aim of this study was the evaluation performance of diagnostic methods of intestinal parasitosis in school age children in Ethiopia. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted from May to June 2013. Single stool sample was processed for direct, Formol ether concentration (FEC) and Kato Katz methods. The sensitivity and negative predictive value (NPV) of diagnostic tests were calculated in terms of the "Gold" standard method (the combined result of the three methods altogether). Results: A total of 422 school age children were participated in this study. The prevalence of intestinal parasites was high (74.6 %) with Kato Katz technique. The sensitivity of Wet mount, FEC and Kato Katz tests against the Gold standard test was 48.9, 63.1 and 93.7 %, respectively. Kato Katz technique revealed a better NPV 80.4 (80.1-80.6) as compared to the Wet mount (33.7 %) and FEC techniques (41.3 %). Conclusion: In this study, the Kato Katz technique outperformed the other two methods but the true values for sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic values are not known. Moreover, it is labor intensive and not easily accessible. Hence, it is preferable to use FEC technique to complement the Wet mount test. © 2015 Yimer et al. | Ethiopia; FEC; Kato Katz; NPV; Sensitivity; Wet mount | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84899424490 | Evaluation of patterns of liver toxicity in patients on antiretroviral and anti-tuberculosis drugs: A prospective four arm observational study in Ethiopian patients | Yimer G., Gry M., Amogne W., Makonnen E., Habtewold A., Petros Z., Aderaye G., Schuppe-Koistinen I., Lindquist L., Aklillu E. | 2014 | PLoS ONE | 9 | 4 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0094271 | Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge C1:68, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Pharmacology, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; AstraZeneca R and D, Global Safety Assessment, Molecular Toxicology, Södertälje, Sweden; Department of Internal Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; AstraZeneca Innovative Medicines Personalised Healthcare and Biomarkers, Science for Life Laboratory, Solna, Sweden; Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge I:73, Stockholm, Sweden | Yimer, G., Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge C1:68, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Department of Pharmacology, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Gry, M., AstraZeneca R and D, Global Safety Assessment, Molecular Toxicology, Södertälje, Sweden; Amogne, W., Department of Internal Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge I:73, Stockholm, Sweden; Makonnen, E., Department of Pharmacology, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Habtewold, A., Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge C1:68, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Department of Pharmacology, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Petros, Z., Department of Pharmacology, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Aderaye, G., Department of Internal Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Schuppe-Koistinen, I., AstraZeneca Innovative Medicines Personalised Healthcare and Biomarkers, Science for Life Laboratory, Solna, Sweden; Lindquist, L., Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge I:73, Stockholm, Sweden; Aklillu, E., Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge C1:68, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden | Objectives: To evaluate the incidence, type, severity and predictors of antiretroviral and/or anti-tuberculosis drugs induced liver injury (DILI). Methods: A total of 1,060 treatment naive patients were prospectively enrolled into four treatment groups: HIV patients receiving efavirenz based HAART alone (Arm-1); TB-HIV co-infected patients with CD4≤200 cells/μL, receiving concomitant rifampicin based anti-TB and efavirenz based HAART (Arm-2); TB-HIV co-infected patients with CD4>200 cells/μL, receiving anti-TB alone (Arm-3); TB patients taking rifampicin based anti-TB alone (Arm-4). Liver enzyme levels were monitored at baseline, 1st, 2nd, 4th, 8th, 12th and 24th weeks during treatment. CD4 and HIV viral load was measured at baseline, 24th and 48th weeks. Data were analyzed using multivariate Cox Proportional Hazards Model. Results: A total of 159 patients (15%) developed DILI with severity grades 1, 2, 3 and 4 of 53.5%, 32.7%, 11.3% and 2.5% respectively. The incidence of cholestatic, hepatocellular or mixed pattern was 61%, 15% and 24%, respectively. Incidence of DILI was highest in Arm-2 (24.2%)>Arm-3 (10.8%)>Arm-1 (8.8%)>Arm-4 (2.9%). Concomitant anti-TB-HIV therapy increased the risk of DILI by 10-fold than anti-TB alone (p<0.0001). HIV co-infection increased the risk of anti-TB DILI by 4-fold (p = 0.004). HAART associated DILI was 3-fold higher than anti-TB alone, (p = 0.02). HAART was associated with cholestatic and grade 1 DILI whereas anti-TB therapy was associated with hepatocellular and grade ≥ 2. Treatment type, lower CD4, platelet, hemoglobin, higher serum AST and direct bilirubin levels at baseline were significant DILI predictors. There was no effect of DILI on immunologic recovery or virologic suppression rate of HAART. Conclusion: HAART associated DILI is mainly cholestatic and mild whereas hepatocellular or mixed pattern with high severity grade is more common in anti-tuberculosis DILI. TB-HIV co-infection, disease severity and concomitant treatment exacerbates the risk of DILI. © 2014 Yimer et al. | None | alanine aminotransferase; albumin; alkaline phosphatase; antiretrovirus agent; aspartate aminotransferase; cotrimoxazole; creatinine; efavirenz; ethambutol; hepatitis B surface antigen; hepatitis C antibody; isoniazid; lamivudine; liver enzyme; pyrazinamide; rifampicin; stavudine; tenofovir; tuberculostatic agent; zidovudine; antiretrovirus agent; tuberculostatic agent; adult; alanine aminotransferase blood level; alkaline phosphatase blood level; article; aspartate aminotransferase blood level; CD4 lymphocyte count; cholestatic hepatitis; clinical evaluation; comorbidity; controlled study; disease classification; disease course; disease exacerbation; disease severity; Ethiopia; female; hemoglobin blood level; highly active antiretroviral therapy; human; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; incidence; liver cell damage; major clinical study; male; mixed infection; observational study; prospective study; thrombocyte count; toxic hepatitis; treatment duration; tuberculosis; virus load; complication; Drug-Induced Liver Injury; HIV Infections; Kaplan Meier method; prognosis; severity of illness index; treatment outcome; young adult; Adult; Anti-Retroviral Agents; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Antitubercular Agents; Drug-Induced Liver Injury; Ethiopia; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Incidence; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Male; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Severity of Illness Index; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84939634484 | Health risk and insurance: Impact of ethiopia's community based health insurance on household economic welfare | Yilma Z., Mebratie A., Sparrow R., Dekker M., Alemu G., Bedi A.S. | 2015 | World Bank Economic Review | 29 | None | 10.1093/wber/lhv009 | International Institute of Social Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands; Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University, Australia; African Studies Centre, Leiden University, Netherlands; Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia; International Institute of Social Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, School of Foreign Service-Qatar, Georgetown University, Netherlands | Yilma, Z., International Institute of Social Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands; Mebratie, A., International Institute of Social Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands; Sparrow, R., Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University, Australia; Dekker, M., African Studies Centre, Leiden University, Netherlands; Alemu, G., Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia; Bedi, A.S., International Institute of Social Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, School of Foreign Service-Qatar, Georgetown University, Netherlands | In 2011, in an attempt to increase access to health care and reduce household vulnerability to out-of-pocket health expenditure, the Government of Ethiopia launched a Community- Based Health Insurance Scheme (CBHI). This paper uses three rounds of household survey data, collected before and after the introduction of the CBHI pilot, to assess the impact of the scheme on household consumption, income, indebtedness, and livestock holdings.We find that enrollment leads to a 5 percentage point-or 13%-decline in the probability of borrowing and is associated with an increase in household income. There is no evidence that enrolling in the scheme affects consumption or livestock holdings. Our results show that the scheme reduces reliance on potentially harmful coping responses such as borrowing. This paper adds to the relatively small body of work that rigorously evaluates the impact of CBHI schemes on economic welfare. © The Author 2015. | None | health care; health insurance; health risk; household income; welfare economics; Ethiopia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33646706087 | Milk production level and calf-rearing system affecting Boran, Ethiopian zebu cattle breed, cow-calf performance | Yilma Z., Gojjam Y., Shumye M. | 2006 | Livestock Research for Rural Development | 18 | 5 | None | Dairy Technology, Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization, Holetta Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 31, Holetta, Ethiopia | Yilma, Z., Dairy Technology, Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization, Holetta Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 31, Holetta, Ethiopia; Gojjam, Y., Dairy Technology, Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization, Holetta Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 31, Holetta, Ethiopia; Shumye, M., Dairy Technology, Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization, Holetta Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 31, Holetta, Ethiopia | Milk yield, reproductive performance, dry matter intake, milk composition and calf growth were studied for Boran (Ethiopian zebu breed) cows under different milk production levels and calf rearing methods. 39 Boran cows in their 2 nd and 3 rd parities were used for the study in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement with main factors being suckling (partial suckling Vs non-suckling) and milk yield (low- and high-yielding). Suckling has resulted in increased total milk yield as compared to non-suckling in both milk yield groups: 793 Vs 369 kg for low-yielders and 1142 Vs 819 kg for high-yielders. Suckling and high-yielding cows consumed 0.6 kg and 0.8 kg more concentrate and total dry matter daily than non-suckling and low-yielding cows, respectively. Non-suckling and high-yielding cows produced 52 kg and 31 kg, respectively more hand-milked milk monthly (P<0.05) than suckling and low yielding cows. Although partial suckling resulted in reduced fat percentage in milk obtained through hand milking, total milk yield was increased. Partial suckling, however, prolonged calving to first heat, days open and cycling compared with non-suckling. Suckling also resulted in higher (P<0.01) average daily weight gain to weaning. Smallholder dairy enterprises in Ethiopia that are based on local cows need to consider the importance of suckling for increased productivity of the farm particularly in terms of milk yield and calf growth rate. As suckling resulted in increased milk yield, this practice should be accompanied by improved feeding. Further studies are needed in this line to address the economic implications of such practice. The need for similar studies under different production systems is also imperative to determine and implement the most appropriate strategy to improve overall life time productivity of local cows that include reproduction traits, milk production, calf growth and survival with suckling practices. | Boran; Feed intake; Growth; Milk production; Partial-suckling; Reproduction | Bos indicus; Bos taurus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84907402126 | The impact of cooperative social organization on reducing the prevalence of malaria and intestinal parasite infections in Awramba, a rural community in South Gondar, Ethiopia | Yihenew G., Adamu H., Petros B. | 2014 | Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases | 2014 | None | 10.1155/2014/378780 | Department of Biology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Institute of Biotechnology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 42524, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Department of Microbial, Cellular and Molecular Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Yihenew, G., Department of Biology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Adamu, H., Institute of Biotechnology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 42524, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Petros, B., Department of Microbial, Cellular and Molecular Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Introduction. Parasitic diseases are the major causes of human health problem in Ethiopia. The high prevalence of parasitic infections is closely correlated with poverty, poor environmental hygiene, and impoverished health services. Objective. The study was conducted to assess the impact of health-conscious Awramba cooperative community and its neighboring communities on the prevalence of parasitic infections in South Gondar, Ethiopia. Methods. Single stool specimens were collected from 392 individuals from Awramba and the neighboring communities. Specimens were examined microscopically for the presence of parasites using microscopy. Questionnaire was administered to determine the knowledge attitude and practice (KAP) of study participants. Results. Of the total 392 study participants examined, 58(14.8%) were positive for malaria and 173 (44.1%) for intestinal parasites. The prevalence of malaria in Awramba community (5.1%) was less than that in neighboring communities (24.5%). The prevalence of parasitic infections in Awramba (18.8%) was less than that of the neighboring communities (69.4%). Conclusion. This study showed that good household and environmental hygiene, good toilet construction and usage, and proper utilization of ITN in Awramba cooperative community have significantly contributed to the reduction of the burden of parasitic infections. Thus, the positive achievement in reducing parasitic infections in Awramba cooperative community could be used as a model for affordable health intervention in the neighboring communities, in particular, and the whole country in general. Copyright © 2014 Gebeyehu Yihenew et al. | None | adolescent; Article; Ascaris lumbricoides; attitude; child; Cryptosporidium; Entamoeba histolytica; Enterobius vermicularis; environmental sanitation; Ethiopia; feces; female; Giardia lamblia; health care practice; hookworm; household; human; Hymenolepis nana; intestine parasite; knowledge; major clinical study; malaria; male; parasitosis; prevalence; rural population; Schistosoma mansoni; social structure; Strongyloidea | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-69249096975 | Study on reproductive performance of crossbred dairy cattle under smallholder conditions in and around Zeway, Ethiopia | Yifat D., Kelay B., Bekana M., Lobago F., Gustafsson H., Kindahl H. | 2009 | Livestock Research for Rural Development | 21 | 6 | None | Hawassa University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hawassa, Ethiopia; Addis Ababa University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 34, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia; Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Clinical Sciences, Box 7039, SE-75007, Uppsala, Sweden | Yifat, D., Hawassa University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hawassa, Ethiopia; Kelay, B., Addis Ababa University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 34, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia; Bekana, M., Addis Ababa University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 34, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia; Lobago, F., Addis Ababa University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 34, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia; Gustafsson, H., Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Clinical Sciences, Box 7039, SE-75007, Uppsala, Sweden; Kindahl, H., Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Clinical Sciences, Box 7039, SE-75007, Uppsala, Sweden | A study was conducted to assess the reproductive performance of crossbred dairy cows in urban and rural smallholder dairy farms in Zeway Ethiopia and its surrounding. A total of 287 (141 rural and 146 urban) smallholder dairy farms that owned 2-5 crossbred dairy cows were visited and reproductive performance of 503 (244 rural and 259 urban) crossbred dairy cows were studied. The overall mean values (n=503) for age at first calving (AFC), calving interval (CI), days open (DO), gestation length (GL) and number of services per conception (NSPC) were 32.1 months, 412 days, 135 days, 278 days and 1.67, respectively. The mean values of CI and DO were significantly shorter in the urban than in the rural area. Parity number significantly influenced DO and NSPC. While, season of previous calving had significant effect on CI, DO and NSPC of smallholder crossbred dairy cows. In general, the smallholder crossbred dairy cows in the urban area had better reproductive performance than in the rural area. The overall observed reproductive performance of smallholder crossbred dairy cattle in this study was good. Thus, the ongoing activities to improve and expand crossbred dairy cattle production at smallholder level in the region should be encouraged. | Calving interval; Gestation; Holstein; Urban; Zebu | Bos; Bos indicus | 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 |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84891698724 | Simulation of groundwater flow in a crystalline rock aquifer system in Southern Ghana - An evaluation of the effects of increased groundwater abstraction on the aquifers using a transient groundwater flow model | Yidana S.M., Alfa B., Banoeng-Yakubo B., Obeng Addai M. | 2014 | Hydrological Processes | 28 | 3 | 10.1002/hyp.9644 | Department of Earth Science, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana; Ghana Water Resources Commission, Accra, Ghana | Yidana, S.M., Department of Earth Science, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana; Alfa, B., Ghana Water Resources Commission, Accra, Ghana; Banoeng-Yakubo, B., Department of Earth Science, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana; Obeng Addai, M., Department of Earth Science, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana | Monitored groundwater level data, well logs, and aquifer data as well as the relevant surface hydrological data were used to conceptualise the hydrogeological system of the Densu Basin in Southern Ghana. The objective was to numerically derive the hydraulic conductivity field for better characterization of the aquifer system and for simulating the effects of increasing groundwater abstraction on the aquifer system in the basin. The hydraulic conductivity field has been generated in this study through model calibration. This study finds that hydraulic conductivity ranges between a low of 2m/d in the middle sections of the basin and about 40m/d in the south. Clear differences in the underlying geology have been indicated in the distribution of aquifer hydraulic conductivities. This is in consonance with the general assertion that the hydrogeological properties of the aquifers in the crystalline basement terrains are controlled by the degree of fracturing and/or weathering of the country rock. The transient model suggest aquifer specific storage values to range between 6.0×10-5m-1 and 2.1×10-4m-1 which are within acceptable range of values normally quoted for similar lithologies in the literature. There is an apparent subtle decrease in groundwater recharge from about 13% of the annual precipitation in 2005 to about 10.3% of the precipitation in 2008. The transient model was used to simulate responses of the system to annual increment of groundwater abstraction by 20% at the 2008 recharge rates for the period 2009 - 2024. The results suggest that the system will not be able to sustain this level of abstraction as it would lead to a basin wide drawdown in the hydraulic head by 4m by the end of the prediction period. It further suggests a safe annual increment in groundwater abstraction by 5% under business as usual recharge conditions. Identification and protection of groundwater recharge areas in the basin are recommended in order to safeguard the integrity of the resource under the scenario of increased abstraction for commercial activities in the basin. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. | Densu Basin; Groundwater abstraction; Hydraulic conductivity; Recharge | Densu Basin; Ground water recharge; Groundwater abstraction; Hydrogeological properties; Level of abstraction; Protection of groundwater; Recharge; Transient groundwater flow; Abstracting; Aquifers; Computer simulation; Crystalline rocks; Digital storage; Groundwater flow; Groundwater resources; Hydraulic conductivity; Hydrogeology; Weathering; Well logging; Recharging (underground waters); aquifer; computer simulation; country rock; crystalline rock; groundwater abstraction; groundwater flow; hydraulic conductivity; hydraulic head; hydrogeology; lithology; precipitation (climatology); recharge; terrain; water level; well logging; Densu Basin; Ghana | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-47249129999 | Hydrochemical evaluation of the Voltaian system-The Afram Plains area, Ghana | Yidana S.M., Ophori D., Banoeng-Yakubo B. | 2008 | Journal of Environmental Management | 88 | 4 | 10.1016/j.jenvman.2007.03.037 | Department of Earth and Environmental Studies, Montclair State University, NJ 07043, United States; Department of Geology, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 58, Legon, Ghana | Yidana, S.M., Department of Earth and Environmental Studies, Montclair State University, NJ 07043, United States; Ophori, D., Department of Earth and Environmental Studies, Montclair State University, NJ 07043, United States; Banoeng-Yakubo, B., Department of Geology, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 58, Legon, Ghana | Inverse geochemical modeling from PHREEQC, and multivariate statistical methods were jointly used to define the genetic origin of chemical parameters of groundwater from the Voltaian aquifers in the Afram Plains area. The study finds, from hierarchical cluster analysis that there are two main hydrochemical facies namely the calcium-sodium-chloride-bicarbonate waters and the magnesium-potassium-sulfate-nitrate waters in the northern and southern sections, respectively, of the Afram Plains area. This facies differentiation is confirmed by the distribution of the SO42-/Cl- ratio, which associates groundwater from the northern and southern sections to areas influenced by contact with evaporites and seawater, respectively. Principal component analysis (PCA) with varimax rotation using the Kaiser criterion identifies four principal sources of variation in the hydrochemistry. Mineral saturation indices calculated from both major ions and trace elements, indicate saturation-supersaturation with respect to calcite, aragonite, k-mica, chlorite, rhodochrosite, kaolinite, sepiolite, and talc, and undersaturation with respect to albite, anorthite, and gypsum in the area. Inverse geochemical modeling along groundwater flowpaths indicates the dissolution of albite, anorthite and gypsum and the precipitation of kaolinite, k-mica, talc, and quartz. Both the PCA and inverse geochemical modeling identify the incongruent weathering of feldspars as the principal factors controlling the hydrochemistry in the Afram Plains area. General phase transfer equations have been developed to characterize the geochemical evolution of groundwater in the area. A very good relationship has been established between calcite and aragonite saturation indices in the Afram Plains area, with R2=1.00. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Afram plains; Hierarchical cluster analysis; Inverse modeling; PHREEQC; Principal component analysis | aluminum silicate; bicarbonate; calcium; calcium carbonate; calcium sulfate; chloride; ground water; magnesium; magnesium trisilicate; mineral; nitrate; potassium; sea water; silicon dioxide; sodium; sulfate; talc; trace element; aquifer; aragonite; bicarbonate; calcite; calcium; chloride; cluster analysis; feldspar; geochemistry; groundwater; hydrochemistry; magnesium; modeling; multivariate analysis; nitrate; potassium; principal component analysis; sodium; sulfate; article; calculation; evolution; geochemistry; Ghana; hydrology; model; multivariate analysis; precipitation; principal component analysis; Cluster Analysis; Ghana; Models, Theoretical; Multivariate Analysis; Water; Africa; Ghana; Sub-Saharan Africa; West Africa | 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-s2.0-84876694087 | 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-s2.0-84926147254 | Evaluation of major causes of road accidents along north–east highway, nigeria | Yero A.S., Ahmed T.Y., Hainin M.R. | 2015 | Jurnal Teknologi | 73 | 4 | None | Department of Civil Engineering, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, P.M.B 0248, Bauchi, Nigeria; Department of Geotechnics and Transportation, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia | Yero, A.S., Department of Civil Engineering, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, P.M.B 0248, Bauchi, Nigeria; Ahmed, T.Y., Department of Civil Engineering, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, P.M.B 0248, Bauchi, Nigeria; Hainin, M.R., Department of Geotechnics and Transportation, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia | A major road link in the North-Eastern region of Nigeria is the Bauchi – Maiduguri highway that is a 425 km road that links a section of the north east region to other regions of Nigeria. The goods and services to the region are basically transported by road. This has increased vehicular traffic that resulted in increased road accident rates over the years. It is paramount to investigate the major causes of vehicle accidents on this highway as much has not been done to investigate accident cases on the route. The five year accident record on that route was obtained from the Federal Road Safety Corp of Nigeria, the Nigeria Police traffic unit, and the Nigeria union of road traffic workers. The study indicated that speed violation by drivers and bad road conditions contributes greatly in the rate of accidents along the route. Hence the study recommends better road maintenance culture and more sensitization of the road users and enforcement of speed limits. © 2015 Penerbit UTM Press. All rights reserved. | Accident; Highway; Traffic; Vehicles and road safety | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-58449129069 | Evaluation of antiasthmatic and anticough effects of a medicinal plant used in ivorian pharmacopoeia: Combretum molle [Évaluation de l'activité antiasthmatique et antitussive de Combretum molle, plante médicinale de la pharmacopée ivoirienne] | Yeo D., N'Guessan J.D., Sea T., Coulibaly Y.A., Djaman A.J., Tako N.A., Yavo J.C., Guede-Guina F. | 2008 | Phytotherapie | 6 | 6 | 10.1007/s10298-008-0347-6 | Laboratoire de Pharmacodynamie Biochimique, UFR Biosciences, Université de Cocody-Abidjan, Cocody-Abidjan, South Africa; Laboratoire de Neurosciences, UFR Biosciences, Université de Cocody-Abidjan, Cocody-Abidjan, South Africa; Laboratoire de Biotechnologie, UFR Biosciences, Université de Cocody-Abidjan, Cocody-Abidjan, South Africa; Laboratoire de Pharmacologie Clinique, UFR des Sciences Médicales, Université de Cocody-Abidjan, Cocody-Abidjan, South Africa | Yeo, D., Laboratoire de Pharmacodynamie Biochimique, UFR Biosciences, Université de Cocody-Abidjan, Cocody-Abidjan, South Africa; N'Guessan, J.D., Laboratoire de Pharmacodynamie Biochimique, UFR Biosciences, Université de Cocody-Abidjan, Cocody-Abidjan, South Africa; Sea, T., Laboratoire de Biotechnologie, UFR Biosciences, Université de Cocody-Abidjan, Cocody-Abidjan, South Africa; Coulibaly, Y.A., Laboratoire de Pharmacodynamie Biochimique, UFR Biosciences, Université de Cocody-Abidjan, Cocody-Abidjan, South Africa; Djaman, A.J., Laboratoire de Pharmacodynamie Biochimique, UFR Biosciences, Université de Cocody-Abidjan, Cocody-Abidjan, South Africa; Tako, N.A., Laboratoire de Neurosciences, UFR Biosciences, Université de Cocody-Abidjan, Cocody-Abidjan, South Africa; Yavo, J.C., Laboratoire de Pharmacologie Clinique, UFR des Sciences Médicales, Université de Cocody-Abidjan, Cocody-Abidjan, South Africa; Guede-Guina, F., Laboratoire de Pharmacodynamie Biochimique, UFR Biosciences, Université de Cocody-Abidjan, Cocody-Abidjan, South Africa | In this work, we studied the inhibitory effects of Combretum molle extract on respiratory disturbances and coughs. Injection of 3.33 mg/kg and 7.14 mg/kg of Combretum molle had no effect on a rabbit's breathing. Injection of acetylcholine (0.2 ml; 714.10-3 mg/kg) induced a percentage estimated at -100%. But a combined injection of acetylcholine and increasing doses of Combretum molle reduced this percentage from -100% to -20 ± 0.5%. We also studied the inhibitory effects of the crude extract on coughs. Guinea pigs which were not treated produced 10.25 ± 0.95 in 10 minutes. But treating the guinea-pigs with 3 mg/kg of crude extract resulted in 8.25 ± 0.45 coughs for 10 min. With 30 mg/kg, however, coughing was reduced to 4.5 ± 0.25. We could therefore conclude that the extract presents some inhibitory effects on coughing and bronchial contraction induced by acetylcholine. © 2008 Springer Verlag. | Bronchial contraction; Combretum molle; Cough; Inhibition and breathing | acetylcholine; antiasthmatic agent; antitussive agent; combretum molle extract; plant extract; unclassified drug; animal experiment; animal model; article; breathing; bronchospasm; Combretum molle; coughing; dose response; drug dose increase; drug effect; drug screening; guinea pig; medical literature; medicinal plant; nonhuman; rabbit; respiratory failure | 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 | 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-s2.0-84881534643 | The impact of climatic change on nigerian landcover during the el-nino southern oscillations (ENSO), event of 1997 to 1998 | Yelwa S.A., Dangulla M. | 2013 | Research Journal of Applied Sciences | 8 | 1 | 10.3923/rjasci.2013.33.41 | Department of Environmental Sciences, Federal University, P.M.B. 7156, Dutse Jigawa State, Nigeria; Department of Geography, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B. 2346, Sokoto, Nigeria | Yelwa, S.A., Department of Environmental Sciences, Federal University, P.M.B. 7156, Dutse Jigawa State, Nigeria; Dangulla, M., Department of Geography, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B. 2346, Sokoto, Nigeria | Seventytwo dekadal NDVI dataset derived from Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer-Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (AVHRR-NDVI) on board the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration-National Aeronautics Space Administration (NOAA-NASA) meteorological satellites were recomposed into a 24 time-series monthly Maximum Value Composite (MVC) images covering the El-Nino Southern Oscillations (ENSO) event of 1997 to 1998 and analysed within a Geographical Information System (GIS) environment using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with the standardised principal components and supplemented with coefficient of variation derived images. The purpose is to assess the impact of such event on landcover across Nigeria and in particular, vegetation patterns across the country. Results from this analysis produced 24 standardised principal component imageries with another corresponding 24 individual loading scores presented in graphs. Others include inter-seasonal coefficient of variation change images for 1997 and 1998 as well as an annual mean NDVI image of the total 24 time-series dataset; temporal profiles of sites observed with distinct changes and a coefficient of variation graph through the monthly time-series were presented. The resultant component one image shows an overall 96.5% of the variation in the total time-series dataset while the succeeding imageries illustrated change elements in the order of the component loadings (which are weighted). In comparison with the mean imagery of the total 24 time-series dataset, the first component image showed a considerable similarity indicating a typical characteristic of landcover (particularly vegetation NDVI) pattern over the whole country during the 1997 to 1998 ENSO event with positive and negative anomalies in certain locations across some states but more distinct in locations around the Kainji and Lake Chad basins, Niger delta area, Bayelsa, Lagos, Taraba, Plateau, Jigawa, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara Adamawa, Yobe and Bomo states. Thus, results from this study highlighted specific locations across the country with anomalies of climatic impact as a result of the 1997 to 1998 ENSO event. © Medwell Journals, 2013. | AVHRR-NDVI; Climatic impact; ENSO; Environment; NOAA; PCA; Sea surface temperature | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84931843490 | Thermodynamic analysis and performance optimization of organic rankine cycles for the conversion of low-to-moderate grade geothermal heat | Yekoladio P.J., Bello-Ochende T., Meyer J.P. | 2015 | International Journal of Energy Research | 39 | 9 | 10.1002/er.3326 | Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, South Africa; Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Pretoria, Hatfield, South Africa | Yekoladio, P.J., Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, South Africa; Bello-Ochende, T., Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, South Africa; Meyer, J.P., Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Pretoria, Hatfield, South Africa | The present study considers a thermodynamic analysis and performance optimization of geothermal power cycles. The proposed binary-cycles operate with moderately low temperature and liquid-dominated geothermal resources in the range of 110°C to 160°C, and cooling air at ambient conditions of 25°C and 101.3kPa reference temperature and atmospheric pressure, respectively. A thermodynamic optimization process and an irreversibility analysis were performed to maximize the power output while minimizing the overall exergy destruction and improving the First-law and Second-law efficiencies of the cycle. Maximum net power output was observed to increase exponentially with the geothermal resource temperature to yield 16-49kW per unit mass flow rate of the geothermal fluid for the non-regenerative organic Rankine cycles (ORCs), as compared with 8-34kW for the regenerative cycles. The cycle First-law efficiency was determined in the range of 8-15% for the investigated geothermal binary power cycles. Maximum Second-law efficiency of approximately 56% was achieved by the ORC with an internal heat exchanger. In addition, a performance analysis of selected pure organic fluids such as R123, R152a, isobutane and n-pentane, with boiling points in the range of -24°C to 36°C, was conducted under saturation temperature and subcritical pressure operating conditions of the turbine. Organic fluids with higher boiling point temperature, such as n-pentane, were recommended for non-regenerative cycles. The regenerative ORCs, however, require organic fluids with lower vapour specific heat capacity (i.e. isobutane) for an optimal operation of the binary-cycle. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. | Exergy; Geothermal energy; Irreversibility analysis; Optimization; Organic rankine cycle | Atmospheric pressure; Atmospheric temperature; Bins; Boiling point; Exergy; Geothermal fields; Optimization; Paraffins; Rankine cycle; Specific heat; Thermoanalysis; Thermodynamic properties; Thermodynamics; Boiling-point temperature; Internal heat exchanger; Irreversibility analysis; Organic Rankine cycles; Organic rankine cycles (ORCs); Performance optimizations; Thermo dynamic analysis; Thermodynamic optimization; Geothermal energy | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84900523563 | Performance practice of bata ensemble of the awori people in Lagos state, Nigeria | Yekini-Ajenifuja I.A. | 2014 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 5 | 9 | 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n9p620 | Department of Theatre Arts and Music, Lagos State University, Lagos, Nigeria | Yekini-Ajenifuja, I.A., Department of Theatre Arts and Music, Lagos State University, Lagos, Nigeria | Performance as a major means of expression of African music cannot be overemphasized because of its usage as a means of communication, education, entertainment, among others. The heterogeneous nature of African society creates divergent practices in its music. In Yoruba land, some musical practices are strictly practiced in certain locality while others are generally practiced across the land. Those that are generally practiced are not strictly the same as a result of human interaction, as such; every community has its own unique value added to its performance of music. The Bata ensemble music is one of the strictly practiced music in Yoruba land by the egungun and sango devotees that is gradually turning general. This paper examines the performance practice of Bata ensemble in Awori community. Its organization and musical style were also investigated. Library and field work was used in this paper to explore its empirical nature. It was discovered that composition of instruments, their names and its performance style is unique and slightly different from other localities. | Drum; Ensemble; Instrument and bata; Performance | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84877739095 | Evaluation of toxic effects of lambdacyhalothrin on the haematology and selected biochemical parameters of African catfish Clarias gariepinus | Yekeen T.A., Fawole O.O., Bakare A.A. | 2013 | Zoology and Ecology | 23 | 1 | 10.1080/21658005.2013.767613 | Department of Pure and Applied Biology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P. M. B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria; Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Yekeen, T.A., Department of Pure and Applied Biology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P. M. B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria; Fawole, O.O., Department of Pure and Applied Biology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P. M. B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria; Bakare, A.A., Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | The potential acute and chronic toxic effects of lambdacyhalothrin (LCT) on African catfish Clarias gariepinus were evaluated. Lethal concentrations (LC) were determined using 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6 ppm of LCT. Haematological and biochemical parameters were evaluated on fish treated with 0.001, 0.005, 0.010 and 0.025 ppm of LCT. Blood samples were collected on the 15th, 30th, 45th and 60th day of exposure and 60th day of recovery. Fish treated with LCT showed behavioural abnormalities compared to the control, which included reduced swimming activity, loss of equilibrium, vertical hanging and air gulping. The LC50 values of LCT were 0.571, 0.380, 0.337 and 0.325 ppm at the exposure time of 24, 48, 72 and 96 h, respectively. Significant reductions (p≤0.05) were observed in the packed cell volume, red blood cell count and haemoglobin concentration values in exposed fish. Initial increase in the value of the white blood cell count was observed, which later declined. Serum glucose increased significantly (p≤0.05), while globulin decreased significantly. Albumin did not show any significant difference among tested concentrations. The results revealed that the emulsifiable concentrate form of LCT caused reduction in haematological and biochemical parameters of C. gariepinus. The data obtained in this study provide more information on the potential impacts of LCT on non-target organisms and thus will assist in future ecotoxicological evaluations. Copyright © 2013 Nature Research Centre. | Biochemical; Clarias gariepinus; Haematology; Lambdacyhalothrin; Protein | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-68049089781 | The rooting performance of shea (Vitellaria paradoxa C.F. Gaertn) cuttings leached in water and application of rooting hormone in different media | Yeboah J., Lowor S.T., Amoah F.M. | 2009 | Journal of Plant Sciences | 4 | 1 | 10.3923/jps.2009.10.14 | Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, P.O. Box 8, Tafo-Akim, Ghana | Yeboah, J., Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, P.O. Box 8, Tafo-Akim, Ghana; Lowor, S.T., Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, P.O. Box 8, Tafo-Akim, Ghana; Amoah, F.M., Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, P.O. Box 8, Tafo-Akim, Ghana | In order to improve the rooting performance of shea stem cuttings to enhance the establislunent of shea plantation, an investigation was carried out in 2003/2004 at the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana Substation, Bole in a polythene propagator. The propagating structures for the experiment were kept under a shade net (50% shade) to create a microclimate for the cuttings. The treatments employed were leaching, different growth media and hormone application. Rejuvenated (coppiced cuttings) shoots that were not leached (not dipped in water) gave significantly higher rooting than the leached cuttings while Seradix 3 powder applied cuttings produced significantly higher (p<0.05) rooting than the control. Significantly high in number, more developed and longer roots per cutting were recorded for the rice husk medium than the sand and sand-top soil (1: 1) media. The biochemical analysis significantly recorded high levels of sugar and phenol for cuttings that were not leached in water. The results of this study demonstrated that rice husk medium was the best for rooting shea cuttings. © 2009 Academic Journals Inc. | Phenol; Rice husk medium; Sand; Sand+top soil; Sugar | Theobroma cacao; Vitellaria paradoxa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-70349130706 | The rooting performance of shea (Vitellaria paradoxa gaertn) stem cuttings as influenced by wood type, sucrose and rooting hormone | Yeboah J., Lowor S.T., Amoah F.M. | 2009 | Scientific Research and Essays | 4 | 5 | None | Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, P.O. Box 8, Tafo-Akim, Ghana | Yeboah, J., Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, P.O. Box 8, Tafo-Akim, Ghana; Lowor, S.T., Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, P.O. Box 8, Tafo-Akim, Ghana; Amoah, F.M., Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, P.O. Box 8, Tafo-Akim, Ghana | Vegetative propagation of stem cuttings of different physiological woodtypes of Vitellaria paradoxa was studied in a polythene propagator. The treatments included combinations of wood type (soft, semi-hard and rejuvenated (coppiced) shoots), sucrose application at 0, 15 and 25%, and Seradix '3' powder hormone (active ingredient- indolebutyricacid) at 0 and 8000 ppm. Cuttings of rejuvenated shoots dipped in 15% sucrose solution gave significantly higher rooting and longer roots than both softwood and semihardwood. High levels (P < 0.05) of soluble sugars and total free phenols were recorded for coppiced cuttings which resulted in better rooting performance than the other wood types. Cuttings dipped in Seradix '3' powder hormone significantly recorded higher rooting than the control (no hormone). © 2009 Academic Journals. | Cuttings; Rooting; Rooting hormone; Sucrose; Vitellaria paradoxa gaertn | Vitellaria paradoxa | 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-s2.0-33646246162 | Impact assessment of Mtera and Kidatu reservoirs on the annual maximum floods at Stiegler's Gorge of the Rufiji River in Tanzania | Yawson D.K., Kongo V.M., Kachroo R.K. | 2006 | Water International | 31 | 1 | 10.1080/02508060608691919 | International Water Management Institute, Pretoria, South Africa; University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; IUCN-West Africa Regional Office Project, Komadugu Yobe Basin, Nigeria; Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Keny | Yawson, D.K., International Water Management Institute, Pretoria, South Africa, IUCN-West Africa Regional Office Project, Komadugu Yobe Basin, Nigeria; Kongo, V.M., University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Kenya, School of Bioresources Engineering and Environmental Hydrology, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, Ministry of Agriculture, Agriculture Engineering Division, Soil and Water Conservation, Irrigation, Land Use Planning and Mechanization Services, South Africa; Kachroo, R.K. | The impoundment of any river causes changes in the downstream flow regime. The effect of a dam on flow regime depends on both the storage capacity of the reservoir relative to the volume of river flow and the way the dam is operated. The most common attribute of flow regulation is a decrease in the magnitude of the flood peaks and an increase in low flows. This paper reports the findings of a study to assess the cumulative impact of two dams on the Great Ruaha River in Tanzania (the Mtera and Kidatu Reservoir System) on flood flows. The method used was to compare the observed annual maximum flows at downstream locations after the construction of the dams with mathematically modeled estimates of the annual maximum flows at the same locations, assuming that the dams were not built (i.e. generating naturalized flows). Contrary to expectations, the study found that annual maximum peaks were supposed to be less than those actually observed. For instance, in 1989, annual maximum peak flow of 1,400 m 3/s was recorded at Kidatu, but the estimated uncontrolled peak flow should have been 800 m 3/s, signifying an artificially-induced flood wave. Although, there was a significant impact on the peak flows at Kidatu owing to the dams, the impact was found to be minimal on the flow peaks at Steigler's Gorge. © 2006 International Water Resources Association. | Annual maximum floods; Impact assessment; Linear transfer function; Mathematical modeling; Mtera-Kidatu Reservoir System; Rufiji River Basin | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-74549172109 | Assessing the impacts of climate change and land transformation on Banksia in the South West Australian Floristic Region | Yates C.J., McNeill A., Elith J., Midgley G.F. | 2010 | Diversity and Distributions | 16 | 1 | 10.1111/j.1472-4642.2009.00623.x | Science Division, Western Australian Department of Environment and Conservation, Bentley Delivery Centre, LMB 104, WA 6983, Australia; School of Botany, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; South African National Biodiversity Institute, P/Bag X7, Claremont 7735, South Africa | Yates, C.J., Science Division, Western Australian Department of Environment and Conservation, Bentley Delivery Centre, LMB 104, WA 6983, Australia; McNeill, A., Science Division, Western Australian Department of Environment and Conservation, Bentley Delivery Centre, LMB 104, WA 6983, Australia; Elith, J., School of Botany, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; Midgley, G.F., South African National Biodiversity Institute, P/Bag X7, Claremont 7735, South Africa | Aim To determine the potential combined effects of climate change and land transformation on the modelled geographic ranges of Banksia. Location Mediterranean climate South West Australian Floristic Region (SWAFR). Methods We used the species distribution modelling software Maxent to relate current environmental conditions to occurrence data for 18 Banksia species, and subsequently made spatial predictions using two simple dispersal scenarios (zero and universal), for three climate-severity scenarios at 2070, taking the impacts of land transformation on species' ranges into account. The species were chosen to reflect the biogeography of Banksia in the SWAFR. Results Climate-severity scenario, dispersal scenario, biogeographic distribution and land transformation all influenced the direction and magnitude of the modelled range change responses for the 18 species. The predominant response of species to all climate change scenarios was range contraction, with exceptions for some northern and widespread species. Including land transformation in estimates of modelled geographic range size for the three climate-severity scenarios generally resulted in smaller gains and larger declines in species ranges across both dispersal scenarios. Including land transformation and assuming zero dispersal resulted, as expected, in the greatest declines in projected range size across all species. Increasing climate change severity greatly increased the risk of decline in the 18 Banksia species, indicating the critical role of mitigating future emissions. Main conclusions The combined effects of climate change and land transformation may have significant adverse impacts on endemic Proteaceae in the SWAFR, especially under high emissions scenarios and if, as expected, natural migration is limiting. Although these results need cautious interpretation in light of the many assumptions underlying the techniques used, the impacts identified warrant a clear focus on monitoring across species ranges to detect early signs of change, and experiments that determine physiological thresholds for species in order to validate and refine the models. © 2009 Western Australian Government. | Biodiversity hotspot; Climate change; Habitat fragmentation; Maxent; Mediterranean-type ecosystem; Species distribution model | biodiversity; climate change; climate effect; dispersal; evergreen tree; floristics; habitat fragmentation; landscape change; physiology; phytogeography; population distribution; range size; software; Australia; Banksia; Proteaceae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84858207345 | Performance determinants of Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) in mathematics of secondary schools in Nyamaiya Division, Kenya | Yara P.O., Catherine W.W. | 2011 | Asian Social Science | 7 | 2 | None | Kampala International University, Kampala, Uganda | Yara, P.O., Kampala International University, Kampala, Uganda; Catherine, W.W. | The study found the performance determinants of students' performance in mathematics Kenya certificate of secondary education (KCSE) in Nyamaiya division of Kenya. The study employed descriptive survey design of the ex-post facto type with a total student population of 151 and 12 teachers. Four validated research instrument developed for the study were Mathematics Achievement Test (MAT) (r = 0.67), Students Questionnaire (SQ) (r = 0.75), Teachers Questionnaire (TQ) (r = 0.60 and Head teachers Questionnaire (HQ) (r = 0.70). Three research questions were answered. The data was analyzed using multiple regression analysis. There was a positive correlation among the six independent variables and the dependent measure - mathematics performance(R= 0.238; F (6,151)=1.53843; p<0.05). The six variables accounted for 45.6% of the total variance in the independent measure (R 2 = 0.564). Teachers' experience (B=0.972, t=2.080; p<0.05), teachers' qualification (B=0.182, t=2.390; p<0.05), teachers/students' attitude (B=0.215, t= 2.821; p<0.05) and school category (B=0.064, t=0.352; p<0.05) could be used to predict students' academic performance in mathematics. It is therefore recommended that adequate attention should paid to these variables that can predict students' performance by the government and other stakeholders of education in Kenya. | Kenya certificate of education; Performance determinants; Secondary school mathematics; Students performance | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84898971133 | Investigation of the impact of demand elasticity on electricity market using extended Cournot approach | Yan J., Folly K. | 2014 | International Journal of Electrical Power and Energy Systems | 60 | None | 10.1016/j.ijepes.2014.03.037 | Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Yan, J., Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Folly, K., Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | The impact of demand elasticity on electricity market is investigated in this paper. An extended Cournot model is derived from the classical Cournot model by including the consideration of demand elasticity. Simulation results show that, the demand elasticity can effectively influence the market outcomes, i.e. market clearing price, load payment, generation companies' (GENCOs) individual output and profit. Furthermore, comparison of results using the extended Cournot model with those obtained using an industrial-grade software package (Plexos) shows a good agreement. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Cournot competition; Demand elasticity; Electricity market | Commerce; Electric industry; Cournot; Cournot competition; Cournot model; Demand elasticities; Electricity market; Generation companies; Market Clearing Price; Market outcomes; Elasticity | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33745178484 | Effects of impeller speed and aeration rate on flotation performance of sulphide ore | Yang X.-S., Aldrich C. | 2006 | Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China (English Edition) | 16 | 1 | 10.1016/S1003-6326(06)60033-2 | Institute of Mineral Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110004, China; Department of Process Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa | Yang, X.-S., Institute of Mineral Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110004, China; Aldrich, C., Department of Process Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa | The effects of aeration rate and impeller speed on the concentrate sulfur grade and recovery for batch flotation of a complex sulphide ore were investigated. The relationships between the water recovery and solid entrainment were discussed. It is found that the solid entrainment is linearly related to the water recovery regardless of aeration rate and impeller speed, and the higher sulfur recovery at the aeration rate of 2 and 4 L/min for the impeller speed of 1500 r/min is considered to be the contribution of true flotation. Finally, the sulfur recovery flux is correlated with the bubble surface area flux based on the froth image at the different aeration rates and impeller speeds. | Aeration rate; Impeller speed; Solid entrainment; Water recovery | Bubbles (in fluids); Froth flotation; Impellers; Ore treatment; Recovery; Sulfur deposits; Aeration rate; Bubble surface area flux; Impeller speed; Solid entrainment; Sulfur recovery flux; Sulphide ore; Water recovery; Sulfide minerals | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-55949105775 | Integrating DEA-oriented performance assessment and target setting using interactive MOLP methods | Yang J.-B., Wong B.Y.H., Xu D.-L., Stewart T.J. | 2009 | European Journal of Operational Research | 195 | 1 | 10.1016/j.ejor.2008.01.013 | Manchester Business School, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M15 6PB, United Kingdom; Management School, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui, China; Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa | Yang, J.-B., Manchester Business School, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M15 6PB, United Kingdom, Management School, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui, China; Wong, B.Y.H., Manchester Business School, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M15 6PB, United Kingdom; Xu, D.-L., Manchester Business School, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M15 6PB, United Kingdom; Stewart, T.J., Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa | Data envelopment analysis (DEA) and multiple objective linear programming (MOLP) are tools that can be used in management control and planning. Whilst these two types of model are similar in structure, DEA is directed to assessing past performances as part of management control function and MOLP to planning future performance targets. This paper is devoted to investigating equivalence models and interactive tradeoff analysis procedures in MOLP, such that DEA-oriented performance assessment and target setting can be integrated in a way that the decision makers' preferences can be taken into account in an interactive fashion. Three equivalence models are investigated between the output-oriented dual DEA model and the minimax reference point formulations, namely the super-ideal point model, the ideal point model and the shortest distance model. These models can be used to support efficiency analysis in the same way as the conventional DEA model does and also support tradeoff analysis for setting target values by individuals or groups. A case study is conducted to illustrate how DEA-oriented efficiency analysis can be conducted using the MOLP methods and how such performance assessment can be integrated into an interactive procedure for setting realistic target values. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Data envelopment analysis; Minimax method; Multiple objective linear programming; Performance assessment; Tradeoff analysis | Communication channels (information theory); Data envelopment analysis; Decision theory; Dynamic programming; Industrial management; Linear programming; Linearization; Particle size analysis; Planning; Targets; Case studies; Dea models; Decision makers; Efficiency analysis; Equivalence models; Future performances; Ideal points; Management controls; MiniMax; Minimax method; Multiple objective linear programming; Multiple objective linear programmings; Performance assessment; Performance assessments; Reference points; Shortest distances; Target settings; Target values; Tradeoff analysis; Two types; Modal analysis | 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-s2.0-43049132214 | Impacts of prime-age adult mortality on labour supply: Evidence from adolescents and women in South Africa | Yamauchi F., Buthelezi T., Velia M. | 2008 | Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics | 70 | 3 | 10.1111/j.1468-0084.2008.00504.x | International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC, United States; Department of Social Development, Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate, Pretoria, South Africa; School of Development Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa | Yamauchi, F., International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC, United States; Buthelezi, T., Department of Social Development, Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate, Pretoria, South Africa, School of Development Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Velia, M., School of Development Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa | This paper examines the impact of prime-age adult mortality on the transition made by adolescents from school to the labour market and on female adult labour force participation decisions in South Africa. We find, first, that deaths of prime-age adults significantly increase both male and female adolescents' labour force participation as they stop their schooling. Secondly, the death of prime-age adults in general also decreases school enrolment ex ante. Thirdly, female adults tend to join the labour force following the death of prime-age adult males. These findings imply that prime-age adult mortality increases labour supply and disrupts human capital formation. © Blackwell Publishing Ltd and the Department of Economics, University of Oxford, 2008. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33646161927 | Ecosystem approach to mitigate impacts of sedimentation on the hydrological cycle and aquatic ecosystem | Yamashiki Y., Nakamura T., Kurosawa M., Matsui S. | 2006 | Hydrological Processes | 20 | 6 | 10.1002/hyp.6089 | Department of Civil Engineering, College of Science and Technology, 1-8 Kanda Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-8308, Japan; Division of GEF Coordination, United Nations Environment Programme, PO Box 30552, Nairobi, Kenya; Graduate School of Energy Science, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan; Graduate School of Global Environment Studies, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan | Yamashiki, Y., Department of Civil Engineering, College of Science and Technology, 1-8 Kanda Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-8308, Japan; Nakamura, T., Division of GEF Coordination, United Nations Environment Programme, PO Box 30552, Nairobi, Kenya; Kurosawa, M., Graduate School of Energy Science, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan; Matsui, S., Graduate School of Global Environment Studies, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan | This study illustrates the importance of sedimentation control on a global scale by introducing general concepts developed locally through field observations in eutrophic bay in Lake Biwa in Japan, and in Dongting Lake in China. The phosphorus concentration of suspended solids in water columns and in the bottom sediment during soil puddling before the transplanting of rice seedlings have been measured analytically. We have estimated the gross phosphorus loads and the economical loss of losing fertilizer from rice paddy fields in the whole Lake Biwa basin during the same period. Additionally, the discussions and conclusions made in the session 'Ecosystem approach to water monitoring and management' organized during the Third World Water Forum held in Kyoto, are introduced. The importance of sediment control in carrying out overall water quality programmes has been emphasized not only for watersheds with severe land degradation, but also for basins where the sedimentation impacts are considered rather small, and there is a need to reverse the long-term water quality trend in shallow reservoirs in international river basins, such as La Plata River basin in South America. Establishing international standards and regulations for controlling fine sediments, making an effective economic evaluation of the impacts induced by sedimentation applicable to local farmers, as well as developing an effective project focusing on treating sedimentation to improve nutrient control should be initiated on a global scale, as with the Global Environmental Facility project. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. | Eutrophication; Lake Biwa; Sedimentation; WWF3 | Economics; Environmental impact; Hydrology; Lakes; Management; Rivers; Sediments; Water quality; Watersheds; Aquatic ecosystems; Hydrological cycle; Sedimentation control; Water management; Water monitoring; Ecosystems; Economics; Ecosystems; Environmental impact; Hydrology; Lakes; Management; Rivers; Sediments; Water quality; Watersheds; aquatic ecosystem; ecosystem approach; hydrological cycle; phosphorus; sedimentation; water quality; Asia; Biwa Lake; China; Dongting Lake; Eurasia; Far East; Honshu; Hunan; Japan; Kinki; Shiga | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80155133371 | Stereological evaluation of the effects of momordica charantia, antioxidants and testosterone on seminiferous tubules of rat [Evaluación estereológica de los efectos de momordica charantia, antioxidantes y testosterona sobre los túbulos seminíferos de rat | Yama O.E., Duru F.I., Oremosu A.A., Noronha C.C., Okanlawon A. | 2011 | International Journal of Morphology | 29 | 3 | None | Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria | Yama, O.E., Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria; Duru, F.I., Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria; Oremosu, A.A., Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria; Noronha, C.C., Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria; Okanlawon, A., Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria | Ubiquitous consumption of Momordica charantia is hinged on credence of its potency in alleviating ailments. Almost no data exist on its quantitative relationship to the testes. The aim was to study the histomorphometric effect of Momordica charantia seed extract (MC), ascorbic acid (C), alpha-tocopherol (E) and testosterone (T) on the testes of rats. Ninety five mature 6-8 week-old male Sprague-Dawley (S-D) rats allotted randomly into six groups. Group I: fed MC for 16 weeks. Group II: administered MC for 8 weeks, later distilled water for another 8 weeks. Group III: administered C, E, T and a combination of all three test solutions (CET) for 8 weeks and later fed MC for another 8 weeks. Group IV: received MC initially for 8 weeks and later administered C, E, T and CET for another 8 weeks. Group V: fed concurrently the extract, C, E, T and CET for 8 weeks. Group VI (control): administered C, E, T, CET and distilled water for 16 weeks. The doses for MC, C, E and T were 50 mg/100 g b.w/oral/day, 0.01, 20.0 and 0.05 mg/kg. The animals were sacrificed; testes estimated for volume. Diameter, cross sectional area (AC), number of profiles per unit area (NA), length density (LV) and numerical density (NV) of the seminiferous tubules determined. The mean testicular volumes, tubular diameters and AC showed significant decline (p ≤ 0.05) in Groups I and III compared to controls. On cessation of MC values recovered to baseline control value. Groups IV and V, were not significantly (p £ 0.05) different from controls. There was a significant (p ≤ 0.05) increase in NA, LV and NV of seminiferous tubules in Groups I and III compared to controls. Histomorphometric data supports a reversible deleterious effect of MC on testes. | Histomorphometric; Momordica charantia; Sprague-dawley; Testes | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77953236502 | The association of 20M shuttle run performance with a substantial increase in waist circumference in japanese middle-aged adults | Yamamoto N., Kojo K., Shimura M., Hagi Y. | 2010 | Japanese Journal of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine | 59 | 2 | None | Department of Fisheries Distribution and Management, National Fisheries University, United States; Graduate School of Physical Education, National Institute of Fitness and Sports, Kanoya, Nigeria; Citizen's Health Plaza, Health Promotion Center, United St | Yamamoto, N., Department of Fisheries Distribution and Management, National Fisheries University, United States, Graduate School of Physical Education, National Institute of Fitness and Sports, Kanoya, Nigeria; Kojo, K., Citizen's Health Plaza, Health Promotion Center, United States; Shimura, M., Department for Interdisciplinary Studies of Lifelong Sport and Physical Activity, National Institute of Fitness and Sports, Kanoya, Nigeria; Hagi, Y., Department of Sport and Leisure Management, TOKAI University, Japan | Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between 20m shuttle run (20mSRT) performance and a substantial increase in waist circumference (WC) with aging in Japanese middle-aged adults. Methods: One hundred and fifty-six Japanese middle-aged adults (40-64 yrs; 40 males, 116 females) participated in this study. Baseline data on 20mSRT, height, weight, WC, alcohol habit, smoking habit and the use of medication were collected from 2003 to 2004. Follow-up data on height, weight and WC were collected in 2008. The 20mSRT results were divided into gender-specific quartiles. A logistic regression analysis was used to predict a substantial increase in the WC (5 cm or more) during the follow-up. Results: During the follow-up, 44 people had a substantial increase in the WC. Independently from sex, age, height (baseline), weight (baseline), WC (baseline), alcohol habit, smoking habit and the use of medication, the highest quartile of 20m SRT was significantly associated with significantly lower odds ratio of a substantial increase in WC (OR: 0.07, 95%CI: 0.01-0.36) in comparison to the lowest quartile of 20mSRT. Furthermore, after additional adjustment for change in weight during follow-up, the highest quartile remained significantly predictive of a substantial increase in the WC, with odds ratio of 0.07 (95%CI: 0.01-0.39). Conclusions: These results indicate that the 20mSRT performance is a significant predictor of a substantial increase in the WC with aging in Japanese middle-aged adults. | 20m shuttle run; Aging; Increase in waist circumference; Prospective study | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78650995038 | Calf survival and reproductive performance of Holstein-Friesian cows in central Ethiopia | Yalew B., Lobago F., Goshu G. | 2011 | Tropical Animal Health and Production | 43 | 2 | 10.1007/s11250-010-9697-9 | Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Production Studies, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 34 Debre Zeit, Ethiopia | Yalew, B., Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Production Studies, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 34 Debre Zeit, Ethiopia; Lobago, F., Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Production Studies, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 34 Debre Zeit, Ethiopia; Goshu, G., Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Production Studies, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 34 Debre Zeit, Ethiopia | This study was carried out to evaluate the reproductive performance and calves survival rate of Holstein-Friesian (HF) herd in Holeta, central highland of Ethiopia. A retrospective analysis of 26 years data was carried out, from which records of 724 age at first calving (AFC), 2,022 calving intervals (CI), 2,971 breeding efficiencies (BE), 260 abortions, 111 stillbirths were derived from 795 cows. Moreover, 738 female calves' records were also included for survival rate study. The overall least squares means of AFC, CI, and BE were 40.9 ± 0.33 months, 475 ± 2.84 days, 81.9 ± 0.26%, respectively, while the incidence rates of abortion, stillbirth, and female calves survival rate for this herd were 8.0%, 3.4%, and 77.5%, respectively. The effects of parity number and year of birth/calving on CI and BE were significant (P<0.001). Moreover, birth year had significant (P<0.001) effect on AFC and calves survival rate, while calving season had significant effect on BE. The reproductive performance found in this study was lower than the performance reported in many tropical regions and the genetic potential of HF breed in their origins. Moreover, higher loss due to calf mortality was observed. Thus, the centre should consider appropriate measures to improve its herd reproductive performance and calves survival rate for attaining its aspired objectives. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. | Calf survival; Ethiopia; Holstein-Friesian herd; Reproductive performance | animal; animal disease; animal husbandry; article; cattle; cattle disease; Ethiopia; female; male; mortality; physiology; reproduction; retrospective study; stillbirth; veterinary abortion; Abortion, Veterinary; Animal Husbandry; Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Ethiopia; Female; Male; Mortality; Reproduction; Retrospective Studies; Stillbirth; Friesia | 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-s2.0-67649429201 | Reproductive toxicologic evaluations of Bulbine natalensis Baker stem extract in albino rats | Yakubu M.T., Afolayan A.J. | 2009 | Theriogenology | 72 | 3 | 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2009.01.026 | Phytomedicine Research Centre, Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice, 5700, South Africa | Yakubu, M.T., Phytomedicine Research Centre, Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice, 5700, South Africa; Afolayan, A.J., Phytomedicine Research Centre, Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice, 5700, South Africa | The effects of oral administration of aqueous extract of Bulbine natalensis Baker stem at daily doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg body weight on the reproductive function of Wistar rats were evaluated. The indices of mating and fertility success as well as quantal frequency increased after 7 days of treatment in all the dose groups except the 100 mg/kg body weight group. The number of litters was not statistically different (P > 0.05) from the control. Whereas the absolute weights of the epididymis, seminal vesicle, and prostate were not affected, that of the testes was significantly increased. The epididymal sperm count, motility, morphology, and viscosity were not different from the control after 7 days of treatment. The male rat serum testosterone, progesterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone significantly increased in the 25 and 50 mg/kg body weight groups, whereas the estradiol concentration decreased significantly at all the doses. The extract dose of 100 mg/kg body weight decreased the serum testosterone and progesterone levels in male rats. The prolactin concentration was not affected by all the doses. All the indices of reproduction, maternal, embryo/fetotoxic, teratogenic, and reproductive hormones in the female rats were not statistically different from that of their control except the resorption index, which increased at the dose of 100 mg/kg body weight of the extract. Histologic examination of the cross section of rat testes that received the extract at all the doses investigated revealed well-preserved seminiferous tubules with normal amount of stroma, normal population of spermatogenic and supporting cells, as well as normal spermatocytes within the lumen. The results revealed that the aqueous extract of Bulbine natalensis stem at doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg body weight enhanced the success rate of mating and fertility due to increased libido as well as the levels of reproductive hormones in male rats. The absence of alterations in the reproductive parameters of female rats at doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg body weight of Bulbine natalensis stem extract suggest that the extract is "safe" for use at these doses by females during the organogenic period of pregnancy, whereas the extract dose of 100 mg/kg body weight portends a negative effect on some reproductive functions of male and female rats. © 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. | Bulbine natalensis; Embryo; Fertility; Pregnancy; Reproductive functions; Reproductive hormones | plant extract; angiosperm; animal; article; chemistry; drug effect; drug screening; female; fertility; fetal well being; male; plant stem; pregnancy; rat; reproduction; spermatozoon; toxicity testing; Wistar rat; Animals; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Female; Fertility; Fetal Viability; Liliaceae; Male; Plant Extracts; Plant Stems; Pregnancy; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reproduction; Spermatozoa; Toxicity Tests; Bulbine; Rattus; Rattus norvegicus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-55949130986 | Genotype x environment interactions: Survival performance of six internationally sourced provenances of Azadirachta indica A. Juss in a degraded land in Kano, Nigeria | Yakubu I. | 2008 | Environmentalist | 28 | 4 | 10.1007/s10669-007-9150-4 | Geography Department, Bayero University, PMB 3011, Kano, Nigeria | Yakubu, I., Geography Department, Bayero University, PMB 3011, Kano, Nigeria | In order to prevent 'an impending neem failure', from the incidence of the twin problems of the neem scale insect infestations and neem dieback, six authenticated provenances (Allahabad, Karnataka, Jodphur, Madinipur, Mukkambu and Annur), from the natural range of the species in India, were collected and appraised for survival in a degraded land in Kano, Nigeria. Established in a completely randomised block design with four replications, the trial was conducted with a view to restrengthening and/or replacing the already weakened Local Land Race of the species in the study area. There was a statistically significant difference in the survival of the seven provenances. The established differences are between Allahabad 83% (6.40 SEM), Mukkambu 83% (6.40 SEM), Annur 76% (4.90 SEM), Jodphur 63% (15.09 SEM) and Madinipur 56% (6.73 SEM), on the one hand, and Karnataka 17% (1.91SEM) and the Local Land Race, with 13% (0.13 SEM), on the other hand. The research recommends Allahabad and Mukkambu 83% (6.40 SEM) based on this outstanding performance. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. | Azadirachta indica; Genotype; Kano; Land race; Provenance | dicotyledon; genotype-environment interaction; land degradation; performance assessment; pest outbreak; provenance; restoration ecology; survival; Africa; Asia; Eurasia; India; Kano [Nigeria]; Nigeria; South Asia; Sub-Saharan Africa; West Africa; Azadirachta indica; Hemiptera; Hexapoda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78650246691 | Climate change impact on the density of Faidherbia albida on smallholder farms in the degraded lands of Kano, northern Nigeria | Yakubu I. | 2010 | Environmentalist | 30 | 4 | 10.1007/s10669-010-9279-4 | Department of Geography, Bayero University, PMB 3011 Kano, Nigeria | Yakubu, I., Department of Geography, Bayero University, PMB 3011 Kano, Nigeria | Nigeria's vegetation in general and some important tree species in particular are under increasing threats from several factors. Worsening climate and environmental conditions, enhanced by a huge population pressure on limited resources, are some of the dominant issues of discourse among scientists. This study investigated the density of Faidherbia albida, a nitrogen-fixing tree, that has been an important component of the farming systems of the smallholder farms in the degraded lands of Kano, Nigeria. Results indicate a 55% decrease in the density of the tree in the study area. The overall diversity of trees on the smallholder farms has also declined by 38%. The study concludes that while climate change may be a catalyst, woodfuel extraction and disease are the immediate factors for the decline of F. indica in the area. It recommends (1) the inclusion of this species in the list of endangered species for deliberate regeneration and protection by all stakeholders (2) an extended study that could lead to determining the specific role of climate change on the density of the tree in the study area. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. | Climate change; Faidherbia albida; Nitrogen fixing; Smallholder | catalyst; climate change; dicotyledon; fuelwood; land degradation; nitrogen fixation; population decline; population density; smallholder; Kano [Nigeria]; Nigeria; Faidherbia albida | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34548476044 | Effects of genotype and housing system on the laying performance of chickens in different seasons in the semi-humid tropics | Yakubu A., Salako A.E., Ige A.O. | 2007 | International Journal of Poultry Science | 6 | 6 | None | Department of Animal Science, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Shabu-Lafia Campus, P.M.B. 135, Lafia, Nigeria; Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Animal Production and Health, Ladoke, Akintola University of | Yakubu, A., Department of Animal Science, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Shabu-Lafia Campus, P.M.B. 135, Lafia, Nigeria; Salako, A.E., Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Ige, A.O., Department of Animal Production and Health, Ladoke, Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria | An experiment was designed to study the effects of genotype and housing system on the performance of two commercial layers, Bovans Brown and Lohmann Brown in the hot-dry and wet seasons in Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Six hundred, 27 week-old layers were used. One hundred and fifty birds of each strain were randomly assigned to the battery cage system, while another one hundred and fifty birds of each strain were managed on deep litter. The observation for the hot-dry and wet seasons lasted 2 months each respectively in the year 2004. Body weight, hen-housed egg production, egg weight and mortality rate were significantly better in Lohmann Brown than Bovans Brown (1.75±0.01kg vs. 1.69±0.01kg, 74.50±0.84% vs. 68.72±0.86%, 53.70±0.24g vs. 52.43±0.26g, 0.58±0.09% vs. 1.20±0.15%; p<0.05). Birds in cages were superior to those on deep litter in terms of hen-housed egg production, egg weight and mortality (74.06±0.75% vs. 69.16±1.02%, 53.40±0.24g vs. 52.73±0.29g, 0.68±0.10% vs. 1.10±0.15%; p<0.05). Generally, birds performed better in the wet than hot-dry season in body weight, hen-housed egg production, feed intake, egg weight, egg cracks and mortality (1.76±0.01kg vs. 1.68±0.01kg, 74.92±0.74% vs. 68.30±0.86%, 98.51±0.50g vs. 90.90±0.23g, 53.92±0.18g vs. 52.22±0.27g, 1.99±0.23% vs.5.12±0.39%, 0.55±0.08% vs. 1.22±0.15%; p<0.05). The interactions between genotypexhousing system, genotypexseason and housing systemxseason produced significant results. Proper housing design, provision of quality and adequate feeds and proper timing of the laying period were recommended. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2007. | Exotic strains; Interaction; Management system; Performance parameters; Season | Aves; Gallus gallus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84894287984 | Evaluation of three mathematical functions to describe the relationship between body weight, body condition and testicular dimensions in yankasa sheep [Evaluación de tres funciones matemáticas para describir la relación entre peso corporal, condición corp | Yakubu A., Musa-Azara I.S. | 2013 | International Journal of Morphology | 31 | 4 | 10.4067/S0717-95022013000400036 | Department of Animal Science, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria; Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria | Yakubu, A., Department of Animal Science, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria; Musa-Azara, I.S., Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria | Body size and testicular measurements have been found to be important parameters utilized in breeding soundness evaluation. The present study therefore, aimed at determining the relationship between body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), testicular length (TL), testicular diameter (TD) and scrotal circumference (SC) in 120 extensively reared Yankasa rams (approximately 30 months old) using linear, quadratic and cubic predictive models. Coefficient of determination (R2), Adjusted R2, the estimate of Mallows' Cp, RMSE (Root mean squares error) and the parsimony principle (p=number of parameters) were used to compare the efficiency of the different models. Strong Pearson's correlation coefficients (r = 0.83-0.94; P<0.01) were found between BW, TL, TD and SC. Spearman correlations between BCS and other variables were also highly significant (r = 0.78-0.85; P<0.01). SC was the sole variable of utmost importance in estimating BW, which was best predicted using the cubic model. However, the optimal model for BW prediction comprised TD, SC and BCS with p, R2, Adjusted R2, RMSE and Cp values of 4, 0.948, 0.946, 1.673 and 4.85, respectively. The present findings could be exploited in husbandry and selection of breeding stock for sustainable sheep production especially within the resource-poor farming system under tropical and subtropical conditions. | Body condition; Body size; Rams; Regression models; Testicular measurements | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34250209823 | Effects of feed restriction on performance, carcass yield, relative organ weights and some linear body measurements of weaner rabbits | Yakubu A., Salako A.E., Ladokun A.O., Adua M.M., Bature T.U.K. | 2007 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 6 | 4 | None | Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Nasarawa State University, Shabu-Lafia Campus, Lafia, Nigeria; Department of Animal Science, Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Yakubu, A., Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Nasarawa State University, Shabu-Lafia Campus, Lafia, Nigeria; Salako, A.E., Department of Animal Science, Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Ladokun, A.O., Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Nasarawa State University, Shabu-Lafia Campus, Lafia, Nigeria; Adua, M.M., Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Nasarawa State University, Shabu-Lafia Campus, Lafia, Nigeria; Bature, T.U.K., Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Nasarawa State University, Shabu-Lafia Campus, Lafia, Nigeria | Effects of feed restriction on performance, carcass yield, relative organ weights and some linear body measurements were investigated in weaner rabbits in a sub-humid environment in north central Nigeria. Twenty four weaner rabbits of mixed breeds and sexes with an average initial weight of 804.17±71.20g were used for the study which lasted six weeks. There were three dietary treatments consisting of diet A, ad libitum (24 hrs) feeding (control), diet B, 8 hrs per day feeding (7.00 a.m-3.00 p.m) and diet C, skip-a-day feeding. This feeding arrangement was carried out within the first five weeks of the experiment, after which all the animals in the three treatment groups were fed ad libitum for one week. Animals were fed pelletized commercial grower's feed supplemented with Centrosema pubescens. Drinking water was also supplied ad libitum throughout the duration of the experiment. Each treatment group was replicated four times while each replicate comprised two rabbits housed in the same cage. The initial and final body weights, feed conversion ratio, mortality, fasted weight, slaughter weight, carcass weight and dressing percentage were not significantly (p>0.05) affected by feed restriction. However, average weekly feed intake (454.94, 356.36 and 331.48g) and average weekly body weight gains (1137.50, 1127.50 and 1007.50g) were significantly (p<0.05) influenced; with higher values recorded among rabbits fed ad libitum compared to those on 8 hrs feeding per day and skip-a-day feeding respectively. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) in relative weights of liver, kidneys, spleen and heart among the treatment groups. Significant difference (p<0.05) was found in the relative weight of lungs, with rabbits on 8 hrs feeding per day and those on skip-a-day feeding having an edge over those fed ad libitum (0.61 versus 0.50). There were no significant differences (p>0.05) in heart girth, body length, face length and ear length among the dietary treatments studied. The present results have indicated that feed restriction could be exploited in the feeding regimen of rabbits, especially in periods of inadequate supply of concentrates and forages. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2007. | Body measurements; Carcass characteristics; Feed restriction; Performance; Weaner rabbits | drinking water; animal food; animal housing; animal tissue; anthropometry; article; body height; body weight; carcass; controlled study; diet restriction; diet supplementation; facies; feeding behavior; female; fluid intake; food availability; forage; heart volume; heart weight; humidity; kidney mass; liver weight; lung weight; male; mortality; Nigeria; nonhuman; organ weight; physical performance; rabbit; sex difference; spleen weight; weight gain; Animalia; Centrosema pubescens; Oryctolagus cuniculus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84930826059 | Cosmological performance of SKA HI galaxy surveys | Yahya S., Bull P., Santos M.G., Silva M., Maartens R., Okouma P., Bassett B. | 2015 | Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society | 450 | 3 | 10.1093/mnras/stv695 | Physics Department, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa; Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Oslo, PO Box 1029 Blindern, Oslo, Norway; SKA South Africa, The Park, Park Road, Cape Town, South Africa; CENTRA, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom; African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; South African Astronomical Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa | Yahya, S., Physics Department, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa; Bull, P., Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Oslo, PO Box 1029 Blindern, Oslo, Norway; Santos, M.G., Physics Department, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa, SKA South Africa, The Park, Park Road, Cape Town, South Africa, CENTRA, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Silva, M., Physics Department, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa, CENTRA, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Maartens, R., Physics Department, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa, Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom; Okouma, P., Physics Department, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa, African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Cape Town, South Africa, Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Bassett, B., African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Cape Town, South Africa, Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, South African Astronomical Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa | The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) will conduct the biggest spectroscopic galaxy survey ever, by detecting the 21 cm emission line of neutral hydrogen (H I) from around a billion galaxies over 3/4 of the sky, out to a redshift of z ~ 2. This will allow the redshift-space matter power spectrum, and corresponding dark energy observables, to be measured with unprecedented precision. In this paper, we present an improved model of the HI galaxy number counts and bias from semi-analytic simulations, and use it to calculate the expected yield of HI galaxies from surveys with a variety of Phase 1 and 2 SKA configurations. We illustrate the relative performance of the different surveys by forecasting errors on the radial and transverse scales of the baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) feature, finding that the full 'billion galaxy survey' with SKA2 will deliver the largest dark energy Figure of Merit of any current or future large-scale structure survey. © 2015 The Authors. | Dark energy | None | 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-s2.0-84902517279 | 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-s2.0-78649989738 | Evaluation of water poverty index in Ondo State, Nigeria | Yahaya O., Akinro A.O., Mogaji Kehinde O., Ologunagba B. | 2009 | Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences | 4 | 10 | None | Right Foundation Academy, Ikare-Akoko, Ondo-State, Nigeria; Department of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria; Department of Civil Engineering, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Nigeria; Department of Agricultural Enginee | Yahaya, O., Right Foundation Academy, Ikare-Akoko, Ondo-State, Nigeria; Akinro, A.O., Department of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria; Mogaji Kehinde, O., Department of Civil Engineering, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Nigeria; Ologunagba, B., Department of Agricultural Engineering, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Nigeria | An increasing world population exerts a continually growing demand on usable freshwater resource and matching the demand with supply of safe drinking water has resulted to serious social-economic constraints. Time and drudgery involved to access safe drinking resulted to loss of human capital, thus affects nearly every household activity. This paper focuses on the evaluation of Water Poverty Index (WPI) as an integrated tool veritable for all the local government areas in Ondo State of Nigeria to address their water sector. Simple time analysis and composite index approaches were employed to compute WPI values in all the sampled areas. Variables such as water resource, access to safe water, use of water and environmental impacts were considered. The ranking of WPI values from the two approaches shows that Ese-Odo is the most water-stressed with least WPI values of 10.1 points (composite index) and highest value of 1.4 minsl-1 (simple time analysis), while Owo, Ondo-West and Ose local government areas are less water stressed with WPI values of 0.55 minsl-1, 17.8; 0.53 minsl-1, 16.2; and 0.5 minsl-1, 17.1 respectively. The results obtained indicate that constructive investment in water and sanitation improves Human Development Index (HDI). However, this paper concludes that to prevent the occurrence of virtual water situation and improve water supply, researches of this nature should be conducted from time to time and government at all levels should holistically address the problem. © 2006-2009 Asian Research Publishing Network (ARPN). | Access; Dry; Ese-Odo; Freshwater; Household; Season; Water poverty index; Water stress; Wet | 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-s2.0-84904599779 | Electrochemical and quantum chemical studies on adsorption and corrosion inhibition performance of quinoline-thiazole derivatives on mild steel in hydrochloric acid solution | Yadav M., Kumar S., Behera D., Bahadur I., Ramjugernath D. | 2014 | International Journal of Electrochemical Science | 9 | 9 | None | Department of Applied Chemistry, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, 826004, India; Thermodynamics Research Unit, School of Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College Campus, King George V Avenue, Durban, 4041, South Africa | Yadav, M., Department of Applied Chemistry, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, 826004, India; Kumar, S., Department of Applied Chemistry, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, 826004, India; Behera, D., Department of Applied Chemistry, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, 826004, India; Bahadur, I., Thermodynamics Research Unit, School of Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College Campus, King George V Avenue, Durban, 4041, South Africa; Ramjugernath, D., Thermodynamics Research Unit, School of Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College Campus, King George V Avenue, Durban, 4041, South Africa | In the present study two quinoline-thiazole derivatives namely, {4-[1-aza-2-(phenyl)vinyl]-3-phenyl-2-thioxo(1,3-thiazoline-5-yl)}-N-[1-aza-2-(2-chloro(3-quinolyl))vinyl] (Inh I) and {4-[1-aza-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)vinyl]-3-phenyl-2-thioxo(1,3-thiazoline-5-yl)}-N-[1-aza-2-(2 chloro (3-quinolyl))vinyl] (Inh II) were synthesized and investigated as an inhibitor for mild steel corrosion in 15% HCl solution by using weight loss measurements, potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. The inhibitors Inh I and Inh II show corrosion inhibition efficiencies of 81.5% and 84.0% at a 20 ppm concentration and 95.0% and 96.3% at a 200 ppm concentration, respectively, at 333 K. It was found that the inhibition efficiency of both the inhibitors increases with an increase in temperature and concentration of inhibitors. Polarization studies show that both the studied inhibitors are of mixed type in nature. The adsorption of inhibitors on the mild steel surface obeys the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were performed for the surface study of uninhibited and inhibited mild steel samples. The semi-empirical AM1 method was employed for theoretical calculations. © 2014 The Authors. | Corrosion inhibition; EIS; Hydrochloric acid; Mild steel; Quantum chemical studies; Quinoline-thiazole derivatives | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80053928593 | Field evaluation of Ugandan sweetpotato germplasm for yield, dry matter and disease resistance | Yada B., Tukamuhabwa P., Alajo A., Mwanga R.O.M. | 2011 | South African Journal of Plant and Soil | 28 | 2 | None | National Agricultural Research Organization, National Crops Resources Research Institute, Namulonge, P.O. Box, 7084 Kampala, Uganda; Department of Crop Science, Makerere University, P.O. Box, 7062, Kampala, Uganda | Yada, B., National Agricultural Research Organization, National Crops Resources Research Institute, Namulonge, P.O. Box, 7084 Kampala, Uganda, Department of Crop Science, Makerere University, P.O. Box, 7062, Kampala, Uganda; Tukamuhabwa, P., Department of Crop Science, Makerere University, P.O. Box, 7062, Kampala, Uganda; Alajo, A., National Agricultural Research Organization, National Crops Resources Research Institute, Namulonge, P.O. Box, 7084 Kampala, Uganda; Mwanga, R.O.M., National Agricultural Research Organization, National Crops Resources Research Institute, Namulonge, P.O. Box, 7084 Kampala, Uganda | A total of 946 morphologically distinct accessions of sweetpotato {Ipomoea batatas [L] Lam) germplasm collected from Uganda were evaluated along with four released cultivars for root yield, dry matter, sweetpotato virus disease (SPVD) and Alternaria bataticola blight disease resistance for two seasons; 2005B (September 2005 to January 2006) and 2006A (April to August 2006) at three sites for selection of superior genotypes. The genotypes differed significantly in yield, dry matter content, SPVD and Alternaria blight resistance (p=0.05). Genotype SPVD severity ranged from 1.0 to 5.0 with an overall mean of 2.6. Alternaria severity scores ranged from 1.0 to 5.0 with an overall mean of 2.2. Total root yields ranged from 0.0 to 52.5 t ha -1 with an overall average of 20.3 t ha -1. Most genotypes had mean total root yields of less than 15.0 t ha -1, low specific gravity values of less than 2.0, and low disease resistance. A positive correlation was observed between SPVD and Alternaria blight (r=0.33), while both diseases were negatively correlated with yield traits. A total of 192 superior genotypes were selected for further evaluation and use for variety development in hybridization schemes. | Alternaria bataticola; Blight; Ipomoea batatas; Specific gravity; SPVD | crop yield; cultivar; disease resistance; disease severity; dry matter; fieldwork; fungal disease; genotype; germplasm; hybridization; morphology; seasonality; yam; Uganda; Alternaria; Alternaria bataticola; Ipomoea batatas | 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-s2.0-30644458223 | Understanding the impact of eliminating user fees: Utilization and catastrophic health expenditures in Uganda | Xu K., Evans D.B., Kadama P., Nabyonga J., Ogwal P.O., Nabukhonzo P., Aguilar A.M. | 2006 | Social Science and Medicine | 62 | 4 | 10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.07.004 | World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; WHO Office, Uganda; Ministry of Health, Uganda; Uganda Bureau of Statistics, Uganda | Xu, K., World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Evans, D.B., World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Kadama, P., World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Nabyonga, J., WHO Office, Uganda; Ogwal, P.O., Ministry of Health, Uganda; Nabukhonzo, P., Uganda Bureau of Statistics, Uganda; Aguilar, A.M., World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland | There is currently considerable discussion between governments, international agencies, bilateral donors and advocacy groups on whether user fees levied at government health facilities in poor countries should be abolished. It is claimed that this would lead to greater access for the poor and reduce the risks of catastrophic health expenditures if all other factors remained constant, though other factors rarely remain constant in practice. Accordingly, it is important to understand what has actually happened when user fees have been abolished, and why. All fees at first level government health facilities in Uganda were removed in March 2001. This study explores the impact on health service utilization and catastrophic health expenditures using data from National Household Surveys undertaken in 1997, 2000 and 2003. Utilization increased for the non-poor, but at a lower rate than it had in the period immediately before fees were abolished. Utilization among the poor increased much more rapidly after the abolition of fees than beforehand. Unexpectedly, the incidence of catastrophic health expenditure among the poor did not fall. The most likely explanation is that frequent unavailability of drugs at government facilities after 2001 forced patients to purchase from private pharmacies. Informal payments to health workers may also have increased to offset the lost revenue from fees. Countries thinking of removing user charges should first examine what types of activities and inputs at the facility level are funded from the revenue collected by fees, and then develop mechanisms to ensure that these activities can be sustained subsequently. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Catastrophic expenditure; Service utilization; Uganda; User charges | health and disease; article; clinical pharmacy; health care cost; health care facility; health care personnel; health care utilization; incidence; mathematical analysis; risk reduction; Uganda; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Catastrophic Illness; Child; Child, Preschool; Community Health Centers; Developing Countries; Fees and Charges; Female; Health Care Surveys; Health Expenditures; Health Policy; Health Services Research; Hospitals, Public; Humans; Incidence; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Poverty; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79961169658 | Impact of temperature and precipitation on propagation of intestinal schistosomiasis in an irrigated region in Ethiopia: Suitability of satellite datasets | Xue Z., Gebremichael M., Ahmad R., Weldu M.L., Bagtzoglou A.C. | 2011 | Tropical Medicine and International Health | 16 | 9 | 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2011.02820.x | Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States; Department of Biology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Xue, Z., 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; Ahmad, R., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States; Weldu, M.L., Department of Biology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Bagtzoglou, A.C., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States | Objective To assess the suitability of satellite temperature and precipitation datasets for investigating the dependence of Schistosoma mansoni disease transmission on meteorological conditions in an irrigated agricultural region in Ethiopia. Methods Data used were monthly number of patients infected with S. mansoni and seeking treatment at the local hospital, monthly maximum air temperature from a local weather station, monthly average land surface temperature from MODIS satellite data, monthly total precipitation from a local rain gauge and precipitation estimates from four widely used satellite products, namely, TMPA 3B42RT, TMPA 3B42, CMORPH and PERSIANN. The number of patients was used as proxy for vector abundance. Results Temperature and precipitation play a role in the transmission of S. mansoni disease. There is a weak but significant positive correlation between monthly maximum air temperature derived from a meteorological station (or average land surface temperature derived from MODIS satellite product) and the number of patients in the same month. There is a significant negative correlation between monthly precipitation volume (derived from rain gauge or satellite data) and number of patients at lags of 1 and 2 months. Conclusion Satellite temperature and precipitation products provide useful information to understand and infer the relationship between meteorological conditions and S. mansoni prevalence. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | Precipitation; Satellite; Schistosomiasis; Temperature | agricultural land; air temperature; data set; disease transmission; health impact; land surface; MODIS; precipitation (climatology); raingauge; satellite data; schistosomiasis; surface temperature; temperature effect; volume; weather station; adolescent; air temperature; article; child; correlation analysis; disease transmission; enteropathy; Ethiopia; female; human; irrigation (agriculture); major clinical study; male; meteorology; precipitation; preschool child; Schistosoma mansoni; schistosomiasis; school child; telecommunication; weather; Adult; Agricultural Irrigation; Animals; Climate; Ethiopia; Female; Fresh Water; Geographic Information Systems; Humans; Male; Rain; Rural Population; Satellite Communications; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosomiasis mansoni; Statistics, Nonparametric; Temperature; Topography, Medical; Ethiopia; Schistosoma mansoni | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77957979922 | Autoreduction and Catalytic Performance of a Cobalt Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis Catalyst Supported on Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Spheres | Xiong H., Moyo M., Rayner M.K., Jewell L.L., Billing D.G., Coville N.J. | 2010 | ChemCatChem | 2 | 5 | 10.1002/cctc.200900309 | DST/NRF Centre of Excellence in Strong Materials, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa; School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa; School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa | Xiong, H., DST/NRF Centre of Excellence in Strong Materials, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa; Moyo, M., School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa, School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa; Rayner, M.K., School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa; Jewell, L.L., School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa; Billing, D.G., DST/NRF Centre of Excellence in Strong Materials, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa; Coville, N.J., DST/NRF Centre of Excellence in Strong Materials, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa | [No abstract available] | Autoreduction; Carbon; Cobalt; Fischer-Tropsch synthesis; Supported catalysts | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79551502528 | Correlating the preparation and performance of cobalt catalysts supported on carbon nanotubes and carbon spheres in the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis | Xiong H., Motchelaho M.A.M., Moyo M., Jewell L.L., Coville N.J. | 2011 | Journal of Catalysis | 278 | 1 | 10.1016/j.jcat.2010.11.010 | DST/NRF Centre of Excellence in Strong Materials, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa; Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa; School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa | Xiong, H., DST/NRF Centre of Excellence in Strong Materials, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa, Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa; Motchelaho, M.A.M., Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa, School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa; Moyo, M., Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa, School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa; Jewell, L.L., School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa; Coville, N.J., DST/NRF Centre of Excellence in Strong Materials, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa, Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa | A series of Co catalysts supported on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon spheres (CSs) with different cobalt particle sizes (3-45 nm) were prepared by different methods and using different cobalt precursors. The Co/CNTs and Co/CSs can be autoreduced by the supports in N2 at ca. 480 °C; they show better Fischer-Tropsch performance than those reduced in H2 when the reduction T > 400 °C. The turnover frequency (TOF) value for both Co/CNT and Co/CS was constant for cobalt particles above 10 nm and decreased sharply for the cobalt catalysts with smaller cobalt particles. Remarkably, the TOF for 11 catalysts prepared using different precursors and preparation methods on two different carbon supports depends only on particle size. Finally, a positive relationship was observed between cobalt particle size and C5+ selectivity for both Co/CNT and Co/CS catalysts. © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. | Autoreduction; Carbon nanotubes; Carbon spheres; Cobalt catalysts; Fischer-Tropsch synthesis; Particle size; Selectivity; Turnover frequency | Autoreduction; Carbon spheres; Cobalt catalysts; Selectivity; Turnover frequency; Carbon nanotubes; Catalyst selectivity; Cobalt; Fischer-Tropsch synthesis; Particle size; Spheres; Catalyst supports | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84958550682 | Novel computational intelligence for optimizing cyber physical pre-evaluation system | Xing B. | 2014 | Studies in Computational Intelligence | 540 | None | 10.1007/978-981-4585-36-1_15 | Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Xing, B., Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Owing to the quality heterogeneity of returned used products, firms engaged in re-manufacturing activities are obliged to employ 100 % inspection of these products to evaluate their quality and suitability for re-manufacturing. In addition to visual inspection, a recent tendency is to use data recorded in electronic devices (e.g., radio frequency identification (RFID)) implanted in the products. In this way, information is obtained quickly without the need for complete (and expensive) product disassembly. Nevertheless, making sense of RFID data in a complex cyber physical system (CPS) environment (which involves such as cloud computing for used product life cycle information retrieval and physically used products scanning) is a complex task. For instance, if an RFID readers fails, there may be missing values exist. The purpose of this chapter is to employ two computational intelligence (CI) optimization methods which can improve the reliability of such inspection process. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Singapore. | Cyber physical pre-evaluation system; Firefly algorithm; Radio frequency identification; Re-manufacturability; Reliability-redundancy allocation problem; Teaching-learning- based optimization | None | 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 |
| WoS | WOS:000295735200015 | Evaluation of a Peer Network-Based Sexual Risk Reduction Intervention for Men in Beer Halls in Zimbabwe: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial | Chasakara, Charles,Chirowodza, Admire,Fritz, Katherine,Kellogg, Timothy,Makumbe, Knox,Mashoko, Chamunorwa,McFarland, Willi,Woelk, Godfrey,Wyrod, Robert | 2011 | AIDS AND BEHAVIOR | 15 | 8 | 10.1007/s10461-011-9922-1 | Research Triangle Institute, University of California San Francisco, University of California System, University of Michigan, University of Michigan System, University of Zimbabwe, Harare Beer Hall Intervent, Int Ctr Res Women, RTI Int, San Francisco Dept Publ Hlth | "Wyrod, Robert: University of Michigan","Wyrod, Robert: University of Michigan System", | While much emphasis has been placed on involving men in AIDS prevention in sub-Saharan Africa, there remain few rigorously evaluated interventions in this area. A particularly appealing point of intervention is the sexual risk behavior associated with men's alcohol consumption. This article reports the outcomes of The Sahwira HIV Prevention Program, a male-focused, peer-based intervention promoting the idea that men can assist their friends in avoiding high-risk sexual encounters associated with alcohol drinking. The intervention was evaluated in a randomized, controlled trial (RCT) implemented in 24 beer halls in Harare, Zimbabwe. A cadre of 413 male beer hall patrons (similar to 20% of the patronage) was trained to assist their male peers within their friendship networks. Activities included one-on-one interactions, small group discussions, and educational events centering on the theme of men helping their male friends avoid risk. Venues were randomized into 12 control versus 12 intervention beer halls with little cross-contamination between study arms. The penetration and impact of the intervention were assessed by pre- and post-intervention cross-sectional surveys of the beer hall patronage. The intervention was implemented with a high degree of fidelity to the protocol, with exposure to the intervention activities significantly higher among intervention patrons compared to control. While we found generally declining levels of risk behavior in both study arms from baseline to post-intervention, we found no evidence of an impact of the intervention on our primary outcome measure: episodes of unprotected sex with non-wife partners in the preceding 6 months (median 5.4 episodes for men at intervention beer halls vs. 5.1 among controls, P = 0.98). There was also no evidence that the intervention reduced other risks for HIV. It remains an imperative to find ways to productively engage men in AIDS prevention, especially in those venues where male bonding, alcohol consumption, and sexual risk behavior are intertwined. | ALCOHOL,"Beer halls",HIV,MEN,ZIMBABWE,AIDS,BEHAVIOR,"DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS","GAY MEN",HIV/AIDS,"HIV-PREVENTION INTERVENTION","OPINION LEADERS","PARTNER VIOLENCE","SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA",WOMEN | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84935875127 | A program evaluation report of a rapid scale-up of a high-volume medical male circumcision site, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, 2010-2013 Health systems and services in low and middle income settings | Wynn A., Bristow C.C., Ross D., Schenker I., Klausner J.D. | 2015 | BMC Health Services Research | 15 | 1 | 10.1186/s12913-015-0904-2 | Department of Health Policy and Management, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States; St Mary's Hospital, Mariannhill KZN, Johannesburg, South Africa; Operation Abraham Collaborative, Jerusalem, Israel; Department of Epidemiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, 9911 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, United States | Wynn, A., Department of Health Policy and Management, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Bristow, C.C., Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Ross, D., St Mary's Hospital, Mariannhill KZN, Johannesburg, South Africa; Schenker, I., Operation Abraham Collaborative, Jerusalem, Israel; Klausner, J.D., Department of Epidemiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, 9911 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, United States | Background: Male circumcision can provide life-long reduction in the risk of acquiring HIV infection. In South Africa, the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Department of Health committed to rolling out circumcision programs to address the HIV epidemic. The Department of Health enlisted the help of St. Mary's Hospital in Mariannhill and the Operation Abraham Collaborative. Methods: St. Mary's Hospital and the Operation Abraham Collaborative partnered to establish a voluntary medical male circumcision facility, called Asiphile, and to train surgeons, nurses and health clinic staff to serve KwaZulu-Natal. Results: Over the course of the implementation period, 9,980 circumcisions were conducted at the Asiphile facility. The uptake numbers increased throughout 2010 and 2011 and began to level off as the demand of early adopters may have been met. Uptake spiked during school vacations and staff training sessions. Additionally, 92 % of clients returned for post-operation follow-up and only 2 % of clients experienced any adverse event. Conclusion: St. Mary's Hospital and the Operation Abraham Collaborative were able to cooperate and successfully implement a voluntary medical male circumcision facility in KwaZulu-Natal. Although uptake was lower than projected, lessons learned from efforts to overcome challenges in recruitment, transportation, and coordination can help inform and improve new and existing population-based male circumcision programs. © 2015 Wynn et al. | AIDS; HIV; Male circumcision; South Africa; Uptake | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84939442407 | Impact of mathematics and physical science on the success of South African engineering technology students | Wyk B.V., Hofman W., Louw I. | 2015 | International Journal of Engineering Education | 31 | 4 | None | Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa; Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Groningen, Pedagogical and Educational Sciences, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, Netherlands; Department of Education Innovation, University of Pretoria, South Africa | Wyk, B.V., Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa; Hofman, W., Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Groningen, Pedagogical and Educational Sciences, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, Netherlands; Louw, I., Department of Education Innovation, University of Pretoria, South Africa | The general conclusion arrived at in the literature is that the South African National Senior Certificate (NSC) is not a reliable predictor of academic success at traditional universities. By sharing research undertaken at a South African University of Technology (UoT) on the impact of individual cognitive factors and NSCresults on study success, this paper shows that this conclusion is not necessarily true for South African UoT Engineering students. To assess this impact and determine the readiness of students for UoT Engineering curricula, the relationship between pre-university academic factors and the success of engineering students was investigated. An ex post facto study was carried out on a sample of 416 students drawn from first-time-entering National Diploma engineering student cohorts of 2009 and 2010 to determine a possible correlation between their NSC results, additional pre-admission test results and the number of subjects passed after one year and four years of study, respectively. The findings indicated thatNSC Mathematics and Physical Science are statistically the most significant predictors of success in the first year. Despite the pre-admission tests used in this study not revealing significantly more about a student's potential than only the final NSC results, the conclusion reached by the researchers was that such tests might be useful when student application data is unreliable, i.e. when students apply with Grade 11 or interim Grade 12 results. © 2015 TEMPUS Publications. | Admission testing; Cognitive factors; Engineering curricula; First-year success; National Senior Certificate; Student dropout | Curricula; Education; Professional aspects; Students; Application data; Cognitive factors; Engineering curriculum; Engineering technology students; First year; National Senior Certificate; Physical science; Traditional universities; Engineering education | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-22944465096 | Snow impact on groundwater recharge in Table Mountain Group aquifer systems with a case study of the Kommissiekraal River catchment South Africa | Wu Y., Xu Y. | 2005 | Water SA | 31 | 3 | None | Department of Earth Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa | Wu, Y., Department of Earth Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa; Xu, Y., Department of Earth Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa | Snowmelt in the mountainous areas of the Table Mountain Group (TMG) in South Africa is believed to be one of sources of groundwater recharge in some winter seasons. This paper provides a scientific assessment of snow impact on groundwater recharge in Table Mountain Group Aquifer Systems for the first time. Snowfall periodically occurs on the highest mountain ranges of about 1 000 to 1 200 m above mean sea level (a.m.s.l) in the TMG area. Snow over the mountainous catchments is often observed on the gentle side of the slope, which is substantially affected by wind and vegetation. Based on climatic analysis, recharge processes and Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM) images, the recharge areas influenced by snowmelt in the TMG are identified as those catchments that are located above 1 000 m a.m.s.l. Physical processes within the snowpack are very complex involving mass and energy balances as well as heat and mass transport. Snowmelt rate was calculated using a variable degree-day melt factor determined as a function of snowpack density and vegetation cover. The hourly snowmelt rates estimated with different new snow density models. Groundwater recharge from snowmelt is affected by snowmelt mechanisms and local recharge conditions. The recharge rate is constrained by characteristics of the fractures rather than snowmelt rate. Recharge is also discounted due to prevailing interflow occurring in favourite geomorphological locations. This hypothesis is confirmed by an infiltration experiment in which up to 13.6% of the infiltrating water can recharge the aquifer. The estimated snowmelt recharge in the Kommissiekraal River catchment in the Villiersdorp of South Africa ranges from 14.1 ℓ·s-1 to 15.0 ℓ·s -1. | ETM image; Kommissiekraal River catchment; Recharge; Snowmelt; TMG | Aquifers; Geomorphology; Heat transfer; Mass transfer; Rivers; Snow; Vegetation; Wind; Enhanced thematic mapper (ETM) images; Snow density; South Africa; Table mountain group (TMG); Groundwater; groundwater; infiltration; recharge; snowmelt; Africa; Eastern Hemisphere; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; World | 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-s2.0-33846467223 | Comparison of the direct enzyme assay method with the membrane filtration technique in the quantification and monitoring of microbial indicator organisms - Seasonal variations in the activities of coliforms and E. coli, temperature and pH | Wutor V.C., Togo C.A., Pletschke B.I. | 2007 | Water SA | 33 | 1 | None | Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa | Wutor, V.C., Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa; Togo, C.A., Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa; Pletschke, B.I., Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa | The aim of this project was to monitor variations and relationships between coliform and E. coli counts, the activities of their marker enzymes GAL and GUD, and temperature and pH over a period of 12 months in river samples obtained from the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Several polluted water samples were collected for direct coliform β-D-galactosidase (B-GAL) and Escherichia coli β-D-glucuronidase (B-GUD) assays and the membrane filtration technique. While all the samples showed enzyme activities, not all exhibited growth on CM1046 media. Variation in B-GAL activity (40%) was observed between November (highest activity month) and May (lowest activity month). The highest and lowest B-GUD activities were observed in the months of September and May/June, respectively. The sensitivity of the spectrophotometric assay method was indicated by a limit of detection (LOD) of 1 coliform forming unit (CFU)/100 mℓ and 2 CFU/100 mℓ for coliforms and E. coli, respectively. There was a significant (P < 0.05) positive correlation between E. coli counts and GUD activity (R2 = 0.8909). A correlation of R2 = 0.9151 was also observed between total coliforms and B-GAL activity, even though the CFUs were not evenly distributed. Direct enzyme assays were also shown to be more sensitive than the membrane filtration (MF) technique. | Chlorophenol red β-D-galactopyranoside (CPRG); Chlorophenol red (CPR); Coliforms; E. coli; p-nitrophenyl (PNP); p-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucuronide (PNPG) | Correlation methods; Enzymes; Escherichia coli; Filtration; pH effects; Chlorophenol red β-D-galactopyranoside (CPRG); Chlorophenol red (CPR); P-nitrophenyl (PNP); p-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucuronide (PNPG); Biomarkers; Biomarkers; Correlation methods; Enzymes; Escherichia coli; Filtration; pH effects; bacterium; bioassay; bioindicator; comparative study; enzyme activity; monitoring; river pollution; seasonal variation; Africa; Eastern Cape; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Escherichia coli | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-76149107192 | Evaluation of embedded discontinuity method for finite element analysis of cracking of hot-mix asphalt concrete | Wu R., Denneman E., Harvey J. | 2009 | Transportation Research Record | None | 2127 | 10.3141/2127-10 | University of California, Pavement Research Center, Building 452, 1353 South 46th Street, Richmond, CA 94804, United States; CSIR, Built Environment, P.O. Box 395, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Pavement Research Center, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, United States | Wu, R., University of California, Pavement Research Center, Building 452, 1353 South 46th Street, Richmond, CA 94804, United States; Denneman, E., CSIR, Built Environment, P.O. Box 395, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Harvey, J., Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Pavement Research Center, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, United States | Cracking is a major source of distress in hot-mix asphalt (HMA) pavements. Various approaches have been proposed to describe crack initiation and propagation in HMA. This paper evaluates a finite element analysis technique that uses the embedded discontinuity method (EDM) for model cracking. The purpose of this study is to identify the strengths and potential weaknesses of the approach and investigate its applicability in general crack simulation for HMA pavements. An alternative formulation of EDM is adopted to make the approach easier to understand. The cohesive-crack model is used to describe development of HMA cracking. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the ability of EDM to simulate uniaxial-tension, three-point bending, and semicircular beam bending tests. It is shown that EDM is a promising finite element analysis technique, but additional research is needed to make it more robust. | None | Beam bending; Crack initiation and propagation; Crack model; Embedded discontinuity; Finite element analysis; Hot mix asphalt; Hot-mix asphalt concretes; Numerical example; Three point bending; Asphalt; Bending tests; Crack initiation; Cracking (chemical); Cracks; Electric dipole moments; Electric discharge machining; Micromachining; Pavements; Finite element method | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77955328501 | Building a palliative care program in ethiopia: The impact on HIV and AIDS patients and their families | Wube M., Horne C.J., Stuer F. | 2010 | Journal of Pain and Symptom Management | 40 | 1 | 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2010.04.003 | Family Health International, Ethiopia; Family Health International, 339 Hilda Street, Pretoria, Gauteng 0083, South Africa | Wube, M., Family Health International, Ethiopia; Horne, C.J., Family Health International, 339 Hilda Street, Pretoria, Gauteng 0083, South Africa; Stuer, F., Family Health International, Ethiopia | Home- and community-based care in Ethiopia implements palliative care through the continuum of care in 14 major cities with links to local health facilities. Community support through traditional burial societies (idirs) makes it possible for the program to provide holistic care to people living with HIV (PLHIV) and their family members. The program has been shown to 1) reduce stigma and discrimination of PLHIV and vulnerable children, 2) increase acceptance and use of voluntary testing and counseling for HIV, 3) improve PLHIV health and well-being, 4) improve household economic conditions of PLHIV, orphans and vulnerable children, and other beneficiaries, and 5) increase community support by idirs. © 2010 U.S. Cancer Pain Relief Committee. Published by Elsevier Inc. | Community care; Ethiopia; HIV and AIDS; Home-based care; Idirs; Palliative care | antiretrovirus agent; acquired immune deficiency syndrome; AIDS patient; article; community care; economic aspect; Ethiopia; family assessment; family centered care; health care access; health care facility; health care planning; health program; holistic care; home care; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; nursing care; orphaned child; outcome assessment; palliative therapy; patient attitude; patient compliance; patient counseling; patient education; quality of life; social discrimination; social support; stigma; wellbeing; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; family; HIV Infections; palliative therapy; patient; treatment outcome; trends; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Ethiopia; Family; Health Plan Implementation; HIV Infections; Humans; Palliative Care; Patients; Treatment Outcome | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84922810556 | Impact of contextualized pediatric resuscitation training on pediatric healthcare providers in Botswana | Wright S.W., Steenhoff A.P., Elci O., Wolfe H.A., Ralston M., Kgosiesele T., Makone I., Mazhani L., Nadkarni V.M., Meaney P.A. | 2015 | Resuscitation | 88 | None | 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2014.12.007 | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Botswana-UPenn Partnership, 214 Independence Ave, Gaborone, Botswana; Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Naval Hospital, 3475N Saratoga St, Oak Harbor, WA, United States; Clinical Services, Botswana Ministry of Health, Gaborone, Botswana; Princess Marina Hospital, Botswana Ministry of Health, Gaborone, Botswana; University of Botswana School of Medicine, Gaborone, Botswana | Wright, S.W., Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Steenhoff, A.P., Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, United States, Botswana-UPenn Partnership, 214 Independence Ave, Gaborone, Botswana, University of Botswana School of Medicine, Gaborone, Botswana; Elci, O., Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Wolfe, H.A., Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Ralston, M., Naval Hospital, 3475N Saratoga St, Oak Harbor, WA, United States; Kgosiesele, T., Clinical Services, Botswana Ministry of Health, Gaborone, Botswana; Makone, I., Princess Marina Hospital, Botswana Ministry of Health, Gaborone, Botswana; Mazhani, L., University of Botswana School of Medicine, Gaborone, Botswana; Nadkarni, V.M., Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Meaney, P.A., Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, United States, Botswana-UPenn Partnership, 214 Independence Ave, Gaborone, Botswana | Background: Worldwide, 6.6 million children die each year, partly due to a failure to recognize and treat acutely ill children. Programs that improve provider recognition and treatment initiation may improve child survival. Objectives: Describe provider characteristics and hospital resources during a contextualized pediatric resuscitation training program in Botswana and determine if training impacts provider knowledge retention. Design/methods: The American Heart Association's Pediatric Emergency Assessment Recognition and Stabilization (PEARS) course was contextualized to Botswana resources and practice guidelines in this observational study. A cohort of facility-based nurses (FBN) was assessed prior to and 1-month following training. Survey tools assessed provider characteristics, cognitive knowledge and confidence and hospital pediatric resources. Data analysis utilized Fisher's exact, Chi-square, Wilcoxon rank-sum and linear regression where appropriate. Results: 61 healthcare providers (89% FBNs, 11% physicians) successfully completed PEARS training. Referral facilities had more pediatric specific equipment and high-flow oxygen. Median frequency of pediatric resuscitation was higher in referral compared to district level FBN's (5 [3,10] vs. 2 [1,3] p=. 0.007). While 50% of FBN's had previous resuscitation training, none was pediatric specific. Median provider confidence improved significantly after training (3.8/5 vs. 4.7/5, p < 0.001), as did knowledge of correct management of acute pneumonia and diarrhea (44% vs. 100%, p < 0.001, 6% vs. 67%, p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: FBN's in Botswana report frequent resuscitation of ill children but low baseline training. Provider knowledge for recognition and initial treatment of respiratory distress and shock is low. Contextualized training significantly increased FBN provider confidence and knowledge retention 1-month after training. © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. | Developing countries; Emergency training, pediatric emergency training; PEARS; Pediatric emergency assessment recognition and stabilization; Resource-limited setting; Resuscitation education | Article; Botswana; child health care; diarrhea; health care facility; health care personnel; human; lobar pneumonia; medical education; medical society; observational study; patient referral; pediatric hospital; pediatric ward; practice guideline; priority journal; public hospital; respiratory distress; resuscitation; shock; tertiary care center; child; education; emergency; medical education; pediatrics; resuscitation; standards; Botswana; Child; Education, Medical; Emergencies; Health Personnel; Humans; Pediatrics; Resuscitation | 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-s2.0-84857936999 | Impact of HLA-B*81-Associated Mutations in HIV-1 Gag on Viral Replication Capacity | Wright J.K., Naidoo V.L., Brumme Z.L., Prince J.L., Claiborne D.T., Goulder P.J.R., Brockman M.A., Hunter E., Ndung'u T. | 2012 | Journal of Virology | 86 | 6 | 10.1128/JVI.06682-11 | HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada; BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, Canada; Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Paediatrics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom | Wright, J.K., HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Naidoo, V.L., HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Brumme, Z.L., Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada, BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, Canada; Prince, J.L., Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; Claiborne, D.T., Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; Goulder, P.J.R., HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa, Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States, Department of Paediatrics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Brockman, M.A., Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada, BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, Canada; Hunter, E., Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; Ndung'u, T., HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa, Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States | HIV-1 attenuation resulting from immune escape mutations selected in Gag may contribute to slower disease progression in HIV-1-infected individuals expressing certain HLA class I alleles. We previously showed that the protective allele HLA-B*81 and the HLA-B*81-selected Gag T186S mutation are strongly associated with a lower viral replication capacity of recombinant viruses encoding Gag-protease derived from individuals chronically infected with HIV-1 subtype C. In the present study, we directly tested the effect of this mutation on viral replication capacity. In addition, we investigated potential compensatory effects of various polymorphisms, including other HLA-B*81-associated mutations that significantly covary with the T186S mutation. Mutations were introduced into a reference subtype B backbone and into patient-derived subtype C sequences in subtype B and C backbones by site-directed mutagenesis. The exponential-phase growth of mutant and wild-type viruses was assayed by flow cytometry of a green fluorescent protein reporter T cell line or by measurement of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase activity in culture supernatants. Engineering of the T186S mutation alone into all patient-derived subtype C sequences failed to yield replicationcompetent viruses, while in the subtype B sequence, the T186S mutation resulted in impaired replication capacity. Only the T186S mutation in combination with the T190I mutation yielded replication-competent viruses for all virus backbones tested; however, these constructs replicated slower than the wild type, suggesting that only partial compensation is mediated by the T190I mutation. Constructs encoding the T186S mutation in combination with other putative compensatory mutations were attenuated or defective. These results suggest that the T186S mutation is deleterious to HIV-1 subtype C replication and likely requires complex compensatory pathways, which may contribute to the clinical benefit associated with HLA-B*81. © 2012, American Society for Microbiology. | None | Gag protein; green fluorescent protein; HLA B antigen; RNA directed DNA polymerase; article; carboxy terminal sequence; codon; flow cytometry; gene construct; gene frequency; gene mutation; genetic association; genetic polymorphism; human; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; mutational analysis; nonhuman; nucleotide sequence; priority journal; protein function; site directed mutagenesis; virus mutant; virus replication; wild type; Amino Acid Motifs; Cell Line; gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; HIV Infections; HIV-1; HLA-B Antigens; Humans; Mutation, Missense; Virus Replication; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Replication competent viruses | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-74949138582 | Geologic columns for the ICDP-USGS Eyreville B core, Chesapeake Bay impact structure: Impactites and crystalline rocks, 1766 to 1096 m depth | Wright Horton Jr. J., Gibson R.L., Reimold W.U., Wittmann A., Gohn G.S., Edwards L.E. | 2009 | Special Paper of the Geological Society of America | 458 | None | 10.1130/2009.2458(02) | U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 20192, United States; Impact Cratering Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, P.O. Wits, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa; Museum für Naturkunde-Leibniz Institute, Humboldt University Berlin, Invalidenstrasse 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany; Lunar and Planetary Institute, 3600 Bay Area Boulevard, Houston, TX 77058-1113, United States | Wright Horton Jr., J., U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 20192, United States; Gibson, R.L., Impact Cratering Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, P.O. Wits, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa; Reimold, W.U., Impact Cratering Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, P.O. Wits, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa, Museum für Naturkunde-Leibniz Institute, Humboldt University Berlin, Invalidenstrasse 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany; Wittmann, A., Lunar and Planetary Institute, 3600 Bay Area Boulevard, Houston, TX 77058-1113, United States; Gohn, G.S., U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 20192, United States; Edwards, L.E., U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 20192, United States | The International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP)-U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Eyreville drill cores from the Chesapeake Bay impact structure provide one of the most complete geologic sections ever obtained from an impact structure. This paper presents a series of geologic columns and descriptive lithologic information for the lower impactite and crystalline-rock sections in the cores. The lowermost cored section (1766-1551 m depth) is a complex assemblage of mica schists that commonly contain graphite and fibrolitic sillimanite, intrusive granite pegmatites that grade into coarse granite, and local zones of mylonitic deformation. This basement-derived section is variably overprinted by brittle cataclastic fabrics and locally cut by dikes of polymict impact breccia, including several suevite dikes. An overlying succession of suevites and lithic impact breccias (1551-1397 m) includes a lower section dominated by polymict lithic impact breccia with blocks (up to 17 m) and boulders of cataclastic gneiss and an upper section (above 1474 m) of suevites and clast-rich impact melt rocks. The uppermost suevite is overlain by 26 m (1397-1371 m) of gravelly quartz sand that contains an amphibolite block and boulders of cataclasite and suevite. Above the sand, a 275-m-thick allochthonous granite slab (1371-1096 m) includes gneissic biotite granite, fine- and medium-to-coarse-grained biotite granites, and red altered granite near the base. The granite slab is overlain by more gravelly sand, and both are attributed to debris-avalanche and/or rockslide deposition that slightly preceded or accompanied seawater-resurge into the collapsing transient crater. © 2009 The Geological Society of America. | None | crater; crystalline rock; deformation; impact structure; impactite; lithology; pegmatite; Chesapeake Bay; United States | 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-s2.0-84879437145 | 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-s2.0-57349188909 | Impact of baseline health and community support on antiretroviral treatment outcomes in HIV patients in South Africa | Wouters E., Van Damme W., Van Rensburg D., Meulemans H. | 2008 | AIDS | 22 | 18 | 10.1097/QAD.0b013e32831c5562 | Department of Sociology and Research, Centre for Longitudinal and Life Course Studies, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Centre for Health Systems Research and Development, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Department of Sociology, University of Antwerp, Sint-Jacobstraat 2, BE-2000 Antwerp, Belgium | Wouters, E., Department of Sociology and Research, Centre for Longitudinal and Life Course Studies, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium, Department of Sociology, University of Antwerp, Sint-Jacobstraat 2, BE-2000 Antwerp, Belgium; Van Damme, W., Centre for Health Systems Research and Development, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Van Rensburg, D., Department of Sociology, University of Antwerp, Sint-Jacobstraat 2, BE-2000 Antwerp, Belgium; Meulemans, H., Department of Sociology and Research, Centre for Longitudinal and Life Course Studies, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium | The importance of community support when scaling-up antiretroviral treatment (ART) in resource-limited settings is poorly understood. We assessed the impact of baseline health, patient characteristics and community support on ART outcomes at 6 and 12 months in a representative sample of 268 patients enrolled in the Free State public sector ART program (South Africa). Delayed ART initiation reduced ART response, whereas support from treatment buddies, community health workers and support groups significantly improved treatment outcomes. | None | antiretrovirus agent; adult; article; community; community care; drug response; female; health auxiliary; health program; highly active antiretroviral therapy; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; major clinical study; male; priority journal; social support; South Africa; treatment outcome; Adult; Anti-Retroviral Agents; Community Health Services; Female; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Male; Rural Health; Social Support; South Africa; Treatment Outcome; Viral Load | None |
| None | None | The impact of endemic and epidemic malaria on the risk of stillbirth in two areas of Tanzania with different malaria transmission patterns | Wort U.U., Hastings I., Mutabingwa T.K., Brabin B.J. | 2006 | Malaria Journal | 5 | None | 10.1186/1475-2875-5-89 | Division of International Health (IHCAR), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Child and Reproductive Health Group, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom; Gates Malaria Partnership, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; National Institute of Medical Research, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Emma Kinderziekenhuis, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands; Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital NHS Trust, Alder Hey, Liverpool, United Kingdom | Wort, U.U., Division of International Health (IHCAR), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Hastings, I., Child and Reproductive Health Group, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom; Mutabingwa, T.K., Gates Malaria Partnership, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom, National Institute of Medical Research, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Brabin, B.J., Child and Reproductive Health Group, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom, Emma Kinderziekenhuis, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands, Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital NHS Trust, Alder Hey, Liverpool, United Kingdom | Background: The impact of malaria on the risk of stillbirth is still under debate. The aim of the present analysis was to determine comparative changes in stillbirth prevalence between two areas of Tanzania with different malaria transmission patterns in order to estimate the malaria attributable component. Methods: A retrospective analysis was completed of stillbirth differences between primigravidae and multigravidae in relation to malaria cases and transmission patterns for two different areas of Tanzania with a focus on the effects of the El Niño southern climatic oscillation (ENSO). One area, Kagera, experiences outbreaks of malaria, and the other area, Morogoro, is holoendemic. Delivery and malaria data were collected over a six year period from records of the two district hospitals in these locations. Results: There was a significantly higher prevalence of low birthweight in primigravidae compared to multigravidae for both data sets. Low birthweight and stillbirth prevalence (17.5% and 4.8%) were significantly higher in Kilosa compared to Ndolage (11.9% and 2.4%). There was a significant difference in stillbirth prevalence between Ndolage and Kilosa between malaria seasons (2.4% and 5.6% respectively, p < 0.001) and during malaria seasons (1.9% and 5.9% respectively, p < 0.001). During ENSO there was no difference (4.1% and 4.9%, respectively). There was a significant difference in low birthweight prevalence between Ndolage and Kilosa between malaria seasons (14.4% and 23.0% respectively, p < 0.001) and in relation to malaria seasons (13.9% and 25.2% respectively, p < 0.001). During ENSO there was no difference (22.2% and 19.8%, respectively). Increased low birthweight risk occurred approximately five months following peak malaria prevalence, but stillbirth risk increased at the time of malaria peaks. Conclusion: Malaria exposure during pregnancy has a delayed effect on birthweight outcomes, but a more acute effect on stillbirth risk. © 2006 Wort et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | article; birth weight; controlled study; endemic disease; epidemic; human; major clinical study; malaria; medical record; prevalence; primigravida; risk factor; stillbirth; Tanzania; virus transmission; Disease Outbreaks; Female; Humans; Infant, Low Birth Weight; Infant, Newborn; Malaria; Odds Ratio; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic; Rain; Retrospective Studies; Seasons; Stillbirth; Tanzania; Time Factors | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-68749099502 | Evaluation of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes of diverse growth habit under sole and intercropping with maize (Zea mays L.) in Southern Ethiopia | Worku W. | 2008 | Journal of Agronomy | 7 | 4 | 10.3923/ja.2008.306.313 | College of Agriculture, Hawassa University, P.O. Box 5, Awassa, Ethiopia | Worku, W., College of Agriculture, Hawassa University, P.O. Box 5, Awassa, Ethiopia | Seven released, one local and two potential, totally 10, common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes representing three growth habit groups were tested under sole cropping and in association with hybrid maize (Zea mays L.). The experiments were conducted during the 2005 and 2006 cropping seasons in southern Ethiopia to compare genotypes and growth habit groups of common bean and to identify genotypes that give maximum intercropping advantage. A split-plot design with three replications was used with cropping system and genotype as main and sub plot factors, respectively. The bean genotypes varied significantly in productivity under both cropping systems. Determinate and bush types performed better than indeterminate and semi-climbing types, respectively. The mean yield from all bean genotypes was used for standardizing and specific genotype combinations showed a mean land equivalent ratio as high as 1.34. Grain yields and ranks of the bean genotypes were positively correlated between the two cropping systems. Furthermore, there was no significant genotype by cropping systems interactions indicating that genotypes selected for performance under sole cropping could perform well in association with hybrid maize. Using improved bush bean cultivars such as DOR-554 and AFR-772 in association with hybrid maize could enhance intercropping advantage. © 2008 Asian Network for Scientific Information. | Growth habit; Maize; Phaseolus vulgaris; Yield; Yield components | Phaseolus vulgaris; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84886439252 | The effect of dietary inclusion of jatropha curcas kernel meal on growth performance, feed utilization efficiency and survival rate of juvenile nile tilapia | Workagegn K.B., Ababbo E.D., Tossa B.T. | 2013 | Journal of Aquaculture Research and Development | 4 | 5 | 10.4172/2155-9546.1000193 | Department of Biology, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Hawassa University, P.O. Box 5, Hawassa, Ethiopia | Workagegn, K.B., Department of Biology, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Hawassa University, P.O. Box 5, Hawassa, Ethiopia; Ababbo, E.D., Department of Biology, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Hawassa University, P.O. Box 5, Hawassa, Ethiopia; Tossa, B.T., Department of Biology, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Hawassa University, P.O. Box 5, Hawassa, Ethiopia | The study investigated the effect of dietary inclusion of different proportion of heat treated and heat untreated Jatropha curcas kernel meal (JCKM) on growth performance, feed utilization efficiency and survival rate of juvenile Nile tilapia. Ten fish with an average body weight of 2.36 g fish-1 were randomly distributed in each experimental aquarium in triplicates, and fed with experimental diets for 65 days. The results revealed that the highest growth performance in terms of final body weight and specific growth rate was observed on the fish fed with heat treated control diet followed by heat untreated control diet and 10% heat treated JCKM with same survival rate. Similarly, the best feed utilization efficiency in terms of feed conversion ratio and feeding efficiency was observed on the fish fed with heat treated control diet followed by 10% heat treated JCKM and heat untreated control diet. All fish fed the above three diets had higher growth performance, feed utilization efficiency and survival rate without significant (P>0.05) variation to each other. However, fish fed with the rest of the experimental diets had significantly (P<0.05) lower. Thus, the inclusion of excess dietary JCKM (above 10% heat treated dietary JCKM and at any level of heat untreated dietary JCKM) depressed growth performance, feed utilization efficiency and survival rate of the fish. This implies that heat treatment has an effect on reduction of some of anti-nutritional factors and toxicants in JCKM. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of heat treated JCKM in fish diet increases growth performance and feed utilization efficiency of the fish without increasing mortality rare, and thus, it is a future promising feed ingredient for fish feed production. © 2013 Workagegn KB, et al. | Alternative feed source; Feed ingredient; Oreochromis niloticus; Performance | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84904263662 | Growth performance of the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) fed different types of diets formulated from varieties of feed ingredients | Workagegn K.B., Ababboa E.D., Yimer G.T., Amare T.A. | 2014 | Journal of Aquaculture Research and Development | 5 | 3 | 10.4172/2155-9546.1000235 | Department of Biology, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Hawassa University, P.O. Box 5, Hawassa, Ethiopia | Workagegn, K.B., Department of Biology, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Hawassa University, P.O. Box 5, Hawassa, Ethiopia; Ababboa, E.D., Department of Biology, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Hawassa University, P.O. Box 5, Hawassa, Ethiopia; Yimer, G.T., Department of Biology, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Hawassa University, P.O. Box 5, Hawassa, Ethiopia; Amare, T.A., Department of Biology, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Hawassa University, P.O. Box 5, Hawassa, Ethiopia | This research was designed to investigate the growth performance and feed utilization efficiency of juvenile Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus L. fed different types of diets formulated from varieties of feed ingredients. For this purpose, six experimental diets were prepared. All the six experimental diets had soybean, bone meal and groundnut as basal feed ingredients which accounted as 60% of the total amount of ingredients. The rest 40% of each diet was 1Maiz:1Sorghumfor control diet or diet "A", coffee husk/pulp for diet "B", wheat bran for diet "C", beer sludge for diet "D", potato scrap for diet "E" and 2JCKM:1Wheat:1Rice for diet "F". After diet preparation, one hundred eighty fish having an average body weight of 3.27 g were randomly distributed into 18 aquaria (80 cm×30 cm×35 cm) in triplicates. During the experiment, the fish were fed three times a day at the rate of 10% of their body weight for 10 weeks. The results revealed that there was significant difference (p<0.05) on the growth performance and feed utilization efficiency of the fish that fed different types of experimental diets. The highest growth performance in terms of final body weight, weight gain and specific growth rate, and feed utilization efficiency were observed on the fish fed diet "A" followed by the fish fed diet "F", while the fish fed diet "B" had the lowest. The lower growth performance and feed utilization efficiency observed on the fish fed diet "B" might be due to high dietary fiber levels together with the presence of relatively higher anti-nutritional factors in coffee husk/pulp diet. However, all the fish had similar survival rate. As conclusion, except diet "B" all the tested diets are potential fish feed. However, further study should be done to evaluate the potential of those diets at later stage of the fish in different culture systems. © 2014 Workagegn KB, et al. | Aquarium; Feed ingredients; Growth performance; Oreochromis niloticus | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84873736578 | A capability perspective on performance deficiencies in utility firms | Worch H., Truffer B., Kabinga M., Eberhard A., Markard J. | 2013 | Utilities Policy | 25 | None | 10.1016/j.jup.2012.12.001 | Eawag - Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Environmental Social Sciences (ESS), Cirus - Innovation Research in Utility Sectors, Überlandstrasse 133, P.O. Box 611, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland; University of Cape Town, Graduate School of Business, Management Programme in Infrastructure Reform and Regulation Breakwater Campus, Portswood Road, Cape Town, South Africa; Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Department of Management, Technology and Economics, Chair of Sustainability and Technology, Weinbergstrasse 56/58, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland | Worch, H., Eawag - Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Environmental Social Sciences (ESS), Cirus - Innovation Research in Utility Sectors, Überlandstrasse 133, P.O. Box 611, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland; Truffer, B., Eawag - Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Environmental Social Sciences (ESS), Cirus - Innovation Research in Utility Sectors, Überlandstrasse 133, P.O. Box 611, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland; Kabinga, M., University of Cape Town, Graduate School of Business, Management Programme in Infrastructure Reform and Regulation Breakwater Campus, Portswood Road, Cape Town, South Africa; Eberhard, A., University of Cape Town, Graduate School of Business, Management Programme in Infrastructure Reform and Regulation Breakwater Campus, Portswood Road, Cape Town, South Africa; Markard, J., Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Department of Management, Technology and Economics, Chair of Sustainability and Technology, Weinbergstrasse 56/58, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland | This paper proposes a capability-based framework to explain performance deficiencies in utility firms as a result of policy and regulatory changes. The framework complements conventional explanations such as transaction cost and agency approaches, which suggest that appropriate incentives and regulations increase the performance of public utilities after relatively short adaptation processes. In contrast, we argue that capability gaps - understood as an inadequate availability of competences, skills and experiences - tend to have long-lasting effects on firm performance. A crucial implication of the capability perspective is that regulatory interventions that create capability gaps at the firm level may affect utility performance - and the ability of infrastructure sectors to provide adequate services - more severely than expected by traditional approaches. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. | Capabilities; Performance; Regulation; Utilities | incentive; industrial performance; industrial policy; regulatory framework; transaction cost; utility sector | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84887746789 | Effects of soil surface management practices on soil and tree parameters in a Cripps Pink/M7 apple orchard 2. Tree performance and root distribution | Wooldridge J., Fourie J., Joubert M.E. | 2013 | South African Journal of Plant and Soil | 30 | 3 | 10.1080/02571862.2013.854416 | Soil and Water Science, ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Private Bag X5026, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa | Wooldridge, J., Soil and Water Science, ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Private Bag X5026, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa; Fourie, J., Soil and Water Science, ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Private Bag X5026, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa; Joubert, M.E., Soil and Water Science, ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Private Bag X5026, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa | Effects of integrated production (IP) and organic-acceptable soil surface management practices were investigated in a Cripps Pink/M7 apple orchard in the Elgin area, South Africa. Work row treatments included cover crops, weeds and straw mulch. In the IP tree rows, weeds were controlled with herbicide and nitrogen (N) was supplied in inorganic form. Tree rows in the organic treatments received mineral nutrients in compost, and a straw mulch was used to control weeds. Tree and soil parameters were determined over a seven-year period. Compost usage in the organic treatments led to high soil phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) concentrations, but less acidity, than in the IP treatments. Stem circumferences, pruning weights and root numbers were generally greater in the organic than the IP treatments. Conversely, yields and yields per cm2 stem area were mostly lower in the organic, than in the IP, treatments. To improve yields in organic apple orchards the balance between vegetative growth and flowering and bearing structures must be improved, mainly through better control over orchard nutrition. Such control will be facilitated if composts are standardised with regard to mineral nutrient contents, ratios between N, P and K, and delivery rates. © 2013 Combined Congress Continuing Committee. | Compost; Cover crops; Integrated production; Organic; Straw mulch | acidity; compost; cover crop; flowering; herbicide; mineral; mulch; nitrogen; nutrition; orchard; phosphorus; potassium; root system; soil surface; straw; tree; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77956526884 | Effects of rootstock on grapevine performance, petiole and must composition, and overall wine score of Vitis vinifera cv. Chardonnay and pinot noir | Wooldridge J., Louw P.J.E., Conradie W.J. | 2010 | South African Journal of Enology and Viticulture | 31 | 1 | None | ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Private Bag X5026, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa; Sapex Exports (Pty) Ltd, P.O. Box 1000, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa | Wooldridge, J., ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Private Bag X5026, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa; Louw, P.J.E., Sapex Exports (Pty) Ltd, P.O. Box 1000, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa; Conradie, W.J., ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Private Bag X5026, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa | Characteristics of Chardonnay and Pinot noir vines on Richter 99 (99R), Richter 110 (110R), Ruggeri 140 (140Ru) and SO4 rootstocks were assessed over six consecutive seasons in a factorial field trial on an Avalon soil in Stellenbosch that had been limed to pH 5.75 (1M KCl). Ruggeri 140 promoted the highest cane mass (vigour), highest petiole and must nitrogen (N), lowest ratio of yield to cane mass, and lowest overall wine quality. The lowest cane mass and highest wine quality were produced by vines on 110R. Petiole N, phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg), and must N and Ca, were also lower for vines on 110R than for those on 140Ru. | Cane mass; Chardonnay; Must; Petiole; Pinot noir; Yield | Vitaceae; Vitis; Vitis vinifera | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78651314444 | Truck productivity, efficiency, energy use, and carbon dioxide output: Benchmarking of international performance | Woodrooffe J., Glaeser K.-P., Nordengen P. | 2010 | Transportation Research Record | None | 2162 | 10.3141/2162-08 | Transportation Research Institute, University of Michigan, 2901 Baxter Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2150, United States; Bundesanstalt für Strassenwesen (BASt), Brüderstraße 53, Bergisch Gladbach, D-51427, Germany; CSIR, South Africa, Meiring Naudé Road, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa | Woodrooffe, J., Transportation Research Institute, University of Michigan, 2901 Baxter Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2150, United States; Glaeser, K.-P., Bundesanstalt für Strassenwesen (BASt), Brüderstraße 53, Bergisch Gladbach, D-51427, Germany; Nordengen, P., CSIR, South Africa, Meiring Naudé Road, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa | The Joint Transport Research Centre of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the International Transport Forum recently conducted a benchmarking study of the safety and productivity of typical highway transport trucks from various countries. This paper focuses on vehicle productivity and efficiency in regard to the movement of freight. Forty vehicles from 10 countries were examined. The vehicles were designed for longer-haul applications and were classified in three separate categories: workhorse vehicles, which are the most common and can travel on most roads; high-capacity vehicles, which may be restricted to a certain class of road; and very high-capacity vehicles, which may be restricted to specific highways or routes. The metrics used in the analysis include maximum cargo mass and volume capacity, optimum cargo density, fuel consumption, and carbon dioxide output as a function of the freight task. The study found that size and weight regulations have a significant effect on the productivity and efficiency of heavy vehicles, including fuel consumption and vehicle emissions per unit of cargo transported. Significant variations were found among the vehicles from participating countries as well as within vehicle classes. It was also apparent that, in general, higher-productivity vehicles are correlated more strongly with increased cargo volume than with increased cargo mass and that larger trucks are better suited to lower-density freight than are workhorse vehicles. The study also found that it is important to consider the freight task when evaluating vehicle fuel consumption and emissions. | None | Cargo volume; Energy use; Heavy vehicle; High-capacity; International transport; Organisation for economic co-operation and development; Per unit; Transport research; Vehicle emission; Volume capacity; Automobiles; Benchmarking; Carbon dioxide; Fuels; International cooperation; Lead acid batteries; Productivity; Roads and streets; Steel metallurgy; Trucks; Vehicles | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-48249126815 | The utility of pharmacy dispensing data for ART programme evaluation and early identification of patient loss to follow-up | Wood R., Kaplan R., Bekker L.-G., Brown S., Rivett U. | 2008 | Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine | None | 30 | None | Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Cell-Life, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Wood, R., Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Kaplan, R., Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Bekker, L.-G., Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Brown, S., Cell-Life, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Rivett, U., Cell-Life, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | [No abstract available] | None | antiretrovirus agent; article; community care; electronic medical record; follow up; health care access; health care delivery; health program; health service; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; information processing; information technology; patient care; patient compliance; patient counseling; patient identification; patient information; pharmacy; South Africa; virus resistance | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-67249140561 | HIV evolution in early infection: Selection pressures, patterns of insertion and deletion, and the impact of APOBEC | Wood N., Bhattacharya T., Keele B.F., Giorgi E., Liu M., Gaschen B., Daniels M., Ferrari G., Haynes B.F., McMichael A., Shaw G.M., Hahn B.H., Korber B., Seoighe C. | 2009 | PLoS Pathogens | 5 | 5 | 10.1371/journal.ppat.1000414 | Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa; Centre for High-Performance Computing, CSIR Campus, Rosebank, Cape Town, South Africa; Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States; Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM, United States; University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States; Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States; Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom; Duke University, Durham, NC, United States; School of Mathematics, Statistics and Applied Mathematics, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland | Wood, N., Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa, Centre for High-Performance Computing, CSIR Campus, Rosebank, Cape Town, South Africa; Bhattacharya, T., Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States, Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM, United States; Keele, B.F., University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States; Giorgi, E., Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States; Liu, M., Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom; Gaschen, B., Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States; Daniels, M., Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States; Ferrari, G., Duke University, Durham, NC, United States; Haynes, B.F., Duke University, Durham, NC, United States; McMichael, A., Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom; Shaw, G.M., University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States; Hahn, B.H., University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States; Korber, B., Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States, Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM, United States; Seoighe, C., Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa, Centre for High-Performance Computing, CSIR Campus, Rosebank, Cape Town, South Africa, School of Mathematics, Statistics and Applied Mathematics, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland | The pattern of viral diversification in newly infected individuals provides information about the host environment and immune responses typically experienced by the newly transmitted virus. For example, sites that tend to evolve rapidly across multiple early-infection patients could be involved in enabling escape from common early immune responses, could represent adaptation for rapid growth in a newly infected host, or could represent reversion from less fit forms of the virus that were selected for immune escape in previous hosts. Here we investigated the diversification of HIV-1 env coding sequences in 81 very early B subtype infections previously shown to have resulted from transmission or expansion of single viruses (n = 78) or two closely related viruses (n = 3). In these cases, the sequence of the infecting virus can be estimated accurately, enabling inference of both the direction of substitutions as well as distinction between insertion and deletion events. By integrating information across multiple acutely infected hosts, we find evidence of adaptive evolution of HIV-1 env and identify a subset of codon sites that diversified more rapidly than can be explained by a model of neutral evolution. Of 24 such rapidly diversifying sites, 14 were either i) clustered and embedded in CTL epitopes that were verified experimentally or predicted based on the individual's HLA or ii) in a nucleotide context indicative of APOBEC-mediated G-to-A substitutions, despite having excluded heavily hypermutated sequences prior to the analysis. In several cases, a rapidly evolving site was embedded both in an APOBEC motif and in a CTL epitope, suggesting that APOBEC may facilitate early immune escape. Ten rapidly diversifying sites could not be explained by CTL escape or APOBEC hypermutation, including the most frequently mutated site, in the fusion peptide of gp41. We also examined the distribution, extent, and sequence context of insertions and deletions, and we provide evidence that the length variation seen in hypervariable loop regions of the envelope glycoprotein is a consequence of selection and not of mutational hotspots. Our results provide a detailed view of the process of diversification of HIV-1 following transmission, highlighting the role of CTL escape and hypermutation in shaping viral evolution during the establishment of new infections. | None | apolipoprotein; apolipoprotein B messenger RNA editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide; envelope glycoprotein; epitope; glycoprotein gp 41; nucleotide; unclassified drug; virus glycoprotein; cytidine deaminase; virus envelope protein; article; codon; controlled study; cytotoxic T lymphocyte; gene deletion; gene insertion; HLA system; host; human; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; immune system; information; major clinical study; molecular evolution; mutation; prediction; protein motif; virus transmission; biological model; cross-sectional study; genetics; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; indel mutation; metabolism; molecular genetics; nucleotide sequence; phylogeny; physiology; virology; virus gene; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Base Sequence; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cytidine Deaminase; env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; Evolution, Molecular; Genes, Viral; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; INDEL Mutation; Models, Genetic; Molecular Sequence Data; Phylogeny; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84884530599 | Immediate impact of piscicide operations on a Cape Floristic Region aquatic insect assemblage: A lesser of two evils? | Woodford D.J., Barber-James H.M., Bellingan T.A., Day J.A., de Moor F.C., Gouws J., Weyl O.L.F. | 2013 | Journal of Insect Conservation | 17 | 5 | 10.1007/s10841-013-9578-4 | South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Private Bag 1015, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa; Centre for Invasion Biology, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Grahamstown, South Africa; Albany Museum, Grahamstown, South Africa; Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Scientific Services, CapeNature, Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch, South Africa | Woodford, D.J., South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Private Bag 1015, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa, Centre for Invasion Biology, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Grahamstown, South Africa; Barber-James, H.M., Albany Museum, Grahamstown, South Africa, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa; Bellingan, T.A., Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa; Day, J.A., Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; de Moor, F.C., Albany Museum, Grahamstown, South Africa, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa; Gouws, J., Scientific Services, CapeNature, Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Weyl, O.L.F., South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Private Bag 1015, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa, Centre for Invasion Biology, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Grahamstown, South Africa | The piscicide rotenone is used as a conservation tool to remove alien fishes from rivers, though there is controversy over its effects on aquatic insects. An alien fish removal operation in the Rondegat River, Cape Floristic Region, South Africa, allowed the immediate impact of rotenone on an aquatic insect community in a region with high conservation values to be quantified. The insect community within the treated river was sampled in February 2011 (1 year before rotenone operations), February 2012 (1 week before) and March 2012 (1 week after). Insects were collected using kick sampling across multiple biotopes, together with samples from individual stones. We considered rotenone-precipitated losses to be those taxa captured a week before treatment but absent after, and assessed the endemism of lost species to determine the conservation impact of the rotenone. Species richness decreased significantly following treatment, even though many rare taxa were not recorded immediately prior to treatment. Of the 85 taxa identified, 18 were lost including five endemic to the mountain range which the river drains. Ephemeroptera were most severely affected, with a significant loss of density on stones post-rotenone and six out of 20 species missing. Since half the missing taxa were recorded upstream of the treatment area, recovery of diversity is likely to be relatively rapid. Given that alien invasive fish negatively affect both fish and aquatic insect communities in South Africa, the long-term positive conservation impact of removing these fish is likely to outweigh the short-term negative effects of the piscicide. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht. | Collateral impacts; Conservation intervention; Endemism; Rotenone; Species diversity | aquatic community; Cape Floristic Region; conservation management; endemism; insect; species diversity; species richness; Rondegat River; South Africa; Western Cape; Arthropoda; Ephemeroptera; Hexapoda; Pisces | 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 |
| 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-s2.0-84869425858 | The Psychometric Properties of the Amharic Version of the Children's Impact of Traumatic Events Scale-Revised: A Study on Child Sexual Abuse Survivors in Ethiopia | Wondie Y., Zemene W., Reschke K., Schröder H. | 2012 | Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma | 5 | 4 | 10.1080/19361521.2012.728099 | Department of Psychology, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia; University of Leipzig, Germany | Wondie, Y., Department of Psychology, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia, University of Leipzig, Germany; Zemene, W., Department of Psychology, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia; Reschke, K., University of Leipzig, Germany; Schröder, H., University of Leipzig, Germany | The study assessed the internal consistency and construct validity of the Amharic version of the Children's Impact of Traumatic Events Scale-Revised (CITES-R). Data was collected from 318 female children. With few exceptions, the result revealed that the internal consistency and the construct validity of the scale were found to be in the expected directions. The mean alpha value for all the scales was 0.71. Social support and empowerment were significantly correlated with the positive self-worth component of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Moreover, intercorrelations between the PTSD symptoms and abuse attributions demonstrated significant positive associations. In conclusion, the Amharic version of the CITES-R was found to be comparable with the original scale and previous studies that employed this instrument. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC. | child sexual abuse; children's impacts of traumatic events scale; construct validity; Ethiopia; internal consistency | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77955604859 | Predicting invasive alien plant distributions: How geographical bias in occurrence records influences model performance | Wolmarans R., Robertson M.P., van Rensburg B.J. | 2010 | Journal of Biogeography | 37 | 9 | 10.1111/j.1365-2699.2010.02325.x | Department of Zoology and Entomology, Centre for Invasion Biology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa | Wolmarans, R., Department of Zoology and Entomology, Centre for Invasion Biology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Robertson, M.P., Department of Zoology and Entomology, Centre for Invasion Biology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; van Rensburg, B.J., Department of Zoology and Entomology, Centre for Invasion Biology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa | Aim: To investigate the impact of geographical bias on the performance of ecological niche models for invasive plant species. Location: South Africa and Australia. Methods: We selected 10 Australian plants invasive in South Africa and nine South African plants invasive in Australia. Geographical bias was simulated in occurrence records obtained from the native range of a species to represent two scenarios. For the first scenario (A, worst-case) a proportion of records were excluded from a specific region of a species' range and for the second scenario (B, less extreme) only some records were excluded from that specific region of the range. Introduced range predictions were produced with the M. axent modelling algorithm where models were calibrated with datasets from these biased occurrence records and 19 bioclimatic variables. Models were evaluated with independent test data obtained from the introduced range of the species. Geographical bias was quantified as the proportional difference between the occurrence records from a control and a biased dataset, and environmental bias was expressed as either the difference in marginality or tolerance between these datasets. Model performance [assessed using the conventional and modified AUC (area under the curve of receiver-operating characteristic plots) and the maximum true skill statistic] was compared between models calibrated with occurrence records from a biased dataset and a control dataset. Results: We found considerable variation in the relationship between geographical and environmental bias. Environmental bias, expressed as the difference in marginality, differed significantly across treatments. Model performance did not differ significantly among treatments. Regions predicted as suitable for most of the species were very similar when compared between a biased and control dataset, with only a few exceptions. Main conclusions: The geographical bias simulated in this study was sufficient to result in significant environmental bias across treatments, but despite this we did not find a significant effect on model performance. Differences in the environmental spaces occupied by the species in their native and invaded ranges may explain why we did not find a significant effect on model performance. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | Australia; Ecological niche modelling; Environmental bias; Geographical bias; Invasive alien plants; Marginality; Maxent; Model performance; South Africa; Tolerance | bioclimatology; cohort analysis; data set; invasive species; model validation; niche partitioning; plant; spatial distribution; species occurrence; tolerance; Australia; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84857807799 | The international impact of education research done and published in South Africa | Wolhuter C. | 2011 | South African Journal of Education | 31 | 4 | None | Department of Comparative Education, North-West University, South Africa | Wolhuter, C., Department of Comparative Education, North-West University, South Africa | The aim of this article was to determine the international impact of Education research in South Africa, through a citation analysis of articles published in the South African Journal of Education from 2000 to 2010 The citation impact (nationally as well as internationally) was found to be low. The international impact has been particularly poor, both quantitatively (in terms of the number of citations) and qualitatively (in terms of the standing of the publications in which this research does get cited, seen in the context of the hierarchy of scholarly publications). The article shows that certain topics of research in South Africa fail to break through to the international arena at all, such as research on the current restructuring of education in South Africa. Research that was cited most often in international journals dealt with research methodology, creativity and entrepreneurship education, beliefs and perception studies, and language-in-education in South Africa. In conclusion, a number of recommendations are made for raising the international profile of Education research that is done in South Africa and for further research in pursuance of that objective. © 2011 EASA. | Education research; Impact; Internationalisation; South African journal of education | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84941281127 | The scholarly impact of doctoral research conducted in the field of education in south africa | Wolhuter C.C. | 2015 | South African Journal of Education | 35 | 3 | 10.15700/saje.v35n3a1090 | School for Education Studies, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa | Wolhuter, C.C., School for Education Studies, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa | The aim of this study is to investigate the scholarly impact of knowledge generated as part of doctoral studies in the field of education in South Africa. The transition rate of the 97 doctoral theses completed in the various fields of education in South Africa in 2008 into peer-reviewed articles and chapters in scholarly books, as well as the citation impact of these theses, were studied. It was found that the transition rates of these theses to journal articles and book chapters were low, as was their citation impact. Eighty three of the 97 theses did not transfer into any kind of publication, 70 out of the 97 made no citation impact, and 65 theses neither transferred to an article/a book chapter, nor did they receive any citation. The low scholarly impact of doctoral research in education in South Africa is related to a number of contextual and field-specific factors, identified in the survey of literature. The main recommendation made is the mapping of fields of education scholarship, making possible the identification of lacuna for research with high impact potential. © 2015, Foundation for Education Science and Technology. All rights reserved. | Citation impact; Doctoral education; Doctoral education in South Africa; Educational research; Educational research in South Africa; Mapping of fields of education scholarship; Quality of doctoral education | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84903540002 | Systematic review: Assessing the impact of drinking water and sanitation on diarrhoeal disease in low- and middle-income settings: Systematic review and meta-regression | Wolf J., Prüss-Ustün A., Cumming O., Bartram J., Bonjour S., Cairncross S., Clasen T., Colford J.M., Curtis V., De France J., Fewtrell L., Freeman M.C., Gordon B., Hunter P.R., Jeandron A., Johnston R.B., Mäusezahl D., Mathers C., Neira M., Higgins J.P.T. | 2014 | Tropical Medicine and International Health | 19 | 8 | 10.1111/tmi.12331 | Department of Public Health and Environment, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States; Centre for Research into Environment and Health, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, United Kingdom; Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom; Department of Environmental Health, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa; EAWAG, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland; Department of Health Statistics and Information Systems, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom; Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York, York, United Kingdom | Wolf, J., Department of Public Health and Environment, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Prüss-Ustün, A., Department of Public Health and Environment, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Cumming, O., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Bartram, J., Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Bonjour, S., Department of Public Health and Environment, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Cairncross, S., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Clasen, T., Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; Colford, J.M., School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States; Curtis, V., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; De France, J., Department of Public Health and Environment, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Fewtrell, L., Centre for Research into Environment and Health, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, United Kingdom; Freeman, M.C., Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; Gordon, B., Department of Public Health and Environment, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Hunter, P.R., Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom, Department of Environmental Health, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa; Jeandron, A., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Johnston, R.B., Department of Public Health and Environment, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, EAWAG, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland; Mäusezahl, D., Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Mathers, C., Department of Health Statistics and Information Systems, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Neira, M., Department of Public Health and Environment, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Higgins, J.P.T., School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom, Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York, York, United Kingdom | Objective: To assess the impact of inadequate water and sanitation on diarrhoeal disease in low- and middle-income settings. Methods: The search strategy used Cochrane Library, MEDLINE & PubMed, Global Health, Embase and BIOSIS supplemented by screening of reference lists from previously published systematic reviews, to identify studies reporting on interventions examining the effect of drinking water and sanitation improvements in low- and middle-income settings published between 1970 and May 2013. Studies including randomised controlled trials, quasi-randomised trials with control group, observational studies using matching techniques and observational studies with a control group where the intervention was well defined were eligible. Risk of bias was assessed using a modified Ottawa-Newcastle scale. Study results were combined using meta-analysis and meta-regression to derive overall and intervention-specific risk estimates. Results: Of 6819 records identified for drinking water, 61 studies met the inclusion criteria, and of 12 515 records identified for sanitation, 11 studies were included. Overall, improvements in drinking water and sanitation were associated with decreased risks of diarrhoea. Specific improvements, such as the use of water filters, provision of high-quality piped water and sewer connections, were associated with greater reductions in diarrhoea compared with other interventions. Conclusions: The results show that inadequate water and sanitation are associated with considerable risks of diarrhoeal disease and that there are notable differences in illness reduction according to the type of improved water and sanitation implemented. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd The World Health Organization retains copyright and all other rights in the manuscript of this article as submitted for publication. | Diarrhoea; Global burden of disease; Risk estimates; Sanitation; Water | chlorine; drinking water; water; diarrheal disease; drinking water; health risk; income distribution; meta-analysis; risk assessment; sanitation; water supply; World Health Organization; article; cohort analysis; diarrhea; environmental impact assessment; environmental sanitation; human; indoor air pollution; loose feces; lowest income group; meta analysis; morbidity; observational study; outcome assessment; risk factor; systematic review; time series analysis; total quality management; water quality; water supply; water treatment; agua; assainissement; carga global de enfermedad; cálculo de riesgo; cálculos de riesgo; charge mondiale des maladies; developing country; Diarrea; diarrhea; diarrhée; eau; estimations du risque; global burden of disease; income; review; risk estimates; saneamiento; sanitation; standard; water quality; water supply; agua; assainissement; carga global de enfermedad; cálculo de riesgo; cálculos de riesgo; charge mondiale des maladies; diarrea; diarrhée; diarrhoea; eau; estimations du risque; global burden of disease; risk estimates; saneamiento; sanitation; water; Developing Countries; Diarrhea; Drinking Water; Humans; Income; Sanitation; Water Quality; Water Supply | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-15444380490 | Evaluation of a home-based voluntary counselling and testing intervention in rural Uganda | Wolff B., Nyanzi B., Katongole G., Ssesanga D., Ruberantwari A., Whitworth J. | 2005 | Health Policy and Planning | 20 | 2 | 10.1093/heapol/czi013 | Medical Research Council, Entebbe, Uganda; MRC; Intl. Activities the Wellcome Trust; Medical Research Council, P.O. 49, Entebbe, Uganda | Wolff, B., Medical Research Council, Entebbe, Uganda, Medical Research Council, P.O. 49, Entebbe, Uganda; Nyanzi, B., Medical Research Council, Entebbe, Uganda, MRC; Katongole, G., Medical Research Council, Entebbe, Uganda; Ssesanga, D., Medical Research Council, Entebbe, Uganda, MRC; Ruberantwari, A., Medical Research Council, Entebbe, Uganda, MRC; Whitworth, J., Medical Research Council, Entebbe, Uganda, Intl. Activities the Wellcome Trust | Background: Uptake of HIV test results from an annual serosurvey of a population study cohort in rural southwestern Uganda had never exceeded 10% in any given year since inception in 1989. An intervention offering counselling and HIV results at home was conducted in four study villages following the 2001 serosurvey round, and followed by a qualitative evaluation exploring nature of demand and barriers to knowing HIV status. Methods: Data from annual serosurveys and counsellor records are analyzed to estimate the impact of the intervention on uptake of HIV test results. Textual data are analyzed from 21 focus group discussions among counsellors, and men and women who had received HIV test results, requested but not yet received, and never requested; and 34 in-depth interviews equally divided among those who had received test results either from counselling offices and homes. Results: Offering HIV results at home significantly increased uptake of results from 10 to 37% for all adults aged 15 (p < 0.001), and 46% of those age 25 to 54. Previous male advantage in uptake of test results was effectively eliminated. Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews highlight substantial non-monetary costs of getting HIV results from high-visibility public facilities prior to intervention. Inconvenience, fear of stigmatization, and emotional vulnerability of receiving results from public facilities were the most common explanations for the relative popularity of home-based voluntary counselling and testing (VCT). It is seen as less appropriate for youth and couples with conflicting attitudes toward testing. Conclusions: Home delivery of results revealed significantly higher demand to know HIV status than stubbornly low uptake figures from the past would suggest. Integrating VCT into other services, locating testing centres in less visible surroundings, or directly confronting stigma surrounding testing may be less expensive ways to reproduce increased uptake with home VCT. © Oxford University Press, 2005; all rights reserved. | Clients; HIV; Home care; Providers; Qualitative; Stigma; VCT uptake | adolescent; adult; article; attitude; cohort analysis; data analysis; emotion; evaluation; fear; female; health care facility; health survey; home care; human; Human immunodeficiency virus; interview; male; medical record; patient counseling; population research; qualitative analysis; reproducibility; rural health care; Uganda; Adult; AIDS Serodiagnosis; Cohort Studies; Counseling; Fear; Female; Focus Groups; HIV Infections; Home Care Services; Humans; Interviews; Male; Middle Aged; Pilot Projects; Rural Population; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84905967088 | Development and evaluation of low cost evaporative cooling systems to minimise postharvest losses of tomatoes (Roma vf) around Woreta, Ethiopia | Woldemariam H.W., Abera B.D. | 2014 | International Journal of Postharvest Technology and Innovation | 4 | 1 | 10.1504/IJPTI.2014.064165 | Food Technology and Process Engineering, Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 26, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia | Woldemariam, H.W., Food Technology and Process Engineering, Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 26, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Abera, B.D., Food Technology and Process Engineering, Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 26, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia | Low cost evaporative cooling systems were developed and investigated for their cooling efficiency to improve the shelf life of tomatoes. Average cooling efficiencies of bamboo jute and pot in pot coolers before being loaded with tomatoes were 82% and 79% and after being loaded were 67.6% and 61.6%, respectively. Physiological weight losses were 1.03%, 1.32% and 1.42% for bamboo jute, pot in pot coolers and ambient storage, respectively. The sensory results revealed that the shelf life of tomatoes were 5, 19 and 21 days for ambient, pot in pot and bamboo jute coolers, respectively. Storage type has significant difference on cooling efficiency but not on physiological weight loss, physical damage, freshness and rot incidence at p < 0.05. Thus, both evaporative coolers were found to be energy efficient, environmentally sound and can be used in areas where there is no electricity to improve the shelf life of tomatoes. Copyright © 2014 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. | Cooling efficiency; Evaporative cooling; Postharvest loss; Shelf life; Tomatoes. | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84947241341 | Friends or enemies? An evaluation of the relationship between rising hegemonies and established hegemonies in international relations | Wogu I.A.P., Chidozie F. | 2015 | Journal of Interdisciplinary and Multidisciplinary Research | 2 | 3 | None | Department of Political Science and International Relations, School of Human Resource Development, College of Leadership Development Studies, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria | Wogu, I.A.P., Department of Political Science and International Relations, School of Human Resource Development, College of Leadership Development Studies, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria; Chidozie, F., Department of Political Science and International Relations, School of Human Resource Development, College of Leadership Development Studies, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria | There are some who see China's sudden rise to the position of power and influence on the globe as a threat to their position and place in world economy. Current trends in world politics however reveals that the quest to rise to the place of hegemony and the need to sustain once position as the dominant hegemony in international politics have set into motion, series of actions leading to various kinds of espionage campaign between the countries involved. This study is a critical evaluation of the intrigues and politics of power which raises the ultimate question of ?who is a friends or an enemy in the emerging global system"? The paper adopts the traditional methods of critical analysis in philosophy to evaluate data collected from secondary sources with a view to evaluate and analyse the strengths and weaknesses of the propositions and assumptions arising from the situation. The paper identifies some degree of exaggeration in the fears which Americans are nursing presently. The paper recommends that the countries under review need adopt the complex independent theory of international relations which has the capacity to synthesize elements of the realist and the liberal thoughts among the countries under review. | Complex independent theory; Espionage campaign; Friends or enemy; Hegemony; International relations | None | 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-s2.0-84857803790 | Interpreting foucault: An evaluation of a foucauldian critique of education | Woermann M. | 2012 | South African Journal of Education | 32 | 1 | None | Department of Philosophy, Stellenbosch University, South Africa | Woermann, M., Department of Philosophy, Stellenbosch University, South Africa | The potential strengths and weaknesses of a Foucauldian critique of education are discussed and evaluated. The article focuses specifically on the value of Foucault's work for critiquing social and political ideologies prevalent in education, which is understood as a societal institution, and hence, as a modern regime of institutional power. In terms of strengths, the ability to raise issues of knowledge, power and contestation that are traditionally ignored in educational theory is addressed. In terms of weaknesses, Foucault's problematic use and understanding of power and his apparent rejection of objective truth are investigated. The critique develops at the hand of influential, but competing, interpretations of Foucault's contribution to the field of education in particular, and philosophy in general. It is argued that these influential readings of Foucault gain traction within specific discourses (such as education), and should thus be subjected to critical scrutiny. © 2012 EASA. | Critique; Education; Foucault; Institution; Power; Truth | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84863903220 | Impact of demographic variables on voluntary labour turnover in South Africa | Wöcke A., Heymann M. | 2012 | International Journal of Human Resource Management | 23 | 16 | 10.1080/09585192.2011.639028 | Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria, Sandton, South Africa | Wöcke, A., Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria, Sandton, South Africa; Heymann, M., Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria, Sandton, South Africa | This paper demonstrates the relevance of employee demographic variables as extended factors in the voluntary turnover process since these models currently do not sufficiently explain the factors impacting the turnover decision. Over 1000 managers and knowledge workers were surveyed using a cross-sectional questionnaire to identify potential similarities in demographic variables in the decision to leave the organisation. Findings indicate that various demographic variables (age, race and gender) influence whether pull or push factors are cited in the turnover process. In addition, it is found that the level of education has a stronger relationship to employee mobility than race, which contradicts the current sentiment in the South African labour market. Furthermore, it is concluded that demographic variables of employees should be considered in the extension of contemporary turnover models. The findings have implications for human resource management practices in organisations that are more dependent on knowledge workers. Consequently, the findings have implications for current prevailing theory on voluntary turnover research. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC. | employee mobility; retention; turnover | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-43149126334 | The impact of employment equity regulations on psychological contracts in South Africa | Wöcke A., Sutherland M. | 2008 | International Journal of Human Resource Management | 19 | 4 | 10.1080/09585190801953525 | Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Wöcke, A., Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Sutherland, M., Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | This article will show the impact of employment equity legislation on the psychological employment contracts of the three main employee groupings in South African society. This study is important in that it fills the gap in the literature that identifies labour market regulations as an important shaping influence on the psychological contract. More than 500 managers from across South African industry and from all ethnic groups were surveyed to identify differences in psychological contracts and attitudes towards the social transformation regulations. We found that the legislation has impacted differentially on the three groupings mainly in terms of their loyalty to stay with their organizations, the focus on their career development in terms of the external labour market and the degree to which they felt they had been affected by the legislation. Additionally we find that the perceived linkage between job satisfaction and labour turnover is significantly weakened by labour market legislation in the case of the beneficiaries of the legislation, but that this may not be the case for those negatively affected by the legislation. The findings have significant implications for the HRM practices of multinationals operating in societies with significant labour market regulatory interventions. | Diversity management; Employment equity; Psychological contract; South Africa | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84897401138 | The impact of leadership styles on employee organisational commitment in higher learning institutions | Wiza M., Hlanganipai N. | 2014 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 5 | 4 | 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n4p135 | Department of Business Management, University of Limpopo, Turfloop Campus, Private Bag 1106, Sovenga, 0727, South Africa | Wiza, M., Department of Business Management, University of Limpopo, Turfloop Campus, Private Bag 1106, Sovenga, 0727, South Africa; Hlanganipai, N., Department of Business Management, University of Limpopo, Turfloop Campus, Private Bag 1106, Sovenga, 0727, South Africa | The current study seeks to determine the impact of leadership styles on employees' organisational commitment constructs among University academic staff at a selected South African institution. A quantitative methodology, using self-administered surveys comprised of the Organisational Commitment Questionnaire (OCQ) and the Multi Factor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) was used to collect data from 160 respondents. The data was analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 20.0. Spearman correlation analysis was used to test for relationships between the independent variable (leadership style) and the dependant variable (organizational commitment. The findings of the study revealed that transformational leadership style has a significant and positive relationship with affective and continuance employee commitment while transactional leadership style has significant and positive relationship with only normative commitment. Based on the findings of this study, it is worth noting that leadership styles plays an important role to an employees' organizational commitment and it is very important for organizational policy makers to take this into consideration in order to meet organizational goals. This study contributes to the bank of findings relating to the development of leadership and organisational commitment, not only in South Africa, but within the institutions of higher learning in particular. | Academics; Impact; Organisational commitment; Transactional leadership; Transformational leadership | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84855823346 | Evaluation of risk of injury to the inferior alveolar nerve with classical sagittal split osteotomy technique and proposed alternative surgical techniques using computer-assisted surgery | Wittwer G., Adeyemo W.L., Beinemann J., Juergens P. | 2012 | International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | 41 | 1 | 10.1016/j.ijom.2011.08.001 | Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria; Facharzt Kiefer-Gesichtschirurgie Pla | Wittwer, G., Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland, Facharzt Kiefer-Gesichtschirurgie Plastische und Ästhetische Operationen, Bahnhofplatz 11, CH-4410 Liestal, Switzerland; Adeyemo, W.L., Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria; Beinemann, J., Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Juergens, P., Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland | Neurosensory disturbance after sagittal split osteotomy is a common complication. This study evaluated the course of the mandibular canal at three positions using computed tomography (CT), assessed the risk of injury to the inferior alveolar nerve in classical sagittal split osteotomy, based on the proximity of the mandibular canal to the external cortical bone, and proposed alternative surgical techniques using computer-assisted surgery. CT data from 102 mandibular rami were evaluated. At each position, the distance between the mandibular canal and the inner surface of the cortical bone was measured; if less than 1 mm or if the canal contacted the external cortical bone it was registered as a possible neurosensory compromising proximity. The course of each mandibular canal was allocated to a neurosensory risk or a non-neurosensory risk group. The mandibular canal was in contact with, or within 1 mm of, the lingual cortex in most positions along its course. Neurosensory compromising proximity of the mandibular canal was observed in about 60% of sagittal split ramus osteotomy sites examined. For this group, modified classic osteotomy or complete individualized osteotomy is proposed, depending on the position at which the mandibular canal was at risk; they may be accomplished with computer-assisted navigation. © 2011 International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. | computer-assisted surgery; deficiency; intra-operative navigation; neurosensory; ramus osteotomy | adult; article; clinical evaluation; computer assisted surgery; computer assisted tomography; cortical bone; female; human; inferior alveolar injury; major clinical study; male; mandible; nerve injury; osteotomy; sagittal split osteotomy; surgical technique; Female; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Male; Mandible; Mandibular Nerve; Osteotomy; Osteotomy, Sagittal Split Ramus; Patient Care Planning; Postoperative Complications; Retrospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Somatosensory Disorders; Surgery, Computer-Assisted; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Trigeminal Nerve Injuries; User-Computer Interface | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34447633889 | Evaluation of different growth media for the recovery of the species of Alicyclobacillus | Witthuhn R.C., Duvenage W., Gouws P.A. | 2007 | Letters in Applied Microbiology | 45 | 2 | 10.1111/j.1472-765X.2007.02182.x | Department of Food Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa; Department of Food Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa | Witthuhn, R.C., Department of Food Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa, Department of Food Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Duvenage, W., Department of Food Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Gouws, P.A., Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa | Aims: Five different isolation media, namely potato dextrose agar (PDA), orange serum agar (OSA), K agar, yeast-starch-glucose agar and Bacillus acidocaldarius medium were evaluated for the recovery of Alicyclobacillus spp. from inoculated diluted and undiluted fruit-juice concentrates. Methods and Results: Plates of PDA (pH 3.7), spread with vegetative cells (3.9 × 106 CFU ml-1) of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris from single-strength pear juice, recovered 2.9 × 106CFU ml -1 after 5 days at 50°C (74% recovery). The recovery of endospores from single-strength pear juice, after a heat treatment at 80°C for 10 min, was higher on spread plates of OSA (pH 5.5) at 50°C for 5 days (97% recovery). Conclusions: PDA (pH 3.7) and OSA (pH 5.5) at 50°C for 3-5 days recovered the highest numbers of vegative cells and endospores of Alicyclobacillus spp. from sterilized fruit juices and concentrates. Significance and Impact of the Study: The most appropriate synthetic media for the recovery of Alicyclobacillus species from inoculated fruit juices and concentrates are shown. © 2007 The Authors. | Alicyclobacillus; Endospores; Fruit juice; Isolation media; Spoilage; Vegetative cells | Bacteria; Cells; Fruit juices; Glucose; Heat treatment; pH effects; agar; bacterium; dilution; glucose; inoculation; sporulation; yeast; Alicyclobacillus; article; bacterial endospore; bacterial growth; bacterial strain; culture medium; heat treatment; nonhuman; vegetative growth; Agar; Bacteriological Techniques; Beverages; Culture Media; Gram-Positive Endospore-Forming Bacteria; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Species Specificity; Temperature; Vitis; Alicyclobacillus; Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius; Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris; Pyrus; Solanum tuberosum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-10644291886 | Impact of preservation and different packaging conditions on the microbial community and activity of Kefir grains | Witthuhn R.C., Schoeman T., Cilliers A., Britz T.J. | 2005 | Food Microbiology | 22 | 4 | 10.1016/j.fm.2004.09.001 | Department of Food Science, Stellenbosch University, Priv. Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, S. A., South Africa | Witthuhn, R.C., Department of Food Science, Stellenbosch University, Priv. Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, S. A., South Africa; Schoeman, T., Department of Food Science, Stellenbosch University, Priv. Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, S. A., South Africa; Cilliers, A., Department of Food Science, Stellenbosch University, Priv. Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, S. A., South Africa; Britz, T.J., Department of Food Science, Stellenbosch University, Priv. Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, S. A., South Africa | Kefir is a cultured milk product that is produced by a mixed acidic and alcoholic fermentation by microbes found within Kefir grains. The aim of this study was to evaluate three different packaging materials in their ability to retain the viability and activity of the grains over an extended storage period. The impact of the different packaging and storage conditions on the microbial community of the grains was also determined. Kefir grains were lyophilized, packaged in three different packaging materials, including low-density polyethylene film (LDPE), oriented polyester film (OPET), and methallized oriented polyester film (MOPET) and stored for 3 months at room temperature. Activity tests, including pH, titratable acidity (%TA), lactose and lactic acid content over a 10 and 18 h fermentation period were used to evaluate the acidification activity of the lyophilized grains. Selective media, morphology and physiological characteristics were used to obtain the enumeration values and to identify the microbes present in the packaged and stored grains. Overall, the best retention of the fermentation activity was found for the MOPET film. The OPET packaging film provided the best preservation of the microbial composition. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Fermentation; Kefir grains; Lactic acid bacteria; Packaging; Preservation | Bacteria (microorganisms) | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-13944250383 | Evaluation of different preservation techniques on the storage potential of Kefir grains | Witthuhn R.C., Cilliers A., Britz T.J. | 2005 | Journal of Dairy Research | 72 | 1 | 10.1017/S0022029904000652 | Department of Food Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa | Witthuhn, R.C., Department of Food Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Cilliers, A., Department of Food Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Britz, T.J., Department of Food Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa | [No abstract available] | Air-dried; Freezing; Kefir grains; Lyophilisation; Microbial activity; Refrigeration | alcoholic beverage; animal; article; cattle; cereal; dairying; fermentation; food preservation; methodology; milk; South Africa; Alcoholic Beverages; Animals; Cattle; Cereals; Dairying; Fermentation; Food Preservation; Milk; South Africa; Kefir | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33846786760 | Working practices and incomes of health workers: Evidence from an evaluation of a delivery fee exemption scheme in Ghana | Witter S., Kusi A., Aikins M. | 2007 | Human Resources for Health | 5 | None | 10.1186/1478-4491-5-2 | Immpact, University of Aberdeen, Health Sciences Building, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, United Kingdom; Immpact, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana | Witter, S., Immpact, University of Aberdeen, Health Sciences Building, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, United Kingdom; Kusi, A., Immpact, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Aikins, M., Immpact, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana | Background: This article describes a survey of health workers and traditional birth attendants (TBAs) which was carried out in 2005 in two regions of Ghana. The objective of the survey was to ascertain the impact of the introduction of a delivery fee exemption scheme on both health workers and those providers who were excluded from the scheme (TBAs). This formed part of an overall evaluation of the delivery fee exemption scheme. The results shed light not only on the scheme itself but also on the general productivity of a range of health workers in Ghana. Methods: A structured questionnaire was developed, covering individual and household characteristics, working hours and practices, sources of income, and views of the exemptions scheme and general motivation. After field testing, this was administered to 374 respondents in 12 districts of Central and Volta regions. The respondents included doctors, medical assistants (MAs), public and private midwives, nurses, community health nurses (CHNs), and traditional birth attendants, both trained and untrained. Results: Health workers were well informed about the delivery fee exemptions scheme and their responses on its impact suggest a realistic view that it was a good scheme, but one that faces serious challenges regarding financial sustainability. Concerning its impact on their morale and working conditions, the responses were broadly neutral. Most public sector workers have seen an increased workload, but counterbalanced by increased pay. TBAs have suffered, in terms of client numbers and income, while the picture for private midwives is mixed. The survey also sheds light on pay and productivity. The respondents report long working hours, with a mean of 54 hours per week for community nurses and up to 129 hours per week for MAs. Weekly reported client loads in the public sector range from a mean of 86 for nurses to 269 for doctors. Over the past two years, reported working hours have been increasing, but so have pay and allowances (for doctors, allowances now make up 66% of their total pay). The lowest paid public health worker now earns almost ten times the average gross national income (GNI) per capita, while the doctors earn 38.5 times GNI per capita. This compares well with average government pay of four times GNI per capita. Comparing pay with outputs, the relatively high number of clients reported by doctors reduces their pay differential, so that the cost per client - $ 1.09 - is similar to a nurse's (and lower than a private midwife's). Conclusion: These findings show that a scheme which increases demand for public health services while also sustaining health worker income and morale, is workable, if well managed, even within the relatively constrained human resources environment of countries like Ghana. This may be linked to the fact that internal comparisons reveal Ghana's health workers to be well paid from public sector sources. © 2007 Witter et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | None | 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-s2.0-33847633972 | The impact of ecological variability on the reproductive endocrinology of wild female African elephants | Wittemyer G., Ganswindt A., Hodges K. | 2007 | Hormones and Behavior | 51 | 3 | 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2006.12.013 | Save the Elephants, P.O. Box 54667, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California at Berkeley, 137 Mulford Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States; Department of Reproductive Biology, German Primate Centre, 37077 Goettingen, Germany; Section of Veterinary Wildlife Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, 0110 Onderstepoort, South Africa | Wittemyer, G., Save the Elephants, P.O. Box 54667, Nairobi, Kenya, Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California at Berkeley, 137 Mulford Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States; Ganswindt, A., Department of Reproductive Biology, German Primate Centre, 37077 Goettingen, Germany, Section of Veterinary Wildlife Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, 0110 Onderstepoort, South Africa; Hodges, K., Department of Reproductive Biology, German Primate Centre, 37077 Goettingen, Germany | Non-invasive endocrine methods enable investigation of the relationship between ecological variation and ovarian activity and how this impacts on demographic processes. The underlying physiological factors driving high variation in inter-calving intervals among multi-parous African elephants offer an interesting system for such an investigation. This study investigates the relationship between Normalized Differential Vegetation Index (NDVI), an ecosystem surrogate measure of primary productivity, and fecal progestin concentrations among wild female elephants. Matched fecal samples and behavioral data on reproductive activity were collected from 37 focal individuals during the two-year study. Linear mixed models were used to explore the relationship between fecal 5α-pregnane-3-ol-20-one concentrations and the independent variables of NDVI, calf sex, female age, gestation day, and time since last parturition. Among both non-pregnant and pregnant females, fecal 5α-pregnane-3-ol-20-one concentrations were significantly correlated with time-specific NDVI indicating a strong relationship between ecological conditions and endocrine activity regulating reproduction. In addition, the age of a female and time since her last parturition impacted hormone concentrations. These results indicate that the identification of an individual's reproductive status from a single hormone sample is possible, but difficult to achieve in practice since numerous independent factors, particularly season, impact fecal hormone concentrations. Regardless of season, however, fecal 5α-pregnane-3-ol-20-one concentrations below 1 μg/g were exclusively collected from non-pregnant females, which could be used as a threshold value to identify non-pregnant individuals. Collectively the information generated contributes to a better understanding of environmental regulation of reproductive endocrinology in wild elephant populations, information salient to the management and manipulation of population dynamics in this species. © 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. | African elephant; Demography; Ecology; Feces; Hormone; NDVI; Non-invasive; Population management; Progestogens; Reproduction | 3beta hydroxy 5alpha pregnan 20 one; animal experiment; article; behavior; birth; controlled study; demography; ecosystem restoration; elephant; endocrine function; evolutionary adaptation; feces analysis; female; genital system; gestation period; groups by age; hormone blood level; independent variable; multipara; nonhuman; ovary function; priority journal; productivity; reproduction; seasonal variation; sex ratio; statistical model; vegetation dynamics; 5-alpha-Dihydroprogesterone; Animals; Animals, Wild; Ecosystem; Elephants; Feces; Female; Gestational Age; Male; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Animal; Reproduction; Seasons | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84924346211 | Impact of NERICA adoption on incomes of rice-producing households in Northern Ghana | Wiredu A.N., Asante B.O., Martey E., Diagne A., Dogbe W. | 2014 | Journal of Sustainable Development | 7 | 1 | 10.5539/jsd.v7n1p167 | CSIR-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, Nyankpala, Ghana; Rural Development Theory and Policy, Institute of Agricultural Economics and Social Sciences in Tropics and Subtropics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; CSIR-Crops Research Institute, Ghana; UNE Business School, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia; Africa Rice Centre (AfricaRice), Cotonou, Benin | Wiredu, A.N., CSIR-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, Nyankpala, Ghana, Rural Development Theory and Policy, Institute of Agricultural Economics and Social Sciences in Tropics and Subtropics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Asante, B.O., CSIR-Crops Research Institute, Ghana, UNE Business School, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia; Martey, E., CSIR-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, Nyankpala, Ghana; Diagne, A., Africa Rice Centre (AfricaRice), Cotonou, Benin; Dogbe, W., CSIR-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, Nyankpala, Ghana | The Multinational NERICA Rice Dissemination Project in Ghana promoted the adoption of NERICA varieties and complementary technologies. NERICA adoption was expected to increase rice production and the incomes of beneficiary households. This study assessed the impact of NERICA adoption on the incomes of rice-producing households in northern Ghana. With data from a cross-section of 150 systematically selected rice-producing households, the study revealed 36.7% adoption rate. Agriculture and rice production were the most important livelihood activities as they contributed 80% and 55.09% of total household income respectively. To control for endogeneity, the study used the local average treatment effect (LATE) estimation methodology and showed that NERICA adoption significantly increased rice income, agricultural income, per-capita income and total annual income by $196.52, $446.37, $0.44 and $498.44, respectively. The major recommendation from this study is the need to continue the promotion of the NERICA varieties by creating access to seeds of the varieties together with other productivity enhancing technologies. Efforts should be focused on the provision of marketing and roads infrastructure to induce access to input and product markets. | Adoption; Ghana; Impact; Income; Late; Nerica | None | CSIR, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79955690695 | Toxicological evaluation of aqueous extract of Aloe ferox Mill. in loperamide-induced constipated rats | Wintola O.A., Sunmonu T.O., Afolayan A.J. | 2011 | Human and Experimental Toxicology | 30 | 5 | 10.1177/0960327110372647 | Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa | Wintola, O.A., Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa; Sunmonu, T.O., Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa; Afolayan, A.J., Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa | Aloe ferox Mill. is a widely used medicinal plant in South Africa for the treatment of many ailments including constipation. The present study evaluated the toxicological effect of aqueous leaf extract of the herb at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight for 7 days on the haematological parameters as well as liver and kidney function indices in loperamide-induced constipated rats. The extract did not cause any significant (p > 0.05) effect on the kidney and liver-body weight ratio as well as the kidney function indices including serum levels of creatinine, uric acid, urea, calcium and potassium ions at all the dosages investigated. Whereas the serum levels of total protein, albumin, bilirubin and gamma glutamyl trasferase (GGT) were not affected, the elevated activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) in the untreated constipated animals were normalized following treatment with extract. The data obtained with respect to the haematological analysis indicated that the extracts had no significant (p > 0.05) effect on the haematological parameters with the exception of lymphocyte count which was increased in the untreated constipated rats. This was however attenuated after administering the herb. The available evidence in this study suggests that A. ferox may be safe as an oral remedy for constipation. Generally, the effect of the extract compared favourably well with senokot, a recommended drug for the treatment of constipation. © The Author(s) 2010. | Aloe ferox; function indices; haematological parameters; marker enzymes | alanine aminotransferase; albumin; alkaline phosphatase; Aloe ferox extract; aspartate aminotransferase; bilirubin; calcium ion; creatinine; gamma glutamyltransferase; loperamide; plant extract; potassium ion; senokot; unclassified drug; urea; uric acid; alanine aminotransferase blood level; albumin blood level; alkaline phosphatase blood level; Aloe; Aloe ferox; animal experiment; animal model; aqueous solution; article; aspartate aminotransferase blood level; body weight; calcium blood level; constipation; controlled study; creatinine blood level; drug safety; enzyme activity; gamma glutamyl transferase blood level; hematological parameters; kidney function; kidney mass; liver function; liver weight; lymphocyte count; male; nonhuman; plant leaf; potassium blood level; priority journal; protein blood level; rat; toxicity testing; urea blood level; uric acid blood level; Aloe; Animals; Body Weight; Constipation; Disease Models, Animal; Kidney; Kidney Function Tests; Liver; Liver Function Tests; Loperamide; Lymphocyte Count; Male; Organ Size; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Toxicity Tests; Aloe ferox; Animalia; Rattus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84877022912 | Untapped potential of health impact assessment [Un potentiel inexploité de l'évaluation de l'impact sanitaire] | Winkler M.S., Krieger G.R., Divall M.J., Cissé G., Wielga M., Singer B.H., Tannera M., Utzingera J. | 2013 | Bulletin of the World Health Organization | 91 | 4 | 10.2471/BLT.12.112318 | Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, CH-4051 Basel, Switzerland; New Fields, Denver, United States; SHAPE Consulting Ltd, Pretoria, South Africa; Temkin Wielga and Hardt LLP, Denver, United States; Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States | Winkler, M.S., Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, CH-4051 Basel, Switzerland; Krieger, G.R., New Fields, Denver, United States; Divall, M.J., SHAPE Consulting Ltd, Pretoria, South Africa; Cissé, G., Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, CH-4051 Basel, Switzerland; Wielga, M., Temkin Wielga and Hardt LLP, Denver, United States; Singer, B.H., Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States; Tannera, M., Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, CH-4051 Basel, Switzerland; Utzingera, J., Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, CH-4051 Basel, Switzerland | The World Health Organization has promoted health impact assessment (HIA) for over 20 years. At the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), HIA was discussed as a critical method for linking health to "green economy" and "institutional framework" strategies for sustainable development. In countries having a high human development index (HDI), HIA has been added to the overall assessment suite that typically includes potential environmental and social impacts, but it is rarely required as part of the environmental and social impact assessment for large development projects. When they are performed, project-driven HIAs are governed by a combination of project proponent and multilateral lender performance standards rather than host country requirements. Not surprisingly, in low-HDI countries HIA is missing from the programme and policy arena in the absence of an external project driver. Major drivers of global change (e.g. population growth and urbanization, growing pressure on natural resources and climate change) inordinately affect low- and medium-HDI countries; however, in such countries HIA is conspicuously absent. If the cloak of HIA invisibility is to be removed, it must be shown that HIA is useful and beneficial and, hence, an essential component of the 21st century's sustainable development agenda. We analyse where and how HIA can become fully integrated into the impact assessment suite and argue that the impact of HIA must not remain obscure. | None | health impact; human development index; population growth; public health; sustainable development; urbanization; World Health Organization; article; climate change; economic aspect; environmental impact assessment; environmental protection; health care policy; health impact assessment; health program; human; human development; population growth; social aspect; sustainable development; United Nations; urbanization; world health organization; Conservation of Natural Resources; Decision Making; Developing Countries; Environment; Health Impact Assessment; Humans; Policy; Population Dynamics; World Health; World Health Organization | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84860993299 | Health impact assessment of industrial development projects: A spatio-temporal visualization | Winkler M.S., Krieger G.R., Divall M.J., Singer B.H., Utzinger J. | 2012 | Geospatial Health | 6 | 2 | None | Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, P.O. Box, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland; NewFields, LLC, Denver, CO 80202, United States; SHAPE Consulting Ltd., Pretoria 0062, South Africa; Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States | Winkler, M.S., Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland, University of Basel, P.O. Box, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland; Krieger, G.R., NewFields, LLC, Denver, CO 80202, United States; Divall, M.J., SHAPE Consulting Ltd., Pretoria 0062, South Africa; Singer, B.H., Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States; Utzinger, J., Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland, University of Basel, P.O. Box, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland | Development and implementation of large-scale industrial projects in complex eco-epidemiological settings typically require combined environmental, social and health impact assessments. We present a generic, spatio-temporal health impact assessment (HIA) visualization, which can be readily adapted to specific projects and key stakeholders, including poorly literate communities that might be affected by consequences of a project. We illustrate how the occurrence of a variety of complex events can be utilized for stakeholder communication, awareness creation, interactive learning as well as formulating HIA research and implementation questions. Methodological features are highlighted in the context of an iron ore development in a rural part of Africa. | Developing country; Health impact assessment; Industrial development project; Spatio-temporal visualization | iron derivative; Africa south of the Sahara; article; developing country; environment; geographic information system; geography; health; health care policy; health care quality; human; industry; instrumentation; methodology; mining; public health; rural population; statistics; time; visual field; Africa South of the Sahara; Developing Countries; Environment; Geographic Information Systems; Geography; Health Policy; Humans; Industry; Iron Compounds; Mining; Program Evaluation; Public Health; Rural Population; Time Factors; Visual Fields; World Health | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84907567195 | Baseline health conditions in selected communities of northern Sierra Leone as revealed by the health impact assessment of a biofuel project | Winkler M.S., Knoblauch A.M., Righetti A.A., Divall M.J., Koroma M.M., Fofanah I., Turay H., Hodges M.H., Utzinger J. | 2014 | International Health | 6 | 3 | 10.1093/inthealth/ihu031 | Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, Basel, Switzerland; SHAPE Consulting Ltd, Pretoria, South Africa; Northern Polytechnic, P.O. Box 32, Makeni, Sierra Leone; Helen Keller International, P.O. Box 369, Freetown, Sierra Leone | Winkler, M.S., Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, Basel, Switzerland, University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, Basel, Switzerland; Knoblauch, A.M., Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, Basel, Switzerland, University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, Basel, Switzerland; Righetti, A.A., Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, Basel, Switzerland, University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, Basel, Switzerland; Divall, M.J., SHAPE Consulting Ltd, Pretoria, South Africa; Koroma, M.M., Northern Polytechnic, P.O. Box 32, Makeni, Sierra Leone; Fofanah, I., Helen Keller International, P.O. Box 369, Freetown, Sierra Leone; Turay, H., Helen Keller International, P.O. Box 369, Freetown, Sierra Leone; Hodges, M.H., Helen Keller International, P.O. Box 369, Freetown, Sierra Leone; Utzinger, J., Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, Basel, Switzerland, University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, Basel, Switzerland | Background: As biofuel projects may be associated with positive and negative effects on people's health and wellbeing, a health impact assessment was performed for the Addax Bioenergy Sierra Leone (ABSL) project. We present data from the baseline health survey, which will provide a point of departure for future monitoring and evaluation activities. Methods: In December 2010, a cross-sectional survey was carried out in eight potentially affected communities. A broad set of clinical and parasitological indicators were assessed using standardised, quality-controlled procedures, including anthropometry and prevalence of anaemia, Plasmodium falciparum and helminth infections. Results: Complete datasets were obtained from 1221 individuals of 194 households and eight schools. Of children aged <5 years (n=586), 41.8% were stunted, 23.2% were underweight and 4.8% were wasted. Very high prevalences of anaemia and P. falciparum were found in children aged 6-59 months (n=571; 86.1% and 74.0%, respectively). Overall, 73.7% of women of reproductive age (n=395) were anaemic. In school-aged children (n=240), 27.9% had light- to moderate-intensity hookworm infections, whereas Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and Schistosoma mansoni were rare (<3% each). Conclusions: The detailed description of the baseline health conditions, in combination with future health surveys, will deepen the understanding of how a biofuel project impacts on community health in a rural setting in sub-Saharan Africa. © The Author 2014. | Anaemia; Health impact assessment; Helminth infection; Malaria; Nutritional status; Sierra Leone | albendazole; amodiaquine; artemether; praziquantel; biofuel; adolescent; adult; anemia; anthropometry; Article; Ascaris lumbricoides; child; cross-sectional study; female; health impact assessment; health survey; helminthiasis; hookworm infection; human; major clinical study; malaria falciparum; male; Plasmodium falciparum; prevalence; public health; Schistosoma mansoni; schistosomiasis; Sierra Leone; Trichuris trichiura; underweight; anemia; animal; ascariasis; Child Nutrition Disorders; health impact assessment; health status; infant; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic; Malaria, Falciparum; malnutrition; middle aged; nutritional status; preschool child; procedures; regression analysis; rural population; schistosomiasis mansoni; statistics and numerical data; young adult; Adolescent; Adult; Anemia; Animals; Ascariasis; Biofuels; Child; Child Nutrition Disorders; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health Impact Assessment; Health Status; Humans; Infant; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic; Malaria, Falciparum; Male; Malnutrition; Middle Aged; Nutritional Status; Regression Analysis; Rural Population; Schistosomiasis mansoni; Sierra Leone; Young Adult | None |
| None | None | Parkinsonism in a population of northern Tanzania: A community-based door-to-door study in combination with a prospective hospital-based evaluation | Winkler A.S., Tütüncü E., Trendafilova A., Meindl M., Kaaya J., Schmutzhard E., Kassubek J. | 2010 | Journal of Neurology | 257 | 5 | 10.1007/s00415-009-5420-z | Palliative Medicine and Department of Neurology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Marchioninistrasse 15, 81377 Munich, Germany; Haydom Lutheran Hospital, Mbulu, Manyara, Tanzania; Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany; Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria; District General Hospital, Babati, Manyara, Tanzania | Winkler, A.S., Palliative Medicine and Department of Neurology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Marchioninistrasse 15, 81377 Munich, Germany, Haydom Lutheran Hospital, Mbulu, Manyara, Tanzania; Tütüncü, E., Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany; Trendafilova, A., Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany; Meindl, M., Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria; Kaaya, J., District General Hospital, Babati, Manyara, Tanzania; Schmutzhard, E., Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria; Kassubek, J., Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany | The prevalence of Parkinson's disease (PD) in sub-Saharan Africa is still a matter of debate. The few studies that have been conducted have shown prevalences lower than those in the western world. Whether this represents a genuine finding is unclear to date. In northern Tanzania, we have conducted a hospital-based evaluation and a community-based door-to-door study to assess the prevalence of Parkinsonism, including that of PD. Over a period of 8 months, all patients admitted to a mid-size rural hospital were screened for PD. In parallel, 1,569 people aged ≥50 years were recruited from the communities and assessed for PD with standard questions. Sampling was performed according to the method of "multistage cluster sampling." The questions had previously been tested in a pilot study prior to the survey. People who screened positive were examined by a specialist neurologist. In the hospital, eight of 740 people with neurological diagnoses had Parkinsonism, of whom three patients had a diagnosis of PD. In the community-based study, 18 people answered positively to least one of the 12 screening questions. However, the diagnosis of PD could not be confirmed by further examination in any of them. The prevalence of PD in northern Tanzania was found to be very low. This result would need confirmation in studies with larger populations, ideally of different African ethnicities. © 2009 Springer-Verlag. | Community-based study; Hospital-based study; Parkinson's disease; Prevalence; Tanzania | adult; Africa; aged; article; clinical article; community; ethnicity; evaluation; extrapyramidal syndrome; female; health survey; hospital; hospital admission; human; male; medical specialist; Parkinson disease; parkinsonism; physical examination; pilot study; population; prevalence; priority journal; screening; Tanzania; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Parkinson Disease; Parkinsonian Disorders; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; Rural Population; Tanzania | None |
| None | None | Lethal aggression in Pan is better explained by adaptive strategies than human impacts | Wilson M.L., Boesch C., Fruth B., Furuichi T., Gilby I.C., Hashimoto C., Hobaiter C.L., Hohmann G., Itoh N., Koops K., Lloyd J.N., Matsuzawa T., Mitani J.C., Mjungu D.C., Morgan D., Muller M.N., Mundry R., Nakamura M., Pruetz J., Pusey A.E., Riedel J., Sa | 2014 | Nature | 513 | 7518 | 10.1038/nature13727 | Department of Anthropology, University of Minnesota, 395 Humphrey Center, 301 19th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN, United States; Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, 1987 Upper Buford Circle, St Paul, MN, United States; Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, Leipzig, Germany; Division of Neurobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universitaet Muenchen, Germany; Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, Belgium; Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, 41-2 Kanrin, Inuyama, Aichi, Japan; Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, 104 Biological Sciences Building, Box 90383, Durham, NC, United States; School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, PO Box 872402, Tempe, AZ, United States; School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St. Andrews, Westburn Lane, St Andrews, Fife, United Kingdom; Wildlife Research Center, Kyoto University, 2-24 Tanaka-Sekiden-Cho, Sakyo, Kyoto, Japan; Division of Biological Anthropology, Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Cambridge, Henry Wellcome Building, Fitzwilliam Street, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Zoology Department, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda; Japan Monkey Center, 26 Kanrin, Inuyama, Aichi, Japan; Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan, 101 West Hall, 1085 S. University Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI, United States; Gombe Stream Research Centre, Jane Goodall Institute - Tanzania, P.O. Box 1182, Kigoma, Tanzania; Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL, United States; Department of Anthropology, MSC01-1040, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States; Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, Leipzig, Germany; Department of Anthropology, Iowa State University, 324 Curtiss, Ames, IA, United States; Department of Anthropology, Washington University in St. Louis, Campus Mailbox 1114, One Brookings Drive, St Louis, MO, United States; University of York, Department of Psychology, Heslington, York, United Kingdom; Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States; Department of Anthropology, Yale University, 10 Sachem Street, New Haven, CT, United States; Université de Neuchâtel, Institut de Biologie, Rue Emile-Argand 11, Neuchâtel, Switzerland; Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA, United States | Wilson, M.L., Department of Anthropology, University of Minnesota, 395 Humphrey Center, 301 19th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN, United States, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, 1987 Upper Buford Circle, St Paul, MN, United States; Boesch, C., Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, Leipzig, Germany; Fruth, B., Division of Neurobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universitaet Muenchen, Germany, Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, Belgium; Furuichi, T., Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, 41-2 Kanrin, Inuyama, Aichi, Japan; Gilby, I.C., Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, 104 Biological Sciences Building, Box 90383, Durham, NC, United States, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, PO Box 872402, Tempe, AZ, United States; Hashimoto, C., Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, 41-2 Kanrin, Inuyama, Aichi, Japan; Hobaiter, C.L., School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St. Andrews, Westburn Lane, St Andrews, Fife, United Kingdom; Hohmann, G., Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, Leipzig, Germany; Itoh, N., Wildlife Research Center, Kyoto University, 2-24 Tanaka-Sekiden-Cho, Sakyo, Kyoto, Japan; Koops, K., Division of Biological Anthropology, Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Cambridge, Henry Wellcome Building, Fitzwilliam Street, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Lloyd, J.N., Zoology Department, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda; Matsuzawa, T., Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, 41-2 Kanrin, Inuyama, Aichi, Japan, Japan Monkey Center, 26 Kanrin, Inuyama, Aichi, Japan; Mitani, J.C., Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan, 101 West Hall, 1085 S. University Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI, United States; Mjungu, D.C., Gombe Stream Research Centre, Jane Goodall Institute - Tanzania, P.O. Box 1182, Kigoma, Tanzania; Morgan, D., Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL, United States; Muller, M.N., Department of Anthropology, MSC01-1040, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States; Mundry, R., Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, Leipzig, Germany; Nakamura, M., Wildlife Research Center, Kyoto University, 2-24 Tanaka-Sekiden-Cho, Sakyo, Kyoto, Japan; Pruetz, J., Department of Anthropology, Iowa State University, 324 Curtiss, Ames, IA, United States; Pusey, A.E., Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, 104 Biological Sciences Building, Box 90383, Durham, NC, United States; Riedel, J., Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, Leipzig, Germany; Sanz, C., Department of Anthropology, Washington University in St. Louis, Campus Mailbox 1114, One Brookings Drive, St Louis, MO, United States; Schel, A.M., University of York, Department of Psychology, Heslington, York, United Kingdom; Simmons, N., Zoology Department, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda; Waller, M., Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States; Watts, D.P., Department of Anthropology, Yale University, 10 Sachem Street, New Haven, CT, United States; White, F., Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States; Wittig, R.M., Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, Leipzig, Germany; Zuberbühler, K., School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St. Andrews, Westburn Lane, St Andrews, Fife, United Kingdom, Université de Neuchâtel, Institut de Biologie, Rue Emile-Argand 11, Neuchâtel, Switzerland; Wrangham, R.W., Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA, United States | Observations of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and bonobos (Pan paniscus) provide valuable comparative data for understanding the significance of conspecific killing. Two kinds of hypothesis have been proposed. Lethal violence is sometimes concluded to be the result of adaptive strategies, such that killers ultimately gain fitness benefits by increasing their access to resources such as food or mates. Alternatively, it could be a non-adaptive result of human impacts, such as habitat change or food provisioning. To discriminate between these hypotheses we compiled information from 18 chimpanzee communities and 4 bonobo communities studied over five decades. Our data include 152 killings (n = 58 observed, 41 inferred, and 53 suspected killings) by chimpanzees in 15 communities and one suspected killing by bonobos. We found that males were the most frequent attackers (92% of participants) and victims (73%); most killings (66%) involved intercommunity attacks; and attackers greatly outnumbered their victims (median 8:1 ratio). Variation in killing rates was unrelated to measures of human impacts. Our results are compatible with previously proposed adaptive explanations for killing by chimpanzees, whereas the human impact hypothesis is not supported. ©2014 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved. | None | adaptation; aggression; anthropogenic effect; conspecific; data acquisition; fitness; hominid; hunting; male; resource availability; species conservation; violence; adaptive behavior; aggression; Article; female; fighting; male; nonhuman; Pan paniscus; Pan troglodytes; population density; priority journal; victim; violence; Africa; animal; animal behavior; article; biological model; food; human; human activities; meta analysis; physiology; psychological aspect; sexual behavior; wild animal; Pan; Pan paniscus; Pan troglodytes; Africa; Aggression; Animals; Animals, Wild; Behavior, Animal; Female; Food; Human Activities; Humans; Male; Models, Biological; Pan paniscus; Pan troglodytes; Population Density; Sexual Behavior, Animal | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879605246 | Causes of variable reproductive performance by Southern Ground-hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri and implications for management | Wilson G., Hockey P.A.R. | 2013 | Ibis | 155 | 3 | 10.1111/ibi.12042 | Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa | Wilson, G., Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa; Hockey, P.A.R., Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa | Range occupancy of the cooperatively breeding Southern Ground-Hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri in South Africa has decreased by 65% in the last three generations and the effective management of the remaining populations is hampered by a lack of fundamental understanding of the factors determining reproductive performance. We examined the influence of social and environmental factors on the species' reproductive success in South Africa using data gathered from 23 groups over eight breeding seasons. Some groups had access to artificial nest-sites, others did not. High rainfall (> 500 mm) over the breeding season led to a decrease in reproductive success, with groups being most successful in years when rain in the vicinity of the nest ranged from 300 to 500 mm. Groups breeding in natural nests were successful only when the proportion of open woodland surrounding the nest-site was high. Those that bred in artificial nests, where overall breeding success was more than twice as high as those in natural nests, were less dependent on the availability of open woodland. Large groups (more than three birds) bred more successfully than groups comprising only two to three individuals. Group size, helper effects and rainfall cannot be managed to increase the productivity of Ground-Hornbills but the fact that the availability of artificial nest-sites and the amount of open woodland around the nest-site both contribute positively to breeding performance identifies practical and simple management options for increasing the reproductive output of Southern Ground-Hornbill populations. © 2013 British Ornithologists' Union. | Artificial nest-sites; Breeding success; Conservation; Cooperative breeding; Rainfall; Social effects | artificial nest; bird; breeding season; cooperative breeding; environmental factor; fecundity; group size; habitat availability; nest site; precipitation (climatology); range size; reproductive productivity; reproductive success; social organization; species conservation; South Africa; Aves; Bucorvus leadbeateri | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84892546519 | The politics of youth violence in Rumuekpe and its impact on Rumuekpe community development, 2004-2010 | Wilson G. | 2013 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 4 | 6 | 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n6p73 | Department of Political Science, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumini, Port Harcourt, Nigeria | Wilson, G., Department of Political Science, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumini, Port Harcourt, Nigeria | The study centered on politics of youth violence and its impact on Rumuekpe community development, within the period of 2004 - 2010. Rumuekpe is one of the oil producing communities in Niger Delta region of Nigeria and is noted for their peaceful coexisted and friendly relationship with their guests and neighbours. Suddenly, the communities were thrown into violence due to the inability of the community youth leadership to ensure the accountability of their government and operate all inclusive government, and insincerity in activities of the oil companies operating in Rumuekpe to effectively enforce community development programme in Rumuekpe. The unsatisfactory activities of the youth leadership resulted to agitation by some factions of the youths for a change of the youth leadership, coupled with the ill activities of the oil multinationals, the aggrieved youths were left with no option than to embark on intensive agitation for a change of youth leadership, and community development by oil multinationals. Unfortunately, the agitation graduated to youth violence in Rumuekpe. To that effect, the study is aimed at identifying the causes and effects of the violence on Rumuekpe people and community development. Secondary and primary data were used to achieve the objectives of the study. Our findings proved that the violence was caused by agitation for change in youth leadership and poor activities of Shell in Rumuekpe community. The study showed that the violence had negative impact on Rumuekpe people, community development, oil multinationals and Nigerian state. Based on that, the study made some recommendations on the modalities to avoid future youth violence and achieve community development in Rumuekpe in particular, and Niger Delta Region at large. | And oil multinationals; Community development; Politics; Youth leadership; Youth violence | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84903559734 | The lover and another: A consideration of the efficacy of utilizing a performance poetry competition as vehicle for HIV/AIDS education among young adults | Wilson D., Suter K. | 2013 | Matatu | 43 | 1 | None | University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | Wilson, D., University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Suter, K., University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | [No abstract available] | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79251585957 | Performance of serum c-reactive protein as a screening test for smear-negative tuberculosis in an ambulatory high HIV prevalence population | Wilson D., Badri M., Maartens G. | 2011 | PLoS ONE | 6 | 1 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0015248 | Department of Medicine, Edendale Hospital, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Wilson, D., Department of Medicine, Edendale Hospital, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Badri, M., Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Maartens, G., Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Background: Delayed diagnosis has contributed to the high mortality of sputum smear-negative tuberculosis (SNTB) in high HIV prevalence countries. New diagnostic strategies for SNTB are urgently needed. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a non-specific inflammatory protein that is usually elevated in patients with tuberculosis, but its role in the diagnosis of tuberculosis is uncertain. Methodology/Principal Findings: To determine the diagnostic utility of CRP we prospectively evaluated the performance of CRP as a screening test for SNTB in symptomatic ambulatory tuberculosis suspects followed up for 8 weeks in KwaZulu- Natal, South Africa. Confirmed tuberculosis was defined as positive culture or acid-fast bacilli with granulomata on histology, and possible tuberculosis as documented response to antitubercular therapy. The CRP quotient was defined as a multiple of the upper limit of normal of the serum CRP result. Three hundred and sixty four participants fulfilled entry criteria: 135 (37%) with confirmed tuberculosis, 114 (39%) with possible tuberculosis, and 115 (24%) without tuberculosis. The median CRP quotient was 15.4 (IQR 7.2; 23.3) in the confirmed tuberculosis group, 5.8 (IQR 1.4; 16.0) in the group with possible tuberculosis, and 0.7 (IQR 0.2; 2.2) in the group without tuberculosis (p<0.0001). The CRP quotient above the upper limit of normal had sensitivity 0.98 (95% CI 0.94; 0.99), specificity 0.59 (95% CI 0.50; 0.68), positive predictive value 0.74 (95% CI 0.67; 0.80), negative predictive value 0.96 (95% CI 0.88; 0.99), and diagnostic odds ratio 63.7 (95% CI 19.1; 212.0) in the confirmed tuberculosis group compared with the group without tuberculosis. Higher CRP quotients improved specificity at the expense of sensitivity. Significance: In high HIV prevalence settings a normal CRP could be a useful test in combination with clinical evaluation to rule out tuberculosis in ambulatory patients. Point-of-care CRP should be further evaluated in primary care clinics. © 2011 Wilson et al. | None | C reactive protein; tuberculostatic agent; C reactive protein; acid fast bacterium; adult; article; bacterium culture; controlled clinical trial; diagnostic test accuracy study; diagnostic value; drug response; female; follow up; granuloma; histopathology; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; human tissue; major clinical study; male; predictive value; prevalence; primary health care; prospective study; protein analysis; protein blood level; screening test; sensitivity and specificity; South Africa; sputum smear; tuberculosis; AIDS related complex; evaluation; hospital information system; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; mass screening; methodology; standard; tuberculosis; Bacilli (class); Adult; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; C-Reactive Protein; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Male; Mass Screening; Point-of-Care Systems; Predictive Value of Tests; Prevalence; Sensitivity and Specificity; South Africa; Tuberculosis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79958726865 | Evaluation of the World Health Organization algorithm for the diagnosis of HIV-associated sputum smear-negative tuberculosis | Wilson D., Mbhele L., Badri M., Morroni C., Nachega J., Chaisson R.E., Maartens G. | 2011 | International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease | 15 | 7 | 10.5588/ijtld.10.0440 | Department of Medicine, Edendale Hospital, Pietermaritzburg, 3216, South Africa; Department of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pretoria, South Africa; 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; Department of International Health and Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg, School of Public Health, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of International Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States; Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Wilson, D., Department of Medicine, Edendale Hospital, Pietermaritzburg, 3216, South Africa, Department of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pretoria, South Africa; Mbhele, L., Department of Medicine, Edendale Hospital, Pietermaritzburg, 3216, South Africa; Badri, M., Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Morroni, C., Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Nachega, J., Department of International Health and Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg, School of Public Health, Cape Town, South Africa, Department of International Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Chaisson, R.E., Department of International Health and Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg, School of Public Health, Cape Town, South Africa, Department of International Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States; Maartens, G., Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | BACKGROUND: Outcomes from the World Health Organization's (WHO's) recommendations for the diagnosis of smear-negative tuberculosis (SNTB) in high human immunodeficiency virus prevalence settings are unknown. METHODS: We retrospectively applied the WHO algorithm for SNTB without danger signs to a prospectively enrolled cohort of ambulatory adult SNTB suspects in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Participants fulfilling specified criteria for SNTB started empiric anti-tuberculosis treatment; the rest of the cohort was observed. All were followed for 8 weeks. Confirmed TB was defined as positive culture or granulomata plus acid-fast bacilli on histology. RESULTS: In total, 221 participants retrospectively fulfilled the WHO ambulatory SNTB algorithm entry criteria. The diagnostic performance of the WHO algorithm was: positive predictive value 0.34 (95%CI 0.26-0.43), negative predictive value 0.86 (95%CI 0.76-0.92), positive likelihood ratio 1.43 (95%CI 1.34-1.48), negative likelihood ratio 0.46 (95%CI 0.38-0.56) and diagnostic odds 3.1 (95%CI 1.52-6.34). Losses to follow-up (n = 4), hospitalisations (n = 6) and deaths (n = 5) did not differ significantly in those who were and were not diagnosed with SNTB. CONCLUSIONS: The WHO ambulatory SNTB algorithm had a reasonably high negative predictive value but low positive predictive value. Mortality over an 8-week period was low in participants who met the entry criteria for the WHO algorithm. © 2011 The Union. | HIV; Performance; Smear-negative tuberculosis; WHO recommendations | adult; article; cohort analysis; female; follow up; hospitalization; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; major clinical study; male; mortality; practice guideline; predictive value; priority journal; retrospective study; smear negative tuberculosis; sputum smear; tuberculosis; world health organization; Adult; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; Algorithms; Female; Follow-Up Studies; HIV Infections; Humans; Likelihood Functions; Male; Middle Aged; Predictive Value of Tests; Retrospective Studies; South Africa; Sputum; Tuberculosis; World Health Organization | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84921693102 | Battling the Race: Stylizing Language and Coproducing Whiteness and Colouredness in a Freestyle Rap Performance | Williams Q.E., Stroud C. | 2014 | Journal of Linguistic Anthropology | 24 | 3 | 10.1111/jola.12064 | Linguistics Department, University of the Western Cape, South Africa | Williams, Q.E., Linguistics Department, University of the Western Cape, South Africa; Stroud, C., Linguistics Department, University of the Western Cape, South Africa | In the last 19 years of post-apartheid South African democracy, race remains an enduring and familiar trope, a point of certainty amid the messy ambiguities of transformation. In the present article, we explore the malleable, permeable, and unstable racializations of contemporary South Arica, specifically the way in which coloured and white racializations are negotiated and interactionally accomplished in the context of Capetonian hip-hop. The analysis reveals the complex ways in which racialized bodies are figured semiotically through reference to historical time and contemporary (translocal) social space. But also the way iconic features of blackness are reindexicalized to stand for a transnational whiteness. © 2015 by the American Anthropological Association. | Colouredness; Hip-hop; Performance; Race; Stylization; Whiteness | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-61849180910 | Contaminated land clean-up using composted wastes and impacts of VOCs on land | Williamson J.C., Akinola M., Nason M.A., Tandy S., Healey J.R., Jones D.L. | 2009 | Waste Management | 29 | 5 | 10.1016/j.wasman.2008.11.015 | School of the Environment and Natural Resources, Bangor University, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW Wales, United Kingdom; Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria | Williamson, J.C., School of the Environment and Natural Resources, Bangor University, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW Wales, United Kingdom; Akinola, M., Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria; Nason, M.A., School of the Environment and Natural Resources, Bangor University, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW Wales, United Kingdom; Tandy, S., School of the Environment and Natural Resources, Bangor University, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW Wales, United Kingdom; Healey, J.R., School of the Environment and Natural Resources, Bangor University, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW Wales, United Kingdom; Jones, D.L., School of the Environment and Natural Resources, Bangor University, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW Wales, United Kingdom | This paper describes experiments that demonstrate the effects and potential for remediation of a former steelworks site in Wales polluted with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Under field conditions, PAH-contaminated soil was composted in-vessel, with or without organic feedstocks, receiving forced aeration for 80 days followed by 4 months maturation. Treatments compared PAH removal in contaminated soil to contaminated soil mixed with three different organic waste mixes after composting and after composts were spread to land. After composting, PAH concentrations declined in all treatments, by up to 38%. Sixteen months after the composts were landspread and vegetation was established, only those containing contaminated soil with organic additions exhibited further PAH removal, by up to 29%. Composting resulted in a decline in the relative concentration of small PAHs, whereas the landspreading-vegetation phase saw a decline in the relative concentration of medium PAHs in two of the three composts exhibiting PAH removal. Under controlled glasshouse conditions, vegetated soil columns of differing depths were exposed to VOCs from beneath. VOC vapour affected both shoot and root growth and soil microbial activity; effects varied with distance from the VOC source. This work demonstrated that on-site remediation of aged PAH-contaminated land can be successfully initiated by in-vessel co-composting followed by land spreading and vegetation, within a practical timeframe. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | None | Co-composting; Composted wastes; Contaminated lands; Contaminated soils; Field conditions; Forced aerations; Glasshouse conditions; In vessels; Landspreading; Organic feedstocks; Organic wastes; Relative concentrations; Root growths; Site remediations; Soil columns; Soil microbial activities; Aromatic hydrocarbons; Composting; Contamination; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Sewage; Soil pollution; Soil structure interactions; Soils; Vegetation; Volatile organic compounds; Waste treatment; Remediation; compost; contaminated land; PAH; soil pollution; volatile organic compound; waste management; Environmental Pollution; Environmental Remediation; Metallurgy; Polycyclic Hydrocarbons, Aromatic; Soil; Volatile Organic Compounds; Wales | 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 |
| WoS | WOS:000332072800013 | School-based intervention: evaluating the role of water, latrines and hygiene education on trachoma and intestinal parasitic infections in Ethiopia | Aboset, Nigusu,Berhane, Yemane,Gelaye, Bizu,Kumie, Abera,Williams, Michelle A. | 2014 | JOURNAL OF WATER SANITATION AND HYGIENE FOR DEVELOPMENT | 4 | 1 | 10.2166/washdev.2013.060 | Addis Ababa University, Harvard University, University of Washington, University of Washington Seattle, Addis Continental Inst Publ Hlth, Family Hlth Int | "Williams, Michelle A.: Harvard University", | We sought to evaluate the impact of a hygiene and sanitation intervention program among school-children to control active trachoma and intestinal parasitic infections. This longitudinal epidemiologic study was conducted among 630 students in rural Ethiopia. Baseline and follow-up surveys were conducted to evaluate the impact of a three-pronged intervention program: (i) construction of ventilated improved pit latrines; (ii) provision of clean drinking water; and (iii) hygiene education. Socio-demographic information was collected using a structured questionnaire. Presence of trachoma and intestinal parasitic infections were evaluated using standard procedures. At baseline, 15% of students had active trachoma, while 6.7% of them were found to have active trachoma post-intervention (p < 0.001). Similar improvements were noted for parasitic infections. At baseline, 7% of students were reported to have helminthic infections and 30.2% protozoa infections. However, only 4% of students had any helminthic infection and 13.4% (p < 0.001) of them were found to have any protozoa infection during follow-up surveys. Improvements were also noted in students' knowledge and attitudes towards hygiene and sanitation. In summary, the results of our study demonstrated that provision of a comprehensive and targeted sanitation intervention program was successful in reducing the burden of trachoma and intestinal parasitic infection among schoolchildren. | ETHIOPIA,INTERVENTION,"PARASITIC INFECTION",SANITATION,SCHOOL,TRACHOMA,"ACTIVE TRACHOMA",ALBENDAZOLE,CHILDREN,DISTRICT,EFFICACY,PREVALENCE,PROMOTION,RISK-FACTORS,"SOIL-TRANSMITTED HELMINTHS",TANZANIA | None | None |
| None | None | Dispensary level pilot implementation of rapid diagnostic tests: An evaluation of RDT acceptance and usage by providers and patients - Tanzania, 2005 | Williams H.A., Causer L., Metta E., Malila A., O'Reilly T., Abdulla S., Kachur S.P., Bloland P.B. | 2008 | Malaria Journal | 7 | None | 10.1186/1475-2875-7-239 | International Emergency and Refugee Health Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Mail Stop F-60, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States; National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, University of New South Wales, Australia; Ifakara Health Research and Development Centre (IHRDC), Tanzania; Malaria Branch, CDC, United States | Williams, H.A., International Emergency and Refugee Health Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Mail Stop F-60, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States; Causer, L., National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, University of New South Wales, Australia; Metta, E., Ifakara Health Research and Development Centre (IHRDC), Tanzania; Malila, A., Ifakara Health Research and Development Centre (IHRDC), Tanzania; O'Reilly, T., Malaria Branch, CDC, United States; Abdulla, S., National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, University of New South Wales, Australia; Kachur, S.P., Malaria Branch, CDC, United States; Bloland, P.B., Malaria Branch, CDC, United States | Background. Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) may assist in diagnosis, improve prescribing practices and reduce potential drug resistance development. Without understanding operational issues or acceptance and usage by providers and patients, the costs of these tests may not be justified. Objectives. To evaluate the impact of RDTs on prescribing behaviours, assess prescribers' and patients' perceptions, and identify operational issues during implementation. Methods. Baseline data were collected at six Tanzanian public dispensaries. RDTs were implemented for eight weeks and data collected on frequency of RDT use, results, malaria diagnoses and the prescription of antimalarials. Patients referred for RDTs completed a standardised exit interview. Qualitative methods assessed attitudes toward and satisfaction with RDTs, perceptions about the test and operational issues related to implementation. Results. Of 595 patients at baseline, 200 (33%) were diagnosed clinically with malaria but had a negative RDT. Among the 2519 RDTs performed during implementation, 289 (11.5%) had a negative result and antimalarials prescribed. The proportion of "over-prescriptions" at baseline was 54.8% (198/365). At weeks four and eight this decreased to 16.1% (27/168) and 16.4% (42/256) respectively. A total of 355 patient or parent/caregiver and 21 prescriber individual interviews and 12 focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted. Patients, caregivers and providers trusted RDT results, agreed that use of RDTs was feasible at dispensary level, and perceived that RDTs improved clinical diagnosis. Negative concerns included community suspicion and fear that RDTs were HIV tests, the need for additional supervision in interpreting the results, and increased work loads without added compensation. Conclusion. Overprescriptions decreased over the study period. There was a high degree of patient/caregiver and provider acceptance of and satisfaction with RDTs. Implementation should include community education, sufficient levels of training and supervision and consideration of the need for additional staff. © 2008 Williams et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | antimalarial agent; ambulatory care; article; caregiver; clinical evaluation; diagnostic test; diagnostic value; health care personnel; health care utilization; human; Human immunodeficiency virus; information processing; interview; major clinical study; malaria; parental attitude; patient attitude; patient referral; perception; prescription; preventive health service; Tanzania; workload; attitude to health; health center; malaria; pilot study; psychological aspect; sensitivity and specificity; standard; statistics; Tanzania; Community Health Centers; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Personnel; Humans; Malaria; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Pilot Projects; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tanzania | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78650392878 | Drying of organic solvents: Quantitative evaluation of the efficiency of several desiccants | Williams D.B.G., Lawton M. | 2010 | Journal of Organic Chemistry | 75 | 24 | 10.1021/jo101589h | Research Centre for Synthesis and Catalysis, Department of Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa | Williams, D.B.G., Research Centre for Synthesis and Catalysis, Department of Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa; Lawton, M., Research Centre for Synthesis and Catalysis, Department of Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa | Various commonly used organic solvents were dried with several different drying agents. A glovebox-bound coulometric Karl Fischer apparatus with a two-compartment measuring cell was used to determine the efficiency of the drying process. Recommendations are made relating to optimum drying agents/conditions that can be used to rapidly and reliably generate solvents with low residual water content by means of commonly available materials found in most synthesis laboratories. The practical method provides for safer handling and drying of solvents than methods calling for the use of reactive metals, metal hydrides, or solvent distillation. © 2010 American Chemical Society. | None | Commonly used; Drying agent; Drying process; Gloveboxes; Karl Fischer; Measuring cells; Metal hydrides; Practical method; Quantitative evaluation; Reactive metals; Residual water content; Curing; Distillation; Driers (materials); Hydrides; Organic solvents; Water content; Drying; desiccant; metal; organic solvent; water; article; cell assay; coulometry; distillation; drying; high temperature procedures; quantitative analysis; reliability; synthesis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-40849123775 | Synthesis and evaluation of phosphine-N ligands in transition metal-catalysed C{single bond}C bond forming reactions | Williams D.B.G., Pretorius M. | 2008 | Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical | 284 | 42371 | 10.1016/j.molcata.2008.01.007 | Department of Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park, 2006, South Africa | Williams, D.B.G., Department of Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park, 2006, South Africa; Pretorius, M., Department of Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park, 2006, South Africa | A series of phosphino-imine and the corresponding phosphino-amine P,NR ligands (R = alkyl, aryl) was synthesised from the commercially available starting material 2-(diphenylphosphino)benzaldehyde, including P,N bi-, tri- and tetradentate imine ligands, their secondary amine analogues, and also the methylated tertiary amine equivalents. As an extension, some P,NPPh2 and P,NPCy2 derivatives were also prepared from the same starting material. All of these ligands were successfully applied in catalytic reactions (Heck, cross-coupling and hydroformylation), and benchmarked against traditional ligands with satisfying results. While providing catalyst systems that were stable and generally acceptably active in comparison with the benchmarks, the Pd-ligand catalyst systems of this study were found to be especially active in Stille reactions. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Catalysis; Ligands; Palladium; Rhodium | Catalysis; Crosslinking; Ligands; Reaction rates; Synthesis (chemical); Catalyst systems; Catalytic reactions; Secondary amines; Tetradentate imine ligands; Transition metal compounds | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84938590827 | Evaluation of Fingerstick Cryptococcal Antigen Lateral Flow Assay in HIV-Infected Persons: A Diagnostic Accuracy Study | Williams D.A., Kiiza T., Kwizera R., Kiggundu R., Velamakanni S., Meya D.B., Rhein J., Boulware D.R. | 2015 | Clinical Infectious Diseases | 61 | 3 | 10.1093/cid/civ263 | University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States; Infectious Diseases Institute, P.O. Box 22418, Kampala, Uganda, Uganda; College of Health Sciences, Department of Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda | Williams, D.A., University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States, Infectious Diseases Institute, P.O. Box 22418, Kampala, Uganda, Uganda; Kiiza, T., Infectious Diseases Institute, P.O. Box 22418, Kampala, Uganda, Uganda; Kwizera, R., Infectious Diseases Institute, P.O. Box 22418, Kampala, Uganda, Uganda; Kiggundu, R., Infectious Diseases Institute, P.O. Box 22418, Kampala, Uganda, Uganda; Velamakanni, S., University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States; Meya, D.B., University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States, Infectious Diseases Institute, P.O. Box 22418, Kampala, Uganda, Uganda, College of Health Sciences, Department of Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Rhein, J., University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States, Infectious Diseases Institute, P.O. Box 22418, Kampala, Uganda, Uganda; Boulware, D.R., University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States | Background. Cryptococcus neoformans is the most common cause of adult meningitis in sub-Saharan Africa. The cryptococcal antigen (CRAG) lateral flow assay (LFA) has simplified diagnosis as a point-of-care test approved for serum or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). We evaluated the accuracy of the CRAG LFA using fingerstick whole blood compared with serum/plasma and CSF for diagnosing meningitis. Methods. From August 2013 to August 2014, CRAG LFA (IMMY, Norman, Oklahoma) tests were performed on fingerstick whole blood, plasma/serum, and CSF in 207 HIV-infected adults with suspected meningitis in Kampala, Uganda. Venous blood was also collected and centrifuged to obtain serum and/or plasma. CSF was tested after lumbar puncture. Results. Of 207 participants, 149 (72%) had fingerstick CRAG-positive results. There was 100% agreement between fingerstick whole blood and serum/plasma. Of the 149 fingerstick CRAG-positive participants, 138 (93%) had evidence of cryptococcal meningitis with a positive CSF CRAG. Eleven participants (5%) had isolated cryptococcal antigenemia with a negative CSF CRAG and culture, of whom 8 had CSF abnormalities (n = 3 lymphocytic pleocytosis, n = 5 elevated protein, n = 4 increased opening pressure). No persons with cryptococcal meningitis had negative fingersticks. Conclusions. The 100% agreement between whole blood, serum, and plasma CRAG LFA results demonstrates that fingerstick CRAG is a reliable bedside diagnostic test. Using point-of-care CRAG testing simplifies screening large numbers of patients and enables physicians to prioritize on whom to measure CSF opening pressure using manometers. © 2015 The Author 2015. | cryptococcal meningitis; cryptococcus; HIV; lateral flow assay; point-of-care systems | adult; Article; cerebrospinal fluid; clinical evaluation; clinical trial; cost effectiveness analysis; cryptococcal antigen lateral flow assay; cryptococcal meningitis; diagnostic accuracy; diagnostic test accuracy study; evidence based practice; female; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; immunology test kit; lumbar puncture; major clinical study; male; molecular diagnostics; plasma; point of care testing; priority journal; prospective study; serum; Uganda; venous blood | K24AI096925, NIAID, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; R01NS086312, NIAID, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; R25TW009345, NIAID, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; T32AI055433, NIAID, National I |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-46749110693 | "Coming to town": The impact of urbanicity, cigarette advertising, and network norms on the smoking attitudes of black women in Cape Town, South Africa | Williams C.T., Grier S.A., Marks A.S. | 2008 | Journal of Urban Health | 85 | 4 | 10.1007/s11524-008-9286-7 | School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States; American University, Washington, DC, United States; University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Kogod School of Business, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016-8044, United States | Williams, C.T., School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States; Grier, S.A., American University, Washington, DC, United States, Kogod School of Business, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016-8044, United States; Marks, A.S., University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | This study was conducted to examine the effect of urban living on smoking attitudes among black African women in South Africa. We examine how urbanicity affects attitudes toward smoking and how it moderates the relationship between both advertising exposure and network norms on black women's smoking attitudes. Respondents were 975 black women currently living in Cape Town townships, some of which were raised in rural villages or small towns. Respondents completed a cross-sectional survey, which included data on smoking attitudes, norms, and exposure to cigarette advertising. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed with smoking attitudes as the response variable, and urbanicity, cigarette advertising exposure, and network smoking norms as primary explanatory variables. Interactions were tested to determine whether urbanicity modified the effect of advertising exposure and network norms on smoking attitudes. Independent effects of urbanicity, exposure to cigarette advertising, and greater smoking prevalence within women's networks were associated with more favorable smoking attitudes. In addition, urbanicity moderated the relationship between network smoking norms and smoking attitudes, but not cigarette advertising exposure and smoking attitudes. Urbanicity, cigarette advertising, and networks play important roles in women's attitudes toward smoking, and potentially, smoking behavior. Overall, our results suggest that strong and creative anti-smoking efforts are needed to combat the potential for a smoking epidemic among an increasingly urbanized population of black women in South Africa and similar emerging markets. Additional research is warranted. © 2008 The New York Academy of Medicine. | Cigarette advertising; Smoking attitudes; South Africa; Urbanicity; Women's health | adolescent; adult; advertizing; article; attitude to health; cigarette smoking; female; human; major clinical study; prevalence; priority journal; smoking habit; social network; South Africa; urban population; urban rural difference; Adolescent; Adult; Advertising as Topic; African Continental Ancestry Group; Aged; Analysis of Variance; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Linear Models; Middle Aged; Questionnaires; Smoking; South Africa; Urban Population; Women's Health | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33746456905 | The potential impact of male circumcision on HIV in sub-Saharan Africa | Williams B.G., Lloyd-Smith J.O., Gouws E., Hankins C., Getz W.M., Hargrove J., De Zoysa I., Dye C., Auvert B. | 2006 | PLoS Medicine | 3 | 7 | 10.1371/journal.pmed.0030262 | World Health Organization, Stop TB Department, Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States; Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States; Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Policy, Evidence, and Partnerships Department, Geneva, Switzerland; South African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis, Stellenbosch, South Africa; World Health Organization, Family and Community Health, Geneva, Switzerland; INSERM, Saint Maurice, France; University of Versailles-Saint Quentin, Faculté de Médecine, Paris-Ile-de-France-Ouest, Saint Maurice, France; Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Ambroise Pare, Boulogne, France | Williams, B.G., World Health Organization, Stop TB Department, Geneva, Switzerland; Lloyd-Smith, J.O., Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States, Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States; Gouws, E., Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Policy, Evidence, and Partnerships Department, Geneva, Switzerland; Hankins, C., Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States; Getz, W.M., Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States; Hargrove, J., South African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis, Stellenbosch, South Africa; De Zoysa, I., World Health Organization, Family and Community Health, Geneva, Switzerland; Dye, C., World Health Organization, Stop TB Department, Geneva, Switzerland; Auvert, B., INSERM, Saint Maurice, France, University of Versailles-Saint Quentin, Faculté de Médecine, Paris-Ile-de-France-Ouest, Saint Maurice, France, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Ambroise Pare, Boulogne, France | Background: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) has shown that male circumcision (MC) reduces sexual transmission of HIV from women to men by 60% (32%-76%; 95% CI) offering an intervention of proven efficacy for reducing the sexual spread of HIV. We explore the implications of this finding for the promotion of MC as a public health intervention to control HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods and Findings: Using dynamical simulation models we consider the impact of MC on the relative prevalence of HIV in men and women and in circumcised and uncircumcised men. Using country level data on HIV prevalence and MC, we estimate the impact of increasing MC coverage on HIV incidence, HIV prevalence, and HIV-related deaths over the next ten, twenty, and thirty years in sub-Saharan Africa. Assuming that full coverage of MC is achieved over the next ten years, we consider three scenarios in which the reduction in transmission is given by the best estimate and the upper and lower 95% confidence limits of the reduction in transmission observed in the RCT. MC could avert 2.0 (1.1-3.8) million new HIV infections and 0.3 (0.1-0.5) million deaths over the next ten years in sub-Saharan Africa. In the ten years after that, it could avert a further 3.7 (1.9-7.5) million new HIV infections and 2.7 (1.5-5.3) million deaths, with about one quarter of all the incident cases prevented and the deaths averted occurring in South Africa. We show that a) MC will increase the proportion of infected people who are women from about 52% to 58%; b) where there is homogenous mixing but not all men are circumcised, the prevalence of infection in circumcised men is likely to be about 80% of that in uncircumcised men; c) MC is equivalent to an intervention, such as a vaccine or increased condom use, that reduces transmission in both directions by 37%. Conclusions: This analysis is based on the result of just one RCT, but if the results of that trial are confirmed we suggest that MC could substantially reduce the burden of HIV in Africa, especially in southern Africa where the prevalence of MC is low and the prevalence of HIV is high. While the protective benefit to HIV-negative men will be immediate, the full impact of MC on HIV-related illness and death will only be apparent in ten to twenty years. © 2006 Williams et al. | None | Africa; article; circumcision; condom; health care; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; incidence; infection control; mathematical analysis; mortality; prevalence; public health service; sexual behavior; sexual transmission; vaccination; Africa south of the Sahara; circumcision; cultural anthropology; disease transmission; female; forecasting; male; randomized controlled trial (topic); South Africa; statistics; theoretical model; utilization review; Africa South of the Sahara; Circumcision, Male; Culture; Disease Transmission, Infectious; Female; Forecasting; HIV Infections; Humans; Incidence; Male; Models, Theoretical; Prevalence; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Sexual Behavior; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80052962337 | Epidemiological impact of tenofovir gel on the HIV epidemic in South Africa | Williams B.G., Abdool Karim S.S., Karim Q.A., Gouws E. | 2011 | Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes | 58 | 2 | 10.1097/QAI.0b013e3182253c19 | South African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis (SACEMA), 19 Jonkershoek Road, Stellenbosch, South Africa; South Africa and Department of Epidemiology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Columbia University, NY, United States; Strategic Intelligence and Analysis Division, UNAIDS-Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, Geneva, Switzerland | Williams, B.G., South African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis (SACEMA), 19 Jonkershoek Road, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Abdool Karim, S.S., South Africa and Department of Epidemiology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Columbia University, NY, United States; Karim, Q.A., South Africa and Department of Epidemiology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Columbia University, NY, United States; Gouws, E., Strategic Intelligence and Analysis Division, UNAIDS-Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, Geneva, Switzerland | Background: Tenofovir gel, an antiretroviral-based vaginal microbicide, reduced HIV acquisition by 39% in women in a recent randomized controlled clinical trial in South Africa. Methods: To inform policy, we used a dynamical model of HIV transmission, calibrated to the epidemic in South Africa, to determine the population-level impact of this microbicide on HIV incidence, prevalence, and deaths and to evaluate its cost-effectiveness. Results: If women use tenofovir gel in 80% or more of sexual encounters (high coverage), it could avert 2.33 (0.12 to 4.63) million new infections and save 1.30 (0.07 to 2.42) million lives and if used in 25% of sexual encounters (low coverage), it could avert 0.50 (0.04 to 0.77) million new infections and save 0.29 (0.02 to 0.44) million deaths, over the next 20 years. At US $0.50 per application, the cost per infection averted at low coverage is US $2392 (US $562 to US $4222) and the cost per disability-adjusted life year saved is US $104 (US $27 to US $181); at high coverage the costs are about 30% less. Conclusions: Over 20 years, the use of tenofovir gel in South Africa could avert up to 2 million new infections and 1 million AIDS deaths. Even with low rates of gel use, it is highly cost-effective and compares favorably with other control methods. This female-controlled prevention method could have a significant impact on the epidemic of HIV in South Africa. Programs should aim to achieve gel use in more than 25% of sexual encounters to significantly alter the course of the epidemic. © 2011 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. | cost effectiveness; HIV prevention; microbicide gel; South Africa; tenofovir | microbicide; tenofovir; acquired immune deficiency syndrome; article; cost effectiveness analysis; disability; epidemic; female; gel; health care cost; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; incidence; mortality; prevalence; priority journal; sexual intercourse; South Africa; virus transmission; Adenine; Anti-HIV Agents; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Incidence; Models, Biological; Phosphonic Acids; Prevalence; South Africa; Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies | 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-s2.0-33746298345 | The design of an ERT system for 3D data acquisition and a quantitative evaluation of its performance | Wilkinson A.J., Randall E.W., Long T.M., Collins A. | 2006 | Measurement Science and Technology | 17 | 8 | 10.1088/0957-0233/17/8/006 | Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa; Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town, South Africa | Wilkinson, A.J., Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa; Randall, E.W., Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Long, T.M., Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa; Collins, A., Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa | This paper describes a multi-plane implementation of a current-pulse electrical resistance tomography (ERT) data capture system. This is achieved by extending a single plane system, with 16 electrodes and 16 parallel measurement channels, to a one capable of acquiring data in a specified sequence across multiple planes (up to eight) by inserting multiplexer modules in parallel between the instrument and the electrode array. This approach allows high-speed capture systems to be configured for applications such as dual plane cross-correlation velocity measurements or more complex current injection and measurement sequences yielding 3D data sets. The measurement timing and multiplexer measurement sequences are implemented by an embedded processor. Both the executable code and the measurement sequence tables are downloaded to the instrument at start-up. This allows flexibility in specifying the data acquisition sequences and timing required for specific applications without modification of the hardware or embedded code. The effect of measurement noise on the estimated conductivity is quantified and spatial resolution discussed for the case of a 2D online imaging algorithm. Example reconstructions from recorded data sets are presented which verify the operation of the instrument. © 2006 IOP Publishing Ltd. | 3D; Current pulse; Electrical resistance tomography; ERT; Multiplexing; Noise; Resolution | Acoustic noise; Data acquisition; Electrodes; Multiplexing; Optical resolving power; Tomography; Current pulse; Electrical resistance tomography (ERT); High-speed capture systems; Multiplexer modules; Electric resistance; Acoustic noise; Data acquisition; Electric resistance; Electrodes; Multiplexing; Optical resolving power; Tomography | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84920278542 | Kathu Pan 1 points and the assemblage-scale, probabilistic approach: A response to Rots and Plisson, "Projectiles and the abuse of the use-wear method in a search for impact" | Wilkins J., Schoville B.J., Brown K.S., Chazan M. | 2015 | Journal of Archaeological Science | 54 | None | 10.1016/j.jas.2014.12.003 | Institute of Human Origins, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, PO Box 872402, Tempe, AZ, United States; Department of Archaeology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa; Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto, 19 Russell Street, Toronto, ON, Canada | Wilkins, J., Institute of Human Origins, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, PO Box 872402, Tempe, AZ, United States; Schoville, B.J., Institute of Human Origins, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, PO Box 872402, Tempe, AZ, United States; Brown, K.S., Department of Archaeology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa; Chazan, M., Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto, 19 Russell Street, Toronto, ON, Canada | Rots and Plisson (2014) question our conclusion that 500,000-year-old points from Kathu Pan 1, South Africa were used as spear tips (Wilkins etal., 2012). However, their reinterpretation of the fractures we identify as diagnostic impact fractures are incorrect. Despite the assertion, knapping processes alone do not explain the basal modifications on the KP1 points. Although Rots and Plisson are critical of the edge damage distribution method, it provides objective, quantitative and statistical comparisons of experimental and archaeological datasets. The data we present stand as reliable evidence for early hafted hunting technology. We suggest that the disagreement stems from a differing perspective on how lithic functional studies should deal with equifinality and the challenge of confidently assessing stone tool function. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. | Diagnostic impact fractures; Edge damage distribution; Functional analysis; Hafting; Hunting technology; Lithic analysis; Middle stone age; Points; Spears; Use-wear | archaeological evidence; hunting; Mesolithic; probability; tool use; South Africa | BCS-0524087, NSF, National Science Foundation; BCS-1138073, NSF, National Science Foundation |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84867747561 | The effect of frother type and dosage on flotation performance in the presence of high depressant concentrations | Wiese J., Harris P. | 2012 | Minerals Engineering | None | None | 10.1016/j.mineng.2012.03.028 | Centre for Minerals Research, University of Cape Town, South Africa | Wiese, J., Centre for Minerals Research, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Harris, P., Centre for Minerals Research, University of Cape Town, South Africa | The use of high dosages of polysaccharide depressants in order to depress the undesired naturally floatable gangue (NFG) present in ores beneficiated from the Bushveld Complex, South Africa, results in a significant decrease in the stability of flotation froths. These unstable froths can result in restricted mass pull and decreased valuable mineral recovery. Previous work using a single polyglycol ether type frother, DOW 200, has shown that an increase in frother dosage could be used to overcome the destabilisation of the froth to a certain extent and improve valuable mineral recovery. This resulted in an increase in water recovery and dilution of the concentrate by entrained material. This work extends this study to examine the effect of using a stronger frother, DOW 250, on the recovery of sulphide minerals and floatable gangue from a Merensky ore at different dosages of guar gum and CMC, which are typically used as depressants in the processing of Merensky ore. Results indicate that an increase in the strength of the frother resulted in a more robust froth. Depressant type also had an influence on results obtained. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Flotation depressants; Flotation frothers; Froth flotation; Precious metal ores | Bushveld Complex; Floatable gangue; Flotation depressants; Flotation frothers; Flotation froths; Flotation performance; Frothers; Guar gums; Merensky ore; Mineral recovery; Polyglycol ethers; Precious metal ores; South Africa; Water recovery; Ethers; Froth flotation; Ores; Precious metals; Recovery; Ore treatment | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33751367681 | New observations on shatter cones in the Vredefort impact structure, South Africa, and evaluation of current hypotheses for shatter cone formation | Wieland F., Reimold W.U., Gibson R.L. | 2006 | Meteoritics and Planetary Science | 41 | 11 | None | Impact Cratering Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa; Museum for Natural History (Mineralogy), Humboldt University, Invalidenstrasse 43, D-10115 Berlin, Germany | Wieland, F., Impact Cratering Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa; Reimold, W.U., Impact Cratering Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa, Museum for Natural History (Mineralogy), Humboldt University, Invalidenstrasse 43, D-10115 Berlin, Germany; Gibson, R.L., Impact Cratering Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa | Shatter cones have been described from many meteorite impact structures and are widely regarded as a diagnostic macroscopic recognition feature for impact. However, the origin of this meso- to macroscopic striated fracture phenomenon has not yet been satisfactorily resolved, and the timing of shatter cone formation in the cratering process still remains enigmatic. Here, previous results from studies of shatter cones from the Vredefort impact structure and other impact structures are discussed in the light of new field observations made in the Vredefort Dome. Contrary to earlier claims, Vredefort cone fractures do not show uniform apex orientations at any given outcrop, nor do small cones show a pattern consistent with the previously postulated "master cone" concept. Simple back-rotation of impact-rotated strata to a horizontal pre-impact position also does not lead to a uniform centripetal-upward orientation of the cone apices. Striation patterns on the cone surfaces are variable, ranging from the typically diverging pattern branching off the cone apex to subparallel-to-parallel patterns on almost flat surfaces. Striation angles on shatter cones do not increase with distance from the center of the dome, as alleged in the literature. Instead, a range of striation angles is measured on individual shatter cones from a specific outcrop. New observations on small-scale structures in the collar around the Vredefort Dome confirm the relationship of shatter cones with subparallel sets of curviplanar fractures (so-called multipli-striated joint sets, MSJS). Pervasive, meter-scale tensile fractures cross-cut shatter cones and appear to have formed after the closely spaced MSJ-type fractures. The results of this study indicate that none of the existing hypotheses for the formation of shatter cones are currently able to adequately explain all characteristics of this fracturing phenomenon. Therefore, we favor a combination of aspects of different hypotheses that includes the interaction of elastic waves, as supported by numerical modeling results and which reasonably explains the variety of shatter cone shapes, the range of striation geometries and angles, and the relationship of closely spaced fracture systems with the striated surfaces. In the light of the currently available theoretical basis for the formation of shatter cones, the results of this investigation lead to the conclusion that shatter cones are tensile fractures and might have formed during shock unloading, after the passage of the shock wave through the target rocks. © The Meteoritical Society, 2006. | None | cratering; impact structure; meteorite; numerical model; shatter cone; striation; Africa; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-29244457231 | Structural analysis of the collar of the Vredefort Dome, South Africa - Significance for impact-related deformation and central uplift formation | Wieland F., Gibson R.L., Reimold W.U. | 2005 | Meteoritics and Planetary Science | 40 | 42623 | None | Impact Cratering Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, P.O. Wits 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa | Wieland, F., Impact Cratering Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, P.O. Wits 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa; Gibson, R.L., Impact Cratering Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, P.O. Wits 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa; Reimold, W.U., Impact Cratering Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, P.O. Wits 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa | Landsat TM, aerial photograph image analysis, and field mapping of Witwatersrand supergroup meta-sedimentary strata in the collar of the Vredefort Dome reveals a highly heterogeneous internal structure involving folds, faults, fractures, and melt breccias that are interpreted as the product of shock deformation and central uplift formation during the 2.02 Ga Vredefort impact event. Broadly radially oriented symmetric and asymmetric folds with wavelengths ranging from tens of meters to kilometers and conjugate radial to oblique faults with strike-slip displacements of, typically, tens to hundreds of meters accommodated tangential shortening of the collar of the dome that decreased from ∼17% at a radius from the dome center of 21 km to <5% at a radius of 29 km. Ubiquitous shear fractures containing pseudotachylitic breccia, particularly in the metapelitic units, display local slip senses consistent with either tangential shortening or tangential extension; however, it is uncertain whether they formed at the same time as the larger faults or earlier, during the shock pulse. In addition to shatter cones, quartzite units show two fracture types - a cm-spaced rhomboidal to orthogonal type that may be the product of shock-induced deformation and later joints accomplishing tangential and radial extension. The occurrence of pseudotachylitic breccia within some of these later joints, and the presence of radial and tangential dikes of impact melt rock, confirm the impact timing of these features and are suggestive of late-stage collapse of the central uplift. © The Meteoritical Society, 2005. | None | deformation; impact structure; structural geology; uplift; Africa; Free State; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Vredefort Dome | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84955308397 | Socio-economic impacts of the deployment of improved fuel efficient stoves: The ILF uganda commercialization program | Wiedmer D., Jouslin-de-Noray P., Graveaud F., Jahangiri V. | 2015 | Field Actions Science Report | 8 | None | None | ENEA Consulting, 89 rue Réaumur, Paris, France; International Lifeline Fund, P.O. Box 70, Adol Palino Road, Lira, Uganda | Wiedmer, D., ENEA Consulting, 89 rue Réaumur, Paris, France; Jouslin-de-Noray, P., ENEA Consulting, 89 rue Réaumur, Paris, France; Graveaud, F., ENEA Consulting, 89 rue Réaumur, Paris, France; Jahangiri, V., International Lifeline Fund, P.O. Box 70, Adol Palino Road, Lira, Uganda | Biomass accounts for 91% of the total energy used in Uganda, but is often used unsustainably: if deforestation continues at the present rate, it could lead to the destruction of all Ugandan forests by 2050. As a consequence, wood and charcoal are becoming scarce and their price is increasing. Fuel Efficient Stoves are a way to tackle these issues by decreasing the amount of biomass used for cooking. International Lifeline Fund (ILF) has launched in 2008 the cookstove Uganda Commercialization Program in the region of Lira. The program consists in the local production of improved Fuel Efficient Stoves and their selling to households by local vendors. The socio-economic impacts of this program, both on end users and on the local economy, have been studied during a field mission conducted by ENEA Consulting in 2012. The ILF Fuel Efficient Stoves reduce the domestic consumption of charcoal and energetic expenditures. Interviews of end users confirmed that they feel safer with ILF Fuel Efficient Stoves than with previous devices. They also perceive a reduction of health problems linked to domestic air pollution and an increase in women’s free time. Users also report a positive impact on domestic life as the use of the cookstove reduces the quarrels between husbands and wives by keeping meals warm and ready. Finally, the main local economic benefit along the value chain of the project appears to be the direct creation of several long-term full-time jobs. Possible improvements of the business model will be suggested, in particular to ensure its long-term economic viability. © Author(s) 2015. | Biomass; Charcoal; Cookstoves; Economic impacts; FES; Fuel efficient stoves; Social impacts; Uganda | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84911449292 | Evaluation of a low-tech method, pepper–grease, for combatting elephant crop-raiding activities in Kakum Conservation Area, Ghana | Wiafe E.D., Sam M.K. | 2014 | Pachyderm | 55 | None | None | Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Management, Presbyterian University College, PO Box 393, Akropong, Akuapem, Ghana; Wildlife Division of Forestry Commission, Western Regional Office, Takoradi, Ghana | Wiafe, E.D., Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Management, Presbyterian University College, PO Box 393, Akropong, Akuapem, Ghana; Sam, M.K., Wildlife Division of Forestry Commission, Western Regional Office, Takoradi, Ghana | Alow-tech method for preventing elephants from destroying farms around Kakum Conservation Area in Ghana was assessed to evaluate its efficacy in warding off marauding elephants. Sixty fenced and 60 unfenced farms located at the peripheries of the protected area were selected and each inspected regularly for 12 months. One hundred twenty farmers were interviewed on the use of the pepper–grease fence to determine their level of knowledge of the efficacy of the method. In 75% of the fenced farms, elephants came close to the fence but never crossed it; they never visited 20% of these farms and only 5% attempted to break through or enter. Of the farms that were not fenced at all, elephants raided 75% completely. Most of the respondents (76.7%) had good knowledge of the pepper fence. Their major sources of information were the staff of the Wildlife Division and agricultural extension agents (54.5%); 31.1% had heard about it from other farmers. Only 14.4% got their knowledge from observing other farmers. In practice, 26.7% said they used it effectively, 22.2% partially, and 51.1% did not practise the method at all. Cost and difficulty of acquiring materials were the main issues affecting lack of adoption. The results support the recommendation that government and non-governmental agencies supply inputs to farmers consistently. © 2014, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. All rights reserved. | None | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000302143600011 | Continuous EEG monitoring in Kenyan children with non-traumatic coma | Chengo, Edwin,Fegan, Gregory,Garrashi, Harrun,Gwer, Samson,Idro, Richard,Kirkham, Fenella J.,Newton, Charles R.,White, Steve | 2012 | ARCHIVES OF DISEASE IN CHILDHOOD | 97 | 4 | 10.1136/archdischild-2011-300935 | Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, Makerere University, University College London, University of London, University of Oxford, University of Southampton, Afya Res Africa, Southampton Gen Hosp, Wellcome Trust Res Programme | "White, Steve: Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust","White, Steve: University College London","White, Steve: University of London", | Background The aim of this study was to describe the EEG and clinical profile of seizures in children with non-traumatic coma, compare seizure detection by clinical observations with that by continuous EEG, and relate EEG features to outcome.
Methods This prospective observational study was conducted at the paediatric high dependency unit of Kilifi District Hospital, Kenya. Children aged 9 months to 13 years presenting with acute coma were monitored by EEG for 72 h or until they regained consciousness or died. Poor outcome was defined as death or gross motor deficits at discharge.
Results 82 children (median age 2.8 (IQR 2.0-3.9) years) were recruited. An initial medium EEG amplitude (100-300 mV) was associated with less risk of poor outcome compared to low amplitude (<= 100 mV) (OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.1 to 0.7; p<0.01). 363 seizures in 28 (34%) children were observed: 240 (66%) were electrographic and 112 (31%) electroclinical. In 16 (20%) children, electrographic seizures were the only seizure types detected. The majority (63%) of electroclinical seizures had focal clinical features but appeared as generalised (79%) or focal with secondary generalisation (14%) on EEG. Occurrence of any seizure or status epilepticus during monitoring was associated with poor outcome (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.2 to 8.7; p=0.02 and OR 4.5, 95% CI 1.3 to 15.3; p<0.01, respectively).
