Report on the evaluation of surveillance systems relevant to zoonotic diseases in Kenya, 2015: A basis for design of an integrated human–livestock surveillance system

The Zoonoses in Livestock in Kenya (ZooLinK) is a project that seeks to enable Kenya develop an effective surveillance programme for zoonotic diseases (infectious diseases transmissible between animals and human beings). The surveillance programme will be integrated across both human and animal health sectors. To achieve this goal the project will work in close collaboration with Kenyan government departments in responsible for animal and human health. As a prelude to the start of the project, an evaluation of the existing surveillance systems for human and animal health was carried out. The evaluation focused on the national surveillance system and the systems at the western part of Kenya (Busia county, Kakamega county and Bungoma county) where the initial programme will be developed. In conducting the evaluation the investigators used key informant interviews, focused group discussion participant questionnaires, audio recordings and observation for data collection. Data analysis for the qualitative data focused on generating themes or theory around the responses obtained in the key informants interviews and focused group discussions. Univariate analysis was performed by use of simple proportions in calculation for surveillance system attributes like sensitivity, completeness, PVP and Timeliness for the human health surveillance systems. The findings of the evaluation revealed that there was poor linkage between animal health surveillance and the human health surveillance systems. None of the systems had surveillance structures dedicated to zoonotic diseases. Most practitioners used clinical signs for diagnosis of diseases with little reference to acceptable case definitions. Laboratory diagnosis in animal health services focused more on suspected notifiable diseases as opposed to being a standard operating procedure for diagnosis. In Human health services the health care facilities that had laboratory within the facility conducted laboratory diagnosis for cases referred by the clinicians. However, some clinicians preferred using clinical signs for diagnosis to avoid the wait or turn-around time in the laboratory. For effective surveillance of zoonoses to be realized it would be advisable to establish surveillance structures specific to zoonoses and the necessary resources allocated to the surveillance activities. In addition, an integrated approach that incorporated both human and animal disease surveillance should be employed in the surveillance of zoonoses

End of One Way

Describes the role of three South Minneapolis community-based organizations. Demonstrates how the organizations form partnerships and share leadership with their communities. Explores a set of themes derived from each example of community engagement

American Indian Leadership: Strengthening Native Communities and Organizations (Winter 2013)

Despite attempts to diminish, belittle and totally transform Native concepts, belief systems and values of leadership, strong leadership remains one of the most important assets in Native communities. American Indian leaders have held steadfast to tribal belief systems and values and fought for the preservation and perpetuation of Native identity, land and sovereignty. Leaders of Native nations today are still committed to these values. Native leaders still recognize that strong, ethical and innovative leadership from various sectors has the ability to transform American Indian communities.The primary goal of this paper is to provide a brief overview of American Indian leadership within an historical perspective, including what led to the development of tribal governments and Indian-led organizations today. Drawing on data from more than 93 leadership programs, organizations and initiatives, this paper provides a summary of findings on the current state of leadership programs in Native communities. Based on these findings, this paper offers recommendations for proceeding with the development of Native leadership programs in American Indian communities

Online Group-exercises for Older Adults of Different Physical Abilities

In this paper we describe the design and validation of a virtual fitness environment aiming at keeping older adults physically and socially active. We target particularly older adults who are socially more isolated, physically less active, and with less chances of training in a gym. The virtual fitness environment, namely Gymcentral, was designed to enable and motivate older adults to follow personalised exercises from home, with a (heterogeneous) group of remote friends and under the remote supervision of a Coach. We take the training activity as an opportunity to create social interactions, by complementing training features with social instruments. Finally, we report on the feasibility and effectiveness of the virtual environment, as well as its effects on the usage and social interactions, from an intervention study in Trento, Ital

Category of Affirmation and Negation in Poetic Dialogue

The essay explores how the use of both monologue and conversation develops a stylistic originality by separating form from substance. Analysis of consciousness and worldview as aesthetic standards for judging the entirety of reality. Additionally, a scientific and theoretical analysis of the philosophy of creativity as well as poetic logic, expression, and image in the development of creative communication is done

