Sound analysis prototype to enhance physical security in academic institutions

Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) at Strathmore UniversityCompetence in the provision of security to the civilians in Kenya has generally deteriorated and hence negatively affecting the public trust accorded to security agencies. Indeed, the police to civilian ratio is low and this has affected the institutions of learning as they have become new attack grounds for the terrorists. Institutions of learning have suffered the worst since they are expected to be accountable of their own security in many cases. As a result, many institutions of learning use available security agencies, most of which employ outdated and less efficient means of implementing security. Examples of commonly used physical security techniques include the use of security guards, perimeter walls, some places use turnstiles as well as CCTVs. The inefficiencies that comes along with these security measures has still however exposed these institutions to great dangers of insecurity. This study proposes the use of sound classification to enhance physical security. The solution relies on the integration of the possible solutions of the artificial neural networks (ANN) in sound classification to detect sound variations in the leaning institutions. It is expected that decisions made through classification assist security personnel on the ground to tighten the physical security. The solution offers automatic analysis of the recorded sound from the environment, compares it to the stored dataset which has urban sounds and the score labels displayed on the output screens for the security personnel to help them enhance the available physical security. The usage of scientific research methodology through experimentation ensured that the sounds were captured, the dataset sounds were collected and trained for comparison to take place and finally results validated to prove the theory. The system proved an accuracy percentage of 78%, and the efficiency, user friendliness and reliability were al passed

LAKE VICTORIA AND THE COMMON PROPERTY DEBATE: IS THE TRAGEDY OF THE COMMONS A THREAT TO ITS FUTURE?

Lake Victoria is the largest among the African Great Lakes in East African region that are believed to have both dynamic and fragile aquatic ecosystems. Within two decades, the lake has experienced extensive resource exploitation leading to constrained productivity and drastic decline of native biodiversity. Intensive non-selective fishing, catchment vegetation degradation, industrial and agricultural pollution, the introduction of exotic species and uneven patchwork of governmental laws are some of the reasons for the current ecological woes facing Lake Victoria. This paper intends to stimulate recognition of Lake Victoria and its catchment as a lived Com­mons, to be shared, protected, managed and enjoyed by all who live around it. The paper compares the original biodiversity status of the lake with the current status and discusses the role of unlimited access as a function of the loss of the Lake’s biological wealth. The Lake’s water resource base, fishery, wetlands and other aquatic resources have been exhaustively discussed. In this review, we uphold the Hardin’s school of thought that freedom of the commoners causes resource overuse leading to poverty. Therefore, limiting freedom could be essential. However, there is need for provision of alternative means of survival since people with no choices would continue over-exploiting ecosystems even under limited access. The Lake Victoria basin commons should be protected by strict legal and clear political frame­work based on public trust doctrine, reinforced in law that the Lake is vital for the survival of people, plants and animals living on or near it and therefore must be protected for the common good. The political jurisdictions should consider governing the Lake basin as one integrated watershed. It is our fervent hope that bordering communities will secure grass root movements to protect and nurture Lake Victoria and its environs for the benefit of the present and future generations

Village Endline Survey: Site Analysis Report for Nyando - Katuk Odeyo, Kenya (KE0101)

This study used community-level focus group discussions in the seven villages of the Nyando climate-smart villages (CSVs) in Kenya. The discussions were complemented with satellite images from mixed sources and GIS-based analytics to monitor the changes in land use and land cover over the past 10 years (2011-2021). There is solid evidence, from discrete ground evidence as well as the processed satellite imagery covering the region, that the area has improved significantly in farm and land management practices – an outcome partly attributable to interventions by the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) and partners, including Community-Based and Development Organizations working in the area. From the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) analysis, the formerly open ground and barren land in the northern section has improved in vegetative cover and infrastructure development over the decade. Similarly, the southern part has remarkably grown green over the same period, referred to here as the haven of exemplary green growth. The study further confirms decline in farm sizes due to rapidly rising population; increase in gullies in some villages or widening of pre-existing ones; improvements in social infrastructures such as schools, health facilities, electricity and roads; expanding economic opportunities as reflected by growth in local markets; and increasing access to information, especially agro-advisory services. Overall, livelihoods seem to have improved in Nyando, as evident in improved human settlements. The communities have a vision of an improved village with more and better schools and health facilities, increased forest cover, well managed and conserved wetlands, springs, and rivers increased water harvesting for domestic use and irrigation, improved road and market infrastructure, improved access to agricultural extension services, quality inputs and irrigation water, and better soil and water management

Does insecticide resistance contribute to heterogeneities in malaria transmission in The Gambia?