Conclusion Initial EEG background amplitude is prognostic in paediatric non-traumatic coma. Clinical observations do not detect two out of three seizures. Seizures and status epilepticus after admission are associated with poor outcome. | ,BACTERIAL-MENINGITIS,"CEREBRAL MALARIA",CHILDHOOD,CLINICAL-FEATURES,ENCEPHALOPATHY,INTENSIVE-CARE-UNIT,"NONCONVULSIVE STATUS EPILEPTICUS",RISK-FACTORS,SEIZURES,"SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA" | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79958784557 | The impact of HIV and AIDS research: A case study from Swaziland | Whiteside A., Henry F.E. | 2011 | Health Research Policy and Systems | 9 | SUPPL. 1 | 10.1186/1478-4505-9-S1-S9 | Health Economics and HIV/AIDS Research Division University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Health Economics and HIV/AIDS Research Division University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South Africa | Whiteside, A., Health Economics and HIV/AIDS Research Division University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Henry, F.E., Health Economics and HIV/AIDS Research Division University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South Africa | Background: Swaziland is experiencing the world's worst HIV and AIDS epidemic. Prevalence rose from four percent of antenatal clinic attendees in 1992 to 42.6 percent in 2004. The Report 'Reviewing 'Emergencies' for Swaziland: Shifting the Paradigm in a New Era' published in 2007 bought together social and economic indicators. It built a picture of the epidemic as a humanitarian emergency, requiring urgent action from international organisations, donors, and governments. Following a targeted communications effort, the report was believed to have raised the profile of the issue and Swaziland - a success story for HIV and AIDS research.Methods: Keen to understand how, where and why the report had an impact, Health Economics and HIV/AIDS Research Division commissioned an assessment to track and evaluate the influence of the research. This tapped into literature on the significance of understanding the research-to-policy interface. This paper outlines the report and its impact. It explores key findings from the assessment and suggests lessons for future research projects.Results: The paper demonstrates that, although complex, and not without methodological issues, impact assessment of research can be of real value to researchers in understanding the research-to-policy interface.Conclusion: Only by gaining insight into this process can researchers move forward in delivering effective research. © 2011 Whiteside and Henry; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | acquired immune deficiency syndrome; article; epidemic; health care policy; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; medical research; Swaziland | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-82555194430 | Comparative cost and performance of light-emitting diode microscopy in HIV-tuberculosis-co-infected patients | Whitelaw A., Peter J., Sohn H., Viljoen D., Theron G., Badri M., Davids V., Pai M., Dheda K. | 2011 | European Respiratory Journal | 38 | 6 | 10.1183/09031936.00023211 | Division of Medical Microbiology, UCT Lung Institute, South Africa; Lung Infection and Immunity Unit, Division of Pulmonology and Clinical Immunology, UCT Lung Institute, South Africa; Clinical Research Support Unit, Dept. of Medicine, South Africa; Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa; National Health Laboratory Service, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Dept. of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Dept. of Infection, University College London Medical School, London, United Kingdom | Whitelaw, A., Division of Medical Microbiology, UCT Lung Institute, South Africa, National Health Laboratory Service, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Peter, J., Lung Infection and Immunity Unit, Division of Pulmonology and Clinical Immunology, UCT Lung Institute, South Africa; Sohn, H., Dept. of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Viljoen, D., Division of Medical Microbiology, UCT Lung Institute, South Africa; Theron, G., Lung Infection and Immunity Unit, Division of Pulmonology and Clinical Immunology, UCT Lung Institute, South Africa; Badri, M., Clinical Research Support Unit, Dept. of Medicine, South Africa; Davids, V., Lung Infection and Immunity Unit, Division of Pulmonology and Clinical Immunology, UCT Lung Institute, South Africa; Pai, M., Dept. of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Dheda, K., Lung Infection and Immunity Unit, Division of Pulmonology and Clinical Immunology, UCT Lung Institute, South Africa, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa, Dept. of Infection, University College London Medical School, London, United Kingdom | Light-emitting diode (LED) microscopy has recently been endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO). However, it is unclear whether LED is as accurate and cost-effective as Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) microscopy or mercury vapour fluorescence microscopy (MVFM) in tuberculosis (TB)-HIV-co-infected subjects. Direct and concentrated sputum smears from TB suspects were evaluated using combinations of LED microscopy, ZN microscopy and MVFM. Median reading time per slide was recorded and a cost analysis performed. Mycobacterial culture served as the reference standard. 647 sputum samples were obtained from 354 patients (88 (29.8%) were HIV-infected and 161 (26%) were culture-positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis). Although overall sensitivity of LED compared with ZN microscopy or MVFM was similar, sensitivity of all three modalities was lower in HIV-infected patients. In the HIV-infected group, the sensitivity of LED microscopy was higher than ZN microscopy using samples that were not concentrated (46 versus 39%; p=0.25), and better than MVFM using concentrated samples (56 versus 44; p50.5). A similar trend was seen in the CD4 count <200 cells·mL -1 subgroup. Median (interquartile range) reading time was quicker with LED compared with ZN microscopy (1.8 (1.7-1.9) versus 2.5 (2.2-2.7) min; p≤0.001). Average cost per slide read was less for LED microscopy (US$1.63) compared with ZN microscopy (US$2.10). Among HIV-TB-co-infected patients, LED microscopy was cheaper and performed as well as ZN microscopy or MVFM independent of the staining (ZN or auramine O) or processing methods used. | HIV; Light-emitting diode microscopy; Smear microscopy; Tuberculosis | adult; article; bacterium culture; CD4 lymphocyte count; controlled study; cost effectiveness analysis; diagnostic accuracy; diagnostic test accuracy study; female; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; intermethod comparison; LED microscopy; light emitting diode; major clinical study; male; mercury vapor fluorescence microscopy; microscopy; mixed infection; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; priority journal; sensitivity analysis; sensitivity and specificity; sputum smear; standard; tuberculosis; Ziehl Neelsen microscopy; Adult; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; Coinfection; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Female; Humans; Male; Microscopy; Middle Aged; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sputum; Staining and Labeling; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-13244291492 | Performance analysis of the linearly constrained constant modulus algorithm-based multiuser detector | Whitehead J.B., Takawira F. | 2005 | IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing | 53 | 2 I | 10.1109/TSP.2004.840781 | Sch. Elec., Electron./Comp. Eng., University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa | Whitehead, J.B., Sch. Elec., Electron./Comp. Eng., University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa; Takawira, F., Sch. Elec., Electron./Comp. Eng., University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa | This paper quantifies the adaptive performance of a blind adaptive multiuser detector (MUD) based on the linearly constrained constant modulus algorithm (LCCMA) in both a stationary and nonstationary channel. A framework is developed to apply the feedback analysis method to analyzing adaptive MUD schemes. A closed-form expression for the excess mean square error (EMSE) of LCCMA blind adaptive MUD in a CDMA communications system is derived for both of the steady-state and tracking cases. The effects of additive noise and multiple access interference are considered. A transient analysis is performed that predicts the learning curve of the adaptive filter. Computer simulation is used to verify the accuracy of the analysis. © 2005 IEEE. | Blind adaptive multiuser detection; Code division multiple access; Constant modulus algorithm; Excess mean square error; Feedback analysis; Steady-state analysis; Tracking analysis | Adaptive algorithms; Adaptive filtering; Approximation theory; Code division multiple access; Communication channels (information theory); Computer simulation; Mathematical models; Signal interference; Signal receivers; Transmitters; Vectors; White noise; Adaptive filter; Additive white Gaussian noise; Blind adaptive multiuser detection; Constant modulus algorithm; Excess mean square error; Feedback analyis; Steady state analysis; Tracking analysis; Signal detection | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-67650113627 | South African Law of evidence as it applies to the child witness: A Critical evaluation | Whitear-Nei N. | 2009 | Journal of Psychology in Africa | 19 | 1 | None | University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Faculty of Law, Pietermaritzburg Campus, P.O. Box X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | Whitear-Nei, N., University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, Faculty of Law, Pietermaritzburg Campus, P.O. Box X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | This article examines aspects of the South African criminal justice system which are of particular relevance to the child witness, and the reception of testimony by the court. The author focuses on: 1) the need to prepare the child witness for the experience in court, 2) establishing the competence of the child witness, 3) the procedure for swearing In a child who does not understand the religious sanctity of the oath, 4) the use of an intermediary to convey the child's testimony to court, 5) circumstances in which the child does not have to enter the court room to testify, 6) the admissibility of pre recorded videotaped statements of the child witness, 7) the evaluation of the child's evidence, and 8) whether the adversarial model of criminal justice is appropriate In the context of the child witness. The article concludes by suggesting that reform is needed in these areas. Copyright © 2009 Journal of Psychology in Africa. | Child witness; Evaluation; Law of evidence; South africa | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34547962470 | Evaluating the performance of sampling plans to detect fumonisin Bi in maize lots marketed in Nigeria | Whitaker T.B., Doko M., Maestroni B.M., Slate A.B., Ogunbanwo B.F. | 2007 | Journal of AOAC International | 90 | 4 | None | U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7625; International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Agrochemicals Unit, IAEA/FAO Biotechnology Laboratories, Seibersdorf, Austria; North Carolin | Whitaker, T.B., U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7625; Doko, M., International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Agrochemicals Unit, IAEA/FAO Biotechnology Laboratories, Seibersdorf, Austria; Maestroni, B.M., International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Agrochemicals Unit, IAEA/FAO Biotechnology Laboratories, Seibersdorf, Austria; Slate, A.B., North Carolina State University, Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department, Box 7625, Raleigh, NC 27695-7625; Ogunbanwo, B.F., National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Mycotoxin Unit, Oshodi Central Laboratories, Lagos, Nigeria | Fumonisins are toxic and carcinogenic compounds produced by fungi that can be readily found in maize. The establishment of maximum limits for fumonisins requires the development of scientifically based sampling plans to detect fumonisin in maize. As part of an International Atomic Energy Agency effort to assist developing countries to control mycotoxin contamination, a study was conducted to design sampling plans to detect fumonisin in maize produced and marketed in Nigeria. Eighty-six maize lots were sampled according to an experimental protocol in which an average of 17 test samples, 100 g each, were taken from each lot and analyzed for fumonisin B1 by using liquid chromatography. The total variability associated with the fumonisin test procedure was measured for each lot. Regression equations were developed to predict the total variance as a function of fumonisin concentration. The observed fumonisin distribution among the replicated-sample test results was compared with several theoretical distributions, and the negative binomial distribution was selected to model the fumonisin distribution among test results. A computer model was developed by using the variance and distribution information to predict the performance of sampling plan designs to detect fumonisin in maize shipments. The performance of several sampling plan designs was evaluated to demonstrate how to manipulate sample size and accept/reject limits to reduce misclassification of maize lots. | None | Contamination; Fungi; Liquid chromatography; Marketing; Mathematical models; Toxic materials; Binomial distribution; Computer models; Fumonisins; Maize; Theoretical distributions; Drug products; fumonisin; fumonisin B1; article; chemistry; dose response; food analysis; food contamination; high performance liquid chromatography; liquid chromatography; maize; metabolism; methodology; Nigeria; plant; regression analysis; reproducibility; sample size; statistical model; theoretical model; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Chromatography, Liquid; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Food Analysis; Food Contamination; Fumonisins; Models, Statistical; Models, Theoretical; Nigeria; Plants; Regression Analysis; Reproducibility of Results; Research Design; Sample Size; Zea mays; Fungi; Zea mays | 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-s2.0-84940943140 | Impact of soil moisture on extreme maximum temperatures in Europe | Whan K., Zscheischler J., Orth R., Shongwe M., Rahimi M., Asare E.O., Seneviratne S.I. | 2015 | Weather and Climate Extremes | 9 | None | 10.1016/j.wace.2015.05.001 | The Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium, The University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada; Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Department for Biogeochemical Integration, Jena, Germany; Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; South African Weather Service, Climate and Environment Research and Monitoring, Pretoria, South Africa; Faculty of Desert Studies, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran; Department of Physics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana | Whan, K., The Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium, The University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada; Zscheischler, J., Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Department for Biogeochemical Integration, Jena, Germany; Orth, R., Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Shongwe, M., South African Weather Service, Climate and Environment Research and Monitoring, Pretoria, South Africa; Rahimi, M., Faculty of Desert Studies, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran; Asare, E.O., Department of Physics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana; Seneviratne, S.I., Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland | Land-atmosphere interactions play an important role for hot temperature extremes in Europe. Dry soils may amplify such extremes through feedbacks with evapotranspiration. While previous observational studies generally focused on the relationship between precipitation deficits and the number of hot days, we investigate here the influence of soil moisture ( SM) on summer monthly maximum temperatures ( TXx) using water balance model-based SM estimates (driven with observations) and temperature observations. Generalized extreme value distributions are fitted to TXx using SM as a covariate. We identify a negative relationship between SM and TXx, whereby a 100. mm decrease in model-based SM is associated with a 1.6. °C increase in TXx in Southern-Central and Southeastern Europe. Dry SM conditions result in a 2-4. °C increase in the 20-year return value of TXx compared to wet conditions in these two regions. In contrast with SM impacts on the number of hot days (NHD), where low and high surface-moisture conditions lead to different variability, we find a mostly linear dependency of the 20-year return value on surface-moisture conditions. We attribute this difference to the non-linear relationship between TXx and NHD that stems from the threshold-based calculation of NHD. Furthermore the employed SM data and the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) are only weakly correlated in the investigated regions, highlighting the importance of evapotranspiration and runoff for resulting SM. Finally, in a case study for the hot 2003 summer we illustrate that if 2003 spring conditions in Southern-Central Europe had been as dry as in the more recent 2011 event, temperature extremes in summer would have been higher by about 1. °C, further enhancing the already extreme conditions which prevailed in that year. © 2015. | Extreme temperatures; Extreme value theory; Generalized extreme value; Land-atmosphere interactions; Quantile regression; Soil moisture | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34247381211 | Generation and evaluation of a recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara vaccine for rabies | Weyer J., Rupprecht C.E., Mans J., Viljoen G.J., Nel L.H. | 2007 | Vaccine | 25 | 21 | 10.1016/j.vaccine.2007.02.084 | University of Pretoria, Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Infectious Disease, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Zoonosis, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States; Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Division of Applied Biotechnology, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa | Weyer, J., University of Pretoria, Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa; Rupprecht, C.E., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Infectious Disease, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Zoonosis, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States; Mans, J., Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Division of Applied Biotechnology, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Viljoen, G.J., Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Division of Applied Biotechnology, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Nel, L.H., University of Pretoria, Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa | Modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) has become a vaccine vector of choice for recombinant vaccine development. A MVA-based rabies vaccine would be advantageous for use as a vaccine for dogs (and wildlife), particularly if it proves innocuous and efficacious by the oral route. Here, the generation and immunological testing of a recombinant MVA expressing a rabies virus glycoprotein gene is described. In a murine model, higher dosages of recombinant MVA were needed to induce equivocal immune responses as with Vaccinia Copenhagen or Vaccinia Western Reserve recombinants, when administered by a parenteral route. The MVA recombinant was not immunogenic or efficacious when administered per os in naïve mice. The ability of the recombinant MVA to induce anamnestic responses in dogs and raccoons was also investigated. Recombinant MVA boosted humoral immune responses in these animals when administered peripherally, but not when administered orally. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Modified vaccinia virus Ankara; Oral vaccine; Rabies vaccine | modified vaccinia virus Ankara vaccine; rabies vaccine; rabies virus glycoprotein; recombinant modified vaccinia virus ankara virus vector; unclassified drug; vaccinia copenhagen virus vaccine; vaccinia copenhagen virus vector; vaccinia vaccine; vaccinia western reserve vaccine; vaccinia western reserve virus vector; virus vector; animal cell; animal experiment; animal model; article; comparative study; controlled study; drug efficacy; female; gene; humoral immunity; immune response; immunogenicity; immunological procedures; mouse; nonhuman; priority journal; rabies; rabies virus glycoprotein gene; Animals; Antibodies, Viral; Antigens, Viral; Cell Line; Chickens; Cricetinae; Dogs; Female; Glycoproteins; Immunologic Memory; Mesocricetus; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Models, Animal; Neutralization Tests; Rabies; Rabies Vaccines; Rabies virus; Raccoons; Vaccines, Synthetic; Vaccinia virus; Viral Envelope Proteins | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84869174458 | Specific performance as a remedy in international sales contracts | Wethmar-Lemmer M. | 2012 | Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg | None | 4 | None | Private International Law, University of South Africa, South Africa | Wethmar-Lemmer, M., Private International Law, University of South Africa, South Africa | [No abstract available] | None | None | 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 |
| 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-s2.0-84891275522 | Prospective evaluation of a new visual prostate symptom score, the international prostate symptom score, and uroflowmetry in men with urethral stricture disease | Wessels S.G., Heyns C.F. | 2014 | Urology | 83 | 1 | 10.1016/j.urology.2013.08.058 | Department of Urology, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Hospital, P.O. Box 19063, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa | Wessels, S.G., Department of Urology, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Hospital, P.O. Box 19063, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa; Heyns, C.F., Department of Urology, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Hospital, P.O. Box 19063, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa | Objective To evaluate the correlation between the visual prostate symptom score (VPSS) and the international prostate symptom score (IPSS) and uroflowmetry parameters in men with urethral stricture disease. The VPSS offers a nonverbal, pictographic assessment of lower urinary tract symptoms. Methods A total of 100 men followed up with a diagnosis of urethral stricture were evaluated from March 2011 to November 2012 with IPSS, VPSS, uroflowmetry, urethral calibration, and urethrography. Follow-up every 3 months for 3-18 months was available in 78 men for a total of 289 visits. Procedures performed were urethral dilation in 105, internal urethrotomy in 54, and urethroplasty in 8 patients. Statistical analysis was performed with Spearman's rank correlation, Fisher's exact, and Student t tests. Results The time taken to complete the VPSS vs IPSS was significantly shorter (118 vs 215 seconds at the first and 80 vs 156 seconds at follow-up visits; P <.001). There were significant correlations between the VPSS and IPSS (r = 0.845; P <.001), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax; r = 0.681; P <.001) and urethral diameter (r = -0.552; P <.001). A combination of VPSS >8 and Qmax <15 mL/s had positive and negative predictive values of 87% and 89%, respectively, for the presence of urethral stricture. Conclusion The VPSS correlates significantly with the IPSS, Qmax, and urethral diameter in men with urethral stricture disease and takes significantly less time to complete. A combination of VPSS >8 and Qmax <15 mL/s can be used to avoid further invasive evaluation during follow-up in men with urethral strictures. | None | adult; aged; article; calibration; educational status; follow up; human; International Prostate Symptom Score; lichen sclerosus et atrophicus; lower urinary tract symptom; major clinical study; male; middle aged; named inventories, questionnaires and rating scales; nocturia; postvoid residual urine volume; predictive value; priority journal; quality of life; urethra injury; urethra stricture; urethritis; urethrography; urethroplasty; urethrotomy; urinary frequency; urine flow rate; uroflowmetry; very elderly; visual prostate symptom score; young adult; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Symptom Assessment; Urethral Stricture; Urodynamics; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78149466944 | Impact of communal land use and conservation on woody vegetation structure in the Lowveld savannas of South Africa | Wessels K.J., Mathieu R., Erasmus B.F.N., Asner G.P., Smit I.P.J., van Aardt J.A.N., Main R., Fisher J., Marais W., Kennedy-Bowdoin T., Knapp D.E., Emerson R., Jacobson J. | 2011 | Forest Ecology and Management | 261 | 1 | 10.1016/j.foreco.2010.09.012 | Remote Sensing Research Unit, CSIR-Meraka Institute, Pretoria, South Africa; Ecosystem, Earth Observation, CSIR-Natural Resource and Environment, Pretoria, South Africa; School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Global Ecology, Carnegie Institute of Science, CA, United States; Kruger National Park Scientific Services, Skukuza, South Africa; Centre for Imaging Science, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, United States | Wessels, K.J., Remote Sensing Research Unit, CSIR-Meraka Institute, Pretoria, South Africa; Mathieu, R., Ecosystem, Earth Observation, CSIR-Natural Resource and Environment, Pretoria, South Africa; Erasmus, B.F.N., School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Asner, G.P., Department of Global Ecology, Carnegie Institute of Science, CA, United States; Smit, I.P.J., Kruger National Park Scientific Services, Skukuza, South Africa; van Aardt, J.A.N., Centre for Imaging Science, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, United States; Main, R., Ecosystem, Earth Observation, CSIR-Natural Resource and Environment, Pretoria, South Africa; Fisher, J., Ecosystem, Earth Observation, CSIR-Natural Resource and Environment, Pretoria, South Africa, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Marais, W., Remote Sensing Research Unit, CSIR-Meraka Institute, Pretoria, South Africa; Kennedy-Bowdoin, T., Department of Global Ecology, Carnegie Institute of Science, CA, United States; Knapp, D.E., Department of Global Ecology, Carnegie Institute of Science, CA, United States; Emerson, R., Department of Global Ecology, Carnegie Institute of Science, CA, United States; Jacobson, J., Department of Global Ecology, Carnegie Institute of Science, CA, United States | Millions of people rely on savannas for ecosystem services, such as the provision of grazing and fuel wood, so it is important to determine the extent to which utilization affects woody vegetation resources. Using airborne LiDAR from the Carnegie Airborne Observatory (CAO), we quantified and compared tree canopy cover and height distributions between areas of contrasting management in the Lowveld savanna region of South Africa - a region connecting communal landscapes with heavy utilization (especially fuel wood harvesting) to fully protected public (Kruger National Park - KNP) and private reserves (SabiSand Game Reserve - SSGR) that conserve biodiversity. Differences in total woody vegetation cover and cover within functional height classes (1-2. m, 2-3. m, 3-5. m, 5-7. m and >7. m) were investigated between 7 sites located within (i) conservation areas (in KNP, SSGR), (ii) communal rangelands or (iii) cultivated fields in communal areas. The impact of human utilization on wood resources in the communal areas varied widely between sites. Heavy utilization on gabbro substrate greatly reduced total woody cover of the rangelands, while two other communal rangelands that were presumably less intensively utilised had double the total woody cover of conservation areas. Rangelands and fields in most of the communal sites had more vegetation cover in the 5-7. m and >7. m classes than most of the conservation sites, presumably due to the absence of elephants in communal rangelands and the active preservation of large fruiting trees. On granite substrates, which account for the majority of the study area, there was a 50% reduction in woody cover below 5. m in communal rangelands. Although large trees were clearly being conserved in communal rangelands and fields, there was a relatively low cover of vegetation below 5. m, which raise doubts about recruitment and long-term sustainability of the tree resources. These results in conjunction with other studies based on the CAO LiDAR data for experimental burn plots and large mammal exclosures in KNP, suggest that communal land use on granite substrates have a higher impact on the woody cover below 5. m than both elephants and fire. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. | Communal land use; Fuel wood; Kruger National Park; LiDAR; Savanna; Woody vegetation structure | Communal land use; Fuel wood; LiDAR; National parks; Savanna; Woody vegetation; Biodiversity; Ecosystems; Fuels; Granite; Land use; Number theory; Optical radar; Parks; Substrates; Wood; Vegetation; airborne survey; biodiversity; canopy; ecosystem service; elephant; fuelwood; grazing; height; land use; lidar; observatory; rangeland; savanna; substrate; sustainability; vegetation cover; vegetation structure; veld; Biodiversity; Ecosystems; Forests; Fuels; Granite; Land Use; Plantations; Radar; Wood; Kruger National Park; South Africa; Elephantidae; Mammalia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84897132364 | Bank strategic and risk management: A survey to determine the impact of the current world financial crisis on future bank management in South Africa | Wessels B., Van Rooyen J.H. | 2010 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 8 | 1 D | None | University of Stellenbosch, South Africa | Wessels, B., University of Stellenbosch, South Africa; Van Rooyen, J.H., University of Stellenbosch, South Africa | The purpose of this research was to determine how the banks in South Africa perceive the future of bank management and banks risk management over the next couple of years within the context of the financial crisis that recently played out globally. It is clear from the survey results that South African (SA) banks were not affected as much by the crisis as some of their international counterparts. Primarily because of the credit legislations introduced in SA recently. Other reasons may be due to conservatism and sufficient capitalisation of banks and less involvement in global markets where major problems were experienced. The survey indicates that SA banks are prepared to learn from the crisis and are planning to improve financial risk management. Consolidation or centralisation of the risk management functions may be prevalent. According to the survey, liquidity risk management that used to be a fairly low risk management priority in previous bank and treasury surveys, now tops the list of important risks te better manage in the future. | Bank management; Bank risk management; Risk management; Subprime crisis | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84923991691 | Quantifying the impact of accessibility on preventive healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa using mobile phone data | Wesolowski A., O'Meara W.P., Tatem A.J., Ndege S., Eagle N., Buckee C.O. | 2015 | Epidemiology | 26 | 2 | 10.1097/EDE.0000000000000239 | Department of Engineering and p'Ublic Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, United States; Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Medicine, Duke University and Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, United States; Department of Geography and Environment, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, United Kingdom; Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States; School of Public Health Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya; Department of Computer Science, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States | Wesolowski, A., Department of Engineering and p'Ublic Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States, Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, United States, Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; O'Meara, W.P., Department of Medicine, Duke University and Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, United States; Tatem, A.J., Department of Geography and Environment, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, United Kingdom, Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States; Ndege, S., School of Public Health Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya; Eagle, N., Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, United States, Department of Computer Science, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States; Buckee, C.O., Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, United States, Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States | Background: Poor physical access to health facilities has been identified as an important contributor to reduced uptake of preventive health services and is likely to be most critical in low-income settings. However, the relation among physical access, travel behavior, and the uptake of healthcare is difficult to quantify.Methods: Using anonymized mobile phone data from 2008 to 2009, we analyze individual and spatially aggregated travel patterns of 14,816,521 subscribers across Kenya and compare these measures to (1) estimated travel times to health facilities and (2) data on the uptake of 2 preventive healthcare interventions in an area of western Kenya: childhood immunizations and antenatal care.Results: We document that long travel times to health facilities are strongly correlated with increased mobility in geographically isolated areas. Furthermore, we found that in areas with equal physical access to healthcare, mobile phone-derived measures of mobility predict which regions are lacking preventive care. Conclusions: Routinely collected mobile phone data provide a simple and low-cost approach to mapping the uptake of preventive healthcare in low-income settings. Copyright © 2015 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved. | None | Africa south of the Sahara; Article; child; female; health care access; health care facility; household; human; immunization; Kenya; lowest income group; major clinical study; mobile phone; prenatal care; preventive health service; priority journal; vulnerable population; adult; developing country; health care delivery; health care survey; infant; longitudinal study; pregnancy; preschool child; statistics and numerical data; time; travel; utilization; vaccination; Adult; Cell Phones; Child, Preschool; Developing Countries; Female; Health Care Surveys; Health Services Accessibility; Humans; Infant; Kenya; Longitudinal Studies; Pregnancy; Prenatal Care; Time Factors; Travel; Vaccination | FIC, National Institutes of Health; NIH, National Institutes of Health |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84867325145 | Quantifying the impact of human mobility on malaria | Wesolowski A., Eagle N., Tatem A.J., Smith D.L., Noor A.M., Snow R.W., Buckee C.O. | 2012 | Science | 338 | 6104 | 10.1126/science.1223467 | Department of Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15221, United States; Department of Statistics, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15221, United States; College of Computer and Information Science, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, United States; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, United States; Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States; Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States; Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States; Department of Epidemiology and Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States; Malaria Public Health and Epidemiology Group, Centre of Geographic Medicine, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust-University of Oxford Collaborative Programme, Nairobi, Kenya; Centre for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LJ, United Kingdom; Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, United States | Wesolowski, A., Department of Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15221, United States, Department of Statistics, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15221, United States; Eagle, N., College of Computer and Information Science, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, United States, Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, United States; Tatem, A.J., Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States, Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States, Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States; Smith, D.L., Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States, Department of Epidemiology and Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States; Noor, A.M., Malaria Public Health and Epidemiology Group, Centre of Geographic Medicine, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust-University of Oxford Collaborative Programme, Nairobi, Kenya, Centre for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LJ, United Kingdom; Snow, R.W., Malaria Public Health and Epidemiology Group, Centre of Geographic Medicine, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust-University of Oxford Collaborative Programme, Nairobi, Kenya, Centre for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LJ, United Kingdom; Buckee, C.O., Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, United States, Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, United States | Human movements contribute to the transmission of malaria on spatial scales that exceed the limits of mosquito dispersal. Identifying the sources and sinks of imported infections due to human travel and locating high-risk sites of parasite importation could greatly improve malaria control programs. Here, we use spatially explicit mobile phone data and malaria prevalence information from Kenya to identify the dynamics of human carriers that drive parasite importation between regions. Our analysis identifies importation routes that contribute to malaria epidemiology on regional spatial scales. | None | disease transmission; epidemiology; health risk; infectious disease; malaria; mobility; movement; public health; quantitative analysis; article; body movement; disease carrier; disease transmission; emporiatrics; endemic disease; human; Kenya; malaria; malaria control; mobile phone; Plasmodium falciparum; prevalence; priority journal; seasonal variation; Kenya | 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-s2.0-76849089667 | Downsizing the Mjølnir impact structure, Barents Sea, Norway | Werner S.C., Torsvik T.H. | 2010 | Tectonophysics | 483 | 42433 | 10.1016/j.tecto.2009.08.036 | Norwegian Geological Survey, Leiv Eirikssons vei 39, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway; PGP, University of Oslo, Norway; Witwatersrand University, Johannesburg, South Africa | Werner, S.C., Norwegian Geological Survey, Leiv Eirikssons vei 39, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway, PGP, University of Oslo, Norway; Torsvik, T.H., Norwegian Geological Survey, Leiv Eirikssons vei 39, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway, PGP, University of Oslo, Norway, Witwatersrand University, Johannesburg, South Africa | Stratigraphic relationships indicate that the submarine Mjølnir impact structure in the SW Barents Sea is of Cretaceous age (~ 142 Ma) and the impact palaeolatitude is estimated at 56°N. Though the crater has been intensively studied, its dimensions at depth are uncertain. Density and magnetic susceptibility measurements of core samples are presented and used to interpret a newly available aeromagnetic survey and gravity data, and to model the potential field anomaly data of the area jointly, so as to constrain better the signature of the crater. Forward modelling suggests that the crater diameter is about 20 km, and thus needs downscaling to about half of the earlier proposed size. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Density and susceptibility measurements; Impact crater; Potential field interpretation | Aeromagnetic surveys; Barents sea; Crater diameter; Cretaceous age; Down-scaling; Forward modelling; Gravity data; Impact craters; Impact structures; Magnetic susceptibility measurements; Potential field; Susceptibility measurements; Magnetic susceptibility; Stratigraphy; aeromagnetic survey; crater; Cretaceous; impact structure; magnetic susceptibility; paleolatitude; potential field; Arctic Ocean; Barents Sea; Mjolnir Crater | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-74149090850 | Creation and evaluation of EMR-based paper clinical summaries to support HIV-care in Uganda, Africa | Were M.C., Shen C., Bwana M., Emenyonu N., Musinguzi N., Nkuyahaga F., Kembabazi A., Tierney W.M. | 2010 | International Journal of Medical Informatics | 79 | 2 | 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2009.11.006 | Regenstrief Institute, Inc., Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States; Mbarara University of Science, Technology ISS Clinic, Mbarara, Uganda; Division of Infectious Diseases, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, United States; Faculty of Computing and IT, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda | Were, M.C., Regenstrief Institute, Inc., Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States; Shen, C., Regenstrief Institute, Inc., Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States; Bwana, M., Mbarara University of Science, Technology ISS Clinic, Mbarara, Uganda; Emenyonu, N., Division of Infectious Diseases, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, United States; Musinguzi, N., Mbarara University of Science, Technology ISS Clinic, Mbarara, Uganda; Nkuyahaga, F., Faculty of Computing and IT, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Kembabazi, A., Mbarara University of Science, Technology ISS Clinic, Mbarara, Uganda; Tierney, W.M., Regenstrief Institute, Inc., Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States | Purpose: Getting the right information to providers can improve quality of care. We set out to provide patient-specific Electronic Medical Record (EMR)-based clinical summaries for providers taking care of HIV-positive adult patients in the resource-limited setting of Mbarara, Uganda. Methods: We evaluated the impact of implementing these clinical summaries using time-motion techniques and provider surveys. Results: After implementation of EMR-based clinical summaries, providers spent more time in direct care of patients (2.9 min vs. 2.3 min, p < 0.001), and the length of patient visits was reduced by 11.5 min. Survey respondents indicated that clinical summaries improved care, reduced mistakes, and were generally accurate. Current antiretroviral medication, patient identifying information, adherence information, current medication, and current medical problems were among the highest-rated elements of the summary. Conclusions: By taking advantage of data stored in EMRs, efficiency and quality of care can be improved through clinical summaries, even in settings with limited resources. © 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. | Clinical decision support; Developing countries; Electronic Medical Record; Medical informatics; Technology adoption | Adult patients; Antiretrovirals; Clinical decision support; Electronic medical record; Medical informatics; Motion techniques; Provider surveys; Quality of care; Right information; Technology adoption; Decision support systems; Developing countries; Electric relays; Information science; Medical computing; Surveys; Viruses; Medical problems; adult; Africa; article; electronic medical record; evaluation; female; health survey; hospital organization; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; medical information system; patient care; patient information; patient satisfaction; priority journal; Adult; Efficiency, Organizational; Electronic Health Records; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Office Visits; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Physician's Practice Patterns; Quality of Health Care; Time and Motion Studies; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33845372104 | The development impact of solar cookers: A review of solar cooking impact research in South Africa | Wentzel M., Pouris A. | 2007 | Energy Policy | 35 | 3 | 10.1016/j.enpol.2006.06.002 | Institute for Technological Innovation, Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, PO Box 11906, Queenswood, Pretoria, 0121, South Africa; Institute for Technological Innovation, Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, Lynwood Road, South Africa | Wentzel, M., Institute for Technological Innovation, Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, PO Box 11906, Queenswood, Pretoria, 0121, South Africa; Pouris, A., Institute for Technological Innovation, Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, Lynwood Road, South Africa | Solar cooking is often considered "a solution looking for a problem". Solar cookers have long been presented as an interesting solution to the world's problem of dwindling fuel wood sources and other environmental problems associated with wood fuel demand for cooking. However, recent GTZ field work in South Africa showed different benefits instead: the use of solar cookers resulted in appreciable fuel and time savings as well as increased energy security for households using commercial fuels. These observations are based on field tests in South Africa that started in 1996 to investigate the social acceptability of solar cookers and to facilitate local production and commercialisation of the technology. Impact studies and use rate studies have been carried out by a number of different organisations since the inception of the project and although commercialisation of the technology has not been achieved to its fullest potential, impact studies indicate that solar cookers have a positive development impact on households through fuel-, energy- and time savings. The article aims to summarise the findings of the various studies and present an overview of use rates and impact data. A variety of factors influence solar cooker use rates, which in turn determine impacts. Some factors are related to the user, some to the environment in which the cooker is used and some to the cooker itself. Ultimately, the data shows that on average, only 17% of solar cooker owners do not use their stoves after purchase and that active solar cooker users utilise their stoves on average for 31% of their cooking incidences. Since the majority of solar stove buyers actually use their stoves and obtain real benefits, this suggests that that solar cookers are indeed not a solution looking for a problem but a solution worth promoting. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Developing impacts; Household energy; Solar cooking | Economic and social effects; Energy resources; Environmental impact; Social aspects; Wood fuels; Household energy; Solar cooking; Solar equipment; alternative energy; household energy; solar cooker; solar power; Africa; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84943264672 | Relationship among fitness, morphological characteristics, skills and performance in men’s fastpitch softball | Wentzel M., Travill A.L. | 2015 | South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education and Recreation | 37 | 2 | None | Department of Sport, Recreation and Exercise Science, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa | Wentzel, M., Department of Sport, Recreation and Exercise Science, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa; Travill, A.L., Department of Sport, Recreation and Exercise Science, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa | Men’s fast pitch softball does not have a specific battery of tests and relies on the tests and norms of baseball. The specific morphological and fitness demands of the sport are, therefore, not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to establish whether morphological and fitness characteristics are related to skill and performance measures in men’s fast-pitch softball players. The sample was purposively selected and consisted of 15 provincial and 15 club male players. Anthropometric, fitness and skills test were conducted. Match statistics were obtained from the provincial softball federation for the provincial players and from the club for its members. Data were analysed and interpreted both collectively as a group and separately as teams for the purpose of comparison. The results identified a number of strong significant relationships between the different variables tested. Stature and percentage body fat were found to interact significantly with the two key performance areas, batting and base running. The findings convincingly suggest that coaches should include fitness, morphological and skills tests in their coaching and fitness programmes, team selection and talent identification processes. © 2015 University of Stellenbosch. All rights reserved. | Anthropometry; Correlations; Fast-pitch softball; Fitness; Performance; Skills | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-22444440988 | Synthesis and evaluation of metal-ligand complexes for selective olefin solubilization in reactive solvents | Wentink A.E., Kuipers N.J.M., De Haan A.B., Scholtz J., Mulder H. | 2005 | Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research | 44 | 13 | 10.1021/ie0487890 | Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, 7500 Enschede, Netherlands; Sasol Technology, Sasolburg, South Africa | Wentink, A.E., Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, 7500 Enschede, Netherlands; Kuipers, N.J.M., Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, 7500 Enschede, Netherlands; De Haan, A.B., Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, 7500 Enschede, Netherlands; Scholtz, J., Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, 7500 Enschede, Netherlands, Sasol Technology, Sasolburg, South Africa; Mulder, H., Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, 7500 Enschede, Netherlands, Sasol Technology, Sasolburg, South Africa | The separation of 1-hexene from Fischer-Tropsch streams is an expensive and difficult separation because of the low relative volatilities encountered. Applying metal-ligand complexes, which π-complex olefins, can increase the selectivity and capacity of these separations. In this paper, potential metal-ligand combinations are screened for this purpose using ethylene as the olefin. Ethylene solubility measurements with the metal-ligand complexes show a qualitative relationship between the stability and ability of the metal-ligand complex. The ligands LIX 26 (a hydroxyquinoline) and LEX 54 (a diketone) do not easily extract silver, and the resulting metalligand complex is unstable as silver precipitates. In contrast, Cyanex 301 and 302, thiophosphoric acids, easily extract silver and are very stable, but here the silver ion no longer forms π complexes. The ligands, bis(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid and dinonylnaphthalenesulfonic acid, result in a stable metal-ligand complex that can also selectively complex ethylene relative to ethane. © 2005 American Chemical Society. | None | Ethane; Olefins; Phosphoric acid; Precipitation (chemical); Separation; Silver; Solubility; Solvents; Ethylene solubility; Fischer-Tropsch streams; Metal-ligand complexes; Selectivity; Complexation; solvent | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78651481968 | Evaluation of butorphanol, medetomidine and midazolam as a reversible narcotic combination in free-ranging African lions (Panthera leo) | Wenger S., Buss P., Joubert J., Steenkamp J., Shikwambana P., Hatt J.-M. | 2010 | Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia | 37 | 6 | 10.1111/j.1467-2995.2010.00569.x | Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland; Veterinary Wildlife Services, South African National Parks, Kruger National Park, Skukuza, South Africa | Wenger, S., Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland; Buss, P., Veterinary Wildlife Services, South African National Parks, Kruger National Park, Skukuza, South Africa; Joubert, J., Veterinary Wildlife Services, South African National Parks, Kruger National Park, Skukuza, South Africa; Steenkamp, J., Veterinary Wildlife Services, South African National Parks, Kruger National Park, Skukuza, South Africa; Shikwambana, P., Veterinary Wildlife Services, South African National Parks, Kruger National Park, Skukuza, South Africa; Hatt, J.-M., Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland | Objective To evaluate the effects of the combination butorphanol, medetomidine and midazolam (BMM) and its reversibility in lions.Study design Prospective clinical trial.Animals Thirty free-ranging lions, 10 male and 20 female, weighing 81-210 kg.Methods Lions were immobilised with butorphanol mean 0.31 ± SD 0.034 mg kg-1, medetomidine 0.052 ± 0.006 mg kg-1, midazolam 0.21 ± 0.024 mg kg-1 and hyaluronidase 1250 IU administered intramuscularly with a dart gun. Upon recumbency, physiological parameters and anaesthetic depth were monitored 10-15 minutes after darting (T1) and repeated every 10 minutes for a further 30 minutes (T2, T3, T4). Arterial blood gas analyses were performed at T1 and T4. At the end of the procedure, 45-60 minutes after initial darting, immobilisation was reversed with naltrexone 0.68 ± 0.082 mg kg-1, atipamezole 0.26 ± 0.031 mg kg-1, and flumazenil 0.0032 ± 0.0007 mg kg-1 administered intravenously and subcutaneously.Results The BMM combination rapidly induced immobilisation and lateral recumbency was reached within 7.25 ± 2.3 minutes. Median induction score [scored 1 (excellent) to 4 (poor)] was 1.4 (range 1-2). Cardio-respiratory parameters were stable. Heart rate varied from 32 to 72 beats per minute, respiratory rate from 14 to 32 breaths minute-1 and rectal temperature from 36.6 to 40.3 °C. No sudden arousals were observed. Arterial blood gas analyses revealed a mean pH of 7.33, PaCO2 of 33 mmHg and PaO2 of 87 mmHg. Mild to moderate hypoxemia was seen in four lions. Recovery was smooth and lions were walking within 4.4 ± 4.25 minutes. Median recovery score [scored 1 (excellent) to 4 (poor)] was 1.3 (range 1-2).Conclusion and clinical relevance The drug combination proved to be effective in immobilising free-ranging healthy lions of both sexes with minimal cardio-respiratory changes. © 2010 The Authors. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia © 2010 Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists and the American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists. | Atipamezole; Butorphanol; Flumazenil; Lion; Medetomidine; Midazolam; Naltrexone | analgesic agent; butorphanol; hypnotic sedative agent; medetomidine; midazolam; narcotic agent; narcotic antagonist; animal; article; clinical trial; drug combination; female; lion; male; South Africa; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; Animals; Butorphanol; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Lions; Male; Medetomidine; Midazolam; Narcotic Antagonists; Narcotics; South Africa; Panthera leo | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84896864796 | Experimental evaluation of insect pollination versus wind pollination in leucadendron (proteaceae) | Welsford M.R., Midgley J.J., Johnson S.D. | 2014 | International Journal of Plant Sciences | 175 | 3 | 10.1086/674449 | School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa | Welsford, M.R., School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Midgley, J.J., Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Johnson, S.D., School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | Premise of research. Evolutionary transitions from insect to wind pollination are thought to have occurred many times during the angiosperm radiation. On the basis of floral features, several such transitions have been postulated for Leucadendron (Proteaceae), a dioecious genus of 96 taxa confined almost entirely to the Cape Floristic Region. To confirm whether these transitions took place, we carried out experimental tests for wind pollination and sampled insect flower visitors in 15 Leucadendron species, representing six clades in the genus. Methodology. In three clades in which an insect-wind shift has been inferred, we sampled species with traits suggestive of either wind or insect pollination. Plants were bagged with fine-mesh exclusion bags that excluded insects but allowed the passage of airborne pollen. Insects visiting female inflorescences were collected for identification and analysis of their pollen loads. Pivotal results. We found that insect exclusion had little effect on seed set of five species conforming to the wind pollination syndrome (L. rubrum, L. salicifolium, L. dubium, L. coniferum, and L. teretifolium), while seed set was strongly reduced by insect exclusion in the remaining 10 species conforming to an insect pollination syndrome. The most common pollinator of the insect-pollinated species was the nitidulid beetle Pria cinerascens. Conclusions. This study provides experimental verification of contrasting insect and wind pollination systems in Leucadendron and will thus enable formal phylogenetic tests of adaptive changes in floral traits, such as color and scent, that may be associated with pollination system transitions in this diverse lineage. © 2014 by The University of Chicago. All rights reserved. | Dioecy; Leucadendron; Nitidulid; Pria cinerascens; Wind pollination | angiosperm; beetle; Cape Floristic Region; color; dioecy; female; flower; insect; pollen; pollination; seed set; wind | National Research Foundation |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33745905023 | Range of normal neutrophil counts in healthy Zimbabwean infants: Implications for monitoring antiretroviral drug toxicity | Wells J., Shetty A.K., Stranix L., Falkovitz-Halpern M.S., Chipato T., Nyoni N., Mateta P., Maldonado Y. | 2006 | Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes | 42 | 4 | 10.1097/01.qai.0000224975.45091.a5 | Univ. of Zimbabwe-Univ. of California, S. Francisco (UZ-UCSF) Collab. Res. Prog. in Women's Health, Harare, Zimbabwe; Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States; Department of Pediatrics, University of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe; UZ-UCSF Collaborative Program in Women's Health, 15 Phillips Ave, Belgravia, Harare, Zimbabwe | Wells, J., Univ. of Zimbabwe-Univ. of California, S. Francisco (UZ-UCSF) Collab. Res. Prog. in Women's Health, Harare, Zimbabwe, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States, UZ-UCSF Collaborative Program in Women's Health, 15 Phillips Ave, Belgravia, Harare, Zimbabwe; Shetty, A.K., Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States; Stranix, L., Department of Pediatrics, University of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe; Falkovitz-Halpern, M.S., Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States; Chipato, T., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe; Nyoni, N., Univ. of Zimbabwe-Univ. of California, S. Francisco (UZ-UCSF) Collab. Res. Prog. in Women's Health, Harare, Zimbabwe; Mateta, P., Univ. of Zimbabwe-Univ. of California, S. Francisco (UZ-UCSF) Collab. Res. Prog. in Women's Health, Harare, Zimbabwe; Maldonado, Y., Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States | Mother-to-child HIV prevention trials in sub-Saharan Africa use the US National Institutes of Health Division of AIDS (DAIDS) grading scale to monitor hematologic toxicity. A recent study of nevirapine prophylaxis given for 6 months in breast-feeding Zimbabwean infants reported several cases of relative neutropenia in clinically well infants, raising concerns of drug toxicity. However, the DAIDS tables are based on normal blood counts for white infants, although there is evidence that black African infants may have lower absolute neutrophil counts (ANCs) than white infants. To establish normal hematologic values in black Zimbabwean infants and to quantify the apparent prevalence of relative neutropenia in this population, we evaluated HIV-uninfected healthy infants born to HIV-uninfected women at birth, 10 days, 6 weeks, 3, and 4 months of life. A physical examination and blood count were performed at each visit, and an HIV test was performed at the final visit. The ANC values were graded using the DAIDS table. A total of 145 healthy term infants satisfied the inclusion criteria. The mean ANC values for Zimbabwean infants were less than half of the corresponding standard values at all 5 time points (P < 0.0001). Using the DAIDS table in use at the time that the blood was collected, 57% of these healthy infants had relative neutropenia of any grade at birth, followed by 29% at day 10, 53% at 6 weeks, 32% at 3 months, and 37% at 4 months of life. Our data indicate that relative neutropenia exists in healthy black Zimbabwean infants. The guidelines for identifying toxicity were changed in December 2004. However, even by the new DAIDS tables, 43%, 23%, 24%, 42%, and 43% of these healthy babies had relative neutropenia at the time of the 5 visits. Future HIV prevention and treatment trials in sub-Saharan Africa should use normal hematologic values derived from African infants to avoid the overestimation of antiretroviral drug toxicity. Copyright © 2006 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. | Antiretroviral prophylaxis; HIV-1; Infant; Neutropenia; Toxicity; Zimbabwe | antiretrovirus agent; nevirapine; Africa; article; breast feeding; controlled study; disease severity; drug monitoring; female; human; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; Human immunodeficiency virus prevalence; infant; infection prevention; male; neutropenia; neutrophil count; newborn; physical examination; priority journal; race difference; Zimbabwe; Anti-HIV Agents; Disease Transmission, Vertical; Drug Monitoring; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Lymphocyte Count; Neutrophils; RNA, Viral; Zimbabwe | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84899709477 | Impact of SPDC-Bomu manifold oil pipe explosion fire on crop yield and farm income in Gokana LGA, Rivers State, Nigeria | Weli V.E., Arokoyu S.B. | 2014 | Research Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology | 7 | 14 | None | Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Centre for Disaster Risk Management, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria | Weli, V.E., Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Arokoyu, S.B., Centre for Disaster Risk Management, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria | Environmental degradation of the oil-rich Gokana Local government area has been wanton and continuous with dire health, social and economic consequences for its peoples, for over three decades. The study was based on the result of environmental impact studies conducted on the SPDC-Bomu manifold oil pipe explosion of 12th April, 2009 and its impact on agricultural production in K-dere, Deken, Kpor and Biara communities. Using a sample of 400 crop farmers drawn randomly from the 4 communities, the negative impact of hydrocarbon fire on crop production was accentuated. Hydrocarbon fire caused acid rain that reduced crop yield, land productivity and greatly depressed farm income as a 10 percentage increase in hydrocarbon fire reduced crop yield by 13% while farm income plummeted by 25.5%. In order to halt the continual degradation of the Niger Delta environment, the authors recommend enactment and enforcement of stringent environmental laws to protect the area as well as the implementation of policies to reduce the crushing level of poverty and guarantee a better livelihood for the people. © Maxwell Scientific Organization, 2014. | Hydrocarbon fire; Land productivity; Low crop yield; Natural resource degradation; Small-scale farmers | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84881299076 | Comparative evaluation of a two-reagent cold stain method with Ziehl-Nelseen method for pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosis | Weldu Y., Asrat D., Woldeamanuel Y., Hailesilasie A. | 2013 | BMC Research Notes | 6 | 1 | 10.1186/1756-0500-6-323 | Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Amhara, Ethiopia; Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia | Weldu, Y., Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Amhara, Ethiopia; Asrat, D., Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Woldeamanuel, Y., Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Hailesilasie, A., Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia | Background: Bacteriological examination of sputum is the cornerstone in diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in developing world, which is usually done using a Ziehl-Nelseen (ZN) method. However, due to limited laboratory facilities that can satisfy the procedure, applicability of this procedure appears to be adversely affected in field conditions and at peripheral health institutions. Hence, it has become necessary to look for a procedure which can be used as alternative in such conditions.In a cross-sectional study, using convenient sampling technique 362 pulmonary tuberculosis suspected patients who attended at Mekelle University Hospital (MUH) between November 2011 and February 2012 were included. After obtaining an informed consent, spot- morning-spot sputum samples were collected from suspected patients. Then a set of duplicate slides, of which one was allocated to a two-reagent cold method (a method of staining which requires carbol fuchsine as a primary stain and Gabbet's methylene blue both as a decolorizer and counter stain) and the other to the Zeihl-Nelseen method were smeared evenly from representative portion of each specimen using the protocol for duplicate smear preparation. Stained smears were read blindly by two technologists at different occasions. Finally to assure quality, all positive smears and 25% of the negative smears were cross checked by senior experienced examiner. Findings. Overall concordance between the two methods was 99.7% (kappa (κ) = 0.98; 95%, confidence interval 0.93-1.00), and the observed agreement was statistically significant (p<0.001). When evaluated against Ziehl-Nelseen method, sensitivity and specificity of the two-reagent cold staining method were 95.8% (95% confidence interval 93.7-97.9) and 100% respectively. Positive and negative predictive values of the two-reagent cold staining method were respectively 100% and 99.7%. Positive and negative agreements between the two techniques were respectively 97.9% and 99.9%. Conclusion: The two-reagent cold staining method was found to be a suitable alternative to the conventional Ziehl-Nelseen method; it was at least as specific as Ziehl-Neelsen method although somewhat less sensitive. However, large scale multicentric studies need to be performed for further evaluation of this cold staining method. © 2013 Weldu et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | AFB microscopy; Cold stain; Ethiopia; Gabbet's methylene blue; PTB; Zeihl-Neelsen | carbol-fuchsin solution; fuchsine; methylene blue; chemistry; comparative study; cross-sectional study; diagnostic use; human; isolation and purification; microbiology; microscopy; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; procedures; sensitivity and specificity; sputum; staining; standards; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Methylene Blue; Microscopy; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Rosaniline Dyes; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sputum; Staining and Labeling; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79957467708 | Wastewater use in crop production in peri-urban areas of Addis Ababa: Impacts on health in farm households | Weldesilassie A.B., Boelee E., Drechsel P., Dabbert S. | 2011 | Environment and Development Economics | 16 | 1 | 10.1017/S1355770X1000029X | Ethiopian Development Research Institute (EDRI), Near National Stadium Blue Building, P.O. Box 2479, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; International Water Management Institute (IWMI), P.O. Box 2075, Colombo, Sri Lanka; International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Colombo, Sri Lanka; Hohenheim University, Institute 410A, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany | Weldesilassie, A.B., Ethiopian Development Research Institute (EDRI), Near National Stadium Blue Building, P.O. Box 2479, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Boelee, E., International Water Management Institute (IWMI), P.O. Box 2075, Colombo, Sri Lanka; Drechsel, P., International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Colombo, Sri Lanka; Dabbert, S., Hohenheim University, Institute 410A, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany | Using stream water polluted with untreated wastewater in agriculture is controversial due to its combination of benefits and negative health impacts. Using data from a household survey, wastewater and freshwater farmers were analysed comparatively to examine the perceived impacts of irrigation water quality on farmers' health and to evaluate the extent of health damage. Probability of illness was estimated using the theory of utility-maximising behaviour of households subject to the conventional farm household production model, augmented by adding a health production function. Reduced model and instrumental variable probit specifications both show that perceived illness prevalence is significantly higher for household members working on wastewater irrigation farms than for those working with freshwater. Our data entails econometric complications (e.g., endogeneity of farmers' behaviour, unobserved location-specific characteristics). Ignoring these will result in underestimation of the value of policy interventions designed to reduce potential health damage of wastewater use in irrigation. © 2010 Cambridge University Press. | None | None | 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-s2.0-31544477415 | The effect of supplementing Rhodes grass hay with cotton seed cake and pyrethrum marc based rations on the performance of Sahiwal female weaners | Wekesa F.W., Abdulrazak S.A., Mukisira E.A. | 2006 | Livestock Research for Rural Development | 18 | 1 | None | National Animal Husbandry Research Centre, P.O. Box 25, Naivasha, Kenya; Division of Research and Extension, Egerton University, P.O. Box 536, Njoro, Kenya; Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 57811, Nairobi, Kenya | Wekesa, F.W., National Animal Husbandry Research Centre, P.O. Box 25, Naivasha, Kenya; Abdulrazak, S.A., Division of Research and Extension, Egerton University, P.O. Box 536, Njoro, Kenya; Mukisira, E.A., Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 57811, Nairobi, Kenya | The objective of the study was to evaluate the voluntary feed intake and body weight gain of Sahiwal female weaners fed on rhodes grass hay and supplemented with cotton seed cake based ration (CSCBR) and pyrethrum marc based ration (PMBR). Twenty five weaners were allocated to five treatments in a randomised complete design (RCD). The CP contents of the feeds were 74.1, 156 and 143 g/kg dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) was 720, 345 and 329 g/kg DM for Rhodes grass hay (RGH), CSBR and PMBR respectively. At higher level of supplementation, improved dry matter intake was recorded in the group that was offered PMBR than CSCBR. Supplementation also improved dry matter intake with hardly any substitution effect. Better average daily gain was recorded in weaners, which were supplemented with CSCBR but was not statistically different from the PMBR while control group grew at the lowest rate. Volatile fatty acid concentration improved with supplementation but varied across the treatment diets. All the animals across the various treatment diets remained in a positive nitrogen balance during the period of study. Supplementation also improved rumen ammonia nitrogen levels. It was concluded that CSCBR and PMBR were comparable in respect of animal performance and hence be encouraged in their inclusion in ruminant rations. | Cotton seed cake; Intake; Live-weight gain; Pyrethrum marc; Rhodes grass hay | Animalia; Bovidae; Chloris gayana; Gossypium hirsutum | 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-s2.0-34548103853 | Field evaluation of a rota- and adenovirus immunochromatographic assay using stool samples from children with acute diarrhea in Ghana | Weitzel T., Reither K., Mockenhaupt F.P., Stark K., Ignatius R., Saad E., Seidu-Korkor A., Bienzle U., Schreier E. | 2007 | Journal of Clinical Microbiology | 45 | 8 | 10.1128/JCM.00562-07 | Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité, University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University of Munich, Munich, Germany; Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany; Institute of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité, University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Regional Health Administration, Ministry of Health, Tamale, Ghana; Department of Molecular Epidemiology of Viral Pathogens, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany; Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité, University Medicine Berlin, Spandauer Damm 130, D-14050 Berlin, Germany | Weitzel, T., Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité, University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany, Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité, University Medicine Berlin, Spandauer Damm 130, D-14050 Berlin, Germany; Reither, K., Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité, University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany, Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University of Munich, Munich, Germany; Mockenhaupt, F.P., Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité, University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Stark, K., Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany; Ignatius, R., Institute of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité, University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Saad, E., Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité, University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Seidu-Korkor, A., Regional Health Administration, Ministry of Health, Tamale, Ghana; Bienzle, U., Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité, University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Schreier, E., Department of Molecular Epidemiology of Viral Pathogens, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany | We evaluated the Rida Quick rotavirus/adenovirus Combi rapid immunochromatographic test (ICT) under field conditions with Ghanaian children with acute diarrhea. Compared to PCR results, sensitivities and specificities were 75% and 95% for rotavirus and 22% and 84% for adenovirus. In resource-poor settings, ICTs may help to overcome difficulties in the diagnosis of rotavirus infection. Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved. | None | acute diarrhea; Adenovirus; article; childhood disease; chromatography; device; evaluation; feces analysis; Ghana; human; immunochromatographic assay; intermethod comparison; nonhuman; polymerase chain reaction; priority journal; Rotavirus; sensitivity and specificity; Adenoviridae; Adenoviridae Infections; Child; Child, Preschool; Chromatography, Affinity; Diarrhea; Ghana; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Rotavirus; Rotavirus Infections; Sensitivity and Specificity; Virology; Adenoviridae; Rotavirus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78650038061 | Evaluation of time to detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in broth culture as a determinant for end points in treatment trials | Weiner M., Prihoda T.J., Burman W., Johnson J.L., Goldberg S., Padayatchi N., Duran P., Engle M., Muzanye G., Mugerwa R.D., Sturm A.W. | 2010 | Journal of Clinical Microbiology | 48 | 12 | 10.1128/JCM.00757-10 | Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, VAMC, San Antonio, TX 78229-4404, United States; Denver Public Health, 605 Bannock Street, Denver, CO 80204, United States; Department of Medicine, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Uganda-Case Western Reserve University Research Collaboration, 10900 Euclid Blvd., Cleveland, OH 44106-4945, United States; Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd., NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States; Departments of Community Health, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 719 Umbilo Road, Durban, South Africa; Uganda-Case Western Reserve University Research Collaboration, P.O. Box 663, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Medical Microbiology, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 719 Umbilo Road, Durban, South Africa; Department of Pathology, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, VAMC, 7400 Merton Minter Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78229-4404, United States | Weiner, M., Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, VAMC, San Antonio, TX 78229-4404, United States; Prihoda, T.J., Department of Pathology, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, VAMC, 7400 Merton Minter Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78229-4404, United States; Burman, W., Denver Public Health, 605 Bannock Street, Denver, CO 80204, United States; Johnson, J.L., Department of Medicine, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Uganda-Case Western Reserve University Research Collaboration, 10900 Euclid Blvd., Cleveland, OH 44106-4945, United States; Goldberg, S., Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd., NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States; Padayatchi, N., Departments of Community Health, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 719 Umbilo Road, Durban, South Africa; Duran, P., Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, VAMC, San Antonio, TX 78229-4404, United States; Engle, M., Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, VAMC, San Antonio, TX 78229-4404, United States; Muzanye, G., Uganda-Case Western Reserve University Research Collaboration, P.O. Box 663, Kampala, Uganda; Mugerwa, R.D., Uganda-Case Western Reserve University Research Collaboration, P.O. Box 663, Kampala, Uganda; Sturm, A.W., Department of Medical Microbiology, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 719 Umbilo Road, Durban, South Africa | Time to detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in broth culture was examined for utility as a treatment efficacy end point. Of 146 patients in a phase IIB trial, a decreased mean time to detection was found in 5 with treatment failure. Time to detection in an analysis-of-covariance model was associated with lung cavities, less intensive treatment, and differences in the bactericidal effects of treatment regimens. Copyright © 2010, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved. | None | ethambutol; moxifloxacin; adult; article; bacterium detection; female; human; lung cavity; major clinical study; male; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; nonhuman; priority journal; relapse; risk factor; time; treatment failure; Adult; Antitubercular Agents; Aza Compounds; Bacteriological Techniques; Clinical Trials as Topic; Drug Monitoring; Ethambutol; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Quinolines; Time Factors; Tuberculosis; Mycobacterium tuberculosis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84890094748 | Enhancing team performance through tool use: How critical technology-related issues influence the performance of virtual project teams | Weimann P., Pollock M., Scott E., Brown I. | 2013 | IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication | 56 | 4 | 10.1109/TPC.2013.2287571 | Faculty of Economic and Social Science, Beuth University of Applied Sciences Berlin, Berlin 10629, Germany; Department of Information Systems, Faculty of Commerce, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa | Weimann, P., Faculty of Economic and Social Science, Beuth University of Applied Sciences Berlin, Berlin 10629, Germany; Pollock, M., Department of Information Systems, Faculty of Commerce, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Scott, E., Department of Information Systems, Faculty of Commerce, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Brown, I., Department of Information Systems, Faculty of Commerce, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa | Research problem: The project management of virtual teams differs from that of traditional ones. Traditional project risks, such as complexity, the uncertainty of factors influencing the project, and the high interdependency of project tasks must be managed alongside changed temporal, geographic, and cultural dimensions. Only a few studies have investigated the effect of critical technological issues, such as wrong tool selection or limited internet access on performance as well as team and team member satisfaction in virtual work settings. Research questions: How do critical technology-related issues concerning the selection and use of web-based tools influence the performance and satisfaction of virtual project teams? Literature review: Instead of categorizing virtual teams as a type of team that contrasts with traditional or face-to-face teams, the focus has shifted to virtualness as a characteristic present in all teams. Project teamwork is often integrated in university degree programs in order to prepare students appropriately for real-life projects. While these student teams are often not geographically spread across countries, they have a high degree of virtualness because of their diverse team composition, the necessity for working at different places, and the limited face-to-face meeting opportunities. Performance, effectiveness, and satisfaction are central issues in the evaluation and measurement of project teams: Team performance is often evaluated on the basis of acceptance of a specified output by a customer. Through specific mediating processes, team performance can alternatively be assessed by inquiring the team's perception on their performance. Effectiveness can be defined as the achievement of clear goals and objectives and it is often related to the team's performance. Finally, satisfaction can be defined as having three dimensions - satisfaction with the team, the satisfaction of meeting customer needs, and general satisfaction with extrinsic rewards and work. Technology use is substantial for distributed teamwork and can be assessed by the extent to which it supports communication, collaboration, and project-management tasks. Methodology: Fifteen teams were observed and interviewed over a two-year period. The resulting data were analyzed using a Grounded Theory approach, which revealed how the selection and use of tools for communication, collaboration, and project management in the different project activities influenced the team's performance. Results and conclusions: Our results contribute to practice by providing a number of guidelines for the management of virtual teams as well as knowledge required by companies wishing to launch projects with virtual teams. Differing performances of teams can, in many cases, be attributed to such conditions as: internet availability and bandwidth; lack of training for certain tools; the selection and appropriate use of tools; integrated tool support for task management; as well as the promotion of transparency about progress made. It was found that restrictions in internet access of even a single member within a team limited the team's technological choices, which affected the team's performance. © 1988-2012 IEEE. | Communication; internet; performance; project management; teams; tools; virtual teams | Cultural dimensions; Face-to-face meetings; Grounded theory approach; performance; Research questions; teams; Virtual project teams; Virtual team; Communication; Customer satisfaction; Internet; Management science; Project management; Tools; Human resource management | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-67349141478 | Economic performance assessment of two ROM ore milling circuit controllers | Wei D., Craig I.K. | 2009 | Minerals Engineering | 22 | 42623 | 10.1016/j.mineng.2009.02.013 | Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa | Wei, D., Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa; Craig, I.K., Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa | Economic performance assessment of control systems is receiving increasing attention in both academia and industry. A relevant framework is proposed in Bauer and Craig (Bauer, M., Craig, I.K., 2008. Economic assessment of advanced process control - a survey and framework. Journal of Process Control 18 (1), 2-18) based on a comprehensive survey of the methods for economic analysis of advanced process control systems. The framework provides a formal procedure for the economic assessment of control systems. A practically motivated simulation study is used to cast the economic performance assessment of a nonlinear model predictive controller and three single-loop PID controllers for a run-of-mine milling circuit into this framework. Performance functions of the milling circuit, which dynamically relate the circuit process variables to monetary values, are developed based on a survey study on milling circuits and an in-depth literature study. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Flotation; Grinding; Mineral economics; Mineral processing; Particle size; Process control | Advanced Process Control; Economic assessments; Economic performance; Grinding; Milling circuits; Mineral processing; Monetary value; Non-linear model; Performance functions; PID controllers; Process Variables; Simulation studies; Control system analysis; Controllers; Economic analysis; Electric network analysis; Flotation; Grinding (comminution); Grinding (machining); Intelligent control; Milling (machining); Minerals; Mining; Particle size; Proportional control systems; Silicate minerals; Surveys; Three term control systems; Process control | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34249277405 | Multivariate economic performance assessment of an MPC controlled electric arc furnace | Wei D., Craig I.K., Bauer M. | 2007 | ISA Transactions | 46 | 3 | 10.1016/j.isatra.2007.01.005 | Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Pretoria, 0002, South Africa | Wei, D., Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Pretoria, 0002, South Africa; Craig, I.K., Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Pretoria, 0002, South Africa; Bauer, M., Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Pretoria, 0002, South Africa | Economic performance is very important to advanced process control projects investigating whether the investment of control technology is worthwhile. In this paper economic performance assessment of a simulated electric arc furnace is conducted. The dependence of controlled variables and the corresponding economic impact are highlighted. © 2007 ISA. | (Joint) performance function; Economic performance assessment; Electric arc furnace; Model predictive control; Scatter plot | Computer simulation; Economic analysis; Electric arcs; Investments; Model predictive control; Economic performance assessment; Performance functions; Scatter plots; Electric furnaces | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-31544462587 | Assessment of heavy-metal profile of the New Calabar River and its impact on juvenile Clarias gariepinus | Wegwu M.O., Akaninwor J.O. | 2006 | Chemistry and Biodiversity | 3 | 1 | 10.1002/cbdv.200690010 | Department of Biochemistry, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B. 5323, Port Harcourt, Nigeria | Wegwu, M.O., Department of Biochemistry, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B. 5323, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Akaninwor, J.O., Department of Biochemistry, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B. 5323, Port Harcourt, Nigeria | We have determined the heavy-metal status of the lower reaches of the New Calabar River in the Niger Delta region over a 40-km-long distance, and its impact on the development of catfish (juvenile Clarias gariepinus). The total mean concentrations of dissolved trace metals in the river were 0.01, 0.85, 0.56, 2.08, 0.05, 12.0, and 6.59 mg/l for Hg, Pb, Cd, Cu, Cr, Fe, and Zn, respectively. The accumulated concentration of trace metals in the muscles of different mature fish caught from the river were examined, and the results fell within the action levels adopted in most countries. To evaluate the contributions of trace metals to fisheries depletion, eggs of C. gariepinus were hatched in dilution water spiked with the total mean metal levels determined in the river water. Our results indicate substantive inhibition of egg hatch even at very low concentrations of the majority of the trace metals studied, with mortality rates well above 50% after 216 h of exposure (Table 5). These findings suggest that trace metals (except for Zn), even at very low concentrations, negatively affect fish hatch and fry rearing, implying that aquatic milieus contaminated by trace metals are not suitable as nursery grounds for fish cultures. © 2006 Verlag Helvetica Chimica Acta. | None | cadmium; chromium; copper; heavy metal; iron; lead; mercury; river water; trace metal; zinc; animal tissue; aquatic environment; article; breeding; catfish; concentration (parameters); controlled study; death; environmental exposure; environmental impact assessment; fishery; geography; hatching; Nigeria; nonhuman; pisciculture; river; tissue distribution; water pollution; Age Factors; Animals; Catfishes; Metals, Heavy; Nigeria; Rivers; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Animalia; Clarias gariepinus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-47249116955 | Inter-basin water transfer effects on the invertebrates of the Mvuzane River: A test of the SASS rapid biomonitoring protocol to assess the impact of flow modification | Weerts S.P., Cyrus D.P. | 2008 | Water SA | 34 | 2 | None | Coastal Research Unit of Zululand, University of Zululand, Private Bag X1001, KwaDlangezwa 3886, South Africa; CSIR, Natural Resources and the Environment, PO Box 17001, Congella 4013, South Africa | Weerts, S.P., Coastal Research Unit of Zululand, University of Zululand, Private Bag X1001, KwaDlangezwa 3886, South Africa, CSIR, Natural Resources and the Environment, PO Box 17001, Congella 4013, South Africa; Cyrus, D.P., Coastal Research Unit of Zululand, University of Zululand, Private Bag X1001, KwaDlangezwa 3886, South Africa | Effects of the transfer of water from the Thukela to the Mvuzane River were investigated using the SASS rapid bioassessment technique and more quantitative methods of guild composition and community analyses. Although the transfer was relatively small (< 1 m-3/s) it completely dominated natural flows in the recipient system. SASS monitoring was found to be useful as a rapid, field-based assessment of water quality and can he used to act as a 'red flag' to problems in the future. However, it was not sensitive to changes in the community structure at different sites and was inefficient as a tool to investigate the wider ecological impacts of the transfer scheme, most notably those associated with flow modification. Changes in the invertebrate fauna were most easily explained in terms of the effect of increased flow velocities and volumes on taxa that were classified as 'swimmers' and 'skaters'. Impacts via disruption to trophic pathways cannot be discounted and will most certainly occur with prolonged water transfer. | None | Bioassessment; Biomonitoring; Quantitative methods; Water transfers; assessment method; basin; biomonitoring; community composition; community structure; ecological impact; guild structure; invertebrate; river water; trophic status; Africa; KwaZulu-Natal; Mvuzane River; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Thukela Basin; Invertebrata | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84867246758 | Phase I safety and immunogenicity evaluations of an alphavirus replicon HIV-1 subtype C gag vaccine in healthy HIV-1-uninfected adults | Wecker M., Gilbert P., Russell N., Hural J., Allen M., Pensiero M., Chulay J., Chiu Y.-L., Karim S.S.A., Burke D.S. | 2012 | Clinical and Vaccine Immunology | 19 | 10 | 10.1128/CVI.00258-12 | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States; Division of AIDS, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States; AlphaVax, Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC, United States; Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, Durban, South Africa; Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States; Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA, United States; Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation, Alachua, FL, United States; Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States; Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States | Wecker, M., Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States; Gilbert, P., Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States; Russell, N., Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA, United States; Hural, J., Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States; Allen, M., Division of AIDS, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States; Pensiero, M., Division of AIDS, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States; Chulay, J., AlphaVax, Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC, United States, Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation, Alachua, FL, United States; Chiu, Y.-L., Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States; Karim, S.S.A., Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, Durban, South Africa; Burke, D.S., Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States | On the basis of positive preclinical data, we evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of an alphavirus replicon HIV-1 subtype C gag vaccine (AVX101), expressing a nonmyristoylated form of Gag, in two double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials in healthy HIV-1-uninfected adults. Escalating doses of AVX101 or placebo were administered subcutaneously to participants in the United States and Southern Africa. Because of vaccine stability issues, the first trial was halted prior to completion of all dose levels and a second trial was implemented. The second trial was also stopped prematurely due to documentation issues with the contract manufacturer. Safety and immunogenicity were evaluated through assessments of reactogenicity, reports of adverse events, and assessment of replication-competent and Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) viremia. Immunogenicity was measured using the following assays: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), chromium 51 ( 51Cr)-release cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL), gamma interferon (IFN-γ) ELISpot, intracellular cytokine staining (ICS), and lymphoproliferation assay (LPA). Anti-vector antibodies were also measured. AVX101 was well tolerated and exhibited only modest local reactogenicity. There were 5 serious adverse events reported during the trials; none were considered related to the study vaccine. In contrast to the preclinical data, immune responses in humans were limited. Only low levels of binding antibodies and T-cell responses were seen at the highest doses. This trial also highlighted the difficulties in developing a novel vector for HIV. Copyright © 2012, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved. | None | avx 101; gamma interferon; Human immunodeficiency virus antibody; Human immunodeficiency virus vaccine; interleukin 2; placebo; unclassified drug; adult; Alpha virus; antibody response; antibody titer; article; CD4+ T lymphocyte; CD8+ T lymphocyte; controlled study; cytotoxic T lymphocyte; dose response; double blind procedure; drug dose escalation; drug fatality; drug induced headache; drug safety; drug tolerability; drug withdrawal; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; enzyme linked immunospot assay; fatigue; female; hepatitis A; hepatitis E; human; Human immunodeficiency virus 1 infection; immunogenicity; injection site pain; injection site reaction; intracellular cytokine staining; lymphocyte proliferation; male; multicenter study; normal human; phase 1 clinical trial; priority journal; randomized controlled trial; replicon; South Africa; staining; structural gene; United States; Venezuelan equine encephalitis; viremia; Adolescent; Adult; AIDS Vaccines; Alphavirus; Botswana; Cytokines; Double-Blind Method; Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay; Female; gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; HIV Antibodies; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Interferon-gamma; Male; Middle Aged; South Africa; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic; United States; Young Adult | None |
| WoS | WOS:000276219700028 | Evaluating Delivery Systems: Complex Evaluations and Plausibility Inference | Bruce, Jane,Chandramohan, Daniel,Dedzo, McDamien,Hanson, Kara,Kweku, Margaret,Lines, Jo,Tinkorang, Kojo,Webster, Jayne | 2010 | AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE | 82 | 4 | 10.4269/ajtmh.2010.09-0473 | Ghana Health Service, University of London | "Webster, Jayne: University of London", | Delivery system evaluation is poorly defined and therefore a barrier to achieving increased coverage of interventions. We use a pre- and post-implementation cross-sectional observational study with assessment of the intermediate processes to evaluate a new delivery system for insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) in two regions of Ghana. In Volta Region, ownership of at least one net rose from 38.3% to 45.4% (P = 0.06), and 6.5% of respondents used a voucher in the purchase. In Eastern Region, ownership of a net rose from 13.7% to 26.0% (P < 0.001) and 0.5% of households used a voucher to purchase a net. Just 40.7% and 21.1% of eligible antenatal clinic (ANC) attendees were offered a voucher in Volta and Eastern Regions, respectively, and 36.0% and 30.7% used their voucher in the purchase of an ITN. Without attributing nets to the specific delivery system, in Eastern Region the success of the new system would be overestimated. | ,INTERVENTIONS,PUBLIC-HEALTH | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33750474426 | Multicenter evaluation of a new 4th generation HIV screening assay elecsys HIV combi | Weber B., Orazi B., Raineri A., Thorstensson R., Bürgisser P., Mühlbacher A., Areal C., Eiras A., Villaescusa R., Camacho R., Diogo I., Roth H.-J., Zahn I., Bartel J., Bossi V., Piro F., Atamasirikul K., Permpikul P., Webber L., Singh S. | 2006 | Clinical Laboratory | 52 | 42623 | None | Universitätskliniken Frankfurt/Main, Institut für Med. Virologie, Zentrum f. Hygiene Frankfurt/Main, Frankfurt/Main, Germany; Laboratoires Reunis, L-6131 Junglinster, Luxembourg; Ospedale Santa Maria degli Angeli, Centro Immunotrasfusionale Pordenone, Pordenone, Italy; Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control, Stockholm-Solna, Sweden; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Departement de Medecine Interne, Division d'Immunologie et Allergie, Laussane, Switzerland; Universitätsinstitut für Blutgruppenserologie und Transfusionsmedizin der PMU, Salzburg, Austria; Centro de Transfusión de Galicia, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Hospital Egas Moniz, Virology Laboratory, Lisbon, Portugal; Limbach Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany; Ospedale Amedeo di Savoia, Laboratorio di Virologia e Microbiologia, Turin, Italy; Ramithibodi Hospital, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand; Siriraj Hospital, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand; Lancet Laboratories, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa | Weber, B., Universitätskliniken Frankfurt/Main, Institut für Med. Virologie, Zentrum f. Hygiene Frankfurt/Main, Frankfurt/Main, Germany, Laboratoires Reunis, L-6131 Junglinster, Luxembourg; Orazi, B., Ospedale Santa Maria degli Angeli, Centro Immunotrasfusionale Pordenone, Pordenone, Italy; Raineri, A., Ospedale Santa Maria degli Angeli, Centro Immunotrasfusionale Pordenone, Pordenone, Italy; Thorstensson, R., Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control, Stockholm-Solna, Sweden; Bürgisser, P., Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Departement de Medecine Interne, Division d'Immunologie et Allergie, Laussane, Switzerland; Mühlbacher, A., Universitätsinstitut für Blutgruppenserologie und Transfusionsmedizin der PMU, Salzburg, Austria; Areal, C., Centro de Transfusión de Galicia, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Eiras, A., Centro de Transfusión de Galicia, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Villaescusa, R., Centro de Transfusión de Galicia, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Camacho, R., Hospital Egas Moniz, Virology Laboratory, Lisbon, Portugal; Diogo, I., Hospital Egas Moniz, Virology Laboratory, Lisbon, Portugal; Roth, H.-J., Limbach Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany; Zahn, I., Limbach Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany; Bartel, J., Limbach Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany; Bossi, V., Ospedale Amedeo di Savoia, Laboratorio di Virologia e Microbiologia, Turin, Italy; Piro, F., Ospedale Amedeo di Savoia, Laboratorio di Virologia e Microbiologia, Turin, Italy; Atamasirikul, K., Ramithibodi Hospital, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand; Permpikul, P., Siriraj Hospital, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand; Webber, L., Lancet Laboratories, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa; Singh, S., Lancet Laboratories, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa | Fourth-generation screening assays which permit a simultaneous detection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antigen and antibody reduce the diagnostic window on average by four days in comparison to third-generation antibody assays. Recently, the new automated Elecsys® HIV combi was compared in a multicenter study to alternative fourth- and third-generation assays, p24 antigen test and HIV-1 RNA RT-PCR. A total of 104 serocon-version panels, samples of the acute phase of infection after seroconversion (n = 33), anti-H1V-1 positive specimens (n = 572) from patients in different stages of the disease, 535 subtyped samples from different geographical locations, including group M (subtypes A-J) and group O, anti-HIV-2 positive sera (n = 364), dilutions of cell culture supernatants (n = 60) infected with different HTV-1 subtypes, selected performance panels, 8406 unselected samples from blood donors originating from different blood transfusion centers, 3810 unselected sera from daily routine and from hospitalized patients, 9927 unselected samples from South Africa and 1943 potentially interfering samples were tested with the Elecsys® HIV combi. Elecsys® HIV combi showed a comparable sensitivity to HIV-1 Ag stand-alone assays for early detection of HTV infection in seroconversion panels. The mean time delay of Elecsys® HIV combi (last negative sample + 1 day) in comparison to HIV-1 RT-PCR for 92 panels tested with both methods was 3.23 days. The diagnostic window was reduced with Elecsys® HIV combi between 1.56 and 5.32 days in comparison to third-generation assays. The specificity of Elecsys® HIV combi in blood donors was 99.80% after repeated testing. Our results show that a fourth-generation assay with improved specificity and sensitivity like the Elecsys® HIV combi is suitable for blood donor screening due to its low number of false positives and since it detects HIV p24 antigen with a comparable sensitivity to single antigen assays. | Combined antigen and antibody detection; Genetic variability; HIV; HIV-1 RNA; HIV-1 subtypes; Seroconversion | Gag protein; Human immunodeficiency virus antigen; virus RNA; antigen detection; article; blood donor; blood transfusion; cell culture; clinical trial; controlled clinical trial; controlled study; diagnostic kit; dilution; disease course; donor selection; false positive result; geographic distribution; health care facility; hospitalization; human; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Human immunodeficiency virus 2; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; intermethod comparison; laboratory automation; major clinical study; multicenter study; nonhuman; performance; reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; screening test; sensitivity analysis; sensitivity and specificity; seroconversion; South Africa; supernatant; virus detection; Early Diagnosis; HIV Antibodies; HIV Core Protein p24; HIV Infections; HIV-1; HIV-2; Humans; Immunoassay; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Viral; Sensitivity and Specificity; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Human immunodeficiency virus 2 | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84948957369 | Direct-to-consumer genetic testing for predicting sports performance and talent identification: Consensus statement | Webborn N., Williams A., McNamee M., Bouchard C., Pitsiladis Y., Ahmetov I., Ashley E., Byrne N., Camporesi S., Collins M., Dijkstra P., Eynon N., Fuku N., Garton F.C., Hoppe N., Holm S., Kaye J., Klissouras V., Lucia A., Maase K., Moran C., North K.N., P | 2015 | British Journal of Sports Medicine | 49 | 23 | 10.1136/bjsports-2015-095343 | Centre for Sport and Exercise Science and Medicine (SESAME), University of Brighton, Eastbourne, United Kingdom; MMU Sports Genomics Laboratory, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Crewe Green Road, Crewe, United Kingdom; College of Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom; Human Genomics Laboratory, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, United States; FIMS Reference Collaborating Centre of Sports Medicine for Anti-Doping Research, University of Brighton, Eastbourne, United Kingdom; Volga Region State Academy of Physical Culture, Sport and Tourism, Kazan, Russian Federation; Clinical Genomics Service, Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Disease, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, United States; Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond Institute of Health and Sport, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia; Department of Social Science, Health and Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Aspetar-Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar; Institute of Sport, Exercise, and Active Living (ISEAL), Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Graduate School of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Paediatrics, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, University of Melbourne, Royal Children's HospitalVIC, Australia; Coram Chambers, London, United Kingdom; School of Law, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom; Nuffield Department of Population Health, Centre for Health, Law and Emerging Technologies, University of Oxford, Headington, United Kingdom; Emeritus of Ergophysiology, University of Athens, Athens, Greece; Universidad Europea and Research Institute, Madrid, Spain; Elite Sport Unit, Netherlands Olympic Committee and Netherlands Sports Confederation (NOC and NSF), Utrecht, Netherlands; Physiological Epigenetics Research Group, University of Stirling, Stirling, United Kingdom; International Federation of Sports Medicine, University of Rome, Rome, Italy | Webborn, N., Centre for Sport and Exercise Science and Medicine (SESAME), University of Brighton, Eastbourne, United Kingdom; Williams, A., MMU Sports Genomics Laboratory, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Crewe Green Road, Crewe, United Kingdom; McNamee, M., College of Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom; Bouchard, C., Human Genomics Laboratory, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, United States; Pitsiladis, Y., FIMS Reference Collaborating Centre of Sports Medicine for Anti-Doping Research, University of Brighton, Eastbourne, United Kingdom; Ahmetov, I., Volga Region State Academy of Physical Culture, Sport and Tourism, Kazan, Russian Federation; Ashley, E., Clinical Genomics Service, Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Disease, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, United States; Byrne, N., Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond Institute of Health and Sport, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia; Camporesi, S., Department of Social Science, Health and Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; Collins, M., Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Dijkstra, P., Aspetar-Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar; Eynon, N., Institute of Sport, Exercise, and Active Living (ISEAL), Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Fuku, N., Graduate School of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan; Garton, F.C., Department of Paediatrics, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, University of Melbourne, Royal Children's HospitalVIC, Australia; Hoppe, N., Coram Chambers, London, United Kingdom; Holm, S., School of Law, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom; Kaye, J., Nuffield Department of Population Health, Centre for Health, Law and Emerging Technologies, University of Oxford, Headington, United Kingdom; Klissouras, V., Emeritus of Ergophysiology, University of Athens, Athens, Greece; Lucia, A., Universidad Europea and Research Institute, Madrid, Spain; Maase, K., Elite Sport Unit, Netherlands Olympic Committee and Netherlands Sports Confederation (NOC and NSF), Utrecht, Netherlands; Moran, C., Physiological Epigenetics Research Group, University of Stirling, Stirling, United Kingdom; North, K.N., Department of Paediatrics, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, University of Melbourne, Royal Children's HospitalVIC, Australia; Pigozzi, F., International Federation of Sports Medicine, University of Rome, Rome, Italy; Wang, G., FIMS Reference Collaborating Centre of Sports Medicine for Anti-Doping Research, University of Brighton, Eastbourne, United Kingdom | The general consensus among sport and exercise genetics researchers is that genetic tests have no role to play in talent identification or the individualised prescription of training to maximise performance. Despite the lack of evidence, recent years have witnessed the rise of an emerging market of direct-toconsumer marketing (DTC) tests that claim to be able to identify children's athletic talents. Targeted consumers include mainly coaches and parents. There is concern among the scientific community that the current level of knowledge is being misrepresented for commercial purposes. There remains a lack of universally accepted guidelines and legislation for DTC testing in relation to all forms of genetic testing and not just for talent identification. There is concern over the lack of clarity of information over which specific genes or variants are being tested and the almost universal lack of appropriate genetic counselling for the interpretation of the genetic data to consumers. Furthermore independent studies have identified issues relating to quality control by DTC laboratories with different results being reported from samples from the same individual. Consequently, in the current state of knowledge, no child or young athlete should be exposed to DTC genetic testing to define or alter training or for talent identification aimed at selecting gifted children or adolescents. Large scale collaborative projects, may help to develop a stronger scientific foundation on these issues in the future. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84869750813 | Multilingual teachers' voices: Perceptions about the impact of language | Webb L. | 2012 | Education as Change | 16 | 2 | 10.1080/16823206.2012.745752 | Faculty of Education, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South Africa | Webb, L., Faculty of Education, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South Africa | Many teachers in South Africa teach mainly in English, which is not their home language. In order to elicit their inner voices about language issues, 176 senior phase teachers in rural, peri-urban and urban regions of the Eastern Cape were encouraged to write poetry about their perceptions of the impact of language in their lives. The most prevalent conflict they expressed was the dominance of English juxtaposed against the subordination of their home languages, either isiXhosa or Afrikaans. They felt that English gave them access to education and upward employment mobility, whereas they were excluded from various discourses when they used their home languages. The use of poetry to understand how teachers make meaning of the potential conflicts caused by teaching in English revealed feelings and emotions that may not have been as obvious, or as evocative, if other data-gathering methods had been used. Further research is suggested strategies that could use both English and the pupils' home languages as a resource in multilingual classrooms. © 2012 Copyright The University of Johannesburg. | access; language; multilingual; perceptions; poetry; power | None | 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-s2.0-84892996732 | Reproductive performance of semi-intensively kept Döhne Merino ewes fed with different protein supplements | Webb E.C., van Niekerk W.A., Lee K., Marais W.J. | 2010 | South African Journal of Animal Sciences | 40 | 5SUPPL.1 | None | Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute, Private Bag X529, Middelburg, EC, 5900, South Africa | Webb, E.C., Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; van Niekerk, W.A., Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Lee, K., Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa, Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute, Private Bag X529, Middelburg, EC, 5900, South Africa; Marais, W.J., Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa | A trial was conducted to determine the possible effects of an easily digestible nitrogen source in the form of urea compared to an undegradable protein supplement, age and birth status on the reproductive performance (ovulation rate and rate of twinning) of ewes. The weight, age and birth status of Döhne Merino ewes were recorded. A total of 144 Döhne Merino ewes were randomly allocated in two dietary treatment groups (either urea-based or undegradable protein group) synchronised, mated and the ovulation rate (estimated from the number of corpora lutea on the ovaries), foetuses observed on day 55 of gestation, lambs born per ewe and mass of the ewe after lambing were recorded. Dietary protein supplement had no significant effect on ovulation rate, pregnancy status, the number of lambs born per ewe or ewe weight after lambing. The number of lambs born per ewe of the one-year-old (0.99 ± 0.316), two-year-old (1.23 ± 0.134) and seven year old (0.92 ± 0.305) ewes were lower than that of four (1.69 ± 0.222) and six-year-old ewes (1.897 ± 0.248). Ewe age did not influence the ovulation rate of ewes, but the highest number of foetuses counted on day 55 of gestation was observed in 3-year-old ewes (1.68 ± 0.196). The number of lambs born per ewe of single born ewes (1.23 ± 0.104) was lower than that of twin born ewes (1.62 ± 0.106). It was concluded that dietary protein supplementation had no significant effect on ovulation rate or the number of lambs born per ewe mated, while age and birth status influenced the reproductive rate of Döhne Merino ewes. © South African Society for Animal Science. | Lambing status; Ovulation rate; Reproductive rate; Undegradable protein; Urea | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84928917265 | Improving facility performance in infectious disease care in Uganda: A mixed design study with pre/post and cluster randomized trial components | Weaver M.R., Burnett S.M., Crozier I., Kinoti S.N., Kirunda I., Mbonye M.K., Naikoba S., Ronald A., Rubashembusya T., Zawedde S., Willis K.S. | 2014 | PLoS ONE | 9 | 8 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0103017 | Departments of Global Health and Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Accordia Global Health Foundation, Washington, DC, United States; Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Center for Human Services, University Research Co. LLC, Bethesda, MD, United States; Fio Corporation, Toronto, ON, Canada; Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Mbarara, Uganda; Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Institute of Development Policy and Management, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom | Weaver, M.R., Departments of Global Health and Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Burnett, S.M., Accordia Global Health Foundation, Washington, DC, United States, Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Crozier, I., Accordia Global Health Foundation, Washington, DC, United States; Kinoti, S.N., Center for Human Services, University Research Co. LLC, Bethesda, MD, United States, Fio Corporation, Toronto, ON, Canada; Kirunda, I., Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Mbarara, Uganda; Mbonye, M.K., Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium, Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Naikoba, S., Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium, Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Ronald, A., Department of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Rubashembusya, T., Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, Institute of Development Policy and Management, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom; Zawedde, S., Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Willis, K.S., Accordia Global Health Foundation, Washington, DC, United States | Background: The effects of two interventions, Integrated Management of Infectious Disease (IMID) training program and On-Site Support (OSS), were tested on 23 facility performance indicators for emergency triage assessment and treatment (ETAT), malaria, pneumonia, tuberculosis, and HIV. Methods: The trial was implemented in 36 primary care facilities in Uganda. From April 2010, two mid-level practitioners per facility participated in IMID training. Eighteen of 36 facilities were randomly assigned to Arm A, and received OSS in 2010 (nine monthly two-day sessions); 18 facilities assigned to Arm B did not receive OSS in 2010. Data were collected from Nov 2009 to Dec 2010 using a revised Ministry of Health outpatient medical form and nine registers. We analyzed the effect of IMID training alone by measuring changes before and during IMID training in Arm B, the combined effect of IMID training and OSS by measuring changes in Arm A, and the incremental effect of OSS by comparing changes across Arms A and B. Results: IMID training was associated with statistically significant improvement in three indicators: outpatients triaged (adjusted relative risks (aRR) = 1.29, 99%CI = 1.01,1.64), emergency and priority patients admitted, detained, or referred (aRR = 1.59, 99%CI = 1.04,2.44), and pneumonia suspects assessed (aRR = 2.31, 99%CI = 1.50,3.55). IMID training and OSS combined was associated with improvements in six indicators: three ETAT indicators (outpatients triaged (aRR = 2.03, 99%CI = 1.13,3.64), emergency and priority patients admitted, detained or referred (aRR = 3.03, 99%CI = 1.40,6.56), and emergency patients receiving at least one appropriate treatment (aRR = 1.77, 99%CI = 1.10,2.84)); two malaria indicators (malaria cases receiving appropriate antimalarial (aRR = 1.50, 99%CI = 1.04,2.17), and patients with negative malaria test results prescribed antimalarial (aRR = 0.67, 99%CI = 0.46,0.97)); and enrollment in HIV care (aRR = 1.58, 99%CI = 1.32,1.89). OSS was associated with incremental improvement in emergency patients receiving at least one appropriate treatment (adjusted ratio of RR = 1.84,99%CI = 1.09,3.12). Conclusion: The trial showed that the OSS intervention significantly improved performance in one of 23 facility indicators. © 2014 Weaver et al. | None | antimalarial agent; article; cluster analysis; emergency health service; health care access; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; infectious disease medicine; integrated health care system; Integrated Management of Infectious Disease training program; intervention study; malaria; On Site Support program; outcomes research; outpatient care; patient referral; performance measurement system; pneumonia; prescription; primary medical care; program appropriateness; randomized controlled trial (topic); total quality management; tuberculosis; Uganda; health care facility; health care quality; HIV Infections; infectious disease medicine; malaria; organization and management; randomization; standards; tuberculosis; Cluster Analysis; Health Facilities; HIV Infections; Humans; Infectious Disease Medicine; Malaria; Quality Improvement; Quality Indicators, Health Care; Random Allocation; Tuberculosis; Uganda | B&MGF, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-48249131232 | Contributing to sustainability as an environmental impact assessment practitioner | Weaver A., Pope J., Morrison-Saunders A., Lochner P. | 2008 | Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal | 26 | 2 | 10.3152/146155108X316423 | CSIR Natural Resources and the Environment, PO Box 320, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa; Integral Sustainability, PO Box 79, South Fremantle, WA 6162, Australia; School of Enviromental Science, Murdoch University, South St., Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia | Weaver, A., CSIR Natural Resources and the Environment, PO Box 320, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa; Pope, J., Integral Sustainability, PO Box 79, South Fremantle, WA 6162, Australia; Morrison-Saunders, A., School of Enviromental Science, Murdoch University, South St., Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia; Lochner, P., CSIR Natural Resources and the Environment, PO Box 320, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa | Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is the pre-eminent regulatory tool used worldwide in the name of sustainable development. Whilst it may not be perfect for this purpose, and recognising that project-based EIA has been soundly criticised for its perceived failings, it remains the preferred and most widely used tool for project-level assessment and the key (if not only) sustainable development-oriented tool in many countries. Drawing on examples and experience from Southern Africa and Australia, we urge practitioners to raise the bar on day-to-day EIA activities that will push the vectors of sustainability. We can all achieve positive gains for the environmental, social and economic parameters of development proposals through informed professionalism and the pursuit of best practice. Given that EIA is well enshrined in legislation worldwide, it is our responsibility as practitioners to use this important tool to maximise opportunities for sustainability. © IAIA 2008. | Australia; Best practice; Environmental impact assessment; Southern Africa; Sustainability; Sustainable development | best management practice; environmental impact assessment; environmental legislation; project assessment; sustainability; sustainable development; Africa; Australasia; Australia; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84875606671 | Design and performance assessment of a flat-plate solar milk pasteurizer for arid pastoral areas of kenya | Wayua F.O., Okoth M.W., Wangoh J. | 2013 | Journal of Food Processing and Preservation | 37 | 2 | 10.1111/j.1745-4549.2011.00628.x | National Arid Lands Research Centre, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, PO Box 147, Marsabit 60500, Kenya; Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Technology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya | Wayua, F.O., National Arid Lands Research Centre, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, PO Box 147, Marsabit 60500, Kenya; Okoth, M.W., Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Technology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya; Wangoh, J., Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Technology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya | A solar milk pasteurizer consisting of flat-plate water-heating collector and a 1.5-mm thick stainless steel cylindrical milk vat was designed and tested in an arid pastoral area of northern Kenya. The milk vat had a capacity of 80L and a 50-mm wide hot water jacket insulated with 38-mm thick fiberglass. Hot water produced by the collector was used for pasteurizing milk. The optimum quantity of milk that could be pasteurized by this device under the study conditions was 40L, and the average temperature difference between hot water and milk being pasteurized was 8.1±1.4C. Total bacterial counts in pasteurized milk were less than 10cfu/mL while coliform counts were negative. This low-cost solar milk pasteurizer is appropriate for arid pastoral areas without grid electricity, where milk marketing is an important income source, and where most of the milk is boiled using firewood. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. | None | Flat plate; Grid electricity; Income sources; Marketing IS; Pasteurized milk; Performance assessment; Temperature differences; Total bacterial count; Water; Pasteurization; Bacteria (microorganisms); Lycium andersonii | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84865541913 | Thermal performance of four types of water heating flat plate solar collectors for providing process heat for milk pasteurisation | Wayua F.O., Okoth M.W., Wangoh J. | 2012 | Journal of Applied Sciences Research | 8 | 5 | None | National Arid Lands Research Centre, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 147 (60500), Marsabit, Kenya; Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Technology, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053 (00625), Nairobi, Kenya | Wayua, F.O., National Arid Lands Research Centre, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 147 (60500), Marsabit, Kenya; Okoth, M.W., Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Technology, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053 (00625), Nairobi, Kenya; Wangoh, J., National Arid Lands Research Centre, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 147 (60500), Marsabit, Kenya | Thermal performance tests were carried out on four water heating flat plate solar collectors with the aim to select a suitable one to be used to provide process heat for milk pasteurisation. The collectors included three commercial solar collectors purchased from local shops in Nairobi, Kenya and one prototype collector designed and fabricated by the author. The three commercial solar collectors had effective areas of 1.67, 1.87 and 1.83 m 2 while the self-made collector had an effective area of 1.60 m 2. Thermal performance of the collectors was determined in terms of the Hottel-Whillier-Bliss equation, with FR(tα)e and F RU L indicating how energy is absorbed and lost from the collector, respectively. The FR(tα)e values were 0.76, 0.75, 0.73, and 0.82, respectively, for the commercial collectors and the self-made collector. The F RU L values were 8.33, 12.01, 9.80 and 13.77 W.m -2.C -1, respectively. The instantaneous efficiencies for the four solar collectors ranged from 12 to 87%. The solar collector with the lowest F RU L value had a special (black chrome) selective absorber surface and was also the most cost effective collector for delivering temperatures of about 80°C. This collector is the most suitable for medium temperature applications such as provision of hot water for milk pasteurisation. | Flat-plate solar collectors; Thermal performance | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84870486834 | Design and performance assessment of a low cost evaporative cooler for storage of camel milk in arid pastoral areas of kenya | Wayua F.O., Okoth M.W., Wangoh J. | 2012 | International Journal of Food Engineering | 8 | 1 | 10.1515/1556-3758.2323 | Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Kenya; University of Nairobi, Kenya | Wayua, F.O., Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Kenya; Okoth, M.W., University of Nairobi, Kenya; Wangoh, J., University of Nairobi, Kenya | A low-cost charcoal evaporative cooler was designed and tested for the storage of camel milk in an arid pastoral area of northern Kenya. The cooler, 0.75 m3 in capacity, was made of galvanised iron frame reinforced with wire mesh inside and out, leaving a 10 cm-wide cavity which was filled with charcoal. A water reservoir linked to the cooler at the top through a perforated pipe kept the charcoal continuously wet through drip system. A wind driven fan on the roof enhanced air movement through the charcoal walls by sucking out the air in the cooler. The cooler was evaluated for temperature and product response. The inside temperature was 1-11°C lower than outside temperature and inside humidity was 0-49% higher than outside. During the hottest time of the day (14.00 hrs) when cooling was most needed, the cooler consistently maintained an average temperature drop of 10.5±0.4°C below ambient temperature, which varied from 29-32°C. This reduction in temperature was 35.6% and statistically significant (p=0.05). During this time, cooling efficiency varied between 74.2 to 86.7%. Temperature of camel milk inside the cooler did not significantly increase (p>0.05) between morning time and evening time. However, temperature of control milk at ambient conditions significantly (p=0.05) changed over the same period, from 22.6±0.08°C to 28.1±0.08°C. Milk inside the cooler was also significantly cooler (p=0.05) than control milk in the evening, with a net temperature reduction of 27.0%. Total bacterial count changed from 31.4±2.1 x 104 cfu/ml to 43.1±1.9 x 104 and 1638±81 x 104 cfu/ml for test and control milk, respectively, after storage for 10 hours. As an inexpensive alternative to mechanical refrigeration, evaporative cooling technology is promising and suitable for rural application in arid pastoral areas without grid electricity, to minimise risk of milk spoilage at collection points and retail level, and thereby encourage organised women groups to get involved in milk marketing as a source of income. © 2012 De Gruyter. | Arid areas; Camel milk storage; Design; Evaporative cooler; Kenya; Performance | Air movement; Ambient conditions; Arid area; Cooling efficiency; Drip system; Evaporative coolers; Evaporative cooling; Grid electricity; Inside temperature; Kenya; Low costs; Mechanical refrigeration; Performance; Performance assessment; Rural application; Temperature drops; Temperature reduction; Total bacterial count; Wire meshes; Arid regions; Cooling; Design; Evaporative cooling systems; Charcoal; Bacteria (microorganisms) | 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-s2.0-84896089642 | The impact of methamphetamine ("tik") on a peri-urban community in Cape Town, South Africa | Watt M.H., Meade C.S., Kimani S., MacFarlane J.C., Choi K.W., Skinner D., Pieterse D., Kalichman S.C., Sikkema K.J. | 2014 | International Journal of Drug Policy | 25 | 2 | 10.1016/j.drugpo.2013.10.007 | Duke University, Duke Global Health Institute, Box 90519, Durham, NC 27708, United States; Duke University, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Box 90519, Durham, NC 27708, United States; Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Box 90086, Durham, NC 27708, United States; Stellenbosch University, Unit for Research on Health and Society, PO Box 19063, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa; University of Connecticut, Department of Psychology, 406 Babbidge Road, Unit 1020, Storrs, CT 06269, United States | Watt, M.H., Duke University, Duke Global Health Institute, Box 90519, Durham, NC 27708, United States; Meade, C.S., Duke University, Duke Global Health Institute, Box 90519, Durham, NC 27708, United States, Duke University, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Box 90519, Durham, NC 27708, United States; Kimani, S., Duke University, Duke Global Health Institute, Box 90519, Durham, NC 27708, United States; MacFarlane, J.C., Duke University, Duke Global Health Institute, Box 90519, Durham, NC 27708, United States; Choi, K.W., Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Box 90086, Durham, NC 27708, United States; Skinner, D., Stellenbosch University, Unit for Research on Health and Society, PO Box 19063, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa; Pieterse, D., Stellenbosch University, Unit for Research on Health and Society, PO Box 19063, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa; Kalichman, S.C., University of Connecticut, Department of Psychology, 406 Babbidge Road, Unit 1020, Storrs, CT 06269, United States; Sikkema, K.J., Duke University, Duke Global Health Institute, Box 90519, Durham, NC 27708, United States, Duke University, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Box 90519, Durham, NC 27708, United States, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Box 90086, Durham, NC 27708, United States | Background: Over the last decade, South Africa's Western Cape has experienced a dramatic increase in methamphetamine (". tik") use. Our study explored local impressions of the impact of tik use in a peri-urban township community in Cape Town, South Africa. Methods: We conducted individual in-depth interviews with 55 women and 37 men who were regular attendees of alcohol-serving venues. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. A content analysis approach was used to identify themes related to the impact of tik use based on levels of the socio-ecological framework (individual, inter-personal and community). Results: Tik use was reported to be a greater issue among Coloureds, compared to Blacks. At an individual level, respondents reported that tik use had adverse effects on mental, physical, and economic well-being, and limited future opportunities through school drop-out and incarceration. At an inter-personal level, respondents reported that tik use contributed to physical and sexual violence as well as increased rates of sexual risk behaviour, particularly through transactional sex relationships. Respondents described how tik use led to household conflict, and had negative impacts on children, including neglect and poor birth outcomes. At a community level, respondents linked tik use to increased rates of crime, violence and corruption, which undercut community cohesion. Conclusions: Our results highlight the negative impact that tik is having on individuals, households and the overall community in a peri-urban setting in South Africa. There is a clear need for interventions to prevent tik use in South Africa and to mitigate and address the impact of tik on multiple levels. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. | Methamphetamine; Qualitative; South Africa | methamphetamine; methamphetamine; adult; article; child neglect; content analysis; crime; family conflict; female; high risk behavior; human; male; methamphetamine dependence; physical violence; priority journal; race difference; sexual violence; South Africa; transactional sex; urban population; adolescent; attitude; Black person; demography; family size; human relation; middle aged; psychology; qualitative research; urban population; young adult; Adolescent; Adult; African Continental Ancestry Group; Attitude; Family Characteristics; Female; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Methamphetamine; Middle Aged; Qualitative Research; Residence Characteristics; South Africa; Urban Population; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929897517 | Influence of mixed electrolyte on the performance of Iron-ion/Hydrogen redox flow battery | Watson V., Nguyen D., Effiong E.E., Kalu E.E. | 2015 | ECS Electrochemistry Letters | 4 | 7 | 10.1149/2.0091507eel | Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Florida A and M University, Tallahassee, FL, United States; Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States; Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal Universi | Watson, V., Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Florida A and M University, Tallahassee, FL, United States; Nguyen, D., Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States; Effiong, E.E., Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria; Kalu, E.E., Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Florida A and M University, Tallahassee, FL, United States | Improved charge/discharge performance of Iron-ion/Hydrogen redox flow battery (RFB) electrolyte with a mixed FeSO<inf>4</inf> and FeCl<inf>2</inf> is reported. Addition of Cl- ions into a sulfate electrolyte changes the charge/discharge behavior of the sulfate electrolyte leading to a reduction in charging potential for a mixed FeSO<inf>4</inf> and FeCl<inf>2</inf> electrolyte system. This suggests that a sulfate/chloride electrolyte system can lead to improved charge/discharge of the Fe-ion/H<inf>2</inf> RFB. Reverse addition of FeSO<inf>4</inf> to FeCl<inf>2</inf> showed a decrease in the mixed electron transfer efficiency (experimental current relative to theoretical) equivalent to a decrease in electrolyte performance. We deduce that 0.8 M FeCl<inf>2</inf> corrosive electrolyte can be replaced by less corrosive mixture of 46 mol % Cl- in 0.8 M FeSO4 to achieve the same performance that can be obtained using an all chloride system. © The Author(s) 2015. Published by ECS. | None | Chlorine compounds; Electric batteries; Electrolytes; Ions; Metal ions; Secondary batteries; Sulfur compounds; Charge/discharge performance; Corrosive electrolytes; Electrolyte systems; Electron-transfer efficiency; Mixed electrolyte; Redox flow batteries; Reverse addition; Sulfate electrolytes; Flow batteries | 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-s2.0-57049149645 | Impact of the copper solvent extraction reagent LIX 984N on the growth and activity of selected acidophiles | Watling H.R., Perrot F.A., Shiers D.W., Grosheva A., Richards T.N. | 2009 | Hydrometallurgy | 95 | 42433 | 10.1016/j.hydromet.2008.07.004 | Parker Centre for Integrated Hydrometallurgy Solutions, CSIRO Minerals, PO Box 7229, Karawara, WA 6152, Australia; Laboratory of Chemical Thermodynamics, Department of Chemistry, M.V. Lomonossov State University, Leninskie Gory 1-3, Moscow, 119992, Russian Federation; Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch 7701 Cape Town, South Africa | Watling, H.R., Parker Centre for Integrated Hydrometallurgy Solutions, CSIRO Minerals, PO Box 7229, Karawara, WA 6152, Australia; Perrot, F.A., Parker Centre for Integrated Hydrometallurgy Solutions, CSIRO Minerals, PO Box 7229, Karawara, WA 6152, Australia; Shiers, D.W., Parker Centre for Integrated Hydrometallurgy Solutions, CSIRO Minerals, PO Box 7229, Karawara, WA 6152, Australia; Grosheva, A., Laboratory of Chemical Thermodynamics, Department of Chemistry, M.V. Lomonossov State University, Leninskie Gory 1-3, Moscow, 119992, Russian Federation; Richards, T.N., Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch 7701 Cape Town, South Africa | The effects of the copper extractant LIX 984N 20% v/v in Shellsol 2046 on the abilities of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans to catalyse copper extraction from a chalcopyrite concentrate and to oxidise ferrous ion to ferric ion were compared and the possible role of Acidiphilium cryptum in ameliorating the effects of the SX reagent was examined. The SX reagent up to 250 mg/L was found to have little impact on the extraction of copper from a chalcopyrite concentrate using At. ferrooxidans. In contrast, with S. thermosulfidooxidans, copper extraction was reduced to about one third in the presence of 50 mg/L SX reagent and at 250 mg/L SX reagent, was barely more than for an abiotic test. The SX reagent strongly inhibited ferrous ion biooxidation by several bacterial species in contrast to At. ferrooxidans. The presence of 50 mg/L SX reagent caused oxidation rates to drop to between 0 and 12% of those in controls in approximately 40-hour tests. The most toxic component of the SX reagent was found to be 4-nonylphenol. A. cryptum tolerated 250 mg/L SX reagent but did not utilise it as an energy source. Bioleaching of chalcopyrite concentrate was not enhanced significantly when A. cryptum was added to test inocula. It is proposed that A. cryptum utilises fungal biomass as an energy source in managed heaps with solution recycle via solvent extraction plants. While it shares the environment with iron- and sulfur-oxidising acidophiles, it does not contribute directly to copper extraction from sulfide minerals. Crown Copyright © 2008. | Acidiphilium; Acidithiobacillus; Bioleaching; Ferrous ion oxidation; Organic reagents; Sulfobacillus | Bioleaching; Biomass; Chemical oxygen demand; Copper; Copper compounds; Extraction; Ions; Iron; Oxidation; Phenols; Renewable energy resources; Solvent extraction; Solvents; Sulfide minerals; Sulfur; Acidiphilium; Acidithiobacillus; Ferrous ion oxidation; Organic reagents; Sulfobacillus; Rate constants | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-36549088200 | Evaluation of filter paper transfer of whole-blood and plasma samples for quantifying HIV RNA in subjects on antiretroviral therapy in Uganda | Waters L., Kambugu A., Tibenderana H., Meya D., John L., Mandalia S., Nabankema M., Namugga I., Quinn T.C., Gazzard B., Reynolds S.J., Nelson M. | 2007 | Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes | 46 | 5 | 10.1097/QAI.0b013e318159d7f4 | St. Stephens AIDS Trust, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Infectious Disease Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; St. Mary's Hospital, London W2 1NY, United Kingdom | Waters, L., St. Stephens AIDS Trust, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, United Kingdom, St. Mary's Hospital, London W2 1NY, United Kingdom; Kambugu, A., Infectious Disease Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Tibenderana, H., Infectious Disease Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Meya, D., National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States; John, L., St. Stephens AIDS Trust, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, United Kingdom, Infectious Disease Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Mandalia, S., St. Stephens AIDS Trust, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Nabankema, M., Infectious Disease Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Namugga, I., Infectious Disease Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Quinn, T.C., National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Gazzard, B., St. Stephens AIDS Trust, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Reynolds, S.J., St. Stephens AIDS Trust, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, United Kingdom, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Nelson, M., St. Stephens AIDS Trust, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, United Kingdom | BACKGROUND: Most HIV-infected subjects on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in resource-limited settings do not undergo virologic monitoring. There is an urgent need for cheap, accessible HIV RNA assays for early diagnosis of virologic failure. We investigated filter paper transfer (FPT) of whole blood and plasma as an alternative to standard plasma-based assays for virologic monitoring in Uganda. METHODS: Whole blood (n = 306) and plasma (n = 218) from 402 subjects established on ART were spotted onto filter paper and transported to Europe for HIV RNA extraction and quantification. These results were compared to a gold standard plasma assay in Kampala. RESULTS: Of 402 ART-treated subjects, 39 (9.7%) had viremia detectable (>500 copies/mL) by local methods. Plasma FPT showed excellent agreement with gold standard, whereas whole blood yielded a large number of false-positive viral loads. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to investigate the use of FPT in ART-treated subjects and demonstrates that it may provide a practical, reliable method for virologic monitoring in resource-poor settings. Plasma FPT was accurate but requires centrifuge; whole blood produced a high number of false-positive results, but these were low-level. Whole blood may be sufficiently accurate if higher HIV RNA cut-offs were used to define virologic failure. © 2007 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. | Antiretroviral monitoring; Developing world; Dried blood spot; Viral load; Virologic | antiretrovirus agent; virus RNA; article; blood filter; blood sampling; controlled study; Europe; evaluation; false positive result; gold standard; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; intermethod comparison; major clinical study; plasma; priority journal; RNA extraction; transport medium; Uganda; viremia; virus load; Anti-HIV Agents; Blood; Blood Chemical Analysis; False Positive Reactions; HIV Infections; Humans; Plasma; Predictive Value of Tests; RNA, Viral; Specimen Handling; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84941925633 | Recall and understanding of feedback by adult patients following diagnostic audiological evaluation | Watermeyer J., Kanji A., Mlambo N. | 2015 | International Journal of Audiology | 54 | 10 | 10.3109/14992027.2015.1051667 | Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, School of Human and Community Development, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, WITS 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa | Watermeyer, J., Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, School of Human and Community Development, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, WITS 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa; Kanji, A., Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, School of Human and Community Development, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, WITS 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa; Mlambo, N., Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, School of Human and Community Development, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, WITS 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa | Objective: Patient recall and understanding of information provided during feedback sessions may impact on adherence to treatment recommendations and may be affected by the audiologist's information giving style. This study examined patients recall and understanding of diagnostic audiological information provided in a feedback session after an initial assessment. Design: An exploratory, qualitative research design was used and involved: (1) observation of audiological assessments; (2) video recording of feedback sessions between audiologists and patients; (3) audio recorded semi-structured interviews with participants. Transcription-less analysis was used for the videoed interactions and content analysis for the interviews. Study sample: Participants included five adult second-language English speaking patients and five audiologists at an audiology clinic. Results: Patients correctly recalled and understood diagnoses and recommendations but struggled to recall other information provided. There appeared to be a mismatch between the information audiologists deemed important, versus what patients actually recalled and understood. Both facilitatory and inhibitory information giving strategies were used by audiologists in feedback sessions. Conclusion: This study suggests the need for a greater focus on communication skills training in the audiology curriculum with particular attention paid to information giving strategies and patient-centredness. Implications for teaching and practice are discussed. © 2015 British Society of Audiology, International Society of Audiology, and Nordic Audiological Society. | audiology; diagnosis; feedback; patient education; Recall; understanding | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-66349115310 | Evaluation of growth and carbon storage as influenced by soil chemical properties and moisture on teak (Tectona grandis) in Ashanti region, Ghana | Watanabe Y., Masunaga T., Owusu-Sekyere E., Buri M.M., Oladele O.I., Wakatsuki T. | 2009 | Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment | 7 | 2 | None | Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Shimane University, Matsue 690-8504, Japan; Forest Research Institute of Ghana, University Box 63, Kumasi, Ghana; Soil Research Institute, Kwadaso, Kumasi, Ghana; Department of Agricultural Economics, Education and Extension, Botswana College of Agriculture, University of Botswana, P/Bag 0027, Gaborone, Botswana; Faculty of Agriculture, Kinki University, Nara 332-7204, Japan | Watanabe, Y., Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Shimane University, Matsue 690-8504, Japan; Masunaga, T., Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Shimane University, Matsue 690-8504, Japan; Owusu-Sekyere, E., Forest Research Institute of Ghana, University Box 63, Kumasi, Ghana; Buri, M.M., Soil Research Institute, Kwadaso, Kumasi, Ghana; Oladele, O.I., Department of Agricultural Economics, Education and Extension, Botswana College of Agriculture, University of Botswana, P/Bag 0027, Gaborone, Botswana; Wakatsuki, T., Faculty of Agriculture, Kinki University, Nara 332-7204, Japan | This study was conducted to assess the growth and carbon storage of Tectona grandis (Verbenaceae) and to evaluate the influence of chemical properties and moisture of soil on teak (Tectona grandis) growth in Afrensu Brohuma Forest Reserve, Ghana. Teak growth was classified as good (1), medium (2) and poor growth (3) and aboveground biomass and carbon storage were estimated. The aboveground carbon storage and chemical properties of soils in the study sites and those of other teak plantations and different tree species were compared and the relationships between the volumetric water content of soils and growth class of teak were determined. Precipitation seemed to influence height and aboveground biomass of teak. The soil total N and exchangeable K in the study sites were lower than those in other teak plantations in the region. The volumetric water content in soils of most Class 1 sites was significantly higher than that in Class 2 sites. Consequently, teak growth was probably affected by some chemical properties and moisture status of soils in the present study sites. It is therefore necessary to preserve the teak plantation on long term to achieve efficient carbon storage in a plantation for carbon projects. | Biomass; Carbon storage; Growth class; K; N; Plantation; Soil chemical properties; Soil moisture; Teak; Tectona grandis; Tree growth | carbon; nitrogen; potassium; water; article; biomass; carbon storage; comparative study; controlled study; forest; Ghana; nonhuman; plant growth; plant height; plantation; precipitation; soil chemistry; soil moisture; species; tectona grandis; Verbenaceae; volumetry; water content; Tectona grandis; Verbenaceae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77956600180 | Health worker performance in the management of paediatric fevers following in-service training and exposure to job aids in Kenya | Wasunna B., Zurovac D., Bruce J., Jones C., Webster J., Snow R.W. | 2010 | Malaria Journal | 9 | 1 | 10.1186/1475-2875-9-261 | Malaria Public Health and Epidemiology Group, KEMRI/Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast (CGMRC), P.O. Box 43640-00100 GPO, Nairobi, Kenya Nairobi, Kenya; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Disease Control and Vector Biology Unit (DCVBU), Keppel Street, WCIE 7HT, London, United Kingdom; Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Centre for Tropical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Center for International Health and Development, Boston University School of Public Health, 85 East Concord Street, Boston, MA 02118, United States; KEMRI/Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast (CGMRC), P.O. Box 230-80108, Kilifi, Kenya | Wasunna, B., Malaria Public Health and Epidemiology Group, KEMRI/Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast (CGMRC), P.O. Box 43640-00100 GPO, Nairobi, Kenya Nairobi, Kenya, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Disease Control and Vector Biology Unit (DCVBU), Keppel Street, WCIE 7HT, London, United Kingdom; Zurovac, D., Malaria Public Health and Epidemiology Group, KEMRI/Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast (CGMRC), P.O. Box 43640-00100 GPO, Nairobi, Kenya Nairobi, Kenya, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Centre for Tropical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom, Center for International Health and Development, Boston University School of Public Health, 85 East Concord Street, Boston, MA 02118, United States; Bruce, J., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Disease Control and Vector Biology Unit (DCVBU), Keppel Street, WCIE 7HT, London, United Kingdom; Jones, C., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Disease Control and Vector Biology Unit (DCVBU), Keppel Street, WCIE 7HT, London, United Kingdom, KEMRI/Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast (CGMRC), P.O. Box 230-80108, Kilifi, Kenya; Webster, J., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Disease Control and Vector Biology Unit (DCVBU), Keppel Street, WCIE 7HT, London, United Kingdom; Snow, R.W., Malaria Public Health and Epidemiology Group, KEMRI/Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast (CGMRC), P.O. Box 43640-00100 GPO, Nairobi, Kenya Nairobi, Kenya, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Centre for Tropical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom | Background: Improving the way artemether-lumefantrine (AL) is provided to patients attending clinics is critical to maximize the benefit of this new medicine. In 2007, a new initiative was launched in one part of Kenya to improve malaria case-management through enhanced in-service training and provision of job aids. Methods: An evaluation of the intervention using pre- and post-intervention cross sectional health facility surveys was conducted in Bondo district. The surveys included: audit of government health facilities, health worker structured interviews and exit interviews with caretakers of sick children below five years of age. The outcome indicators were the proportions of febrile children who had AL prescribed, AL dispensed, and four different dispensing and counseling tasks performed. Results: At baseline 33 government health facilities, 48 health workers and 386 febrile child consultations were evaluated. At follow-up the same health facilities were surveyed and 36 health workers and 390 febrile child consultations evaluated. The findings show: 1) no health facility or health worker was exposed to all components of the intervention; 2) the proportion of health workers who received the enhanced in-service training was 67%; 3) the proportion of febrile children with uncomplicated malaria treated with the first-line anti-malarial drug, artemether-lumefantrine (AL), at health facilities where AL was in stock increased from 76.9% (95%CI: 69.4, 83.1) to 87.6% (95% CI: 82.5, 91.5); 4) there were modest but non-significant improvements in dispensing and counseling practices; and 5) when the analyses were restricted to health workers who received the enhanced in-service training and/or had received new guidelines and job aids, no significant improvements in reported case-management tasks were observed compared to baseline. Conclusion: In-service training and provision of job aids alone may not be adequate to improve the prescribing, dispensing and counseling tasks necessary to change malaria case-management practices and the inclusion of supervision and post-training follow-up should be considered in future clinical practice change initiatives. © 2010 Wasunna et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | artemether plus benflumetol; antimalarial agent; artemether plus benflumetol; artemisinin derivative; ethanolamine derivative; fluorene derivative; article; case management; child; child care; consultation; counseling; endemic disease; fever; follow up; government; health care facility; health care personnel; health care practice; health care quality; health survey; human; in service training; infant; job performance; Kenya; major clinical study; malaria; medical audit; practice guideline; preschool child; cross-sectional study; drug combination; education; health services research; malaria; newborn; professional competence; pyrexia idiopathica; statistics; Antimalarials; Artemisinins; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drug Combinations; Ethanolamines; Fever of Unknown Origin; Fluorenes; Health Personnel; Health Services Research; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Kenya; Malaria; Professional Competence | 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 |
| 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-s2.0-84905455188 | Milk production performances of Holstein Friesian x Arsi and Holstein Friesian x Boran cross-bred cattle at Agarfa Agricultural Technical Vocational and Educational Training (ATVET) College, Oromia, Ethiopia | Wassie T., Mekuriaw G., Mekuriaw Z. | 2014 | Livestock Research for Rural Development | 26 | 8 | None | Department of Animal science, Assosa University, P.O.Box 18, Asosa, Ethiopia; International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), P.O.Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), LIVES Project, P.O.Box 1867, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia | Wassie, T., Department of Animal science, Assosa University, P.O.Box 18, Asosa, Ethiopia; Mekuriaw, G., International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), P.O.Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Mekuriaw, Z., International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), LIVES Project, P.O.Box 1867, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia | The study was carried out at Agarfa ATVET College dairy farm to evaluate the milk production performances of Holstein Friesian x Arsi and Holstein Friesian x Boran cross cattle breeds. For the study, records compiled from 1983 to 2012 at the Agarfa dairy farm were used as original data. Effects of breed, blood level, season and parity on milk yield traits were evaluated. The data were analyzed using the general linear model of the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) version 9.1. The overall means for daily milk yield were 6.38 and 7.02 kg and for lactation milk yield 1925 and 2136 kg for Friesian x Arsi and Friesian x Boran cross, respectively. Generally the productive performance of cows reported in this study was lower than the performance reported in many tropical regions. Therefore, due consideration should be given to calf and heifer management, heat detection, feeding and health care. Furthermore, in this study Friesian x Boran cross were better than Friesian x Arsi in performance therefore attention should be given to keep this cross in the farm. | Blood level; Daily milk yield; Lactation length; Lactation milk yield | None | 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-s2.0-84871258311 | Genetic diversity of indigenous Bradyrhizobium nodulating promiscuous soybean [Glycine max (L) Merr.] varieties in Kenya: Impact of phosphorus and lime fertilization in two contrasting sites | Wasike V.W., Lesueur D., Wachira F.N., Mungai N.W., Mumera L.M., Sanginga N., Mburu H.N., Mugadi D., Wango P., Vanlauwe B. | 2009 | Plant and Soil | 322 | 1 | 10.1007/s11104-009-9902-7 | Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), P.O. Box 57811-00200, Nairobi, Kenya; Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Inst. of the Inter. Cent. for Tropical Agri. (TSBF-CIAT), United Nations Avenue, P.O. Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Crops Horticulture and Soils, Egerton University, P.O. Box 536, Njoro, Kenya; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Egerton University, P.O. Box 536, Egerton, Kenya; CIRAD, PERSYST Department, UPR Ecosystems of Plantations, Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Inst. of the Inter. Cen. for Tropical Agri. (TSBF-CIAT), United Nations Avenue, P.O. Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya | Wasike, V.W., Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), P.O. Box 57811-00200, Nairobi, Kenya, Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Inst. of the Inter. Cent. for Tropical Agri. (TSBF-CIAT), United Nations Avenue, P.O. Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya, Department of Crops Horticulture and Soils, Egerton University, P.O. Box 536, Njoro, Kenya; Lesueur, D., CIRAD, PERSYST Department, UPR Ecosystems of Plantations, Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Inst. of the Inter. Cen. for Tropical Agri. (TSBF-CIAT), United Nations Avenue, P.O. Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya; Wachira, F.N., Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Egerton University, P.O. Box 536, Egerton, Kenya; Mungai, N.W., Department of Crops Horticulture and Soils, Egerton University, P.O. Box 536, Njoro, Kenya; Mumera, L.M., Department of Crops Horticulture and Soils, Egerton University, P.O. Box 536, Njoro, Kenya; Sanginga, N., Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Inst. of the Inter. Cent. for Tropical Agri. (TSBF-CIAT), United Nations Avenue, P.O. Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya; Mburu, H.N., Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Inst. of the Inter. Cent. for Tropical Agri. (TSBF-CIAT), United Nations Avenue, P.O. Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya; Mugadi, D., Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Inst. of the Inter. Cent. for Tropical Agri. (TSBF-CIAT), United Nations Avenue, P.O. Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya; Wango, P., Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Inst. of the Inter. Cent. for Tropical Agri. (TSBF-CIAT), United Nations Avenue, P.O. Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya; Vanlauwe, B., Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Inst. of the Inter. Cent. for Tropical Agri. (TSBF-CIAT), United Nations Avenue, P.O. Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya | While soybean is an exotic crop introduced in Kenya early last century, promiscuous (TGx) varieties which nodulate with indigenous rhizobia have only recently been introduced. Since farmers in Kenya generally cannot afford or access fertilizer or inoculants, the identification of effective indigenous Bradyrhizobium strains which nodulate promiscuous soybean could be useful in the development of inoculant strains. Genetic diversity and phylogeny of indigenous Bradyrhizobium strains nodulating seven introduced promiscuous soybean varieties grown in two different sites in Kenya was assayed using the Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) of the 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer region and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. PCR-RFLP analysis directly applied on 289 nodules using Msp I distinguished 18 intergenic spacer groups (IGS) I-XVIII. Predominant IGS groups were I, III, II, IV and VI which constituted 43.9%, 24.6%, 8.3% 7.6% and 6.9% respectively of all the analyzed nodules from the two sites while IGS group VII, IX, X, XI, XII, XIV, XVI, XVII, XVIII each constituted 1% or less. The IGS groups were specific to sites and treatments but not varieties. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that all indigenous strains belong to the genus Bradyrhizobium. Bradyrhizobium elkanii, Bradyrhizobium spp and Bradyrhizobium japonicum related strains were the most predominant and accounted for 37.9%, 34.5%, and 20.7% respectively while B. yuanmigense related accounted for 6.9% of all strains identified in the two combined sites. The diversity identified in Bradyrhizobium populations in the two sites represent a valuable genetic resource that has potential utility for the selection of more competitive and effective strains to improve biological nitrogen fixation and thus increase soybean yields at low cost. © Springer Science + Business Media B.V. 2009. | Agro-ecological zones; Genetic diversity; Polymerase chain reactionrestriction fragment length polymorphism; Promiscuous soybean | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84872804834 | Monitoring basin-scale land cover changes in Kagera Basin of Lake Victoria using: Ancillary data and remote sensing | Wasige J.E., Groen T.A., Smaling E., Jetten V. | 2012 | International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation | 21 | 1 | 10.1016/j.jag.2012.08.005 | Faculty for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, Twente University, P.O Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, Netherlands; Department of Agricultural Production, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda; Soils and Soil Research Programme, National Agriculture Research Laboratories (NARL) Kawanda (Uganda), P.O. Box 7065, Kampala, Uganda | Wasige, J.E., Faculty for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, Twente University, P.O Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, Netherlands, Department of Agricultural Production, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda, Soils and Soil Research Programme, National Agriculture Research Laboratories (NARL) Kawanda (Uganda), P.O. Box 7065, Kampala, Uganda; Groen, T.A., Faculty for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, Twente University, P.O Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, Netherlands; Smaling, E., Faculty for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, Twente University, P.O Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, Netherlands; Jetten, V., Faculty for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, Twente University, P.O Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, Netherlands | The Kagera Basin is a high value ecosystem in the Lake Victoria watershed because of the hydrological and food services it provides. The basin has faced large scale human induced land use and land cover changes (LUCC), but quantitative data is to date lacking. A combination of ancillary data and satellite imagery were interpreted to construct LUCC dynamics for the last century. This study is an initial step towards assessing the impact of LUCC on sustainable agriculture and water quality in the watershed. The results show that large trends of LUCC have rapidly occurred over the last 100 years. The most dominant LUCC processes were gains in farmland areas (not detectable in 1901 to 60% in 2010) and a net reduction in dense forest (7% to 2.6%), woodlands (51% to 6.9%) and savannas (35% to 19.6%) between 1901 and 2010. Forest degradation rapidly occurred during 1974 and 1995 but the forest re-grew between 1995 and 2010 due to forest conservation efforts. Afforestation efforts have resulted in plantation forest increases between 1995 and 2010. The rates of LUCC observed are higher than those reported in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) and other parts of the world. This is one of the few studies in SSA at a basin scale that combines multisource spatio-temporal data on land cover to enable long-term quantification of land cover changes. In the discussion we address future research needs for the area based on the results of this study. These research needs include quantifying the impacts of land cover change on nutrient and sediment dynamics, soil organic carbon stocks, and changes in biodiversity. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. | Data integration; Eutrophication; GIS/remote sensing; Historical analysis; Lake victoria basin; Land degradation; Land use/land cover changes | afforestation; alternative agriculture; anthropogenic effect; biodiversity; data interpretation; ecosystem modeling; future prospect; land cover; land use change; monitoring system; nutrient dynamics; quantitative analysis; remote sensing; research work; satellite imagery; sedimentation rate; soil organic matter; trend analysis; vegetation dynamics; water quality; East African Lakes; Kagera River; Lake Victoria; Sub-Saharan Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84945277254 | Impact of land cover changes and topography on soil quality in the Kasso catchment, Bale Mountains of southeastern Ethiopia | Warra H.H., Ahmed M.A., Nicolau M.D. | 2015 | Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography | 36 | 3 | 10.1111/sjtg.12124 | Department of Geography, Madawalabu University, Bale, Ethiopia; Department of Geography, University of South Africa, Gauteng, South Africa; Geography and Environmental Studies, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Warra, H.H., Department of Geography, Madawalabu University, Bale, Ethiopia, Department of Geography, University of South Africa, Gauteng, South Africa; Ahmed, M.A., Geography and Environmental Studies, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Nicolau, M.D., Department of Geography, University of South Africa, Gauteng, South Africa | This study assessed land cover change and topographic elevation on selected soil quality parameters in the Kasso catchment, southeastern Ethiopia. Twenty-seven soil samples collected from 0-30cm depth under four land cover types across three elevation gradients were analysed for selected soil quality parameters. Results indicated that soil particle size distribution is different (p<0.001) in the catchment because of the effect of land cover change and elevation. Most cultivated lands occupy lower elevations where clay accumulates as a result of its movement from higher to lower elevations. Ploughing accentuates weathering, making cultivated lands richer in finer materials. Cation exchange capacity and exchangeable magnesium and potassium negatively correlated with elevation, total nitrogen and available phosphorous. Conversion of natural vegetation to cropland contributed to changes in pH (p<0.05), exchangeable calcium (p<0.01), potassium (p<0.001), available phosphorous (p<0.01) and nitrogen (p<0.01) contents. Parameter soil degradation index results showed that soil organic carbon, nitrogen, available phosphorous and exchangeable potassium contents declined and bulk density increased because of the land cover change. This negative effect on agricultural development and environmental health of the catchment makes an integrated land resource management approach indispensable for sustaining agricultural productivity and the environmental health of the Kasso catchment. © 2015 Department of Geography, National University of Singapore and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd. | Land use/cover; Resource management; Soil quality; Soil quality parameter; Spatial variation; Topographic elevation | cation exchange capacity; erosion rate; land cover; particle size; plowing; size distribution; soil degradation; soil erosion; soil quality; spatial variation; topographic effect; vegetation dynamics; Bale Mountains; Ethiopia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84904727279 | Evaluation of waist-to-height ratio to predict 5 year cardiometabolic risk in sub-Saharan African adults | Ware L.J., Rennie K.L., Kruger H.S., Kruger I.M., Greeff M., Fourie C.M.T., Huisman H.W., Scheepers J.D.W., Uys A.S., Kruger R., Van Rooyen J.M., Schutte R., Schutte A.E. | 2014 | Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases | 24 | 8 | 10.1016/j.numecd.2014.02.005 | Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, 2520, South Africa; Centre for Lifespan and Chronic Illness Research, University of Hertfordshire, United Kingdom; Centre of Excellence for Nutrition (CEN), Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, South Africa; Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research (AUTHeR), Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, South Africa | Ware, L.J., Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, 2520, South Africa; Rennie, K.L., Centre for Lifespan and Chronic Illness Research, University of Hertfordshire, United Kingdom; Kruger, H.S., Centre of Excellence for Nutrition (CEN), Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, South Africa; Kruger, I.M., Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research (AUTHeR), Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, South Africa; Greeff, M., Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research (AUTHeR), Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, South Africa; Fourie, C.M.T., Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, 2520, South Africa; Huisman, H.W., Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, 2520, South Africa; Scheepers, J.D.W., Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, 2520, South Africa; Uys, A.S., Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, 2520, South Africa; Kruger, R., Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, 2520, South Africa; Van Rooyen, J.M., Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, 2520, South Africa; Schutte, R., Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, 2520, South Africa; Schutte, A.E., Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, 2520, South Africa | Background and aims: Simple, low-cost central obesity measures may help identify individuals with increased cardiometabolic disease risk, although it is unclear which measures perform best in African adults. We aimed to: 1) cross-sectionally compare the accuracy of existing waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and waist circumference (WC) thresholds to identify individuals with hypertension, pre-diabetes, or dyslipidaemia; 2) identify optimal WC and WHtR thresholds to detect CVD risk in this African population; and 3) assess which measure best predicts 5-year CVD risk. Methods and results: Black South Africans (577 men, 942 women, aged >30years) were recruited by random household selection from four North West Province communities. Demographic and anthropometric measures were taken. Recommended diagnostic thresholds (WC > 80 cm for women, >94 cm for men; WHtR > 0.5) were evaluated to predict blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, lipids, and glycated haemoglobin measured at baseline and 5 year follow up. Women were significantly more overweight than men at baseline (mean body mass index (BMI) women 27.3 ± 7.4 kg/m2, men 20.9 ± 4.3 kg/m2); median WC women 81.9 cm (interquartile range 61-103), men 74.7 cm (63-87 cm), all P < 0.001). In women, both WC and WHtR significantly predicted all cardiometabolic risk factors after 5 years. In men, even after adjusting WC threshold based on ROC analysis, WHtR better predicted overall 5-year risk. Neither measure predicted hypertension in men. Conclusions: The WHtR threshold of >0.5 appears to be more consistently supported and may provide a better predictor of future cardiometabolic risk in sub-Saharan Africa. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. | Cardiovascular disease; Diabetes; Dyslipidaemia; Hypertension; Risk factors; Sub-saharan Africa; Waist circumference; Waist-to-height ratio | glucose; high density lipoprotein cholesterol; low density lipoprotein cholesterol; triacylglycerol; cholesterol; glucose blood level; glucosylated hemoglobin A; glycosylated hemoglobin; triacylglycerol; adult; anthropometric parameters; article; blood pressure monitoring; body mass; cardiometabolic risk; cardiovascular risk; clinical evaluation; dyslipidemia; evaluation and follow up; female; human; major clinical study; male; middle aged; priority journal; prospective study; receiver operating characteristic; sensitivity and specificity; waist circumference; waist to height ratio; Africa south of the Sahara; analogs and derivatives; Black person; blood; blood pressure; Cardiovascular Diseases; cross-sectional study; demography; diabetes mellitus; Dyslipidemias; family size; follow up; glucose blood level; hypertension; metabolism; prevalence; risk factor; Adult; Africa South of the Sahara; African Continental Ancestry Group; Blood Glucose; Blood Pressure; Body Mass Index; Cardiovascular Diseases; Cholesterol; Cross-Sectional Studies; Demography; Diabetes Mellitus; Dyslipidemias; Family Characteristics; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated; Humans; Hypertension; Male; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Risk Factors; ROC Curve; Triglycerides; Waist Circumference; Waist-Height Ratio | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-57149090323 | Potential impacts of climate change on the climatically suitable growth areas of Pinus and Eucalyptus: Results from a sensitivity study in South Africa | Warburton M.L., Schulze R.E. | 2008 | Southern Forests | 70 | 1 | 10.2989/SOUTH.FOR.2008.70.1.5.515 | School of Bioresources Engineering and Environmental Hydrology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa | Warburton, M.L., School of Bioresources Engineering and Environmental Hydrology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa; Schulze, R.E., School of Bioresources Engineering and Environmental Hydrology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa | Global average surface temperature has increased by approximately 0.74°C over the most recent 100-year period. At a regional level in South Africa, detectable changes in both the rainfall and temperature patterns have occurred in the past 50 years. Climate change has become a reality that can no longer be ignored. Given the relatively long timescales of plantto-harvest rotations in the commercial production forestry sector in South Africa, and the significant investment implied, climate change has the potential to have substantial impacts on forestry productivity and profitability. Under climate change conditions the climatically optimum areas for specific forest species are hypothesised to shift, with optimum areas changing in extent and location between and within provinces. This paper focuses on the Eucalyptus and Pinus genera. From the ICFR Forestry Productivity Toolbox, climate criteria for three Pinus species plus one hybrid, and four Eucalyptus species plus one hybrid, were used in combination with gridded maps of present mean annual temperature and mean annual rainfall to assess climatically optimum, moderate- and high-risk growth areas, as well as unsuitable growth areas over southern Africa. The temperature and rainfall variables were then perturbed through plausible ranges of projected future climates to determine the potential impacts of climate change on the climatically optimum, moderate and unsuitable growth areas of the Pinus and Eucalyptus families. For both families, rising temperatures may slightly increase the optimum growth area in Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape, whereas in KwaZulu-Natal the area may reduce. The Pinus species showed less sensitivity to rising temperatures than eucalypts. The two hybrids exhibited less sensitivity than other species of their genera. The hybrid Pinus ExC emerged as least sensitive to increasing temperature. Declining rainfall concomitant with rising temperature will have an especially negative effect on total area of optimal growth. An increase in rainfall will, however, offset all negative impacts of temperature and increase total optimum growth area for both families. Copyright © NISC Pty Ltd. | Climate change; Eucalyptus; Pinus; Sensitivity analysis; Site suitability | Eucalyptus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84855205602 | Hydrological impacts of land use change in three diverse South African catchments | Warburton M.L., Schulze R.E., Jewitt G.P.W. | 2012 | Journal of Hydrology | None | None | 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2011.10.028 | School of Bioresources Engineering and Environmental Hydrology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, PBag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa | Warburton, M.L., School of Bioresources Engineering and Environmental Hydrology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, PBag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa; Schulze, R.E., School of Bioresources Engineering and Environmental Hydrology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, PBag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa; Jewitt, G.P.W., School of Bioresources Engineering and Environmental Hydrology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, PBag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa | In order to meet society's needs for water, food, fuel and fibre, the earth's natural land cover and land use have been significantly changed. These changes have impacted on the hydrological responses and thus available water resources, as the hydrological responses of a catchment are dependent upon, and sensitive to, changes in the land use. The degree of anthropogenic modification of the land cover, the intensity of the land use changes and location of land uses within a catchment determines the extent to which land uses influences hydrological response of a catchment.The objective of the study was to improve understanding of the complex interactions between hydrological response and land use to aid in water resources planning. To achieve this, a hydrological model, viz. the ACRU agrohydrological model, which adequately represents hydrological processes and is sensitive to land use changes, was used to generate hydrological responses from three diverse, complex and operational South African catchments under both current land use and a baseline land cover. The selected catchments vary with respect to both land use and climate. The semi-arid sub-tropical Luvuvhu catchment has a large proportion of subsistence agriculture and informal residential areas, whereas in the winter rainfall Upper Breede catchment the primary land uses are commercial orchards and vineyards. The sub-humid Mgeni catchment is dominated by commercial plantation forestry in the upper reaches, commercial sugarcane and urban areas in the middle reaches, with the lower reaches dominated by urban areas.The hydrological responses of the selected catchments to land use change were complex. Results showed that the contributions of different land uses to the streamflow generated from a catchment is not proportional to the relative area of that land use, and the relative contribution of the land use to the catchment streamflow varies with the mean annual rainfall of the catchment. Furthermore, it was shown that the location of specific land uses within a catchment has a role in the response of the streamflow of the catchment to that land use change. From the Mgeni catchment, the significant role of the water engineered system on catchment streamflow was evident. Hydrological models have drawbacks associated with them due to inherent uncertainties. However, in this study the ACRU model proved to be a useful tool to assess the impacts of land use change on the hydrological response as impacts from the local scale to catchment scale could be assessed as well as the progression of impacts of land use changes as the streamflow cascades downstream through the catchment. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. | ACRU agrohydrological model; Baseline land cover; Hydrological response; Land use change | Annual rainfall; Anthropogenic modification; Available water; Baseline land cover; Catchment scale; Commercial plantation; Complex interaction; Engineered systems; Hydrological impacts; Hydrological models; Hydrological process; Hydrological response; Land cover; Land use change; Local scale; Relative contribution; Residential areas; Semi arid; Sub-humid; Subsistence agriculture; Urban areas; Water resources planning; Winter rainfall; Agriculture; Land use; Landforms; Rain; Runoff; Stream flow; Urban planning; Water resources; Catchments; agricultural land; anthropogenic effect; baseline conditions; catchment; hydrological modeling; hydrological response; land cover; land use change; orchard; plantation forestry; semiarid region; streamflow; subsistence; subtropical region; uncertainty analysis; vineyard; water availability; water planning; water resource; Breede River; KwaZulu-Natal; Luvuvhu Basin; Mgeni River; South Africa; Western Cape | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84887059894 | Pro-poor development performance of livestock projects: Analysis and lessons from projects' documentation [Résultats en matière de développement pro-pauvres des projets basés sur l'élevage: Analyse et enseignements tirés de la documentation de projets] | Wanyoike F., Baker D. | 2013 | Development in Practice | 23 | 7 | 10.1080/09614524.2013.811470 | International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya | Wanyoike, F., International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya; Baker, D., International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya | The importance of livestock as a pathway out of poverty is widely recognised, but the effectiveness of pro-poor livestock development projects has been questioned. This study examines a sample of livestock development projects to draw lessons about their effectiveness and identify best practice. A large proportion of projects (60 per cent) were categorised as having not been successful. Project success is found to be positively associated with size of project, diversity of direct project beneficiaries, institution development activities in projects, and effective monitoring and evaluation activities. Lack of reliability of government partners, and inclusion of other agricultural activities together with livestock activities in projects, undermine success. © 2013 Taylor & Francis. | Aid - Aid effectiveness; Labour and livelihoods - Poverty reduction | agricultural development; aid flow; development project; institutional development; livestock farming; poverty | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77954920925 | Evaluation of the efficiency of patient flow at three HIV clinics in Uganda | Wanyenze R.K., Wagner G., Alamo S., Amanyire G., Ouma J., Kwarisima D., Sunday P., Wabwire-Mangen F., Kamya M. | 2010 | AIDS Patient Care and STDs | 24 | 7 | 10.1089/apc.2009.0328 | Makerere University, School of Public Health, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA, United States; Reachout Mbuya Parish HIV/AIDS Initiative, Kampala, Uganda; Mulago-Mbarara Teaching Hospitals' Joint AIDS Program, Kampala, Uganda; Makerere University, School of Medicine, Kampala, Uganda | Wanyenze, R.K., Makerere University, School of Public Health, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Wagner, G., RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA, United States; Alamo, S., Reachout Mbuya Parish HIV/AIDS Initiative, Kampala, Uganda; Amanyire, G., Mulago-Mbarara Teaching Hospitals' Joint AIDS Program, Kampala, Uganda; Ouma, J., Mulago-Mbarara Teaching Hospitals' Joint AIDS Program, Kampala, Uganda; Kwarisima, D., Mulago-Mbarara Teaching Hospitals' Joint AIDS Program, Kampala, Uganda; Sunday, P., Reachout Mbuya Parish HIV/AIDS Initiative, Kampala, Uganda; Wabwire-Mangen, F., Makerere University, School of Public Health, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Kamya, M., Mulago-Mbarara Teaching Hospitals' Joint AIDS Program, Kampala, Uganda, Makerere University, School of Medicine, Kampala, Uganda | With dramatic increases in antiretroviral therapy (ART) provision, many clinics in sub-Saharan Africa are congested, but little attention has focused on the efficiency of clinics. Between April and June 2008, we conducted a time-and-motion study to assess patient flow at three HIV clinics in Uganda. Mulago HIV Clinic had 6,700 active patients, compared with 2,700 at Mbarara Municipal Council Clinic (MMC) and 2,800 at Reachout Mbuya (ROM). Mulago had six doctors and eight nurses; MMC had two doctors and two nurses, and ROM had two doctors and 12 nurses. Mulago and MMC used a doctor-led model, whereas ROM used a nurse-led model. Randomly selected patients were tracked, with data collected on time waiting and time spent with providers. Patients were categorized as new, preparing for ART, early ART, stable ART, or non-ART. Doctors indicated whether the patients they saw warranted their consultation. Data were collected on 689 patients (230 at Mulago, 229 at MMC, and 230 at ROM). Overall waiting time was longest at ROM (274 min; 209-346) and Mulago ISS (270 min; 230-336) compared with MMC (183 min; 148-233). Nurse-clinicians at ROM spent twice the time with patients compared with the doctors at Mulago. At Mulago, doctors indicated that 27% of the patients they reviewed did not need to see a doctor, compared with 45% at MMC. Task-shifting may not be efficient in terms of time. More-effective triage and longer visit intervals could improve patient flow and capacity for cost-effective scale-up. © 2010, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. 2010. | None | Africa; article; clinical effectiveness; consultation; controlled study; cost effectiveness analysis; emergency health service; female; health care personnel; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; information processing; major clinical study; male; nurse; outpatient department; patient care; patient selection; physician; Uganda; virotherapy; ambulatory care; clinical practice; economics; evaluation study; health care quality; health care survey; HIV Infections; hospital management; organization and management; outpatient department; statistics and numerical data; task performance; time management; Uganda; anti human immunodeficiency virus agent; Ambulatory Care Facilities; Anti-HIV Agents; Appointments and Schedules; Efficiency, Organizational; Health Care Surveys; HIV Infections; Humans; Office Visits; Physician's Practice Patterns; Quality of Health Care; Time and Motion Studies; Time Management; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-73449090879 | Evaluation of the analgesic properties of the Datura metel seeds aqueous extract | Wannang N.N., Ndukwe H.C., Nnabuife C. | 2009 | Journal of Medicinal Plants Research | 3 | 4 | None | Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Jos, Nigeria; Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Jos, Nigeria | Wannang, N.N., Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Jos, Nigeria; Ndukwe, H.C., Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Jos, Nigeria; Nnabuife, C., Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Jos, Nigeria | This work was carried out to investigate the analgesic activity of dried seed of Datura metel Linn. A concentrated aqueous extract was obtained, mimicking conditions used in traditional treatment setting, which includes dissolving the extract in water. As in this part of the world, experiments were carried out with the aqueous extract for its peripheral and central antinociceptive potentials on acetic acid-induced writhing and radiant heat tail-flick models in rats, respectively. There was sensation of pain by the rats administered with the extract in the two test models used, after 60 min and above of pretreatment with the seed extract of D. metel. Hence, the analgesic activity of D. metel seed extract was found not to be significant (P>0.05) on acetic acid induced model, as well as the radiant heat tail-flick model. The behavioural pattern of sedation and decreased appetite on administration of seed extract could be explained on the basis of the action of some receptors like μ-receptors in the CNS, which when stimulated have the intrinsic potential to reduce the distress or the affective component of pain without having any significant change in the intensity of the actual sensation. © 2009 Academic Journals. | Analgesic; Antinociceptive; Datura metel; Seed extract | acetic acid; alkaloid derivative; anthraquinone derivative; carbohydrate derivative; cardiac glycoside; Datura metel extract; flavonoid; phlobatannin derivative; plant extract; saponin derivative; tannin derivative; unclassified drug; analgesic activity; animal experiment; animal model; antinociception; aqueous solution; article; chemical composition; controlled study; Datura; Datura metel; decreased appetite; drug isolation; drug screening; experimental model; hot plate test; nonhuman; plant seed; rat; reaction time; sedation; tail flick test; writhing test; Datura metel; Rattus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84918788005 | Cost accounting curriculum related competencies and performance of accountants in south africa | Wanjau D. | 2014 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 5 | 25 | 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n25p108 | Tshwane University of Technology, Accounting Department, GaRankuwa Campus, South Africa | Wanjau, D., Tshwane University of Technology, Accounting Department, GaRankuwa Campus, South Africa | Purpose - Over the years, the context of work for accounting professionals has changed dramatically. In the present time, the accounting profession has witnessed the existence of a gap between the current and desired skills in the accounting field. The study intends to review the literature on the dynamic relationship between cost accounting curriculum content and performance of accountants in South Africa. Design– The paper used a desk study review methodology where relevant empirical literature was reviewed to identify main themes and to extract knowledge gaps.Findings – It was found that studies on the competence of cost accountants are few; the existing studies are not conclusive because they found either a positive relationship, negative relation or no significant relation at all. In addition, methodological gaps and contextual gaps exist since most studies are qualitative in nature and are from developing economies while few are from South Africa. This implies that this area has not been deeply explored thus paving the way for further research. Originality/value – The paper offers a guidance on classification of competencies acquired by cost accounting graduates and identifies a knowledge gap on to which further studies can be conducted. In addition, the paper results will have practical and policy implications as far as modeling curriculum development of cost accounting education is concerned. © 2014 Mediterranean Center of Social and Educational Research. All rights reserved. | Communication Competence; Information Technology Competencies; Modern Accounting Techniques; Performance of Accountants; Personal and Interpersonal Competencies; Problem solving Competence | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33748526514 | The influence of catalyst layer morphology on the electrochemical performance of DMFC anode | Wang Z., Liu Y., Linkov V.M. | 2006 | Journal of Power Sources | 160 | 1 | 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2006.01.056 | South Africa Institute for Advanced Material Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535 Cape Town, South Africa | Wang, Z., South Africa Institute for Advanced Material Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535 Cape Town, South Africa; Liu, Y., South Africa Institute for Advanced Material Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535 Cape Town, South Africa; Linkov, V.M., South Africa Institute for Advanced Material Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535 Cape Town, South Africa | The anodes with different morphology for DMFC were prepared, and the influences of the microstructure of anode catalyst layer on their electrochemical performance were investigated by scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and electrochemical methods, respectively. The surface morphology of catalyst layer was observed by SEM, and the elements dispersion status and its distribution of activity intensity on electrode catalyst layer were mapped by PIXE and SECM, respectively. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and anode polarization experiment were employed to analyze the electrochemical properties of anode. The results reveal that the anode with a relative smooth surface of catalyst layer and less cracks shows good interfacial properties and the lower resistance on the electrode reaction of methanol, and its maximum power of MEA as a single cell was about 178 mW cm-2 at 70 °C. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Catalyst; DMFC; EIS; SECM | Anodes; Electrochemistry; Fuel cells; Scanning electron microscopy; Spectroscopy; X ray analysis; DMFC; Electrode reaction; Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM); Catalysts | 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 |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84927135099 | Exposure to cigarette smoke impacts myeloid-derived regulatory cell function and exacerbates airway hyper-responsiveness | Wang Y., Jin T.H., Farhana A., Freeman J., Estell K., Zmijewski J.W., Gaggar A., Thannickal V.J., Schwiebert L.M., Steyn A.J., Deshane J.S. | 2014 | Laboratory Investigation | 94 | 12 | 10.1038/labinvest.2014.126 | Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1900 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL, United States; Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States; Department of Cell Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States; KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for Tuberculosis and HIV, Durban, South Africa | Wang, Y., Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1900 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL, United States; Jin, T.H., Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1900 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL, United States; Farhana, A., Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States; Freeman, J., Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States; Estell, K., Department of Cell Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States; Zmijewski, J.W., Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1900 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL, United States; Gaggar, A., Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1900 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL, United States; Thannickal, V.J., Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1900 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL, United States; Schwiebert, L.M., Department of Cell Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States; Steyn, A.J., Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States, KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for Tuberculosis and HIV, Durban, South Africa; Deshane, J.S., Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1900 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL, United States | Cigarette smoking enhances oxidative stress and airway inflammation in asthma, the mechanisms of which are largely unknown. Myeloid-derived regulatory cells (MDRC) are free radical producing immature myeloid cells with immunoregulatory properties that have recently been demonstrated as critical regulators of allergic airway inflammation. NO (nitric oxide)-producing immunosuppressive MDRC suppress T-cell proliferation and airway-hyper responsiveness (AHR), while the O 2 •- (superoxide)-producing MDRC are proinflammatory. We hypothesized that cigarette smoke (CS) exposure may impact MDRC function and contribute to exacerbations in asthma. Exposure of bone marrow (BM)-derived NO-producing MDRC to CS reduced the production of NO and its metabolites and inhibited their potential to suppress T-cell proliferation. Production of immunoregulatory cytokine IL-10 was significantly inhibited, while proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-and IL-33 were enhanced in CS-exposed BM-MDRC. Additionally, CS exposure increased NF-κB activation and induced BM-MDRC-mediated production of O 2 •-, via NF-κB-dependent pathway. Intratracheal transfer of smoke-exposed MDRC-producing proinflammatory cytokines increased NF-κB activation, reactive oxygen species and mucin production in vivo and exacerbated AHR in C57BL/6 mice, mice deficient in Type I IFNR and MyD88, both with reduced numbers of endogenous MDRC. Thus CS exposure modulates MDRC function and contributes to asthma exacerbation and identifies MDRC as potential targets for asthma therapy. © 2014 USCAP, Inc All rights reserved. | None | cigarette smoke; interleukin 10; interleukin 1beta; interleukin 33; interleukin 6; myeloid differentiation factor 88; reactive oxygen metabolite; tumor necrosis factor alpha; Il33 protein, mouse; immunoglobulin enhancer binding protein; interleukin 33; interleukin derivative; nitric oxide; reactive oxygen metabolite; smoke; adoptive transfer; animal cell; animal experiment; animal model; Article; bone marrow cell; cell activation; cell function; controlled study; cytokine production; disease exacerbation; lymphocyte proliferation; mouse; nonhuman; oxidative stress; priority journal; respiratory tract allergy; respiratory tract inflammation; adverse effects; animal; biosynthesis; bone marrow cell; Bronchial Hyperreactivity; C57BL mouse; cell culture; metabolism; physiology; smoke; tobacco; Adoptive Transfer; Animals; Bone Marrow Cells; Bronchial Hyperreactivity; Cells, Cultured; Interleukin-33; Interleukins; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Myeloid Cells; NF-kappa B; Nitric Oxide; Reactive Oxygen Species; Smoke; Tobacco | AI076389, NIH, National Institutes of Health |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84870761341 | Projecting the Long-Term Impact of School- or Community-Based Mass-Treatment Interventions for Control of Schistosoma Infection | Wang X., Gurarie D., Mungai P.L., Muchiri E.M., Kitron U., King C.H. | 2012 | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases | 6 | 11 | 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001903 | Department of Mathematics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States; Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States; Division of Vector Borne and Neglected Tropical Diseases, Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; Schistosomiasis Consortium for Research and Evaluation, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States | Wang, X., Department of Mathematics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States; Gurarie, D., Department of Mathematics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States; Mungai, P.L., Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States; Muchiri, E.M., Division of Vector Borne and Neglected Tropical Diseases, Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, Nairobi, Kenya; Kitron, U., Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; King, C.H., Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States, Schistosomiasis Consortium for Research and Evaluation, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States | Background: Schistosomiasis remains a significant health burden in many areas of the world. Morbidity control, focused on limiting infection intensity through periodic delivery of anti-schistosomal medicines, is the thrust of current World Health Organization guidelines (2006) for reduction of Schistosoma-related disease. A new appreciation of the lifetime impact of repeated Schistosoma infection has directed attention toward strategies for greater suppression of parasite infection per se, with the goal of transmission interruption. Variations in drug schedules involving increased population coverage and/or treatment frequency are now undergoing field trials. However, their relative effectiveness in long-term infection suppression is presently unknown. Methodology/Principal Findings: Our study used available field data to calibrate advanced network models of village-level Schistosoma transmission to project outcomes of six different community- or school age-based programs, as compared to the impact of current 2006 W.H.O. recommended control strategies. We then scored the number of years each of 10 typical villages would remain below 10% infection prevalence (a practicable level associated with minimal prevalence of disease). All strategies that included four annual treatments effectively reduced community prevalence to less than 10%, while programs having yearly gaps ('holidays') failed to reach this objective in half of the communities. Effective post-program suppression of infection prevalence persisted in half of the 10 villages for 7-10 years, whereas in five high-risk villages, program effects on prevalence lasted zero to four years only. Conclusions/Significance: At typical levels of treatment adherence (60 to 70%), current WHO recommendations will likely not achieve effective suppression of Schistosoma prevalence unless implemented for ≥6 years. Following more aggressive 4 year annual intervention, some communities may be able to continue without further intervention for 8-10 years, while in higher-risk communities, annual treatment may prove necessary until eco-social factors fostering transmission are removed. Effective ongoing surveillance and locally targeted annual intervention must then become their mainstays of control. © 2012 Wang et al. | None | praziquantel; article; clinical trial (topic); health care cost; human; infection control; infection risk; mass immunization; parasite transmission; patient attitude; practice guideline; prevalence; rural population; Schistosoma hematobium; schistosomiasis; snail; validation process; world health organization; Adolescent; Adult; Animals; Child; Child, Preschool; Disease Transmission, Infectious; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Humans; Male; Prevalence; Schistosomiasis; Schistosomicides; Treatment Outcome | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84941194969 | Enhanced catalytic performance of a Pt-xCeO<inf>2</inf>/Graphene catalyst for DMFCs by adjusting the crystal-plane and shape of nanoscale ceria | Wang W., Zhu M., Lu X., Gao Y., Li L., Cao Z., Li C., Liu J., Zheng H. | 2015 | RSC Advances | 5 | 91 | 10.1039/c5ra08144k | College of Chemical Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot, China; Materials Science and Manufacturing, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa | Wang, W., College of Chemical Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot, China; Zhu, M., College of Chemical Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot, China; Lu, X., College of Chemical Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot, China; Gao, Y., College of Chemical Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot, China; Li, L., College of Chemical Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot, China; Cao, Z., College of Chemical Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot, China; Li, C., College of Chemical Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot, China; Liu, J., College of Chemical Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot, China; Zheng, H., Materials Science and Manufacturing, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa | Oxygen storage capacity is influenced by the morphology and crystal-plane(s) of CeO<inf>2</inf>, which can thus affect the ability of this material to oxidise carbon monoxide. To investigate the effect of different morphologies/crystal-planes of CeO<inf>2</inf> on the electrocatalytic performance of DMFCs (Direct Methanol Fuel Cell), three different types of CeO<inf>2</inf> nanocrystals with different crystal-planes were synthesised and later assembled into Pt-xCeO<inf>2</inf>/Graphene composites with graphene and Pt nanoparticles as the electrocatalyst for DMFCs. According to the HRTEM images, the original morphology and crystal-plane structures of CeO<inf>2</inf> are essentially maintained in the three types of Pt-xCeO<inf>2</inf>/Graphene composite catalysts investigated in this work. The catalytic performance of the Pt-xCeO<inf>2</inf>/Graphene composites for methanol electrocatalytic oxidation was investigated by a series of electrochemical measurements. Compared with the other catalysts, Pt-rCeO<inf>2</inf>/Graphene demonstrates superior catalytic activity (onset potential: 0.15 V) and the strongest resistance to poisoning by carbonaceous species (I<inf>f</inf>/I<inf>b</inf>: 2.11). The results of H<inf>2</inf>-TPR shows that rCeO<inf>2</inf> with the {110} facet has the best surface reducibility among the xCeO<inf>2</inf> with different facets being investigated, which provides a rationale for the superior performance of the Pt-rCeO<inf>2</inf>/Graphene catalyst. This study indicates that metallic oxides with a suitable crystal plane and shape can effectively enhance the electrocatalytic performance of Pt-based catalysts for methanol electrooxidation. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2015. | None | Carbon; Carbon monoxide; Catalyst poisoning; Catalysts; Catalytic oxidation; Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC); Electrocatalysis; Electrocatalysts; Electrooxidation; Fuel cells; Metallic compounds; Metals; Methanol; Methanol fuels; Morphology; Platinum; Carbonaceous species; Catalytic performance; Electrocatalytic performance; Electrochemical measurements; Methanol electrocatalytic oxidation; Methanol electrooxidation; Oxygen storage capacity; Resistance to poisoning; Catalyst activity | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-49249120911 | Effects of interactions between filter parasitics and power interconnects on EMI filter performance | Wang S., Van Wyk J.D., Lee F.C. | 2007 | IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics | 54 | 6 | 10.1109/TIE.2007.906126 | Center for Power Electronics Systems, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, United States; Department of Electrical and Engineering, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa | Wang, S., Center for Power Electronics Systems, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, United States; Van Wyk, J.D., Center for Power Electronics Systems, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, United States, Department of Electrical and Engineering, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa; Lee, F.C., Center for Power Electronics Systems, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, United States | This paper first analyzes the electrical parameters of differential-mode (DM) and common-mode (CM) propagation on power interconnects. The impedance-transformation effects of the power interconnects are then investigated. The interactions between the parasitic parameters in electromagnetic-interference (EMI) filters and the transformed impedances by the power interconnects are explored in detail. It is found that the interactions can degrade EMI-filter performance at high frequencies. Simulations and experiments are finally carried out to verify the analysis. © 2007 IEEE. | Electromagnetic-interference (EMI) filter; Equivalent parallel capacitance (EPC); Equivalent series inductance (ESL); Impedance transformation; Power interconnects; Transmission line | Electromagnetic-interference (EMI) filter; Equivalent parallel capacitance (EPC); Equivalent series inductance; Impedance transformation; Transmission line; Electronics engineering; Industrial electronics; Electromagnetism | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78751628863 | Effects of feeding galactomannan oligosaccharides on growth performance, serum antibody levels and intestinal microbiota in newly-weaned pigs | Wang R.-L., Hou Z.P., Wang B., Liu Z.-Q., Fatufe A.A. | 2010 | Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment | 8 | 3-4 PART 1 | None | Jiangsu Institute of Education, Nanjing 210013, China; Jiangsu Food Science College, Huaian 223003, China; Graduate School, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China; Department of Animal Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria | Wang, R.-L., Jiangsu Institute of Education, Nanjing 210013, China, Jiangsu Food Science College, Huaian 223003, China; Hou, Z.P., Graduate School, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China; Wang, B., Jiangsu Food Science College, Huaian 223003, China; Liu, Z.-Q., Graduate School, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China; Fatufe, A.A., Department of Animal Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria | One hundred and twenty newly-weaned piglets (16-19 days old; 4 pigs per pen; 6 pens per treatment) were used to investigate the effect of feeding galactomannan oligosaccharides (GMOS; from sesbania gum, containing 20% galactose and 15% mannose) on growth performance, serum antibody levels and intestinal microbiota. Five dietary treatments were: basal diet (control), medicated diet (control +110 ppm lincomycin), and three dietary inclusion levels of GMOS (control + 0.1%, 0.2% or 0.3%). The inclusion of either lincomycin or GMOS in the diet did not influence piglet performance (P>0.10), except for a better F/G (P = 0.07, linearly) for the 14-28 day piglets fed the 0.2% GMOS compared with all other treatments. No difference (P>0.05) was observed for faecal consistency score among the dietary treatments during the experiment. On day 4 post-weaning, blood serum levels of IgA (70 vs. 87 mg·dl -1 on control vs. 0.3% GMOS), IgG (285 vs. 401 mgdl' on control vs. 0.3% GMOS) and IgM (155 vs. 273 mg·dl-1 on control vs. 0.3% GMOS) increased linearly (P<0.05) with dietary GMOS level. On day 14 post-weaning, serum IgA and IgM levels were not influenced by feeding GMOS (P>0.05). Polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) analysis indicated that medicated diet with 110 ppm lincomycin significantly reduced the diversity of ileal bacteria. Inclusion of GMOS at 0.3% appeared to alter the compositions of both ileal and colonic microbiota. These results suggest that dietary GMOS is a good alternative for dietary antibiotics for the first week post-weaning pigs. | Galactomannan oligosaccharides; Gut mircoflora; Immune response; Pigs; Polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis | calcium; calcium phosphate dibasic; galactomannan; galactose; immunoglobulin A; immunoglobulin G; immunoglobulin M; lincomycin; mannose; methionine; oligosaccharide; phosphorus; threonine; animal experiment; animal food; antibody blood level; article; body growth; controlled study; corn; denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis; diet; feces analysis; feeding; ileum; immunoglobulin blood level; intestine flora; nonhuman; polymerase chain reaction; scoring system; Sesbania; soybean; swine; weaning; wheat; whey; Sesbania; Suidae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84897983173 | Nitrogen-rich mesoporous carbon derived from melamine with high electrocatalytic performance for oxygen reduction reaction | Wang R., Zhou T., Li H., Wang H., Feng H., Goh J., Ji S. | 2014 | Journal of Power Sources | 261 | None | 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.03.057 | Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment-Related Polymer Materials, Ministry of Education of China, Northwest Normal University, 967 Anning East Road, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China; Department of Chemical Engineering, Huizhou University, Huizhou, Guangdong 516007, China; College of Life Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China; South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, Cape Town, South Africa | Wang, R., Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment-Related Polymer Materials, Ministry of Education of China, Northwest Normal University, 967 Anning East Road, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China; Zhou, T., Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment-Related Polymer Materials, Ministry of Education of China, Northwest Normal University, 967 Anning East Road, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China; Li, H., Department of Chemical Engineering, Huizhou University, Huizhou, Guangdong 516007, China; Wang, H., Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment-Related Polymer Materials, Ministry of Education of China, Northwest Normal University, 967 Anning East Road, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China; Feng, H., College of Life Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Goh, J., South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, Cape Town, South Africa; Ji, S., South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, Cape Town, South Africa | Melamine-derived N-doped mesoporous carbon (MNMC) is synthesized by the pyrolysis of lysine and melamineunder at nitrogen atmosphere using ferric chloride as a dopant and SiO2 nanoparticles as hard templates to form mesoporous architecture. The N content in the bulk of carbon materials is as high as 11.3% and ca. 40.6% of N is in the form of pyridinic-N. The surface area of MNMC is ca. 650 m2 g-1 with a pore size distribution in the range of 2.2-34.5 nm. Compared to commercial Pt/C (20 wt%), MNMC exhibits much better electrocatalytic activity, better durability, and higher methanol tolerance for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline medium. Particularly, the onset ORR potential and half-wave ORR potential of MNMC are 1.059 and 0.871 V vs. RHE respectively, which are higher than those of commercial Pt/C. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Electrocatalyst; Mesopore; Nitrogen-rich carbon; Oxygen reduction reaction | Amino acids; Chlorination; Chlorine compounds; Electrocatalysts; Electrolytic reduction; Mesoporous materials; Nitrogen; Platinum alloys; Synthesis (chemical); Electrocatalytic activity; Electrocatalytic performance; Mesopore; Mesoporous carbon; Methanol tolerance; N-doped mesoporous carbons; Nitrogen atmospheres; Oxygen reduction reaction; Carbon | 21163018, NSFC, National Natural Science Foundation of China; 21363022, NSFC, National Natural Science Foundation of China; 51362027, NSFC, National Natural Science Foundation of China |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-41949092932 | High performance Pd-based catalysts for oxidation of formic acid | Wang R., Liao S., Ji S. | 2008 | Journal of Power Sources | 180 | 1 | 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2008.02.027 | College of Chemistry, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510641, China; South Africa Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, South Africa | Wang, R., College of Chemistry, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510641, China; Liao, S., College of Chemistry, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510641, China; Ji, S., South Africa Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, South Africa | Two novel catalysts for anode oxidation of formic acid, Pd2Co/C and Pd4Co2Ir/C, were prepared by an organic colloid method with sodium citrate as a complexing agent. These two catalysts showed better performance towards the anodic oxidation of formic acid than Pd/C catalyst and commercial Pt/C catalyst. Compared with Pd/C catalyst, potentials of the anodic peak of formic acid at the Pd2Co/C and Pd4Co2Ir/C catalyst electrodes shifted towards negative value by 140 and 50 mV, respectively, meanwhile showed higher current densities. At potential of 0.05 V (vs. SCE), the current density for Pd4Co2Ir/C catalyst is as high as up to 13.7 mA cm-2, which is twice of that for Pd/C catalyst, and six times of that for commercial Pt/C catalyst. The alloy catalysts were nanostructured with a diameter of ca. 3-5 nm and well dispersed on carbon according to X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements. The composition of alloy catalysts was analyzed by energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). Pd4Co2Ir/C catalyst showed the highest activity and best stability making it the best potential candidate for application in a direct formic acid fuel cell (DFAFC). © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Electrocatalysts; Formic acid oxidation; Fuel cell; Pd-based catalysts | Current density; Electrocatalysts; Energy dispersive X ray analysis; Formic acid fuel cells (FAFC); Oxidation; Complexing agents; Organic colloid method; Sodium citrate; Formic acid | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84919662308 | Mesoporous nitrogen-doped carbon derived from carp with high electrocatalytic performance for oxygen reduction reaction | Wang R., Song H., Li H., Wang H., Mao X., Ji S. | 2015 | Journal of Power Sources | 278 | None | 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.12.072 | College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, China; Department of Chemical Engineering, Huizhou University, Huizhou, Guangdong, China; South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa | Wang, R., College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, China; Song, H., College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, China; Li, H., Department of Chemical Engineering, Huizhou University, Huizhou, Guangdong, China; Wang, H., College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, China; Mao, X., College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, China; Ji, S., South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa | In this work, a low-cost and nitrogen-containing carbon material with mesopores and high surface area is synthesized by carbonizing carp with SiO2 nanoparticles as template. It is found that pyridinic-N dominates the N species on the surface of obtained carbon material, which can act as active sites for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The BET surface area of obtained carbon material is 401.7 m2 g-1 and the pore size is ca. 11.1 nm. Due to its high pyridinic-N content and mesoporous architecture, the ORR activity of obtained carbon material in alkaline media is comparable to that of commercial Pt/C catalyst. In addition, it shows a higher methanol tolerance than Pt/C catalyst, making it a potential alternative to Pt-based catalysts. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. | Carp; Fuel cells; Mesoporous; Nitrogen-doped carbon; Oxygen reduction reaction | Catalysts; Doping (additives); Electrolytic reduction; Fuel cells; Mesoporous materials; Nitrogen; Oxygen; Platinum; Platinum alloys; Pore size; Synthesis (chemical); Carp; Electrocatalytic performance; Mesoporous; Methanol tolerance; Nitrogen-containing carbons; Nitrogen-doped carbons; Oxygen reduction reaction; Pt-based catalyst; Carbon | 21163018, NSFC, National Natural Science Foundation of China; 21363022, NSFC, National Natural Science Foundation of China; 51362027, NSFC, National Natural Science Foundation of China |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84903302088 | Synthesis and evaluation of artesunate-indoloquinoline hybrids as antimalarial drug candidates | Wang N., Wicht K.J., Shaban E., Ngoc T.A., Wang M.-Q., Hayashi I., Hossain Md.I., Takemasa Y., Kaiser M., El Tantawy El Sayed I., Egan T.J., Inokuchi T. | 2014 | MedChemComm | 5 | 7 | 10.1039/c4md00091a | Division of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, 3-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan; Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland; University Basel, Petersplatz 1, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland; Chemistry Departments, Faculty of Science, El Menoufeia University, Shebin El Koom, Egypt | Wang, N., Division of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, 3-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan; Wicht, K.J., Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Shaban, E., Division of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, 3-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan; Ngoc, T.A., Division of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, 3-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan; Wang, M.-Q., Division of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, 3-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan; Hayashi, I., Division of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, 3-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan; Hossain, Md.I., Division of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, 3-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan; Takemasa, Y., Division of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, 3-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan; Kaiser, M., Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland, University Basel, Petersplatz 1, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland; El Tantawy El Sayed, I., Division of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, 3-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan, Chemistry Departments, Faculty of Science, El Menoufeia University, Shebin El Koom, Egypt; Egan, T.J., Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Inokuchi, T., Division of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, 3-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan | Hybrids of artesunate-indolo[2,3-b]quinoline, -indolo[3,2-c]quinoline, and -indolo[3,2-b]quinoline were synthesized and screened for their antiplasmodial activity against two different malaria strains (CQS and CQR) and their cytotoxic activities against normal cells were evaluated. All the synthesized hybrids showed a decreased cytotoxicity and increased antimalarial activity relative to the individual, non-hybridized compounds. Furthermore, these hybrids were stronger β-haematin inhibitors than the corresponding molecules from which they were derived. The most effective antimalarial hybrid showed an IC 50 value of 0.45 nM against the CQS strain. At the same time this hybrid also showed effective activity against the CQR strain, with an IC 50 value of 0.42 nM and an RI value of 0.93. With the dosing of the artesunate-indolo[2,3-b]quinoline set at 10 mg kg-1 once a day for four consecutive days, parasitemia was significantly reduced on day 4, with an antiparasitic activity of 89.6%, and a mean mouse survival time of 7.7 days. © 2014 the Partner Organisations. | None | None | AS232Z00719G, JST, Japan Science and Technology Agency; Japan Science and Technology Agency |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84881508780 | Biomass-derived activated carbon as high-performance non-precious electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction | Wang K., Wang H., Ji S., Feng H., Linkov V., Wang R. | 2013 | RSC Advances | 3 | 30 | 10.1039/c3ra41978a | Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment-Related Polymer Materials, Ministry of Education of China, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China; South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town 7535, South Africa; College of Life Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China | Wang, K., Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment-Related Polymer Materials, Ministry of Education of China, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Wang, H., Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment-Related Polymer Materials, Ministry of Education of China, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Ji, S., South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town 7535, South Africa; Feng, H., College of Life Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Linkov, V., South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town 7535, South Africa; Wang, R., Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment-Related Polymer Materials, Ministry of Education of China, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China | A new type of Fe and N doped carbon material is synthesized by pyrolyzing ferric chloride doped egg white (EW) and the proposed synthetic route is easy, green, and low-cost. In addition, the as-prepared sample exhibits a feasible magnetism and comparable oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity to commercial Pt/C. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2013. | None | Activated carbon; Chlorination; Chlorine compounds; Electrocatalysts; Egg white; Ferric chloride; N-doped; Oxygen Reduction; Oxygen reduction reaction; Pyrolyzing; Synthetic routes; Electrolytic reduction | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879891419 | Palygorskite hybridized carbon nanocomposite as a high-performance electrocatalyst support for formic acid oxidation | Wang K., Wang H., Wang R., Key J., Linkov V., Ji S. | 2013 | South African Journal of Chemistry | 66 | None | None | Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment-Related Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China; South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, 7535, South Africa | Wang, K., Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment-Related Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Wang, H., Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment-Related Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Wang, R., Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment-Related Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Key, J., South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, 7535, South Africa; Linkov, V., South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, 7535, South Africa; Ji, S., South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, 7535, South Africa | A nanocomposite, in which acid-treated palygorskite was hybridized with carbon, was prepared and designed as an efficient support for electrocatatlysts. Pd nanoparticles were deposited on the hybrid support as an electrocatalyst for formic acid oxidation. The hybrid supports and electrocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).TEMandXRDresults showed that acid treatment had an effective impact on the morphology of palygorskite, but did not destroy its architecture. XPS results indicated that the introduction of palygorskite resulted in a negative shift of binding energy of Pd deposited on it. The electrochemical results showed that the addition of palygorskite into the carbon facilitated the formation ofOHads orOads on the surface of Pd/C-PLS, and further improved the formic acid electrooxidation activity. Therefore, considerable improvements in electrocatalytic activity toward formic acid oxidation was achieved by using this hybrid support when compared with conventional carbon support, suggesting that the introduction of SiO2-based porous palygoriskite was an excellent and cost-efficient way to improve the electrocatalytic performance of carbon support. | Composite support; Electrocatalyst; Formic acid electrooxidation; Palygorskite | None | 21163018, NSFC, National Natural Science Foundation of China; 20110490847, NSF, National Science Foundation |
| 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-s2.0-84891494103 | Effects of water chemistry on structure and performance of polyamide composite membranes | Wang J., Mo Y., Mahendra S., Hoek E.M.V. | 2014 | Journal of Membrane Science | 452 | None | 10.1016/j.memsci.2013.09.022 | Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States; California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, South Africa | Wang, J., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States, California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Mo, Y., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Mahendra, S., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States, California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Hoek, E.M.V., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States, California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States, Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, South Africa | The effects of feed solution ionic strength, pH and divalent cation content on NF/RO membrane structure and performance were elucidated experimentally and fitted with a modified solution-diffusion transport model that describes polyamide thin film free volume through an effective pore radius and structure factor. All the membranes tested became more hydrophilic and swollen with increasing feed solution ionic strength, pH, and divalent cation concentrations. Generally, water permeabilities of all three membranes decreased with ionic strength and divalent cation content, but increased with pH. For RO membranes, neutral solute rejection decreased with pH and divalent cation content, but increased with ionic strength and the salt rejection remained independent with water chemistry except for very low pH of 3; for a NF membrane, solute rejection was more sensitive to water chemistry and neutral solute rejection decreased with ionic strength and pH, but increased with divalent cation content. The results presented herein provide new insight into the fundamental relationship between changes in NF/RO membrane structure and performance. Ultimately, these new insights may be useful in selection of already commercial or design of new NF/RO membranes for removal of chemicals of emerging concern in water treatment. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. | Membrane structure; Nanofiltration; Polyamide; Reverse osmosis; Water chemistry | Effective pore radius; Polyamide composite membranes; Polyamide thin films; Solution-diffusion; Structure and performance; Transport modeling; Water chemistry; Water permeability; Chemical water treatment; Composite membranes; Ionic strength; Membrane structures; Nanofiltration; Polyamides; Positive ions; Reverse osmosis; Hydrochemistry; divalent cation; polyamide; sodium chloride; water; article; chemistry; diffusion; hydrophilicity; ionic strength; membrane; membrane structure; nanofiltration; pH; priority journal; reverse osmosis; water permeability; water treatment | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879841426 | Surfacial carbonized palygorskite as support for high-performance Pt-based electrocatalysts | Wang H., Luo R., Liao S., Key J., Ji S., Wang R. | 2013 | Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry | 17 | 7 | 10.1007/s10008-013-2029-z | Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment-Related Polymer Materials, Ministry of Education of China, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Guangdong Key Lab for Fuel Cell Technology, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China; South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535 Cape Town, South Africa | Wang, H., Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment-Related Polymer Materials, Ministry of Education of China, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Luo, R., Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment-Related Polymer Materials, Ministry of Education of China, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Liao, S., Guangdong Key Lab for Fuel Cell Technology, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China; Key, J., South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535 Cape Town, South Africa; Ji, S., South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535 Cape Town, South Africa; Wang, R., Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment-Related Polymer Materials, Ministry of Education of China, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China | Pt nanoparticles deposited on a low-cost, surfacial, carbonized palygorskite (Pt/C-PLS) prepared by carbonizing sucrose were evaluated as a methanol oxidation catalyst for direct methanol fuel cells. Transmission electron microscopy and Fourier transfrom infrared spectrophotometry analyses revealed that carbon was formed on the surface of PLS and that free silica presented in the C-PLS support. The catalytic activity of methanol oxidation of Pt/C-PLS was higher than that of Pt/C, and the former catalyst had better CO tolerance. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. | Carbonization; Fuel cell; Methanol oxidation; Palygorskite; Pt nanoparticle | CO tolerance; Fourier; Free silicas; Infrared spectrophotometry; Methanol Oxidation; Palygorskites; Pt nanoparticles; Pt-based electrocatalyst; Carbonization; Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC); Electrocatalysts; Fuel cells; Methanol; Nanoparticles; Oxidation; Platinum; Transmission electron microscopy; Platinum alloys | 20110490847, NSF, National Science Foundation; 2012 T50587, NSF, National Science Foundation of Science and Technology |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84887909448 | Genomics of elite sporting performance: What little we know and necessary advances | Wang G., Padmanabhan S., Wolfarth B., Fuku N., Lucia A., Ahmetov I.I., Cieszczyk P., Collins M., Eynon N., Klissouras V., Williams A., Pitsiladis Y. | 2013 | Advances in Genetics | 84 | None | 10.1016/B978-0-12-407703-4.00004-9 | Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Department of Preventive and Rehabilitative Sports Medicine, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany; Department of Genomics for Longevity and Health, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan; European University and Research Institute i+12, Madrid, Spain; Sport Technology Education Research Laboratory, Volga Region State Academy of Physical Culture, Sport and Tourism, Kazan, Russian Federation; Department of Physical Culture and Health Promotion, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland; MRC/UCT Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine of the Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Newlands, South Africa; Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living (ISEAL), Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Sport Medicine and Biology of Physical Activity, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Athens, Athens, Greece; Institute for Performance Research, Manchester Metropolitan University, Crewe, United Kingdom; School of Sport and Service Management, University of Brighton, Eastbourne, United Kingdom; The Skeletal Muscle and Performance Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia | Wang, G., Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Padmanabhan, S., Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Wolfarth, B., Department of Preventive and Rehabilitative Sports Medicine, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany; Fuku, N., Department of Genomics for Longevity and Health, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan; Lucia, A., European University and Research Institute i+12, Madrid, Spain; Ahmetov, I.I., Sport Technology Education Research Laboratory, Volga Region State Academy of Physical Culture, Sport and Tourism, Kazan, Russian Federation; Cieszczyk, P., Department of Physical Culture and Health Promotion, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland; Collins, M., MRC/UCT Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine of the Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Newlands, South Africa; Eynon, N., Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living (ISEAL), Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia, The Skeletal Muscle and Performance Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia; Klissouras, V., Department of Sport Medicine and Biology of Physical Activity, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Athens, Athens, Greece; Williams, A., Institute for Performance Research, Manchester Metropolitan University, Crewe, United Kingdom; Pitsiladis, Y., Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom, School of Sport and Service Management, University of Brighton, Eastbourne, United Kingdom | Numerous reports of genetic associations with performance- and injury-related phenotypes have been published over the past three decades; these studies have employed primarily the candidate gene approach to identify genes that associate with elite performance or with variation in performance-and/or injury-related traits. Although generally with small effect sizes and heavily prone to type I statistic error, the number of candidate genetic variants that can potentially explain elite athletic status, injury predisposition, or indeed response to training will be much higher than that examined by numerous biotechnology companies. Priority should therefore be given to applying whole genome technology to sufficiently large study cohorts of world-class athletes with adequately measured phenotypes where it is possible to increase statistical power. Some of the elite athlete cohorts described in the literature might suffice, and collectively, these cohorts could be used for replication purposes. Genome-wide association studies are ongoing in some of these cohorts (i.e., Genathlete, Russian, Spanish, Japanese, United States, and Jamaican cohorts), and preliminary findings include the identification of one single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP; among more than a million SNPs analyzed) that associates with sprint performance in Japanese, American (i.e., African American), and Jamaican cohorts with a combined effect size of ~2.6 (P-value <5×10-7) and good concordance with endurance performance between select cohorts. Further replications of these signals in independent cohorts will be required, and any replicated SNPs will be taken forward for fine-mapping/targeted resequencing and functional studies to uncover the underlying biological mechanisms. Only after this lengthy and costly process will the true potential of genetic testing in sport be determined. © 2013 Elsevier Inc. | ACE/ACTN3 polymorphisms; Candidate gene association study; Complex trait; Elite performance; Genome-wide association study; Single nucleotide polymorphism | ACE protein, human; actinin; ACTN3 protein, human; dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase; ACE/ACTN3 polymorphisms; article; athlete; athletic performance; candidate gene association study; Complex trait; Elite Performance; genetic association; genetic screening; genetics; human; running; single nucleotide polymorphism; ACE/ACTN3 polymorphisms; candidate gene association study; complex trait; elite performance; genome-wide association study; single nucleotide polymorphism; Actinin; Athletes; Athletic Performance; Genetic Testing; Genome-Wide Association Study; Humans; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Running | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79956319956 | Evaluation of resistance in wheat germplasm to the aphids, Sitobion avenae based on Technique for order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) TOPSIS and cluster methods | Wang C.-P., Chen Q., Luo K., Zhao H.-Y., Zhang G.-S., Tlali R. | 2011 | African Journal of Agricultural Research | 6 | 6 | None | College of Plant Protection, Northwest A and F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; College of Agronomy, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan 471003, China; Department of Crops Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Maseru 100, Lesotho, South Africa | Wang, C.-P., College of Plant Protection, Northwest A and F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China, College of Agronomy, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan 471003, China; Chen, Q., College of Plant Protection, Northwest A and F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Luo, K., College of Plant Protection, Northwest A and F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Zhao, H.-Y., College of Plant Protection, Northwest A and F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Zhang, G.-S., College of Plant Protection, Northwest A and F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Tlali, R., Department of Crops Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Maseru 100, Lesotho, South Africa | Sitobion avenae is the dominant and destructive pest in wheat production regions in China. Therefore, breeders developed new and high resistant varieties to ensure stable yields. In this paper, thirteen comprehensive agronomic characteristics of twenty-two wheat germplasm resources were investigated, and the data for the resources collected in the latest two years were treated with Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS method) and cluster analysis. The priority order of alternatives ranks obtained from the TOPSIS method and aphid index analysis is the same. The order of alternatives ranks is as follows: Yumai70>Amigo>186Tm>Xiaoyan22>PI>Donghan1>98-10-35>...>Datang991>Qianjinzao. It was also found that the examined 22 wheat germplasm resources could be agglomerated into four clusters. Five good germplasm, namely 186Tm, Yumai70, AMIGO, Xiaoyan22, 98-10-35, could be used directly or as parents for breeding wheat varieties for resistance to S. avenae. Furthermore, the results showed TOPSIS analysis and cluster analysis are highly consistent with each other. But TOPSIS method is the best comprehensive method for the evaluation of resistance in wheat breeding to the aphids. © 2011 Academic Journals. | Agronomic characteristic; Cluster analysis; Germplasm resources; Sitobion avenae; Technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution method; Wheat (Triticum aestivum) | Aphididae; Sitobion avenae; Triticum aestivum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-53849091665 | Effects of 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzeneboronic acid as an additive on electrochemical performance of propylene carbonate-based electrolytes for lithium ion batteries | Wang B., Qu Q.T., Xia Q., Wu Y.P., Li X., Gan C.L., van Ree T. | 2008 | Electrochimica Acta | 54 | 2 | 10.1016/j.electacta.2008.06.070 | Department of Chemistry, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, No. 220, Handan road, Shanghai 200433, China; Guotai Huarong Chemical New Materials Co. Ltd., Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu Province, China; Department of Chemistry, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, 0950, South Africa | Wang, B., Department of Chemistry, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, No. 220, Handan road, Shanghai 200433, China; Qu, Q.T., Department of Chemistry, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, No. 220, Handan road, Shanghai 200433, China; Xia, Q., Department of Chemistry, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, No. 220, Handan road, Shanghai 200433, China; Wu, Y.P., Department of Chemistry, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, No. 220, Handan road, Shanghai 200433, China; Li, X., Guotai Huarong Chemical New Materials Co. Ltd., Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu Province, China; Gan, C.L., Guotai Huarong Chemical New Materials Co. Ltd., Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu Province, China; van Ree, T., Department of Chemistry, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, 0950, South Africa | The effects of 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzeneboronic acid (BA) as a new film-forming additive have been theoretically and experimentally studied for a graphite (CMS) electrode in propylene carbonate-based (PC) electrolyte for lithium ion batteries. Calculation based on the density functional theory (DFT) method suggests that the energy of the LUMO (the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital) of BA is lower than that of PC, consistent with the results of cyclic voltammograms that BA is reduced before PC. SEM, FT-IR and XPS measurements show that the reduced products of BA contribute in part to the effective SEI film on the graphite electrode surface. Discharge-charge measurements indicate that the addition of BA can effectively prevent the decomposition and the co-intercalation of PC, and lithium ions can reversibly intercalate into and deintercalate from the graphite electrode. These results show that addition of BA improves the electrochemical performance of graphite in PC-based electrolyte. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | 3,5-Bis(trifluoromethyl)benzeneboronic acid; Cycleability; Film-forming; Lithium ion batteries; Solid electrolyte interface (SEI) | Acids; Carbon; Density functional theory; Electric discharges; Electrolysis; Electrolytes; Graphite; Graphite electrodes; Ions; Lithium; Lithium alloys; Lithium compounds; Molecular orbitals; Probability density function; Propylene; 3,5-Bis(trifluoromethyl)benzeneboronic acid; Cycleability; Film-forming; Lithium ion batteries; Solid electrolyte interface (SEI); Electrochemical electrodes | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79951683403 | Combined impact of sexual risk behaviors for HIV seroconversion among women in Durban, South Africa: Implications for prevention policy and planning | Wand H., Ramjee G. | 2011 | AIDS and Behavior | 15 | 2 | 10.1007/s10461-010-9845-2 | HIV Prevention Unit, Medical Research Council, Durban, South Africa | Wand, H.; Ramjee, G., HIV Prevention Unit, Medical Research Council, Durban, South Africa | The objective of this study was to estimate the joint impact of demographic and sexual risk behaviors on HIV acquisition. A total of 2,523 HIV seronegative women were recruited through three community based studies in Durban, South Africa. Point and interval estimates of partial population attributable risk (PAR) were used to quantify the proportion of HIV seroconversions which can be prevented if a combination of risk factors is eliminated from a target population. More than 80% of the observed HIV acquisitions were attributed to five risk factors: lack of cohabitation, frequency of sex, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), incidence of pregnancy and not being employed/no income. Structural factors such as minimizing migratory patterns by ensuring cohabitation of partners, access to treatment of STIs, income generation and safe sex negotiation skills are likely to play an important role in future prevention strategies. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. | HIV incidence; Population attributable risk; South Africa | adult; age; article; female; follow up; health care policy; high risk behavior; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; incidence; pregnancy; questionnaire; risk factor; sexual behavior; sexuality; sexually transmitted disease; socioeconomics; South Africa; Adult; Age Factors; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Health Policy; HIV Infections; HIV Seropositivity; Humans; Incidence; Pregnancy; Questionnaires; Risk Factors; Risk-Taking; Sexual Behavior; Sexual Partners; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Socioeconomic Factors; South Africa; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929008997 | Biological impact of recurrent sexually transmitted infections on HIV seroconversion among women in South Africa: Results from frailty models | Wand H., Ramjee G. | 2015 | Journal of the International AIDS Society | 18 | 1 | 10.7448/IAS.18.1.19866 | Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia; HIV Prevention Unit, Medical Research Council, Durban, South Africa | Wand, H., Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia; Ramjee, G., HIV Prevention Unit, Medical Research Council, Durban, South Africa | Introduction: Understanding the impact of curable sexually transmitted infections (STIs) on HIV transmissibility is essential for effective HIV prevention programs. Investigating the impact of longitudinally measured recurrent STIs on HIV seroconversion is the interest of the current paper. Methods: In this prospective study, data from a total of 1456 HIV-negative women who enrolled in a HIV biomedical trial were used. It was hypothesized that women who had recurrent STI diagnoses during the study share a common biological heterogeneity which cannot be quantified. To incorporate this "unobserved" correlation in the analysis, times to HIV seroconversion were jointly modelled with repeated STI diagnoses using Cox regression with random effects. Results and discussion: A total of 110 HIV seroconversions were observed (incidence rate of 6.00 per 100 person-years). In a multivariable model, women who were diagnosed at least once were more likely to seroconvert compared to those who had no STI diagnosis [hazard ratio (HR): 1.63, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04, 2.57]; women who had recurrent STI diagnoses during the study were 2.5 times more likely to be at increased risk of HIV infection (95% CI: 1.35, 4.01) with an estimated frailty variance of 1.52, with p >0.001, indicating strong evidence that there is a significant correlation (heterogeneity) among women who had recurrent STIs. In addition to this, factors associated with incidence of STIs, namely not being married and having a new sexual partner during the study follow-up, were all significantly associated with increased risk for HIV seroconversion (HR: 2.92, 95% CI: 1.76, 5.01 and HR: 2.25, 95% CI: 1.63, 3.83 respectively). Conclusions: The results indicated that women who were at risk for STIs were also at risk of HIV infection. In fact, they share the similar risk factors. In addition to this, repeated STI diagnoses also increased women's susceptibility for HIV infection significantly. Decreasing STIs by increasing uptake of testing and treatment and reducing partner change plays a significant role in the trajectory of the epidemic. © 2015 Wand H and Ramjee G; licensee International AIDS Society. | HIV incidence; Joint modelling; Recurrent sexually transmitted infections; South Africa | adult; Article; controlled study; female; follow up; genital tract infection; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; incidence; infection risk; major clinical study; priority journal; prospective study; seroconversion; sexually transmitted disease; South Africa; unprotected sex | 18057, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-71149095909 | Periodontal status, tooth loss and self-reported periodontal problems effects on oral impacts on daily performances, OIDP, in pregnant women in Uganda: A cross-sectional study | Wandera M.N., Engebretsen I.M., Rwenyonyi C.M., Tumwine J., Åstrøm A.N. | 2009 | Health and Quality of Life Outcomes | 7 | None | 10.1186/1477-7525-7-89 | Institute of Clinical Odontology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Bergen, Norway; Department of Dentistry, Makerere University, Uganda; Center for International Health, University of Bergen, Norway; Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda | Wandera, M.N., Institute of Clinical Odontology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Bergen, Norway, Department of Dentistry, Makerere University, Uganda, Center for International Health, University of Bergen, Norway; Engebretsen, I.M., Center for International Health, University of Bergen, Norway; Rwenyonyi, C.M., Department of Dentistry, Makerere University, Uganda; Tumwine, J., Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Åstrøm, A.N., Institute of Clinical Odontology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Bergen, Norway, Center for International Health, University of Bergen, Norway | Background: An important aim of antenatal care is to improve maternal health- and well being of which oral health is an important part. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of oral impacts on daily performances (OIDP) during pregnancy, using a locally adapted OIDP inventory, and to document how periodontal status, tooth-loss and reported periodontal problems are related to oral impacts. Methods: Pregnant women at about 7 months gestational age who were members of a community based multi-center cluster randomized community trial: PROMISE EBF: Safety and Efficacy of Exclusive Breast feeding in the Era of HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa, were recruited in the district of Mbale, Eastern Uganda between January 2006 and June 2008. A total of 877 women (participation rate 877/886, 98%, mean age 25.6, sd 6.4) completed an interview and 713 (participation rate 713/886, 80.6%, mean age 25.5 sd 6.6) were examined clinically with respect to tooth-loss and according to the Community Periodontal Index, CPI. Results: Seven of the original 8 OIDP items were translated into the local language. Cronbach's alpha was 0.85 and 0.80 in urban and rural areas, respectively. The prevalence of oral impacts was 25% in the urban and 30% in the rural area. Corresponding estimates for CPI>0 were 63% and 68%. Adjusted ORs for having any oral impact were 1.1 (95% CI 0.7-1.7), 1.9 (95% CI 1.2-3.1), 1.7 (1.1-2.7) and 2.0 (0.9-4.4) if having respectively, CPI>0, at least one tooth lost, tooth loss in molars and tooth loss in molar-and anterior regions. The Adjusted ORs for any oral impact if reporting periodontal problems ranged from 2.7(95% CI 1.8-4.2) (bad breath) through 8.6(95% CI 5.6-12.9) (chewing problem) to 22.3 (95% CI 13.3-35.9) (toothache). Conclusion: A substantial proportion of pregnant women experienced oral impacts. The OIDP impacts were most and least substantial regarding functional- and social concerns, respectively. The OIDP varied systematically with tooth loss in the molar region, reported chewing-and periodontal problems. Pregnant women's oral health should be addressed through antenatal care programs in societies with limited access to regular dental care facilities. © 2009 Wandera et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | adult; article; breast feeding education; clinical trial; community care; controlled clinical trial; controlled study; cross-sectional study; dental care; female; gestational age; halitosis; health program; human; interview; major clinical study; mastication; molar tooth; multicenter study; oral impacts on daily performances; periodontal disease; periodontics; pregnant woman; prenatal care; prevalence; rural area; scoring system; self report; tooth pain; Uganda; urban area | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84924415779 | The Impact of Information and Communication Technology Adoption and Diffusion on Technology Entrepreneurship in Developing Countries: The Case of Kenya | Wamuyu P.K. | 2015 | Information Technology for Development | 21 | 2 | 10.1080/02681102.2014.948372 | School of Science and Technology, United States International University-Africa, Nairobi, Kenya | Wamuyu, P.K., School of Science and Technology, United States International University-Africa, Nairobi, Kenya | ICT-based enterprises (ICT-BEs) are businesses that produce ICT products, provide ICT processing technologies, or offer ICT support services. Most ICT-BEs grow in particular niche fields of ICT use by offering services that are well tailored to meet the needs of a specific target market. This however is usually short lived, as alternative technologies are developed each day and availed globally within a few months, while the rate of adoption and diffusion of technology is dependent on other factors other than the ICT itself. In most cases technology diffusion is rather slow and uneven at first, but accelerates rapidly once a critical mass of individuals has adopted the technology. This raises the question of how ICT-BEs can cushion themselves against sudden and unpredictable ICT trends, which may lead to existing customers abandoning a technology for any new alternative technology. The study examines the impact of rapid ICT trends on ICT entrepreneurship in the liberalized and globalized Kenyan ICT market. The study is based on qualitative data, collected through four descriptive case studies selected from micro and small enterprises offering ICT solutions. Findings reveal that rapid changes in ICT trends and early adopters' switching behavior negatively affect the survival of an ICT-BE, while customer satisfaction and entrepreneurial creativity positively influence the survival and success of an ICT-BE. The study provides practitioners, budding ICT entrepreneurs, and policy-makers with essential lessons on how ICT trends affect the growth and survival of ICT-BEs and how to mitigate these negative effects and therefore remain in business. © 2014, © 2014 Commonwealth Secretariat. | case studies; exploratory; ICT adoption; ICT diffusion; ICT dynamism; ICT entrepreneurship; ICT trends; ICT-based enterprises; interpretive; micro and small enterprises; qualitative; service quality | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84856182920 | Instrumented drop weight impact on cotton, cotton/flax and cotton/glass composites | Wambua P., Anandjiwala R. | 2011 | International Review of Mechanical Engineering | 5 | 3 | None | Moi University, Department of Manufacturing, Industrial and Textile Engineering, P.O Box 3900, Eldoret, Kenya; CSIR Materials Science and Manufacturing, P.O Box 1124, Port Elizabeth 6000, South Africa; Department of Textile Science, Faculty of Science, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa | Wambua, P., Moi University, Department of Manufacturing, Industrial and Textile Engineering, P.O Box 3900, Eldoret, Kenya; Anandjiwala, R., CSIR Materials Science and Manufacturing, P.O Box 1124, Port Elizabeth 6000, South Africa, Department of Textile Science, Faculty of Science, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa | This paper investigates the low velocity impact response of cotton, flax/cotton and glass/cotton hybrid composites. The composites were prepared by compression moulding and cut to dimensions specified by the Boeing impact test specification. All the specimens were impacted at 17, 26, 44, 62 and 77J energy levels on an Instron dynatup 9250HV drop weight impact tower by a hemispherical impactor head. Impulse software was used in data acquisition and analysis of results. The cotton and flax/cotton composites mainly failed through cracking, tensile fracture and delamination, while glass/cotton hybrid composites failed by deflecting and delamination. The glass/cotton composites were not penetrated and did not fracture even at high impact energy levels. © 2011 Praise Worthy Prize S.r.l. - All rights reserved. | Composites; Cotton; Flax; Glass; Hybrid; Instrumented drop weight | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84887213587 | Evaluation of the Xpert® MTB/Rif test, microscopic observation drug susceptibility test and nitrate reductase assay, for rapid and accurate diagnosis of smear-negative tuberculosis in HIV patients | Walusimbi S., Bwanga F., Costa A.D., Haile M., Hoffner S., Joloba M. | 2013 | International Journal of Mycobacteriology | 2 | 3 | 10.1016/j.ijmyco.2013.06.001 | Department of Medical Microbiology, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Diagnostics and Vaccinology, Swedish Institute for Communicable Disease Control, Solna, Sweden; Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden | Walusimbi, S., Department of Medical Microbiology, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda, Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; Bwanga, F., Department of Medical Microbiology, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Costa, A.D., Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; Haile, M., Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, Department of Diagnostics and Vaccinology, Swedish Institute for Communicable Disease Control, Solna, Sweden; Hoffner, S., Department of Diagnostics and Vaccinology, Swedish Institute for Communicable Disease Control, Solna, Sweden, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; Joloba, M., Department of Medical Microbiology, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda | Diagnosis of smear-negative tuberculosis (TB), which is frequently seen in HIV-infected patients, is a challenge without conventional culture methods. Since 2007, the WHO (World Health Organization) has endorsed new or improved tests for increased and rapid diagnosis of TB. This study was undertaken in an effort to evaluate the accuracy of two rapid culture methods: the Microscopic Observation Drug Susceptibility assay (MODS) and Nitrate Reductase Assay (NRA), and the molecular based test Xpert® MTB/Rif (Xpert), for diagnosis of smear-negative TB in HIV patients using the mycobacteria growth indicator tube (MGIT) in the BACTECTM MGITTM 960 system as the reference test. 430 smear-negative patients with presumptive TB were enrolled in a cross-sectional study at a tertiary care facility in Uganda. Their sputum was tested on MODS, NRA, Xpert and MGIT. Of the 430 patients, 373 had complete results to compute test accuracy. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) was detected in 43 patients by MGIT. The sensitivity and specificity were 24.4% and 98.1% for MODS, 41.5% and 92% for NRA, 48.8% and 95.1% for Xpert, respectively. The low sensitivity of the tests implies that additional diagnostics such as chest X-ray and conventional liquid culture methods might still be needed to detect TB in smear-negative HIV patients. The high specificity of the tests is useful to confirm TB in HIV patients with symptoms suggestive of TB. © 2013 Asian-African Society for Mycobacteriology. | HIV and TB; MGIT; MODS; NRA; Smear negative TB; Xpert | nitrate reductase; adult; aged; antibiotic sensitivity; article; bacterium culture; clinical evaluation; controlled clinical trial; controlled study; cross-sectional study; diagnostic accuracy; diagnostic test; diagnostic test accuracy study; female; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; intermethod comparison; major clinical study; male; microscopic observation drug susceptibility assay; microscopy; molecular diagnosis; nonhuman; observational study; predictive value; priority journal; sensitivity and specificity; sputum analysis; thorax radiography; tuberculosis; Uganda; world health organization | None |
| WoS | WOS:000282682300005 | The Perceived Impact of Disclosure of Pediatric HIV Status on Pediatric Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence, Child Well-Being, and Social Relationships in a Resource-Limited Setting | Ayaya, Samwel O.,Inui, Thomas S.,Marrero, David G.,Nyandiko, Winstone M.,Vreeman, Rachel C.,Walumbe, Eunice G. | 2010 | AIDS PATIENT CARE AND STDS | 24 | 10 | 10.1089/apc.2010.0079 | Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indiana University System, Moi University, Regenstrief Institute Inc, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), USAID Acad Model Providing Access Healthcare AMPA | "Walumbe, Eunice G.: United States Agency for International Development (USAID)", | In resource-limited settings, beliefs about disclosing a child's HIV status and the subsequent impacts of disclosure have not been well studied. We sought to describe how parents and guardians of HIV-infected children view the impact of disclosing a child's HIV status, particularly for children's antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence. A qualitative study was conducted using involving focus groups and interviews with parents and guardians of HIV-infected children receiving ART in western Kenya. Interviews covered multiple aspects of the experience of having children take medicines. Transcribed interview dialogues were coded for analysis. Data were collected from 120 parents and guardians caring for children 0-14 years (mean 6.8 years, standard deviation [SD] 6.4); 118 of 120 had not told the children they had HIV. Children's caregivers (parents and guardians) described their views on disclosure to children and to others, including how this information-sharing impacted pediatric ART adherence, children's well-being, and their social relationships. Caregivers believed that disclosure might have benefits such as improved ART adherence, especially for older children, and better engagement of a helping social network. They also feared, however, that disclosure might have both negative psychological effects for children and negative social effects for their families, including discrimination. In western Kenya, caregivers' views on the risks and benefits to disclosing children's HIV status emerged a key theme related to a family's experience with HIV medications, even for families who had not disclosed the child's status. Assessing caregivers' views of disclosure is important to understanding and monitoring pediatric ART. | ,ADOLESCENTS,DIAGNOSIS,HEALTH-CARE,HIV/AIDS,"MEDICAL LITERATURE","QUALITATIVE RESEARCH",SURVIVAL,"USERS GUIDES","VIRUS-INFECTED CHILDREN","WESTERN KENYA" | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77956994445 | Is the bus transport contracting system in South Africa leading to trusting relationships between contracted parties? An analysis of funding issues and the impact on relations between government and operators | Walters J. | 2010 | Research in Transportation Economics | 29 | 1 | 10.1016/j.retrec.2010.07.046 | Institute of Transport and Logistics Management (Africa), Department of Transport and Supply Chain Management, University of Johannesburg, South Africa | Walters, J., Institute of Transport and Logistics Management (Africa), Department of Transport and Supply Chain Management, University of Johannesburg, South Africa | The 1996 South African White Paper on National Transport policy provided the guidelines for the restructuring of the commuter bus industry. The restructuring objectives were based on improving the competitiveness of and service levels within the industry through a competitive tendering regime, the selective implementation of negotiated contracts and the general transformation of the industry to also include improved transparency in the funding arrangements between government and operators.In order to set the context of the paper, a brief overview is provided of the progress made with policy implementation and the background to funding issues that are experienced in the bus transport sector. To gauge the impact of the funding issues on the relationship between government and operators, a survey of the largest contracted operators was undertaken to determine, amongst other, how these funding issues have potentially impacted on trusting relationships between contracted parties. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. | Funding issues; Trusting partnerships | None | None |
| 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-s2.0-84879099534 | Evaluation of impact of long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets and point-of-use water filters on HIV-1 disease progression in Kenya | Walson J.L., Sangaré L.R., Singa B.O., Naulikha J.M., Piper B.K.S., Yuhas K., Onchiri F.M., Otieno P.A., Mermin J., Zeh C., Richardson B.A., John-Stewart G. | 2013 | AIDS | 27 | 9 | 10.1097/QAD.0b013e32835ecba9 | Department of Global Health, University of Washington, 325 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, United States; Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Clinical Research, Nairobi, Kenya; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Seattle, WA, United States | Walson, J.L., Department of Global Health, University of Washington, 325 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, United States, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Clinical Research, Nairobi, Kenya; Sangaré, L.R., Department of Global Health, University of Washington, 325 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, United States; Singa, B.O., Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Clinical Research, Nairobi, Kenya; Naulikha, J.M., Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Clinical Research, Nairobi, Kenya; Piper, B.K.S., Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Clinical Research, Nairobi, Kenya; Yuhas, K., Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Onchiri, F.M., Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Otieno, P.A., Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Clinical Research, Nairobi, Kenya; Mermin, J., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States; Zeh, C., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States; Richardson, B.A., Department of Global Health, University of Washington, 325 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, United States, Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Seattle, WA, United States; John-Stewart, G., Department of Global Health, University of Washington, 325 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, United States, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States | Objectives: Among HIV-1-infected individuals in Africa, coinfection with malaria and diarrhoeal disease may be associated with more rapid HIV-1 disease progression. We sought to determine whether the use of long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets and simple point-of-use water filters can delay HIV-1 disease progression. Design: A prospective cohort study. Setting: Two HIV care sites in Kenya. Participants: HIV-1-infected adults not yet meeting criteria for antiretroviral therapy. Interventions: One group received the standard of care, whereas the other received long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets and water filters. Individuals were followed for up to 24 months. Main outcome measures: The primary outcome measures were time to CD4 cell count less than 350 cells/μl and a composite endpoint of time to CD4 cell count less than 350 cells/|μl and nontraumatic death. Time to disease progression was compared using Cox proportional hazards regression. Results: Of 589 individuals included, 361 received the intervention and 228 served as controls. Median baseline CD4 cell counts were similar (P= 0.36). After controlling for baseline CD4 cell count, individuals receiving the intervention were 27% less likely to reach the endpoint of a CD4 cell count less than 350 cells/μl (hazard ratio 0.73; 95% confidence interval 0.57-0.95). CD4 cell count decline was also significantly less in the intervention group (-54 vs. - 70 cells/|μl per year, P=0.03). In addition, the incidence of malaria and diarrhoea were significantly lower in the intervention group. Conclusion: Provision of a long-lasting insecticide-treated bed net and water filter was associated with a delay in CD4 cell count decline and may be a simple, practical and cost-effective strategy to delay HIV-1 progression in many resource-limited settings. © 2013 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. | Bed nets; Coinfection; Diarrhoeal disease; HIV; Long-lasting insecticide-treated nets; Malaria; Water filters | insecticide; water; adult; article; bed net; CD4 lymphocyte count; clinical evaluation; cohort analysis; controlled study; death; diarrhea; disease course; female; filter; health care quality; human; Human immunodeficiency virus 1 infection; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; incidence; Kenya; major clinical study; malaria; male; mixed infection; priority journal; proportional hazards model; prospective study; randomized controlled trial; treatment outcome; Adult; Anti-HIV Agents; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Cohort Studies; Coinfection; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Diarrhea; Disease Progression; Female; Filtration; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Insecticide-Treated Bednets; Kenya; Malaria; Male; Prospective Studies; Regression Analysis; Socioeconomic Factors; Time Factors; Viral Load; Water; Water Purification | P30 AI027757, NIH, National Institutes of Health |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33644843882 | Growth hormone 1 (GH1) gene and performance and post-race rectal temperature during the South African Ironman triathlon | Walpole B., Noakes T.D., Collins M. | 2006 | British Journal of Sports Medicine | 40 | 2 | 10.1136/bjsm.2005.020669 | Medical Research Council of South Africa, Newlands, South Africa; UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Medical Research Council of South Africa, Cape Town, South Africa | Walpole, B., UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Noakes, T.D., UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Collins, M., Medical Research Council of South Africa, Newlands, South Africa, Medical Research Council of South Africa, Cape Town, South Africa | Background: Some studies have suggested that the insertion allele of the ACE gene is associated with endurance performance, including the Ironman triathlon. It is possible that this association is due to genetic linkage between the ACE I/D locus and the T/A variant in intron 4 of the neighbouring GH1 gene. The A variant is associated with lower levels of growth hormone production. Growth hormone has multiple effects, especially on metabolism during exercise and recovery from exercise. Its production during exercise has also been shown to stimulate sweat rate and heat loss. Objective: To determine whether the GH1 gene is associated with the performance and/or post-race rectal temperatures of competitors in the South African Ironman triathlon. Methods: A total of 169 of the fastest finishing white male triathletes who completed the 2000 and/or 2001 South African Ironman triathlon and 155 control subjects were genotyped for the T/A variant in the GH1 gene. Post-race rectal temperature was also determined in 103 of these triathletes. Results: There was no significant difference in the frequency of this polymorphism in the GH1 gene when the fastest finishing triathletes were compared with the control subjects. Post-race rectal temperatures were, however, significantly higher in those triathletes with an AA genotype (mean (SD) 37.7 (0.8) °C) compared with those with a TT genotype (37.2 (0.8) °C) (p = 0.019). Conclusions: The T/A polymorphism in intron 4 of the GH1 gene was not associated with performance of the fastest finishers of the South African Ironman triathlon. Post-race rectal temperatures were, however, significantly higher in the fastest finishing athletes, who were homozygous for a GH1 genotype associated with lower growth hormone production. | None | dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase; DNA; growth hormone; adult; age; article; athlete; body mass; Caucasian; controlled study; DNA polymorphism; endurance; gene; gene frequency; gene insertion; genotype; GH1 gene; growth hormone release; human; male; normal human; physical performance; polymerase chain reaction; rectum temperature; South Africa; triathlon; Adult; Alleles; Bicycling; Body Temperature Regulation; DNA; Growth Hormone; Humans; Male; Physical Endurance; Running; South Africa; Sports; Swimming | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84883225342 | Ensuring quality in AFRINEST and SATT: Clinical standardization and monitoring | Wall S.N., Mazzeo C.I., Adejuyigbe E.A., Ayede A.I., Bahl R., Baqui A.H., Blackwelder W.C., Brandes N., Darmstadt G.L., Esamai F., Hibberd P.L., Jacobs M., Klein J.O., Mwinga K., Rollins N.C., Saloojee H., Tshefu A.K., Wammanda R.D., Zaidi A.K.M., Qazi S. | 2013 | Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal | 32 | 9 SUPPL. | 10.1097/INF.0b013e31829ff801 | Saving Newborn Lives, Save the Children, 2000 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20036, United States; Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, United States; University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States; United States Agency for International Development, Washington, DC, United States; Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Child Health and Paediatrics, School of Medicine, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya; Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States; Health Promotion Cluster, World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, Congo; University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; University of Kinshasa School of Public Health, Kinshasa, Congo; Department of Paediatrics, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan | Wall, S.N., Saving Newborn Lives, Save the Children, 2000 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20036, United States; Mazzeo, C.I., Saving Newborn Lives, Save the Children, 2000 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20036, United States; Adejuyigbe, E.A., Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Ayede, A.I., Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Bahl, R., Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Baqui, A.H., Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, United States; Blackwelder, W.C., University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States; Brandes, N., United States Agency for International Development, Washington, DC, United States; Darmstadt, G.L., Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA, United States; Esamai, F., Department of Child Health and Paediatrics, School of Medicine, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya; Hibberd, P.L., Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Jacobs, M., University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Klein, J.O., Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States; Mwinga, K., Health Promotion Cluster, World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, Congo; Rollins, N.C., Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Saloojee, H., University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Tshefu, A.K., University of Kinshasa School of Public Health, Kinshasa, Congo; Wammanda, R.D., Department of Paediatrics, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Zaidi, A.K.M., Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan; Qazi, S.A., Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland | BACKGROUND:: Three randomized open-label clinical trials [Simplified Antibiotic Therapy Trial (SATT) Bangladesh, SATT Pakistan and African Neonatal Sepsis Trial (AFRINEST)] were developed to test the equivalence of simplified antibiotic regimens compared with the standard regimen of 7 days of parenteral antibiotics. These trials were originally conceived and designed separately; subsequently, significant efforts were made to develop and implement a common protocol and approach. Previous articles in this supplement briefly describe the specific quality control methods used in the individual trials; this article presents additional information about the systematic approaches used to minimize threats to validity and ensure quality across the trials. METHODS:: A critical component of quality control for AFRINEST and SATT was striving to eliminate variation in clinical assessments and decisions regarding eligibility, enrollment and treatment outcomes. Ensuring appropriate and consistent clinical judgment was accomplished through standardized approaches applied across the trials, including training, assessment of clinical skills and refresher training. Standardized monitoring procedures were also applied across the trials, including routine (day-to-day) internal monitoring of performance and adherence to protocols, systematic external monitoring by funding agencies and external monitoring by experienced, independent trial monitors. A group of independent experts (Technical Steering Committee/Technical Advisory Group) provided regular monitoring and technical oversight for the trials. CONCLUSIONS:: Harmonization of AFRINEST and SATT have helped to ensure consistency and quality of implementation, both internally and across the trials as a whole, thereby minimizing potential threats to the validity of the trials' results. Copyright © 2013 by World Health Organization. | Community-based research; Quality assurance; Trial monitoring | antibiotic agent; advisory committee; apparent life threatening event; article; Bangladesh; clinical assessment; clinical protocol; data base; ethical decision making; funding; human; information processing; internal validity; medical education; monitoring; patient safety; priority journal; protocol compliance; quality control; randomized controlled trial (topic); refresher course; standardization; strategic planning; treatment outcome | World Health Organization |
| 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-s2.0-84856399864 | 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-s2.0-54449101622 | 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 |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84904400786 | Evaluation of economic costs of a measles outbreak and outbreak response activities in Keffa Zone, Ethiopia | Wallace A.S., Masresha B.G., Grant G., Goodson J.L., Birhane H., Abraham M., Endailalu T.B., Letamo Y., Petu A., Vijayaraghavan M. | 2014 | Vaccine | 32 | 35 | 10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.06.035 | Global Immunization Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-E05, Atlanta, GA 30329, United States; Immunization and Vaccines Development Programme, World Health Organization, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Immunization and Vaccines Development Programme, Regional Office for Africa, World Health Organization, Congo; General Policy, Planning and Finance Directorate, Federal Ministry of Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Operations Research Directorate, Regional Ministry of Health, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region, Awasa, Ethiopia | Wallace, A.S., Global Immunization Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-E05, Atlanta, GA 30329, United States; Masresha, B.G., Immunization and Vaccines Development Programme, Regional Office for Africa, World Health Organization, Congo; Grant, G., Immunization and Vaccines Development Programme, World Health Organization, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Goodson, J.L., Global Immunization Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-E05, Atlanta, GA 30329, United States; Birhane, H., General Policy, Planning and Finance Directorate, Federal Ministry of Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Abraham, M., Immunization and Vaccines Development Programme, World Health Organization, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Endailalu, T.B., General Policy, Planning and Finance Directorate, Federal Ministry of Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Letamo, Y., Operations Research Directorate, Regional Ministry of Health, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region, Awasa, Ethiopia; Petu, A., Immunization and Vaccines Development Programme, Regional Office for Africa, World Health Organization, Congo; Vijayaraghavan, M., Global Immunization Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-E05, Atlanta, GA 30329, United States | Objective: To estimate the economic impact of a measles outbreak and response activities that occurred in Keffa Zone, Ethiopia with 5257 reported cases during October 1, 2011-April 8, 2012, using the health sector and household perspectives. Methods: We collected cost input data through interviews and record reviews with government and partner agency staff and through a survey of 100 measles cases-patients and their caretakers. We used cost input data to estimate the financial and opportunity costs of the following outbreak and response activities: investigation, treatment, case management, active surveillance, immunization campaigns, and immunization system strengthening. Findings: The economic cost of the outbreak and response was 758,869 United States dollars (US$), including the opportunity cost of US$327,545 (US$62.31/case) and financial cost of US$431,324 (US$82.05/case). Health sector costs, including the immunization campaign (US$72.29/case), accounted for 80% of the economic cost. Household economic cost was US$29.18/case, equal to 6% of the household median annual income. 92% of financial costs were covered by partner agencies. Conclusion: The economic cost of the measles outbreak was substantial when compared to household income and health sector expenditures. Improvement in two-dose measles vaccination coverage above 95% would both reduce measles incidence and save considerable outbreak-associated costs to both the health sector and households. © 2014. | Economic; Measles; Outbreak | cotrimoxazole; measles vaccine; oral rehydration solution; retinol; tetracycline; adolescent; article; case management; controlled study; disease surveillance; economic evaluation; epidemic; Ethiopia; financial management; government; health care; health care cost; health care facility; household; human; income; interview; major clinical study; measles; measles vaccination; medical record review; medical staff; multicenter study; oral rehydration therapy; priority journal; United States; child; economics; epidemic; female; health care cost; infant; infection control; male; measles; newborn; preschool child; procedures; Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Communicable Disease Control; Disease Outbreaks; Ethiopia; Female; Health Care Costs; Health Expenditures; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Measles | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84961330983 | Evaluation of a point-of-care blood test for identification of ebola virus disease at ebola holding units, western area, Sierra Leone, January to February 2015 | Walker N.F., Brown C.S., Youkee D., Baker P., Williams N., Kalawa A., Russell K., Samba A.F., Bentley N., Koroma F., King M.B., Parker B.E., Thompson M., Boyles T., Healey B., Kargbo B., Bash-Taqi D., Simpson A.J., Kamara A., Kamara T.B., Lado M., Johnson | 2015 | Eurosurveillance | 20 | 12 | None | King’s Sierra Leone Partnership, King’s Centre for Global Health, King’s College London, King’s Health Partners, London, United Kingdom; Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunity, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Clinical Infectious Diseases Research Initiative, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospital, London, United Kingdom; College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, Freetown, Sierra Leone; Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory, Public Health England, Salisbury, United Kingdom; Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Sierra Leone; Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Walker, N.F., King’s Sierra Leone Partnership, King’s Centre for Global Health, King’s College London, King’s Health Partners, London, United Kingdom, Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunity, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom, Clinical Infectious Diseases Research Initiative, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Brown, C.S., King’s Sierra Leone Partnership, King’s Centre for Global Health, King’s College London, King’s Health Partners, London, United Kingdom, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Youkee, D., King’s Sierra Leone Partnership, King’s Centre for Global Health, King’s College London, King’s Health Partners, London, United Kingdom; Baker, P., King’s Sierra Leone Partnership, King’s Centre for Global Health, King’s College London, King’s Health Partners, London, United Kingdom; Williams, N., College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, Freetown, Sierra Leone; Kalawa, A., College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, Freetown, Sierra Leone; Russell, K., Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory, Public Health England, Salisbury, United Kingdom; Samba, A.F., Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Sierra Leone; Bentley, N., Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory, Public Health England, Salisbury, United Kingdom; Koroma, F., Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Sierra Leone; King, M.B., Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Sierra Leone; Parker, B.E., Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Sierra Leone; Thompson, M., Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Sierra Leone; Boyles, T., King’s Sierra Leone Partnership, King’s Centre for Global Health, King’s College London, King’s Health Partners, London, United Kingdom, Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Healey, B., King’s Sierra Leone Partnership, King’s Centre for Global Health, King’s College London, King’s Health Partners, London, United Kingdom; Kargbo, B., Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Sierra Leone; Bash-Taqi, D., Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Sierra Leone; Simpson, A.J., Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory, Public Health England, Salisbury, United Kingdom; Kamara, A., Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Sierra Leone; Kamara, T.B., Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Sierra Leone; Lado, M., King’s Sierra Leone Partnership, King’s Centre for Global Health, King’s College London, King’s Health Partners, London, United Kingdom; Johnson, O., King’s Sierra Leone Partnership, King’s Centre for Global Health, King’s College London, King’s Health Partners, London, United Kingdom; Brooks, T., Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory, Public Health England, Salisbury, United Kingdom | Current Ebola virus disease (EVD) diagnosis relies on reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) technology, requiring skilled laboratory personnel and technical infrastructure. Lack of laboratory diagnostic capacity has led to diagnostic delays in the current West African EVD outbreak of 2014 and 2015, compromising outbreak control. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of the EVD bedside rapid diagnostic antigen test (RDT) developed by the United Kingdom’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, compared with Ebola virus RT-PCR, in an operational setting for EVD diagnosis of suspected cases admitted to Ebola holding units in the Western Area of Sierra Leone. From 22 January to 16 February 2015, 138 participants were enrolled. EVD prevalence was 11.5%. All EVD cases were identified by a positive RDT with a test line score of 6 or more, giving a sensitivity of 100% (95% confidence interval (CI): 78.2–100). The corresponding specificity was high (96.6%, 95% CI: 91.3–99.1). The positive and negative predictive values for the population prevalence were 79.0% (95% CI: 54.4–93.8) and 100% (95% CI: 96.7–100), respectively. These results, if confirmed in a larger study, suggest that this RDT could be used as a ‘rule-out’ screening test for EVD to improve rapid case identification and resource allocation. © 2015, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). All rights reserved. | None | adult; Article; diagnostic accuracy; diagnostic procedure; diagnostic test accuracy study; Ebola hemorrhagic fever; exposure; female; human; major clinical study; male; medical documentation; parasite prevalence; point of care testing; rapid diagnostic antigen test; reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; risk assessment; screening test; sensitivity and specificity; vein puncture | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-58149472211 | Performance of planted indigenous trees, Acacia galpinii and Faidherbia albida, in semi-arid Botswana | Walker K.P., Theron J.M., Moseki B. | 2008 | Southern Forests | 70 | 3 | 10.2989/SF.2008.70.3.3.664 | Malotwana Silvopastoral Farm, PO Box 2386, Mochudi, Botswana; Department of Forest and Wood Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Botswana, Private Bag, UB 00704 Gaborone, Botswana | Walker, K.P., Malotwana Silvopastoral Farm, PO Box 2386, Mochudi, Botswana; Theron, J.M., Department of Forest and Wood Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Moseki, B., Department of Biological Sciences, University of Botswana, Private Bag, UB 00704 Gaborone, Botswana | Two popular indigenous browse, shade and poles trees, Acacia galpinii and Faidherbia albida, were evaluated for survival and growth on-farm in Malotwana, Botswana, with a mean annual rainfall of 450 mm. The trial was a two species x three spacing factorial experiment in a randomised complete block design replicated five times. The three spacings were 5 m x 5 m, 6.3 m x 5 m and 8.3 m x 5 m. The study was conducted over 6.5 years. The results showed that A. galpinii is a promising poles, browse and shade species, while F. albida exhibited high mortality (67%) at 4.5 years (after below-average rainfall). The crown width of A. galpinii ranged from 5.86 ± 0.24 m at high density to 6.56 ± 0.25 m in low-density plots. The difference in crown width among densities was significant (p = 0.0406). Diameter at breast height ranged between 10.4 ± 0.68 cm at high density to 12.5 ± 0.64 cm in low-density plantings and was significantly different among spacings (p = 0.0003). Copyright © NISC Pty Ltd. | Acacia galpinii; Faidherbia albida; Indigenous trees | Acacia; Acacia galpinii; Faidherbia albida | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84953369397 | Mixed methods evaluation of targeted selective anthelmintic treatment by resource-poor smallholder goat farmers in Botswana | Walker J.G., Ofithile M., Tavolaro F.M., van Wyk J.A., Evans K., Morgan E.R. | 2015 | Veterinary Parasitology | 214 | 42371 | 10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.10.006 | School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, United Kingdom; Cabot Institute, University of Bristol, United Kingdom; Elephants for Africa, Maun, Botswana; Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, South Africa; School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, North Somerset, United Kingdom | Walker, J.G., School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, United Kingdom, Cabot Institute, University of Bristol, United Kingdom, Elephants for Africa, Maun, Botswana; Ofithile, M., Elephants for Africa, Maun, Botswana; Tavolaro, F.M., Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, South Africa, School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, North Somerset, United Kingdom; van Wyk, J.A., Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, South Africa; Evans, K., School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, United Kingdom, Elephants for Africa, Maun, Botswana; Morgan, E.R., Cabot Institute, University of Bristol, United Kingdom, School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, North Somerset, United Kingdom | Due to the threat of anthelmintic resistance, livestock farmers worldwide are encouraged to selectively apply treatments against gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs). Targeted selective treatment (TST) of individual animals would be especially useful for smallholder farmers in low-income economies, where cost-effective and sustainable intervention strategies will improve livestock productivity and food security. Supporting research has focused mainly on refining technical indicators for treatment, and much less on factors influencing uptake and effectiveness. We used a mixed method approach, whereby qualitative and quantitative approaches are combined, to develop, implement and validate a TST system for GINs in small ruminants, most commonly goats, among smallholder farmers in the Makgadikgadi Pans region of Botswana, and to seek better understanding of system performance within a cultural context. After the first six months of the study, 42 out of 47 enrolled farmers were followed up; 52% had monitored their animals using the taught inspection criteria and 26% applied TST during this phase. Uptake level showed little correlation with farmer characteristics, such as literacy and size of farm. Herd health significantly improved in those herds where anthelmintic treatment was applied: anaemia, as assessed using the five-point FAMACHA© scale, was 0.44-0.69 points better (95% confidence interval) and body condition score was 0.18-0.36 points better (95% C.I., five-point scale) in treated compared with untreated herds. Only targeting individuals in greatest need led to similar health improvements compared to treating the entire herd, leading to dose savings ranging from 36% to 97%. This study demonstrates that TST against nematodes can be implemented effectively by resource-poor farmers using a community-led approach. The use of mixed methods provides a promising system to integrate technical and social aspects of TST programmes for maximum uptake and effect. © 2015 The Authors. | FAMACHA©; Goats; Livestock management; Nematodes; Participatory epidemiology; Targeted selective treatment | None | 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 |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78650709477 | The clinical impact and cost-effectiveness of routine, voluntary HIV screening in South Africa | Walensky R.P., Wood R., Fofana M.O., Martinson N.A., Losina E., April M.D., Bassett I.V., Morris B.L., Freedberg K.A., Paltiel A.D. | 2011 | Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes | 56 | 1 | 10.1097/QAI.0b013e3181fb8f24 | Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, United States; General Medicine, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, United States; Division of Infectious Disease, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard University Center for AIDS Research, United States; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard University Center for AIDS Research, United States; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States; Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States; Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States | Walensky, R.P., Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, United States, General Medicine, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, United States, Division of Infectious Disease, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard University Center for AIDS Research, United States, Harvard Medical School, 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; Fofana, M.O., General Medicine, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, United States; Martinson, N.A., School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States, Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Johannesburg, South Africa; Losina, E., Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard University Center for AIDS Research, United States, Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States; April, M.D., Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Bassett, I.V., Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, United States, General Medicine, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, United States, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Morris, B.L., General Medicine, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, United States; Freedberg, K.A., Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, United States, General Medicine, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, United States, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States, Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Paltiel, A.D., Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States | Background:: Although 900,000 HIV-infected South Africans receive antiretroviral therapy, the majority of South Africans with HIV remain undiagnosed. Methods: We use a published simulation model of HIV case detection and treatment to examine 3 HIV screening scenarios, in addition to current practice as follows: (1) one-time; (2) every 5 years; and (3) annually. South African model input data include the following: 16.9% HIV prevalence, 1.3% annual incidence, 49% test acceptance rate, HIV testing costs of $6.49/patient, and a 47% linkage-to-care rate (including 2 sequential antiretroviral therapy regimens) for identified cases. Outcomes include life expectancy, direct medical costs, and incremental cost-effectiveness. Results: HIV screening one-time, every 5 years, and annually increase HIV-infected quality-adjusted life expectancy (mean age 33 years) from 180.6 months (current practice) to 184.9, 187.6, and 197.2 months. The incremental cost-effectiveness of one-time screening is dominated by screening every 5 years. Screening every 5 years and annually each have incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of $1570/quality-adjusted life year and $1720/quality-adjusted life year. Screening annually is very cost-effective even in settings with the lowest incidence/prevalence, with test acceptance and linkage rates both as low as 20%, or when accounting for a stigma impact at least four-fold that of the base case. Conclusions: In South Africa, annual voluntary HIV screening offers substantial clinical benefit and is very cost-effective, even with highly constrained access to care and treatment. © 2010 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. | None | antiretrovirus agent; nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor; proteinase inhibitor; adult; article; clinical article; cost benefit analysis; cost effectiveness analysis; female; health care access; health care cost; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; Human immunodeficiency virus prevalence; incidence; life expectancy; male; priority journal; quality adjusted life year; screening; simulation; South Africa; treatment outcome; Adult; AIDS Serodiagnosis; Anti-HIV Agents; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Costs and Cost Analysis; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; HIV Infections; Humans; Life Expectancy; Mass Screening; Models, Theoretical; Social Stigma; South Africa; Time Factors; Voluntary Programs | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-43049100345 | Scaling up antiretroviral therapy in South Africa: The impact of speed on survival | Walensky R.P., Wood R., Weinstein M.C., Martinson N.A., Losina E., Fofana M.O., Goldie S.J., Divi N., Yazdanpanah Y., Wang B., Paltiel A.D., Freedberg K.A. | 2008 | Journal of Infectious Diseases | 197 | 9 | 10.1086/587184 | Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; 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; Departments of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States; Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States; Desmond Tutu Research Center, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Wits Health Consortium, Johannesburg, South Africa; Service Universitaire des Maladies Infectieuses et du Voyageur, Lille, France; Centre Hospitalier de Tourcoing, EA 2694, Faculté de Médecine de Lille, Lille, France; Laboratoire de Recherches Économiques et Sociales, CNRS URA 362, Lille, France; Division of General Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 50 Staniford Street, Boston, MA 02114, United States | Walensky, R.P., Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States, Center for AIDS Research, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States, Division of General Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 50 Staniford Street, Boston, MA 02114, United States; Wood, R., Desmond Tutu Research Center, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Weinstein, M.C., Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Martinson, N.A., School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States, Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Wits Health Consortium, Johannesburg, South Africa; Losina, E., Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States, Center for AIDS Research, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States, Departments of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Fofana, M.O., Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Goldie, S.J., Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Divi, N., Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Yazdanpanah, Y., Service Universitaire des Maladies Infectieuses et du Voyageur, Lille, France, Centre Hospitalier de Tourcoing, EA 2694, Faculté de Médecine de Lille, Lille, France, Laboratoire de Recherches Économiques et Sociales, CNRS URA 362, Lille, France; Wang, B., Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States, Center for AIDS Research, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Paltiel, A.D., Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States; Freedberg, K.A., Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States, 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, Departments of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States | Background. Only 33% of eligible human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients in South Africa receive antiretroviral therapy (ART). We sought to estimate the impact of alternative ART scale-up scenarios on patient outcomes from 2007-2012. Methods. Using a simulation model of HIV infection with South African data, we projected HIV-associated mortality with and without effective ART for an adult cohort in need of therapy (2007) and for adults who became eligible for treatment (2008-2012). We compared 5 scale-up scenarios: (1) zero growth, with a total of 100,000 new treatment slots; (2) constant growth, with 600,000; (3) moderate growth, with 2.1 million; (4) rapid growth, with 2.4 million); and (5) full capacity, with 3.2 million. Results. Our projections showed that by 2011, the rapid growth scenario fully met the South African need for ART; by 2012, the moderate scenario met 97% of the need, but the zero and constant growth scenarios met only 28% and 52% of the need, respectively. The latter scenarios resulted in 364,000 and 831,000 people alive and on ART in 2012. From 2007 to 2012, cumulative deaths in South Africa ranged from 2.5 million under the zero growth scenario to 1.2 million under the rapid growth scenario. Conclusions. Alternative ART scale-up scenarios in South Africa will lead to differences in the death rate that amount to more than 1.2 million deaths by 2012. More rapid scale-up remains critically important. © 2008 by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. | None | cotrimoxazole; proteinase inhibitor; ritonavir; RNA directed DNA polymerase inhibitor; article; highly active antiretroviral therapy; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; mortality; priority journal; simulation; South Africa; survival rate; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Adult; Anti-Retroviral Agents; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Cohort Studies; HIV Infections; Humans; Models, Biological; South Africa | 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-s2.0-84936755032 | 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 |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77950178352 | On biodiversity impact assessment: The rationale, conceptual challenges and implications for future EIA | Wale E., Yalew A. | 2010 | Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal | 28 | 1 | 10.3152/146155110X492326 | Department of Agricultural Economics, School of Agricultural Sciences and Agribusiness (SASA), P Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Asterstraat 85, 6708 DK Wageningen, Netherlands | Wale, E., Department of Agricultural Economics, School of Agricultural Sciences and Agribusiness (SASA), P Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Yalew, A., Asterstraat 85, 6708 DK Wageningen, Netherlands | This paper highlights the need for and the conceptual challenges/issues in exercising biodiversity impact assessment (BIA), a subject hardly considered in most environmental impact assessment (EIA) activities so far. The paper attempts to lay the foundation for how future assessments can address biodiversity impacts more explicitly. The paper shows how development interventions and projects meant to take care of peoples' livelihoods are impacting on biodiversity. It presents the possible directions BIA has to focus in integrating externalities to inform decision making on the feasibility of development interventions. This is in essence to prevent, reduce and offset any adverse impacts (on biodiversity) of future development interventions. Addressing biodiversity valuation issues and identifying the appropriate methods to quantify the impacts will remain imperative in future endeavours to evaluate biodiversity impacts. © IAIA 2010. | Biodiversity; Biodiversity impact assessment; EIA | biodiversity; decision making; environmental impact assessment; project assessment | 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-s2.0-84924705895 | Behaviour and ecological impacts of termites: Fecundity investigations in mounds | Wako S.E. | 2015 | Ekologia Bratislava | 34 | 1 | 10.1515/eko-2015-0008 | Department of Biology Education, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 6767, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Wako, S.E., Department of Biology Education, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 6767, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | A radical study was conducted on the behaviour and ecological impacts of termites in Haru District of Western Oromia, Ethiopia. It was aimed at investigating the natural behaviour, fecundity in mounds, ecological impacts and recommending possible solutions to termite problems. Four mounds in different sites were vertically dug down to display the profile of the queen, soldiers, workers, number of laid eggs, nymphs and colonies of termites. On an average, termite queens of the study site may lay about 25 eggs per minute, 36,000 eggs per day and 13,140,000 eggs annually. The fourth queen was unearthed to study the structure, size, number of ovaries and fecundity. It was examined that the death of a queen does not affect the colony, because four small queens are formed and one of them becomes the queen of queens and replaced the dead queen promptly. Accordingly, termites are found to be one of the most destructive agents of our ecosystems and their management requests careful and biological control methods. As a result, the negative effect of termites outweighs the positive effect of termites so that minimising the population size is important for human beings. | Alates; Cast; Colony; Queen; Red ants and royal cell | behavioral ecology; biological control; ecological impact; ecosystem management; fecundity; population size; termite; Ethiopia; Oromia; Formicidae; Isoptera | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84900401297 | Factors affecting performance in the kenya certificate of primary education a case of kirinyaga west district Kenya | Wakori K.S. | 2014 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 5 | 5 SPEC. ISSUE | 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n5p | School of Education, Mount Kenya University, Kenya | Wakori, K.S., School of Education, Mount Kenya University, Kenya | This study covers the main factors affecting performances of Kenya certificate of Primary Education in Kirinyaga west district, Kirinyaga County. Eshiwan, (1993) found that the school based factors that influence performance of pupils include availability of teaching and learning materials, school and class sizes, time utilization, syllabus coverage and the efficiency of the school administration. Ngaroga (2007) agrees that school physical facilities such as classroom, laboratories, desks and books have a direct bearing on good performance among student in developing countries. This research critically examined school management, teaching and learning resources, teacher-pupil ratio and syllabus coverage which has direct bearing on how pupils perform in K.C.P.E. The study was conducted in twelve sampled public primary schools in Kirinyaga West District. Comparison of annual K.C.P.E results was done in order to identify the trends of the past five years. This study borrowed alot from famous educationists and psychologists like J.B Watson, Lefranciois (1994) and Mbiti M. David (1984). The performance of K.C.P.E is seen to depend mainly on how an efficient school Administration is able to allocate resources and ensure a thorough coverage of subject syllabus. Survey method of collecting quantitative and qualitative data was used. Kirinyaga West District has a population of 41 public primary schools. Twelve public primary schools were stratified and randomly selected for the study. The data was collected through questionnaires, document analysis, interviews and discussions. The data then was analyzed and presented in tables, pie charts and bar graphs while references are provided. The study found out that teaching and learning materials and teachers were not adequate. School management practices were wanting and coverage of syllabus was not thorough. Lack of capacity among school management committee was a major challenge. The study recommend that more teaching and learning materials be provided, employment of additional teachers and capacity building be enhanced to school management; supervision of school be intensified and parents be fully involved in educational programmes. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-36148946794 | The impact of land transformation on breeding Blue Swallows Hirundo atrocaerulea Sundevall, in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa | Wakelin J., Hill T.R. | 2007 | Journal for Nature Conservation | 15 | 4 | 10.1016/j.jnc.2007.05.003 | Scientific Services, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, P.O. Box 13053, Cascades 3202, South Africa; Discipline of Geography, School of Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa | Wakelin, J., Scientific Services, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, P.O. Box 13053, Cascades 3202, South Africa; Hill, T.R., Discipline of Geography, School of Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa | The Blue Swallow is confined to the grassland component of the mistbelt region of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, a habitat well suited to intensive agriculture and especially afforestation, due to the high rainfall and deep well-drained soils. The species is listed as amongst the top five Critically Endangered bird species in South Africa and the numbers are dramatically declining. Any further fragmentation of its habitat may well lead to the local extinction of the Blue Swallow. It is in response to these sentiments that this paper investigates the potential influence of land use change, identifies what those changes have been over a 20-year epoch and what the impact on the persistence of Blue Swallow nesting sites has been. To achieve this, the extent and nature of land transformation, adjacent to past and current Blue Swallow nesting sites on five separate study sites in KwaZulu-Natal was investigated, using a Geographical Information System (GIS) as a means of recording the levels of transformation and the change in land use over time. While sample sizes were limited, as a result of dealing with a Critically Endangered species, the data suggest that nest density was positively related to changes in grassland and arable land uses and negatively related to an increase in plantation forestry. A decrease of 55% in active Blue Swallow nest sites coincided with a measured decline in grassland of 46% for the period 1981-2000. It is clear that the current rate of loss of Blue Swallow breeding pairs is critical and without the conservation of primary grassland habitat, the Blue Swallow is heading towards extinction in KwaZulu-Natal. It is recommended that artificial nest site provision and the conservation and sustainable management of the mistbelt grassland biome, both as a vegetation unit worthy of conserving in its own right and in collaboration with surrounding dependant communities, is necessary for the recovery of this charismatic, indicator species. © 2007. | Conservation; Critically Endangered; Geographical Information Systems; Land transformation; Mistbelt grasslands | afforestation; breeding; endangered species; GIS; habitat fragmentation; intensive agriculture; land use change; local extinction; nesting; passerine; plantation forestry; Africa; KwaZulu-Natal; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Aves; Hirundinidae; Hirundo atrocaerulea | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-74349116766 | Seasonal variation assessment of impact of industrial effluents on physicochemical parameters of surface water of River Challawa, Kano, Nigeria | Wakawa R.J., Uzairu A., Kagbu J.A., Balarabe M.L. | 2010 | Toxicological and Environmental Chemistry | 92 | 1 | 10.1080/02772240902927528 | Department of Chemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Department of Biological Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria | Wakawa, R.J., Department of Chemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Uzairu, A., Department of Chemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Kagbu, J.A., Department of Chemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Balarabe, M.L., Department of Biological Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria | The physicochemical characteristics of the River Challawa in the Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State were studied across four seasons (warm and dry, cold and dry, hot and dry, and warm and wet seasons) between October 2006 and August 2008. Physicochemical parameters like pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDSs), total suspended solids (TSS), alkalinity, turbidity, hardness, dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia, chloride, nitrate, sulfate, and phosphate were analyzed and compared with standard permissible limits. The mean range of parameters determined across the seasons revealed: 8.36-8.59 for pH; 209.57-335.27 μS cm-1 for EC; 134.05-208.5 mg L-1 for TDS; 182.4-273.45 mg L-1 for TSS; 125.3-276.07 mg L-1 for hardness; 16.11-40 mg L-1 of CaCO3 for alkalinity; 2.76-3.78 mg L-1 for DO; 1.9-43.33 mg L-1 for BOD; 231.67-310.06 mg L-1 for COD; 221.67-441.67 mg L-1 for turbidity; 17.98-35.89 mg L-1 for chloride; 5.12-8.89 mg L-1 for nitrate; 37-558.83 mg L-1 for sulfate; and 0.47-0.81 mg L-1 for phosphate. Data showed that all parameters determined were significantly different among the various sampled sites across seasons. With the exception of COD, EC, and phosphate, all other parameters determined were within the WHO and USPH standard limits. © 2010 Taylor & Francis. | Assessment; Challawa; Seasonal; Sediment quality | Biological oxygen demand; Electrical conductivity; Industrial effluent; Local government areas; Nigeria; Physicochemical characteristics; Physicochemical parameters; Sampled sites; Seasonal variation; Sediment quality; Total dissolved solids; Total suspended solids; Wet season; Alkalinity; Biochemical oxygen demand; Chlorine compounds; Dissolution; Dissolved oxygen sensors; Effluents; Electric conductivity measurement; Electric conductivity of solids; Hardness; pH effects; Sedimentology; Sewage; Turbidity; Dissolved oxygen; electrical conductivity; hydrochemistry; industrial waste; pH; physicochemical property; sampling; seasonal variation; sediment analysis; surface water; turbidity; Challawa River; Kano [Nigeria]; Nigeria | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84907560484 | The impact of comorbid clinical depression on the health-related quality of life of adults on highly active antiretroviral therapy in Maiduguri, northeastern Nigeria | Wakawa I.A., Said J.M., Abba W.M., Shehu S., Rabbebe I.B., Beida O. | 2014 | Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine | 36 | 4 | 10.4103/0253-7176.140731 | Department of Mental Health, College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Bama Road, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria; Departments of Research and Training, Clinical Services, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Maiduguri, Nigeria; Department of Ps | Wakawa, I.A., Department of Mental Health, College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Bama Road, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria; Said, J.M., Departments of Research and Training, Clinical Services, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Maiduguri, Nigeria; Abba, W.M., Department of Mental Health, College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Bama Road, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria; Shehu, S., Department of Psychiatry, Bayero University Kano, Kano, Nigeria; Rabbebe, I.B., Clinical Services, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Maiduguri, Nigeria; Beida, O., Clinical Services, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Maiduguri, Nigeria | Background: Globally, depression compromises the quality of life (QOL) of people suffering from it. We assessed the impact of comorbid depression on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of adults on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in northeastern Nigeria in this study. Materials and Methods: Three hundred and three adults on HAART were recruited for this study from the ART clinic of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital in northeastern Nigeria. The depressive disorder module of the Composite international diagnostic interview (CIDI version 3.0) and the WHO quality of life instrument (WHOQOL-BREF) were used for the evaluation of depression and quality of life respectively. Results: The prevalence of depression in this study was 19.8%. The depressed respondents rated their HRQOL poorer than their nondepressed counterparts on the physical, psychological, social relationships and environmental domains as well as the global outcome, as shown by these statistically significant findings (T = 9.739, P = <0.001), (T = 8.972, P = <0.001), (T = 6.533, P = <0.001), (T = 8.913, P = <0.001), and (T = 10.018, P = <0.001), respectively. Female gender, CD4 counts <200/mm 3 and diagnosis of depression were significant predictors poor QOL. Conclusion: Depression has a negative impact on the QOL of the respondents. We therefore recommend incorporation of the routine screening of this important psychiatric comorbidity into the care of this vulnerable group in order to optimize patient care. | Comorbid depression; highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART); northeastern Nigeria | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79953252586 | Formulation development and in vitro evaluation of didanosine-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers for the potential treatment of AIDS dementia complex | Wa Kasongo K., Shegokar R., Müller R.H., Walker R.B. | 2011 | Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy | 37 | 4 | 10.3109/03639045.2010.516264 | Department of Pharmaceutics, Biopharmaceutics and NutriCosmetics, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Division of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa | Wa Kasongo, K., Department of Pharmaceutics, Biopharmaceutics and NutriCosmetics, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany, Division of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa; Shegokar, R., Department of Pharmaceutics, Biopharmaceutics and NutriCosmetics, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Müller, R.H., Department of Pharmaceutics, Biopharmaceutics and NutriCosmetics, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Walker, R.B., Division of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa | The purpose of this article was to investigate the feasibility of incorporating didanosine (DDI) into nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) for potential treatment of AIDS dementia complex. Aqueous DDI-free and DDI-loaded NLC were manufactured using hot high-pressure homogenization. The lipid matrix contained a mixture of Precirol® ATO 5 and Transcutol® HP. Photon correlation spectroscopy revealed that the mean particle size for all formulations was below 250 nm with narrow polydispersity indices. In addition, the d99% values for all formulations determined using laser diffractometry were below 400 nm with the span values ranging from 0.84 to 1.0. The zeta potential values ranged from -18.4 to -11.4 mV and the encapsulation efficiency of NLC for DDI ranged from 33.02% to 78.34%. These parameters remained relatively constant for all formulations tested following storage for 2 months at 25°C indicating that all the formulations were relatively stable. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed a decrease in the degree of crystallinity of NLC in all formulations developed relative to the bulk lipid material. In addition, wide-angle X-ray scattering showed that NLC in all formulations tested existed in a single β-modification form and that DDI that had been incorporated into the NLC appeared to be molecularly dispersed in the lipid matrices. Images of the NLC formulations obtained using transmission electron microscopy revealed that all formulations contained a mixture of spherical and nonspherical particles irrespective of the amount of DDI that was added during the manufacture of the formulations. © 2011 Informa UK, Ltd. | Brain dementia complex; didanosine; nanostructured lipid carriers; polymorphism and crystallinity; thermal stability | didanosine; diethylene glycol monoethyl ether; drug carrier; glycerol palmitostearate; lipid; nanomaterial; article; crystal structure; differential scanning calorimetry; drug formulation; drug screening; drug structure; encapsulation; HIV associated dementia; in vitro study; laser diffraction; particle size; photon correlation spectroscopy; physical parameters; radiation scattering; temperature; transmission electron microscopy; zeta potential; AIDS Dementia Complex; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; Crystallization; Didanosine; Drug Carriers; Humans; Lipids; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Nanostructures; Pressure | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-70849110143 | Impact of RTS,S/AS02A and RTS,S/AS01B on genotypes of P. falciparum in adults participating in a malaria vaccine clinical trial | Waitumbi J.N., Anyona S.B., Hunja C.W., Kifude C.M., Polhemus M.E., Walsh D.S., Ockenhouse C.F., Heppner Jr. D.G., Leach A., Lievens M., Ballou W.R., Cohen J.D., Sutherland C.J. | 2009 | PLoS ONE | 4 | 11 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0007849 | Walter Reed Project, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya; Division of Malaria Vaccine Development, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), Silver Spring, MD, United States; GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, Rixensart, Belgium; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Infectious Diseases Development, Global Health Division, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA, United States | Waitumbi, J.N., Walter Reed Project, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya; Anyona, S.B., Walter Reed Project, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya; Hunja, C.W., Walter Reed Project, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya; Kifude, C.M., Walter Reed Project, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya; Polhemus, M.E., Walter Reed Project, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya; Walsh, D.S., Walter Reed Project, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya; Ockenhouse, C.F., Division of Malaria Vaccine Development, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), Silver Spring, MD, United States; Heppner Jr., D.G., Division of Malaria Vaccine Development, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), Silver Spring, MD, United States; Leach, A., GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, Rixensart, Belgium; Lievens, M., GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, Rixensart, Belgium; Ballou, W.R., GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, Rixensart, Belgium, Infectious Diseases Development, Global Health Division, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA, United States; Cohen, J.D., GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, Rixensart, Belgium; Sutherland, C.J., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom | Objective: RTS,S, a candidate vaccine for malaria, is a recombinant protein expressed in yeast containing part of the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) sequence of 3D7 strain of Plasmodium falciparum linked to the hepatitis B surface antigen in a hybrid protein. The RTS,S antigen is formulated with GSK Biologicals' proprietary Adjuvant Systems AS02A or AS01B. A recent trial of the RTS,S/AS02A and RTS,S/AS01B vaccines evaluated safety, immunogenicity and impact on the development of parasitemia of the two formulations. Parasite isolates from this study were used to determine the molecular impact of RTS,S/AS02A and RTS,S/ AS01B on the multiplicity of infection (MOI) and the csp allelic characteristics of subsequent parasitemias. Design: The distribution of csp sequences and the MOI of the infecting strains were examined at baseline and in breakthrough infections from vaccinated individuals and from those receiving a non-malarial vaccine. Setting: The study was conducted in Kombewa District, western Kenya. Participants: Semi-immune adults from the three study arms provided isolates at baseline and during break-through infections. Outcome: Parasite isolates used for determining MOI and divergence of csp T cell-epitopes were 191 at baseline and 87 from break-through infections. Results: Grouping recipients of RTS,S/AS01A and RTS,S/AS02B together, vaccine recipients identified as parasite-positive by microscopy contained significantly fewer parasite genotypes than recipients of the rabies vaccine comparator (median in pooled RTS,S groups: 3 versus 4 in controls, P = 0.0313). When analyzed separately, parasitaemic individuals in the RTS,S/ AS01B group, but not the RTS,S/AS02A group, were found to have significantly fewer genotypes than the comparator group. Two individual amino acids found in the vaccine construct (Q339 in Th2R and D371 in Th3R) were observed to differ in incidence between vaccine and comparator groups but in different directions; parasites harboring Q339 were less common among pooled RTS,S/AS vaccine recipients than among recipients of rabies vaccine, whereas parasites with D371 were more common among the RTS,S/AS groups. Conclusions: It is concluded that both RTS,S/AS vaccines reduce multiplicity of infection. Our results do not support the hypothesis that RTS,S/AS vaccines elicit preferential effects against pfcsp alleles with sequence similarity to the 3D7 pfcsp sequence employed in the vaccine construct. | None | epitope; immunological adjuvant; malaria vaccine; rabies vaccine; RTS,S plus ASO2A vaccine; RTS,S plus ASO2B vaccine; unclassified drug; epitope; malaria vaccine; RTS,S AS01B vaccine; RTS,S AS02A vaccine; RTS,S-AS01B vaccine; RTS,S-AS02A vaccine; article; clinical trial; controlled study; drug formulation; drug safety; gene locus; genotype; haplotype; human; immunogenicity; Kenya; major clinical study; malaria; parasite isolation; parasitemia; Plasmodium falciparum; Th2 cell; adolescent; adult; allele; chemistry; controlled clinical trial; DNA sequence; female; genetic polymorphism; genetics; malaria; male; metabolism; parasitology; phase 2 clinical trial; Plasmodium falciparum; randomized controlled trial; Plasmodium falciparum; Adolescent; Adult; Alleles; Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; Female; Genotype; Haplotypes; Humans; Malaria; Malaria Vaccines; Male; Plasmodium falciparum; Polymorphism, Genetic; Sequence Analysis, DNA | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84926486534 | Effect of multi-enzyme mixtures on performance and nutrient utilization in broilers fed diets containing different types of cereals and industrial by-products | Waititu S.M., Rogiewicz A., Slominski B.A., Maina J.G., Ochanda J.O., Nyachoti C.M. | 2014 | Journal of Poultry Science | 51 | 4 | 10.2141/jpsa.0130213 | Center for Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, University of Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Animal Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada; Department of Animal Production, University of Nairobi, Kenya | Waititu, S.M., Department of Animal Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada; Rogiewicz, A., Department of Animal Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada; Slominski, B.A., Department of Animal Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada; Maina, J.G., Department of Animal Production, University of Nairobi, Kenya; Ochanda, J.O., Center for Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, University of Nairobi, Kenya; Nyachoti, C.M., Department of Animal Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada | The effect of 3 multi-enzyme mixtures (MEM), A, B and C, having equivalent phytase activities but with different activities of carbohydrases (except invertase) and protease on growth performance and nutrient utilization in broiler chickens fed diets containing different types of cereals and industrial by-products was investigated. Day-old broiler chicks (N＝400) were distributed in a completely randomized design, with8 treatments of 10 replicates eac Two control diets, one consisted of wheat, corn, soybean meal, canola meal and wheat-corn distillers dried grains with solubles (WCS), and one withsorgum, cottonseed meal, sunflower meal and brewer's dried grains (SCS) were formulated and fed to birds without or with one of the 3 MEM. Feed intake (FI) and body weight gain (BWG) were determined weekly. On day 20 excreta samples were collected for determination of total tract apparent retention (TTAR) of nutrients and nitrogen corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn). On day 22, eight birds per treatment were killed by cervical dislocation to collect jejunal and ileal digesta for determination of viscosity and apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of nutrients, respectively. Diet and enzyme interactions were only detected for overall feed conversion ratio (FCR, P＜0.001) withMEM B and MEM C shown to reduce overall FCR in birds offered SCS and WCS diets, respectively. Most observed differences were due to diet type showing that birds offered WCS diets had higher FI (P＜0.0001) and BWG (P＜0.0001) throughout the experiment, higher wk 1 FCR (P＜0.0001), higher AMEn (P＜0.0001) and TTAR of P (P＜0.0001) and NDF (P＜0.0001) compared with SCS diets. In conclusion, the MEM did not affect growth performance and nutrient utilization though MEM B and MEM C acted differently to reduce overall FCR in birds offered SCS and WCS diets, respectively. © 2014, Japan Poultry Science Association. | Broiler; Multi-enzyme mixtures; Nutrient utilization; Performance | Aves; Brassica napus var. napus; Gallus gallus; Glycine max; Helianthus; Micropus; Triticum aestivum; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-67650606769 | Postoperative complications after primary adult optical penetrating keratoplasty: Prevalence and impact on graft survival | Wagoner M.D., Ba-Abbad R., Al-Mohaimeed M., Al-Swailem S., Zimmerman M.B. | 2009 | Cornea | 28 | 4 | 10.1097/ICO.0b013e31818d3aef | Department of Ophthalmology, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52246, United States; Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa; Department of Biostatistics, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States | Wagoner, M.D., Department of Ophthalmology, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52246, United States, Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa; Ba-Abbad, R., Department of Ophthalmology, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Al-Mohaimeed, M., Department of Ophthalmology, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Al-Swailem, S., Department of Ophthalmology, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Zimmerman, M.B., Department of Biostatistics, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States | PURPOSE: To evaluate the prevalence of postoperative complications and their impact on graft survival after primary adult optical penetrating keratoplasty (PKP). METHODS: A retrospective review was done of consecutive cases of PKP performed between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 2001, for keratoconus, corneal edema, stromal scarring, and stromal dystrophy. RESULTS: The inclusion criteria were met by 910 eyes, including 464 with keratoconus, 188 with corneal edema, 175 with stromal scarring, and 83 with stromal dystrophy. One or more complications occurred in 362 eyes (39.8%). The most common complication was endothelial rejection (17.3%), followed by glaucoma worsening (15.5%), bacterial keratitis (5.8%), persistent epithelial defects (3.4%), and wound dehiscence (1.6%). There were significant differences among the surgical groups in overall prevalence of complications (P < 0.001) and with the prevalence of endothelial rejection (P = 0.01), glaucoma worsening (P < 0.001), bacterial keratitis (P = 0.04), and persistent epithelial defects (P = 0.02). Complication-associated graft failure varied significantly among the surgical groups (P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of post-PKP complications and their impact on graft survival vary significantly among surgical indications for primary adult optical PKP. © 2009 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. | Complications; Graft survival; Penetrating keratoplasty | prednisolone acetate; adolescent; adult; aged; article; child; cornea disease; cornea dystrophy; cornea edema; drug dose reduction; endophthalmitis; glaucoma; graft failure; graft rejection; graft survival; human; keratitis; keratoconus; major clinical study; penetrating keratoplasty; postoperative complication; prevalence; priority journal; school child; stromal scarring; wound dehiscence; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Child; Cornea; Corneal Diseases; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Graft Survival; Humans; Keratoplasty, Penetrating; Male; Middle Aged; Postoperative Complications; Prevalence; Retrospective Studies; Young Adult | None |
| None | None | Participatory monitoring of changes in coastal and marine biodiversity | Wagner G.M. | 2005 | Indian Journal of Marine Sciences | 34 | 1 | None | Department of Aquatic Environment and Conservation, Faculty of Aquatic Sciences and Technology, University of Dar es Salaam, P.O. Box 35064, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Wagner, G.M., Department of Aquatic Environment and Conservation, Faculty of Aquatic Sciences and Technology, University of Dar es Salaam, P.O. Box 35064, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | This study reports results obtained from participatory monitoring conducted in Tanzania in two types of keystone ecosystems, mangrove forests and coral reefs. The report also analyses participatory monitoring as an effective tool in environmental conservation and management. Participatory monitoring data collected from three mangrove areas subjected to different levels of human impacts, low, moderate and high, clearly indicated the effects on mangrove basal area and species diversity. Participatory coral reef monitoring clearly showed degradation due to human impacts in one are and definite positive trends over time due to management interventions in another area. Participatory monitoring produces large amounts of informative data in a short time at low cost. Moreover, it has profound positive impact on the participants in terms of enhancing their environmental awareness, creating a feeling of "ownership" of the environment and motivating them to protect and restore the ecosystems they monitor. However, in order for participatory monitoring to be successful, there should be proper selection of participants, adequate training and on-going supervision by experts. | Biodiversity; Coastal/marine; Keystone ecosystems; Participatory monitoring | Anthozoa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84925582375 | Impact of antidepressant therapy on cognitive aspects of work, condom use, and psychosocial well-being among HIV clients in Uganda | Wagner G.J., Ngo V.K., Aunon F., Musisi S., Nakasujja N., Akena D. | 2014 | International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine | 48 | 3 | 10.2190/PM.48.3.a | RAND Corporation, 1776 Main St., Santa Monica, CA, United States; Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda | Wagner, G.J., RAND Corporation, 1776 Main St., Santa Monica, CA, United States; Ngo, V.K., RAND Corporation, 1776 Main St., Santa Monica, CA, United States; Aunon, F., RAND Corporation, 1776 Main St., Santa Monica, CA, United States; Musisi, S., Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Nakasujja, N., Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Akena, D., Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda | Objective: Depression has been found to impede several health outeomes among people living with HIV, but little research has examined whether depression treatment mitigates this influence. We assessed the impact of antidepressant therapy on measures of work, condom use, and psychosocial well-being among depressed HIV clients in Uganda. Methods: Paired i-tests and McNcmar tests were used to assess change in survey data collected from participants at initiation of antidepressant therapy (baseline) and 6 months later. Results: Ninety-five participants completed the 6-month assessment, of whom 82 (86%) responded to treatment (defined as Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score < 5). Among study completers, work functioning improved significantly, as did measures of self-efficacy related to condom use and work (as well as general self-efficacy), and internalized HIV stigma declined; however, actual engagement in work activity and consistent condom use did not show significant change. Similar findings were observed among treatment responders. Conclusions: Antidepressant treatment benefits functional capacity, psychological well-being, and cognitive intermediary factors that may be essential for behavioral change related to work and condom use, but supplementary therapeutic strategies may be needed to impact more direct behavioral change. © 2014, Baywood Publishing Co., Inc. | Antidepressants; Condom use; Depression; HIV; Uganda; Work | antidepressant agent; antidepressant agent; fluoxetine; imipramine; adult; Article; cognition; condom use; depression; female; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; major clinical study; male; Patient Health Questionnaire 9; psychological well being; self concept; social psychology; stigma; treatment response; Uganda; wellbeing; work; Cognition Disorders; condom; control; Depressive Disorder, Major; developing country; disability; employment; follow up; health behavior; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; middle aged; psychology; quality of life; social stigma; utilization; Adult; Antidepressive Agents; Cognition Disorders; Condoms; Depressive Disorder, Major; Developing Countries; Disability Evaluation; Employment; Female; Fluoxetine; Follow-Up Studies; Health Behavior; HIV Infections; Humans; Imipramine; Internal-External Control; Male; Middle Aged; Quality of Life; Self Efficacy; Social Stigma; Uganda | 1R01MH083568, NIMH, National Institute of Mental Health |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84870247048 | Impact of HIV antiretroviral therapy on depression and mental health among clients with HIV in Uganda | Wagner G.J., Ghosh-Dastidar B., Garnett J., Kityo C., Mugyenyi P. | 2012 | Psychosomatic Medicine | 74 | 9 | 10.1097/PSY.0b013e31826629db | RAND Corporation, 1776 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90407, United States; Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda | Wagner, G.J., RAND Corporation, 1776 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90407, United States; Ghosh-Dastidar, B., RAND Corporation, 1776 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90407, United States; Garnett, J., RAND Corporation, 1776 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90407, United States; Kityo, C., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Mugyenyi, P., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda | Objective: With wide-reaching harmful effects of depression, and the absence of psychiatric treatment in most HIV care programs in sub-Saharan Africa, we examined the effects of antiretroviral therapy (ART) on depression and other mental health indicators. Methods: 602 patients (302 non-ART, 300 ART) were followed for the first 12 months of HIV care in Uganda, with assessments at entry into care and Months 6 and 12. Mental health was assessed with measures of depression, hopelessness, and internalized HIV stigma; physical health functioning was assessed as an explanatory variable. Results: Thirteen percent had clinical depression, 57% had elevated depressive symptoms, and CD4 cell count was negatively correlated with measures of depression at baseline. Significant reductions in elevated depressive symptoms (time: odds ratio [95% confidence interval] = 0.53 [0.43-0.64]) and hopelessness (time: β =-0.12, p <.001) were observed in both the ART and non-ART groups, but the drop in depression was greater among ART patients in intention-to-treat multivariate analysis (ART × time: p <.001). When added to the regression models, change in physical health functioning predicted positive longitudinal change on measures of depression, hopelessness, and internalized stigma (all p values <.001), yet ART status remained a significant independent predictor of each (ART × time: p values ranged from <.05 to <.001). Most mental health benefits of ART were experienced in the first 6 months of care. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate the mental health benefits of HIV care and ART. However, in some people, mental health problems persist once physical health is stabilized, in which case mental health treatment may be needed. © 2012 by the American Psychosomatic Society. | antiretroviral therapy; depression; HIV; mental health; Uganda | anti human immunodeficiency virus agent; adult; article; CD4 lymphocyte count; controlled study; depression; female; follow up; highly active antiretroviral therapy; hopelessness; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; longitudinal study; major clinical study; male; mental health; physical activity; predictor variable; priority journal; psychologic assessment; stigma; Uganda; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Adult; Anti-HIV Agents; Cohort Studies; Depressive Disorder, Major; Developing Countries; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Health Services Accessibility; Health Status; HIV Infections; Humans; Internal-External Control; Male; Motivation; Prospective Studies; Quality of Life; Social Stigma; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-74349087778 | Hall and thermoelectric evaluation of p-type InAs | Wagener M.C., Wagener V., Botha J.R. | 2009 | Physica B: Condensed Matter | 404 | 23-24 | 10.1016/j.physb.2009.08.256 | Department of Physics, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa | Wagener, M.C., Department of Physics, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa; Wagener, V., Department of Physics, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa; Botha, J.R., Department of Physics, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa | This paper compares the galvanometric and thermoelectric evaluation of the electrical characteristics of narrow gap semiconductors. In particular, the influence of a surface inversion layer is incorporated into the analysis of the temperature-dependent Hall and thermoelectric measurements of p-type InAs. The temperature at which the Seebeck coefficient of p-type material changes sign is shown to be unaffected by the presence of degenerate conduction paths. This finding consequently facilitated the direct determination of the acceptor density of lightly doped thin film InAs. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Hall effect; InAs; p-Doping; Thermoelectric effect | Acceptor density; Conduction paths; Direct determination; Electrical characteristic; InAs; Material change; Narrow-gap semiconductors; P-doping; P-type; Surface inversion layer; Temperature dependent; Thermoelectric effect; Thermoelectric effects; Thermoelectric measurements; Gyrators; Hall effect; Semiconducting indium; Semiconductor doping; Magnetic field effects | 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-s2.0-79960359875 | 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-s2.0-84937840733 | 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 |
| 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-s2.0-84866547411 | 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 |
| None | None | WHO multicenter evaluation of FACSCount CD4 and Pima CD4 T-cell count systems: Instrument performance and misclassification of HIV-infected patients | Wade D., Daneau G., Aboud S., Vercauteren G.H., Urassa W.S.K., Kestens L. | 2014 | Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes | 66 | 5 | 10.1097/QAI.0000000000000214 | Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Unit of Immunology, Laboratory of Bacteriology Virology, University Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, 92000, Senegal; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salam, Tanzania; World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland | Wade, D., Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium, Unit of Immunology, Laboratory of Bacteriology Virology, University Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, 92000, Senegal, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Daneau, G., Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Aboud, S., Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salam, Tanzania; Vercauteren, G.H., World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Urassa, W.S.K., World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Kestens, L., Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium | BACKGROUND: CD4 T-cell counts are used to screen and follow-up HIV-infected patients during treatment. As part of the World Health Organization prequalification program of diagnostics, we conducted an independent multicenter evaluation of the FACSCount CD4 and the Pima CD4, using the FACSCalibur as reference method. METHODS: A total of 440 paired capillary and venous blood samples were collected from HIV-infected patients attending the HIV outpatient clinic in Antwerp, Belgium, and the HIV care and treatment center in Dar es Salam, Tanzania. Capillary blood was run on Pima analyzer, whereas venous blood was analyzed on FACSCount, Pima, and FACSCalibur instruments. Precision and agreement between methods were assessed. RESULTS: The FACSCount CD4 results were in agreement with the FACSCalibur results with relative bias of 0.4% and 3.1% on absolute CD4 counts and an absolute bias of -0.6% and -1.1% on CD4% in Antwerp and Dar es Salam, respectively. The Pima CD4 results were in agreement with the FACSCalibur results with relative bias of -4.1% and -9.4% using venous blood and of -9.5% and -0.9% using capillary blood in Antwerp and Dar es Salam, respectively. At the threshold of 350 cells per microliter, the FACSCount CD4 and Pima CD4 using venous and capillary blood misclassified 7%, 9%, and 13% of patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The FACSCount CD4 provides reliable CD4 counts and CD4% and is suitable for monitoring adult and pediatric HIV patients in moderate-volume settings. The Pima CD4 is more suitable for screening eligible adult HIV patients for antiretroviral treatment initiation in low-volume laboratories. Copyright © 2014 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. | CD4 count; CD4%; FACSCount CD4; Pima CD4; Resource-limited settings | adolescent; adult; aged; article; Belgium; blood sampling; capillary blood; CD4 lymphocyte count; CD4 T cell count test; clinical assessment; female; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; intermethod comparison; major clinical study; male; measurement accuracy; multicenter study; outpatient department; priority journal; Tanzania; venous blood; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Belgium; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tanzania; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-36849087324 | Health impact assessment of solid waste disposal workers in Port Harocurt, Nigeria | Wachukwu K.C., Eleanya E.U. | 2007 | Journal of Applied Sciences | 7 | 22 | None | Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Nigeria | Wachukwu, K.C., Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Eleanya, E.U., Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Nigeria | The various health risks associated with solid waste disposal workers in Port Harcourt, Rivers State of Nigeria, were investigated. The aim is to assess the extent of exposure in terms of inhalation of toxic substances and its inherent adverse health effects on them since the workers are not adequately protected while doing their jobs. About 10 mL of venous blood was collected from each of the 35 solid waste disposal workers aged 21-50 years and from each of the 15 control subjects of the same age bracket who are not exposed. A well structured questionnaire was also given to all the solid waste disposal workers to assess their health profile. Haematological parameters, liver function test (LFT) and toxic substance (Pb, Cu, Zn) concentration in the blood were carried out. There were slight decrease in the haematological parameters and liver function test (LFT) results, as compared with the control subjects. The values obtained are: Hb 13.43±1.14 g dL-1, HCT 37.13±3.22%, WBC 6.35±1.86×109 L-1, platelet 236.15±104.33×109 L-1, neutrophil 42.60±11.11% and monocyte 3.05±2.41% for solid waste workers. While the values for control subjects are: Hb 14.69±0.4 g dL-1, HCT 41.77±2.74%, WBC 7.23±1.21×109 L-1, platelets 282.40±33.76×109 L-1, neutrophil 58.65±5.87% and monocyte 5.77±2.03%. The lymphocyte counts for waste disposal workers was significantly higher (50.42±11.30%) and (32.83±5.32%) for the control subjects. The AST values increased significantly for solid waste workers with a mean AST concentration of (11.19±2.36 μ L-1) and 8.97±4.07 μL-1 for the control subjects. And mean total bilirubin increased progressively as the number of years of exposure increased (19.00 μmol L-1). The peak value was for workers exposed for about 7 year. The result also showed that mean lead, copper and Zinc concentrations were high for the solid waste workers (Ph = 0.07±0.05 mg L-1, Cu =0.22±0.08 mg L-1 and Zn = 0.56±0.48 mg L-1) while that of control subjects were Ph = 0.02±0.01 mg L-1, Cu =0.11±0.04 mg L-1 and Zn = 0.30±0.04 mg L-1. Malaria parasitaemia was high amongst the solid waste disposal workers. Adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) should be provided to avoid epidemic among the workers. It can be inferred that the lymphocytosis observed in this category of workers may indicate the presence of bacterial and protozoal infections, while a mild eosinophilia might be as a result of allergic disorders and helminthic infections. © 2007 Asian Network for Scientific Information. | Dump site; Health risk; Solid waste workers; Toxic waste exposure assessment and inhalation of pollutants | Adverse health effects; Allergic disorder; Copper and zinc; Dump site; Exposure assessment; Health impact assessment; Personal protective equipment; Toxic substances; Body fluids; Health; Health risks; Lead; Platelets; Protective clothing; Toxic materials; Waste disposal; Zinc; Solid wastes | 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-s2.0-84880854307 | Optimisation of a humidity chamber method for the quantitative evaluation of vapour phase corrosion inhibitors for mild steel | Vuorinen E., Botha A. | 2013 | Measurement: Journal of the International Measurement Confederation | 46 | 9 | 10.1016/j.measurement.2013.06.045 | National Metrology Institute of South Africa, Private Bag X34, Lynwood Ridge 0040, South Africa | Vuorinen, E., National Metrology Institute of South Africa, Private Bag X34, Lynwood Ridge 0040, South Africa; Botha, A., National Metrology Institute of South Africa, Private Bag X34, Lynwood Ridge 0040, South Africa | During manufacturing, storage and transport, corrosive substances in the environment easily attack metal items. Corrosion inhibitors are substances, which, when added to corrosive environments in relatively small dosages, will drastically reduce corrosion rates. Vapour phase corrosion inhibitors or volatile corrosion inhibitors (VCIs), also called vapour phase inhibitors (VPIs), are similar to the organic adsorption-type inhibitors but they possess a high vapour pressure. The purpose of method optimisation is to verify that a method is fit for the purpose, i.e. for use for solving a particular analytical problem. The quality assurance of corrosion test results includes the optimisation of the corrosion test method and the estimation of the uncertainty of the corrosion rate measurement. The corrosion test performed in the artificial atmosphere of the humidity chamber requires evaluation of corrosivity of the test cabinet by reference specimens. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Corrosivity; Measurement uncertainty; Method optimisation; Vapour phase corrosion inhibitors | Corrosion rate measurements; Corrosive environment; Corrosivity; Measurement uncertainty; Optimisations; Quantitative evaluation; Vapour-phase corrosion inhibitors; Volatile corrosion inhibitors; Atmospheric corrosion; Carbon steel; Corrosion rate; Optimization; Quality assurance; Testing; Uncertainty analysis; Vapors; Corrosion inhibitors | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-38949133447 | Soil properties that impact yeast and actinomycete numbers in sandy low nutrient soils | Vreulink J.-M., Esterhuyse A., Jacobs K., Botha A. | 2007 | Canadian Journal of Microbiology | 53 | 12 | 10.1139/W07-092 | Department of Microbiology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch, Matieland 7602, South Africa | Vreulink, J.-M., Department of Microbiology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Esterhuyse, A., Department of Microbiology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Jacobs, K., Department of Microbiology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Botha, A., Department of Microbiology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch, Matieland 7602, South Africa | To explore the beneficial qualities or detrimental consequences of cultureable soil yeasts, it is important to understand which physicochemical soil properties most impact populations of these unicellular fungi in their natural habitat. The goal of this study was to determine which soil properties dictate yeast numbers in pristine sandy, low nutrient soils within a semi-arid region. A correlation matrix of the data obtained for 19 different environmental variables indicated a negative correlation between soil pH and yeast numbers. Using general regression models, it was demonstrated that soil pH and copper concentration were the 2 variables that correlated best with soil yeast counts in these soils. However, soil moisture content was found to be the environmental factor with the most impact on cultureable actinomycetes and heterotrophic microbes. The study also demonstrated that divalent cation availability might impact the size of both yeast and prokaryote populations in these soils. © 2007 NRC. | Bacteria; Ecology; Soil; Soil chemistry; Yeasts | Bacteria; Biodiversity; Microbiology; Nutrients; pH effects; Yeast; Environmental variables; Semi-arid region; Soil chemistry; Soil yeasts; Soils; concentration (composition); environmental factor; nutrient availability; pH; physicochemical property; semiarid region; soil chemistry; soil microorganism; soil property; yeast; Actinobacteria; article; cation transport; correlation analysis; environmental factor; microbial community; moisture; nonhuman; nutrient availability; pH measurement; physical chemistry; priority journal; regression analysis; sandy soil; soil property; yeast; Actinobacteria; Cations, Divalent; Fertilizers; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Regression Analysis; Soil; Soil Microbiology; Yeasts; Actinobacteria (class); Prokaryota; Protofungi | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84889052994 | Evaluation of window-tinting films for sunlight phototherapy | Vreman H.J., Slusher T.M., Wong R.J., Schulz S., Olusanya B.O., Stevenson D.K. | 2013 | Journal of Tropical Pediatrics | 59 | 6 | 10.1093/tropej/fmt062 | Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-5208, United States; Center for Global Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55414-1932, United States; De | Vreman, H.J., Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-5208, United States; Slusher, T.M., Center for Global Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55414-1932, United States; Wong, R.J., Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-5208, United States; Schulz, S., Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-5208, United States; Olusanya, B.O., Department of Community Health and Primary Care, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria; Stevenson, D.K., Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-5208, United States | We evaluated nine semi-transparent plastic window-tinting films for their ability to block ultraviolet A (UVA) and infrared (IR) radiation and transmit therapeutic blue light (400-520 nm) for treating jaundiced newborns. For indoor testing, three light sources (TL/52 special blue fluorescent, Black Light UVA and IR heat lamps) were positioned above each film and measured successively using a thermocouple thermometer, UVA radiometer and blue light irradiance meter, placed below each film. For outdoor testing, the same setup was used with the sun at zenith and a cloudless sky. Compared with unfiltered radiation, blue light transmission through films ranged from 24 to 83%, UVA transmission was 0.1-7.1% and reductions in IR heat were 6-12°C and 5-10°C for heat lamp and sun, respectively. The data suggest that most of the relatively low-cost window-tinting films tested can effectively reduce sunlight UV and IR and offer a range of significant attenuations of therapeutic blue light. © The Author [2013]. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. | Bilirubin; Hyperbilirubinemia; Jaundice; Newborn; Phototherapy | article; blue light; controlled study; film; fluorescent lamp; human; infrared radiation; light irradiance; light irradiance meter; newborn jaundice; optical instrumentation; photometer; phototherapy; radiation equipment; reduction; reflector; sun; sun exposure; thermometer; ultraviolet A radiation; ultraviolet detector; bilirubin; Hyperbilirubinemia; Jaundice; Newborn; Phototherapy; Bilirubin; Feasibility Studies; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infrared Rays; Jaundice, Neonatal; Phototherapy; Radiometry; Sunlight; Ultraviolet Rays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84922013357 | Impact of adherence and anthropometric characteristics on nevirapine pharmacokinetics and exposure among HIV-infected Kenyan children | Vreeman R.C., Nyandiko W.M., Liechty E.A., Busakhala N., Bartelink I.H., Savic R.M., Scanlon M.L., Ayaya S.O., Blaschke T.F. | 2014 | Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes | 67 | 3 | None | Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Indiana University, 410 W, 10th Street, Indianapolis, IN, United States; Regenstrief Institute, Inc, Indianapolis, IN, United States; Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH), Eldoret, Kenya; Department of Child Health and Paediatrics, College of Health Sciences, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya; Department of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya; Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States; Department of Medicine (Clinical Pharmacology) and Molecular Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States | Vreeman, R.C., Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Indiana University, 410 W, 10th Street, Indianapolis, IN, United States, Regenstrief Institute, Inc, Indianapolis, IN, United States, Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH), Eldoret, Kenya; Nyandiko, W.M., Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH), Eldoret, Kenya, Department of Child Health and Paediatrics, College of Health Sciences, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya; Liechty, E.A., Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Indiana University, 410 W, 10th Street, Indianapolis, IN, United States; Busakhala, N., Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH), Eldoret, Kenya, Department of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya; Bartelink, I.H., Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States; Savic, R.M., Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States; Scanlon, M.L., Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Indiana University, 410 W, 10th Street, Indianapolis, IN, United States, Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH), Eldoret, Kenya; Ayaya, S.O., Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH), Eldoret, Kenya, Department of Child Health and Paediatrics, College of Health Sciences, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya; Blaschke, T.F., Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States, Department of Medicine (Clinical Pharmacology) and Molecular Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States | Background: There are insufficient data on pediatric antiretroviral therapy (ART) pharmacokinetics (PK), particularly for children in low- and middle-income countries. Methods: We conducted a prospective nevirapine (NVP) PK study among HIV-infected Kenyan children aged 3-13 years initiating an NVP-based ART regimen. NVP dose timing was measured through medication event monitors. Participants underwent 2 inpatient assessments: 1 at 4-8 weeks after ART initiation and 1 at 3-4 months after ART initiation. Allometric scaling of oral clearance (CL)/bioavailability (F) and volume of distribution (Vd)/F values were computed. Nonlinear mixed-effects modeling using the first-order conditional estimation with interaction method was performed with covariates. The impact of adherence on time below minimum effective concentration was assessed in the final PK model using medication event monitors data and model-estimated individual parameters. Results: Among 21 children enrolled, mean age was 5.4 years and 57% were female. CL/F was 1.67 L/h and Vd/F was 3.8 L for a median child weighing 15 kg. Participants' age had a significant impact on CL/F (P < 0.05), with an estimated decrease in CL of 6.2% for each 1-year increase in age. Total body water percentage was significantly associated with Vd/F (P < 0.001). No children had >10% of time below minimum effective concentration when the PK model assumed perfect adherence compared with 10 children when adherence data were used. Conclusions: Age and body composition were significantly associated with children's NVP PK parameters. ART adherence significantly impacted drug exposure over time, revealing subtherapeutic windows that may lead to viral resistance. Copyright © 2014 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. | Adherence; HIV-infected children; Pharmacokinetics; Resource-limited settings | nevirapine; anti human immunodeficiency virus agent; nevirapine; adolescent; age; allometry; anthropometry; antiviral therapy; apparent distribution volume; arm circumference; Article; body composition; body weight; child; childhood disease; clinical article; drug absorption; drug bioavailability; drug clearance; drug distribution; drug dose increase; drug exposure; drug monitoring; elimination rate constant; female; follow up; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; Kenyan; male; malnutrition; medication compliance; minimum plasma concentration; oral clearance; patient compliance; priority journal; prospective study; total body water; volume of distribution; anthropometry; bioavailability; body size; body water; HIV Infections; Kenya; metabolism; nutritional status; preschool child; Adolescent; Anthropometry; Anti-HIV Agents; Biological Availability; Body Size; Body Water; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Kenya; Male; Medication Adherence; Nevirapine; Nutritional Status; Prospective Studies | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77954222893 | The impact of water quality on informally-declared heritage sites: A preliminary study | Vos A.T., Cawood S. | 2010 | Water SA | 36 | 2 | None | Centre for Environmental Management, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa; Centre for Africa Studies, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa | Vos, A.T., Centre for Environmental Management, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa; Cawood, S., Centre for Africa Studies, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa | The current study is an attempt to gauge the impact of water quality on 2 sacred sites in the eastern Free State, Mautse and Motouleng, which are informally-declared heritage sites, as well as the consequent implications for matters of living heritage as pertaining to the specific sites. The informally-constituted communities at the sacred sites are dependent on freshwater sources where water use, sanitation and waste disposal are unmanaged activities. The sustainability of informally-declared heritage sites may be uncertain due to factors relating to water quality. Water samples were collected for physical, chemical and biological analyses. The latter comprised algal and bacterial analyses which included testing for concentrations of faecal coliforms, where concentrations above 20 cfu/100 mℓ indicates a significant risk of infectious disease transmission (domestic use) and concentrations above 200 cfu/100 mℓ points to a significant infection risk for young livestock. Water quality is discussed in terms of human, animal and ecological risk, which may threaten the heritage and the economic subsistence based on the heritage at both sites. | Faecal coliforms; Heritage; Informally-declared heritage sites; Water quality | Bacterial analysis; Biological analysis; Domestic use; Ecological risks; Faecal coliforms; Free state; Freshwater sources; Heritage; Heritage sites; Infectious disease; Specific sites; Water samples; Water use; Agriculture; Waste disposal; Water quality; Water supply; Water pollution; biological analysis; disease transmission; environmental risk; fecal coliform; heritage conservation; infectious disease; physicochemical property; risk factor; sanitation; subsistence; sustainability; waste disposal; water quality; water use; Free State; South Africa; algae; Animalia; Bacteria (microorganisms) | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84937977400 | Killing from a distance: A christian ethical evaluation of CIA targeted drone killings | Vorster N. | 2015 | Heythrop Journal - Quarterly Review of Philosophy and Theology | 56 | 5 | 10.1111/heyj.12262 | North-West University, South Africa | Vorster, N., North-West University, South Africa | This article provides an ethical evaluation of the CIA's use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV's) to target so-called terror suspects and insurgents. It utilises Christian informed deontological and virtue-ethical criteria to assess this practise. These criteria include just intent, charity, proportionality, moral consistency, truthfulness, mercy, courage and prudence. The article concludes that the UAV target programme is morally problematic. The United States' 'kill not capture' policy as exemplified in the use of 'signature' strikes defies the virtues at stake. By using UAV's as tools for preventive warfare, utilising armed UAV's that are weapons of war outside areas of armed conflict and disregarding the principles of transparency, last resort and proportionality, the United States is employing UAV's in a morally illegitimate and imprudent way, and is setting precedents that might have dire consequences for global peace and the security of future generations. © 2015 Trustees for Roman Catholic Purposes Registered. | None | 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 |
| WoS | WOS:000307868900005 | Collaborative e-learning course design: Impacts on instructors in the Open University of Tanzania | Nihuka, Kassimu A.,Voogt, Joke | 2012 | AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY | 28 | 2 | None | University of Twente, Open Univ Tanzania | "Voogt, Joke: University of Twente", | Efforts by universities in sub-Sahara Africa to promote professional development of instructors in course design and delivery by e-learning technologies have often lacked meaningful impacts. This study investigated the impact of collaborative course design on instructors' professional learning about design and delivery of e-learning courses at the Open University of Tanzania (OUT). Six Teacher Design Teams (TDTs), each with 2 instructors, participated in the study, redesigning their print-based courses using an offline Moodle LMS supported by emails and mobile phones. A total of 36 interviews were conducted with 12 instructors, after each of the two workshops and after the course redesign process. Results showed that despite challenges, instructors were satisfied with collaborative course design and they reported that the strategy contributed to their professional learning. Instructors' backgrounds determined the kinds of support needed during course design and delivery. | ,CURRICULUM,PROFESSIONAL-DEVELOPMENT,STRATEGIES,TEACHERS | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-50549102649 | Evaluation of the pathogenicity of African Horsesickness (AHS) isolates in vaccinated animals | von Teichman B.F., Smit T.K. | 2008 | Vaccine | 26 | 39 | 10.1016/j.vaccine.2008.07.037 | Research and Development Virology, Onderstepoort Biological Products Ltd., Private Bag X07, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa | von Teichman, B.F., Research and Development Virology, Onderstepoort Biological Products Ltd., Private Bag X07, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Smit, T.K., Research and Development Virology, Onderstepoort Biological Products Ltd., Private Bag X07, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa | Background: The polyvalent African Horsesickness (AHS) attenuated live vaccine (ALV) produced by Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) Ltd., South Africa, has been associated with some safety concerns and alleged cases of vaccine failure or vaccine-induced disease. The risk of reassortment and reversion to virulence is a common concern associated with the use of ALVs, and a phenomenon reported for viruses with segmented RNA genomes. The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not reassortment of AHS vaccine strains could result in reassortants and reversion to virulence and therefore cause AHS in susceptible horses. Methods: Clinical or field isolates of AHS were obtained from horses with AHS symptoms or disease post vaccination. AHS-naïve horses were inoculated with these isolates and monitored for clinical reactions. Laboratory tests were performed at intervals to determine immune responses and viraemia. Viral RNA extraction and complete genome amplification of monovalent AHS-ALV vaccine strains and isolates collected post-vaccination was conducted. cDNA of the genome segments were run on PAGE to determine mobility patterns and genome segments 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 sequenced for phylogenetic analysis. Results: No clinical symptoms typical of AHS were observed in inoculated horses and all showed a good immune response. A comparison of mobility patterns of the amplified cDNA genome on PAGE allowed the identification and differentiation of reassortants, which were confirmed by sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the nucleotide sequences. Conclusion: This study, however, showed no indications that vaccine reassortants were pathogenic or lethal after inoculation in susceptible horses. Assumptions of virulence or reversion to virulence of vaccine reassortants post-vaccination in horses could not be substantiated. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | African Horsesickness; Reassortant; Reassortment; Reversion to virulence; Vaccination | African horse sickness vaccine; complementary DNA; live vaccine; unclassified drug; virus RNA; African horse sickness virus; animal experiment; animal tissue; article; genetic reassortment; horse disease; immunocompetent cell; nonhuman; nucleotide sequence; phylogenetic tree; priority journal; sequence alignment; vaccination; virus virulence; African Horse Sickness; African horse sickness virus; Animals; Antibodies, Viral; DNA, Viral; Female; Genome, Viral; Horses; Immunoglobulin G; Male; Reassortant Viruses; Sequence Alignment; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; Vaccination; Vaccines, Attenuated; Viral Vaccines; Viremia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84856821594 | Potential Impacts of Biofuels on Deforestation in Southern Africa | von Maltitz G., Setzkorn K. | 2012 | Journal of Sustainable Forestry | 31 | 42371 | 10.1080/10549811.2011.566114 | Natural Resources and the Environment, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), PO Box 395, Pretoria 0001, South Africa | von Maltitz, G., Natural Resources and the Environment, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), PO Box 395, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Setzkorn, K., Natural Resources and the Environment, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), PO Box 395, Pretoria 0001, South Africa | Southern Africa has been identified globally as one of the areas with high potential for extensive biofuel production. Unlike most commodities, biofuel is not market-limited. Instead, access to feedstock-and more particularly the land on which to grow the feedstock-is the main constraint for biofuel production, and hence the greatest competition in the industry is to acquire land. Countries in southern Africa have taken very different policy stances on biofuel. South Africa is taking a conservative approach; concerns about potential invasiveness of Jatropha curcas have led to a moratorium on planting, and maize-based bioethanol is banned due to possible food security impacts. On the contrary, Mozambique sees biofuel production as one of the key strategies to obtain foreign investment in the agricultural sector, which it is actively trying to revive. What remains unclear is to what extent primary and secondary forest and woodland will be cleared to enable this biofuel expansion. Although early indications suggested that extensive deforestation would occur, more recently companies seem to be taking more conservative approaches to deforestation due to concerns over certification requirements. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC. | biofuel; deforestation; southern Africa | Agricultural sector; Biofuel production; Certification requirements; Food security; Foreign investment; High potential; Invasiveness; Jatropha curcas; Mozambique; Potential impacts; Secondary forests; South Africa; southern Africa; Biofuels; Competition; Deforestation; Ethanol; Feedstocks; Food supply; Investments; Bioethanol; biofuel; deforestation; energy policy; ethanol; gas production; Competition; Deforestation; Ethanol; Fuels; Investment; Southern Africa; Mozambique; Jatropha curcas; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84856401418 | Quality control and performance of HIV rapid tests in a microbicide clinical trial in rural KwaZulu-Natal | von Knorring N., Gafos M., Ramokonupi M., Jentsch U. | 2012 | PLoS ONE | 7 | 1 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0030728 | Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Mtubatuba, South Africa; Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa; Contract Laboratory Services, University of the Witwatersrand Health Consortium, Johannesburg, South Africa | von Knorring, N., Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Mtubatuba, South Africa, Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa; Gafos, M., Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Mtubatuba, South Africa; Ramokonupi, M., Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Mtubatuba, South Africa; Jentsch, U., Contract Laboratory Services, University of the Witwatersrand Health Consortium, Johannesburg, South Africa | Background: Quality control (QC) and evaluation of HIV rapid test procedures are an important aspect of HIV prevention trials. We describe QC and performance of two rapid tests, Determine™ and Uni-Gold™ used in a microbicide clinical trial in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Methods/Results: Internal QC of both HIV rapid tests was conducted at the trial site using a Uni-Gold control kit (Uni-Gold™Recombigen® HIV). Both assays produced the expected results for a total of 4637 QC tests. Study participants were tested for HIV at screening and, if enrolled, at regular time points throughout the study. Positive or discordant results were confirmed by a double HIV immunoassay testing strategy at a local laboratory. Overall, 15292 HIV rapid test were performed. Sensitivity and specificity of Determine was 98.95% (95% CI: 97.72-99.61) and 99.83% (95% CI: 99.70-99.91) respectively [positive predictive value (PPV) 97.91% (95% CI: 96.38-98.92)], for Uni-Gold it was 99.30% (95% CI: 98.21-99.81) and 99.96% (95% CI: 99.88-99.99) respectively [PPV 99.47% (95% CI: 98.46-99.89)]. Conclusions: The results suggest that a Uni-Gold control kit can be used for internal QC of both Uni-Gold and the HIV-1 component of the Determine rapid tests. Both rapid tests performed proficiently in the trial population. © 2012 von Knorring et al. | None | microbicide; anti human immunodeficiency virus agent; antiinfective agent; adult; article; controlled study; female; HIV test; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; immunoassay; major clinical study; male; predictive value; quality control; rural area; sensitivity and specificity; South Africa; analytical equipment; clinical trial (topic); diagnostic procedure; drug effect; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; isolation and purification; methodology; microbiological examination; quality control; rural population; standard; virology; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Adult; Anti-HIV Agents; Anti-Infective Agents; Clinical Trials as Topic; Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; Female; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Immunoassay; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Quality Control; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; Rural Population; South Africa; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33750237049 | Impact of conjugate Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine introduction in South Africa | Von Gottberg A., De Gouveia L., Madhi S.A., Du Plessis M., Quan V., Soma K., Huebner R., Flannery B., Schuchat A., Klugman K.P. | 2006 | Bulletin of the World Health Organization | 84 | 10 | 10.2471/BLT.06.030361 | Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit (RMPRU), National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, Private Bag X4, Sandringham 2131, Gauteng, South Africa; Respiratory Diseases Branch, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States; Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States | Von Gottberg, A., Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit (RMPRU), National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, Private Bag X4, Sandringham 2131, Gauteng, South Africa; De Gouveia, L., Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit (RMPRU), National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, Private Bag X4, Sandringham 2131, Gauteng, South Africa; Madhi, S.A., Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit (RMPRU), National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, Private Bag X4, Sandringham 2131, Gauteng, South Africa; Du Plessis, M., Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit (RMPRU), National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, Private Bag X4, Sandringham 2131, Gauteng, South Africa; Quan, V., Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit (RMPRU), National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, Private Bag X4, Sandringham 2131, Gauteng, South Africa; Soma, K., Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit (RMPRU), National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, Private Bag X4, Sandringham 2131, Gauteng, South Africa; Huebner, R., Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit (RMPRU), National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, Private Bag X4, Sandringham 2131, Gauteng, South Africa; Flannery, B., Respiratory Diseases Branch, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States; Schuchat, A., Respiratory Diseases Branch, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States; Klugman, K.P., Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States | Objective: To analyse trends in reported invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease in South Africa within the first five years of introduction of conjugate Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine in the routine child immunization schedule. Methods: We used national laboratory-based surveillance data to identify cases of invasive H. influenzae disease between July 1999 and June 2004, and submitted isolates for serotyping and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Findings: The absolute number of Hib cases (reported to the national surveillance system) among children below one year of age decreased by 65%, from 55 cases in 1999-2000 to 19 cases in 2003-04. Enhanced surveillance initiated in 2003, identified human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infection and incomplete vaccination as contributing factors for Hib transmission. The total number of laboratory-confirmed cases of H. influenzae remained unchanged because non-type b disease was being increasingly reported to the surveillance system concomitant with system enhancements. Children with non-typable disease were more likely to be HIV-positive (32 of 34, 94%) than children with Hib disease (10 of 14, 71%), P = 0.051. Recent Hib isolates were more likely to be multidrug resistant (2% in 1999-2000 versus 19% in 2003-04, P = 0.001). Conclusion: Data from a newly established national laboratory-based surveillance system showed a decrease in Hib disease burden among South African children following conjugate vaccine introduction and identified cases of non-typable disease associated with HIV infection. | None | ampicillin; beta lactamase; diphtheria pertussis tetanus Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine; Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine; antimicrobial activity; disease transmission; health impact; human immunodeficiency virus; immunization; influenza; vaccination; antibiotic sensitivity; article; controlled study; Haemophilus influenzae type b; health survey; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; immunization; infant; influenza; major clinical study; multidrug resistance; preschool child; serotyping; South Africa; Streptococcus pneumonia; vaccination; Child Health Services; Child, Preschool; Female; Haemophilus Infections; Haemophilus influenzae type b; Haemophilus Vaccines; Humans; Immunization Schedule; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Polysaccharides, Bacterial; Population Surveillance; South Africa; Vaccines, Conjugate; Africa; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Haemophilus influenzae; Haemophilus influenzae serotype B; Human immunodeficiency virus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33845431630 | Evaluation of productivity potentials of soils of the Gubi soil series | Voncir N., Mustapha S., Amba A.A., Kparmwang T. | 2006 | Journal of Applied Sciences | 6 | 13 | 10.3923/jas.2006.2843.2845 | Crop Production Programme, ATBU, Bauchi, Nigeria; Department of Soil Science, ABU, Zaria, Nigeria | Voncir, N., Crop Production Programme, ATBU, Bauchi, Nigeria; Mustapha, S., Crop Production Programme, ATBU, Bauchi, Nigeria; Amba, A.A., Crop Production Programme, ATBU, Bauchi, Nigeria; Kparmwang, T., Department of Soil Science, ABU, Zaria, Nigeria | Six soils subgroups; two each from Alfisols, Inceptisols and Entisols in the Gubi soil series of Bauchi State were evaluated for their productivity potential using soil site characteristics and physicochemical properties. Ratings and grades for these soil characteristics were allotted and their means used for comparison. The result of the land evaluation grading was observed to ranged from A to E i.e., Extremely high productivity potential (Oxyaquic Ustifluvent, profile 02T2/02T3) to moderately low productivity potential (Typic Ustropept and Ustic Dystropept). The grading is highly correlated with the soil subgroups and is recommended for assessing productivity potential of soils under defined climate and management practice. © 2006 Asian Network for Scientific Information. | Gubi soil series; Potential; Productivity | Gubi soil series; High productivity; Highly-correlated; Land evaluation; Management practices; Physicochemical property; Potential; Soil characteristics; Grading; Productivity; Soils | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-43149092147 | Impact of a conventional introductory laboratory course on the understanding of measurement | Volkwyn T.S., Allie S., Buffler A., Lubben F. | 2008 | Physical Review Special Topics - Physics Education Research | 4 | 1 | 10.1103/PhysRevSTPER.4.010108 | Department of Physics, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Department of Educational Studies, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom | Volkwyn, T.S., Department of Physics, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Allie, S., Department of Physics, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Buffler, A., Department of Physics, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Lubben, F., Department of Educational Studies, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom | Conventional physics laboratory courses generally include an emphasis on increasing students' ability to carry out data analysis according to scientific practice, in particular, those aspects that relate to measurement uncertainty. This study evaluates the efficacy of the conventional approach by analyzing the understanding of measurement of freshmen following the physics major sequence, i.e., top achievers, with regard to data collection, data processing, and data comparison, through pre- and postinstruction tests by using an established instrument. The findings show that the laboratory course improved the performance of the majority of students insofar as the more mechanical aspects of data collection and data processing were concerned. However, only about 20% of the cohort of physics majors exhibited a deeper understanding of measurement uncertainty required for data comparison. © 2008 The American Physical Society. | None | None | None |
| 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-s2.0-84861540570 | 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-s2.0-77949819390 | The impact of an interim protection order (domestic violence act 116 of 1998) on the victims of domestic violence | Vogt T., Greeff A.P. | 2010 | Families in Society | 91 | 1 | 10.1606/1044-3894.3958 | Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa | Vogt, T., Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Greeff, A.P., Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa | The primary objectives of this study were to determine the impact of the interim protection order (IPO) on the nature and extent of domestic violence, the general well-being of the victims of domestic violence, and the efficiency of the application procedure for the IPO. A pretest-posttest quasi-experimental research design was used on an experimental (n = 884) and a control (n = 125) group. The results indicated that the IPO had a significant impact on certain aspects of physical, psychological, and social well-being and in some areas of domestic violence. The IPO did not have a significant impact on the participants' experiences of their personal, communal, environmental, and transcendental well-being. Application procedures were found to be satisfactory in most areas. © 2010 Alliance for Children and Families. | None | None | 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-s2.0-72649090190 | The risk-adjusted performance of responsible investment funds in South Africa | Viviers S., Bosch J.K., Smit E.M., Buijs A. | 2008 | Investment Analysts Journal | 68 | 1 | None | Respectively Department of Business Management, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, PO Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa; Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, University of Stellenbosch Business School and University of Utrecht, Netherlands | Viviers, S., Respectively Department of Business Management, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, PO Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa; Bosch, J.K., Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, University of Stellenbosch Business School and University of Utrecht, Netherlands; Smit, E.M., Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, University of Stellenbosch Business School and University of Utrecht, Netherlands; Buijs, A., Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, University of Stellenbosch Business School and University of Utrecht, Netherlands | [No abstract available] | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84897139760 | From philanthropy to impact investing: Shifting mindsets in South Africa | Viviers S., Ractliffe T., Hand D. | 2011 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 8 | 0.16666666667 | None | Department of Business Management, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa | Viviers, S., Department of Business Management, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa; Ractliffe, T.; Hand, D. | This paper contributes to the body of knowledge on impact investing in South Africa by defining the phenomenon, outlining the relationship between philanthropy, responsible investing (RI) and impact investing, and discussing the moral roots and historical development of these three concepts. Attention is also given to the current status of philanthropy, RI and impact investing internationally and locally. A review of 53 local RI funds established over the period 1 June 1992 to 31 December 2010 reveal that the majority have an impact investing focus, either on its own or in combination with other RI strategies. The challenges in stimulating growth in impact investing in South Africa are highlighted and suggestions provided to address these challenges. | Impact investing; Philanthropy; Responsible investing; South Africa | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84951947214 | Institutional proxy voting in South Africa: Process, outcomes and impact | Viviers S., Smit E.Vdm. | 2015 | South African Journal of Business Management | 46 | 4 | None | Department of Business Management, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa; University of Stellenbosch Business School, PO Box 610, Bellville, South Africa | Viviers, S., Department of Business Management, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa; Smit, E.Vdm., University of Stellenbosch Business School, PO Box 610, Bellville, South Africa | This study investigated the nature of institutional shareholder activism in South Africa with a particular focus on proxy voting as a public form of shareholder discontent. A total of 24 510 votes cast by 17 local investment management companies in 2013 were analysed. Interviews were also conducted with selected investment managers to gain more insight into the proxy voting process at their companies. Based on this data, it was concluded that investment managers preferred to engage with investee companies in private and viewed proxy voting as the last link in the shareholder activism chain. As a result, only 6.6 per cent of all votes were 'against' resolutions tabled by 347 JSE-listed companies in 2013. Resolutions regarding shareholders' endorsement of companies' remuneration policies; the election and re-election of directors, particularly those serving on audit committees; and the issuance of ordinary shares elicited the most opposition. Companies that were excluded from the JSE's Socially Responsible Investment Index in 2013 attracted significantly more opposition than their counterparts who were included in the index when seeking shareholder approval on the election and re-election of directors and the placing of shares under the control of directors. The same applied to companies that had low environmental, social and governance disclosure scores in 2013 as regards the issuance of shares. It is recommended, amongst others, that shareholder activism in South Africa be promoted by enhancing investor education and effecting some regulatory changes. | None | None | National Research Foundation |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80051564160 | Land, landlords and sustainable livelihoods: The impact of agrarian reform on a coconut hacienda in the Philippines | Vista B.M., Nel E., Binns T. | 2012 | Land Use Policy | 29 | 1 | 10.1016/j.landusepol.2011.06.002 | Department of Geography, University of Otago, New Zealand; Research Fellow, University of Johannesburg, South Africa | Vista, B.M., Department of Geography, University of Otago, New Zealand; Nel, E., Department of Geography, University of Otago, New Zealand, Research Fellow, University of Johannesburg, South Africa; Binns, T., Department of Geography, University of Otago, New Zealand | Agrarian reform has been a key theme on the development agenda of many countries in the Global South for decades. Whilst such interventions are often pursued for political goals and in the interests of empowerment, there is often a mismatch between these goals and the actual outcomes achieved. Within this context, this study investigates the impacts of agrarian reform in Del Rosario, a former coconut hacienda in the Philippines. This is done in an attempt to explore whether agrarian reform has facilitated the creation of sustainable livelihoods among its beneficiaries, in particular, and in their agrarian reform community, in general. The impacts of reform are examined in relation to four themes - economic, social, demographic and environmental. Overall, the study concludes that agrarian reform has not brought about sustainable livelihoods in the former coconut hacienda. People's livelihoods, especially those derived from copra farming, remain at a subsistence level. At most, at an economic level agrarian reform has brought about improved access to land among its beneficiaries. Nevertheless, it has empowered the farmers by giving them greater freedom and has increased their sense of well-being, as well as enabling them to improve their families' life prospects and strengthen social capital. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. | Agrarian reform; Hacienda; Impacts; Land reform; Livelihoods; Philippines | accessibility; agrarian reform; empowerment; land reform; land tenure; landownership; social capital; sustainable development; Philippines | 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-s2.0-84924917576 | Home and school resources as predictors of mathematics performance in South Africa | Visser M., Juan A., Feza N. | 2015 | South African Journal of Education | 35 | 1 | None | Education and Skills Development, Human Sciences Research Council, South Africa; Education and Skills Development, Human Sciences Research Council, South Africa and Institute of Science and Technology, University of South Africa, South Africa | Visser, M., Education and Skills Development, Human Sciences Research Council, South Africa; Juan, A., Education and Skills Development, Human Sciences Research Council, South Africa; Feza, N., Education and Skills Development, Human Sciences Research Council, South Africa and Institute of Science and Technology, University of South Africa, South Africa | The creation of an environment conducive to learning is vitally important in the academic achievement of learners. Such an environment extends beyond the classroom and school to include the home. It is from these environments that learners draw resources, both tangible and intangible, that impact on their educational experience. While current bodies of literature focus on either school or home resources, this paper looks at both. Multiple regression analyses were conducted on the 2011 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) data to determine the resources factors that influence South African learners’ performance in mathematics. The findings reveal that both school and home environments play significant roles in learners’ mathematics performance. This paper therefore suggests that it is not only the socio-economic factors of schools that impact learners’ mathematics performance, but also that higher levels of parental education have a significant positive influence. © 2015, Foundation for Education Science and Technology. All right reserved | Home resources; Learning environment; Mathematics performance; Predictors of performance; School resources; TIMSS 2011 | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84935429480 | Evaluation of the importance of the 39 subjects defined by the global forum for maintenance and asset management | Visser J.K., Botha T.A. | 2015 | South African Journal of Industrial Engineering | 26 | 1 | None | Department of Engineering and Technology Management, University of Pretoria, South Africa | Visser, J.K., Department of Engineering and Technology Management, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Botha, T.A., Department of Engineering and Technology Management, University of Pretoria, South Africa | The Global Forum on Maintenance and Asset Management (GFMAM) was formed in 2011 to bring together various experts, practitioners, academics, and other professionals who are active in the field of asset and maintenance management. The primary mission of GFMAM is to develop and promote knowledge, standards, and education for the maintenance and asset management professions. To fulfil this mission, GFMAM developed an ‘Asset Management Landscape’ document, which defines 39 subjects on asset management, grouped into six main subject areas. This paper reports on two surveys that were conducted to determine the importance of the 39 asset management subjects. Respondents were requested to rate the importance of each of the 39 subjects on a five-point scale. Results from the survey indicated that the five most important subjects are ‘asset management strategy and objectives’, ‘asset management policy’, ‘strategic planning’, ‘asset management planning’, and ‘asset management leadership’. © 2015, South African Institute of Industrial Engineering. All rights reserved. | None | Maintenance; Surveys; Asset Management strategy; Global forum; Maintenance management; Management planning; Management policy; Asset management | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33847751928 | The power of non-verbal communication: Predicting job performance by means of thin slices of non-verbal behaviour | Visser D., Matthews J.D.L. | 2005 | South African Journal of Psychology | 35 | 2 | None | Programme in Industrial Psychology, Department of Human Resource Management, University of Johannesburg, P. O. Box 524, Auckland Park, 2006, South Africa; Programme in Industrial Psychology, Department of Human Resource Management, University of Johannesburg, South Africa | Visser, D., Programme in Industrial Psychology, Department of Human Resource Management, University of Johannesburg, P. O. Box 524, Auckland Park, 2006, South Africa; Matthews, J.D.L., Programme in Industrial Psychology, Department of Human Resource Management, University of Johannesburg, South Africa | The purpose of the study was to investigate whether ratings of brief exposures to 'non-verbal' and 'non-verbal plus verbal' behaviour could successfully predict on-the-job performance in a call centre. A panel of ten judges who were exposed to 30-second silent video recordings of 29 call centre operators carrying out their jobs were asked to rate the non-verbal behaviour of the operators on several dimensions. Two weeks later they were asked to repeat their judgments with the audio channel included. The judgments were correlated with management ratings and customer ratings of the operators' performance. The correlations varied between 0.31 and 0.46, representing medium to large effect sizes. The inclusion of the verbal channel did not significantly improve the accuracy of the thin-slice judgments of non-verbal behaviour. The implications of using ratings of non-verbal behaviour as a selection method were discussed. © Psychological Society of South Africa. All rights reserved. | Call-centre operators; Customer service; Non-verbal behaviour; Non-verbal communication; Selection; Thin-slice judgments; Training; Video footage | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84907266428 | Impact of age and gender on the prevalence and prognostic importance of the metabolic syndrome and its components in europeans. the MORGAM prospective cohort project | Vishram J.K.K., Borglykke A., Andreasen A.H., Jeppesen J., Ibsen H., Jørgensen T., Palmieri L., Giampaoli S., Donfrancesco C., Kee F., Mancia G., Cesana G., Kuulasmaa K., Salomaa V., Sans S., Ferrieres J., Dallongeville J., Söderberg S., Arveiler D., Wagn | 2014 | PLoS ONE | 9 | 9 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0107294 | Department of Internal Medicine, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Glostrup, Denmark; Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Glostrup, Denmark; Division of Cardiology, Holbæk University Hospital, Holbæk, Denmark; Cerebro and Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, National Centre of Epidemiology Surveillance and Health Promotion, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy; UKCRC Centre of Excellence for Public Health Research (NI), Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom; Clinica Medica e Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Monza, Milano, Italy; Research Centre on Public Health, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy; National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland; Department of Health, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Cardiology, Toulouse University School of Medicine, Rangueil Hospital, Toulouse, France; Institut Pasteur de, Lille, Lille, France; Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Cardiology and Heart Centre, Umea University, Umea, Sweden; Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Strasbourg, Faculty of Medicine, Strasbourg, France; Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, United Kingdom; Department of Epidemiology, CVD Prevention and Health Promotion, National Institute of Cardiology, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Endocrinology, Center of Individualized Medicine in Arterial Diseases (CIMA), Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa | Vishram, J.K.K., Department of Internal Medicine, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Glostrup, Denmark, Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Glostrup, Denmark; Borglykke, A., Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Glostrup, Denmark; Andreasen, A.H., Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Glostrup, Denmark; Jeppesen, J., Department of Internal Medicine, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Glostrup, Denmark; Ibsen, H., Division of Cardiology, Holbæk University Hospital, Holbæk, Denmark; Jørgensen, T., Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Glostrup, Denmark; Palmieri, L., Cerebro and Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, National Centre of Epidemiology Surveillance and Health Promotion, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy; Giampaoli, S., Cerebro and Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, National Centre of Epidemiology Surveillance and Health Promotion, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy; Donfrancesco, C., Cerebro and Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, National Centre of Epidemiology Surveillance and Health Promotion, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy; Kee, F., UKCRC Centre of Excellence for Public Health Research (NI), Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom; Mancia, G., Clinica Medica e Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Monza, Milano, Italy; Cesana, G., Research Centre on Public Health, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy; Kuulasmaa, K., National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland; Salomaa, V., National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland; Sans, S., Department of Health, Barcelona, Spain; Ferrieres, J., Department of Cardiology, Toulouse University School of Medicine, Rangueil Hospital, Toulouse, France; Dallongeville, J., Institut Pasteur de, Lille, Lille, France; Söderberg, S., Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Cardiology and Heart Centre, Umea University, Umea, Sweden; Arveiler, D., Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Strasbourg, Faculty of Medicine, Strasbourg, France; Wagner, A., Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Strasbourg, Faculty of Medicine, Strasbourg, France; Tunstall-Pedoe, H., Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, United Kingdom; Drygas, W., Department of Epidemiology, CVD Prevention and Health Promotion, National Institute of Cardiology, Warsaw, Poland; Olsen, M.H., Department of Endocrinology, Center of Individualized Medicine in Arterial Diseases (CIMA), Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark, Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa | Results: The prevalence of MetS, according to modified definitions of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the revised National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATPIII), increased across age groups for both genders (P<0.0001); with a 5-fold increase in women from ages 19-39 years to 60-78 years (7.4%/7.6% to 35.4%/ 37.6% for IDF/NCEP-ATPIII) and a 2-fold increase in men (5.3%/10.5% to 11.5%/21.8%). Using multivariate-adjusted Cox regressions, the associations between MetS and all three CVD events were significant (P<0.0001). For IDF/NCEP-ATPIII in men and women, hazard ratio (HR) for CHD was 1.60/1.62 and 1.93/2.03, for CVD mortality 1.73/1.65 and 1.77/2.06, and for stroke 1.51/1.53 and 1.58/1.77. Whereas in men the HRs for CVD events were independent of age (MetS∗age, P>0.05), in women the HRs for CHD declined with age (HRs 3.23/3.98 to 1.55/1.56; MetS∗age, P = 0.01/P = 0.001 for IDF/NCEP-ATPIII) while the HRs for stroke tended to increase (HRs 1.31/1.25 to 1.55/1.83; MetS∗age, P>0.05).Objective: To investigate the influence of age and gender on the prevalence and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in Europeans presenting with the Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). Copyright:Methods: Using 36 cohorts from the MORGAM-Project with baseline between 1982-1997, 69094 men and women aged 19- 78 years, without known CVD, were included. During 12.2 years of follow-up, 3.7%/2.1% of men/women died due to CVD. The corresponding percentages for fatal and nonfatal coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke were 8.3/3.8 and 3.1/2.5.Conclusion: In Europeans, both age and gender influenced the prevalence of MetS and its prognostic significance. The present results emphasise the importance of being critical of MetS in its current form as a marker of CVD especially in women, and advocate for a redefinition of MetS taking into account age especially in women. © 2014 Mineshita et al. | None | high density lipoprotein cholesterol; triacylglycerol; adult; age distribution; aged; Article; cardiovascular disease; cardiovascular mortality; cardiovascular risk; cerebrovascular accident; cholesterol blood level; controlled study; diabetes mellitus; disease association; European; female; follow up; human; hypertension; incidence; ischemic heart disease; male; metabolic syndrome X; middle aged; prevalence; prognosis; prospective study; risk assessment; risk factor; sex difference; smoking; triacylglycerol blood level; waist circumference; age; Cardiovascular Diseases; cohort analysis; Europe; metabolic syndrome X; mortality; prevalence; prognosis; sex difference; young adult; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Cardiovascular Diseases; Cohort Studies; Europe; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Metabolic Syndrome X; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84868197201 | Impact of age on the importance of systolic and diastolic blood pressures for stroke risk: The MOnica, Risk, Genetics, Archiving, and Monograph (MORGAM) Project | Vishram J.K.K., Borglykke A., Andreasen A.H., Jeppesen J., Ibsen H., Jørgensen T., Broda G., Palmieri L., Giampaoli S., Donfrancesco C., Kee F., Mancia G., Cesana G., Kuulasmaa K., Sans S., Olsen M.H. | 2012 | Hypertension | 60 | 5 | 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.112.201400 | Cardiovascular Research Unit, Cardiovascular Department of Internal Medicine, Denmark; Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Glostrup University Hospital, Building 84-85, Nordre Ringvej 57, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark; Division of Cardiology, Holbk University Hospital, Holbk, Denmark; Department of Cardiovascular Epidemiology and Prevention, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski Institute of Cardiology, Warsaw, Poland; Cerebro and Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, National Centre of Epidemiology, Surveillance, and Promotion of Health, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy; United Kingdom Clinical Research Collaboration Centre of Excellence for Public Health Research, Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom; Clinica Medica e Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy; Research Centre on Chronic Degenerative Diseases Osp. S. Gerardo, Monza, Italy; National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland; Institute of Health Studies, Department of Health, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Hypertension in Africa Research Team, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa | Vishram, J.K.K., Cardiovascular Research Unit, Cardiovascular Department of Internal Medicine, Denmark, Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Glostrup University Hospital, Building 84-85, Nordre Ringvej 57, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark; Borglykke, A., Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Glostrup University Hospital, Building 84-85, Nordre Ringvej 57, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark; Andreasen, A.H., Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Glostrup University Hospital, Building 84-85, Nordre Ringvej 57, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark; Jeppesen, J., Cardiovascular Research Unit, Cardiovascular Department of Internal Medicine, Denmark; Ibsen, H., Division of Cardiology, Holbk University Hospital, Holbk, Denmark; Jørgensen, T., Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Glostrup University Hospital, Building 84-85, Nordre Ringvej 57, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark; Broda, G., Department of Cardiovascular Epidemiology and Prevention, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski Institute of Cardiology, Warsaw, Poland; Palmieri, L., Cerebro and Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, National Centre of Epidemiology, Surveillance, and Promotion of Health, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy; Giampaoli, S., Cerebro and Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, National Centre of Epidemiology, Surveillance, and Promotion of Health, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy; Donfrancesco, C., Cerebro and Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, National Centre of Epidemiology, Surveillance, and Promotion of Health, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy; Kee, F., United Kingdom Clinical Research Collaboration Centre of Excellence for Public Health Research, Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom; Mancia, G., Clinica Medica e Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy; Cesana, G., Research Centre on Chronic Degenerative Diseases Osp. S. Gerardo, Monza, Italy; Kuulasmaa, K., National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland; Sans, S., Institute of Health Studies, Department of Health, Barcelona, Spain; Olsen, M.H., Department of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark, Hypertension in Africa Research Team, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa | This study investigates age-related shifts in the relative importance of systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures as predictors of stroke and whether these relations are influenced by other cardiovascular risk factors. Using 34 European cohorts from the MOnica, Risk, Genetics, Archiving, and Monograph (MORGAM) Project with baseline between 1982 and 1997, 68 551 subjects aged 19 to 78 years, without cardiovascular disease and not receiving antihypertensive treatment, were included. During a mean of 13.2 years of follow-up, stroke incidence was 2.8%. Stroke risk was analyzed using hazard ratios per 10-mm Hg/5-mm Hg increase in SBP/DBP by multivariate-adjusted Cox regressions, including SBP and DBP simultaneously. Because of nonlinearity, DBP was analyzed separately for DBP <71 mm Hg and DBP <71 mm Hg. Stroke risk was associated positively with SBP and DBP <71 mm Hg (SBP/DBP <71 mm Hg; hazard ratios: 1.15/1.06 [95% CI: 1.12-1.18/1.03-1.09]) and negatively with DBP <71 mm Hg (0.88[0.79-0.98]). The hazard ratio for DBP decreased with age (P<0.001) and was not influenced by other cardiovascular risk factors. Taking into account the age×DBP interaction, both SBP and DBP <71 mm Hg were significantly associated with stroke risk until age 62 years, but in subjects older than 46 years the superiority of SBP for stroke risk exceeded that of DBP <71 mm Hg and remained significant until age 78 years. DBP <71 mm Hg became significant at age 50 years with an inverse relation to stroke risk. In Europeans, stroke risk should be assessed by both SBP and DBP until age 62 years with increased focus on SBP from age 47 years. From age 62 years, emphasis should be on SBP without neglecting the potential harm of very low DBP. © 2012 American Heart Association, Inc. | age; blood pressure; epidemiology; risk factors; stroke | cholesterol; adult; age; aged; antihypertensive therapy; article; body mass; cardiovascular risk; cerebrovascular accident; cholesterol blood level; cohort analysis; controlled study; diastolic blood pressure; Europe; female; follow up; hazard ratio; human; incidence; major clinical study; male; mean arterial pressure; prediction; priority journal; proportional hazards model; pulse pressure; risk assessment; systolic blood pressure; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Blood Pressure; Cohort Studies; Europe; Female; Humans; Incidence; Male; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Proportional Hazards Models; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Stroke; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84898034540 | Do other cardiovascular risk factors influence the impact of age on the association between blood pressure and mortality? the MORGAM Project | Vishram J.K.K., Borglykke A., Andreasen A.H., Jeppesen J., Ibsen H., Jørgensen T., Broda G., Palmieri L., Giampaoli S., Donfrancesco C., Kee F., Mancia G., Cesana G., Kuulasmaa K., Salomaa V., Sans S., Ferrieres J., Tamosiunas A., Söderberg S., McElduff P | 2014 | Journal of Hypertension | 32 | 5 | 10.1097/HJH.0000000000000133 | Cardiovascular Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Unit, Denmark; Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Glostrup University Hospital, Nordre Ringvej 57, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark; Division of Cardiology, Holbaek University Hospital, Holbaek, Denmark; Department of Cardiovascular Epidemiology and Prevention, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski, Institute of Cardiology, Warsaw, Poland; Cerebro and Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, National Centre of Epidemiology, Surveillance, and Promotion of Health, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy; UKCRC Centre of Excellence for Public Health Research (NI), Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom; Clinica Medica e Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy; Research Centre on Chronic Degenerative Diseases (Osp. S. Gerardo), Monza, Italy; National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland; Department of Health, Institute of Health Studies, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Cardiology, Rangueil Hospital, Toulouse University School of Medicine, Toulouse, France; Institute of Cardiology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania; Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Cardiology and Heart Centre, Umea University, Umea, Sweden; School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, New-Castle, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; Department of Epidemiology and Population Studies, Institute of Public Health, Jagiellonian University of Medical College, Krakow, Poland; Department of Endocrinology, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Preventive Clinic, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa | Vishram, J.K.K., Cardiovascular Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Unit, Denmark, Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Glostrup University Hospital, Nordre Ringvej 57, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark; Borglykke, A., Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Glostrup University Hospital, Nordre Ringvej 57, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark; Andreasen, A.H., Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Glostrup University Hospital, Nordre Ringvej 57, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark; Jeppesen, J., Cardiovascular Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Unit, Denmark; Ibsen, H., Division of Cardiology, Holbaek University Hospital, Holbaek, Denmark; Jørgensen, T., Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Glostrup University Hospital, Nordre Ringvej 57, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark; Broda, G., Department of Cardiovascular Epidemiology and Prevention, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski, Institute of Cardiology, Warsaw, Poland; Palmieri, L., Cerebro and Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, National Centre of Epidemiology, Surveillance, and Promotion of Health, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy; Giampaoli, S., Cerebro and Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, National Centre of Epidemiology, Surveillance, and Promotion of Health, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy; Donfrancesco, C., Cerebro and Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, National Centre of Epidemiology, Surveillance, and Promotion of Health, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy; Kee, F., UKCRC Centre of Excellence for Public Health Research (NI), Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom; Mancia, G., Clinica Medica e Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy; Cesana, G., Research Centre on Chronic Degenerative Diseases (Osp. S. Gerardo), Monza, Italy; Kuulasmaa, K., National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland; Salomaa, V., National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland; Sans, S., Department of Health, Institute of Health Studies, Barcelona, Spain; Ferrieres, J., Department of Cardiology, Rangueil Hospital, Toulouse University School of Medicine, Toulouse, France; Tamosiunas, A., Institute of Cardiology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania; Söderberg, S., Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Cardiology and Heart Centre, Umea University, Umea, Sweden; McElduff, P., School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, New-Castle, NSW, Australia; Arveiler, D., Faculty of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; Pajak, A., Department of Epidemiology and Population Studies, Institute of Public Health, Jagiellonian University of Medical College, Krakow, Poland; Olsen, M.H., Department of Endocrinology, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Preventive Clinic, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark, Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa | OBJECTIVE: To investigate age-related shifts in the relative importance of SBP and DBP as predictors of cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality and whether these relations are influenced by other cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: Using 42 cohorts from the MORGAM Project with baseline between 1982 and 1997, 85772 apparently healthy Europeans and Australians aged 19-78 years were included. During 13.3 years of follow-up, 9.2% died (of whom 7.2% died due to stroke and 21.1% due to coronary heart disease, CHD). RESULTS: Mortality risk was analyzed using hazard ratios per 10-mmHg/5-mmHg increase in SBP/DBP by multivariate-adjusted Cox regressions, including SBP and DBP simultaneously. Because of nonlinearity, SBP and DBP were analyzed separately for blood pressure (BP) values above and below a cut-point wherein mortality risk was the lowest. For the total population, significantly positive associations were found between stroke mortality and SBP [hazard ratio=1.19 (1.13-1.25)] and DBP at least 78mmHg [hazard ratio=1.08 (1.02-1.14)], CHD mortality and SBP at least 116mmHg [1.20 (1.16-1.24)], and all-cause mortality and SBP at least 120mmHg [1.09 (1.08-1.11)] and DBP at least 82mmHg [1.03 (1.02-1.05)]. BP values below the cut-points were inversely related to mortality risk. Taking into account the age×BP interaction, there was a gradual shift from DBP (19-26 years) to both DBP and SBP (27-62 years) and to SBP (63-78 years) as risk factors for stroke mortality and all-cause mortality, but not CHD mortality. The age at which the importance of SBP exceeded DBP was for stroke mortality influenced by sex, cholesterol, and country risk. CONCLUSION: Age-related shifts to the superiority of SBP exist for stroke mortality and all-cause mortality, and for stroke mortality was this shift influenced by other cardiovascular risk factors. © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health / Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. | age; blood pressure; epidemiology; mortality; risk factors | antihypertensive agent; cholesterol; adult; aged; article; blood pressure; body mass; cardiovascular mortality; cardiovascular risk; cerebrovascular accident; cholesterol blood level; cohort analysis; coronary artery bypass graft; diabetes mellitus; diastolic blood pressure; female; follow up; heart infarction; human; ischemic heart disease; major clinical study; male; prediction; priority journal; self report; smoking; systolic blood pressure; transluminal coronary angioplasty; age; blood pressure; Cardiovascular Diseases; middle aged; mortality; pathophysiology; risk factor; young adult; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Blood Pressure; Cardiovascular Diseases; Cohort Studies; Humans; Middle Aged; Risk Factors; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-69149107469 | Factors influencing the breeding performance of the Augur Buzzard Buteo augur in southern Lake Naivasha, Rift Valley, Kenya | Virani M.Z., Harper D.M. | 2009 | Ostrich | 80 | 1 | 10.2989/OSTRICH.2009.80.1.2.760 | The Peregrine Fund, 5668 West Flying Hawk Lane, Boise, ID 83709, United States; Department of Biology, Leicester University, Leicester, LE1 7RH, United Kingdom; Department of Zoology, National Museums of Kenya, PO Box 40658, Nairobi, Kenya | Virani, M.Z., The Peregrine Fund, 5668 West Flying Hawk Lane, Boise, ID 83709, United States, Department of Biology, Leicester University, Leicester, LE1 7RH, United Kingdom, Department of Zoology, National Museums of Kenya, PO Box 40658, Nairobi, Kenya; Harper, D.M., Department of Biology, Leicester University, Leicester, LE1 7RH, United Kingdom | The breeding performance of the Augur Buzzard Buteo augur in 1995-1998 was compared between three different areas south of Lake Naivasha, Kenya. These were: (1) a national park (Hell's Gate), (2) an undisturbed Acacia woodland-pasture (Mundui) and (3) an intensively farmed horticultural area (Sulmac-Oserian). Augur Buzzards in Mundui had the most optimal nesting habitat, produced the most fledglings (1.6 chicks per year), enjoyed an abundant food supply as their land was not heavily grazed, and suffered the least persecution. In contrast, Augur Buzzards in Hell's Gate produced the fewest fledglings (0.5 chicks per year). Their food supply was not abundant and their nests were confined to cliffs and short shrubs making them vulnerable to predation. Augur Buzzards in Sulmac-Oserian performed intermediately, producing 0.8 chicks per year and suffering the highest adult mortalities (12%) from human persecution. Height of grass in fields within a pair's territory was the most important variable in predicting whether Augur Buzzards attempted to breed or not. Mean annual adult mortality was lowest at Mundui (4.8%) and highest at Sulmac-Oserian (12%). Adult mortality and the success of previous breeding attempts were the most important predictors in determining breeding performance. © NISC Pty Ltd. | None | Acacia; Buteo augur | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84901269592 | Diagnostic Performance of Schistosoma Real-Time PCR in Urine Samples from Kenyan Children Infected with Schistosoma haematobium: Day-to-day Variation and Follow-up after Praziquantel Treatment | Vinkeles Melchers N.V.S., van Dam G.J., Shaproski D., Kahama A.I., Brienen E.A.T., Vennervald B.J., van Lieshout L. | 2014 | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases | 8 | 4 | 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002807 | Leiden University Medical Centre, Department of Parasitology, Centre of Infectious Diseases, Leiden, Netherlands; Division of Vector Borne Diseases, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya; Section for Parasitology and Aquatic Diseases, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Novartis Animal Health Canada Inc. (Aqua Health Victoria Site), Victoria, PE, Canada | Vinkeles Melchers, N.V.S., Leiden University Medical Centre, Department of Parasitology, Centre of Infectious Diseases, Leiden, Netherlands; van Dam, G.J., Leiden University Medical Centre, Department of Parasitology, Centre of Infectious Diseases, Leiden, Netherlands; Shaproski, D., Leiden University Medical Centre, Department of Parasitology, Centre of Infectious Diseases, Leiden, Netherlands; Kahama, A.I., Division of Vector Borne Diseases, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya, Novartis Animal Health Canada Inc. (Aqua Health Victoria Site), Victoria, PE, Canada; Brienen, E.A.T., Leiden University Medical Centre, Department of Parasitology, Centre of Infectious Diseases, Leiden, Netherlands; Vennervald, B.J., Section for Parasitology and Aquatic Diseases, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; van Lieshout, L., Leiden University Medical Centre, Department of Parasitology, Centre of Infectious Diseases, Leiden, Netherlands | Background:In an effort to enhance accuracy of diagnosis of Schistosoma haematobium, this study explores day-to-day variability and diagnostic performance of real-time PCR for detection and quantification of Schistosoma DNA compared to other diagnostic tools in an endemic area before and after treatment.Methodology:Previously collected urine samples (N = 390) from 114 preselected proven parasitological and/or clinical S. haematobium positive Kenyan schoolchildren were analyzed by a Schistosoma internal transcribed spacer-based real-time PCR after 14 years of storage. Pre-treatment day-to-day fluctuations of PCR and microscopy over three consecutive days were measured for 24 children using intra-class correlation coefficient. A combined 'gold standard' (PCR and/or microscopy positive) was used to measure sensitivity and negative predictive value (NPV) of several diagnostic tools at baseline, two and 18 months post-treatment with praziquantel.Principal Findings:All 24 repeatedly tested children were PCR-positive over three days with little daily variation in median Ct-values, while 83.3% were found to be egg-positive for S. haematobium at day 1 and 75.0% at day 2 and 3 pre-treatment, signifying daily fluctuations in microscopy diagnosis. Of all 114 preselected schoolchildren, repeated microscopic measurements were required to detect 96.5% versus 100% of positive pre-treatment cases by single PCR. At two months post-treatment, microscopy and PCR detected 22.8% versus 69.3% positive children, respectively. Based on the 'gold standard', PCR showed high sensitivity (>92%) as compared to >31% sensitivity for microscopy, both pre- and post-treatment.Conclusions/Significance:Detection and quantification of Schistosoma DNA in urine by real-time PCR was shown to be a powerful and specific diagnostic tool for detection of S. haematobium infections, with less day-to-day variation and higher sensitivity compared to microscopy. The superior performance of PCR before, and two and 18 months post-treatment provides a compelling argument for PCR as an accurate and reproducible tool for monitoring treatment efficacy. © 2014 Vinkeles Melchers et al. | None | antigen; circulating soluble egg antigen; praziquantel; unclassified drug; article; child; data analysis; diagnostic test accuracy study; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; female; follow up; hematuria; human; major clinical study; male; predictive value; real time polymerase chain reaction; Schistosoma; schistosomiasis haematobia; sensitivity and specificity; Adolescent; Animals; Anthelmintics; Child; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; Drug Monitoring; Female; Humans; Kenya; Male; Microscopy; Parasitology; Praziquantel; Predictive Value of Tests; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Retrospective Studies; Schistosoma haematobium; Schistosomiasis haematobia; Sensitivity and Specificity; Urine | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84902280481 | Trajectory of motor performance over twelve months in nigerian stroke survivors | Vincent-Onabajo G.O., Hamzat T.K., Owolabi M.O. | 2014 | Brain Impairment | 15 | 1 | 10.1017/BrImp.2014.3 | Department of Medical Rehabilitation, College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria; Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria; Department of Medicine, Neurology Unit, Universit | Vincent-Onabajo, G.O., Department of Medical Rehabilitation, College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria; Hamzat, T.K., Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria; Owolabi, M.O., Department of Medicine, Neurology Unit, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria | Objective: Submissions on recovery of post-stroke motor performance vary, especially in relation to increasing time after stroke. This study examined the trajectory of motor performance over the first 12 months after stroke. Methods: Consecutive first-incidence stroke survivors (N = 83) were recruited within 1 month of onset from a tertiary health institution in Nigeria. Simplified Fugl Meyer scale (S-FM) was used to assess motor performance at monthly intervals. Changes in overall motor performance, and differences between the affected upper and lower extremities, were examined using Friedman's ANOVA and paired t-tests, respectively. Results: Significant improvement in motor performance was observed across 12 months (p <.001), with the proportion of stroke survivors with severe impairment at onset (53.3%) decreasing to 20% by 12 months. Lower extremity motor performance scores were significantly higher than for the upper extremity from 1 to 12 months (p <.01 at 3, 4, 5, 6 and 12 months; and p <.05 at the remaining months). Conclusions: The potential for long-term improvement in motor performance after stroke was observed, suggesting that this can be harnessed by long-term rehabilitation efforts. The comparatively poorer outcome in the upper extremity indicates the need for extra rehabilitation strategies to enhance upper-extremity motor recovery in the first year of stroke. Copyright © Australasian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment 2014. | Keywords: motor performance; lower extremity; Nigeria; stroke; upper extremity | adult; aged; arm; article; cerebrovascular accident; convalescence; female; functional status; human; leg; male; motor performance; Nigeria; rehabilitation care; Simplified Fugl Meyer scale; survivor; tertiary health care | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84900524562 | Variable-gear EV reluctance synchronous motor drives -An evaluation of rotor structures for position-sensorless control | Villet W.T., Kamper M.J. | 2014 | IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics | 61 | 10 | 10.1109/TIE.2013.2288231 | Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, 7599 Stellenbosch, South Africa | Villet, W.T., Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, 7599 Stellenbosch, South Africa; Kamper, M.J., Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, 7599 Stellenbosch, South Africa | The reluctance synchronous motor (RSM) is identified to be well suited for the variable-gear (VG) electric vehicle (EV) drive. It is shown in this paper, however, that the RSM drive's position-sensorless capability is limited at zero or very small current magnitudes due to a limited saliency magnitude. In this paper, a novel epoxy-resin-casted rotor with no iron ribs is proposed to increase the saliency of the RSM at zero reference current. This rotor RSM is simulated in finite-element (FE) analysis, built, evaluated, and compared with conventional flux barrier rotor RSMs. The effect of rotor skewing on the position-sensorless control (PSC) capability of the RSM is also evaluated by means of FE analysis and measurements. Other performance aspects are also considered in this paper. It is concluded that, overall, the skewed epoxy-resin-casted rotor RSM drive has no PSC problems in the entire load and speed regions and is well suited for VG EV drives. © 1982-2012 IEEE. | position sensorless control; Reluctance synchronous machines; variable speed drives | Electric drives; Finite element method; Resins; Synchronous motors; Variable speed drives; Current magnitudes; Flux barrier; Performance aspects; Position sensorless control; Reference currents; Reluctance synchronous machine; Reluctance synchronous motors; Rotor structures; Position control | 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-s2.0-54249166637 | Review of impacts affecting Eskom due to loss of I&C know-how, engineering capacity and vendor constraints | Viljoen J., Veldman J.J. | 2008 | VGB PowerTech | 88 | 9 | None | Generation Technology Department, Eskom, Johannesburg, South Africa | Viljoen, J., Generation Technology Department, Eskom, Johannesburg, South Africa; Veldman, J.J., Generation Technology Department, Eskom, Johannesburg, South Africa | Over the last few years. Eskom has experienced a significant turnover of staff leading to an extreme skill shortage. In an attempt to counteract these threats, Eskom has been devcloping a number of strategies, targeting the various issues. These include adopting a more standardised approach, the use of more stringent policies and procedures, introducing knowledge management principles, providing a centralised oversight function, and implementing advanced information management solutions. This paper will discuss some of Eskom's recent experiences, as well as some of the proposed strategies to deal with them. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84892573920 | The impact of apartheidon urban poverty in South Africa: What we can learn from history | Viljoen D., Sekhampu T.J. | 2013 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 4 | 2 | 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n2p729 | School of Economics, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa | Viljoen, D., School of Economics, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa; Sekhampu, T.J., School of Economics, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa | South Africa's present day configuration of poverty and inequality bears overriding racial and gender dimensions as a result of the country's history. The distortions created by the now defunct apartheid system are still visible and continue to perpetuate poverty in South Africa, reducing people's ability to improve their standard of living. This article provides a historical review of the impact which theapartheid system had on urban poverty in South Africa. Three aspects of apartheid policy that caused black urban poverty are highlighted, namely racially enforced relocations, the nature of housing provision for blacks, the character and regulation of urbanisation. | Apartheid; History; South Africa; Urban poverty | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77957201164 | Preliminary evaluation of residual herbicides for the control of camelthorn bush (Alhagi maurorum Medik.) | Viljoen B.D., Stoltsz C.W., Van Der Rijst M. | 2010 | South African Journal of Plant and Soil | 27 | 2 | None | Agricultural Research Council, Plant Protection Research Institute, P.O. Box 318, Uitenhage, 6230, South Africa; Agricultural Research Council, Biometry Unit, Private Bag X5013, Stellenbosch, 7599, South Africa | Viljoen, B.D., Agricultural Research Council, Plant Protection Research Institute, P.O. Box 318, Uitenhage, 6230, South Africa; Stoltsz, C.W., Agricultural Research Council, Plant Protection Research Institute, P.O. Box 318, Uitenhage, 6230, South Africa; Van Der Rijst, M., Agricultural Research Council, Biometry Unit, Private Bag X5013, Stellenbosch, 7599, South Africa | Camelthorn bush (Alhagi maurorum Medik.) invasion in South Africa is a serious, but still relatively localized problem, with the potential to spread into many other parts of the country. Previous research revealed the difficulty in killing the deep extensive root system when using foliarapplied herbicides. The small leaf area available for herbicide absorption relative to the large root system and the apparent inability of foliar-applied herbicides to translocate in sufficient quantity beyond the root crown are probably some of the main reasons for the poor levels of control normally achieved. It stands to reason that residual herbicides that are root absorbed may be a better option to enhance control. Tebuthiuron 200 g kg1 (Molopo 200 GG) is an example of such a herbicide and is presently the only product registered for control of camelthorn bush in South Africa. However, since the plant is often a problem in cultivated areas and since tebuthiuron has a long-term soil sterilizing effect, this product has limited practical application value for control of camelthorn bush. The objective of this study was to investigate other residual herbicides that would have a lower residual impact on the soil. Results showed that both imazapyr 250 g ℓ-1 SL (8 ℓ ha-1) and metsulfuron-methyl 600 g kg-1 WP (13.33 kg ha-1) outper-formed all other treatments and sustained good levels of population control for at least 2 years after application. It is recommended that the registration holders of these products conduct further trials for the purpose of registration to control camelthorn bush. | Chemical control; Herbicides; Invasive vegetation; Noxious weed | biological invasion; herbicide; leaf area; legume; pesticide application; pesticide residue; root architecture; root system; translocation; weed control; South Africa; Alhagi maurorum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34548216169 | Evaluation of selected herbicides for the control of European gorse (Ulex europaeus L) by cut-stump and foliar treatment | Viljoen B.D., Stoltsz C.W. | 2007 | South African Journal of Plant and Soil | 24 | 2 | None | Agricultural Research Council, Plant Protection Research Institute, P.O. Box 318, Uitenhage 6230, South Africa | Viljoen, B.D., Agricultural Research Council, Plant Protection Research Institute, P.O. Box 318, Uitenhage 6230, South Africa; Stoltsz, C.W., Agricultural Research Council, Plant Protection Research Institute, P.O. Box 318, Uitenhage 6230, South Africa | European gorse (Ulex europaeus L) is a persistent, declared weed (Category 1) of South Africa. Current distribution is limited to the moist, high altitude regions of the Drakensberg (KwaZulu Natal Province) and Amatola (Eastern Cape Province) mountains. Gorse poses a threat to the plant diversity of forests, where it could establish itself quickly and occupies the site indefinitely. Once established, gorse can be difficult to eradicate, as it resprouts if cut or burnt and no herbicide was registered in South Africa at the time of this research on its control. The objective of this investigation was therefore to evaluate selected herbicides at various concentrations using different application techniques. Picloram and triclopyr ester proved the most effective and consistent across all application methods, while imazapyr is also recommended for cut-stump treatment. As a result of this research, both picloram and triclopyr were registered under Act 36 (1947) for the control of European gorse by means of cut stump and foliar treatment. | Chemical control; Declared weed; European gorse; Herbicides; Ulex europaeus | agroforestry; herbicide; species diversity; weed control; Africa; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Ulex europaeus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80053892761 | Preliminary evaluation of soil-residual herbicides for the control of silver-leaf bitter apple (Solarium elaeagnifolium Cav.) | Viljoen B.D., Stoltsz C.W., Van Der Rijst M. | 2011 | South African Journal of Plant and Soil | 28 | 2 | None | Agricultural Research Council, Plant Protection Research Institute, P.O. Box 318, Uitenhage, 6230, South Africa; Agricultural Research Council, Biometry Unit, Private Bag X5013, Stellenbosch, 7599, South Africa; Hofmeyer Street, Despatch, 6220, South Africa | Viljoen, B.D., Agricultural Research Council, Plant Protection Research Institute, P.O. Box 318, Uitenhage, 6230, South Africa, Hofmeyer Street, Despatch, 6220, South Africa; Stoltsz, C.W., Agricultural Research Council, Plant Protection Research Institute, P.O. Box 318, Uitenhage, 6230, South Africa; Van Der Rijst, M., Agricultural Research Council, Biometry Unit, Private Bag X5013, Stellenbosch, 7599, South Africa | Solatium elaeagnifolium Cav., commonly known as silver-leaf bitter apple, silverleaf nightshade or "satansbos",has become one of the most important emerging weeds in South Africa, with the potential to spread throughoutsome of the major crop growing areas of the country. Consequently, it has been declared a weed of nationalimportance. Previous research revealed the difficulty in killing the extensive root system when using foliarapplied herbicides. The small leaf area for herbicide absorption relative to the large root system and apparentinability to translocate sufficient herbicide beyond the root crown are believed to be some of the main reasonsfor the poor levels of control achieved. Since herbicides capable of being absorbed by the roots may be moreeffective, a study was undertaken to evaluate a range of soil-residual herbicides in the hope of improving control.While imazapyr 250 g V SL applied at 81 ha"1initially caused the most significant reduction in weed populationlevels, it was ultimately tebuthiuron 500 g !"1 SC and a bromacil/tebuthiuron mixture 250/250 g ("1 SC applied at32 J ha"1 that sustained the best long-term control. However, the high cost and long soil residual nature of theseproducts would seriously limit their application value in cropping areas and sensitive habitats. Nonetheless, theymay be useful for controlling isolated dense patches on fallow land and along roadsides, away from desirablevegetation, steep slopes or watercourses. The registration holders of these products are encouraged to conductfurther evaluations using lower rates, as well as combining these products with foliar applied herbicides, toreduce costs and potential environmental impacts if used in sensitive habitats. | Chemical control; Noxious weed; Satansbos; Silverleaf nightshade | dicotyledon; environmental impact; herbicide; pesticide residue; root system; tolerance; translocation; weed control; South Africa; Citrullus colocynthis; Solanum elaeagnifolium; Solarium | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79952757461 | The impact of ultrasound during emergency after-hour admissions of horses | Viljoen A., Saulez M.N., Carstens A., Gummow B. | 2010 | Journal of the South African Veterinary Association | 81 | 4 | None | Section of Equine Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Section of Diagnostic Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X05, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia | Viljoen, A., Section of Equine Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Saulez, M.N., Section of Equine Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Carstens, A., Section of Diagnostic Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X05, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Gummow, B., School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia | Clinical use of diagnostic ultrasound at point-of-care or emergency situations, although common, has not been well documented in veterinary medicine. Medical records of after-hour emergency equine admissions during a 10-year period were reviewed and horses that received ultrasound scans were identified. Data sheets for each ultrasound scan performed during emergency clinical evaluation were collected and reviewed. Data extracted included anatomical region imaged, body system affected, documented ultrasonographic diagnosis and final diagnosis. Six hundred and nine records were available of which 108 horses had an ultrasound diagnostic procedure performed. The most common reason for emergency ultrasonography was to investigate gastrointestinal abnormalities, the largest proportion of these being large intestinal disorders. A complete ultrasound report was documented in 57%of evaluations, of which 79%correlated with a final diagnosis. Incomplete reporting made accurate interpretation of records difficult. Results indicate that the use of ultrasound in the emergency setting may be of diagnostic benefit and impact on patient management. Ultrasound training should be provided to residents in order to gain proficiency, especially with regard to the gastrointestinal system. | Diagnostic imaging; Equine; Gastrointestinal; Training | article; diagnostic imaging; emergency care; gastrointestinal symptom; horse; large intestine disease; nonhuman; ultrasound; veterinary medicine; After-Hours Care; Animals; Emergency Medical Services; Horse Diseases; Horses; Hospitals, Animal; Retrospective Studies; Equidae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84922577041 | Explaining the variation in impacts of non-native plants on local-scale species richness: The role of phylogenetic relatedness | Vilà M., Rohr R.P., Espinar J.L., Hulme P.E., Pergl J., Le Roux J.J., Schaffner U., Pyšek P. | 2015 | Global Ecology and Biogeography | 24 | 2 | 10.1111/geb.12249 | Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Avda Américo Vespucio s/n, Isla de la Cartuja, Sevilla, Spain; Unit of Ecology and Evolution, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland; The Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln University, Christchurch, New Zealand; Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Průhonice, Czech Republic; Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa; CABI Switzerland, Delémont, Switzerland; Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 7, Prague, Czech Republic | Vilà, M., Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Avda Américo Vespucio s/n, Isla de la Cartuja, Sevilla, Spain; Rohr, R.P., Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Avda Américo Vespucio s/n, Isla de la Cartuja, Sevilla, Spain, Unit of Ecology and Evolution, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland; Espinar, J.L., Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Avda Américo Vespucio s/n, Isla de la Cartuja, Sevilla, Spain; Hulme, P.E., The Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln University, Christchurch, New Zealand; Pergl, J., Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Průhonice, Czech Republic; Le Roux, J.J., Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa; Schaffner, U., CABI Switzerland, Delémont, Switzerland; Pyšek, P., Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Průhonice, Czech Republic, Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 7, Prague, Czech Republic | Aim: To assess how the magnitude of impacts of non-native plants on species richness of resident plants and animals varies in relation to the traits and phylogenetic position of the non-native as well as characteristics of the invaded site. Location: Global. Methods: Meta-analysis and phylogenetic regressions based on 216 studies were used to examine the effects of 96 non-native plant species on species richness of resident plants and animals while considering differences in non-native species traits (life-form, clonality or vegetative reproduction, and nitrogen-fixing ability) and characteristics of the invaded site (ecosystem type, insularity and climatic region). Results: Plots with non-native plants had lower resident plant (-20.5%) and animal species richness (-26.4%) than paired uninvaded control plots. Nitrogen-fixing ability, followed by phylogeny and clonality were the best predictors of the magnitude of impacts of non-native plants on native plant species richness. Non-nitrogen-fixing and clonal non-native plants reduced species richness more than nitrogen-fixing and non-clonal invaders. However, life-form and characteristics of the invaded sites did not appear to be important. In the case of resident animal species richness, only the phylogenetic position of the non-native and whether invaded sites were islands or not influenced impacts, with a more pronounced decrease found on islands than mainlands. Main conclusions: The presence of a phylogenetic signal on the magnitude of the impacts of non-native plants on resident plant and animal richness indicates that closely related non-native plants tend to have similar impacts. This suggests that the magnitude of the impact might depend on shared plant traits not explored in our study. Our results therefore support the need to include the phylogenetic similarity of non-native plants to known invaders in risk assessment analysis. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. | Alien species; Biological invasion; Ecological impact; Insularity; Meta-analysis; N-fixing; Phylogenetic regression; Phylogeny; Weeds | animal; biological invasion; ecological impact; introduced species; meta-analysis; nitrogen fixation; phylogenetics; phylogeny; plant; relatedness; species richness; weed; Animalia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84904355726 | Relating thin film composite membrane performance to support membrane morphology fabricated using lignin additive | Vilakati G.D., Wong M.C.Y., Hoek E.M.V., Mamba B.B. | 2014 | Journal of Membrane Science | 469 | None | 10.1016/j.memsci.2014.06.018 | University of Johannesburg, Department of Applied Chemistry, Johannesburg, South Africa; University of California, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Los Angeles, CA, United States; University of California, Department of Bioengineering, Los Angeles, CA, United States | Vilakati, G.D., University of Johannesburg, Department of Applied Chemistry, Johannesburg, South Africa; Wong, M.C.Y., University of California, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Hoek, E.M.V., University of Johannesburg, Department of Applied Chemistry, Johannesburg, South Africa, University of California, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Los Angeles, CA, United States, University of California, Department of Bioengineering, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Mamba, B.B., University of Johannesburg, Department of Applied Chemistry, Johannesburg, South Africa | In this study, three nonwoven fabrics were used as supports to form thin film composite membranes for forward osmosis (FO) applications. Lignin additive was added to the polysulfone layer in two different concentrations to increase the porosity of the substructure. The fabrics were characterized in terms of their Frazier permeability, tortuosity, porosity, thickness, structural parameter and capillary pressure. It was found that the fabric tortuosity and thickness had strong negative correlations with FO water flux, while fabric porosity had a strong positive correlation. The fabric capillary pressure was found to be indicative of how well the polysulfone layer adhered to the fabric layer. The membrane structural parameter of the fabric, unsupported and supported polysulfone layers were measured and compared using a "resistance-in-series" model. Although seepage of the casting solution into the fabric layer was physically observed, the addition of the individual structural parameters of the layers offered a good approximation of the composite membrane structural parameter. Membrane structural parameters calculated for fabric supported composite membranes using reverse osmosis (RO) permeability parameters and FO/RO established transport equations were much larger than structural parameters obtained from physical measurements. The difference may be due to compaction of composite membranes in reverse osmosis experiments, casting solution seepage partially plugging the upper layers of the support fabric and other non-idealities not captured in the established FO/RO transport equations. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. | Forward osmosis; Lignin additive; Membrane structural parameter; Nonwoven fabric; Reverse osmosis; Thin film composite membrane | Capillarity; Capillary tubes; Lignin; Nonwoven fabrics; Porosity; Reverse osmosis; Seepage; Forward osmosis; Membrane morphology; Negative correlation; Physical measurement; Positive correlations; Structural parameter; Thin film composite membranes; Transport equation; Composite membranes; lignin; polysulfone; water; article; capillary pressure; controlled study; electric conductivity; film; hydrophilicity; membrane permeability; membrane structure; membrane technology; osmotic pressure; porosity; priority journal; reverse osmosis; scanning electron microscopy; thickness; water permeability | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33750508938 | Evaluation of a commercial rubella IgM assay for use on oral fluid samples for diagnosis and surveillance of congenital rubella syndrome and postnatal rubella | Vijaylakshmi P., Muthukkaruppan V.R., Rajasundari A., Korukluoglu G., Nigatu W., L.A.Warrener, Samuel D., Brown D.W.G. | 2006 | Journal of Clinical Virology | 37 | 4 | 10.1016/j.jcv.2006.09.005 | Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai, India; Aravind Medical Research Foundation, India; Refik Saydam National Hygiene Center, National Measles Laboratory, Cemal Gursel Cad.No: 18, 06100 Yenisehir, Ankara, Turkey; Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute (EHNRI), PO Box 1242, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Virus Reference Department, Health Protection Agency, 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5EQ, United Kingdom; Microimmune Limited, 104A High Street, Brentford, Middlesex TW8 8AT, United Kingdom | Vijaylakshmi, P., Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai, India; Muthukkaruppan, V.R., Aravind Medical Research Foundation, India; Rajasundari, A., Aravind Medical Research Foundation, India; Korukluoglu, G., Refik Saydam National Hygiene Center, National Measles Laboratory, Cemal Gursel Cad.No: 18, 06100 Yenisehir, Ankara, Turkey; Nigatu, W., Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute (EHNRI), PO Box 1242, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; L.A.Warrener, Virus Reference Department, Health Protection Agency, 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5EQ, United Kingdom; Samuel, D., Virus Reference Department, Health Protection Agency, 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5EQ, United Kingdom, Microimmune Limited, 104A High Street, Brentford, Middlesex TW8 8AT, United Kingdom; Brown, D.W.G., Virus Reference Department, Health Protection Agency, 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5EQ, United Kingdom | Background: Clinical diagnosis (surveillance) of rubella is unreliable and laboratory confirmation is essential. Detection of virus specific IgM in serum is the most commonly used method. However, the use of serum necessitates the drawing of blood, either through venipuncture or finger/heel prick, which can be difficult in young babies. Oral fluid samples have proved useful as an alternative, less invasive sample for virus specific IgM detection however until recently no commercial rubella IgM tests were available, restricting the usefulness of this approach. Objectives: To evaluate the performance of the Microimmune Rubella IgM capture EIA using oral fluid samples from outbreaks as well as in cases of suspected congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). Study design: Paired serum and oral fluids were collected from cases during a rubella outbreak in three provinces in Turkey. Matched serum and oral fluid samples were collected from children with suspected CRS in an active surveillance programme at the Aravind Eye Hospital in South India. Serum samples were collected as part of the measles surveillance programme in Ethiopia. Results: On serum samples the sensitivity and specificity of the Microimmune Rubella IgM capture EIA compared to Behring Enzygnost rubella IgM test was 96.9% (62/64; 95% CI 94.2-100%) and 100% (53/53; 95% CI 93.2-100%). On oral fluids compared to matched Behring results on serum the sensitivity was 95.5% (42/44; 95% CI 84.5-99.4%). The sensitivity and specificity of Microimmune Rubella IgM capture EIA on oral fluids from suspected CRS cases compared to serum results using Behring Enzygnost IgM assay was 100% (95% CI 84.5-100%) and 100% (95% CI 95.8-100.0%) respectively. Conclusion: Microimmune Rubella IgM capture EIA has adequate performance for diagnosis and surveillance of rubella in outbreak using either serum or oral fluid specimens. | IgM; Oral fluid; Rubella | immunoglobulin M; antigen detection; article; child; congenital rubella syndrome; controlled study; diagnostic accuracy; enzyme immunoassay; Ethiopia; human; immune deficiency; India; infant; intermethod comparison; major clinical study; male; measles; priority journal; rubella; Turkey (republic); Antibodies, Viral; Biological Assay; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulin M; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; Rubella; Saliva; Sensitivity and Specificity | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34848901110 | Cost-effectiveness of alternative strategies for initiating and monitoring highly active antiretroviral therapy in the developing world | Vijayaraghavan A., Efrusy M.B., Mazonson P.D., Ebrahim O., Sanne I.M., Santas C.C. | 2007 | Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes | 46 | 1 | 10.1097/QAI.0b013e3181342564 | Mosaic Health Care Consultants, Larkspur, CA, United States; Brenthurst Clinic, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa; Clinical HIV Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; 15 Hillcrest Avenue, Larkspur, CA 94939, United States | Vijayaraghavan, A., Mosaic Health Care Consultants, Larkspur, CA, United States, 15 Hillcrest Avenue, Larkspur, CA 94939, United States; Efrusy, M.B., Mosaic Health Care Consultants, Larkspur, CA, United States; Mazonson, P.D., Mosaic Health Care Consultants, Larkspur, CA, United States; Ebrahim, O., Brenthurst Clinic, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa; Sanne, I.M., Clinical HIV Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Santas, C.C., Mosaic Health Care Consultants, Larkspur, CA, United States | OBJECTIVE: Determine the cost-effectiveness of initiating and monitoring highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in developing countries according to developing world versus developed world guidelines. DESIGN: Lifetime Markov model incorporating costs, quality of life, survival, and transmission to sexual contacts. METHODS: We evaluated treating patients with HIV in South Africa according to World Health Organization (WHO) "3 by 5" guidelines (treat CD4 counts ≤200 cells/mm or patients with AIDS, and monitor CD4 cell counts every 6 months) versus modified WHO guidelines that incorporate the following key differences from developed world guidelines: treat CD4 counts ≤350 cells/mm or viral loads >100,000 copies/mL, and monitor CD4 cell counts and viral load every 3 months. RESULTS: Incorporating transmission to partners (excluding indirect costs), treating patients according to developed versus developing world guidelines increased costs by US $11,867 and increased life expectancy by 3.00 quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), for an incremental cost-effectiveness of $3956 per QALY. Including indirect costs, over the duration of the model, there are net cost savings to the economy of $39.4 billion, with increased direct medical costs of $60.5 billion offset by indirect cost savings of $99.9 billion. CONCLUSIONS: Treating patients with HIV according to developed versus developing world guidelines is highly cost-effective and may result in substantial long-term savings. © 2007 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. | Cost-effectiveness; Developing countries; Guidelines; Highly active antiretroviral therapy; Transmission; Viral load | antiretrovirus agent; didanosine; efavirenz; lamivudine; lopinavir plus ritonavir; nevirapine; stavudine; tenofovir; acquired immune deficiency syndrome; adolescent; adult; article; CD4 lymphocyte count; controlled study; cost; cost control; cost effectiveness analysis; developing country; economic aspect; female; highly active antiretroviral therapy; human; human cell; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; life expectancy; major clinical study; male; priority journal; probability; quality adjusted life year; quality of life; sexual transmission; sexuality; South Africa; survival; virus load; world health organization; Adult; Anti-HIV Agents; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Developing Countries; Health Care Costs; HIV Infections; Humans; Markov Chains; Models, Economic; Monte Carlo Method; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Sensitivity and Specificity; South Africa; United States; United States Dept. of Health and Human Services; World Health Organization | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77649299973 | Impact of shark-feeding tourism on surrounding fish populations off Moorea Island (French Polynesia) | Vignon M., Sasal P., Johnson R.L., Galzin R. | 2010 | Marine and Freshwater Research | 61 | 2 | 10.1071/MF09079 | UMR 5244 CNRS EPHE UPVD, Biologie et Cologie Tropicale et Ḿditerrańenne, Universit́ de Perpignan, Via Domitia, 66860 Perpignan cedex, France; USR 3278, CNRS-EPHE, Centre de Recherches Insulaires et Observatoire de LEnvironnement (CRIOBE), BP 1013, Papetoai Moorea, French Polynesia; Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Oceans Research, PO Box 1767, Mossel Bay 6500, South Africa | Vignon, M., UMR 5244 CNRS EPHE UPVD, Biologie et Cologie Tropicale et Ḿditerrańenne, Universit́ de Perpignan, Via Domitia, 66860 Perpignan cedex, France, USR 3278, CNRS-EPHE, Centre de Recherches Insulaires et Observatoire de LEnvironnement (CRIOBE), BP 1013, Papetoai Moorea, French Polynesia; Sasal, P., UMR 5244 CNRS EPHE UPVD, Biologie et Cologie Tropicale et Ḿditerrańenne, Universit́ de Perpignan, Via Domitia, 66860 Perpignan cedex, France, USR 3278, CNRS-EPHE, Centre de Recherches Insulaires et Observatoire de LEnvironnement (CRIOBE), BP 1013, Papetoai Moorea, French Polynesia; Johnson, R.L., Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa, Oceans Research, PO Box 1767, Mossel Bay 6500, South Africa; Galzin, R., UMR 5244 CNRS EPHE UPVD, Biologie et Cologie Tropicale et Ḿditerrańenne, Universit́ de Perpignan, Via Domitia, 66860 Perpignan cedex, France, USR 3278, CNRS-EPHE, Centre de Recherches Insulaires et Observatoire de LEnvironnement (CRIOBE), BP 1013, Papetoai Moorea, French Polynesia | Shark feeding is widespread throughout tropical, subtropical and temperate marine ecosystems and gives rise to controversy because there is little consensus regarding its management. There are few comprehensive reports that consider how shark feeding with bait might impact local fishes, despite the development of this practice during the last few decades. Although shark feeding might theoretically have parasitological effects on local non-target fish species in the vicinity of feeding areas, this aspect has never been investigated. During an extensive parasitological survey conducted between 2005 and 2007, a total of 1117 fish belonging to six common grouper and snapper species were sampled throughout the entire north coast of Moorea Island (French Polynesia), encompassing three localities where feeding has occurred frequently since the 1990s. Parasites exhibited no spatial patterns except for the infections on the blacktip grouper (Epinephelus fasciatus). On this species, the prevalence of larval cestodes that parasitise sharks as adults and the intensity of their infestation were significantly higher around shark-feeding localities compared with non-shark-feeding localities. Our results suggest for the first time that although long-term shark feeding has parasitological implications, the impacts appear limited, only involve cestode larvae from one host species and do not seem to affect the health of the fish we studied. © 2010 CSIRO. | Cestode; Fish health; Hepatosomatic index; Lutjanidae; Pacific; Parasites; Serranidae. | anthropogenic effect; environmental disturbance; feeding; marine ecosystem; nature-society relations; parasite infestation; parasitology; shark; Moorea; Pacific Ocean; Society Islands; Windward Islands [Society Islands]; Cestoda; Chondrichthyes; Epinephelinae; Epinephelus fasciatus; Lutjanidae; Pisces; Serranidae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77956123586 | Thermal state of permafrost and active-layer monitoring in the antarctic: Advances during the international polar year 2007-2009 | Vieira G., Bockheim J., Guglielmin M., Balks M., Abramov A.A., Boelhouwers J., Cannone N., Ganzert L., Gilichinsky D.A., Goryachkin S., López-Martínez J., Meiklejohn I., Raffi R., Ramos M., Schaefer C., Serrano E., Simas F., Sletten R., Wagner D. | 2010 | Permafrost and Periglacial Processes | 21 | 2 | 10.1002/ppp.685 | University of Lisbon, Institute of Geography and Territorial Planning, Portugal; University of Wisconsin, Soil Science, United States; Insubria University, DBSF, Italy; University of Waikato, Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, New Zealand; IPCABPSS RAS, Soil Cryology, Sweden; Uppsala University, Department of Social and Economic Geography, Sweden; Department of Biology and Evolution, University of Ferrara, Italy; Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Research Unit Potsdam, Germany; Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Geography, Russian Federation; Department of Geology and Geochemistry, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Russian Federation; Rhodes University, Department of Geography, South Africa; Department of Sapienza University, Department of Earth Sciences, Italy; University of Alcala, Department of Physics, Spain; Federal University of Viçosa, Department of Soils, Brazil; University of Valladolid, Department of Geography, Spain; University of Washington, Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington, United States | Vieira, G., University of Lisbon, Institute of Geography and Territorial Planning, Portugal; Bockheim, J., University of Wisconsin, Soil Science, United States; Guglielmin, M., Insubria University, DBSF, Italy; Balks, M., University of Waikato, Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, New Zealand; Abramov, A.A., IPCABPSS RAS, Soil Cryology, Sweden; Boelhouwers, J., Uppsala University, Department of Social and Economic Geography, Sweden; Cannone, N., Department of Biology and Evolution, University of Ferrara, Italy; Ganzert, L., Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Research Unit Potsdam, Germany; Gilichinsky, D.A., IPCABPSS RAS, Soil Cryology, Sweden; Goryachkin, S., Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Geography, Russian Federation; López-Martínez, J., Department of Geology and Geochemistry, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Russian Federation; Meiklejohn, I., Rhodes University, Department of Geography, South Africa; Raffi, R., Department of Sapienza University, Department of Earth Sciences, Italy; Ramos, M., University of Alcala, Department of Physics, Spain; Schaefer, C., Federal University of Viçosa, Department of Soils, Brazil; Serrano, E., University of Valladolid, Department of Geography, Spain; Simas, F., Federal University of Viçosa, Department of Soils, Brazil; Sletten, R., University of Washington, Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington, United States; Wagner, D., Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Research Unit Potsdam, Germany | Results obtained during the International Polar Year (IPY) on the thermal state of permafrost and the active layer in the Antarctic are presented, forming part of ANTPAS (Antarctic Permafrost and Soils'), which was one of the key projects developed by the International Permafrost Association and the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research for the IPY. The number of boreholes for permafrost and active-layer monitoring was increased from 21 to 73 during the IPY, while CALM-S sites to monitor the active layer were increased from 18 to 28. Permafrost temperatures during the IPY were slightly below 0°C in the South Shetlands near sea-level, showing that this area is near the climatic boundary of permafrost and has the highest sensitivity to climate change in the region. Permafrost temperatures were much lower in continental Antarctica: from the coast to the interior and with increasing elevation they ranged between - 13.3°C and - 18.6°C in Northern Victoria Land, from - 17.4°C to -22.5°C in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, and down to -23.6°C at high elevation on Mount Fleming (Ross Island). Other monitored regions in continental Antarctica also showed cold permafrost: Queen Maud Land exhibited values down to - 17.8°C on nunataks, while in Novolazar-evskaya (Schirmacher Oasis) at 80 m a.s.l. the permafrost temperature was -8.3°C. The coastal stations of Molodeznaya at Enderby Land showed permafrost temperatures of -9.8°C, Larsemann Hills - Progress Station in the Vestfold Hills region - recorded -8.5°C, and Russkaya in Marie Byrd Land, - 10.4°C. This snapshot obtained during the IPY shows that the range of ground temperatures in the Antarctic is greater than in the Arctic. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. | Active layer; Antarctica; ANTPAS; IPY; Permafrost temperature | active layer; freeze-thaw cycle; frozen ground; monitoring system; nunatak; patterned ground; periglacial environment; permafrost; polar region; thermal regime; Antarctica; East Antarctica; McMurdo Dry Valleys; Mount Fleming; Queen Maud Land; South Shetland Islands; Victoria Land | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77953770102 | Using mathematical modelling to estimate the impact of periodic presumptive treatment on the transmission of sexually transmitted infections and HIV among female sex workers | Vickerman P., Ndowa F., O'Farrell N., Steen R., Alary M., Delany-Moretlwe S. | 2010 | Sexually Transmitted Infections | 86 | 3 | 10.1136/sti.2008.034678 | Health Policy Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Pasteur Suite, Ealing Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Population Health Research Unit, Universitaire de Québec, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada; Reproductive Health and HIV Research Unit, Johannesburg, South Africa | Vickerman, P., Health Policy Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Ndowa, F., World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; O'Farrell, N., Pasteur Suite, Ealing Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Steen, R., World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Alary, M., Population Health Research Unit, Universitaire de Québec, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada; Delany-Moretlwe, S., Reproductive Health and HIV Research Unit, Johannesburg, South Africa | Background: In settings with poor sexually transmitted infection (STI) control in high-risk groups, periodic presumptive treatment (PPT) can quickly reduce the prevalence of genital ulcers, Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT). However, few studies have assessed the impact on HIV. Mathematical modelling is used to quantify the likely HIV impact of different PPT interventions. Methods: A mathematical model was developed to project the impact of PPT on STI/HIV transmission amongst a homogeneous population of female sex workers (FSWs) and their clients. Using data from Johannesburg, the impact of PPT interventions with different coverages and PPT frequencies was estimated. A sensitivity analysis explored how the projections were affected by different model parameters or if the intervention was undertaken elsewhere. Results: Substantial decreases in NG/CT prevalence are achieved among FSWs receiving PPT. Although less impact is achieved among all FSWs, large decreases in NG/CT prevalence (>50%) are possible with >30% coverage and supplying PPT every month. Higher PPT frequencies achieve little additional impact, whereas improving coverage increases impact until NG/CT becomes negligible. The impact on HIV incidence is smaller, longer to achieve, and depends heavily on the assumed NG/CT cofactors, whether they are additive, the assumed STI/HIV transmission probabilities and STI durations. Greater HIV impact can be achieved in settings with lower sexual activity (except at high coverage), less STI treatment or high prevalences of Haemophilus ducreyi. Conclusions: Despite the model's assumption of homogeneous risk behaviour probably resulting in optimistic projections, and uncertainty in STI cofactors and transmission probabilities, projections suggest PPT interventions with sufficient coverage (≥40%) and follow-up (≥2 years) could noticeably decrease the HIV incidence (>20%) among FSW populations with inadequate STI treatment. | None | article; Chlamydia trachomatis; controlled study; disease transmission; female; Haemophilus ducreyi; high risk population; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; information processing; male; mathematical model; Neisseria gonorrhoeae; prevalence; priority journal; prostitution; sensitivity analysis; sexual behavior; sexually transmitted disease; South Africa; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Incidence; Male; Models, Biological; Prevalence; Prostitution; Risk Reduction Behavior; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84856804402 | Modeling variable river flow velocity on continental scale: Current situation and climate change impacts in Europe | Verzano K., Bärlund I., Flörke M., Lehner B., Kynast E., Voß F., Alcamo J. | 2012 | Journal of Hydrology | None | None | 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2012.01.005 | Center for Environmental Systems Research (CESR), University of Kassel, Kurt-Wolters-Str. 3, 34109 Kassel, Germany; Department of Geography, McGill University, 805 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC, H3A 2K6, Canada; United Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi, Kenya | Verzano, K., Center for Environmental Systems Research (CESR), University of Kassel, Kurt-Wolters-Str. 3, 34109 Kassel, Germany; Bärlund, I., Center for Environmental Systems Research (CESR), University of Kassel, Kurt-Wolters-Str. 3, 34109 Kassel, Germany; Flörke, M., Center for Environmental Systems Research (CESR), University of Kassel, Kurt-Wolters-Str. 3, 34109 Kassel, Germany; Lehner, B., Department of Geography, McGill University, 805 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC, H3A 2K6, Canada; Kynast, E., Center for Environmental Systems Research (CESR), University of Kassel, Kurt-Wolters-Str. 3, 34109 Kassel, Germany; Voß, F., Center for Environmental Systems Research (CESR), University of Kassel, Kurt-Wolters-Str. 3, 34109 Kassel, Germany; Alcamo, J., Center for Environmental Systems Research (CESR), University of Kassel, Kurt-Wolters-Str. 3, 34109 Kassel, Germany, United Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi, Kenya | This paper introduces an approach to route discharge with a variable river flow velocity based on the Manning-Strickler formula within large scale hydrological models. The approach has been developed for the global scale hydrological model WaterGAP and model results have been analyzed focusing on Europe. The goal was to find a method that is simple enough to derive the required parameters from globally available data while being sophisticated enough to deliver realistic flow velocity estimates for a large variety of environmental conditions. The river bed roughness (Manning's n) is approximated in a spatially explicit way based on topography, the location of urban population, and river sinuosity. The hydraulic radius is estimated from actual river discharge, and river bed slope is derived by combining a high resolution DEM, a 5. arc min drainage direction map, and river sinuosity. The modeled river flow velocity has been validated against data of US gauging stations. The representation of lateral transport has clearly been improved compared to the constant flow velocity applied in older model versions. The effect of incorporating variable flow velocities as compared to a constant flow velocity is largest on flood discharge, which generally increases in large rivers. The impact on monthly discharge hydrographs is marginal only. WaterGAP has been driven by three climate change projections for the 2050s to assess climate change impacts on flow velocity, and on the residence time of water in the European river system. Results indicate a decrease in residence times for Northern Europe and an increase for parts of the Mediterranean. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. | Climate change; Manning's n; Manning-Strickler; Residence time; River flow velocity; WaterGAP | Climate change impact; Climate change projections; Constant flow; Continental scale; Current situation; Environmental conditions; Flood discharge; Gauging stations; Global scale; High-resolution DEM; Hydraulic radius; Hydrographs; Hydrological models; Large rivers; Large scale hydrological model; Lateral transport; Manning-Strickler; Model results; Residence time; River bed; River discharge; River systems; Spatially explicit; Urban population; Variable flow velocity; Velocity-based; WaterGAP; Climate change; Hydrology; Rivers; Stream flow; Flow velocity; bed roughness; climate change; environmental conditions; flow velocity; gauge; hydrograph; hydrological modeling; model validation; parameterization; residence time; river bed; river discharge; river flow; river system; Europe; Mediterranean Region | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84923091825 | Economic globalization and economic performance dynamics: Some new empirical evidence from Nigeria | Verter N., Osakwe C.N. | 2015 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 6 | 1 | 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n1p87 | Department of Regional and Business Economics, Mendel University in Brno, Nigeria; Management and Economics, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Nigeria | Verter, N., Department of Regional and Business Economics, Mendel University in Brno, Nigeria; Osakwe, C.N., Management and Economics, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Nigeria | The study focuses on the macro-economic impact of leading economic globalization indicators on the Nigerian economy, during the period from 1980 to 2012. The findings from this study lend credence to the FDI-led growth hypothesis in developing economies. Moreover, migrants’ remittances inflow was found to be positively associated with economic performance, albeit in the short-run only. In contrast, the KOF dimension of economic globalization index (ECGI) was found to have an adverse effect on economic performance in the long-run and equally showed proof of a negative relationship in the short-run even though it was statistically insignificant. Similarly, real effective exchange rate and trade openness were found to be statistically insignificant in the short-run and long-run. Policy makers in Nigeria should endeavour to create robust legislation and credible institutional frameworks that would not only encourage more capital flows into the shores of Nigeria, but also would protect the country’s ‘interest’ in the midst of ongoing economic globalization. © 2015 Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences. All rights received. | ARDL approach; Cointegration; Development; Economic growth; FDI | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84857339014 | The evaluation of sodium bicarbonate and hydroxy-βeta-cyclodextrin as treatments for organophosphor and carbamate poisoning in poultry | Verster R.S., Sekhesa M. | 2011 | Life Science Journal | 8 | SUPPL. 1 | None | Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Northwest University, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho, 2735, South Africa | Verster, R.S., Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Northwest University, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho, 2735, South Africa; Sekhesa, M., Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Northwest University, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho, 2735, South Africa | Organophosphorus and carbamates are used world wide on a large scale and accidental poisonings are often seen. The objective of the trials was to evaluate newer antidotes, using chickens as experimental animals. Pilot trials were done to establish the lethal dosages of each poison. In Study 1, fourteen broilers were dosed orally with diazinon at 8 mg/kg and seven broilers were also given sodium bicarbonate at 504 mg/kg by intravenous route 30 minutes later. In Study 2, fourteen broilers received coumaphos orally at 25 mg/kg and 30 minutes later sodium bicarbonate was administered intravenously at a dosage of 504 mg/kg to seven broilers. In Study 3, fourteen broilers received aldicarb at 4 mg/kg and 30 minutes later seven broilers also received hydroxypropyl-β-yclodextrin at 250 mg/kg intravenously. In all the studies, the controls also received sterile, de-ionized water intravenously 30 minutes after dosing as a placebo. The results indicated that sodium bicarbonate had made a significant difference (P < 0.05) to the survival times of broilers in trial 1 and trial 2. Hydroxypropyl-β-yclodextrin treated broilers also had significant longer survival times (P < 0.05) than the controls in trial 3. The final conclusion is that sodium bicarbonate has the potential to inactivate organophosphors, while hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin can be useful for lipid-soluble insecticides with a molecular weight below 250 Daltons. The recommendation is to administer these compounds as adjunctive treatments together with the standard antidotes to improve the outcome of organphosphor or carbamate poisoning. | Carbamates; Cyclodextrins; Organophosphors; Sodium bicarbonate | Animalia; Gallus gallus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84857278129 | Evaluation of orally administered calcium carbonate and zinc sulphate on the gastrointestinal absorption of lead acetate in cattle | Verster R.S. | 2011 | Life Science Journal | 8 | SUPPL. 2 | None | Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Northwest University, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho, 2735, South Africa | Verster, R.S., Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Northwest University, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho, 2735, South Africa | Lead is one of the most frequently observed heavy metal toxicoses in domestic animals, especially cattle. The objective of the study was to test the effect of calcium carbonate and zinc sulphate on the absorption of lead acetate in cows, when the lead and minerals were both administered orally. In study 1, experimental cows were dosed with lead acetate at 2 mg/kg plus calcium carbonate at 50 mg/kg, while control cows received only lead acetate at 2 mg/kg. During study 2, experimental steers received zinc sulphate at.2 mg/kg and lead acetate at 2 mg/kg, while the control steers received lead acetate at 2 mg/kg. Blood samples were taken in heparin tubes from the jugular vein at 0, 3 and 6 hours post-dosing. Blood lead concentrations were then determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, using the graphite furnace method. The results indicated that both minerals decreased the absorption of lead acetate in cows after 3 hours and the effect was sustained at 6 hours. The recommendation to farmers is to provide supplementary minerals to animals in areas with high risk of lead poisoning. | Competitive absorption; Copper sulphate; Lead acetate; Mineral-lead interaction; Preventative nutrition | Animalia; Bos | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84923427644 | Self-governance for sustainable global supply chains: Can it deliver the impacts needed? | Vermeulen W.J.V. | 2015 | Business Strategy and the Environment | 24 | 2 | 10.1002/bse.1804 | Utrecht University - Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht, Netherlands; Stellenbosch University - Sustainability Institute, Stellenbosch, South Africa | Vermeulen, W.J.V., Utrecht University - Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht, Netherlands, Stellenbosch University - Sustainability Institute, Stellenbosch, South Africa | The world community convened in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012 for the third UN Conference on Sustainable Development. We are, however, increasingly facing major persistent threats, which despite being known for a few decades are still far from being solved - or are even still increasing. On the individual business level, this has four major implications: increased social pressures; possible reputational damage; exposure to resource wars; and front-running competitors adjusting their value chain strategies. In supply chain governance this leads to four main types of strategies: do it yourself; join forces; the 5C-approach and harmonising. The key question is: is this sufficient? Imagine 2022 - where will we be 10 years after Rio 2012? Is a rapid and structural transition to a circular and fair global economy possible, using this path of self-governance for products traded in the global economic arena? This will strongly depend on four key factors: rapid growth of consumer demand; 'all-inclusiveness' of these supply chain governance approaches; successful uplifting production practices of all suppliers; and addressing the major issues of unsustainability. Here we see various serious weaknesses, like the lack of third-order evaluation and biases causing some of the more recent issues to be overlooked and less visible supply chains. The challenge is to develop a form of 'meta'-governance, including new approaches by governments, combining public policy strategies with the demonstrated virtues of self-governance. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. | Certification; Global trade; Governance; Sustainable supply chains | None | 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-s2.0-68649110768 | Operation and monitoring guidelines and the development of a screening tool for irrigating with coal mine water in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa | Vermeulen D., Usher B. | 2009 | Water SA | 35 | 4 | None | Institute for Groundwater Studies, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa | Vermeulen, D., Institute for Groundwater Studies, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa; Usher, B., Institute for Groundwater Studies, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa | It is predicted that vast volumes of impacted mine water will be produced by mining activities in the Mpumalanga coalfields of South Africa. Irrigation provides for a novel approach to the utilisation and disposal of mine water, under the correct conditions. The significance of these findings lies in the versatility of this irrigation. Communities which often have very few other resources can utilise mine water to generate livelihoods. 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. The potential environmental impact of this excess water is of great concern in a water-scarce country like South Africa. 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 past number of years on both undisturbed soils and in coal-mining spoils. These sites range from sandy soils to very clayey soils. The results indicate that many of the soils have considerable attenuation capacities and that over the period of irrigation, a large proportion of the salts are 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 these data mixing ratios were calculated in order to determine the effect of the irrigation water on the underlying aquifers. One of the outcomes from this study was to define the conditions under which mine-water irrigation can be implemented and the associated operational and monitoring guidelines that should be followed. These have been based on the findings from this study, the fundamental considerations of mine-water irrigation, the regulatory environment and, as far as possible, the practical implementation of mine-water irrigation as part of optimal mine-water management. In an attempt to standardise decision-making regarding mine-water irrigation, the criteria, data, rules and fundamentals discussed have been combined in a user-friendly tool, called GIMI (Groundwater Impacts from Minewater Irrigation). This tool should assist in the practical implementation of mine-water irrigation as part of optimal mine-water management. | Coal mine water; Irrigation; Monitoring guidelines | Attenuation capacities; Clayey soils; Coal-mining; Coalfields; Groundwater quality; Irrigation waters; Mine waters; Mining activities; Mixing ratios; Practical implementation; Quality of water; Regulatory environment; Sandy soils; Screening tool; South Africa; Undisturbed soils; Unsaturated zone; User-friendly tool; Aquifers; Coal; Coal deposits; Coal industry; Coal mines; Coal research; Environmental impact; Groundwater resources; Hydrogeology; Irrigation; Leaching; Mine flooding; Mines; Soils; Water management; Water quality; Water supply; Mining; coal mine; environmental impact assessment; groundwater; irrigation; recycling; waste disposal; waste management; water quality; Africa; Mpumalanga; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84872120234 | Experimental evaluation and predictive control of an air-cored linear generator for direct-drive wave energy converters | Vermaak R., Kamper M.J. | 2012 | IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications | 48 | 6 | 10.1109/TIA.2012.2221671 | Distribution Division, Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd., Bellville 7530, South Africa; Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa | Vermaak, R., Distribution Division, Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd., Bellville 7530, South Africa; Kamper, M.J., Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa | Direct-drive wave energy converters using linear generators (LGs) are attractive due to their high efficiency and reliability. Air-cored LGs, in particular, are receiving increasing attention due to the elimination of attraction forces between the stator and translator and the resulting reduction in structural mass. In this paper, details of the construction of a novel air-cored LG are presented. A custom test rig is constructed for testing the LG, particularly with zero overlap between its stator and translator at the stroke ends. Predictive control for maximum power transfer from the generator is first proposed and tested as a sensorless alternative to methods employing linear position feedback and electromotive force (EMF) estimation with sense coils. The control strategy is verified through simulation and measurements. It is also shown that allowing for zero stator-translator overlap at the stroke ends can improve the power-to-weight ratio compared to complete stator-translator overlap during the entire stroke. © 1972-2012 IEEE. | Air cored; direct drive (DD); linear generator (LG); predictive control; sensorless control; wave energy | Air-cored; Direct drive; Linear generators; Predictive control; Sensor less control; Wave energy; Electromotive force; Wave energy conversion; Stators | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-66949134549 | Factors impacting on organisational learning in three rural health districts | Vermaak K.P., Reid S.J., Horwood C.M. | 2009 | South African Family Practice | 51 | 2 | None | Centre for Rural Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | Vermaak, K.P., Centre for Rural Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Reid, S.J., Centre for Rural Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Horwood, C.M., Centre for Rural Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | Background: Access to quality health care in rural areas may be compromised not only by the inadequate numbers of skilled professional staff, but also by the lack of skills of the health professionals who are employed in rural facilities, due to inadequate continual professional learning and staff development. The objective of this paper is to examine the factors impacting on professional staff attendance of informal learning sessions in rural district hospitals and primary healthcare clinics. Methods: Structured, self-administered surveys, adapted from the Dimensions of a Learning Organization Questionnaire, were completed by professional staff on duty during data collection in 18 rural hospitals and their associated primary healthcare services facilities in three rural districts. The impacts of characteristics of staff, such as age, gender, professional experience and length of service, staffing levels, and the dimensions of a learning organisation, viz leadership, culture of change and teamwork, on attendance of learning sessions were considered. Results: Among professional nurses, attendance of learning sessions was significantly associated with the number of years of professional experience, length of service at the health facility, and scores on the teamwork dimension. While in the case of professional nurses attendance was not correlated with the staffing levels, the percentage of posts filled at the respective facilities and the assessment of hospital leadership as being supportive of learning were significant predictors of attendance among doctors. Conclusions: Despite severe staff shortages in these rural districts, at facilities where there was a perception of leadership and teamwork the professional staff generally attended learning sessions. | Leadership; Organisational learning; Teamwork | adult; article; female; health care access; health care facility; health care organization; health care personnel; health care quality; health service; health survey; human; learning; male; medical staff; physician; professional practice; public hospital; questionnaire; rural health care; skill; teamwork | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-71349085408 | High performance thin layer chromatography as a method to authenticate Hoodia gordonii raw material and products | Vermaak I., Hamman J.H., Viljoen A.M. | 2010 | South African Journal of Botany | 76 | 1 | 10.1016/j.sajb.2009.09.011 | Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa | Vermaak, I., Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa; Hamman, J.H., Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa; Viljoen, A.M., Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa | Hoodia gordonii which contains the perceived active molecule, P57, is a plant used in many weight loss products that are highly susceptible to adulteration due to increased public demand and limited availability. Rapid and simple methods for authentication and confirmation of the presence of P57 are desirable for the quality control of H. gordonii raw material and products. High performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis of several H. gordonii raw material samples collected from different locations as well as weight loss products was carried out on silica gel plates and developed in a mobile phase of toluene:chloroform:ethanol (40:40:12.5 v/v/v). Liebermann-Burchard (LB) reagent was used as derivatising agent since it is specific for glycosides and triterpenes (such as P57) and the plates were viewed under UV light at 365 nm. This method produced good separation of the compounds in complex mixtures with well-defined bands including that of the P57 band (Rf 0.42), which was confirmed by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS) after preparative thin layer chromatography (TLC). All the HPTLC results obtained for the H. gordonii raw materials and products were confirmed with quantitative LC-MS analyses, which confirmed the qualitative reliability of the HPTLC method. The HPTLC method was used successfully to develop a chemical fingerprint for authentication and reliable confirmation of the presence of P57 in H. gordonii raw material and products. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Adulteration; Authentication; Chemical fingerprinting; Hoodia gordonii; HPTLC; P57; Quality control; TLC | chloroform; chromatography; dicotyledon; ethanol; gel; mass spectrometry; plant product; quality control; silica; toluene; Hoodia gordonii | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84921799071 | Multisite clinical evaluation of a rapid test for entamoeba histolytica in stool | Verkerke H.P., Hanbury B., Siddique A., Samie A., Haque R., Herbein J., Petri W.A., Jr. | 2015 | Journal of Clinical Microbiology | 53 | 2 | 10.1128/JCM.02836-14 | Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States; Techlab, Blacksburg, VA, United States; Parasitology, International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh; University of Venda, Limpopo Province, South Africa | Verkerke, H.P., Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States; Hanbury, B., Techlab, Blacksburg, VA, United States; Siddique, A., Parasitology, International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Samie, A., University of Venda, Limpopo Province, South Africa; Haque, R., Parasitology, International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Herbein, J., Techlab, Blacksburg, VA, United States; Petri, W.A., Jr., Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States | Rapid point-of-care detection of enteric protozoa in diarrheal stool is desirable in clinical and research settings to efficiently determine the etiology of diarrhea. We analyzed the ability of the third-generation E. histolytica Quik Chek assay developed by Techlab to detect amebic antigens in fecal samples collected from independent study populations in South Africa and Bangladesh. We compared the performance of this recently released rapid test to that of the commercially available ProSpecT Entamoeba histolytica microplate assay from Remel and the E. histolytica II enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) from Techlab, using real-time and nested-PCR for Entamoeba species to resolve any discrepant results. After discrepant resolution, The E. histolytica Quik Chek assay exhibited sensitivity and specificity compared to the E. histolytica II ELISA of 98.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 92.9% to 99.8%) and 100% (95% CI, 99.0% to 100%), respectively. Compared to the ProSpecT microplate assay, the E. histolytica Quik Chek (Quik Chek) assay exhibited 97.0% sensitivity (95% CI, 91.5% to 99.4%) and 100% specificity (95% CI, 99.0% to 100%). Our results indicate that the Quik Chek is a robust assay for the specific detection of E. histolytica trophozoites in unfixed frozen clinical stool samples. © 2015, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved. | None | adult; amebiasis; Article; Bangladesh; controlled study; cross reaction; diagnostic test accuracy study; Entamoeba histolytica; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; feces analysis; feces culture; female; human; immunoassay analyzer; intermethod comparison; major clinical study; male; microplate reader; point of care testing; polymerase chain reaction; rapid test; sensitivity and specificity; South Africa; species difference; validation study; Entamoeba; Entamoeba histolytica; Protozoa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34250658557 | Evaluation of the phytoestrogenic activity of Cyclopia genistoides (honeybush) methanol extracts and relevant polyphenols | Verhoog N.J.D., Joubert E., Louw A. | 2007 | Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry | 55 | 11 | 10.1021/jf063588n | Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa; Department of Food Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa; Post-Harvest and Wine Technology Division, ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa | Verhoog, N.J.D., Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa; Joubert, E., Department of Food Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa, Post-Harvest and Wine Technology Division, ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa; Louw, A., Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa | Unfermented C. genistoides methanol extracts of different harvestings and selected polyphenols were evaluated for phytoestrogenic activity by comparing binding to both ER subtypes, transactivation of an ERE-containing promoter reporter, proliferation of MCF-7-BUS and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, and binding to SHBG. The extracts from one harvesting of C. genistoides (P104) bound to both ER subtypes. All extracts transactivated ERE-containing promoter reporters via ERβ but not via ERα. All extracts, except P122, caused proliferation of the estrogen-sensitive MCF-7-BUS cells. Proliferation of MCF-7-BUS cells was ER-dependent as ICI 182,780 reversed proliferation. Physiologically more relevant, extracts antagonized E2-induced MCF-7-BUS cell proliferation. Furthermore, all extracts, except P122, induced proliferation of the estrogen-insensitive MDA-MB-231 cells, suggesting that the extracts are able to induce ER-dependent and ER-independent cell proliferation. Binding to SHBG by extracts was also demonstrated. These results clearly show that C. genistoides methanol extracts display phytoestrogenic activity and act predominantly via ERβ. HPLC and LC-MS analysis, however, suggests that the observed phytoestrogenic activity cannot be ascribed to polyphenols known to be present in other Cyclopia species. © 2007 American Chemical Society. | Cyclopia genistoides; ERα; ERβ; Honeybush; MCF-7-BUS cell proliferation; MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation; Phytoestrogens; SHBG | estrogen receptor alpha; estrogen receptor beta; flavonoid; phenol derivative; phytoestrogen; plant extract; polyphenols; unclassified drug; animal; article; cell strain COS1; Cercopithecus; chemistry; legume; physiology; Animals; Cercopithecus aethiops; COS Cells; Estrogen Receptor alpha; Estrogen Receptor beta; Fabaceae; Flavonoids; Phenols; Phytoestrogens; Plant Extracts; Cyclopia genistoides | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84880491139 | Supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) in South Africa: Comprehensive economic evaluation of an integrated child health delivery platform | Verguet S., Jassat W., Bertram M.Y., Tollman S.M., Murray C.J.L., Jamison D.T., Hofman K.J. | 2013 | Global Health Action | 6 | 1 | 10.3402/gha.v6i0.20056 | Department of Global Health, University of Washington, 325 Ninth Avenue, Box 359931, Seattle, WA, United States; MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Health Systems Trust, Johannesburg, South Africa; Umeå Centre for Global Health Research, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; INDEPTH Network, Accra, Ghana; Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States | Verguet, S., Department of Global Health, University of Washington, 325 Ninth Avenue, Box 359931, Seattle, WA, United States; Jassat, W., MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Health Systems Trust, Johannesburg, South Africa; Bertram, M.Y., MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Tollman, S.M., MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Umeå Centre for Global Health Research, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden, INDEPTH Network, Accra, Ghana; Murray, C.J.L., Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Jamison, D.T., Department of Global Health, University of Washington, 325 Ninth Avenue, Box 359931, Seattle, WA, United States; Hofman, K.J., MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Background: Supplementary immunization activity (SIA) campaigns provide children with an additional dose of measles vaccine and deliver other interventions, including vitamin A supplements, deworming medications, and oral polio vaccines. Objective: To assess the cost-effectiveness of the full SIA delivery platform in South Africa (SA). Design: We used an epidemiologic cost model to estimate the cost-effectiveness of the 2010 SIA campaign. We used province-level campaign data sourced from the District Health Information System, SA, and from planning records of provincial coordinators of the Expanded Programme on Immunization. The data included the number of children immunized with measles and polio vaccines, the number of children given vitamin A supplements and Albendazole tablets, and costs. Results: The campaign cost $37 million and averted a total of 1,150 deaths (95% uncertainty range: 990-1,360). This ranged from 380 deaths averted in KwaZulu-Natal to 20 deaths averted in the Northern Cape. Vitamin A supplementation alone averted 820 deaths (95% UR: 670-1,040); measles vaccination alone averted 330 deaths (95% UR: 280-370). Incremental cost-effectiveness was $27,100 (95% UR: $18, 500-34,400) per death averted nationally, ranging from $11,300 per death averted in the Free State to $91,300 per death averted in the Eastern Cape. Conclusions: Cost-effectiveness of the SIA child health delivery platform varies substantially across SA provinces, and it is substantially more cost-effective when vitamin A supplementation is included in the interventions administered. Cost-effectiveness assessments should consider health system delivery platforms that integrate multiple interventions, and they should be conducted at the sub-national level. © 2013 Sté phane Verguet et al. | Child health; Cost-effectiveness; Integrated delivery platform; Measles; Sub-Saharan Africa; Supplementary immunization activity | anthelmintic agent; measles vaccine; poliomyelitis vaccine; retinol; vitamin; article; child; child health; child health care; cost benefit analysis; cost of illness; cost-effectiveness; economics; health promotion; helminthiasis; human; integrated delivery platform; integrated health care system; measles; preventive health service; South Africa; sub-Saharan Africa; supplementary immunization activity; child health; cost-effectiveness; integrated delivery platform; measles; sub-Saharan Africa; supplementary immunization activity; Anthelmintics; Child; Child Health Services; Cost of Illness; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Delivery of Health Care, Integrated; Health Promotion; Helminthiasis; Humans; Immunization Programs; Measles Vaccine; Poliovirus Vaccines; South Africa; Vitamin A; Vitamins | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84856013347 | Impacts of management and enclosure age on recovery of the herbaceous rangeland vegetation in semi-arid Kenya | Verdoodt A., Mureithi S.M., Van Ranst E. | 2010 | Journal of Arid Environments | 74 | 9 | 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2010.03.007 | Ghent University, Laboratory of Soil Science (WE13), Krijgslaan 281/S8, B-9000 Gent, Belgium; University of Nairobi, Dept. of Land Resource Management and Agricultural Technology, Range Management Section, P.O. Box 29053-00625, Nairobi, Kenya | Verdoodt, A., Ghent University, Laboratory of Soil Science (WE13), Krijgslaan 281/S8, B-9000 Gent, Belgium; Mureithi, S.M., Ghent University, Laboratory of Soil Science (WE13), Krijgslaan 281/S8, B-9000 Gent, Belgium, University of Nairobi, Dept. of Land Resource Management and Agricultural Technology, Range Management Section, P.O. Box 29053-00625, Nairobi, Kenya; Van Ranst, E., Ghent University, Laboratory of Soil Science (WE13), Krijgslaan 281/S8, B-9000 Gent, Belgium | Establishment of seasonal grazing enclosures has become an important rangeland rehabilitation strategy in semi-arid regions. This study assessed the impact of enclosure age and enclosure management on the vegetation composition in the Njemps Flats range unit, Lake Baringo Basin (Kenya). Six communal enclosures (13-23 years since establishment) and six private enclosures (3-17 years since establishment) were selected. Point-line transect and quadrat-based measurements were made of herbaceous cover, functional group relative abundance and standing crop inside the enclosures and in the adjacent open rangeland. Unpalatable forbs and sedges dominated the herbaceous vegetation of the degraded open rangeland. Informal semi-private land ownership reduced open rangeland degradation as shown by a higher cover of surviving annual grasses. Rangeland enclosure fostered regeneration of annual and perennial grasses, and significantly increased grass cover and standing crop. Private and communal enclosure management were equally successful in rehabilitating grass cover. Standing crop in the communal enclosures was fully recovered, but it was sub-optimal in all private enclosures reflecting recent grazing or grass cutting activities. The variability in rehabilitation success highlights the high potential of individual herders' incentives to promote rangeland rehabilitation but also stresses the importance of more detailed characterisation and monitoring of the enclosure management decisions. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. | Cover; Degradation; Private land ownership; Seed mixtures; Standing crop; Stock control | age; biomass; community composition; environmental degradation; functional group; habitat restoration; herb; management practice; private land; rangeland; regeneration; relative abundance; restoration ecology; semiarid region; vegetation structure; Kenya; Njemps Flats; Rift Valley; Carex; Poaceae | 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-s2.0-27844527498 | A critical evaluation of the South African state antiretroviral programme | Venter W.D.F. | 2005 | Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine | None | 20 | None | Reproductive Health and HIV Research Unit, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Venter, W.D.F., Reproductive Health and HIV Research Unit, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | [No abstract available] | None | antiretrovirus agent; azithromycin; didanosine; efavirenz; nevirapine; stavudine; article; geographic distribution; health behavior; health care access; health care system; health program; hepatitis; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; human rights; infection complication; lactic acidosis; lifestyle; nutritional health; pancreatitis; patient compliance; patient counseling; peripheral neuropathy; population distribution; population research; public health service; resource management; South Africa; statistical analysis; statistical significance; Stevens Johnson syndrome; treatment failure | 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-s2.0-33645315774 | Synthesis and evaluation of the mucoadhesivity of a CD-chitosan derivative | Venter J.P., Kotzé A.F., Auzély-Velty R., Rinaudo M. | 2006 | International Journal of Pharmaceutics | 313 | 42371 | 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2006.01.016 | School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutics, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa; Centre de Recherches Sur Les Macromolécules Végétales (CNRS), Université Joseph Fourier de Grenoble, BP 53, 38041 Grenoble Cedex, France | Venter, J.P., School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutics, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa, Centre de Recherches Sur Les Macromolécules Végétales (CNRS), Université Joseph Fourier de Grenoble, BP 53, 38041 Grenoble Cedex, France; Kotzé, A.F., School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutics, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa; Auzély-Velty, R., Centre de Recherches Sur Les Macromolécules Végétales (CNRS), Université Joseph Fourier de Grenoble, BP 53, 38041 Grenoble Cedex, France; Rinaudo, M., Centre de Recherches Sur Les Macromolécules Végétales (CNRS), Université Joseph Fourier de Grenoble, BP 53, 38041 Grenoble Cedex, France | Combining mucoadhesive characteristics of a biodegradable polymer such as chitosan with the potential to enhance drug release by increasing the solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs has great potential for pharmaceutical technology and drug delivery design. Polymeric delivery systems have been extensively researched in an attempt to achieve modified drug release. Cyclodextrins (CD) offer an alternative approach. These cyclic oligosaccharides have the ability to form non-covalent complexes with a number of drugs altering their physicochemical properties. In the continuing challenge to improve the properties of delivery systems, this paper focuses on the modification of chitosan by introducing β-cyclodextrin and to test the mucoadhesive strength and inclusion properties of this synthesised cyclodextrin-polymer. β-Cyclodextrin was successfully grafted onto a chitosan chain polymer with a cyclodextrin grafting yield of 7% and a CD-chitosan yield of 85%. Although the complexation of (+)-catechin by the grafted β-CD was found to be about five times weaker than that by the β-CD monoaldehyde and natural β-CD, the inclusion properties of the chitosan-CD remain promising. The mucoadhesive properties of chitosan-CD were compared to that of pectin (reference) and the parent chitosan with the use of a tensile separation test. The chitosan-CD showed mucoadhesive strengths of 12% stronger than pectin, but 13.5% weaker than the parent chitosan. The synthesised chitosan-CD-polymer exhibits characteristics of a possible mucoadhesive drug delivery system with some inclusion properties from β-cyclodextrin. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Bioabsorption; Chitosan; Drug delivery; Mucosal adhesion | aldehyde; beta cyclodextrin; chitosan derivative; cyclodextrin derivative; pectin; polymer; adhesion; article; drug delivery system; drug penetration; drug release; drug synthesis; mucosa; priority journal; tensile strength; Adhesiveness; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; Chitosan; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Molecular Structure; Mucins; Polymers; Viscosity | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84896978558 | Nutraceutical value of yellow- and red-fleshed south african plums (prunus salicina lindl.): Evaluation of total antioxidant capacity and phenolic composition | Venter A., Joubert E., De Beer D. | 2014 | Molecules | 19 | 3 | 10.3390/molecules19033084 | Department of Food Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland (Stellenbosch) 7602, South Africa; Post-Harvest and Wine Technology Division, Agricultural Research Council (ARC), Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Private Bag X5026, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa | Venter, A., Department of Food Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland (Stellenbosch) 7602, South Africa; Joubert, E., Department of Food Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland (Stellenbosch) 7602, South Africa, Post-Harvest and Wine Technology Division, Agricultural Research Council (ARC), Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Private Bag X5026, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa; De Beer, D., Post-Harvest and Wine Technology Division, Agricultural Research Council (ARC), Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Private Bag X5026, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa | Ten South African plum cultivars and selections, including yellow- and redfleshed plums from two harvest seasons were evaluated in terms of nutraceutical value (phenolic composition, total polyphenol content (TPC) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC)) and fruit attributes (colour, fruit mass, etc.). Plums were evaluated at two maturity stages, i.e., directly after harvest (unripe) and after a commercial cold storage and ripening regime (ripe). The phenolic composition of South African plums varied greatly, both qualitatively and quantitatively, between cultivars and selections. Neochlorogenic acid, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and quercetin-3-O-glucoside were the predominant hydroxycinnamic acid, anthocyanin and flavonol, respectively, although not present in all plums. The flavan-3-ols, (+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin and procyanidins B1 and B2, were present in all plums. Red-fleshed plums tended to display higher TAC and TPC than yellow-fleshed plums. The flavan-3-ol content was highly correlated with TAC. The effect of harvest season was cultivar-dependent, but cultivar differences were not obscured. In terms of maturity stage, the ripe fruits tended to contain higher levels of anthocyanins and some flavonol compounds, although the TPC and TAC were not affected in most cases. South African plums, especially the red-fleshed selections PR04-32 and PR04-35, were shown to provide generally high TAC and TPC compared to literature values. © 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. | Antioxidant Capacity; Hplc; Phenolic Compound; Plum Fruit; Prunus Salicina Lindl | antioxidant; phenol derivative; plant extract; polyphenol; article; chemistry; diet supplementation; fruit; Prunus; Antioxidants; Dietary Supplements; Fruit; Phenols; Plant Extracts; Polyphenols; Prunus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79959709463 | Use-value or performance: Towards a better understanding of small reservoirs in sub-Saharan Africa [Valeurs d'usage ou performances techniques: Comment apprécier le rôle des petits barrages en Afrique subsaharienne?] | Venot J.-P., Cecchi P. | 2011 | Cahiers Agricultures | 20 | 42371 | 10.1684/agr.2010.0457 | International Water Management Institute (IWMI), PMB CT 112, Cantonments, Accra, Ghana; IRD, UMR G-Eau, Cemagref-Hortus, 361, rue J-F Breton BP 5095, 34196 Montpellier cedex 5, France | Venot, J.-P., International Water Management Institute (IWMI), PMB CT 112, Cantonments, Accra, Ghana; Cecchi, P., IRD, UMR G-Eau, Cemagref-Hortus, 361, rue J-F Breton BP 5095, 34196 Montpellier cedex 5, France | Small reservoirs are a reality of rural sub-Saharan Africa. They trigger technical and institutional innovations, appear to be in high demand among local communities, and remain popular on the agendas of national policy-makers and international development partners in spite of recurrent analyses highlighting that these systems function well below the expectations of their promoters. This paper proposes an analytical framework to understand this apparent contradiction. Local communities do make use of small reservoirs inmany ways but not always as implied by policy discourses and development strategies. Social, eco-technical and managerial analyses would then not disclose the real use-value of these innovations at either the local or the regional (watershed) scales. Understanding the opportunities and risks linked to an intensificationof themultipleuses of small reservoirs requires considering them as rural development and planning interventions. They induce changes in the relations that societies nurture with their environment and catalyze new and multiple claims and uses that sometimes appearconflictual and irreconcilable. | Evaluation; Innovation; Land use planning; Subsaharan Africa; Water reservoirs | None | 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-s2.0-60649093491 | Examining the implementation of the mathematics strand of the Key Stage 3 Strategy: What are the bases of evaluation? | Venkat H., Brown M. | 2009 | British Educational Research Journal | 35 | 1 | 10.1080/01411920802041665 | University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa; King's College London, United Kingdom; Marang Centre for Maths and Science Education, Education Campus, University of the Witwatersrand, 27 St Andrews Road, Parktown, Private Bag 3, Wits, 2050, South Africa | Venkat, H., University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, Marang Centre for Maths and Science Education, Education Campus, University of the Witwatersrand, 27 St Andrews Road, Parktown, Private Bag 3, Wits, 2050, South Africa; Brown, M., King's College London, United Kingdom | This article presents findings from a comparative case study examining the implementation of the mathematics strand of the Key Stage 3 Strategy in two contrasting schoolsone using setting and whole-class teaching, the other incorporating mixed-ability grouping and individualised learning. A number of 'outcomes' of implementation are considered, including teachers' and students' experiences, changes in pedagogic practice and students' attainment. Whilst both schools achieved highly in relation to similar schools, higher attainment gains between Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 in the school using setting/whole-class teaching were associated with increasing student disaffection and dependence on teachers. In contrast, the attainment gains at the school using individualised learning were associated with increasing enthusiasm and independence. The mixed picture of outcomes and their complex interconnections suggest that evaluations of implementation resting on attainment-based outcomes are problematic in terms of longer-term aims of increasing the proportions of students choosing to study mathematics and developing the skills of independent learning. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84884583608 | Impact of hemicelluloses pre-extraction on pulp properties of sugarcane bagasse | Vena P.F., García-Aparicio M.P., Brienzo M., Görgens J.F., Rypstra T. | 2013 | Cellulose Chemistry and Technology | 47 | 42496 | None | Department of Process Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag Matieland XI, 7602, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Department of Forest and Wood Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag Matieland XI, 7602, Stellenbosch, South Africa | Vena, P.F., Department of Process Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag Matieland XI, 7602, Stellenbosch, South Africa; García-Aparicio, M.P., Department of Process Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag Matieland XI, 7602, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Brienzo, M., Department of Process Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag Matieland XI, 7602, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Görgens, J.F., Department of Process Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag Matieland XI, 7602, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Rypstra, T., Department of Forest and Wood Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag Matieland XI, 7602, Stellenbosch, South Africa | The extraction of hemicelluloses, which otherwise would be wasted in the black liquor, can be integrated with chemical pulping processes in a biorefinery approach that will generate a sugar-rich feedstock for production of fuels and chemicals. Extractions of hemicelluloses from sugarcane bagasse under dilute sulphuric acid or mild alkaline conditions were performed, using a central composite experimental design. Selected solid residues obtained after dilute acid, hot water (zero acid) or mild alkaline pre-extractions were subjected to soda or soda-AQ pulping, and kraft pulping of the dilute acid pre-extracted solid residue was also performed. The integration of hemicelluloses preextraction by alkaline methods into a soda-AQ-based pulping process was preferred for sugarcane bagasse as feedstock, since it enabled xylan recovery of 69.1%, while providing pulps with superior tear strength and brightness. | Biorefinery; Chemical pulping; Handsheet strengths; Pulp quality; Sugarcane bagasse; Xylan extraction | Biorefineries; Chemical pulping; Hand sheets; Pulp qualities; Sugar-cane bagasse; Cellulose; Extraction; Feedstocks; Kraft pulp; Pulp manufacture; Refining; Bagasse; Bagasse; Chemical Pulping; Hand Sheets; Refining; Sugar Cane; Xylans | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-51149092100 | Evaluation of registry data removal by shredder programs | Velupillai H., Mokhonoana P. | 2008 | IFIP International Federation for Information Processing | 285 | None | 10.1007/978-0-387-84927-0_5 | Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria, South Africa | Velupillai, H., Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria, South Africa; Mokhonoana, P., Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria, South Africa | Shredder programs attempt to overcome Window's inherent inability to erase data completely. A shredder is useful when one needs to transfer ownership or dispose of a computer, but it can be exploited by a suspect for the purpose of wiping incriminating evidence. Most shredder programs claim to remove all traces of data. This paper examines these claims by conducting forensic examinations of computers on which shredder programs were used. © 2008 International Federation for Information Processing. | Data removal; Shredder tools; Windows Registry | Forensic examinations; Transfer ownerships; Windows registry; Forensic examinations; Transfer ownerships; Windows registry; Computer forensics; Computer forensics; Information technology | None |