National First Peoples Gathering on Climate Change

Our purpose in hosting the National First Peoples Gathering on Climate Change (the Gathering) was to celebrate, learn from and enhance First Peoples-led climate action. We set out to strengthen kinships, cultural identity and well-being, and to strengthen caring for Country by using both Indigenous and scientific knowledge. The Gathering supported this overall purpose through five aims:• Bring Traditional Owners together to share with one another about climate change • Share scientific information in a form useful for Traditional Owners• Identify options for policy to respond to climate change • Provide tangible information to take back to communities• Highlight First Peoples’ climate change actions. 110 Traditional Owners from across Australia attended the Gathering

Digitization of Museum Collections: Using Technology, Creating Access, and Releasing Authority in Managing Content and Resources

Through the use of new technologies and platforms, the Minnesota HistoricalSociety (MNHS) has been able to reach new levels of transparency in working with Dakota communities on the access, management and care of Dakota material culture collections. By digitizing and sharing information about collections and using an online platform for soliciting feedback - which then becomes attached to the permanent record of the object – the MNHS is relinquishing the authority of intellectual control over Dakota material culture which they have historically claimed to have. In doing so, the institution is not only opening pathways to meaningful dialogue, but is benefiting by gaining new insights and knowledge shared with them by cultural insiders. By expanding upon this shared authority, the MNHS is also being educated inregards to the traditional modes of care for items within their Dakota material culture collections. Over the course of the last few years, through outreach efforts, many Dakota people have also learned about museum best practices in physical preservation. In the past, this type of dialogue has not existed or has been extremely strained. Through sharing information and partnering, personal and professional relationships are guiding emerging professional practices.By promoting online resources that can be accessed via the internet fromanywhere, the MNHS has recently begun fostering meaningful dialogue and partnerships. These resources include the Dakota material culture collections, and to a lesser extent, the photograph collections and genealogical records. In sharing these resources, the MNHS has not only promoted access, but has fostered reciprocal sharing of knowledge, in turn creating a more robust and complete understanding. In familiarizing new audiences with digital surrogates, MNHS has promoted the sharing of information, as well as the decentralization of authority. By completing this work in partnership with Dakota communities – often within their own communities – the MNHS is also reaching underserved audiences

User-driven design of decision support systems for polycentric environmental resources management

Open and decentralized technologies such as the Internet provide increasing opportunities to create knowledge and deliver computer-based decision support for multiple types of users across scales. However, environmental decision support systems/tools (henceforth EDSS) are often strongly science-driven and assuming single types of decision makers, and hence poorly suited for more decentralized and polycentric decision making contexts. In such contexts, EDSS need to be tailored to meet diverse user requirements to ensure that it provides useful (relevant), usable (intuitive), and exchangeable (institutionally unobstructed) information for decision support for different types of actors. To address these issues, we present a participatory framework for designing EDSS that emphasizes a more complete understanding of the decision making structures and iterative design of the user interface. We illustrate the application of the framework through a case study within the context of water-stressed upstream/downstream communities in Lima, Peru

An Exploratory Examination of the Cultural Understandings of Communication Competence Among Nigerian Immigrant Adult Children

Although “communication competence” may be considered a trans-cultural concept, its unique meanings and practices across cultures have yet to be studied. Communication between parents and children in African households, for example, have often been associated with a restive and high level of control. Specifically in Nigerian households, a major critique of parenting communication styles is the necessity of continually seeking the permissions of a patriarchal and hierarchical family structure. When families immigrate, parents and children alike must navigate learning to communicate in the new culture while also seeking to preserve their culture of origin. Past research shows that adult immigrant children acculturate quickly and in doing so may also create parent-child communication problems as they seek to communicate with their comparatively reticent to acculturate parents. This thesis theorizes that the roots of some immigrant parent-child communication difficulties may lie in how immigrant adult children are understanding the concept of “competent communication” as they acculturate. This study addresses this problem by reporting the results of a qualitative, exploratory study of Nigerian immigrant adult children’s understandings of “communication competence” within the context of parent-child relationships. The results of the study found that Nigerian immigrant adult children perceive communication competence in the US as freedom to express themselves without judgment, contrasting the more restrictive communication in Nigerian communities. American culture\u27s openness on topics like mental health is admired, while Nigerian parents are seen as controlling. The hierarchical nature of Nigerian culture hinders open expression. Generational differences shape parents\u27 communication style, and respect is highly valued. Academic success is prioritized, reflecting good parenting. Education is highly valued, and sacrifices are made for children\u27s success. Cultural dynamics and generational differences impact communication competence in Nigerian immigrant families in the US