BACKGROUND: Malaria hotspots, areas with consistently higher than average transmission, may become increasingly common as malaria declines. This phenomenon, currently observed in The Gambia, may be caused by several factors, including some related to the local vectors, whose contribution is poorly understood. METHODS: Using WHO susceptibility bioassays, insecticide resistance status was determined in vector populations sampled from six pairs of villages across The Gambia, each pair contained a low and high prevalence village. RESULTS: Three vector species were observed (23.5% Anopheles arabiensis, 31.2% Anopheles gambiae, 43.3% Anopheles coluzzii and 2.0% An. coluzzii × An. gambiae hybrids). Even at a fine scale, significant differences in species composition were detected within village pairs. Resistance to both DDT and deltamethrin was more common in An. gambiae, most markedly in the eastern part of The Gambia and partly attributable to differing frequencies of resistance mutations. The Vgsc-1014F target site mutation was strongly associated with both DDT (OR = 256.7, (95% CI 48.6-6374.3, p < 0.001) and deltamethrin survival (OR = 9.14, (95% CI 4.24-21.4, p < 0.001). A second target site mutation, Vgsc-1575Y, which co-occurs with Vgsc-1014F, and a metabolic marker of resistance, Gste2-114T, conferred additional survival benefits to both insecticides. DDT resistance occurred significantly more frequently in villages with high malaria prevalence (p = 0.025) though this did not apply to deltamethrin resistance. CONCLUSION: Whilst causality of relationships requires further investigation, variation in vector species and insecticide resistance in The Gambia is associated with malaria endemicity; with a notably higher prevalence of infection and insecticide resistance in the east of the country. In areas with heterogeneous malaria transmission, the role of the vector should be investigated to guide malaria control interventions

USPOREDNA PERFORMANSA RASTA MUŽJAKA ISTOG SPOLA I MJEŠOVITOG SPOLA NILSKE TILAPIJE (Oreochromis niloticus L.) UZGAJANIH U ZEMLJANIM RIBNJACIMA

Comparative growth performance of male monosex and mixed sex Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) was conducted in six earthen ponds each measuring 150 m2 at the Kenya Marine & Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), Kegati Aquaculture Research Station. Male monosex and mixed sex of O. niloticus juveniles at an average weight of 12.2 ± 0.02 g and average length of 7.6 ± 0.02 cm were collected from nursery production ponds. The male monosex juveniles were obtained by feeding newly hatched juveniles with feed dosed with 17-α-methyltestosterone hormone for a period of one month. Stocking was at 3 juvenile m-2 and feeding was carried out using 28% crude protein diet twice daily for six months at 4% body weight. Selected water quality parameters (dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, electrical conductivity and total ammonia nitrogen) were measured weekly in situ, while sampling for weight and length measurements was conducted on a monthly basis for a period of six months. Specific Growth Rate (SGR), Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), Condition Factor (CF) and survival rate (%) were measured at the end of six months. Data were subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). At the end of six months, the average weight of male monosex and mixed sex fishes was 200.8 ± 0.81 g (mean ± SE) and 123.4 ± 0.76 g, respectively, while the average length of male monosex and mixed sex was 22.4 ± 0.21 cm and 18.6 ± 0.23 cm, respectively. The male monosex O. niloticus achieved significantly increased final weight and length, SGR, FCR and CF than the mixed sex O. niloticus (p 0.05). There were no significant differences in mean water quality parameters in male monosex and mixed sex ponds (p > 0.05). The male monosex fish performed better because most energy was spent on muscle and tissue development while the mixed sex fish spent most energy on reproduction activities at the expense of muscle and tissue development. Further studies should be done in other culture systems such as liner ponds, tanks, cages and raceways.Usporedna performansa rasta mužjaka istog spola u odnosu na mješoviti spol Nilske tilapije (Oreochromis niloticus) provedena je u šest zemljanih ribnjaka veličine 150 m2 u Kenijskom institutu za istraživanje mora i ribarstva (KMFRI), Akvakulturna stanica u Kegatiju. Nedozrele jedinke mužjaka istog spola i mješovitog spola O. niloticus prosječne mase 12,2 ± 0,02 g i prosječne dužine 7,6 ± 0,02 cm prikupljene su iz mladičnjaka. Nedozrele jedinke mužjaka su dobivene hranjenjem novoizleglih ličinaka s hranom doziranom hormonom 17 α-metil-testosteronom u razdoblju od mjesec dana. Nasad je proveden u gustoći od 3 mladunca / m2 i hranidbom od 28% sirovih proteina dva puta dnevno tijekom šest mjeseci na 4% tjelesne težine. Odabrani fizikalno-kemijski parametri vode (otopljen kisik, temperatura, provodljivost i ukupni amonijak) mjereni su tjedno in situ, dok su izmjere dužina i masa provedene na mjesečnoj bazi tijekom 6 mjeseci. Specifična stopa rasta (SGR), omjer konverzije hrane (FCR), kondicijski faktor (CF) i stopa preživljavanja (%) izmjereni su na kraju perioda od šest mjeseci. Podaci su analizirani jednosmjernom analizom varijance (ANOVA). Na kraju promatranog perioda od 6 mjeseci, prosječna težina mužjaka istog spola iznosila je 200,8 ± 0,81 g (prosjek ± standardna devijacija) i mješovitog spola 123,4 ± 0,76 g, a prosječna dužina mužjaka istog spola iznosila je 22,4 ± 0,21 cm i mješovitog spola 18,6 ± 0,23 cm. Mužjaci istog spola O. niloticus postigli su značajno veću konačnu težinu i dužinu, SGR, FCR i CF nego mješoviti spol (p 0,05). Nije zabilježena značajna razlika u kvaliteti mjerenih parametara u vodi ribnjaka promatranih skupina riba (p > 0,05). Mužjaci istog spola imaju bolje rezultate jer je većina energije potrošena na mišiće i razvoj tkiva, dok je mješoviti spol trošio najviše energije na reprodukcijske aktivnosti na račun mišića i razvoj tkiva. Daljnja istraživanja bi trebala biti usmjerena ka drugim sustavima uzgoja poput obloženih ribnjaka, zatvorenih bazena, kaveza i protočnih kanala