| 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-s2.0-77955980931 | Impact of aldosterone receptor blockade on the deleterious cardiac effects of adrenergic activation in hypertensive rats | Veliotes D.G.A., Norton G.R., Correia R.J., Strijdom H., Badenhorst D., Brooksbank R., Woodiwiss A.J. | 2010 | Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology | 56 | 2 | 10.1097/FJC.0b013e3181e92a01 | Cardiovascular Pathophysiology and Genomics Research Unit, School of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand Medical School, 7 York Road, Parktown, 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa | Veliotes, D.G.A., Cardiovascular Pathophysiology and Genomics Research Unit, School of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand Medical School, 7 York Road, Parktown, 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa; Norton, G.R., Cardiovascular Pathophysiology and Genomics Research Unit, School of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand Medical School, 7 York Road, Parktown, 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa; Correia, R.J., Cardiovascular Pathophysiology and Genomics Research Unit, School of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand Medical School, 7 York Road, Parktown, 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa; Strijdom, H., Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa; Badenhorst, D., Cardiovascular Pathophysiology and Genomics Research Unit, School of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand Medical School, 7 York Road, Parktown, 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa; Brooksbank, R., Cardiovascular Pathophysiology and Genomics Research Unit, School of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand Medical School, 7 York Road, Parktown, 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa; Woodiwiss, A.J., Cardiovascular Pathophysiology and Genomics Research Unit, School of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand Medical School, 7 York Road, Parktown, 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa | Although in hypertension β-adrenoreceptor activation promotes the transition from cardiac hypertrophy to pump dysfunction, the use of β-blockers is controversial. As adrenergic activation may mediate adverse effects on the heart through the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, we evaluated the effects of the aldosterone receptor blocker, spironolactone (SPIRO), on isoproterenol (ISO)-induced changes in left ventricular cavity size and pump function and the determinants thereof in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). ISO administered for 4.5 months resulted in increases in left ventricular dimensions and a decrease in pump function in SHR but not in normotensive rats, changes that, without affecting blood pressure, were abolished by SPIRO. In SHR, 4-5 days of ISO increased myocardial matrix metalloproteinase-2 activity, which was associated with matrix metalloproteinase-2 but not tissue inhibitor of MMP expression; persisted at 4.5 months; and was prevented by SPIRO. Moreover, after 4.5 months, ISO increased non-cross-linked myocardial collagen concentrations in SHR, which was abolished by SPIRO. Although after 4.5 months, ISO was not associated with increased cardiomyocyte apoptosis, an early (4-5 days) ISO-induced apoptotic effect was noted, which was prevented by SPIRO. Hence, aldosterone receptor blockade may be sufficient to prevent those adverse effects of β-adrenoreceptor activation responsible for the transition from concentric cardiac hypertrophy to pump dysfunction in hypertension. © 2010 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. | None | collagen; gelatinase A; isoprenaline; spironolactone; tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2; adrenergic activity; adrenergic receptor blocking; animal experiment; animal model; animal tissue; apoptosis; article; cell structure; controlled study; cross linking; diastolic blood pressure; echocardiography; enzyme activity; heart left ventricle contraction; heart left ventricle filling pressure; heart left ventricle hypertrophy; heart left ventricle size; heart muscle cell; heart weight; hypertension; nonhuman; priority journal; protein expression; rat; systolic blood pressure; Adrenergic beta-Agonists; Aldosterone Antagonists; Animals; Apoptosis; Blood Pressure; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated; Hypertension; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular; Isoproterenol; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; Myocardial Contraction; Myocardium; Rats; Rats, Inbred SHR; Rats, Inbred WKY; Receptors, Aldosterone; Renin-Angiotensin System; Spironolactone | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-20144361977 | Valuing the impacts of climate change on protected areas in Africa | Velarde S.J., Malhi Y., Moran D., Wright J., Hussain S. | 2005 | Ecological Economics | 53 | 1 | 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2004.07.024 | Alternatives to Slash-and-Burn Programme, World Agroforestry Centre, Nairobi, Kenya; School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, United Kingdom; School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Land Economy, Scottish Agricultural College, Kings Buildings, West Main Rd., Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, United Kingdom; Department of Geography, University of Southampton, United Kingdom | Velarde, S.J., Alternatives to Slash-and-Burn Programme, World Agroforestry Centre, Nairobi, Kenya; Malhi, Y., School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, United Kingdom, School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Moran, D., Land Economy, Scottish Agricultural College, Kings Buildings, West Main Rd., Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, United Kingdom; Wright, J., Department of Geography, University of Southampton, United Kingdom; Hussain, S., Land Economy, Scottish Agricultural College, Kings Buildings, West Main Rd., Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, United Kingdom | This study quantifies the economic costs of climate change impacts on protected areas in Africa. Downscaled results from four Global Circulation Models (GCMs) are used to classify different ecosystems in accordance with the Holdridge Life Zone (HLZ) system. A benefits transfer approach is then used to place an economic value on the predicted ecosystem shifts resulting from climate change in protected areas. The results provide approximations for the impacts on biodiversity in Africa under the "business-as-usual" scenario established by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for the middle and end of the 21st century. The geographical analysis shows that there are twenty HLZs in Africa and all of them are represented in the protected area network. Three of these HLZs do not change in extent as a result of climate change. Assuming initially that the willingness to pay (WTP) values and the preferences for different ecosystem services remain constant, three of the GCM models show an (undiscounted) negative economic impact of climate change for protected areas in Africa for the year 2100. The worst-case damage scenario totals USD 74.5 million by 2100. However, the model for the year 2065 shows a higher undiscounted value than the present. The finding of positive net impacts from warming is consistent with the predictions of other macro models that show potential gains from warming scenarios. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | African protected areas; Benefits transfer; Climate change; Ecosystem shifts; Holdridge life zones | climate change; economic impact; environmental impact; protected area; Africa; Eastern Hemisphere; World | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84876592052 | Injector Fouling Performance and Solubility of GTL Diesel Dosed with Zinc | Velaers A.J., de Goede S., Woolard C., Burnham R. | 2013 | SAE International Journal of Fuels and Lubricants | 6 | 1 | None | Sasol Fuels Technology, South Africa; University of Cape Town, South Africa | Velaers, A.J., Sasol Fuels Technology, South Africa; de Goede, S., Sasol Fuels Technology, South Africa; Woolard, C., Sasol Fuels Technology, South Africa; Burnham, R., University of Cape Town, South Africa | The success of modern diesel passenger cars is, to some extent, attributable to the advent of common rail diesel injection technology. Today almost all new diesel engines use this technology which is characterised by high fuel injection pressure and very small diameter nozzle holes. The industry rapidly developed a new test procedure to assess a fuel's propensity to cause injector fouling and also to assess the ability of additives to clean and to keep such injectors clean. The CEC F-98-08 DW10 test procedure was approved in March 2008 by the CEC and is now considered an industry standard test method. The test method requires 1ppm zinc to be dosed into all test fuels in order to accelerate injector fouling. This paper presents DW10 test results for gas-to-liquids (GTL) diesel. A similar test method, using a different engine, was developed in-house and showed good correlation with the DW10 test. The results confirm a significantly different response with GTL diesel compared to regular diesel when both have been dosed with zinc. A series of chemical laboratory test work investigated the solubility of zinc in GTL. The results reveal that, when compared to EN590 diesel, zinc more readily drops out of a GTL-zinc solution, prepared in a similar way to that used in the DW10 test. It was also found that zinc is less readily taken up into solution with GTL from solid zinc components than it is by EN590 diesel. The lower solvency of GTL diesel results in greater injector deposit formation due to zinc drop-out in the DW10 test method. Zinc pick-up tests, however, demonstrate that GTL diesel is less likely to pick up zinc in the logistic chain in the market. It is shown that various deposit control additives are very effective in preventing deposit formation in a GTL-zinc solution and have the ability to clean up zinc-fouled injectors. © 2013 SAE International. | None | Deposit control; Deposit formation; Diesel injection; Diesel passenger cars; Good correlations; Industry standards; Injection pressures; Test procedures; Diesel engines; Drops; Fouling; Jet pumps; Passenger cars; Solubility; Zinc | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84871278594 | The Properties and Injector Nozzle Fouling Performance of Neat GTL and GTL/EN590 Diesel Blends in Various Diesel Engines | Velaers A.J., de Goede S. | 2012 | SAE International Journal of Fuels and Lubricants | 5 | 3 | 10.4271/2012-01-1692 | Sasol Fuels Technology, South Africa | Velaers, A.J., Sasol Fuels Technology, South Africa; de Goede, S., Sasol Fuels Technology, South Africa | The combination of high crude oil prices, energy security concerns and environmental drivers have resulted in an increased focus on alternative fuels. Gas to liquids (GTL) diesel is considered to be a promising alternative diesel fuel, given that it can be used directly as a diesel fuel or be blended with petroleum-derived diesel or biodiesel. GTL diesel fuels are predominantly paraffinic and possess several excellent inherent properties including virtually zero sulphur, very low aromatics (<1%) and very high cetane values (typically >75). Currently GTL diesel is mostly sold into the European market as a blend stock for the extending and upgrading of petroleum-derived diesel fuels. Given GTL diesel's inherent paraffinic nature, the density of this product is below the European minimum 820 kg/m3 EN590 specification (at 15 °C). Typically up to 20% (vol) GTL diesel can be blended into crude oil derived diesel in order to meet the minimum European density specification, although neat applications of GTL diesel have also received some attention in literature. This study presents some findings pertaining to injector fouling for neat and 20% (vol) GTL diesel blends on a variety of diesel engines. There is however, very little information in the open literature on the physical and injector fouling performance properties of higher binary blends of petroleum-derived and GTL diesel. Several markets do not have a minimum density specification (e.g. the USA, Canada, Uzbekistan), while several countries have winter density specifications lower than 820 kg/m3, including countries like China, potentially enabling GTL diesel to be used at higher blending ratios and in its neat form. In the current study, neat low temperature Fischer Tropsch (LTFT) GTL diesel and EN590 diesel fuels, together with blends containing 10, 20, 30, 50, and 80 volume percent GTL, were analysed for their physical and chemical properties. The injector fouling performances of these blends were assessed in the CEC F-23-01 XUD9 and Sasol common rail tests. Many of the physical properties of these blends were influenced positively by the addition of GTL diesel to the EN590 fuel. Overall, it was concluded that at low percentages, blends of GTL diesel with EN590 resulted in similar injector fouling performance in the CEC F-23-01 XUD9 and Sasol common rail tests. At higher GTL diesel contents, a significant injector fouling performance improvement was found. © 2012 SAE International. | None | Alternative diesel fuel; Binary blends; Blending ratio; Common rail; Crude oil prices; Energy security; European markets; Fischer Tropsch; Gas to liquids; Injector nozzle; Low temperatures; Minimum density; Performance improvements; Performance properties; Physical and chemical properties; Uzbekistan; Alternative fuels; Blending; Chemical properties; Commerce; Crude oil; Diesel engines; Diesel fuels; Fouling; Specifications; Sulfur; Jet pumps | None |
| None | None | Global research priorities to mitigate plastic pollution impacts on marine wildlife | Vegter A.C., Barletta M., Beck C., Borrero J., Burton H., Campbell M.L., Costa M.F., Eriksen M., Eriksson C., Estrades A., Gilardi K.V.K., Hardesty B.D., Ivar do Sul J.A., Lavers J.L., Lazar B., Lebreton L., Nichols W.J., Ribic C.A., Ryan P.G., Schuyler Q | 2014 | Endangered Species Research | 25 | 3 | 10.3354/esr00623 | School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia; Laboratory of Ecology and Management of Estuarine and Coastal Ecosystems-LEGECE, Departamento de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, CEP, Brazil; US Geological Survey, Southeast Ecological Science Center, Sirenia Project, 7920 NW 71st Street, Gainesville, FL, United States; ECoast Marine Consulting and Research, Box 151, Raglan, New Zealand; Mary St, Hobart, TAS, Australia; School of Medical and Applied Science, Central Queensland University, Bryan Jordan Drive, Gladstone, QLD, Australia; 5 Gyres Institute, 2122 S. Spaulding Ave., Los Angeles, CA, United States; Karumbé, Av. Giannattasio km. 30.5, El Pinar, Canelones, Uruguay; School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, 1 Shields Ave., Davis, CA, United States; Wealth from Oceans Flagship, Marine and Atmospheric Research, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Hobart, TAS, Australia; Oceanography Department, Federal University of Pernambuco, Av. Arquitetura s/n Cidade Universitária-Recife, PE, Brazil; Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia; School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia; Department of Biodiversity, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, Glagoljaska 8, Koper, Slovenia; Dumpark Ltd., Data Science, Raglan, New Zealand; California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA, United States; US Geological Survey, Wisconsin Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States; Percy FitzPatrick Institute, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa; School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; National Marine Science Centre, Southern Cross University, PO Box 4321, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia; Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry (LOG), Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan; School of Biological Sciences, Moreton Bay Research Station, The University of Queensland, PO Box 138, Dunwich, North Stradbroke Island, QLD, Australia; Secretariat of the Pacific Community, B.P. D5, Noumea, New Caledonia; Pacific Rim Conservation, Honolulu, HI, United States; School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia; TropWater, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia | Vegter, A.C., School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia; Barletta, M., Laboratory of Ecology and Management of Estuarine and Coastal Ecosystems-LEGECE, Departamento de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, CEP, Brazil; Beck, C., US Geological Survey, Southeast Ecological Science Center, Sirenia Project, 7920 NW 71st Street, Gainesville, FL, United States; Borrero, J., ECoast Marine Consulting and Research, Box 151, Raglan, New Zealand; Burton, H., Mary St, Hobart, TAS, Australia; Campbell, M.L., School of Medical and Applied Science, Central Queensland University, Bryan Jordan Drive, Gladstone, QLD, Australia; Costa, M.F., Laboratory of Ecology and Management of Estuarine and Coastal Ecosystems-LEGECE, Departamento de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, CEP, Brazil; Eriksen, M., 5 Gyres Institute, 2122 S. Spaulding Ave., Los Angeles, CA, United States; Eriksson, C., Mary St, Hobart, TAS, Australia; Estrades, A., Karumbé, Av. Giannattasio km. 30.5, El Pinar, Canelones, Uruguay; Gilardi, K.V.K., School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, 1 Shields Ave., Davis, CA, United States; Hardesty, B.D., Wealth from Oceans Flagship, Marine and Atmospheric Research, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Hobart, TAS, Australia; Ivar do Sul, J.A., Oceanography Department, Federal University of Pernambuco, Av. Arquitetura s/n Cidade Universitária-Recife, PE, Brazil; Lavers, J.L., Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia; Lazar, B., Department of Biodiversity, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, Glagoljaska 8, Koper, Slovenia; Lebreton, L., Dumpark Ltd., Data Science, Raglan, New Zealand; Nichols, W.J., California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA, United States; Ribic, C.A., US Geological Survey, Wisconsin Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States; Ryan, P.G., Percy FitzPatrick Institute, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa; Schuyler, Q.A., School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Smith, S.D.A., National Marine Science Centre, Southern Cross University, PO Box 4321, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia; Takada, H., Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry (LOG), Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan; Townsend, K.A., School of Biological Sciences, Moreton Bay Research Station, The University of Queensland, PO Box 138, Dunwich, North Stradbroke Island, QLD, Australia; Wabnitz, C.C.C., Secretariat of the Pacific Community, B.P. D5, Noumea, New Caledonia; Wilcox, C., Wealth from Oceans Flagship, Marine and Atmospheric Research, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Hobart, TAS, Australia; Young, L.C., Pacific Rim Conservation, Honolulu, HI, United States; Hamann, M., School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia, TropWater, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia | Marine wildlife faces a growing number of threats across the globe, and the survival of many species and populations will be dependent on conservation action. One threat in particular that has emerged over the last 4 decades is the pollution of oceanic and coastal habitats with plastic debris. The increased occurrence of plastics in marine ecosystems mirrors the increased prevalence of plastics in society, and reflects the high durability and persistence of plastics in the environment. In an effort to guide future research and assist mitigation approaches to marine conservation, we have generated a list of 16 priority research questions based on the expert opinions of 26 researchers from around the world, whose research expertise spans several disciplines, and covers each of the world's oceans and the taxa most at risk from plastic pollution. This paper highlights a growing concern related to threats posed to marine wildlife from microplastics and fragmented debris, the need for data at scales relevant to management, and the urgent need to develop interdisciplinary research and management partnerships to limit the release of plastics into the environment and curb the future impacts of plastic pollution. © Inter-Research 2014. | Global; Marine wildlife; Plastic; Pollution; Priority | marine ecosystem; marine environment; nature conservation; plastic waste; pollution effect; survival | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-38149033691 | The performance of unpaved road material using soil stabilisers | Veelen M., Visser A.T. | 2007 | Journal of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering | 49 | 4 | None | Department of Civil and Biosystems Engineering, University of Pretoria; Department of Civil and Biosystems Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa; Jeffares and Green (Pty) Ltd., PO Box 1109, Sunninghill, 2157 Johannesburg, South Africa | Veelen, M., Jeffares and Green (Pty) Ltd., PO Box 1109, Sunninghill, 2157 Johannesburg, South Africa; Visser, A.T., Department of Civil and Biosystems Engineering, University of Pretoria, Department of Civil and Biosystems Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa | There are over 500 000 km of unsealed roads in South Africa. Unacceptable levels of dust, poor riding quality and impassability in wet weather are experienced on much of this road network. A potential solution to this ever-increasing problem is the use of soil stabilisers (additives), yet the level of research done on these additives consists mostly of small ad hoc studies. The aim of this paper is to report on the performance of selected soil stabilisers used on South African unpaved roads with respect to their effect on material strength. The behaviour of the soil stabilisers were tested by determining the effectiveness of the stabilisers in improving the strength of unpaved roads as a function of gravel with different properties for a range of soil stabilisers under wet and dry conditions. The effectiveness was tested over a period of nine months. Four different stabilisers were used on four different wearing-course materials. The conclusion reached was that there are certain stabilisers that do improve the strength behaviour of pavement material under certain conditions. It was found that the enzyme and sulphonated oil-treated materials had an increase in strength over the test period, and it was concluded that these stabilisers need a curing time of a few dry months to reach their maximum strength. The materials treated with the two polymers gained their maximum strength within two months after construction. It was found that the enzyme-treated material showed an increase in strength when applied to a sandy material with a low Pl and the sulphonated oil-treated material performed well when applied to a clayey material containing a reactive clay mineral. The polymers showed no material-specific properties. Most of the stabilised panels showed an increase in dry strength eight months after construction and this was attributed to the fact that the panels had enough time to dry out and reach their maximum strength over the dry winter months. The final conclusion was that there are some soil stabilisers available that do improve the strength behaviour of pavement materials. It is, however, important to choose the correct stabiliser for the intended purpose. | Engineering properties; Gravel roads; Non-traditional stabilisers | Engineering properties; Non-traditional stabilisers; Clay; Enzymes; Gravel roads; Pavements; Soil mechanics | None |
| None | None | Development and validation of high-performance thin-layer chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of rifampicin, isoniazid, and pyrazinamide in a fixed dosage combination tablet | Vedaste K., Egide K., Claver K.P., Kaale E. | 2014 | Journal of Planar Chromatography - Modern TLC | 27 | 5 | 10.1556/JPC.27.2014.5.11 | Department of Pharmacy, University of Rwanda, P.O. Box 117, Butare, Rwanda; Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Tanzania | Vedaste, K., Department of Pharmacy, University of Rwanda, P.O. Box 117, Butare, Rwanda; Egide, K., Department of Pharmacy, University of Rwanda, P.O. Box 117, Butare, Rwanda; Claver, K.P., Department of Pharmacy, University of Rwanda, P.O. Box 117, Butare, Rwanda; Kaale, E., Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Tanzania | [No abstract available] | High-performance thin-layer chromatography; Isoniazid; Tuberculosis; Validation | isoniazid plus rifampicin; pyrazinamide; rifampicin; absorption spectroscopy; accuracy; Article; controlled study; densitometry; drug determination; drug formulation; fixed dosage combination tablet; high performance thin layer chromatography; process development; tablet; validation process | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84924769603 | Facile synthesis and biological evaluation of assorted indolyl-3-amides and esters from a single, stable carbonyl nitrile intermediate | Veale C.G.L., Edkins A.L., De La Mare J.-A., De Kock C., Smith P.J., Khanye S.D. | 2015 | Tetrahedron Letters | 56 | 14 | 10.1016/j.tetlet.2015.02.090 | Faculty of Pharmacy, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa; Biomedical Biotechnology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa; Department of Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, South Africa; Department of Chemistry, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa | Veale, C.G.L., Faculty of Pharmacy, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa; Edkins, A.L., Biomedical Biotechnology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa; De La Mare, J.-A., Biomedical Biotechnology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa; De Kock, C., Department of Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, South Africa; Smith, P.J., Department of Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, South Africa; Khanye, S.D., Department of Chemistry, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa | The synthesis of biologically relevant amides and esters is routinely conducted under complex reaction conditions or requires the use of additional catalysts in order to generate sensitive electrophilic species for attack by a nucleophile. Here we present the synthesis of different indolic esters and amides from indolyl-3-carbonyl nitrile, without the requirement of anhydrous reaction conditions or catalysts. Additionally, we screened these compounds for potential in vitro antimalarial and anticancer activity, revealing 1H-indolyl-3-carboxylic acid 3-(indolyl-3-carboxamide)aminobenzyl ester to have moderate activity against both lines. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Amide; Carbonyl nitrile; Ester; Indole | 1 h indolyl 3 carboxylic acid 3 (indolyl 3 carboxamide)aminobenzyl ester; amide; antimalarial agent; antineoplastic agent; carbonyl derivative; ester derivative; indole derivative; nitrile; unclassified drug; animal cell; antimalarial activity; antineoplastic activity; Article; breast cancer cell line; bromination; controlled study; drug cytotoxicity; drug screening; drug stability; drug synthesis; electrophilicity; fluorination; IC50; in vitro study; nonhuman; nucleophilicity; Plasmodium falciparum; structure activity relation; triple negative breast cancer | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84904361608 | Depressive symptoms, burnout and the impact of events in non-professional volunteer counselors in Durban, South Africa | Vawda N.B.M. | 2014 | African Journal of Psychiatry (South Africa) | 17 | 2 | 10.4172/1994-8220.SL1000101 | Department of Behavioral Medicine, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 605 Exeter Hall, 24 Sol Harris Crescent, Durban, 4001, South Africa | Vawda, N.B.M., Department of Behavioral Medicine, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 605 Exeter Hall, 24 Sol Harris Crescent, Durban, 4001, South Africa | [No abstract available] | None | adult; article; avoidance behavior; Beck Depression Inventory; burnout; clinical article; coping behavior; counseling; depersonalization; depression; emotional stress; female; human; Maslach Burnout Inventory; productivity; psychologic test; psychometry; religion; risk factor; South Africa; violence; voluntary worker; volunteer counselor | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-17144423262 | Impact of HIV/AIDS on deaths certified at Mosvold Hospital, Ingwavuma, Northern KwaZulu-Natal from January to August 2003 | Vaughan Williams C.H. | 2005 | South African Family Practice | 47 | 1 | None | Mosvold Hospital, South Africa; Private Bag X2211, Ingwavuma 3968, South Africa | Vaughan Williams, C.H., Mosvold Hospital, South Africa, Private Bag X2211, Ingwavuma 3968, South Africa | An analysis of the causes of death certified at Mosvold Hospital, Ingwavuma demonstrates the impact of HIV/AIDS in the region. HIV/AIDS appears to be responsible for about 45% of registered deaths in both males and females after the age of nine years. There is a significant difference in the mean age at death between males and females succumbing to the disease after the age of nine years: the average age at death of females from HIV/AIDS is 35 years, and the average age for males is 40 years. The younger average age of death from HIV/AIDS in females, together with a higher expected age of death from non-HIV causes, means that females lose considerably more years of life due to HIV/AIDS than males. The figures for this part of northern KwaZulu-Natal indicate a higher impact of HIV/AIDS on deaths than in previous assessments for South Africa as a whole. | Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; Mortality; South Africa | acquired immune deficiency syndrome; adolescent; adult; aged; article; cause of death; child; death certificate; female; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; life expectancy; major clinical study; male; mortality; sex difference; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84890948686 | Evaluation of (2-hydroxyethyl) triphenyl phosphonium bromide as corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in sulphuric acid | Vashisht H., Kumar S., Bahadur I., Singh G. | 2014 | International Journal of Electrochemical Science | 9 | 2 | None | Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi -110007, India; Thermodynamics Research Unit, School of Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College Campus, King George V Avenue, Durban, 4041, South Africa | Vashisht, H., Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi -110007, India; Kumar, S., Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi -110007, India; Bahadur, I., Thermodynamics Research Unit, School of Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College Campus, King George V Avenue, Durban, 4041, South Africa; Singh, G., Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi -110007, India | The inhibition effect of the (2-Hydroxyethyl) triphenyl phosphonium bromide (HETPB) on mild steel corrosion in 0.5 M H2So4 have been determined by electrochemical techniques like potentiodynamic polarization (PDP), potentiostatic polarization (PSP) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies (EIS). Potentiodynamic polarization study reveal that HETPB is an anodic type inhibitor with 98% efficiency at the concentration range of (1×10-2 to 4×10-3) M for mild steel in 0.5 M sulfuric acid. Potentiostatic polarization study shows that HETPB is a non-passivating type of inhibitor at higher concentrations and act as passivating type of inhibitor at lower concentrations. The corrosion behavior of steel in 0.5 M H2So4 without and with the inhibitor at various concentrations was studied at the temperature range from (298.15 to 328.15) K. The adsorption of HETPB accords to Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Kinetic parameter such as effective activation energy (Ea) has been evaluated from the effect of temperature on corrosion and inhibition processes. The negative values of thermodynamic parameter like Gibbs free energy of adsorption (ΔG°ads) indicate the spontaneity of adsorption process. The surface morphology of the tested mild steel specimens in the presence and absence of inhibitors have been studied by using the respective images of SEM and AFM. Quantum chemical calculations have been performed and several quantum chemical indices were calculated and correlated with the corresponding inhibition efficiencies. © 2014 by ESG. | Adsorption isotherms; Corrosion inhibitors; Mild steel; Phosphonium compound; Sulfuric acid solution | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84897845493 | Evaluation of benzyl triphenyl phosphonium chloride as corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in phosphoric acid | Vashisht H., Bahadur I., Kumar S., Bhrara K., Ramjugernath D., Singh G. | 2014 | International Journal of Electrochemical Science | 9 | 6 | None | Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007, India; Thermodynamics Research Unit, School of Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College Campus, King George V Avenue, Durban, 4041, South Africa | Vashisht, H., Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007, India; Bahadur, I., Thermodynamics Research Unit, School of Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College Campus, King George V Avenue, Durban, 4041, South Africa; Kumar, S., Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007, India; Bhrara, K., Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007, India; Ramjugernath, D., Thermodynamics Research Unit, School of Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College Campus, King George V Avenue, Durban, 4041, South Africa; Singh, G., Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007, India | The effect of Benzyl triphenyl phosphonium chloride (BTPPC) on the corrosion of mild steel in a solution of 0.3 M phosphoric acid has been investigated at various inhibitor concentrations and temperatures by Potentiodynamic Polarization Studies, Potentiostatic Polarization Studies, Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy Studies (EIS), Temperature Kinetic Studies and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Results obtained from Potentiodynamic polarization studies reveal that BTPPC is a mixed type inhibitor for mild steel in 0.3 M phosphoric acid. Potentiostatic polarization studies show that BTPPC is a non-passivating type of inhibitor. The corrosion behavior of steel in 0.3 M H3PO4 with and without the inhibitor at various concentrations was studied in the temperature range from (298.15 to 338.15) K. The inhibition efficiency increases with an increase in concentration at all temperatures. The inhibition efficiencies decrease with an increase in temperature for lower concentrations of BTPPC, but for the higher concentration such as 1×10-3M, inhibition efficiencies decrease with an increase in temperature up to 318.15 K and then increase with a further increase in temperature up to 338.15 K. The adsorption of BTPPC accords to the El-Awady adsorption isotherm. Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters such as effective activation energy (Ea), Gibbs free energy of adsorption (δG°ads) and heat of adsorption (δH°ads) indicate that adsorption of BTPPC on the mild steel surface is primarily physical in nature. The results of scanning electron microscopy are in agreement with the electrochemical analysis results. © 2014 The Authors. | Benzyltriphenylphosphonium chloride; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS); Potentiodynamic polarization studies; Potentiostatic polarization Studies; Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84907608553 | Microseismicity of the Tehran Region based on the data recorded in a local monitoring network: 2004-2010 | Vasheghani Farahani J., Zaré M., Cichowicz A. | 2014 | Episodes | 37 | 3 | None | Institute of Geophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran; International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology, Tehran, Iran; Council for Geoscience, Pretoria, South Africa | Vasheghani Farahani, J., Institute of Geophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran; Zaré, M., International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology, Tehran, Iran; Cichowicz, A., Council for Geoscience, Pretoria, South Africa | Evaluation of the seismicity of a region depends on records of earthquakes. This article assesses the microseismicity of Tehran region, bounded by the coordinates 34.43°-36.87° N and 49.07°-53.13° E. This was investigated by the Tehran Disaster Mitigation and Management Organization (TDMMO) network from 2004 to 2010. The main purpose of this study was to substantiate the current tectonic activity of the region. We checked whether the observed faults in the region are active or not. Some active trends were found with the strongest activity in the eastern part of the region, especially associated with the North Tehran fault. In addition, records exist of strong historical earthquakes in this zone. These confirm that the area east of Tehran is more active than the west. The magnitude of completeness in the E, NE and SE is Mc=2. Major faults criss-crossing Tehran are located in the foot of the Alborz mountain belt. The released seismic energy map of the region demonstrates that the main active zones with high energy values for microearthquakes are in the east of the region. | None | earthquake catalogue; earthquake magnitude; earthquake mechanism; fault zone; microearthquake; mountain region; seismicity; tectonic setting; trend analysis; Elburz; Iran; Tehran [Iran] | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84896348149 | Automating fault tolerance in high-performance computational biological jobs using multi-agent approaches | Varghese B., McKee G., Alexandrov V. | 2014 | Computers in Biology and Medicine | 48 | 1 | 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2014.02.005 | School of Computer Science, University of St. Andrews, United Kingdom; Faculty of Computing and IT, Baze University, Nigeria; Barcelona Supercomputing Centre, Spain | Varghese, B., School of Computer Science, University of St. Andrews, United Kingdom; McKee, G., Faculty of Computing and IT, Baze University, Nigeria; Alexandrov, V., Barcelona Supercomputing Centre, Spain | Background: Large-scale biological jobs on high-performance computing systems require manual intervention if one or more computing cores on which they execute fail. This places not only a cost on the maintenance of the job, but also a cost on the time taken for reinstating the job and the risk of losing data and execution accomplished by the job before it failed. Approaches which can proactively detect computing core failures and take action to relocate the computing core[U+05F3]s job onto reliable cores can make a significant step towards automating fault tolerance. Method: This paper describes an experimental investigation into the use of multi-agent approaches for fault tolerance. Two approaches are studied, the first at the job level and the second at the core level. The approaches are investigated for single core failure scenarios that can occur in the execution of parallel reduction algorithms on computer clusters. A third approach is proposed that incorporates multi-agent technology both at the job and core level. Experiments are pursued in the context of genome searching, a popular computational biology application.Result: The key conclusion is that the approaches proposed are feasible for automating fault tolerance in high-performance computing systems with minimal human intervention. In a typical experiment in which the fault tolerance is studied, centralised and decentralised checkpointing approaches on an average add 90% to the actual time for executing the job. On the other hand, in the same experiment the multi-agent approaches add only 10% to the overall execution time. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. | Biological jobs; Checkpoint; Fault tolerance; High-performance computing; Multi-agents; Seamless execution | Bioinformatics; Core levels; Experiments; Fault tolerance; Multi agent systems; Biological jobs; Checkpoint; High-performance computing; Multi agent; Seamless execution; Fault tolerant computer systems; algorithm; article; automation; biology; computer; computer analysis; cost; decision making; experiment; genome; intelligence; priority journal; risk; simulation; technology; work; algorithm; computer program; human; theoretical model; Algorithms; Computational Biology; Humans; Models, Theoretical; Software | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84904338700 | Evaluation of two organosilicone adjuvants at reduced foliar spray volumes in South African citrus orchards of different canopy densities | van Zyl J.G., Sieverding E.G., Viljoen D.J., Fourie P.H. | 2014 | Crop Protection | 64 | None | 10.1016/j.cropro.2014.06.024 | Department of Plant Pathology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa; Citrus Research International, P.O. Box 28, Nelspruit, South Africa; Evonik Africa (Pty) Ltd, P.O. Box 3739, Somerset West 7129, South Africa; Evonik Industries AG, Goldschmidtstraße 100, 45127 Essen, Germany | van Zyl, J.G., Department of Plant Pathology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa, Citrus Research International, P.O. Box 28, Nelspruit, South Africa; Sieverding, E.G., Evonik Industries AG, Goldschmidtstraße 100, 45127 Essen, Germany; Viljoen, D.J., Evonik Africa (Pty) Ltd, P.O. Box 3739, Somerset West 7129, South Africa; Fourie, P.H., Department of Plant Pathology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa, Citrus Research International, P.O. Box 28, Nelspruit, South Africa | van Zyl, J.G., Sieverding, E.G., Viljoen, D.J., Fourie, P.H., 2014. Evaluation of two organosilicone adjuvants atreduced foliar spray volumes in South African citrus orchards of different canopy densities Crop Protection 00:0000-0000.Citrus producers in South Africa generally use high spray volumes (6000 to 16,000lha-1) to control pests and diseases adequately for the fresh fruit market. In order to study the benefit of organosilicone adjuvants at reduced spray volumes, trials were conducted with two organo tri-siloxane adjuvants. Two separate spray trials were conducted in the Western and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa in uniform navel orange orchards. Break-Thru S240 (super-spreader) and Break-Thru Union (spreader-sticker), at recommended dosages per hectare (300mlha-1, respectively), were sprayed separately in combination with a yellow fluorescent pigment (1mll-1) at a high (20l tree-1≈9600 to 12,100lha-1, depending on tree and inter-row spacing), medium (14l tree-1≈6500 to 8500lha-1) and low (8l tree-1≈3700 to 4800lha-1) spray application volumes. Sprays consisting of the fluorescent pigment in water alone were used as control treatments. Trees were sprayed from both sides with a commercial multi-fan tower sprayer (BSF-Multiwing) at a constant tractor speed (2.4kmh-1) and spray pressure (1500kPa). The different spray volumes were achieved by using different spray nozzles (TeeJet Disc-Core type; full and hollow cone nozzles D3-DC56/46, D4-DC56/46, D5-DC56/46). Leaves were sampled from six canopy positions (inner and outer canopy position at bottom, middle and top of the tree). Deposition quantity and quality of fluorescent pigment were determined on upper and lower leaf surfaces using fluorometry, digital photomacrography and image analyses. Spray uniformity and efficiency were also compared among treatments. Deposition quantity generally increased with increasing spray volume, but normalised values showed better spray efficiency at lower volumes. In pruned and less dense canopies, a beneficial effect of adjuvants was observed in terms of deposition quantity, efficiency and uniformity, especially at reduced volume applications (14l tree-1) on the inside and outside of the canopy. Little improvement in deposition quality was generally observed with the use of adjuvants. These benefits were not as evident in very dense canopies, illustrating the importance of canopy management when spraying at reduced volumes. Data obtained from the study is valuable for future improvement in spray application methodology in South Africa and other developing countries. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. | Canopy management; Deposition quality; Deposition quantity; Deposition uniformity; Digital image analysis; Fluorometry | biological control; canopy; digital image; evergreen tree; fluorescence; fluorometry; pest control; pigment; silicon; spray; volume; South Africa | 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-s2.0-84939945876 | Evaluation of the ASTERTM process in the presence of suspended solids | Van Zyl A.W., Huddy R., Harrison S.T.L., Van Hille R.P. | 2015 | Minerals Engineering | 76 | None | 10.1016/j.mineng.2014.11.007 | Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, South Africa | Van Zyl, A.W., Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, South Africa; Huddy, R., Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, South Africa; Harrison, S.T.L., Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, South Africa; Van Hille, R.P., Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, South Africa | The ability to recycle and reuse process water is a major contributing factor toward increased sustainability in the mining industry. However, the presence of toxic compounds has prevented this in most bioleaching operations. The ASTERTM process has been used for the bioremediation of cyanide (CN) and thiocyanate (SCN-) containing effluents at demonstration and commercial scale, increasing the potential for recycling of the treated effluent. The process relies on a complex consortium of microorganisms and laboratory tests have shown that the biomass retention, in suspended flocs or attached biofilm, significantly improved SCN- degradation rates. The current research evaluated the process performance in the presence of suspended solids (up to 5.5% m/v) ahead of implementation at a site where complete tailings removal is not possible. Experiments were performed in four 1 l CSTRs (with three primary reactors in parallel at an 8 h residence time, feeding one secondary reactor at a 2.7 h residence time). Stable operation at the design specifications (5.5% solids, 100 mg/l SCN- feed, effluent SCN- <1 mg/l) was achieved within 50 days, including a period of adaptation. The pH had the most significant effect on performance, with significant inhibition below pH 6. The presence of gypsum and anhydrite phases in the fresh tailings was most likely responsible for the observed decrease in pH. A maximum SCN- degradation rate of >57 mg/l/h was achieved, despite no obvious floc formation. Microbial ecology studies (16S rRNA clone library) revealed reduced diversity relative to reactors operated without suspended solids. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Biomass retention; BIOX® process; Microbial ecology; Thiocyanate destruction | Bioremediation; Degradation; Ecology; Microbiology; Recycling; RNA; Water conservation; 16S rRNA clone libraries; Biomass retention; Contributing factor; Design specification; Microbial ecology; Process performance; Suspended solids; Thiocyanate destruction; Effluents | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-76649102421 | The impact of Social Networking 2.0 on organisations | Van Zyl A.S. | 2009 | Electronic Library | 27 | 6 | 10.1108/02640470911004020 | Department of Accountancy, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa | Van Zyl, A.S., Department of Accountancy, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa | Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to increase the understanding of what electronic social networking encompasses. It also aims to educate IT, business decision makers, knowledge workers and librarians about the various applications, benefits and risks associated with social networking. Design/methodology/approach - After a literature review of the available resources (academic literature, journal articles, white papers, popular media and books) the benefits and perceived risks associated with electronic social networking on organisations are investigated. Findings - An individual's success in society depends on the shape and size of his/her social network and ability to network and form connections with other social groups. Organisations which can harness this innate human ability to manage knowledge will be able to lower transactions costs and become more profitable. Originality/value - The paper increases the understanding of what electronic social networking encompasses and how it can be utilised for business purposes. The ideas and discussion put forth are equally applicable to libraries and may give them new insights into the provision of social networking applications as part of their services to users. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Communication technologies; Computer applications; Electronic media; Knowledge management; Risk management; Social networks | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34547595380 | Improved mechanical performance: Shear behaviour of strain-hardening cement-based composites (SHCC) | van Zijl G.P.A.G. | 2007 | Cement and Concrete Research | 37 | 8 | 10.1016/j.cemconres.2007.04.009 | Division for Structural Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa; Faculty of Architecture, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands | van Zijl, G.P.A.G., Division for Structural Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, Faculty of Architecture, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands | The retardation of moisture and gas ingress associated with important degradation mechanisms in cement-based composites in general and reinforced concrete or prestressed concrete in particular is an ongoing research focus internationally. A dense outer layer is generally accepted to significantly enhance durability of structural concrete. However, cracking leads to enhanced ingress, unless the cracks are restricted to small widths. Strain-hardening cement-based composites (SHCC) make use of fibres to bridge cracks, whereby they are controlled to small widths over a large tensile deformation range. In this paper, SHCC shear behaviour is studied, verifying that the cracks which arise in pure shear are also controlled to small widths in these materials. The design of an Iosipescu shear test setup and specific SHCC geometry is reported, as well as the results of a test series. A computational model for SHCC, based on finite element theory and continuum damage mechanics, is elaborated and shown to capture the shear behaviour of SHCC. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Fibre reinforcement; Mechanical properties; Microcracking; Shear properties | Continuum damage mechanics; Deformation; Finite element method; Microcracking; Reinforcement; Fiber reinforcements; Shear properties; Composite materials | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84874388317 | The impact of rheology on the mechanical performance of steel Fiber-Reinforced concrete | van Zijl G.P.A.G., Zeranka S. | 2012 | RILEM Bookseries | 2 | None | 10.1007/978-94-007-2436-5_8 | Department of Civil Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa | van Zijl, G.P.A.G., Department of Civil Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa; Zeranka, S., Department of Civil Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa | Fibers are added to concrete to bridge cracks, in order to improve mechanical behavior from brittle to pseudo-plastic. Uniform dispersion of fibers is known to be critical, to avoid weak planes and the influence of self-compacting ability of fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) on fiber dispersion has been studied and reported in the literature to some extent. A self-compacting (SCFRC) and a normal workability FRC (NFRC) was designed and tested systematically. Indirect assessment of fiber dispersion and orientation was performed by mechanical testing on small specimens, to study the influence on mechanical performance. The results show superiority of SCFRC in flexure. © RILEM 2012. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84908388409 | Evaluation of rock types for concrete aggregate suitability for the construction of a gravimeter vault and access road at the Matjiesfontein Geodesy Observatory site near Matjiesfontein, South Africa | Van Wyk P.R., Croukamp L. | 2014 | Journal of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering | 56 | 2 | None | Department of Civil Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa | Van Wyk, P.R., Department of Civil Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa; Croukamp, L., Department of Civil Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa | Often the use of local rock material for construction purposes is overlooked in engineering, which could reduce costs in terms of procurement and transport, as well as being more environmentally friendly by minimising the introduction of foreign materials. The rock materials at and around the site of a rock vault for the Matjiesfontein Geodesy and Earth Observation Observatory (MGO) were tested to determine if local materials may be used for construction purposes. In order to do this, strength and durability tests were conducted according to several South African National Standards (SANS). Slake durability was also tested where the potential of certain rock types, such as tillite of the Dwyka formation and shale of the Karoo Supergroup, typically slake/disintegrate into long angular fragments. This angular fragmentation during crushing of rock into aggregate for concrete also affects the workability of concrete in a fresh state. Concrete design using crushed local rock material was conducted to analyse performance and to establish a mix design that would be sustainable throughout the lifetime of the project. Tillite of the Dwyka formation was found to satisfy all test prerequisites best with minimal slaking due to the arid conditions at Matjiesfontein. Quartzite (Table Mountain Group) is very durable, but further testing for alkali-silicate reactivity is needed. All concrete cube tests accomplished the 40 MPa cube strength, which was the design requirement, but problems arose in the workability of the concrete when river sand from nearby non-perennial rivers was used as fine aggregate in the concrete. This relates to too many particles of the same size within the sand. © 2014, South African Institute of Civil Engineers. All rights reserved. | Concrete; Durability; Gravimeter; Matjiesfontein; Vault | Durability; Gravimeters; Access roads; Matjiesfontein; Rock types; South Africa; Vault; Concretes | DST, Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84893601456 | Speciation of [PtIVCl6nBrn]2- (n = 0-6) and some of their mono-aquated [PtIVCl5-nBr n(H2O)]- (n = 0-5) anions in solution at low concentrations by means of ion-pairing reversed-phase ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ion | Van Wyk P.-H., Van Dyk J.B., Gerber W.J., Stander M., De Villiers A., Koch K.R. | 2014 | Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry | 28 | 5 | 10.1002/rcm.6798 | Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Central Analytical Facility, Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa | Van Wyk, P.-H., Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Van Dyk, J.B., Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Gerber, W.J., Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Stander, M., Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa, Central Analytical Facility, Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa; De Villiers, A., Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Koch, K.R., Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa | RATIONALE The speciation of the purely inorganic [PtCl6-nBr n]2- (n = 0-6) anions and their corresponding mono-aquated [PtCl5-nBrn(H2O)]- (n = 0-5) anions is of considerable importance to the precious metal refining and recycling industry, to ensure optimum recovery and separation efficiencies. Speciation of platinum complexes present in precursor solutions used for the preparation of precious metal nano-crystals of defined size and morphology appears also to be important. The various possible PtIV complex anions in dilute aqueous can be characterized using ion-pairing reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-Q-TOFMS). METHODS Ion-pairing reversed-phase ultra-high-performance LC separation of the PtIV complex anions present in aqueous solutions prior to detection by means of high-resolution ESI-Q-TOFMS using a low ESI source cone voltage (5 V) allows for the clear identification of all the platinum complexes from the characteristic pattern of fragment ions (m/z), presumably generated by 'reductive conversion' in the ESI source of the mass spectrometer. Sufficient chromatographic resolution for the series of PtIV complexes is achieved using the (n-butyl) 3NH+ ion generated in a formic acid/water/methanol (pH ~3.5) mobile phase. This mobile phase composition facilitates a low-background for optimal ESI-Q-TOFMS detection with enhanced sensitivity. RESULTS Direct-infusion mass spectrometry of the inorganic platinum complexes in aqueous solution is impractical due to their low volatility, but more importantly as a result of the very extensive series of fragment ions generated in the ESI source, which leads to virtually uninterpretable mass spectra. However, with prior separation, and by using low ESI cone voltages (5 V), the mass spectra of the separated analyte ions show simpler and systematic fragmentation patterns [PtIVX5]- → [PtIIIX 4]- → [PtIIX3]- → [PtIX2]- (X = Cl- and Br -), resulting in clear assignments. This methodology facilitates the characterization of the partially aquated [PtCl5-nBr n(H2O)]- (n = 0-5) anions derived from the homo- and heteroleptic [PtCl6-nBrn]2- (n = 0-6) anions, in equilibrated solutions at low concentrations. CONCLUSIONS Speciation of homo- and heteroleptic [PtCl6-nBrn]2- (n = 0-6) anions, together with some of their partially aquated [PtCl 5-nBrn(H2O)]- (n = 0-5) species in dilute solution, can successfully be carried out by means of prior ion-pairing reversed-phase LC separation coupled to high-resolution ESI-Q-TOFMS at low ESI cone-voltage settings. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84936743558 | Regional economic impacts of events: A comparison of methods | vanWyk L., Saayman M., Rossouw R., Saayman A. | 2015 | South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences | 18 | 2 | 10.17159/2222-3436/2015/v18n2a2 | TREES: Tourism Research in Economic Environs and Society, North-West University, South Africa; School of Economics, North-West University, South Africa | vanWyk, L., TREES: Tourism Research in Economic Environs and Society, North-West University, South Africa; Saayman, M., TREES: Tourism Research in Economic Environs and Society, North-West University, South Africa; Rossouw, R., School of Economics, North-West University, South Africa; Saayman, A., School of Economics, North-West University, South Africa | The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview and comparison of three related methods for modelling the short-run economic impact of events, namely the partial Input-Output (I-O), Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) and Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) models. An analysis of strengths and limitations of these different methods suggests that it may be considerations such as the underlying assumptions specific to each model, data collection, expected output, research objectives, and costs involved that determine the choice of modelling framework. Data from surveys conducted at the Aardklop National Arts Festival during 2010 were used in the comparative analyses, which were executed by means of two regional (i.e. provincial-level) models and one small-region (i.e. place-specific) model constructed for the small town. © 2015, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved.. | Event tourism; Input-output models; Regional CGE modelling; Social accounting models; South Africa | None | 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-s2.0-42449110670 | The impact of scientific information on ecosystem management: Making sense of the contextual gap between information providers and decision makers | Van Wyk E., Roux D.J., Drackner M., McCool S.F. | 2008 | Environmental Management | 41 | 5 | 10.1007/s00267-008-9084-8 | Natural Resources and the Environment, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Department of Society and Conservation, College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812-0576, United States | Van Wyk, E., Natural Resources and the Environment, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Roux, D.J., Natural Resources and the Environment, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Drackner, M., Natural Resources and the Environment, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; McCool, S.F., Department of Society and Conservation, College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812-0576, United States | Scientific information is not always effectively incorporated into decision-making processes. This phenomenon seems to hold even when the information is aligned with an articulated need, is generated according to sound scientific procedures, and is packaged with end-user preferences in mind. We propose that contextual or cultural differences contribute significantly to the misalignment in communication between those who generate information and those who seek information for improved management of natural resources. The solution is to cultivate shared understanding, which in turn relies on acknowledgment and sharing of diverse values and attitudes. This constitutes a difficult challenge in a culturally diverse environment. Whereas cultural diversity represents wealth in experiences, knowledge and perspectives it can constrain the potential to develop the shared understandings necessary for effective integration of new information. This article illustrates how a lack of shared understanding among participants engaged in a resource-management process can produce and perpetuate divergent views of the world, to the extent that information and knowledge flows are ineffective and scientific information, even when requested, cannot be used effectively. Four themes were distilled from interviews with management and scientific staff of a natural resource-management agency in South Africa. The themes are used to illustrate how divergent views embedded in different cultures can discourage alignment of effort toward a common purpose. The article then presents a sense-making framework to illustrate the potential for developing shared understandings in a culturally diverse world. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. | Culture; Ecosystem management; Learning; Scientific information; Shared understanding | Cultural diversity; Ecosystem management; Decision making; Environmental management; Information use; Natural resources; Ecosystems; decision making; ecosystem management; learning; natural resource; participatory approach; perception; public attitude; resource management; traditional knowledge; article; cultural anthropology; decision making; environmental management; South Africa; Comprehension; Conservation of Natural Resources; Cultural Diversity; Decision Making; Ecosystem; Humans; Information Management; Knowledge; Science; South Africa; Africa; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84862492644 | Self-reported generalised anxiety and psychomotor test performance in healthy South Africans | Van Wijk C.H. | 2012 | South African Journal of Psychology | 42 | 1 | None | P. O. Box 494, Simon's Town, 7995, South Africa | Van Wijk, C.H., P. O. Box 494, Simon's Town, 7995, South Africa | Tests like the Grooved Pegboard may have specific value in South Africa in the context of screening for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders. However, there are inconsistent findings on the relationship between self-reported anxiety and neuropsychological performance in healthy adults, and in particular on tests of psychomotor functions such as the Form Board and Grooved Pegboard. Given the potential value, it is important to clarify the relationship between self-reported anxiety and performance on psychomotor tests among South African samples. Two studies are presented here. One sample of 170 young adults (19-30 years) completed the Form Board and Grooved Pegboard, after completing an anxiety scale. A second sample of 1,056 healthy adults (19-49 years) completed the Grooved Pegboard only after completing an anxiety scale. Age, gender, and education have previously been found to confound performance on these tests, and they were thus entered into a Multiple Regression Analysis, together with anxiety. In the first study, anxiety did not contribute significantly to performance variance. In the second study, both gender and anxiety did contribute significantly, and separate gender group regressions were thus done. Anxiety did not have a negative influence on performance in the female group, but it did contribute significantly to reducing performance in the male group. In review of these findings, this study cautions that anxiety may confound psychomotor test performance, and that clinicians need to be aware of its potential influence. © Psychological Society of South Africa. | Form board; Gender differences; Grooved pegboard; Psychomotor performance; Self-reported anxiety | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84902593551 | Complex tactile performance in low visibility: The effect of nitrogen narcosis | van Wijk C.H., Meintjes W.A.J. | 2014 | Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine | 44 | 2 | None | Division of Community Health, Stellenbosch University, South Africa | van Wijk, C.H., Division of Community Health, Stellenbosch University, South Africa; Meintjes, W.A.J., Division of Community Health, Stellenbosch University, South Africa | Background: In a task-environment where visibility has deteriorated, individuals rely heavily on tactile performance (perception and manipulation) to complete complex tasks. When this happens under hyperbaric conditions, factors like nitrogen narcosis could influence a person's ability to successfully complete such tasks. Objective: To examine the effect of nitrogen narcosis on a complex neuropsychological task measuring tactile performance at a pressure of 608 kPa (6 atm abs), in the absence of visual access to the task. Methods: In a prospective cross-over study, 139 commercial divers were tested in a dry chamber at 101.3 kPa and 608 kPa. They completed the Tupperware Neuropsychological Task (TNT) of tactile performance without visual access to the task, and completed questionnaires to provide psychological and biographical data, which included trait anxiety and transient mood states, as well as formal qualifications and technical proficiency. Results: A significant decrement (9.5%, P < 0.001) in performance on the TNT at depth was found, irrespective of the sequence of testing. Generally, neither the psychological nor biographical variables showed any significant effect on tactile performance. Tactile performance on the surface was a good indicator of performance at depth. Conclusion: These findings have practical implications for professional diving where conditions of low visibility during deeper diving occur. Recommendations are made towards managing potential impairments in tactile performance, such as pre-dive practical learning ('rehearsal') as an aid to successful completion of tasks. | Deep diving; Diving research; Nitrogen narcosis; Performance; Psychology | deep diving; diving research; Nitrogen narcosis; performance; psychology; Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Analysis of Variance; Atmospheric Pressure; Cross-Over Studies; Diving; Educational Status; Feedback, Sensory; Female; Humans; Inert Gas Narcosis; Male; Neuropsychological Tests; Prospective Studies; Seawater; Sensory Deprivation; Task Performance and Analysis; Touch; Touch Perception; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78149402655 | The practical application of an entrepreneurial performance training model in South Africa | van Vuuren J., Botha M. | 2010 | Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development | 17 | 4 | 10.1108/14626001011088750 | University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | van Vuuren, J., University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Botha, M., University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Purpose: This paper sets out to apply practically the constructs of the entrepreneurial performance training model to three different training interventions, known as the business start-up, basic entrepreneurship, and advanced entrepreneurship programmes. Furthermore, the paper aims to measure the business performance indicators and skills transfer that took place after the training interventions. Design/methodology/approach: Quantitative research was conducted, using three validated research questionnaires. The research design consists of a pre-test, post-test and post-post test (ten weeks after the training interventions took place). Factor analysis was done, descriptive statistics arising from opinions and expressions are presented and statistical tests such as the Chi-square test and ANOVA provide inferential statistics. Findings: The business performance indicators improved for all three training groups after they attended the training interventions. Furthermore, it was proved that skills transfer took place after the respondents attended the training interventions. Research limitations/implications: The training groups can be measured again after 18 months of three years to really determine the impact of the training interventions. The results of the three training programmes can be compared to see whether the basic entrepreneurship groups gained more skills and their business performance indicators increased more than the business start-up or advanced entrepreneurship programmes. Practical implications: The outcomes and implications of this research paper emphasise that it is imperative to design training programmes based on training models that have been tested. This paper highlights some aspects of how constructs used within the training models can be tested. Originality/value: The entrepreneurial performance-training model was practically applied and provides a set of expectations for other entrepreneurship models as well as presenting a benchmark against which programme performance can be measured. A unique teaching methodology is portrayed that contributes to the overall effectiveness of the training model. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Entrepreneurs; Performance measures; Skills flexibility; South Africa; Teaching methods; Training management | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84949771155 | Hedge fund performance evaluation using the kalman filter | van Vuuren G., Yacumakis R. | 2015 | Journal for Studies in Economics and Econometrics | 39 | 3 | None | North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Centre for Business Mathematics and Informatics, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa | van Vuuren, G., North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Yacumakis, R., Centre for Business Mathematics and Informatics, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa | In the capital asset pricing model, portfolio market risk is recognised through β while α summarises asset selection skill. Traditional parameter estimation techniques assume time-invariance and use rolling-window, ordinary least squares regression methods. The Kalman filter estimates dynamic α s and βs where measurement noise covariance and state noise covariance are known - or may be calibrated - in a state-space framework. These time-varying parameters result in superior predictive accuracy of fund return forecasts against ordinary least square (and other) estimates, particularly during the financial crisis of 2008/9 and are used to demonstrate increasing correlation between hedge funds and the market. © 2015, Universiteit Stellenbosch. All rights reserved. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78649725936 | Evaluation of a recombinant rift valley fever virus subunit nucleocapsid protein as an immunogen in mice and sheep | van Vuren P.J., Tiemessen C.T., Paweska J.T. | 2010 | Open Vaccine Journal | 3 | 1 | 10.2174/1875035401003010114 | Special Pathogens Unit, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service, Private Bag X4, Sandringham 2131, South Africa; Division Virology and Communicable Diseases Surveillance, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Cell Biology/AIDS Virus Research Unit, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service, Private Bag X4, Sandringham 2131, South Africa | van Vuren, P.J., Special Pathogens Unit, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service, Private Bag X4, Sandringham 2131, South Africa, Division Virology and Communicable Diseases Surveillance, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Tiemessen, C.T., Division Virology and Communicable Diseases Surveillance, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Cell Biology/AIDS Virus Research Unit, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service, Private Bag X4, Sandringham 2131, South Africa; Paweska, J.T., Special Pathogens Unit, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service, Private Bag X4, Sandringham 2131, South Africa, Division Virology and Communicable Diseases Surveillance, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | The possible role of the most abundant structural protein of Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), the nucleocapsid protein (NP), in inducing protective immune responses has only been evaluated preliminarily in mice but not in any natural host species. In this study we demonstrate that a soluble recombinant RVFV subunit NP in combination with adjuvants (ISA50, Alhydrogel, TiterMax Gold or SaponinQ) is highly immunogenic in mice and sheep but the level of clinical protection and virus replication in mice after lethal challenge was dependent on the adjuvant used. Immunization with NP in combination with Alhydrogel conferred 100% protection against morbidity, mortality and viral replication in mice, but sterilizing immunity could not be achieved in sheep with any NP/adjuvant combinations used. Although this is the first study showing that sterilizing immunity can be elicited in mice immunized with a RVFV subunit nucleocapsid protein, our findings seem to suggest that mice might not be the best animal model for studying the protective ability of RVF subunit vaccines. The results of our study also emphasize the importance of adjuvant selection when evaluating subunit RVF vaccines. © 2010 Bentham Open. | Adjuvants; Immunization; Mice; Nucleocapsid; Rift valley fever virus; Sheep | aluminum hydroxide; immunological adjuvant; isa 50; placebo; recombinant protein; recombinant Rift Valley fever virus subunit nucleocapsid protein; saponin q; titermax gold; unclassified drug; animal cell; animal experiment; animal model; animal tissue; article; controlled study; drug dose comparison; drug efficacy; drug megadose; female; immune response; immunogenicity; low drug dose; morbidity; mortality; mouse; nonhuman; passive immunization; priority journal; protection; Rift Valley fever; sheep; survival rate; Vero cell; virus load; virus neutralization; virus replication | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80052613014 | Primary health eye care: Evaluation of the competence of medical students in performing fundoscopy with the direct ophthalmoscope | van Velden J.S., Cook C., du Toit N., Myer L. | 2010 | South African Family Practice | 52 | 4 | None | Division of Ophthalmology, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; School of Public and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | van Velden, J.S., Division of Ophthalmology, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Cook, C., Division of Ophthalmology, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; du Toit, N., Division of Ophthalmology, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Myer, L., School of Public and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Background: To evaluate the skill of fifth-year medical students at the University of Cape Town in the performance of fundoscopy at the end of their ophthalmology rotation. Methods: The design was a prospective cohort study. The study was conducted at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town. The ability of fifth-year medical students to perform fundoscopy on mannequin heads fitted with fundus photographs using direct ophthalmoscopes was evaluated. The outcome measures used were ability to see the fundus and ability to recognise fundus pathology. Results: The fundus photographs could be seen in 95% of cases. The correct diagnosis could be made in only 57% of cases. Conclusion: Medical students at the University of Cape Town need more than the current one week of practical ophthalmology training to improve their fundoscopy skills. © SAAFP. | Essential basic medical skill; Medical student training; Primary health eye care; Teaching fundoscopy | article; clinical competence; cohort analysis; cupped optic disc; diabetic maculopathy; diabetic retinopathy; diagnostic accuracy; eye care; glaucoma; human; indirect ophthalmoscope; medical student; ophthalmoscope; ophthalmoscopy; optic disk anomaly; optic nerve atrophy; primary health care; prospective study; retina maculopathy; skill; South Africa; swollen optic dsc | 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-s2.0-84855973874 | Reading between the lines: contributing factors that affect Grade 5 student reading performance as measured across South Africa's 11 languages | van Staden S., Howie S. | 2012 | Educational Research and Evaluation | 18 | 1 | 10.1080/13803611.2011.641270 | Centre for Evaluation and Assessment, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | van Staden, S., Centre for Evaluation and Assessment, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Howie, S., Centre for Evaluation and Assessment, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | This article reports on the South African results of a study to identify and explain relationships between some major factors associated with successful reading at Grade 5. With 11 official languages, educational policy in South Africa advocates an additive bilingualism model, and students in Grades 1 to 3 are taught in their mother tongue. Thereafter, the language of learning and teaching changes to a second language, which in most cases is English. With this complexity of issues, hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) was used to determine the effect of a number of explanatory variables at student and school level on reading achievement as outcome variable, while controlling for language using the South African Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2006 data. Utilizing Creemers' comprehensive model of educational effectiveness (Creemers & Reezigt, 1999) as theoretical point of departure, this article will focus on the results of an overall South African model with student- and school-level variables. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC. | educational policies; PIRLS 2006; reading literacy; secondary analysis | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78651256754 | Evaluation of an uncollimated printed paper transmission source used under scatter limiting conditions | van Staden J.A., du Raan H., Lötter M.G., Herbst C.P., van Aswegen A., Rae W.I.D. | 2011 | Physica Medica | 27 | 1 | 10.1016/j.ejmp.2010.01.004 | Department of Medical Physics (G68), University of the Free State, PO Box 339, 9300 Bloemfontein, South Africa | van Staden, J.A., Department of Medical Physics (G68), University of the Free State, PO Box 339, 9300 Bloemfontein, South Africa; du Raan, H., Department of Medical Physics (G68), University of the Free State, PO Box 339, 9300 Bloemfontein, South Africa; Lötter, M.G., Department of Medical Physics (G68), University of the Free State, PO Box 339, 9300 Bloemfontein, South Africa; Herbst, C.P., Department of Medical Physics (G68), University of the Free State, PO Box 339, 9300 Bloemfontein, South Africa; van Aswegen, A., Department of Medical Physics (G68), University of the Free State, PO Box 339, 9300 Bloemfontein, South Africa; Rae, W.I.D., Department of Medical Physics (G68), University of the Free State, PO Box 339, 9300 Bloemfontein, South Africa | Transmission sources used for image attenuation correction, allowing image quantification, are collimated to reduce scatter. We propose the same effect can be achieved for an uncollimated source by increasing source to patient distance. The aim was to compare planar image performance characteristics and absorbed doses of uncollimated and collimated radioactive printed paper transmission sources. The scatter contribution to the uncollimated 99mTc source data was evaluated for different combinations of detector phantom distance, detector source distance and phantom source distance. Measurements were performed by increasing the Lucite phantom thickness in 1cm steps to 20 cm. Spatial resolution, detection efficiency and entrance absorbed dose rate were measured for the uncollimated and collimated transmission source images. Results derived from the energy spectra, obtained with the uncollimated transmission source indicate that scatter contribution increases with decreasing detector source distance. The scatter component in the uncollimated transmission images (detector source distances≥60cm; phantom source distances≥40cm) was comparable to that obtained with collimated transmission images. Attenuation coefficients obtained compared well (0.168cm-1 vs. 0.171cm-1). The full widths at half maxima differed by less than 0.9mm. The detection efficiency of the uncollimated source was 2.5 times higher than obtained with the collimated source. The entrance absorbed dose obtained from an uncollimated source was 3.75 times larger than that obtained from the collimated source.An uncollimated transmission source (detector source distance ≥ 60. cm) results in acceptable image characteristics and presents a low cost, low dose, high efficiency option for transmission imaging. © 2010 Associazione Italiana di Fisica Medica. | Attenuation correction; Printed source; Transmission imaging | technetium 99m; article; collimator; controlled study; image processing; image quality; measurement; paper; phantom; radiation absorption; radiation attenuation; radiation dose; radiation energy; radiation scattering; radioactive printed paper transmission source; scintiscanning; thickness; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Phantoms, Imaging; Radiation Dosage; Reproducibility of Results; Scattering, Radiation; Sensitivity and Specificity; Technetium; Tomography, Emission-Computed | 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-s2.0-84870512131 | Evaluation of demodulation algorithms for robust self-sensing active magnetic bearings | Van Schoor G., Niemann A.C., Du Rand C.P. | 2013 | Sensors and Actuators, A: Physical | 189 | None | 10.1016/j.sna.2012.10.033 | Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa | Van Schoor, G., Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Niemann, A.C., Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Du Rand, C.P., Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa | Active magnetic bearings (AMBs) play a key role in various industrial applications. In the ongoing challenge to reduce the number of external sensing devices and manufacturing costs of AMBs, self-sensing techniques have positioned themselves in a dominant role to provide sensorless estimation of rotor displacement. A self-sensing arrangement employs an estimation algorithm that uses the modulated coil voltage and current signals to determine the air gap information. However, filters in the demodulation path of the estimator introduce additional phase-shift that results in lower achievable stability margins. Furthermore, a disadvantage of modulation self-sensing approaches is that the position estimates are nonlinearly dependent on the power amplifier voltage duty cycle. This paper firstly evaluates the static and dynamic performance of different demodulation techniques via an experimentally verified transient simulation model. The direct current measurement (DCM) approach, which comprises a minimum number of filters, is proposed for position estimation of self-sensing AMBs. The DCM algorithm incorporates a novel PA switching method that only uses the bearing coil currents as input. The estimator facilitates duty-cycle invariant position estimates with minimal additional phase-shift. According to simulated as well as experimental results, the sensitivity level of this estimator is the lowest compared to the other examined techniques. A practical implementation of the DCM approach shows that robust estimation can be realized for a 10 A magnetically coupled AMB that lends itself to industrial application. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. | Active magnetic bearing (AMB); Amplitude modulation; Demodulation; Position estimation, Direct current measurement; Self-sensing | Active Magnetic Bearing; Active magnetic bearings; Air-gaps; Coil current; Current signal; Demodulation algorithms; Demodulation techniques; Direct current measurement; Estimation algorithm; Manufacturing cost; Position estimates; Position estimation; Practical implementation; Robust estimation; Rotor displacement; Self-sensing; Sensing devices; Sensorless; Stability margins; Static and dynamic performance; Switching methods; Transient simulation models; Algorithms; Amplitude modulation; Computer simulation; Demodulation; Electric current measurement; Estimation; Industrial applications; Modulation; Optical variables measurement; Phase shift; Phase shifters; Power amplifiers; Sensors; Magnetic amplifiers | 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-s2.0-21744451534 | Evaluation of subjectively assessed nodule traits of ostrich skins as influenced by slaughter age | Van Schalkwyk S.J., Cloete S.W.P., Hoffman L.C., Meyer A. | 2005 | South African Journal of Animal Sciences | 35 | 1 | None | Department of Animal Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Institute of Animal Production, Oudtshoorn, P.O. Box 351, Oudtshoorn 6620, South Africa; Institute of Animal Production, Elsenburg, Private Bag X1, Elsenburg 7607, South Africa | Van Schalkwyk, S.J., Department of Animal Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa, Institute of Animal Production, Oudtshoorn, P.O. Box 351, Oudtshoorn 6620, South Africa; Cloete, S.W.P., Department of Animal Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa, Institute of Animal Production, Elsenburg, Private Bag X1, Elsenburg 7607, South Africa; Hoffman, L.C., Department of Animal Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Meyer, A., Department of Animal Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa, Institute of Animal Production, Oudtshoorn, P.O. Box 351, Oudtshoorn 6620, South Africa | Ostrich skins (n = 214) were assessed by 28 participants involved in the ostrich leather production and marketing chain. The participants were from various sectors in the ostrich industry, including producers, skin graders, leather marketers, agents and process managers. Skins were evaluated during two occasions, firstly without any knowledge of slaughter age and thereafter with prior knowledge of slaughter age. Nodule acceptability and distribution for each skin were scored on a linear scale of 1 to 10. Slaughter age, as estimated by the participants during the first evaluation, was regressed on the actual age of the birds at slaughter. The derived regression indicated that actual slaughter age accounted for approximately 46% of the variation found in estimated slaughter age. Nodule acceptability scores generally increased with slaughter age. Average scores of at least moderately acceptability were found only in skins from birds slaughtered at 11 months of age and older. A corresponding trend with increase in slaughter age was found for nodule distribution scores. Between skin variance ratios were comparatively low for nodule acceptability (0.09-0.10, depending on prior knowledge of slaughter age or not) and nodule distribution (0.05-0.06). The between scorer variance ratio was generally higher, exceeding 0.35. Scores for nodule acceptability with or without prior knowledge of the age of individual skins at slaughter were essentially the same, as judged from a near unity covariance ratio between individual skins. A similar trend was observed for nodule distribution score. The need for practical methods for the objective assessment of the acceptability of nodules and ostrich leather quality was expressed. © South African Society for Animal Science. | Linear scale; Nodule acceptability; Nodule distribution; Repeatability | Aves; Struthio camelus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879767059 | The impact of revised PMTCT guidelines: A view from a public sector ARV clinic in Cape Town, South Africa | Van Schalkwyk M., Andersson M.I., Zeier M.D., La Grange M., Taljaard J.J., Theron G.B. | 2013 | Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes | 63 | 2 | 10.1097/QAI.0b013e31828bb721 | Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa; Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa | Van Schalkwyk, M., Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa; Andersson, M.I., Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa; Zeier, M.D., Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa; La Grange, M., Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa; Taljaard, J.J., Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa; Theron, G.B., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa | Background: In April 2010, revised Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission guidelines were implemented in South Africa, advising fast-tracked lifelong highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) initiation at a higher CD4 count (#350 cells per microliter). This study describes the impact of these changes on the management of pregnant women who initiated HAART at Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of all women who initiated HAART in pregnancy at the Tygerberg Hospital between January 2008 and December 2010. Year cohorts were compared. Results: Two hundred and fifty HIV-infected women were included in the study and stratified by HAART initiation year: 2008:N = 82, 2009: N = 71, 2010:N = 97. There were no differences between the groups in age or parity. Median booking CD4 count was 155 cells per microliter [interquartile range (IQR) 107-187], 157 cells per microliter (IQR 104- 206) and 208 cells per microliter (IQR 138-270), respectively (P , 0.001). Median gestation at HAART initiation was 31 weeks (IQR 27-35), 30 weeks (IQR 26-34), and 25 weeks (IQR 21-31; P , 0.001). HIV transmission rates were 3/65 (4.6%), 4/57 (7.0%), and 0/ 90 (0.0%; P = 0.021). Women ,8 weeks on HAART before delivery were more likely to transmit than women $8 weeks [odds ratio 9.69; 95% confidence interval 1.66 to 56.58; P = 0.017]. Ninety-four (37.6%) women were lost to follow-up, 18.4% within 28 days of delivery. Conclusions: The positive impact of the new Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission program is evident. A longer duration of HAART before delivery was associated with less transmission. However, the lost to follow-up rates remain concerning. Further research is needed to better understand the reasons for nonadherence and mechanisms to improve support for these women. Copyright © 2013 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. | Antenatal; Antiretroviral therapy; HIV; Mother-to-child transmission; South Africa | adult; article; CD4 lymphocyte count; female; follow up; highly active antiretroviral therapy; human; Human immunodeficiency virus; major clinical study; organization and management; practice guideline; pregnancy; pregnant woman; priority journal; retrospective study; South Africa; disease transmission; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; outpatient department; patient compliance; practice guideline; pregnancy complication; vertical transmission; anti human immunodeficiency virus agent; Adult; Ambulatory Care Facilities; Anti-HIV Agents; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Female; Guidelines as Topic; HIV Infections; Humans; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; Lost to Follow-Up; Patient Compliance; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Retrospective Studies; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84880851566 | Outcomes and Impact of HIV Prevention, ART and TB Programs in Swaziland - Early Evidence from Public Health Triangulation | van Schalkwyk C., Mndzebele S., Hlophe T., Garcia Calleja J.M., Korenromp E.L., Stoneburner R., Pervilhac C. | 2013 | PLoS ONE | 8 | 7 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0069437 | South African Department of Science and Technology, National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence in Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis (SACEMA, University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa; Strategic Information Department, Swaziland Ministry of Health, Mbabane, Swaziland; Department of HIV/AIDS, World Health Organization, Geneva, Swaziland; Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands; Strategic Intelligence and Analysis, UNAIDS, Geneva, Switzerland; Department of HIV/AIDS, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland | van Schalkwyk, C., South African Department of Science and Technology, National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence in Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis (SACEMA, University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa; Mndzebele, S., Strategic Information Department, Swaziland Ministry of Health, Mbabane, Swaziland; Hlophe, T., Strategic Information Department, Swaziland Ministry of Health, Mbabane, Swaziland; Garcia Calleja, J.M., Department of HIV/AIDS, World Health Organization, Geneva, Swaziland; Korenromp, E.L., Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands; Stoneburner, R., Strategic Intelligence and Analysis, UNAIDS, Geneva, Switzerland; Pervilhac, C., Department of HIV/AIDS, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland | Introduction:Swaziland's severe HIV epidemic inspired an early national response since the late 1980s, and regular reporting of program outcomes since the onset of a national antiretroviral treatment (ART) program in 2004. We assessed effectiveness outcomes and mortality trends in relation to ART, HIV testing and counseling (HTC), tuberculosis (TB) and prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT).Methods:Data triangulated include intervention coverage and outcomes according to program registries (2001-2010), hospital admissions and deaths disaggregated by age and sex (2001-2010) and population mortality estimates from the 1997 and 2007 censuses and the 2007 demographic and health survey.Results:By 2010, ART reached 70% of the estimated number of people living with HIV/AIDS with CD4<350/mm3, with progressively improving patient retention and survival. As of 2010, 88% of health facilities providing antenatal care offered comprehensive PMTCT services. The HTC program recorded a halving in the proportion of adults tested who were HIV-infected; similarly HIV infection rates among HIV-exposed babies halved from 2007 to 2010. Case fatality rates among hospital patients diagnosed with HIV/AIDS started to decrease from 2005-6 in adults and especially in children, contrasting with stable case fatality for other causes including TB. All-cause child in-patient case fatality rates started to decrease from 2005-6. TB case notifications as well as rates of HIV/TB co-infection among notified TB patients continued a steady increase through 2010, while coverage of HIV testing and CPT for co-infected patients increased to above 80%.Conclusion:Against a background of high, but stable HIV prevalence and decreasing HIV incidence, we documented early evidence of a mortality decline associated with the expanded national HIV response since 2004. Attribution of impact to specific interventions (versus natural epidemic dynamics) will require additional data from future household surveys, and improved routine (program, surveillance, and hospital) data at district level. © 2013 van Schalkwyk et al. | None | antiretrovirus agent; CD4 antigen; nevirapine; acquired immune deficiency syndrome; adolescent; adult; article; biostatistics; CD4 lymphocyte count; child; demography; evidence based medicine; female; health care facility; health impact assessment; health program; health survey; HIV test; hospital admission; hospital patient; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; Human immunodeficiency virus prevalence; incidence; major clinical study; male; mixed infection; mortality; multidrug resistant tuberculosis; outcome assessment; population research; prenatal care; primary prevention; public health service; register; single drug dose; survival; Swaziland; tuberculosis; tuberculosis control; vertical transmission; virus transmission; Adolescent; Adult; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Cause of Death; Comorbidity; Counseling; Female; HIV Infections; Hospitalization; Humans; Incidence; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; Inpatients; Male; Middle Aged; National Health Programs; Prevalence; Public Health; Survival Analysis; Swaziland; Treatment Outcome; Tuberculosis; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84885837652 | Evaluation of a natural preservative in a boerewors model system | Van Schalkwyk C.P.B., Hugo A., Hugo C.J., Bothma C. | 2013 | Journal of Food Processing and Preservation | 37 | 5 | 10.1111/j.1745-4549.2012.00706.x | Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa | Van Schalkwyk, C.P.B., Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa; Hugo, A., Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa; Hugo, C.J., Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa; Bothma, C., Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa | Boerewors is a fresh sausage preserved with 450mg/kg sulfur dioxide (450S). The preservative effect of Citrox (a natural compound) was compared with SO2. Seven boerewors models with different treatments were formulated. Microbial, color, lipid and sensory characteristics were evaluated over a 6-day storage period at 4C. Citrox on its own and in combination with 100S significantly (P<0.001) decreased the total aerobic plate count (TAPC) and coliform counts and was comparable to 450S. It had a significantly (P<0.001) better effect on yeast and mold counts than 450S. Citrox had a negative effect, on its own and in combination with 100S, on the redness color (a* value). Citrox did not have antioxidant capabilities. It resulted in significantly (P<0.001) higher thiobarbituric acid reactive substance values after 100 days of storage at -18C than 450S. Sensory evaluation indicated a slight sour flavor in Citrox models but it was still "liked slightly" to "liked moderately." PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: This study provided evidence that Citrox may be used as a natural antimicrobial in foods. It was as effective as 450mg/kg SO2 in controlling TAPC, coliform bacteria, and yeasts and molds when 2% Citrox was used. When used in combination with a lowered concentration of SO2 (100mg/kg), which is a 77.8% reduction in SO2, it even controlled the microorganisms better, especially yeasts and molds. It is, however, not a good antioxidant and may influence the taste of food products. It may, however, be used as antimicrobial in foods with a citrus-acidic nature. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. | None | Aerobic plate counts; Different treatments; Natural preservatives; Natural-antimicrobials; Sensory characteristics; Sensory evaluation; Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances; Yeast and mold count; Antioxidants; Coliform bacteria; Food products; Microorganisms; Molds; Sensory perception; Yeast; Sulfur dioxide; Bacteria (microorganisms); Citrus | 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-s2.0-84867141830 | The Impact of Microfinance in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review of the Evidence | van Rooyen C., Stewart R., de Wet T. | 2012 | World Development | 40 | 11 | 10.1016/j.worlddev.2012.03.012 | University of Johannesburg, Aucklandpark, South Africa; Institute of Education, University of London, United Kingdom | van Rooyen, C., University of Johannesburg, Aucklandpark, South Africa; Stewart, R., University of Johannesburg, Aucklandpark, South Africa; de Wet, T., University of Johannesburg, Aucklandpark, South Africa, Institute of Education, University of London, United Kingdom | Microfinance is seen as a key development tool, and despite the current deepening crisis within the industry, it continues to grow in sub-Saharan Africa. We systematically reviewed the evidence of the impacts of micro-credit and micro-savings on poor people in sub-Saharan Africa. We considered impacts on income, savings, expenditure, and the accumulation of assets, as well as non-financial outcomes including health, nutrition, food security, education, child labor, women's empowerment, housing, job creation, and social cohesion. The available evidence shows that microfinance does harm, as well as good, to the livelihoods of the poor. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. | Impact; Micro-credit; Micro-savings; Microfinance; Poverty; Sub-Saharan Africa | crisis management; economic development; economic growth; low income population; microfinance; poverty; savings; socioeconomic impact; Sub-Saharan Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84955664781 | The language issue and academic performance at a South African University | van Rooy B., Coetzee-Van Rooy S. | 2015 | Southern African Linguistics and Applied Language Studies | 33 | 1 | 10.2989/16073614.2015.1012691 | Research Focus Area: Understanding and Processing Language in Complex Settings (UPSET), North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, South Africa | van Rooy, B., Research Focus Area: Understanding and Processing Language in Complex Settings (UPSET), North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, South Africa; Coetzee-Van Rooy, S., Research Focus Area: Understanding and Processing Language in Complex Settings (UPSET), North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, South Africa | Academic performance at universities in South Africa is a cause of concern. It is widely acknowledged that there are a variety of factors that contribute to poor academic performance, but language is regarded as one of the most important issues in this discussion. In this article, the relationship between language and academic performance at a South African university for the first-year group in 2010 (n = 900) is investigated, taking their performance in their second (2011) and third (2012) year into account. The authors review: (a) the relationships between measures of language ability (matric scores, and scores on university placement tests like the NBT and TALL/TAG); and (b) the relationship between these language measures, performance in courses offered by universities to support students and general academic success indicators to investigate the language issue and academic performance at university. The main findings of the study are: (a) matric average results above 65% are useful to predict academic success at university; matric average results below 65% cannot be used with confidence to predict success at university; (b) language measures (e.g. matric language marks, and scores on academic literacy tests used by some universities) are not good predictors of academic success at university; (c) there are strong positive relationships between the academic literacy components in the NBT and TALL/TAG; and (d) scores achieved in academic literacy modules are good predictors of academic success. The implications of these findings are discussed in the context of strategic decisions that academic managers should consider when they reflect on the language issue and its impact on academic performance at South African universities. © 2015, NISC (Pty) Ltd. | None | None | NRF, National Research Foundation |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84908701402 | Impact of three empirical anti-tuberculosis treatment strategies for people initiating antiretroviral therapy | Van Rie A., Westreich D., Sanne I. | 2014 | International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease | 18 | 11 | 10.5588/ijtld.14.0153 | Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, 2104F McGavran Greenberg Hall, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Clinical HIV Research Unit, Department of Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Right to Care, Johannesburg, South Africa | Van Rie, A., Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, 2104F McGavran Greenberg Hall, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Westreich, D., Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, 2104F McGavran Greenberg Hall, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Sanne, I., Clinical HIV Research Unit, Department of Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Right to Care, Johannesburg, South Africa | BACKGROUND: Early mortality in people initiating antiretroviral treatment (ART) remains high. Empirical anti-tuberculosis treatment strategies aim to reduce early mortality by initiating anti-tuberculosis treatment in individuals at high risk of death from undiagnosed TB.METHODS: Using data from 16 913 individuals starting ART under program conditions, we simulated the impact of three empirical treatment strategies (two clinical trials and a pragmatic approach), assuming that 50% of early deaths and 100% of incident TB are averted in those eligible.RESULTS: Compared to starting anti-tuberculosis treatment on clinical or mycobacteriological grounds, 4.4- 31.4% more individuals were eligible for anti-tuberculosis treatment, 5.5-25.4% of deaths were averted and 10.9-57.3% of incident TB cases were prevented under empirical anti-tuberculosis treatment strategies. The proportion receiving any anti-tuberculosis treatment during the first 6 months of ART increased from the observed 24.0% to an estimated 27.5%, 40.4% and 51.3%, under the PrOMPT, REMEMBER and pragmatic approach, respectively.CONCLUSION: The impact of empirical anti-tuberculosis treatment strategies depends greatly on the eligibility criteria chosen. The additional strain placed on anti-tuberculosis treatment facilities and the relatively limited impact of some empirical TB strategies raise the question as to whether the benefits will outweigh the risks at population level. © 2014 The Union. | Health systems; HIV; Population impact; Simulation; South Africa | anti human immunodeficiency virus agent; tuberculostatic agent; adult; comparative study; epidemiology; female; HIV Infections; human; male; mortality; South Africa; tuberculosis; Adult; Anti-HIV Agents; Antitubercular Agents; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Male; South Africa; Tuberculosis | 674-A-00-08-00007-00, USAID, United States Agency for International Development |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77950284082 | Design and evaluation of a dual impedance-adapting power-line communications coupler | Van Rensburg P.A.J., Ferreira H.C. | 2010 | IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery | 25 | 2 | 10.1109/TPWRD.2009.2031648 | Department of Electrical Engineering, Walter Sisulu University, East London 5200, South Africa; Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Science, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa | Van Rensburg, P.A.J., Department of Electrical Engineering, Walter Sisulu University, East London 5200, South Africa; Ferreira, H.C., Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Science, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa | Historically, the unpredictable on-off switching of loads has been a major obstacle to low-voltage power-line communications. Some researchers have gathered valuable data and have proposed statistical models in order to try and mitigate these sudden changes in access impedance. Others have proposed network conditioning in order to block off harsh loads from the power-line network by means of series filters. These filters are expensive, as they have to be rated at the typical current that is drawn by the load to be blocked off. Also, in many cases, these are the very loads than need to be monitored and controlled for home automation. This paper investigates the possibility of utilizing a simple, dual coupler to diminish the impact of switching loads on data transmission. First, the design of a suitable dual coupler is demonstrated, using a commercially available high-frequency transformer. Next, laboratory as well as live 220-V measurements are done for 50-Ω modems at frequencies below 1 MHz. These measurements confirm that the proposed dual coupler can help to counter the impact of switching power-line loads by means of i) improved transmission when a certain network point is loaded and ii) more predictable (lower) power-line impedance levelsfacilitating more accurate overall impedance adaptation. © 2010 IEEE. | Coupling circuits; Impedance matching; Modems; Transformers | Data transmission; Home automation; Impedance matching; Impedance matchings; Low-voltage; Power lines; Power-line communications; Powerline networks; Statistical models; Sudden change; Switching power; Data communication systems; Impedance matching (electric); Modems | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78650907952 | Comparative evaluation of the roche cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan HIV-1 version 2 test using the TaqMan 48 analyzer and the Abbott RealTime HIV-1 assay | Van Rensburg E.J., Tait K., Watt A., Schall R. | 2011 | Journal of Clinical Microbiology | 49 | 1 | 10.1128/JCM.01285-10 | Quintiles Global Central Laboratories, Alba Campus, Rosebank, Livingston EH54 7EG, United Kingdom; Assay Development Laboratory, Quintiles Global Central Laboratories, Livingston, United Kingdom; Quintiles Biostatistics and University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa | Van Rensburg, E.J., Quintiles Global Central Laboratories, Alba Campus, Rosebank, Livingston EH54 7EG, United Kingdom; Tait, K., Assay Development Laboratory, Quintiles Global Central Laboratories, Livingston, United Kingdom; Watt, A., Assay Development Laboratory, Quintiles Global Central Laboratories, Livingston, United Kingdom; Schall, R., Quintiles Biostatistics and University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa | Acceptable precision was achieved in a comparison study of the Abbott RealTime (RT) and Roche CAP/ CTM-48 V2 HIV-1 assays, but viral load quantification was under- and overestimated, respectively, compared to the 2nd HIV-1 WHO International Standard. The same quantification patterns were observed for patient cohorts from Africa and the United States. Copyright © 2011, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved. | None | Africa; analyzer; article; cohort analysis; human; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; intermethod comparison; international standard unit; priority journal; quantitative analysis; United States; virus detection; virus load; world health organization; Africa; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; United States; Viral Load; Human immunodeficiency virus 1 | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929273115 | Does forgiveness mediate the impact of school bullying on adolescent mental health? | Van Rensburg E.J., Raubenheimer J. | 2015 | Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health | 27 | 1 | 10.2989/17280583.2014.955502 | Department of Psychology, University of Pretoria, Humanities Building, Lynnwood Road, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Biostatistics, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa | Van Rensburg, E.J., Department of Psychology, University of Pretoria, Humanities Building, Lynnwood Road, Pretoria, South Africa; Raubenheimer, J., Department of Biostatistics, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa | Objective: The link between both bullying and victimisation and psychopathology has been well established. Forgiveness has been associated with better mental health. However, few studies have examined the relationship between adolescent forgiveness, psychopathology and bullying/ victimisation. This study investigated forgiveness as a mediator of the adverse mental health problems experienced by bullies and victims of bullying. Method: Participants were 355 Year 10 or Year 11 pupils (age = 14.9 years) from two British secondary schools in 2007, who completed self-administered measures on bullying and victimisation, mental health, forgiveness of self and others, and forgivingness. The mediating influence of forgiveness on the impact of bullying/victimisation on mental health was tested with a structural equation model. Results: Data from 55.6% of the 639 eligible pupils were analysed. Results confirmed an association between bullying/victimisation, forgiveness and psychopathology. Forgiveness scores were found to play a mediating role between bullying/victimisation and psychopathology. Conclusions: Victimised adolescents who were better able to forgive themselves were more likely to report lower levels of psychopathology, while bullying adolescents who were unable to forgive others were more likely to report higher levels of psychopathology. This suggests a greater role for forgiveness within future research, intervention and policy on bullying. Forgiveness can form a valuable part of preventative and educational anti-bullying programmes. Copyright © NISC Pty Ltd. | None | adolescent; Article; bullying; female; forgiveness; high school; human; male; mental disease; mental health; prevalence; self esteem; adolescent health; bullying; crime victim; forgiveness; Mental Disorders; physiology; psychology; school; statistics and numerical data; United Kingdom; Adolescent; Adolescent Health; Bullying; Crime Victims; Female; Forgiveness; Great Britain; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders; Schools | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84899504136 | Impact of routine sputum cytology in a population at high risk for bronchial carcinoma | Van Rensburg A., Neethling G.S., Schubert P.T., Koegelenberg C.F.N., Wright C.A., Bolliger C.T., Bernasconi M., Diacon A.H. | 2014 | International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease | 18 | 5 | 10.5588/ijtld.13.0806 | Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Anatomical Pathology, National Health Laboratory Service, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa | Van Rensburg, A., Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Neethling, G.S., Department of Anatomical Pathology, National Health Laboratory Service, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Schubert, P.T., Department of Anatomical Pathology, National Health Laboratory Service, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Koegelenberg, C.F.N., Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Wright, C.A., Department of Anatomical Pathology, National Health Laboratory Service, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Bolliger, C.T., Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Bernasconi, M., Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Diacon, A.H., Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa | SETTING: Sub-Saharan Africa carries a high burden of lung cancer, with limited access to specialised health care. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnostic value of sputum cytology and its potential in reducing the need for invasive diagnostic procedures in a high-risk population. DESIGN: We collected spontaneously expectorated sputum from 108 patients referred for a diagnostic procedure for suspected lung cancer between June 2010 and June 2012, and examined the diagnostic yield of sputum cytology for malignant cells as well as factors predicting a positive result. RESULTS: Bronchial carcinoma was diagnosed in 90 patients (83.3%), of whom 35 (38.9%) had sputum cytology positive for malignant cells with 100% diagnostic accuracy. Positive sputum cytology was significantly associated with endobronchial tumour and obstruction seen during bronchoscopy (OR 4.69 and OR 8.89, respectively), and with a histology of squamous cell carcinoma (OR 1.9). All but one patient with positive sputum were inoperable (97.1%), and we estimated that up to a third of all invasive procedures could be avoided if sputum cytology was used for triage. CONCLUSION: Sputum cytology had a high yield and accuracy in this high-risk group. Its routine use in selected patients is likely to result in reduced costs and less patient risk and discomfort. © 2014 The Union. | Cytodiagnosis; Lung cancer; Screening | adult; aged; article; bronchoscopy; bronchus obstruction; bronchus tumor; cancer cell; cancer risk; cancer staging; controlled study; cost control; diagnostic accuracy; diagnostic test accuracy study; diagnostic value; female; high risk population; histopathology; human; human tissue; inoperable cancer; lung carcinoma; lung squamous cell carcinoma; major clinical study; male; patient selection; priority journal; risk reduction; sputum cytodiagnosis; Carcinoma, Bronchogenic; chi square distribution; cytodiagnosis; cytology; epidemiology; evaluation study; Lung Neoplasms; middle aged; pathology; predictive value; prognosis; prospective study; radiography; risk; risk factor; South Africa; sputum; very elderly; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Bronchoscopy; Carcinoma, Bronchogenic; Chi-Square Distribution; Cytodiagnosis; Female; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Odds Ratio; Predictive Value of Tests; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; South Africa; Sputum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-67650227057 | The effect of molecular composition and heterogeneity on the environmental stress cracking resistance (ESCR) of propylene impact copolymers | van Reenen A.J., Shebani A.N. | 2009 | Polymer Degradation and Stability | 94 | 9 | 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2009.04.018 | Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa | van Reenen, A.J., Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Shebani, A.N., Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa | The ESCR of three propylene impact copolymers in the presence of isopropanol was investigated and the variation in stress crack resistance was evaluated in terms of polymer characteristics. The effect of removing both soluble and crystalline material from the copolymers on the ESCR was evaluated. The stress crack resistance appears to be dependent on the crystallinity of the materials, but not solely so. The amount and distribution of the rubbery copolymer in these materials appears to play a role as well. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Fraction removal; Propylene copolymers; Stress crack resistance; Temperature rising elution fractionation | Crystallinity; Environmental stress crackings; Fraction removal; Impact copolymers; Iso-propanol; Molecular compositions; Polymer characteristics; Propylene copolymers; Stress crack resistance; Temperature rising elution fractionation; Copolymerization; Copolymers; Cracks; Cryogenic equipment; Crystalline materials; Impact resistance; Plastic products; Propylene | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84858056595 | Molecular composition and properties of impact propylene copolymers | van Reenen A.J., Basson N.C. | 2012 | Express Polymer Letters | 6 | 5 | 10.3144/expresspolymlett.2012.45 | Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stelenbosch, Provate Bag X1, 7602 Matieland, South Africa | van Reenen, A.J., Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stelenbosch, Provate Bag X1, 7602 Matieland, South Africa; Basson, N.C., Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stelenbosch, Provate Bag X1, 7602 Matieland, South Africa | Impact polypropylene copolymers (IPCs) are important commercial materials, but their morphology and molecular architecture are not yet fully understood. In this study the focus was on selectively removing specific fractions from the original IPC, recombining the remaining fractions, and studying the properties and morphology of these recombined polymers. It was found that some properties of the samples changed remarkably, depending on the fraction of material that was removed before recombination. In a similar fashion, morphological changes could be observed. For example, the degree of phase separation and the crystalline morphology of the recombined materials varied noticeably. It was further established that specific copolymer fractions present in the original polymer affect not only the morphology of the final polymer, but also the hardness and impact resistance. © BME-PT. | Impact propylene copolymers; Mechanical properties; Molecular composition; Morphology; Temperature rising elution fractionation | Commercial materials; Copolymer fractions; Crystalline morphologies; Impact polypropylene copolymer; Molecular architecture; Molecular composition; Molecular compositions; Morphological changes; Propylene copolymers; Mechanical properties; Morphology; Phase separation; Polymers; Polypropylenes; Copolymers | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84865960841 | The relationship between the bunkie-test and physical performance in rugby union players | Van Pletzen D., Venter R.E. | 2012 | International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching | 7 | 3 | 10.1260/1747-9541.7.3.543 | Department of Sport Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa | Van Pletzen, D., Department of Sport Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Venter, R.E., Department of Sport Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa | It is suggested that restrictions in the fascia along the kinetic chains could inhibit muscle function and therefore influence movement patterns, such as those required by skilled rugby players. The Bunkie-test has been proposed as a tool to identify fascia restrictions in five kinetic chains. The purpose of this study was to use the isometric Bunkie-test to determine its relationship with performance in selected physical tests (agility, speed, explosive power, and muscle endurance) in rugby union players. The participants (n = 121) were rugby union players from three academies. Results indicated significant relationships (p < 0.05) between performance in the Bunkie-test and the physical tests. Players who performed better on the Bunkie-test achieved better results in the physical tests. The Bunkietest might be a tool for coaches, trainers and therapists to identify weaknesses and imbalances in the kinetic chains of players. Addressing these problems could lead to improvements in sport performance, as well as assessing readiness of players to return to play after injuries. | Bunkie Test; Fascia; Isometric Exercise; Kinetic Chain; Muscle Function; Rugby Union | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84920437223 | Towards collective circum-antarctic passive acoustic monitoring: The southern ocean hydrophone network (SOHN) | Van Opzeeland I., Samaran F., Stafford K.M., Findlay K., Gedamke J., Harris D., Miller B.S. | 2014 | Polarforschung | 83 | 2 | None | Alfred-Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany; PELAGIS Observatory CNRS-UMS 3462, University of la Rochelle, France; Applied Physics Lab University of Washington SeattleWA, United States; Mammal Research Institute Whale Unit, University of Pretoria, South Africa; National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, Ocean Acoustics Program, Office of Science and Technology, United States; Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, United Kingdom; Australian Marine Mammal Centre, Australian Antarctic Division, Hobart, Australia | Van Opzeeland, I., Alfred-Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany; Samaran, F., PELAGIS Observatory CNRS-UMS 3462, University of la Rochelle, France; Stafford, K.M., Applied Physics Lab University of Washington SeattleWA, United States; Findlay, K., Mammal Research Institute Whale Unit, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Gedamke, J., National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, Ocean Acoustics Program, Office of Science and Technology, United States; Harris, D., Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, United Kingdom; Miller, B.S., Australian Marine Mammal Centre, Australian Antarctic Division, Hobart, Australia | The Southern Ocean Research Partnership (SORP) is an international research program initiated within the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in 2009 to promote collaborative cetacean research, develop nov el research techniques, and conduct non-lethal research on whales in the Southern Ocean (CHILDERHOUSE 2009). One of the original research projects of the SORP is the Blue and Fin Whale Acoustic Trends Project, which aims to implement a long term passive acoustic research program to examine trends in Antarctic blue (Balaenoptera musculus intermedia) and fin whale (B. physalus) abundance, distribution, and seasonal presence in the Southern Ocean through the use of a network of passive acoustic recorders: the Southern Ocean Hydrophone Network (SOHN). Networks of widely spaced passive acoustic recorders can provide insights in spatio-temporal patterns of the presence and properties of whale calls as well as the potential to monitor trends in Antarctic blue and fin whale abundance. The SOHN will consist of a network of autonomous underwater acoustic re cording stations surrounding the Antarctic continent with each site remaining active throughout the 10-year duration of the project. In addition to circum polar coverage, high priority will be given towards achieving simultaneous temporal coverage, especially in the early years of the project. While logis tical constraints may prevent uniform distribution of SOHN recording sites around the continent, the Acoustic Trends Working group (ATW) aims to have at least one recording site in each of the six IWC management areas (i.e., one per 60° longitudinal wedge). International collaboration and coordination are imperative to achieve the project goals due to the high cost of Antarctic research as well as the broad spatial and temporal scales over which the SOHN will span. Furthermore, standardization of data is paramount for accurate and efficient analysis and interpretation of SOHN data. To facilitate international participation in the SOHN, this document provides practical recommendations to guide and support passive acoustic data of project as well as technical and logistic information and recommendations regarding standardization of recording locations is provided here for a diverse collection in Antarctic waters. This whitepaper addresses a wide audience, ranging from scientists from different disciplines with access to instrumenttation and/or infrastructure to collect passive acoustic data in the Southern Ocean, to ship operators or other parties that can provide logistic support to make the SOHN a reality. Background information and an outline of the sci entific aims of project as well as technical and logistic information and re commendations regarding standardization of recording locations is provided here for a diverse audience coming from different backgrounds with widely differing levels of experience with the applications and use of passive acoustic instrumentation. By providing the information relevant for SOHN from the ground up, we aim that this document contributes to increase aware ness and participation by a broad range of partner nations and organizations in the SOHN and Acoustic Trends Projects. | None | abundance; autonomous underwater vehicle; bioacoustics; biomonitoring; cetacean; hydrophone; population distribution; spatiotemporal analysis; standardization; Southern Ocean; Balaenoptera musculus intermedia; Balaenoptera physalus; Cetacea | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-56049123222 | Diet quality, intake and growth performance of South African Mutton Merino sheep on Triticum x Secale and Lolium multiflorum pastures at different grazing pressures | Van Niekerk W.A., Hassen A., Coertze R.J. | 2008 | Tropical Grasslands | 42 | 1 | None | Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa | Van Niekerk, W.A., Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa, Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Hassen, A., Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Coertze, R.J., Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | This study was undertaken to determine the influence of 3 grazing pressures [20 (HGP), 33 (MGP) and 50(LGP) g DM/kg LW/d] using South African Mutton Merino wether lambs, on qualitative and quantitative intake of Triticum x Secale cv. Pan266 (triticale) and Lolium multiflorum cv. Midmar (ryegrass) pastures as well as animal performance. Oesophageal samples at the start and end of the grazing period were analysed to determine diet quality in terms of nitrogen (N), ash, neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL) and in vitro digestibility of organic matter (IVDOM) concentrations. Intake and average daily live-weight gain were determined for each group. In both pastures, the ADF concentration was higher, while IVDOM concentration was lower at the end compared with the start of the grazing period. For triticale, HGP resulted in lower dietary N, and higher ash and NDF concentrations than MGP or LGP. The DOMI and ADG of lambs at HGP were lower than those on LGP. For ryegrass, dietary N was lower at HGP than LGP, while the NDF concentration was higher (P<0.05) at HGP or MGP than at LGP. However, ADG at HGP was lower than at LGP or MGP for each species. Intake of both pastures declined during the study. The overall diet quality on ryegrass pasture seems better than on triticale, as reflected in higher (P<0.05) N and lower NDF concentrations. Performance of lambs on ryegrass pasture was higher than on triticale pasture, through. | None | Animalia; Lolium; Lolium multiflorum; Ovis aries; Triticosecale; Triticum aestivum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84922321935 | Evaluation of the 5 and 8 pH point titration methods for monitoring anaerobic digesters treating solid waste | Vannecke T.P.W., Lampens D.R.A., Ekama G.A., Volcke E.I.P. | 2015 | Environmental Technology (United Kingdom) | 36 | 7 | 10.1080/09593330.2014.964334 | Department of Biosystems Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Water Research Group, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Vannecke, T.P.W., Department of Biosystems Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Lampens, D.R.A., Department of Biosystems Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Ekama, G.A., Water Research Group, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Volcke, E.I.P., Department of Biosystems Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium | Simple titration methods certainly deserve consideration for on-site routine monitoring of volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration and alkalinity during anaerobic digestion (AD), because of their simplicity, speed and cost-effectiveness. In this study, the 5 and 8 pH point titration methods for measuring the VFA concentration and carbonate system alkalinity (H2CO3∗-alkalinity) were assessed and compared. For this purpose, synthetic solutions with known H2CO3∗-alkalinity and VFA concentration as well as samples from anaerobic digesters treating three different kind of solid wastes were analysed. The results of these two related titration methods were verified with photometric and high-pressure liquid chromatography measurements. It was shown that photometric measurements lead to overestimations of the VFA concentration in the case of coloured samples. In contrast, the 5 pH point titration method provides an accurate estimation of the VFA concentration, clearly corresponding with the true value. Concerning the H2CO3∗-alkalinity, the most accurate and precise estimations, showing very similar results for repeated measurements, were obtained using the 8 pH point titration. Overall, it was concluded that the 5 pH point titration method is the preferred method for the practical monitoring of AD of solid wastes due to its robustness, cost efficiency and user-friendliness. © 2014 Taylor and Francis. | Alkalinity; anaerobic digestion; monitoring; multiple pH-point titration; volatile fatty acids | acetic acid; bicarbonate; butyric acid; isobutyric acid; propionic acid; alkalinity; anoxic conditions; fatty acid; measurement method; monitoring; pH; solid waste; volatile substance; alkalinity; anaerobic digestion; Article; concentration (parameters); continuous stirred tank reactor; flow rate; high performance liquid chromatography; monitoring; municipal solid waste; pH; photometry; solid waste management; titrimetry | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84936945934 | The 2007 Dutch reformed church synod resolution: Impact on gay ministers | van Loggerenberg M. | 2015 | HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies | 71 | 3 | 10.4102/hts.v71i3.2894 | Department of Practical Theology, University of Pretoria, South Africa | van Loggerenberg, M., Department of Practical Theology, University of Pretoria, South Africa | At the 2007 General Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC), a compromise resolution was accepted regarding homosexual members. The resolution, inter alia, requires of gay ministers to remain celibate as a prerequisite to be legitimated. This research is a qualitative inquiry to evaluate the impact this resolution has on the lives of gay ministers and gay candidate ministers. Apart from doing a literature study Narrative and Post-foundational perspectives were obtained by interviewing six gay ministers and/or candidate ministers as co-researchers, and also by engaging in dialogue with interdisciplinary experts from Sociology, Psychology and Law. From the stories told by the gay ministers and/or gay candidate ministers, certain themes emerged, revealing the immense impact caused by the resolution. © 2015, The Authors. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-81155145967 | Impact of tongue reduction on overall speech intelligibility, articulation and oromyofunctional behavior in 4 children with beckwith-wiedemann syndrome | Van Lierde K., Galiwango G., Hodges A., Bettens K., Luyten A., Vermeersch H. | 2012 | Folia Phoniatrica et Logopaedica | 64 | 2 | 10.1159/000329569 | Department of Plastic Surgery, CoRSU Rehabilitation Hospital, Kampala, Uganda; Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery and Logopaedics, University Hospital Gent, 2P1 Dienst Logopedie, De Pintelaan 185, BE-9000 Gent, Belgium | Van Lierde, K., Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery and Logopaedics, University Hospital Gent, 2P1 Dienst Logopedie, De Pintelaan 185, BE-9000 Gent, Belgium; Galiwango, G., Department of Plastic Surgery, CoRSU Rehabilitation Hospital, Kampala, Uganda; Hodges, A., Department of Plastic Surgery, CoRSU Rehabilitation Hospital, Kampala, Uganda; Bettens, K., Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery and Logopaedics, University Hospital Gent, 2P1 Dienst Logopedie, De Pintelaan 185, BE-9000 Gent, Belgium; Luyten, A., Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery and Logopaedics, University Hospital Gent, 2P1 Dienst Logopedie, De Pintelaan 185, BE-9000 Gent, Belgium; Vermeersch, H., Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery and Logopaedics, University Hospital Gent, 2P1 Dienst Logopedie, De Pintelaan 185, BE-9000 Gent, Belgium | Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of partial glossectomy (using the keyhole technique) on speech intelligibility, articulation, resonance and oromyofunctional behavior. Patients and Methods: A partial glossectomy was performed in 4 children with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome between the ages of 0.5 and 3.1 years. An ENT assessment, a phonetic inventory, a phonemic and phonological analysis and a consensus perceptual evaluation of speech intelligibility, resonance and oromyofunctional behavior were performed. Results: It was not possible in this study to separate the effects of the surgery from the typical developmental progress of speech sound mastery. Improved speech intelligibility, a more complete phonetic inventory, an increase in phonological skills, normal resonance and increased motor-oriented oral behavior were found in the postsurgical condition. The presence of phonetic distortions, lip incompetence and interdental tongue position were still present in the postsurgical condition. Conclusion: Speech therapy should be focused on correct phonetic placement and a motor-oriented approach to increase lip competence, and on functional tongue exercises and tongue lifting during the production of alveolars. Detailed analyses in a larger number of subjects with and without Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome may help further illustrate the long-term impact of partial glossectomy. © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel. | Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome; Oromyofunctional behavior; Speech intelligibility; Tongue reduction | article; Beckwith Wiedemann syndrome; clinical trial; dysphagia; glossectomy; hepatoblastoma; human; infant; kidney tumor; language development; lip; liver tumor; macroglossia; motor dysfunction; multimodality cancer therapy; muscle hypotonia; nephroblastoma; pathophysiology; phonetics; preschool child; speech disorder; speech intelligibility; speech therapy; tongue; Articulation Disorders; Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome; Child, Preschool; Combined Modality Therapy; Deglutition Disorders; Glossectomy; Hepatoblastoma; Humans; Infant; Kidney Neoplasms; Language Development; Lip; Liver Neoplasms; Macroglossia; Movement Disorders; Muscle Hypotonia; Phonetics; Speech Intelligibility; Speech Therapy; Tongue; Wilms Tumor | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-21244483602 | Long-term integrated soil fertility management in South-western Nigeria: Crop performance and impact on the soil fertility status | Vanlauwe B., Diels J., Sanginga N., Merckx R. | 2005 | Plant and Soil | 273 | 02-Jan | 10.1007/s11104-005-0194-2 | Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of CIAT, PO Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya; International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria; C/o L.W. Lambourn and Co., 26 Dingwall Road, Croydon CR9 3EE, United Kingdom; Laboratory of Soil and Water Management, Department of Land Management, K.U. Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 20, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium | Vanlauwe, B., Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of CIAT, PO Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya; Diels, J., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria, C/o L.W. Lambourn and Co., 26 Dingwall Road, Croydon CR9 3EE, United Kingdom; Sanginga, N., Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of CIAT, PO Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya; Merckx, R., Laboratory of Soil and Water Management, Department of Land Management, K.U. Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 20, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium | Crop response, tree biomass production and changes in soil fertility characteristics were monitored in a long-term (1986-2002) alley-cropping trial in Ibadan, Nigeria. The systems included two alley cropping systems with Leucaena leucocephala and Senna siamea on the one hand and a control (no-trees) system on the other hand, all cropped annually with a maize-cowpea rotation. All systems had a plus and minus fertilizer treatment. Over the years, the annual biomass return through tree prunings declined steadily, but more drastically for Leucaena than for Senna. In 2002, the nitrogen contribution from Leucaena residues stabilized at about 200 kg N/ha/year, while the corresponding value for Senna was about 160 kg N/ha/year. On average, the four Leucaena prunings were more equal in biomass as well as in amounts of N, P and cations, while the first Sennapruning was always contributing up to 60% of the annual biomass or nutrient return. Maize crop yields declined steadily in all treatments, but the least so in the Senna + fertilizer treatment where in 2002 still 2.2 tonnes/ha of maize were obtained. Nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency was usually higher in the Senna treatment compared to the control or the Leucaena treatment. Added benefits due to the combined use of fertilizer N and organic matter additions were observed only for the Sennatreatment and only in the last 6 years. At all other times, they remained absent or were even negative in the Leucaenatreatments for the first 3 years. Most chemical soil fertility parameters decreased in all the treatments, but less so in the alley cropping systems. The presence of trees had a positive effect on remaining carbon stocks, while they were reduced compared to the 1986 data. Trees had a positive effect on the maintenance of exchangeable cations in the top soil. Exchangeable Ca, Mg and K - and hence ECEC - were only slightly reduced after 16 years of cropping in the tree-based systems, and even increased in the Senna treatments. In the control treatments, values for all these parameters reduced to 50% or less of the original values after 16 years. All the above points to the Senna-based alley system with fertilizers as the more resilient one. This is reflected in all soil fertility parameters, in added benefits due to the combined use of fertilizer nitrogen and organic residue application and in a more stable maize yield over the years, averaging 2.8 tonnes/ha with maximal deviations from the average not exceeding 21%. © Springer 2005. | Added benefits; Alley cropping; Leucaena leucocephala; Maize; Nitrogen use efficiency; Senna siamea | alley cropping; biomass; crop performance; fertilizer application; soil fertility; Africa; Eastern Hemisphere; Ibadan; Nigeria; Oyo; Sub-Saharan Africa; West Africa; World; Leucaena; Leucaena leucocephala; Senna; Senna siamea; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-31744447128 | The first 5 years of the family clinic for HIV at Tygerberg hospital: Family demographics, survival of children and early impact of antiretroviral therapy | van Kooten Niekerk N.K.M., Knies M.M., Howard J., Rabie H., Zeier M., van Rensburg A., Frans N., Schaaf H.S., Fatti G., Little F., Cotton M.F. | 2006 | Journal of Tropical Pediatrics | 52 | 1 | 10.1093/tropej/fmi047 | Amsterdam Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 19063, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa; Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 19063, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa; Department of Social Work, Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Tygerberg, South Africa; Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | van Kooten Niekerk, N.K.M., Amsterdam Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Knies, M.M., Amsterdam Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Howard, J., Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 19063, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa; Rabie, H., Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 19063, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa; Zeier, M., Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 19063, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa; van Rensburg, A., Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 19063, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa; Frans, N., Department of Social Work, Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Tygerberg, South Africa; Schaaf, H.S., Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 19063, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa; Fatti, G., Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Little, F., Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Cotton, M.F., Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 19063, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa | Background: Family clinics address the problems of HIV-infected children and their families. The aims were to document demographics of the children and caregivers attending the Family Clinic for HIV at Tygerberg Academic Hospital (TAH) and to investigate factors affecting disease progression in children. Methods: A retrospective folder review of children and parents attending the Family Clinic at TAH between January 1997 and December 2001, a period noted for its lack of antiretroviral treatment. Results: Of 432 children seen for testing, 274 children, median age 16.9 months, were HIV-infected. During follow-up, 46 children died (median age 23 months) and 113 were lost to follow-up. The majority of children were malnourished. Those <2 years of age had lower weight for age Z-scores (WAZ) than older children (p<0.001). At presentation, 47 per cent were in clinical stage B and two-thirds had moderate or severe CD4+ T cell depletion. Seventeen children had received highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), 12 dual and 31 monotherapy. HAART was associated with improved survival compared to dual or monotherapy. Risk of death was reduced from eleven-fold for a WAZ <-4 to four-fold between -2 and -3. There was no association with immunological and clinical classification at entry and risk of mortality. Only 18 per cent of parents were evaluated in the clinic. Non-parental care was documented for 25 per cent of families. Conclusions: A low WAZ is associated with poor survival in children. Nutritional status should receive more attention in HIV disease classification in children. Parent utilization of the clinic was inadequate. Even in the absence of HAART, extended survival in children is possible. © The Author [2005]. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. | None | anti human immunodeficiency virus agent; antiretrovirus agent; tuberculostatic agent; adolescent; article; body weight; caregiver; CD4+ T lymphocyte; child; child care; child death; clinical feature; correlation analysis; cost of illness; demography; disease classification; disease course; disease severity; family counseling; female; follow up; general practice; health care utilization; highly active antiretroviral therapy; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; immunology; lymphocyte depletion; major clinical study; male; malnutrition; medical documentation; monotherapy; nutritional status; risk assessment; scoring system; screening test; South Africa; survival; Age Factors; Ambulatory Care Facilities; Analysis of Variance; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Child Mortality; Child, Preschool; Developing Countries; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; HIV Infections; Hospitals, Teaching; Humans; Male; Multivariate Analysis; Nutritional Status; Patient Compliance; Proportional Hazards Models; Retrospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Severity of Illness Index; Socioeconomic Factors; South Africa; Survival Analysis; Treatment Outcome | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77957193563 | Evaluation of the effect of soil acidity amelioration on maize yield and nutrient interrelationships using stepwise regression and nutrient vector analysis | Van Jansen Rensburg H.G., Claassens A.S., Beukes D.J. | 2010 | South African Journal of Plant and Soil | 27 | 2 | None | Department of Plant Production and Soil Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; ARC-Institute for Soil, Climate and Water, Private Bag X79, Pretoria 0001, South Africa | Van Jansen Rensburg, H.G., Department of Plant Production and Soil Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Claassens, A.S., Department of Plant Production and Soil Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Beukes, D.J., ARC-Institute for Soil, Climate and Water, Private Bag X79, Pretoria 0001, South Africa | The interrelationships between elemental content of selected soil and leaf nutrients and maize grain yield were evaluated in a liming experiment conducted on a Hutton and Oakleaf soil in a resource-poor farming area in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. Improved uptake of Mo by maize with increased soil P status was found on the Hutton soil, while N and P uptake improved, due to lime and fertiliser application, on both soils. Boron uptake by maize was depressed with lime application on the Oakleaf soil. Maize yield on the Hutton soil was adversely affected by Al toxicity, while plant Ca deficiency was the dominant factor that limited maize grain yield, followed by Al level and a depressed B uptake on the Oakleaf soil. Nutrient vector analyses showed a toxic build-up of Fe, followed by Al and to a lesser extent Mn. These toxic elements depressed the uptake of Ca, Mg and B by maize on the Hutton soil. On the Oakleaf soil, Al toxicity, followed by high concentrations of Mn and Fe, markedly reduced the uptake of Ca, Mg and K by maize. | Al-toxicity; Ca deficiency; Mg deficiency; Nutrient interactions; Resource-poor farmers; Vector analysis | acidity; aluminum; bioaccumulation; crop yield; experimental study; fertilizer application; liming; maize; nutrient uptake; phytotoxicity; regression analysis; soil nutrient; soil property; toxicity test; vector; yield response; South Africa; Zea mays | 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-s2.0-77950025974 | Investigating heap bioleaching: Effect of feed iron concentration on bioleaching performance | van Hille R.P., van Zyl A.W., Spurr N.R.L., Harrison S.T.L. | 2010 | Minerals Engineering | 23 | 6 | 10.1016/j.mineng.2010.01.011 | Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa | van Hille, R.P., Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa; van Zyl, A.W., Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa; Spurr, N.R.L., Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa; Harrison, S.T.L., Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa | This paper describes an investigation into the effect of iron concentration in the leach solution on the bioleaching of a low grade copper ore, where chalcopyrite was the dominant copper sulphide. The concentration of dissolved iron is primarily controlled by pH and the relative proportion of ferric to ferrous iron, with significant jarosite precipitation occurring above pH ≈ 1.8 in a highly oxidised system. The solution pH may be increased by the dissolution of acid soluble gangue and when iron oxidation is significantly higher than sulphur oxidation. The study was approached using two experimental systems. In the former, the leach solution was recycled through an ore bed of low aspect (reactor height divided by diameter) ratio for a portion of the experiment. During the recycle phase, no acid was added to the system and acid consumption by gangue material led to a pH increase (1.6-2.2). The resulting jarosite precipitation reduced soluble iron from 2.5 g/l to less than 250 mg/l. Copper recovery decreased, but not in proportion to the decrease in iron. This was partly attributed to adsorption on, or entrainment within, the jarosites. To study the effect of reduced iron concentration on leach performance under more controlled conditions, bioleaching was performed in packed bed column reactors with feed iron concentrations ranging from 5 g/l to 200 mg/l. Observations indicated an initial decreased rate of copper liberation with reduced iron concentration in the feed. The relationship between available Fe3+ concentration and copper liberation was not proportional. However, with time, the liberation of copper became independent of iron concentration in the percolation liquor. Further, the specific rate of copper liberation was consistently below the theoretical value on a basis of ferric iron concentration. The highest values of copper liberation were reported at the lowest iron concentrations. In summary, while increased iron concentration in solution may enhance the initial rate of leaching, mineral availability appears to dominate CuFeS2 leach kinetics through the majority of the leach. Furthermore, high iron concentrations in solution aggravate jarosite formation with concomitant retention of copper in the ore bed. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Bioleaching; Hydrometallurgy; Reaction kinetics; Sulphide ores | Acid consumption; Concentration of; Controlled conditions; Copper ore; Copper recovery; Copper sulphides; Dissolved iron; Experimental system; Ferric iron; Ferrous iron; Heap bioleaching; Initial rate; Iron concentrations; Iron oxidation; Jarosite precipitation; Jarosites; Leach solutions; Low grade; Mineral availability; Packed bed column; Reduced iron; Solution pH; Sulphide ores; Theoretical values; Acids; Adsorption; Aspect ratio; Association reactions; Bioleaching; Concentration (process); Copper; Copper compounds; Dissolution; Hydrometallurgy; Iron; Metallurgy; Ores; Oxidation; Packed beds; pH; Reaction kinetics; Recycling; Solvents; Sulfur; Metal recovery | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84908260975 | The elaboration and empirical evaluation of the de Goede learning potential structural model | Van Heerden S., Theron C. | 2014 | South African Journal of Business Management | 45 | 3 | None | Department of Industrial Psychology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa | Van Heerden, S., Department of Industrial Psychology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa; Theron, C., Department of Industrial Psychology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa | As a direct result of having segregated amenities and public services during the Apartheid era where Black individuals were provided with services inferior to those of White individuals, the country is currently challenged by serious and a debilitating skills shortage across most industry sectors, high unemployment and poverty rates, and inequality in terms of income distribution as well as in terms of racial representation in the workforce. These challenges are the consequence of a larger problem that knowledge, skills and abilities are not uniformly distributed across all races. In the past, and still now, White South Africans had greater access to skills development and educational opportunities. It is this fundamental inequality that has to be addressed. It is argued that skills development - specifically affirmative action skills development should form part of the solution. A need therefore exists to identify the individuals who would gain maximum benefit from such affirmative action skills development opportunities and to create the conditions that would optimise learning performance. To achieve this, an understanding is required of the complex nomological network of latent variables that determine learning performance. De Goede (2007) proposed and tested a learning potential structural model based on the work of Taylor (1994). The primary objective of this study was to expand on De Goede's (2007) learning potential structural model in order to gain a deeper understanding of the complexity underlying learning performance. A subset of the hypothesised expanded learning potential structural model was empirically evaluated. The first analysis of the structural model failed to produce a good fit to the data. The model was subsequently modified by both adding additional paths and by removing insignificant paths. The final revised structural model was found to fit the data well. All paths contained in the final model were empirically corroborated. The practical implications of the learning potential structural model on HR and organisations are discussed. Suggestions for future research are made by indicating how the model can be further elaborated. The limitations of the study are also discussed. | None | None | 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-s2.0-84901029242 | Evaluation of Trinexapac-ethyl (Moddus®) as a New Chemical Ripener for the South African Sugarcane Industry | van Heerden P.D.R. | 2014 | Sugar Tech | 16 | 3 | 10.1007/s12355-013-0278-x | South African Sugarcane Research Institute, Mount Edgecombe, 4300, South Africa | van Heerden, P.D.R., South African Sugarcane Research Institute, Mount Edgecombe, 4300, South Africa | Although information from Brazil and Australia indicate that trinexapac-ethyl (Moddus®) is an excellent new sugarcane ripener, 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 a local variety and to compare responses with current industry standards, 2-chloroethyl phosphonic acid (Ethephon®) and fluazifop-p-butyl (Fusilade Forte®). Evaluation was conducted in an irrigated plant and first ratoon crop of variety N32 at Pongola, South Africa. The field trial was laid out as a complete randomised design with five replicates per treatment. The nine treatments comprised: (a) untreated control, (b) Ethephon® (1.5 L/ha) applied 84 days before harvest (DBH), (c) Fusilade Forte® (0.2 L/ha) applied 43 DBH, (d) Moddus® at three rates (0.8, 1 and 2 L/ha) applied 70 DBH, (e) Ethephon® (1.5 L/ha) and Fusilade Forte® (0.2 L/ha) applied in combination 84 and 43 DBH, and (f) Moddus® (0.8 and 1 L/ha) and Fusilade Forte® (0.2 L/ha) applied in combination 70 and 43 DBH. The various ripener treatments improved estimated recoverable crystal (ERC) yields in the 12-month old crops by between 1.6 and 4.9 t/ha when compared with the control. Moddus® applied at 0.8 and 1 L/ha achieved similar improvements as Fusilade Forte® and Ethephon®, but at 2 L/ha outperformed the latter two ripeners by up to 1.9 t ERC/ha. Best ERC yield responses were achieved in the three combination treatments. However, the Moddus®-Fusilade Forte® combination treatments outperformed the standard Ethephon®-Fusilade Forte® combination treatment by up to 1 t ERC/ha. These results indicate that Moddus® is an effective sugarcane ripener under South African high-potential irrigated conditions and that improved in ERC yields exceeding those obtained with current industry standards might be possible. © 2013 Society for Sugar Research & Promotion. | Cane quality; Chemical ripening; Moddus®; Sugar yield; Sugarcane | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-43149116601 | Integrated water and economic modelling of the impacts of water market instruments on the South African economy | van Heerden J.H., Blignaut J., Horridge M. | 2008 | Ecological Economics | 66 | 1 | 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2007.11.011 | Department of Economics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Centre of Policy Studies, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia | van Heerden, J.H., Department of Economics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Blignaut, J., Department of Economics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Horridge, M., Centre of Policy Studies, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia | A static computable general equilibrium model of South Africa is adapted to compare new taxes on water demand by two industries, namely forestry, and irrigated field crops. Comparisons are made with respect to both the short and the long run, in terms of three target variables, namely (i) the environment; (ii) the economy; and (iii) equity. Since the taxes on the two industries do not raise the same amount of revenue, the target variables are calculated per unit of real government revenue raised by the new taxes (also referred to as the marginal excess burdens of the taxes). The model results are robust for moderate values of the water elasticity of demand in the two industries, in both the long and the short run. The tax on irrigated field crops performs better in terms of all three the target variables in the short run. In the long run the tax on irrigated filed crops is better in terms of water saving, but reduces real GDP and the consumption by poor households. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | C68; Computable general equilibrium modelling; Market-based instruments; Q25; Q43; Social Accounting Matrix; Water markets; Water tax | comparative study; crop production; forestry; Gross Domestic Product; irrigation system; numerical model; tax system; water demand; water economics; water management; Africa; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84867268974 | Measuring the performance of South African equity investment managers using portfolio opportunity distributions | van Heerden J.D., Botha A.F. | 2012 | Investment Analysts Journal | 76 | 1 | None | Department of Statistics and Actuarial Sciene, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch 7650, South Africa | van Heerden, J.D., Department of Statistics and Actuarial Sciene, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch 7650, South Africa; Botha, A.F., Department of Statistics and Actuarial Sciene, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch 7650, South Africa | Market indices and peer group comparison are the most commonly used proxies to measure a portfolio manager's relative performance and draw conclusions regarding a manager's skill in managing investment portfolios. However, methods based on both of these proxies have several drawbacks that may lead to incorrect conclusions regarding relative performance and skill. This study addresses the shortcomings of the traditional approaches, and applies an alternative method to eliminate their shortcomings, namely Portfolio Opportunity Distributions (PODs). The method is applied to all South African equity unit trust portfolios classified as either value or growth portfolios. Although data constraints ruled out any statistical testing of this hypothesis, the results nevertheless suggest that the PODs approach may indeed offer a more accurate performance measurement approach. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84867263314 | The effect of the South African market concentration on portfolio performance | Van Heerden J.D., Saunderson S. | 2008 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 6 | 0.041666666667 | None | Department of Business Management, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; PO Box 330, Gallo Manor, 2052, South Africa | Van Heerden, J.D., Department of Business Management, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Saunderson, S., PO Box 330, Gallo Manor, 2052, South Africa | Portfolio risk is mainly a function of portfolio concentration and covariance between the assets in a portfolio. This study shows that South Africa experiences a high level of market concentration and that assets with large weights in the FTSE/JSE All Share Index (ALSI) have large covariances with each other. Together these two phenomena suggest that a high level of portfolio risk can be expected. Active portfolio managers in South African generally attempt to decrease portfolio concentration by deviating from the benchmark's weighting structure in order to decrease their portfolio risk. The effect of such a portfolio construction process on the measurement of relative performance, where the ALSI is used as the benchmark, was investigated by means of a simulation process. The results indicated that during times when those shares with larger weights in the index perform well, the probability of outperforming the ALSI is very small, while the probability of outperforming the ALSI during times when those same shares perform poorly is very high. These findings suggest that investors need to be educated about the bias regarding relative performance measurement using broad market indices, while alternative or additional methods of performance measurement need to be investigated to minimise this bias. | Performance measures; South Africa; Stock market | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84916213992 | Resource utilisation Efficiency: A South African Provincial Evaluation | Van Heerden C., Rossouw R. | 2014 | South African Journal of Economics | 82 | 4 | 10.1111/saje.12037 | School for Economics, North West University, Potchefstroom, North West, South Africa; School for Economics ZA, 11 Hoffman Street, Potchefstroom, North West, South Africa | Van Heerden, C., School for Economics, North West University, Potchefstroom, North West, South Africa, School for Economics ZA, 11 Hoffman Street, Potchefstroom, North West, South Africa; Rossouw, R., School for Economics, North West University, Potchefstroom, North West, South Africa | The objective of this paper is to analyse the utilisation of production capacity and total under-utilisation in order to identify weak-performing industries across the nine South African provinces. Detecting inefficiencies within the different provinces will help to identify where sound managerial or government intervention is required, which can contribute to the future success of the New Growth Path Framework and the Strategic Integrated Projects. Using a multistage data envelopment analysis model at the subnational level, several categories of production factors are explored: intermediate demand, labour, capital, as well as taxes and subsidies. The results emphasise South Africa's weak infrastructure and the failure to effectively promote stability in managing factor inputs. The results further illustrate that industry scale efficiency for water and electricity are poorest across all provinces, highlighting the current water and energy supply concerns in South Africa and problem areas associated with the National Development Program. © 2014 Economic Society of South Africa. | DEA; Resource utilisation; Scale efficiency; South African provinces | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-82055176073 | Performance assessment of smallholder irrigation in the central rift valley of Ethiopia | van Halsema G.E., Keddi Lencha B., Assefa M., Hengsdijk H., Wesseler J. | 2011 | Irrigation and Drainage | 60 | 5 | 10.1002/ird.613 | Irrigation and Water Engineering Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands; Jimma University, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma, Ethiopia; Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Plant Research International, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands; Environmental Economics and Natural Resources Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands | van Halsema, G.E., Irrigation and Water Engineering Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands; Keddi Lencha, B., Jimma University, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma, Ethiopia; Assefa, M., Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Hengsdijk, H., Plant Research International, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands; Wesseler, J., Environmental Economics and Natural Resources Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands | The recent increase in smallholder irrigation schemes in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia has been associated with the overexploitation of water resources while the economic viability of these schemes has been questioned. This paper assesses water use efficiencies of the Haleku Irrigation Scheme and quantifies improvement scenarios. The viability of these scenarios is discussed taking into account the socio-economic performance of the Haleku Irrigation Scheme and the nearby Dodicha Irrigation Scheme - that feature similar settings but contrasting socio-economic performance. The irrigation efficiency of Haleku is 35% but conveyance losses and application efficiencies vary widely across the scheme. Scenario results indicate scope for improvement and reduced water abstraction. Yields and economic returns of irrigated crops were higher in Haleku than in Dodicha but yields are still lower than attainable yields. Any strategy to increase irrigation efficiency will have to include a programme to improve crop productivity and economic returns. Considering the over-abstraction of water resources the poor irrigation performance of Haleku and the disappointing socio-economic performance of both Haleku and Dodicha suggest that policy should focus on improving existing schemes in the Central Rift Valley instead of further developing new ones. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. | Horticulture; Irrigation efficiency; Poverty reduction; Water management | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84883466432 | Impact of chronic respiratory symptoms in a rural area of sub-Saharan Africa: An in-depth qualitative study in the Masindi district of Uganda | van Gemert F., Chavannes N., Nabadda N., Luzige S., Kirenga B., Eggermont C., de Jong C., van der Molen T. | 2013 | Primary Care Respiratory Journal | 22 | 3 | 10.4104/pcrj.2013.00064 | Department of General Practice, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands; Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands; Multi Consults Research Ltd, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Medicine, Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda; University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands | van Gemert, F., Department of General Practice, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands; Chavannes, N., Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands; Nabadda, N., Multi Consults Research Ltd, Kampala, Uganda; Luzige, S., Department of Medicine, Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda; Kirenga, B., Department of Medicine, Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda; Eggermont, C., University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands; de Jong, C., Department of General Practice, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands; van der Molen, T., Department of General Practice, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands | Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), once regarded as a disease of developed countries, is now recognised as a common disease in low- and middle-income countries. No studies have been performed to examine how the community in resourcepoor settings of a rural area in sub-Saharan Africa lives with chronic respiratory symptoms. Aims: To explore beliefs and attitudes concerning health (particularly respiratory illnesses), use of biomass fuels, tobacco smoking, and the use of health services. Methods: A qualitative study was undertaken in a rural area of Masindi district in Uganda, using focus group discussions with 10-15 members of the community in 10 randomly selected villages. Results: Respiratory symptoms were common among men, women, and children. In several communities respiratory symptoms were stigmatised and often associated with tuberculosis. Almost all the households used firewood for cooking and the majority cooked indoors without any ventilation. The extent of exposure to tobacco and biomass fuel smoke was largely determined by their cultural tradition and gender, tribal origin and socioeconomic factors. Many people were unaware of the damage to respiratory health caused by these risk factors, notably the disproportionate effect of biomass smoke in women and children. Conclusions: The knowledge of chronic respiratory diseases, particularly COPD, is poor in the rural community in sub-Saharan Africa. The lack of knowledge has created different beliefs and attitudes concerning respiratory symptoms. Few people are aware of the relation between smoke and respiratory health, leading to extensive exposure to mostly biomass-related smoke. © 2013 Primary Care Respiratory Society UK. All rights reserved. | Biomass fuel; COPD; Qualitative study; Respiratory symptoms; Sub-Saharan Africa | biofuel; adult; Africa south of the Sahara; article; attitude to health; chronic respiratory tract disease; community assessment; community living; controlled study; cooking; cultural factor; disease activity; disease association; environmental exposure; environmental impact; ethnic difference; female; health belief; health care utilization; health hazard; household; human; major clinical study; male; qualitative research; respiratory tract disease; risk assessment; room ventilation; rural area; sex difference; smoke; smoking; socioeconomics; tuberculosis; Uganda; Adolescent; Adult; Asthma; Biomass; Cooking; Culture; Female; Focus Groups; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Inhalation Exposure; Male; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Qualitative Research; Respiration Disorders; Rural Population; Sex Factors; Smoke; Smoking; Social Stigma; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary; Uganda; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-67650585880 | In vitro transcorneal diffusion of the antimicrobial macrolides azithromycin and clarithromycin and the impact on microbial keratitis | Van Eyk A.D., Seifart H.I., Meyer D., Van Der Bijl P. | 2009 | Cornea | 28 | 4 | 10.1097/ICO.0b013e31818c901f | Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, South Africa; Department of Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa | Van Eyk, A.D., Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, South Africa; Seifart, H.I., Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, South Africa; Meyer, D., Department of Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa; Van Der Bijl, P., Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, South Africa | PURPOSE: To compare the in vitro penetration of azithromycin and clarithromycin across both human and rabbit corneas. METHODS: In vitro diffusion studies were performed on frozen-thawed (liquid nitrogen, -80°C) corneas using a flow-through diffusion apparatus (24 hours, 20°C, 1.5 mL/h). Either phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or 2 mg/g polyacrylic acid (Teargel) formulations of clarithromycin and azithromycin (1 or 4 mg/mL) were used in the donor chambers. Effluent samples collected (2 hours) were analyzed using binary high-performance liquid chromatography in conjunction with either UV/VIS or tandem mass spectrometry detection. RESULTS: The flux values of azithromycin (PBS and polyacrylic acid) across both types of corneas showed concentration dependence. Polyacrylic acid formulations showed a decrease in flux values of azithromycin across both types of corneas. For clarithromycin, flux values across both types of corneas were ~2.3-2.4 times higher than azithromycin. The flux values of azithromycin at 4 mg/mL (PBS and polyacrylic acid) across human cornea were higher than those across rabbit cornea, whereas the inverse was true at 1 mg/mL PBS for both drugs. CONCLUSIONS: Both macrolides penetrated the corneas, and the flux values were found to be concentration dependent (azithromycin). Clarithromycin had a higher diffusion rate across corneas than azithromycin. Although the human cornea had a higher permeability to azithromycin at a higher concentration, the inverse was found at lower concentrations for both drugs. Rabbit cornea can be used in general as an in vitro permeability model for human cornea; however, care must be taken with the extrapolation of results. © 2009 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. | Azithromycin; Clarithromycin; Cornea; In vitro diffusion; Permeability | azithromycin; carbomer; clarithromycin; phosphate buffered saline; polyacrylic acid; antimicrobial activity; article; concentration response; controlled study; drug concentration; drug penetration; high performance liquid chromatography; human; keratitis; liquid chromatography; nonhuman; priority journal; steady state; tandem mass spectrometry; Adult; Aged; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Azithromycin; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Clarithromycin; Cornea; Corneal Ulcer; Diffusion; Eye Infections, Bacterial; Humans; Middle Aged; Permeability; Rabbits; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84900866657 | Political obligation, dirty hands and torture; A moral evaluation | Van Erp H. | 2013 | South African Journal of Philosophy | 32 | 1 | None | Department of Philosophy, University of Fort Hare, South Africa | Van Erp, H., Department of Philosophy, University of Fort Hare, South Africa | The example of a political leader who has to decide whether he would allow the torture of a suspect in order to get information about a ticking bomb has become notorious in ethical discussions concerning the tension between moral principles and political necessity. The relation between these notions must be made as clear as possible before a sincere moral evaluation of ticking bomb situations can be given. The first section of this article considers whether the concept of political obligation is different from moral and legal obligations or whether it is a special kind of moral obligation. In the second section, the idea that the dirty hands problem confronts us with the ambiguities of moral life is rejected because it would imply an untenable moral paradox. The thesis that is developed is, namely, if there is such a thing as political necessity, it must be some form of moral obligation. The third section analyses the concept of political necessity and concludes that it cannot overrule basic moral principles and that the international legal prohibition of torture must be considered to be a categorical imperative. In the last section, these ideas concerning political and moral necessity are brought in against the defence of torture, which should be tolerated in the 'War on Terror'. There it will be argued that the use of the ticking bomb argument not only supports a highly hypocrite political practice but is also deceptive as a moral and political argument.. Copyright © 2013 by the Philosophical Society of Southern Africa. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-6044230803 | Monitoring current-voltage characteristics and energy output of silicon photovoltaic modules | Van Dyk E.E., Gxasheka A.R., Meyer E.L. | 2005 | Renewable Energy | 30 | 3 | 10.1016/j.renene.2004.04.016 | Department of Physics, University of Port Elizabeth, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa; Department of Physics, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa | Van Dyk, E.E., Department of Physics, University of Port Elizabeth, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa; Gxasheka, A.R., Department of Physics, University of Port Elizabeth, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa; Meyer, E.L., Department of Physics, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa | Photovoltaic (PV) system designers use performance data of PV modules to improve system design and make systems more cost effective. The collection of this valuable data is often not done due to the high costs associated with data acquisition systems. In this paper, we report on the design of a low-cost current-voltage (I-V) measuring system used to monitor the I-V characteristics of PV modules. Results obtained from monitoring seven crystalline silicon modules between October 2001 and November 2002 are presented and discussed. Results obtained also show the value of being able to continuously monitor the current-voltage characteristics of PV modules. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Current-voltage characteristics; I-V monitoring system; Operational efficiency; Performance monitoring; Photovoltaic modules | Cost effectiveness; Crystallization; Data acquisition; Photovoltaic effects; Renewable energy resources; Silicon; Current-voltage (I-V) measuring systems; Data performance; Photovoltaic (PV) systems; Silicon photovoltaic modules; Current voltage characteristics; photovoltaic system | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84866183320 | The impact of brief quality improvement (QI) projects by medical students in primary care in Gauteng or the North West Province, South Africa | van Deventer C., Sondzaba N. | 2012 | African Journal of Primary Health Care and Family Medicine | 4 | 1 | 10.4102/phcfm.v4i1.383 | Family Physician, Dr Kenneth Kaunda District, North West Province, South Africa; Department of Family Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa | van Deventer, C., Family Physician, Dr Kenneth Kaunda District, North West Province, South Africa, Department of Family Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa; Sondzaba, N., Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa | Background: The Integrated Primary Care (IPC) rotation is undertaken over six weeks by final year medical students at the University of Witwatersrand. Students are placed in either rural or urban primary health care centres based in Gauteng or the North West Province. As part of the IPC rotation, students undertake short quality improvement (QI) projects. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of the QI projects undertaken over the period stretching from 2006 to 2010. Methods: An observational study of QI reports done by students. Project reports assessed and compared to site marks, indicators of learning assessed and individual and group marks compared. Results: Of 274 projects undertaken, 223 (81.4%) were available for evaluation. Geographical placements and QI themes were categorised. Management issues were most frequently identified as being problematic followed by chronic illnesses. Understanding and applying the principles of QI was partially achieved and gaps were identified for future projects. The most common intervention was training of personnel and design and distribution of posters or pamphlets. Conclusions: Most QI projects were well thought out and relevant to the chosen setting. In the majority of cases, a great deal of effort and creativity went into the process and skills other than clinical skills were employed such as writing, presentation of data in graphs and tables. Integration of theory and practice was achieved only partially. © 2012. The Authors. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84954451101 | Integration of non-communicable chronic diseases (Ncds) and hiv/aids and mental health care through the involvement of chronically ill patients using empowerment evaluation | Van Deventer C. | 2015 | South African Family Practice | 57 | 6 | None | Department of Family Medicine and Rural Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Van Deventer, C., Department of Family Medicine and Rural Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Background: The emphasis in health care in South Africa is gradually shifting to acknowledge the different roles patients have regarding their own care. There is, however, very little evidence of this practice and of related practical outcomes. Methods: In the North West province, empowerment evaluation was used as the vehicle for patient engagement in integrating and improving services for chronically ill patients, namely those with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), HIV and mental illnesses at primary health care (PHC) clinics. This research was designed as an additional intervention in an ongoing quality improvement (QI) cycle, which had started in 2007. Empowerment evaluation shares many participatory action research qualities with an emphasis on collaboration, emancipation and the creation of new knowledge but with the additional aspect of evaluating and monitoring the processes that have been co-developed. Results: After 62 visits to 9 facilities over a year and after capturing 332 patient and health worker opinions and ideas, many interventions were implemented leading to improved flow at clinics, a heightened awareness of good services, interesting performance-measuring tools and patient/staff teams that acknowledged their symbiotic strength. Objective measurements comparing clinics that had been exposed to the Integrated Chronic Disease Model (ICDM, which is explained in the article) and those with the collaborative patient/staff groups showed no significant difference in clinical outcomes or waiting times. However, waiting time had improved across one sub-district. This may be because the ICDM clinics have been functioning for four years and the research clinics for only one year. There have also been many external influences on the project, such as a number of new doctors appointed at clinics, under the National Health Insurance pilot project, a high turnover of staff, a new chronic drug policy, stable patients being able to access their medication at external ‘pick-up points’ and others. Conclusions: It was found that the potential of patients and patient–staff collaboration are being under-utilised in a resourcestrained sector where the harnessing of this potential might contribute positively towards QI in health. © 2015 The Author(s). | Chronic illness; Empowerment evaluation; Health systems improvement; Patient involvement | acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Article; blood pressure; CD4 lymphocyte count; chronic disease; doctor patient relation; evaluation study; glucose blood level; health auxiliary; health care quality; health center; health personnel attitude; human; medical staff; mental health care; non communicable chronic disease; patient; patient autonomy; patient empowerment; patient participation; patient satisfaction; primary health care; total quality management; virus load | 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-s2.0-33646248611 | Environmental impact of the Brazilian Agrarian Reform process from 1985 to 2001 | Van De Steeg J.A., Sparovek G., Lima Ranieri S.B., Maule R.F., Cooper M., Neto D.D., Alves M.C. | 2006 | Scientia Agricola | 63 | 2 | None | ILRI, P.O. Box 30709, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya; USP/ESALQ, Depto. de Solos e Nutrição de Plantas, C.P. 09, 13418-900 - Piracicaba, SP, Brazil; Entropix, R. Maria Manieiro 458, 13405-124 - Piracicaba, SP, Brazil; USP/ESALQ, Depto. de Produção Vegetal, Brazil; USP/ESALQ, Siesalq, Brazil | Van De Steeg, J.A., ILRI, P.O. Box 30709, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya; Sparovek, G., USP/ESALQ, Depto. de Solos e Nutrição de Plantas, C.P. 09, 13418-900 - Piracicaba, SP, Brazil; Lima Ranieri, S.B., USP/ESALQ, Depto. de Solos e Nutrição de Plantas, C.P. 09, 13418-900 - Piracicaba, SP, Brazil; Maule, R.F., Entropix, R. Maria Manieiro 458, 13405-124 - Piracicaba, SP, Brazil; Cooper, M., USP/ESALQ, Depto. de Solos e Nutrição de Plantas, C.P. 09, 13418-900 - Piracicaba, SP, Brazil; Neto, D.D., USP/ESALQ, Depto. de Produção Vegetal, Brazil; Alves, M.C., USP/ESALQ, Siesalq, Brazil | During the past 20 years, most settlements of the Brazilian Agrarian Reform (AR) have been established in or near better-preserved natural ecosystems, where environmental impact is likely to be negative and contribute to natural resources degradation. The objective of this work is providing a first, comprehensive insight of the impacts related to the environmental quality of these settlements, based on the primary survey of 4,340 AR settlements installed between 1985 and 2001. An index was calculated to integrate different aspects of environmental impacts in one single number. The index showed significant regional variation, with lower values (low environmental quality) for the North and Northeast of Brazil, intermediate values for the Central-west and Southeast, and high values for the South. Environmental impacts resulting from AR and settlement creation are slowly decreasing with time, but are still very high in absolute values. The lack of protection of riparian areas, cultivation of legal reserves, and deforestation, are the main concerns related to environmental impacts. | Brazil; Deforestation; Environmental index | None | 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-s2.0-84908375913 | The correlation of leadership practices of first and second generation family business owners to business performance | van der Westhuizen J.P., Garnett A. | 2014 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 5 | 21 | 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n21p27 | Vaal University of Technology, South Africa; North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, South Africa | van der Westhuizen, J.P., Vaal University of Technology, South Africa; Garnett, A., North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, South Africa | Family firms are a major contributor to many economies. However, very few of these businesses will continue to exist after the first generation due to succession failure. Family business leaders need to learn how to manage the factors that affect the succession process. Researchers in family business literature acknowledge that leadership is vital to the success and survival of the firm, although the high failure rate of family businesses in the second and later generations indicates that the succeeding generations might not have developed sufficient leadership practices to sustain business performance. The aim of this research study was to investigate whether there is a correlation between leadership practices and business performance amongst first and second generation owners of family firms. A self administered, quantitative survey questionnaire, measuring leadership practices and business performance was distributed via means of a non-probability, snowball sampling method to 197 first and second generation family business owners in the Sedibeng region of South Africa. The findings indicate that positive significant correlations exist between the occurrence of leadership practices and business performance for first generation leaders of the selected family businesses, but limited correlations exist between the variables for the second generation leaders. These results illuminate the potential differences in the ways that first and second generation leaders lead family businesses. To this end, propositions are offered to assist founders in training future leaders. © 2014, Mediterranean Center of Social and Educational Research. All right reserved. | Business performance; Family business; First generation; Leadership practices; Successors | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84891606906 | Bank efficiency and financial ratios: Rating the performance of the four largest South African banks | van der Westhuizen G. | 2014 | Journal of Applied Business Research | 30 | 1 | None | School of Economics and Management, Sciences at the Vaal Triangle Campus, North-West University, South Africa | van der Westhuizen, G., School of Economics and Management, Sciences at the Vaal Triangle Campus, North-West University, South Africa | Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) in conjunction with financial ratios is used to estimate and compare the performance of the four largest South African banks over the period 2001 to 2011. DEA is used to estimate the relative technical, allocative, cost and scale efficiencies and compare these estimates to certain financial ratios published by the banks in their financial statements. These ratios include return on equity (ROE), return on assets (ROA), net interest margin (NIM), impairment losses, etc. The results obtained from the efficiency estimates and the financial ratios are used to rate the banks according to these performances. The rating differs depending on which performance measure is applied. A combination of these measures was necessary to determine the best and the worst performing bank. From the results obtained it appears that profitability and efficiency are two sides of the same coin. © by author(s); CC-BY. | Allocative Efficiency; Bank Performance; Financial Ratios; Net Interest Margin; Noninterest Income; Scale Efficiency; Technical Efficiency | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84927556441 | C.H. Dodd’s framework for understanding the Gospel according to John: An evaluation [C.H. Dodd se verstaansraamwerk vir die Johannesevangelie: ’n evaluasie] | van der Watt J.G. | 2013 | HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies | 69 | 1 | 10.4102/hts.v69i1.1341 | Radboud University, Netherlands; Research Institute for Theology and Religion, University of South Africa, South Africa | van der Watt, J.G., Radboud University, Netherlands, Research Institute for Theology and Religion, University of South Africa, South Africa | During the previous century Dodd was one of the most significant and influential interpreters of the Gospel of John. His views on the symbolic nature of the Gospel formed the basis of his hermeneutical program for understanding the Gospel. He understood the Johannine symbols in the light of what he regarded as the relevant background material. Theologically he interprets the symbols within a Platonic-like structure, arguing that the symbols in John function as hermeneutical bridges between the background material and the theological formation of the Gospel of John. In subsequent literary studies this approach was and still is questioned. © 2013. The Authors. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84913543474 | The effect of dietary lipid saturation and antioxidant type on the performance of finishing lambs | van der Walt K.E., Einkamerer O.B., van Der Merwe H.J., Hugo A., Slippers S.C., Fair M.D. | 2014 | South African Journal of Animal Sciences | 44 | 5 | 10.4314/sajas.v44i5.8 | Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Meadow Feeds, P.O. Box 6224, Weltevreden Park, South Africa | van der Walt, K.E., Meadow Feeds, P.O. Box 6224, Weltevreden Park, South Africa; Einkamerer, O.B., Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa; van Der Merwe, H.J., Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Hugo, A., Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Slippers, S.C., Meadow Feeds, P.O. Box 6224, Weltevreden Park, South Africa; Fair, M.D., Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa | The effect on production performance of a synthetic or natural antioxidant and lipid saturation in the finishing diets of lambs was investigated. The four dietary treatments consisted of the same basal diet (187 g CP, 355 g NDF, and 71 g EE per kg DM), differing only in regard to the supplemental lipid source (30 g/kg of either saturated beef tallow or unsaturated soybean oil) and type of antioxidant (125 g/ton of either a synthetic or natural antioxidant) included, in a 2 × 2 factorial design experiment. Eighty-four S.A. Mutton Merino lambs (27.64 ± 1.72 kg) were randomly allocated to the four dietary treatments (n = 21 lambs per treatment) and subdivided into 7 replicates per treatment (n = 3 lambs per replicate). After a dietary adaptation period of 8 days, all lambs received the respective experimental diets for the remaining period (41 days). The average daily DM feed intake, weight gain and feed efficiency was calculated accordingly. No significant differences in DMI, ADG and the efficiency with which ingested feed were utilized (FCR), were recorded for the treatments. However, the addition of unsaturated soybean oil to the diet significantly increased the efficiency with which the ME of the diet was utilized. In contrast with the natural antioxidant, the inclusion of unsaturated soybean oil in the diet containing a synthetic antioxidant, resulted in a significant lower MEI by the lambs - indicating that a lipid x antioxidant interaction occurred. Results of the present study seem to indicate that dietary lipid saturation in the finishing diets of lambs had no influence on their growth performance. However, a more efficient utilisation of ME in the finishing diet containing unsaturated soybean oil, compared to the saturated beef tallow, did occur. | Fatty acid; Flavonoid; Metabolizable energy; Oil; Production; Sheep; Soybean; Tallow | Glycine max; Ovis aries | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33846553709 | Hydrologic impact of rewatering of the Gemsbokfontein dolomitic western subcompartment on the Wonderfonteinspruit, South Africa | Van der Walt I.J., De Roer K. | 2006 | Physical Geography | 27 | 4 | 10.2747/0272-3646.27.4.316 | Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, School of Environmental Sciences and Development, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa | Van der Walt, I.J., Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, School of Environmental Sciences and Development, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa; De Roer, K., Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, School of Environmental Sciences and Development, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa | The mean annual rainfall of South Africa is only about 450 mm. The unpredictability of the rainfall as well as extremely high potential evaporation result in the country being water stressed. It is predicted that the demand for water will outstrip the supply within three decades. In order to mitigate this problem, various huge transcatchment schemes have been constructed in South Africa and some of its neighboring countries, but these schemes will only postpone the drying up of the main rivers within a few years. For this reason, the importance of groundwater as a resource is increasing. South Africa does not have significant groundwater resources, although the dolomitic aquifers in the West and Far West Rand have a huge groundwater potential. These dolomites contain (under natural conditions) at least twice the volume of water of the Vaal Dam, which is the main water resource for the economic heartland of South Africa. Alkaline and mafic-alkaline dikes of Pilanesburg age divide the dolomites into several ground water compartments, which overlie some of the richest gold mines in South Africa. The mines have had an adverse effect on the groundwater potential, because most of the compartments have been dewatered to some degree to enable mining operations. Since some of the mines have reached the end of their life span, it is expected that some of the compartments will be allowed to rewater. The rate of rewatering is unknown and the research described in this paper was an attempt to model the rewatering of one of the compartments, namely the Gemsbokfontein compartment, in order to determine the time of rewatering as well as the eventual decant volume. Copyright © 2006 by V. H. Winston & Son, Inc. All rights reserved. | Dewatering; Dolomitic compartments; Far West Rand gold mines; South African ground water resources | annual variation; aquifer pollution; dewatering; gold mine; groundwater resource; hydrological response; rainfall; water stress | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34548847508 | Personality and academic performance of three cohorts of veterinary students in South Africa | Van Der Walt H.S., Pickworth G. | 2007 | Journal of Veterinary Medical Education | 34 | 3 | 10.3138/jvme.34.3.356 | P.O. Box 15547, Sinoville, Pretoria 0129, South Africa; Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa | Van Der Walt, H.S., P.O. Box 15547, Sinoville, Pretoria 0129, South Africa; Pickworth, G., Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa | To aid in selecting students for admission to undergraduate veterinary training, admissions procedures often take into account students' previous academic performance as well as the results of an interview. The study reported here investigated the relationship between personality and academic success. Students from three entry cohorts to the second year of study of a six-year BVSc program at the University of Pretoria completed the 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire. A meta-analytic approach was used to estimate the relationship between academic performance in two major final-year subjects and academic performance on entry, an interview score, and the personality factors. The study confirmed the value of previous academic performance and the interview in selecting students for the veterinary degree program. The findings also indicate that the inclusion of a measure of intellectual ability could be of value. The value of various personality characteristics in predicting good study habits and examination performance is highlighted by the study results: students were more successful if they were conscientious, emotionally stable, socially adept, self-disciplined, practical rather than imaginative, and relaxed rather than anxious. It appears worthwhile to consider including an appropriate personality questionnaire in the selection process to improve the accuracy of predictions of students' success. A sound personality make-up will not only increase the likelihood of academic success but should also be beneficial in the successful management of a veterinary practice and in enjoying veterinary science as a career. © 2007 AAVMC. | 16 Personality factor questionnaire; Personality and academic performance; Veterinary medical education | article; clinical competence; cohort analysis; education; educational status; human; personality; professional competence; psychological aspect; South Africa; standard; statistics; student; veterinary medicine; Clinical Competence; Cohort Studies; Educational Measurement; Educational Status; Humans; Personality; Professional Competence; South Africa; Students; Veterinary Medicine | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-76249128804 | Work-related allergy and asthma in spice mill workers - The impact of processing dried spices on IgE reactivity patterns | Van Der Walt A., Lopata A.L., Nieuwenhuizen N.E., Jeebhay M.F. | 2010 | International Archives of Allergy and Immunology | 152 | 3 | 10.1159/000283038 | Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Immunology, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; School of Applied Science, Allergy Research Group, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia | Van Der Walt, A., Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa; Lopata, A.L., Division of Immunology, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, School of Applied Science, Allergy Research Group, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Nieuwenhuizen, N.E., Division of Immunology, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Jeebhay, M.F., Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa | Background: Three spice mill workers developed work-related allergy and asthma after prolonged exposure to high levels (>10 mg/m3) of inhalable spice dust. Patterns of sensitization to a variety of spices and putative allergens were identified. Methods: Work-related allergy and asthma were assessed on history, clinical evaluation, pulmonary function and fractional exhaled nitric oxide. Specific IgE reactivity to a range of common inhalant, food and spice allergens was evaluated using ImmunoCAP and allergen microarray. The presence of non-IgE-mediated reactions was determined by basophil stimulation (CAST-ELISA). Specific allergens were identified by immunoblotting to extracts of raw and dried processed garlic, onion and chili pepper. Results: Asthma was confirmed in all 3 subjects, with work-related patterns prominent in worker 1 and 3. Sensitization to multiple spices and pollen was observed in both atopic workers 1 and 2, whereas garlic and chili pepper sensitization featured in all 3 workers. Microarray analysis demonstrated prominent profilin reactivity in atopic worker 2. Immunoblotting demonstrated a 50-kDa cross-reactive allergen in garlic and onion, and allergens of approximately 40 and 52 kDa in chili pepper. Dry powdered garlic and onion demonstrated greater IgE binding. Conclusions: This study demonstrated IgE reactivity to multiple spice allergens in workers exposed to high levels of inhalable spice dust. Processed garlic and onion powder demonstrated stronger IgE reactivity than the raw plant. Atopy and polysensitization to various plant profilins, suggesting pollen-food syndrome, represent additional risk factors for sensitizer-induced work-related asthma in spice mill workers. © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel. | Allergy; Asthma; Garlic; Processed allergens; Spices; Work-related allergy | food allergen; immunoglobulin E; anamnesis; article; atopy; basophil; cell stimulation; clinical assessment; cross reaction; dry powder; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; garlic; immunoblotting; immunoreactivity; inhalation; lung function; molecular weight; nonhuman; occupational allergy; occupational asthma; occupational exposure; occupational hazard; onion; pepper; priority journal; processing; risk assessment; risk factor; spice; spirometry; Adult; Airway Obstruction; Antigens, Plant; Asthma; Blotting, Western; Bronchial Provocation Tests; Capsicum; Female; Food Handling; Food Preservatives; Forced Expiratory Volume; Garlic; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Immunoglobulin E; Inhalation Exposure; Lung; Male; Nitric Oxide; Occupational Diseases; Onions; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; Plant Extracts; Plant Proteins; Pollen; Protein Array Analysis; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial; Skin Tests; Spices; Spirometry | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84880918429 | Feasibility, performance, and acceptability of the wisebag™ for potential monitoring of daily gel applicator use in Durban, South Africa | Van Der Straten A., Montgomery E., Pillay D., Cheng H., Naidoo A., Cele Z., Naidoo K., Hartmann M., Piper J., Nair G. | 2013 | AIDS and Behavior | 17 | 2 | 10.1007/s10461-012-0330-y | Women's Global Health Imperative, RTI International, 114 Sansome Street, San Francisco, CA 94104, United States; Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, Department of Medicine, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, United States; Center for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), EThekwini, Durban, South Africa; DAIDS, NIAID/NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States | Van Der Straten, A., Women's Global Health Imperative, RTI International, 114 Sansome Street, San Francisco, CA 94104, United States, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, Department of Medicine, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, United States; Montgomery, E., Women's Global Health Imperative, RTI International, 114 Sansome Street, San Francisco, CA 94104, United States; Pillay, D., Center for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), EThekwini, Durban, South Africa; Cheng, H., Women's Global Health Imperative, RTI International, 114 Sansome Street, San Francisco, CA 94104, United States; Naidoo, A., Center for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), EThekwini, Durban, South Africa; Cele, Z., Center for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), EThekwini, Durban, South Africa; Naidoo, K., Center for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), EThekwini, Durban, South Africa; Hartmann, M., Women's Global Health Imperative, RTI International, 114 Sansome Street, San Francisco, CA 94104, United States; Piper, J., DAIDS, NIAID/NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States; Nair, G., Center for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), EThekwini, Durban, South Africa | The Wisebag™, a lunchbag-style container with an electronic events-monitoring system, was designed as a real-time indirect objective measure of microbicide gel use. Due to cost, alternative functionalities (i.e. use of offline and dummy versions) were explored. We conducted a three-arm, double-blinded pilot study among 50 HIV-negative women in Durban, South Africa to assess participant adherence and Wisebag acceptability and performance. Participants were randomized 2:2:1 to Wisebag with online (events transmitted via cellular signal in real-time), offline (events stored in device memory) or inactive "dummy" devices. Participants were instructed to open the Wisebag daily for 2 weeks, retrieve a study sticker and affix it on a diary card. All participants completed the study. At exit, 94 % did not know which device they had received, nor could they differentiate the Wisebag types when presented with the three options. Five offline devices failed (no data recorded). Per Wisebag events, 26 % of women were perfectly adherent compared to 48 % by self-report and 46 % per diary card. Of reported non-adherence, 92 % did not open the Wisebag (travelling or forgot) and 22 % opened Wisebag >1×/day (curiosity). Participants liked and were comfortable carrying Wisebag. Successful blinding will allow inclusion of offline and/or dummy Wisebags in future study designs. Perfect adherence by opening events was significantly lower than by self-report, highlighting the importance of objective measures of adherence in clinical trials. Additional studies to validate Wisebag data with actual products, with and without SMS and online functionality, in different populations and settings, and in comparison to biomarkers are warranted. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media New York. | Adherence; Africa; Electronic monitoring; Microbicide gel | agents used intravaginally; topical antiinfective agent; adolescent; adult; article; controlled clinical trial; controlled study; double blind procedure; drug monitoring; equipment design; feasibility study; female; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; medication compliance; middle aged; patient attitude; patient satisfaction; pilot study; randomized controlled trial; reproducibility; South Africa; statistics; Adolescent; Adult; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Double-Blind Method; Drug Monitoring; Equipment Design; Feasibility Studies; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Medication Adherence; Middle Aged; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Patient Satisfaction; Pilot Projects; Reproducibility of Results; South Africa; Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies | 5UM1AI068633, NIAID, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; NICHD, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; NIMH, National Institute of Mental Health |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77249102050 | Performance of low noise fans in power plant air cooled steam condensers | Van Der Spuy S.J., Von Backström T.W., Kröger D.G. | 2009 | Noise Control Engineering Journal | 57 | 4 | 10.3397/1.3151851 | University of Stellenbosch, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa | Van Der Spuy, S.J., University of Stellenbosch, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Von Backström, T.W., University of Stellenbosch, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Kröger, D.G., University of Stellenbosch, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa | Axial fans are often installed in locations where the orientation and surrounding infrastructure can have a detrimental effect on the fan performance indicated by the manufacturer. This paper addresses various aspects of phenomena related to the installation of axial fans, one of these being the use of low-noise fans, and how these can be considered in the CFD performance evaluation of modern air-cooled power plant condensers. © 2009 Institute of Noise Control Engineering. | None | Air-cooled steam condensers; Axial fans; Detrimental effects; Fan performance; Low noise; Performance evaluation; Axial flow turbomachinery; Fans; Steam power plants; Steam condensers | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-71149099123 | Revisiting test stability: Further evidence relating to the measurement of difference in performance on a test of academic literacy | van der Slik F., Weideman A. | 2009 | Southern African Linguistics and Applied Language Studies | 27 | 3 | 10.2989/SALALS.2009.27.3.6.940 | Department of Linguistics, Radboud University, PO Box 9103, 6500 HD Nijmegen, Netherlands; Department of English, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa | van der Slik, F., Department of Linguistics, Radboud University, PO Box 9103, 6500 HD Nijmegen, Netherlands, Department of English, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa; Weideman, A., Department of English, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa | In several earlier analyses of two tests of academic literacy - the Test of Academic Literacy Levels (TALL) and its Afrikaans counterpart, the Toets vir Akademiese Geletterdheidsvlakke (TAG) - we have adopted an approach to the problem that tests may be abused (and therefore used to harm people) by discussing various antidotes to this, so as to ensure fairness and consistency in the tests we use, as well as by demonstrating how the process of test development and implementation might be made more transparent. We have pointed out that a true measure of the stability of such tests may only become apparent when we have data stretching across a number of years. This article reports on an investigation of differing measures of performance on the two tests in question across several of their administrations between 2005 and 2008. We point to a number of ways in which empirical measures may be used to achieve benign, enabling effects on those tested. © NISC Pty Ltd. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79960761924 | Evaluation of sustainability of low-volume roads treated with nontraditional stabilizers | Van Der Merwe Steyn W., Visser A. | 2011 | Transportation Research Record | None | 2204 | 10.3141/2204-24 | University of Pretoria, Lynnwood Road, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa | Van Der Merwe Steyn, W., University of Pretoria, Lynnwood Road, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa; Visser, A., University of Pretoria, Lynnwood Road, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa | The use of nontraditional stabilizers to treat unpaved (mostly lowvolume) roads has received attention over the past several years as various types of stabilizers have been developed and become available. Evaluation of the sustainability of various infrastructure actions, including the provision and maintenance of roads, is becoming more relevant as the effects of actions taken in the natural environment on itself and on the human environment are evaluated and understood in more detail. The Greenroads rating system offers a method for evaluation of the sustainability of the design, construction, and maintenance of roads. The system was developed with a focus on surfaced higher-volume roads. In this paper, the potential applicability of the Greenroads system for the evaluation of the sustainability of unsurfaced low-volume roads is investigated through two case studies of experiments in which unpaved low-volume test sections were treated with various types of traditional and nontraditional material stabilizers. Appropriate parameters were selected from the general Greenroads metric to ensure that those affecting unpaved low-volume roads would be evaluated (e.g., runoff quality and use of regional materials) while parameters such as paving emission reduction were excluded from the analysis. The assumption was made that all compulsory project requirements would be met by each of the options evaluated. It was concluded that the Greenroads metric can be used to evaluate the potential sustainability of unpaved low-volume roads treated with nontraditional stabilizers and that the metric can provide insight into the potential effect of various parameters on the sustainability of the various stabilization options. | None | Emission reduction; Human environment; Natural environments; Potential effects; Project requirement; Rating system; Runoff quality; Test sections; Maintenance; Rating; Sustainable development; Quality control | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-67650792456 | Determinants of family employee work performance and compensation in family businesses | Van Der Merwe S.P. | 2009 | South African Journal of Business Management | 40 | 1 | None | Potchefstroom Business School, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa | Van Der Merwe, S.P., Potchefstroom Business School, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa | This study highlighted the importance of establishing clear work roles and responsibilities in the family business, the measurement of family employee work performance and regular feedback on their performance and fair and market-based compensation of family employees in family businesses. An Oblimin oblique rotation was performed on the principal components of the exploratory factor analysis. In this study three factors describing the theoretical dimensions of family employee work performance, clear work roles and responsibilities and family employee compensation in family businesses were extracted. Although statistical significant differences were found between the perceptions of male and female as well as between senior and younger generation family employees regarding the constructs, these differences were not practically significant. This study, however, confirms the important role that an effective family employee work performance management and compensation strategy plays to ensure harmonious family relationships and at the end the sustainability of the family business. Practical recommendations are suggested to improve the effectiveness of family employee work performance and compensation in family businesses. Recommendations are also offered to utilise the questionnaire as a diagnostic tool. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84906914835 | Exploring the relationship between human resource practice, organisational support, social support, performance and intention to leave of teachers | Van Der Merwe P., Keyser E. | 2014 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 5 | 13 SPEC. ISSUE | 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n13p93 | Unisa, Pretoria, South Africa; North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, South Africa | Van Der Merwe, P., Unisa, Pretoria, South Africa; Keyser, E., North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, South Africa | This research was conducted to examine the relationship between human resource practice, organisational support, social support, performance and intention to leave of teachers in South Africa. Three hundred teachers at different schools were invited to participate in this research. Using a quantitative research approach, six standardised questionnaires, including a Biographical Questionnaire, a Human Resource Practice Scale, Organisational Support Scale, Social Support Scale, Performance Scale and Intention to Leave Scale were used. The findings revealed that a positive practical significant relationship with a medium effect exists between human resource practices, organisational support and intention to leave, but a negative practical significant relationship exists between human resource practices and intention to leave of teachers. Furthermore, a positive practical significant relationship with large effect was found between organisational support and social support, but a negative practical significant relationship with a medium effect exists between organisational support and intention to leave. | Human resource practice; Intention to leave; Organisational support; Performance; Social support; Teachers | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84940319325 | The economic impact of hunting: A regional approach | van der Merwe P., Saayman M., Rossouw R. | 2014 | South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences | 17 | 4 | None | Tourism Research in Economic, Environs and Society, North-West University, South Africa; School of Economics, North-West University, South Africa | van der Merwe, P., Tourism Research in Economic, Environs and Society, North-West University, South Africa; Saayman, M., Tourism Research in Economic, Environs and Society, North-West University, South Africa; Rossouw, R., School of Economics, North-West University, South Africa | The core of South Africa tourism industry is based on wildlife tourism. Private game reserves and game farms which forms part of wildlife tourism constitute most of the wildlife products in South Africa. On these private reserves and game farms, hunting is one of the major income generators for product owners. The aim of this study is to analyse the economic impact of hunting on the regional economies of three of South Africa's most important hunting provinces. The study used economic multipliers, input-output analysis, and related modelling processes through input-output (supply-use) tables and social accounting matrices (SAM). The results differed significantly for the three provinces, with Limpopo receiving the biggest impact (R2.6 billion) and the Free State having the highest multiplier (2.08). The geographical location of the game farms, the number of farms per province and the species available all influenced the magnitude of the economic impact of hunters over and above the traditional determinants of economic impact analysis. The implication of the research is that it will help product owners in the development of game farms or hunting products, contribute to policy formulation, especially for government decisions on what products to offer where, and how to create more jobs. | Accounting matrix; Biltong hunting; Economic impact; Hunting; Social; South Africa; Tourism; Trophy hunting | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-28244439182 | Determining milling performance of sorghum cultivars by means of abrasive decortication and roller milling techniques | van der Merwe M., Osthoff G., Pretorius A.J. | 2005 | South African Journal of Plant and Soil | 22 | 4 | None | Department of Physiology Nutrition and Consumer Science, University of North West, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; ARC-Grain Crops Institute, Private Bag X1251, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; Department of Microbial Biochemical and Food Technology, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa | van der Merwe, M., Department of Physiology Nutrition and Consumer Science, University of North West, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa, ARC-Grain Crops Institute, Private Bag X1251, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; Osthoff, G., Department of Microbial Biochemical and Food Technology, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa; Pretorius, A.J., Department of Physiology Nutrition and Consumer Science, University of North West, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa | Although roller milling has been successfully applied to produce sorghum meal, the South African sorghum milling industry mostly uses abrasive decortication milling. The first objective of this study was to develop a laboratory-scale roller milling technique for a scaled-down roller mill and determine the milling performance of sorghum cultivars, using canonical variate analysis. The second objective was to compare the suitability of abrasive decortication and roller milling techniques to determine milling performance of sorghum. Thirdly, cultivars better suited for roller milling and those, which milled more successfully with abrasive decortication milling, were identified. Grain samples of 24 sorghum cultivars produced during two seasons at three localities were milled with a Tangential Abrasive Dehulling Device and a roller mill consisting of two break rollers with different flute sizes. Canonical variate analysis was found to be a suitable procedure to analyse and predict the roller milling performance. Little variation in milling losses of different cultivars was found with roller milling, while more variation in losses was experienced between cultivars with abrasive decortication. Mean colour was highly acceptable and did not depend on the milling time in the case of roller milling samples. Cultivars PAN 8564, NS 5655, SNK 3337 and SNK 3863 displayed good milling quality when milled using both roller and abrasive decortication milling. Both abrasive decortication and roller milling techniques were found to be suitable for sorghum milling and the determination of milling performance. | Abrasive decortication; Milling performance; Roller milling; Sorghum cultivars | milling | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84864579649 | New measures improve operations performance management | Van Der Merwe K., Paton A. | 2012 | EngineerIT | None | JULY | None | IME, South Africa; Hatch, South Africa | Van Der Merwe, K., IME, South Africa; Paton, A., Hatch, South Africa | [No abstract available] | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-70450224647 | Evaluation of silver transport through SiC during the German HTR fuel program | van der Merwe J.J. | 2009 | Journal of Nuclear Materials | 395 | 42372 | 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2009.09.024 | PBMR, Lake Buena Vista Building, 1267 Gordon Hood Ave., Centurion, 0046, South Africa | van der Merwe, J.J., PBMR, Lake Buena Vista Building, 1267 Gordon Hood Ave., Centurion, 0046, South Africa | For direct cycle gas cooled high-temperature reactor designs operating conditions may be limited as a result of excessive maintenance dose rates caused by the 110mAg source term on the turbine. The accurate prediction of silver fission and activation products' release during normal operation is required to ensure regulatory compliance and economic viability of planned power plants. Fuel qualification programs should provide satisfactory results to ensure correct analyses, but will not be available for many years. In the meantime data from the German fuel development program are utilized to develop and validate analyses methods. Previously, from primarily material and fuel component test results, transport models and parameters through all the fuel materials and components were derived. Good verification of silver transport in fuel materials and components were achieved with the exception of SiC. An earlier study of all German fuel irradiation tests identified a set of applicable tests to be used to evaluate silver transport through high-quality SiC. Simplified first estimate analyses were performed on different transport models. This was followed by an in depth study with a more complete diffusion model on all applicable irradiation test results to derive new transport parameters for silver in SiC. These new parameters were applied in an evaluation of some heat-up tests of irradiated fuel spheres to assess the range for which they are valid. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | None | Accurate prediction; Activation products; Different transport models; Diffusion model; Dose rate; Economic viability; Fuel components; Fuel development; Fuel irradiation; Gas-cooled; Heat-up; High quality; In-depth study; Irradiated fuels; Irradiation test; New parameters; Normal operations; Operating condition; Source terms; Test results; Transport models; Transport parameters; High temperature reactors; Irradiation; Regulatory compliance; Silicon carbide; Silver; Testing; Fuels | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84898982768 | Managing environmental impact of bouldering as a niche outdoor-climbing activity | Van der Merwe J.H., Joubert U. | 2014 | South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education and Recreation | 36 | 1 | None | Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa | Van der Merwe, J.H., Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Joubert, U., Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa | The paper proposes a normative management instrument to help environmental managers in the field of outdoor recreation and conservation limit the impact of sport climbing, bouldering in particular, as an action-sport activity. Evidence of the rising popularity of the bouldering sport and its associated impacts on natural-resource areas is presented. The model is applied to and tested in the Rocklands bouldering area of South Africa to demonstrate its efficacy. The instrument uses 58 test criteria to account for the maintenance of a resource's market appeal and resource sensitivity by capturing these aspects at three spatial scales: the bouldering area as a whole, its sub-fields and the individual boulders. The model should aid conservation authorities, owners of private climbing areas and the organised climbing fraternity to ensure long-term sustainability of the use of climbing resources. The research concludes that the instrument provides the means to manage a natural resource sustainably within local and even international contexts. | Activity impacts; Bouldering; Management-model design and application; Nature-based tourism; Rocklands bouldering area | None | 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-s2.0-33646560011 | Evaluation and standardisation of small-scale canning methods for small white beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) canned in tomato sauce | Van Der Merwe D., Osthoff G., Pretorius A.J. | 2006 | Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture | 86 | 7 | 10.1002/jsfa.2476 | ARC-Grain Crops Institute, Private Bag X1251, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa; Department of Physiology, Nutrition and Consumer Science, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Private Bag X 6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa | Van Der Merwe, D., ARC-Grain Crops Institute, Private Bag X1251, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa, Department of Physiology, Nutrition and Consumer Science, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Private Bag X 6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; Osthoff, G., Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa; Pretorius, A.J., ARC-Grain Crops Institute, Private Bag X1251, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa | Canning and evaluation procedures should be standardised to ensure that beans selected, based on canning quality, meet the requirements set by the market and processors. For the purpose of evaluating the canning qualities of small white beans in tomato sauce, three small-scale canning techniques were evaluated, one of which was found to deliver a product with quality parameters similar to those of international standards. Using South African small white bean cultivars and the selected method, Teebus, the cultivar used by industry as the standard to indicate acceptable canning quality, displayed better visual appearance and less split beans than with the other two methods. The percentage washed drained weight and texture values of Teebus were also in agreement with international standards. The evaluation procedure for the small white beans after canning was also optimised, by comparing two procedures, which identified texture, visual appearance (scale 1 to 10), splits (scale 1 to 10), hydration coefficient, clumping, size and colour as the statistically most suitable quality parameters. With the aid of the developed method, it was possible to define standard values for South African 'choice' and 'standard' grade beans, which previously was based only on 'visual inspection' by a trained inspection panel. © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry. | Canning procedures; Canning quality; Dry beans; Evaluation procedures; Small white beans; Small-scale canning methods | Lycopersicon esculentum; Phaseolus (angiosperm); Phaseolus vulgaris | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84913586216 | The association between the seven elements of the black economic empowerment score and market performance | van Der Merwe C.M., Ferreira P. | 2014 | South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences | 17 | 5 | None | Department of Financial Accounting, University of South Africa, South Africa; Department of Financial Accounting, University of Pretoria, South Africa | van Der Merwe, C.M., Department of Financial Accounting, University of South Africa, South Africa; Ferreira, P., Department of Financial Accounting, University of Pretoria, South Africa | The black economic empowerment (BEE) score consists of seven elements, namely ownership, management control, employment equity, skills development, preferential procurement, enterprise development and socio-economic development. The purpose of this study is to establish whether an association exists between an entity’s BEE elements and its share returns in the short term.Based on prior literature, it appears that the market reacts positively to an announcement of a BEE deal, although the literature also indicates that an entity’s BEE score, which includes all seven elements of the BEE score, bears a negative relationship to its share returns. Therefore the association between the various BEE elements and share returns needs to be investigated. The study uses a multivariate regression analysis that controls for factors influencing share returns. The study includes the BEE element data as obtained from the survey of the top empowerment companies carried out by Empowerdex/Financial Mail for the period 2005 to 2011.The results of this study indicate that a significant positive association exists between the management control element of the BEE score and the entity’s share returns. Furthermore, a significant negative association exists between the ownership and preferential procurement elements of an entity and its share returns. This study contributes to the literature on BEE in the accounting and finance field in South Africa as well as enhances the understanding and effect of BEE compliance through implementation of the generic scorecard as required by the 2007 codes of good practice. The results of this study would be of interest to government policy analysts, investors and managers. © 2014 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. | BEE; BEE elements; Black economic empowerment; Management control; Ownership element; Preferential procurement; Share returns | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84921522796 | Impact of appearance on degree of liking and eating quality expectations of selected apple cultivars | van der Merwe A., Muller M., van der Rijst M., Labuschagné I.F., Næs T., Steyn W.J. | 2015 | International Journal of Food Science and Technology | 50 | 2 | 10.1111/ijfs.12640 | Department of Food Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, Stellenbosch, South Africa; ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Private Bag X5026, Stellenbosch, South Africa; NOFIMA, Osloveien 1, Ås, Norway; Department of Horticultural Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, Stellenbosch, South Africa; HORTGRO Science, PO Box 12789, Die Boord, South Africa | van der Merwe, A., Department of Food Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Muller, M., Department of Food Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, Stellenbosch, South Africa; van der Rijst, M., ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Private Bag X5026, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Labuschagné, I.F., ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Private Bag X5026, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Næs, T., NOFIMA, Osloveien 1, Ås, Norway; Steyn, W.J., Department of Horticultural Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, Stellenbosch, South Africa, HORTGRO Science, PO Box 12789, Die Boord, South Africa | This study investigated the effect of taste expectations based on cultivar recognition on the preference for apple-eating quality. Consumer preference for eating quality was assessed using three levels of product information, viz. (i) no visual information, (ii) a photograph depicting the typical appearance of the specific cultivar and (iii) an incorrect photograph, misleadingly depicting a different cultivar. Consumers scored the eating quality of 'Pink Lady™' served with the correct photograph significantly higher compared with presentation without pictorial information, suggesting a positive image for this trademark cultivar. Conversely, consumers had lower eating quality expectations for 'Starking' and 'Golden Delicious' indicated by lower scores when supplied with matching photos. Cultivar developers and researchers should be mindful of the confounding effect of fruit appearance on the hedonic assessment of eating quality. The order of presentation (matching or wrong photograph first) affected the preference scores and should be considered in future studies. © 2014 Institute of Food Science and Technology. | Apple consumer preference; Apple cultivar familiarity; Peel colour; Sensory quality expectations; Taste associations | Photography; Apple cultivars; Consumer preferences; Eating quality; Product information; Sensory qualities; Visual information; Fruits; Malus x domestica | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34247376503 | Using blended learning to boost motivation and performance in introductory economics modules | van Der Merwe A. | 2007 | South African Journal of Economics | 75 | 1 | 10.1111/j.1813-6982.2007.00109.x | Department of Applied Management, Durban University of Technology, Scottsville, South Africa | van Der Merwe, A., Department of Applied Management, Durban University of Technology, Scottsville, South Africa | This paper explores the potential of online learning, in a local context, to provide academic economics with much of the context it currently lacks and which may be implicated in students' lack of motivation to engage with the discipline. Since weak motivation can be expected to play out in poor performance, the study set out to establish, firstly, whether the online intervention was a motivational experience for students. Secondly, various tests were performed to determine whether - and how strongly - motivation and performance are related. The study concludes that even the weak statistical promise of online learning, as in this particular case, should be embraced given the interest displayed by students in online economics teaching and learning. © 2007 The Author. Journal compilation © 2007 Economic Society of South Africa 2007. | None | academic performance; economics; learning; student; teaching | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84919427890 | Predicting the effects of blood pressure-lowering treatment on major cardiovascular events for individual patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus results from action in diabetes and vascular disease: Preterax and diamicron mr controlled evaluation | Van Der Leeuw J., Visseren F.L.J., Woodward M., Zoungas S., Kengne A.P., Van Der Graaf Y., Glasziou P., Hamet P., MacMahon S., Poulter N., Grobbee D.E., Chalmers J. | 2015 | Hypertension | 65 | 1 | 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.114.04421 | Department of Vascular Medicine, University Medical Centre Utrecht, PO Box 85500, Utrecht, GA, Netherlands; Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, Netherlands; University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands; George Institute for Global Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; NCRP for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, South African Medical Research Council and University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Centre for Research on Evidence Based Practice, Bond University, Robina, QLD, Australia; Centre Hospitalier de L'Universite de Montreal, Montreal, Canada; University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom | Van Der Leeuw, J., Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, Netherlands; Visseren, F.L.J., Department of Vascular Medicine, University Medical Centre Utrecht, PO Box 85500, Utrecht, GA, Netherlands; Woodward, M., NCRP for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, South African Medical Research Council and University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Zoungas, S., Department of Vascular Medicine, University Medical Centre Utrecht, PO Box 85500, Utrecht, GA, Netherlands; Kengne, A.P., Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, Netherlands; Van Der Graaf, Y., University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands; Glasziou, P., George Institute for Global Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Hamet, P., NCRP for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, South African Medical Research Council and University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; MacMahon, S., Centre for Research on Evidence Based Practice, Bond University, Robina, QLD, Australia; Poulter, N., Centre Hospitalier de L'Universite de Montreal, Montreal, Canada; Grobbee, D.E., University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Chalmers, J., Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom | Blood pressure-lowering treatment reduces cardiovascular risk in patients with diabetes mellitus, but the effect varies between individuals. We sought to identify which patients benefit most from such treatment in a large clinical trial in type 2 diabetes mellitus. In Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease: Preterax and Diamicron MR Controlled Evaluation (ADVANCE) participants (n=11 140), we estimated the individual patient 5-year absolute risk of major adverse cardiovascular events with and without treatment by perindopril-indapamide (4/1.25 mg). The difference between treated and untreated risk is the estimated individual patient's absolute risk reduction (ARR). Predictions were based on a Cox proportional hazards model inclusive of demographic and clinical characteristics together with the observed relative treatment effect. The group-level effect of selectively treating patients with an estimated ARR above a range of decision thresholds was compared with treating everyone or those with a blood pressure <140/90 mm Hg using net benefit analysis. In ADVANCE, there was wide variation in treatment effects across individual patients. According to the algorithm, 43% of patients had a large predicted 5-year ARR of 1% (number-needed-to-treat [NNT5] 100) and 40% had an intermediate predicted ARR of 0.5% to 1% (NNT5=100-200). The proportion of patients with a small ARR of 0.5% (NNT5200) was 17%. Provided that one is prepared to treat at most 200 patients for 5 years to prevent 1 adverse outcome, prediction-based treatment yielded the highest net benefit. In conclusion, a multivariable treatment algorithm can identify those individuals who benefit most from blood pressure-lowering therapy in terms of ARR of major adverse cardiovascular events and may be used to guide treatment decisions in individual patients with diabetes. © 2014 American Heart Association, Inc. | Antihypertensive Agents; Diabetes Mellitus; Individualized Medicine; Medical Decision | acetylsalicylic acid; albumin; antidiabetic agent; cholesterol; creatinine; gliclazide; glucose; hemoglobin A1c; high density lipoprotein cholesterol; hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor; indapamide plus perindopril; insulin; low density lipoprotein cholesterol; placebo; triacylglycerol; antidiabetic agent; antihypertensive agent; drug combination; gliclazide; glucose blood level; indapamide; indapamide, perindopril drug combination; perindopril; adverse outcome; age; aged; algorithm; Article; blood pressure; cardiovascular disease; cardiovascular risk; cholesterol blood level; controlled study; diabetic patient; diastolic blood pressure; diet restriction; disease duration; drug effect; evaluation study; female; gender; glomerulus filtration rate; glucose blood level; hemoglobin blood level; human; hypertension; major clinical study; male; medical history; non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus; prediction; randomized controlled trial; risk reduction; smoking; systolic blood pressure; triacylglycerol blood level; waist circumference; Cardiovascular Diseases; clinical trial; complication; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; drug combination; drug effects; follow up; metabolism; multicenter study; pathophysiology; risk factor; time; treatment outcome; Aged; Antihypertensive Agents; Blood Glucose; Blood Pressure; Cardiovascular Diseases; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Drug Combinations; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gliclazide; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents; Indapamide; Male; Perindopril; Risk Factors; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84884127422 | Evaluation of molecular assays for identification Campylobacter fetus species and subspecies and development of a C. fetus specific real-time PCR assay | van der Graaf-van Bloois L., van Bergen M.A.P., van der Wal F.J., de Boer A.G., Duim B., Schmidt T., Wagenaar J.A. | 2013 | Journal of Microbiological Methods | 95 | 1 | 10.1016/j.mimet.2013.06.005 | Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80165, 3508 TD Utrecht, Netherlands; Central Veterinary Institute of Wageningen UR, P.O. Box 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, Netherlands; WHO Collaborating Center for Campylobacter, OIE Reference Laboratory for Campylobacteriosis, Netherlands; Allerton Provincial Veterinary Laboratory, Private Bag X2, Cascades, 3202, South Africa | van der Graaf-van Bloois, L., Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80165, 3508 TD Utrecht, Netherlands, WHO Collaborating Center for Campylobacter, OIE Reference Laboratory for Campylobacteriosis, Netherlands; van Bergen, M.A.P., Central Veterinary Institute of Wageningen UR, P.O. Box 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, Netherlands, WHO Collaborating Center for Campylobacter, OIE Reference Laboratory for Campylobacteriosis, Netherlands; van der Wal, F.J., Central Veterinary Institute of Wageningen UR, P.O. Box 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, Netherlands, WHO Collaborating Center for Campylobacter, OIE Reference Laboratory for Campylobacteriosis, Netherlands; de Boer, A.G., Central Veterinary Institute of Wageningen UR, P.O. Box 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, Netherlands, WHO Collaborating Center for Campylobacter, OIE Reference Laboratory for Campylobacteriosis, Netherlands; Duim, B., Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80165, 3508 TD Utrecht, Netherlands, WHO Collaborating Center for Campylobacter, OIE Reference Laboratory for Campylobacteriosis, Netherlands; Schmidt, T., Allerton Provincial Veterinary Laboratory, Private Bag X2, Cascades, 3202, South Africa; Wagenaar, J.A., Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80165, 3508 TD Utrecht, Netherlands, Central Veterinary Institute of Wageningen UR, P.O. Box 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, Netherlands, WHO Collaborating Center for Campylobacter, OIE Reference Laboratory for Campylobacteriosis, Netherlands | Phenotypic differentiation between Campylobacter fetus (C. fetus) subspecies fetus and C. fetus subspecies venerealis is hampered by poor reliability and reproducibility of biochemical assays. AFLP (amplified fragment length polymorphism) and MLST (multilocus sequence typing) are the molecular standards for C. fetus subspecies identification, but these methods are laborious and expensive. Several PCR assays for C. fetus subspecies identification have been described, but a reliable comparison of these assays is lacking.The aim of this study was to evaluate the most practical and routinely implementable published PCR assays designed for C. fetus species and subspecies identification. The sensitivity and specificity of the assays were calculated by using an extensively characterized and diverse collection of C. fetus strains. AFLP and MLST identification were used as reference. Two PCR assays were able to identify C. fetus strains correctly at species level. The C. fetus species identification target, gene nahE, of one PCR assay was used to develop a real-time PCR assay with 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity, but the development of a subspecies venerealis specific real-time PCR (ISC. fe1) failed due to sequence variation of the target insertion sequence and prevalence in other Campylobacter species. None of the published PCR assays was able to identify C. fetus strains correctly at subspecies level. Molecular analysis by AFLP or MLST is still recommended to identify C. fetus isolates at subspecies level. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. | AFLP; Bovine genital campylobacteriosis; Campylobacter fetus; MLST; Real-time PCR; Subspecies identification | amplified fragment length polymorphism; article; bacterium identification; Campylobacter fetus; controlled study; gene insertion sequence; multilocus sequence typing; nonhuman; nucleotide sequence; priority journal; real time polymerase chain reaction; sensitivity and specificity; species identification; strain identification; subspecies; Bovinae; Campylobacter; Campylobacter fetus; AFLP; Bovine genital campylobacteriosis; Campylobacter fetus; MLST; Real-time PCR; Subspecies identification; Animals; Bacteriological Techniques; Campylobacter fetus; Campylobacter Infections; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Sensitivity and Specificity | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84894555016 | The Job Insecurity Scale: A psychometric evaluation across five European countries | Vander Elst T., De Witte H., De Cuyper N. | 2014 | European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology | 23 | 3 | 10.1080/1359432X.2012.745989 | Research Group on Work, Organizational and Personnel Psychology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Vanderbijlpark Campus, North-West University, South Africa | Vander Elst, T., Research Group on Work, Organizational and Personnel Psychology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; De Witte, H., Research Group on Work, Organizational and Personnel Psychology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium, Vanderbijlpark Campus, North-West University, South Africa; De Cuyper, N., Research Group on Work, Organizational and Personnel Psychology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium | Multiple instruments have been developed and used to measure quantitative job insecurity (i.e., insecurity to lose the job as such), often without systematic evaluation of their psychometric characteristics across countries and language barriers. This may hamper consistent and reliable cross-study and cross-country comparisons. This study's aim was to introduce and validate the four-item Job Insecurity Scale (JIS) developed by De Witte across five European countries (i.e., Belgium, The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the UK). Overall, the results demonstrated the construct validity (i.e., configural invariance and invariance of the measurement model parameters), the reliability (internal consistency of the items), and the criterion validity (with respect to affective organizational commitment, perceived general health, and self-reported performance) of the JIS. The different translations of the JIS can thus be considered as valid and reliable instruments to measure job insecurity and can be used to make meaningful comparisons across countries. Furthermore, the JIS translations may be utilized to assess how job insecurity is related to outcomes. © 2014 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC. | Affective organizational commitment; Cross-country validation; Job Insecurity Scale; Perceived general health; Self-reported performance | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84893777645 | Evaluation of the "takeFiveSchool" : An education programme for people with Type 2 Diabetes in the WesternCape, South Africa | Van Der Does A.M.B., Mash R. | 2013 | Primary Care Diabetes | 7 | 4 | 10.1016/j.pcd.2013.07.002 | Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Stellenbosch University, Box 19063, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa | Van Der Does, A.M.B., Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Stellenbosch University, Box 19063, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa; Mash, R., Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Stellenbosch University, Box 19063, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa | Aim: To evaluate the Take Five School (TFS) group education programme for patients with Type 2 Diabetes in South Africa. Methods: Questionnaires, administered before and after 4 sessions of an hour each of group education, measured the effect on self-care activities in 84 patients from 6 different clinics. Individual interviews with health care workers (HCWs) and focus group interviews (FGI's) with patients explored attitudes. Results: A significant improvement in adherence to a diabetic diet, physical activity, foot care and the perceived ability to teach others was seen. There was no significant change in smoking or adherence to medication. Qualitative data revealed that comprehensive edu cation was appreciated, that the group process was deemed supportive, that HCWs doubt the effect of education in general and that a combination of group and individual sessions was seen as an option worth exploring. Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to the TFS are identified. Recommendations are made to improve the programme and its environment. Conclusion: Significant self-reported improvements in self-care activities after a group education programme support the view that introducing structured group education for Type 2 Diabetics in a South African public sector primary care context holds promise. Group education for diabetics, especially in resource limited settings, should be sustained and further research should focus on clinical outcomes. © 2013 Primary Care Diabetes Europe. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Diabetes; Groupeducation; Primarycare; Self-management skills | adult; article; attitude to health; diabetes mellitus; evaluation study; female; Group education; group process; health behavior; human; male; middle aged; non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus; patient education; primary medical care; program evaluation; psychological aspect; questionnaire; self care; Self-management skills; South Africa; time; treatment outcome; Diabetes; Group education; Primary care; Self-management skills; Adult; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Female; Group Processes; Health Behavior; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Education as Topic; Program Evaluation; Questionnaires; Self Care; South Africa; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-70349490406 | Impact of wastewater discharge in Jimma, Ethiopia, and remediation possibilities | Van der Bruggen B., Smets I.Y., Haddis A. | 2009 | Desalination | 248 | 42372 | 10.1016/j.desal.2008.05.108 | K.U. Leuven, Department of Chemical Engineering, W. de Croylaan 46, B - 3001 Leuven, Belgium; Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia | Van der Bruggen, B., K.U. Leuven, Department of Chemical Engineering, W. de Croylaan 46, B - 3001 Leuven, Belgium; Smets, I.Y., K.U. Leuven, Department of Chemical Engineering, W. de Croylaan 46, B - 3001 Leuven, Belgium; Haddis, A., Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia | Discharge of liquid and solid waste from Jimma town has resulted in a gradual degradation of the quality of the river water feeding the Gilgel Gibe dam, which was constructed for the development of the hydroelectric potential of the Gilgel Gibe River. In general, wastewater is not treated, which makes the use of river water problematic. In addition, the region around the dam mainly consists of farmlands; runoff from the fields results in pollution by pesticides, including DDT. The current situation of waste(water) production in and around Jimma (including the campus of Jimma University) will be discussed, along with the expected impact on the water quality in the Gilgel Gibe reservoir. Possibilities for remediation will be discussed. © 2009. | Awetu; Boye Pond; Gilgel Gibe; Pollution; Remediation; Siltation; Wastewater | Awetu; Boye Pond; Current situation; Ethiopia; Gilgel Gibe; Gradual degradation; Hydroelectric potential; River water; Siltation; Wastewater discharge; Dams; Reservoirs (water); Rivers; Solid wastes; Wastewater; Water pollution; Water quality; Wastewater treatment; remediation; river discharge; river water; siltation; wastewater; water pollution; water quality; Africa; East Africa; Ethiopia; Gilgel Gibe River; Jimma; Sub-Saharan Africa | 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-s2.0-84925671973 | The impact of Xpert® MTB/RIF in sparsely populated rural settings | Van Den Handel T., Hampton K.H., Sanne I., Stevens W., Crous R., Van Rie A. | 2015 | International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease | 19 | 4 | 10.5588/ijtld.14.0653 | Right to Care, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Gillings, School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Clinical HIV Research Unit, Department of Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Molecular Medicine and Hematology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa; Rural Districts, Western Cape Department of Health, Cape Town, South Africa; Right to Care, Western Cape, P O Box 54 Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape, South Africa | Van Den Handel, T., Right to Care, Johannesburg, South Africa, Right to Care, Western Cape, P O Box 54 Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape, South Africa; Hampton, K.H., Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Gillings, School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Sanne, I., Right to Care, Johannesburg, South Africa, Clinical HIV Research Unit, Department of Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Stevens, W., Department of Molecular Medicine and Hematology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa; Crous, R., Rural Districts, Western Cape Department of Health, Cape Town, South Africa; Van Rie, A., Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Gillings, School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC, United States | Background: The impact of implementing Xpert® MTB/RIF and the choice of instrument placement on patient care in sparsely populated areas with poor access to laboratory and radiology services have not yet been elucidated. Methods: Prospective evaluation of three diagnostic approaches in the Central Karoo, South Africa: smear microscopy as the initial diagnostic, with sputum processing at centralised laboratories, and Xpert as the initial diagnostic with instrument placement at facility level or centralised laboratory. Results: Of 1449 individuals, 196 were diagnosed with TB. The proportion positive on initial testing was respectively 8%, 20% and 8% during the smear microscopy, decentralised Xpert and centralised Xpert periods. The proportion of bacteriologically confirmed cases was respectively 88%, 99% and 91% during the smear microscopy, decentralised Xpert and centralised Xpert periods. The median time to treatment was respectively 11.5 (interquartile range [IQR] 6-24), 1 (IQR 0-2) and 6 days (IQR 2-9) during the smear microscopy, decentralised Xpert and centralised Xpert periods. Conclusion: Introducing Xpert as the initial diagnostic in areas with poor access to TB diagnostics increased the proportion of cases with bacteriological confirmation and reduced time to treatment initiation; however, point-of-care placement may have resulted in fewer people being evaluated for TB. © 2015 The Union. | Impact; Rural; Xpert MTB/RIF | isoniazid; adolescent; adult; antibiotic resistance; Article; child; controlled study; female; human; major clinical study; male; microscopy; multidrug resistant tuberculosis; priority journal; prospective study; rapid test; rural area; rural population; South Africa; sputum smear; tuberculosis; tuberculosis control | USAID, United States Agency for International Development |
| None | None | Electronic monitoring of treatment adherence and validation of alternative adherence measures in tuberculosis patients: A pilot study | van den Boogaard J., Lyimo R.A., Boeree M.J., Kibiki G.S., Aarnoutse R.E. | 2011 | Bulletin of the World Health Organization | 89 | 9 | 10.2471/BLT.11.086462 | Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, University Centre for Chronic Diseases Dekkerswald, Nijmeegsebaan 31, 6560 AB, Groesbeek, Netherlands; Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania; Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands | van den Boogaard, J., Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, University Centre for Chronic Diseases Dekkerswald, Nijmeegsebaan 31, 6560 AB, Groesbeek, Netherlands; Lyimo, R.A., Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania; Boeree, M.J., Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, University Centre for Chronic Diseases Dekkerswald, Nijmeegsebaan 31, 6560 AB, Groesbeek, Netherlands; Kibiki, G.S., Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania; Aarnoutse, R.E., Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands | Objective: To assess adherence to community-based directly observed treatment (DOT) among Tanzanian tuberculosis patients using the Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS) and to validate alternative adherence measures for resource-limited settings using MEMS as a gold standard. Methods: This was a longitudinal pilot study of 50 patients recruited consecutively from one rural hospital, one urban hospital and two urban health centres. Treatment adherence was monitored with MEMS and the validity of the following adherence measures was assessed: isoniazid urine test, urine colour test, Morisky scale, Brief Medication Questionnaire, adapted AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) adherence questionnaire, pill counts and medication refill visits. Findings: The mean adherence rate in the study population was 96.3% (standard deviation, SD: 7.7). Adherence was less than 100% in 70% of the patients, less than 95% in 21% of them, and less than 80% in 2%. The ACTG adherence questionnaire and urine colour test had the highest sensitivities but lowest specificities. The Morisky scale and refill visits had the highest specificities but lowest sensitivities. Pill counts and refill visits combined, used in routine practice, yielded moderate sensitivity and specificity, but sensitivity improved when the ACTG adherence questionnaire was added. Conclusion: Patients on community-based DOT showed good adherence in this study. The combination of pill counts, refill visits and the ACTG adherence questionnaire could be used to monitor adherence in settings where MEMS is not affordable. The findings with regard to adherence and to the validity of simple adherence measures should be confirmed in larger populations with wider variability in adherence rates. | None | antiretrovirus agent; cotrimoxazole; isoniazid; disease incidence; disease treatment; health geography; model validation; monitoring; questionnaire survey; tuberculosis; adapted AIDS Clinical Trial Group adherence questionnaire; adult; article; Brief Medication Questionnaire; clinical article; directly observed therapy; drug urine level; electronic medical record; female; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; longitudinal study; male; Morisky scale; patient attitude; patient compliance; pilot study; questionnaire; rating scale; rural area; screening test; sensitivity and specificity; Tanzania; treatment outcome; tuberculosis; urban area; urinalysis; Adult; Directly Observed Therapy; Female; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Medication Adherence; Middle Aged; Pilot Projects; Questionnaires; Tanzania; Tuberculosis; Tanzania | 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-s2.0-33745936605 | The influence of biological maturation on physical and motor performance talent identification determinants of U-14 provincial girl tennis players | Van Den Berg L., Coetzee B., Pienaar A.E. | 2006 | Journal of Human Movement Studies | 50 | 4 | None | School for Biokinetics, Recreation and Sport Science, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; School for Biokinetics, Recreation and Sport Science, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom, South Africa | Van Den Berg, L., School for Biokinetics, Recreation and Sport Science, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Coetzee, B., School for Biokinetics, Recreation and Sport Science, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa, School for Biokinetics, Recreation and Sport Science, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Pienaar, A.E., School for Biokinetics, Recreation and Sport Science, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa | The aim of this study was to determine the effect of biological maturation on the motor performance and physical talent identification determinants of u-14 provincial, girl tennis players. Twenty five (25) of the top sixteen (16) provincial female players (X̄ = 13.21± 0.72 years) from the Northern Gauteng and the North-West Provinces (South Africa) respectively, participated in the study. A comprehensive battery of 21 physical and motor performance tests was conducted on each subject. Subjects were asked to complete a biological maturation identification questionnaire (BMIQ) on their stage of secondary sexual characteristics development as well as on their age of menarche (Van den Berg et al, 2002). The data was analyzed by means of descriptive statistics and a Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA. The girls could be grouped into early (n = 4), average (n = 11) and late maturing girls (n = 10) according to the feedback from the BMIQ. No statistically significant differences were found in the physical and motor performance talent identification determinants of the different biological maturation groups. However, later maturing girls seemed to have an advantage at a young age in tennis, due to the result that this group attained the highest speed, speed endurance, muscle endurance, agility and cardiovascular endurance values. ©2006 Teviot Scientific Publications. | Growth development; Maturity; Motor performance; Physical components; Talent identification; Tennis | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84857286917 | HiTempo: A platform for time-series analysis of remote-sensing satellite data in a high-performance computing environment | van den Bergh F., Wessels K.J., Miteff S., van Zyl T.L., Gazendam A.D., Bachoo A.K. | 2012 | International Journal of Remote Sensing | 33 | 15 | 10.1080/01431161.2011.638339 | Remote Sensing Research Unit, Meraka Institute, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Pretoria, South Africa; Information and Communications Technology for Earth Observation, Meraka Institute, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Pretoria, South Africa; High Performance Computing Research Group, Meraka Institute, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Pretoria, South Africa; Signal Processing Research Group, Defence, Peace, Safety and Security, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Pretoria, South Africa | van den Bergh, F., Remote Sensing Research Unit, Meraka Institute, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Pretoria, South Africa; Wessels, K.J., Remote Sensing Research Unit, Meraka Institute, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Pretoria, South Africa; Miteff, S., Remote Sensing Research Unit, Meraka Institute, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Pretoria, South Africa; van Zyl, T.L., Information and Communications Technology for Earth Observation, Meraka Institute, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Pretoria, South Africa; Gazendam, A.D., High Performance Computing Research Group, Meraka Institute, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Pretoria, South Africa; Bachoo, A.K., Signal Processing Research Group, Defence, Peace, Safety and Security, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Pretoria, South Africa | Course resolution earth observation satellites offer large data sets with daily observations at global scales. These data sets represent a rich resource that, because of the high acquisition rate, allows the application of time-series analysis methods. To research the application of these time-series analysis methods to large data sets, it is necessary to turn to high-performance computing (HPC) resources and software designs. This article presents an overview of the development of the HiTempo platform, which was designed to facilitate research into time-series analysis of hyper-temporal sequences of satellite image data. The platform is designed to facilitate the exhaustive evaluation and comparison of algorithms, while ensuring that experiments are reproducible. Early results obtained using applications built within the platform are presented. A sample model-based change detection algorithm based on the extended Kalman filter has been shown to achieve a 97% detection success rate on simulated data sets constructed from MODIS time series. This algorithm has also been parallelized to illustrate that an entire sequence of MODIS tiles (415 tiles over 9 years) can be processed in under 19 minutes using 32 processors. © 2012 Taylor & Francis. | None | Acquisition rates; Change detection algorithms; Data sets; Earth observation satellites; Global scale; High-performance computing; High-performance computing resources; Large datasets; Remote sensing satellites; Satellite image datas; Simulated datasets; Algorithms; Computer software selection and evaluation; Radiometers; Remote sensing; Satellite imagery; Signal detection; Harmonic analysis; algorithm; data set; Kalman filter; MODIS; remote sensing; satellite data; satellite imagery; time series analysis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84919947877 | Synthesis of functionalized 3-, 5-, 6- and 8-aminoquinolines via intermediate (3-pyrrolin-1-yl)- and (2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)quinolines and evaluation of their antiplasmodial and antifungal activity | Vandekerckhove S., Van Herreweghe S., Willems J., Danneels B., Desmet T., De Kock C., Smith P.J., Chibale K., D'Hooghe M. | 2015 | European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry | 92 | None | 10.1016/j.ejmech.2014.12.020 | SynBioC Research Group, Department of Sustainable Organic Chemistry and Technology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Ghent, Belgium; Centre for Industrial Biotechnology and Biocatalysis, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Ghent, Belgium; Division of Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, South Africa; South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa | Vandekerckhove, S., SynBioC Research Group, Department of Sustainable Organic Chemistry and Technology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Ghent, Belgium; Van Herreweghe, S., SynBioC Research Group, Department of Sustainable Organic Chemistry and Technology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Ghent, Belgium; Willems, J., SynBioC Research Group, Department of Sustainable Organic Chemistry and Technology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Ghent, Belgium; Danneels, B., Centre for Industrial Biotechnology and Biocatalysis, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Ghent, Belgium; Desmet, T., Centre for Industrial Biotechnology and Biocatalysis, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Ghent, Belgium; De Kock, C., Division of Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, South Africa; Smith, P.J., Division of Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, South Africa; Chibale, K., South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa; D'Hooghe, M., SynBioC Research Group, Department of Sustainable Organic Chemistry and Technology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Ghent, Belgium | (3-Pyrrolin-1-yl)- and (2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)quinolines were prepared via cyclization of diallylaminoquinolines and 4-chloro-N-quinolinylbutanamides, respectively, as novel synthetic intermediates en route to N-functionalized 3-, 5-, 6- and 8-aminoquinolines with potential biological activity. (3-Pyrrolin-1-yl)quinolines were subjected to bromination reactions, and the reactivity of (2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)quinolines toward lithium aluminum hydride and methyllithium was assessed, providing an entry into a broad range of novel functionalized (pyrrolidin-1-yl)- and (hydroxyalkylamino)quinolines. Antiplasmodial evaluation of these novel quinolines and their functionalized derivatives revealed moderate micromolar potency against a chloroquine-sensitive strain of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, and the two most potent compounds also showed micromolar activity against a chloroquine-resistant strain of P. falciparum. Antifungal assessment of (hydroxyalkylamino)quinolines revealed three compounds with promising MIC values against Rhodotorula bogoriensis and one compound with potent activity against Aspergillus flavus. © 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved. | Antimalarial agents; Antimicrobial agents; Pyrrolidine derivatives; Quinolines | 2 methyl 3 (2 methylpyrrolidin 1 yl)quinoline; 3 (2 methylpyrrolidin 1 yl)quinoline; 3 (pyrrolidin 1 yl)quinoline; 4 (quinolin 3 ylamino)butanol; 4 (quinolin 5 ylamino)butanol; 4 (quinolin 6 ylamino)butanol; 4 (quinolin 8 ylamino)butanol; 5 (2 methylpyrrolidin 1 yl)quinoline; 5 (2 methylquinolin 3 ylamino) 2 methylpentan 2 ol; 5 (2 methylquinolin 3 ylamino)pentan 2 ol; 5 (pyrrolidin 1 yl)quinoline; 5 (quinolin 3 ylamino)pentan 2 one; 5 (quinolin 5 ylamino) 2 methylpentan 2 ol; 5 (quinolin 5 ylamino)pentan 2 ol; 5 (quinolin 5 ylamino)pentan 2 one; 5 (quinolin 6 ylamino) 2 methylpentan 2 ol; 5 (quinolin 6 ylamino)pentan 2 ol; 5 (quinolin 6 ylamino)pentan 2 one; 5 (quinolin 8 ylamino) 2 methylpentan 2 ol; 6 (2 methylpyrrolidin 1 yl)quinoline; 6 (pyrrolidin 1 yl)quinoline; 8 (2 oxopyrrolidin 1 yl)quinoline; aminoquinoline derivative; amphotericin B; antifungal agent; antimalarial agent; artesunate; chloroquine; emetine; unclassified drug; unindexed drug; aminoquinoline derivative; antifungal agent; antimalarial agent; antifungal activity; antimalarial activity; Article; Aspergillus flavus; bromination; Candida albicans; controlled study; derivatization; drug design; drug potency; drug screening; drug synthesis; IC50; minimum inhibitory concentration; nonhuman; Plasmodium falciparum; Rhodotorula; Rhodotorula bogoriensis; structure activity relation; substitution reaction; chemistry; dose response; drug effects; drug sensitivity; synthesis; Aminoquinolines; Antifungal Agents; Antimalarials; Aspergillus flavus; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; Plasmodium falciparum; Rhodotorula; Structure-Activity Relationship | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84876719611 | Synthesis and antiplasmodial evaluation of aziridine-(iso)quinoline hybrids and their ring-opening products | Vandekerckhove S., De Moor S., Segers D., De Kock C., Smith P.J., Chibale K., De Kimpe N., D'Hooghe M. | 2013 | MedChemComm | 4 | 4 | 10.1039/c3md20377h | Department of Sustainable Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; Medical School, University of Cape Town K45, OMB, Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory 7925, South Africa; Department of Chemistry, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa | Vandekerckhove, S., Department of Sustainable Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; De Moor, S., Department of Sustainable Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; Segers, D., Department of Sustainable Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; De Kock, C., Medical School, University of Cape Town K45, OMB, Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory 7925, South Africa; Smith, P.J., Medical School, University of Cape Town K45, OMB, Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory 7925, South Africa; Chibale, K., Department of Chemistry, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; De Kimpe, N., Department of Sustainable Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; D'Hooghe, M., Department of Sustainable Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium | Aziridine-(iso)quinoline hybrid systems were prepared as novel synthetic intermediates en route to functionalized (iso)quinolines with potential antimalarial activity. Various quinolinecarboxaldehydes were converted into quinoline-aziridine-pyrazole, -pyridazinone or -pyrimidinone hybrids, and the three-membered azaheterocyclic moiety in these compounds was finally subjected to ring opening by either methanol or water to provide the corresponding functionalized quinolines. In addition, 5-hydroxyisoquinoline was used for the preparation of isoquinoline-aziridine chimeras, which were further transformed into a variety of functionalized isoquinolines via regioselective aziridine ring opening by various nucleophiles. Antiplasmodial evaluation of these new aziridine-(iso)quinoline hybrids and their ring-opening products revealed micromolar potency (0.22-30 μM) for all representatives against a chloroquine-sensitive strain of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. The six most potent compounds also showed micromolar activity against a chloroquine-resistant strain of P. falciparum with IC<inf>50</inf>-values ranging between 1.02 and 17.58 μM. © 2013 The Royal Society of Chemistry. | None | 5 hydroxyisoquinoline; antimalarial agent; aziridine(iso)quinoline derivative; chloroquine; methanol; quinoline derivative; unclassified drug; water; antimalarial activity; article; controlled study; drug potency; drug resistance; drug synthesis; IC 50; nonhuman; Plasmodium falciparum; priority journal; Plasmodium falciparum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84904554720 | Operations monitoring software for reliability and safety | Van De Groenendaal H. | 2014 | EngineerIT | None | JULY | None | Honeywell SA, South Africa | Van De Groenendaal, H., Honeywell SA, South Africa | Hans van de Groenendaal, features editor, EngineerIT, reviews a Honeywell Process Solutions White Paper. The paper describes the implementation of an effective operations monitoring solution for process industry facilities. New software tools are available for systematically monitoring plant performance data and analysing deviations from operating plans, enabling plant managers and operations personnel to better track plant performance against targets and identify problem areas. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33746862189 | Stone bunds for soil conservation in the northern Ethiopian highlands: Impacts on soil fertility and crop yield | Vancampenhout K., Nyssen J., Gebremichael D., Deckers J., Poesen J., Haile M., Moeyersons J. | 2006 | Soil and Tillage Research | 90 | 42371 | 10.1016/j.still.2005.08.004 | Laboratory for Soil and Water Management, K.U. Leuven, Vital Decosterstraat 102, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; Physical and Regional Geography Research Group, K.U. Leuven, Redingenstraat 16, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; Department of Land Resources Management and Environmental Protection, Mekelle University, P.O. Box 231, Mekelle, Ethiopia; Relief Society of Tigray, P.O. Box 20, Mekelle, Ethiopia; Royal Museum for Central Africa, B-3080 Tervuren, Belgium | Vancampenhout, K., Laboratory for Soil and Water Management, K.U. Leuven, Vital Decosterstraat 102, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; Nyssen, J., Laboratory for Soil and Water Management, K.U. Leuven, Vital Decosterstraat 102, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium, Physical and Regional Geography Research Group, K.U. Leuven, Redingenstraat 16, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium, Department of Land Resources Management and Environmental Protection, Mekelle University, P.O. Box 231, Mekelle, Ethiopia; Gebremichael, D., Physical and Regional Geography Research Group, K.U. Leuven, Redingenstraat 16, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium, Relief Society of Tigray, P.O. Box 20, Mekelle, Ethiopia; Deckers, J., Laboratory for Soil and Water Management, K.U. Leuven, Vital Decosterstraat 102, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; Poesen, J., Physical and Regional Geography Research Group, K.U. Leuven, Redingenstraat 16, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; Haile, M., Department of Land Resources Management and Environmental Protection, Mekelle University, P.O. Box 231, Mekelle, Ethiopia; Moeyersons, J., Royal Museum for Central Africa, B-3080 Tervuren, Belgium | In the Ethiopian highlands, large-scale stone bund building programs are implemented to curb severe soil erosion. Development of soil fertility gradients is often mentioned as the major drawback of stone bund implementation, as it would result in a dramatic lowering of crop yield. Therefore, the objectives of this study are to assess soil fertility gradients on progressive terraces and their influence on crop yield, in order to evaluate the long-term sustainability of stone bunds in the Ethiopian Highlands. The study was performed near Hagere Selam, Tigray and comprises (i) measurement of Pav, Ntot and Corg along the slope on 20 representative plots and (ii) crop response measurement on 143 plots. Results indicate that levels of Pav, Ntot and Corg in the plough layer are highly variable between plots and mainly determined by small-scale soil and environmental features, plot history and management. After correcting for this "plot effect" a significant relationship (p < 0.01) was found between the position in the plot relative to the stone bund and levels of Pav and Ntot, which are higher near the lower stone bund, especially on limestone parent material. For Corg and on basalt-derived soils in general no significant relationship was found. Although soil fertility gradients are present, they are not problematic and can be compensated by adapted soil management. Only in areas where a Calcaric or Calcic horizon is present at shallow depth, care should be taken. Crop Yields increased by 7% compared to the situation without stone bunds, if a land occupation of 8% by the structures is accounted for. Yield increased from 632 to 683 kg ha-1 for cereals, from 501 to 556 kg ha-1 (11%) for Eragrostis tef and from 335 to 351 kg ha-1 for Cicer arietinum. No negative effects reducing stone-bund sustainability were found in this study. Soil erosion on the other hand, poses a major threat to agricultural productivity. Stone bund implementation therefore is of vital importance in fighting desertification and establishing sustainable agriculture in the Ethiopian highlands. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Crop response; Ethiopia; Slow-forming terraces; Soil fertility gradients; Stone bunds | Erosion; Regional planning; Soils; Sustainable development; Crop response; Slow-forming terraces; Soil fertility gradients; Stone bunds; Soil conservation; crop yield; soil conservation; soil erosion; soil fertility; terracing; upland region; Africa; East Africa; Ethiopia; Sub-Saharan Africa; Cicer arietinum; Eragrostis; Eragrostis tef | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84910100073 | School truancy: Poor school attenders’ perceptions of the impact regarding dysfunctional teacher-learner relationships on truant behaviour | van Breda M. | 2014 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 5 | 23 | 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n23p1056 | College of Education, University of South Africa, South Africa | van Breda, M., College of Education, University of South Africa, South Africa | The aim of this paper was to explore truants’ perceptions of the impact of teacher’s behaviour and attitudes on their school attendance. An in-depth literature study of the latest research on truancy uncovered that past truancy research focussed predominantly on the influence of home and community related influences in causing school truant behaviour. Three hundred eighth grade learners in the Metro East Education District (MEED) in the Western Cape, South Africa, participated in a survey measuring learners’ perceptions of the effects teacher-learner relationship on school and lesson attendance. The research findings suggest that respondents perceive unfavourable school experiences including being rejected, discriminated against by teachers and subjection to undue and humiliating punitive measures as significant grounds for their deliberate absence from lessons and ultimately dropping out of school. In presenting the research findings, it is argued that teachers often overlook the effects their class room conduct and attitudes may have on learners’ sense of belonging in school, learner school attendance and how learners view them. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that education authorities take account of the research findings of dysfunctional learner-teacher relationships in combatting school truancy. © 2014, Mediterranean Center of Social and Educational Research. All rights reserved. | Absenteeism; Learner-teacher relationships; Non-attendance; School; Truancy | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84883363370 | The impact of human immunodeficiency virus infection on cervical preinvasive and invasive neoplasia in South Africa | Van Bogaert L.-J. | 2013 | ecancermedicalscience | 7 | 1 | 10.3332/ecancer.2013.334 | National Health Laboratory Service, Polokwane/Mankweng Hospital Complex, University of Limpopo, Polokwane 0700, South Africa | Van Bogaert, L.-J., National Health Laboratory Service, Polokwane/Mankweng Hospital Complex, University of Limpopo, Polokwane 0700, South Africa | Objectives: Sub-Saharan Africa is at the epicentre of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic and has the highest incidence of invasive cervical cancer (ICC) in the world. Access to highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) in South Africa is still limited and provided only to nonpregnant women with a CD4+ T-cell count <200 μg/L. We evaluated the relative distribution of cervical preinvasive and invasive neoplasia among HIV-infected (treated or not) and uninfected women in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Methods: We compared the consecutive biopsy-diagnosed cervical pathology of 1,023 HIV-infected and 1,023 uninfected women. We investigated the influence of the CD4+ T-cell count and of HAART on the relative distribution of cervical pathology. Results: There was a significantly higher proportion of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)1 (P = 0.012) and 2 (P = 0.01) but a lower proportion of ICC (P = 0.015) among HIV-infected women. Patients on HAART had less CIN1 (P = 0.018), 2 (P = 0.18) and ICC (P = 0.019) that their untreated counterparts. The mean CD4 count was similar regardless of cervical lesions and HAART or no treatment. Conclusion: Our data support the concept that HIV-infected women exhibit a higher rate of high-grade preinvasive lesions than uninfected controls. However, they have a significantly lower rate of ICC as compared with uninfected counterparts. The inclusion of ICC among acquired immune deficiency syndrome-defining illnesses is questionable. Copyright: © the authors. | AIDS-defining illness; Cervical neoplasia; HIV; South Africa | article; CD4 lymphocyte count; controlled study; female; highly active antiretroviral therapy; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; human tissue; major clinical study; punch biopsy; risk assessment; South Africa; uterine cervix carcinoma; uterine cervix carcinoma in situ | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84938897783 | Performance of EAL learners on a non-South African Articulation Test (GFTA-2) | van Biljon S., Nolte B., van der Linde J., Zsilavecz U., Naude E. | 2015 | Southern African Linguistics and Applied Language Studies | 33 | 2 | 10.2989/16073614.2015.1047388 | Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, South Africa | van Biljon, S., Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Nolte, B., Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, South Africa; van der Linde, J., Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Zsilavecz, U., Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Naude, E., Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, South Africa | Research on the various aspects of child language development in South Africa has generally been an area neglected by specialists in the study of language. In South Africa's multilingual urban settings, English is the language of mutual understanding in most classrooms. The assessment of language (including speech sound production) in English additional language (EAL) pre-schoolers is hampered by the fact that insufficient standardised resources are available for use with young multilingual South African children. Research indicates that the Goldman-Fristoe Test of Articulation – Second Edition (GFTA-2) is a popular formal assessment instrument used for assessing children's articulation abilities by many speech-language therapists in South Africa. The study described the performance of English second language learners, aged between four and nine years, on the GFTA-2 in an urban region in the Gauteng province of South Africa. A descriptive, dominant-less-dominant model research design was used. No significant difference in performance between the second language learners and the normative indicators was noted. The results illustrate the need to adapt the GFTA-2 for the South African context. © 2015 NISC (Pty) Ltd. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84938527105 | Impact of destruction – Introduction to the Josephus Seminar, Theological University Kampen | van Bekkum K. | 2015 | HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies | 71 | 1 | 10.4102/hts.v71i1.2943 | Old Testament at Theologische Universiteit Kampen, Netherlands; Department of New Testament Studies, University of Pretoria, South Africa | van Bekkum, K., Old Testament at Theologische Universiteit Kampen, Netherlands, Department of New Testament Studies, University of Pretoria, South Africa | This is an introduction to the contributions of Jan Willem van Henten and William den Hollander to the Josephus Seminar ‘Impact of destruction. Methodological questions in the study of Jewish and Christian reactions to the demolition of the Temple’ held at the Theological University in Kampen, the Netherlands. The introduction sketches the status quaestionis and the methodological issues in comparing the works of Josephus and the Gospels in reconstructing the impact of the destruction of the Temple in AD 70 on Judaism and Early Christianity. © 2015 The Authors. | None | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000273449700027 | Developmental monitoring using caregiver reports in a resource-limited setting: the case of Kilifi, Kenya | Abubakar, A.,Bomu, G.,Holding, P.,Van Baar, A.,van de Vijver, F. | 2010 | ACTA PAEDIATRICA | 99 | 2 | 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2009.01561.x | Case Western Reserve University, North West University - South Africa, Tilburg University, University of Utrecht, KEMRI Wellcome Trust Res Programme | "Van Baar, A.: University of Utrecht", | Aim:
The main aim of the current study was to evaluate the reliability, validity and acceptability of developmental monitoring using caregiver reports among mothers in a rural African setting.
Methods:
A structured interview for parents of children aged 24 months and less was developed through both participant consultation and a review of literature. The reliability and validity of the schedule was evaluated through a 10-month monitoring programme of 95 children, aged 2-10 months. The acceptability of the process was evaluated by studying retention rates and by organizing focus group discussions with participating mothers.
Results:
The structured interview 'Developmental Milestones Checklist' consisted of 66 items covering three broad domains of child functioning: motor, language and personal-social development. The interview yielded scores of developmental achievements that showed high internal consistency and excellent test-retest reliability. The results were sensitive to maturational changes and nutritional deficiencies. In addition, acceptable retention rates of approximately 80% were found. Participating mothers reported that they found the procedures both acceptable and beneficial.
Conclusion:
Developmental monitoring using caregiver report is a viable method to identify and monitor at-risk children in Sub-Saharan Africa. | Africa,"Caregiver reports",CHILDREN,"developmental monitoring",CARE,CHILD-DEVELOPMENT,DEVELOPING-COUNTRIES,"NEUROLOGICAL IMPAIRMENT",PRESCHOOL-CHILDREN,SERVICES | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-53949121173 | Evaluation of a detailed radiation heat transfer model in a high temperature reactor systems simulation model | van Antwerpen H.J., Greyvenstein G.P. | 2008 | Nuclear Engineering and Design | 238 | 11 | 10.1016/j.nucengdes.2008.02.020 | School for Mechanical Engineering, Northwest University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa; Postgraduate School for Nuclear Engineering, North-West University, South Africa | van Antwerpen, H.J., School for Mechanical Engineering, Northwest University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa; Greyvenstein, G.P., Postgraduate School for Nuclear Engineering, North-West University, South Africa | Radiation heat transfer is a major mode of heat transfer in high temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTRs) because of the high operating temperatures. It is, however, a difficult phenomenon to calculate in full detail due to its geometrical complexity. One has to use either a numerical method or complex analytical view factor formulae. Except the difficulty of view factor calculation, a vast number of calculation elements are required to consider all interacting surfaces around a cavity. A common approximation in systems simulation codes is to connect only directly opposing surfaces with a view factor of one. The accuracy of this approximation was investigated with a finite volume, two-dimensional axial-symmetric reactor model implemented in the systems simulation code Flownex. A detailed radiation model was developed and also implemented in the Flownex reactor model. This paper also describes the analytical formulae for view factor calculation in this detailed radiation heat transfer model. The HTR-10 and the 268 MW version of the PBMR were used as case studies in which Loss-of-Flow events without SCRAM were simulated. In these simulations, the time to reach recriticality was used as an indicator of heat removal effectiveness. With the HTR-10, other non-linear phenomena in the reactor core constrained the solution process, so that the number of radiation elements had no effect on solution time, while with the 268 MW PBMR DLOFC, the use of a detailed radiation model increased solution time with 30%. With both the HTR-10 and the PBMR, the radiation model had negligible effect on the total heat resistance from the reactor, as indicated by the time elapsed until recriticality. For system simulation codes that focus on transient response of a plant, it is not considered worthwhile to use a detailed radiation model, as the gain in accuracy does not justify the increased solution time or the implementation and verification effort. © 2008 H.J. van Antwerpen. | None | Codes (symbols); Fuel tanks; Gas cooled reactors; Heat exchangers; Heat resistance; Heat transfer; Heating equipment; High temperature reactors; Numerical methods; Polynomial approximation; Radiation; Thermoanalysis; Two dimensional; A-Plant; Analytical formulas; Case studies; Finite volumes; Flownex; Geometrical complexity; Heat removal; High temperature; High-temperature gas-cooled reactors; Non-linear phenomenon; Operating temperatures; Radiation heat transfer; Radiation modeling; Reactor modelling; Reactor systems; Solution processing; Solution time; System simulations; Systems simulation; Transient responses; View factor; Modal analysis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84939270193 | The Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System: Updates to the model and evaluation of version 6.5 | Van Amburgh M.E., Collao-Saenz E.A., Higgs R.J., Ross D.A., Recktenwald E.B., Raffrenato E., Chase L.E., Overton T.R., Mills J.K., Foskolos A. | 2015 | Journal of Dairy Science | 98 | 9 | 10.3168/jds.2015-9378 | Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States; Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Goiás, Jataí, Brazil; Department of Animal Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Elanco Animal Health, Canastota, NY, United States | Van Amburgh, M.E., Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States; Collao-Saenz, E.A., Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Goiás, Jataí, Brazil; Higgs, R.J., Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States; Ross, D.A., Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States; Recktenwald, E.B., Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States; Raffrenato, E., Department of Animal Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Chase, L.E., Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States; Overton, T.R., Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States; Mills, J.K., Elanco Animal Health, Canastota, NY, United States; Foskolos, A., Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States | New laboratory and animal sampling methods and data have been generated over the last 10 yr that had the potential to improve the predictions for energy, protein, and AA supply and requirements in the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS). The objectives of this study were to describe updates to the CNCPS and evaluate model performance against both literature and on-farm data. The changes to the feed library were significant and are reported in a separate manuscript. Degradation rates of protein and carbohydrate fractions were adjusted according to new fractionation schemes, and corresponding changes to equations used to calculate rumen outflows and postrumen digestion were presented. In response to the feed-library changes and an increased supply of essential AA because of updated contents of AA, a combined efficiency of use was adopted in place of separate calculations for maintenance and lactation to better represent the biology of the cow. Four different data sets were developed to evaluate Lys and Met requirements, rumen N balance, and milk yield predictions. In total 99 peer-reviewed studies with 389 treatments and 15 regional farms with 50 different diets were included. The broken-line model with plateau was used to identify the concentration of Lys and Met that maximizes milk protein yield and content. Results suggested concentrations of 7.00 and 2.60% of metabolizable protein (MP) for Lys and Met, respectively, for maximal protein yield and 6.77 and 2.85% of MP for Lys and Met, respectively, for maximal protein content. Updated AA concentrations were numerically higher for Lys and 11 to 18% higher for Met compared with CNCPS v6.0, and this is attributed to the increased content of Met and Lys in feeds that were previously incorrectly analyzed and described. The prediction of postruminal flows of N and milk yield were evaluated using the correlation coefficient from the BLUP (R2<inf>BLUP</inf>) procedure or model predictions (R2<inf>MDP</inf>) and the concordance correlation coefficient. The accuracy and precision of rumen-degradable N and undegradable N and bacterial N flows were improved with reduced bias. The CNCPS v6.5 predicted accurate and precise milk yield according to the first-limiting nutrient (MP or metabolizable energy) with a R2<inf>BLUP</inf>=0.97, R2<inf>MDP</inf>=0.78, and concordance correlation coefficient=0.83. Furthermore, MP-allowable milk was predicted with greater precision than metabolizable energy-allowable milk (R2<inf>MDP</inf>=0.82 and 0.76, respectively, for MP and metabolizable energy). Results suggest a significant improvement of the model, especially under conditions of MP limitation. © 2015 American Dairy Science Association. | Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System; Dairy cattle; Evaluation; Update | Animalia; Bacteria (microorganisms); Bos | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84936890182 | The impact of dialogic book-sharing training on infant language and attention: a randomized controlled trial in a deprived South African community | Vally Z., Murray L., Tomlinson M., Cooper P.J. | 2015 | Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines | 56 | 8 | 10.1111/jcpp.12352 | School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, Winnicott Research Unit, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom; Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa | Vally, Z., School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, Winnicott Research Unit, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom; Murray, L., School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, Winnicott Research Unit, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom, Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Tomlinson, M., Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Cooper, P.J., School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, Winnicott Research Unit, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom, Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa | Background Dialogic book-sharing is an interactive form of shared reading. It has been shown in high income countries (HICs) to be of significant benefit to child cognitive development. Evidence for such benefit in low and middle income countries (LMICs) is scarce, although a feasibility study of our own produced encouraging findings. Accordingly, we aimed to establish the impact on child language and attention of providing training in dialogic booksharing to carers of infants in an impoverished South African community. Methods We conducted a randomized controlled trial in Khayelitsha, an informal settlement in South Africa. Mothers of infants aged between 14 and 16 months were recruited and randomized to either 8 weeks of manualized training in dialogic book-sharing or a no-intervention control group. Independent assessments were made of infant language and attention at baseline and following training. The trial was registered (ISRCTN39953901). Results Ninety one carer-infant dyads were recruited and randomized to the intervention group (n = 49) or the control group (n = 42), 82 (90%) of whom were available for follow-up assessments. On a standardized carer report of infant vocabulary, compared to those in the control group, carers who received the intervention reported a significantly greater increase in the number of words understood by their infants as well as a larger increase in the number of words that their infant understood and could vocalize. Intervention group children also showed substantially greater gains on a measure of sustained attention. Conclusions In line with evidence from HICs, a dialogic book-sharing programme delivered to an impoverished South African sample was shown to be of considerable benefit to the development of child language and focussed attention. The training programme, which is simple and inexpensive to deliver, has the potential to benefit child cognitive development in LMIC contexts where such development is commonly compromised. © 2014 Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health. | attention; book-sharing; Dialogic; language | None | National Research Foundation |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84861554230 | CAPRISA 004 tenofovir microbicide trial: No impact of tenofovir gel on the HIV transmission bottleneck | Valley-Omar Z., Sibeko S., Anderson J., Goodier S., Werner L., Arney L., Naranbhai V., Treurnicht F., Abrahams M.-R., Bandawe G., Swanstrom R., Karim Q.A., Karim S.S.A., Williamson C. | 2012 | Journal of Infectious Diseases | 206 | 1 | 10.1093/infdis/jis305 | Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Division of Medical Virology, University of Cape Town, Anzio Rd, Observatory, 7925, South Africa; Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Lineberger Comprehensive Care Center, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, United States; Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States | Valley-Omar, Z., Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Division of Medical Virology, University of Cape Town, Anzio Rd, Observatory, 7925, South Africa; Sibeko, S., Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Anderson, J., Lineberger Comprehensive Care Center, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, United States; Goodier, S., Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Division of Medical Virology, University of Cape Town, Anzio Rd, Observatory, 7925, South Africa; Werner, L., Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Arney, L., Lineberger Comprehensive Care Center, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, United States; Naranbhai, V., Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Treurnicht, F., Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Division of Medical Virology, University of Cape Town, Anzio Rd, Observatory, 7925, South Africa; Abrahams, M.-R., Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Division of Medical Virology, University of Cape Town, Anzio Rd, Observatory, 7925, South Africa; Bandawe, G., Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Division of Medical Virology, University of Cape Town, Anzio Rd, Observatory, 7925, South Africa; Swanstrom, R., Lineberger Comprehensive Care Center, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, United States; Karim, Q.A., Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa, Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Karim, S.S.A., Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa, Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Williamson, C., Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Division of Medical Virology, University of Cape Town, Anzio Rd, Observatory, 7925, South Africa | Alterations of the genital mucosal barrier may influence the number of viruses transmitted from a human immunodeficiency virus-infected source host to the newly infected individual. We used heteroduplex tracking assay and single-genome sequencing to investigate the effect of a tenofovir-based microbicide gel on the transmission bottleneck in women who seroconverted during the CAPRISA 004 microbicide trial. Seventy-seven percent (17 of 22; 95 confidence interval [CI], 56-90) of women in the tenofovir gel arm were infected with a single virus compared with 92 (13 of 14; 95 CI, 67->99) in the placebo arm (P =. 37). Tenofovir gel had no discernable impact on the transmission bottleneck. © 2012 The Author. | None | placebo; tenofovir; amplicon; article; bottleneck population; controlled study; disease classification; gel; gene sequence; genetic distance; genetic variability; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; phylogeny; priority journal; seroconversion; virus transmission; Adenine; Anti-HIV Agents; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Cervix Uteri; Cohort Studies; Female; Gels; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Mucous Membrane; Phosphonic Acids | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84928818404 | Pyrethroid Treatment of Cattle for Tsetse Control: Reducing Its Impact on Dung Fauna | Vale G.A., Hargrove J.W., Chamisa A., Grant I.F., Torr S.J. | 2015 | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases | 9 | 3 | 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003560 | Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Chatham, United Kingdom; South African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Division of Tsetse Control, Harare, Zimbabwe; Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom | Vale, G.A., Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Chatham, United Kingdom, South African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Hargrove, J.W., South African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Chamisa, A., Division of Tsetse Control, Harare, Zimbabwe; Grant, I.F., Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Chatham, United Kingdom; Torr, S.J., Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom | African trypansomiases of humans and animals can be controlled by attacking the vectors, various species of tsetse fly. Treatment of cattle with pyrethroids to kill tsetse as they feed is the most cost-effective method. However, such treatments can contaminate cattle dung, thereby killing the fauna which disperse the dung and so play an important role in soil fertility. Hence there is a need to identify cost-effective methods of treating cattle with minimal impact on dung fauna. We used dung beetles to field bioassay the levels of dung contamination following the use of spray and pour-on formulations of deltamethrin, applied to various parts of the body of cattle in Zimbabwe. Results suggested that dung was contaminated by contact with insecticide on the body surface as the cattle defecated, and by ingestion of insecticide as the cattle licked themselves. Death of dung beetles was reduced to negligible levels by using only the spray and applying it to the legs and belly or legs alone, i.e., places where most tsetse feed. The restricted applications suitable for minimising the impact on dung fauna have the collateral benefits of improving the economy and convenience of cattle treatments for tsetse control. The demonstration of collateral benefits is one of the surest ways of promoting environmentally friendly procedures. © 2015 Vale et al. | None | deltamethrin; deltamethrin; insecticide; nitrile; pyrethroid; Article; bioassay; bullock; cattle farming; economic aspect; Glossinidae; insect control; leg; microbial contamination; mortality; nonhuman; stomach; animal; beetle; bovine; drug effects; feces; insect control; parasitology; procedures; Zimbabwe; Animals; Beetles; Cattle; Feces; Insect Control; Insecticides; Nitriles; Pyrethrins; Zimbabwe | R7539, DFID, Department for International Development; R7987, DFID, Department for International Development |
| 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-s2.0-84931281448 | 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-s2.0-79954498383 | Evaluation of pharmacognostical parameters and heavy metals in some locally manufactured herbal drugs | Vaikosen E.N., Alade G.O. | 2011 | Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research | 3 | 2 | None | Department of Pharmacetical and Medicinal Chemistry, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Nigeria; Department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicine, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Nigeria | Vaikosen, E.N., Department of Pharmacetical and Medicinal Chemistry, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Nigeria; Alade, G.O., Department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicine, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Nigeria | Five heavy metals lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe) and cobalt (Co) were determined in four (4) branded Pax-herbal products - Paxherbal Health Tea®, Paxherbal Potensine®, Paxherbal Malatreat tea® and Paxherbal Black powder® using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) after acid digestion. The samples were purchased from manufacturer's (Pax-herbal) retail out-let in Yenagoa. The concentration of lead (Pb), Cd, Zn, Fe and Co in all the samples ranged from BDL to 102.200 ± 1.838 μg/g, 0.249 ± 0.010 μg/g to 2.839 ± 0.018 μg/g, BDL to 14.638 ± μg/g,), 88.557 ± 1.135 μg/g to 269.074 ± 3.433 μg/g and 0.604 ± 0.002 μg/g to 9.781± 0.032 μg/g respectively. Pb content was below detection limits (BDL) in Paxherbal Health Tea® and Paxherbal Potensine®, while the amount in Paxherbal Malatreat tea and Paxherbal Black powder was 102.200 ± 1.838 μg/g and 49.528 ± 0.583 μg/g respectively. The corresponding daily intake of heavy metals in herbal drugs were below limits stipulated by regulatory agencies such - FAO/WHO, Canadian and American National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) International, except for Paxherbal Malatreat tea where the value of 418.611 μg/day (based on recommended dosage by manufacturer) was significantly above the FAO/WHO permissible limit of 232.14 μg/day, assuming an average body weight of 65 kg for an adult human. | Atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS); Digestate; Heavy metals; Parmacognostical parameter; Pax-herbal products | alcohol; black powder; cadmium; cobalt; health tea; heavy metal; herbaceous agent; iron; lead; malatreat tea; potensine; unclassified drug; water; zinc; article; ash; atomic absorption spectrometry; body weight; drug contamination; drug determination; drug manufacture; drug purity; limit of detection; moisture; pH; pharmacognosy; tea | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84925270639 | Impact of socio-demographic and economic factors on households' savings behaviour: Empirical evidence from Ethiopia | Vadde S. | 2015 | Indian Journal of Finance | 9 | 3 | None | Department of Management, College of Business and Economics, Samara University, Ethiopia | Vadde, S., Department of Management, College of Business and Economics, Samara University, Ethiopia | The main aim of the study was to investigate the determinants of households' saving behavior in a microfinance institution (MFI). Taking 150 household respondents in the survey from the place of Wikro Town, Ethiopia, the paper attempted to analyze the savings behaviour of household clients of Dedebit Credit and Saving Institution (DECSI). The study used a structured questionnaire, in which potential households were questioned about their reactions to some specific situations. The results of the study revealed that among the socio-demographic factors, gender and number of dependents were found to be statistically significant; while age, educational level, and marital status of the household heads were insignificant - that unlike most previous findings, they did not have any explanatory power on households' saving behavior in the study area. With regards to economic factors, average monthly income, occupation, and home ownership were statistically significant, which implies that they had an explanatory power in determining the savings behavior of the households. | Economic factors; Microfinance institutions; Potential households; Saving behaviour; Socio-demographic factors | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84867493146 | Evaluation of the effectiveness of design strategies for passive ventilation in hot-humid tropical environment: A case study of the design strategies used in student hostels of university of Nigeria, enugu campus | Uzuegbunam F.O., Chukwuali C.B., Mba H.C. | 2012 | JP Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer | 6 | 3 | None | Department of Architecture, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, 400006, Enugu Enugu State, Nigeria; Centre for Environmental Management and Control, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, 400006, Enugu Enugu State, Nigeria | Uzuegbunam, F.O., Department of Architecture, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, 400006, Enugu Enugu State, Nigeria; Chukwuali, C.B., Department of Architecture, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, 400006, Enugu Enugu State, Nigeria; Mba, H.C., Centre for Environmental Management and Control, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, 400006, Enugu Enugu State, Nigeria | The effects of design strategies, namely: ventilation, temperature and relative humidity are usually identified for the thermal comfort they provide in any enclosed space. Incidentally, the effectiveness of the design strategies has eluded limelight for want of empirical scientific data. This study aims at evaluating the effectiveness of design strategies, for passive ventilation in student hostels, located in the hothumid tropical environment of South Eastern Nigeria. Objectives were to determine the difference in effectiveness of the design strategies in the student hostels of the study area; also to determine if there were significant correlations, between design strategies and passive ventilation. Accordingly, the objectives were so hypothesized. The methodology included simulations performed, with the PHOENICS-VR program. Principal component analysis, analysis of variance and correlation techniques were also used. The results confirmed significant correlations between the three design strategies and passive ventilation. Also, their effectiveness was indexed and ranked for appropriate application. © 2012 Pushpa Publishing House. | Design strategy; Evaluation; Hothumid tropical environment; Passive ventilation; Student hostels | None | 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 |
| None | None | Evaluation of a health setting-based stigma intervention in five African countries | Uys L., Chirwa M., Kohi T., Greeff M., Naidoo J., Makoae L., Dlamini P., Durrheim K., Cuca Y., Holzemer W.L. | 2009 | AIDS Patient Care and STDs | 23 | 12 | 10.1089/apc.2009.0085 | School of Nursing, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa; College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi; College of Health Sciences, Muhimbili University, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Department of Nursing, Potchefstroom Campus, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Department of Nursing, National University of Lesotho, Maseru, Lesotho; Department of Nursing, University of Swaziland, Mbabane, Swaziland; Department of Psychology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States | Uys, L., School of Nursing, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa; Chirwa, M., College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi; Kohi, T., College of Health Sciences, Muhimbili University, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Greeff, M., Department of Nursing, Potchefstroom Campus, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Naidoo, J., School of Nursing, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa; Makoae, L., Department of Nursing, National University of Lesotho, Maseru, Lesotho; Dlamini, P., Department of Nursing, University of Swaziland, Mbabane, Swaziland; Durrheim, K., Department of Psychology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Cuca, Y., School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States; Holzemer, W.L., School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States | The study aim is to explore the results of an HIV stigma intervention in five African health care settings. A case study approach was used. The intervention consisted of bringing together a team of approximately 10 nurses and 10 people living with HIV or AIDS (PLHA) in each setting and facilitating a process in which they planned and implemented a stigma reduction intervention, involving both information giving and empowerment. Nurses (n = 134) completed a demographic questionnaire, the HIV/AIDS Stigma Instrument-Nurses (HASI-N), a self-efficacy scale, and a self-esteem scale, both before and after the intervention, and the team completed a similar set of instruments before and after the intervention, with the PLHA completing the HIV/AIDS Stigma Instrument for PLHA (HASI-P). The intervention as implemented in all five countries was inclusive, action-oriented, and well received. It led to understanding and mutual support between nurses and PLHA and created some momentum in all the settings for continued activity. PLHA involved in the intervention teams reported less stigma and increased self-esteem. Nurses in the intervention teams and those in the settings reported no reduction in stigma or increases in self- esteem and self-efficacy, but their HIV testing behavior increased significantly. This pilot study indicates that the stigma experience of PLHA can be decreased, but that the stigma experiences of nurses are less easy to change. Further evaluation research with control groups and larger samples and measuring change over longer periods of time is indicated. © 2009 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. | None | acquired immune deficiency syndrome; adult; Africa; article; clinical evaluation; controlled study; female; health care; health care quality; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; intervention study; major clinical study; male; medical information; nurse; questionnaire; rating scale; self concept; serodiagnosis; Adult; Africa; Female; Health Education; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; HIV Infections; Humans; Male; Prejudice; Stereotyping | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84890826738 | The impact of hygiene and localised treatment on the quality of drinking water in Masaka, Rwanda | Uwimpuhwe M., Reddy P., Barratt G., Bux F. | 2014 | Journal of Environmental Science and Health - Part A Toxic/Hazardous Substances and Environmental Engineering | 49 | 4 | 10.1080/10934529.2014.854674 | Department of Community Health Studies, Durban University of Technology, P.O. Box 1334, Durban, 4000, South Africa; Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, P.O. Box 1334, Durban, 4000, South Africa | Uwimpuhwe, M., Department of Community Health Studies, Durban University of Technology, P.O. Box 1334, Durban, 4000, South Africa; Reddy, P., Department of Community Health Studies, Durban University of Technology, P.O. Box 1334, Durban, 4000, South Africa; Barratt, G., Department of Community Health Studies, Durban University of Technology, P.O. Box 1334, Durban, 4000, South Africa; Bux, F., Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, P.O. Box 1334, Durban, 4000, South Africa | The worldwide prevalence of waterborne diseases has been attributed to the lack of safe water, inadequate sanitation and hygiene. This study evaluated socio-demographic factors, microbiological quality of water at source and point of use (POU) at households, water handling and sanitation practices in a rural Rwandan community. Thirty five water samples from the source, Nyabarongo River, and water at point of use (POU) treated with the Slow Sand Filter (SSF) and SûrEau methods, were analysed for total coliform and faecal coliform counts. Turbidity was measured in household samples. A structured questionnaire regarding water collection, storage, usage and waterborne disease awareness was administered to 324 women. Despite the significant reduction in coliforms and faecal coliforms from the Nyabarongo River following treatment using either SSF or SûrEau, the water at point of use was found to be unsafe for human consumption. The frequency of diarrheal diseases were significantly higher among people who did not wash hands before food preparation (P = 0.002) and after using a toilet (P = 0.007) than among those who did. There was a statistically significant association between education levels and water treatment practices at the households (P < 0.05). Participants had limited knowledge regarding water storage practices for prevention of household water contamination. A combination of treatment methods with appropriate water handling should be considered. In addition, education is a fundamental precursor to advocating water treatment at POU. © 2014 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC. | Microbiological water quality; SSF; SûrEau; Waterborne diseases | Human consumption; Microbiological quality; Microbiological water quality; Slow sand filters; Socio-demographic factors; SSF; Treatment methods; Water-borne disease; Sanitation; Water pollution; Water quality; Water treatment; drinking water; adult; article; educational status; fecal coliform; female; household; human; hygiene; middle aged; river; Rwanda; structured questionnaire; turbidity; water contamination; water quality; water treatment; young adult; Adolescent; Adult; Attitude; Cooking; Diarrhea; Drinking Water; Enterobacteriaceae; Family Characteristics; Feces; Female; Humans; Hygiene; Middle Aged; Rural Population; Rwanda; Socioeconomic Factors; Water Microbiology; Water Purification; Water Quality; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84893361266 | Factors influencing the job performance of nurses and midwives in postpartum units in two district hospitals in Rwanda | Uwaliraye P., Puoane T., Binagwaho A., Basinga P. | 2013 | Africa Journal of Nursing and Midwifery | 15 | 2 | None | Rwanda Ministry of Health, Planning and Health Information System, Rwanda; University of the Western Cape, School of Public Health, South Africa; Rwanda Ministry of Health, Office of the Minister, Rwanda; VIH/TB/Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Programme de Santé Mondiale, Seattle, United States | Uwaliraye, P., Rwanda Ministry of Health, Planning and Health Information System, Rwanda; Puoane, T., University of the Western Cape, School of Public Health, South Africa; Binagwaho, A., Rwanda Ministry of Health, Office of the Minister, Rwanda; Basinga, P., VIH/TB/Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Programme de Santé Mondiale, Seattle, United States | The performance of nurses and midwives in postpartum units can influence maternal health as well as infant survival. This study assessed factors influencing the performance of nurses and midwives working in the postpartum units in two public hospitals in Rwanda. Ninety-six nurses and midwives were observed while providing postpartum care according to a checklist comprising 30 activities. Each observed nurse and midwife was then interviewed about the presence or absence of specific performance factors. Results were analysed to compare average performance with the presence or absence of specific performance factors. Nurses and midwives performed poorly in the use of guidelines for postpartum care management. Factors that were associated with good performance included receiving feedback about job performance, training in postpartum care management and in the use of the postpartum guidelines, satisfaction with the work organisation, and organisational interest in staff members' creativity. Training and postpartum guidelines for staff members, aimed at reducing postpartum morbidity and mortality rates, should be planned in light of the factors that most directly affect the quality of care provided by nurses and midwives. Further analyses of factors contributing to good or poor performance are required. © ISSN 1682-5055. | Job performance; Midwifery in Rwanda; Nurses and midwives' performance factors; Postpartum care in Rwanda | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-65249089602 | Impact of decentralization and privatization on the quality of education in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Nigerian experience | Uwakwe C.B.U., Falaye A.O., Emunemu B.O., Adelore O. | 2008 | European Journal of Social Sciences | 7 | 1 | None | Dept. of Guidance and Counselling, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Dept. of Educational Management, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Dept. of Adult Educational, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Uwakwe, C.B.U., Dept. of Guidance and Counselling, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Falaye, A.O., Dept. of Guidance and Counselling, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Emunemu, B.O., Dept. of Educational Management, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Adelore, O., Dept. of Adult Educational, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | The paper examined the impact of decentralization and privatization on the quality of education in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with specific reference to Nigeria. The authors traced the antecedents of the evolution of educational policies in SSA, particularly in Nigeria. Decentralization and privatization as practiced by some countries in the sub-region were highlighted showing how they interplay with socio-economic and political scenarios, and the resultant impact on provision of quality of education. The authors remarked that these policies produced positive effects such as improved workers' welfare, community participation and widening access to education. On the other hand, unapproved and unregistered schools, while providing wider access to education for children in SSA do mortgage the quality and standard of education. The authors concluded that a sector-wide approach to resource mobilization and management in the education system, accountability in the areas of leadership, bureaucracies and best work practices would ensure quality control in the education sector of the SSA countries. | Decentralization; Privatization; Quality of education; Sub-Saharan Africa | None | 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-s2.0-84877265187 | Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) performance as influenced by nitrogen and potassium fertilizers in Uyo, Nigeria | Uwah D.F., Effa E.B., Ekpenyong L.E., Akpan I.E. | 2013 | Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences | 23 | 2 | None | Department of Crop Science, University of Calabar, Nigeria | Uwah, D.F., Department of Crop Science, University of Calabar, Nigeria; Effa, E.B., Department of Crop Science, University of Calabar, Nigeria; Ekpenyong, L.E., Department of Crop Science, University of Calabar, Nigeria; Akpan, I.E., Department of Crop Science, University of Calabar, Nigeria | Large scale cassava production is today being carried out season after season repeatedly on the same piece of land leading to decline in soil fertility and yield overtime. Research information to guide farmers on appropriate fertilizer management under such continuous cropping are few and poorly documented in south eastern Nigeria. A two-year field experiment was conducted during 2007 - 2009 at Uyo, a humid forest agro-ecology of south eastern Nigeria to assess the growth and yield response of cassava. Treatments included four rates each of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg/ha) in all possible factorial combination replicated thrice in a randomized complete block design. Application of N at the highest rate significantly (P = 0.05) increased plant height, produced higher number of leaves and branches/plant, stem girth, number and weight of tubers/plant and total fresh tuber yield compared with other treatments. The fresh tuber yield at 120 kg N/ha was however, comparable with that at 80 kg N/ha rate. Cassava growth, fresh tuber yield and all yield attributes peaked at 80 kg K/ha rate. The 120 kg N/ha and 80 kg K/ha rates increased fresh tuber weight by 48 and 45% and total fresh tuber yield by 36 and 27% respectively, compared with the control plots. The application of N between 80 and 120 kg/ha and K at 80 kg/ha appeared appropriate for optimum yield in our study area and are thus recommended. | Cassava; Growth; Nitrogen; Potassium; Yield | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84914149658 | Comparative evaluation of animal manures on soil properties, growth and yield of sweet maize (Zea mays L. saccharata Strut.) | Uwah D.F., Undie U.L., John N.M. | 2014 | Tropical Agriculture | 91 | 4 | None | Department of Crop Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria; Department of Agronomy, Cross River University of Technology, Obubra Campus, Nigeria; Department of Soil Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria | Uwah, D.F., Department of Crop Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria; Undie, U.L., Department of Agronomy, Cross River University of Technology, Obubra Campus, Nigeria; John, N.M., Department of Soil Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria | Alternative sources of plant nutrients have now become imperative especially for vegetable crop production in Nigeria because of the escalating costs of inorganic fertilizers with the attendant environmental and health problems associated with excessive use of these inputs on continuously cropped fields. A two-year field experiment was conducted during the early planting seasons from March to June of 2011 and 2012 on the acidic coastal plain soils at Calabar, to evaluate the combined effects of four rates each (0,5,10 and 15 t/ha) of poultry manure (PM) and goat manure (GM) on soil chemical properties and agronomic performance of sweet maize (Zea mays L. saccharata Strut.). Factorial combinations of the treatments were fitted into a randomized complete block design with three replications. The application of the manures significantly (P ≤ 0.05) raised the soil pH, organic matter content, total N, available P and exchangeable K, Ca and Mg status of the soil. Except for pH, total N, and available P contents, GM had superior responses for all other chemical properties than PM. The 15 t/ha rate of both manures maximized sweet maize growth attributes, total dry matter (TDM) and grain yields and also hastened days to 50% tasselling. On average, the application of 5, 10 and 15 t/ha PM rates, increased TDM by 8.5, 35.1 and 53.9%, whereas the corresponding values for GM were 15.6, 27.8 and 33.2% respectively compared with the unamended control plots. The grain yield increases at 15 t/ha PM and GM were 11.2, 59.8 and 126.9%; and 4.2, 20.0 and 45.8% respectively, above the 10, 5 and 0 t/ha rates of both manures. The growth and yield attributes showed greater responses to PM than GM in terms of the values obtained. The co-application of PM at 15 t/ha and GM at 10 t/ha had the best effects on TDM and grain yield and is thus recommended for sweet maize production in this agro-ecology. © 2014 Trop. Agric. (Trinidad). | Goat manure; Poultry manure; Soil properties; Sweet maize; Yield | Animalia; Capra hircus; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84860485806 | Radiological Evaluation of the effects of varied doses of Celecoxib on fracture healing in dogs | Uwagie-Ero E.A., Kene R.C. | 2011 | Veterinary World | 4 | 2 | None | University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Uwagie-Ero, E.A., University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Kene, R.C., University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | To determine if Cyclooxygenase -2 (COX-2) functions in fracture healing, 10 dogs were treated with COX-2-selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Celecoxib) to reduce and stop COX-2-dependent prostaglandin production. Radiographic testing evaluation determined that fracture healing was not affected in dogs treated with a low dose of COX-2-selective NSAIDs (celecoxib) and delayed union was observed in dogs treated with a high dose of COX-2-selective NSAIDs (celecoxib). Celecoxib dose of 5 mg/kg/day did not affect fracture callus formed in the study group and did not cause a significant increase in the proportion of delayed unions, however, at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day it reduced the rate of fracture callus formation and significantly increased the proportion of delayed unions for dogs in the group. | Analgesia; Celecoxib; Cyclooxygenase; Dog; Fracture healing | Canis familiaris | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84926982783 | Comparative evaluation of the disintegrant properties of rice husk cellulose, corn starch and Avicel® in metronidazole tablet formulation | Uwaezuoke O.J., Bamiro O.A., Ngwuluka N.C., Ajalla O.T., Okinbaloye A.O. | 2014 | Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science | 4 | 12 | 10.7324/JAPS.2014.41219 | Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-iwoye, Ogun state, Nigeria; Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Jos, | Uwaezuoke, O.J., Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-iwoye, Ogun state, Nigeria; Bamiro, O.A., Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-iwoye, Ogun state, Nigeria; Ngwuluka, N.C., Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Jos, Nigeria; Ajalla, O.T., Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Okinbaloye, A.O., Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-iwoye, Ogun state, Nigeria | Cellulose is a polysaccharide that has been employed in pharmaceutical applications over the years. However, the quest for waste management and an alternative to imported raw materials for locally manufactured drug products necessitated this study. This study was undertaken to explore the application of cellulose extracted from waste, rice husk as a disintegrant in the formulation of metronidazole tablets for immediate release. Cellulose was extracted from rice husk and characterized. Thereafter, a comparative characterization of the attributes of the tablets formulated was undertaken using Corn Starch, microcrystalline cellulose and rice husk as disintegrants. The granules were characterized for flow properties and tablets were evaluated for crushing strength, friability, disintegration and in vitro drug release. The tablets formulated with rice husk cellulose were found to be bioequivalent to those of corn starch which is a standard in comparative studies of disintegrants. Hence, rice husk cellulose is an alternative excipient to explore as a pharmaceutical excipient for limited resource economies. © 2014 Onyinye Jennifer Uwaezuoke et al. | Immediate release tablets; Metronidazole; Polymer; Polysaccharide; Rice husk cellulose disintegrant | None | 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-s2.0-84919609003 | Impact of an educational intervention on smoking counseling practice among Nigerian dentists and dental students | Uti O.G., Sofola O. | 2015 | Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice | 18 | 1 | 10.4103/1119-3077.146983 | Department of Preventive Dentistry, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi Araba, Lagos, Nigeria | Uti, O.G., Department of Preventive Dentistry, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi Araba, Lagos, Nigeria; Sofola, O., Department of Preventive Dentistry, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi Araba, Lagos, Nigeria | Introduction: Oral health professionals are important in smoking cessation and prevention as their role is very crucial given the impact of smoking on oral health. Therefore, dental professionals need adequate education in tobacco use prevention and cessation skills to increase their confidence and be able to help patients to quit smoking. This study was aimed at determining the impact of an educational intervention on the attitudes, willingness, and perceived barriers of a group of Nigerian dental students and dentists to smoking cessation counseling in the dental clinic. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire-based study was conducted in September 2007 at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital Idi Araba, Lagos. This was followed by a series of lectures and seminars using the brief intervention strategies for patients willing to quit using the Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, and Arrange of cessation. A repeat study was conducted in January 2009 using the same questionnaire. Post intervention attitudes were significantly improved over pre intervention values for each parameter used in the assessment. Results: A significantly higher proportion of the respondents were interested in providing cessation services after the intervention (P = 0.00002). Most (83.1%) of the respondents were willing to undergo training with a slight increase in the post intervention group from 80.9% to 86%. All the reported barriers were significantly reduced after the intervention (P = 0.000). Conclusion: This study has shown that educational interventions such as didactic instructions and practical training in tobacco use cessation can help to increase the willingness, confidence, and ability to provide information, during encounters with patients. | Dental students; Dentists; Educational intervention; Nigeria; Smoking cessation | adult; clinical competence; clinical practice; counseling; dental clinic; dental education; dental student; dentist; female; health personnel attitude; human; male; Nigeria; prevention and control; procedures; psychology; questionnaire; smoking; smoking cessation; teaching hospital; therapy; young adult; Adult; Attitude of Health Personnel; Clinical Competence; Counseling; Dental Clinics; Dentist's Practice Patterns; Dentists; Education, Dental; Female; Hospitals, Teaching; Humans; Male; Nigeria; Questionnaires; Smoking; Smoking Cessation; Students, Dental; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77949693563 | Economic evaluations of adult male circumcision for prevention of heterosexual acquisition of HIV in men in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review | Uthman O.A., Popoola T.A., Uthman M.M.B., Aremu O. | 2010 | PLoS ONE | 5 | 3 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0009628 | West Midlands Health Technology Assessment Collaboration (WMHTAC), Department of Public Health, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom; Research and Evaluation, Center for Evidence-Based Global Health, Birming | Uthman, O.A., West Midlands Health Technology Assessment Collaboration (WMHTAC), Department of Public Health, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom; Popoola, T.A., Research and Evaluation, Center for Evidence-Based Global Health, Birmingham, United Kingdom; Uthman, M.M.B., Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria; Aremu, O., Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Social Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden | Background: There is conclusive evidence from observational data and three randomized controlled trials that circumcised men have a significantly lower risk of becoming infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The aim of this study was to systematically review economic evaluations on adult male circumcision (AMC) for prevention of heterosexual acquisition of HIV in men. Methods and Findings: Studies were identified from the following bibliographic databases: MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid), Cochrane Library (Wiley's internet version), NHS EED and DARE Office of Health Economics HEED. The searches were conducted in November 2009. The Drummond 10-point checklist was used for methodological critique of the economic evaluations. Cost data were inflated and converted to 2008 US dollars (US$). Of 264 identified papers, only five met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. The studies were published between 2006 and 2009. Most of the studies were carried out from the perspective of government healthcare payer. The time horizon ranged from 10 to 20 years. All studies reported that AMC is cost-effective. The reported cost per HIV infection averted ranged from US$174 to US$2808. The key driver of the cost-effectiveness models was circumcision efficacy. Conclusions: All published economic evaluations offered the same conclusion that AMC is cost-effective and potentially cost-saving for prevention of heterosexual acquisition of HIV in men. On these grounds, AMC may be seen as a promising new form of strategy for prevention of HIV and should be implemented in conjunction with other evidence-based prevention methods. © 2010 Uthman et al. | None | Africa; article; circumcision; Cochrane Library; cost effectiveness analysis; economic evaluation; EMBASE; evidence based practice; government; health care cost; heterosexuality; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; infection prevention; MEDLINE; systematic review; adult; Africa south of the Sahara; bibliographic database; cost benefit analysis; economics; evidence based medicine; heterosexuality; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; intervention study; male; methodology; multivariate analysis; outcome assessment; randomized controlled trial (topic); review; time; Human immunodeficiency virus; Adult; Africa South of the Sahara; Circumcision, Male; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Databases, Bibliographic; Evidence-Based Medicine; Heterosexuality; HIV Infections; Humans; Intervention Studies; Male; Multivariate Analysis; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Time Factors | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77952600239 | Scale economies and performance evaluation of insurance market in Nigeria | Usman O.A. | 2009 | Social Sciences | 4 | 1 | None | Department of Management Science, Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomoso, Nigeria | Usman, O.A., Department of Management Science, Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomoso, Nigeria | This study probed into optimal production scale and specifically assesses the significance of entrepreneurial price on the business performance in the Nigerian insurance industry. The study makes use of Cobb-Douglas cost and profit functional models to investigate performance of randomly selected insurance firms. The outcome of this study suggests that a few insurance firms in Nigeria mostly do not pay claims, therefore, establishing possible reasons why there is apathy for insurance services among insuring public. Labour price is significant in this study,but shows an inverse relationship with business performance. © Medwell Journals, 2009. | Claims payment; Insurence business performance; Scale economics | None | 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-s2.0-84958750921 | Reproductive toxicological evaluation of Ficus exasperata ethanolic extract in male albino rats | Usang A.U., Ibor O.R., Owolodun O.A., Eleng I.E., Ujong U.P., Udoh P.B. | 2015 | International Journal of Toxicological and Pharmacological Research | 7 | 6 | None | Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Calabar, P.M.B. 1115, Calabar, Nigeria; Department of Zoology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Department of Medical Biochemistry, Cross River State University of Technology, P.M.B 1123 | Usang, A.U., Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Calabar, P.M.B. 1115, Calabar, Nigeria; Ibor, O.R., Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Calabar, P.M.B. 1115, Calabar, Nigeria; Owolodun, O.A., Department of Zoology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Eleng, I.E., Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Calabar, P.M.B. 1115, Calabar, Nigeria; Ujong, U.P., Department of Medical Biochemistry, Cross River State University of Technology, P.M.B 1123 Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria; Udoh, P.B., Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Calabar, P.M.B. 1115, Calabar, Nigeria | Ficus exasperata popularly known as sand paper tree (due to its rough surfaces) is an important medicinal plant in Africa used traditionally for treating asthma, dyspnea, high blood pressure, rheumatoid, arthritis, ulcer and diabetes. Due to its wide application as a medicinal herb, there is a special need to evaluate the safety and probable toxicological effects of the plant. Hence, this study was aimed at investigating the possible reproductive toxicological effects of ethanolic extract of F. exasperata on male albino rats. Phytochemical screening was done to analyse the active constituents in the extract (Alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, phlobatannins, saponins, anthraquinones, glycosides and phenols). Three concentrations: 50, 100, 150 and control (0.0) mg/kg body weight of the extract were utilized and administered orally to the test animals for 3 days. The levels of a major reproductive androgen hormone (testosterone) were measured with the enzyme immune assay (EIA) and changes in reproductive organ weights were evaluated. Ethanolic extract of Ficus exasperata significantly decreased (p<0.05) serum testosterone levels which paralleled changes in gonadal growth and development and this decrease were concentration dependent. Our results suggest that ethanolic extract of F. exasperata contain some bioactive constituents that may have reproductive toxicological effects which inhibit testosterone synthesis and reduce reproductive organ development and consequently may result in infertility. The mechanism of action of F. exasperata inducing reproductive toxicological effects may have resulted from the potential ability of some phytochemicals to interact with steroid hormone synthesis and therefore inhibiting testosterone biosynthesis. © 2015, International Journal of Toxicological and Pharmacological Research. All rights reserved. | F. exasperata; Male albino rats; Phytochemical screening; Reproductive effects; Testosterone | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84876056428 | Formulation and in vitro/in vivo evaluation of zidovudine contained in solidified reverse micellar delivery system of immune compromised rats | Uronnachi Emmanuel M., Ogbonna John D.N., Kenechukwu Franklin C., Attama Anthony A., Okore Vincent C. | 2013 | Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science | 3 | 2 | 10.7324/JAPS.2013.30206 | Drug Delivery Research Unit, Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria | Uronnachi Emmanuel, M., Drug Delivery Research Unit, Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria; Ogbonna John, D.N., Drug Delivery Research Unit, Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria; Kenechukwu Franklin, C., Drug Delivery Research Unit, Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria; Attama Anthony, A., Drug Delivery Research Unit, Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria; Okore Vincent, C., Drug Delivery Research Unit, Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria | Aim of the study was to study the in vitro and in vivo evaluation and correlation of zidovudine (AZT) loaded solidified reverse micellar microparticles (SRMMs). The SRMMs composed of goat fat and Phospholipon® 90H in various ratios (1:1, 2:1, 3:1 and 2:3) were prepared by melt dispersion method. AZT (1 %w/w, 2 %w/w, 3 %w/w and 5 %w/w)were incorporated into the SRMMs and preliminary analysis of the preparations on their stability were done visually. The 1:1 formulation was evaluated for the particle size, percentage yield and in vitro studies which was done using SGF and SIF. The in vivo study was done using Wistar albino rats and the in vitroin vivo correlation (IVIVC) wasdetermined by plotting a graph of the fraction of drug absorbed in vivoversus the fraction of drug released in vitro. The yield of the goat fat extraction was 58 %. The particle size and yield of the solid lipid microparticle (SLM) containing 1 %w/w of AZT were 5.10 ± 0.10±m and 86.3 ± 4.70% respectively. The fraction of drugs absorbed in vivo were 0.102 μg, 0.114 μg, 0.115 μg, 0.134 μg and 0.123 μg for 1 h, 3 h,5 h, 8 h and 12 h respectively. A 1:1 ratio of goat fat and Phospholipon® 90H with a high value of correlation coefficient (r2 = 0.909) suggested good level-A correlation between the in vitro-in vivo data ofthe SLM obtained in the study. | Immune-compromised; Invitro-in vivo correlation; Lipid matrix; Phospholipon® 90H; Solidified reverse micellar microparticle (SRMM) | None | None |
| None | None | Evaluation of HIV antigen /antibody combination ELISAs for diagnosis of HIV infection in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania | Urio L.J., Mohamed M.A., Mghamba J., Abade A., Aboud S. | 2015 | Pan African Medical Journal | 20 | None | 10.11604/pamj.2015.20.196.4934 | Tanzania Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Tanzania; Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; Mirobiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana | Urio, L.J., Tanzania Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Tanzania; Mohamed, M.A., Tanzania Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Tanzania, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; Mghamba, J., Tanzania Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Tanzania, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; Abade, A., Tanzania Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Tanzania; Aboud, S., Mirobiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana | Introduction: the aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of Enzygnost HIV Integral II antigen/antibody combination ELISAs in order to formulate HIV ELISA testing algorithms for the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Tanzania. Methods: this was a laboratory-based evaluation of Enzygnost HIV Integral II Antibody/ Antigen, Murex HIV antigen/antibody and Vironostika HIV Uniform II antigen/antibody conducted between October 2011 and May 2012. Results: a total of 600 blood samples were included in the evaluation. A total of 209/596 (35.1%) serum samples were confirmed HIV positive. Of these, the prevalence of HIV infection was 2.3% (3/130), 2.3% (3/127), 2.2% (3/139) and 100% (200/200) for VCT clients, ANC attendees, blood donors and CTC patients, respectively. Three hundred and eighty seven (64.9%) were HIV negative samples. Sensitivity was 100% (95% CI; 98.3-100%) for all the three HIV ELISAs. The specificity for the Enzygnost HIV Integral II and Murex was 100% (95% CI; 99.1-100%). The final specificity at repeat testing was 99.5% (95% CI; 98.2-99.9%) for Vironostika. Enzygnost HIV Integral II detected HIV infection seven days since first bleed. Conclusion: initial testing using either Vironostika or Murex HIV antigen/antibody combination ELISA followed by testing of reactive samples on the Enzygnost HIV Integral II gave a sensitivity and specificity of 100% with reduced window period. Combination of two HIV antigen/antibody combination ELISAs can be used as an alternative confirmatory testing strategy for screening of donated blood at the National and Zonal blood transfusion centres and in lab diagnosis of HIV infection. © Loveness John Urio et al. | Diagnosis; HIV antigen/antibody combination ELISA´s; HIV infection | None | 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-s2.0-78349251274 | The impact of macroeconomic and demographic factors on savings mobilisation in Nigeria | Uremadu S.O. | 2009 | Savings and Development | None | SUPPL. | None | Department of Banking and Finance, College of Agribusiness and Financial Management, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria | Uremadu, S.O., Department of Banking and Finance, College of Agribusiness and Financial Management, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria | The role of savings in the economic growth of Nigeria cannot be over-emphasised. However, rapid population growth has posed a serious problem to savings mobilisation. A high dependency ratio of the population will require substantial increase in future spending on health, education and care for dependants. This envisaged decline in the working-age population could lead to lower savings and investment rates and slower GDP growth. Against this background, this paper examines the impact of dependency ratio on savings mobilisation in Nigeria using a number of macroeconomic indicators that influence savings. Nigerian data on relevant variables covering the period under investigation were utilised for the study. A multiple regression approach that incorporated an error-correction model was used for our data analysis and tests. The results suggested that savings ratio is determined by spread between lending and savings deposit rates (SLS), domestic inflation rate, real interest rate and foreign private investment (FPI). The major findings of this study are summarized as follows: (1) demographic factors seem to have played a positive and insignificant role in explaining the savings ratio in over two decades studied, (2) interest rates spread leads savings ratio, (3) domestic inflation rate has a negative and significant impact on savings ratio, and (4) foreign capital inflows, as measured by FPI positively and significantly affect savings ratio in Nigeria. The findings of this research will guide policy makers on economic growth and poverty reduction in countries of sub-Saharan Africa. | Dependency ratio; Domestic inflation rate; Foreign private investment; Macroeconomic indicators; Multiple regression; Real interest rate; Savings mobilisation; Spread | capital flow; demographic trend; economic growth; Gross Domestic Product; inflation; interest rate; investment; macroeconomics; multiple regression; population growth; poverty alleviation; savings; Nigeria | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34248209039 | The impact of internet usage: A case study of Delta State tertiary institutions | Ureigho R.J., Oroke G.U., Ekruyota G.O. | 2007 | European Journal of Scientific Research | 16 | 4 | None | Department of Computer Science, Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe-Oghara, Nigeria; Department of Computer Science/Information Technology, Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, Nigeria | Ureigho, R.J., Department of Computer Science, Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe-Oghara, Nigeria; Oroke, G.U., Department of Computer Science, Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe-Oghara, Nigeria; Ekruyota, G.O., Department of Computer Science/Information Technology, Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, Nigeria | 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. © EuroJournals Publishing, Inc. 2007. | E-mail; Institutions; Internet; Research | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84883815226 | Product innovation of private health insurers in South Africa and the impact of entrepreneurial orientation | Urban B., Streak M. | 2013 | South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences | 16 | 3 | None | Wits Business School, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa | Urban, B., Wits Business School, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa; Streak, M., Wits Business School, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa | Recognising that health insurer product innovation plays a critical role in aligning incentives among all stakeholders in the healthcare value chain, this study investigates the relationship between the level of health insurer product innovation and entrepreneurial orientation (EO). Taking cognisance of the importance of external collaboration between health insurers and healthcare service providers, the study is able to diagnose perceptions of strategic regulatory factors and their impact on levels of EO. The focus of the study is on the demand (financing) and supply (healthcare delivery) structures of the healthcare value chain, incorporating health insurers, health insurer administrators and healthcare service providers. A conceptual model is formulated on the basis of literature and tested using confirmatory factor analysis. The results indicate that EO at organisational level is a strong predictor of health insurer product innovation and that external collaboration between health insurers and healthcare service providers is a weak predictor of health insurer product innovation. Practical implications are that both the supply and demand side structures indicate that the restructuring of relationships between health insurers and healthcare service providers is a necessary driver for collaboration in terms of health insurer product innovation progress and success. Healthcare executives need to work with, and actively lobby regulators to ignite both demand and supply side innovation activities in the healthcare value chain of the private healthcare industry of South Africa. | Corporate entrepreneurship; Entrepreneurial orientation; External collaboration; Health insurers; Healthcare industry; Product innovation; Regulation | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84936774132 | The influence of entrepreneurial intensity and capabilities on internationalisation and firm performance | Urban B., Sefalafala M.R. | 2015 | South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences | 18 | 2 | 10.17159/2222-3436/2015/v18n2a9 | Wits Business School, South Africa | Urban, B., Wits Business School, South Africa; Sefalafala, M.R., Wits Business School, South Africa | International entrepreneurship represents the process of discovering and creatively exploiting opportunities that exist outside a firm’s national borders in order to obtain a competitive advantage. Firms in emerging economies are increasingly looking towards internationalisation since they are faced with rising competition in their domestic markets and attracted to opportunities in foreign markets. This article investigates international entrepreneurship by examining how the influence of entrepreneurial intensity and capabilities at the firm level influence performance, while at the same time considering environmental influences on this relationship. Based on past theoretical and empirical findings, hypotheses are formulated and then tested using correlational and regression analysis. Generally, the results support the hypotheses where both entrepreneurial intensity and capabilities are positively related to internationalisation and firm performance, while weak evidence is found for environmental hostility as a moderating influence. Several recommendations are made in light of the findings, where it is suggested that firms foster higher levels of innovativeness, risk-taking and proactiveness while developing human, social and technology related capabilities in order to enhance their performance and increase their levels of internationalisation. © 2015, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved.. | Capabilities; Entrepreneurial intensity; Exporting; Firm performance; International entrepreneurship; South Africa | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84936744641 | Open source software adoption and links to innovation performance | Urban B., Greyling B.C. | 2015 | International Journal of Technological Learning, Innovation and Development | 7 | 3 | 10.1504/IJTLID.2015.070379 | Graduate School of Business, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of Witwatersrand, 2 St Davids Place, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa | Urban, B., Graduate School of Business, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of Witwatersrand, 2 St Davids Place, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa; Greyling, B.C., Graduate School of Business, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of Witwatersrand, 2 St Davids Place, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa | Open source software (OSS) has become pervasive in recent years and is often used by smaller firms to augment their limited resource base. Building on research which has focused on strategic factors that are likely to effect the adoption and deployment of OSS, this article draws on theoretical frameworks encompassing the firm's technology, organisation and environment contexts. Hypotheses are formulated to understand the relationship between the level of OSS adoption and innovation performance across a variety of indicators. Data was collected through a survey from small and medium enterprises operating in the ICT software industry in an under-researched geographical emerging market context - South Africa. Regression results suggest that innovation performance is influenced to some degree by the adoption of OSS, particularly where there is evidence of business and collaboration tool usage by these firms. The implications of this study suggest that owners and managers of small and medium firms should consider migration to OSS in order to take advantage of not only direct cost savings but also improved innovation performance effects. For firms in emerging markets the rising trend towards globalisation presents multiple opportunities for embracing a technology orientation with OSS practices which can provide the necessary competitive advantage to compete globally. Copyright © 2015 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. | Environment; Innovation performance; Open innovation; Open source software; Organisation; OSS; Small and medium enterprises; SMEs; Technology | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84911404974 | The importance of attributes in entrepreneurial Opportunity evaluations: An emerging market study | Urban B. | 2014 | Managerial and Decision Economics | 35 | 8 | 10.1002/mde.2639 | Graduate School of Business Administration, Wits Business School, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Urban, B., Graduate School of Business Administration, Wits Business School, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Although prior research has established that entrepreneurs have idiosyncratic perceptions about opportunity attributes, we do not yet understand the level of importances attached to attributes when evaluating opportunities. This article uses conjoint analysis to assess how trade-offs are decided when evaluating opportunities considering both individual and business criteria. We hypothesize differences in the perceived importances of opportunities and the unique constellations therein. The results indicate that there is a significant difference in the degree of importance attached to the business sector, capital intensity, technology maturity, market potential and return on investment potential, when individuals evaluate an entrepreneurial opportunity. The business sector was identified as the principal determinant of opportunity attractiveness, followed closely by the market growth rate, which reflects emerging market conditions. By contextualizing the findings, it is suggested that emerging economies impose higher bureaucratic burdens on entrepreneurs, increasing uncertainty as well as operational and transactions costs of firms; therefore, reducing the incentive to invest in capital or technology. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84961354840 | Evaluation of social enterprise outcomes and self-efficacy | Urban B. | 2015 | International Journal of Social Economics | 42 | 2 | 10.1108/IJSE-03-2013-0071 | Graduate School of Business Administration, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Urban, B., Graduate School of Business Administration, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Purpose: Understanding of social values is emerging, particularly as the phrases "social impact" and "social value" and the measurement thereof, are ubiquitous in both practitioner and academic discourse today. These terms are particularly relevant to those involved in social initiatives that are required at some stage to demonstrate to stakeholders, investors, funders, or simply themselves that they have the capability to deliver. The purpose of this paper is to link the evaluation of social enterprise outcomes to individual efficacy beliefs. Design/methodology/approach: The study is survey based (165 respondents) and conducted in two major cities in South Africa, where social entrepreneurship (SE) has unequivocal application. Social outcomes and self-efficacy are operationalized and measured along multi-dimensional scales. After checking the instruments for validity and reliability, correlational and multiple regression analyses are performed to determine the predicted relationship between the specified variables. Findings: Empirical findings reveal that evaluation of social enterprise outcomes is associated with higher levels of self-efficacy. Significant results support the propositions that perceptions of capability are positively related to implementing a social vision, sustainability, social networking, innovativeness and financial returns. Research limitations/implications: The main implications of this study are that measuring SE efficacy in advance of funding may indicate probability of venture success. Originality/value: The study is one of the first to provide a much needed account of the evaluation of social enterprises in relation to self-efficacy in an emerging market context. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Entrepreneurship; Social choice; The self | empirical analysis; entrepreneur; multiple regression; perception; social impact; social network; stakeholder; sustainability; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84949471240 | Technology orientation and effectuation – links to firm performance in the renewable energy sector of South Africa | Urban B., Heydenrych J. | 2015 | South African Journal of Industrial Engineering | 26 | 3 | 10.7166/26-3-1039 | Graduate School of Business Administration, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Urban, B., Graduate School of Business Administration, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Heydenrych, J., Graduate School of Business Administration, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Effectuation processes are consistent with emergent or non-predictive strategies, and speak to the essence of Schumpeter’s theory of creative destruction. In this study, hypotheses are formulated to understand the relationship between effectuation, technology orientation, and firm performance. The study takes place in South Africa, which remains a highly significant economic player in sub-Saharan Africa, and is focused on the renewable energy sector. Survey results provide evidence that different dimensions of effectuation are positively associated with technology orientation, and influence firm performance. Policy makers should be encouraging firms to use effectual principles of experimentation, flexibility, establishing pre-commitments, and forming alliances, so as to maximise their returns on technology and constrain their potential losses. © 2015, South African Institute of Industrial Engineering, All rights reserved. | None | Energy policy; Renewable energy resources; Surveys; Creative destruction; Firm Performance; Policy makers; Potential loss; Renewable energy sector; South Africa; Sub-saharan africa; Technology orientation; Technology transfer | 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-s2.0-84942365769 | Successful scale-up performance of a novel papaya-clay combo adsorbent: up-flow adsorption of a basic dye | Unuabonah E.I., Adedapo A.O., Nnamdi C.O., Adewuyi A., Omorogie M.O., Adebowale K.O., Olu-Owolabi B.I., Ofomaja A.E., Taubert A. | 2015 | Desalination and Water Treatment | 56 | 2 | 10.1080/19443994.2014.944572 | Environmental and Chemical Processes Research Laboratory, Department of Chemical Sciences, Redeemer’s University, Mowe, Ogun State, Nigeria; Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Biosorption and Water Treatment Research Laborator | Unuabonah, E.I., Environmental and Chemical Processes Research Laboratory, Department of Chemical Sciences, Redeemer’s University, Mowe, Ogun State, Nigeria; Adedapo, A.O., Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Nnamdi, C.O., Environmental and Chemical Processes Research Laboratory, Department of Chemical Sciences, Redeemer’s University, Mowe, Ogun State, Nigeria; Adewuyi, A., Environmental and Chemical Processes Research Laboratory, Department of Chemical Sciences, Redeemer’s University, Mowe, Ogun State, Nigeria; Omorogie, M.O., Environmental and Chemical Processes Research Laboratory, Department of Chemical Sciences, Redeemer’s University, Mowe, Ogun State, Nigeria; Adebowale, K.O., Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Olu-Owolabi, B.I., Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Ofomaja, A.E., Biosorption and Water Treatment Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Vaal University of Technology, P. Bag X021, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa; Taubert, A., Institute of Chemistry, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Golm, Germany | Abstract: A novel low-cost papaya-clay combo adsorbent, hybrid clay (HYCA), was prepared from a combination of Carica papaya seeds and Kaolinite clay. HYCA breakthrough adsorption capacity was 35.46 mg/g for the adsorption of methylene blue (MB) dye in a pilot-scale fixed-bed reactor. In ca. 20 min, regeneration of MB dye-loaded HYCA reached at least 90% each cycle for five regeneration cycles. However, above 40°C, the HYCA adsorbent lost more than 50% of its adsorption capacity after five regeneration cycles. The AdDesignSTM software was used to successfully predict the breakthrough curve and scale-up performance of MB dye adsorption onto the HYCA adsorbent. The pore and surface diffusion model (PSDM) described experimental data better than the constant pattern homogeneous surface diffusion model. From economic assessment using the PSDM, the AdDesignSTM software predicted that 1 kg of HYCA can effectively treat 1.45 m3 (0.29 m3 each cycle) of water containing 1 mg/L of MB dye (with a treatment objective of 50 μg/L MB dye) in effluent solution in 9 h 35 min with run time of ca. 15 h in a day including time for five regeneration cycles It was further predicted that the presence of other organic pollutants in low concentrations reduce the breakthrough adsorption capacity of HYCA by 10%. Finally, the cost of preparing 1 kg of HYCA adsorbent was calculated to ≈$6.31 vs. ≈$31.25/kg for medium quality commercial activated carbon. © 2014 Balaban Desalination Publications. All rights reserved. | Adsorption; Breakthrough; Cationic dye; Hybrid clay; Methylene blue; Pore and surface diffusion model; Regeneration | adsorption; breakthrough curve; diffusion; dye; kaolinite; organic pollutant; water treatment; Carica papaya | TWAS, Academy of Sciences for the Developing World; 3240245996, UNESCO, Academy of Sciences for the Developing World |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84864496283 | Predicting the dynamics and performance of a polymer-clay based composite in a fixed bed system for the removal of lead (II) ion | Unuabonah E.I., El-Khaiary M.I., Olu-Owolabi B.I., Adebowale K.O. | 2012 | Chemical Engineering Research and Design | 90 | 8 | 10.1016/j.cherd.2011.11.009 | Department of Chemical Sciences, Redeemer's University, Km 46, Lagos Ibadan Expressway, PMB 3005, Redemption City, Mowe, Nigeria; Institute of Chemistry, Universität Potsdam, D-14476 Potsdam OT Golm, Germany; Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of En | Unuabonah, E.I., Department of Chemical Sciences, Redeemer's University, Km 46, Lagos Ibadan Expressway, PMB 3005, Redemption City, Mowe, Nigeria, Institute of Chemistry, Universität Potsdam, D-14476 Potsdam OT Golm, Germany; El-Khaiary, M.I., Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria University, El-Hadara, Alexandria 21544, Egypt; Olu-Owolabi, B.I., Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Adebowale, K.O., Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | A polymer-clay based composite adsorbent was prepared from locally obtained kaolinite clay and polyvinyl alcohol. The composite adsorbent was used to remove lead (II) ions from aqueous solution in a fixed bed mode. The increase in bed height and initial metal ion concentration increased the adsorption capacity of lead (II) and the volume of aqueous solution treated at 50% breakthrough. However, the adsorption capacity was reduced by almost 16.5% with the simultaneous presence of Ca 2+/Pb 2+ and Na +/Pb 2+ in the aqueous solution. Regeneration of the adsorbent with 0.1M of HCl also reduced its adsorption capacity to 75.1%. Adsorption of lead (II) ions onto the polymer-clay composite adsorbent in the presence of Na + and Ca 2+ electrolyte increased the rate of mass transfer, probably due to competition between cationic species in solution for adsorption sites. Regeneration further increased the rate of mass transfer as a result of reduced adsorption sites after the regeneration process. The length of the mass transfer zone was found to increase with increasing bed height but did not change with increasing the initial metal ion concentration. The models of Yoon-Nelson, Thomas, and Clark were found to give good fit to adsorption data. On the other hand, Bohart-Adams model was found to be a poor predictor for the column operation. The polymer-clay composite adsorbent has a good potential for the removal of lead (II) ions from highly polluted aqueous solutions. © 2011 The Institution of Chemical Engineers. | Adsorption models; Breakthrough; Fixed bed; Mass transfer zone; Polymer-clay composite; Regeneration | Adsorption capacities; Adsorption data; Adsorption model; Adsorption site; Bed height; Bohart-Adams model; Breakthrough; Cationic species; Column operations; Composite adsorbents; Fixed bed; Fixed-bed modes; Kaolinite clay; Lead ions; Metal ion concentration; Regeneration; Regeneration process; Geologic models; Kaolinite; Lead; Mass transfer; Metal ions; Polymers; Solutions; Adsorption | 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 |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84883717197 | Promotion of health sector reforms for health systems strengthening in Nigeria: Perceptions of policy makers versus the general public on the Nigeria health systems performance | Uneke C.J., Ezeoha A.E., Ndukwe C.D., Oyibo P.G., Onwe F. | 2013 | Social Work in Public Health | 28 | 6 | 10.1080/19371918.2011.592085 | Department of Medical Microbiology/Parasitology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Ebonyi State University, PMB 053, Abakaliki, Nigeria; Department of Banking and Finance, Faculty of Management Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria; Department | Uneke, C.J., Department of Medical Microbiology/Parasitology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Ebonyi State University, PMB 053, Abakaliki, Nigeria; Ezeoha, A.E., Department of Banking and Finance, Faculty of Management Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria; Ndukwe, C.D., Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria; Oyibo, P.G., Department of Community Medicine, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria; Onwe, F., Department of Sociology/Anthropology, Faculty of Arts, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria | The objectives of this cross-sectional intervention study were to improve policy makers' understanding of health sector reforms through a training workshop and to assess the perception of policy makers and the general public about health systems performance in Nigeria. Health systems performance was generally rated low by respondents (< 2.5 out of 4). Health service delivery and health workforce were the lowest rated health systems components (< 2.2 out of 4). Efforts need to be intensified to enhance competencies of policy makers to adopt an evidence-informed process in health reform programs. Inputs from the public must be given adequate consideration in addressing the challenges of health systems. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC. | Health sector; health systems; Nigeria; policy maker; reforms | health policy; health services; perception; policy making; policy reform; social work; Nigeria; administrative personnel; article; attitude to health; cross-sectional study; health care delivery; health care policy; human; Nigeria; organization and management; psychological aspect; public opinion; Administrative Personnel; Attitude to Health; Cross-Sectional Studies; Delivery of Health Care; Health Care Reform; Health Policy; Humans; Nigeria; Public Opinion | World Health Organization |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-72449205575 | Impact of home management of Plasmodium falciparum malaria on childhood malaria control in sub-Saharan Africa | Uneke C.J. | 2009 | Tropical Biomedicine | 26 | 2 | None | Department of Medical Microbiology/Parasitology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Ebonyi State University, PMB 053 Abakaliki, Nigeria | Uneke, C.J., Department of Medical Microbiology/Parasitology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Ebonyi State University, PMB 053 Abakaliki, Nigeria | In sub-Saharan Africa almost all of the malaria deaths occur in children below five years of age and these deaths occur within 48 hours of onset of symptoms. Consequently, the home management of malaria (HMM), was introduced to ensure early recognition of and prompt and appropriate response to malarial illness in children within the home or the community. In this report the impact of HMM in childhood malaria control in sub-Saharan Africa was reviewed using relevant publications identified through a Medline Entrez-Pubmed and Google search. There was convincing evidence from the studies reviewed that HMM played a contributory role in reducing progress to severe malaria and overall childhood mortality. The major challenges to the implementation of HMM included failure of caregivers to complete a full course of antimalarial drug, provision of financial motivation to community drug distributors, non-adherence of health workers to recommendations on the use of antimalarial drugs, limited acceptance, possible adverse outcomes, and long term sustainability of HMM. With increased political will and commitment of all stakeholders as well as the mobilization of additional and substantial resources for implementation by the global community, the Abuja declaration of halving mortality from malaria in African may be attained in the nearest future. | None | antimalarial agent; Africa south of the Sahara; article; home care; human; infant; malaria falciparum; mortality; newborn; patient compliance; patient education; preschool child; treatment outcome; Africa South of the Sahara; Antimalarials; Child, Preschool; Home Care Services; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Malaria, Falciparum; Medication Adherence; Patient Compliance; Patient Education as Topic; Treatment Outcome | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-36849082672 | Impact of maternal Plasmodium falciparum malaria and haematological parameters on pregnancy and its outcome in southeastern Nigeria | Uneke C.J., Sunday-Adeoye I., Iyare F.E., Ugwuja E.I., Duhlinska D.D. | 2007 | Journal of Vector Borne Diseases | 44 | 4 | None | Department of Medical Microbiology/Parasitology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria; Department of Morbid Anato | Uneke, C.J., Department of Medical Microbiology/Parasitology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria, Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Ebonyi State University, P.M.B. 053, Abakaliki, Nigeria; Sunday-Adeoye, I., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria; Iyare, F.E., Department of Morbid Anatomy, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria; Ugwuja, E.I., Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria; Duhlinska, D.D., Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria | [No abstract available] | Haematological parameters; Malaria; Nigeria; P. falciparum; Pregnancy | adolescent; adult; article; blood analysis; blood group ABO system; blood sampling; clinical protocol; disease severity; endemic disease; female; genotype; hematological parameters; human; infection rate; infection sensitivity; major clinical study; malaria falciparum; Nigeria; parasite transmission; Plasmodium falciparum; pregnancy; pregnancy outcome; pregnant woman; Adolescent; Adult; Anemia; Blood Group Antigens; Female; Genotype; Hemoglobin A; Hemoglobins; Humans; Infant, Low Birth Weight; Infant, Newborn; Malaria, Falciparum; Middle Aged; Nigeria; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic; Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic; Pregnancy Outcome; Risk Factors; Urban Population | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-67650073197 | Diffusion of professional norms: The impact of IFLA in South Africa | Underwood P.G. | 2009 | IFLA Journal | 35 | 2 | 10.1177/0340035209105669 | Centre for Information Literacy, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X01, Rondebosch 7701, Cape Town, South Africa | Underwood, P.G., Centre for Information Literacy, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X01, Rondebosch 7701, Cape Town, South Africa | A study of the impact of the work of IFLA, including its role in the development of information literacy programmes, on the profession in South Africa, based on the views of South African professionals attending the World Library and Information Congress, 73rd IFLA General Conference, held in Durban, 19-23 August 2007. A series of focus group and other interviews was used. Themes arising from the discussions are: ĝ€¢ That IFLA has a strong role to play in advice, guidance, and the development of standards; its role in national policy development is necessarily limited. ĝ€¢ That the Congress is an important meeting place and its proceedings a source of inspiration to those who have come with a 'prepared mind'. ĝ€¢ That the influence of its work and proceedings could be greater if it were communicated in accessible forms in partnership with existing publications such as the IFLA Journal. ĝ€¢ That, for the younger professional, seeking to become involved, IFLA is a daunting organization. Copyright © 2009 Author. | Durban; IFLA; Impact assessment; Information literacy; South Africa; World Library and Information Congress, 2007 | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-24644481854 | Pharmacological evaluation of the central nervous system activity of Aframomum melegueta seed extract in mice | Umukoro S., Ashorobi R.B. | 2005 | Journal of Natural Remedies | 5 | 2 | None | Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria | Umukoro, S., Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria; Ashorobi, R.B., Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria | Objective: To study the effects of intraperitoneal injection of aqueous seed extract of Aframomum melegueta (AM) on the central nervous system (CNS) in mice. Materials and methods: The study sought to evaluate the effects of the extract on the general behaviour of the animals (Irwin test), on pentobarbitone-induced sleeping time, on methamphetamine-induced stereotyped behaviour, on motor coordination, and on convulsive seizures induced by isoniazid and picrotoxin. AM was tested at a dose range of 5-400 mg/kg. Results: AM (50-200 mg/kg) produced a significant decrease in spontaneous motor activity and also caused a dose-related prolongation of pentobarbital-induced sleeping time. At a dose range of 100-400 mg/kg, a significant inhibition of methamphetamine (35 mg/kg, i. p) induced stereotyped behaviour was observed. Furthermore, it offered a significant protection against convulsions induced by isoniazid (200 mg/kg, i.p). However, it failed to modify the convulsive action of picrotoxin (10 mg/kg, i.p) and did not cause any significant effect in the motor coordination of animals on the rota-rod machine. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that A. melegueta seed extract possesses central nervous system depressant activity. | Aframomum melegueta; Anti-stereotypic; Anticonvulsant; Isoniazid; Methamphetamine; Pentobarbital; Sedative | Aframomum melegueta extract; chlorpromazine; diazepam; isoniazid; methamphetamine; pentobarbital; picrotoxin; plant extract; unclassified drug; Aframomum melegueta; animal behavior; article; central nervous system; central nervous system depression; controlled study; dose response; drug isolation; drug mechanism; motor coordination; mouse; neuroprotection; nonhuman; plant seed; seizure; sleep time; statistical analysis; statistical significance; Zingiberaceae; Aframomum melegueta; Animalia; Zingiberaceae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33750294417 | Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory and membrane-stabilizing effects of Eupatorium odoratum | Umukoro S., Ashorobi R.B. | 2006 | International Journal of Pharmacology | 2 | 5 | 10.3923/ijp.2006.509.512 | Department of Pharmacology and Therauptics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria | Umukoro, S., Department of Pharmacology and Therauptics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Ashorobi, R.B., Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria | The anti-inflammatory and membrane-stabilizing effects of an aqueous leaf extract of Eupatorium odoratum was investigated in this study. The effect of the extract on acute inflammation was studied in carrageenin-treated rats. The anti-inflammatory activity of E. odoratum was further assessed in rats subjected to sub-chronic inflammatory conditions induced by formaldehyde. The membrane-stabilizing property of the extract was studied using its ability to reduce the levels of haemolysis of rat Red Blood Cells (RBC) exposed to hypotonic solution. The results of the study showed that the extract (100-400 mg kg-1, p.o) possess anti -inflammatory property, as it significantly reduced oedema formation induced by the phlogistic agents in rats. At a concentration range of 1.0-2.0 mg kg-1, the extract offered significant protection of RBC against the haemolytic effect of hypotonic solution, an indication of membrane-stabilizing activity. It appears that the membrane-stabilizing effect exhibited by Eupatorium odoratum might be playing a significant role in its anti-inflammatory activity. © 2006 Asian Network for Scientific Information. | Anti-imflammatory; Eupatorium odoratum; Membrane-stabilizing; Property | acetylsalicylic acid; carrageenan; eupatorium odoratum extract; formaldehyde; hypotonic solution; plant extract; sodium chloride; unclassified drug; animal experiment; animal model; antiinflammatory activity; aqueous solution; article; Asteraceae; cell protection; chronic inflammation; concentration response; controlled study; drug dose regimen; drug synthesis; edema; erythrocyte; eupatorium odoratum; female; hemolysis; male; membrane stabilization; nonhuman; plant leaf; rat | 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-s2.0-84925443186 | Pharmacological evaluation of the analgesic and anxiolytic activities of Jobelyn® in mice | Umukoro S., Eduviere A.T., Ogunbiyi R., Adeoluwa O.A. | 2014 | Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology | 25 | 4 | 10.1515/jbcpp-2013-0149 | Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Umukoro, S., Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Eduviere, A.T., Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Ogunbiyi, R., Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Adeoluwa, O.A., Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Background: This study presents the results of the pharmacological evaluation of the analgesic and anxiolytic potentials of Jobelyn®, a potent antioxidant African herbal formulation, in mice. The analgesic effect was assessed utilizing acetic acid-induced writhing, tail immersion and formalin-induced paw licking pain models. The anxiolytic activity was evaluated using elevated-plus maze (EPM) and light/dark box. Methods: Mice (5/group) were treated with JB (10-200 mg/kg, p.o.) 1 h before the tests were carried out. In the writhing test, the number of abdominal constrictions was recorded for a period of 30 min after induction of nociception with 0.6% acetic acid, i.p. In the tail immersion test, the latency to tail withdrawal responses to noxious heat was measured. The duration of paw licking (s) was measured as an index of nociception in the formalin test. In the anxiolytic test, the patterns of transition in the two arms of the EPM and in the light/dark box were assessed. Results: JB (10-200 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly inhibited the inflammatory pain produced by acetic acid as evidenced by decreased number of abdominal constrictions in comparison with the control. It also shows higher potency in suppressing the inflammatory pain associated with the second phase of the formalin test. However, JB did not exhibit anxiolytic properties nor modify the pain behavior in the tail immersion test. Conclusions: The results obtained from this study suggest that Jobelyn® might be efficacious against inflammatory pain and further support its recommendation for the management of pain with inflammation as the underlying factor. | Analgesic; Anxiety; Inflammatory pain; Jobelyn® | acetic acid; analgesic agent; antioxidant; anxiolytic agent; herbaceous agent; morphine; abdominal constriction; abdominal pain; African medicine; analgesic activity; animal experiment; animal model; Article; controlled study; drug effect; drug efficacy; drug screening; elevated plus maze test; formalin test; inflammatory pain; licking; light-dark test; male; mouse; nociception; nonhuman; statistical analysis; tail immersion test; tranquilizing activity; writhing test | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-55249114640 | Evaluation of earth-ball (Icacina manni) as energy replacement for maize in the diets of rats | Umoren U.E., Ukam V.E., Akpet S.O., Udoekong E.C. | 2008 | Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment | 6 | 04-Mar | None | Department of Animal Science, University of Calabar, Nigeria; Department of Animal Science and Fisheries Production, Cross River University of Technology, Cross River State, Nigeria | Umoren, U.E., Department of Animal Science, University of Calabar, Nigeria; Ukam, V.E., Department of Animal Science and Fisheries Production, Cross River University of Technology, Cross River State, Nigeria; Akpet, S.O., Department of Animal Science and Fisheries Production, Cross River University of Technology, Cross River State, Nigeria; Udoekong, E.C., Department of Animal Science, University of Calabar, Nigeria | Eighty weanling male albino rats of Wistar strain 21±2 days old were used in a study to determine the replacement value of differently processed Icacina manni tuber meal for maize in their diets. Five dietary treatments in which maize was replaced with 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% Icacina tuber meal were formulated. The rats were randomly allotted to the five treatments with twenty rats per treatment of four rats per diet in a randomized complete block two-treatment factor analysis of variance. Results showed that daily feed intake, daily weight gain and feed efficiency decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with increasing level of Icacina meal in 0, 24 and 48 hours fermented samples. Rats fed 72 hours fermented ration did not differ (p > 0.05) in feed intake, daily weight gain and feed efficiency up to the 50% level of replacement, from those on the control diet. Mortality was highest in the unfermented sample at even the least replacement level (25%). Serum parameters of differently processed Icacina meal diets examined at same level of replacement (75%), revealed that serum glucose and cholesterol were low compared to the control diet. The serum enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase) were higher (p < 0.01) in animals fed the unfermented sample than those on the control and other three fermented Icacina diets. It was concluded that fermented sun-dried Icacina tuber meal could replace maize in rat diets up to 75% without any adverse effects on performance. | Diets; Energy; Icacina manni; Maize; Rats; Replacement | Animalia; Icacina; Rattus; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-10044280158 | Chemical evaluation of the seeds of Milletia obanensis | Umoren U.E., Essien A.I., Ukorebi B.A., Essien E.B. | 2005 | Food Chemistry | 91 | 2 | 10.1016/j.foodchem.2003.08.029 | Department of Animal Science, University of Calabar, Cross River, Nigeria; Snowbird Foods Ltd., Wharf Road, Ponders End, Middlesan, en 4TD, Enfield, Nigeria | Umoren, U.E., Department of Animal Science, University of Calabar, Cross River, Nigeria; Essien, A.I., Department of Animal Science, University of Calabar, Cross River, Nigeria; Ukorebi, B.A., Department of Animal Science, University of Calabar, Cross River, Nigeria; Essien, E.B., Snowbird Foods Ltd., Wharf Road, Ponders End, Middlesan, en 4TD, Enfield, Nigeria | A study was conduced to evaluate the nutritional potential of Milletia obanensis "Odudu" as a possible food or feedstuff and to assess the effect of various processing methods on its nutritional quality. Results of proximate analysis showed that the raw seeds contained 26.7% crude protein, 23.5% ether extract, 3.47% crude fibre, 4.37% ash and 42.0% nitrogen free extract. The protein was well supplied with essential and non-essential amino acids, though the values were low when compared with popular seed legumes. Minerals were in fair supply: P 3.10, Mg 92.30, K 45.25 and Fe 2.20 mg/100 g. Processing methods significantly (p<0.05) affected the nutritional composition. While autoclaving, boiling and toasting (heat treatment) increased the protein content, it reduced the levels of anti-nutritional factors-phytate, tannins, oxalates, cyanogenic glycosides and (slightly) saponin. Thus, it was concluded that M. obanensis seeds, if properly processed, could serve as livestock feed or food for man. © 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Amino acids; Antinutritional factors; Chemical evaluation; Milletia obanensis; Nutritional potential; Processing methods | essential amino acid; ether; glycoside; iron; magnesium; mineral; nitrogen; oxalic acid; phosphorus; phytate; potassium; saponin; tannin derivative; vegetable protein; analytic method; animal food; article; ash; autoclave; biochemical composition; controlled study; cooking; food; food processing; heat treatment; heating; intermethod comparison; legume; livestock; milletia obanensis; nonhuman; nutritional value; plant; plant fiber; plant seed; protein content; statistical significance; Fraxinus; Millettia | 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-s2.0-34249780817 | Nutritional evaluation of the horse eye bean (Mucuna urens): Effect of processing on the chemical composition | Umoren U.E., Effiong O.O., Akpan I.E. | 2007 | Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment | 5 | 2 | None | Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Calabar, Nigeria | Umoren, U.E., Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Calabar, Nigeria; Effiong, O.O., Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Calabar, Nigeria; Akpan, I.E., Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Calabar, Nigeria | Nutritional evaluation of the horse eye bean (Mucuna urens) was carried out to study the effect of different processing methods (autoclaving, cooking, roasting and germination) on its chemical composition. Results indicated that processing methods significantly (p<0.05) increased the chemical composition of M. urens. Crude protein ranged from 24.25% in the raw to 27.00% in autoclaved sample. Crude fibre was least (3.50%) in germinated but highest (4.48%) in cooked Mucuna urens. Ether extract varied from 6.17% in cooked to 11.20% in autoclaved sample; ash ranged from 1.37% in roasted to 1.97% in germinated horse eye bean. Nitrogen-free extract varied from 55.32% in autoclaved to 62.92% in cooked sample. Autoclaving, roasting and cooking (thermal methods) resulted in significantly (p<0.05) lower levels of methionine, cystine, lysine and anti-nutritional factors (HCN, oxalate, phytate and tannins), but led to an increase in the levels of copper and zinc, essential microelements. It was concluded from the study that processing of Mucuna urens by cooking, autoclaving and roasting, though desirable, will lead to reduction in the levels of some essential amino acids. | Chemical composition; Horse eye bean; Nutritional evaluation; Processing methods | Equidae; Mucuna; Mucuna urens | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79952898861 | Influence of iron microstructure on the performance of polyacrylic acid as corrosion inhibitor in sulfuric acid solution | Umoren S.A., Li Y., Wang F.H. | 2011 | Corrosion Science | 53 | 5 | 10.1016/j.corsci.2011.01.052 | 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 inhibition behavior of bulk nanocrystalline ingot iron (BNII) fabricated from coarse polycrystalline ingot iron (CPII) by severe rolling technique by polyacrylic acid (PAA) was studied in 0.1M H2SO4 using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potentiodynamic polarization techniques. The results indicated that PAA inhibited the acid induced corrosion of both iron specimens, with greater effect noted for BNII. The corrosion inhibiting effect was influenced by the microstructure of the iron samples. Synergistic inhibition effect was observed on addition of iodide ions to PAA in case of CPII while for BNII inhibition efficiency marginally increased. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. | A. Iron; A. Polyacrylic acid; C. Corrosion inhibition; C. Microstructures; C. Nanocrystallization | A. Iron; A. Polyacrylic acid; C. Corrosion inhibition; C. Microstructures; C. Nanocrystallization; Corrosion prevention; Electrochemical corrosion; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; Ingots; Microstructure; Nanocrystallization; Organic acids; Sulfuric acid; Corrosion inhibitors | 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-s2.0-84859606196 | Preparation of novel solid lipid microparticles loaded with gentamicin and its evaluation in vitro and in vivo | Umeyor E.C., Kenechukwu F.C., Ogbonna J.D., Chime S.A., Attama A. | 2012 | Journal of Microencapsulation | 29 | 3 | 10.3109/02652048.2011.651495 | School of Pharmacy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria | Umeyor, E.C., School of Pharmacy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria; Kenechukwu, F.C., School of Pharmacy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria; Ogbonna, J.D., School of Pharmacy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria; Chime, S.A., School of Pharmacy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria; Attama, A., School of Pharmacy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria | Objective: To formulate and evaluate solid-reversed-micellar-solution (SRMS)-based solid lipid microparticles (SLMs) for intramuscular administration of gentamicin. Methods: SRMS formulated with Phospholipon® 90G and Softisan® 154 were used to prepare gentamicin-loaded SLMs. Characterizations based on size and morphology, stability and encapsulation efficiency (EE%) were carried out on the SLMs. In vitro release of gentamicin from the SLMs was performed in phosphate buffer while in vivo release studies were conducted in rats. Results: Maximum EE% of 90.0, 91.6 and 83.0% were obtained for SLMs formed with SRMS 1:1, 1:2 and 2:1, respectively. Stable, spherical and smooth SLMs of size range 9.80±1.46 μm to 33.30±6.42 μm were produced. The release of gentamicin in phosphate buffer varied widely with the lipid contents. Moreover, significant (p<0.05) amount of gentamicin was released in vivo from the SLMs. Conclusion: SRMS-based SLMs would likely offer a reliable means of delivering gentamicin intramuscularly. © 2012 Informa UK Ltd. All rights reserved. | Drug delivery; Encapsulation; Microparticles | gentamicin; phosphate buffered saline; phosphatidylcholine; solid lipid nanoparticle; animal experiment; antibiotic sensitivity; article; chemical structure; controlled study; drug formulation; drug release; drug screening; drug stability; Escherichia coli; in vitro study; in vivo study; male; micelle; microencapsulation; nonhuman; particle size; rat; Staphylococcus aureus; Animals; Buffers; Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; Drug Carriers; Drug Compounding; Drug Delivery Systems; Gentamicins; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Injections, Intramuscular; Kinetics; Lipids; Micelles; Microspheres; Particle Size; Phosphates; Rats; Temperature | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-45749120377 | Sociocultural impediments to male factor infertility evaluation in rural South-east Nigeria | Umeora O.U.J., Ejikeme B.N., Sunday-Adeoye I., Umeora M.C. | 2008 | Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology | 28 | 3 | 10.1080/01443610802044908 | Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria; St.Vincent's Hospital, Ndubia, Igbeagu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria; P.O. Box 980, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State 480001, Nigeria | Umeora, O.U.J., Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria, St.Vincent's Hospital, Ndubia, Igbeagu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria, P.O. Box 980, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State 480001, Nigeria; Ejikeme, B.N., Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria, St.Vincent's Hospital, Ndubia, Igbeagu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria; Sunday-Adeoye, I., Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria; Umeora, M.C., Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria | This study evaluated the rate and factors influencing male uptake of infertility investigations. Infertility constituted 11.2% of all new gynaecological consultations in the centre during the study period. A total of 61 (70.1%) males consented to seminal fluid studies without much hesitation, 12.4% after much persuasion, while the remainder (17.5%) refused. Obliging doctor's recommendation was the primary motivation for those who willingly had seminal fluid studies while the claim to be healthy and not being responsible for infertility were the commonest barriers for reluctance or refusal to be investigated. Fears of exposure of semen so obtained to witchcraft and rituals were also contributory. Gynaecologists working in rural South-east Nigeria should through systematic public enlightenment dispel misconceptions of necessary medical intervention. © 2008 Informa UK Ltd. | Barrier; Culture; Evaluation; Infertility; Offspring; Rural | adult; article; attitude to health; consultation; controlled study; cultural factor; environmental exposure; environmental factor; evaluation; fear; human; major clinical study; male; male infertility; Nigeria; priority journal; ritual; rural area; seminal plasma; social class; sperm; witchcraft; Adult; Age Distribution; Attitude to Health; Cohort Studies; Cultural Characteristics; Developing Countries; Female; Humans; Incidence; Infertility, Male; Male; Middle Aged; Nigeria; Patient Compliance; Questionnaires; Risk Factors; Rural Population; Socioeconomic Factors; Sperm Count; Sperm Motility | 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-s2.0-84861190663 | Holocene human occupation of the eastern Nigerian scarp lands: An impact assessment study | Umeji O.P., Ibeanu A.M., Agwu C.O.C. | 2012 | Quaternary International | 262 | None | 10.1016/j.quaint.2010.10.024 | Department of Geology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria; Department of Archaeology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Department of Botany, Kogi State University, Ayangba, Nigeria | Umeji, O.P., Department of Geology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria; Ibeanu, A.M., Department of Archaeology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Agwu, C.O.C., Department of Botany, Kogi State University, Ayangba, Nigeria | Palynological results from the 3000 BC archaeological sites on the Udi-Okigwe plateau have shown evidence of deforestation linked to two human activities: iron smelting, and agriculture with bush burning. The purpose of this paper is to use the palynomorphs recovered from the excavated cave deposits to assess the climate as well as vegetation change from tree- to grass-type, given the presence nearby, of hand-axe factories and iron-smelting sites; and to assess the impact of human activities on the environment during the Holocene. Pollen of plants associated with human impact was used to assess human influence on the vegetation.Despite climatic wetness indicated by fungal, club moss and fern spores, there was an increase in grass pollen resulting from human forest clearance which caused artificial environmental aridity rather than a true climate change. Selective felling of hard wood for fuel in the iron-smelting industry could have left open spaces which were colonized by the palm, . Elaeis guineensis, to produce the 'oil-palm bush' anthropogenic climax vegetation. The itinerant mode of practice by the smelters must have caused an extensive devastation of the rainforest as the lateritic subsoil was dug up and the hardwood selectively felled from place to place. The caves, hand-axe quarry and factory sites, as well as iron-smelting sites are all closely situated along the plateau. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. | None | anthropogenic effect; archaeological evidence; aridity; cave deposit; climate variation; Holocene; human activity; human settlement; paleoclimate; paleoenvironment; palynology; palynomorph; pollen; settlement history; vegetation dynamics; Nigeria; Elaeis; Elaeis guineensis; Filicophyta; Lycopodiophyta | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84908452073 | Wound-healing activity of the aqueous leaf extract and fractions of ficus exasperata(Moraceae) and its safety evaluation on albino rats | Umeh V., Ilodigwe E., Ajaghaku D., Erhirhie E., Moke G., Akah P. | 2014 | Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine | 4 | 4 | 10.4103/2225-4110.139105 | Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria; Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, United States; Department of Ph | Umeh, V., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria; Ilodigwe, E., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria; Ajaghaku, D., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria; Erhirhie, E., Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, United States; Moke, G., Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, United States; Akah, P., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Ficus exasperata have been reported to have wide applications in the treatment of many human diseases. However, its traditional use in the treatment of wounds has not been validated by any scientific study. Also, its safety in the management of chronic disease conditions requires attention. We evaluated the wound-healing activity of the aqueous extract and fractions of F. exasperata, as well as its safety after subchronic oral administration. Similar percentage of wound contraction was observed with 5% w/w extract ointment application and administration of cicatrin powder (standard) on the 4 th day, while better contraction than the standard was recorded with higher concentrations of the extract ointment. Of all the fractions tested, significant (P < 0.05) contraction was only noticed in chloroform fraction, though lower than that of the aqueous extract. The extract also showed concentration-dependent inhibition of all the tested microbial isolates. Extract administered up to 5000 mg/kg (single dose administration) did not cause any mortality after 24 h. Mortality was, however, recorded at 4000 mg/kg within the first 20 days of subchronic administration of the extract. Significant (P < 0.05) increases in alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransaminase (AST), and in particular, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were observed at different doses and time periods. Pathological and histological changes were noticed in the liver and kidney on the 91 st day of the study with 4000 mg/kg of the extract. Except for the significant (P < 0.05) reduction in WBC on the 91 st day, no other significant (P < 0.05) changes were observed in other hematological parameters. The aqueous extract demonstrated better wound-healing activity than its fractions; however, the extract may not be safe at higher doses for subchronic oral administration, as may be the case in the management of chronic disease conditions. | Chronic diseases; Ficus exasperata; Hematological parameters; Liver enzymes; Toxicity; Wound healing | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84864071051 | The impact of intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxinepyrimethamine on the prevalence of malaria parasitaemia in pregnancy | Umeh U.A., Obi S.N., Onah H.E., Ugwu E.O.V., Ajah L.O., Umeh C.R., Okafor I.I. | 2012 | Tropical Doctor | 42 | 3 | 10.1258/td.2011.110402 | Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nigeria, Teaching Hospital Ituku-Ozalla, PMB 01129, Nigeria; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria | Umeh, U.A., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nigeria, Teaching Hospital Ituku-Ozalla, PMB 01129, Nigeria; Obi, S.N., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nigeria, Teaching Hospital Ituku-Ozalla, PMB 01129, Nigeria; Onah, H.E., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nigeria, Teaching Hospital Ituku-Ozalla, PMB 01129, Nigeria; Ugwu, E.O.V., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nigeria, Teaching Hospital Ituku-Ozalla, PMB 01129, Nigeria; Ajah, L.O., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nigeria, Teaching Hospital Ituku-Ozalla, PMB 01129, Nigeria; Umeh, C.R., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nigeria, Teaching Hospital Ituku-Ozalla, PMB 01129, Nigeria; Okafor, I.I., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria | The Roll BackMalaria initiatives were introduced to ensure that 60% of pregnant women receive intermittent preventive anti-malarial treatment by the end of 2005 in an attempt to halve themortality from malaria by 2010. Our aimwas to determine the prevalence of asymptomaticmalaria parasitaemia in pregnant women on intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) with sulfadoxinepyrimethamine (SP) compared with a control group. This comparative study involved testing the peripheral blood of pregnant women on IPT with SP and a control group that did not receive SP for themalaria parasite upon registration and at 34weeks gestational age. The levels of parasitaemia in the intervention group upon registration (4.9%) and at 34weeks (63.9%)were not significantly different (P > 0.05) from that of the control group (10%) and at 34 weeks gestation (68.3%). IPT with SP during pregnancy did not significantly reduce the prevalence of the malaria parasitaemia among the pregnant women in our environment. | None | pyrimethamine plus sulfadoxine; adult; article; blood sampling; controlled study; female; gestational age; human; major clinical study; malaria; malaria falciparum; Plasmodium falciparum; pregnancy disorder; prenatal care; Article; blood parasite; blood stain; comparative study; drug intermittent therapy; educational status; malaria parasitemia; malaria parasitemia; microscopy; nonhuman; parasitemia; pregnancy; prevalence; Adult; Antimalarials; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Combinations; Female; Humans; Malaria; Parasitemia; Plasmodium falciparum; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic; Prevalence; Pyrimethamine; Sulfadoxine; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84908897402 | Ultrasound evaluation of intima-media thickness of carotid arteries in adults with primary hypertension at Ibadan, Nigeria [Evaluation échographique de l’épaisseur de l’intima-media des artères carotides d’adultes avec une hypertension essentielle à Ibada | Umeh E.O., Agunloye, Adekanmi A.J., Adeyinka A.O. | 2013 | West African Journal of Medicine | 32 | 1 | None | Department of Radiology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria | Umeh, E.O., Department of Radiology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria; Agunloye, Department of Radiology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria; Adekanmi, A.J., Department of Radiology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria; Adeyinka, A.O., Department of Radiology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria | BACKGROUND: Ultrasound measured Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (CIMT) is a simple and inexpensive tool for assessing the cumulative effects of hypertension on the carotid arterial walls. It is also an independent predictor of future myocardial infarctionand stroke risk. OBJECTIVES: This study compared ultrasound measured CIMT in hypertensive adults with non-smoking normotensive controls. It also documented variations in CIMT with subjects’ age and sex. METHODOLOGY: Hypertensives (120) of both sexes aged 18years and above were recruited from the Hypertension Clinic at University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan. Normotensive controls (120) were also recruited from the general public. The CIMT was measured on B- mode ultrasound using the technique of ‘Multiple Carotid Sites Measurement’ RESULTS: Mean CIMT values were 0.756mm ± 0.130 and 0.751mm ± 0.129 for the hypertensive group and 0.638mm ± 0.088 and 0.670mm ± 0.107 for the control group on the left and right sides respectively (P=0.000). Higher CIMT values were noted among male hypertensive subjects (P=0.030). CIMT values also showed positive correlation with subjects’ age. CONCLUSION: There was a significant difference in CIMT for hypertensives when compared with normotensives in the study area. CIMT also varies with subjects’ age and sex. © 2013, West African Journal of Medicine. All rights reserved. | Carotid; Hypertension; Intima-media thickness; Ultrasound | adult; aged; arterial wall thickness; Article; B scan; case control study; controlled study; correlation coefficient; female; human; hypertension; major clinical study; male; middle aged; Nigeria; prospective study; young adult; age; article; carotid artery; cerebrovascular accident; echography; heart infarction; pathology; risk factor; sex difference; very elderly; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Carotid Arteries; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; Case-Control Studies; Female; Humans; Hypertension; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Stroke; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84887421754 | The impact of declining measles vaccination coverage is control: A case study of Abia state Nigeria | Umeh C.A., Ahaneku H.P. | 2013 | Pan African Medical Journal | 15 | None | 10.11604/pamj.2013.15.105.2515 | Hospital Management Board, Bayelsa state, Nigeria; Department of Epidemiology, University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, TX, United States | Umeh, C.A., Hospital Management Board, Bayelsa state, Nigeria; Ahaneku, H.P., Department of Epidemiology, University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, TX, United States | Introduction: Efforts at immunizing children against measles was intensified in Nigeria with nation-wide measles vaccination campaigns in 2005 - 2006, 2008 and 2011 targeting children between 9 and 59 months. However, there were measles outbreaks in 2010 and 2011in Abia state Nigeria. This study seeks to find out if there is any association between measles immunization coverage and measles outbreak. Methods: This is a descriptive analysis of the 2007 to 2011 Abia state measles case-based surveillance data supplied to Abia state World Health Organization office and Abia State Ministry of Health by the disease surveillance and notification officers. Results: As the proportion of cases with febrile rash who were immunized decreased from 81% in 2007 to 42% in 2011, the laboratory confirmed cases of measles increased from two in 2007 to 53 in 2011.Of the laboratory confirmed cases of measles, five (7%) occurred in children < 9 months, 48 (64%) occurred in children 9 - 59 months and 22 (29%) occurred in children < 59 months old. Seventy five percent of all laboratory confirmed cases of measles occurred in rural areas. Conclusion: Conclusion: Efforts should be made to increase measles immunization in children between 9 and 59 months as most cases of measles occurred in this age group as immunization coverage dropped. In addition, further studies should be carried out to determine the cause of the disproportional incidence of measles in rural areas in Abia state bearing in mind that measles immunization coverage in urban and rural areas was not markedly different. © Chukwuemeka Anthony Umeh et al. | Immunization; Measles; Nigeria | measles vaccine; measles vaccine; article; case study; child; disease surveillance; epidemic; fever; human; incidence; infant; maculopapular rash; major clinical study; measles; measles vaccination; Nigeria; preschool child; rural population; female; geography; immunization; infection control; male; measles; Nigeria; standard; statistics; vaccination; Immunization; Measles; Nigeria; Child; Child, Preschool; Communicable Disease Control; Disease Outbreaks; Female; Geography; Humans; Infant; Male; Measles; Measles Vaccine; Nigeria; Vaccination | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84960798554 | Evaluation of cortisol concentrations in saliva as a measure of stress in patients having routine dental extractions | Umeanuka O.T., Saheeb B.D., Uguru C.C., Chukwuneke F.N. | 2015 | British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | 53 | 6 | 10.1016/j.bjoms.2015.03.011 | Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, University of Nigeria, Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria; University of Benin, Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria | Umeanuka, O.T., Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, University of Nigeria, Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria; Saheeb, B.D., University of Benin, Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria; Uguru, C.C., Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, University of Nigeria, Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria; Chukwuneke, F.N., Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, University of Nigeria, Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria | We measured changes in the salivary concentrations of cortisol as an index of stress, and to find out if patients were stressed during routine intra-alveolar dental extractions. A total of 126 patients (63 experimental and 63 controls) matched for age and sex with a mean (SD) age of 26 (5) years (range 18-40) were recruited. Samples of saliva from patients whose glands had not been stimulated were collected twice from the study group (30 minutes before, and 10 minutes after, the procedure) and once from the control subjects. All samples were collected between 10.00 and 14.00 hours to standardise the method and control for the diurnal variation of cortisol. There was a slight but not significant increase in the mean salivary concentration of cortisol between the preoperative samples (mean (SD) 12.3 (1.5) ng/ml and the postoperative samples 12.8 (2.3) ng/ml in the study group) and the control 8.7 (1.0) ng/ml. However, there was no difference between the sexes. The study highlights a simple but effective way of evaluating stress in patients having intra-alveolar dental extraction, and emphasises the invaluable role of salivary cortisol in the evaluation of stress (particularly in our environment). © 2015 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. | Extraction; Salivary cortisol; Stress | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77956319397 | The effect of social factors on students' academic performance in Nigerian tertiary institutions | Umar S.S., Shaib I.O., Aituisi D.N., Yakubu N.A., Bada O. | 2010 | Library Philosophy and Practice | 2010 | MAR | None | Department of Statistics, Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Nigeria; Department of Computer Science, Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Nigeria; Department Of Statistics, Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Nigeria | Umar, S.S., Department of Statistics, Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Nigeria; Shaib, I.O., Department of Statistics, Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Nigeria; Aituisi, D.N., Department of Statistics, Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Nigeria; Yakubu, N.A., Department of Computer Science, Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Nigeria; Bada, O., Department Of Statistics, Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Nigeria | [No abstract available] | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84897383318 | Toxicological evaluation of Melocia corchorifolia leaves (L.) fed to albino rat | Umar K.J., Hassan L.G., Dangoggo S.M., Maigandi S.A., Sani N.A., Dogonyaro A.I. | 2014 | International Journal of Biological Chemistry | 8 | 1 | 10.3923/ijbc.2014.48.57 | Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria; Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria; College of Science and Technology, Department of Science, Sokoto St | Umar, K.J., Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria; Hassan, L.G., Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria; Dangoggo, S.M., Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria; Maigandi, S.A., Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria; Sani, N.A., Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria; Dogonyaro, A.I., College of Science and Technology, Department of Science, Sokoto State Polytechnic, Sokoto, Nigeria | Wild leafy vegetables are widely eaten in developing countries and serves as nutrient supplements. The present study examined the effect of feeding albino rats with 75% Melocia corchorifolia leaves with respect to their body weight, liver and kidney biochemical, haematological and histological response. Results showed that the rats fed with M. corchorifolia leaves experience decrease in body weight compared to the control group. The Packed Cell Volume (PCV), haemoglobin concentration (Hb) and Red Blood Cells (RBC), White Blood Cells (WBC), platelets, Mean Carpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean Carpuseular Haemoglobin (MCH), Mean Carpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) and leukocyte (lymphocyte, neutophils, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils) differential counts were not significantly (p>0.05) different between control and treatment. Similarly, serum total protein, globulin and bilirubin were not significantly different, but that of albumin was significantly lower (p<0.05) in the treatment than control group. The serum enzyme activities, i.e., aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were significantly (p<0.05) elevated in sample treatment than the control; which is an indication of organ toxicity by cellular destruction induced by the phyto-toxin present in the fed. Renal function indices-serum creatinine, urea, uric acid and electrolytes were not significantly different (p>0.05) between control and treatment. The results of this study showed that Melocia corchorifolia leaves have a relatively low or no toxicity profile. © 2014 Academic Journals Inc. | Albino rat; Haematology; Histology; Melocia corchorifolia; Serum biochemistry; Toxicity; Vegetables | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84928826910 | Semi-analytic solutions for the triangular points of double white dwarfs in the ER3BP: Impact of the body's oblateness and the orbital eccentricity | Umar A., Singh J. | 2015 | Advances in Space Research | 55 | 11 | 10.1016/j.asr.2015.01.042 | Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria | Umar, A., Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria; Singh, J., Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria | Using an analytic/numerical approach, we investigate the effects of oblateness and eccentricity of the primaries on the triangular points of compact double degenerate white dwarf binaries. AM CVs stars in which stable mass transfer occur from a Roche-lobe filling white dwarf to its more massive white dwarf companion and detached double white dwarfs (DWDs) which are candidate progenitors of Type Ia supernovae will be models of this problem. They provide an excellent and powerful tool for probing the physics of white dwarfs. The oblateness of the main bodies and their eccentricity affect the positions of the triangular equilibrium points as is shown for ten DWDs. The triangular points are generally stable for 0 < μ < μ<inf>c</inf><inf>;</inf> where μ is the mass ratio (μ ≤ 1/2). The size of the region of stability increases with decrease in oblateness. Our study shows that due to the nature of the masses of these binaries, the mass ratio does not fall in the range of stability: as a result, they are unstable. © 2015 COSPAR. | Celestial mechanics; Double white dwarfs; ER3BP; Triangular points | Astrophysics; Mass transfer; Supernovae; Analytic solution; Celestial mechanics; Dwarf binaries; Equilibrium point; ER3BP; Orbital eccentricity; Region of stabilities; Triangular points; White dwarfs | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-36049009147 | Left ventricular hypertrophy in African black patients with chronic renal failure at first evaluation | Ulasi I.I., Arodiwe E.B., Ijoma C.K. | 2006 | Ethnicity and Disease | 16 | 4 | None | Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria | Ulasi, I.I., Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria; Arodiwe, E.B., Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria; Ijoma, C.K., Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria | Objective: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality all over the world. The combined effect of volume and pressure overload seen in patients with CKD is the primary cause of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Though it accounts for a significant proportion of patients dying in hospitals in Nigeria, information on CKD in African Blacks is lacking. This study evaluates the prevalence of LVH and factors affecting it in pre-dialysis patients by using echocardiography. Design, Setting and Patients: One hundred consecutive patients with CKD who were attending the medical outpatient and renal clinics of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, who satisfied the inclusion criteria were screened for the study. Eighty-eight patients completed the study. Forty-five age-and sex-matched subjects were selected as controls. Clinical and laboratory parameters and echocardiographic indices were measured. Results: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), defined in absolute terms as left ventricular mass index >134 g/m 2 in men and >110 g/m2 in women was present in 95.5% of patients and 6.7% of controls. Themost prevalent type of LVH was eccentric hypertrophy, which was found in 54.6%, while concentric was seen in 40.9%. Hypertension was present in 85.2% of the patients. The predominant causes of CKD were chronic glomerulonephritis (43.2%), hypertension (25%), and diabetes mellitus (14.8%). All the patients studied had advanced CKD, either stage 4 or 5 of the Kidney Disease Outcome Quality Initiative classification of CKD. Stepwise method of multiple linear regressions identified mean arterial pressure (32%), hemoglobin concentration (22%), male sex (17%), and creatinine clearance (24%) as predictors of LVH in CKD. Conclusion: This study showed a strong association between CKD and LVH in patients in developing countries at the time of first evaluation by a nephrologist. It demonstrated a high prevalence of LVH in patients at first evaluation. The patients were often anemic and had severe hypertension even at first presentation. Early detection and treatment of causes of CKD should be pursued aggressively at the primary prevention level, as has been advocated by the International Society of Nephrology to reduce the effects of CKD and its attendant complications in the society. | Anemia; Cardiovascular risk; CKD; Hypertension; Left ventricular hypertrophy; Mean arterial pressure | biological marker; creatinine; hemoglobin; adolescent; adult; aged; article; blood; blood pressure; case control study; chronic kidney failure; diabetic nephropathy; echocardiography; echography; ethnology; female; glomerulonephritis; glomerulus filtration rate; heart left ventricle hypertrophy; heart ventricle remodeling; hospitalization; human; hypertension; male; metabolism; methodology; middle aged; Negro; Nigeria; observer variation; pathophysiology; prediction and forecasting; prevalence; renal replacement therapy; risk factor; sex difference; statistical model; statistics; urine; Adolescent; Adult; African Continental Ancestry Group; Aged; Biological Markers; Blood Pressure; Case-Control Studies; Creatinine; Diabetic Nephropathies; Echocardiography; Female; Glomerular Filtration Rate; Glomerulonephritis; Hemoglobins; Humans; Hypertension; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Linear Models; Male; Middle Aged; Nigeria; Observer Variation; Predictive Value of Tests; Prevalence; Renal Dialysis; Research Design; Risk Factors; Severity of Illness Index; Sex Factors; Ventricular Remodeling | 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-s2.0-80054760408 | 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-s2.0-84880680080 | Evaluation of antioxidant potential of methanolic leaf extract of anacardium Occidentale (Linn) on the testes of streptozotocin-induced diabetic wistar rats | Ukwenya V., Ashaolu O., Adeyemi D., Obuotor E., Tijani A., Biliaminu A., Caxton-Martins E. | 2013 | European Journal of Anatomy | 17 | 2 | None | Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Bowen University, Iwo, Nigeria; Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Department of Biochemistry, Bowen University, Iwo, Nigeria; D | Ukwenya, V., Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Bowen University, Iwo, Nigeria; Ashaolu, O., Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Bowen University, Iwo, Nigeria; Adeyemi, D., Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Obuotor, E., Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Tijani, A., Department of Biochemistry, Bowen University, Iwo, Nigeria; Biliaminu, A., Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Caxton-Martins, E., Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria | Anti-diabetic and antioxidant properties. The objective of this work was to determine the effects of Anacardium occidentale leaf extract (AOLE) on the activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and anti-oxidant enzymes (Glutathione peroxidase, GPx and superoxide dismutase, SOD) in the testicular homogenate of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Forty (40) wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) were randomly divided into four experimental groups. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of Streptozotocin (70 mg/kg b.w.). Five days after the confirmation of hyperglycemia, Groups A and B were treated with 300 mg/kg b.w of the extract and 1 I.U/kg b.w. insulin respectively. Groups C and D served as hyperglycemic and normal controls respectively. Animals were sacrificed 16 days after treatment. Our study showed that AOLE ameliorated the level of TBARS and improved the activities of G-6-PDH, SOD and GPx in the testes of extract-treated rats. | Anacardium occidentale; Anti-oxidant; Diabetes; Hyperglycemia; Oxidative stress. | Anacardium occidentale leaft extract; antioxidant; enzyme; glucose; glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase; isophane insulin; peroxidase; plant extract; superoxide dismutase; thiobarbituric acid reactive substance; unclassified drug; animal cell; animal experiment; animal model; animal tissue; antioxidant activity; article; controlled study; drug effect; enzyme activity; glucose blood level; hyperglycemia; male; nonhuman; oxidative stress; rat; streptozocin diabetes; testis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84875951420 | Evaluation of moxifloxacin-induced biochemical changes in mice | Ukpo G.E., Ebuehi O.A.T., Kareem A.A. | 2012 | Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences | 74 | 5 | 10.4103/0250-474X.108422 | Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, P. M. B 12003, Lagos, Nigeria; Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, P. M. B 12003, Lagos, Nigeria | Ukpo, G.E., Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, P. M. B 12003, Lagos, Nigeria; Ebuehi, O.A.T., Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, P. M. B 12003, Lagos, Nigeria; Kareem, A.A., Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, P. M. B 12003, Lagos, Nigeria | The aim of the present study was to investigate the toxicological effects of moxifloxacin in mice to determine the toxicological implications. Forty mice of both sexes were divided into four groups of 10 mice each, designated as A, B, C and D. Group A served as the control and received 2 ml of distilled water, while Groups B, C and D were orally administered 12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg body weight of moxifloxacin once daily for 7 days, respectively. The weights of the mice were recorded before and throughout the duration of drug administration. Blood samples were collected for serum analysis. Total blood protein, cholesterol, triglyceride, creatinine, activities of aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase and alkaline phosphatase, levels of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol were assayed. There were significant (P≤0.05) differences in the concentrations of serum creatinine, urea, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase and alkaline phosphatase, levels of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, cholesterol and triglyceride of mice administered moxifloxacin. Serum level of total bilirubin in low dose treated animals was not significantly different from that of the control group animals, but there were significant dose dependent decrease in the animals treated with 25 mg/kg as well as 50 mg/kg. Data of the study indicate there was a dose dependent reduction in the protein metabolites, lipid profile and liver enzyme activities of mice administered moxifloxacin. | Blood chemistry; liver enzymes; mice; moxifloxacin | alanine aminotransferase; alkaline phosphatase; aspartate aminotransferase; bilirubin; cholesterol; creatinine; high density lipoprotein cholesterol; low density lipoprotein cholesterol; moxifloxacin; triacylglycerol; animal experiment; animal model; article; bilirubin blood level; cholesterol blood level; controlled study; creatinine blood level; dose response; drug intoxication; enzyme activity; female; low drug dose; male; mouse; nonhuman; protein blood level; treatment outcome; triacylglycerol blood level | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79957454274 | Wet season predictive technique for monitoring the hydrocarbon degradation in a continuous discharge of wastewater in pond system | Ukpaka C.P., Ogoni H.A., Amadi S.A., Akor J.A. | 2010 | Modelling, Measurement and Control C | 71 | 02-Jan | None | Dept of Chemical/Petrochemical Engineering, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, PMB 5080, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Dept of Chemical/Petrochemical Engineering, Niger Delta of University of Bayelsa State, Wilberforce Island, Nigeria; Dept of A | Ukpaka, C.P., Dept of Chemical/Petrochemical Engineering, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, PMB 5080, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Ogoni, H.A., Dept of Chemical/Petrochemical Engineering, Niger Delta of University of Bayelsa State, Wilberforce Island, Nigeria; Amadi, S.A., Dept of Chemical/Petrochemical Engineering, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, PMB 5080, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Akor, J.A., Dept of Agriculture and Environmental Engineering, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, PMB 5080, Port Harcourt, Nigeria | Mathematical model was developed in this paper for the prediction of petroleum hydrocarbon degradation in a continuous discharge of wastewater in a pond system for wet season. The general partial differential equation obtained from the process was resolved using separation of variables tools. The functional parameters were evaluated and computed as shown in this paper, which led to the determination of maximum specific growth rate, maximum degradation rate and equilibrium constant for both theoretical and experimental obtained results. The comparison of theoretical and experimental results in terms of maximum specific growth rate and equilibrium constant shows a good match. This illustrates that the theoretical model developed is reliable and can be used to predict and monitor the degradation of individual hydrocarbon in a pond system upon the influence of momentum transfer. | Correlation; Hydrocarbon degradation; Microbial growth; Model; Pond; Wastewater | Correlation; Degradation rate; Functional parameters; Hydrocarbon degradation; Maximum specific growth rates; Microbial growth; Petroleum hydrocarbons; Pond; Pond systems; Predictive techniques; Separation of variables; Theoretical models; Wet season; Equilibrium constants; Hydrocarbons; Lakes; Mathematical models; Partial differential equations; Petroleum chemistry; Wastewater; Degradation | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-58849086675 | Performance of broilers fed raw bambarra groundnut [Vigna subterranean (L.) Verdc] offal diets supplemented with lysine and or methionine | Ukpabi U.H., Amaefule K.U., Amaefule O.M. | 2008 | International Journal of Poultry Science | 7 | 12 | 10.3923/ijps.2008.1177.1181 | Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria; Department of Animal Nutrition and Forage Science, College of Animal Science and Animal Production, Michael Okpara University of Agricultu | Ukpabi, U.H., Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria; Amaefule, K.U., Department of Animal Nutrition and Forage Science, College of Animal Science and Animal Production, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, P.M.B 7267, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria; Amaefule, O.M., Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria | One hundred and twenty 3-week old Anak broilers were used to evaluate the performance, feed cost and apparent nutrient digestibility coefficients of raw Bambarra Groundnut Offal (BGO) diets supplemented with lysine and or methionine. The experimental design was Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with each treatment replicated three times. Five treatment diets were formulated to be isoenergetic and isonitrogenous. The inclusion level of the bambarra groundnut offal in diets 2, 3, 4 and 5 was 20%. Diet 1 (control) had no BGO, lysine or methionine supplementation while diets 2, 3, 4 and 5 were supplemented with lysine, methionine, lysine + methionine and no supplementation, respectively. Parameters measured were final live weight, daily weight gain, feed intake, Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER), feed cost and apparent nutrient digestibility coefficients. Results showed that broilers fed diet 4 supplemented with lysine+methionine had improved FCR (2.05) and PER (2.37) than broilers fed other diets and was consistently similar to the control diet in all parameters measured. There were no significant (P>0.05) differences among the broilers fed the various diets in feed cost indices measured, except cost per kg feed. Broilers fed diet 4 supplemented with lysine and methionine had the highest apparent digestibility coefficient of protein (59.39%) while broilers fed diet 5 without amino acid supplementation had the lowest (52.78%). The conclusion was that raw bambarra groundnut offal should be supplemented with lysine and methionine to improve broiler FCR, PER, digestibility coefficient of CP and reduce feed cost. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2008. | Bambarra groundnut offal; Broilers; Lysine; Methionine; Performance | Arachis hypogaea; Vigna subterranea | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84922321941 | Evaluation of hormonal changes in menstrual cycle of women infected with pulmonary tuberculosis in NNEWI, south eastern Nigeria | Ukibe N.R., Onyenekwe C.C., Ahaneku J.E., Ukibe S.N., Meludu S.C., Emelumadu O., Ifeadike C.O., Ilika A., Ifeanyichukwu M.O., Igwegbe A.O., Nnadozie O. | 2014 | Indian Journal of Tuberculosis | 61 | 2 | None | Department of Human Biochemistry, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, PMB 5001, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria; Department of Chemical Pathology, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, PMB 5001 | Ukibe, N.R., Department of Human Biochemistry, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, PMB 5001, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria; Onyenekwe, C.C., Department of Human Biochemistry, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, PMB 5001, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria; Ahaneku, J.E., Department of Chemical Pathology, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, PMB 5001, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria; Ukibe, S.N., Department of Prosthesis and Orthopedic Technology, School of Health Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria; Meludu, S.C., Department of Human Biochemistry, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, PMB 5001, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria; Emelumadu, O., Department of Community Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, PMB 5001, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria; Ifeadike, C.O., Department of Community Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, PMB 5001, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria; Ilika, A., Department of Community Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, PMB 5001, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria; Ifeanyichukwu, M.O., Department of Immunology, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, PMB 5001, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria; Igwegbe, A.O., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, PMB 5001, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria; Nnadozie, O., Department of Chemical Pathology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria | Background & objective: The present study was designed to evaluate the hormonal changes in menstrual cycle of premenopausal women infected with pulmonary tuberculosis in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi. Material and Methods: A prospective study involving sixty-seven (67) female participants within the child-bearing age were randomly recruited and grouped based on their tuberculosis status as: Symptomatic TB infected females (n=20), Symptomatic TB infected females on ATT (n=20) and Control females (n=27). After due consent, a detailed medical history was obtained and routine investigations of pulmonary tuberculosis and confirmation using Ziehl Neelsen and sputum culture techniques for AFB and chest x-ray were done. Blood samples collected from the participants were used for hormonal assay using immunoenzymometric method. Results: The results showed that the serum levels of FSH and LH (μIU/ml) were significantly higher while progesterone and estradiol were significantly lower in Symptomatic TB females compared to Symptomatic TB females on ATT at follicular and luteal phases of menstrual cycle (P<0.05). The serum levels of FSH and LH were significantly reduced in Symptomatic TB females on ATT while progesterone and estradiol were significantly increased at follicular and luteal phases of menstrual cycle (P<0.05). FSH was significantly higher at follicular phase while estradiol was significantly higher at luteal phase of menstrual cycle in Symptomatic TB females on ATT. Conclusion: Tuberculosis induced hypogonadism in affected women which seemed to be reversed on treatment. Routine investigation for Tuberculosis should be done for women presenting with infertility, since early treatment can reverse the abnormality. © 2014, Tuberculosis Association of India. All rights reserved. | Anti-tuberculosis Therapy; Hormonal abnormality; Menstrual cycle; Pulmonary tuberculosis | estradiol; follitropin; luteinizing hormone; progesterone; prolactin; tuberculostatic agent; adenohypophysis hormone; estradiol; follitropin; luteinizing hormone; progesterone; acid fast bacterium; adolescent; adult; analysis of variance; antigen detection; Article; clinical article; controlled study; disease classification; disease severity; enzyme immunoassay; estradiol blood level; female; follitropin blood level; hormone determination; human; hypogonadism; immunoaffinity chromatography; lung tuberculosis; luteinizing hormone blood level; medical history; menstrual cycle; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Nigeria; polymerase chain reaction; premenopause; progesterone blood level; prospective study; randomized controlled trial; sputum culture; staining; structured questionnaire; teaching hospital; women's health; blood; lung tuberculosis; menstrual cycle; menstruation disorder; microbiology; middle aged; physiology; young adult; Adolescent; Adult; Estradiol; Female; Follicle Stimulating Hormone; Humans; Luteinizing Hormone; Menstrual Cycle; Menstruation Disturbances; Middle Aged; Nigeria; Pituitary Hormones, Anterior; Progesterone; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78650701286 | Effect of investment in human capital development on organisational performance: Empirical examination of the perception of small business owners in Nigeria | Ukenna S., Ijeoma N., Anionwu C., Olise M.C. | 2010 | European Journal of Economics, Finance and Administrative Sciences | None | 26 | None | Marketing Unit, Department of Business Management, Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu State, Nigeria; Department of Accountancy, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Anambra State, Nigeria; Department of Marketing, Cross River University of Technology, Cross River Sta | Ukenna, S., Marketing Unit, Department of Business Management, Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu State, Nigeria; Ijeoma, N., Department of Accountancy, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Anambra State, Nigeria; Anionwu, C., Department of Marketing, Cross River University of Technology, Cross River State, Nigeria; Olise, M.C., Department of Marketing, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Anambra State, Nigeria | Numerous extant studies linking human capital and organizational performance abound, but few focused on the small scale business context. Thus a study towards determining the nature of relationship between the two construct among small scale enterprise owners is thoughtful. Drawn from literature, four variable measures - skills, education, knowledge, and training - were used to predict and explain the human capital effectiveness construct. Thus, four hypotheses (one for each variable measure) were formulated linking each variable measure to the human capital effectiveness construct. The construct, organizational performance, was divided into two sub-constructs, financial organizational performance and non-financial organizational performance to formulate two additional hypotheses linking each to human capital effectiveness. Twenty-five small scale business owners were purposively selected in Awka metropolis of Nigeria. A structured five-point likert type questionnaire was designed and distributed and a 100% return rate was recorded. ANOVA, t-test, multiple regression analysis, simple regression analysis, and pearson's correlation coefficient were all employed to conduct relevant analyses. While keeping constant other factors that can impact on organizational performance, the study singled out human capital and it was shown that a high intercorelation exist among the four variable measure predictors of human capital effectiveness. A key finding of this study is that, training and skill are stronger predictors of human capital effectiveness over and above knowledge and education. This study, in no small measure, provides penetrating insight for small scale business owners in the area of human resources management. Managerial implications, limitations and opportunity for further research are discussed. © EuroJournals, Inc. 2010. | Education; Financial performance; Human capital effectiveness; Knowledge; Nigeria; Nonfinancial performance; Skill; Small business; Training | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84892525449 | Effects of poor training and development on the work performance of the fast food employees in Cape Town | Ukandu N.E., Ukpere W.I. | 2013 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 4 | 14 | 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n14p571 | Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Industrial Psychology and People Management, University of Johannesburg, P. o. Box, 524, Johannesburg, South Africa | Ukandu, N.E., Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa; Ukpere, W.I., Department of Industrial Psychology and People Management, University of Johannesburg, P. o. Box, 524, Johannesburg, South Africa | This research was conducted to establish whether the fast food employees within the Cape Town metropolis were being trained, and if not, what can be the possible reason for the lack of training. Fast food employers depend on their workers' skills, knowledge and abilities for effective customer services, which make it necessary for workers to be trained and developed to achieve a better work performance. The objective of this study is to evaluate the state of training and development within the fast food outlets, in order to establish the impact of the current state of training and development on employees' work performance. The purpose is to suggest ways of improving employee job performances through training and development at fast food outlets in Cape Town. Furthermore, to encourage the management of fast food outlets in Cape Town, in order to implement training and development of workers in their workplaces as this will improve the work performance of their employees. The sample consisted of 200 employees from different fast food outlets, out of which 123 responded. A triangulation method was utilized to find information from the different units within the fast food outlets. The the managers, cashiers, production units and others form part of the sample. A closed-ended questionnaire was used. The results obtained proved that a majority of fast food employees in Cape Town do not receive enough training compared to what they should. However, some ex-staff members suggested that there is a need for employee training and development at fast food outlets to improve their job performances. | Development; Employee work performance; Fast food outlets; Job satisfaction; Skills; Training; Workplace | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84897398367 | Factors impacting job satisfaction of employees in the fast food industry in Cape Town | Ukandu N.E., Ukpere W.I. | 2014 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 5 | 3 | 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n3p51 | Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Industrial Psychology and People Management, University of Johannesburg, P. o. Box, 524, Johannesburg, South Africa | Ukandu, N.E., Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa; Ukpere, W.I., Department of Industrial Psychology and People Management, University of Johannesburg, P. o. Box, 524, Johannesburg, South Africa | Job satisfaction increases the level of performance in any organisation including the fast food outlets. Job satisfaction helps to stimulate employees' commitment in the workplace. In other words, employee satisfaction is vital for organisational development and growth. The fast food workers are unique and have their individual needs, potentials, values and goals. Job satisfaction can also enhance the level of motivation in the workplace. Hence, when the workers are satisfied, they also tend to be motivated towards organisational goals. This paper aims to look at factors impacting the job satisfaction of employee within the fast food industry, in order to proffer ways of improving the level of job satisfaction of fast food employees, in order to achieve a high level of employee and organisational performance. A survey concentrated mainly on the fast food industry. Only fast food employees with at least six (6) months experience were selected for the study, in order to obtain a reliable and valid response. Data was obtained from both the operational workers, administration, cashiers and the managers. A total of 200 closed-ended questionnaires were distributed and 123 employees responded, which gave a response rate of 62.5%. Research finding shows that the rate of personal growth of the employees in their workplace was not satisfactory with a rate of 56.1% respondents. Also, the flexible time plan was not very satisfactory to the workers since they were given a flexible time sometimes during busy periods. In addition, the employees were not allowed to participate in decisions that affects them. It is thus proposed that fast food employees should be empowered through effective participation in decision making. Moreover, the employee skills should be improved through coaching and feedback system. | Employee Commitment; Employee dissatisfaction; Job satisfaction; Pay and benefits; Working Conditions | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84930181776 | Graphical evaluation of the prediction capabilities of partially replicated orthogonal central composite designs | Ukaegbu E.C., Chigbu P.E. | 2015 | Quality and Reliability Engineering International | 31 | 4 | 10.1002/qre.1630 | Department of Statistics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Ukaegbu, E.C., Department of Statistics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Chigbu, P.E., Department of Statistics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | In this work, the performances of the partially replicated-cube and -star (axial) portions of orthogonal central composite designs (CCD) in spherical regions are studied. The replication of the cube and star portions of the CCD without replicating the centre point for k=3, 4, 5 and 6 number of factors is the main focus. The interest is to evaluate the performance of the CCD with respect to the stability, small prediction variance and prediction capability, when replication is at other points away from the centre of the design. The variance dispersion graphs and fraction of design space plots are the two graphical techniques used while D- and G-efficiencies are the single-value optimality criteria utilized in the assessment. The results show that replicating the star portions of the CCD considerably reduces the prediction variance, thereby improving the G-efficiency in the spherical region and, therefore, recommended for prediction with precision and with smaller number of runs than replicating the cube. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. | axial distance; centre point; cube; fraction of design space plots; scaled prediction variance; spherical region; variance dispersion graphs | Design; Dispersions; Geometry; Spheres; Stars; Axial distance; centre point; cube; Fraction of design space plots; Scaled Prediction Variance; spherical region; Variance dispersion graph; Forecasting | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-44349150471 | Effect of composite cassava meal with or without palm oil and/or methionine supplementation on broiler performance | Ukachukwu S.N. | 2008 | Livestock Research for Rural Development | 20 | 4 | None | Department of Animal Nutrition and Forage Science, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, P M B 7267, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria | Ukachukwu, S.N., Department of Animal Nutrition and Forage Science, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, P M B 7267, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria | Two experiments were carried out to investigate the response of broiler chicks to substitution of composite cassava meal (CCM) for maize in broiler diets as well as to assess the impact of supplementing CCM-based diet with palm oil and/or methionine on performance of starter broiler chicks. In experiment 1 six diets in which CCM replaced maize at 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% and designated T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6, respectively were fed to 144 day-old broiler chicks in a completely randomized design (CRD) experiment. In experiment 2, five diets designated D1 (control, without CCM), D2 (maize-CCM type diet), D3 (maize-CCM type diet with methionine supplementation), D4 (maize-CCM type diet with palm oil supplementation), and D5 (maize-CCM type diet with palm oil and methionine supplementation) were fed to 150 day-old broiler birds in a CRD experiment. At end of experiment 1 (day 56), daily feed intakes (DFI) of birds in T1, T2, T3, and T4 were similar (P>0.05), but significantly lower (P<0.05) than the DFI of birds fed diet T6. Birds fed diets T1, T2, T3, and T4 had similar (P>0.05) final live weight, daily weight gain (DWG), feed conversion (FCR), and protein efficiency ratio (PER), which were significantly better (P<0.05) than the final live weight, DWG, FCR, and PER of birds fed diet T6. Generally, there was increasing intake as the CCM inclusion level increased, while the response parameters showed a general trend of decreasing performance as the inclusion level of CCM increased. On economics of production of finished broilers, the cost/Kg feed, on relative basis using the control diet (T1) as baseline, ranged from 100% to 79.62% for T1-T6 respectively. Feeding of diets T4 and T5 yielded the highest (P<0.05) gross margin (GM) values that were however similar to the GM values of birds fed diets T2 and T3 but higher (P<0.05) than the GM value of birds fed diet T1, while the GM of birds fed dietT6 was the lowest (P<0.05). In experiment 2, there were significant (P<0.05) differences among treatment means of all the parameters. Birds fed D4 and D5 diets had significantly higher (P<0.05) body weight (BWt) and daily weight gain (DWG) than birds fed D2 but were similar to those fed D1 (control) and D3.The feed conversion ratios (FCR) and protein efficiency ratios (PER) of D5, D4 and D1 were significantly higher (P<0.05) than those of D2 but similar to those of D3. | Alternative feedstuff; Broiler nutrition; Energy supplementation; Feed additives; Growth response | Aves; Manihot esculenta; Zea mays | 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-s2.0-84910092963 | Corporate board diversity and firm performance: Evidence from Nigeria | Ujunwa A., Nwakoby I., Ugbam C.O. | 2012 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 9 | 2 Continued 1 | None | Department of Banking and Finance, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria; Department of Management, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria | Ujunwa, A., Department of Banking and Finance, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria; Nwakoby, I., Department of Banking and Finance, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria; Ugbam, C.O., Department of Management, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria | This paper investigates the impact of corporate board diversity on the financial performance of Nigerian quoted firms using a panel data of 122 quoted Nigerian firms. The aspects of board diversity studied comprise board nationality, board gender and board ethnicity. The Fixed Effect Generalised Least Square Regression is used to examine the impact of board diversity on firm performance for the period: 1991-2008. The results show that gender diversity was negatively linked with firm performance, while board nationality and board ethnicity were positive in predicting firm performance. The study provides insights for practitioners and policy makers on the need to view the board as a strategic resource in line with the resource dependency theory instead of viewing the board solely from agency theory perspective. © 2012, Virtus Interpress. All rights reserved. | Board of directors; Corporate governance; Diversity; Firm performance | None | 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-s2.0-84899519898 | 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-s2.0-84961327393 | 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-s2.0-45749157640 | Comparative performance and haematological indices of finishing broilers fed Palm kernel cake, Bambara offal and Rice husk as partial replacement for maize | Ugwu S.O.C., Onyimonyi A.E., Ozonoh C.I. | 2008 | International Journal of Poultry Science | 7 | 3 | 10.3923/ijps.2008.299.303 | Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Ugwu, S.O.C., Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Onyimonyi, A.E., Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Ozonoh, C.I., Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Ninety six unsexed four weeks old Anak broilers were used to compare the performance of finishing broilers fed Palm kernel cake, Bambara offal and Rice husk as partial replacement for maize. The ninety-six broilers were divided into four groups and fed diets containing either 40 percent Maize (T1) as control or 20 percent Palm kernel cake (T2), 20 percent Bambara offal (T3) and 20 percent Rice husk (T4). Each group was replicated thrice with 8 birds per replicate in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Feed and water were provided ad libitum for the 28 days the trial lasted. Results showed that the effect of treatments on final body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and feed cost/kg gain were significant (P < 0.05). Average daily gain of 0.075kg observed in birds on T2 was significantly different (P < 0.05) from values of 0.065Kg, 0.066kg and 0.067kg recorded for birds on the control, T3 and T4 diets respectively. Also, the same group (T2) had superior feed cost per kg gain of • 118.60 which differed significantly (P < 0.05) from • 135.59 and • 154.40 observed for birds on the control and T4 diets respectively. Haematological investigation revealed that the same birds on T2 had significantly higher values (P < 0.05) of red blood cell, haemoglobin, packed cell volume and eosinophils. Results of this study showed that 20 percent PKC can effectively replace maize in diets of finishing broilers with better performance and economic returns. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2008. | Anak broilers; Bambara offal; Maize; Palm kernel cake; Rice husk | Aves; Bambara; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84908541613 | Design, construction, and evaluation of a mixed mode solar kiln with black-painted pebble bed for timber seasoning in a tropical setting | Ugwu S.N., Ugwuishiwu B.O., Ekechukwu O.V., Njoku H., Ani A.O. | 2015 | Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews | 41 | None | 10.1016/j.rser.2014.09.033 | Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; National University Commission, Abuja, Nigeria; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Ugwu, S.N., Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Ugwuishiwu, B.O., Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Ekechukwu, O.V., National University Commission, Abuja, Nigeria; Njoku, H., Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Ani, A.O., Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Different designs and improvements on solar kiln for drying different types of products have been an ongoing research interest, ranging from simple and small capacity to automated dryers with integrated storage systems. In this article, mixed-mode solar kiln with black pebble bed as absorber and storage is designed and evaluated at Nsukka, Nigeria, latitude 6.8°N. It combines heat from an external collector and from a transparent roof, making it efficient for wood seasoning in tropical areas. The kiln consists of a drying chamber of 0.362 m3 capacity, a single glazed flat plate collector and transparent roof area of 0.54 m2, a pebble bed capacity of 0.1 m3, and a kiln orientation of 7°N-S facing south. At peak periods, timber stack in the drying chamber receives hot air flow from the collector and the transparent roof simultaneously. At off-peak periods, heat stored by pebble bed helps to avert reverse flow of moist air. Test results reveal that temperatures inside the dryer and solar collector were higher than the ambient temperature at all hours of the day. Maximum drying chamber temperature, which was obtained at midday, was 61.7°C. Kiln drying reduced timber moisture content from 66.27% to 12.9% whereas open air drying reduced to 20.1% dry basis in 360 hours. Also, the initial drying rates for both kiln dried wood and control were 0.205% and 0.564% per day and the final drying rates were 0.15% and 0.08% per day, respectively. The rapid rate of drying in the kiln reveals its ability to dry timber to safe moisture level without defects. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Drying; Kiln; Moisture content; Solar; Timber; Wood | Kilns; Moisture; Timber; Wood; Mixed mode; Pebble beds; Solar; Solar kiln; Drying; Forests; Kilns; Lumber; Moisture Content; Wood | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33748942478 | Key performance indicators and assessment methods for infrastructure sustainability-a South African construction industry perspective | Ugwu O.O., Haupt T.C. | 2007 | Building and Environment | 42 | 2 | 10.1016/j.buildenv.2005.10.018 | Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Southern African Built Environment Research Center (SABERC), Faculty of Engineering, Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) Bellville, South Africa | Ugwu, O.O., Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Haupt, T.C., Southern African Built Environment Research Center (SABERC), Faculty of Engineering, Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) Bellville, South Africa | This paper identifies key performance indicators (KPI) for infrastructure delivery and maps computational methods required to achieve sustainability objectives in developing countries. It builds on previous research that developed taxonomy of infrastructure sustainability indicators and computational methods, to propose an analytical decision model and a structured methodology for sustainability appraisal in infrastructure projects in a developing country like South Africa. The paper uses the 'weighted sum model' technique in multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) and the 'additive utility model' in analytical hierarchical process (AHP) for multi-criteria decision-making, to develop the model for computing the sustainability index-a crisp value for evaluating infrastructure design proposals. It discusses the development of the KPIs that are encapsulated within the analytical model. It concludes by discussing other potential applications of the proposed model and methodology for process automation as part of integrated sustainability appraisal in infrastructure design and construction in developing countries. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Design for sustainability; Developing countries; Key performance indicators (KPI); Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA); South africa; Susaip framework; Sustainability index; Sustainability science; Utility model | Computational methods; Construction industry; Developing countries; Mathematical models; Sustainable development; Infrastructure sustainability; Key performance indicators (KPI); Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA); Sustainability index; Sustainability science; Structural design; Computational methods; Construction industry; Developing countries; Mathematical models; Structural design; Sustainable development; architectural design; construction industry; decision analysis; developing world; infrastructure; infrastructure planning; modeling; performance assessment; sustainability; Africa; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84858226639 | Unethical behaviour in Nigerian organizational settings: Its evolution, dimensions and impact on national development | Ugwu L.I. | 2011 | Asian Social Science | 7 | 2 | None | Department of Psychology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Ugwu, L.I., Department of Psychology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | A disturbing but unavoidable fact of organizational life is that employees sometimes engage in ethically questionable activities that harm their companies, their co-workers, or the general public. Unethical behaviour in the workplace can take different dimensions ranging from lying, cheating, stealing, sabotage, corruption, to hiding or destruction of official documents. The paper traced the origin of employees' unethical behaviour to the undesirable activities of the colonialists and the corresponding employees' tacit resistance that manifested in the form of unethical behaviour. The employees' undesirable activities were designed to reduce the perceived input-outcome differentials that favoured the colonialists. The questionable ethical activities of the employees have the potential of slowing down the pace of economic development and tarnish the image of the organizations, with gross reduction in public confidence, which invariably deter investors. Consequently, the economic costs of such unethical behaviour in the workplace cannot easily be estimated, but it is likely that billions of Naira is lost annually. The paper contends that individual value system, organizational practices, and wider external environments are some influential factors of unethical behaviour, and therefore, recommends periodic workshops, seminars, and ethics training for employees so that they can internalize high ethical standards in their daily behaviour. | Individual variables and organizational settings; Unethical behaviour | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79956363929 | Impacts of vehicle emissions and ambient atmospheric deposition in Nigeria on the Pb, Cd, and Ni content of fermented cassava flour processed by sun-drying | Ugwu J.N., Okoye C.O.B., Ibeto C.N. | 2011 | Human and Ecological Risk Assessment | 17 | 2 | 10.1080/10807039.2011.552400 | Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; National Center for Energy Research and Development, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Ugwu, J.N., 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; Ibeto, C.N., National Center for Energy Research and Development, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | A study of air pollution in Nigeria due to Pb, Cd, and Ni contamination of fermented cassava meant for flour production was carried out by AAS. Fermented cassava samples were purchased from farmers in the study area and one-third of each was oven-dried (OD) while the rest were sun-dried either along roadside (RS-SD) or under ambient atmosphere conditions (AA-SD). Mean concentrations (μg/g) for OD samples in year 2008 were: Pb (0.17 ± 0.04); Cd (0.04 ± 0.01); and Ni (0.27 ± 0.05) while RS-SD samples gave Pb (0.24 ± 0.08), Cd (0.04 ± 0.01), and Ni (0.48 ± 0.17). Mean values (μg/g) in 2009 for OD, AA-SD, and RS-SD, respectively, were Pb (0.03 ± 0.01, 0.05 ± 0.02, 0.15 ± 0.08), Cd (0.18 ± 0.01, 0.04 ± 0.02, 0.05 ± 0.02), and Ni (0.09 ± 0.06, 0.21 ± 0.10, 0.57 ± 0.12). Mean concentrations in sun-dried samples were greater (p <.01), while RS-SD samples were 185% in Pb, 53% in Cd, and 176% in Ni greater (p <.01) than AA-SD samples. With an estimated countrywide annual Pb emissions from petrol and diesel ranging from 616,241 to 968,086 kg, and dust, considered the major source of Cd and Ni, and other extraneous factors including metals adsorbed on pavement surfaces, sun-drying of wet foodstuff on the bare surface of roadside pavements could lead to high levels of Pb, Cd, and Ni in such food compared to drying under factory conditions or oven-drying. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. | Ambient atmospheric deposition; Cadmium; Cassava flour; Highway emissions; Lead; Nickel | Manihot esculenta | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79959593972 | Impacts of elevated prenatal blood lead on trace element status and pregnancy outcomes in occupationally non-exposed women | Ugwuja E.I., Ejikeme B., Obuna J.A. | 2011 | International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine | 2 | 3 | None | Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Ebonyi State University, P.M.B. 053, Abakaliki, Nigeria; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecol-ogy, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria | Ugwuja, E.I., Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Ebonyi State University, P.M.B. 053, Abakaliki, Nigeria; Ejikeme, B., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecol-ogy, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria; Obuna, J.A., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecol-ogy, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria | Background: Lead toxicity has been reported to affect hematopoietic, nervous, reproductive, cardiovascular and urinary tract systems. Many investigators have so far studied the effects of high blood lead levels on pregnancy outcomes. Objective: To investigate the effects of elevated maternal blood lead during pregnancy on some trace elements and pregnancy outcomes. Methods: Blood lead and plasma copper, iron and zinc were measured in 349 pregnant women with a mean±SD age of 27.0±4.8 years, and gestational age of 21.8±3.1 weeks, at recruitment using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Maternal and fetal outcomes were recorded during follow-up and at delivery, respectively. A blood lead level of >10 pg/dL was considered high. Results: Women with elevated blood lead had significantly higher plasma copper and iron and lower plasma zinc than women with low blood lead level (<10 pg/dL). Blood lead level correlated with maternal hemoglobin concentration (r=-0.1054, p=0.051) and total white blood cell count (r=0.1045, p=0.053). Hypertension, malaria and low birth weight were significantly higher (p<0.05) in women with elevated blood lead than in those with low blood lead level. Conclusion: Complications of pregnancy may be induced by a high blood lead level possibly through the alterations in trace element metabolism. | Diabetes, gesta-tional; Fetus; Lead poisoning; Nutritional status; Pre-eclampsia; Stillbirth | copper; iron; lead; zinc; adolescent; adult; article; controlled study; copper blood level; female; fetus outcome; follow up; gestational age; hemoglobin determination; human; hypertension; iron blood level; lead blood level; leukocyte count; low birth weight; malaria; nutritional status; pregnancy complication; pregnancy outcome; pregnant woman; prenatal exposure; zinc blood level; Copper; Female; Humans; Hypertension; Iron; Lead; Male; Nutritional Status; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular; Pregnancy Outcome; Prospective Studies; Spectrophotometry, Atomic; Trace Elements; Zinc | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79958285536 | Maternal sociodemographic parameters: Impact on trace element status and pregnancy outcomes in Nigerian women | Ugwuja E.I., Akubugwo E.I., Ibiam U.A., Obidoa O. | 2011 | Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition | 29 | 2 | None | Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Ebonyi State University, PMB 053 Abakaliki, Nigeria; Department of Biochemistry, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Ebonyi Stat | Ugwuja, E.I., Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Ebonyi State University, PMB 053 Abakaliki, Nigeria; Akubugwo, E.I., Department of Biochemistry, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria; Ibiam, U.A., Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Ebonyi State University, PMB 053 Abakaliki, Nigeria; Obidoa, O., Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | To determine the impact of socioeconomic status on plasma trace element status and pregnancy outcomes, 349 pregnant women, aged 15-40 years (mean 27.04 ±2.75 years), recruited at ≤25 weeks (mean 21.76±3.12 weeks) gestational age, were followed up till delivery during which maternal and foetal outcomes were recorded. Plasma copper, iron, and zinc were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer while maternal sociodemographic data were obtained using a questionnaire. Except for copper, lower plasma iron and zinc were significantly (p<0.05) higher in women from socioeconomically-disadvantaged groups. Both adverse maternal health and foetal outcomes also seemed to be more prevalent in socioeconomically-disadvantaged women, although without a definite trend. This study has shown that, in economically-disadvantaged setting of developing countries, maternal socioeconomic status impacts on maternal trace element (copper, iron, and zinc) status and health and foetal outcomes. © International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh. | Maternal nutrition; Morbidity; Nigeria; Pregnancy outcomes; Socioeconomic status; Trace elements | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78649604741 | Impact of maternal copper and zinc status on pregnancy outcomes in a population of pregnant Nigerians | Ugwuja E.I., Akubugwo E.I., Ibiam U.A., Obidoa O. | 2010 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 9 | 7 | None | Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Ebonyi State University, P.M.B. 053, Abakaliki, Nigeria; Department of Biochemistry, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Ebonyi | Ugwuja, E.I., Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Ebonyi State University, P.M.B. 053, Abakaliki, Nigeria; Akubugwo, E.I., Department of Biochemistry, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria; Ibiam, U.A., Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Ebonyi State University, P.M.B. 053, Abakaliki, Nigeria; Obidoa, O., Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Micronutrient deficiencies, especially during pregnancy have been identified as important public health problem especially in economically disadvantaged settings. To determine the effect of maternal deficiencies of copper and zinc on pregnancy outcomes in a population of pregnant Nigerians, 349 pregnant women aged 15-40 years (mean; 27.04±2.75 years) recruited at gestational age of ≤25 week (mean; 21.8±3.14 wks) were evaluated for plasma copper and zinc using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The women were followed-up till delivery during which maternal morbidity and foetal outcomes were recorded. Both maternal sociodemographic and obstetric data were obtained by questionnaire. One hundred and sixty (45.8%) women were zinc deficient (mean = 2.65±1.16 μmol/I), 58.2% were deficient in copper (mean = 3.26±1.80 μmol/I), 23.8% were deficient in both copper and zinc while 18.6% were not deficient in either copper or zinc. There was comparative prevalence of illness in copper-deficient and copper-adequate mothers, except for hypertension which was significantly (p = 0.021) higher in the former. Significantly (p = 0.026) higher proportion of zinc adequate pregnant women suffered upper respiratory tract infections and malaria when compared with their zinc deficient counterparts. However, the prevalence of diabetes mellitus was found to be significantly (p<0.05) higher in mothers who were zinc deficient. Both plasma copper and zinc status had no significant effect on foetal outcome. The reason for the lack of effect of copper and zinc deficiencies on foetal outcomes in the presence of adverse maternal outcomes remained unknown. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2010. | Copper and zinc deficiencies; Pregnant Nigerian women; Public health | copper; zinc; adolescent; adult; article; atomic absorption spectrometry; controlled study; copper blood level; copper deficiency; demography; diabetes mellitus; disease association; female; fetus outcome; follow up; gestational age; human; major clinical study; malaria; maternal hypertension; maternal morbidity; maternal nutrition; Nigeria; nutritional assessment; nutritional status; pregnancy outcome; pregnant woman; public health problem; social status; upper respiratory tract infection; zinc blood level; zinc deficiency | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77953576202 | Impact of maternal Helicobacter pylori infection on trace elements (Copper, Iron and Zinc) and pregnancy outcomes | Ugwuja E.I., Akubugwo E.I. | 2009 | Online Journal of Health and Allied Sciences | 8 | 4 | None | Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Ebonyi State University, P.M.B. 053 Abakaliki, Nigeria; Department of Biochemistry, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria | Ugwuja, E.I., Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Ebonyi State University, P.M.B. 053 Abakaliki, Nigeria; Akubugwo, E.I., Department of Biochemistry, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria | Background: H. pylori infection has been suggested to interfere with micronutrient metabolism and influence pregnancy outcomes. Objectives: This study therefore seeks to document the prevalence of H. pylori seroposivity among pregnant women and to determine its impact on some trace element status and pregnancy outcomes. Materials and methods: Three hundred and forty nine consenting pregnant women aged 15-40 years (mean; 27. 04 ± 4. 75 years) and gestational age ≤ 25 weeks (mean 21.77 ± 3.14 wks) attending antenatal clinic at Federal Medical Centre, Abakaliki, between July 2007 and September 2008 participated in the study. H. Pylori antibody (IgG) was determined by a new generation ELISA method. Plasma copper, iron and zinc were analysed using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Bulk Scientific AVG 210 Model) while haemoglobin and albumin were analysed using standard haematological and biochemical techniques. Both maternal sociodemographic and anthropometric parameters were recorded at recruitment. The women were followed-up till delivery after which neonatal anthropometrics and other birth outcomes were recorded. Results: H. pylori seroprevalence of 24.1% (84/349) was recorded with higher prevalence in multiparous and older women. H. pylori infected women had significantly higher BMI (29.00 ± 3.89 vs. 26.86 ± 4.10, p = 0.020) and lower (p > 0.05) plasma levels of Cu, Fe, Zn, albumin, and haemoglobin when compared to non-infected women. Also H. pylori infected women had significantly (p < 0.05) higher rates of convulsion and concomitant illnesses than their non-infected counterparts, although there was no difference in the two groups for other pregnancy outcomes. Conclusion: H. pylori infection during pregnancy seems to interfere with trace element metabolism and contribute significantly to increased maternal morbidity. Prior to confirmation of these findings in a well controlled randomised trial, it is suggested that pregnant women be screened for H. pylori infection to reduce H. pylori associated morbidities during pregnancy. | Copper; H. pylori; Iron; Nigeria; Pregnancy; Trace elements; Zinc | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-82855167106 | Performance assessment of Hargreaves model in estimating solar radiation in Abuja using minimum climatological data | Ugwu A.I., Ugwuanyi J.U. | 2011 | International Journal of Physical Sciences | 6 | 31 | 10.5897/IJPS11.1403 | Physics Department, FCT College of Education, Abuja, Nigeria; Physics Department, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria | Ugwu, A.I., Physics Department, FCT College of Education, Abuja, Nigeria; Ugwuanyi, J.U., Physics Department, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria | Lack of incident solar radiation is a significant impediment for most related research applications. Mathematical models have been handy in reducing challenges being posed by inability of having solar radiation instrumental sites at every point on the Earth. Hargreaves-Samani's model is one of the several empirical methods so far formulated in estimating global solar radiation (GSR) from maximum and minimum temperature data. Most of these models are often been applied in mid-latitudes. The paper attempts to assess the performance of Hargreaves-Samani's model in the Savanna region using Abuja as the case study. Estimated values of GSR from one month data adapted from Nigeria meteorological Agency (NIMET); using Hargreaves' model shows 90% index of agreement (IA) with the observed values; which suggests a good model performance that has significant correction of about 29%. Concepts are suggested on improving the model performance in the savannah region. © 2011 Academic Journals. | Air temperature; Global Solar radiation; Inversion-layer; Model validation | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-38149074690 | Evaluation of body surface area as a determinant of cholecystodynamics due to orally administered standardized skimmed milk | Ugwu A.C. | 2008 | Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography | 24 | 1 | 10.1177/8756479307311912 | Federal Medical Centre, Abakaliki, Nigeria; Federal Medical Centre, F.M.B. 102, Abakaliki, Nigeria | Ugwu, A.C., Federal Medical Centre, Abakaliki, Nigeria, Federal Medical Centre, F.M.B. 102, Abakaliki, Nigeria | The author studied the relationship between body surface area and both the gallbladder contraction index and gallbladder emptying rate. Using the ellipsoid formula, gallbladder volumes were sonographically measured in the preprandial state and 20 minutes after a standardized fatty meal in 62 subjects. Gallbladder contraction indices and emptying rates were calculated. The body surface area of 61 subjects who followed the study design was computed from their height and weight measurements. Parametric tests also were carried out, revealing that there were no significant correlations between body surface area and gallbladder contraction index and gallbladder emptying rate. Dosing in cholecystodynamic studies may be limited by lack of correlation between gallbladder emptying rate and body surface area. | Body surface area; Cholecystodynamics; Milk; Sonography | adult; article; body surface; cholecystography; controlled study; echography; female; gallbladder contraction; gallbladder emptying; human; human experiment; male; milk; normal human; priority journal | 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-s2.0-84889102303 | Evaluation of the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effect of Caralluma dalzielii | Ugwah-Oguejiofor C.J., Abubakar K., Ugwah M.O., Njan A.A. | 2013 | Journal of Ethnopharmacology | 150 | 3 | 10.1016/j.jep.2013.09.049 | Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B. 2346 Sokoto, Nigeria; Department of Pharmacology, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B. 2346 Sokoto, Nigeria | Ugwah-Oguejiofor, C.J., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B. 2346 Sokoto, Nigeria; Abubakar, K., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B. 2346 Sokoto, Nigeria; Ugwah, M.O., Department of Pharmacology, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B. 2346 Sokoto, Nigeria; Njan, A.A., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B. 2346 Sokoto, Nigeria | Ethnopharmacological relevance Caralluma dalzielii has been used for treating several ailments including convulsion, leprosy, snake bites, otitis (ear pain), fungal diseases and rheumatoid arthritis in Northern Nigeria. However there is no scientific evidence to support its use in literature. To evaluate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of the aqueous extract of Caralluma dalzielii in animal models. Materials and methods The antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties were assessed using acetic acid induced writhing test in mice, sub plantar formalin induced nociception, the tail-flick test and formalin induced oedema in rats. Three doses of the extract (25, 50, 100 mg/kg) were used for the assessment. Results Caralluma dalzielii extract demonstrated strong dose-dependent antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities in all the models employed. All doses (25, 50, 100 mg/kg) produced a significant percentage inhibition (41.77, 77.11, and 90.76% in the early phase and 52.02, 85.35, 93.93% in the late phase) in the acetic acid writhing test and (42.85, 55.71, 86.43% in the early phase and 23.26, 37.98, 72.87 in the late phase) in the formalin induced nociception test, respectively. The tail-flick test showed a significant increase in the antinociceptive effect of the extract in both early and late phases when compared with the control. The inhibition of oedema in the formalin test was significant when compared to the control. Conclusion The results indicated that Caralluma dalzielii showed excellent antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties suggesting that its traditional use in the treatment of pains and inflammatory diseases may be valid. © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. | Anti-inflammation; Antinociception; Caralluma dalzielii; Medicinal plant; Phytochemistry | acetic acid; antiinflammatory agent; antinociceptive agent; Caralluma dalzielii extract; formaldehyde; piroxicam; unclassified drug; animal experiment; animal model; antiinflammatory activity; antinociception; Apocynaceae; aqueous solution; article; Caralluma dalzielii; controlled study; male; mouse; nociception; nonhuman; paw edema; reaction time; tail flick test; writhing test; Animalia; Caralluma; Mus; Rattus; Anti-inflammation; Antinociception; Caralluma dalzielii; Medicinal plant; Phytochemistry; Acetic Acid; Analgesics; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Asclepiadaceae; Formaldehyde; Hot Temperature; Male; Mice; Pain; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Rats, Wistar | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84860146024 | Sonographic evaluation of the renal volume in normal pregnancy at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital: A pilot study | Ugboma E.W., Ugboma H.A.A., Nwankwo N.C., Okpani A.O.U. | 2012 | Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research | 6 | 2 | JCDR/3657:1910 | Department of Radiology, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Alakhia, River State, Nigeria; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Alakhia, River State, Nigeria; Department of Radiology, Univers | Ugboma, E.W., Department of Radiology, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Alakhia, River State, Nigeria; Ugboma, H.A.A., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Alakhia, River State, Nigeria; Nwankwo, N.C., Department of Radiology, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Alakhia, River State, Nigeria; Okpani, A.O.U., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Alakhia, River State, Nigeria | Introduction: The renal system is affected by the changes that occur in pregnancy, with the renal volume being one of the most important changes that occur. The data on the renal volume changes in pregnancy in the west African sub region, including Nigeria, is apparently sparse. Objective: The purpose of this study was to sonographically establish the range of the renal volume in normal pregnant women in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. Subjects and Methods: A prospective, descriptive, cross sectional study on the sonographic measurements of the renal volume was performed on 150 healthy, normal, pregnant women. The renal volume was calculated by using the ellipsoid method. The body mass index, gestational age and parity were obtained. The correlations between the variables were calculated. Results: The age distribution of the women ranged from 20-41, with a mean of 29.7 years and the parity ranged from 0-6. The gestational age ranged from 9-40 weeks, while the body mass index ranged from 19.5 to 54. A mean renal volume of 163.44cm 3 +(SD) 51.3 and 141.85cm 3 + 41.07 for the left and right kidneys respectively, was obtained, with a range of 100cm 3-214cm 3 for both the kidneys. The mean renal volume was seen to increase with an increase in the gestational age and the body mass index. It was not so with the parity. The mean renal volume significantly correlated positively with the gestational age (r=0.29 and 0.11 (p<0.001) for the left and right kidneys respectively) and the body mass index (r=0.25 and r=0.24, (p<0.001) for the right and left kidneys respectively), but not with the parity (r=0.04 and 0.07, (p< 0.17) for the left and right kidneys respectively). The left mean renal volume was found to be significantly larger in the left kidney than in the right one. Conclusion: This study was able to establish a range of sonographic measurement of the renal volume in normal pregnancy for the locality. | Normal pregnancy; Renal volume; Ultrasound scan | adult; age distribution; article; body mass; controlled study; cross-sectional study; descriptive research; echography; female; gestational age; human; kidney mass; Nigeria; parity; pilot study; pregnancy; prospective study | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34547899539 | Influence of supervisors' gender on mathematics student teachers' performance in teaching practice | Ugboduma S.O., Eze A.E. | 2007 | European Journal of Scientific Research | 17 | 4 | None | Mathematics Department, Delta State College of Sports and Science Education, Mosogar, Nigeria; Department of Mathematics, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, Nigeria | Ugboduma, S.O., Mathematics Department, Delta State College of Sports and Science Education, Mosogar, Nigeria; Eze, A.E., Department of Mathematics, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, Nigeria | This paper examined the influence of supervisors' gender on mathematics student teachers performance in teaching practice. Four hypotheses were formulated for the study, and t-test statistics was used to test the hypotheses. The study was limited to students of mathematics department of Faculty of Education, Delta State University, Abraka. The research method used was ex-post facto design and the instrument use was direct observation and official records which consisted of teaching practice results for 2003/2004 and 2004/2005 Sessions. Two research questions were adopted for the study. Analysis of results revealed the following findings: Male students performed higher with average mean of 3.78 in teaching practice than their female counterparts with average mean of 3.62, mean difference of 0.16 in mathematics department despite the supervisors; and student supervised by male supervisors performed higher with average mean of 7.83 in teaching practice than those supervised by female supervisors with average mean of 6.96, mean difference of 0.87. The difference observed was however not statistically significant showing that supervisors' gender does not influence mathematics student teachers' performance in teaching practice. © EuroJournals Publishing, Inc. 2007. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34250650095 | The Lake Bosumtwi meteorite impact structure, Ghana - Where is the magnetic source? | Ugalde H., Morris W.A., Pesonen L.J., Danuor S.K. | 2007 | Meteoritics and Planetary Science | 42 | 42465 | None | McMaster Applied Geophysics and Geological Imaging Consortium, School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada; Division of Geophysics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Physics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana | Ugalde, H., McMaster Applied Geophysics and Geological Imaging Consortium, School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada; Morris, W.A., McMaster Applied Geophysics and Geological Imaging Consortium, School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada; Pesonen, L.J., Division of Geophysics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Danuor, S.K., Department of Physics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana | The Bosumtwi impact structure (Ghana) is a young and well-preserved structure where a vast amount of information is available to constrain any geophysical model. Previous analysis of the airborne magnetic data and results of numerical simulation of impact predicted a strongly magnetic impact-melt body underneath the lake. Recent drilling through the structure did not penetrate such an expected impact-melt rock magnetic source. A new 3-D magnetic model for the structure was constructed based on a newly acquired higher-resolution marine magnetic data set, with consideration of the observed gravity data on the lake, previous seismic models, and the magnetic properties and lithology identified in the two International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) deep boreholes. The new model contains highly magnetic bodies located in the northeast sector of the structure, not centered onto the drilling sites. As in previous models, higher magnetization than that measured in outcropping impactites had to be assigned to the unexposed source bodies. Integration of the new model with the borehole petrophysics and published geology indicates that these bodies likely correspond to an extension to the south of the Kumasi batholith, which outcrops to the northeast of the structure. The possibility that these source bodies are related to the seismically identified central uplift or to an unmapped impact-melt sheet predicted by previous models of the structure is not supported. Detailed magnetic scanning of the Kumasi batholith to the north, and the Bansu intrusion to the south, would provide a test for this interpretation. © The Meteoritical Society, 2007. Printed in USA. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34250661060 | Integrated 3-D model from gravity and petrophysical data at the Bosumtwi impact structure, Ghana | Ugalde H., Danuor S.K., Milkereit B. | 2007 | Meteoritics and Planetary Science | 42 | 42465 | None | McMaster Applied Geophysics and Geological Imaging Consortium, School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada; Department of Physics, University of Toronto, 60 Saint George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 1A7, Canada; Department of Physics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana | Ugalde, H., McMaster Applied Geophysics and Geological Imaging Consortium, School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada, Department of Physics, University of Toronto, 60 Saint George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 1A7, Canada; Danuor, S.K., Department of Physics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Milkereit, B., Department of Physics, University of Toronto, 60 Saint George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 1A7, Canada | The Bosumtwi impact structure of central Ghana was drilled in 2004 as part of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP). A vast amount of geoscience data is available from the pre-site surveys and the actual drilling phase. A 3-D gravity model was constructed and calibrated with the available data from the two ICDP boreholes, LB-07A and LB-08A. The 3-D gravity model results agree well with both the sediment thickness and size of the central uplift revealed by previously collected seismic data, and with the petrophysical data from the LB-08A and LB-07A core materials and the two borehole logs. Furthermore, the model exhibits lateral density variations across the structure and refines the results from previous 2.5-D modeling. An important new element of the 3-D model is that the thickness of the intervals comprising polymict lithic impact breccia and suevite, monomict lithic breccia and fractured basement is much smaller than that predicted by numerical modeling. © The Meteoritical Society, 2007. Printed in USA. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84904088064 | Job motivation, job performance and gender relations in the broadcast sector in Nigeria | Ufuophu-Biri E., Iwu C.G. | 2014 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 5 | 16 | 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n16p191 | Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria; Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa | Ufuophu-Biri, E., Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria; Iwu, C.G., Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa | Within management scholarship, a common link has been established between motivation and job performance. This is based on the argument that high job motivation will likely lead to high job performance. Also, studies have argued that gender seems to play a significant role in employees' job motivation and job performance in some professions, especially in developing countries. Therefore determining if gender has any association to job motivation and performance in the broadcast sector in Delta State of Nigeria could lead to improvements in the workplace that will help broadcast staff to remain satisfied with their jobs. This was based on previous research that has linked job motivation and job performance to organisational commitment, turnover intentions and absenteeism. Data for this study was collected with the help of a questionnaire, which contained closed-ended, open-ended and Likert scaled questions. The sample of 600 respondents was selected through a multi-stage sampling procedure.The study found no significant correlation between gender and job motivation and job performance respectively. | Delta State; Digital broadcasting tools; Job motivation; Job performance; Nigeria | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84860877339 | Business studies academic performance differences of secondary school juniors in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria | Udoukpong B.E., Emah I.E., Umoren S.E. | 2012 | International Education Studies | 5 | 2 | 10.5539/ies.v5n2p35 | Department of Educational Foundations Guidance and Counselling, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria; Department of Curriculum Studies Educational Management and Planning, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria; Government Technical College, Uyo, Nigeria | Udoukpong, B.E., Department of Educational Foundations Guidance and Counselling, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria; Emah, I.E., Department of Curriculum Studies Educational Management and Planning, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria; Umoren, S.E., Government Technical College, Uyo, Nigeria | The research examined the differences in the academic performance in Business Studies of a sampled secondary school junior students in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria. A sample of 290 (138 male and 152 female) Junior Secondary Three (9 th grade) students was surveyed. The students' variables' being examined vis-à-vis academic performance in Business Studies were: 1) gender and 2) self-concept. Students' academic performance in Business Studies differed significantly on the basis of gender and self-concept. Implications for students' personal variables considerations in the teaching-learning of Business Studies are suggested. | Academic performance; Business studies; Gender; Self-concept | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33644630279 | Ergonomic workplace construction, evaluation and improvement by CADWORK | Udosen U.J. | 2006 | International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics | 36 | 3 | 10.1016/j.ergon.2005.11.005 | Production Engineering Department, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria | Udosen, U.J., Production Engineering Department, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria | The interactive capability of CADWORK has been demonstrated for construction, evaluation and improvement of a workplace for the assembly of a domestic fan. Data prepared in accordance with the requirements of the CADWORK system were fed into the computerized workplace heuristic and a workplace constructed from scratch was evaluated to give an assembly time of 1889.72 TMU at 100 BS performance level. The workplace was, then interactively adjusted by movement of some bins in the workplace to seek improvement. The cycle time simulated by CADWORK for the best improved workplace was 1654.89 TMU at 100 BS performance level. Computerized workplace design is quite relevant in industry as it enables various workplace layouts to be easily generated, evaluated and improved in situ, such that selection of the best layout is possible from the standpoints of ergonomics considerations and the anthropometric data of the operator who would use it. The criterion employed by CADWORK for workplace appraisal and selection, is the minimization of the cycle time of the product assembled using the workplace constructed or modified via the CADWORK heuristic. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Assembly operation; CADWORK; Computerized workplace design; Workplace construction; Workplace evaluation; Workplace improvement | Computer aided design; Computer simulation; Evaluation; Heuristic methods; Assembly operation; CADWORK; Computerized workplace design; Workplace evaluation; Ergonomics; anthropometry; article; computer aided design; computer program; computer simulation; construction work; ergonomics; operator; priority journal; workplace | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84880666739 | Effect of intra-row spacing and weeding frequency on the yield performance of sesame/cowpea intercrop | Udom G.N., Fagam A.S., Ekwere E. | 2006 | Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture | 18 | 2 | None | School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria | Udom, G.N., School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria; Fagam, A.S., School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria; Ekwere, E., School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria | Field experiments were conducted simultaneously at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching and Research Farm, Bauchi, and Bauchi State Agricultural Development Programme experimental sites, Bauchi (Lat. 10° 17'N 9° 49' E, and 609m above sea level), in the Northern Guinea savannah ecological zone of Nigeria during the 2002 wet season to study the response of sesame/ cowpea mixture to weeding frequency and intra-row spacings. The treatments were laid out in a randomised complete block design with three replications. The result showed that the number of capsules per plant, 100-seed weight, capsules and grain yield per hectare of sesame were significantly (P<0.05) increased by one weeding frequency only at location I. The parameters were not significantly affected by weeding frequency in location II. The capsules length, number of capsules per plant, capsules and grain yield were significantly (P<0.05) affected by intra-row spacings. The capsules and grain yield of sesame increased significantly (P<0.05) with decreasing intra-row spacing and conversely capsules length and number decreased with decreasing intra-row spacing. The number of pods of cowpea significantly (P<0.05) increased by two weeding frequencies at location I and pod yield per hectare was also increased significantly by twice weeding at location II. All the other parameters such as pod lands, seeds per pod, 100-seed weight and grain yield per hectare were not significantly affected by the treatments. The interaction between the intra-row spacings and weeding frequency were significant in affecting number of seed per capsules and 100-seed weight of sesame at location I, and number of pods and seed per pod of cowpea at location II. Intra-row spacing of 30cm and twice weedings produced the highest number of seed per capsules (68.2) and 20cm intra-row spacings with twice weeding produced the highest 100- seed weight. However, 30cm intra-row spacings with one weeding had highest number of pods (24.3) in cowpea plant and also 30cm intra-row spacing with twice weedings produced the highest seeds per pod in cowpea. | Intra-row spacing; Sesame/cowpea; Weeding; Yield | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84856284354 | Computer-based science simulations, guided-discovery and students performance in chemistry | Udo M.E., Etiubon R.U. | 2011 | Modern Applied Science | 5 | 6 | 10.5539/mas.v5n6p211 | Department of Science Education, Univeristy of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria | Udo, M.E., Department of Science Education, Univeristy of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria; Etiubon, R.U., Department of Science Education, Univeristy of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria | This study investigated the relative effectiveness of computer-based science simulations on students' achievement in chemistry at the secondary school level when compared with guided-discovery and the traditional expository teaching methods. The study used non- randomized pre-test - post-test control group design. The study sample was 89 Senior Secondary II (SSII) chemistry students drawn from Uyo Local Government Area, Akwa lbom State, Nigeria. Criterion sampling technique was used for sampling. Two hypotheses were tested. The instrument used in collecting data was a researcher-developed 25-item 4-option multiple choice test - the Chemistry Achievement Test (CAT) - designed to measure students' achievement in the area of chemical combination. The test had a reliability index of 0.72 determined using test-retest approach. The results of data analysis using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) showed that students taught by computer-based science simulations performed significantly better than those taught using the traditional expository method, (mean diff = 4.34; sig. = 032), but had comparable performance with those taught with guided-discovery approach (mean diff = 85; sig = 869). That is, computer based simulation method is as effective as guided-discovery, but significantly better than the traditional expository method; and that gender is not a strong determinant of students' performance in chemistry. Based on the findings, it was recommended, among others, that chemistry teachers should adopt computer-based simulation technique in teaching chemistry concepts in view of its high facilitative effect on students' performance. | Computer-based science simulations; Expository method; Guided-discovery; Students achievement | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84904347663 | Optimal controllability of manpower system with linear quadratic performance index | Udom A.U. | 2014 | Brazilian Journal of Probability and Statistics | 28 | 2 | 10.1214/12-BJPS195 | Department of Statistics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria | Udom, A.U., Department of Statistics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria | In classical manpower systems analysis, control of the system usually results in a set of admissible controls. This forms the basis for the use of the concepts of optimal control to distinguish this set of admissible controls for optimality. In this paper, the concepts of classical deterministic optimal control are extended to examine the optimal controllability of manpower system modeled by stochastic differential equations in terms of the differential flow matrices for both time varying and time invariant manpower systems. Necessary and sufficient conditions for controllability are given. The Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman (HJB) equation is used to obtain an algebraic Riccati equation for an optimal tracking linear quadratic problem in a finite time horizon. A 2-norm optimality criterion which is equivalent to a minimum effort criterion is used to obtain a 2-norm optimal control for the system. An optimal time control is also obtained. © Brazilian Statistical Association, 2014. | Controllability; Manpower system; Stochastic differential equation | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84886611907 | Laboratory evaluation of toxic and repellent properties of dracaena arborea against sitophilus zeamais and callosobruchus maculatus | Udo I.O. | 2011 | Pakistan Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research Series B: Biological Sciences | 54 | 3 | None | Department of Crop Science, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria | Udo, I.O., Department of Crop Science, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria | Laboratory evaluation of ethanolic extract of Dracaena arborea leaves partitioned between equal volumes of chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-hexane and n-butanol to obtain various fractions was carried out to assess contact toxicity on filter paper and by topical application, toxicity of extracts applied on grains and repellent action against Sitophilus zeamais (Mots.) and Callosobruchus maculatus Fabricius on stored grains. Insects were exposed to both treated and untreated surfaces and mortality was scored at different times after treatment. Results obtained from the study showed the extract fractions causing significant mortality of both insects exposed to treatments. A contact toxicity of over 80% was recorded against S. zeamais from ethyl acetate fraction. Similarly, 100% mortality was recorded against C. maculatus from ethyl acetate fraction after 96 h of treatment. Results obtained from grain treatment produced a significant mortality of over 60% against C. maculatus from n-hexane fraction while the aqueous fraction significantly killed S. zeamais by over 15% compared with the control treatment. A strong repellent action was evoked against S. zeamais while moderate action was recorded against C. maculatus. An overall repellency of 40% and 24% was recorded from various extract fractions against S. zeamais and C. maculatus, respectively. The results obtained suggest a promising alternative to synthetic insecticides and the incorporation of D. arborea into storage pest management system is advised. | Callosobruchus; Dracaena arborea; Extract fractions maculatus; Repellency; Sitophilus zeamis; Stored grains; Toxicity | beetle; biocontrol agent; biological control; ethanol; food storage; laboratory method; monocotyledon; mortality; plant extract; repellent; toxicity; Callosobruchus; Callosobruchus maculatus; Dracaena arborea; Hexapoda; Sitophilus; Sitophilus zeamais | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84955609882 | Histopathological evaluation of H. Pylori associated gastric lesions in benin city, Nigeria | Udoh M.O., Obaseki D.E. | 2012 | East African Medical Journal | 89 | 12 | None | Department of Pathology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, PMB 1111, Benin-city, Nigeria | Udoh, M.O., Department of Pathology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, PMB 1111, Benin-city, Nigeria; Obaseki, D.E., Department of Pathology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, PMB 1111, Benin-city, Nigeria | Background: Endoscopic biopsy of the gastric mucosa allows early diagnosis, grading, staging and classification of gastric diseases. Helicobacter pylori, has been recognized as a major aetiologic factor for chronic gastritis, benign gastric ulcers and gastric adenocarcinoma and lymphoma. The loco-regional variability in the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori and associated diseases in Nigeria, emphasise the need for evaluation of subsets of a heterogeneous population like ours Objective: To determine the frequency of helicobacter pylori in gastric endoscopic biopsies and document the pathology of gastric lesions commonly associated with Helicobacter pylori infection. Design: Retrospective descriptive study. Settings: University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), and Biogenics Histopathology Laboratory (a private Histopathology Laboratory), both based in Benin City, Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Subjects: Endoscopic gastric biopsies recorded in the surgical pathology register of the department from 2005-2009 were studied and relevant demographic and clinical information extracted from the registers, original request cards and patient case files. The clinical data and slides processed from paraffin embedded tissue blocks of endoscopic biopsies of gastric lesions seen from year 2005 to 2009 were studied, analyzed and statistically presented. Results: Total number of specimens studied was 142. Chronic gastritis was present in 117(82.39%) specimens; 9(6.34%) were benign gastric ulcers; 3(2.11%) were gastric polyps; and 11(7.75%) were gastric malignancies. Helicobacter pylori, was demonstrated in 55.6% of all specimens. The peak age for Chronic Gastritis and Gastric Cancer is the 6th decade. Amongst patients with chronic gastritis, inflammatory activity was present in 65%; atrophy in 53%; and intestinal metaplasia in 16.6%. All gastric malignancies seen were intestinal type adenocarcinomas. Conclusion: The spectrum of lesions diagnosed in gastric endoscopic biopsy specimens in Benin, their frequency and associations are largely comparable to what has been described elsewhere in Nigeria and Africa. © 2012, East African Medical Association. All rights reserved. | Endoscopic biopsies; Gastric lesions; Helicobacter pylori | adenocarcinoma; adolescent; adult; age distribution; aged; biopsy; cancer staging; child; chronic disease; early diagnosis; female; gastric mucosa; gastritis; Helicobacter Infections; Helicobacter pylori; human; infant; isolation and purification; male; microbiology; middle aged; Nigeria; pathology; predictive value; preschool child; retrospective study; sensitivity and specificity; severity of illness index; Stomach Diseases; stomach tumor; stomach ulcer; teaching hospital; very elderly; Adenocarcinoma; Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biopsy; Child; Child, Preschool; Chronic Disease; Early Detection of Cancer; Early Diagnosis; Female; Gastric Mucosa; Gastritis; Helicobacter Infections; Helicobacter pylori; Hospitals, Teaching; Humans; Infant; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Nigeria; Predictive Value of Tests; Retrospective Studies; Sensitivity and Specificity; Severity of Illness Index; Stomach Diseases; Stomach Neoplasms; Stomach Ulcer | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84901946635 | Perception of impact of donor agencies on the socio-economic well-being of fisher folks in Southeast Nigeria [Percepcija utjecaja donatorskih agencija na socioekonomski položaj ribara u jugoistočnoj Nigeriji] | Udoh J.P., Okoko A.C. | 2014 | Ribarstvo, Croatian Journal of Fisheries | 72 | 2 | 10.14798/72.2.714 | Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Environmental Management, University of Uyo, P.M.B. 1017, Uyo - 520001, Nigeria; Fisheries Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria | Udoh, J.P., Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Environmental Management, University of Uyo, P.M.B. 1017, Uyo - 520001, Nigeria; Okoko, A.C., Fisheries Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria | The study evaluated the overall influence of International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) fisheries intervention on the socio-economic wellbeing of fisher folks in Akwa Ibom State, southeast Nigeria, using bi-polar and transformed five-point likert scales. A multi-stage sampling technique was adopted to select 220 beneficiaries, resident in five IFAD-intervention recipient coastal fishing settlements from five benefiting Local Government Areas in the State. The beneficiaries/respondents were mostly women (63.3%), had at least primary education (39.90%), households of 4-7 members, married (63.36%) and aged between 34 and 55 years (79.80%). The beneficiaries' perception revealed multidimensional aspects of wellbeing; what one respondent considered as important indicator of wellbeing may be different from the other. Results revealed affective and high utilization of IFAD intervention among beneficiaries. The beneficiaries reported high utilization of scarce facilities. This high level of utilization abdicates that the intervention contributed adequately to the socioeconomic wellbeing of respondents. The change in wellbeing of the beneficiaries was short-lived, most of who still lived in poor accommodation (huts = 40.37%) and depend on kerosene lamp (60.55%) for lighting. Over 56.9% of respondents depended on well water as their source of drinking water while 56.40% depended on local chemist shop for healthcare treatment. The study posits that wellbeing has several dimensions; hence, interventions in fisher folk communities should be intensive, broad and multidimensional in approach. It is possible that with repeated research and continual intervention over a ten year period visible socio-economic improvements could be effected. © The Author(s) 2014. Published by University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture. All rights reserved. | Fisheries development; Livelihood; Poverty; Well-being index | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84860722665 | Evaluation of the hydraulic conductivity of cover systems for mineral waste capping projects | Udoh F.D. | 2012 | Journal of Industrial Pollution Control | 28 | 1 | None | Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Uyo, Uyo - Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria | Udoh, F.D., Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Uyo, Uyo - Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria | Laboratory tests and simulations were performed to evaluate the effectiveness of various capping systems in reducing drainage from mineral stockpiles. ASTM soil testing standards were used to evaluate the physical properties of the materials in order to establish a cover system that produced the highest soil density and lowest soil permeability when compacted at optimum moisture content. After laboratory tests were completed, four barrier materials were selected for further evaluation. The laboratory hydraulic conductivity of the selected materials were all less than or equal to 2 × 10-6 cm/sec., the maximum value allowed by Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). The effective hydraulic conductivities of the barriers were estimated using the EPA HELP (Hydrologic Evaluation of Landfill Performance) model. Model results indicated that the major water loss occurred through evapotranspiration and the single most important design parameter affecting infiltration was, not surprisingly, the hydraulic conductivity of the barrier. An analysis of key input parameters in the HELP model showed that design parameters such as soil type, hydraulic conductivity, cover thickness and slope of the drainage layer affected infiltration rate to a certain extent. However, for a given barrier, the hydraulic conductivity of the cover system was the most critical design parameter affecting water infiltration. Based on the results obtained, a cap design consisting of a three-layer soil barrier was recommended for final capping of any mineral stockpile capping project. © EM International. | Cover systems; Evaluation; Hydraulic conductivity; Infiltration; Mineral waste | AS-soils; Barrier material; Capping systems; Cover system; Cover thickness; Critical design parameters; Design parameters; Drainage layer; Effective hydraulic conductivities; Evaluation; Final capping; HELP model; Hydrologic evaluations; Infiltration rate; Key input; Laboratory test; Landfill performance; Maximum values; Minnesota; Model results; Optimum moisture content; Pollution control agencies; Soil density; Soil permeability; Testing standards; Three-layer; Water infiltration; Water loss; Commerce; Evapotranspiration; Hydraulic conductivity; Land fill; Large scale systems; Minerals; Soil testing; Soils; Water supply; Infiltration; evapotranspiration; hydraulic conductivity; infiltration; laboratory method; landfill capping; moisture content; permeability; pollution control; soil test; standard (regulation) | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33745206026 | Strength performance of laterized concrete | Udoeyo F.F., Iron U.H., Odim O.O. | 2006 | Construction and Building Materials | 20 | 10 | 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2005.03.002 | Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Uyo, P.M.B. 1017, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria | Udoeyo, F.F., Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Uyo, P.M.B. 1017, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria; Iron, U.H., Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Uyo, P.M.B. 1017, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria; Odim, O.O., Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Uyo, P.M.B. 1017, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria | The results of an experimental program to investigate some characteristics of concrete containing laterite as a partial or full replacement of sand is presented in this paper. Sand in a concrete of mix ratio 1:2:4:0.56 (cement:sand:coarse aggregate:water-cement ratio) was replaced with 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% laterite. The results show that concrete with up to 40% replacement level of sand by laterite attained the designed strength of 20 N/mm2, thus indicating the possibility of using laterite as a partial replacement for sand up to this level. It was also observed from the results that the workability of laterite concrete (LATCON) increases with increase in the replacement level of sand by laterite, while the compressive, split tensile, and flexural strengths and the percentage water absorption of the concrete decrease with increase in the replacement level of sand. Regression models relating the strengths of LATCON are also presented in this paper. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Laterized concrete; Strengths | Absorption; Bending strength; Cements; Elastic moduli; Regression analysis; Sand; Strength of materials; Water; Laterized concrete (LATCON); Partial replacement; Strength performance; Strengths; Concretes | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-73449110231 | Phytochemical analysis and antibacterial evaluation of the leaf stem bark and root of the African locust bean (Parkia biglobosa) | Udobi C.E., Onaolapo J.A. | 2009 | Journal of Medicinal Plants Research | 3 | 5 | None | Department of Food Technology, College of Science and Technology, Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna, Nigeria; Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria | Udobi, C.E., Department of Food Technology, College of Science and Technology, Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna, Nigeria; Onaolapo, J.A., Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria | Antibacterial evaluation of the methanolic extract and aqueous fractions of the Leaf, Stem Bark and root of the African locust bean tree, Parkia biglobosa was carried out using the agar- well diffusion method. The extracts and their fractions were tested against two gram positive organisms - Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Bacillus subtilis NCTC 8326B76 and two gram negative organisms-Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC-27853. Results obtained confirmed a broad spectrum of activity as all the organisms used were inhibited by the extracts and their aqueous fractions at concentrations between 2.5 - 20 mg. Zones of clearing observed against S. aureus were more pronounced, distinct and wider than those against other organisms tested. It was closely followed by P. aeruginosa. Results of the Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) test using the aqueous fractions showed that the MIC ranged from 1.562 - 25mg/ml. This confirms the high activity of the aqueous fraction of the methanolic extract of the stem bark (WS) against S. aureus ATCC 25923 and P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853. The WS showed higher activity than the aqueous fraction of the methanolic extract of the leaf (WL) and the aqueous fraction of the methanolic extract of the root (WR). When the extracts were screened for secondary metabolites, tannins, flavonoids and saponins were detected among others. This was further confirmed by the aqueous fractions. These secondary metabolites are most likely responsible for the observed activity of the plant parts. Results obtained in this work justify the medicinal uses to which P. biglobosa parts have been employed traditionally in recipes for infection. © 2009 Academic Journals. | Antibacterial evaluation; Aqueous fraction; Minimum inhibitory concentration; Parkia biglobosa; Secondary metabolite | alkaloid; anthraquinone derivative; carbohydrate; cardiac glycoside; flavonoid; methanol; Parkia biglobosa extract; plant extract; resin; saponin derivative; tannin derivative; unclassified drug; water; african locust bean tree; agar diffusion; antibacterial activity; aqueous solution; article; Bacillus subtilis; bark; chemical composition; concentration response; drug identification; drug isolation; drug potency; drug screening; Escherichia coli; medicinal plant; minimum inhibitory concentration; nonhuman; Parkia biglobosa; phytochemistry; plant leaf; plant root; plant stem; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Staphylococcus aureus; Bacillus subtilis; Escherichia coli; Negibacteria; Parkia biglobosa; Parkia filicoidea; Posibacteria; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Staphylococcus aureus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84878769150 | Radiologic evaluation of clavicular morphology in southern Nigerians [Evaluación radiólogica de la morfología clavicular en Nigerianos del Sur] | Udoaka A.I., Nwokediuko A.U. | 2013 | International Journal of Morphology | 31 | 1 | 10.4067/S0717-95022013000100014 | Department of Anatomy, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria | Udoaka, A.I., Department of Anatomy, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Nwokediuko, A.U., Department of Anatomy, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria | This study was carried out to derive empirical values and indices for which clavicles on a radiograph can be correctly sexed. 1000 radiographic left clavicles of adults of both sexes (500 males and 500 females) ranging from ages 25 - 60 yrs collated from the Radiology departments of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital and The General Hospital Calabar, all in Southern Nigeria, were used in this study. The values obtained in this study showed that, the males had Sternal head length of 2.52±0.33 cm, Acromial head length of 1.66±0.25 cm, a mid shaft diameter of 2.01 cm and body length of 15.28±0.66 cm. The female Sternal head length was 2.18±0.37 cm, Acromial head length was 1.65±0.22 cm, mid shaft diameter was 1.48 cm and the mean body length was 14.56±0.51 cm. The sternal head of the males was significantly longer than the females (P<0.001) but the body and acromial head lengths were not. The length / mid shaft diameter ratio and the product of the length and mid shaft diameter were also derived. The use of the demarking point analysis to identify sex showed very low percentages in all the parameters studied. | Clavicle; Demarking point; Radiographs | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84907958857 | Impact of Retirement Age Policy on the Workforce of a Higher Education Institution in South Africa | Udjo E.O., Erasmus B. | 2014 | Politics and Policy | 42 | 5 | 10.1111/polp.12092 | University of South Africa, South Africa | Udjo, E.O., University of South Africa, South Africa; Erasmus, B., University of South Africa, South Africa | Several key sectors including higher education institutions have a skills shortage in South Africa. Combined with aging of its workforce, higher education institutions may find it increasingly difficult to maintain adequate numbers of skilled and experienced employees to fulfill their core functions. This study assesses the impact of mandatory retirement age on the workforce of a higher education institution in South Africa. The data were obtained from the Human Resources of the higher education institution and using an estimation model. The results indicate that a mandatory retirement age of 60 years has a negative impact on the future size of permanent academic staff in the short-to-medium term. However, a mandatory retirement age of 65 years or even higher has positive impact on the number of permanent academic staff in the institution. © 2014 Policy Studies Organization. | Academic retirement; Employment policy; Higher education; Labor attrition; Labor policy; Labor turnover; Labour policy; Population aging; Retirement age policy; South africa; Sub-saharan africa; Universities | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33746660810 | Demographic impact of HIV/AIDS on the young and elderly populations in South Africa | Udjo E.O. | 2006 | Journal of Intergenerational Relationships | 4 | 2 | 10.1300/J194v04n02_03 | Demography Unit in the Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS, Health Program, Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa | Udjo, E.O., Demography Unit in the Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS, Health Program, Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa | Concomitant to demographic transition from high to low fertility and mortality is the structural change from a youthful to an ageing population. The change raises, among others, intergenerational demographic, economic and social issues, some of which have been perceived as problems. The HIV/AIDS epidemic poses additional challenges to policy makers in the provision of personal care and financial support as it may alter intergenerational relationships in the demand for services in transitional populations. The first HIV/AIDS case in South Africa was reported in 1981. Since then, HIV sero-prevalence as measured by women attending antenatal clinics has steadily increased in the country, and currently South Africa is one of the highest HIV prevalent countries in the world and in the African continent with sero-prevalence of 29.5% among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in 2004. In 2002, the Nelson Mandela Funds in collaboration with the Human Sciences Research Council carried out a national HIV prevalence, behavioural risks and mass media household survey. Only a few countries in the world have carried out such a national HIV prevalence survey. As an insight into the magnitude of some of the intergenerational relationships regarding HIV/AIDS, this study attempts to examine the demographic impact of HIV/AIDS on the young and elderly populations in South Africa's four main population groups (Africans, Coloureds, Indians and Whites). The study utilizes various national survey/census data, administrative records and HIV sero-prevalence data. The analysis is based on the cohort component method. The results show that demographic transition in South Africa has resulted in changes in the growth and structural characteristics of the population. Some of the results indicate that some of the changes are in opposite directions among the young and the elderly. AIDS compounds some of the trends. The changes have policy implications for intergenerational demands for services and relationships. © 2006 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved. | Demographic impact of HIV/AIDS; HIV prevalence survey; Intergenerational relationships | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-36849052052 | Evaluation of thyroid function in diabetes mellitus in Calabar, Nigeria | Udiong C.E.J., Udoh A.E., Etukudoh M.E. | 2007 | Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry | 22 | 2 | 10.1007/BF02913318 | Department of Chemical Pathology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria; Department of Chemical Pathology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, PMB 1115, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria | Udiong, C.E.J., Department of Chemical Pathology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria, Department of Chemical Pathology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, PMB 1115, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria; Udoh, A.E., Department of Chemical Pathology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria; Etukudoh, M.E., Department of Chemical Pathology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria | The prevalence of abnormal thyroid hormone levels in diabetes mellitus in Nigeria is not well described. To determine the incidence of abnormal thyroid hormone levels in diabetics in Calabar, Nigeria, fasting blood samples from 161 diabetic subjects and 105 non-diabetic controls were analysed. Free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), total triiodothyronine (T3) and total thyroxine (T4) kits obtained from Biomerica Inc. of USA were used for the analysis. TSH levels (1.80 ± 1.62) in diabetics were significantly lower (p = 0.016) than the level in non-diabetic controls (2.34 ± 1.24). Male diabetics had lower (p < 0.05) levels of TSH (1.192 ± 0.68 miu/ml) than diabetic females (1.90 ± 1.70 mIu/ml). The level of T3 in diabetic males (125 ± 97ng/ml) was higher than the level in females (98 ± 75ng/dl). TSH (F = 2.74, p = 0.049), T4 (F = 56.87, p = 0.O01), T3 (F =56.44, P = 0.001) in diabetics and FT4 (F = 5.74, p = 0.002) in controls showed significant variation with the ages of the subjects. Out of 161 diabetics subjects studied 26.6% had low plasma thyroid hormone levels (FT 4>2.01ng/dl), 19.8% had raised plasma thyroid hormone levels (FT4 < 2.01), and 54% was euthyroid (FT40.78 - 2.01ng/dl). This study has shown a high incidence (46.5%) of abnormal thyroid hormone levels among the diabetics in Nigeria (hypothyroidism 26.6%, hyperthyroidism, 19.9%). The prevalence of hypothyroidism was higher in women (16.8%) than in men (9.9%), while hyperthyroidism was higher in males (11%) than in females (8%). This study has defined thyroid function status of diabetics in Calabar, Nigeria probably the first of such work in Africa. | Diabetes mellitus; Diagnosis; Thyroid hormones | antidiabetic agent; insulin; liothyronine; thyroid hormone; thyrotropin; thyroxine; article; blood sampling; controlled study; female; free thyroxine index; hormone blood level; human; hyperthyroidism; hypothyroidism; incidence; insulin dependent diabetes mellitus; major clinical study; male; Nigeria; non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus; prevalence; sex difference; thyroid function | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-82555202675 | Environmental impact of increased consumption of engine oil in the combustion chamber of a spark ignited engine | Udeozor O.S., Nzeako A.N. | 2011 | Research Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology | 3 | 9 | None | Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria | Udeozor, O.S., Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria; Nzeako, A.N., Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria | Blue smoke is a classic sign of oil consumption in the engine and the major causes of these emissions are found to be worn-out piston rings, valve seals and valve guides. These causes are the resultant effect of increased oil consumption in the internal combustion engine, leading to excessive release of harmful exhaust emissions. This study is aimed at looking at the environmental impact of such increased oil consumption, by collecting exhaust samples from some vehicles that have oil consumption problems, using the Exhaust Gas Analyzer. Thereafter the pollutants are analyzed and estimated to determine their concentration and consequential impact on the environment. The result obtained showed that excessive engine oil consumed in the combustion chamber of the spark ignited engine can lead to high concentration of pollutants (NOX, CO, CxHy) released into the environment. © Maxwell Scientific Organization, 2011. | Blue smoke; Exhaust gas analyzer; Oil consumption | Engine oil; Exhaust emission; Exhaust gas analyzer; Exhaust gas analyzers; High concentration; Impact on the environment; Oil consumption; Spark-ignited engines; Valve guide; Combustion; Combustion chambers; Electric sparks; Engines; Gas emissions; Internal combustion engines; Lubricating oils; Piston rings; Pollution; Seals; Environmental impact | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84886285375 | Evaluating the performance of amiprophos methyl and γ-irradiated seeds on growth and yield traits of pigeon pea | Udensi O., Ntui V.O. | 2013 | International Journal of Agriculture and Biology | 15 | 5 | None | Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Calabar, PMB 1115, Calabar, Nigeria; Laboratory of Plant Cell Technology, Graduate School of Horticulture, Chiba University, Japan | Udensi, O., Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Calabar, PMB 1115, Calabar, Nigeria; Ntui, V.O., Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Calabar, PMB 1115, Calabar, Nigeria, Laboratory of Plant Cell Technology, Graduate School of Horticulture, Chiba University, Japan | The seeds of two varieties of pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Mill], brown "Fiofio" and white "Fiofio", were treated with 0, 4, 6 and 8 ppm amiprophos methyl (APM) for 48 h, or exposed to γ-irradiation at 0, 200, 400, 600 Gy (Gray) from 60Co source. There was significant (P < 0.05) effect of the mutagenic treatments on all the growth and yield traits evaluated except for percentage germination and these effects were dose-dependent. Seeds exposed to 200 Gy of γ-rays gave better seed yield when compared with APM soaked seeds. The treatment of pigeon pea seeds with APM and γ-rays could serve as alternative breeding and improvement techniques to achieve high seed productivity, especially at lower doses. Succinctly, it does suggest that if mutagenic process is monitored and directed carefully, it could proffer significant alternative for improving pigeon pea landraces, especially if the seeds are exposed to γ-irradiation at the dose of at least 200 Gy. © 2013 Friends Science Publishers. | γ-Irradiation; Amiprophos methyl; Improvement; Mutation breeding; Pigeon pea | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79953085277 | Evaluation of hepatoprotective activity of aqeous leaf extract of Swietenia mahogani (Maliaceae) in chronic alcohol-induced liver injury in rats | Udem S., Nwaogu I., Onyejekwe O. | 2011 | Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences | 4 | 1 | 10.3889/MJMS.1857-5773.2011.0154 | University of Nigeria, Veterinary Physiology/Pharmacology, Enugu State, Nsukka 234, Nigeria; University of Nigeria, Veterinary Anatomy, Enugu State, Nsukka 234, Nigeria | Udem, S., University of Nigeria, Veterinary Physiology/Pharmacology, Enugu State, Nsukka 234, Nigeria; Nwaogu, I., University of Nigeria, Veterinary Anatomy, Enugu State, Nsukka 234, Nigeria; Onyejekwe, O., University of Nigeria, Veterinary Physiology/Pharmacology, Enugu State, Nsukka 234, Nigeria | Aim: This study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of aqueous leaf extract of Swietenia mahogany (Maliaceae) in chronic alcohol-induced liver injury in rats. Material and Methods: The animals were given increasing concentrations (10% ethanol (v/v) in water for 1week, 20% (v/v) for another 2 weeks and 30% (v/v) for 9 weeks) per os daily. Treatment with the extract (250 and 500 mg/kg) was instituted 6 h after given the alcohol for the same period the alcohol intake lasted. Thereafter, the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) were assayed in the serum. The levels of other biochemical markers of organ damage such as total bilirubin and creatinine, as well as pentobarbitone sleeping time were determined. Histological examination of the liver was also performed. Results: The extract at all doses significantly (P<0.05) reduced the serum activities of ALT, AST, AP, serum levels of bilirubin and creatinine in comparison with the negative control that received only alcohol. The duration of pentobarbital induced hypnosis was also significantly shortened. The histopathological result showed significant (P<0.05) protection in the extract treated groups when compared with the group that received alcohol alone. Conclusion: The extract displayed significant (P<0.05) hepatoprotective activity in the model used in this study. © 2011 Udem S. | Aminotransferases; Biochemical markers of organ damage; Hepatoprotection; Histopathology; S. mahogani | alanine aminotransferase; alcohol; alkaline phosphatase; aspartate aminotransferase; pentobarbital; plant extract; Swietenia mahogani extract; unclassified drug; alcohol consumption; animal experiment; animal model; animal tissue; article; bilirubin blood level; controlled study; creatinine blood level; female; histopathology; hypnosis; liver injury; liver protection; male; medicinal plant; nonhuman; plant leaf; rat; sleep time; Swietenia mahogani | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84900412808 | HIV/AIDS awareness and its impact on the profitability of business firms in developing nations | Udeh C., Smith W., Shava H. | 2014 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 5 | 7 | 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n7p244 | Department of Business Management, University of Fort Hare, P. Bag X1314, Alice, 5700, South Africa | Udeh, C., Department of Business Management, University of Fort Hare, P. Bag X1314, Alice, 5700, South Africa; Smith, W., Department of Business Management, University of Fort Hare, P. Bag X1314, Alice, 5700, South Africa; Shava, H., Department of Business Management, University of Fort Hare, P. Bag X1314, Alice, 5700, South Africa | The impact of HIV/AIDS on South Africa as well as in the African continent is undoubtedly enormous, especially considering the percentage of the country's workforce living with HIV/AIDS. This study becomes imperative when statistics shows that many owners/managers are not well aware of the challenges of HIV/AIDS in their business firms. This study investigated HIV/AIDS awareness and its impact on the profitability of business firms in King Williams Town, Eastern Cape, South Africa, which could well relate to developing nations. The researchers use a target population of all the private business firms as well as the owners/mangers that are present in King Williams Town. A sample was drawn from the target population by the researchers. The sample size of 120 respondents (100 employees and 20 owners/mangers) was considered adequate due to the sensitive nature of the research. Based on the findings of this research, it was discovered that employees of business firms are not aware of issues pertaining to HIV/AIDS, business firms do not have a workplace policy on HIV/AIDS to minimise the impact of HIV/AIDS and HIV/AIDS does affect the profitability of business firms in developing nations. The study recommends that business firms and relevant stakeholders develop effective strategies in minimising the impact of HIV/AIDS at work place and on employee morale as well as to intensify HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns at firm level. | Employees; Investors; Mixed-method; Productivity; Revenue; Workplace; Workshops | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84952329072 | Evaluation of the implementation of family life and HIV education programme in Nigeria | Udegbe B.I., Fayehun F., Isiugo-Abanihe U.C., Nwagwu W., Isiugo-Abanihe I., Nwokocha E. | 2015 | African Journal of Reproductive Health | 19 | 2 | None | Department of Psychology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Sociology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Africa Regional Centre for Information Science, University of Ibadan and Department of Information Science, University of South Africa, Pretor | Udegbe, B.I., Department of Psychology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Fayehun, F., Department of Sociology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Isiugo-Abanihe, U.C., Department of Sociology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Nwagwu, W., Africa Regional Centre for Information Science, University of Ibadan and Department of Information Science, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa; Isiugo-Abanihe, I., Institute of Education, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Nwokocha, E., Department of Sociology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria | Family Life and HIV Education (FLHE) programme was introduced nationwide in Nigeria in 2003. Since then little is known about the patterns of its implementation across the states in the six geo-political zones in Nigeria. This study represents an attempt to fill this lacuna in the FLHE literature in Nigeria. Quantitative data was collected from the Federal Ministry of Education and the State Ministries of Education on all salient aspects of FLHE implementation. The findings from data collected in 35 states and the Abuja Federal Capital Territory show large variations in the year of adoption of the programme, level of implementation of the programme, the proportion of implementing schools that are reporting to the coordinating government ministries/agencies, the level to which schools have been supplied with relevant curriculum, and promptness of distribution of materials across the zones. All these indices did not show significant level of interdependence. In general, there were higher levels of FLHE activities in the South than the North. Several problems affect implementation of FLHE in Nigeria, most of which will require increased financial and technical support from government and other organizations. The FLHE programme has had positive effects in the states and among schools where the implementation has been effective, underscoring the need for a more effective implementation of the programmes throughout the country. © 2015, Women's Health and Action Research Centre. All rights reserved. | Advocacy; Budgetary allocation; Curriculum; FLHE; Nigeria; Sexuality education | curriculum; economics; HIV Infections; human; Nigeria; organization and management; program evaluation; sexual education; Curriculum; HIV Infections; Humans; Nigeria; Program Evaluation; Sex Education | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77953955141 | Industrial development, electricity crisis and economic performance in Nigeria | Udah E.B. | 2010 | European Journal of Economics, Finance and Administrative Sciences | None | 18 | None | Department of Economics, University of Calabar-Nigeria, Nigeria | Udah, E.B., Department of Economics, University of Calabar-Nigeria, Nigeria | This paper seeks to investigate the causal and long-run relationship between electricity supply, industrialization and economic development in Nigeria from 1970-2008. To achieve this, the paper employed the Granger Causality test and the ARDL bounds test approach to cointegration proposed by Pesaran et al (2001). In order to determine the time series characteristics of variables used in the regression, the paper adopted the approach of NG and Perron (2001) modified unit root test. The Granger Causality results showed that there is a feedback causal relationship between GDP per capita and electricity supply. Unidirectional relationship is seen between capital employed and GDP per capita without a feedback effect, running from capital to GDP per capita. The same unidirectional relationship is observed between electricity supply and capital; the causality runs from capital to electricity supply. The causality result also revealed a unidirectional relationship without feedback effect between labour and electricity supply. The Granger causality test found no causal link in the case of industrial output and GDP per capita. The results of the long run and error correction model showed that industrial development, electricity supply, technology and capital employed are important determinants of economic development. Stability tests were also conducted using CUSUM and CUSUMQ and the Jarque-Bera normality test. The results strongly suggest that the residuals are within the boundaries. This implies that the parameters of the model remained within its critical bounds of parameter stability throughout the period of study. The paper concludes that for Nigeria to drive economic development through industrialization, the country should fix the electricity supply problem. © EuroJournals, Inc. | Cointegration and error correction; Economic development; Electricity crisis; Industrial development | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-83255162531 | Openness, resilience and economic performance in Nigeria: An empirical investigation | Udah E.B. | 2011 | European Journal of Social Sciences | 26 | 4 | None | Department of Economics, University of Calabar, Nigeria | Udah, E.B., Department of Economics, University of Calabar, Nigeria | This study attempted using OLS estimation technique to investigate the open macroeconomic variables that could be applied as policy instruments to make the Nigerian economy more resilient to adverse effects of participation in international trade. To test for unit root and the existence of long-run relationship among the variables under scrutiny, the study employed the Ng and Perron (2001) modified unit root test and the Engle and Granger two step procedure/Error correction approach. The parsimonious results showed that the variables of interest were statistically significant and conform to a priori economic expectations. These include the export diversification index, external reserves, government expenditure on economic and social services and financial sector variables. The result revealed that for Nigeria to strengthen her resilience to external and domestic distortions, she needs to deepened her financial markets, strengthen government expenditures on economic and social services, diversify her export portfolio of goods and also strengthen the external reserves. The external reserves could be applied to projects that enhance economic growth and development during period of economic and financial crises and stabilize aggregate demand without having to fear any future cuts in public expenditures or a rise in tax rates. Therefore, it would be advantageous in the long-run for the country to stop the current practice of sharing the proceeds from 'excess crude oil account' among the three tiers of government and maintain fiscal discipline. © EuroJournals Publishing, Inc. 2011. | F43; Openness; Resilience and economic performance JEL Classification Codes: F41 | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77953407335 | Evaluation of sexual maturity among adolescent male sickle cell anaemia patients: The usefulness of testicular volume estimation | Uchendu U.O., Nwokocha A.R.C., Ikefuna A.N., Emodi I.J., Onwasigwe C.N. | 2010 | SAJCH South African Journal of Child Health | 4 | 1 | None | Department of Paediatrics, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, Nigeria Medical Research Council Laboratories (UK), Gambia; Department of Paediatrics, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, Nigeria; Department of Community Medicine, Univ | Uchendu, U.O., Department of Paediatrics, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, Nigeria Medical Research Council Laboratories (UK), Gambia; Nwokocha, A.R.C., Department of Paediatrics, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, Nigeria; Ikefuna, A.N., Department of Paediatrics, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, Nigeria; Emodi, I.J., Department of Paediatrics, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, Nigeria; Onwasigwe, C.N., Department of Community Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, Nigeria | Background. The use of Tanner stages (i.e. sexual maturity rating (SMR)) in evaluating sexual maturity has gained widespread acceptance. Tanner staging assesses pubic hair growth and increase in genital size, the latter factor being best reflected by increase in testicle size. Testicular volume increases are thought to be the most sensitive clinical indication of onset and progress of puberty. It has been suggested that the initial stage of sexual development may be missed if testicular volume is not assessed. We explored the usefulness of testicular volume (TV) for assessing sexual maturity among adolescent male sickle cell anaemia (SCA) patients. Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional case-control study evaluating sexual maturation of male patients with sickle cell anaemia and those with the HbAA genotype. Tanner staging and testicular volume assessment were both used as models for evaluating stages of sexual maturation among SCA patients and their normal counterparts matched for age and socioeconomic status. Results. SCA patients showed delayed onset and completion of sexual maturation. TV of subjects was smaller than those of controls but, when related to stages of sexual maturity, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups. The correlation coefficients between various stages of sexual maturity and TV suggest strong associations. Conclusion. The increase in testicular volume was found to be a good predictor of onset and progression of sexual maturity in both SCA subjects and their healthy controls. | None | adolescent; adult; article; case control study; child; controlled study; cross-sectional study; diagnostic value; disease classification; genotype; human; major clinical study; male; onset age; prediction; preschool child; school child; sexual maturation; sexual maturity; sickle cell anemia; socioeconomics; testis size | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78649375119 | Impact of socioeconomic status on sexual maturation of Nigerian boys living with sickle cell anaemia | Uchendu U.O., Ikefuna A.N., Nwokocha A.R.C., Emodi I.J. | 2010 | Hematology | 15 | 6 | 10.1179/102453310X12647083621209 | Department of Paediatrics, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria; Department of Pediatrics, Brooklyn Hospital Center, Brooklyn, NY, United States | Uchendu, U.O., Department of Paediatrics, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria, Department of Pediatrics, Brooklyn Hospital Center, Brooklyn, NY, United States; Ikefuna, A.N., Department of Paediatrics, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria; Nwokocha, A.R.C., Department of Paediatrics, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria; Emodi, I.J., Department of Paediatrics, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria | Background: Assessment of sexual maturation of children continues to have great relevance in monitoring their overall development. The interplay between innate disease characteristics and environmental modifiers such as socioeconomic status is not clearly understood among children with sickle cell anaemia (SCA). Objective: To evaluate impact of socioeconomic status on sexual development of children living with sickle cell anaemia. Methods: A cross-sectional case-control study evaluating sexual maturation of male patients with SCA (subjects) compared with non-SCAs (controls) was done. Tanner staging and testicular volume (TV) assessment were used for evaluating sexual maturation among both groups matched for age and socioeconomic status. Pattern of sexual maturation was related to socioeconomic status. Results: Subjects demonstrated delay in onset and completion of sexual maturation compared to controls. Testicular volumes of subjects were smaller than controls but when related to Tanner staging showed no significant difference between both groups. Onset of puberty was earlier in children from higher socioeconomic classes though this was very modest and not statistically significant. Similarly children of higher classes showed slightly larger TVs compared with those from lower classes. Conclusion: SCA patients continue to demonstrate delay in sexual maturation compared with controls with normal haemoglobin genotype. Higher socioeconomic status showed a slight improvement on sexual maturation. This should provide a strong basis for advocacy to improve the welfare of families of children living with SCA as a worthwhile measure to improve their development and overall outlook. A larger study of a prospective nature is highly indicated. © 2010 Maney Publishing. | Sexual maturity; sickle cell anaemia; socioeconomic status; testicular volume | hemoglobin; adolescent; adult; article; child; child welfare; controlled study; cross-sectional study; genotype; health education; health status; human; major clinical study; male; men's health; Nigeria; preschool child; priority journal; puberty; school child; sexual maturation; sickle cell anemia; social status; testis size; Adolescent; African Continental Ancestry Group; Anemia, Sickle Cell; Case-Control Studies; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Male; Nigeria; Sexual Maturation; Social Class | 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-s2.0-79251549775 | Evaluation of the proximate and phytochemical compositions of fermented raw and fermented napoleona imperialis seed and their feeding values on finisher broilers | Uchegbu M.C., Okere C.C., Ogbuewu I.P., Okoli I.C., Nwaodu C.H., Ezeokeke C.T., Anyanwu G.A. | 2010 | Electronic Journal of Environmental, Agricultural and Food Chemistry | 9 | 10 | 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; Okere, C.C., 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; Okoli, I.C., 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; Ezeokeke, C.T., Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B.1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria; Anyanwu, G.A., Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B.1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria | The high cost of commercial poultry feeds in Nigeria has necessitated the search for alternative protein sources. Ripe N. imperialis seeds (NISs) were harvested with the pods opened, the seeds extracted, and sun dried for 7 days. A portion of the sundried NIS was milled to produce the raw N. imperialis seed meal (NISM) while, the remaining portion was soaked in water for 4 days, sundried and milled to produce soaked NISM. Samples of raw and soaked NISMs were taken to the laboratory to determine its proximate and phytochemical compositions. Phytate, tannins, HCN, alkaloids, saponins and metabolisable energy value of the raw NISs were significantly (p<0.05) affected by the processing methods used. Birds on control diet performed significantly (p<0.05) better than those on 10% soaked NISM diet in terms of average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio but similar (p>0.05) to those on 5% raw and 5% soaked NISMs. The average daily weight gain of birds on 5% raw and 10% soaked NISMs was significantly (p<0.05) lower than the control group. It is concluded that soaking for 4 days in water do not reduce the anti-nutritional content of N. imperialis seeds to a tolerable level for broilers. | Broilers; Novel seeds; Performance; Phytochemistry; Proximate composition | Aves; Napoleona imperialis | 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-s2.0-84940862434 | Attitudinal impact of institutional mechanisms of public accountability and performance among local government workers in Nigeria: A study of Enugu state local governments | Uche A.S., Chukwudi O.R., Nnenna I.A. | 2015 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 6 | 5 | 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n5p403 | Department of Public Administration and Local Government, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Uche, A.S., Department of Public Administration and Local Government, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Chukwudi, O.R., Department of Public Administration and Local Government, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Nnenna, I.A., Department of Public Administration and Local Government, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Our conviction that there is need for improved services in the local government system provided an impetus for assessing the attitude of local government workers towards the application of institutional mechanisms of public accountability and the effect on performance. 205 local government functionaries completed a questionnaire. The mean age, qualification and length of service of the respondent were 2.5, 2.60 and 2.58 respectively. The hypothesis was tested at 0.5 significant levels using contingency coefficient. The study established that attitude of local government functionaries towards the application of these mechanisms significantly correlate with performance. Implications of these findings are discussed. © 2015, Mediterranean Center of Social and Educational Research. All rights reserved. | Attitude; Government accountability; Institutional; Local; Mechanisms | None | 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-s2.0-84897092748 | Determination of performance characteristics of petrol/bio-ethanol blends for spark ignition (Si) engines | Ubwa S.T., Oshido B.A., Malu S.P. | 2014 | International Journal of Renewable Energy Research | 4 | 1 | None | Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria | Ubwa, S.T., Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria; Oshido, B.A., Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria; Malu, S.P., Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria | Performance characteristics; fuel power (FP), brake thermal efficiency (BTE), brake power (BP) and Specific fuel consumption (SFC) of blended (petrol/bio-ethanol) fuels were studied and compared with neat petrol. The blends were; E05, E10, E15 and E20 for 5%,10%, 15% and 20% bio-ethanol respectively. The performance parameters were measured based on short standard engine tests performed on a Cortina petrol engine test bed, a four stroke engine, and variable speed SI engine with an eddy current dynamometer and Tachometer. The result showed that E05 and E10 were the optimum blending ratios for bioethanol and petrol. It can be concluded from these results that E05 and E10 are the most suitable blends for use in four stroke SI engines. | Bio-ethanol; Blended fuel; Performance parameters and SI engines; Petrol (gasoline) | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84892539989 | Decision making and job satisfaction as correlates of teachers' job performance in junior secondary schools in Abia state, Nigeria | Uba-Mbibi F.O. | 2013 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 4 | 8 | 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n8p107 | Department of Agricultural/Home Ec onomics Education, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria | Uba-Mbibi, F.O., Department of Agricultural/Home Ec onomics Education, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria | This study specifically sought to determine decision making and job satisfaction as correlates of teachers' job performance in junior secondary schools in Abia state, Nigeria. Two research questions were posed and two hypotheses formulated to guide the investigation, which was carried out ex-post factor, using a descriptive survey design. A sample of 541 junior secondary schools was drawn from a population of 1082 in the 230 junior secondary schools in Abia state. Data were collected using the researcher's self constructed questionnaire from the respondents titled involvement of teachers in decision making and job satisfaction as correlates of teachers' job performance in junior secondary schools (ITDMJSTJPQ). To ensure face validity of the instrument, two experts in Educational Administration and Planning of Abia State College of Education were consulted. There expert comments were used to modify the final copy of the questionnaire used for the study. Data were analyzed using frequency distribution, ad mean rating to answer the two research questions posted while the Z-test statistic was used to test the hypotheses formulated. Results indicated that although the teachers were involved in decision making but some decisions reached were not implemented by the school principals. As a result of this, there was lack of job satisfaction and low job performance among junior secondary school teachers in the junior secondary schools. The test of hypothesis one shows that there was no significant difference between teachers' decision making and job performance. Based on the findings, it was recommended that principals should involve and implement teachers' decisions in schools to enhance their job performance for uplifting of educational standard in Nigeria. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-47649088780 | Evaluation of antimicrobial properties of some medicinal plants for fresh cassava roots preservation | Ubalua A.O., Oti E. | 2008 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 7 | 5 | 10.3923/pjn.2008.679.681 | Cassava Research Programme, National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, PMB 7006, Umuahia, Abia state, Nigeria; Postharvest Technology Programme, National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, PMB 7006, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria | Ubalua, A.O., Cassava Research Programme, National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, PMB 7006, Umuahia, Abia state, Nigeria; Oti, E., Postharvest Technology Programme, National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, PMB 7006, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria | The inhibitory effects of water, petroleum ether and ethanol extracts of three medicinal plants were investigated on the growth of Botryodiplodia theobromae, Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium solani, Rhizopus sp., Mucor and Erwinia spp isolated from rotted cassava roots on potato dextrose agar. The ethanol extracts of garlic and Landolphia owerrience gave a wider spectrum of activity against the pathogens compared to that of petroleum ether and water. The combination of the extracts of Garlic (Alium sativum) and Garcinia kola demonstrated a remarkable inhibition of the pathogens after 16 days in storage with 2% rot, while that of Garlic and Landolphia owerrience roots exhibited little or no activity unlike the individual extracts. The potency shown by the extracts in overcoming the colonies of the tested pathogens recommends their use as protectants rather than eradicants. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2008. | Biological control; Cassava root rot; Medicinal plants; Pathogens | agar; alcohol; Garcinia kola extract; garlic extract; glucose; Landolphia owerrience extract; petroleum ether; plant extract; water; antimicrobial activity; article; Aspergillus flavus; cassava; controlled study; Erwinia; Fusarium solani; Garcinia kola; medicinal plant; microbial growth; Mucor; nonhuman; plant root; postharvest decay; preservation; Rhizopus; Allium sativum; Aspergillus flavus; Botryodiplodia theobromae; Erwinia; Fusarium solani; Garcinia kola; Landolphia; Manihot esculenta; Mucor; Rhizopus; Sativum; Solanum tuberosum | 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-s2.0-78650356805 | The use of real options valuation methodology in enhancing the understanding of the impact of climate change on companies | Tyler E., Chivaka R. | 2011 | Business Strategy and the Environment | 20 | 1 | 10.1002/bse.668 | Genesis Analytics, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Accounting University of Cape Town, South Africa | Tyler, E., Genesis Analytics, Cape Town, South Africa; Chivaka, R., Department of Accounting University of Cape Town, South Africa | Climate change has in recent years gathered traction on the business, political and social agenda. From the business perspective, research has shown that climate change impacts on company value are uncertain, significant and strategically important. The challenge therefore is for the business community to apply financial valuation models that support the incorporation of the climate change impacts in strategic planning. However, the commonly used discounted cash flow techniques in capital budgeting are seen as failing to address the high levels of uncertainties inherent in climate change impacts. Real options thinking has been touted as having the potential to enhance understanding of these impacts via its direct handling of uncertainty, although not much research has been done to demonstrate this. Using an illustrative case study, this research presents an argument for introducing the real options approach, a new method for valuing options of future strategic action by companies in a setting that exhibits climate change impacts. The objective of this research is to contribute to the literature on strategic tools for addressing climate change and ultimately offer some management insights that can narrow the gap between finance theory and business practice. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. | Biomass power generation projects; Case study; Clean development mechanism; Climate change; Discounted cash flow; Financial valuation techniques; Real options; Strategic investment | business cycle; clean development mechanism; climate change; climate effect; industrial investment; industrial policy; industrial production; research work; uncertainty analysis; valuation | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-42149097776 | Integrating genetics and natural resource management for technology targeting and greater impact of agricultural research in the semi-arid tropics | Twomlow S., Shiferaw B., Cooper P., Keatinge J.D.H. | 2008 | Experimental Agriculture | 44 | 2 | 10.1017/S0014479708006340 | ICRISAT, Patancheru 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India; ICRISAT-Zimbabwe, PO Box 776, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe | Twomlow, S., ICRISAT, Patancheru 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India, ICRISAT-Zimbabwe, PO Box 776, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe; Shiferaw, B., ICRISAT, Patancheru 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India; Cooper, P., ICRISAT, Patancheru 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India; Keatinge, J.D.H., ICRISAT, Patancheru 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India | Good management of natural resources is the key to good agriculture. This is true everywhere - and particularly in the semi-arid tropics, where over-exploitation of fragile or inherently vulnerable agro-ecosystems is leading to land and soil degradation, productivity decline, and increasing hunger and poverty. Modern crop varieties offer high yields, but the larger share of this potential yield can only be realized with good crop management. The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), working over a vast and diverse mandate area, has learned one key lesson: that technologies and interventions must be matched not only to the crop or livestock enterprise and the biophysical environment, but also with the market and investment environment, including input supply systems and policy. Various Natural Resource Management (NRM) technologies have been developed over the years, but widespread adoption has been limited for various reasons: technical, socio-economic and institutional. To change this, ICRISAT hypothesizes that 'A research approach, founded on the need to integrate a broad consideration of technical, socio-economic and institutional issues into the generation of agricultural innovations will result in a higher level of adoption and more sustainable and diverse impacts in the rainfed systems of the semi-arid tropics.' Traditionally, crop improvement and NRM were seen as distinct but complementary disciplines. ICRISAT is deliberately blurring these boundaries to create the new paradigm of IGNRM or Integrated Genetic and Natural Resource Management. Improved varieties and improved resource management are two sides of the same coin. Most farming problems require integrated solutions, with genetic, management-related and socio-economic components. In essence, plant breeders and NRM scientists must integrate their work with that of private and public sector change agents to develop flexible cropping systems that can respond to rapid changes in market opportunities and climatic conditions. The systems approach looks at various components of the rural economy - traditional food grains, new potential cash crops, livestock and fodder production, as well as socio-economic factors such as alternative sources of employment and income. Crucially the IGNRM approach is participatory, with farmers closely involved in technology development, testing and dissemination. ICRISAT has begun to use the IGNRM approach to catalyse technology uptake and substantially improve food security and incomes in smallholder farm communities at several locations in India, Mali, Niger, Vietnam, China, Thailand and Zimbabwe. © 2008 Cambridge University Press. | None | Animalia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34548220000 | Comparison of field, greenhouse, and detached-leaf evaluations of soybean germplasm for resistance to Phakopsora pachyrhizi | Twizeyimana M., Ojiambo P.S., Ikotun T., Paul C., Hartman G.L., Bandyopadhyay R. | 2007 | Plant Disease | 91 | 9 | 10.1094/PDIS-91-9-1161 | International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), PMB 5320, Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biolo | Twizeyimana, M., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), PMB 5320, Ibadan, Nigeria, Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Ojiambo, P.S., IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria; Ikotun, T., Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan; Paul, C., Crop Sciences Department, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, United States; Hartman, G.L., National Soybean Research Center, Urbana, IL 61801, United States; Bandyopadhyay, R., IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria | Fourteen soybean accessions and breeding lines were evaluated for resistance to soybean rust caused by the fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi. Evaluations were conducted in replicated experiments in growth chambers using detached leaves and under greenhouse and field conditions. In growth-chamber experiments, inoculation of detached leaves with 1 × 106 spores/ml resulted in a significantly (P < 0.0001) higher total number of pustules and spores per unit leaf area than inoculations with lower spore concentrations. Amending agar medium with plant hormones significantly (P < 0.0001) aided retention of green leaf color in detached leaves. Leaf pieces on a medium containing kinetin at 10 mg/liter had 5% chlorosis at 18 days after plating compared with leaf pieces on media amended with all other plant hormones, which had higher levels of chlorosis. Leaf age significantly affected number of pustules (P = 0.0146) and number of spores per pustule (P = 0.0088), and 3- to 4-week-old leaves had a higher number of pustules and number of spores per pustule compared with leaves that were either 1 to 2 or 5 to 6 weeks old. In detached-leaf and greenhouse screening, plants were evaluated for days to lesion appearance, days to pustule formation, days to pustule eruption, lesion number, lesion diameter, lesion type, number of pustules, and spores per pustule in 1-cm2 leaf area. Plants also were evaluated for diseased leaf area (in greenhouse and field screening) and sporulation (in field screening) at growth stage R6. There were significant (P < 0.0001) differences among genotypes in their response to P. pachyrhizi infection in the detached-leaf, greenhouse, and field evaluations. Accessions PI 594538A, PI 417089A, and UG-5 had very low levels of disease compared with the susceptible checks and all other genotypes. Detached-leaf, greenhouse, and field results were comparable, and there were significant correlations between detached-leaf and greenhouse (absolute r = 0.79; P < 0.0001) and between detached-leaf and field resistance (absolute r = 0.83; P < 0.0001) across genotypes. The overall results show the utility of detached-leaf assay for screening soybean for rust resistance. | Disease resistance | Fungus attack; Greenhouse effect; Plants (botany); Seed; Disease resistance; Growth chambers; Phakopsora pachyrhizi; Soybean rust; Diseases; Bacteria (microorganisms); Fungi; Glycine max; Phakopsora pachyrhizi | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-46849092427 | Evaluation of soybean germplasm for resistance to soybean rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi) in Nigeria | Twizeyimana M., Ojiambo P.S., Ikotun T., Ladipo J.L., Hartman G.L., Bandyopadhyay R. | 2008 | Plant Disease | 92 | 6 | 10.1094/PDIS-92-6-0947 | International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), PMB 5320, Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC | Twizeyimana, M., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), PMB 5320, Ibadan, Nigeria, Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Ojiambo, P.S., Department of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, United States; Ikotun, T., Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Ladipo, J.L., Department of Plant Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun, Nigeria; Hartman, G.L., United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, United States; Bandyopadhyay, R., IITA, Nigeria | Soybean rust, caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi, is one of the most important constraints to soybean production worldwide. The absence of high levels of host resistance to the pathogen has necessitated the continued search and identification of sources of resistance. In one set of experiments, 178 soybean breeding lines from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture were rated for rust severity in the field in 2002 and 2003 at Ile-Ife, Yandev, and Ibadan, Nigeria. Thirty-six lines with disease severity ≤3 (based on a 0-to-5 scale) were selected for a second round of evaluation in 2004 at Ibadan. In the third round of evaluation under inoculated field conditions, 11 breeding lines with disease severity ≤2 were further evaluated for rust resistance at Ibadan in 2005 and 2006. The breeding lines TGx 1835-10E, TGx 1895-50F, and TGx 1903-3F consistently had the lowest level of disease severity across years and locations. In another set of experiments, 101 accessions from the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service and National Agriculture Research Organization (Uganda) were evaluated in the first round in 2005 under inoculated conditions in the screenhouse; 12 accessions with disease severity ≤20% leaf area infected were selected for evaluation in the second round in 2005 and 2006 under inoculated field conditions at Ibadan. Highly significant differences (P < 0.0001) in disease severity were observed among the 101 accessions during this first round of rust evaluation. Significant (P < 0.0001) differences in rust severity and sporulation also were observed among the 12 selected accessions. Accessions PI 594538A, PI 417089A, and UG-5 had significantly (P < 0.05) lower disease severity than all other selected accessions in both years of evaluation, with rust severities ranging from 0.1 to 2.4%. These results indicate that some of the breeding lines (TGx 1835-10E, TGx 1895-50F, and TGx 1903-3F) and accessions (PI 594538A, PI 417089A, and UG-5) would be useful sources of soybean rust resistance genes for incorporation into high-yielding and adapted cultivars. | Disease resistance; Stability analysis | (I ,J) conditions; Agricultural Research Service (ARS); Breeding lines; disease severity; field conditions; First round; germ plasm; host resistance; Ibadan , Nigeria; International (CO); Leaf area (LA); Nigeria; Research organizations; rust resistance; Soybean production; United States Department of Agriculture (USDA); Glycine max; Phakopsora pachyrhizi | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929222762 | The impact of paleoclimate, geologic history, and human influence on the evolution of East African cichlids | Twesigye C.K. | 2015 | Quaternary International | 369 | None | 10.1016/j.quaint.2014.10.065 | Department of Biological Sciences, Kyambogo University, P.O. Box, 1, Kyambogo, Kampala, Uganda | Twesigye, C.K., Department of Biological Sciences, Kyambogo University, P.O. Box, 1, Kyambogo, Kampala, Uganda | The cichlid fishes of the East African Great Lakes are the largest extant vertebrate radiation identified to date. These lakes and their watersheds support over 2000 species of cichlid fish, many of which are descended from single common ancestor within the past 25Ma-10Ma. The extraordinary East African cichlid diversity is linked to the highly variable geologic and paleoclimatic history of this region. The East Africa rift system (EARS) is the roughly north-south alignment of rift basins in East Africa that defines the boundary between the Somalian and African plates. The EARS is divided into two structural branches that are also oriented roughly north-south. Rifting in the eastern branch began 30-35 Ma in the Afar and Ethiopian Plateau and propagated north-south until it impinged on the strong Precambrian Tanzanian cratonic block, which is in the center of the East Africa Plateau. The timing of the initiation of the western branch of the EARS is uncertain and has been suggested to have begun as early as 25 Ma to as recently as 12-10 Ma. Uplifting associated with this rifting backponded many rivers and created Lake Victoria. Since their creation, these lakes have changed dramatically which has, in turn, significantly influenced the evolutionary history of the lakes' cichlids. This paper examines the geologic history, paleoclimate of the East African Great Lakes, and human influence and the impact of these forces on the region's endemic cichlid fishes using evidence from geologic and molecular data. A drastic decline has occurred in the size of cichlid fishes populations since the beginning of the 20th century, exacerbated by two main factors; an increase in the size of the human population and increased fishing pressure and fish introductions. One of the attendant consequences of such a decline is a reduction in the amount of genetic diversity in the surviving populations due to increased effects of random genetic drift. Information about the amount of genetic variation within and between the remaining populations is vital for their future conservation and management. The genetic structure of a cichlid fish, the Nile tilapia, was examined using nucleotide variation of mitochondrial control region sequences and four nuclear microsatellite loci in 128 individuals from seven localities. Forty three mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotypes were observed, fourteen of which were geographically localized. We found significant genetic differentiation between the five populations at the mitochondrial locus while three out of the four microsatellite loci differentiated five populations. The possible contributions from human activities such as water pollution, overfishing and fish introductions are also discussed. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. | East African cichlids; Evolution; Genetic diversity; Geologic history; Human influence; Paleoclimate | anthropogenic effect; cichlid; DNA; evolutionary biology; genetic differentiation; genetic variation; geological record; paleoclimate; population genetics; Afar; East African Lakes; East African Rift; Ethiopian Highlands; Lake Victoria; African cichlids; Cichlidae; Oreochromis niloticus; Pisces; Vertebrata | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84944458503 | The economic impact of climate change on road infrastructure in Ghana | Twerefou D.K., Chinowsky P., Adjei-Mantey K., Strzepek N.L. | 2015 | Sustainability (Switzerland) | 7 | 9 | 10.3390/su70911949 | Department of Economics, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 57, Accra, Ghana; Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States; Institute of Climate and Civil Systems, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States | Twerefou, D.K., Department of Economics, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 57, Accra, Ghana; Chinowsky, P., Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States; Adjei-Mantey, K., Department of Economics, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 57, Accra, Ghana; Strzepek, N.L., Institute of Climate and Civil Systems, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States | This paper estimates the economic impact of climate change on road infrastructure using the stressor-response methodology. Our analysis indicates that it could cumulatively (2020-2100) cost Ghana $473 million to maintain and repair damages caused to existing roads as a result of climate change (no adapt scenario). However, if the country adapts the design and construction of new road infrastructure, expected to occur over the asset's lifespan (adapt scenario), the total cumulative cost could increase to $678.47 million due to the initial costs of adaptation. This investment provides lower costs on a decadal basis later in the infrastructure lifespan. This creates the planning question of whether lower decadal costs in the future are a priority or if minimizing initial costs is a priority. The paper addresses this question through decadal and average annual costs up to the year 2100 for the ten regions, using the potential impacts of 54 distinct potential climate scenarios. © 2015 by the authors. | Climate change; Roads; Stressor-response; Temperature | climate change; cost analysis; design method; economic impact; infrastructural development; repair; road construction; sustainability; temperature; Ghana | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-20844442793 | The impact of macroeconomic risk on asset prices in Ghana, 1997-2002 | Twerefou D.K., Nimo M.K. | 2005 | African Development Review | 17 | 1 | 10.1111/j.1017-6772.2005.00111.x | Department of Economics, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana; Institute of Statistics Social and Economic Research (ISSER), University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana | Twerefou, D.K., Department of Economics, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana; Nimo, M.K., Institute of Statistics Social and Economic Research (ISSER), University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana | The dwindling nature of overseas development assistance in the early part of the 1990s called for the establishment of capital markets in some African countries, including Ghana, with the view to increasing foreign direct investments and achieving sustainable inflows, growth and development. One important factor which affects the determination of prices and the growth of capital markets is macroeconomic risk which is quite high in developing countries. Following works done on advanced stock markets, this study seeks to investigate the impact of six macroeconomic risk factors on asset pricing in the various industrial classification - financial, manufacturing, food and beverages, distribution and mining under the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) for the period January 1997 to December 2002. Using the arbitrage pricing methodology developed by Ross (1976) and Chen et al. (1986), the study revealed that investors in Ghana considered three main macroeconomic risk factors - short-term interest rate risk, inflation risk and the term structure of the country's interest rate in the determination of the various industrial asset prices during the period under consideration. Analysis of the risks and returns profile of the industries also shows that financial assets made the best gains on the market. Both general and specific policy recommendations aimed at improving the performance of the GSE are explored. © African Development Bank 2005. Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | None | capital market; foreign direct investment; interest rate; macroeconomics; price determination | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84889660814 | Impact of noise on credit risk prediction: Does data quality really matter? | Twala B. | 2013 | Intelligent Data Analysis | 17 | 6 | 10.3233/IDA-130623 | Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Science, University of Johannesburg, P O Box 524, Auckland Park, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa | Twala, B., Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Science, University of Johannesburg, P O Box 524, Auckland Park, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa | Machine learning has been successfully used for credit-evaluation decisions. Most research on machine learning assumes that the attributes of training and tests instances are not only completely specified but are also free from noise. Real world data, however, often suffer from corruptions or noise but not always known. This is the heart of information-based credit risk models. However, blindly applying such machine learning techniques to noisy financial credit risk evaluation data may fail to make very good or perfect predictions. Unfortunately, despite extensive research over the last decades, the impact of poor quality of data (especially noise) on the accuracy of credit risk has attracted less attention, even though it remains a significant problem for many. This paper investigates the robustness of five machine learning (supervised) algorithms to noisy credit risk environment. In particular, we show that when noise is added to four real-world credit risk domains, a significant and disproportionate number of total errors are contributed by class noise compared to attribute noise; thus, in the presence of noise, it is noise on the class variable that are responsible for the poor predictive accuracy of the learning concept. © 2013 - IOS Press and the authors. | Classifiers; Credit risk; Machine learning; Noisy data; Predictive accuracy | Attribute noise; Credit risks; Financial credits; Impact of noise; Machine learning techniques; Noisy data; Predictive accuracy; Quality of data; Classifiers; Learning systems; Risk assessment | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80052452794 | Effect of sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine on neonatal birth weight and perceptions on its impact on malaria in pregnancy in an intermittent preventive treatment programme setting in Offinso District, Ghana | Tutu E.O., Browne E., Lawson B. | 2011 | International Health | 3 | 3 | 10.1016/j.inhe.2011.04.002 | Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Department of Community Health, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana | Tutu, E.O., Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, Department of Community Health, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Browne, E., Department of Community Health, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Lawson, B., Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana | This study evaluated the effect of sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) use in intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy (IPTp) on birth weights of neonates in a stable malaria transmission area of Ghana, Offinso District. Routine delivery data from six health facilities over the period January 2005 to October 2007 were reviewed. In-depth interviews were conducted for health staff of these facilities to assess the effect of SP use in IPTp in pregnancy. SP-IPTp improved the birth weight of neonates and the effects of age, parity, term of pregnancy and sex of neonate also had significant influence on the birth weight (P<0.0001). The variation in birth weight of the neonates, however, did not show significant difference (OR = 0.91, 95% CI 0.8-1.1, P ≥0.26) over the period and seasonal variations had no effect on birth weight (OR = 0.84, 95% CI 0.7-1.1, P ≥0.18). Health personnel attested to the fact that SP-IPTp had reduced the burden of malaria cases in pregnancy and improved birth weight of neonates. This study, thus, shows that successful implementation of the SP-IPTp strategy will improve the birth weight of neonates, and consequently reduce neonatal mortality. © 2011 Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. | Birth Weight; Intermittent preventive treatment; Malaria; Neonates; Pregnancy; Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine | pyrimethamine plus sulfadoxine; adult; age; article; birth weight; drug effect; female; gender; Ghana; health care facility; human; major clinical study; malaria; male; newborn; newborn mortality; pregnancy; priority journal; seasonal variation | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84896468928 | The impact of corporate social responsibility factors on the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises | Turyakira P., Venter E., Smith E. | 2014 | South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences | 17 | 2 | None | Department of Marketing and Management, Makerere University, Uganda; Department of Business Management, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South Africa | Turyakira, P., Department of Marketing and Management, Makerere University, Uganda; Venter, E., Department of Business Management, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South Africa; Smith, E., Department of Business Management, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South Africa | Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become increasingly important to the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). A positive relationship between the CSR activities of SMEs and their enhanced competitiveness exists, at least if a long-term perspective is adopted (European Competitiveness Report, 2008:106; Mandl & Dorr, 2007:2). Despite the widespread practical and academic interest in CSR and its impact on the competitiveness of SMEs, few theoretical and empirical contributions could be found. The primary objective of this study was to identify and empirically test the CSR factors influencing the competitiveness of SMEs in Uganda. The outcomes of this study will assist SMEs to effectively and responsibly manage their activities to increase their competitiveness. A structured, self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 750 potential SME respondents. The respondents were identified by means of a purposive sampling technique, and the data were collected from 383 usable questionnaires. An exploratory factor analysis was carried out, and Cronbach's alpha coefficients calculated to determine the discriminant validity and reliability of the measuring instrument. Correlations were assessed using structural equation modeling. The empirical results of this study indicate that workforce-oriented CSR activities, society-oriented CSR activities, market-oriented CSR activities and regulated CSR activities significantly influence the competitiveness of SMEs. | Competitiveness; CSR activities; SMEs | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-73949102617 | Impact structures: What does crater diameter mean? | Turtle E.P., Pierazzo E., Collins G.S., Osinski G.R., Melosh H.J., Morgan J.V., Reimold W.U. | 2005 | Special Paper of the Geological Society of America | 384 | None | 10.1130/0-8137-2384-1.1 | Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, Department of Planetary Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721-0092, United States; Planetary Science Institute, 1700 E. Fort Lowell, Tucson, AZ 85719-2395, United States; Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom; Impact Cratering Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa; Canadian Space Agency, 6767 Route de l'Aeroport, Saint-Hubert, QC J3Y 8Y9, Canada | Turtle, E.P., Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, Department of Planetary Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721-0092, United States, Planetary Science Institute, 1700 E. Fort Lowell, Tucson, AZ 85719-2395, United States; Pierazzo, E., Planetary Science Institute, 1700 E. Fort Lowell, Tucson, AZ 85719-2395, United States; Collins, G.S., Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, Department of Planetary Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721-0092, United States, Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom; Osinski, G.R., Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, Department of Planetary Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721-0092, United States, Planetary Science Institute, 1700 E. Fort Lowell, Tucson, AZ 85719-2395, United States, Canadian Space Agency, 6767 Route de l'Aeroport, Saint-Hubert, QC J3Y 8Y9, Canada; Melosh, H.J., Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, Department of Planetary Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721-0092, United States; Morgan, J.V., Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom; Reimold, W.U., Impact Cratering Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa | The diameter of an impact crater is one of the most basic and important parameters used in energy scaling and numerical modeling of the cratering process. However, within the impact and geological communities and literature, there is considerable confusion about crater sizes due to the occurrence of a variety of concentric features, any of which might be interpreted as defining a crater's diameter. The disparate types of data available for different craters make the use of consistent metrics difficult, especially when comparing terrestrial to extraterrestrial craters. Furthermore, assessment of the diameters of terrestrial craters can be greatly complicated due to post-impact modification by erosion and tectonic activity. We analyze the terminology used to describe crater geometry and size and attempt to clarify the confusion over what exactly the term "crater diameter" means, proposing a consistent terminology to help avert future ambiguities. We discuss several issues of crater-size in the context of four large terrestrial examples for which crater diameters have been disputed (Chicxulub, Sudbury, Vredefort, and Chesapeake Bay) with the aim of moving toward consistent application of terminology. © 2005 Geological Society of America. | Chesapeake bay; Chicxulub; Crater diameter; Impact craters; Sudbury; Vredefort | crater; diameter; energy; erosion; numerical model; terminology; Canada; Chesapeake Bay; Ontario [Canada]; Sudbury; United States | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84920913660 | Isolation of α-linolenic acid biohydrogenation products by combined silver ion solid phase extraction and semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography | Turner T.D., Meadus W.J., Mapiye C., Vahmani P., López-Campos Ó., Duff P., Rolland D.C., Church J.S., Dugan M.E.R. | 2015 | Journal of Chromatography B: Analytical Technologies in the Biomedical and Life Sciences | 980 | None | 10.1016/j.jchromb.2014.11.038 | Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lacombe Research Centre, 6000 C and E Trail, Lacombe, AB, Canada; Thompson Rivers University, 900 McGill Road, Kamloops, BC, Canada; Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University, P. Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa; Livestock Gentec, 1400 College Plaza 8215 112 Street, Edmonton, AB, Canada | Turner, T.D., Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lacombe Research Centre, 6000 C and E Trail, Lacombe, AB, Canada, Thompson Rivers University, 900 McGill Road, Kamloops, BC, Canada; Meadus, W.J., Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lacombe Research Centre, 6000 C and E Trail, Lacombe, AB, Canada; Mapiye, C., Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University, P. Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa; Vahmani, P., Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lacombe Research Centre, 6000 C and E Trail, Lacombe, AB, Canada; López-Campos, Ó., Livestock Gentec, 1400 College Plaza 8215 112 Street, Edmonton, AB, Canada; Duff, P., Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lacombe Research Centre, 6000 C and E Trail, Lacombe, AB, Canada; Rolland, D.C., Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lacombe Research Centre, 6000 C and E Trail, Lacombe, AB, Canada; Church, J.S., Thompson Rivers University, 900 McGill Road, Kamloops, BC, Canada; Dugan, M.E.R., Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lacombe Research Centre, 6000 C and E Trail, Lacombe, AB, Canada | Polyunsaturated fatty acids typically found in cattle feed include linoleic (LA) and α-linolenic acid (ALA). In the rumen, microbes metabolize these resulting in the formation of biohydrogenation products (BHP), which can be incorporated into meat and milk. Bioactivities of LA-BHP, including conjugated linoleic acid (cis (c) 9,trans (t) 11-18:2 and t10,c12-18:2) and trans fatty acid isomers (t9-, t10- and t11-18:1) have been investigated, but effects of several BHP unique to ALA have not been extensively studied, and most ALA-BHP are not commercially available. The objective of the present research was to develop methods to purify and collect ALA-BHP using silver ion (Ag+) chromatography in sufficient quantities to allow for convenient bioactivity testing in cell culture. Fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) were prepared from perirenal adipose tissue from a cow enriched with ALA-BHP by feeding flaxseed. These were applied to Ag+-solid phase extraction, and eluted with hexane with increasing quantities of acetone (1, 2, 10, 20%) or acetonitrile (2%) to pre-fractionate FAME based on degree of unsaturation and double bond configuration. Fractions were collected, concentrated and applied to semi-preparative Ag+-high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the isolation and collection of purified isomers, which was accomplished using isocratic elutions with hexane containing differing amounts of acetonitrile (from 0.015 to 0.075%). Purified trans-18:1 isomers collected ranged in purity from 88 to 99%. Purity of the ALA-BHP dienes collected, including c9,t13-18:2, t11,c15-18:2 and t10,c15-18:2, exceeded 90%, while purification of other dienes may require the use of other complementary procedures (e.g. reverse phase HPLC). © 2014. | Ag+-HPLC; Ag+-SPE; Biohydrogenation; α-Linolenic acid | Acetone; Acetonitrile; Bioactivity; Cell culture; Chromatography; Extraction; Hexane; High performance liquid chromatography; Isomers; Linoleic acid; Liquid chromatography; Liquids; Metal ions; Olefins; Phase separation; Polyunsaturated fatty acids; Purification; Alpha linolenic acids; Biohydrogenation; Conjugated linoleic acid; Degree of unsaturations; Fatty acid methyl ester; Linolenic acids; Semi-preparative high-performance liquid chromatographies; Solid-phase extraction; Fatty acids; acetone; acetonitrile; conjugated linoleic acid; fatty acid ester; hexane; linolenic acid; silver; trans fatty acid; linolenic acid; adipose tissue; animal cell; animal tissue; Article; biological activity; concentration (parameters); controlled study; cow; fractionation; high performance liquid chromatography; hydrogenation; isomer; linseed; nonhuman; priority journal; solid phase extraction; high performance liquid chromatography; isolation and purification; procedures; solid phase extraction; Bos; alpha-Linolenic Acid; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Linoleic Acids, Conjugated; Solid Phase Extraction | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84926681814 | The potential impact of moxidectin on onchocerciasis elimination in Africa: An economic evaluation based on the Phase II clinical trial data | Turner H.C., Walker M., Attah S.K., Opoku N.O., Awadzi K., Kuesel A.C., Basáñez M.-G. | 2015 | Parasites and Vectors | 8 | 1 | 10.1186/s13071-015-0779-4 | Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, United Kingdom; Onchocerciasis Chemotherapy Research Centre, Hohoe, Ghana; Department of Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra, Ghana; UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland | Turner, H.C., Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, United Kingdom; Walker, M., Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, United Kingdom; Attah, S.K., Onchocerciasis Chemotherapy Research Centre, Hohoe, Ghana, Department of Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra, Ghana; Opoku, N.O., Onchocerciasis Chemotherapy Research Centre, Hohoe, Ghana; Awadzi, K., Onchocerciasis Chemotherapy Research Centre, Hohoe, Ghana; Kuesel, A.C., UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Basáñez, M.-G., Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, United Kingdom | Background: Spurred by success in several foci, onchocerciasis control policy in Africa has shifted from morbidity control to elimination of infection. Clinical trials have demonstrated that moxidectin is substantially more efficacious than ivermectin in effecting sustained reductions in skin microfilarial load and, therefore, may accelerate progress towards elimination. We compare the potential cost-effectiveness of annual moxidectin with annual and biannual ivermectin treatment. Methods: Data from the first clinical study of moxidectin were used to parameterise the onchocerciasis transmission model EPIONCHO to investigate, for different epidemiological and programmatic scenarios in African savannah settings, the number of years and in-country costs necessary to reach the operational thresholds for cessation of treatment, comparing annual and biannual ivermectin with annual moxidectin treatment. Results: Annual moxidectin and biannual ivermectin treatment would achieve similar reductions in programme duration relative to annual ivermectin treatment. Unlike biannual ivermectin treatment, annual moxidectin treatment would not incur a considerable increase in programmatic costs and, therefore, would generate sizeable in-country cost savings (assuming the drug is donated). Furthermore, the impact of moxidectin, unlike ivermectin, was not substantively influenced by the timing of treatment relative to seasonal patterns of transmission. Conclusions: Moxidectin is a promising new drug for the control and elimination of onchocerciasis. It has high programmatic value particularly when resource limitation prevents a biannual treatment strategy, or optimal timing of treatment relative to peak transmission season is not feasible. © 2015 Turner et al.; licensee BioMed Central. | Economic evaluation; Ivermectin; Moxidectin; Onchocerciasis; Seasonality | ivermectin; moxidectin; Africa; Article; cost control; drug cost; drug effect; economic evaluation; health care personnel; human; onchocerciasis; parasite clearance; prevalence; time to treatment | 085133/Z/08/Z, Wellcome Trust; 092677/Z/10/Z, Wellcome Trust |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84876872489 | Uncertainty Surrounding Projections of the Long-Term Impact of Ivermectin Treatment on Human Onchocerciasis | Turner H.C., Churcher T.S., Walker M., Osei-Atweneboana M.Y., Prichard R.K., Basáñez M.-G. | 2013 | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases | 7 | 4 | 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002169 | Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, United Kingdom; Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Water Research Institute, Department of Environmental Biology and Health, Accra, Ghana; Institute of Parasitology, Centre for Host-Parasite Interactions, McGill University, Sainte Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada | Turner, H.C., Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, United Kingdom; Churcher, T.S., Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, United Kingdom; Walker, M., Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, United Kingdom; Osei-Atweneboana, M.Y., Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Water Research Institute, Department of Environmental Biology and Health, Accra, Ghana; Prichard, R.K., Institute of Parasitology, Centre for Host-Parasite Interactions, McGill University, Sainte Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada; Basáñez, M.-G., Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, United Kingdom | Background: Recent studies in Mali, Nigeria, and Senegal have indicated that annual (or biannual) ivermectin distribution may lead to local elimination of human onchocerciasis in certain African foci. Modelling-based projections have been used to estimate the required duration of ivermectin distribution to reach elimination. A crucial assumption has been that microfilarial production by Onchocerca volvulus is reduced irreversibly by 30-35% with each (annual) ivermectin round. However, other modelling-based analyses suggest that ivermectin may not have such a cumulative effect. Uncertainty in this (biological) and other (programmatic) assumptions would affect projected outcomes of long-term ivermectin treatment. Methodology/Principal Findings: We modify a deterministic age- and sex-structured onchocerciasis transmission model, parameterised for savannah O. volvulus-Simulium damnosum, to explore the impact of assumptions regarding the effect of ivermectin on worm fertility and the patterns of treatment coverage compliance, and frequency on projections of parasitological outcomes due to long-term, mass ivermectin administration in hyperendemic areas. The projected impact of ivermectin distribution on onchocerciasis and the benefits of switching from annual to biannual distribution are strongly dependent on assumptions regarding the drug's effect on worm fertility and on treatment compliance. If ivermectin does not have a cumulative impact on microfilarial production, elimination of onchocerciasis in hyperendemic areas may not be feasible with annual ivermectin distribution. Conclusions/Significance: There is substantial (biological and programmatic) uncertainty surrounding modelling projections of onchocerciasis elimination. These uncertainties need to be acknowledged for mathematical models to inform control policy reliably. Further research is needed to elucidate the effect of ivermectin on O. volvulus reproductive biology and quantify the patterns of coverage and compliance in treated communities. © 2013 Turner et al. | None | ivermectin; article; disease elimination; drug efficacy; female; fertility; health care need; human; mass immunization; mathematical model; nonhuman; Onchocerca volvulus; onchocerciasis; parasite clearance; parasite load; parasite transmission; patient attitude; Simulium damnosum; treatment outcome; Antiparasitic Agents; Female; Humans; Ivermectin; Male; Models, Theoretical; Onchocerciasis; Treatment Outcome | 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-s2.0-84920708383 | Multi-Criteria Evaluation of Small-Scale Sprinkler Irrigation Systems Using Grey Relational Analysis | Tu Q., Li H., Wang X., Chen C., Luo Y., Dwomoh F.A. | 2014 | Water Resources Management | 28 | 13 | 10.1007/s11269-014-0765-1 | Research Center of Fluid Machinery Engineering and Technology, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China; School of Electromechanical Engineering, Changzhou College of Information Technology, Kejiaocheng, Wujin District, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China; School of Engineering, Koforidua Polytechnic, Koforidua, Eastern Region, Ghana | Tu, Q., Research Center of Fluid Machinery Engineering and Technology, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China, School of Electromechanical Engineering, Changzhou College of Information Technology, Kejiaocheng, Wujin District, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China; Li, H., Research Center of Fluid Machinery Engineering and Technology, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China; Wang, X., Research Center of Fluid Machinery Engineering and Technology, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China; Chen, C., Research Center of Fluid Machinery Engineering and Technology, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China; Luo, Y., Research Center of Fluid Machinery Engineering and Technology, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China; Dwomoh, F.A., Research Center of Fluid Machinery Engineering and Technology, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China, School of Engineering, Koforidua Polytechnic, Koforidua, Eastern Region, Ghana | The technical and socioeconomic evaluation of small-scale sprinkler irrigation systems is a multi-criteria problem characterized by complexity and uncertainty. In order to solve that, the application of Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) was presented. An evaluation model with ten sub-criteria under four groups, namely, technical, economic, environmental and social, was established. Among the criteria, calculation method of labor use in the small-scale sprinkler systems was originally addressed, and Life Cycle Cost (LCC) was used as an economic indicator. In the design of GRA, a combination weighting method based on Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and entropy measurement was employed to take into account the experts’ knowledge and the inherent information in the experimental data. Six irrigation systems for three field sizes 0.5 ha, 2 ha and 5 ha respectively were considered to verify the model. The systems were optimized with Genetic Algorithms (GAs) first to figure out the optimal combinations of sprinklers and pipes and further, field tests were performed. The discussions show that: the developed approach has successfully provided the ranking of systems for three field sizes. When different types of sprinklers are used, the criteria including atomize index, application efficiency and specific energy consumption change greatly. And the ownership cost, particularly the energy consumption fee, accounts for the largest part of LCC in most of the systems. In comparison, System 5 and System 1 are generally the best. The evaluation model solved by GRA integrated with GAs is effective and can be extended to the comprehensive evaluation and optimization of other irrigation systems. © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht. | Evaluation; Grey relational analysis; Irrigation system; Life cycle cost; Multi-criteria analysis | Cost benefit analysis; Costs; Economics; Energy utilization; Hose; Irrigation; Life cycle; Evaluation; Grey relational analysis; Irrigation systems; Lifecycle costs; Multi Criteria Analysis; Sprinkler systems (irrigation) | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84915774447 | Impact of severe climate variability on lion home range and movement patterns in the Amboseli ecosystem, Kenya | Tuqa J.H., Funston P., Musyoki C., Ojwang G.O., Gichuki N.N., Bauer H.hans., Tamis W., Dolrenry S., Van't Zelfde M., de Snoo G.R., de Iongh H.H. | 2014 | Global Ecology and Conservation | 2 | None | 10.1016/j.gecco.2014.07.006 | Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9518, Leiden, Netherlands; Kenya Wildlife Service, P.O. Box, 40241-001000, Nairobi, Kenya; WildCRU, University of Oxford, Tubney, United Kingdom; School of Biological Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box, 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Nature Conservation, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa; Lion Program, PantheraNY, United States; Panthera, Wisconsin Ave NW WashingtonDC, United States; Directorate of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing (DRSRS), Nairobi. P.O. Box 47146-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Lion Guardians, P.O. Box 15550-00509, Nairobi, Kenya | Tuqa, J.H., Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9518, Leiden, Netherlands, Kenya Wildlife Service, P.O. Box, 40241-001000, Nairobi, Kenya; Funston, P., Department of Nature Conservation, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa, Lion Program, PantheraNY, United States, Panthera, Wisconsin Ave NW WashingtonDC, United States; Musyoki, C., Kenya Wildlife Service, P.O. Box, 40241-001000, Nairobi, Kenya; Ojwang, G.O., Directorate of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing (DRSRS), Nairobi. P.O. Box 47146-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Gichuki, N.N., School of Biological Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box, 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Bauer, H.hans., WildCRU, University of Oxford, Tubney, United Kingdom; Tamis, W., Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9518, Leiden, Netherlands; Dolrenry, S., Lion Guardians, P.O. Box 15550-00509, Nairobi, Kenya; Van't Zelfde, M., Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9518, Leiden, Netherlands; de Snoo, G.R., Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9518, Leiden, Netherlands; de Iongh, H.H., Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9518, Leiden, Netherlands | In this study, we were interested in understanding if droughts influence the home range of predators such as lions, and if it does, in what ways the droughts influenced lions to adjust their home range, in response to prey availability. We monitored movements of ten lions fitted with GPS-GSM collars in order to analyze their home range and movement patterns over a six year period (2007-2012). We assessed the impact of a severe drought on the lion home range and movement patterns in the Amboseli ecosystem. There was a strong positive correlation between the home range size and distance moved in 24h before and during the drought (2007-2009), while after the drought there was a significant negative correlation. A weak positive correlation was evident between the lion home range and rainfall amounts (2010-2012). The male and female home ranges varied over the study period. The home range size and movement patterns coincided with permanent swamps and areas of high prey density inside the protected area. Over the course of the dry season and following the drought, the ranges initially shrank and then expanded in response to decreasing prey densities. The lions spent considerable time outside the park boundaries, particularly after severe the drought. We conclude that under conditions of fragmented habitats, severe climate conditions create new challenges for lion conservation due to effects on prey availability and subsequent influences on carnivore species ranging patterns. Stochastic weather patterns can force wide-ranging species beyond current reserve boundaries, into areas where there will be greater conflicts with humans. © 2014 The Authors. | African lion; Climate change; Panthera leo | None | None |
| None | None | In silico analysis of tkt1 from avian pathogenic Escherichia coli and its virulence evaluation in chickens | Tuntufye H.N., Gwakisa P.S., Goddeeris B.M. | 2013 | Research in Microbiology | 164 | 4 | 10.1016/j.resmic.2013.01.003 | Department of Biosystems, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium; Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3019, ChuoKikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania | Tuntufye, H.N., Department of Biosystems, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3019, ChuoKikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania; Gwakisa, P.S., Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3019, ChuoKikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania; Goddeeris, B.M., Department of Biosystems, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium | Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) contain tktA and tktB which code for transketolases involved in the pentose phosphate pathway. Recent studies demonstrated that a third gene coding for transketolase 1 (. tkt1) was located in a pathogenicity island of avian and human ExPEC belonging to phylogenetic group B2. In the present study, in silico analysis of tkt1 revealed 68% and 69% identity with tktA and tktB, respectively, of ExPEC and 68% identity with tktA and tktB of E. coli MG1655. The translated tkt1 shared 69% and 68% identity with TktA and TktB proteins, respectively, of ExPEC and E. coli MG1655. Phylogenetically, it is shown that the three genes (. tktA, tktB and tkt1) cluster in three different clades. Further analysis suggests that tkt1 has been acquired though horizontal gene transfer from plant-associated bacteria within the family Enterobacteriaceae. Virulence studies were performed in order to evaluate whether tkt1 played a role in avian pathogenic E. coli CH2 virulence in chickens. The evaluation revealed that mutant virulence was slightly lower based on LD50 when compared to the wild type during infection of chickens, but there were no significant differences when the two strains were compared based on the number of deaths and lesion scores. © 2013 Institut Pasteur. | Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli; Extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli; Horizontal gene transfer; In silico; Transketolase | protein; tkt1 protein; unclassified drug; article; avian pathogenic Escherichia coli; bacterial virulence; chicken; Enterobacteriaceae; horizontal gene transfer; LD 50; nonhuman; phylogeny; priority journal; Animals; Chickens; Cluster Analysis; DNA, Bacterial; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli Infections; Escherichia coli Proteins; Genomic Islands; Lethal Dose 50; Molecular Sequence Data; Phylogeny; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Survival Analysis; Transketolase; Virulence; Virulence Factors; Aves; Enterobacteriaceae; Escherichia coli; Gallus gallus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84889092904 | The impact of childhood adversity on suicidality and clinical course in treatment-resistant depression | Tunnard C., Rane L.J., Wooderson S.C., Markopoulou K., Poon L., Fekadu A., Juruena M., Cleare A.J. | 2014 | Journal of Affective Disorders | None | 1 | 10.1016/j.jad.2013.06.037 | Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Psychological Medicine, Section of Neurobiology of Mood Disorders, 103 Denmark Hill, Box P074, London SE5 8AZ, United Kingdom; National Affective Disorder Unit, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia; Department of Neurosciences and Behaviour, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil | Tunnard, C., Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Psychological Medicine, Section of Neurobiology of Mood Disorders, 103 Denmark Hill, Box P074, London SE5 8AZ, United Kingdom, National Affective Disorder Unit, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom; Rane, L.J., Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Psychological Medicine, Section of Neurobiology of Mood Disorders, 103 Denmark Hill, Box P074, London SE5 8AZ, United Kingdom, National Affective Disorder Unit, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom; Wooderson, S.C., Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Psychological Medicine, Section of Neurobiology of Mood Disorders, 103 Denmark Hill, Box P074, London SE5 8AZ, United Kingdom, National Affective Disorder Unit, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom; Markopoulou, K., Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Psychological Medicine, Section of Neurobiology of Mood Disorders, 103 Denmark Hill, Box P074, London SE5 8AZ, United Kingdom, National Affective Disorder Unit, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom; Poon, L., National Affective Disorder Unit, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom; Fekadu, A., Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Psychological Medicine, Section of Neurobiology of Mood Disorders, 103 Denmark Hill, Box P074, London SE5 8AZ, United Kingdom, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia; Juruena, M., Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Psychological Medicine, Section of Neurobiology of Mood Disorders, 103 Denmark Hill, Box P074, London SE5 8AZ, United Kingdom, Department of Neurosciences and Behaviour, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil; Cleare, A.J., Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Psychological Medicine, Section of Neurobiology of Mood Disorders, 103 Denmark Hill, Box P074, London SE5 8AZ, United Kingdom, National Affective Disorder Unit, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom | Background Childhood adversity is a risk factor for the development of depression and can also affect clinical course. We investigated this specifically in treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Methods One hundred and thirty-seven patients with TRD previously admitted to an inpatient affective disorders unit were included. Clinical, demographic and childhood adversity (physical, sexual, emotional abuse; bullying victimization, traumatic events) data were obtained during admission. Associations between childhood adversity, depressive symptoms and clinical course were investigated. Results Most patients had experienced childhood adversity (62%), with traumatic events (35%) and bullying victimization (29%) most commonly reported. Childhood adversity was associated with poorer clinical course, including earlier age of onset, episode persistence and recurrence. Logistic regression analyses revealed childhood adversity predicted lifetime suicide attempts (OR 2.79; 95% CI 1.14, 6.84) and childhood physical abuse predicted lifetime psychosis (OR 3.42; 95% CI 1.00, 11.70). Limitations The cross-sectional design and retrospective measurement of childhood adversity are limitations of the study. Conclusions Childhood adversity was common amongst these TRD patients and was associated with poor clinical course, psychosis and suicide attempts. Routine assessment of early adversity may help identify at risk individuals and inform clinical intervention. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. | Abuse; Childhood adversity; Childhood trauma; Early life stress; Refractory depression; Suicide; Treatment-resistant depression | anxiolytic agent; hypnotic agent; mood stabilizer; neuroleptic agent; adult; article; bipolar disorder; bullying; child abuse; child sexual abuse; childhood injury; depression; disease course; early life stress; emotional abuse; female; human; logistic regression analysis; major clinical study; major depression; male; onset age; priority journal; psychosis; recurrent disease; suicidal behavior; suicide attempt; symptom; victim; cross-sectional study; Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant; life event; middle aged; psychologic test; psychological rating scale; psychology; risk factor; severity of illness index; treatment outcome; Adult Survivors of Child Abuse; Age of Onset; Bullying; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant; Female; Humans; Interview, Psychological; Life Change Events; Male; Middle Aged; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Risk Factors; Severity of Illness Index; Suicide, Attempted; Treatment Outcome | NIHR, National Institute for Health Research |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33846481298 | Evaluation of herbicides for weed control in irrigated garlic (Allium sativum L.) at Samaru, Nigeria | Tunku P., Lagoke S.T.O., Ishaya D.B. | 2007 | Crop Protection | 26 | 4 | 10.1016/j.cropro.2006.05.017 | College of Agriculture, Division of Agricultural Colleges, Ahmadu Bello University, Kabba, Kogi State, Nigeria; Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogua State, Nigeria; Department of Agronomy, A.B.U., Zaria, Nigeria | Tunku, P., College of Agriculture, Division of Agricultural Colleges, Ahmadu Bello University, Kabba, Kogi State, Nigeria; Lagoke, S.T.O., Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogua State, Nigeria; Ishaya, D.B., Department of Agronomy, A.B.U., Zaria, Nigeria | Field trials were carried out during the dry seasons of 1995 and 1996 to identify suitable pre-emergence herbicides for weed control in garlic (Allium sativum L.) at Samaru, Nigeria. All the herbicide treatments tested effectively reduced weed infestation compared with the weedy control. Garlic plant height and shoot dry matter were depressed by oxadiazon plus cinosulfuron at 0.75+0.02 kg a.i./ha, oxadiazon plus prosulfuron at both doses and in the weedy check in the two trials. In both years, oxadiazon applied alone at 1.0, 1.5 kg a.i./ha and the mixture of oxadiazon with chloroxuron and prometryne resulted in high garlic bulb yields that were comparable to that of the hoe-weeded control. In both years, the best treatment in terms of garlic bulb yield was oxadiazon plus chloroxuron at 0.75+1.0 kg a.i./ha. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Garlic; Grass weeds; Growth; Pre-emergence herbicides; Yield | crop plant; crop yield; growth rate; herbicide; weed control; yield response; Africa; Kaduna [Nigeria]; Nigeria; Samaru; Sub-Saharan Africa; West Africa; Allium sativum | 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 permanet 3.0 a deltamethrin-PBO combination net against Anopheles gambiae and pyrethroid resistant Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes: An experimental hut trial in Tanzania | Tungu P., Magesa S., Maxwell C., Malima R., Masue D., Sudi W., Myamba J., Pigeon O., Rowland M. | 2010 | Malaria Journal | 9 | 1 | 10.1186/1475-2875-9-21 | Amani Medical Research Centre, National Institute for Medical Research, PO Box 81, Muheza, Tanzania; Pan-African Malaria Vector Research Consortium, Tanzania; Pesticides Research Department, Walloon Agricultural Research Centre, 11 Rue du Bordia, B-5030 Gembloux, Belgium; Department of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom | Tungu, P., Amani Medical Research Centre, National Institute for Medical Research, PO Box 81, Muheza, Tanzania, Pan-African Malaria Vector Research Consortium, Tanzania; Magesa, S., Amani Medical Research Centre, National Institute for Medical Research, PO Box 81, Muheza, Tanzania, Pan-African Malaria Vector Research Consortium, Tanzania; Maxwell, C., Amani Medical Research Centre, National Institute for Medical Research, PO Box 81, Muheza, Tanzania, Pan-African Malaria Vector Research Consortium, Tanzania, Department of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Malima, R., Amani Medical Research Centre, National Institute for Medical Research, PO Box 81, Muheza, Tanzania, Pan-African Malaria Vector Research Consortium, Tanzania; Masue, D., Amani Medical Research Centre, National Institute for Medical Research, PO Box 81, Muheza, Tanzania, Pan-African Malaria Vector Research Consortium, Tanzania; Sudi, W., Amani Medical Research Centre, National Institute for Medical Research, PO Box 81, Muheza, Tanzania, Pan-African Malaria Vector Research Consortium, Tanzania; Myamba, J., Amani Medical Research Centre, National Institute for Medical Research, PO Box 81, Muheza, Tanzania, Pan-African Malaria Vector Research Consortium, Tanzania; Pigeon, O., Pesticides Research Department, Walloon Agricultural Research Centre, 11 Rue du Bordia, B-5030 Gembloux, Belgium; Rowland, M., Pan-African Malaria Vector Research Consortium, Tanzania, Department of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom | Background. Combination mosquito nets incorporating two unrelated insecticides or insecticide plus synergist are designed to control insecticide resistant mosquitoes. PermaNet 3.0 is a long-lasting combination net incorporating deltamethrin on the side panels and a mixture of deltamethrin and synergist piperonyl butoxide (PBO) on the top panel. PBO is an inhibitor of mixed function oxidases implicated in pyrethroid resistance. Method. An experimental hut trial comparing PermaNet 3.0, PermaNet 2.0 and a conventional deltamethrin-treated net was conducted in NE Tanzania using standard WHOPES procedures. The PermaNet arms included unwashed nets and nets washed 20 times. PermaNet 2.0 is a long-lasting insecticidal net incorporating deltamethrin as a single active. Results. Against pyrethroid susceptible Anopheles gambiae the unwashed PermaNet 3.0 showed no difference to unwashed PermaNet 2.0 in terms of mortality (95% killed), but showed differences in blood-feeding rate (3% blood-fed with PermaNet 3.0 versus 10% with PermaNet 2.0). After 20 washes the two products showed no difference in feeding rate (10% with 3.0 and 9% with 2.0) but showed small differences in mortality (95% with 3.0 and 87% with 2.0). Against pyrethroid resistant Culex quinquefasciatus, mediated by elevated oxidase and kdr mechanisms, the unwashed PermaNet 3.0 killed 48% and PermaNet 2.0 killed 32% but after 20 washes there was no significant difference in mortality between the two products (32% killed by 3.0 and 30% by 2.0). For protecting against Culex PermaNet 3.0 showed no difference to PermaNet 2.0 when either unwashed or after 20 washes; both products were highly protective against biting. Laboratory tunnel bioassays confirmed the loss of biological activity of the PBO/deltamethrin-treated panel after washing. Conclusion. Both PermaNet products were highly effective against susceptible Anopheles gambiae. As a long-lasting net to control or protect against pyrethroid resistant mosquitoes PermaNet 3.0 showed limited improvement over PermaNet 2.0 against Culex quinquefasciatus. © 2010 Tungu et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | deltamethrin; oxidoreductase; piperonyl butoxide; vasculotropin receptor 2; deltamethrin; insecticide; nitrile; piperonyl butoxide; pyrethroid; Anopheles gambiae; article; bed net; Culex quinquefasciatus; feeding behavior; insect bite; mortality; nonhuman; Tanzania; world health organization; animal; Culex; drug effect; drug resistance; human; methodology; mosquito; survival; Animals; Anopheles gambiae; Culex; Drug Resistance; Feeding Behavior; Humans; Insecticide-Treated Bednets; Insecticides; Mosquito Control; Nitriles; Piperonyl Butoxide; Pyrethrins; Survival Analysis; Tanzania | None |
| None | None | The impact of reduced dust exposure on respiratory health among cement workers: An ecological study | Tungu A.M., Bråtveit M., Mamuya S.H., Moen B.E. | 2014 | Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine | 56 | 1 | 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000057 | Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Bergen, Kalfarveien 31, N-5018, Bergen, Norway; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Department of OccupationalMedicine, Haukel and University Hospital, Bergen, Norway | Tungu, A.M., Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Bergen, Kalfarveien 31, N-5018, Bergen, Norway; Bråtveit, M., Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Bergen, Kalfarveien 31, N-5018, Bergen, Norway; Mamuya, S.H., Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Moen, B.E., Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Bergen, Kalfarveien 31, N-5018, Bergen, Norway, Department of OccupationalMedicine, Haukel and University Hospital, Bergen, Norway | OBJECTIVES:: To compare total dust exposure, prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms, lung function, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among Tanzanian cement workers before (2002) and after (2010-2011) establishment of dust-control measures. METHODS:: Personal total dust-exposure measurements, questionnaire assessment for chronic respiratory symptoms, and spirometry were conducted in both examination periods. RESULTS:: Total dust exposure was lower in 2010-2011 than in 2002. The prevalence of most chronic respiratory symptoms and COPD was lower in 2010 than in 2002. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), percentage predicted FEV1, and percentage predicted forced vital capacity were higher among cement workers in 2010 than in 2002. CONCLUSIONS:: There was reduced total dust exposure level, lower prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms and COPD, and higher lung function among cement workers in 2010 than in 2002. © 2013 by American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. | None | Adult; Bronchitis, Chronic; Chronic Disease; Construction Materials; Cough; Dust; Forced Expiratory Volume; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Occupational Diseases; Occupational Exposure; Prevalence; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Questionnaires; Spirometry; Sputum; Tanzania; Vital Capacity; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-36349013100 | Psychosocial impact of sickle cell disease on mothers of affected children seen at University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria | Tunde-Ayinmode M.F. | 2007 | East African Medical Journal | 84 | 9 | None | Department of Behavioural Sciences, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, P.O. Box 693, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria | Tunde-Ayinmode, M.F., Department of Behavioural Sciences, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, P.O. Box 693, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria | Background: Attention paid to psychological disorders of mothers or families of children suffering from sickle cell disease (SCD) in Nigeria has been inadequate. Objective: To assess the psychosocial impact of SCD on mothers of affected children and two control samples. Design: A cross-sectional controlled study. Setting: University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria. Subjects: One hundred mothers of SCD affected children (SCD children) were the study sample while the controls were made of 75 mothers of children with bronchial asthma (asthmatics) and 75 mothers of children with some acute medical illness (AMI). Results: The mothers of children with SCD (SCD mothers) were significantly likely to report burden in the areas of finance, time consumption and hindrance from enjoyment of live and were also more likely to over-protect their children. A total of 28% of SCD mothers were identified as probable cases with psychological problems on SRQ compared to 20% and 25% of mothers of asthmatics and AMI children respectively, this differences were, however, not statistically significant. Conclusion: As a result of the prevalent psychosocial impact of this disease on mothers it is strongly suggested that special consideration in terms of routine psychosocial assessment and treatment be incorporated into the various levels of health care system. There is also the need to encourage the establishment of more social organisations like SCD clubs where affected families can interact and counsel one another. | None | adaptive behavior; adult; article; caregiver; cross-sectional study; female; health survey; human; mother; mother child relation; Nigeria; parent; psychologic test; psychological aspect; questionnaire; sickle cell anemia; socioeconomics; teaching hospital; university hospital; Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Anemia, Sickle Cell; Caregivers; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health Surveys; Hospitals, Teaching; Hospitals, University; Humans; Mother-Child Relations; Mothers; Nigeria; Parents; Psychological Tests; Questionnaires; Socioeconomic Factors | 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 |
| 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-s2.0-79952950513 | Evaluation of Dry Matter, Protein, Starch, Sucrose, β-carotene, Iron, Zinc, Calcium, and Magnesium in East African Sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam] Germplasm | Tumwegamire S., Kapinga R., Rubaihayo P.R., Labonte D.R., Grüneberg W.J., Burgos G., Felde T.Z., Carpio R., Pawelzik E., Mwanga R.O.M. | 2011 | HortScience | 46 | 3 | None | International Potato Center (CIP), P.O. Box 22274, Kampala, Uganda; Crop Science Department, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062 Kampala, Uganda; Louisiana State University, AgCenter, 104B M.B. Sturgis Hall, LSU Campus, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States; International Potato Center, Apartado 1558, Lima 12, Peru; Institute of Agricultural Chemistry, Georg-August-University G̈ ottingen, Carl-Sprengel-Weg 1, 37075 G̈ ottingen, Germany; National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI), Namulonge, P.O. Box 7084, Kampala, Uganda | Tumwegamire, S., International Potato Center (CIP), P.O. Box 22274, Kampala, Uganda, Louisiana State University, AgCenter, 104B M.B. Sturgis Hall, LSU Campus, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States; Kapinga, R., International Potato Center (CIP), P.O. Box 22274, Kampala, Uganda; Rubaihayo, P.R., Crop Science Department, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062 Kampala, Uganda; Labonte, D.R., Louisiana State University, AgCenter, 104B M.B. Sturgis Hall, LSU Campus, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States; Grüneberg, W.J., International Potato Center, Apartado 1558, Lima 12, Peru; Burgos, G., International Potato Center, Apartado 1558, Lima 12, Peru; Felde, T.Z., International Potato Center, Apartado 1558, Lima 12, Peru; Carpio, R., International Potato Center, Apartado 1558, Lima 12, Peru; Pawelzik, E., Institute of Agricultural Chemistry, Georg-August-University G̈ ottingen, Carl-Sprengel-Weg 1, 37075 G̈ ottingen, Germany; Mwanga, R.O.M., Crop Science Department, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062 Kampala, Uganda, National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI), Namulonge, P.O. Box 7084, Kampala, Uganda | The present study evaluated selected East African (EA) sweetpotato varieties for storage root dry matter and nutrient content and obtained information on the potential contributions of the varieties to alleviate vitamin A and mineral deficiencies. Roots obtained from 89 farmer (white- and orange-fleshed) varieties and one introduced variety ('Resisto') were analyzed for storage root quality using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy technology. Location differences were only significant for starch content. The σ2G variance was significant (P < 0.01) for all the traits except sucrose content. Overall, the farmer varieties had higher dry matter, higher starch, and lower sucrose contents than the control clone, 'Resisto'. It is these qualities that make sweetpotato attractive as a starchy staple in EA. A low population's mean β-carotene content (19.0 ppm)was observed.However, deep orange-fleshed farmer varieties, 'Carrot_C', 'Ejumula', 'Carrot Dar', 'Mayai', and 'Zambezi', had β-carotene content that can meet 350% or greater of recommended daily allowance (RDA) with 250-g serving to a 5- to 8-year-old child. More but light orange-fleshed farmer varieties 'K-118', 'K-134', 'K-46', 'KMI61', 'MLE162 Nakahi', 'PAL161', 'Sowola6', 'Sponge', 'SRT34 Abuket2', 'SRT35 Anyumel', 'SRT52', and 'Sudan' can provide 50% to 90% RDA of pro-vitamin A for the child. The root minerals' content was generally low except for magnesium whose content can meet 50% or greater RDA in many farmer varieties. However, in areas with high sweetpotato consumption, varieties 'Carrot_C', 'Carrot Dar', 'KRE nylon', 'MLE163 Kyebandula', and 'SRT49 Sanyuzameza' can make good intakes of iron, zinc, calcium, and magnesium. In conclusion, some EA farmer varieties can contribute greatly to alleviation of vitamin A deficiency and substantial mineral intakes. | β-carotene; And magnesium contents; Biofortified crops; Calcium; Ipomoea batatas; Iron; Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) technology; Protein; Starch; Sucrose; Zinc | Daucus carota; Ipomoea batatas | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84871284176 | Household-Based HIV Counseling and Testing as a Platform for Referral to HIV Care and Medical Male Circumcision in Uganda: A Pilot Evaluation | Tumwebaze H., Tumwesigye E., Baeten J.M., Kurth A.E., Revall J., Murnane P.M., Chang L.W., Celum C. | 2012 | PLoS ONE | 7 | 12 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0051620 | Integrated Community Based Initiatives, Kabwohe, Uganda; Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; College of Nursing, New York University, New York, NY, United States; Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States | Tumwebaze, H., Integrated Community Based Initiatives, Kabwohe, Uganda; Tumwesigye, E., Integrated Community Based Initiatives, Kabwohe, Uganda; Baeten, J.M., Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Kurth, A.E., College of Nursing, New York University, New York, NY, United States; Revall, J., Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Murnane, P.M., Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Chang, L.W., Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States; Celum, C., Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States | Background: Combination HIV prevention initiatives incorporate evidence-based, biomedical and behavioral interventions appropriate and acceptable to specific populations, aiming to significantly reduce population-level HIV incidence. Knowledge of HIV serostatus is key to linkages to HIV care and prevention. Household-based HIV counseling and testing (HBCT) can achieve high HIV testing rates. We evaluated HBCT as a platform for delivery of combination HIV prevention services in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: We conducted HBCT in a semi-urban area in southwestern Uganda. All adults received standard HIV prevention messaging. Real-time electronic data collection included a brief risk assessment and prevention triage algorithm for referrals of HIV seropositive persons to HIV care and uncircumcised HIV seronegative men with multiple sex partners to male circumcision. Monthly follow-up visits for 3 months were conducted to promote uptake of HIV care and male circumcision. Results: 855 households received HBCT; 1587 of 1941 (81.8%) adults were present at the HBCT visit, 1557 (98.1% of those present) were tested and received HIV results, of whom, 46.5% were men. A total of 152 (9.8%) were HIV seropositive, for whom the median CD4 count was 456 cells/μL, and 50.7% were newly-identified as HIV seropositive. Three months after HBCT, 88.5% of HIV seropositive persons had attended an HIV care clinic; among those with CD4 counts <250 cells/μL, 71.4% initiated antiretroviral therapy. Among 123 HIV seronegative men with an HIV+ partner or multiple partners, 62.0% were circumcised by month 3. Conclusions: HBCT achieves high levels of knowledge of HIV serostatus and is an effective platform for identifying at-risk persons and achieving higher uptake of HIV prevention and care services through referrals and targeted follow-up than has been accomplished through other single focus strategies. © 2012 Tumwebaze et al. | None | antiretrovirus agent; cotrimoxazole; adult; algorithm; article; CD4 lymphocyte count; circumcision; female; follow up; health care delivery; health promotion; HIV test; home care; household based HIV counseling and testing; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; infection prevention; infection risk; major clinical study; male; patient counseling; patient referral; pilot study; professional practice; risk assessment; social aspect; Uganda; Adult; Algorithms; Circumcision, Male; Community Health Workers; Counseling; Evidence-Based Medicine; Family Characteristics; HIV Infections; HIV Seronegativity; Humans; Male; Pilot Projects; Probability; Referral and Consultation; Risk; Sexual Partners; Time Factors; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84904332448 | Combining Ability Analysis of Storage Root Yield and Related Traits in Cassava at the Seedling Evaluation Stage of Breeding | Tumuhimbise R., Shanahan P., Melis R., Kawuki R. | 2014 | Journal of Crop Improvement | 28 | 4 | 10.1080/15427528.2014.923798 | African Centre for Crop Improvement, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; National Crops Resources Research Institute, National Agricultural Research Organization, Kampala, Uganda | Tumuhimbise, R., African Centre for Crop Improvement, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, National Crops Resources Research Institute, National Agricultural Research Organization, Kampala, Uganda; Shanahan, P., African Centre for Crop Improvement, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Melis, R., African Centre for Crop Improvement, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Kawuki, R., National Crops Resources Research Institute, National Agricultural Research Organization, Kampala, Uganda | Selection of genotypes at the seedling evaluation stage of cassava breeding for advancement is largely based on high heritability traits. Moreover, combining ability and family data at this stage are rarely analyzed, leading to a loss of potential genetic information. This study was conducted to estimate the general combining ability (GCA) of nine cassava parents and specific combining ability (SCA) of their crosses for storage root yield (SRY) and related traits, as well as to determine the gene action controlling these traits. Thirty-six full-sib cassava families were developed from a 9 x 9 half-diallel mating design and evaluated in a 6 x 6 triple lattice design. The family mean squares (MS) were significantly different for all traits assessed, suggesting significant differences among families for all traits. The GCA MS were significant for all traits, whereas SCA MS were significant for only storage root number (SRN). Percentage sum of squares attributable to GCA accounted for >50.0% of variability expressed by families in five of the seven traits studied, indicating predominance of additive gene effects in controlling expression of most traits. Parent CT4 was the best general combiner for SRY, SRN, and resistance to cassava brown streak and mosaic diseases, while crosses NASE3 x CT2, CT5 x CT3, and NASE3 x CT4 had desirable SCA effects for SRY. Correlation analysis indicated a possibility of selecting for SRY and quality traits simultaneously. Simultaneous selection of these traits at the seedling generational stage of cassava breeding could reduce the cassava breeding cycle. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. | additive gene effects; crosses; Manihot esculenta Crantz; non-additive gene effects; parents | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84925784157 | Pathogenicity and performance of two candidate isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) in four liquid culture media for the management of the legume pod borer Maruca vitrata (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) | Tumuhaise V., Ekesi S., Mohamed S.A., Ndegwa P.N., Irungu L.W., Srinivasan R., Maniania N.K. | 2014 | International Journal of Tropical Insect Science | 35 | 1 | 10.1017/S1742758414000605 | International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), PO Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya; University of Nairobi, PO Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya; AVRDC - The World Vegetable Center, Tainan, Taiwan | Tumuhaise, V., International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), PO Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya, University of Nairobi, PO Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya; Ekesi, S., International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), PO Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya; Mohamed, S.A., International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), PO Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya; Ndegwa, P.N., University of Nairobi, PO Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya; Irungu, L.W., University of Nairobi, PO Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya; Srinivasan, R., AVRDC - The World Vegetable Center, Tainan, Taiwan; Maniania, N.K., International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), PO Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya | The aim of this study was to identify and develop entomopathogenic fungi as biopesticides for management of Maruca vitrata (Fabricius). Fourteen isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metchnikoff) Sorokin and six of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.-Criv.) Vuill. were screened against first instar larvae of M. vitrata. The two most virulent isolates were selected and further tested for production in four liquid media. Different formulations of one isolate were evaluated against different developmental stages. Metarhizium anisopliae ICIPE 18 and ICIPE 69 caused highest larval mortality of 91 and 81%, with lethal time to 50% mortality (LT50) values of 1.8 and 1.7 days and LC50 of 1.07 × 107 and 3.01 × 106conidia/ml, respectively. ICIPE 69 yielded more biomass and propagules in two liquid media than ICIPE 18. All developmental stages and adult moths were susceptible to fungal infection and horizontal transmission caused a significant reduction in fecundity. Isolate ICIPE 69 was identified as the most potent isolate for managing M. vitrata based on demonstrated efficacy against different developmental stages and amenability to production in liquid media and could be utilized as an alternative to pesticides in cowpea IPM. Copyright © ICIPE 2015. | biopesticide; Cowpea; entomopathogenic fungi; formulation; Maruca vitrata; media | Clavicipitaceae; Cordyceps bassiana; Crambidae; Fungi; Hypocreales; Lepidoptera; Metarhizium anisopliae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84875241328 | Total body imaging evaluation after initial resuscitation in paediatric trauma | Tummers W.S.F.J., Isaacs S., van As A.B. | 2013 | Injury Extra | 44 | 4 | 10.1016/j.injury.2012.12.031 | Department of Trauma Paediatric Surgery, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa | Tummers, W.S.F.J., Department of Trauma Paediatric Surgery, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Isaacs, S., Department of Trauma Paediatric Surgery, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; van As, A.B., Department of Trauma Paediatric Surgery, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa | [No abstract available] | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84898487791 | Preliminary evaluation of the effectiveness of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viceae strains in nodulating hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) in the sandy soils of Zimbabwe | Tumbure A., Wuta M., Mapanda F. | 2013 | South African Journal of Plant and Soil | 30 | 4 | 10.1080/02571862.2013.868536 | Soil Productivity Research Laboratory, Department of Research and Specialist Services, Private Bag 3757, Marondera, Zimbabwe; Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, University of Zimbabwe, PO Box MP167, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe; Marondera College of Agricultural Science and Technology, University of Zimbabwe, PO Box 35, Marondera, Zimbabwe | Tumbure, A., Soil Productivity Research Laboratory, Department of Research and Specialist Services, Private Bag 3757, Marondera, Zimbabwe, Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, University of Zimbabwe, PO Box MP167, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe; Wuta, M., Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, University of Zimbabwe, PO Box MP167, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe, Marondera College of Agricultural Science and Technology, University of Zimbabwe, PO Box 35, Marondera, Zimbabwe; Mapanda, F., Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, University of Zimbabwe, PO Box MP167, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe | Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) is an introduced temperate forage legume in Zimbabwe that has no locally available commercial inoculant. In this study, Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viceae strains MAR 1504, MAR 833 and MAR 346 available in Zimbabwe's strain bank were evaluated for nodulation and N2-fixing effectiveness in a sandy soil (Typic Kandiustalf). There was no significant difference in hairy vetch biomass (range: 3.4-4.5 g pot-1) and nitrogen (N) content between plants in acidic and limed soil, showing that soil acidity was not a major problem for hairy vetch productivity in the short term. Inoculation with R. leguminosarum significantly increased (p < 0.05) biomass production (range: 0.37-3.11 t ha-1) and enhanced N2 fixation of hairy vetch compared to the uninoculated control, which had no nodules and significantly less biomass. Hairy vetch fixed up to 66.5 kg N ha-1 in the field, and this amount may be made available for cereal crops as green manure. From the strains tested, MAR 833 and MAR1504 were more effective than MAR 346 in increasing the amount of N2 fixed per unit area and are thus recommended for further multilocation field testing in farmer's fields to allow conclusive identification of strains to use in commercial inoculant production. Copyright © 2013 Combined Congress Continuing Committee. | Acidic sandy soil; Biological nitrogen fixation; Hairy vetch; Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viceae | acid soil; biological production; biomass; forage; inoculation; legume; manure; microbial activity; nitrogen fixation; nodulation; performance assessment; rhizobacterium; sandy soil; Zimbabwe | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84861890264 | Evaluation of directly observed treatment for tuberculosis in the Bojanala health district, North West Province of South Africa | Tumbo J.M., Ogunbanjo G.A. | 2011 | African Journal of Primary Health Care and Family Medicine | 3 | 1 | 10.4102/phcfm.v3i1.191 | Department of Family Medicine and Primary Health Care, University of Limpopo, Medunsa campus, South Africa | Tumbo, J.M., Department of Family Medicine and Primary Health Care, University of Limpopo, Medunsa campus, South Africa; Ogunbanjo, G.A., Department of Family Medicine and Primary Health Care, University of Limpopo, Medunsa campus, South Africa | Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the top public health problems in South Africa. Approximately 150 000 new cases and 10 000 TB-related deaths are reported in South Africa annually. In declaring TB a global emergency in 1993, the World Health Organization developed control strategies that include active case finding, laboratory support, directly observed treatment (DOT), contact tracing, and prevention of multidrug- and extreme drugresistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB and XDR-TB). High DOT rates reported in some countries have been discordant with 'low cure' and 'high MDR' rates. Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the use of DOT for TB in the Bojanala health district, North West Province, South Africa, by estimating the proportion of DOT use (1) amongst all TB patients and (2) in the initial TB treatment regimen compared to retreatment regimens. Method: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted in 2008. Data regarding implementation of DOT were collected from eight purposefully selected primary health care clinics and one prison clinic in the health district. Upon receiving their informed consent, a questionnaire was administered to patients receiving TB treatment at the selected facilities. Results: A total of 88 (of 90 selected) patients participated in the study, of whom 50 (56.8%) were on DOT and had DOT supporters. However, 35 (40%) had never heard of DOT. DOT was used mainly for patients on the retreatment regimen (87.5%), rather than for those on first-line treatment (48.6%). Conclusion: In this South African rural health district, the DOT utilisation rate for TB was 56.8%, mainly for patients on the TB retreatment regimen. Strict implementation of DOT in all patients undergoing TB treatment is a known strategy for improving TB cure rate and preventing recurrence and drug resistance. © 2011. The Authors. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77952646517 | Effect of dietary ascorbic acid on performance of broiler chickens exposed to different lighting regime | Tuleun C., Njoku P.C., Okwori A.I. | 2010 | International Journal of Poultry Science | 9 | 2 | None | Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria; National University Commission, Abuja, Nigeria | Tuleun, C., Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria; Njoku, P.C., National University Commission, Abuja, Nigeria; Okwori, A.I., Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria | A 2 x 2 factorial experiment was conducted to determine the performance of 400 Anak broiler chicks exposed to two lighting regimes viz. 12 h light: 12 h darkness and 24 h lightO h darkness and fed diets containing two levels of ascorbic acid (0 and 250 mg AA/kg of feed). Each treatment was replicated four times with 25 birds per replicate. Results showed that at the starter phase of growth, chicks on continuous lighting regime recorded significantly (p<0.05) higher weight gain than those on limited lighting regime. Addition of ascorbic acid in the diet of chicks in the starter phase significantly (p<0.05) improved weight gain. At the grower phase, lighting regime recorded no significant (p>0.05) effect on weight gain but addition of ascorbic acid in the diet significantly (p<0.05) improved weight gain. There was significant (p<0.05) interaction as chicks on continuous lighting regime with ascorbic acid in their diet recorded higher weight gain than other treatments i.e limited lighting with no ascorbic acid in the diet. At the starter phase there was no significant difference (p>0.05) between continuous and limited lighting on feed: gain ratio. However, chicks with ascorbic in their diet recorded significantly (p<0.05) better feed: gain ratio than those without ascorbic acid. Inclusion of ascorbic acid in the diet significantly (p<0.05) reduced feed cost per kilogram weight gain. Ascorbic acid inclusion significantly (p<0.05) increased femur weight but not femur ash and tibia length. Continuous lighting and inclusion of ascorbic acid from diets increased incidence of leg abnormality significantly. Inclusion of ascorbic acid significantly (p<0.05) reduced the severity of leg abnormality. In conclusion continuous lighting and ascorbic acid in the diet may improve weight gain, feed: gain ratio, reduced feed cost per kilogram weight gain and reduction in the severity of leg abnormality. It may be recommended that under continuous lighting, inclusion of ascorbic acid in the diet may be recommended for balanced growth of the chicks. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2010. | Ascorbic acid; Bone; Broiler performance; Lighting regimes | Aves; Gallus gallus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-64049090810 | Evaluation of raw and boiled velvet bean (Mucuna utilis) as feed ingredient for broiler chickens | Tuleun C.D., Patrick J.P., Tiamiyu L.O. | 2009 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 8 | 5 | None | Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria; Department of Animal Production, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria; Department of Fishery and Wildlife, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria | Tuleun, C.D., Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria; Patrick, J.P., Department of Animal Production, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria; Tiamiyu, L.O., Department of Fishery and Wildlife, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria | Chemical analysis and a performance trial were carried out to determine the effect of boiling Mucuna utilis seeds on their proximate composition, minerals assay and amino acid profile, level of antinutritional factors and blood seral and haematological parameters of finisher broiler chickens. Four types of mucuna seed meal were prepared. Type 1 was prepared from raw seeds, types 2, 3 and 4 were from seeds soaked in water for 24 h and then boiled in water for 20, 40 and 60 min respectively. The four dietary treatments had 20% inclusion of the four types of mucuna seed meal respectively. A four week feeding trial was conducted using one hundred and twenty, five week old, broiler birds averaging 590 gm live weight. Results of the study show that raw mucuna seeds are a good source of nutrients. Increase in boiling time significantly (p<0.05) reduced the crude protein content, phosphorus, iron, selenium, methionine, cystine, lysi, isoleucine, alanine, tyrosine and threonine content. Concentration of antinutritional factors in the seeds were significantly (p<0.05) reduced. Significant (p<0.05) improvements in feed: gain and protein efficiency ratios with a corresponding increase in mean daily weight gain were observed as the boiling time increased. At the end of the experiment, the haematological parameters revealed no significant differences among treatments in the levels of Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Haemoglobin (Hb), Red Blood Cell (RBC) counts, mean corpuscular volume (MHV) and Mean corpuscuscular Haemoglobin concentration (McHc). Similarly, albumin, globulin, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase estimated were found to be insignificantly varied with the exception of total protein. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2009. | Boiling; Mucuna seeds; Nutritive values and performance of broiler chickens | alanine; alanine aminotransferase; albumin; cysteine; globulin; iron; isoleucine; lysine; methionine; phosphorus; selenium; threonine; tyrosine; animal experiment; animal food; article; chicken; controlled study; erythrocyte count; fatty acid analysis; food analysis; food composition; food processing; heat treatment; hematocrit; hemoglobin determination; mean corpuscular hemoglobin; mean corpuscular volume; nonhuman; nutritional value; protein content; velvet bean; weight gain; Aves; Gallus gallus; Mucuna | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79551554890 | Comparative performance of broiler fed diets containing raw and processed Mucuna seed meal | Tuleun C.D., Offia B., Yaakugh I.D.I. | 2010 | International Journal of Poultry Science | 9 | 11 | 10.3923/ijps.2010.1056.1062 | Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria; Department of Animal Production, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria | Tuleun, C.D., Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria; Offia, B., Department of Animal Production, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria; Yaakugh, I.D.I., Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria | The effects of raw and local processing methods on the nutritive value of Mucuna utilis seeds fed in diets to broiler performance were investigated. The processing methods were: seeds were soaked for 24 h in plain water, cooking of 24-h pre-soaked seeds for 60 min and cooking in a solution of potash (kanwa, trona) for 60 min. Five experimental diets were formulated such that diet 1 contained no mucuna (control), while raw, soaked, pre-soaked and cooked and cooked-in-potash mucuna seed meal were included at 20% dietary levels respectively. One hundred and fifty (150) One-week old (Anak, 2000) broiler chicks were randomly assigned to the experimental diets in a completely randomized design. There were 3 replicates of the 5 treatments and 10 birds per replicate. 22% Crude Protein (CP) diets were fed during the starter phase and 20%CP diets during the finisher phase. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum throughout the 8-week trial period. At the end of the feeding trial, 3 birds were selected from replicates and slaughtered for carcass and blood evaluation. The different processing methods caused percentage reductions in Crude Protein (CP) and ether extract but increased the gross energy and ash content of the seeds. Cooking of pre-soaked beans and cooking in potash solution significantly (p<0.05) reduced most of the antinutrient factor contents of the seeds. During the starter phase, average fed intake and feed conversion efficiency f birds on cooked mucuna seed diets were similar to the control group. At the finisher phase better performance in terms of weight gain, feed conversion efficiency, protein efficiency ratio were significantly (p<0.05) achieved with a 25% reduction in cost of feed per kilogram gain in the group fed seeds cooked for 60 minutes diet. Birds on cooked mucuna seed diets had comparable dressing percentage, empty gizzard, liver, pancreas spleen and lungs weights with the birds fed the control diet. The packed cell volume, haemoglobin and white blood cell count values of the birds on the cooked mucuna diets were significantly similar to the control group. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2010. | Cooking; Hematological values; Mucuna seeds; Performance of broiler chickens | Aves; Gallus gallus; Mucuna; Trona | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79952260142 | Effect of dietary levels of toasted mucuna seed meal (TMSM) on the performance and egg quality parameters of laying Japanese quails (coturnix coturnix japonica) | Tuleun C.D., Dashe N.A. | 2010 | International Journal of Poultry Science | 9 | 12 | 10.3923/ijps.2010.1092.1096 | Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria | Tuleun, C.D., Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria; Dashe, N.A., Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria | A 8 week feeding trial was conducted to determine the effect of dietary inclusion of Toasted Mucuna Seed Meal (TMSM) on the performance and egg qualities of Japanese quail layers. Four (4) isonitrogenous (20% cp) diets were formulated to contain toasted mucuna seed meal at 0, 5, 10 and 15%. Each of the dietary treatments was triplicated with 10 birds per replicate (making a total of 120 birds for the experiment) in a completely randomized design. The birds were offered feed and water ad libitum. The results showed that the quail layers fed up to 15% dietary levels of TMSM had percent hen-day and hen housed egg production, average feed intake, feed intake per egg production and feed intake per gram egg production values that were not statistically different (p>0.05) from those fed the 0% TMSM (control) diet. Albumen width and shell thickness were significantly (p<0.05) lowered by the increasing levels of TMSM, while egg circumference and all yolk parameters were not affected significantly (p>0.05). Dietary inclusion of TMSM at all levels reduced feed cost which was also reflected in feed cost per egg produced and feed cost per bird produced. Therefore the use of TMSM as a feed ingredient up to 15% level in quail layer diets is profitable, feasible and desirable. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2010. | Feed ingredient; Performance and egg qualities; Quail layer; Toasted mucuna seed meal | Aves; Coturnix; Coturnix japonica; Mucuna; Phasianidae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84884356305 | Speciation of As(III) and As(V) in water and sediment using reverse-phase ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography-neutron activation analysis (HPLC-NAA) | Tulasi D., Adotey D., Affum A., Carboo D., Serfor-Armah Y. | 2013 | Environmental Monitoring and Assessment | 185 | 10 | 10.1007/s10661-013-3148-9 | School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana; Department of Chemistry, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 56, Legon Accra, Ghana; Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, National Nuclear Research Institute, P.O. Box LG 80, Legon Accra, Ghana | Tulasi, D., School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana; Adotey, D., School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, National Nuclear Research Institute, P.O. Box LG 80, Legon Accra, Ghana; Affum, A., Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, National Nuclear Research Institute, P.O. Box LG 80, Legon Accra, Ghana; Carboo, D., Department of Chemistry, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 56, Legon Accra, Ghana; Serfor-Armah, Y., School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, National Nuclear Research Institute, P.O. Box LG 80, Legon Accra, Ghana | Total As content and the As species distribution in water and sediments from the Kwabrafo stream, a major water body draining the Obuasi gold mining community in southwestern Ghana, have been investigated. Total As content was determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Ion-pair reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography-neutron activation analysis (HPLC-NAA) was used for speciation of As species. Solid phase extraction with phosphate buffer was used to extract soluble As species from lyophilized sediment. The mass balance after phosphate extraction of soluble As species in sediment varied from 89 to 96 %. Compositionally appropriate reference material International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)-Lake Sediment (SL)-1 was used to check the validity of INAA method for total As determination. The measured values are in good agreement with the IAEA recommended value and also within the 95 % confidence interval. The accuracy of the measurement in terms of relative deviation from the IAEA recommended value was ±0.83 %. "In-house" prepared As(III) and As(V) standards were used to validate the HPLC-INAA method used for the As species determination. Total As concentration in the water samples ranged from 1.15 to 9.20 mg/L. As(III) species in water varied from 0.13 to 0.7 mg/L, while As(V) species varied from 0.79 to 3.85 mg/L. Total As content in sediment ranged from 2,134 to 3,596 mg/kg dry mass. The levels of As(III) and As(V) species in the sediment ranges from 138 to 506 mg/kg dry mass and 156 to 385 mg/kg dry mass, respectively. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht. | Arsenic; Ghana; HPLC-NAA; Sediment; Speciation; Water | Confidence interval; Ghana; HPLC-NAA; Instrumental neutron activation analysis; International atomic energy agency; Phosphate extraction; Solid-phase extraction; Speciation; Arsenic; Chromatography; High performance liquid chromatography; Water; Sediments; arsenic derivative; phosphate; activation energy; arsenic; extraction method; liquid chromatography; mass balance; phosphate; sediment pollution; speciation (chemistry); water pollution; water quality; accuracy; article; chemical analysis; chemical composition; concentration (parameters); controlled study; dry mass; freeze drying; high performance liquid chromatography; measurement; mining; neutron activation analysis; reference value; reverse phase ion pair high performance liquid chromatography neutron activation analysis; sediment; solid phase extraction; species differentiation; validation process; water contamination; water sampling; Arsenic; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Environmental Monitoring; Geologic Sediments; Ghana; Neutron Activation Analysis; Rivers; Solid Phase Extraction; Water Pollutants, Chemical | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84867237053 | The design, synthesis, in silico ADME profiling, antiplasmodial and antimycobacterial evaluation of new arylamino quinoline derivatives | Tukulula M., Little S., Gut J., Rosenthal P.J., Wan B., Franzblau S.G., Chibale K. | 2012 | European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry | 57 | None | 10.1016/j.ejmech.2012.08.047 | Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of San Francisco, CA 94143, United States; Institute of Tuberculosis Research, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL 60612-7231, United States; Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa | Tukulula, M., Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Little, S., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Gut, J., Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of San Francisco, CA 94143, United States; Rosenthal, P.J., Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of San Francisco, CA 94143, United States; Wan, B., Institute of Tuberculosis Research, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL 60612-7231, United States; Franzblau, S.G., Institute of Tuberculosis Research, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL 60612-7231, 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 | A series of new arylamino quinoline derivatives was designed based on the quinine and mefloquine scaffolds and evaluated in vitro for antiplasmodial and antimycobacterial activities. A number of these compounds exhibited significant activity against the drug-sensitive 3D7 and drug-resistant K1 strains of Plasmodium falciparum. Furthermore, two compounds, 4.12b and 4.12d, also showed 94 and 98% growth inhibitory activity against non-replicating and replicating Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains, respectively. © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved. | Antimycobacterial; Antiplasmodial; Arylamino quinoline tetrazoles; Physico-chemical properties | 4 [(1 tert butyl 1h tetrazol 5 yl)(piperidin 1 yl)methyl] 6 methoxyquinoline; antimalarial agent; n [(1 tert butyl 1h tetrazol 5 yl)(6 methoxyquinolin 4 yl)methyl] n ethylethanamine; quinoline derivative; tuberculostatic agent; unclassified drug; antibacterial activity; antiprotozoal activity; article; computer model; drug absorption; drug design; drug distribution; drug excretion; drug metabolism; drug structure; drug synthesis; electrospray mass spectrometry; growth inhibition; in vitro study; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; nonhuman; physical chemistry; Plasmodium falciparum; Aminoquinolines; Antiprotozoal Agents; Antitubercular Agents; Biological Assay; Blood-Brain Barrier; Computer Simulation; Drug Design; Erythrocytes; Humans; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Mefloquine; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Models, Biological; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Plasmodium falciparum; Quinine; Structure-Activity Relationship; Tetrazoles | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84869465291 | Athletic performance and risk of injury: Can genes explain all? | Tucker R., Collins M. | 2012 | Dialogues in Cardiovascular Medicine | 17 | 1 | None | UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, South Africa; Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa | Tucker, R., UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, South Africa, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Collins, M., UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, South Africa, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa | Sporting success is the result of the combination of innumerable genetic and environmental factors, and there is no single path to becoming a champion athlete. Susceptibility to injuries is also a multifactorial phenotype and is a less acknowledged contributor in determining elite athletic ability. The relative importance of deliberate practice, other environmental factors, and genetic factors in molding champions is a constant area of debate. We review two models, the "Practice Sufficiency" and "Genetic Ceiling" models that explain expert performance development and injury risk. We conclude that although the deliberate training and other environmental factors are critical for achieving elite performance, the "Practice Sufficiency Model" does not adequately explain performance. The "Genetic Ceiling Model," on the other hand, acknowledges both nurture and nature and is a more accurate theory. © 2012 LLS SAS. | Elite athlete; Musculoskeletal; Nature; Nurture; Polymorphism; Training | article; athletic performance; genetic association; genetic ceiling model; genetic model; genetic trait; genetic variability; heritability; human; practice sufficiency model; skill; sport injury; training | 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-s2.0-84942874405 | 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-s2.0-29244476876 | Geochemical and petrographic characteristics of impactites and Cretaceous target rocks from the Yaxcopoil-1 borehole, Chicxulub impact structure, Mexico: Implications for target composition | Tuchscherer M.G., Reimold W.U., Koeberl C., Gibson R.L. | 2005 | Meteoritics and Planetary Science | 40 | 42623 | None | Impact Cratering Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, P.O. Wits 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Geological Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria | Tuchscherer, M.G., Impact Cratering Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, P.O. Wits 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa; Reimold, W.U., Impact Cratering Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, P.O. Wits 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa; Koeberl, C., Department of Geological Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria; Gibson, R.L., Impact Cratering Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, P.O. Wits 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa | We present major and trace element data as well as petrographic observations for impactites (suevitic groundmass, bulk suevite, and melt rock particles) and target lithologies, including Cretaceous anhydrite, dolomite, argillaceous limestone, and oil shale, from the Yaxcopoil-1 borehole, Chixculub impact structure. The suevitic groundmass and bulk suevite have similar compositions, largely representing mixtures of carbonate and silicate components. The latter are dominated by melt rock particles. Trace element data indicate that dolomitic rocks represented a significant target component that became incorporated into the suevites; in contrast, major elements indicate a strong calcitic component in the impactites. The siliceous end-member requires a mafic component in order to explain the low SiO2 content. Multicomponent mixing of various target rocks, the high alteration state, and dilution by carbonate complicate the determination of primary melt particle compositions. However, two overlapping compositional groups can be discerned - a high-Ba, low-Ta group and a high-Fe, high-Zn, and high-Hf group. Cretaceous dolomitic rocks, argillaceous limestone, and shale are typically enriched in U, As, Br, and Sb, whereas anhydrite contains high Sr contents. The oil shale samples have abundances that are similar to the North American Shale Composite (NASC), but with a comparatively high U content. Clastic sedimentary rocks are characterized by relatively high Th, Hf, Zr, As, and Sb abundances. Petrographic observations indicate that the Cretaceous rocks in the Yaxcopoil-1 drill core likely register a multistage deformation history that spans the period from pre- to post-impact. Contrary to previous studies that claimed evidence for the presence of impact melt breccia injection veins, we have found no evidence in our samples from a depth of 1347-1348 m for the presence of melt breccia. We favor that clastic veinlets occur in a sheared and altered zone that underwent intense diagenetic overprint prior to the impact event. © The Meteoritical Society, 2005. | None | Cretaceous; geochemistry; impact structure; impactite; petrography; Atlantic Ocean; Bay of Campeche; Chicxulub Crater; Gulf of Mexico; Yucatan Peninsula | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33749249955 | Major and trace element compositions of melt particles and associated phases from the Yaxcopoil-1 drill core, Chicxulub impact structure, Mexico | Tuchscherer M.G., Reimold W.U., Gibson R.L., De Bruin D., Späth A. | 2006 | Meteoritics and Planetary Science | 41 | 9 | None | Impact Cratering Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa; Caracle Creek International Consulting Inc., Private Bag X9, Melville 2109, South Africa; Museum für Naturkunde, Humboldt-Universität, Invalidenstrasse 43, D-10115 Berlin, Germany; Council for Geoscience, Private Bag X112, 0001 Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Geological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondesbosch 7701, South Africa | Tuchscherer, M.G., Impact Cratering Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa, Caracle Creek International Consulting Inc., Private Bag X9, Melville 2109, South Africa; Reimold, W.U., Impact Cratering Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa, Museum für Naturkunde, Humboldt-Universität, Invalidenstrasse 43, D-10115 Berlin, Germany; Gibson, R.L., Impact Cratering Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa; De Bruin, D., Council for Geoscience, Private Bag X112, 0001 Pretoria, South Africa; Späth, A., Department of Geological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondesbosch 7701, South Africa | Melt particles found at various depths in impactites from the Yaxcopoil-1 borehole into the Chicxulub impact structure (Yucatán) have been analyzed for their major and trace element abundances. A total of 176 electron microprobe and 45 LA-ICP-MS analyses from eight different melt particles were investigated. The main purpose of this work was to constrain the compositions of precursor materials and secondary alteration characteristics of these melt particles. Individual melt particles are highly heterogeneous, which makes compositional categorization extremely difficult. Melt particles from the uppermost part of the impactite sequence are Ca- and Na-depleted and show negative Ce anomalies, which is likely a result of seawater interaction. Various compositional groupings of melt particles are determined with ternary and binary element ratio plots involving major and trace elements. This helps distinguish the degree of alteration versus primary heterogeneity of melt phases. Comparison of the trace element ratios Sc/Zr, Y/Zr, Ba/ Zr, Ba/Rb, and Sr/Rb with compositions of known target rocks provides some constraints on protolith compositions; however, the melt compositions analyzed exceed the known compositional diversity of possible target rocks. Normalized REE patterns are unique for each melt particle, likely reflecting precursor mineral or rock compositions. The various discrimination techniques indicate that the highly variable compositions are the products of melting of individual minerals or of mixtures of several minerals. Small, angular shards that are particularly abundant in units 2 and 3 represent rapidly quenched melts, whereas larger particles (>0.5 mm) that contain microlites and have fluidal, schlieric textures cooled over a protracted period. Angular, shard-like particles with microlites in unit 5 likely crystallized below the glass transition temperature or underwent fragmentation during or after deposition. © The Meteoritical Society, 2006. | None | chemical composition; electron probe analysis; impact structure; inductively coupled plasma method; mass spectrometry; meteorite; trace element | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84904544970 | Pre-breeding blood urea nitrogen concentration and reproductive performance of Bonsmara heifers within different management systems | Tshuma T., Holm D.E., Fosgate G.T., Lourens D.C. | 2014 | Tropical Animal Health and Production | 46 | 6 | 10.1007/s11250-014-0608-3 | Department of Production Animal Studies, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X 04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa | Tshuma, T., Department of Production Animal Studies, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X 04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Holm, D.E., Department of Production Animal Studies, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X 04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Fosgate, G.T., Department of Production Animal Studies, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X 04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Lourens, D.C., Department of Production Animal Studies, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X 04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa | This study investigated the association between pre-breeding blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration and reproductive performance of beef heifers within different management systems in South Africa. Bonsmara heifers (n = 369) from five herds with different estimated levels of nitrogen intake during the month prior to the commencement of the breeding season were sampled in November and December 2010 to determine BUN concentrations. Body mass, age, body condition score (BCS) and reproductive tract score (RTS) were recorded at study enrolment. Trans-rectal ultrasound and/or palpation was performed 4-8 weeks after a 3-month breeding season to estimate the stage of pregnancy. Days to pregnancy (DTP) was defined as the number of days from the start of the breeding season until the estimated conception date. Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards survival analysis were performed to estimate the association of pre-breeding BUN concentration with subsequent pregnancy and DTP, respectively. After stratifying for herd and adjusting for age, heifers with relatively higher pre-breeding BUN concentration took longer to become pregnant when compared to those with relatively lower BUN concentration (P = 0.011). In the herd with the highest estimated nitrogen intake (n = 143), heifers with relatively higher BUN were less likely to become pregnant (P = 0.013) and if they did, it was only later during the breeding season (P = 0.017), after adjusting for body mass. These associations were not present in the herd (n = 106) with the lowest estimated nitrogen intake (P > 0.500). It is concluded that Bonsmara heifers with relatively higher pre-breeding BUN concentration, might be at a disadvantage because of this negative impact on reproductive performance, particularly when the production system includes high levels of nitrogen intake. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht. | Beef cattle; Blood urea nitrogen; Nitrogen supplementation; Reproductive performance | Bos; nitrogen; age; animal; animal food; animal husbandry; blood; body constitution; body weight; Bovinae; breeding; female; physiology; pregnancy; procedures; proportional hazards model; reproduction; South Africa; statistical model; urea nitrogen blood level; Age Factors; Animal Husbandry; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Blood Urea Nitrogen; Body Constitution; Body Weight; Breeding; Cattle; Female; Logistic Models; Nitrogen; Pregnancy; Proportional Hazards Models; Reproduction; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79955614278 | Ssperformance of poverty alleviation projects in South Africa: The case of Vhembe Districtin Limpopo Province | Tshitangoni M., Okorie A., Francis J. | 2011 | Scientific Research and Essays | 6 | 5 | None | Centre for Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation, School of Agriculture, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa | Tshitangoni, M., Centre for Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation, School of Agriculture, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa; Okorie, A., Centre for Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation, School of Agriculture, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa; Francis, J., Centre for Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation, School of Agriculture, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa | This paper presents the findings of a review of performance of poverty alleviation projects in Vhembe District of Limpopo Province in South Africa. Data were collected from 30 stratified randomly sampled poverty alleviation projects across the district. Five project strata, namely community gardens (n = 12), poultry (n = 8), piggery (n = 2), bakery (n = 2) and other projects, including juice making, brick making, stone crushing and coffin making (n = 6) constituted the sample. One hundred and eight (108) respondents representing the sampled projects were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Data were coded, processed and analyzed using the Microsoft Excel program and matrix of projects performance. Performance of projects differed by type. All the bakery projects were successful, followed by poultry (62%), community garden and other projects with 33% each. In contrast, all the piggery projects were performing poorly. Overall, the projects performed well (above the 50% threshold), based on the following indicators: availability of project funding, level of commitment by project members and skills as well as knowledge gained. Level of production, generation of income and profit, self-reliance and relevance of projects to addressing project members needs indicated that the projects did not perform well. The results of this study reflected areas of serious concern, in particular the low levels of production; irrelevance of projects to addressing project members needs; inability of projects to generate income and profit; and lack of self-reliance. Given the results of this study, it is desirable to evaluate the performance of all PAPs in the province. ©2011 Academic Journals. | Alleviation; Indicator; Performance; Poverty; Project | None | 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-s2.0-84868463375 | Climate change and impacts on the hydrology of the Congo Basin: The case of the northern sub-basins of the Oubangui and Sangha Rivers | Tshimanga R.M., Hughes D.A. | 2012 | Physics and Chemistry of the Earth | None | None | 10.1016/j.pce.2012.08.002 | Institute for Water Research, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa; Department of Natural Resources Management, University of Kinshasa, P.O. Box 117, Kinshasa, KIN XI, Democratic Republic Congo | Tshimanga, R.M., Institute for Water Research, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa, Department of Natural Resources Management, University of Kinshasa, P.O. Box 117, Kinshasa, KIN XI, Democratic Republic Congo; Hughes, D.A., Institute for Water Research, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa | This study assesses the hydrological response of the Congo Basin's runoff to future changes of climatic conditions. The study is carried out at the sub-basin scale in the northern part of the Congo Basin for which downscaled GCM data have been obtained. In order to assess the impacts of climate change scenarios on water resources availability of the Congo Basin, three downscaled and bias corrected GCMs were used to drive a semi-distributed rainfall-runoff model which was initially established for the whole Congo Basin through manual calibration and physically-based a priori parameter estimation approaches. The analysis focuses on the variables of the hydrological processes such as rainfall, interception, potential evapotranspiration, soil moisture store, surface runoff, soil moisture runoff, and recharge. In general terms, the study shows that there is a decrease in runoff for the near-future projections in the northern part of the Congo Basin which has a tropical transition regime. For the three GCMs used in this study, there is very little change in rainfall from the historical conditions. The major change is observed in evapotranspiration, due to an increase in air temperature. There is a clear indication of the translation of climate signal into flows. There is more than 10% decrease in total runoff, which is a consequence of relatively little increase in rainfall and a consistent increase in potential evapotranspiration. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. | Climate change; Congo Basin; GCMs; Hydrology | Air temperature; Climate change scenarios; Climate signals; Climatic conditions; Congo basins; GCMs; Hydrological process; Hydrological response; Manual calibration; Potential evapotranspiration; Priori parameter estimation; Rainfall-runoff models; Sub-basin scale; Subbasins; Surface runoffs; Tropical transition; Water resources availability; Digital storage; Evapotranspiration; Hydrology; Parameter estimation; Rain; Runoff; Soil moisture; Water supply; Climate change; climate change; climate effect; downscaling; evapotranspiration; general circulation model; hydrological response; interception; parameterization; rainfall-runoff modeling; resource availability; runoff; soil moisture; Congo Basin; Ubangi River | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84893844469 | Basin-scale performance of a semidistributed rainfall-runoff model for hydrological predictions and water resources assessment of large rivers: The Congo River | Tshimanga R.M., Hughes D.A. | 2014 | Water Resources Research | 50 | 2 | 10.1002/2013WR014310 | Department of Natural Resources Management, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Congo; Congo Basin Network for Research and Capacity Development in Water Resources (CB-HYDRONET), Kinshasa, Congo; Institute for Water Research, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa | Tshimanga, R.M., Department of Natural Resources Management, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Congo, Congo Basin Network for Research and Capacity Development in Water Resources (CB-HYDRONET), Kinshasa, Congo; Hughes, D.A., Institute for Water Research, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa | Gaps in hydrological information of the Congo Basin increase uncertainties in understanding hydroclimatic processes in the basin, and consequently the risks associated with decision making for major water resources development plans. There is also uncertainty about the predictions of future climate and land use change. These challenges make it essential to explore possible approaches to close the information gaps. Some of the gaps can be filled using hydrological simulation models, which if they prove practical, can be established with available data, but generate sufficiently reliable information for management purposes. This paper discusses the results of applying a semidistributed rainfall-runoff model which was established for the whole Congo Basin, using the available historical data, with an ultimate goal of understanding processes of runoff generation as well as assessing the impacts of future climate and land use changes on water resources availability, including options for water resources development in the basin. Issues of water resources assessment in the basin, approaches used to address them and some directions for future research are discussed. It is noted that the hydrological model applied in this study for the Congo Basin is able to capture the timing and magnitude of high and low flows satisfactorily, irrespective of the subbasins are located in headwater areas, downstream areas or at the outlets of regions strongly affected by wetlands and lakes. There remain a number of opportunities to improve the methods used for water resources assessment within the basin. Key Points A semidistributed hydrological model is presented for the Congo Basin The model adequately simulates the dominant processes of the basin hydrology The paper addresses some of the challenges of prediction in the Congo Basin © 2014. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. | Congo Basin; Hydrological model; Uncertainties; Ungauged basins; Wetlands | Climate models; Computer simulation; Forecasting; Hydrology; Lakes; Land use; Runoff; Water resources exploration; Wetlands; Congo basins; Hydrological modeling; Hydrological simulations; Uncertainties; Ungauged basins; Water resources assessment; Water resources availability; Water resources development; Water resources; decision making; flow modeling; headwater; hydrology; land use change; rainfall-runoff modeling; river basin; water management; water resource; Congo Basin | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84954241978 | Developing and validating a measure of monitoring and evaluation for the South Africa skills development context | Tshilongamulenzhe M.C. | 2015 | Foundations of Management | 7 | 1 | 10.1515/fman-2015-0039 | University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa | Tshilongamulenzhe, M.C., University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa | As nations around the world grapple with the deepening challenge of skills crunch, policies, strategies and interventions are being devised to develop and retain a competitive workforce. South Africa is not spared from the global talent war, and the persistence of skills shortages across most economic sectors makes the country vulnerable economically and socially. Legislative instruments and strategies were formulated and implemented to ameliorate the situation, but scientific evidence suggests a looming crisis due to poor monitoring and evaluation systems regarding the success of these instruments and strategies. This study develops and validates a monitoring and evaluation (ME) scale for the South African skills development context. A quantitative nonexperimental cross-sectional survey design was used to collect data from 557 participants. Data were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS software (version 23.0). The findings show that the ME scale is scientifically valid and reliable and can be used with confidence in the South African skills development context. The findings provide scope for a validation study on an independent sample, and an evaluation of structural invariance of the ME scale across sample subgroups. | Apprenticeship; Evaluation; Learnership; Monitoring; Occupational learning; Skills development | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84889867606 | Development of the learning programme management and evaluation scale for the South African skills development context | Tshilongamulenzhe M.C., Coetzee M., Masenge A. | 2013 | SA Journal of Industrial Psychology | 39 | 1 | 10.4102/sajip.v39i1.1080 | Department of Human Resource Management, University of South Africa, South Africa; Department of Industrial and Organisational Psychology, University of South Africa, South Africa; Office of Graduate Studies and Research, University of South Africa, South Africa | Tshilongamulenzhe, M.C., Department of Human Resource Management, University of South Africa, South Africa; Coetzee, M., Department of Industrial and Organisational Psychology, University of South Africa, South Africa; Masenge, A., Office of Graduate Studies and Research, University of South Africa, South Africa | Research purpose: The present study developed and tested the construct validity and reliability of the learning programme management and evaluation (LPME) scale. Motivation for the study: The LPME scale was developed to measure and enhance the effectiveness of the management and evaluation of occupational learning programmes in the South African skills development context. Currently no such instrument exists in the South African skills development context; hence there is a need for it. Research design, approach and method: This study followed a quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional design using primary data. The LPME scale was administered to a sample of 652 skills development practitioners and learners or apprentices drawn from six organisations representing at least five economic sectors in South Africa. Data were analysed using SPSS and Rasch modelling to test the validity and reliability of the new scale. Main findings: The findings show that the LPME scale is a valid and reliable 11-dimensional measure comprising 81 items. Practical/managerial implications: In view of the seriousness of the skills shortage challenge facing South Africa, this study provides a solid base upon which skills development practitioners can effectively manage and evaluate occupational learning programmes. Furthermore, the newly developed LPME scale provides a basis for further human resource development research in the quest for a solution to the skills shortage challenge. Contribution/value-add: This study contributes by developing a new scale and testing its validity and reliability. As a valid and reliable measure, the LPME scale can be applied with confidence in various South African workplaces. © 2013. The Authors. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78650143643 | Impact of climate variability on tomato production in Limpopo province, South Africa | Tshiala M.F., Olwoch J.M. | 2010 | African Journal of Agricultural Research | 5 | 21 | None | Centre for Environmental Studies and Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa | Tshiala, M.F., Centre for Environmental Studies and Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Olwoch, J.M., Centre for Environmental Studies and Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa | The relationship between tomato production, monthly average temperature and seasonal average temperature in Limpopo province, South Africa during the period of 1971 - 2006 were investigated using statistical regression analysis methods. The motivation for selecting Limpopo in this study lies in the 66% tomato contribution to the tomato industry in South Africa. The results showed yearly peak values of tomato in the range of 200 000 - 228 000 tons from year 2000 to 2006. In this study, we analyzed the correlation of tomato records in Limpopo with climatic variables in order to assess the climate change effects of tomato production and food security in South Africa. Our results show that tomato yield increased by a factor of two from 1971 to 2006. Particularly, during autumn, spring, summer and winter, tomato yield increased by a factor of two respectively. It is noteworthy that the majority of months registered positive trends in tomato production, except February and June. These could be attributed to the application of robust farming practices and improved technology over the same period. However, from the trend analysis, results demonstrate that there are possible negative impacts of climate change on crop yield, especially on farmers without advanced technology and good modern agricultural practices. © 2010 Academic Journals. | Climate change; Climate variability; Limpopo; South Africa; Temperature; Tomato production | Lycopersicon esculentum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84918773573 | The impact of foreign direct investment on economic growth and employment in south africa: A time series analysis | Tshepo M. | 2014 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 5 | 25 | 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n25p18 | Department of Economics and Management Science, University of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus), Private Bag X1106, Sovenga, South Africa | Tshepo, M., Department of Economics and Management Science, University of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus), Private Bag X1106, Sovenga, South Africa | The aim of this paper was an attempt to estimate the impact of foreign direct investment on economic growth and employment in South Africa for a period of 24 years, thus from 1990 to 2013. The study employed in its analysis, the unit root test to test for stationarity of the time series, the Johansen Cointegration test to test for the existence of long-run relationship among the variables and finally, Granger causality test to establish the causal relationship between the variables. Employment and GDP were found to be stationary at first order difference, while FDI was found to be stationary at level form. The cointegration test confirmed the existence of a long-run relationship between the variables. The Granger Causality test results confirmed the direction of causality which runs from FDI to GDP and from FDI to employment. From the results, there is strong evidence that from 1990 to 2013 there was a positive long-run relationship between FDI, GDP and employment in South Africa. Adding to these tests, various diagnostic tests also confirmed that the research results are reliable. In addition, the paper also identified factors that might affect the flow of foreign investors into South Africa. These factors include; return on investment, human capital, cost of labour, labour disputes and corruption. The government should emphasise more on these factors to make South Africa conducive for foreign investment. My empirical results thus suggest that FDI should be considered as a mechanism to boost long-term economic growth and employment in South Africa. © 2014 Mediterranean Center of Social and Educational Research. All rights reserved. | Economic growth and employment; Foreign direct investment | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84897137420 | Does ownership structure affect firm performance? Evidence from Nigerian listed companies | Tsegba I.N., Achua J.K. | 2011 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 9 | 1 F | None | Department of Accounting, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria | Tsegba, I.N., Department of Accounting, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria; Achua, J.K., Department of Accounting, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria | This paper examines the relationship between ownership structure and firm performance from the perspective of listed Nigerian companies. The sample comprises 73 companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange for which relevant financial data is available for the period 2001 to 2007. The empirical results obtained through ordinary least squares (OLS) analysis provide evidence which suggests that dominant shareholding, ownership concentration, and foreign ownership structures have no significant effect on firm performance. However, insider ownership is inversely related to firm performance. Two major policy implications emerge from the results of this study. First, since ownership structures such as, dominant shareholding, concentrated ownership, and foreign ownership have no significant effect on firm performance, government emphasis on them is misplaced. Second, insider ownership of Nigerian firms is to be monitored closely by shareholders due to the adverse effect of this ownership structure on firm performance. | Corporate governance; Corporate ownership structure; Dominant shareholder; Firm performance; Foreign ownership; Insider ownership; Nigeria; Ownership concentration | None | 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 |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77953759638 | The effect of increasing levels of dried leaves of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) on dry matter intake and body weight gain performance of broiler finisher chickens | Tsega W., Tamir B. | 2009 | Livestock Research for Rural Development | 21 | 12 | None | Andassa Livestock Research Center, P.O. Box, 27, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Addis Ababa University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ethiopia | Tsega, W., Andassa Livestock Research Center, P.O. Box, 27, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Tamir, B., Addis Ababa University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ethiopia | This study was conducted with the objective of determining the effects of increasing levels of air dried leaves of sweet potato on dry matter intake and body weight gain of Ross broiler finisher chickens. Three hundred chicks with similar body weight of 540 ± 5.28 g and aging 29 days were randomly distributed using completely randomized design in to 15 pens each with 20 chicks and five treatment rations were allocated each with three replications. The five dietary treatments consisted of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% air dried leaves of sweet potato. The experimental feed ingredients as well as the formulated rations were analyzed for dry matter and nutrient contents. The experiment lasted for 28 days during which dry matter intake and body weight change was measured. The laboratory chemical analysis results showed that dried leaves of sweet potato contained 25% crude protein and 2672.44 kcal ME /kg dry matter, indicating its potential to be used as sources of both protein and energy. The dry matter intake and body weight gain of birds fed on diets containing dried leaves of sweet potato up to 10% inclusion was similar with the control group. But, beyond 10% air dried leaves of sweet potato inclusion, the dry matter intake and body weight gain were reduced from the control group. The results of this study suggested that inclusion of air dried leaves of sweet potato up to the level of 10% of the diet dry matter in the finisher ration might be considered as the optimum level of inclusion when birds are sold on live weight basis. | Byproducts; Poultry | Aves; Gallus gallus; Ipomoea batatas | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84916221953 | Monitoring coverage of fully immunized children | Tsega A., Daniel F., Steinglass R. | 2014 | Vaccine | 32 | 52 | 10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.10.057 | Maternal and Child Health Integrated Program (MCHIP), 1776 Massachusetts Ave, Suite 300, NW, Washington, DC, United States; WHO Inter-country Support Team (IST) for Eastern and Southern African Sub Region, Harare, Zimbabwe | Tsega, A., Maternal and Child Health Integrated Program (MCHIP), 1776 Massachusetts Ave, Suite 300, NW, Washington, DC, United States; Daniel, F., WHO Inter-country Support Team (IST) for Eastern and Southern African Sub Region, Harare, Zimbabwe; Steinglass, R., Maternal and Child Health Integrated Program (MCHIP), 1776 Massachusetts Ave, Suite 300, NW, Washington, DC, United States | Immunization programs monitor 3rd dose of DPT-containing vaccine coverage as a principal indicator, however, this does not inform about coverage with other vaccines. A mini-survey was conducted to assess the status of monitoring coverage of fully immunized children (FIC) in Eastern and Southern African countries. We designed and distributed a structured self-administered questionnaire to all 19 national program managers attending a meeting in March 2014 in Harare, Zimbabwe. We learned that most countries already monitor FIC coverage and managers appreciate the importance of monitoring this as a national indicator, as it aligns with the full benefits of immunization. This mini-survey concluded that at national level, FIC coverage could be used as a principal indicator, however, at global level DPT3 has some additional advantages across all countries in standardizing the capacity of the immunization program to deliver multiple doses of the same vaccine to all children by 12 months of age. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. | Fully immunized child; Immunization; National/global immunization/vaccination indicator; Vaccination | diphtheria pertussis tetanus vaccine; Article; child; East African; human; immunization; monitoring; Southern African; structured questionnaire; Zimbabwe; Africa; health care survey; infant; preventive health service; procedures; questionnaire; standards; utilization; vaccination; Africa, Eastern; Africa, Southern; Health Care Surveys; Humans; Immunization Programs; Infant; Questionnaires; Vaccination | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77952744220 | Post-privatization performance and organizational changes: Case studies from Ghana | Tsamenyi M., Onumah J., Tetteh-Kumah E. | 2010 | Critical Perspectives on Accounting | 21 | 5 | 10.1016/j.cpa.2008.01.002 | Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham, University House, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom; University of Ghana Business School, Ghana; Barclays Bank, Ghana | Tsamenyi, M., Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham, University House, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom; Onumah, J., University of Ghana Business School, Ghana; Tetteh-Kumah, E., Barclays Bank, Ghana | A significant number of less developed countries (LDCs), including Ghana, have embraced the World Bank/IMF led economic reforms. Ghana has been implementing these reforms since the early 1980. One of the conditions of the reforms is the privatization of former state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Such privatization activities have however generated debates among academics, practitioners, and policy makers. Research findings so far have been mixed. This paper analyzes the performance of two large privatized companies in Ghana. Both companies have been paraded by the Ghanaian authorities and the international financial community as success stories of privatization. Our objective is to examine how and why these firms have been claimed to be successful. Drawing on the dimensions of the balanced scorecard, we examine the performance of the firms from five main perspectives-financial, customers, internal business process, learning and growth, and the community. The analysis is based on data gathered from diverse sources, namely, semi-structured interviews and discussions with managers of the selected companies and with personnel from key government departments, and analysis of internal and external documents. We conclude that, overall the performance of both organizations improved after privatization under all the performance dimensions examined. These improvements were also accompanied by certain organizational changes, including changes in the accounting and control systems. However we are not claiming that all privatization programs in Ghana have been successful. In fact there are stories in the Ghanaian media of several other privatization failures in the country. Instead what we have demonstrated is the need to explain the performance of privatized firms beyond the myopic macro-level and financial analysis which has been widely adopted by the international financial community and policy makers and we encourage other researchers to adopt such multidimensional approaches. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. | Balanced scorecard; Ghana; Less developed countries; Performance evaluation; Privatization | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84928594910 | Monitoring the impact of grazing on rangeland conservation easements using MODIS vegetation indices | Tsalyuk M., Kelly M., Koy K., Getz W.M., Scott Butterfield H. | 2015 | Rangeland Ecology and Management | 68 | 2 | 10.1016/j.rama.2015.01.006 | Department of Environmental Sciences Policy and Management, University of California (UC), 130 Mulford Hall, Berkeley, CA, United States; Geospatial Innovation Facility, Berkeley, CA, United States; School of Mathematical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X54001, Durban, South Africa; Nature ConservancyCA, United States | Tsalyuk, M., Department of Environmental Sciences Policy and Management, University of California (UC), 130 Mulford Hall, Berkeley, CA, United States; Kelly, M., Department of Environmental Sciences Policy and Management, University of California (UC), 130 Mulford Hall, Berkeley, CA, United States; Koy, K., Geospatial Innovation Facility, Berkeley, CA, United States; Getz, W.M., Department of Environmental Sciences Policy and Management, University of California (UC), 130 Mulford Hall, Berkeley, CA, United States, School of Mathematical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X54001, Durban, South Africa; Scott Butterfield, H., Nature ConservancyCA, United States | Monitoring the effects of grazing on rangelands is crucial for ensuring sustainable rangeland ecosystem function and maintaining its conservation values. Residual dry matter (RDM), the dry grass biomass left on the ground at the end of the grazing season, is a commonly used proxy for rangeland condition in Mediterranean climates. Moderate levels of RDM are correlated with soil stability, forage production, wildlife habitat, and diversity of native plants. Therefore RDM is widely monitored on rangeland conservation properties. Current ground-based methods for RDM monitoring are expensive, are labor intensive, and provide information in the fall, after the effects of grazing have already occurred. In this paper we present a cost-effective, rapid, and robust methodology to monitor and predict RDM using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite data. We performed a time series analysis of three MODIS-based vegetation indices (VIs) measured over the period 2000-2012: Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Leaf Area Index (LAI), and Fraction of Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FPAR). We examined the correlation between the four VIs and fall RDM measured at The Nature Conservancy's Simon Newman Ranch in central California. We found strong and significant correlations between maximum VI values in late spring and RDM in the fall. Among the VIs, LAI values had the most significant correlation with fall RDM. MODIS-based multivariate models predicted up to 63% of fall RDM. Importantly, maximum and sum VIs values were significantly higher in management units with RDM levels in compliance with RDM conservation easement terms compared with units out of compliance. On the basis of these results, we propose a management model that uses time series analysis of MODIS VIs to predict forage quantities, manage stocking rates, and monitor rangeland easement compliance. This model can be used to improve monitoring of rangeland conservation by providing information on range conditions throughout the year. © 2015 Society for Range Management. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. | (NDVI); Leaf Area Index (LAI); Normalized Difference Vegetation Index; overgrazing; remote sensing; residual dry matter (RDM); time series analysis | conservation management; dry matter; grazing; leaf area index; Mediterranean environment; MODIS; NDVI; photosynthetically active radiation; rangeland; satellite data | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84945341623 | Participant evaluation of an education module on interprofessional collaboration for students in healthcare studies | Tsakitzidis G., Timmermans O., Callewaert N., Truijen S., Meulemans H., Van Royen P. | 2015 | BMC Medical Education | 15 | 1 | 10.1186/s12909-015-0477-0 | Department of Primary and Interdisciplinary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Nursing and Midwifery Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre for Research and Innovation in Care, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Hz University of Applied Sciences, Vlissingen, Netherlands; Department of Health Sciences, Artesis-Plantijn University College of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Sociology and Research, Centre for Longitudinal and Life Course Studies, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Centre for Health Systems Research and Development, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa | Tsakitzidis, G., Department of Primary and Interdisciplinary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Timmermans, O., Department of Nursing and Midwifery Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre for Research and Innovation in Care, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium, Hz University of Applied Sciences, Vlissingen, Netherlands; Callewaert, N., Department of Health Sciences, Artesis-Plantijn University College of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Truijen, S., Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Meulemans, H., Department of Sociology and Research, Centre for Longitudinal and Life Course Studies, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium, Centre for Health Systems Research and Development, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Van Royen, P., Department of Primary and Interdisciplinary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium | Background: Interprofessional collaboration is considered a key-factor to deliver the highest quality of care. Interprofessional collaboration (IPC) assumes a model of working together, in particular with awareness of the process of interprofessional collaboration, to develop an integrated and cohesive answer to the needs of the client/family/population. Educational modules are developed in response to a perceived need to improve interprofessional collaboration for the benefit of patientcare. Up until 2005 no explicit module on interprofessional collaboration existed in the education programs of the Antwerp University Association (AUHA). During a decade the 'Interprofessional Collaboration In Healthcare (IPCIHC) - module' is organised and evaluated by its participants. Methods: One group, post-test design was used to gather data from the participating students using a structured questionnaire. Data was collected between March 2005 and March 2014 from participating final year students in healthcare educational programs. Results: 3568 (84 % overall response) students evaluated the IPCIHC module from 2005 up to 2014. Over 80 % of the participants were convinced the IPCIHC increased their knowledge and changed their understanding that it will impact their future professional relationships, and felt a greater understanding about problem-solving in healthcare teams. Even though the results indicate that the goals of the IPCIHC module were achieved, less than 60 % of the participants experienced a change in attitude towards other professional groups. Conclusions: Despite the positive outcomes from the participants, the challenge still remains to keep on educating future healthcare providers in interprofessional collaboration in order to achieve an increase in interprofessional behaviour towards other professional groups. Research is needed to investigate the effectiveness of undergraduate programs on the quality and safety of patientcare in practice. © 2015 Tsakitzidis et al. | Collaborate; Education; Healthcare; Interprofessional | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84869122024 | The relationship of overweight and obesity to the motor performance of children living in South Africa | Truter L., Pienaar A.E., Du Toit D. | 2012 | South African Family Practice | 54 | 5 | None | School of Biokinetics, Recreation and Sport Science, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa; School of Education, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa | Truter, L., School of Biokinetics, Recreation and Sport Science, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa; Pienaar, A.E., School of Biokinetics, Recreation and Sport Science, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa; Du Toit, D., School of Education, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa | Objectives: This study aimed to determine the relationship between overweight and obesity and the motor performance of nine- to 13-year-old South African children. Design: The study used a one-way cross-sectional design based on baseline measurements. Settings and subjects: The research group comprised 280 Grade 4, 5 and 6 learners (128 boys and 152 girls) from two schools that represented a distribution of socio-economic status, race and gender. Outcome measures: Anthropometric [(body mass index (BMI) and fat percentage] and motor performance measurements (fine manual control, manual coordination, body coordination and strength and agility) were obtained by means of the Fitnessgram and the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-II. International age-specific cut-off points were used to classify the children's body composition as normal weight, overweight or obese. Data were analysed by means of descriptive statistics, correlation matrices and analysis of variance, followed by a Tukey post hoc analysis. Results: The results showed that running speed and agility decreased significantly with an increase in BMI. Muscular strength also decreased significantly with a smaller practical significance, while fine manual control, manual coordination, and body coordination showed the weakest relationship to BMI. Analysis of variance showed significant relationships between BMI and running speed and agility (p-value < 0.05). These relationships were influenced differently by gender and ethnicity. Conclusion: The motor performance of young South African children was negatively influenced by overweight and obesity. Intervention strategies are recommended to reduce the consequences of overweight and obesity in the overall development of such children. © SAAFP. | Children; Gender; Motor performance; Obesity; Overweight | agility; article; body equilibrium; body fat; body mass; child; cross-sectional study; ethnic difference; female; human; major clinical study; male; motor coordination; motor performance; muscle strength; obesity; prevalence; school child; sex difference; 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-s2.0-34548625221 | Assessment of the impacts of land use changes on the hydrological regime of a small rural catchment in South Africa | Troy B., Sarron C., Fritsch J.M., Rollin D. | 2007 | Physics and Chemistry of the Earth | 32 | 15-18 | 10.1016/j.pce.2007.07.049 | IRD, UMR G-eau, P.O. Box 542, Newtown 2113, Johannesburg, South Africa; Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Agronomie de Rennes, 65 rue de Saint-Brieuc, 35042 Rennes cedex, France; International Water Management Institute, Private Bag X 813, Silverton 0127 Pretoria, South Africa | Troy, B., IRD, UMR G-eau, P.O. Box 542, Newtown 2113, Johannesburg, South Africa; Sarron, C., Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Agronomie de Rennes, 65 rue de Saint-Brieuc, 35042 Rennes cedex, France; Fritsch, J.M., IRD, UMR G-eau, P.O. Box 542, Newtown 2113, Johannesburg, South Africa; Rollin, D., International Water Management Institute, Private Bag X 813, Silverton 0127 Pretoria, South Africa | Wetlands provide various environmental services and support livelihoods of poor populations in many parts of the world. Nevertheless knowledge about the quantification of the hydrological functions provided by wetlands is still limited. The current study was carried out on a small rural catchment in South Africa (263 km2), where according to the locals, a change in hydrological regime has occurred during the past decade. A small wetland area occupies the bottom of the catchment, and this wetland has been drastically reduced by small scale farming activities. The purpose of the study was twofold; on the one hand to determine if any hydrological change occurred, and on the other hand to relate it to the land use change, which is considered the cause of the change by conservationist groups. A comparative analysis of the land use of the catchment during the past decade was carried out using satellite images. The hydrological behavior of the basin during the last two decades was then studied using the conceptual rainfall-runoff model GR4J. Indeed the available climate and hydrological data was very poor and only a scarce-parameters lumped model could be used. According to Nash coefficient of efficiency, the model was able to simulate the observed runoff of the catchment with acceptable accuracy. The method showed that under similar rainfall conditions, the basin was generating more runoff in recent years than in the early 1990s. This observation matched an observed reduction in the wetland area. To check if this change in land use could be the cause of the hydrological change, rapid estimations were made of the water transfer processes in the different land use units. It appears that, in particular in the wetlands area, the processes related to land use change only account for a small proportion of the observed increase in runoff at the catchment scale. Under conditions of inaccurate hydrometeorological information, the approach used is appropriate to study the changes in the water balance at the catchment scale. We suggest that future applications of this method should in addition include an uncertainty assessment. Moreover it may be relevant to analyse if this method performs better than other parsimonious empirical models. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | GR4J; Land use changes; Olifants River; Rainfall-runoff modeling; Wetlands | Catchments; Climatology; Hydrology; Mathematical models; Rain; Rivers; Runoff; Weather forecasting; Wetlands; Hydrometeorological information; Land use changes; Rainfall-runoff modeling; Rural catchment; Land use; accuracy assessment; agriculture; catchment; comparative study; efficiency measurement; environmental assessment; environmental impact; hydrological cycle; hydrological regime; land use change; rainfall-runoff modeling; rural area; wetland management; Africa; Olifants River; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa | 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-s2.0-80053369739 | Impact of childhood trauma on functionality and quality of life in HIV-infected women | Troeman Z.C.E., Spies G., Cherner M., Archibald S.L., Fennema-Notestine C., Theilmann R.J., Spottiswoode B., Stein D.J., Seedat S. | 2011 | Health and Quality of Life Outcomes | 9 | None | 10.1186/1477-7525-9-84 | South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI), PTSD program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States; Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jollam CA, United States; Cape Universities Brain Imaging Centre (CUBIC), Cape Town, South Africa; MRC Unit on Anxiety and Stress Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Psychiatry, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Troeman, Z.C.E., South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI), PTSD program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa; Spies, G., South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI), PTSD program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa; Cherner, M., Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States; Archibald, S.L., Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States; Fennema-Notestine, C., Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States, Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jollam CA, United States; Theilmann, R.J., Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jollam CA, United States; Spottiswoode, B., Cape Universities Brain Imaging Centre (CUBIC), Cape Town, South Africa; Stein, D.J., MRC Unit on Anxiety and Stress Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Seedat, S., South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI), PTSD program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa, MRC Unit on Anxiety and Stress Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa | Background: While there are many published studies on HIV and functional limitations, there are few in the context of early abuse and its impact on functionality and Quality of Life (QoL) in HIV.Methods: The present study focused on HIV in the context of childhood trauma and its impact on functionality and Quality of Life (QoL) by evaluating 85 HIV-positive (48 with childhood trauma and 37 without) and 52 HIV-negative (21 with childhood trauma and 31 without) South African women infected with Clade C HIV. QoL was assessed using the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q), the Patient's Assessment of Own Functioning Inventory (PAOFI), the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale and the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS). Furthermore, participants were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ).Results: Subjects had a mean age of 30.1 years. After controlling for age, level of education and CES-D scores, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) demonstrated significant individual effects of HIV status and childhood trauma on self-reported QoL. No significant interactional effects were evident. Functional limitation was, however, negatively correlated with CD4 lymphocyte count.Conclusions: In assessing QoL in HIV-infected women, we were able to demonstrate the impact of childhood trauma on functional limitations in HIV. © 2011 Troeman et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Childhood trauma; Functionality; Hiv; Quality of life | adult; article; CD4+ T lymphocyte; child abuse; childhood injury; correlation analysis; daily life activity; female; functional assessment; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; major clinical study; quality of life; questionnaire; South Africa; women's health; adolescent; aged; analysis of variance; CD4 lymphocyte count; daily life activity; disability; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; injury; interview; middle aged; psychological aspect; quality of life; reproducibility; Activities of Daily Living; Adolescent; Adult; Adult Survivors of Child Abuse; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Analysis of Variance; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Disability Evaluation; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Middle Aged; Quality of Life; Questionnaires; Reproducibility of Results; Wounds and Injuries | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33747729396 | The usability of personal digital assistants (PDAs) for assessment of practical performance | Treadwell I. | 2006 | Medical Education | 40 | 9 | 10.1111/j.1365-2929.2006.02543.x | Skills Laboratory, Faculty of Health Science, PO Box 667, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Skills Laboratory, Faculty of Health Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Treadwell, I., Skills Laboratory, Faculty of Health Science, PO Box 667, Pretoria 0001, South Africa, Skills Laboratory, Faculty of Health Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Context: The administration of an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) using paper checklists presents problems such as illegible handwriting, missing student names and/or numbers and lost checklists. Calculating and entering results is not only time-consuming, but is subject to human errors, and feedback to students is rarely available. To rectify these problems, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and HaPerT software were acquired to replace paper checklists and provide automated results and feedback. This study sought to determine the usability of the PDA assessment system. Methods: The usability of the PDA system was evaluated according to effectiveness, efficiency and user satisfaction. Effectiveness was judged by comparing the results of an OSCE conducted in 2003 (paper-based method) and repeated in 2004 and 2005 (PDA method). Efficiency was determined by calculating the amount of time required to organise the logistics for 2 consecutive PDA OSCEs and deliver results and grades, compared with the time required for the paper-based OSCE. User satisfaction was established by using questionnaires to obtain feedback on the assessors' experiences during their first assessments. Results: An independent groups t-test used to compare the means of scores achieved by students in the PDA and paper-based OSCEs, respectively, showed that the difference in effectiveness was not significant. In terms of efficiency, 77% less time was used for the PDA OSCE in 2004 and 93% less in 2005. Assessor feedback on PDA assessment was overwhelmingly positive. Assessment by PDA was found to be just as effective as and more efficient than paper-based assessment in practical examinations, and was highly rated by assessors. © Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2006. | *Consumer satisfaction; *Education, medical, undergraduate; Comparative study; Computers, handheld/*standards; Evaluation study [publication type] | article; clinical examination; computer program; consumer; evaluation; human; medical student; personal digital assistant; productivity; student satisfaction; Clinical Competence; Cohort Studies; Computers, Handheld; Education, Medical, Undergraduate; Personal Satisfaction | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77954471412 | Wetland craft plants in KwaZulu-Natal: An ecological review of harvesting impacts and implications for sustainable utilization | Traynor C.H., Kotze D.C., Mckean S.G. | 2010 | Bothalia | 40 | 1 | None | Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa, P.O. Box 394, 3290 Howick, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Centre for Environment, Agriculture and Development, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, 3209 Scotteville, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife, P.O. Box 13053, 3202 Cascades, South Africa | Traynor, C.H., Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa, P.O. Box 394, 3290 Howick, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Kotze, D.C., Centre for Environment, Agriculture and Development, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, 3209 Scotteville, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Mckean, S.G., Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife, P.O. Box 13053, 3202 Cascades, South Africa | In South Africa, wetland plants have been used for centuries and they continue to be harvested for subsistence and commercial purposes. Fibres for crafts are collected by cutting the aboveground parts. KwaZulu-Natal is one of the major basket-producing regions in southern Africa and at least twenty-two species of wetland plants are harvested for crafts. A literature review of the harvested species revealed that the impacts of cutting have only been extensively investigated for Phragmites australis (Cav.) Steud. and Juncus kraussii Hochst. The review suggested that, where plants display strong seasonal aboveground productivity patterns, cutting should take place after shoot senescence and before new shoot emergence to minimize damage to plants. Cutting in the short term could increase the density of green stems. However, in the long term in Phragmites australis, it may deplete the rhizome reserves and reduce the density of useable (longer and thicker) culms. The opportunity for sustainable harvests was investigated by considering the geographic distribution, whether species are habitat specific or not, and local population sizes of the craft plants. Juncus kraussii is of the greatest conservation concern. Ecologically sustainable wetland plant harvesting could contribute to the wise use of wetlands, an approach promoted nationally and internationally. | Basketry; Cutting disturbance; Management; Sustainable utilization; Wise use of wetland | Juncus kraussii; Phragmites australis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79954998521 | Performance based reward for immunization: Experiences from GAVI | Trap R., Trap B., Hansen T.W., Hansen E.H. | 2011 | Southern Med Review | 4 | 1 | 10.5655/smr.v4i1.69 | Department of Surgery, Aabenraa University Hospital, Denmark; Euro Health Group, Denmark; Management Sciences for Health, Kampala, Uganda; Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, University of Copenhagen, Denmark | Trap, R., Department of Surgery, Aabenraa University Hospital, Denmark, Euro Health Group, Denmark; Trap, B., Euro Health Group, Denmark, Management Sciences for Health, Kampala, Uganda; Hansen, T.W., Euro Health Group, Denmark; Hansen, E.H., Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, University of Copenhagen, Denmark | Objective: To assess whether linking the Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunization (GAVI) service support with performance-based interventions has influenced the quality of reporting and of immunization systems. GAVI Service Support (ISS) combines performance assessment, recommendations and implementation support with financial reward. Methods: A retrospective study based on data from Data Quality Audit (DQA), a validated standardized indicator-based performance assessment tool which evaluates reporting consistency, accuracy and the quality of the immunization system. Participants are nine developing countries, sampling 421 health units, 72 districts, which have had two consecutive DQAs in the period 2002 to 2005. Results: Both the quality of reporting and the immunization system improved following GAVI ISS intervention. Reporting quality was associated with the enhanced overall quality of the immunization system and with immunization coverage. Immunisation coverage improved in eight of the nine countries. Conclusions: The study indicates that the combined GAVI ISS intervention strategy is effective, resulting in increased immunization coverage, enhanced reporting quality and improved quality of the immunization system set-up at all levels of healthcare. High quality reporting is instrumental in focusing immunization management on setting targets for increased coverage, demonstrated by the correlation between increased reporting quality and immunization coverage. Repeated assessments are recommended to ensure sustainable immunization system improvements. | Global alliance for vaccines and immunization; Immunization reporting; Immunization system; Performance-based financial reward strategy; Quality improvements | accuracy; article; health care quality; health economics; immunization; performance based financial rewarding; performance measurement system; preventive health service; public-private partnership; retrospective study; total quality management | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84900439685 | Development and evaluation of an ITS1 "Touchdown" PCR for assessment of drug efficacy against animal African trypanosomosis | Tran T., Napier G., Rowan T., Cordel C., Labuschagne M., Delespaux V., Van Reet N., Erasmus H., Joubert A., Büscher P. | 2014 | Veterinary Parasitology | 202 | 42433 | 10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.03.005 | Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines (GALVmed), Doherty Building, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Edinburgh EH26 0PZ, United Kingdom; Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium; ClinVet International (Pty) Ltd., Uitzigweg, Bainsvlei, Bloemfontein, South Africa | Tran, T., Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines (GALVmed), Doherty Building, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Edinburgh EH26 0PZ, United Kingdom, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium; Napier, G., Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines (GALVmed), Doherty Building, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Edinburgh EH26 0PZ, United Kingdom; Rowan, T., Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines (GALVmed), Doherty Building, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Edinburgh EH26 0PZ, United Kingdom; Cordel, C., ClinVet International (Pty) Ltd., Uitzigweg, Bainsvlei, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Labuschagne, M., ClinVet International (Pty) Ltd., Uitzigweg, Bainsvlei, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Delespaux, V., Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium; Van Reet, N., Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium; Erasmus, H., ClinVet International (Pty) Ltd., Uitzigweg, Bainsvlei, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Joubert, A., ClinVet International (Pty) Ltd., Uitzigweg, Bainsvlei, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Büscher, P., Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium | Animal African trypanosomoses (AAT) are caused by flagellated protozoa of the Trypanosoma genus and contribute to considerable losses in animal production in Africa, Latin America and South East Asia. Trypanosoma congolense is considered the economically most important species. Drug resistant T. congolense strains present a threat to the control of AAT and have triggered research into discovery of novel trypanocides. In vivo assessment of trypanocidal efficacy relies on monitoring of treated animals with microscopic parasite detection methods. Since these methods have poor sensitivity, follow-up for up to 100 days after treatment is recommended to increase the chance of detecting recurrent parasitaemia waves. Molecular techniques are more amendable to high throughput processing and are generally more sensitive than microscopic detection, thus bearing the potential of shortening the 100-day follow up period. The study presents a "Touchdown" PCR targeting the internal transcribed spacer 1 of the ribosomal DNA (ITS1 TD PCR) that enables detection and discrimination of different Trypanosoma taxa in a single run due to variations in PCR product sizes. The assay achieves analytical sensitivity of 10 parasites per ml of blood for detection of T. congolense savannah type and T. brucei, and 100 parasites per ml of blood for detection of T. vivax in infected mouse blood. The ITS1 TD PCR was evaluated on cattle experimentally infected with T. congolense during an investigational new veterinary trypanocide drug efficacy study. ITS1 TD PCR demonstrated comparable performance to microscopy in verifying trypanocide treatment success, in which parasite DNA became undetectable in cured animals within two days post-treatment. ITS1 TD PCR detected parasite recrudescence three days earlier than microscopy and had a higher positivity rate than microscopy (84.85% versus 57.58%) in 66 specimens of relapsing animals collected after treatments. Therefore, ITS1 TD PCR provides a useful tool in assessment of drug efficacy against T. congolense infection in cattle. As the assay bears the potential for detection of mixed infections, it may be applicable for drug efficacy studies and diagnostic discrimination of T. vivax and T. congolense against other pathogenic trypanosomes, including T. brucei, T. evansi and T. equiperdum. © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. | Cattle; ITS1; Touchdown PCR; Trypanosoma congolense; Trypanosoma vivax; Trypanozoon | antitrypanosomal agent; internal transcribed spacer 1; ribosome DNA; animal experiment; article; cattle; controlled study; diagnostic test accuracy study; dog; drug efficacy; experimental infection; female; goat; hematocrit centrifugation technique; horse; human; intermethod comparison; male; microscopy; mouse; nagana; nonhuman; parasite identification; polymerase chain reaction; process development; sensitivity analysis; sensitivity and specificity; touchdown polymerase chain reaction; Trypanosoma; Trypanosoma brucei; Trypanosoma congolense; trypanosoma equiperdum; Trypanosoma gambiense; Trypanosoma rhodesiense; trypanosoma theileri; Trypanosoma vivax; Animalia; Bos; Mastigophora (flagellates); Trypanosoma; Trypanosoma brucei; Trypanosoma congolense; Trypanosoma equiperdum; Trypanosoma evansi; Trypanosoma vivax; Trypanozoon; Cattle; ITS1; Touchdown PCR; Trypanosoma congolense; Trypanosoma vivax; Trypanozoon; Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; Drug Resistance; Mice; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Sensitivity and Specificity; Trypanocidal Agents; Trypanosomiasis, African | None |
| None | None | The distribution and impacts of harmful algal bloom species in eastern boundary upwelling systems | Trainer V.L., Pitcher G.C., Reguera B., Smayda T.J. | 2010 | Progress in Oceanography | 85 | 42371 | 10.1016/j.pocean.2010.02.003 | NOAA, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, WA 98112, United States; Marine and Coastal Management, Department of Environmental Affairs, Private Bag X2, Rogge Bay, 8012 Cape Town, South Africa; University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, 7700 Cape Town, South Africa; Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, Cabo Estay, Canido, 36200 Vigo, Spain; Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, United States | Trainer, V.L., NOAA, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, WA 98112, United States; Pitcher, G.C., Marine and Coastal Management, Department of Environmental Affairs, Private Bag X2, Rogge Bay, 8012 Cape Town, South Africa, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, 7700 Cape Town, South Africa; Reguera, B., Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, Cabo Estay, Canido, 36200 Vigo, Spain; Smayda, T.J., Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, United States | Comparison of harmful algal bloom (HAB) species in eastern boundary upwelling systems, specifically species composition, bloom densities, toxin concentrations and impacts are likely to contribute to understanding these phenomena. We identify and describe HABs in the California, Canary, Benguela and Humboldt Current systems, including those that can cause the poisoning syndromes in humans called paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP), and amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP), as well as yessotoxins, ichthyotoxins, and high-biomass blooms resulting in hypoxia and anoxia. Such comparisons will allow identification of parameters, some unique to upwelling systems and others not, that contribute to the development of these harmful blooms. | None | Amnesic shellfish poisoning; Benguela; California; Diarrhetic shellfish poisoning; Harmful algal blooms; Humboldt current system; Paralytic shellfish poisoning; Species composition; Toxin concentrations; Upwelling systems; Algae control; Toxic materials; Blooms (metal); algal bloom; anoxia; community composition; eastern boundary current; environmental impact; hypoxia; paralytic shellfish poisoning; parameterization; population density; population distribution; toxin; upwelling; Atlantic Ocean; Pacific Ocean; algae | 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-s2.0-84891627675 | Impacts of convection schemes on simulating tropical-temperate troughs over southern Africa | Tozuka T., Abiodun B.J., Engelbrecht F.A. | 2014 | Climate Dynamics | 42 | 42371 | 10.1007/s00382-013-1738-4 | Department of Earth and Planetary Science, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan; Climate System Analysis Group, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; CSIR Natural Resources and the Environment, Climate Studies, Modelling and Environmental Health, Pretoria, South Africa | Tozuka, T., Department of Earth and Planetary Science, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan; Abiodun, B.J., Climate System Analysis Group, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Engelbrecht, F.A., CSIR Natural Resources and the Environment, Climate Studies, Modelling and Environmental Health, Pretoria, South Africa | This study examines southern African summer rainfall and tropical temperate troughs (TTTs) simulated with three versions of an atmospheric general circulation model differing only in the convection scheme. All three versions provide realistic simulations of key aspects of the summer (November-February) rainfall, such as the spatial distribution of total rainfall and the percentage of rainfall associated with TTTs. However, one version has a large bias in the onset of the rainy season. Results from self-organizing map (SOM) analysis on simulated daily precipitation data reveals that this is because the occurrence of TTTs is underestimated in November. This model bias is not related to westerly wind shear that provides favorable conditions for the development of TTTs. Rather, it is related to excessive upper level convergence and associated subsidence over southern Africa. Furthermore, the model versions are shown to be successful in capturing the observed drier (wetter) conditions over the southern African region during El Niño (La Niña) years. The SOM analysis reveals that nodes associated with TTTs in the southern (northern) part of the domain are observed less (more) often during El Niño years, while nodes associated with TTTs occur more frequently during La Niña years. Also, nodes associated with dry conditions over southern Africa are more (less) frequently observed during El Niño (La Niña) years. The models tend to perform better for La Niña events, because they are more successful in representing the observed frequency of different synoptic patterns. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. | Atmospheric general circulation model; Convection scheme; El Niño-Southern Oscillation; Southern Africa; Tropical-temperate trough | atmospheric convection; atmospheric general circulation model; precipitation (climatology); precipitation assessment; rainfall; westerly; wind shear; Southern Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-74949135099 | Petrographic and geochemical comparisons between the lower crystalline basement-derived section and the granite megablock and amphibolite megablock of the Eyreville B core, Chesapeake Bay impact structure, USA | Townsend G.N., Gibson R.L., Horton Jr. J.W., Reimold W.U., Schmitt R.T., Bartosova K. | 2009 | Special Paper of the Geological Society of America | 458 | None | 10.1130/2009.2458(13) | Impact Cratering Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, P.O. WITS, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa; U.S. Geological Survey, 926A National Center, Reston, VA 20192, United States; Museum für Naturkunde-Leibniz Institute, Humboldt University Berlin, Invalidenstrasse 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany; Department of Geological Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, Vienna A-1090, Austria | Townsend, G.N., Impact Cratering Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, P.O. WITS, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa; Gibson, R.L., Impact Cratering Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, P.O. WITS, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa; Horton Jr., J.W., U.S. Geological Survey, 926A National Center, Reston, VA 20192, United States; Reimold, W.U., Impact Cratering Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, P.O. WITS, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa, Museum für Naturkunde-Leibniz Institute, Humboldt University Berlin, Invalidenstrasse 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany; Schmitt, R.T., Museum für Naturkunde-Leibniz Institute, Humboldt University Berlin, Invalidenstrasse 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany; Bartosova, K., Department of Geological Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, Vienna A-1090, Austria | The Eyreville B core from the Chesapeake Bay impact structure, Virginia, USA, contains a lower basement-derived section (1551.19 m to 1766.32 m deep) and two megablocks of dominantly (1) amphibolite (1376.38 m to 1389.35 m deep) and (2) granite (1095.74 m to 1371.11 m deep), which are separated by an impactite succession. Metasedimentary rocks (muscovite-quartz-plagioclase-biotite-graphite ± fibrolite ± garnet ± tourmaline ± pyrite ± rutile ± pyrrhotite mica schist, hornblende-plagioclase-epidote-biotite- K-feldspar-quartz-titanite-calcite amphibolite, and vesuvianite-plagioclase- quartz-epidote calc-silicate rock) are dominant in the upper part of the lower basement-derived section, and they are intruded by pegmatitic to coarse-grained granite (K-feldspar-plagioclase-quartz-muscovite ± biotite ± garnet) that increases in volume proportion downward. The granite megablock contains both gneissic and weakly or nonfoliated biotite granite varieties (K-feldspar-quartz-plagioclase-biotite ± muscovite ± pyrite), with small schist xenoliths consisting of biotite-plagioclase-quartz ± epidote ± amphibole. The lower basement-derived section and both megablocks exhibit similar middleto upper-amphibolite-facies metamorphic grades that suggest they might represent parts of a single terrane. However, the mica schists in the lower basement-derived sequence and in the megablock xenoliths show differences in both mineralogy and whole-rock chemistry that suggest a more mafi c source for the xenoliths. Similarly, the mineralogy of the amphibolite in the lower basement-derived section and its association with calc-silicate rock suggest a sedimentary protolith, whereas the bulk-rock and mineral chemistry of the megablock amphibolite indicate an igneous protolith. The lower basement-derived granite also shows bulk chemical and mineralogical differences from the megablock gneissic and biotite granites. © 2009 The Geological Society of America. | None | amphibolite; crater; geochemistry; granite; impact structure; impactite; metasedimentary rock; petrography; schist; Chesapeake Bay; United States | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84944254344 | Challenges, Changes, and Impact of the Council on Social Work Education Womens Council: An Update | Tower L.E., Lazzari M.M., Faul A.C., Alvarez A.R. | 2015 | Journal of Social Work Education | 51 | 4 | 10.1080/10437797.2015.1076279 | West Virginia University, School of Social Work, P.O. Box 6830, Morgantown, WV, United States; Social Work Program, University of Washington Tacoma, United States; University of Louisville, United States; University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Wayne State University, United States | Tower, L.E., West Virginia University, School of Social Work, P.O. Box 6830, Morgantown, WV, United States; Lazzari, M.M., Social Work Program, University of Washington Tacoma, United States; Faul, A.C., University of Louisville, United States, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Alvarez, A.R., Wayne State University, United States | This article highlights the contributions of the Council on the Role and Status of Women in Social Work Education (Womens Council) as well as the role and status of women in social work education. For this historical analysis update, the authors drew on several primary and secondary data sources. The first major theme was organizational development (e.g., organizational commitment, strategic planning, and sustainability). The second major theme was contributions to social work education (e.g., furthering the knowledge base, influencing accreditation standards, and monitoring equity). These major themes and subthemes remained constant from the previous publication on the history of the WC (Alvarez et al., 2008), underscoring the resilience, commitment and persistence of the WC to keep a sharp focus on infusing feminist perspectives into social work education. Copyright © Council on Social Work Education. | None | None | 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-s2.0-80055087811 | Is the even distribution of insecticide-treated cattle essential for tsetse control? modelling the impact of baits in heterogeneous environments | Torr S.J., Vale G.A. | 2011 | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases | 5 | 10 | 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001360 | Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, London, United Kingdom; South African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis (SACEMA), University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa | Torr, S.J., Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, London, United Kingdom; Vale, G.A., Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, London, United Kingdom, South African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis (SACEMA), University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa | Background: Eliminating Rhodesian sleeping sickness, the zoonotic form of Human African Trypanosomiasis, can be achieved only through interventions against the vectors, species of tsetse (Glossina). The use of insecticide-treated cattle is the most cost-effective method of controlling tsetse but its impact might be compromised by the patchy distribution of livestock. A deterministic simulation model was used to analyse the effects of spatial heterogeneities in habitat and baits (insecticide-treated cattle and targets) on the distribution and abundance of tsetse. Methodology/Principal Findings: The simulated area comprised an operational block extending 32 km from an area of good habitat from which tsetse might invade. Within the operational block, habitat comprised good areas mixed with poor ones where survival probabilities and population densities were lower. In good habitat, the natural daily mortalities of adults averaged 6.14% for males and 3.07% for females; the population grew 8.4× in a year following a 90% reduction in densities of adults and pupae, but expired when the population density of males was reduced to <0.1/km 2; daily movement of adults averaged 249 m for males and 367 m for females. Baits were placed throughout the operational area, or patchily to simulate uneven distributions of cattle and targets. Gaps of 2-3 km between baits were inconsequential provided the average imposed mortality per km 2 across the entire operational area was maintained. Leaving gaps 5-7 km wide inside an area where baits killed 10% per day delayed effective control by 4-11 years. Corrective measures that put a few baits within the gaps were more effective than deploying extra baits on the edges. Conclusions/Significance: The uneven distribution of cattle within settled areas is unlikely to compromise the impact of insecticide-treated cattle on tsetse. However, where areas of &gt;3 km wide are cattle-free then insecticide-treated targets should be deployed to compensate for the lack of cattle. © 2011 Torr, Vale. | None | African trypanosomiasis; article; cattle; chemical pest control; computer model; controlled study; environmental impact assessment; habitat quality; insecticidal activity; nonhuman; parasite vector; pest management; pesticide spraying; population abundance; population density dependence; population distribution; population movement pattern; process model; species habitat; species invasion; survival rate; tsetse fly; vector control | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84941341158 | New pneumococcal conjugate vaccine introductions in four sub-saharan african countries: A cross-country analysis of health systems’ impacts | Torres-Rueda S., Burchett H.E., Griffiths U.K., Ongolo-Zogo P., Edengue J.-M., Kitaw Y., Molla M., Gelmon L., Onyango-Ouma W., Konate M., Mounier-Jack S. | 2015 | African Health Sciences | 15 | 3 | 10.4314/ahs.v15i3.22 | Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom; Centre for Development of Best Practices in Health, Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Ministry of Health, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya; Bamako, Mali; University of Manitoba, Manitoba, Canada | Torres-Rueda, S., Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom; Burchett, H.E., Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom; Griffiths, U.K., Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom; Ongolo-Zogo, P., Centre for Development of Best Practices in Health, Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Edengue, J.-M., Ministry of Health, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Kitaw, Y., Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Molla, M., Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Gelmon, L., University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya, University of Manitoba, Manitoba, Canada; Onyango-Ouma, W., University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya; Konate, M., Bamako, Mali; Mounier-Jack, S., Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom | Background: Pneumonia is a main cause of under-five mortality in low-income settings. The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) has been introduced in many countries as a tool in the disease’s prevention. Although PCV’s effectiveness has been established, less is known about the effects of introducing additional injectable vaccines into routine immunisation programmes, particularly in the context of resource-constrained settings. Objectives: To explore the effects of PCV introduction on the immunisation programmes and health systems in four low-income countries. Methods: This study was carried out in Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya and Mali. Three to four regions and nine to 10 districts were selected within each country. Semi-structured interviews were carried out at national, regional and district levels (n=173). Researcher-administered questionnaires were completed with facility staff (n=124). Routine data on monthly vaccination activities were collected at district and facility levels. Results: PCV was generally well integrated into existing routine immunisation. Little or no impact was found in most areas of the health systems. Some minor effects were found on immunisation programmes, particularly in areas with either planning activities or investments e.g. staff skills were strengthened and there were limited improvements in surveillance. Although health sector workers perceived increases in the coverage of other vaccines following the introduction of PCV, routine service data did not confirm this claim. No substantial impacts were seen in health system management, service delivery or performance. Conclusions: The introduction of PCV had marginal impacts on the Expanded Programme for Immunisation and little to none on broader health systems. © 2015, Makerere University, Medical School. All rights reserved. | Health systems’ impacts; Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine; Sub-Saharan | Pneumococcus vaccine; Article; Cameroon; controlled study; Ethiopia; health care delivery; health care management; health care planning; health care quality; health care system; human; income; investment; Kenya; Mali; medical staff; preventive health service; questionnaire; semi structured interview; vaccination | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84957442285 | Interleukin 27R regulates CD4+ T cell phenotype and impacts protective immunity during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection | Torrado E., Fountain J.J., Liao M., Tighe M., Reiley W.W., Lai R.P., Meintjes G., Pearl J.E., Chen X., Zak D.E., Thompson E.G., Aderem A., Ghilardi N., Solache A., Kai McKinstry K., Strutt T.M., Wilkinson R.J., Swain S.L., Cooper A.M. | 2015 | Journal of Experimental Medicine | 212 | 9 | 10.1084/jem.20141520 | Trudeau Institute, Saranac Lake, NY, United States; Guangdong Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Guangdong Medical College, Shenzhen, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Guangdong Medical College, Shenzhen, China; Mill Hill Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, England, United Kingdom; Clinical Infectious Diseases Research Initiative, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, England, United Kingdom; Center for Infectious Disease Research, Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Immunology, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, United States; Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States; Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; Abcam, Cambridge, England, United Kingdom | Torrado, E., Trudeau Institute, Saranac Lake, NY, United States, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; Fountain, J.J., Trudeau Institute, Saranac Lake, NY, United States; Liao, M., Trudeau Institute, Saranac Lake, NY, United States, Guangdong Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Guangdong Medical College, Shenzhen, China, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Guangdong Medical College, Shenzhen, China; Tighe, M., Trudeau Institute, Saranac Lake, NY, United States; Reiley, W.W., Trudeau Institute, Saranac Lake, NY, United States; Lai, R.P., Mill Hill Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, England, United Kingdom; Meintjes, G., Clinical Infectious Diseases Research Initiative, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, England, United Kingdom; Pearl, J.E., Trudeau Institute, Saranac Lake, NY, United States; Chen, X., Guangdong Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Guangdong Medical College, Shenzhen, China, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Guangdong Medical College, Shenzhen, China; Zak, D.E., Center for Infectious Disease Research, Seattle, WA, United States; Thompson, E.G., Center for Infectious Disease Research, Seattle, WA, United States; Aderem, A., Center for Infectious Disease Research, Seattle, WA, United States; Ghilardi, N., Department of Immunology, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, United States; Solache, A., Trudeau Institute, Saranac Lake, NY, United States, Abcam, Cambridge, England, United Kingdom; Kai McKinstry, K., Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States; Strutt, T.M., Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States; Wilkinson, R.J., Mill Hill Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, England, United Kingdom, Clinical Infectious Diseases Research Initiative, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, England, United Kingdom; Swain, S.L., Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States; Cooper, A.M., Trudeau Institute, Saranac Lake, NY, United States | CD4+ T cells mediate protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb); however, the phenotype of protective T cells is undefined, thereby confounding vaccination efforts. IL-27 is highly expressed during human tuberculosis (TB), and absence of IL-27R (Il27ra) specifically on T cells results in increased protection. IL-27R deficiency during chronic Mtb infection does not impact antigen-specific CD4+ T cell number but maintains programmed death-1 (PD-1), CD69, and CD127 expression while reducing T-bet and killer cell lectinlike receptor G1 (KLRG1) expression. Furthermore, T-bet haploinsufficiency results in failure to generate KLRG1+, antigen-specific CD4+ T cells, and in improved protection. T cells in Il27ra-/- mice accumulate preferentially in the lung parenchyma within close proximity to Mtb, and antigen-specific CD4+ T cells lacking IL-27R are intrinsically more fit than intact T cells and maintain IL-2 production. Improved fitness of IL-27R-deficient T cells is not associated with increased proliferation but with decreased expression of cell death-associated markers. Therefore, during Mtb infection, IL-27R acts intrinsically on T cells to limit protection and reduce fitness, whereas the IL-27R-deficient environment alters the phenotype and location of T cells. The significant expression of IL-27 in TB and the negative influence of IL-27R on T cell function demonstrate the pathway by which this cytokine/receptor pair is detrimental in TB. © 2015 Torrado et al. | None | None | 084323, Wellcome Trust; 104803, Wellcome Trust; PO1 AI46530, NIAID, Wellcome Trust; U1175.02.002.00014.01, MRC, Wellcome Trust |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84870370090 | Can shelterbelts improve sprinkler irrigation performance under windy semi arid conditions? | Toromo A.K., Kipkorir E.C., Shitote S.M., Kibiiy J.K. | 2011 | Irrigation and Drainage Systems | 25 | 4 | 10.1007/s10795-012-9128-3 | Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Chepkoilel University College, P.O. Box 1125, Eldoret, Kenya; Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, Moi University, P.O. Box 3900, Eldoret, Kenya | Toromo, A.K., Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Chepkoilel University College, P.O. Box 1125, Eldoret, Kenya; Kipkorir, E.C., Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Chepkoilel University College, P.O. Box 1125, Eldoret, Kenya; Shitote, S.M., Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, Moi University, P.O. Box 3900, Eldoret, Kenya; Kibiiy, J.K., Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, Moi University, P.O. Box 3900, Eldoret, Kenya | Field experiments were performed to study the effect that wind shelterbelts has on irrigation uniformity of hand move sprinkler irrigation system located in northwest Kenya. Catch can tests were performed to evaluate the distribution of applied water using coefficient of uniformity and distribution uniformity for plots with shelterbelt and without shelterbelt scenarios. Three medium pressure twin nozzle sprinkler head types were tested to determine their water distribution uniformity at varying wind speed and working pressure and obtained results were statistically analysed. The analysis was used to ascertain the performance of the medium pressure sprinklers under varying wind conditions for the two scenarios. Results indicate that uniformity is improved by wind for wind speeds below 1. 4 m/s. Analysis of data from sheltered and unsheltered plots showed a significant difference of uniformity parameters on sheltering with coefficient of uniformity for sheltered plots averaging 84 % compared to 74 % for unsheltered plots. Results indicate that the coefficient of uniformity values were higher than the distribution uniformity values although both had a strong linear relationship with a coefficient of determination above 0. 96 in both scenarios. It is concluded that shelterbelts improve sprinkler irrigation performance under windy conditions. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. | Distribution; Drop size; Irrigation; Uniformity; Wind drift losses | A-coefficient; Analysis of data; Coefficient of uniformity; Distribution; Distribution uniformity; Drift loss; Drop size; Field experiment; Irrigation uniformity; Linear relationships; Medium pressure; Semi-arid conditions; Sprinkler irrigation; Uniformity; Water distributions; Wind conditions; Wind speed; Windy conditions; Working pressures; Hose; Irrigation; Water supply systems; Wind effects; Sprinkler systems (irrigation); irrigation system; performance assessment; semiarid region; shelterbelt; size distribution; wind velocity; Kenya | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33847632954 | Impact of the legacy of apartheid on management of sport at the University of the North, South Africa | Toriola A.L., Moselakgomo V.K., Oladele P.O., Asaolu T.O. | 2006 | Journal of Human Movement Studies | 51 | 5 | None | Department of Sport and Physical Rehabilitation Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa; Lephutha Leadership Training and Development Institute, Marble Hall, Mpumalanga, South Africa; Department of Management and Accounting, Faculty of Administration, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Department of Sport and Physical Rehabilitation Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, P. Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa | Toriola, A.L., Department of Sport and Physical Rehabilitation Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa, Department of Sport and Physical Rehabilitation Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, P. Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Moselakgomo, V.K., Lephutha Leadership Training and Development Institute, Marble Hall, Mpumalanga, South Africa; Oladele, P.O., Department of Management and Accounting, Faculty of Administration, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Asaolu, T.O., Department of Management and Accounting, Faculty of Administration, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria | South Africa has had a long history of social and political upheavals. Before multiracial elections and subsequent independence in 1994, the enforcement of apartheid laws and intensification of the struggle against it had considerable impact on the management and development of social order in the country. Several repressive laws especially the group areas act, entrenched the ideology of separate development and marginalised black South African people. The University of the North was one of the historically disadvantaged institutions established for black South Africans during the apartheid era. Consequently, it was not only under resourced compared to other universities that were predominantly attended by white South Africans, but was 'destined' to fail. Apartheid policies and values permeated historically disadvantaged institutions in South Africa to the extent that provision and management of sport at these institutions manifest symptoms of this historical past which are a set back to development. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the management of sport at the University of the North against back drop of racial and sectarian sport. It was concluded that historical events characterised by politically driven policies, poor resources, inadequate sport facilities and poor managerial skills stifled sport participation and development at the university. These challenges were discussed in the light of their implications for management and development of university sport. ©2006 Teviot Scientific Publications. | Apartheid policy; Competitive and recreational sport; Political transformation; South Africa; Sport development; Sport management; Sport participation | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84928103565 | The impact of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) service scale-up on mechanisms of accountability in zambian primary health centres: A case-based health systems analysis | Topp S.M., Black J., Morrow M., Chipukuma J.M., Van Damme W. | 2015 | BMC Health Services Research | 15 | 1 | 10.1186/s12913-015-0703-9 | Schools of Public Health and Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, United States; Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, PO Box 30338, Lusaka, Zambia; Nossal Institute for Global Health, University of Melbourne, 161 Barry Street, Carlton, VIC, Australia; University of Lusaka, Plot No 37413, Mass Media, Lusaka, Zambia; Public Health and Health Policy Unit, ITM-Antwerp, Sint-Rochusstraat 2, Antwerpen, Belgium; School of Public Health, University of Western Cape, Robert Sobukwe Road, Bellville, South Africa | Topp, S.M., Schools of Public Health and Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, United States, Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, PO Box 30338, Lusaka, Zambia, Nossal Institute for Global Health, University of Melbourne, 161 Barry Street, Carlton, VIC, Australia; Black, J., Nossal Institute for Global Health, University of Melbourne, 161 Barry Street, Carlton, VIC, Australia; Morrow, M., Nossal Institute for Global Health, University of Melbourne, 161 Barry Street, Carlton, VIC, Australia; Chipukuma, J.M., University of Lusaka, Plot No 37413, Mass Media, Lusaka, Zambia; Van Damme, W., Public Health and Health Policy Unit, ITM-Antwerp, Sint-Rochusstraat 2, Antwerpen, Belgium, School of Public Health, University of Western Cape, Robert Sobukwe Road, Bellville, South Africa | Background: Questions about the impact of large donor-funded HIV interventions on low- And middle-income countries' health systems have been the subject of a number of expert commentaries, but comparatively few empirical research studies. Aimed at addressing a particular evidence gap vis-à-vis the influence of HIV service scale-up on micro-level health systems, this article examines the impact of HIV scale-up on mechanisms of accountability in Zambian primary health facilities. Methods: Guided by the Mechanisms of Effect framework and Brinkerhoff's work on accountability, we conducted an in-depth multi-case study to examine how HIV services influenced mechanisms of administrative and social accountability in four Zambian primary health centres. Sites were selected for established (over 3 yrs) antiretroviral therapy (ART) services and urban, peri-urban and rural characteristics. Case data included provider interviews (60); patient interviews (180); direct observation of facility operations (2 wks/centre) and key informant interviews (14). Results: Resource-intensive investment in HIV services contributed to some early gains in administrative answerability within the four ART departments, helping to establish the material capabilities necessary to deliver and monitor service delivery. Simultaneous investment in external supervision and professional development helped to promote transparency around individual and team performance and also strengthened positive work norms in the ART departments. In the wider health centres, however, mechanisms of administrative accountability remained weak, hindered by poor data collection and under capacitated leadership. Substantive gains in social accountability were also elusive as HIV scale-up did little to address deeply rooted information and power asymmetries in the wider facilities. Conclusions: Short terms gains in primary-level service accountability may arise from investment in health system hardware. However, sustained improvements in service quality and responsiveness arising from genuine improvements in social and administrative accountability require greater understanding of, and investment in changing, the power relations, work norms, leadership and disciplinary mechanisms that shape these micro-level health systems. ©2015 Vo et al. | Accountability; Health systems; HIV service scale-up; Primary health centres | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84874281205 | Performance, hematology and serum biochemistry of west african dwarf goats fed ensiled mixtures of elephant grass (pennisetum purpureum) with lima bean, african yam bean and pigeon pea | Tope A.F., Funmi O., Adewumi A., Sunday D.E. | 2012 | Kasetsart Journal - Natural Science | 46 | 5 | None | Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Obafemi Awolowo University, P.M.B. 5029, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria; Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria; National Agricultural Extension Resea | Tope, A.F., Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Obafemi Awolowo University, P.M.B. 5029, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria; Funmi, O., Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria; Adewumi, A., National Agricultural Extension Research and Liaison Service, Ahmadu Bello University, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria; Sunday, D.E., Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Obafemi Awolowo University, P.M.B. 5029, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria | The performance, hematological and biochemical parameters of 16 West African dwarf goats fed ensiled elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) with pineapple pulp (Diet 1), pigeon pea plant (Diet 2), lima bean plant (Diet 3) and African yam bean plant (Diet 4) were investigated in a completely randomized design. Four goats were allotted to each diet in a 91-day feeding trial; each goat was fed at 5% of its body weight. The results showed that the crude protein, ether extract and ash contents of Diets 2-4 were similar (P > 0.05). The dry matter intake, crude protein intake and neutral detergent fi ber intake of goats fed Diet 3 differed signifi cantly (P < 0.05) from that of goats fed Diets 1, 2 and 4 which were 71.2, 28.8 and 52.7 g per kilogram W0.75 per day (metabolic weight per day), respectively. The highest packed cell volume was observed in goats on Diet 2 (29.3%) and differed significantly (P < 0.05) from that of goats fed Diets 1, 3 and 4. Goats fed Diet 3 had the highest hemoglobin concentration, lymphocyte, monocytes and eosinophils. Goats fed Diet 4 had the highest total protein (70.2 g.L-1) and cholesterol (42.0 mmol.L-1).The highest urea nitrogen (3.8 mmol.L-1), creatinine 97.0 μmol.L-1), AST (51.9 IU.L-1), ALT (6.7 IU.L-1), glucose (3.1 mmol.L-1) and lowest cholesterol (31.2 mmol.L-1) were observed in goats fed with Diet 3. These results indicated that ensiling elephant grass with any of these legumes known to contain high concentrations of anti-nutrients was not detrimental to the health of the goats. Diet 3, comprising ensiled elephant grass with lima bean and pineapple pulp, produced the optimal growth rate and weight gain in the goats. | Biochemistry; Goats; Hematological parameters; Silage | None | 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-s2.0-73849141686 | Geoelectric evidence for centripetal resurge of impact melt and breccias over central uplift of Araguainha impact structure | Tong C.H., Lana C., Marangoni Y.R., Elis V.R. | 2010 | Geology | 38 | 1 | 10.1130/G30459.1 | Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences Birkbeck, University of London, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HX, United Kingdom; Department of Geology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7620, South Africa; Instituto de Astronomia Geofisica e Ciencias Atmosfericas, USP, Rua do Matao 1226, Sao Paulo, SP 05508-090, Brazil | Tong, C.H., Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences Birkbeck, University of London, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HX, United Kingdom; Lana, C., Department of Geology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7620, South Africa; Marangoni, Y.R., Instituto de Astronomia Geofisica e Ciencias Atmosfericas, USP, Rua do Matao 1226, Sao Paulo, SP 05508-090, Brazil; Elis, V.R., Instituto de Astronomia Geofisica e Ciencias Atmosfericas, USP, Rua do Matao 1226, Sao Paulo, SP 05508-090, Brazil | We present five profiles from electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), with surface constraints and gravity data, in the central uplift of the Araguainha impact structure in central Brazil. The central uplift, the overlying polymict breccias, and decameter-scale impact melt rocks are characterized by contrasting ranges of electrical resistivity. Our resistivity model provides empirical evidence that supports the existing model in which impact melt and breccias resurged toward the crater center in the final stages of the cratering process. On the basis of our results from the first use of ERT in impact cratering studies, we conclude that the deposition and flow of impact melt and breccias over the central uplift were influenced by the geometry of the lithologic boundaries in the central uplift. © 2010 Geological Society of America. | None | Electrical resistivity; Electrical resistivity tomography; Empirical evidence; Geoelectric; Gravity data; Impact cratering; Impact melt; Impact structures; Surface constraints; Electric conductivity; Geomorphology; Radiative transfer; Tomography; Rocks; breccia; crater; deposition; electrical resistivity; geoelectric field; impact structure; lithology; melt; tomography; uplift; Araguainha Dome; Brazil | 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 |
| None | None | On-farm evaluation of methods for storing fresh sweet potato roots in East Africa | Tomlins K., Ndunguru G., Kimenya F., Ngendello T., Rwiza E., Amour R., Van Oirschot Q., Westby A. | 2007 | Tropical Science | 47 | 4 | 10.1002/ts.214 | Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Chatham Maritime, Central Avenue, Kent ME4 4TB, United Kingdom; Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Lake Zone Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Mwanza, Tanzania | Tomlins, K., Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Chatham Maritime, Central Avenue, Kent ME4 4TB, United Kingdom; Ndunguru, G., Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Kimenya, F., Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Ngendello, T., Lake Zone Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Mwanza, Tanzania; Rwiza, E., Lake Zone Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Mwanza, Tanzania; Amour, R., Lake Zone Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Mwanza, Tanzania; Van Oirschot, Q., Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Chatham Maritime, Central Avenue, Kent ME4 4TB, United Kingdom; Westby, A., Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Chatham Maritime, Central Avenue, Kent ME4 4TB, United Kingdom | Methods for sweet potato storage, previously developed at a research station, were tested on-farm by subsistence farmers in Lake Zone, Tanzania. On-farm testing confirmed that the methods were suitable but indicated that practical and simple improvements were necessary, without which losses in the proportion of market-quality roots from the store could be as high as 79%. These practical improvements were mainly concerned with the position of stores on the farms. The addition of a new step, dehaulming, improved the recovery of market-quality roots by 48%. However, although the storage methods were developed in order to improve farmer income, most farmers said they would use the stored roots as a subsistence staple for household food security. Variations among the farmers in their attitudes to storing sweet potato suggest that, when transferring methods from the research station to the farm, it is necessary to target those most able to adopt the approach. Additionally, the farmers considered that local market traders may not be keen to sell stored roots. Therefore, other actors in the value chain, such as market traders and consumers, ought to be included in the process of transferring methods from the research station to the farm. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. | East Africa; Farmer participation; Heap; Ipomoea batatas; On-farm; Pit; Storage; Sweet potato; Tanzania | Ipomoea batatas | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34547133453 | Consumer acceptability and sensory evaluation of a fermented cassava product (Nigerian fufu) | Tomlins K., Sanni L., Oyewole O., Dipeolu A., Ayinde I., Adebayo K., Westby A. | 2007 | Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture | 87 | 10 | 10.1002/jsfa.2941 | Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, United Kingdom; University of Agriculture, PMB 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria | Tomlins, K., Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, United Kingdom; Sanni, L., University of Agriculture, PMB 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Oyewole, O., University of Agriculture, PMB 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Dipeolu, A., University of Agriculture, PMB 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Ayinde, I., University of Agriculture, PMB 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Adebayo, K., University of Agriculture, PMB 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Westby, A., Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, United Kingdom | The purpose of the study was to evaluate the sensory profile and acceptability of six types of fufu (a fermented cassava product) produced by different processes using sensory evaluation and consumer acceptability testing. Fufu samples were selected to evaluate the acceptability of dried fufu flours, which are increasingly being consumed, and compare with a traditional paste and a newly developed paste that produces less environmental waste. Descriptive sensory profiles of the selected samples demonstrated distinct differences in sensory profiles. They were evaluated for consumer acceptance at three demographic locations; Lagos (n = 91), Ibadan (n = 121) and Abeokuta (w = 99), Nigeria. Fufu made from a paste that produced less environmental waste had the highest acceptance scores, followed by flour and paste made by the traditional method and finally the remaining flours. Average consumer liking between the three locations did not differ. Three distinct consumer segments were identified and the number of consumers in these segments differed between the locations. Consumers differentiated fufu made from pastes and from flour. Internal preference mapping indicated that consumers associated the flours with sensory attributes such as sticky texture and raw cassava odour, while pastes were associated with soft texture, and shiny and creamy appearance. Fufu acceptance varies widely among consumers and is related to preferences for distinct fufu flavour profiles. Correlations between consumer acceptance scores and sensory scores appeared to be non-linear for many attributes but a larger sample size of fufu samples would be necessary to confirm this. The implications of these finding are discussed. © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry. | Acceptability; Cassava; Consumer preference; Flour; Fufu; Nigeria; Sensory evaluation; West Africa | Manihot esculenta | None |
| None | None | Sensory evaluation and consumer acceptability of pale-fleshed and orange-fleshed sweetpotato by school children and mothers with preschool children | Tomlins K., Ndunguru G., Stambul K., Joshua N., Ngendello T., Rwiza E., Amour R., Ramadhani B., Kapande A., Westby A. | 2007 | Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture | 87 | 13 | 10.1002/jsfa.2931 | Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, United Kingdom; Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre, 22 Ocean Road, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Lake Zone Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Ukiriguru, PO Box 1433, Mwanza, Tanzania; Tanzania Home Economics Association, PO Box 11242, Mwanza, Tanzania; Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TB, United Kingdom | Tomlins, K., Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, United Kingdom, Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TB, United Kingdom; Ndunguru, G., Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre, 22 Ocean Road, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Stambul, K., Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre, 22 Ocean Road, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Joshua, N., Lake Zone Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Ukiriguru, PO Box 1433, Mwanza, Tanzania; Ngendello, T., Lake Zone Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Ukiriguru, PO Box 1433, Mwanza, Tanzania; Rwiza, E., Lake Zone Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Ukiriguru, PO Box 1433, Mwanza, Tanzania; Amour, R., Lake Zone Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Ukiriguru, PO Box 1433, Mwanza, Tanzania; Ramadhani, B., Tanzania Home Economics Association, PO Box 11242, Mwanza, Tanzania; Kapande, A., Tanzania Home Economics Association, PO Box 11242, Mwanza, Tanzania; Westby, A., Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, United Kingdom | The purpose of this study was to evaluate the flavour profile and consumer acceptability of four sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) cultivars that differed in β-carotene content. Descriptive sensory profiles of the sweetpotato cultivars were determined using a sensory panel. Consumers in the Lake Zone of Tanzania comprised school children (n = 94) and mothers with preschool children (n = 59). Additionally, mothers gave acceptability scores for how they perceived their children's acceptance. Traditional pale-fleshed (PFSP) and high-β-carotene orange-fleshed (OFSP) sweetpotato cultivars showed distinct differences in sensory profile. Mean consumer responses indicated that OFSP were more acceptable than PFSP; mothers differed from school children by giving higher acceptance scores. Mothers did not score the perceived acceptability for their preschool children different from themselves. Segmentation appeared to suggest three distinct patterns of consumer acceptability among school children and mothers. The majority gave high acceptability scores to both OFSP and PFSP. Those in the smaller second group gave higher scores to OFSP than to PFSP, while those (particularly school children) in the third segment gave lower scores to the OFSP cultivar Karote DSM. There was evidence that school children and mothers viewed the sweetpotato cultivars differently with respect to fibrous texture. A preliminary storage trial where the sweetpotato cultivars were kept for 12 weeks in pit structures indicated that the acceptability and sensory profile of the cultivars did not differ with storage. © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry. | β-carotene; Consumer acceptability; Ipomea batatas; Sensory evaluation; Sweetpotato; Vitamin A | Ipomoea; Ipomoea batatas | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34249788992 | Study of sensory evaluation, consumer acceptability, affordability and market price of rice | Tomlins K., Manful J., Gayin J., Kudjawu B., Tamakloe I. | 2007 | Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture | 87 | 8 | 10.1002/jsfa.2889 | Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich at Medway, Chatham Maritime, Central Avenue, Kent ME4 4TB, United Kingdom; Food Research Institute, PO Box M20, Accra, Ghana | Tomlins, K., Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich at Medway, Chatham Maritime, Central Avenue, Kent ME4 4TB, United Kingdom; Manful, J., Food Research Institute, PO Box M20, Accra, Ghana; Gayin, J., Food Research Institute, PO Box M20, Accra, Ghana; Kudjawu, B., Food Research Institute, PO Box M20, Accra, Ghana; Tamakloe, I., Food Research Institute, PO Box M20, Accra, Ghana | The purpose of the study was to evaluate consumer acceptance, affordability and market value of a prototype parboiled rice (PPR) in relation to three local samples and a high-value imported one. While descriptive sensory evaluation and central location testing are used to evaluate consumer acceptability, this study suggests that affordability and market price of rice can also be assessed. The PPR was acceptable and the suggested market price was influenced by both affordability and acceptability. Acceptance scores suggested a potential higher price; consumers discounted the prototype rice and the extent depended on affordability. The concept of consumer acceptability and affordability varied widely among consumers and this was related to the market price, demographics and attitudes towards rice. Sensory attributes associated with quality were positively related with price but negatively with affordability. Acceptability was related to rice consumption and purchasing behaviour, whereas affordability was associated with income, gender and quality perception. Low affordability groups knew the least about the benefits of rice. The implications are discussed. © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry. | Consumer acceptability; Ghana; Market price; Oryza sativa; Parboiled; Rice; Sensory evaluation; West Africa | Oryza sativa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-5744226295 | Urban consumer preferences and sensory evaluation of locally produced and imported rice in West Africa | Tomlins K.I., Manful J.T., Larwer P., Hammond L. | 2005 | Food Quality and Preference | 16 | 1 | 10.1016/j.foodqual.2004.02.002 | Natural Resources Institute, The Univ. of Greenwich at Medway, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, United Kingdom; Food Research Institute, P.O. Box M20, Accra, Ghana | Tomlins, K.I., Natural Resources Institute, The Univ. of Greenwich at Medway, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, United Kingdom; Manful, J.T., Food Research Institute, P.O. Box M20, Accra, Ghana; Larwer, P., Food Research Institute, P.O. Box M20, Accra, Ghana; Hammond, L., Natural Resources Institute, The Univ. of Greenwich at Medway, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, United Kingdom | Parboiled rice produced in Ghana is of poor quality and is being overtaken by imported rice. This study sought to investigate consumer preference and relate sensory attributes with consumer acceptability of rice. The majority of consumers preferred imported raw and parboiled rice to that produced locally. Acceptability was influenced by location and gender. Individual preferences of consumers varied and four different segments of consumers with similar liking of the rice samples were identified. The largest three segments (86% of consumers) preferred the imported rice but differed in their preferences for the local rice. A niche segment (14%) mostly preferred traditional local rice. Regression models to predict consumer preference from the sensory panel scores were based on either brown colour of the cooked rice or unshelled paddy in the uncooked form. The models were suitable for three of the consumer segments representing 86% of the consumers. This suggests that while a sensory panel could be used to rapidly monitor consumer acceptability in product development, it was not valid for all consumers. The implications of these findings are discussed. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Africa; Consumer acceptability; Ghana; Rice; Sensory evaluation | adult; Africa; aged; article; color; controlled study; female; food intake; food processing; food quality; gender; geography; human; male; monitoring; prediction; regression analysis; rice; scoring system; sensory analysis; statistical model; taste preference; urban area | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77956045269 | Evaluation of aqueous extract of Felicia muricata leaves for anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, and antipyretic activities | Tom Ashafa A.O., Yakubu M.T., Grierson D.S., Afolayan A.J. | 2010 | Pharmaceutical Biology | 48 | 9 | 10.3109/13880200903373664 | Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa | Tom Ashafa, A.O., Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa; Yakubu, M.T., Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa; Grierson, D.S., Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa; Afolayan, A.J., Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa | Context: Felicia muricata Thunb. (Nees) (Asteraceae) leaves are used in folklore medicine of South Africa as an oral remedy for pain and inflammation. However, the efficacy of the plant part is yet to be validated with scientific experiments. Objective: The current study is an effort to investigate the anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, and antipyretic activities of aqueous extract of F. muricata leaves. Materials and methods: The phytochemical screening of aqueous extract of Felicia muricata leaves and the efficacy of the extract at the doses of 50, 100, and 200mg/kg body weight was investigated in experimental animals using several models of inflammation (paw edema induced by carrageenan and egg albumin), nociception (acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin-induced pain and tail immersion), and fever (brewer's yeast-induced hyperthermia). Results: The extract contained alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and phenolics. The extract dose-dependently reduced (P <0.05) the number of writhes and stretches induced by acetic acid, number of licks induced by formalin, paw volumes induced by carrageenan and egg albumin. The reaction time by the tail of the extract-treated animals to the hot water also increased. The extract also reduced hyperthermia induced by brewer's yeast. The highest dose (200mg/kg body weight of the extract) produced the best result in all cases. Discussion and conclusion: This study revealed that the aqueous extract of Felicia muricata leaves possessed anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and antipyretic activities. These findings have therefore supported the use of aqueous extract of Felicia muricata leaves in the traditional medicine of South Africa as an oral remedy for pains, inflammation, and fever. © 2010 Informa Healthcare USA, Inc. | Anti-inflammatory; Anti-nociception; Antipyretic; Asteraceae; Brewer's yeast; Felicia muricata | alkaloid; Felicia muricata extract; flavonoid; indometacin; morphine; phenol derivative; plant extract; saponin; tannin derivative; unclassified drug; water; animal experiment; antiinflammatory activity; antinociception; antipyretic activity; article; Asteraceae; chemical composition; controlled study; dose response; drug efficacy; drug response; Felicia muricata; fever; hyperthermia; inflammation; male; nonhuman; pain; paw edema; plant leaf; rat; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Antipyretics; Asteraceae; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Discovery; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Edema; Fever; Male; Medicine, African Traditional; Mice; Pain Measurement; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Time Factors; Animalia; Asteraceae; Felicia muricata; Saccharomyces cerevisiae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84873929926 | In vivo evaluation of a conjugated poly(lactide-ethylene glycol) nanoparticle depot formulation for prolonged insulin delivery in the diabetic rabbit model | Tomar L., Tyagi C., Kumar M., Kumar P., Singh H., Choonara Y.E., Pillay V. | 2013 | International Journal of Nanomedicine | 8 | None | 10.2147/IJN.S38011 | University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa; Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India; VSPG College, Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut, India | Tomar, L., University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India; Tyagi, C., University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, VSPG College, Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut, India; Kumar, M., Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India; Kumar, P., University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa; Singh, H., Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India; Choonara, Y.E., University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa; Pillay, V., University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa | Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and polylactic acid (PLA)-based copolymeric nanoparticles were synthesized and investigated as a carrier for prolonged delivery of insulin via the parenteral route. Insulin loading was simultaneously achieved with particle synthesis using a double emulsion solvent evaporation technique, and the effect of varied PEG chain lengths on particle size and insulin loading efficiency was determined. The synthesized copolymer and nanoparticles were analyzed by standard polymer characterization techniques of gel permeation chromatography, dynamic light scattering, nuclear magnetic resonance, and transmission electron microscopy. In vitro insulin release studies performed under simulated conditions provided a near zero-order release pattern up to 10 days. In vivo animal studies were undertaken with varied insulin loads of nanoparticles administered subcutaneously to fed diabetic rabbits and, of all doses administered, nanoparticles containing 50 IU of insulin load per kg body weight controlled the blood glucose level within the physiologically normal range of 90-140 mg/dL, and had a prolonged effect for more than 7 days. Histopathological evaluation of tissue samples from the site of injection showed no signs of inflammation or aggregation, and established the nontoxic nature of the prepared copolymeric nanoparticles. Further, the reaction profiles for PLA-COOH and NH2-PEGDA-NH2 were elucidated using molecular mechanics energy relationships in vacuum and in a solvated system by exploring the spatial disposition of various concentrations of polymers with respect to each other. Incorporation of insulin within the polymeric matrix was modeled using Connolly molecular surfaces. The computational results corroborated the experimental and analytical data. The ability to control blood glucose levels effectively coupled with the nontoxic behavior of the nanoparticles indicates that these nanoparticles are a potential candidate for insulin delivery. © 2013 Tomar et al, publisher and licensee Dove Medical Press Ltd. | Insulin; Molecular mechanics energy relationship; Nanoparticles; Parenteral delivery; Poly(lactide-ethylene glycol) diblock copolymer | insulin; macrogol; poly(lactic acid co ethylene glycol); polylactic acid; unclassified drug; animal experiment; animal model; animal tissue; article; conjugation; controlled drug release; controlled study; diabetes mellitus; drug dose comparison; drug release; gel permeation chromatography; glycemic control; in vitro study; in vivo study; light scattering; molecular mechanics; nanoencapsulation; nanopharmaceutics; nonhuman; particle size; proton nuclear magnetic resonance; surface property; transmission electron microscopy; insulin; molecular mechanics energy relationship; nanoparticles; parenteral delivery; poly(lactide-ethylene glycol) diblock copolymer; Animals; Blood Glucose; Chromatography, Gel; Computer Simulation; Delayed-Action Preparations; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; Hypoglycemic Agents; Insulin; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Male; Models, Molecular; Molecular Weight; Nanoparticles; Particle Size; Polyesters; Polyethylene Glycols; Rabbits; Skin; Thermodynamics | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84938775635 | The impact of inflation on financial sector performance: A case study of sub-saharan africa | Tolulope A.O., Oyeyinka O.L. | 2014 | Indian Journal of Finance | 8 | 1 | None | Economics Department, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Economics Department, Wesley University of Science and Technology, Ondo State, Nigeria | Tolulope, A.O., Economics Department, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Oyeyinka, O.L., Economics Department, Wesley University of Science and Technology, Ondo State, Nigeria | The study investigates the impact of inflation on financial sector performance in the sub-Saharan African region. To this end, dynamic panel data was employed, and the cross section covers 45 countries in the region between the period from 1980 - 2011. Three measures of financial sector performance (domestic credit to private sector, liquidity ratio, and market capitalization) were used for the study. Inflation was disaggregated to anticipated and unanticipated inflation, and the results show that both anticipated and unanticipated inflation have a negative effect on the financial sector performance, especially on the activities of the banking sector. The study, therefore, concludes that high inflation rate is inimical to financial sector performance, irrespective of the economy involved, and the government should employ necessary measures to control inflation as a way of improving the performance of the financial sector. | Anticipated inflation; Economic performance; Financial sector; Inflation; Unanticipated inflation | 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-s2.0-84880293862 | 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-s2.0-64149131946 | The potential for predicted climate shifts to impact genetic landscapes of lizards in the South African Cape Floristic Region | Tolley K.A., Makokha J.S., Houniet D.T., Swart B.L., Matthee C.A. | 2009 | Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution | 51 | 1 | 10.1016/j.ympev.2008.11.017 | Applied Biodiversity Research, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Claremont, 7735 Cape Town, South Africa; Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland, 7602, South Africa | Tolley, K.A., Applied Biodiversity Research, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Claremont, 7735 Cape Town, South Africa; Makokha, J.S., Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Houniet, D.T., Applied Biodiversity Research, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Claremont, 7735 Cape Town, South Africa; Swart, B.L., Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Matthee, C.A., Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland, 7602, South Africa | The Cape Floristic Region (CFR) is well-known for its floral diversity, yet also contains a rich herpetofauna with >180 species, 28% of which are endemic. Recent studies conducted on CFR lizards indicated that phylogeographic patterns show some congruency, and that the western CFR shows higher overall diversity in the form of population and/or clade turnover. Here, we combine mitochondrial sequence data from two published (Bradypodion spp. and Agama atra) and one new dataset (Pedioplanis burchelli) to investigate whether geographic patterns of genetic diversity could be influenced by predicted climatic changes. We utilised Bayesian methodology and spatial genetic landscapes to establish broad-scale patterns and show that the western CFR is a contact zone for several clades in all three taxa, supporting the hypothesis of phylogeographic congruence. Current levels of gene flow are virtually zero between the western and eastern CFR. In the east, gene flow between populations is negligible at present but was probably stronger in the past given the present lack of strong genetic structure. Bioclimatic modelling predicted that climatically suitable areas within the CFR will decline for Bradypodion spp. and P. burchelli, with areas high in clade turnover loosing more climatically suitable areas than areas with low clade turnover. The models also predict that loss of climatic suitability may result in highly fragmented and patchy distributions, resulting in a greater loss of connectivity. In contrast, A. atra does not show significant climatic suitability losses overall, although it may experience localised losses (and gains). This species is not predicted to loose suitability in areas of high clade turnover. Thus, the incorporation of genetic data into climatic models has extended our knowledge on the vulnerability of these species given the predicted threat of landscape change. © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. | Burchell's sand lizard; Climate change; Dwarf chameleon; Phylogeography; Southern rock agama | mitochondrial DNA; Africa; animal; article; biological model; classification; climate; DNA sequence; gene flow; genetic variability; genetics; geography; lizard; molecular evolution; phylogeny; population genetics; Africa, Southern; Animals; Climate; DNA, Mitochondrial; Evolution, Molecular; Gene Flow; Genetic Variation; Genetics, Population; Geography; Lizards; Models, Genetic; Phylogeny; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Agama; Agama atra; Bradypodion; Pedioplanis burchelli; Squamata | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33749415376 | Comparative performances of Holstein-Friesian cows under smallholder and large scale farmers' management in Central Rift Valley, Ethiopia | Tolla N., Vijchulata P., Chairatanayuth P., Swsdiphanich S. | 2006 | Kasetsart Journal - Natural Science | 40 | 1 | None | Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 35, Ziway, Ethiopia; Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; Departement of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand | Tolla, N., Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 35, Ziway, Ethiopia; Vijchulata, P., Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; Chairatanayuth, P., Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; Swsdiphanich, S., Departement of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand | A study was conducted in Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia to assess comparative productive and reproductive performances of graded Holstein Friesian cows under small and large scale farmers' management. A total of 28 animals from both small (14) and large scales farms (14) in different parity classes were used for data collection for a period of 28 weeks. Significant differences were observed in daily intakes of dry matter, crude protein and P (p<0.001) as well as metabolizable energy and Na (p<0.01) between the two farming scales. Daily milk yield and fat corrected (FC) milk yields were also significantly (p<0.001) different. The differences in the composition of milk and postpartum reproductive parameters measured were not statistically significant (p>0.05) between the farm scales. However, the longer days open (171) was observed for small scale farms than the large scale farms (148). Days from calving to the first sign of estrus (115d) and numbers of services per conception (2.1) were higher on large scale farms than on the small scale farms (96 and 1.6 respectively). Milk yield, milk composition and reproductive efficiencies did not significantly (p>0.05) differ between parity classes. Generally, the productive and reproductive performances of graded Holstein Friesian cows in this study were under their expected genetic potential, as compared to other parts of the tropics. This might be attributed mainly to poor nutritional qualities of the available feed resources, in terms of protein, energy and mineral balance which needed further investigation. | Dairy cows; Ethiopia; Farm scales; Parity; Productivity | Animalia; Bos taurus; Friesia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33749017033 | Milk yield and reproductive performances of lactating cows as affected by intakes of certain dietary macro minerals in Ethiopia | Tolla N., Vijchulata P. | 2006 | Livestock Research for Rural Development | 18 | 9 | None | Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 35, Ziway, Ethiopia; Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand | Tolla, N., Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 35, Ziway, Ethiopia; Vijchulata, P., Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand | This study was conducted to investigate the influences of dietary intakes of certain minerals on milk yield and reproductive performances of lactating cows fed on concentrate supplement with/without cottonseed cake and/or bole soil. Thirty-two pregnant Holstein Friesian cows with average body weight of 524±54 kg were blocked by their expected due date of calving as early (B1) and late (B2). Soon after calving animals were assigned in a randomized complete block design to one of the following four dietary treatments: concentrate alone (control) (C), 45% of the concentrate diet by weight substituted with cottonseed cake (C + CSC), concentrate plus 3% bole (lake soil) (C + Bole) and 45% of the concentrate substituted with cottonseed cake plus 3% bole (C + CSC + Bole) for 135 days of data collection. Statistically daily milk yield and FC milk yield were not ifferent among treatments. However, animals fed on the treatment diets of concentrate + CSC, concentrate + Bole and concentrate + CSC + Bole, produced 7.4, 16.3 and 18.2% respectively higher actual milk and 14.3, 24.2 and 25.7% respectively higher 4% fat corrected milk than the control group. Inclusion of bole soil alone as a mineral source or in combination with CSC supported higher daily actual and FC milk production than feeding concentrate diet with CSC alone. Days from calving to first estrus, days open and number of services per conception were not different among treatments. Nevertheless, Shorter intervals of days from calving to first estrus, days open and lowest number of services per conception were recorded for animals fed on concentrate diet with bole soil alone followed by those fed the control diet. Inclusion of 3% bole soil alone appeared to improve both milk yield and reproductive performances of dairy cattle. | Bole soil; Cottonseed cake; Cows; Ethiopia; Milk yield; Minerals; Reproduction | Animalia; Bos taurus; Friesia; Micropus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84883134477 | Fuel cell-battery hybrid powered light electric vehicle (golf cart): Influence of fuel cell on the driving performance | Tolj I., Lototskyy M.V., Davids M.W., Pasupathi S., Swart G., Pollet B.G. | 2013 | International Journal of Hydrogen Energy | 38 | 25 | 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.06.072 | Faculty of Natural Sciences, South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa | Tolj, I., Faculty of Natural Sciences, South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa; Lototskyy, M.V., Faculty of Natural Sciences, South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa; Davids, M.W., Faculty of Natural Sciences, South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa; Pasupathi, S., Faculty of Natural Sciences, South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa; Swart, G., Faculty of Natural Sciences, South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa; Pollet, B.G., Faculty of Natural Sciences, South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa | A light electric vehicle (golf cart, 5 kW nominal motor power) was integrated with a commercial 1.2 kW PEM fuel cell system, and fuelled by compressed hydrogen (two composite cylinders, 6.8 L/300 bar each). Comparative driving tests in the battery and hybrid (battery + fuel cell) powering modes were performed. The introduction of the fuel cell was shown to result in extending the driving range by 63-110%, when the amount of the stored H 2 fuel varied within 55-100% of the maximum capacity. The operation in the hybrid mode resulted in more stable driving performances, as well as in the increase of the total energy both withdrawn by the vehicle and returned to the vehicle battery during the driving. Statistical analysis of the power patterns taken during the driving in the battery and hybrid-powering modes showed that the latter provided stable operation in a wider power range, including higher frequency and higher average values of the peak power. Copyright © 2013, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. | Driving performance; Hybrid electric vehicle; Light electric vehicle; Proton exchange membrane fuel cell | Composite cylinders; Compressed hydrogens; Driving performance; Higher frequencies; Light electric vehicles; PEM fuel cell system; Stable operation; Vehicle battery; Automobile drivers; Hybrid vehicles; Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC); SportS; Electric vehicles | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84907077910 | Elucidating the role of different mulching materials on the growth performance of hot pepper (Capsicum annum) | Tolasa M., Eshetu B., Tulu S. | 2014 | International Journal of Agricultural Research | 9 | 6 | 10.3923/ijar.2014.284.293 | Department of Horticulture and Plant Sciences, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia | Tolasa, M., Department of Horticulture and Plant Sciences, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia; Eshetu, B., Department of Horticulture and Plant Sciences, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia; Tulu, S., Department of Horticulture and Plant Sciences, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia | Hot pepper (Capsicum annum L.) is one of the commercially cultivated crops in most part of the world. It can be consumed both in the green states as well as matured. It is important crop in Ethiopia and high value cash crop, the production of which is generally confined to areas were water is often limiting. However, the yield of the crop in the dry season is limited attributing to the soil moisture stress in spite of the maximum sun light intensities. Therefore, the present experiment was conducted in 2014 cropping season at JUCAVM research site under irrigation to determine the effect of different types of mulches on the germination and growth performance of local hot pepper. The experiment had four treatments: Dry banana leaves, dry Vetivar-grass, plastic and bare plot laid out using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) each replicated three times. Data was collected on seedling emergency and growth performance of hot pepper. The results indicated that using different mulches did not show any significant difference on germination and growth performance of hot pepper. This result gives us two conclusion lines: the first line is telling us that using any type of mulching material do not have unique implication on the growth performance of hot pepper. The other one is telling us that it might be because of uncontrolled environmental factors like heavy rain, snow in our experimental site. Likewise, the time for data collection also was early. However, the plastic mulches showed higher mean value in plant height, seedling emergency and number of plant. From this study, it is clear that even though the different mulching materials have no statistically significant differences on the growth performance of hot pepper still the plastic mulch showed better performance on seedling emergency, plant height and number of branch per plant under JUCAVM research site condition. © 2014 Academic Journals Inc. | Ethiopia; Hot pepper; JUCAVM; Mulching; Seeding emergency | Capsicum annuum; Capsicum frutescens | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84928783696 | Mapping impacts of crude oil theft and illegal refineries on mangrove of the niger delta of Nigeria with remote sensing technology | Toju Francis B. | 2015 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 6 | 3 | 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n3p150 | Department of Geography and Regional Planning, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria | Toju Francis, B., Department of Geography and Regional Planning, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria | Niger Delta is the oil rich region of Nigeria where extensive mangrove form one of the most important ecosystems of coastal and marine areas. It is a fragile ecosystem rich in biodiversity. The mangrove is exposed to the activities of crude oil bunkering and illegal refinery. This study aims at mapping the impacts of the crude oil theft and illegal refineries on the creeks and mangroves of the Niger Delta.Worldview-2 2013 satellite image was processed using supervised classification methods and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Oil on the waterways covering estimated area of 9.2 km2 and stressed mangrove vegetation covering estimated area of 37.6 km2 were detected. Result of NDVI shows positive correlation with photosynthetic activities as areas with stressed vegetation around the illegal refineries had low vegetation index of-0.39 while areas with healthier vegetation had higher index of 0.55. Since illegal refineries and crude oil theft is rampant in the region, the paper recommends a regional study of the state of the mangrove in the Niger Delta. © 2015, Mediterranean Center of Social and Educational Research. All rights reserved. | Bunkering; Environmental sensitivity index; Mangrove recovery; Remediation; Sabotage | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84866378189 | Constructive feedback as a learning tool to enhance students' self-regulation and performance in higher education | Toit E.D. | 2012 | Perspectives in Education | 30 | 2 | None | University of the Free State, South Africa | Toit, E.D., University of the Free State, South Africa | If feedback is provided in a way that can develop students' self-regulatory skills, it could enhance learning and, consequently, lead to improved performance. To improve teaching and learning in higher education (HE), this study sought to determine whether the feedback to first-year students affords them an opportunity to learn from it. A theoretical framework on constructive feedback, self-regulated learning and the expectations of students was synthesised from literature which formed the basis of the research. This was followed by empirical research using a questionnaire to capture students' perspectives regarding feedback. Students experienced the feedback as not contributing towards improving their performance but are convinced that, if they receive feedback that is focused on the task level, it can improve their performance. Suggestions are provided that emphasise the need to use feedback at both task and process level as a learning tool. | Constructive feedback; Self-assessment; Self-regulated learning; Task-related feedback | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-64849087786 | Effect of replacing maize with a mixture of rumen content and blood meal on the performances of growing rabbits: initial study with mash feed | Togun V.A., Farinu G.O., Ojebiyi O.O., Awotunde A.I. | 2009 | World Rabbit Science | 17 | 1 | None | Department of Animal Production and Health, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P.M.B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria | Togun, V.A., Department of Animal Production and Health, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P.M.B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria; Farinu, G.O., Department of Animal Production and Health, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P.M.B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria; Ojebiyi, O.O., Department of Animal Production and Health, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P.M.B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria; Awotunde, A.I., Department of Animal Production and Health, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P.M.B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria | A total of 24 cross-bred male weaner rabbits, between 6-8 weeks of age, were fed diets which included a mixture (50:50) of rumen content (RC) and blood meal (BM), containing a crude protein content of 37.6% and crude fibre content of 9.0%, at 0 (control), 10 and 20% levels. The mixture replaced maize and maize bran in the control diet. The 3 experimental diets were restricted to 100 g daily in mash form for a period of 8 weeks to the individually housed rabbits. The inclusion of RC+BM mixture in diet 1 at 10% (RB1O) significantly (P<0.05) worsed final live weight, daily feed intake, daily weight gain and feed: gain ratio, while its inclusion at 20% (RB2O) only reduced daily feed intake. Weight gain in controls, RB 10 and RB 20 was 483, 273 and 422 g, respectively. Kidney, spleen and lungs, but not the liver, were observed to be significantly (P<0.05) affected by the dietary treatment. Carcass yield followed a similar response pattern as final live weight, since it was a product of the final live weight. However, left thigh muscle components were not affected by the dietary treatments. This preliminary study indicated that more research is necessary to reduce the negative effect on feed intake when RC-BM mixture (50:50 ratio) is included in growing rabbit diets, which was probably due to the presentation form applied. © WRSA, UPV, 2003. | Blood meal; Growing rabbits; Performance; rumen content | Oryctolagus cuniculus; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84892550387 | The impact of age and gender diversity on oganisational commitment | Toga R., Qwabe N.P., Mjoli T.Q. | 2014 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 5 | 1 | 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n1p657 | Department of Industrial Psychology, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice, 5700, South Africa | Toga, R., Department of Industrial Psychology, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice, 5700, South Africa; Qwabe, N.P., Department of Industrial Psychology, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice, 5700, South Africa; Mjoli, T.Q., Department of Industrial Psychology, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice, 5700, South Africa | Establishing the relationship between managers and employees' age and gender differences and the level of commitment could be of benefit to the organisations in the sense that these demographic differences can be used as predictors of employees' organisational commitment. The main purpose of the study was specifically to examine the two relational demographic differences (age and gender differences) between manager and employee and the role they play on employees' organisational commitment. A raosoft sample size calculator was used to calculate the recommended sample size; therefore an interval or systematic random sample of 100 lower level employees. A self designed biographical and occupational data questionnaire, and to measure Organisational Commitment, Meyer and Allen (1997) which consists of 18 - item Likert-type rating scale was used. Data analysis was done by means of descriptive statistics, analysis of variance and the t-test. The results indicated a significant differences in the unexpected directions in affective commitment and continuance commitment between male employees supervised by male managers and male employees supervised by female managers; male employees were found to have higher levels of affective and continuance commitment when supervised by female managers. Female employees were found to have a higher level of normative commitment when supervised by male managers than when supervised by female managers which was also in the unexpected direction. Managers should be encouraged to apply the principles of workforce diversity in personnel selection and continue to provide diversity training in the workplace so as to dispel any vestiges of resistance to diversity which may have accounted for the partial support for the similarity/attraction paradigm that was demonstrated by the results. This study provides insights and information on age and gender differences as components of diversity which play an important role in the quality of manager-employee relationship in an organisation. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84892493473 | The impact of organisational commitment and demographic variables on organisational citizenship behaviour | Toga R., Khayundi D.A., Mjoli T.Q. | 2014 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 5 | 2 | 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n2p643 | Department of Industrial Psychology, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice, 5700, South Africa | Toga, R., Department of Industrial Psychology, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice, 5700, South Africa; Khayundi, D.A., Department of Industrial Psychology, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice, 5700, South Africa; Mjoli, T.Q., Department of Industrial Psychology, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice, 5700, South Africa | Organisational citizenship is regarded as one of the most important factor that enhances organisational effectiveness. The main purpose of this study was to explore the impact of organisational commitment on organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB). Demographic factors, such as, age and gender effects on organisational citizenship behaviour of University employees were also examined. The study employed a quantitative research design. A stratified random sample of 68 academic and non academic staff participated in this study. A self administered questionnaire was used for data collection. The questionnaire consisted of three subsections: a self-designed biographical data questionnaire. To measure organisational commitment, Meyer and Allen's (1997) 12-item five-point Likert-type rating scale was used. To measure organisational citizenship behaviour, Podsakoff, Mackenzie, Moorman and Fetter (1990) 27-item five-point Likert-type rating scale was used. Data analysis was done by means of descriptive statistics, Pearson Product Moment Correlation and t-test. The results indicated the view that organisational commitment impacts positively in enhancing the organisational citizenship behaviour of the employees. The findings also revealed that age and gender play no role in the practice of employees' organisational citizenship behaviour. The practical implications of this study; in order to succeed on its mission managed should increase the levels of organisational citizenship behaviour in their employees by consistently recognizing employees who engage themselves in such behaviour. | Age; Gender; Organisational citizenship behaviour; Organisational commitment | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-70349484131 | Evaluation of potential probiotic properties of Enterococcus mundtii, its survival in boza and in situ bacteriocin production | Todorov S.D., von Mollendorff J.W., Moelich E., Muller N., Witthuhn R.C., Dicks L.M.T. | 2009 | Food Technology and Biotechnology | 47 | 2 | None | Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, ZA-7600 Stellenbosch, South Africa; Department of Food Science, Stellenbosch University, ZA-7600 Stellenbosch, South Africa | Todorov, S.D., Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, ZA-7600 Stellenbosch, South Africa; von Mollendorff, J.W., Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, ZA-7600 Stellenbosch, South Africa; Moelich, E., Department of Food Science, Stellenbosch University, ZA-7600 Stellenbosch, South Africa; Muller, N., Department of Food Science, Stellenbosch University, ZA-7600 Stellenbosch, South Africa; Witthuhn, R.C., Department of Food Science, Stellenbosch University, ZA-7600 Stellenbosch, South Africa; Dicks, L.M.T., Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, ZA-7600 Stellenbosch, South Africa | Boza is a low-pH and low-alcohol cereal-based beverage produced in the Balkan Peninsula. Barley was cooked and prepared according to a traditional recipe and inoculated with Enterococcus mundtii ST4V (a potential probiotic and bacteriocin-producing strain), commercially produced boza, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and a combination of strain E. mundtii ST4V and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Fermentation was carried out at 37 oC for 3 h. The organoleptic properties of fermented products were evaluated by a qualified taste panel. No significant differences in rheological properties were observed, suggesting that E. mundtii ST4V had no effect on the quality of the final product. Microbial cell numbers remained relatively unchanged during one week of storage. The preservative properties of bacteriocin ST4V were evaluated by contaminating boza with Lactobacillus sakei DSM 20017. Changes in microbial populations were monitored by using classical microbiological methods, PCR with species-specific primers and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Adsorption of bacteriocin ST4V to target cells is pH-dependent, with the highest adsorption (88 %) recorded at pH=8.0 and pH=10.0. Maximum adsorption of bacteriocin ST4V (75 %) to Enterococcus faecalis and Listeria innocua was recorded at 25 to 37 oC. Growth of E. mundtii ST4V was inhibited only by a few antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medicaments, suggesting that the strain may be used as a probiotic by individuals receiving medical treatment. | Bacteriocin ST4V; Boza; Enterococcus mundtii; Probiotic | Bacteriocins; Boza; Denaturing gradient gel electrophoreses (DGGE); Enterococcus mundtii; Microbiological methods; Organoleptic properties; Probiotics; Species-specific primers; Adsorption; Electrophoresis; Yeast; Enterococcus; Enterococcus faecalis; Enterococcus mundtii; Hordeum; Lactobacillus sakei; Listeria innocua; Saccharomyces cerevisiae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34548755466 | Evaluation of information indices as indicators of environmental stress in terrestrial soils | Tobor-Kapłon M.A., Holtkamp R., Scharler U.M., Doroszuk A., Kuenen F.J.A., Bloem J., de Ruiter P.C. | 2007 | Ecological Modelling | 208 | 1 | 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2007.04.022 | Department of Innovation and Environmental Sciences, Copernicus Research Institute for Sustainable Development and Innovation, Utrecht University, Netherlands; Department of Soil Sciences, Alterra Wageningen University, Research Centre, Wageningen, Netherlands; School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College Campus, George Campbell Bldg., 4041 Durban, South Africa; Department of Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management (AEW), Wageningen University, Research Centre, Ritzema Bosweg 32 -A, 6703 AZ Wageningen, Netherlands; Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University, Netherlands; Institute of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Netherlands | Tobor-Kapłon, M.A., Department of Innovation and Environmental Sciences, Copernicus Research Institute for Sustainable Development and Innovation, Utrecht University, Netherlands, Department of Soil Sciences, Alterra Wageningen University, Research Centre, Wageningen, Netherlands; Holtkamp, R., Department of Innovation and Environmental Sciences, Copernicus Research Institute for Sustainable Development and Innovation, Utrecht University, Netherlands; Scharler, U.M., School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College Campus, George Campbell Bldg., 4041 Durban, South Africa, Department of Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management (AEW), Wageningen University, Research Centre, Ritzema Bosweg 32 -A, 6703 AZ Wageningen, Netherlands; Doroszuk, A., Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University, Netherlands; Kuenen, F.J.A., Institute of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Netherlands; Bloem, J., Department of Soil Sciences, Alterra Wageningen University, Research Centre, Wageningen, Netherlands; de Ruiter, P.C., Department of Innovation and Environmental Sciences, Copernicus Research Institute for Sustainable Development and Innovation, Utrecht University, Netherlands | Information indices from Ecosystem Network Analysis (ENA) can be used to quantify the development of an ecosystem in terms of its size and organization. There are two types of indices, i.e. absolute indices that describe both the size and organization of ecosystem (Total System Throughput (TST)-system size, Ascendancy (A)-size of organized flows and Development Capacity (C)-upper limit for A, Overhead (L)-size of unorganized flows) and relative indices that describe only the organization (Average Mutual Information (AMI = A:TST), Flow Diversity (H = C:TST), Relative Overhead (RL = L:TST)). It is theorized that environmental stress impair the ecosystem development and that the effect of stress can be quantified with the ENA information indices. Here we applied ENA on a case of environmental stress in a terrestrial ecosystem, i.e. soils that have endured long-term exposure to elevated copper concentration and altered pH. The absolute indices showed an unexpected pattern of response to pollution, suggesting that ecosystems in polluted soils are more active and better organized than these in unpolluted soils. The relative indices, alternatively, responded to pollution as predicted by theory, i.e. with decrease of stress (pollution level) the level of specialization increased (increase of AMI) and losses of energy, e.g. due to respiration, decreased (decrease of Overhead). The diversity and evenness of flows showed hump-backed relationship with stress. Less polluted soils appeared to be less vulnerable to external disturbances and more efficient in processing energy (higher Relative Ascendancy (RA = A:C)) than polluted soils. The relative information indices were rigid to changes in values of assumed parameters. The relative indices, opposite to absolute indices, appeared to be useful as indicators of environmental stress on the ecosystem level. © 2007. | Ascendancy; Average Mutual Information; Development Capacity; Ecosystem Network Analysis; Flow Diversity; Information indices; Soil; Stress | Ecosystems; Environmental engineering; pH effects; Soil pollution; Stress analysis; Systems analysis; Ascendancy; Average Mutual Information; Development Capacity; Ecosystem Network Analysis; Flow Diversity; Information indices; Soil mechanics; concentration (composition); copper; environmental stress; pH; soil pollution; terrestrial environment | 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-s2.0-84925493730 | Microstructural and Mechanical Evaluation of Laser-Assisted Cold Sprayed Bio-ceramic Coatings: Potential Use for Biomedical Applications | Tlotleng M., Akinlabi E., Shukla M., Pityana S. | 2014 | Journal of Thermal Spray Technology | 24 | 3 | 10.1007/s11666-014-0199-6 | Laser Material Processing, National Laser Center CSIR, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Mechanical Engineering Science, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, Kingsway Campus, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Mechanical Engineering, MNNIT, Allahabad, UP, India; Department of Mechanical Engineering Technology, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein Campus, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa | Tlotleng, M., Laser Material Processing, National Laser Center CSIR, Pretoria, South Africa, Department of Mechanical Engineering Science, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, Kingsway Campus, Johannesburg, South Africa; Akinlabi, E., Department of Mechanical Engineering Science, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, Kingsway Campus, Johannesburg, South Africa; Shukla, M., Department of Mechanical Engineering, MNNIT, Allahabad, UP, India, Department of Mechanical Engineering Technology, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein Campus, Johannesburg, South Africa; Pityana, S., Laser Material Processing, National Laser Center CSIR, Pretoria, South Africa, Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa | Bio-composite coatings of 20 wt.%, HAP and 80 wt.%, HAP were synthesized on Ti-6Al-4V substrates using LACS technique. The coatings were produced with a laser power of 2.5 kW, powder-laser spot trailing by 5 s. The coatings were analyzed for the microstructures, microhardness, composition, and bio-corrosion using SEM-EDS, XRD, hardness tester, and Metrohm PGSTAT101 machine. SEM images indicated least pores and crack-free coating with dark-spots of Ti-HAP for the 20 wt.%, HAP as opposed to the 80 wt.%, HAP coating which was solid, porous and finely cracked and had semi-melted Ti-HAP particles. The EDS mappings showed high content of HAP for the 80 wt.%, HAP coating. The diffraction patterns were similar, even though the Ti-HAP peak was broader in the 80 wt.%, HAP coating and the HAP intensities were lower for this coating except for the (004) peak. The hardness values taken at the interface inferred that the 80 wt.%, HAP coating was least bonded. It was possible to conclude that when this phase material increased the hardness dropped considerably. The bio-corrosion tests indicated that the presence of HAP in coating leads to a kinetically active coating as opposed to pure titanium coating. © 2014, ASM International. | composite; hydroxyapatite; laser power; laser-assisted cold spray; titanium | Ceramic coatings; Composite coatings; Composite materials; Corrosion; Cracks; Hardness; Hydroxyapatite; Medical applications; Powder coatings; Sprayed coatings; Titanium; Active coatings; Biomedical applications; Crack-free coatings; Laser power; Laser-assisted cold sprays; Mechanical evaluation; Micro-structural; Phase materials; Aluminum coatings | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84905019402 | Using clickers to facilitate interactive engagement activities in a lecture room for improved performance by students | Tlhoaele M., Hofman A., Naidoo A., Winnips K. | 2014 | Innovations in Education and Teaching International | 51 | 5 | 10.1080/14703297.2013.796725 | Teaching and Learning with Technology, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa; Teacher Education, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands; Curriculum Development and Support, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa | Tlhoaele, M., Teaching and Learning with Technology, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa; Hofman, A., Teacher Education, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands; Naidoo, A., Curriculum Development and Support, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa; Winnips, K., Teacher Education, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands | What impact can interactive engagement (IE) activities using clickers have on students' motivation and academic performance during lectures as compared to attending traditional types of lectures? This article positions the research on IE within the comprehensive model of educational effectiveness and Gagné's instructional events model. For the study on which this article is based, an IE model was designed and explored within a pilot group. This model identified situations that make the model effective in terms of improving students' motivation and academic performance. Personal response systems (PRS, also referred to as 'clickers') were used to promote interaction. A pre-test/post-test control group design was used. Data were collected through a questionnaire and class tests. The results indicated the significance of IE activities amongst students in this research. © 2013 Taylor & Francis. | class discussion; group discussion; individual effort; interactive engagement; personal response system | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84919846414 | The impact of interactive engagement methods on students' academic achievement | Tlhoaele M., Hofman A., Winnips K., Beetsma Y. | 2014 | Higher Education Research and Development | 33 | 5 | 10.1080/07294360.2014.890571 | Teaching and Learning with Technology, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa; Centre for Learning and Teaching, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands | Tlhoaele, M., Teaching and Learning with Technology, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa; Hofman, A., Centre for Learning and Teaching, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands; Winnips, K., Centre for Learning and Teaching, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands; Beetsma, Y., Centre for Learning and Teaching, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands | Interactive engagement (IE) is a process that promotes students' conceptual understanding through activities, combined with immediate feedback from peers and/or instructors. The present study investigates the impact of IE on students' academic performance, using the comprehensive model of educational effectiveness. Engineering students (n = 158), randomly divided into three groups (self-assessment, collaborative learning, and control) provided the study data on questionnaires as well as with their test scores. Analyses of covariance reveal significant differences across groups, along with significant interaction effects. These findings have notable implications for improving students' academic achievement. © 2014, © 2014 HERDSA. | academic performance; collaborative learning; interactive engagement; self-assessment | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84940825986 | Efficient purification of rhG-CSF and its PEGylated forms and evaluation for in vitro activities | Tiwari D., Haque S., Jawed A., Mishra M.K., Govender T., Kruger H.G. | 2015 | Protein and Peptide Letters | 22 | 10 | None | Catalysis and Peptide Research Unit, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Rajeev Gandhi International Biotech Park, Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd, Hinjwadi, Pune, India; Department of Biosciences, Jamia Millia Islamia (A Central University), New Delhi, India; Research and Scientific Studies Unit, College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia | Tiwari, D., Catalysis and Peptide Research Unit, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa, Rajeev Gandhi International Biotech Park, Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd, Hinjwadi, Pune, India; Haque, S., Department of Biosciences, Jamia Millia Islamia (A Central University), New Delhi, India, Research and Scientific Studies Unit, College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia; Jawed, A., Research and Scientific Studies Unit, College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia; Mishra, M.K., Rajeev Gandhi International Biotech Park, Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd, Hinjwadi, Pune, India; Govender, T., Catalysis and Peptide Research Unit, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Kruger, H.G., Catalysis and Peptide Research Unit, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa | Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) has commonly been used to help the patients to recover from neutropenia inflicted due to radiotherapy, organ transplants and chemotherapy. As the number of people undergoing these therapies and procedures are increasing world-wide, the need for more economical ways of G-CSF production and improvement in its efficacy has become increasingly crucial. In the present study, recombinant human G-CSF (rhG-CSF) was expressed in E. coli and its purification process was optimized by demonstrating better efficiency and higher recoveries (upto 54%) in a multi-step chromatographic purification process, which is greater than the existing reports. Additionally, the efficacy of rhG-CSF was increased by derivatizing with polyethylene glycol (PEG; upto 85% PEGylation), which increases the plasma clearance time, reduces the immunogenicity and requires less frequent administration to the patient. Overall, the present study suggests a cost-effective purification process of rhG-CSF and also proposes its efficient conjugation with PEG for enhanced efficacy as compared to the existing commercially available forms. © 2015 Bentham Science Publishers. | Chromatography; Neutropenia; Pegylation; Purification; Rhg-csf | macrogol; recombinant granulocyte colony stimulating factor; granulocyte colony stimulating factor; macrogol derivative; polyethylene glycol 1000; recombinant protein; Article; cost effectiveness analysis; drug conjugation; drug efficacy; drug formulation; drug purification; drug screening; Escherichia coli; immunogenicity; in vitro study; ion exchange chromatography; nonhuman; plasma clearance; process optimization; protein expression; biosynthesis; chemistry; human; isolation and purification; metabolism; Escherichia coli; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; Humans; Polyethylene Glycols; Recombinant Proteins | 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-s2.0-84880200012 | Characterisation of alkaline tailings from a lead/zinc mine in South Africa and evaluation of their revegetation potential using five indigenous grass species | Titshall L.W., Hughes J.C., Bester H.C. | 2013 | South African Journal of Plant and Soil | 30 | 2 | 10.1080/02571862.2013.807361 | School of Agriculture, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, Scottsville 3209, South Africa; Institute for Commercial Forestry Research, PO Box 100281, Pietermaritzburg, Scottsville 3209, South Africa | Titshall, L.W., School of Agriculture, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, Scottsville 3209, South Africa, Institute for Commercial Forestry Research, PO Box 100281, Pietermaritzburg, Scottsville 3209, South Africa; Hughes, J.C., School of Agriculture, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, Scottsville 3209, South Africa; Bester, H.C., School of Agriculture, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, Scottsville 3209, South Africa | Tailings from a lead/zinc (Pb/Zn) mine were characterised and their revegetation potential investigated under glasshouse conditions using five grass species with three rates of inorganic fertiliser. The tailings were alkaline with low nutrient concentrations but high total and extractable Zn. The yield of all grass species increased with an increase in fertiliser rate. The yield of Cenchrus ciliaris at the full fertiliser application rate was significantly higher than the other species tested, followed by Digitaria eriantha. Cymbopogon plurinodis was the third-highest-yielding species, whereas yields of Eragrostis superba and Fingeruthia africana were similar. Concentrations of Zn in the foliage tended to be over the reported grass foliage ranges, whereas Pb concentrations were within typical norms. It is recommended that C. ciliaris, D. eriantha and E. superba be used for initial revegetation, with other species used to improve biodiversity after initial cover has been established. © 2013 Copyright Combined Congress Continuing Committee. | carbonate-rich; dolomitic tailings; indigenous; low cost; phytorestoration | biodiversity; carbonate; concentration (composition); cost-benefit analysis; fertilizer application; foliage; grass; habitat restoration; lead; native species; phytoremediation; restoration ecology; revegetation; tailings; zinc; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84954399107 | Comprehensive Community Initiative: Evaluation of a transformation system in Mhakwe community in Zimbabwe | Tirivanhu P., Matondi P.B., Groenewald I. | 2015 | Development Southern Africa | 32 | 6 | 10.1080/0376835X.2015.1063983 | Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, Rural Development and Extension, University of Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Ruzivo Trust, 28 Greendale Drive, Harare, Zimbabwe | Tirivanhu, P., Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, Rural Development and Extension, University of Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Matondi, P.B., Ruzivo Trust, 28 Greendale Drive, Harare, Zimbabwe; Groenewald, I., Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, Rural Development and Extension, University of Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa | This article explores community perceptions on implementation and impacts of the Mhakwe Comprehensive Community Initiative (CCI) in Mhakwe Ward, Zimbabwe. A mixed-methods research methodology was adopted. Qualitative data were collected from action research, focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Quantitative data were collected using a structured questionnaire from a random cluster sample, and were analysed using SPSS and Stata with binomial logistic regression to determine factors significantly affecting selected variables and the chi-square test for independence to determine association between variables. Thematic reviews were utilised to analyse qualitative data. Community perceptions on issues affecting multi-stakeholder collaborations, ownership, and control, internal and external enabling factors were explored. The article concludes that leadership development, strengthening family institutions, enhancing ownership and building capacity of local institutions to coordinate such initiatives are fundamental building blocks for CCIs. This article recommends CCIs as a practical framework for empowering marginalised communities. © 2015 Government Technical Advisory Centre (GTAC). | Comprehensive Community Initiative; Mhakwe; Mixed-methods research; Perceptions; Zimbabwe | capacity building; community development; empowerment; local participation; perception; research method; stakeholder; Zimbabwe | 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-s2.0-84899117323 | 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-s2.0-84958049125 | The impact of harvest frequency on herbage yield and quality of cynodon nlemfuensis | Timpong-Jones E.C., Adjorlolo L.K., Ayizanga R.A. | 2015 | West African Journal of Applied Ecology | 23 | 2 | None | Livestock and Poultry Research Centre, School of Agriculture, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana; Department of Animal Science, School of Agriculture, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana | Timpong-Jones, E.C., Livestock and Poultry Research Centre, School of Agriculture, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana; Adjorlolo, L.K., Livestock and Poultry Research Centre, School of Agriculture, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana; Ayizanga, R.A., Department of Animal Science, School of Agriculture, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana | Ruminants in Ghana experience feed deficit in the dry season leading to loss of weight and condition. To curb this problem of weight loss, there is the need to raise their plain of nutrition in the critical months of the year when feed is low in quantity and quality. This can be achieved by maximising forage production through appropriate harvest management practices. This study sought to find the effect of repeated harvest on dry matter (DM) yield of Cynodon nlemfuensis (Cynodon) in the coastal savanna of Ghana. It was hypothesised that infrequent repeated harvest will improve DM yield and nutritive value of Cynodon. An area of 7.0 m by 5.5 m was used for a two year study (2013 and 2014). The treatments were harvest of Cynodon at 24 (T1), 12 (T2) and 6 (T3) weeks intervals. The Randomised Complete Block Design was used with four replicates per treatment. Dry matter yield and plant cell wall constituents viz. NDF, ADF and Cellulose contents decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in the order T3<T2<T1, indicating that DM yield and plant cell wall constituents decreased with increasing harvest frequency. Crude protein content (CP) decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in the order T1<T2<T3, indicating that CP content increased with increasing harvest frequency. The study has shown that repeated harvest of Cynodon provided lower DM yield of better quality, with harvest at six weeks interval exceeding the minimum CP level required for adequate intake and digestibility by ruminant livestock. © 2015, Ecological Laboratory. All rights reserved. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79957694123 | Impact of weather conditions on migraine headache in north-eastern Nigeria | Timothy S.Y., Kwanashie H.O., Nyandaiti Y.W., Watila M., Mava Y., Sadiq G.U., Maspalma D.I., Bwala A.Y., Abdussalam B. | 2011 | International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences | 3 | SUPPL. 3 | None | Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria; Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria; Department of Med | Timothy, S.Y., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria; Kwanashie, H.O., Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria; Nyandaiti, Y.W., Department of Medicine, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri, Nigeria; Watila, M., Department of Medicine, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri, Nigeria; Mava, Y., Department of Paediatrics, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri, Nigeria; Sadiq, G.U., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria; Maspalma, D.I., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria; Bwala, A.Y., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria; Abdussalam, B., Department of Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria | Migraine is a markedly disabling condition and exerts a significant burden on the sufferer in terms of pain, suffering and impaired quality of life. This study aimed to assess the impact of weather changes in migraine attack. One hundred consecutive adult migraineurs that attended the Neurology Clinic of the Department of Medicine, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital from May, 2008 to December, 2009 and met the inclusion criteria were evaluated using structured questionnaire. Eighty four percent (84%) and 16% of the studied migraineurs usually found dry period (November - May) and wet period (June - October) unfavourable respectively. Fourty six gets their migraine triggered during the warmest months (February - May), whereas the remaining 38 mostly experienced migraine attack during harmattan (November - January) dry period. Wet weather period (high humidity plus high or low temperature) was found to triggered migraine attack in 16% of the studied migraine patients. There was statistical significant difference in migraine head pain due to wet and dry period (p<0.05). Therefore, Weather changes especially during harmattan and heat period was found to triggered migraine attack significantly higher than during rainy season (p<0.05). The higher humidity and harmattan winds normally experienced during dry period may be responsible for an increase in positive ions or gases in the air triggering migraine head pain. | Impact; Migraine; Weather conditions | adolescent; adult; aged; article; child; controlled study; female; gas; hospital; human; humidity; major clinical study; male; migraine; Nigeria; pain; school child; statistical significance; structured questionnaire; weather; wind | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33947331379 | Field evaluation of a novel pyrrolizidine alkaloid attracticide for the management of Zonocerus variegatus on cabbage | Timbilla J.A., Lawson B.W., Yeboah-Gyan K. | 2007 | Journal of Applied Sciences | 7 | 4 | None | Crops Research Institute, P.O. Box 3785, Kumasi, Ghana; Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana | Timbilla, J.A., Crops Research Institute, P.O. Box 3785, Kumasi, Ghana; Lawson, B.W., Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Yeboah-Gyan, K., Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana | Cabbage, Brassica oleraceae var. capitata is an important vegetable grown and consumed in Ghana. Apart from infestations of the lepidopterous Plutella xylostella and Hellula undalis resulting from continuous cultivation, a new pest Zonocerus variegatus has been reported to causing damage to the crop. The efficacy of a novel pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) based novel PA-attracticide developed from treating the roots of the neophyte, Chromolaena odorata which contains PAs with Carbofuran 3G for the management of Z. variegatus was tested using cabbage as a test crop in field caged plots. Field caged plots of cabbage artificially infested with Z. variegatus were treated with and without PA-attracticide in addition to a control treatment of caged cabbage plot with no insect and PA-attracticide. The experimental design was a RCB replicated three times in two ecological zones. The results showed that the establishment, leaf and head damage of cabbage was statistically the same in the PA-treated plots and the control treatment. These treatments, however, performed significantly better than the treatment without PA-attracticide. The results obtained holds promise for mitigating the menace of the grasshopper on cabbage using PA based attracticides. © 2007 Asian Network for Scientific Information. | Brassica oleracea; Chromolaena odorata; Hellula undalis; Plutella xylostella; Pyrrolizidine alkaloids; Zonocerus variegatus | Brassica oleracea; Chromolaena odorata; Hellula undalis; Plutella xylostella; Pyrrolizidine alkaloid; Zonocerus variegatus; Alkaloids; Crops; Nitrogen compounds; Metabolites | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84875965348 | Distinguishing the impact of postponement, spacing and stopping on birth intervals: Evidence from a model with heterogeneous fecundity | TimÆus I.M., Moultrie T.A. | 2013 | Journal of Biosocial Science | 45 | 3 | 10.1017/S0021932012000648 | Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom; Centre for Actuarial Research, University of Cape Town, South Africa | TimÆus, I.M., Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom; Moultrie, T.A., Centre for Actuarial Research, University of Cape Town, South Africa | This paper investigates the impact on birth intervals of three distinct birth control strategies: stopping childbearing, spacing births and the postponement of further childbearing for reasons unrelated to women's family-building histories. A macro-simulation model of the family-building process is described that incorporates heterogeneity in fecundability. This model is used to demonstrate that the postponement of further childbearing has a distinctive impact on schedules of duration-specific fertility rates that differs from that of both family-size limitation and birth spacing. In particular, the simulation results, supplemented by an analytical exposition, show that reductions in fertility due to spacing are a function of interval duration and its log, while reductions due to postponement are a function of interval duration and its square. This provides a way to test statistically for the presence of, and distinguish between, differential postponement and spacing in regression analyses of birth history data. © 2012 Cambridge University Press. | None | age; contraception; family planning; family size; female; fertility; human; parity; pregnancy; statistical model; statistics and numerical data; article; contraception; family planning; statistics; Age Factors; Birth Intervals; Contraception; Family Characteristics; Female; Fertility; Humans; Models, Statistical; Parity; Pregnancy; Age Factors; Birth Intervals; Contraception; Family Characteristics; Female; Fertility; Humans; Models, Statistical; Parity; Pregnancy | 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-s2.0-84879818365 | 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-s2.0-84867365953 | Impacts of tsetse challenge on herd composition and mortality, lactation and reproductive performance of cattle in Dawuro Zone of Southern Region, Ethiopia | Tigicho T., Belihu K., Terefe G. | 2012 | Revue de Medecine Veterinaire | 163 | 42591 | None | Dawuro Zone Agricultural Department, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State, Ethiopia; National Livestock Consultant, FAO-Ethiopia-DRRU, Awash Field Office, P.O.Box: 5536, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Department of Pathology and Parasitology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Addis Ababa University, P.O.Box. 34, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia | Tigicho, T., Dawuro Zone Agricultural Department, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State, Ethiopia; Belihu, K., National Livestock Consultant, FAO-Ethiopia-DRRU, Awash Field Office, P.O.Box: 5536, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Terefe, G., Department of Pathology and Parasitology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Addis Ababa University, P.O.Box. 34, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia | The study was conducted in southern Ethiopia to compare herd composition, mortality, milk yield and reproductive performance of cattle in tsetse-challenged and tsetse-free areas. Questionnaire surveys were made with 156 households, and 30 pre-partum cows were selected for a follow-up study on milk yield and occurrence of the first postpartum heat. Accordingly, whereas the herd size was not significantly modified, the proportions of female calves and lactating or dry pregnant cows were significantly higher and those of dry non pregnant cows significantly lowered in the tsetse free areas than in the challenged ones. Cows in the tsetse affected areas exhibited significantly lower average milk yield and lactation length as well as significantly reduced reproductive performance (increases in the age at first calving, in the calving interval and in the number of services for conception). Additionally, the mortality rates for the whole herd and for each production type were dramatically increased in the tsetse challenged areas. It can be concluded that tsetse-challenge and associated trypanosomiasis seriously affect herd composition and performances of cattle in the Dawuro Zone. | Cattle; Herd composition; Milk yield; Mortality; Reproductive performance; Trypanosomiasis; Tsetse challenge | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84885291083 | Low vitamin D status is associated with reduced muscle mass and impaired physical performance in frail elderly people | Tieland M., Brouwer-Brolsma E.M., Nienaber-Rousseau C., Van Loon L.J.C., De Groot L.C.P.G.M. | 2013 | European Journal of Clinical Nutrition | 67 | 10 | 10.1038/ejcn.2013.144 | Top Institute Food and Nutrition, Wageningen, Netherlands; Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, PO Box 8129, Wageningen 6700EV, Netherlands; Centre of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Department of Human Movement Sciences, NUTRIM School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, Netherlands | Tieland, M., Top Institute Food and Nutrition, Wageningen, Netherlands, Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, PO Box 8129, Wageningen 6700EV, Netherlands; Brouwer-Brolsma, E.M., Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, PO Box 8129, Wageningen 6700EV, Netherlands; Nienaber-Rousseau, C., Centre of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Van Loon, L.J.C., Top Institute Food and Nutrition, Wageningen, Netherlands; De Groot, L.C.P.G.M., Top Institute Food and Nutrition, Wageningen, Netherlands, Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, PO Box 8129, Wageningen 6700EV, Netherlands, Department of Human Movement Sciences, NUTRIM School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, Netherlands | Background/Objectives:Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) status has been associated with muscle mass, strength and physical performance in healthy elderly people. Yet, in pre-frail and frail elderly people this association has not been studied. The objective of this study was to explore the association between vitamin D intake and serum 25(OH)D status with muscle mass, strength and physical performance in a pre-frail and frail elderly population.Subjects/ Methods:This cross-sectional study included 127 pre-frail and frail elderly people in The Netherlands. Whole body and appendicular lean mass (ALM) (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry), leg strength (one repetition maximum), handgrip strength and physical performance (short physical performance battery) were measured, and blood samples were collected for the assessment of serum 25(OH)D status (liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry). In addition, habitual dietary intake (3-day food records) and physical activity data (accelerometers) were collected.Results:In total, 53% of the participants had a serum 25(OH)D level below 50 nmol/l. After adjustment for confounding factors, 25(OH)D status was associated with ALM (β=0.012, P=0.05) and with physical performance (β=0.020, P<0.05). Vitamin D intake was associated with physical performance (β=0.18, P<0.05) but not with ALM (P>0.05).Conclusion:In this frail elderly population, 25(OH)D status is low and suggests a modest association with reduced ALM and impaired physical performance. In addition, vitamin D intake tended to be associated with impaired physical performance. Our findings highlight the need for well-designed intervention trials to assess the impact of vitamin D supplementation on 25(OH)D status, muscle mass and physical performance in pre-frail and frail elderly people. © 2013 Macmillan Publishers Limited. | aging; frailty; muscle function; sarcopenia; vitamin D | 25 hydroxyvitamin D; vitamin D; aged; article; blood sampling; cross-sectional study; disease association; dual energy X ray absorptiometry; female; frail elderly; geriatric assessment; grip strength; human; lean body weight; liquid chromatography; major clinical study; male; muscle mass; muscle strength; Netherlands; nutritional assessment; nutritional status; physical disease; physical performance; tandem mass spectrometry; vitamin blood level; vitamin D deficiency; vitamin intake; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Body Composition; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Frail Elderly; Humans; Male; Muscle Strength; Muscle, Skeletal; Netherlands; Physical Fitness; Sarcopenia; Vitamin D; Vitamin D Deficiency | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84928765425 | The impact of climate change on net revenue and food adequacy of subsistence farming households in South Africa | Tibesigwa B., Visser M., Turpie J. | 2014 | Environment and Development Economics | 20 | 3 | 10.1017/S1355770X14000540 | Environmental-Economics Policy Research Unit, School of Economics, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa; Environmental-Economics Policy Research Unit, School of Economics, University of Cape Town, South Africa | Tibesigwa, B., Environmental-Economics Policy Research Unit, School of Economics, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa; Visser, M., Environmental-Economics Policy Research Unit, School of Economics, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Turpie, J., Environmental-Economics Policy Research Unit, School of Economics, University of Cape Town, South Africa | This paper examines the impact of climate change on poor households across South Africa who practise subsistence farming to supplement their household income and dietary requirements. We consider three production systems: specialized crops, livestock and mixed crop-livestock farming. In general, we find specialized crop farmers to be the most vulnerable, while mixed crop-livestock farmers appear to be least vulnerable, suggesting that crop-livestock diversification is a potential coping strategy among poor subsistence farming households. We observe qualitatively similar results when we use self-reported food adequacy as the outcome. Furthermore, predicted impact shows that the climatic changes will be mildly harmful at first but will grow over time and lead to a 151 per cent loss in net revenue by the year 2080. Interestingly, we observe that crop farmers receive higher revenue when land is owned by the household, while on the other hand, livestock farmers earn more revenue when the land is communal. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84874768870 | Neopterin Is a Cerebrospinal Fluid Marker for Treatment Outcome Evaluation in Patients Affected by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense Sleeping Sickness | Tiberti N., Lejon V., Hainard A., Courtioux B., Robin X., Turck N., Kristensson K., Matovu E., Enyaru J.C., Mumba Ngoyi D., Krishna S., Bisser S., Ndungu J.M., Büscher P., Sanchez J.-C. | 2013 | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases | 7 | 2 | 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002088 | Translational Biomarker Group, Department of Human Protein Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium; Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), UMR1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Limoges, France; Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, School of Medicine, CNRS FR 3503 GEIST, University of Limoges, Limoges, France; Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Microbiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Parasitology, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale, Kinshasa, Congo; Centre for Infection, Division of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, St. George's, University of London, London, United Kingdom; Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), Geneva, Switzerland | Tiberti, N., Translational Biomarker Group, Department of Human Protein Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Lejon, V., Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium; Hainard, A., Translational Biomarker Group, Department of Human Protein Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Courtioux, B., Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), UMR1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Limoges, France, Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, School of Medicine, CNRS FR 3503 GEIST, University of Limoges, Limoges, France; Robin, X., Translational Biomarker Group, Department of Human Protein Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Turck, N., Translational Biomarker Group, Department of Human Protein Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Kristensson, K., Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Matovu, E., Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Microbiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Enyaru, J.C., Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Mumba Ngoyi, D., Department of Parasitology, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale, Kinshasa, Congo; Krishna, S., Centre for Infection, Division of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, St. George's, University of London, London, United Kingdom; Bisser, S., Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), UMR1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Limoges, France, Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, School of Medicine, CNRS FR 3503 GEIST, University of Limoges, Limoges, France; Ndungu, J.M., Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), Geneva, Switzerland; Büscher, P., Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium; Sanchez, J.-C., Translational Biomarker Group, Department of Human Protein Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland | Background: Post-therapeutic follow-up is essential to confirm cure and to detect early treatment failures in patients affected by sleeping sickness (HAT). Current methods, based on finding of parasites in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and counting of white blood cells (WBC) in CSF, are imperfect. New markers for treatment outcome evaluation are needed. We hypothesized that alternative CSF markers, able to diagnose the meningo-encephalitic stage of the disease, could also be useful for the evaluation of treatment outcome. Methodology/Principal findings: Cerebrospinal fluid from patients affected by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense HAT and followed for two years after treatment was investigated. The population comprised stage 2 (S2) patients either cured or experiencing treatment failure during the follow-up. IgM, neopterin, B2MG, MMP-9, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, CXCL10 and CXCL13 were first screened on a small number of HAT patients (n = 97). Neopterin and CXCL13 showed the highest accuracy in discriminating between S2 cured and S2 relapsed patients (AUC 99% and 94%, respectively). When verified on a larger cohort (n = 242), neopterin resulted to be the most efficient predictor of outcome. High levels of this molecule before treatment were already associated with an increased risk of treatment failure. At six months after treatment, neopterin discriminated between cured and relapsed S2 patients with 87% specificity and 92% sensitivity, showing a higher accuracy than white blood cell numbers. Conclusions/Significance: In the present study, neopterin was highlighted as a useful marker for the evaluation of the post-therapeutic outcome in patients suffering from sleeping sickness. Detectable levels of this marker in the CSF have the potential to shorten the follow-up for HAT patients to six months after the end of the treatment. © 2013 Tiberti et al. | None | beta 2 microglobulin; CXCL13 chemokine; gamma interferon inducible protein 10; gelatinase B; immunoglobulin M; intercellular adhesion molecule 1; neopterin; vascular cell adhesion molecule 1; adult; African trypanosomiasis; article; blood analysis; cerebrospinal fluid analysis; cohort analysis; diagnostic test accuracy study; ELISA kit; female; follow up; human; leukocyte count; major clinical study; male; receiver operating characteristic; relapse; risk factor; sensitivity and specificity; treatment failure; treatment outcome; Trypanosoma; Adult; Biological Markers; Drug Monitoring; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neopterin; Treatment Outcome; Trypanosoma brucei gambiense; Trypanosomiasis, African; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79960775021 | Impact of HealthWise South Africa on polydrug use and high-risk sexual behavior | Tibbits M.K., Smith E.A., Caldwell L.L., Flisher A.J. | 2011 | Health Education Research | 26 | 4 | 10.1093/her/cyr024 | Department of Health Promotion, Social and Behavioral Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6075, United States; Prevention Research Center, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States; Department of Recreation, Tourism Management, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States; Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7700, South Africa | Tibbits, M.K., Department of Health Promotion, Social and Behavioral Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6075, United States; Smith, E.A., Prevention Research Center, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States; Caldwell, L.L., Department of Recreation, Tourism Management, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States; Flisher, A.J., Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7700, South Africa | This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of the HealthWise South Africa HIV and substance abuse prevention program at impacting adolescents' polydrug use and sexual risk behaviors. HealthWise is a school-based intervention designed to promote social-emotional skills, increase knowledge and refusal skills relevant to substance use and sexual behaviors, and encourage healthy free time activities. Four intervention schools in one township near Cape Town, South Africa were matched to five comparison schools (N = 4040). The sample included equal numbers of male and female participants (Mean age = 14.0). Multiple regression was used to assess the impact of HealthWise on the outcomes of interest. Findings suggest that among virgins at baseline (beginning of eighth grade) who had sex by Wave 5 (beginning of 10th grade), HealthWise youth were less likely than comparison youth to engage in two or more risk behaviors at last sex. Additionally, HealthWise was effective at slowing the onset of frequent polydrug use among non-users at baseline and slowing the increase in this outcome among all participants. Program effects were not found for lifetime sexual activity, condomless sex refusal and past-month polydrug use. These findings suggest that HealthWise is a promising approach to HIV and substance abuse prevention. © The Author 2011. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. | None | addiction; adolescent; article; clinical trial; controlled clinical trial; controlled study; ethnology; female; health education; high risk behavior; human; male; organization and management; randomized controlled trial; sex difference; sexual behavior; South Africa; statistics; Adolescent; Female; Health Education; Humans; Male; Risk-Taking; Sex Factors; Sexual Behavior; South Africa; Substance-Related Disorders | 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-s2.0-84927511017 | Effect of various levels of raw Citrullus lanatus seed meal diets on growth performance of Cyprinus carpio fingerlings | Tiamiyu L.O., Ayuba V.O., Okomoda V.T., Umar S. | 2014 | Jordan Journal of Biological Sciences | 7 | 4 | None | Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria; Bauchi state Agricultural Development programme, Bauchi, Nigeria | Tiamiyu, L.O., Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria; Ayuba, V.O., Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria; Okomoda, V.T., Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria; Umar, S., Bauchi state Agricultural Development programme, Bauchi, Nigeria | The nutritional value of feeding Cyprinus carpio various levels of raw watermelon seed meal was evaluated in this study. Five diets of 35% crude protein were formulated with different levels of raw seed meal at 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% inclusion. Twenty fingerlings were randomly allocated in triplicate for each treatment in 70 liters plastic bowls, aeration was provided to culture bowls throughout the 12-week trial period. The results revealed that the inclusion level of 10% raw watermelon seed meal in the diet gave the best mean weight gain, feed conversion ratio, feed conversion efficiency, protein efficiency ratio, apparent net protein utilization, specific growth rate and survival rate. The growth performance decreased with increasing the inclusion level of raw seed meal beyond 10% (P<0.05). The inclusion level of 10% raw watermelon seed meal in the diet of common carp is found to be ideal for enhancing growth and better nutrient utilization. © 2014 Jordan Journal of Biological Sciences. | Common carp; Unconventional feed stuff; Watermelon seed | Citrullus lanatus; Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus; Cyprinus carpio | 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-s2.0-84872326699 | Where is my daddy? an exploration of the impact of absentee fathers on the lives of young people in Botswana | Thupayagale-Tshweneagae G., Mgutshini T., Nkosi Z.Z. | 2012 | Africa Development | 37 | 3 | None | Faculty of Human Sciences, University of South Africa, South Africa | Thupayagale-Tshweneagae, G., Faculty of Human Sciences, University of South Africa, South Africa; Mgutshini, T., Faculty of Human Sciences, University of South Africa, South Africa; Nkosi, Z.Z., Faculty of Human Sciences, University of South Africa, South Africa | A substantial body of research has consistently concluded that children growing up with absentee fathers are at an increased risk of maladjustment. This paper argues that co-parenting can have both direct and indirect or mediated effects on children. Co-parenting has an added benefit of modelling dyadic skills that include proving mutual emotional support, influence, and amicable resolution of disputes. Through qualitative data obtained in 2009 from 45 final year students at the University of Botswana, the authors conclude that African personhood is a larger-than-self conception, which also includes more than the physical being and shows that young people raised in father-absent families view their personhood as inferior, less guarded, and incomplete, relative to that of their counterparts who were born and raised in married-couple families. Living a full quality life eludes youth who were raised by mothers only, affirming the importance of fathers in the personhood of any individual. © Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa, 2012. | Absentee fathers; Co-parenting; Youth personhood | None | 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-s2.0-84895884743 | Parasite co-infections and their impact on survival of indigenous cattle | Thumbi S.M., Bronsvoort B.M.D.C., Poole E.J., Kiara H., Toye P.G., Mbole-Kariuki M.N., Conradie I., Jennings A., Handel I.G., Coetzer J.A.W., Steyl J.C.A., Hanotte O., Woolhouse M.E.J. | 2014 | PLoS ONE | 9 | 2 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0076324 | Centre for Immunology, Infection and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, United Kingdom; International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; School of Life Science, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, United Kingdom; Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa; Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa; Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States; KEMRI/CDC Research and Public Health Collaboration, Kisumu, Kenya | Thumbi, S.M., Centre for Immunology, Infection and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States, KEMRI/CDC Research and Public Health Collaboration, Kisumu, Kenya; Bronsvoort, B.M.D.C., Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, United Kingdom; Poole, E.J., International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Kiara, H., International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Toye, P.G., International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Mbole-Kariuki, M.N., International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Conradie, I., Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa; Jennings, A., Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, United Kingdom; Handel, I.G., Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, United Kingdom; Coetzer, J.A.W., Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa; Steyl, J.C.A., Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa; Hanotte, O., School of Life Science, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, United Kingdom; Woolhouse, M.E.J., Centre for Immunology, Infection and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom | In natural populations, individuals may be infected with multiple distinct pathogens at a time. These pathogens may act independently or interact with each other and the host through various mechanisms, with resultant varying outcomes on host health and survival. To study effects of pathogens and their interactions on host survival, we followed 548 zebu cattle during their first year of life, determining their infection and clinical status every 5 weeks. Using a combination of clinical signs observed before death, laboratory diagnostic test results, gross-lesions on post-mortem examination, histo-pathology results and survival analysis statistical techniques, cause-specific aetiology for each death case were determined, and effect of co-infections in observed mortality patterns. East Coast fever (ECF) caused by protozoan parasite Theileria parva and haemonchosis were the most important diseases associated with calf mortality, together accounting for over half (52%) of all deaths due to infectious diseases. Co-infection with Trypanosoma species increased the hazard for ECF death by 6 times (1.4-25; 95% CI). In addition, the hazard for ECF death was increased in the presence of Strongyle eggs, and this was burden dependent. An increase by 1000 Strongyle eggs per gram of faeces count was associated with a 1.5 times (1.4-1.6; 95% CI) increase in the hazard for ECF mortality. Deaths due to haemonchosis were burden dependent, with a 70% increase in hazard for death for every increase in strongyle eggs per gram count of 1000. These findings have important implications for disease control strategies, suggesting a need to consider co-infections in epidemiological studies as opposed to single-pathogen focus, and benefits of an integrated approach to helminths and East Coast fever disease control. © 2014 Thumbi et al. | None | article; autopsy; Bos indicus; cause of death; death; diagnostic test; disease association; disease control; East Coast fever; feces analysis; geographic distribution; haemonchosis; health hazard; health status; histopathology; host parasite interaction; laboratory test; mixed infection; mortality; nonhuman; parasitosis; risk factor; risk reduction; Strongyloidea; survival; Theileria parva; Trypanosoma; animal; Bovinae; Cattle Diseases; cohort analysis; Coinfection; epidemiology; Haemonchiasis; Kenya; longitudinal study; parasitology; proportional hazards model; Strongylida Infections; Theileriasis; trypanosomiasis; veterinary; Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Cohort Studies; Coinfection; Haemonchiasis; Kenya; Longitudinal Studies; Proportional Hazards Models; Strongylida Infections; Theileriasis; Trypanosomiasis | 079445, Wellcome Trust |
| 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 |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-38849199261 | Predicting global change impacts on plant species' distributions: Future challenges | Thuiller W., Albert C., Araújo M.B., Berry P.M., Cabeza M., Guisan A., Hickler T., Midgley G.F., Paterson J., Schurr F.M., Sykes M.T., Zimmermann N.E. | 2008 | Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics | 9 | 42433 | 10.1016/j.ppees.2007.09.004 | Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, UMR-CNRS 5553, Université Joseph Fourier, BP 53, 38041 Grenoble Cedex 9, France; Departmento de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, C/ Jose Gutierrez Abascal 2, Madrid, 28006, Spain; Environmental Change Institute, Oxford University Centre for the Environment, Dyson Perrins Building, South Parks Rd., Oxford, OX1 3QY, United Kingdom; Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, Finland; Laboratoire de Biologie de la Conservation, Département d'Ecologie et d'Evolution, Université de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystems Analysis, Lund University, Sölvegatan 12, 223 62 Lund, Sweden; Climate Change Research Group, Kirstenbosch Research Center, South African National Biodiversity Institute, P/Bag x7, Claremont 7735 Cape Town, South Africa; Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation, University of Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 2, D-14469 Potsdam, Germany; Land-use Dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland | Thuiller, W., Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, UMR-CNRS 5553, Université Joseph Fourier, BP 53, 38041 Grenoble Cedex 9, France; Albert, C., Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, UMR-CNRS 5553, Université Joseph Fourier, BP 53, 38041 Grenoble Cedex 9, France; Araújo, M.B., Departmento de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, C/ Jose Gutierrez Abascal 2, Madrid, 28006, Spain; Berry, P.M., Environmental Change Institute, Oxford University Centre for the Environment, Dyson Perrins Building, South Parks Rd., Oxford, OX1 3QY, United Kingdom; Cabeza, M., Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, Finland; Guisan, A., Laboratoire de Biologie de la Conservation, Département d'Ecologie et d'Evolution, Université de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; Hickler, T., Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystems Analysis, Lund University, Sölvegatan 12, 223 62 Lund, Sweden; Midgley, G.F., Climate Change Research Group, Kirstenbosch Research Center, South African National Biodiversity Institute, P/Bag x7, Claremont 7735 Cape Town, South Africa; Paterson, J., Environmental Change Institute, Oxford University Centre for the Environment, Dyson Perrins Building, South Parks Rd., Oxford, OX1 3QY, United Kingdom; Schurr, F.M., Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation, University of Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 2, D-14469 Potsdam, Germany; Sykes, M.T., Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystems Analysis, Lund University, Sölvegatan 12, 223 62 Lund, Sweden; Zimmermann, N.E., Land-use Dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland | Given the rate of projected environmental change for the 21st century, urgent adaptation and mitigation measures are required to slow down the on-going erosion of biodiversity. Even though increasing evidence shows that recent human-induced environmental changes have already triggered species' range shifts, changes in phenology and species' extinctions, accurate projections of species' responses to future environmental changes are more difficult to ascertain. This is problematic, since there is a growing awareness of the need to adopt proactive conservation planning measures using forecasts of species' responses to future environmental changes. There is a substantial body of literature describing and assessing the impacts of various scenarios of climate and land-use change on species' distributions. Model predictions include a wide range of assumptions and limitations that are widely acknowledged but compromise their use for developing reliable adaptation and mitigation strategies for biodiversity. Indeed, amongst the most used models, few, if any, explicitly deal with migration processes, the dynamics of population at the "trailing edge" of shifting populations, species' interactions and the interaction between the effects of climate and land-use. In this review, we propose two main avenues to progress the understanding and prediction of the different processes occurring on the leading and trailing edge of the species' distribution in response to any global change phenomena. Deliberately focusing on plant species, we first explore the different ways to incorporate species' migration in the existing modelling approaches, given data and knowledge limitations and the dual effects of climate and land-use factors. Secondly, we explore the mechanisms and processes happening at the trailing edge of a shifting species' distribution and how to implement them into a modelling approach. We finally conclude this review with clear guidelines on how such modelling improvements will benefit conservation strategies in a changing world. © 2007 Rübel Foundation, ETH Zürich. | Conservation planning; Global change; Habitat models; Process-based models; Species distribution modeling | anthropogenic effect; biodiversity; bioerosion; conservation planning; ecological modeling; environmental change; extinction; global change; land use; migration; phenology | 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-s2.0-84936950843 | Limits on Pluto's ring system from the June 12 2006 stellar occultation and implications for the New Horizons impact hazard | Throop H.B., French R.G., Shoemaker K., Olkin C.B., Ruhland T.R., Young L.A. | 2015 | Icarus | 246 | None | 10.1016/j.icarus.2014.05.020 | Planetary Science Institute, 1700 E Fort Lowell Rd. #106, Tucson, AZ, United States; Physics Department, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa; Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA, United States; Shoemaker Labs, 2225 Hwy A1A, #311, Indian Harbour BeachFL, United States; Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, CO, United States | Throop, H.B., Planetary Science Institute, 1700 E Fort Lowell Rd. #106, Tucson, AZ, United States, Physics Department, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa; French, R.G., Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA, United States; Shoemaker, K., Shoemaker Labs, 2225 Hwy A1A, #311, Indian Harbour BeachFL, United States; Olkin, C.B., Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, CO, United States; Ruhland, T.R., Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, CO, United States; Young, L.A., Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, CO, United States | The Pluto system passed in front of a 15th magnitude star on 12 June 2006. We observed this occultation from the 3.9m Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT), and took photometric observations every 100ms for 3h. Our three-hour baseline of data provides among the longest and highest-quality occultation dataset of the Pluto system ever taken. Results on Pluto's atmospheric structure from these data have been previously reported (Young, E.F. [2008]. Astron. J. 136, 1757-1769). Here we report on limits for rings, ring arcs, and small satellites within the system. We find a 3σ upper limit on the normal optical depth of τ<0.07 for narrow rings of width 2.4km, and τ<5×10-3 for rings of width 1500km. We also detect no discrete objects of radius 220m or larger along the occultation path. Motivated by the upcoming flyby of New Horizons through the Pluto system, we estimate the dust impact hazard to the spacecraft based on our optical depth limits and those derived from imaging with the Hubble Space Telescope. © 2014 Elsevier Inc. | Occultations; Planetary rings; Pluto | None | None |
| None | None | Clinical and Epidemiological Features of Typhoid Fever in Pemba, Zanzibar: Assessment of the Performance of the WHO Case Definitions | Thriemer K., Ley B.B., Ame S.S., Deen J.L., de Pak G., Chang N.Y., Hashim R., Schmied W.H., Busch C.J.-L., Nixon S., Morrissey A., Puri M.K., Ochiai R.L., Wierzba T., Clemens J.D., Ali M., Jiddawi M.S., von Seidlein L., Ali S.M. | 2012 | PLoS ONE | 7 | 12 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0051823 | International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, South Korea; Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium; University of Vienna, Biocenter, Vienna, Austria; Public Health Laboratory (Pemba), Ivo de Carneri, Chake Chake, Tanzania; Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Zanzibar, Tanzania; Menzies School of Health Research, Casuarina, NT, Australia; Duke University, KCMC Collaboration, Moshi, Tanzania | Thriemer, K., International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, South Korea, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium; Ley, B.B., International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, South Korea, University of Vienna, Biocenter, Vienna, Austria; Ame, S.S., Public Health Laboratory (Pemba), Ivo de Carneri, Chake Chake, Tanzania, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Zanzibar, Tanzania; Deen, J.L., International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, South Korea, Menzies School of Health Research, Casuarina, NT, Australia; de Pak, G., International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, South Korea; Chang, N.Y., International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, South Korea; Hashim, R., International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, South Korea; Schmied, W.H., International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, South Korea; Busch, C.J.-L., International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, South Korea; Nixon, S., Duke University, KCMC Collaboration, Moshi, Tanzania; Morrissey, A., Duke University, KCMC Collaboration, Moshi, Tanzania; Puri, M.K., International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, South Korea; Ochiai, R.L., International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, South Korea; Wierzba, T., International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, South Korea; Clemens, J.D., International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, South Korea; Ali, M., International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, South Korea; Jiddawi, M.S., Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Zanzibar, Tanzania; von Seidlein, L., Menzies School of Health Research, Casuarina, NT, Australia; Ali, S.M., Public Health Laboratory (Pemba), Ivo de Carneri, Chake Chake, Tanzania, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Zanzibar, Tanzania | Background: The gold standard for diagnosis of typhoid fever is blood culture (BC). Because blood culture is often not available in impoverished settings it would be helpful to have alternative diagnostic approaches. We therefore investigated the usefulness of clinical signs, WHO case definition and Widal test for the diagnosis of typhoid fever. Methodology/Principal Findings: Participants with a body temperature ≥37.5°C or a history of fever were enrolled over 17 to 22 months in three hospitals on Pemba Island, Tanzania. Clinical signs and symptoms of participants upon presentation as well as blood and serum for BC and Widal testing were collected. Clinical signs and symptoms of typhoid fever cases were compared to other cases of invasive bacterial diseases and BC negative participants. The relationship of typhoid fever cases with rainfall, temperature, and religious festivals was explored. The performance of the WHO case definitions for suspected and probable typhoid fever and a local cut off titre for the Widal test was assessed. 79 of 2209 participants had invasive bacterial disease. 46 isolates were identified as typhoid fever. Apart from a longer duration of fever prior to admission clinical signs and symptoms were not significantly different among patients with typhoid fever than from other febrile patients. We did not detect any significant seasonal patterns nor correlation with rainfall or festivals. The sensitivity and specificity of the WHO case definition for suspected and probable typhoid fever were 82.6% and 41.3% and 36.3 and 99.7% respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of the Widal test was 47.8% and 99.4 both forfor O-agglutinin and H- agglutinin at a cut-off titre of 1:80. Conclusions/Significance: Typhoid fever prevalence rates on Pemba are high and its clinical signs and symptoms are non-specific. The sensitivity of the Widal test is low and the WHO case definition performed better than the Widal test. © 2012 Thriemer et al. | None | agglutinin; antigen; h antigen; O antigen; rain; unclassified drug; adolescent; adult; area under the curve; article; blood culture; clinical feature; controlled study; diagnostic accuracy; diagnostic test; diagnostic test accuracy study; disease association; disease duration; false negative result; female; fever; human; major clinical study; male; medical history; predictive value; prevalence; prospective study; receiver operating characteristic; religion; Salmonella typhi; seasonal variation; sensitivity and specificity; symptomatology; Tanzania; temperature; typhoid fever; WHO case definition; widal reaction; Adolescent; Adult; Agglutination Tests; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Hospitals; Humans; Indian Ocean Islands; Infant; Male; Middle Aged; Probability; Salmonella typhi; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tanzania; Typhoid Fever; World Health Organization; Young Adult; Bacteria (microorganisms) | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34250777275 | Ex ante impact assessment and seasonal climate forecasts: Status and issues | Thornton P.K. | 2006 | Climate Research | 33 | 1 | None | International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), PO Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya | Thornton, P.K., International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), PO Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya | The field of ex ante impact assessment has been receiving increasing attention in recent years, due in part to the rapidly changing nature of funding for agricultural research and the shifts that have occurred in what is expected of the international agricultural research community. Ex ante studies are often carried out to provide information to assist in the allocation of scarce research resources to activities that are efficient in some way, or that best match donors' development objectives. In practice, impact assessment is often contentious and usually difficult. Despite this, a wide range of tools has been developed for ex ante impact assessment, and these are used routinely in many different areas. Here, various ex ante impact assessment methods are outlined that may be used to provide aggregated information at the scale of the region or society. Also discussed is how technological and policy changes associated with seasonal climate forecasts in developing countries can be assessed through a combination of these methods. Recent developments in quantitative modelling, and the availability of high-resolution regional and global data sets, could in the future contribute significantly to the identification of niches where seasonal climate forecasts could help vulnerable people cope with variability, with concomitant impacts on the alleviation of poverty. © Inter-Research 2006. | Climate forecast; Evaluation; Ex ante; Impact assessment; Innovation; Risk; Targeting | Agriculture; Environmental impact; Innovation; Risk assessment; Weather forecasting; climate prediction; data set; developing world; innovation; quantitative analysis; targeting; technological change | 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-s2.0-34247149911 | The CHRNE 470del20 mutation causing congenital myasthenic syndrome in South African Brahman cattle: Prevalence, origin, and association with performance traits | Thompson P.N., Van Der Werf J.H.J., Heesterbeek J.A.P., Van Arendonk J.A.M. | 2007 | Journal of Animal Science | 85 | 3 | 10.2527/jas.2006-379 | Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; School of Rural Science and Agriculture, University of New England, Armidale, Australia; Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Netherlands; Animal Breeding and Genetics Group, Wageningen University, Netherlands | Thompson, P.N., Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Van Der Werf, J.H.J., School of Rural Science and Agriculture, University of New England, Armidale, Australia; Heesterbeek, J.A.P., Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Netherlands; Van Arendonk, J.A.M., Animal Breeding and Genetics Group, Wageningen University, Netherlands | Genotyping of the South African, registered, Brahman cattle population for the 470del20 mutation in the CHRNE gene causing congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS) was carried out in 1,453 animals. Overall prevalence of carriers was 0.97% (0.50 to 1.68%, 95% confidence interval). Carrier prevalence among breeding bulls in 2004 was 1.22% (0.65 to 2.15%, 95% confidence interval), and had not changed significantly since 2000. Using segregation analysis, CMS genotype probabilities were calculated for all 612,219 animals in the pedigree, leading to the identification of 2 founder animals as the most likely original carriers. Pedigree analysis revealed no ancestors common to all known carriers, but rather that the mutation had been introduced at least twice into the South African Brahman population, probably via animals imported from the United States. The effects of CMS genotype probability on adjusted birth, 200-d, 400-d, and 600-d BW, as well as on EBV for birth, 200-d, 400-d, and 600-d BW, and milk, were estimated, accounting for effects of sire. Heterozygosity for the CHRNE 470del20 mutation was associated with a 13.3-kg increase in adjusted 600-d BW (P = 0.03). Positive effects of CMS carrier status on all BW EBV were found, but no effect was found on milk EBV. We conclude that CMS carriers have a BW advantage at 600 d and possibly also at birth, 200 d, and 400 d. This may confer a selective advantage and tend to increase the frequency of the mutation. © 2007 American Society of Animal Science. All rights reserved. | Brahman cattle; Congenital myasthenic syndrome; Genotyping; Heterozygote; Pedigree analysis | Animalia; Bos; Human herpesvirus 4; animal; animal disease; article; cattle; cattle disease; congenital myasthenic syndrome; female; genetics; genotype; heterozygote; male; mutation; prevalence; South Africa; Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Female; Genotype; Heterozygote; Male; Mutation; Myasthenic Syndromes, Congenital; Prevalence; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-62549135657 | Mapping grazing-induced degradation in a semi-arid environment: A rapid and cost effective approach for assessment and monitoring | Thompson M., Vlok J., Rouget M., Hoffman M.T., Balmford A., Cowling R.M. | 2009 | Environmental Management | 43 | 4 | 10.1007/s00267-008-9228-x | GeoTerraImage, P.O. Box 295, Persequor TechnoPark, Pretoria 0020, South Africa; Department of Botany, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa; Biodiversity Center, South African National Botanical Institute, Brumeria, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom; Leslie Hill Institute for Plant Conservation, Department of Botany, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa | Thompson, M., GeoTerraImage, P.O. Box 295, Persequor TechnoPark, Pretoria 0020, South Africa; Vlok, J., Department of Botany, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa; Rouget, M., Biodiversity Center, South African National Botanical Institute, Brumeria, Pretoria 0001, South Africa, Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom; Hoffman, M.T., Leslie Hill Institute for Plant Conservation, Department of Botany, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Balmford, A., Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom; Cowling, R.M., Department of Botany, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa | Improved techniques for measuring and monitoring the state of biodiversity are required for reporting on national obligations to international and regional conservation institutions. Measuring the extent of grazing-related degradation in semi-arid ecosystems has proved difficult. Here we present an accurate and cost-effective method for doing this, and apply it in a South African semi-arid region that forms part of a globally significant biodiversity hotspot. We grouped structurally and functionally similar vegetation units, which were expert-mapped at the 1:50,000 scale, into four habitat types, and developed habitat-specific degradation models. We quantified degradation into three categories, using differences between dry and wet season values of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for the three succulent karoo habitats, and the difference between maximum and mean NDVI values for the subtropical thicket habitat. Field evaluation revealed an accuracy of 86%. Overall, degradation was high: 24% of the study area was modeled as severely degraded, and only 9% as intact. Levels of degradation were highest for bottomland habitats that were most exposed to grazing impacts. In sharp contrast to our methods, a widely used, broad-scale and snapshot assessment of land cover in South Africa was only 33% accurate, and it considerably underestimated the extent of severely degraded habitat in the study area. While our approach requires a multidisciplinary team, and in particular expert knowledge on the characteristics and spatial delimitation of vegetation types, it is repeatable, rapid, and relatively inexpensive. Consequently, it holds great promise for monitoring and evaluation programs in semi-arid ecosystems, in Africa, and beyond. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. | Land cover; Land degradation; Monitoring; Remote-sensing; Semi-arid ecosystems; South Africa | Cost-effective approaches; Cost-effective methods; Degradation models; Dry and wets; Evaluation programs; Expert knowledge; Field evaluations; Habitat types; Hot spots; Induced degradations; Land cover; Land degradation; Multi-disciplinary teams; Normalized difference vegetation indices; Semi-arid ecosystems; Semi-arid environments; Semi-arid regions; Sharp contrasts; South Africa; Spatial delimitations; Study areas; Vegetation types; Arid regions; Biodiversity; Cost effectiveness; Degradation; Landforms; Monitoring; Ocean habitats; Remote sensing; Vegetation; Ecosystems; biodiversity; cost-benefit analysis; environmental degradation; environmental impact assessment; environmental monitoring; grazing; mapping method; NDVI; remote sensing; semiarid region; vegetation type; Animal Husbandry; Animals; Animals, Domestic; Conservation of Natural Resources; Ecosystem; Environmental Monitoring; Geography; South Africa; Africa; Karoo; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84859029145 | Impact of climate change on children's health in Limpopo province, South Africa | Thompson A.A., Matamale L., Kharidza S.D. | 2012 | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health | 9 | 3 | 10.3390/ijerph9030831 | Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou, 0950, Limpopo, South Africa | Thompson, A.A., Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou, 0950, Limpopo, South Africa; Matamale, L., Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou, 0950, Limpopo, South Africa; Kharidza, S.D., Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou, 0950, Limpopo, South Africa | This paper examines the impact of climate change on children's health, in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Twenty one years climatic data were collected to analyse climatic conditions in the province. The study also employs 12 years hospital records of clinically diagnosed climate-related ailments among children under 13 years to examine the incidence, spatio-temporal, age and sex variations of the diseases. Regression analysis was employed to examine the relationships between climatic parameters and incidence of diseases and also to predict distribution of disease by 2050. The results show that the most prevalent diseases were diarrhea (42.4%), followed by respiratory infection (31.3%), asthma (6.6%) and malaria (6.5%). The incidence varied within city, with the high density areas recording the highest proportion (76.7%), followed by the medium (9.4%) and low (2.5%) density residential areas. The most tropical location, Mussina, had the highest incidence of the most prevalent disease, diarrhea, with 59.4%. Mortality rate was higher for males (54.2%). Analysis of 21 years of climatic data show that maximum temperature is positively correlated with years in four cities with r coefficients of 0.50; 0.56, 0.48 and 0.02, thereby indicating local warming. Similarly rainfall decreased over time in all the cities, with r ranging from-0.02 for Bela Bela to r = 0.18 for Makhado. Results of the regression analysis show that 37.9% of disease incidence is accounted for by the combined influence of temperature and rainfall. © 2012 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. | Children's health; Climate change; Limpopo province; South Africa | rain; asthma; child health; climate change; climate effect; diarrheal disease; malaria; mortality risk; population decline; regression analysis; spatiotemporal analysis; age; article; asthma; child; child health; climate change; dengue; diarrhea; environmental impact; female; human; malaria; male; measles; medical record; meningitis; morbidity; mortality; neoplasm; preschool child; prevalence; regression analysis; respiratory tract infection; school child; sex difference; South Africa; temperature; typhoid fever; yellow fever; Adolescent; Asthma; Child; Child, Preschool; Climate Change; Diarrhea; Female; Humans; Incidence; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Malaria; Male; Meningitis; Prevalence; Rain; Respiratory Tract Infections; South Africa; Temperature; Limpopo; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80052234722 | Evaluation of potato hash silage from two bacterial inoculants and their effects on the growth performance of grower pigs | Thomas R., Nkosi B.D., Umesiobi D.O., Meeske R., Kanengoni A.T., Langa T. | 2010 | South African Journal of Animal Sciences | 40 | 5SUPPL.1 | None | ARC: Animal Production Institute, P/Bag X2, Irene, 0062, South Africa; Department of Agriculture, School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Central University of Technology, Free State Private Bag X 20539, Bloemfontein, 9300, Free State, South Africa; Outeniqua Research Farm, P.O. Box 249, George, 6530, South Africa | Thomas, R., Department of Agriculture, School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Central University of Technology, Free State Private Bag X 20539, Bloemfontein, 9300, Free State, South Africa; Nkosi, B.D., ARC: Animal Production Institute, P/Bag X2, Irene, 0062, South Africa; Umesiobi, D.O., Department of Agriculture, School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Central University of Technology, Free State Private Bag X 20539, Bloemfontein, 9300, Free State, South Africa; Meeske, R., Outeniqua Research Farm, P.O. Box 249, George, 6530, South Africa; Kanengoni, A.T., ARC: Animal Production Institute, P/Bag X2, Irene, 0062, South Africa; Langa, T., ARC: Animal Production Institute, P/Bag X2, Irene, 0062, South Africa | Potato hash was mixed with wheat bran at 7:3 ratio, treated with homofermentative LAB inoculant (BMF, bonsilage forte), heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria (LAB) (LFLB, Lalsil Fresh LB) and without LAB inoculant and ensiled in 210 L drums for 90 days. After 90 days of ensiling, concentrates that contained 40% potato hash silage (PHS) were formulated and the treatment groups were control (no silage), untreated PHS, BMF treated PHS and LFLB treated PHS. The diets were fed to 64 growing pigs (60 days old and 30.4 ± 2.3 kg body mass). The pigs were allocated in a complete randomized block design with four treatments, and each treatment consisted of eight boars and eight sows. Pigs were fed ad libitum, feed intake was measured daily while body masses were recorded at the start and weekly throughout the experimental period. The dry matter intake (DMI) was higher in the control diet (1062 g/kg) than in the untreated PHS diets (933 g/kg), BMF treated PHS (873 g/kg) and LFLB treated PHS (919 g/kg) diets, respectively. Pigs in the control group had higher final body weight (60.77 kg), average daily gain (ADG) (551 g/d) and better feed conversion rate (FCR) (4.92 g/g) at the end of the trial compared to those in other treatment groups. It can be concluded that potato hash silage produced with or without LAB inoculants had the same effect on the growth performance of growing pigs. However, further work is needed to evaluate the effects of higher dietary inclusion levels (>40 %) of ensiled potato hash on pig growth and reproductive performance. © South African Society for Animal Science. | Grower pigs; Growth performance; LAB inoculation; Potato hash | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929516788 | Solving the challenges of monitoring mobile populations: insights from studies of waterbirds in southern Africa | Thomas H.L., Hockey P.A.R., Cumming G.S. | 2015 | Ostrich | 86 | 42371 | 10.2989/00306525.2015.1005720 | Percy FitzPatrick Institute, DST–NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom | Thomas, H.L., Percy FitzPatrick Institute, DST–NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Hockey, P.A.R., Percy FitzPatrick Institute, DST–NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Cumming, G.S., Percy FitzPatrick Institute, DST–NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Highly mobile species are difficult to monitor. It is often unclear from abundance estimates whether a population is genuinely declining or simply elsewhere. If the spatial and temporal scales of monitoring are inadequate, the data will only be useful if the signal is very strong (i.e. the change in population size is large). We explored the ability of three major databases – the Southern African Bird Atlas Project (SABAP), the Coordinated Waterbird Counts (CWAC) and the South African Bird Ringing Unit (SAFRING) – to reveal the movement patterns of a highly mobile African waterbird, the Red-billed Teal Anas erythrorhyncha. Only ring recovery data provided clear evidence of long-distance movement. All three data sets were compromised to varying degrees by methodological biases and spatial and/or temporal resolutions that prevented the detection of movement patterns. By incorporating abundance estimates, increasing and quantifying sampling effort, and extending coverage at the data collection stage, the potential for these data sets to contribute to our understanding of bird movements could be greatly improved. Monitoring programmes for mobile species must be tested at an early stage to assess their ability to explain spatial and temporal population variation at the scales at which such variation occurs. © 2015, Copyright © NISC (Pty) Ltd. | Anas erythrorhyncha; atlas data; count data; CWAC; population monitoring; Red-billed Teal; ring recoveries; SABAP; scale; southern Africa; spatiotemporal variation | 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-s2.0-70349293668 | Impact of HLA in mother and child on disease progression of pediatric human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection | Thobakgale C.F., Prendergast A., Crawford H., Mkhwanazi N., Ramduth D., Reddy S., Molina C., Mncube Z., Leslie A., Prado J., Chonco F., Mphatshwe W., Tudor-Williams G., Jeena P., Blanckenberg N., Dong K., Kiepiela P., Coovadia H., Ndung'u T., Walker B.D., | 2009 | Journal of Virology | 83 | 19 | 10.1128/JVI.00921-09 | HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Department of Paediatrics, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SY, United Kingdom; Department of Paediatrics, Division of Medicine, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom; Ragon Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 021294, United States; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 201855, United States | Thobakgale, C.F., HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Prendergast, A., Department of Paediatrics, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SY, United Kingdom; Crawford, H., Department of Paediatrics, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SY, United Kingdom; Mkhwanazi, N., HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Ramduth, D., HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Reddy, S., HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Molina, C., Department of Paediatrics, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SY, United Kingdom; Mncube, Z., HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Leslie, A., Department of Paediatrics, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SY, United Kingdom; Prado, J., Department of Paediatrics, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SY, United Kingdom; Chonco, F., HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Mphatshwe, W., HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Tudor-Williams, G., Department of Paediatrics, Division of Medicine, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom; Jeena, P., HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Blanckenberg, N., HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Dong, K., HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Kiepiela, P., HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Coovadia, H., HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Ndung'u, T., HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Walker, B.D., HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa, Ragon Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 021294, United States, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 201855, United States; Goulder, P.J.R., HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa, Department of Paediatrics, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SY, United Kingdom | A broad Gag-specific CD8+ T-cell response is associated with effective control of adult human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The association of certain HLA class I molecules, such as HLA-B*57, -B*5801, and -B*8101, with immune control is linked to mutations within Gag epitopes presented by these alleles that allow HIV to evade the immune response but that also reduce viral replicative capacity. Transmission of such viruses containing mutations within Gag epitopes results in lower viral loads in adult recipients. In this study of pediatric infection, we tested the hypothesis that children may tend to progress relatively slowly if either they themselves possess one of the protective HLA-B alleles or the mother possesses one of these alleles, thereby transmitting a low-fitness virus to the child. We analyzed HLA type, CD8+ T-cell responses, and viral sequence changes for 61 mother-child pairs from Durban, South Africa, who were monitored from birth. Slow progression was significantly associated with the mother or child possessing one of the protective HLA-B alleles, and more significantly so when the protective allele was not shared by mother and child (P = 0.007). Slow progressors tended to make CD8+ T-cell responses to Gag epitopes presented by the protective HLA-B alleles, in contrast to progressors expressing the same alleles (P = 0.07; Fisher's exact test). Mothers expressing the protective alleles were significantly more likely to transmit escape variants within the Gag epitopes presented by those alleles than mothers not expressing those alleles (75% versus 21%; P = 0.001). Reversion of transmitted escape mutations was observed in all slow-progressing children whose mothers possessed protective HLA-B alleles. These data show that HLA class I alleles influence disease progression in pediatric as well as adult infection, both as a result of the CD8+ T-cell responses generated in the child and through the transmission of low-fitness viruses by the mother. Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved. | None | epitope; HLA antigen class 1; HLA B57 antigen; adult; allele; article; CD8+ T lymphocyte; childhood disease; disease course; female; Fisher exact test; gene expression; gene sequence; human; Human immunodeficiency virus 1 infection; hypothesis; infant; major clinical study; nonhuman; passive immunization; priority journal; South Africa; vertical transmission; virus transmission; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Disease Progression; Epitopes; Female; Gene Products, gag; HIV Infections; HIV-1; HLA Antigens; HLA-B Antigens; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Mothers; Virus Replication; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human immunodeficiency virus 1 | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34648814058 | The impact of the HIV epidemic on the composite wellbeing of educators in South Africa: A qualitative study | Theron L.C. | 2007 | African Journal of AIDS Research | 6 | 2 | None | School of Educational Sciences, Vaal Triangle Faculty, North-West University, PO Box 1174, Vanderbijlpark 1900 Gauteng, South Africa | Theron, L.C., School of Educational Sciences, Vaal Triangle Faculty, North-West University, PO Box 1174, Vanderbijlpark 1900 Gauteng, South Africa | In South Africa, support is available for educators who are HIV-positive, and there are numerous initiatives to curb further HIV infections. What is lacking though is an understanding of how the HIV epidemic impacts on educators who are affected personally or professionally. For this reason a qualitative study was undertaken with 25 affected educators from the Gauteng and Free State provinces. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to determine how the epidemic is impacting the health of educators who are affected but not HIV infected. The results suggest that affected educators are in need of interventions that target health promotion, since those who participated reported poor physical, emotional, social, spiritual and professional health. The results also suggest that some educators do cope with the overall impact of the epidemic, implying that resilient functioning among affected educators should be promoted. Copyright © NISC Pty Ltd. | Coping behaviour; Health impact; Health interventions; Health promotion; Resilient functioning; Teachers | acquired immune deficiency syndrome; adult; article; clinical article; controlled study; coping behavior; emotionality; epidemic; female; health promotion; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; male; occupational health; qualitative research; religion; semi structured interview; social aspect; South Africa; teacher; wellbeing | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-45749116610 | "I have undergone some metamorphosis!" The impact of REds on South African educators affected by the HIV/Aids pandemic. A pilot study | Theron L.C. | 2008 | Journal of Psychology in Africa | 18 | 1 | None | North-West University, South Africa; School of Educational Sciences, Vaal Triangle Faculty, P. O. Box 1174, Vanderbijlpark 1900, South Africa | Theron, L.C., North-West University, South Africa, School of Educational Sciences, Vaal Triangle Faculty, P. O. Box 1174, Vanderbijlpark 1900, South Africa | The study investigated the efficacy of Resilient Educators (REds), a group intervention program, designed to empower educators affected by the HIV/Aids pandemic and is research in progress. Fifteen participants (three male; twelve female) from various primary schools in two different South African communities were involved. Participant ages ranged from early thirties to mid-fifties. A pre-test, post-test design was conducted. Visual data were collected in the form of symbolic drawings: participants drew symbols of their perception of the pandemic and explained the meaning of their chosen symbols either in writing or verbally. A qualitative comparison of these visual data suggested transformed perception and concomitant teacher empowerment. Prior to participation in REds, participants projected vulnerability. Following their participation, participant projections suggested self-empowerment and community mindedness. Participants perceived themselves capable of coping with the challenges of the pandemic. Copyright © 2008 Journal of Psychology in Africa. | Coping; HIV/AIDS; Perception; Resilience; Symbolic drawings; Visual data | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79951538989 | Production and breeding performance of South African dairy herds | Theron H.E., Mostert B.E. | 2009 | South African Journal of Animal Sciences | 39 | SUPPL. 1 | None | ARC-Animal Production Institute, Private Bag X2, Irene 0062, South Africa | Theron, H.E., ARC-Animal Production Institute, Private Bag X2, Irene 0062, South Africa; Mostert, B.E., ARC-Animal Production Institute, Private Bag X2, Irene 0062, South Africa | Comparisons between production and breeding potential of different feeding systems (Concentrates, Mixed and Pastures) in South Africa were made. Data of active cows participating in performance testing as at November 2007 were used. Holstein cows numbered 68280 in 254 herds and Jersey cows 51275 in 248 herds. Average milk production and lactation number were 8147 ± 2260 and 2.9 ± 1.8 for Holstein and 5347 ± 1156 and 3.1 ± 2.0 for Jersey, respectively. Most Holstein and Jersey herds (53%) were on Mixed rations, followed by Concentrates (28%) and Pastures (19%). Milk production was 9967 ± 2022; 6996 ± 1623 and 7143 ± 1549 kg for Holstein and 6385 ± 1233; 5155 ± 955 and 4753 ± 1022 kg for Jersey cows, respectively, for Concentrates, Mixed and Pasture systems. Most sires used were local (49% of Holstein sires and 68% of Jersey sires). Imported Holstein sires were mostly from USA (30%) and The Netherlands (17%), and foreign Jersey sires (26%) were mostly from the USA. Farmers seemed to select the same sires on the different feeding regimes. Differences between feeding regimes were significant. © South African Society for Animal Science. | Concentrates; Pasture systems; Sire selection | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84904310352 | Determinants of PCR performance (Xpert MTB/RIF), including bacterial load and inhibition, for TB diagnosis using specimens from different body compartments | Theron G., Peter J., Calligaro G., Meldau R., Hanrahan C., Khalfey H., Matinyenya B., Muchinga T., Smith L., Pandie S., Lenders L., Patel V., Mayosi B.M., Dheda K. | 2014 | Scientific Reports | 4 | None | 10.1038/srep05658 | Lung Infection and Immunity Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Neurology, University of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa; Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Theron, G., Lung Infection and Immunity Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Peter, J., Lung Infection and Immunity Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Calligaro, G., Lung Infection and Immunity Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Meldau, R., Lung Infection and Immunity Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Hanrahan, C., Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Baltimore, MD, United States; Khalfey, H., Lung Infection and Immunity Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Matinyenya, B., Lung Infection and Immunity Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Muchinga, T., Lung Infection and Immunity Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Smith, L., Lung Infection and Immunity Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Pandie, S., Department of Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Lenders, L., Lung Infection and Immunity Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Patel, V., Department of Neurology, University of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa; Mayosi, B.M., Department of Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Dheda, K., Lung Infection and Immunity Unit, 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 | The determinants of Xpert MTB/RIF sensitivity, a widely used PCR test for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) are poorly understood. We compared culture time-to-positivity (TTP; a surrogate of bacterial load), MTB/RIF TB-specific and internal positive control (IPC)-specific C T values, and clinical characteristics in patients with suspected TB who provided expectorated (n = 438) or induced sputum (n = 128), tracheal aspirates (n = 71), bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (n = 152), pleural fluid (n = 76), cerebral spinal fluid (CSF; n = 152), pericardial fluid (n = 131), or urine (n = 173) specimens. Median bacterial load (TTP in days) was the strongest associate of MTB/RIF positivity in each fluid. TTP correlated with C T values in pulmonary specimens but not extrapulmonary specimens (Spearman's coefficient 0.5043 versus 0.1437; p = 0.030). Inhibition affected a greater proportion of pulmonary specimens than extrapulmonary specimens (IPC C T > 34: 6% (47/731) versus 1% (4/381; p < 0.0001). Pulmonary specimens had greater load than extrapulmonary specimens [TTPs (interquartile range) of 11 (7-16) versus 22 (18-33.5) days; p < 0.0001]. HIV-infection was associated with a decreased likelihood of MTB/RIF-positivity in pulmonary specimens but an increased likelihood in extrapulmonary specimens. Mycobacterial load, which displays significant variation across different body compartments, is the main determinant of MTB/RIF-positivity rather than PCR inhibition. MTB/RIF C T is a poor surrogate of load in extrapulmonary specimens. | None | tuberculostatic agent; adult; aged; antibiotic resistance; bacterial load; chemistry; drug effects; female; HIV Infections; human; isolation and purification; lung; lung lavage; male; metabolism; microbiology; middle aged; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; predictive value; prevalence; real time polymerase chain reaction; South Africa; sputum; standards; tuberculosis; Adult; Aged; Antibiotics, Antitubercular; Bacterial Load; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Lung; Male; Middle Aged; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Predictive Value of Tests; Prevalence; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; South Africa; Sputum; Tuberculosis | 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 |
| None | None | Preliminary application and evaluation of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) for detection of bovine theileriosis and trypanosomosis in Tanzania | Thekisoe O.M.M., Omolo J.D., Swai E.S., Hayashida K., Zhang J., Sugimoto C., Inoue N. | 2007 | Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research | 74 | 4 | None | National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan; Ministry of Livestock Development, Department of Veterinary Services, Box 456, Dodoma, Tanzania; Veterinary Investigation Centre, Box 1068, Arusha, Tanzania; Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 011-0818, Japan | Thekisoe, O.M.M., National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan; Omolo, J.D., Ministry of Livestock Development, Department of Veterinary Services, Box 456, Dodoma, Tanzania; Swai, E.S., Veterinary Investigation Centre, Box 1068, Arusha, Tanzania; Hayashida, K., National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 011-0818, Japan; Zhang, J., National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan; Sugimoto, C., Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 011-0818, Japan; Inoue, N., National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan | The sensitivity of LAMP, PCR and microscopy to detect Theileria spp. and Trypanosoma congolense in field-derived bovine blood samples from Tanzania was evaluated and compared. No parasites were detected by microscopy. Furthermore, no bovine Theileria spp. were detected by LAMP and PCR from all the 24 samples collected from Arusha. Four and one out of 24 samples were positive for Theileria congolense infection by LAMP and PCR respectively while, 18 and nine out of 40 samples from Dar es Salaam were positive by LAMP and PCR for Theileria spp. Infection, respectively. Although all samples from Dar es Salaam were negative for Trypanosoma congolense infections by PCR, 12 out of 40 samples were LAMP positive. Whilst PCR is an established gene amplification method for the detection of Theileria and trypanosome parasites, this study introduces LAMP as an alternative molecular diagnostic tool that could be used in large-scale epidemiological surveys. | Bovine theileria spp.; LAMP; Microscopy; PCR; Tanzania Trypanosoma congolense | protozoal DNA; animal; animal disease; animal parasitosis; article; cattle; cattle disease; chemistry; isolation and purification; methodology; microscopy; nucleic acid amplification; polymerase chain reaction; sensitivity and specificity; species difference; Tanzania; Theileria; Trypanosoma; Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; DNA, Protozoan; Microscopy; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Sensitivity and Specificity; Species Specificity; Tanzania; Theileria; Theileriasis; Trypanosoma; Trypanosomiasis, Bovine; Bovinae; Theileria; Trypanosoma; Trypanosoma congolense | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84870443594 | The influence of recovery duration after heavy resistance exercise on sprint cycling performance | Thatcher R., Gifford R., Howatson G. | 2012 | Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research | 26 | 11 | 10.1519/JSC.0b013e318245beea | Department of Sport and Exercise Science, Aberystwyth University, Ceredigion, United Kingdom; Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; Department of Zoology, Center for Aquatic Science, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa | Thatcher, R., Department of Sport and Exercise Science, Aberystwyth University, Ceredigion, United Kingdom; Gifford, R., Department of Sport and Exercise Science, Aberystwyth University, Ceredigion, United Kingdom; Howatson, G., Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, Department of Zoology, Center for Aquatic Science, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa | The influence of recovery duration after heavy resistance exercise on sprint cycling performance. J Strength Cond Res 26(11): 3089- 3094, 2012-The aim of this study was to determine the optimal recovery duration after prior heavy resistance exercise (PHRE) when performing sprint cycling. On 5 occasions, separated by a minimum of 48 hours, 10 healthy male subjects (mean 6 SD), age 25.5 6 7.7 years, body mass 82.1 6 9.0 kg, stature 182.6 6 87 cm, deadlift 1-repetition maximum (1RM) 142 6 19 kg performed a 30-second sprint cycling test. Each trial had either a 5-, 10-, 20-, or 30-minute recovery after a heavy resistance activity (5 deadlift repetitions at 85% 1RM) or a control trial with no PHRE in random order. Sprint cycling performance was assessed by peak power (PP), fatigue index, and mean power output over the first 5 seconds (MPO5), 10 seconds (MPO10), and 30 seconds (MPO30). One-way analysis of variance with repeated measures followed by paired t-Tests with a Bonferroni adjustment was used to analyze data. Peak power, MPO5, and MPO10 were all significantly different during the 10-minute recovery trial to that of the control condition with values of 109, 112, and 109% of control, respectively; no difference was found for the MPO30 between trials. This study supports the use of PHRE as a strategy to improve short duration, up to, or around 10-second, sprint activity but not longer duration sprints, and a 10-minute recovery appears to be optimal to maximize performance. © 2012 National Strength and Conditioning Association. | Deadlift; Individual response; Postactivation potentiation; Warm-up | adolescent; adult; analysis of variance; article; athletic performance; bicycle; controlled clinical trial; controlled study; ergometry; exercise test; human; male; physiology; randomized controlled trial; resistance training; rest; time; Adolescent; Adult; Analysis of Variance; Athletic Performance; Bicycling; Ergometry; Exercise Test; Humans; Male; Resistance Training; Rest; Time Factors; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78751607947 | Establishing and maintaining an online community of academics: Longitudinal evaluation of a virtual conference series | Thatcher A., Straker L., Pollock C. | 2011 | International Journal of Web Based Communities | 7 | 1 | 10.1504/IJWBC.2011.038129 | Psychology Department, School of Human and Community Development, University of the Witwatersrand, WITS, 2050, South Africa; School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University, G.P.O. Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia; School of Psychology, Curtin University, G.P.O. Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia | Thatcher, A., Psychology Department, School of Human and Community Development, University of the Witwatersrand, WITS, 2050, South Africa; Straker, L., School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University, G.P.O. Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia; Pollock, C., School of Psychology, Curtin University, G.P.O. Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia | Initiated in 1996, the CybErg international conference series is the only online conference series in the field of ergonomics. Using virtual settlement theory and a model of online community evolution, this article reports on a 12-year longitudinal investigation of the five conferences in the conference series and whether they have been effective in establishing an online academic community and in internationalising the dissemination of knowledge and dialogue of this online community. The results suggest that the conference series is indeed a good example of an online community in an engaged state and has been largely successful in encouraging equality in the international distribution of contributors. This article concludes with new possibilities to enhance the conduct, knowledge production, dialogue, and processes of future online academic conferences. Copyright © 2011 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. | Computer-supported cooperative work collaboration; Engagement; Knowledge transfer; Online community evolution; Online conferencing; Virtual settlement theory | Academic community; Academic conferences; Engagement; Knowledge production; Knowledge transfer; Online communities; Virtual settlement theory; Ergonomics; Groupware; Knowledge management; Online systems; Online conferencing | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-36348947933 | The relationship between lecture attendance and academic performance in an undergraduate psychology class | Thatcher A., Fridjhon P., Cockcroft K. | 2007 | South African Journal of Psychology | 37 | 3 | None | Discipline of Psychology, School of Human and Community Development, University of the Witwatersrand, Witwatersrand WITS, 2050, South Africa; School of Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Discipline of Psychology, School of Human and Community Development, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Thatcher, A., Discipline of Psychology, School of Human and Community Development, University of the Witwatersrand, Witwatersrand WITS, 2050, South Africa; Fridjhon, P., School of Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Cockcroft, K., Discipline of Psychology, School of Human and Community Development, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | This article reports on a preliminary investigation into the impact of non-attendance at lectures on the performance of students in a second-year psychology class. Results suggest that the frequency of lecture attendance is significantly, but moderately, related to better academic performance and that 'always' attending lectures is the best indicator of academic performance. These results are discussed in relation to understanding lecture non-attendance and improving academic performance. © Psychological Society of South Africa. All rights reserved. | Academic performance; Lecture attendance; Teaching psychology; Undergraduate psychology classes | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-64549108514 | Impact of style of processing on retention and bioaccessibility of β-carotene in cassava (manihot esculanta, crantz) | Thakkar S.K., Huo T., Maziya-Dixon B., Failla M.L. | 2009 | Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry | 57 | 4 | 10.1021/jf803053d | Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program in Nutrition, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States; Department of Human Nutrition, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States; International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), PMB, 5 | Thakkar, S.K., Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program in Nutrition, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States; Huo, T., Department of Human Nutrition, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States; Maziya-Dixon, B., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), PMB, 5320 Ibadan, Nigeria; Failla, M.L., Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program in Nutrition, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States, Department of Human Nutrition, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States, Department of Human Nutrition, Ohio State University, 325 Campbell Hall, 1787 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, United States | We previously demonstrated that the quantity of β-carotene (BC) partitioning in mixed micelles during simulated small intestinal digestion, i.e., the bioaccessibility, of boiled cassava is highly correlated with the BC content of different cultivars. However, cassava is also traditionally prepared by fermentation and roasting. These different methods of preparation have the potential to affect both the retention and bioaccessibility of BC. Here, we first compared retention of BC in boiled cassava, gari (fermentation followed by roasting), and fufu (fermentation followed by sieving and cooking into a paste) prepared from roots of three cultivars. BC content in unprocessed cultivars ranged from 6-8 μg/g wet weight, with cis isomers accounting for approximately one-third of total BC. Apparent retention of BC was approximately 90% for boiled cassava and fufu. In contrast, roasting fermented cassava at 195 °C for 20 min to prepare gari decreased BC content by 90%. Retention was increased to 63% when temperature was decreased to 165 °C and roasting was limited to 10 min. Processing was also associated with a decline in all-trans-BC and concomitant increase in 13-cis-BC. The efficiency of micellarization of all-trans and cis isomers of BC during simulated digestion was 25-30% for boiled cassava and gari and independent of cultivar. However, micellarization of BC isomers during digestion of fufu was only 12-15% (P < 0.05). These differences in retention and bioaccessibility of BC from cassava products prepared according to traditional processing methods suggest that gari and fufu may provide less retinol activity equivalents than isocaloric intake of boiled cassava. © 2009 American Chemical Society. | Bioaccessibility; Biofortification; Cassava; Fufu; Gari; In vitro digestion; Processing; Provitamin a carotenoids; Retention | beta carotene; article; bioavailability; cassava; chemistry; comparative study; digestion; fermentation; food handling; heat; methodology; micelle; plant root; beta Carotene; Biological Availability; Digestion; Fermentation; Food Handling; Hot Temperature; Manihot; Micelles; Plant Roots; Gari; Manihot; Manihot esculenta | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84903945381 | Use of job enrichment technique and human resource management performance, among extension managers in North West Province South Africa | Thafe D.R., Oladele O.I. | 2014 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 5 | 15 | 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n15p11 | Department of Agricultural Extension, North West University, South Africa | Thafe, D.R., Department of Agricultural Extension, North West University, South Africa; Oladele, O.I., Department of Agricultural Extension, North West University, South Africa | The study examined knowledge and utilization of job enrichment techniques among extension managers in North West Province. The population of the study area is extension managers in the North West Province of South Africa. Thirty (30) Extension Managers were sampled randomly from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development database in the four district municipalities of the Province. Data were collected using questionnaires and analysis was done with statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) using frequency counts, percentages and multiple regressions. The findings show that 70% of extension managers are married and mostly are male (66.7%), 86.7% have 1 to 3 children with 63.4% having 1-3 dependents; 33.3% of the respondents were Diploma holders; 30% were Degree holders, 30% had Honours, 6.7% had MSc; 70% are currently studying for higher degree. The most prominently used information sources were advisory leaflets (100%), most managers were not knowledgeable on removal of power of a subordinate improve job satisfaction(80); while the most prominent job enriching techniques used by extension managers was adjustment of performance target (80%). The results further show that there is a significant relationship between the independent variables and the use of job enrichment techniques with F value of 1.83, p < 0.05, R = 0.717. The result further predicted 52 percent of the variation in use of job enrichment techniques and human resource management performance by extension managers. The significant determinants of use of job enrichment techniques and human resource management performance among extension managers in North West Province are age (t = -2.155, p =.046), tenure in profession (t = 2.202, p =.042) and job designation (t = -2.273, p =.036). | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84917734228 | The experiences of municipal management on the implementation of performance management systems in lepelle- nkumpi local municipality, In limpopo province | Thaba K.L., Kanjere M.M. | 2014 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 5 | 27 | 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n27p1216 | University of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus, Mankweng), Private Bag X1106, Sovenga, South Africa; University of Limpopo, Turfloop Graduate School of Leadership, P O Box 756, Fauna Park, South Africa | Thaba, K.L., University of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus, Mankweng), Private Bag X1106, Sovenga, South Africa; Kanjere, M.M., University of Limpopo, Turfloop Graduate School of Leadership, P O Box 756, Fauna Park, South Africa | Performance Management Development System has been implemented at local municipalities to measure the performance of the workers and to indirectly combat poor service delivery protests. The program however brought its own inherent challenges. The question that remained was whether the system was effective in developing the workers or not. Thus, an empirical investigation was conducted in Lepelle- Nkumpi local municipality to explore the experiences of municipal management on the implementation of performance management system. The study also looked at the support systems that are in place for the implementation of the programme. Twenty six municipal managers participated in the study, thirteen females and thirteen males. The findings indicated that there is a need to improve on the implementation of Performance Management and Development Systems. © 2014, Mediterranean Center of Social and Educational Research. All right reserved. | Appraisal; Development; Evaluation; Performance management system | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33646425859 | Linking a population model with an ecosystem model: Assessing the impact of land use and climate change on savanna shrub cover dynamics | Tews J., Esther A., Milton S.J., Jeltsch F. | 2006 | Ecological Modelling | 195 | 42433 | 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2005.11.025 | Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation, University of Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 2, D-14467 Potsdam, Germany; Percy FitzPatrick Institute, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa | Tews, J., Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation, University of Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 2, D-14467 Potsdam, Germany; Esther, A., Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation, University of Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 2, D-14467 Potsdam, Germany; Milton, S.J., Percy FitzPatrick Institute, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa; Jeltsch, F., Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation, University of Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 2, D-14467 Potsdam, Germany | In semiarid savannas of Southern Africa current land use practices and climate change may lead to substantial changes of vegetation structure in the near future, however uncertainty remains about the potential consequences and the magnitude of change. In this paper we study the impact of climate change, cattle grazing, and wood cutting on shrub cover dynamics in savannas of the southern Kalahari. We use an established savanna ecosystem model to simulate landscape dynamics in terms of rainfall, fire and distribution of the dominant tree Acacia erioloba. We then incorporate these data into a spatial population model of the common, fleshy-fruited shrub Grewia flava and investigate shrub cover dynamics for a period of 100 years. Depending on the intensity of commercial wood cutting practices tree removal of A. erioloba led to a strong decline of the G. flava population, as shrub recruitment is concentrated in tree sub-canopies due to bird-mediated seed dispersal. Under climate change shrub cover slightly decreased with decreasing precipitation and was unchanged with increase in precipitation variability. Contrarily, grazing by cattle strongly increased shrub cover and facilitated shrub encroachment because of cattle-induced distribution of G. flava seeds into the matrix vegetation. Knowledge of the latter process is particularly important because shrub invasion is a major concern for conservation and savanna rangeland management as a result of its adverse effects on livestock carrying capacity and biodiversity. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Acacia erioloba; Bush encroachment; Global change; Grewia flava; Overgrazing; Seed dispersal; Shrub encroachment; Southern Kalahari; Spatial-explicit simulation model | Climate change; Land use; Mathematical models; Regional planning; Vegetation; Acacia erioloba; Bush encroachment; Global change; Grewia flava; Overgrazing; Seed dispersal; Shrub encroachment; Southern Kalahari; Spatial-explicit simulation model; Ecosystems; climate change; grazing; land use; landscape change; savanna; semiarid region; shrub; Africa; Kalahari Desert; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Acacia; Acacia erioloba; Aves; Bos taurus; Grewia; Grewia flava | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84924778442 | Impact of drying methods on the nutrient profile of fruits of Cordia africana Lam. in Tigray, northern Ethiopia | Tewolde-Berhan S., Remberg S.F., Abegaz K., Narvhus J., Abay F., Wicklund T. | 2015 | Fruits | 70 | 2 | 10.1051/fruits/2014048 | Department of Land Resources and Environmental Protection, Mekelle University, P.O. Box 231, Mekelle, Ethiopia; Department of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, Aas, Norway; School of Human Nutrition, Food Science and Technology, Hawassa University, P.O. Box 5, Hawassa, Ethiopia | Tewolde-Berhan, S., Department of Land Resources and Environmental Protection, Mekelle University, P.O. Box 231, Mekelle, Ethiopia, Department of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, Aas, Norway; Remberg, S.F., Department of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, Aas, Norway; Abegaz, K., School of Human Nutrition, Food Science and Technology, Hawassa University, P.O. Box 5, Hawassa, Ethiopia; Narvhus, J., Department of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, Aas, Norway; Abay, F., Department of Land Resources and Environmental Protection, Mekelle University, P.O. Box 231, Mekelle, Ethiopia; Wicklund, T., Department of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, Aas, Norway | Introduction. Cordia africana Lam. is a tree that produces small fruits eaten in Ethiopia and other parts of Africa. The fresh fruit are sold in the market place in open bowls and, traditionally, the fruit is dried on the tree like dates. Materials and methods. Modern methods of processing the fruit were studied. Some of the changes in the nutrient content and chemistry of the fruit were measured using standard methods. Results and discussion. In the fresh fruit, the traditional method of handling collected 7.6 g dust kg-1. The TP (total phenols measured with Folin Ciocalteu's reagent) contents varied significantly between the processing methods. Using a solar dryer, the fruit dried within 5 days while the on-tree drying process took 63 days. The taste of the fruit from the direct solar dryer was less preferred to those dried on the tree. The TP values were found to be good in the dried fruits with 200 g fruit being enough to meet the daily requirement. In addition, the vitamin A and vitamin C levels were still good after drying and storage. For both fresh and dried fruits the organic acid and basic sugar profile did not show a very clear picture, as the difference in rainfall and evaporation rates between the two years of the study influenced these parameters. The headspace gas chromatography (HSGC) gave 20 volatile organic compounds and the coupled mass spectrometry (HSGC-MS) gave 39 volatile organic compounds. Conclusion. The dried fruit of Cordia africana could be used to partially meet the daily nutritional requirements of households in Ethiopia. © 2015 Cirad/EDP Sciences. | Cordia africana; Dried fruit; Ethiopia; Fresh fruit; Nutritional value; Phenolic compounds; Tigray | Cordia africana | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77954921215 | The impact of trade liberalisation on South African agricultural productivity | Teweldemedhin M.Y., van Schalkwyk H.D. | 2010 | African Journal of Agricultural Research | 5 | 12 | None | Department of Agriculture, Polytechnic of Namibia, Namibia; North West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa | Teweldemedhin, M.Y., Department of Agriculture, Polytechnic of Namibia, Namibia; van Schalkwyk, H.D., North West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa | This study attempts to examine the empirical relationship between trade and Total Factor Producitvity (TFP) in the agricultural sector using both cross-sectional (across nine agricultural commodities) and time-series analysis. The Error Correction Model of Ordinary Least Square (OLS) results from the cross-sectional analysis confirm that export shares and capital formation were significant and postivly related; whereas, import shares and real exchange rate were found to be negatively related. However, the net effect of export and import shares was positive implies that trade liberalisation causes productivity gains, The findings from the time-series analysis followed in the same direction as the cross-sectional results, indicating a robust relationship between a TFP, degree of openness, and capital formation. Debt was found to be inversely related, this implies that agricultural industries/farmers lack debt management skills. © 2010 Academic Journals. | Ordinary least square (OLS); Total factor producitvity (TFP); Trade liberalisation or degree of openness and capital formation | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-68149125259 | Factors affecting malaria epidemics and its economic impacts on households in ajegunle, lagos state, Nigeria | Tewari D.D., Braimoh L.A., Bokana K.G. | 2009 | Journal of Interdisciplinary Economics | 21 | 1 | None | Department of Econimics, Faculty of Management Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), South Africa; University of South Africa (UNISA), South Africa; School of Economics and Finance, UKZN, South Africa | Tewari, D.D., Department of Econimics, Faculty of Management Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), South Africa; Braimoh, L.A., University of South Africa (UNISA), South Africa; Bokana, K.G., School of Economics and Finance, UKZN, South Africa | Malaria is one of the most common and deadly diseases, especially in sub-Saharan and tropical African countries, including Nigeria. Over the years, malaria epidemic affected about 3 million people in Nigeria. The disease does not only affect income or spending of individuals and households but also economic growth of the country. The major objectives of this study are (1) to estimate the costs of malaria to a household living in Ajegunle city, and (2) to build a logistic model which predicts the probability of occurrence of malaria based on a set of variables. One apparent pattern of the cost model was that a few spent more on direct costs of malaria while in terms of indirect costs slightly over 50 percent of respondents forwent income in case of illness or death due to malaria. The logistic model indicated that the use of any form of anti-malarial drugs did not reduce the malarial infection, only quinine among them found some empirical support in this study. Insecticide-treated bednets was the only mechanism which showed a promise to reduce the spread of malarial infection. Households that increased malaria treatment expenditures experienced lower level of probability of malaria occurrence under ceteris paribus conditions. © 2009 A B Academic Publishers. | Economic costs model; Economic growth; Logistic model; Malaria epidemic; Nigeria | disease prevalence; disease spread; economic impact; epidemic; health expenditure; household survey; income distribution; logistics; malaria; mortality; prediction; probability; Africa; Ajegunle; Lagos [Nigeria]; Nigeria; Sub-Saharan Africa; West Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84894040025 | Clinical utility and impact of autopsies on clinical practice among doctors in a large teaching hospital in Ghana | Tette E., Yawson A.E., Tettey Y. | 2014 | Global Health Action | 7 | 1 | 10.3402/gha.v7.23132 | Department of Community Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana Medical School, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana; Department of Pathology, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana Medical School, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana; Office of the Provost, College of Health Sciences, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana | Tette, E., Department of Community Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana Medical School, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana; Yawson, A.E., Department of Community Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana Medical School, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana; Tettey, Y., Department of Pathology, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana Medical School, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana, Office of the Provost, College of Health Sciences, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana | Background: Autopsies can provide a good indication of the quality of patient care, in terms of the accuracy of clinical diagnosis and the quality of treatment given. Designs: This was a cross-sectional study among clinicians at theKorle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in 2012. Data were collected with a 69-item, self-administered, structured questionnaire. A total of 215 questionnaires were sent out and 119 clinicians responded. Data were collected on the benefits and utility of autopsies for medical practice, care of patients, and management of clinical wards. Survey data were analyzed by simple descriptive statistics (i.e. proportions, ratios, and percentages). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21. Objective: This study examined the views of clinicians regarding the utility of autopsies and their influence on clinical practice in a large teaching hospital in Ghana. Results: Overall, clinicians in KBTH agreed that autopsy reports are useful in answering clinical questions (55/119; 46.2%), confirming or verifying clinical diagnoses (54/119; 45.4%), providing information on unsuspected diagnoses (40/119; 33.6%), and for medical education (90/119; 75.6%). Overall, 70/119 (58.8%) of clinicians agreed that autopsy findings improve completeness and reliability of death certification and provide information on clinical effectiveness of treatment and patient management. However, only 23/119 (19.3%) of sampled clinicians had personal interactions with a pathologist during autopsy processes and 93/ 119 (78.2%) had not attended any autopsy demonstrations in the past 6 months. Attendance of pathologists at clinicopathological meetings of clinical departments of KBTH was minimal. Unfortunately, the use of autopsy reports for auditing clinical diagnostic performance was not seen as essential. Conclusion: Strengthening the interaction between doctors and pathologists is essential in improving the autopsy process and utilization in the hospital. KBTH should create opportunities for doctors to attend autopsy demonstrations and for pathologists to attend clinicopathological meetings in the hospital. © 2014 Edem Tette et al. | Autopsy; Clinical utility; Clinicians; Ghana; Teaching hospital | article; autopsy; clinical practice; clinical utility; clinicians; cross-sectional study; female; Ghana; health personnel attitude; human; male; medical education; medical staff; physician; psychological aspect; questionnaire; statistics; teaching hospital; autopsy; clinical utility; clinicians; Ghana; teaching hospital; Attitude of Health Personnel; Autopsy; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Ghana; Hospitals, Teaching; Humans; Internship and Residency; Male; Medical Staff, Hospital; Physician's Practice Patterns; Physicians; Questionnaires | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33745612070 | Impacts of marine biogeographic boundaries on phylogeographic patterns of three South African estuarine crustaceans | Teske P.R., McQuaid C.D., Froneman P.W., Barker N.P. | 2006 | Marine Ecology Progress Series | 314 | None | 10.3354/meps314283 | Molecular Ecology and Systematics Group, Botany Department, Rhodes University, 6140 Grahamstown, South Africa; Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, 6140 Grahamstown, South Africa | Teske, P.R., Molecular Ecology and Systematics Group, Botany Department, Rhodes University, 6140 Grahamstown, South Africa, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, 6140 Grahamstown, South Africa; McQuaid, C.D., Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, 6140 Grahamstown, South Africa; Froneman, P.W., Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, 6140 Grahamstown, South Africa; Barker, N.P., Molecular Ecology and Systematics Group, Botany Department, Rhodes University, 6140 Grahamstown, South Africa | The South African coastline comprises 3 main biogeographic provinces: (1) the cool-temperate west coast, (2) the warm-temperate south coast, and (3) the subtropical east coast. The boundaries between these regions are defined by changes in species compositions and hydrological conditions. It is possible that these affect phylogeographic patterns of coastal organisms differently, depending on the species' ecologies and modes of dispersal. In the present study, genealogies of 3 estuarine crustaceans, each characterized by a different mode of passive dispersal and present in more than one biogeographic province, were reconstructed using mtDNA COI sequences, and the impacts of biogeographic boundaries on their phylogeographic patterns were compared. The species were (mode of dispersal in brackets): (1) the mudprawn Upogebia africana (planktonic larvae), (2) the isopod Exosphaeroma hylecoetes (adult rafting), and (3) the cumacean Iphinoe truncata (adult drifting). Two major mtDNA lineages with slightly overlapping distributions were identified in U. africana (the species with the highest dispersal potential). The other 2 species had 3 mtDNA lineages each, which were characterized by strict geographic segregation. Phylogeographic breaks in U. africana and E. hylecoetes coincided with biogeographic boundaries, whereas the phylogeographic patterns identified in I. truncata may reflect persistent palaeogeographic patterns. Ecological factors and modes of dispersal are likely to have played a role in both cladogenesis of the different lineages and in the establishment of their present-day distribution patterns. © Inter-Research 2006. | Isolation by distance; Mode of dispersal; mtDNA cytochrome oxidase I; Parapatry; Planktonic larvae; Rafting | biogeography; crustacean; hydrology; marine environment; mitochondrial DNA; phylogeography; population distribution; species richness; Africa; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Crustacea; Cumacea; Exosphaeroma hylecoetes; Iphinoe; Upogebia africana | None |
| 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-s2.0-33846524438 | Seroprevalence of small ruminant brucellosis in selected districts of Afar and Somali pastoral areas of Eastern Ethiopia: The impact of husbandry practice | Teshale S., Muhie Y., Dagne A., Kidanemariam A. | 2006 | Revue de Medecine Veterinaire | 157 | 11 | None | Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 34, Dbrezeit, Ethiopia; National Animal Health Research Center, Sebeta, Ethiopia | Teshale, S., Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 34, Dbrezeit, Ethiopia; Muhie, Y., Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 34, Dbrezeit, Ethiopia; Dagne, A., National Animal Health Research Center, Sebeta, Ethiopia; Kidanemariam, A., National Animal Health Research Center, Sebeta, Ethiopia | A seroprevalence study of small ruminant brucellosis was conducted in two sheep and goat rearing pastoral regions of Ethiopia, namely Afar and Somali, from November 2004 to April 2005. Sera from 2000 sheep and goats were tested by Rose Bengal Plate test (RBPT) and Indirect Enzyme Linked Immuno - Sorbent Assay (I - ELISA). Out of the 2000 sera tested 1.9% (n = 38) were positive to RBPT and 9.7% (n = 193) were positive to I - ELISA. This investigation is the first of its type to be performed in small ruminants kept under pastoral production systems. There was statistically highly significant difference (P < 0.001) between the over all seropositivity revealed by RBPT and I - ELISA (Z 0.05 = 250; 95% C.I. for the difference between prevalence using I - ELISA and RBPT = 7.69, 7.81). Only fair agreement (Kappa = 31.25%) was observed between RBPT and I - ELISA for the detection of Brucella antibodies in sera of sheep and goats. Higher prevalence rate (16%) was found in Afar region (where commingling of animals at communal grazing is the common practice) while lower prevalence (1.9%) was recorded in Somali region where herding and range-land utilization is based on clan basis. (X2 = 117.06; P < 0.001). Afar region is about 12 times at risk of infection with Brucella organisms (OR = 11.76; C.I: 6.76, 22.11). Brucella antibodies were more prevalent in goats (13.2%; C.I: 11.2, 15.3) than in sheep (5.6%; C.I: 4.2, 7.3). This difference is statistically significant (X2 = 32.5; P < 0.001; OR = 0.392). No difference was observed in prevalence between male and female study animals. The current study revealed higher prevalence of Brucella antibodies (9.7%) in the absence of Brucella vaccination. This is an indication of the wide spread nature of Brucella infection in the study areas. The Afar region is particularly at high risk of brucellosis. Further epidemiological studies on the distribution and risk factors of brucellosis in the area are warranted. | Afar; Brucellosis; Ethiopia; Small ruminants; Somali | Animalia; Bovidae; Brucella; Capra hircus; Ovis aries | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84946574725 | Hepatitis B virus infection in northern Uganda: Impact of pentavalent hepatitis B vaccination | Teshale E.H., Kamili S., Drobeniuc J., Denniston M., Bakamutamaho B., Downing R. | 2015 | Vaccine | 33 | 46 | 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.09.058 | Division of Viral Hepatitis, CDC, Atlanta, United States; Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda | Teshale, E.H., Division of Viral Hepatitis, CDC, Atlanta, United States; Kamili, S., Division of Viral Hepatitis, CDC, Atlanta, United States; Drobeniuc, J., Division of Viral Hepatitis, CDC, Atlanta, United States; Denniston, M., Division of Viral Hepatitis, CDC, Atlanta, United States; Bakamutamaho, B., Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda; Downing, R., Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda | Chronic hepatitis B virus infection (CHBI) is effectively prevented by vaccination starting at birth. Beginning in 2002 Uganda adopted a policy of providing the pentavalent hepatitis B vaccine starting at 6 weeks of age. However, there is concern that this delay may leave the infant vulnerable to infection during the first 6 weeks of life. We assessed whether vaccination at 6 weeks was an effective strategy by HBV serologic study. Of 656 persons tested for HBV, 9.4% were chronically infected; among children aged 5-9 years the prevalence was 7.6%. Of all tested, 73 were born (i.e., aged ≤4 years) after the introduction of the pentavalent vaccine; none were infected with HBV (p=. 0.003). In this study, vaccination with the pentavalent vaccine at 6 weeks did not result in CHBI, but rather provides an opportunity to prevent mother-to-infant transmission of HBV infection where there is no access to birth-dose vaccine. © 2015. | Birth-dose; Hepatitis B virus; Mother-to-infant transmission; Pentavalent vaccine; Prevalence | hepatitis B vaccine; adult; age distribution; Article; child; child health care; hepatitis B; human; major clinical study; prevalence; priority journal; Uganda; vaccination; vertical transmission; virus transmission | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84938602560 | Maize systems under climate change in sub-Saharan Africa: Potential impacts on production and food security | Tesfaye K., Gbegbelegbe S., Cairns J.E., Shiferaw B., Prasanna B.M., Sonder K., Boote K., Makumbi D., Robertson R. | 2015 | International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management | 7 | 3 | 10.1108/IJCCSM-01-2014-0005 | International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CMMYT), Nairobi, Kenya; International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CMMYT), Harare, Zimbabwe; Economic Policy (formerly CIMMYT), Nairobi, Kenya; International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CMMYT), Mexico City, Mexico; University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Washington, DC, United States | Tesfaye, K., International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Gbegbelegbe, S., International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CMMYT), Nairobi, Kenya; Cairns, J.E., International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CMMYT), Harare, Zimbabwe; Shiferaw, B., Economic Policy (formerly CIMMYT), Nairobi, Kenya; Prasanna, B.M., International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CMMYT), Nairobi, Kenya; Sonder, K., International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CMMYT), Mexico City, Mexico; Boote, K., University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Makumbi, D., International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CMMYT), Nairobi, Kenya; Robertson, R., International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Washington, DC, United States | Purpose - The purpose of this study is to examine the biophysical and socioeconomic impacts of climate change on maize production and food security in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) using adapted improved maize varieties and well-calibrated and validated bioeconomic models. Design/methodology/approach - Using the past climate (1950-2000) as a baseline, the study estimated the biophysical impacts of climate change in 2050 (2040-2069) and 2080 (2070-2099) under the A1B emission scenario and three nitrogen levels, and the socioeconomic impacts in 2050. Findings - Climate change will affect maize yields across SSA in 2050 and 2080, and the extent of the impact at a given period will vary considerably between input levels, regions and maize mega environments (MMEs). Greater relative yield reductions may occur under medium and high-input intensification than under low intensification, in Western and Southern Africa than in Eastern and Central Africa and in lowland and dry mid-altitude than in highland and wet mid-altitude MMEs. Climate change may worsen food insecurity in SSA in 2050 through its negative impact on maize consumption and reduction in daily calorie intake. However, international trade has the potential to offset some of the negative impacts. Originality/value - The study calibrated and applied bioeconomic models to estimate the biophysical and socioeconomic impact of climate change on maize production at fine resolution.The results could be used as a baseline to evaluate measures that will be applied to adapt maize to the future climate in SSA. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Bioeconomic modeling; Climate change; Climate change impact; Food security; Maize production; Sub-Saharan Africa | agricultural intensification; climate change; crop yield; economic analysis; food production; food security; international trade; maize; nitrogen; numerical model; socioeconomic status; yield response; Africa; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77952876784 | Effects of feed restriction on production and reproductive performance of Rhode Island red pullets | Tesfaye E., Tamir B., Haile A., Dessie T. | 2009 | African Journal of Agricultural Research | 4 | 7 | None | Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia; International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Tesfaye, E., Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia; Tamir, B., Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia; Haile, A., International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Dessie, T., International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | The study examined the effect of skip a-day feed restriction on Rhode Island red chicken and evaluated the effect in relation to age, body weight, egg quality, weight of reproductive tract and liver at the onset of egg laying. Two hundred 40 day-old chicks with mean body weight of 48.92 ± 1.53 g were randomly distributed to 12 pens each with 20 chicks, representing 4 feeding regimen of T1 (unrestricted, control), T2 (restricted at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of age), T3 (restricted at 35, 42, 49 and 56 days of age) and T4 (restricted at 63, 70, 77 and 84 days of age). Feed restriction was based on skipping a-day once in a week and the next day's feed offer was based on the previous day's feed intake. The average day to lay first egg was significantly longer (P < 0.05) for T3 treatment groups compared with the others. The values were 140.8 ± 0.8, 140.17 ± 2.5, 147 ± 2.2 and 143.83 ± 2.3 days for T1, T2, T3 and T4 groups, respectively. There was also highly significant (P < 0.01) difference in body weight (1305 ± 13.2, 1374.3 ± 23.2, 1352 ± 23.5 and 1429.23 ± 44.5 g for T1, T2, T3 and T4 groups, respectively) and the values were higher for birds restricted at later age of growth. Egg weight at the onset of egg lay for the respective treatments were 42.68 ± 0.72, 42.43 ± 1.91, 47.9 ± 0.87 and 41.88 ± 0.77 g. Pullets of T4 group had significantly (P < 0.01) heavier uterus weight and longer length in absolute term than the control. Except for yolk diameter and shell thickness (P < 0.05), the egg quality parameters considered were not significantly (P > 0.05) different between the treatment groups. The result revealed the conclusion that feed restriction by skip a-day feeding system at T3 resulted in higher egg weight and can be considered as the optimum age for pullet rearing. Additionally, feed restriction at T4 could also be recommended due to heavier uterus weight and longer length in absolute term as these attributes indicate good consistency for the subsequent egg production. © 2009 Academic Journals. | Body weight; Egg quality; Feed restriction; Onset of egg laying; Skip a-day | Aves | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84925061068 | Factors affecting the reproductive performance of smallholder dairy cows in two regions of Ethiopia | Tesfaye A., Alemayehu L., Tefera Y., Endris A. | 2015 | Livestock Research for Rural Development | 27 | 3 | None | Samara University, College of Veterinary Medicine, P.O.Box 132, Samara, Ethiopia | Tesfaye, A., Samara University, College of Veterinary Medicine, P.O.Box 132, Samara, Ethiopia; Alemayehu, L., Samara University, College of Veterinary Medicine, P.O.Box 132, Samara, Ethiopia; Tefera, Y., Samara University, College of Veterinary Medicine, P.O.Box 132, Samara, Ethiopia; Endris, A., Samara University, College of Veterinary Medicine, P.O.Box 132, Samara, Ethiopia | The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of some factors on the reproductive performance of smallholder dairy cows under artificial insemination (AI) in two regions of Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study and retrospective data analysis were conducted on 428 farm characteristics and management, 644 cow reproductive histories and 613 inseminations by examining records and a questionnaire survey. Mean days for calving to first service interval (CFSI) and calving to conception interval (CCI) were 222 (n=320) and 257(n=234) days, respectively. Service per conception (SPC) was 1.54 and first service conception rate (FSCR) was 41.8%. The relationship between reproductive performance and risk factors was described by using proportion of submitted cows to first service by day 201 after calving (SUB201), pregnant cows by day 228 after calving (PREG228) and non pregnant cows by day 305 after calving (NPREG305). The proportions for SUB201, PREG228 and NPREG305 were 35%, 28% and 52%, respectively. Site, body condition score (BCS) and management systems were associated to SUB201, PREG228 and NPREG305. The odds for BCS <3 to that of BCS>3 were 0.379, 0.297 and 2.03 for SUB201, PREG228 and NPREG305, respectively. Farms with intensive management system had odds of 1.99, 1.77 and 0.533 for SUB201, PREG228 and NPREG305, respectively to that of extensively managed farms. The performance of the AI service in the area had association to SUB201 and NPREG305. BCS, age of the cow, management system and AI service performance were factors to affect the reproductive performance of the smallholder dairy farms. Thus, increasing reproductive performance should overcome the challenge of nutritional and AI management. © iForest – Biogeosciences and Forestry. | Body condition; Breed; Insemination; Pregnancy | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-48449092229 | The impact of small-scale irrigation on household food security: The case of Filtino and Godino irrigation schemes in Ethiopia | Tesfaye A., Bogale A., Namara R.E., Bacha D. | 2008 | Irrigation and Drainage Systems | 22 | 2 | 10.1007/s10795-008-9047-5 | Ministry of Water Resources Development, P.O. Box 5744 or 5673, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; School of Graduate Studies, Haramaya University, P.O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia; International Water Management Institute, Africa Regional Program, CT 112, Cantonments, Accra, Ghana; Agricultural Economist, Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 265, Oromia, Ethiopia | Tesfaye, A., Ministry of Water Resources Development, P.O. Box 5744 or 5673, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Bogale, A., School of Graduate Studies, Haramaya University, P.O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia; Namara, R.E., International Water Management Institute, Africa Regional Program, CT 112, Cantonments, Accra, Ghana; Bacha, D., Agricultural Economist, Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 265, Oromia, Ethiopia | Ethiopia's irrigation potential is estimated at 3.7 million hectare, of which only about 190,000 ha (4.3% of the potential) is actually irrigated. There is little information on the extent to which the so far developed irrigation schemes have been effective in meeting their stated objectives of attaining food self-sufficiency and eradicating poverty. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to identify the impact of small-scale irrigation on household food security based on data obtained from 200 farmers in Ada Liben district of Ethiopia in 2006. The resulting data was analyzed using Heckman's Two-step Estimation procedure. Studies elsewhere revealed that access to reliable irrigation water can enable farmers to adopt new technologies and intensify cultivation, leading to increased productivity, overall higher production, and greater returns from farming. Our study findings confirm some of these claims. In the study area about 70% of the irrigation users are food secure while only 20% of the non-users are found to be food secure. Access to small scale irrigation enabled the sample households to grow crops more than once a year; to insure increased and stable production, income and consumption; and improve their food security status. The study concludes that small-scale irrigation significantly contributed to household food security. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2008. | Food security; Heckit model; Small-scale irrigation | Canning; Estimation; Food preservation; Food processing; Irrigation; Maximum likelihood estimation; Technology transfer; Waste management; Water; Business media; Ethiopia; Food security; Household food; Increased productivity; Irrigation schemes; Irrigation watering; New technologies; Small scale; Stable production; Security of data; crop production; cultivation; estimation method; food security; irrigation system; poverty alleviation; self sufficiency; technology adoption; Africa; East Africa; Ethiopia; Sub-Saharan Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-28344433134 | Technology transfer pathways and livelihood impact indicators in central Ethiopia | Tesfaye A., Jemal I., Ferede S., Curran M.M. | 2005 | Tropical Animal Health and Production | 37 | None | 10.1007/s11250-005-9011-4 | Holetta Research Centre, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Adami Tulu Research Center, Zway, Ethiopia; Debre Zeit Research Center, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia; Villardi Consulting, Singapore, Singapore | Tesfaye, A., Holetta Research Centre, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Jemal, I., Adami Tulu Research Center, Zway, Ethiopia; Ferede, S., Debre Zeit Research Center, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia; Curran, M.M., Villardi Consulting, Singapore, Singapore | A survey was conducted in central Ethiopia to elicit information on existing and potential dissemination pathways for technical information on donkey husbandry. A detailed socio-economic survey was also conducted to provide background information on the people and the region, and livelihood indicators were drawn out at the same time. The results showed that there are many opportunities for group dissemination by making use of existing social networks. There are also opportunities for dissemination through extension agents, farmer groups and radio broadcasting. © 2005 Springer. | Central Ethiopia; Donkey; Husbandry | adult; agriculture; animal; animal husbandry; animal welfare; article; economics; education; Ethiopia; female; horse; human; income; interpersonal communication; male; methodology; middle aged; technology; Adult; Agriculture; Animal Husbandry; Animal Welfare; Animals; Communication; Equidae; Ethiopia; Female; Humans; Income; Male; Middle Aged; Technology Transfer; Equus asinus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79956005322 | Evaluation of the in vitro and in vivo probiotic qualities of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) recovered from locally fermented products | Tesfaye A., Mehari T., Ashenafi M. | 2011 | International Journal of Probiotics and Prebiotics | 6 | 2 | None | Departments of Biology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Departments of Chemistry, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Tesfaye, A., Departments of Biology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Mehari, T., Departments of Chemistry, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Ashenafi, M., Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | From 143 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) recovered from locally fermented products, 27 strains were antagonistic against sensitive LAB indicator (Lab. brevis 3). Based on in vitro (acid-bile tolerance and antagonism against foodborne pathogens) criteria 9 LAB were selected for in vivo mice model infection test LAB (pure or mixed cultures) and Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 were administered orally to mice at log 6 and log 4 cfu/ml, respectively. The count of Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 from the frces of co-infected mice was significantly reduced (p<0.01) by mixed LAB culture (MLC) 3, MLC2, MLC 1, Lab. plantarum 1, Ped pentosaceus 1, Lab. delbreuckiissp delbreuckii, Lab. brevis 1, Lab. acidophilus 1 and Lab. plantarum 2. MLC 3 and 2 totally eliminated the test pathogen from the frces co-infected mice at day 15 and 16, respectively. The effects of MLCs were found better than single LAB cultures. Besides, the effect of single LAB cultures was improved much at log 9.00 cful ml administrations. Both the in vitro and in vivo probiotic analyses results strongly suggest that LAB, most single and all MLCs are possible candidate probiotics that can be used for the formulation of starters to prepare safe and bioprotective products. Copyright © 2011 by New Century Health Publishers, LLC. | Antagonism; Fermented products; Foodborne pathogens; Lactic acid bacteria; Probiotic | probiotic agent; animal experiment; animal model; article; bacterium culture; bacterium isolate; controlled study; drug safety; fermentation; Lactobacillus; Lactobacillus acidophilus; Lactobacillus curvatus; Lactobacillus delbrueckii; Lactobacillus fermentum; Lactobacillus paracasei; Lactobacillus plantarum; mouse; nonhuman; Pediococcus pentosaceus; pH measurement; Salmonella typhimurium; salmonellosis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77954676849 | Investigating the impact of discrete-return lidar point density on estimations of mean and dominant plot-level tree height in Eucalyptus grandis plantations | Tesfamichael S.G., Ahmed F.B., van Aardt J.A.N. | 2010 | International Journal of Remote Sensing | 31 | 11 | 10.1080/01431160903144086 | School of Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Rochester Institute of Technology, Center for Imaging Science-Laboratory for Imaging Algorithms and Systems, Rochester, NY, 14623, United States | Tesfamichael, S.G., School of Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Ahmed, F.B., School of Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; van Aardt, J.A.N., Rochester Institute of Technology, Center for Imaging Science-Laboratory for Imaging Algorithms and Systems, Rochester, NY, 14623, United States | The accuracy of lidar remote sensing in characterizing three-dimensional forest structural attributes has encouraged foresters to integrate lidar approaches in routine inventories. However, lidar point density is an important consideration when assessing forest biophysical parameters, given the direct relationship between higher spatial resolution and lidar acquisition and processing costs. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of point density on mean and dominant tree height estimates at plot level. The study was conducted in an intensively managed Eucalyptus grandis plantation. High point density (eight points/m2) discrete- return, small-footprint lidar data were used to generate point density simulations averaging 0.25, one, two, three, four, five, and six points/m2. Field surveyed plot- level mean and dominant heights were regressed against metrics derived from lidar data at each simulated point density. Stepwise regression was used to identify which lidar metrics produced the best models. Mean height was estimated at accuracy of R2 ranging between 0.93 and 0.94 while dominant height was estimated with an R2 of 0.95. Root mean square error (RMSE) was also similar at all densities for mean height (~1.0 m) and dominant height (~1.2 m); the relative RMSE compared to field-measured mean was constant at approximately 5%. Analysis of bias showed that the estimation of both variables did not vary with density. The results indicated that all lidar point densities resulted in reliable models. It was concluded that plot-level height can be estimated with reliable accuracy using relatively low density lidar point spacing. Additional research is required to investigate the effect of low point density on estimation of other forest biophysical attributes. © 2010 Taylor & Francis. | None | Best model; Biophysical parameters; Discrete-return lidar; Dominant height; Eucalyptus grandis; Forest structural attributes; LIDAR data; LIDAR remote sensing; Low density; Point density; Processing costs; Reliable models; Root mean square errors; Small-footprint lidars; Spatial resolution; Stepwise regression; Tree height; Estimation; Forestry; Remote sensing; Optical radar; biophysics; estimation method; height determination; lidar; regression analysis; remote sensing; spatial resolution; tree; Density; Estimation; Eucalyptus Grandis; Forestry; Radar; Regression Analysis; Remote Sensing; Eucalyptus grandis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84884167739 | Municipal sludge as source of nitrogen and phosphorus in perennial pasture Eragrostis curvula production: Agronomic benefits and environmental impacts | Tesfamariam E.H., Annandale J.G., Steyn J.M., Stirzaker R.J., Mbakwe I. | 2013 | Water SA | 39 | 4 | 10.4314/wsa.v39i4.9 | Department of Plant Production and Soil Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, 0002, Pretoria, South Africa; CSIRO Land and Water, PO Box 1666, ACT 2601, Australia; CRC for Irrigation Futures, PO Box 56, Darling Heights, QLD, 4350, Australia | Tesfamariam, E.H., Department of Plant Production and Soil Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, 0002, Pretoria, South Africa; Annandale, J.G., Department of Plant Production and Soil Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, 0002, Pretoria, South Africa; Steyn, J.M., Department of Plant Production and Soil Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, 0002, Pretoria, South Africa; Stirzaker, R.J., CSIRO Land and Water, PO Box 1666, ACT 2601, Australia, CRC for Irrigation Futures, PO Box 56, Darling Heights, QLD, 4350, Australia; Mbakwe, I., Department of Plant Production and Soil Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, 0002, Pretoria, South Africa | Land application of sludge has been shown to improve soil properties and aid crop growth, but the possibility of constituent nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus reaching environmentally toxic levels has caused governing authorities to set limits to how much sludge can be applied to agronomic land. The high nitrogen utilisation potential of pasture grasses suggests that more sludge can be used in this cropping system without the risk of excess nitrates. This study investigates the effect of exceeding the South African sludge application limit on hay yield, soil nitrates and phosphorus. Field plots were arranged in a complete block design comprising 4 replications of 4 treatments planted to Eragrostis curvula. The treatments consisted of 0, 4, 8 and 16 Mg{bullet operator}ha-1 anaerobically digested sludge. Soil samples were collected before treatment application and at the end of each growing season for N, P, NO3 -, NH4 +, and Bray-1P analyses. Plant samples were collected at flowering stage for hay yield and N and P uptake determination. Statistical analyses were conducted using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and general linear model (GLM) procedures of Windows SAS 9.0 to evaluate the effect of sludge application rates on hay yield. Results over 4 growing seasons indicate that exceeding the recommended limit increased hay yield by 4% in a dry season (11.7 vs. 12.36 Mg{bullet operator}ha-1) and by 16% in a wet season (14.19 vs. 17.31 Mg{bullet operator}ha-1) and also increased nitrogen uptake by 15%. Sludge applied at double the recommended limit did not cause the accumulation of nitrate and ammonium in the soil, however, both total and Bray-1P were doubled. The study shows that the potential long-term environmental risk of doubling the sludge application rate norm would be from labile P accumulation in the soil profile despite a sludge P:Fe molar ratio of less than unity. | Eragrostis curvula; Leaching; Nitrogen; Phosphorus; Sludge | Anaerobically digested sludges; Application rates; Environmental risks; Eragrostis curvula; General linear modeling; Nitrogen and phosphorus; Perennial pastures; Sludge; Agronomy; Anaerobic digestion; Leaching; Nitrates; Nitrogen; Phosphorus; Soil testing; Soils; Environmental impact; accumulation; crop yield; cropping practice; dry season; environmental impact; environmental risk; flowering; growing season; leaching; nitrogen; pasture; phosphorus; sludge; soil profile; variance analysis; wet season | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79958070993 | Evaluation of soil quality identified by local farmers in Mai-Negus catchment, northern Ethiopia | Tesfahunegn G.B., Tamene L., Vlek P.L.G. | 2011 | Geoderma | 163 | 42433 | 10.1016/j.geoderma.2011.04.016 | Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, Walter-Flex-Str. 3, 53113 Bonn, Germany; Aksum University, Faculty of Agriculture and Rural Development, P.O. Box 287, Aksum, Ethiopia; International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Chitedze Agricultural Research Station, P.O. Box 158, Lilongwe, Malawi | Tesfahunegn, G.B., Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, Walter-Flex-Str. 3, 53113 Bonn, Germany, Aksum University, Faculty of Agriculture and Rural Development, P.O. Box 287, Aksum, Ethiopia; Tamene, L., International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Chitedze Agricultural Research Station, P.O. Box 158, Lilongwe, Malawi; Vlek, P.L.G., Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, Walter-Flex-Str. 3, 53113 Bonn, Germany | Though soil quality (SQ) degradation is a serious challenge to national food security, little information is available that evaluate farmer SQ knowledge vis-à-vis scientific knowledge at catchment scale in Ethiopia. Scientific soil analysis is not an effective approach for SQ assessment in developing regions. An alternative option to evaluate using farmer knowledge is thus necessary but this can be sound after verified scientifically in the context of each region. The present study aims to evaluate SQ status (categories) identified by local farmers using scientific soil measurements, and assess their potential as indicators of soil degradation for decision making in the Mai-Negus catchment, northern Ethiopia. In this study, the scientifically measured soil attributes significantly differed (P ≤ 0.05) among the SQ categories identified by the local farmers. Using variables retained in the four identified component factors, discriminant analysis identified soil porosity to be the most powerful variable that can help discriminate the SQ status. The study shows that farmer derived SQ status (low, medium, high) could be crucial in providing basis for management and policy decision making as validated by analytical components. Therefore, attention should be given toward integrating farmer knowledge in SQ management to increase chance of technology adoption by farmers. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. | Local farmer; Mai-Negus catchment; Northern Ethiopia; Soil attributes; Soil quality; Soil quality status | Catchment scale; Developing regions; Ethiopia; Farmer knowledge; Local farmer; Mai-Negus catchment; National Foods; Northern Ethiopia; Policy decisions; Scientific knowledge; Soil analysis; Soil degradation; Soil measurement; Soil Porosity; Soil quality; Technology adoption; Agriculture; Catchments; Decision making; Degradation; Discriminant analysis; Food supply; Rating; Runoff; Soils; Quality control; agricultural worker; catchment; farmers knowledge; food security; policy making; soil analysis; soil degradation; soil property; soil quality; technology adoption; Ethiopia; Tigray | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79960845624 | Evaluation of groundwater resources in the Geba basin, Ethiopia | Tesfagiorgis K., Gebreyohannes T., De Smedt F., Moeyersons J., Hagos M., Nyssen J., Deckers J. | 2011 | Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment | 70 | 3 | 10.1007/s10064-010-0338-3 | Department of Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; NOAA-CREST Center, City College of New York, T-107 Steinman Hall, 140th St. and Convent Ave., New York, NY 10031, United States; Mekelle University, PO Box 231, Mekelle, Ethiopia; Royal Museum for Central Africa, 3080 Tervuren, Belgium; Department of Geography, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281-S8, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Division for Land and Water Management, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200E, 3001 Leuven, Belgium | Tesfagiorgis, K., Department of Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium, NOAA-CREST Center, City College of New York, T-107 Steinman Hall, 140th St. and Convent Ave., New York, NY 10031, United States; Gebreyohannes, T., Department of Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium, Mekelle University, PO Box 231, Mekelle, Ethiopia; De Smedt, F., Department of Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; Moeyersons, J., Royal Museum for Central Africa, 3080 Tervuren, Belgium; Hagos, M., Mekelle University, PO Box 231, Mekelle, Ethiopia; Nyssen, J., Department of Geography, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281-S8, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Deckers, J., Division for Land and Water Management, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200E, 3001 Leuven, Belgium | This article presents an assessment of the groundwater resources in the Geba basin, Ethiopia. Hydrogeological characteristics are derived from a combination of GIS and field survey data. MODFLOW groundwater model in a PMWIN environment is used to simulate the movement and distribution of groundwater in the basin. Despite the limited data available, by simplifying the model as a single layered semi-confined groundwater system and by optimising the transmissivity of the different lithological units, a realistic description of the groundwater flow is obtained. It is concluded that 30,000 m3/day of groundwater can be abstracted from the Geba basin for irrigation in a sustainable way, in locations characterised by shallow groundwater in combination with aquitard-type lithological units. © 2010 Springer-Verlag. | Ethiopia; Geba basin; Groundwater modelling; Transmissivity | Ethiopia; Field surveys; Geba basin; Groundwater modelling; Groundwater models; Groundwater system; Hydrogeological characteristics; Limited data; MODFLOW; Shallow groundwater; Transmissivity; Aquifers; Groundwater flow; Lithology; Groundwater resources; aquitard; computer simulation; field survey; flow modeling; GIS; groundwater abstraction; groundwater flow; groundwater resource; hydrological modeling; resource assessment; Ethiopia; Geba Basin | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84875651218 | Evaluation of adjuvants for enhanced management of Podosphaera xanthii using potassium silicate and biocontrol agents | Tesfagiorgis H.B., Annegarn H.J. | 2013 | Crop Protection | 48 | None | 10.1016/j.cropro.2013.03.002 | Department of Geography Environmental Management and Energy Studies, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 425, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa; University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa | Tesfagiorgis, H.B., Department of Geography Environmental Management and Energy Studies, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 425, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa; Annegarn, H.J., Department of Geography Environmental Management and Energy Studies, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 425, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa | Three adjuvants [polyether-polymethylsiloxane-copolymer (Break-Thru®), alkoxylated fatty alkylamine polymer/ethoxylated sorbitane ester (Partner 650®) and polyoxyethylene 20 sorbitan monooleate (Tween-80®)] were compared for their ability to improve the efficacy of potassium silicate and biocontrol agents (BCAs) against powdery mildew of zucchini caused by Podosphaera xanthii (Castagne) U. Braun & Shishkoff. The most effective adjuvant was investigated for its direct impact on the pathogen and deposition of BCAs using electron microscopy and its compatibility with the BCAs and zucchini plant was evaluated to establish an integrated management of powdery mildew. Furthermore, effects of Si spray in accumulation of Si and K in the leaves were measured. Break-Thru® and Partner 650® improved the efficacy of silicate by 18-35%. The best adjuvant, Break-Thru®, caused a collapse and degeneration of the conidia and hyphae of the pathogen, restricted growth and spread of the powdery mildew colonies by binding its propagative structures, and improved deposition of BCAs on the leaf surface and the fungus. Break-Thru® was compatible with the plant and the BCAs at concentrations <0.4 ml l-1, and can be used with selected BCAs and SiO2 for an integrated management of powdery mildew. SiO2 applied as a foliar spray increased the level of Si in zucchini leaves, which may contribute to systemic resistance of the plant against the disease. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. | Adjuvant; Biocontrol agents; Podosphaera xanthii; Potassium silicate; Powdery mildew; Zucchini | biocontrol agent; deposition; disease control; electron microscopy; fungus; growth rate; integrated approach; pathogen; plant community; Cucurbita pepo var. melopepo; Erysiphales; Fungi; Podosphaera xanthii | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84876453832 | Isolation of compounds from acetone extract of root wood of moringa stenopetala and evaluation of their antibacterial activities | Tesemma M., Adane L., Tariku Y., Muleta D., Demise S. | 2013 | Research Journal of Medicinal Plant | 7 | 1 | 10.3923/rjmp.2013.32.47 | Department of Chemistry, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; Department of Biology, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia | Tesemma, M., Department of Chemistry, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; Adane, L., Department of Chemistry, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; Tariku, Y., Department of Chemistry, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; Muleta, D., Department of Biology, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; Demise, S., Department of Biology, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia | The main objective of this study was to isolate compounds from root wood of Moringa stenopetala and evaluate antibacterial activities of the isolated compounds. Crude gradient extracts were obtained from five solvents (petroleum ether, chloroform, acetone, methanol and water) with increasing solvent polarity using cold maceration technique. The in vitro antibacterial activity evaluation of gradient extracts and isolated compounds was done on four different pathogenic bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella Typhimurium) using agar disc diffusion technique. Among the five crude extracts evaluated, the acetone extract was found to be the most active against the tested strains. Thus, this extract was subsequently subjected to column chromatographic separation which led to isolation of four compounds (MS-1, MS-2, MS-3 and MS-4). The chemical structures of the compounds were found to be cholest-5-en-3-ol, palmitic acid, n-octacosane and oleic acid, respectively, based on physical properties and spectroscopic (IR and NMR) data as well as literature reports. Three of the compounds namely cholest-5-en-3-ol, palmitic acid and oleic acid showed highest activity against E. coli. The observed antibacterial activities of the crude extract and the isolated compounds could justify the traditional use of the plant for the treatment of different bacterial infections. Thus, further test is recommended on large number of bacterial strains to decide their potential as candidates in development of antibacterial drugs. © 2013 Academic Journals Inc. | Antibacterial activity; Crude extraction; Escherichia coli; IR-NMR; Isolation; Moringa stenopetala; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Salmonella Typhimurium; Staphylococcus aureus | acetone; antiinfective agent; chloroform; cholesterol; ciprofloxacin; methanol; Moringa stenopetala extract; octacosane; oleic acid; palmitic acid; petroleum ether; plant extract; unclassified drug; water; antibacterial activity; article; bacterial strain; column chromatography; controlled study; disk diffusion; drug determination; drug effect; drug isolation; drug response; drug screening; drug structure; Escherichia coli; growth inhibition; in vitro study; infrared spectroscopy; Moringa; moringa stenopetala; nonhuman; nuclear magnetic resonance; plant root; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Salmonella typhimurium; separation technique; Staphylococcus aureus; Bacteria (microorganisms); Escherichia coli; Moringa stenopetala; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Salmonella typhimurium; Staphylococcus aureus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84892489874 | The impact of rewards on job satisfaction and employee retention | Terera S.R., Ngirande H. | 2014 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 5 | 1 | 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n1p481 | Department of Industrial Psychology, University of Fort Hare, South Africa; Department of Business Management, University of Limpopo, Turfloop campus, Private Bag 1106, Sovenga, 0727, South Africa | Terera, S.R., Department of Industrial Psychology, University of Fort Hare, South Africa; Ngirande, H., Department of Business Management, University of Limpopo, Turfloop campus, Private Bag 1106, Sovenga, 0727, South Africa | This study explored the impact of rewards on job satisfaction and employee retention among nurses. The objectives of this study were to determine the impact of rewards on employee retention, to establish whether there is a relationship between rewards and job satisfaction, to establish the relationship between job satisfaction and employee retention and to make recommendations to the policy makers in the organization on possible ways/strategies to improve employee retention based on the research findings. The study utilized a quantitative research design and 180 nurses were randomly selected as research participants. Self-administered questionnaires were administered to participants/respondents. The data was analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 20.0. Hypotheses were formulated to test the relationships between the independent variable and the dependent variable. The study revealed that employee rewards lead to employee retention but however, they do not result in job satisfaction. | Employee retention; Human resource management; Impact; Job satisfaction; Rewards | None | 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 |
| 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-s2.0-84878763974 | Marketing perspective on the impact of financial and non-financial measures on shareholder value | Terblanche N.S., Gerber C., Erasmus P., Schmidt D. | 2013 | South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences | 16 | 2 | None | Department of Business Management, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa | Terblanche, N.S., Department of Business Management, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa; Gerber, C., Department of Business Management, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa; Erasmus, P., Department of Business Management, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa; Schmidt, D., Department of Business Management, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa | The pressure for financial accountability contributed to widespread concern about the function of marketing within the company. Consequently, marketers have become preoccupied with measuring the performance of marketing activity. Diverse financial and non-financial methods have been developed to provide evidence of how marketing activity impacts on the bottom line. This article proposes an approach whereby financial and non-financial performance measures are combined to measure the contribution of marketing to sales. Secondary data from two retail brands within the same industry were analysed whereby actual accounting data were adjusted to examine the link between marketing expenditures, specifically with regard to the 4Ps (typical non-financial measures), and sales. The results of the time series regression showed that the nature of the relationship between marketing expenditures and sales is dependent largely on the product characteristics. The link between marketing and sales depicted serves as a starting point from which to build a more robust measurement tool incorporating financial and non-financial marketing performance measures that will serve to justify investment in the marketing of a brand. | Marketing performance measures; Shareholder value; Time series analysis | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-38149139296 | Thermal tolerance in a south-east African population of the tsetse fly Glossina pallidipes (Diptera, Glossinidae): Implications for forecasting climate change impacts | Terblanche J.S., Clusella-Trullas S., Deere J.A., Chown S.L. | 2008 | Journal of Insect Physiology | 54 | 1 | 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2007.08.007 | Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa | Terblanche, J.S., Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Clusella-Trullas, S., Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Deere, J.A., Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Chown, S.L., Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa | For tsetse (Glossina spp.), the vectors of human and animal trypanosomiases, the physiological mechanisms linking variation in population dynamics with changing weather conditions have not been well established. Here, we investigate high- and low-temperature tolerance in terms of activity limits and survival in a natural population of adult Glossina pallidipes from eastern Zambia. Due to increased interest in chilling flies for handling and aerial dispersal in sterile insect technique control and eradication programmes, we also provide further detailed investigation of low-temperature responses. In wild-caught G. pallidipes, the probability of survival for 50% of the population at low-temperatures was at 3.7, 8.9 and 9.6 °C (95% CIs: ±1.5 °C) for 1, 2 and 3 h treatments, respectively. At high temperatures, it was estimated that treatments at 37.9, 36.2 and 35.6 °C (95% CIs: ±0.5 °C) would yield 50% population survival for 1, 2 and 3 h, respectively. Significant effects of time and temperature were detected at both temperature extremes (GLZ, p<0.05 in all cases) although a time-temperature interaction was only detected at high temperatures (p<0.0001). We synthesized data from four other Kenyan populations and found that upper critical thermal limits showed little variation among populations and laboratory treatments (range: 43.9-45.0 °C; 0.25 °C/min heating rate), although reduction to more ecologically relevant heating rates (0.06 °C/min) reduce these values significantly from ∼44.4 to 40.6 °C, thereby providing a causal explanation for why tsetse distribution may be high-temperature limited. By contrast, low-temperature limits showed substantial variation among populations and acclimation treatments (range: 4.5-13.8 °C; 0.25 °C/min), indicating high levels of inter-population variability. Ecologically relevant cooling rates (0.06 °C/min) suggest tsetses are likely to experience chill coma temperatures under natural conditions (∼20-21 °C). The results from acute hardening experiments in the Zambian population demonstrate limited ability to improve low-temperature tolerance over short (hourly) timescales after non-lethal pre-treatments. In flies which survived chilling, recovery times were non-linear with plateaus between 2-6 and 8-12 °C. Survival times ranged between 4 and 36 h and did not vary between flies which had undergone chill coma by comparison with flies which had not, even after factoring body condition into the analyses (p>0.5 in all cases). However, flies with low chill coma values had the highest body water and fat content, indicating that when energy reserves are depleted, low-temperature tolerance may be compromised. Overall, these results suggest that physiological mechanisms may provide insight into tsetse population dynamics, hence distribution and abundance, and support a general prediction for reduced geographic distribution under future climate warming scenarios. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Climate change; Cold tolerance; Fitness costs; Geographic distribution; Insect vector; Phenotypic plasticity; Seasonal variation; Trade-offs | climate change; fly; geographical distribution; phenotypic plasticity; population dynamics; population structure; seasonal variation; acclimatization; analysis of variance; animal; article; climate; comparative study; geography; greenhouse effect; Kenya; motor activity; physiology; population dynamics; survival; temperature; tsetse fly; Zambia; Acclimatization; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Climate; Geography; Greenhouse Effect; Kenya; Motor Activity; Population Dynamics; Survival Analysis; Temperature; Tsetse Flies; Zambia; Africa; East Africa; Kenya; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Zambia; Animalia; Diptera; Glossina (genus); Glossina pallidipes; Glossinidae; Hexapoda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-35448962527 | Sink competition and desuckering effects on field performance of triploid and tetraploid plantain genotypes | Tenkouano A., Vuylsteke D., Swennen R. | 2007 | Journal of Crop Improvement | 20 | 02-Jan | 10.1300/J411v20n01_02 | Crop Improvement Division, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, P.M.B. 5320, Oyo Road, Ibadan, Nigeria; Laboratory of Tropical Crop Improvement, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 13, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium; IITA c/o L.W. Lam | Tenkouano, A., Crop Improvement Division, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, P.M.B. 5320, Oyo Road, Ibadan, Nigeria, IITA c/o L.W. Lambourn and Co., 26 Dingwall Road, Croydon CR9 3EE, United Kingdom; Vuylsteke, D., Crop Improvement Division, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, P.M.B. 5320, Oyo Road, Ibadan, Nigeria; Swennen, R., Laboratory of Tropical Crop Improvement, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 13, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium | Reproductive growth in polyarchic Musa spp. varieties occurs by the simultaneous growth of several shoots, resulting in competitive inhibition of fruit development in the individual shoots, particularly under poor soil fertility conditions. Nine plantain genotypes were forced into single-culm growth by continuous sucker removal in the ratoon crop (RC). There were no significant differences among genotypes for days to flowering (DTF) and days to harvest (DTH) in the plant crop (PC), but significant differences occurred in RC for both traits. There was a negative correlation between degree of sucker growth in the PC and DTF or DTH in RC, indicating that early flowering and maturity in the RC occurred as a result of fast sucker development in the PC. Likewise, bunch weight in the RC was positively correlated with sucker growth in the previous crop. However, sucker growth appeared to compete against the development of the bunch in the PC, resulting in a significant reduction in fruit size but not fruit number. Desuckering significantly reduced DTF and DTH in the RC. Bunch weight and fruit size were significantly improved by sucker removal in the RC. Gains were highest for genotypes that normally produce multiple lateral shoots and lowest for those displaying a more hierarchical growth habit. Thus, sucker removal could be recommended as a crop management option for the polyarchic Musa genotypes. Copyright © by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved. | Apical dominance; Bunch weight; Crop management; Desuckering; Genetic improvement; Musa spp.; Suckering behavior | Musa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84901585540 | Impacts of variable energy prices on the financial sustainability of water facilities: Case from Ghana | Tenkorang S.J., Odai S.N., Adjei K.A., Annor F.O., Kwarteng S.O., Nyarko K.B., Abu-Madi M.O. | 2014 | International Journal of Water | 8 | 2 | 10.1504/IJW.2014.060966 | C/o Ghana Water Company Limited, PPD Department, P.O. Box M194, Head Office, Accra, Ghana; C/o Civil Engineering Department, KNUST, Private Mail Bag, UPO, Kumasi, Ghana; Institute of Environmental and Water Studies, Birzeit University, P.O. Box 14, Birzeit-the-West-Bank, Palestine | Tenkorang, S.J., C/o Ghana Water Company Limited, PPD Department, P.O. Box M194, Head Office, Accra, Ghana; Odai, S.N., C/o Civil Engineering Department, KNUST, Private Mail Bag, UPO, Kumasi, Ghana; Adjei, K.A., C/o Civil Engineering Department, KNUST, Private Mail Bag, UPO, Kumasi, Ghana; Annor, F.O., C/o Civil Engineering Department, KNUST, Private Mail Bag, UPO, Kumasi, Ghana; Kwarteng, S.O., C/o Civil Engineering Department, KNUST, Private Mail Bag, UPO, Kumasi, Ghana; Nyarko, K.B., C/o Civil Engineering Department, KNUST, Private Mail Bag, UPO, Kumasi, Ghana; Abu-Madi, M.O., Institute of Environmental and Water Studies, Birzeit University, P.O. Box 14, Birzeit-the-West-Bank, Palestine | Water is conveyed to consumers through systems that generally rely heavily on energy. The dependence on energy is a major challenge to utility providers because of frequent variation in energy prices. This paper assesses the effect of energy price changes on the financial sustainability of water facilities. It further investigates the proportion of energy cost to total costs of water supply. The study is based on a field survey that targeted five small town water systems and 15 water systems existing under the urban water sector in the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions of Ghana. The results show that energy (diesel and electricity) expenditure forms substantial component of water supply cost. The proportions of energy to total supply costs for small town and urban water systems are 31% and 29%, respectively. The total operational costs per water supply stand at 1.19 US$/m3 and 0.44 US$/m3 for small town and urban water systems respectively. The energy costs per water supply for small town and urban water systems are 0.40 US$/m3 and 0.13 US$/m3, respectively. Results further show that diesel-driven water systems are more sensitive to energy price changes than those of electricity-driven systems; therefore making financial profit from diesel-driven systems is highly elastic to diesel price changes. The results thus indicate that urban water systems are more efficient than small town water systems in terms of both energy and operational costs. Copyright © 2014 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. | Diesel prices; Electricity prices; Ghana; Sustainability; Water facilities | Electricity; Sustainable development; Water supply; Waterworks; Diesel prices; Electricity prices; Financial sustainability; Ghana; Proportion of energy; Urban water systems; Water facility; Water supply costs; Costs; diesel; electricity; expenditure; field survey; pricing policy; small town; sustainability; water economics; water management; water supply; Ashanti; Ghana; Greater Accra | 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-s2.0-84887702790 | The evaluation of a telephonic wellness coaching intervention for weight reduction and wellness improvement in a community-based cohort of persons with serious mental illness | Temmingh H., Claassen A., Van Zyl S., Carrara H., Dayakalashe N.M., Myer L., Stein D.J. | 2013 | Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease | 201 | 11 | 10.1097/NMD.0000000000000036 | Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Valkenberg Hospital, Private Bag X1, Observatory, Cape Town, 7935, South Africa; Virgin Life Care (Pty) Ltd, South Africa; School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Temmingh, H., Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Valkenberg Hospital, Private Bag X1, Observatory, Cape Town, 7935, South Africa; Claassen, A., Virgin Life Care (Pty) Ltd, South Africa; Van Zyl, S., Virgin Life Care (Pty) Ltd, South Africa; Carrara, H., School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Dayakalashe, N.M., Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Valkenberg Hospital, Private Bag X1, Observatory, Cape Town, 7935, South Africa; Myer, L., School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Stein, D.J., Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Valkenberg Hospital, Private Bag X1, Observatory, Cape Town, 7935, South Africa | Obesity and metabolic disturbances frequently occur in individuals with psychiatric disorders. This study evaluates a telephonically delivered lifestyle coaching intervention aimed at weight reduction and wellness improvement in psychiatric outpatients. A cohort of 761 participants was prospectively followed up for a period of 12 months. Lifestyle coaching was administered telephonically on a weekly basis for the first 3 months and monthly thereafter. During the study period, there was a significant reduction in weight and waist circumference as well as a significant increase in general health in the completer group. A total of 46% of the participants lost 5% or more of their baseline weight. Significant predictors of attrition at baseline were the presence of metabolic syndrome, younger age, chronic illness, and the diagnosis of a mood disorder. Dropout was significantly less in those participants who received support from a nominated caregiver. Telephonic lifestyle coaching is feasible in this population. Copyright © 2013 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. | Lifestyle coaching; Serious mental illness; Telephonic; Weight reduction; Wellness improvement | amisulpride; aripiprazole; carbamazepine; clozapine; lamotrigine; lithium; olanzapine; quetiapine; risperidone; serotonin uptake inhibitor; tricyclic antidepressant agent; valproic acid; adult; article; bipolar disorder; caregiver; chronic disease; clinical evaluation; female; follow up; human; lifestyle; major clinical study; major depression; male; mental disease; mental patient; metabolic syndrome X; mood disorder; outpatient; schizophrenia; telemedicine; telephonic wellness coaching intervention; waist circumference; weight reduction; wellbeing; Adolescent; Adult; Cohort Studies; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Health Promotion; Humans; Life Style; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Mental Disorders; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Residence Characteristics; Severity of Illness Index; Telemedicine; Weight Loss; Young Adult | GlaxoSmithKline |
| WoS | WOS:000256216700001 | Impact of five years of peer-mediated interventions on sexual behavior and sexually transmitted infections among female sex workers in Mombasa, Kenya | Barasa, Mary-Stella,Bosire, Wilkister,Chersich, Matthew F.,King'ola, Nzioki,Luchters, Stanley,Mandaliya, Kishorchandra,Mwarogo, Peter,Rinyiru, Agnes,Temmerman, Marleen,Wambugu, Sam | 2008 | BMC PUBLIC HEALTH | 8 | None | 10.1186/1471-2458-8-143 | Ghent University, Coast Prov Gen Hosp, Family Hlth Int, Int Ctr Reprod Hlth | "Temmerman, Marleen: Ghent University", | Background: Since 2000, peer-mediated interventions among female sex workers (FSW) in Mombasa Kenya have promoted behavioural change through improving knowledge, attitudes and awareness of HIV serostatus, and aimed to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infection (STI) by facilitating early STI treatment. Impact of these interventions was evaluated among those who attended peer education and at the FSW population level.
