Law in social work education: reviewing the evidence on teaching, learning and assessment

This paper presents the findings from a systemic review of knowledge relating to current practice in the teaching, learning and assessment of law in social work education. The research comprised an internationally conducted systematic review of the literature, together with a survey of current education practice in the four countries of the UK. Two consultation events sought the views of a range of stakeholders, including the perspectives of service users and carers. Set in the context of debates about the relationship between law and social work practice, this paper identifies the common themes emerging from the review and offers an analysis of key findings, together with priorities for future directions in education practice

Design, CFD modeling and prototype testing of husk biomass cook stove

Around 2.7 billion people across the world consume solid biomass fuel for heating, cooking, and other daily energy demands. In developing countries, biomass fuels are mainly burned in open fields as waste materials. Some are used by traditional stoves, resulting in less energy efficiency and causing environmental air pollution, which leads to climate change. In Ethiopia, most of the available improved stoves were designed by considering only wood fuel, which is not suitable for using biomass like coffee husks and rice husks. The developed husk biomass cook stove is suitable for using such types of biomass. This research work aims to design and develop, CFD modeling, and prototype testing of husk biomass stove for cooking purposes. The husk biomass cook stove model was designed using CATIA V5R20 and imported to ANSYS 19.2 using CFD fluent for prediction of its performance. The water boiling test (WBT) and emission tests were conducted for stove evaluation. The experimental performance was evaluated and analyzed by the water boiling test version 4.2.3 spreadsheet using two pots with different sizes for coffee husk and rice husk biomass. The WBT experimental results indicate that the average thermal efficiency and time to boil water using coffee husk biomass and a 3.5-liter pot were 29% and 7.7 minutes, respectively, during the hot start phase. Using the rice husk biomass and a 3.5-liter pot, the average thermal efficiency and time to boil water were 28% and 8.4 minutes, respectively, during the hot start phase. The emission test results showed that the average CO emission was 229 ppm for the cold start phase, 220 ppm for the hot start phase, and 235 ppm for the simmering phase by using rice husk biomass. When coffee husk biomass was used, the average CO emission was 254 ppm during the cold start phase, 240 ppm during the hot start phase, and 262 ppm during the simmering phase. The international workshop agreement principle was conducted to classify the performance of the stove accordingly and the result indicates that the average indoor CO emissions were 0.186 g/min and 0.274 g/min using rice husk and coffee husk biomass, respectively. The relative error between the CFD and experimental results is 3.33 %. Finally, the total selling price of the fabricated husk biomass cook stove is 350 ET

Design, development, and performance evaluation of husk biomass cook stove at high altitude condition

In many of the developing countries including Sub-Saharan Africa, most of the improved cook stoves were designed by considering only wood fuel, and as such are not suitable for using husk type biomass available aplenty such as coffee husk, rice husk, saw dust, etc., which get generated sustainably. While some stove eversions have been reported for using briquettes and pelletized biomass employing husks, others such as gasifier stove versions have been reported which mostly are suitable for only batch feeding of husk type biomass. A continuous feed type husk biomass cook stove has been developed and thoroughly evaluated in this study for clean burning at high altitude condition in Ethiopia. The water boiling test (WBT) and emission tests were conducted for a detailed stove performance evaluation. The experimental testing was carried out using two pots with different sizes both for coffee husk and rice husk biomass employing water boiling test version 4.2.3 pro tocols. The WBT experimental results indicate that for a 3.5 l pot, the average thermal efficiency and time to boil water are 29% and 7.7 min for coffee husk where as 28% and 8.4 min for rice husk, respectively, during the hot start phase. The maximum CO emissions of the stove measured are 262 ppm and 235 ppm using coffee husk and rice husk biomass, respectively, during the simmer phase. The international workshop agreement (IWA) norms applied to classify the performance of the stove, and the result indicated that the average indoor CO emissions were 0.186 g/min and 0.274 g/min using rice husk and coffee husk biomass, respectively. The average specific fuel consumption for this stove was 98 g/lit, which is better than the improved biomass cook stove, in which specific fuel consumption was 115 g/lit. The total selling price of the husk biomass cook stove developed amounts to 6.72 USD

The Galabat-Metema cross-border onchocerciasis focus: The first coordinated interruption of onchocerciasis transmission in Africa.

BACKGROUND: Onchocerciasis transmission across international borders is not uncommon, yet a coordinated cross border stops mass drug administration (MDA) decision has not been documented. METHODS/PRINCIPLE FINDINGS: The Galabat-Metema focus involves neighboring districts on the border between Sudan and Ethiopia. Mass drug administration (MDA) was provided once and subsequently twice per year in this focus, with twice-per-year beginning in Ethiopia's Metema subfocus in 2016 and in the Sudan's Galabat subfocus in 2008. Ov16 ELISA-based serosurveys were conducted in 6072 children under 10 years of age in the Metema subfocus in 2014, and 3931 in the Galabat in 2015. Between 2014 and 2016, a total of 27,583 vector Simulium damnosum flies from Metema and 9,148 flies from Galabat were tested by pool screen PCR for Onchocerca volvulus O-150 DNA. Only 8 children were Ov16 seropositive (all in the Metema subfocus); all were negative by skin snip PCR. The upper limit of the 95% confidence interval (UCL) for Ov16 seropositive was <0.1% for the overall focus and 0.14 positive fly heads per 2000 (UCL = 0.39/2000). However, an entomological 'hotspot' was detected on the Wudi Gemzu river in Metema district. The hotspot was confirmed when 4 more positive fly pools were found on repeat testing in 2017 (1.04 L3/2000 flies (UCL = 2.26/2000). Information exchange between the two countries led to stopping MDA in a coordinated fashion in 2018, with the exception of the hotspot at Wudi Gemzu, where MDA with ivermectin was increased to every three months to hasten interruption of transmission. CONCLUSION: Coordinated stop MDA decisions were made by Sudan and Ethiopia based on data satisfying the World Health Organization's criteria for interruption of onchocerciasis transmission. Definitions of entomological 'hotspots' and buffer zones around the focus are proposed