Distribution of Anopheles gambiae thioester-containing protein 1 alleles along malaria transmission gradients in The Gambia.

BACKGROUND: Thioester-containing protein 1 (TEP1) is a highly polymorphic gene playing an important role in mosquito immunity to parasite development and associated with Anopheles gambiae vectorial competence. Allelic variations in TEP1 could render mosquito either susceptible or resistant to parasite infection. Despite reports of TEP1 genetic variations in An. gambiae, the correlation between TEP1 allelic variants and transmission patterns in malaria endemic settings remains unclear. METHODS: TEP1 allelic variants were characterized by PCR from archived genomic DNA of > 1000 An. gambiae mosquitoes collected at 3 time points between 2009 and 2019 from eastern Gambia, where malaria transmission remains moderately high, and western regions with low transmission. RESULTS: Eight common TEP1 allelic variants were identified at varying frequencies in An. gambiae from both transmission settings. These comprised the wild type TEP1, homozygous susceptible genotype, TEP1s; homozygous resistance genotypes: TEP1rA and TEP1rB, and the heterozygous resistance genotypes: TEP1srA, TEP1srB, TEP1rArB and TEP1srArB. There was no significant disproportionate distribution of the TEP1 alleles by transmission setting and the temporal distribution of alleles was also consistent across the transmission settings. TEP1s was the most common in all vector species in both settings (allele frequencies: East = 21.4-68.4%. West = 23.5-67.2%). In Anopheles arabiensis, the frequency of wild type TEP1 and susceptible TEP1s was significantly higher in low transmission setting than in high transmission setting (TEP1: Z = - 4.831, P < 0.0001; TEP1s: Z = - 2.073, P = 0.038). CONCLUSIONS: The distribution of TEP1 allele variants does not distinctly correlate with malaria endemicity pattern in The Gambia. Further studies are needed to understand the link between genetic variations in vector population and transmission pattern in the study settings. Future studies on the implication for targeting TEP1 gene for vector control strategy such as gene drive systems in this settings is also recommended

Cross‐cultural assessment of HIV‐associated cognitive impairment using the Kaufman assessment battery for children: a systematic review

Introduction: Despite improved efficacy of, and access to, combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), HIV‐associated cognitive impairments remain prevalent in both children and adults. Neuropsychological tests that detect such impairment can help clinicians formulate effective treatment plans. The Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (KABC), although developed and standardized in the United States, is used frequently in many different countries and cultural contexts to assess paediatric performance across various cognitive domains. This systematic review investigated the cross‐cultural utility of the original KABC, and its 2nd edition (KABC‐II), in detecting HIV‐associated cognitive impairment in children and adolescents.Methods: We entered relevant keywords and MeSH terms into the PubMed, PsycInfo, EBSCOHost, ProQuest, and Scopus databases, with search limits set from 1983–2017. Two independent reviewers evaluated the retrieved abstracts and manuscripts. Studies eligible for inclusion in the review were those that (a) used the KABC/KABC‐II to assess cognitive function in children/adolescents aged 2–18 years, (b) featured a definition of cognitive impairment (e.g. >2 SD below the mean) or compared the performance of HIV‐infected and uninfected control groups, and (c) used a sample excluded from population on which the instruments were normed.Results and discussion: We identified nine studies (eight conducted in African countries, and one in the United Kingdom) to comprise the review’s sample. All studies detected cognitive impairment in HIV‐infected children, including those who were cART‐naïve or who were cART treated and clinically stable. KABC/KABC‐II subtests assessing simultaneous processing appeared most sensitive. Evaluation of the methodological quality of the selected studies by two independent reviews suggested that shortcomings included reporting and selection biases.Conclusions: This systematic review provides evidence for the cross‐cultural utility of the KABC/KABC‐II, particularly the simultaneous processing subtests, in detecting cognitive impairment in HIV‐infected children (including those who are clinically stable). Although the current results suggest there is justification for using the KABC/KABC‐II primarily in East Africa, further investigation is required to explore the instrument’s utility in other HIV‐prevalent regions of the globe.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138351/1/jia21412.pd

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030