Methods: A pre-intervention survey in 2000, recruited 503 FSW using snowball sampling. Thereafter, peer educators provided STI/HIV education, condoms, and facilitated HIV testing, treatment and care services. In 2005, data were collected using identical survey methods, allowing comparison with historical controls, and between FSW who had or had not received peer interventions.
Results: Over five years, sex work became predominately a full-time activity, with increased mean sexual partners (2.8 versus 4.9/week; P < 0.001). Consistent condom use with clients increased from 28.8% (145/503) to 70.4% (356/506; P < 0.001) as well as the likelihood of refusing clients who were unwilling to use condoms (OR = 4.9, 95% CI = 3.7-6.6). In 2005, FSW who received peer interventions (28.7%, 145/506), had more consistent condom use with clients compared with unexposed FSW (86.2% versus 64.0%; AOR = 3.6, 95% CI = 2.1-6.1). These differences were larger among FSW with greater peer-intervention exposure. HIV prevalence was 25% (17/69) in FSW attending = 4 peer-education sessions, compared with 34% (25/73) in those attending 1-3 sessions (P = 0.21). Overall HIV prevalence was 30.6 (151/493) in 2000 and 33.3% (166/498) in 2005 (P = 0.36).
Conclusion: Peer-mediated interventions were associated with an increase in protected sex. Though peer-mediated interventions remain important, higher coverage is needed and more efficacious interventions to reduce overall vulnerability and risk. | ,"CONDOM PROMOTION",DISEASE,ENROLLMENT,"HIV PREVENTION",POPULATION,"PRESUMPTIVE TREATMENT","PREVENTION TRIAL",RANDOMIZED-TRIAL,RISK-REDUCTION,TRANSMISSION | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-22144479818 | Technical article: A fuzzy-logic-based approach to cleaner production evaluation for surface finishing plants | Telukdarie A., Brouckaert C., Huang Y. | 2005 | Plating and Surface Finishing | 92 | 5 | None | Department of Chemical Engineering, Durban Institute of Technology, Durban 4000, South Africa; University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States | Telukdarie, A., Department of Chemical Engineering, Durban Institute of Technology, Durban 4000, South Africa; Brouckaert, C., University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Huang, Y., Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States | The evaluation of environmental cleanliness of an electroplating facility, as compared to the best available practice, has been a challenge, particularly in small or mid-sized plants. This is mainly due to the fact that the detailed plant data necessary for evaluation is always difficult to obtain completely and precisely. To alleviate the data-scarce and lack-of-skill related problems in environmental performance evaluation for cleaner production, a fuzzy-logic-based decision analysis approach is introduced in this paper. The attractiveness of the approach is illustrated by the analysis of rinse system management. The approach is general and thus is suitable for any type of environmental cleanliness problems in the electroplating industry. | None | Clean rooms; Decision theory; Evaluation; Fuzzy sets; Metal cleaning; Metal finishing; Plating; Production engineering; Waste management; Waste treatment; Cleaner production evaluation; Electroplating industry; Fuzzy logic based approach; Rinse system management; Surface finishing plants; Electroplating shops | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-42649098883 | Lost opportunities and constraints in producing rigorous evaluations of USAID Health Projects, 2004-7 | Teller C.H. | 2008 | IDS Bulletin | 39 | 1 | None | Population Reference Bureau, Washington, DC, United States; Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Teller, C.H., Population Reference Bureau, Washington, DC, United States, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Impact evaluation is offen seen as a central building block of results-based management. But in USAID rigorous impact evaluations have been crowded out by the drive to outcome-monitoring in the name of the results agenda. Other constraints on adopting quantitatively well-designed impact evaluation designs have included a lack of the required technical skills amongst those charged with conducting evaluations, the lack of incentives to produce quality studies - including the desire to avoid uncovering weak performance - and hence a lack of political will to expand the impact evaluation programme. The article proposes a new evaluation agenda to address these deficiencies. © Institute of Development Studies. | None | development aid; project assessment; project design; North America; United States | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84893509813 | Prevalence and impacts of low back pain among peasant farmers in South-West Nigeria | Tella B.A., Akinbo S.R.A., Asafa S.A., Gbiri C.A. | 2013 | International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health | 26 | 4 | 10.2478/s13382-013-0135-x | Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, P.M.B 12003, Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria | Tella, B.A., Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, P.M.B 12003, Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria; Akinbo, S.R.A., Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, P.M.B 12003, Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria; Asafa, S.A., Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, P.M.B 12003, Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria; Gbiri, C.A., Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, P.M.B 12003, Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria | Objectives: A relationship between low back pain (LBP) and poor postures has been previously established with a high prevalence observed in many occupations. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of LBP, associated risk factors and impacts on farmers in South-West Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Six hundred and four farmers completed a 36-item closed-ended questionnaire which was translated to Yoruba language with content validity and back translation done afterwards. The questionnaire sought information on demographic data, 12-month prevalence, severity, history, causes and management of LBP, and its impacts on farm activities and the activities of daily living. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17. Data was summarized using descriptive statistics of mean, range, frequency, standard deviation, percentage. Chi2 and Mann-Whitney-U test were used to find association between variables. The level of significance was set at α = 0.05. Results: The 12-month prevalence of LBP among the respondents was 74.4%. Low back pain was described as moderate in 53.4%. Prolonged bending (51.3%) was the most related risk factor. A considerable proportion (65.9%) of the respondents were unable to continue some of the previously enjoyed activities. Males had significantly higher (p ≠0.05) prevalence, recurrence and duration of LBP than the females. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of LBP among farmers in South-West Nigeria. Age, sex and years of involvement in farming have a significant influence on the prevalence of LBP. © 2013 Versita Warsaw and Springer-Verlag Wien. | Impacts; LBP; Peasant Farmers; Prevalence; South-West Nigeria | adult; aged; agriculture; body posture; daily life activity; female; human; low back pain; male; middle aged; Nigeria; Occupational Diseases; prevalence; recurrent disease; risk factor; time; young adult; Activities of Daily Living; Adult; Aged; Agriculture; Female; Humans; Low Back Pain; Male; Middle Aged; Nigeria; Occupational Diseases; Posture; Prevalence; Recurrence; Risk Factors; Time Factors; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84919628210 | An Evaluation of Online Reference Services Through Social Networking Sites in Selected Nigerian University Libraries | Tella A., Oyedokun T.T. | 2014 | Reference Librarian | 55 | 4 | 10.1080/02763877.2014.947889 | University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria | Tella, A., University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Oyedokun, T.T., University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria | The study evaluated online reference services through social networking sites in selected university libraries in Nigeria. A survey approach was adopted to ascertain patrons’ level of awareness, their preferences, and the sources from which they were informed of the existence of the service. Findings revealed that patrons are aware that their university libraries are on social networks but are still not familiar with reference services. Facebook, Twitter, and Ask-a-Librarian were ranked as the most preferred methods for delivering online reference services, and online reference service was indicated as more convenient than traditional desk reference service because communication is available anywhere and anytime with a reference librarian and is easily accessible. © , Published with license by Taylor & Francis. | libraries; Nigeria; online reference services; social media; social networking sites; university libraries | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34249793226 | The impact of motivation on student's academic achievement and learning outcomes in mathematics among secondary school students in Nigeria | Tella A. | 2007 | Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education | 3 | 2 | None | Osun State College of Education, School of Science, Department of Mathematics, P.O. Box 207, Ila-Orangun, Osun State, Nigeria | Tella, A., Osun State College of Education, School of Science, Department of Mathematics, P.O. Box 207, Ila-Orangun, Osun State, Nigeria | In our match towards scientific and technological advancement, we need nothing short of good performance in mathematics at all levels of schooling. In an effort to achieve this, this study investigated the impact of motivation on students' school academic achievement in mathematics in secondary schools using motivation for academic preference scale (α = 0.82) as a measuring instrument and achievement test in mathematics (ATM) Two hypotheses were tested for significant at 0.05 margin of error using t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) Results showed that gender difference were significant when impact of motivation on academic achievement was compared in male and female students. Also other result indicates significant difference when extent of motivation was taken as variable of interest on academic achievement in mathematics based on the degree of their motivation. Implications, suggestions and recommendations on students, parents, government, counsellors, educational stakeholders, etc were discussed. Copyright © 2007 by Moment. | Academic achievement; Learning outcome; Mathematics; Motivation; Nigeria; Secondary school students | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33646367919 | The impact of self-efficacy and prior computer experience on the creativity of new librarians in selected universities libraries in Southwest Nigeria | Tella A., Ayeni C.O. | 2006 | Library Philosophy and Practice | 8 | 2 | None | Department of Library and Information Studies, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana; Federal College of Forestry Library, Ibadan, Nigeria | Tella, A., Department of Library and Information Studies, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana; Ayeni, C.O., Federal College of Forestry Library, Ibadan, Nigeria | [No abstract available] | None | None | 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-s2.0-69849099187 | 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-s2.0-32544437153 | 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-s2.0-84940960972 | Population Growth and Its Impact on the Design Capacity and Performance of the Wastewater Treatment Plants in Sedibeng and Soshanguve, South Africa | Teklehaimanot G.Z., Kamika I., Coetzee M.A.A., Momba M.N.B. | 2015 | Environmental Management | 56 | 4 | 10.1007/s00267-015-0564-3 | Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences, Water Care Unit, TUT, Private Bag X680, 175 Nelson Mandela Drive, Arcadia Campus, Pretoria, South Africa | Teklehaimanot, G.Z., Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences, Water Care Unit, TUT, Private Bag X680, 175 Nelson Mandela Drive, Arcadia Campus, Pretoria, South Africa; Kamika, I., Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences, Water Care Unit, TUT, Private Bag X680, 175 Nelson Mandela Drive, Arcadia Campus, Pretoria, South Africa; Coetzee, M.A.A., Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences, Water Care Unit, TUT, Private Bag X680, 175 Nelson Mandela Drive, Arcadia Campus, Pretoria, South Africa; Momba, M.N.B., Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences, Water Care Unit, TUT, Private Bag X680, 175 Nelson Mandela Drive, Arcadia Campus, Pretoria, South Africa | This study investigated the effects of population growth on the performance of the targeted wastewater treatment plants in Sedibeng District and Soshanguve peri-urban area, South Africa. The impact of population growth was assessed in terms of plant design, operational capacity (flow rate) and other treatment process constraints. Between 2001 and 2007, the number of households connected to the public sewerage service increased by 15.5, 17.2 and 37.8 % in Emfuleni, Lesedi and Midvaal Local Municipalities, respectively. Soshanguve revealed a 50 % increment in the number of households connected to the sewerage system between 1996 and 2001. Except for Sandspruit (−393.8 %), the rate of influent flows received by Meyerton increased by 6.8 ML/day (67.8 %) and 4.7 ML/day (46.8 %) during the dry and wet seasons, respectively. The flow rate appeared to increase during the wet season by 6.8 ML/day (19.1 %) in Leeuwkuil and during the dry season by 0.8 ML/day (3.9 %) in Rietgat. Underperformance of the existing wastewater treatment plants suggests that the rapid population growth in urban and peri-urban areas (hydraulic overloading of the wastewater treatment plants) and operational constraints (overflow rate, retention time, oxygen supply capacity of the plants and chlorine contact time) resulted in the production of poor quality effluents in both selected areas. This investigation showed that the inefficiency of Meyerton Wastewater Treatment Plant was attributed to the population growth (higher volumes of wastewater generated) and operational constraints, while the cause of underperformance in the other three treatment plants was clearly technical (operational). © 2015, Springer Science+Business Media New York. | Nitrification; Population growth; Wastewater treatment; Water pollution | Chemicals removal (water treatment); Effluents; Flow rate; Nitrification; Oxygen supply; Population statistics; Reclamation; Sewage pumping plants; Sewers; Toxicity; Urban growth; Water pollution; Water treatment; Water treatment plants; Dry and wet seasons; Operational capacity; Operational constraints; Population growth; Rapid population growth; Sewerage services; Treatment process; Wastewater treatment plants; Wastewater treatment; chlorine; nitrate; phosphate; phosphorus; storm water; absorption; activated sludge; aeration; aquatic environment; Article; bacterial growth; chemical oxygen demand; chlorination; climate; concentration (parameters); controlled study; denitrification; disinfection; environmental sanitation; Escherichia coli; flow rate; health hazard; household; human; nitrification; nonhuman; oxidation; oxygenation; population growth; population size; public health; seasonal variation; sedimentation rate; sewage effluent; South Africa; suspended particulate matter; waste water management; waste water treatment plant; water pollution | 87310, NRF, National Research Foundation of Korea |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84893767641 | Pre-weaning growth performance of crossbred lambs (Dorper × indigenous sheep breeds) under semi-intensive management in eastern Ethiopia | Teklebrhan T., Urge M., Mekasha Y., Baissa M. | 2014 | Tropical Animal Health and Production | 46 | 2 | 10.1007/s11250-013-0513-1 | College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, School of Animal and Range Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O. Box 236, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia | Teklebrhan, T., College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, School of Animal and Range Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O. Box 236, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia; Urge, M., College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, School of Animal and Range Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O. Box 236, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia; Mekasha, Y., College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, School of Animal and Range Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O. Box 236, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia; Baissa, M., College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, School of Animal and Range Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O. Box 236, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia | A study was conducted to assess the effect of genetic and non-genetic factors (litter size, sex of lamb, and parity of dam) on pre-weaning growth performance of crossbred lambs (75 % Dorper (DR) 25 % indigenous lambs; and 50 % Dorper 50 % indigenous lambs) under semi-intensive husbandry practices in eastern Ethiopia. Data from a total of 275 Dorper sire breed × indigenous (Blackhead Ogaden [BHO] and Hararghe Highland [HH]) crossbred lambs with different genetic group of the parental breeds were collected for three consecutive years (2009 to 2011). Pre-weaning growth performance attributes of crossbred lambs studied were birth weight, weaning weight, and pre-weaning average daily gain. Data were analyzed using the GLM procedure of SAS (2003). Breed group and non-genetic factors significantly affected pre-weaning growth performance. Lambs with 75 % Dorper and 25 % indigenous had higher (P < 0.01) birth weight than 50 % DR and 50 % HH but similar to 50 % DR and 50 % BHO. Weaning weight and pre-weaning live weight gain were higher (P < 0.01) for 3/4DR1/4BHO and 3/4DR1/4HH than 50 % Dorper inheritance. Single-born lambs had higher weight at birth, weaning weight, and pre-weaning average daily gain as compared to twins. Sex comparison is significant (P < 0.05) and male lambs recorded highest pre-weaning growth performance compared to female counterparts. Parity, season, and lambing year significantly (P < 0.01) influenced the pre-weaning growth of crossbred lambs. Therefore, it could be concluded that 50-75 % Dorper inheritance improved pre-weaning growth performance of indigenous breeds of Hararghe Highland and Blackhead Ogaden sheep. The result also suggested culling of ewes older than fourth parity to improve the pre-weaning growth performance of lambs. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht. | Average daily gain; Birth weight; Fixed effects; Weaning weight | Animalia; Ovis aries; animal; animal husbandry; Ethiopia; female; genetics; growth, development and aging; male; sheep; suckling animal; weaning; weight gain; Animal Husbandry; Animals; Animals, Suckling; Ethiopia; Female; Male; Sheep; Weaning; Weight Gain | USAID, United States Agency for International Development |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84856564960 | Impact of long-term treatment of onchocerciasis with ivermectin in Kaduna State, Nigeria: First evidence of the potential for elimination in the operational area of the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control | Tekle A.H., Elhassan E., Isiyaku S., Amazigo U.V., Bush S., Noma M., Cousens S., Abiose A., Remme J.H. | 2012 | Parasites and Vectors | 5 | 1 | 10.1186/1756-3305-5-2822313631 | African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control, WHO/APOC, P. O. Box: 01 B.P. 549, Ouagadougou 01, Burkina Faso; SightSavers Regional Office for Africa, Dakar, Senegal; Sightsavers Nigeria Country Office, 1 Golf Course Road, Kaduna, Nigeria; No. 8 Somto Anugwom Close. Ekulu West, G.R.A. Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria; Sightsavers, PO Box 181909, Airport, Accra, Ghana; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Sightcare International, Secretariat Main Office, P.O. Box 29771, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria; APOC, 120 Rue des Campanules, 01210 Ornex, France | Tekle, A.H., African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control, WHO/APOC, P. O. Box: 01 B.P. 549, Ouagadougou 01, Burkina Faso; Elhassan, E., SightSavers Regional Office for Africa, Dakar, Senegal; Isiyaku, S., Sightsavers Nigeria Country Office, 1 Golf Course Road, Kaduna, Nigeria; Amazigo, U.V., No. 8 Somto Anugwom Close. Ekulu West, G.R.A. Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria; Bush, S., Sightsavers, PO Box 181909, Airport, Accra, Ghana; Noma, M., African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control, WHO/APOC, P. O. Box: 01 B.P. 549, Ouagadougou 01, Burkina Faso; Cousens, S., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Abiose, A., Sightcare International, Secretariat Main Office, P.O. Box 29771, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria; Remme, J.H., APOC, 120 Rue des Campanules, 01210 Ornex, France | Background. Onchocerciasis can be effectively controlled as a public health problem by annual mass drug administration of ivermectin, but it was not known if ivermectin treatment in the long term would be able to achieve elimination of onchocerciasis infection and interruption of transmission in endemic areas in Africa. A recent study in Mali and Senegal has provided the first evidence of elimination after 15-17 years of treatment. Following this finding, the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC) has started a systematic evaluation of the long-term impact of ivermectin treatment projects and the feasibility of elimination in APOC supported countries. This paper reports the first results for two onchocerciasis foci in Kaduna, Nigeria. Methods. In 2008, an epidemiological evaluation using skin snip parasitological diagnostic method was carried out in two onchocerciasis foci, in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area (LGA), and in the Kauru and Lere LGAs of Kaduna State, Nigeria. The survey was undertaken in 26 villages and examined 3,703 people above the age of one year. The result was compared with the baseline survey undertaken in 1987. Results. The communities had received 15 to 17 years of ivermectin treatment with more than 75% reported coverage. For each surveyed community, comparable baseline data were available. Before treatment, the community prevalence of O. volvulus microfilaria in the skin ranged from 23.1% to 84.9%, with a median prevalence of 52.0%. After 15 to 17 years of treatment, the prevalence had fallen to 0% in all communities and all 3,703 examined individuals were skin snip negative. Conclusions. The results of the surveys confirm the finding in Senegal and Mali that ivermectin treatment alone can eliminate onchocerciasis infection and probably disease transmission in endemic foci in Africa. It is the first of such evidence for the APOC operational area. © 2012 Tekle et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | APOC; elimination; epidemiological evaluation; Kaduna Nigeria; Onchocerciasis | ivermectin; adolescent; adult; article; child; eradication therapy; feasibility study; female; human; infant; infection control; major clinical study; male; Microfilaria; Nigeria; nonhuman; Onchocerca volvulus; onchocerciasis; preschool child; prevalence; school child; Adolescent; Adult; Animals; Antiparasitic Agents; Child; Child, Preschool; Disease Eradication; Female; Humans; Infant; Ivermectin; Male; Middle Aged; Nigeria; Onchocerca volvulus; Onchocerciasis; Prevalence; Public Health; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929179810 | Evaluation of six sample preparation methods for determination of trace metals in lubricating oils using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry | Tekie H.A., McCrindle R.I., Marais P.J.J.G., Ambushe A.A. | 2015 | South African Journal of Chemistry | 68 | None | 10.17159/0379-4350/2015/v68a12 | Department of Chemistry, Tshwane University of Technology, P.O Box 56208, Arcadia, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Chemistry, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga, South Africa | Tekie, H.A., Department of Chemistry, Tshwane University of Technology, P.O Box 56208, Arcadia, Pretoria, South Africa; McCrindle, R.I., Department of Chemistry, Tshwane University of Technology, P.O Box 56208, Arcadia, Pretoria, South Africa; Marais, P.J.J.G., Department of Chemistry, Tshwane University of Technology, P.O Box 56208, Arcadia, Pretoria, South Africa; Ambushe, A.A., Department of Chemistry, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga, South Africa | Quantification of trace elements in used lubricating oil forms a vital part in monitoring engine conditions and impact on the environment. In this study, inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was employed for the determination of Ag, Ba, Cu, Mn and Ni in used lubricating oils. Methodology was developed so as to minimize the oil's carbonaceous matter and its effect on viscosity. Accordingly, six oil sample preparation techniques (xylene dilution, detergent emulsion, microwave digestion, dry-ashing, wet-ashing and ultrasonic extraction) were investigated for their efficiency. Optimization of the factors influencing ultrasonic-assisted extraction and ICP-OES operating parameters enabled quantification of the trace metals in oils. Limits of detection (3S<inf>b</inf>/m), in the ng g-1 range, were obtained for each element of interest using each method investigated. The validity of the methodologies studied was confirmed through the analysis of quality control (QC) samples. Analyte recoveries, ranging from 48.3 to 106%, were obtained. Evaluation of the analytical methods studied with regard to accuracy, precision, LOD, linearity, applicability for routine analysis, preparation time and cost was made. Based on these evaluations, ultrasonic extraction has a clear advantage in terms of accuracy, applicability for routine analysis, time and cost of sample preparation. ©2015 South African Chemical Institute. | ICP-OES; Lubricating oil; Optimization | None | NRF, Neurosurgical Research Foundation |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84878474369 | Effects of dietary supplementation with urea molasses multi-nutrient block on performance of mid lactating local Ethiopian and crossbred dairy cows | Tekeba E., Wurzinger M., Baldinger L., Zollitsch W.J. | 2013 | Livestock Research for Rural Development | 25 | 6 | None | Andassa Livestock Research Centre, P.O.box 27, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Gregor-Mendel-Strasse 33, A-1180, Vienna, Austria | Tekeba, E., Andassa Livestock Research Centre, P.O.box 27, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Wurzinger, M., BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Gregor-Mendel-Strasse 33, A-1180, Vienna, Austria; Baldinger, L., BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Gregor-Mendel-Strasse 33, A-1180, Vienna, Austria; Zollitsch, W.J., BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Gregor-Mendel-Strasse 33, A-1180, Vienna, Austria | An experiment was conducted on station, using a nested design in order to evaluate the effects of a Urea Molasses Multi-Nutrient Block (UMMB) supplementation of typical dry season, roughage based diets on the performance of mid lactating local Fogera and their F1 Holstein Friesian crosses in Ethiopia. Eight cows each from both breeds were assigned to a forage-based control diet and an experimental diet with UMMB supplementation. Highly significant differences were observed between treatments for most production traits. However, Fogera and crossbred dairy cows showed a different response pattern for some traits. Crossbred dairy cows were superior over Fogera for milk production, reproductive performance and benefit-cost ratio regardless of UMMB supplementation. Conversely, Fogera cows had higher milk solid contents and supplementing them with UMMB had a greater effect on milk fat than in crossbred cows. It is concluded that supplementing dairy cows with UMMB during the dry season is basically a helpful measure to maintain production. Depending on the availability of UMMB, priority in supplementation however, should be given to cows with a high genetic potential for milk production. | Fogera; Mid-lactating; On-station; Roughage-based; Supplement | Bos; Friesia | 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-s2.0-33845621640 | Evaluation of feeding graded levels of dried and milled Ficus thonningii leaves on growth performance, carcass characteristics and organs of weaner rabbits | Tegbe T.S.B., Adeyinka I.A., Baye K.D., Alawa J.P. | 2006 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 5 | 6 | 10.3923/pjn.2006.548.550 | Department of Animal Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Shika, Zaria, Nigeria | Tegbe, T.S.B., 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; Baye, K.D., Department of Animal Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Alawa, J.P., Department of Animal Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria | Twenty weaner rabbits of average initial weight of 535g were fed four diets containing milled Ficus thonningii leaf meal at 0% 5% 10% and 15% levels to evaluate its effect on their growth performance and carcass characteristics. Rabbits were randomly allotted to cages and four dietary treatments randomly allotted to cages. There were five replications of the four treatments in a randomized block design trial. The study lasted eleven weeks. Dietary treatments did not significantly (P>0.05) affect average daily feed intake, average daily weight gain, carcass and organ characteristics. However, feed to gain ratio was significantly (P<0.05) affected by level of feeding Ficus thonningii. It was concluded that Ficus thonningii leaf meal could be fed up to 15% level in rabbit diet. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2006. | Feed intake; Ficus thonningii leaf meal; Weaner rabbits | animal experiment; animal food; animal tissue; article; body growth; body weight; carcass; controlled study; dietary intake; Ficus; food composition; food processing; nonhuman; plant leaf; rabbit; statistical significance; weight gain; Ficus thonningii; Oryctolagus cuniculus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80054113746 | On-farm evaluation of bee space of langstroth beehive | Teffera A., Selassie Sahile G. | 2011 | Livestock Research for Rural Development | 23 | 10 | None | Post-harvest technology researcher, Bahir Dar Agricultural Mechanization and Food Science Research Center, P.O. Box: 133, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Post-harvest technology technical assistant, Bahir Dar Agricultural Mechanization and Food Science Research Center, P.O. Box: 133, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia | Teffera, A., Post-harvest technology researcher, Bahir Dar Agricultural Mechanization and Food Science Research Center, P.O. Box: 133, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Selassie Sahile, G., Post-harvest technology technical assistant, Bahir Dar Agricultural Mechanization and Food Science Research Center, P.O. Box: 133, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia | The study was conducted from July 2006 to December 2007 at East Gojjam and West Gojjam zone of Amhara regional state, Ethiopia. The objective of the study was to evaluate and identify appropriate bee spaces for different agro ecology on farm condition. For this study three trail sites that represent the highland and lowland agro ecology areas were selected. From each sits three beekeeping farmers were selected as host farmers to carry out the study. The treatments were three Langstroth bee hives contain different bee-space (7mm, 10mm and 14mm) replicated three times at each trail site and complete randomized design (CRD) was used. The collected data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance. Farmer's comments also included for evaluation purpose. Based on the analysis of variance and participant farmer's comments, hives with bee spaces 7mm, and 10mm were found to be useful around lowland and highland areas. It will be most convenient to use the bee hive having 7mm bee space around lowland area and bee hive having 10mm around highland areas of the region. It is also necessary to use all management aspects so as to increase honey and honey products, since, only by maintaining bee space cannot bring good return. | None | Apoidea | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84855438985 | On-farm evaluation and demonstration of different types of hay press | Teffera A., Tekeste S., Denekew Y. | 2012 | Livestock Research for Rural Development | 24 | 1 | None | Bahir Dar Agricultural Mechanization and Food Science Research Center, P.O. Box 133, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Andassa Livestock Research Center, P.O. Box: 27, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia | Teffera, A., Bahir Dar Agricultural Mechanization and Food Science Research Center, P.O. Box 133, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Tekeste, S., Bahir Dar Agricultural Mechanization and Food Science Research Center, P.O. Box 133, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Denekew, Y., Andassa Livestock Research Center, P.O. Box: 27, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia | Hay is the oldest and most important conserved fodder. The aim of haymaking is to store feed for later on-farm use. Traditional haymaking practice in Ethiopia has many problems. Delayed or early harvesting, improper handling system during harvesting, transportation, and storage stages are identified as main causes of feed loss. This project is, therefore, intended to evaluate and demonstrate manual hay presses so as to assist users in haymaking and baling practice. Two hay press models, vertical and horizontal hay presses, were manufactured and after preliminary test, practical on field test was conducted at two sites. Besides, discussions were made with farmers and their opinions were recorded. The test result has shown that, the average pressing rate, bale density, and baling time of vertical hay press was 45.2 kg h-1, 86.5 kg m -3 and 14.1 min per piece. Likewise, similar parameters of the horizontal type were 36.9 kg hr-1, 72.3 kg m -3 and 17.4 min per piece, respectively. It was observed that most of the respondent farmers preferred vertical type press due to its lower energy requirement and better output. Therefore, the vertical hay press model is recommended for further promotion. | Animal feed; Hay making; Mechanical hay press | Animalia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84873245871 | Yield and agronomic performance of maize hybrids resistant to the maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) | Tefera T., Demissie G., Mugo S., Beyene Y. | 2013 | Crop Protection | 46 | None | 10.1016/j.cropro.2012.12.010 | International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), ICRAF House, UN Avenue, Gigiri, PO Box 1041, 00621 Village Market, Nairobi, Kenya; Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Bako National Maize Research Project, Po Box 2003, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia | Tefera, T., International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), ICRAF House, UN Avenue, Gigiri, PO Box 1041, 00621 Village Market, Nairobi, Kenya; Demissie, G., Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Bako National Maize Research Project, Po Box 2003, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia; Mugo, S., International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), ICRAF House, UN Avenue, Gigiri, PO Box 1041, 00621 Village Market, Nairobi, Kenya; Beyene, Y., International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), ICRAF House, UN Avenue, Gigiri, PO Box 1041, 00621 Village Market, Nairobi, Kenya | This study evaluated improved maize hybrids (Zea mays L.) with varying level of resistance to the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky, for yield and agronomic traits for two seasons. A total of 22 improved maize hybrids and three commercial standards were tested. Out of the 22 tested, two hybrids CKPH08035 (7.4-9.9 t ha-1) and CKPH08039 (7.3-9.8 t ha-1) significantly out yielded the commercial standards WH505 (8.8 t ha-1) and BH140 (5.5 t ha-1). In addition to yield, the improved hybrids also possess desirable traits including good plant height, good plant and ear aspects and good husk cover. The hybrid CKPH08004 had the lowest Dobie index of susceptibility and was regarded as resistant to S. zeamais. Weevils fed with the resistant hybrids produced low numbers of F1 generation weevils, had a high median developmental time and a low percentage of grain damage and grain weight loss. An increasing number of F1 generation resulted in an increasing grain damage and grain weight loss. We found an inverse relationship between the susceptibility index and percent mortality. However, the numbers of F1 generation, percent grain damage and grain weight loss were positively correlated with the susceptibility index. The use of resistant maize hybrids should be promoted in managing S. zeamais in stored maize under subsistence farming conditions in Africa. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. | Grain yield; Host resistance; Maize; Postharvest loss; Sitophilus zeamais | agronomy; beetle; crop damage; crop yield; hybrid; index method; mortality; performance assessment; pest resistance; pest species; plant-herbivore interaction; Coleoptera; Curculionidae; Sitophilus zeamais; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84948582385 | Effects of different forms of white lupin (Lupinus albus) grain supplementation on feed intake, digestibility, growth performance and carcass characteristics of Washera sheep fed Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) hay-based diets | Tefera G., Tegegne F., Mekuriaw Y., Melaku S., Tsunekawa A. | 2015 | Tropical Animal Health and Production | 47 | 8 | 10.1007/s11250-015-0901-9 | Koga irrigation and watershed management project, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Department of Animal Production and Technology, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 79, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori, Japan; Haramaya University, School of Animal and Range Sciences, P.O.Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia | Tefera, G., Koga irrigation and watershed management project, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Tegegne, F., Department of Animal Production and Technology, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 79, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori, Japan; Mekuriaw, Y., Department of Animal Production and Technology, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 79, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Melaku, S., Haramaya University, School of Animal and Range Sciences, P.O.Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia; Tsunekawa, A., Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori, Japan | Protein is the major limiting nutrient in feeding ruminants especially in dryland areas. Thus, looking for locally available protein sources such as white lupin (Lupinus albus) grain is commendable. The objective of this experiment was to determine effects of supplementation of different forms of white lupin grain (WLG) on feed and nutrient intake, digestibility, growth and carcass characteristics. Twenty-five yearling male Washera sheep with initial body weight (BW) of 16.26 ± 1.41 kg (mean ± SD) were used. Animals were blocked into five based on their initial BW and were randomly assigned to one of the following five dietary treatments: Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) hay (RGH) alone (T1) or supplemented with 300 g (on dry matter (DM) basis) raw WLG (T2) or raw soaked and dehulled WLG (T3) or roasted WLG (T4) or raw soaked WLG (T5). Supplementation with WLG significantly improved total DM and nutrient intake (P < 0.001), nutrient digestibility (P < 0.01), and average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion efficiency (FCE) (P < 0.001). Carcass quality parameters were significantly (P < 0.001) higher for supplemented sheep. However, the difference in carcass quality parameters among supplemented groups was not significant (P > 0.05). It is concluded that roasting white lupin grain can lead to a better feed and nutrient intake and consequently better carcass quality. White lupin grain can be recommended not only for maintenance but also for optimum performance of ruminants. © 2015, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht. | Carcass characteristics; Digestibility; Dryland; Growth; Rhodes grass; Washera sheep; White lupin | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-39849098279 | Hydropower-induced land use change in Fincha'a watershed, western Ethiopia: Analysis and impacts | Tefera B., Sterk G. | 2008 | Mountain Research and Development | 28 | 1 | 10.1659/mrd.0811 | Oromiya Agriculture and Rural Development Bureau, PO Box 21118, 1000 Addis Abebe, Ethiopia; Erosion and Soil and Water Conservation Group, Wageningen University, PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands | Tefera, B., Oromiya Agriculture and Rural Development Bureau, PO Box 21118, 1000 Addis Abebe, Ethiopia; Sterk, G., Erosion and Soil and Water Conservation Group, Wageningen University, PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands | The present article analyzes the land use dynamics caused by hydropower dam construction in 1973 in the Fincha'a watershed (1318 km2), a tributary of the Blue Nile, Aerial photos (1957 and 1980) and an ASTER satellite image of 2001 were used to make 3 land use maps of the watershed using ageographic information system (GIS). The 239-km2 water reservoir inundated 100 km2 of grazing land, 120 km2 of swamp, 18 km2 of cropland, and 1.2 km2 of forestland. In 2001, cropland covered 77% of the land potentially available for community use, indicating that there is hardly any free land available for expansion to accommodate new farmers. Relocated communities operate on relatively small parcels of land situated either on steep slopes or in flood-prone areas. Consequently, they exhaustively utilize the trees available on their holdings and convert grassland and bushland to cropland, without applying sufficient soil conservation measures. Farmers resettled at or near bodies of water and swamps, however, are affected by seasonal fluctuations of water levels that very often inundate croplands, grazing land, and homes. The demand for cropland and grazing land is increasing as reservoir and swamp areas expand and new families are created. Soil erosion in steep areas can no longer be reduced in the traditional farming system. These enforced land use changes, combined with a lack of appropriate land management practices, may increase erosion and reservoir sedimentation. This could affect food,security and electrio power production in the near future. | Ethiopia; GIS; Land use change; Remote sensing; Water reservoir | aerial photograph; ASTER; dam construction; farming system; GIS; land management; land use change; remote sensing; satellite imagery; watershed; Africa; Blue Nile [Nile River]; East Africa; Ethiopia; Nile River; Sub-Saharan Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84888858013 | Evaluation and demonstration of direct solar potato dryer | Tefera A., Endalew W., Fikiru B. | 2013 | Livestock Research for Rural Development | 25 | 12 | None | Bahir Dar Agricultural Mechanization and Food Science Research Centre, P.O. Box 133, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Food, Medicine and Health Care Administration and Control Authority of Ethiopia, P.O. Box 5681, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Tefera, A., Bahir Dar Agricultural Mechanization and Food Science Research Centre, P.O. Box 133, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Endalew, W., Bahir Dar Agricultural Mechanization and Food Science Research Centre, P.O. Box 133, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Fikiru, B., Food, Medicine and Health Care Administration and Control Authority of Ethiopia, P.O. Box 5681, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | This study was conducted to evaluate the performance of two models of direct solar potato dryers and to demonstrate to farmers around potato producing areas, in Amhara Regional State. Wooden box dryer and Pyramid shape dryer models were evaluated. Dryers were compared with open sun drying methods. Temperature, relative humidity as well as the rate of moisture removal as expressed by loss-in-weight were recorded and analyzed. Results showed that on the average there was a 10-20 °C temperature difference between ambient condition and the drying chambers. Besides, the weight of sliced potato which was initially 0.90 kg was reduced to about 0.19 kg within two days. This showed an overall reduction in drying time by 2-3 hours compared to open sun drying. This result, however, was not perceived to be large enough under existing testing condition. But considering other benefits of the driers like protecting the drying material against contaminants, dust, and insects resulting in better quality product, this result is acceptable. On the other hand, comparing the performances of the two driers, Pyramid dryer was found better in creating more conducive drying environment with optimal temperature and lower relative humidity. Moreover, considering manufacturing costs, simplicity in design to manufacture in rural area from almost any kind of available building materials by locally available workmen, Pyramid dryer is better than Box dryer. Demonstration and practical training on the use of solar dryers and methods of food preparation out of the dried potato slices was provided for a group of farmers. Participant farmers actively participated in the potato menu preparation and informal sensory evaluation. They have showed high interest in diversified potato utilization as it enhances their feeding habits. This dryer was found suitable for drying small quantities (10-15 kg) of agricultural products which suits best for household level. Therefore, Pyramid (pyramid shape) dryer models should be recommended for further promotion. | Dried potato; Dryer model; Farmers; Potato processing | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84880620087 | Poor early virologic performance and durability of abacavir-based first-line regimens for HIV-infected children | Technau K.-G., Lazarus E., Kuhn L., Abrams E.J., Sorour G., Strehlau R., Reubenson G., Davies M.-A., Coovadia A. | 2013 | Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal | 32 | 8 | 10.1097/INF.0b013e31828c3738 | Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Empilweni Services and Research Unit, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital, Cnr Fuel and Oudtshoorn St, Coronationville, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa; Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa; Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, United States; Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa | Technau, K.-G., Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Empilweni Services and Research Unit, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital, Cnr Fuel and Oudtshoorn St, Coronationville, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa; Lazarus, E., Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa; Kuhn, L., Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, United States; Abrams, E.J., Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Sorour, G., Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Empilweni Services and Research Unit, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital, Cnr Fuel and Oudtshoorn St, Coronationville, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa; Strehlau, R., Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Empilweni Services and Research Unit, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital, Cnr Fuel and Oudtshoorn St, Coronationville, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa; Reubenson, G., Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Empilweni Services and Research Unit, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital, Cnr Fuel and Oudtshoorn St, Coronationville, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa; Davies, M.-A., School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Coovadia, A., Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Empilweni Services and Research Unit, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital, Cnr Fuel and Oudtshoorn St, Coronationville, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa | BACKGROUND: Concerns about stavudine (d4T) toxicity have led to increased use of abacavir (ABC) in first-line pediatric antiretroviral treatment (ART) regimens. Field experience with ABC in ART-naïve children is limited. METHODS: Deidentified demographic, clinical and laboratory data on HIV-infected children initiating ART between 2004 and 2011 in a large pediatric HIV treatment program in Johannesburg, South Africa, were used to compare viral suppression at 6 and 12 months by initial treatment regimen, time to suppression (<400 copies/mL) and rebound (>1000 copies/mL after initial suppression). Adjusted logistic regression was used to investigate confounders and calendar effects. RESULTS: Two thousand thirty-six children initiated either d4T/3TC-or ABC/3TC-based first-line regimens in combination with either boosted lopinavir (LPV/r) or efavirenz (EFV). 1634 received d4T regimens (LPV/r n = 672; EFV n = 962) and 402 ABC regimens (LPV/r n = 192; EFV n = 210). At 6 and 12 months on ART, viral suppression rate was poorer in ABC versus d4T groups within both the LPV/r and EFV groups (P < 0.0001 for all points). In ABC groups, time to suppression was significantly slower (log-rank P < 0.0001 and P = 0.0092 for LPV/r-and EFV-based, respectively) and time to rebound after suppression significantly faster (log-rank P = 0.014 and P = 0.0001 for LPV/r-and EFV-based, respectively). Logistic regression confirmed the worse outcomes in the ABC groups even after adjustment for confounders. CONCLUSION: Data from this urban pediatric ART service program show significantly poorer virological performance of ABC compared with d4T-based regimens, a signal that urgently warrants further investigation. Copyright © 2013 Lippincott Williams &Wilkins. | abacavir; children; first-line antiretroviral therapy; HIV | abacavir; abacavir plus lamivudine; antiretrovirus agent; didanosine; efavirenz; lamivudine plus stavudine; lopinavir; lopinavir plus ritonavir; nevirapine; ritonavir; zidovudine; article; child; controlled study; demography; drug capsule; drug efficacy; drug formulation; drug safety; female; human; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; laboratory test; major clinical study; male; pediatrics; preschool child; priority journal; South Africa; syrup; tablet formulation; treatment duration; treatment outcome; treatment response; virology; virus load; virus strain; Anti-HIV Agents; Child; Child, Preschool; Dideoxynucleosides; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Infant; Male; Retrospective Studies; Treatment Outcome; Viral Load | NIH, National Institutes of Health |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84925537404 | Linking functional traits to impacts of invasive plant species: a case study | te Beest M., Esler K.J., Richardson D.M. | 2014 | Plant Ecology | 216 | 2 | 10.1007/s11258-014-0437-5 | Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Centre for Invasion Biology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa; Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa; Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa | te Beest, M., Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden, Centre for Invasion Biology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa, Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa; Esler, K.J., Centre for Invasion Biology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa, Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa; Richardson, D.M., Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa | Our understanding of the link between plant functional traits and ecological impact of invasive alien plant species is fragmentary and the mechanisms leading to impacts are poorly understood. Moreover, current knowledge is heavily biased to the temperate regions of the world and we know much less about traits and impacts of invaders in tropical and subtropical ecosystems. We studied two leaf traits of the invasive alien shrub Chromolaena odorata and the impacts of its invasion on native vegetation in savannas. We compared specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf area index (LAI) between C. odorata and native species and assessed how C. odorata differentially affects canopy light interception, soil moisture, soil nutrients, and litter accumulation compared to native species. We found that C. odorata has higher SLA and LAI than native species, lower light and moisture levels below its canopy, but higher nutrient levels and a higher litter accumulation rate. Because of its higher SLA, C. odorata grows faster, resulting in more biomass, increased litter accumulation and higher nutrient availability. Due to its high SLA and LAI, C. odorata intercepts more light and reduces available moisture more than do native trees due to higher transpiration rates, reducing the biomass of native understory vegetation. This study provides empirical evidence for strong links between plant functional traits and ecological impact of invasive plant species, highlighting the importance of traits in predicting ecosystem-level impacts of invasive plant species. © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht. | Functional traits; LAI; Leaf area; Litter; Plant invasions; Relative growth rate; Savanna; SLA | None | 85417, National Research Foundation |
| 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 |
| WoS | WOS:000284513700001 | HIV/AIDS dynamics Impact of economic classes with transmission from poor clinical settings | Pedro, S. A.,Tchuenche, J. M. | 2010 | JOURNAL OF THEORETICAL BIOLOGY | 267 | 4 | 10.1016/j.jtbi.2010.09.019 | University of Dar es Salaam, Eduardo Mondlane Univ | "Tchuenche, J. M.: University of Dar es Salaam", | We formulate and analyze a nonlinear deterministic HIV/AIDS model with two social classes namely the poor and the rich including transmission from poor clinical settings with a randomly variable population Four sub-models are derived from the full model the disease threshold parameters are computed and it is shown that the disease will die down if these initial threshold parameters are less than unity and will persist if they exceed unity The impact of economic classes (along with transmission from poor/inadequate clinical settings) on the disease dynamics is assessed and we observe that even with a single sexual partner the reproduction number is slightly greater than unity implying that the additional transmission can only be from clinical settings Stability (local and global) of both the disease-free and endemic equilibria are then investigated using various techniques of dynamical systems such as Centre Manifold theory and Lyapunov s second method Analysis on the bifurcation parameter is carried out to assess the impact of related HIV transmission from poor clinical settings We estimate some of the model parameter values and numerical simulations of the model are represented graphically Our results show that the prevalence of HIV in rich communities seems to be higher than that in the poor but the disease develops faster in impoverished individuals (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved | "economic classes",HIV/AIDS,"LYAPUNOV FUNCTION","Poor clinical settings",STABILITY,EPIDEMIC,"HIV TRANSMISSION",INFECTIOUS-DISEASES,MODELS,RISK,SPREAD,VIRUS,WORKERS | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879727663 | The impact of foreign debt on economic growth in Malawi | Tchereni B.H.M., Sekhampu T.J., Ndovi R.F. | 2013 | African Development Review | 25 | 1 | 10.1111/j.1467-8268.2013.12015.x | School of Economics, North-West University, South Africa; Malawi Polytechnic, Blantyre, Malawi; North-West University, South Africa; Accountant General, Blantyre, Malawi | Tchereni, B.H.M., School of Economics, North-West University, South Africa, Malawi Polytechnic, Blantyre, Malawi; Sekhampu, T.J., North-West University, South Africa; Ndovi, R.F., Accountant General, Blantyre, Malawi | This study analysed the impact of foreign debt on economic growth in Malawi using time series. Data for the period 1975-2003 from the Reserve Bank of Malawi, the IMF and the National Statistical Office was regressed in basic time series analysis. The dependent variable was economic growth and independent variables included level of foreign debt as the main variable. Other variables considered are the inflation rate, exchange rate and the prime lending rate, private and public investment. The results show a statistically insignificant and negative relationship between foreign debt and economic growth for the case of Malawi. The country should strive to provide incentives to local manufacturers who would want to export rather than relying on borrowing for growth inducement. Of interest was the relationship between inflation and economic growth which was positive. © 2013 The Authors. African Development Review © 2013 African Development Bank. Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | None | debt; economic growth; economic impact; exchange rate; inflation; investment; lending behavior; time series analysis; Malawi | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84867360531 | Effect of carbon modification on the electrical, structural, and optical properties of TiO 2 electrodes and their performance in labscale dye-sensitized Solar Cells | Taziwa R., Meyer E.L., Sideras-Haddad E., Erasmus R.M., Manikandan E., Mwakikunga B.W. | 2012 | International Journal of Photoenergy | 2012 | None | 10.1155/2012/904323 | Institute of Technology, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa; Centerof Excellencein Strong Mterials, School of Physics, University of Witwatersrand, Braamfontein 2000, Johannesburg, South Africa; Nano Research Centre, PNTC, B. S. Abdur Rahman University, Chennai 600048, India; CSIR National Centre for Nano-Structured Materials, P. O. Box 395, Pretoria 001, South Africa; Department of Physics, University of Malawi-The Polytechnic, Private Bag 303, Chichiri, Blantyre 3, Malawi, South Africa | Taziwa, R., Institute of Technology, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa; Meyer, E.L., Institute of Technology, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa; Sideras-Haddad, E., Centerof Excellencein Strong Mterials, School of Physics, University of Witwatersrand, Braamfontein 2000, Johannesburg, South Africa; Erasmus, R.M., Centerof Excellencein Strong Mterials, School of Physics, University of Witwatersrand, Braamfontein 2000, Johannesburg, South Africa; Manikandan, E., Nano Research Centre, PNTC, B. S. Abdur Rahman University, Chennai 600048, India; Mwakikunga, B.W., CSIR National Centre for Nano-Structured Materials, P. O. Box 395, Pretoria 001, South Africa, Department of Physics, University of Malawi-The Polytechnic, Private Bag 303, Chichiri, Blantyre 3, Malawi, South Africa | Carbon-modified titanium dioxide nanoparticles (C:TiONPs) have been synthesized by ultrasonic nebulizer spray pyrolysis (USP) and pneumatic spray pyrolysis (PSP) techniques. HRTEM on the NPs shows difference in lattice spacing in the NP structures prepared by the two methods2.02 Å for the USP NPs and an average of 3.74 Å for the PSP NPs. The most probable particle sizes are 3.11 nm and 5.5 nm, respectively. Raman spectroscopy supported by FTIR confirms the TiOpolymorph to be anatase with the intense phonon frequency at 153 cm -1 blue-shifted from 141 cm -1 ascribed to both carbon doping and particle size. A modified phonon confinement model for nanoparticles has been used to extract phonon dispersion and other parameters for anatase for the first time. Electronic measurements show negative conductance at some critical bias voltage, which is characteristic of n-type conductivity in the carbon-doped TiONPs as confirmed by the calculated areas under the I-V curves, a property suited for solar cell applications. Practical solar cells built from carbon-doped TiOelectrodes show up to 1.5 times improvement in efficiency compared to pure TiOelectrodes of similar construction. © 2012 R. Taziwa et al. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84892549948 | Effects of animated agricultural science instructional package on attitude and performance of junior secondary school students in south west area, Nigeria | Tayo Abass B., Bimbo A., Ojo O.A. | 2012 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 3 | 1 | 10.5901/mjss.2012.03.01.425 | Department of Educational Technology, Obafemi Awolowo University, le-Ife, Nigeria | Tayo Abass, B., Department of Educational Technology, Obafemi Awolowo University, le-Ife, Nigeria; Bimbo, A., Department of Educational Technology, Obafemi Awolowo University, le-Ife, Nigeria; Ojo, O.A., Department of Educational Technology, Obafemi Awolowo University, le-Ife, Nigeria | The study developed a locally-produced Animated Agricultural Science Instructional Package (AASIP). It also examined the effectiveness of the package on students' attitude and performance in Agricultural Science. This was with a view to improving the performance of students in Agricultural Science.The pre-test post-test control group design was employed. The study population consisted of Junior Secondary School (JSS) III students in Ilesa West Local Government Area of Osun State. Two schools were purposively selected based on availability of Agricultural Science teachers. The sample for the study consisted of 160 students selected through simple random sampling technique into experimental and control groups. Students in the experimental group were taught using AASIP while those in the control group were taught using the conventional classroom teaching. The AASIP was developed locally based on animated topics on crop rotation and designed in modules using Macromedia Flash 8.0 and Microsoft PowerPoint 2007. Two research instruments titled Agricultural Science Achievement Test (ASAT) and Students' Attitude Towards Agricultural Science Questionnaire (SATASQ) were used for data collection. Data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.The results showed that students' attitude towards Agricultural Science was enhanced with the use of the animated instructional package (F = 4.398, p < 0.05). The results further showed that students exposed to the locally-produced AASIP performed significantly better than those exposed to the conventional method (F = 6.082, p < 0.05). The study concluded that the locally produced AASIP was an effective tool for teaching Agricultural Science in secondary schools. | Animated instructional package; Attitude; Instructional package | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-75149196702 | Recent glacial recession and its impact on alpine riverflow in the Rwenzori Mountains of Uganda | Taylor R.G., Mileham L., Tindimugaya C., Mwebembezi L. | 2009 | Journal of African Earth Sciences | 55 | 04-Mar | 10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2009.04.008 | Department of Geography, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom; Water Resources Management, Ministry of Water and Environment, P.O. Box 19, Entebbe, Uganda | Taylor, R.G., Department of Geography, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom; Mileham, L., Department of Geography, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom; Tindimugaya, C., Water Resources Management, Ministry of Water and Environment, P.O. Box 19, Entebbe, Uganda; Mwebembezi, L., Water Resources Management, Ministry of Water and Environment, P.O. Box 19, Entebbe, Uganda | The limited number and duration of hydrological measurements in the East African Highlands inhibit current understanding of the impact of glacial recession on alpine riverflow. From historical records and surveys conducted in the dry season of 2005 and wet season of 2007, we report (1) recent changes in the terminal positions of large valley glaciers (Speke, Elena) and (2) spot measurements of alpine riverflow along altitudinal transects of the principal river (River Mubuku) draining alpine icefields in order to assess the relative contribution of icefields and underlying ecotones to river discharge. Observed acceleration in the rates of termini retreat of the Speke and Elena glaciers since the late 1960s is attributed, in part, to the convex-concave slope profile in which these valley glaciers reside. We show that current glacial recession has a negligible impact on alpine riverflow. Spot measurements of meltwater discharges indicate that icefields contribute considerably less than 2% of the river discharge at the base of the Rwenzori Mountains during both dry and wet seasons. An anomalously high specific discharge of the River Mubuku (1730 mm a -1) arises from high rates of precipitation exceeding 2000 mm a -1 below alpine icefields within Heath-moss and Montane forest ecotones that occupy more than half of the river's gauged catchment area. For other tropical alpine icefields representing a tiny fraction (<1%) of alpine river catchment areas (e.g. Irian Jaya, Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya), glacial meltwater discharges are similarly expected to contribute a negligible proportion of alpine riverflow. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Africa; Climate change; Glacier; Riverflow; Tropics | climate change; ecotone; glacial hydrology; glacier retreat; ice field; meltwater; river discharge; river flow; seasonal variation; valley glacier; Rwenzori Mountains; Uganda; Bryophyta | 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-s2.0-33744993216 | 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 |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78951475290 | Assessment of climate change impact on hydrological extremes in two source regions of the Nile River Basin | Taye M.T., Ntegeka V., Ogiramoi N.P., Willems P. | 2011 | Hydrology and Earth System Sciences | 15 | 1 | 10.5194/hess-15-209-2011 | Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Hydraulics Division, Kasteelpark Arenberg 40, 3001 Leuven, Belgium; Directorate of Water Development, Rural Water Department, Ministry of Water and Environment, P.O. Box 20026, Kampala, Uganda | Taye, M.T., Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Hydraulics Division, Kasteelpark Arenberg 40, 3001 Leuven, Belgium; Ntegeka, V., Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Hydraulics Division, Kasteelpark Arenberg 40, 3001 Leuven, Belgium; Ogiramoi, N.P., Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Hydraulics Division, Kasteelpark Arenberg 40, 3001 Leuven, Belgium, Directorate of Water Development, Rural Water Department, Ministry of Water and Environment, P.O. Box 20026, Kampala, Uganda; Willems, P., Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Hydraulics Division, Kasteelpark Arenberg 40, 3001 Leuven, Belgium | The potential impact of climate change was investigated on the hydrological extremes of Nyando River and Lake Tana catchments, which are located in two source regions of the Nile River basin. Climate change scenarios were developed for rainfall and potential evapotranspiration (ETo), considering 17 General Circulation Model (GCM) simulations to better understand the range of possible future change. They were constructed by transferring the extracted climate change signals to the observed series using a frequency perturbation downscaling approach, which accounts for the changes in rainfall extremes. Projected changes under two future SRES emission scenarios A1B and B1 for the 2050s were considered. Two conceptual hydrological models were calibrated and used for the impact assessment. Their difference in simulating the flows under future climate scenarios was also investigated. The results reveal increasing mean runoff and extreme peak flows for Nyando catchment for the 2050s while unclear trend is observed for Lake Tana catchment for mean volumes and high/low flows. The hydrological models for Lake Tana catchment, however, performed better in simulating the hydrological regimes than for Nyando, which obviously also induces a difference in the reliability of the extreme future projections for both catchments. The unclear impact result for Lake Tana catchment implies that the GCM uncertainty is more important for explaining the unclear trend than the hydrological models uncertainty. Nevertheless, to have a better understanding of future impact, hydrological models need to be verified for their credibility of simulating extreme flows. © Author(s) 2011. | None | Climate change impact; Climate change scenarios; Down-scaling; Emission scenario; Extreme flows; Future climate; Future projections; General circulation model simulations; Hydrological extremes; Hydrological models; Hydrological regime; Impact assessments; Lake Tana; Peak flows; Possible futures; Potential evapotranspiration; Potential impacts; Rainfall extremes; River basins; Two sources; Catchments; Climate models; Computer simulation; Lakes; Rain; Rivers; Runoff; Water supply; Watersheds; Climate change; atmospheric general circulation model; calibration; catchment; climate change; climate effect; downscaling; evapotranspiration; flow modeling; hydrological change; hydrological modeling; hydrological response; peak flow; perturbation; rainfall; river basin; uncertainty analysis; Ethiopia; Kenya; Lake Tana; Nile Basin; Nyando Basin | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84866181215 | Assessment of impacts of tsetse and trypanosomosis control measures on cattle herd composition and performance in southern region, Ethiopia | Taye M., Belihu K., Bekana M., Sheferaw D. | 2012 | Tropical Animal Health and Production | 44 | 7 | 10.1007/s11250-012-0134-0 | College of Agriculture, Arba-Minch University, P.O. Box 21, Arba-Minch, Ethiopia; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 34, Debre-Zeit, Ethiopia; Department of Veterinary Medicine, Hawassa University, P. O. Box 5, Hawassa, Ethiopia | Taye, M., College of Agriculture, Arba-Minch University, P.O. Box 21, Arba-Minch, Ethiopia; Belihu, K., Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 34, Debre-Zeit, Ethiopia; Bekana, M., Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 34, Debre-Zeit, Ethiopia; Sheferaw, D., Department of Veterinary Medicine, Hawassa University, P. O. Box 5, Hawassa, Ethiopia | This study was conducted to assess the impact of tsetse and trypanosomosis control measures on cattle herd size and composition, herd dynamics, and milk yield in Wolaita and Gamogofa Zones, southern Ethiopia. The study showed that the average number of cattle herd size in tsetse challenged areas was significantly higher than those in tsetse-controlled areas. The number of non-pregnant dry cows, bulls and oxen were significantly higher in tsetse challenged areas than the other two study areas. The rate of cattle addition to and disposal from the herd were significantly higher in tsetse challenged areas. Cows in Southern Tsetse Eradication Project (STEP) and community tsetse controlled areas were able to give 26-27 %, 25-29 % and 17-21 % more daily milk yield at the beginning, middle and end of lactation, respectively, than those in tsetse-challenged areas. In addition, cows in STEP and community tsetse controlled areas had lactation length longer by 1. 20 to 1. 35 months; age at first calving was shorter by 5. 30 to 5. 10 months; and calving interval was shorter by 4. 20 to 3. 20 months than cows in tsetse-challenged area, respectively. Hence, tsetse and trypanosomosis control both by the community and project would play key role in the improvement of cattle productivity. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. | Ethiopia; Herd dynamics; Trypanosomosis; Tsetse | animal; animal husbandry; article; case control study; cattle; cross-sectional study; dairying; Ethiopia; female; Glossinidae; insect control; longitudinal study; male; milk; nagana; parasitology; pathophysiology; population density; questionnaire; reproduction; secretion (process); Animal Husbandry; Animals; Case-Control Studies; Cattle; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dairying; Ethiopia; Female; Insect Control; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Milk; Population Density; Questionnaires; Reproduction; Trypanosomiasis, Bovine; Tsetse Flies; Bos; Glossina (genus) | 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-s2.0-77952879263 | Growth performances of Washera sheep under smallholder management systems in Yilmanadensa and Quarit districts, Ethiopia | Taye M., Abebe G., Gizaw S., Lemma S., Mekoya A., Tibbo M. | 2010 | Tropical Animal Health and Production | 42 | 4 | 10.1007/s11250-009-9473-x | Andassa Livestock Research Centre, P.O. Box 27, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Hawassa University, P.O. Box 5, Awassa, Ethiopia; Debre Berhan Agricultural Research Centre, P.O. Box 112, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia; International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syrian Arab Republic | Taye, M., Andassa Livestock Research Centre, P.O. Box 27, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, Hawassa University, P.O. Box 5, Awassa, Ethiopia; Abebe, G., Hawassa University, P.O. Box 5, Awassa, Ethiopia; Gizaw, S., Debre Berhan Agricultural Research Centre, P.O. Box 112, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia; Lemma, S., Debre Berhan Agricultural Research Centre, P.O. Box 112, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia; Mekoya, A., Debre Berhan Agricultural Research Centre, P.O. Box 112, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia; Tibbo, M., International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syrian Arab Republic | A study was conducted to evaluate growth performances of Washera sheep under smallholder production systems in the Yilmanadensa and Quarit districts of the Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia. Data were collected and analysed on the growth of 690 lambs owned by 110 households from October 2004 to September 2007. Weight (kilograms) of Washera lambs at birth, 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age was 2.69 ± 0.02, 7.10 ± 0.16, 12.42 ± 0.11, 16.12 ± 0.91, 20.05 ± 0.55 and 23.47 ± 0.68, respectively. Birth weight was significantly (P < 0.05) affected by district, year of birth, parity of the dam, birth type and sex of lamb and by the interaction effect of parity by birth type and parity by sex of lamb. Weaning weight was also affected by year of birth, type of birth and sex of lamb. Yearling weight was affected by only year of birth and sex of birth. The average daily weight gain (ADG; grams) from birth to 30 days, birth to 90 days, 90 to 180 days and birth to 1 year of age was 143.37 ± 13.46, 107.09 ± 2.67, 39.78 ± 9.73 and 60.13 ± 1. 89, respectively. Growth rates from birth to 30 and 90 days of age were significantly (P < 0. 05) affected by birth year, birth type and sex. ADG from birth to 1 year of age was affected by lamb sex and district. The indigenous Washera sheep had faster growth rate than those sheep breeds of Ethiopia extensively studied thus far. Integrated efforts combining improved nutrition, health and participatory community-based breeding would help the smallholder farmers to utilise and conserve this immense sheep genetic resource of Ethiopia. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. | Ethiopia; Growth traits; Sheep; Smallholder management system; Washera breed | animal; animal husbandry; article; birth weight; Ethiopia; female; growth, development and aging; male; methodology; multivariate analysis; physiology; pregnancy; rural population; season; sheep; Animal Husbandry; Animals; Birth Weight; Ethiopia; Female; Male; Multivariate Analysis; Pregnancy; Rural Population; Seasons; Sheep; Ovis aries | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-38949194182 | Monitoring field variability using confidence interval for coefficient of variation | Taye G., Njuho P. | 2008 | Communications in Statistics - Theory and Methods | 37 | 6 | 10.1080/03610920701762804 | Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; School of Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermartizburg, South Africa; School of Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa | Taye, G., Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Njuho, P., School of Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermartizburg, South Africa, School of Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa | The construction of an exact confidence interval (CI) for a single coefficient of variation (CV) is computationally cumbersome, but a number of approximation methods exist. The existing methods of CI construction are not appropriate for the agricultural experiments involving a single crop grown over several locations. There is a need to assess and identify an appropriate approximate method from the existing methods, and provide a new approach for multiple experiments. Simulation and real data were used in the evaluation process. The Vangel (1996) approximation method was computationally easier and produced an approximate length of CI close to that obtained by the exact method. For multiple experiments, the bootstrapping method performed better than other methods in the construction of CIs. Expected lower and upper confidence limits for coefficient of variation for various crop types were established using data from 513 trials conducted in Ethiopia. These CIs are used to monitor variability of new trials conducted on same locations. | Approximation method; Bootstrapping; Coefficient of variation; Exact method; Simulation | Approximation theory; Computer simulation; Numerical methods; Variational techniques; Bootstrapping; Coefficient of variation; Exact method; Computational methods | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-70149092759 | Evaluation of pH levels in some common carbohydrate food items consumed by communities in the Central Senatorial District of Cross River State, South-South of Nigeria | Tawo E.N., Abara A.E., Malu S.P., Alobi N.O. | 2009 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 8 | 9 | 10.3923/pjn.2009.1387.1390 | Department of Chemical Sciences, Cross River University of Technology, Calabar, Nigeria; Department of Chemistry, Benue State University, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria | Tawo, E.N., Department of Chemical Sciences, Cross River University of Technology, Calabar, Nigeria; Abara, A.E., Department of Chemical Sciences, Cross River University of Technology, Calabar, Nigeria; Malu, S.P., Department of Chemistry, Benue State University, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria; Alobi, N.O., Department of Chemical Sciences, Cross River University of Technology, Calabar, Nigeria | This work evaluates and provides data on the seasonal pH of common carbohydrate food sources in major communities of central senatorial districts of Cross River State. The result shows that most of the locally consumed food items within these zones are mostly acidic within a mean value of pH of 4.6 and conductivity of 48.6 Siemens for the wet season and pH of 4.8 and conductivity of 27.4 for the dry season which causes a lot of ailments. A balance diet or a combination of food substances to keep an optimal body pH balance is recommended so as to discourage the growth of microforms and organisms which give rise to these problems. It is recommended also that other non-carbohydrate food items such as proteins and vegetables be increased in the menu, or the starchy content of food substances can be reduced during the manufacturing process by manufacturing companies. Government can legislate and monitor these companies to comply with such standards as to improve the health conditions of the rural communities and other consumers. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2009. | Acidity; Alkalinity; Carbohydrate foods; Conductivity; pH | starch; article; bacterial growth; carbohydrate diet; conductance; food analysis; food composition; food intake; health status; human; pH; protein intake; reference value; rural population; seasonal variation; vegetable | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-36048952789 | An evaluation of the impact of a life skills programme in the workplace | Taute F.M. | 2007 | Social Work | 43 | 3 | None | Department of Social Work and Criminology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Taute, F.M., Department of Social Work and Criminology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | It is indispensable for social workers to evaluate their interventions to ascertain whether they are effective and lead to change. The Life Skills programme was implemented at a tertiary institution. In this quantitative research a quasi-experimental design with a one-group pre-test post-test experiment and a pre-test self-constructed questionnaire were administered to measure respondents' knowledge, skills and attitudes. Forty-six of the 71 respondents (65%) completed the post-test questionnaire six months after attendance of the programme. Results showed that Life Skills training could enhance adults' social functioning irrespective of age, gender, marital status or qualifications. | None | experimental design; questionnaire survey; social work; workplace | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-56649097498 | Human population, urban settlement patterns and their impact on Plasmodium falciparum malaria endemicity | Tatem A.J., Guerra C.A., Kabaria C.W., Noor A.M., Hay S.I. | 2008 | Malaria Journal | 7 | None | 10.1186/1475-2875-7-218 | Spatial Ecology and Epidemiology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, United Kingdom; Malaria Public Health and Epidemiology Group, KEMRI - Univ. Oxford - Wellcome Trust Collaborative Programme, Kenyatta National Hospital Grounds (NASCOP), P.O. Box 43640-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Centre for Tropical Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DS, United Kingdom | Tatem, A.J., Spatial Ecology and Epidemiology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, United Kingdom, Malaria Public Health and Epidemiology Group, KEMRI - Univ. Oxford - Wellcome Trust Collaborative Programme, Kenyatta National Hospital Grounds (NASCOP), P.O. Box 43640-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Guerra, C.A., Spatial Ecology and Epidemiology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, United Kingdom, Malaria Public Health and Epidemiology Group, KEMRI - Univ. Oxford - Wellcome Trust Collaborative Programme, Kenyatta National Hospital Grounds (NASCOP), P.O. Box 43640-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Kabaria, C.W., Malaria Public Health and Epidemiology Group, KEMRI - Univ. Oxford - Wellcome Trust Collaborative Programme, Kenyatta National Hospital Grounds (NASCOP), P.O. Box 43640-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Noor, A.M., Malaria Public Health and Epidemiology Group, KEMRI - Univ. Oxford - Wellcome Trust Collaborative Programme, Kenyatta National Hospital Grounds (NASCOP), P.O. Box 43640-00100, Nairobi, Kenya, Centre for Tropical Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DS, United Kingdom; Hay, S.I., Spatial Ecology and Epidemiology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, United Kingdom, Malaria Public Health and Epidemiology Group, KEMRI - Univ. Oxford - Wellcome Trust Collaborative Programme, Kenyatta National Hospital Grounds (NASCOP), P.O. Box 43640-00100, Nairobi, Kenya | Background. The efficient allocation of financial resources for malaria control and the optimal distribution of appropriate interventions require accurate information on the geographic distribution of malaria risk and of the human populations it affects. Low population densities in rural areas and high population densities in urban areas can influence malaria transmission substantially. Here, the Malaria Atlas Project (MAP) global database of Plasmodium falciparum parasite rate (PfPR) surveys, medical intelligence and contemporary population surfaces are utilized to explore these relationships and other issues involved in combining malaria risk maps with those of human population distribution in order to define populations at risk more accurately. Methods. First, an existing population surface was examined to determine if it was sufficiently detailed to be used reliably as a mask to identify areas of very low and very high population density as malaria free regions. Second, the potential of international travel and health guidelines (ITHGs) for identifying malaria free cities was examined. Third, the differences in PfPR values between surveys conducted in author-defined rural and urban areas were examined. Fourth, the ability of various global urban extent maps to reliably discriminate these author-based classifications of urban and rural in the PfPR database was investigated. Finally, the urban map that most accurately replicated the author-based classifications was analysed to examine the effects of urban classifications on PfPR values across the entire MAP database. Results. Masks of zero population density excluded many non-zero PfPR surveys, indicating that the population surface was not detailed enough to define areas of zero transmission resulting from low population densities. In contrast, the ITHGs enabled the identification and mapping of 53 malaria free urban areas within endemic countries. Comparison of PfPR survey results showed significant differences between author-defined 'urban' and 'rural' designations in Africa, but not for the remainder of the malaria endemic world. The Global Rural Urban Mapping Project (GRUMP) urban extent mask proved most accurate for mapping these author-defined rural and urban locations, and further sub-divisions of urban extents into urban and peri-urban classes enabled the effects of high population densities on malaria transmission to be mapped and quantified. Conclusion. The availability of detailed, contemporary census and urban extent data for the construction of coherent and accurate global spatial population databases is often poor. These known sources of uncertainty in population surfaces and urban maps have the potential to be incorporated into future malaria burden estimates. Currently, insufficient spatial information exists globally to identify areas accurately where population density is low enough to impact upon transmission. Medical intelligence does however exist to reliably identify malaria free cities. Moreover, in Africa, urban areas that have a significant effect on malaria transmission can be mapped. © 2008 Tatem et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | article; controlled study; endemic disease; geographic distribution; health survey; human; infection risk; malaria falciparum; morbidity; Plasmodium falciparum; population density; population risk; risk assessment; rural area; urban population; urbanization; Africa; audiovisual equipment; disease transmission; endemic disease; health; population density; risk factor; statistics; urban population; Africa; Endemic Diseases; Humans; Malaria, Falciparum; Maps as Topic; Population Density; Risk Factors; Urban Population; World Health | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-72849143856 | Rotavirus disease burden and impact and cost- effectiveness of a rotavirus vaccination program in Kenya | Tate J.E., Rheingans R.D., OReilly C.E., Obonyo B., Burton D.C., Tornheim J.A., Jaron P., Ochieng B., Kerin T., Calhoun L., Hame M., Laserson K., Breiman R.F., Feikin D.R., Mintz E.D., Widdowson M.-A. | 2009 | Journal of Infectious Diseases | 200 | SUPPL. 1 | 10.1086/605058 | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States; Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kisumu, Kenya; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nairobi, Kenya | Tate, J.E., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States; Rheingans, R.D., Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; OReilly, C.E., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States; Obonyo, B., Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kisumu, Kenya; Burton, D.C., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States; Tornheim, J.A., Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kisumu, Kenya; Jaron, P., Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kisumu, Kenya; Ochieng, B., Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kisumu, Kenya; Kerin, T., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States; Calhoun, L., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States; Hame, M., Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kisumu, Kenya; Laserson, K., Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kisumu, Kenya; Breiman, R.F., Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nairobi, Kenya; Feikin, D.R., Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kisumu, Kenya; Mintz, E.D., Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kisumu, Kenya; Widdowson, M.-A., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States | Background. The projected impact and cost-effectiveness of rotavirus vaccination are important for supporting rotavirus vaccine introduction in Africa, where limited health intervention funds are available. Methods. Hospital records, health utilization surveys, verbal autopsy data, and surveillance data on diarrheal disease were used to determine rotavirus-specific rates of hospitalization, clinic visits, and deaths due to diarrhea among children <5 years of age in Nyanza Province, Kenya. Rates were extrapolated nationally with use of provincespecific data on diarrheal illness. Direct medical costs were estimated using record review and World Health Organization estimates. Household costs were collected through parental interviews. The impact of vaccination on health burden and on the cost-effectiveness per disability-adjusted life-year and lives saved were calculated. Results. Annually in Kenya, rotavirus infection causes 19% of hospitalizations and 16% of clinic visits for diarrhea among children <5 years of age and causes 4471 deaths, 8781 hospitalizations, and 1,443,883 clinic visits. Nationally, rotavirus disease costs the health care system $10.8 million annually. Routine vaccination with a 2- dose rotavirus vaccination series would avert 2467 deaths (55%), 5724 hospitalizations (65%), and 852,589 clinic visits (59%) and would save 58 disability-adjusted life-years per 1000 children annually. At $3 per series, a program would cost $2.1 million in medical costs annually; the break-even price is $2.07 per series. Conclusions. A rotavirus vaccination program would reduce the substantial burden of rotavirus disease and the economic burden in Kenya. © 2009 by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. | None | diphtheria pertussis tetanus vaccine; Rotavirus vaccine; age distribution; article; cause of death; child; child hospitalization; childhood mortality; cost benefit analysis; cost effectiveness analysis; cost of illness; diarrhea; disability; disease surveillance; frequency analysis; health care cost; health care utilization; health service; health survey; hospital charge; hospital cost; household; human; Human rotavirus; infant; interview; Kenya; major clinical study; medical record; medical record review; outpatient department; parent; preschool child; priority journal; vaccination; virus infection; Cost of Illness; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Health Care Costs; Hospitalization; Humans; Immunization Programs; Kenya; Rotavirus Infections; Rotavirus Vaccines; Vaccination; World Health Organization | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84876928084 | Evaluation of chemical, botanical and cultural managements of termites control | Tasisa J., Gobena T. | 2013 | World Applied Sciences Journal | 22 | 4 | 10.5829/idosi.wasj.2013.22.04.1220 | Mizan-Tepi University, P.O. Box 260, Mizan Teferi, Ethiopia; West Wollega Zone Agricultural Office, Ghimbi, Ethiopia | Tasisa, J., Mizan-Tepi University, P.O. Box 260, Mizan Teferi, Ethiopia; Gobena, T., West Wollega Zone Agricultural Office, Ghimbi, Ethiopia | The study was conducted at Bojdi Dirmaji District, Wollega Zone (Western Ethiopia) using Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Eight different treatments of chemical, botanical and cultural control methods independently and in combinations were evaluated to identify the most effective method which is environmentally sustainable and economically feasible in controlling the termite problems. The data were collected over 12 weeks and analysis of variance showed significant difference among the treatments for all parameters. Maesa lanceolata 100 gm alone showed lower percent damage between 2-8 weeks (33.3%), later on after 9-12 weeks it become non significant and the destructed mound was recovered. Mound treated with Diazinon 60% EC at the rate of 25 ml and 20 ml alone and Diazinon 60% EC combination with queen removal at rate of 15 ml and 10 ml showed significant control overall the treatment. From the results of the study the lower rate of Diazinon 60% EC (10 ml per mound) and queen removal could be better option to manage the termite problem and could be more sustainable and integrated manner in the study area. © IDOSI Publications, 2013. | Botanical; Isopteran; Maesa lanceolata; Social insects; Termites | None | 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 |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84914164019 | Board demographic diversity, Firm performance and strategic change a test of moderation | Tarus D.K., Aime F. | 2014 | Management Research Review | 37 | 12 | 10.1108/MRR-03-2013-0056 | Department of Accounting and Finance, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya; Department of Management, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, United States | Tarus, D.K., Department of Accounting and Finance, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya; Aime, F., Department of Management, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, United States | Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of boards’ demographic diversity on firms’ strategic change and the interaction effect of firm performance. Design/methodology/approach – This paper used secondary data derived from publicly listed firms in Kenya during 2002-2010 and analyzed the data using fixed effects regression model to test the effect of board demographic and strategic change, while moderated regression analysis was used to test the moderating effect of firm performance. Findings – The results partially supported board demographic diversity–strategic change hypothesis. In particular, results indicate that age diversity produces less strategic change, while functional diversity is associated with greater levels of strategic change. The moderated regression results do not support our general logic that high firm performance enhances board demographic diversity–strategic change relationship. In effect, the results reveal that at high level of firm performance, board demographic diversity produces less strategic change. Originality/value – Despite few studies that have examined board demographic diversity and firm performance, this paper introduces strategic change as an outcome variable. This paper also explores the moderating role of firm performance in board demographic diversity–strategic change relationship, and finally, the study uses Kenyan dataset which in itself is unique because most governance and strategy research uses data from developed countries. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Board demographic diversity; Developing countries; Firm performance; Fixed effects regression model; Kenya; Strategic change | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84924330823 | Evaluation of TUBEX-TF and onsite typhoid IgG/IgM combo rapid tests to detect salmonella enterica serovar typhi infection during a typhoid outbreak in Harare, Zimbabwe | Tarupiwa A., Tapera S., Mtapuri-Zinyowera S., Gumbo P., Ruhanya V., Gudza-Mugabe M., Majuru N.X., Chin'ombe N. | 2015 | BMC Research Notes | 8 | 1 | 10.1186/s13104-015-1015-1 | National Microbiology Reference Laboratory, P O Box ST 749, Southerton, Harare, Zimbabwe; Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box A178, Avondale, Zimbabwe | Tarupiwa, A., National Microbiology Reference Laboratory, P O Box ST 749, Southerton, Harare, Zimbabwe; Tapera, S., National Microbiology Reference Laboratory, P O Box ST 749, Southerton, Harare, Zimbabwe; Mtapuri-Zinyowera, S., National Microbiology Reference Laboratory, P O Box ST 749, Southerton, Harare, Zimbabwe; Gumbo, P., National Microbiology Reference Laboratory, P O Box ST 749, Southerton, Harare, Zimbabwe; Ruhanya, V., Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box A178, Avondale, Zimbabwe; Gudza-Mugabe, M., National Microbiology Reference Laboratory, P O Box ST 749, Southerton, Harare, Zimbabwe; Majuru, N.X., National Microbiology Reference Laboratory, P O Box ST 749, Southerton, Harare, Zimbabwe; Chin'ombe, N., Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box A178, Avondale, Zimbabwe | Background: Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi, the causative agent of typhoid, is endemic in most parts of the world especially in Africa. Reliable and rapid diagnosis of the bacterium is therefore critical for confirmation of all suspected typhoid cases. In many parts of Zimbabwe, laboratory capacity to isolate the microorganism by culture method as a way of diagnosis has limitations. In this study, two rapid serological kits, TUBEX-TF and OnSite Typhoid IgG/IgM Combo, were evaluated for possible expeditious diagnosis of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi infection during a typhoid outbreak in Zimbabwe. Methods: Blood was collected from patients with clinical signs and symptoms of typhoid in Harare, Zimbabwe during an outbreak. The standard culture method was used to diagnose the disease. Two rapid kits, the TUBEX-TF and OnSite Typhoid IgG/IgM Combo, were also used in parallel to diagnose typhoid according to manufacturers' instructions. The diagnostic accuracy of the two kits was evaluated using the culture method as the gold standard. Results: From all the cases diagnosed by the blood culture (n = 136), we enrolled 131 patients for the TUBEX-TF and 136 for the OnSite Typhoid IgG/IgM Combo tests. With the culture method as a reference standard, we found that TUBEX-TF test was 100% sensitive and 94.12% specific, with 63.16% positive and 100% negative predictive values (NPVs) and the OnSite Typhoid IgG/IgM Combo test was 100% sensitive and 94.35% specific, with 63.16% positive and 100% NPVs. Conclusion: Our results indicated that TUBEX-TF and OnSite Typhoid IgG/IgM Combo rapid tests were useful tools for the rapid diagnosis of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi infection during typhoid outbreaks in Zimbabwe. The tests performed very well in laboratory evaluations of blood culture-confirmed typhoid cases in Harare, Zimbabwe. © 2015 Tarupiwa et al. | Evaluation; Rapid tests; Salmonella; Typhoid fever | Bacteria (microorganisms); Salmonella; Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhi; bacterium antibody; diagnostic kit; immunoglobulin G; immunoglobulin M; adult; blood; diagnostic kit; epidemic; female; human; immunology; male; microbiology; preschool child; Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi; sensitivity and specificity; typhoid fever; Zimbabwe; Adult; Antibodies, Bacterial; Child, Preschool; Disease Outbreaks; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin M; Male; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; Salmonella typhi; Sensitivity and Specificity; Typhoid Fever; Zimbabwe | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79954567431 | In vitro evaluation of antileishmanial activity and toxicity of essential oils of Artemisia absinthium and Echinops kebericho | Tariku Y., Hymete A., Hailu A., Rohloff J. | 2011 | Chemistry and Biodiversity | 8 | 4 | 10.1002/cbdv.201000331 | Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Science, Jimma University, P.O. Box 378, Jimma, Ethiopia; Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Plant Biocentre, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), N-7491 Trondheim, Norway | Tariku, Y., Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Science, Jimma University, P.O. Box 378, Jimma, Ethiopia; Hymete, A., Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Hailu, A., Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Rohloff, J., Plant Biocentre, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), N-7491 Trondheim, Norway | Potential toxicity, costs, and drug-resistant pathogens necessitate the development of new antileishmanial agents. Medicinal and aromatic plants constitute a major source of natural organic compounds. In this study, essential oils of Artemisia absinthium L. and Echinops kebericho Mesfin were investigated by GC and GC/MS analyses. Isolated oils were screened for antileishmanial activity against two Leishmania strains (L. aethiopica and L. donovani), and toxicity on the human monocytic leukemia (THP-1) cell line and red blood cells in vitro. GC/MS Analysis revealed 65 compounds (93.74%) for Artemisia absinthium and 43 compounds (92.85%) for Echinops kebericho oil. The oils contained the oxygenated monoterpene camphor (27.40%) and the sesquiterpene lactone dehydrocostus lactone (41.83%) as major constituents, respectively. Both oils showed activity against promastigote (MIC 0.0097-0.1565 μl/ml) and axenic amastigote forms (EC50 0.24-42.00 nl/ml) of both leishmania species. Weak hemolytic effect was observed for both oils, showing a slightly decreased selectivity index (SI 0.8-19.2) against the THP-1 cell line. Among the two oils tested, E. kebericho exerted strong antileishmanial activity that was even higher than that of amphotericin B with significant cytotoxicity. This study, therefore, demonstrated the potential use of both oils as source of novel agents for the treatment of leishmaniasis. Copyright © 2011 Verlag Helvetica Chimica Acta AG, Zürich. | Antileishmanial activity; Artemisia absinthium; Echinops kebericho; Essential oils | antileishmanial agent; Artemisia absinthium extract; camphor; Echinops kebericho extract; essential oil; sesquiterpene lactone derivative; terpene derivative; unclassified drug; antiprotozoal activity; Artemisia absinthium; article; Asteraceae; cytotoxicity; Echinops kebericho; erythrocyte; hemolysis; human; human cell; in vitro study; Leishmania donovani; mass fragmentography; monocytic leukemia; nonhuman; promastigote; Antiprotozoal Agents; Artemisia absinthium; Cell Line; Cell Survival; Echinops Plant; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Hemolysis; Humans; Leishmania; Leishmaniasis; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Oils, Volatile; Artemisia absinthium; Dryobalanops; Leishmania aethiopica; Leishmania donovani | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84940734173 | TEC prediction performance of the IRI-2012 model over Ethiopia during the rising phase of solar cycle 24 (2009-2011) | Tariku Y.A. | 2015 | Earth, Planets and Space | 67 | 1 | 10.1186/s40623-015-0312-1 | Department of Physics, University of Ambo, P.O. Box 19, Ambo, Ethiopia | Tariku, Y.A., Department of Physics, University of Ambo, P.O. Box 19, Ambo, Ethiopia | This paper discusses the performance of the latest version of the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI-2012) model for estimating the vertical total electron content (VTEC) variation over Ethiopian regions during the rising phase of solar cycle 24 (2009-2011). Ground-based Global Positioning System (GPS) VTEC data, inferred from dual-frequency GPS receivers installed at Bahir Dar (geographic latitude 11.6°N and longitude 37.35°E, geomagnetic latitude 2.64°N and longitude 108.94°E), Nazret (geographic latitude 8.57°N and longitude 39.29°E, geomagnetic latitude -0.25°N and longitude 111.01°E), and Robe (geographic latitude 7.11°N and longitude 40.03°E, geomagnetic latitude -1.69°N and longitude 111.78°E), are compared to diurnal, monthly, and seasonal VTEC variations obtained with the IRI-2012 model. It is shown that the variability of the diurnal VTEC is minimal at predawn hours (near 0300 UT, 0600 LT) and maximal between roughly 1000 and 1300 UT (1300-1600 LT) for both the experimental data and the model. Minimum seasonal VTEC values are observed for the June solstice during the period of 2009-2011. Moreover, it is shown that the model better estimates diurnal VTEC values just after the midnight hours (0000-0300 UT, 0300-0600 LT). The modeled monthly and seasonal VTEC values are larger than the corresponding measured values during the period of 2009-2010 when all options for the topside electron density are used. An important finding of this study is that the overestimation of VTEC values derived from the model decreases as the Sun transitions from very low to high solar activity. Moreover, it is generally better to use the model with the NeQuick option for the topside electron density when estimating diurnal, monthly, and seasonal VTEC variations. © 2015 Tariku. | Equatorial ionosphere; GPS-VTEC; IRI-2012 VTEC; Solar cycle | electron density; geomagnetism; GPS; ionosphere; modeling; performance assessment; prediction; solar activity; solar cycle; Ethiopia | 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-s2.0-84901710265 | Evaluation of the performance of herbaceous forage legumes under sown with maize under irrigation condition of Megech North Gondar, Ethiopia | Tarekegn A., Zelalem T. | 2014 | Livestock Research for Rural Development | 26 | 6 | None | Gondar Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 1337, Gondar, Ethiopia | Tarekegn, A., Gondar Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 1337, Gondar, Ethiopia; Zelalem, T., Gondar Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 1337, Gondar, Ethiopia | The effect of intercropping some forage legumes with maize crop on biomass yield of legumes and the grain and Stover yield of maize was determined under irrigation condition of Megech by using a Randomized Completely Block Design (RCBD). The legumes used for under sowing were Vigna unguiculata, Lablab purpureus and Vicia atropurpurea and the maize-legume integration were sole Maize (SM), Maize + Vigna unguiculata (MU), Maize + Lablab purpureus (ML) and Maize + Vicia atropurpurea (MV). The results indicated that intercropping forage legumes with maize crop did not affect the growth, grain and Stover yield of maize. The biomass yield of individual forage legumes showed that L. purpureus gave the highest forage dry matter yield and higher than the rest of under sown forage legumes. With respect to total biomass yield (Biomass yield of Forage and Maize Stover) ML yielded the highest biomass. The results suggest that maize grain yield and biomass yield of intercrops can be maximized for both human and livestock feeding by integrating L. purpureus with maize crop. | Biomass yield; Crop residue; Intercropping; Stover | None | 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 |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-70249108871 | Performance evaluation of the INNOPAC library system in Southern Africa: Perspectives from systems librarians | Taole Dr. N. | 2009 | Information Development | 25 | 3 | 10.1177/0266666909340830 | Academy of Science of South Africa, PO Box 72135, Lynwood Ridge 0040, Pretoria, South Africa | Taole Dr., N., Academy of Science of South Africa, PO Box 72135, Lynwood Ridge 0040, Pretoria, South Africa | There is a growing interest in the INNOPAC library automation system, which has been implemented by several libraries in the Southern African region over the past 10 years. The majority of these libraries have installed this library system through consortia membership, and others have done it individually. This article evaluates the performance of the INNOPAC library system in five libraries in the Southern African region using the performance criteria of Functionality, Usability, Support and Training, and Vendor. The article identifies the strengths and weaknesses of the system, and makes recommendations for implementation in other similar libraries in the region. It also outlines a proposal for an INNOPAC-based consortium for the Southern African region. Copyright © 2009 SAGE Publications. | INNOPAC library system; Library automation systems; Performance evaluation; Southern Africa | None | None |
| None | None | Patterns of herpes simplex virus shedding over 1 month and the impact of acyclovir and HIV in HSV-2-seropositive women in Tanzania | Tanton C., Weiss H.A., LeGoff J., Changalucha J., Clayton T.C., Ross D.A., Belec L., Hayes R.J., Watson-Jones D. | 2011 | Sexually Transmitted Infections | 87 | 5 | 10.1136/sti.2010.048496 | London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), Mwanza, Tanzania; Laboratoire de Microbiologie, Hôpital Saint Louis, Paris, France; Départment de Microbiologie, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France; African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF), Mwanza, Tanzania | Tanton, C., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom, National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), Mwanza, Tanzania; Weiss, H.A., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; LeGoff, J., Laboratoire de Microbiologie, Hôpital Saint Louis, Paris, France; Changalucha, J., National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), Mwanza, Tanzania; Clayton, T.C., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Ross, D.A., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Belec, L., Départment de Microbiologie, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France; Hayes, R.J., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Watson-Jones, D., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom, African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF), Mwanza, Tanzania | Objectives: Few studies have examined the frequency and duration of genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) shedding in sub-Saharan Africa. This study describes HSV shedding patterns among a sample of HSV-2-seropositive women enrolled in a placebo-controlled trial of HSV suppressive therapy (acyclovir 400 mg twice a day) in Tanzania. Methods: Trial participants were invited to participate in a substudy involving 12 clinic visits over 4 weeks. At each visit, cervical, vaginal and external skin swabs were taken and analysed for HSV DNA using inhouse real-time PCR. Results: HSV shedding was mainly subclinical (90%; 57/63 shedding days in the placebo arm). The most frequent shedding site was the external skin, but HSV DNA was detected from all three sites on 42% (27/63) of shedding days. In HIV-negative women, HSV DNA was detected on 3% (9/275) of days in the acyclovir versus 11% (33/309) in the placebo arm, while in HIV-positive women, detection was on 14% (23/160) versus 19% (30/155) of days, respectively. Conclusions: HSV shedding was common, varying greatly by individual. Shedding rates were similar to studies in African and non-African settings. Among HIVnegative women, shedding rates were lower in the acyclovir arm; however, acyclovir did not substantially impact on HSV shedding in HIV-positive women. | None | aciclovir; placebo; adult; article; controlled study; female; follow up; Herpes simplex virus; human; Human immunodeficiency virus 2 infection; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; immunosuppressive treatment; major clinical study; nonhuman; priority journal; randomized controlled trial; real time polymerase chain reaction; Tanzania; virus detection; virus shedding; Acyclovir; Adult; Antiviral Agents; DNA, Viral; Female; Herpes Genitalis; Herpesvirus 2, Human; HIV Seronegativity; HIV Seropositivity; HIV-1; Humans; Tanzania; Time Factors; Virus Shedding | None |
| None | None | Long-term impact of acyclovir suppressive therapy on genital and plasma HIV RNA in Tanzanian women: A randomized controlled trial | Tanton C., Weiss H.A., Rusizoka M., Legoff J., Changalucha J., Baisley K., Mugeye K., Everett D., Belec L., Clayton T.C., Ross D.A., Hayes R.J., Watson-Jones D. | 2010 | Journal of Infectious Diseases | 201 | 9 | 10.1086/651696 | London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania; African Medical and Research Foundation, Mwanza, Tanzania; Laboratoire de Microbiologie, Hôpital Saint Louis, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France; Inserm U743, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France; Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Chichiri, Blantyre, Malawi | Tanton, C., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom, National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania; Weiss, H.A., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Rusizoka, M., African Medical and Research Foundation, Mwanza, Tanzania; Legoff, J., Laboratoire de Microbiologie, Hôpital Saint Louis, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France; Changalucha, J., National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania; Baisley, K., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom, National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania; Mugeye, K., African Medical and Research Foundation, Mwanza, Tanzania; Everett, D., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom, National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania, Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Chichiri, Blantyre, Malawi; Belec, L., Inserm U743, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France; Clayton, T.C., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Ross, D.A., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Hayes, R.J., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Watson-Jones, D., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom, African Medical and Research Foundation, Mwanza, Tanzania | Background. Herpes simplex virus (HSV) suppressive therapy reduces genital and plasma human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA over periods up to 3 months, but the long-term effect is unknown. Methods. A total of 484 HIV-1 and HSV type 2 seropositive Tanzanian women aged 16-35 years were enrolled in a randomized placebo-controlled trial of acyclovir administered at a dosage of 400 mg twice daily. Cervicovaginal lavage and blood samples were collected at 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months for quantification of genital and plasma HIV-1 RNA and genital HSV DNA. Primary outcomes were detection and quantity of cervicovaginal HIV-1 RNA at 6 months. Results. At 6 months, there was little difference between the acyclovir and placebo arms for cervico-vaginal HIV-1 RNA detection (88 [41.3%] of 213 vs 84 [44.0%] of 191; odds ratio [OR], 0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.60-1.33), HSV DNA detection (20 [9.4%] of 213 vs 22 [11.5%] of 191; OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.42-1.51), genital HIV or HSV loads, or plasma HIV-1 RNA load. Estimated median adherence was 91%. There was a suggestion of an impact on cervico-vaginal HIV-1 RNA detection among women with estimated adherence 3≥90% (OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.50-1.09) when data from all 3 visits were included. Conclusions. Acyclovir administered at a dosage of 400 mg twice daily is unlikely to be a useful long-term intervention to reduce HIV transmission. The lack of effect on HIV may be attributable to suboptimal adherence or treatment regimen. © 2010 by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. | None | aciclovir; placebo; virus DNA; virus RNA; aciclovir; anti human immunodeficiency virus agent; antivirus agent; virus DNA; virus RNA; adolescent; adult; article; clinical trial; controlled clinical trial; controlled study; drug effect; female; Herpes simplex virus; human; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; priority journal; randomized controlled trial; Tanzania; uterine cervix cytology; blood; disease transmission; genital herpes; Herpes simplex virus 2; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; patient compliance; time; vagina; virology; Acyclovir; Adolescent; Adult; Anti-HIV Agents; Antiviral Agents; DNA, Viral; Female; Herpes Genitalis; Herpesvirus 2, Human; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Patient Compliance; RNA, Viral; Tanzania; Time Factors; Vagina; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84886867428 | Evaluation of the shedding routes and serological patterns in experimentally-induced Brucella melitensis infection in dexamethasone-treated and transport-stressed goats | Tanko P.N., Emikpe B.O., Sabri Y.M. | 2013 | Veterinary World | 6 | 9 | 10.14202/vetworld.2013.686-692 | Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia; Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Tanko, P.N., Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia; Emikpe, B.O., Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Sabri, Y.M., Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia | Aim: To identify and evaluate the shedding routes and patterns following experimentally-induced Brucella melitensis infection in dexamethasone-treated and transport-stressed goats. Materials and Methods: Twenty four healthy, adult goats were divided into 4 groups: A, B, C and D respectively. Group A was treated with dexamethasone for 8 days prior to inoculation with 107 Colony Forming Units of B. melitensis via the intraocular route. Group B was transported for 3 hours prior to inoculation with a similar dose. Group C was inoculated with a similar dose without subjecting the animals to any prior treatment, and this group served as our positive control. Group D was not inoculated with the infective dose and served as our negative control. Blood samples along with nasal, ocular, and vaginal swabs were collected on days 0, 3, 7, 10, 14, and weekly thereafter until day 63 post inoculation (pi) and were analyzed by PCR, Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT), and indirect ELISA techniques. Results: The nasal, ocular and vaginal swabs tested positive for Brucellosis with PCR from day 7, with nasal route being the first and most consistent route to reveal the positive results. Group B showed the earliest onset of shedding the bacterium (day 7) followed by group A which started from day 10 and shed relatively more positive of the bacterium via the routes examined. Blood samples tested positive with PCR from day 7 through 14 and the results were inconsistent subsequently. Sera samples tested positive with RBPT on day 14 in all the 3 infected groups but more consistent in group C. On the other hand, tests using ELISA showed positive results from day 7 pi, with group C having a 100% seroconvertion -while groups A and B showed only 50% seroconvertion. Conclusion: The consistent shedding via the nasal, ocular, and vaginal routes in groups A and B implied possible immunosuppression in the infected animals. We recommend that programs designed to control Brucellosis should consider analyzing a larger number of biological samples to enhance the accuracy of identification of shedders. | Brucellosis; Consistent shedding; Goats; Immunosuppression; Polymerase chain reaction; Serological tests; Swabs | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78649273046 | Impact of Fadama II project on income of tomato farmers in Niger State, Nigeria | Tanko L., Jirgi A.J., Ogundeji A.A. | 2010 | African Journal of Agricultural Research | 5 | 15 | None | Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension Technology, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B. 65, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria; Department of Agricultural Economics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa | Tanko, L., Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension Technology, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B. 65, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria; Jirgi, A.J., Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension Technology, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B. 65, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria; Ogundeji, A.A., Department of Agricultural Economics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa | This study was designed to quantitatively determine the impact of Fadama II Project on the farm income of tomato producers by utilizing primary data from tomato farmers in Bosso and Mokwa Local Government Areas of Niger State for the year 2009. Production function analysis and Chow's analysis of covariance confirmed significant differences in production functions, heterogeneity in slopes and intercepts and factor bias was observed on the production functions of participating and non- participating farmers respectively. The project exerted a positive significant impact on the incomes of the farmers. The study recommends improvement in irrigation performance, introduction of improved varieties of tomato, strengthening relevant research and extension as well as formation of organized farmer associations. ©2010 Academic Journals. | Fadama II Project; Non-participating farmers; Participating farmers; Tomato | Lycopersicon esculentum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84923118653 | Investigating the Impact of Community Based Health Insurance Scheme Among the Rural Dwellers of Sokoto State Nigeria | Tanko G.I., Harun A., Gorondutse A.H., Salihu A.A. | 2015 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 6 | 1S1 | 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n1s1p145 | Universiti Utara Malaysia, Malaysia; Ibrahim Badamasi University, Lapai, Nigeria | Tanko, G.I., Universiti Utara Malaysia, Malaysia; Harun, A., Universiti Utara Malaysia, Malaysia; Gorondutse, A.H., Ibrahim Badamasi University, Lapai, Nigeria; Salihu, A.A., Ibrahim Badamasi University, Lapai, Nigeria | Health protection seen as a method of conveying the monetary risk connected with the variety of singular's human services used by pooling expenses over the long run through prepayment and other individuals with risk pooling. The health protection approach seeks to evacuate financial boundaries to gaining a satisfactory level of health care and requires the affluent to experience the expense of support of the sick; the element of cross-subsidy is crucial. Therefore, the objective of this study was to carry out Data gathering in respect to Data screening and preliminary analysis in related to investigating the impact of community based health insurance scheme among the rural dwellers of Sokoto state Nigeria. The study employed convenience sampling techniques, equally the exercises was carried in order to suit the supposition of multivariate analysis. In view of that, an appraisal of Data is missing, identify univariate and multivariate outlier and lastly, skewness and kurtosis were checked. In addition, factor analysis through Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was also carried out. Similarly, all the exercises were prepared in Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software version 18, and the preliminary analysis revels convinced that the data fulfill the condition of multivariate analysis. The findings will give an insight into further analysis its hope to provide an understanding of how and why this may be diversified in a perspective rising environment. © 2015, Mediterranean Center of Social and Educational Research. All rights reserved. | Community based health insurance; Data selection; Rural dwellers and Nigeria; Sokoto | None | None |
| None | None | Development of a multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay for diarrheagenic Escherichia coli and Shigella spp. and its evaluation on colonies, culture broths, and stool | Taniuchi M., Walters C.C., Gratz J., Maro A., Kumburu H., Serichantalergs O., Sethabutr O., Bodhidatta L., Kibiki G., Toney D.M., Berkeley L., Nataro J.P., Houpt E.R. | 2012 | Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease | 73 | 2 | 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2012.03.008 | Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia, PO Box 801340, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States; Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services, Virginia Department of General Services, Richmond, VA 23219, United States; Biotechnology Laboratory, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, PO Box 3010, Moshi, Tanzania; Department of Enteric Diseases, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Phyathai, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; Center for Vaccine Development, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States; Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia, PO Box 800386, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States | Taniuchi, M., Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia, PO Box 801340, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States; Walters, C.C., Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services, Virginia Department of General Services, Richmond, VA 23219, United States; Gratz, J., Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia, PO Box 801340, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States, Biotechnology Laboratory, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, PO Box 3010, Moshi, Tanzania; Maro, A., Biotechnology Laboratory, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, PO Box 3010, Moshi, Tanzania; Kumburu, H., Biotechnology Laboratory, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, PO Box 3010, Moshi, Tanzania; Serichantalergs, O., Department of Enteric Diseases, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Phyathai, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; Sethabutr, O., Department of Enteric Diseases, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Phyathai, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; Bodhidatta, L., Department of Enteric Diseases, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Phyathai, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; Kibiki, G., Biotechnology Laboratory, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, PO Box 3010, Moshi, Tanzania; Toney, D.M., Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services, Virginia Department of General Services, Richmond, VA 23219, United States; Berkeley, L., Center for Vaccine Development, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States; Nataro, J.P., Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia, PO Box 800386, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States; Houpt, E.R., Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia, PO Box 801340, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States | Detection of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) typically depends on identification of virulence genes from stool cultures, not on stool itself. We developed a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay that detects key DEC virulence genes (stx1, stx2, eae, bfpA, ipaH, LT, STh, aaiC, aatA). The assay involved a multiplex PCR reaction followed by detection of amplicon(s) using Luminex beads. The assay was evaluated on over 100 colony and broth specimens. We then evaluated the assay using DNA extracted from stool, colony pools, and Gram-negative broths, using stool spiked with known quantities of DEC. Performance of the assay on stool DNA was most quantitative, while stool broth DNA offered the lowest limit of detection. The assay was prospectively evaluated on clinical specimens in Tanzania. Stool DNA yielded higher sensitivity than colony pools compared with broth DNA as the standard. We propose using this assay to screen for DEC directly in stool or stool broths. © 2012 Elsevier Inc. | Diarrhea; Diarrheagenic E. coli; Enteroaggregative E. coli; Enterohemorrhagic E. coli; Enteroinvasive E. coli; Enteropathogenic E. coli; Enterotoxigenic E. coli; Luminex; Multiplex PCR; PCR; Shiga toxin-producing E. coli; Shigella; Virulence genes | DNA; aaiC gene; aatA gene; amplicon; article; bacterial gene; bacterial virulence; bacterium colony; bacterium culture; bacterium detection; bfpA gene; diarrheagenic Escherichia coli; DNA extraction; eae gene; feces; feces culture; gene identification; ipaH gene; limit of detection; LT gene; multiplex polymerase chain reaction; nonhuman; priority journal; sensitivity and specificity; Shigella; stx1 gene; stx2 gene; Tanzania; virulence gene; Colony Count, Microbial; Diarrhea; Enterobacteriaceae Infections; Escherichia coli; Feces; Humans; Limit of Detection; Molecular Typing; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction; Prospective Studies; Shigella; Statistics, Nonparametric | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84862338892 | Evaluation of the acetone and aqueous extracts of mature stem bark of Sclerocarya birrea for antioxidant and antimicrobial properties | Tanih N.F., Ndip R.N. | 2012 | Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine | 2012 | None | 10.1155/2012/834156 | Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa; Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon | Tanih, N.F., Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa; Ndip, R.N., Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon | We assayed the antimicrobial activity of acetone and aqueous extracts of the stem bark of Sclerocarya birrea on some selected bacteria and fungi species including; Streptococcus pyogenes, Plesiomonas shigelloides, Aeromonas hydrophila, Salmonella typhimurium, Cryptococcus neoformans, Candida glabrata, Trichosporon mucoides, and Candida krusei using both agar well diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays. Based on the levels of activity, the acetone extract was examined for total polyphenolic content, radical scavenging and antioxidant activities. Total phenols of the extract were determined spectrophotometrically. The antioxidant activity was determined by the DPPH, ABTS and reducing power. All the bacteria and fungi species were susceptible to the plant extracts. The acetone extract was the most active for the bacterial species with MIC (0.1560.625mg/mL) while the aqueous extract was the most active for the fungi species with MIC (0.31251.25mg/mL). The polyphenolic compounds were found as 27.2mg/g tannic acid equivalent, 25.2mg/g quercetin equivalent, 9.1mg/g quercetin equivalent for phenols, flavonoid and flavonols respectively. The acetone extract exhibited a remarkable ability to scavenge radicals, strong reducing ability and a potential source of natural antioxidants. Both the acetone and aqueous extracts of S. birrea may provide a target for drug discovery. Copyright © 2012 Nicoline F. Tanih and Roland N. Ndip. | None | 1,1 diphenyl 2 picrylhydrazyl; 2,2' azinobis(3 ethylbenzothiazoline 6 sulfonic acid); acetone; amphotericin B; antiinfective agent; antioxidant; ciprofloxacin; flavonoid; flavonol; plant extract; quercetin; scavenger; sclerocarya birrea extract; tannin; unclassified drug; Aeromonas hydrophila; agar diffusion; Anacardiaceae; antimicrobial activity; antioxidant activity; article; bark; Candida glabrata; Candida krusei; controlled study; Cryptococcus neoformans; drug activity; drug screening; drug sensitivity; medicinal plant; minimum inhibitory concentration; nonhuman; plant stem; Plesiomonas shigelloides; priority journal; Salmonella typhimurium; Sclerocarya birrea; spectrophotometry; Streptococcus pyogenes; Trichosporon | 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 |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84905404882 | Mathematical modeling and simulation application to visualize the performance of retrofit heat pump water heater under first hour heating rating | Tangwe S., Simon M., Meyer E. | 2014 | Renewable Energy | 72 | None | 10.1016/j.renene.2014.07.011 | Fort Hare Institute of Technology, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa | Tangwe, S., Fort Hare Institute of Technology, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa; Simon, M., Fort Hare Institute of Technology, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa; Meyer, E., Fort Hare Institute of Technology, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa | Air source heat pump unlike water and geothermal source heat pumps are widely used in sanitary hot water production by virtue of the relative ease of harvesting, low grade aero-thermal energy and less complexity in operating and maintaining the heat pump unit. This research focused on performance monitoring of 1.2kW air source heat pump, retrofitting a 200L high pressure storage tank and operating under first hour heating rating for seven different climatic conditions. A data acquisition system was designed and built to measure the desired predictors of the power consumption and coefficient of performance of the ASHP water heater. A robust mathematical multiple linear regression models were built and were used in the modeled blocks in the simulation application developed in Simulink of MATLAB. Results indicated that the maximum coefficient of performance was associated with the maximum power consumption of the ASHP water heater. Finally, the simulation application could also be used by ASHP manufacturers and the energy saving company to quantify the energy reduced when geysers are retrofitted by ASHP. Optimization using constrained linear least squares solver in the optimization toolbox was also used to eliminate errors in the measurement from inclusion into the mathematical models. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. | Air source heat pump (ASHP); Coefficient of performance (COP); First hour heating rating (FHHR); Multiple linear regression | Computer simulation; Heating rate; Linear regression; Mathematical models; MATLAB; Measurement errors; Retrofitting; Water heaters; Coefficient of Performance; Constrained linear least squares; Data acquisition system; First hour heating rating (FHHR); Mathematical modeling and simulation; Multiple linear regression models; Multiple linear regressions; Simulation applications; Air source heat pumps; climate conditions; energy conservation; heating; manufacturing; mathematical analysis; numerical model; optimization; performance assessment; temperature effect; visualization | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84892702715 | The impact of the old age grant on rural households in nkonkobe municipality in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa | Tangwe P.T., Gutura P. | 2013 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 4 | 13 | 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n13p627 | University of Fort Hare, South Africa | Tangwe, P.T., University of Fort Hare, South Africa; Gutura, P., University of Fort Hare, South Africa | The aim of this study was to explore the socio-economic impact of old age grant on rural households in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The findings of this paper are based on in-depth interviews conducted with twenty-five beneficiaries of the Old Age Grant (OAG) in Alice. They were purposively selected to gauge the impact of this grant on their households. The results show that the OAG plays a vital role in households by contributing significantly to household expenditure. This grant assists in the provision of food, payment of school fees, transport, rent and water as well as the purchase of uniforms, books, electricity and other necessities. The OAG which was intended as a poverty relief programme for the aged has turned into a poverty alleviation programme for rural households. When they live together with other generations these pensioners become the primary caregivers in the household and they act as breadwinners by looking after their unemployed children, orphans, grandchildren and other relatives. | Household expenditure; Old Age Grant; Poverty; Rural households; Socio-economic impact | None | 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-s2.0-84892547320 | Perceived impact of the global financial crisis on social grant recipients in the Eastern Cape, South Africa | Tanga P.T., Tangwe M.N. | 2014 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 5 | 2 | 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n2p277 | Department of Social Work / Social Development, University of Fort Hare, PB X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa; 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; Tangwe, M.N., University of Fort Hare, PB X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa | South Africa has one of the highest rate of income inequality and the highest level of absolute poverty. Government's primary social welfare objective is focused on poverty alleviation and halving poverty by 2015. Social assistance is one way of achieving this goal. The aim of this study was to examine the perceptions of social grants recipients on the impact of the 2007/2008 financial crisis on their households. Data were collected from 1100 social grant recipients from 37 communities using a semi-structured questionnaire. The findings show that the majority of respondents were recipients of child support grant and females constituted the bulk. Most of the respondents revealed that the grant money was meeting their household and other needs before the financial crisis. However, the capacity to meet these needs slightly dropped during and after the crisis. The crisis has continued to pose a serious challenge in meeting these household needs. It is argued that females were making more household use of their grant money than males as they are regarded as central figures in African households. The 2007/2008 financial and the 2011 Euro zone crises have contributed significantly to the continuous deterioration of socioeconomic conditions of social grant recipients. The paper recommends certain actions to ease rural household dependent on social grants. | Eastern Cape; Financial crisis; Household income; Poverty; Social grant | None | 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-s2.0-84886259692 | Significant performance improvement in terms of reduced cathode flooding in polymer electrolyte fuel cell using a stainless-steel microcoil gas flow field | Tanaka S., Shudo T. | 2014 | Journal of Power Sources | 248 | None | 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2013.09.119 | Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1 Minamiosawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan; HySA/Catalysis, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa | Tanaka, S., Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1 Minamiosawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan, HySA/Catalysis, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa; Shudo, T., Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1 Minamiosawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan | Flooding at the cathode is the greatest barrier to increasing the power density of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) and using them at high current densities. Previous studies have shown that flooding is caused by water accumulation in the gas diffusion layer, but only a few researchers have succeeded in overcoming this issue. In the present study, microcoils are used as the gas flow channel as well as the gas diffuser directly on the microporous layer (MPL), without using a conventional carbon-fiber gas diffusion layer (GDL), to enable flood-free performance. The current-voltage curves show flooding-free performance even under low air stoichiometry. However, the high-frequency resistance (HFR) in this case is slightly higher than that in grooved flow channels and GDLs. This is due to the differences in the electron conduction path, and the in-plane electron conductivity in the MPL is the key to enhancing the microcoil fuel cell performance. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Cathode flooding; Flooding free; Forced convection; Microcoil flow field; Polymer electrolyte fuel cell; Water management | Cathode flooding; Current voltage curve; Electron conductivity; Fuel cell performance; Gas diffusion layers; High current densities; Microcoil; Polymer electrolyte fuel cells; Cathodes; Channel flow; Data communication equipment; Diffusion in gases; Flow fields; Flow of gases; Forced convection; Fuel cells; Polyelectrolytes; Polymers; Stainless steel; Water management; Floods | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84921867012 | Evaluation of the applicability of acid leaching for the 238U-230Th internal isochron method | Tanaka R., Yokoyama T., Kitagawa H., Tesfaye D.B., Nakamura E. | 2015 | Chemical Geology | 396 | None | 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2014.12.025 | The Pheasant Memorial Laboratory for Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry, Institute for Study of the Earth's Interior, Okayama University, Misasa, Tottori, Japan; Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama, Tokyo, Japan; YMG Gold Mining Plc, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Tanaka, R., The Pheasant Memorial Laboratory for Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry, Institute for Study of the Earth's Interior, Okayama University, Misasa, Tottori, Japan; Yokoyama, T., The Pheasant Memorial Laboratory for Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry, Institute for Study of the Earth's Interior, Okayama University, Misasa, Tottori, Japan, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama, Tokyo, Japan; Kitagawa, H., The Pheasant Memorial Laboratory for Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry, Institute for Study of the Earth's Interior, Okayama University, Misasa, Tottori, Japan; Tesfaye, D.B., The Pheasant Memorial Laboratory for Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry, Institute for Study of the Earth's Interior, Okayama University, Misasa, Tottori, Japan, YMG Gold Mining Plc, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Nakamura, E., The Pheasant Memorial Laboratory for Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry, Institute for Study of the Earth's Interior, Okayama University, Misasa, Tottori, Japan | The 238U-230Th internal isochron method has great potential for determining eruption ages of young volcanic materials if the separated groundmass phases have a sufficiently wide range of U/Th ratios. We examined the fractionation behavior of U and Th in aged (i.e., >0.5Ma) basaltic samples by 6M hydrochloric acid leaching to evaluate the applicability of acid-leaching treatment for the 238U-230Th internal isochron method. Acid leaching of aged basaltic rocks in 238U-234U-230Th secular equilibrium at the bulk-rock scale results in 230Th-238U and 234U-238U radioactive disequilibria for both leachates and residues. These radioactive disequilibria can be explained by redistribution of 234Th (parent of 234U) and 230Th between acid-soluble and acid-resistant phases due to α-recoil. The number of 230Th atoms redistributed by α-recoil can be calculated by using a mass conservation equation for 234U atoms and by the relative amount of recoiled 230Th and 234Th, the latter proportional to the kinetic energy of the recoiled nuclide. When the fraction of daughter nuclide 234U remaining in either the residue or leachate, after α-recoil redistribution of 238U, is large enough (>95%), the corrected (230Th/238U) values of leachate and residue show radioactive equilibria. This result demonstrates that preferential fractionation between U and Th does not occur during acid leaching for basaltic samples if there is no selective etching of the α-recoil track. This study implies that acid-leaching can be used in conjunction with the 238U-230Th internal isochron method for dating young volcanic rocks by evaluating the degree of the α-recoil redistribution of 234U. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. | 238U-230Th internal isochron; Acid leaching; α-Recoil | Basalt; Isotopes; Kinetic energy; Kinetics; Leaching; Radioactivity; Thorium; Volcanic rocks; Volcanoes; <sup>238</sup>U-<sup>230</sup>Th internal isochron; Acid leaching; Acid leaching treatments; Alpha-recoil track; Hydrochloric acid leaching; Mass conservation equations; Secular equilibrium; Volcanic materials; Uranium; basalt; hydrochloric acid; isotopic fractionation; isotopic ratio; leachate; uranium series dating; volcanic eruption; volcanic rock | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77952879306 | Effects of different levels of dried sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) leaves inclusion in finisher ration on feed intake, growth, and carcass yield performance of Ross broiler chicks | Tamir B., Tsega W. | 2010 | Tropical Animal Health and Production | 42 | 4 | 10.1007/s11250-009-9476-7 | Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 34, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia; Andassa Agricultural Research Center, Andassa, Ethiopia | Tamir, B., Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 34, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia; Tsega, W., Andassa Agricultural Research Center, Andassa, Ethiopia | The effect of supplementation with increasing levels of dried leaves of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) on feed intake, body weight gain, and carcass yield characteristics of finisher Ross broiler chicks was studied at Haramaya University, Ethiopia. Three hundred Ross broiler chicks aging 29 days and weighing 540 ± 5. 28 g (mean ± SD) were randomly distributed to 15 pens, each with 20 chicks, representing five treatment rations each with three replications. Dietary treatments consisted of inclusions of dried leaves of sweet potato at levels of 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 g/kg DM for treatments T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5, respectively. The experiment lasted for 28 days, during which, dry matter intake (DMI), body weight gain, and feed conversion efficiency; carcass yield characteristics; and weights and lengths of different parts of gastrointestinal tract were measured. Data were subjected to statistical analysis using SAS (1998). Inclusion of dried leaves of sweet potato at the level of 200 g/kg DM resulted in lower (P ≤ 0. 01) daily DMI as compared to chicks in control diet (T1). The daily body weight gain declined (P ≤ 0. 01) when the level of dried leaves of sweet potato in the diet was 150 and 200 g/kg DM. Inclusion of dried leaves of sweet potato up to 100 g/kg DM did not affect (P > 0. 05) eviscerated carcass weight, and weights of drumstick with thigh and breast meat were not affected (P > 0. 05) by inclusion of dried leaves of sweet potato up to 150 g/kg DM. The results of this study revealed that inclusion of dried leaves of sweet potato up to 100 g/kg DM in the finisher ration might be considered as the optimum level of supplementation when chickens are sold on live weight basis, but if birds are sold on eviscerated carcass weight basis, inclusion up to 150 g/kg DM might be economically feasible as it produced higher carcass yield components. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. | Body weight gain; Carcass yield characteristics; Dried leaves of sweet potato; Feed intake; Finisher broiler chicks | animal; article; body weight; chicken; diet supplementation; eating; Ethiopia; growth, development and aging; physiology; plant leaf; randomization; regression analysis; sweet potato; Animals; Body Weight; Chickens; Dietary Supplements; Eating; Ethiopia; Ipomoea batatas; Plant Leaves; Random Allocation; Regression Analysis; Aves; Gallus gallus; Ipomoea batatas | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84939810973 | An evaluation of a palliative care outreach programme for children with Burkitt lymphoma in rural Cameroon | Tamannai M., Kaah J., Mbah G., Ndimba J., D'Souza C., Wharin P., Hesseling P.B. | 2015 | International Journal of Palliative Nursing | 21 | 7 | 10.12968/ijpn.2015.21.7.331 | Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany; Banso Baptist Hospital, Cameroon; Nottingham University Hospitals, United Kingdom; Beryl Thyer Memorial Africa Trust, United Kingdom; Stellenbosch University, South Africa | Tamannai, M., Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany; Kaah, J., Banso Baptist Hospital, Cameroon; Mbah, G., Banso Baptist Hospital, Cameroon; Ndimba, J., Banso Baptist Hospital, Cameroon; D'Souza, C., Nottingham University Hospitals, United Kingdom; Wharin, P., Beryl Thyer Memorial Africa Trust, United Kingdom; Hesseling, P.B., Stellenbosch University, South Africa | Background: Palliative care (PC) is the most appropriate treatment for patients with life-limiting, incurable diseases, but it is a relatively new concept in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). A lack of curative treatment options for some conditions creates a great need for PC, but such services are rarely provided in SSA. More research into PC in SSA is urgently needed to create an evidence base to confirm the importance of appropriate PC services. Objectives: To gain a better understanding of the needs of patients and their families visited by a children's PC nurse in Cameroon and to identify aspects of the service that can be improved. Methodology: A qualitative study design with semi-structured interviews was used. Tape-recorded interviews were transcribed and thematically analysed. Results: Twelve interviews were conducted with patients, carers and nurses. Financial aid, general disease improvement and prayers were the directly expressed needs of service recipients. Specialist training in children's PC was the main need expressed by the nurses. Open communication about clinical status and treatment failure, more detailed counselling, more distraction for patients and respite for carers were identified as underlying needs. Conclusion: It is possible to provide an effective children's PC service that meets the most urgent needs of recipients in a rural setting in SSA. Recommendations include improved counselling, specialist education for staff, expansion of local support networks and more frequent home visits. More studies are needed to help define the need for PC in children with life-limiting diseases. © 2015 MA Healthcare Ltd. | Burkitt lymphoma; Children's palliative care; Health-related quality of life; Outreach; Sub-Saharan Africa | adolescent; Burkitt lymphoma; Cameroon; child; child health care; family; female; health care planning; health service; human; interview; male; nursing; palliative therapy; program evaluation; rural population; standards; Adolescent; Burkitt Lymphoma; Cameroon; Child; Child Health Services; Family; Female; Health Services Needs and Demand; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Male; Medically Underserved Area; Palliative Care; Program Evaluation; Rural Population | 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-s2.0-84948732986 | 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-s2.0-84953358220 | Long-term impacts of season of grazing on soil carbon sequestration and selected soil properties in the arid Eastern Cape, South Africa | Talore D.G., Tesfamariam E.H., Hassen A., Du Toit J.C.O., Klumpp K., Soussana J.F. | 2015 | Plant and Soil | 397 | 42371 | 10.1007/s11104-015-2625-z | Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private bag 0083, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Plant Production and Soil Science, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Private bag 0002, Pretoria, South Africa; Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute, Middelburg, Eastern Cape, South Africa; INRA, Grassland Ecosystem Research (UR874), Chemin de Beaulieu, Clermont Ferrand Cedex 2, France; French National Institute for Agronomic Research, INRA, Paris, France | Talore, D.G., Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private bag 0083, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa; Tesfamariam, E.H., Department of Plant Production and Soil Science, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Private bag 0002, Pretoria, South Africa; Hassen, A., Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private bag 0083, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa; Du Toit, J.C.O., Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute, Middelburg, Eastern Cape, South Africa; Klumpp, K., INRA, Grassland Ecosystem Research (UR874), Chemin de Beaulieu, Clermont Ferrand Cedex 2, France; Soussana, J.F., French National Institute for Agronomic Research, INRA, Paris, France | Background and aims: The Karoo biomes of South Africa are major feed resources for livestock farming, yet soil nutrient depletion and degradation is a major problem. The objective of this study was to assess impacts of long-term (>75 years) grazing during spring (SPG), summer (SUG), winter (WG) and exclosure (non-grazed control) treatments on soil nutrients, penetration resistance and infiltration tests. Methods: A soil sampling campaign was carried out to collect soil to a depth of 60 cm to analyse bulk density, soil physical and chemical parameters as well as soil compaction and infiltration. Results: Generally, grazing treatments reduced soil organic C (SOC) stocks and C:N ratios, and modified soil properties. There was higher SOC stock (0.128 Mg ha−1 yr−1) in the exclosure than in the SPG (0.096 Mg ha−1 yr−1), SUG (0.099 Mg ha−1 yr−1) and WG (0.105 Mg ha−1 yr−1). The C:N ratios exhibited similar pattern to that of C. From the grazing treatments, the WG demonstrated 7 to 10 % additional SOC stock over the SPG and SUG, respectively. Conclusions: Short period animal exclusion could be an option to be considered to improve plant nutrients in sandy soils of South Africa. However, this may require a policy environment which supports stock exclusion from such areas vulnerable to land degradation, nutrient and C losses by grazing-induced vegetation and landscape changes. © 2015, Springer International Publishing Switzerland. | Arid ecosystem; Exclosure; Grazing season; Organic matter; Soil organic carbon; Total nitrogen | Animalia | 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-s2.0-84940537537 | Board diversity and financial performance: A graphical time-series approach | Taljaard C.C., Ward M.J.D., Muller C.J. | 2015 | South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences | 18 | 3 | 10.17159/2222-3436/2015/v18n3a10 | Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa | Taljaard, C.C., Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Ward, M.J.D., Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Muller, C.J., Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa | Directors need to guide and govern companies on behalf of and for the benefit of shareholders and stakeholders. However questions remain as to whether boards with higher levels of diversity amongst directors are better equipped to fulfil their fiduciary duty than boards with lower levels of diversity. This research examines whether increased levels of diversity within boards are associated with improved financial performance to shareholders. From the literature, several theoretical frameworks that could explain why increased diversity might or might not lead to improved board performance were noted. Share returns and directors’ demographic data were collected for a sample of the largest 40 companies listed on the JSE from 2000 to 2013. This data was analysed using Muller and Ward’s (2013) investment style engine by forming portfolios of companies based on board-diversity constructs. Time-series graphs of cumulative portfolio market returns were analysed to determine if the diversity dimensions tested were associated with improved share performance. The results show that racial diversity within boards is not associated with financial performance. However, increased gender diversity and younger average board age are shown to have strong associations with improved share price performance. These findings are mainly attributed to agency-, resource dependency, human capital and signalling theories. Increased diversity is seen to bolster independence and lessen agency problems. Rising diversity levels also enlarge boards’ external networks, allowing diverse stakeholders’ needs to be accommodated and limiting dependence on strategic resources. Finally, as human capital is increased, the collection of different skills and experiences are associated with better performance. The results, based on a more robust methodology and improved data set, provide additional support to previous studies. © 2015 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. | Boards; Diversity; Financial performance | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79953007457 | Upper body muscle strength and batting performance in cricket batsmen | Taliep M.S., Prim S.K., Gray J. | 2010 | Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research | 24 | 12 | 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181e7261b | Department of Sports Management, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Human Biology, MRC/UCT Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, University of Cape Town, Newlands, South Africa | Taliep, M.S., Department of Sports Management, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa; Prim, S.K., Department of Human Biology, MRC/UCT Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, University of Cape Town, Newlands, South Africa; Gray, J., Department of Human Biology, MRC/UCT Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, University of Cape Town, Newlands, South Africa | The aim of this study was to determine if upper body muscle strength (as measured by the 1 repetition maximum bench press) was associated with cricket batting performance. Cricket batting performance was defined by the maximum hitting distance during a batting task and batting average and strike rate during 1-Day and Twenty/20 (T/20) matches. Eighteen, provincial level, elite cricket batsmen participated in the study. Upper body muscle strength was found to be positively correlated with maximum hitting distance (ρ = 0.0052). There were no significant correlations between upper body strength, batting average, and strike rate for both the 1-Day and T/20 matches. The results of this study have implications for coaches choosing a particular batting line-up. Batsmen who have stronger upper bodies could be favored to bat when a match situation requires them to hit powerful strokes resulting in boundaries. However, coaches cannot use upper body strength as a predictor of overall batting performance in 1-Day or T/20 matches. © 2010 National Strength and Conditioning Association. | Elite; Fitness; Power; Skill; Training | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84894064446 | Improvements of simulated Western North Atlantic current system and impacts on the AMOC | Talandier C., Deshayes J., Treguier A.-M., Capet X., Benshila R., Debreu L., Dussin R., Molines J.-M., Madec G. | 2014 | Ocean Modelling | 76 | None | 10.1016/j.ocemod.2013.12.007 | LPO, CNRS-IFREMER-IRD-UBO, Plouzané, France; LOCEAN-IPSL, CNRS-UPMC-IRD-MNHN, Paris, France; LJK, Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France; LGGE, CNRS-UJF, Grenoble, France; OMFG, NOC, Southampton, United Kingdom; ICEMASA, University of Cape Town, South Africa | Talandier, C., LPO, CNRS-IFREMER-IRD-UBO, Plouzané, France; Deshayes, J., LPO, CNRS-IFREMER-IRD-UBO, Plouzané, France, ICEMASA, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Treguier, A.-M., LPO, CNRS-IFREMER-IRD-UBO, Plouzané, France; Capet, X., LOCEAN-IPSL, CNRS-UPMC-IRD-MNHN, Paris, France; Benshila, R., LOCEAN-IPSL, CNRS-UPMC-IRD-MNHN, Paris, France; Debreu, L., LJK, Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France; Dussin, R., LGGE, CNRS-UJF, Grenoble, France; Molines, J.-M., LGGE, CNRS-UJF, Grenoble, France; Madec, G., LOCEAN-IPSL, CNRS-UPMC-IRD-MNHN, Paris, France, OMFG, NOC, Southampton, United Kingdom | Previous studies have shown that low horizontal resolution (of the order of 1°) ocean models, hence climate models, are not able to adequately represent boundary currents nor mesoscale processes which affect the dynamics and thermohaline circulation of the ocean. While the effect of mesoscale eddies can be parameterized in low resolution models, boundary currents require relatively high horizontal resolution. We clarify the impact of increasing the resolution on the North Atlantic circulation, with emphasis on the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), by embedding a 1/8° nest covering the North Atlantic into a global 1/2° model. Increasing the resolution in the nest leads to regional improvements of the circulation and thermohaline properties in the Gulf Stream area, for the North Atlantic Current, in the subpolar gyre and the Nordic Seas, consistent with those of previous studies. In addition, we show that the Deep Western Boundary Current dense water transport increases with the nest, from the overflows down to Flemish Cap, due to an increase in the Denmark Strait overflow as well as dense water formation in the subpolar gyre. This increases the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation in density space by about 8. Sv in the subpolar gyre in the nested configuration. When exiting the Labrador Sea around 53°N we illustrate that the Deep Western Boundary Current successively interacts with the upper ocean circulation composed with the North Atlantic Current in the intergyre region, the Northern Recirculation Gyre, and the Gulf Stream near Cape Hatteras. This surface/deep current interaction seems to induce an increase of the AMOC intensity in depth-space, giving rise to an AMOC maximum near 35°N. This process is missing in the configuration without nesting. At 26.5°N, the AMOC is 4. Sv larger in the nested configuration and is in good agreement with observations. Finally, beyond the nest imprint (i.e. in the low resolution area) in the South Atlantic the AMOC maximum at 40°S is 3. Sv larger at the end of the simulation meaning that information is able to propagate outside the nest without being fully damped. This underlines the benefit of using the nest for a reasonable computing time compared to a fully global higher resolution configuration. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. | Atlantic meridional overturning circulation; Deep western boundary current; Gulf stream; North atlantic current; Subpolar gyre | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79955685722 | Effect of solder joint integrity on the thermal performance of a TEC for a 980nm pump laser module | Takyi G., Amalu E., Bernasko P.K. | 2011 | Soldering and Surface Mount Technology | 23 | 2 | 10.1108/09540911111120186 | Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Electronics Manufacturing Engineering Research Group, Medway School of Engineering, University of Greenwich, Chatham Maritime, United Kingdom | Takyi, G., Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Amalu, E., Electronics Manufacturing Engineering Research Group, Medway School of Engineering, University of Greenwich, Chatham Maritime, United Kingdom; Bernasko, P.K., Electronics Manufacturing Engineering Research Group, Medway School of Engineering, University of Greenwich, Chatham Maritime, United Kingdom | Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effect of solder wettability on the thermal performance of a thermo-electric cooler (TEC) of a 980 nm pump laser module. Design/methodology/approach - In this paper, TEC thermal performance has been evaluated using a heat pump test. The results were compared with scanning acoustic microscopy (C-SAM) results in order to have a better understanding of the thermal behaviour of the TEC. In the C-SAM experiments, images were taken at the interfaces between the housing and TEC, as well as at the interfaces between the chip-on-carrier (CoC) and TEC. Findings - The heat pump test results indicate a strong correlation with the C-SAM test results. The C-SAM observations show good solder joint at the interface between the TEC and housing in the case of the device that yielded a good heat pump test result (11.5°C) and poor solder joints (gross de-lamination) at the interface between the TEC and housing in the case of the device that yielded a poor heat pump test result (24.4°C). The C-SAM observations did not show much difference at the interface between the CoC and TEC. The results from this study were used to qualify the post-vacuum soldered laser pump devices at JDS Uniphase, Plymouth, UK. Originality/value - The findings presented in this paper indicate that the level of solder wettability at the interfaces between the piece parts impacts the thermal performance of the TEC. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Acoustic testing; Coolers; Lasers; Microscopy; Solder; Thermoelectricity | Acoustic testing; Coolers; Design/methodology/approach; Heat pumps; Jds uniphase; Laser pumps; Microscopy; Plymouth; Pump laser; Scanning Acoustic Microscopy; Solder; Solder joints; Strong correlation; Test results; Thermal behaviours; Thermal Performance; Thermoelectric cooler; Cooling systems; Heat pump systems; Housing; Mixed convection; Pumps; Testing; Pumping (laser) | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77954569604 | The impact of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) on the clinical features of HIV - related oral lesions in Nigeria | Taiwo O.O., Hassan Z. | 2010 | AIDS Research and Therapy | 7 | None | 10.1186/1742-6405-7-19 | Regional Centre for Oral Health Research and Training Initiatives (RCORTI) for Africa, Jos, Nigeria; AIDS Prevention Initiatives for Nigeria (APIN) Project, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria | Taiwo, O.O., Regional Centre for Oral Health Research and Training Initiatives (RCORTI) for Africa, Jos, Nigeria; Hassan, Z., AIDS Prevention Initiatives for Nigeria (APIN) Project, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria | Background: This study aimed to determine the therapeutic effects of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) on the clinical presentations of HIV related oral lesions (HIV-ROLs) in an adult Nigerian population.Methods: A 5 month prospective study on HAART naïve HIV positive adults recruited into the HAART program of an AIDS referral centre. HIV-ROLs were diagnosed clinically by the EEC Clearinghouse on oral problems related to HIV infection. Baseline clinical features of HIV-ROLs was documented by clinical photographs using SONY®5.2 M Cybershot digital camera. Post HAART monthly review was conducted using clinical photographs.Results: A total of 142 patients were seen. Age range was 19 - 75 years. Mean age was 35.6 ± 10.5 (SD). Eighty (56.3%) were females. Prevalence of HIV-ROLs was 43.7%. Oral candidiasis (22.4%) was the most prevalent HIV-ROL. 114 (83.2%) patients had clinical AIDS at presentation (CDC 1993). 89.4% were placed on Tenofovir/Emtricitabine +`Nevirapine, 9.9% on Tenofovir/Emtricitabine + Efavirenz. There was strong decline in the clinical features of oral candidiasis from a month of commencing HAART. Oral hairy leukoplakia was slow in responding to HAART. Parotid gland enlargement, melanotic hyperpigmentation and Kaposi's sarcoma were more persistent and had slower response to HAART. There was no clinical change noticed in linear gingival erythema.Conclusion: HAART has different clinical effects on HIV related oral lesions depending on the size, duration of treatment and etiology of the lesions. HIV-ROLs of fungal origin have the fastest response to HAART. These lesions alongside immunologic parameters can be used as indicators of success or failure of antiretroviral therapy. © 2010 Taiwo and Hassan; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | efavirenz; emtricitabine plus tenofovir disoproxil; nevirapine; acquired immune deficiency syndrome; adult; age distribution; aged; article; camera; cheilitis; clinical feature; controlled study; digital imaging; disease association; erythema; female; gingiva disease; hairy leukoplakia; herpes simplex; highly active antiretroviral therapy; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; human tissue; hyperpigmentation; Kaposi sarcoma; major clinical study; male; mouth lesion; mouth ulcer; Nigeria; parotid enlargement; photography; population research; prevalence; priority journal; prospective study; sex difference; thrush; xerostomia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879477200 | Evaluating the Environmental Impacts of Poultry Farming on Stream Water Quality: A Study From Abeokuta, Nigeria: Balancing farming practices and environmental protection to promote human health | Taiwo A.M., Arowolo T.A., Adekunle I.M., Adetunji M.T. | 2013 | Environmental Quality Management | 22 | 4 | 10.1002/tqem.21344 | Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Department of Soil Science and Soil Management, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria | Taiwo, A.M., Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Arowolo, T.A., Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Adekunle, I.M., Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Adetunji, M.T., Department of Soil Science and Soil Management, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria | [No abstract available] | None | environmental impact; environmental impact assessment; environmental protection; farming system; health care; poultry; river water; stream; water quality; Abeokuta; Nigeria; Ogun | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84904513244 | Physico-chemical and microbial analysis of the impact of abatoir effluents on Ogun river course | Taiwo A.G., Adewunmi A.R., Ajayi J.O., Oseni O.A., Lanre-Iyanda Y.A. | 2014 | International Journal of ChemTech Research | 6 | 5 | None | Science Laboratory Technology Department, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, P.M.B. 2210, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria | Taiwo, A.G., Science Laboratory Technology Department, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, P.M.B. 2210, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Adewunmi, A.R., Science Laboratory Technology Department, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, P.M.B. 2210, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Ajayi, J.O., Science Laboratory Technology Department, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, P.M.B. 2210, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Oseni, O.A., Science Laboratory Technology Department, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, P.M.B. 2210, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Lanre-Iyanda, Y.A., Science Laboratory Technology Department, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, P.M.B. 2210, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria | There is always need for reduction in the impact of natural and most especially anthropogenic pollution to enhance water quality, food safety and sustainable development. This led to assessing the impact of Lafenwa abattoir effluents on Ogun river course in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Three sample locations were chosen along the river course (up, middle and down streams). Physico-chemical and microbial properties analyzed using standard laboratory procedures were temperature, pH, conductivity, turbidity, total solid (TS), total dissolved solid (TDS), total suspended solid (TSS), dissolved oxygen (DO), acidity, alkalinity, total hardness, calcium and magnesium hardness, chloride, iron and nitrate. Temperature ranged from 26.8-27.00C, pH between was 7.92-7.96, Conductivity from 103.7-105.0 μS/cm, Turbidity between 30.9-31.2 NTU, TS, TDS and TSS were between 46-143 mg/L, DO ranged from 5.5-6.0 mg/L, Acidity and Alkalinity were from 0.1-0.5 mg/L, Total, Ca and Mg hardness ranged from 14-50 mg/L, Cl-, Fe and NO3 were from 0.3-52 mg/Kg. Total bacteria count was between 2.5-4.7 × 102 Cfu/ml and Escherichia coli was above 160 Cfu/ml. All the parameters studied were within the permissible standard limit of WHO and NSDWQ, except turbidity, total suspended solid, magnesium hardness, total bacterial and Escherichia coli counts. Ogun river was impaired by the abattoir wash down of effluents therefore, its quality status may posse environmental and health hazards to the end users. To improve and ensure its quality and safety, adequate discharge prevention, management and treatment before use is required. | Hazard and safety; Ogun river; Physico-chemical and microbial properties; Pollution; Water quality | calcium; chloride; dissolved oxygen; iron; magnesium; nitrate; acidity; alkalinity; article; atomic absorption spectrometry; bacterial count; conductance; microbial activity; physical chemistry; river; slaughterhouse; temperature; turbidity; water hardness; water quality | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84871309978 | Theoretical performance simulation of a high pressure agro-forestry swirl nozzle | Taiwo A., Oje K. | 2012 | International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering | 5 | 4 | 10.3965/j.ijabe.20120504.00 | Department of Agricultural Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P.M.B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria; Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, University of Ilorin, P.M.B. 1515, Kwara State, Nigeria | Taiwo, A., Department of Agricultural Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P.M.B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria; Oje, K., Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, University of Ilorin, P.M.B. 1515, Kwara State, Nigeria | Equations of dynamic systems in droplet distribution at high pressure and boundary value flows in the swirl chamber of a swirl nozzle were used in conjunction with momentum equations of forces on moving curved vanes to develop mathematical models. A computer program in C++ language was developed and used to simulate the effect of some flow and geometric parameters, including flow rate, pressure and swirl chamber diameter, on the spray performance of a high pressure agro-forestry swirl nozzle. Each of the three performance parameters of axial flow rate, spray cone angle and output discharge (or performance) coefficient were studied as a function of any two combinations of the nozzle supply pressure, exit orifice diameter and swirl chamber diameter. The study established that the spray cone angle of the discharge flow pattern varied from the minimum value of 40° for a swirl chamber diameter of 90 mm to 220° for 40 mm as the exit orifice diameter varied from the minimum value of 0.5 mm to 4.0 mm. The simulated nozzle output discharge coefficient could be varied from 0.98, when the nozzle supply pressure was 400 kPa to the minimum value of 0.001 at any of the other six simulated nozzle supply pressure values of 200, 250, 300, 350, 450 and 500 kPa by varying the exit orifice diameter from 0.5 mm to 4.0 mm. The pattern of variation of the simulated nozzle discharge coefficient values were similar to those obtained by measurement during the validation exercise in the laboratory although their sensitivities to the independent variables were different. The results indicated that the range of nozzle discharge coefficient of 0.80 to 0.98 required for a well designed high pressure agro-forestry swirl nozzle has been simulated. With the successful development of the C++ computer program, a useful tool that will cut down on the rigor encountered and time spent by nozzle designers and evaluators during nozzle development process has been developed in the study. | Agro-forestry; Performance coefficient; Simulation; Spray cone angle; Swirl chamber diameter; Swirl-nozzle | Agroforestry; Performance coefficients; Simulation; Spray cone angle; Swirl chambers; Swirl-nozzle; Computer software; Flow rate; Forestry; High pressure effects; Mathematical models; Orifices; Sensitivity analysis; Timber; Spray nozzles; Agriculture; Fluid Dynamics; Forestry; Geometry; Mathematical Models; Nozzles; Programing Languages; Sensitivity; Simulation | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84866705618 | Assessment of the impact of malaria on cd4+ T Cells and haemoglobin levels of HIV-malaria co-infected patients | Tagoe D.N.A., Boachie Jr. J. | 2012 | Journal of Infection in Developing Countries | 6 | 9 | None | Department of Laboratory Technology (Medical Laboratory Division), University of Cape Coast, Ghana | Tagoe, D.N.A., Department of Laboratory Technology (Medical Laboratory Division), University of Cape Coast, Ghana; Boachie Jr., J., Department of Laboratory Technology (Medical Laboratory Division), University of Cape Coast, Ghana | Introduction: The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and malaria destroy important cells required for proper immunological and haematological functioning of the body. This research therefore aimed to assess the effect of malaria on CD4+ and haemoglobin (Hb) levels of HIV-malaria co-infected patients. Methodology: The study was performed by sampling 220 adult HIV patients on highly active anti retroviral therapy (HAART) who routinely visited the Tema General Hospital in Ghana. Blood samples were obtained for both blood film microscopy identification of malaria parasites and analysis using rapid diagnostic test kits. A BD Facscount Analyzer was used in the quantification of CD4+ levels. Results: Of the 220 patients sampled, 34 (15.5%) were HIV-malaria co-infected, all of whom (34; 100%) had CD4+ counts below the normal range, while 23 (12.9%) of the HIV mono-infected patients had normal CD4+ counts. Almost all HIV-malaria co-infected patients (33; 97.1%) had low Hb levels, whereas 79 (42.5%) of the HIV mono-infected patients had normal Hb. Malaria infection strongly correlated positively and significantly with both low CD4+ count (χ2 = 0.828, P = 0.003) and Hb (χ2 = 0.817, P = 0.004) levels. Conclusion: Malaria co-infection with HIV decreases CD4+ T cells and Hb levels in patients. It is therefore recommended that HIV patients in malaria endemic areas should adhere to malaria preventive measures. © 2012 Tagoe and Boachie Jr. | CD4+ T cells; Hb levels; Highly active anti retroviral therapy (HAART); HIV-malaria co-infection | antiretrovirus agent; hemoglobin; adult; article; blood sampling; CD4+ T lymphocyte; clinical assessment; female; highly active antiretroviral therapy; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; major clinical study; malaria; male; mixed infection; nonhuman; Plasmodium; Adult; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Coinfection; Female; Ghana; Hemoglobins; HIV Infections; Humans; Malaria; Male; Human immunodeficiency virus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-49449103021 | Racial identity and social interaction: The impact of 'diversity' on the structural dimension of organisational social capital | Tagliapietra G. | 2008 | International Journal of Management and Decision Making | 9 | 5 | 10.1504/IJMDM.2008.019786 | Department of People Management and Development, Tshwane University of Technology, Faculty of Economic Sciences, Private Bag X680, 0001 Pretoria, South Africa | Tagliapietra, G., Department of People Management and Development, Tshwane University of Technology, Faculty of Economic Sciences, Private Bag X680, 0001 Pretoria, South Africa | This study describes and analyses the impact of racial identity diversity on the structural dimension of social capital within multicultural organisations. Using data collected form multiple respondents of randomly sampled organisations operating in the municipality area of Tshwane (RSA), this study identifies as to what extent historically disadvantaged and advantaged identity groups interact socially within their companies. With the help of a self-administered questionnaire, many insights have been gained confirming some previous assumptions in regard to social identity processes in the workplace. Indeed, the structural dimension of social capital revealed to be highly affected by differences in racial category membership. © 2008, Inderscience Publishers. | Bonding and bridging; Knowledge workers; Organisational social capital; Racial identity; Social interaction; Social psychological theory; South Africa | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84924985594 | The effectiveness of lean manufacturing audits in measuring operational performance improvements | Taggart P., Kienhöfer F. | 2013 | South African Journal of Industrial Engineering | 24 | 2 | None | School of Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa | Taggart, P., School of Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa; Kienhöfer, F., School of Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa | The hypothesis that lean manufacturing audits are an effective way to measure improvements in operational performance was tested using 64 manufacturing sites owned by a FTSE 100 company. Commonly-used lean characteristics were evaluated: policy deployment, standardised work, visual management and housekeeping, quick changeover techniques, total productive maintenance, continuous improvement (kaizen), error proofing, cultural awareness, material control, and levelling (heijunka). Operational performance was assessed employing commonly-used operational performance measures: on-time-delivery, inventory turns, and direct labour utilisation. The findings are that lean manufacturing audits are effective in measuring improvements in operational performance provided that the audit scope and the lean characteristics are aligned up front. © 2013, South African Institute of Industrial Engineering. All rights reserved. | None | Agile manufacturing systems; Manufacture; Continuous improvements; Cultural awareness; Lean manufacturing; Manufacturing sites; On-time delivery; Operational performance; Total productive maintenance; Visual management; Lean production | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-47849092231 | Performance of the OptiMAL® dipstick in the diagnosis of malaria infection in pregnancy | Tagbor H., Bruce J., Browne E., Greenwood B., Chandramohan D. | 2008 | Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management | 4 | 3 | None | Department of Community Health, School of Medicinal Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Private Mail Bag, Kumasi, Ghana; Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom | Tagbor, H., Department of Community Health, School of Medicinal Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Private Mail Bag, Kumasi, Ghana; Bruce, J., Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Browne, E., Department of Community Health, School of Medicinal Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Private Mail Bag, Kumasi, Ghana; Greenwood, B., Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Chandramohan, D., Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom | The accuracy of OptiMAL® dipsticks was compared with that of microscopy in the diagnosis of malaria infection in pregnancy. During the course of a clinical trial of anti-malarial drugs in pregnancy, we screened 4500 pregnant women of all parities who accessed antenatal clinic services at St. Theresa's Hospital's in Nkoranza, Ghana, between March 2003 and December 2004 with OptiMAL® dipsticks and confirmed the diagnosis of malaria with microscopy. We determined the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and the area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for the OptiMAL® antigen test compared to microscopy for the diagnosis of malaria infection in pregnancy. OptiMAL® dipsticks had a sensitivity of 96.6%, specificity of 85.4%, a positive predictive value of 92.7%, a negative predictive value of 92.6%, and an area under the ROC curve of 0.91 (95% CI of 0.90-0.92). The diagnostic accuracy of the OptiMAL® dipstick is high and the test may have practical use in the diagnosis of malaria infection in pregnancy in malaria endemic countries. © 2008 Tagbor et al, publisher and licensee Dove Medical Press Ltd. | Diagnosis; Malaria; Microscopy; OptiMAL dipstick; Pregnancy | article; clinical trial; controlled clinical trial; controlled study; diagnostic accuracy; diagnostic kit; diagnostic value; endemic disease; female; Ghana; human; immunoassay; intermethod comparison; major clinical study; malaria; microscopy; parasite identification; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium ovale; Plasmodium vivax; prediction; pregnancy; receiver operating characteristic; sensitivity and specificity | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79951741165 | The clinical impact of combining intermittent preventive treatment with home management of malaria in children aged below 5years: Cluster randomised trial | Tagbor H., Cairns M., Nakwa E., Browne E., Sarkodie B., Counihan H., Meek S., Chandramohan D. | 2011 | Tropical Medicine and International Health | 16 | 3 | 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2010.02699.x | Department of Community Health, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; District Health Administration Ejisu-Juaben, Ashanti, Ghana; Malaria Consortium, London, United Kingdom | Tagbor, H., Department of Community Health, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Cairns, M., Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Nakwa, E., Department of Community Health, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Browne, E., Department of Community Health, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Sarkodie, B., District Health Administration Ejisu-Juaben, Ashanti, Ghana; Counihan, H., Malaria Consortium, London, United Kingdom; Meek, S., Malaria Consortium, London, United Kingdom; Chandramohan, D., Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom | Objective To investigate the impact of seasonal intermittent preventive treatment (IPTc) on malaria-related morbidity in children <5years of age who already had access to home-based management of malaria (HMM) for presumptive treatment of fevers. Method Thirty community-based drug distributors (CDDs) from all 13 communities of a rural subdistrict in Ghana were trained to provide prompt treatment for presumptive malaria using artesunate-amodiaquine (AS+AQ) to all children under 5years of age. Six communities were randomised to also receive bimonthly courses of seasonal IPTc with AS+AQ in May, July and September of 2007. The primary outcome was the incidence rate of febrile episodes diagnosed presumptively as malaria by the CDDs in the communities in each intervention group. Cross-sectional surveys were conducted to determine the prevalence of parasitaemia and anaemia among the study children. Results During the 6months in which IPTc was delivered, incidence of fevers in communities given HMM+IPTc was lower than in communities given HMM alone, but this difference was not statistically significant (protective efficacy: 37.0%(95% CI: -9.7 to 63.8; P=0.14). However, incidence of presumptive malaria was significantly lower in IPTc communities when only children who received all three courses of IPTc were included in the analysis: protective efficacy 61.5% (95% CI:31.2-78.5; P=0.018). Protection with IPTc was not followed by rebound morbidity in the following year. At the end of the intervention period, prevalence of asymptomatic parasitaemia was lower in communities that had received IPTc, but there were no differences in anaemia or haemoglobin concentration. Conclusion In this study area, incidence of fevers was lower in communities given three courses of IPTc during the time of peak transmission than in communities that received only HMM. However, high levels of coverage for IPTc will be necessary for maximum impact. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | Home; Intermittent; Malaria; Management; Preventive; Treatment | amodiaquine plus artesunate; child health; cluster analysis; disease control; disease transmission; disease treatment; drug prescribing; health survey; malaria; morbidity; anemia; article; child; clinical evaluation; dizziness; drug intermittent therapy; dysphagia; female; fever; Ghana; headache; heart palpitation; home care; human; incidence; insomnia; intermittent preventive therapy; jaundice; major clinical study; malaria; male; morbidity; mouth pain; nausea; parasitemia; patient compliance; preschool child; prevalence; pruritus; randomized controlled trial; rash; rural area; side effect; treatment indication; treatment outcome; urine color; vomiting; weakness; Anemia; Antimalarials; Child, Preschool; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Therapy, Combination; Epidemiologic Methods; Female; Fever; Ghana; Home Care Services; Humans; Infant; Malaria; Male; Medication Adherence; Parasitemia; Seasons; Treatment Outcome; Ghana; Artesunate | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84886433428 | Evaluation of phytochemical and elemental contents of Haematostaphis barteri leaves and stem bark in Hong local government area of Adamawa state, Nigeria | Tadzabia K., Maina H.M., Maitera O.N., Ezekiel J.S. | 2013 | Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research | 5 | 9 | None | Department of Chemistry, Umar Suleiman College of Education, Gashua, Yobe State, Nigeria; Department of Chemistry, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Nigeria | Tadzabia, K., Department of Chemistry, Umar Suleiman College of Education, Gashua, Yobe State, Nigeria; Maina, H.M., Department of Chemistry, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Nigeria; Maitera, O.N., Department of Chemistry, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Nigeria; Ezekiel, J.S., Department of Chemistry, Umar Suleiman College of Education, Gashua, Yobe State, Nigeria | Phytochemical and elemental constituents of leaves and stem bark of Haematostaphis barteri was determined in ten locations in Hong Local Government Area of Adanawa state. Quantitative methods were used for the phytochemical determination. Tannins and Saponins were observed in the entire samples investigated. Alkaloids were present in the leaves while flavonoids were recorded in the stem bark. Glycoside was not observed in the samples by the method used. The elemental compositions were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). Essential elements (Na, K, Mg and Ca) and heavy metals (Cu, Zn, and Cd) were recorded in the samples observed. There was no significance difference (p≤0.05) in terms of essential elements and heavy metal contents among the 10 locations investigated. The phytochemicals observed have many pharmacological properties while the essential elements are much required by human bodies for maintenance of good health. | Determination; Element; Leaves; Phytochemical; Stem bark | Determination; Element; Leaves; Phytochemical; Stem bark; Atomic absorption spectrometry; Copper; Heavy metals; Metabolites; Magnesium; alkaloid; cadmium; calcium; copper; flavonoid; glycoside; lead; magnesium; phosphorus; potassium; saponin; sodium; tannin; zinc; Anacardiaceae; analysis of variance; article; atomic absorption spectrometry; bark; biological monitoring; geographic distribution; Haematostaphis barteri; limit of detection; Nigeria; nonhuman; phytochemistry; plant leaf; plant stem | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84895775109 | Satellite-based hybrid drought monitoring tool for prediction of vegetation condition in Eastern Africa: A case study for Ethiopia | Tadesse T., Demisse G.B., Zaitchik B., Dinku T. | 2014 | Water Resources Research | 50 | 3 | 10.1002/2013WR014281 | National Drought Mitigation Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Nebraska, Lincoln, United States; Earth Science Department, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Piazza, Ethiopia; Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States; International Research Institute for Climate and Society, Columbia University, Palisades, NY, United States | Tadesse, T., National Drought Mitigation Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Nebraska, Lincoln, United States; Demisse, G.B., Earth Science Department, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Piazza, Ethiopia; Zaitchik, B., Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States; Dinku, T., International Research Institute for Climate and Society, Columbia University, Palisades, NY, United States | An experimental drought monitoring tool has been developed that predicts the vegetation condition (Vegetation Outlook) using a regression-tree technique at a monthly time step during the growing season in Eastern Africa. This prediction tool (VegOut-Ethiopia) is demonstrated for Ethiopia as a case study. VegOut-Ethiopia predicts the standardized values of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) at multiple time steps (weeks to months into the future) based on analysis of "historical patterns" of satellite, climate, and oceanic data over historical records. The model underlying VegOut-Ethiopia capitalizes on historical climate-vegetation interactions and ocean-climate teleconnections (such as El Niño and the Southern Oscillation (ENSO)) expressed over the 24 year data record and also considers several environmental characteristics (e.g., land cover and elevation) that influence vegetation's response to weather conditions to produce 8 km maps that depict future general vegetation conditions. VegOut-Ethiopia could provide vegetation monitoring capabilities at local, national, and regional levels that can complement more traditional remote sensing-based approaches that monitor "current" vegetation conditions. The preliminary results of this case study showed that the models were able to predict the vegetation stress (both spatial extent and severity) in drought years 1-3 months ahead during the growing season in Ethiopia. The correlation coefficients between the predicted and satellite-observed vegetation condition range from 0.50 to 0.90. Based on the lessons learned from past research activities and emerging experimental forecast models, future studies are recommended that could help Eastern Africa in advancing knowledge of climate, remote sensing, hydrology, and water resources. Key Points Developed new satellite-based prediction model called VegOut-Ethiopia Demonstrated application of VegOut-Ethiopia model to a recent drought year Highlighted future research opportunities under evolving climate conditions © 2014. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. | Drought Monitoring; Remote Sensing; Satellite-observed vegetation; Vegetation Monitoring; Vegetation Prediction | Atmospheric pressure; Climatology; Drought; Forecasting; Remote sensing; Research; Satellites; Vegetation; Water resources; Correlation coefficient; Drought monitoring; Environmental characteristic; Normalized difference vegetation index; Research opportunities; Southern oscillation; Vegetation condition; Vegetation monitoring; Climate models | 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 |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79959302173 | Estrus performance of boran and boran × holstein friesian crossbred cattle synchronized with a protocol based on estradiol benzoate or gonadotrophin-releasing hormone | Tadesse M., Thiengtham J., Pinyopummin A., Prasanpanich S., Tegegne A. | 2011 | Kasetsart Journal - Natural Science | 45 | 2 | None | Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; Department of Large Animals and Wildlife Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand; International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Tadesse, M., Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; Thiengtham, J., Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; Pinyopummin, A., Department of Large Animals and Wildlife Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand; Prasanpanich, S., Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; Tegegne, A., International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | The objectives of this study were to determine estrus behavior, interval to estrus, duration of estrus and time of ovulation of Boran, and Boran × Holstein Friesian (HF) breeds. A total of 113 cows and heifers from the two breeds were synchronized with two estrus synchronization protocols: 1) estradiol benzoate (EB) + controlled internal drug release (CIDR) + prostaglandin (PGF2α); and 2) gonadotrophin (GnRH) + CIDR + PGF2α. The results (mean ± SE) showed that the Boran breed had significantly longer interval to estrus (70.67 ± 5.9 versus 54.58 ± 4 h), shorter duration of estrus (8.65 ± 0.83 versus 12.1 ± 0.7 h) and lower behavioral score (mean ± SD; 883 ± 639 versus 3,399 ± 957) compared to Boran × HF crossbred cattle. Animals treated with EB + CIDR + PGF2α had a significantly shorter interval to estrus (46.75 ± 4 versus 78.5 ± 4 h), higher behavioral score (3,058 ± 1,223 versus 2,663 ± 991) and longer duration of estrus (11.31 ± 0.71 versus 9.4 ± 0.75 h) compared to animals treated with GnRH + CIDR + PGF2α. The interval from estrus to ovulation (26 ± 2.5 h) was not different between breeds and between synchronization methods. The Boran (Bos indicus) breed tended to have a longer interval to estrus, shorter duration of estrus and an estrus behavior score lower than Boran × HF crossbred cattle treated and managed under similar conditions. The protocol using EB + CIDR + PGF2α was more effective than GnRH + CIDR + PGF2α in terms of enhancing estrus behavior and creating tight synchrony. | Boran cattle; Estrus behavior; Estrus duration; Interval to estrus; Synchronization | Animalia; Bos; Bos indicus; Friesia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84924180904 | Ionic-liquid-based dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction combined with high-performance liquid chromatography for the determination of multiclass pesticide residues in water samples | Tadesse B., Teju E., Gure A., Megersa N. | 2015 | Journal of Separation Science | 38 | 5 | 10.1002/jssc.201401105 | Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Jimma University, P. O. Box 378, Jimma, Ethiopia | Tadesse, B., Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa; Teju, E., Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Gure, A., Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Jimma University, P. O. Box 378, Jimma, Ethiopia; Megersa, N., Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Ionic-liquid-based dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction in combination with highperformance liquid chromatography and diode array detection has been proposed for the simultaneous analysis of four multiclass pesticide residues including carbaryl,methidathion, chlorothalonil, and ametryn from water samples. The major experimental parameters including the type and volume of ionic liquid, sample pH, type, and volume of disperser solvent and cooling time were investigated and optimum conditions were established. Under the optimum experimental conditions, limits of detection and quantification of the method were in the range of 0.1-1.8 and 0.4-5.9 μg/L, respectively, with satisfactory enrichment factors ranging from 10-20. The matrix-matched calibration curves, which were constructed for lake water, as a representative matrix were linear over wide range with coefficients of determination of 0.996 or better. Intra- and interday precisions, expressed as relative standard deviations, were in the range of 1.1-9.7 and 3.1-7.8%, respectively. The relative recoveries of the spiked environmental water samples at one concentration level were in the range of 77-102%. The results of the present study revealed that the proposed method is simple, fast, and uses environmentally friendly extraction solvent for the analysis of the target pesticide residues in environmental water samples. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim. | Environmental waters; High-performance liquid chromatography; Ionic liquids; Pesticide residues; Trace enrichment | Chromatography; High performance liquid chromatography; Ionic liquids; Liquid chromatography; Liquids; Pesticides; Solvent extraction; Dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction; Environmental water; Environmental water samples; Experimental conditions; Experimental parameters; Pesticide residue; Relative standard deviations; Simultaneous analysis; Extraction; ionic liquid; lake water; pesticide residue; analytic method; Article; dispersion; high performance liquid chromatography; limit of detection; liquid phase microextraction; pH; priority journal; water analysis; water contamination | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-38049184766 | Evaluation of Alvarado score as an admission criterion in patients with suspected diagnosis of acute appendicitis | Tade A.O. | 2007 | West African Journal of Medicine | 26 | 3 | None | Department of Surgery, Olabisi Onabanjo, University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria; P.O. Box 1303, Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria | Tade, A.O., Department of Surgery, Olabisi Onabanjo, University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria, P.O. Box 1303, Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria | Background: Patients with right iliac fossa pain present a diagnostic challenge to emergency room doctors when equivocal signs are present. Objective: To evaluate Alvarado score as an admission criterion in patients with suspected diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Methods: This was a prospective study of 100 consecutive patients who presented to the an emergency department with right iliac fossa pain and suspected diagnosis of acute appendicitis between January 2004 and December 2004. They were assessed using Alvarado score. Main outcome measures in relation to these scores were, patient's admission, patient's discharge, and whether patient had appendicitis or not. Results: The range of scores was 1-10. Seventy-four patients were admitted while 26 were discharged. Thirty-four patients with confirmed diagnosis of acute appendicitis had scores ranging from 5-10. No patient with score less than 5 had appendicitis. The sensitivity and negative predictive value reached 100% at scores below five, while specificity and positive predictive value reached 100% at the score of 10. Conclusion: The Alvarado score can be used as an objective criterion in selecting for admission patients with suspected diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Patients with scores of 4and below do not require admission since they turn out not to have acute appendicitis. | Admission criterion; Alvarado score; Appendicitis; Diagnosis | abdominal pain; acute appendicitis; adult; Alvarado score; article; clinical trial; controlled clinical trial; controlled study; correlation analysis; diagnostic accuracy; emergency ward; female; hospital admission; hospital discharge; human; major clinical study; male; outcome assessment; practice guideline; prediction; prospective study; scoring system; sensitivity and specificity; symptom; validation study; Abdomen, Acute; Adult; Appendicitis; Diagnosis, Differential; Emergency Service, Hospital; Female; Health Status Indicators; Humans; Male; Pelvic Pain; Prospective Studies; Severity of Illness Index | 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 |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84873321347 | Considering effective adaptation options to impacts of climate change for maize production in Ghana | Tachie-Obeng E., Akponikpè P.B.I., Adiku S. | 2013 | Environmental Development | 5 | 1 | 10.1016/j.envdev.2012.11.008 | Environmental Protection Agency, P.O. Box MB 326 Accra, Ghana; Environmental Soil Physics and Hydraulics Unit, Université de Parakou, 03 BP 351, Parakou Université, Benin; University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 70, Legon Accra, Ghana | Tachie-Obeng, E., Environmental Protection Agency, P.O. Box MB 326 Accra, Ghana; Akponikpè, P.B.I., Environmental Soil Physics and Hydraulics Unit, Université de Parakou, 03 BP 351, Parakou Université, Benin; Adiku, S., University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 70, Legon Accra, Ghana | As a contribution to guide policy planning, effective climate change adaptation options to enhance maize production in Ghana were examined. The Agricultural Production Systems Simulator crop model, coupled with statistical downscaled climate scenarios of 9 general circulation models (GCMs) and farmer practices, were used to device adaptation options in the near future (NF) period of 2046-2065 based on IPCC A2 emission scenario at local scale level in Wa and Wenchi agricultural areas of Ghana. Results from the single-maize cropping season at Wa, in the savanna zone indicate that, a 6-week delay in sowing from 1961 to 2000 baseline date of 1st May to 15th June, was the most appropriate way to offset the negative effects of potential climate change resulting in a yield increase of 8.2%. In the forest-savanna transitional zone of Wenchi, a 4-week delay in the major season sowing date from 15th March to 15th April and no change in the minor season sowing date of 15th August resulted in a slight yield increase of 3.9%. On the other hand, a second adaptation option of using a medium heat-tolerant maize variety produced substantial gains in crop yield of 30.1% and 30.5% in savanna and forest-savanna transitional zones respectively with a longer grain-formation period under NF climate change when compared to delaying sowing dates. Effective adaptation options can thus reduce negative impacts of climate change in the NF, but require enabling policy to support its implementation. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. | Adaptation; Climate change; Ghana; Maize cultivar; Savanna and forest-savanna | Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34250312147 | Localization of auricular projection area of the liver and its use in the monitoring of viral hepatitis | Szopinski J.Z., Lochner G.P., Macura T., Karcz-Socha I., Kasprzyk-Minkner A., Kielan K., Krupa-Jezierska B., Nasiek D.J., Warakomski P. | 2006 | Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine | 26 | 4 | None | Pain Clinic, Mayo Medical Centre of South Africa, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Infectious Diseases, Provincial Teaching Hospital, Tychy, Poland; Department of Internal Medicine, Strzelce Opolskie Regional Hospital, Poland; Provincial Centre for Mother and Child Health Care, Czestochowa, Poland; 1st Department of Psychiatry, Silesian Medical University, Katowice, Poland; Maciejow-Zabre Medical Centre, Zabrze, Poland; Department of Anaesthesia, Newport Hospital, Kingston, RI, United States; Department of Physiology, Silesian Medical University, Zabrze, Poland; P.O. Box 1042, Fontainebleau 2032, South Africa | Szopinski, J.Z., Pain Clinic, Mayo Medical Centre of South Africa, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, P.O. Box 1042, Fontainebleau 2032, South Africa; Lochner, G.P., Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Macura, T., Department of Infectious Diseases, Provincial Teaching Hospital, Tychy, Poland; Karcz-Socha, I., Department of Internal Medicine, Strzelce Opolskie Regional Hospital, Poland; Kasprzyk-Minkner, A., Provincial Centre for Mother and Child Health Care, Czestochowa, Poland; Kielan, K., 1st Department of Psychiatry, Silesian Medical University, Katowice, Poland; Krupa-Jezierska, B., Maciejow-Zabre Medical Centre, Zabrze, Poland; Nasiek, D.J., Department of Anaesthesia, Newport Hospital, Kingston, RI, United States; Warakomski, P., Department of Physiology, Silesian Medical University, Zabrze, Poland | Background: Pathology of an internal organ causes significant rectification of electrical currents (diode phenomenon) in related skin areas once the resistance 'breakthrough effect' has been induced in the skin. Objective: Localization of auricular projection area of the liver and evaluation of its usefulness in the monitoring of viral hepatitis. Design, patients and setting: Comparative study of the degree of electrical rectification measured at various spots in the auricular concha region, in 19 inpatients with hepatitis B and 15 clinically healthy volunteers, at the Department of Infectious Diseases, Provincial Teaching Hospital, Tychy, Poland. Intervention: Evaluation of electrical rectification at various spots on the auricular concha using a "rectification ratio" that quantifies the degree of rectification (normal range: 0-60%). Main outcome measure: The location of the skin area where a statistically significant difference existed between the rectification ratios was observed in patients (82±12% at the time of the 'peak period') versus controls (42±8%). Results: A location was identified on the ear auricle where the electrical rectification phenomenon demonstrated a dependence on the presence of hepatitis. Conclusions: Liver projection area exists on the ear auricle which is located within the region of cymba conchae, next to anthelix and the cavity of concha. The existence of viral hepatitis causes this skin area to show a higher degree of electrical rectification once the skin resistance 'breakthrough effect' has been induced. Evaluation of the rectification phenomenon of the liver projection area provides a method of non-invasive monitoring of viral hepatitis. | Acupuncture point; Organ electrodermal diagnostic (OED); Rectification; Resistance 'breakthrough effect'; Skin resistance | adult; article; clinical article; comparative study; controlled study; device; diagnostic procedure; external ear; female; hepatitis B; hospital patient; human; liver; male; monitoring; non invasive measurement; Poland; skin conductance; statistical significance; volunteer | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84925115474 | Medicated Prosopis spp -based feed blocks- for antihelmintic efficacy and performance of weaner lambs | Syomiti M., Dana H., Getachew G., Beatrice M., Wamae D. | 2015 | Livestock Research for Rural Development | 27 | 3 | None | Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, P. Box 30148-00100, NAIROBI, Kenya; Colorado State University, Campus Delivery 1683, Fort Collins, Ethiopia; MARIL-Ethiopia, PO.Box 90112, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Syomiti, M., Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, P. Box 30148-00100, NAIROBI, Kenya; Dana, H., Colorado State University, Campus Delivery 1683, Fort Collins, Ethiopia; Getachew, G., MARIL-Ethiopia, PO.Box 90112, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Beatrice, M., Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, P. Box 30148-00100, NAIROBI, Kenya; Wamae, D., Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, P. Box 30148-00100, NAIROBI, Kenya | The aim of this study was to determine effects of supplementing medicated Prosopis juliflora-based feed blocks on feed intake, daily weight gains and antihelmintic control potential in sheep. Twelve red maasai weaner lambs, 4 months old, with an average initial live weight of 10 kg (±2.3) were used in the study which lasted for 42 days. The sheep were blocked by weight and within each block, randomly allocated to 3 treatments with 4 animals each. Each animal block received one of the following treatments; (i). Cenchrus ciliaris grass hay (basal diet) ad libitum, without supplementation (control), (ii) C. ciliaris grass hay (basal diet) ad libitum, supplemented with Non-medicated P. juliflora feed blocks (PJ) (iii) C. ciliaris grass hay (basal diet) ad libitum, supplemented with medicated P. juliflora blocks. Basal feeds and test supplements (two blocks per day) were offered individually at 0800 h and 1430 h daily. Fresh drinking water was available ad libitum (PJM). The tested diets increased significantly total live weight gains for PJ (18.1) and PJM (20.5) as compared to control group (14.4). Significantly (P<0.001) higher daily average weight gains were reported in the treatment groups (431 and 488.1 g for non-medicated and medicated feed blocks respectively, than the control (342.9 g). Average dry matter intake (kg−1d) varied among the treatment diets from 0.42, 0.67 to 0.89 for the control, non-medicated and medicated P. juliflora multi-nutrient blocks respectively. Higher feed conversion efficiency was reported in the animals on medicated prosopis blocks (1.82) than in the non-medicated treatment (1.56) and the control group (1.22). The mean EPG trends of control group progressively rose from day-zero to throughout the experimental period. Significantly higher (P<0.05) coccidial species egg output of the untreated controls had risen by 500% and 106% for strongyles spp respectively by end of the experiment. Non-medicated and medicated P.juliflora feed-blocks achieved a maximum percentage mean EPG output reduction of 39% and 91% respectively for Strongyles species by 42 days post treatment. 87% and 56% mean coccidial EPG output reduction was recorded for non-medicated and medicated feed blocks respectively. Therefore, according to the current results, P. juliflora based feed blocks fortified with a de-wormer such as Nilzan Plus at the rate of 5% per 100 kg of block ingredients would be a potential strategy to control gastro-intestinal parasites and improve livestock productivity in Kenya’s rangelands, and additionally, minimize P. juliflora invasions in affected regions of Kenya, and other areas of the world with massive colonization with this invasive plant species. © iForest – Biogeosciences and Forestry. | Gastrointestinal parasites; Invasive plant species; Livestock feed; Value-addition | Animalia; Cenchrus ciliaris; Ovis aries; Prosopis; Prosopis juliflora | 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 |
| None | None | Signs of language shift in Chindali and the impact of Swahili | Swilla I. | 2008 | Language Matters | 39 | 2 | 10.1080/10228190802579635 | Department of Foreign Languages and Linguistics, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Swilla, I., Department of Foreign Languages and Linguistics, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Research was conducted in 2002 to investigate the vitality of Chindali, a Bantu language, among speakers who migrate from lleje District to Mbozi District in southwestern Tanzania. Data were collected using a questionnaire, interviews and observation. The study revealed the presence of early signs of language shift from Chindali towards Swahili. Monolingualism was rare, while bilingualism in Chindali and Swahili was widespread; borrowing of Swahili terms and code-switching were common and Swahili was increasingly used for communication within the family and community. Swahili's impact on Chindali can be attributed to its prestige as the national and official language. It is the medium of instruction in primary education, the language of the media and official events. Recommendations to ensure the survival of Chindali include conducting research on and documenting the language, collecting and publishing Chindali oral traditions with translations in Swahili and English, organising cultural events using the language, and conducting sensitisation campaigns to promote it. © University of South Africa Press. | Chindali; Language shift; Language swift code-switching; Swahili influence; Tanzania | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-45549101645 | Drought induced xylem embolism in four riparian trees from the Western Cape Province: Insights and implications for planning and evaluation of restoration | Swift C.C., Jacobs S.M., Esler K.J. | 2008 | South African Journal of Botany | 74 | 3 | 10.1016/j.sajb.2008.01.169 | Department of Biology, Whittier College, Whittier, CA, United States; Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602 Stellenbosch, South Africa; Centre for Invasion Biology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602 Stellenbosch, South Africa | Swift, C.C., Department of Biology, Whittier College, Whittier, CA, United States; Jacobs, S.M., Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602 Stellenbosch, South Africa; Esler, K.J., Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602 Stellenbosch, South Africa, Centre for Invasion Biology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602 Stellenbosch, South Africa | In Mediterranean climates, rainfall is restricted to periods of low evaporative demand, leaving plants to survive the summer drought. The purpose of this study was to determine the contribution of drought tolerance to the distribution of riparian species. These physiological insights will assist in developing target species lists for restoration of riparian ecosystems in the Western Cape, currently heavily degraded due to land clearing and invasive aliens. We estimated P50 and P100 from vulnerability curves and Ψx in four species across a range of summer water availability estimated by streamflow. As expected, decreasing streamflow resulted in lower predawn and mid-day xylem water potential, and species identified in previous studies as having broad distributions, such as Brabejum stellatifolium and Metrosideros angustifolia, sustained greater decreases in mid-day xylem water potential and were less vulnerable to cavitation than Rapanea melanophloeos or Brachyleana neriifolia, species with more restricted distributions. These results provide preliminary evidence that a consideration of drought tolerance might be useful in refining lists of target species for active restoration and evaluation of restoration success across projects in streams and rivers with different fluvial regimes. © 2008 SAAB. | Drought tolerance; Embolism; Fynbos-riparian ecotone; Vulnerability to cavitation | dicotyledon; drought resistance; drought stress; ecotone; evaporation; fynbos; Mediterranean environment; physiology; population distribution; restoration ecology; riparian vegetation; streamflow; tolerance; vulnerability; water availability; xylem; Africa; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Western Cape; Brabejum stellatifolium; Metrosideros angustifolia; Rapanea melanophloeos | None |
| None | None | Evaluation of the efficacy of protectants against Cowpea bruchids (Callosobruchus maculatus (F.)) on Cowpea seeds (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) | Swella G.B., Mushobozy D.M.K. | 2007 | Plant Protection Science | 43 | 2 | None | Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute, Morogoro, Tanzania; Department of Crop Science and Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania; Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI), P.O.Box 1056, Morogoro, Tanzania | Swella, G.B., Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute, Morogoro, Tanzania, Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI), P.O.Box 1056, Morogoro, Tanzania; Mushobozy, D.M.K., Department of Crop Science and Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania | A laboratory experiment of a completely randomised design and replicated four times evaluated the effectiveness to control the bruchid, Callosobruchus maculatus in cowpea by the synthetic insecticide Actellic dust, and by the natural protectants ash, coconut oil, powdered cloves and black pepper. The data collected included the number of damaged and undamaged seeds, weight of damaged and undamaged seeds and the number of live and dead bruchids. Seeds treated with Actellic dust and black pepper powder had significantly low percentages of damaged seeds. Black pepper powder and coconut oil showed good potential in protecting cowpea against bruchid damage. | Actellic; Ash; Black pepper; Cloves; Coconut oil; Damage; Natural products | Bruchinae; Callosobruchus maculatus; Piper nigrum; Syzygium aromaticum; Vigna unguiculata | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-54249128967 | The scintigraphic evaluation of the pulmonary perfusion pattern of dogs hospitalised with babesiosis | Sweers L., Kirberger R.M., Leisewitz A.L., Dormehl I.C., Killian E., Naudé F. | 2008 | Journal of the South African Veterinary Association | 79 | 2 | None | Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa; Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa; AEC Institute for Life Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, PO Box 667, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Biomedical Research Centre, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa; Department of Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, PO Box 667, Pretoria 0001, South Africa | Sweers, L., Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa; Kirberger, R.M., Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa; Leisewitz, A.L., Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa; Dormehl, I.C., AEC Institute for Life Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, PO Box 667, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Killian, E., Biomedical Research Centre, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa; Naudé, F., Department of Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, PO Box 667, Pretoria 0001, South Africa | The possibility of coagulopathy in Babesia canis rossi infections in the canine patient has been suggested in the literature, but minimal work has been done to evaluate the clinicopathological nature of it in further detail. Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) has not yet been implicated in canine babesiosis (CB), but may also be one of the causes of the sudden dyspnoea and tachypnoea that are frequently seen in complicated CB patients. The objective of this study was to prospectively evaluate the scintigraphic pulmonary perfusion pattern in hospitalised dogs with babesiosis in an attempt to ascertain whether a scintigraphic pattern consistent with clinically relevant PTE does indeed occur in these patients. The study consisted of a normal control group of 9 mature healthy Beagle dogs (group 1) and a Babesia group with 14 dogs of a variety of breeds that were naturally infected with Babesia (group 2). Pulmonary perfusion scintigraphy was performed after making thoracic radiographs and performing a blood gas analysis in both groups. The scintigraphic images were visually inspected for changes suggestive of PTE, but not a single dog in group 2 had pleural-based, wedge-shaped perfusion defects which would have resulted in a high probability for clinically relevant PTE. The scintigraphic pulmonary perfusion pattern demonstrated was not significantly different between the 2 groups (P = 1.00). | Canine babesiosis; Pulmonary perfusion; Pulmonary thromboembolism; Scintigraphy | macrosalb tc 99m; animal experiment; animal model; article; Babesia; babesiosis; blood gas analysis; breeding line; controlled study; disease association; dog disease; female; image analysis; image display; lung embolism; lung perfusion; lung scintiscanning; male; nonhuman; probability; prospective study; thorax radiography; veterinary medicine; Animals; Babesia; Babesiosis; Blood Gas Analysis; Case-Control Studies; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Female; Male; Pulmonary Embolism; Radiography, Thoracic; Radionuclide Imaging; Babesia; Babesia canis rossi; Canis familiaris | 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-s2.0-84944039009 | 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 |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84891676147 | The media impact of South Africa's historical hosting of Africa's first mega-event: Sport and leisure consumption patterns | Swart K., Linley M., Bob U. | 2013 | International Journal of the History of Sport | 30 | 16 | 10.1080/09523367.2013.861130 | Department of Tourism and Event Management, Faculty of Business, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa; College of Sports and Exercise Science, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Geography, School of Environmental Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa | Swart, K., Department of Tourism and Event Management, Faculty of Business, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa; Linley, M., College of Sports and Exercise Science, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia; Bob, U., Department of Geography, School of Environmental Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa | The 2010 FIFA World Cup held in South Africa was the biggest mega-event ever to be hosted on the African continent. This historical event had several social, economic and developmental imperatives, including destination profiling and changing negative perceptions of South Africa, specifically, and the African continent more generally. This research undertakes a media analysis of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in selected key markets, namely the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and the USA. The study investigates the media impact of the 2010 FIFA World Cup on South Africa as the host nation and Africa's major tourism destination by undertaking a media analysis of the key source markets. Africa's first mega-event provides an ideal opportunity to examine how a host country (in this case South Africa) is profiled in relation to sport and leisure consumption patterns, including shifts in sentiment over time. Four time periods were identified, namely pre-, leading up to, during and post-2010. A qualitative analysis is undertaken, which includes content sourcing, content identification, semantic cluster analysis and the use of Leximancer, an analytical tool used to evaluate the content of textual documents, in this case primarily online newspaper articles. For each of the source markets identified, 400-600 articles were extracted. The findings show generally positive or favourable media coverage in relation to sport and leisure consumption patterns. However, a higher level of unfavourable media coverage was discernible during the pre-and lead-up periods, which may have influenced World Cup attendance figures and therefore leisure consumption. Specific tourist products (in particular Table Mountain and Robben Island) and the main host cities (Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban) had more mentions and stronger associations than South Africa generally. The positive imagery which prevailed during the event needs to be further emphasised in future sport events and the tourism and leisure marketing of South Africa. © 2013 Taylor and Francis. | 2010 FIFA World Cup; leisure consumption; media content analysis; South Africa; sport | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-70349921013 | Exercising with reserve: Evidence that the central nervous system regulates prolonged exercise performance | Swart J., Lamberts R.P., Lambert M.I., St Clair Gibson A., Lambert E.V., Skowno J., Noakes T.D. | 2009 | British Journal of Sports Medicine | 43 | 10 | 10.1136/bjsm.2008.055889 | Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, Newlands, South Africa; School of Psychology and Sports Sciences, Sports Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; Department of Anaesthesia, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Swart, J., Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, Newlands, South Africa; Lamberts, R.P., Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, Newlands, South Africa; Lambert, M.I., Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, Newlands, South Africa; St Clair Gibson, A., School of Psychology and Sports Sciences, Sports Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; Lambert, E.V., Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, Newlands, South Africa; Skowno, J., Department of Anaesthesia, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Noakes, T.D., Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, Newlands, South Africa | Objective: The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of an amphetamine (methylphenidate) on exercise performance at a fixed rating of perceived exertion of 16. Methods: Eight elite cyclists ingested 10 mg methylphenidate in a randomised, placebo-controlled crossover trial. Results: Compared with placebo, subjects receiving methylphenidate cycled for approximately 32% longer before power output fell to 70% of the starting value. At the equivalent time at which the placebo trial terminated, subjects receiving methylphenidate had significantly higher power outputs, oxygen consumptions, heart rates, ventilatory volumes and blood lactate concentrations although electromyographic activity remained unchanged. The ingestion of a centrally acting stimulant thus allowed subjects to exercise for longer at higher cardiorespiratory and metabolic stress indicating the presence of a muscular reserve in the natural state. Conclusions: This suggests that endurance performance is not only "limited" by mechanical failure of the exercising muscles ("peripheral fatigue"). Rather performance during prolonged endurance exercise under normal conditions is highly regulated by the central nervous system to ensure that whole-body homeostasis is protected and an emergency reserve is always present. | None | amphetamine; glucose; lactic acid; methylphenidate; placebo; central stimulant agent; glucose blood level; lactic acid derivative; methylphenidate; adult; article; athlete; central nervous system; clinical trial; controlled clinical trial; controlled study; crossover procedure; cycling; drug effect; electromyography; endurance; exercise; exercise test; glucose blood level; heart rate; human; lactate blood level; metabolic stress; normal human; oxygen consumption; perception; physical performance; randomized controlled trial; rating of perceived exertion; rating scale; athletic performance; blood; central nervous system; drug effects; exercise; metabolism; physiology; Adult; Athletic Performance; Bicycling; Blood Glucose; Central Nervous System; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Cross-Over Studies; Electromyography; Exercise; Heart Rate; Humans; Lactates; Methylphenidate; Oxygen Consumption; Physical Endurance; Physical Exertion; Adult; Athletic Performance; Bicycling; Blood Glucose; Central Nervous System; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Cross-Over Studies; Electromyography; Exercise; Heart Rate; Humans; Lactates; Methylphenidate; Oxygen Consumption; Physical Endurance; Physical Exertion | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84655167109 | Perceptual cues in the regulation of exercise performance-physical sensations of exercise and awareness of effort interact as separate cues | Swart J., Robert Lindsay T., Ian Lambert M., Craig Brown J., David Noakes T. | 2012 | British Journal of Sports Medicine | 46 | 1 | 10.1136/bjsports-2011-090337 | Department of Human Biology, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, University of Cape Town, Boundary Road, Newlands, Cape Town 7725, South Africa | Swart, J., Department of Human Biology, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, University of Cape Town, Boundary Road, Newlands, Cape Town 7725, South Africa; Robert Lindsay, T., Department of Human Biology, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, University of Cape Town, Boundary Road, Newlands, Cape Town 7725, South Africa; Ian Lambert, M., Department of Human Biology, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, University of Cape Town, Boundary Road, Newlands, Cape Town 7725, South Africa; Craig Brown, J., Department of Human Biology, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, University of Cape Town, Boundary Road, Newlands, Cape Town 7725, South Africa; David Noakes, T., Department of Human Biology, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, University of Cape Town, Boundary Road, Newlands, Cape Town 7725, South Africa | It has been argued that the physical sensations induced by exercise, measured as the ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), are distinct from the sense of effort. This study aimed to determine whether a new measure of task effort - The Task Effort and Awareness (TEA) score-is able to measure sensations distinct from those included in the conventional RPE scale. Seven well-trained cyclists completed a maximal effort 100 km time trial (TT) and a submaximal trial at 70% of the power sustained during the TT (70% TT). Five maximal 1 km sprints were included in both trials. Both the RPE related solely to physical sensation (P-RPE) and the TEA score increased during the TT and were linearly related. During the 70% TT, both P-RPE and TEA scores increased, but TEA increased significantly less than P-RPE (p<0.001). TEA scores reached maximal values in all 1 km sprints in both the maximal TT and 70% TT, whereas the RPE increased progressively, reaching a maximal value only in the final 1 km sprints in both the TT and the 70% TT. These results indicate that the physical sensations of effort measured as the P-RPE act as the template regulating performance during exercise and that deviation from that template produces an increase in the sense of effort measured by the TEA score. Together, these controls ensure that the chosen exercise intensity does not threaten bodily homeostasis. Our findings also explain why submaximal exercise conducted within the constraints of the template P-RPE does not produce any conscious awareness of effort. | None | adult; article; association; awareness; bicycle; exercise; exercise test; heart rate; human; male; oxygen consumption; physiology; psychological aspect; sensation; Adult; Awareness; Bicycling; Cues; Exercise; Exercise Test; Heart Rate; Humans; Male; Oxygen Consumption; Physical Exertion; Sensation; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78049515996 | Positioning a research agenda on the social economy: The new capitalist expansion and its impact on worker conditions in a changing South African agricultural setting | Swart I., Orsmond E. | 2010 | International Journal of Social Economics | 37 | 12 | 10.1108/03068291011082991 | Huguenot College, University of Stellenbosch, Wellington, South Africa | Swart, I., Huguenot College, University of Stellenbosch, Wellington, South Africa; Orsmond, E., Huguenot College, University of Stellenbosch, Wellington, South Africa | Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the theoretical and ideological foundations for a research agenda on the social economy in South Africa. Design/methodology/approach: The paper combines relevant literature research and case study work in a selected geographical region in the Western Cape province of South Africa to meet its research aim. Findings: The perspectives emanating from the case study research on the nature of the diversified forms of new capitalist expansion and entrepreneurial activity in the case study area and particularly the way in which the new developments impact on the working conditions of farm workers lead to the consolidation of the authors' option for a constructive research agenda in which the realities of new-found economic opportunity and prevailing conditions of exclusion are both negotiated. Research limitations/implications: From the point of view of an ongoing research agenda, further empirical and literature research will be required to deepen the understanding of the socio-economic dynamics in the case study area and in the process further refine the identified theoretical and ideological position. Originality/value: The paper contributes towards defining the theoretical and ideological foundations of a research agenda on the social economy in South Africa. As such, the way in which binary positions are avoided in positioning this research agenda in relation to the mainstream capitalist economic system can be considered as provocative. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Agriculture; Conditions of employment; Entrepreneurialism; Farms; Social economics; South Africa | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84927515726 | Evaluation of the environmental and social sustainability policy of a mass tourism resort: A narrative account | Swart I. | 2012 | HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies | 68 | 1 | 10.4102/hts.v68i1.1264 | Centre for Environmental Studies, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Geography, Geo-Informatics and Meteorology, University of Pretoria, South Africa | Swart, I., Centre for Environmental Studies, University of Pretoria, South Africa, Department of Geography, Geo-Informatics and Meteorology, University of Pretoria, South Africa | The recordation of the life stories of individuals residing in the community of Ledig, who have been dependent on the Sun City Resort situated in the Pilanesberg area in the North West Province of South Africa for their quality of life for more than 20 years, provided the basis for the evaluation of the environmental and social sustainability of this micro-cosmos on a multidisciplinary level. This study focused on the hermeneutical arch of narrative theory within the framework of human geography and sustainability science. The natural environment was evaluated for the role it plays in the sustainability of the livelihoods of the Ledig community members as well as the institutional life of the Sun City Resort. The results of this study suggested that the environmental policy for the Sun City Resort, formalised in 2004, has been guiding the Sun City Resort to contribute positively to the sustainability of the area. The study also demonstrated that a focus on the next generation of potential employees and the environmental education of all the communities were crucial to ensure the resilience of the social and ecological capacity of the area. © 2012. The Authors. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77954193647 | The impact of crossgroup friendships in South Africa: Affective mediators and multigroup comparisons | Swart H., Hewstone M., Christ O., Voci A. | 2010 | Journal of Social Issues | 66 | 2 | 10.1111/j.1540-4560.2010.01647.x | University of Stellenbosch, South Africa; University of Oxford, United Kingdom; Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany; University of Padova, Italy | Swart, H., University of Stellenbosch, South Africa; Hewstone, M., University of Oxford, United Kingdom; Christ, O., Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany; Voci, A., University of Padova, Italy | Two cross-sectional survey studies among majority-status White and minority-status Coloured high school students in South Africa explored the effects of crossgroup friendships on prejudice, and the affective processes (intergroup anxiety in Study 1, and intergroup anxiety and affective empathy in Study 2) underlying these effects with respect to two target groups for each sample. Crossgroup friendships were negatively associated with negative action tendencies, and positively associated with positive outgroup attitudes and greater perceived outgroup variability for both samples, irrespective of the target group. The importance of intergroup anxiety and affective empathy as mediators of these effects was also confirmed. Multigroup comparisons showed significant differences in the structural models across the two samples in both studies, and confirmed prior findings in the contact literature that contact effects are stronger for majority than minority groups. These findings are the first of their kind within the South African context. © 2010 The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues. | None | cultural relations; group behavior; minority group; social characteristics; social status; student; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84927549192 | Robertson’s century: The reception and impact of an epoch-making grammar of the Greek New Testament | Swart G. | 2014 | HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies | 70 | 1 | 10.4102/hts.v70i1.2747 | Department of Ancient Languages, University of Pretoria, South Africa | Swart, G., Department of Ancient Languages, University of Pretoria, South Africa | The author endeavours, firstly, to present a vivid account of the reception that A.T. Robertson’s A grammar of the Greek New Testament in the light of historical research found in scholarly circles when first published (in 1914) and during the ensuing years; secondly, to probe the question whether, during the course of the past century, the renown of both the man and the book has outlasted the scientific value and the actual utilisation of ‘Robertson’ in New Testament commentaries and scholarly publications; and thirdly, to address a few grammatical points stated by Robertson that seem to have gone unchallenged despite major shifts affecting the study of language generally, and New Testament Greek specifically, since the publication of his Grammar. © 2014. The Authors. | None | None | 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 |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-51549114741 | The impact of stress on student tardiness and subsequent throughput rate of engineering students: A case study | Swart A.J. | 2008 | International Journal of Engineering Education | 24 | 4 | None | Vaal University of Technology, Private Bag X021, Vanderbijlpark, 1900, South Africa | Swart, A.J., Vaal University of Technology, Private Bag X021, Vanderbijlpark, 1900, South Africa | Stress is any change that requires a person to adjust to a new situation and is registered in the brain as a threat that causes a stress response in the body. 'Student tardiness' is the term ascribed to students who suffer from tardiness, which is defined as the quality or condition of not being on time. Student tardiness is currently experienced in many higher educational institutions, contributing to poor academic achievements and subsequent low throughput rates. Tardiness is viewed as a construct, which is an abstract concept deliberately created to represent a collection of concrete forms of behaviour including stress or anxiety. The case study on which this article is based explored the relationship between stress or anxiety and tardiness of engineering students, establishing a direct correlation between stress or anxiety and the throughput rate of an engineering module called Design Project III. The empirical study incorporated an ex-post facto study involving a preexperimentallexploratory design using descriptive statistics. The results of this research were applied to three separate tests which indicated a statistically significant relationship between stress or anxiety and the final throughput rate (75%) of the module Design Project III. Moreover, the presence of a negative correlation indicates that a decrease in the negative aspects of stress or anxiety will result in an increase in the final throughput rate of the module, subsequently influencing the academic success of engineering students. © 2008 TEMPUS Publications. | Anxiety; Engineering student; Stress; Student tardiness; Throughput rate | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77952112077 | Evaluation of final examination papers in engineering: A case study using bloom's taxonomy | Swart A.J. | 2010 | IEEE Transactions on Education | 53 | 2 | 10.1109/TE.2009.2014221 | Department of Electronic Engineering, Vaal University of Technology, Vanderbijlpark 1900, South Africa | Swart, A.J., Department of Electronic Engineering, Vaal University of Technology, Vanderbijlpark 1900, South Africa | Questions are used to obtain information, stimulate thinking, and redirect reasoning. Academics in higher education use questions on a daily basis to stimulate thinking and reasoning in students. Final examination papers are used by academics to assess the retention and application skills of students. The assumption, however, exists that questions relating to application skills at universities of technology should start to dominate the higher academic levels in education, with a subsequent drop in questions regarding retention skills. These questions may be categorized as either higher order or lower order questions. This article attempts to distinguish between these two types of questions in light of Bloom's taxonomy, with similar concepts such as deep and surface learning being examined. The literature review is applied to an electrical engineering module titled Electronics, which serves as the case study. The results of this study indicate that a high percentage of the final examination papers dealt with the objective Application, where students had to make use of numerous mathematical equations to solve various unknowns. The results also indicated that academics in electronics are using more lower order than higher order questions in their final examination papers. A balance is suggested between these two types of questions for various academic levels at universities of technology. © 2009 IEEE. | Academics; Bloom's taxonomy; Examination papers; Higher order questions; Lower order questions | Academic level; Academics; Bloom's taxonomy; Higher education; Higher order; Literature reviews; Mathematical equations; Surface learning; Blooms (metal); Electrical engineering; Paper; Taxonomies; Teaching; Students | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-68049142271 | Call for global health-systems impact assessments | Swanson R.C., Mosley H., Sanders D., Egilman D., De Maeseneer J., Chowdhury M., Lanata C.F., Dearden K., Bryant M. | 2009 | The Lancet | 374 | 9688 | 10.1016/S0140-6736(09)61212-5 | Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States; School of Public Health, University of Western Cape, Bellville, Western Cape, South Africa; Brown University, Providence, RI, United States; Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Nutritional Research Institute, Lima, Peru; Boston University, Boston, MA, United States; IDEAS Development Institute, Boston, MA, United States | Swanson, R.C., Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States; Mosley, H., Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States; Sanders, D., School of Public Health, University of Western Cape, Bellville, Western Cape, South Africa; Egilman, D., Brown University, Providence, RI, United States; De Maeseneer, J., Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Chowdhury, M., BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Lanata, C.F., Nutritional Research Institute, Lima, Peru; Dearden, K., Boston University, Boston, MA, United States; Bryant, M., IDEAS Development Institute, Boston, MA, United States | [No abstract available] | None | article; health care personnel; health care system; health service; medical information system; priority journal; responsibility; world health organization; Health Planning; Health Status Disparities; Healthcare Disparities; Humans; Public Health; Quality of Health Care; World Health; World Health Organization | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84875728787 | Flow cytometric comparison of platelets from a whole blood and finger-prick sample: Impact of 24 hours storage | Swanepoel A.C., Stander A., Pretorius E. | 2013 | Hematology | 18 | 2 | 10.1179/1607845412Y.0000000039 | Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Pretoria, South Africa | Swanepoel, A.C., Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Stander, A., Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Pretorius, E., Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Pretoria, South Africa | In this study, we investigate the validity and laboratory utility of flow cytometry when analyzing platelet activation by studying CD41, CD42b, CD62P and CD63. We compare flow cytometry results from citrated whole-blood and finger-prick samples directly after collection and also after storing both a finger-prick and whole-blood sample for 24 hours. Citrated whole-blood and finger-prick samples were taken from three healthy individuals on two occasions, and a total of 60 000 cells were analyzed for each of the four phycoerythrin-labeled monoclonal antibodies. Half of each sample was analyzed immediately after sampling while the other half was kept in the fridge at 6°C for 24 hours before analysis. No significant difference was found between the sampling methods or the period of time before analysis. Results therefore suggest that an appropriately prepared finger-prick sample can be used for platelet function analysis, and samples can be stored for 24 hours in the fridge at 6°C before analysis. © W. S. Maney & Son Ltd 2013. | Finger-prick; Flow cytometry; Platelets; Storage; Whole blood | CD63 antigen; citric acid; fibrinogen receptor; glycoprotein Ib alpha; PADGEM protein; article; blood analysis; blood sampling; blood storage; controlled study; flow cytometry; human; human cell; priority journal; thrombocyte; thrombocyte activation; thrombocyte rich plasma; Blood Platelets; Blood Preservation; Blood Specimen Collection; Citric Acid; Cold Temperature; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Male; Platelet Count; Reproducibility of Results; Time Factors | None |
| None | None | Some factors associated with poor reproductive performance in smallholder dairy cows: The case of Hai and Meru districts, northern Tanzania | Swai E.S., Mollel P., Malima A. | 2014 | Livestock Research for Rural Development | 26 | 6 | None | Veterinary Investigation Centre, PO Box 1068, Arusha, Tanzania; National Artificial Insemination Centre, PO Box 7141, Usa River, Arusha, Tanzania; District Livestock Office, PO Box 10 Hai, Tanzania | Swai, E.S., Veterinary Investigation Centre, PO Box 1068, Arusha, Tanzania; Mollel, P., National Artificial Insemination Centre, PO Box 7141, Usa River, Arusha, Tanzania; Malima, A., District Livestock Office, PO Box 10 Hai, Tanzania | An on-farm observation and questionnaire based study was conducted, during the period of January to March 2009, to assess the reproductive performance of dairy cows in two smallholder dairying districts of northern Tanzania. A total of 100 (50 Meru district and 50 Hai district) smallholder dairy farms owning 1-4 pure and crossbred dairy cows were visited and the reproductive performance of 191 (94 Meru and 97 Hai) dairy cows were analysed. Overall, land holdings averaged 2.26±1.99 (mean±standard deviation) acres, with an average of 0.55±0.67 acres being reserved for pasture production. Land holding and reserved land for fodder production was, on average, higher in Hai (2.62 and 0.65 versus 1.81 and 0.45 acres) compared to Meru district (P<0.05). The mean (mean ± standard deviation) number of lactating cows per farm was 1.79 ± 0.87 and ranged from 1 to 5. Survey results revealed that 40% of the smallholder dairy farms reported dairying to be their most important source of household income. Other reported sources of income were crop farming (32%) and off farm activities such as trading (12%), employment (9%) and traditional livestock keeping (6%). Perceived and reported dairy farming constraints included availability of feeds (quantity and quality) (81.8%), lack of money to buy farm inputs (77%) and insufficient land (53.0%). Others were milk marketing (31%), diseases (28%), availability of breeding bulls (27%) and high costs of inputs (18%). The birth rate was 39% and overall mean (mean ± SE) estimated calving interval (CI) was 525±18 days. Mean CI was significantly higher in Meru (530±28) than in Hai (518±22) (P<0.05). Hypothesized factors associated with long CI based on logistic regression models were body condition score (BSC) and low body weight. Cows with body condition (>3 BSC) were three fold (OR =3.8, P = 0.048) times more likely to have a reduced CI and cows with low body weight were associated with extended long CI (β for age = 0.01, P = 0.044). Despite the herdsmen having extensive dairying experience and competency in heat detection, the CI was too long and possibly associated with inadequate feeding as reflected by the low body score condition (average 2.6), low level of land holding and daily fresh matter intake per cow in most surveyed farms. The present study revealed that the reproductive performance of the dairy cows, under the smallholder management conditions in the two given districts, was sub-standard which prevented attaining a calf crop every year and expected levels of milk production. Interventions should include an effective extension service to advise on improved dairy cow and feed resources management together with applied research into the factors causing extended calving intervals. | Dairy cows; Reproduction performance; Smallholder; Tanzania | None | None |
| None | None | Evaluation of community animal health delivery systems in Simanjiro, Tanzania | Swai E.S., Masaaza S., Daborn C.J. | 2014 | Livestock Research for Rural Development | 26 | 8 | None | Veterinary Investigation Centre, PO Box 1068, Arusha, Tanzania; District Veterinary Office, PO Box 13484, Simanjiro, Tanzania; Tropical Veterinary Services, PO Box 266, Karatu, Tanzania | Swai, E.S., Veterinary Investigation Centre, PO Box 1068, Arusha, Tanzania; Masaaza, S., District Veterinary Office, PO Box 13484, Simanjiro, Tanzania; Daborn, C.J., Tropical Veterinary Services, PO Box 266, Karatu, Tanzania | A survey was carried out to characterise community animal health delivery systems in pastoral communities of Simanjiro, northern Tanzania. This was prompted by the reported high disease challenges, remoteness and long term shortage of formal trained state and private veterinary professional staff. The study was conducted during the period of March 2010 through December 2010. The data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17. A total of 88 community animal health workers (CAHWs) from 6, 15 and 36 administrative division, wards and villages, respectively, participated in the survey. The survey revealed that the education level of interviewed CAHWs varied from adult education to certificate (2 years) training in veterinary or animal husbandry and a substantial variation was observed between divisions. Apart from delivering animal / veterinary husbandry services in their respect areas, 83 (95%) of the interviewed CAHWs were reported to be engaged in livestock keeping activities and acknowledged that livestock production (90%) to be their major source of household income. The working relationship and technical link between CAHWs and local government veterinary staff (LFO) was rated to be good. The study established that CAHWs were recognized and respected by the local community for the services they offer. It is, however, seen as an imperative that CAHWs should only operate under the direct supervision of trained and licensed veterinary personnel; receive continuous training and adequate technical support; and require recognition by existing policies, veterinary legislation and laws. Official recognition of CAHWs is long overdue and will be fundamental to facilitate better linkages and information channels between the delivery of community based primary animal health services and government veterinary services and regulatory bodies. | Africa; CAHWs; Livestock; Pastoralists | None | None |
| None | None | Studies on the reproductive performance of crossbred dairy cows raised on smallholder farms in eastern Usambara mountains, Tanzania | Swai E.S., Kyakaisho P., Ole-Kawanara M.S. | 2007 | Livestock Research for Rural Development | 19 | 5 | None | Veterinary Investigation Centre, P O Box 1068, Arusha, Tanzania; District Veterinary Office, P.O. Box 20, Muheza, Tanga, Tanzania; Divisional Dairy Development Office, P.O. Box 4, Amani, Muheza, Tanzania | Swai, E.S., Veterinary Investigation Centre, P O Box 1068, Arusha, Tanzania; Kyakaisho, P., District Veterinary Office, P.O. Box 20, Muheza, Tanga, Tanzania; Ole-Kawanara, M.S., Divisional Dairy Development Office, P.O. Box 4, Amani, Muheza, Tanzania | A retrospective questionnaire based cross-sectional study was conducted to asses reproductive performance and factors influencing reproductive efficiency of crossbred cows in smallholder farms in Amani, Tanzania. The study was carried out during the period of October to November 2003. The study also estimated the frequency and determinants of long calving interval (LCI), retention of foetal membrane (RFM), dystocia (D), and abortion (A) in smallholder crossbred cattle and explored birth trends. Sixty-three dairy farms (average breedable cows = 2, range 1 to 9) were visited and data on reproductive, breeding and management histories were collected and statistically analyzed. Overall, 179 breedable cows were observed to be alive at some stage in 2002. These cows contributed a total risk period of 62,780 cow days, equivalent to 2,093 cow months or 171.9 cow years. The mean (±SE) calving interval and the interval between calving and the initiation of ovarian activity were 476 ± 14 and 108 ± 6.7 days, respectively. Birth rate was 52 per 100 cows years, with birth been reported to occur in all months of the year. Of the 123 cows that were reported to have calved more than once in their lifetime 4(3.3%), 3 (2.4%) were associated with abortion and dystocia, respectively. Fifteen (12.2%) of the animals suffered RFM. Significant factors that were associated with LCI and RFM as was revealed from multiple logistic regression models were age of the cows, distance range between bull source and cows, farmer attending basic animal husbandry training and the owner of the cows. Cow that was located over 2 km away from the breeding bull source was associated with LCI (Odd ratio [OR] 2.7, P = 0.020) and older cow with lower odds for RFM (OR = 0.97, P = 0.001). Animals belonging to male and a farmer who has attended a basic training had lower odds for LCI and RFM (OR = 0.31, P = 0.001 for male cow owner and OR = 0.37, P = 0.033 for attending training, respectively). Though not statistically different (P>0.05), poor reproduction performance was also linked with farm managerial factors. Under nutrition, poor heat detection despite of farmer being aware of the cardinal signs of heat, poor monitoring of heat signs due to the inadequate usage of breeding supporting tools were also found to negatively influence reproduction efficiency. We conclude that, the present estimate of LCI, birth rate, prevalence of peripartum disorders often inter linked by farm managemental attributes, indicate and suggest poor reproductive performances of cows in Amani smallholder dairy farms. Identification and quantification of the specific reproductive disorders and associated interacting factors (feeding/ managemental) contributing to such poor reproductive performance call for detailed investigation. | Africa; Amani; Reproductive performance; Smallholder dairy production; Tanzania | Animalia; Bos; Equus asinus | None |
| None | None | Hatchery hygiene evaluation by questionnaire and microbiological screening of hatchery samples | Swai E.S., Sanka P.N., Daborn C.J. | 2013 | Livestock Research for Rural Development | 25 | 7 | None | Ministry of Livestock Development and Fisheries, Box 9152, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania; Veterinary Investigation Centre, PO Box 1068, Arusha, Tanzania; Tropical Veterinary Services, PO Box 266, Karatu, Tanzania | Swai, E.S., Ministry of Livestock Development and Fisheries, Box 9152, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania; Sanka, P.N., Veterinary Investigation Centre, PO Box 1068, Arusha, Tanzania; Daborn, C.J., Tropical Veterinary Services, PO Box 266, Karatu, Tanzania | Questionnaire and microbiological-based surveys were conducted, during the period of March to August 2011, in 5 commercial broiler and layer hatcheries located in northern Tanzania to evaluate hatchery hygiene. Information on farm/hatchery history, hygienic practices and bio-security measures employed was collected. Hatchery samples (n=59), comprising day old dead chicks (DOC), dead-in-shell embryos (DES) and walls/ premises swabs (SWB), were aseptically collected for detailed bacteriological screening. Both non-selective (nutrient plate agar), selective and differential media (MacConkey agar plate) prepared according to the manufacturer's instructions, were employed to differentiate between Gram-positive, Gram-negative and lactose fermenting organisms. Culture positive colonies were characterized further using Triple Sugar Iron (TSI) in order to establish the presence of enteric based pathogens. Overall, 3 units in Kilimanjaro and 2 units in Arusha were visited and bio-security measures reported to be used in order to avoid disease occurrence was routine usage of disinfectants (n=4; 80%), strict entry prohibition of non-authorized personnel (n=4; 80%), avoidance of mixing birds of different production purposes together (i.e. layers viz broilers, n=1; 20%) and change of clothes after each unit operation (n=1; 20%). The most cited targeted areas for disinfection were unit floor (n=5; 100%) and poultry and hatchery walls (n=4; 80%). The colonies that grow on the agar plates were about 2-4mm in size, irregular and whitish in colour. Stained colonies revealed that Gram negative bacteria were the commonest microorganisms, comprising 92% of all culture positives. Pathogen isolation rate was highest in hatchery D followed by hatcheries A, C and B with negative results in hatchery E. The isolation rate was highest in the DOC and DES derived samples and lowest in the SWB samples. Characterisation of positive culture samples, using the TSI biochemical test, revealed the following proportions of bacterial agents: Proteus vulgaris (60.7%), Enterobacter aerogenes (42.8%), Enterobacter cloacae (17.8%), Salmonella vulgaris (10.7%) and Salmonella typhi (7.1%). The high isolation rate and wide range of microbial pathogens found by this survey, reveals a serious problem of inadequate biosecurity practice indicating that there is considerable room for improvement in hatchery operations particularly with regards to hygiene and sanitation. Adequate training of hatchery operators is needed to raise awareness of the crucial role hygiene and biosecurity plays in ensuring high chick quality and their consequent survivability rates. | Commercial hatchery; Microbiological screening; Poultry; Tanzania | None | None |
| None | None | Impact of African Swine fever epidemics in smallholder pig production units in Rombo district of Kilimanjaro, Tanzania | Swai E.S., Lyimo C.J. | 2014 | Livestock Research for Rural Development | 26 | 2 | None | Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development, PO Box 9152, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania; District Livestock Office, PO Box 287, Mkuu Rombo, Tanzania | Swai, E.S., Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development, PO Box 9152, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania; Lyimo, C.J., District Livestock Office, PO Box 287, Mkuu Rombo, Tanzania | Animal diseases have multiple direct and indirect effects on human livelihood, health and welfare. Animal disease outbreaks also pose significant threats to the profitability of livestock production throughout the world, both from the point of economic impacts of the disease itself and the measures taken to mitigate the risk of disease introduction and control measures applied in the event of an outbreak. A study to evaluate the impact of an African swine fever (ASF) outbreak in smallholder pig units in Rombo district of Kilimanjaro, Tanzania was conducted during the period of October 2013. The study involved 1085 smallholder farmers who owned pigs (n=5322) at different ages and stages of maturity during the period of March to September 2013. Information on the number of pigs owned pre- and post the ASF outbreak was collected through face-to-face interviews, direct farm observations and secondary data were retrieved from various district livestock office reports. This survey revealed that the pig density in Rombo district was 17/km2 and average herd size to be 5 (range, 1- 57), higher than the national average of 3 (range 2-48). The overall revenue accrued from sales of live pigs and pork between 2005-2012 amounted to Tsh 65 million to 102 million and 257 million to 566 million per annum, respectively. Mortality losses specifically arising from the ASF outbreak were 84% (range 46-97) and on average the number of pigs lost per household was 4 (range 1-50). Translation of such mortality figures into financial terms produces a loss of Tsh 160.632 million, indicating that ASF is a deadly and devastating disease that can disrupt the pig industry and the entire local economy. This study established that small-scale pig production is an important source of livelihood in many households and contributes to the value chain in rural areas of Rombo district. Given the transboundary nature of the disease (fast spreading and respecting no border), the study recommends that, in any future intervention, effort should be directed at the prevention of infection at source; early detection of the disease when it occurs; timely reporting and rapid response by involving a wide range of stakeholders at district, regional, national and international levels. At farm level, good husbandry and biosecurity practices such as confinement of pigs though construction of adequate housing, avoiding contaminated feed and water, appropriate disposal of carcasses, prohibition of slaughter, movement ban, establishment of check points and decontamination procedures using known and proven quality disinfection should be given high priority, as there is currently no vaccine available. | Disease; Economics; Impact; Mortality; Outbreak; Viral | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-50449084792 | Understanding diversity in impact and responses among HIV/AIDS-affected households: The case of Msinga, South Africa | Swaans K., Broerse J., Van Diepen I., Salomon M., Gibson D., Bunders J. | 2008 | African Journal of AIDS Research | 7 | 2 | 10.2989/AJAR.2008.7.2.2.519 | Athena Institute for Research on Innovation and Communication in Health and Life Sciences, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, Netherlands; Medical Anthropology and Sociology Unit, University of Amsterdam, Oudezijds Achterburgwal 185, 1012 DK Amsterdam, Netherlands; Farmer Support Group, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 1 Golf Road, Scottsville 3209, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | Swaans, K., Athena Institute for Research on Innovation and Communication in Health and Life Sciences, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, Netherlands; Broerse, J., Athena Institute for Research on Innovation and Communication in Health and Life Sciences, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, Netherlands; Van Diepen, I., Athena Institute for Research on Innovation and Communication in Health and Life Sciences, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, Netherlands, Medical Anthropology and Sociology Unit, University of Amsterdam, Oudezijds Achterburgwal 185, 1012 DK Amsterdam, Netherlands; Salomon, M., Farmer Support Group, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 1 Golf Road, Scottsville 3209, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Gibson, D., Medical Anthropology and Sociology Unit, University of Amsterdam, Oudezijds Achterburgwal 185, 1012 DK Amsterdam, Netherlands; Bunders, J., Athena Institute for Research on Innovation and Communication in Health and Life Sciences, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, Netherlands | To gain a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of HIV and AIDS on rural households in Msinga, South Africa, the sustainable livelihoods framework was adapted. An ethnographic perspective was employed to examine: 1) the impact of HIV/AIDS-related illnesses on people's mind and spirit (the internal environment), and 2) the influence of institutional structures and processes (the external environment), in order to better understand 3) the actions taken by individuals and households in response to HIV and AIDS. Members of three support groups at a local drop-in centre were consulted about the impact of HIV and AIDS on their lives through focus groups, a questionnaire and in-depth interviews. The study shows that the psychosocial impact and associated coping strategies, as well as prevailing gender-based power relations and exclusion from social-exchange networks - which are not (readily) available factors in the sustainable livelihoods framework - affect people's lives in different ways and depend on the specific situation of the individual or household concerned. The study confirms the need to restore a household's resource base and to address psychosocial issues. However, the variation in impact to different households requires a diversified and holistic programme of development interventions. Copyright © NISC Pty Ltd. | Accessibility; Coping; Mitigation strategies; Psychosocial aspects; Resource-poor settings; Sustainable livelihoods framework | acquired immune deficiency syndrome; adolescent; adult; article; coping behavior; ethnographic research; female; holistic care; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; Human immunodeficiency virus prevalence; interview; major clinical study; male; questionnaire; rural area; sex ratio; social aspect; social psychology; South Africa; support group; sustainable development | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84878737629 | Synthesis of Ti(iv) complexes of donor-functionalised phenoxy-imine tridentates and their evaluation in ethylene oligomerisation and polymerisation | Suttil J.A., Shaw M.F., McGuinness D.S., Gardiner M.G., Evans S.J. | 2013 | Dalton Transactions | 42 | 25 | 10.1039/c3dt32465f | School of Chemistry, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 75, Hobart 7001, Australia; Sasol Technology Ltd, PO Box 1183, Sasolburg 1947, South Africa | Suttil, J.A., School of Chemistry, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 75, Hobart 7001, Australia; Shaw, M.F., School of Chemistry, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 75, Hobart 7001, Australia; McGuinness, D.S., School of Chemistry, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 75, Hobart 7001, Australia; Gardiner, M.G., School of Chemistry, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 75, Hobart 7001, Australia; Evans, S.J., Sasol Technology Ltd, PO Box 1183, Sasolburg 1947, South Africa | A number of analogues of the Mitsui Chemicals ethylene trimerisation system (IV) have been explored, in which one of the donor atoms have been modified. Thus, a series of mono-anionic tridentate phenoxy-imine (3-(t-butyl)-2-(OH)- C6H4CN(C(CH3)2CH2OMe) 1, 3-(adamantyl)-2-(OH)-C6H4CN(2′-(2′′- (SMe)C6H4)-C6H4) 2, 3-(t-butyl)-2-(OSiMe3)-C6H4CN(C(CH 3)2CH2OMe) 3) or phenoxy-amine (3,5-di(t-butyl)-2-(OH)-C6H4CH2-N(2′- (2′′-(OMe)C6H4)-C6H4) 4) ligands have been prepared and reacted with TiCl4 or TiCl 4(thf)2 to give the mono-ligand complexes 5-7. The solid state structures of compounds 4-6 have been determined. Complexes 5-7 have been tested for their potential as ethylene oligomerisation/polymerisation systems in conjunction with MAO activator and benchmarked against the Mitsui phenoxy-imine trimerisation system IV. While the phenoxy-amine complex 6 shows a propensity for polymer formation, the phenoxy-imine complexes 5 and 7 show somewhat increased formation of short chain LAOs. Complex 5 is selective for 1-butene in the oligomeric fraction, while 7 displays liquid phase selectivity to 1-hexene. As such 7, which is a sulfur substituted analogue of the Mitsui system IV, displays similar characteristics to the parent catalyst. However, its utility is limited by the lower activity and predominant formation of polyethylene. © 2013 The Royal Society of Chemistry. | None | 1-Hexene; Donor atoms; Liquid Phase; Mitsui Chemicals; Phenoxy-imine; Polymer formation; Solid-state structures; Ti complexes; Butenes; Complexation; Ethylene; Nitrogen compounds; Oligomerization; Oligomers; Phenoxy resins; ethylene; ethylene derivative; imine; organometallic compound; phenol derivative; phenoxyl radical; titanium; article; chemical structure; chemistry; polymerization; synthesis; Ethylenes; Imines; Models, Molecular; Molecular Structure; Organometallic Compounds; Phenols; Polymerization; Titanium | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84861323693 | Preparation and structures of aryloxy- and alkoxy-Ti(IV) complexes and their evaluation in ethylene oligomerisation and polymerisation | Suttil J.A., McGuinness D.S., Pichler M., Gardiner M.G., Morgan D.H., Evans S.J. | 2012 | Dalton Transactions | 41 | 22 | 10.1039/c2dt11737a | School of Chemistry, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 75, Hobart 7001, Australia; Sasol Technology Ltd, PO Box 1183, Sasolburg 1947, South Africa | Suttil, J.A., School of Chemistry, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 75, Hobart 7001, Australia; McGuinness, D.S., School of Chemistry, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 75, Hobart 7001, Australia; Pichler, M., School of Chemistry, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 75, Hobart 7001, Australia; Gardiner, M.G., School of Chemistry, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 75, Hobart 7001, Australia; Morgan, D.H., Sasol Technology Ltd, PO Box 1183, Sasolburg 1947, South Africa; Evans, S.J., Sasol Technology Ltd, PO Box 1183, Sasolburg 1947, South Africa | A range of aryloxy and alkoxy ligands, both monodenate and chelating, have been coordinated to Ti(iv) to yield complexes of the form [Ti(OAr) 2Cl 2], [Ti(ROO)Cl 3] and [Ti(ROO) 2Cl 2] (R = aryl, alkyl). The complexes vary in their Lewis base solvation and/or aggregation state, as revealed by X-ray crystallography of selected examples. The complexes have been evaluated as catalysts for ethylene oligomerisation and polymerisation following activation with alkylaluminium reagents (AlEt 3, methylaluminoxane). While polyethylene is the major product, ethylene oligomers also result, ranging from dimers to higher oligomers. The results indicate a number of different active species are formed upon activation, with oligomers likely arising through a metallacyclic mechanism. The findings are discussed in the context of the commercial Alphabutol dimerisation system [Ti(OR) 4], and the development of group 4 based ethylene trimerisation catalysts. © 2012 The Royal Society of Chemistry. | None | Active species; Aggregation state; Aryloxy; Group 4; Lewis base; Methylaluminoxane; Selected examples; Catalysts; Coordination reactions; Dimers; Ethylene; Oligomerization; Polymerization; X ray crystallography; Chlorine compounds | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84920150697 | The Air Liberalisation Index as a tool in measuring the impact of South Africa's aviation policy in Africa on air passenger traffic flows | Surovitskikh S., Lubbe B. | 2015 | Journal of Air Transport Management | 42 | None | 10.1016/j.jairtraman.2014.09.010 | Division Tourism Management, Department of Marketing Management, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, South Africa | Surovitskikh, S., Division Tourism Management, Department of Marketing Management, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, South Africa; Lubbe, B., Division Tourism Management, Department of Marketing Management, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, South Africa | In Africa, the Yamoussoukro Decision (YD) to date remains the single most important air transport reform policy, the continent-wide implementation of which remains pending. This study employs the Air Liberalisation Index (ALI), developed by the Word Trade Organisation (WTO) Secretariat, to measure the impact of each of the seven quantifiable market access features of South Africa's aviation policy in Africa on air passenger traffic flows. A fixed one-way panel regression technique was applied to panel data, representing five air transport markets: intra-African, the SADC, East African, West African and North African over two time periods (2000-2010; 2006-2010). The results proved to be significant in three markets, intra-African, the SADC and East African and provide new insights into the relationship between air passenger traffic flows and aviation policy in the South African - intra-African and regional contexts. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. | Africa; ALI; Aviation policy; Market access features; South Africa; Yamoussoukro Decision | air transportation; panel data; policy implementation; policy reform; regression analysis; traffic management; transportation policy; East Africa; North Africa; South Africa; West Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-57149095641 | Development of a water state index to assess the severity of impacts on and changes in natural water resources | Suridge A.K.J., Brent A.C. | 2008 | Water Science and Technology | 58 | 8 | 10.2166/wst.2008.741 | Department of Plant Production and Soil Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria, South Africa; Graduate School of Technology Management, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Suridge, A.K.J., Department of Plant Production and Soil Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Brent, A.C., Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria, South Africa, Graduate School of Technology Management, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Lifecycle assessment (LCA) is a standardised methodology that is used to assess the impact of techno-economic systems on the natural environment. By compiling an inventory of energy and material inputs and environmental releases or outputs of a system, and evaluating the potential environmental impacts associated with the inventory, one can make an informed decision regarding the sustainability of a techno-economic system in question. However, the current lifecycle impact assessment (LCIA) methodologies that form part of LCA studies do not effectively consider the impacts of techno-economic systems on ground and surface water resources in South Africa (and elsewhere). It is proposed that a microbiology based index method, similar to methods proposed for terrestrial resources, can establish the states of water resources for six classes of current economic exploitation: protected, moderate use, degraded, cultivated, plantation, and urban. It is further suggested that changes in these classes (and states) can be used meaningfully in LCIA methodologies to quantify the extent to which techno-economic interventions may alter natural water resources. Research is recommended to further improve the accuracy and reliability of the water state index. © IWA Publishing 2008. | 16S rDNA; Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE); Environmental impact; Lifecycle assessment (LCA); Microbiology; Polymerase chain reaction (PCR); Water resources | ground water; surface water; accuracy; article; biodegradation; environmental impact assessment; environmental protection; life cycle assessment; microbial diversity; nonhuman; reliability; South Africa; sustainable development; terrestrial surface waters; tillage; urbanization; water quality; water supply; Conservation of Natural Resources; Environment; Water | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84887528733 | Evaluation of clear-sky incoming radiation estimating equations typically used in remote sensing evapotranspiration algorithms | Sun Z., Gebremichael M., Wang Q., Wang J., Sammis T.W., Nickless A. | 2013 | Remote Sensing | 5 | 10 | 10.3390/rs5104735 | National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan; Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Connecticut, 261 Glenbrook Road, Storrs, CT 06269, United States; Illinois State Water Survey, UIUC, 2204 Griffith, Champaign, IL 61820, United States; Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, United States; Ecosystem Processes and Dynamics, CSIR, PO Box 395, Pretoria 0001, South Africa | Sun, Z., National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan; Gebremichael, M., Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Connecticut, 261 Glenbrook Road, Storrs, CT 06269, United States; Wang, Q., National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan; Wang, J., Illinois State Water Survey, UIUC, 2204 Griffith, Champaign, IL 61820, United States; Sammis, T.W., Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, United States; Nickless, A., Ecosystem Processes and Dynamics, CSIR, PO Box 395, Pretoria 0001, South Africa | Net radiation is a key component of the energy balance, whose estimation accuracy has an impact on energy flux estimates from satellite data. In typical remote sensing evapotranspiration (ET) algorithms, the outgoing shortwave and longwave components of net radiation are obtained from remote sensing data, while the incoming shortwave (R<inf>S</inf> ↓) and longwave (R<inf>L</inf> ↓) components are typically estimated from weather data using empirical equations. This study evaluates the accuracy of empirical equations commonly used in remote sensing ET algorithms for estimating R<inf>S</inf> ↓ and R<inf>L</inf> ↓ radiation. Evaluation is carried out through comparison of estimates and observations at five sites that represent different climatic regions from humid to arid. Results reveal (1) both R<inf>S</inf> ↓ and R<inf>L</inf> ↓ estimates from all evaluated equations well correlate with observations (R2 ≥ 0.92), (2) R<inf>S</inf> ↓ estimating equations tend to overestimate, especially at higher values, (3) R<inf>L</inf> ↓ estimating equations tend to give more biased values in arid and semi-arid regions, (4) a model that parameterizes the diffuse component of radiation using two clearness indices and a simple model that assumes a linear increase of atmospheric transmissivity with elevation give better R<inf>S</inf> ↓ estimates, and (5) mean relative absolute errors in the net radiation (Rn) estimates caused by the use of R<inf>S</inf> ↓ and R<inf>L</inf> ↓ estimating equations varies from 10% to 22%. This study suggests that Rn estimates using recommended incoming radiation estimating equations could improve ET estimates. © 2013 by the authors. | Incoming longwave radiation; Incoming shortwave radiation; Net radiation | Arid and semi-arid regions; Atmospheric transmissivity; Empirical equations; Estimating equations; Long-wave radiation; Net radiation; Remote sensing data; Short-wave radiation; Algorithms; Arid regions; Evapotranspiration; Radiation; Remote sensing; Water supply; Estimation | NNX08AR31G, NASA, National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-65749085330 | Evaluation of multiplex real-time PCR for detection of Haemophilus ducreyi, Treponema pallidum, herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 in the diagnosis of genital ulcer disease in the Rakai district, Uganda | Suntoke T.R., Hardick A., Tobian A.A.R., Mpoza B., Laeyendecker O., Serwadda D., Opendi P., Gaydos C.A., Gray R.H., Wawer M.J., Quinn T.C., Reynolds S.J. | 2009 | Sexually Transmitted Infections | 85 | 2 | 10.1136/sti.2008.034207 | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States; Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, United States; Institute of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Rakai Health Sciences Program, Rakai, Uganda; Department of Population and Family Health Sciences, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, United States; Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 855 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States | Suntoke, T.R., National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States; Hardick, A., Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, United States; Tobian, A.A.R., Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, United States; Mpoza, B., Rakai Health Sciences Program, Rakai, Uganda; Laeyendecker, O., National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States, Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, United States; Serwadda, D., Institute of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Opendi, P., Rakai Health Sciences Program, Rakai, Uganda; Gaydos, C.A., Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, United States; Gray, R.H., Department of Population and Family Health Sciences, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, United States; Wawer, M.J., Department of Population and Family Health Sciences, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, United States; Quinn, T.C., National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States, Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, United States, Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 855 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States; Reynolds, S.J., National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States, Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, United States | Objective: To develop a real-time PCR assay that reliably and accurately detects the predominant sexually transmitted aetiological agents of genital ulcer disease (GUD) (Haemophilus ducreyi, Treponema pallidum and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2)) and to assess the use of real-time PCR diagnostic testing in a rural African field site. Methods: Two multiplex real-time PCR reactions were used to detect H ducreyi/and HSV-1/HSV-2 in ulcer swabs from 100 people with symptomatic genital ulcers in rural Rakai, Uganda. Results were compared with syphilis, HSV-1 and HSV-2 serology. Results: Of 100 GUD samples analysed from 43 HIV positive and 57 HIV negative individuals, 71% were positive for one or more sexually transmitted infection (STI) pathogens by real-time PCR (61% for HSV-2, 5% for T pallidum, 3% for HSV-1, 1% for H ducreyi and 1% for dual H ducreyi/HSV-7). The frequency of HSV in genital ulcers was 56% (32/57) in HIV negative individuals and 77% (33/43) in HIV positive individuals (p = 0.037). Assay reproducibility was evaluated by repeat PCR testing in the USA with 96% agreement (κ = 0.85). Conclusions: STI pathogens were detected in the majority of GUD swab samples from symptomatic patients in Rakai, Uganda, by real-time PCR. HSV-2 was the predominant cause of genital ulcers. Real-time PCR technology can provide sensitive, rapid and reproducible evaluation of GUD aetiology in a resource-limited setting. | None | adult; article; controlled study; diagnostic test; female; genital ulcer; Haemophilus ducreyi; Herpes simplex virus 1; Herpes simplex virus 2; human; Human immunodeficiency virus; major clinical study; male; pathogenesis; priority journal; real time polymerase chain reaction; reproducibility; serology; sexually transmitted disease; syphilis; Treponema pallidum; Uganda; virus detection; Adult; Cohort Studies; Female; Haemophilus ducreyi; Herpesvirus 1, Human; Herpesvirus 2, Human; HIV Infections; Humans; Male; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Reproducibility of Results; Rural Health; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Treponema pallidum; Uganda; Ulcer; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84936880227 | Impact of bioaccessible pyrene on the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes during Sphingobium sp.- and sophorolipid-enhanced bioremediation in soil | Sun M., Ye M., Wu J., Feng Y., Shen F., Tian D., Liu K., Hu F., Li H., Jiang X., Yang L., Kengara F.O. | 2015 | Journal of Hazardous Materials | 300 | None | 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2015.06.065 | Soil Ecology Lab, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China; State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China; Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China; Department of Chemistry, Maseno University, Maseno, Kenya | Sun, M., Soil Ecology Lab, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China, Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China; Ye, M., State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China; Wu, J., Soil Ecology Lab, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China; Feng, Y., Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China; Shen, F., Soil Ecology Lab, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China; Tian, D., Soil Ecology Lab, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China; Liu, K., Soil Ecology Lab, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China; Hu, F., Soil Ecology Lab, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China; Li, H., Soil Ecology Lab, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China; Jiang, X., State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China; Yang, L., Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China; Kengara, F.O., Department of Chemistry, Maseno University, Maseno, Kenya | Soils are exposed to various types of chemical contaminants due to anthropogenic activities; however, research on persistent organic pollutants and the existence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) is limited. To our knowledge, the present work for the first time focused on the bioremediation of soil co-contaminated with pyrene and tetracycline/sulfonamide-resistance genes. After 90 days of incubation, the pyrene concentration and the abundance of the four ARGs (tetW, tetM, sulI, and sulII) significantly decreased in different treatment conditions (p<0.05). The greatest pyrene removal (47.8%) and greatest decrease in ARG abundance (from 10-7 to 10-8 ARG copies per 16S rRNA copy) were observed in microcosms with a combination of bacterial and sophorolipid treatment. Throughout the incubation, pyrene bioaccessibility constantly declined in the microcosm inoculated with bacteria. However, an increased pyrene bioaccessibility and ARG abundance at day 40 were observed in soil treated with sophorolipid alone. Tenax extraction methods and linear correlation analysis indicated a strong positive relationship between the rapidly desorbing fraction (F<inf>r</inf>) of pyrene and ARG abundance. Therefore, we conclude that bioaccessible pyrene rather than total pyrene plays a major role in the maintenance and fluctuation of ARG abundance in the soil. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. | Antibiotic resistance genes; Bioaccessible pyrene; Sophorolipid; Sphingobium sp. PHE3 | Antibiotics; Bioremediation; Biotechnology; Fluorine; Genes; Organic pollutants; Pollution; Pyrene; RNA; Soils; Anthropogenic activity; Antibiotic resistance genes; Chemical contaminants; Enhanced bioremediation; Linear correlation analysis; Persistent organic pollutant (POP); Sophorolipids; Sphingobium; Soil pollution; antibiotic agent; antibiotic resistant protein; bacterial protein; lipid; multidrug resistance protein; pyrene; RNA 16S; sophorolipid; sulfanilamide; tetracycline; unclassified drug; abundance; antibiotic resistance; antibiotics; bacterium; bioremediation; chemical pollutant; human activity; lipid; organic pollutant; pollutant removal; pyrene; soil pollution; antibiotic resistance; Article; bacterial gene; bacterial strain; bacterium culture; bioaccumulation; bioremediation; controlled study; correlation analysis; desorption; extraction; fractionation; incubation time; microcosm; nonhuman; soil; soil pollution; Sphingobacteria; Sphingobium; waste component removal; Bacteria (microorganisms); Sphingobium | SEPR2014-01, CAS, Chinese Academy of Sciences |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84888371155 | Phytotoxicity evaluation of six fast-growing tree species in South Africa | Sunmonu T.O., Van Staden J. | 2014 | South African Journal of Botany | 90 | None | 10.1016/j.sajb.2013.10.010 | Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa | Sunmonu, T.O., 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 | Vachellia sieberiana, Albizia adianthifolia, Buddleja saligna, Combretum kraussii, Halleria lucida and Rapanea melanophloeos are fast-growing, indigenous tree species in South Africa. They are usually found growing alongside other plants in agricultural systems. In this study, the comparative phytotoxic activity of aqueous leaf extracts of these tree species at different concentrations was investigated using lettuce seeds (Lactuca sativa L.) in a laboratory bioassay. To simulate natural situations, seeds were germinated under 16. h light/8. h darkness in a growth chamber using distilled water as control. The results showed that germination, chlorophyll accumulation and growth indices (plumule and radicle lengths) were significantly inhibited with increasing concentration of plant extracts. The treated lettuce seedlings experienced lipid peroxidation at high extract concentrations (1.0% and 2.0%) as evidenced by increased concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA). In response to this, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) increased at low extract concentration but significantly dropped as concentration increased. These results suggest that aqueous extracts of the studied tree species may produce growth inhibitory substances. Thus, our study revealed that these trees possess phytotoxic activity which could be exploited in the management of weeds in agroforestry systems. © 2013 South African Association of Botanists. | Allelochemicals; Antioxidants; Lipid peroxidation; Oxidative stress; Phytotoxicity | agroforestry; aldehyde; allelochemical; antioxidant; bioassay; chlorophyll; comparative study; enzyme activity; evergreen tree; germination; growth regulator; inhibitor; leafy vegetable; legume; lipid; native species; phytotoxicity; plant extract; potential biocontrol agent; seed; weed control; South Africa; Acacia; Albizia; Albizia adianthifolia; Buddleja; Buddleja saligna; Combretum; Halleria lucida; Lactuca; Lactuca sativa; Rapanea melanophloeos | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879365996 | Evaluation of antidiabetic activity and associated toxicity of artemisia afra aqueous extract in Wistar rats | Sunmonu T.O., Afolayan A.J. | 2013 | Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine | 2013 | None | 10.1155/2013/929074 | Research Center for Phytomedicine, Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa | Sunmonu, T.O., Research Center for Phytomedicine, Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa; Afolayan, A.J., Research Center for Phytomedicine, Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa | Artemisia afra Jacq. ex Willd. is a widely used medicinal plant in South Africa for the treatment of diabetes. This study aimed to evaluate the hypoglycemic activity and possible toxicity effect of aqueous leaf extract of the herb administered at different dosages for 15 days in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Administration of the extract at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight significantly (P < 0.05) increased body weight, decreased blood glucose levels, increased glucose tolerance, and improved imbalance in lipid metabolism in diabetic rats. These are indications of antidiabetic property of A. afra with 200 mg/kg body weight of the extract showing the best hypoglycemic action by comparing favourably well with glibenclamide, a standard hypoglycemic drug. The extract at all dosages tested also restored liver function indices and haematological parameters to normal control levels in the diabetic rats, whereas the kidney function indices were only normalized in the diabetic animals administered with 50 mg/kg body weight of the extract. This investigation clearly showed that in addition to its hypoglycemic activity, A. afra may also protect the liver and blood against impairment due to diabetes. However, some kidney functions may be compromised at high dosages of the extract. © 2013 Taofik O. Sunmonu and Anthony J. Afolayan. | None | alanine aminotransferase; albumin; alkaline phosphatase; Artemisia afra extract; aspartate aminotransferase; bilirubin; calcium; cholesterol; creatinine; gamma glutamyltransferase; glibenclamide; globulin; glucose; hemoglobin; high density lipoprotein; low density lipoprotein; plant extract; triacylglycerol; unclassified drug; urea; uric acid; alanine aminotransferase blood level; albumin blood level; alkaline phosphatase blood level; animal experiment; animal model; animal tissue; antidiabetic activity; Artemisia; Artemisia afra; article; aspartate aminotransferase blood level; bilirubin blood level; body weight; calcium blood level; cholesterol blood level; controlled study; creatinine blood level; drug safety; eosinophil; erythrocyte; fluid intake; food intake; gamma glutamyl transferase blood level; glucose blood level; glucose tolerance; hematocrit; hematological parameters; hemoglobin blood level; hemoglobin determination; kidney function; leukocyte; lipid metabolism; lipoprotein blood level; liver function; liver protection; lymphocyte; male; mean corpuscular hemoglobin; mean corpuscular volume; neutrophil; nonhuman; plant leaf; priority journal; rat; renal protection; streptozocin diabetes; thrombocyte; triacylglycerol blood level; urea blood level; uric acid blood level | National Research Foundation |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84903780995 | Toxicopathological evaluation of Picralima nitida seed aqueous extract in Wistar rats [Wistar si{dotless}çanlari{dotless}nda Picralima nitida tohumu si{dotless}vi{dotless} ekstresinin toksikopatolojik deǧerlendirilmesi] | Sunmonu T.O., Oloyede O.B., Owolarafe T.A., Yakubu M.T., Dosumu O.O. | 2014 | Turkish Journal of Biochemistry | 39 | 2 | 10.5505/tjb.2014.83997 | Departments of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Departments of Chemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria | Sunmonu, T.O., Departments of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Oloyede, O.B., Departments of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Owolarafe, T.A., Departments of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Yakubu, M.T., Departments of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Dosumu, O.O., Departments of Chemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria | Objective: Picralima nitida is a widely used medicinal plant in West Africa for treating malaria, diarrhea and inflammation. The objective of this study is to evaluate the toxicological effect of aqueous seed extract of the plant in Wistar rats. Methods: Twenty-four apparently healthy animals were randomized into 4 groups comprising 6 rats each and orally administered with aqueous extract of P. nitida seeds at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight with distilled water as control for 14 days. Specific liver and kidney function indices were assayed alongside haematological and histopathological analyses to monitor toxicity according to standard methods. Results: Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, steroids and tannins. The extract had no significant effect on all kidney function indices assayed but caused a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in the activities of liver enzymes accompanied by significant decrease in liver to body weight ratio, serum total protein and globulin concentrations. No significant alteration was observed in the serum levels of albumin and conjugated bilirubin whereas the extract brought about significant increase (P < 0.05) in serum total bilirubin concentration. Haematological analysis revealed no significant effect on erythrocyte indices in contrast to white blood cell count and its differentials which were significantly elevated (P < 0.05) following extract administration. Histopathological studies further showed no distortion of cell structures in the studied organs. Conclusion: The available evidences in this study suggest that aqueous extract of P. nitida seeds exhibits mild and selective toxicity with liver as the target organ. Therefore, the herb may not be completely 'safe' as an oral remedy; and long term administration should be avoided. © TurkJBiochem.com. | Haematology; Histopathology; Phytochemical screening; Picralima nitida; Toxicology | alanine aminotransferase; albumin; alkaline phosphatase; alkaloid; aspartate aminotransferase; bilirubin; creatinine; electrolyte; globulin; glycoside; Picralima nitida extract; plant extract; saponin; steroid; tannin; unclassified drug; urea; uric acid; animal experiment; animal tissue; article; body weight; chemical analysis; controlled study; erythrocyte; hematocrit; histopathology; kidney function test; leukocyte count; liver function test; male; medicinal plant; nonhuman; phytochemistry; picralima nitida; plant seed; rat; toxicity testing | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78649911880 | Performance and haematological indices in rats exposed to monocrotophos contamination | Sunmonu T.O., Oloyede O.B. | 2010 | Human and Experimental Toxicology | 29 | 10 | 10.1177/0960327110363441 | Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria | Sunmonu, T.O., Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Oloyede, O.B., Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria | Monocrotophos is an organophosphate pesticide used in agriculture to control insect pests. Changes in performance and haematological parameters (such as packed cell volume, white blood cells, neutrophils, eosinophils and lymphocytes) were used to assess the effect of the pesticide on rats chronically exposed to 12.5 parts per million (ppm), 25 ppm, 50 ppm, 100 ppm and 200 ppm for 10 days, while the control rats were placed on borehole water. Administration of the pesticide to the animals resulted in several physical deteriorations including appearance and agility. A significant reduction (p <.05) was observed in the weight gained by rats while the liver-to-body weight ratio increased significantly (p <.05) as the level of exposure to monocrotophos increased. Whereas packed cell volume, white blood cells and lymphocytes increased significantly (p <.05), neutrophils and eosinophils counts reduced significantly (p <.05) as the concentration of monocrotophos in the drinking water increased. Overall, the data indicated that exposure to monocrotophos portends serious consequences on the performance and haematological parameters of rats. © The Author(s) 2010. | haematology; liver; monocrotophos; performance; pesticide | drinking water; monocrotophos; agility; animal experiment; animal tissue; article; blood sampling; body weight; clinical assessment; contamination; controlled study; deterioration; eosinophil; erythrocyte concentrate; exposure; intoxication; leukocyte; liver; lymphocyte; neutrophil; nonhuman; physical performance; priority journal; rat; water contamination; weight reduction; Administration, Oral; Animals; Blood Cell Count; Drinking; Environmental Monitoring; Erythrocyte Indices; Hematologic Tests; Insecticides; Liver; Lymphocytes; Monocrotophos; Organ Size; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Toxicity Tests, Chronic; Weight Gain; Animalia; Hexapoda; Rattus | 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-s2.0-84901476689 | Practical solution to impact angle control in vertical plane | Sun M., Xu Q., Du S., Chen Z., Zhang D. | 2014 | Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics | 37 | 3 | 10.2514/1.61792 | Nankai University, 300071 Tianjin, China; University of South Africa, Florida 1710, South Africa; Department of Automation and Intelligent Science, United States; Department of Electronic Science and Technology, Military Traffic Institute, United States; Department of Electrical and Mining Engineering, United States | Sun, M., Nankai University, 300071 Tianjin, China, Department of Automation and Intelligent Science, United States; Xu, Q., Nankai University, 300071 Tianjin, China, Department of Electronic Science and Technology, Military Traffic Institute, United States; Du, S., University of South Africa, Florida 1710, South Africa, Department of Electrical and Mining Engineering, United States; Chen, Z., Nankai University, 300071 Tianjin, China, Department of Automation and Intelligent Science, United States; Zhang, D., Nankai University, 300071 Tianjin, China, Department of Automation and Intelligent Science, United States, Department of Electronic Science and Technology, Military Traffic Institute, United States | A practical guidance and control strategy was presented to achieve a specified impact angle. The combined law includes a major part based on the line of sight and a supplementary part based on the line-of-sight rate. Mathematical manipulation verified that the pure guidance law with the line of sight has the specified terminal direction. The line-of-sight rate and the autopilot lag were used to raise the precision on the basis of the traditional three-loop acceleration control. The recursive estimation method was employed to check aerodynamic uncertainties. Comparative simulation results illustrated the effectiveness of the proposed method with the small navigation ratio. | None | Aerospace engineering; Comparative simulation; Line of Sight; Line-of-sight rates; Navigation ratio; Practical guidance; Practical solutions; Recursive estimation; Vertical plane; Control systems | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80055048279 | Development and evaluation of a chronotherapeutic drug delivery system of torsemide | Sunil S.A., Rao N.S., Srikanth M.V., Uhumwangho M.U., Kumar K.S.P., Murthy K.V.R. | 2011 | Brazilian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences | 47 | 3 | 10.1590/S1984-82502011000300017 | University College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam-530003, India; Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Nigeria | Sunil, S.A., University College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam-530003, India; Rao, N.S., University College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam-530003, India; Srikanth, M.V., University College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam-530003, India; Uhumwangho, M.U., Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Nigeria; Kumar, K.S.P., University College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam-530003, India; Murthy, K.V.R., University College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam-530003, India | The objective of this study was to prepare and evaluate chronotherapeutic drug delivery systems (ChrDDs) of torsemide. Compression coated tablets (CCT) containing torsemide in the core tablet were prepared by the compression coating technique with different grades of polyethylene oxide (PEO WSR 301 & 1105). The optimized formulations were characterised for tabletting parameters and drug polymer interaction by Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR).The hardness of all the CCT using PEO WSR 301 & PEO WSR 1105 were in the range 6-8 kg/cm2 & 5.5 to 7 kg/cm2 respectively. Their friability values were <0.3%. All the CCT showed a clear lag time but finalized as per the predetermined lag time. As the amount of PEO was increased in the outer layer the drug released was delayed. The drug content of all the CCT was ≥99%. The FTIR studies showed no interaction throughout the process of development. Formulations of F7 and of P7 were considered optimized formulations since they yielded a predetermined lag time of 6h before burst release. Hence, these formulations can be exploited to achieve chronotherapeutic drug delivery systems of Torsemide for the treatment of hypertension at the time the patient needs it. | Chronotherapeutic drug; Compression coated tablets; Delivery systems; Polyethylene Oxides; Predetermined lag time; Torsemide | macrogol; torasemide; article; chemical parameters; chemical structure; chronotherapy; controlled release formulation; drug coating; drug delivery system; drug design; drug dosage form; drug formulation; drug release; drug screening; in vitro study; infrared spectroscopy; physical chemistry; tablet compression; tablet friability; tablet hardness | None |
| None | None | Diagnostic X-ray facilities as per quality control performances in Tanzania | Sungita Y.Y., Mdoe S.S.L., Msaki P. | 2006 | Journal of Applied Clinical Medical Physics | 7 | 4 | None | Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission, P.O. Box 743, Arusha, Tanzania; Physics Department, University of Dar Es Salaam, P.O. Box 35063, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania | Sungita, Y.Y., Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission, P.O. Box 743, Arusha, Tanzania; Mdoe, S.S.L., Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission, P.O. Box 743, Arusha, Tanzania; Msaki, P., Physics Department, University of Dar Es Salaam, P.O. Box 35063, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania | Without appropriate quality control (QC) and preventative maintenance (PM) measures for X-ray machines in place, the benefits of reduced dose to the patient and early diagnosis will not be realized. Quality control and PM also make it possible to unify X-ray-imaging practices in the country using international image quality guidelines. The impetus for the present work resulted from the concern that with the recent increase in the numbers of X-ray machines in Tanzania, but with limited technical support to maintain and operate them, can increase radiation risk to patients and lower diagnostic accuracy. The aim of this work is to report on the current status of diagnostic X-ray machines in Tanzania in order to produce the data needed to formulate QC and PM policies and strategies. These policies and strategies are needed to ensure that patients receive the lowest possible radiation risk and maximum health benefits from X-ray examinations. Four QC tests were performed on a total of 196 X-ray units. Accurate beam alignment and collimation were tested on 80 (41%) units, the timer accuracy was tested on 120 (61%) units, and a radiation leakage test was performed on 47(24%) units. Preventative maintenance tests were performed on all 196 X-ray units. The results showed that of the units tested for QC, 59% failed the kilovoltage (kVp) test, 57% failed the timer accuracy test, 60% failed the beam alignment test, and 20% failed the radiation leakage test. Only 13% of the units passed the PM test: 53% of the units were defective, and 34% were out of order. As a result of the PM findings, the government has introduced a rehabilitation project to service X-ray units and replace nonoperational X-ray units. The new units have full support service contracts signed by their suppliers. As a result of the QC findings, X-ray maintenance retraining programs have been introduced. © 2006 Am. Coll. Med. Phys. | Preventative maintenance; Quality control; Repair | article; equipment; evaluation; human; instrumentation; quality control; radiography; social control; standard; Tanzania; total quality management; validation study; Equipment Failure; Facility Regulation and Control; Humans; Quality Control; Radiography; Tanzania; Total Quality Management | 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-s2.0-84907218157 | Electro-oxidation performance and photo-structural characterization of induced natural additive on chloride electrolyte thin film coated steel | Sunday F.O., Popoola A.P., Tau V. | 2014 | Journal of the Chemical Society of Pakistan | 36 | 4 | None | Department of Chemical Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Tshwane University of Technology, P.M.B. X680, Pretoria, South Africa; Technology Innovation Agency, Technology Station in Chemical, Ga-rankuwa, Pretoria, South Africa | Sunday, F.O., Department of Chemical Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Tshwane University of Technology, P.M.B. X680, Pretoria, South Africa, Technology Innovation Agency, Technology Station in Chemical, Ga-rankuwa, Pretoria, South Africa; Popoola, A.P., Department of Chemical Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Tshwane University of Technology, P.M.B. X680, Pretoria, South Africa; Tau, V., Technology Innovation Agency, Technology Station in Chemical, Ga-rankuwa, Pretoria, South Africa | Improvement of engineering materials to avert corrosion, toxicity and to enhance the appealing value of steel has led to an enlarged interest in electro-deposition industries. The effect of solanum tuberosum (ST) extracted juice and Al dispersed particulate for Zn bath electrodeposition on mild steel from aqueous chloride solutions was investigated. The electrodeposition was carried out by adding Al particles and ST to a zinc-containing bath. Corrosion tests were performed at room temperature in 3.65 mol dm-3NaCl solutions by cyclic potentiodynamic and open circuit polarization. Characterizations of the electrodeposited coatings were carried out using scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM/EDS) and X-ray analysis diffraction (XRD). The experimental results show that significant change in the presence of the additives influences the crystal orientations, resulting into precipitation of ZnAl3.Si and Zn2Al5 phases. The change in structure can also be linked to a robust blocking effect of the cationic surfactant of solanum tuberosum juice and Al dispatched oxide films which might influence nuclei replenishment and impact smaller grain size. | Deposition; Enhancement; Interface; Microstructure; Solanum tuberosum | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-20844446464 | Impact of economic reforms on economics issues: A study of Ethiopia | Sundara Rajan A.M., Iyappan T., Selvam J. | 2005 | African Development Review | 17 | 1 | 10.1111/j.1017-6772.2005.00109.x | PG Department of Economics and Research Centre, S.T. Hindu College, Nagercoil - 629 002, India; Department of Economics, Arignar Anna College, Aralvoimozhi - 629 301, India; Debub University, Awassa, Ethiopia | Sundara Rajan, A.M., PG Department of Economics and Research Centre, S.T. Hindu College, Nagercoil - 629 002, India; Iyappan, T., Department of Economics, Arignar Anna College, Aralvoimozhi - 629 301, India; Selvam, J., PG Department of Economics and Research Centre, S.T. Hindu College, Nagercoil - 629 002, India, Debub University, Awassa, Ethiopia | This paper is an attempt to investigate the impact of economic reforms on the economic issues in Ethiopia. Different economic issues - parameters determining the effectiveness of economic reforms - are separately discussed to measure how far Ethiopia has benefited from the reform policy. A simple and comparative analysis of various economic indicators between the pre-reform and post-reform, that is, between 1985/ 86-1991/92 and 1992/93-2001/02, reveals that those economic reforms have revamped the economy by moving its GDP from its long-standing poor record to a respectful growing state. Nevertheless, the reforms have failed in attaining other direct economic objectives, such as standard of living, external debt, trade balance deficit and current account deficit. Economic reforms have, no doubt, attracted a significant amount of private investment, but its volume started declining within the reform period and so were privatization proceeds. This study suggests that a full-fledged and committed reform is indispensable at the earliest to attaining the full benefits of reform policy. © African Development Bank 2005. Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | None | economic reform; Gross Domestic Product; investment; poverty; Africa; East Africa; Eastern Hemisphere; Ethiopia; Sub-Saharan Africa; World | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84945246083 | The Impact of Trade Liberalization on Micro Enterprises: Do Banks Matter? Evidence from Indian Manufacturing | Sundaram A. | 2015 | Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics | 77 | 6 | 10.1111/obes.12082 | School of Economics, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa | Sundaram, A., School of Economics, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa | This paper looks at the impact of trade liberalization on micro enterprises with differential access to banks. I use Indian data on rural micro enterprises employing less than ten workers in the manufacturing sector to find that trade liberalization, measured by a fall in the tariff, is associated with a larger increase or a smaller decrease in output, capital-labour ratio and labour productivity in districts with a larger number of bank branches per capita. Evidence is consistent with strong complementarities between trade liberalization effects, and the economic dynamism and access to financial intermediation associated with greater bank presence in the enterprise's location. The study underscores that trade liberalization can be beneficial to micro entrepreneurs under certain conditions and emphasizes reallocation resulting from trade liberalization. The study hence highlights the role for development policy in exploiting gains from trade. © 2015 The Department of Economics, University of Oxford and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84943513859 | The impact of Ghana's R3M programme on the provision of safe abortions and postabortion care | Sundaram A., Juarez F., Ahiadeke C., Bankole A., Blades N. | 2015 | Health Policy and Planning | 30 | 8 | 10.1093/heapol/czu105 | Research Division, Guttmacher Institute, New York, NY, United States; Centro de Estudios Demográfico, Urbanos y Ambientales, El Colegio de Méico, Mexico; Institute for Statistical, Social, and Economic Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana | Sundaram, A., Research Division, Guttmacher Institute, New York, NY, United States; Juarez, F., Research Division, Guttmacher Institute, New York, NY, United States, Centro de Estudios Demográfico, Urbanos y Ambientales, El Colegio de Méico, Mexico; Ahiadeke, C., Institute for Statistical, Social, and Economic Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana; Bankole, A., Research Division, Guttmacher Institute, New York, NY, United States; Blades, N., Research Division, Guttmacher Institute, New York, NY, United States | In 2006, in response to the high maternal mortality, driven largely by unsafe abortions, the government of Ghana, in partnership with other organizations, launched the reducing maternal mortality and morbidity (R3M) programme in seven districts in Greater Accra, Ashanti and Eastern, to improve comprehensive abortion care services. This article examines whether this intervention made a difference to the provision of safe abortion services and postabortion care (PAC). We also examine the role played by provider attitudes and knowledge of the abortion law, on providers with clinical training in service provision. Primary data on health care providers in Ghana, collected using a quasi-experimental design, were analysed using propensity score weighting. Apart from the treatment group, the sample included two controls: (1) Districts in Accra, Ashanti and Eastern, not exposed to the treatment; and (2) Districts from distant Brong Ahafo, also not exposed to the treatment. The findings show that providers in the treatment group are nearly 16 times as likely to provide safe abortions compared with their peers in Brong Ahafo, and ∼2.5 times as likely compared with providers in the other control group. R3M providers were also different from their peers in providing PAC. Associations between provider attitudes and knowledge of the law on both outcomes were either non-significant or inconsistent including for providers with clinical knowledge of abortion provision. Provider confidence however is strongly associated with service provision. We conclude that the R3M programme is helping safe abortion provision, with the differences being greater with control groups that are geographically distant, perhaps owing to lower contamination from movement of providers between facilities. Increasing provider confidence is key to improving both safe abortion provision and PAC. © 2014 Published by Oxford University Press in association with The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. | Abortion; Ghana; programme evaluation; propensity score analysis | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84939825679 | Evaluation of trends of drug-prescribing patterns based on WHO prescribing indicators at outpatient departments of four hospitals in southern Ethiopia | Summoro T.S., Gidebo K.D., Kanche Z.Z., Woticha E.W. | 2015 | Drug Design, Development and Therapy | 9 | None | 10.2147/DDDT.S83588 | School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences and Medicine, Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia; School of Public Health, of Health and Medicine, Wolaita University, Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia | Summoro, T.S., School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences and Medicine, Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia; Gidebo, K.D., School of Public Health, of Health and Medicine, Wolaita University, Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia; Kanche, Z.Z., School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences and Medicine, Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia; Woticha, E.W., School of Public Health, of Health and Medicine, Wolaita University, Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia | Background: Rational prescribing is a primary step to ensure rational drug use. Often, half of the medicines are prescribed irrationally and half of these are even used incorrectly as the patients fail to take their medicines appropriately. The aim of this research was to evaluate drug-prescribing patterns of four hospitals in southern Ethiopia. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted between May 15 and June 25, 2014, to evaluate the drug-prescribing patterns based on the World health Organization (WHO) prescribing indicators. The prescription papers, kept for the last 1 year in the outpatient departments of the four hospitals, were analyzed according to WHO guidelines. Also, prescriptions in the hospitals were analyzed to determine the most frequently prescribed drugs. All the statistical calculations were performed using SPSS® version 20.0 software. Results and discussion: The average number of drugs per prescription ranges from 1.82±0.90 to 2.28±0.90, whereas the percentage of use of antibiotics and injections ranged from 46.7 to 85 and 15 to 61.7, respectively. The average percentages of drugs prescribed by generic name and from the essential drugs list were 95.8 and 94.1, respectively. Anti-infective and analgesic drugs are found to be the most frequently prescribed medicines. In terms of polypharmacy, there was a slight deviation in prescribing patterns from what is acceptable according to the WHO criteria. Prescribing by generic name and from essential drug list was almost optimal. There was a significant deviation in the use of injectables in two of the four hospitals (50%), whereas their use in the other two hospitals was within the acceptable range. The use of antibiotics in all the hospitals in present study was higher than the acceptable range. Conclusion: Generally, it seems that there is need for improvement of the prescribing patterns in the hospitals, although this should be consolidated with further studies to link the patient diagnosis and the prescribed medications. © 2015 Summoro et al. | Ethiopia; Hospitals; Medicines; Prescribing indicators; Rational prescribing | amoxicillin; ampicillin; cefalexin; ceftriaxone; chloramphenicol; ciprofloxacin; cloxacillin; cotrimoxazole; diclofenac; doxycycline; ferrous sulfate; furosemide; ibuprofen; metronidazole; multivitamin; norfloxacin; omeprazole; paracetamol; prednisolone; sodium chloride; tetracycline; tramadol; adolescent; adult; Article; child; cross-sectional study; Ethiopia; female; human; major clinical study; male; middle aged; outpatient department; polypharmacy; practice guideline; prescription; retrospective study; trend study; world health organization | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-71349084009 | Evaluation of several tree species for activity against the animal fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus | Suleiman M.M., McGaw L.J., Naidoo V., Eloff J.N. | 2010 | South African Journal of Botany | 76 | 1 | 10.1016/j.sajb.2009.07.001 | Phytomedicine Programme, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Permanent Address: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria | Suleiman, M.M., Phytomedicine Programme, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa, Permanent Address: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; McGaw, L.J., Phytomedicine Programme, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Naidoo, V., 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 | Aspergillus fumigatus causes severe problems in poultry production systems. Seven South African tree species were selected from the database of the Phytomedicine Programme based on its antifungal activity against the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans. The acetone leaf extracts of the selected species had minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 0.16 mg/ml and lower in the preliminary screening. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of hexane, dichloromethane, acetone and methanol extracts of the leaves were determined using a two-fold serial microdilution method against a range of commonly encountered animal pathogenic fungi (A. fumigatus, Candida albicans, C. neoformans, Microsporum canis and Sporothrix schenckii) and four nosocomial bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). The plant species investigated were Combretum vendae (A.E. van Wyk) (Combretaceae), Commiphora harveyi (Engl.) Engl. (Burseraceae), Khaya anthotheca (Welm.) C.DC (Meliaceae), Kirkia wilmsii Engl. (Kirkiaceae), Loxostylis alata A. Spreng. ex Rchb. (Anacardiaceae), Ochna natalitia (Meisn.) Walp. (Ochnaceae) and Protorhus longifolia (Bernh.) Engl. (Anacardiaceae). All the extracts had activity against at least one of the test organisms over an incubation period of 24 or 48 h. The MIC values of the non-polar and intermediate polarity extracts of O. natalitia, K. anthotheca, C. vendae, C. harveyi, and P. longifolia had MICs as low as 0.08 mg/ml against at least one of the tested bacteria. Furthermore, the acetone extracts of L. alata, K. wilmsii, O. natalitia and C. vendae had antifungal activities with MIC values ranging from 0.04 to 0.08 mg/ml against at least one of the tested fungi. The average MIC values of the plant extracts against the different bacteria ranged from 0.17 to 2.11 mg/ml, while the range was 0.23-1.98 mg/ml for fungi. The Gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus and E. faecalis) were more susceptible to the plant extracts than the Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli and P. aeruginosa). E. faecalis was the most susceptible microbe and C. vendae extracts were the most active against nearly all the bacteria tested. The acetone extract of L. alata was the most active against fungal pathogens, with activity against at least 3 fungal organisms. L. alata was selected for further work to isolate compounds active against A. fumigatus and other fungal pathogens. © 2009 SAAB. | Antibacterial; Antifungal; Medicinal plants; Microdilution assay; Minimum inhibitory concentration | acetone; antimicrobial activity; concentration (composition); dilution; fungus; medicinal plant; pathogen; plant extract; poultry; Anacardiaceae; Animalia; Aspergillus fumigatus; Bacteria (microorganisms); Burseraceae; Candida albicans; Combretaceae; Combretum; Commiphora; Enterococcus faecalis; Escherichia coli; Filobasidiella neoformans; Fungi; Khaya anthotheca; Kirkia wilmsii; Kirkiaceae; Loxostylis alata; Meliaceae; Microsporum canis; Negibacteria; Ochna; Ochnaceae; Posibacteria; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Sporothrix schenckii; Staphylococcus aureus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77952897566 | Evaluation of selected South African plant species for antioxidant, antiplatelet, and cytotoxic activity | Suleiman M.M., Bagla V., Naidoo V., Eloff J.N. | 2010 | Pharmaceutical Biology | 48 | 6 | 10.3109/13880200903229114 | Phytomedicine Programme, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa | Suleiman, M.M., Phytomedicine Programme, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Bagla, V., Phytomedicine Programme, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Naidoo, V., Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa; Eloff, J.N., Phytomedicine Programme, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa | The antioxidant, antiplatelet, and cytoxoxic effects of seven South African plant extracts, namely, Combretum vendae A.E. van Wyk (Combretaceae), Commiphora harveyi (Engl.) Engl. (Burseraceae), Khaya anthotheca (Welm.) C.DC (Meliaceae), Kirkia wilmsii Engl. (Kirkiaceae), Loxostylis alata A. Spreng. ex Rchb. (Anacardiaceae), Ochna natalitia (Meisn.) Walp. (Ochnaceae), and Protorhus longifolia (Bernh. Ex C. Krauss) Engl. (Anacardiaceae), were evaluated using established in vitro assays. All the extracts showed comparably low toxicity except for the extract of C. harveyi that showed high hemagluttination assay titer value, which indicates toxicity. The extracts of P. longifolia, K. wilmsii, O. natalitia, L. alata, C. harveyi, and C. vendae exhibited antioxidant properties in the qualitative assay using DPPH. In the quantification of antioxidation using ABTS, only the extracts of P. longifolia, L. alata, and C. vendae showed antioxidant activity with respective TEAC values of 1.39, 1.94, and 2.08. Similarly, in the quantitative DPPH assay, L. alata (EC50, 3.58±0.23 μg/mL) and K. wilmsii (EC50, 3.57±0.41 μg/mL) did not differ significantly (p≤0.05) from the control. K. anthotheca showed a higher EC50 (176.40±26.56 μg/mL) value, and differed significantly (p≤0.05) from all the other extracts and control. In addition, the extracts of C. vendae and C. harveyi showed significant (p≤0.05) antiplatelet activity and did not differ from the control (aspirin) with EC50 of 0.06±0.01 μg/mL and 0.19±0.00 μ μg/mL, respectively. Lower EC50 values in the antioxidant and antiplatelet studies are indicative of superior activity of the plant extract against oxidation and platelet aggregation. © 2010 Informa UK Ltd. | Antioxidant assay; Antiplatelet activity; Cytotoxicity effect; South African plants | acetone; acetylsalicylic acid; antioxidant; antithrombocytic agent; ascorbic acid; berberine; Combretum vendae extract; Commiphora harveyi extract; cytotoxic agent; Khaya anthotheca extract; Kirkia wilmsii extract; Loxostylis alata extract; Ochna natalita extract; plant extract; Protorhus longifolia extract; unclassified drug; antioxidant; antithrombocytic agent; plant extract; Africa; Anacardiaceae; animal cell; anticoagulation; antioxidant activity; article; Combretum; Combretum vendae; Commiphora; Commiphora harveyi; controlled study; drug cytotoxicity; drug mechanism; hemagglutination test; in vitro study; Khaya anthotheca; Kirkia wilmsii; Loxostylis alata; medicinal plant; Meliaceae; nonhuman; Ochna natalita; Ochnaceae; Protorhus longifolia; qualitative analysis; quantitative analysis; thrombocyte aggregation; animal; chemistry; Chlorocebus aethiops; dose response; drug effects; horse; isolation and purification; South Africa; toxicity; toxicity testing; Vero cell line; Animals; Antioxidants; Cercopithecus aethiops; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Horses; Plant Extracts; Plants, Medicinal; Platelet Aggregation; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; South Africa; Toxicity Tests; Vero Cells | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84905511026 | Evaluation of anthelmintic activity of Nigerian ethnoveterinary plants; Cassia occidentalis and Guiera senegalensis | Suleiman M.M., Mamman M., Sidiama A., Ighoja E.J., Tauheed M., Talba A.M. | 2014 | Veterinary World | 7 | 7 | 10.14202/vetworld.2014.536-541 | Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria | Suleiman, M.M., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Mamman, M., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Sidiama, A., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Ighoja, E.J., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Tauheed, M., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Talba, A.M., Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria | Aim: This study was designed to evaluate the anthelmintic activity of the stem-barks of Cassia occidentalis and Guiera senegalensis which are used traditionally to treat gastrointestinal helminth infections in goat. Materials and Methods: Phytochemical analysis using standard techniques was used to detect secondary metabolites contained in the plants. In vitro anthelmintic activity of the crude methanol extracts of the plants was determined using egg hatch inhibition test (EHIT) and larval development inhibition assay (LDIA). Results: The extracts of C. occidentalis and G. senegalensis inhibited hatching of eggs and larval development of Haemonchus contortus in a concentration-dependent manner. At concentrations of 0.1,1,10 and 100 mg/ml, the extract of C. occidentalis produced significant (p < 0.05) inhibition of egg hatching oiH. contortus eggs when compared with the untreated (distilled water) control group. C. occidentalis inhibited, by up to 86%, the larval development oiH. contortus. Similarly, the extract of G. senegalensis at concentrations of 10 and 100 mg/ml produced significant (p < 0.05) inhibition of egg hatching of H. contortus eggs and inhibited larval development by up to 85% of the parasite. C. occidentalis (EC50 - 4.23 mg/ml) was found to be more efficacious than G. senegalensis (EC50 = 88.24 mg/ml) against//, contortus eggs. However, G. senegalensis (EC50 - 0.0012 mg/ml) was more effective than C. occidentalis (EC50 = 0.11 mg/ml) against the larvae oiH. contortus. Conclusion: The crude methanol extracts of C. occidentalis and G. senegalensis possess in vitro anthelmintic activity against H. contortus that requires detailed in vivo pharmacological and toxicological trials to justify their use in clinical veterinary practice. © The authors. | Anthelmintic; Cassia occidentalis; Guiera senegalensis; Haemonchus contortus; Medicinal plants | Haemonchus contortus; Senna occidentalis; Vermes | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80054735115 | Economic evaluation of antibacterial usage in ear, nose and throat infections in a Nigerian teaching hospital | Suleiman I.A., Tayo F. | 2011 | International Journal of Health Research | 4 | 1 | None | Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, College of Medicine Campus, Idi-Araba, PMB 12003 Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria | Suleiman, I.A., Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, College of Medicine Campus, Idi-Araba, PMB 12003 Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria; Tayo, F., Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, College of Medicine Campus, Idi-Araba, PMB 12003 Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria | Purpose: To carry out economic evaluation of antibacterial usage for Ear, Nose and Throat infections in a tertiary health care facility in Nigeria. Methods: Antibacterial utilisation evaluation was carried out retrospectively over one year period by reviewing 122 case notes containing 182 prescriptions of patient with Ear Nose and Throat infections. Relevant data including demographics, diagnosis, prescribed drugs, dosages, were extracted and the associated costs analysed. Results: Highest prevalent rate of Ear, Nose and Throat infections occurred in children under 10 years of age (59.3%) with otitis media predominating (45.0%). Average antibacterial cost per case was N1971.37 (US$15.16). Penicillins were the most frequently prescribed (35.5%) at a cost of N89,468.00 (US$688.22) representing 24.9% of the total antibacterial cost. Cephalosporins were used at a rate of 12.1% with a percentage total antibacterial cost of 48.4% (N173,554.00, US$1335.03). Conclusion: The average cost of antibacterial agents to patients studied is high. This call for prudent use of these agents which should be evidence based and closely monitored. © Poracom Academic Publishers. All rights reserved. | Antibacterial Therapy; Antibacterial Utilization Studies; Infectious diseases; Pharmacoeconomics | amikacin; aminoglycoside antibiotic agent; amoxicillin; amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid; ampicillin; ampicillin plus cloxacillin; antiinfective agent; ceftazidime; ceftriaxone; cefuroxime; cephalosporin derivative; ciprofloxacin; cloxacillin; cotrimoxazole; erythromycin; gentamicin; imidazole derivative; macrolide; metronidazole; penicillin derivative; quinoline derived antiinfective agent; roxithromycin; sulfonamide; acute otitis media; adolescent; adult; age distribution; article; bronchopneumonia; child; chronic suppurative otitis media; controlled study; demography; drug choice; drug cost; drug monitoring; drug use; ear infection; economic evaluation; evidence based medicine; female; health care cost; high risk population; human; infant; infection rate; major clinical study; male; newborn; Nigeria; nose infection; otitis media; pharyngitis; preschool child; prescription; prevalence; retrospective study; school child; teaching hospital; tertiary health care; tonsillitis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84860696720 | Evaluation of the cost of therapy for the treatment of sexually transmitted infections in a Nigerian teaching hospital | Suleiman I.A., Tayo F. | 2012 | Journal of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research | 3 | 2 | 10.1111/j.1759-8893.2011.00067.x | Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, College of Medicine Campus, Idi-Araba, PMB 12003 Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria | Suleiman, I.A., Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, College of Medicine Campus, Idi-Araba, PMB 12003 Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria; Tayo, F., Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, College of Medicine Campus, Idi-Araba, PMB 12003 Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria | Objective To determine the cost of therapy to patients of sexually transmitted infections in a Nigerian teaching hospital. Methods A retrospective drug-utilization evaluation in conjunction with cost-of-illness analysis was used. Two hundred and twenty seven case notes containing 310 prescriptions of patients with sexually transmitted infections were examined over a 1-year period between 2005 and 2006. Relevant data including demographics, diagnosis, prescribed drugs and dosages were extracted and the associated costs, direct and indirect, were evaluated. Key findings Disease occurrence was higher among the most productive work force group of 21-40 years (59.0%), which had 82.0% of the prescriptions. The overall average cost of antibacterial agents for sexually transmitted infection per patient (n=227) was NGN977.85 (US$7.52) while the overall average cost per prescription (n=310) was NGN716.04 ($5.51). The highest average cost of antibacterial agents of NGN2028.00 ($15.60) was obtained for chlamydial infection. The overall average of cost of therapy per patient (n=227) was NGN2610.65 ($20.08). Chlamydial infection had the highest overall average cost of therapy, at NGN5408.92 ($41.60). The discounted average total cost of therapy for the year 2010 was $48.23 for chlamydial infection. Antibacterial agents constituted the highest cost component (37.5%) followed by indirect costs (26.5%). The average cost of therapy per patient of NGN2610.65 ($20.04) gave a 2010 discounted value of $23.23. Conclusion The cost of therapy for these infections to patients and the nation as a whole is huge. © 2011 The Authors. JPHSR © 2011 Royal Pharmaceutical Society. | Antibacterial cost; Antibacterial utilization; Cost-of-illness analysis; Drug cost; Infectious diseases; Pharmacoeconomics | antiinfective agent; adolescent; adult; article; child; chlamydiasis; condyloma acuminatum; cost of illness; drug cost; drug utilization; female; genital ulcer; gonorrhea; health care cost; human; major clinical study; male; Nigeria; pelvic inflammatory disease; pharmacoepidemiology; priority journal; retrospective study; school child; sexually transmitted disease; syphilis; teaching hospital; ulcus molle; urethritis; uterine cervicitis; vaginitis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84855758508 | Lameness in dairy cattle: Prevalence, risk factors and impact on milk production | Sulayeman M., Fromsa A. | 2012 | Global Veterinaria | 8 | 1 | None | College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia | Sulayeman, M., College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; Fromsa, A., College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia | The importance of lameness has increased as it became one of the greatest insults to the productivity of dairy cattle and took the third place in causing economic loss to dairy farmers next to infertility and mastitis. However, it is among the most neglected and least studied dairy problems in Ethiopia. This observational and repeated cross-sectional study was carried out on 432 dairy cattle that belonged to 23 randomly selected farms from Hawasa town to determine the prevalence of lameness, identify the associated risk factors and assess the effect on milk production. The result showed an overall lameness prevalence of 3.5%. Lameness of one or more animal was detected in 11 (47.83%) of the 23 visited farms. Milking status, pregnancy, feeding, floor type, length of rough track, frequency of floor cleaning, age, sex and herd size were considered as risk factors and statistically tested. All the risk factors except milking status were not significantly associated with lameness (P>0.05). Lameness was more frequent in hind limbs (2.8%) than in forelimbs (0.7%). In milking dairy cows, the mean daily milk yield was significantly reduced after the onset of lameness. The study showed that lameness is an economically important dairy herd problem. Therefore, prevention or early diagnosis and treatment of lameness in cows at all stages of lactation should be part of dairy farm management practice. © IDOSI Publications, 2012. | Dairy cattle; Lameness; Prevalence; Risk factors | Animalia; Bos | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84961194975 | Logging ban policy and its impact on international trade in forest products: The case of Thailand | Sulaiman C., Abdul-Rahim A.S. | 2015 | International Journal of Green Economics | 9 | 04-Mar | 10.1504/IJGE.2015.075195 | Faculty of Economics and Management, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia; Department of Economics, Bauchi State University Gadau, Bauchi State, Nigeria | Sulaiman, C., Faculty of Economics and Management, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia, Department of Economics, Bauchi State University Gadau, Bauchi State, Nigeria; Abdul-Rahim, A.S., Faculty of Economics and Management, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia | In 1989, unnecessary logging activities triggered huge landslides in Thailand that led to the loss of 373 human lives and properties worth millions of baht. Consequently, Thailand's authorities officially imposed a logging ban to forestall the future reoccurrence of a similar disaster. Using a J-curve hypothesis, this paper examined the impact of the logging ban on Thailand's forest product trade balances. To achieve the objective, an autoregressive distributed lag approach to cointegration was applied to estimate the results using data from 1971 to 2010. The results revealed that the policy has had a negative effect on product trade balances in the short-run and the long-run. In addition, domestic income, foreign income and the exchange rate were found to significantly influence product trade balance variations. The J-curve effect was non-existent for all of the sampled products. As such, policies that will both safeguard the environment and ensure economic growth are recommended. © Copyright 2015 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. | ARDL approach; J-curve hypothesis; Logging ban; Trade balance | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84945448715 | Experiences and Lessons From Implementing Cohort Event Monitoring Programmes for Antimalarials in Four African Countries: Results of a Questionnaire-Based Survey | Suku C.K., Hill G., Sabblah G., Darko M., Muthuri G., Abwao E., Pandit J., Osakwe A.I., Elagbaje C., Nyambayo P., Khoza S., Dodoo A.N., Pal S.N. | 2015 | Drug Safety | 38 | 11 | 10.1007/s40264-015-0331-7 | National Pharmacovigilance Centre, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Abuja, FCT, Nigeria; Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC), Uppsala, Sweden; National Pharmacovigilance Centre, Food and Drug Authority (FDA), Accra, Ghana; National Pharmacovigilance Centre, Pharmacy and Poison Board (PPB), Nairobi, Kenya; Bayer HealthCare, Middle Africa Region, Nairobi, Kenya; National Pharmacovigilance Centre, Medicine Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ), Harare, Zimbabwe; Department of Clinical Pharmacology, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; WHO Collaborating Centre (WHO CC) for Advocacy and Training in Pharmacovigilance, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana; Safety and Vigilance (SAV), WHO, Geneva, Switzerland | Suku, C.K., National Pharmacovigilance Centre, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Abuja, FCT, Nigeria; Hill, G., Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC), Uppsala, Sweden; Sabblah, G., National Pharmacovigilance Centre, Food and Drug Authority (FDA), Accra, Ghana; Darko, M., National Pharmacovigilance Centre, Food and Drug Authority (FDA), Accra, Ghana; Muthuri, G., National Pharmacovigilance Centre, Pharmacy and Poison Board (PPB), Nairobi, Kenya; Abwao, E., National Pharmacovigilance Centre, Pharmacy and Poison Board (PPB), Nairobi, Kenya; Pandit, J., National Pharmacovigilance Centre, Pharmacy and Poison Board (PPB), Nairobi, Kenya, Bayer HealthCare, Middle Africa Region, Nairobi, Kenya; Osakwe, A.I., National Pharmacovigilance Centre, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Abuja, FCT, Nigeria; Elagbaje, C., National Pharmacovigilance Centre, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Abuja, FCT, Nigeria; Nyambayo, P., National Pharmacovigilance Centre, Medicine Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ), Harare, Zimbabwe; Khoza, S., National Pharmacovigilance Centre, Medicine Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ), Harare, Zimbabwe, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Dodoo, A.N., WHO Collaborating Centre (WHO CC) for Advocacy and Training in Pharmacovigilance, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana; Pal, S.N., Safety and Vigilance (SAV), WHO, Geneva, Switzerland | Introduction: Cohort event monitoring (CEM) is an intensive method of post-marketing surveillance for medicines safety. The method is based on prescription event monitoring, which began in the 1970s, and has since been adapted by WHO for monitoring the safety of medicines used in Public Health Programmes. CEM aims to capture all adverse events that occur in a defined group of patients after starting treatment with a specific medicine during the course of routine clinical practice. Objective: The aims of this study were to describe the experiences of National Pharmacovigilance Centres (NCs) that have used CEM to monitor artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) for uncomplicated malaria in the African setting, to raise awareness of some of the challenges encountered during implementation and to highlight aspects of the method that require further consideration. Method: A questionnaire-based survey was conducted to capture the experiences of NCs that have implemented CEM for active post-marketing surveillance of antimalarial medicines in sub-Saharan Africa. Six NCs were identified as having implemented CEM programmes and were invited to participate in the survey; five NCs indicated willingness to participate and were sent the questionnaire to complete. Results: Four NCs responded to the survey—Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Zimbabwe—providing information on the implementation of a total of six CEM programmes. Their experiences indicate that CEM has helped to build pharmacovigilance capacity within the participating NCs and at the monitoring sites, and that healthcare providers (HCPs) are generally willing to participate in implementing the CEM method. All of the programmes took longer than expected to complete: contributing factors included a prolonged enrolment period and unexpectedly slow data entry. All of the programmes exceeded their budget by 11.1–63.2 %. Data management was identified as a challenge for all participating NCs. Conclusions: The reported experiences of four NCs that have undertaken CEM studies on ACTs indicate that CEM has helped to build pharmacovigilance capacity within NCs and monitoring sites and that HCPs are willing to participate in CEM programmes; however, the method was found to be labour intensive and data management was identified as a challenge. Reducing the workload associated with CEM, particularly in relation to data management, and integrating the method into the routine work of HCPs and NCs should be considered for future implementation. © 2015, The Author(s). | None | artemisinin; Article; awareness; budget; clinical practice; cohort event monitoring; drug surveillance program; Ghana; health care personnel; health care planning; health care survey; health program; human; Kenya; major clinical study; malaria; medical information; monitoring; Nigeria; personal experience; priority journal; questionnaire; Zimbabwe | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84862895015 | Performance investigation of membrane electrode assemblies for hydrogen production by solid polymer electrolyte water electrolysis | Su H., Bladergroen B.J., Pasupathi S., Linkov V., Ji S. | 2012 | International Journal of Electrochemical Science | 7 | 5 | None | South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa | Su, H., South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa; Bladergroen, B.J., South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa; Pasupathi, S., South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa; Linkov, V., South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa; Ji, S., South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa | The development of solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) water electrolysis requires satisfactory membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs). In this work, different types of SPE membranes and catalysts were investigated to prepare high performance MEAs via a catalyst sprayed membrane under irradiation (CSMUI) method. The water electrolysis performance and properties of the prepared MEAs were evaluated and analyzed by polarization curve, electrochemistry impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that SPE type must be chosen carefully according to the specific water electrolysis system, and Pt/C catalyst with low Pt content is less suitable as cathode catalyst in water electrolysis. At a cell temperature of 80 oC and atmosphere pressure, the best performance was obtained by using 60 wt.% Pt/C and Nafion 212 membrane: the cell voltage can be as low as 1.526 V at 1 A cm -2 and the terminal voltage is only 1.63 V at 2 A cm -2, and the performance had no obvious degradation after a primary 24 h stability test. SEM characterization revealed that the intimate contact between the catalyst layers (CLs) and the membranes, and the uniformly porous CL structure correlate positively with the MEAs prepared by CSMUI method, exhibiting high performances and good stabilities for SPE water electrolysis. © 2012 by ESG. | Membrane electrode assembly; Performance; Solid polymer electrolyte; Stability; Water electrolysis | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80054681176 | Study of catalyst sprayed membrane under irradiation method to prepare high performance membrane electrode assemblies for solid polymer electrolyte water electrolysis | Su H., Bladergroen B.J., Linkov V., Pasupathi S., Ji S. | 2011 | International Journal of Hydrogen Energy | 36 | 23 | 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2011.08.057 | South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa | Su, H., South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa; Bladergroen, B.J., South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa; Linkov, V., South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa; Pasupathi, S., South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa; Ji, S., South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa | In this work, a catalyst sprayed membrane under irradiation (CSMUI) method was investigated to develop high performance membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) water electrolysis. The water electrolysis performance and properties of the prepared MEA were evaluated and analyzed by polarization curves, electrochemistry impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The characterizations revealed that the CSMUI method is very effective for preparing high performance MEA for SPE water electrolysis: the cell voltage can be as low as 1.564 V at 1 A cm-2 and the terminal voltage is only 1.669 V at 2 A cm-2, which are among the best results yet reported for SPE water electrolysis with IrO2 catalyst. Also, it is found that the noble metal catalysts loadings of the MEA prepared by this method can be greatly decreased without significant performance degradation. At a current density of 1 A cm-2, the MEA showed good stability for water electrolysis operating: the cell voltage remained at 1.60 V without obvious deterioration after 105 h operation under atmosphere pressure and 80 °C. ©2011, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Catalyst sprayed membrane under irradiation method; High performance; Membrane electrode assembly; Solid polymer electrolyte; Water electrolysis | Atmosphere pressure; Cell voltages; Electrochemistry impedance spectroscopy; Good stability; High performance; Membrane electrode assemblies; Membrane electrode assembly; Noble metal catalysts; Performance degradation; Polarization curves; Solid polymer electrolyte; Solid polymer electrolytes; Terminal voltages; Water electrolysis; Catalysts; Hydrogen; Irradiation; Membranes; Polyelectrolytes; Polymers; Precious metals; Scanning electron microscopy; Electrolysis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84882451914 | Optimization of gas diffusion electrode for polybenzimidazole-based high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell: Evaluation of polymer binders in catalyst layer | Su H., Pasupathi S., Bladergroen B., Linkov V., Pollet B.G. | 2013 | International Journal of Hydrogen Energy | 38 | 26 | 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.06.107 | HySA Systems Competence Centre, South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa | Su, H., HySA Systems Competence Centre, South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa; Pasupathi, S., HySA Systems Competence Centre, South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa; Bladergroen, B., HySA Systems Competence Centre, South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa; Linkov, V., HySA Systems Competence Centre, South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa; Pollet, B.G., HySA Systems Competence Centre, South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa | Gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) prepared with various polymer binders in their catalyst layers (CLs) were investigated to optimize the performance of phosphoric acid doped polybenzimidazole (PBI)-based high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs). The properties of these binders in the CLs were evaluated by structure characterization, electrochemical analysis, single cell polarization and durability test. The results showed that polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) are more attractive as CL binders than conventional PBI or Nafion binder. At ambient pressure and 160 C, the maximum power density can reach ∼ 0.61 W cm -2 (PTFE GDE), and the current density at 0.6 V is up to ca. 0.52 A cm-2 (PVDF GDE), with H2/air and a platinum loading of 0.5 mg cm-2 on these electrodes. Also, both GDEs showed good stability for fuel cell operation in a short term durability test. Copyright © 2013, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Gas diffusion electrode; High temperature proton exchange; Membrane electrode assembly; membrane fuel cell; Polybenzimidazole; Polymer binder | Gas diffusion electrodes; Membrane electrode assemblies; Membrane fuel cells; Polybenzimidazole; Polymer binders; Proton exchange; Catalysts; Diffusion in gases; Durability; Optimization; Polymers; Polytetrafluoroethylenes; Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC); Binders | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84905178458 | High-Performance and Durable Membrane Electrode Assemblies for High-Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells | Su H., Felix C., Barron O., Bujlo P., Bladergroen B.J., Pollet B.G., Pasupathi S. | 2014 | Electrocatalysis | 5 | 4 | 10.1007/s12678-014-0202-5 | HySA Systems Competence Centre, South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535, South Africa | Su, H., HySA Systems Competence Centre, South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535, South Africa; Felix, C., HySA Systems Competence Centre, South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535, South Africa; Barron, O., HySA Systems Competence Centre, South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535, South Africa; Bujlo, P., HySA Systems Competence Centre, South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535, South Africa; Bladergroen, B.J., HySA Systems Competence Centre, South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535, South Africa; Pollet, B.G., HySA Systems Competence Centre, South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535, South Africa; Pasupathi, S., HySA Systems Competence Centre, South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535, South Africa | Membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) with gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) fabricated by various catalyst layer (CL) deposit technologies were investigated for the application of high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (HT-PEMFC). The physical properties of the GDEs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and pore size distribution. The electrochemical properties were evaluated and analyzed by polarization curve, Tafel equation, electrochemistry impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The results showed that the electrodes prepared by ultrasonic spraying and automatic catalyst spraying under irradiation (ACSUI) methods have superior CL structure and high electrochemistry activity, resulting in high fuel cell performances. Durability tests revealed the feasibility of the electrodes for long-term HT-PEMFC operation. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York. | Catalyst layer; Gas diffusion electrode; High-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell; Membrane electrode assembly; Polybenzimidazole | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879293436 | Enhanced performance of polybenzimidazole-based high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell with gas diffusion electrodes prepared by automatic catalyst spraying under irradiation technique | Su H., Pasupathi S., Bladergroen B.J., Linkov V., Pollet B.G. | 2013 | Journal of Power Sources | 242 | None | 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2013.05.128 | HySA Systems Competence Centre, South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, Cape Town, South Africa | Su, H., HySA Systems Competence Centre, South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, Cape Town, South Africa; Pasupathi, S., HySA Systems Competence Centre, South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, Cape Town, South Africa; Bladergroen, B.J., HySA Systems Competence Centre, South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, Cape Town, South Africa; Linkov, V., HySA Systems Competence Centre, South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, Cape Town, South Africa; Pollet, B.G., HySA Systems Competence Centre, South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, Cape Town, South Africa | Gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) prepared by a novel automatic catalyst spraying under irradiation (ACSUI) technique are investigated for improving the performance of phosphoric acid (PA)-doped polybenzimidazole (PBI) high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The physical properties of the GDEs are characterized by pore size distribution and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The electrochemical properties of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) with the GDEs are evaluated and analyzed by polarization curve, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemistry impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Effects of PTFE binder content, PA impregnation and heat treatment on the GDEs are investigated to determine the optimum performance of the single cell. At ambient pressure and 160 C, the maximum power density can reach 0.61 W cm -2, and the current density at 0.6 V is up to 0.38 A cm-2, with H2/air and a platinum loading of 0.5 mg cm-2 on both electrodes. The MEA with the GDEs shows good stability for fuel cell operating in a short term durability test. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Automatic catalyst spraying under; Gas diffusion electrode; High temperature proton exchange; irradiation; Membrane electrode assembly; membrane fuel cell; Phosphoric acid-doped; Polybenzimidazole | Automatic catalyst spraying under; Gas diffusion electrodes; Membrane electrode assemblies; Membrane fuel cells; Phosphoric acid-doped; Polybenzimidazole; Proton exchange; Electrochemistry impedance spectroscopy; Gas diffusion electrodes; High temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells; Maximum power density; Membrane electrode assemblies; Optimum performance; Polybenzimidazole; Short-term durabilities; Catalysts; Cyclic voltammetry; Diffusion in gases; Durability; Irradiation; Loading; Phosphoric acid; Scanning electron microscopy; Catalysts; Cyclic voltammetry; Diffusion; Diffusion in gases; Durability; Electrochemical electrodes; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; Electrochemistry; Electrodes; Fuel cells; Irradiation; Membranes; Phosphoric acid; Phosphoric acid fuel cells (PAFC); Pore size; Protons; Scanning electron microscopy; Size distribution; Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC); Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-29444446963 | Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of Cleome viscosa and Gmelina asiatica | Sudhakar M., Rao Ch.V., Rao P.M., Raju D.B. | 2006 | Fitoterapia | 77 | 1 | 10.1016/j.fitote.2005.08.003 | Shri Vishnu College of Pharmacy, Vishnupur, Bhimavaram, 534 202 A.P., India; National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, 226 001 U.P., India; Gondar College of Medical Sciences, Gondar, Ethiopia | Sudhakar, M., Shri Vishnu College of Pharmacy, Vishnupur, Bhimavaram, 534 202 A.P., India; Rao, Ch.V., National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, 226 001 U.P., India; Rao, P.M., Gondar College of Medical Sciences, Gondar, Ethiopia; Raju, D.B., Shri Vishnu College of Pharmacy, Vishnupur, Bhimavaram, 534 202 A.P., India | The ethanolic extracts of the leaves and flowers of Cleome viscosa and roots of Gmelina asiatica were tested for antimicrobial activity. The two plants exhibited a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity, particularly significative against Escherichia coli , Proteus vulgaris and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The leaf extract of C. viscosa showed moderate activity against pathogenic fungi. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Antimicrobial activity; Cleome viscosa; Gmelina asiatica | cleome viscosa extract; Gmelina asiatica extract; plant extract; unclassified drug; antifungal activity; antimicrobial activity; article; Cleome; cleome viscosa; controlled study; drug activity; drug screening; Escherichia coli; flower; Gmelina asiatica; nonhuman; plant leaf; plant root; priority journal; Proteus vulgaris; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Verbenaceae; Anti-Infective Agents; Aspergillus niger; Bacillus subtilis; Candida albicans; Cleome; Enterococcus faecalis; Escherichia coli; Flowers; Lamiaceae; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves; Plant Roots; Plants, Medicinal; Proteus vulgaris; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Rhizopus; Staphylococcus aureus; Cleome; Cleome viscosa; Escherichia coli; Fungi; Gmelina asiatica; Proteus vulgaris; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Verbenaceae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84908293274 | Evaluation of the in vitro anticancer activity of cyclometalated half-sandwich rhodium and iridium complexes coordinated to naphthaldimine-based poly(propyleneimine) dendritic scaffolds | Sudding L.C., Payne R., Govender P., Edafe F., Clavel C.M., Dyson P.J., Therrien B., Smith G.S. | 2014 | Journal of Organometallic Chemistry | 774 | None | 10.1016/j.jorganchem.2014.10.003 | Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, South Africa; Institut des Sciences et Ingénierie Chimiques, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland; Institute of Chemistry, University of Neuchatel, 51 Ave de Bellevaux, Neuchatel, Switzerland | Sudding, L.C., Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, South Africa; Payne, R., Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, South Africa; Govender, P., Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, South Africa; Edafe, F., Institut des Sciences et Ingénierie Chimiques, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland; Clavel, C.M., Institut des Sciences et Ingénierie Chimiques, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland; Dyson, P.J., Institut des Sciences et Ingénierie Chimiques, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland; Therrien, B., Institute of Chemistry, University of Neuchatel, 51 Ave de Bellevaux, Neuchatel, Switzerland; Smith, G.S., Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, South Africa | The development of cyclometalated rhodium and iridium complexes from first- and second-generation naphthaldimine-based poly(propyleneimine) dendrimer scaffolds of the type, DAB-(NH2)n (where n = 4 or 8, DAB = diaminobutane) has been accomplished. Four metallodendrimers were synthesised, viz. (Cp∗MCl)4Gn (1-4), by first reacting DAB-(NH2)n with napththaldehyde and subsequently metallating the Schiff-base dendrimers with the dimers [Cp∗MCl2]2 (where M = Rh or Ir). Related mononuclear complexes [Cp∗MCl(L)] (L = naphthaldimine) (5-6) were obtained in a similar manner. The molecular structures of 5 and 6 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and the in vitro anticancer activities of 1-6 were evaluated against the A2780 and A2780cisR human ovarian carcinoma cell lines. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Anticancer drugs; Bioorganometallic chemistry; Cyclometalated; Iridium; Metallodendrimers; Rhodium | Rhodium; Anticancer activities; Anticancer drug; Bio-organometallic chemistry; Cyclometalated; Half-sandwich; Metallodendrimers; Poly(propylene imine); Rhodium and iridium complexes; Iridium | 66054, National Research Foundation |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79959195968 | The impact of medium-sized canids on a seal bone assemblage from dunefield Midden, West Coast, South Africa | Stynder D.D. | 2008 | South African Archaeological Bulletin | 63 | 188 | 10.2307/20475011 | Iziko South African Museum, Cenozoic Palaeontology, Natural History Department, P.O. Box 61, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa | Stynder, D.D., Iziko South African Museum, Cenozoic Palaeontology, Natural History Department, P.O. Box 61, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa | [No abstract available] | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84859795584 | Stigma and marginalisation: Structural violence and the impact on mental health | Sturgeon S. | 2012 | Social Work | 48 | 1 | None | Department of Social Development, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Sturgeon, S., Department of Social Development, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Considering the high incidence of mental disorders, the link with health conditions, and that treatment for mental disorders is currently largely community-based, it is essential that social workers assume a central role in addressing the issues faced by people with mental disorders in the community World-wide people with mental disorders and their families suffer from stigma, marginalisation and structural violence. Conversely, marginalisation causes the poor, disadvantaged and vulnerable to suffer disproportionally from mental disorders. Social workers should be pivotal in working developmentally with people with mental disorders and address the marginalisation that causes many of their problems. | None | low income population; marginalization; mental health; social work | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-38349166629 | Rigid spine syndrome: A noninvasive cardiac evaluation | Stübgen J.-P. | 2008 | Pediatric Cardiology | 29 | 1 | 10.1007/s00246-007-9056-4 | Department of Neurology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical Center, 525 East 68th Street, New York, NY 10021, United States | Stübgen, J.-P., Department of Neurology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa, Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical Center, 525 East 68th Street, New York, NY 10021, United States | Rigid spine syndrome (RSS) is a group of childhood-onset muscle disorders characterized by marked limitation of flexion of the spine. Various cardiac changes have been documented in case reports. This study reports on a cardiac evaluation of nine patients with the "vacuolar variant" of RSS. Noninvasive cardiac evaluation entailed creatine kinase levels, full-inspiration chest roentgenograms, standard 12-lead ECG, and 24-h ambulatory ECG recording, as well as M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiography with Doppler study. Heart auscultation was abnormal in five patients. Creatine kinase MB fraction was normal in all patients. Chest roentgenogram showed scoliosis (five of nine), kyphosis (one of nine), severe anterior-posterior flattening of the chest cavity (two of nine), elevated hemidiaphragm (one of nine), caved-in appearance of upper lobes (two of nine), and symmetry of lung volumes (one of nine). Twelve-lead ECG abnormalities indicated right-sided heart disease (three of nine). Echocardiogram showed mitral valve prolapse (five of nine) with regurgitation (three of five) and evidence of pulmonary hypertension (three of nine). Ambulatory ECG recorded paroxysmal tachyarrhythmias in hypoxic or hypercapnic patients (three of nine). There was no correlation between any cardiac abnormalities and patient weakness. Mitral prolapse/regurgitation may have a developmental association with this congenital myopathy. Findings of cor pulmonale were due to the restrictive chest wall defect and respiratory muscle weakness. Paroxysmal tachyarrhythmias were due to hypoxia or hypercapnia. There was no evidence of a primary cardiomyopathy. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. | Cardiac evaluation; Rigid spine syndrome | creatine kinase; adolescent; adult; article; back muscle; cardiomyopathy; child; clinical article; clinical feature; creatine kinase blood level; disease course; disease duration; Doppler echocardiography; electrocardiogram; female; heart auscultation; heart function; human; kyphosis; M mode echocardiography; male; mitral valve prolapse; mitral valve regurgitation; onset age; patient assessment; pulmonary hypertension; rigid spine syndrome; scoliosis; spine disease; spine mobility; thorax radiography; two dimensional echocardiography; Adolescent; Adult; Child; Creatine Kinase; Electrocardiography; Female; Heart Diseases; Humans; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Male; Mitral Valve Prolapse; Muscular Diseases; Pulmonary Heart Disease; Spinal Diseases; Syndrome | 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-s2.0-56649086532 | Evaluation of biochemical and ultrasonographic measurements as indicators of undernutrition in cattle | Strydom S., Agenäs S., Heath M.F., Phillips C.J.C., Rautenbach G.H., Thompson P.N. | 2008 | Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research | 75 | 3 | None | Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Kungsangen Research Centre, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 OES, United Kingdom; Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics, School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton 4343, QLD, Australia | Strydom, S., Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Agenäs, S., Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Kungsangen Research Centre, Uppsala, Sweden; Heath, M.F., Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 OES, United Kingdom; Phillips, C.J.C., Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics, School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton 4343, QLD, Australia; Rautenbach, G.H., Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Thompson, P.N., Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa | Body condition scoring (BCS) gives an indication of the nutritional status of an animal and it is thus an invaluable management tool in domestic livestock systems. It is, however, subjective. This study aimed at identifying biochemical indicators which could be objectively used as an indicator of undernutrition in ruminants. Blood samples were collected from 50 cattle with BCS ≤1 and from 50 cattle with BCS ≥2.5, using a 0-5 scale, and analysed for albumin, urea, creatinine, fructosamine, beta-hydroxybutyrate, non-esterified fatty acids, total serum protein and haematocrit. Rumpfat and ribfat thickness and marbling relative index were determined ultrasonographically in 15 of the low BCS group and 13 of the high BCS group. The laboratory measure with the best predictive ability for severe undernutrition was albumin, which correctly classified 94% of cattle, using a cut-off of 31.5 g/ℓ. In contrast to a previous study, our study did not find the fructosamine:albumin ratio to be an accurate test to indicate undernutrition in cattle. Ultrasonic measurement of subcutaneous rumpfat and ribfat proved to reliably predict undernutrition, but may, however be impractical for routine use under most field conditions. | Biochemical indicators; Body condition scoring; Cattle; Ultrasonography; Undernutrition | creatinine; fatty acid; fructosamine; plasma protein; serum albumin; adipose tissue; animal; animal disease; animal food; article; blood; blood analysis; body composition; body weight; cattle; cattle disease; echography; female; male; malnutrition; metabolism; methodology; nutritional assessment; nutritional status; physiology; urea nitrogen blood level; Adipose Tissue; Animal Feed; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Blood Chemical Analysis; Blood Proteins; Blood Urea Nitrogen; Body Composition; Body Weight; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Creatinine; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; Female; Fructosamine; Male; Malnutrition; Nutrition Assessment; Nutritional Status; Serum Albumin; Animalia; Bos; Bovidae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84905223536 | Evaluation of three vacuum packaging methods for retail beef loin cuts | Strydom P.E., Hope-Jones M. | 2014 | Meat Science | 98 | 4 | 10.1016/j.meatsci.2014.05.030 | Animal Production Institute, Agricultural Research Council, Private Bag X2, Irene 0062, South Africa | Strydom, P.E., Animal Production Institute, Agricultural Research Council, Private Bag X2, Irene 0062, South Africa; Hope-Jones, M., Animal Production Institute, Agricultural Research Council, Private Bag X2, Irene 0062, South Africa | Meat from beef T-bone cuts was packaged as follows: (1) Sub-primal cuts vacuum packaged (VP) in shrink bags, aged for 14 days, portioned, VP again and aged for a further 7 days (VPR), (2) individual T-bone steaks VP in shrink bags aged for 21 days (VPP), and (3) individual T-bone steaks aged in vacuum-skin packaging (VSP) for 21 days. VSP recorded less purge and showed higher oxymyoglobin values after 2 days and higher chroma after 3 days of aerobic display (P < 0.001) than VPR and VPP. Similar differences in colour stability were recorded for VPP compared to VPR. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. | Colour; Purge; Tenderness; Vacuum packaging; Vacuum-skin packaging | Bone; Color; Purging; Purging; Colour stability; Tenderness; Vacuum packaging; Beef; Color; analysis; animal; bovine; color; food packaging; food quality; meat; pigmentation; procedures; skeletal muscle; vacuum; Animals; Cattle; Color; Food Packaging; Food Quality; Meat; Muscle, Skeletal; Pigmentation; Vacuum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-57049169698 | The comparison of three β-agonists for growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of feedlot cattle | Strydom P.E., Frylinck L., Montgomery J.L., Smith M.F. | 2009 | Meat Science | 81 | 3 | 10.1016/j.meatsci.2008.10.011 | Animal Nutrition and Animal Products Institute (ANPI), Agricultural Research Council of South Africa, Private Bag X2, Irene, 0062, South Africa; Intervet a Part of Schering-Plough Corporation, 29160 Intervet Lane, Millsboro, DE 19966, United States; Biometry Unit, Agricultural Research Council of South Africa, Private Bag X519, Silverton 0127, South Africa | Strydom, P.E., Animal Nutrition and Animal Products Institute (ANPI), Agricultural Research Council of South Africa, Private Bag X2, Irene, 0062, South Africa; Frylinck, L., Animal Nutrition and Animal Products Institute (ANPI), Agricultural Research Council of South Africa, Private Bag X2, Irene, 0062, South Africa; Montgomery, J.L., Intervet a Part of Schering-Plough Corporation, 29160 Intervet Lane, Millsboro, DE 19966, United States; Smith, M.F., Biometry Unit, Agricultural Research Council of South Africa, Private Bag X519, Silverton 0127, South Africa | Forty-eight Bonsmara steers were assigned to three treatment groups and one control group consisting of 12 animals each. The control (C) received no β-agonist, while the three treatment groups received zilpaterol (6 ppm) (Z), ractopamine (30 ppm) (R) or clenbuterol (2 ppm) (Cl) for the last thirty days on feed. Growth performance (final 30 days), USDA quality and yield grades and meat quality (shear force, chemical, histological and biochemical) were compared for the three β-agonist and control groups. Animals responded negatively to Cl treatment during initial stages of supplementation, which was evident in lower feed consumption and initial growth rates. For carcass growth and yield, Cl had greater and more efficient growth rates, higher dressed out yields (proportional), lower USDA yield grades, and reduced marbling compared with C (P < 0.05). For meat quality measurements, the M. longissimus (LL) and M. semitendinosus (ST) were sampled. Cl had the greatest effect (P < 0.05) on WBSF, especially on the LL, followed by Z. Variation in tenderness and ageing effects corresponded with variation in calpastatin activity and myofibrillar fragmentation between treatment groups. While zilpaterol and ractopamine are currently the only products registered for cattle in different countries, it seems that zilpaterol has an advantage in carcass growth efficiency and yield without showing any adaptation problems for animals such as experienced by the more aggressive β-agonist clenbuterol. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | β-Agonist; Beef; Calpain; Drip loss; Myofibril fragment length; Tenderness | Animalia; Bos | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84951970911 | The impact of regulatory fines on shareholder returns | Strydom J., Ward M., Muller C. | 2015 | South African Journal of Business Management | 46 | 4 | None | Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa | Strydom, J., Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Ward, M., Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Muller, C., Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa | Corruption has been shown to undermine the efficiency of market-based economies by allowing participants to profit from illegal rent-seeking activities, which decrease public support for business and increase the cost of capital (Zingales, 2015). Over the past decade, the Competition Commission in South Africa has investigated and issued punitive fines amounting to around R8bn to companies engaged in non-competitive behaviour. Using event study methodology, we examine the impact on the share prices of listed companies upon the announcement of an investigation, a fine, and the payment of the fine. We find that shareholder returns were unaffected at the initiation and payment stages of the process, but that the returns were positively affected at the conviction stage. A buy-and-hold longitudinal study was also undertaken to determine if an ex-post portfolio consisting of stocks of convicted companies out-performed an equal-weighted all share benchmark, as well as a portfolio of matched companies which had not been fined. The results reveal that both the portfolio of fined companies and the matched portfolio of non-fined companies out-performed the market benchmark over a 24-year period. However, the portfolio consisting of convicted companies underperformed the portfolio of companies which had not been fined. We conclude that the market anticipated the fines and that the quantum of fines levied was less than expected. We also find that the non-competitive behaviour of convicted companies did not benefit their shareholders in the long-term. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84938919085 | Polyamine quinoline rhodium complexes: Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation as antiparasitic agents against Plasmodium falciparum and Trichomonas vaginalis | Stringer T., Taylor D., Guzgay H., Shokar A., Au A., Smith P.J., Hendricks D.T., Land K.M., Egan T.J., Smith G.S. | 2015 | Dalton Transactions | 44 | 33 | 10.1039/c5dt02378e | Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa; Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town Medical School, Observatory, South Africa; Division of Medical Biochemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa; Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, United States | Stringer, T., Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa; Taylor, D., Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town Medical School, Observatory, South Africa; Guzgay, H., Division of Medical Biochemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa; Shokar, A., Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, United States; Au, A., Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, United States; Smith, P.J., Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town Medical School, Observatory, South Africa; Hendricks, D.T., Division of Medical Biochemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa; Land, K.M., Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, United States; Egan, T.J., Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa; Smith, G.S., Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa | A series of mono- and bis-salicylaldimine ligands and their corresponding Rh(i) complexes were prepared. The compounds were characterised using standard spectroscopic techniques including NMR, IR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The salicylaldimine ligands and complexes were screened for antiparasitic activity against two strains of Plasmodium falciparum i.e. the NF54 CQ-sensitive and K1 CQ-resistant strain as well as against the G3 isolate of Trichomonas vaginalis. The monomeric salicylaldimine quinolines exhibited good activity against the NF54 strain and the dimeric salicylaldimine quinolines exhibited no cross resistance across the two strains. The binuclear 5-chloro Rh(i) complex displayed the best activity against the Trichomonas vaginalis parasite, possibly a consequence of its enhanced lipophilicity. The compounds were also screened for cytotoxicity in vitro against WHCO1 oesophageal cancer cells. The monomeric salicylaldimine quinolines exhibited high selectivity towards malaria parasites compared to cancer cells, while the dimeric compounds were less selective. © 2015 Royal Society of Chemistry. | None | Cells; Diseases; Ligands; Mass spectrometry; Rhodium; Strain; Synthesis (chemical); Antiparasitic activity; Antiparasitic agents; Cytotoxicity in Vitro; Dimeric compounds; Plasmodium falciparum; Resistant strains; Salicylaldimine ligands; Spectroscopic technique; Rhodium compounds | Medical Research Council; MRC, Medical Research Council |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929463566 | Synthesis, characterization and pharmacological evaluation of ferrocenyl azines and their rhodium(I) complexes | Stringer T., Guzgay H., Combrinck J.M., Hopper M., Hendricks D.T., Smith P.J., Land K.M., Egan T.J., Smith G.S. | 2015 | Journal of Organometallic Chemistry | 788 | None | 10.1016/j.jorganchem.2015.04.009 | Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa; Division of Medical Biochemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa; Division of Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town Medical School, Observatory, South Africa; Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, United States | Stringer, T., Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa; Guzgay, H., Division of Medical Biochemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa; Combrinck, J.M., Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa, Division of Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town Medical School, Observatory, South Africa; Hopper, M., Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, United States; Hendricks, D.T., Division of Medical Biochemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa; Smith, P.J., Division of Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town Medical School, Observatory, South Africa; Land, K.M., Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, United States; Egan, T.J., Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa; Smith, G.S., Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa | Ferrocenyl azines containing salicylaldimine motifs were prepared by Schiff-base condensation of salicylaldehyde hydrazones and (dimethylamino)methyl ferrocenecarboxaldehyde. Their corresponding Rh(I) complexes were prepared by reaction of the various ferrocenyl azines with [RhCl(COD)]<inf>2</inf> (where COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) to yield heterobimetallic complexes. The compounds were characterized using standard spectroscopic and analytical techniques. The characterization data suggests that the ferrocenyl azine acts as a bidentate donor. The rhodium(I) centre binds to the imine nitrogen and phenolic oxygen of the salicylaldimine, forming a neutral complex. The compounds were screened against the NF54 chloroquine-sensitive (CQS) and K1 chloroquine-resistant (CQR) strains of Plasmodium falciparum. The ferrocene-containing salicylaldimines exhibited weak to moderate activity across both parasite strains. The heterometallic complexes exhibited enhanced activity compared to the ferrocenyl azines in both strains. Most of the compounds exhibited enhanced activity in the resistant strain compared to the sensitive strain. Inhibition of haemozoin formation was considered as a possible mechanism of action of these compounds and indeed they exhibited β-haematin inhibition activity, albeit weaker than chloroquine. All compounds were also screened against the G3 strain of Trichomonas vaginalis. The compounds inhibited no more than 50% parasite growth at the tested concentration. One complex exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against WHCO1 oesophageal cancer cells. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Antiparasitic activity; Bioorganometallic chemistry; Cytotoxicity; Ferrocene; Heterobimetallic; Plasmodium falciparum | Cytotoxicity; Functional groups; Metallic compounds; Nitrogen compounds; Organometallics; Rhodium; Strain; Synthesis (chemical); Antiparasitic activity; Bio-organometallic chemistry; Ferrocenes; Heterobimetallics; Plasmodium falciparum; Rhodium compounds; Plasmodium falciparum; Trichomonas vaginalis | National Research Foundation |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84883446453 | Synthesis, characterization, antiparasitic and cytotoxic evaluation of thioureas conjugated to polyamine scaffolds | Stringer T., Taylor D., De Kock C., Guzgay H., Au A., An S.H., Sanchez B., O'Connor R., Patel N., Land K.M., Smith P.J., Hendricks D.T., Egan T.J., Smith G.S. | 2013 | European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry | 69 | None | 10.1016/j.ejmech.2013.08.004 | Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Division of Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town Medical School, Observatory 7925, South Africa; Division of Medical Biochemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA 95211, United States | Stringer, T., Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Taylor, D., Division of Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town Medical School, Observatory 7925, South Africa; De Kock, C., Division of Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town Medical School, Observatory 7925, South Africa; Guzgay, H., Division of Medical Biochemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Au, A., Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA 95211, United States; An, S.H., Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA 95211, United States; Sanchez, B., Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA 95211, United States; O'Connor, R., Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA 95211, United States; Patel, N., Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA 95211, United States; Land, K.M., Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA 95211, United States; Smith, P.J., Division of Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town Medical School, Observatory 7925, South Africa; Hendricks, D.T., Division of Medical Biochemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Egan, T.J., 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 | A series of mono- and multimeric 4-amino-7-chloroquinoline and ferrocenyl thioureas have been prepared by the reaction of a 7-chloroquinoline methyl ester and a ferrocenylimine methyl ester with various amines. These compounds were characterized using standard spectroscopic and analytical techniques. The compounds were evaluated against the NF54 (CQ-sensitive) and Dd2 (CQ-resistant) strains of Plasmodiumfalciparum. The quinoline compounds show enhanced activity compared to the ferrocene compounds against this parasite. Compound 5 displays the most promising activity against the NF54 strain. Compounds 5 and 6 are effective at inhibiting β-hematin formation perhaps due to an increased number of quinoline moieties. The trimeric (12) and tetrameric (13) ferrocenyl compounds also inhibit β-hematin formation, albeit to a lesser degree compared to the quinoline thioureas. The compounds were also screened against the G3 strain of Trichomonasvaginalis and here the ferrocene-containing compounds show a slightly higher parasite growth inhibition compared to the quinoline thioureas. The quinoline compounds were also found to be more cytotoxic compared to the ferrocenyl compounds. Compound 6 displays good cytotoxicity against WHCO1 oesophageal cancer cells. © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved. | β-Hematin inhibition; Antiparasitic activity; Antitumor activity; Ferrocene; Polyamines; Quinoline; Thioureas | antineoplastic agent; antiprotozoal agent; beta hematin; chloroquine; cisplatin; ferrocene; hematin; metronidazole; polyamine; quinoline derivative; thiourea derivative; unclassified drug; antineoplastic activity; antiprotozoal activity; article; cell viability; drug analysis; drug conjugation; drug synthesis; growth inhibition; human; human cell; IC 50; in vitro study; lipophilicity; nonhuman; Plasmodium falciparum; Trichomonas vaginalis; Antiparasitic activity; Antitumor activity; Ferrocene; Polyamines; Quinoline; Thioureas; β-Hematin inhibition; Antiparasitic Agents; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Cell Survival; Cytotoxins; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Molecular Structure; Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; Plasmodium falciparum; Polyamines; Structure-Activity Relationship; Thiourea; Trichomonas vaginalis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-38049063040 | Monitoring effectiveness of programmes to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission in lower-income countries | Stringer E.M., Chi B.H., Chintu N., Creek T.L., Ekouevi D.K., Coetzee D., Tih P., Boulle A., Dabis F., Shaffer N., Wilfert C.M., Stringer J.S.A. | 2008 | Bulletin of the World Health Organization | 86 | 1 | 10.2471/BLT.07.043117 | Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ), Plot 5977, Benakale Road, Northmead, Lusaka, Zambia; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Global AIDS Program, Atlanta, GA, United States; PAC-CI Programme, Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire; School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Board, Nso, Northwest Province, Cameroon; Institut de Sante Publique d'Epidemiologie et de Developpment (ISPED), Universite Victor Segalen, Boudeaux, France; Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Chapel Hill, NC, United States | Stringer, E.M., Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ), Plot 5977, Benakale Road, Northmead, Lusaka, Zambia; Chi, B.H., Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ), Plot 5977, Benakale Road, Northmead, Lusaka, Zambia; Chintu, N., Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ), Plot 5977, Benakale Road, Northmead, Lusaka, Zambia; Creek, T.L., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Global AIDS Program, Atlanta, GA, United States; Ekouevi, D.K., PAC-CI Programme, Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire; Coetzee, D., School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Tih, P., Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Board, Nso, Northwest Province, Cameroon; Boulle, A., School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Dabis, F., Institut de Sante Publique d'Epidemiologie et de Developpment (ISPED), Universite Victor Segalen, Boudeaux, France; Shaffer, N., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Global AIDS Program, Atlanta, GA, United States; Wilfert, C.M., Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Stringer, J.S.A., Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ), Plot 5977, Benakale Road, Northmead, Lusaka, Zambia | Ambitious goals for paediatric AIDS control have been set by various international bodies, including a 50% reduction in new paediatric infections by 2010. While these goals are clearly appropriate in their scope, the lack of clarity and consensus around how to monitor the effectiveness of programmes to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) makes it difficult for policy-makers to mount a coordinated response. In this paper, we develop the case for using population HIV-free child survival as a gold standard metric to measure the effectiveness of PMTCT programmes, and go on to consider multiple study designs and source populations. Finally, we propose a novel community survey-based approach that could be implemented widely throughout the developing world with minor modifications to ongoing Demographic and Health Surveys. | None | antiretrovirus agent; nevirapine; zidovudine; demography; developing world; disease control; disease transmission; health survey; human immunodeficiency virus; low income population; acquired immune deficiency syndrome; article; developing country; female; gold standard; health program; health survey; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; infant; infection prevention; lowest income group; single drug dose; survival; vertical transmission; Developing Countries; Disease Transmission, Vertical; Female; Health Surveys; HIV Infections; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Organizational Objectives; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Program Evaluation; Survival Rate | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78149367940 | The impacts of tourism on two communities adjacent to the Kruger National Park, South Africa | Strickland-Munro J.K., Moore S.A., Freitag-Ronaldson S. | 2010 | Development Southern Africa | 27 | 5 | 10.1080/0376835X.2010.522829 | School of Environmental Science, Murdoch University Western Australia, Australia; Science Operations Manager, Savanna and Arid Research Unit, Scientific Services, South African National Parks, South Africa | Strickland-Munro, J.K., School of Environmental Science, Murdoch University Western Australia, Australia; Moore, S.A., School of Environmental Science, Murdoch University Western Australia, Australia; Freitag-Ronaldson, S., Science Operations Manager, Savanna and Arid Research Unit, Scientific Services, South African National Parks, South Africa | This paper explores the socioeconomic impacts of tourism associated with the Kruger National Park, South Africa's flagship national park, on the neighbouring villages of Cork and Belfast. Case study research, where the study area was characterised as a social-ecological system, was used to investigate the impacts of Park tourism on these communities. The findings offer a micro-scale, local community perspective of these impacts and indicate that the enclave nature of Park tourism keeps local communities separate from the Park and makes it hard for them to benefit from it. The paper concludes with reflections on this perceived separation, and suggests the need to make the Park boundaries more 'permeable' so as to improve relationships with adjacent communities, while also pragmatically managing community expectations. © 2010 Development Bank of Southern Africa. | Community; Kruger national park; Social-ecological system; Socioeconomic impacts; Tourism | local participation; national park; socioeconomic impact; tourism development; tourism management; Kruger National Park; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84878864105 | Lessons from the evaluation of a public out-patient substance abuse treatment programme in the Western Cape | Strebel A., Shefer T., Stacey M., Shabalala N. | 2013 | Social Work (South Africa) | 49 | 1 | None | Women's and Gender Studies, University of the Western Cape, South Africa; SWEAT (Sex Worker Education and Advocacy Taskforce), South Africa; Psychology Department, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Strebel, A., Women's and Gender Studies, University of the Western Cape, South Africa; Shefer, T., Women's and Gender Studies, University of the Western Cape, South Africa; Stacey, M., SWEAT (Sex Worker Education and Advocacy Taskforce), South Africa; Shabalala, N., Psychology Department, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Given the extent of alcohol and substance abuse in South Africa, there is an urgent need for effective, evidence-based interventions. This study reports on process evaluations of a public out-patient treatment programme in the Western Cape conducted over two years. A mainly qualitative methodology was used, involving individual interviews and focus group discussions with staff as well as clients and their families. The programme was generally viewed very positively by both staff and clients, and many of the concerns raised during the first evaluation had received attention a year later. The evaluations identified valuable lessons for enhancing public out-patient substance abuse programmes. | None | alcohol; mental health; public health; social problem; South Africa; Western Cape | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84916939044 | Impact of Varroa destructor on honeybee (Apis mellifera scutellata) colony development in South Africa | Strauss U., Pirk C.W.W., Crewe R.M., Human H., Dietemann V. | 2015 | Experimental and Applied Acarology | 65 | 1 | 10.1007/s10493-014-9842-7 | Social Insect Research Group, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa; Swiss Bee Research Centre, Agroscope Research Station, Bern, Switzerland | Strauss, U., Social Insect Research Group, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa; Pirk, C.W.W., Social Insect Research Group, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa; Crewe, R.M., Social Insect Research Group, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa; Human, H., Social Insect Research Group, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa; Dietemann, V., Social Insect Research Group, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa, Swiss Bee Research Centre, Agroscope Research Station, Bern, Switzerland | The devastating effects of Varroa destructor Anderson & Trueman on European honeybee colonies (Apis mellifera L.) have been well documented. Not only do these mites cause physical damage to parasitised individuals when they feed on them, they also transmit viruses and other pathogens, weaken colonies and can ultimately cause their death. Nevertheless, not all honeybee colonies are doomed once Varroa mites become established. Some populations, such as the savannah honeybee, A. m. scutellata, have become tolerant after the introduction of the parasite and are able to withstand the presence of these mites without the need for acaricides. In this study, we measured daily Varroa mite fall, Varroa infestation rates of adult honeybees and worker brood, and total Varroa population size in acaricide treated and untreated honeybee colonies. In addition, honeybee colony development was compared between these groups in order to measure the cost incurred by Varroa mites to their hosts. Daily Varroa mite fall decreased over the experimental period with different dynamics in treated and untreated colonies. Varroa infestation rates in treated adult honeybees and brood were lower than in untreated colonies, but not significantly so. Thus, indicating a minimal benefit of treatment thereby suggesting that A. m. scutellata have the ability to maintain mite populations at low levels. We obtained baseline data on Varroa population dynamics in a tolerant honeybee over the winter period. Varroa mites appeared to have a low impact on this honeybee population, given that colony development was similar in the treated and untreated colonies. © 2014, Springer International Publishing Switzerland. | Apis mellifera scutellata; Honeybee; Infestation; Mite; Tolerance; Varroa destructor | Acari; Apis mellifera; Apis mellifera scutellata; Varroa; Varroa destructor; acaricide; animal; bee; drug effects; growth, development and aging; parasitology; physiology; season; South Africa; time; Varroidae; Acaricides; Animals; Bees; Seasons; South Africa; Time Factors; Varroidae | NRF, National Research Foundation of Korea; UP, National Research Foundation of Korea |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80053058105 | Evaluation of a second order simulation for Sterling engine design and optimisation | Strauss J.M., Dobson R.T. | 2010 | Journal of Energy in Southern Africa | 21 | 2 | None | Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa; Department of Mechanical and Megatronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa | Strauss, J.M., Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa; Dobson, R.T., Department of Mechanical and Megatronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa | This paper reports on the investigation of the simulation accuracy of a second order Stirling cycle simulation tool as developed by Urieli (2001) and improvements thereof against the known performance of the GPU-3 Stirling engine. The objective of this investigation is to establish a simulation tool to perform preliminary engine design and optimisation. The second order formulation under investigation simulates the engine based on the ideal adiabatic cycle, and parasitic losses are only accounted for afterwards. This approach differs from third order formulations that simulate the engine in a coupled manner incorporating non-idealities during cyclic simulation. While the second order approach is less accurate, it holds the advantage that the degradation of the ideal performance due to the various losses is more clearly defined and offers insight into improving engine performance. It is therefore particularly suitable for preliminary design of engines. Two methods to calculate the performance and efficiency of the data obtained from the ideal adiabatic cycle and the parasitic losses were applied, namely the method used by Urieli and a proposed alternative method. These two methods differ essentially in how the regenerator and pumping losses are accounted for. The overall accuracy of the simulations, especially using the proposed alternative method to calculate the different operational variables, proved to be satisfactory. Although significant inaccuracies occurred for some of the operational variables, the simulated trends in general followed the measurements and it is concluded that this second order Stirling cycle simulation tool using the proposed alternative method to calculate the different operationalvariables is suitable for preliminary engine design and optimisation. | Second order simulation; Stirling engines | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-22144440169 | Developing a competence framework and evaluation tool for primary care nursing in South Africa | Strasser S., London L., Kortenbout E. | 2005 | Education for Health | 18 | 2 | 10.1080/13576280500145615 | Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Nursing, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa; 4702 Tahoe Circle, Martinez, CA 94553, United States | Strasser, S., Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, 4702 Tahoe Circle, Martinez, CA 94553, United States; London, L., Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Kortenbout, E., Department of Nursing, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa | Context: Nurses provide the bulk of primary care services in South Africa. Post-apartheid health legislation envisions the provision of comprehensive primary services at all public clinics, which implies the need for a cadre of primary care nurses able to render such services. Objectives: To identify core competencies of clinic nurses and develop an evaluation tool for primary care nursing in South Africa. Methods: The descriptive and exploratory techniques used included two meetings of a reference group of South African primary care professionals, followed by a consensus-building exercise. Using the Delphi technique expert opinion was solicited from South Africa, Canada and the USA. Findings: The reference group meetings yielded a list of nine core competencies. Infrastructure issues, such as the supermarket (one-stop shopping) approach to service delivery, communication and transport systems, and the quality of supervision still cause concern. These issues underscore that competence cannot be measured in a vacuum. Input from Delphi participants affirmed the nine core competencies and the need to assess the impact of core competency training. One possible way to measure the nine core competencies would be to use proxy indicators. Discussion/Conclusions: Identifying core competencies is a complex process. There is a need to process a wide range of views and ideas. Also, balancing academic concerns with service delivery needs and constraints is an ongoing challenge. A potential limitation of the Delphi technique is participant selection bias and fatigue. Accessing a diverse international panel and making numerous follow up attempts via phone, mail and email were used to attempt to ameliorate these inherent limitations. Although the process is cumbersome, providing "experts" with a venue to wrestle with these ideas can be fruitful. Future studies would help to assess the reliability of the findings. © 2005 Taylor & Francis Group Ltd. | Competence; Nursing; Primary care; Training | article; competence; controlled study; health care delivery; health care personnel; health care quality; human; medical profession; nursing; nursing education; primary medical care; priority journal; professional practice; professional standard; reliability; South Africa; Clinical Competence; Community Health Nursing; Delphi Technique; Guidelines; Humans; Nursing Evaluation Research; Primary Health Care; South Africa | 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-s2.0-84929153772 | 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-s2.0-84927912291 | 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-s2.0-77958564906 | Performance of the improvements of the CAESAR robot | Stopforth R., Bright G., Harley R. | 2010 | International Journal of Advanced Robotic Systems | 7 | 3 | None | Mechatronics and Robotics Research Group (MR2G), Search and Rescue Division, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Mechatronics and Robotics Research Group (MR2G), University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institution of Technology, United States | Stopforth, R., Mechatronics and Robotics Research Group (MR2G), Search and Rescue Division, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Bright, G., Mechatronics and Robotics Research Group (MR2G), University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Harley, R., School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institution of Technology, United States | Robots are able to enter concealed and unstable environments inaccessible to rescuers. Previous Urban Search And Rescue (USAR) robots have experienced problems with malfunction of communication systems, traction systems, control and telemetry. These problems were accessed and improved in developing a prototype robot called CAESAR, which is an acronym for Contractible Arms Elevating Search And Rescue. Problems encountered with previous USAR robots are discussed. The mechanical, sensory and communication systems that were used on CAESAR are briefly explained. Each system was separately tested by performed experiments. Results of field tests and the robot performance experienced during a disaster scenario that was created are discussed. The capabilities of CAESAR are explained in these tests to determine if some of the problems experienced previously are solved. | CAESAR; Field testing; USAR robot | CAESAR; Disaster scenario; Field test; Field testing; Prototype robot; Search and rescue; Traction systems; Urban search and rescue; USAR robot; Communication systems; Robots | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-70349884322 | Warneckea austro-occidentalis, a new species from Cameroon and Nigeria, and re-evaluation of W. fascicularis var. mangrovensis (Melastomataceae-Olisbeoideae) | Stone R.D., Ghogue J.-P., Cheek M. | 2009 | Kew Bulletin | 64 | 2 | 10.1007/s12225-009-9106-6 | School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South Africa; Herbier National du Cameroun, B.P. 1601, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AB, United Kingdom | Stone, R.D., School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South Africa; Ghogue, J.-P., Herbier National du Cameroun, B.P. 1601, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Cheek, M., Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AB, United Kingdom | Described and illustrated is Warneckea austro-occidentalis R. D. Stone, an endemic of tropical forests in Cameroon's South West Province and adjacent Nigeria. The name W. mangrovensis (Jacq.-Fél.) R. D. Stone is also proposed at species level for the taxon originally described as W. fascicularis var. mangrovensis Jacq.-Fél. An IUCN (2001) status of endangered is assigned for both W. austro-occidentalis and W. mangrovensis. © The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 2009. | Africa; Cameroon; Gabon; Melastomataceae; Nigeria; Warneckea | Melastomataceae; Warneckea | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-71949099485 | Indicator patches: Exploiting spatial heterogeneity to improve monitoring systems | Stokes C.J., Yeaton R.I., Bayer M.B., Bestelmeyer B.T. | 2009 | Rangeland Journal | 31 | 4 | 10.1071/RJ08021 | Department of Botany, Research Unit for Plant Growth and Development, University of Natal, P/Bag X01, Scotsville, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South Africa; BElsenberg Agricultural Development Institute, Department of Agricultural Development, Private Bag, Elsenberg 7607, South Africa; CUSDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, Box 30003 MSC3JER, Las Cruces, NM 88003, United States; CSIRO Davies Laboratory, PMB PO Aitkenvale, QLD 4814, Australia; Instituto de Investigación de Zonas Desérticas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Altair # 200, Fracc. Del Llano, San Luis Potosí 78377, Mexico; 29 Weltevrede St, Paarl 7646, South Africa | Stokes, C.J., Department of Botany, Research Unit for Plant Growth and Development, University of Natal, P/Bag X01, Scotsville, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South Africa, CSIRO Davies Laboratory, PMB PO Aitkenvale, QLD 4814, Australia; Yeaton, R.I., Department of Botany, Research Unit for Plant Growth and Development, University of Natal, P/Bag X01, Scotsville, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South Africa, Instituto de Investigación de Zonas Desérticas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Altair # 200, Fracc. Del Llano, San Luis Potosí 78377, Mexico; Bayer, M.B., BElsenberg Agricultural Development Institute, Department of Agricultural Development, Private Bag, Elsenberg 7607, South Africa, 29 Weltevrede St, Paarl 7646, South Africa; Bestelmeyer, B.T., CUSDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, Box 30003 MSC3JER, Las Cruces, NM 88003, United States | When choosing which environmental attributes to monitor in assessing disturbance, it is important to consider not only which metric will provide the most sensitive indicator of disturbance, but also the spatial considerations of where in the landscape that metric will be most responsive to change. Degradation in landscapes is often unevenly expressed because: (i) disturbance is spatially localised, (ii) landscape elements differ in their sensitivity to disturbance, and (iii) degradation following localised disturbance is spatially contagious. The spatial heterogeneity of degradation has proven to be a key obstacle to rangeland monitoring (e.g. where the initiating processes of broad-scale degradation are concentrated in landscape locations that are not detected by surveys) but can also provide opportunities to focus monitoring efforts. We propose that the effectiveness of monitoring could be enhanced by identifying and selectively monitoring 'indicator patches', i.e. specific landscape locations that provide the most management-relevant and timely information about the consequences of a monitored disturbance. We tested and demonstrated the utility of the 'indicator patch' concept in the rangelands of the Succulent Karoo in southern Africa. We contrasted the grazing response of dominant 'representative' vegetation, with responses of interspersed patches of distinct vegetation associated with zoogenic mounds. Since mound vegetation is more palatable and preferentially grazed by sheep, we tested whether mounds could serve as 'indicator patches' in providing a sensitive measure of grazing disturbance. Percentage canopy cover measurements in dominant off-mound vegetation provided a poor indicator of grazing disturbance (although more intensive plant size measurements did reveal grazing impacts on plant population dynamics). In contrast, vegetation on mounds displayed patterns of changes in species abundances that were easier to detect and useful for interpreting and quantifying the effects of grazing. Mound vegetation could, therefore, be used as 'indicator patches' and targeted for exclusive sampling as a sensitive method for monitoring rangeland condition and detecting early warnings of vegetation change. This approach could be widely employed to better harness the extensive knowledge base regarding the patchy, spatially localised nature of degradation-initiating processes in numerous other landscapes. Routinely incorporating this understanding into the design of monitoring programs could improve the effectiveness of sampling effort, allow detection of more subtle trends (changes), and provide earlier warning of impending degradation so remedial action can be taken before degradation becomes severe and widespread. © 2009 Australian Rangeland Society. | Karoo; Plant demographics; Rangeland | Harness; Ovis aries | None |