Performance of three multi-species rapid diagnostic tests for diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax malaria in Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Malaria transmission in Ethiopia is unstable and variable, caused by both Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax. The Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) is scaling up parasitological diagnosis of malaria at all levels of the health system; at peripheral health facilities this will be through use of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). The present study compared three RDT products to provide the FMoH with evidence to guide appropriate product selection. METHODS: Performance of three multi-species (pf-HRP2/pan-pLDH and pf-HRP2/aldolase) RDTs (CareStart, ParaScreen and ICT Combo) was compared with 'gold standard' microscopy at three health centres in Jimma zone, Oromia Regional State. Ease of RDT use by health extension workers was assessed at community health posts. RDT heat stability was tested in a controlled laboratory setting according to WHO procedures. RESULTS: A total of 2,383 patients with suspected malaria were enrolled between May and July 2009, 23.2% of whom were found to be infected with Plasmodium parasites by microscopy. All three RDTs were equally sensitive in detecting P. falciparum or mixed infection: 85.6% (95% confidence interval 81.2-89.4). RDT specificity was similar for detection of P. falciparum or mixed infection at around 92%. For detecting P. vivax infection, all three RDTs had similar sensitivity in the range of 82.5 to 85.0%. CareStart had higher specificity in detecting P. vivax (97.2%) than both ParaScreen and ICT Combo (p < 0.001 and p = 0.05, respectively). Health extension workers preferred CareStart and ParaScreen to ICT Combo due to the clear labelling of bands on the cassette, while the 'lab in a pack' style of CareStart was the preferred design. ParaScreen and CareStart passed all heat stability testing, while ICT Combo did not perform as well. CONCLUSIONS: CareStart appeared to be the most appropriate option for use at health posts in Ethiopia, considering the combination of quantitative performance, ease of use and heat stability. When new products become available, the choice of multi-species RDT for Ethiopia should be regularly re-evaluated, as it would be desirable to identify a test with higher sensitivity than the ones evaluated here

Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among HIV patients in Benin City, Nigeria

This study was carried out to determine the presence of intestinal parasites and their correlation with CD4+ T-cell counts and demographics among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients in Benin City, Nigeria. Stool specimens from 2,000 HIV-positive patients and 500 controls (HIV-negative individuals) were examined for ova, cysts, or parasites, using standard procedures. In addition, patient's blood samples were analyzed for CD4 counts by flow cytometry. An overall prevalence rate of 15.3% was observed among HIV-positive patients while 6.2% was noted among non-HIV subjects. HIV status was a significant (P<0.0001) risk factor for acquiring intestinal parasitic infections. Male gender, CD4 count <200cell/µl, and diarrhea were significantly associated with an increased prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among HIV-positive patients. The level of education, occupation, and source of water among HIV patients significantly (P<0.0001) affected the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections. Ascaris lumbricoides was the most predominant parasite in both HIV-positive patients and controls. A CD4 count <200 cells/µl was significantly associated with only Isospora belli and Cryptosporidium infections. The presence of pathogenic intestinal parasites such as A. lumbricoides, hookworm, Giardia intestinalis, Entamoeba histolytica, Trichuris trichiura, and Taenia species among HIV-infected persons should not be neglected. Cryptosporidium species and I. belli were the opportunistic parasites observed in this study. Routine screening for intestinal parasites in HIV-positive patients is advocated

Effect of training on the use of long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets on the burden of malaria among vulnerable groups, south-west Ethiopia: baseline results of a cluster randomized trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In Ethiopia, the utilization of long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets (LLITN) is hampered by behavioural factors such as low awareness and negative attitude of the community. The aim of this study was to present the design and baseline results of a cluster randomized trial on the effect of training of household heads on the use of LLITN.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This baseline survey was undertaken from February to March, 2009 as part of a randomized cluster trial. A total of 11 intervention and 11 control <it>Gots </it>(villages) were included in the Gilgel Gibe Field Research Centre, south-west Ethiopia. House to house visit was done in 4135 households to collect information about the use of LLITN and socio-demographic variables. For the diagnosis of malaria and anaemia, blood samples were collected from 2410 under-five children and 242 pregnant women.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>One fourth of the households in the intervention and control <it>Gots </it>had functional LLITN. Only 30% of the observed LLITN in the intervention and 28% in the control <it>Gots </it>were hanged properly. Adults were more likely to utilize LLITN than under-five children in the control and intervention <it>Gots</it>. The prevalence of malaria in under-five children in the intervention and control <it>Gots </it>was 10.5% and 8.3% respectively. The intervention and control <it>Gots </it>had no significant difference concerning the prevalence of malaria in under-five children, [OR = 1.28, (95%CI: 0.97, 1.69)]. Eight (6.1%) pregnant women in the intervention and eight (7.2%) in the control <it>Gots </it>were positive for malaria (P = 0.9). Children in the intervention <it>Gots </it>were less likely to have anaemia than children in the control <it>Gots</it>, [OR = 0.75, (95%CI: 0.62, 0.85)].</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The availability and utilization of LLITN was low in the study area. The prevalence of malaria and anaemia was high. Intervention strategies of malaria should focus on high risk population and vulnerable groups.</p