| None | None | Performance evaluation of an enhanced fruit solar dryer using concentrating panels | Stiling J., Li S., Stroeve P., Thompson J., Mjawa B., Kornbluth K., Barrett D.M. | 2012 | Energy for Sustainable Development | 16 | 2 | 10.1016/j.esd.2012.01.002 | University of California Davis, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, United States; University of California Davis, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, 1 Shields Avenue., Davis, CA 95616, United States; University of California Davis, Biological and Agricultural Engineering, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, United States; Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Cooperatives, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; University of California Davis, Program for International Energy Technologies, Davis 95616, United States; University of California Davis, Food Science and Technology, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, United States | Stiling, J., University of California Davis, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, United States; Li, S., University of California Davis, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, 1 Shields Avenue., Davis, CA 95616, United States; Stroeve, P., University of California Davis, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, 1 Shields Avenue., Davis, CA 95616, United States; Thompson, J., University of California Davis, Biological and Agricultural Engineering, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, United States; Mjawa, B., Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Cooperatives, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; Kornbluth, K., University of California Davis, Program for International Energy Technologies, Davis 95616, United States; Barrett, D.M., University of California Davis, Food Science and Technology, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, United States | Concentrating solar panels (CSP) improve the process of solar drying Roma tomatoes. This paper presents a performance comparison between two mixed-mode solar dryers. The dryers were identically constructed, however one of the dryers utilized mobile and easily adjustable flat concentrating solar panels to maximize incident solar energy on the dryer. Temperatures inside the dryer that utilized the concentrating solar panels were approx. 10. °C higher than those in the normal dryer during the majority of a sunny day testing period. This increase in temperature led to shorter Roma tomato drying times in the dryer with CSP. The concentrating solar panels showed a considerable increase in drying rate on sunny days, with a 27% decrease in total drying time as compared to the normal dryer to reach the target dimensionless moisture content of 0.2. A less significant increase in drying capacity was achieved when the dryer was tested in simulated cloudy conditions. The faster drying rate achieved in the dryer utilizing solar concentrators, under both sunny and simulated cloudy conditions, demonstrates the ability to dry produce to an acceptable moisture content in a reasonable time, with the objective of reducing postharvest loss and preventing spoilage. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. | Concentrators; Drying; Hazy; Humidity; Solar; Tomato | humidity; performance assessment; solar power; vegetable; Lycopersicon esculentum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-83155183871 | Evaluation of selected effects of pavement riding quality on logistics costs in South Africa | Steyn W., Bean W., King D., Komba J. | 2011 | Transportation Research Record | None | 2227 | 10.3141/2227-15 | University of Pretoria, Lynnwood Road, Hatfield, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Built Environment, P.O. Box 395, Pretoria 0001, South Africa | Steyn, W., University of Pretoria, Lynnwood Road, Hatfield, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Bean, W., Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Built Environment, P.O. Box 395, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; King, D., Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Built Environment, P.O. Box 395, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Komba, J., Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Built Environment, P.O. Box 395, Pretoria 0001, South Africa | The efficient operation of a country's economy depends, among other things, on an efficient logistical system to ensure that goods can be transported efficiently between producers and users. The costs of logistics include aspects such as transport, storage, inventory, and management. Of these, the transport costs are directly influenced by the condition of the transport infrastructure. The effects of road riding quality on the costs of logistics were evaluated through analysis of data on actual truck costs (specifically, vehicle damage and maintenance) obtained from a logistics service provider as well as data on road riding quality for the routes used by the company. Analysis of the data indicated that the vehicle operating costs increased with decreasing riding quality (as would be expected). Spending adequate resources on the maintenance of routes in a country decreased vehicle fleet operating costs and ultimately the logistics costs of the country. It is recommended that the study be broadened to incorporate a larger sample of vehicles and road conditions. | None | Analysis of data; Logistical systems; Logistics costs; Logistics service provider; Road condition; South Africa; Transport costs; Transport infrastructure; Vehicle damage; Vehicle fleets; Economics; Fleet operations; Logistics; Maintenance; Operating costs; Quality control; Riding qualities; Roads and streets; Transportation; Cost benefit analysis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-70249127155 | Factors that influence the forming of self-evaluation and self-efficacy perceptions | Steyn R., Mynhardt J. | 2008 | South African Journal of Psychology | 38 | 3 | None | Graduate School of Business Leadership, University of South Africa, PO Box 392, Unisa, 0003, South Africa; Department of Psychology, University of South Africa, South Africa | Steyn, R., Graduate School of Business Leadership, University of South Africa, PO Box 392, Unisa, 0003, South Africa; Mynhardt, J., Department of Psychology, University of South Africa, South Africa | Optimistic self-evaluation regarding the ability to carry out tasks is important for success in various fields of human endeavour. When people do such self-evaluations and form self-efficacy perceptions, they make use of information from various sources. According to theories relating to selfevaluation, people engaged in forming such perceptions about themselves largely depend on information gained through social comparison. However, theories of self-efficacy emphasise the importance of self-referenced information, such as those formed through mastery experiences. The purpose in this study is to examine the sources of information used in forming self-efficacy perceptions. In an experiment (N = 1 723) modelled on the Solomon Four-group Design, three types of information likely to influence perceptions were supplied to three experimental groups; there were five control groups. The effects of the interventions were measured by means of a questionnaire. Results indicated that perceptions of self-efficacy are more profoundly influenced by self-referenced information than by social comparisons. It was also found that additional information did not have a cumulative effect during the forming of self-efficacy perceptions. Finally, the implications of the results with respect to practical and theoretical viewpoints are discussed. © Psychological Society of South Africa. All rights reserved. | Authentic information; Mastery experience; Objective self-referenced information; Perceptions; Self-efficacy; Self-evaluation; Social comparison; Solomon Four-group Design; Subjective self-referenced information; Vicarious experience | None | 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-s2.0-44249121715 | 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-s2.0-78650388990 | 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-s2.0-84878959307 | Integrated value function construction with application to impact assessments | Stewart T.J., Janssen R. | 2013 | International Transactions in Operational Research | 20 | 4 | 10.1111/itor.12016 | Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM), Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV Amsterdam, Netherlands | Stewart, T.J., Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Janssen, R., Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM), Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV Amsterdam, Netherlands | In this article, an integrated structure is provided for processing various forms of imprecise preference information in the context of multicriteria impact assessments. Linear programing formulations generate best-fit value function models and associated ranking of alternatives, both when preferences are overdetermined (leading to potential inconsistencies) or when preference information is incomplete. In the latter context, the algorithm identifies a range of possible rank orders for the decision alternatives under consideration, consistent with the information provided. The approach is primarily aimed at structuring opinions of experts concerning the desirability of different actions in terms of technical aspects, intended as input into the final political decision-making process. It is demonstrated that the approach described here can be implemented with modest levels of effort by the experts. Experience is reported with the approach in the context of soil sanitation problem in the Netherlands, in which experts expressed satisfaction with the resulting rank ordering of alternatives. © 2013 International Federation of Operational Research Societies. | Environment; Multiple criteria decision analysis | Decision making process; Environment; Impact assessments; Integrated structure; Multiple criteria decision analysis; Preference information; Ranking of alternatives; Value function model; Operations research | National Research Foundation of South Africa |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-57349149113 | Performance of a novel human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 total nucleic acid-based real-time PCR assay using whole blood and dried blood spots for diagnosis of HIV in infants | Stevens W., Erasmus L., Moloi M., Taleng T., Sarang S. | 2008 | Journal of Clinical Microbiology | 46 | 12 | 10.1128/JCM.00754-08 | University of the Witwatersrand, National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa; 7 York Rd. Parktown, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa | Stevens, W., University of the Witwatersrand, National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa, 7 York Rd. Parktown, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa; Erasmus, L., University of the Witwatersrand, National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa; Moloi, M., University of the Witwatersrand, National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa; Taleng, T., University of the Witwatersrand, National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa; Sarang, S., University of the Witwatersrand, National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa | The new Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan HIV-1 Qual test offers advanced automation for the detection of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA and DNA in dried blood spots (DBS) and whole blood. An analytical evaluation using an HIV-1 secondary standard yielded limits of detection of 514, 710, and 1,090 HIV RNA copies/ml for EDTA plasma, whole blood, and DBS, respectively. The precision and reproducibility of HIV-1 detection was equivalent for DBS and whole blood. Inclusivity was demonstrated for a reference panel of HIV-1 subtypes A to N. A clinical evaluation of the Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan HIV-1 Qual test was performed at a center for routine diagnostics in Johannesburg, South Africa, using 1,013 clinical specimens from HIV-1 exposed children. The Amplicor HIV-1 DNA test v1.5 with the MagNApure DNA isolation procedure was used as the reference method. A total of 995 valid results for whole blood with both methods yielded 691 and 303 concordant negative and positive results for the Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan HIV-1 Qual test, respectively. For the 800 valid DBS specimen results, 495 and 300 concordant negative and positive results were obtained, respectively. The resulting clinical specificities and sensitivities of the new test were 100% and 99.7% for whole blood and DBS, respectively. The new test was characterized by its robustness, enhanced automation, and improved sample throughput. The Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan HIV-1 Qual test will support early, reliable diagnosis of HIV in children in routine laboratory settings. Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved. | None | article; blood; controlled study; DNA determination; DNA isolation; DNA virus; evaluation research; human; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; nucleic acid analysis; priority journal; real time polymerase chain reaction; South Africa; Blood; Child; Child, Preschool; Desiccation; DNA, Viral; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Infant; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; RNA, Viral; Sensitivity and Specificity; South Africa; Specimen Handling; Human immunodeficiency virus 1 | 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-s2.0-34247274198 | Evaluation of the performance of the automated NucliSENS easyMAG and EasyQ systems versus the Roche AmpliPrep-AMPLICOR combination for high-throughput monitoring of human immunodeficiency virus load | Stevens W., Horsfield P., Scott L.E. | 2007 | Journal of Clinical Microbiology | 45 | 4 | 10.1128/JCM.01540-06 | Department of Molecular Medicine and Hematology, University of the Witwatersrand, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa | Stevens, W., Department of Molecular Medicine and Hematology, University of the Witwatersrand, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa; Horsfield, P., Department of Molecular Medicine and Hematology, University of the Witwatersrand, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa; Scott, L.E., Department of Molecular Medicine and Hematology, University of the Witwatersrand, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa | This study presents the data of an evaluation of the automated Nuclisens easyMAG and EasyQ systems versus the Roche AmpliPrep-AMPLICOR combination for testing of high-volume human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) load. This represents a follow-up of a previous study investigating the performance of the real-time Nuclisens assay using the semiautomated NucliSENS miniMAG extraction procedure. Three hundred eighteen patient samples were analyzed using both methods. The easyMAG-EasyQ HIV type 1 system has a higher sensitivity and broader dynamic range than the Cobas AmpliPrep-AMPLICOR system when the standard Roche assay is used alone, 25 to 3,000,000 IU/ml versus 400 to 750,000 HIV RNA copies/ml, respectively. There was significant correlation between the assays (0.93; P < 0.0001), with good accuracy (percent similarity mean μ = 96%), good precision (percent similarity standard deviation = 4.97%), and overall good agreement with a low percent similarity coefficient of variation of 5.17 to 6.11%. Bland-Altman analysis revealed that the AMPLICOR assay generated higher values than the EasyQ combination, with 95% of results within clinically acceptable limits. The throughput of samples was greatly improved using the easyMAG-EasyQ system, allowing 144 samples to be processed within 6 h. The potential for contamination has been dramatically reduced using the automated extraction system. Additional negative controls have been added to the kit to monitor for contamination based on the South African experience. This assay thus presents a real option for monitoring HIV load assays in high-volume testing environments. Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved. | None | virus RNA; article; automation; controlled study; follow up; high throughput screening; human; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; major clinical study; nonhuman; patient monitoring; priority journal; South Africa; virus load; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Reproducibility of Results; RNA, Viral; Sensitivity and Specificity; Viral Load; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human immunodeficiency virus 1 | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79951679939 | Evaluation of the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation for estimating the glomerular filtration rate in multiple ethnicities | Stevens L.A., Claybon M.A., Schmid C.H., Chen J., Horio M., Imai E., Nelson R.G., Van Deventer M., Wang H.-Y., Zuo L., Zhang Y., Levey A.S. | 2011 | Kidney International | 79 | 5 | 10.1038/ki.2010.462 | Tufts Medical Center, Division of Nephrology, Box 391, 800 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111, United States; Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States; Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan; National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), Phoenix, AZ, United States; Department of Chemical Pathology, NHLS, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China | Stevens, L.A., Tufts Medical Center, Division of Nephrology, Box 391, 800 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111, United States; Claybon, M.A., Tufts Medical Center, Division of Nephrology, Box 391, 800 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111, United States; Schmid, C.H., Tufts Medical Center, Division of Nephrology, Box 391, 800 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111, United States; Chen, J., Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States; Horio, M., Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan; Imai, E., Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan; Nelson, R.G., National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), Phoenix, AZ, United States; Van Deventer, M., Department of Chemical Pathology, NHLS, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Wang, H.-Y., Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China; Zuo, L., Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China; Zhang, Y., Tufts Medical Center, Division of Nephrology, Box 391, 800 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111, United States; Levey, A.S., Tufts Medical Center, Division of Nephrology, Box 391, 800 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111, United States | An equation from the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) provides more accurate estimates of the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) than that from the modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) Study, although both include a two-level variable for race (Black and White and other). Since creatinine generation differs among ethnic groups, it is possible that a multilevel ethnic variable would allow more accurate estimates across all groups. To evaluate this, we developed an equation to calculate eGFR that includes a four-level race variable (Black, Asian, Native American and Hispanic, and White and other) using a database of 8254 patients pooled from 10 studies. This equation was then validated in 4014 patients using 17 additional studies from the United States and Europe (validation database), and in 1022 patients from China (675), Japan (248), and South Africa (99). Coefficients for the Black, Asian, and Native American and Hispanic groups resulted in 15, 5, and 1% higher levels of eGFR, respectively, compared with the White and other group. In the validation database, the two-level race equation had minimal bias in Black, Native American and Hispanic, and White and other cohorts. The four-level ethnicity equation significantly improved bias in Asians of the validation data set and in Chinese. Both equations had a large bias in Japanese and South African patients. Thus, heterogeneity in performance among the ethnic and geographic groups precludes use of the four-level race equation. The CKD-EPI two-level race equation can be used in the United States and Europe across a wide range of ethnicity. © 2011 International Society of Nephrology. | creatinine; ethnicity; glomerular filtration rate | adult; aged; article; China; chronic kidney disease; diet; ethnic group; ethnicity; Europe; female; glomerulus filtration rate; human; kidney disease; male; priority journal; race difference; South Africa; United States; validation process; Adult; Aged; Chronic Disease; Creatinine; Female; Glomerular Filtration Rate; Humans; Kidney Diseases; Male; Middle Aged | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-13844280917 | Evaluation of two commercially available, inexpensive alternative assays used for assessing viral load in a cohort of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 subtype C-infected patients from South Africa | Stevens G., Rekhviashvili N., Scott L.E., Gonin R., Stevens W. | 2005 | Journal of Clinical Microbiology | 43 | 2 | 10.1128/JCM.43.2.857-861.2005 | Dept. of Molec. Med. and Haematology, School of Pathology, Univ. of the Witwatersrand Med. Sch., Johannesburg, South Africa; Westat, Rockville, MD, United States; Dept. of Molec. Med. and Haematology, School of Pathology, Univ. of the Witwatersrand Med. Sch., Johannesburg 2193, South Africa | Stevens, G., Dept. of Molec. Med. and Haematology, School of Pathology, Univ. of the Witwatersrand Med. Sch., Johannesburg, South Africa, Dept. of Molec. Med. and Haematology, School of Pathology, Univ. of the Witwatersrand Med. Sch., Johannesburg 2193, South Africa; Rekhviashvili, N., Dept. of Molec. Med. and Haematology, School of Pathology, Univ. of the Witwatersrand Med. Sch., Johannesburg, South Africa; Scott, L.E., Dept. of Molec. Med. and Haematology, School of Pathology, Univ. of the Witwatersrand Med. Sch., Johannesburg, South Africa; Gonin, R., Westat, Rockville, MD, United States; Stevens, W., Dept. of Molec. Med. and Haematology, School of Pathology, Univ. of the Witwatersrand Med. Sch., Johannesburg, South Africa | Although human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA is the acknowledged "gold standard" marker for monitoring disease activity in patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), it remains unaffordable in resource-constrained settings. The present study investigated two commercially available kits for the detection of HIV-1 viral load markers as more affordable alternatives to HIV-1 RNA quantitation. The greatly improved heat-denatured, signal-boosted HiSens HW-1 p24 Ag Ultra kit (Perkin-Elmer) and the ExaVir Load Quantitative HIV-RT kit (Cavidi Tech AB) were compared with the Amplicor HIV-1 Monitor (version 1.5) assay (Roche Molecular Systems Inc.). A total of 117 samples containing HIV-1 subtype C were analyzed by all three methodologies. Eighty-nine of these samples represented serial measurements from 20 patients receiving HAART. The remaining samples analyzed were from a group of treatment-naïve patients. The association between the p24 antigen assay and the RNA assay was fairly strong (R2 = 0.686). The association between the reverse transcriptase (RT) quantitation assay and the RNA assay was strong (R2 = 0.810). Both alternative assays seemed most useful for the serial monitoring of patients receiving HAART (n = 89 plasma samples from 20 patients), as all assays showed a statistically significant downward trend over time, with the trend being either linear or curvilinear. In addition, all three assays showed negative correlations with the CD4 count (CD4 count versus RNA load, r = -0.336 and P = 0.001; CD4 count versus p24 antigen level, r = -0.541 and P < 0.0001; CD4 count versus RT level, r = -0.358 and P = 0.0006). Still of major concern are both the lack of sensitivity and the wide degrees of variability of both assays. However, both assays provide a less expensive alternative to the Roche viral load assay and demonstrate the same trends during treatment. | None | antigen p24; antivirus agent; RNA directed DNA polymerase; virus RNA; article; assay; cell count; controlled study; correlation analysis; cost effectiveness analysis; disease activity; disease marker; highly active antiretroviral therapy; human; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; intermethod comparison; major clinical study; priority journal; RNA analysis; sensitivity and specificity; statistical significance; virus load; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; HIV Core Protein p24; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; RNA, Viral; South Africa; Viral Load; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; RNA viruses | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79952625965 | Placebo-mediated, Naloxone-sensitive suggestibility of short-term memory performance | Stern J., Candia V., Porchet R.I., Krummenacher P., Folkers G., Schedlowski M., Ettlin D.A., Schönbächler G. | 2011 | Neurobiology of Learning and Memory | 95 | 3 | 10.1016/j.nlm.2011.01.005 | Collegium Helveticum, ETH and University of Zurich, Schmelzbergstr. 25, 8092 CH-Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EB, United Kingdom; Medical Psychology and Behavioral Immunobiology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45122 D-Essen, Germany; Center for Oral Medicine, Dental and Maxillo-Facial Surgery, University of Zurich, Plattenstrasse 11, 8032 CH-Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Psychology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa | Stern, J., Collegium Helveticum, ETH and University of Zurich, Schmelzbergstr. 25, 8092 CH-Zurich, Switzerland; Candia, V., Collegium Helveticum, ETH and University of Zurich, Schmelzbergstr. 25, 8092 CH-Zurich, Switzerland; Porchet, R.I., Collegium Helveticum, ETH and University of Zurich, Schmelzbergstr. 25, 8092 CH-Zurich, Switzerland, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EB, United Kingdom; Krummenacher, P., Collegium Helveticum, ETH and University of Zurich, Schmelzbergstr. 25, 8092 CH-Zurich, Switzerland; Folkers, G., Collegium Helveticum, ETH and University of Zurich, Schmelzbergstr. 25, 8092 CH-Zurich, Switzerland; Schedlowski, M., Medical Psychology and Behavioral Immunobiology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45122 D-Essen, Germany; Ettlin, D.A., Center for Oral Medicine, Dental and Maxillo-Facial Surgery, University of Zurich, Plattenstrasse 11, 8032 CH-Zurich, Switzerland; Schönbächler, G., Collegium Helveticum, ETH and University of Zurich, Schmelzbergstr. 25, 8092 CH-Zurich, Switzerland, Department of Psychology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa | Physiological studies of placebo-mediated suggestion have been recently performed beyond their traditional clinical context of pain and analgesia. Various neurotransmitter systems and immunological modulators have been used in successful placebo suggestions, including Dopamine, Cholecystokinin and, most extensively, opioids. We adhered to an established conceptual framework of placebo research and used the μ-opioid-antagonist Naloxone to test the applicability of this framework within a cognitive domain (e.g. memory) in healthy volunteers. Healthy men (n= 62, age 29, SD = 9) were required to perform a task-battery, including standardized and custom-designed memory tasks, to test short-term recall and delayed recognition. Tasks were performed twice, before and after intravenous injection of either NaCl (0.9%) or Naloxone (both 0.15. mg/kg), in a double-blind setting. While one group was given neutral information (S-), the other was told that it might receive a drug with suspected memory-boosting properties (S+). Objective and subjective indexes of memory performance and salivary cortisol (as a stress marker) were recorded during both runs and differences between groups were assessed. Short-term memory recall, but not delayed recognition, was objectively increased after placebo-mediated suggestion in the NaCl-group. Naloxone specifically blocked the suggestion effect without interfering with memory performance. These results were not affected when changes in salivary cortisol levels were considered. No reaction time changes, recorded to uncover unspecific attentional impairment, were seen. Placebo-mediated suggestion produced a training-independent, objective and Naloxone-sensitive increase in memory performance. These results indicate an opioid-mediated placebo effect within a circumscribed cognitive domain in healthy volunteers. © 2011 Elsevier Inc. | Naloxone; Opioids; Placebo; Short-term recall; Suggestion; Working memory | hydrocortisone; naloxone; opiate; sodium chloride; adult; article; cognition; controlled study; drug sensitivity; human; human experiment; male; mental performance; normal human; placebo effect; reaction time; saliva level; short term memory; suggestion; Adult; Analysis of Variance; Double-Blind Method; Drug Interactions; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Male; Memory; Memory, Short-Term; Mental Recall; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Placebo Effect; Reaction Time; Recognition (Psychology); Reference Values; Saliva; Statistics, Nonparametric; Suggestion | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84911991008 | Gender differences in South African men and women's access to and evaluation of informal sources of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information | Stern E., Cooper D., Gibbs A. | 2015 | Sex Education | 15 | 1 | 10.1080/14681811.2014.947363 | Women'Health Research Unit, School of Public Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; HEARD (Health Economics and HIV/AIDS Research Division), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa | Stern, E., Women'Health Research Unit, School of Public Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Cooper, D., Women'Health Research Unit, School of Public Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Gibbs, A., HEARD (Health Economics and HIV/AIDS Research Division), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa | While much research has documented unsatisfactory sexual and reproductive health (SRH) awareness among young people in South Africa, understanding of gender differences in access to and evaluation of SRH information is limited. This paper concerned itself with men and women's informal sources and content of SRH, and gendered divergences around accessibility, evaluation, and impact of such information. Fifty sexual history narrative interviews and twenty-five narrative interviews with women were conducted with participants purposively sampled from a range of ages, cultural and racial backgrounds, and in urban and rural sites across five provinces in South Africa. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. While young women were more likely to learn about SRH information from family members, they also reported greater regulation concerning their sexuality. This could enhance stigma surrounding women's sexuality and hinder open communication. Men predominantly learned about sex through pornography and peers, which was reported to encourage sexual prowess to the neglect of practising safer sex. Lack of adequate SRH instruction for young people as revealed through the narratives had significant and often negative implications for men and women's early safer sex behaviours. In response to these insights, recommendations are offered to strengthen informal sources of SRH awareness. © 2014, © 2014 Taylor & Francis. | gender; informal sources; sexual and reproductive health; South Africa; young people | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84882628101 | Five Years After; the Impact of a Participatory Technology Development Programme as Perceived by Smallholder Farmers in Benin and Ghana | Sterk B., Kobina A.C., Gogan A.C., Sakyi-Dawson O., Kossou D. | 2013 | Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension | 19 | 4 | 10.1080/1389224X.2013.782819 | Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, Netherlands; Department of Agricultural Extension, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana; Gulf Expertises Society, Consultancy Office, Porto-Novo, Benin; Department of Agricultural Extension, University of Ghana, CoS Programme Coordinator Ghana, Legon, Ghana; Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques, Université de Abomey Calavi, CoS Programme Coordinator Benin, Cotonou, Benin | Sterk, B., Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, Netherlands; Kobina, A.C., Department of Agricultural Extension, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana; Gogan, A.C., Gulf Expertises Society, Consultancy Office, Porto-Novo, Benin; Sakyi-Dawson, O., Department of Agricultural Extension, University of Ghana, CoS Programme Coordinator Ghana, Legon, Ghana; Kossou, D., Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques, Université de Abomey Calavi, CoS Programme Coordinator Benin, Cotonou, Benin | Purpose: The article reports effects on livelihoods of a participatory technology development effort in Benin and Ghana (2001-2006), five years after it ended.Design: The study uses data from all smallholders who participated in seven experimental groups, each facilitated by a PhD researcher. Baseline data and controls were not available. In their dissertations the researchers had each made claims about the impact of their work on the livelihoods of those involved. These claims guided the study in each group, and referred to both impacts based on the superiority of the technology developed, and increased knowledge or capacity that participants claimed to have gained. Two local social scientists interviewed 187 farmers.Findings: The study found considerable evidence of continued beneficial use of technologies developed with farmers. The most important reason for no longer using a technology or institutional innovation was that smallholders had not been able to sustain the conditions for use. Lasting non-technological effects included more mutual understanding among community members, emancipation vis-à-vis researchers and colleagues, and an experimental attitude and research skills. Such effects were recorded for nearly all groups.Practical implications: Smallholders face small windows of opportunity. Technologies and institutional changes that depend on artificially created conditions are likely to be discontinued once those conditions are withdrawn (for example, access to Neem seeds or agreements about land use between landlords and tenants). The findings draw attention to the conditions that enable smallholders to innovate.Originality/value: The study represents a rare attempt to study impact five years later and compares seven independent cases. © 2013 Wageningen University. | Conditions for technology use; CoS programme; IAR4D; Innovation; Integrated crop management; West Africa | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84942060717 | Evaluating the impact of type 2 diabetes mellitus on cardiovascular risk in persons with metabolic syndrome using the UKPDS risk engine | Stephen Ogedengbe O., Ezeani I.U., Chukwuonye I.I., Ndukaife Anyabolu E., Ozor I.I., Eregie A. | 2015 | Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy | 8 | None | 10.2147/DMSO.S69199 | Department of internal Medicine, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin; Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of internal Medicine, Federal Medical Center, Umuahia, Nigeria; Division of Nephrology, Department of internal Me | Stephen Ogedengbe, O., Department of internal Medicine, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin; Ezeani, I.U., Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of internal Medicine, Federal Medical Center, Umuahia, Nigeria; Chukwuonye, I.I., Division of Nephrology, Department of internal Medicine, Federal Medical Center, Umuahia, Nigeria; Ndukaife Anyabolu, E., Division of Nephrology, Department of internal Medicine, Imo State University Teaching Hospital, Orlu, Nigeria, Division of Nephrology, Department of internal Medicine, Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Nigeria; Ozor, I.I., Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria; Eregie, A., Department of internal Medicine, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin | Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of coexistence of metabolic syndrome (MS) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on the estimated cardiovascular risk as calculated using the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetic Study risk engine (UKPDS-RE) and also to determine the impact of the coexistence of MS and T2DM on the 10-year risk of developing coronary heart disease and stroke. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study in which convenience sampling technique was used to recruit 124 consecutive persons with T2DM and 96 controls using a questionnaire administered technique. The World Health Organization (WHO) criterion was used to define MS and the UKPDS-RE was used to identify persons with increased risk for stroke and those with increased risk for coronary heart disease. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS version 16. Statistical comparisons were made with chi-square for comparison of proportions. A P-value of less than 0.05 was taken as statistically significant. Results: Fifteen subjects were identified as having an increased 10-year risk for stroke and ten as having an increased risk for a coronary event. The odds of a T2DM subject with MS having an increased risk for stroke compared with a T2DM subject without MS was 0.9579=1 while the odds of a T2DM subject with MS developing an increased risk for a coronary event compared with a T2DM subject without MS was =3.451≈3. Conclusion: MS was more common in subjects with T2DM compared with controls (irrespective of the diagnostic criteria used) and MS appears to increase the risk of a coronary event in subjects with T2DM by threefold. Also from this study, MS did not appear to cause an additional increase in the risk of stroke in subjects with T2DM. © 2015 Ogedengbe et al. | Cardiovascular disease; Coronary heart disease; Diabetes mellitus; Metabolic syndrome; UKPDS risk engine | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84949524892 | Empirical investigation of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) performance in hospital buildings in Nigeria | Stephen Nimlyat P., Zin Kandar M., Sediadi E. | 2015 | Jurnal Teknologi | 77 | 14 | 10.11113/jt.v77.6445 | Department of Architecture, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia UTM, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia; Department of Architecture, University of Jos, Nigeria | Stephen Nimlyat, P., Department of Architecture, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia UTM, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia, Department of Architecture, University of Jos, Nigeria; Zin Kandar, M., Department of Architecture, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia UTM, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia; Sediadi, E., Department of Architecture, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia UTM, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia | This study investigates and summarises the results of physical measurement of the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in hospital building wards in Plateau State, Nigeria comparing two hospital settings. The results indicate that the mean indoor air temperature in the case study hospital ward buildings exceeded the range of 23-26 °C as recommended by international standards. The temperature levels in the teaching hospital ward buildings were relatively lower than what was obtained in the specialist hospital whose ward buildings lack proper ventilation. The amount of daylight requirement on an average were below 300Lux in the specialist hospital whose façade orientation and window-wall-ratio (WWR) could not allow for maximum sunlight penetration, while it was above 300Lux in the teaching hospital. However, the sound intensity level in both hospital ward buildings ranged between 52.7dBA and 71.3dBA. This study therefore recommend that, hospital building design or retrofitting should employed common strategies towards increasing ventilation and daylight with minimal energy consumption. © 2015 Penerbit UTM Press. All rights reserved. | Environmental quality; Hospital buildings; Indoor; Measurement; Parameters | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-27144502745 | Evaluation of antiretroviral therapy (ART)-related counselling in a workplace-based ART implementation programme, South Africa | Stenson A.L., Charalambous S., Dwadwa T., Pemba L., Du Toit J.D., Baggaley R., Grant A.D., Churchyard G.J. | 2005 | AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV | 17 | 8 | 10.1080/09540120500100940 | London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Aurum Health Research, Johannesburg, South Africa; Anglogold Health Services, South Africa; Christian Aid, London, United Kingdom; Clinical Research Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom | Stenson, A.L., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Charalambous, S., Aurum Health Research, Johannesburg, South Africa; Dwadwa, T., Aurum Health Research, Johannesburg, South Africa; Pemba, L., Aurum Health Research, Johannesburg, South Africa; Du Toit, J.D., Anglogold Health Services, South Africa; Baggaley, R., Christian Aid, London, United Kingdom; Grant, A.D., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom, Clinical Research Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Churchyard, G.J., Aurum Health Research, Johannesburg, South Africa | Counselling about antiretroviral therapy (ART) is thought important to prepare patients for treatment and enhance adherence. A workplace-based HIV care programme in South Africa instituted a three-step ART counselling protocol with guidelines prompting issues to be covered at each step. We carried out an early evaluation of ART counselling to determine whether patients understood key information about ART, and the perceptions that patients and health care professionals (HCP) had of the process. Among 40 patients (median time on ART 83 days), over 90% answered 6/7 HIV/ART knowledge-related questions correctly. 95% thought counselling sessions were good. 93% thought ongoing counselling was important. Recommendations included the need for continuing education about HIV/ART, being respectful, promoting HIV testing and addressing the issues of infected partners and stigma. 24 participating HCP identified additional training needs including counselling of family and friends, family planning, sexually transmitted infections and running support groups. 90% of HCP thought that counselling guidelines were helpful. The programme appears to be preparing patients well for ART. Counselling should be offered at every clinic visit. Counselling guidelines were a valuable tool and may be useful elsewhere. The evaluation helped to assess the quality of the programme and to suggest areas for improvement. © 2005 Taylor & Francis. | None | antiretrovirus agent; adult; article; clinical article; continuing education; controlled study; family; family planning; friend; health care personnel; health care quality; health personnel attitude; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; male; patient compliance; patient counseling; patient education; practice guideline; priority journal; sexually transmitted disease; South Africa; support group; workplace; Adult; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Attitude of Health Personnel; Counseling; Female; Guidelines; HIV Infections; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Patient Education; Program Evaluation; Questionnaires; South Africa; Workplace | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-44949123435 | The impact of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on psychological distress and forgiveness in South Africa | Stein D.J., Seedat S., Kaminer D., Moomal H., Herman A., Sonnega J., Williams D.R. | 2008 | Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | 43 | 6 | 10.1007/s00127-008-0350-0 | University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa; University of Witwatersrand, Witwatersrand, South Africa; MEDUNSA, Pretoria, South Africa; University of Michigan, Flint, MI, United States; Harward University, Cambridge, MA, United States | Stein, D.J., University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Seedat, S., University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Kaminer, D., University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Moomal, H., University of Witwatersrand, Witwatersrand, South Africa; Herman, A., MEDUNSA, Pretoria, South Africa; Sonnega, J., University of Michigan, Flint, MI, United States; Williams, D.R., Harward University, Cambridge, MA, United States | Background: Legislation to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was passed soon after election of South Africa's first democratic government. Discourse around the TRC focused on the importance of bearing witness to the past, and on the healing powers of forgiveness. However, there was also a concern that individuals with TRC relevant experience would simply be re-traumatized by participation in the process. To date, there has been little empirical data for either hypothesis. Methods: A nationally representative survey of the South African population (n = 4,351) was undertaken 6-8 years after the TRC process began. Information about subjects' exposure to and participation in the TRC was collected, and views about the testimony of survivors and perpetrators were assessed. To determine the predictors of distress, anger, and forgiveness, linear regressions were undertaken with inclusion of demographic variables, exposure to TRC variables, and attitudes to the TRC. Results: Distress was significantly associated with specific demographic factors (female gender, less education), with having a TRC-related experience to share, and with negative perceptions of the TRC (a negative view of survivors' testimony). Anger had similar associations but was also predicted by lower age. Forgiveness was associated with age and education, with being Coloured, and with having a positive view of perpetrator's testimony, while it was inversely associated with having a TRC experience to share. Distress and anger correlated inversely with forgiveness. Perceptions of the TRC were moderately positive irrespective of many demographic variables (race, education, age). Conclusion: In this cross-sectional study, causal relationships are difficult to ascertain. Nevertheless, relationships between increased distress/anger, having a TRC relevant experience to share, and negative perceptions of the TRC, support a view that bearing testimony is not necessarily helpful to survivors. However, in the population as a whole, moderately positive attitudes towards the TRC across sociodemographic variables support a view that the TRC helped provide knowledge and acknowledgment of the past. © Springer-Verlag 2008. | Distress; Forgiveness; South Africa; Truth and reconciliation commission | adult; age; aged; anger; article; attitude; correlation analysis; disease association; distress syndrome; educational status; ethnicity; female; forgiveness; health survey; human; interview; linear regression analysis; major clinical study; male; mental stress; Negro; offender; personal experience; population research; prediction; race; risk factor; sex difference; South Africa; survivor; victim; witness; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Anger; Attitude; Crime Victims; Cross-Sectional Studies; Educational Status; Ethnic Groups; Female; Human Rights; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Sex Distribution; Social Problems; Socioeconomic Factors; South Africa; Stress, Psychological; Survivors; Violence | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-67649195407 | Impact of gastrointestinal symptoms on response to pregabalin in generalized anxiety disorder: Results of a six-study combined analysis | Stein D.J., Bruce Lydiard R., Herman B.K., Mandel F.S. | 2009 | International Clinical Psychopharmacology | 24 | 3 | 10.1097/YIC.0b013e3283249c7b | University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC, United States; Pfizer Global Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer Inc., Mailstop 235/9/39, 235 East 42nd Street, NY 10017, United States | Stein, D.J., University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Bruce Lydiard, R., Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC, United States; Herman, B.K., Pfizer Global Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer Inc., Mailstop 235/9/39, 235 East 42nd Street, NY 10017, United States; Mandel, F.S., Pfizer Global Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer Inc., Mailstop 235/9/39, 235 East 42nd Street, NY 10017, United States | The objective of the study was to evaluate the response of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) patients with prominent gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms to pregabalin (PGB) treatment. Data were pooled from six double-blind, placebo (PBO)-controlled, 4-6 week trials in outpatients who met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition criteria for GAD with a minimum Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) total score of 20. Treatment response was evaluated for three PGB fixed-dosage groups: 150, 300-450, and 600mg/day, and for fixed doses of a benzodiazepine (alprazolam, 1.5mg/day; lorazepam, 6mg/day). A GI-high subgroup (high GI symptomatology) was defined by a baseline HAM-A item-11 (GI) score of 3 or greater (severe/very severe). At baseline, 301 patients (16.2%) met criteria for the GI-high subgroup. Baseline characteristics were approximately similar for the four study treatments in the GI-high subgroup. For the GI-high subgroup, last observation carried forward (LOCF) endpoint reduction in HAM-A was significantly higher on PGB-300/450 -13.8±1.2 and PGB-600 -14.7±1.0 compared with PBO -10.1±0.9 (P<0.01 for both comparisons); but the difference on PGB-150 did not achieve significance (-13.5±1.6; P=0.083). Also in the GI-high subgroup, endpoint reduction in HAM-A item-11 was significantly higher on PGB-300/450 compared with PBO (-1.93±0.16 vs. -1.52±0.13; P=0.04), but did not achieve significance on PGB-600mg (-1.89±0.14; P=0.06), or PGB-150mg (-1.90±0.23; P=0.16). In the GI-high subgroup, treatment with a benzodiazepine was not associated with significant endpoint reduction in either the HAM-A total score or the HAM-A item-11 score. Patients in the GI-high subgroup had higher discontinuation rates when treated with benzodiazepines, whereas treatment with PGB 300-600mg/day was not associated with treatment-emergent worsening in GI symptoms compared with placebo. Treatment with PGB improved overall levels of anxiety, as well as specifically improving GI symptoms. © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. | Gastrointestinal symptoms; Generalized anxiety disorder; Pregabalin | alprazolam; lorazepam; placebo; pregabalin; venlafaxine; 4 aminobutyric acid; analgesic agent; drug derivative; pregabalin; abdominal fullness; adult; article; clinical evaluation; clinical trial; constipation; controlled clinical trial; controlled study; diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders; diarrhea; disease severity; double blind procedure; drug dosage form comparison; drug dose titration; drug effect; drug tolerability; dyspepsia; dysphagia; female; gastrointestinal symptom; generalized anxiety disorder; Hamilton Anxiety Scale; human; major clinical study; male; nausea; outpatient; phase 2 clinical trial; phase 3 clinical trial; priority journal; randomized controlled trial; treatment response; vomiting; agoraphobia; bioassay; gastrointestinal disease; middle aged; psychological aspect; psychological rating scale; statistical analysis; Adult; Agoraphobia; Analgesics; Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Double-Blind Method; Endpoint Determination; Female; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84876729282 | Evaluation of in vitro antioxidant effect of new mono and diselenides | Stefanello S.T., Prestes A.S., Ogunmoyole T., Salman S.M., Schwab R.S., Brender C.R., Dornelles L., Rocha J.B.T., Soares F.A.A. | 2013 | Toxicology in Vitro | 27 | 5 | 10.1016/j.tiv.2013.03.001 | Departmento de Química, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, CEP 97105-900, Brazil; Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, FUTA Road, Off Ilesha Road, PMB 704 Akure, Ondo State, Nig | Stefanello, S.T., Departmento de Química, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, CEP 97105-900, Brazil; Prestes, A.S., Departmento de Química, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, CEP 97105-900, Brazil; Ogunmoyole, T., Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, FUTA Road, Off Ilesha Road, PMB 704 Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria; Salman, S.M., Department of Chemistry, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; Schwab, R.S., Departmento de Química, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, CEP 97105-900, Brazil; Brender, C.R., Departmento de Química, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, CEP 97105-900, Brazil; Dornelles, L., Departmento de Química, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, CEP 97105-900, Brazil; Rocha, J.B.T., Departmento de Química, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, CEP 97105-900, Brazil; Soares, F.A.A., Departmento de Química, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, CEP 97105-900, Brazil | This study was designed to examine the antioxidant activity in vitro of novel mono- and diselenide compounds. We compared whether the formation of p-methyl-selenol from compounds 1-phenyl-3-(p-tolylselanyl)propan-2-amine (C1) and 1,2-dip-tolyldiselenide (C4) and o-methoxy-selenol from compounds 1-(2-methoxyphenylselanyl)-3-phenylpropan-2-amine (C2) and 1,2-bis(2-methoxyphenyl)diselenide (C3) may be involved in their antioxidant effects. The compounds were tested against Fe(II) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced lipid peroxidation in rat brain and liver homogenates. Likewise, the antioxidant capacity of the compounds was assessed by their ability to decolorize the DPPH radical as well as the Fe(II) chelating assay through the reduction of molybdenum(VI) (Mo6+) to molybdenum(V) (Mo5+). This colorimetric assay was also used to quantify thiol peroxidase (GPx) and oxidase activity and thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) activity. The results showed that the novel selenide compounds inhibit the thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) induced by different pro-oxidants, but the monoselenides effects were significant only at concentrations higher than the concentrations of the diselenides. Similarly, the total antioxidant activity was higher in the diselenides. Moreover, GPx and TrxR activity was only observed for the diselenides, which indicates that these compounds are more stable selenol molecules than monoselenides. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. | Glutathione peroxidase; Lipid peroxidation; Organoselenium compounds; Selenol; Thioredoxin reductase | 1 (2 methoxyphenylselanyl) 3 phenylpropan 2 amine; 1 phenyl 3 (4 tolylselanyl)propan 2 amine; 1,2 bis (2 methoxyphenyl)diselenide; 1,2 bis 4 tolyldiselenide; antioxidant; nitroprusside sodium; oxidoreductase; peroxidase; thiobarbituric acid reactive substance; thiol peroxidase; thioredoxin reductase; unclassified drug; animal cell; animal experiment; animal tissue; antioxidant activity; article; brain homogenate; chelation; colorimetry; controlled study; drug effect; enzyme activity; in vitro study; lipid peroxidation; liver homogenate; male; nonhuman; rat; Animals; Antioxidants; Brain; Glutathione Peroxidase; Lipid Peroxidation; Liver; Male; NADP; Organoselenium Compounds; Oxidation-Reduction; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; Thioredoxin Reductase 1; Rattus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84947277205 | The impact of Ready-to-Use Supplementary Food (RUSF) in targeted supplementation of children with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) in South Africa | Steenkamp L., Lategan R., Raubenheimer J. | 2015 | South African Family Practice | 57 | 5 | 10.1080/20786190.2015.1078153 | HIV and AIDS Research Unit, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa; Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Department of Biostatistics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa | Steenkamp, L., HIV and AIDS Research Unit, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa; Lategan, R., Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Raubenheimer, J., Department of Biostatistics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa | Objective: To describe catch-up growth in children with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) on targeted supplementation using Ready-to-Use Supplementary Food (RUSF). Methods: An impact study was done to determine anthropometric changes in children aged 12–60 months who received RUSF (175 kcal/kg/day) for six weeks, managed as outpatients and followed up for 12 weeks until a final assessment. Results: Default rates were high, with 30% of children returning to the primary healthcare facility for follow-up only once or twice. Despite significant improvement in height-for-age Z-score (HAZ), weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ), weight-for-height Z-score (WHZ) and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), 70.5% of the sample remained in the same malnutrition classification and only 26% recovered. The growth velocity of children with a lower initial WHZ was significantly higher (r = –0.15, p < 0.05) than those with less wasting, but only 20% grew at a rate to achieve catch-up growth. The mean growth velocity decreased as the intervention period continued. Conclusion: All median anthropometric indicators improved with RUSF supplementation. However, catch-up growth or recovery occurred in only 20–25% of children included in the study. These findings create questions about the value of supplementation in the absence of blanket food distribution or other interventions to address food security. © 2015 The Author(s). | Children; Growth velocity; Moderate acute malnutrition (MAM); Ready-to-Use Supplementary Food (RUSF); Supplementation | adult; anthropometry; arm circumference; Article; canned food; catch up growth; comparative study; diet supplementation; dietary intake; female; follow up; food security; growth rate; health program; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; male; malnutrition; moderate acute malnutrition; muscle atrophy; physical development; scoring system; South Africa; tuberculosis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879164702 | Global forest research, science education and community service positively impacted by a unique Centre of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology | Steenkamp E.T., Wingfield M.J. | 2013 | Southern Forests | 75 | 2 | 10.2989/20702620.2013.800757 | Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa | Steenkamp, E.T., Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa; Wingfield, M.J., Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa | Despite their importance in ecosystems and biodiversity, very little is known about the health of trees in the native environments of South Africa. The vision and primary goal of the Centre of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology (CTHB) is therefore to promote the health of native trees by making use of biotechnology. In this paper, we use the CTHB as an example to explore the positive impacts of the Department of Science and Technology's Centre of Excellence programme on the science system of South Africa and, furthermore, to consider the programme's overall contribution to the strategic priorities set out in the South African Government's Medium Term Strategic Framework that guides the national mandate. We also discuss briefly how the outputs of the CTHB are put into practice in the form of tangible services provided to stakeholders from all sectors ranging from academia, the forestry industry and the general public through to government. Finally, we consider the various factors that have contributed to the success of the CTHB and conclude with a reflection on the far-reaching effects that a relatively small investment by the Department of Science and Technology has had on research and development in South Africa. This is not only in terms of human capacity development, but also overall research excellence. For the CTHB specifically, this initiative also has facilitated a deep appreciation of the factors threatening the health of native trees. Such knowledge provides a crucial foundation towards our understanding of the challenges associated with trees in native woody ecosystems and those propagated commercially, which have emerged and will continue to emerge as a result of trade, transport and tourism, as well as climate change. © 2013 Copyright NISC (Pty) Ltd. | long-term funding; multidisciplinary research; pests and pathogens; postgraduate education; tree health | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84919463088 | The influence of livelihood dependency, local ecological knowledge and market proximity on the ecological impacts of harvesting non-timber forest products | Steele M.Z., Shackleton C.M., Uma Shaanker R., Ganeshaiah K.N., Radloff S. | 2015 | Forest Policy and Economics | 50 | None | 10.1016/j.forpol.2014.07.011 | Dept. of Environmental Science, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa; Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, Bangalore, India; Department of Crop Physiology, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK Campus, Bangalore, India; Dept. of Statistics, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa | Steele, M.Z., Dept. of Environmental Science, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa; Shackleton, C.M., Dept. of Environmental Science, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa; Uma Shaanker, R., Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, Bangalore, India, Department of Crop Physiology, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK Campus, Bangalore, India; Ganeshaiah, K.N., Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, Bangalore, India, Department of Crop Physiology, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK Campus, Bangalore, India; Radloff, S., Dept. of Statistics, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa | It is well established that non-timber forest products make significant contributions to rural incomes throughout most of the developing world. NTFP use frequently raises concerns about the sustainability of, or ecological impacts associated with, NTFP harvesting, as well as local contextual factors which may limit or reduce the impacts. Here we test the conceptual model first advanced by Uma Shaanker et al. (2004) relating to the factors that may limit or exacerbate the ecological impacts associated with NTFP harvesting. These were the extent of local dependence on NTFPs, the degree of marketing and the level of local ecological knowledge. Data were collected via household questionnaires and ecological surveys of woody plants from eight villages throughout South Africa. We found no significant relationships between measures of ecological impact with local ecological knowledge or market proximity and engagement. There was a strong positive relationship between ecological impacts and NTFP dependency as indexed through mean annual direct-use value for NTFPs. This indicates that the higher the dependency and demand for NTFPs, the greater is the possibility of high impacts to the local environment. However, other contextual drivers not included in the original Uma Shaanker et al. (2004) model may also play a role, particularly the strength of local resource governance institutions. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. | Communal; Direct-use value; Governance; Management; Open access; South Africa | Commerce; Developing countries; Forestry; Harvesting; Management; Surveys; Sustainable development; Timber; Communal; Direct-use value; Governance; Open Access; South Africa; Ecology; Forest Management; Forests; Incomes | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-30344451058 | Evaluation of maximal exercise performance, fatigue, and depression in athletes with acquired chronic training intolerance | St. Clair Gibson A., Grobler L.A., Collins M., Lambert M.I., Sharwood K., Derman E.W., Noakes T.D. | 2006 | Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine | 16 | 1 | 10.1097/01.jsm.0000188044.06545.e5 | UCT/MRC Research Unit of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; MRC/UCT Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Sport Science Institute of South Africa, P.O. Box 115, Newlands 7725, South Africa | St. Clair Gibson, A., UCT/MRC Research Unit of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, MRC/UCT Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Sport Science Institute of South Africa, P.O. Box 115, Newlands 7725, South Africa; Grobler, L.A., UCT/MRC Research Unit of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Collins, M., UCT/MRC Research Unit of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Lambert, M.I., UCT/MRC Research Unit of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Sharwood, K., UCT/MRC Research Unit of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Derman, E.W., UCT/MRC Research Unit of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Noakes, T.D., UCT/MRC Research Unit of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Objective: This study compared differences in maximal strength and aerobic capacity and symptoms of fatigue and depression in athletes with acquired training intolerance (ATI) and control athletes (CON) matched for age and current training volume who did not have symptoms of excessive or chronic fatigue associated with their sporting activity. Setting: University of Cape Town, Sports Science Institute of South Africa. Participants: Twenty ATI and 10 CON athletes participated in the trial. Although the ATI athletes reported symptoms of excessive fatigue during exercise, or symptoms of fatigue that occurred at rest and during activities of daily living, they did not fulfill the criteria for a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome. Main Outcome Measures: A training and comprehensive medical history was recorded from all subjects. The Beck Depression Inventory Short Form (BDI-SF) was used to assess levels of depression in both ATI and control subjects. Maximal force output during a 5-second isometric voluntary knee extensor muscle contraction, and maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max), maximal heart rate (HRmax), and maximal blood lactate concentrations during a treadmill running test were measured in all subjects. Results: There were no differences in maximal isometric force output, peak treadmill running speed, VO2max, HRmax, or blood lactate concentration at rest or after maximal exercise testing between the ATI and CON athletes. However, the BDI-SF scores were higher in the ATI (7.7 ± 6.6 arbitrary units) than in the CON athletes (1.7 ± 1.5 arbitrary units; (P = 0.0052). Conclusions: These findings suggest that the symptoms of excessive fatigue and acquired training intolerance described by these ATI athletes do not affect their maximal isometric and maximal aerobic capacity, and may be associated with psychologic depression in these athletes. Copyright © 2006 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. | Aerobic; Depression; Exercise performance; Isometric | adult; aerobic capacity; anamnesis; article; athlete; Beck Depression Inventory; chronic fatigue syndrome; controlled study; daily life activity; depression; exercise intensity; exercise test; extensor muscle; female; heart rate; human; knee function; lactate blood level; male; muscle force; muscle isometric contraction; muscle strength; priority journal; rest; South Africa; sport; symptomatology; training; treadmill exercise; velocity; voluntary movement; Adult; Chronic Disease; Depression; Exercise Tolerance; Fatigue; Female; Humans; Male; Muscle Weakness; Oxygen Consumption; Sports | 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-s2.0-84870823290 | Evaluation of the impact of the plastic biosand filter on health and drinking water quality in rural tamale, Ghana | Stauber C.E., Kominek B., Liang K.R., Osman M.K., Sobsey M.D. | 2012 | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health | 9 | 11 | 10.3390/ijerph9113806 | Institute of Public Health, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 3995, Atlanta, GA 30302, United States; Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Campus Box 7431, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7431, United States; Cowater International Inc., NORST, P.O. Box 1476, Tamale, Ghana | Stauber, C.E., Institute of Public Health, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 3995, Atlanta, GA 30302, United States; Kominek, B., Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Campus Box 7431, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7431, United States; Liang, K.R., Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Campus Box 7431, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7431, United States; Osman, M.K., Cowater International Inc., NORST, P.O. Box 1476, Tamale, Ghana; Sobsey, M.D., Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Campus Box 7431, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7431, United States | A randomized controlled trial of the plastic BioSand filter (BSF) was performed in rural communities in Tamale (Ghana) to assess reductions in diarrheal disease and improvements in household drinking water quality. Few studies of household water filters have been performed in this region, where high drinking water turbidity can be a challenge for other household water treatment technologies. During the study, the longitudinal prevalence ratio for diarrhea comparing households that received the plastic BSF to households that did not receive it was 0.40 (95% confidence interval: 0.05, 0.80), suggesting an overall diarrheal disease reduction of 60%. The plastic BSF achieved a geometric mean reduction of 97% and 67% for E. coli and turbidity, respectively. These results suggest the plastic BSF significantly improved drinking water quality and reduced diarrheal disease during the short trial in rural Tamale, Ghana. The results are similar to other trials of household drinking water treatment technologies. © 2012 by the authors. licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. | Diarrheal disease; E. coli; Water filtration; Water quality; Water treatment | drinking water; surface water; coliform bacterium; diarrheal disease; drinking water; filter; filtration; turbidity; water quality; water treatment; article; bacterial count; child; controlled study; cross-sectional study; diarrhea; disease surveillance; Escherichia coli; female; filter; Ghana; health status; household; human; longitudinal study; major clinical study; male; plastic biosand filter; preschool child; prevalence; randomized controlled trial; rural population; turbidity; water analysis; water quality; water treatment; Child, Preschool; Colony Count, Microbial; Diarrhea; Drinking Water; Escherichia coli; Female; Filtration; Geographic Information Systems; Ghana; Humans; Male; Plastics; Rural Population; Water Quality; Ghana; Northern Region [Ghana]; Tamale | 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-s2.0-84879271313 | Evolutionary relationships in Gorteria: A re-evaluation | Stångberg F., Ellis A.G., Anderberg A.A. | 2013 | Taxon | 62 | 3 | None | Department of Botany, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Department of Phanerogamic Botany, Swedish Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 50007, 104 05 Stockholm, Sweden | Stångberg, F., Department of Botany, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden; Ellis, A.G., Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Anderberg, A.A., Department of Phanerogamic Botany, Swedish Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 50007, 104 05 Stockholm, Sweden | A molecular phylogeny of the mainly South African genus Gorteria is presented for the first time, based on Bayesian inference and parsimony analyses using DNA sequences from plastid trnL-F and from nuclear ETS and ITS regions. It is shown that the genus is strongly paraphyletic in relation to one subgroup of Hirpicium, a finding that changes the prevailing generic concept and circumscription of Gorteria and Hirpicium. Furthermore, Gorteria diffusa and G. personata both seem to be polyphyletic assemblages, comprised of some more or less well diagnosed monophyletic groups with different distributions. | Asteraceae; Gorteria; Hirpicium; Molecular phylogenetics; South Africa | herb; molecular analysis; new genus; phylogenetics; phylogeny; plastid; taxonomy; South Africa; Asteraceae; Gorteria; Gorteria diffusa; Gorteria personata; Hirpicium | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929298875 | Evaluation of the Utility of Serum Prolidase as a Marker for Liver Fibrosis | Stanfliet J.C., Locketz M., Berman P., Pillay T.S. | 2015 | Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis | 29 | 3 | 10.1002/jcla.21752 | Division of Chemical Pathology, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Cape Town and National Health Laboratory Service, Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Anatomical Pathology, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Cape Town and National Health Laboratory Service, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria and National Health Laboratory Service, Tshwane Academic Division, Pretoria, South Africa | Stanfliet, J.C., Division of Chemical Pathology, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Cape Town and National Health Laboratory Service, Cape Town, South Africa; Locketz, M., Division of Anatomical Pathology, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Cape Town and National Health Laboratory Service, Cape Town, South Africa; Berman, P., Division of Chemical Pathology, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Cape Town and National Health Laboratory Service, Cape Town, South Africa; Pillay, T.S., Division of Chemical Pathology, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Cape Town and National Health Laboratory Service, Cape Town, South Africa, Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria and National Health Laboratory Service, Tshwane Academic Division, Pretoria, South Africa | Liver dysfunction is common and often unrecognized. Liver biopsy is the gold standard in the assessment of liver fibrosis, but has disadvantages. We assessed the diagnostic accuracy of serum prolidase enzyme activity (SPA) in predicting the presence and degree of liver fibrosis, as compared with liver biopsy. Further, we evaluated the effect of hemolysis on measured SPA levels. Methods: We undertook a prospective case control study. Thirty eight outpatients without apparent liver illness and 20 patients with liver pathology scheduled to undergo liver biopsy had their SPA levels measured. Results: Patients undergoing liver biopsy had higher SPA levels (361 (268) IU/l [median (interquartile range)]) compared with controls (169 (160) (P < 0.001)). A SPA cutoff value of 200 IU/l yielded a sensitivity of 89%, specificity of 59%, an odds ratio of 11.5, negative predictive value of 92%, and a positive predictive value of 50%. Hemolysis causes an apparent increase in SPA levels. Conclusion: Higher SPA levels in patients undergoing liver biopsies compared with controls may reflect the presence of liver fibrosis. SPA levels could not be used to stage the degree of fibrosis. SPA measurement may be useful in the diagnostic workup of suspected liver disease. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. | Diagnostic accuracy; Liver pathology; Prolidase; Receiver-operator curve; Screening | biological marker; proline dipeptidase; dipeptidase; proline dipeptidase; adult; Article; case control study; clinical article; comparative study; controlled study; diagnostic accuracy; diagnostic test accuracy study; diagnostic value; enzyme activity; enzyme blood level; female; hemolysis; hepatitis B; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; human tissue; liver biopsy; liver fibrosis; male; predictive value; prospective study; sensitivity and specificity; syphilis; biopsy; blood; liver; liver cirrhosis; pathology; physiology; receiver operating characteristic; retrospective study; Biopsy; Dipeptidases; Female; Hemolysis; Humans; Liver; Liver Cirrhosis; Male; Prospective Studies; Retrospective Studies; ROC Curve | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77649198073 | Performance of circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) urine-dipsticks for rapid detection of intestinal schistosomiasis in schoolchildren from shoreline communities of Lake Victoria | Standley C.J., Lwambo N.J.S., Lange C.N., Kariuki H.C., Adriko M., Stothard J.R. | 2010 | Parasites and Vectors | 3 | 1 | 10.1186/1756-3305-3-7 | Biomedical Parasitology Division, Department of Zoology, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom; Institute of Genetics, School of Biology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom; National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania; Invertebrate Zoology Section, Nairobi National Museum, P.O. Box 40658, Nairobi, Kenya; Division of Vector Borne Diseases, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya; Vector Control Division, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda | Standley, C.J., Biomedical Parasitology Division, Department of Zoology, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom, Institute of Genetics, School of Biology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom; Lwambo, N.J.S., National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania; Lange, C.N., Invertebrate Zoology Section, Nairobi National Museum, P.O. Box 40658, Nairobi, Kenya; Kariuki, H.C., Division of Vector Borne Diseases, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya; Adriko, M., Vector Control Division, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda; Stothard, J.R., Biomedical Parasitology Division, Department of Zoology, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom | For disease surveillance and mapping within large-scale control programmes, RDTs are becoming popular. For intestinal schistosomiasis, a commercially available urine-dipstick which detects schistosome circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) in host urine is being increasingly applied, however, further validation is needed. In this study, we compared the CCA urine-dipstick test against double thick Kato-Katz faecal smears from 171 schoolchildren examined along the Tanzanian and Kenyan shorelines of Lake Victoria. Diagnostic methods were in broad agreement; the mean prevalence of intestinal schistosomiasis inferred by Kato-Katz examination was 68.6% (95% confidence intervals (CIs) = 60.7-75.7%) and 71.3% (95% CIs = 63.9-78.8%) by CCA urine-dipsticks. There were, however, difficulties in precisely 'calling' the CCA test result, particularly in discrimination of 'trace' reactions as either putative infection positive or putative infection negative, which has important bearing upon estimation of mean infection prevalence; considering 'trace' as infection positive mean prevalence was 94.2% (95% CIs = 89.5-97.2%). A positive association between increasing intensity of the CCA urine-dipstick test band and faecal egg count was observed. Assigning trace reactions as putative infection negative, overall diagnostic sensitivity (SS) of the CCA urine-dipstick was 87.7% (95% CIs = 80.6-93.0%), specificity (SP) was 68.1% (95% CIs = 54.3-80.0%), positive predictive value (PPV) was 86.1% (95% CIs = 78.8-91.7%) and negative predictive value (NPV) was 71.1% (95% CIs = 57.2-82.8%). To assist in objective defining of the CCA urine-dipstick result, we propose the use of a simple colour chart and conclude that the CCA urine-dipstick is a satisfactory alternative, or supplement, to Kato-Katz examination for rapid detection of intestinal schistosomiasis. © 2010 Standley et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | parasite antigen; schistosome circulating cathodic antigen; unclassified drug; article; child; controlled study; feces analysis; human; intermethod comparison; Kenya; lake; prevalence; schistosomiasis; school child; sensitivity and specificity; Tanzania; urinalysis; Schistosoma | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34347238178 | Practice report: Assessing the economic impacts of roads passing through ecologically sensitive areas: A case study in Cape Town, South Africa | Standish B., van Zyl H.W. | 2007 | Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal | 25 | 2 | 10.3152/146155107X206967 | Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town, Private Bay, Rondebosch 7700, South Africa; Independent Economic Researchers, PO Box 1015, Green Point 8051, South Africa | Standish, B., Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town, Private Bay, Rondebosch 7700, South Africa; van Zyl, H.W., Independent Economic Researchers, PO Box 1015, Green Point 8051, South Africa | A recent environmental impact assessment of a proposed new toll road in Cape Town, South Africa raised some interesting questions, particularly with respect to the impacts of routing a road through an environmentally sensitive area. The paper discusses the challenges encountered in assessing the economic implications of this routing and how workable methodological solutions were arrived at. Our approach was to investigate the longer-term opportunity costs associated with the preferred routing. This was done through focusing on the strategic importance of the area without necessarily engaging in detailed quantification. © IAIA 2007. | Economic impact assessment; Environmental economics; Environmental valuation; Impact of roads; Strategic prioritisation | ecological impact; environmental economics; environmental impact assessment; Environmentally Sensitive Area; road construction; routing; sensitivity analysis; strategic approach; Africa; Cape Town; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Western Cape | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80053992537 | Normal and abnormal carbene complexes derived from thiazole: Preparation and a preliminary investigation of their relative catalytic performance | Stander-Grobler E., Schuster O., Strasser C.E., Albrecht M., Cronje S., Raubenheimer H.G. | 2011 | Polyhedron | 30 | 17 | 10.1016/j.poly.2011.07.028 | Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602 Stellenbosch, South Africa; Department of Chemistry, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 9, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland; Institut für Anorganische und Analytische Chemie, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, D-60348 Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Stander-Grobler, E., Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602 Stellenbosch, South Africa; Schuster, O., Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602 Stellenbosch, South Africa, Department of Chemistry, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 9, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland; Strasser, C.E., Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602 Stellenbosch, South Africa; Albrecht, M., Department of Chemistry, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 9, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland; Cronje, S., Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602 Stellenbosch, South Africa, Institut für Anorganische und Analytische Chemie, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, D-60348 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Raubenheimer, H.G., Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602 Stellenbosch, South Africa | Readily prepared 2-, 4- and 5-bromo-3-methyl thiazolium triflates react by oxidative substitution with M(PPh3)4 (M = Ni or Pd) to furnish five of the expected normal and abnormal cationic thiazolylidene complexes (1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, and 3b). Carbene complex formation is accompanied by a ca. 40 ppm downfield shift of the α-N carbene carbons in Pd complexes 1 and 2 in their 13C NMR spectra but the chemical shift of C(carbene) in the abnormal 3b (δ 135.7) is particularly low. Crystal and molecular structures of complexes 1a, 2b, and 3b all indicate a square planar arrangement of the ligands around the central metal atoms. The new complexes catalyse Suzuki-Miyaura aryl coupling. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Azolylidene; Carbene complex; Five-membered heterocycle; Group 10; NHC; Nickel; Palladium; Remote azolylidene | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78649263223 | Pyridine-derived N-heterocyclic carbenes: An experimental and theoretical evaluation of the bonding in and reactivity of selected normal and abnormal complexes of nickel(II) and palladium(II) | Stander-Grobler E., Schuster O., Heydenrych G., Cronje S., Tosh E., Albrecht M., Frenking G., Raubenheimer H.G. | 2010 | Organometallics | 29 | 22 | 10.1021/om100431u | Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Fachbereich Chemie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Strasse, D-35043 Marburg, Germany; Inorganic Chemistry Department, Technische Universität München, Lichtenbergstrasse 4, D-85747 Garching, Germany; Department of Chemistry, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 9, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland | Stander-Grobler, E., Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Schuster, O., Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, Stellenbosch, South Africa, Department of Chemistry, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 9, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland; Heydenrych, G., Fachbereich Chemie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Strasse, D-35043 Marburg, Germany; Cronje, S., Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Tosh, E., Inorganic Chemistry Department, Technische Universität München, Lichtenbergstrasse 4, D-85747 Garching, Germany; Albrecht, M., Department of Chemistry, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 9, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland; Frenking, G., Fachbereich Chemie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Strasse, D-35043 Marburg, Germany; Raubenheimer, H.G., Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, Stellenbosch, South Africa | We report a thorough investigation of a series of isomeric complexes with the general formula trans-(pyridylidene)M(PPh3)2Cl (M = Pd, Ni). For the first time, a systematic comparison of normal, abnormal, and remote bonding modes is presented. X-ray structural and 13C NMR data indicate the importance of carbenoid mesomeric contributions in their compound class. The catalytic performance of the palladium complexes trans-(pyridylidene) Pd(PPh3)2Cl as precursors in Suzuki-Miyaura-type cross-coupling suggests a correlation of remote bonding with catalyst robustness and effectivity. When metal precursors M(PPh3)4 are reacted with 2,4-dichloropyridinium salts, preferential formation of remote carbene complexes occurs and indications are that electronic parameters rather than steric influences are responsible for the observed selectivity. Calculations at the BP86/TZ2P level of theory support interpretation of the results. © 2010 American Chemical Society. | None | Bonding modes; Carbene complexes; Carbenoids; Catalytic performance; Cross-couplings; Electronic parameters; Isomeric complex; Metal precursor; N-heterocyclic carbenes; NMR data; Palladium complexes; Steric influence; Suzuki-Miyaura; Theoretical evaluation; Carbon inorganic compounds; Nickel compounds; Organic compounds; Palladium; Palladium compounds | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-17644391738 | Instantaneous angular speed monitoring of gearboxes under non-cyclic stationary load conditions | Stander C.J., Heyns P.S. | 2005 | Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing | 19 | 4 | 10.1016/j.ymssp.2004.10.006 | Dynamic Systems Group, Dept. of Mech. and Aero. Engineering, Univ. of Pretoria, Engineering Tower, Pretoria, South Africa | Stander, C.J., Dynamic Systems Group, Dept. of Mech. and Aero. Engineering, Univ. of Pretoria, Engineering Tower, Pretoria, South Africa; Heyns, P.S., Dynamic Systems Group, Dept. of Mech. and Aero. Engineering, Univ. of Pretoria, Engineering Tower, Pretoria, South Africa | Recent developments in the condition monitoring and asset management market have led to the commercialisation of online vibration-monitoring systems. These systems are primarily utilised to monitor large mineral mining equipment such as draglines, continuous miners and hydraulic shovels. Online monitoring systems make diagnostic information continuously available for asset management, production outsourcing and maintenance alliances with equipment manufacturers. However, most online vibration-monitoring systems are based on conventional vibration-monitoring technologies, which are prone to giving false equipment deterioration warnings on gears that operate under fluctuating load conditions. A simplified mathematical model of a gear system was developed to illustrate the feasibility of monitoring the instantaneous angular speed (IAS) as a means of monitoring the condition of gears that are subjected to fluctuating load conditions. A distinction is made between cyclic stationary load modulation and non-cyclic stationary load modulation. It is shown that rotation domain averaging will suppress the modulation caused by non-cyclic stationary load conditions but will not suppress the modulation caused by cyclic stationary load conditions. An experimental investigation on a test rig indicated that the IAS of a gear shaft could be monitored with a conventional shaft encoder to indicate a deteriorating gear fault condition. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | None | Condition monitoring; Deterioration; Hydraulic tools; Loads (forces); Mathematical models; Natural frequencies; Online systems; Shovels; Speed; Vibration measurement; Asset management; Gearboxes; Hydraulic shovels; Instantaneous angular speed (IAS); Non-cyclic stationary load conditions; Structural response; Gears | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84921889220 | Sulphur trioxide decomposition with supported platinum/palladium on rutile catalyst: 2. Performance of a laboratory fixed bed reactor | Stander B.F., Everson R.C., Neomagus H.W.J.P., Van Der Merwe A.F., Tietz M.R. | 2015 | International Journal of Hydrogen Energy | 40 | 6 | 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2014.12.087 | Chemical Resources Beneficiation Research Group, School of Chemical and Minerals Engineering, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa | Stander, B.F., Chemical Resources Beneficiation Research Group, School of Chemical and Minerals Engineering, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Everson, R.C., Chemical Resources Beneficiation Research Group, School of Chemical and Minerals Engineering, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Neomagus, H.W.J.P., Chemical Resources Beneficiation Research Group, School of Chemical and Minerals Engineering, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Van Der Merwe, A.F., Chemical Resources Beneficiation Research Group, School of Chemical and Minerals Engineering, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Tietz, M.R., Chemical Resources Beneficiation Research Group, School of Chemical and Minerals Engineering, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa | The construction, operation and experimental evaluation of a laboratory scale fixed bed reactor for the decomposition of sulphur trioxide with a supported platinum and palladium based catalyst, were undertaken. The heating was accomplished with an electrical furnace and the objective was to operate at steady state with an acceptable conversion of sulphur trioxide involving an endothermic reaction. The catalyst consisted of 0.5 wt.% platinum and 0.5 wt.% palladium on rutile and the effect of the inlet temperature and weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) was investigated. It was found that the reactor attained a steady state of operation for experiments conducted over a temperature range of 903 K and 1103 K with a sintered pelletized catalyst at a high temperature prior to reduction and reaction. Sulphur trioxide conversions equivalent to 60%, within 80% of the equilibrium value, were obtained at 1103 K over a range of weight hourly space velocities (2.6-865 h-1) involving a low gas velocity (Rep = 16) with a range of fixed bed configurations (2.5 mm diameter with 5-400 mm bed lengths). © 2014 Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. | Fixed bed reactor performance; Platinum-palladium catalyst; Sulphur trioxide decomposition | Catalysts; Enzyme immobilization; Oxide minerals; Platinum; Sintering; Sulfur; Endothermic reactions; Equilibrium value; Experimental evaluation; Fixed bed reactor; Inlet temperature; Palladium catalyst; Platinum and palladiums; Weight hourly space velocity; Chemical reactors | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84871669146 | In Vitro Evaluation of ESE-15-ol, an Estradiol Analogue with Nanomolar Antimitotic and Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitory Activity | Stander B.A., Joubert F., Tu C., Sippel K.H., McKenna R., Joubert A.M. | 2012 | PLoS ONE | 7 | 12 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0052205 | Department of Physiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa; Department of Biochemistry, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Unit, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States; Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States | Stander, B.A., Department of Physiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa; Joubert, F., Department of Biochemistry, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Unit, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa; Tu, C., Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Sippel, K.H., Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States; McKenna, R., Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Joubert, A.M., Department of Physiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa | Antimitotic compounds are still one of the most widely used chemotherapeutic anticancer drugs in the clinic today. Given their effectiveness against cancer it is beneficial to continue enhancing these drugs. One way is to improve the bioavailability and efficacy by synthesizing derivatives that reversibly bind to carbonic anhydrase II (CAII) in red blood cells followed by a slow release into the blood circulation system. In the present study we describe the in vitro biological activity of a reduced derivative of 2-ethyl-3-O-sulphamoyl-estradiol (2EE), 2-ethyl-3-O-sulphamoyl-estra-1,3,5(10),15-tetraen-17-ol (ESE-15-ol). ESE-15-ol is capable of inhibiting carbonic anhydrase activity in the nanomolar range and is selective towards a mimic of carbonic anhydrase IX when compared to the CAII isoform. Docking studies using Autodock Vina suggest that the dehydration of the D-ring plays a role towards the selectivity of ESE-15-ol to CAIX and that the binding mode of ESE-15-ol is substantially different when compared to 2EE. ESE-15-ol is able to reduce cell growth to 50% after 48 h at 50-75 nM in MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and MCF-12A cells. The compound is the least potent against the non-tumorigenic MCF-12A cells. In vitro mechanistic studies demonstrate that the newly synthesized compound induces mitochondrial membrane depolarization, abrogates the phosphorylation status of Bcl-2 and affects gene expression of genes associated with cell death and mitosis. © 2012 Stander et al. | None | 2 ethyl 3 o sulphamoyl estra 1,3,5(10),15 tetraen 17 ol; antineoplastic agent; carbonate dehydratase; carbonate dehydratase II; carbonate dehydratase IX; protein bcl 2; unclassified drug; antineoplastic activity; antiproliferative activity; apoptosis; article; binding affinity; cancer inhibition; controlled study; drug structure; enzyme activity; enzyme inhibition; enzyme mechanism; gene expression; genetic association; in vitro study; inhibition kinetics; membrane depolarization; mitochondrial membrane potential; molecular docking; molecular model; protein phosphorylation; tumor cell destruction; Antimitotic Agents; Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors; Carbonic Anhydrases; Cell Cycle; Cell Proliferation; Estradiol; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; MCF-7 Cells; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; Molecular Docking Simulation; Neoplasm Metastasis; Phosphorylation; Protein Conformation; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Serine; Sulfonamides; Tubulin | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79651470475 | Docking, Synthesis, and in vitro Evaluation of Antimitotic Estrone Analogs | Stander A., Joubert F., Joubert A. | 2011 | Chemical Biology and Drug Design | 77 | 3 | 10.1111/j.1747-0285.2010.01064.x | Department of Physiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Biochemistry, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Unit, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Stander, A., Department of Physiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Joubert, F., Department of Biochemistry, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Unit, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Joubert, A., Department of Physiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | In the present study, Autodock 4.0 was employed to discover potential carbonic anhydrase IX inhibitors that are able to interfere with microtubule dynamics by binding to the Colchicine binding site of tubulin. Modifications at position 2' of estrone were made to include moieties that are known to improve the antimitotic activity of estradiol analogs. 2-ethyl-3-O-sulphamoyl-estra-1,3,5(10),15-tetraen-3-ol-17-one estronem (C9) and 2-ethyl-3-O-sulphamoyl-estra-1,3,5(10)16-tetraene (C12) were synthesized and tested in vitro. Growth studies were conducted utilizing spectrophotometrical analysis with crystal violet as DNA stain. Compounds C9 and C12 were cytotoxic in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 tumorigenic and metastatic breast cancer cells, SNO non-keratinizing squamous epithelium cancer cells and HeLa cells after 48 h exposure. Compounds C9 inhibited cell proliferation to 50% of the vehicle-treated controls from 110 to 160nm and C12 at concentrations ranging from 180 to 220nm. Confocal microscopy revealed abnormal spindle morphology in mitotic cells. Cell cycle analysis showed an increase in the number of cells in the G 2/M fraction after 24h and an increase in the number of cell in the sub-G 1 fraction after 48h, indicating that the compounds are antimitotic and able to induce apoptosis. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S. | Biological screening; Mechanism-based drug design; Virtual screening | 2 ethyl 3 o sulphamoy lestra 1,3,5(10), 15 tetraen 3 ol 17 one estronem; 2 ethyl 3 o sulphamoyl estra 1,3,5(10) 16 tetraene; 3,4 methylenedioxyamphetamine; antimitotic agent; carbonate dehydratase inhibitor; colchicine; crystal violet; tubulin; unclassified drug; apoptosis; article; breast cancer; cancer cell culture; cancer inhibition; cell count; cell cycle G1 phase; cell cycle G2 phase; cell cycle M phase; cell fractionation; cell strain MCF 7; concentration (parameters); confocal microscopy; controlled study; cytotoxicity; drug binding site; drug screening; drug synthesis; HeLa cell; human; human cell; in vitro study; microtubule assembly; mitosis inhibition; mitosis rate; molecular docking; priority journal; spectrophotometry; squamous cell carcinoma; Antigens, Neoplasm; Antimitotic Agents; Binding Sites; Breast Neoplasms; Carbonic Anhydrase II; Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors; Carbonic Anhydrases; Cell Division; Cell Line, Tumor; Colchicine; Computer Simulation; Drug Design; Estrone; Female; G2 Phase; Humans; Software; Tubulin | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33644867347 | Ruling out pregnancy among family planning clients: The impact of a checklist in three countries | Stanback J., Diabate F., Dieng T., de Morales T.D., Cummings S., Traoré M. | 2005 | Studies in Family Planning | 36 | 4 | 10.1111/j.1728-4465.2005.00073.x | Family Health International, Post Office Box 13950, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, United States; AWARE Project, Accra, Ghana; Centre de Formation et de Recherche en Sante de la Reproduction, 22340 Dakar, Senegal; Asociacion Pro-Bienestar del la Familia de Guatemala, 9a. Calle 0-57, Guatemala City, Guatemala; Institut National de Recherche en Santé Publique, Bamako, Mali | Stanback, J., Family Health International, Post Office Box 13950, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, United States; Diabate, F., AWARE Project, Accra, Ghana; Dieng, T., Centre de Formation et de Recherche en Sante de la Reproduction, 22340 Dakar, Senegal; de Morales, T.D., Asociacion Pro-Bienestar del la Familia de Guatemala, 9a. Calle 0-57, Guatemala City, Guatemala; Cummings, S., Family Health International, Post Office Box 13950, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, United States; Traoré, M., Institut National de Recherche en Santé Publique, Bamako, Mali | Women in many countries are often denied vital family planning services if they are not menstruating when they present at clinics, for fear that they might be pregnant. A simple checklist based on criteria approved by the World Health Organization has been developed to help providers rule out pregnancy among such clients, but its use is not yet widespread. Researchers in Guatemala, Mali, and Senegal conducted operations research to determine whether a simple, replicable introduction of this checklist improved access to contraceptive services by reducing the proportion of clients denied services. From 2001 to 2003, sociodemographic and service data were collected from 4,823 women from 16 clinics in three countries. In each clinic, data were collected prior to introduction of the checklist and again three to six weeks after the intervention. Among new family planning clients, denial of the desired method due to menstrual status decreased significantly from 16 percent to 2 percent in Guatemala and from 11 percent to 6 percent in Senegal. Multivariate analyses and bivariate analyses of changes within subgroups of nonmenstruating clients confirmed and reinforced these statistically significant findings. In Mali, denial rates were essentially unchanged, but they were low from the start. Where denial of services to nonmenstruating family planning clients was a problem, introduction of the pregnancy checklist significantly reduced denial rates. This simple, inexpensive job aid improves women's access to essential family planning services. © 2005 The Population Council, Inc. | None | adult; anamnesis; article; clinical trial; contraception; family planning; female; health care delivery; human; menstruation; methodology; multicenter study; patient abandonment; prediction and forecasting; world health organization; Adult; Contraception; Family Planning Services; Female; Health Services Accessibility; Humans; Medical History Taking; Menstruation; Predictive Value of Tests; Refusal to Treat; World Health Organization; Access; Family Planning; Guatemala; Mali; Pregnancy; Senegal; contraceptive use; family planning; multivariate analysis; pregnancy; Africa; Central America; Guatemala [Central America]; Mali; Senegal; Sub-Saharan Africa; West Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879465625 | Morphological and physiological changes during reproduction and their relationships to reproductive performance in a capital breeder | Stahlschmidt Z.R., Lourdais O., Lorioux S., Butler M.W., Davis J.R., Salin K., Voituron Y., Denardo D.F. | 2013 | Physiological and Biochemical Zoology | 86 | 4 | 10.1086/670918 | School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States; Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Villiers-en-Bois 79360, France; Biology Department, Rhodes College, Memphis, TN 38112, United States; Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne 69100, France; Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States; Biology Department, Lafayette College, Easton, PA 18042, United States; School of Letters and Sciences, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004, United States; Succulent Karoo Research Station, Springbok 8240, South Africa | Stahlschmidt, Z.R., School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; Lourdais, O., Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Villiers-en-Bois 79360, France; Lorioux, S., Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Villiers-en-Bois 79360, France, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States; Butler, M.W., School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States, Biology Department, Lafayette College, Easton, PA 18042, United States; Davis, J.R., Biology Department, Rhodes College, Memphis, TN 38112, United States, School of Letters and Sciences, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004, United States; Salin, K., Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne 69100, France, Succulent Karoo Research Station, Springbok 8240, South Africa; Voituron, Y., Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne 69100, France; Denardo, D.F., School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States | Current reproductive effort typically comes at a cost to future reproductive value by altering somatic function (e.g., growth or self-maintenance). Furthermore, effects of reproduction of ten depend on both fecundity and stage of reproduction, wherein allocation of resources into additional offspring and/ or stages of reproduction results in increased costs. Despite these widely accepted generalities, interindividual variation in the effects of reproduction is common-yet the proximate basis that allows some individuals to mitigate these detrimental effects is unclear. We serially measured several variables of morphology (e.g., musculature) and physiology (e.g., antioxidant defenses) in female Children's pythons (Antaresia childreni) throughout reproduction to examine how these traits change over the course of reproduction and whether certain physiological traits are associated with reduced effects of reproduction in some individuals. Reproduction in this capital breeder was associated with changes in both morphology and physiology, but only morphological changes varied with fecundity and among specific reproductive stages. During reproduction, we detected negative relationships between morphology and selfmaintenance (e.g., increased muscle allocation to reproduction was related to reduced immune function). Additionally, females that allocated resources more heavily into current reproduction also did so during future reproduction, and these females assimilated resources more efficiently, experienced reduced detriments to self-maintenance (e.g., lower levels of oxidative damage and glucocorticoids) during reproduction, and produced clutches with greater hatching success. Our results suggest that interindividual variation in specific aspects of physiology (assimilation efficiency and oxidative status) may drive variation in reproductive performance. © 2013 by The University of Chicago. All rights reserved. | None | immune system; morphology; performance assessment; physiology; reproduction; reproductive effort; reproductive success; animal; animal food; article; Boidae; female; fertility; histology; innate immunity; oxidative stress; physiology; reproduction; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Boidae; Female; Fertility; Immunity, Innate; Oxidative Stress; Reproduction; Antaresia childreni; Pythonidae | IOS-0543979, National Science Foundation |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-47349101022 | Monitoring antimalarial safety and tolerability in clinical trials: A case study from Uganda | Staedke S.G., Jagannathan P., Yeka A., Bukirwa H., Banek K., Maiteki-Sebuguzi C., Clark T.D., Nzarubara B., Njama-Meya D., Mpimbaza A., Rosenthal P.J., Kamya M.R., Wabwire-Mangen F., Dorsey G., Talisuna A.O. | 2008 | Malaria Journal | 7 | None | 10.1186/1475-2875-7-107 | London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; C/o MU-UCSF Research Collaboration, Mulago Hospital Complex, P.O. Box 7475, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States; Uganda Malaria Surveillance Project, Kampala, Uganda; Makerere University Medical School, Kampala, Uganda; Makerere University, School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda; Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda | Staedke, S.G., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom, C/o MU-UCSF Research Collaboration, Mulago Hospital Complex, P.O. Box 7475, Kampala, Uganda; Jagannathan, P., Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States; Yeka, A., Uganda Malaria Surveillance Project, Kampala, Uganda; Bukirwa, H., Uganda Malaria Surveillance Project, Kampala, Uganda; Banek, K., Uganda Malaria Surveillance Project, Kampala, Uganda; Maiteki-Sebuguzi, C., Makerere University Medical School, Kampala, Uganda; Clark, T.D., Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States; Nzarubara, B., Makerere University Medical School, Kampala, Uganda; Njama-Meya, D., Makerere University Medical School, Kampala, Uganda; Mpimbaza, A., Makerere University Medical School, Kampala, Uganda; Rosenthal, P.J., Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States; Kamya, M.R., Makerere University Medical School, Kampala, Uganda; Wabwire-Mangen, F., Makerere University, School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda; Dorsey, G., C/o MU-UCSF Research Collaboration, Mulago Hospital Complex, P.O. Box 7475, Kampala, Uganda; Talisuna, A.O., Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda | Background. New antimalarial regimens, including artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), have been adopted widely as first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria. Although these drugs appear to be safe and well-tolerated, experience with their use in Africa is limited and continued assessment of safety is a priority. However, no standardized guidelines for evaluating drug safety and tolerability in malaria studies exist. A system for monitoring adverse events in antimalarial trials conducted in Uganda was developed. Here the reporting system is described, and difficulties faced in analysing and interpreting the safety results are illustrated, using data from the trials. Case description. Between 2002 and 2007, eleven randomized, controlled clinical trials were conducted to compare the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of different antimalarial regimens for treatment of uncomplicated malaria in Uganda. The approach to adverse event monitoring was similar in all studies. A total of 5,614 treatments were evaluated in 4,876 patients. Differences in baseline characteristics and patterns of adverse event reporting were noted between the sites, which limited the ability to pool and analyse data. Clinical failure following antimalarial treatment confounded associations between treatment and adverse events that were also common symptoms of malaria, particularly in areas of lower transmission intensity. Discussion and evaluation. Despite prospectively evaluating for adverse events, limitations in the monitoring system were identified. New standardized guidelines for monitoring safety and tolerability in antimalarial trials are needed, which should address how to detect events of greatest importance, including serious events, those with a causal relationship to the treatment, those which impact on adherence, and events not previously reported. Conclusion. Although the World Health Organization has supported the development of pharmacovigilance systems in African countries deploying ACTs, additional guidance on adverse events monitoring in antimalarial clinical trials is needed, similar to the standardized recommendations available for assessment of drug efficacy. © 2008 Staedke et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | amodiaquine plus artesunate; amodiaquine plus fansidar; artemether plus benflumetol; artemisinin derivative; chloroquine plus fansidar; dihydroartemisinin plus piperaquine; antimalarial agent; artemisinin; anemia; article; case study; clinical trial; convulsion; disease transmission; drug efficacy; drug monitoring; drug safety; drug surveillance program; drug tolerability; drug treatment failure; follow up; human; laboratory test; malaria; mental disease; neurotoxicity; neutropenia; practice guideline; prospective study; respiratory tract disease; systematic review; thrombocytopenia; time series analysis; treatment failure; Uganda; vomiting; weakness; world health organization; child; drug combination; infant; preschool child; randomized controlled trial; standard; statistics; treatment outcome; Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; Antimalarials; Artemisinins; Child; Child, Preschool; Drug Therapy, Combination; Humans; Infant; Malaria; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Treatment Outcome; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84884677486 | The PRIME trial protocol: Evaluating the impact of an intervention implemented in public health centres on management of malaria and health outcomes of children using a cluster-randomised design in Tororo, Uganda | Staedke S.G., Chandler C.I.R., DiLiberto D., Maiteki-Sebuguzi C., Nankya F., Webb E., Dorsey G., Kamya M.R. | 2013 | Implementation Science | 8 | 1 | 10.1186/1748-5908-8-114 | Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Infectious Disease Research Collaboration, PO Box 7475, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 95H, United Kingdom; Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, Box 0811, San Francisco, CA, 94143, United States; Department of Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda | Staedke, S.G., Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom, Infectious Disease Research Collaboration, PO Box 7475, Kampala, Uganda; Chandler, C.I.R., Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 95H, United Kingdom; DiLiberto, D., Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Maiteki-Sebuguzi, C., Infectious Disease Research Collaboration, PO Box 7475, Kampala, Uganda; Nankya, F., Infectious Disease Research Collaboration, PO Box 7475, Kampala, Uganda; Webb, E., Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Dorsey, G., Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, Box 0811, San Francisco, CA, 94143, United States; Kamya, M.R., Infectious Disease Research Collaboration, PO Box 7475, Kampala, Uganda, Department of Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda | Background: In Africa, inadequate health services contribute to the lack of progress on malaria control. Evidence of the impact of interventions to improve health services on population-level malaria indicators is needed. We are conducting a cluster-randomised trial to assess whether a complex intervention delivered at public health centres in Uganda improves health outcomes of children and treatment of malaria, as compared to the current standard of care.Methods/Design: Twenty public health centres (level II and III) in Tororo district will be included; 10 will be randomly assigned to the intervention and 10 to control. Clusters will include households located within 2 km of health centres. The trial statistician will generate the random allocation sequence and assign clusters. Health centres will be stratified by level, and restricted randomisation will be employed to ensure balance on cluster location and size. Allocation will not be blinded. The intervention includes training in health centre management, fever case management with use of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for malaria, and patient-centered services, and provision of artemether-lumefantrine (AL) and RDTs when stocks run low. The impact of the intervention on population-level health indicators will be assessed through community surveys conducted at baseline in randomly selected children from each cluster, and repeated annually for two years. The impact on individuals over time will be assessed in a cohort study of children recruited from households randomly selected per cluster. The impact on health centres will be assessed using patient exit interviews, monthly surveillance, and assessment of health worker knowledge and skills. The primary outcome is the prevalence of anaemia (haemoglobin <11.0 g/dL) in individual children under five measured in the annual community surveys. The primary analysis will be based on the cluster-level results.Discussion: The PRIME trial findings will be supplemented by the PROCESS study, an evaluation of the process, context, and wider impact of the PRIME intervention which will be conducted alongside the main trial, together providing evidence of the health impact of a public sector intervention in Uganda. Trial registration and funding: This trial is registered at Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01024426) and is supported by the ACT Consortium. © 2013 Staedke et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Cluster-randomised trial; Complex intervention; Malaria; Public sector; Uganda | article; child; cluster analysis; controlled clinical trial; controlled study; human; information processing; malaria; methodology; outcome assessment; program evaluation; public health; qualitative research; questionnaire; randomized controlled trial; rural health care; total quality management; Uganda; Child; Cluster Analysis; Focus Groups; Humans; Malaria; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Program Evaluation; Public Health; Qualitative Research; Quality Improvement; Questionnaires; Rural Health Services; Uganda | 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-s2.0-84920997858 | 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-s2.0-84861338583 | Why performance-based contracting failed in Uganda - An " open-box" evaluation of a complex health system intervention | Ssengooba F., McPake B., Palmer N. | 2012 | Social Science and Medicine | 75 | 2 | 10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.02.050 | Department of Health Policy, Planning and Management, School of Public Health, Makerere University, Uganda; Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Institute for International Health and Development, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, Musselburgh EH21 6UU, United Kingdom | Ssengooba, F., Department of Health Policy, Planning and Management, School of Public Health, Makerere University, Uganda, Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; McPake, B., Institute for International Health and Development, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, Musselburgh EH21 6UU, United Kingdom; Palmer, N., Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom | Performance-based contracting (PBC) is a tool that links rewards to attainment of measurable performance targets. Significant problems remain in the methods used to evaluate this tool. The primary focus of evaluations on the effects of PBC (black-box) and less attention to how these effects arise (open-box) generates suboptimal policy learning. A black-box impact evaluation of PBC pilot by the Development Research Group of the World Bank (DRG) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) concluded that PBC was ineffective.This paper reports a theory-based case study intended to clarify how and why PBC failed to achieve its objectives. To explain the observed PBC implementation and responses of participants, this case study employed two related theories i.e. complex adaptive system and expectancy theory respectively.A prospective study trailed the implementation of PBC (2003-2006) while collecting experiences of participants at district and hospital levels.Significant problems were encountered in the implementation of PBC that reflected its inadequate design. As problems were encountered, hasty adaptations resulted in a . de facto intervention distinct from the one implied at the design stage. For example, inadequate time was allowed for the selection of service targets by the health centres yet they got 'locked-in' to these poor choices. The learning curve and workload among performance auditors weakened the v+alidity of audit results. Above all, financial shortfalls led to delays, short-cuts and uncertainty about the size and payment of bonuses.The lesson for those intending to implement similar interventions is that PBC should not be attempted 'on the cheap'. It requires a plan to boost local institutional and technical capacities of implementers. It also requires careful consideration of the responses of multiple actors - both insiders and outsiders to the intended change process. Given the costs and complexity of PBC implementation, strengthening conventional approaches that are better attuned to low income contexts (financing resource inputs and systems management) remains a viable policy option towards improving health service delivery. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. | Case study; Health program evaluation; Health system; Performance-based contracting; Uganda | health care; health policy; health services; institutional framework; performance assessment; policy reform; article; case study; financial bonus payment; financial management; health care delivery; health care financing; health care system; health center; health service; learning curve; medical audit; performance based contracting; prospective study; reward; theory; Uganda; workload; Contract Services; Health Services Research; Humans; Management Audit; Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care); Prospective Studies; Quality of Health Care; Uganda; Uganda | 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-s2.0-32144457214 | Traditional healers for HIV/AIDS prevention and family planning, Kiboga district, Uganda: Evaluation of a program to improve practices | Ssali A., Butler L.M., Kabatesi D., King R., Namugenyi A., Kamya M.R., Mandel J., Chen S.Y., McFarland W. | 2005 | AIDS and Behavior | 9 | 4 | 10.1007/s10461-005-9019-9 | Traditional and Modern Health Practitioners Together Against AIDS (THETA), Kampala, Uganda; Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States; District Health Team, Kiboga District, Uganda; Department of Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA, United States; San Francisco Department of Public Health, 25 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102-6033, United States | Ssali, A., Traditional and Modern Health Practitioners Together Against AIDS (THETA), Kampala, Uganda; Butler, L.M., Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States; Kabatesi, D., Traditional and Modern Health Practitioners Together Against AIDS (THETA), Kampala, Uganda; King, R., Traditional and Modern Health Practitioners Together Against AIDS (THETA), Kampala, Uganda; Namugenyi, A., District Health Team, Kiboga District, Uganda; Kamya, M.R., Department of Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Mandel, J., Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States; Chen, S.Y., San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA, United States; McFarland, W., Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States, San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA, United States, San Francisco Department of Public Health, 25 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102-6033, United States | In the face of ongoing epidemics of HIV/AIDS and STI, high demand for family planning, and limited resources, traditional healers may be under-utilized providers of reproductive health education in rural sub-Saharan Africa. We implemented a training program in HIV prevention and family planning methods for healers in the Kiboga district of Uganda and evaluated the program's impact on healers' clinical practice and the diffusion of information to their female clients. Of 46 healers recruited, 30 (65%) completed a pre- and post- training interview. Following training, traditional healers increased discussions of family planning with their clients. Of 84 female clients recruited, 44 (52%) completed the interview before and after the training for healers. Female clients corroborated that they increased discussions of family planning with their healers, as well as discussions about HIV/AIDS. Both healers and their female clients were more likely to make a connection between family planning, condom use, and HIV prevention after the training compared to before the training. Findings provide evidence that traditional healers in a rural area of Uganda can successfully adapt HIV prevention messages and family planning information into their clinical practices. © 2005 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. | Family planning; HIV prevention; Traditional healers; Uganda | acquired immune deficiency syndrome; adolescent; adult; article; clinical practice; condom; controlled study; counseling; evaluation; family planning; female; gender; health program; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; infection prevention; interview; male; medical information; normal human; traditional medicine; training; Uganda; Adult; Family Planning Services; Female; Health Education; HIV Infections; Humans; Interviews; Male; Medicine, African Traditional; Middle Aged; Program Evaluation; Rural Population; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78650744045 | Improvement of performance efficiency of a hydrocyclone with design modification by suppressing air core | Sripriya R., Suresh N., Chakraborty S., Meikap B.C. | 2011 | Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering | 28 | 1 | 10.1007/s11814-010-0344-y | R and D Division, Tata Steel, Jamshedpur 831003, India; Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, India 826004 Jharkhand, India; Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharaghpur 721302, India; School of Chemical Engineering, Howard College, University of Kwazulu-Natal, King George Avenue, Durban 4041, South Africa | Sripriya, R., R and D Division, Tata Steel, Jamshedpur 831003, India; Suresh, N., Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, India 826004 Jharkhand, India; Chakraborty, S., Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharaghpur 721302, India; Meikap, B.C., Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharaghpur 721302, India, School of Chemical Engineering, Howard College, University of Kwazulu-Natal, King George Avenue, Durban 4041, South Africa | Hydrocyclones have been used for beneficiation of coal and mineral in coal washeries and mineral process industries. To enhance the efficiency of hydrocyclone, it is very essential to quantify the presence or absence of air core within the hydrocyclone. In the present study, for the first time, a new hydrocyclone design has been conceptualized and tested for its efficiency in separation of particles based on gravity. Experimental investigations have been carried out using design of experiments and the results have been analyzed statistically. The results have shown that suppressing the air core improves the separation efficiency of the hydrocyclone. Efforts have been made to explain the concept through fundamentals of fluid flow in hydrocyclone. The air core has a significant effect on particle separation as the relative density of the particles approach to the fluid density. The results will be used in the development of a new design of dense medium hydrocyclone at industrial scale that will improve the separation efficiency of the hydrocyclones by separating the near gravity particles more efficiently. © 2010 Korean Institute of Chemical Engineers, Seoul, Korea. | Air Core; Dense Medium Cyclone; Density Tracers; Hydrocyclone; Particle Separation; Separation Efficiency | 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-s2.0-84960366261 | Evaluation of rice genotypes for resistance to brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens stål) populations from the central region of Thailand | Sreewongchai T., Worede F., Phumichai C., Sripichitt P. | 2015 | Kasetsart Journal - Natural Science | 49 | 4 | None | Department of Agronomy, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand; Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute, Sirinka Research Center, Woldia, Ethiopia | Sreewongchai, T., Department of Agronomy, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand; Worede, F., Department of Agronomy, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand, Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute, Sirinka Research Center, Woldia, Ethiopia; Phumichai, C., Department of Agronomy, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand; Sripichitt, P., Department of Agronomy, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand | Intensive cultivation of rice is believed to be one of the factors responsible for the outbreak of brown planthopper (BPH). An experiment was conducted to study the reaction of 22 rice genotypes to six populations of BPH collected from rice research centers and from farmers’ fields of central Thailand. The results showed that populations of BPH from rice research centers were relatively more virulent than those from farmers’ fields. Cluster analysis using the mean BPH damage score divided the genotypes into three groups. Group I contained 18 susceptible genotypes including the susceptible check TN1. Group II contained two moderately resistant genotypes, IR64 and RD31, while the third group was made up of the resistant checks, Rathu Heenati and Ptb33. Rathu Heenati and Ptb33 could be used as sources of resistance for BPH in central Thailand. However, it is important to study the reaction of more genotypes by using additional BPH populations. The differential response of genotypes to populations of rice research centers and farmers’ fields of the same province also needs further investigation. © 2015, Kasetsart University. All right reserved. | Brown planthopper; Nilaparvata lugens stål; Resistance; Rice | None | 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-s2.0-77955820304 | The impact of geographic expansion on intended identity of an organisation | Spittal R.D., Abratt R. | 2009 | Journal of General Management | 35 | 3 | None | Dean, School of Graduate and Continuing Studies, Olivet Nazarene University, Illinois, United States; Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship, Nova Southeastern University, Florida, United States; Wits Business School, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa | Spittal, R.D., Dean, School of Graduate and Continuing Studies, Olivet Nazarene University, Illinois, United States; Abratt, R., Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship, Nova Southeastern University, Florida, United States, Wits Business School, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa | As organisations grow and expand past their operational headquarters, individual branches may reflect a different identity than that of the headquarters. The question then is, 'Is senior management able to transcend geographical boundaries and communicate the identity that has shaped their strategy for the organisation?.' The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of geographical expansion on the reflected perceptions of internal stakeholders related to the organisation's intended identity as defined by the senior management. The authors review the literature on identity in relation to image and reputation in order to seek answers to this question. The paper concludes with four propositions that need to be tested empirically in the future. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84887132647 | Market Orientation and Firm Performance: An Empirical Analysis of Ghanaian Microenterprises | Spillan J.E., Kara A., King D.O., McGinnis M.A. | 2013 | Journal of Global Marketing | 26 | 5 | 10.1080/08911762.2013.825040 | University of North Carolina at Pembroke, Pembroke, NC, United States; The Pennsylvania State University-York Campus, York, PA, United States; NUISTODOK Consultants, Kumasi, Ghana; The Pennsylvania State University-New Kensington Campus, New Kensington, PA, United States | Spillan, J.E., University of North Carolina at Pembroke, Pembroke, NC, United States; Kara, A., The Pennsylvania State University-York Campus, York, PA, United States; King, D.O., NUISTODOK Consultants, Kumasi, Ghana; McGinnis, M.A., The Pennsylvania State University-New Kensington Campus, New Kensington, PA, United States | While previous researchers have explored the relationship between market orientation and firm performance in larger organizations, such studies in microenterprises are scarce. This empirical study uses a structural equation model to examine the role of market orientation on firm performance of microenterprises operating in Ghana. To measure market orientation, we used a well-known scale (MARKOR), and the data (N = 347) for this study were collected from Ghanaian microenterprises using personal interviews. Study results indicated that the MARKOR scale provided a good measure of market orientation in Ghanaian microenterprises. The conceptualized model provided a good fit to the relationship between market orientation and the performance of Ghanaian microenterprises, indicating that market orientation as measured by MARKOR had a statistically significant positive impact on performance. However, the explanatory power of the model was relatively low, indicating the potential impact of other factors that were not incorporated in the model. Study implications are discussed. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC. | Ghana; Market orientation; MARKOR scale; microenterprises (MEs) | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33751331914 | The impact of recent queenloss and colony pheno-type on the removal of small hive beetle (Aethina tumida Murray) eggs and larvae by African honeybee colonies (Apis mellifera capensis Esch.) | Spiewok S., Neumann P. | 2006 | Journal of Insect Behavior | 19 | 5 | 10.1007/s10905-006-9046-z | Institut für Zoologie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 4, D-06099 Halle (Saale), Germany; Swiss Bee Research Centre, Agroscope Liebefeld-Posieux Swiss Federal Research Station ALP, Schwarzenburgstrasse 161, CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland; Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa; Eastern Bee Research Institute, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China | Spiewok, S., Institut für Zoologie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 4, D-06099 Halle (Saale), Germany; Neumann, P., Swiss Bee Research Centre, Agroscope Liebefeld-Posieux Swiss Federal Research Station ALP, Schwarzenburgstrasse 161, CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa, Eastern Bee Research Institute, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China | The removal of small hive beetle [=SHB] eggs and larvae was studied in queenright and recently queenless Cape honeybee, Apis mellifera capensis, colonies over a range of phenotypes. The overall removal efficiency was not influenced by phenotypes or queenstate, because all introduced eggs and larvae were removed within 24 hours. Queenless colonies removed them merely slower than queenright ones. The latter ones rejected up to 300 larvae within one hour. However, colonies undergoing preparation for absconding did not completely remove SHB offspring, suggesting that removal efficiency was reduced. Since even small and recently queenless colonies effectively removed immature SHB, and no differences in the overall efficiency was found compared to A. m. scutellata we conclude that this defense behavior is well developed in African honeybees. © 2006 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. | Aethina tumida; Apis mellifera; Honeybee; Hygienic behavior; Parasite; Small hive beetle | Aethina tumida; Apis mellifera; Apis mellifera scutellata; Coleoptera | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929335341 | Considering the impact of amicus curiae participation on feminist litigation strategy | Spies A. | 2015 | South African Journal on Human Rights | 31 | 1 | None | Department of Public, Constitutional and International Law, College of Law, University of South Africa, South Africa | Spies, A., Department of Public, Constitutional and International Law, College of Law, University of South Africa, South Africa | Amici curiae participation plays an important role in litigation and judicial decision-making. The public interest nature of these participations has become particularly important in representing the point of view of those who might be affected by a judgment which could influence the outcome of a decision. Employing amicus curiae participation as specific litigation strategy is of importance in promoting litigation from a feminist and gendered viewpoint allowing feminist method to be employed in constructing effective legal arguments. © 2015, Juta and Co ltd. All rights reserved. | Amicus curiae participation; Feminist method; Litigation strategy | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33947239009 | Economic impact of Turnip mosaic virus, Cauliflower mosaic virus and Beet mosaic virus in three Kenyan vegetables | Spence N.J., Phiri N.A., Hughes S.L., Mwaniki A., Simons S., Oduor G., Chacha D., Kuria A., Ndirangu S., Kibata G.N., Marris G.C. | 2007 | Plant Pathology | 56 | 2 | 10.1111/j.1365-3059.2006.01498.x | Central Science Laboratory, Sand Hutton, York, YO41 1LZ, United Kingdom; CAB International-Africa Regional Centre, P O Box 633-00621, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Agriculture, Reading University, P O Box 236, Reading, RG6 6AT, United Kingdom; Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) Katumani, P O Box 340, Machakos, Kenya | Spence, N.J., Central Science Laboratory, Sand Hutton, York, YO41 1LZ, United Kingdom; Phiri, N.A., CAB International-Africa Regional Centre, P O Box 633-00621, Nairobi, Kenya; Hughes, S.L., Department of Agriculture, Reading University, P O Box 236, Reading, RG6 6AT, United Kingdom; Mwaniki, A., Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) Katumani, P O Box 340, Machakos, Kenya; Simons, S., CAB International-Africa Regional Centre, P O Box 633-00621, Nairobi, Kenya; Oduor, G., CAB International-Africa Regional Centre, P O Box 633-00621, Nairobi, Kenya; Chacha, D., CAB International-Africa Regional Centre, P O Box 633-00621, Nairobi, Kenya; Kuria, A., CAB International-Africa Regional Centre, P O Box 633-00621, Nairobi, Kenya; Ndirangu, S., CAB International-Africa Regional Centre, P O Box 633-00621, Nairobi, Kenya; Kibata, G.N., CAB International-Africa Regional Centre, P O Box 633-00621, Nairobi, Kenya; Marris, G.C., Central Science Laboratory, Sand Hutton, York, YO41 1LZ, United Kingdom | Screenhouse experiments conducted in Kenya showed that inoculation of cabbage seedlings with Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV), either alone, or in combination with Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV), reduced the number and weight of marketable harvested heads. When viruses were inoculated simultaneously, 25% of cabbage heads were non-marketable, representing 20-fold loss compared with control. By contrast, inoculation with CaMV alone had insignificant effects on cabbage yield. This suggests that TuMV is the more detrimental of these pathogens, and its management should be a priority. Early exposure to TuMV produced cabbages that were 50% lighter than non-infected plants, but later infection was less damaging suggesting that controlling virus infection at the seedling stage is more important. TuMV was far less damaging to kale than it was to cabbage; although high proportions of TuMV-inoculated kale plants showed symptoms (>90%), the marketability and quality of leaves were not significantly reduced, and no clear relationship existed between timing of infection and subsequent crop losses. Early inoculation of Swiss chard with Beet mosaic virus (BtMV) significantly impaired leaf quality (∼50% reduction in marketable leaf production), but the impact of disease was greatest in plants that had been inoculated at maturity, where average leaf losses were two and a half times those recorded in virus-free plants. Disease-management of BtMV in Swiss chard is important, therefore, not only at the seedling stage, but particularly when plants are transplanted from nursery to field. © 2006 British Crown Copyright. | Cabbage; Caulimovirus; Kale; Kenya; Potyvirus; Swiss chard | crop yield; disease control; economic impact; host use; host-pathogen interaction; inoculation; leafy vegetable; pathogenicity; root vegetable; viral disease; virus; yield response; Africa; East Africa; Kenya; Sub-Saharan Africa; Beet mosaic virus; Beta vulgaris cicla; Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris; Brassica oleracea var. capitata; Brassica rapa subsp. rapa; Cauliflower mosaic virus; Caulimovirus; Potyvirus; Turnip mosaic virus | 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-s2.0-77955778908 | 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-s2.0-84871891224 | Vowel targeted intervention for children with persisting speech difficulties: Impact on intelligibility | Speake J., Stackhouse J., Pascoe M. | 2012 | Child Language Teaching and Therapy | 28 | 3 | 10.1177/0265659012453463 | Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust, Child Health, Ida Darwin Fulbourn, Cambridge, CB1 9SA, United Kingdom; University of Sheffield, United Kingdom; University of Cape Town, South Africa | Speake, J., Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust, Child Health, Ida Darwin Fulbourn, Cambridge, CB1 9SA, United Kingdom; Stackhouse, J., University of Sheffield, United Kingdom; Pascoe, M., University of Cape Town, South Africa | Compared to the treatment of consonant segments, the treatment of vowels is infrequently described in the literature on children's speech difficulties. Vowel difficulties occur less frequently than those with consonants but may have significant impact on intelligibility. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of vowel targeted intervention (VTI) with two 10-year-old children with severe and persisting speech difficulties measures of (a) percentage vowels correct and (b) intelligibility outcomes by peer group listeners were used. Assessment of vowel production was used to design and carry out intervention for each child, the success of which was measured in two ways: comparing (a) percentage of vowels correct before and after the intervention, (b) the percentage of pre- vs. post-intervention utterances understood by a group of typical peer listeners (aged 9 to 11 years). Pre- and post-intervention speech samples (comprising single words, imitated sentences and spontaneous speech) were edited onto a CD for these listeners, who were asked to write down what had been said. The two children with speech difficulties made significant improvement in vowel production as measured by the percentage of vowels correct. The listeners perceived more productions accurately post-intervention than pre-intervention. There was also a reduction in the range of the listeners' misperceptions of target words. VTI was effective in terms of both increasing PVC and intelligibility outcomes as judged by peer group listeners. It is not more complicated to carry out VTI than consonant targeted intervention; this should be considered more often when planning therapy for children where vowels are affected. © The Author(s) 2012. | intelligibility; intervention; peer-group listeners; persisting speech difficulties; treatment outcomes; vowels | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33646812241 | Evaluation of a low-cost method, the Guava EasyCD4 assay, to enumerate CD4-positive lymphocyte counts in HIV-infected patients in the United States and Uganda | Spacek L.A., Shihab H.M., Lutwama F., Summerton J., Mayanja H., Ronald A., Margolick J.B., Nilles T.L., Quinn T.C. | 2006 | Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes | 41 | 5 | 10.1097/01.qai.0000214807.98465.a2 | Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, United States; Academic Alliance for AIDS Care and Prevention and the Infectious Diseases Institute; Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man., Canada; National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States; Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 1830 East Monument St, Baltimore, MD 21287, United States | Spacek, L.A., Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, United States, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 1830 East Monument St, Baltimore, MD 21287, United States; Shihab, H.M., Academic Alliance for AIDS Care and Prevention and the Infectious Diseases Institute; Lutwama, F., Academic Alliance for AIDS Care and Prevention and the Infectious Diseases Institute; Summerton, J., Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, United States; Mayanja, H., Academic Alliance for AIDS Care and Prevention and the Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Ronald, A., Academic Alliance for AIDS Care and Prevention and the Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man., Canada; Margolick, J.B., Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, United States; Nilles, T.L., Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, United States; Quinn, T.C., Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, United States, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States | Objective: To evaluate the EasyCD4 assay, a less expensive method to enumerate CD4+ lymphocytes, in resource-limited settings. Design: Cross-sectional study conducted in the United States and Uganda. Methods: We compared CD4+ cell counts obtained on replicate samples from HIV-infected patients by the EasyCD4 assay, a microcapillary flow-based system, and by standard flow cytometry or FACSCount with linear regression and the Bland-Altman method. Results: Two hundred eighteen samples were analyzed (77 in the United States and 141 in Uganda). In the United States, mean ± SD CD4 was 697 ± 438 cells/μL by standard flow cytometry and 688 ± 451 cells/μL by EasyCD4. In Uganda, the mean ± SD CD4 was 335 ± 331 cells/μL by FACSCount and 340 ± 327 cells/μL by EasyCD4. The 2 methods were highly correlated (US cohort, r2 = 0.97, slope = 1.0, intercept = -18; Ugandan cohort, r2 = 0.92; slope = 0.95; intercept = 23). The mean differences in CD4 cell counts were 9.0 and -4.6 cells/μL for the US and Ugandan cohorts, respectively, and they were not significant in either cohort. In the Ugandan cohort, sensitivity and specificity of the EasyCD4 for CD4 below 200 cells/ μL were 90% and 98%, respectively. Positive predictive value was 96%; negative predictive value was 93%. Conclusions: Our results suggest that EasyCD4 may be used with high positive and negative predictive value in resource-limited settings. Copyright © 2006 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. | Antiretroviral therapy resource-limited setting; CD4-positive lymphocyte counts; Monitoring and evaluation; Uganda | analytic method; article; bioassay; bland altman method; CD4 lymphocyte count; clinical trial; controlled clinical trial; controlled study; correlation analysis; cost control; diagnostic accuracy; evaluation; flow cytometry; fluorescence activated cell sorting; human; human cell; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; intermethod comparison; linear regression analysis; major clinical study; microcapillary cytometry; monitoring; negative predictive value; positive predictive value; prevalence; priority journal; resource management; Uganda; United States; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Flow Cytometry; HIV Infections; Humans; Monitoring, Immunologic; Uganda; United States | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-55149118711 | Enhancing laparoscopic performance with the LTS3E: a computerized hybrid physical reality simulator | Soyinka A.S., Schollmeyer T., Meinhold-Heerlein I., Gopalghare D.V., Hasson H., Mettler L. | 2008 | Fertility and Sterility | 90 | 5 | 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2007.08.077 | Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Osun State, Nigeria; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein-Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany; Pawana Hospital, Somatane Phata, Tal-Ma | Soyinka, A.S., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Osun State, Nigeria; Schollmeyer, T., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein-Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany; Meinhold-Heerlein, I., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein-Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany; Gopalghare, D.V., Pawana Hospital, Somatane Phata, Tal-Maval, Dist-Poona, India; Hasson, H., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States; Mettler, L., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein-Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany | Objective: To determine the value of this simulator in acquiring basic laparoscopic skills and to evaluate the correlation between the frequency of trials and performance. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany. Patient(s): Twenty-five in-training gynecological endoscopists and 15 medical students. Intervention(s): A demonstration of 10 laparoscopic skill tasks was shown to participants before administration of a pretest. Voluntary rounds of further trials were encouraged thereafter. The post-tests were administered 5 days later. Assessments were conducted by the same independent supervisor. Main Outcome Measure(s): Improvements in overall scores and relative performance mean scores were compared using the independent t test. The comparison of various trial groups' mean was evaluated by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Result(s): There were significantly better post-test scores in all tasks for both groups compared to the pretest scores. There was no statistical difference between the overall relative training outcomes of both groups. There was a significant difference in group mean scores between the group of trainees who performed five or more rounds of trials and those who performed two to three trials. Conclusion(s): The LTS3e simulator contributes to the acquisition of laparoscopic skills in less experienced surgeons. Performance improves progressively with practice. © 2008 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. | endoscopy skills; Laparoscopy; LTS3e; simulator models | adult; article; endoscopy; female; human; human experiment; laparoscopy; male; medical student; normal human; priority journal; skill; stimulation; task performance; training; Adult; Clinical Competence; Computer Simulation; Computer-Assisted Instruction; Cross-Sectional Studies; Education, Medical, Graduate; Education, Medical, Undergraduate; Female; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures; Humans; Laparoscopy; Male; Motor Skills; Task Performance and Analysis; User-Computer Interface; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84878719954 | Effect of beebread on the reproductive performance of Cotesia vestalis | Soyelu O.J., Waladde S.M. | 2013 | New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science | 41 | 2 | 10.1080/01140671.2013.778891 | Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa; Department of Crop Production and Protection, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria | Soyelu, O.J., Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa, Department of Crop Production and Protection, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Waladde, S.M., Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa | The hypothesis that non-host-feeding synovigenic parasitoids are more likely to rely entirely upon teneral protein reserves for future egg and offspring production was tested in the present study. Protein-rich beebread was mixed with honey to form a paste (honey-beebread) and reproductive parameters of Cotesia vestalis were compared among females that were fed honey with or without beebread. Oviposition period lasted 3 and 8 days in unfed (but water-provided) and fed wasps, respectively. Satiated parasitoids attained peak offspring production within the first 2 days of eclosion, and production dropped sharply after 4 days. Wasps provided with honey-beebread produced more offspring and a more female-biased progeny than conspecifics that were raised on honey. In addition, posteclosion egg maturation progressed irrespective of diet and maximum egg load (102 mature eggs) was attained within 48 h of parasitoid emergence. Obtained results showed that supplementary protein sources could enhance some aspects of reproductive performance in non-host-feeding synovigenic parasitoids. © 2013 Copyright The Royal Society of New Zealand. | beebread; Braconidae; Cotesia vestalis; egg load; non-host-feeding; posteclosion egg maturation; progeny size; sex ratio; supplementary protein source | diet; emergence; female; maturation; oviposition; parasitoid; protein; reproduction; sex ratio; wasp; Braconidae; Cotesia vestalis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79959853538 | Cytotoxicity evaluation of selected Nigerian plants used in traditional cancer treatment | Sowemimo A., ven de Venter M., Baatjies L., Koekemoer T. | 2011 | Journal of Medicinal Plants Research | 5 | 11 | None | Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, College of Medicine Campus, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria; Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa | Sowemimo, A., Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, College of Medicine Campus, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria; ven de Venter, M., Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa; Baatjies, L., Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa; Koekemoer, T., Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa | Herbal medicines have received much attention as a source of new anticancer drugs. However, scientific studies have been conducted to a limited extent with few medicinal plants. This study investigates the cytotoxic activity of some Nigerian medicinal plants used locally in the treatment of cancer. The ethanolic extracts of five plants were evaluated using the MTT assay on the HT29 and MCF-7 cell lines. Sapium ellipticum leaves showed a greater cytotoxic activity than Combretum paniculatum, Celosia trigyna, Drymaria cordata and Cyathula prostata and it was comparable to the activity of the reference compound Cisplatin in the MCF-7 cell line. In the HT29 cell line, all the plants showed less than 50% activity at 500 μg/ml. The results showed that Sapium exhibited a greater cytotoxic activity than all the plants tested and this provides scientific evidence to support the traditional use of the plant. © 2011 Academic Journals. | Cancer; Cisplatin; Cytotoxicity; Sapium; Traditional medicine | 3 (4,5 dimethyl 2 thiazolyl) 2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide; antineoplastic agent; Celosia trigyna extract; cisplatin; combretum paniculatum extract; Cyathula prostata extract; Drymaria cordata extract; plant extract; Sapium ellipticum extract; unclassified drug; antineoplastic activity; article; cancer chemotherapy; cancer therapy; cell strain HT29; cell strain MCF 7; Celosia trigyna; Combretum paniculatum; controlled study; Cyathula prostata; drug cytotoxicity; drug effect; drug mechanism; drug screening; drug use; Drymaria cordata; herbal medicine; medicinal plant; Nigeria; plant leaf; Sapium ellipticum; Celosia trigyna; Combretum paniculatum; Cyathula; Drymaria cordata; Sapium | 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-s2.0-84869001464 | Performance and Safety of Praziquantel for Treatment of Intestinal Schistosomiasis in Infants and Preschool Children | Sousa-Figueiredo J.C., Betson M., Atuhaire A., Arinaitwe M., Navaratnam A.M.D., Kabatereine N.B., Bickle Q., Stothard J.R. | 2012 | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases | 6 | 10 | 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001864 | Disease Control Strategy Group, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Vector Control Division, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom | Sousa-Figueiredo, J.C., Disease Control Strategy Group, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Betson, M., Disease Control Strategy Group, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Atuhaire, A., Vector Control Division, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda; Arinaitwe, M., Vector Control Division, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda; Navaratnam, A.M.D., Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Kabatereine, N.B., Vector Control Division, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda; Bickle, Q., Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Stothard, J.R., Disease Control Strategy Group, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom | Background: In 2012 the WHO formally recognised that infants and preschool children are at significant risk of schistosomiasis and qualify for treatment with praziquantel (PZQ). Targeted surveys determining both the performance and safety of this drug are now needed in endemic areas. We have formally assessed parasitological cure and putative side-effects in a prospective cohort of Schistosoma mansoni-infected children (aged 5 months-7 years old) in lakeshore settings of Uganda. Methodology/Principal Findings: From a total of 369 children found to be egg-patent for intestinal schistosomiasis, 305 were followed-up three to four weeks after PZQ treatment and infection status re-assessed. Separately, a previously tested side-effect questionnaire was employed before and 24 hours after PZQ treatment to assess incidence and amelioration of symptoms in young children and their mothers. While the overall observed parasitological cure was 56.4%, a significant difference was found between a sub-set of children who had a history of multiple PZQ treatments (between one and four in an 18 month period), where cure rate was 41.7%, and those who had never received treatment (cure rate was 77·6%). PZQ proved to be safe, with only mild reported side effects which cleared within a month after treatment. Prevalence of reported symptoms was significantly lower in children than in mothers, and fewer side-effects were reported upon subsequent rounds of PZQ treatment. Conclusion/Significance: Our findings show that PZQ treatment of young children resulted in satisfactory cure rates, and marked reduction in egg-output, with only mild and transient reported side-effects. However, the cure rate is clearly lower in younger children and those with history of previous treatment. Cure rate, but not egg reduction rate, was also lower in children with heavier pre-intervention infection intensity. With chemotherapy now recommended as a long-term strategy for disease control in young children, research into optimising the periodicity of targeted treatment strategies is now crucial. © 2012 Sousa-Figueiredo et al. | None | ALB; albendazole; antimalarial agent; lonart; paracetamol; praziquantel; unclassified drug; abdominal pain; article; child; controlled study; diarrhea; dizziness; drug efficacy; drug safety; fatigue; female; fever; follow up; headache; human; infant; low back pain; major clinical study; male; monotherapy; muscle cramp; nausea; parasite identification; preschool child; prevalence; questionnaire; rash; rectum hemorrhage; schistosomiasis mansoni; school child; side effect; somnolence; sweating; treatment outcome; urticaria; vertigo; vomiting; Animals; Anthelmintics; Child; Child, Preschool; Drug Toxicity; Feces; Female; Humans; Incidence; Infant; Male; Parasite Egg Count; Praziquantel; Questionnaires; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosomiasis mansoni; Treatment Outcome; Uganda | 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-s2.0-77953949563 | Effects of varying dietary protein levels on the breeding performance of Clarias gariepinus broodstocks and fry growth rate | Sotolu A.O. | 2010 | Livestock Research for Rural Development | 22 | 4 | None | Nasarawa State University Keffi, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries Shabu-Lafia Campus, Lafia, Nigeria | Sotolu, A.O., Nasarawa State University Keffi, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries Shabu-Lafia Campus, Lafia, Nigeria | Breeding performance of Clarias gariepinus under different dietary crude protein (CP) levels 30%, 35%, 40% and a broodstock diet (imported feed) as the control. Female broodstocks were subsequently induced for breeding and were stripped after 11 hours latency period. Weight of eggs stripped increased with increase in dietary protein levels and no broodstock mortality was recorded. Hatchability rate was highest in fish fed 40% C.P (90.33± 0.44%) which was only marginally different from fish fed 35% CP (89.42± 0.01%) while fish fed 30% CP diet had the least hatchability rate (84.70± 0.12%). Advanced frys were monitored for 3 weeks under intensive feeding and frys from fish fed 40% CP dietary level had superior mean weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio indicating sufficient level of nutrient for gonad development while fry from fish fed 35% CP diet only had marginally different specific growth rate compared with the former (p>0.05). This study revealed that dietary protein level at 35% CP was able to ensure fish growth maintenance, while 40% CP diet sustained the fish further to ensure proper gonadal development and maturation and consequently, superior performance of the hatchlings. | Advanced frys; Breeding performance; Clarias gariepinus; Gonad development; Hatchability rate | Clarias gariepinus | 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-s2.0-84875972998 | 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-s2.0-84856261743 | Growth performance and haematology of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) fed varying inclusions of Leucaena leucocephala seed meal based-diets [Evaluación del crecimiento y hematología de clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) alimentados con diferentes inc | Sotolu A.O., Faturoti E.O. | 2009 | Revista Cientifica UDO Agricola | 9 | 4 | None | Department of Forestry Wildlife and Fisheries Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Lafia Campus, P. M. B. 135 Lafia, Nigeria; Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Management, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Sotolu, A.O., Department of Forestry Wildlife and Fisheries Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Lafia Campus, P. M. B. 135 Lafia, Nigeria; Faturoti, E.O., Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Management, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Utilization of plant protein sources in aquaculture have continued to produce more promising results towards alleviating high cost of feeding. This study examined the utilization of Leucaena leucocephala seed meal (LSM) for sustainable fish production. Six isonitrogenous; 40% crude protein diets were formulated where LSM replaced Soya bean meal (SBM) at 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% inclusions. Catfish fingerlings (5.21±0.14g) stocked at 25 fish/70 liters tanks were fed diets in triplicates three times daily for 112 days. Solid wastes were siphoned everyday before feeding while total water exchange with fresh clean water was done when data on fish growth and haematology were collected. Chemical analysis of diets and feeds were carried out before experiment and that of fish alone was repeated after the experiment. Data from the completely randomized experiment were subjected to ANOVA and correlation analysis and L.S.D. was separated at 5% probability level. Mean weight gain (MWG) and Specific growth rate (SGR) of fish fed 20% LSM were statistically different (p<0.05) from those fish fed LSM at higher inclusion rates. Fish MWG, SGR, PER and FCR significantly (p<0.05) correlated negatively with LSM inclusion rates in fish diet r= -0.62,-0.57,-0.78 and -0.64 respectively. Fish carcass protein, packed cell volume and haemoglobin counts of fish were statistically the same for 0%, 20% and 40% LSM fed fish. In the present study processed leucaena seed meal can be considered as a good alternative raw material in substitution to soya bean meal for Clarias gariepinus fingerlings' diets at 20% inclusion level. | Aquaculture; Fish feeding; Leucaena seed meal; Plant protein; Soya bean meal | Clarias gariepinus; Glycine max; Leucaena; Leucaena leucocephala | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79955761735 | Development and evaluation of a new epitope-blocking ELISA for universal detection of antibodies to West Nile virus | Sotelo E., Llorente F., Rebollo B., Camuñas A., Venteo A., Gallardo C., Lubisi A., Rodríguez M.J., Sanz A.J., Figuerola J., Jiménez-Clavero M.Á. | 2011 | Journal of Virological Methods | 174 | 42371 | 10.1016/j.jviromet.2011.03.015 | Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA), INIA, Ctra Algete-El Casar, S/n, 28130 Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain; INGENASA, C/Hermanos García Noblejas 39, 28037 Madrid, Spain; ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa; Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, C/Americo Vespucio, s/n, 41092 Seville, Spain | Sotelo, E., Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA), INIA, Ctra Algete-El Casar, S/n, 28130 Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain; Llorente, F., Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA), INIA, Ctra Algete-El Casar, S/n, 28130 Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain; Rebollo, B., INGENASA, C/Hermanos García Noblejas 39, 28037 Madrid, Spain; Camuñas, A., INGENASA, C/Hermanos García Noblejas 39, 28037 Madrid, Spain; Venteo, A., INGENASA, C/Hermanos García Noblejas 39, 28037 Madrid, Spain; Gallardo, C., Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA), INIA, Ctra Algete-El Casar, S/n, 28130 Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain; Lubisi, A., ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa; Rodríguez, M.J., INGENASA, C/Hermanos García Noblejas 39, 28037 Madrid, Spain; Sanz, A.J., INGENASA, C/Hermanos García Noblejas 39, 28037 Madrid, Spain; Figuerola, J., Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, C/Americo Vespucio, s/n, 41092 Seville, Spain; Jiménez-Clavero, M.Á., Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA), INIA, Ctra Algete-El Casar, S/n, 28130 Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain | West Nile virus (WNV) is an emerging zoonotic pathogen with a wide range of hosts, including birds, horses and humans. The development and evaluation of the performance of a new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) are described for rapid detection of WNV-specific antibodies in samples originating from an extensive range of vertebrates susceptible to WNV infection. The assay uses a monoclonal antibody (MAb) which binds whole virus particles and neutralizes infection in vitro by recognizing a neutralizing epitope within the envelope (E) glycoprotein of the virus. This MAb, labelled with horseradish peroxidase, was used to compete with WNV-specific serum antibodies for virus-binding in vitro. The epitope-blocking ELISA was optimized in a manner that enabled its validation with a number of experimental and field sera, from a wide range of wild bird species, and susceptible mammals. The new ELISA exhibited high specificity (79.5-96.5%) and sensitivity (100%), using the virus-neutralization test as reference standard. It also required a much lower volume of sample (10 μl per analysis) compared to other ELISAs available commercially. This new method may be helpful for diagnosis and disease surveillance, particularly when testing samples from small birds, which are available in limited amounts. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. | Antibody detection; Epitope-blocking ELISA; Flavivirus; Monoclonal antibody; West nile virus; Wild birds | epitope; horseradish peroxidase; monoclonal antibody; virus antibody; virus glycoprotein; animal cell; antibody detection; antigen binding; article; bird; controlled study; diagnostic value; disease surveillance; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; in vitro study; infection sensitivity; intermethod comparison; mammal; mouse; nonhuman; priority journal; rabbit; sensitivity and specificity; Vero cell; vertebrate; virus attachment; virus neutralization; virus particle; West Nile fever; West Nile flavivirus; wild species; Animals; Antibodies, Viral; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Epitopes; Humans; Neutralization Tests; Sensitivity and Specificity; Vertebrates; Viral Envelope Proteins; Virology; West Nile Fever; West Nile virus; Armoracia rusticana; Aves; Equidae; Flavivirus; Mammalia; Vertebrata; West Nile virus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84876003669 | Evaluation of cement-bonded particle board produced from Afzelia africana wood residues | Sotannde O.A., Oluwadare A.O., Ogedoh O., Adeogun P.F. | 2012 | Journal of Engineering Science and Technology | 7 | 6 | None | Department of Forestry and Wildlife, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria; Department of Forest Resources Management, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria | Sotannde, O.A., Department of Forestry and Wildlife, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria; Oluwadare, A.O., Department of Forest Resources Management, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria; Ogedoh, O., Department of Forestry and Wildlife, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria; Adeogun, P.F., Department of Forestry and Wildlife, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria | The study was design to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of cement-bonded particleboards produced from Afzelia africana wood residues. The production variables investigated were three wood particle types (flakes, flake-sawdust mix and sawdust), three chemical accelerators (CaCl2, MgCl2 and AlCl3) and four wood-cement ratios (1:2.0, 1:2.5, 1:3.0 and 1:3.5). The accelerators were based on 2% by weight of cement used. The boards produced were subjected to physical tests such as density, percentage water absorption and thickness swelling. Mechanical properties evaluated were modulus of rupture, internal bonding strength and compressive strength. The results revealed that the type of particle used, wood-cement ratio and chemical additives had a marked influence on the physical and mechanical properties of the boards (p < 0.05). From quality view point, flake-sawdust composite ranked best while flake boards ranked least. Similarly, CaCl2 had the best influence on the setting of the boards followed by MgCl2 and AlCl3. Finally, it has been shown that particle boards that satisfied the BISON type HZ requirement and ISO 8335 can be produced from Afzelia africana particularly at wood-cement of 1:2.5 and above. © School of Engineering, Taylor's University. | Afzelia africana; Chemical additives; Physico-mechanical properties; Sawdust; Wood flakes | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-82455181977 | Intrinsic and tomographic evaluation of siemens e.cam® SPECT system at the Korle-Bu teaching hospital (Ghana) | Sosu E.K., Hasford F., Nani E.K., Amuasi J.H., Otoo F. | 2011 | Research Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology | 3 | 10 | None | Radiological and Medical Science Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Kwabenya, Accra, Ghana; School of Nuclear and Allied Science, University of Ghana, Atomic Campus, Accra, Ghana; Radiation Protection Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, P.O. Box LG 80, Legon- Accra, Ghana | Sosu, E.K., Radiological and Medical Science Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Kwabenya, Accra, Ghana; Hasford, F., Radiological and Medical Science Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Kwabenya, Accra, Ghana; Nani, E.K., Radiological and Medical Science Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Kwabenya, Accra, Ghana; Amuasi, J.H., School of Nuclear and Allied Science, University of Ghana, Atomic Campus, Accra, Ghana; Otoo, F., Radiation Protection Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, P.O. Box LG 80, Legon- Accra, Ghana | Intrinsic and tomographic evaluation tests on the Siemens e.cam® Signature Series Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) system were conducted to ensure that it meets the specification required by the user and the capabilities claimed by the manufacturer after installation. The tests were performed according to National Electrical Manufacturers Association protocols and various measuring instrument and point sources containing 99 m-Tc were used. Intrinsic tests performed include intrinsic flood uniformity, intrinsic count rate performance in air and intrinsic energy resolution. Whole body scanning, SPECT resolution without scatter, SPECT resolution with inserts, SPECT uniformity and center of rotation were also evaluated. The intrinsic count rate performance measured was 300kcps as against manufactures' specification of 310 kcps, intrinsic energy resolution was 9.31% whiles manufacturers' specification was # 9.9% and center of rotation specification is that Max. X-Min. X< 1 pixel and RMS < 0.5 whiles values measured was 0.254 and 0.10 for LEAP and 0.092 and 0.083 for LEHR collimators. The evaluation confirm that the SPECT system met the requirements for clinical medical imagine and also the values obtained could be used as baseline data for future quality control. © Maxwell Scientific Organization, 2011. | Acceptance testing; Quality control; Radio pharmaceuticals; Radioactivity; Tomography; Uniformity | Acceptance testing; Baseline data; Center of rotation; Count rate performance; Evaluation test; Intrinsic energy resolution; Measuring instruments; National Electrical Manufacturers Associations; Point sources; Radio pharmaceuticals; Siemens; SPECT system; Tomographic; Uniformity; Whole body; Hospitals; Quality control; Radioactivity; Rotation; Specifications; Tomography; Single photon emission computed tomography | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77955566048 | Effect of feeding ensiled maize grain on rumen development and calf rearing performance | Sosin-Bzducha E., Strzetelski J., Borowiec F., Kowalczyk J., Okoń K. | 2010 | Journal of Animal and Feed Sciences | 19 | 2 | None | Department of Genetic Resources Conservation, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Nigeria; Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, National Research Institute of Animal Production, 32-083 Balice, Poland; Department of Animal Nutriti | Sosin-Bzducha, E., Department of Genetic Resources Conservation, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Nigeria; Strzetelski, J., Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, National Research Institute of Animal Production, 32-083 Balice, Poland; Borowiec, F., Department of Animal Nutrition, National Research Institute of Animal Production, University of Agriculture in Kraków, al. Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059 Kraków, Poland; Kowalczyk, J., Kielanowski Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Polish Academy of Sciences, 05-110 Jablonna, Poland; Okoń, K., Department of Pathomorphology, Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University, Grzegórzewska 12, 31-531 Krakow, Poland | The aim of the study was to determine the effect of replacing barley grain or dry maize (50% by weight) in feed mixtures for calves with ensiled high-moisture maize grain on ruminal and postruminal digestibility of starch, rumen development parameters and rearing performance of calves. The experiment was carried out with 40 bull calves aged between 10 ± 3 and 90 days divided into 4 groups of 10 animals per group. The main source of dietary starch was barley in the control group (B), dry maize grain in group MD, 50% barley and 50% ensiled maize grain in group BMS, and 50% dry maize grain and 50% ensiled maize grain in group MDMS. The results obtained show that rolled ensiled maize grain can be successfully used in diets for calves reared from 10 to 90 days of age to replace (50% by weight) dry rolled barley or maize grain. However, slightly better production results were obtained when feeding a barley and ensiled maize grain diet, which is probably due to the better intestinal digestibility of protein and starch, as shown by higher intestinal digestibility coefficients of protein and starch as well as lower faecal starch losses. The addition of ensiled maize grain to the diets did not cause significant changes in rumen fermentation, although there was a slight increase in total VFA concentration and proportion of butyric acid, a reduction in pH of rumen fluid, and calves tended to have higher serum β-hydroxybutyric acid concentrations at 10 and 12 weeks of age. The replacement of dry grains with ensiled maize grain in the diets for calves did not have an unambiguously favourable effect on rumen papillae development while improving wall thickness of the ventral ruminal sac. | Calf; Performance; Rumen development; Starch | Animalia; Hordeum; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84898448405 | Views from below: Students' perceptions of teaching practice evaluations and stakeholder roles | Sosibo L. | 2013 | Perspectives in Education | 31 | 4 | None | Department of Education, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa | Sosibo, L., Department of Education, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa | Interest in teaching practice as an essential component of teacher education is growing. In spite of this, there is a dearth of research investigating students' perceptions of teaching practice evaluations from them as beneficiaries. This qualitative study examines students' perceptions of teaching practice evaluations administered by means of observations and criteria-based forms from a systems theory approach, with a view to establishing how effectively all aspects of support, structure and teaching practice evaluation interact and contribute to the development of new teachers. The sample was drawn from one of three campuses that offer the teacher education programme. Data was gathered from 12 focus groups of 57 students using in-depth, semi-structured, open-ended interviews. Results revealed that, although students generally found teaching practice evaluations meaningful, several systemic factors mitigated against their growth and development. Recommendations included strengthening partnerships between schools and university and among all stakeholders; development of a teaching practice theoretical framework and alignment of teaching practice in the campuses that offer the teacher education programme, and developing teaching practice frameworks and structures that could offer students meaningful learning experiences while they are in the schools. © 2013 University of the Free State. | Collaboration; Evaluations; Stakeholders; Support; Teacher education; Teaching practice | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84907167089 | The Role of Information Exposure in Female University Students’ Evaluation and Selection of Eco-Friendly Apparel in the South African Emerging Economy | Sonnenberg N., Jacobs B., Momberg D. | 2014 | Clothing and Textiles Research Journal | 32 | 4 | 10.1177/0887302X14541542 | Department of Consumer Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Sonnenberg, N., Department of Consumer Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Jacobs, B., Department of Consumer Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Momberg, D., Department of Consumer Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Increasing consumption in the South African emerging economy necessitates stringent effort toward developing environmental information campaigns that stimulate preferences for eco-friendly alternatives. This qualitative study explores the role of exposure to information about the environmental impact of the apparel supply chain in female students' evaluation and selection of apparel. Based on the outcome of garment selection exercises and focus group discussions, participants were not swayed by exposure to hang tags, audio-visual or printed information sources to prioritize eco-friendly features in their choice of product, nor were they willing to compromise on attributes such as price for the sake of the environment. Participants' recommendations include standardized eco-labels to facilitate identification of eco-friendly alternatives and message content that is short, precise and factual. Interpersonal communication could represent an influential source of information and merits further investigation into the relevance of normative social influence on pro-environmental apparel behavior in the South African emerging economy. © The Author(s) 2014. | advertisement; apparel industry; consumer behavior; environment; green products; information; information processing; marketing; mass media; search; sustainability | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84865796627 | Limiting of accumulating debt from interest due and the ultra duplum rule: An evaluation of the historical development and the purported purpose of the rule [Limitering van renteheffing en die ultra duplum-reël: 'N evaluering van die historiese ontwikkeli | Sonnekus J.C. | 2012 | Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg | None | 3 | None | Universiteit van Johannesburg, South Africa | Sonnekus, J.C., Universiteit van Johannesburg, South Africa | It is an accepted principle in any state governed by the rule of law that no one may use an asset of another without his permission and if it is to be for a period of time, they would normally regulate the situation by agreement. The only exception would be when someone uses someone else's property and is complying with the principles of acquisitive prescription. Doing otherwise may encourage squatting and anarchy. Unless the person with full legal title feels inclined to be benevolent towards his neighbour, the agreement between them would normally make provision for the payment of a sum of money to the owner for the use of his property. Nobody would disallow the owner his right to a reasonable benefit as quid pro quo, but if we are dealing with the use of money (a money-lending transaction) where interest is to be paid, the law will limit the money-lender's claim to profit from interest in terms of the rules against usury if it becomes excessive. Since early Roman times, Roman law objectively limited the possible content of a clause governing interest on an outstanding debt due in terms of a money-lending agreement. Not only was the maximum interest rate determined and the claim to compound interest excluded, but under the duplum rule the interest could not accumulate beyond the equivalent of the original debt. In this contribution the author reflects on the evolution of this rule and the content it carried as contained in both known and lesser-known texts on the Roman law. In the light of the interplay between the known and lesser-known texts from Justinian the author concludes that contrary to the popular assumption or belief, the underlying purpose of the duplum rule was not an early version of consumer protection for the benefit of the poor, over-indebted credit-seeker. Instead, it served to safeguard the general public interest by eliminating as early as possible any high-risk debtor as possible credit-seeker who would never be able to rid himself of his indebtedness and would - if allowed to continue to form part of the economic society with an unsequestrated status - endanger that very society. For this purpose Justinian ruled that no interest may accumulate at any stage beyond the magic duplum amount. This applied irrespective of whether the interest due was paid in instalments or not. It consequently made it unattractive for a credit provider to extend the due date for the full repayment of any debt beyond the date of reaching this maximum margin. This is a very effective disciplinary measure to curtail overindebtedness and to compel the creditor to attend to the timeous service of his claim. An oversimplification of allowing the immature (rather unsophisticated) credit-seeker to enjoy unlimited credit irrespective of whether he would be in a position to service and repay all his debt does not conform to the economic reality recognised by the old authorities. The article concludes by noting with astonishment that an African country like Kenya, with no legal historical ties to Roman law, decided to introduce legislation along the lines of the duplum rule to govern the further accumulation of debt from interest-bearing financial vehicles, because the rule makes logical and economic sense. The advisors to the European Union whom one would have expected to be acquainted with Roman law and its fundamental principles, however, have not advised the European Union along these lines, since it is still providing bankrupt states with loans under circumstances where it may be assumed that it might be impossible for the recipient countries ever to repay their debts. Greece might not have been in half of its current financial difficulties if a credit provider knew that no profit was to be made by extending additional credit if the outstanding debt had passed the duplum margin (had the possibility existed to apply this rule). If there is no profit to be made from extending the due date for the debtor, the flow of credit will automatically dwindle, unless credit providers publicly don the cloak of the Good Samaritan and could justifiably show their shareholders or taxpayers why their investments or hard-earned money should be donated to the credit receiver in question. The same principle applies to the private debtor seeking unlimited credit as consumer. An outright moratorium or re-arrangement order on the repayment of debt is contrary to the provisions of the original agreement by which the debtor undertook to abide; this implies that it is done at the expense of the creditor, even if governed by sections 78-88 read with section 103(5) of the National Credit Act 34 of 2005. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84924249479 | Pharmacognostic and free radical scavenging Evaluation of Cyathula prostata (Blume) L. | Sonibare M.A., Olatubosun O.V. | 2015 | Pharmacognosy Journal | 7 | 2 | 10.5530/pj.2015.2.5 | Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Sonibare, M.A., Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Olatubosun, O.V., Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Background: Cyathula prostrata (Blume) L. from the family Amaranthaceae has been used traditionally for rheumatism, dysentery, wounds and urethral discharges in the tropical regions of the world. Aim: The present study was undertaken to perform quality control standardization and to evaluate antioxidant activity of the leaf, stem, root and the whole plant of Cyathula prostrata. Methods: Macroscopic and microscopic evaluations were carried out on the plant using standard procedures. Powdered sample of the leaf was evaluated with various organic solvents for fluorescence. The chloroform, ethyl-acetate and methanolic extracts of the leaf, stem, root and whole plant were subjected to various pharmacognostic analyses and evaluated for in vitro antioxidant activity using DPPH assay.Further, thin layer chromatoghraphy was used to evaluate the chloroform extract. Results: Important epidermal features in the plant include: coastal cells, unbranched, uniseriate, multicellular and non-glandular trichomes. Leaves are amphistomatic showing mostly anomocytic and actinocytic stomata. Starch grains are restricted to the adaxial surface. Vascular bundles are mainly collateral and well-developed bundle sheath. The transverse section of stem is circular, hypodermis (1-3 layers). Cross section of the root is described in detail for the plant. Cortex has angular cells. Fluorescence studies showed different colours. Physico-chemical results are comparable with standards. The TLC profile showed presence of at least seven compounds in the leaf, root and the whole plant extracts, while nine components were obtained from the stem extract. The ethyl acetate extract of the root and ethanol extract of the stem gave the highest phenolic contents (30.09±3.768 mg GAE/g) and DPPH free radical scavenging activity (87.0 ± 0.208), respectively. Conclusion: The distinctive features established in this study are steps in identification, standardization and quality control of this medicinal plant. | Antioxidant; Cyathula prostrata; Microscopy; Physicochemical parameters; Standardization | acetic acid ethyl ester; alcohol; alkaloid; anthraquinone derivative; cardiac glycoside; chloroform; Cyathula prostata extract; flavonoid; glycoside; methanol; organic solvent; phlobatannin; phytosterol; plant extract; plant medicinal product; saponin; scavenger; starch; tannin derivative; unclassified drug; Amaranthaceae; antioxidant activity; Article; blood vessel; controlled study; Cyathula prostata; DPPH radical scavenging assay; drug quality; drug screening; fluorescence analysis; in vitro study; leaf surface; palisade parenchyma; pharmacognosy; phloem; plant epidermis; plant epidermis cell; plant leaf; plant root; plant stem; plant structures; solvent extraction; spongy mesophyll; standardization; thin layer chromatography; xylem | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-65849433697 | Potential impacts of integrated oil and gas plant on ambient air quality | Sonibare J.A., Ede P.N. | 2009 | Energy and Environment | 20 | 3 | 10.1260/095830509788066394 | Environment Department, Shell Petroleum Development Company, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Institute of Geosciences and Space Technology, River State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Environmental Engineering Research Laboratory, Ch | Sonibare, J.A., Environment Department, Shell Petroleum Development Company, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Environmental Engineering Research Laboratory, Chemical Engineering Department, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife-Ife, Nigeria; Ede, P.N., Institute of Geosciences and Space Technology, River State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Nigeria | The ISCST-3 model has been used to study the ground level concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOX), particulate matter less than 10.0 microns in diameter (PM10) and sulphur dioxide (SO2). The purpose was to predict air quality effects from an integrated oil and gas project (IOGP) proposed for the Niger Delta, Nigeria. The emissions of 12 elevated point sources for criteria air pollutants were considered with eight different scenarios. Both natural gas-fired and diesel (AGO) fired equipment were considered for the identified emission sources. Five years of hourly meteorological observations were used in the prediction of the ground level concentration of the pollutants. The model outputs show a general maximum ground level concentration between 0.5 - 3.5 km, with easterly and north-easterly receptors having the greatest concentration. The pollutants emitted in the greatest concentration in their order of magnitude were CO, NOx and PM10. Maximum ground level concentration for 1, 8 and 24 - hr periods for CO were below regulatory standards (less than 10%) for scenarios 1 - 4 when the fuel is natural gas. The 8 - hr ground level concentrations were about 1.3 folds of the World Bank Standard in scenarios 5 - 8 when the fuel sources are switched to AGO. However in these scenarios, the Nigerian environment and petroleum ministries' emission limits were not breached for all the averaging periods. Modelled NOX concentrations were significant in all the scenarios except 3 and 4. Though NOX concentrations were within the standards for all the averaging periods in scenarios 1 - 4, except the 1 - hr limit that was breached in scenarios 1 and 2, these concentrations were about 1.1 - 2.8 folds in all the averaging periods of all the standards in scenarios 5 - 8. The predicted PM10 and SO2 concentrations are all below the guideline limits. If the use of AGO is completely avoided in the entire life of the proposed IOGP, the air quality of its immediate vicinity can be protected. Furthermore, the declaration of a radius 1.75 km natural forest buffer around the plant and continuous monitoring of ground level concentrations of CO, NOX, PM10, and SO2 may further assist in guaranteeing the safety of people in terms of air quality. The study shows the need for policy formulation that will integrate comprehensive cumulative impacts assessment of air quality in the environmental laws regulating the gas development projects in Nigeria. | None | Ambient air quality; Continuous monitoring; Criteria air pollutants; Cumulative impacts; Emission limits; Emission sources; Environmental law; Fuel source; Gas development projects; Ground level concentrations; Guideline limits; Integrated oil and gas project; Meteorological observation; Model outputs; Natural forests; Niger Delta; Nigeria; Nigerians; Oil and gas; Order of magnitude; Oxides of nitrogen; Particulate Matter; Point sources; Policy formulation; Potential impacts; Regulatory standards; Sulphur dioxide; World bank; Air quality; Atmospherics; Concentration (process); Environmental regulations; Gas industry; Gas plants; Gases; Leakage (fluid); Natural gas; Permanent magnets; Standards; Sulfur; Sulfur dioxide; Carbon monoxide; air quality; atmospheric pollution; carbon monoxide; emission; gas production; nitrogen oxides; oil production; particulate matter; sulfur dioxide; Africa; Niger Delta; Nigeria; Sub-Saharan Africa; West Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84878359028 | Drought impact assessment from monitoring the seasonality of vegetation condition using long-term time-series satellite images: A case study of Mt. Kenya region | Song Y., Njoroge J.B., Morimoto Y. | 2013 | Environmental Monitoring and Assessment | 185 | 5 | 10.1007/s10661-012-2854-z | Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan; Faculty of Agriculture, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya; Faculty of Bioenvironmental Science, Kyoto Gakuen University, Kameoka, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan | Song, Y., Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan; Njoroge, J.B., Faculty of Agriculture, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya; Morimoto, Y., Faculty of Bioenvironmental Science, Kyoto Gakuen University, Kameoka, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan | Drought-induced anomalies in vegetation condition over wide areas can be observed by using time-series satellite remote sensing data. Previous methods to assess the anomalies may include limitations in considering (1) the seasonality in terms of each vegetation-cover type, (2) cumulative damage during the drought event, and (3) the application to various types of land cover. This study proposed an improved methodology to assess drought impact from the annual vegetation responses, and discussed the result in terms of diverse landscape mosaics in the Mt. Kenya region (0.4 N 35.8 E ~ 1.6 S 38.4 E). From the 30-year annual rainfall records at the six meteorological stations in the study area, we identified 2000 as the drought year and 2001, 2004, and 2007 as the normal precipitation years. The time-series profiles of vegetation condition in the drought and normal precipitation years were obtained from the values of Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI; Huete et al. 2002), which were acquired from Terra MODIS remote sensing dataset (MOD13Q1) taken every 16 days at the scale of 250-m spatial resolution. The drought impact was determined by integrating the annual differences in EVI profiles between drought and normal conditions, per pixel based on nearly same day of year. As a result, we successfully described the distribution of landscape vulnerability to drought, considering the seasonality of each vegetation-cover type at every MODIS pixel. This result will contribute to the large-scale landscape management of Mt. Kenya region. Future study should improve this method by considering land-use change occurred during the long-term monitoring period. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. | Drought assessment; EVI; MODIS; Phenology; Remote sensing | Enhanced vegetation index; EVI; Landscape management; Long term monitoring; Meteorological station; MODIS; Phenology; Satellite remote sensing data; Forestry; Pixels; Radiometers; Remote sensing; Satellite imagery; Vegetation; Drought; rain; assessment method; drought; land cover; MODIS; phenology; precipitation (climatology); remote sensing; satellite imagery; seasonality; time series analysis; vegetation cover; vegetation type; article; case study; drought; environmental impact assessment; Kenya; land use; landscape; precipitation; seasonal variation; telecommunication; time series analysis; vegetation; environmental monitoring; equipment; methodology; plant; remote sensing; season; space flight; Kenya; Mount Kenya; Droughts; Environmental Monitoring; Kenya; Plants; Remote Sensing Technology; Seasons; Spacecraft | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84947582933 | Effect of large effective area fiber length on the performance of forward-backward scattering combination multiwavelength Brillouin-Raman fiber laser | Sonee Shargh R., Ahmad Hambali N.A.M., Ajiya M., Mahdi M.A. | 2015 | Journal of Optics (United Kingdom) | 17 | 10 | 10.1088/2040-8978/17/10/105507 | Farhangian University Hasheminezhad Campus, Mashhad, Iran; Semiconductor Photonics and Integrated Lightwave Systems (SPILS), Tun Abdul Razak Laser Laboratory (TAReL), School of Microelectronic Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Pauh Putra Main Campu | Sonee Shargh, R., Farhangian University Hasheminezhad Campus, Mashhad, Iran; Ahmad Hambali, N.A.M., Semiconductor Photonics and Integrated Lightwave Systems (SPILS), Tun Abdul Razak Laser Laboratory (TAReL), School of Microelectronic Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Pauh Putra Main Campus, Perlis, Arau, Malaysia; Ajiya, M., Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Bayero University, PMB, Kano, Nigeria; Mahdi, M.A., Wireless and Photonic Networks Research Center, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia | In this paper we experimentally demonstrate the effect of large effective area fiber length on the performance of a multiwavelength Brillouin-Raman fiber laser in which the forward and backward generated Stokes lines due to Brillouin scattering are combined together through a 3 dB coupler. Thus, the demonstrated laser is dubbed a forward-backward scattering combination multiwavelength Brillouin-Raman fiber laser (FBSC-MBRFL). This laser system utilizes a large effective area fiber and a dispersion compensating fiber that act as Brillouin and Raman gain media, respectively. It is demonstrated that by employing forward pumping schemes, the demonstrated laser system is capable of generating a good flat amplitude Brillouin Stokes line with an average optical to noise ratio of 17 dB along the spectral spans. However, the backward pumping scheme is able to produced high bandwidth spans. At the optimal large effective area fiber length of 50 km, a Raman pump power of 1100 mW at Brillouin pump wavelengths of 1550 mm and 1560 nm is identified to produce the maximum bandwidth with values of approximately 28.45 nm and 24.08 nm, respectively. © 2015 IOP Publishing Ltd. | backward pumping; Brillouin Raman fiber laser; forward pumping; forward-backward scattering combination; Multiwavelength; raleigh scattering; stimulated Brillouin scattering | Backscattering; Bandwidth; Brillouin scattering; Dispersion compensation; Fiber lasers; Fibers; Optical communication; Pumping (laser); Stimulated Brillouin scattering; Backward pumping; Backward scattering; Forward pumping; Multiwavelength; Raman fiber lasers; Forward scattering | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34249907525 | Family poultry, food security and the impact of HPAI | Sonaiya E.B. | 2007 | World's Poultry Science Journal | 63 | 1 | 10.1079/WPS2006135 | Department of Animal Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife 220005, Osun State, Nigeria | Sonaiya, E.B., Department of Animal Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife 220005, Osun State, Nigeria | Most rural households have poultry cared for by women, children and vulnerable people - the aged and physically challenged. Family poultry generate 19-50% of rural family income, make up about 77% of the national flock and contribute about 98% of poultry products consumed in the villages of developing countries. Households that accept innovation for semi-scavenging poultry production usually increase weekly consumption of eggs and meat. The importance of family poultry in assisting the landless poor and the destitute is reflected in many national poverty reduction strategy programmes which identify family poultry as one of the keys to accomplishing the millennium development goal of reducing the number of poor by half before 2015. There are few other alternatives in the livestock sector that can be used to reach so many poor people in rural areas. Wherever HPAI occurs in family poultry, it will wipe out the contribution of family poultry to family food security and to family income. While compensation and restocking are important, the greatest need of smallholder poultry producers faced with the challenge of HPAI is for information, knowledge and training for HPAI-safe family poultry production. | Avian influenza; Family poultry; Food security | Aves | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77958532563 | Impact of socio-economic characteristics in the use of Non-Motorised (Nmt) transport system in a medium sized city in Nigeria | Somuyiwa Adebambo O., Somuyiwa Yetunde F. | 2010 | European Journal of Social Sciences | 16 | 2 | None | Dept of Transport Management, Faculty of Management Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria; Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ogun State, Nigeria | Somuyiwa Adebambo, O., Dept of Transport Management, Faculty of Management Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria; Somuyiwa Yetunde, F., Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ogun State, Nigeria | The paper investigated and analyzed non-motorised mode of transport system in a market of a medium-sized city in Nigeria, based on inadequate provision for movement of goods within the market especially over short distances, with a view to examining the impact of socio-economic characteristics of the operators and users of this mode of transport. Methodology adopted includes the use of questionnaire that was designed to elicit information on mode of operations, and operators as well as users socio-economic characteristics. Therein, inferential statistical analytical techniques such as Pearson Product Correlation Coefficient (PPMCC) and Paired sample test were adopted to test two hypotheses stated. The study revealed relative importance of socio-economics characteristics in determining types of non-motorized used. The study equally showed through paired sample test values of 8.397, -3.296 and 4.726 for the pairs of Age/Educational status, Educational status/Income and Age/Educational status respectively at the P-value of .000. These indicate that the use of this mode of transport service is a function of above mentioned socio-economic characteristics. The study recommended that non motorized mode of transport should be encouraged and controlled within the frame work of sustainable transport development due to its environmental friendliness. | Impact; Medium-sized and city; Non-motorised; Socio-economic; Transport | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-67549105494 | The performances of commercial banks in post-consolidation period in Nigeria: An empirical review | Somoye R.O.C. | 2008 | European Journal of Economics, Finance and Administrative Sciences | None | 14 | None | Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria; P.O.Box 1104, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria | Somoye, R.O.C., Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria, P.O.Box 1104, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria | The current credit crisis and the transatlantic mortgage financial turmoil have questioned the effectiveness of bank consolidation programme as a remedy for financial stability and monetary policy in correcting the defects in the financial sector for sustainable development. Many banks consolidation had taken place in Europe, America and Asia in the last two decades without any solutions in sight to bank failures and crisis. The paper attempts to examine the performances of government induced banks consolidation and macro-economic performance in Nigeria in a post-consolidation period. The paper analyses published audited accounts of twenty(20) out of twenty-five(25) banks that emerged from the consolidation exercise and data from the Central Banks of Nigeria(CBN). We denote year 2004 as the pre-consolidation and 2005 and 2006 as post-consolidation periods for our analysis. We notice that the consolidation programme has not improved the overall performances of banks significantly and also has contributed marginally to the growth of the real sector for sustainable development. The paper concludes that banking sector is becoming competitive and market forces are creating an atmosphere where many banks simply cannot afford to have weak balance sheets and inadequate corporate governance. The paper posits further that consolidation of banks may not necessaily be a sufficient tool for financial stability for sustainable development and this confirms Megginson(2005) and Somoye(2006) postulations. We recommend that bank consolidation in the financial market must be market driven to allow for efficient process. The paper posits further that researchers should begin to develop a new framework for financial market stability as opposed to banking consolidation policy. © EuroJournals, Inc. 2008. | Consolidation; Financial sector; Profitability; Real sector | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79956372766 | Impact of milling on the microbiological quality of yam flour iii southwestern Nigeria | Somorin Y.M., Bankole M.O., Omemu A.M., Atanda O.O. | 2011 | Research Journal of Microbiology | 6 | 5 | 10.3923/jm.2011.480.487 | Department of Microbiology, University of Agriculture, P.M.B 2240, Alabata Road, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Department of Foodservice and Tourism, University of Agriculture, P.M.B 2240, Alabata Road, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria | Somorin, Y.M., Department of Microbiology, University of Agriculture, P.M.B 2240, Alabata Road, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Bankole, M.O., Department of Microbiology, University of Agriculture, P.M.B 2240, Alabata Road, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Omemu, A.M., Department of Microbiology, University of Agriculture, P.M.B 2240, Alabata Road, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Atanda, O.O., Department of Foodservice and Tourism, University of Agriculture, P.M.B 2240, Alabata Road, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria | The impact of the milling process on the microbiological quality of yam flour produced from dried yam chips was investigated. Dried yam chips samples were procured from markets in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states, southwestern Nigeria. Total viable bacterial count for Dioscorea rotundata (white yam) flour milled across the three locations range from 2.5x105 to 4.33x105 cfu g-1 while D. alata (water yam) flour ranged from 2.03x105 to 4.72x105 cfu g-1. Yam chips milled in the market had significantly higher (p<0.05) total viable bacterial count compared to those milled in the laboratory. Milling machines at Ibadan market harboured the significantly highest microbial count (2.1x103 cfu cm-1). All the yam flour samples milled in the market had Bacillus megaterium and Staphylococcus saprophyticus. Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus nigricans were isolated from both white yam flour and water yam flour. Milling introduced some fungi known to produce mycotoxins into the yam flour. Milling yam chips into flour in the machines available at the markets increased the microbiological contamination of the yam chips by between 101->102 folds due to some unhygienic practices observed during the milling and this has implications for the microbiological quality and safety of the yam flour meal consumed. Educating processors of yam flour on the importance of regular cleaning of milling machines and avoiding collection of flour spilled on the floor into the lot to be consumed will assist in ensuring that best practices are complied with and consumers have access to safer yam flour. © 2011 Academic Journals Inc. | Food safety; Hygiene; Microorganisms; Milling machine; Yam chips; Yam flour | Aspergillus niger; Bacillus megaterium; Bacteria (microorganisms); Dioscorea alata; Dioscorea rotundata; Fungi; Fusarium oxysporum; Rhizopus; Rhizopus stolonifer; Staphylococcus saprophyticus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84923658847 | Biomonitoring and evaluation of metal concentrations in sediment and crab samples from the North-West Province of South Africa | Somerset V., Van Der Horst C., Silwana B., Walters C., Iwuoha E. | 2015 | Water, Air, and Soil Pollution | 226 | 3 | 10.1007/s11270-015-2329-2 | Natural Resources and the Environment (NRE), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Stellenbosch, South Africa; SensorLab, Department of Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa | Somerset, V., Natural Resources and the Environment (NRE), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Stellenbosch, South Africa; Van Der Horst, C., Natural Resources and the Environment (NRE), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Stellenbosch, South Africa, SensorLab, Department of Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa; Silwana, B., Natural Resources and the Environment (NRE), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Stellenbosch, South Africa, SensorLab, Department of Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa; Walters, C., Natural Resources and the Environment (NRE), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Stellenbosch, South Africa; Iwuoha, E., SensorLab, Department of Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa | In this study, various metal concentrations were determined in environmental samples from rivers in the vicinity of mining areas of the Northwest Province, South Africa. These metal concentrations were also determined in various crustacean organs viz., hepatopancreas, flesh and muscle of the freshwater crab, Potamonautes warreni. The highest metal concentrations obtained in the freshwater samples were Ni (0.022 mg/l), Pb (0.02 mg/l), Cu (0.011 mg/l), Cd (0.009 mg/l), Pt (0.017 μg/l), Pd (0.011 μg/l) and Rh (0.008 μg/l). The highest metal concentrations obtained in the sediment samples were Ni (85.1 mg/kg dry weight (d.wt)), Pb (25.4 mg/kg d.wt), Cu (75.5 mg/kg d.wt), Cd (64.9 mg/kg d.wt), Pt (0.38 ng/g d.wt), Pd (0.74 ng/g d.wt) and Rh (0.23 ng/g d.wt). The results obtained for the bioavailability studies of all the metals investigated in the sediment have revealed no definite patterns for the fractionation results of the metal concentrations. In the case of the crab samples collected in the Elands River, the Pb, Cd, Pt, Pd and Rh concentrations indicate that the mining activities may have had an influence in the uptake of these metals in the crab samples analysed. In the case of the Hex River, the Ni, Cu, Pb, Cd, Pd and Rh concentrations in the crab samples may be attributed to mining activities. The bioaccumulation results indicated that the Ni and Cu concentrations show partly bioaccumulation in the tissues of the crab samples evaluated. For the Pd, Cd, Pt, Pd and Rh concentrations evaluated, definite signs of bioaccumulation were found. © 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland. | Bioaccumulation; Bioavailability; Freshwater crab; Heavy metals; Potamonautes warreni; Precious metals | Bioaccumulation; Biochemistry; Cadmium; Heavy metals; Lead; Metals; Nickel; Palladium; Platinum; Precious metals; Rhodium; Rivers; Sediments; Shellfish; Water; Bioavailability; Bioavailability study; Cu concentrations; Environmental sample; Freshwater crab; Metal concentrations; Northwest Province , South Africa; Potamonautes warreni; Pollution; cadmium; copper; fresh water; lead; metal; nickel; palladium; platinum; rhodium; bioaccumulation; bioavailability; biomonitoring; crab; fluvial deposit; heavy metal; mining; precious metal; animal tissue; Article; bioaccumulation; bioavailability; biological monitoring; concentration (parameters); controlled study; crab; mining; nonhuman; physical chemistry; sediment; South Africa; tissue level; water quality; water sampling; Elands River; Mpumalanga; North West Province; South Africa; Crustacea; Decapoda (Crustacea); Potamonautes warreni; Tragelaphus oryx | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84920374118 | Evaluation of MALDI biotyping for rapid subspecies identification of carbapenemase-producing bacteria via protein profiling | Somboro A.M., Tiwari D., Shobo A., Bester L.A., Kruger H.G., Govender T., Essack S.Y. | 2014 | Mass Spectrometry Letters | 5 | 4 | 10.5478/MSL.2014.5.4.110 | Catalysis and Peptide Research Unit, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Biomedical Resource Unit, Westville campus, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South Africa; Antimicrobial Research Unit, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa | Somboro, A.M., Catalysis and Peptide Research Unit, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa, Antimicrobial Research Unit, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Tiwari, D., Catalysis and Peptide Research Unit, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Shobo, A., Catalysis and Peptide Research Unit, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Bester, L.A., Biomedical Resource Unit, Westville campus, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South Africa; Kruger, H.G., Catalysis and Peptide Research Unit, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Govender, T., Catalysis and Peptide Research Unit, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Essack, S.Y., Antimicrobial Research Unit, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa | The method of direct mass spectrometry profiling is reliable and reproducible for the rapid identification of clinical isolates of bacteria and fungi. This is the first study evaluating the approach of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry profiling for rapid identification of carbapenemase-resistant enterobacteriaceae (CRE). Proof of concept was achieved by the discrimination of CRE using MALDI Biotyper MS based on the protein. This profiling appears promising by the visual observation of consistent unique peaks, albeit low intensity, that could be picked up from the mean spectra (MSP) method. The Biotyper MSP creation and identification methods needed to be optimized to provide significantly improved differences in scores to allow for subspecies identification with and without carbapenemases. These spectra were subjected to visual peak picking and in all cases; there were pertinent differences in the presence or absence of potential biomarker peaks to differentiate isolates. We also evaluated this method for potential discrimination between different carbapenemases bacteria, utilizing the same strategy. Based on our data and pending further investigation in other CREs, MALDI-TOF MS has potential as a diagnostic tool for the rapid identification of even closely related carbapenemases but would require a paradigm shift in which Biotyper suppliers enable more flexible software control of mass spectral profiling methods. © 2014, Mass Spectrom. Lett. All rights reserved. | Carbapenemase; Enterobacteriaceae; MALDI-TOF MS | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34247346043 | Effect of feeding different grain sources on the growth performance and body composition of tilapia, (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings fed in outdoor hapas | Solomon S.G., Tiamiyu L.O., Agaba U.J. | 2007 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 6 | 3 | None | Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria | Solomon, S.G., Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria; Tiamiyu, L.O., Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria; Agaba, U.J., Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria | The study investigated the growth performance and body composition of tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L) fingerlings (4.70g ± 0.09) fed Isonitrogenous and Isoenergetic diet of 25% crude protein containing different grain sources (maize, wheat, rice, sorghum and millet) designated DT1, DT2, DT3, DT4 and DT5 respectively. The study lasted for 56 days. Fish fed a diet containing maize gave the highest mean weight gain (MWG) of 6.05g; highest specific growth rate (SGR) of 1.47; best food conversion ratio (FCR) of 3.31 and the best Protein efficiency ratio (PER) of 0.93. Fish fed diet containing rice gave the poorest MWG of 4.70g and the poorest SGR, FCR and PER values. However, there is no significant difference in the values of SGR, FCR, PER and ANPU recorded for the five diets (P > 0.05). There was a difference in MWG of Fish Fed Diet 1 (Maize compared to the fish fed Rice and Millet (P<0.05). The maize diet produced fish with higher ether extract and Crude Protein in the body than fish fed the other grains. The difference in ether extract and crude protein among the five diets was however not significantly different (P>0.05). It can be concluded that cereal grains inclusion in the diet of Tilapia up to 57.90% can be effectively utilized by the fish with maize being the best followed closely by sorghum while rice remain the poorest in terms of growth response and nutrient utilization. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2007. | Cereal grains; Fingerlings; Tilapia | animal food; aquaculture; article; body composition; cereal; energy consumption; fish; food intake; grain; growth rate; maize; millet; nonhuman; nutrient content; nutritional support; protein intake; rice; sorghum; Tilapia; weight gain; wheat; Oreochromis niloticus; Tilapia; Triticum aestivum; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84925449627 | Performance evaluation of poly (methacrylic acid) as corrosion inhibitor in the presence of iodide ions for mild steel in H 2SO4 solution | Solomon M.M., Umoren S.A. | 2015 | Journal of Adhesion Science and Technology | 29 | 11 | 10.1080/01694243.2015.1017436 | Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, University of Uyo, P.M.B. 1017, Uyo, Nigeria; Centre of Research Excellence in Corrosion, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia | Solomon, M.M., Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, University of Uyo, P.M.B. 1017, Uyo, Nigeria; Umoren, S.A., Centre of Research Excellence in Corrosion, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia | The inhibition performance of poly (methacrylic acid) (PMAA) and the effect of addition of iodide ions on the inhibition efficiency for mild steel corrosion in 0.5 M H2SO4 solution were investigated in the temperature range of 303-333 K using electrochemical, weight loss, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and water contact angles measurements. The results show that PMAA is a moderate inhibitor for mild steel in 0.5 M H2SO4 solution. Addition of small amount of KI to PMAA significantly upgraded the inhibition efficiency up to 96.7%. The adsorption properties of PMAA and PMAA + KI are estimated by considering thermodynamic and kinetic parameters. The results reveal that PMAA alone was physically adsorbed onto the mild steel surface, while comprehensive adsorption mode characterized the adsorption of PMAA + KI. Adsorption of PMAA and PMAA + KI followed Temkin adsorption isotherm. The SEM and water contact angle images confirmed the enhanced PMAA film formation on mild steel surface by iodide ions. © 2015 Taylor & Francis. | corrosion inhibition; iodide ions; mild steel; poly (methacrylic acid); synergism | Adsorption; Carbon steel; Contact angle; Corrosion; Ions; Scanning electron microscopy; Steel; Steel corrosion; Adsorption properties; Corrosion inhibition; Inhibition efficiency; Inhibition performance; Iodide ion; Mild-steel surfaces; Poly (methacrylic acid); synergism; Corrosion inhibitors | KFUPM, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84938201454 | Performance assessment of poly (methacrylic acid)/silver nanoparticles composite as corrosion inhibitor for aluminium in acidic environment | Solomon M.M., Umoren S.A. | 2015 | Journal of Adhesion Science and Technology | 29 | 21 | 10.1080/01694243.2015.1066235 | Corrosion Protection and Materials Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria; Centre of Research Excellence in Corrosion, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia | Solomon, M.M., Corrosion Protection and Materials Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria; Umoren, S.A., Centre of Research Excellence in Corrosion, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia | This article reports the preparation of poly (methacrylic acid)/silver nanoparticles composite (PMAA/AgNPs) by in situ mixing of aqueous solutions of PMAA and 1 mM AgNO<inf>3</inf> with natural honey as reducing and stabilizing agent. The prepared PMAA/AgNPs composite was characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier transformed infrared, X-ray diffraction and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) while the morphology of the AgNPs in the composite was obtained by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM results revealed that the AgNPs were spherical in shape. The performance of PMAA/AgNPs composite as anticorrosion material for Al in acidic environment was examined by electrochemical, weight loss methods, complemented by surface analysis characterization with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), EDS and water contact angle measurements. Results obtained indicate that PMAA/AgNPs composite is effective corrosion inhibitor for Al in an acid-induced corrosive environment. Inhibition efficiency increased with increase in composite concentration but decreased with rise in temperature. From potentiodynamic polarization results, PMAA/AgNPs composite is found to function as a mixed-type corrosion inhibitor. The adsorption of the composite onto Al surface was found to follow El-Awady et al. adsorption isotherm model. SEM, EDS and water contact angle results confirmed the adsorption of the composite on Al surface. © 2015 Taylor and Francis. | acid corrosion; aluminium; composite; corrosion inhibition; nanoparticles; poly (methacrylic acid) | Adsorption; Aluminum; Composite materials; Contact angle; Corrosion; Electron microscopy; Energy dispersive spectroscopy; High resolution transmission electron microscopy; Nanoparticles; Scanning electron microscopy; Solutions; Surface analysis; Transmission electron microscopy; X ray diffraction; Acid corrosion; Adsorption isotherm model; Anti-corrosion materials; Corrosion inhibition; Energy dispersive spectroscopies (EDS); Performance assessment; Poly (methacrylic acid); Water contact angle measurement; Corrosion inhibitors | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84905456762 | Paediatric index of mortality scores: An evaluation of function in the paediatric intensive care unit of the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital | Solomon L.J., Morrow B.M., Argent A.C. | 2014 | Southern African Journal of Critical Care | 30 | 1 | 10.7196/SAJCC.166 | Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitas Academic Hospital, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Division of Paediatric Critical Care and Children's Heart Disease, School of Child and Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa | Solomon, L.J., Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitas Academic Hospital, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Morrow, B.M., Division of Paediatric Critical Care and Children's Heart Disease, School of Child and Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Argent, A.C., Division of Paediatric Critical Care and Children's Heart Disease, School of Child and Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa, Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa | Background. Paediatric Index of Mortality (PIM) and PIM 2 scores have been shown to be valid predictors of outcome among paediatric intensive care unit populations in the UK, New Zealand, Australia and Europe, but have never been evaluated in the South African context. Objective. To evaluate the PIM and PIM 2 as mortality risk assessment models. Method. A retrospective audit of case records and prospectively collected patient data from all admissions to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Cape Town, during the years 2000 (PIM) and 2006 (PIM 2), excluding premature infants, children who died within 2 hours of admission, or children transferred to other PICUs. Results. For PIM and PIM 2 there were 128/962 (13.3%) and 123/1113 (11.05%) PICU deaths with expected mean mortality rates of 12.14% and 12.39%, yielding standardised mortality risk ratios (SMRs) of 1.1 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.93 - 1.34) and 0.9 (95% CI 0.74 - 1.06), respectively. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed area under the curve of 0.849 (PIM) and 0.841 (PIM 2). Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit revealed poor calibration for PIM (χ2=19.74; p =0.02) and acceptable calibration for PIM 2 (χ2= 10.06; p=0.35). SMR for age and diagnostic subgroups for both scores fell within wide confidence intervals. Conclusion. Both scores showed good overall discrimination. PIM showed poor calibration. For PIM 2 both discrimination and calibration were comparable to the score derivation units, at the time of data collection for each. Calibration in terms of age and diagnostic categories was not validated by this study. | None | area under the curve; article; calibration; child; clinical article; confidence interval; female; human; intensive care unit; male; medical audit; medical record; mortality; named inventories, questionnaires and rating scales; patient coding; pediatric index of mortality; receiver operating characteristic; red cross; retrospective study; risk assessment | 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-s2.0-84894070154 | 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-s2.0-33846901149 | 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-s2.0-84879322453 | Mosquito repellent actions of the essential oils of cymbopogon citratus, cymbopogon nardus and eucalyptus citriodora: Evaluation and formulation studies | Solomon B., Gebre-Mariam T., Asres K. | 2012 | Journal of Essential Oil-Bearing Plants | 15 | 5 | 10.1080/0972060X.2012.10644118 | Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Solomon, B., Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Gebre-Mariam, T., Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Asres, K., Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Essential oils extracted by steam distillation from Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf, Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle and Eucalyptus citriodora Hook were evaluated for their repellent effects against Anopheles arabiensis mosquitoes under laboratory conditions. Blended oils, ointments and cream formulations of the oil of C. nardus in different bases were also evaluated. At 10% and 20% concentrations, all the oils showed a minimum of 90% and 95% relative protection, respectively, soon after application. These were not significantly different in efficacy from N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET), P>0.05. Afterwards however, only C. nardus oil produced more than 70% protection for 3 h and 4 h at a concentration of 10% and 20%, respectively. Combinations of 10% or 20% of each of the oils of C. citratus and C. nardus gave better protection than their individual effects. In the presence of the oil of E. citriodora, the effects of C. citratus and C. nardus were significantly reduced at both concentrations. The oil of C. nardus in oleaginous ointment (i.e. Vaseline) provided above 80% relative protection for as long as 4 h which was better than the effect of the 20% oil, P<0.05. Similarly, the oil in hydrophilic ointment, 1:1 w/w blend of PEG 4000 and PEG 600, gave better repellent effect than the 20% oil (P<0.05). However, the effect of the o/w cream was not statistically different from the 20% oil, P>0.05. The blends of C. citratus and C. nardus oils and the ointment formulations of the oil of C. nardus showed improvement on the percentage of protection of the oil of C. nardus. However, both the blending and the formulations did not improve the duration of protection. In addition, both the percentage and duration of protection were not as good as DEET, P<0.05. This study demonstrated the potential of essential oil of C. nardus as topical repellent against An. arabiensis. © 2012, Har Krishan Bhalla & Sons. | Cymbopogon citratus; Cymbopogon nardus; Essential oils; Eucalyptus citriodora anopheles arabiensis; Formulation; Mosquito repellency; N; N-diethyl-meta-toluamide | Anopheles arabiensis; Corymbia citriodora; Cymbopogon; Cymbopogon citratus; Cymbopogon nardus; Hexapoda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84897775476 | Systematic review of the performance of HIV viral load technologies on plasma samples | Sollis K.A., Smit P.W., Fiscus S., Ford N., Vitoria M., Essajee S., Barnett D., Cheng B., Crowe S.M., Denny T., Landay A., Stevens W., Habiyambere V., Perrins J., Peeling R.W. | 2014 | PLoS ONE | 9 | 2 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0085869 | Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Department of HIV/AIDS, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; HIV, Medicine and Science, Clinton Health Access Initiative, New York, NY, United States; Department of Haematology, United Kingdom National External Quality Assessment, Service (UK NEQAS) for Leucocyte Immunophenotyping, Sheffield, United Kingdom; Department of Technology and Innovation, Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation, San Fransisco, CA, United States; Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Medicine, Duke Human Vaccine Institute and Center for HIV/AIDS, Vaccine Immunology, Durham, NC, United States; Department of Immunology- Microbiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States; Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Sollis, K.A., Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Smit, P.W., Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Fiscus, S., Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Ford, N., Department of HIV/AIDS, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Vitoria, M., Department of HIV/AIDS, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Essajee, S., HIV, Medicine and Science, Clinton Health Access Initiative, New York, NY, United States; Barnett, D., Department of Haematology, United Kingdom National External Quality Assessment, Service (UK NEQAS) for Leucocyte Immunophenotyping, Sheffield, United Kingdom; Cheng, B., Department of Technology and Innovation, Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation, San Fransisco, CA, United States; Crowe, S.M., Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Denny, T., Department of Medicine, Duke Human Vaccine Institute and Center for HIV/AIDS, Vaccine Immunology, Durham, NC, United States; Landay, A., Department of Immunology- Microbiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States; Stevens, W., Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Habiyambere, V., Department of HIV/AIDS, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Perrins, J., Department of HIV/AIDS, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Peeling, R.W., Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom | Background: Viral load (VL) monitoring is the standard of care in developing country settings for detecting HIV treatment failure. Since 2010 the World Health Organization has recommended a phase-in approach to VL monitoring in resource-limited settings. We conducted a systematic review of the accuracy and precision of HIV VL technologies for treatment monitoring. Methods and Findings: A search of Medline and Embase was conducted for studies evaluating the accuracy or reproducibility of commercially available HIV VL assays. 37 studies were included for review including evaluations of the Amplicor Monitor HIV-1 v1.5 (n = 25), Cobas TaqMan v2.0 (n = 11), Abbott RealTime HIV-1 (n = 23), Versant HIV-1 RNA bDNA 3.0 (n = 15), Versant HIV-1 RNA kPCR 1.0 (n = 2), ExaVir Load v3 (n = 2), and NucliSens EasyQ v2.0 (n = 1). All currently available HIV VL assays are of sufficient sensitivity to detect plasma virus levels at a lower detection limit of 1,000 copies/mL. Bias data comparing the Abbott RealTime HIV-1, TaqMan v2.0 to the Amplicor Monitor v1.5 showed a tendency of the Abbott RealTime HIV-1 to under-estimate results while the TaqMan v2.0 overestimated VL counts. Compared to the Amplicor Monitor v1.5, 2-26% and 9-70% of results from the Versant bDNA 3.0 and Abbott RealTime HIV-1 differed by greater than 0.5log10. The average intra and inter-assay variation of the Abbott RealTime HIV-1 were 2.95% (range 2.0-5.1%) and 5.44% (range 1.17-30.00%) across the range of VL counts (2log10-7log10). Conclusions: This review found that all currently available HIV VL assays are of sufficient sensitivity to detect plasma VL of 1,000 copies/mL as a threshold to initiate investigations of treatment adherence or possible treatment failure. Sources of variability between VL assays include differences in technology platform, plasma input volume, and ability to detect HIV-1 subtypes. Monitoring of individual patients should be performed on the same technology platform to ensure appropriate interpretation of changes in VL. Prospero registration # CD42013003603. © 2014 Sollis et al. | None | accuracy; antiviral resistance; article; HIV test; human; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Human immunodeficiency virus 2; immunoassay; immunological monitoring; intermethod comparison; limit of detection; reproducibility; sensitivity and specificity; systematic review; treatment response; virus detection; virus load; algorithm; blood; classification; developing country; diagnostic kit; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; molecular diagnosis; plasma; polymerase chain reaction; procedures; reproducibility; serology; virology; world health organization; diagnostic kit; Algorithms; Developing Countries; HIV Infections; HIV Seropositivity; HIV-1; Humans; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; Plasma; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Serologic Tests; Viral Load; World Health Organization | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33846580575 | Impacts of leaf harvesting and sap tapping on the ivory palm (Hyphaene petersiana) in south eastern Zimbabwe | Sola P., Edwards-Jones G., Gambiza J. | 2006 | Forests Trees and Livelihoods | 16 | 4 | None | Southern Alliance for Indigenous Resources (SAFIRE), 10 Lawson Ave. Milton Park, Harare, Zimbabwe; School of Agricultural and Forest Science, University of Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd LL55 2UW, United Kingdom; Tropical Resources Ecology Programme, Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe | Sola, P., Southern Alliance for Indigenous Resources (SAFIRE), 10 Lawson Ave. Milton Park, Harare, Zimbabwe; Edwards-Jones, G., School of Agricultural and Forest Science, University of Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd LL55 2UW, United Kingdom; Gambiza, J., Tropical Resources Ecology Programme, Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe | People living in the marginal areas of Southern Africa have relied on palm resources for subsistence for centuries and yet little is known about the impacts of their harvesting activities. This work aimed at providing data on the impacts of two forms of traditional exploitation, leaf harvesting and sap tapping on the palm, Hyphaene petersiana. Three experiments were carried out in southeastern Zimbabwe • leaf harvesting to evaluate its impacts on new leaf production and the availability of harvestable material, • sap tapping to assess amounts produced, and • evaluating the regeneration potential of tapped ramets. Findings from this research were that: ○ leaf harvesting reduced new leaf production, growth and the availability of harvestable material; ○ sap tapping did not necessarily kill the palm but the extent of meristem removal determined the likelihood and mode of regeneration. We conclude that leaf harvesting and sap tapping activities influence the subsequent development of the palm Hyphaene petersiana and that efforts should be made to adopt harvesting and tapping strategies that will ensure reliable raw material supply for the craft industry which is sustaining many lives in Southern Africa. © 2006 A B Academic Publishers - Printed in Great Britain. | Apical meristem; Livelihoods; Management; NTFPs; Ramet; Regeneration | environmental impact; forest management; growth response; harvesting; human activity; leaf; sustainability; Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Zimbabwe; Hyphaene petersiana | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84907680981 | Is consumer confidence an indicator of JSE performance? | Solanki K., Seetharam Y. | 2014 | Contemporary Economics | 8 | 3 | 10.5709/ce.1897-9254.144 | University of the Witwatersrand, School of Economic and Business Sciences, South Africa | Solanki, K., University of the Witwatersrand, School of Economic and Business Sciences, South Africa; Seetharam, Y., University of the Witwatersrand, School of Economic and Business Sciences, South Africa | While most studies examine the impact of business confidence on market performance, we instead focus on the consumer because consumer spending habits are a natural extension of trading activity on the equity market. This particular study examines investor sentiment as measured by the Consumer Confidence Index in South Africa and its effect on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). We employ Granger causality tests to investigate the relationship across time between the Consumer Confidence Index and market performance. The results show weak evidence of a contemporaneous relationship; however, significant evidence of a Granger caused relationship is apparent. Further, changes in investor sentiment Granger-cause changes in the two indices used, generally with a lag of 9 and 12 months, but not vice versa. Thus, we find that Consumer Confidence leads JSE performance during our sample period. Our research provides evidence contradicting the common perception of consumer confidence lagging market performance, particularly in the South African context. © 2007 University of Finance and Management in Warsaw & Vizja Press&IT. | Behavioral finance; Consumer confidence; Financial markets; South Africa | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77956638175 | Development and performance evaluation of a motorized globulator for tapioca production | Soladoye O.P., Ola I.A., Adebowale A.A., Sanni L. | 2010 | International Food Research Journal | 17 | 3 | None | Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Department of Agricultural Engineering, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria | Soladoye, O.P., Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Ola, I.A., Department of Agricultural Engineering, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Adebowale, A.A., Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Sanni, L., Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria | A research was conducted to improve the appearance of locally produced tapioca in Nigeria. A motorized sago globulator, reciprocating at about 7.4 cm amplitude and 274 rev/minute being powered by a 2Hp electric motor was developed to produce globules of tapioca. The efficiency of the globulator with respect to the 2 mm globules sizes was determined with moisture content variation of starch granules, variation in starch weight supplied into the globulator and the sagging depth of the jute cloth in the globulator. From the results obtained, the moisture content of starch granules at the point of loading into the machine is directly related to the globulation efficiency with respect to the 2 mm grade size. Moisture content of about 44.5 - 46.3 % was found optimum for globulation above which starch granules lump together after globulation. Loading weight of about 150 g was rated best as higher values may result in congestion in the action zone hence, inefficient globulation. The sagging depth of the jute bag has no effect on the globulation efficiency. The globulator has production capacity of 163.20 kg per man-day operation for tapioca production. © 2010. | Efficiency; Globulator; Moinsture content; Tapioca | Corchorus capsularis; Manihot esculenta | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77951663028 | Impact of economic depression on the education of male and female undergraduates in Nigeria | Sola A., Iyiomo O.A., Okaima O.G. | 2009 | Social Sciences | 4 | 6 | None | Department of Educational Management, Lagos State University, Ojo, Nigeria | Sola, A., Department of Educational Management, Lagos State University, Ojo, Nigeria; Iyiomo, O.A., Department of Educational Management, Lagos State University, Ojo, Nigeria; Okaima, O.G., Department of Educational Management, Lagos State University, Ojo, Nigeria | This study was carried out to examine the challenges of economic depression on the education of male and female undergraduates in Nigeria. As a descriptive research design, it made use of some indicators for measuring the state of the Nigerian economy such as exchange rate, inflation rate, GDP per capital growth rate, foreign direct investment and consumer price index. Four public universities were selected through simple random sampling for the study. The participants were made up of 225 male and 225 female undergraduates, while reliability coefficient of the validated instrument was found to be 0.75. Data were analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics tools. The findings revealed that there was no significant difference between the effects of economic hardship on male and female undergraduates in Nigeria (t-cal 0.249 <t-value = 0.819; df = 6, p>05). The implication of this study proved that gender discrimination in the country was not tied to economic hardship, but ecosystemic thinking of the society, which is presently decreasing with reference to tertiary institutions enrolment. © Medwell Journals, 2009. | Budgetary allocations education; Economic disequilibrium; Ecosystemic thinking; Under funding | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-43149088716 | Performance evaluation of high rate space-time trellis-coded modulation using Gauss-Chebyshev quadrature technique | Sokoya O., Xu H.J., Takawira F. | 2008 | IET Communications | 2 | 5 | 10.1049/iet-com:20060116 | School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa | Sokoya, O., School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa; Xu, H.J., School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa; Takawira, F., School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa | The performance analysis of high rate space-time trellis-coded modulation (HR-STTCM) using the Gauss-Chebyshev quadrature technique is presented. HR-STTCM is an example of space-time codes that combine the idea used in trellis coded modulation (TCM) design that is signal set expansion and set partitioning into its construction. HR-STTCM construction is based on the concatenation of an outer TCM encoder and inner space-time block code. This paper evaluates the exact pairwise error probability of HR-STTCM based on the Gauss-Chebyshev quadrature formula. Comparison of numerical and simulation results shows that the proposed method is accurate. The method used is shown to be computationally simpler than those in the literature. © The Institution of Engineering and Technology 2008. | None | Block codes; Computational complexity; Computer simulation; Modulation; Signal receivers; Gauss-Chebyshev quadrature formula; Trellis coded modulation (TCM); Space time adaptive processing | 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-s2.0-84924611129 | Functional assessment of elderly patients with hearing impairment: A preliminary evaluation | Sogebi O.A., Oluwole L.O., Mabifah T.O. | 2015 | Journal of Clinical Gerontology and Geriatrics | 6 | 1 | 10.1016/j.jcgg.2014.08.004 | Department of Surgery, College of Health Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Sagamu, Ogun, Nigeria; Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria; Department of Ear, Nose and Throat, Olabisi Onabanjo Universi | Sogebi, O.A., Department of Surgery, College of Health Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Sagamu, Ogun, Nigeria; Oluwole, L.O., Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria; Mabifah, T.O., Department of Ear, Nose and Throat, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Nigeria | Background The consequence of hearing impairment in elderly patients may affect daily living activities functions. This study assessed whether hearing impairment (HI) has an effect, and the extent of the effect, on the functionality of elderly patients. It also explored factors that may be associated with impaired functionality in hearing-impaired elderly patients. Methods This was a cross-sectional, comparative study of elderly patients (aged ≥ 60 years) with HI. The study was conducted in a specialist tertiary hospital in a suburban town in southwestern Nigeria. The study participants were administered a structured questionnaire to obtain information on sociodemographics, clinical and audiometric profiles, and functional capabilities relating to physical, cognitive, and emotional functioning. Differences in the functional capabilities between the test patients and the controls were explored using the Student t test and Chi-square test, based on the data generated by statistical software. Results One hundred and thirty individuals (78 test patients, 52 controls), aged 60-94 years (mean ± standard deviation, 71.4 ± 7.4 years) completed the study. In the physical and cognitive domains, the prevalence of functional impairment was 52.6%. Functions were different between hearing-impaired patients and normal hearing elderly patients. The HI patients had associated significant impairment in two domains of functional assessment (χ2 = 10.5, p = 0.001). The factors associated with functional impairment included an age older than 70 years, unmarried status, the presence of combined distressing symptoms, the loss of right ear advantage, the presence of multiple comorbid systemic diseases, and the need for hearing aids. Conclusion Elderly patients with HI have vital functional limitations in daily living activities in Nigeria. The factors associated with the limitations deserve urgent attention. Copyright © 2014, Asia Pacific League of Clinical Gerontology & Geriatrics. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC. All rights reserved. | elderly; function; hearing impairment; limitations; Nigeria | adult; aged; aging; Article; audiometry; cognition; comorbidity; comparative study; controlled study; cross-sectional study; daily life activity; demography; diabetes mellitus; education; emotion; female; frail elderly; functional assessment; functional disease; hearing aid; hearing impairment; human; hypertension; knee osteoarthritis; major clinical study; male; Nigeria; prevalence; priority journal; single (marital status); structured questionnaire; symptom; tinnitus; vertigo; very elderly | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-70349229757 | Nutritional evaluation of termite (Macrotermes subhyalinus) meal as animal protein supplements in the diets of Heterobranchus longifilis (Valenciennes, 1840) fingerlings | Sogbesan A.O., Ugwumba A.A.A. | 2008 | Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences | None | 1 | None | Federal University of Technology, Department of Fisheries, Yola, Adamawa state, Nigeria; University of Ibadan, Department of Zoology, Ibadan, Nigeria | Sogbesan, A.O., Federal University of Technology, Department of Fisheries, Yola, Adamawa state, Nigeria; Ugwumba, A.A.A., University of Ibadan, Department of Zoology, Ibadan, Nigeria | 250 fingerlings of Heterobranchus longifilis had an average weight of 2.04±0.21 g were fed five crude protein 42.5% isonitrogenous experimental diets coded Tm1 - Tm5 were tested on the fingerlings. Termite meal was used to replace fish meal in the diets at 0% (Diet Tm1- control diet), 25% (Diet Tm2), 50% (Diet Tm3), 75% (Diet Tm4) and 100% termite meal inclusion levels (Diet Tm5). The experiment was in triplicates and the fingerlings were fed 5% body weight twice a day for 12 weeks. Termite meal had a crude protein of 46.3% and ash content of 3.6% while fish meal used has 71.5% crude protein and 18.2% ash and these differed significantly (P<0.05). The lipid content of 11.3% and 8.0% respectively for termite meal and fishmeal also differed significantly (P<0.05). The water stability of the experimental diets ranged between72.3%-76.9%. The highest mean weight gain of 9.6 g/fish, relative growth rate of 488.0% and specific growth rate of 0.9%/day were recorded in fish fed 50% termite meal inclusion diet. The feed striking time ranged between 5.0-6.0 second. The lowest feed conversion ratio of 2.9 and highest protein efficiency ratio of 0.8 were also recorded in fish fed 50% termite meal inclusion diet. The lowest incidence of cost (2.1), highest profit index (1.6) and best benefit cost ratio (1.2) were also from 50% termite meal diet. Based on the broken-line analysis, 50% inclusion levels of termite meal will yield the best result in a practical diet for H. longifilis fingerlings for a profitable and sustainable aquaculture venture. © Central Fisheries Research Institute (CFRI) Trabzon, Turkey and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). | Cost; Fishmeal; Growth; H. longifilis; Nutrient; Termite meal | Animalia; Heterobranchus longifilis; Isoptera; Macrotermes subhyalinus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79954508990 | Safety evaluation of Hymenocardia acida leaf extracts in rats and mice | Sofidiya M.O., Adedapo A.A., Jimoh F.O., Masika P.J., Afolayan A.J., Odukoya O.A., Familoni O.B. | 2010 | Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences | 3 | 2 | None | Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, Nigeria; ARDRI, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa; Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa; Department of Chemistry, University of Lagos | Sofidiya, M.O., Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, Nigeria; Adedapo, A.A., ARDRI, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa; Jimoh, F.O., Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa; Masika, P.J., ARDRI, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa; Afolayan, A.J., Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa; Odukoya, O.A., Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, Nigeria; Familoni, O.B., Department of Chemistry, University of Lagos, Nigeria | Acute and sub-acute effects of the aqueous extracts of the leaves of Hymenocardia acida Tul. (Hymenocardiaceae) were studied in mice and rats. In the acute toxicity test, H. acida extract (400-3200 mg/kg) did not cause mortality, behavioural changes, or alteration in physiological activities in mice after 48h of administration. Sub-acute test indicated no significant change in the packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin concentration (HB), red blood cell count (RBC) and the erythrocytes indices. A significant increase in white blood cell count (WBC) and decrease in the level of platelets at (200-800 mg/kg) was observed. Changes in the levels of total protein, albumin, globulin and the electrolytes not significant but there was decreased total bilirubin, conjugated bilirubin, unconjugated bilirubin, creatinine, urea, p-glucose, inorganic phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate amino transferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and alanine amino transferase [ALT]. No histopathological changes were observed in all the organs, though there was a significant reduction in their weights. | Hematology; Histopathology; Hymenocardia acida; Serum biochemistry | alanine aminotransferase; albumin; alkaline phosphatase; aspartate aminotransferase; bilirubin; creatinine; electrolyte; gamma glutamyltransferase; globulin; hemoglobin; Hymenocardia acida extract; plant extract; unclassified drug; alkaline phosphatase blood level; animal experiment; article; behavior change; controlled study; erythrocyte; erythrocyte count; gamma glutamyl transferase blood level; hematocrit; hemoglobin blood level; histopathology; leukocyte count; male; mortality; nonhuman; plant leaf; rat; thrombocyte count; Hymenocardia acida; Mus; Rattus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84930016287 | Depth and performance evaluation of a laboratory scale sand filtration system for wastewater treatment | Sodamade G., Longe E., Sangodoyin A. | 2014 | Turkish Journal of Engineering and Environmental Sciences | 38 | 2 | 10.3906/muh-1405-9 | Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria; Agricultural and Environmental Engineering Department, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Sodamade, G., Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria; Longe, E., Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria; Sangodoyin, A., Agricultural and Environmental Engineering Department, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Intermittent sand filtration (ISF) was adopted in the treatment of synthetic wastewater having septic tank effluent’s properties in the laboratory. Over a period of 84 days synthetic wastewater was intermittently dosed onto two sand filters of 50 cm and 100 cm depths at an interval of 4 h. The filter material has an effective size d<inf>10</inf> of 0.42 mm, d<inf>60</inf> of 0.92 mm, coefficient of uniformity, Cu, of 2.2, and hydraulic conductivity of 4.632 × 10-3 ms-1 with an effective pore diameter of 0.094 mm. The hydraulic loading was 0.144 m/day and the BOD<inf>5</inf> of the wastewater was 172.3 mg/L. The removal of suspended solids, ammonium-nitrogen (NH<inf>4</inf> -N), and BOD<inf>5</inf> in 100- and 50-cm columns was 91.4% and 88.6%, 98.7% and 99.8%, and 92% and 90%, respectively, while PO<inf>4</inf> -P removal was about 45% in both columns. Unlike other parameters, NO<inf>3</inf> -N was increasing, which signifies that denitrification did not take place in the filter columns. Based on the results, the filter column of 50 cm is economically preferable due to the insignificant difference when compared with the 100-cm filter column. The bacteria removal was slightly higher in 100 cm depth (99.88%) than in 50 cm depth (99.68%). © TÜBİTAK. | Depth variation; Intermittent filtration; Synthetic wastewater | Effluent treatment; Effluents; Filtration; Nitrogen removal; Ammonium nitrogen; Coefficient of uniformity; Depth variation; Hydraulic loading; Intermittent filtrations; Intermittent sand filtration; Septic tank effluent; Synthetic waste water; Wastewater treatment; ammonium; denitrification; filtration; hydraulic conductivity; laboratory method; performance assessment; wastewater; water treatment | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84857049121 | Impact of XPD gene polymorphism on risk of prostate cancer on north Indian population | Sobti R.C., Berhane N., Melese S., Mahdi S.A., Gupta L., Thakur H., Singh N. | 2012 | Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry | 361 | 42371 | 10.1007/s11010-011-1152-3 | Department of Biotechnology, Panjab University, 160014 Chandigarh, India; Department of Biotechnology, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; Department of Mathematics, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia | Sobti, R.C., Department of Biotechnology, Panjab University, 160014 Chandigarh, India; Berhane, N., Department of Biotechnology, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; Melese, S., Department of Mathematics, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; Mahdi, S.A., Department of Biotechnology, Panjab University, 160014 Chandigarh, India; Gupta, L., Department of Biotechnology, Panjab University, 160014 Chandigarh, India; Thakur, H., Department of Biotechnology, Panjab University, 160014 Chandigarh, India; Singh, N., Department of Biotechnology, Panjab University, 160014 Chandigarh, India | Prostate cancer is the second most diagnosed cancer in men next to skin cancer in the developed world. Risk of disease varies most prominently with age, ethnicity, family history, and diet. Genetic polymorphism of some genes has been implicated in increasing the risk. The XPD (Xeroderma pigmentosum group D) gene codes for a DNA helicase involved in transcription and nucleotide excision repair. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of XPD 751 Lys/Gln polymorphism on risk of prostate cancer on north Indian patients. Blood sample from 150 prostate cancer patients, 150 from Prostate Hyper Plasia and equal number of samples from healthy control groups was collected from North India. The polymerase chain reaction and restrictive fragment length polymorphism techniques were implemented. Statistically nonsignificant increase risk of prostate cancer was observed with patients having Gln/Gln genotype (OR 1.62, 95% CI). © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. | BPH; Prostate cancer; RFLP; XPD gene polymorphism | genomic DNA; xeroderma pigmentosum group C protein; glutamine; lysine; xeroderma pigmentosum group D protein; adult; aged; article; blood sampling; cancer genetics; cancer patient; cancer risk; controlled study; exon; gene frequency; gene locus; genetic association; genotype; high risk population; human; India; major clinical study; male; occupational hazard; peripheral lymphocyte; polymerase chain reaction; population genetics; prostate cancer; prostate hypertrophy; restriction fragment length polymorphism; sedentary lifestyle; single nucleotide polymorphism; clinical evaluation; confidence interval; DNA polymorphism; human cell; human tissue; prostate cancer; risk; statistical significance; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Base Sequence; DNA Repair; DNA-Binding Proteins; Gene Frequency; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genotype; Humans; India; Male; Middle Aged; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Prostatic Neoplasms; Risk; Risk Factors; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Xeroderma Pigmentosum Group D Protein | 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-s2.0-84925534625 | Performance of mixed ceramics and CBN tools during hard turning of martensitic stainless steel | Sobiyi K., Sigalas I., Akdogan G., Turan Y. | 2015 | International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology | 77 | 42498 | 10.1007/s00170-014-6506-z | School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Process Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Castco Precision Castings, P.O. Box 19133, Tygerberg, South Africa | Sobiyi, K., School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits, Johannesburg, South Africa; Sigalas, I., School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits, Johannesburg, South Africa; Akdogan, G., Department of Process Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Turan, Y., Castco Precision Castings, P.O. Box 19133, Tygerberg, South Africa | This paper describes the wear behavior of a ceramic and a PcBN cutting tool during the turning of AISI 440B stainless steels at different machining conditions. Experimental results showed that the wear mechanism for ceramic cutting tool is predominantly abrasive wear and for cBN tools was adhesive wear and abrasive wear. The abrasive wear is as a result of hard carbide particles in the workpiece material resulting in grooves formed on the flank face. There was formation of transferred layer followed by plastic deformation on the rake face of PcBN tool when cutting at low speed and feed rate. Better surface finish (Ra) was recorded for ceramics but with deteriorating surface topography. The results also show that good dimensional accuracy can be achieved with cBN tools using CNC machine with high static and dimensional stiffness coupled with high-precision hard turning. © 2014, Springer-Verlag London. | Cutting tool; Hard turning; Mixed ceramics; PcBN | Abrasion; Abrasives; Carbides; Ceramic cutting tools; Ceramic materials; Computer control systems; Cubic boron nitride; Cutting tools; Machinery; Martensitic stainless steel; Surface topography; Tribology; Dimensional accuracy; Hard turning; Machining conditions; Mixed ceramic; PcBN; PCBN cutting tools; Transferred layer; Workpiece materials; Stainless steel | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84903287058 | Assessment of the main factors impacting community members' attitudes towards tourism and protected areas in six southern African countries | Snyman S. | 2014 | Koedoe | 56 | 2 | 10.4102/koedoe.v56i2.1139 | Environmental Economics Policy Research Unit, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Wilderness Safaris, Johannesburg, South Africa | Snyman, S., Environmental Economics Policy Research Unit, University of Cape Town, South Africa, Wilderness Safaris, Johannesburg, South Africa | In southern Africa, many early conservation efforts from the late 1800s and early 1900s either displaced local communities or restricted their access to natural resources. This naturally affected community attitudes towards protected areas and efforts were later made to rectify growing tensions. In the last few decades of the 20th century, these efforts led to conservation and ecotourism models that increasingly included communities in the decision-making and benefit-sharing process in order to garner their support. Although the results of these policies were mixed, it is clear that the future success of conservation and, consequently, ecotourism in many areas will depend on the attitudes and behaviour of communities living in or adjacent to protected areas. Managing and understanding community expectations and attitudes under varying socio-economic circumstances will lead to more efficient, equitable and sustainable community-based conservation and ecotourism models. This study was based on 1400 community interview schedules conducted in Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, allowing for an accurate comparison of attitudes across countries, protected areas and communities. The results highlighted important demographic and socio-economic factors to consider in terms of understanding the attitudes of those living in and around protected areas. Suggestions were put forward for managing community relationships and garnering long-term support for protected areas and ecotourism. Conservation implications: It was observed that, in general, community members living in or adjacent to conservation areas in southern Africa have an understanding and appreciation of the importance of conservation. Formal education was found to positively impact attitudes and human-wildlife conflict negatively impacted attitudes, highlighting important policy focus areas. © 2014. The Authors. | None | attitudinal survey; decision making; ecotourism; educational attainment; nature conservation; protected area; Botswana; Malawi; Namibia; South Africa; Zambia; Zimbabwe | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77952467373 | Evaluation of activated charcoal as treatment for Yellow tulp (Moraea pallida) poisoning in cattle | Snyman L.D., Schultz R.A., Botha C.J., Labuschagne L., Joubert J.P.J. | 2009 | Journal of the South African Veterinary Association | 80 | 4 | None | ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X05, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; 16 Hickman street, Parys, 9585, South Africa | Snyman, L.D., ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X05, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Schultz, R.A., ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X05, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Botha, C.J., Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Labuschagne, L., ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X05, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Joubert, J.P.J., ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X05, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa, 16 Hickman street, Parys, 9585, South Africa | The efficacy of activated charcoal as a treatment for cattle (n = 57) poisoned by Yellow tulp (Moraea pallida) was investigated. Treatment with activated charcoal resulted in full recovery, irrespective of the degree of posterior paresis, provided that this clinical sign did not develop within the first 12 hours after initial exposure to Yellow tulp-infested grazing. For instance, despite treatment, 1 of 7 cattle succumbed after manifesting mild posterior paresis 6 to 8 h after initial exposure and 3 of 3 treated cattle died after developing severe posterior paresis within 6 to 12 h. | Activated charcoal; Moraea pallida; Treatment; Yellow tulp poisoning | activated carbon; carbopal-gn-h; unclassified drug; cardiac glycoside; charcoal; plant toxin; animal experiment; article; cattle disease; disease severity; drug efficacy; drug treatment failure; exposure; intoxication; lethality; nonhuman; paresis; plant; yellow tulp; animal; animal disease; cattle; female; Iridaceae; male; South Africa; treatment outcome; Bos; Moraea; Animals; Cardiac Glycosides; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Charcoal; Female; Iridaceae; Male; Plant Poisoning; South Africa; Treatment Outcome | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84875617700 | Disturbances impact on longevity of grass seeds, semi-arid South African Rangeland | Snyman H.A. | 2013 | Rangeland Ecology and Management | 66 | 2 | 10.2111/REM-D-11-00145.1 | Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa | Snyman, H.A., Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa | The effect of plant and soil disturbances on seed density, species richness, and seed longevity of the soil seed bank was quantified for a semi-arid rangeland, over a 5-yr period (2002/2003-2006/2007 growing seasons). The different soil and plant treatments included fire, tillage (intended as a trampling surrogate), and blocked seed rain (simulating heavy grazing). These three experimental factors were combined in a factorial arrangement. Seed responses were evaluated in the soil seed bank before the new seed set, after the first seed production event, and after the second seed production event. Before disturbance (physical impact on the plant and soil), soil seed bank was dominated by early successional species: conversely, aboveground vegetation was mainly dominated by perennial grasses. After only 4 yr of blocked seed rain, seedling emergence of Decreaser grass species ceased totally both in the field and seed bank, with lower effect on Increaser grass species. Emergence of both Decreaser and Increaser grass species decreased in the seed bank with tillage, whereas the opposite occurred in the field. By contrast, tillage increased the emergence of weeds in the seed bank. The decrease in emergence of Decreaser grass species in both seed bank and field was still evident 4 yr after the rangeland was burnt. The grass species Themeda triandra was the most sensitive to fire in terms of seedling emergence. Blocked seed rain treatment significantly decreased (P < 0.05) species richness. Regardless of treatments applied, there was poor similarity between aboveground vegetation and the associated seed bank. Differences in the soil seed bank are likely to reflect manifested properties rather than short-term changes. Several characteristics of seed banks (species composition, seed abundance, and longevity) must be considered in order to understand the dynamics of plant communities following disturbances. © 2013 The Society for Range Management. | blocked seed rain; fire; seedling emergence; species richness; tillage | aboveground biomass; community dynamics; dominance; environmental disturbance; experimental study; grass; grazing; longevity; perennial plant; rangeland; seed bank; seed rain; seed set; seedling emergence; semiarid region; soil profile; species richness; tillage; South Africa; Poaceae; Themeda triandra | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84900553934 | Participation and performance: Decentralised planning and implementation in ethiopia | Snyder K.A., Ludi E., Cullen B., Tucker J., Zeleke A.B., Duncan A. | 2014 | Public Administration and Development | 34 | 2 | 10.1002/pad.1680 | International Water Management Institute, Ethiopia; International Center for Tropical Agriculture, Nairobi, Kenya; Overseas Development Institute, United Kingdom; International Livestock Research Institute, Ethiopia | Snyder, K.A., International Water Management Institute, Ethiopia, International Center for Tropical Agriculture, Nairobi, Kenya; Ludi, E., Overseas Development Institute, United Kingdom; Cullen, B., International Livestock Research Institute, Ethiopia; Tucker, J., Overseas Development Institute, United Kingdom; Zeleke, A.B., International Livestock Research Institute, Ethiopia; Duncan, A., International Livestock Research Institute, Ethiopia | This article discusses how decentralisation policies are enacted in the planning and implementation of natural resource management interventions in rural Ethiopia. A key element of decentralisation policy is the emphasis on greater participation by local communities. Drawing on qualitative research conducted with government staff and farmers, this paper illustrates how different actors perceive and implement national policy and how these actions affect the longer-term sustainability of land management interventions. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. | Agricultural development; Decentralisation; Ethiopia; Natural resources management; Participatory planning | agricultural development; decentralization; land management; local participation; participatory approach; performance assessment; policy implementation; resource management; rural area; sustainability; Ethiopia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84880040881 | Dancing with the devil: formative peer assessment and academic performance | Snowball J.D., Mostert M. | 2013 | Higher Education Research and Development | 32 | 4 | 10.1080/07294360.2012.705262 | Department of Economics and Economic History, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa; Centre for Higher Education Research, Teaching and Learning, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa | Snowball, J.D., Department of Economics and Economic History, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa; Mostert, M., Centre for Higher Education Research, Teaching and Learning, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa | Peer assessment can be important in developing active and independent learners, as well as providing more and faster feedback in large classes, compared to marking done by tutors. In addition, the evaluative, critical stance required by students in order to assess their peers' work encourages the development of higher-order cognitive skills. Changing roles from being assessed to being an assessor can also improve students' ability to judge and improve on their own work. However, peer assessment does have potential problems and there is some debate as to the appropriate academic level at which to implement it, the kinds of feedback that are given and the ways in which students respond. In addition, there is little evidence that peer assessment has an impact on academic performance. This research reports the results of an online peer assessment exercise for a macroeconomics essay conducted in a large Economics 1 class at Rhodes University. Of the 800 students, about half participated in the peer assessment exercise. Data were collected from students via a formal course evaluation. In addition, a sample of 50 essays was evaluated in terms of the relationship between peer marks and final (tutor) marks received and the impact that peer assessment had on the quality of the final essay submitted. An Ordinary Least Squares regression was used to investigate the impact of peer assessment participation on marks. Results showed that peer marks tended to 'bunch' in the 60-68% range, indicating the reluctance of peers to give very high or low marks. In general, peers gave more useful feedback on technical aspects, such as presentation and referencing (which were also the categories in which students most often made improvements), than on content. Regression analysis showed that peer assessment participation was not a significant determinant of final essay mark, but that economics ability and English language proficiency were. © 2013 Copyright HERDSA. | academic outcomes; impact; large classes; online; peer assessment | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84861540352 | Understanding student performance in a large class | Snowball J.D., Boughey C. | 2012 | Innovations in Education and Teaching International | 49 | 2 | 10.1080/14703297.2012.677658 | Department of Economics and Economic History, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa; Centre for Higher Education Research, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa | Snowball, J.D., Department of Economics and Economic History, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa; Boughey, C., Centre for Higher Education Research, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa | Across the world, university teachers are increasingly being required to engage with diversity in the classes they teach. Using the data from a large Economics 1 class at a South African university, this attempts to understand the effects of diversity on chances of success and how assessment can impact on this. By demonstrating how theory can be used to understand results, the paper aims to encourage university teachers to adopt proactive strategies in managing diversity, rather than simply explaining it using student characteristics. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC. | assessment; Economics teaching; student diversity | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84897469181 | Systematic review of the use of dried blood spots for monitoring HIV viral load and for early infant diagnosis | Smit P.W., Sollis K.A., Fiscus S., Ford N., Vitoria M., Essajee S., Barnett D., Cheng B., Crowe S.M., Denny T., Landay A., Stevens W., Habiyambere V., Perriens J.H., Peeling R.W. | 2014 | PLoS ONE | 9 | 3 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0086461 | Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Department of HIV/AIDS, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; HIV, Medicine and Science, Clinton Health Access Initiative, New York, NY, United States; Department of Haematology, UK NEQAS for Leucocyte Immunophenotyping, Sheffield, United Kingdom; Department of Technology and Innovation, Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation, San Fransisco, CA, United States; Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Medicine, Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Center for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Immunology, Durham, NC, United States; Department of Immunology- Microbiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States; Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Smit, P.W., Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Sollis, K.A., Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Fiscus, S., Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Ford, N., Department of HIV/AIDS, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Vitoria, M., Department of HIV/AIDS, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Essajee, S., HIV, Medicine and Science, Clinton Health Access Initiative, New York, NY, United States; Barnett, D., Department of Haematology, UK NEQAS for Leucocyte Immunophenotyping, Sheffield, United Kingdom; Cheng, B., Department of Technology and Innovation, Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation, San Fransisco, CA, United States; Crowe, S.M., Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Denny, T., Department of Medicine, Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Center for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Immunology, Durham, NC, United States; Landay, A., Department of Immunology- Microbiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States; Stevens, W., Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Habiyambere, V., Department of HIV/AIDS, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Perriens, J.H., Department of HIV/AIDS, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Peeling, R.W., Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom | Background: Dried blood spots (DBS) have been used as alternative specimens to plasma to increase access to HIV viral load (VL) monitoring and early infant diagnosis (EID) in remote settings. We systematically reviewed evidence on the performance of DBS compared to plasma for VL monitoring and EID. Methods and Findings: Thirteen peer reviewed HIV VL publications and five HIV EID papers were included. Depending on the technology and the viral load distribution in the study population, the percentage of DBS samples that are within 0.5 log of VL in plasma ranged from 52-100%. Because the input sample volume is much smaller in a blood spot, there is a risk of false negatives with DBS. Sensitivity of DBS VL was found to be 78-100% compared to plasma at VL below 1000 copies/ml, but this increased to 100% at a threshold of 5000 copies/ml. Unlike a plasma VL test which measures only cell free HIV RNA, a DBS VL also measures proviral DNA as well as cell-associated RNA, potentially leading to false positive results when using DBS. The systematic review showed that specificity was close to 100% at DBS VL above 5000 copies/ml, and this threshold would be the most reliable for predicting true virologic failure using DBS. For early infant diagnosis, DBS has a sensitivity of 100% compared to fresh whole blood or plasma in all studies. Conclusions: Although limited data are available for EID, DBS offer a highly sensitive and specific sampling strategy to make viral load monitoring and early infant diagnosis more accessible in remote settings. A standardized approach for sampling, storing, and processing DBS samples would be essential to allow successful implementation. Trial Registration: PROSPERO Registration #: CRD42013003621. © 2014 Smit et al. | None | RNA; virus DNA; virus RNA; article; blood analysis equipment; diagnostic test accuracy study; diagnostic value; dried blood spot testing; early diagnosis; false negative result; genetic analyzer; health care access; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; infant; intermethod comparison; patient monitoring; peer review; sample size; sampling; sensitivity and specificity; standardization; systematic review; virus load; blood; dried blood spot testing; HIV Infections; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; physiology; procedures; reproducibility; virology; Dried Blood Spot Testing; Early Diagnosis; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Infant; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Viral Load | 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 |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84922069104 | Quantifying quality management system performance in order to improve business performance | Smith R.A., Bester A., Moll M. | 2014 | South African Journal of Industrial Engineering | 25 | 2 | None | Department Industrial and Systems Engineering, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa | Smith, R.A., Department Industrial and Systems Engineering, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa; Bester, A., Department Industrial and Systems Engineering, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa; Moll, M., Department Industrial and Systems Engineering, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa | This study investigates current methods of measuring quality management system (QMS) performance. It introduces a methodology to quantify QMS performance in order to provide a reference point for improved QMS performance and, in turn, the business’s performance. By introducing metadata into historical or current QMS internal audit data, the study shows that it is possible, over time, to extract various levels of value-adding data, ranging from high-level, strategic, direction-oriented insight, to process effectiveness and implementation-level guidance. This is accomplished by a repeatable process of infusing cause and effect theming data and process-consequence severity data into the QMS auditfindings data, and subsequently analysing the additional metadata. © 2014 South African Institute of Industrial Engineering. All rights reserved. | None | Metadata; Business performance; Cause and effects; Internal audit; Process effectiveness; Quality management systems; Reference points; Quality management | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84889672330 | Monitoring and surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in microorganisms associated with aquatic animals | Smith P., Alday-Sanz V., Matysczak J., Moulin G., Lavilla-Pitogo C.R., Prater D. | 2013 | OIE Revue Scientifique et Technique | 32 | 2 | None | School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland; Pescanova S.A., Portal del Angel 3-5, 08002 Barcelona, Spain; Center for Veterinary Medicine, United States Food and Drug Administration, 7500 Standish Place, HFV-131, Roc | Smith, P., School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland; Alday-Sanz, V., Pescanova S.A., Portal del Angel 3-5, 08002 Barcelona, Spain; Matysczak, J., Center for Veterinary Medicine, United States Food and Drug Administration, 7500 Standish Place, HFV-131, Rockville, MD 28055, United States; Moulin, G., French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (Anses), National Agency for Veterinary Medicinal Products, 8 rue Claude Bourgelat, 35302 Fougères, France; Lavilla-Pitogo, C.R., Integrated Aquaculture International LLC, 1F No. 6, Bangunan Lim Seng Kok, Simpang 628, Jalan Tutong, Bandar Seri Begawan BF 1120, Nigeria; Prater, D., FDA Europe Office, United States Food and Drug Administration, United States Mission to the European Union, Rue Zinner 13, 1000 Brussels, Belgium | The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Aquatic Animal Health Code recommends that programmes for the monitoring and surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in microorganisms associated with aquatic animals be initiated by the appropriate authorities. This paper discusses the classes of bacteria to be studied in such programmes and the methods of sample collection to be employed. It also discusses the susceptibility test protocols appropriate for use in such programmes, the interpretive criteria that should be applied to the data they generate and the form in which the output of such programmes should be reported. The authors argue that it is essential that all monitoring and surveillance programmes should employ standardised and internationally harmonised susceptibility test methods to the greatest extent possible. With respect to bacteria capable of infecting aquatic animals, it is recommended that the set of consensus-based standards and guidelines published by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute be adopted as the basis for international harmonisation of test protocols, as they are significantly more developed than any alternatives. It is further recommended that, for the purpose of evaluating antimicrobial resistance trends, such as emerging resistance, the data generated by these protocols should be interpreted by the application of epidemiological cut-off values. However, as yet, internationally agreed cut-off values have been produced for only one species. Thus, for many species, authorities will be obliged to set their own local and laboratory-specific cut-off values. It is recommended that laboratories use a statistical and standardised method of establishing such local cut-off values. Internationally harmonised standard test protocols and interpretive criteria have, to a large extent, been developed to monitor antimicrobial resistance in bacterial species capable of infecting humans. These methods can also be applied to microorganisms capable of infecting humans that are isolated from aquatic animals reared for human consumption or for sale as companion animals. | Antimicrobial agents; Antimicrobial susceptibility test methods; Aquatic animals; Epidemiological cut-off values; Monitoring and surveillance; Reporting data; Resistance; Sampling protocols; Standardisation and harmonisation | antiinfective agent; animal; animal disease; antibiotic resistance; aquaculture; article; bacterium; classification; drug effect; ecosystem; fish; human; microbiological examination; microbiology; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Aquaculture; Bacteria; Bacteriological Techniques; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Ecosystem; Fishes; Humans | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84861869814 | Towards an integrated global framework to assess the impacts of land use and management change on soil carbon: Current capability and future vision | Smith P., Davies C.A., Ogle S., Zanchi G., Bellarby J., Bird N., Boddey R.M., McNamara N.P., Powlson D., Cowie A., van Noordwijk M., Davis S.C., Richter D.D.B., Kryzanowski L., van Wijk M.T., Stuart J., Kirton A., Eggar D., Newton-Cross G., Adhya T.K., Br | 2012 | Global Change Biology | 18 | 7 | 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2012.02689.x | Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, United Kingdom; Shell Global Solutions (UK), Shell Technology Centre Thornton, PO Box 1, Chester, CH1 3SH, United Kingdom; Natural Resources Ecology Laboratory, Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO CH1 3SH, United States; Resources - Institute for Water Energy and Sustainability, Joanneum Research, Graz, A-8010, Austria; Embrapa Agrobiologia, Seropédica, 23890-000, Brazil; Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, United Kingdom; Department of Sustainable Soils and Grassland Systems, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom; National Centre for Rural Greenhouse Gas Research, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia; World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) Situ Gede, Sindang Barang, Bogor 16115, Po Box 161, Bogor, 16001, Indonesia; Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, United States; Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, United States; Land Use Section, Government of Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, Edmonton, T6H 5T6, Canada; Plant Production Systems Group, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, Wageningen, NL, Netherlands; International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Box 30709, Nairobi, Kenya; Soils Policy Team, Defra, Area 3C, Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3JR, United Kingdom; Energy Technologies Institute, Holywell Building, Holywell Park, Loughborough, LE11 3UZ, United Kingdom; BBSRC, Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon, SN2 1UH, United Kingdom; Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, Orissa, 753 006, India; World Bank, 1818 H Street, NW, Washington, DC, United States | Smith, P., Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, United Kingdom; Davies, C.A., Shell Global Solutions (UK), Shell Technology Centre Thornton, PO Box 1, Chester, CH1 3SH, United Kingdom; Ogle, S., Natural Resources Ecology Laboratory, Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO CH1 3SH, United States; Zanchi, G., Resources - Institute for Water Energy and Sustainability, Joanneum Research, Graz, A-8010, Austria; Bellarby, J., Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, United Kingdom; Bird, N., Resources - Institute for Water Energy and Sustainability, Joanneum Research, Graz, A-8010, Austria; Boddey, R.M., Embrapa Agrobiologia, Seropédica, 23890-000, Brazil; McNamara, N.P., Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, United Kingdom; Powlson, D., Department of Sustainable Soils and Grassland Systems, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom; Cowie, A., National Centre for Rural Greenhouse Gas Research, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia; van Noordwijk, M., World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) Situ Gede, Sindang Barang, Bogor 16115, Po Box 161, Bogor, 16001, Indonesia; Davis, S.C., Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, United States; Richter, D.D.B., Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, United States; Kryzanowski, L., Land Use Section, Government of Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, Edmonton, T6H 5T6, Canada; van Wijk, M.T., Plant Production Systems Group, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, Wageningen, NL, Netherlands, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Box 30709, Nairobi, Kenya; Stuart, J., Soils Policy Team, Defra, Area 3C, Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3JR, United Kingdom; Kirton, A., Energy Technologies Institute, Holywell Building, Holywell Park, Loughborough, LE11 3UZ, United Kingdom; Eggar, D., BBSRC, Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon, SN2 1UH, United Kingdom; Newton-Cross, G., Energy Technologies Institute, Holywell Building, Holywell Park, Loughborough, LE11 3UZ, United Kingdom; Adhya, T.K., Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, Orissa, 753 006, India; Braimoh, A.K., World Bank, 1818 H Street, NW, Washington, DC, United States | Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Tier 1 methodologies commonly underpin project-scale carbon accounting for changes in land use and management and are used in frameworks for Life Cycle Assessment and carbon footprinting of food and energy crops. These methodologies were intended for use at large spatial scales. This can introduce error in predictions at finer spatial scales. There is an urgent need for development and implementation of higher tier methodologies that can be applied at fine spatial scales (e.g. farm/project/plantation) for food and bioenergy crop greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting to facilitate decision making in the land-based sectors. Higher tier methods have been defined by IPCC and must be well evaluated and operate across a range of domains (e.g. climate region, soil type, crop type, topography), and must account for land use transitions and management changes being implemented. Furthermore, the data required to calibrate and drive the models used at higher tiers need to be available and applicable at fine spatial resolution, covering the meteorological, soil, cropping system and management domains, with quantified uncertainties. Testing the reliability of the models will require data either from sites with repeated measurements or from chronosequences. We review current global capability for estimating changes in soil carbon at fine spatial scales and present a vision for a framework capable of quantifying land use change and management impacts on soil carbon, which could be used for addressing issues such as bioenergy and biofuel sustainability, food security, forest protection, and direct/indirect impacts of land use change. The aim of this framework is to provide a globally accepted standard of carbon measurement and modelling appropriate for GHG accounting that could be applied at project to national scales (allowing outputs to be scaled up to a country level), to address the impacts of land use and land management change on soil carbon. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | Land use; Land use change; Model; Monitoring; Soil carbon | environmental monitoring; footprint; land management; land use change; life cycle analysis; modeling; soil carbon; spatial analysis | 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-s2.0-58449104885 | Prevalence of neck pain and headaches: Impact of computer use and other associative factors | Smith L., Louw Q., Crous L., Grimmer-Somers K. | 2009 | Cephalalgia | 29 | 2 | 10.1111/j.1468-2982.2008.01714.x | Physiotherapy Division, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa; Centre of Allied Health Research, Joanna Briggs Institute, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia; Physiotherapy, Physiotherapy Division, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 19063, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa | Smith, L., Physiotherapy Division, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa, Physiotherapy, Physiotherapy Division, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 19063, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa; Louw, Q., Physiotherapy Division, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa; Crous, L., Physiotherapy Division, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa; Grimmer-Somers, K., Centre of Allied Health Research, Joanna Briggs Institute, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia | Headaches and neck pain are reported to be among the most prevalent musculoskeletal complaints in the general population. A significant body of research has reported a high prevalence of headaches and neck pain among adolescents. Sitting for lengthy periods in fixed postures such as at computer terminals may result in adolescent neck pain and headaches. The aim of this paper was to report the association between computer use (exposure) and headaches and neck pain (outcome) among adolescent school students in a developing country. A cross-sectional study was conducted and comprehensive description of the data collection instrument was used to collect the data from 1073 high-school students. Headaches were associated with high psychosocial scores and were more common among girls. We found a concerning association between neck pain and high hours of computing for school students, and have confirmed the need to educate new computer users (school students) about appropriate ergonomics and postural health. © Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | Adolescents; Computers; Headaches; Neck pain; School | adolescent; adult; article; body posture; ergonomics; female; headache; high school student; human; human computer interaction; major clinical study; male; neck pain; Adolescent; Age Factors; Computers; Cross-Sectional Studies; Developing Countries; Female; Headache; Humans; Male; Neck Pain; Posture; Prevalence; Questionnaires; Schools; Sex Factors; Social Behavior; South Africa; Sports; Students | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84866264534 | Measuring the impact of educational interventions on the academic performance of academic development students in second-year microeconomics | Smith L.C., Ranchhod V. | 2012 | South African Journal of Economics | 80 | 3 | 10.1111/j.1813-6982.2011.01287.x | Centre for Higher Education Development, University of Cape Town, South Africa; School of Economics, University of Cape Town, South Africa | Smith, L.C., Centre for Higher Education Development, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Ranchhod, V., School of Economics, University of Cape Town, South Africa | This paper analyses the impact of educational interventions made in the first- and second-year microeconomics courses on academic development students' final mark in the second-year course. It also addresses issues of methodology, specification, and statistical analysis with respect to other studies in the field. The results suggest that the educational interventions in the first-year had a positive impact on the academic performance of the academic development cohort, relative to the mainstream cohort for the first period (2000-2002). The results also suggest that the educational interventions introduced in the second period (2003-2005), in the form of voluntary workshops, improved the academic performance of the academic development and mainstream cohorts. © 2012 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2012 Economic Society of South Africa. | Academic development; academic performance; economic education; educational interventions; microeconomics; multivariate analysis; South Africa | academic performance; curriculum; geography education; microeconomics; multivariate analysis; student; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84883196648 | Measuring the impact of academic development courses in first- and second-year chemistry | Smith L.C. | 2013 | South African Journal of Chemistry | 66 | None | None | Centre for Higher Education Development, University of Cape Town, South Africa | Smith, L.C., Centre for Higher Education Development, University of Cape Town, South Africa | This paper uses multivariate analysis to estimate the impact of educational interventions in the first-year academic development chemistry courses on students' final course marks. The cohorts for seven years are pooled, which generates a more robust set of results than was previously the case. To counter the sample-selection problem that arises as academic development students are placed onto the academic development programme, a selection of control variables is included in the estimations. The results suggest that the educational interventions in the first year had a positive impact on academic development students' performance, relative to mainstream students, in both the first- and second-year courses. The implications of the results for education policy and research are considered. | Academic development; Academic performance; Chemistry; Educational interventions; Multivariate analysis; South Africa | None | 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-s2.0-65649096932 | Herpes simplex virus type 2 antibody detection performance in Kisumu, Kenya, using the HerpeSelect ELISA, Kalon ELISA, Western blot and inhibition testing | Smith J.S., Bailey R.C., Westreich D.J., Maclean I., Agot K., Ndinya-Achola J.O., Hogrefe W., Morrow R.A., Moses S. | 2009 | Sexually Transmitted Infections | 85 | 2 | 10.1136/sti.2008.031815 | University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, United States; University of Manitoba, MB, Canada; UNIM Project, Kisumu, Kenya; University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya; Focus Diagnostics, Cypress, CA, United States; University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Public Health, McGavran-Greenberg, Campus Box 7435, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7435, United States | Smith, J.S., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Public Health, McGavran-Greenberg, Campus Box 7435, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7435, United States; Bailey, R.C., University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, United States; Westreich, D.J., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Maclean, I., University of Manitoba, MB, Canada; Agot, K., UNIM Project, Kisumu, Kenya; Ndinya-Achola, J.O., University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya; Hogrefe, W., Focus Diagnostics, Cypress, CA, United States; Morrow, R.A., University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Moses, S., University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, United States | Background: In certain parts of Africa, type-specific herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) ELISAs may have limited specificity. To date, no study has been conducted to validate HerpeSelect and Kalon type-specific HSV-2 ELISAs using both the Western blot and recombinant gG ELISA inhibition testing as reference standards. Methods: A total of 120 men who were HIV seronegative (aged 18-24 years) provided blood samples. HSV-2 IgG serum antibodies were detected using four different methods: HerpeSelect HSV-2 ELISA (n = 120), Kalon HSV-2 ELISA (n = 120), University of Washington Western blot (n = 101) and a recombinant inhibition test (n = 93). Results: HSV-2 seroprevalence differed significantly by HSV-2 detection method, ranging from 24.8% with the Western blot to 69.8% with the HerpeSelect ELISA. Using the Western blot as the reference standard, the HerpesSelect had the highest sensitivity for HSV-2 antibody detection (100%) yet lowest specificity (40%). Similar results were obtained using the inhibition test as the reference standard. The sensitivity and specificity of the Kalon test versus the Western blot were 92% and 79%, respectively, and 80% and 82% versus the inhibition test. Using the inhibition test as the reference standard, the sensitivity of the Western blot appeared low (49%). Conclusions: In men in western Kenya who were HIV seronegative, the HerpeSelect and Kalon type-specific ELISAs had high sensitivities yet limited specificities using the Western blot as reference standard. Overall, the Kalon ELISA performed better than the HerpeSelect ELISA in these young men from Kisumu. Further understanding is needed for the interpretation of HSV-2 inhibition or ELISA test positive/Western blot seronegative results. Before HSV-2 seropositivity may be reliably reported in selected areas of Africa, performance studies of HSV-2 serological assays in individual geographical areas are recommended. | None | virus antibody; adult; antibody blood level; antibody detection; article; blood sampling; clinical trial; controlled clinical trial; controlled study; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; geographic distribution; Herpes simplex virus 2; high risk population; human; Human immunodeficiency virus; Kenya; major clinical study; male; priority journal; randomized controlled trial; sensitivity and specificity; seroprevalence; United States; virus detection; Western blotting; Adolescent; Adult; Antibodies, Viral; Blotting, Western; Circumcision, Male; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Herpes Genitalis; Herpesvirus 2, Human; HIV Seronegativity; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Kenya; Male; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Serologic Tests; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84883391145 | Comparing the Performance of Cluster Random Sampling and Integrated Threshold Mapping for Targeting Trachoma Control, Using Computer Simulation | Smith J.L., Sturrock H.J.W., Olives C., Solomon A.W., Brooker S.J. | 2013 | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases | 7 | 8 | 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002389 | London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; London Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases Research, London, United Kingdom; Global Health Group, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States; University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya | Smith, J.L., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom, London Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases Research, London, United Kingdom; Sturrock, H.J.W., Global Health Group, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States; Olives, C., University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Solomon, A.W., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom, London Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases Research, London, United Kingdom; Brooker, S.J., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom, London Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases Research, London, United Kingdom, Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya | Background:Implementation of trachoma control strategies requires reliable district-level estimates of trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF), generally collected using the recommended gold-standard cluster randomized surveys (CRS). Integrated Threshold Mapping (ITM) has been proposed as an integrated and cost-effective means of rapidly surveying trachoma in order to classify districts according to treatment thresholds. ITM differs from CRS in a number of important ways, including the use of a school-based sampling platform for children aged 1-9 and a different age distribution of participants. This study uses computerised sampling simulations to compare the performance of these survey designs and evaluate the impact of varying key parameters.Methodology/Principal Findings:Realistic pseudo gold standard data for 100 districts were generated that maintained the relative risk of disease between important sub-groups and incorporated empirical estimates of disease clustering at the household, village and district level. To simulate the different sampling approaches, 20 clusters were selected from each district, with individuals sampled according to the protocol for ITM and CRS. Results showed that ITM generally under-estimated the true prevalence of TF over a range of epidemiological settings and introduced more district misclassification according to treatment thresholds than did CRS. However, the extent of underestimation and resulting misclassification was found to be dependent on three main factors: (i) the district prevalence of TF; (ii) the relative risk of TF between enrolled and non-enrolled children within clusters; and (iii) the enrollment rate in schools.Conclusions/Significance:Although in some contexts the two methodologies may be equivalent, ITM can introduce a bias-dependent shift as prevalence of TF increases, resulting in a greater risk of misclassification around treatment thresholds. In addition to strengthening the evidence base around choice of trachoma survey methodologies, this study illustrates the use of a simulated approach in addressing operational research questions for trachoma but also other NTDs. © 2013 Smith et al. | None | azithromycin; article; classification; cluster random sampling; computer simulation; disease control; endemic disease; health survey; human; Integrated Threshold Mapping; prevalence; receiver operating characteristic; risk factor; sample size; sampling; sensitivity analysis; trachoma | B&MGF, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; 098045, Wellcome Trust |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-67650004009 | Getting that grant: How to convince an evaluation panel that your proposal is worthy of funding | Smith G.F., Figueiredo E., Pennington T., Davila P. | 2009 | Taxon | 58 | 2 | None | Biosystematics and Biodiversity Collections and Chief Financial Officer, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Private Bag X101, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa; H.G.W.J. Schweickerdt Herbarium, Department of Plant Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa; Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 20a Inverleith Row, Edinburgh EH3 SLR, United Kingdom; Facultad de Estudios Superiores, Iztacala, UNAM, Av. de los Barrios no 1, Tlalnepantla Edo. de, Mexico 54090, Mexico | Smith, G.F., Biosystematics and Biodiversity Collections and Chief Financial Officer, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Private Bag X101, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa, H.G.W.J. Schweickerdt Herbarium, Department of Plant Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa; Figueiredo, E., H.G.W.J. Schweickerdt Herbarium, Department of Plant Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa; Pennington, T., Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 20a Inverleith Row, Edinburgh EH3 SLR, United Kingdom; Davila, P., Facultad de Estudios Superiores, Iztacala, UNAM, Av. de los Barrios no 1, Tlalnepantla Edo. de, Mexico 54090, Mexico | For some years the International Association for Plant Taxonomy (IAPT) has sponsored research grants in plant systematics to young scientists, predominantly from developing countries. At the meeting of Council, held on 12 January 2008 in Pretoria, South Africa, the first such meeting held in Africa, it was decided to review the programme and to provide applicants with advice on how to write a successful proposal. Guidelines for proposal writing are given here. | Grant; Guidelines; IAPT; Plant systematics; Proposal writing | conference proceeding; developing world; guideline; plant community; research work; taxonomy | None |
| None | None | Multivitamin supplementation in HIV-positive pregnant women: Impact on depression and quality of life in a resource-poor setting | Smith Fawzi M.C., Kaaya S.F., Mbwambo J., Msamanga G.I., Antelman G., Wei R., Hunter D.J., Fawzi W.W. | 2007 | HIV Medicine | 8 | 4 | 10.1111/j.1468-1293.2007.00454.x | Program in Infectious Disease and Social Change, Department of Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, 641 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Department of Community Health, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States | Smith Fawzi, M.C., Program in Infectious Disease and Social Change, Department of Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, 641 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115, United States; Kaaya, S.F., Department of Psychiatry, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Mbwambo, J., Department of Psychiatry, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Msamanga, G.I., Department of Community Health, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Antelman, G., Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Wei, R., Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Hunter, D.J., Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Fawzi, W.W., Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States, Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States | Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to examine the effect of vitamin supplementation on health-related quality of life and the risk of elevated depressive symptoms comparable to major depressive disorder (MDD) in HIV-positive pregnant women in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methods: From April 1995 to July 1997, 1078 HIV-positive pregnant women were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial. We examined the effects of vitamin supplementation on quality of life and the risk of elevated depressive symptoms, assessed longitudinally every 6-12 months. Results: A substantial prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms (42%) was observed in HIV-positive pregnant women. Multivitamin supplementation (B-complex, C and E) demonstrated a protective effect on depression [relative risk (RR) = 0.78; P = 0.005] and quality of life [RR = 0.72 for social functioning (P = 0.001) and vitality (P = 0.0001); RR = 0.70 for role-physical (P = 0.002)]; however, vitamin A showed no effect on these outcomes. Conclusions: Multivitamin supplementation (B-complex, C and E) resulted in a reduction in risk of elevated depressive symptoms comparable to MDD and improvement in quality of life in HIV-positive pregnant women in Tanzania. © 2007 British HIV Association. | Depression; HIV; Quality of life; Tanzania; Vitamin supplementation | alpha tocopherol; ascorbic acid; beta carotene; cyanocobalamin; folic acid; multivitamin; nicotinic acid; placebo; pyridoxine; retinol; riboflavin; thiamine; vitamin B complex; adult; article; CD4 lymphocyte count; clinical trial; controlled clinical trial; controlled study; double blind procedure; drug blood level; drug efficacy; female; follow up; high risk patient; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; longitudinal study; major clinical study; major depression; monotherapy; nonhuman; physical activity; pregnant woman; prevalence; priority journal; quality of life; randomized controlled trial; risk assessment; risk reduction; social interaction; symptom; Tanzania; vitamin supplementation; Adult; Depression; Dietary Supplements; Disease Progression; Double-Blind Method; Female; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Longitudinal Studies; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Quality of Life; Vitamins | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84928105303 | Performance of regional flood frequency analysis methods in kwazulu-natal, south africa | Smithers J.C., Streatfield J., Gray R.P., Oakes E.G.M. | 2015 | Water SA | 41 | 3 | 10.4314/wsa.v41i3.11 | Bioresources Engineering, School of Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, South Africa; Jeffares and Green (Pty) Ltd, 6 Pin Oak Avenue, Hilton, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | Smithers, J.C., Bioresources Engineering, School of Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, South Africa, Jeffares and Green (Pty) Ltd, 6 Pin Oak Avenue, Hilton, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Streatfield, J., Jeffares and Green (Pty) Ltd, 6 Pin Oak Avenue, Hilton, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Gray, R.P., Jeffares and Green (Pty) Ltd, 6 Pin Oak Avenue, Hilton, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Oakes, E.G.M., Jeffares and Green (Pty) Ltd, 6 Pin Oak Avenue, Hilton, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | Estimates of design floods are required for the design of hydraulic structures and to quantify the risk of failure of the structures. Many international studies have shown that design floods estimated using a regionalised method result in more reliable estimates of design floods than values computed from a single site or from other methods. A number of regional flood frequency analysis (RFFA) methods have been developed, which cover all or parts of South Africa. These include methods developed by Van Bladeren (1993), Mkhandi et al. (2000), Görgens (2007) and Haile (2011). The performance of these methods has been assessed at selected flow-gauging sites in the province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. It is recommended that the limitations of available flow records to estimate extreme flow events need to be urgently addressed. From the results for KZN the JPV method, with a regionalised GEV distribution with the veld zone regionalisation, generally gave the best performance when compared to design floods estimated from the annual maximum series extracted from the observed data. It is recommended that the performance of the various RFFA methods needs to be assessed at a national scale and that a more detailed regionalisation be used in the development of an updated RFFA method for South Africa. © 2015, South African Water Research Commission. All rights reserved. | KwaZulu-Natal; Regional flood frequency analysis | Design; Flood control; Rain; Annual maximum series; GEV distributions; International studies; Kwazulu-Natal; Regional flood frequency analysis; Regionalisation; Reliable estimates; Risk of failure; Floods; design flood; extreme event; failure analysis; flood frequency; flow pattern; frequency analysis; gauge; hydraulic structure; performance assessment; regional planning; risk assessment; KwaZulu-Natal; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-55549133586 | Substance use and sexual risk prevention in Cape Town, South Africa: An evaluation of the HealthWise program | Smith E.A., Palen L.-A., Caldwell L.L., Flisher A.J., Graham J.W., Mathews C., Wegner L., Vergnani T. | 2008 | Prevention Science | 9 | 4 | 10.1007/s11121-008-0103-z | Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, United States; University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa; S-109 Henderson Building, University Park, PA 16802, United States | Smith, E.A., Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, United States, S-109 Henderson Building, University Park, PA 16802, United States; Palen, L.-A., Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, United States; Caldwell, L.L., Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, United States; Flisher, A.J., University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Graham, J.W., Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, United States; Mathews, C., University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Wegner, L., University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa; Vergnani, T., University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa | Sexual behavior and substance use represent major threats to the health and well-being of South African adolescents, especially in light of the high prevalence of HIV infection in this population. However, there is currently a lack of evidence-based school programs designed to address health risk behaviors. The current study details the evaluation of HealthWise South Africa, a leisure, life skills, and sexuality education intervention for eighth and ninth grade students. We hypothesized that, compared to controls, HealthWise participants would have delayed sexual initiation, reduced rates of current sexual activity, increased use of and perceived access to condoms, and lower rates of lifetime and past use of multiple substances. Longitudinal data were analyzed using logistic regression of multiply imputed data. Results indicate that HealthWise was effective in increasing the perception of condom availability for both genders (OR=1.6). As compared to HealthWise participants, control participants also had steeper increases in recent and heavy use of alcohol (OR=1.4 [95% C.I.=1.1-1.8], 1.6 [1.2-2.2], respectively) and recent and heavy cigarette use (OR=1.4 [1.1-1.7], 1.4 [1.1-1.8], respectively). There were also several significant gender by treatment interactions, which are discussed. These results suggest that HealthWise is a promising approach to reducing multiple health risk behaviors among the population of school-going South African adolescents. © 2008 Society for Prevention Research. | Adolescence; Adolescent sexual behavior; Adolescent substance use; HIV prevention; Intervention; Sexual behavior; South Africa; Substance use | addiction; adolescent; article; child behavior; condom; evaluation; female; health promotion; human; male; school health service; social marketing; South Africa; unsafe sex; utilization review; Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior; Condoms; Female; Health Promotion; Humans; Male; School Health Services; Social Marketing; South Africa; Substance-Related Disorders; Unsafe Sex | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79955875625 | Evaluating the economic impact of national sporting performance:Evidence from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange | Smith B.K., Krige J.D. | 2010 | South African Journal of Business Management | 41 | 3 | None | University of Stellenbosch Business School, PO Box 610, Bellville 7535, South Africa | Smith, B.K., University of Stellenbosch Business School, PO Box 610, Bellville 7535, South Africa; Krige, J.D., University of Stellenbosch Business School, PO Box 610, Bellville 7535, South Africa | This study examines the impact of South Africa's national soccer, rugby and cricket teams' performances in international matches on returns on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). Match results constitute a mood proxy variable hypothesised to affect stock returns through its influence on investor mood. The unconditional mean return on the JSE All Share index for a 131/2 year period from September 1995 to February 2009 was compared to the mean return after wins, draws and losses by the national sport teams. An event study approach was followed and four different statistical tests were conducted in order to test for a relationship. The results of the tests indicate the existence of a moderate win effect, with mean returns after wins being statistically significantly higher for the categories all sports combined, cricket and soccer. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84885959560 | Geological variations in the Merensky Reef at Bafokeng Rasimone Platinum Mine and its influence on flotation performance | Smith A.J.B., Viljoen K.S., Schouwstra R., Roberts J., Schalkwyk C., Gutzmer J. | 2013 | Minerals Engineering | 52 | None | 10.1016/j.mineng.2013.05.015 | Paleoproterozoic Mineralization Research Group, Department of Geology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa; Anglo American Technical Solutions - Research, Crown Mines, Johannesburg, South Africa; Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre, University of Queensland, Indooroopilly, Brisbane, Australia; Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology, Freiberg, Germany | Smith, A.J.B., Paleoproterozoic Mineralization Research Group, Department of Geology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa; Viljoen, K.S., Paleoproterozoic Mineralization Research Group, Department of Geology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa; Schouwstra, R., Anglo American Technical Solutions - Research, Crown Mines, Johannesburg, South Africa, Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre, University of Queensland, Indooroopilly, Brisbane, Australia; Roberts, J., Anglo American Technical Solutions - Research, Crown Mines, Johannesburg, South Africa; Schalkwyk, C., Anglo American Technical Solutions - Research, Crown Mines, Johannesburg, South Africa; Gutzmer, J., Paleoproterozoic Mineralization Research Group, Department of Geology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa, Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology, Freiberg, Germany | The Merensky Reef of the Bushveld Complex of South Africa is marked by prominent lateral and vertical variations in its geology, platinum group element grade distribution and platinum group mineralogy. At Bafokeng Rasimone Platinum Mine on the western limb of the complex eleven distinct Merensky Reef facies have been identified. The reef facies show different mineral processing behaviour. Detailed geometallurgical characterisation of three reef facies (FW 1A contact, FW 3 pothole and pothole edge reef facies) at Bafokeng Rasimone Platinum Mine has been carried out in an attempt to understand differences in flotation performance. Results illustrate that the FW 1A contact facies has the best Pt and Pd grades and recoveries in the flotation concentrates and the pothole edge facies has the worst. The differences are related not only to mineralogical and textural characteristics of the platinum group minerals and base metal sulphides in the different facies, but also pertain to the geological position and the mineralogy of the host rocks that are introduced as dilution to achieve a realistic mining cut. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Froth flotation; Liberation analysis; Ore mineralogy; Precious metal ores | Flotation performance; Geological variations; Liberation analysis; Ore mineralogy; Platinum group elements; Platinum group minerals; Precious metal ores; Textural characteristic; Economic geology; Froth flotation; Platinum mines; Reefs; Ores | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34347324108 | Coalescence methods reveal the impact of vicariance on the spatial genetic structure of Elephantulus edwardii (Afrotheria, Macroscelidea) | Smit H.A., Robinson T.J., Van Vuuren B.J. | 2007 | Molecular Ecology | 16 | 13 | 10.1111/j.1365-294X.2007.03334.x | Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private BagX1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; DST-NRF Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private BagX1, Matieland 7602, South Africa | Smit, H.A., Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private BagX1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Robinson, T.J., Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private BagX1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Van Vuuren, B.J., Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private BagX1, Matieland 7602, South Africa, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private BagX1, Matieland 7602, South Africa | Within the Macroscelidea 15 species of elephant-shrews are recognized, of which nine occur in the southern African subregion. The Cape rock elephant-shrew (Elephantulus edwardii) is the only strictly endemic South African elephant-shrew species. Recent distribution data suggest that E. edwardii is continuously distributed from Namaqualand in the Western Cape Province to Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape Province. Molecular sequences from the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and variable control region indicate significant substructure within the Cape rock elephant-shrew across its distribution. Our data unequivocally showed the presence of a northern Namaqua and central Fynbos clade with four evolutionary lineages identified within the latter. The geographical delimitation of the northern and central clades corresponds closely with patterns reported for other rock-dwelling vertebrate species, indicating a shared biogeographical history for these taxa in South Africa. A coalescent method revealed the effects of ancestral polymorphism in shaping the Namaqua and Fynbos populations since their divergence ∼1.7 million years ago. Furthermore, our analyses uncovered a distinct Karoo lineage(s) that does not correspond to any of the previously described and/or currently recognized species, and we therefore argue for the possible recognition of a new sister taxon to E. edwardii. The taxonomic affinities of this clade were examined by sequencing corresponding regions from the type specimens of species described in the past, but which presently are synonimized within E. edwardii. Our results reveal the morphological misidentification of one of these types, accentuating the problems of field identification. © 2007 The Authors. | Cape Fold Mountains; Elephant-shrew; Knersvlakte; Phylogeography; Sengi; South Africa | cytochrome b; mitochondrial DNA; animal; article; classification; ecosystem; genetic variability; genetics; geography; shrew; South Africa; Animals; Cytochromes b; DNA, Mitochondrial; Ecosystem; Geography; Shrews; South Africa; Variation (Genetics); Afrotheria; Elephantulus edwardii; Loxodonta; Macroscelidea; Soricidae; Vertebrata | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80052153687 | Impacts of fishing low-trophic level species on marine ecosystems | Smith A.D.M., Brown C.J., Bulman C.M., Fulton E.A., Johnson P., Kaplan I.C., Lozano-Montes H., Mackinson S., Marzloff M., Shannon L.J., Shin Y.-J., Tam J. | 2011 | Science | 333 | 6046 | 10.1126/science.1209395 | Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Wealth FromOceans Flagship, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia; School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Climate Adaptations Flagship, Brisbane, QLD 4163, Australia; National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, WA 98112, United States; Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Wealth from Oceans Flagship, Floreat, WA 6014, Australia; Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft NR33 0HT, United Kingdom; Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay, TAS 7005, Australia; University of Cape Town, Marine Research (MA-RE) Institute, Department of Zoology, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Institut de Recherche Pour le Développement, UMR EME 212, Ecosystèmes Marins Exploités, 34203 Sète, France; Instituto del Mar del Perú, Esquina Gamarra Y General Valle S/n, Callao, Peru | Smith, A.D.M., Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Wealth FromOceans Flagship, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia; Brown, C.J., School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Climate Adaptations Flagship, Brisbane, QLD 4163, Australia; Bulman, C.M., Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Wealth FromOceans Flagship, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia; Fulton, E.A., Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Wealth FromOceans Flagship, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia; Johnson, P., Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Wealth FromOceans Flagship, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia; Kaplan, I.C., National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, WA 98112, United States; Lozano-Montes, H., Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Wealth from Oceans Flagship, Floreat, WA 6014, Australia; Mackinson, S., Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft NR33 0HT, United Kingdom; Marzloff, M., Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Wealth FromOceans Flagship, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay, TAS 7005, Australia; Shannon, L.J., University of Cape Town, Marine Research (MA-RE) Institute, Department of Zoology, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Shin, Y.-J., University of Cape Town, Marine Research (MA-RE) Institute, Department of Zoology, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa, Institut de Recherche Pour le Développement, UMR EME 212, Ecosystèmes Marins Exploités, 34203 Sète, France; Tam, J., Instituto del Mar del Perú, Esquina Gamarra Y General Valle S/n, Callao, Peru | Low-trophic level species account for more than 30% of global fisheries production and contribute substantially to global food security. We used a range of ecosystem models to explore the effects of fishing low-trophic level species on marine ecosystems, including marine mammals and seabirds, and on other commercially important species. In five well-studied ecosystems, we found that fishing these species at conventional maximum sustainable yield (MSY) levels can have large impacts on other parts of the ecosystem, particularly when they constitute a high proportion of the biomass in the ecosystem or are highly connected in the food web. Halving exploitation rates would result in much lower impacts on marine ecosystems while still achieving 80% of MSY. | None | biomass; commercial species; ecosystem modeling; fishery production; food security; food web; global perspective; mammal; marine ecosystem; seabird; sustainable development; trophic level; aquatic species; article; biomass; environmental exploitation; environmental sustainability; fishing; food web; marine environment; marine mammal; nonhuman; priority journal; seabird; trophic level; Animals; Aquatic Organisms; Biodiversity; Biomass; Birds; Ecosystem; Fisheries; Fishes; Food Chain; Mammals; Models, Biological; Oceans and Seas; Population Dynamics; Mammalia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84909983185 | Synthesis and in vitro biological evaluation of dihydroartemisinyl-chalcone esters | Smit F.J., Van Biljon R.A., Birkholtz L.-M., N'da D.D. | 2014 | European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry | 90 | None | 10.1016/j.ejmech.2014.11.016 | Center of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Department of Biochemistry, Centre for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Smit, F.J., Center of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Van Biljon, R.A., Department of Biochemistry, Centre for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Birkholtz, L.-M., Department of Biochemistry, Centre for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; N'da, D.D., Center of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa | A series of dihydroartemisinyl-chalcone esters were synthesized through esterification of chalcones with dihydroartemisinin (DHA). The hybrids were screened against chloroquine (CQ) sensitive (3D7) and CQ resistant (W2) strains of intraerythrocytic Plasmodium falciparum parasites, and were all found to be active, with IC<inf>50</inf> values ranging between 1.5 and 11 nM against both strains, with SI values over 5800. The esters featuring oxygenated aryl rings (7, 10 and 11), were found to be equipotent to DHA, but were 2-3 times more active than artesunate against the 3D7 and W2 strains of the malaria parasites. They were also screened in vitro against a panel of three cancer cell lines consisting of TK-10, UACC-62 and MCF-7. Compound 7, bearing a furan ring, displayed the most potent overall antitumor activity against all three cancer cell lines. TGA revealed that the targeted hybrids were all thermally more stable than DHA, which may be beneficial to the high temperature storage conditions that prevail in malaria endemic countries. During this study, ester 7 was identified as the best candidate for further investigation as a potential drug in search for new, safe and effective antimalarial drugs. © 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. | Antitumor; Chalcone; Dihydroartemisinin; Malaria; Plasmodium falciparum | 10 aplha dihydroartemisinyl 4 [(1e) 3 (5 methylfuran 2 yl) 3 oxoprop 1 en 1 yl]benzoate; 10 beta dihydroartemisinyl 4 [[(1e) 3 oxo 3 (2,3,4 trichlorophenyl)]prop 1 en yl]benzoate; 10 dihydroartemisinyl 4 [(1e) 3 oxo 3 phenylprop 1 en 1 yl]benzoate; 10 dihydroartemisinyl 4 [[(1e) 3 (2,4 dimethoxyphenyl)] 3 oxoprop 1 en 1 yl]benzoate; 10 dihydroartemisinyl 4 [[(1e) 3 (3 methoxy 4 nitrophenyl)] 3 oxoprop 1 en 1 yl]benzoate; 10 dihydroartemisinyl 4 [[(1e) 3 (3,4 dimethoxyphenyl)] 3 oxoprop 1 en 1 yl]benzoate; 4 [(1e) 3 oxo 3 phenylprop 1 en 1 yl]benzoic acid; 4 [[(1e) 3 (2,4 dimethoxyphenyl)] 3 oxoprop 1 en 1 yl]benzoic acid; 4 [[(1e) 3 (3 methoxy 4 nitrophenyl)] 3 oxoprop 1 en 1 yl]benzoic acid; 4 [[(1e) 3 (3,4 dimethoxyphenyl)] 3 oxoprop 1 en 1 yl]benzoic acid; 4 [[(1e) 3 (5 methylfuran 2 yl)] 3 oxoprop 1 en 1 yl]benzoic acid; 4 [[(1e) 3 oxo 3 (2,3,4 trichlorophenyl)]prop 1 en 1 yl]benzoic acid; antimalarial agent; antineoplastic agent; artesunate; chalcone derivative; chloroquine; dihydroartemisinin; dihydroartemisinin derivative; dihydroartemisinyl chalcone ester; ester derivative; furan; unclassified drug; antimalarial agent; antineoplastic agent; artemisinin derivative; chalcone; ester; antimalarial activity; antineoplastic activity; Article; cancer cell line; controlled study; drug screening; drug stability; drug storage; drug synthesis; high temperature; human; human cell; IC50; in vitro study; nonhuman; Plasmodium falciparum; storage temperature; structure activity relation; cell proliferation; chemical structure; chemistry; dose response; drug effects; drug sensitivity; MCF 7 cell line; synthesis; tumor cell line; Antimalarials; Antineoplastic Agents; Artemisinins; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Chalcone; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Esters; Humans; MCF-7 Cells; Molecular Structure; Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; Plasmodium falciparum; Structure-Activity Relationship | NRF, UID 76443, National Research Foundation |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84939880409 | Publish Yet Perish: On the Pitfalls of Philosophy of Education in an Age of Impact Factors | Smeyers P., de Ruyter D.J., Waghid Y., Strand T. | 2014 | Studies in Philosophy and Education | 33 | 6 | 10.1007/s11217-014-9404-9 | KU Leuven (Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Laboratory for Education and Society), Leuven, Belgium; Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; VU University (Faculty of Psychology and Education; LEARN! research institute for learning and education), Amsterdam, Netherlands; Stellenbosch University (Department of Educational Policy Studies), Stellenbosch, South Africa; University of Oslo (Institute of Education), Oslo, Norway | Smeyers, P., KU Leuven (Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Laboratory for Education and Society), Leuven, Belgium, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; de Ruyter, D.J., VU University (Faculty of Psychology and Education; LEARN! research institute for learning and education), Amsterdam, Netherlands; Waghid, Y., Stellenbosch University (Department of Educational Policy Studies), Stellenbosch, South Africa; Strand, T., University of Oslo (Institute of Education), Oslo, Norway | In many countries publications in Web of Knowledge journals are dominant in the evaluation of educational research. For various purposes comparisons are made between the output of philosophers of education in these journals and the publications of their colleagues in educational research generally, sometimes also including psychologists and/or social scientists. Taking its starting-point from Hayden’s article in this journal (Stud Philos Educ 31:1–27, 2012), this paper discusses the situation of educational research in three countries: The Netherlands, South Africa and Norway. In this paper an alternative for comparing research output is offered by invoking comparisons with colleagues at the international level from within the same sub-discipline. It is argued that if one would do so a different picture would emerge, even if one were to limit oneself to particular kinds of publications. The case is then made that if comparisons are regarded as a necessary part of the evaluation of an individual scholar (for appointment, promotion, tenure, and/or funding application purposes), it would be more fair to use a proxy system which is sub-discipline specific, or minimally contains some kind of correction factor in relation to the over-all quality assessment device. Debates about the relevance or irrelevance of philosophy of education in the context of educational sciences are now obscured, even poisoned by focusing almost exclusively on a particular kind of publication output. As the ‘reward’ system that is developed accordingly is possibly the most important driver of educational research, it puts the sub-discipline unduly under pressure to the extent that it possibly cannot survive. © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht. | Output comparison; Philosophy of education; Publication culture; Sub-discipline evaluation; Web of Knowledge | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80053195519 | Evaluation of biological geotextiles for reducing runoff and soil loss under various environmental conditions using laboratory and field plot data | Smets T., Poesen J., Bhattacharyya R., Fullen M.A., Subedi M., Booth C.A., Kertész A., Szalai Z., Toth A., Jankauskas B., Jankauskiene G., Guerra A., Bezerra J.F.R., Yi Z., Panomtaranichagul M., Bühmann C., Paterson D.G. | 2011 | Land Degradation and Development | 22 | 5 | 10.1002/ldr.1095 | Physical and Regional Geography Research Group, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium; School of Applied Sciences, The University of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom; Engineering and the Built Environment, The University of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom; Geographical Research Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungary; Kaltinenai Research Station of the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture, Lithuania; Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Yunnan Agricultural University, China; Chang Mai University, Thailand; Institue for Soil, Climate and Water of the Agricultural Research Council, South Africa | Smets, T., Physical and Regional Geography Research Group, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium; Poesen, J., Physical and Regional Geography Research Group, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium; Bhattacharyya, R., School of Applied Sciences, The University of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom; Fullen, M.A., School of Applied Sciences, The University of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom; Subedi, M., School of Applied Sciences, The University of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom; Booth, C.A., Engineering and the Built Environment, The University of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom; Kertész, A., Geographical Research Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungary; Szalai, Z., Geographical Research Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungary; Toth, A., Geographical Research Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungary; Jankauskas, B., Kaltinenai Research Station of the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture, Lithuania; Jankauskiene, G., Kaltinenai Research Station of the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture, Lithuania; Guerra, A., Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Bezerra, J.F.R., Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Yi, Z., Yunnan Agricultural University, China; Panomtaranichagul, M., Chang Mai University, Thailand; Bühmann, C., Institue for Soil, Climate and Water of the Agricultural Research Council, South Africa; Paterson, D.G., Institue for Soil, Climate and Water of the Agricultural Research Council, South Africa | Preliminary investigations suggest biological geotextiles could be an effective and inexpensive soil conservation method, with enormous global potential. However, limited quantitative data are available on the erosion-reducing effects of biological geotextiles. Therefore, the objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of biological geotextiles in reducing runoff and soil loss under controlled laboratory conditions and under field conditions reflecting continental, temperate and tropical environments. In laboratory experiments, interrill runoff, interrill erosion and concentrated flow erosion were simulated using various rainfall intensities, flow shear stresses and slope gradients. Field plot data on the effects of biological geotextiles on sheet and rill erosion were collected in several countries (UK, Hungary, Lithuania, South Africa, Brazil, China and Thailand) under natural rainfall. Overall, based on the field plot data, the tested biological geotextiles reduce runoff depth and soil loss rates on average by 46 per cent and 79 per cent, respectively, compared to the values for bare soil. For the field and laboratory data of all tested geotextiles combined, no significant difference in relative runoff depth between field measurements and interrill laboratory experiments is observed. However, relative soil loss rate for the concentrated flow laboratory experiments are significantly higher compared to the interrill laboratory experiments and the field plot measurements. Although this study points to some shortcomings of conducting laboratory experiments to represent true field conditions, it can be concluded that the range and the mean relative runoff depth and soil loss rate as observed with the field measurements is similar to those as observed with the interrill laboratory experiments. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.. | Erosion control mats; Geotextiles; Laboratory and field plots; Soil conservation; Surface cover | Bare soils; Concentrated flow; Controlled laboratories; Environmental conditions; Erosion control; Field conditions; Field measurement; Field plot; Flow shear stress; Hungary; Interrill; Interrill erosion; Laboratory experiments; Lithuania; Quantitative data; Rainfall intensity; Rill erosion; Runoff depth; Slope gradients; Soil loss; South Africa; Surface cover; Thailand; Tropical environments; Agricultural runoff; Erosion; Experiments; Geotextiles; Laboratories; Rain; Shear flow; Soil conservation; Soils; Soil surveys; environmental conditions; erosion control; geotextile; rainfall; rill; runoff; shear stress; sheet erosion; soil conservation; soil erosion | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79954506535 | Impact of the South African Construction Regulations on construction health and safety: Architects' perceptions | Smallwood J.J., Haupt T.C. | 2007 | Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology | 5 | 1 | 10.1108/17260530710746588 | Department of Construction Management, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa; Faculty of Engineering, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Belville, South Africa | Smallwood, J.J., Department of Construction Management, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa; Haupt, T.C., Faculty of Engineering, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Belville, South Africa | Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to consider the impact on architects of recently introduced Construction Regulations in South Africa. Design/methodology/approach: Given the passing of the first anniversary of the promulgation of the Construction Regulations, a survey was conducted to determine the perceptions of member practices of the South African Institute of Architects. Findings: Findings include: the traditional project parameters in the form of cost, quality, and time are still perceived to be substantially more important than health and safety (H&S); the manifestations of the impact of the Construction Regulations are wide spread - increased H&S awareness predominates among the manifestations, followed by increased consideration for H&S by most stakeholders, and H&S predominates in terms of the extent to which the Construction Regulations will impact on various project parameters. Originality/value: The paper offers a valid argument for the inclusion of construction H&S to feature more prominently in architectural education and training programmes. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Architecture; Construction industry; Health and safety; South Africa | Architectural education; Construction regulation; Design/methodology/approach; Health and safety; Project parameters; South Africa; Wide spreads; Accident prevention; Construction industry; Health; Architecture | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84874246015 | The impact of HIV-1 infection and exposure on natural killer (NK) cell phenotype in kenyan infants during the first year of life | Slyker J.A., Lohman-Payne B., John-Stewart G.C., Dong T., Mbori-Ngacha D., Tapia K., Atzberger A., Taylor S., Rowland-Jones S.L., Blish C.A. | 2012 | Frontiers in Immunology | 3 | DEC | 10.3389/fimmu.2012.00399 | Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom; Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Epidemiology and Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom; Computational Biology Research Group, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom; Department of Medicine and Stanford Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States; United Nations Children's Fund, Merafe House, 11 Naivasha Rd, Sunninghill Private Bag X44, Sunninghill 2157, South Africa; Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity College, College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland; Nuffield Department of Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom | Slyker, J.A., Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom; Lohman-Payne, B., Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya; John-Stewart, G.C., Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Department of Epidemiology and Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Dong, T., MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom; Mbori-Ngacha, D., Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya, United Nations Children's Fund, Merafe House, 11 Naivasha Rd, Sunninghill Private Bag X44, Sunninghill 2157, South Africa; Tapia, K., Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Atzberger, A., MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity College, College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland; Taylor, S., Computational Biology Research Group, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom; Rowland-Jones, S.L., MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom, Nuffield Department of Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom; Blish, C.A., Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Department of Medicine and Stanford Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States | Natural killer (NK) cells play an important role in the containment of HIV replication during primary infection, though their functions are impaired during chronic HIV infection. Infants experience more rapid HIV disease progression than adults, but contributions of infant NK cells to containing HIV infection are unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of HIV infection on infant NK cell phenotype by evaluating samples and data from a cohort study of women and their infants, conducted in Nairobi, Kenya between 1999 and 2003. The percentage and phenotype of NK cells was evaluated longitudinally by multi-parameter flow cytometry over the first year of life in HIV-infected (HIV+, = 16), HIV-exposed uninfected (HIV-EU, n = 6), and healthy unexposed controls (HIV-, n = 4). At birth, NK subset distributions based on expression of CD56 and CD16 did not differ between HIV+, HIV-EU, or HIV- infants. However, HIV infection was associated with a subsequent decline in NK cells as a percentage of total lymphocytes (p < 0.001), and an expanding proportion of CD56-CD16+ NK cells (p < 0.001). Activated CD38brightCD69+ NK cells were more frequent in the HIV+ infants, followed by HIV-EU and HIV- infants, in both CD56dim (p = 0.005) and CD56bright compartments (p = 0.03). HIV infection and exposure was also associated with a significant decline in the percentage of perforin-expressing NK cells in the CD56dim compartment over the first year of life, with HIV+ infants losing approximately 2.5% (p < 0.001) and HIV-EU infants losing 3.0% (p=0.01) of perforin+ cells per month. Thus, infant HIV infection is associated with alterations in NK cell subsets, activation, and cytolytic potential that could contribute to their poor control over HIV infection. Furthermore, exposure to HIV infection in infants who escaped infection is also associated with alterations in NK cells that may contribute to the reduced ability to fight infections that is observed in HIV-EU infants. © 2012 Slyker, Lohman-Payne, John-Stewart, Dong, Mbori-Ngacha, Tapia, Atzberger, Taylor, Rowland-Jones and Blish. | Age; Cord blood; Exposure; HIV-1; Immune activation; Infancy; Mother-to-child transmission; NK cell | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84866718834 | Selection of climate change scenario data for impact modelling | Sloth Madsen M., Maule C.F., MacKellar N., Olesen J.E., Christensen J.H. | 2012 | Food Additives and Contaminants - Part A Chemistry, Analysis, Control, Exposure and Risk Assessment | 29 | 10 | 10.1080/19440049.2012.712059 | Danish Climate Centre, Danish Meteorological Institute, Lyngbyvej 100, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Agroecology, University of Aarhus, PO Box 50, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark; African Climate and Development Initiative, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7700, South Africa | Sloth Madsen, M., Danish Climate Centre, Danish Meteorological Institute, Lyngbyvej 100, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Maule, C.F., Danish Climate Centre, Danish Meteorological Institute, Lyngbyvej 100, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; MacKellar, N., Danish Climate Centre, Danish Meteorological Institute, Lyngbyvej 100, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark, African Climate and Development Initiative, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7700, South Africa; Olesen, J.E., Department of Agroecology, University of Aarhus, PO Box 50, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark; Christensen, J.H., Danish Climate Centre, Danish Meteorological Institute, Lyngbyvej 100, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark | Impact models investigating climate change effects on food safety often need detailed climate data. The aim of this study was to select climate change projection data for selected crop phenology and mycotoxin impact models. Using the ENSEMBLES database of climate model output, this study illustrates how the projected climate change signal of important variables as temperature, precipitation and relative humidity depends on the choice of the climate model. Using climate change projections from at least two different climate models is recommended to account for model uncertainty. To make the climate projections suitable for impact analysis at the local scale a weather generator approach was adopted. As the weather generator did not treat all the necessary variables, an ad-hoc statistical method was developed to synthesise realistic values of missing variables. The method is presented in this paper, applied to relative humidity, but it could be adopted to other variables if needed. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC. | crop phenology; method validation; mycotoxins; precipitation; relative humidity; temperature | Climate change projections; Climate change scenarios; Climate data; Climate projection; Crop phenology; Impact analysis; Impact model; Local scale; Method validations; Model uncertainties; mycotoxins; Weather generator; Atmospheric humidity; Biology; Climate models; Crops; Isomers; Phenols; Precipitation (chemical); Temperature; Uncertainty analysis; Climate change; mycotoxin; article; climate change; climate model; crop; environmental impact; environmental temperature; generator; humidity; nonbiological model; phenology; precipitation; priority journal; weather; Agriculture; Animals; Climate Change; Crops, Agricultural; Databases, Factual; Europe; Food Safety; Forecasting; Fungi; Humans; Models, Biological; Mycotoxins; Spatio-Temporal Analysis; Uncertainty; Weather | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-17844407191 | Evaluation of an HIV/AIDS peer education programme in a South African workplace | Sloan N.M., Myers J.E. | 2005 | South African Medical Journal | 95 | 4 | None | Department of Public Health, National Health Service Ayrshire and Arran, United Kingdom; School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Sloan, N.M., Department of Public Health, National Health Service Ayrshire and Arran, United Kingdom; Myers, J.E., School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Objectives. To evaluate a South African workplace HIV/AIDS peer-education programme running since 1997. Methods. In 2001 a cross-setional study was, done of 900 retail-section employees in three geographical areas, The study measured HIV/AIDS knowledge,,attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS, belief about self-risk of infection, and condom use as a practice indicator. The impact of an HIV/AIDS peer-education programme on these outcomes was examined. Results. Training by peer educators had no significant impact on any outcome. Fifty-nine per cent of subjects had a good knowledge score, 62% had positive attitude towards people with HIV/AIDS, 34% used condoms frequently, and the majority of participants (73%) believed they were at low risk of infection. Logistical regression showed that a very small proportion of the variance in the four outcomes was explained by potential determinants of interest (8% for knowledge, 6% for attitude, 7% for risk and 17% for condom use). Conclusions. The HIV peer-education programme was found to be ineffective and may have involved an opportunity cost. The programme contrast with more costly comprehensive care that includes antiretrovirals. The private sector appears to have been as tardy as the public sector in addressing the epidemic effectively. | None | antiretrovirus agent; acquired immune deficiency syndrome; adolescent; adult; aged; article; awareness; condom; controlled study; cost benefit analysis; education program; employee; epidemic; female; frequency analysis; geography; health behavior; health education; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; infection risk; logistic regression analysis; male; occupational health; outcomes research; private practice; public health service; risk assessment; scoring system; South Africa; statistical significance; workplace; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Condoms; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health Education; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; HIV Infections; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Peer Group; Risk Factors; South Africa; Workplace | 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-s2.0-19444377376 | Phylogenetic and morphological re-evaluation of the Botryosphaeria species causing diseases of Mangifera indica | Slippers B., Johnson G.I., Crous P.W., Coutinho T.A., Wingfield B.D., Wingfield M.J. | 2005 | Mycologia | 97 | 1 | None | Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; ACIAR, P.O. Box 1571, Canberra, ACT 101, Australia; Centraalbureau Voor Schimmelcultures, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, Netherlands | Slippers, B., Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Johnson, G.I., ACIAR, P.O. Box 1571, Canberra, ACT 101, Australia; Crous, P.W., Centraalbureau Voor Schimmelcultures, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, Netherlands; Coutinho, T.A., Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Wingfield, B.D., Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Wingfield, M.J., Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Species of Botryosphaeria are among the most serious pathogens that affect mango trees and fruit. Several species occur on mangoes, and these are identified mainly on the morphology of the anamorphs. Common taxa include Dothiorella dominicana, D. mangiferae (= Natrassia mangiferae), D. aromatica and an unidentified species, Dothiorella 'long'. The genus name Dothiorella, however, is acknowledged as a synonym of Diplodia. This study aimed to characterize and name the Botryosphaeria spp. associated with disease symptoms on mangoes. To achieve this isolates representing all four Dothiorella spp. mentioned above were compared with the anamorphs of known Botryosphaeria spp., based on conidial morphology and DNA sequence data. Two genomic regions were analyzed, namely the ITS rDNA and β-tubulin regions. The morphological and molecular results confirmed that the fungi previously identified from mango as species of Dothiorella belong to Fusicoccum. Dothiorella dominicana isolates were identical to isolates of F. parvum (teleomorph = B. parva). A new epithet, namely F. mangiferum, is proposed for isolates previously treated as D. mangiferae or N. mangiferae. Isolates of D. aromatica were identified as F. aesculi (teleomorph = B. dothidea). A fourth Fusicoccum sp. also was identified as those isolates previously known as Dothiorella 'long'. A key is provided to distinguish these species based on anamorph morphology in culture. This study provides a basis for the identification of Botryosphaeria species from mango, which is important for disease control and to uphold quarantine regulations. © 2005 by The Mycological Society of America. | Conidia; Dieback; Fusicoccum; Identification; Mango; Phylogeny; Soft rot; Stem-end rot; Taxonomy | fungal DNA; ribosomal spacer DNA; RNA 5.8S; tubulin; fungal disease; identification method; phylogeny; taxonomy; article; Ascomycetes; classification; DNA sequence; genetics; mango; microbiological examination; microbiology; molecular genetics; nucleotide sequence; pathogenicity; phylogeny; plant disease; RNA gene; species difference; ultrastructure; Ascomycota; DNA, Fungal; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; Genes, rRNA; Mangifera; Molecular Sequence Data; Mycological Typing Techniques; Phylogeny; Plant Diseases; RNA, Ribosomal, 5.8S; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Species Specificity; Tubulin; Botryosphaeria; Botryosphaeria dothidea; Diplodia; Dothidea; Dothiorella; Fungi; Fusicoccum; Mangifera indica | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-66949149382 | Evaluation of the effect of the introduction of a hypertension club on the management of hypertension at a community health centre in the Cape Town Metropole | Slingers N., De Villiers P.J.T. | 2009 | South African Family Practice | 51 | 2 | None | Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa | Slingers, N., Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa; De Villiers, P.J.T., Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa | Background: Hypertension is a widespread problem of immense economic importance in sub-Saharan Africa because of its high prevalence in urban areas, its frequent under-diagnosis, and the severity of its complications. A systematic review of interventions used to improve the management of hypertension in primary care showed that effective delivery of hypertensive care requires a systematic approach in the community. The rationale for establishing a hypertension club at the Mitchell's Plain Community Health Centre (MPCHC), Cape Town, South Africa is based on the findings of and recommendations made by a study done previously at MPCHC by the Chronic Diseases of Lifestyle Programme of the Medical Research Council. This study found that the blood pressure of hypertensive patients was not optimally controlled and both the drug and non-drug management of hypertension needed to be improved. The patients had asked for the introduction of a dedicated hypertension club. Methods: A dedicated hypertension club was started at MPCHC and hypertensive patients were enrolled. A booking system with an appointment register was initiated. A hypertension record sheet was kept in the patient's folder. Observations like blood pressure (BP), weight, and urinalysis were recorded by the club's nurses. Health information officers were used to educate the patients about hypertension, its treatment and complications. The doctors' role was to fully assess the patients' risk profiles and to develop a management plan. To audit the club, a questionnaire was conducted on an initial group of 100 patients at the inception of the club and repeated on a group of 100 patients after six months. The aim was to assess the patients' knowledge of issues affecting the management of hypertension and their satisfaction with the service received at MPCHC. A folder review was done on the second group of patients. The intention was to evaluate whether there had been a change in the patients' BP over the preceding six months, whether the patients were compliant and whether observations were made regularly. Results: The average age of the study population was early sixties. More women than men were studied. The knowledge of the follow-up group regarding factors affecting hypertension control was slightly better than that of the initial group, but remained poor. The knowledge of the consequences of poor hypertension control did not improve after six months. Salt use stayed the same. The patients were satisfied with the service received, although shorter waiting times were desired. About 64% of the patients had collected their medication as per schedule. In the initial group, 48% of the patients had a BP > 140/90 mmHg. After six months, 33% of the patients had a BP > 140/90 mmHg. Conclusions: The study did not show much change in the patients' knowledge in the first six months after the institution of the hypertension club. Compliance was poor, although BP control improved somewhat. The benefit was in setting up the system. | Chronic diseases blood pressure; Hypertension club; Management; Mitchell's Plain Community Health Centre | adult; article; blood pressure monitoring; blood pressure regulation; body weight; disease control; female; health care organization; health center; health promotion; health service; human; hypertension; major clinical study; male; medical information; medical record; patient education; patient satisfaction; questionnaire; risk assessment; South Africa; urinalysis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-27644547370 | From impact assessment to effective management plans: Learning from the Great Brak Estuary in South Africa | Slinger J.H., Huizinga P., Taljaard S., van Niekerk L., Enserink B. | 2005 | Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal | 23 | 3 | None | Policy Analysis Section, Faculty of Technology Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology, Jaffalaan 5, 2628BX Delft, Netherlands; CSIR, Box 320, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa | Slinger, J.H., Policy Analysis Section, Faculty of Technology Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology, Jaffalaan 5, 2628BX Delft, Netherlands; Huizinga, P., CSIR, Box 320, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa; Taljaard, S., CSIR, Box 320, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa; van Niekerk, L., CSIR, Box 320, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa; Enserink, B., Policy Analysis Section, Faculty of Technology Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology, Jaffalaan 5, 2628BX Delft, Netherlands | In 1990, the environmental impacts of an upstream dam on the Great Brak town and estuary were assessed and a management plan and monitoring programme were devised. In a recent review of the monitoring results, planned water releases and interventions in the form of timely mouth breaching were found to have ensured that, although the estuary's abiotic functioning has altered, its biotic health has not deteriorated over the last ten years. The lessons learned are captured in the revised management plan of 2004, which exhibits a clear shift to explicit communication plans and operational procedures, indicating that the initial environmental impact assessment (EIA) products were rudimentary. We argue that learning-through-doing and active public participation in the Great Brak case are essential ingredients in the adaptive management that is fundamental to successful EIA follow-up. © IAIA 2005. | Adaptive management; EIA follow-up; Freshwater requirements; Mouth breaching; Public participation; Water management | assessment method; environmental impact; freshwater; monitoring system; Africa; Eastern Hemisphere; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; World | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84876257384 | Malaria microscopy performance in self-presenting febrile patients at four health facilities in Fentale district of East Shewa, Ethiopia | Sleshi M., Animut A., Mohammed H., Medhin G., Kebede A. | 2012 | Ethiopian Medical Journal | 50 | 4 | None | Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Ethiopia; Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Sleshi, M., Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Ethiopia; Animut, A., Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Mohammed, H., Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Ethiopia; Medhin, G., Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Kebede, A., Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Ethiopia | Background: Correct and reliable microscopic examination results are vital in appropriate treatment of malaria in endemic areas, mainly where Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax co-exist in Ethiopia. Thus, evaluation of regular malaria microscopy performance is needed. Objectives: To evaluate the performance of regular malaria microscopy and antimalarial drug prescription practices for self-presenting febrile patients at health facilities located in malaria endemic areas of upper Awash Valley, eastern central Ethiopia. Methods: A cross sectional study design was used to recruit 260 febrile patients at four health facilities in Fentale district. All slides collected at health facilities were rechecked in reference laboratories and Kappa score was calculated to see the slide reading agreement. Results: Malaria parasites from clinical cases were found in 19.6% (51/260) of the total febrile patients of which 82.4% (42/51) were infected with P. vivax and 17.6% (9/51) with P. falciparum. Overall sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of regular malaria microscopy readings were 92.2%, 83.7%, 58% and 97.8%, respectively. Arteinether-lumefantrine over prescription rates was 50.8% by the regular microscopy and 53.6% by reference microscopy. There was only a moderate agreement between regular malaria microscopy and reference microscopy with the Kappa value of 0.52. Conclusion: The overall reading agreement and agreement on species identification of the regular and reference microscopy were low. There was variability in performance in the different health facilities. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of regular malaria microscopy need to be improved for accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment of malaria cases in Fentale district health facilities. There should be rational use of antimalarials especially on slide negative subjects. | None | antimalarial agent; artemether plus benflumetol; artemisinin derivative; ethanolamine derivative; fluorene derivative; adolescent; adult; article; child; drug combination; Ethiopia; female; good laboratory practice; health care facility; human; inappropriate prescribing; infant; malaria falciparum; male; microscopy; middle aged; Plasmodium vivax malaria; predictive value; preschool child; standard; Adolescent; Adult; Antimalarials; Artemisinins; Child; Child, Preschool; Drug Combinations; Ethanolamines; Ethiopia; Female; Fluorenes; Health Facilities; Humans; Inappropriate Prescribing; Infant; Laboratory Proficiency Testing; Malaria, Falciparum; Malaria, Vivax; Male; Microscopy; Middle Aged; Predictive Value of Tests; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-35348871884 | Evaluation of weigh-in-motion accuracy by simulation | Slavik M. | 2007 | Journal of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering | 49 | 3 | None | BKS, South Africa; BKS (Pty) Ltd., PO Box 3173, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa | Slavik, M., BKS, South Africa, BKS (Pty) Ltd., PO Box 3173, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa | A method for the evaluation of accuracy of weigh-in-motion (WIM) scales based on Monte Carlo simulation Is proposed. The objective of the method is to assist with decision on acceptance of the tested WIM scale as sufficiently accurate, or its rejection. Conceptually, the method considers a 'nebula' of possible populations that could supply the observed sample of n weighing errors. Excessive WIM weighing error is defined as an error falling outside a specified acceptance region. The percentage of excessive errors, Q, is then determined in each of the above populations. The distribution of Q Is constructed and the probability of Q exceeding a tolerable limit Qcrit is determined from this distribution. Verdict on acceptance or rejection is formulated in terms of the above probability and displayed graphically. Also graphically displayed are risks of wrong acceptance and wrong rejection. This allows the user to make decisions with a full view of consequences. The method is simple to use and its applications Indicate that, when using conventional WIM-accuracy testing procedures, one may under-estimate the risk of wrong decision. The objective of the paper is to Introduce and explain the principle of a method for correct evaluation of accuracy of weigh-in-motion scales. The purpose of the method is to assist with decisions on acceptance of the tested scale as sufficiently accurate, or its rejection. | Risk of wrong acceptance or rejection; Simulation; Weighing error; WIM accuracy | Weighing error; WIM accuracy; Computer simulation; Decision making; Monte Carlo methods; Probability; Risk analysis; Building codes | 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-s2.0-79955044115 | Evaluation of the physical properties and stability of two lipid drug delivery systems containing mefloquine | Slabbert C., Plessis L.H.D., Kotzé A.F. | 2011 | International Journal of Pharmaceutics | 409 | 42371 | 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2011.01.050 | Unit for Drug Research and Development, North-West University, Hoffman Street, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa | Slabbert, C., Unit for Drug Research and Development, North-West University, Hoffman Street, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa; Plessis, L.H.D., Unit for Drug Research and Development, North-West University, Hoffman Street, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa; Kotzé, A.F., Unit for Drug Research and Development, North-West University, Hoffman Street, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa | Stability data is used to determine the change the product has undergone over a certain time period at specific temperatures. In the present study, the physical stability characterized by size, pH and entrapment efficacy of mefloquine loaded liposomes and Pheroid™ vesicles were investigated. Size was accurately determined by flow cytometry. Entrapment efficacy, after unentrapped drug was removed was successfully determined by UV- spectrophotometry. The formulations contained 0.5% (m/v) mefloquine and results showed that mefloquine interfered with the formation of lipid bilayer of the liposomes. Liposomes increased in size from 5.22 ± 0.03 μm to 9.71 ± 1.11 μm with accelerated stability and large aggregates were observed. A notable difference in stability testing of Pheroid™ vesicles was seen with no significant increase in size. Entrapment efficacy of 68.72 ± 0.04% (5 °C), 67.45 ± 2.92% (25 °C) and 67.45 ± 2.92% (30 °C) were obtained at the different storage conditions. With these findings the mefloquine loaded Pheroid™ vesicles are stable and should be used investigated for the possible increase in efficacy and bioavailability and decrease toxicity. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Drug delivery system; Liposome; Mefloquine hydrochloride; Pheroid™ Technology; Stability Characterization | drug carrier; liposome; mefloquine; article; drug delivery system; drug formulation; drug stability; flow cytometry; lipid bilayer; lipid vesicle; membrane binding; particle size; pH; priority journal; ultraviolet spectrophotometry; Antimalarials; Colloids; Drug Delivery Systems; Drug Stability; Drug Storage; Fatty Acids; Flow Cytometry; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Liposomes; Mefloquine; Particle Size; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; Temperature | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84887060107 | Radiation stability of the ODS alloys against swift heavy ion impact | Skuratov V.A., Uglov V.V., O'Connell J., Sohatsky A.S., Neethling J.H., Rogozhkin S.V. | 2013 | Journal of Nuclear Materials | 442 | 42372 | 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2013.07.017 | FLNR, JINR, Dubna, Russian Federation; Belarusian State University, Minsk, Belarus; CHRTEM, NMMU, Port Elizabeth, South Africa; ITEP, Moscow, Russian Federation | Skuratov, V.A., FLNR, JINR, Dubna, Russian Federation; Uglov, V.V., Belarusian State University, Minsk, Belarus; O'Connell, J., CHRTEM, NMMU, Port Elizabeth, South Africa; Sohatsky, A.S., FLNR, JINR, Dubna, Russian Federation; Neethling, J.H., CHRTEM, NMMU, Port Elizabeth, South Africa; Rogozhkin, S.V., ITEP, Moscow, Russian Federation | The microstructure of Cr16 ferritic steel reinforced with yttrium oxide particles and KP4 ODS alloy irradiated with 167 MeV xenon and 700 MeV bismuth ions at 300 K has been studied using high resolution transmission electron microscopy. Amorphous latent tracks were identified in (Cr, W) 23C6, Y2Ti2O7 and Y 2TiO5 nanoparticles in Cr16 at a Bi ion fluence of 1.5 × 1012 cm-2. It was found that multiple track overlapping leads to complete amorphization of carbide and (Y, Ti) oxide particles in Cr16 specimens. No latent tracks have been observed in Y 4Al2O9 particles in KP4 irradiated with Bi ions. Small oxide particles (∼5 nm), in KP4 alloy, remain crystalline at Bi ion fluences up to 1.5 × 1013 cm-2, while subsurface regions in large (∼20 nm) particles were amorphized. Xe ion irradiation at fluences of 1 × 1014 cm-2 and 1.5 × 10 15 cm-2 resulted in amorphization of small Y 4Al2O9 oxide particles while the amorphous bodies of large particles were found to contain small crystalline inclusions. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | None | Large particles; Oxide particles; Radiation stability; Small-crystalline; Steel reinforced; Subsurface regions; Swift heavy ions; Xe ion-irradiation; Alloys; Amorphization; Carbides; Crystalline materials; High resolution transmission electron microscopy; Ion bombardment; Titanium oxides | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84887039805 | The impact of community-based capital cash transfers on orphan schooling in Kenya [L'importance des transferts de capitaux communautaires sur la scolarisation des orphelins au Kenya] | Skovdal M., Webale A., Mwasiaji W., Tomkins A. | 2013 | Development in Practice | 23 | 7 | 10.1080/09614524.2013.809697 | Institute of Social Psychology, London School of Economics and Political Science, United Kingdom; SECOBA Consultancy, Nairobi, Kenya; Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development, Nairobi, Kenya; Centre for International Health and Development, Institute of Child Health, University College London, United Kingdom | Skovdal, M., Institute of Social Psychology, London School of Economics and Political Science, United Kingdom; Webale, A., SECOBA Consultancy, Nairobi, Kenya; Mwasiaji, W., Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development, Nairobi, Kenya; Tomkins, A., Centre for International Health and Development, Institute of Child Health, University College London, United Kingdom | In this article we report on a community-based capital cash transfer initiative (CCCT) in Kenya that sought to mobilise and enable HIV-affected communities to respond to the needs of orphaned and vulnerable children. With bilateral funding, the Social Services Department in Kenya provided 80 communities across ten districts with advice and resources to set up social enterprises for the support of vulnerable children. A wide range of food and income generating activities were initiated by the communities, whose produce or profits contributed to the improved school attendance and performance of orphaned children, particularly amongst girls. We conclude that CCCT is a viable strategy for improving orphan schooling in sub-Saharan Africa. © 2013 Taylor & Francis. | Aid - Capacity development, - Monitoring and evaluation; Civil society - Participation, - Partnership; Gender and diversity - Youth; Sub-Saharan Africa | capital flow; child welfare; civil society; humanitarian aid; local participation; orphan; Kenya | DFID, Department for International Development |
| 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-s2.0-84872442014 | 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 |
| 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-s2.0-33745302574 | HIV disclosure and other factors that impact on adherence to antiretroviral therapy: The case of Soweto, South Africa | Skhosana N.L., Struthers H., Gray G.E., McIntyre J.A. | 2006 | African Journal of AIDS Research | 5 | 1 | None | Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, PO Box 114, Diepkloof, Johannesburg 1864, South Africa | Skhosana, N.L., Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, PO Box 114, Diepkloof, Johannesburg 1864, South Africa; Struthers, H., Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, PO Box 114, Diepkloof, Johannesburg 1864, South Africa; Gray, G.E., Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, PO Box 114, Diepkloof, Johannesburg 1864, South Africa; McIntyre, J.A., Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, PO Box 114, Diepkloof, Johannesburg 1864, South Africa | Some authors argue that there are no predictors of adherence to medication, while others proffer indicators of likely adherence. These contextual factors are wide-ranging and may be interdependent. There are few studies of adherence in resource-poor settings. Of these, many were linked to particular trials whose conditions were highly controlled. For instance, the number of participants in the trial was small, the participants were strictly selected and they were offered much adherence support. These conditions will largely fall away with wider access to antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) such as South Africa is undertaking. Poor adherence remains one of the challenges to scaling-up access to ARVs, and, as such, the likely barriers to adherence need to be understood and countered. This study explores contextual factors - such as disclosure, preparation for treatment, treatment meaning and treatment acceptance - as aspects of lifestyle that can bear on adherence. Those who had disclosed were largely supported at household level, and after initial problems with adherence, participants adjusted and were able to include ARV treatment in their daily repertoire. Although the anticipation of stigma remains an obstacle to wide disclosure, antiretroviral therapy offers new hope and has the potential to impact on stigma. Copyright © NISC Pty Ltd. | Clinical trials; Gender; Household; Psychosocial; Stigma; Treatment literacy | antiretrovirus agent; adult; article; clinical article; female; health care access; household; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; interpersonal communication; lifestyle; male; patient attitude; patient compliance; prediction; South Africa; stigma | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-70649105566 | Surface pressure effects from shock wave impact on inclined and curved clothing | Skews B.W., Bugarin S., Sawicka E. | 2010 | International Journal of Impact Engineering | 37 | 3 | 10.1016/j.ijimpeng.2009.07.005 | School of Mechanical, Industrial, and Aeronautical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, PO WITS, 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa | Skews, B.W., School of Mechanical, Industrial, and Aeronautical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, PO WITS, 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa; Bugarin, S., School of Mechanical, Industrial, and Aeronautical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, PO WITS, 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa; Sawicka, E., School of Mechanical, Industrial, and Aeronautical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, PO WITS, 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa | Previous studies of the impact of a blast or shock wave on a layer of textile positioned a short distance in front of a surface have shown that significant pressure amplification can occur. These studies have all dealt with the case of head-on impact on plane textile surfaces. This study extends such work to plane textile specimens inclined to the wave propagation direction, both for the textile freely suspended in order to examine the transmitted wave and with it positioned a short distance in front of a solid surface. Tests are also conducted with the textile suspended in a cylindrical shape positioned in front of a curved surface to approximate a more realistic practical loading case on a torso. Three textile types were used, varying significantly in permeability. In the oblique impact case it is found that the pressure amplification decreases as the wall angle decreases. The behaviour of the wave system in the gap between the textile layer and the body is clarified, showing a succession of oblique shock reflections and transmissions back through the textile layer. Tests on the cylindrical body surface at low Mach number show no significant amplification at the most forward position and steadily decreasing pressure around the sides of the surface. The concern regarding very large increases in pressure which arose from tests on head-on impact on plane surfaces appear to be ameliorated when the body is curved. Computer simulations are used to confirm the wave pattern for the cylindrical case by modeling a curved porous surface a short distance in front of a rigid wall. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Blast loading; Pressure amplification; Trauma | Blast loading; Curved surfaces; Cylindrical bodies; Cylindrical shapes; Low Mach numbers; Oblique impact; Plane surfaces; Porous surface; Rigid wall; Shock reflection; Short distances; Solid surface; Surface pressures; Textile surfaces; Transmitted waves; Wave patterns; Wave propagation direction; Wave system; Clarification; Computer simulation; Mach number; Offshore structures; Pressure effects; Shock waves; Textiles; Amplification | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34548146570 | Flow features resulting from shock wave impact on a cylindrical cavity | Skews B.W., Kleine H. | 2007 | Journal of Fluid Mechanics | 580 | None | 10.1017/S0022112007005757 | School of Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa; School of Aerospace, Civil, and Mechanical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia | Skews, B.W., School of Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa; Kleine, H., School of Aerospace, Civil, and Mechanical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia | The complex flow features that arise from the impact of a shock wave on a concave cavity are determined by means of high-speed video photography. Besides additional information on features that have previously been encountered in specific studies, such as those relating to shock wave reflection from a cylindrical wall and those associated with shock wave focusing, a number of new features become apparent when the interaction is studied over longer times using time-resolved imaging. The most notable of these new features occurs when two strong shear layers meet that have been generated earlier in the motion. Two jets can be formed, one facing forward and the other backward, with the first one folding back on itself. The shear layers themselves develop a Kelvin-Helmholtz instability which can be triggered by interaction with weak shear layers developed earlier in the motion. Movies are available with the online version of the paper. © Cambridge University Press 2007. | None | Cylinders (shapes); Imaging techniques; Jets; Numerical methods; Shear flow; Shock waves; Flow features; Kelvin-Helmholtz instability; Video photography; Fluid structure interaction; Cylinders (shapes); Fluid structure interaction; Imaging techniques; Jets; Numerical methods; Shear flow; Shock waves; cylinder; fluid flow; imaging method; Kelvin-Helmholtz instability; photography; shear flow; shock wave | 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-s2.0-84863785889 | Using individual differences to predict job performance: Correcting for direct and indirect restriction of range | Sjöberg S., Sjöberg A., Näswall K., Sverke M. | 2012 | Scandinavian Journal of Psychology | 53 | 4 | 10.1111/j.1467-9450.2012.00956.x | Stockholm University, Sweden; University of Canterbury, New Zealand; North-West University, South Africa | Sjöberg, S., Stockholm University, Sweden; Sjöberg, A., Stockholm University, Sweden; Näswall, K., Stockholm University, Sweden, University of Canterbury, New Zealand; Sverke, M., Stockholm University, Sweden, North-West University, South Africa | The present study investigates the relationship between individual differences, indicated by personality (FFM) and general mental ability (GMA), and job performance applying two different methods of correction for range restriction. The results, derived by analyzing meta-analytic correlations, show that the more accurate method of correcting for indirect range restriction increased the operational validity of individual differences in predicting job performance and that this increase primarily was due to general mental ability being a stronger predictor than any of the personality traits. The estimates for single traits can be applied in practice to maximize prediction of job performance. Further, differences in the relative importance of general mental ability in relation to overall personality assessment methods was substantive and the estimates provided enables practitioners to perform a correct utility analysis of their overall selection procedure. © 2012 The Authors. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology © 2012 The Scandinavian Psychological Associations. | General mental ability; Job performance; Personality; Personnel selection; Range restriction correction | aptitude; article; human; individuality; methodology; personality; personality test; personnel management; psychological model; regression analysis; Aptitude; Employee Performance Appraisal; Humans; Individuality; Models, Psychological; Personality; Personality Assessment; Personnel Selection; Regression Analysis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-70349985255 | The impact of political transformation on employment in the Transkei bureaucracy and civil service in Umtata, South Africa since 1994 | Siyongwana P.Q. | 2009 | GeoJournal | 74 | 4 | 10.1007/s10708-008-9237-6 | Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa | Siyongwana, P.Q., Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa | The demise of South African Apartheid Planning in 1994 and subsequent lost of Umtata's capital status when the Transkei was subsumed into the new Eastern Cape Province resulted in the major political transformation of the Transkei state. Central to the post-apartheid transformation was restructuring of Transkei bureaucracy which at the time of South Africa's independence in 1994 displayed abnormalities. This paper documents the restructuring of the Transkei bureaucracy focusing on Umtata since 1994. The study has brought to the forefront the following facts: Firstly, that at the time of the Transkei merger into South Africa, employment in the government was 'booming' and to greater extent it was affected by Umtata's role-being the capital city of the pseudo-Transkei state. Secondly, the post 1994-political transformation of the Transkei Bantustan impacted negatively on Umtata's employment notably the civil service sector by 'squeezing' it during the early years of democracy (1994-2000). Thirdly, since 2001, with Umtata serving as the major urban centre of both King Sabata Local Municipality and OR Tambo District Municipality, employment in the civil service and municipality has been revitalized. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2008. | Apartheid planning; Impact political transformation; Transkei bureaucracy; Umtata | Apartheid planning; Civil service; Impact political transformation; Paper documents; South Africa; Transkei bureaucracy; Umtata; Law enforcement; Employment; apartheid; bureaucracy; civil service; democracy; employment; political change; Africa; Eastern Cape; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Umtata | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84866512350 | The performance of DGT versus conventional soil phosphorus tests in tropical soils - An isotope dilution study | Six L., Pypers P., Degryse F., Smolders E., Merckx R. | 2012 | Plant and Soil | 359 | 02-Jan | 10.1007/s11104-012-1192-9 | Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Division of Soil and Water Management, K.U.Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 20, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium; Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Ins. of the Intl. Centre for Tropical Agriculture (TSBF-CIAT), P.O. Box 30677-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, PMB 1, Waite Campus, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia | Six, L., Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Division of Soil and Water Management, K.U.Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 20, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium; Pypers, P., Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Ins. of the Intl. Centre for Tropical Agriculture (TSBF-CIAT), P.O. Box 30677-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Degryse, F., School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, PMB 1, Waite Campus, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia; Smolders, E., Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Division of Soil and Water Management, K.U.Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 20, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium; Merckx, R., Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Division of Soil and Water Management, K.U.Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 20, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium | Background and aims: A soil test that samples nutrients only from fractions that are accessible to plants will predict availability and uptake more robustly than empirical tests. This can be tested by comparison of the isotope ratios (specific activity, SA) of the nutrient between plant and the soil extract. This study was set up to assess this requirement for the diffusive gradients in thin films technique (DGT), recently proposed as a soil P test, in comparison with conventional soil P tests viz. Olsen, Colwell, Bray-1, Mehlich-3, ammonium oxalate, anion exchange membranes (AEM) and 0. 01 M CaCl 2 solution. Methods: Maize (Zea mays L.) was grown in two P-deficient soils from western Kenya with contrasting P sorption characteristics, amended with a low and a high P rate and labelled with 33P. Results: The SA in the plant shoot corresponded with that of the extracts of the different soil tests, except for CaCl 2 and ammonium oxalate extracts, at the low P rate in the soil with low P sorption capacity, Teso soil. For the high P rate on this soil, differences in SA between maize shoot and soil test were small for all established soil tests, but significant for the Colwell, Bray-1, Mehlich-3 and AEM tests. The SA in the soil extracts was significantly smaller than that in the maize shoot for Sega the strongly P-sorbing soil at both P rates for all conventional tests, including AEM. This indicates that these tests extracted P from a pool that is not accessible to the plant. For the DGT test, however, there was no difference in SA between the maize shoot and the soil test, for any of the treatments. Conclusions: Most conventional soil tests can extract a fraction of P which is not available to maize. The DGT technique, however, only samples P from the plant-accessible pool. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. | Isotopically exchangeable phosphate; Phosphorus deficiency; Soil fertility | chloride; dilution; fractionation; growth rate; ion exchange; isotopic analysis; maize; oxalate; performance assessment; phosphorus; soil fertility; sorption; tropical soil; Kenya; Zea mays | 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-s2.0-84939791011 | 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-s2.0-84941059577 | 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 |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79960831966 | Evaluation of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) plants with natural and transgenic resistance against tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) isolates occurring in the republic of south africa (RSA) | Sivparsad B., Gubba A. | 2011 | African Journal of Agricultural Research | 6 | 13 | None | School of Agricultural Sciences and Agribusiness, Discipline of Plant Pathology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, 3201, South Africa | Sivparsad, B., School of Agricultural Sciences and Agribusiness, Discipline of Plant Pathology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, 3201, South Africa; Gubba, A., School of Agricultural Sciences and Agribusiness, Discipline of Plant Pathology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, 3201, South Africa | Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) infections causes significant economic losses in the commercial production of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). This study was undertaken to evaluate tomato with natural and transgenic resistance when inoculated with TSWV isolates occurring in the Republic of South Africa (RSA). The Stevens cultivar which has natural resistance to TSWV conferred by the Sw-5 gene and the transgenic 13-1 line which expresses the nucleocapsid (N) protein gene of the TSWV-BL isolate were used as test plants. Six TSWV isolates collected from Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, North West, Limpopo and Mpumulanga provinces were mechanically inoculated onto test plants. The trial was arranged in a general treatment structure with randomized block design and repeated once. Plants were assessed for TSWV resistance based on a disease severity rating scale and measurements of virion accumulation levels (A405nm) using Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). There were no significant differences among the reactions produced by the six TSWV isolates on the test plants. Although both plants were susceptible to the TSWV isolates from RSA by exhibiting similar high viral accumulation levels, the transgenic tomato line showed milder disease severity than the natural resistant cultivar. Results suggest that transgenic resistance is a more viable approach in the control of TSWV in RSA. © 2011 Academic Journals. | Republic of south africa; Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.); Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV); Transgenic; Virus resistance | Lycopersicon esculentum; Tomato spotted wilt virus; Tospovirus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33746394295 | Evaluation of the integrated application of two types of modified atmosphere packaging and hot water treatments on quality retention in the litchi cultivar 'McLean's Red' | Sivakumar D., Korsten L. | 2006 | Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology | 81 | 4 | None | Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa | Sivakumar, D., Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa; Korsten, L., Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa | The efficacy of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), Xtend® (XF) or biorientated polypropylene (BOPP), and hot water dip treatments on quality retention in the litchi cultivar 'McLean's Red' was evaluated as an alternative to SO2-fumigation. Fruits were dipped in hot water at different temperatures and time regimes [50°C x 2 min; 55°C x 1 min; or 60°C x 1 s] and packed in XF or in BOPP. The XF bags were closed with rubber bands, while the BOPP bags were heat-sealed to modify the atmosphere around the fruit. Packed fruits were placed in commercial cardboard cartons and stored at 2°C and 95% RH for 34 d to simulate commercial export conditions. Commercial SO 2-fumigation, and fruit without any hot water dip treatment packed in XF or BOPP were included as controls. Weight loss, firmness, pericarp browning, severity of decay, Hunter colour values, titratable acidity, fruit pH and soluble solids concentrations were determined after storage. Sensory analysis was carried out to determine colour retention of the pericarp and aril, flavour qualities, taste, odour, juiciness and overall consumer acceptability. Fruit packed in BOPP showed reduced weight loss, colour deterioration and decay, and retained excellent eating quality during long-term storage due to the high RH and higher O2 concentrations (17%) around the fruit. Hot water dip treatments at 50°C for 2 min, or at 55°C for 1 min, caused deleterious effects on pericarp colour, surface structure and quality parameters. | None | Litchi chinensis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-35048841735 | Reconfiguration and load balancing in the LV and MV distribution networks for optimal performance | Siti M.W., Nicolae D.V., Jimoh A.A., Ukil A. | 2007 | IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery | 22 | 4 | 10.1109/TPWRD.2007.905581 | Electrical Engineering Department, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria 0116, South Africa | Siti, M.W., Electrical Engineering Department, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria 0116, South Africa; Nicolae, D.V., Electrical Engineering Department, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria 0116, South Africa; Jimoh, A.A., Electrical Engineering Department, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria 0116, South Africa; Ukil, A., Electrical Engineering Department, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria 0116, South Africa | To get the distribution network to operate at its optimum performance in an automated distribution system reconfiguration was been proposed and researched. Considering, however, that optimum performance implies minimum loss, no overloading of transformers and cables, correct voltage profile, and absence of phase voltage and current imbalances, network reconfiguration alone is insufficient. It has to be complemented with techniques for phase rearrangement between the distribution transformer banks and the specific primary feeder with a radial structure and dynamic phase and load balancing along a feeder with a radial structure. This paper contributes such a technique at the low-voltage and medium-voltage levels of a distribution network simultaneously with reconfiguration at both levels. While the neural network is adopted for the network reconfiguration problem, this paper introduces a heuristic method for the phase balancing/loss minimization problem. A comparison of the heuristic algorithm with that of the neural network shows the former to be more robust. The approach proposed here, therefore for the combined problem, uses the neural network in conjunction with a heuristic method which enables different reconfiguration switches to be turned on/off and connected consumers to be switched between different phases to keep the phases balanced. An application example of the proposed method using real data is presented. © 2007 IEEE. | Distribution automation; Distribution control; Heuristic algorithm; Load balancing; Load control; Neural nets; Neural network; Optimal control; Performance evaluation; Phase arrangement; Phase current imbalance; Phase voltage imbalance; Power loss; Reconf | Electric loads; Electric switches; Heuristic algorithms; Heuristic methods; Neural networks; Optimization; Resource allocation; Distribution automation; Phase arrangement; Power loss; Electric power distribution | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84892547829 | The impact of exchange rate expectations and interest rate differentials on trade in South Africa: An econometric analysis | Sitima I., Hlatywayo C.K. | 2014 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 5 | 2 | 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n2p671 | University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa | Sitima, I., University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa; Hlatywayo, C.K., University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa | This study analyses the impact of exchange rate expectations and interest rate differentials between South Africa and its major trading partners and its effects on trade balances and employment in the exporting sector employment, using quarterly South African data covering the period 1977 to 2008. An empirical model linking the real exchange rate and interest rate differential is instigated to its theoretical determinants is then specified. The study utilizes the VECM methodology to provide both the long run and short run dynamic effects on the trade balance movements. Variables under investigation, (TOT, REER, IR, and IRS) were found to be statistically significant with the trade balance. The VECM model found 3 cointegrating equations and the most interesting result that came from this analysis is the co-movements of real effective exchange rate and interest rates differentials among the 3 cointegrating equations. | Interest rate differentials; Real effective exchange rate; Trade balance; VECM | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-72849106882 | Evaluation of employee assistance programmes: Theoretical guidelines for practice | Sithole S., Khorombi N. | 2009 | Social Work | 45 | 4 SPECIAL ISSUE | None | Department of Social Work, University of Limpopo, Turfloop Campus, Polokwane, South Africa; Employee Assistance Programme, Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), Polokwane, Limpopo Province, South Africa | Sithole, S., Department of Social Work, University of Limpopo, Turfloop Campus, Polokwane, South Africa; Khorombi, N., Employee Assistance Programme, Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), Polokwane, Limpopo Province, South Africa | Evaluation is the sine qua non of best practice in Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs). There are different models of employee assistance programme evaluation. Each model specifies the kind of data, answers and criteria that the evaluator wants. Evaluation should not be a haphazard exercise conducted because it is imperative. Consideration must be given to the goals and objectives to be met. It is important for the person undertaking an evaluation to know the menu to choose from, as each model has a specific focus and protocols. | None | employment; guideline; modeling; theoretical study | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78650085100 | Preparation, evaluation and optimization of rapidly disintegrating tablets of artemether-lumefantrine fixed dose combination | Sishu R., Gebre-Mariam T. | 2009 | Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Journal | 27 | 2 | None | Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Sishu, R., Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Gebre-Mariam, T., Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | The purpose of this work was to develop rapidly disintegrating tablet (RDT) of artemether-lumefantrine fixed dose combinations (FDC). RDTs disintegrate either rapidly in water, to form a stabilized suspension, or disperse instantaneously in the mouth to be swallowed without the aid of water. Granules containing artemether, lumefantrine, camphor, crospovidone (CPVP), and Avicel® PH 101 were prepared by wet granulation technique and the granules were air dried overnight. Tablets were first prepared and later exposed to vacuum to sublime the camphor. The tablets were evaluated for percentage friability, wetting time, disintegration time and other characteristics. A 22 full factorial design was used to investigate the combined influence of 2 formulation variables: the amount of camphor and CPVP. At a higher percentage of camphor (10%), the value of friability was above 1%. However, when the composition of camphor was reduced to 5%, the maximum percent friability obtained was 0.685. At a lower level of camphor (5%), an increase in the level of CPVP to 15% resulted in tablets which disintegrated rapidly within 19 sec having a better mechanical resistance (0.51% friability). The optimum formulation disintegrated within 17 sec having percent friability of 0.230. The unit dose content uniformity, dissolution rate, assay values and other tablet characteristics evaluated were all within the acceptable limits. Thus, it was possible to formulate an RDT of artemether-lumefantrine FDC using CPVP as a disintegrant and camphor as a pore forming agent. | Artemether-lumefantrine; Crospovidone; Fixed dose combinations; Optimization; Rapidly disintegrating tablet | artemether; artemether plus benflumetol; benflumetol; camphor; crospovidone; microcrystalline cellulose; starch glycolate sodium; article; drug formulation; drug release; drug solubility; pH measurement; physical chemistry; powder; process optimization; rapidly disintegrating tablet; suspension; tablet formulation; tablet friability; vacuum | 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-s2.0-29244444236 | Monitoring the ingestion of anti-tuberculosis drugs by simple non-invasive methods | Sirgel F.A., Maritz J.S., Venter A., Langdon G., Smith P.J., Donald P.R. | 2006 | International Journal of Pharmaceutics | 307 | 2 | 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2005.09.033 | Medical Biochemistry, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical TB Research, Stellenbosch University, P.O. Box 19063, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa; MRC Biostatistics Unit, Tygerberg, South Africa; Division of Pharmacokinetics and Drug Therapy, Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Uppsala University, Sweden; Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Tygerberg, South Africa | Sirgel, F.A., Medical Biochemistry, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical TB Research, Stellenbosch University, P.O. Box 19063, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa; Maritz, J.S., MRC Biostatistics Unit, Tygerberg, South Africa; Venter, A., Medical Biochemistry, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical TB Research, Stellenbosch University, P.O. Box 19063, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa; Langdon, G., Division of Pharmacokinetics and Drug Therapy, Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Uppsala University, Sweden; Smith, P.J., Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Donald, P.R., Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Tygerberg, South Africa | This investigation retrospectively assessed inexpensive non-invasive qualitative methods to monitor the ingestion of anti-tuberculosis drugs isoniazid, rifampicin and rifapentine. Results showed that commercial test strips detected the isoniazid metabolites isonicotinic acid and isonicotinylglycine as efficiently as the isonicotinic acid method in 150 urine samples. The presence of rifamycins in urine samples (n = 1085) was detected by microbiological assay techniques and the sensitivity compared to the n-butanol extraction colour test in 91 of these specimens. The proportions detected by the two methods were significantly different and the sensitivity of the n-butanol procedure was only 63.8% (95% CL 51.2-76.4%) as compared to that of the superior microbiological method. Final validation (n = 691) showed that qualitative assays measure isoniazid and rifamycin ingestion with an efficiency similar to high-performance liquid chromatography. The qualitative procedures may therefore be valuable in clinical trials and in tuberculosis clinics to confirm drug ingestion. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Anti-tuberculosis drugs; Monitoring adherence; Urine testing | butanol; drug metabolite; isoniazid; isonicotinic acid; isonicotinylglycine; rifampicin; rifamycin; rifapentine; tuberculostatic agent; unclassified drug; article; drug monitoring; extraction; high performance liquid chromatography; human; ingestion; intermethod comparison; major clinical study; microbiology; non invasive procedure; priority journal; qualitative analysis; retrospective study; sensitivity analysis; test strip; urinalysis; validation process; Antitubercular Agents; Drug Monitoring; Humans; Isoniazid; Isonicotinic Acids; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Patient Compliance; Reproducibility of Results; Retrospective Studies; Rifampin; Self Administration; Staphylococcus aureus | 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 |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77953322359 | Long-term anthropogenic and ecological dynamics of a Mediterranean landscape: Impacts on multiple taxa | Sirami C., Nespoulous A., Cheylan J.-P., Marty P., Hvenegaard G.T., Geniez P., Schatz B., Martin J.-L. | 2010 | Landscape and Urban Planning | 96 | 4 | 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2010.03.007 | Centre d'Écologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive UMR 5175 -, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 1919 route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier Cedex, France; 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; Étude des Structures, de Processus d'Adaptation et des Changements de L'Espace, UMR 6102 - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université d'Avignon et des Pays de Vaucluse, 74 rue Louis Pasteur - Case n17, 84029 Avignon Cedex, France; Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement, Avenue Agropolis, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France; Centre Français de Recherche en Sciences Sociales USR 3138, CNRS-MAEE, Vysehradska, 49, 128 00 Prague 2, Czech Republic; University of Alberta, Augustana Campus, 4901-46 Avenue, Camrose, Alta. T4V 2R3, Canada; Centre d'É, 1919 route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier Cedex, France | Sirami, C., Centre d'Écologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive UMR 5175 -, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 1919 route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier Cedex, France, 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; Nespoulous, A., Centre d'Écologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive UMR 5175 -, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 1919 route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier Cedex, France; Cheylan, J.-P., Étude des Structures, de Processus d'Adaptation et des Changements de L'Espace, UMR 6102 - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université d'Avignon et des Pays de Vaucluse, 74 rue Louis Pasteur - Case n17, 84029 Avignon Cedex, France, Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement, Avenue Agropolis, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France; Marty, P., Centre d'Écologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive UMR 5175 -, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 1919 route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier Cedex, France, Centre Français de Recherche en Sciences Sociales USR 3138, CNRS-MAEE, Vysehradska, 49, 128 00 Prague 2, Czech Republic; Hvenegaard, G.T., Centre d'Écologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive UMR 5175 -, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 1919 route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier Cedex, France, University of Alberta, Augustana Campus, 4901-46 Avenue, Camrose, Alta. T4V 2R3, Canada; Geniez, P., Centre d'É, 1919 route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier Cedex, France; Schatz, B., Centre d'Écologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive UMR 5175 -, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 1919 route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier Cedex, France; Martin, J.-L., Centre d'Écologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive UMR 5175 -, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 1919 route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier Cedex, France | Mediterranean landscapes resulted from the complex and ancient interaction of ecosystems and societies. Today they represent one of the world's biodiversity hotspots. These landscapes have a fine-grained mosaic and a high resilience to disturbances. However, during the last century, human pressures have led to new landscape structures and dynamics and an overall decrease in biological diversity. Within a Mediterranean landscape from southern France, we assessed the effects of land use changes on land cover and biodiversity over the last 60 years. The major land use changes involved a substantial decrease in sheep grazing and wood cutting corresponding to the abandonment of 70% of the study area. This resulted in a reduction in land use diversity which was usually high in the Mediterranean. Although land cover in the study area changed gradually (2.2% per year), over 74% changed between 1946 and 2002. This habitat shift had a subsequent impact on species distribution. Apart from amphibians and insects, most species of birds, reptiles, orchids and rare plants that responded positively to these changes were associated with woodlands, while species that responded negatively were associated with open habitats. In the Mediterranean, most rare and endemic species are associated with open habitats and are thus threatened by land abandonment. As a result, land abandonment is contributing to a decrease in local species richness and a decrease in rare and endemic species. Since similar patterns of change have been observed over most of the north-western Mediterranean, land abandonment represents a major threat for biodiversity in the Mediterranean. © 2010. | Grazing; Land abandonment; Land cover changes; Landscape heterogeneity; Open habitats | Biological diversity; Ecological dynamics; Endemic species; Grazing land; Hotspots; Land cover; Land use diversity; Land-cover change; Land-use change; Landscape structures; Similar pattern; Species distributions; Species richness; Study areas; Western Mediterranean; Wood cutting; Biodiversity; Ecology; Landforms; Land use; abandoned land; ecological approach; ecosystem resilience; grazing pressure; heterogeneity; hot spot; human activity; land cover; land use change; long-term change; Mediterranean environment; sheep; species richness; France; Amphibia; Aves; Hexapoda; Orchidaceae; Ovis aries; Reptilia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-42449088085 | Performance of the panleucogating protocol for CD4+ T cell enumeration in an HIV dedicated laboratory facility in Barbados | Sippy-Chatrani N., Marshall S., Branch S., Carmichael-Simmons K., Landis R.C., Abayomi A. | 2008 | Cytometry Part B - Clinical Cytometry | 74 | SUPPL. 1 | 10.1002/cyto.b.20406 | Ladymeade Reference Unit, Ministry of Health, Barbados; Edmund Cohen Laboratory for Vascular Research, University of the West Indies, Cavehill Campus, Barbados; School of Clinical Medicine and Research, University of the West Indies, Cavehill Campus, Barbados; Tygerberg Academic Hospital and Medical School, University of Stellenbosch, Capetown, South Africa; Ladymeade Reference Unit, Ladymeade Gardens, Jemmott's Lane, St. Michael, Barbados | Sippy-Chatrani, N., Ladymeade Reference Unit, Ministry of Health, Barbados, Ladymeade Reference Unit, Ladymeade Gardens, Jemmott's Lane, St. Michael, Barbados; Marshall, S., Ladymeade Reference Unit, Ministry of Health, Barbados; Branch, S., Ladymeade Reference Unit, Ministry of Health, Barbados; Carmichael-Simmons, K., Ladymeade Reference Unit, Ministry of Health, Barbados; Landis, R.C., Edmund Cohen Laboratory for Vascular Research, University of the West Indies, Cavehill Campus, Barbados; Abayomi, A., Ladymeade Reference Unit, Ministry of Health, Barbados, School of Clinical Medicine and Research, University of the West Indies, Cavehill Campus, Barbados, Tygerberg Academic Hospital and Medical School, University of Stellenbosch, Capetown, South Africa | Objective: To compare the Panleucogating (PLG) protocol with the routinely used four-color protocol for CD4+ T cell count enumeration. Design and Methods: One hundred fifty-three blood samples were randomly selected from samples received at the National HIV Laboratory for routine immunological monitoring. Samples were prepared using Coulter CYTO-STAT® tetraCHROME monoclonal antibodies and FlowCARE™ PLG CD4 reagent for four-color and PLG, respectively, and analyzed on the Beckman Coulter EPICS XL flow cytometer. The PLG protocol used a sequential gating strategy where CD4+ T cells were identified using side scatter properties of cells and CD45 staining. The four-color protocol used CD45 and CD3 to identify CD4+ T cells. Results: Absolute CD4+ T cell counts and percentages ranged from 4 to 1,285 cells/μL and 0.9 to 46.7%, respectively. Linear regression analyses revealed good correlation of PLG with the four-color protocol (absolute counts, R2 = 0.95; percentages, R2 = 0.98) over the entire range including the clinically relevant range. Bland Altman statistics revealed no bias for CD4 counts <500 cells/μL and a slight underestimation by PLG for counts >500 cells/μL (Bias = -32.7 cells/μL; 95% agreement limits = -151.3- +86.0). CD4+ T cell percentages were the similar over the entire range (Bias = 0.6%; 95% agreement limits = -1.97 ± 3.18). Conclusions: PLG is an accurate method for enumerating CD4+ T cells and has resulted in major cost savings to the Government of Barbados. This has implications for the sustainability of the National HIV containment program in Barbados and the other resource limited Caribbean countries. The PLG technique is now being routinely used in Barbados. © 2008 Clinical Cytometry Society. | CD4 T cell enumeration; Flow cytometry; Four-color gating; Panleucogating | monoclonal antibody; article; blood sampling; CD4 lymphocyte count; CD4+ T lymphocyte; data analysis; flow cytometry; human; human cell; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; immunological monitoring; leukocyte; linear regression analysis; lymphocyte count; major clinical study; priority journal; T lymphocyte; Barbados; cost; economics; immunology; laboratory; methodology; pathology; regression analysis; standard; Barbados; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Costs and Cost Analysis; HIV Infections; Humans; Laboratories; Regression Analysis | None |
| WoS | WOS:000258761700016 | Macroeconomic and household-level impacts of HIV/AIDS in Botswana | Jefferis, Keith,Kinghorn, Anthony,Siphambe, Happy,Thurlow, James | 2008 | AIDS | 22 | None | None | International Food Policy Research Institute, University of Botswana, Econsult Botswana, Hlth & Dev Africa | "Siphambe, Happy: University of Botswana","Thurlow, James: International Food Policy Research Institute", | Objective: To measure the impact of HlV/AIDS on economic growth and poverty in Botswana and estimate how providing treatment can mitigate its effects.
Methods: Demographic and financial projections were combined with economic simulation models, including a macroeconomic growth model and a macro-microeconomic computable general equilibrium and microsimulation model.
Results: HlV/AlDS significantly reduces economic growth and increases household poverty. The impact is now severe enough to be affecting the economy as a whole, and threatens to pull some of the uninfected population into poverty. Providing antiretroviral therapy can partly offset this negative effect. Treatment increases health's share of government expenditure only marginally, because it increases economic growth and because withholding treatment raises the cost of other health services.
Conclusion: Botswana's treatment programme is appropriate from a macroeconomic perspective. Conducting macroeconomic impact assessments is important in countries where prevalence rates are particularly high. (C) 2008 Wolters Kluwer Health. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. | AIDS,"ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY",BOTSWANA,"macroeconomic impact",POVERTY,AIDS,GROWTH | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84893971611 | The impact of smallholder irrigation on household welfare: The case of Tugela Ferry irrigation scheme in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | Sinyolo S., Mudhara M., Wale E. | 2014 | Water SA | 40 | 1 | 10.4314/wsa.v40i1.18 | Discipline of Agricultural Economics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, 3209, South Africa | Sinyolo, S., Discipline of Agricultural Economics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, 3209, South Africa; Mudhara, M., Discipline of Agricultural Economics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, 3209, South Africa; Wale, E., Discipline of Agricultural Economics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, 3209, South Africa | The potential of smallholder irrigated agriculture to enhance food security and alleviate rural poverty has led the South African Government to prioritise and invest significantly in irrigation establishment, rehabilitation and revitalisation. The question addressed in this study pertains to the extent to which smallholder irrigation has been able to reduce poverty in the rural communities to justify this investment. Using a sample of 251 farmers, this study found that factors such as land size, perceived soil fertility, household size, and access to support services were significant predictors of irrigation participation. The results from the treatment effect model indicated that access to irrigation plays a positive role in the welfare of rural households, with irrigators spending about ZAR2 000 per adult equivalent on consumption more than the non-irrigators. The study, therefore, concluded that government investments in smallholder irrigation for poverty reduction are justified. The other factors that influenced household consumption were off-farm income, land size, livestock size, education level, family size and access to support services and infrastructure. The study recommends that investments in smallholder irrigation continue for poverty reduction, and that priority should also be on finding other feasible rural micro-projects and development initiatives to complement smallholder irrigation and significantly reduce rural poverty. | Food security; Foster Greer Thorbecke (FGT) poverty measures; Poverty; Smallholder irrigation; Treatment effect model | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79959794227 | Evaluations of shallot genotypes for resistance against fusarium basal rot (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cepae) disease | Sintayehu A., Fininsa C., Ahmed S., Sakhuja P.K. | 2011 | Crop Protection | 30 | 9 | 10.1016/j.cropro.2011.04.011 | School of Plant Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia; International Centre of Agricultural Research in Dry Areas, P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria, Syrian Arab Republic | Sintayehu, A., School of Plant Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia; Fininsa, C., School of Plant Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia; Ahmed, S., International Centre of Agricultural Research in Dry Areas, P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria, Syrian Arab Republic; Sakhuja, P.K., School of Plant Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia | Fusarium basal rot (FBR) caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cepae (Foc) is one of the most significant production constraint to shallot. Field experiment was conducted in a naturally Foc infested soil at Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center during 2006 and 2007 cropping seasons to evaluate the level of resistance of sixteen shallot genotypes against FBR disease. Treatments were arranged in randomized complete block design with four replications. The genotypes significantly varied in their susceptibility to FBR and yield. They were grouped into tolerant, moderately and highly susceptible types. Five genotypes (DZ-Sht-168-1A, DZ-Sht-157-1B, Huruta, Negelle and DZ-Sht-169-1b) were identified to be tolerant as they had reduced disease severity levels from 26.8 to 32.5% and increased mean yield by more than 5 t ha-1 compared to highly susceptible genotypes (DZ-Sht-076-4, DZ-Sht-201-1C and DZ-Sht-054-3A). Among the tolerant genotypes, DZ-Sht-169-1b had greatly reduced bulb rot incidence by 48% in ground storage and 30% in wire mesh shelf as compared to highly susceptible genotype DZ-Sht-201-1C. The tolerant genotypes have high yielding characteristic, and farmers could adopt them for cultivation where FBR is a problem. © 2011. | Allium cepa var. ascalonicum; Bulb rot; Bulb storage; Disease tolerance | crop production; crop yield; cultivar; cultivation; disease resistance; disease severity; experimental design; field method; fungal disease; genotype; monocotyledon; tolerance; yield response; Debre Zeit; Ethiopia; Allium ascalonicum; Allium cepa; Fusarium; Fusarium oxysporum; Fusarium sp. | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84922254921 | Evaluation of green manure amendments for the management of fusarium basal rot (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cepae) on shallot | Sintayehu A., Ahmed S., Fininsa C., Sakhuja P.K. | 2014 | International Journal of Agronomy | 2014 | None | 10.1155/2014/150235 | Department of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Gondar University, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia; International Centre of Agricultural Research in Dry Areas, P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; School of Plant Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia | Sintayehu, A., Department of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Gondar University, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia; Ahmed, S., International Centre of Agricultural Research in Dry Areas, P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Fininsa, C., School of Plant Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia; Sakhuja, P.K., School of Plant Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia | Shallot (Allium cepa L. var. ascalonicum) is the most traditional vegetable crop in Ethiopia. Shallot is susceptible to a number of diseases that reduce yield and quality, among which fusarium basal rot (FBR) caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cepae (Foc) is one of the most important yield limiting factors in Ethiopia. The present study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of Brassica crops for the management of shallot FBR on shallot. The experiments were carried out at Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center using cabbage (Brassica oleracea), garden cress (Lepidium sativum), Ethiopia mustard (B. carinata), and rapeseed (B. napus). The evaluations were done under in vitro and greenhouse conditions. Under in vitro test condition it was confirmed that extracts of Ethiopian mustard and rapeseed showed higher inhibition on the growth of Foc pathogen compared to control. Data on seedling emergence, plant height, plant stand, disease incidence, severity, cull bulbs, and bulb weight were collected in greenhouse experiment. The green manure amendments of rapeseed and Ethiopian mustard significantly reduced disease incidence by 21% and 30% and disease severity by 23% and 29%, respectively. However the plant emergency was not significantly different among treatments in greenhouse test. These results indicated that Ethiopian mustard and rapeseed crops have potential as green manure for the management of FBR disease of shallot crop. © 2014 Assefa Sintayehu et al. | None | Allium ascalonicum; Allium cepa; Brassica; Brassica carinata; Brassica napus; Brassica oleracea; Brassica oleracea var. capitata; Fusarium; Fusarium oxysporum; Lepidium sativum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84888154310 | Urea/oxalamide tethered β-lactam-7-chloroquinoline conjugates: Synthesis and in vitro antimalarial evaluation | Singh P., Raj R., Singh P., Gut J., Rosenthal P.J., Kumar V. | 2014 | European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry | 71 | None | 10.1016/j.ejmech.2013.10.079 | Department of Chemistry, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar 143005, Punjab, India; Department of Chemistry, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4000, South Africa; Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States | Singh, P., Department of Chemistry, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar 143005, Punjab, India; Raj, R., Department of Chemistry, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar 143005, Punjab, India; Singh, P., Department of Chemistry, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4000, South Africa; Gut, J., Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States; Rosenthal, P.J., Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States; Kumar, V., Department of Chemistry, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar 143005, Punjab, India | The manuscript pertains to the synthesis of urea/oxalamide tethered β-lactam-7-chloroquinoline conjugates with well modulated chain lengths and their antimalarial evaluation. The results reveal the dependence of activity profiles on the N-1 substituent of the β-lactam ring, the nature of the linker as well as the length of the alkyl chain. The most potent of the tested compounds showed an IC50 of 34.97 nM against chloroquine resistant W2 strain of Plasmodium falciparum. © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved. | Antimalarial evaluation; beta;-Lactam-7-chloroquinoline conjugates; Structure-activity relationship; Urea/oxalamide linker | (1 cyclohexyl 2 oxo 4 styryl azetidin 3 yl) carbamic acid ethyl ester; (2 oxo 4 styryl 1 p tolyl azetidin 3 yl) carbamic acid ethyl ester; 1 [2 (7 chloro quinolin 4 ylamino) ethyl] 3 (1 cyclohexyl 2 oxo 4 styryl azetidin 3 yl) urea; 1 [2 (7 chloro quinolin 4 ylamino) ethyl] 3 (2 oxo 4 styryl 1 p tolyl azetidin 3 yl) urea; 1 [3 (7 chloro quinolin 4 ylamino) propyl] 3 (1 cyclohexyl 2 oxo 4 styryl azetidin 3 yl) urea; 1 [3 (7 chloro quinolin 4 ylamino) propyl] 3 (2 oxo 4 styryl 1 p tolyl azetidin 3 yl) urea; 1 [4 (7 chloro quinolin 4 ylamino) butyl] 3 (1 cyclohexyl 2 oxo 4 styryl azetidin 3 yl) urea; 1 [4 (7 chloro quinolin 4 ylamino) butyl] 3 (2 oxo 4 styryl 1 p tolyl azetidin 3 yl) urea; 1 [6 ( 7 chloro quinolin 4 ylamino) hexyl] 3 (2 oxo 4 styryl 1 p tolyl azetidin 3 yl) urea; 1 [6 (7 chloro quinolin 4 ylamino) hexyl] 3 (1 cyclohexyl 2 oxo 4 styryl azetidin 3 yl) urea; artemisinin; bleomycin; chloroquine; deethylamodiaquine; doxorubicin; n (1 cyclohexyl 2 oxo 4 styryl azetidin 3 yl) oxalamic acid ethyl ester; n (2 oxo 4 styryl 1 p tolyl azetidin 3 yl) oxalamic acid ethyl ester; n [1 (4 chloro phenyl) 2 oxo 4 styryl azetidin 3 yl] n' [4 (7 chloro quinolin 4 ylamino) butyl] oxalamide; n [1 (4 chloro phenyl) 2 oxo 4 styryl azetidin 3 yl] oxalamic acid ethyl ester; n [2 (7 chloro quinolin 4 ylamino) ethyl] n' (1 cyclohexyl 2 oxo 4 styryl azetidin 3 yl oxalamide; n [2 (7 chloro quinolin 4 ylamino) ethyl] n' (2 oxo 4 styryl 1 p tolyl azetidin 3 yl) oxalamide; n [3 (7 chloro quinolin 4 ylamino) propyl] n' (1 cyclohexyl 2 oxo 4-styry azetidin 3 oxalimide; n [4 (7 chloro quinolin 4 ylamino) butyl] n' (1 cyclohexyl 2 oxo 4 styryl azetiidn 3 oxalamide; n [6 (7 chloro quinolin 4 ylamino) hexyl] n' (1 cyclohexyl 2 oxo 4 styryl azetidin 3 oxalamide; n[1 (4 chloro phenyl) 2 oxo 4 styryl azetidin 3 yl] n' [6 (7 chloro quinolin 4 ylamino) hexyl] oxalamide; n[3 (7 chloro quinolin 4 ylamino) propyl] n' (2 oxo 4 styryl 1 p tolyl azetidin 3 yl) oxalamide; quinine; quinoline derivative; unclassified drug; urea derivative; (1 cyclohexyl 2 oxo 4 styryl azetidin 3 yl) carbamic acid ethyl ester; (2 oxo 4) styryl 1 4 tolyl azetidin 3 yl) carbamic acid ethyl ester; 1 [2 (7 chloro quinolin 4 ylamino) ethyl] 3 (1 cyclohexyl 2 oxo 4 styryl azetidin 3 yl) urea; 1 [2 (7 chloro quinolin 4 ylamino) ethyl] 3 (2 oxo 4 styryl 1 4 azetidin 3 yl) urea; 1 [3 (7 chloro quinolin 4 ylamino) propyl] 3 (1 cyclohexyl 2 oxo 4 styryl azetidin 3 yl) urea; 1 [3 (7 chloro quinolin 4 ylamino) propyl] 3 (2 oxo 4 styryl 1 4 azetidin 3 yl) urea; 1 [4 (7 chloro quinolin 4 ylamino) butyl] 3 (1 cyclohexyl 2 oxo 4 styryl azetidin 3 yl) urea; 1 [4 (7 chloro quinolin 4 ylamino) butyl] 3 (2 oxo 4 styryl 1 4 azetidin 3 yl) urea; 1 [6 (7 chloro quinolin 4 ylamino) hexyl] 3 (1 cyclohexyl 2 oxo 4 styryl azetidin 3 yl) urea; 1 [6 (7 chloro quinolin 4 ylamino) hexyl] 3 (2 oxo 4 styryl 1 4 azetidin 3 yl) urea; antimalarial agent; artemisinin; beta lactam 7 chloroquinoline derivative; chloroquine; deethylamodiaquine; n (1 cyclohexyl 2 oxo 4 styryl azetidin 3 yl) oxalamic acid ethyl ester; n (2 oxo 4 styryl 1 4 tolyl azetidin 3 yl) oxalamic acid ethyl ester; n [1 (4 chloro phenyl) 2 oxo 4 styryl azetidin 3 yl] n' [4 (7 chloro quinolin 4 ylamino) butyl] oxalamide; n [1 (4 chloro phenyl) 2 oxo 4 styryl azetidin 3 yl] n' [6 (7 chloro quinolin 4 ylamino) hexyl] oxalamide; n [1 (4 chloro phenyl) 2 oxo 4 styryl azetidin 3 yl] oxalamic acid ethyl ester; n [2 (7 chloro quinolin 4 ylamino) ethyl] n' (1 cyclohexyl 2 oxo 4 styryl azetidin 3 yl) oxalamide; n [2 (7 chloro quinolin 4 ylamino) ethyl] n' (2 oxo 4 styryl 1 4 tolyl azetidin 3 yl) oxalamide; n [3 (7 chloro quinolin 4 ylamino) propyl] n' (1 cyclohexyl 2 oxo 4 styryl azetidin 3 yl) oxalamide; n [3 (7 chloro quinolin 4 ylamino) propyl] n' (2 oxo 4 styryl 1 4 tolyl azetidin 3 yl) oxalamide; n [4 (7 chloro quinolin 4 ylamino) butyl] n' (1 cyclohexyl 2 oxo 4 styryl azetidin 3 yl) oxalamide; n [6 (7 chloro quinolin 4 ylamino) hexyl] n' (1 cyclohexyl 2 oxo 4 styryl azetidin 3 yl) oxalamide; oxalamide; quinine; urea; antimalarial activity; article; controlled study; drug conjugation; drug synthesis; human; human cell; IC 50; in vitro study; melting point; Plasmodium falciparum; proton nuclear magnetic resonance; thin layer chromatography; antimalarial drug resistance; Article; cytotoxicity; female; HeLa cell line; hydrogen bond; IC50; nonhuman; Antimalarial evaluation; Structure-activity relationship; Urea/oxalamide linker; β-Lactam-7-chloroquinoline conjugates; Antimalarials; beta-Lactams; Chloroquine; Humans; Malaria, Falciparum; Oxamic Acid; Plasmodium falciparum; Structure-Activity Relationship; Urea | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84869142384 | β-Lactam synthon-interceded diastereoselective synthesis of functionalized octahydroindole-based molecular scaffolds and their in vitro cytotoxic evaluation | Singh P., Raj R., Bhargava G., Hendricks D.T., Handa S., Slaughter L.M., Kumar V. | 2012 | European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry | 58 | None | 10.1016/j.ejmech.2012.10.049 | Department of Chemistry, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar 143005, India; Department of Chemistry, Punjab Technical University, Kapurthala 144601, India; Division of Medical Biochemistry, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory 7925, South Africa; Department of Chemistry, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, United States | Singh, P., Department of Chemistry, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar 143005, India; Raj, R., Department of Chemistry, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar 143005, India; Bhargava, G., Department of Chemistry, Punjab Technical University, Kapurthala 144601, India; Hendricks, D.T., Division of Medical Biochemistry, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory 7925, South Africa; Handa, S., Department of Chemistry, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, United States; Slaughter, L.M., Department of Chemistry, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, United States; Kumar, V., Department of Chemistry, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar 143005, India | A convenient and unprecedented synthesis of functionally enriched octahydroindole-based scaffolds has been developed via inter- and intra-molecular amidolysis of C-3 functionalized β-lactams. The cytotoxic evaluation on oesophageal cancer cell line WHCO1 has revealed 7d as the most potent of the test compounds exhibiting an IC50 value of 12.97 μM. The developed strategy further assumes significance as it entails the preparation of highly functionalized indoles without the aid of transition metal catalysis or pre-functionalization of substrates. © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved. | β-Lactam synthon protocol; Cytotoxicity; Diastereoselectivity; Iodocyclization; Octahydroindoles | 1 ( 4 chlorophenyl) 7 iodo 2 ( 4 methoxyphenyl)octahydroindole 3,4 dicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester; 1 ( 4 chlorophenyl) 7 iodo 2 phenyloctahydroindole 3,4 dicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester; 1,2 bis( 4 chlorophenyl) 7 iodooctahydroindole 3,4 dicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester; 2 ( 4 chlorophenyl) 7 iodo 1 phenyloctahydroindole 3,4 dicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester; 7 iodo 1,2 diphenyloctahydroindole 3,4 dicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester; 7 iodo 2 ( 4 methoxyphenyl) 1 phenyloctahydroindole 3,4 dicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester; 7 iodo 2 ( 4 methoxyphenyl) 1,4 tolyloctahydroindole 3,4 dicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester; 7 iodo 2 phenyl 1,4 tolyloctahydroindole 3,4 dicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester; antineoplastic agent; beta lactam derivative; indole derivative; metal; molecular scaffold; octahydroindole; octahydropyrrolo[4,3,2 de]isoquinoline 3,5 dione; synthon; unclassified drug; antineoplastic activity; article; cancer cell culture; catalysis; controlled study; cytotoxicity; diastereoisomer; drug potency; esophagus cancer; human; human cell; IC 50; in vitro study; one pot synthesis; phase transition; stereochemistry; Antineoplastic Agents; beta-Lactams; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Crystallography, X-Ray; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Indoles; Models, Molecular; Molecular Conformation; Stereoisomerism; Structure-Activity Relationship | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84925701747 | Impact of size and temperature on thermal expansion of nanomaterials | Singh M., Singh M. | 2015 | Pramana - Journal of Physics | 84 | 4 | 10.1007/s12043-014-0844-0 | Department of Physics and Electronics, National University of Lesotho, Z-Lesotho, South Africa; Department of Physics, Government College, Bageshwar, India | Singh, M., Department of Physics and Electronics, National University of Lesotho, Z-Lesotho, South Africa; Singh, M., Department of Physics, Government College, Bageshwar, India | A theoretical method has been discussed to study the size dependency of thermal expansion of nanomaterials at higher temperature by considering the surface effect. A thermodynamical analysis of the equation of state (EoS) is studied from the knowledge of thermal expansion of nanomaterials based on theoretical thermodynamical relations. It is observed that thermal expansion coefficient increases with decrease in grain size whereas, V/V0 increases with increase in temperature for nanomaterials of different grain sizes. We have studied the size and temperature dependence of thermal expansion of Cu, Ag, Ni, Sn, Se and Zn nanomaterials in different shapes (spherical, nanowire and nanofilm). The available experimental data confirm these theoretical predictions that demonstrate the validity of our work. | Equation of state; Nanomaterials; Size effect; Thermal expansion | Equations of state; Grain size and shape; Nanostructured materials; Nanowires; Temperature distribution; Different shapes; Equation of state; Size effects; Temperature dependence; Theoretical methods; Thermal expansion coefficients; Thermodynamical; Thermodynamical analysis; Thermal expansion | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79955599161 | Facile transformation of Biginelli pyrimidin-2(1H)-ones to pyrimidines. In vitro evaluation as inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and modulators of cytostatic activity | Singh K., Singh K., Wan B., Franzblau S., Chibale K., Balzarini J. | 2011 | European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry | 46 | 6 | 10.1016/j.ejmech.2011.03.010 | Organic Synthesis Laboratory, Department of Applied Chemical Sciences and Technology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar 143005, India; Institute for Tuberculosis Research, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, 833 South Wood Street, Chicago, IL 60612-723, United States; Department of Chemistry, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Rega Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 10 Minderbroedersstraat, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium | Singh, K., Organic Synthesis Laboratory, Department of Applied Chemical Sciences and Technology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar 143005, India; Singh, K., Organic Synthesis Laboratory, Department of Applied Chemical Sciences and Technology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar 143005, India; Wan, B., Institute for Tuberculosis Research, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, 833 South Wood Street, Chicago, IL 60612-723, United States; Franzblau, S., Institute for Tuberculosis Research, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, 833 South Wood Street, Chicago, IL 60612-723, United States; Chibale, K., Department of Chemistry, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Balzarini, J., Rega Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 10 Minderbroedersstraat, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium | A series of pyrimidine derivatives bearing amine substituents at C-2 position were obtained from Biginelli 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones and the effect of structural variation on anti-TB activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv strain and antiviral activity in a series of cell cultures was evaluated. While the compounds were found to possess structure dependent cytostatic activity, these were not found to be efficient inhibitors of M. tuberculosis nor did they inhibit a broad variety of DNA or RNA viruses in cell culture. © 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. | Biginelli compounds; Cytostatic activity; Inhibitors; MABA; Pyrimidines; Tuberculosis | 2 (2 hydroxyphenylamino) 4 methyl 6 phenylpyrimidine 5 carboxylic acid ethyl ester; 2 (3 aminophenylamino) 4 methyl 6 phenylpyrimidine 5 carboxylic acid ethyl ester; 2 (3 hydroxypropylamino) 4 methyl 6 phenylpyrimidine 5 carboxylic acid ethyl ester; 2 (4 hydroxyphenylamino) 4 methyl 6 phenylpyrimidine 5 carboxylic acid ethyl ester; 2 (piperidin 1 yl) 4 methyl 6 phenylpyrimidine 5 carboxylic acid ethyl ester; 2 [2 (1h indol 3 yl) ethylamino] 4 methyl 6 phenylpyrimidine 5 carboxylic acid ethyl ester; 2 amino 4 methyl 6 phenylpyrimidine 5 carboxylic acid ethyl ester; 2 amino 4 methylpyrimidine 5 carboxylic acid ethyl ester; 2 benzylamino 4 methyl 6 phenylpyrimidine 5 carboxylic acid ethyl ester; 2 benzylamino 4 methylpyrimidine 5 carboxylic acid ethyl ester; 2 butylamino 4 methyl 6 phenylpyrimidine 5 carboxylic acid ethyl ester; 2 ethoxy 4 methyl 6 phenylpyrimidine 5 carboxylic acid ethyl ester; 2 isopropylamino 4 methyl 6 phenylpyrimidine 5 carboxylic acid ethyl ester; 2 morpholino 4 methyl 6 phenylpyrimidine 5 carboxylic acid ethyl ester; pyrimidine derivative; pyrimidinone derivative; unclassified drug; animal cell; antiviral activity; article; bacterial strain; Biginelli reaction; cell culture; cell proliferation; controlled study; cytostasis; drug structure; drug synthesis; human; human cell; in vitro study; minimum inhibitory concentration; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; nonhuman; tuberculosis; Animals; Antitubercular Agents; Cell Proliferation; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Hela Cells; Humans; Mice; Molecular Structure; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Pyrimidines; Stereoisomerism; Structure-Activity Relationship; Tumor Cells, Cultured | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84893236984 | Synthesis of metergoline analogues and their evaluation as antiplasmodial agents | Singh K., Kaur G., Mjambili F., Smith P.J., Chibale K. | 2014 | MedChemComm | 5 | 2 | 10.1039/c3md00310h | Department of Chemistry, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Medical School, University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory 7925, South Africa | Singh, K., Department of Chemistry, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Kaur, G., Department of Chemistry, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Mjambili, F., Department of Chemistry, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Smith, P.J., Medical School, University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory 7925, South Africa; Chibale, K., Department of Chemistry, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa | A series of compounds based on metergoline were synthesized and evaluated in vitro for their antiplasmodial activity against the chloroquine-sensitive NF54 strain of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. These compounds were also screened for their cytotoxicity towards a mammalian cell line. Some of the compounds exhibited superior antiplasmodial activity with a good selectivity index relative to metergoline. © 2014 The Royal Society of Chemistry. | None | antimalarial agent; chloroquine; metergoline; metergoline derivative; unclassified drug; animal cell; antiprotozoal activity; article; CHO cell; controlled study; drug cytotoxicity; drug screening; drug structure; drug synthesis; in vitro study; nonhuman; Plasmodium falciparum; priority journal | South African Medical Research Council |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929606730 | Modernization and Development: Impact on Health Care Decision-Making in Uganda | Singh D.A.K., Earnest J., Lample M. | 2015 | Health Care for Women International | 36 | 6 | 10.1080/07399332.2013.798326 | Kimanya-Ngeyo Foundation for Science and Education, Jinja, Uganda; International Health Program, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia | Singh, D.A.K., Kimanya-Ngeyo Foundation for Science and Education, Jinja, Uganda; Earnest, J., International Health Program, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia; Lample, M., Kimanya-Ngeyo Foundation for Science and Education, Jinja, Uganda | Uganda has faced numerous challenges over the past 50 years from overcoming political conflict and civil unrest, to rapid population growth, to combating the HIV epidemic and ever-growing health needs. Women in Uganda have had a major role to play in the health of families and communities. The researchers’ purpose in this study, undertaken in rural Uganda, was to a) identify a people-centered definition of development, b) compare it to the process of modernization, and c) investigate how these processes have changed the role women play in decision-making, in areas directly and indirectly related to their health and that of their families. Twenty-two men and women participated in focus group discussion and completed questionnaires. Based on our analysis of discussions it appears that both modernization and development have impacted health positively and negatively. Key themes distilled from interviews included that modernization has led to the breakdown of families; increased maternal responsibility for children; diminished land and economic resources; and an erosion of cultural values and practices that had previously provided stability for the society. In terms of development, women play an increasing role in decision-making processes in the household and are gaining increasing respect for their expertise in a number of areas, notably health care. We propose a movement of grassroots discourse on modernization. Development, and its effect on health, is necessary if the positive aspects of Ugandan culture and those of similar emerging societies are not to be lost (International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 1966). © 2015, Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. | None | adolescent; adult; cross-sectional study; cultural anthropology; decision making; ethnology; family size; female; health care delivery; human; information processing; male; middle aged; qualitative research; questionnaire; social behavior; social change; Uganda; Adolescent; Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Culture; Decision Making; Delivery of Health Care; Family Characteristics; Female; Focus Groups; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Qualitative Research; Questionnaires; Social Behavior; Social Change; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-26944448208 | Use of stored serum from Uganda for development and evaluation of a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 testing algorithm involving multiple rapid immunoassays | Singer D.E., Kiwanuka N., Serwadda D., Nalugoda F., Hird L., Bulken-Hoover J., Kigozi G., Malia J.A., Calero E.K., Sateren W., Robb M.L., Wabwire-Mangen F., Wawer M., Gray R.H., Sewankambo N., Birx D.L., Michael N.L. | 2005 | Journal of Clinical Microbiology | 43 | 10 | 10.1128/JCM.43.10.5312-5315.2005 | Division of Retrovirology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 1600 East Gude Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, United States; U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 1600 East Gude Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, United States; Rakai Health Sciences Project, Kalisizo, Uganda; Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Uniformed Services University School of Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20814, United States; Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York City, NY 10032, United States; Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21215, United States; College of Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Molecular Diagnostics and Pathogenesis, Division of Retrovirology, Walter-Reed Army Institute of Research, 1600 E. Gude Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, United States | Singer, D.E., Division of Retrovirology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 1600 East Gude Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, United States, U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 1600 East Gude Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, United States; Kiwanuka, N., Rakai Health Sciences Project, Kalisizo, Uganda; Serwadda, D., Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Nalugoda, F., Rakai Health Sciences Project, Kalisizo, Uganda; Hird, L., Uniformed Services University School of Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20814, United States; Bulken-Hoover, J., Uniformed Services University School of Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20814, United States; Kigozi, G., Rakai Health Sciences Project, Kalisizo, Uganda; Malia, J.A., Division of Retrovirology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 1600 East Gude Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, United States, U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 1600 East Gude Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, United States; Calero, E.K., Division of Retrovirology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 1600 East Gude Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, United States, U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 1600 East Gude Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, United States; Sateren, W., Division of Retrovirology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 1600 East Gude Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, United States, U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 1600 East Gude Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, United States; Robb, M.L., U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 1600 East Gude Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, United States; Wabwire-Mangen, F., Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Wawer, M., Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York City, NY 10032, United States; Gray, R.H., Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21215, United States; Sewankambo, N., College of Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Birx, D.L., Division of Retrovirology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 1600 East Gude Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, United States, U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 1600 East Gude Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, United States; Michael, N.L., Division of Retrovirology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 1600 East Gude Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, United States, U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 1600 East Gude Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, United States, Department of Molecular Diagnostics and Pathogenesis, Division of Retrovirology, Walter-Reed Army Institute of Research, 1600 E. Gude Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, United States | We report the development and evaluation of a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 testing algorithm consisting of three rapid antibody detection tests. Stored serum samples from Uganda were utilized with a final algorithm sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 98.9% (95% confidence interval, 98.6% to 99.3%). Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved. | None | algorithm; antibody detection; article; human; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; immunoassay; mass screening; nonhuman; priority journal; sensitivity and specificity; serum; Uganda; virus identification; AIDS Serodiagnosis; Algorithms; Confidence Intervals; HIV Antibodies; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Immunoassay; Sensitivity and Specificity; Serum; Specimen Handling; Time Factors; Uganda; Human immunodeficiency virus 1 | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84907072578 | Predicting Climate Change Impacts on Sugarcane Production at Sites in Australia, Brazil and South Africa Using the Canegro Model | Singels A., Jones M., Marin F., Ruane A., Thorburn P. | 2014 | Sugar Tech | 16 | 4 | 10.1007/s12355-013-0274-1 | South African Sugarcane Research Institute, Mount Edgecombe, South Africa; Embrapa Agriculture Informatics, Campinas, Brazil; NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, New York, NY, United States; CSIRO Ecosystems Sciences, Brisbane, QLD, Australia | Singels, A., South African Sugarcane Research Institute, Mount Edgecombe, South Africa; Jones, M., South African Sugarcane Research Institute, Mount Edgecombe, South Africa; Marin, F., Embrapa Agriculture Informatics, Campinas, Brazil; Ruane, A., NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, New York, NY, United States; Thorburn, P., CSIRO Ecosystems Sciences, Brisbane, QLD, Australia | Reliable predictions of sugarcane response to climate change are necessary to plan adaptation strategies. The objective of this study was to assess the use of global climate models (GCMs) and a crop simulation model for predicting climate change impacts on sugarcane production. The Canegro model was used to simulate growth and development of sugarcane crops under typical management conditions at three sites (irrigated crops at Ayr, Australia; rainfed crops at Piracicaba, Brazil and La Mercy, South Africa) for current and three future climate scenarios. The baseline scenario consisted of a 30-year time series of historical weather records and atmospheric CO<inf>2</inf> concentration ([CO<inf>2</inf>]) set at 360 ppm. Future climate scenarios were derived from three GCMs and [CO<inf>2</inf>] set at 734 ppm. Future cane yields are expected to increase at all three sites, ranging from +4 % for Ayr, to +9 and +20 % for Piracicaba and La Mercy. Canopy development was accelerated at all three sites by increased temperature, which led to increased interception of radiation, increased transpiration, and slight increases in drought stress at rainfed sites. For the high potential sites (Ayr and Piracicaba), yield increases were limited by large increases in maintenance respiration which consumed most of the daily assimilate when high biomass was achieved. A weakness of the climate data used was the assumption of no change in rainfall distribution, solar radiation and relative humidity. Crop model aspects that need refinement include improved simulation of (1) elevated [CO<inf>2</inf>] effects on crop photosynthesis and transpiration, and (2) high temperature effects on crop development, photosynthesis and respiration. © 2013, Society for Sugar Research & Promotion. | Cane yield; Canopy cover; Climate change; Crop model; Global climate model | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84939651687 | The impact of education in shaping lives: Reflections of young people with disabilities in Ghana | Singal N., Mahama Salifu E., Iddrisu K., Casely-Hayford L., Lundebye H. | 2015 | International Journal of Inclusive Education | 19 | 9 | 10.1080/13603116.2015.1018343 | Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Assoc. for Change (AfC), Accra-North, Ghana | Singal, N., Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Mahama Salifu, E., Assoc. for Change (AfC), Accra-North, Ghana; Iddrisu, K., Assoc. for Change (AfC), Accra-North, Ghana; Casely-Hayford, L., Assoc. for Change (AfC), Accra-North, Ghana; Lundebye, H., Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom | There is increasing recognition of the importance of focusing on people with disabilities (PWDs) in international efforts aimed at poverty alleviation. While universal education has been central to these efforts, the specific and additional needs of children with disabilities are often overlooked in policies and programmes. In order to gain a nuanced appreciation of the lives of young PWDs in a Ghanaian context, this paper draws on research conducted with young PWDs and their significant others in order to understand their educational journeys, employment prospects and perceptions towards disability of those around them. In addition to collecting primary data, the latest policy documents related to disability, education and employment are reviewed and statistical analysis is undertaken based on the Housing and Population Census 2010. Our research highlights the barriers facing those with disability in accessing quality education. While education was recognised as paramount to leading a better life and participants noted benefits beyond employment such as gaining self-sufficiency and social benefits, unequal educational opportunities underpin some of the reasons for the widening of gaps between those with disabilities and their non-disabled counterparts. Furthermore, while education was perceived as important for gaining employment, this was not the case in reality, as young people faced difficulties due to both physical and attitudinal barriers limiting their opportunities for economic and social participation. The paper concludes by noting that systematic changes in the policy arena are needed to enable youth with disabilities to take their rightful place in mainstream society. © 2015 Taylor & Francis. | disability; education; employment; Ghana; poverty; youth | None | DFID, Department for International Development |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84878621917 | World Health Organization Guideline Development: An Evaluation | Sinclair D., Isba R., Kredo T., Zani B., Smith H., Garner P. | 2013 | PLoS ONE | 8 | 5 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0063715 | Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom; South African Cochrane Centre, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom | Sinclair, D., Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Isba, R., Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Kredo, T., South African Cochrane Centre, Cape Town, South Africa; Zani, B., South African Cochrane Centre, Cape Town, South Africa; Smith, H., Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Garner, P., Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom | Background:Research in 2007 showed that World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations were largely based on expert opinion, rarely used systematic evidence-based methods, and did not follow the organization's own "Guidelines for Guidelines". In response, the WHO established a "Guidelines Review Committee" (GRC) to implement and oversee internationally recognized standards. We examined the impact of these changes on WHO guideline documents and explored senior staff's perceptions of the new procedures.Methods and Findings:We used the AGREE II guideline appraisal tool to appraise ten GRC-approved guidelines from nine WHO departments, and ten pre-GRC guidelines matched by department and topic. We interviewed 20 senior staff across 16 departments and analyzed the transcripts using the framework approach. Average AGREE II scores for GRC-approved guidelines were higher across all six AGREE domains compared with pre-GRC guidelines. The biggest changes were noted for "Rigour of Development" (up 37.6%, from 30.7% to 68.3%) and "Editorial Independence" (up 52.7%, from 20.9% to 73.6%). Four main themes emerged from the interviews: (1) high standards were widely recognized as essential for WHO credibility, particularly with regard to conflicts of interest; (2) views were mixed on whether WHO needed a single quality assurance mechanism, with some departments purposefully bypassing the procedures; (3) staff expressed some uncertainties in applying the GRADE approach, with departmental staff concentrating on technicalities while the GRC remained concerned the underlying principles were not fully institutionalized; (4) the capacity to implement the new standards varied widely, with many departments looking to an overstretched GRC for technical support.Conclusions:Since 2007, WHO guideline development methods have become more systematic and transparent. However, some departments are bypassing the procedures, and as yet neither the GRC, nor the quality assurance standards they have set, are fully embedded within the organization. © 2013 Sinclair et al. | None | article; conflict of interest; interview; practice guideline; publishing; quality control; standard; world health organization; Guideline Adherence; Guidelines as Topic; Humans; Quality Control; Questionnaires; Research Design; World Health Organization | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84862867593 | Variation in thermal performance among insect populations | Sinclair B.J., Williams C.M., Terblanche J.S. | 2012 | Physiological and Biochemical Zoology | 85 | 6 | 10.1086/665388 | Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada; Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa | Sinclair, B.J., Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada; Williams, C.M., Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Terblanche, J.S., Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa | Among-population variation in insect thermal performance is important for understanding patterns and mechanisms of evolution and predicting insect responses to altered climate regimes in future or novel environments. Here we review and discuss several key examples of among-population variation in insect thermal performance, including latitudinal gradients in chill coma recovery time, variation in energy consumption and metabolic biochemistry, rapid changes in thermal biology with range expansion in invasive and introduced species, and potential constraints on variation in thermal performance traits. This review highlights that while there is substantial evidence for among-population variation that is generally correlated with local climate regimes, neither the underlying mechanisms nor the implications for whole-animal fitness in the field are well understood. We also discuss the potential limitations of interpreting evolved variation among populations and argue for a genes-to-environment approach to population-level variation in thermal biology of insects. © 2012 by The University of Chicago. All rights reserved. | None | climate change; evolutionary biology; fitness; genotype-environment interaction; insect; invasive species; latitudinal gradient; life history trait; performance assessment; animal; article; climate change; energy metabolism; evolution; genetic variability; genetics; genotype environment interaction; insect; physiology; temperature; Animals; Biological Evolution; Climate Change; Energy Metabolism; Gene-Environment Interaction; Genetic Variation; Insects; Temperature; Animalia; Hexapoda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84937120087 | Impact of reduced hospitalisation on the cost of treatment for drug-resistant tuberculosis in South Africa | Sinanovic E., Ramma L., Vassall A., Azevedo V., Wilkinson L., Ndjeka N., McCarthy K., Churchyard G., Cox H. | 2015 | International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease | 19 | 2 | 10.5588/ijtld.14.0421 | Health Economics Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Cape Town, South Africa; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; City Health, Cape Town Metro, United Kingdom; Médecins Sans Frontières, Khayelitsha, United Kingdom; TB Cluster, National Department of Health, Pretoria, South Africa; Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa; Division of Medical Microbiology, Institute for Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Sinanovic, E., Health Economics Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Cape Town, South Africa; Ramma, L., Health Economics Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Cape Town, South Africa; Vassall, A., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Azevedo, V., City Health, Cape Town Metro, United Kingdom; Wilkinson, L., Médecins Sans Frontières, Khayelitsha, United Kingdom; Ndjeka, N., TB Cluster, National Department of Health, Pretoria, South Africa; McCarthy, K., Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa; Churchyard, G., Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa; Cox, H., Division of Medical Microbiology, Institute for Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | SETTING: The cost of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) treatment is a major barrier to treatment scale-up in South Africa. OBJECTIVE: To estimate and compare the cost of treatment for rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB) in South Africa in different models of care in different settings. DESIGN: We estimated the costs of different models of care with varying levels of hospitalisation. These costs were used to calculate the total cost of treating all diagnosed cases of RR-TB in South Africa, and to estimate the budget impact of adopting a fully or partially decentralised model vs. a fully hospitalised model. RESULTS: The fully hospitalised model was 42% more costly than the fully decentralised model (US$13 432 vs. US$7753 per patient). A much shorter hospital stay in the decentralised models of care (44-57 days), compared to 128 days of hospitalisation in the fully hospitalised model, was the key contributor to the reduced cost of treatment. The annual total cost of treating all diagnosed cases ranged from US$110 million in the fully decentralised model to US$190 million in the fully hospitalised model. CONCLUS ION: Following a more decentralised approach for treating RR-TB patients could potentially improve the affordability of RR-TB treatment in South Africa. © 2015 The Union. | Budget impact; Costing; Decentralization; MDR-TB; Rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis | aminosalicylic acid; capreomycin; clofazimine; ethionamide; kanamycin; moxifloxacin; pyrazinamide; rifampicin; terizidone; Article; budget; clinical examination; consultation; cost control; decentralization; drug cost; health care cost; health care delivery; hospital care; hospitalization; human; intermethod comparison; length of stay; microscopy; multidrug resistant tuberculosis; patient care; priority journal; South Africa; sputum culture; thorax radiography; treatment duration; tuberculosis rapid test | None |
| WoS | WOS:000292269500001 | The impact of HIV/AIDS on labor markets, productivity and welfare in Southern Africa: A critical review and analysis | Kinkingninhoun-Medagbe, F. M.,Simtowe, Franklin | 2011 | AFRICAN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH | 6 | 10 | None | World Agroforestry Centre, WARDA Africa Rice Ctr | "Simtowe, Franklin: World Agroforestry Centre", | Global estimates of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic as of 2007 shows that about 33 million people are living with HIV, the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). The international labor organization (ILO) estimates that at least 23 million workers in the prime labor force (aged15 to 49 years) are infected with HIV. More than 70% of the world's HIV/AIDS infected population lives in Africa. Within the Africa region, the Southern Africa region has the largest HIV prevalence rate. It is estimated that more than 30% of total world HIV population lives in Southern Africa. In this paper, we analyze the extent to which the HIV/AIDS pandemic impacts the labor markets, productivity and welfare in Southern Africa. We hypothesize that the pandemic can reduce the labor force and productivity, consequently leading to the deterioration in welfare and stagnation of the economy. The analysis finds out that a significant proportion of the labor force has been lost to HIV. In addition to the loss of workers due to AIDS, the cost of caring for AIDS patients is enormous and has resulted into the erosion of productivity and profitability in both the formal and informal sectors. Due to the disproportionate HIV/AIDS prevalence rate between age groups and sex, the pandemic is changing the age and sex distribution of the labor force. The average age of the labor is declining due to the early entry by young and inexperienced people into the labor force. HIV is exerting negative impact on household welfare through the loss of income initially earned by a household member that is a victim of HIV/AIDS, and that through increased medical expenses by the household on the AIDS victim, most of the household income is spent on medication other than other household needs. Some economies in the region are already facing a reduction in economic growth due to the HIV pandemic and it is observed that if efforts to prevent its spread are not intensified, such economies would face stagnation at some point. | "ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME (AIDS)","HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV)","LABOR MARKETS",productivity,WELFARE | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84923269425 | First detection of extraterrestrial material in ca. 2.49 Ga impact spherule layer in Kuruman iron formation, South Africa | Simonson B.M., Goderis S., Beukes N.J. | 2015 | Geology | 43 | 3 | 10.1130/G36225.1 | Geology Department, Oberlin College, 52 W. Lorain Street, Oberlin, oH, United States; Earth System Science, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Analytical Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281-S12, Ghent, Belgium; Geology Department, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park, South Africa | Simonson, B.M., Geology Department, Oberlin College, 52 W. Lorain Street, Oberlin, oH, United States; Goderis, S., Earth System Science, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels, Belgium, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281-S12, Ghent, Belgium; Beukes, N.J., Geology Department, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park, South Africa | Thin layers rich in formerly molten spherules interpreted as distal ejecta from large impacts by extraterrestrial bodies have been found in 8 stratigraphic units deposited between ca. 2.63 Ga and 2.49 Ga and attributed to a minimum of 4 separate impacts. Here we report geochemical evidence of extraterrestrial material in the only one of these spherule layers where it has not been previously reported, the Kuruman spherule layer (KSL) in the Kuruman Iron Formation, a banded iron formation (BIF) in the Griqualand West Basin (South Africa). We identified the KSL in 3 drill cores separated by as much as ~350 km and analyzed 2 core samples that have a mean Ir concentration of ~12.9 ppb and nearly chondritic interelement ratios of platinum group elements Ir, Ru, Pt, and Rh. This suggests that the samples contain ~1%-3% by mass extraterrestrial material even though the spherules are highly diluted by ambient sediment. Our geochemical data strongly support the correlation of the KSL with the Dales Gorge spherule layer (DGSL) in a penecontemporaneous BIF in the Hamersley Basin (Western Australia). The KSL and DGSL are close matches in terms of major and various trace element contents and the DGSL has a comparable Ir content of ~11.5 ppb. Therefore it is very likely the KSL and DGSL are distal ejecta from a ca. 2.49 Ga impact by a single extraterrestrial object >10 km across. The lack of any significant changes in the stratigraphic succession in either basin also implies that large impacts alone are not sufficient to cause longterm changes in Earth's surface environments. © 2015 Geological Society of America. | None | Economic geology; Gallium; Geochemistry; Iron; Platinum; Ruthenium; Stratigraphy; Trace elements; Banded iron formations; Extraterrestrial bodies; Extraterrestrial material; Geochemical evidence; Platinum group elements; Stratigraphic units; Trace element content; Western Australia; Iridium; banded iron formation; ejecta; extraterrestrial matter; platinum group element; sediment chemistry; spherule; trace element; Australia; Griqualand West Basin; Hamersley Basin; Kuruman; Northern Cape; South Africa; Western Australia | NNX08AI29G, NASA, National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-60849127570 | Correlating multiple Neoarchean-Paleoproterozoic impact spherule layers between South Africa and Western Australia | Simonson B.M., Sumner D.Y., Beukes N.J., Johnson S., Gutzmer J. | 2009 | Precambrian Research | 169 | 42373 | 10.1016/j.precamres.2008.10.016 | Department of Geology, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH 44074-1052, United States; Geology Department, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA 95616, United States; Department of Geology, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, 2006, South Africa; Department of Mineralogy, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Brennhausgasse 14, 09596 Freiberg, Germany; Paleoproterozoic Mineralization Research Group, Department of Geology, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, 2006, South Africa | Simonson, B.M., Department of Geology, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH 44074-1052, United States; Sumner, D.Y., Geology Department, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA 95616, United States; Beukes, N.J., Department of Geology, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, 2006, South Africa; Johnson, S., Department of Geology, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH 44074-1052, United States; Gutzmer, J., Department of Mineralogy, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Brennhausgasse 14, 09596 Freiberg, Germany, Paleoproterozoic Mineralization Research Group, Department of Geology, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, 2006, South Africa | Well-studied successions in the Griqualand West Basin (South Africa) and the Hamersley Basin (Western Australia) that both straddle the Archean-Proterozoic boundary have been correlated on the basis of numerous lithostratigraphic similarities. Each succession hosts a minimum of three impact spherule layers, implying a minimum of three large impacts by extraterrestrial objects over a time span of about 140 million years. The occurrences of the youngest spherule layers in both basins in comparable stratigraphic positions in banded iron formations that have already been correlated suggest the youngest pair of layers were formed by a single impact. Close similarities in stratigraphic setting, age, and petrographic characteristics of the spherules, as well as the restriction of distinctive irregular melt particles to only these layers, suggest the oldest layers in the two basins were likewise formed by a single impact. In contrast, the middle layers on the two continents differ significantly in both their stratigraphic positions and the textures of the spherules, suggesting they are products of different impact events. These results suggest that using impact spherule layers to establish a global network of high-resolution stratigraphic markers for early Precambrian successions may be an achievable goal, but careful comparisons between potentially correlative layers will be necessary to achieve it. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Hamersley; Impact ejecta; Impact spherules; Neoarchean; Paleoproterozoic; Transvaal | Archean; lithostratigraphy; Proterozoic; spherule; Africa; Australasia; Australia; Griqualand West Basin; Hamersley Basin; Northern Cape; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Western Australia; Spherules | None |
| None | None | Monitoring lymphatic filariasis control in Tanzania: Effect of repeated mass drug administration on circulating filarial antigen prevalence in young schoolchildren | Simonsen P.E., Magesa S.M., Derua Y.A., Rwegoshora R.T., Malecela M.N., Pedersen E.M. | 2011 | International Health | 3 | 3 | 10.1016/j.inhe.2011.06.009 | DBL - Centre for Health Research and Development, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 57, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark; National Institute for Medical Research, Amani Medical Research Centre, P.O. Box 81, Muheza/Tanga, Tanzania; National Institute for Medical Research, P.O. Box 9653, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; RTI International, P.O. Box 6201, Kigali, Rwanda | Simonsen, P.E., DBL - Centre for Health Research and Development, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 57, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark; Magesa, S.M., National Institute for Medical Research, Amani Medical Research Centre, P.O. Box 81, Muheza/Tanga, Tanzania, RTI International, P.O. Box 6201, Kigali, Rwanda; Derua, Y.A., National Institute for Medical Research, Amani Medical Research Centre, P.O. Box 81, Muheza/Tanga, Tanzania; Rwegoshora, R.T., National Institute for Medical Research, Amani Medical Research Centre, P.O. Box 81, Muheza/Tanga, Tanzania; Malecela, M.N., National Institute for Medical Research, P.O. Box 9653, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Pedersen, E.M., DBL - Centre for Health Research and Development, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 57, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark | In most countries of Sub-Saharan Africa the control of lymphatic filariasis (LF) is based on annual mass drug administration (MDA) with a combination of ivermectin and albendazole, in order to interrupt transmission. We monitored the effect of four repeated MDAs with this combination, as implemented by the Tanzanian National Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Programme (NLFEP), on the circulating filarial antigen (CFA) status of young schoolchildren. A new batch of Standard 1 pupils from 10 rural primary schools in Tanga Municipality were examined for CFA each year in September/October (691-848 children per survey; mean age of 7.5-8.1 years), from immediately before the first MDA until eight months after the fourth MDA. The overall pre-MDA prevalence of CFA was 25.2%. Only minor and non-significant change in prevalence was seen after the first two MDAs. However, this was followed by substantial and statistically significant decreases in subsequent surveys, and eight months after the fourth MDA the prevalence was only 6.4%. Continuous entomological surveillance in a village accommodating one of the schools showed progressive decrease in transmission right from the first MDA. The usefulness of screening young schoolchildren for CFA as a tool for monitoring the impact of MDA on LF transmission is discussed. © 2011 Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. | Children; Circulating filarial antigens; Control monitoring; Lymphatic filariasis; Mass drug administration; Tanzania | albendazole; ivermectin; parasite antigen; article; child; female; human; lymphatic filariasis; major clinical study; male; parasite control; parasite transmission; priority journal; school child; Tanzania; treatment outcome | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78650714156 | The effects of spectral evaluation of c-Si modules | Simon M., Meyer E.L. | 2011 | Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications | 19 | 1 | 10.1002/pip.973 | Fort Hare Institute of Technology, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag x1314, Alice 5700, South Africa | Simon, M., Fort Hare Institute of Technology, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag x1314, Alice 5700, South Africa; Meyer, E.L., Fort Hare Institute of Technology, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag x1314, Alice 5700, South Africa | Outdoor spectral measurements in sub-Sahara, South Africa in particular have not been documented probably due to lack of data or lack of proper methodologies for quantifying the spectral effects on photovoltaic performance parameters. Crystalline-Si modules are widely used for system designs in most cases based on the data provided from indoor measurements or from maritime northern hemispheric conditions. As a result of this, PV systems fail to deliver their intended maximum power output. In this study, a methodology for quantifying outdoor spectral effects of c-Si modules commonly found in the African continent is presented. The results of three crystalline-Si modules indicate that these modules are affected as the spectrum shifts during seasons although these devices are perceived (without outdoor data) that their performance is not influenced by the seasonal changes in outdoor spectrum. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. | crystalline-Si modules; outdoor spectrum; spectral effects | crystalline-Si modules; Indoor measurement; Maximum power output; outdoor spectrum; Photovoltaic performance; PV system; Seasonal changes; South Africa; Spectral effects; Spectral measurement; Spectrum shifts; System design; Crystalline materials; Silicon; Systems analysis; Photovoltaic effects | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80054069170 | Evaluation of a low-cost ceramic micro-porous filter for elimination of common disease microorganisms | Simonis J.J., Basson A.K. | 2011 | Physics and Chemistry of the Earth | 36 | 14-15 | 10.1016/j.pce.2011.07.064 | Department of Hydrology, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa, P Bag X1001, KwaDlangezwa 3886, South Africa; Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa, South Africa | Simonis, J.J., Department of Hydrology, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa, P Bag X1001, KwaDlangezwa 3886, South Africa; Basson, A.K., Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa, South Africa | In this research project, the microbiological quality of the water processed by a low cost, newly developed micro-porous ceramic filter is evaluated. As 66% of the human body is made up of water, it is important to ensure the availability of clean, potable water that is free from pathogens. Even clean-looking water can still contain bacteria and other toxic impurities. Annually, millions of people contract severe illnesses from drinking water. One simple but effective way of making sure that water is of good quality is by making use of a household water filter. It is, however, of critical importance that such a low cost water filter is capable of removing suspended solids, pathogenic bacteria and other toxins from the drinking water. A low cost, micro-porous ceramic water filter with micron-sized pores was developed using the slip casting process. Naturally occurring water from two streams and a lake containing different species of bacteria was used in testing the ceramic filter's effectiveness in eliminating bacteria. The filter proved to be effective in providing protection from bacteria and suspended solids found in natural water. This filtration process is suggested as a possible solution for the problem faced by more than 250 million people in Africa without provision of clean drinking water. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. | Bacteria; Ceramic filter; Micro-porous; Slip casting; Water filtration | Ceramic filters; Filtration process; Household water; Human bodies; Low costs; Micro-porous; Micro-porous filters; Microbiological quality; Natural waters; Naturally occurring; Pathogenic bacterium; Possible solutions; Slip casting; Suspended solids; Toxic impurities; Two-stream; Water filters; Bacteria; Bacteriology; Ceramic materials; Costs; Fuel filters; Porous materials; Water filtration; Potable water; bacterium; disease control; drinking water; filter; filtration; microorganism; porous medium; water quality; water treatment; Africa; Bacteria (microorganisms) | None |
| None | None | Evaluation of quality of life among patients after extirpation of mandibular ameloblastoma | Simon E.N.M., Merkx M.A.W., Kalyanyama B.M., Shubi F.M., Stoelinga P.J.W. | 2005 | East African Medical Journal | 82 | 6 | None | Department of Oral Surgery and Oral Pathology, Muhimbili University, College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 65014, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands; Department of Oral Surgery and Oral Pathology, Muhimbili University, College of Health Sciences, Tanzania; School of Dentistry, Muhimbili University, College of Health Sciences, P. O. Box 65014, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Simon, E.N.M., Department of Oral Surgery and Oral Pathology, Muhimbili University, College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 65014, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, School of Dentistry, Muhimbili University, College of Health Sciences, P. O. Box 65014, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Merkx, M.A.W., Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands; Kalyanyama, B.M., Department of Oral Surgery and Oral Pathology, Muhimbili University, College of Health Sciences, Tanzania; Shubi, F.M., Department of Oral Surgery and Oral Pathology, Muhimbili University, College of Health Sciences, Tanzania; Stoelinga, P.J.W., Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands | Objective: To evaluate the quality of life (QOL) based on the functional, aesthetic and personal satisfaction among patients with ameloblastoma who underwent either partial or total mandibulectomy without reconstruction. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: The Department of Oral Surgery and Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry; Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, Tanzania. Subjects: Patients surgically treated for ameloblastoma without reconstruction. Results. The postoperative problems were mostly associated with eating of solid foods, appearance and speech. All patients treated by total mandibulectomy had moderately severe problems with eating of solid foods and were dissatisfied with their appearance. Conclusion: The relatively small tumours resulted in a much better QOL. Public awareness programmes to avoid late referral and treatment is the most effective way to reduce the number of patients who after treatment suffer a poor QOL. | None | adolescent; adult; ameloblastoma; article; cross-sectional study; dental care; esthetics; female; human; male; mandible; mandible tumor; middle aged; oral surgery; pathology; pathophysiology; patient satisfaction; postoperative period; psychometry; quality of life; questionnaire; Tanzania; Adolescent; Adult; Ameloblastoma; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dental Service, Hospital; Esthetics; Female; Humans; Male; Mandible; Mandibular Neoplasms; Middle Aged; Oral Surgical Procedures; Patient Satisfaction; Postoperative Period; Psychometrics; Quality of Life; Questionnaires; Tanzania | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84855423624 | Prototype design and performance analysis of a sieving machine for improved food slurry processing in Nigeria | Simolowo O.E., Adeniji O.O. | 2010 | Discovery and Innovation | 21 | 04-Mar | None | Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Simolowo, O.E., Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Adeniji, O.O., Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | In Nigeria, and many African countries, the domestic and medium-scale processing of various food slurry such as those for corn, sorghum, soya beans and millet have been done manually over the years with little or no technological development. These manual processes are associated with obvious constraints such as excessive length of time, tedium and boredom, coupled with inherent unhygienic conditions surrounding these processes. In this work, a vibration machine for the sieving of a staple food and primary infant diet in many countries in Africa popularly known as "Pap," has been conceptualized and fabricated. Experimental Performance tests were carried out using a newly designed machine and the results were compared with the conventional or manual sieving processes. Results showed that the newly designed vibration sieving machine was more efficient than the manual sieving process. It had an average filtration rate of 1.6 × 10 -5 m 3/s, against 8.68×10 -6 m 3/s for the manual method, thereby resulting in an 82% improvement over the manual sieving process. The employment of the machine also gave 50% and 56% reductions in the filtration time and volume of water used, respectively. In this work, presents a remarkable contribution to the processing of various food slurries in Nigeria and Africa as a whole by applying the principles of vibration to the design of new sieving equipment. | Food-slurry; Performance analysis; Prototype design; Sieving | Glycine max; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84926149109 | Prototype design and performance analysis of a sieving machine for improved food-slurry processing in Nigeria | Simolowo O.E., Adeniji O.O. | 2011 | Indian Journal of Science and Technology | 4 | 12 | 10.17485/ijst/2011/v4i12/30299 | Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Simolowo, O.E., Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Adeniji, O.O., Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | This study is on the modification and improvement of an "Ogi" (ground corn slurry) sieving machine that was earlier designed based on suction principle. A vibration machine for the sieving of a major staple food and primary infant diet in many countries in Africa popularly known as "Ogi" has been fabricated in this work. Experimental performance tests were carried out using the modified machine and the results were compared with the conventional or manual sieving process. In Nigeria, and many African countries, the domestic and medium-scale processing of various food slurry such as those for corn, sorghum, soya beans and millet have been done manually over the years with little or no technological development. These manual processes are associated with obvious constraints such as excessive length of time, tedium and boredom coupled with inherent unhygienic conditions surrounding these processes. Results showed that the newly designed vibration sieving machine was more efficient than the manual process. It had an average filtration rate of 1.6×10-5 m3/s against 8.68×10-6 m3/s for the manual method, thereby bringing about over 82% improvement over the manual sieving process. Hence, this work presents a remarkable contribution to the processing of various staple foods in Nigeria and Africa as a whole by applying the principles of vibration to the design of new sieving equipment. © Indian Society for Education and Environment (iSee). | Design-modification; Food-slurry; Performance-analysis; Sieving | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84961361674 | CAD/CAM applications: Status and impact in Nigerian industrial sector | Simolowo E., Okonkwo F.C., Kehinde O.O. | 2010 | Indian Journal of Science and Technology | 3 | 6 | 10.17485/ijst/2010/v3i6/29774 | Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ibadan, Nigeria | Simolowo, E., Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Okonkwo, F.C., Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Kehinde, O.O., Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ibadan, Nigeria | This research assessed, among others, the current status and the impact of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) applications in the Nigerian industrial and technological sector. Two prominent cities Lagos and Ibadan were selected as centers of case studies to establish the level of the applications. Data was collected from industries within the 2 cities in the areas of manufacturing, design, production, construction and consultancy service units during a year long study. From the survey, 56% of companies visited in Lagos metropolis apply Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) activities in their operations. Also 60% of the companies considered in Ibadan metropolis apply CAE, of which 75% are into CAD, 12.5% are applying CAM whereas 12.5% are utilizing Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) machines. Conclusively, the commonest CAD techniques employed by the industries surveyed are Auto CAD and Archi CAD representing 55.6% and 33.3% of the total packages being used in the visited companies respectively. © Indian Society for Education and Environment (iSee). | CAD/CAM-applications; Improvements; Nigerian-industries status | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84887997814 | The Impact of House Prices on Consumption in South Africa: Evidence from Provincial-Level Panel VARs | Simo-Kengne B.D., Gupta R., Bittencourt M. | 2013 | Housing Studies | 28 | 8 | 10.1080/02673037.2013.804492 | Department of Economics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Simo-Kengne, B.D., Department of Economics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Gupta, R., Department of Economics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Bittencourt, M., Department of Economics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | This paper provides an empirical analysis of the role of house prices in determining the dynamic behaviour of consumption in South Africa using a panel vector autoregression approach to provincial level panel data covering the period of 1996-2010. With the shocks being identified using the standard recursive identification scheme, we find that the response of consumption to house prices shock is positive, but short-lived. In addition, we find that a positive shock to house price growth has a positive and significant effect on consumption, while the negative impact of a house price decrease causes an insignificant reduction in consumption. This suggests that house prices exhibit an asymmetric effect on consumption, with the positive effect following an increase in house prices being dominant in magnitude in comparison to a decline in consumption resulting from a negative shock to house prices. © 2013 © 2013 Taylor & Francis. | consumption; House prices; panel vector autoregressions | consumption behavior; housing market; price dynamics; pricing policy; vector autoregression; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79952713905 | Greater Kestrel survives impact with power lines | Simmons R.E. | 2011 | Ostrich | 82 | 1 | 10.2989/00306525.2010.515397 | DST/NRF Centre of Excellence at the Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa | Simmons, R.E., DST/NRF Centre of Excellence at the Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa | [No abstract available] | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84864247459 | Genotoxic evaluation and toxicity of spent engine oil on clarias gariepinus | Simeon Oluwatoyin A., Akaeze C.O. | 2012 | Research Journal of Environmental Toxicology | 6 | 4 | 10.3923/rjet.2012.133.141 | Department of Marine Sciences, University of Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria | Simeon Oluwatoyin, A., Department of Marine Sciences, University of Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria; Akaeze, C.O., Department of Marine Sciences, University of Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria | In most of developing nations, pollution of water resources has become a serious problem. Apparently, human and ecological disorder experienced in industrial settlements as a result of improper disposal of chemicals such as engine oil calls for careful surveillance on the state of the environment. The acute toxicity concentrations of 100, 200, 300, 400 and 0 mL L-1 were used to determine the 96 h Lethal Concentration (LC50) value of spent engine oil which was found to be 2.75 (562 mL-1). Definitive test was also carried out every 24 h over a four days period (96 h). Cytogenetic evaluation using micronucleus assay was carried out on Clarias gariepinus juveniles in the laboratory after exposure to sub lethal concentrations of spent engine oil for 14 days. The One way ANOVA was used to analyze the significant difference (p<0.05) in the analysis of variance for micronucleus and bi-nucleated cells. Micronucleus assay showed more bi-nucleated cells than micro nucleated cells in Clarias gariepinus juveniles exposed to sub lethal concentrations of spent engine oil. The species showed varying degrees of micronuclei and bi-nucleated frequencies in their peripheral erythrocytes. Cytological examinations showed bi-nucleated cells and micronucleus formation in erythrocytes of the fish in the test solution. However, the significant difference was not wholly dependent on the period of exposure and the concentration of spent engine oil used. The results show that spent oil commonly discharged in the environment is capable of causing genetic damage to Clarias gariepinus at high concentrations of the assay; this can be employed for the evaluation and the assessment of water pollution and aquatic mutagens. Spent engine oil is toxic to fish and causes cytogenetic changes in cells of fish. Fish are susceptible to spent engine oil; therefore the release of spent engine oil into the aquatic environment should be discouraged. © 2012 Academic Journals Inc. | Clarias gariepinus; Genotoxic; Spent engine oil; Toxicity | fresh water; oil; spent engine oil; unclassified drug; acute toxicity; animal cell; animal experiment; article; catfish; Clarias gariepinus; concentration (parameters); controlled study; erythrocyte count; genetic damage; genotoxicity; industrial waste; LC 50; micronucleus; micronucleus test; mortality; nonhuman; physical chemistry; pollutant; toxicity testing; water pollution; Clarias gariepinus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84866619901 | Impact of clicker technology in a mathematics course | Simelane S., Skhosana P.M. | 2012 | Knowledge Management and E-Learning | 4 | 3 | None | Department of Teaching and Learning with Technology, Higher Education and Support, Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa; Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Science, Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa | Simelane, S., Department of Teaching and Learning with Technology, Higher Education and Support, Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa; Skhosana, P.M., Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Science, Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa | This article reports on the implementation of clickers to improve the success rate of first-year mathematics students. There were 105 students registered in this course, in a university of technology in South Africa. In order to do this, an orientation test in the form of a paper-based assessment was first conducted to determine what students already knew. About 21.9% of the students did not take the test and 20% did not pass it. These results raised concerned. Thereafter students were taught. After four weeks they were evaluated on their understanding of the concept taught in class. Results did not improve much, as 48.6% of the students did not pass the test. Therefore, a technology-engagement teaching strategy (TETS) using clicker technology was developed and implemented in order to improve the pass rate. Weekly continuous assessments or diagnostic tests were conducted in order to establish the changes in students' academic performance. A survey questionnaire was administered after the teaching and learning of incorporating clickers. This questionnaire also examined students' perspective on the usefulness of clickers in teaching and learning. The results showed that the effective implementation of clickers with the integration of a TETS improved students' success rate. | Academic performance; Clickers; Technology-engagement teaching strategy | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84865183710 | The Swazi Monarchy and the Poor Performance of the Swazi Anti-Corruption Agency, 2006-2009 | Simelane H.S. | 2012 | Journal of Asian and African Studies | 47 | 4 | 10.1177/0021909612444086 | University of Kwazulu-Natal, Economic History and Development Studies, Howard College, Memorial Tower Building, King George V Avenue, Durban, 4041, South Africa | Simelane, H.S., University of Kwazulu-Natal, Economic History and Development Studies, Howard College, Memorial Tower Building, King George V Avenue, Durban, 4041, South Africa | One of the major problems that has faced African countries since political independence has been continued poverty that has affected the lives of the populations of the countries. While there are numerous issues behind African poverty, corruption has emerged as one of the critical drivers. To address the problem of corruption African governments have been forced to experiment with different strategies, one of which has been the establishment of anti-corruption agencies. Swaziland is one of the African countries that has a huge problem of corruption, and has responded with the formation of an anti-corruption agency. However, since its inception, the agency has failed to operate effectively and corruption has continued to rise. This paper highlights the problem of corruption in Swaziland and the steps taken to curb it. The paper shows that the legal framework and the agency created to combat corruption have failed to yield the desired results, and continues to provide a critical analysis of such failure. It argues that the main issue behind the failure of the agency is royal absolutism wherein the Swazi monarchy has not only become a location of corruption but also perpetuates the scourge through protecting some influential people engaged in corrupt activities. © The Author(s) 2012. | Anti-corruption; corruption; democracy; development; governance; monarchy | corruption; democracy; legislation; performance assessment; poverty; sovereignty; temporal analysis; Swaziland | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34250741031 | Influence of soil texture, moisture, and surface cracks on the performance of a root-feeding flea beetle, Longitarsus bethae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a biological control agent for Lantana camara (Verbenaceae) | Simelane D.O. | 2007 | Environmental Entomology | 36 | 3 | 10.1603/0046-225X(2007)36[512:IOSTMA]2.0.CO;2 | Weeds Research Division, ARC-Plant Protection Research Institute, P/Bag X134, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town, P/Bag Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa; ARC-PPRI, P/Bag X134, Pretoria, 0121, South Africa | Simelane, D.O., Weeds Research Division, ARC-Plant Protection Research Institute, P/Bag X134, Pretoria 0001, South Africa, Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town, P/Bag Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa, ARC-PPRI, P/Bag X134, Pretoria, 0121, South Africa | Laboratory studies were conducted to determine the influence of soil texture, moisture and surface cracks on adult preference and survival of the root-feeding flea beetle, Longitarsus bethae Savini and Escalona (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a natural enemy of the weed, Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae). Adult feeding, oviposition preference, and survival of the immature stages of L. bethae were examined at four soil textures (clayey, silty loam, sandy loam, and sandy soil), three soil moisture levels (low, moderate, and high), and two soil surface conditions (with or without surface cracks). Both soil texture and moisture had no influence on leaf feeding and colonization by adult L. bethae. Soil texture had a significant influence on oviposition, with adults preferring to lay on clayey and sandy soils to silty or sandy loam soils. However, survival to adulthood was significantly higher in clayey soils than in other soil textures. There was a tendency for females to deposit more eggs at greater depth in both clayey and sandy soils than in other soil textures. Although oviposition preference and depth of oviposition were not influenced by soil moisture, survival in moderately moist soils was significantly higher than in other moisture levels. Development of immature stages in high soil moisture levels was significantly slower than in other soil moisture levels. There were no variations in the body size of beetles that emerged from different soil textures and moisture levels. Females laid almost three times more eggs on cracked than on noncracked soils. It is predicted that clayey and moderately moist soils will favor the survival of L. bethae, and under these conditions, damage to the roots is likely to be high. This information will aid in the selection of suitable release sites where L. bethae would be most likely to become established. © 2007 Entomological Society of America. | Biological control; Lantana camara; Longitarsus bethae; Performance; Soil factors | water; beetle; biocontrol agent; clay soil; colonization; food preference; natural enemy; oviposition; sandy loam; sandy soil; silty loam; soil cracking; soil moisture; soil texture; survival; weed control; animal; article; beetle; biological pest control; egg laying; female; growth, development and aging; Lantana; physiology; soil; Animals; Beetles; Female; Lantana; Oviposition; Pest Control, Biological; Soil; Water; Alticini; Chrysomelidae; Coleoptera; Lantana; Lantana camara; Longitarsus; Siphonaptera (fleas); Verbenaceae | None |
| None | None | The impact of scaling-up prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV infection on the human resource requirement: The need to go beyond numbers | Simba D., Kamwela J., Mpembeni R., Msamanga G. | 2010 | International Journal of Health Planning and Management | 25 | 1 | 10.1002/hpm.950 | Department of Community Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Alliance of Mayors and Municipal Leaders in Africa for HIV/AIDS, Tanzania Program (AMICAALL Tanzania), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Simba, D., Department of Community Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Kamwela, J., Alliance of Mayors and Municipal Leaders in Africa for HIV/AIDS, Tanzania Program (AMICAALL Tanzania), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Mpembeni, R., Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Msamanga, G., Department of Community Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Although the mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) contributes only 5% of transmission of HIV infection, its impact has reversed the decline in infant and child mortality rates. With antenatal service coverage of over 90%, the integration of prevention of MTCT (PMTCT) of HIV infection into the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) services in Tanzania, this is likely to overstretch the staff capacity and undermine the already compromised quality of health care services. A retrospective study was conducted to assess the impact of integrating and scaling-up PMTCTof HIV infection into routine RCH services, on the magnitude of staff workload in RCH clinics. The study was conducted in 60 health facilities identified from five regions that had participated in the pilot phase of PMTCT implementation in the Mainland Tanzania. The average staff workload was calculated from staff-load obtained from attendance records and activity-time obtained by direct observation; and staff-time from records that were kept at the clinic. The average staff workload was found to be 50.5% (8-147%) for facilities providing PMTCT of HIV infection and 37.8% (11-82%) for facilities without PMTCT services. The average staff workload was computed on the assumption that all clients attending various antenatal clinics received PMTCT services from trained staff only and the result revealed staff workload of 87.2%. This study concludes that services for PMTCT of HIV infection can easily be scaled-up and integrated into RCH services using the already existing staff. In the wake of the human resource crisis in the health sector in developing countries, strategies to address the problem will need to go beyond numbers to address issues of staff productivity and their distribution. | Human resource; PMTCT; Tanzania; Workload | child health; developing world; disease transmission; human immunodeficiency virus; human resource; infant mortality; infectivity; mothers education; reproductive health; article; cross-sectional study; disease transmission; female; health care manpower; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; organization and management; pregnancy; retrospective study; Tanzania; vertical transmission; workload; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health Manpower; HIV Infections; Humans; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; Pregnancy; Retrospective Studies; Tanzania; Workload; Tanzania | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84934764381 | Monitoring the progress towards the elimination of gambiense human African trypanosomiasis | Simarro P.P., Cecchi G., Franco J.R., Paone M., Diarra A., Priotto G., Mattioli R.C., Jannin J.G. | 2015 | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases | 9 | 6 | 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003785 | World Health Organization, Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, Innovative and Intensified Disease Management, Geneva, Switzerland; Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Subregional Office for Eastern Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Animal Production and Health Division, Rome, Italy; World Health Organization, Regional Office for Africa, Intercountry Support Team, Libreville, Gabon | Simarro, P.P., World Health Organization, Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, Innovative and Intensified Disease Management, Geneva, Switzerland; Cecchi, G., Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Subregional Office for Eastern Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Franco, J.R., World Health Organization, Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, Innovative and Intensified Disease Management, Geneva, Switzerland; Paone, M., Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Animal Production and Health Division, Rome, Italy; Diarra, A., World Health Organization, Regional Office for Africa, Intercountry Support Team, Libreville, Gabon; Priotto, G., World Health Organization, Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, Innovative and Intensified Disease Management, Geneva, Switzerland; Mattioli, R.C., Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Animal Production and Health Division, Rome, Italy; Jannin, J.G., World Health Organization, Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, Innovative and Intensified Disease Management, Geneva, Switzerland | Background Over the last few years, momentum has gathered around the feasibility and opportunity of eliminating gambiense human African trypanosomiasis (g-HAT). Under the leadership of the World Health Organization (WHO), a large coalition of stakeholders is now committed to achieving this goal. A roadmap has been laid out, and indicators and milestones have been defined to monitor the progress of the elimination of g-HAT as a public health problem by 2020. Subsequently, a more ambitious objective was set for 2030: to stop disease transmission. This paper provides a situational update to 2012 for a number of indicators of elimination: number of cases annually reported, geographic distribution of the disease and areas and populations at different levels of risk. Results Comparing the 5-year periods 2003-2007 and 2008-2012, the area at high or very high risk of g-HAT shrank by 60%, while the area at moderate risk decreased by 22%. These are the areas where g-HAT is still to be considered a public health problem (i.e. > 1 HAT reported case per 10,000 people per annum). This contraction of at-risk areas corresponds to a reduction of 57% for the population at high or very high risk (from 4.1 to 1.8 million), and 20% for moderate risk (from 14.0 to 11.3 million). Discussion Improved data completeness and accuracy of the Atlas of HAT enhanced our capacity to monitor the progress towards the elimination of g-HAT. The trends in the selected indicators suggest that, in recent years, progress has been steady and in line with the elimination goal laid out in the WHO roadmap on neglected tropical diseases. © World Health Organization. | None | African trypanosomiasis; Article; disease elimination; disease surveillance; disease transmission; geographic distribution; high risk population; human; major clinical study; morbidity; nonhuman; outcome assessment; public health problem; trend study; world health organization | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84945363835 | Synthesis, characterisation and electrochemical evaluation of reduced graphene oxide modified antimony nanoparticles | Silwana B., Van Der Horst C., Iwuoha E., Somerset V. | 2015 | Thin Solid Films | 592 | None | 10.1016/j.tsf.2015.09.010 | Natural Resources and the Environment (NRE), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Stellenbosch, South Africa; SensorLab, Department of Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa | Silwana, B., Natural Resources and the Environment (NRE), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Stellenbosch, South Africa, SensorLab, Department of Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa; Van Der Horst, C., Natural Resources and the Environment (NRE), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Stellenbosch, South Africa, SensorLab, Department of Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa; Iwuoha, E., SensorLab, Department of Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa; Somerset, V., Natural Resources and the Environment (NRE), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Stellenbosch, South Africa | This paper demonstrates some aspects on the synthesis and characterisation of nanoparticles of metallic alloys using polyvinyl alcohol as a stabiliser, which combines high surface area and superior hybrid properties. The present experimental design was to synthesise a nanocomposite of reduced graphene oxide and antimony nanoparticles to be used as thin films for macro- and micro-carbon electrodes for enhancing sensing of different toxic metal pollutants in the environment. The synthetic process of reduced graphene oxide was done using the modified Hummers method while antimony pentachloride was reduced with sodium borohydride into nanoparticles of antimony using polyvinyl-alcohol as a stabiliser. The systematic investigation of morphology was done by scanning electron microscopy and high resolution-transmission electron microscope, which revealed the synthesis of a product, consists of reduced graphene oxide antimony nanoparticles. The electrochemical behaviour of the reduced graphene oxide antimony nanoparticles coated on a glassy carbon electrode was performed using voltammetric and impedance techniques. Electrochemical impedance measurements showed that the overall resistance, including the charge-transfer resistance, was smaller with reduced graphene oxide antimony nanoparticles than reduced graphene oxide and antimony nanoparticles, on their own. Evaluation of the reduced graphene oxide antimony nanoparticle sensor in the stripping voltammetry has shown a linear working range for concentration of platinum (II) between 6.0 × 10- 6-5.4 × 10- 5 μg L- 1 with limit of detection of 6 × 10- 6 μg L- 1 (signal-to-noise ratio = 3), which is below the World Health Organisation guidelines for freshwater. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. | Adsorptive stripping voltammetry; Antimony nanoparticles; Bi-metallic film; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; Platinum analysis; Reduced graphene oxide | Carbon films; Charge transfer; Electrochemical electrodes; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; Electrodes; Glass membrane electrodes; High resolution transmission electron microscopy; Metal nanoparticles; Metallic compounds; Nanocomposite films; Nanoparticles; Oxide films; Platinum; Polyvinyl alcohols; Scanning electron microscopy; Signal to noise ratio; Synthesis (chemical); Voltammetry; Adsorptive stripping voltammetry; Bi-metallic films; Charge transfer resistance; Electrochemical behaviour; Electrochemical evaluations; Electrochemical impedance measurements; Glassy carbon electrodes; Reduced graphene oxides; Graphene | University of the Western Cape |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80053500351 | Genetic analysis of performance of maize inbred lines under drought stress | Silvestro K.M., Menkir A., Ajala S. | 2011 | Journal of Crop Improvement | 25 | 5 | 10.1080/15427528.2011.592570 | International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Maize Improvement Unit, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, PMB 5320 Oyo Road, Ibadan, Nigeria | Silvestro, K.M., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Maize Improvement Unit, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, PMB 5320 Oyo Road, Ibadan, Nigeria; Menkir, A., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Maize Improvement Unit, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, PMB 5320 Oyo Road, Ibadan, Nigeria; Ajala, S., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Maize Improvement Unit, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, PMB 5320 Oyo Road, Ibadan, Nigeria | The majority of farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) depend on maize (Zea mays L.), which is mostly grown in drought-prone areas. Understanding the inheritance of drought tolerance would help in developing drought-tolerant maize hybrids that would help increase maize production under erratic rainfalls. Twenty-four maize inbred lines were subjected to NC design II to generate 96 single-cross hybrids. The 24 inbred lines and their 96 hybrids were evaluated under managed drought-stress conditions between 2002 and 2005 at Ikenne, Nigeria. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of drought-susceptible and drought-tolerant inbred lines on performance of their hybrids, investigate mode of inheritance of drought tolerance, and determine the relationship between parental lines and their hybrids. Most crosses with at least one drought-tolerant parent produced tolerant hybrids, and the crosses between susceptible inbred lines produced susceptible hybrids. General combining ability (GCA) accounted for 55% to 87% of total variation among hybrids for most of the traits. Additive genetic effects influenced grain yield under drought stress. Correlation coefficient between grain yield of the inbred lines and their hybrids was positive and highly significant (r = 0.46 ***) under severe drought stress and relatively low (r = 0.30 **) under mild drought stress and well-watered (r = 0.34 **) regimes. Grain yield of inbred lines represented >20% of hybrid yield under severe stress. KU1409, 1824, 9006, 9432, and TZMI501xKU1414x501 had positive GCA effects for yield under drought stress and could be used for developing drought-tolerant hybrids. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. | Additive genetic effects; Drought tolerance; Maize hybrids; Susceptible lines; Tolerant lines | Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84904430262 | Monitoring alcoholic fermentation: An untargeted approach | Silva Ferreira A.C., Monforte A.R., Teixeira C.S., Martins R., Fairbairn S., Bauer F.F. | 2014 | Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry | 62 | 28 | 10.1021/jf502082z | Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; Institute for Wine Biotechnology, Department of Viticulture and Oenology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag XI, Matieland 7602, South Africa | Silva Ferreira, A.C., Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal, Institute for Wine Biotechnology, Department of Viticulture and Oenology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag XI, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Monforte, A.R., Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; Teixeira, C.S., Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; Martins, R., Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; Fairbairn, S., Institute for Wine Biotechnology, Department of Viticulture and Oenology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag XI, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Bauer, F.F., Institute for Wine Biotechnology, Department of Viticulture and Oenology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag XI, Matieland 7602, South Africa | This work describes the utility and efficiency of a metabolic profiling pipeline that relies on an unsupervised and untargeted approach applied to a HS-SPME/GC-MS data. This noninvasive and high throughput methodology enables "real time" monitoring of the metabolic changes inherent to the biochemical dynamics of a perturbed complex biological system and the extraction of molecular candidates that are latter validated on its biochemical context. To evaluate the efficiency of the pipeline five different fermentations, carried on a synthetic media and whose perturbation was the nitrogen source, were performed in 5 and 500 mL. The smaller volume fermentations were monitored online by HS-SPME/GC-MS, allowing to obtain metabolic profiles and molecular candidates time expression. Nontarget analysis was applied using MS data in two ways: (i) one dimension (1D), where the total ion chromatogram per sample was used, (ii) two dimensions (2D), where the integrity time vs m/z per sample was used. Results indicate that the 2D procedure captured the relevant information more efficiently than the 1D. It was also seen that although there were differences in the fermentation performance in different scales, the metabolic pathways responsible for production of metabolites that impact the quality of the volatile fraction was unaffected, so the proposed pipeline is suitable for the study of different fermentation systems that can undergo subsequent sensory validation on a larger scale. © 2014 American Chemical Society. | fermentation; HS-SPME/GC-MS; metabolomic; OPLS-DA; PCA; target; untargeted | Chromatographic analysis; Metabolism; Pipelines; Targets; Chromatographic analysis; Metabolism; Pipelines; Targets; HS-SPME/GC-MS; Metabolomics; OPLS-DA; PCA; untargeted; Fermentation; Fermentation; alcohol; fermentation; fruit; mass fragmentography; metabolism; metabolomics; procedures; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; solid phase microextraction; Vitis; volatilization; wine; Ethanol; Fermentation; Fruit; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Metabolomics; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Solid Phase Microextraction; Vitis; Volatilization; Wine | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34548513592 | Evaluation of pre-harvest Bacillus licheniformis sprays to control mango fruit diseases | Silimela M., Korsten L. | 2007 | Crop Protection | 26 | 10 | 10.1016/j.cropro.2006.12.011 | Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa | Silimela, M., Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa; Korsten, L., Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa | Bacillus licheniformis was evaluated as a pre-harvest spray treatment either on its own or alternated with copper oxychloride to control mango fruit diseases. Prior to initiating the spray trials, in vitro and in vivo studies were done to determine the effect of stickers, spreaders, a biostimulant and a copper fungicide on the biocontrol agent's ability to effectively attach to and colonise the mango leaf surface. Bioboost, Nufilm-P, Biofilm and Agral 90 did not affect antagonist growth in vitro. However, copper oxychloride and Supafilm inhibited the in vitro growth of B. licheniformis, more pronouncedly after 8 h. The in vivo study showed that stickers and spreaders did not improve the ability of B. licheniformis to attach to and colonise the leaf surface. Pre-harvest B. licheniformis applications alone and alternated with copper sprays applied at 3-weekly intervals from flowering until harvest controlled moderate levels of anthracnose, bacterial black spot and soft rot. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Antagonists; Anthracnose; Bacterial black spot; Biocontrol; Soft rot | antagonism; anthracnose; bacterial disease; bacterium; biocontrol agent; biofilm; biological control; biopesticide; copper compound; crop improvement; disease control; fruit; fungicide; inhibition; Bacillus licheniformis; Bacteria (microorganisms) | None |
| None | None | Reducing impact of land degradation in Tanzania: Do incentive market based mechanisms work for sustainable land management? | Silas S.R. | 2014 | Journal of Sustainable Development | 7 | 6 | 10.5539/jsd.v7n6p1 | Institute of Human Settlements Studies, Ardhi University, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Silas, S.R., Institute of Human Settlements Studies, Ardhi University, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Governments have traditionally relied on public budgets, bilateral and multilateral cooperation to support sustainable land management (SLM) activities. However, it is becoming evident that such support will not be sufficient neither can be sustainable to reverse land degradation, particularly in dry and degrading lands. Innovative mechanisms to encourage investments in SLM practices and to promote and enable the adoption of good practices in all land use sectors as a means to combat land degradation and address this challenge are needed. The paper addresses the hypothesis that, in Tanzania, impacts of land degradation can be reduced through the application of incentive market based mechanisms that could be implemented by the land users to ensure dual benefits i.e. environmental sustainability and improved human welfare of the land users. Key informants interviews and the desk reviews were the main methodological fronts used in gathering information. In Tanzania the practiced incentive market based mechanisms can be grouped into public payment systems, Open Trading under Regulation, Self Organized Private Deals, and Eco-Labeling of Products and Services. Components of these mechanisms have been tested in various agro-ecological zones in Tanzania and proved to be useful in the process of enhancing sustainable land management at the micro level. Observations therefore suggest that, some incentive market based mechanisms can work to reducing impact of land degradation at the micro level especially when they are related to improved purchasing power of the land users. In order to reduce the dependence of the governments and reduce donor syndrome in enhancing sustainable land management in Tanzania and elsewhere, there is a need of encouraging the use of incentive market based mechanisms that will have contributions to the welfare of the land users as well as contribution to the reduced land degradation. © 2014 by the author(s). | Crop certification; Forest certification; PES; REDD+; Wildlife management areas | 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-s2.0-84931274129 | Impact of HIV on and the constructions of masculinities among HIV-positive men in South Africa: Implications for secondary prevention programs | Sikweyiya Y., Jewkes R., Dunkle K. | 2015 | Global Health Action | 8 | 1 | 10.3402/gha.v7.24631 | Gender and Health Research Unit, Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States | Sikweyiya, Y., Gender and Health Research Unit, Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa; Jewkes, R., Gender and Health Research Unit, Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa; Dunkle, K., Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States | Background: To date, whilst there have been many published studies exploring the links between masculinity and HIV, not much work has been done to explore how an HIV-positive diagnosis impacts men's sense of masculinity and contextualizing the masculinities as fluid and changing. Objective: To explore how human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) impacts the lives of men and their constructions of masculinity through interviews with 18 men living with HIV. Design: Qualitative study involving conveniently and purposively selected black South African adult men who lived with HIV. In-depth interviews were conducted with 18 men who resided in Johannesburg and Mthatha, South Africa. Results: Our analysis suggests that the performance of risky masculinity may influence the acquisition of HIV. Yet, it also reveals that HIV can have a significant effect on men and their masculinities. Men's constructions of harmful notions of hegemonic masculinity pre-HIV diagnosis negatively affected their help-seeking behavior and coping and adjustment to living with HIV, post-diagnosis. The dominant discourse that men are strong and healthy visibly presented challenges for men when faced with an HIV-positive status. They interpreted HIV diagnosis as a loss, a sign of failure as a man, and evidence of an inability to retain control. Being sick undermined their ability to perform roles expected of them, and this led to feelings of powerlessness, worthlessness, and distress. Conclusions: Interventions with men living with HIV need to provide safe spaces for men to critically explore gender and constructions of social identities and the pressures these place on men and implications for their health. With this approach, harmful constructions of masculinities may be challenged and mitigated, and this process may render men amenable to change. © 2014 Yandisa M. Sikweyiya et al. | Coping and adjustment; HIV; Masculinities; Men; South Africa | None | None |
| None | None | Comparative evaluation of the Ifakara tent trap-B, the standardized resting boxes and the human landing catch for sampling malaria vectors and other mosquitoes in urban Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Sikulu M., Govella N.J., Ogoma S.B., Mpangile J., Kambi S.H., Kannady K., Chaki P.C., Mukabana W.R., Killeen G.F. | 2009 | Malaria Journal | 8 | 1 | 10.1186/1475-2875-8-197 | Department of Zoology, University of Nairobi, PO Box 30197-00100, GPO Nairobi, Kenya; Ifakara Health Institute, Coordination Office, Kiko Avenue, Mikocheni A, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Durham University, School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, United Kingdom; Dar Es Salaam City Council, Ministry of Regional Administration and Local Government, Tanzania; Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Vector Group, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, United Kingdom | Sikulu, M., Department of Zoology, University of Nairobi, PO Box 30197-00100, GPO Nairobi, Kenya; Govella, N.J., Ifakara Health Institute, Coordination Office, Kiko Avenue, Mikocheni A, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Durham University, School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, United Kingdom; Ogoma, S.B., Department of Zoology, University of Nairobi, PO Box 30197-00100, GPO Nairobi, Kenya; Mpangile, J., Ifakara Health Institute, Coordination Office, Kiko Avenue, Mikocheni A, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Dar Es Salaam City Council, Ministry of Regional Administration and Local Government, Tanzania; Kambi, S.H., Ifakara Health Institute, Coordination Office, Kiko Avenue, Mikocheni A, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Dar Es Salaam City Council, Ministry of Regional Administration and Local Government, Tanzania; Kannady, K., Dar Es Salaam City Council, Ministry of Regional Administration and Local Government, Tanzania; Chaki, P.C., Ifakara Health Institute, Coordination Office, Kiko Avenue, Mikocheni A, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Durham University, School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, United Kingdom; Mukabana, W.R., Department of Zoology, University of Nairobi, PO Box 30197-00100, GPO Nairobi, Kenya; Killeen, G.F., Ifakara Health Institute, Coordination Office, Kiko Avenue, Mikocheni A, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Durham University, School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, United Kingdom, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Vector Group, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, United Kingdom | Background. Frequent, sensitive and accurate sampling of Anopheles mosquitoes is a prerequisite for effective management of malaria vector control programmes. The most reliable existing means to measure mosquito density is the human landing catch (HLC). However, the HLC technique raises major ethical concerns because of the necessity to expose humans to vectors of malaria and a variety of other pathogens. Furthermore, it is a very arduous undertaking that requires intense supervision, which is severely limiting in terms of affordability and sustainability. Methods. A community-based, mosquito sampling protocol, using the Ifakara tent trap-B (ITT-B) and standardized resting boxes (SRB), was developed and evaluated in terms of the number and sample composition of mosquitoes caught by each, compared to rigorously controlled HLC. Mosquitoes were collected once and three times every week by the HLC and the alternative methods, respectively, in the same time and location. Results. Overall, the three traps caught 44,848 mosquitoes. The ITT-B, HLC and SRB caught 168, 143 and 46 Anopheles gambiae s.l. as well as 26,315, 13,258 and 4,791 Culex species respectively. The ITT-B was three- and five-times cheaper than the HLC per mosquito caught for An. gambiae and Cx. Species, respectively. Significant correlations between the numbers caught by HLC and ITT-B were observed for both An. gambiae s.l. (P < 0.001) and Cx. species (P = 0.003). Correlation between the catches with HLC and SRB were observed for Cx. species (P < 0.001) but not An. gambiae s.l. (P = 0.195), presumably because of the low density of the latter. Neither ITT-B nor SRB exhibited any obvious density dependence for sampling the two species. Conclusion. SRBs exhibited poor sensitivity for both mosquito taxa and are not recommended in this setting. However, this protocol is affordable and effective for routine use of the ITT-B under programmatic conditions. Nevertheless, it is recommended that the trap and the protocol be evaluated further at full programmatic scales to establish effectiveness under fully representative conditions of routine practice. © 2009 Sikulu et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | Anopheles gambiae; article; controlled study; cost effectiveness analysis; Culex; human; intermethod comparison; malaria; nonhuman; parasite control; parasite vector; Tanzania; animal; Anopheles gambiae; classification; comparative study; Culex; evaluation; female; instrumentation; mosquito; population density; sensitivity and specificity; Animals; Anopheles gambiae; Culex; Female; Humans; Mosquito Control; Population Density; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tanzania | 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 |
| None | None | Evaluation of alternative mosquito sampling methods for malaria vectors in Lowland South - East Zambia | Sikaala C.H., Killeen G.F., Chanda J., Chinula D., Miller J.M., Russell T.L., Seyoum A. | 2013 | Parasites and Vectors | 6 | 1 | 10.1186/1756-3305-6-91 | National Malaria Control Centre, Chainama Hospital College Grounds, Off Great East road, Lusaka, Zambia; Vector Biology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom; Ifakara Health Institute, Biomedical and Environmental Thematic Group, P.O. Box 53, Ifakara, Morogoro, Tanzania; Malaria Control, Evaluation and Partnership in Africa (MACEPA), Chainama Hospital College Grounds, Off Great East road, Lusaka, Zambia; James Cook University, School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences, Cairns, 4870, Australia | Sikaala, C.H., National Malaria Control Centre, Chainama Hospital College Grounds, Off Great East road, Lusaka, Zambia, Vector Biology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom; Killeen, G.F., Vector Biology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom, Ifakara Health Institute, Biomedical and Environmental Thematic Group, P.O. Box 53, Ifakara, Morogoro, Tanzania; Chanda, J., National Malaria Control Centre, Chainama Hospital College Grounds, Off Great East road, Lusaka, Zambia; Chinula, D., National Malaria Control Centre, Chainama Hospital College Grounds, Off Great East road, Lusaka, Zambia; Miller, J.M., Malaria Control, Evaluation and Partnership in Africa (MACEPA), Chainama Hospital College Grounds, Off Great East road, Lusaka, Zambia; Russell, T.L., Vector Biology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom, Ifakara Health Institute, Biomedical and Environmental Thematic Group, P.O. Box 53, Ifakara, Morogoro, Tanzania, James Cook University, School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences, Cairns, 4870, Australia; Seyoum, A., Vector Biology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom | Background: Sampling malaria vectors and measuring their biting density is of paramount importance for entomological surveys of malaria transmission. Human landing catch (HLC) has been traditionally regarded as a gold standard method for surveying human exposure to mosquito bites. However, due to the risk of human participant exposure to mosquito-borne parasites and viruses, a variety of alternative, exposure-free trapping methods were compared in lowland, south-east Zambia. Methods. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention miniature light trap (CDC-LT), Ifakara Tent Trap model C (ITT-C), resting boxes (RB) and window exit traps (WET) were all compared with HLC using a 3 × 3 Latin Squares design replicated in 4 blocks of 3 houses with long lasting insecticidal nets, half of which were also sprayed with a residual deltamethrin formulation, which was repeated for 10 rounds of 3 nights of rotation each during both the dry and wet seasons. Results: The mean catches of HLC indoor, HLC outdoor, CDC-LT, ITT-C, WET, RB indoor and RB outdoor, were 1.687, 1.004, 3.267, 0.088, 0.004, 0.000 and 0.008 for Anopheles quadriannulatus Theobald respectively, and 7.287, 6.784, 10.958, 5.875, 0.296, 0.158 and 0.458, for An. funestus Giles, respectively. Indoor CDC-LT was more efficient in sampling An. quadriannulatus and An. funestus than HLC indoor (Relative rate [95% Confidence Interval] = 1.873 [1.653, 2.122] and 1.532 [1.441, 1.628], respectively, P < 0.001 for both). ITT-C was the only other alternative which had comparable sensitivity (RR = 0.821 [0.765, 0.881], P < 0.001), relative to HLC indoor other than CDC-LT for sampling An. funestus. Conclusions: While the two most sensitive exposure-free techniques primarily capture host-seeking mosquitoes, both have substantial disadvantages for routine community-based surveillance applications: the CDC-LT requires regular recharging of batteries while the bulkiness of ITT-C makes it difficult to move between sampling locations. RB placed indoors or outdoors and WET had consistently poor sensitivity so it may be useful to evaluate additional alternative methods, such as pyrethrum spray catches and back packer aspirators, for catching resting mosquitoes. © 2013 Sikaala et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Anopheles funestus; Anopheles quadriannulatus; Ifakara Tent Trap; Sampling; Sensitivity | deltamethrin; analytic method; Anopheles; Anopheles funestus; Anopheles quadriannulatus; article; bed net; centres for disease control and prevention miniature light trap; host; human landing catch; ifakara tent trap model c; malaria; mosquito; nonhuman; protective equipment; pyrethrum; resting boxes; season; sensitivity analysis; window exit trap; Zambia; Animals; Anopheles; Disease Vectors; Entomology; Female; Male; Parasitology; Plasmodium; Zambia; Anopheles funestus; Anopheles quadriannulatus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-63449089142 | The impact of browsing-induced degradation on the reproduction of subtropical thicket canopy shrubs and trees | Sigwela A.M., Kerley G.I.H., Mills A.J., Cowling R.M. | 2009 | South African Journal of Botany | 75 | 2 | 10.1016/j.sajb.2008.12.001 | Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 7700, Port Elizabeth, 6031, South Africa; Restoration Research Group, Department of Soil Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Restoration Research Group, Department of Botany, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 7700, Port Elizabeth, 6031, South Africa | Sigwela, A.M., Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 7700, Port Elizabeth, 6031, South Africa; Kerley, G.I.H., Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 7700, Port Elizabeth, 6031, South Africa; Mills, A.J., Restoration Research Group, Department of Soil Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Cowling, R.M., Restoration Research Group, Department of Botany, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 7700, Port Elizabeth, 6031, South Africa | The regeneration dynamics of South African subtropical thicket are poorly understood. This lack of knowledge hampers the development of appropriate restoration protocols in degraded landscapes. To address this we compared the magnitude of seed production and the frequency seedlings of canopy species in intact and browsing-degraded forms of Portulacaria afra-dominated thicket. Severe browsing had a negative impact on sexual reproduction of canopy species. Seed production for all species was lower in the degraded than the intact states of both vegetation types. In the case of seedlings, almost all individuals were associated with beneath-canopy microsites, irrespective of degradation status. Exceptions were P. afra, Putterlickia pyracantha and Grewia robusta. Of the 511 seedlings that we observed, 480 (94%) were found in the beneath-canopy microsite and 31 (6%) in the open. In both intact and degraded sites, there were significantly fewer seedlings (all species combined) in open microsites than would be expected on the basis of the aerial extent of this microsite. The results show firstly that preservation of remnant clumps of closed-canopy thicket in degraded landscapes is of paramount importance for restoration, and that for recruitment of a wide range of canopy species to occur outside of these remnant clumps, it is essential to restore closed-canopy conditions as speedily as possible. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Carbon credits; Portulacaria afra; Restoration; Seed production; Seedling establishment; Soil organic matter | browsing; canopy architecture; carbon dioxide; ecological impact; land degradation; landscape structure; recruitment (population dynamics); regeneration; restoration ecology; seed production; seedling establishment; sexual reproduction; shrub; soil organic matter; Grewia; Portulacaria afra; Putterlickia pyracantha; Pyracantha | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77953757154 | Wildlife damage and its impact on public attitudes towards conservation: A comparative study of Kenya and Botswana, with particular reference to Kenya's Laikipia Region and Botswana's Okavango Delta Region | Sifuna N. | 2010 | Journal of Asian and African Studies | 45 | 3 | 10.1177/0021909610364776 | Moi University School of Law, PO Box 3900-30100, Eldoret, Kenya | Sifuna, N., Moi University School of Law, PO Box 3900-30100, Eldoret, Kenya | While wildlife is a valuable natural resource with several beneficial values to the people of Kenya and Botswana, wild animals in both countries usually cause damage to society in terms of attacks on people and livestock, damage to crops and other property such as infrastructure, and disruption of peaceful existence in local communities living in close proximity to wildlife areas. Wildlife damage would ordinarily result in people having negative attitudes towards conservation. Interestingly, however, people's perceptions of wildlife in these countries seem to be diametrically different in that whereas public attitudes in Kenya are generally negative, in Botswana they are remarkably positive. This study set out to establish the reasons for this variance in conservation attitudes. It established that the major cause for this variance in perception is that while in Kenya wildlife conservation is more often thought of in terms of wildlife welfare and hardly in terms of human welfare, in Botswana human welfare concerns have been mainstreamed in conservation efforts. People have, for instance, been allowed to derive direct benefits from wildlife through consumptive utilization, unlike in Kenya where only indirect benefits through non-consumptive uses are permitted. These direct benefits seem to mitigate the effects of wildlife damage, especially the resultant negative attitudes of people towards wildlife. The present and future survival of wildlife in many parts of the world, and especially in African countries such as Kenya and Botswana, depends to a large measure on the goodwill of the people, particularly local communities, in their everyday contact with it. © The Author(s) 2010. | Human-wildlife conflicts; Laikipia; Livelihoods; Local communities; Okavango; Public attitudes; Wildlife damage | comparative study; natural resource; nature conservation; nature-society relations; perception; public attitude; survival; Kenya; Laikipia; Namibia; Okavango; Rift Valley; Animalia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84927553887 | The impact of spousal violence on the children: A pastoral care approach | Sifo L.G., Masango M.J. | 2014 | HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies | 70 | 2 | 10.4102/hts.v70i2.2044 | Department of Practical Theology, University of Pretoria, South Africa | Sifo, L.G., Department of Practical Theology, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Masango, M.J., Department of Practical Theology, University of Pretoria, South Africa | This article investigates the impact of spousal violence on children. Spousal violence in the home affects children negatively and its impact goes beyond their childhood years into adulthood. Some children become dysfunctional in life as a result of their exposure to violence between their parents. These children may exhibit symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) later on in life. A case study of a family exposed to violence was undertaken. Findings from this case scenario were measured against existing literature. A pastoral care method of responding to the victims is proposed in order for them to be healed. © 2014. The Authors. | None | None | 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-s2.0-84862876803 | Performance evaluation of two serological tests for contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) detection in an enzootic area using a Bayesian framework | Sidibé C.A.K., Grosbois V., Thiaucourt F., Niang M., Lesnoff M., Roger F. | 2012 | Tropical Animal Health and Production | 44 | 6 | 10.1007/s11250-011-0063-3 | Central Veterinary Laboratory, Km 8, Route de Koulikoro, BP: 2295 Bamako, Mali; CIRAD, Control of Exotic and Emerging Animal Diseases Unit, TA A-15/G, Campus International de Baillarguet, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France; African Union, Interafrican Bureau For Animal Resources, Kenindia Business Park, Museum Hill, Westlands Road, Nairobi, Kenya; CIRAD, Animal and Integrated Risk Management (AGIRs) Unit, (ES), TA A-22/E, Campus International de Baillarguet, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France; CIRAD, SELMET Unit, Campus International de Baillarguet, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France | Sidibé, C.A.K., Central Veterinary Laboratory, Km 8, Route de Koulikoro, BP: 2295 Bamako, Mali, CIRAD, Animal and Integrated Risk Management (AGIRs) Unit, (ES), TA A-22/E, Campus International de Baillarguet, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France; Grosbois, V., CIRAD, Animal and Integrated Risk Management (AGIRs) Unit, (ES), TA A-22/E, Campus International de Baillarguet, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France; Thiaucourt, F., CIRAD, Control of Exotic and Emerging Animal Diseases Unit, TA A-15/G, Campus International de Baillarguet, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France; Niang, M., Central Veterinary Laboratory, Km 8, Route de Koulikoro, BP: 2295 Bamako, Mali, African Union, Interafrican Bureau For Animal Resources, Kenindia Business Park, Museum Hill, Westlands Road, Nairobi, Kenya; Lesnoff, M., CIRAD, SELMET Unit, Campus International de Baillarguet, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France; Roger, F., CIRAD, Animal and Integrated Risk Management (AGIRs) Unit, (ES), TA A-22/E, Campus International de Baillarguet, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France | A Bayesian approach, allowing for conditional dependence between two tests was used to estimate without gold standard the sensitivities of complement fixation test (CFT) and competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test (cELISA) and the serological prevalence of CBPP in a cattle population of the Central Delta of the Niger River in Mali, where CBPP is enzootic and the true prevalence and animals serological state were unknown. A significant difference (P = 0.99) was observed between the sensitivities of the two tests, estimated at 73.7% (95% probability interval [PI], 63.4-82.7) for cELISA and 42.3% (95% PI, 33.3-53.7) for CFT. Individual-level serological prevalence in the study population was estimated at 14.1% (95% PI, 10.8-16.9). Our results indicate that in enzootic areas, cELISA performs better in terms of sensitivity than CFT. However, negative conditional sensitivity dependence between the two tests was detected, implying that to achieve maximum sensitivity, the two tests should be applied in parallel. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. | Bayesian framework; CBPP; Field cattle; Sensitivity; Serological tests; Specificity | animal; animal disease; article; Bayes theorem; cattle; cattle disease; comparative study; complement fixation test; contagious pleuropneumonia; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; epidemiology; evaluation; Mali; methodology; microbiology; sensitivity and specificity; Animals; Bayes Theorem; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Complement Fixation Tests; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Mali; Pleuropneumonia, Contagious; Sensitivity and Specificity; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Animalia; Bos; Bovinae; Mycoplasma | None |
| None | None | Psychosocial impact of obstetric fistula in women presenting for surgical care in Tanzania | Siddle K., Mwambingu S., Malinga T., Fiander A. | 2013 | International Urogynecology Journal and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction | 24 | 7 | 10.1007/s00192-012-1994-6 | Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom; Obstetric Fistula Department, Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT) Disability Hospital, PO Box 23310, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Siddle, K., Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom, Obstetric Fistula Department, Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT) Disability Hospital, PO Box 23310, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Mwambingu, S., Obstetric Fistula Department, Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT) Disability Hospital, PO Box 23310, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Malinga, T., Obstetric Fistula Department, Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT) Disability Hospital, PO Box 23310, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Fiander, A., Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom, Obstetric Fistula Department, Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT) Disability Hospital, PO Box 23310, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Introduction and hypothesis World Health Organisation data suggest that two million women live with the physical and psychosocial effects of obstetric fistula. As part of an expanded fistula programme in Tanzania, Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT) introduced an evaluation strategy to include impact of surgery on psychosocial aspects of obstetric fistula. This is an initial report documenting morbidity on admission. Methods A questionnaire assessing the impact of obstetric fistula was developed taking into account literature in the field including sections on: patient contact information, transport costs and a set of statements regarding the effects of fistula. The effects were spread across five domains: the physical consequences of obstetric fistula, the effects of a difficult delivery and possible stillbirth, the experience of isolation, the inability to undertake daily living activities and feelings of depression. The questionnaire was administered in Kiswahili by Tanzanian counsellors shortly after admission of patients onto the fistula ward. Results A total of 100 fistula patients reported high rates of physical and psychosocial morbidity. Over half of the patients said they would not have been able to access treatment without the transport costs being covered. Conclusions Fistula patients are affected by extremely high rates of physical and psychosocial morbidity. Further work is required to confirm these findings, validate assessment tools and assess contributing factors in greater detail over time, such as the effect of stillbirth, as well as the impact of surgery. © The International Urogynecological Association 2012. | Depression; Fistula; Obstetric fistula; Psychosocial effects; Stillbirth; Vesico-vaginal fistula | ADL disability; adult; article; childbirth; cystovaginal fistula; depression; female; financial management; health care access; hospital admission; human; major clinical study; morbidity; patient information; patient transport; physical capacity; priority journal; questionnaire; rectovaginal fistula; self concept; social isolation; social psychology; stillbirth; suicidal behavior; Tanzania; Dystocia; Female; Humans; Male; Pregnancy; Retrospective Studies; Tanzania; Vaginal Fistula | 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 |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-71449086098 | Evaluation of endocrine disruptor levels in Kafue lechwe (kobus leche kafuensis) Samples from the blue Lagoon National Park of Zambia | Sichilongo K., Torto N. | 2009 | Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology | 83 | 6 | 10.1007/s00128-009-9843-0 | Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Botswana, P/B 00704, Gaborone, Botswana; Department of Chemistry, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown, South Africa | Sichilongo, K., Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Botswana, P/B 00704, Gaborone, Botswana; Torto, N., Department of Chemistry, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown, South Africa | The concentrations of endocrine disruptors were determined in 36 liver tissue, serum and whole blood sample extracts drawn from 15 Blue Lagoon National Park Kafue lechwe. Out of 10 analytes evaluated, 89% of the sample extracts showed very high dieldrin concentrations of between 0.08-100 μg/mL in serum, 0.08-24.8 μg/mL in whole blood and 0.08-4.6 μg/g wet weight in liver tissue extracts. pp-DDE was detected in 83% of the sample extracts at 0.006-5.1 μg/mL in serum, 0.006-8.5 μg/mL in whole blood and 0.006-0.12 μg/g wet weight in liver tissue extracts. There was strong correlation between pp-DDE and dieldrin in all the three matrices. Deltamethrin and endosulfan detected at 50% frequency each. Percent recoveries in spiked laboratory blanks ranged between 60-100% while calculated detection limits ranged from 0.004 to 0.21 μg/mL for all the endocrine disruptors evaluated. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. | Blue Lagoon; Dieldrin; Kafue lechwe; Pp-DDE; Zambia | Analytes; Deltamethrin; Detection limits; Endocrine disruptor; Endosulfans; Liver tissue; National parks; Strong correlation; Wet weight; Whole blood; Blood; Insecticides; Lakes; Liver; Parks; Extraction; aldrin; deltamethrin; dieldrin; endocrine disruptor; endosulfan; heptachlor; animal tissue; antelope; article; blood sampling; female; Kobus leche kafuensis; lagoon; liver; male; national park; nonhuman; Zambia; Animals; Antelopes; Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; Dieldrin; Endocrine Disruptors; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollutants; Female; Liver; Male; Zambia; Kobus leche | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84901337173 | Perceptions of organisational readiness for the performance management system: A case study of a university of technology | Sibongiseni Ngcamu B. | 2012 | Corporate Board: Role, Duties and Composition | 8 | 3 | None | Mangosuthu University of Technology, South Africa | Sibongiseni Ngcamu, B., Mangosuthu University of Technology, South Africa | The absence of a single performance management system (PMS) aligned to institutional strategy and business processes often results in failure to deliver anticipated benefits as it is not cascaded down to all departments, teams or individuals. This study aims to determine employees' expectations for the proposed PMS and their perceptions of the system's impact on effectiveness within the university concerned. This study adopted a quantitative research design and a survey method was used, whereby, a structured questionnaire was administered by the researcher to a selected population size of 150 of which 108 completed questionnaires, generating a response rate of 72%. The study reflects a disproportionately high percentage of 34% of the respondents who disagreed and 21.3% who were undecided as to whether PMS is needed at the university concerned where the majority of these respondents being academics and those with matriculation. The university concerned should develop a PMS which is aligned to the university strategic plan and to other university policies coupled with structured change management interventions focusing on academics and semi-skilled employees. | Academics; Effectiveness; Performance management system; Rewards strategies | None | 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-s2.0-45549099349 | Development and evaluation of a real-time polymerase chain reaction test for the detection of Theileria parva infections in Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer) and cattle | Sibeko K.P., Oosthuizen M.C., Collins N.E., Geysen D., Rambritch N.E., Latif A.A., Groeneveld H.T., Potgieter F.T., Coetzer J.A.W. | 2008 | Veterinary Parasitology | 155 | 42371 | 10.1016/j.vetpar.2008.03.033 | Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Department of Animal Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 155 Nationalestraat, Antwerp, B-2000, Belgium; Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X5, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Department of Statistics, School of Mathematical Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa | Sibeko, K.P., Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Oosthuizen, M.C., Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Collins, N.E., Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Geysen, D., Department of Animal Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 155 Nationalestraat, Antwerp, B-2000, Belgium; Rambritch, N.E., Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X5, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Latif, A.A., Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X5, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Groeneveld, H.T., Department of Statistics, School of Mathematical Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa; Potgieter, F.T., Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X5, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Coetzer, J.A.W., Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa | Corridor disease, caused by the tick-borne protozoan parasite Theileria parva, is a controlled disease in South Africa. The Cape buffalo is the reservoir host and uninfected buffalo have become sought-after by the game industry in South Africa, particularly for introduction into Corridor disease-free areas. A real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for detection of T. parva DNA in buffalo and cattle was developed to improve the sensitivity and specificity of the official diagnostic test package in South Africa. Oligonucleotide primers and hybridization probes were designed based on the 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene. Amplification of control DNA using Theileria genus-specific primers resulted in detection of T. taurotragi and T. annulata, in addition to T. parva. A T. parva-specific forward primer was designed which eliminated amplification of all other Theileria species, except for Theileria sp. (buffalo); however only the T. parva product was detected by the T. parva-specific hybridization probe set. The real-time PCR assay requires less time to perform, is more sensitive than the other molecular assays previously used in T. parva diagnostics and can reliably detect the parasite in carrier animals with a piroplasm parasitaemia as low as 8.79 × 10 -4%. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Corridor disease; Detection; Real-time PCR; Theileria parva | animal experiment; animal parasitosis; article; buffalo; cattle; controlled study; diagnostic test; gene amplification; intermethod comparison; methodology; nonhuman; nucleotide sequence; real time polymerase chain reaction; RNA gene; sensitivity and specificity; Theileria; Theileria annulata; Theileria parva; theileria taurotragi; Animals; Buffaloes; Cattle; Disease Reservoirs; DNA, Protozoan; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; Sensitivity and Specificity; Theileria parva; Theileriasis; Animalia; Bos; Ixodida; Protozoa; Syncerus caffer; Syncerus caffer caffer; Theileria; Theileria annulata; Theileria parva; Theileria sp.; Theileria taurotragi | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84856234669 | Binuclear Pd-methyl complexes of N,N′-{1, n}-alkanediyl- bis(pyridinyl-2-methanimine) ligands (n = 5, 8, 9, 10 and 12): Evaluation as catalysts precursors for phenylacetylene polymerization | Sibanyoni J.M., Bagihalli G.B., Mapolie S.F. | 2012 | Journal of Organometallic Chemistry | 700 | None | 10.1016/j.jorganchem.2011.11.019 | Department of Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa; Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag 1, Matieland, 7601, Stellenbosch, South Africa | Sibanyoni, J.M., Department of Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa; Bagihalli, G.B., Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag 1, Matieland, 7601, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Mapolie, S.F., Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag 1, Matieland, 7601, Stellenbosch, South Africa | A series of bifunctional ligands of the type N,N′-{1, n}-alkanediyl-bis(pyridinyl-2-methanimine) {n = 5, 8, 9, 10, 12}(L1-L5) were synthesized and fully characterized by IR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Binuclear palladium-methylchloride complexes C1-C5 were formed by reacting the ligands with [(COD)Pd(CH 3)Cl]. The formed complexes were fully characterized by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, spectroscopy, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. The synthesized complexes were evaluated as catalyst precursors for phenylacetylene polymerization after activation with AgBF 4, AgBPh 4 and NaB(Ar f) 4 (Sodium tetrakis[(3.5-trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate) under various reaction conditions (solvent ratio, catalyst type, monomer/catalyst ratio, reaction time and nature of counterion). The cationic palladium-methyl catalyst precursors C1a-C5a were found to be active catalysts for phenylacetylene polymerization. The obtained polyphenylacetylene were analyzed by IR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and found to be largely cis-transoidal in nature. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Diimine complexes; N,N′-{1,n}-alkanediyl-bis(pyridinyl-2-methanimine) ligands; Pd-methyl complexes; Phenylacetylene polymerization; Polyphenylacetylene | Active catalyst; Bifunctional ligand; Catalyst precursors; Catalysts precursors; Counterions; Diimine complexes; Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry; Pd-methyl complexes; Phenylacetylenes; Polyphenylacetylene; Reaction conditions; Tetrakis; Trifluoromethyl; Acetylene; Aromatic hydrocarbons; Catalysts; Cationic polymerization; Chlorine compounds; Electrospray ionization; Gel permeation chromatography; Ligands; Mass spectrometry; Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy; Organic polymers; Palladium compounds | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34047135322 | Design and performance evaluation of a medium power PM-assisted reluctance synchronous traction machine using bonded PM-sheets | Sibande S.E., Kamper M.J., Wang R. | 2006 | SAIEE Africa Research Journal | 97 | 1 | None | Electrical Machines and Drives Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland, 7602, South Africa | Sibande, S.E., Electrical Machines and Drives Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Kamper, M.J., Electrical Machines and Drives Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Wang, R., Electrical Machines and Drives Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland, 7602, South Africa | This paper describes the optimum design of a permanent-magnet-assisted reluctance rotor of a 110 kW reluctance synchronous traction machine. Previous studies show that the performance of the pure reluctance synchronous machine drive deteriorates fast in the flux-weakening speed region. To address this problem, thin bonded permanent-magnet sheet material is used inside the flux barriers of the reluctance rotor to improve the performance of the drive, especially in the flux-weakening speed region. A design optimization algorithm is implemented to minimize the volume and hence the cost of the permanent-magnet material, subject to voltage and torque constraints. The calculated and measured results show clearly that the performance of the reluctance synchronous traction machine with a minimum amount of permanent-magnet material in the rotor compares favorably with the performance of the conventional induction machine drive at both rated and maximum speeds. Copyright © 2004 IEEE. | Finite element; Optimisation; Permanent magnet; Reluctance synchronous machine | Design optimization; Finite Element; Flux barrier; Flux weakening; Induction machine drive; Maximum speed; Measured results; Optimisation; Optimisations; Optimum designs; Performance evaluation; Reluctance synchronous machine; Sheet material; Torque constraints; Traction machines; Magnetic devices; Optimization; Permanent magnets; Synchronous motors; Traction (friction); Machine design | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84900523512 | The impact of e-learning on student performance: A case study of an entry-level module at a South African University | Sibanda M., Donnelly S. | 2014 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 5 | 9 | 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n9p478 | 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; Donnelly, S., School of Accounting, Economics and Finance, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | This study seeks to establish the impact of introducing an online learning platform, using an entry-level module, on student performance. Measures of central location and dispersion are used to analyze the secondary data for three consecutive periods of which the most recent is the year in which an online learning platform was introduced. The results show that there were no noticeable changes in the overall pass rate during the year in which the online learning platform was introduced. However, there were improvements in the distribution and dispersion of the marks in that year. When the class is segmented into racial groups, results show that the African students were the most adversely impacted by the introduction of online learning, while the Indian students benefited the most from the implementation of the online learning tool. Furthermore, the fulltime mainstream students realized an improvement in the pass rate compared to full-time evening students. These findings imply that in spite of marginal changes in the student performance it is essential for institutional mechanisms to provide online support to entry-level students in order to realize the full benefits of online learning platforms in universities in developing countries. This may be done through the promotion of student engagement and by introducing some 'stick and carrot' initiatives into e-learning activities. | Entry level; Higher education; Online learning; Success rate | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84892750721 | Investigating the impacts of real exchange rates on economic growth: A case study of South Africa | Sibanda K., Ncwadi R., Mlambo C. | 2013 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 4 | 13 | 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n13p261 | Department of Economics, University of Fort Hare, South Africa | Sibanda, K., Department of Economics, University of Fort Hare, South Africa; Ncwadi, R., Department of Economics, University of Fort Hare, South Africa; Mlambo, C., Department of Economics, University of Fort Hare, South Africa | This paper examines the impact of real exchange rates on economic growth in South Africa. The paper uses quarterly time series data for the period of 1994 to 2010. The Johansen cointegration and vector error correction model is used to determine the impact of real exchange on economic growth in South Africa. The explanatory variables in this paper are real exchange rates, real interest rates, money supply, trade openness and gross fixed capital formation. Results of the study reveals that real exchange rates have a dampening long run impact on economic growth in South Africa. From the regression results, it is noted that undervaluation of the currency significantly hampers growth in the long run, whilst it significantly enhances economic growth in the short run. As such, the policy of depreciating exchange rates to achieve higher growth rates is only effective in the short run and is not sustainable in the long run. Based on the findings of this study, the authors recommend that misalignment (overvaluation and undervaluation) of the currency should be avoided at all costs. In addition, the results of the study shows that interest rates also have a significant impact on growth and since interest rates have a bearing on the exchange rate, it is recommended that the current monetary policy of inflation targeting be maintained in South Africa. | Economic growth; Real exchange rates; South Africa; Vector Error Correction Modeling | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78650022217 | Practitioner guidelines for career counselling in light of cross-cultural influences on WAIS-III IQ test performance | Shuttleworth-Edwards A.B. | 2010 | Journal of Psychology in Africa | 20 | 3 | None | Department of Psychology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa | Shuttleworth-Edwards, A.B., Department of Psychology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa | This article consists of two aspects, Including: (i) The delineation of WAIS-III normative date derived from prior research conducted by the present author (Shuttleworth-Edwards et al., 2004) in respect of a black African first language sample in the age range 19-30, stratified for level and quality of education; and (ii) The presentation of two case vignettes in order to illustrate the utility of these norms. The WAIS-III normative scores for the black African first language groups with advantaged education are commensurate with the USA standardization, whereas for black African first language participants with disadvantaged education scores fall in the Borderline Impairedand Low Average ranges for Grade 12s and Graduates, respectively. The two case vignettes highlight the need to take account of such culturally induced performance decrements on the standard administration the WAIS-III, in order to facilitate reality based indications concerning educational and career possibilities. In particular, there is the risk of underestimating potential in black African first language populations with relatively disadvantaged education. | African; Culture; Language; Qualitative; WAIS-III | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84903952001 | Impact of corporate governance on the performance of commercial banks in Zimbabwe | Shungu P., Ngirande H., Ndlovu G. | 2014 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 5 | 15 | 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n15p93 | Department of Finance, NUST, Zimbabwe; Department of Business Management, University of Limpopo, Private Bag 1106, Sovenga, 2707, South Africa | Shungu, P., Department of Finance, NUST, Zimbabwe; Ngirande, H., Department of Business Management, University of Limpopo, Private Bag 1106, Sovenga, 2707, South Africa; Ndlovu, G., Department of Business Management, University of Limpopo, Private Bag 1106, Sovenga, 2707, South Africa | The background of corporate governance dates back to the 19th Century when state corporation laws enhanced the rights of corporate boards without unanimous consent of shareholders. The concept propounds that corporation should have a good board structure in order to enhance performance. It is firmly rooted on the assumption that good corporate governance practices enhance corporate performance. However, there is no consensus on the impact of corporate governance on performance. The increasing role of the financial sector, on both economic development and poverty alleviation, has seen the concept being applied more on the financial sector than before; this has been further aggravated by world financial crisis, and its consequences. In this regard, Zimbabwe is no exception, during the period 2003-2009 the Zimbabwe witnessed unprecedented failure in the financial sector rooted from a number of issues; but chief among them has been cited as poor corporate governance practices. However, there have been mixed feelings on the extent to which bank performance can be attributed to corporate governance. The paper presents the findings of the study that was conducted to investigate the impact of corporate governance on the performance of commercial banks in Zimbabwe. Using data gathered from 2009-2012, for a sample of five commercial banks, it applies multi-regression model, to assess the causal relationship between corporate governance measures (board size, board composition, internal board committees and board diversity) and bank performance. The results indicate unidirectional causal relationship from corporate governance to bank performance. In addition, there a positive relationship between board composition, board diversity and commercial bank performance, although a negative relationship appears between board size, board committees and bank performance. Therefore, in order to improve performance in commercial banks good corporate governance practices must implemented, this includes improving board structures, disclosure, and fiduciary duties of directors. On the hand the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe should ensure or put in place robust supervisory and regulatory policies; the development and implementation of a national corporate governance code is long overdue. | Commercial bank; Corporate governance; Impact; Performance | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-70449124194 | Task shifting for scale-up of HIV care: Evaluation of nurse-centered antiretroviral treatment at Rural Health Centers in Rwanda | Shumbusho F., Van Griensven J., Lowrance D., Turate I., Weaver M.A., Price J., Binagwaho A. | 2009 | PLoS Medicine | 6 | 10 | 10.1371/journal.pmed.1000163 | Family Health International, Kigali, Rwanda; TRACPlus - Center for Infectious Disease Control, Kigali, Rwanda; Family Health International, Durham, NC, United States; Rwanda National AIDS Control Commission, Kigali, Rwanda | Shumbusho, F., Family Health International, Kigali, Rwanda; Van Griensven, J., Family Health International, Kigali, Rwanda; Lowrance, D., TRACPlus - Center for Infectious Disease Control, Kigali, Rwanda; Turate, I., Family Health International, Kigali, Rwanda; Weaver, M.A., Family Health International, Durham, NC, United States; Price, J., Family Health International, Kigali, Rwanda; Binagwaho, A., Rwanda National AIDS Control Commission, Kigali, Rwanda | Background: The shortage of human resources for health, and in particular physicians, is one of the major barriers to achieve universal access to HIV care and treatment. In September 2005, a pilot program of nurse-centered antiretroviral treatment (ART) prescription was launched in three rural primary health centers in Rwanda. We retrospectively evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of this task-shifting model using descriptive data. Methods and Findings:Medical records of 1,076 patients enrolled in HIV care and treatment services from September 2005 to March 2008 were reviewed to assess: (i) compliance with national guidelines for ART eligibility and prescription, and patient monitoring and (ii) key outcomes, such as retention, body weight, and CD4 cell count change at 6, 12, 18, and 24 mo after ART initiation. Of these, no ineligible patients were started on ART and only one patient received an inappropriate ART prescription. Of the 435 patients who initiated ART, the vast majority had adherence and side effects assessed at each clinic visit (89% and 84%, respectively). By March 2008, 390 (90%) patients were alive on ART, 29 (7%) had died, one (<1%) was lost to follow-up, and none had stopped treatment. Patient retention was about 92% by 12 mo and 91% by 24 mo. Depending on initial stage of disease, mean CD4 cell count increased between 97 and 128 cells/ml in the first 6 mo after treatment initiation and between 79 and 129 cells/ml from 6 to 24 mo of treatment. Mean weight increased significantly in the first 6 mo, between 1.8 and 4.3 kg, with no significant increases from 6 to 24 mo. Conclusions:Patient outcomes in our pilot program compared favorably with other ART cohorts in sub-Saharan Africa and with those from a recent evaluation of the national ART program in Rwanda. These findings suggest that nurses can effectively and safely prescribe ART when given adequate training, mentoring, and support. © 2009 Shumbusho et al. | None | antiretrovirus agent; cotrimoxazole; efavirenz; lamivudine plus nevirapine plus stavudine; lamivudine plus nevirapine plus zidovudine; anti human immunodeficiency virus agent; adult; article; body weight; CD4 lymphocyte count; female; health care delivery; health program; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; major clinical study; male; medical record review; nurse; outcome assessment; patient care; patient compliance; patient monitoring; physician; prescription; rural health care; Rwanda; unspecified side effect; cohort analysis; drug utilization; evaluation; feasibility study; health care quality; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; medical audit; middle aged; nurse attitude; nursing practice; organization and management; pilot study; practice guideline; retrospective study; Rwanda; theoretical model; treatment outcome; Adult; Anti-HIV Agents; Cohort Studies; Drug Prescriptions; Drug Utilization; Feasibility Studies; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Male; Medical Audit; Middle Aged; Models, Theoretical; Nurse's Practice Patterns; Nurse's Role; Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care); Patient Compliance; Pilot Projects; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Program Evaluation; Retrospective Studies; Rural Health Services; Rwanda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84863878794 | The Causes and Impact of the Brain Drain in Institutions of Higher Learning in Zimbabwe | Shumba A., Mawere D. | 2012 | International Migration | 50 | 4 | 10.1111/j.1468-2435.2012.00749.x | School of Teacher Education, Faculty of Humanities, Central University of Technology, Free State, South Africa; Department of Preclinical Veterinary Studies, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe | Shumba, A., School of Teacher Education, Faculty of Humanities, Central University of Technology, Free State, South Africa; Mawere, D., Department of Preclinical Veterinary Studies, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe | The brain drain of professionals has now become a major concern in developing countries, especially in Zimbabwe, in particular. In this study, we sought to determine: (a) the causes for the exodus of professionals; (b) the impact of the massive exodus of professionals on higher education; (c) the effects of the brain drain on the quality of graduate produced; and (d) possible solutions that could be used to curb the massive exodus of professionals. A sample of three employers, ten current and eight former lecturers, ten current students and five members of management were used in this study. We collected data using a questionnaire, interviews and focus group discussions. In this study, we found that the major push factors include low remuneration, low job satisfaction, collapse of funding, the political climate and declining currency exchange regimes, while the pull factors include attractive salaries and research and study opportunities, among others. Both push and pull factors caused the brain drain in Zimbabwe. © 2012 The Authors. International Migration © 2012 IOM. | None | brain drain; developing world; higher education; learning; questionnaire survey; student; Zimbabwe | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-48249158364 | Environmental impact assessment using FORM and groundwater system reliability concept: Case study Jining, China | Shu L.C., Liu P.G., Ongor B.T.I. | 2008 | Environmental Geology | 55 | 3 | 10.1007/s00254-007-1016-z | State Key Lab. of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 190, Kakamega 50100, Kenya | Shu, L.C., State Key Lab. of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; Liu, P.G., State Key Lab. of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; Ongor, B.T.I., State Key Lab. of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 190, Kakamega 50100, Kenya | In this paper, fist-order reliability method (FORM) is used to evaluate the impacts of uncertainties posed by traditional deterministic models on the environment in Jining, China. Because of groundwater contamination in shallow aquifer, and an increase in water demand, the new wells target the confined aquifer with constant pumping rate of 5,000 m 3/d. Using Theis equation, the groundwater drawdown is analyzed to determine whether the confined aquifer will be contaminated. Although the piezometric level is higher than the phreatic level by 11.0 m, the risk of drawdown is still 19.49% when the pumping rate of 5,000 m 3/d is maintained for 2 years. The deterministic model indicates a drawdown of 8.94 m which is lower than the maximum tolerance drawdown of 11.0 m. The sensitivity and uncertainty analysis reveal that the model result is more sensitive to transmissivity than specific yield, while the reliability analysis offers significant information for the decision makers. This approach exposes and minimizes the risk of undesirable consequences such as groundwater contamination. © 2007 Springer-Verlag. | China; FORM; Groundwater drawdown; Jining; Reliability analysis; Risk | Environmental impact; Environmental impact assessments; Groundwater; Groundwater resources; Hydrogeology; Offshore oil well production; Underground reservoirs; Case studies; Confined aquifers; Deterministic modeling; Ground water systems; Groundwater contamination; Impact Assessment (IA); Pumping rates; Reliability methods; Shallow aquifers; Water demands; Groundwater pollution; aquifer pollution; confined aquifer; environmental impact assessment; hydrological modeling; piezometer; reliability analysis; sensitivity analysis; uncertainty analysis; water demand; Asia; China; Eurasia; Far East; Jining; Shandong | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84946735239 | Human impact on marine water nutrients enrichment | Shtereva G., Velikova V., Doncheva V. | 2015 | Journal of Environmental Protection and Ecology | 16 | 1 | None | Institute of Oceanology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 152, Varna, Bulgaria; SuRDEP, 15 La Vue, Wierda Glen Estate, Pretoria, South Africa | Shtereva, G., Institute of Oceanology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 152, Varna, Bulgaria; Velikova, V., SuRDEP, 15 La Vue, Wierda Glen Estate, Pretoria, South Africa; Doncheva, V., Institute of Oceanology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 152, Varna, Bulgaria | Main drivers implying impact on the Black Sea water quality (WQ) along the Bulgarian coast are industry, urbanisation, tourism, navigation and agriculture. The aim of this paper is identification and evaluation of land-based sources (LBS) contributing to the nutrient enrichment of Black Sea coastal areas. Polluted rivers and municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) discharges are accountable for excessive enrichment of sea waters with nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter. The majority of municipal WWTPs, located along the Bulgarian coast, directly discharge into the sea and provide 68% of the total nitrogen load and 15% of the total phosphorus load. Additionally, wastewaters from 5 sewages flow into the sea without any treatment. A few WWTPs discharge into coastal lakes connected to the sea. Their impact on the Black Sea is indirect, yet significant due to the large pollutants load they bring to the environment. A number of new touristic facilities in Bulgarian resorts are not connected to the sewage system. Besides, some WWTPs have insufficient capacity to treat the increased amount of wastewaters delivered in summer, often they discharge insufficiently treated waters to the Black Sea which results in elevated nutrients level in coastal waters. The largest river along the Bulgarian coast is Kamchia, and it is also the most significant source of nutrients and pollutants for the Bulgarian Black Sea waters. Analysis of available data on nutrients load reveals three areas of maximum anthropogenic impact along the Bulgarian coast. These are the Varna and Burgas bays, and the Kamchia river mouth, which are exposed to direct or indirect influence of industrial and municipal discharges, port operations, tourism development and also inputs of nutrients from diffuse sources. | Black Sea; LBS; Nutrients load; River discharge; WWTP | anthropogenic effect; marine pollution; nutrient enrichment; pollutant source; river discharge; waste treatment; wastewater; water quality; water treatment; Black Sea Coast [Bulgaria]; Bulgaria | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84948823505 | Uterine prolapse and its impact on quality of life in the jhaukhel-duwakot health demographic surveillance site, Bhaktapur, Nepal | Shrestha B., Onta S., Choulagai B., Paudel R., Petzold M., Krettek A. | 2015 | Global Health Action | 8 | 1 | 10.3402/gha.v8.28771 | Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Kathmandu, Nepal; Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Health Metrics, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Biomedicine and Public Health, School of Health and Education, University of Skövde, Skö vde, Sweden; Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway | Shrestha, B., Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Kathmandu, Nepal, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Onta, S., Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Kathmandu, Nepal; Choulagai, B., Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Kathmandu, Nepal, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Paudel, R., Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Kathmandu, Nepal; Petzold, M., Health Metrics, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Krettek, A., Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden, Department of Biomedicine and Public Health, School of Health and Education, University of Skövde, Skö vde, Sweden, Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway | Background: Uterine prolapse (UP) is a reproductive health problem and public health issue in low-income countries including Nepal. Objective: We aimed to identify the contributing factors and stages of UP and its impact on quality of life in the Jhaukhel-Duwakot Health Demographic Surveillance Site of Bhaktapur, Nepal. Design: Our three-phase study used descriptive cross-sectional analysis to assess quality of life and stages of UPand case-control analysis to identify contributing factors. First, a household survey explored the prevalence of self-reported UP (Phase 1). Second, we used a standardized tool in a 5-day screening camp to determine quality of life among UP-affected women (Phase 2). Finally, a 1-month community survey traced self-reported cases from Phase 1 (Phase 3). To validate UP diagnoses, we reviewed participants' clinical records, and we used screening camp records to trace women without UP. Results: Among 48 affected women in Phase 1, 32 had Stage II UP and 16 had either Stage I or Stage III UP. Compared with Stage I women (4.62%), almost all women with Stage III UP reported reduced quality of life. Decreased quality of life correlated significantly with Stages I-III. Self-reported UP prevalence (8.7%) included all treated and non-treated cases. In Phase 3, 277 of 402 respondents reported being affected by UP and 125 were unaffected. The odds of having UP were threefold higher among illiterate women compared with literate women (OR-3.02, 95% CI 1.76-5.17), 50% lower among women from nuclear families compared with extended families (OR-0.56, 95% CI 0.35-0.90) and lower among women with 1-2 parity compared to -5 parity (OR-0.33, 95% CI 0.14-0.75). Conclusions: The stages of UP correlated with quality of life resulting from varied perceptions regarding physical health, emotional stress, and social limitation. Parity, education, age, and family type associated with UP. Our results suggest the importance of developing policies and programs that are focused on early health care for UP. Through family planning and health education programs targeting women, as well as women empowerment programs for prevention of UP, it will be possible to restore quality of life related to UP. © 2015 Binjwala Shrestha et al. | Health Demographic Surveillance Site; Nepal; Quality of life; Uterine prolapse | None | 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-s2.0-55449093312 | 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-s2.0-84953733024 | Evaluation of the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of ethanol extract of the root of Mimosa Pigra Linn (fabaceae) in albino rats | Shorinwa O.A., Ubele C., Ukwueze S.E. | 2015 | International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences | 7 | 7 | None | Department of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria | Shorinwa, O.A., Department of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Ubele, C., Department of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Ukwueze, S.E., Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria | Objective: Mimosa pigra roots are used in traditional medicine in the treatment of fever, headaches and cold. This study investigated the ethanol extract of the root of Mimosa pigra for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities in albino rats. Methods: The analgesic activity was evaluated by radiant heat tail flick method while the anti-inflammatory effect was investigated using fresh egg albumin induced paw edema in rats. The plant extract was evaluated at 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg. All administrations were done through the oral route. Results: Preliminary phytochemical screening showed that the extract contains; steroids, tannins, flavonoids, phlobatanins, saponins. The LD50 was found to be greater than 5000 mg/kg. The results showed that oral administration of 250 mg/kg of Mimosa pigra showed significantly (P<0.05) analgesic activity in30, 60 and 150 minutes while 500 mg/kg produced significantly (P<0.05) analgesic activity in 30, 60, 120 and 150 minutes. The two tested doses (250 mg/kg and500 mg/kg) were found to produce percentage inhibition of rat paw edema (42.60% and 49%) at 150 minutes compared to the positive control group of 63.20%. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that the ethanol extract of this plant possesses significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. © 2015, International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science. All right resurved. | Analgesic; Anti-inflammatory; Ethanol; Mimosa pigra; Phytochemical | acetylsalicylic acid; alcohol; flavonoid; indometacin; Mimosa pigra extract; ovalbumin; phlobatannin; plant extract; saponin; steroid; tannin; triterpene; unclassified drug; analgesic activity; animal experiment; animal model; animal tissue; antiinflammatory activity; Article; controlled study; experimental paw edema; female; LD50; male; Mimosa; nonhuman; phytochemistry; plant root; rat; tail flick test; toxicity testing | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84907287486 | Effective leadership conducive to generation of academic performance in Schools | Shonubi O.K. | 2014 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 5 | 20 | 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n20p1868 | Department of Education Leadership and Management, University of Johannesburg, South Africa | Shonubi, O.K., Department of Education Leadership and Management, University of Johannesburg, South Africa | The purpose of this paper was to understand and compare two schools in relation to how effective leadership functions (instructional and transformational leadership) may have been utilized to arrive at differential academic outputs in schools. Towards this end, an exceptionally performing and under-performing school was chosen from within the same socio-economic context with a view to understand how instructional and transformational leadership could result in generating optimal academic performance. These selected schools are government owned and thus, receive similar treatment in terms of funding, control, commitment, management and control, etc. Therefore a major research question: How do selected leadership functions bring about generation of differential student’s exceptional academic performance in schools? Utilizing the qualitative research approach, data was collected from internal key role players (otherwise referred to School Leadership Team [SLT]) from two selected schools: one exceptional performing and the other, underperforming. Participants in the study are; Principals, Viceprincipals and Heads of Department (HODs) from the two schools. I utilised one-on-one semi-structured interview, observations and document review to obtain rich data towards providing answers to the puzzle of the study. Findings among others indicate that monitoring, modelling, and internally funded training and development of teachers, ensured effective instructional delivery and up-date of knowledge in the teaching skills; and subject knowledge update of teachers in the exceptionally performing school, which impacted on student’s performance in the exceptionally performing school, compared to the exceptionally underperforming school. © MCSER-Mediterranean Center of Social and Educational Research. | Academic performance; and input and output variables; Exceptional performing and underperforming; Instructional leadership; Transformational leadership | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33750303862 | Performance of recalibration systems for GCM forecasts for southern Africa | Shongwe M.E., Landman W.A., Mason S.J. | 2006 | International Journal of Climatology | 26 | 12 | 10.1002/joc.1319 | Swaziland National Meteorological Service, Mbabane, Swaziland; Department of Geography Geoinformatics and Meteorology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; South Africa Weather Service, Pretoria, South Africa; International Research Institute for Climate and Society, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, P.O. Box 201, 3730 AE De Bilt, Netherlands | Shongwe, M.E., Swaziland National Meteorological Service, Mbabane, Swaziland, Department of Geography Geoinformatics and Meteorology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa, Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, P.O. Box 201, 3730 AE De Bilt, Netherlands; Landman, W.A., Department of Geography Geoinformatics and Meteorology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa, South Africa Weather Service, Pretoria, South Africa; Mason, S.J., International Research Institute for Climate and Society, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States | Two regression-based methods that recalibrate the ECHAM4.5 general circulation model (GCM) output during austral summer have been developed for southern Africa, and their performance assessed over a 12-year retroactive period 1989/90-2000/01. A linear statistical model linking near-global sea-surface temperatures (SSTs) to regional rainfall has also been developed. The recalibration technique is model output statistics (MOS) using principal components regression (PCR) and canonical correlation analysis (CCA) to statistically link archived records of the GCM to regional rainfall over much of Africa, south of the equator. The predictability of anomalously dry and wet conditions over each rainfall region during December-February (DJF) using the linear statistical model and MOS models has been quantitatively evaluated. The MOS technique outperforms the raw-GCM ensembles and the linear statistical model. Neither the PCR-MOS nor the CCA-MOS models show clear superiority over the other, probably because the two methods are closely related. The need to recalibrate GCM predictions at regional scales to improve their skill at smaller spatial scales is further demonstrated in this paper. Copyright © 2006 Royal Meteorological Society. | Canonical correlation analysis; Climate variability; General circulation models; Model output statistics; Model validation; Principal components regression; Sea-surface temperatures; Seasonal climate pediction; Southern Africa | Atmospheric movements; Atmospheric temperature; Climate change; Correlation methods; Mathematical models; Principal component analysis; Rain; Regression analysis; Canonical correlation analysis; Climate variability; General circulation model (GCM); Model output statistics; Principal components regression; Sea-surface temperature; Seasonal climate prediction; Climatology; atmospheric modeling; calibration; climate variation; forecasting method; general circulation model; model validation; principal component analysis; regression analysis; sea surface temperature; Africa; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77958473419 | Evaluation of Tithonia diversifolia for soil improvement in celosia (Celosia argentea) production | Shokalu A.O., Ojo A.O., E-Adewoyin D.T., Azeez J.A. | 2010 | Electronic Journal of Environmental, Agricultural and Food Chemistry | 9 | 5 | None | National Horticultural Research Institute, P.M.B. 5432, Idi-Ishin, Ibadan, Nigeria; Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Ibadan, Nigeria; University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria | Shokalu, A.O., National Horticultural Research Institute, P.M.B. 5432, Idi-Ishin, Ibadan, Nigeria; Ojo, A.O., Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Ibadan, Nigeria; E-Adewoyin, D.T., Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Ibadan, Nigeria; Azeez, J.A., University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria | Field experiments were conducted between June and September in the 2007 and 2008 cropping seasons at the teaching and experimental field of the National Horticultural Research Institute (7°25″N and 3°52″E), Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. To evaluate the growth and yield of Celosia argentea L. using different rates of Tithonia diversifolia and also to evaluate the effect of the amendments on soil chemical properties. The experimental design was a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates with plot size of 4m 2. Tithonia diversifolia was chopped, (fresh leaves and young stem) applied at 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10 and 20 tons ha -1 on fresh weight basis. These were incorporated into the soil two weeks before planting. Results indicated that soil P, Ca, CEC, K and soil organic matter content were significantly (P < 0.05) improved by the addition of Tithonia. There were significant treatment effect on soil pH, N, P, K, Mg and Zn (P < 0.05) which were improved with the use of Tithonia. Growth parameters: number of leaves, plant height and stem girth increased significantly (P< 0.05) with the application of Tithonia diversifolia. | Amendment; Celosia argentea; Tithonia diversifolia | Celosia; Celosia argentea; Tithonia diversifolia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84924913877 | Myocardial perfusion imaging for evaluation of suspected ischemia and its relationship with glycemic control in south african subjects with diabetes mellitus | Shmendi A., Pirie F., Naidoo D.P., Tlou B., Pilloy W., Motala A.A. | 2014 | Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy | 7 | None | 10.2147/DMSO.S72335 | Department of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Department of Cardiology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Department of Biostatistics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa | Shmendi, A., Department of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Pirie, F., Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Naidoo, D.P., Department of Cardiology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Tlou, B., Department of Biostatistics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Pilloy, W., Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Motala, A.A., Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa | Background: The relationship between myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) abnormalities, diabetes mellitus, and glucose control in South African populations is unknown. It was hypothesized that in subjects undergoing MPI for suspected coronary artery disease (CAD), those with diabetes would have more extensive perfusion defects and that diabetes control would influence MPI abnormalities. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the severity of CAD diagnosed with MPI in subjects with and without diabetes and to determine the relationship between diabetes control and extent of CAD.Methods: This study was a retrospective chart review of 340 subjects in whom MPI scans were performed over a 12-month period.Results: Subjects with diabetes had a higher prevalence of abnormal MPI, with more extensive ischemia, compared with subjects without diabetes (85.6% versus 68%; odds ratio 2.81, P,0.01). Glycated hemoglobin $7.0% was associated with a higher risk of abnormal MPI, with more extensive ischemia, compared with subjects having diabetes and glycated hemoglobin, 7.0% (odds ratio 2.46, P=0.03) and those without diabetes (odds ratio 4.55, P=0.0001).Conclusion: Subjects with diabetes have more extensive myocardial ischemia when compared with subjects without diabetes. Furthermore, poorer diabetes control is associated with more abnormalities on MPI scanning. © 2014 Shmendi et al. | Coronary artery disease; Diabetes mellitus; Glycated hemoglobin; Myocardial perfusion imaging | glucose; glycosylated hemoglobin; hemoglobin A1c; low density lipoprotein cholesterol; adult; Article; body mass; cardiovascular risk; cholesterol blood level; controlled study; coronary artery disease; diabetes mellitus; disease duration; disease severity; female; glucose blood level; glycemic control; heart muscle ischemia; human; image analysis; image quality; imaging system; major clinical study; male; myocardial perfusion imaging; population research; prevalence; retrospective study; risk assessment; risk factor; smoking; South African; systolic blood pressure | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84945905706 | Impact of cassava flour properties on the sensory quality of composite white bread | Shittu T.A., Fadeyi F.B., Ladipo M.A. | 2015 | Quality Assurance and Safety of Crops and Foods | 7 | 5 | 10.3920/QAS2014.0451 | Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria | Shittu, T.A., Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Fadeyi, F.B., Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Ladipo, M.A., Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria | The quality of composite baked products, which varies due to complex interaction of flour components, needs to be predictable for product optimisation purposes. This paper reports the impact of cassava flour (CF) from five cassava genotypes grown with or without fertiliser application on the quality of composite cassava-wheat bread. Composite breads were made with 10% of wheat flour substituted with CF. Sensory acceptability of the bread samples were determined based on crumb attributes (softness, elasticity, structure and colour), crust appearance, flavour and overall acceptability. Factorial analysis showed cassava genotype and fertiliser application during field cultivation significantly affected the crust appearance and crumb elasticity while their interactions affected all the sensory properties (P < 0.01). Crumb softness influenced the overall acceptability of the composite bread most significantly. The partial least square (PLS) regression models for predicting sensory acceptability scores from CF properties explained about 98-100% of the variability. Based on the PLS regression, the study concluded that pH, cyanogenic potential (CNP), and least gelation concentration (LGC) of CF were the most influential quality criteria affecting the sensory acceptability of composite bread. Generally, CF with lower CNP, acidity, amylose, and higher LGC values will give more acceptable freshly baked composite bread. © 2015 Wageningen Academic Publishers. | Physicochemical properties; PLS regression; Sensory acceptability | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-67649876364 | Measuring forecast performance of ARMA and ARFIMA models: An application to US Dollar/UK Pound foreign exchange rate | Shittu O.I., Yaya O.S. | 2009 | European Journal of Scientific Research | 32 | 2 | None | Department of Statistics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria | Shittu, O.I., Department of Statistics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Yaya, O.S., Department of Statistics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria | The classical approach to modelling economic series is to apply the Box - Jenkins approach of ARMA or ARIMA depending on whether the series is stationary or non- stationary. If such series exhibits long memory property, forecast values based on ARIMA model may not be reliable. This studies therefore focused on measuring forecast performance of ARIMA(p,d,q) and ARFIMA (p,d,q) models for stationary type series that exhibit Long memory properties. The UK Pound/US Dollar exchange rate data were analysed by OX 5.1 package using the Root mean Square forecast Error (RMSFE) and Mean Absolute Percentage Forecast Error (MAPFE) as measurement criteria. The ARFIMA model was found to be better than ARMA model as indicated by model diagnostic tools. The estimated forecast values from ARFIMA model is more realistic and closely reflect the current economic reality in the two countries as indicated by the forecast evaluation tools. The results are in agreement with Kwiatkowski et.al.(1992) and Boutahar, M. (2008). © EuroJournals Publishing, Inc. 2009. | Exchange rate; Forecasting; Fractional integration; Long memory; Nonlinearity | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34248504652 | The differential impact of various assessment parameters on the medical students performance in the professional anatomy examination in a new medical school | Shittu L.A.J., Zachariah M.P., Izegbu M.C., Adesanya O.A., Ashiru O.A. | 2006 | International Journal of Morphology | 24 | 4 | None | Department of Anatomy, Lagos State University, College of Medecine (Lasucom), PMB 21266, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; Department of Psychiatry, Lagos State University, College of Medecine (Lasucom), PMB 21266, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; Department of Morbid Anatomy | Shittu, L.A.J., Department of Anatomy, Lagos State University, College of Medecine (Lasucom), PMB 21266, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; Zachariah, M.P., Department of Psychiatry, Lagos State University, College of Medecine (Lasucom), PMB 21266, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; Izegbu, M.C., Department of Morbid Anatomy, Lagos State University, College of Medecine (Lasucom), PMB 21266, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; Adesanya, O.A., Department of Anatomy, Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo-State, Nigeria; Ashiru, O.A., Department of Anatomy, Lagos State University, College of Medecine (Lasucom), PMB 21266, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria | There is a dearth of knowledge on the level of agreement between all the various assessment tasks on the same content area, in order to test this hypothesis we adopted the concept of convergent validity and also to isolate area of academic weakness among the students and to readjust the curriculum content to balance the weakness. A blinded cohort retrospective study was carried out on a total of sixty-six third year medical students who had sat for their first professional examination in anatomy in the new medical college of Lagos State University. Using records of their grades in the various assessments parameters- the average end-in course assessment, short essays question (SEQ), multiplechoice questions (MCQ), and practical (Steeple-chase). The mean + S.D. Pearson's correlation with students t-test (p< 0.05 being significant) were analyzed using the computerized SPSS 11 (SPSS inc. Chicago, Illinois) software package. The practical was significantly correlated with overall performance (r = 0.89, p< 0.01); with the student t-value of 6.15 (p< 0.01). Although, the SEQ showed significant correlation to overall performance (r =0.72; p<0.01), the t-value of 0.4 was nonsignificant, but, within an acceptable range. The practical, MCQ, SEQ and end-incourse showed an overall rank order of relative performance in assessment tasks, therefore indicates that, in general, students performance in the Professional examination was better than in the end-incourse examination and hence, the need to reappraise this pattern and emphasize the role of incourse assessment in the curriculum. © 2007 Sociedad Chilena de Anatom•br>. | Anatomy; Assessment parameters; Nigeria; Student performance | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84866313534 | Design and evaluation of a 3-component composite excipient "microcrystarcellac" as a filler-binder for direct compression | Shittu A.O., Oyi A.R., Isah A.B., Ibrahim M.A. | 2012 | International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences | 4 | SUPPL. 4 | None | Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Jos, Nigeria; Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nige | Shittu, A.O., Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Jos, Nigeria; Oyi, A.R., Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Isah, A.B., Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Ibrahim, M.A., Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Jos, Nigeria | A research was conducted to design and evaluate a highly functional 3-component composite filler- binder for direct compression. Tapioca starch (NTS) was modified physically at molecular level by annealing and enzyme hydrolyzed to obtain microcrystalline tapioca starch (MCTS) which was coprocessed with LMH and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) to yield Microcrystarcellac (MSCL). NTS was extracted from cassava tuber (Mannihot italive utilismo) using a standard method. The powder suspensions were prepared in concentration of 40 %w/w in five separate conical flasks. The starch granules were annealed for 1 h and subsequently hydrolyzed with α-amylase at 58° and pH 7 for 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 h in a water bath. The reaction was terminated and neutralized with 0.1 N HCL and 0.1 N NaOH respectively. The MCTS was washed, recovered by sedimentation and air dried at room temperature for 72 h. Following characterization, the granules that were modified for 3 h, sieved fraction >75-250 μm was coprocessed with α- lactose monohydrate(α-LMH) and Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) at concentrations of 10-50 % (MCTS), 45-25 %(α-LMH), 45-25 %(MCC). Granule size ranges >75 - 250 μm, and >90 - 250 μm were characterized and compacted at a range of compression load 2.5 to 12.5 KN. Average flow rate, angle of repose and carr's index were 2 g/s, 31.6°, 13.4 % respectively for MSCL (granule size range >90 - 250 μm and component ratio of MCTS, α-LMH, and MCC is 20: 40:40). The corresponding values for the direct physical mixture of MCTS, α-LMH and MCC are 0.45 g/s, 47.5°, 52 % respectively. MSCL have improved functionality over direct physical mixture of the primary excipients. MSCL was compared with Starlac®, Cellactose® and MCC. The onset of plastic deformation P y (yield value) are: MSCL (22.3 MNm -2)>Cellactose (24.2 MNm -2)>MCC (25 MNm -2)>Starlac (143 MNm -2). The degree of plastic deformation occurring during compression (P k) is in the following order: MSCL (16.3 MNm -2)>Starlac®(17 MNm -2)>MCC (18.6 MNm -2)>Cellactose® (19.1 MNm -2). MSCL is more superior in functionality than Starlac, Cellactose and MCC. The dilution potential obtained for MSCL compacted with paracetamol (PCM) and ascorbic acid (AA) as active drug (API) are: 50 % AA with MSCL, 45 % PCM with MSCL. The hardness of MSCL containing 45 % PCM, 70 N; MSCL containing 50 % AA, 68 N. MSCL can be used to formulate tablets of both poorly compressible API and moisture sensitive API. | Coprocessed Excipient; Directly compressible Excipient; Highly functional Filler-binder; Microcrystalline Tapioca Starch; Microcrystarcellac | alpha lactose; amylase; ascorbic acid; excipient; lactose; microcrystalline cellulose; paracetamol; starch; article; cassava; composite material; concentration (parameters); flow rate; hydrolysis; Mannihot italive utilismo; moisture; pH measurement; room temperature; sedimentation rate; sensitivity analysis; tapioca; temperature measurement | 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 |
| None | None | Impact of habitat alteration on endemic Afromontane chameleons: Evidence for historical population declines using hierarchical spatial modelling | Shirk P.L., Linden D.W., Patrick D.A., Howell K.M., Harper E.B., Vonesh J.R. | 2014 | Diversity and Distributions | 20 | 10 | 10.1111/ddi.12239 | Department of Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States; Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States; Division of Forestry, Natural Resources and Recreation, Paul Smith's College, Paul Smith's, NY, United States; Department of Zoology and Wildlife Conservation, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Department of Wildlife Ecology and Maine Cooperative Fish, Wildlife Research Unit, University of Maine, Orono, ME, United States | Shirk, P.L., Department of Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States, Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Linden, D.W., Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Maine Cooperative Fish, Wildlife Research Unit, University of Maine, Orono, ME, United States; Patrick, D.A., Division of Forestry, Natural Resources and Recreation, Paul Smith's College, Paul Smith's, NY, United States; Howell, K.M., Department of Zoology and Wildlife Conservation, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Harper, E.B., Division of Forestry, Natural Resources and Recreation, Paul Smith's College, Paul Smith's, NY, United States; Vonesh, J.R., Department of Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States | Aim: We map estimated historical population declines resulting from species-specific models of sensitivity to habitat fragmentation for three forest-dependent chameleons. Location: East Usambara Mountains, Eastern Arc Mountains, Tanzania. Methods: We surveyed three chameleon species (Rhampholeon spinosus, Rhampholeon temporalis and Trioceros deremensis) along 32.2 km of transects and used a hierarchical, distance-sampling model to estimate densities. The model included habitat characteristics at the landscape (patch) and local (transect) scales while accounting for detectability. By analysing the model in a Bayesian framework, we were able to propagate error through the entire analysis and obtain exact solutions despite small sample sizes. We then used our estimated relationships between habitat and density to project chameleon population sizes across current and historical land cover maps of the study area (230 km2), giving an estimate of the impact of anthropogenic habitat alteration on these species. Results: Species' densities increased in larger patches and further from patch edges and varied seasonally. Local vegetation characteristics had significant relationships with expected chameleon densities, though effect sizes were small. Estimates of total current population sizes varied by two orders of magnitude among species, but each was 49-79% higher than detection-naïve estimates. All three declined from estimated historical levels by approximately 60% in the study area, approximately one-third more than would be expected from forest loss alone. Remaining populations of the study species are predominantly located in protected nature reserves, so the future of these species will likely be determined by the degree of protection offered by the nature reserves. Main conclusions: Habitat loss and fragmentation have greatly reduced forest-dependent chameleon population sizes in the East Usambara Mountains. Populations of these species in other areas are experiencing higher rates of habitat loss. Efforts aimed at ensuring the efficacy of protected forests may be a key to conserving remaining populations. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. | Chamaeleonidae; Density-area relationship; Distance sampling; Edge effects; Habitat fragmentation; Hierarchical Bayesian model | Chamaeleonidae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79953252832 | Modelling the impact of acute infection dynamics on the accumulation of HIV-1 mutations | Shiri T., Welte A. | 2011 | Journal of Theoretical Biology | 279 | 1 | 10.1016/j.jtbi.2011.03.011 | School of Computational and Applied Mathematics (CAM), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; South African Centre of Excellence in Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis (SACEMA), Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa | Shiri, T., School of Computational and Applied Mathematics (CAM), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, South African Centre of Excellence in Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis (SACEMA), Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Welte, A., School of Computational and Applied Mathematics (CAM), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, South African Centre of Excellence in Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis (SACEMA), Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa | Events over the past year have brought hope and have re-energized the interest in targeting pre-infection or early infection period with preventative or therapeutic interventions such as vaccines and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). In breakthrough infections, the incidence, long term prognosis and clinical significance of early infection events is not well understood but it is possible that these early events may be crucial in determining the subsequent course of disease. We use a branching process model in a deterministically varying environment to explore how the dynamics of early infection affects the accumulation of mutations which lay the seeds for long term evolution of drug resistance and immune system evasion. We relate this exploration to regimes of impact, on diversity, of tropical interventions strategies such as PrEP and vaccines. As a metric of diversity we compute the probability of existence of particular genomes which potentially arise. Using several model scenarios, we demonstrate various regimes of 'response' of evolution to 'intervention'. Transient effects of therapeutic interventions early in infection that impose a fitness cost on early viruses can significantly reduce the probability of diversity later during the chronic state of infection. This stands in contrast to the concern that early selective pressure may increase the probability of later existence of drug resistance mutations, for example. The branching process paradigm offers the ability to efficiently compute important indicators of viral diversity, in a framework with a modest number of simplifying assumptions, without simulating the full range of individual level scenarios. These models may be useful to illustrate the impact of vaccines and PrEP on viral evolution in the case of breakthrough infection. They also suggest that new measures of viral diversity which correlate to prognosis should be sought in trials for PrEP and vaccines. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. | Branching process; Diversity; Effective reproductive number; PrEP; Vaccine | emtricitabine; Human immunodeficiency virus vaccine; tenofovir disoproxil; drug resistance; genome; human immunodeficiency virus; modeling; mutation; vaccine; antiviral resistance; article; chronicity; early intervention; human; Human immunodeficiency virus 1 infection; immunoprophylaxis; infection control; infection prevention; infection risk; mathematical model; microbial diversity; molecular dynamics; molecular evolution; nonhuman; priority journal; probability; prognosis; risk reduction; virus genome; virus mutation; virus replication; virus strain; virus transmission; wild type; AIDS Vaccines; Basic Reproduction Number; Computer Simulation; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Models, Biological; Mutation; Stochastic Processes; Virus Replication; Human immunodeficiency virus 1 | None |
| None | None | Effects of period of stay in feedlot on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Tanzanian long fat-tailed sheep | Shirima E.J.M., Mtenga L.A., Kimambo A.E., Laswai G.E., Mgheni D.M., Mkwanda A.T., Lemoringata T.S. | 2012 | Livestock Research for Rural Development | 24 | 2 | None | Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development, P.O. Box 9152, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania; Department of Animal Science and Production, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3004, Morogoro, Tanzania; Ministry of Home Affairs, P.O. Box 534, Mtwara, Tanzania; Community Research and Development Services, P.O. Box 50 Kibaya-Kiteto, Tanzania | Shirima, E.J.M., Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development, P.O. Box 9152, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania; Mtenga, L.A., Department of Animal Science and Production, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3004, Morogoro, Tanzania; Kimambo, A.E., Department of Animal Science and Production, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3004, Morogoro, Tanzania; Laswai, G.E., Department of Animal Science and Production, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3004, Morogoro, Tanzania; Mgheni, D.M., Department of Animal Science and Production, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3004, Morogoro, Tanzania; Mkwanda, A.T., Ministry of Home Affairs, P.O. Box 534, Mtwara, Tanzania; Lemoringata, T.S., Community Research and Development Services, P.O. Box 50 Kibaya-Kiteto, Tanzania | Seventy castrated sheep (wethers) of Tanzanian long fat-tailed strain (21.1 ± 0.6 kg initial body weight, aged 12 months) were used to evaluate growth performance and carcass characteristics under different fattening period in feedlot. The experiment lasted for 84 days and the animals were randomly allocated to seven treatments as 0 (D0), 14 (D14), 28 (D28), 42 (D42), 56 (D56), 70 (D70) and 84 (D84) days to stay in feedlot each with 10 animals per treatment in a completely randomized block design. Animals in D0 (control) were slaughtered immediately after being purchased from livestock keepers. The experimental units (D14, D28, D42, D56, D70 and D84) were provided with ad libitum iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous diets containing molasses based diet (MBD) and forage hay of Cenchrus ciliaris spp. Data were collected on feed intake, growth rates, slaughter and carcass weights and carcass composition. The total dry matter intake (DMI) increased by almost 31% more for 84 days (D84) treatment as compared to intake observed in the 14 (D14) days treatment. The highest average daily gains and lowest feed conversion ratio were observed at 42 (D42) days treatment. Hot carcass weight (HCW) increased from 6.5 kg to 13.5 kg in control (D0) to 84 days treatment (D84), respectively which was almost 108% weight increment which was also corresponding with an increase in energy intake from 4.6 MJ ME/day to 6.2MJ ME/day. Also, dressing percentage (DP) was highest at 56 (D56) days treatment (47.7%) followed by 42 (D42) days treatment (45.2%). The proportion of carcass joints (as % HCW) of neck, ribs, breast, loin, and chump increased while that of hind leg and shoulder decreased proportionally with increasing days to stay in the feedlot. Similarly, the pooled proportion of lean tissue in the joints showed that hind leg and shoulder were much leaner (64.4% and 60.6% respectively) and less fat deposits (12.9% and 12.5% respectively). The present study revealed that the most appropriate fattening treatment for 12 months old Tanzanian long fat-tailed with MBD was 42 days (D42) for highest daily gain and dressing percentage. Also, it can be concluded that yield of non-carcass components and wholesale cuts respond differently to fattening periods however, 42 days period was almost optimal to most of the parameters used. | Carcass yield; Fattening; Indigenous sheep; Molasses; Wethers | Animalia; Cenchrus; Cenchrus ciliaris; Ovis aries | None |
| None | None | Midwives' intrapartum monitoring process and management resulting in emergency referrals in Tanzania: A qualitative study | Shimoda K., Leshabari S., Horiuchi S., Shimpuku Y., Tashiro J. | 2015 | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth | 15 | 1 | 10.1186/s12884-015-0691-0 | St. Luke's International University, 10-1, Akashi-cho, Tokyo, Chuo-ku, Japan; Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, School of Nursing, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; St. Luke's International University, Tokyo, Japan; St. Luke's Birth Clinic, Tokyo, Japan | Shimoda, K., St. Luke's International University, 10-1, Akashi-cho, Tokyo, Chuo-ku, Japan; Leshabari, S., Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, School of Nursing, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Horiuchi, S., St. Luke's International University, Tokyo, Japan, St. Luke's Birth Clinic, Tokyo, Japan; Shimpuku, Y., St. Luke's International University, Tokyo, Japan; Tashiro, J., St. Luke's International University, Tokyo, Japan | Background: In the United Republic of Tanzania, the maternal mortality ratio, and neonatal mortality rate have remained high for the last 10years. It is well documented that many complications of pregnancy are avoidable by providing skilled midwifery care during and immediately after childbirth. However, there have been delays in providing timely and necessary obstetric interventions, most likely due to lack of proper monitoring during labor. Yet, there has been little research concerning how midwives monitor the process of childbirth. Therefore, this study aimed to describe how midwives monitored and managed the process of childbirth to achieve early consulting and timely referral to obstetricians. Methods: The design was qualitative and descriptive, using data from comprehensive semi-structured interviews of midwives. The interviews were conducted at one hospital and one health center in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's largest city. Eleven participants were purposively recruited and interviewed about their experiences managing complicated intrapartum cases. After the interviews, data were analyzed using content analysis. Results: Derived from the data were three activity phases: initial encounter, monitoring, and acting. During these phases, midwives noticed danger signs, identified problems, revised and confirmed initial problem identification, and organized for medical intervention or referral. The timing of taking action was different for each midwife and depended on the nature of the prolonged and obstructed labor case. Conclusions: For the majority of midwives, the processing of assessments and judgments was brief and without reflection, and only a few midwives took time to continue to monitor the labor after the initial identification of problems and before taking actions. To make a final judgment that the labor was becoming prolonged or obstructed, midwives should consider taking time to review and synthesize all their findings. © 2015 Shimoda et al. | Childbirth; Clinical judgment; Decision making; Developing countries; Emergency referral; Quality of care; Tanzania | Article; childbirth; clinical decision making; controlled study; educational status; emergency care; health care quality; human; intrapartum care; labor management; maternal care; maternal mortality; midwife attitude; midwifery education; patient monitoring; patient referral; personnel shortage; problem identification; professional knowledge; qualitative research; semi structured interview; Tanzania; work experience | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84901291677 | Performance evaluation of point-of-care test for detection of Cryptosporidium stool antigen in children and HIV infected adults | Shimelis T., Tadesse E. | 2014 | Parasites and Vectors | 7 | 1 | 10.1186/1756-3305-7-227 | Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia | Shimelis, T., Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia; Tadesse, E., Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia | Background: Gastro-enteritis is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in patients with HIV/AIDS and children, and Cryptosporidium is the most important parasite implicated. To date, several commercial companies have developed simple and rapid point-of-care tests for the detection of Cryptosporidium infection; however, information is scarce regarding their diagnostic significance in Ethiopia. This study aimed at evaluating the performance of a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for the detection of Cryptosporidium stool antigen. Methods. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Hawassa University Hospital, southern Ethiopia from May to November 2013. Faecal samples were collected from a total of 100 children and 250 HIV infected individuals with diarrhea or CD4 T-cell count lower than 200 cells/μl. Specimens were processed using direct, formol-ether concentration and modified Ziehl-Neelsen techniques for diagnosis of Cryptosporidium and other parasites. One hundred faecal samples (50 positives for Cryptosporidium, 35 positives for other parasites and 15 negatives for any intestinal parasites) were tested using the CoproStrip™Cryptosporidium kit (Savyon Diagnostics Ltd, Israel). Test parameters were calculated using microscopy of the modified Ziehl-Neelsen stained stool smear as reference method. Results: The performance of the RDT was first compared to routine microscopic analysis (examination ≤10 min). The CoproStrip™Cryptosporidium RDT correctly detected 31 of 42 positive samples and 49 of 50 negative samples (i.e., 11 false negatives and 1 false positive). Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy were calculated to be 74, 98, 97, 84 and 88%, respectively. Upon thorough microscopic analysis (examination >10 min), 8 more samples with very low oocyst density were found. However, these were missed by the kit and lower the sensitivity and NPV to 62 and 72%, respectively. No cross-reactivity was observed with any of the helminthic or other protozoan parasites including Isospora and Cyclospora species. Conclusion: Based on the results described herein, the CoproStrip™Cryptosporidium test could be used as an alternative to conventional microscopy especially where diagnosis of Cryptosporidium is limited due to time constraints, lack of experienced microscopists or unavailability of appropriate equipment/electricity. © 2014 Shimelis and Tadesse; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Cryptosporidium; Evaluation; RDT | Cryptosporidium antigen; parasite antigen; unclassified drug; parasite antigen; article; CD4 lymphocyte count; concentration (parameters); cross reaction; cross-sectional study; Cryptosporidium; evaluation study; feces analysis; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; major clinical study; nonhuman; oocyst; parasite identification; point of care testing; predictive value; rapid test; sensitivity and specificity; adult; child; Cryptosporidium; feces; hospital information system; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; isolation and purification; parasitology; Adult; Antigens, Protozoan; Child; Cryptosporidium; Feces; HIV Infections; Humans; Point-of-Care Systems | ISID, International Society for Infectious Diseases |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-38949167735 | Performance of vernonia as an alternative industrial oil crop in Limpopo Province of South Africa | Shimelis H., Mashela P.W., Hugo A. | 2008 | Crop Science | 48 | 1 | 10.2135/cropsci2007.06.0331 | Dep. of Plant Production, School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Univ. of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga 0727, South Africa; Dep. of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, Univ. of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa | Shimelis, H., Dep. of Plant Production, School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Univ. of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga 0727, South Africa; Mashela, P.W., Dep. of Plant Production, School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Univ. of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga 0727, South Africa; Hugo, A., Dep. of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, Univ. of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa | Vernonia (Vernonia galamensis) is an industrial oil seed crop with potential as a source of natural epoxy fatty acids. Diverse accessions of V. galamensis var. ethiopica were studied at the Limpopo Province in South Africa to determine agronomic performance and to identify suitable germplasm with quantity and quality seed oil content. Thirty-six accessions were subjected to field evaluations using a partially balanced lattice design in 2005 and 2006. Significant differences were observed for days to flowering (88-143 d), plant height (131.6-167.85 cm), number of productive primary head (23-72 head plant-1), number of productive secondary head (12-35 head plant -1), thousand seed weight (1.68-3.63 g), and seed yield (1594.89-3126.09 kg ha-1) between different accessions. Results from oil analysis show significant differences in the contents of seed oil (20.36-35.86%), vernolic acid (70.15-77.92%), linoleic acid (12.05-14.73%), oleic acid (3.72-5.52%), palmitic acid (2.49-3.24%), and stearic acid (1.73-3.28%). Of the five accessions identified as potentially useful, three (Vge-17, Vge-18, and Vge-19) had better seed yield and agronomic performances and two (Vge-4 and Vge-31) increased contents of seed oil and vemolic acid. Accessions Vge-4 and Vge-18 also displayed relatively high oil yield, 966.58 and 801.28 kg ha-1, respectively. The accessions will be used in the strategic improvement of vernonia to maximize seed yield and oil content as an alternative crop in the province and similar environments. © Crop Science Society of America. | None | Vernonia; Vernonia galamensis | 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-s2.0-77954279038 | Evaluation of oxidising disinfectants to control vibrio biofilms in treated seawater used for fish processing | Shikongo-Nambabi M.N.N.N., Kachigunda B., Venter S.N. | 2010 | Water SA | 36 | 3 | None | Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Namibia, Windhoek, South Africa; Department of Crop Science, University of Namibia, Windhoek, South Africa; Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa | Shikongo-Nambabi, M.N.N.N., Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Namibia, Windhoek, South Africa; Kachigunda, B., Department of Crop Science, University of Namibia, Windhoek, South Africa; Venter, S.N., Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa | Marine fish-processing plants often use seawater during their operations. Chlorination and UV are commonly used for disinfection of this water but may not be effective in preventing biofilm formation within the water distribution network. These biofilms negatively impact water quality and could lead to contamination of fish products. During a recent study, Vibrio alginolyticus strains were detected on processed hake. The presence of most Vibrio spp. on fish products is of consumer safety concern and needs to be minimised. Water treatment strategies effective for seawater disinfection but with minimal negative effect on fish quality are required. In this study the effectiveness of chlorine, ozone and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the inhibition of mature biofilms or biofilm formation in natural seawater was investigated. Two V. alginolyticus strains (V590 and V595) isolated from hake fish as well as the type strains of V. alginolyticus LMG 4409 and V. parahaemolyticus LMG 2850 were used. Chlorine was ineffective as experiments showed that strains V590, V595 and V. parahaemolyticus LMG 2850 could form biofilms even in the presence of 4 mg/l of chlorine. When ozone was used, biofilm initiation and formation were completely inhibited for only 2 strains of V. alginoluticus, i.e. LMG 4409 and V590, at 1.6 mg/l or 0.8 mg/l ozone, respectively. Hydrogen peroxide performed the best of all the disinfectants evaluated in this study. Inhibition of biofilm formation was observed for all strains at 0.05% HO The mature biofilms were more resistant to HO but were all 22. 22 eliminated at 0.2% concentrations. This study indicated that H2O2 is the most effective biocide to prevent biofilm formation in seawater distribution networks and could potentially be used as an alternative or supplementary disinfectant of seawater in marine fish-processing plants. | Biofilms; Disinfection; H2O2; Seawater; V. alginolyticus; V. parahaemolyticus | Biofilm formation; Consumer safety; Distribution network; Fish processing; Fish products; Marine fish; Processing plants; V. parahaemolyticus; Vibrio alginolyticus; Vibrio spp; Water distribution networks; Biofilms; Biofilters; Chlorine; Disinfectants; Disinfection; Distributed parameter networks; Fish; Hydrogen peroxide; Lead; Oxidation; Ozone; Water distribution systems; Water pollution; Water quality; Water supply; Water treatment; Seawater effects; bacterium; biofilm; disinfection; fish; hydrogen peroxide; ozone; pesticide; seawater; ultraviolet radiation; waste treatment; water quality; Rexea solandri; Vibrio; Vibrio alginolyticus; Vibrio parahaemolyticus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-20044390062 | Reproductive disorders of crossbred dairy cows in the central highlands of Ethiopia and their effect on reproductive performance | Shiferaw Y., Tenhagen B.-A., Bekana M., Kassa T. | 2005 | Tropical Animal Health and Production | 37 | 5 | 10.1007/s11250-005-7050-5 | Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Addis Ababa University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Debrezeit, Ethiopia; Free University of Berlin, Clinic for Reproduction, Section of Production Medicine and Quality Management, Koenigsweg 65, Hs 27, 14163 Berlin, Germany | Shiferaw, Y., Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Tenhagen, B.-A., Free University of Berlin, Clinic for Reproduction, Section of Production Medicine and Quality Management, Koenigsweg 65, Hs 27, 14163 Berlin, Germany; Bekana, M., Addis Ababa University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Debrezeit, Ethiopia; Kassa, T., Addis Ababa University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Debrezeit, Ethiopia | The study was conducted to estimate the proportion of reproductive disorders and to determine factors affecting reproductive performance of crossbred dairy cows under four different production systems in the central highlands of Ethiopia. The principal postpartum reproductive disorders were retained fetal membranes (14.7%) and uterine infection (15.5%). Anoestrus was the major postpartum reproductive problem in the mixed crop-livestock production system (38.6%.) and was significantly associated with this production system. Apart from anoestrus, the occurrence of reproductive disorders was not significantly associated with a production system. Most of the reproductive disorders occurred as a complex rather than as a single abnormality. Two or more abnormal conditions were seen in 11.4% of the cases. Each reproductive trait measured was affected adversely by reproductive disorders. Cows with reproductive disorders in each production system, lactation group and suckling and non-suckling group had longer intervals from calving to first service and to conception (p < 0.001) and required more services per conception (p < 0.001). Pregnancy rate and conception to first service were 84.7% and 51.7%, respectively, for cows without reproductive health problems; and 64.2% and 15.1%, respectively, for cows with reproductive disorders (p < 0.001). Overall, intervals from calving to first service were shorter (p < 0.05) than in younger cows. Intervals from calving to first service and to conception were longer in suckling than in non-suckling cows (p > 0.05). Cows with a good body condition score (> 3.5) at calving had shorter calving to first service and conception intervals than cows in poor condition (p < 0.001). The results showed that reproductive abnormalities, coupled with poor body condition, are important factors that contributed to reproductive inefficiency. An appropriate reproductive health management, a reliable artificial insemination service and supplementary feeding could be the management options to reduce or alleviate some of the problems. © 2005 Springer. | Crossbred cattle; Ethiopia; Reproductive disorders; Reproductive performance | anestrus; animal; animal disease; article; body constitution; cattle; cattle disease; comparative study; cross breeding; dairying; Ethiopia; female; lactation; methodology; pathophysiology; physiology; pregnancy; pregnancy rate; puerperal disorder; puerperium; reproduction; risk factor; time; Anestrus; Animals; Body Constitution; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Crosses, Genetic; Dairying; Ethiopia; Female; Lactation; Postpartum Period; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Rate; Puerperal Disorders; Reproduction; Risk Factors; Time Factors; Bos taurus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34247269205 | Evaluation of microscopic observation drug susceptibility assay for detection of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis | Shiferaw G., Woldeamanuel Y., Gebeyehu M., Girmachew F., Demessie D., Lemma E. | 2007 | Journal of Clinical Microbiology | 45 | 4 | 10.1128/JCM.01949-06 | Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Medical Faculty, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Department of Microbiology, Parasitology and Immunology, Medical Faculty, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Shiferaw, G., Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Medical Faculty, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Department of Microbiology, Parasitology and Immunology, Medical Faculty, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Woldeamanuel, Y., Medical Faculty, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Gebeyehu, M., Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Girmachew, F., Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Demessie, D., Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Lemma, E., Medical Faculty, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Early detection of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is of primary importance for both patient management and infection control. Optimal methods for identifying drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a timely and affordable way in resource-limited settings are not yet available. This study prospectively evaluated a low-technology but rapid drug susceptibility testing method, the microscopic observation drug susceptibility assay (MODS), in the concurrent detection of M. tuberculosis and its susceptibilities to isoniazid and rifampin (two drugs defining multidrug-resistant M. tuberculosis) directly from sputum specimens. Sputum samples were collected from 262 smear-positive TB patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. To undertake MODS, 100 μl of decontaminated samples was inoculated into a 24-well plate containing 1 ml of 7H9 broth with and without appropriate drugs. The assay uses an inverted-light microscope to detect characteristic mycobacterial growth in liquid culture. Of 262 smear-positive patients, MODS detected 254 (96.9%) and culture in Löwenstein-Jensen medium detected 247 (94.3%) (P = 0.016). For the 247 cultures, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of MODS for detecting MDR-TB were 92.0, 99.5, and 98.8%, respectively, using the method of proportion as a reference (concordance, 98.8%; kappa value, 0.932). Results for MODS were obtained in a median time of 9 days. MODS is an optimal alternative method for identifying MDR-TB in a timely and affordable way in resource-limited settings. Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved. | None | amikacin; aminoglycoside antibiotic agent; capreomycin; isoniazid; kanamycin; quinoline derived antiinfective agent; rifampicin; article; bacterial growth; drug sensitivity; early diagnosis; Ethiopia; evaluation; human; infection control; major clinical study; microscopy; multidrug resistance; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; nonhuman; priority journal; sensitivity and specificity; sputum analysis; Antitubercular Agents; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Ethiopia; Female; Humans; Isoniazid; Male; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Rifampin; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sputum; Time Factors; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant; Mycobacterium tuberculosis | 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-s2.0-84920941114 | Lessons from systematic evaluation of land administration systems: The case of amhara national regional state of ethiopia | Shibeshi G.B., Fuchs H., Mansberger R. | 2015 | World Development | 68 | None | 10.1016/j.worlddev.2014.12.006 | University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria; Bureau of Environmental Protection, Land Administration and Use (BoEPLAU), Bahir Dar, Ethiopia | Shibeshi, G.B., University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria, Bureau of Environmental Protection, Land Administration and Use (BoEPLAU), Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Fuchs, H., University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria; Mansberger, R., University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria | Lessons from the evaluation of land administration systems are important to facilitate sustainable development. The Amhara National Regional State of Ethiopia has designed and is implementing a land administration system since 2003. In the study a systematic evaluation was conducted. During the evaluation process external factors, monitoring, and evaluation functions were considered. Individual landholders, land administration staff, land use committee members, professionals, and representatives of main stakeholder offices were involved in the evaluation process. The study revealed the major strengths and weaknesses of the Amhara region land administration system. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. | Case study; Ethiopia; Evaluation; Land administration system; Participatory; The Amhara region | administration; land management; land use planning; participatory approach; stakeholder; Amhara; Ethiopia | 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 |
| 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-s2.0-84930642455 | Impacts of large-scale farming on local communities' food security and income levels - Empirical evidence from Oromia Region, Ethiopia | Shete M., Rutten M. | 2015 | Land Use Policy | 47 | None | 10.1016/j.landusepol.2015.01.034 | The IS Academy of Land Governance, African Studies Centre, PO Box 9555, RB Leiden, Netherlands; St Mary's University, PO Box 18490, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; African Studies Center, PO Box 9555, RB Leiden, Netherlands; Department of Human Geography, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands | Shete, M., The IS Academy of Land Governance, African Studies Centre, PO Box 9555, RB Leiden, Netherlands, St Mary's University, PO Box 18490, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Rutten, M., African Studies Center, PO Box 9555, RB Leiden, Netherlands, Department of Human Geography, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands | This article investigates the impact of large-scale agricultural investment on household incomes and food security in Oromia Regional State in Ethiopia. It considers an agricultural investment project that has leased an area of about 12,000. ha for 45 years and was operational from 2008 to 2012. Primary data were collected from 300 households selected using systematic random sampling techniques from communities that had lost access to the de facto customarily owned grazing and farmland as a result of the project and a control sample that was not affected by the investment. Data were analyzed using the propensity scores matching technique. Our results in Bako show that in situations of long-standing competing claims to land resources and relatively high population densities, putting land into large-scale farming reduces local communities' food-security status and results in a loss of income among local people. Before leasing out farmlands for large-scale farming, local people's previous livelihood patterns and their de facto customary property rights should be taken into consideration. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. | Food security; Impact; Income; Large-scale farms; Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia; Propensity score matching | agricultural economics; empirical analysis; farming system; food security; income; investment; population density; Ethiopia; Oromia | None |
| WoS | WOS:000285389600009 | A quasi-experimental evaluation of a community-based art therapy intervention exploring the psychosocial health of children affected by HIV in South Africa | Alie, Collin,Brown, Elizabeth,Jonas, Beatrice,Mueller, Joanne,Sherr, Lorraine | 2011 | TROPICAL MEDICINE & INTERNATIONAL HEALTH | 16 | 1 | 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2010.02682.x | University College London, University of London, Mad Art | "Sherr, Lorraine: University College London","Sherr, Lorraine: University of London", | Objectives
To evaluate the efficacy of the Make A Difference about Art programme, a community art programme in South Africa for children affected by HIV and AIDS, which aims to reduce psychosocial problems by increasing self-esteem, self-efficacy and HIV insight.
Methods
A quasi-experimental cross-sectional post-intervention survey of 297 children aged 8-18 years (177 programme attendees and a control group of 120). Participants completed an inventory comprising standardized, validated psychosocial measures of depression, emotional and behavioural problems, self-esteem and self-efficacy and key sociodemographic variables potentially relevant as risk and protective factors.
Results
Attending the intervention was predictive of significantly higher self-efficacy, but was not associated with differences in self-esteem, depression, or emotional/behavioural problems. This association remained in the multivariate analysis, controlling for potential confounders. Double parental death exerted a powerful effect on child psychosocial health, eliminating the association between intervention attendance and higher self-efficacy. However, an interaction was found between bereavement status and intervention attendance on child self-efficacy, indicating that the intervention programme may ameliorate some of the psychosocial vulnerabilities associated with becoming an orphan. Other key risk factors for poor psychosocial health in this sample were AIDS-related stigma and community and household violence. Social connection emerged as a key protective factor.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that such interventions may offer opportunities to increase the self-efficacy of vulnerable children to protect their psychological health. | "Afrique du Sud",CHILDREN,enfants,Evaluacion,evaluation,HIV,intervencion,INTERVENTION,ninos,"SOUTH AFRICA",Sudafrica,terapia,THERAPIE,THERAPY,VIH,"AIDS-ORPHANED CHILDREN",CAPE-TOWN,"DIFFICULTIES QUESTIONNAIRE",MENTAL-HEALTH,"PROTECTIVE FACTORS",PSYCHIATRI | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84903947358 | Evidence of impact: Health, psychological and social effects of adult HIV on children | Sherr L., Cluver L.D., Betancourt T.S., Kellerman S.E., Richter L.M., Desmond C. | 2014 | AIDS | 28 | SUPPL. 3 | 10.1097/QAD.0000000000000327 | Infection and Population Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Social Policy and Intervention, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom; Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, SA, South Africa; Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Management Sciences for Health, Washington, DC, United States; HIV, AIDS, STIs and TB, Human Sciences Research Council, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa; Human and Social Development Research Programme, Human Sciences Research Council, Durban, South Africa | Sherr, L., Infection and Population Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Cluver, L.D., Department of Social Policy and Intervention, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, SA, South Africa; Betancourt, T.S., Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Kellerman, S.E., Management Sciences for Health, Washington, DC, United States; Richter, L.M., HIV, AIDS, STIs and TB, Human Sciences Research Council, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa; Desmond, C., Human and Social Development Research Programme, Human Sciences Research Council, Durban, South Africa | There is a growing evidence base on the immediate and short-term effects of adult HIV on children. We provide an overview of this literature, highlighting the multiple risks and resultant negative consequences stemming from adult HIV infection on the children they care for on an individual and family basis. We trace these consequences from their origin in the health and wellbeing of adults on whom children depend, through multiple pathways to negative impacts for children. As effective treatment reduces vertical transmission, the needs of affected children will predominate. Pathways include exposure to HIV in utero, poor caregiver mental or physical health, the impact of illness, stigma and increased poverty. We summarize the evidence of negative consequences, including those affecting health, cognitive development, education, child mental health, exposure to abuse and adolescent risk behaviour, including sexual risk behaviour, which has obvious implications for HIV-prevention efforts. We also highlight the evidence of positive outcomes, despite adversity, considering the importance of recognizing and supporting the development of resilience. This study is the first in a series of three commissioned by President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)/United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the summary provided here was used to inform a second study which seeks to identify insights from the broader child development field which will help us predict what long-term negative consequences children affected by HIV and AIDS are likely to experience. The third study discusses the design of a model to estimate these consequences. Although comprehensive, the review is often hampered by poor-quality research, inadequate design, small sample sizes and single studies in some areas. © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. | None | adult; article; caregiver; child; child development; cognition; cognitive development; domestic violence; government; health behavior; high risk behavior; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; mental health; priority journal; psychological well being; sample size; school; sexual health; social behavior; social support; stigma; vertical transmission; adolescent; child development; child parent relation; family health; female; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; infant; male; mental disease; mental health; newborn; preschool child; psychology; United States; Adolescent; Adult; Child; Child Development; Child, Preschool; Family Health; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Mental Disorders; Mental Health; Parent-Child Relations; United States | USAID, United States Agency for International Development |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-53849133763 | Evaluation of seven rapid HIV tests to detect HIV-exposure and seroreversion during infancy | Sherman G.G., Driver G.A., Coovadia A.H. | 2008 | Journal of Clinical Virology | 43 | 3 | 10.1016/j.jcv.2008.07.010 | Wits Paediatric HIV Clinics, Wits Health Consortium, University of the Witwatersrand, 8 Blackwood Avenue, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, University of the Witwatersrand, P.O. Box 79722, Senderwood, 2145 Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Paediatrics, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag X20, Newclare, 2112, Johannesburg, South Africa | Sherman, G.G., Wits Paediatric HIV Clinics, Wits Health Consortium, University of the Witwatersrand, 8 Blackwood Avenue, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa, Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, University of the Witwatersrand, P.O. Box 79722, Senderwood, 2145 Johannesburg, South Africa; Driver, G.A., Wits Paediatric HIV Clinics, Wits Health Consortium, University of the Witwatersrand, 8 Blackwood Avenue, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa; Coovadia, A.H., Wits Paediatric HIV Clinics, Wits Health Consortium, University of the Witwatersrand, 8 Blackwood Avenue, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa, Department of Paediatrics, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag X20, Newclare, 2112, Johannesburg, South Africa | Background: Failure to determine the HIV status of all pregnant women impedes progress in preventing and treating paediatric HIV because vertically exposed infants are not identified for prophylaxis, early HIV diagnosis and care. Objectives: To assess the performance of rapid HIV tests in comparison to a laboratory-based HIV ELISA test for determining HIV-exposure and excluding HIV infection during infancy. Study design: Seven rapid HIV tests were evaluated on 2266 stored samples from 116 HIV-exposed infants of known HIV status at four ages during infancy. The HIV ELISA for each sample was the standard against which rapid results were assessed to establish HIV-exposure. Results: Rapid tests did not perform uniformly during infancy. For detecting HIV-exposure the sensitivity of most rapid tests to 3 months of age approached that of an HIV ELISA however only Determine maintained this sensitivity (99.7%) throughout infancy. For excluding HIV infection (i.e. for correctly identifying HIV-uninfected infants) the specificity of all rapid tests except Determine exceeded that of the HIV ELISA from 7 months of age. Conclusions: The use of rapid tests in infancy could improve identification and care of HIV-exposed infants. Further evaluation under field conditions is required before rapid tests can be incorporated into evidence-based diagnostic algorithms. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Human immunodeficiency virus; Infants; Prevention of mother to child transmission; Rapid test; Seroreversion | article; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; human; Human immunodeficiency virus; infancy; infant; laboratory test; major clinical study; performance; priority journal; sensitivity and sensibility; serodiagnosis; virus detection; virus identification; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Infant; Male; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; Sensitivity and Specificity | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84857626167 | The performance of 5 rapid HIV tests using whole blood in infants and children: Selecting a test to achieve the clinical objective | Sherman G.G., Lilian R.R., Coovadia A.H. | 2012 | Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal | 31 | 3 | 10.1097/INF.0b013e31823752a0 | Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa; Paediatric HIV Diagnostic Syndicate, Wits Health Consortium, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Sherman, G.G., Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa, Paediatric HIV Diagnostic Syndicate, Wits Health Consortium, Johannesburg, South Africa; Lilian, R.R., Paediatric HIV Diagnostic Syndicate, Wits Health Consortium, Johannesburg, South Africa; Coovadia, A.H., Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | BACKGROUND: Rapid tests have the potential to improve the identification of HIV-infected children in resource-limited settings. However, they remain underutilized because of a lack of data on their performance in the field using whole blood specimens. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of rapid tests for detecting HIV exposure, excluding HIV infection in HIV-exposed infants, and diagnosing HIV infection in children older than 18 months of age. METHODS: Five rapid tests (First Response, Pareekshak, Determine, Smart Check, and Insti) were performed using whole blood from children enrolled in a multisite, cross-sectional study in South Africa. HIV enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and DNA polymerase chain reaction results defined HIV exposure and infection, respectively, and were the standards used for comparison. RESULTS: Of the 851 children enrolled, 186 (21.9%) were infected with HIV. For detecting HIV exposure, Determine demonstrated the highest sensitivity of 99.3% (95% confidence interval, 98.0-99.8) in early infancy, but sensitivity declined with age as seroreversion occurred. After 8 months of age, all tests except First Response excluded HIV infection in 82% to 100% of HIV-uninfected infants and, in conjunction with a clinical assessment, did not miss any HIV-infected children. Insti was the only test that detected all HIV-infected infants, albeit on the smallest number of samples. The performance of all rapid tests in children older than 18 months of age was similar to that in adults. CONCLUSIONS: Determine was the only rapid test that had a high enough sensitivity for detecting HIV exposure in early infancy, but it identified seroreversion later in life than the other tests. Insti warrants further investigation for both indications. Copyright © 2012 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. | child; diagnostic accuracy; human immunodeficiency virus; rapid test; seroreversion | DNA polymerase; article; child; cross-sectional study; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; HIV test; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; infant; major clinical study; preschool child; priority journal; sensitivity analysis; South Africa; Blood; Child; Child, Preschool; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Sensitivity and Specificity; South Africa; Time Factors | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84872737076 | Influence of local and regional prey availability on breeding performance of african penguins spheniscus demersus | Sherley R.B., Underhill L.G., Barham B.J., Barham P.J., Coetzee J.C., Crawford R.J.M., Dyer B.M., Leshoro T.M., Upfold L. | 2013 | Marine Ecology Progress Series | 473 | None | 10.3354/meps10070 | Marine Research Institute, South Africa; Animal Demography Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, Cape Town, South Africa; School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1UG, United Kingdom; Penguin Datasystems, Bristol BS6 6QS, United Kingdom; H. H. Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TL, United Kingdom; Branch Fisheries, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Rogge Bay 8012, South Africa; Oceans and Coasts, Department of Environmental Affairs, Rogge Bay 8012, South Africa; Robben Island Museum, Robben Island 7400, South Africa | Sherley, R.B., Marine Research Institute, South Africa, School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1UG, United Kingdom; Underhill, L.G., Marine Research Institute, South Africa, Animal Demography Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, Cape Town, South Africa; Barham, B.J., Penguin Datasystems, Bristol BS6 6QS, United Kingdom; Barham, P.J., Animal Demography Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, Cape Town, South Africa, H. H. Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TL, United Kingdom; Coetzee, J.C., Branch Fisheries, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Rogge Bay 8012, South Africa; Crawford, R.J.M., Animal Demography Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, Cape Town, South Africa, Oceans and Coasts, Department of Environmental Affairs, Rogge Bay 8012, South Africa; Dyer, B.M., Oceans and Coasts, Department of Environmental Affairs, Rogge Bay 8012, South Africa; Leshoro, T.M., Robben Island Museum, Robben Island 7400, South Africa; Upfold, L., Oceans and Coasts, Department of Environmental Affairs, Rogge Bay 8012, South Africa | Population trends of African penguins Spheniscus demersus in the Western Cape, South Africa, and their breeding success have been linked to the abundance of their main prey, sardine Sardinops sagax and anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, both fish species increased markedly in abundance, but after 2004, sardine biomass decreased to below average levels. In addition, adults of both stocks were principally located to the east of Cape Agulhas from 2001 to 2009 and were thus distant from seabird colonies on South Africa's West Coast. The number of African penguin pairs counted at Robben Island from 2001 to 2009 and the fledging period of chicks from successful nests increased and decreased in apparent response to the biomass of sardine prior to each breeding season, possibly linked through adult condition at the onset of breeding. Breeding success and chick-fledging rates increased during the study period and showed positive relationships with local food availability, indexed through the annual industrial catch of anchovy made within 56 km (30 nautical miles) of the colony. In addition, chick-fledging rates were depressed in 2-chick broods during years when anchovy contributed <75% by mass to the diet of breeding birds. Previously reported relationships between the overall abundance of forage fish in South Africa and penguin breeding success were not supported. Taken together, these results highlight the combined importance of ensuring adequate local food availability for seabirds during the reproductive cycle and safeguarding regional prey abundance during the non-breeding season. © Inter-Research 2013. | Breeding performance; Ecosystem approach; Fisheries-seabird interactions; Nesting success; Seabird conservation | breeding season; ecosystem approach; fledging; habitat conservation; nesting success; prey availability; seabird; spatiotemporal analysis; South Africa; Western Cape; Aves; Engraulidae; Engraulis encrasicolus; Sardinops sagax; Spheniscidae; Spheniscus demersus | 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-s2.0-39549087881 | Impact of mycotoxins on human health in developing countries | Shephard G.S. | 2008 | Food Additives and Contaminants | 25 | 2 | 10.1080/02652030701567442 | PROMEC Unit, Medical Research Council, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa | Shephard, G.S., PROMEC Unit, Medical Research Council, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa | Adverse human health effects from the consumption of mycotoxins have occurred for many centuries. Although mycotoxin contamination of agricultural products still occurs in the developed world, the application of modern agricultural practices and the presence of a legislatively regulated food processing and marketing system have greatly reduced mycotoxin exposure in these populations. At the mycotoxin contamination levels generally found in food products traded in these market economies, adverse human health effects have largely been overcome. However, in the developing world, where climatic and crop storage conditions are frequently conducive to fungal growth and mycotoxin production, much of the population relies on subsistence farming or on unregulated local markets. The extent to which mycotoxins affect human health is difficult to investigate in countries whose health systems lack capacity and in which resources are limited. Aflatoxin B1, the toxin on which major resources have been expended, has long been linked to liver cancer, yet its other effects, such as immune suppression and growth faltering previously observed in veterinary studies, are only now being investigated and characterized in human populations. The extent to which factors such as immune suppression contribute to the overall burden of infectious disease is difficult to quantify, but is undoubtedly significant. Thus, food safety remains an important opportunity for addressing current health problems in developing countries. | Aflatoxicosis; Aflatoxin; Africa; Cancer; Developing countries; Fumonisin; Health; Mycotoxin; Risk assessment | aflatoxin B1; carcinogen; fumonisin; immunoglobulin A; mycotoxin; aflatoxicosis; article; cancer incidence; cancer risk; climate change; developing country; esophagus cancer; food contamination; food intake; food processing; food safety; food storage; gastrointestinal symptom; growth retardation; gynecomastia; human; infection risk; kidney disease; liver cancer; malnutrition; morbidity; mortality; mycotoxicosis; neural tube defect; population exposure; poverty; precocious puberty; priority journal; public health; quantitative analysis; risk assessment; risk factor; underweight; Adult; Animals; Cereals; Child; Child, Preschool; Developing Countries; Ergot Alkaloids; Food Contamination; Humans; Infant; Mycotoxicosis; Mycotoxins; Public Health; Risk Factors | 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-s2.0-77953854148 | Assessment of noise and associated health impacts at selected secondary schools in Ibadan, Nigeria | Shendell D.G., Ana G.R.E.E., Brown G.E., Sridhar M.K.C. | 2009 | Journal of Environmental and Public Health | 2009 | None | 10.1155/2009/739502 | College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Institute of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30302-3995, United States; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health University of Medicine an | Shendell, D.G., Institute of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30302-3995, United States, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States; Ana, G.R.E.E., College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Brown, G.E., College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Sridhar, M.K.C., College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Background. Most schools in Ibadan, Nigeria, are located near major roads (mobile line sources). We conducted an initial assessment of noise levels and adverse noise-related health and learning effects. Methods. For this descriptive, cross-sectional study, four schools were selected randomly from eight participating in overall project. We administered 200 questionnaires, 50 per school, assessing health and learning-related outcomes. Noise levels (A-weighted decibels, dBA) were measured with calibrated sound level meters. Traffic density was assessed for school with the highest measured dBA. Observational checklists assessed noise control parameters and building physical attributes. Results. Short-term, cross-sectional school-day noise levels ranged 68.3-84.7dBA. Over 60 of respondents reported that vehicular traffic was major source of noise, and over 70 complained being disturbed by noise. Three schools reported tiredness, and one school lack of concentration, as the most prevalent noise-related health problems. Conclusion. Secondary school occupants in Ibadan, Nigeria were potentially affected by exposure to noise from mobile line sources. Copyright © 2009 Godson R. E. E. Ana et al. | None | article; checklist; exposure; fatigue; health hazard; high school; human; learning; Nigeria; noise measurement; noise pollution; noise reduction; priority journal; questionnaire; sound level meter; traffic; adolescent; attention; car; cross-sectional study; female; health status; male; noise; pilot study; school; statistics; traffic noise; urban population; Adolescent; Attention; Automobiles; Cross-Sectional Studies; Fatigue; Female; Health Status; Humans; Learning; Male; Nigeria; Noise; Noise, Transportation; Pilot Projects; Questionnaires; Schools; Urban Population | None |
| None | None | Weed species diversity on arable land of the dryland areas of central Tanzania: Impacts of continuous application of traditional tillage practices | Shemdoe R.S., Mbago F.M., Kikula I.S., Van Damme P.L. | 2008 | GeoJournal | 71 | 42403 | 10.1007/s10708-008-9147-7 | Institute of Human Settlements Studies, Ardhi University, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Department of Botany, University of Dar-es-Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Institute of Resource Assessment, University of Dar-es-Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture and Ethnobotany, Faculty of Bio-Science Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium | Shemdoe, R.S., Institute of Human Settlements Studies, Ardhi University, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Mbago, F.M., Department of Botany, University of Dar-es-Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Kikula, I.S., Institute of Resource Assessment, University of Dar-es-Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Van Damme, P.L., Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture and Ethnobotany, Faculty of Bio-Science Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium | This paper presents findings from a study that assessed influence of continuous application of a particular traditional tillage practice on weed species richness, diversity and composition and identifies weed species with positive benefits to the communities in semi-arid areas of Mpwapwa district, central Tanzania. In this area farmers apply three different traditional tillage practices which are no-till (NT), shallow tillage (ST) and Ridging System (RT). A total of 36 farm fields were surveyed in 2006/2007 cropping season where 63 weed species from 26 families were identified. Analysis of variance indicated significant differences between practices (p < 0.05), with NT practice having highest weed species richness and diversity. Among the five more prevalent weed species appearing, Bidens lineariloba was observed to exist in all the three practices. Community representatives during focus group discussions indicated 9 weed species out of 63 identified to have beneficial uses. These species are Cleome hirta, Amaranthus graecizans, Bidens lineoriloba, Bidens pilosa, Dactyloctenium aegyptium, Launaea cornuta, Heteropogon contortus, Tragus berteronianus and Trichodesma zeylanicum. Their main uses include leaf-vegetable, medicines, fodder and materials for thatching. From this study NT has highest weed species richness and diversity which therefore suggests that much more time is needed for weeding in this practice compared to other practice which was the farmers' concern. It was also noted that although weed species have negative effects in crop production and production costs, they still play a vital role in food security and for the health of different people in marginal areas as well as for the complete ecosystem including micro and macrofauna. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. | Land uses; Semiarid areas; Tillage systems; Weed flora diversity; Weed species richness | Crops; Ecosystems; Weed control; Semiarid areas; Tillage systems; Weed flora diversity; Weed species richness; Land use; arable land; community composition; cost-benefit analysis; dryland farming; food security; land use; semiarid region; species diversity; species richness; tillage; weed; zero tillage; Africa; Dodoma [Tanzania]; East Africa; Mpwapwa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Tanzania; Amaranthus graecizans; Bidens; Bidens pilosa; Cleome; Cornuta; Dactyloctenium aegyptium; Heteropogon contortus; Launaea; Tragus berteronianus; Trichodesma | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84860726745 | The Spatial-temporal characteristic of video content and its impact on the quality of wireless conduits | Sheluhin O.I., Atayero A.A., Ivanov Y.A. | 2012 | IAENG International Journal of Computer Science | 39 | 1 | None | Department of Information Security, Moscow Technical University of Communication and Informatics, Moscow, Russian Federation; Department of Electrical and Information Engineering, Covenant University, Pmb1023 Ota, Nigeria | Sheluhin, O.I., Department of Information Security, Moscow Technical University of Communication and Informatics, Moscow, Russian Federation; Atayero, A.A., Department of Electrical and Information Engineering, Covenant University, Pmb1023 Ota, Nigeria; Ivanov, Y.A., Department of Information Security, Moscow Technical University of Communication and Informatics, Moscow, Russian Federation | Applications are constantly being developed with a view to maximizing bandwidth usage. This is necessitated by the overwhelming popularity of an ever-increasing wave of bandwidth intensive multimedia services that are constantly deployed to meet end user demands. All contemporary information communication systems and networks are expected to maintain the quality of these applications with different Quality of Service (QoS) levels. QoS requirements are generally dependent on the parameters of network and application layers of the OSI model. At the application layer QoS depends on factors such as resolution, bit rate, frame rate, video type, audio codecs, etc. At the network layer, distortions such as delay, jitter, packet loss, etc. are introduced. This paper presents simulation results of modeling video streaming over wireless communications networks. Simulation showed that different video subject groups affect the perceived quality differently when transmitted over networks. We show conclusively that in a transmission network with a small error probabilities (BER = 10 -6, BER = 10 -5 ), the minimum bit rate (128 kbps) guarantees an acceptable video quality, corresponding to MOS > 3 for all types of frames. It is also shown through analysis that the efficiency of error correction methods is I strongly correlation with the spatial-temporal properties of the analyzed video sequences. | BER; Codec; MPEG; PSNR; Trace file; Video streaming | BER; Codec; MPEG; PSNR; Trace file; Bandwidth; Communication systems; Computer simulation; Error correction; Motion Picture Experts Group standards; Multimedia services; Quality of service; Video recording; Video streaming; Wireless telecommunication systems; Network layers | None |
| None | None | Evaluation of iron oxide impregnated filter paper method as an index of phosphorus availability in paddy soils of Tanzania | Shekiffu C.Y., Semoka J.M.R. | 2007 | Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems | 77 | 2 | 10.1007/s10705-006-9054-6 | National Soil Service, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, P.O. Box 5088, Tanga, Tanzania; Department of Soil Science, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3008, Morogoro, Tanzania | Shekiffu, C.Y., National Soil Service, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, P.O. Box 5088, Tanga, Tanzania; Semoka, J.M.R., Department of Soil Science, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3008, Morogoro, Tanzania | Phosphorus is a major yield limiting nutrient in rice production and yet most soil test methods for predicting P availability to plants have a number of shortcomings especially under flooded conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the iron oxide impregnated filter paper (Pi) method for assessing changes in P availability in soils subsequent to flooding and to determine the suitability of the method in assessing P status in paddy soils. The results indicated that available P increases considerably (between 34% and 256%) subsequent to flooding and this affected responsiveness of the soils to P application. Two versions of the Pi method namely; the Pi method used under flooded conditions (Pi-Pf) and Pi strips embedded directly in flooded soils (Pi-Pfe) were effective in assessing P availability in paddy soils. The two Pi methods were better correlated with rice dry matter yield than the traditional soil tests and are hence recommended for use in soil testing under flooded conditions. The tentative critical levels of P for the two procedures under pot conditions were 22 mg/kg for Pi-Pf and 15 mg/strip for Pi-Pef. © 2006 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. | Available P; Critical P level; Flooded soils; Paddy soils; Tanzania | agricultural soil; assessment method; fertilizer application; flooded soil; iron oxide; nutrient availability; phosphorus; rice; soil nutrient; soil test; Africa; East Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Tanzania | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84937061051 | Evaluation of short-and longterm properties of heat-cured alkali-activated fly ash concrete | Shekhovtsova J., Kovtun M., Kearsley E.P. | 2015 | Magazine of Concrete Research | 67 | 16 | 10.1680/macr.14.00377 | Department of Civil Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Shekhovtsova, J., Department of Civil Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Kovtun, M., Department of Civil Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Kearsley, E.P., Department of Civil Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Short- and long-term properties of alkali-activated fly ash concrete, namely, compressive, flexural and splitting tensile strengths, modulus of elasticity, Poisson ratio, early-age and drying shrinkage, creep and durability performance have been investigated in this paper. Blended ordinary Portland cement-fly ash concrete was used as a reference. The average compressive and flexural strengths of alkali-activated fly ash concrete at 28 d were 45 MPa and 5.8 MPa, respectively; drying shrinkage and creep values were about 360 and 200 microstrain, respectively, at 1 year. The total early-age shrinkage during the first 24 h of curing was lower for alkali-activated fly ash concrete at 1460 microstrain compared to 2800 microstrain for blended cement concrete. The use of this non-Portland cement containing material for producing precast concrete units can utilise high volumes of fly ash and potentially reduce the carbon footprint of the final product. | None | Carbon; Carbon footprint; Concretes; Creep; Curing; Drying; Fly ash; Portland cement; Precast concrete; Shrinkage; Tensile strength; Alkali-activated fly ashes; Compressive and flexural strengths; Durability performance; Early age shrinkages; Fly ash concretes; Long-term properties; Ordinary Portland cement; Splitting tensile strength; Cements | 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-s2.0-84886936273 | 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-s2.0-84919460553 | Evaluation of the implementation of a phd capacity-building program for nurses in South Africa | Sheehan A., Comiskey C., Williamson C., Mgutshini T. | 2015 | Nursing Research | 64 | 1 | 10.1097/NNR.0000000000000069 | Centre for Practice and Healthcare Innovation, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, 24 D'Olier St., Dublin 2, Ireland; SANTRUST, Durban, South Africa; University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa | Sheehan, A., Centre for Practice and Healthcare Innovation, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, 24 D'Olier St., Dublin 2, Ireland; Comiskey, C., Centre for Practice and Healthcare Innovation, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, 24 D'Olier St., Dublin 2, Ireland; Williamson, C., SANTRUST, Durban, South Africa; Mgutshini, T., University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa | Background: Nursing is experiencing a significant deficit in research capacity needed to meet future global healthcare demands-there is a call to double the number of nurses and healthcare professionals with a doctorate. Aim: The aim of this research was to evaluate the implementation of a national PhD capacity-building program for academic and practice-based nurses and other healthcare professionals in South Africa.Methods: An implementation science framework was used. Implementation of the program across two national, longitudinal cohorts of participants was studied. Evidence of enablers and barriers to implementation was obtained from multiple data sources, including the curriculum for the program, regular evaluation reports from program participants and program facilitators after each stage of the PhD curriculum delivery, and meeting notes. Supplementary sources included rates of PhD candidate recruitment, retention, and successful completion.Results: Evidence for the presence of enablers for successful implementation was found, including stakeholder consultation and buy-in, leadership, resources, staff capacity, and implementation teams. No evidence of an implementation plan, a supportive organizational culture, or effective ongoing communication at Stage 4 of the implementation process was found. Barriers to implementation included external environmental factors, resistance to change, and vested interests.Discussion: Within the context of a recognized worldwide shortage of nursing scientists, the application of an implementation science framework to evaluate the initial stages of a national PhD development program rollout provided information on how effective implementation can be strengthened and how barriers to success can be overcome. © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. | International educational exchange; Nursing research; South Africa | adult; cohort analysis; curriculum; education; human; nursing education; organization; organization and management; program evaluation; South Africa; Adult; Cohort Studies; Curriculum; Education, Nursing, Graduate; Humans; Nursing Education Research; Organizational Culture; Program Evaluation; School Admission Criteria; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84881344101 | The Impact of Choice of NNRTI on Short-Term Treatment Outcomes among HIV-Infected Patients Prescribed Tenofovir and Lamivudine in Johannesburg, South Africa | Shearer K., Fox M.P., Maskew M., Berhanu R., Long L., Sanne I. | 2013 | PLoS ONE | 8 | 8 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0071719 | 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, MA, United States; Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States; Right to Care, Johannesburg, South Africa; Clinical HIV Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Shearer, 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; Fox, M.P., 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, MA, United States, Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States; Maskew, M., 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; Berhanu, R., Right to Care, Johannesburg, South Africa; 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; 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, Right to Care, Johannesburg, South Africa, Clinical HIV Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Introduction:Recent WHO guidelines for resource-limited settings recommend tenofovir in first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) yet there are suggestions that patients receiving nevirapine with tenofovir have worse outcomes than those receiving efavirenz. We sought to compare outcomes among those taking nevirapine vs. efavirenz with tenofovir and lamivudine.Methods:We analyzed data on ART naïve, non-pregnant patients, ≥18 years old without tuberculosis co-infection, initiating tenofovir with lamivudine and either nevirapine or efavirenz between April 1, 2010 and July 31, 2011 (when South Africa's public-sector use of tenofovir began) at Themba Lethu Clinic in South Africa. We measured virologic suppression (viral load <400 copies/ml), virologic failure (2 consecutive viral loads >1000 copies/ml), and attrition (death/loss to follow-up) all at 12 months after ART initiation. Modified Poisson regression with robust error estimation was used to estimate risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for predictors of each outcome.Results:2,254 patients were prescribed efavirenz, 131 nevirapine. Patients were followed a median (range) of 12.0 (0.1-12.0) person-months. 62.2% were female and median (IQR) age was 37.7 years (31.5-44.1). Patients prescribed efavirenz had similar initiating CD4 counts (median 132 for both regimens) but were somewhat more likely to be WHO Stage III or IV (39.6% vs. 33.6%) than those prescribed nevirapine. No difference in attrition was found (aRR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.49-1.41). Among patients with ≥1 viral load within 1 year on ART, those prescribed nevirapine were as likely to reach virologic suppression (aRR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.88-1.07) but more likely to experience virologic failure (aRR: 1.84; 95% CI: 1.02-3.31) than those prescribed efavirenz.Conclusions:Our results support the notion that, among patients prescribed tenofovir and lamivudine, virologic failure is more common among those taking nevirapine than among those taking efavirenz. Longer-term follow up and larger studies will be needed to confirm this finding. © 2013 Shearer et al. | None | lamivudine; nevirapine; tenofovir; adult; article; controlled study; drug choice; drug efficacy; drug response; drug treatment failure; female; follow up; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; infection risk; major clinical study; male; medical society; nonhuman; outcome assessment; patient assessment; prescription; risk assessment; risk factor; short course therapy; South Africa; virus load | NIAID, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; NIH, National Institutes of Health |
| 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 |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77955642843 | The impact on dam design of a new materials model for the early behaviour of RCC | Shaw Q.H.W. | 2010 | International Journal on Hydropower and Dams | 17 | 4 | None | ARQ (Pty) Ltd, PO Box 76397, Lynnwood Ridge, 0040, South Africa | Shaw, Q.H.W., ARQ (Pty) Ltd, PO Box 76397, Lynnwood Ridge, 0040, South Africa | The impact of new materials model for high strength RCC on the design of large dams is discussed through the example of Changuinola 1 dam in Panama, focusing on aspects of particular importance for arch dams. An approach combining field measurement with structural modeling to predict and demonstrate actual materials behavior is discussed. The finite element (FE) analysis confirmed that the anticipated residual tensile stresses between induced joints spaced at 20 m are minimal, peaking at only 50 microstrain for a temperature drop of the order of 20°C. The study finds that applying a uniform temperature drop of 6°C, arch action concentrated more towards the upstream side and the top of the structure, is observed. The design approach of Changuinola 1 dam requires installation of cooling pipes in the RCC above the upper gallery if shrinkage and creep are evident in the RCC. | None | Arch action; Cooling pipes; Dam design; Design approaches; Field measurement; Finite elements; High strength; Induced joints; Large dams; Materials behavior; Micro-strain; New material; Residual tensile stress; Shrinkage and creep; Structural modeling; Temperature drops; Uniform temperature; Arches; Dams; Drops; Finite element method; Design | 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-s2.0-84905574645 | First evaluation of a population-based screen to detect emotional-behavior disorders in orphaned children in sub-Saharan Africa | Sharp C., Venta A., Marais L., Skinner D., Lenka M., Serekoane J. | 2014 | AIDS and Behavior | 18 | 6 | 10.1007/s10461-014-0739-6 | Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, United States; Centre for Development Support, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Research on Health and Society, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Anthropology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa | Sharp, C., Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, United States; Venta, A., Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, United States; Marais, L., Centre for Development Support, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Skinner, D., Research on Health and Society, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Lenka, M., Centre for Development Support, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Serekoane, J., Department of Anthropology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa | Due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic which has left 12 million children orphaned in Sub-Saharan Africa, children are at increased risk for mental health problems. Currently, no validity data exist for any screening measure of emotional-behavior disorders in pre-adolescent children in Sub-Saharan Africa. The aims of the current study were to evaluate the construct validity of the caregiver-, teacher-, and self-report versions of the one-page Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) in 466 orphans in South Africa between the ages of 7 and 11 (Mage = 9.23 years, SD = 1.33, 51.93 % female) and to provide, for the first time, clinical cut-offs for this population. Findings demonstrated support for the caregiver SDQ, but not the teacher and self-report versions. We provide clinical cut-offs, but caution their use before further research is conducted. There remains a critical need for further psychometric studies of the SDQ in the developing world. Resumen Debido a la pandemia de VIH /SIDA que ha dejado a 12 millones de niños huérfanos en Á frica subsahariana, los niños tienen un riesgo mayor de tener problemas de salud mental. Actualmente, no hay data para validar ningún cuestionario de trastornos emocionales y de comportamiento en los niños pre-adolescentes en el Á frica subsahariana. Los objetivos de este estudio fueron evaluar la validez de constructo de varias versiones (completadas por cuidador, maestro, y autoinforme) de un cuestionario de una página, el Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), en 466 huérfanos en Sudáfrica entre las edades de 7 y 11 (M = 9.23 años, SD = 1.33, 51.93 % mujeres) y describir, por primera vez, los puntos de estratificación para esta población. Los resultados demuestran apoyo para la versión SDQ completada por el cuidador, pero no la versión completada por el maestro ni por autoinforme. Ofrecemos puntos de estratificación, pero advertimos contra su uso antes de que se realicen más investigaciones. Sigue habiendo una necesidad crítica de estudios psicométricos del SDQ en el mundo subdesarrollado. © Springer Science+Business Media New York 2014. | Africa; Children; Orphans; Population screen; Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire; Validity | acquired immune deficiency syndrome; adaptive behavior; Africa south of the Sahara; child; emotion; epidemiology; evaluation study; female; follow up; human; male; mass screening; Mental Disorders; mental stress; orphaned child; poverty; psychology; psychometry; questionnaire; self report; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Adaptation, Psychological; Africa South of the Sahara; Child; Child, Orphaned; Emotions; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Mass Screening; Mental Disorders; Poverty; Psychometrics; Questionnaires; Self Report; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Stress, Psychological | 078757, NIMH, National Institute of Mental Health |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79952411003 | Evaluation of the kinetics and mechanism of drug release from econazole nitrate nanosponge loaded carbapol hydrogel | Sharma R., Walker R.B., Pathak K. | 2011 | Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Education and Research | 45 | 1 | None | Rajiv Academy for Pharmacy, National Highway #2 P.O. Chhattikara, Mathura Uttar Pradesh 281001, India; Faculty of Pharmacy, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa | Sharma, R., Rajiv Academy for Pharmacy, National Highway #2 P.O. Chhattikara, Mathura Uttar Pradesh 281001, India; Walker, R.B., Faculty of Pharmacy, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa; Pathak, K., Rajiv Academy for Pharmacy, National Highway #2 P.O. Chhattikara, Mathura Uttar Pradesh 281001, India | The objective of this study was to investigate the mechanism of release of econazole nitrate (EN) nanosponges loaded hydrogel and to compare it with EN hydrogel so as to develop an extended release topical drug delivery system of EN. Nanosponges of EN were prepared using ethyl cellulose and PVA by emulsion solvent evaporation method. On the basis of pharmacotechnical evaluation nanosponges with least particle size of 230.1 nm and good rheological properties were formulated as hydrogel (F1 - F7). In vitro drug release data of EN nanosponges loaded hydrogels in phosphate buffer pH 6.8 and 7.4 when analysed by GraphPad Prism software version 4.0 San Diego, USA best fitted the Makoid-2 Banakar model (R value greater than 0.98). The Korsmeyer-Peppas release exponent (n) ranged between 0.331 - 0.418, which confirmed diffusion as the principle mechanism of drug release. The release mechanism was further confirmed by calculating the ratio of exponents A/B ratio derived from the Kopcha model. | Hydrogel; Kopcha model; Korsmeyer-peppas model; Makoid-banakar; Nanosponge | carbopol 934; econazole; ethyl cellulose; nanomaterial; nanosphere; nanosponge; unclassified drug; article; controlled study; drug administration route; drug delivery system; drug formulation; emulsion; flow kinetics; hydrogel; in vitro study; nanoanalysis; nanofabrication; nanopharmaceutics; particle size; patient attitude; pH measurement; scanning electron microscopy; surface property; sustained drug release | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84926435517 | Evaluation of a conducting interpenetrating network based on gum ghatti-g-poly(acrylic acid-aniline) as a colon-specific delivery system for amoxicillin trihydrate and paracetamol | Sharma K., Kumar V., Kaith B.S., Kumar V., Som S., Pandey A., Kalia S., Swart H.C. | 2015 | New Journal of Chemistry | 39 | 4 | 10.1039/c4nj01982b | Department of Physics, University of the Free State, P. O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Department of Chemistry, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar, Punjab, India; Department of Chemistry, Bahra University, Waknaghat (Shimla Hills), Dist. Solan, H.P., India | Sharma, K., Department of Physics, University of the Free State, P. O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Kumar, V., Department of Physics, University of the Free State, P. O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Kaith, B.S., Department of Chemistry, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar, Punjab, India; Kumar, V., Department of Physics, University of the Free State, P. O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Som, S., Department of Physics, University of the Free State, P. O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Pandey, A., Department of Physics, University of the Free State, P. O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Kalia, S., Department of Chemistry, Bahra University, Waknaghat (Shimla Hills), Dist. Solan, H.P., India; Swart, H.C., Department of Physics, University of the Free State, P. O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa | The objective of the present investigation was to develop colon-specific drug delivery systems for amoxicillin trihydrate and paracetamol using Gum ghatti (Gg) based cross-linked hydrogels. An interpenetrating network (IPN) of electrically active hydrogel based on Gg, poly(acrylic acid) (AA) and polyaniline was synthesized by a two-step aqueous polymerization. The radical copolymerization of Gg and AA was done using N,N′-methylene-bis-acrylamide (MBA) and ammonium persulphate (APS) as a crosslinker-initiator system. Optimum operating conditions for maximizing the percentage swelling were solvent (ml) = 10, AA (mol L-1) = 0.291 × 10-3, APS (mol L-1) = 0.219 × 10-1, MBA (mol L-1) = 0.324 × 10-1, reaction time (min) = 180, temperature (°C) = 60 and pH = 7.0. The synthesized semi-IPN matrix was further grafted with aniline through oxidative-radical copolymerization using APS in acidic media. The resultant cross-linked hydrogels were characterized using X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ToF-SIMS and electrical conductivity. The maximum conductivity was found to be 2.5 × 10-6 S cm-1 at 1.5 N HCl concentration. The synthesized hydrogels were loaded with amoxicillin trihydrate and paracetamol as model drugs to investigate the release behaviour. Amoxicillin trihydrate follows the surface phenomena and weak bonding interaction whereas paracetamol exhibited chemical interaction with the hydrogel matrices. The release rate of both the drugs through the synthesized hydrogel matrices was found to show Fickian behaviour at each pH. The hydrogel networks showed lower release in acidic and neutral media than in basic media, making them particularly suitable carriers for colon-specific drug delivery. © The Royal Society of Chemistry and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique 2015. | None | ammonia; amoxicillin; aniline; ghatti g poly(acrylic acid aniline); n,n' methylenebisacrylamide; paracetamol; polyacrylic acid; polyaniline; unclassified drug; Article; chemical interaction; conductance; controlled study; drug delivery system; drug release; hydrogel; infrared spectroscopy; intracolonic drug administration; mass spectrometry; polymerization; priority journal; reaction time; temperature; thermogravimetry; X ray diffraction | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929653743 | The impact of 'women's empowerment in agriculture' on household vulnerability to food insecurity in the KwaZulu-Natal province | Sharaunga S., Mudhara M., Bogale A. | 2015 | Forum for Development Studies | 42 | 2 | 10.1080/08039410.2014.997792 | School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Discipline of Agricultural Economics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; African Centre for Food Security, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | Sharaunga, S., School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Discipline of Agricultural Economics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Mudhara, M., School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Discipline of Agricultural Economics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Bogale, A., African Centre for Food Security, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | It is argued that empowering women in smallholder agriculture is very crucial in reducing vulnerability to food insecurity among rural households. This study contributes to this literature by adapting the vulnerability as expected poverty approach to determine which dimensions of 'women's empowerment in agriculture' reduces household's vulnerability to food insecurity based on cross-section data collected from 300 randomly selected primary female heads-of-households in Msinga rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal. It was found that empowering women in socio-cultural aspects that creates hindrances in agriculture reduces the probability of their households being vulnerable to food insecurity. Surprisingly, access to irrigation and improved water-use security did not significantly influence household vulnerability to food insecurity. However, other forms of women's empowerment including economic agency and physical capital empowerment were found to reduce the likelihood of a household being vulnerable to food insecurity. Women with high levels of financial capital empowerment invested less in other capital assets and were more vulnerable to food insecurity in the future. In addition to women's empowerment, demographic characteristics of a household influence its vulnerability status. A household's vulnerability to food insecurity reduces as the husband's income increases but increases with increased dependency ratio. It was concluded that empowerment in agriculture alone is not a panacea to reduce household vulnerability to food insecurity. Efforts should be made to improve physical assets that determine the off-farm income earning and agricultural production capacity of households. © 2015 Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI). | agriculture; South Africa; vulnerability to food insecurity; women's empowerment | agricultural production; capital; empowerment; food security; smallholder; vulnerability; womens status; KwaZulu-Natal; South Africa | 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-s2.0-84907953814 | Trophic level-based indicators to track fishing impacts across marine ecosystems | Shannon L., Coll M., Bundy A., Gascuel D., Heymans J.J., Kleisner K., Lynam C.P., Piroddi C., Tam J., Travers-Trolet M., Shin Y. | 2014 | Marine Ecology Progress Series | 512 | None | 10.3354/meps10821 | Marine Research Institute, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, South Africa; Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, Barcelona, Spain; Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Ocean Ecosystem Science, PO Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada; Université Européenne de Bretagne, Agrocampus Ouest, UMR985 Écologie et Santé des Écosystèmes, 65 route de Saint Brieuc, CS 8421, Rennes cedex, France; Scottish Association for Marine Science, Scottish Marine Institute, Oban, Argyll, United Kingdom; University of British Columbia, 2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada; National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA, United States; Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Lowestoft Laboratory, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, United Kingdom; Joint Research Centre, European Commission, Via E. Fermi 2749, Ispra (VA), Italy; Instituto del Mar del Perú (IMARPE), Esquina Gamarra y Gral. Valle s/n, Apartado 22, Callao, Lima, Peru; IFREMER, Fisheries Laboratory, 150 quai Gambetta, BP699, Boulogne/mer, France; Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR EME 212, CRH, Avenue Jean Monnet, CS 30171, Sète cedex, France | Shannon, L., Marine Research Institute, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, South Africa; Coll, M., Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, Barcelona, Spain, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR EME 212, CRH, Avenue Jean Monnet, CS 30171, Sète cedex, France; Bundy, A., Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Ocean Ecosystem Science, PO Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, Canada; Gascuel, D., Université Européenne de Bretagne, Agrocampus Ouest, UMR985 Écologie et Santé des Écosystèmes, 65 route de Saint Brieuc, CS 8421, Rennes cedex, France; Heymans, J.J., Scottish Association for Marine Science, Scottish Marine Institute, Oban, Argyll, United Kingdom; Kleisner, K., University of British Columbia, 2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA, United States; Lynam, C.P., Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Lowestoft Laboratory, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, United Kingdom; Piroddi, C., Joint Research Centre, European Commission, Via E. Fermi 2749, Ispra (VA), Italy; Tam, J., Instituto del Mar del Perú (IMARPE), Esquina Gamarra y Gral. Valle s/n, Apartado 22, Callao, Lima, Peru; Travers-Trolet, M., IFREMER, Fisheries Laboratory, 150 quai Gambetta, BP699, Boulogne/mer, France; Shin, Y., Marine Research Institute, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, South Africa, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR EME 212, CRH, Avenue Jean Monnet, CS 30171, Sète cedex, France | Trophic level (TL)-based indicators have been widely used to examine fishing impacts in aquatic ecosystems and the induced biodiversity changes. However, much debate has ensued regarding discrepancies and challenges arising from the use of landings data from commercial fisheries to calculate TL indicators. Subsequent studies have started to examine survey-based and model-based indicators. In this paper, we undertake an extensive evaluation of a variety of TL indicators across 9 well-studied marine ecosystems by making use of model- as well as surveyand catch-based TL indicators. Using detailed regional information and data on fishing history, fishing intensity, and environmental conditions, we evaluate how well TL indicators are capturing fishing effects at the community level of marine ecosystems. Our results highlight that the differences observed between TL indicator values and trends is dependent on the data source and the TL cut-off point used in the calculations and is not attributable to an intrinsic problem with TLbased indicators. All 3 data sources provide useful information about the structural changes in the ecosystem as a result of fishing, but our results indicate that only model-based indicators represent fishing impacts at the whole ecosystem level. © Inter-Research and Fisheries and Oceans Canada 2014 | Catch; Convention on biological diversity; Ecosystem approach to fisheries; Ecosystem model; Food webs; Global comparison; Indicator; Survey; Trophic level; Trophic spectra | biodiversity; bioindicator; commercial species; data set; ecological modeling; ecosystem modeling; environmental conditions; fishery management; fishing; food web; marine ecosystem; survey; trophic level | M1228, Defra, Fisheries and Oceans Canada; DFO, Fisheries and Oceans Canada; DST, Fisheries and Oceans Canada; EC, Fisheries and Oceans Canada; NRF, Fisheries and Oceans Canada; PEW, Fisheries and Oceans Canada |
| 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-s2.0-84876960079 | Effects of soil parent material and climate on the performance of Vitis vinifera L. cvs. Sauvignon blanc and cabernet Sauvignon - Part I. Soil analysis, soil water status, root system characteristics, leaf water potential, cane mass and yield | Shange L.P., Conradie W.J. | 2012 | South African Journal of Enology and Viticulture | 33 | 2 | None | ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Private Bag X5026, 7599, Stellenbosch, South Africa | Shange, L.P., ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Private Bag X5026, 7599, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Conradie, W.J., ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Private Bag X5026, 7599, Stellenbosch, South Africa | In the Helderberg area of the Western Cape, South Africa, soil parent material may vary between granite and shale over relatively short distances. However, little information is available concerning the possible effects of different soil parent materials on grapevine performance. A five-year investigation (2004/05 to 2008/09) was therefore carried out. Two Sauvignon blanc and two Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard blocks were selected at four localities. Soils derived mainly from granite and shale were identified in each vineyard block. Climate and soil parameters, root distribution, grapevine water status, cane mass and yield were evaluated at all localities. Shale-derived soils contained significantly greater amounts of fine sand, but less coarse sand, than granite-derived soils. These differences resulted in water-holding capacities that were generally higher in the shale-derived soils. Shale-derived soils contained higher concentrations of total potassium (K), but the levels of water-soluble K were generally greater in the granitic soils. Root system development could not be related directly to soil parent material. However, in most cases fine root density in the granite-derived soils tended to be higher, while the cane mass and yield of grapevines in the same soils also tended to be higher, at least at two of the four localities. The effect of soil parent material on grapevine water constraints seemed more prominent during the drier seasons, namely 2004/05 and 2005/06, compared to the wet and coolest seasons, 2007/08 and 2008/09. | Fine root density; Granite; Grapevine performance; Shale; Soil water status | Vitaceae; Vitis; Vitis vinifera | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84876959735 | Effects of soil parent material and climate on the performance of vitis vinifrra L. cvs. Sauvignon blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon - Part II. Climate, leaf analysis, juice analysis and wine quality | Shange L.P., Conradie W.J. | 2012 | South African Journal of Enology and Viticulture | 33 | 2 | None | ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Private Bag X5026, 7599 Stellenbosch, South Africa | Shange, L.P., ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Private Bag X5026, 7599 Stellenbosch, South Africa; Conradie, W.J., ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Private Bag X5026, 7599 Stellenbosch, South Africa | A five-year investigation (2004/05 to 2008/09) was carried out in two Sauvignon blanc and two Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards in the Helderberg area, Western Cape, South Africa. Soils, derived mainly from granite and shale, were identified in each vineyard. Climatic parameters were measured, while leaves and juice were analysed. Experimental wines were prepared and evaluated annually. The nutritional status of the leaf blades and petioles was not affected by soil parent materials in a consistent pattern. Juice N of grapevines on the shale-derived soil was usually higher than that of vines on the granite-derived soil. The effect of soil parent material on Sauvignon blanc wine style appeared to have been more distinct at the locality where wine quality was highest. At this locality, wine from the grapevines on shale-derived soil (higher water-holding capacity) was best in 2004/05 (dry season), while the reverse was true in the 2007/08 season (wet). The style and/or quality of Cabernet Sauvignon wines were affected to a greater extent by differences in soil parent materials, relative to Sauvignon blanc. Differences were especially noticeable during the cooler and wetter seasons. Better drainage in the case of the granite-derived soils, due to the higher coarse sand fraction, may have played a positive role during these seasons. | Granite; Juice nitrogen; Shale; Wine style | Vitis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84874911480 | Synthesis, characterisation, docking analysis and biological evaluation of α,α′-bis(p-dimethylaminobenzylidene)-γ- methylcyclohexanone | Shalini S., Girija C.R., Karunakar P., Jotani M.M., Venugopala K.N., Venkatesha T.V. | 2013 | Indian Journal of Chemistry - Section B Organic and Medicinal Chemistry | 52 | 2 | None | Chemistry Research Centre, SSMRV Degree College, 4th 'T' Block, Jayanagar, Bangalore 560 041, India; Department of Biotechnology, PES Institute of Technology, BSK III Stage, Bangalore 560 085, India; Department of Physics, Bhavan's Sheth R. A. College of Science, Khanpur, Ahmedabad 380 001, India; Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4001, South Africa; Department of Chemistry, Jnana Sahyadri, Kuvempu University, Shankaraghatta 577 451, India | Shalini, S., Chemistry Research Centre, SSMRV Degree College, 4th 'T' Block, Jayanagar, Bangalore 560 041, India; Girija, C.R., Chemistry Research Centre, SSMRV Degree College, 4th 'T' Block, Jayanagar, Bangalore 560 041, India; Karunakar, P., Department of Biotechnology, PES Institute of Technology, BSK III Stage, Bangalore 560 085, India; Jotani, M.M., Department of Physics, Bhavan's Sheth R. A. College of Science, Khanpur, Ahmedabad 380 001, India; Venugopala, K.N., Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4001, South Africa; Venkatesha, T.V., Department of Chemistry, Jnana Sahyadri, Kuvempu University, Shankaraghatta 577 451, India | α,α′-bis(p-Dimethylaminobenzylidene)-γ- methylcyclohexanone (BMABMC) C25H30ON2, has been synthesised and characterised by elemental analysis, 1H and 13C NMR, mass spectroscopic techniques and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. The single crystal XRD studies of the title compound reveals the presence of C-H⋯O intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions linking inversion-related molecules into a dimer forming a ring of graph set R2 2(22). The antibacterial activitiy of the compound has been screened in vitro against the organisms. To evaluate the inhibition of HIV-1 integrase activity, molecular docking was performed and the study reveals a hydrophobic interaction with the catalytic core residues showing moderate inhibitory activity on HIV-1 integrase. The semi-empirical quantum chemical calculations were also performed using MOPAC2009 (PM3) for optimization of the geometry and the chemical activity of molecule. HOMO-LUMO transition implied an electron density transfer from C-N and C-C bonds at the edge of the molecule towards C-O and C-C bonds linked to central distorted cyclohexanone ring. The HOMO-LUMO energy gap of 7.778 eV reflects the chemical activity of the molecule thereby resulting charge transfer interaction. | Antimicrobial activity; Crystal structure; Cyclohexanone derivatives; Molecular docking analysis; MOPAC calculations | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33745088390 | The impact of extrinsic sources on selected indicator organisms in a typical deboning room | Shale K., Jacoby A., Plaatjies Z. | 2006 | International Journal of Environmental Health Research | 16 | 4 | 10.1080/09603120600734162 | School for Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Central University of Technology, Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; School for Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, CUT, P/Bag X20539, Free State, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa | Shale, K., School for Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Central University of Technology, Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa, School for Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, CUT, P/Bag X20539, Free State, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa; Jacoby, A., School for Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Central University of Technology, Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Plaatjies, Z., School for Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Central University of Technology, Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa | Meat is a highly perishable product and the microbiological safety thereof is an extremely important issue for both the consumer and the meat industry. In this study, samples were randomly collected from various working surfaces, from raw meat and from the air in the deboning room of a high throughput red meat abattoir. The samples were analysed for the presence of total staphylococci counts as well as for total viable counts. The mean staphylococci counts from working surfaces were 19 CFU · cm -2 , and the staphylococci levels for the meat samples were well below the proposed maximum limit of 100 CFU · g -1 . Maximum staphylococcal bioaerosol counts of 10 CFU · m -3 were also enumerated. Total viable counts from the workers' hands and working surfaces were high compared to the staphylococcal levels. Twelve staphylococci species were identified from the samples used in this study. Recontamination during the deboning process was identified as the major source of contamination, suggesting proper implementation of quality processing practices within the abattoir environment. © 2006 Taylor & Francis. | Abattoirs; Bioaerosols; Deboning room; Red meat; Staphylococcus; Surfaces; Total viable counts | bacterium; food safety; meat; article; bacterial count; bacterial strain; bacterium contamination; human; indicator organism; meat; meat industry; nonhuman; quality control; sample; Staphylococcus; work environment; Abattoirs; Animals; Bacteria; Colony Count, Microbial; Consumer Product Safety; Food Microbiology; Food-Processing Industry; Hygiene; Meat Products; Staphylococcus; Staphylococcus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84873490061 | Formulation and evaluation of orodispersible tablets of metoprolol tartrate with natural and synthetic superdisintegrants | Shailaja T., Latha K., Alkabab A.M., Sasibhushan P., Uhumwangho M.U. | 2012 | International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences | 4 | SUPPL.3 | None | G.Pulla Reddy College of Pharmacy, Mehidipatnam, Hyderabad, 500 028, India; Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Nigeria | Shailaja, T., G.Pulla Reddy College of Pharmacy, Mehidipatnam, Hyderabad, 500 028, India; Latha, K., G.Pulla Reddy College of Pharmacy, Mehidipatnam, Hyderabad, 500 028, India; Alkabab, A.M., G.Pulla Reddy College of Pharmacy, Mehidipatnam, Hyderabad, 500 028, India; Sasibhushan, P., G.Pulla Reddy College of Pharmacy, Mehidipatnam, Hyderabad, 500 028, India; Uhumwangho, M.U., Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Nigeria | The main objective of the study is to formulate and evaluate orodispersible tablets of metoprolol tartrate with natural and synthetic superdisintegrants. Various formulations of metoprolol tartrate were prepared by direct compression method using different ratios of natural superdisintegrant (agar, treated agar) and synthetic superdisintegrants (sodium starch glycolate, croscarmellose sodium and crospovidone) at the concentrations ranging from 3%-12%. The drug and excipients compatibility study was performed by FTIR to study the interaction between drug and excipients. The blend of all formulations were evaluated for various precompressional parameters such as angle of repose, bulk, tapped densities, compressibility index, Hausner's ratio and the prepared tablets were evaluated for various parameters like weight variation, thickness, hardness, friability, wetting time, water absorption ratio, disintegration time, content uniformity and in vitro drug release. Formulations with treated agar have shown promising results compared to other formulations with semisynthetic superdisintegrants. The optimized formulation was subjected to stability studies for three months as per ICH guidelines. Disintegration times of formulations containing treated agar were found to be in the range 30-19sec and 95-100% drug release was observed in 5 min. The optimized formulation was found to be stable with insignificant change in the hardness, disintegration time, drug content and in vitro drug release. | Orodispersible tablets; Superdisintegrants; Treated agar | agar; croscarmellose sodium; crospovidone; disintegrating agent; metoprolol tartrate; starch glycolate sodium; angle of repose; article; bulk density; content uniformity; dispersible tablet; drug release; drug solubility; drug stability; excipient compatibility; Hausner ratio; infrared spectroscopy; tablet compression; tablet disintegration time; tablet formulation; tablet friability; tablet hardness; tablet property; tablet thickness; water absorption; weight | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84922480936 | Comparative performance of urinary lipoarabinomannan assays and Xpert MTB/RIF in HIV-infected individuals | Shah M., Ssengooba W., Armstrong D., Nakiyingi L., Holshouser M., Ellner J.J., Joloba M., Manabe Y.C., Dorman S.E. | 2014 | AIDS | 28 | 9 | 10.1097/QAD.0000000000000264 | Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, 1503 East Jefferson St, Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of Microbiology, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Boston Medical Center, Boston University, School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States | Shah, M., Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, 1503 East Jefferson St, Baltimore, MD, United States; Ssengooba, W., Department of Microbiology, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Armstrong, D., Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, 1503 East Jefferson St, Baltimore, MD, United States; Nakiyingi, L., Department of Microbiology, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Holshouser, M., Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, 1503 East Jefferson St, Baltimore, MD, United States; Ellner, J.J., Boston Medical Center, Boston University, School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States; Joloba, M., Department of Microbiology, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Manabe, Y.C., Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, 1503 East Jefferson St, Baltimore, MD, United States, Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Dorman, S.E., Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, 1503 East Jefferson St, Baltimore, MD, United States | Background: Xpert MTB/RIF ('Xpert') and urinary lipoarabinomannan (LAM) assays offer rapid tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis, but have suboptimal sensitivity when used individually in HIV-positive patients. The yield of these tests used in combination for the diagnosis of active TB among HIV-infected TB suspects is unknown. Design: Study of comparative diagnostic accuracy nested into a prospective study of HIV-infected individuals with signs and/or symptoms of TB in Uganda. Methods: Xpert testing of archived sputum was conducted for culture-confirmed TB cases and TB suspects in whom a diagnosis of TB was excluded. Additional testing included sputum smear microscopy, sputum culture (solid and liquid media), mycobacterial blood culture, and urinary testing for LAM using a lateral flow test ('LF-LAM') and an enzyme-linked immunosorbance assay ('ELISA-LAM'). Results: Among 103 participants with culture-confirmed TB, sensitivity of Xpert was 76% (95% confidence interval, CI 0.66-0.84), and was superior to that of LF-LAM (49%, 95% CI 0.39-0.59, P<0.001). Specificity was greater than 97% for both tests among 105 individuals without TB. The combination of smear microscopy and LF-LAM identified 67% (95% CI 0.57-0.76) of culture-confirmed TB cases and approached sensitivity of Xpert testing alone (P=0.15). The sensitivity of the combination of Xpert and LF-LAM was 85% (88/103 95% CI 0.77-0.92), which was superior to either test alone (P<0.05) and approached sensitivity of sputum liquid culture testing (94%, 95% CI 0.88-0.98, P=0.17). Conclusion: Sputum Xpert and urinary LAM assays were complementary for the diagnosis of active TB in HIV-infected patients, and sensitivity of the combination of these tests was superior to that of either test alone. © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. | Diagnostics; HIV; Lipoarabinomannan; Tuberculosis; Xpert MTB/RIF | lipoarabinomannan; lipoarabinomannan; lipopolysaccharide; adult; Article; blood culture; CD4 lymphocyte count; comparative effectiveness; controlled study; diagnostic test accuracy study; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; female; fluorescence microscopy; hospital patient; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; immunosuppressive treatment; lipid analysis; major clinical study; male; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; outpatient; priority journal; prospective study; sensitivity analysis; sensitivity and specificity; sputum analysis; sputum culture; sputum cytodiagnosis; sputum smear; tuberculosis; tuberculosis rapid test; Uganda; urinalysis; urinary lateral flow lipoarabinomannan assay; comparative study; complication; evaluation study; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; immunoaffinity chromatography; microbiology; molecular diagnosis; procedures; saliva; tuberculosis; urine; Adult; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Immunochromatography; Lipopolysaccharides; Male; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; Prospective Studies; Saliva; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tuberculosis; Uganda | NIAID, NIAID, National Institutes of Health; NIH, NIH, National Institutes of Health |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84930346162 | Factors affecting the academic performance of optometry students in Mozambique | Shah K., Naidoo K., Bilotto L., Loughman J. | 2015 | Optometry and Vision Science | 92 | 6 | 10.1097/OPX.0000000000000606 | Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin, Ireland; Brien Holden Vision Institute, Durban, South Africa; African Vision Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Optometry Department, Dublin Institute of Technology, 19A Kevin Street, Dublin 8, Ireland | Shah, K., Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin, Ireland, Optometry Department, Dublin Institute of Technology, 19A Kevin Street, Dublin 8, Ireland; Naidoo, K., Brien Holden Vision Institute, Durban, South Africa, African Vision Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Bilotto, L., Brien Holden Vision Institute, Durban, South Africa; Loughman, J., Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin, Ireland, African Vision Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa | Purpose. The Mozambique Eyecare Project is a higher education partnership for the development, implementation, and evaluation of a model of optometry training at UniLúrio in Mozambique. There are many composite elements to the development of sustainable eye health structures, and appropriate education for eye health workers remains a key determinant of successful eye care development. However, from the first intake of 16 students, only 9 students graduated from the program, whereas only 6 graduated from the second intake of 24 students. This low graduation rate is attributable to a combination of substandard academic performance and student dropout. The aim of this article was to identify factors affecting the academic performance of optometry students in Mozambique. Methods. Nine lecturers (the entire faculty) and 15 students (9 from the first intake and 6 from the second) were recruited to the study. Clinical competency assessments were carried out on the students, semistructured individual interviews were conducted with the course lecturers, and a course evaluation questionnaire was completed by students. The results were combined to understand the complexities surrounding the optometry student training and performance. Results. One student out of nine from the first intake and three students out of six from the second were graded as competent in all the elements of the refraction clinical competency examination. Analysis of data from the interviews and questionnaire yielded four dominant themes that were viewed as important determinants of student refraction competencies: student learning context, teaching context, clinic conditions and assessment, and the existing operating health care context. Conclusions. The evaluations have helped the university and course partners to better structure the teaching and adapt the learning environments by recommending a preparatory year and a review of the curriculum and clinic structure, implementing more transparent entry requirements, increasing awareness of the program, and improving Internet infrastructure. Copyright © 2015 American Academy of Optometry. | academic performance; course evaluation questionnaire; learning context; lecturer interviews; Mozambique; optometry students; teaching context | Computer aided instruction; Curricula; Education; Education computing; Optometers; Refraction; Surveys; Teaching; Vision; Academic performance; Course evaluations; Learning context; lecturer interviews; Mozambique; Students; clinical competence; curriculum; education; female; human; middle aged; Mozambique; optometry; questionnaire; standards; teaching; Clinical Competence; Curriculum; Educational Measurement; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Mozambique; Optometry; Questionnaires; Teaching | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84904631082 | The dual impact of antiretroviral therapy and sexual behaviour changes on HIV epidemiologic trends in Uganda: A modelling study | Shafer L.A., Nsubuga R.N., Chapman R., O'Brien K., Mayanja B.N., White R.G. | 2014 | Sexually Transmitted Infections | 90 | 5 | 10.1136/sextrans-2013-051219 | Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, GF335, 810 Sherbrook Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P5, Canada; Medical Research Council Unit on AIDS, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom | Shafer, L.A., Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, GF335, 810 Sherbrook Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P5, Canada, Medical Research Council Unit on AIDS, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda; Nsubuga, R.N., Medical Research Council Unit on AIDS, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda; Chapman, R., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; O'Brien, K., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Mayanja, B.N., Medical Research Council Unit on AIDS, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda; White, R.G., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom | Objectives: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) availability in a population may influence risky sexual behaviour. We examine the potential impact of ART on the HIV epidemic, incorporating evidence for the impact that ART may have on risky sexual behaviour. Methods: A mathematical model, parameterised using site-specific data from Uganda and worldwide literature review, was used to examine the likely impact of ART on HIV epidemiologic trends. We varied assumptions about rates of initiating ART, and changes in sexual partner turnover rates. Results: Modelling suggests that ART will reduce HIV incidence over 20 years, and increase prevalence. Even in the optimistic scenario of ART enrollment beginning after just five months of infection (in HIV stage 2), prevalence is estimated to rise from a baseline of 10.5% and 8.3% among women and men, respectively, to at least 12.1% and 10.2%, respectively. It will rise further if sexual disinhibition occurs or infectiousness while on ART is slightly higher (2% female to male, rather than 0.5%). The conditions required for ART to reduce prevalence over this period are likely too extreme to be achievable. For example, if ART enrolment begins in HIV stage 1 (within the first 5 months of infection), and if risky sexual behaviour does not increase, then 3 of our 11 top fitting results estimate a potential drop in HIV prevalence by 2025. If sexual risk taking rises, it will have a large additional impact on expected HIV prevalence. Prevalence will rise despite incidence falling, because ART extends life expectancy. Conclusions: HIV prevalence will rise. Even small increases in partner turnover rates will lead to an additional substantial increase in HIV prevalence. Policy makers are urged to continue HIV prevention activities, including promoting sex education, and to be prepared for a higher than previously suggested number of HIV infected people in need of treatment. | None | adolescent; adult; article; controlled study; epidemic; female; health care policy; high risk behavior; highly active antiretroviral therapy; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; Human immunodeficiency virus prevalence; incidence; infection control; life expectancy; major clinical study; male; mathematical model; medical literature; priority journal; sexual behavior; sexual education; sexuality; Uganda; Africa; Antiretroviral therapy; epidemiologic trends; HIV/AIDS; mathematical modeling; sexual behavior; Uganda; Adolescent; Adult; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Condoms; Female; Health Services Accessibility; HIV Seropositivity; Humans; Incidence; Male; Middle Aged; Models, Theoretical; Policy Making; Prevalence; Risk-Taking; Sex Education; Sexual Behavior; Sexual Partners; Uganda; Viral Load | B&MGF, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; G0501499, MRC, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; G0802414, MRC, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; MR/J005088/1, MRC, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84875447512 | In-vitro evaluation of anthelmintic activity of crude extract of the leaves of Dalbergiella welwitschii | Shade Olusegun-Joseph T., Nwannemka Ofodile L., Oguntoke T. | 2013 | International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences | 5 | SUPPL.1 | None | Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science, Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria | Shade Olusegun-Joseph, T., Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science, Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria; Nwannemka Ofodile, L., Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science, Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria; Oguntoke, T., Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science, Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria | Dalbergiella welwitschii commonly known as West African blackwood belongs to the family fabaceae. In the present research study, crude methanolic extract from leaves of Dalbergiella welwitschii was investigated for its anthelmintic activity against earthworms (Pheretima posthuma) and liver flukes (Fasciola species). Three concentrations (100mg/ml, 200mg/ml and 300mg/ml) of extract were tested in-vitro for anthelmintic potency by determination of time of paralysis and time of death of worms. Albendazole (10mg/ml) was used as standard reference. Results showed that the extract 100mg/ml - 300mg/ml caused paralysis and death of liver flukes between 23:03 to 36:25 minutes and 38:15 to 81:06 minutes respectively. While the standard drug albendazole paralyzed and caused the death of liver flukes after 44:06 and 95:03 minutes respectively. Also, the extract of D. welwitschii 100mg/ml - 300mg/ml showed anthelmintic activity against earthworms by paralyzing and causing it death between 37:46 to 52:20 minutes and 101:8 to 180:10 minutes respectively. While the standard drug albendazole paralyzed and caused the death of earthworms after 150:21 and 280:45 minutes respectively. There was clear indication that anthelmintic activity of methanolic extract of D. welwitschii was more potent against Pheretima posthuma than on Fasciola species and comparable to the standard. This study confirms the traditional claim of Dalbergiella welwitschii as an anthelmintic, as the crude methanolic extract displayed anthelmintic activity against the worms used in this study. | Dalbergiella welwitschii; Death; Fasciola species; Paralysis; Pheretima posthuma | albendazole; alkaloid; dalbergiella welwitschii extract; methanol; phytosterol; plant extract; plant glycoside; saponin; steroid; tannin; unclassified drug; animal experiment; anthelmintic activity; article; controlled study; Dalbergia; dalbergiella welwitschii; death; extraction; Fasciola; Metaphire posthuma; nonhuman; paralysis; phytochemistry; plant leaf; screening | None |
| 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-s2.0-84921057084 | The impact of invasive alien Prosopis species (mesquite) on native plants in different environments in South Africa | Shackleton R.T., Le Maitre D.C., Van Wilgen B.W., Richardson D.M. | 2015 | South African Journal of Botany | 97 | None | 10.1016/j.sajb.2014.12.008 | Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, 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, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa; Le Maitre, D.C., Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa, Natural Resources and the Environment, CSIR, P.O. Box 320, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Van Wilgen, B.W., Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa; Richardson, D.M., Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa | Many Prosopis species have been introduced to South Africa; some taxa and their hybrids have naturalised and become widespread invasive trees. These invasions have detrimental effects on biodiversity, ecosystem services and human livelihoods. Although several studies have documented these impacts, the studies have been limited to single sites or restricted areas. This study assessed the Prosopis population across the full invasive range of the genus in South Africa, and quantified the effects of invasions on native woody and herbaceous species. Basal areas of invasive Prosopis stands reached 9m2/ha, and were on average higher along perennial rivers than along ephemeral rivers (mean basal areas of 3.2 vs. 1.4m2/ha). Native woody species density, basal area, richness and diversity all decreased significantly as the basal area of Prosopis stands increased. For example, up to eight native woody species occurred at basal area of <2m2/ha, this decreased to three native species or fewer at basal areas of >4m2/ha. The cover of native perennial grasses and herbaceous plants declined from 15-20% where the basal area of Prosopis was <2m2/ha to zero where the basal area of Prosopis was >4.5m2/ha. The results highlight the widespread nature of the impacts across all invaded biomes. Current control of Prosopis has had limited success, and alternative, potentially more effective, options are controversial. In the light of the widespread impacts, we recommend that a thorough assessment of the problem be undertaken to inform policy. © 2014 South African Association of Botanists. | Basal area; Biological invasions; Impacts; Invasive plants; Tree invasions | basal area; biodiversity; biome; dicotyledon; ecosystem service; invasiveness; native species; risk assessment; woody plant; South Africa; Poaceae; Prosopis | None |
| None | None | Modelling the impact of vaccination and screening on the dynamics of human papillomavirus infection | Shaban N., Mofi H. | 2014 | International Journal of Mathematical Analysis | 8 | 42625 | 10.12988/ijma.2014.312302 | Department of Mathematics, University of Dar es Salaam, Box 35062, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Box 8944, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Shaban, N., Department of Mathematics, University of Dar es Salaam, Box 35062, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Box 8944, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Mofi, H., Box 8944, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | While human papillomavirus has been a recognized disease for a long time, the control of outbreaks remains a challenge. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of screening and vaccination as control strategies in curtailing the spread of the disease. Using the next generation matrix, the disease free equilibrium has be shown to be asymptotically stable. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis is then per-formed on the key parameters driving HPV dynamics in order to detrmine their relative importance and potential impact in HPV dynamics and to dertmine the impacts of vaccination and screening in the spread of HPV. Numerical results in-dicate that HPV infection can be reduced hwn both interventions, that is screenig and vaccination, are implemented in order to reduce the burden of the disease.Copyright. © 2014 Nyimvua Shaban and Hawa Mofi. | HPV infection; Reproduction number; Screening; Treatment; Vaccination | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84948131601 | Medicines availability at a swaziland hospital and impact on patients | Shabangu K., Suleman F. | 2015 | African Journal of Primary Health Care and Family Medicine | 7 | 1 | 10.4102/phcfm.v7i1.829 | Discipline of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Discipline of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, South Africa | Shabangu, K., Discipline of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Suleman, F., Discipline of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, South Africa | Background: The burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in low- and middle-income countries is increasing. Where patients are expected to make increased out-of-pocket payments this can lead to treatment interruptions or non-adherence. Swaziland is no exception in this regard. Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the availability of medicines for NCDs in a hospital and the impact of out-of-pocket spending by patients for medicines not available at the hospital. Setting: The study was conducted at Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital in Manzini, Swaziland. Methods: Exit interviews to assess availability of a selected basket of medicines were conducted with 300 patients diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension or asthma. The stock status record of a basket of medicines for these conditions in 2012 was assessed at the Central Medical Stores. Results were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20.0. Results: Most of the patients (n = 213; 71%) confirmed not receiving all of their prescribed medicines at each visit to the hospital in the past six months. On average patients spent 10- 50 times more on their medicines at private pharmacies compared to user fees in the health facility. Stock-outs at the Central Medical Stores ranging from 30 days to over 180 days were recorded during the course of the assessment period (12 months), and were found to contribute to inconsistent availability of medicines in the health facility. Conclusion: Out-of-pocket expenditure is common for patients with chronic conditions using this health facility, which suggests the possibility of patients defaulting on treatment due to lack of affordability. © 2015. The Authors. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84864997429 | Genetic evaluation of some newly developed soybean (Glycine max) genotypes in Benue State of Nigeria | Shaahu A., Vange T., Bello L.L. | 2012 | Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences | 82 | 7 | None | University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria | Shaahu, A., University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria; Vange, T., University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria; Bello, L.L., University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria | A field experiment was conducted during 2008-09 at Yandev in Benue state of Nigeria to evaluate 56 soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) genotypes for genotypic and phenotypic variances, coefficient of variance, heritability, genetic advance for yield and its contributing traits. Significant variations among the genotypes, year and year × genotypes were observed for days to maturity, plant height, shattering, pods/plant, lodging. High heritability (broad sense) along with moderate genetic advance in per cent of mean was observed for shattering, days to 50% flowering and seed yield indicating that these characters would be best for phenotypic selection. The study indicated that there is appreciable variability with the genotypes under consideration for genetic advance. The genotypes TGx 1987-64F, TGx 1987-37F, TGx 1987-10F with relatively higher yield for two years are promising varieties for Yandev location. | Genetic variability; Heritability; Soyabean; Yield | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84885524942 | Farmers' perception of impacts of bovine trypanosomosis and tsetse fly in selected districts in Baro-Akobo and Gojeb river basins, Southwestern Ethiopia | Seyoum Z., Terefe G., Ashenafi H. | 2013 | BMC Veterinary Research | 9 | None | 10.1186/1746-6148-9-214 | Unit of Paraclinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Gondar, P.O.Box:196, Gondar, Ethiopia; Department of Pathology and Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia | Seyoum, Z., Unit of Paraclinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Gondar, P.O.Box:196, Gondar, Ethiopia; Terefe, G., Department of Pathology and Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia; Ashenafi, H., Department of Pathology and Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia | Background: Trypanosomosis, via causing anaemia, emaciation, production loss and death, is arguably the most important constraint to livestock development in Sub-Saharan countries, including Ethiopia and its impact in Baro-Akobo and Gojeb river basins (endemic areas for tsetse flies) is unknown. This study was carried out from November 2011 to April 2012 to assess farmers' perception on the presence, impact, management and the need of intervention programs of bovine trypanosomosis and tsetse fly in selected districts located in Baro-Akobo and Gojeb river basins, Southwestern Ethiopia. A standardized questionnaire survey was employed to collect the relevant information from the farmers. Results: The result of this study showed that 94.1% of the respondents considered bovine trypanosomosis as an economically important cattle disease which accounted for 64.6% of the total annual deaths in the year 2011/2012. Estimated mean annual financial loss via mortality due to trypanosomosis was reported to be 3501 Ethiopian Birr (US$200)/household. The reported trypanosomosis suggestive signs were consistent with published reports and farmers strongly associated the occurrence of the disease with biting flies (particularly, tsetse fly). Respondents also explained that the seasonality of the disease and its vectors, i.e. May and June are peak risk months of the year. Chemotherapy was reported the major method to combating the problem, mean frequency of treatment being 5.7 times per animal per year. Because of the economic burden of the disease, farmers expressed their strong interest and support for the establishment of intervention program in their area.Conclusion: The study revealed that livestock keepers are familiar with bovine trypanosomosis and its vectors as well as its impacts. Thus, trypanosomosis and tsetse control strategies should be integrated with the local communities' participation to minimize the impacts of the disease and its vectors in the area. © 2013 Seyoum et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Baro-Akobo; Farmers' perception; Gojeb; River basin; Southwestern Ethiopia; Trypanosomosis | Animalia; Bos; Bovinae; Glossina (genus); Glossinidae; anthelmintic agent; animal; animal husbandry; article; cattle; disease carrier; drug cost; economics; Ethiopia; Glossinidae; nagana; questionnaire; season; statistics; Animal Husbandry; Animals; Anthelmintics; Cattle; Drug Costs; Ethiopia; Insect Vectors; Questionnaires; Seasons; Trypanosomiasis, Bovine; Tsetse Flies | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84887939430 | The impact of a multilateral electricity generation tax on competitiveness in southern africa: A computable general equilibrium analysis using the global trade analysis project | Seymore R., Van Heerden J.H., Mabugu M. | 2013 | Energy and Environment | 24 | 6 | 10.1260/0958-305X.24.6.917 | Department of Economics, University of Pretoria, South Africa | Seymore, R., Department of Economics, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Van Heerden, J.H., Department of Economics, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Mabugu, M., Department of Economics, University of Pretoria, South Africa | The South African Government announced, in the 2008 Budget Review, the intention to tax the generation of electricity from non-renewable sources with 2c/kWh. The intention of the tax is to serve a dual purpose of managing the potential electricity shortages in South Africa and to protect the environment. The primary objective of this paper is to evaluate the impact of an electricity generation tax on the international competitiveness of South Africa. Specifically, different scenarios are assessed to establish whether the loss of competitiveness can be negated through an international, multilateral electricity generation tax. The paper firstly considers the beneficial impact of environmental taxation on the competitiveness of a country. We subsequently apply the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) model to evaluate the impact of an electricity generation tax on the competitiveness of South Africa, given multilateral taxes on SACU, SADC and European Union economies. It is shown that an electricity generation tax will indeed affect the competitiveness of South Africa in a negative way. Furthermore, SACU and SADC wide implementation will marginally reinforce these negative effects. However, a multilateral electricity generation tax across SACU or SADC countries will result in emission reductions, but lower than in the case of a unilateral electricity generation tax. In contrast, the cost to the South African economy could be limited, if the European Union would follow suit and implement an electricity generation tax. One could therefore argue in favour of global rules for environmental taxes, since this will ensure minimum negative competitiveness effects on participating countries. | competitiveness; electricity tax; GTAP | competitiveness; Computable general equilibrium; Electricity generation; Environmental taxation; Environmental taxes; GTAP; International competitiveness; South African government; Competition; Electric generators; Electricity; Emission control; International trade; Taxation; Economic analysis; competitiveness; computable general equilibrium analysis; electricity generation; environmental protection; global trade; potential energy; tax system; South Africa | 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-s2.0-77955398979 | The impact of an environmental tax on electricity generation in South Africa | Seymore R., Adams P.D., Mabugu M., Van Heerden J.H., Blignaut J. | 2010 | Journal for Studies in Economics and Econometrics | 34 | 2 | None | Department of Economics, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Centre of Policy Studies, Monash University, Australia | Seymore, R., Department of Economics, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Adams, P.D., Centre of Policy Studies, Monash University, Australia; Mabugu, M.; Van Heerden, J.H.; Blignaut, J. | In the 2008 budget of the Minister of Finance, the South African Government proposed to impose a 2 cents/kilowatt-hour (c/kWh) tax on the sale of electricity generated from non-renewable sources; this tax is to be collected at source by the producers/generators of electricity. The intention of this measure is to serve a dual purpose of protecting the environment and helping to manage the current electricity supply shortages by reducing demand. The objective here is to evaluate the impact of such an electricity generation tax on the South African, SACU and SADC economies. The paper firstly considers the theoretical foundations of an electricity generation tax supported by international experiences in this regard. This section also contrasts the suitability of a permit with a tax system to achieve CO2 emission reduction. We subsequently apply the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) model to evaluate the impact of an electricity generation tax on the South African, SACU and SADC economies. We simulate the proposed tax as a 10 percent increase in the output price of electricity. We assume a closure rule that allows unskilled labour to migrate and a limited skilled workforce. As expected, the electricity generation tax will reduce demand. Due to the decrease in domestic demand, export volume increases and import volume decreases, this is despite a weaker terms of trade. We also found that unemployment for unskilled labour increases and wages of skilled workers are expected to decrease. A unilateral electricity generation tax will benefit other SACU and SADC countries through an improvement in relative competitiveness, as shown by the improvement of the terms of trade for these regions. If, however, the benefits of pollution abatement are internalised, then electricity generation tax is expected to yield a positive effect on the South African economy. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84857839731 | Large herbivore population performance and climate in a South African semi-arid savanna | Seydack A.H., Grant C.C., Smit I.P., Vermeulen W.J., Baard J., Zambatis N. | 2012 | Koedoe | 54 | 1 | 10.4102/koedoe.v54i1.1047 | Scientific Services, Garden Route National Park, South African National Parks, South Africa; Scientific Services, Kruger National Park, South African National Parks, South Africa | Seydack, A.H., Scientific Services, Garden Route National Park, South African National Parks, South Africa; Grant, C.C., Scientific Services, Kruger National Park, South African National Parks, South Africa; Smit, I.P., Scientific Services, Kruger National Park, South African National Parks, South Africa; Vermeulen, W.J., Scientific Services, Garden Route National Park, South African National Parks, South Africa; Baard, J., Scientific Services, Garden Route National Park, South African National Parks, South Africa; Zambatis, N., Scientific Services, Kruger National Park, South African National Parks, South Africa | Long-term population performance trends of eight large herbivore species belonging to groups of disparate foraging styles were studied in the semi-arid savanna of the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Over the past century the number of bulk feeders (buffalo, waterbuck, blue wildebeest and plains zebra) had increased towards comparatively high population densities, whereas population numbers of selectively feeding antelope species (sable antelope, roan antelope, tsessebe and eland) declined progressively. Detailed analyses revealed that population numbers of buffalo and waterbuck fluctuated in association with food quantity determined by rainfall. Population performance ratings (1944-2003) of the species for which forage quality was important (blue wildebeest, zebra and selective grazers) were correlated negatively with minimum temperature and positively with dry-season rainfall. Interpretation according to a climate-vegetation response model suggested that acclimation of forage plants to increasing temperature had resulted in temperature-enhanced plant productivity, initially increasing food availability and supporting transient synchronous increases in population abundance of both blue wildebeest and zebra, and selective grazers. As acclimation of plants to concurrently rising minimum (nocturnal) temperature (T min) took effect, adjustments in metabolic functionality occurred involving accelerated growth activity at the cost of storage-based metabolism. Growth-linked nitrogen dilution and reduced carbon-nutrient quality of forage then resulted in phases of subsequently declining herbivore populations. Over the long term (1910-2010), progressive plant functionality shifts towards accelerated metabolic growth rather than storage priority occurred in response to T min rising faster than maximum temperature (T max), thereby cumulatively compromising the carbonnutrient quality of forage, a key resource for selective grazers. The results of analyses thus revealed consistency between herbivore population trends and levels of forage quantity and quality congruent with expected plant metabolic responses to climate effects. Thus, according to the climate-vegetation response model, climate effects were implicated as the ultimate cause of large herbivore population performance in space and over time. Conservation implications: In its broadest sense, the objective of this study was to contribute towards the enhanced understanding of landscape-scale functioning of savanna systems with regard to the interplay between climate, vegetation and herbivore population dynamics. © 2012. The Authors. | None | abundance; foraging behavior; herbivore; population density; population growth; savanna; semiarid region; vegetation; Kruger National Park; South Africa; Connochaetes taurinus; Equus burchellii; Equus subg. Hippotigris; Hippotragus; Kobus ellipsiprymnus; Tragelaphus oryx | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84951090072 | TrailMaking Test performance contributes to subjective judgment of visual efficiency in older adults | Setti A., Loughman J., Savva G.M., Kenny R. | 2015 | PeerJ | 2015 | 12 | 10.7717/peerj.1407 | The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Optometry Department, College of Sciences and Health, Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin, Ireland; African Vision Research Institute, Faculty of Sciences and Health, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South Africa; Mercer's Institute for Successful Ageing, St. James Hospital, Dublin, Ireland | Setti, A., The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland, School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Loughman, J., Optometry Department, College of Sciences and Health, Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin, Ireland, African Vision Research Institute, Faculty of Sciences and Health, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South Africa; Savva, G.M., The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; Kenny, R., The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland, Mercer's Institute for Successful Ageing, St. James Hospital, Dublin, Ireland | Introduction. The determinant factors that influence self-reported quality of vision have yet to be fully elucidated. This study evaluated a range of contextual information, established psychophysical tests, and in particular, a series of cognitive tests as potentially novel determinant factors. Materials & Methods. Community dwelling adults (aged 50+) recruited to Wave 1 of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, excluding those registered blind, participated in this study (N = 5,021). Self-reports of vision were analysed in relation to visual acuity and contrast sensitivity, ocular pathology, visual (Choice Response Time task; TrailMaking Test) and global cognition. Contextual factors such as having visited an optometrist and wearing glasses were also considered. Ordinal logistic regression was used to determine univariate andmultivariate associations. Results and Discussion. Poor Trail Making Test performance (Odds ratio, OR = 1.36), visual acuity (OR = 1.72) and ocular pathology (OR = 2.25) were determinant factors for poor versus excellent vision in self-reports. Education, wealth, age, depressive symptoms and general cognitive fitness also contributed to determining self-reported vision. Conclusions. TrailMaking Test contribution to self-reports may capture higher level visual processing and should be considered when using self-reports to assess vision and its role in cognitive and functional health. © 2015 Setti et al. | Ocular pathology; Self-report; Trail making test; Visual acuity; Visual search | adult; Article; cognition; cognitive function test; contrast sensitivity; depression; female; human; interview; major clinical study; male; photopic vision; psychophysiology; quality of life; response time; trail making test; vision test; visual acuity; visual efficiency; visual field | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84949115102 | High-performance towards Cr(VI) removal using multi-active sites of polypyrrole-graphene oxide nanocomposites: Batch and column studies | Setshedi K.Z., Bhaumik M., Onyango M.S., Maity A. | 2015 | Chemical Engineering Journal | 262 | None | 10.1016/j.cej.2014.10.034 | Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Chemistry, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa; DST/CSIR National Centre for Nanostructured Materials, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, South Africa | Setshedi, K.Z., Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Pretoria, South Africa, Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria, South Africa; Bhaumik, M., Department of Chemistry, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa; Onyango, M.S., Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria, South Africa; Maity, A., DST/CSIR National Centre for Nanostructured Materials, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria, South Africa, Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, South Africa | Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] adsorption onto polypyrrole graphene oxide nanocomposite (PPy-GO NC) From aqueous solutions was explored using batch and packed-bed column modes. The performance of the PPy-GO NC for Cr(VI) removal was evaluated as a function of solution pH, initial Cr(VI) concentration, temperature, bed mass and time. The characterization of PPy-GO NC using HR-TEM, FE-SEM and Raman spectroscopy confirmed that graphite was successfully exfoliated to thin layered graphene sheets and also ensured the presence of the PPy in the PPy-GO NC. Meanwhile the zeta potential data showed that the point of zero charge of the nanocomposite was at pH 6.2. Batch sorption isotherm data at optimum solution pH of 2, was satisfactorily described by the Langmuir isotherm model with a maximum sorption capacity of 625. mg/g at 25. °C, while the kinetic data fitted well with the pseudo second order kinetic model. Sorption of Cr(VI) onto PPy-GO NC in binary ions systems was also evaluated and results showed that the presence of co-existing ions had no effect on Cr(VI) removal. Expressed through breakthrough curves, the packed-bed Cr(VI) sorption data showed consistency with the ideal s-shape. Moreover, a large volume of Cr(VI) contaminated water (64.08. L) was successfully treated to below allowable discharge limit at low influent Cr(VI) concentration (10. mg/L) using 2. g of PPy-GO NC at a flow rate of 3. mL/min. Breakthrough data were successfully described by the Thomas and Yoon-Nelson models. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. | Breakthrough; Graphene oxide; Kinetics; Nanocomposites; Polypyrrole | Adsorption isotherms; Enzyme kinetics; Graphene; Isotherms; Kinetics; Nanocomposites; Packed beds; Polypyrroles; Sorption; Water pollution; Allowable discharge limits; Breakthrough; Cr contaminated water; Graphene oxide nanocomposites; Graphene oxides; Langmuir isotherm models; Point of zero charge; Pseudo-second-order kinetic models; Chromium compounds | 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-s2.0-77958454949 | Targeting of early to intermediate maize hybrids for yield performance and yield stability using SREG model | Setimela P.S., Crossa J., Bänziger M. | 2010 | South African Journal of Plant and Soil | 27 | 3 | None | International Maize Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Harare, Zimbabwe; CIMMYT Km, Carretera Mexico-Veracruz, EL Batan, D.F, Mexico | Setimela, P.S., International Maize Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Harare, Zimbabwe; Crossa, J., CIMMYT Km, Carretera Mexico-Veracruz, EL Batan, D.F, Mexico; Bänziger, M., CIMMYT Km, Carretera Mexico-Veracruz, EL Batan, D.F, Mexico | The effectiveness of targeting and predicting maize (Zea mays.L) hybrid performance is difficult when the magnitude of genotype x environment (GE) interaction and yield prediction cannot be interpreted and is only based on genotypes (G) and GE means. The traditional analysis of variance (ANOVA) is not sufficient in predicting and giving information into the patterns of genotypes and environments that give rise to GE interaction. The objectives of this study were to show the usefulness of G plus GE interaction (GGE) using the properties of GGE biplot based on the site regression (SREG) model analysis of a biplot in predicting yield performance and stability of early to intermediate maturing hybrids (EIHYB) grown in southern Africa. The SREG analysis model was based on regional trial data of EIHYB from three seasons (2005 - 2007) across 30 environments under four different management practices: well fertilized/rain fed conditions, managed nitrogen stress, managed drought stress, and managed low pH stress. GGE biplots were constructed using the first two principal components (PC1 and PC2) derived from singular value decomposition of environment-centered multi-environmental trials. The PC1 scores of the hybrids and the environments were plotted against their respective PC2 scores to effectively show mean performance and stability for grain yield across years and environments; discriminativeness vs. representativeness of test locations across the years and which-won-where. The SREG model showed that maize hybrids were under major environmental and GE interactions. In spite of large variation from year to year maize hybrids responded positively to better environmental conditions relative to grain yield performance and key environmental patterns could be established. | Genotype x environment interactions; GGE biplots; Maize hybrids; Site regression model (SREG) | agricultural management; crop yield; drought stress; genotype-environment interaction; hybrid; maize; management practice; nitrogen; nutrient availability; principal component analysis; regression analysis; seasonality; variance analysis; yield response; Southern Africa; Zea; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84940561286 | The relationship between leadership styles, innovation and organisational performance: A systematic review | Sethibe T., Steyn R. | 2015 | South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences | 18 | 3 | 10.17159/2222-3436/2015/v18n3a3 | School for Business Leadership, University of South Africa, South Africa | Sethibe, T., School for Business Leadership, University of South Africa, South Africa; Steyn, R., School for Business Leadership, University of South Africa, South Africa | This paper is an attempt to consolidate the published scientific knowledge about the impact of leadership styles on the relationship between innovation and organisational performance. Concepts, statements and conceptual frameworks were used as structure to analyse the body of scientific knowledge. After consulting 31 major research databases using the systematic literature review methodology, only seven journals articles that examined the link between leadership, innovation and organisational performance were identified. The synthesis of the journal articles revealed (a) that consensus exists among researchers as far as the relevant concepts are concerned; (b) that most agree on the definition of leadership and innovation but that a uniform understanding of what constitutes organisational performance is lacking; and (c) that conceptual models are too simplistic and do not consider mediator variables or multiple financial criteria measures. The findings further reveal that innovation is significantly and positively related to superior organisational performance, and that, although transformational leadership style is significantly and positively related to innovation, transactional leadership style is more appropriate when the aim is to instil a culture of innovation. Transformational leadership style, by contrast, is mostly associated with organisational performance. In addition, the findings further reveal that none of the studies investigate the mediating effect of the nature of innovation (incremental and radical) on the relationship between leadership and organisational performance, and that none of the studies use the objective measures of financial performance such as ROA, ROE, price/earnings (P/E) and Tobin's Q calculated from annual financial reports. © 2015 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. | Organisational innovation; Organisational performance; References; Systematic review; Transactional leadership; Transformational leadership | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84894242555 | Evaluation of asthma control using Global Initiative for Asthma criteria and the Asthma Control Test in Uganda | Serugendo A.N., Kirenga B.J., Hawkes M., Nakiyingi L., Worodria W., Okot-Nwang M. | 2014 | International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease | 18 | 3 | 10.5588/ijtld.13.0699 | Pulmonology Unit, Department of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, PO Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada | Serugendo, A.N., Pulmonology Unit, Department of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, PO Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Kirenga, B.J., Pulmonology Unit, Department of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, PO Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Hawkes, M., University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Nakiyingi, L., Pulmonology Unit, Department of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, PO Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Worodria, W., Pulmonology Unit, Department of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, PO Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Okot-Nwang, M., Pulmonology Unit, Department of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, PO Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda | SETTING: Chest clinic of a national referral hospital in a resource-limited country. OBJECTIVES: To determine the level of asthma control, factors influencing asthma control and the accuracy of the Asthma Control Test (ACT). DESIGN: We collected demographic and clinical data and administered the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) criteria test and the ACT. The proportions of patients in each of the GINA and ACT control categories (uncontrolled, partly controlled and well controlled) were calculated. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify factors associated with asthma control. Diagnostic test parameters for the ACT using GINA criteria as gold standard were calculated. RESULTS: Of 88 asthma patients enrolled, 67% were female. The median age was 34 years (range 12-85). Using GINA criteria, respectively 59 (67%), 17 (19%) and 12 (14%) patients had uncontrolled, partly controlled and well controlled asthma; per ACT, the corresponding figures were respectively 40% (35/88), 43% (38/88) and 17% (15/88). ACT sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive and negative predictive value were respectively 95%, 92%, 99% and 73%. Nasal congestion was associated with uncontrolled asthma (P = 0.031). CONCLUSION: The majority of the patients at the M ulago Hospital have inadequately controlled asthma, and this is associated with nasal congestion. A simple symptom questionnaire, the ACT, can correctly classify asthma control. © 2014 The Union. | Asthma; Asthma control; Asthma Control Test; Spirometry | antiasthmatic agent; adolescent; adult; aged; asthma; child; cross-sectional study; drug effects; female; human; lung; male; middle aged; multivariate analysis; pathophysiology; patient referral; predictive value; questionnaire; reproducibility; severity of illness index; spirometry; treatment outcome; Uganda; validation study; very elderly; young adult; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-Asthmatic Agents; Asthma; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Lung; Male; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Predictive Value of Tests; Referral and Consultation; Reproducibility of Results; Severity of Illness Index; Spirometry; Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatment Outcome; Uganda; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33847764042 | Effect of ectoparasites on quality of pickled skins and their impact on the tanning industries in Amhara regional state, Ethiopia | Sertse T., Wossene A. | 2007 | Small Ruminant Research | 69 | 42372 | 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2005.12.011 | Department of Veterinary Service, Amhara Regional State, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Addis Ababa University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 34, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia | Sertse, T., Department of Veterinary Service, Amhara Regional State, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Wossene, A., Addis Ababa University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 34, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia | Five groups of 20 infested skins with different ectoparasites and different levels of infestation and two groups of negative control skins from sheep and goats were examined for their corresponding defects at the pickled or wet blue stage of processing in tanneries. In addition, an analysis of skin defects was made from randomly selected processed skins at Kombolcha and Dessei tanneries. The prevalence of 'ekek' (cockle) at the pickled stage in Damalina ovis and Melophagus ovinus-infested sheep skins were 100 and 95%, respectively. Pickled goat skins affected by sarcoptic mange and Linognathus spp. were 100 and 0% positive for 'ekek' (cockle) lesion, respectively. The prevalence in control sheep and goat skins were 15 and 0%, respectively. There was a strong association (p < 0.05) between 'ekek' and infestation with M. ovinus and D. ovis in sheep and sarcoptic mange in goats. Follow-up of randomly selected 1000 pickled sheep skins and 1000 wet blue goat skins revealed that 71% of pickled sheep and 42% of wet blue goat skins had 'ekek' lesions. As the proportion of 'ekek' increased, the quality of graded skins decreased both in sheep and goats. Both on pickled sheep and wet blue goat skins, scratch and scars were found to have a strong association (p < 0.05) with 'ekek'. The annual economic loses in 2002/2003 due to 'ekek' at the two tanneries was estimated to be 1.6 million USD for pickled sheep and 0.6 million USD for wet blue goat skins. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Ectoparasites; Ethiopia; Skin defects; Small ruminants; Tannery | Bovidae; Capra hircus; Linognathus; Melophagus ovinus; Ovis; Ovis aries | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77953364241 | Innovative performance in African technical projects-A multi-level study | Seriki H.T., Hoegl M., Parboteeah K.P. | 2010 | Journal of World Business | 45 | 3 | 10.1016/j.jwb.2009.09.010 | Cielarko - International Management Consultants, 2 Hampstead House, 1 Fraser Road, Muizenberg 7945, Cape Town, South Africa; WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management, Chair of Leadership and Human Resource Management, Burgplatz 2, 56179 Vallendar, Germany; Management Department, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater, Whitewater, WI 53190, United States | Seriki, H.T., Cielarko - International Management Consultants, 2 Hampstead House, 1 Fraser Road, Muizenberg 7945, Cape Town, South Africa; Hoegl, M., WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management, Chair of Leadership and Human Resource Management, Burgplatz 2, 56179 Vallendar, Germany; Parboteeah, K.P., Management Department, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater, Whitewater, WI 53190, United States | In this paper, we discuss how the societal context of sub-Saharan Africa is related to the innovative performance of project teams. We developed propositions based on previous literature while also using insights from experts from the sub-Saharan section of Africa. We then tested these propositions using a case based approach. Specifically, we examined the propositions through interviews with team leaders in three companies located in sub-Saharan Africa (two located in Nigeria and one located in South Africa). This empirical examination of real-life project teams in sub-Saharan Africa led us to an improved understanding concerning the consequences of African societal characteristics for the innovative performance of teams. Essentially, our findings suggest that managers of African projects need to adapt their methods (1) to incorporate and utilize the diversity inherent in society, (2) to (re)direct the focus of entire projects towards creating value for human beings, and (3) to maintain acceptable and security-giving hierarchies. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of our findings. © 2009 Elsevier Inc. | Diversity; Innovation; Project management; Sub-Saharan Africa; Teamwork | None | None |
| 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-s2.0-84859843067 | 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-s2.0-84897141161 | Proposed model of the impact of strategic leadership on operational strategy and organisational performance of business organisations in South Africa | Serfontein J.J., Hough J. | 2011 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 8 | 3 E | None | Department of Business Management, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa | Serfontein, J.J.; Hough, J., Department of Business Management, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa | Since the mid-1980's 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 proposes a model towards the effective implementation of strategic leadership processes which can help business and organisational leaders with the successful implementation of high performance strategic leadership practices. This research also pinpointed theoretical and substantively meaningful endogeneous organisational capabilities that mediated this relationship and exogenous organisational factors that moderated this relationship. | Performance; South Africa; Strategic leadership | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77956627853 | Poor performance of hepatitis C antibody tests in hospital patients in Uganda | Seremba E., Ocama P., Opio C.K., Thomas D.L., Yuan H.J., Attar N., Lee W.M. | 2010 | Journal of Medical Virology | 82 | 8 | 10.1002/jmv.21817 | Makerere University Medical School, Kampala, Uganda; Johns Hopkins Medical School, Baltimore, MD, United States; Southwestern Medical School, University of Texas, Dallas, TX, United States | Seremba, E., Makerere University Medical School, Kampala, Uganda; Ocama, P., Makerere University Medical School, Kampala, Uganda; Opio, C.K., Makerere University Medical School, Kampala, Uganda; Thomas, D.L., Makerere University Medical School, Kampala, Uganda; Yuan, H.J., Johns Hopkins Medical School, Baltimore, MD, United States; Attar, N., Southwestern Medical School, University of Texas, Dallas, TX, United States; Lee, W.M., Southwestern Medical School, University of Texas, Dallas, TX, United States | Most hepatitis C testing in Uganda is performed using commercial rapid strip assays (RSA) to detect antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV), rather than enzyme immunoassays (EIA). The prevalence of hepatitis C antibodies in a Ugandan hospital population was determined using both methods to test their accuracy using nucleic acid testing (NAT) as a reference. Sera from 380 consecutive hospitalized Ugandan patients were tested for anti-HCV using an RSA in Uganda, with subsequent automated third-generation EIA testing in the United States, followed by NAT. Recombinant immunoblot assays (RIBA) were used as a supplementary test to detect anti-HCV epitopes. Overall, anti-HCV was detected in 48/380 (13%) by one or both antibody tests. Anti-HCV was detected in 19 (5.0%) patients by RSA and in 33 (8.7%) patients by EIA; only four patients were anti-HCV positive by both methods. Fourteen of the 48 anti-HCV positive patients had detectable serum HCV RNA, 7 each by bDNA assay or by PCR. RSA detected only 7 of 14 HCV RNA positive sera. Of 29 RNA negative but anti-HCV positive patients tested by RIBA, only two were anti-HCV positive; 27 were anti-HCV negative or indeterminate. Anti-HCV testing by RSA and/or EIA was neither sensitive nor specific for detection of ongoing HCV infection in hospitalized Ugandan patients. Our findings underscore the importance of confirmatory nucleic acid testing, which, despite its increased cost, appears essential to manage African patients with HCV. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. | Anti-HCV; Enzyme immunoassay; Nucleic acid testing; Rapid slide test | hepatitis C antibody; virus antibody; virus RNA; hepatitis C antibody; adolescent; adult; aged; antibody blood level; article; assay; cohort analysis; cross-sectional study; diagnostic accuracy; DNA determination; female; hepatitis C; Hepatitis C virus; hospitalization; human; immunoassay; immunoblotting; major clinical study; male; polymerase chain reaction; rapid strip assay; recombinant immunoblot assay; sensitivity and specificity; seroprevalence; Uganda; United States; West Nile flavivirus; blood; comparative study; evaluation study; hepatitis C; hospital; immunoassay; middle aged; procedures; very elderly; young adult; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Hepatitis C; Hepatitis C Antibodies; Hospitals; Humans; Immunoassay; Male; Middle Aged; Sensitivity and Specificity; Uganda; Young Adult; Hepatitis C virus; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Hepatitis C; Hepatitis C Antibodies; Hospitals; Humans; Immunoassay; Male; Middle Aged; Sensitivity and Specificity; Uganda; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84862072624 | Turfgrass performance of diploid buffalograss [buchloe dactyloides (Nutt.) Engelm.] half-sib populations | Serba D.D., Gulsen O., Abeyo B.G., Amundsen K.L., Lee D.J., Baenziger P.S., Heng-Moss T.M., Eskridge K.M., Shearman R.C. | 2012 | HortScience | 47 | 2 | None | Forage Improvement Division, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc., Ardmore, OK 73401, United States; Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Erciyes University, Melikgazi, 38039 Kayseri, Turkey; CIMMYT, ILRI Campus, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 377H Plant Science Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583, United States; Department of Entomology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, United States; Department of Statistics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, United States; Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, United States | Serba, D.D., Forage Improvement Division, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc., Ardmore, OK 73401, United States; Gulsen, O., Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Erciyes University, Melikgazi, 38039 Kayseri, Turkey; Abeyo, B.G., CIMMYT, ILRI Campus, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Amundsen, K.L., Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 377H Plant Science Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583, United States; Lee, D.J., Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 377H Plant Science Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583, United States; Baenziger, P.S., Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 377H Plant Science Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583, United States; Heng-Moss, T.M., Department of Entomology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, United States; Eskridge, K.M., Department of Statistics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, United States; Shearman, R.C., Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, United States | Hybridization and selection has been one of the methods used to generate turf grass cultivars in buffalo grass improvement. Three half-sib populations were developed by crossing three buffalo grass female genotypes, NE 3296, NE 2768, and NE 2769, with NE 2871, a male genotype, to 1) investigate the pattern of genetic variability generated for turf grass characteristics through hybridization; 2) assess the effect of parental change on the level of genetic variability generated in a buffalo grass diploid population; and 3) predict the performance of a progeny generated from two heterozygous parents for turf grass performance. The four parents and 20 random F1 progeny selected from each population were established in 2006 at the John Seaton Anderson Turf grass Research Facility located near Mead, NE. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used with the progeny nested in the crosses. A visual rating scale of 1-9 was used to evaluate the population. Mean population lateral spread, genetic color, density, and turf grass quality from early summer to fall ranged from 3.5 to 4.5, 7.1 to 7.9, 6.9 to 8.1, and 5.2 and 6.8, respectively. There were significant differences among the crosses and the parents for all the traits studied except quality in June and August. The progeny nested within crosses differed for turf grass genetic color and quality. Best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) indicated a high improvement potential for turf grass lateral spread and spring density in NE 2768 × NE 2871 and for turf grass genetic color in NE 3296 × NE 2871. From these findings, it can be concluded that hybridization breeding is a worthwhile approach for generating and identifying trans gressive segregants for specific buffalo grass traits. | Genetic color; Lateral spread; Quality; Spring density; Turf grass | Buchloe; Buchloe dactyloides; Poaceae; Urochloa mutica | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84907289436 | Impact of customer-supplier relationships and facilitation of credit on development of Micro Enterprises in KZN rural areas | Sepeame I.J., de Beer M. | 2014 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 5 | 20 | 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n20p819 | Department of Entrepreneurial Studies and Management, Durban University of Technology, Durban, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa | Sepeame, I.J., Department of Entrepreneurial Studies and Management, Durban University of Technology, Durban, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa; de Beer, M., Department of Entrepreneurial Studies and Management, Durban University of Technology, Durban, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa | The aim of the research is to identify the impact of customer-supplier relationships in terms of facilitation of credit, on the development of Micro Enterprises in the Sobonakhona Makhanya Tribal Area. Micro enterprises in three rural villages-Adams Mission, Madundube, and Umbumbulu were identified as the target population. Three research assistants using a convenient sampling method selected the research respondents. This is a qualitative study, which entailed an empirical research by means of a questionnaire as a measuring instrument. It was found that the nature of the relationship between the suppliers and institutions and Micro Enterprises influenced their accessibility to credit facilities. Most were rejected credit while some did not apply because they assumed that their application would be rejected. It was found, however, that those that applied to wholesalers for credit were successful. The rejections of the respondents’ applications were mostly based on their inability to provide sufficient collateral and business plans. Most importantly, those respondents that did obtain credit, experienced positive changes as a result of their increased facilities. © MCSER-Mediterranean Center of Social and Educational Research. | Credit facilities; Customer-supplier; Development; Micro Enterprises; Relationships | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84947273612 | The impact on the psychological contract of differentiating employees into talent pools | Seopa N., Wöcke A., Leeds C. | 2015 | Career Development International | 20 | 7 | 10.1108/CDI-03-2015-0033 | Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria, Sandton, South Africa | Seopa, N., Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria, Sandton, South Africa; Wöcke, A., Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria, Sandton, South Africa; Leeds, C., Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria, Sandton, South Africa | Purpose – This research stems from the need by organisations to retain their key talent in the context of the change in the psychological contract manifested from the emergence of boundaryless careers. Many organisations have segmented their workforce to develop talent pools of high potential employees to meet the organisation’s current and future critical skills needs. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of inclusion or exclusion in the talent pool on the psychological contract. Design/methodology/approach – The study presents findings from 195 employees from three different organisations, about 50 per cent of whom were in talent pools. Various instruments in the literature were used to measure the psychological contract and the other constructs of organisational citizenship behaviour, trust and turnover intention of employees in the talent pools in comparison to those not in talent pools. Findings – The study shows that being part of the talent pool has a positive impact on the relational psychological contract and organisational commitment but does not necessarily translate into trust and the intention to stay with organisations. Research limitations/implications – The study was conducted in three large firms with well-developed and entrenched talent management strategies. The results may be different in firms with less formal talent management strategies or those firms that do not use talent pools. Despite these limitations, the study is valuable in showing the differences in relationships between employees recognised as more important and those not recognised in the same way. Practical implications – Talent strategy should not ignore employees not in talent pools as they have shown that they display an aspiration to build long-term relationships with their employers and could represent a future source of potential. It is recommended that organisations should continue to segment their workforce to determine who should form part of the talent pool. Social implications – The results indicate the high complexity in understanding contemporary employment relationships and could be closely related to the previous findings on trust. Despite being identified as potential employees for development into linchpin and pivotal positions in their organisation, these employees were no different to employees not in talent pools when it came to trust and the intention to leave their organisation. Originality/value – Employees in talent pools and those not in talent pools were similar in their intention to leave their organisations in circumstances where their expectations were not met. This finding is contrary to the expectation and indicates that relational psychological contracts do not have a moderating impact on the intention to leave where expectations are not met. © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Boundaryless career; Careers; Employee development; Labour mobility; Notice to quit; Psychological contracts; Talent pool | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84893671228 | The impact of legislative framework governing waste management and collection in South Africa | Sentime K. | 2014 | African Geographical Review | 33 | 1 | 10.1080/19376812.2013.847253 | Department of Development Studies, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa | Sentime, K., Department of Development Studies, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa | The legislative framework governing waste management defines the state as the key player and does not recognize informal waste collection in South Africa. There is inconsistency between this framework and the practice on the ground regarding waste collection. While the framework puts the state at the centre, the reality on the ground is that of the lack of specific policy directed at waste recycling. Thus, this gap which was supposed to be overcome by the state has been filled by an informal waste collection enterprise. This paper carries out a critical review of the legislative framework and reveals how it fails to take into account the reality of informal waste collectors who need to be empowered and formalized as they cover for the limits and failures of the state in Greater Johannesburg. The data for this research were collected through questionnaire survey, focus group discussion as well as interview in order to understand informal waste collectors social profile, types of waste collected, recycling approaches, challenges facing them as well as their spending patterns. The results show informal waste collectors in Braamfontein, Killarney and Newtown suburb of Johannesburg, who originated locally from South Africa and from other neighbouring countries such as Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The types of waste collected include: metal, plastic and glass as well as paper, but this varied from one area to another. The findings here are consitent with research elsewhere which shows that if well organized and supported by government and other stakeholders, waste collection and management can contribute positively in many aspects including jobs creation, poverty reduction, conserve natural resources and protect the environment as well as in empowering grassroots investment. © 2013 The African Specialty Group of the Association of American Geographers. | Informal waste collection; Legislative framework; Urban poverty; Waste management | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84887852698 | Dyeing performance of aqueous extract and flavanone glycosides from the flowers of Butea monosperma (Lam.) Kuntze | Semwal R.B., Semwal D.K., Badoni P.P., Kapoor P. | 2014 | Records of Natural Products | 8 | 1 | None | Department of Chemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh-160014, India; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria-0001, South Africa; Department of Chemistry, HNB Garhwal University, Pauri Campus 646001, Uttarakhand, India | Semwal, R.B., Department of Chemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh-160014, India, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria-0001, South Africa; Semwal, D.K., Department of Chemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh-160014, India, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria-0001, South Africa; Badoni, P.P., Department of Chemistry, HNB Garhwal University, Pauri Campus 646001, Uttarakhand, India; Kapoor, P., Department of Chemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh-160014, India | Aqueous extract and two flavanone glycosides named 5,7-dihydroxy-4'-methoxy flavanone-5-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(l-→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside (1) and 5,5'-dihydroxy-4',7-dimethoxyflavanone-5,5'-di-0-β-D-glucopyranoside (2) obtained from the flowers of Butea monosperma were studied for evaluate their dyeing properties on cotton fibers. The stem bark of Myrica esculenta was used as natural mordant whereas SnCl2 and FeCl3 as synthetic mordants. The combination of dye with mordants showed interesting shades with excellent washing and light fastness properties. © 2014 ACG Publications. All rights reserved. | Butea monosperma; Flavanone glycosides; Light fastness; Myrica esculenta; Natural dyes | 5,5' dihydroxy 4',7 dimethoxyflavanone 5,5' di o beta dextro glucopyranoside; 5,7 dihydroxy 4' methoxyflavanone 5 beta dextro glucopyranosy (1-2) beta dextro glucopyranoside; dye; flavanone; natural product; unclassified drug; absorption; article; bark; Butea monosperma; chemical analysis; chemical structure; cotton; flower; hydrolysis; methanolysis; plant stem; temperature | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77957120419 | In vivo evaluation of the biodistribution and safety of PLGA nanoparticles as drug delivery systems | Semete B., Booysen L., Lemmer Y., Kalombo L., Katata L., Verschoor J., Swai H.S. | 2010 | Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine | 6 | 5 | 10.1016/j.nano.2010.02.002 | Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Polymers and Bioceramics, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Pharmaceutics, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Department of Biochemistry, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Semete, B., Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Polymers and Bioceramics, Pretoria, South Africa; Booysen, L., Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Polymers and Bioceramics, Pretoria, South Africa, Department of Pharmaceutics, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Lemmer, Y., Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Polymers and Bioceramics, Pretoria, South Africa, Department of Biochemistry, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Kalombo, L., Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Polymers and Bioceramics, Pretoria, South Africa; Katata, L., Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Polymers and Bioceramics, Pretoria, South Africa; Verschoor, J., Department of Biochemistry, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Swai, H.S., Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Polymers and Bioceramics, Pretoria, South Africa | The remarkable physicochemical properties of particles in the nanometer range have been proven to address many challenges in the field of science. However, the possible toxic effects of these particles have raised some concerns. The aim of this article is to evaluate the effects of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles in vitro and in vivo compared to industrial nanoparticles of a similar size range such as zinc oxide, ferrous oxide, and fumed silica. An in vitro cytotoxicity study was conducted to assess the cell viability following exposure to PLGA nanoparticles. Viability was determined by means of a WST assay, wherein cell viability of greater than 75% was observed for both PLGA and amorphous fumed silica particles and ferrous oxide, but was significantly reduced for zinc oxide particles. In vivo toxicity assays were performed via histopathological evaluation, and no specific anatomical pathological changes or tissue damage was observed in the tissues of Balb/C mice. The extent of tissue distribution and retention following oral administration of PLGA particles was analyzed for 7 days. After 7 days, the particles remained detectable in the brain, heart, kidney, liver, lungs, and spleen. The results show that a mean percentage (40.04%) of the particles were localized in the liver, 25.97% in the kidney, and 12.86% in the brain. The lowest percentage was observed in the spleen. Thus, based on these assays, it can be concluded that the toxic effects observed with various industrial nanoparticles will not be observed with particles made of synthetic polymers such as PLGA when applied in the field of nanomedicine. Furthermore, the biodistribution of the particles warrants surface modification of the particles to avoid higher particle localization in the liver. From the Clinical Editor: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles in vitro and in vivo compared to industrial nanoparticles including zinc oxide, ferrous oxide, and fumed silica. The authors concluded that the toxic effects observed with various industrial nanoparticles is unlikely to be observed with particles made of PLGA. The biodistribution of these particles warrants surface modification to avoid particle accumulation in the liver. © 2010 Elsevier Inc. | Biodistribution; Nanomedicine; Nanoparticles; PLGA; Toxicity | BALB/c mice; Biodistributions; Cell viability; Drug delivery system; Fumed silica particles; Fumed silicas; In-vitro; In-vivo; Mean percentage; Nano meter range; Nanomedicines; Oral administration; Particle accumulation; Pathological changes; Physicochemical property; PLGA; PLGA nanoparticles; Poly-lactide-co-glycolide; Size ranges; Surface modification; Synthetic polymers; Tissue damage; Tissue distributions; Toxic effect; Zinc oxide particles; Assays; Drug delivery; Industrial poisons; Industry; Iron oxides; Liver; Medical nanotechnology; Silica; Ternary systems; Tissue; Toxicity; Zinc; Zinc oxide; Nanoparticles; ferrous oxide; iron derivative; polyglactin; silicon dioxide; unclassified drug; zinc oxide; animal experiment; animal model; animal tissue; article; brain; cell viability; controlled study; cytotoxicity; drug delivery system; drug safety; female; heart; histopathology; human; human cell; in vitro study; kidney; liver; lung; mouse; nanomedicine; nonhuman; particle size; spleen; tissue distribution; tissue injury; Animals; Caco-2 Cells; Cell Survival; Drug Delivery Systems; Female; Humans; Lactic Acid; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Nanoparticles; Polyglycolic Acid; Mus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879665343 | Effects and impact of witchcraft on Sotho Reformed Churches and the biblical view of witchcraft | Semenya D.K., Letsosa R. | 2013 | Verbum et Ecclesia | 34 | 1 | 10.4102/ve.v34i1.676 | Unit for Reformed Theology, North West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa | Semenya, D.K., Unit for Reformed Theology, North West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa; Letsosa, R., Unit for Reformed Theology, North West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa | The aim of this article is to analyse the effects and impact of witchcraft on members of the Basotho Reformed Church who ascribe to witchcraft. From the literature, it is clear that some members of the Basotho Reformed Church practise various forms of witchcraft. Some Christians do not directly involve themselves with practices linked to witchcraft but do participate in healing practices. This article highlights a number of such instances and provides a number of guidelines to churchgoers who are adhering to practices of witchcraft. These guidelines should be relevant to them when they are reflecting on their relationship with the Lord with the aim to live in obedience to God's Word. © 2013. The Authors. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84897746966 | The practical guidelines on the impact of mahadi [bride price] on the young Basotho couples prior to marriage | Semenya D.K. | 2014 | HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies | 70 | 3 | 10.4102/hts.v70i3.1362 | Unit for Reformed Theology, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa | Semenya, D.K., Unit for Reformed Theology, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa | This article investigates and provides guidelines to the negative impact of mahadi on the Basotho youth before they may marry. It is important to note that marriage is one of the main parts of the life cycle amongst the Basotho and not only joins a man and a woman together, but is also considered to unite the members of the respective families of the married couple into one family. This union of two families comes into effect when the process of negotiation of the mahadi is initiated. The negotiation for mahadi is, in other words, the first stage of bonding two families together. In the hope of gaining a better understanding and results, the writer searched for a qualitative method to conduct the research. © 2014. The Authors. | None | None | 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-s2.0-84939147415 | Screening and evaluation of some green algal strains (Chlorophyceae) isolated from freshwater and soda lakes for biofuel production | Selvarajan R., Felföldi T., Tauber T., Sanniyasi E., Sibanda T., Tekere M. | 2015 | Energies | 8 | 7 | 10.3390/en8077502 | Department of Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida, South Africa; Department of Microbiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter stny. 1/c., Budapest, Hungary; Department of Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology, Presidency College, University of Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India | Selvarajan, R., Department of Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida, South Africa, Department of Microbiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter stny. 1/c., Budapest, Hungary, Department of Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology, Presidency College, University of Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India; Felföldi, T., Department of Microbiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter stny. 1/c., Budapest, Hungary; Tauber, T., Department of Microbiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter stny. 1/c., Budapest, Hungary; Sanniyasi, E., Department of Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology, Presidency College, University of Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India; Sibanda, T., Department of Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida, South Africa; Tekere, M., Department of Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida, South Africa | Microalgae are photosynthetic microorganisms that can produce lipids, proteins and carbohydrates in large amounts and within short periods of time and these can be processed into both biofuels and other useful commercial products. Due to this reason microalgae are considered as a potential source of renewable energy; and one of the most important decisions in obtaining oil from microalgae is the choice of species. In this study, the potential of Chlorophyceae species isolated from freshwater and soda lakes in Hungary and Romania (Central Europe) were characterized and evaluated by determining their biomass accumulation, lipid productivity, fatty acid profiles, and biodiesel properties besides protein and carbohydrate productivity. Out of nine strains tested, three accumulated more than 40% dry weight of protein, four accumulated more than 30% dry weight of carbohydrate and the strain Chlorella vulgaris LC8 accumulated high lipid content (42.1% ± 2.6%) with a favorable C16-C18 fatty acid profile (77.4%) as well as suitable biodiesel properties of high cetane number (57.3), low viscosity (4.7 mm2/s), lower iodine number (75.18 g I<inf>2</inf>/100 g), relative cloud point (8.8 °C) and negative cold filter plugging point (-6.5 °C). Hence the new strain, Chlorella vulgaris LC8 has potential as a feedstock for the production of excellent quality biodiesel. | Biofuel; Fatty acids; Fresh water; Microalgae; Soda lake | Algae; Biodiesel; Biofuels; Carbohydrates; Lakes; Microorganisms; Productivity; Proteins; Water; Biodiesel properties; Biomass accumulation; Cold filter plugging point; Fresh Water; Lipid productivities; Micro-algae; Photosynthetic microorganisms; Soda lakes; Fatty acids | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84892518869 | Complexities and challenges of academic programme self-evaluation: A case of two department | Selesho J.M. | 2013 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 4 | 14 | 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n14p175 | Vaal University Technology, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa | Selesho, J.M., Vaal University Technology, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa | Recently institutional self-evaluation has become an important management tool implemeted by universities in improving the quality of academic programmes. Compared to earlier decades, not only employers are demanding quality from universities but the goverment is also putting pressure for accountability and improvement. This study is monitoring the use of selfevaluation as a management tool to improve the quality of teaching and learning at undegraduate level. The study did use the documental analyses as data gathering instrument from the two schools selected in a university. The findings revealed that the two case study schools have a mixed quality management porcess with regard to Teaching and Learning approach. The findings did provide the study with an alignment of teaching and learning together with assessment. The study did reveal that quality assessment can only be achieved once quality teaching and learning has taken place. There were a number of lesson learnt in the study for instances linking of teaching, learning and assessment was an eye opener since this takes the quality of teaching and its efficiency and its effectiveness. | Assessment; Institutional self-evaluation; Teaching and learning; Undergraduate | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84892543514 | Lesson learned from institutional self-evaluation: Infusing pockets of excellence from the reviews experiences | Selesho J.M. | 2013 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 4 | 14 | 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n14p339 | Vaal University Technology, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa | Selesho, J.M., Vaal University Technology, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa | This paper argue from the premise that while higher education institutions are engaging in self-evalaution process, there are possibilites of developing patterns of excellence. In return this patterns of excellence will then be developed into best practices that can inform our quality assurance process in higher education institution. This paper intends to establish the learning experiences that can be learners from the self-evaluation particular with regard to teaching and learning. The research was conducted using data from the two academic departments, two reviewers panel reports and finally the quality assurance manager plan. As the study was based on interpretive study, data was collected using documental analysis of the self-evaluation reports and reviewers reports from the two department. Surely, if there is a clear system in place it will be easy for HOD's to monitor QA at programme level, furthermore to monitor the improvement based on the initial monitoring process. However, HOD's argue that the only monitoring that was in place in the institution relate to the external moderation of the assessment process. This was the only quality monitoring process that was certified and confirmed unanimously by all respondents. They did confirm that it is the policy of the university to appoint external examiners for all the subjects at the exit level. The findings reveal that although the general idea of internal quality guidelines is to improve institutional self-evaluation, its operational process was hampered by accelerated societal changes in the HE, academic heads were further compelled to take into consideration those self evaluation guidelines which are aimed at achieving the relationships between strategy, the environment, the reaction of management, the quality system and institutional improvements on the holistic view of quality mechanisms. Furthermore, it was etsablished that central idea is to eventually legitimise institutional self-evaluation programmes which will be externally validated by outside quality agencies. HoD's further reveal that, accreditation is still the most important phase, because it legitimises internally and externally defined. | Assessment; Best practice; Lesson learned; Monitoring | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84892502314 | Under-graduate academic programme self-evaluation contained in higher education context: A defense from South Africa University | Selesho J.M. | 2013 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 4 | 14 | 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n14p45 | Vaal University Technology, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa | Selesho, J.M., Vaal University Technology, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa | Recently institutional self-evaluation has become an important management tool implemeted by universities in improving the quality of academic programmes. Compared to earlier decades, not only employers are demanding quality from universities but the goverment is also putting pressure for accountability and improvement. This study is monitoring the use of selfevaluation as a management tool to improve the quality of teaching and learning at undegraduate level. The study did use the documental analyses as data gathering instrument from the two schools selected in a university. The findings revealed that the two case study schools have a mixed quality management porcess with regard to Teaching and Learning approach. The findings did provide the study with an alignment of teaching and learning together with assessment. The study did reveal that quality assessment can only be achieved once quality teaching and learning has taken place. There were a number of lesson learnt in the study for instances linking of teaching, learning and assessment was an eye opener since this takes the quality of teaching and its efficiency and its effectiveness. | Assessment; Institutional self-evaluation; Teaching and learning; Undergraduate | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84897441982 | Impact of school principal leadership style on performance management: A schooling agenda | Selesho J.M., Ntisa A.A. | 2014 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 5 | 3 | 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n3p211 | Vaal University of Technology, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa | Selesho, J.M., Vaal University of Technology, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa; Ntisa, A.A., Vaal University of Technology, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa | Today's changing milieu, challenges organisations on a regular basis to make strategic changes that will keep them up to date with the transforming atmosphere. This is grounded in the belief that employee commitment can predict organisational and individual outcomes, such as employee turnover, performance, and intention to stay in or leave an organisation. This study argues there is a strong perception that the leadership style has an impact on the performance of the school. From these 13 high schools, 184 teaching staff were selected to participate. These high schools were not performing above the provincial benchmark and teaching staff were selected to participate in this study because teaching is a core duty in this enterprise. The participants were selected conveniently; however, the sample was chosen in such a way that more participants were selected from the schools that were not performing above the provincial benchmark. A multi-factor leadership questionnaire was adopted and used to judge the response of the teaching staff. Overall results show that both transformational and transactional leadership have positive relationships with the organisational commitment. Another important discovery is that transformational leadership is used more than transactional leadership. There were some limitations that contributed to the opposing results in the study. This means that management, by exception passive, is playing a weak role in organisational commitment. The elements of the transformational leadership have consistent averages in the contribution of organisational commitment. In this study, teachers' perceptions about their own organisational commitment levels, and about school principals' leadership styles are analysed. | Commitment; Leadership style; Transactional leader; Transformational leader | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84893170587 | Evaluation of encapsulated liver cell spheroids in a fluidised-bed bioartificial liver for treatment of ischaemic acute liver failure in pigs in a translational setting | Selden C., Spearman C.W., Kahn D., Miller M., Figaji A., Erro E., Bundy J., Massie I., Chalmers S.-A., Arendse H., Gautier A., Sharratt P., Fuller B., Hodgson H. | 2013 | PLoS ONE | 8 | 12 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0082312 | University College London Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London Medical School, Royal Free Hospital Campus, Hampstead, London, United Kingdom; Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa; Department of Surgery, University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa; Department of Anaesthetics, University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa; Department Neurosurgery, Red Cross Children's Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa; Biochemistry Department, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London Medical School, Royal Free Hospital Campus, Hampstead, London, United Kingdom | Selden, C., University College London Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London Medical School, Royal Free Hospital Campus, Hampstead, London, United Kingdom; Spearman, C.W., Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa; Kahn, D., Department of Surgery, University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa; Miller, M., Department of Anaesthetics, University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa; Figaji, A., Department Neurosurgery, Red Cross Children's Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa; Erro, E., University College London Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London Medical School, Royal Free Hospital Campus, Hampstead, London, United Kingdom; Bundy, J., University College London Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London Medical School, Royal Free Hospital Campus, Hampstead, London, United Kingdom; Massie, I., University College London Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London Medical School, Royal Free Hospital Campus, Hampstead, London, United Kingdom; Chalmers, S.-A., University College London Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London Medical School, Royal Free Hospital Campus, Hampstead, London, United Kingdom; Arendse, H., Department of Surgery, University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa; Gautier, A., University College London Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London Medical School, Royal Free Hospital Campus, Hampstead, London, United Kingdom; Sharratt, P., Biochemistry Department, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Fuller, B., Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London Medical School, Royal Free Hospital Campus, Hampstead, London, United Kingdom; Hodgson, H., University College London Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London Medical School, Royal Free Hospital Campus, Hampstead, London, United Kingdom | Liver failure is an increasing problem. Donor-organ shortage results in patients dying before receiving a transplant. Since the liver can regenerate, alternative therapies providing temporary liver-support are sought. A bioartificial-liver would temporarily substitute function in liver failure buying time for liver regeneration/organ-procurement. Our aim: to develop a prototype bioartificial-liver-machine (BAL) comprising a human liver-derived cell-line, cultured to phenotypic competence and deliverable in a clinical setting to sites distant from its preparation. The objective of this study was to determine whether its use would improve functional parameters of liver failure in pigs with acute liver failure, to provide proof-of-principle. HepG2cells encapsulated in alginate-beads, proliferated in a fluidised-bed-bioreactor providing a biomass of 4-6×1010 cells, were transported from preparation-laboratory to point-of-use operating theatre (6000miles) under perfluorodecalin at ambient temperature. Irreversible ischaemic liver failure was induced in anaesthetised pigs, after portal-systemic-shunt, by hepatic-artery-ligation. Biochemical parameters, intracranial pressure, and functional-clotting were measured in animals connected in an extracorporeal bioartificial-liver circuit. Efficacy was demonstrated comparing outcomes between animals connected to a circuit containing alginate-encapsulated cells (Cell-bead BAL), and those connected to circuit containing alginate capsules without cells (Empty-bead BAL). Cells of the biomass met regulatory standards for sterility and provenance. All animals developed progressive liver-failure after ischaemia induction. Efficacy of BAL was demonstrated since animals connected to a functional biomass (+ cells) had significantly smaller rises in intracranial pressure, lower ammonia levels, more bilirubin conjugation, improved acidosis and clotting restoration compared to animals connected to the circuit without cells. In the +cell group, human proteins accumulated in pigs' plasma. Delivery of biomass using a short-term cold-chain enabled transport and use without loss of function over 3days. Thus, a fluidised-bed bioreactor containing alginate-encapsulated HepG2cell-spheroids improved important parameters of acute liver failure in pigs. The system can readily be up-scaled and transported to point-of-use justifying development at clinical scale. © 2013 Selden et al. | None | alginic acid; alpha 1 antitrypsin; prothrombin; acidosis; acute liver failure; animal experiment; animal model; article; bilirubin binding; bioartificial liver; blood clotting; cell encapsulation; cell proliferation; cell viability; controlled study; fluidized bed; hemodynamics; hepatic artery ligation; human; human cell; intracranial pressure; liver cell; liver function; nonhuman; pH; protein synthesis; spheroid cell; treatment response; Animals; Bioreactors; Cell Survival; Female; Hep G2 Cells; Hepatocytes; Humans; Liver Failure, Acute; Liver, Artificial; Spheroids, Cellular; Swine | NEAT L002, NIHR, National Institute for Health Research; Wellcome Trust |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-44449103249 | Evaluation of enzyme (Maxigrain®) treatment of graded levels of palm kernel meal (PKM) on nutrient retention | Sekoni A.A., Omage J.J., Bawa G.S., Esuga P.M. | 2008 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 7 | 4 | 10.3923/pjn.2008.614.619 | Department of Animal Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria | Sekoni, A.A., Department of Animal Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Omage, J.J., Department of Animal Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Bawa, G.S., Department of Animal Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Esuga, P.M., Department of Animal Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria | A nutrient retention trial was conducted over a twenty four day period. Eighty one day old chicks of Arbor acres strain were randomly allotted to nine isonitrogeneous dietary treatments where PKM was included in the diet at 0,10,20,30 and 40% levels and PKM treated with Maxigrain® at 10, 20, 30, and 40% levels with three replicates and three birds each in metallic cages. Results show that there was significant (P<0.001) difference in protein, fat, NFE and metabolizable energy retention which were higher in the control and Maxigrain® treated diets compared with the corresponding diets without Maxigrain®. The crude fibre retention was significant (P<0.05) lower in the control compared treatments. The crude fibre retention values at 20 and 30% PKM diets with Maxigrain® were significantly (P<0.05) lower than values for 20 and 30% PKM diets without Maxigrain®. The results indicates that enzyme treatment of PKM increased the retention of vital nutrients and metabolizable energy. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2008. | Broiler; Maxigrain®; Metabolizable energy; Nutrient retention; Palm kernel meal | beta glucan hydrolase; cellulose; enzyme; phytase; xylan endo 1,3 beta xylosidase; animal experiment; animal food; article; chick; controlled study; diet therapy; dietary intake; energy metabolism; fat content; female; male; nonhuman; nutrient availability; nutrient content; nutrient supply; nutritional support; poultry farming; protein content; Aves | None |
| None | None | Performance of a number of NERICA cultivars in Zanzibar, Tanzania: Yield, yield components and grain quality | Sekiya N., Khatib K.J., Makame S.M., Tomitaka M., Oizumi N., Araki H. | 2013 | Plant Production Science | 16 | 2 | None | Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), JICA Tanzania Office, P. O. Box 9450, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Zanzibar Agricultural Research Institute, P. O. Box 159, Zanzibar, Tanzania; Experimental Farm, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan | Sekiya, N., Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), JICA Tanzania Office, P. O. Box 9450, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Khatib, K.J., Zanzibar Agricultural Research Institute, P. O. Box 159, Zanzibar, Tanzania; Makame, S.M., Zanzibar Agricultural Research Institute, P. O. Box 159, Zanzibar, Tanzania; Tomitaka, M., Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), JICA Tanzania Office, P. O. Box 9450, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Oizumi, N., Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), JICA Tanzania Office, P. O. Box 9450, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Araki, H., Experimental Farm, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan | The cultivars of NERICA (New Rice for Africa), which are characterized by early maturity and high yield potential under rainfed conditions, have the potential to increase rice production in Tanzania, where rice cultivation is greatly affected by a short rainy season. Trials were conducted in Zanzibar to examine the yield performances of 14 NERICA cultivars at five locations during the long-rains season (Masika) and at another five locations during the short-rains season (Vuli). The NERICA cultivars produced significantly higher yields than local cultivars at five locations. Yields of 12 NERICA cultivars were associated with rainfall (R2 = 0.367 to 0.732) such that they yielded well during Masika (109 to 343 g m-2) and poorly during Vuli (11 to 68 g m-2). Spikelet number per panicle and percentage of filled spikelets (% filled spikelets) accounted for 70 to 90% of the yield variation in all cultivars, suggesting that yield was determined mainly during the later part of the growth period. In some cultivars, yield was associated with rainfall during the later part of the growth period but the yield of the remainder was associated with rainfall during the early part. A selected group of farmers, extension workers and researchers evaluated grain quality. Some cultivars scored well, especially NERICA 1. We conclude that NERICAs are generally suitable for production during Masika and that NERICA 1 especially should be promoted due to its high grain quality. However, for double cropping of NERICAs, measures must be implemented for increasing or maintaining the water status of the soil during Vuli. | Early maturing variety; Multi-location trial; Palatability test; Rainfed rice; Upland rice | None | None |
| None | None | Performance of Four Rice Cultivars Transplanted Monthly over Full Year under Irrigated Conditions in Tanzania | Sekiya N., Shayo A.C., Jacob M.K., Oizumi N., Tomitaka M., Araki H. | 2015 | Rice Science | 22 | 2 | 10.1016/j.rsci.2015.05.008 | Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), JICA Tanzania Office, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Kilimanjaro Agricultural Training Centre, Moshi, Tanzania; Ministry of Agriculture Training Institute Ilonga, Kilosa 66, Morogoro, Tanzania; Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan; Institute for Sustainable Agro-ecosystem Services, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA Headquarters, Nibancho Center Building 5-25, Tokyo, Japan | Sekiya, N., Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), JICA Tanzania Office, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Institute for Sustainable Agro-ecosystem Services, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; Shayo, A.C., Kilimanjaro Agricultural Training Centre, Moshi, Tanzania, Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan; Jacob, M.K., Ministry of Agriculture Training Institute Ilonga, Kilosa 66, Morogoro, Tanzania, Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan; Oizumi, N., Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), JICA Tanzania Office, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Tomitaka, M., Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), JICA Tanzania Office, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA Headquarters, Nibancho Center Building 5-25, Tokyo, Japan; Araki, H., Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan | In Tanzania, the phenology and seasonal variations of the yields of different rice cultivars have rarely been studied, especially under fully-irrigated conditions. A trial was conducted to identify the most suitable calendar for rice production in Tanzania under fully-irrigated conditions. Four popular rice cultivars, NERICA1, Wahiwahi, IR64 and TXD306, were transplanted monthly from January to December 2011. The four cultivars recorded similarly higher or lower yields than the annual means when transplanted in July (0.50-0.57kg/m2) and April (0.07-0.31kg/m2). A yield-ranking analysis showed that plants transplanted in July was the most productive while those transplanted in April was the least productive, and also revealed a yield-seasonality for irrigated rice in Tanzania, a low-yield season (April-May), a high-yield season (June-August), and an unstable-yield season (September-March). These yield seasons would appear to be closely linked to seasonal temperature variations. When transplanted in April-May, plants were exposed to very low temperatures between panicle initiation and flowering, apparently reducing yield through cold-induced sterility. Those transplanted in June-August prolonged their growth under relatively low temperatures and increased yield through increasing biomass production. In September-March, yield levels varied greatly due to the shortened phenological growth durations at higher temperatures. We conclude that under fully-irrigated conditions in Tanzania, rice should be transplanted in July to ensure the maximum production and yield stability. The yield-seasonality suggests that implementing measures to protect plants from low and high temperature stress at critical phenological stages may allow year-round rice production under fully-irrigated conditions in Tanzania. © 2015 China National Rice Research Institute. Hosting by Elsevier B.V. | Irrigated rice; Local variety; Phenological response; Temperature; Yield component; Yield performance | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80053941647 | Femoral fracture fixation in developing countries: An evaluation of the Surgical Implant Generation Network (SIGN) intramedullary nail | Sekimpi P., Okike K., Zirkle L., Jawa A. | 2011 | Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery - Series A | 93 | 19 | 10.2106/JBJS.J.01322 | Department of Orthopaedics, Mulago Hospital, P.O. Box 7051, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, United States; Surgical Implant Generation Network, 451 Hills Street, Richland, WA 99354, United States; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, 2 North, 850 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02118, United States | Sekimpi, P., Department of Orthopaedics, Mulago Hospital, P.O. Box 7051, Kampala, Uganda; Okike, K., Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, United States; Zirkle, L., Surgical Implant Generation Network, 451 Hills Street, Richland, WA 99354, United States; Jawa, A., Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, 2 North, 850 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02118, United States | Background: The Surgical Implant Generation Network (SIGN) intramedullary nailing system was designed to treat femoral fractures in developing countries where real-time imaging, power equipment, and fracture tables are often not available. We performed a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on femoral shaft fractures treated with the SIGN intramedullary nailing system. Methods: Seventy consecutive patients with a closed diaphyseal femoral fracture were treated with the SIGN intramedullary nail at Mulago National Hospital in Uganda between February 2007 and March 2008, and fifty of these patients (the study cohort) were followed for at least six months or until fracture-healing. Results: The mean time to surgery was 13.2 days (range, zero to thirty-three days). All fractures healed, although two required dynamization for treatment of delayed union. No hardware failures occurred. An interlocking screw missed the nail in two patients, but both fractures healed without complications. One superficial and one deep infection developed; the latter required nail removal after fracture union. Including these patients, complications requiring further treatment occurred in 14% (seven) of the fifty patients. Conclusions: The SIGN intramedullary nailing system promotes predictable healing of femoral fractures in settings with limited resources including lack of real-time imaging, lack of power reaming, and delayed presentation to the operating room. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence. Copyright © 2011 by The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Incorporated. | None | adolescent; adult; aged; article; controlled clinical trial; controlled study; developing country; diaphysis; female; femur shaft fracture; follow up; fracture fixation; fracture healing; fracture nonunion; human; interlocking nail; intramedullary nail; intramedullary nailing; joint characteristics and functions; leg length inequality; length of stay; major clinical study; male; open reduction; outcome assessment; patella fracture; postoperative infection; priority journal; real time echography; retrospective study; traction therapy; traffic accident; Uganda; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Bone Nails; Developing Countries; Female; Femoral Fractures; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary; Fracture Healing; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Reoperation; Retrospective Studies; Treatment Outcome; Uganda; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84892598390 | The impact of rising food prices on the households in a low income township in South Africa | Sekhampu T.J., Dubihlela D. | 2012 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 3 | 3 | 10.5901/mjss.2012.v3n3p165 | North-West University, South Africa | Sekhampu, T.J., North-West University, South Africa; Dubihlela, D., North-West University, South Africa | Food prices in South Africa have increased significantly in recent years. The impact of these price increases on many residents remains largely unknown. The study reported here analyzed the perceptions of households in a low income township of Bophelong (South Africa) in order to assess the impact of increases in food prices. The results are based on a household survey using questionnaires. The majority of households reported that they do not have enough income to meet their daily needs. The increase in prices in general was much higher for electricity and commuting. A logistic regression model was used to determine the socio-economic factors affecting the reported impact of increase in food prices. Married and employed household heads reported lower severity levels. Female-headed households reported higher severity levels of price increases. Household income, household size, age, educational attainment of the household head and the labour- force had no effect on the reported impact of prices. The article provides useful information to policy makers by providing information on the reported impact of rising food prices among low income households in a South African context. | Food prices; Inflation; Low income households; South Africa; Township | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33746394168 | Effect of compressible foam properties on pressure amplification during shock wave impact | Seitz M.W., Skews B.W. | 2006 | Shock Waves | 15 | 42433 | 10.1007/s00193-006-0033-2 | School of Mechanical, Industrial, and Aeronautical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, PO WITS, 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa | Seitz, M.W., School of Mechanical, Industrial, and Aeronautical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, PO WITS, 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa; Skews, B.W., School of Mechanical, Industrial, and Aeronautical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, PO WITS, 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa | A comprehensive study is made of the influence of the physical properties of compressible open-cell foam blocks exposed to shock-wave loading, and particularly on the pressure distribution on the shock tube walls. Seven different foams are used, with three different shock Mach numbers, and three different slab lengths. Foam properties examined include permeability, density, stiffness, tortuosity and cell characteristics. The investigations concentrate on both side-wall and back-wall pressures, and the peak pressures achieved, as well as collapse velocities of the front face and the strength and nature of the reflected shock wave. The consequences of deviations from one-dimensionality are identified; primarily those due to wall friction and side-wall leakage. The results presented are the most comprehensive and wide ranging series conducted in a single facility and are thus a significant resource for comparison with theoretical and numerical studies. The different foams show significant differences in behavior, both in terms of peak pressure and duration, depending primarily on their density and permeability. | Complex materials; Foam; Porous; Shock impact; Shock-wave reflection | None | 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-s2.0-84857730058 | Sulfonimidamides as Sulfonamides Bioisosteres: Rational Evaluation through Synthetic, in Vitro, and in Vivo Studies with γ-Secretase Inhibitors | Sehgelmeble F., Janson J., Ray C., Rosqvist S., Gustavsson S., Nilsson L.I., Minidis A., Holenz J., Rotticci D., Lundkvist J., Arvidsson P.I. | 2012 | ChemMedChem | 7 | 3 | 10.1002/cmdc.201200014 | Medicinal Chemistry, iScience, CNSP iMed, AstraZeneca R and D Södertälje, Västra Mälarehamnen 9, 151 85 Södertälje, Sweden; DMPK, iScience, CNSP iMed, AstraZeneca R and D Södertälje, Västra Mälarehamnen 9, 151 85 Södertälje, Sweden; Neuroscience, iScience, CNSP iMed, AstraZeneca R and D Södertälje, Västra Mälarehamnen 9, 151 85 Södertälje, Sweden; CNSP iMed, AstraZeneca R and D Södertälje, Västra Mälarehamnen 9, 151 85 Södertälje, Sweden; Organic Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala Biomedical Centre, Uppsala University, Box 574, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden; School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa | Sehgelmeble, F., Medicinal Chemistry, iScience, CNSP iMed, AstraZeneca R and D Södertälje, Västra Mälarehamnen 9, 151 85 Södertälje, Sweden; Janson, J., DMPK, iScience, CNSP iMed, AstraZeneca R and D Södertälje, Västra Mälarehamnen 9, 151 85 Södertälje, Sweden; Ray, C., Medicinal Chemistry, iScience, CNSP iMed, AstraZeneca R and D Södertälje, Västra Mälarehamnen 9, 151 85 Södertälje, Sweden; Rosqvist, S., Neuroscience, iScience, CNSP iMed, AstraZeneca R and D Södertälje, Västra Mälarehamnen 9, 151 85 Södertälje, Sweden; Gustavsson, S., Neuroscience, iScience, CNSP iMed, AstraZeneca R and D Södertälje, Västra Mälarehamnen 9, 151 85 Södertälje, Sweden; Nilsson, L.I., Medicinal Chemistry, iScience, CNSP iMed, AstraZeneca R and D Södertälje, Västra Mälarehamnen 9, 151 85 Södertälje, Sweden; Minidis, A., Medicinal Chemistry, iScience, CNSP iMed, AstraZeneca R and D Södertälje, Västra Mälarehamnen 9, 151 85 Södertälje, Sweden; Holenz, J., Medicinal Chemistry, iScience, CNSP iMed, AstraZeneca R and D Södertälje, Västra Mälarehamnen 9, 151 85 Södertälje, Sweden; Rotticci, D., Medicinal Chemistry, iScience, CNSP iMed, AstraZeneca R and D Södertälje, Västra Mälarehamnen 9, 151 85 Södertälje, Sweden; Lundkvist, J., Neuroscience, iScience, CNSP iMed, AstraZeneca R and D Södertälje, Västra Mälarehamnen 9, 151 85 Södertälje, Sweden; Arvidsson, P.I., CNSP iMed, AstraZeneca R and D Södertälje, Västra Mälarehamnen 9, 151 85 Södertälje, Sweden, Organic Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala Biomedical Centre, Uppsala University, Box 574, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden, School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa | [No abstract available] | Bioisosteres; Drugs; Gamma-secretase; Sulfonamides; Sulfonimidamides | begacestat; functional group; gamma secretase inhibitor; gsi 136; sulfonamide; sulfonimidamide; unclassified drug; article; in vitro study; in vivo study; lipophilicity; plasma protein binding; priority journal; solubility; synthesis; Alzheimer Disease; Amyloid beta-Peptides; Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; Animals; Brain; Cells, Cultured; Female; Hepatocytes; Humans; Injections, Subcutaneous; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Neuroprotective Agents; Stereoisomerism; Sulfonamides | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84928125511 | Global occurrence of anti-infectives in contaminated surface waters: Impact of income inequality between countries | Segura P.A., Takada H., Correa J.A., El Saadi K., Koike T., Onwona-Agyeman S., Ofosu-Anim J., Sabi E.B., Wasonga O.V., Mghalu J.M., dos Santos A.M., Newman B., Weerts S., Yargeau V. | 2015 | Environment International | 80 | None | 10.1016/j.envint.2015.04.001 | Department of Chemistry, Université de Sherbrooke, Canada; Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Japan; Department of Mathematics and Statistics, McGill University, Canada; Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Canada; School of Agriculture, University of Ghana, Ghana; School of Engineering Sciences, University of Ghana, Ghana; Department of Land Resource Management and Agricultural Technology, University of Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Biological Sciences, Pwani University College, Kenya; Faculty of Agronomy and Forestry Engineering, Eduardo Mondlane University, Mozambique; Coastal Systems Research Group, Ecosystem Services Competence Area, Natural Resources and the Environment, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa | Segura, P.A., Department of Chemistry, Université de Sherbrooke, Canada; Takada, H., Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Japan; Correa, J.A., Department of Mathematics and Statistics, McGill University, Canada; El Saadi, K., Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Canada; Koike, T., Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Japan; Onwona-Agyeman, S., Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Japan; Ofosu-Anim, J., School of Agriculture, University of Ghana, Ghana; Sabi, E.B., School of Engineering Sciences, University of Ghana, Ghana; Wasonga, O.V., Department of Land Resource Management and Agricultural Technology, University of Nairobi, Kenya; Mghalu, J.M., Department of Biological Sciences, Pwani University College, Kenya; dos Santos, A.M., Faculty of Agronomy and Forestry Engineering, Eduardo Mondlane University, Mozambique; Newman, B., Coastal Systems Research Group, Ecosystem Services Competence Area, Natural Resources and the Environment, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa; Weerts, S., Coastal Systems Research Group, Ecosystem Services Competence Area, Natural Resources and the Environment, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa; Yargeau, V., Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Canada | The presence anti-infectives in environmental waters is of interest because of their potential role in the dissemination of anti-infective resistance in bacteria and other harmful effects on non-target species such as algae and shellfish. Since no information on global trends regarding the contamination caused by these bioactive substances is yet available, we decided to investigate the impact of income inequality between countries on the occurrence of anti-infectives in surface waters. In order to perform such study, we gathered concentration values reported in the peer-reviewed literature between 1998 and 2014 and built a database. To fill the gap of knowledge on occurrence of anti-infectives in African countries, we also collected 61 surface water samples from Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique and South Africa, and measured concentrations of 19 anti-infectives. A mixed one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) model, followed by Turkey-Kramer post hoc tests was used to identify potential differences in anti-infective occurrence between countries grouped by income level (high, upper-middle and lower-middle and low income) according to the classification by the World Bank. Comparison of occurrence of anti-infectives according to income level revealed that concentrations of these substances in contaminated surface waters were significantly higher in low and lower-middle income countries (. p=. 0.0001) but not in upper-middle income countries (. p=. 0.0515) compared to high-income countries. We explained these results as the consequence of the absence of or limited sewage treatment performed in lower income countries. Furthermore, comparison of concentrations of low cost anti-infectives (sulfonamides and trimethoprim) and the more expensive macrolides between income groups suggest that the cost of these substances may have an impact on their environmental occurrence in lower income countries. Since wastewaters are the most important source of contamination of anti-infectives and other contaminants of emerging concern in the environment, it is expected that deleterious effects to the aquatic biota caused by these substances will be more pronounced in countries with inadequate wastewater and collection infrastructure. With the information currently available, we could not evaluate either the role of the receiving environment or the importance of regulatory frameworks on the occurrence of anti-infectives in surface waters. Future studies should focus on these two factors in order to better evaluate risks to aquatic ecosystems in LM & LICs. We propose that CECs such as anti-infectives could be used as a new class of environmental degradation indicators that could be helpful to assess the state of development of wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure around the world. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. | Antibiotics; Developing countries; Macrolides; Occurrence; Quinolones; Rivers; Sulfonamides; Tetracyclines; Trimethoprim | Amides; Antibiotics; Aquatic ecosystems; Contamination; Developing countries; Metabolites; Regression analysis; Rivers; Sewage treatment; Sulfur compounds; Wastewater treatment; Macrolides; Occurrence; Quinolones; Sulfonamides; Tetracyclines; Trimethoprim; Surface waters; antiinfective agent; azithromycin; chlortetracycline; clarithromycin; dehydroerythromycin; diaminopyrimidine; doxycycline; lincomycin; macrolide; minocycline; oxytetracycline; roxithromycin; sulfadimethoxine; sulfadimidine; sulfamerazine; sulfamethizole; sulfamethoxazole; sulfapyridine; sulfathiazole; surface water; trimethoprim; tylosin; unclassified drug; antiinfective agent; fresh water; waste water; water pollutant; antibiotics; developing world; environmental degradation; income distribution; regulatory framework; surface water; water pollution; aquatic environment; Article; concentration (parameters); drug cost; environmental exposure; environmental impact; Ghana; Kenya; lowest income group; Mozambique; priority journal; sewage treatment; socioeconomics; South Africa; waste water; water analysis; water contamination; analysis; biota; chemistry; economics; ecosystem; environmental monitoring; income; procedures; social status; Turkey; water pollutant; Ghana; Kenya; Mozambique; South Africa; algae; Anti-Infective Agents; Biota; Ecosystem; Environmental Monitoring; Fresh Water; Ghana; Income; Mozambique; Social Conditions; South Africa; Turkey; Waste Water; Water Pollutants, Chemical | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84858282568 | Palladium(II), platinum(II) and gold(I) complexes containing chiral diphosphines of the Josiphos and Walphos families - Synthesis and evaluation as anticancer agents | Segapelo T.V., Lillywhite S., Nordlander E., Haukka M., Darkwa J. | 2012 | Polyhedron | 36 | 1 | 10.1016/j.poly.2012.01.027 | Department of Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park Kingsway Campus, P.O. Box 524, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa; Inorganic Chemistry Research Group, Center for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lund University, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden; Department of Chemistry, University of Joensuu, Box 111, FI-80101 Joensuu, Finland | Segapelo, T.V., Department of Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park Kingsway Campus, P.O. Box 524, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa; Lillywhite, S., Department of Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park Kingsway Campus, P.O. Box 524, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa; Nordlander, E., Inorganic Chemistry Research Group, Center for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lund University, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden; Haukka, M., Department of Chemistry, University of Joensuu, Box 111, FI-80101 Joensuu, Finland; Darkwa, J., Department of Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park Kingsway Campus, P.O. Box 524, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa | A series of palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes ([PdCl 2(J003)] (1), [PdCl 2(W001)] (2), [PtCl 2(J003)] (3) and [PtCl 2(W001)] (4), where J003 = the Josiphos ligand (R)-1-[(S)-2-diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]ethyldicyclohexylphosphine and W001 = the Walphos ligand (R)-1[(R)-2-(2′-diphenylphosphinyl)ferrocenyl] ethyldo(bis-3,5-trifluoromethylphenyl)phosphine), were prepared from the reaction of the diphosphine ligands with [PdCl 2(NCMe) 2] or [PtCl 2(cod)] and characterised by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and elemental analyses. Single crystal X-ray structures were used to confirm the proposed structures. Attempts to use the same ligands to prepare isoelectronic d 8 Au(III) analogues of the palladium and platinum complexes resulted in the reduction of Au(III) to Au(I) and isolation of the Au(I) complexes [AuCl(J003)] (5), [Au 2Cl 2(J003)] (6) and [Au 2Cl 2(W001)] (7). The cytotoxicity of the four chiral, bidentate ferrocenylphosphine palladium and platinum complexes was investigated against HeLa cells and were found to have low to moderate cytotoxicity. In general, the two Josiphos complexes showed better cytotoxicity compared to the Walphos complexes, irrespective of the metal used. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Anticancer agents; Chiral ligands; Diphosphine ligands; Palladium complexes; Platinum complexes | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-35448972889 | The impact of changes in the work environment on the place-identity of academics: An exploratory study | Segalo P. | 2007 | Journal of Psychology in Africa | 17 | 42371 | None | University of South Africa, Department of Psychology, P.O. Box 392, Unisa 0003, South Africa | Segalo, P., University of South Africa, Department of Psychology, P.O. Box 392, Unisa 0003, South Africa | The study examined the Impact of changes in the work environment on the construction of place-identity among university academics. Data were collected from five academics at a large distance learning university in South Africa. The Institution was undergoing major structural changes at the time of the study. Unstructured questions were used for the data collection. These data were analysed using content analysis and the results suggested academics construct identities towards their place of work and changes to this place may be perceived as a threat. Copyright © 2007 Journal of Psychology in Africa. | Change; Identity; Physical environment; Place-identity; Workplace | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84884855021 | Impact of temperature on performance in two species of South African dwarf chameleon, Bradypodion pumilum and B. occidentale | Segall M., Tolley K.A., Vanhooydonck B., Measey G.J., Herrel A. | 2013 | Journal of Experimental Biology | 216 | 20 | 10.1242/jeb.092353 | UMR 7179 C.N.R.S./M.N.H.N., Département D'Ecologie et de Gestion de la Biodiversité, 57 rue Cuvier, Case postale 55, 75231, Paris Cedex 5, France; Applied Biodiversity Research Division, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Private Bag X7, Claremont, Cape Town, Western Cape 7735, South Africa; Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, PO Box 77000, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape 6031, South Africa | Segall, M., UMR 7179 C.N.R.S./M.N.H.N., Département D'Ecologie et de Gestion de la Biodiversité, 57 rue Cuvier, Case postale 55, 75231, Paris Cedex 5, France; Tolley, K.A., Applied Biodiversity Research Division, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Private Bag X7, Claremont, Cape Town, Western Cape 7735, South Africa, Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Vanhooydonck, B., Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium; Measey, G.J., Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, PO Box 77000, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape 6031, South Africa; Herrel, A., UMR 7179 C.N.R.S./M.N.H.N., Département D'Ecologie et de Gestion de la Biodiversité, 57 rue Cuvier, Case postale 55, 75231, Paris Cedex 5, France | Temperature is an extrinsic factor that influences reptile behavior because of its impact on reptile physiology. Understanding the impact of temperature on performance traits is important as it may affect the ecology and fitness of ectothermic animals such as reptiles. Here, we examined the temperature dependence of performance in two species of South African dwarf chameleon (Bradypodion): one adapted to a semi-arid environment and one to a mesic environment. Ecologically relevant performance traits were tested at different temperatures to evaluate their thermal dependence, and temperature-performance breadths for 80% and 90% of each performance trait were calculated. Our results show distinct differences in the thermal dependence of speed- versus force-related performance traits. Moreover, our results show that the semi-arid species is better adapted to higher temperatures and as such has a better chance of coping with the predicted increases in environmental temperature. The mesic area-adapted species seems to be more sensitive to an increase in temperature and could therefore potentially be threatened by the predicted future climate change. However, further studies investigating the potential for acclimation in chameleons are needed to better understand how animals may respond to future climate change. © 2013. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd. | Adaptation; Behavior; Climate change; Reptile; Temperature | adaptation; animal; article; behavior; climate change; female; lizard; male; mastication; physiology; reptile; South Africa; species difference; temperature; adaptation; behavior; climate change; reptile; temperature; Animals; Bite Force; Female; Lizards; Male; South Africa; Species Specificity; Temperature | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-57749184301 | 'This is where we buried our sons': People of advanced old age coping with the impact of the AIDS epidemic in a resource-poor setting in rural Uganda | Seeley J., Wolff B., Kabunga E., Tumwekwase G., Grosskurth H. | 2009 | Ageing and Society | 29 | 1 | 10.1017/S0144686X08007605 | School of Development Studies, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom; Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom | Seeley, J., School of Development Studies, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom; Wolff, B., Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Kabunga, E., Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Tumwekwase, G., Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Grosskurth, H., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom | Much research on the impact of HIV and AIDS on older people fails to differentiate between age groups, and treats those aged from 50 years to the highest ages as homogeneous. The 'oldest old' or those aged over 75 years may be particularly vulnerable through declining health and independence as a result of the AIDS epidemic, which has forced some to take on roles that younger relatives would have performed had they lived. In this paper we describe the past and current experience of eight people in advanced old age living in rural Uganda who were informants for an ethnographic study of the impact of HIV and AIDS on households during 1991-92 and again in 2006-07. The aim of the study was to understand how they had coped with the impacts of the epidemic. From the eight case studies, it is concluded that family size, socio-economic status and some measure of good fortune in sustained good health enabled these people to live to an advanced age. While we recommend that targeted social protection is important in helping the poorest among the oldest, we suggest that sustaining respect for age and experience, and ensuring that older people do not feel discarded by family and society are as important as meeting their practical needs. © 2008 Cambridge University Press. | Impact of HIV and AIDS; Older people; Oldest old; Uganda | acquired immune deficiency syndrome; elderly population; epidemic; human immunodeficiency virus; low income population; rural area; socioeconomic conditions; Africa; East Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-50949100402 | Using in-depth qualitative data to enhance our understanding of quantitative results regarding the impact of HIV and AIDS on households in rural Uganda | Seeley J., Biraro S., Shafer L.A., Nasirumbi P., Foster S., Whitworth J., Grosskurth H. | 2008 | Social Science and Medicine | 67 | 9 | 10.1016/j.socscimed.2008.07.001 | School of Development Studies, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom; MRC, UVRI Research Unit on AIDS, Uganda; School of Public Health, Boston University, United States; Wellcome Trust, London, United Kingdom; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom | Seeley, J., School of Development Studies, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom; Biraro, S., MRC, UVRI Research Unit on AIDS, Uganda; Shafer, L.A., MRC, UVRI Research Unit on AIDS, Uganda; Nasirumbi, P., MRC, UVRI Research Unit on AIDS, Uganda; Foster, S., School of Public Health, Boston University, United States; Whitworth, J., Wellcome Trust, London, United Kingdom; Grosskurth, H., MRC, UVRI Research Unit on AIDS, Uganda, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom | Two significant challenges face researchers tracking HIV-related socio-economic and demographic change over time in large cohort studies. Firstly, data collected in cohort studies established to describe the dynamics of HIV infection may contain no systematic data on household consumption expenditures which is an established measure of current and long-run household welfare. The second challenge is the choice of the unit of analysis in order to recognise and record impact; this is because most cohorts use the household as that unit. This means that the influence of factors outside that unit cannot easily be tracked. In this paper we show how a detailed understanding of the impact of HIV and AIDS on wider families and social networks, obtained through in-depth longitudinal research with a small number of households, can shed light on the findings from quantitative analysis from a larger cohort in the same population in rural Uganda. The findings of large-scale survey data from more than 2000 households over a 12-year period showed a lack of a strong association between poverty, HIV status and/or death of the household head. In-depth ethnographic research with 26 households in 1991/2 and a restudy of the same households in 2006/7 provide insights into the reasons for this finding: the choice of socio-economic indicators and support from other family and community members play a part in affecting survey findings on the impact of HIV at household level. One other factor is important in explaining the findings. HIV-infected family members from outside the household may drain resources from the household, so looking at the impact of HIV and AIDS on people's wider families provides pointers to why those who have not had an AIDS-related death in their own household may have failed to prosper. Our qualitative findings show that AIDS may well throw households into disarray and poverty, but more often reduces development and hinders families from getting out of poverty. Used strategically, small longitudinal studies can provide important information with which to explain patterns observed in large-scale quantitative datasets. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | HIV/AIDS; Households; Longitudinal research; Mixed methods; Uganda | acquired immune deficiency syndrome; cohort analysis; health impact; health survey; household expenditure; human immunodeficiency virus; qualitative analysis; quantitative analysis; rural area; socioeconomic conditions; welfare impact; acquired immune deficiency syndrome; article; cohort analysis; death; disease association; ethnographic research; family; female; health survey; household; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; longitudinal study; male; poverty; qualitative analysis; quantitative analysis; rural area; social network; socioeconomics; Uganda; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Adult; Chi-Square Distribution; Cross-Sectional Studies; Family Characteristics; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Pedigree; Poverty; Qualitative Research; Risk Factors; Rural Health; Rural Population; Uganda; Africa; East Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84903215482 | Community engagement as liberal performance, as critical intellectualism and as praxis | Seedat M. | 2012 | Journal of Psychology in Africa | 22 | 4 | 10.1080/14330237.2012.10820560 | Institute for Social and Health Sciences, University of South Africa, P.O. Box 1087, Lenasia, 1820, South Africa; Medical Research Council, South Africa | Seedat, M., Institute for Social and Health Sciences, University of South Africa, P.O. Box 1087, Lenasia, 1820, South Africa, Medical Research Council, South Africa | This article aims to illustrate that engagement is a dynamic and evolutionary process, moulded by contesting ideological, social actor and contextual forces. For purposes of illustration, I draw on a university-affiliated, participatory enactment of community engagement asacase example. The case illustrates that community engagement may assume a form of action, critical intellectualism and praxis. As action, community engagement is oriented towards performance of liberal democracy. Community engagement, as shaped by the critical intellectualism of the Black Consciousness philosophy, reflects community self-affirmation, autonomy and intellectual independence. Community engagement as praxis may be characterised by reflexivity, vision-making and the building of interpersonal relationships. Community engagement is marked by a dynamic interplay between race, power and counter-hegemonic ideology. Copyright © 2012 Journal of Psychology in Africa. | Action; Community engagement; Critical intellectualism; Interpersonal relationship building; Praxis | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-70349462989 | Handheld computers for survey and trial data collection in resource-poor settings: Development and evaluation of PDACT, a Palm™ Pilot interviewing system | Seebregts C.J., Zwarenstein M., Mathews C., Fairall L., Flisher A.J., Seebregts C., Mukoma W., Klepp K.-I. | 2009 | International Journal of Medical Informatics | 78 | 11 | 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2008.10.006 | Biomedical Informatics Research, e-Health Research and Innovation Platform, Medical Research Council, South Africa; Health Services Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ont., Canada; Knowledge Translation Unit, University of Cape Town Lung Institute, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Dept of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont., Canada; Health Systems Research Unit, Medical Research Council, South Africa; School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Adolescent Health Research Institute, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Centre for Prevention of Global Infections, Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Norway | Seebregts, C.J., Biomedical Informatics Research, e-Health Research and Innovation Platform, Medical Research Council, South Africa; Zwarenstein, M., Health Services Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ont., Canada, Knowledge Translation Unit, University of Cape Town Lung Institute, University of Cape Town, South Africa, Dept of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont., Canada; Mathews, C., Health Systems Research Unit, Medical Research Council, South Africa, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Fairall, L., Knowledge Translation Unit, University of Cape Town Lung Institute, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Flisher, A.J., Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Adolescent Health Research Institute, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Seebregts, C., Health Systems Research Unit, Medical Research Council, South Africa; Mukoma, W., Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Adolescent Health Research Institute, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Klepp, K.-I., Centre for Prevention of Global Infections, Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Norway | Objective: Handheld computers (personal digital assistant, PDA) have the potential to reduce the logistic burden, cost, and error rate of paper-based health research data collection, but there is a lack of appropriate software. The present work describes the development and evaluation of PDACT, a Personal Data Collection Toolset (www.healthware.org/pdact/index.htm) for the Palm™ Pilot handheld computer for interviewer-administered and respondent-administered data collection. Methods: We developed Personal Data Collection Toolkit (PDACT) software to enable questionnaires developed in QDS™ Design Studio, a Windows™ application, to be compiled and completed on Palm™ Pilot devices and evaluated in several representative field survey settings. Results: The software has been used in seven separate studies and in over 90,000 interviews. Five interviewer-administered studies were completed in rural settings with poor communications infrastructure, following one day of interviewer training. Two respondent-administered questionnaire studies were completed by learners, in urban secondary schools, after 15 min training. Questionnaires were available on each handheld in up to 11 languages, ranged from 20 to 580 questions, and took between 15 and 90 min to complete. Up to 200 Palm™ Pilot devices were in use on a single day and, in about 50 device-years of use, very few technical problems were found. Compared with paper-based collection, data validation and cleaning times were reduced, and fewer errors were found. PDA data collection is easy to use and preferred by interviewers and respondents (both respondent-administered and interviewer-administered) over paper. Data are compiled and available within hours of collection facilitating data quality assurance. Although hardware increases the setup cost of the first study, the cumulative cost falls thereafter, and converges on the cumulative cost of paper-based studies (four, in the case of our interviewer-administered studies). Conclusion: Handheld data collection is an appropriate, affordable and convenient technology for health data collection, in diverse settings. © 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. | Computer-assisted personal interview; Health survey questionnaire; Mobile data collection system; PDA structured medical record form | Communications infrastructure; Computer-assisted personal interview; Cumulative cost; Data collection; Data quality; Data validation; Design studios; Error rate; Field surveys; Handhelds; Health data; Health research; Health survey questionnaire; Mobile data collection system; PDA structured medical record form; Personal data; Secondary schools; Setup costs; Technical problem; Toolsets; Computer software selection and evaluation; Costs; Health; Knowledge based systems; Markup languages; Paper; Personal computers; Personal digital assistants; Quality assurance; Surveys; Thermal conductivity; Total quality management; Data acquisition; article; computer program; cost benefit analysis; health survey; information processing; interview; medical research; microcomputer; personal digital assistant; priority journal; questionnaire; reliability; Clinical Trials as Topic; Computers, Handheld; Databases, Factual; Electronic Health Records; Information Storage and Retrieval; Interviews as Topic; Medical History Taking; Software; Software Design; User-Computer Interface | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79952074647 | Perceptions of staffriding in post-apartheid South Africa: The lethal thrill of speed or the masculine performance of a painful past? | Sedite D., Bowman B., Clowes L. | 2010 | Journal of Psychology in Africa | 20 | 4 | None | University of South Africa, South Africa; University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa; University of the Western Cape, South Africa | Sedite, D., University of South Africa, South Africa; Bowman, B., University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa; Clowes, L., University of the Western Cape, South Africa | Staffriding, or train surfing, involves taking life threatening physical risks by moving around the outside of moving trains. In aiming to better understand this risky practice, this small scale qualitative study used three semi-structured interviews and three focus discussions to understand perceptions of train surfing in South Africa's Gauteng province. Semi-structured interviews comprised general station staff (n=2), and a station manager (n=1). The first two focus group discussions held were with ticket marshals (n= 6 per group, with a total of 12), and the last focus group discussion was with commuters (n=4), security personnel (n=6), and a station manager (n=1). Findings revealed that the majority of staffriders were perceived to be young, urban, black boys/men attending suburban schools. Tracing these identity co-ordinates against possible configurations of masculinity, we argue that train surfing represents a particular performance of risky, heteronormative masculinity forged within and against the historical, political and economic legacies that contoured apartheid versions of 'black' manhood. Copyright © 2010 JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY IN AFRICA. | Gender; Masculinities; Patriarchy; Performativity; Race; Railway injury; Risk-taking; Staffriding; Train surfing; Urban transport | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33750220095 | Evaluation of soilless production systems for small scale production of two Amaranthus species and Swiss chard, Beta vulgaris | Sedibe M.M., Combrink N.J.J., Reinten E.Y. | 2006 | South African Journal of Plant and Soil | 23 | 3 | None | Dept. of Agronomy, University of Stellenbosch, P/Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; CUT, FS, School of Environmental Health and Agriculture, Private Bag X20539, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa; ARC-Roodeplaat (W. Cape), P/Bag X1, Elsenburg 7607, South Africa | Sedibe, M.M., Dept. of Agronomy, University of Stellenbosch, P/Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa, CUT, FS, School of Environmental Health and Agriculture, Private Bag X20539, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa; Combrink, N.J.J., Dept. of Agronomy, University of Stellenbosch, P/Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Reinten, E.Y., ARC-Roodeplaat (W. Cape), P/Bag X1, Elsenburg 7607, South Africa | To improve the diet of rural families, small scale production of leafy vegetables, as a source of vitamin A and other nutrients should be encouraged. In this study, conducted under controlled environmental conditions (day temperatures in the greenhouse varied between 22 and 29°C with night temperatures between 13 and 16°C), Beta vulgaris (Swiss chard) and Amaranthus spp. (imbuya) were grown, using gravel and pumice as substrates for 'Ebb-and-Flood' and 'constant level' production systems. The results of this study showed that a combination of an 'Ebb-and-Flood' system with gravel as substrate, gave the best results of root development and leaf yield, especially for 'imbuya'. The water-use-efficiency (WUE) of 'imbuya' was significantly higher than that of Swiss chard. The yield and leaf chlorophyll content of 'imbuya' was low for the 'constant level' system with gravel used as substrate. Pumice improved root production, leaf yield and leaf chlorophyll content only for the 'constant level' system, probably owing to capillary action in pumice and associated improved root aeration. | Amaranthus; Beta vulgaris; Fertigation; Gravel; Pumice | chlorophyll; crop production; diet; environmental conditions; gravel; production system; pumice; rural area; substrate preference; vegetable; Amaranthus; Beta vulgaris; Beta vulgaris cicla; Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84862759558 | Impact of drug resistance on clinical outcome in children with tuberculous meningitis | Seddon J.A., Visser D.H., Bartens M., Jordaan A.M., Victor T.C., Van Furth A.M., Schoeman J.F., Schaaf H.S. | 2012 | Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal | 31 | 7 | 10.1097/INF.0b013e318253acf8 | Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 19063, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Department of Paediatrics, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Department of Biomedical Science, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa; Tygerberg Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa | Seddon, J.A., Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 19063, Cape Town, South Africa, Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Visser, D.H., Department of Paediatrics, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Bartens, M., Department of Paediatrics, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Jordaan, A.M., Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Department of Biomedical Science, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa; Victor, T.C., Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Department of Biomedical Science, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa; Van Furth, A.M., Department of Paediatrics, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Schoeman, J.F., Tygerberg Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Schaaf, H.S., Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 19063, Cape Town, South Africa, Tygerberg Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa | Background: Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is associated with delayed diagnosis and poor outcome in children. This study investigated the impact of drug resistance on clinical outcome in children with TBM. Methods: All children (0-13 years) were included if admitted to Tygerberg Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa, from January 2003 to April 2009 with a diagnosis of either confirmed TBM, or probable TBM with mycobacterial isolation from a site other than cerebrospinal fluid. Mycobacterial samples underwent drug susceptibility testing to rifampin and isoniazid. Children were treated with isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide and ethionamide according to local guidelines. Results: One hundred twenty-three children were included; 13% (16 of 123) had any form of drug resistance, and 4% (5 of 123) had multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Time from start of symptoms to appropriate treatment was longer in children with any drug resistance (median: 31 days versus 9 days; P = 0.001). In multivariable analysis, young age (P = 0.013) and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (adjusted odds ratio: 12.4 [95% confidence interval: 1.17-132.3]; P = 0.037) remained risk factors for unfavorable outcome, and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis remained a risk for death (adjusted odds ratio: 63.9 [95% confidence interval: 4.84-843.2]; P = 0.002). We did not detect any difference in outcome between those with isolates resistant to only isoniazid and those with fully susceptible strains (adjusted odds ratio: 0.22 [confidence interval: 0.03-1.87]; P = 0.17). Conclusion: Multidrug-resistant TBM in children has poor clinical outcome and is associated with death. We did not find any difference in the outcomes between children with isoniazid monoresistant TBM and those with drug-susceptible TBM. One explanation could be the local treatment regimen. Further investigation of this regimen is indicated. © 2012 by Lippincott Williams ∧ Wilkins. | Children; Meningitis; Outcome; Pediatric; Resistance; Tuberculosis | ethionamide; isoniazid; pyrazinamide; quinolone derivative; rifampicin; terizidone; adolescent; antibiotic sensitivity; article; bacterial strain; bacterium isolate; bacterium isolation; cerebrospinal fluid; child; death; disease severity; drug resistance; drug sensitivity; female; health status; hospital admission; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; infant; major clinical study; male; multidrug resistant tuberculosis; newborn; priority journal; risk factor; tuberculous meningitis; Antitubercular Agents; Child, Preschool; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; South Africa; Survival Analysis; Treatment Outcome; Tuberculosis, Meningeal | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-38549113404 | Growth performance and carcass characteristics of three Ethiopian goat breeds fed grainless diets varying in concentrate to roughage ratios | Sebsibe A., Casey N.H., Van Niekerk W.A., Tegegne A., Coertze R.J. | 2007 | South African Journal of Animal Sciences | 37 | 4 | None | Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box, 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Sebsibe, A., Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Casey, N.H., Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Van Niekerk, W.A., Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Tegegne, A., International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box, 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Coertze, R.J., Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa | Growth and carcass characteristics of three Ethiopian goat breeds, the Afar, Central Highland (CHG) and Long-eared Somali (LES) were evaluated using three grainless diets varying in concentrate:roughage ratios (diet 1 was 50:50, diet 2, 65:35 and diet 3, 80:20) under feedlot conditions. The roughage was native grass hay and the concentrate consisted of wheat bran and noug cake (Guizotia abyssinica). Seventy-two eight-month old intact male goats (24 per breed) were randomly allotted to the dietary treatments, fed for 126 days and slaughtered at an age of approximately 12 months. The LES had higher average daily gain (ADG), heavier slaughter, empty body (EBW) and carcass weights than Afar and CHG goats. Diet significantly affected ADG, but was similar on carcass traits except for dressing percentage (DP) on an EBW basis and some non-carcass components. The DP on an EBW basis was the highest on diet 1. Breed affected the DP, which ranged from 42.5 - 44.6% and 54.3 - 55.8% on slaughter weight and EBW basis, respectively. The LES had a greater buttock circumference and carcass compactness. The pH24 varied between 5.61 - 5.67 and chilling losses were between 2.5 and 3.1%. The physical carcass composition (8-10th rib-cut) ranged from 72 - 73, 6.9 - 10.9 and 17.1 - 20.2% for lean, fat and bone, respectively, and the fat content of the meat ranged from 10.3 - 14.0%. Breed affected the weights of internal fat depots. The findings indicate that breed affected the carcass characteristics of the three Ethiopian goat breeds. © South African Society for Animal Science. | Carcass composition; Carcass yield; Indigenous goats; Non-carcass components; Primal cuts | Capra hircus; Guizotia abyssinica; Triticum aestivum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84937512504 | Growth performance and carcass characteristics of three chicken strains in response to incremental levels of dietary Moringa oleifera leaf meal | Sebola N.A., Mlambo V., Mokoboki H.K., Muchenje V. | 2015 | Livestock Science | 178 | None | 10.1016/j.livsci.2015.04.019 | Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology, North-West University, Mmabatho, Mafikeng, South Africa; Food Security and Safety Niche Area, Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology, North-West University, Mmabatho, Mafikeng, South Africa; Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, University of Fort Hare, Alice, Eastern Cape, South Africa | Sebola, N.A., Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology, North-West University, Mmabatho, Mafikeng, South Africa, Food Security and Safety Niche Area, Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology, North-West University, Mmabatho, Mafikeng, South Africa; Mlambo, V., Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology, North-West University, Mmabatho, Mafikeng, South Africa, Food Security and Safety Niche Area, Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology, North-West University, Mmabatho, Mafikeng, South Africa; Mokoboki, H.K., Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology, North-West University, Mmabatho, Mafikeng, South Africa, Food Security and Safety Niche Area, Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology, North-West University, Mmabatho, Mafikeng, South Africa; Muchenje, V., Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, University of Fort Hare, Alice, Eastern Cape, South Africa | A 90-day feeding trial was conducted to determine the effect of Moringa oleifera leaf meal supplementation on growth performance and carcass characteristics of three chicken strains (male and female) that are normally reared under extensive production systems in South Africa. Moringa leaves were harvested by hand, air-dried and milled into M. oleifera leaf meal (MOLM). The MOLM was chemically analysed and used to dilute a commercial broiler finisher diet at 0 (MOLM0), 25 (MOLM25), 50 (MOLM50), and 100 (MOLM100) g/kg DM, producing four dietary treatments. Two hundred and sixteen (216) Potchefstroom Koekoek (PK), Ovambo (OV) and Black Australorp (BA) chickens were raised on a commercial starter mash for 4 weeks. On the fourth week, experimental diets were offered and growth performance data were collected over a period of 13 weeks. Carcass characteristics were measured upon slaughter at the end of the 13-week feeding period. Diet×strain interaction was significant (. P<0.001) for feed intake but not (. P>0.05) for growth rate and FCE. Feed intake responded to incremental levels of MOLM in an asymptotic fashion. Maximum feed intake was achieved at dietary MOLM inclusion levels between 50 and 70. g/kg DM. Black Australorp chickens had the highest feed conversion efficiency (FCE) of 2.35, while OV and PK chickens had lower FCE values of 2.09 and 2.05, respectively. Diet, strain and gender, all had significant effects on dressing percent (. P<0.001), leg and thigh weight (. P<0.05), and wing weight (. P<0.05). Male chickens attained higher (. P<0.05) carcass weight, leg and thigh weight, dressing percent, and breast mass than female chickens (. P<0.001). In female chickens, diets containing MOLM resulted in chickens with better carcass weight, leg and thigh weight, dressing percent, and breast mass compared to the control. In conclusion, Black Australorp chickens were better at utilizing diets with higher levels of MOLM compared to OV and PK strains. Inclusion of MOLM in chicken diets positively affected growth performance and carcass characteristics of the birds. © 2015 Elsevier B.V.. | Carcass weight; Feed conversion efficiency; Feed intake; Indigenous chickens; Moringa oleifera leaf meal | Aves; Gallus gallus; Moringa; Moringa oleifera | None |
| WoS | WOS:000337855300005 | The impact of alcohol and road traffic policies on crash rates in Botswana, 2004-2011: A time-series analysis | Dellinger, Ann M.,Naumann, Rebecca B.,Ndlovu, Christopher,Rudd, Rose A.,Sebego, Miriam,Voetsch, Karen | 2014 | ACCIDENT ANALYSIS AND PREVENTION | 70 | None | 10.1016/j.aap.2014.02.017 | University of Botswana, University of North Carolina, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Botswana Police Serv, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - USA, Ctr Dis Control & Prevent | "Sebego, Miriam: University of Botswana", | In Botswana, increased development and motorization have brought increased road traffic-related death rates. Between 1981 and 2001, the road traffic-related death rate in Botswana more than tripled. The country has taken several steps over the last several years to address the growing burden of road traffic crashes and particularly to address the burden of alcohol-related crashes. This study examines the impact of the implementation of alcohol and road safety-related policies on crash rates, including overall crash rates, fatal crash rates, and single-vehicle nighttime fatal (SVNF) crash rates, in Botswana from 2004 to 2011. The overall crash rate declined significantly in June 2009 and June 2010, such that the overall crash rate from June 2010 to December 2011 was 22% lower than the overall crash rate from January 2004 to May 2009. Additionally, there were significant declines in average fatal crash and SVNF crash rates in early 2010. Botswana's recent crash rate reductions occurred during a time when aggressive policies and other activities (e.g., education, enforcement) were implemented to reduce alcohol consumption and improve road safety. While it is unclear which of the policies or activities contributed to these declines and to what extent, these reductions are likely the result of several, combined efforts. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | ALCOHOL,INJURY,"ROAD TRAFFIC","Traffic fines",ACCIDENTS,CONSUMPTION,INJURIES,"INTERVENTION ANALYSIS",OFFENSES,PENALTIES,PRICE,REDUCE,"SEAT-BELT USE",TAX | None | 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-s2.0-77956265695 | 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-s2.0-84862985323 | Identification and antibacterial evaluation of bioactive compounds from Garcinia kola (Heckel) seeds | Seanego C.T., Ndip R.N. | 2012 | Molecules | 17 | 6 | 10.3390/molecules17066585 | Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X 1314, Alice 5700, South Africa; Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon | Seanego, C.T., Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X 1314, Alice 5700, South Africa; Ndip, R.N., Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X 1314, Alice 5700, South Africa, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon | We assessed the bioactivity of G. kola seeds on Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Plesiomonas shigelloides and Salmonella typhimurium. The crude ethyl acetate, ethanol, methanol, acetone and aqueous extracts were screened by the agar-well diffusion method and their activities were further determined by Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) assays. The extracts were fractionated by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). Bioautography was used to assess the activity of the possible classes of compounds present in the more active extracts. Column chromatography was used to purify the active compounds from the mixture, while GC-MS was used to identify the phytocomponents of the fractions. The inhibition zone diameters of the extracts ranged from 0-24 ± 1.1 mm, while MIC and MBC values ranged between 0.04-1.25 mg/mL and 0.081-2.5 mg/mL, respectively. The chloroform/ethyl acetate/formic acid (CEF) solvent system separated more active compounds. The MIC of the fractions ranged between 0.0006-2.5 mg/mL. CEF 3(F3), CEF 11 (F11) and CEF 12 (F12) revealed the presence of high levels of linoleic acid, 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid and 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl ester, respectively. The results obtained from this study justify the use of this plant in traditional medicine and provide leads which could be further exploited for the development of new and potent antimicrobials. © 2012 by the authors. | Antimicrobial activity; Garcinia kola; GC-MS; Medicinal plants; Minimum Bactericidal Concentration; Minimum Inhibitory Concentration | antiinfective agent; plant extract; article; bacterium; chemistry; drug effect; Garcinia kola; microbiological examination; plant seed; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteria; Garcinia kola; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Plant Extracts; Seeds | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84918771116 | The household economy approach. managing the impact of climate change on poverty and food security in developing countries | Seaman J.A., Sawdon G.E., Acidri J., Petty C. | 2014 | Climate Risk Management | 4 | None | 10.1016/j.crm.2014.10.001 | Evidence for Development, South Bank House, Black Prince Rd., London, United Kingdom; Dept. Of Geography, King's College, London, United Kingdom; 932, Vicker Court, Kelowna, Canada; Plot 209, Ndiwulira Road, Kiira Town Council, Kampala, Uganda; 15, First Avenue, London, United Kingdom | Seaman, J.A., Evidence for Development, South Bank House, Black Prince Rd., London, United Kingdom, Dept. Of Geography, King's College, London, United Kingdom; Sawdon, G.E., Evidence for Development, South Bank House, Black Prince Rd., London, United Kingdom, 932, Vicker Court, Kelowna, Canada; Acidri, J., Evidence for Development, South Bank House, Black Prince Rd., London, United Kingdom, Plot 209, Ndiwulira Road, Kiira Town Council, Kampala, Uganda; Petty, C., Evidence for Development, South Bank House, Black Prince Rd., London, United Kingdom, Dept. Of Geography, King's College, London, United Kingdom, 15, First Avenue, London, United Kingdom | Climate change is expected to have severe effects on the populations of developing countries because many of these depend heavily on agriculture for income, have large impoverished rural populations which rely on agriculture for subsistence, and are financially and technically least equipped to adapt to changing conditions. Planning to target measures to support adaptation to reduce the impact of climate change on poverty and food insecurity requires methods of identifying vulnerable households. This paper describes an established approach to vulnerability assessment, the 'Household Economy Approach' (HEA) and its potential application to the management of climate change in developing countries. The HEA is widely used by Governments and others, chiefly in Africa, for the assessment of household vulnerability to poverty and food security. HEA uses a model based on Amartya Sen's entitlement theory and detailed social and economic data to simulate the impact of weather related, price, policy and other shocks on household income and food access, to provide information for decision making. In developing countries climate change will be experienced in terms of increased climate variability and an increased frequency of extreme events. HEA provides a way of managing the effects of year to year shocks to prevent impoverishment and the erosion of household resilience. It also provides the information needed to develop scenarios to support the design of policies to support longer term adaptation. HEA data has already been collected for large areas of Africa. © 2014 The Authors. | Climate change; Food security; Livelihoods; Poverty; Vulnerability assessment | None | 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-s2.0-77951572966 | Is enhanced tourism a reasonable expectation for transboundary conservation? An evaluation of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park | Scovronick N.C., Turpie J.K. | 2009 | Environmental Conservation | 36 | 2 | 10.1017/S037689290999018X | Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, Cape Town, South Africa | Scovronick, N.C., Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, Cape Town, South Africa; Turpie, J.K., Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, Cape Town, South Africa | The transnational nature of biodiversity provides impetus for transboundary protected areas, however support for these also stems from expectations of political, social or economic benefits. The sociopolitical context of southern Africa makes conservation initiatives incorporating economic development particularly appealing, and supporters of transboundary conservation advance visions of tourism growth in this regard; however, this assertion has not been objectively assessed. The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, straddling South Africa and Botswana, is Africa's oldest formally recognized transfrontier park and widely viewed as the prototype for regional transboundary conservation. This paper examines visitation data combined with results from a visitor survey to indicate the tourism performance of the Park. Visitor numbers to the Park have not grown since its opening, but average length of stay and total visitor days have increased. However, it appears that this increase is primarily due to growth in bed numbers; the survey indicates that the Park's new features are only modestly used, and fewer than 10% of guests visit the adjacent country. Potential barriers to further growth include road conditions, Park size and homogeneity, and a lack of innovative tourism strategies. The need to expand socioeconomic monitoring of transboundary conservation areas in order to ensure their viability is reaffirmed. © 2009 Foundation for Environmental Conservation. | Peace park; Tourism; Transboundary conservation; Transfrontier | Average length of stays; Botswana; Economic benefits; Economic development; Peace Park; Potential barriers; Protected areas; Road condition; South Africa; Trans-boundary; Transboundary conservation; Visitor numbers; Biodiversity; Economics; Surveys; Parks; conservation management; conservation status; economic development; ecosystem management; ecotourism; protected area; tourism management; Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79953069550 | Impact of HIV testing on sexual health communication in South Africa | Scott-Sheldon L.A.J., Carey M.P., Carey K.B., Cain D., Vermaak R., Mthembu J., Harel O., Simbayi L.C., Kalichman S.C. | 2011 | Sexually Transmitted Infections | 87 | 3 | 10.1136/sti.2010.045732 | Center for Health and Behavior, Syracuse University, 430 Huntington Hall, Syracuse, NY 13244-2340, United States; Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States; Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS and Health, Human Sciences Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Statistics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States | Scott-Sheldon, L.A.J., Center for Health and Behavior, Syracuse University, 430 Huntington Hall, Syracuse, NY 13244-2340, United States; Carey, M.P., Center for Health and Behavior, Syracuse University, 430 Huntington Hall, Syracuse, NY 13244-2340, United States; Carey, K.B., Center for Health and Behavior, Syracuse University, 430 Huntington Hall, Syracuse, NY 13244-2340, United States; Cain, D., Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States; Vermaak, R., Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS and Health, Human Sciences Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa; Mthembu, J., Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS and Health, Human Sciences Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa; Harel, O., Department of Statistics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States; Simbayi, L.C., Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS and Health, Human Sciences Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa; Kalichman, S.C., Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States | Objectives: The South African government recently launched a national campaign to test 15 million South Africans for HIV by 2011. Little is known about how receipt of HIV testing might influence interpersonal communication. To explore these questions, the authors examined the effects of prior HIV testing on sexual health communication among South Africans. Methods: Adults (N=1284; 98% black, 36% women, mean age 31) residing in a South African township completed street-intercept surveys. Results: Of the 1284 participants, 811 (63%) had been tested for HIV. Among those who had been tested, 77% tested negative, 12% tested positive, and 11% did not know their test result or refused to answer. Compared with those who had not been tested, participants who had been tested for HIV were more likely to communicate with community members about (a) HIV/ AIDS, (b) getting tested for HIV, and (c) using condoms. Testing positive for HIV was associated with communication with sexual partners about condom use. Among participants who had been tested for HIV, exploratory analyses revealed that those who had engaged in sexual health communication with community members or sexual partners reported more condom-protected sex than those who had not engaged in sexual health communication. Conclusions: HIV testing is associated with sexual health communication among South African community members and sexual partners. Offering HIV testing to all South Africans may increase communication and lead to reductions in sexual risk. | None | acquired immune deficiency syndrome; adult; article; community; condom; controlled study; exploratory research; female; health survey; HIV test; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; interpersonal communication; male; priority journal; safe sex; sexual health; sexuality; social behavior; South Africa; Adult; Condoms; Disclosure; Female; Health Communication; HIV Infections; Humans; Male; Risk Factors; Sexual Behavior; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-67650021214 | Evaluation of the Abbott m2000 RealTime human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) assay for HIV load monitoring in South Africa compared to the Roche Cobas AmpliPrep-Cobas Amplicor, Roche Cobas AmpliPrep-Cobas TaqMan HIV-1, and BioMerieux NucliSENS Easy | Scott L.E., Noble L.D., Moloi J., Erasmus L., Venter W.D.F., Stevens W. | 2009 | Journal of Clinical Microbiology | 47 | 7 | 10.1128/JCM.01761-08 | Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, University of Witwatersrand, School of Pathology, 7 York Road Parktown, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa; Reproductive Health and HIV Research Unit, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Scott, L.E., Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, University of Witwatersrand, School of Pathology, 7 York Road Parktown, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa; Noble, L.D., Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, University of Witwatersrand, School of Pathology, 7 York Road Parktown, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa; Moloi, J., Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, University of Witwatersrand, School of Pathology, 7 York Road Parktown, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa; Erasmus, L., Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, University of Witwatersrand, School of Pathology, 7 York Road Parktown, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa; Venter, W.D.F., Reproductive Health and HIV Research Unit, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Stevens, W., Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, University of Witwatersrand, School of Pathology, 7 York Road Parktown, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa | The implementation of antiretroviral therapy demands the need for increased access to viral load (VL) monitoring. Newer real-time VL testing technologies are faster and have larger dynamic ranges and fully automated extraction to benefit higher throughputs in resource-poor environments. The Abbott RealTime human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) assay was evaluated as a new option for testing for HIV-1 subtype C in South Africa, and its performance was compared to the performance of existing assays (the Cobas AmpliPrep-Cobas TaqMan HIV-1, version 1, assay; the AmpliPrep-Cobas Monitor standard HIV-1 assay; and the NucliSENS EasyQ-EasyMag HIV-1 assay) in a high-throughput laboratory. The total precision of the RealTime HIV-1 assay was acceptable over all viral load ranges. This assay compared most favorably with the Cobas AmpliPrep-Cobas TaqMan HIV-1 assay (R2 = 0.904), with a low standard deviation of difference being detected (0.323 copies/ml). The bias against comparator assays ranged from -0.001 copies/ml to -0.228 copies/ml. Variability in the reporting of VLs for a 20-member subtype panel compared to the variability of other assays was noted with subtypes G and CRF02-AG. The RealTime HIV-1 assay can test 93 samples per day with minimal manual preparation, less staff, and the minimization of contamination through automation. This assay is suitable for HIV-1 subtype C VL quantification in South Africa. Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved. | None | accuracy; article; controlled study; gene amplification; human; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; intermethod comparison; laboratory automation; major clinical study; nonhuman; priority journal; real time polymerase chain reaction; South Africa; virus load; virus typing; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; South Africa; Viral Load; Human immunodeficiency virus 1 | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84928041896 | Laboratory evaluation of the liat HIV quant (IQuum) whole-blood and plasma HIV-1 viral load assays for point-of-care testing in South Africa | Scott L., Gous N., Carmona S., Stevens W. | 2015 | Journal of Clinical Microbiology | 53 | 5 | 10.1128/JCM.03325-14 | Department of Haematology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; National Health Laboratory Services, National Priority Program, Johannesburg, South Africa | Scott, L., Department of Haematology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Gous, N., Department of Haematology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Carmona, S., Department of Haematology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, National Health Laboratory Services, National Priority Program, Johannesburg, South Africa; Stevens, W., Department of Haematology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, National Health Laboratory Services, National Priority Program, Johannesburg, South Africa | Point-of-care (POC) HIV viral load (VL) testing offers the potential to reduce turnaround times for antiretroviral therapy monitoring, offer near-patient acute HIV diagnosis in adults, extend existing centralized VL services, screen women in labor, and prompt pediatrics to early treatment. The Liat HIV Quant plasma and whole-blood assays, prerelease version, were evaluated in South Africa. The precision, accuracy, linearity, and agreement of the Liat HIV Quant whole-blood and plasma assays were compared to those of reference technologies (Roche CAP CTMv2.0 and Abbott RealTime HIV-1) on an HIV verification plasma panel (n=42) and HIV clinical specimens (n=163). HIV Quant plasma assay showed good performance, with a 2.7% similarity coefficient of variation (CV) compared to the Abbott assay and a 1.8% similarity CV compared to the Roche test on the verification panel, and 100% specificity. HIV Quant plasma had substantial agreement (pc [concordance correlation]=0.96) with Roche on clinical specimens and increased variability (pc=0.73) in the range of<3.0 log copies/ml range with the HIV Quant wholeblood assay. HIV Quant plasma assay had good linearity (2.0 to 5.0 log copies/ml; R2=0.99). Clinical sensitivity at a viral load of 1,000 copies/ml of the HIV Quant plasma and whole-blood assays compared to that of the Roche assay (n=94) was 100% (confidence interval [CI], 95.3% to 100%). The specificity of HIV Quant plasma was 88.2% (CI, 63.6% to 98.5%), and that for whole blood was 41.2% (CI, 18.4% to 67.1%). No virological failure (downward misclassification) was missed. Liat HIV Quant plasma assay can be interchanged with existing VL technology in South Africa. Liat HIV Quant whole-blood assay would be advantageous for POC early infant diagnosis at birth and adult adherence monitoring and needs to be evaluated further in this clinical context. LIAT cartridges currently require cold storage, but the technology is user-friendly and robust. Clinical cost and implementation modeling is required. Copyright © 2015, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved. | None | accuracy; adult; Article; bioassay; biotechnology; controlled study; human; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; intermethod comparison; patient compliance; point of care testing; priority journal; sensitivity analysis; South Africa; viral load testing; Human immunodeficiency virus 1 | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-44649141353 | Marketing hygiene behaviours: The impact of different communication channels on reported handwashing behaviour of women in Ghana | Scott B.E., Schmidt W.P., Aunger R., Garbrah-Aidoo N., Animashaun R. | 2008 | Health Education Research | 23 | 3 | 10.1093/her/cym056 | Environmental Health Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Hygiene Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Community Water and Sanitation Agency; Business Interactive Consulting, Accra, Ghana | Scott, B.E., Environmental Health Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Schmidt, W.P., Environmental Health Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Aunger, R., Hygiene Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Garbrah-Aidoo, N., Community Water and Sanitation Agency; Animashaun, R., Business Interactive Consulting, Accra, Ghana | In 2003 - 04, a National Handwashing Campaign utilizing mass media and community events took place in Ghana. This article describes the results of the evaluation of the campaign in a sample of 497 women with children <5 years. The unifying message across all communication channels was that hands were not 'truly' clean unless washed with soap. The campaign reached 82% of the study population. Sixty-two per cent of women knew the campaign song, 44% were exposed to one channel and 36% to two or more. Overall, TV and radio had greater reach and impact on reported handwashing than community events, while exposure to both a mass media channel and an event yielded the greatest effect, resulting in a 30% increase in reported handwashing with soap after visiting the toilet or cleaning a child's bottom. Our evaluation questions wide-held belief that community events are more effective agents of behaviour change than mass media commercials, at least in the case of hygiene promotion. However, failure of mass media to reach the entire target audience, particularly in specific regions and lower socio-economic groups, and the additive effect of exposure, underscores the need to implement integrated communication programmes utilizing a variety of complementary channels. © The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. | None | adult; article; evaluation; female; Ghana; hand washing; health behavior; human; hygiene; major clinical study; marketing; mass medium; priority journal; socioeconomics; telecommunication; television; Adolescent; Adult; Female; Ghana; Handwashing; Health Education; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Hygiene; Mass Media; Middle Aged; Mothers; Socioeconomic Factors | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79953086717 | Experiences in monitoring and assessment of sustainable land management | Schwilch G., Bestelmeyer B., Bunning S., Critchley W., Herrick J., Kellner K., Liniger H.P., Nachtergaele F., Ritsema C.J., Schuster B., Tabo R., van Lynden G., Winslow M. | 2011 | Land Degradation and Development | 22 | 2 | 10.1002/ldr.1040 | Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern, Hallerstrasse 10, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, Las Cruces, NM 88002, United States; FAO Land and Water Division, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, Rome 00153, Italy; Centre for International Cooperation, VU University, Amsterdam, Netherlands; School of Environmental Sciences and Development, North-West University, South Africa; Alterra, P.O. Box 47, Wageningen 6700 AA, Netherlands; Land Degradation and Development Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, Wageningen 6700 AA, Netherlands; Institute for Water, Environment and Health, United Nations University, Germany; Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), PMB CT 173 Cantonments, Accra, Ghana; ISRIC World Soil Information, WUR, P.O. Box 353, Wageningen 6700 AJ, Netherlands; International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India | Schwilch, G., Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern, Hallerstrasse 10, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; Bestelmeyer, B., USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, Las Cruces, NM 88002, United States; Bunning, S., FAO Land and Water Division, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, Rome 00153, Italy; Critchley, W., Centre for International Cooperation, VU University, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Herrick, J., USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, Las Cruces, NM 88002, United States; Kellner, K., School of Environmental Sciences and Development, North-West University, South Africa; Liniger, H.P., Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern, Hallerstrasse 10, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; Nachtergaele, F., FAO Land and Water Division, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, Rome 00153, Italy; Ritsema, C.J., Alterra, P.O. Box 47, Wageningen 6700 AA, Netherlands, Land Degradation and Development Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, Wageningen 6700 AA, Netherlands; Schuster, B., Institute for Water, Environment and Health, United Nations University, Germany; Tabo, R., Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), PMB CT 173 Cantonments, Accra, Ghana; van Lynden, G., ISRIC World Soil Information, WUR, P.O. Box 353, Wageningen 6700 AJ, Netherlands; Winslow, M., International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India | Although sustainable land management (SLM) is widely promoted to prevent and mitigate land degradation and desertification, its monitoring and assessment (M&A) has received much less attention. This paper compiles methodological approaches which to date have been little reported in the literature. It draws lessons from these experiences and identifies common elements and future pathways as a basis for a global approach. The paper starts with local level methods where the World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT) framework catalogues SLM case studies. This tool has been included in the local level assessment of Land Degradation Assessment in Drylands (LADA) and in the EU-DESIRE project. Complementary site-based approaches can enhance an ecological process-based understanding of SLM variation. At national and sub-national levels, a joint WOCAT/LADA/DESIRE spatial assessment based on land use systems identifies the status and trends of degradation and SLM, including causes, drivers and impacts on ecosystem services. Expert consultation is combined with scientific evidence and enhanced where necessary with secondary data and indicator databases. At the global level, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) knowledge from the land (KM:Land) initiative uses indicators to demonstrate impacts of SLM investments. Key lessons learnt include the need for a multi-scale approach, making use of common indicators and a variety of information sources, including scientific data and local knowledge through participatory methods. Methodological consistencies allow cross-scale analyses, and findings are analysed and documented for use by decision-makers at various levels. Effective M&A of SLM [e.g. for United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)] requires a comprehensive methodological framework agreed by the major players. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. | Desertification; Impact assessment; Methodological framework; Monitoring; Multiple scales; Participatory approaches; Sustainable land management | Desertification; Impact assessment; Methodological frameworks; Multiple scales; Participatory approach; Sustainable land management; Climatology; Degradation; Economics; Ecosystems; Land use; Rating; desertification; environmental assessment; environmental management; environmental monitoring; land degradation; land management; participatory approach | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78650444521 | Jet lag and environmental conditions that may influence exercise performance during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa | Schwellnus M.P., Derman E.W. | 2010 | South African Family Practice | 52 | 3 | None | Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Research Center, South Africa | Schwellnus, M.P., Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Research Center, South Africa; Derman, E.W., Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Research Center, South Africa | The 2010 FIFA World Cup will be held in South Africa in June/July 2010. This is the largest international sports event ever to be held in this country. At this time 32 international football teams, with their management and supporters, will travel to South Africa. These players and visitors will be exposed to changes in time zones (those travelling from continents in the East and West) as well as different environmental conditions. In particular, for the players, the achievement of peak sporting performance during this event is most important. It is well established that, in order to achieve peak exercise performance, many variables need to be optimised. These variables include physical and mental training, rest, nutrition, team dynamics and tactics. However, adjustments to differences in time zones as well as environmental factors on and around the playing field can also have a significant impact on exercise performance. In this review, the potential effects of "jet lag", as well as several important environmental conditions, on exercise performance will be discussed. The climatic, atmospheric and weather conditions that are likely to be prevalent in each of the South African host cities at the time of the 2010 FIFA World Cup will be reviewed. Finally, practical recommendations to deal with the effects of jet lag, as well as guidelines to optimise performance under different environmental conditions that are expected during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, will be provided. | Allergy; Cold; Environment; Heat; Jet lag; Performance; Pollution; Soccer; Travel | allergen; carboxyhemoglobin; clorgyline; corticotropin; estradiol; fenclonine; levodopa; lithium; melatonin; ozone; pollen antigen; sulfur dioxide; tricyclic antidepressant agent; volatile organic compound; acclimatization; age distribution; air pollution; allergenicity; article; athletic performance; biological rhythm; body temperature; bronchospasm; chronobiology; circadian rhythm sleep disorder; climate; environmental factor; environmental temperature; exercise; exercise induced bronchoconstriction; football; grass; hemoglobin blood level; human; hyperthermia; hypothermia; jet lag; light dark cycle; particulate matter; pollen allergy; practice guideline; South Africa; time; training; travel; ultraviolet B radiation; weather | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84880078317 | Impact of genetics on the clinical management of channelopathies | Schwartz P.J., Ackerman M.J., George Jr. A.L., Wilde A.A.M. | 2013 | Journal of the American College of Cardiology | 62 | 3 | 10.1016/j.jacc.2013.04.044 | Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, C/o Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, V.le Golgi 19, 27100 Pavia, Italy; Department of Cardiology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy; Hatter Institute for Cardiovascular Research in Africa, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Medicine, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States; Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Windland Smith Rice Sudden Death Genomics Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States; Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States; Institute for Integrative Genomics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States; Department of Cardiology, Heart Failure Research Centre, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Princess Al Jawhara Albrahim Centre of Excellence in Research of Hereditary Disorders, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | Schwartz, P.J., Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, C/o Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, V.le Golgi 19, 27100 Pavia, Italy, Department of Cardiology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy, Hatter Institute for Cardiovascular Research in Africa, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, Department of Medicine, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa, Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Ackerman, M.J., Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States, Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Windland Smith Rice Sudden Death Genomics Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States; George Jr., A.L., Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States, Institute for Integrative Genomics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States; Wilde, A.A.M., Department of Cardiology, Heart Failure Research Centre, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Princess Al Jawhara Albrahim Centre of Excellence in Research of Hereditary Disorders, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | There are few areas in cardiology in which the impact of genetics and genetic testing on clinical management has been as great as in cardiac channelopathies, arrhythmic disorders of genetic origin related to the ionic control of the cardiac action potential. Among the growing number of diseases identified as channelopathies, 3 are sufficiently prevalent to represent significant clinical and societal problems and to warrant adequate understanding by practicing cardiologists: long QT syndrome, catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, and Brugada syndrome. This review will focus selectively on the impact of genetic discoveries on clinical management of these 3 diseases. For each disorder, we will discuss to what extent genetic knowledge and clinical genetic test results modify the way cardiologists should approach and manage affected patients. We will also address the optimal use of genetic testing, including its potential limitations and the potential medico-legal implications when such testing is not performed. We will highlight how important it is to understand the ways that genotype can affect clinical manifestations, risk stratification, and responses to the therapy. We will also illustrate the close bridge between molecular biology and clinical medicine, and will emphasize that consideration of the genetic basis for these heritable arrhythmia syndromes and the proper use and interpretation of clinical genetic testing should remain the standard of care. © 2013 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation. | channelopathies; gene-specific management; genetic testing; heart rhythm disorder; sudden death | beta adrenergic receptor blocking agent; mexiletine; article; Brugada syndrome; cardiac channelopathy; catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia; CAV3 gene; clinical feature; DNA sequence; electrocardiography; exercise test; gene; gene identification; gene mutation; genetic association; genetic screening; genotype; genotype phenotype correlation; heart repolarization; heart ventricle fibrillation; heterozygosity; homozygosity; human; KCNH2 gene; KCNQ1 gene; long QT syndrome; LQT10 gene; LQT12 gene; LQT9 gene; missense mutation; pathogenesis; priority journal; SCN4B gene; SCN5A gene; sex difference; signal transduction; single nucleotide polymorphism; SNTA1 gene; torsade des pointes; Animals; Channelopathies; Disease Management; Genetic Testing; Genotype; Humans; Long QT Syndrome | HL068880, NIH, National Institutes of Health; HL083374, NIH, National Institutes of Health |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-38849190723 | Solitary pulmonary nodule evaluation with 99mTc-methoxy isobutyl isonitrile in a tuberculosis-endemic area | Schuurmans M.M., Ellmann A., Bouma H., Diacon A.H., Dyckmans K., Bolliger C.T. | 2007 | European Respiratory Journal | 30 | 6 | 10.1183/09031936.00046107 | Dept. of Internal Medicine, Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Dept. of Nuclear Medicine, Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Dept. of Internal Medicine, Stellenbosch University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Francie van Zijl Drive, 7505 Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa | Schuurmans, M.M., Dept. of Internal Medicine, Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa, Dept. of Internal Medicine, Stellenbosch University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Francie van Zijl Drive, 7505 Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa; Ellmann, A., Dept. of Nuclear Medicine, Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Bouma, H., Dept. of Nuclear Medicine, Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Diacon, A.H., Dept. of Internal Medicine, Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Dyckmans, K., Dept. of Internal Medicine, Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Bolliger, C.T., Dept. of Internal Medicine, Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa | High prevalence of tuberculosis increases the odds for nonmalignant solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs). Positron emission tomography (PET) using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose is the method of choice for the identification of malignant SPNs requiring curative surgery. However, PET is not widely available. Technetium-99m methoxy isobutyl isonitrile (MIBI) is inexpensive, widely available and shows increased uptake in malignant SPNs. The aim of the present study was to prospectively evaluate the diagnostic value of MIBI single photon emission computed tomography to distinguish between benign and malignant SPNs in a tuberculosis-endemic area. In total, 49 patients with radiologically indeterminate SPNs (single lesion ≤6 cm in diameter) were prospectively evaluated with MIBI. The final diagnosis was established with bronchoscopy, fine-needle aspiration, surgical resection or clinical follow-up for ≥2 yrs. A total of 12 (92%) out of 13 malignant lesions showed increased uptake of MIBI, while no uptake was observed in 33 (92%) out of 36 benign lesions. MIBI uptake indicated malignancy with a sensitivity and specificity of 92% and a negative predictive value of 97%. In this tuberculosis-endemic area, technetium-99m methoxy isobutyl isonitrile single photon emission computed tomography evaluation of solitary pulmonary nodules had a high negative predictive value. Therefore, it has the potential to prevent unnecessary surgical resections of benign nodules and serve as a low-cost alternative when positron emission tomography is not available. Copyright©ERS Journals Ltd 2007. | Diagnosis; Lung cancer; Solitary pulmonary nodule; Technetium-99m-labelled methoxy isobutyl isonitrile; Tuberculosis | fluorodeoxyglucose f 18; methoxy isobutyl isonitrile technetium tc 99m; article; bronchoscopy; clinical article; computer assisted tomography; controlled study; diagnostic procedure; drug uptake; follow up; health care planning; health care system; human; lung nodule; outcome assessment; patient assessment; photon emission tomography; positron emission tomography; priority journal; sensitivity and specificity; single photon emission computer tomography; thorax radiography; tuberculosis; Coin Lesion, Pulmonary; Endemic Diseases; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Radiography, Thoracic; South Africa; Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; Treatment Outcome; Tuberculosis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34250673163 | Multicenter evaluation of the new Abbott Realtime assays for quantitative detection of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and hepatitis C virus RNA | Schutten M., Peters D., Back N.K.T., Beld M., Beuselinck K., Foulongne V., Geretti A.-M., Pandiani L., Tiemann C., Niesters H.G.M. | 2007 | Journal of Clinical Microbiology | 45 | 6 | 10.1128/JCM.02385-06 | Department of Virology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands; InnovirGroup of Companies, Gardenview 2047, South Africa; Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Laboratory of Molecular Diagnostics, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory of Virology, Montpellier University Hospital, 80 Ave. A. Fliche, 34295 Montpellier, France; Department of Virology, Royal Free Hospital, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London NW3 2PF, United Kingdom; Laboratoires Marcel Mérieux, BP 7322, 69357 Lyon Cedex 07, France; LABCON-OWL, Labor Dr. Krone und Partner, Herford, Germany; Department of Virology, Erasmus MC, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD Rotterdam, Netherlands | Schutten, M., Department of Virology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands, Department of Virology, Erasmus MC, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD Rotterdam, Netherlands; Peters, D., InnovirGroup of Companies, Gardenview 2047, South Africa; Back, N.K.T., Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Beld, M., Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Beuselinck, K., Laboratory of Molecular Diagnostics, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Foulongne, V., Laboratory of Virology, Montpellier University Hospital, 80 Ave. A. Fliche, 34295 Montpellier, France; Geretti, A.-M., Department of Virology, Royal Free Hospital, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London NW3 2PF, United Kingdom; Pandiani, L., Laboratoires Marcel Mérieux, BP 7322, 69357 Lyon Cedex 07, France; Tiemann, C., LABCON-OWL, Labor Dr. Krone und Partner, Herford, Germany; Niesters, H.G.M., Department of Virology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands | The analytical performances of the new Abbott RealTime hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 viral load assays were compared at nine laboratories with different competitor assays. These included the Abbott LcX, Bayer Versant bDNA, Roche COBAS Amplicor, and Roche COBAS TaqMan assays. Two different protocols used during the testing period with and without a pre-m1000 RNA isolation spin were compared. The difference proved to be nonsignificant. A uracil-N-glycosylase (UNG) contamination control option in the HCV test for previous Roche COBAS Amplicor users was evaluated. It proved to decrease amplicon carryover by 100-fold independent of the amplicon input concentration. The protocol including UNG proved to overcome problems with false-positive negative controls. Comparison with other assays revealed only minor differences. The largest difference was observed between the Abbott HCV RealTime assay and the Roche COBAS Amplicor HCV Monitor version 2.0 assay. Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved. | None | messenger RNA; virus RNA; amplicon; analytical equipment; article; comparative study; contamination; data analysis; Hepatitis C virus; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; multicenter study; nonhuman; performance; priority journal; quality control; reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; RNA isolation; virus detection; virus load; virus titration; Hepacivirus; Hepatitis C; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Viral; Uracil-DNA Glycosidase; Viral Load; Hepatitis C virus; Human immunodeficiency virus 1 | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-20444503401 | Asset life cycle management: Towards improving physical asset performance in the process industry | Schuman C.A., Brent A.C. | 2005 | International Journal of Operations and Production Management | 25 | 6 | 10.1108/01443570510599728 | Department of Engineering and Technology Management, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Schuman, C.A., Department of Engineering and Technology Management, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Brent, A.C., Department of Engineering and Technology Management, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Purpose - Asset management is often one of the last options to maximise cost savings in a competitive global economy due to its intrinsic complexity, especially in many developing countries. Asset management in the process industry must consider the commissioning, operational and end-of-life phases of physical assets when commencing a design and implementation project. However, current asset management models show inefficiencies in terms of addressing life cycle costs comprehensively, as well as other aspects of sustainable development. An asset life cycle management (ALCM) model is subsequently proposed for assets in the process industry, which integrates the concepts of generic project management frameworks and systems engineering with operational reliability in order to address these inefficiencies. Design/methodology/approach - Experiences within a large petrochemical company in South Africa are used as a case study to demonstrate and discuss the different components of the proposed ALCM model. Findings - Operational reliability and systems engineering are the means to achieve optimum value from physical assets over a facility's lifetime. Thereby, activities are identified that should be completed during each stage of the project life cycle. The application of performance measurements for the operation and support stages is proposed to influence decision making in the process industry. Originality/ value - Specific issues pertaining to the ALCM model are highlighted to ensure optimal practicality and incorporation of the model with other management practices in the process industry. © Emerald Group publishing Limited. | Assets; Assets management; Maintenance; Project management | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84937032833 | The optical design and performance of a concentrator photovoltaic module | Schultz R.D., van Dyk E.E., Vorster F.J. | 2015 | Journal of Energy in Southern Africa | 26 | 2 | None | Centre for Energy Research, Department of Physics, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa | Schultz, R.D., Centre for Energy Research, Department of Physics, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa; van Dyk, E.E., Centre for Energy Research, Department of Physics, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa; Vorster, F.J., Centre for Energy Research, Department of Physics, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa | Concentration photovoltaic (CPV) modules promise a more efficient, higher power output than traditional photovoltaic modules. This is achieved by concentrating sunlight onto a small 1 cm2 concentrator triple-junction (CTJ) InGaP/InGaAs/Ge cell by using high quality precision optics. In order to achieve high energy performance and reliability, well thought-out design decisions must be made in the development of a CPV module. This paper investigates the design of two CPV modules (Module I and II), which are based on the Sandia III Baseline Fresnel module. The investigation concentrated on the effect of the optimization of the optical design on the electrical performance characteristics of CTJ cells with good thermal dissipation. The best performance achieved by Module I was at 336 times operational concentration (Xo), which produced a Pmax of 10.29 W per cell, with cell and module efficiencies of 39% and 24%, respectively. In the development of the second module (Module II) pre-deployment criteria such as the CTJ cell and system components characteristics was used to eliminate faulty components from the system what was observed in Module I. Cell units that were optimized in Module II showed no form of degradation in their Current-Voltage (I-V) characteristics. The cell unit operating under optical misalignment showed a progressive degradation with long term operation in the field. | Concentrated triple junction cells; Concentrator photovoltaics; Degradation; Efficiency | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84946477870 | Ultrasonographic and laparoscopic evaluation of the reproductive tract in older captive female cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) | Schulman M.L., Kirberger R.M., Tordiffe A.S.W., Marker L.L., Schmidt-Küntzel A., Hartman M.J. | 2015 | Theriogenology | 84 | 9 | 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2015.08.011 | Section of Reproduction, Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa; Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa; National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa; Cheetah Conservation Fund, Otjiwarongo, Namibia | Schulman, M.L., Section of Reproduction, Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa; Kirberger, R.M., Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa; Tordiffe, A.S.W., National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa; Marker, L.L., Cheetah Conservation Fund, Otjiwarongo, Namibia; Schmidt-Küntzel, A., Cheetah Conservation Fund, Otjiwarongo, Namibia; Hartman, M.J., Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa | The study uniquely described the clinical value of transabdominal ultrasonography for monitoring features characterizing the estrous cycle in female cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus). The reproductive tracts of 21 female, iparous, and relatively aged (median: 11 and interquartile range: 9.25-14 years) captive cheetahs resident on two sites in Namibia were assessed by transabdominal ultrasound. Subsequently, the ovarian findings on ultrasound were compared with direct visualization while performing laparoscopic sterilization. A combination of these observations supported by concurrent sampling for vaginal cytology and serum progesterone concentrations defined the estrous status of individual animals. At one site, six cheetahs had been implanted with the GnRH agonist, deslorelin as a contraceptive at least once within the preceding 11 years. On ultrasound, 31 uterine horns and 35 ovaries with discernible structures on 28 (86%) were visualized in the 21 cheetahs. The uterine body was difficult to visualize because of its intrapelvic location. Eleven of 19 uteri (58%) visualized showed endometrial edema suggestive of estrogenization. The uteri of four cheetahs (19%) showed evidence of mild cystic endometrial hyperplasia. Paraovarian cysts were seen on ultrasound (n = 21) and laparoscopy (n = 26) in 16 (76.2%) and 18 (85.7%) cheetahs, respectively. Ovarian volumes obtained from ultrasonographically determined dimensions predicted cyclic activity. Laparoscopy showed that 19 ovaries had discernible follicular structures. In the study population, 10 (47.6%) cheetahs were in proestrus or estrus; none in the luteal phase; and 11 (52.4%) in anestrus. Transabdominal ultrasound, in combination with serum progesterone concentrations and vaginal cytology, was used with acceptable accuracy to assess cyclic ovarian activity in captive cheetahs. A considerable proportion of this aged population showed ovarian activity and the prevalence of paraovarian cysts was notable. A history of prior deslorelin treatment was not associated with either reproductive activity or uterine pathology. © 2015 Elsevier Inc. | Cheetah; Cystic endometrial hyperplasia; Deslorelin; Ovarian activity; Paraovarian cyst | None | None |
| None | None | Monitoring CD27 expression to evaluate mycobacterium tuberculosis activity in HIV-1 infected individuals in vivo | Schuetz A., Haule A., Reither K., Ngwenyama N., Rachow A., Meyerhans A., Maboko L., Koup R.A., Hoelscher M., Geldmacher C. | 2011 | PLoS ONE | 6 | 11 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0027284 | NIMR-Mbeya Medical Research Programme, Referral Hospital, Mbeya, Tanzania; Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Klinikum of University of Munich, Munich, Germany; Immunology Laboratory, Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States; Institute of Infections Medicine, Institute of Virology, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany; Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Walter Reed Program, Department of Retrovirology, USAMC-AFRIMS, Bangkok, Thailand | Schuetz, A., NIMR-Mbeya Medical Research Programme, Referral Hospital, Mbeya, Tanzania, Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Walter Reed Program, Department of Retrovirology, USAMC-AFRIMS, Bangkok, Thailand; Haule, A., NIMR-Mbeya Medical Research Programme, Referral Hospital, Mbeya, Tanzania; Reither, K., NIMR-Mbeya Medical Research Programme, Referral Hospital, Mbeya, Tanzania, Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Klinikum of University of Munich, Munich, Germany; Ngwenyama, N., Immunology Laboratory, Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States; Rachow, A., NIMR-Mbeya Medical Research Programme, Referral Hospital, Mbeya, Tanzania, Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Klinikum of University of Munich, Munich, Germany; Meyerhans, A., Institute of Infections Medicine, Institute of Virology, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany; Maboko, L., NIMR-Mbeya Medical Research Programme, Referral Hospital, Mbeya, Tanzania; Koup, R.A., Immunology Laboratory, Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States; Hoelscher, M., Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Klinikum of University of Munich, Munich, Germany; Geldmacher, C., Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Klinikum of University of Munich, Munich, Germany, Immunology Laboratory, Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States | The level of bacterial activity is only poorly defined during asymptomatic Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection. The objective was to study the capacity of a new biomarker, the expression of the T cell maturation marker CD27 on MTB-specific CD4 T cells, to identify active tuberculosis (TB) disease in subjects from a MTB and HIV endemic region. The frequency and CD27 expression of circulating MTB-specific CD4 T cells was determined in 96 study participants after stimulation with purified protein derivative (PPD) using intracellular cytokine staining for IFNgamma (IFNγ). Subjects were then stratified by their TB and HIV status. Within PPD responders, a CD27 - phenotype was associated with active TB in HIV - (p = 0.0003) and HIV + (p = 0.057) subjects, respectively. In addition, loss of CD27 expression preceded development of active TB in one HIV seroconverter. Interestingly, in contrast to HIV - subjects, MTB-specific CD4 T cell populations from HIV + TB-asymptomatic subjects were often dominated by CD27 - cells. These data indicate that down-regulation of CD27 on MTB-specific CD4 T cell could be used as a biomarker of active TB, potentially preceding clinical TB disease. Furthermore, these data are consistent with the hypothesis that late, chronic HIV infection is frequently associated with increased mycobacterial activity in vivo. The analysis of T cell maturation and activation markers might thus be a useful tool to monitor TB disease progression. © 2011 Schuetz et al. | None | biological marker; CD27 antigen; biological marker; CD27 antigen; gamma interferon; antigen expression; article; CD4 lymphocyte count; cell maturation; cell population; controlled study; disease association; down regulation; endemic disease; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; in vivo study; interferon gamma release assay; major clinical study; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; nonhuman; phenotype; seroconversion; CD4+ T lymphocyte; gene expression; genetics; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; microbiology; tuberculosis; Bacteria (microorganisms); Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Antigens, CD27; Biological Markers; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Down-Regulation; Gene Expression; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Interferon-gamma; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Tuberculosis | 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-s2.0-84919863409 | Using impacts of deep-level mining to research karst hydrology—a Darcy-based approach to predict the future of dried-up dolomitic springs in the Far West Rand goldfield (South Africa). Part 1: a conceptual model of recharge and inter-compartmental flow | Schrader A., Winde F., Erasmus E. | 2014 | Environmental Earth Sciences | 72 | 9 | 10.1007/s12665-014-3263-0 | North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Mine Water Re-Search Group, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa | Schrader, A., North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Winde, F., Mine Water Re-Search Group, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa; Erasmus, E., Mine Water Re-Search Group, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa | Some of the world’s deepest goldmines are located in the Far West Rand (FWR) goldfield operating below of up to 1.2-km-thick dolomites hosting some of the largest karst aquifers in South Africa. Associated impacts include the dewatering of the overlying karst aquifers as well as linking previously disconnected compartments by mining through aquicludes (dykes). The focus of the study is on predicting groundwater balances in re-watered aquifers after mining ceases as this will determine whether or not associated karst springs that dried-up due to dewatering will ever flow again. Critically revisiting, Swart et al. (Environ Geol 44:751–770, 2003a) who predict that all springs will flow again, this study uses significantly larger data sets and modified assumptions to increase the robustness of findings as the question is crucial for post-closure development. As a first of two papers, this part develops a conceptual model on the mega-compartment concept that predicts a flat water table across all linked compartments that would leave the springs dry. The model identifies the ratio between inflowing surface water (recharge) and underground water losses to downstream compartments via mined-through dykes (‘inter-compartmental groundwater flow’, IGF) as a key factor governing the elevation of the post-mining water table, creating the base for part 2, where the IGF and the post-mining water tables are determined using unique large data sets that have not been evaluated before. © 2014, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. | Dewatering; Dolomitic compartments; Mega-compartment concept; Post-mining spring flow; Re-watering | Aquifers; Dewatering; Forecasting; Gold; Groundwater; Groundwater flow; Groundwater resources; Hydrogeology; Landforms; Springs (water); Surface waters; Conceptual model; Deep-level mining; Dolomitic compartments; Karst hydrology; Large datasets; Mega-compartment concept; Re-watering; Spring flow; Recharging (underground waters); conceptual framework; Darcy law; data set; dewatering; dike; dolomite; environmental impact; gold mine; groundwater flow; karst hydrology; prediction; recharge; water budget; water table; South Africa; Centrostegia thurberi | 86331, NRF, National Research Foundation |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84907092997 | Using impacts of deep-level mining to research karst hydrology—a Darcy-based approach to predict the future of dried-up dolomitic springs in the Far West Rand goldfield (South Africa). Part 2: predicting inter-compartmental flow and final groundwater tabl | Schrader A., Winde F., Erasmus E. | 2014 | Environmental Earth Sciences | 72 | 7 | 10.1007/s12665-014-3298-2 | North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Mine Water Re-Search Group, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa | Schrader, A., North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Winde, F., Mine Water Re-Search Group, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa; Erasmus, E., Mine Water Re-Search Group, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa | Some of the world’s deepest goldmines operate below dolomitic karst aquifers in the Far West Rand (FWR) goldfield, South Africa. Associated impacts include the continuous dewatering of karst aquifers for over six decades and irreversible changes of the hydrogeological setting. Affecting an area of approximately 400 km2 by drawing down the water table up to 700 m, these impacts, and the large amounts of data generated in the process, are used as unique research opportunities to better understand the complex karst hydrology. The focus of this study is on predicting final water table elevations in rewatered aquifers after mining ceases taking the fact that mines hydraulically linked previously disconnected aquifers into account. While part 1 of this series develops the conceptual model, this second part utilises large sets of pertinent data to calculate actual flow rates for predicting the fate of dried up springs after mine closure. Following a Darcy-based approach first applied by Swart et al. (Environ Geol 44:751–770, 2003a) it is not only predicted that the springs will flow again but also shown that linear relationships exist between flow rates through a combined system of karst-fractured aquifers overlying the mine void and the associated hydraulic head driving them. This suggests that—at this scale—porous media-based equations can be meaningfully used to predict flow in non-porous media. © 2014, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. | Darcy’s law; Deep-level mining; Dewatered dolomitic compartments; Dried-up karst springs; Post-mine closure rewatering | Aquifers; Dewatering; Flow rate; Forecasting; Gold; Groundwater resources; Landforms; Plant shutdowns; Porous materials; Springs (water); Deep-level mining; Dewatered dolomitic compartments; Hydrogeological settings; Karst springs; Large amounts of data; Re-watering; Research opportunities; Water table elevation; Hydrogeology; closure; dewatering; hydraulic head; karst; karst hydrology; mining; water flow; water table; South Africa | 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-s2.0-33644520644 | 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-s2.0-77955818938 | The possible impact of inflation on nutritionally vulnerable households in a developing country using South Africa as a case study | Schönfeldt H.C., Gibson N., Vermeulen H. | 2010 | Nutrition Bulletin | 35 | 3 | 10.1111/j.1467-3010.2010.01837.x | School of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development, University of Pretoria and BFAP, Pretoria, South Africa | Schönfeldt, H.C., School of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Gibson, N., School of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Vermeulen, H., Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development, University of Pretoria and BFAP, Pretoria, South Africa | Food is a basic human physiological need that is important for survival, growth, health and general well-being. Without an adequate supply of food, a human being can neither grow or develop optimally, nor utilize energy for sustained livelihood, thereby implying food insecurity. South Africa (SA) is classified as a developing country, with developing countries representing a third of the world's population. Unfortunately, as is often the case in developing countries, limited up-to-date surveys and consumption data are available. In fact, SA has only ever had one National Food Consumption Survey (NFCS) in 1999, in preparation for the introduction of a food fortification programme. However, the available information still sketches the severity of the situation within emergent economies. It is recognised that modern rates of food inflation are a worldwide phenomenon and it is argued that SA as a case study presents a much wider insight than just an individual country. About 35% of the South African population is food insecure and categorized as being poor. With the current continual increase in food prices, especially staple food prices, most households need to employ food coping strategies to survive. Some of these strategies have a significant negative impact on their often already deprived nutritional status. The possible added impact of current inflation on the nutritional status of vulnerable South African households is discussed in this paper. A consequent potential reduction in portion sizes of staple foods consumed because of increased food prices, as well as a snapshot of the cost of a balanced varied diet compared with average household income, are presented in the context of SA's prevailing inadequate nutritional situation. © 2010 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2010 British Nutrition Foundation. | Developing country; Household; Inflation; Nutrition; Vulnerable | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84904280719 | The impact of animal source food products on human nutrition and health | Schönfeldt H.C., Pretorius B., Hall N. | 2013 | South African Journal of Animal Sciences | 43 | 3 | 10.4314/sajas.v43i3.11 | Institute of Food, Nutrition and Well-being, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa | Schönfeldt, H.C., Institute of Food, Nutrition and Well-being, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa, Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Pretorius, B., Institute of Food, Nutrition and Well-being, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa, Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Hall, N., Institute of Food, Nutrition and Well-being, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa, Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa | Throughout the ages the quest for food and drink has influenced humanity's economic, social and political development, and played a role in the organization of society and history. Nutrition (or what we choose to consume) influences the health of human beings and therefore their quality of life. Animal source foods are often the dietary component that evokes the widest array of complex scientific, economic, environmental and political issues. It is viewed as the most expensive component of any diet, yet can make significant contributions to human health through providing high quantities of essential nutrients. In addition to quantity, the high quality of the nutrients in animal source foods is important as high-quality nutrients are more readily absorbed into the human body than lower-quality nutrients from other food and non-food sources. As South Africans increasingly suffer the consequences of inappropriate diets (over-and under-nutrition), the role of animal source foods as part of a healthy diet requires continuous investment in research and extrapolation of information towards appropriate guidelines and recommendations. Although it is often suggested that the intake of animal source foods should be limited because of possible linkages between animal product consumption and health, scientific evidence increasingly indicates the beneficial role that animal source foods can play in preventing and combating obesity and certain non-communicable diseases related to over-nutrition. This article aims to describe the nutritional role of animal source foods as part of a healthy South African diet and presents a review of recent findings related to their nutrient contribution, as well as evidence relating to common health concerns. | Animal source foods; Health; Livestock products; Nutrition | None | 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-s2.0-79951521184 | Evaluation of models for assessing Medicago sativa L. hay quality | Scholtz G.D.J., van der Merwe H.J., Tylutki T.P. | 2009 | South African Journal of Animal Sciences | 39 | SUPPL. 1 | None | Department of Animal- Wildlife- and Grassland Sciences, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 399, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa; Agricultural Modeling and Training Systems, 418 Davis Rd Cortland, NY 13045, United States | Scholtz, G.D.J., Department of Animal- Wildlife- and Grassland Sciences, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 399, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa; van der Merwe, H.J., Department of Animal- Wildlife- and Grassland Sciences, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 399, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa; Tylutki, T.P., Agricultural Modeling and Training Systems, 418 Davis Rd Cortland, NY 13045, United States | A study was conducted to evaluate current proposed models for assessing Medicago sativa L. hay quality, using near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) analyses and Cornell Nett Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) milk production prediction as a criterion of accuracy. Application of the theoretically-based summative total digestible nutrients (TDNlig) model of Weiss et al. (1992), using lignin to determine truly digestible NDF, explained almost all of the variation in milk yield (MY) (r 2 = 0.98). However, this model involves high analysis costs to develop and maintain NIRS calibrations and several of its components were poorly predicted by NIRS and therefore, not suited for quality assessment in practice. Current available models (forage quality index (FQI), relative forage quality (RFQ); relative feed value (RFV)) for assessing Medicago sativa L. hay quality revealed lower accuracies (r 2 = 0.83, r 2 = 0.76, r 2 = 0.61, respectively), especially when protein was included in the model (total forage quality index (TFI); r 2 < 0.49). The developed empirical equation named lucerne milk value (LMV), including ADF, ash and lignin (Y = b0 - b1ADF - b2ash - b3lignin) (r 2 = 0.96), proved to be the most practical, simplistic, economical and accurate quality evaluation model for commercial application. © South African Society for Animal Science. | CNCPS; FQI; LMV; Lucerne hay; NIRS; RFQ; RFV; TFI | Lettuce mosaic virus; Medicago sativa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84890794785 | The impact of Pseudotheraptus wayi Brown (Hemiptera: Coreidae) on premature fruit drop and yield of Litchi chinensis in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa | Schoeman P.S., Mohlala R. | 2013 | International Journal of Pest Management | 59 | 4 | 10.1080/09670874.2013.859332 | Agricultural Research Council - Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Crops, Private Bag X 11208, Nelspruit 1200, South Africa | Schoeman, P.S., Agricultural Research Council - Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Crops, Private Bag X 11208, Nelspruit 1200, South Africa; Mohlala, R., Agricultural Research Council - Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Crops, Private Bag X 11208, Nelspruit 1200, South Africa | This is the first record of the coconut bug Pseudotheraptus wayi on litchis in South Africa. Although damage on immature fruit was often in excess of 50%, chemical control of P. wayi did not necessarily increase yields. Litchi trees flower profusely and are probably able to compensate for damage which occurs early in the production season. Because litchis have a strong tendency towards biennial bearing, it was speculated that P. wayi could have a detrimental effect in orchards producing below-average yields. Since P. wayi damaged approximately 50% of the immature fruit in the Nelspruit region, it is safe to assume that litchi is a good alternative host for this insect. Producers of other subtropical fruit should take cognizance of this observation and adapt control programmes for hemipterans in adjoining orchards if necessary. © 2013 Agricultural Research Council, South Africa. | host plants; Litchi chinensis; Pseudotheraptus wayi; stink bugs; subtropical fruit | chemical control; crop damage; fruit production; host plant; insect; new record; orchard; yield response; Mpumalanga; South Africa; Coreidae; Hemiptera; Hexapoda; Litchi chinensis; Pentatomidae; Pseudotheraptus wayi | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84903273884 | Preliminary evaluation of guava selections for guava wilt disease resistance in South Africa | Schoeman M.H., Labuschagne N. | 2014 | South African Journal of Plant and Soil | 31 | 2 | 10.1080/02571862.2014.917385 | Agricultural Research Council-Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Crops, Nelspruit, South Africa; Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Schoeman, M.H., Agricultural Research Council-Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Crops, Nelspruit, South Africa; Labuschagne, N., Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Guava wilt disease (GWD), caused by Nalanthamala psidii, is a serious disease occurring in the guava-producing areas of the Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces of South Africa. Two resistant guava rootstocks, TS-G1 and TS-G2, were developed by the ARC-ITSC in 1995. In 2009, a renewed outbreak of GWD was reported, which also affected the resistant TS-G2 cultivar, placing the guava industry under threat again. The aim of this study was to seek resistant guava selections by means of in vitro screening of guava seedlings and subsequently testing the most promising selections in inoculation studies with N. psidii. A culture filtrate of N. psidii was used to screen guava seedlings in vitro. Promising selections were multiplied in tissue culture, hardened-off and planted in bags before inoculation with the GWD fungus in a shadehouse trial. The number of plants surviving nine months after inoculation was recorded. Although none of the selections showed complete resistance, selection MS44 showed some tolerance against the G2 isolate of the pathogen obtained from diseased TS-G2 trees, whilst selection MS70 showed some tolerance against the G1 isolate obtained from diseased TS-G1 trees. These selections were also resistant to the original Fan Retief isolate of the pathogen. © 2014 © Southern African Plant and Soil Sciences Committee. | guava wilt; in vitro screening; Nalanthamala psidii; resistance | cultivar; disease resistance; fruit; inoculation; pathogen; seedling; wilt; Limpopo; Mpumalanga; South Africa; Fungi; Nalanthamala psidii; Psidium | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-30044433053 | Evaluation of electrodialysis for the treatment of an industrial solid waste leachate | Schoeman J.J., Steyn A., Makgae M. | 2005 | Desalination | 186 | 42372 | 10.1016/j.desal.2005.04.061 | University of Pretoria, Department of Chemical Engineering, Water Utilisation Division, Pretoria, South Africa | Schoeman, J.J., University of Pretoria, Department of Chemical Engineering, Water Utilisation Division, Pretoria, South Africa; Steyn, A., University of Pretoria, Department of Chemical Engineering, Water Utilisation Division, Pretoria, South Africa; Makgae, M., University of Pretoria, Department of Chemical Engineering, Water Utilisation Division, Pretoria, South Africa | A hazardous leachate from an industrial landfill site is stored in lined dams. The TDS (approximately 100 g/l) and the organic concentration (approximately 70 g/l COD) of the leachate are high. The high TDS concentration of the leachate would make treatment with reverse osmosis (RO) very difficult. The leachate also contains high concentrations of iron, manganese, barium, strontium and phenolics. This leachate has the potential to pollute the water environment, if the dams overflow. Therefore, electrodialysis (ED) was evaluated as an alternative technology to desalinate/concentrate the leachate for effluent volume reduction and pollution control. Physical/chemical pretreatment of the leachate with fly ash and chemicals have shown that the fouling potential of the leachate for membrane systems could be significantly reduced. The AFN anionic membrane from Tokuyama Soda was found to be the most resistant anionic membrane towards membrane fouling during tests in a membrane fouling test cell. This membrane was then used in a laboratory-scale ED stack to evaluate the process for treatment of the leachate. It was found that the leachate could be effectively desalinated/concentrated with ED. The desalinated effluent was significantly less toxic and more biodegradable than the ED feed or brine which comprised approximately 38% of the treated leachate. It also appears that it should be possible to control membrane fouling with regular membrane cleanings. Electrodialysis pilot tests were finally conducted in the batch and feed-and-bleed modes to develop process design criteria for a full-scale application. It was found that an excellent quality water could be produced with batch ED treatment followed by RO desalination. The treated water is almost of potable quality (645 mg/l TDS) except for high COD (935 mg/l). Feed-and-bleed ED pilot tests have shown that the TDS of the leachate could be reduced from 116,255 mg/l to 2,435 mg/l (5 stage ED). Brine volume comprised approximately 41% of the treated leachate. The capital cost of an 80 kl/d (feed) ED plant is estimated at 2.38 million US$. Operational costs are estimated at 28.96 US$/kl. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Electrodialysis; Leachate characterisation; Leachate treatment; Membrane characteristics; Membrane fouling; Pollution control; Reverse osmosis; Treatment costs; Volume reduction | Industrial waste treatment; Leachate treatment; Membranes; Pollution control; Reverse osmosis; Solid wastes; Leachate characterisation; Membrane characteristics; Membrane fouling; Treatment costs; Volume reduction; Electrodialysis; electrodialysis; filtration; leachate; membrane | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34247636570 | Evaluation of microfiltration for the treatment of spent cutting-oil | Schoeman J.J., Novhe O. | 2007 | Water SA | 33 | 2 | None | University of Pretoria, Department of Chemical Engineering, Water Utilisation Division, Pretoria, South Africa | Schoeman, J.J., University of Pretoria, Department of Chemical Engineering, Water Utilisation Division, Pretoria, South Africa; Novhe, O., University of Pretoria, Department of Chemical Engineering, Water Utilisation Division, Pretoria, South Africa | A pilot plant using ceramic microfiltration membranes which could be regularly back-flushed with air for fouling control was evaluated for the treatment of spent cutting-oil. It was found that membrane fouling could be effectively controlled with regular air back-flushes (every 3 min for 1 s) and chemical cleaning using caustic soda. Permeate flux remained approximately constant and varied from 78 to 126 ℓ/h·m2 for the first six runs and from 114 to 150 ℓ/h·m2 for three more runs. An increase in feed temperature from ambient to 40°C and cleaning of the membrane with 1% caustic soda, increased permeate flux from 183 to 282 ℓ/h·m2 and from 195 to 264 ℓ/h·m2 in two more runs. Excellent COD (75.5 to 90.3%) and O&G (97.2 to 99.1%) removals were obtained. The permeate quality should be suitable for discharge to the municipal sewer system (O&G < 500 mg/ℓ) and the concentrated oil should be a useful energy source. Treatment of spent cutting-oil with microfiltration rather than landfilling should save valuable landfilling space. | COD removal; Fouling; Microfiltration; O&G removal; Permeate flux; Spent cutting-oil | Chemical oxygen demand; Fouling; Mechanical permeability; Microfiltration; Sewers; COD removal; Permeate flux; Spent cutting-oil; Cutting fluids; Chemical oxygen demand; Cutting fluids; Fouling; Mechanical permeability; Microfiltration; Sewers; bicarbonate; ceramics; chemical oxygen demand; flushing; fouling; landfill; membrane; oil; recycling; ultrafiltration; waste treatment | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-64549135729 | Performance of a water defluoridation plant in a rural area in South Africa | Schoeman J.J. | 2009 | Water SA | 35 | 1 | None | University of Pretoria, Department of Chemical Engineering, Water Utilisation Division, Pretoria, South Africa | Schoeman, J.J., University of Pretoria, Department of Chemical Engineering, Water Utilisation Division, Pretoria, South Africa | The fluoride concentration of a borehole water supply in a rural area (Madibeng Local Municipality, North West Province, South Africa) varies between 5 and 6 mg/ℓ. This water is therefore not suitable for potable purposes because the high fluoride concentration may cause mottling of tooth enamel in children and fluorosis in adults. Therefore, the fluoride concentration should be reduced to less than 1.5 mg/ℓ to make the water suitable for potable purposes. The activated alumina and reverse osmosis processes are both processes that can be very effectively applied for water defluoridation. The activated alumina process, however, is considered to be a more simple and robust process for water defluoridation, especially in a rural area. Therefore, the activated alumina process was selected for water defluoridation. An activated alumina plant was designed, constructed and commissioned in the rural area. Fluoride in the feed water is removed from 6 to 8 mg/ℓ to less than 1.5 mg/ℓ. No reduction in plant output was experienced over 6 service cycles. Therefore, it appears that fouling of the activated alumina should not be a problem. Plant output varied between 940 and 1 296 m3 to a fluoride breakthrough of approximately 2.0 mg/ℓ. No significant operational problems were experienced during commissioning and the plant is performing satisfactorily. Spent regenerant is disposed of into evaporation ponds. It was demonstrated that a 1st world technology could be effectively applied in a rural area with proper training and supervision of the operators. The capital and operational costs of the 200 m3/d defluoridation plant are estimated at approximately R1.2m. and R0.7/m3 treated water. | Activated alumina; Costs; Plant performance; Water defluoridation | Bore-hole waters; Defluoridation; Feed waters; Fluoride concentrations; In plants; NO reductions; Operational costs; Operational problems; Plant outputs; Plant performance; Service cycles; South Africa; Water defluoridation; Personnel training; Potable water; Reverse osmosis; Rural areas; Tooth enamel; Water supply; Activated alumina; aluminum oxide; concentration (composition); drinking water; fluoride; health risk; performance assessment; pollutant removal; rural area; water quality; water supply; water treatment; Africa; North West Province; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-67650290856 | Performance of tubular reverse osmosis for the desalination/ concentration of a municipal solid waste leachate | Schoeman J.J., Strachan L.J. | 2009 | Water SA | 35 | 3 | None | University of Pretoria, Department of Chemical Engineering, Water Utilisation Division, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Durban Solid Waste, Durban Metro City Council, PO Box 1038, Durban 4000, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | Schoeman, J.J., University of Pretoria, Department of Chemical Engineering, Water Utilisation Division, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Strachan, L.J., Durban Solid Waste, Durban Metro City Council, PO Box 1038, Durban 4000, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | Municipal solid waste leachate (MSWL) has the potential to pollute the water environment and to affect biological treatment processes adversely if not properly handled. Reverse osmosis (RO) has the ability to remove both organics and inorganics effectively from effuents. Therefore, RO was evaluated for the treatment of MSWL. It was found that both cellulose acetate and polyamide RO membranes should function effectively for the treatment of the leachate and that it should be possible to control membrane fouling with chemical cleaning. The polyamide membranes, however, performed somewhat better than the cellulose acetate membranes for the treatment of the leachate. The quality of the treated leachate with the exception of ammonia-nitrogen and COD should comply with the quality requirements for discharge into the water environment. Biological treatment processes are effective in complete removal (to only traceable levels) of ammonia-nitrogen and biodegradable COD. The quality of the treated effuent further complies with the quality requirements (chloride and heavy metals) for discharge into the municipal biological treatment system. The capital and operational cost of a 250 m3/d tubular reverse osmosis (TRO) plant is estimated at R1.95 m. and R11.45/m3, respectively. | Effuent quality; Leachate treatment; Membrane cleaning; Membrane fouling; Reverse osmosis; Treatment costs | Ammonia-nitrogen; Biological treatment process; Biological treatment systems; Cellulose acetate membrane; Cellulose acetates; Concentration of; Effuent quality; Inorganics; Leachate; Membrane cleaning; Municipal Solid Waste; Operational costs; Organics; Polyamide membranes; Quality requirements; RO membrane; Treatment costs; Water environments; Ammonia; Biochemical engineering; Cellulose; Chemical cleaning; Chlorine compounds; Heavy metals; Leaching; Membrane fouling; Membranes; Metal recovery; Nitrogen removal; Refuse disposal; Reverse osmosis; Solid wastes; Waste treatment; Water treatment; Leachate treatment; chemical oxygen demand; concentration (composition); desalination; leachate; membrane; municipal solid waste; osmosis; performance assessment; water pollution; Ammonia; Biotechnology; Cellulose; Chlorine Compounds; Cleaning; Costs; Fouling; Heavy Metals; Leaching; Membranes; Nitrogen; Quality; Removal; Reverse Osmosis; Solid Wastes; Waste Disposal | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-38849188454 | Evaluation of electrodialysis for the treatment of a hazardous leachate | Schoeman J.J. | 2008 | Desalination | 224 | 42372 | 10.1016/j.desal.2007.02.090 | Department of Chemical Engineering, Water Utilisation Division, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Schoeman, J.J., Department of Chemical Engineering, Water Utilisation Division, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | The chloride concentration of a hazardous leachate of approximately 22,000 mg/l is too high for the direct discharge requirement of less than 1000 mg/l into the municipal sewerage system. Electrodialysis (ED) was selected amongst various other alternative technologies for the desalination/concentration of the leachate. Lime pretreatment of the leachate was superior to caustic soda treatment for the removal of scale-forming chemicals (Ca, Ba, Sr, Fe, Mn). Membrane fouling took place during ED treatment. However, membrane fouling should be restored with polarity reversal and mechanical cleaning of the membranes. Batch ED tests have shown that ED performance remained more or less constant during eight desalination/concentration runs. The electrical energy consumption for ion transport and brine volume varied between 9.6 and 11.4 kWh/m3 feed and 17 and 35% of the treated feed, respectively. A very good quality water could be produced with ED treatment of the leachate. The electrical conductivity of the leachate could be reduced from 5,490 to 139 mS/m (97.5% removal). Chloride was reduced from 21,957 to 345 mg/l (98.4% removal). Arsenic was reduced from 8.8 to 1.37 mg/l. The capital cost for a 100 kl/d ED plant is estimated at US$ 0.600 million. Operational costs (ion transport) are estimated at US$ 0.38/m3 leachate. © 2008. | Costs; Electrodialysis; Leachate treatment; Membrane fouling | Cleaning; Desalination; Electrodialysis; Energy utilization; Fouling; Membranes; Removal; Membrane fouling; Municipal sewerage system; Leachate treatment; Cleaning; Desalination; Electrodialysis; Energy utilization; Fouling; Leachate treatment; Membranes; Removal; chloride; concentration (composition); cost; desalination; fouling; leachate; membrane; separation | 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-s2.0-84928920460 | 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-s2.0-56149089147 | Open Reduction and Internal Fixation Versus Closed Treatment and Mandibulomaxillary Fixation of Fractures of the Mandibular Condylar Process: A Randomized, Prospective, Multicenter Study With Special Evaluation of Fracture Level | Schneider M., Erasmus F., Gerlach K.L., Kuhlisch E., Loukota R.A., Rasse M., Schubert J., Terheyden H., Eckelt U. | 2008 | Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | 66 | 12 | 10.1016/j.joms.2008.06.107 | Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Klerksdorp, North West Province, Flamwood, South Africa; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Employee, Institute for Medical Informatics and Biometry, Dresden, Germany; Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Leeds, Leeds, England, United Kingdom; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Halle, Halle, Germany; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Red Cross Hospital, Kassel, Germany; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany | Schneider, M., Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Erasmus, F., Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Klerksdorp, North West Province, Flamwood, South Africa; Gerlach, K.L., Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Kuhlisch, E., Employee, Institute for Medical Informatics and Biometry, Dresden, Germany; Loukota, R.A., Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Leeds, Leeds, England, United Kingdom; Rasse, M., Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria; Schubert, J., Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Halle, Halle, Germany; Terheyden, H., Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Red Cross Hospital, Kassel, Germany; Eckelt, U., Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany | Purpose: This randomized, clinical multicenter trial investigated the treatment outcomes of displaced condylar fractures, and whether radiographic fracture level was a prognostic factor in therapeutic decision-making between open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) versus closed reduction and mandibulomaxillary fixation (CRMMF). Patients and Methods: Sixty-six patients with 79 displaced fractures (deviation of 10° to 45°, or shortening of the ascending ramus ≥2 mm) of the condylar process of the mandible at 7 clinical centers were enrolled. Patients were randomly allocated to CRMMF (n = 30 patients) or ORIF (n = 36 patients) treatment. The following parameters were measured 6 months after the trauma. Clinical parameters included mouth opening, protrusion, and laterotrusion. Radiographic parameters included level of the fracture, deviation of the fragment, and shortening of the ascending ramus. Subjective parameters included pain (according to a visual analogue scale), discomfort, and subjective functional impairment with a mandibular functional impairment questionnaire. Results: The difference in average mouth opening was 12 mm (P ≤ .001) between both treatment groups. The average pain level (visual analogue scale from 0 to 100) was 25 after CRMMF, and 1 after ORIF (P ≤ .001). In 53 unilateral fractures, better functional results were observed for ORIF compared with CRMMF, irrespective of fracture level (condylar base, neck, or intracapsular head). Unexpectedly, the subjective discomfort level decreased with ascending level of the fracture. In patients with bilateral condylar fractures, ORIF was especially advantageous. Conclusion: Fractures with a deviation of 10° to 45°, or a shortening of the ascending ramus ≥2 mm, should be treated with ORIF, irrespective of level of the fracture. © 2008 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. | None | adult; article; bone pain; bone radiography; bone screw; clinical evaluation; clinical trial; controlled clinical trial; controlled study; follow up; fracture reduction; human; intermethod comparison; major clinical study; mandible condyle; mandible fracture; maxilla fracture; multicenter study; open reduction; osteosynthesis; prospective study; questionnaire; randomized controlled trial; treatment duration; treatment outcome; visual analog scale; Decision Making; Fracture Fixation; Fracture Fixation, Internal; Humans; Jaw Fixation Techniques; Mandibular Condyle; Mandibular Fractures; Pain, Postoperative; Prospective Studies; Range of Motion, Articular; Temporomandibular Joint; Treatment Outcome | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84861404529 | Class absenteeism: Reasons for non-attendance and the effect on academic performance | Schmulian A., Coetzee S. | 2012 | Accounting Research Journal | 24 | 2 | 10.1108/10309611111163718 | Department of Accounting, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Schmulian, A., Department of Accounting, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Coetzee, S., Department of Accounting, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Purpose Other business education literature, particularly in the field of economics, has developed theories in respect of the reasons for non-attendance of lectures and the positive correlation between class attendance and academic performance. The aim of this paper is to determine the generalizability of these theories to a large accounting class in South Africa. Design/methodology/ approach This paper is a differentiated replication of the study by Paisey and Paisey, who provided initial evidence of the generalizability of these theories to a small accounting class in Scotland, employing a research questionnaire and the analysis of quantitative and qualitative data. Findings The reasons given for the non-attendance of lectures generally correspond with those previously reported. Certain differences that are identified are likely a result of specific country or economic factors. This study found a significant positive correlation between class attendance and academic performance; however, the correlation is low and not very meaningful. Further analysis reveals some difference between language groups suggesting that culture and ethnicity may have an effect on the relationship between class attendance and academic performance. Originality/value This paper raises questions as to the generalizability of prior research on class attendance and academic performance. The findings of this study suggest other factors, including students' economic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds, are likely to affect associations between class attendance and academic performance. © Copyright - 2011 Emerald Group Publishing Limited. All rights reserved. | Absenteeism; Academic performance; Accounting education; Class attendance; South Africa; Students | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-74949119586 | Geochemistry of impactites and crystalline basement-derived lithologies from the ICDP-USGS Eyreville A and B drill cores, Chesapeake Bay impact structure, Virginia, USA | Schmitt R.T., Bartosova K., Reimold W.U., Mader D., Wittmann A., Koeberl C., Gibson R.L. | 2009 | Special Paper of the Geological Society of America | 458 | None | 10.1130/2009.2458(22) | Museum für Naturkunde-Leibniz Institute, Humboldt University Berlin, Invalidenstrasse 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany; Department of Lithospheric Research, Center for Earth Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria; Impact Cratering Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, PO Wits, Johannesburg, 2050, South Africa; Lunar and Planetary Institute, 3600 Bay Area Boulevard, Houston, TX 77058, United States | Schmitt, R.T., Museum für Naturkunde-Leibniz Institute, Humboldt University Berlin, Invalidenstrasse 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany; Bartosova, K., Department of Lithospheric Research, Center for Earth Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria; Reimold, W.U., Museum für Naturkunde-Leibniz Institute, Humboldt University Berlin, Invalidenstrasse 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany, Impact Cratering Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, PO Wits, Johannesburg, 2050, South Africa; Mader, D., Department of Lithospheric Research, Center for Earth Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria; Wittmann, A., Museum für Naturkunde-Leibniz Institute, Humboldt University Berlin, Invalidenstrasse 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany, Lunar and Planetary Institute, 3600 Bay Area Boulevard, Houston, TX 77058, United States; Koeberl, C., Department of Lithospheric Research, Center for Earth Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria; Gibson, R.L., Impact Cratering Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, PO Wits, Johannesburg, 2050, South Africa | We investigated whole-rock chemical compositions of 318 samples of Exmore breccia (diamicton), impactite (suevite, impact melt rock, polymict lithic impact breccia), and crystalline basement-derived rocks from 444 to 1766 m depth in the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP)-U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Eyreville A and B drill cores (Chesapeake Bay impact structure, Virginia, USA). Here, we compare the average chemical compositions for the Exmore breccia (diamicton), the impactites and their subunits, sandstone, granite, granitic gneiss, and amphibolite of the lithic block section (1095.7-1397.2 m depth), cataclastic gneiss of the impact breccia section, and schist and pegmatite/granite of the basal crystalline section (1551.2-1766.3 m depth). The granite of the megablock (1097.7-1371.1 m depth) is of I-type and is seemingly related to a syncollisional setting. The amphibolite (1377.4-1387.5 m depth) of the lithic block section is of igneous origin and has a tholeiitic character. Based on chemical composition, the Exmore breccia (diamicton) can be subdivided into five units (444.9-450.7, 450.7-468, 468-518, 518-528, and 528-̃865 m depth). The units in the depth intervals of 450.7-468 and 518-528 m are enriched in TiO2, MgO, Sc, V, Cr, and Zn contents compared to the other Exmore breccia units. In some samples, especially at ̃451-455 m depth, the Exmore breccia contains significant amounts of P2O 5. The Exmore breccia is recognized as a mixture of all sedimentary and crystalline target components, and, when compared to the impactites, it contains a significant amount of a SiO2-rich target component of sedimentary origin. The chemical composition of the impactites overlaps the compositional range for the Exmore breccia. The impactites generally display a negative correlation of SiO2 and CaO, and a positive correlation of TiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, and MgO with depth. This is the result of an increasing basement schist component, and a decreasing sedimentary and/or granitic component with depth. Suevite units S2 and S3 display distinct enrichment of Na2O by a factor of ̃2 compared to all other impactite units, which is interpreted to reflect a higher granitic component in these units. © 2009 The Geological Society of America. | None | amphibolite; basement rock; breccia; chemical composition; coastal sediment; crystalline rock; enrichment; gneiss; I-type rock; impact structure; impactite; lithology; research program; sandstone; schist; sediment chemistry; Chesapeake Bay; United States; Virginia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34250680541 | In situ seismic measurements in borehole LB-08A in the Bosumtwi impact structure, Ghana: Preliminary interpretation | Schmitt D.R., Milkereit B., Karp T., Scholz C., Danuor S., Meillieux D., Welz M. | 2007 | Meteoritics and Planetary Science | 42 | 42465 | None | Institute for Geophysical Research, Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G7, Canada; Department of Physics, University of Toronto, 60 Saint George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 1A7, Canada; Department of Geology, 204 Heroy Geology Laboratory, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, United States; Geophysik GGD, Ehrensteinstrasse 33, 04105 Leipzig, Germany; Department of Physics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana | Schmitt, D.R., Institute for Geophysical Research, Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G7, Canada; Milkereit, B., Department of Physics, University of Toronto, 60 Saint George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 1A7, Canada; Karp, T., Department of Geology, 204 Heroy Geology Laboratory, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, United States, Geophysik GGD, Ehrensteinstrasse 33, 04105 Leipzig, Germany; Scholz, C., Department of Geology, 204 Heroy Geology Laboratory, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, United States; Danuor, S., Department of Physics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Meillieux, D., Institute for Geophysical Research, Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G7, Canada; Welz, M., Institute for Geophysical Research, Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G7, Canada | In order to assist in the interpretation of previous seismic refraction and reflection surveys, a vertical seismic profile was acquired in the Lake Bosumtwi (Ghana) hard-rock core hole LB-08A. No seismic reflections are seen in the up-going wave field obtained, and this observation is consistent with the lack of reflectivity observed in the corresponding 2-D surface seismic profile obtained in earlier studies. Direct down-going P-waves were found both in the cased sediment column from a depth of 73 m to 239 m below the lake surface and in the open-hole "hard rock" section from a depth of 239 m to 451 m of LB-08A. Analysis of the observed travel times indicates a nearly constant P-wave velocity of 1520 m/s through the soft lacustrine sediments. In the hard-rock, however, the P-wave velocity rapidly increases by nearly 30% from 2600 m/s to 3340 m/s. These values are in good agreement with the gross velocity structure obtained in the earlier joint inversion of seismic reflection and refraction data. These values are low relative to those expected for the metasedimentary protoliths, an observation that has been made at other young impact structures of similar size. The low velocities, together with the fact that they increase so rapidly, is suggestive of a decreasing density of fractures and microcracks with depth. Consequently, the seismic velocity trend may provide a proxy measure of damage, and hence, the decay of the shock pressure from the impact point. Validation of this requires additional detailed studies of the porosity structure in the core. © The Meteoritical Society, 2007. Printed in USA. | None | None | None |
| None | None | Evaluation of two counterflow traps for testing behaviour-mediating compounds for the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae s.s. under semi-field conditions in Tanzania | Schmied W.H., Takken W., Killeen G.F., Knols B.G.J., Smallegange R.C. | 2008 | Malaria Journal | 7 | None | 10.1186/1475-2875-7-230 | Center of Ecology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria; Entomology Unit, Ifakara Health Research and Development Center, Ifakara, Tanzania; Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research Center, P.O. Box 8031, 6700 EH Wageningen, Netherlands; School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, United Kingdom | Schmied, W.H., Center of Ecology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria, Entomology Unit, Ifakara Health Research and Development Center, Ifakara, Tanzania; Takken, W., Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research Center, P.O. Box 8031, 6700 EH Wageningen, Netherlands; Killeen, G.F., Entomology Unit, Ifakara Health Research and Development Center, Ifakara, Tanzania, School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, United Kingdom; Knols, B.G.J., Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research Center, P.O. Box 8031, 6700 EH Wageningen, Netherlands; Smallegange, R.C., Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research Center, P.O. Box 8031, 6700 EH Wageningen, Netherlands | Background. Evaluation of mosquito responses towards different trap-bait combinations in field trials is a time-consuming process that can be shortened by experiments in contained semi-field systems. Possible use of the BG Sentinel (BGS) trap to sample Anopheles gambiae s.s. was evaluated. The efficiency of this trap was compared with that of the Mosquito Magnet-X (MM-X) trap, when baited with foot odour alone or combinations of foot odour with carbon dioxide (CO2) or lemongrass as behaviour-modifying cues. Methods. Female An. gambiae s.s. were released in an experimental flight arena that was placed in a semi-field system and left overnight. Catch rates for the MM-X and BGS traps were recorded. Data were analysed by fitting a generalized linear model to the (n+1) transformed catches. Results. Both types of traps successfully captured mosquitoes with all odour cues used. When the BGS trap was tested against the MM-X trap in a choice assay with foot odour as bait, the BGS trap caught about three times as many mosquitoes as the MM-X trap (P = 0.002). Adding CO 2(500 ml/min) to foot odour increased the number of mosquitoes caught by 268% for the MM-X (P < 0.001) and 34% (P = 0.051) for the BGS trap, compared to foot odour alone. When lemongrass leaves were added to foot odour, mosquito catches were reduced by 39% (BGS, P < 0.001) and 38% (MM-X, P = 0.353), respectively. Conclusion. The BGS trap shows high potential for field trials due to its simple construction and high catch rate when baited with human foot odour only. However, for rapid screening of different baits in a contained semi-field system, the superior discriminatory power of the MM-X trap is advantageous. © 2008 Schmied et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | carbon dioxide; carbon dioxide; chemotactic factor; Anopheles gambiae; article; controlled study; Cymbopogon citratus; disease carrier; female; malaria; nonhuman; odor; Tanzania; animal; animal behavior; comparative study; drug effect; human; mosquito; Animals; Anopheles gambiae; Behavior, Animal; Carbon Dioxide; Chemotactic Factors; Female; Humans; Mosquito Control; Odors; Tanzania | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78650167700 | Evaluation of PCR assays for the detection of Campylobacter fetus in bovine preputial scrapings and the identification of subspecies in South African field isolates | Schmidt T., Venter E.H., Picard J.A. | 2010 | Journal of the South African Veterinary Association | 81 | 2 | None | Allerton Provincial Veterinary Laboratory, Private Bag X2, Cascades, 3202, South Africa; Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa | Schmidt, T., Allerton Provincial Veterinary Laboratory, Private Bag X2, Cascades, 3202, South Africa; Venter, E.H., Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Picard, J.A., Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa | As a result of the high lability and slow growth of Campylobacter fetus subspecies, the laboratory diagnosis of bovine genital campylobacteriosis has always been difficult. This is especially true under South African conditions, where farms are far apart, laboratories are only present in major centres and there are high ambient temperatures. In order to overcome the short-comings associated with traditional diagnostic methods, the implementation of a molecular assay was sought. This work describes how a previously published PCR assay (MG3F/MG4R primers) was adapted, optimised and applied in the diagnostic laboratory to test preputial samples directly for the presence of Campylobacter fetus. Field evaluation of the assay revealed an analytical sensitivity and specificity of 85.7 % and 99 %, respectively. Subsequent genotyping and phenotyping of a diverse collection of South African field isolates revealed that South Africa has an unexpected and previously unreported high incidence of Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis biovar intermedius strains. These strains were not identified correctly by the subspecies-specific primer set evaluated. Until such time that cost- effective genotyping methods are available to diagnostic laboratories in South Africa, and other countries with these atypical Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis strains, the need for bacterial culture will persist. Identification to subspecies level of isolates at present remains dependent upon a single phenotypic criterion, namely tolerance to 1 % glycine. | Bovine genital campylobacteriosis; Campylobacter fetus fetus; Campylobacter fetus venerealis biovar intermedius; Culture; Polymerase chain reaction | article; bacterial strain; bacterium culture; Campylobacter fetus; controlled study; cost effectiveness analysis; cow; genotype; laboratory diagnosis; nonhuman; phenotype; polymerase chain reaction; prepuce; sensitivity and specificity; South Africa; Animals; Campylobacter fetus; Campylobacter Infections; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Male; Polymerase Chain Reaction; South Africa; Bacteria (microorganisms); Bovinae; Campylobacter fetus; Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus; Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis | 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-s2.0-44849093490 | Sandy beach ecosystems: Key features, sampling issues, management challenges and climate change impacts | Schlacher T.A., Schoeman D.S., Dugan J., Lastra M., Jones A., Scapini F., Mclachlan A. | 2008 | Marine Ecology | 29 | SUPPL. 1 | 10.1111/j.1439-0485.2007.00204.x | Faculty of Science, Health and Education, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, QLD 4558, Australia; School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States; Departamento de Ecologia y Biologia Animal, Universidad de Vigo, Vigo, Spain; Department of Marine Ecology, Australian Museum Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Dipartimento di Biologia Animale e Genetica, Universita di Firenze, Firenze, Italy; College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman | Schlacher, T.A., Faculty of Science, Health and Education, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, QLD 4558, Australia; Schoeman, D.S., School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Dugan, J., Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States; Lastra, M., Departamento de Ecologia y Biologia Animal, Universidad de Vigo, Vigo, Spain; Jones, A., Department of Marine Ecology, Australian Museum Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Scapini, F., Dipartimento di Biologia Animale e Genetica, Universita di Firenze, Firenze, Italy; Mclachlan, A., College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman | Escalating pressures caused by the combined effects of population growth, demographic shifts, economic development and global climate change pose unprecedented threats to sandy beach ecosystems worldwide. Conservation of beaches as functional ecosystems and protection of their unique biodiversity requires management interventions that not only mitigate threats to physical properties of sandy shores, but also include ecological dimensions. Yet, beach management remains overwhelmingly focused on engineering interventions. Here we summarise the key outcomes of several workshops, held during the 2006 Sandy Beach Ecology Symposium in Vigo, Spain, that addressed issues of climate change, beach management and sampling methodology. Because efficient communication between managers and ecologists is critical, we summarise the salient features of sandy beaches as functional ecosystems in 50 'key statements'; these provide a succinct synopsis of the main structural and functional characteristics of these highly dynamic systems. Key outcomes of the workshops include a set of recommendations on designs and methods for sampling the benthic infaunal communities of beaches, the identification of the main ecological effects caused by direct and indirect human interventions, the predicted consequence of climate change for beach ecosystems, and priority areas for future research. © Journal compilation © 2008 Blackwell Publishing. | Climate change; Coastal conservation; Coastal management; Macrobenthos sampling; Sandy shores | beach; biodiversity; climate change; coastal zone management; ecosystem management; habitat conservation; macrobenthos | 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-s2.0-84859139578 | Constructing benchmarks for monitoring purposes: Evidence from South Africa | Scherman V., Howie S.J., Bosker R.J. | 2011 | Educational Research and Evaluation | 17 | 6 | 10.1080/13803611.2011.632663 | University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands | Scherman, V., University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Howie, S.J., University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Bosker, R.J., University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands | In information-rich environments, schools are often presented with a myriad of data from which decisions need to be made. The use of the information on a classroom level may be facilitated if performance could be described in terms of levels of proficiency or benchmarks. The aim of this article is to explore benchmarks using data from a monitoring system on secondary school level. Seventeen secondary schools, purposively sampled for maximum variation, participated in this project. Pupils from a random sample of 2 Grade 8 classes per school completed the assessments (n = 1706). Using a dichotomous Rasch model, person item distribution maps were generated for mathematics, and different difficulty levels were constructed from the items that corresponded to the ability levels of pupils as well as the reporting protocol of the National Department of Education. Implications for benchmarking and standard setting are discussed based on the results provided in the article. © 2011 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC. | benchmarking; item maps; Rasch analysis; standard setting; standards | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84948180161 | The impact of health service variables on healthcare access in a low resourced urban setting in the Western Cape, South Africa | Scheffler E., Visagie S., Schneider M. | 2015 | African Journal of Primary Health Care and Family Medicine | 7 | 1 | 10.4102/phcfm.v7i1.820 | Centre for Rehabilitation Studies, Stellenbosch University, South Africa; Psychology Department, Stellenbosch University, South Africa; Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa | Scheffler, E., Centre for Rehabilitation Studies, Stellenbosch University, South Africa, Psychology Department, Stellenbosch University, South Africa; Visagie, S., Centre for Rehabilitation Studies, Stellenbosch University, South Africa, Psychology Department, Stellenbosch University, South Africa; Schneider, M., Psychology Department, Stellenbosch University, South Africa, Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa | Background: Health care access is complex and multi-faceted and, as a basic right, equitable access and services should be available to all user groups. Objectives: The aim of this article is to explore how service delivery impacts on access to healthcare for vulnerable groups in an urban primary health care setting in South Africa. Methods: A descriptive qualitative study design was used. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with purposively sampled participants and analysed through thematic content analysis. Results: Service delivery factors are presented against five dimensions of access according to the ACCESS Framework. From a supplier perspective, the organisation of care in the study setting resulted in available, accessible, affordable and adequate services as measured against the District Health System policies and guidelines. However, service providers experienced significant barriers in provision of services, which impacted on the quality of care, resulting in poor client and provider satisfaction and ultimately compromising acceptability of service delivery. Although users found services to be accessible, the organisation of services presented them with challenges in the domains of availability, affordability and adequacy, resulting in unmet needs, low levels of satisfaction and loss of trust. These challenges fuelled perceptions of unacceptable services. Conclusion: Well developed systems and organisation of services can create accessible, affordable and available primary healthcare services, but do not automatically translate into adequate and acceptable services. Focussing attention on how services are delivered might restore the balance between supply (services) and demand (user needs) and promote universal and equitable access. © 2015. The Authors. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84886910839 | Evaluation of Non-Invasive Biological Samples to Monitor Staphylococcus aureus Colonization in Great Apes and Lemurs | Schaumburg F., Mugisha L., Kappeller P., Fichtel C., Köck R., Köndgen S., Becker K., Boesch C., Peters G., Leendertz F. | 2013 | PLoS ONE | 8 | 10 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0078046 | Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany; College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Conservation and Ecosystem Health Alliance, Kampala, Uganda; Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany; Institute of Hygiene, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany; Project Group Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany; Department of Primatology, Max-Planck-Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany | Schaumburg, F., Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany; Mugisha, L., College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, Conservation and Ecosystem Health Alliance, Kampala, Uganda; Kappeller, P., Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany; Fichtel, C., Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany; Köck, R., Institute of Hygiene, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany; Köndgen, S., Project Group Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany; Becker, K., Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany; Boesch, C., Department of Primatology, Max-Planck-Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany; Peters, G., Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany; Leendertz, F., Project Group Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany | Introduction:Reintroduction of endangered animals as part of conservational programs bears the risk of importing human pathogens from the sanctuary to the natural habitat. One bacterial pathogen that serves as a model organism to analyze this transmission is Staphylococcus aureus as it can colonize and infect both humans and animals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of various biological samples to monitor S. aureus colonization in great apes and lemurs.Methods:Mucosal swabs from wild lemurs (n=25, Kirindy, Madagascar), feces, oral and genital swabs from captive chimpanzees (n=58, Ngamba and Entebbe, Uganda) and fruit wadges and feces from wild chimpanzees (n=21, Taï National Parc, Côte d'Ivoire) were screened for S. aureus. Antimicrobial resistance and selected virulence factors were tested for each isolate. Sequence based genotyping (spa typing, multilocus sequence typing) was applied to assess the population structure of S. aureus.Results:Oro-pharyngeal carriage of S. aureus was high in lemurs (72%, n=18) and captive chimpanzees (69.2%, n=27 and 100%, n=6, respectively). Wild chimpanzees shed S. aureus through feces (43.8, n=7) and fruit wadges (54.5, n=12). Analysis of multiple sampling revealed that two samples are sufficient to detect those animals which shed S. aureus through feces or fruit wadges. Genotyping showed that captive animals are more frequently colonized with human-associated S. aureus lineages.Conclusion:Oro-pharyngeal swabs are useful to screen for S. aureus colonization in apes and lemurs before reintroduction. Duplicates of stool and fruit wadges reliably detect S. aureus shedding in wild chimpanzees. We propose to apply these sampling strategies in future reintroduction programs to screen for S. aureus colonization. They may also be useful to monitor S. aureus in wild populations. © 2013 Schaumburg et al. | None | aminoglycoside; aztreonam; clindamycin; colistin; cotrimoxazole; erythromycin; fosfomycin; glycopeptide; linezolid; oxacillin; penicillin derivative; quinolone derivative; rifampicin; tetracycline; virulence factor; antibiotic resistance; antibiotic sensitivity; ape; article; bacterial colonization; bacterium isolate; chimpanzee; Cote d'Ivoire; feces; genotype; Lemuridae; Madagascar; monitoring; mucosa; multilocus sequence typing; nonhuman; phylogeny; population structure; screening; Staphylococcus aureus; Uganda; Animals; Feces; Genotype; Lemur; Pan troglodytes; Staphylococcus aureus | DFG, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84866172781 | The impact of pensions on health and wellbeing in rural South Africa: Does gender matter? | Schatz E., Gómez-Olivé X., Ralston M., Menken J., Tollman S. | 2012 | Social Science and Medicine | 75 | 10 | 10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.07.004 | School of Health Professions and Department of Women's and Gender Studies, University of Missouri, Columbia, United States; MRC/Wits Rural Population Health and Health Transition Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, United States; Department of Sociology, University of Missouri, Columbia, United States | Schatz, E., School of Health Professions and Department of Women's and Gender Studies, University of Missouri, Columbia, United States, MRC/Wits Rural Population Health and Health Transition Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, United States; Gómez-Olivé, X., MRC/Wits Rural Population Health and Health Transition Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Ralston, M., Department of Sociology, University of Missouri, Columbia, United States; Menken, J., MRC/Wits Rural Population Health and Health Transition Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, United States; Tollman, S., MRC/Wits Rural Population Health and Health Transition Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, United States | Unique to Africa, a means-tested non-contributory pension is available to South Africans. In 2006, women over 60 and men over 65 were pension-eligible. To explore the effect of the pension for health and wellbeing indicators of rural South African men and women, we analyze data from the WHO-INDEPTH Study of Global Ageing and Adult Health Survey, carried out in the Agincourt sub-district by the MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt) in 2006. Because pension receipt was not measured directly, our findings represent intent-to-treat (ITT) rather than treatment-on-the-treated (TOT) effects using age as an indicator for intent-to-treat. Overall, women report poorer wellbeing compared to men. However, women have a "honeymoon" period at ages 60-64, the first years of pension-eligibility, in which they report lower levels of worry and sadness, and higher overall happiness, life satisfaction, and quality of life as compared to younger and older women. For men, in contrast, reports of wellbeing worsen in the pre-pension years, followed by a similar but not as prominent pattern of favorable reports in the five years following pension-eligibility, and a decline in the next five-year period. Thus, while pensions continue to enhance financial wellbeing, our results suggest that their effect on social wellbeing may be gendered and transitory. Further research is needed to improve understanding of these dynamics. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. | Aging; Gender; Health and demographic surveillance system; Pension; Quality of life; Social wellbeing; South Africa | gender relations; health impact; health insurance; pension system; quality of life; rural society; adult; age distribution; aged; article; emotion; female; health; human; intention to treat analysis; male; pension; quality of life; satisfaction; sex difference; social behavior; South Africa; wellbeing; Age Factors; Aged; Female; Health Status; Health Surveys; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pensions; Quality of Life; Rural Health; South Africa; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79956159784 | Comparative evaluation of ectoparasiticide efficacy: Non-inferiority and superiority assessment | Schall R., Luus H.G. | 2011 | Veterinary Parasitology | 178 | 42371 | 10.1016/j.vetpar.2010.12.028 | Department of Mathematical Statistics and Actuarial Science (IB75), University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa; ClinVet International (Pty) Ltd, PO Box 11186, Bloemfontein 9321, South Africa | Schall, R., Department of Mathematical Statistics and Actuarial Science (IB75), University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa; Luus, H.G., ClinVet International (Pty) Ltd, PO Box 11186, Bloemfontein 9321, South Africa | We present a statistical framework for the comparative evaluation of ectoparasiticide efficacy in controlled animal studies. Such a comparative evaluation can have one of two objectives: an assessment of non-inferiority of a test parasiticide to a reference parasiticide, or an assessment of superiority of one treatment over another. We show that the observed efficacy of an ectoparasiticide can be viewed as a point estimate of its conditional " kill" probability. Thus concepts used in the comparative evaluation of human antibiotics, which involve the comparison of cure probabilities, can be applied to the situation of comparing parasiticide efficacy. In particular, we define non-inferiority of a test parasiticide to a reference parasiticide in terms of the " test - reference" difference of their efficacies. We outline the hypothesis testing framework and associated statistical decision rules for declaring either non-inferiority or superiority. Both non-inferiority and superiority can be evaluated statistically using confidence intervals. SAS and R code for data analysis is presented, and the methodology is applied to a data set from a controlled animal study. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. | Abbott's formula; Ectoparasiticides; Efficacy; Generalized linear model; Non-inferiority trial; Over-dispersion; Superiority trial | antiparasitic agent; article; controlled study; intermethod comparison; mathematical analysis; nonhuman; outcome assessment; probability; statistical analysis; treatment indication; treatment response; Animals; Clinical Trials as Topic; Insecticides; Models, Biological; Models, Statistical; Research Design; Animalia | 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-s2.0-84912108788 | The impact of the permafrost carbon feedback on global climate | Schaefer K., Lantuit H., Romanovsky V.E., Schuur E.A.G., Witt R. | 2014 | Environmental Research Letters | 9 | 8 | 10.1088/1748-9326/9/8/085003 | National Snow and Ice Data Center, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States; Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Telegrafenberg A43 Potsdam, Germany; Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 903 Koyukuk Drive, Fairbanks, AK, United States; Earth Cryosphere Institute, Tyumen, Russian Federation; Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Division of Early Warning and Assessment, United Nations Environmental Programme, PO Box 30552-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany | Schaefer, K., National Snow and Ice Data Center, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States; Lantuit, H., Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Telegrafenberg A43 Potsdam, Germany, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany; Romanovsky, V.E., Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 903 Koyukuk Drive, Fairbanks, AK, United States, Earth Cryosphere Institute, Tyumen, Russian Federation; Schuur, E.A.G., Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Witt, R., Division of Early Warning and Assessment, United Nations Environmental Programme, PO Box 30552-00100, Nairobi, Kenya | Degrading permafrost can alter ecosystems, damage infrastructure, and release enough carbon dioxide (CO<inf>2</inf>) and methane (CH<inf>4</inf>) to influence global climate. The permafrost carbon feedback (PCF) is the amplification of surface warming due to CO<inf>2</inf> and CH<inf>4</inf> emissions from thawing permafrost. An analysis of available estimates PCF strength and timing indicate 120α85 Gt of carbon emissions from thawing permafrost by 2100. This is equivalent to 5.7α4.0% of total anthropogenic emissions for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) representative concentration pathway (RCP) 8.5 scenario and would increase global temperatures by 0.29α0.21 °C or 7.8α5.7%. For RCP4.5, the scenario closest to the 2 °C warming target for the climate change treaty, the range of cumulative emissions in 2100 from thawing permafrost decreases to between 27 and 100 Gt C with temperature increases between 0.05 and 0.15 °C, but the relative fraction of permafrost to total emissions increases to between 3% and 11%. Any substantial warming results in a committed, long-term carbon release from thawing permafrost with 60% of emissions occurring after 2100, indicating that not accounting for permafrost emissions risks overshooting the 2 °C warming target. Climate projections in the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5), and any emissions targets based on those projections, do not adequately account for emissions from thawing permafrost and the effects of the PCF on global climate. We recommend the IPCC commission a special assessment focusing on the PCF and its impact on global climate to supplement the AR5 in support of treaty negotiation. © 2014 IOP Publishing Ltd. | global climate; permafrost; permafrost carbon feedback | Carbon; Carbon dioxide; Global warming; Methane; Permafrost; Taxation; Thawing; Anthropogenic emissions; Climate projection; Cumulative emissions; Global climates; Global temperatures; Intergovernmental panel on climate changes; Temperature increase; Treaty negotiations; Climate change; anthropogenic effect; carbon dioxide; carbon emission; global climate; Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; methane; permafrost; thawing | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84876435776 | Impact of Prosopis invasion on a keystone tree species in the Kalahari Desert | Schachtschneider K., February E.C. | 2013 | Plant Ecology | 214 | 4 | 10.1007/s11258-013-0192-z | Botany Department, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7701, South Africa; CSIR Natural Resources and the Environment, P.O. Box 320, Stellenbosch, 7599, South Africa | Schachtschneider, K., Botany Department, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7701, South Africa, CSIR Natural Resources and the Environment, P.O. Box 320, Stellenbosch, 7599, South Africa; February, E.C., Botany Department, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7701, South Africa | Several Prosopis species were introduced into South Africa in the last century. Since then two species, Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana and Prosopisvelutina have invaded large parts of arid southern Africa. Here, we examine the extent to which increased mortality of Acacia erioloba, a keystone species in the Kalahari Desert, can be attributed to competition for water with Prosopis. We do this for A. erioloba and Prosopis sp. at invaded, as well as cleared sites through a determination of species abundance, canopy vitality, plant water stress and plant water source. Our stable isotope results show that in the riparian zone both A. erioloba and Prosopis are using the same water source. Our results also show that there is a 50 % increase in canopy dieback of A. erioloba in the invaded river plots relative to the cleared river plots. This dieback cannot be related to changes in rainfall and temperature as there were no adverse fluctuations (drought) in the weather in the 10 years preceding our study. We speculate that because A. erioloba is more water stressed in the invaded river plot this increase in mortality and dieback is related to plant moisture stress that is not related to climate but to competition for water with Prosopis. Our study gives strong support for the eradication of Prosopis from rivers in arid parts of Southern Africa. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht. | Acacia erioloba; Alien invasive; Kalahari Desert; Keystone species; Prosopis; Water | abundance; arid region; biological invasion; dicotyledon; dieback; ecological impact; keystone species; mortality; riparian zone; stable isotope; water stress; Kalahari Desert; Acacia; Acacia erioloba; Prosopis; Prosopis glandulosa; Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84887375829 | Learning potential and academic literacy tests as predictors of academic performance for engineering students [Leerpotensiaal en akademiese geletterdheidstoetse as voorspellers van ingenieurstudente se akademiese prestasie] | Schaap P., Luwes M. | 2013 | Acta Academica | 45 | 3 | None | Dept. of Human Resources Management, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa | Schaap, P., Dept. of Human Resources Management, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa; Luwes, M., Dept. of Human Resources Management, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa | Students who obtain senior certificates in the South African schooling system cannot be assumed to be adequately prepared to meet the demands of tertiary education. This study aims to determine the criterion-related validity of a mathematical proficiency test from the Academic Aptitude Test Battery (AAT-maths), an English language proficiency test (ELSA) and a learning potential test (LPCAT) as predictors of the academic performance of engineering bursary students at tertiary institutions. The findings indicate that these tests have significant criterion-related validity and can improve the likelihood of selecting the most promising bursary students. However, the findings point towards the possibility that the tests or the criterion measure are differentially valid for different race groups. © UV/UFS. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84960077215 | Unintended Pregnancies Observed with Combined Use of the Levonorgestrel Contraceptive Implant and Efavirenz-based Antiretroviral Therapy: A Three-Arm Pharmacokinetic Evaluation over 48 Weeks | Scarsi K.K., Darin K.M., Nakalema S., Back D.J., Byakika-Kibwika P., Else L.J., DIlly Penchala S., Buzibye A., Cohn S.E., Merry C., Lamorde M. | 2015 | Clinical Infectious Diseases | 62 | 6 | 10.1093/cid/civ1001 | Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States; Center for Global Health, United States; Division of Infectious Diseases, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States; Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom; Department of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland | Scarsi, K.K., Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States; Darin, K.M., Center for Global Health, United States, Division of Infectious Diseases, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States; Nakalema, S., Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Back, D.J., Department of Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom; Byakika-Kibwika, P., Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Else, L.J., Department of Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom; DIlly Penchala, S., Department of Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom; Buzibye, A., Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Cohn, S.E., Division of Infectious Diseases, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States; Merry, C., Center for Global Health, United States, Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda, Department of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland; Lamorde, M., Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda | Background. Levonorgestrel subdermal implants are preferred contraceptives with an expected failure rate of <1% over 5 years. We assessed the effect of efavirenz- or nevirapine-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) coadministration on levonorgestrel pharmacokinetics. Methods. This nonrandomized, parallel group, pharmacokinetic evaluation was conducted in three groups of human immunodeficiency virus-infected Ugandan women: ART-naive (n = 17), efavirenz-based ART (n = 20), and nevirapine-based ART (n = 20). Levonorgestrel implants were inserted at baseline in all women. Blood was collected at 1, 4, 12, 24, 36, and 48 weeks. The primary endpoint was week 24 levonorgestrel concentrations, compared between the ART-naive group and each ART group by geometric mean ratio (GMR) with 90% confidence interval (CI). Secondary endpoints included week 48 levonorgestrel concentrations and unintended pregnancies. Results. Week 24 geometric mean levonorgestrel concentrations were 528, 280, and 710 pg/mL in the ART-naive, efavirenz, and nevirapine groups, respectively (efavirenz: ART-naive GMR, 0.53; 90% CI,. 50,. 55 and nevirapine: ART-naive GMR, 1.35; 90% CI, 1.29, 1.43). Week 48 levonorgestrel concentrations were 580, 247, and 664 pg/mL in the ART-naive, efavirenz, and nevirapine groups, respectively (efavirenz: ART-naive GMR, 0.43; 90% CI,. 42,. 44 and nevirapine: ART-naive GMR, 1.14; 90% CI, 1.14, 1.16). Three pregnancies (3/20, 15%) occurred in the efavirenz group between weeks 36 and 48. No pregnancies occurred in the ART-naive or nevirapine groups. Conclusions. Within 1 year of combined use, levonorgestrel exposure was markedly reduced in participants who received efavirenz-based ART, accompanied by contraceptive failures. In contrast, nevirapine-based ART did not adversely affect levonorgestrel exposure or efficacy. © 2015 The Author 2015. | Contraceptive implant; Efavirenz; Levonorgestrel; Nevirapine; Unintended pregnancy | None | None |
| 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-s2.0-84891703427 | Current food safety management systems in fresh produce exporting industry are associated with lower performance due to context riskiness: Case study | Sawe C.T., Onyango C.M., Njage P.M.K. | 2014 | Food Control | 40 | 1 | 10.1016/j.foodcont.2013.12.019 | Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Technology, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053-00625, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection, University of Nairobi, Kenya | Sawe, C.T., Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Technology, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053-00625, Nairobi, Kenya; Onyango, C.M., Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection, University of Nairobi, Kenya; Njage, P.M.K., Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Technology, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053-00625, Nairobi, Kenya | Food processors implement differing food safety and quality assurance standards and guidelines. This may result in variable performance of the food safety management systems (FSMS) due to differences in technological development, resource access and food safety legal frameworks. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of FSMS in the fresh produce export processing sector in Kenya as a case. The risk posed by the context in which they operate was assessed. An FSMS diagnostic instrument was used to evaluate thirteen fresh produce exporting processors based on indicators and descriptive grids for context factors, control and assurance activities and food safety output. Riskiness in context was diagnosed either as low risk, moderate risk or high risk. Performance of control and assurance activities was categorized as not conducted, basic, average or advanced. Food safety output was scored as either not done, poor, moderate or good.Majority of the processors (≥7) operate at moderate level in most (74%) of the context riskiness indicators. Seven out of the 13 processors indicated that susceptibility of initial material to microbial contamination posed the highest risk with respect to product characteristics. Even though majority of the companies had advanced level core control activities performance for 6 out of 29 of the activities, there was a moderate performance in 48% of the activities and 24% control activities were not applied. Core assurance activities for majority of the companies also performed moderately in 89% of the indicators. FSMS performance was poor for 53% and good for 37% of the processors. All the processors had advanced scores for monitoring of pesticide residues but five lacked sampling and subsequent criteria for microbial analysis. The FSMS implementation for 77% of the companies was poor to moderate and, given the moderate context riskiness, this therefore resulted in moderate FSMS-output.The mostly moderate FSMS activity levels when assessed in the context riskiness lower the food safety performance of the fresh produce sector. Several recommended control and assurance activities in fresh produce sector should be improved to advanced levels in order to realize a stable and predictable safety output subject to the riskiness of context situation. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. | Assurance activities; Context characteristics; Control activities; Diagnostic tool; Food safety management system; Fresh produce industry | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84905158972 | Impact of climate change on river flows in the Black Volta River | Sawai N., Kobayashi K., Apip, Takara K., Ishikawa H., Yokomatsu M., Samaddar S., Juati A.-N., Kranjac-Berisavljevic G. | 2014 | Journal of Disaster Research | 9 | 4 | None | Research and Development Center, Nippon Koei Co., Ltd., 2304 Inarihara, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-1259, Japan; Research Center for Urban Safety and Security, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai-machi, Nada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 657-8501, Japan; Research Centre for Limnology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Cibinong Science Centre, Jl. Raya Jakarta km 46, Cibinong, Jawa Barat, Indonesia; Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan; Ghana Meteorological Agency, Legon, Accra, LG 87, Ghana; University for Development Studies, UDS, P.O. Box TL, 1350 Tamale, Ghana | Sawai, N., Research and Development Center, Nippon Koei Co., Ltd., 2304 Inarihara, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-1259, Japan; Kobayashi, K., Research Center for Urban Safety and Security, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai-machi, Nada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 657-8501, Japan; Apip, Research Centre for Limnology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Cibinong Science Centre, Jl. Raya Jakarta km 46, Cibinong, Jawa Barat, Indonesia; Takara, K., Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan; Ishikawa, H., Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan; Yokomatsu, M., Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan; Samaddar, S., Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan; Juati, A.-N., Ghana Meteorological Agency, Legon, Accra, LG 87, Ghana; Kranjac-Berisavljevic, G., University for Development Studies, UDS, P.O. Box TL, 1350 Tamale, Ghana | This paper assesses the impact of climate change in the Black Volta River by using data output from the atmospheric general circulation model with a 20-km resolution (AGCM20) through the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) and the Meteorological Research Institute (MRI). The Black Volta, which flows mainly in Burkina Faso and Ghana in West Africa, is a major tributary of the Volta River. The basin covers 142,056 km2 and has a semi-arid tropical climate. Before applying AGCM20 output to a rainfall-runoff model, the performance of the AGCM20 rainfall data is investigated by comparing it with the observed rainfall in the Black Volta Basin. To assess the possible impact of rainfall change on river flow, a kinematic wave model, which takes into consideration saturated and unsaturated subsurface soil zones, was performed. The rainfall analysis shows that, the correlation coefficient of the monthly rainfall between the observed rainfall and AGCM20 for the present climate (1979-2004) is 0.977. In addition, the analysis shows that AGCM20 overestimates precipitation during the rainy season and underestimates the dry season for the present climate. The analysis of the AGCM20 output shows the precipitation pattern change in the future (2075-2099). In the future, precipitation is expected to increase by 3%, whereas evaporation and transpiration are expected to increase by 5% and by 8%, respectively. Also, daily maximum rainfall is expected to be 20 mm, or 60%, higher. Thus, the future climate in this region is expected to be more severe. The rainfall-runoff simulation is successfully calibrated at the Bamboi discharge gauging station in the Black Volta fromJune 2000 to December 2000 with 0.72 of the Nash-Sutcliffe model efficiency index. The model is applied with AGCM20 outputs for the present climate (1979-2004) and future climate (2075-2099). The results indicate that future discharge will decrease from January to July at the rate of the maximum of 50% and increase fromAugust to December at the rate of the maximumof 20% in the future. Therefore, comprehensive planning for both floods and droughts are urgently needed in this region. | AGCM20; Climate change; Distributed rainfall-runoff model; Flood; The Black Volta River | Climate change; Computer simulation; Drought; Floods; Flow of water; Rain; Rivers; Runoff; Transpiration; AGCM20; Atmospheric general circulation models; Correlation coefficient; Distributed rainfall-runoff models; Meteorological research institutes; Precipitation patterns; Rainfall-runoff modeling; Rainfall-runoff simulations; Climate models | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-62149107367 | Neuropsychological status of bipolar I disorder: Impact of psychosis | Savitz J., Van Der Merwe L., Stein D.J., Solms M., Ramesar R. | 2009 | British Journal of Psychiatry | 194 | 3 | 10.1192/bjp.bp.108.052001 | Division of Human Genetics, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Biostatistics Unit, Medical Research Council of South Africa, South Africa; Department of Psychiatry, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Psychology and Neurology, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Human Genetics, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; National Institutes of Health, B15K, North Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States | Savitz, J., Division of Human Genetics, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa, National Institutes of Health, B15K, North Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States; Van Der Merwe, L., Biostatistics Unit, Medical Research Council of South Africa, South Africa; Stein, D.J., Department of Psychiatry, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Solms, M., Department of Psychology and Neurology, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Ramesar, R., Division of Human Genetics, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Background The presence of schizotypal personality traits in some people with bipolar disorder, together with reports of greater cognitive dysfunction in patients with a history of psychotic features compared with patients without such a history, raises questions about the nosological relationship between bipolar disorder with psychotic features and bipolar disorder without psychotic features. Aims To test the impact of a history of DSM-IV-defined psychosis on the neuropsychological status of participants with bipolar disorder while statistically controlling for confounding factors such as mood, medication, alcohol misuse/dependence and childhood abuse, and to evaluate the impact of schizotypal personality traits (and thus potential vulnerability to psychotic illness) on the cognitive performance of people with bipolar disorder and their healthy relatives. Method Neuropsychological data were obtained for 25 participants with type I bipolar disorder and a history of psychosis, 24 with type I bipolar disorder but no history of psychosis and 61 unaffected relatives. Schizotypal traits were measured with the Schizotypal Personality Scale (STA). Childhood trauma was measured with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Results The group with a history of psychosis performed significantly worse than the healthy relatives on measures of verbal working memory, cognitive flexibility and declarative memory. Nevertheless, the two bipolar disorder groups did not differ significantly from each other on any cognitive measure. Scores on the STA were negatively associated with verbal working and declarative memory, but positively associated with visual recall memory. Conclusions 'Psychotic' and 'non-psychotic' subtypes of bipolar disorder may lie on a nosological continuum that is most clearly defined by verbal memory impairment. | None | Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Bipolar Disorder; Cognition Disorders; Confounding Factors (Epidemiology); Family Health; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neuropsychological Tests; Psychotic Disorders; Young Adult | 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-s2.0-33644745302 | The bradykinin β2 receptor (BDKRB2) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase 3 (NOS3) genes and endurance performance during Ironman Triathlons | Saunders C.J., Xenophontos S.L., Cariolou M.A., Anastassiades L.C., Noakes T.D., Collins M. | 2006 | Human Molecular Genetics | 15 | 6 | 10.1093/hmg/ddl014 | MRC/UCT Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Medical Research Council of South Africa, University of Cape Town, PO Box 115, Newlands 7725, South Africa; Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, PO Box 115, Newlands 7725, South Africa; Molecular Genetics Department B, Laboratory of Forensic Genetics, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus; Cardiovascular Diagnostic Centre, Nicosia, Cyprus | Saunders, C.J., Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, PO Box 115, Newlands 7725, South Africa; Xenophontos, S.L., Molecular Genetics Department B, Laboratory of Forensic Genetics, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus; Cariolou, M.A., Molecular Genetics Department B, Laboratory of Forensic Genetics, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus; Anastassiades, L.C., Cardiovascular Diagnostic Centre, Nicosia, Cyprus; Noakes, T.D., Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, PO Box 115, Newlands 7725, South Africa; Collins, M., MRC/UCT Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Medical Research Council of South Africa, University of Cape Town, PO Box 115, Newlands 7725, South Africa, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, PO Box 115, Newlands 7725, South Africa | We have previously shown that the insertion allele of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene was over-represented in the fastest South-African-born finishers of the South African Ironman Triathlons. As ACE is a component of the skeletal muscle kallikrein-kinin system (KKS), the aim of this study is to determine if there are any further associations between polymorphisms within the BDKRB2 and NOS3 genes, which encode for the KKS components, bradykinin β2 receptor and nitric oxide synthase, respectively, and ultra-endurance performance during the Ironman Triathlons. Four-hundred and forty-three male Caucasian triathletes who completed the 2000 and/or 2001 South African Ironman Triathlons and 203 healthy Caucasian male control subjects were genotyped for the functional -9/+9 polymorphism within exon 1 of the BDKRB2 gene and the G894T NOS3 gene polymorphisms. The BDKRB2 -9/-9 genotype occurred at a significantly higher frequency when the triathlete group (27.0%) was compared with the control group (19.3%, P =0.035). When divided into tertiles, there was also a significant linear trend for the NOS3 GG genotype distribution among the fastest (35.0%), middle (40.4%) and slowest (46.9%) finishers (P =0.039). The overall finishing times of the triathletes with an NOS3 GG genotype together with a BDKRB2 + 9 allele were significantly slower than those with other genotype combinations (P = 0.001). The NOS3/BDKRB2 genotype (β = -0.150, B = -31.48, P=0.002), together with body mass index and age, accounted for 14.6% of the variance in the overall race time for the triathlon. In conclusion, both the NOS3 and BDKRB2 genes are associated with the actual performance during the Ironman Triathlons. © 2006 Oxford University Press. | None | bradykinin B2 receptor; endothelial nitric oxide synthase; analysis of variance; article; athlete; controlled study; DNA polymorphism; endurance sport; exon; functional assessment; functional genomics; gene frequency; genetic association; genetic variability; genotype; human; human experiment; kallikrein kinin system; male; multivariate analysis; normal human; priority journal; protein expression; protein function; South Africa; statistical significance; triathlon; Adult; Bicycling; Gene Frequency; Genotype; Humans; Male; Multivariate Analysis; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; Physical Endurance; Receptor, Bradykinin B2; Running; South Africa; Sports; Swimming | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-70350495912 | Prevalence of pharyngeal, laryngeal and tracheal disorders in thoroughbred racehorses, and effect on performance | Saulez M.N., Gummow B. | 2009 | Veterinary Record | 165 | 15 | None | Section of Equine Medicine, Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, South Africa; Section of Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia | Saulez, M.N., Section of Equine Medicine, Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, South Africa; Gummow, B., Section of Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa, School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia | Endoscopic examinations were performed on 1005 thoroughbred racehorses in South Africa a mean (sd) 24 (12.3) minutes after racing, to determine the prevalence of pharyngeal, laryngeal and tracheal disorders, and to determine the relationship of these disorders with performance (number of wins and placed finishes). Overall, there was a low prevalence of grade 2 and 3 laryngeal function (LF) (2.2 per cent), grade 4 LF (0.6 per cent), epiglottic entrapment (1.3 per cent), subepiglottic cyst (0.2 per cent) and epiglottic deformity (0.6 per cent), while a higher prevalence of grade 2 to 4 pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia (PLH) (63 per cent), laryngeal debris (435 per cent), tracheal debris (21 9 per cent), tracheal mucus (99.5 per cent) and tracheal cartilaginous nodules (TCNs) (6.8 per cent) was observed. Performance was not affected by the presence of epiglottic deformity, grade 2 and 3 IF, grade 4 IF, debris within the trachea or larynx, or epiglottic entrapment. Grade 3 PLH occurred in younger racehorses; performance was impaired in horses with grade 2 and 3 PLH. Furthermore, TCNs were more prevalent in male racehorses and were associated with better performance. | None | animal; animal disease; animal experiment; article; female; horse; horse disease; larynx disorder; male; pathophysiology; pharynx disease; running; sport; trachea disease; Animals; Female; Horse Diseases; Horses; Laryngeal Diseases; Male; Pharyngeal Diseases; Physical Conditioning, Animal; Running; Sports; Tracheal Diseases; Congiopodidae; Equidae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84938989866 | Performance analysis of cylindrical metal hydride beds with various heat exchange options | Satya Sekhar B., Lototskyy M., Kolesnikov A., Moropeng M.L., Tarasov B.P., Pollet B.G. | 2015 | Journal of Alloys and Compounds | 645 | S1 | 10.1016/j.jallcom.2014.12.272 | South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, South Africa; Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria, South Africa; Laboratory of Hydrogen Storage Materials, Institute of Problems of Chemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospect Semenova, 1, Chernogolovka, Russian Federation | Satya Sekhar, B., South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, South Africa; Lototskyy, M., South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, South Africa; Kolesnikov, A., Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria, South Africa; Moropeng, M.L., Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria, South Africa; Tarasov, B.P., Laboratory of Hydrogen Storage Materials, Institute of Problems of Chemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospect Semenova, 1, Chernogolovka, Russian Federation; Pollet, B.G., South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, South Africa | Abstract A 3D numerical heat-and-mass transfer model was used for the comparison of H<inf>2</inf> uptake performances of powdered cylindrical MH beds comprising MmNi<inf>4.6</inf>Al<inf>0.4</inf> hydrogen storage material. The considered options of heat exchange between the MH and a heat transfer fluid included internal cooling using straight (I) or helically coiled (II) tubing, as well as external cooling of the MH bed without (III) and with (IV) transversal fins. The dynamic performances of these layouts were compared based on the numerical simulation. The effect of heat transfer coefficient was also analysed. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. | Heat and mass transfer; Hydrogen storage; Metal hydrides; Thermal model | Coiled tubing; Computational fluid dynamics; Heat exchangers; Hydrides; Hydrogen; Hydrogen storage; Mass transfer; Dynamic performance; External cooling; Heat and mass transfer; Heat and mass transfer models; Internal cooling; Metal hydrides; Performance analysis; Thermal model; Heat transfer | 14.604.21.0124, Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation; 76735, NRF, Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation; UI RFMEFI60414X0124, Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation |
| 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 |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-76749149629 | Impact of FDG PET on the management of TBC treatment: A pilot study | Sathekge M., Maes A., Kgomo M., Stoltz A., Pottel H., Van De Wiele C. | 2010 | NuklearMedizin | 49 | 1 | 10.3413/nukmed-0270 | Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Nuclear Medicine, AZ Groeninge, Kortrijk, Belgium; Department of Morphology and Medical Imaging, University Hospital Leuven, Belgium; Department of Internal Medicine, Louis Pasture Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Subfaculty of Medicine, Catholic University Leuven, Campus Kortrijk, Belgium; Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Ghent, Belgium | Sathekge, M., Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Maes, A., Department of Nuclear Medicine, AZ Groeninge, Kortrijk, Belgium, Department of Morphology and Medical Imaging, University Hospital Leuven, Belgium; Kgomo, M., Department of Internal Medicine, Louis Pasture Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa; Stoltz, A., Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Pottel, H., Subfaculty of Medicine, Catholic University Leuven, Campus Kortrijk, Belgium; Van De Wiele, C., Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Ghent, Belgium | The aim of this study is to assess the potential impact of double-phase FDG PET versus routine staging in HIV-negative patients suffering from tuberculosis. Patients, methods: 16 consecutive patients suffering from tuberculosis underwent contrast-enhanced CT and double-phase FDG PET imaging (45 min, 120 min). Early (E) and delayed (D) SUVmax values were determined for all identified lesions and % change in SUV calculated (ΔSUV). Results: Seven patients presented with lung lesions on PET as well as CT (mean SUVmaxE 8.2, mean SUVmaxD 11.1, (p = 0.002), ΔSUV 35%. In two patients, lesions were judged as non-active on CT. In nine patients, 18 sites of LN involvement were identified on both early and delayed FDG PET images (mean SUVmaxE 6.3, mean SUVmaxD 7.9, (p = 0.0001), ΔSUV: 25%). 9 out of 18 sites of LN involvement, occurring in five patients, were missed on CT. In four of these five patients, sites of LN involvement were the only sites of extra-pulmonary involvement identified. In 6 out of 16 patients, pleural involvement was identified, respectively in 5 on FDG PET and in 6 on CT imaging (mean SUVmaxE 1.3, mean SUVmaxD 1.7, (p = 0.06), ΔSUV 21%). In 4 patients, osseous involvement was identified by both FDG PET and CT (mean SUVmaxE 7.2, mean SUVmaxD 10.7, (p = 0,06), ΔSUV 45%). Finally, in 3 patients, joint involvement was identified on both FDG PET as well as on CT imaging (mean SUVmaxE 4.7, mean SUVmaxD 5.2, ΔSUV 23%). FDG PET did not identify CTadditional sites of involvement that would have resulted in a prolonged treatment. Conclusion: In HIV-negative patients suffering from tuberculosis, FDG PET images suggested a more extensive involvement by Mycobacterium tuberculosis when compared to contrast enhanced CT. © Schattauer 2010. | CT; FDG PET; Patient management; Treatment; Tuberculosis | corticosteroid; fluorodeoxyglucose f 18; adolescent; adult; aged; article; child; clinical article; computer assisted tomography; controlled study; extrapulmonary tuberculosis; female; gold standard; histology; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; male; miliary tuberculosis; positron emission tomography; preschool child; sputum cytodiagnosis; treatment planning; tuberculous meningitis; tuberculous pericarditis; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Bone Diseases; Female; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Humans; Infant; Joint Diseases; Lung; Lymph Nodes; Male; Middle Aged; Pilot Projects; Pleural Effusion; Positron-Emission Tomography; Prospective Studies; Radiopharmaceuticals; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Tuberculosis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77954507345 | Evaluation of glucose uptake by skeletal muscle tissue and subcutaneous fat in HIV-infected patients with and without lipodystrophy using FDG-PET | Sathekge M., Maes A., Kgomo M., Stolz A., Ankrah A., Van De Wiele C. | 2010 | Nuclear Medicine Communications | 31 | 4 | 10.1097/MNM.0b013e3283359058 | Department of Nuclear Medicine, Pretoria Academic Hospital, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X169, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Internal Medicine, Louis Pasteur Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Nuclear Medicine, AZ Groeninge, Kortrijk, Belgium; Department of Morphology and Medical Imaging, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Ghent, Ghent, Belgium | Sathekge, M., Department of Nuclear Medicine, Pretoria Academic Hospital, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X169, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Maes, A., Department of Nuclear Medicine, AZ Groeninge, Kortrijk, Belgium, Department of Morphology and Medical Imaging, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Kgomo, M., Department of Internal Medicine, Louis Pasteur Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa; Stolz, A., Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Ankrah, A., Department of Nuclear Medicine, Pretoria Academic Hospital, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X169, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Van De Wiele, C., Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Ghent, Ghent, Belgium | Objective: To evaluate differences in glucose uptake by skeletal muscle tissue and subcutaneous fat in HIV patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) presenting with and without lipodystrophy as well as in drug-naive HIV patients using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography. Patients and methods: Thirty-nine consecutive patients suffering from HIV: seven drug-naive patients, 21 nonlipodystrophic patients on HAART and 11 patients on HAART, respectively, suffering from lipodystrophy were prospectively included. All patients underwent a whole-body FDG positron emission tomography examination. Standardized uptake values (SUV values) of muscle and subcutaneous fat were compared and related to demographic and biochemical variables. Results: SUV mean values of subcutaneous fat were significantly higher in patients under HAART presenting with lipodystrophy when compared with untreated and treated, nonlipodystrophic patients (P=0.000). SUV mean values of subcutaneous fat significantly correlated with treatment duration (r =0.56, P=0.000) and CD4 count (r=0.51, P= 0.001) and inversely correlated with viral load (r = -0.61, P=0.000). Finally, SUV mean values of thigh muscles were not significantly different between the three different patient groups under study. Conclusion: Quantitative FDG uptake by subcutaneous fat proved significantly higher in HIV patients under HAART presenting with lipodystrophy. HAART did not influence FDG uptake by human skeletal muscle tissue under basal conditions. © 2010 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. | 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography; Highly active antiretroviral therapy; Lipodystrophy | didanosine; efavirenz; fluorodeoxyglucose f 18; lamivudine; nevirapine; stavudine; anti human immunodeficiency virus agent; diagnostic agent; fluorodeoxyglucose f 18; glucose; adult; article; clinical article; controlled study; glucose transport; highly active antiretroviral therapy; HIV associated lipodystrophy; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; patient monitoring; positron emission tomography; quantitative diagnosis; skeletal muscle; subcutaneous fat; virus load; adolescent; clinical trial; comparative study; cytology; drug effect; female; highly active antiretroviral therapy; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; insulin resistance; lipodystrophy; male; metabolism; middle aged; positron emission tomography; scintiscanning; skeletal muscle; subcutaneous fat; transport at the cellular level; treatment outcome; Adolescent; Adult; Anti-HIV Agents; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Biological Transport; Female; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Glucose; HIV Infections; Humans; Insulin Resistance; Lipodystrophy; Male; Middle Aged; Muscle, Skeletal; Positron-Emission Tomography; Subcutaneous Fat; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84881291818 | Human impacts on forest structure and species richness on the edges of a protected mountain forest in Uganda | Sassen M., Sheil D. | 2013 | Forest Ecology and Management | 307 | None | 10.1016/j.foreco.2013.07.010 | Wageningen University, Po Box 430, 6700AK Wageningen, Netherlands; School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Po Box 157, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia; Institute of Tropical Forest Conservation (ITFC), Po Box 44, Kabale, SW, Uganda; Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Po Box 0113, BOCBD, Bogor 16000, Indonesia | Sassen, M., Wageningen University, Po Box 430, 6700AK Wageningen, Netherlands; Sheil, D., School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Po Box 157, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia, Institute of Tropical Forest Conservation (ITFC), Po Box 44, Kabale, SW, Uganda, Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Po Box 0113, BOCBD, Bogor 16000, Indonesia | We investigated how local scale variation in human impacts influenced forest structure and tree species richness within Mt Elgon National Park, Uganda. We assessed basal area (BA), stem density, diameter at breast height (dbh) and indicators of human activity in 343 plots in four study sites, on transects running inwards from the boundary of the park. Mt Elgon hosts the only remaining natural forest in a densely populated region (150-1000p/km2). All study sites suffered past encroachment for agriculture and were in various stages of recovery or renewed-clearing at the time of the study. Areas recovering from encroachment had lower mean BA (BA=3-11m2/ha), dbh and often also lower stem densities than forest that had never been cleared (BA=21-43m2/ha), even 35years after abandonment and with restoration planting. Human impacts were found beyond 2km into the park. Although most activities decreased with distance inside the boundary, their prevalence varied among sites. High coefficients of variation in BA (Cv=0.8-1.1) and stem density (Cv=1.0-2.2) within sites, together with the evidence of sustained human activities, suggest that forest use histories strongly influenced local forest structure. Mean BA increased with distance inside the boundary in all sites, but stem densities reflected more complex patterns. Large trees (dbh≥20cm) were most affected by former clearing for agriculture. The collection of stems used as crop-supports reduced regeneration and the density of smaller stems at one site. In another site, charcoal making was associated with the smallest mean BA and marked variability in forest structure. Grazed forest consisted of large trees with very little regeneration. On forest margins in two sites grazing, generally together with fire and tree-cutting, had eroded the forest edge and prevented regeneration. Human impacts as well as natural gradients had major impacts on species richness patterns. Several areas in intermediate states of disturbance showed higher tree species richness than either old-growth forest or more severely degraded areas. This study illustrates the fine scale variation due to local impacts within one forest. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. | Conservation; East Africa; Forest structure; Human disturbance; Tree diversity; Tropical forest | East Africa; Forest structure; Human disturbances; Tree diversity; Tropical forest; Agriculture; Charcoal; Conservation; Reforestation; anthropogenic effect; basal area; clearcutting; disturbance; forest edge; grazing; human activity; montane forest; old-growth forest; population density; regeneration; restoration ecology; species diversity; species richness; transect; tropical forest; Agriculture; Charcoal; Conservation; Reforestation; Mount Elgon National Park; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84945492640 | Fuelwood collection and its impacts on a protected tropical mountain forest in Uganda | Sassen M., Sheil D., Giller K.E. | 2015 | Forest Ecology and Management | 354 | None | 10.1016/j.foreco.2015.06.037 | Plant Production Systems, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 430, Wageningen, Netherlands; UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway; School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157, Lismore, NSW, Australia; Institute of Tropical Forest Conservation (ITFC), PO Box 44, Kabale, Uganda; Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), PO Box 0113 BOCBD, Bogor, Indonesia | Sassen, M., Plant Production Systems, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 430, Wageningen, Netherlands, UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Sheil, D., Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157, Lismore, NSW, Australia, Institute of Tropical Forest Conservation (ITFC), PO Box 44, Kabale, Uganda, Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), PO Box 0113 BOCBD, Bogor, Indonesia; Giller, K.E., Plant Production Systems, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 430, Wageningen, Netherlands | Local communities who live close to protected tropical forests often depend on them for woodfuel, their main source of energy. The impacts of fuelwood extraction in humid forests are rarely studied, yet the extraction of wood for fuel can impact forest structure, function and biodiversity. We assessed the effects of fuelwood collection on the forest of Mt Elgon National Park (Uganda). We interviewed 192 households about fuelwood use and surveyed dead wood in 81 plots inside the park. Forest was the most important source of fuelwood. People collected on average between 1.1 and 2.0m3 of fuelwood per capita per year. Other activities involving wood fuel extraction from the forest included illegal commercial fuelwood harvesting and charcoal making. Quantities of dead wood were affected by fuelwood collection up to at least 1000m inside the boundary of the park. Depletion of dead wood inside the park was greater in the sites where the population was most dense. Nevertheless, people who planted more trees on their own land perceived land outside the park to be important and valued old growth forest less as a source of fuelwood. Highly-preferred tree species were most depleted, particularly when they were also valued timber trees, such as Prunus africana, Popocarpus milianjianus, Allophylus abyssinicus and Olea spp. Locally dominant species were less affected. Impacts varied among sites depending on the history of agricultural encroachment and locally-specific forest uses, e.g. harvesting of trees for poles or use of the forest land for grazing. Allowing the collection of dead wood in forests is double-edged as it creates opportunities for other activities that are more damaging. Demand for wood fuel from tropical forests is still likely to grow in the foreseeable future. Our results indicate that the forest may become more degraded as a result, with negative consequences for the people who depend on the forest and for conservation. Research into local ecological and cultural contexts and perceptions concerning costs and benefits can help devise more sustainable management options, including alternative sources of fuel. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. | Forest conservation; Fuelwood; Human impacts; Mt Elgon; Tree species; Uganda | Biodiversity; Charcoal; Conservation; Extraction; Fuels; Tropics; Wood; Wood fuels; Wood products; Forest conservation; Fuelwood; Human impact; Mt Elgon; Tree species; Uganda; Forestry; anthropogenic effect; biodiversity; charcoal; conservation management; cost-benefit analysis; energy resource; forest management; fuelwood; montane forest; questionnaire survey; sustainability; tropical forest; Mount Elgon National Park; Uganda; Allophylus; Prunus africana | 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-s2.0-79955864499 | Performance measurement frameworks in a state controlled research organization: Can the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) be modified? | Sartorius K., Trollip N., Eitzen C. | 2010 | South African Journal of Business Management | 41 | 2 | None | School of Accountancy, University of the Witwatersrand, 1 Jan Smuts Avenue, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa; Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, South Africa; University of the Witwatersrand, 1 Jan Smuts Avenue, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa | Sartorius, K., School of Accountancy, University of the Witwatersrand, 1 Jan Smuts Avenue, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa; Trollip, N., Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, South Africa; Eitzen, C., University of the Witwatersrand, 1 Jan Smuts Avenue, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa | The development of multiple stakeholder performance measurement frameworks (PMF) is a complex process in the public research sector. The objective of the paper was to investigate whether the performance measurement framework (PMF) of a state owned research organization could be adapted to the Balanced Scorecard (BSC). A conceptual framework developed a hybrid form of BSC that could be applied in a research setting before describing a case study setting. A case study, as well as a survey was employed to investigate the research questions. The results suggest that the research sector PMF incorporated the properties the organization's value chain, as well as reflected its strategies and key actions. Furthermore, suitable performance measures had been created for all the organization's stakeholders. Further inductive analysis indicated that the PMF resembled a hybrid form of BSC based on the Moullin (2002) public sector framework. Finally, the results indicated that the PMF motivated its researchers at operations level, however, a survey of opinions suggests there was a significant difference in opinion between different categories of researchers. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84883446561 | The comparative performance of chartered accountancy students in South Africa: The impact of historical legacies | Sartorius K., Sartorius B. | 2013 | Development Southern Africa | 30 | 3 | 10.1080/0376835X.2013.817307 | School of Accountancy, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Sartorius, K., School of Accountancy, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Sartorius, B., School of Accountancy, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | African students continue to underperform in South Africa's schools and universities. This paper investigates the comparative performance of African chartered accountancy students from school to post-university level. The paper employed a mixed-method approach to analyse a series of cross-sectional datasets. The results showed that African students have underperformed at school, university and at post-university level, although the performance gap appears to be narrowing in the first professional chartered accountancy examination. The differential performance of these students was explained by poorer marks in mathematics and English that can be traced back to historical legacies in the education sector. South African universities, moreover, perpetuate this disadvantage because they have retained Eurocentric teaching approaches. In order to remove these barriers, tuition at school and university must be complemented by cross-cultural teaching practices and bridging programmes. © 2013 Copyright Development Bank of Southern Africa. | accountancy students; examination performance | academic performance; comparative study; student; teaching; university sector; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78650218407 | Botanical preparations for the protection of stored rice seed Oryza sativa from rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae and their impact on Oryza sativa germination | Sartie A., Mcgill C.R., Koolaard J., Van Epenhuijsen K., Carpenter A. | 2010 | Seed Science and Technology | 38 | 3 | None | Institute of Natural Resources (PN433), Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand; International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (UTA), Ibadan, Nigeria; C/o IITA Ltd, Carolyn House, 26 Dingwall Road, Croydon CR9 3EE, United Kin | Sartie, A., Institute of Natural Resources (PN433), Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (UTA), Ibadan, Nigeria, C/o IITA Ltd, Carolyn House, 26 Dingwall Road, Croydon CR9 3EE, United Kingdom; Mcgill, C.R., Institute of Natural Resources (PN433), Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand; Koolaard, J., AgResearch Ltd, Grasslands Research Centre, Tennent Drive, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North, New Zealand; Van Epenhuijsen, K., Plant and Food Research, Private Bag 11600, Palmerston North, New Zealand; Carpenter, A. | Protection of seed from pest and disease damage, and the maintenance of seed quality during storage between harvest and planting are key issues for peasant farmers. Rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae) is one of the main causes of loss of seed quality in rice (Oryza saliva). Treatment of stored rice with Azatin® XL (active ingredient azadiractin), neem (Azadirachta indica) seed powder and lentil (Lens culinaris cv. "Raja") seed powder gave some protection from rice weevil damage. Azatin® XL applied at a rate of 0.5% v/w rice seed gave effective short-term control of rice weevil without reducing rice seed germination. However, Azatin® XL applied at a rate of 2.0% (v/w) reduced rice seed germination. A. indica and lentil seed powders at the rate of 1.0% (w/w) and 2.0% (w/w rice seed) respectively gave effective protection against rice weevils with no reduction in seed germination. Pepper (Capsicum chinensis cv. "Habanero") fruit powder was ineffective against rice weevils. A relative humidity (RH) of 43% or lower in the seed storage environment and a reduction in seed moisture content (SMC) below 10% enhanced the mortality of rice weevils on rice seed. | None | Azadirachta indica; Capsicum; Capsicum chinense; Lens culinaris; Oryza; Oryza sativa; Raja; Sitophilus oryzae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84875076653 | Impacts of past habitat loss and future climate change on the range dynamics of South African Proteaceae | Sarmento Cabral J., Jeltsch F., Thuiller W., Higgins S., Midgley G.F., Rebelo A.G., Rouget M., Schurr F.M. | 2013 | Diversity and Distributions | 19 | 4 | 10.1111/ddi.12011 | Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 2, Potsdam, 14469, Germany; University of Göttingen, Büsgenweg 2, Göttingen, 37077, Germany; Laboratoire D'Ecologie Alpine, UMR-CNRS 5553, Université Joseph Fourier, BP53, Grenoble cedex 9, 38041, France; Institute for Physical Geography, Goethe University Frankfurt/Main, Altenhöferallee 1, Frankfurt/Main, 60438, Germany; South African National Biodiversity Institute, Cape Town, 7735, South Africa; School of Agricultural, Earth, and Environment Sciences, University of Kwazulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg Campus. Pvt Bag X101, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa; Biodiversity Planning Unit, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Private Bag x101, Pretoria, South Africa; Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution, UMR 5554, Université Montpellier 2, Montpellier cedex 5, France | Sarmento Cabral, J., Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 2, Potsdam, 14469, Germany, University of Göttingen, Büsgenweg 2, Göttingen, 37077, Germany; Jeltsch, F., Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 2, Potsdam, 14469, Germany; Thuiller, W., Laboratoire D'Ecologie Alpine, UMR-CNRS 5553, Université Joseph Fourier, BP53, Grenoble cedex 9, 38041, France; Higgins, S., Institute for Physical Geography, Goethe University Frankfurt/Main, Altenhöferallee 1, Frankfurt/Main, 60438, Germany; Midgley, G.F., South African National Biodiversity Institute, Cape Town, 7735, South Africa, School of Agricultural, Earth, and Environment Sciences, University of Kwazulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg Campus. Pvt Bag X101, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa; Rebelo, A.G., South African National Biodiversity Institute, Cape Town, 7735, South Africa; Rouget, M., Biodiversity Planning Unit, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Private Bag x101, Pretoria, South Africa; Schurr, F.M., Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 2, Potsdam, 14469, Germany, Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution, UMR 5554, Université Montpellier 2, Montpellier cedex 5, France | Aim: To assess how habitat loss and climate change interact in affecting the range dynamics of species and to quantify how predicted range dynamics depend on demographic properties of species and the severity of environmental change. Location: South African Cape Floristic Region. Methods: We use data-driven demographic models to assess the impacts of past habitat loss and future climate change on range size, range filing and abundances of eight species of woody plants (Proteaceae). The species-specific models employ a hybrid approach that simulates population dynamics and long-distance dispersal on top of expected spatio-temporal dynamics of suitable habitat. Results: Climate change was mainly predicted to reduce range size and range filling (because of a combination of strong habitat shifts with low migration ability). In contrast, habitat loss mostly decreased mean local abundance. For most species and response measures, the combination of habitat loss and climate change had the most severe effect. Yet, this combined effect was mostly smaller than expected from adding or multiplying effects of the individual environmental drivers. This seems to be because climate change shifts suitable habitats to regions less affected by habitat loss. Interspecific variation in range size responses depended mostly on the severity of environmental change, whereas responses in range filling and local abundance depended mostly on demographic properties of species. While most surviving populations concentrated in areas that remain climatically suitable, refugia for multiple species were overestimated by simply overlying habitat models and ignoring demography. Main conclusions: Demographic models of range dynamics can simultaneously predict the response of range size, abundance and range filling to multiple drivers of environmental change. Demographic knowledge is particularly needed to predict abundance responses and to identify areas that can serve as biodiversity refugia under climate change. These findings highlight the need for data-driven, demographic assessments in conservation biogeography. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | Biodiversity refugia; CFR Proteaceae; Climate change; Demographic properties; Habitat loss; Local abundances; Process-based range models; Range filling; Range size; Species distribution models | abundance; Cape Floristic Region; climate change; demography; dicotyledon; dispersal; environmental impact assessment; geographical distribution; habitat loss; population dynamics; range size; refugium; South Africa; Proteaceae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84939439666 | Improving students' performance in naming and writing structural formulae of hydrocarbons using the ball-and-stick models | Sarkodie P.A., Adu-Gyamfi K. | 2015 | Chemistry | 24 | 2 | None | Department of Science Education (College of Agriculture Education), University of Education, Winneba Mampong-Ashanti, Ghana; Department of Science Education, Mampong Technical College of Education, Mampong-Ashanti, Ghana | Sarkodie, P.A., Department of Science Education (College of Agriculture Education), University of Education, Winneba Mampong-Ashanti, Ghana; Adu-Gyamfi, K., Department of Science Education, Mampong Technical College of Education, Mampong-Ashanti, Ghana | Learning chemical concepts at the submicroscopic and symbolic levels has been identified as a difficult task for science students. Studies have shown that IUPAC nomenclature of organic compounds, which is at the symbolic level of learning chemical concepts, is a difficult concept when it comes to students' learning. The current study involved a pre-service teacher and 60 high school students and investigated how students could improve upon their performance in naming and writing of structural formulae of hydrocarbons with the aid of ball-and-stick models. The pre-service teacher and the students were purposively selected to participate in the study. After seven weeks of teaching and learning of IUPAC naming and writing of structural formulae of hydrocarbons where the students physically manipulated the models, it was found that the students' performance and attitude improved after the intervention. It is therefore recommended that science educators should continuously use already existing and newly developed models in teaching chemical concepts to help students to actively conceptualise such concepts at the symbolic level. | Hydrocarbons; Structural formulae; Students' performance | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84928974435 | Nutritional evaluation of some legumes and vegetables cultivated and consumed in Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria | Sarkiyayi S., Hamman B.M. | 2015 | Advance Journal of Food Science and Technology | 7 | 9 | None | Department of Biochemistry, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria | Sarkiyayi, S., Department of Biochemistry, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria; Hamman, B.M., Department of Biochemistry, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria | The study was designed to evaluate the nutritional and anti-nutritional content Legumes and vegetables consumed in Adamawa state. The investigations were carried out on Proximate (Moisture, fibre, Ash, Protein, Nitrogen, fat, carbohydrate and Energy), mineral elements (Na, K, Zn, Cu, Pb and Mn, respectively). Vitamins (vitamin A (retinol), β-carotene, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin B<inf>1</inf> and Vitamin B<inf>2</inf> and Anti-ntrient composition (phytate, oxalate and Tannins). The percentage moisture ranges between 4.28% for baobab leaves to 12.78% in sesame leaves. Legumes contained higher protein contents, the highest was observed in legumes (ground nut) with 25.40% the percentage for fat and carbohydrates were higher in legumes than in vegetables. Zinc was higher in vegetables (senna leaves and sesame leaves) (5.90 mg/kg) and was absent in one of the legumes (cowpea, red). Lead was only detected in vegetable leaves. It was higher in Sesame leaves with 2.0 mg/kg, lead was not detected in all the other sample used for this research. Vitamin A was only detected in vegetable samples and some legume (cowpea), the values ranges between 7.46 to 37.42 μg/100 g in senna leaves and cowpea (red) respectively. Vitamin C was not detected in the vegetable samples, but was detected in legume samples. Vitamin B<inf>1</inf> is higher in vegetable samples (baobab) with 1.32 mg/100 g. Riboflavin (B<inf>2</inf>) was higher in sesame leaves with 1.01 mg/100 g. The values for phytate ranges between 0.03 mg/100 g in baobab and sesame leaves condiment sample to 5.33 mg/100 g in legume (cowpea, red) respectively. Legumes and vegetables investigated revealed that the anti-nutrient contents were very high especially Oxalate and tannins but lower in phytate. © Maxwell Scientific Organization, 2015. | Anti-nutrient; Legumes; Mineral elements; Proximate composition; Vegetables; Vitamins | Carbohydrates; Flavonoids; Lead; Manganese; Minerals; Moisture; Nutrients; Oxalic acid; Proteins; Tannins; Vitamins; Zinc; Anti-nutritional; Legumes; Mineral element; Nutrient contents; Nutritional evaluations; Protein contents; Proximate compositions; Vegetable samples; Vegetables | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-66549105230 | Impact of introducing integrated quality assessment for tuberculosis and malaria microscopy in Kano, Nigeria | Sarkinfada F., Aliyu Y., Chavasse C., Bates I. | 2009 | Journal of Infection in Developing Countries | 3 | 1 | None | Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Bayero University, P.M.B. 3011, Kano, Nigeria; Kano State Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme, Ministry of Health Kano, Kano, Nigeria; Disease Control Strategy Group, Liverpo | Sarkinfada, F., Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Bayero University, P.M.B. 3011, Kano, Nigeria; Aliyu, Y., Kano State Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme, Ministry of Health Kano, Kano, Nigeria; Chavasse, C., Disease Control Strategy Group, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Bates, I., Disease Control Strategy Group, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom | Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended the integration of malaria microscopy quality assessment (QA) with that of other microscopically diagnosed diseases, but there is no evidence that it has been attempted. We assessed the feasibility of linking malaria microscopy into the existing tuberculosis (TB) microscopy QA system in Kano, Nigeria. Methodology: Five TB microscopy centres were selected for implementing the integrated TB and malaria microscopy QA scheme in the state. A model system was designed for selecting and blinded rechecking of TB and malaria slides from these laboratories. Supervision and evaluation was conducted at 3-month intervals for 24 months. Results: TB microscopy QA was strengthened in four laboratories. Full integration of the QA for TB and malaria microscopy was achieved in two laboratories, and partial integration in two other laboratories. The programme resulted in an increase in the specificity of both TB and malaria microscopy results. At the final assessment, 100% specificity was achieved for TB microscopy results in four laboratories. There was an increased concordance rate and decreased false positivity and false negativity rates of TB microscopy results in all five laboratories. Conclusions: It is feasible to integrate the QA system and training for TB and malaria microscopy for assessing and improving quality of both services. However, the integrated system needs testing in different settings in order to be able to develop sound recommendations to guide the complex scaling-up process. | Kano; Malaria; Microscopy; Quality; Tuberculosis | article; clinical protocol; diagnostic accuracy; diagnostic error; diagnostic value; false negative result; false positive result; feasibility study; health program; laboratory; malaria; microscopy; Nigeria; quality control; sensitivity and specificity; tuberculosis; Feasibility Studies; Government Programs; Humans; Laboratories, Hospital; Malaria; Microscopy; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Nigeria; Plasmodium; Program Evaluation; Quality Assurance, Health Care; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tuberculosis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79960956034 | Mycolactone diffuses into the peripheral blood of buruli ulcer patients - implications for diagnosis and disease monitoring | Sarfo F.S., Chevalier F., Aka N., Phillips R.O., Amoako Y., Boneca I.G., Lenormand P., Dosso M., Wansbrough-Jones M., Veyron-Churlet R., Guenin-Macé L., Demangel C. | 2011 | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases | 5 | 7 | 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001237 | Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana; Institut Pasteur, Pathogénomique Mycobactérienne Intégrée, Paris, France; Institut Pasteur, Mycobactéries Tuberculeuses et Atypiques, Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire; Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Institut Pasteur, Biologie et Génétique de la Paroi Bactérienne, Paris, France; INSERM, Groupe AVENIR, Paris, France; Institut Pasteur, Plateforme Protéomique, Paris, France; St George's University of London, London, United Kingdom | Sarfo, F.S., Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana; Chevalier, F., Institut Pasteur, Pathogénomique Mycobactérienne Intégrée, Paris, France; Aka, N., Institut Pasteur, Mycobactéries Tuberculeuses et Atypiques, Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire; Phillips, R.O., Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Amoako, Y., Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana; Boneca, I.G., Institut Pasteur, Biologie et Génétique de la Paroi Bactérienne, Paris, France, INSERM, Groupe AVENIR, Paris, France; Lenormand, P., Institut Pasteur, Plateforme Protéomique, Paris, France; Dosso, M., Institut Pasteur, Mycobactéries Tuberculeuses et Atypiques, Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire; Wansbrough-Jones, M., St George's University of London, London, United Kingdom; Veyron-Churlet, R., Institut Pasteur, Pathogénomique Mycobactérienne Intégrée, Paris, France; Guenin-Macé, L., Institut Pasteur, Pathogénomique Mycobactérienne Intégrée, Paris, France; Demangel, C., Institut Pasteur, Pathogénomique Mycobactérienne Intégrée, Paris, France | Background: Mycobacterium ulcerans, the causative agent of Buruli ulcer (BU), is unique among human pathogens in its capacity to produce a polyketide-derived macrolide called mycolactone, making this molecule an attractive candidate target for diagnosis and disease monitoring. Whether mycolactone diffuses from ulcerated lesions in clinically accessible samples and is modulated by antibiotic therapy remained to be established. Methodology/Principal Finding: Peripheral blood and ulcer exudates were sampled from patients at various stages of antibiotic therapy in Ghana and Ivory Coast. Total lipids were extracted from serum, white cell pellets and ulcer exudates with organic solvents. The presence of mycolactone in these extracts was then analyzed by a recently published, field-friendly method using thin layer chromatography and fluorescence detection. This approach did not allow us to detect mycolactone accurately, because of a high background due to co-extracted human lipids. We thus used a previously established approach based on high performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. By this means, we could identify structurally intact mycolactone in ulcer exudates and serum of patients, and evaluate the impact of antibiotic treatment on the concentration of mycolactone. Conclusions/Significance: Our study provides the proof of concept that assays based on mycolactone detection in serum and ulcer exudates can form the basis of BU diagnostic tests. However, the identification of mycolactone required a technology that is not compatible with field conditions and point-of-care assays for mycolactone detection remain to be worked out. Notably, we found mycolactone in ulcer exudates harvested at the end of antibiotic therapy, suggesting that the toxin is eliminated by BU patients at a slow rate. Our results also indicated that mycolactone titres in the serum may reflect a positive response to antibiotics, a possibility that it will be interesting to examine further through longitudinal studies. © 2011 Sarfo et al. | None | bacterial protein; mycolactone; unclassified drug; antiinfective agent; bacterial toxin; biological marker; mycolactone; adolescent; adult; antibiotic therapy; article; blood sampling; Buruli ulcer; controlled study; female; fluorescence analysis; high performance liquid chromatography; human; human cell; intermethod comparison; male; mass spectrometry; patient monitoring; point of care testing; prognosis; thin layer chromatography; blood; Buruli ulcer; chemistry; exudate; injury; isolation and purification; microbiology; mononuclear cell; Mycobacterium ulcerans; Adolescent; Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacterial Toxins; Biological Markers; Buruli Ulcer; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Chromatography, Thin Layer; Exudates and Transudates; Female; Humans; Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Male; Mass Spectrometry; Mycobacterium ulcerans; Wounds and Injuries | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79955997199 | Investigating the impact of positive resource interdependence and individual accountability on students' academic performance in cooperative learning [Investigación del impacto de la interdependencia de recursos positivos y rendición de cuentas en los alu | Sarfo F.K., Elen J. | 2011 | Electronic Journal of Research in Educational Psychology | 9 | 1 | None | Universidad de Educación, Winneba, Kumasi Campus, Ghana; Universidad Católica de Lovaina, Belgium | Sarfo, F.K., Universidad de Educación, Winneba, Kumasi Campus, Ghana; Elen, J., Universidad Católica de Lovaina, Belgium | Introduction: This study addresses two major issues with respect to cooperative learning. The study aims at experimentally investigating the function of positive resource interdependence and individual accountability on academic performance of individuals in cooperative learning. Method: To achieve the purpose a two by two randomized post-test experimental study was conducted. Descriptive statistics and two way ANOVA were used to analyze the data. Results: Interestingly, the results of the study reveal that working on the full content of the information before group discussion results in better academic performance than when each member in the group works on part (positive resource interdependence) of the content before group discussion. Furthermore, it is shown that when members in cooperative learning group are informed that after group work a student will be called randomly from a group for examination and the student's score will be the score for the rest of the group members and the score will be part of the final grade, it strengthens individual and group accountability and consequently facilitates learning. The results show no interaction effect of positive resource interdependence and individual accountability on the academic performance of students under cooperative learning. Conclusion: The theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed. © Education & Psychology I+D+i and Editorial EOS (Spain). | Cognitive load theory; Cooperative learning; Individual accountability; Positive resource interdependence; Split-attention effect | 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-s2.0-34447626839 | Evaluation of a diagnostic algorithm for smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis in HIV-infected adults | Saranchuk P., Boulle A., Hilderbrand K., Coetzee D., Bedelu M., van Cutsem G., Meintjes G. | 2007 | South African Medical Journal | 97 | 7 | None | 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; HIV Service, Department of Medicine, G F Jooste Hospital, South Africa; Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Saranchuk, P., Médecins Sans Frontières, Cape Town, South Africa; Boulle, A., Infectious Disease Epidemiology Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Hilderbrand, K., 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; Bedelu, M., Médecins Sans Frontières, Cape Town, South Africa; van Cutsem, G., Médecins Sans Frontières, Cape Town, South Africa; Meintjes, G., HIV Service, Department of Medicine, G F Jooste Hospital, South Africa, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Objectives. To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of and reduction in diagnostic delay attributable to a clinical algorithm used for the diagnosis of smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis (SNPTB) in HIV-infected adults. Design. An algorithm was designed to facilitate clinico-radioiogical diagnosis of pulmonary TB (PTB) in HIV-infected smear-negative adult patients. A folder review was performed on the first 58 cases referred for empirical TB treatment using this algorithm. Setting. Nolungile HIV Clinic, Site C, Khayelitsha. Subjects. Subjects included 58 HIV-infected adult patients with suspected PTB consecutively referred to the local TB clinic for outpatient TB treatment using this algorithm between 12 February 2004 and 30 April 2005. Outcome measures. Outcome measures were response of C-reactive protein, haemoglobin, weight and symptoms to TB treatment and TB culture result. Diagnostic delay (in days) was calculated. Results. Thirty-two of the 58 patients (55%) had positive TB cultures (definite TB). Initiation of TB treatment occured on average 19.5 days before the positive culture report. A further 21 patients (36%) demonstrated clinical improvement on empirical treatment (probable/ possible TB). Two patients did not improve and subsequently died without a definitive diagnosis. Three patients defaulted treatment. Conclusions. SNPTB is more common in HIV-infected patients and leads to diagnostic delay. This algorithm allowed for earlier initiation of TB treatment in HIV-infected patients presenting with symptoms of PTB and negative smears or non-productive cough in a high TB incidence setting. | None | amoxicillin; amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid; C reactive protein; ciprofloxacin; cotrimoxazole; doxycycline; erythromycin; flucloxacillin; hemoglobin; metronidazole; tuberculostatic agent; adult; algorithm; article; bacterium culture; controlled study; coughing; delayed diagnosis; diagnostic accuracy; diagnostic value; drug withdrawal; fatality; female; hemoglobin blood level; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; lung tuberculosis; major clinical study; male; outcome assessment; protein blood level; sputum analysis; sputum smear; thorax radiography; treatment outcome; weight reduction; Adult; Algorithms; Antitubercular Agents; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Male; Primary Health Care; Reproducibility of Results; South Africa; Sputum; Treatment Outcome; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84899981274 | The impact of risk assessment on the implementation of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in foot and ankle surgery | Saragas N.P., Ferrao P.N.F., Saragas E., Jacobson B.F. | 2014 | Foot and Ankle Surgery | 20 | 2 | 10.1016/j.fas.2013.11.002 | Netcare Linksfield Orthopaedic Sports and Rehabilitation Centre (Clinic), Johannesburg, South Africa; Orthopaedic Department, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of the Witwatersrand, National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa | Saragas, N.P., Netcare Linksfield Orthopaedic Sports and Rehabilitation Centre (Clinic), Johannesburg, South Africa, Orthopaedic Department, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Ferrao, P.N.F., Netcare Linksfield Orthopaedic Sports and Rehabilitation Centre (Clinic), Johannesburg, South Africa, Orthopaedic Department, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Saragas, E., Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of the Witwatersrand, National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa; Jacobson, B.F., Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of the Witwatersrand, National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa | Background: The purpose of this prospective study was to determine whether the more frequently quoted procedure and patient specific risk factors have any impact in the implementation of venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis following foot and ankle surgery. Methods: Two hundred and sixteen patients were included in the study. A variety of operative procedures was carried out with the common denominator being a below knee cast for at least 4 weeks and nonweightbearing for an average of 6 weeks in 130 patients. The remainder of the patients (88) had hallux surgery not requiring a cast and were allowed to weightbear. No patient received any form of thromboprophylaxis postoperatively. All patients were subjected to compression ultrasonography for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) between 2 and 6 weeks postoperatively. Results: There was a 5.09% incidence of VTE (0.9% pulmonary embolism) overall. As no VTE (neither DVT nor pulmonary embolus) developed in the hallux subgroup, i.e. patients not requiring immobilization and were allowed to weightbear, the incidence of VTE in the cast/nonweightbearing group was 8.46%. The results are descriptive and only statistically analyzed where possible, as the sample size of the VTE group was small. There was no significant difference in number of risk factors and no association between gender in the VTE and non VTE groups. 90.9% of patients in the VTE group had a total risk factor score of 5 or more and 73.7% of patients in the non VTE group had a total risk factor score of 5 or more. The average timing to the diagnosis of VTE in this current study was 33.1 days. Conclusions: In view of the unacceptable incidence of VTE and the average total risk factor score of 5 or more (for which thromboprophylaxis is recommended) in the majority of the patients, the authors feel that the routine use of thromboprophylaxis in foot and ankle surgery requiring nonweightbearing in combination with short leg cast immobilization, is warranted. This prophylaxis should continue until the patient regains adequate mobility either by weightbearing (in or out of the cast) or removal of cast immobilization (weightbearing or nonweightbearing), usually between 28 and 42 days. © 2013 European Foot and Ankle Society. | Foot ankle surgery; Prophylaxis; Venous thromboembolism | anticoagulant agent; adult; aged; article; calcaneus osteotomy; cohort analysis; compression ultrasonography; controlled clinical trial; controlled study; deep vein thrombosis; dyspnea; echography; female; flatfoot; flexor digitorum longus tendon transfer; foot and ankle surgery; gender; hallux surgery; human; immobilization; incidence; knee cast; lung embolism; lung examination; lung ventilation perfusion ratio; major clinical study; male; operation duration; orthopedic surgery; plaster cast; postoperative period; priority journal; prophylaxis; prospective study; risk assessment; risk factor; scoring system; spring ligament repair; surgical technique; thorax pain; venous thromboembolism; weight bearing; adolescent; ankle; foot; middle aged; orthopedic surgery; risk assessment; surgery; venous thromboembolism; very elderly; young adult; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Ankle; Casts, Surgical; Female; Foot; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Orthopedic Procedures; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Venous Thromboembolism; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77956901748 | Testing the impact of social forces on the evolution of Sahelian farming systems: A combined agent-based modeling and anthropological approach | Saqalli M., Gérard B., Bielders C., Defourny P. | 2010 | Ecological Modelling | 221 | 22 | 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2010.08.004 | REEDS UVSQ Université Versailles St-Quentin-en-Yvelines, 47 boulevard Vauban, 78280 Guyancourt, France; International Livestock Research Institute, Addis-Abeba, Ethiopia; Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium | Saqalli, M., REEDS UVSQ Université Versailles St-Quentin-en-Yvelines, 47 boulevard Vauban, 78280 Guyancourt, France; Gérard, B., International Livestock Research Institute, Addis-Abeba, Ethiopia; Bielders, C., Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; Defourny, P., Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium | This article presents the results of a methodology based on an extensive sociological fieldwork in three different sites settled along a gradient of aridity in Nigerien Sahel. This fieldwork led to build a set of rules for the behaviour of individuals in non-pastoralist villages. We implemented these rules into an agent-based model simulating three village archetypes. Each archetype includes biophysical, economical, social agricultural and livestock modules. Results from simulations with no social transition processes show that villages specialize themselves into different economic activities according to natural resource specificities: A decreasing intensification gradient is observed from the most favoured site, with more local productions and good ecological indicators, to the less-favoured site, with a growing proportion of the population wealth coming from migration remittances and " off-shore" livestock. Two family transition processes were implemented, following field observations and literature-based hypotheses: family organizations evolve between a patriarchal mode and a non-cooperative mode following tensions due to income redistribution. Family inheritance systems evolve from a " customary" one-heir mode to a " local Muslim" mode in which all males inherits land. This evolution depends on family tensions due to land availability. Once introducing these processes, the population of each site differentiates itself into specialized groups according to size, assets and social status. Meanwhile, the group proportions and specializations strongly vary according to the sites but they are all characterized by the emergence of individualistic family types and the increase of the village populations' robustness. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. | Family organization; Family transition processes; Individual agent-based modeling; Inheritance; Social distribution of economic assets | Family organization; Family transition processes; Individual agent; Inheritance; Social distribution; Computational methods; Ecology; Economics; Agriculture; anthropology; aridity; economic activity; family structure; farming system; literature review; rural area; social behavior; Nigeria; Sahel [Sub-Saharan Africa] | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-83055188191 | Sustainable architecture evaluation method in an African context: Transgressing discipline boundaries with a systems approach | Sanya T. | 2012 | Sustainability Science | 7 | 1 | 10.1007/s11625-011-0137-1 | School of Architecture Housing and Geomatics, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Sanya, T., School of Architecture Housing and Geomatics, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | This paper presents a method for poverty-inclusive evaluation of architectural sustainability. Existing evaluation tools largely ignore poverty-an omission that renders them inadequate for use in a developing country context. Methodological challenges arise from the complexity due to inclusion of poverty alongside numerous other sustainability aspects. Moreover, the shared transdisciplinary nature of architecture and sustainability coupled with inherent scale polarities add to the complexity. The evaluation method discussed here adopts concepts from systems theory to develop a framework that addresses the above challenges. It yields credible results in a developing country context with a dearth of research precedents and databases. The method was applied in an empirically based study of the sustainability performance of earth walling techniques in Uganda. The study showed that, from a sustainability viewpoint, wattle-and-daub performs best, followed by adobe, whereas the most popular brick was only better than compressed earth blocks. In their transparency, the evaluation method and results here presented can stand conventional academic scrutiny. But the conclusions point to the need for greater acceptance of transdisciplinary approaches to knowledge conceptualism if the holistic disposition of sustainability, architecture and sustainable architecture is to be accommodated. © 2011 Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science, United Nations University, and Springer. | Architecture; Multi-attribute utility technique; Poverty; Sustainability evaluation; Systems theory | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84923219807 | Enhanced optical limiting performance in phthalocyanine-quantum dot nanocomposites by free-carrier absorption mechanism | Sanusi K., Khene S., Nyokong T. | 2014 | Optical Materials | 37 | C | 10.1016/j.optmat.2014.07.024 | Department of Chemistry, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa | Sanusi, K., Department of Chemistry, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa; Khene, S., Department of Chemistry, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa; Nyokong, T., Department of Chemistry, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa | Enhanced nonlinear optical properties (in dimethyl sulphoxide) is observed for 2(3),9(10),16(17),23(24)-tetrakis-(4-aminophenoxy)phthalocyaninato indium(III) chloride (InPc) when covalently linked to CdSe/ZnS or CdSe quantum dots (QDs). The experimental nonlinear optical parameters were obtained from Z-Scan measurements. Contributions from two-photon absorption (2PA) due to the InPc, and free-carrier absorption (FCA) by QDS have been identified as the main factors responsible for the enhanced optical limiting. The effective nonlinear absorption coefficient for InPc-CdSe/ZnS was found to be 700.0 cm/GW. The FCA cross-sections for InPc-CdSe/ZnS and InPc-CdSe composites were found to be 1.52 × 10-19 and 6.00 × 10-20 cm2 respectively. A much lower limiting threshold of 92 mJ cm-2 was observed for InPc-CdSe/ZnS nanocomposite, hence, making it suitable for use as optical limiting material. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations on similar phthalocyanine-quantum dots system was modeled in order to explain the enhancement in the observed nonlinear optical properties of the Pc in the presence of the QDs. The experimentally determined nonlinear optical properties are well within the range of the DFT calculated properties. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Free-carrier absorption; Indium phthalocyanine; Nonlinear optical absorption; Two photon absorption | Chlorine compounds; Density functional theory; Electromagnetic wave absorption; Indium; Light absorption; Nanocomposites; Nanocrystals; Nitrogen compounds; Optical properties; Photons; Semiconductor quantum dots; Solvents; Two photon processes; Free carrier absorption; Non-linear optical properties; Nonlinear absorption coefficient; Nonlinear optical absorption; Nonlinear optical parameters; Optical limiting performance; Two photon absorption; Two photon absorption (2PA); Nonlinear optics | CSIR, Department of Science and Technology, Republic of South Africa; DST, Department of Science and Technology, Republic of South Africa; Department of Science and Technology, Republic of South Africa |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84897604165 | Influence of regression model and initial intensity of an incremental test on the relationship between the lactate threshold estimated by the maximal-deviation method and running performance | Santos-Concejero J., Tucker R., Granados C., Irazusta J., Bidaurrazaga-Letona I., Zabala-Lili J., Gil S.M. | 2014 | Journal of Sports Sciences | 32 | 9 | 10.1080/02640414.2013.862844 | UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Physical Education and Sport, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Physiology, Leioa, Spain | Santos-Concejero, J., UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Physical Education and Sport, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; Tucker, R., UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Granados, C., University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Physical Education and Sport, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; Irazusta, J., University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Physiology, Leioa, Spain; Bidaurrazaga-Letona, I., University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Physical Education and Sport, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; Zabala-Lili, J., University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Physical Education and Sport, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; Gil, S.M., University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Physical Education and Sport, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain | This study investigated the influence of the regression model and initial intensity during an incremental test on the relationship between the lactate threshold estimated by the maximal-deviation method and performance in elite-standard runners. Twenty-three well-trained runners completed a discontinuous incremental running test on a treadmill. Speed started at 9 km · h-1 and increased by 1.5 km · h-1 every 4 min until exhaustion, with a minute of recovery for blood collection. Lactate-speed data were fitted by exponential and polynomial models. The lactate threshold was determined for both models, using all the co-ordinates, excluding the first and excluding the first and second points. The exponential lactate threshold was greater than the polynomial equivalent in any co-ordinate condition (P < 0.001). For both models, the lactate threshold was lower when all co-ordinates were used than when the first and the first and second points were excluded (P < 0.001). 10-km race pace was correlated with both the exponential and polynomial lactate thresholds for all the co-ordinate conditions (r ≥ 0.75, P < 0.001 and r ≥ 0.56, P < 0.05, respectively). The results suggest that the exponential lactate threshold should be used instead of the polynomial equivalent since it is more strongly associated with performance and is independent of the initial intensity of the test. © 2013 © 2013 Taylor & Francis. | exponential-plus-constant; maximal deviation method; predictor; testing; third-order polynomial | lactic acid; anaerobic threshold; article; athletic performance; blood; exercise test; human; male; physiology; running; statistical model; young adult; Anaerobic Threshold; Athletic Performance; Exercise Test; Humans; Lactic Acid; Logistic Models; Male; Running; Young Adult | 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 |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84869088741 | Early infection dynamics after experimental challenge with Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis in calves reveal limited calf-to-calf transmission and no impact of Hsp70 vaccination | Santema W.J., Poot J., Segers R.P.A.M., Van den Hoff D.J.P., Rutten V.P.M.G., Koets A.P. | 2012 | Vaccine | 30 | 49 | 10.1016/j.vaccine.2012.09.065 | Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands; Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands; Microbiological R and D, MSD Animal Health, Boxmeer, Netherlands; Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa; Department of Immunology, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Netherlands | Santema, W.J., Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands, Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands; Poot, J., Microbiological R and D, MSD Animal Health, Boxmeer, Netherlands, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Netherlands; Segers, R.P.A.M., Microbiological R and D, MSD Animal Health, Boxmeer, Netherlands; Van den Hoff, D.J.P., Microbiological R and D, MSD Animal Health, Boxmeer, Netherlands; Rutten, V.P.M.G., Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands, Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa; Koets, A.P., Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands, Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands | Efficient control of bovine paratuberculosis is hampered by lack of a vaccine. The purpose of this study was to evaluate efficacy of a candidate vaccine, consisting of recombinant Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) Hsp70 with DDA adjuvant, in calves experimentally infected with MAP. Four groups of 14 animals each were used. Animals in group 1 and 2 were all vaccinated with Hsp70/DDA at day 0, 84, 168 and 357, and those in group 3 and 4 were non-vaccinated controls. In each group half (n=. 7) of the animals were challenged and the remaining half served as contacts. Blood and fecal samples were collected at three week intervals until day 588, and subsequently all animals were subjected to necropsy. The primary outcomes assessed were fecal culture (FC) of MAP, tissue colonization of MAP, and transmission of infection to contact animals. The kinetics of MAP shedding in feces of challenged animals showed a peak around 130 days post-challenge, irrespective of vaccination status. At necropsy no differences in the level of tissue colonization between vaccinated animals and controls were observed in the challenged groups. Only one contact animal (non-vaccinated) was positive at necropsy, indicating limited to no transmission within groups. These findings indicate that Hsp70/DDA vaccination does not influence early infection dynamics after experimental infection. However, early shedding of MAP in calves did not result in efficient transmission of infection to contact animals. The latter implies that introduction of an infected calf in a cohort of susceptibles has limited consequences for spread of infection. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. | Cattle; Efficacy; Hsp70; Paratuberculosis; Subunit vaccine; Transmission | bacterial vaccine; recombinant mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis heat shock protein 70; unclassified drug; animal experiment; animal model; animal tissue; article; autopsy; bacterial colonization; bacterial shedding; blood sampling; calf (bovine); controlled study; disease transmission; feces analysis; feces culture; female; male; Mycobacterium paratuberculosis; nonhuman; paratuberculosis; priority journal; vaccination; Adjuvants, Immunologic; Animals; Bacterial Vaccines; Cattle; Disease Models, Animal; Feces; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis; Paratuberculosis; Vaccination; Vaccines, Subunit | 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 |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84912093078 | Synthesis and characterization of rhodium doped on TiOHCP for enhanced photocatalytic performance on pentachlorophenol | Sanni S.O., Idemudia O.G. | 2014 | Journal of Nanomaterials | 2014 | None | 10.1155/2014/287493 | Department of Chemistry, Vaal University of Technology, Private Bag x021, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa; Department of Chemistry, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag x1314, Alicee, South Africa | Sanni, S.O., Department of Chemistry, Vaal University of Technology, Private Bag x021, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa; Idemudia, O.G., Department of Chemistry, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag x1314, Alicee, South Africa | Visible-light-responsive material based on Rhodium doped on titanium dispersed on dealuminated clinoptilolite (TiOHCP) was synthesized via a combination of the sol-gel method and photoreductive deposition technique. The photocatalyst surface characterization, structural and optical properties were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and UV-visible spectra (UV-VIS). Doping TiOHCP with Rh imparts a red shifting of the absorption band into the visible light region according to UV-VIS. The prepared composite materials were evaluated for their photocatalytic activities on pentachlorophenol (PCP) degradation under sunlight irradiation. The Rhodium doped TiOHCP exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity and can be considered as a potential photocatalyst in wastewater treatment. © 2014 Saheed Olalekan Sanni and Omoruyi Gold Idemudia. | None | Complexation; Energy dispersive X ray analysis; Gravimetric analysis; Herbicides; Light; Optical properties; Phenols; Photocatalysis; Photocatalysts; Rhodium; Scanning electron microscopy; Sol-gel process; Sol-gels; Thermogravimetric analysis; Wastewater treatment; X ray diffraction; Energy dispersive x-ray; Photocatalytic activities; Photocatalytic performance; Structural and optical properties; Surface characterization; Synthesis and characterizations; Thermal gravimetric analyses (TGA); Visible-light-responsive; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79960494871 | Measuring the influence of a journal using impact and diffusion factors | Sanni S.A., Zainab A.N. | 2011 | Malaysian Journal of Library and Information Science | 16 | 2 | None | 54, Lekan Salami Complex, Ibadan, Nigeria; Digital Library Research Group, Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Sanni, S.A., 54, Lekan Salami Complex, Ibadan, Nigeria; Zainab, A.N., Digital Library Research Group, Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Presents the result of the calculated ISI equivalent Impact Factor, Relative Diffusion Factor (RDF), and Journal Diffusion Factor (JDF) for articles published in the Medical Journal of Malaysia (MJM) between the years 2004 and 2008 in both their synchronous and diachronous versions. The publication data are collected from MyAis (Malaysian Abstracting & Indexing system) while the citation data are collected from Google Scholar. The values of the synchronous JDF ranges from 0.057 - 0.14 while the diachronous JDF ranges from 0.46 - 1.98. The high diachronous JDF is explained by a relatively high number of different citing journals against the number of publications. This implies that the results of diachronous JDF is influenced by the numbers of publications and a good comparison may be one of which the subject of analysis have similar number of publications and citations period. The yearly values of the synchronous RDF vary in the range of 0.66 - 1.00 while diachronous RDF ranges from 0.62 - 0.88. The result shows that diachronous RDF is negatively correlated with the number of citations, resulting in a low RDF value for highly cited publication years. What this implies in practice is that the diffusion factors can be calculated for every additional year at any journal level of analysis. This study demonstrates that these indicators are valuable tools that help to show development of journals as it changes through time. | Bibliometrics; Journal diffusion factor; Journal evaluation measures; Journal impact factor; Quality and influence assessment of journals | None | 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-s2.0-84884260819 | 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-s2.0-70349332484 | The impact of launching surgery at the district level in niger | Sani R., Nameoua B., Yahaya A., Hassane I., Adamou R., Hsia R.Y., Hoekman P., Sako A., Habibou A. | 2009 | World Journal of Surgery | 33 | 10 | 10.1007/s00268-009-0160-x | Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niamey, Niamey, Niger, South Africa; Regional Hospital of Dosso, Dosso, Niger; District Hospital, Dosso Region, Dosso, Niger; Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, United States | Sani, R., Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niamey, Niamey, Niger, South Africa; Nameoua, B., Regional Hospital of Dosso, Dosso, Niger; Yahaya, A., District Hospital, Dosso Region, Dosso, Niger; Hassane, I., District Hospital, Dosso Region, Dosso, Niger; Adamou, R., District Hospital, Dosso Region, Dosso, Niger; Hsia, R.Y., Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, United States; Hoekman, P., Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niamey, Niamey, Niger, South Africa; Sako, A., Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niamey, Niamey, Niger, South Africa; Habibou, A., Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niamey, Niamey, Niger, South Africa | In 2005, the Ministry of Health in association with the Faculty of Medicine of Niamey decided to launch surgery at the district hospital (DH) level as part of the health strategy for the country. Surgical procedures were provided by general practitioners who received 12 months of training in basic surgery. Whereas the initiative was launched nationwide, we chose randomly to study the region of Dosso during a 1-year time period of January 2007 to December 2007 in the three district hospitals as well as the regional hospital of Dosso. During the course of 1 year, 544 patients received operations in the three DHs, of which 37.9% (n = 206) were emergent and 62.1% (n = 338) were elective. The most common emergent interventions were cesarean sections (70%) and uterine ruptures (7.8%). For elective surgeries, hernia repairs comprised 80.8% of the cases. The mortality rate of emergent surgeries was 7.3 and 0% in the cases of elective surgeries. Of note, there was a large reduction in transfers to the regional hospital: 52% compared to 2006 and 82% compared to 2005. In 66.1% of the transfers, the cases consisted of fractures, and in 10.4% of abdominal trauma and critical thoracic emergencies. Further study of this initiative has highlighted other challenges, including that of human resources, equipment maintenance, provision of consumables, and the need for continued training. Results from this governmental initiative to provide surgery in rural district hospitals by general practitioners are promising and encouraging. In the rural district of Dosso, there have been no deaths from elective surgery, and the number of surgical transfers to the regional hospital has drastically diminished. © 2009 The Author(s). | None | abdominal injury; adult; article; cesarean section; elective surgery; emergency surgery; fracture; general practitioner; government; health program; hernioplasty; hospital; human; major clinical study; mortality; Niger; patient transport; resource allocation; surgery; surgical patient; surgical training; thorax surgery; uterus rupture; Emergencies; Family Practice; Hospitals, District; Humans; Niger; Patient Transfer; Rural Population; Surgical Procedures, Elective; Surgical Procedures, Operative | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78649778495 | Impact of schistosome infection on plasmodium falciparum malariometric indices and immune correlates in school age children in burma valley, zimbabwe | Sangweme D.T., Midzi N., Zinyowera-Mutapuri S., Mduluza T., Diener-West M., Kumar N. | 2010 | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases | 4 | 11 | 10.1371/journal.pntd.0000882 | Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States; Schistosomiasis Section, National Institute of Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe; Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States; Department of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States | Sangweme, D.T., Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States; Midzi, N., Schistosomiasis Section, National Institute of Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe; Zinyowera-Mutapuri, S., Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Mduluza, T., Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Diener-West, M., Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States; Kumar, N., Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States, Department of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States | A group of children aged 6-17 years was recruited and followed up for 12 months to study the impact of schistosome infection on malaria parasite prevalence, density, distribution and anemia. Levels of cytokines, malaria specific antibodies in plasma and parasite growth inhibition capacities were assessed. Baseline results suggested an increased prevalence of malaria parasites in children co-infected with schistosomiasis (31%) compared to children infected with malaria only (25%) (p = 0.064). Moreover, children co-infected with schistosomes and malaria had higher sexual stage geometric mean malaria parasite density (189 gametocytes/ml) than children infected with malaria only (73/ml gametocytes) (p = 0.043). In addition, a larger percentage of co-infected children (57%) had gametocytes as observed by microscopy compared to the malaria only infected children (36%) (p = 0.06). There was no difference between the two groups in terms of the prevalence of anemia, which was approximately 64% in both groups (p = 0.9). Plasma from malaria-infected children exhibited higher malaria antibody activity compared to the controls (p = 0.001) but was not different between malaria and schistosome plus malaria infected groups (p = 0.44) and malaria parasite growth inhibition activity at baseline was higher in the malaria-only infected group of children than in the co-infected group though not reaching statistical significance (p = 0.5). Higher prevalence and higher mean gametocyte density in the peripheral blood may have implications in malaria transmission dynamics during coinfection with helminths. © 2010 Sangweme et al. | None | albendazole; apical membrane antigen 1; chloroquine; fansidar; hemoglobin; immunoglobulin G; immunoglobulin G2; immunoglobulin G3; merozoite surface protein 1; praziquantel; helminth antibody; protozoon antibody; adolescent; anemia; article; asexual reproduction; blood sampling; child; controlled study; disease transmission; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; female; gametocyte; growth inhibition; helminthiasis; human; in vitro study; major clinical study; malaria; male; mixed infection; Plasmodium falciparum; preschool child; prevalence; Schistosoma hematobium; Schistosoma mansoni; schistosomiasis; single drug dose; Zimbabwe; animal; cohort analysis; immunology; malaria falciparum; parasitology; physiology; Schistosoma; schistosomiasis; Zimbabwe; Adolescent; Animals; Antibodies, Helminth; Antibodies, Protozoan; Child; Cohort Studies; Female; Humans; Malaria, Falciparum; Male; Plasmodium falciparum; Schistosoma; Schistosomiasis; Zimbabwe | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-64049102537 | Production and sensory evaluation of tigernut beverages | Sanful R.E. | 2009 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 8 | 5 | None | Department of Hotel, Catering and Institutional Management, Cape Coast Polytechnic, P.O. Box AD 50, Cape Coast, Ghana | Sanful, R.E., Department of Hotel, Catering and Institutional Management, Cape Coast Polytechnic, P.O. Box AD 50, Cape Coast, Ghana | The acceptability of roasted and non-roasted tiger nut beverages has been investigated. Forty panelists were used in the sensory evaluation study. The panelists compared the two beverages on the bases of mouth feel, texture, taste, aroma, consistency, appearance and general acceptability. Correlation analysis of the results showed that although the texture, aroma, appearance and consistency were important for consumers, mouth feel and taste were more important for the overall acceptance of the beverages. The mouth feel of the non-roasted tiger nut beverage was more acceptable than that of the roasted tiger nut beverage. The taste of the roasted tiger nut beverage, however, was more acceptable to the panelists than that of the non-roasted tiger nut beverage. General preference is given to the roasted tiger nut beverage. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2009. | Diet; Ghana; Tiger nut beverages | aroma; article; beverage; consumer; controlled study; Cyperus; food analysis; food quality; food texture; sensory evaluation; taste; taste preference | 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 |
| None | None | Evaluation of a community health worker intervention and the World Health Organization's Option B versus Option A to improve antenatal care and PMTCT outcomes in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: Study protocol for a cluster-randomized controlled health systems im | Sando D., Geldsetzer P., Magesa L., Lema I.A., Machumi L., Mwanyika-Sando M., Li N., Spiegelman D., Mungure E., Siril H., Mujinja P., Naburi H., Chalamilla G., Kilewo C., Ekström A.M., Fawzi W.W., Bärnighausen T.W. | 2014 | Trials | 15 | 1 | 10.1186/1745-6215-15-359 | Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard School of Public Health, Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, United States; Management and Development for Health, Mwai Kibaki Road, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Departments of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health, Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, United States; School of Public Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, United Nations Road, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; School of Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, United Nations Road, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Department of Public Health Sciences, Tomtebodavägen, Karolinska Institutet, Solna Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinskavägen, Solna Stockholm, Sweden; Wellcome Trust Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, A2074 Road, Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | Sando, D., Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard School of Public Health, Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, United States, Management and Development for Health, Mwai Kibaki Road, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Geldsetzer, P., Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard School of Public Health, Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, United States; Magesa, L., Management and Development for Health, Mwai Kibaki Road, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Lema, I.A., Management and Development for Health, Mwai Kibaki Road, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Machumi, L., Management and Development for Health, Mwai Kibaki Road, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Mwanyika-Sando, M., Management and Development for Health, Mwai Kibaki Road, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Li, N., Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard School of Public Health, Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, United States; Spiegelman, D., Departments of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health, Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, United States; Mungure, E., Management and Development for Health, Mwai Kibaki Road, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Siril, H., Management and Development for Health, Mwai Kibaki Road, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, School of Public Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, United Nations Road, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Mujinja, P., School of Public Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, United Nations Road, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Naburi, H., School of Public Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, United Nations Road, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, School of Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, United Nations Road, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Chalamilla, G., Management and Development for Health, Mwai Kibaki Road, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Kilewo, C., School of Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, United Nations Road, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Ekström, A.M., Department of Public Health Sciences, Tomtebodavägen, Karolinska Institutet, Solna Stockholm, Sweden, Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinskavägen, Solna Stockholm, Sweden; Fawzi, W.W., Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard School of Public Health, Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, United States; Bärnighausen, T.W., Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard School of Public Health, Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, United States, Wellcome Trust Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, A2074 Road, Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | Background: Mother-to-child transmission of HIV remains an important public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa. As HIV testing and linkage to PMTCT occurs in antenatal care (ANC), major challenges for any PMTCT option in developing countries, including Tanzania, are delays in the first ANC visit and a low overall number of visits. Community health workers (CHWs) have been effective in various settings in increasing the uptake of clinical services and improving treatment retention and adherence. At the beginning of this trial in January 2013, the World Health Organization recommended either of two medication regimens, Option A or B, for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT). It is still largely unclear which option is more effective when implemented in a public healthcare system. This study aims to determine the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, acceptability, and feasibility of: (1) a community health worker (CWH) intervention and (2) PMTCT Option B in improving ANC and PMTCT outcomes.Methods/Design: This study is a cluster-randomized controlled health systems implementation trial with a two-by-two factorial design. All 60 administrative wards in the Kinondoni and Ilala districts in Dar es Salaam were first randomly allocated to either receiving the CHW intervention or not, and then to receiving either Option B or A. Under the standard of care, facility-based health workers follow up on patients who have missed scheduled appointments for PMTCT, first through a telephone call and then with a home visit. In the wards receiving the CHW intervention, the CHWs: (1) identify pregnant women through home visits and refer them to antenatal care; (2) provide education to pregnant women on antenatal care, PMTCT, birth, and postnatal care; (3) routinely follow up on all pregnant women to ascertain whether they have attended ANC; and (4) follow up on women who have missed ANC or PMTCT appointments. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: EJF22802. Registration date: 14 May 2013. © 2014 Sando et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Antenatal care; Community health workers; HIV; Prevention of mother-to-child transmission; Retention; Study protocol; Uptake | Article; birth; clinical protocol; controlled study; cost effectiveness analysis; economic evaluation; feasibility study; female; follow up; health auxiliary; health care personnel; health care system; health education; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; infection prevention; major clinical study; postnatal care; pregnant woman; prenatal care; professional practice; randomized controlled trial; telephone; treatment outcome; vertical transmission; ward; world health organization; attitude to health; clinical trial; community care; comparative study; health auxiliary; health care planning; health care quality; health services research; HIV Infections; hospital management; methodology; multicenter study; newborn; patient attitude; patient education; perinatal care; pregnancy; prevention and control; standards; Tanzania; time; total quality management; transmission; vertical transmission; anti human immunodeficiency virus agent; Anti-HIV Agents; Appointments and Schedules; Community Health Services; Community Health Workers; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Services Research; Health Systems Plans; HIV Infections; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care); Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Patient Education as Topic; Perinatal Care; Pregnancy; Quality Improvement; Quality Indicators, Health Care; Research Design; Tanzania; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; World Health Organization | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84884147717 | The performance of environmental impact assessment in the explosives manufacturing industry in South Africa | Sandham L.A., Van Der Vyver F., Retief F.P. | 2013 | Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management | 15 | 3 | 10.1142/S1464333213500130 | Environmental Assessment Research Group, School of Geo and Spatial Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa | Sandham, L.A., Environmental Assessment Research Group, School of Geo and Spatial Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa; Van Der Vyver, F., Environmental Assessment Research Group, School of Geo and Spatial Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa; Retief, F.P., Environmental Assessment Research Group, School of Geo and Spatial Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa | Explosives manufacture in South Africa is a major component of the chemical and mining industry, and as an important producer of hazardous chemicals it is also a potential contributor to significant environmental impacts. Environmental authorisation of explosives manufacturing activities is based primarily upon the quality of information made available in the Environmental Impact Report (EIR), but the quality of EIR for explosives manufacturing projects has never been investigated. A modified version of the Lee and Colley review package was used to determine the EIR quality of a sample of four explosives projects. The findings reveal that the EIRs were of a generally satisfactory quality, but with some areas of weakness that are readily linked to potentially significant environmental impacts, pointing to limitations in the EIA process regarding the production of explosives. Recommendations include improved training of EIA practitioners, the use of quality review checklists and external specialist review, development of guidelines and the use of risk assessment as additional tools to the EIA regulations. © Imperial College Press. | EIR quality review; Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA); Environmental Impact Report (EIR); explosives manufacturing | environmental impact assessment; explosive; guideline; manufacturing; risk assessment; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-47249106387 | The quality of environmental impact reports for projects with the potential of affecting wetlands in South Africa | Sandham L.A., Moloto M.J., Retief F.P. | 2008 | Water SA | 34 | 2 | None | Environmental Assessment Research Group, School of Environmental Sciences, North West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa | Sandham, L.A., Environmental Assessment Research Group, School of Environmental Sciences, North West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; Moloto, M.J., Environmental Assessment Research Group, School of Environmental Sciences, North West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; Retief, F.P., Environmental Assessment Research Group, School of Environmental Sciences, North West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa | In South Africa certain development activities, which may have a substantial detrimental effect on the environment, require an environmental impact assessment (EIA), including projects with the potential of affecting wetlands. A key element of the EIA process is the submission of an environmental impact report (ETR) for review in order to determine whether the report is adequate and/or whether a greater quantity of information is required before the project can be authorised. The information available to decision-makers in the EIR is a major determinant in the outcome of wetland protection and/or destruction. The quality of 4 environmental impact reports of large projects with the potential of impacting on wetlands was assessed using an EIA report quality review checklist. It is concluded that the quality of the 4 reports was generally satisfactory but certain areas were found to be poorly performed, i.e. identification and evaluation of impacts to the potential detriment of the wetlands for which the EIAs were performed To improve the quality of the reports for projects with the potential of affecting wetlands it is recommended that a quality review checklist be used by EIA practitioners and authorities as an additional tool to the EIA regulations and the integrated environmental management series. This should assist in ensuring that key aspects are addressed before submission to the relevant authority, and will also contribute to establishing a baseline of EIR quality for evaluation of wetlands EIA practice under the new regulations promulgated in 2006. | Environmental impact assessment; Environmental impact report (E1R); Quality review; Wetlands | Budget control; Environmental engineering; Environmental impact assessments; Environmental management; Environmental protection; Environmental regulations; Management; Quality control; Water resources; Wetlands; Decision makers (DM); Detrimental effects; Development activities; Environmental impact assessment (ETA); Integrated environmental management (IEM); South Africa (SA); Environmental impact; decision making; environmental impact; environmental impact assessment; environmental management; environmental quality; wetland; Africa; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84927563435 | Policies to promote household based plantation forestry and their impacts on livelihoods and the environment: Cases from Ethiopia, China, Vietnam and Sweden | Sandewall M., Kassa H., Wu S., Khoa P.V., He Y., Ohlsson B. | 2015 | International Forestry Review | 17 | 1 | 10.1505/146554815814725059 | Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Forest Resource Management, Umeå, Sweden; Centre for International Forestry Research, Forests and Livelihoods Program, Ethiopia Office, P.O Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Research Institute of Forestry Policy and Information, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Dong Xiaofu 2#, Haidian District, Beijing, China; Forestry University of Vietnam, Xuan Mai, Chuong My, Ha Noi, Viet Nam | Sandewall, M., Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Forest Resource Management, Umeå, Sweden; Kassa, H., Centre for International Forestry Research, Forests and Livelihoods Program, Ethiopia Office, P.O Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Wu, S., Research Institute of Forestry Policy and Information, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Dong Xiaofu 2#, Haidian District, Beijing, China; Khoa, P.V., Forestry University of Vietnam, Xuan Mai, Chuong My, Ha Noi, Viet Nam; He, Y., Research Institute of Forestry Policy and Information, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Dong Xiaofu 2#, Haidian District, Beijing, China; Ohlsson, B., Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Forest Resource Management, Umeå, Sweden | The growing economies in the South, market globalization, population growth, social conflicts and climate change increase the strain on land and forest resources, and require a cost effective and ecologically sound production of goods and services to meet public needs. Based on global assessment data, four country level (Ethiopia, China, Vietnam, Sweden) and six local case studies and using a multi-scale approach, this paper examines trends and drivers in household based plantation forestry and reviews how policies affecting forest plantation and land use are interpreted and implemented at the local level. It discusses how sustainable forestry systems and policies can be developed which provide industrial supplies, promote environmental objectives and support the livelihoods of people. Besides reflecting characteristics and diversity of current trends in plantation forestry, the paper illustrates that local landscape studies could help in explaining trends revealed by national inventories in a way relevant to policy and research. | Change assessment; household based forestry; land use; multi-scale approach; trends | diversity index; environmental impact; forest resource; forestry policy; land use; plantation forestry; trend analysis; China; Ethiopia; Sweden; Viet Nam | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84900308543 | Using systemic structural activity approach in identifying strategies enhancing human performance in mining production drilling activity | Sanda M.-A., Johansson J., Johansson B., Abrahamsson L. | 2014 | Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics Science | 15 | 3 | 10.1080/1463922X.2012.705916 | Department of Organization and Human Resource Management, University of Ghana Business School, PO Box LG 78, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Division of Industrial Work Environment, Department of Business Administration, Technology and Social Sciences, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå 97187, Sweden | Sanda, M.-A., Department of Organization and Human Resource Management, University of Ghana Business School, PO Box LG 78, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Johansson, J., Division of Industrial Work Environment, Department of Business Administration, Technology and Social Sciences, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå 97187, Sweden; Johansson, B., Division of Industrial Work Environment, Department of Business Administration, Technology and Social Sciences, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå 97187, Sweden; Abrahamsson, L., Division of Industrial Work Environment, Department of Business Administration, Technology and Social Sciences, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå 97187, Sweden | This article seeks to identify performance-enhancing strategies that could be used to improve and optimise human-technology collaboration in rock drilling 'activity' in deep mines. Results from the analysis of miners' motor actions during rock drilling activity showed that by using procedurally driven strategies, they were able to perform simultaneously two specific tasks that required high levels of concentration and visual control in the normal visual field available to them from inside the protective cabin of the high-technology equipment they were using. The miners simultaneously combine their mental actions and motor actions in recognising and remedying the constraining effects of unfamiliar stimuli during the rock drilling task. It is concluded that the functional efficiency and effectiveness of rock drilling as well as the miner's productive performance in future automated and digitised deep mines could be enhanced by identifying the procedural characteristics of their performance-enhancing actions and operational strategies. © 2014 Copyright Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. | digitised deep mine; performance-enhancing strategy; procedural and declarative knowledge; rock drilling task; systemic structural analysis | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84893673758 | Genetic evaluation of nigerian indigenous crossbred pullets and broilers | Sanda A.J., Adebambo O.A., Olowofeso O., Adeleke M.A., Akinfenwa M.O., Nworgu F.C., Lawal R.A. | 2012 | Thai Journal of Agricultural Science | 45 | 4 | None | Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Department of Animal Health and Production Technology, Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, IAR and T. Moor Plantation, P | Sanda, A.J., Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Adebambo, O.A., Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Olowofeso, O., Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Adeleke, M.A., Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Akinfenwa, M.O., Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Nworgu, F.C., Department of Animal Health and Production Technology, Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, IAR and T. Moor Plantation, P.M.B. 5029, Ibadan, Nigeria; Lawal, R.A., Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria | An experiment was carried out to determine the growth performance of different crossbred broilers and egg line, and to investigate the effect of genotype (Marshal, Anak Titan, Giriraja, Rhode Island Red cocks, indigenous pullets and exotic dihybrid and trihybrid crosses) on body weight gain. Data were collected for a period of five months. Results showed that with the effect of sire genotype on body weight, Marshal cross has the highest body weight of 1780.50±186.16 g at twenty weeks of age, while Rhode Island Red cross has the lowest mean value of 1287.25±53.55 g. With the effect of dam genotype, dihybrid has the highest body weight with a value of 1663.0±0.00 g at twenty weeks of age, followed by Normal and Anak Titan, respectively. The crossbreds of Marshal sire and Anak Titan dam showed the highest mean body weight of 1909.33±186.10 g at twenty weeks of age; also crosses of Marshal sire and Anak Titan dam produced eggs with the most significant mean weight of 60.00±0.30 g for egg line, while the crossing between Normal indigenous sire and Normal indigenous dam produced eggs with lowest mean weight of 57.08±3.55 g. The interaction between sire and dam on body weight and egg weight showed improvement in the egg line for poultry production. Results of the experiment suggest that crossing of exotic breed of sire with the normal Nigerian indigenous dam produced birds with improved growth performance for broiler chickens and improvement in the egg line. | Crossbred; Dihybrid; Genotype; Indigenous; Trihybrid | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-43249092090 | Impact of HIV on novel therapies for tuberculosis control | Sánchez M.S., Lloyd-Smith J.O., Porco T.C., Williams B.G., Borgdorff M.W., Mansoer J., Salomon J.A., Getz W.M. | 2008 | AIDS | 22 | 8 | 10.1097/QAD.0b013e3282f7cb4b | Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States; Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States; World Health Organization, Stop TB Department, Geneva, Switzerland; KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, The Hague, Netherlands; Department of Infectious Diseases, Tropical Medicine and AIDS, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands; National TB Programme, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of International Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Harvard University Initiative for Global Health, Cambridge, MA, United States; Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, 137 Mulford Hall, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3114, United States | Sánchez, M.S., Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States, Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, 137 Mulford Hall, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3114, United States; Lloyd-Smith, J.O., Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States; Porco, T.C., Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States; Williams, B.G., World Health Organization, Stop TB Department, Geneva, Switzerland; Borgdorff, M.W., KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, The Hague, Netherlands, Department of Infectious Diseases, Tropical Medicine and AIDS, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Mansoer, J., National TB Programme, Nairobi, Kenya; Salomon, J.A., Department of International Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States, Harvard University Initiative for Global Health, Cambridge, MA, United States; Getz, W.M., Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States, Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, 137 Mulford Hall, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3114, United States | OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: The increased risk for tuberculosis in HIV-infected people has fueled a worldwide resurgence of tuberculosis. A major hindrance to controlling tuberculosis is the long treatment duration, leading to default, jeopardizing cure, and generating drug resistance. We investigated how tuberculosis is impacted by reducing treatment duration alone or combined with enhanced case detection and/or cure under different HIV prevalence levels. METHODS: Our model includes HIV stages I-IV and was calibrated to long-term tuberculosis and HIV data from Kenya. Benefits were assessed in terms of absolute and relative reductions in new tuberculosis cases and deaths. RESULTS: Compared with present-day strategies, at 3-20% HIV prevalence we attain a 6-20% decrease in incidence and mortality in 25 years when reducing treatment duration alone; benefits exceed 300% when combined with increased detection and cure. Benefits vary substantially according to HIV status and prevalence. Challenges arise because in absolute terms the number of infected people and deaths increases dramatically with increasing HIV prevalence, and because the relative efficacy of tuberculosis control policies displays a nonlinear pattern whereby they become less effective on a per capita basis at HIV prevalence levels greater than 15%. Benefits of reducing treatment duration may even be reversed at extreme HIV prevalence levels. Benefits of increasing cure versus detection increase as HIV prevalence increases. CONCLUSION: Reducing tuberculosis treatment duration, alone or in combination with other control strategies, can provide enormous benefits at high HIV prevalence. Tuberculosis control policies need to account for HIV levels because the efficacy of different interventions varies substantially with HIV prevalence. © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. | Case detection; Cure rate; Disease control; Epidemiology; HIV; Mathematical model; Tuberculosis | article; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; mortality; prevalence; priority journal; simulation; treatment duration; tuberculosis; tuberculosis control; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; Antitubercular Agents; Drug Administration Schedule; HIV Infections; Humans; Kenya; Models, Biological; Prevalence; Treatment Outcome; Tuberculosis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84864378448 | Epidemiological evaluation of onchocerciasis along Ogun river system, Southwest Nigeria | Sam-Wobo S.O., Adeleke M.A., Jayeola O.A., Adeyi A.O., Oluwole A.S., Ikenga M., Lawniye A., Gazama J., Kagni A., Kosoko T.O., Agbeyangi O., Bankole S., Toé L., Mafiana C.F., Yameogo L. | 2012 | Journal of Vector Borne Diseases | 49 | 2 | None | Department of Biological Sciences, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Department of Biological Sciences, Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria; Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Natio | Sam-Wobo, S.O., Department of Biological Sciences, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Adeleke, M.A., Department of Biological Sciences, Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria; Jayeola, O.A., Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Adeyi, A.O., Department of Biological Sciences, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Oluwole, A.S., Department of Biological Sciences, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Ikenga, M., National Institute of Trypanosomiasis Research, Kaduna, Nigeria; Lawniye, A., National Institute of Trypanosomiasis Research, Kaduna, Nigeria; Gazama, J., National Institute of Trypanosomiasis Research, Kaduna, Nigeria; Kagni, A., APOC Temporary Adviser, Kara, Togo; Kosoko, T.O., University of Agriculture Abeokuta Health Centre, Nigeria; Agbeyangi, O., Department of Biological Sciences, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Bankole, S., Department of Biological Sciences, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Toé, L., Multidisease Surveillance Centre, WHO, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Mafiana, C.F., Executive Secretary Office, National University Commission, Abuja, Nigeria; Yameogo, L. | Background & objective: Epidemiological studies were carried out to assess the prevalence and community microfilarial load (CMFL) of onchocerciasis after repeated annual treatment with ivermectin along Ogun river System, southwest Nigeria. Method: Skin snips were taken from consented participants in 11 selected communities along the River system. The microfilarial load of the community was estimated. Results: The prevalence and CMFL varied significantly in the communities (p <0.05). The prevalence of onchocerciasis ranged from 19.1 to 45.6%, while the CMFL ranged from 0.11 to 1.03 microfilariae per skin snip. The CMFL recorded was <5 microfilariae per skin snip, i.e. recognized by WHO as threshold value in certifying the communities to be free of onchocerciasis as public health problem, thus, signifying the possibility of onchocerciasis elimination in the study area. Conclusion: Efforts should therefore be intensified to achieve improved ivermectin coverage and compliance in annual ivermectin treatment in order to completely eliminate onchocerciasis as a public health problem in the studied communities. | Ivermectin; Microfilariae load; Nigeria; Onchocerciasis; Prevalence | ivermectin; article; Benin; community assessment; community microfilarial load; community sample; controlled study; human; human tissue; microfilaria (nematode larva); Nigeria; nonhuman; onchocerciasis; parasite prevalence; public health problem; river ecosystem; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anthelmintics; Female; Humans; Ivermectin; Male; Middle Aged; Nigeria; Onchocerciasis; Parasite Load; Prevalence; Rivers; Skin | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84873608466 | Seasonal fluctuations of Simulium damnosum complex and Onchocerca microfilarial evaluation in river systems, South-west Nigeria | Sam-Wobo S.O., Adeleke M.A., Jayeola O.A., Adeyi A.O., Oluwole A.S., Adewale B., Mafiana C.F., Bissan Y., Toé L., Yameogo L., Mutabaruka E., Amazigo U.V. | 2013 | International Journal of Tropical Insect Science | 33 | 1 | 10.1017/S1742758412000434 | Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Agriculture PMB 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Department of Biological Sciences, Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria; Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Federal University of Agriculture, | Sam-Wobo, S.O., Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Agriculture PMB 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Adeleke, M.A., Department of Biological Sciences, Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria; Jayeola, O.A., Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Federal University of Agriculture, PMB 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Adeyi, A.O., Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Oluwole, A.S., Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Agriculture PMB 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Adewale, B., Nigerian Institute for Medical Research, Yaba-Lagos, Nigeria; Mafiana, C.F., National Universities Commission, Abuja, Nigeria; Bissan, Y., WHO Multi-Disease Surveillance Centre, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Toé, L., WHO Multi-Disease Surveillance Centre, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Yameogo, L., African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Mutabaruka, E., WHO Multi-Disease Surveillance Centre, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Amazigo, U.V., African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso | Seasonal fluctuations of the Simulium damnosum Theobald complex and the prevalence of Onchocerca volvulus Bickel in blackflies caught in river systems bordering the Nigeria-Benin border were assessed for their direct impact on the epidemiology of onchocerciasis in South-western Nigeria. Entomological evaluation and heteroduplex assay (HDA) techniques were performed on flies caught in the eight capture points in the Ogun and Yewa river systems between October and December 2007, July and December 2008 and May and December 2009. A total of 5789 blackflies were caught on human bait, of which 727 (12.6%) flies were captured in 2007, 1723 (29.8%) in 2008 and 3339 (57.6%) in 2009. The majority of flies caught during the study were forest flies representing 90.3% of the total catch while savanna flies constituted 9.7%. Proportions of parous to iparous flies were low in all the catching points (31.1 and 68.9%, respectively). Of the 5789 flies dissected, 11 (0.2%) flies were infected with Onchocerca parasites with nine of the infected flies having L3 head parasites. The HDA results revealed that the Beffa form of S. soubrense was the dominant cytospecies present (87.1%) in all the capture sites when compared with 12.9% of S. damnosum s.s. The low level of infectivity of flies may therefore indicate a low transmission level of onchocerciasis in the communities along the Ogun and Yewa river systems. However, there is a need for constant surveillance on species composition and fly infectivity in the river systems along the borders of Nigeria-Benin Republic. © 2013 icipe. | S. soubrense Beffa; seasonal fluctuation; Simulium damnosum complex; South-western Nigeria | damnosum complex; Onchocerca; Onchocerca volvulus; Simuliidae; Simulium damnosum | 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-s2.0-33748421385 | Regional response of Odonata to river systems impacted by and cleared of invasive alien trees | Samways M.J., Grant P.B.C. | 2006 | Odonatologica | 35 | 3 | None | Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Centre for Agricultural Biodiversity, University of Stellenbosch, P/Bag X1, Matieland-7602, South Africa | Samways, M.J., Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Centre for Agricultural Biodiversity, University of Stellenbosch, P/Bag X1, Matieland-7602, South Africa; Grant, P.B.C., Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Centre for Agricultural Biodiversity, University of Stellenbosch, P/Bag X1, Matieland-7602, South Africa | Invasive alien organisms are a major threat to indigenous biodiversity. Invasive alien trees (IATs) are a component of this threat to South African odonates. IATs shade out the habitat of the sun-loving odonate species. A national programme to remove IATs from river systems has been initiated in South Africa. Results from widely-sepaTated sites show that the impacts of IATs are the same in different physiognomic areas. In turn, removal of the IATs is beneficial to a range of species from narrow endemics to widespread generalists. Indications are that this nation-wide IAT-removal programme is beneficial across a wide geographical area, leading to rapid and significant odonate assemblage recovery The IAT-removal programme must also consider removal of alien seedlings so as not to reverse the recovery programme. | None | biodiversity; biological invasion; ecosystem response; environmental impact; invasive species; recovery; Africa; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Odonata | 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-s2.0-84877013065 | Statistical evaluation of sustainability of selected crop production in Nigeria | Samuel Oyekale A. | 2012 | Life Science Journal | 9 | 4 | None | Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa | Samuel Oyekale, A., Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa | Sustainable agricultural production is a paramount goal of many developing countries in order to ensure that foods required for the growing population are available in the right quantity and quality. This paper evaluated the extent of sustainability of the Nigerian crop production sector using secondary data from the FAO statistical database. Inferences of sustainability was made with contingency table developed by Monteith (1990) after computing geometric growth rates of land use and crop outputs. Results show that production of majority of the crops was not recently sustainable. Between 1961 and 1980, cereals (4.07%), maize (8.17%), sorghum (5.16%), millet (3.76%), yam (1.08%), kolanut (0.92%), oil palm (0.93%), vegetables and melon (0.82%) and plantain (2.53%) were sustainably cultivated while only cocoa (0.14%) and kolanut (1.82) percent show sustainability between 1981 and 2000. The findings suggest that ensuring sustainability of crop production in Nigeria requires adequate investments in highly productive farm technologies to make up for degradation of soil resources. | Contingency table; Crops; Nigeria; Sustainability | Cucumis; Dioscorea alata; Elaeis; Theobroma cacao; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84903709067 | Online fuzzy based decision support system for human resource performance appraisal | Samuel O.W., Omisore M.O., Atajeromavwo E.J. | 2014 | Measurement: Journal of the International Measurement Confederation | 55 | None | 10.1016/j.measurement.2014.05.024 | Department of Computer Science, Federal University of Technology Akure, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Nigeria; Department of Computer Science, Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-uku, Delta-State, Nigeria | Samuel, O.W., Department of Computer Science, Federal University of Technology Akure, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Nigeria; Omisore, M.O., Department of Computer Science, Federal University of Technology Akure, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Nigeria; Atajeromavwo, E.J., Department of Computer Science, Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-uku, Delta-State, Nigeria | The evaluation of employees' performance is geared towards assessing individual's contribution to the attainment of organizational goals. Performance appraisal (PA) is a key tool in an organization due to its potency to either make or mar such organization. Irregular standards for human resource PA, tribal sentiment, emotional status of assessors, and delay in appraisal processes among others are the key problems of the conventional methods of appraising employees' performances in an organization. This research therefore proposes an online fuzzy based decision support system for human resource PA. The proposed system incorporates an efficient computational technique which handles the delays and bias associated with the orthodox performance appraisal system in organizations. The fuzzy inference system developed in this research uses Mamdani technique, Center of Gravity Defuzzification approach and takes as input the key attributes considered when appraising the performance of an employee. An experimental study of the proposed system was conducted using the dataset of academic staff. Standard statistical technique was used to measure the accuracy level of the System and the result shows that the proposed system has 0.78 probability (78%) of predicting accurately the appraisal status of an academic staff.© 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Academic Staff; Fuzzy Inference System; Human Resource Manager; Performance Appraisal | Artificial intelligence; Decision support systems; Fuzzy systems; Academic staff; Computational technique; Fuzzy inference systems; Organizational goals; Performance appraisal; Performance appraisal system; Resource managers; Standard statistical techniques; Human resource management | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84925150851 | Neurometric evaluations on the brain of the opossum (didelphys marsupialis cancrivora (linnaeus 1758) - A case for cognitive skill -brain development capacity | Samuel O.M., Olopade J.O., Onwuka S.K. | 2014 | Journal of Morphological Sciences | 31 | 3 | 10.4322/jms.038714 | Cranio-facial and maxillo-facial Anatomy, Depatment of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Agriculture Makurdi, Nigeria; NeuroAnatomy unit, Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Head Gross Anatomy, Department of Veterinary Anatomy | Samuel, O.M., Cranio-facial and maxillo-facial Anatomy, Depatment of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Agriculture Makurdi, Nigeria; Olopade, J.O., NeuroAnatomy unit, Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Onwuka, S.K., Head Gross Anatomy, Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Ibadan, Nigeria | Introduction: The Opossum is a marsupial related wild life species belonging to the order Didelphimorphia. They inhabit the swampy forest zones in Nigeria but could inhabit drier regions. Some are arboreal and digitigrades, characterized by long bare tails and opposable thumbs modified for climbing and grasping respectively, they are known to be deficient in comparative sociality, peculiar brain morphology and a short life span. Our aim was to correlate through macro-neuromorphometry as well evaluate for the influence of head and brain weight, sex, adaptation, and behavioral ecology on the brain dimensions in comparison with other marsupials. Method: This study utilized thirteen animals (didelphys marsupialis cancrivota) consisting of four (6) males and seven (7) females and employing statistical methods in making inferences among the categories. Results: The mean overall head weight was 256.17 ±54.11g, 250.60± 51.62g for females and 269.16 ±139.22g for males, the whole brain weight was 30.43 ±10.19g. The brain /head weight ratio was 0.05± 0.02 while the maximum cerebral diameter, length and height were 46.97 ±13.84mm, 48.01±19.72mm and 30.48 ±2.90mm. cerebellar weight was 1.81 ±1.09g, and the cerebellar height and width were 2.39 ± 0.38mm and 2.44 ± 1.59mm respectively, cerebrum/ whole brain length index was 0.86± 0.04mm while mean endo-cranial volume was 19.75 ±30.11mls.The sexually dimorphic variables include whole brain length (59.87± 9.56mm and 57.12± 12.01mm), cerebral length (49.93± 10.17mm and 41.12± 15.57mm) and cerebral diameter (35.91± 13.55mm and 43.54± 29.96mm) for females and males respectively, suggesting better encephalization in females of this species compared to the males. Also, dimorphic parameters function for purposes such as predatory instincts, nursing of the young, spatial orientation, migrations and ecologic adaptations. Conclusion: In addition, this investigation suggests the enhanced possibility of cerebro-vascular accident in this species partly due to the cerebral length and height ratio in relation to the endo-cranial volume and shape in the likelihood of shorter lifespan in the males. © 2014, Brazilian Society of Anatomy. All rights reserved. | Didelphys marsupialis cancrivora; Encephalisation variables; Intelligence; Macroneuromorphometry; Opossums | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84931260920 | Evaluation of the toxicity and repellence of an organic fatty acids mixture (C8910) against insecticide susceptible and resistant strains of the major malaria vector Anopheles funestus Giles (Diptera: Culicidae) | Samuel M., Oliver S.V., Wood O.R., Coetzee M., Brooke B.D. | 2015 | Parasites and Vectors | 8 | 1 | 10.1186/s13071-015-0930-2 | Wits Research Institute for Malaria, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Centre for Opportunistic, Tropical and Hospital Infections, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa | Samuel, M., Wits Research Institute for Malaria, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Centre for Opportunistic, Tropical and Hospital Infections, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa; Oliver, S.V., Wits Research Institute for Malaria, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Centre for Opportunistic, Tropical and Hospital Infections, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa; Wood, O.R., Wits Research Institute for Malaria, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Centre for Opportunistic, Tropical and Hospital Infections, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa; Coetzee, M., Wits Research Institute for Malaria, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Centre for Opportunistic, Tropical and Hospital Infections, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa; Brooke, B.D., Wits Research Institute for Malaria, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Centre for Opportunistic, Tropical and Hospital Infections, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa | Background: Malaria vector control relies principally on the use of insecticides, especially pyrethroids. Because of the increasing occurrence of insecticide resistance in target vector populations, the development of new insecticides, particularly those with novel modes of action, is particularly important, especially in terms of managing insecticide resistance. The C8910 formulation is a patented mixture of compounds comprising straight-chain octanoic, nonanoic and decanoic saturated fatty acids. This compound has demonstrated toxic and repellent effects against several arthropod species. The aims of this study were to measure the insecticidal effects of C8910 against an insecticide susceptible (FANG) and a pyrethroid resistant (FUMOZ-R) laboratory strain of An. funestus as well as against wild-caught An. funestus material from Zambia (ZamF), and to investigate the repellent effects of two formulations of C8910 against these strains. Methods: Toxicity against adult females was assessed using a range of concentrations based on the CDC bottle bioassay method and repellence of three different C8910 formulations was assessed using standard choice-chamber bioassays. Results: C8910 proved equally toxic to adult females of the FUMOZ-R and FANG laboratory strains, as well as to adult females of the wild-caught (ZamF) sample. None of the C8910 formulations tested gave any conclusive indication of repellence against any of the strains. Conclusion: C8910 is equally effective as an adulticide against pyrethroid resistant and insecticide susceptible An. funestus. However, the formulations tested did not show any consistent repellence against laboratory reared and wild-caught female samples of this species. Nevertheless, C8910 shows potential as an adulticide that can be used for malaria vector control, particularly in those instances where insecticide resistance management is required. © 2015 Samuel et al. | Anopheles funestus; C8910 repellence; C8910 toxicity; malaria vector control | c 8910; decanoic acid; insect repellent; insecticide; nonanoic acid; octanoic acid; pyrethroid; saturated fatty acid; unclassified drug; adult; animal experiment; Anopheles funestus; Article; bioassay; chemical composition; controlled study; evaluation study; female; geographic origin; insecticidal activity; insecticide resistance; malaria control; nonhuman; parasite vector; strain difference; toxicity testing; vector control; wild type; Anopheles funestus; Arthropoda; Culicidae; Diptera | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33748324762 | Chemical analysis and sensory evaluation of Ogi enriched with soybeans and crayfish | Samuel F.O., Otegbayo B.O. | 2006 | Nutrition and Food Science | 36 | 4 | 10.1108/00346650610676785 | Department of Home Economics, Oyo State College of Education, Oyo, Nigeria; Department of Food Science and Technology, Bowen University, Iwo, Nigeria | Samuel, F.O., Department of Home Economics, Oyo State College of Education, Oyo, Nigeria; Otegbayo, B.O., Department of Food Science and Technology, Bowen University, Iwo, Nigeria | Purpose - The objective of this work is to prepare two complementary diets based on the enrichment of the traditional Ogi with soybeans and crayfish and comparatively evaluate the compositional and sensory attributes of the two diets. Design/methodology/approach - The diets were formulated by mixing Ogi with soybean flour in the ratio of 7:3 to produce diet A, and with the crayfish flour in the same ratio, giving rise to diet B. These diets were evaluated for their nutritive value using proximate analysis. Sensory evaluation was also carried out to assess the acceptability of the diets. Findings - Chemical analysis showed that diet A (Ogi-soybeans) contained 14.16 per cent protein, 18.6 per cent fat, 2.0 per cent crude fibre and 2.14 per cent ash, while diet B (Ogi-crayfish) contained 17.66 per cent protein, 12.6 per cent fat, 2.45 per cent crude fibre and 5.35 per cent ash. Sensory evaluation showed that diet A was generally more acceptable in terms of colour, tastes, consistency and aroma. However, this difference was not statistically significant (p<0.05). Original ity/value - The methods employed in this study are very simple and ingredients used are available and acceptable to local tastes. Both prepared diets, in their present form, are compared favourably with industrially prepared Nutrend. It is therefore possible for small-scale and cottage industries to engage in suitable complementary food production in Nigeria, utilizing local resources. | Fish; Food products; Nigeria; Nutrition; Soya | Astacoidea; Glycine max | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84855234140 | Bacterial expression of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus nucleoprotein and its evaluation as a diagnostic reagent in an indirect ELISA | Samudzi R.R., Leman P.A., Paweska J.T., Swanepoel R., Burt F.J. | 2012 | Journal of Virological Methods | 179 | 1 | 10.1016/j.jviromet.2011.09.023 | Department of Medical Microbiology and Virology, National Health Laboratory Services Universitas and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, P. O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa; Special Pathogens Unit, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, NHLS, PBag X4, Sandringham 2133, South Africa | Samudzi, R.R., Department of Medical Microbiology and Virology, National Health Laboratory Services Universitas and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, P. O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa; Leman, P.A., Special Pathogens Unit, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, NHLS, PBag X4, Sandringham 2133, South Africa; Paweska, J.T., Special Pathogens Unit, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, NHLS, PBag X4, Sandringham 2133, South Africa; Swanepoel, R., Special Pathogens Unit, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, NHLS, PBag X4, Sandringham 2133, South Africa; Burt, F.J., Department of Medical Microbiology and Virology, National Health Laboratory Services Universitas and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, P. O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa | Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a tick-borne viral zoonosis distributed widely in Africa, Asia, Russia and the Balkans. The emergence and re-emergence of CCHFV emphasize the importance of increasing both human and veterinary surveillance and developing diagnostic capacity. Recombinant CCHFV nucleocapsid protein (NP) has been expressed using insect cells and mammalian cells and used as a diagnostic tool but bacterial expression has not been described previously. The S gene of CCHFV was codon optimized and the NP expressed in Escherichia coli from the synthetic gene. The protein was reacted against serum samples collected from confirmed CCHFV patients at varying intervals after the onset of illness from acute to convalescent stages using both an ELISA and a Western blot. To confirm that the protein was able to induce a humoral antibody response that could be detected using CCHFV antigen derived from live virus, mice were immunized and serum samples were tested using IF slides prepared from CCHFV infected Vero cells. The recombinant antigen was able to detect IgG antibody in acute and convalescent sera. In addition, a detectable IgG antibody response was induced in mice immunized using NP. The results suggest that proteins expressed in a bacterial system lacking post-translational modifications can be used in ELISA to detect IgG antibody against CCHFV in human sera which may be used for routine diagnosis and seroepidemiology. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. | CCHFV; Diagnostic ELISA; Recombinant NP | immunoglobulin G antibody; virus nucleoprotein; virus RNA; animal cell; animal experiment; animal model; antibody response; article; blood sampling; clinical article; codon; controlled study; Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; Escherichia coli; female; gene sequence; human; mouse; Nairo virus; nonhuman; nucleotide sequence; priority journal; protein expression; protein function; protein modification; serodiagnosis; Vero cell; virus gene; Western blotting; Animals; Antibodies, Viral; Antigens, Viral; Blotting, Western; Cercopithecus aethiops; Child; Child, Preschool; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Escherichia coli; Gene Expression; Hemorrhagic Fever Virus, Crimean-Congo; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Mice; Nucleoproteins; Recombinant Proteins; Vero Cells; Bacteria (microorganisms); Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus; Escherichia coli; Hexapoda; Ixodida; Mammalia; Mus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79956208728 | Performance analysis of a capacitance compensated dual stator winding synchronous reluctance machine | Samson O.A., Jimoh A.A., Nicolae D.V., Obe E.S. | 2010 | International Review of Electrical Engineering | 5 | 2 | None | Electrical/Electronic Engineering department, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Electrical Engineering department, Tswane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa; Electrical Enginering Department, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Samson, O.A., Electrical/Electronic Engineering department, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Jimoh, A.A., Electrical Engineering department, Tswane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa; Nicolae, D.V., Electrical Engineering department, Tswane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa; Obe, E.S., Electrical Enginering Department, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Synchronous reluctance machine with simple salient rotor are known to have poor power factor because they have a low effective reactance ratio. This paper used a 3-phase auxiliary winding and balanced capacitance compensation to influence the effective reactance ratio of a synchronous reluctance machine with simple salient rotor structure, such that its power factor and torque/ampere performance is improved. A mathematical model and dq equivalent circuit suitable for dynamic and steady state analysis was developed and used to study the synchronous operation of this machine. Analytical as well as experimental results for a 4-pole, 36 slots simple salient rotor reluctance machine showed that the effective reactance ratio increased with the capacitance size, and the machine operated at a maximum power factor of 0.969 without altering the geometry of the rotor. The torque per ampere of the machine also improved with the size of capacitor attached to the auxiliary winding. © 2010 Praise Worthy Prize S.r.l. - All rights reserved. | AC machines; Balanced auxiliary winding; Capacitor compensation; Dual winding; Synchronous reluctance machine | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84857226394 | The impact of working capital management on the profitability of small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria | Samson A.A., Mary J., Yemisi B.-F., Erekpitan I.O. | 2012 | Research Journal of Business Management | 6 | 2 | 10.3923/rjbm.2012.61.69 | Department of Accounting Igbinedion, University Okada, College of Management Science, Edo State, Nigeria | Samson, A.A., Department of Accounting Igbinedion, University Okada, College of Management Science, Edo State, Nigeria; Mary, J., Department of Accounting Igbinedion, University Okada, College of Management Science, Edo State, Nigeria; Yemisi, B.-F., Department of Accounting Igbinedion, University Okada, College of Management Science, Edo State, Nigeria; Erekpitan, I.O., Department of Accounting Igbinedion, University Okada, College of Management Science, Edo State, Nigeria | The objective of the research study was to empirically investigate the impact of working capital management on the profitability of a sample of small and medium-sized Nigerian firms. The data for the study were collected from 30 SME's covering the single period of 2009. Data was collected from secondary sources (financial statement) and was analyzed using the multiple regression analysis. The results which are robust to the presence of endogeneity, demonstrate that managers can create value by reducing their firm's number of day's accounts receivable and inventories. Equally, shortening the cash conversion cycle also improves the firm's profitability. © 2012 Academic Journals Inc. | Conversion cycle; Nigerian firms; Profitability; Small and medium scale enterprises; Working capital | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84937870584 | Make the Promise True: a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for Measuring Quality in Child Protection Service Delivery in Zimbabwe | Sammon E., Godwin M., Rumble L., Nolan A., Matsika A.B., Mayanga N. | 2015 | Child Indicators Research | 8 | 3 | 10.1007/s12187-014-9267-1 | UNICEF Zimbabwe, 6, Fairbridge Avenue, Belgravia, Harare, Zimbabwe; 5/104 Kirribilli Ave, Kirribilli, NSW, Australia; UNICEF Jakarta, Wisma Metropolitan II, 11th Floor, Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav. 31, Jakarta, Indonesia; School of Social Work, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Poverty, Vulnerability and Wealth Creation UK Department for International Development (DFID), 3 Norfolk Road, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe | Sammon, E., UNICEF Zimbabwe, 6, Fairbridge Avenue, Belgravia, Harare, Zimbabwe; Godwin, M., 5/104 Kirribilli Ave, Kirribilli, NSW, Australia; Rumble, L., UNICEF Jakarta, Wisma Metropolitan II, 11th Floor, Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav. 31, Jakarta, Indonesia; Nolan, A., UNICEF Zimbabwe, 6, Fairbridge Avenue, Belgravia, Harare, Zimbabwe; Matsika, A.B., School of Social Work, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Mayanga, N., Poverty, Vulnerability and Wealth Creation UK Department for International Development (DFID), 3 Norfolk Road, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe | Promising Quality: making sure that we deliver excellent services for children, (UNICEF 2012a), is an innovative monitoring and evaluation framework of original and standardised measures developed in Zimbabwe to support child protection providers to deliver quality services for children within a multi-agency child protection system. It is intended to meet the demands of governments, donors and other stakeholders for information on the effectiveness and efficiency of development programming but importantly is a practice which ensures downward accountability to children. It can also be utilised to track programme performance, and in broad terms, value for money in child protection service delivery. Further, Promising Quality has important implications for the creation and strengthening of different types of social capital between children, organisations and government. Promising Quality is constructed to encourage children’s full and meaningful participation in the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) process; it poses three questions and uses four specifically designed instruments to find out if an organization is delivering what children need where and when they need it. In so doing, gaps in the functioning of a comprehensive child protection system are highlighted such that improvements in programming, policy advocacy and investment can be made. This paper argues that Promising Quality - its inception and continuing evolution - is a core component of a rights-based, participatory national child protection system in developing contexts and beyond because of its ability to track gains in efficiency as well as child protection outcomes. © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht. | Accountability; Child participation; Child protection systems; Monitoring and evaluation; Social capital; Value for money | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84899139515 | Genotypic detection and evaluation of the removal efficiency of Giardia duodenalis at municipal wastewater treatment plants in Northern South Africa | Samie A., Ntekele P. | 2014 | Tropical Biomedicine | 31 | 1 | None | Department of Microbiology, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou, South Africa | Samie, A., Department of Microbiology, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou, South Africa; Ntekele, P., Department of Microbiology, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou, South Africa | Over the past decade, Giardia duodenalis has increasingly been implicated in diarrheal outbreaks and water and wastewater have been recognized as important vehicles for diseases. Although studies have reported the occurrence of these parasites in developed countries, their occurrence in water and wastewater bodies in these countries including South Africa has not been thoroughly investigated. In the present study, wastewater samples from 6 different sewage treatment plants in the Vhembe District were collected for a period of 12 months. The samples were concentrated and tested for the presence of G. duodenalis using both microscopy and polymerase chain reaction methods targeting the tpi gene. Of the 79 wastewater samples tested, 25 (31.65%) were positive. Of these, 15 (60%) were assemblage A, while 8 (32%) were assemblage B and 2 samples (8%) were positive for both genogroups. Assemblage A was more common in February 2010 while assemblage B showed two peaks in December-January and March-April and was not detected in May 2010. The general removal rate was 40% for plants using biological filters and 20% for plants using activated sludge. The present study has shown that Giardia assemblage A is more common in sewage treatment plants in the Vhembe District, but the removal efficiency was low. This represents a public health hazard since these organisms might contaminate drinking water sources. Therefore action needs to be taken for the design of more effective procedures or methods for the removal of these parasites from the environment in order to avoid potential outbreaks. | None | protozoal DNA; sewage; waste water; genetics; genotype; Giardia intestinalis; giardiasis; human; isolation and purification; parasitology; pH; polymerase chain reaction; public health; sewage; South Africa; waste water; DNA, Protozoan; Genotype; Giardia lamblia; Giardiasis; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Public Health; Sewage; South Africa; Waste Water | None |
| None | None | The Burden of Rabies in Tanzania and Its Impact on Local Communities | Sambo M., Cleaveland S., Ferguson H., Lembo T., Simon C., Urassa H., Hampson K. | 2013 | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases | 7 | 11 | 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002510 | Boyd Orr Centre for Population and Ecosystem Health, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Ifakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Morogoro, Tanzania; Temeke Municipal Council, Livestock Office, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania | Sambo, M., Boyd Orr Centre for Population and Ecosystem Health, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom, Ifakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Morogoro, Tanzania; Cleaveland, S., Boyd Orr Centre for Population and Ecosystem Health, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Ferguson, H., Boyd Orr Centre for Population and Ecosystem Health, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom, Ifakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Morogoro, Tanzania; Lembo, T., Boyd Orr Centre for Population and Ecosystem Health, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Simon, C., Temeke Municipal Council, Livestock Office, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; Urassa, H., Ifakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Morogoro, Tanzania; Hampson, K., Boyd Orr Centre for Population and Ecosystem Health, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom | Background:Rabies remains a major public health threat in many parts of the world and is responsible for an estimated 55,000 human deaths annually. The burden of rabies is estimated to be around US$20 million in Africa, with the highest financial expenditure being the cost of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). However, these calculations may be substantial underestimates because the costs to households of coping with endemic rabies have not been investigated. We therefore aimed to estimate the household costs, health-seeking behaviour, coping strategies, and outcomes of exposure to rabies in rural and urban communities in Tanzania.Methods and Findings:Extensive investigative interviews were used to estimate the incidence of human deaths and bite exposures. Questionnaires with bite victims and their families were used to investigate health-seeking behaviour and costs (medical and non-medical costs) associated with exposure to rabies. We calculated that an average patient in rural Tanzania, where most people live on less than US$1 per day, would need to spend over US$100 to complete WHO recommended PEP schedules. High costs and frequent shortages of PEP led to poor compliance with PEP regimens, delays in presentation to health facilities, and increased risk of death.Conclusion:The true costs of obtaining PEP were twice as high as those previously reported from Africa and should be considered in re-evaluations of the burden of rabies. © 2013 Sambo et al. | None | antibiotic agent; rabies vaccine; adolescent; aged; article; child; coping behavior; disinfection; health behavior; health care cost; human; incidence; infant; interview; outcome assessment; post exposure prophylaxis; questionnaire; rabies; tetanus prophylaxis; world health organization; wound care; adult; animal; bites and stings; cost of illness; dog; economics; female; male; middle aged; preschool child; rabies; Tanzania; very elderly; young adult; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Animals; Bites and Stings; Child; Child, Preschool; Cost of Illness; Dogs; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Middle Aged; Rabies; Tanzania; Young Adult | 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-s2.0-78650088652 | Evaluation of methiorep as a substitute for methionine in broiler diets | Salome I., Dafwang I.I., Bawa G.S. | 2010 | International Journal of Poultry Science | 9 | 8 | None | Department of Animal Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; National Agricultural Extension and Research Liason Services, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria | Salome, I., Department of Animal Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Dafwang, I.I., National Agricultural Extension and Research Liason Services, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Bawa, G.S., Department of Animal Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria | A total of 225 day old broiler chicks were used to evaluate the use of Methiorep, a herbal Methionine product, as a substitute for synthetic Methionine in broiler diets. The experiment lasted from 0-4 weeks of age. The birds were randomly allocated to 5 dietary treatments in 3 replicates of 15 birds each, giving a total of 45 birds per treatment. The 5 dietary treatments comprised diet 1 which was devoid of supplementary Methionine and Methiorep, diet 2 had 0.25% Methionine, while diets 3-5 had graded levels of 0.25, 0.5 and 1% Methiorep respectively. All diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous. The results showed that birds fed the Methionine supplemented diet performed significantly (p<0.05) better than other treatments in body weights, weight gains, feed intake, feed to gain and feed cost per kg gain. Dietary treatments had no significant effect on mortality rate. An analysis of the effect of graded levels of Methiorep on growth performance showed that Methiorep significantly improved growth performance up to 1% inclusion level but growth performance even at that level was inferior to that obtained on the 0.25% Methionine supplemented diet. It is concluded from this experiment that Methiorep is not an effective substitute for Methionine under the conditions of this study. © Asian Network for Scientific Information. | Broiler chicks; Herbal methionine; Methionine; Methiorep | Aves | 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-s2.0-58549097097 | Paleomagnetic and rock magnetic study of the Vredefort impact structure and the Johannesburg Dome, Kaapvaal Craton, South Africa-Implications for the apparent polar wander path of the Kaapvaal Craton during the Mesoproterozoic | Salminen J., Pesonen L.J., Reimold W.U., Donadini F., Gibson R.L. | 2009 | Precambrian Research | 168 | 42433 | 10.1016/j.precamres.2008.09.005 | Laboratory of the Solid Earth Geophysics, Division of Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysics, Department of Physics, P.O. Box 64, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; Museum of Natural History (Mineralogy), Humboldt University, Invalidenstrasse 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany; Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California at San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0225, United States; Impact Cratering Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, P.O. Wits 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa | Salminen, J., Laboratory of the Solid Earth Geophysics, Division of Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysics, Department of Physics, P.O. Box 64, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; Pesonen, L.J., Laboratory of the Solid Earth Geophysics, Division of Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysics, Department of Physics, P.O. Box 64, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; Reimold, W.U., Museum of Natural History (Mineralogy), Humboldt University, Invalidenstrasse 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany; Donadini, F., Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California at San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0225, United States; Gibson, R.L., Impact Cratering Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, P.O. Wits 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa | New paleomagnetic and rock magnetic results are presented for various pre-, syn- and post-impact lithologies from the region of the 2023 ± 4 Ma, originally ca. 250 km diameter, Vredefort impact structure, on the Kaapvaal Craton of South Africa. After removal of a viscous remanent magnetization (VRM) component, the characteristic remanent magnetization (ChRM) component from 16 Vredefort Granophyre and pseudotachylitic (PT) breccia samples (D = 18.3°, I = 54.8°, α95 = 8.1°) was isolated and a paleomagnetic pole at 25.1°N and 43.5°E (A95 = 10.6°) obtained. Since, such a ChRM component was isolated also from the Archean Basement rocks of the Vredefort Dome, we consider its nature as a primary component of the impactites proven. The pole falls onto the Paleoproterozoic part of the apparent polar wander path of the Kaapvaal Craton. Rock magnetic analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the pseudotachylitic breccia and Granophyre samples contain two distinct magnetite phases: one ultra-small (micrometer-size), and one altered and larger (>50 μm) phase. The ultra-small magnetite is interpreted as the carrier of the ChRM and the larger grains as the carriers of the VRM component. Additionally, rock magnetic and petrophysical data reveal unusually high Koenigsberger ratios (Q values) in all pre-impact lithologies, in some Vredefort impactite samples, and in the much younger (1.1 Ga) Anna's Rust Sheet (ARS) gabbro samples. As the high Q values, which had also been reported by previous studies of Vredefort lithologies, are now also seen in samples from the Johannesburg Dome, a direct link to the Vredefort impact can be ruled out. This is also supported by the hysteresis data of this study. As the observed magnetization is rather hard and shows multiple components of remanent magnetization, we exclude lightning as a cause for all observed high Q values (except in case of ARS gabbros). It is instead suggested that the cause of the high Q values could be related to the high temperatures of the rocks that were uplifted by the impact event from a mid-crustal original setting, and to fluid circulation within the two domes that made the rocks vulnerable to acquire high thermochemical remanence. Moreover, paleomagnetic analysis of the rocks around the ARS gabbro intrusion in the northern part of the Vredefort structure revealed the presence of either a shallow north or a shallow south direction, which is tentatively related to emplacement of the Umkondo large igneous province. Analysis of all rocks, including the Vredefort impactites, yields occasionally distinct great circle paths towards these shallow directions. A likely explanation for this overprint direction is the heating caused by now eroded ARS-type gabbro in the area, or by regional, ca. 1.1-1.0 Ga orogenic effects. No evidence of Karoo-type (0.18 Ga) overprint is seen. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Kaapvaal; Koenigsberger ratio; Paleomagnetism; Paleoproterozoic; Vredefort impact | Archean; craton; magnetite; magnetization; paleomagnetism; polar region; Proterozoic; Africa; Gauteng; Johannesburg; Kaapvaal Craton; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Anna | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84901279588 | Improvement in the mechanical performance and interfacial behavior of kenaf fiber reinforced high density polyethylene composites by the addition of maleic anhydride grafted high density polyethylene | Salleh F.M., Hassan A., Yahya R., Lafia-Araga R.A., Azzahari A.D., Nazir M.N.Z.M. | 2014 | Journal of Polymer Research | 21 | 5 | 10.1007/s10965-014-0439-y | Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Department of Chemistry, School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Federal University of Technology, 920001 Minna, Nigeria; Central Service Unit (Laboratory), F | Salleh, F.M., Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Hassan, A., Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Yahya, R., Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Lafia-Araga, R.A., Department of Chemistry, School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Federal University of Technology, 920001 Minna, Nigeria; Azzahari, A.D., Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Nazir, M.N.Z.M., Central Service Unit (Laboratory), Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | The effects of compatibilizer on the tensile, flexural and interfacial adhesion behavior of kenaf fiber reinforced high density polyethylene composites were investigated. The addition of maleic anhydride grafted high density polyethylene (MA-HDPE) as compatibilizer into the composites was found to improve the mechanical properties and the adhesion behavior of the composites. These improvements were due to the improved compatibility between matrix and fiber. 8 % MA-HDPE loading provided maximum enhancement in tensile and flexural properties when compared to the other compatibilizer contents. Meanwhile, uncompatibilized composites showed poorer mechanical properties and interfacial behavior relative to the compatibilized composites. Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy analysis confirmed the changed chemical structures by the appearance of stretching vibration of the ester carbonyl groups (C=O) around 1725 cm-1 to 1742 cm-1 and the peak of hydroxyl group at 3327 cm-1 in the compatibilized composites. This indicates that the maleic anhydride has bonded to the kenaf fiber through esterification reaction, giving rise to strong interfacial bonding between thematrix and fiber. The improvement in the interfacial behavior was evident from the tensile fracture surface morphology using a field emission scanning electron microscopy. | Compatibilizer; Interfacial behavior; Kenaf fiber; Mechanical properties | Adhesion; Compatibilizers; Esterification; Esters; Fiber bonding; Field emission microscopes; Grafting (chemical); High density polyethylenes; Infrared spectroscopy; Kenaf fibers; Maleic anhydride; Mechanical properties; Stretching; Tensile strength; Esterification reactions; Field emission scanning electron microscopy; Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy; Interfacial adhesions; Interfacial behaviors; Mechanical performance; Tensile and flexural properties; Tensile fracture surfaces; Fibers; Adhesion; Esterification; Esters; High Density Polyethylene; Infrared Spectroscopy; Interfacial Polymerization; Kenaf; Maleic Anhydride; Mechanical Properties; Tensile Strength | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84892388989 | Comparative performance of volatility models for oil price | Salisu A.A., Fasanya I.O. | 2012 | International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy | 2 | 3 | None | Department of Economics and Centre for Econometrics and Allied Research (CEAR), University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Economics, Fountain University, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria | Salisu, A.A., Department of Economics and Centre for Econometrics and Allied Research (CEAR), University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Fasanya, I.O., Department of Economics, Fountain University, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria | In this paper, we compare the performance of volatility models for oil price using daily returns of WTI. The innovations of this paper are in two folds: (i) we analyse the oil price across three sub samples namely period before, during and after the global financial crisis, (ii) we also analyse the comparative performance of both symmetric and asymmetric volatility models for the oil price. We find that oil price was most volatile during the global financial crises compared to other sub samples. Based on the appropriate model selection criteria, the asymmetric GARCH models appear superior to the symmetric ones in dealing with oil price volatility. This finding indicates evidence of leverage effects in the oil market and ignoring these effects in oil price modelling will lead to serious biases and misleading results. | Crude oil price; Global financial crisis; Volatility modelling | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84916244520 | Viral load versus CD4+ monitoring and 5-year outcomes of antiretroviral therapy in HIV-positive children in Southern Africa: A cohort-based modelling study | Salazar-Vizcaya L., Keiser O., Technau K., Davies M.-A., Haas A.D., Blaser N., Cox V., Eley B., Rabie H., Moultrie H., Giddy J., Wood R., Egger M., Estill J. | 2014 | AIDS | 28 | 16 | 10.1097/QAD.0000000000000446 | Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Finkenhubelweg 11, Bern, Switzerland; Rahima Moosa Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Khayelitsha ART Programme, Médecins Sans Frontières, India; Red Cross Children's Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Tygerberg Academic Hospital, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; McCord Hospital, Durban, South Africa; Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Salazar-Vizcaya, L., Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Finkenhubelweg 11, Bern, Switzerland; Keiser, O., Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Finkenhubelweg 11, Bern, Switzerland; Technau, K., Rahima Moosa Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Davies, M.-A., School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Haas, A.D., Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Finkenhubelweg 11, Bern, Switzerland; Blaser, N., Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Finkenhubelweg 11, Bern, Switzerland; Cox, V., Khayelitsha ART Programme, Médecins Sans Frontières, India; Eley, B., Red Cross Children's Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Rabie, H., Tygerberg Academic Hospital, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Moultrie, H., Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Giddy, J., McCord Hospital, Durban, South Africa; Wood, R., Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Egger, M., Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Finkenhubelweg 11, Bern, Switzerland, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Estill, J., Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Finkenhubelweg 11, Bern, Switzerland | Objectives: Many paediatric antiretroviral therapy (ART) programmes in Southern Africa rely on CD4+ to monitor ART. We assessed the benefit of replacing CD4+ by viral load monitoring.Design: A mathematical modelling study.Methods: A simulation model of HIV progression over 5 years in children on ART, parameterized by data from seven South African cohorts. We simulated treatment programmes with 6-monthly CD4+ or 6- or 12-monthly viral load monitoring. We compared mortality, second-line ART use, immunological failure and time spent on failing ART. In further analyses, we varied the rate of virological failure, and assumed that the rate is higher with CD4+ than with viral load monitoring.Results: About 7% of children were predicted to die within 5 years, independent of the monitoring strategy. Compared with CD4+ monitoring, 12-monthly viral load monitoring reduced the 5-year risk of immunological failure from 1.6 to 1.0% and the mean time spent on failing ART from 6.6 to 3.6 months; 1% of children with CD4+ compared with 12% with viral load monitoring switched to second-line ART. Differences became larger when assuming higher rates of virological failure. When assuming higher virological failure rates with CD4+ than with viral load monitoring, up to 4.2% of children with CD4+ compared with 1.5% with viral load monitoring experienced immunological failure; the mean time spent on failing ART was 27.3 months with CD4+ monitoring and 6.0 months with viral load monitoring.Conclusion: Viral load monitoring did not affect 5-year mortality, but reduced time on failing ART, improved immunological response and increased switching to second-line ART. © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. | Antiretroviral therapy; Children; Mathematical model; Sub-Saharan Africa; Viral load monitoring | antivirus agent; nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor; proteinase inhibitor; antiretrovirus agent; antiviral therapy; Article; CD4 lymphocyte count; child; childhood disease; cohort analysis; disease course; follow up; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; major clinical study; mortality; outcome assessment; patient compliance; simulation; therapy; treatment failure; treatment outcome; virus load; adolescent; Africa; CD4 lymphocyte count; CD4+ T lymphocyte; comparative study; drug monitoring; evaluation study; female; HIV Infections; immunology; infant; male; preschool child; procedures; survival; theoretical model; virology; Adolescent; Africa, Southern; Anti-Retroviral Agents; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Child; Child, Preschool; Cohort Studies; Drug Monitoring; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Infant; Male; Models, Theoretical; Survival Analysis; Treatment Outcome; Viral Load | 32333B-150934, SNSF, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; 5U01-AI069924-05, NIAID, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84901408179 | Evaluation of antioxidant potential and nutritional values of white skinned sweet potato-unripe plantain composite flour blends | Salawu S.O., Boligon A.A., Athayde M.L. | 2014 | International Journal of Applied Research in Natural Products | 7 | 2 | None | Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria; Phytochemical Research Laboratory, Department of Industrial Pharmacy, Federal University of Santa Maria, Build 26, Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brazil | Salawu, S.O., Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria; Boligon, A.A., Phytochemical Research Laboratory, Department of Industrial Pharmacy, Federal University of Santa Maria, Build 26, Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brazil; Athayde, M.L., Phytochemical Research Laboratory, Department of Industrial Pharmacy, Federal University of Santa Maria, Build 26, Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brazil | The present investigation sought to evaluate the antioxidant properties, phenolic composition, nutrient composition of Unripe Plantain (UP) -White Skinned Sweet potato (WSP) flour blends. The flour were mixed in various proportions (UP: WSP); 100:0, 80:20, 60:40, 40:60, 20:80 and 0:100. HPLC/DAD phenolic analyses revealed the presence of some phenolic acids and flavonoids. The result of the antioxidant indices showed a progressive increase with respect to sweet potato inclusion and that high antioxidant indices were recorded for 100% WSP (total phenolic: 1.111mg/g; total flavonoid: 2030mg/g; reducing power: 0.76mg/g; ABTS radical scavenging activity: 3.08 x 10-6mg/g and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity: 82.017%), while the least values were recorded for 100% UP. The proximate composition analysis revealed that 100%UP had the highest carbohydrate (78.17%), protein (11.72%), fibre (0.20%) and fat (5.56%) content compared with whole potato flour and that other blends have a decreasing value with respect to increase in the composition of sweet potato. The highest level of Na, K was recorded for 100% UP while 100% WP had the highest level of Mg, Ca and P. These investigations showed that sweet potato-unripe plantain composite blend would be a good source of natural antioxidant as well as providing essential nutrients. Industrial Relevance. Several investigations have revealed the antioxidant and nutritional potentials of sweet potato and unripe-plantain when consumed separately. Also a number of scientific reports provide information on the use of sweet potato and unripe plantain as medicinal foods when consumed separately, and are commonly used as functional food especially in the management of diabetes. Therefore, this study sought to assess the antioxidant and nutritional potentials of phenolic containing unripe plantain (UP) and white skinned sweet potato (WSP) flour blends with a view identifying the blends with good nutritional and medicinal potentials. The blend that processes good nutritional values and high antioxidant activities could be formulated as functional foods and explored as dietary interventions for managing diseases associated with free radical damage such as diabetes. | Antioxidant potential; Musa paradisiacae; Nutritional value; Phenolic composition; Solanum tuberosum | antioxidant; banana plus sweet potato extract; caffeic acid; caffeic acid derivative; catechin; chlorogenic acid; ellagic acid; epicatechin; gallic acid; isoquercitrin; kaempferol; plant extract; quercetin; quercitrin; rutoside; unclassified drug; ABTS radical scavenging assay; antioxidant activity; article; banana; carbohydrate analysis; controlled study; drug determination; drug mechanism; fat content; flour; high performance liquid chromatography; hydroxyl radical scavenging assay; nutritional value; plant fiber; protein content; sweet potato | 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-s2.0-84907149498 | Evaluation and analysis of dietary essential mineral micronutrients in selected Malaysian foods using FAAS and ICP-MS | Salau R.B., Hasan M.N. | 2014 | Modern Applied Science | 8 | 6 | 10.5539/mas.v8n6p103 | Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM Johor Bahru, Malaysia; Department of Chemistry, School of Natural and Applied Science, Federal University of Technology, PMB 65, Minna, Nigeria | Salau, R.B., Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM Johor Bahru, Malaysia, Department of Chemistry, School of Natural and Applied Science, Federal University of Technology, PMB 65, Minna, Nigeria; Hasan, M.N., Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM Johor Bahru, Malaysia | Food source could provide essential mineral elements necessary for preventing and remedying the cases of Mineral Deficiency Diseases (MDD). This source is cost effective, safe, affordable and accessible. In this study, essential elements: Ca, Mg, P, K, Na, Cu, Fe, Mn, Se and Zn were determined in 126 food samples eaten in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The all-serving-units-inclusive food samples were oven-dried until constant weight, homogenized and wet digested serially with nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide mixture. The major and minor elements were respectively determined by FAAS and ICP-MS. The elements showed presence in all foods. The food element/RDA percentage ratios of (Ca: 50.0; P: 322.8) and (Mn: 10.5; P: 177.5) were obtained respectively relative to maximum and minimum Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). The study has proven that the foods could be viable source of the elements choosing appropriate foods. These essential elements containing foods can be exploited for health maintenance, remedy and even cure for MDD. © 2014, by the author(s). | All-serving-units-inclusive; FAAS; Food; ICP-MS; Mineral deficiency disease (MDD); Mineral elements; Remedy; supplementation | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84859358368 | Wavelets for ICU monitoring | Salatian A., Adepoju F. | 2012 | International Journal of Bio-Science and Bio-Technology | 4 | 1 | None | School of Information Technology and Communications, American University of Nigeria, Yola Bypass PMB 2250, Yola, Nigeria | Salatian, A., School of Information Technology and Communications, American University of Nigeria, Yola Bypass PMB 2250, Yola, Nigeria; Adepoju, F., School of Information Technology and Communications, American University of Nigeria, Yola Bypass PMB 2250, Yola, Nigeria | The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) bedside monitors present the medical staff with large amounts of continuous data which can create a number of challenges. If the data is transmitted as part of a telemedicine system then the large volume of data can put pressure on bandwidth and affect the quality of service of the network. Another challenge is that the large volume of data has to be interpreted by medical staff to make a patient state assessment. In this paper we propose a time series analysis technique called data wavelets to derive trends in the data-this acts as a form of data compression for telemedicine and improves the quality of service of a network and also facilitates clinical decision support in the form of qualitative reasoning for patient state assessment. Our approach has been successfully applied to cardiovascular data from a neonatal ICU. | Clinical decision support; Data compression; Data wavelets; Quality of service; Telemedicine | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77953247795 | Evaluation of rheological properties of beneficiated locally sourced mud using factorial design | Salam K.K., Adeleye O.J., Arinkoola A.O. | 2010 | International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology | 3 | 2 | 10.1504/IJOGCT.2010.033561 | Petroleum Engineering Unit, Department of Chemical Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), P.M.B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria; Department of Petroleum Engineering, Faculty of Mineral Resources Technology, University of Mine | Salam, K.K., Petroleum Engineering Unit, Department of Chemical Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), P.M.B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria; Adeleye, O.J., Department of Petroleum Engineering, Faculty of Mineral Resources Technology, University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, Ghana; Arinkoola, A.O., Petroleum Engineering Unit, Department of Chemical Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), P.M.B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria | This study evaluates the rheological properties of beneficiated mud using factorial design. Four-speed rheometer was used to determine the shear stress at different shear rates from which rheological properties were determined. The effect of increase in concentration of Gum Arabic and sodium carbonate on apparent viscosity at different mass of clay sample was investigated. Simultaneous increase in concentration of sodium carbonate and Gum Arabic at 22.5 g, 30 g and 40 g mass of clay sample lead to a tremendous increase in apparent viscosity in the range: 4.2 and 8.8 cp for 22.5 g; 5.25 and 13.7 for 30 g; as well as 5.25 and 28.8 for 40 g of sample. Result of the investigation show that there is a close agreement between the experimental and predicted data which are interpreted from the adjusted R-squared values of 0.994, 0.865 and 0.990 gotten for apparent viscosity, plastic viscosity and yield point models respectively. Copyright © 2010 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. | Beneficiation; Mud; Rheological properties | Apparent viscosity; Concentration of; Different mass; Factorial design; Gum arabic; Mud; Plastic viscosity; Rheological property; Shear rates; Sodium carbonate; Yield points; Adhesives; Beneficiation; Concentration (process); Lead; Light polarization; Shear deformation; Sodium; Viscosity; Rheology | 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-s2.0-84858214429 | Evaluation of interference in inter-working multi-hop wireless networks | Salami O., Bagula A., Chan H.A. | 2010 | International Journal of Security and its Applications | 4 | 4 | None | Communication Research Group, Electrical Engineering Department, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa | Salami, O., Communication Research Group, Electrical Engineering Department, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa; Bagula, A., Communication Research Group, Electrical Engineering Department, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa; Chan, H.A., Communication Research Group, Electrical Engineering Department, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa | The consequence of simultaneous transmissions by nodes in inter-working multi-hop wireless networks is inter-node interference. Inter-node interference is a metric that is important for the performance evaluation of inter-working wireless networks. Several interference models exist in literature, however, these models are for specific wireless networks and MAC protocols. Due to the heterogeneity of link-level technologies in interworking multi-hop wireless networks, it is desirable to have generic models for the evaluation of interference on links in such networks. A generic model can provide information about the interference level on a link irrespective of the MAC protocol in use. This paper presents a generic interference model. The model evaluates the probability of interference and uses the negative second moment of the distance between a receiver-node and interfering-nodes to evaluate the interference power on a link in an inter-working multi-hop wireless network. Numerical results of the performance of the model are presented. | Inter-working; Interference; Multi-hop; Wireless networks | Generic models; Inter-node interferences; Inter-working; Interference level; Interference models; Interference power; MAC protocol; Multihop; Multihop wireless network; Numerical results; Performance evaluation; Second moments; Simultaneous transmission; Medium access control; Wave interference; Wireless networks | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84940834960 | Impact of modified laboratory learning environment on transformative biology process skills among secondary school students in Osun State, Nigeria | Salami M.O. | 2015 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 6 | 5S1 | 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n5s1p84 | Department of Special Education and Curriculum Studies, Obafemi Awolowo UniversityIle-Ife Osun State, Nigeria | Salami, M.O., Department of Special Education and Curriculum Studies, Obafemi Awolowo UniversityIle-Ife Osun State, Nigeria | This study examined the impact a modified laboratory learning environment (MLLE) has on the Biology process skills of secondary school students. It compared the process skills of high and low achievers when taught in a modified laboratory learning environment and also determined how MLLE can improve achievement of students and their retention ability in Biology. 274 senior secondary class one (SSI) students were randomly selected from six intact classes for the study. A pre-test post-test quasi experimental design was adopted for the study. The students were taught plant and animal nutrition for six weeks. An Observation Checklist/Rating Scale containing 22-item exercises was used to assess the students’ process skills in an on-going manner during practical exercises. The instrument was adapted from the one used in the Faculty of Education, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria for assessing student-teachers’ teaching skills during teaching practice. It was found that the process skills of the students improved when they were taught under a modified laboratory learning environment. It was also found that the biology process skills of low achievers improved significantly and the students’ retention was also significant. The study concluded that a modified biology laboratory environment is an effective way of improving students’ biology process skills, achievement and retention. © 2015 Mediterranean Center of Social and Educational Research. All rights reserved. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84969556965 | Evaluation of impact of climate variability on water resources and yield capacity of selected reservoirs in the north central Nigeria | Salami A.W., Ibrahim H., Sojobi A.O. | 2015 | Environmental Engineering Research | 20 | 3 | 10.4491/eer.2015.0041 | Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Department of Civil Engineering, Landmark University, Omu Aran, Nigeria | Salami, A.W., Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Ibrahim, H., Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Sojobi, A.O., Department of Civil Engineering, Landmark University, Omu Aran, Nigeria | This paper presents the evaluation of the impact of climate change on water resources and yield capacity of Asa and Kampe reservoirs. Trend analysis of mean temperature, runoff, rainfall and evapotranspiration was carried out using Mann Kendall and Sen’s slope, while runoff was modeled as a function of temperature, rainfall and evapotranspiration using Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). Rainfall and runoff exhibited positive trends at the two dam sites and their upstream while forecasted ten-year runoff displayed increasing positive trend which indicates high reservoir inflow. The reservoir yield capacity estimated with the ANN forecasted runoff was higher by about 38% and 17% compared to that obtained with historical runoff at Asa and Kampe respectively. This is an indication that there is tendency for water resources of the reservoir to increase and thus more water will be available for water supply and irrigation to ensure food security. © 2015 Korean Society of Environmental Engineers. | Asa river; Climate variability; Kampe river; Reservoir yield; Runoff | Climate change; Climatology; Evapotranspiration; Food supply; Neural networks; Rain; Reservoirs (water); Runoff; Water supply; Climate variability; Food security; Mann-Kendall; North Central Nigeria; Rainfall and runoffs; Reservoir inflow; Trend analysis; Yield capacity; Water resources | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77956529754 | Markov chain Monte Carlo for maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) and its performance with maximum pseudo likelihood estimation (MPLE) | Salami A.O., Ayantoyinbo B.B. | 2010 | European Journal of Social Sciences | 15 | 3 | None | Department of Management and Accounting, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P.M.B 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria; Department of Transport Management, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P.M.B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria | Salami, A.O., Department of Management and Accounting, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P.M.B 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria; Ayantoyinbo, B.B., Department of Transport Management, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P.M.B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria | Markov chain Monte Carlo is a general tool for simulation of complex stochastic processes useful in many types of statistical inference. The basics of Markov chain Monte Carlo are reviewed. Including choice of algorithms and variance estimation, and some new methods are introduced. The use of Markov chain Monte Carlo for maximum likelihood estimation is explained, and its performance is compared with maximum pseudo likelihood estimation. | Gibbs sampler; Markov chain; Maximum likelihood; Metropolis algorithm; Monte Carlo; Variance estimation | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79960103770 | Impact of job stress on Managers' Performance | Salami A.O., Ojokuku R.M., Ilesanmi O.A. | 2010 | European Journal of Scientific Research | 45 | 2 | None | Department of Management and Accounting, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria; Department of Business Administration, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria | Salami, A.O., Department of Management and Accounting, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria; Ojokuku, R.M., Department of Management and Accounting, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria; Ilesanmi, O.A., Department of Business Administration, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria | This paper assesses empirically the impact of job stress on Nigerian Managers' Performance. In carrying out the study, random sampling technique was used to select 135 managers who have worked at least 5 years in a managerial position. Relevant data were collected using structured questionnaire. The Z-score was used to test the study hypothesis. The findings showed that job stress brings about subjective effects such as fear, anger and anxiety among Nigerian managers resulting in poor concentration, mental block and poor decision making skills. Based on these findings, it was recommended that organizations in Nigeria should reduce psychological strain, work overload and role ambiguity through adoption of job redesign techniques. Organizational support activities such as counseling and stress reduction workshops should also be increased. © EuroJournals Publishing, Inc. 2010. | Job redesign; Job stress; Managerial performance; Organizational support | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84873432035 | On the empirical performance of non-metric multidimensional scaling in vegetation studies | Salako V.K., Adebanji A., Glèlè Kakaï R. | 2013 | International Journal of Applied Mathematics and Statistics | 36 | 6 | None | Faculty of Agronomic sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 526, Cotonou, Benin; Department of Mathematics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana | Salako, V.K., Faculty of Agronomic sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 526, Cotonou, Benin; Adebanji, A., Department of Mathematics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Glèlè Kakaï, R., Faculty of Agronomic sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 526, Cotonou, Benin | Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) is widely used as a routine method for ordination in vegetation studies. Its use in statistical softwares often requires the choice of several options on which the accuracy of results will depend. This study focuses on the combined effect of sample size, similarity/dissimilarity indexes, data standardization and structure of data matrix (abundance and binary) on NMDS efficiency based on real data from the Lama Forest Reserve in Southern-Bénin. The Spearman's Rank Correlation coefficient and the s-stress were used as an assessment criterion. All the four factors were found to influence the efficiency of the NMDS and the samples (plots) standardization to equal totals gave the best results among standardization procedures considered. The Jaccard and Sorensen similarity/dissimilarity indexes performed equally whatever the nature of the matrix. However, with binary matrices, Sokal and Michener similarity index performed better. A quadratic relationship was noted between s-stress and sample size. A lower optimal sample size (75 plots) was observed for the binary matrices than for the abundance ones (90 plots). © 2013 by CESER Publications. | Efficiency; Non-metric multidimensional scaling; Vegetation studies | Assessment criteria; Binary matrix; Combined effect; Data matrices; Data standardization; Empirical performance; Forest reserves; Non-metric multidimensional scaling; Optimal samples; Routine method; Sample sizes; Similarity indices; Spearman's rank correlation coefficients; Statistical software; Efficiency; Nickel compounds; Standardization; Vegetation | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84948148359 | Development of reliable evaluation tools in legal interpreting: A test case | Salaets H., Balogh K. | 2015 | Translation and Interpreting | 7 | 3 | 10.12807/ti.107203.2015.a08 | KU Leuven, Antwerp Campus, Belgium; University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa | Salaets, H., KU Leuven, Antwerp Campus, Belgium, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Balogh, K., KU Leuven, Antwerp Campus, Belgium | In recent decades, test design, assessment and evaluation procedures have received much attention and have focused on concepts such as quality, validity and reliability. Obviously this is also true for the highly complex testing of interpreters' skills, including legal interpreting. In this paper, we will first discuss the significant changes that have been made in the final examination procedure at the end of the LIT (Legal Interpreting and Translation) course at KULeuven, Antwerp campus, which have been complemented by an introductory workshop for the graders. It is important to mention that graders can be language experts as well as external legal experts (judges, prosecutors, police officers, lawyers, etc.) The comparison of the scores of candidates between 2008 and 2013 (a period in which different evaluation grids were used) shows a tendency towards more overall failures. In addition to this, an analysis of the graders' comments demonstrates that results are more consistent and that graders' comments mirror the results better. The new evaluation method clearly leaves less room for grader subjectivity, which presumably points to the fact that candidates are tested in a more transparent and reliable way. Follow-up research (in grader focus groups) and observations of the actual evaluation process will enable us to ensure that graders are comfortable with the new method and to check if they use it in a consistent way. Verifying whether the overall procedure actually produces better and more competent legal interpreters is a further important step needed to complete this research project. | Evaluation procedure; Legal interpreting; Quality; Reliability; Validity | None | None |
| None | None | Good performance of an immunoassay based method for nevirapine measurements in human breast milk | Salado-Rasmussen K., Theilgaard Z.P., Chiduo M., Pedersen C., Gerstoft J., Katzenstein T.L. | 2011 | Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine | 49 | 7 | 10.1515/CCLM.2011.184 | Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; National Institute of Medical Research, Tanga, Tanzania; Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark | Salado-Rasmussen, K., Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Theilgaard, Z.P., Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Chiduo, M., National Institute of Medical Research, Tanga, Tanzania; Pedersen, C., Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Gerstoft, J., Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Katzenstein, T.L., Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark | Background: Understanding the distribution of antiretro-virals in breastfeeding HIV-positive mothers is essential, both for prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission and for research on the development of drug resistance. The ARK nevirapine (NVP)-test is an immunoassay method for nevirapine measurements, developed and validated for plasma use. In this study, the ARK NVP-test was evaluated for measurement of nevirapine concentrations in breast milk. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is the method currently used to determine nevirapine in breast milk. This method, however, requires complicated extraction techniques. The ARK method employs an immunoassay technology and requires a small sample volume (40 μL) and no pre-treatment of the samples. Methods: Commercial enzyme and antibody were used and calibration standards and quality controls were prepared from pooled breast milk from HIV-uninfected women. Clinical samples from HIV-infected women receiving a single-dose of nevirapine were analyzed. Results: Precision and accuracy were evaluated with two concentrations of quality control materials analyzed in three replicates on four different days and was <4%, and between 96.5% and 104.6%, respectively. Clinical samples were analyzed and CVs ranged from 0.0% to 11.1%. The median nevirapine concentration in breast milk 1 week post-partum was 0.29 μg/mL (range 0.11-0.90 μg/mL) in women treated with a single-dose of nevirapine. Conclusions: The ease of use and small sample volume makes the ARK assay an attractive alternative to HPLC analyses for determinations of nevirapine concentrations in breast milk. © 2011 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin Boston. | antiretroviral drug; breast milk; immunoassay; nevirapine | emtricitabine plus tenofovir disoproxil; lamivudine plus zidovudine; nevirapine; accuracy; article; breast milk; calibration; clinical article; controlled study; drug determination; drug selectivity; drug stability; female; high performance liquid chromatography; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; immunoassay; limit of quantitation; priority journal; quality control; single drug dose; validation study; Calibration; Female; Humans; Immunoassay; Limit of Detection; Milk, Human; Nevirapine; Quality Control; Reproducibility of Results | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84930066925 | Introduction of a community water supply in rural western Kenya: Impact on community wellbeing and child health | Sakisaka K., Chadeka E.A., Nagi S., Mwandembo D.S., Jimba M. | 2015 | International Health | 7 | 3 | 10.1093/inthealth/ihv015 | Organization for Common Education, Faculty of Policy Studies, Chuo University, Japan; Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Japan; Nagasaki University Kenya Research Station, Nairobi, Kenya; Graduate School of Biomedical Science Medicine, Nagasaki University, Japan; Department of Social Services, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development, Kenya | Sakisaka, K., Organization for Common Education, Faculty of Policy Studies, Chuo University, Japan, Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Japan; Chadeka, E.A., Nagasaki University Kenya Research Station, Nairobi, Kenya; Nagi, S., Graduate School of Biomedical Science Medicine, Nagasaki University, Japan; Mwandembo, D.S., Department of Social Services, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development, Kenya; Jimba, M., Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Japan | Background: This study aimed to examine water availability and community health before and after tube wells were introduced in a ruralwestern Kenyan community. Differences in impact among income quintile groups were quantified, and users' perceptions of their water supply measured. Methods:We conducted a two-part pre- (2009) and post-intervention (2011), cross-sectional study using structured questionnaires for mothers. Results: In total, 1391 (576 in 2009 and 815 in 2011)mothers participated.Well introduction changed the households' drinking-water source from river to ground water. The median distance to the water source was reduced by 40%(500 to 300 metres) and median collection timewas reduced by 50%(30 to 15minutes).Water consumption per household increased by approximately 20%(from 82.6 to 99.0 L) and drinking of untreated water decreased by approximately 10%. Regression analyses revealedmothers with higher monthly incomes had the highest satisfaction levels (β=0.167, p<0.001). Positive impacts were strongest among wealthier groups. Conclusions: The small-scale communitywater supply dramatically affected user hygiene behaviours and daily life. Water supply access improved from 'no access' to 'basic access'. Household connections to a water supply and hygiene education are important steps to enhance community health. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. All rights reserved. | Childhood diarrhoea; Developing countries; Hygiene behaviour; Kenya; Water supply; Water treatment | drinking water; ground water; river water; adult; Article; child health; community care; cross-sectional study; daily life activity; female; fluid intake; health behavior; household; human; income; Kenya; mother; observational study; personal hygiene; priority journal; public health; rural area; satisfaction; social status; structured questionnaire; water availability; water quality; water supply; water treatment; wellbeing | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84892526590 | Relationship between staff development and job performance among personnel in branch libraries, university of Maiduguri, Nigeria | Saka K.A., Haruna I. | 2013 | Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences | 4 | 5 | 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n5p9 | Department of Library and Information Technology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria; Department of Library and Information Science, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria | Saka, K.A., Department of Library and Information Technology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria; Haruna, I., Department of Library and Information Science, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria | This study investigated Staff development as a motivating factor in job performance among personnel in branch libraries, University of Maiduguri. The study aimed at determining the relationship between staff development programmes and job performance. It was a survey research method involving 47 (professional, paraprofessional and non- professional) staff in 15 branch libraries. The entire population of 47 staff was adopted for the study and so there was no sampling. Questionnaire was the only research instrument used in data collection. Questionnaire was divided into six sections (Demographic variables of respondents, formal education, seminars/Conferences, workshop attendance, and job performance). The instrument also comprises 15 items within the six sections. The 47 copies of questionnaire were administered and retrieved by the researchers. Data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze demographic variables of respondents. While inferential statistic i. e Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) was used to test the four formulated hypotheses, while Multiple Regression Analysis was used to test one (1) hypothesis on the joint relationships between staff development programme and job performance at 0.05 level of significance. Response rate showed that out of the forty seven (47) copies of questionnaire administered, 34 (72%) copies were returned and found usable. Majority of the respondents were males while professional staff were the majority of respondents. Hypotheses tested revealed that formal education does not enhance job performance of staff. On the other hand Seminars/conferences and workshop attendance enhances job performance of staff. As the staff development programmes collectively increases, the job performance of staff tends to be higher. Conclusion was that there was indiscipline on the part of staff and that there was no enforcement of discipline by the management despite opportunities for formal education in the university. The increase in opportunities for the various staff development programmes increase higher job performance on the part of staff in branch libraries. Among the recommendations include strict enforcement of discipline on staff and creating opportunities for staff development by the University management. | Branch libraries; Job performance; Motivation; Relationship; Staff development; University of Maiduguri | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-37049000606 | Baseline for the evaluation of a National Action Plan for Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children using the UNAIDS core indicators: A case study in Zimbabwe | Saito S., Monasch R., Keogh E., Dhlembeu N., Bergua J., Mafico M. | 2007 | Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies | 2 | 3 | 10.1080/17450120701439619 | UNICEF, Harare, Zimbabwe; Statistics Department, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Harare, Zimbabwe | Saito, S., UNICEF, Harare, Zimbabwe; Monasch, R., UNICEF, Harare, Zimbabwe; Keogh, E., Statistics Department, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Dhlembeu, N., Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Harare, Zimbabwe; Bergua, J., UNICEF, Harare, Zimbabwe; Mafico, M., UNICEF, Harare, Zimbabwe | This paper describes the experience of Zimbabwe in establishing a baseline for its National Action Plan for Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children (NAP for OVC) using the 10 core indicators developed by the UNAIDS Global Monitoring and Evaluation Reference Group in 2004. Through a population-based household survey in rural and urban high-density areas and the OVC policy and planning effort index assessment tool, a baseline was established. The survey found that 43.6% of children under 18 years were orphaned or made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS. Half of all households with children care for one or more OVC. While the large majority of OVC continued to be cared for by the extended family, its capacity to care for these children appeared to be under pressure. OVC were less likely to have their basic minimum material needs met, more likely to be underweight, less likely to be taken to an appropriate health provider when sick and less likely to attend school. Medical support to households with OVC was found to be relatively high (26%). Other support, such as psychosocial support (2%) and school assistance (12%), was lower. The OVC Effort Index assessment indicates that serious efforts are being made. The increase in the effort index between 2001 and 2004 in the areas of consultative efforts, planning and coordinating mechanisms reflects the strengthened commitment. Monitoring and evaluation and legislative review are the weakest areas of the OVC response. The findings of the baseline exercise point to the need for continued and additional efforts and resources to implement the NAP for OVC, the priorities of which were confirmed by the survey as critical to improve the welfare of the OVC in Zimbabwe. | HIV/AIDS; Indicators; Monitoring; OVC; Zimbabwe | None | 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-s2.0-53249100693 | Impact of avian influenza in some states of Nigeria | Saidu L., Wakawa A.M., Abdu P.A., Adene D.F., Kazeem H.M., Ladan K.C., Abdu M., Miko R.B., Fatihu M.Y., Adamu J., Mamman P.H. | 2008 | International Journal of Poultry Science | 7 | 9 | 10.3923/ijps.2008.913.916 | Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria | Saidu, L., Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Wakawa, A.M., Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Abdu, P.A., Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Adene, D.F., Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Kazeem, H.M., Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Ladan, K.C., National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria; Abdu, M., National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria; Miko, R.B., Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Fatihu, M.Y., Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Adamu, J., Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Mamman, P.H., Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria | Cases of Avian Influenza (AI) outbreaks reported and confirmed were extracted from the records of control committees on AI in Kano and Katsina States, Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Pan-African Control of Epizootics (PACE) project office at Kaduna. Information on Al outbreaks in Jigawa State were obtained through a questionnaire. A total of 480,378 birds were lost in 34 outbreaks in the four states under study between the period of January and March 2006. Chickens accounted for more than 99% of all the birds affected followed by guinea fowls and turkeys. More than 60% of the birds affected were adults. The concentrations of poultry farms in Kano metropolis particularly along Gwarzo road where the epidemic was first noticed might have been responsible for the fast spread of the disease within Kano metropolis. It is a common practice to find geese, muscovey ducks and turkeys in one farm in the study area. This practice makes the chickens and turkeys more prone to the disease. From the tract of outbreaks It is possible that the disease spread from Jigawa State to Kano state and from Kano State to other States in the study area and other parts of the country through trade in live birds and poultry by products. For proper diagnosis and control of AI in Nigeria, poultry farmers should be educated on the necessity for prompt disease reporting to veterinarians and appropriate authorities. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2008. | Avian influenza; Chickens; Geese; Guinea fowls; Turkeys | Anas; Anser; Aves; Galliformes; Gallus gallus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84923292439 | Performance analysis of WiMAX networks: Discrete event simulator (DES) development | Saidu I., Subramaniam S., Jaafar A., Zukarnain Z.A. | 2014 | International Review on Computers and Software | 9 | 11 | None | Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Nigeria; University Putra Malaysia (UPM), Malaysia; Department of Software Engineering and Information Systems, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia; University of Bradford, United Kingdom | Saidu, I., Usmanu Danfodiyo U |