A natural user interface architecture using gestures to facilitate the detection of fundamental movement skills

Fundamental movement skills (FMSs) are considered to be one of the essential phases of motor skill development. The proper development of FMSs allows children to participate in more advanced forms of movements and sports. To be able to perform an FMS correctly, children need to learn the right way of performing it. By making use of technology, a system can be developed that can help facilitate the learning of FMSs. The objective of the research was to propose an effective natural user interface (NUI) architecture for detecting FMSs using the Kinect. In order to achieve the stated objective, an investigation into FMSs and the challenges faced when teaching them was presented. An investigation into NUIs was also presented including the merits of the Kinect as the most appropriate device to be used to facilitate the detection of an FMS. An NUI architecture was proposed that uses the Kinect to facilitate the detection of an FMS. A framework was implemented from the design of the architecture. The successful implementation of the framework provides evidence that the design of the proposed architecture is feasible. An instance of the framework incorporating the jump FMS was used as a case study in the development of a prototype that detects the correct and incorrect performance of a jump. The evaluation of the prototype proved the following: - The developed prototype was effective in detecting the correct and incorrect performance of the jump FMS; and - The implemented framework was robust for the incorporation of an FMS. The successful implementation of the prototype shows that an effective NUI architecture using the Kinect can be used to facilitate the detection of FMSs. The proposed architecture provides a structured way of developing a system using the Kinect to facilitate the detection of FMSs. This allows developers to add future FMSs to the system. This dissertation therefore makes the following contributions: - An experimental design to evaluate the effectiveness of a prototype that detects FMSs - A robust framework that incorporates FMSs; and - An effective NUI architecture to facilitate the detection of fundamental movement skills using the Kinect

Climate change adaptation strategies by local farmers in Kilombero District, Tanzania

This article examines current adaptation strategies developed by local farmers against climate change effects in Kilombero District. Research questions guided the study include; what are the past and current climatic stresses? What are local farmers’ perception on climate change and response to the adverse climatic stresses? What are institutions and political structures influencing local farmer’s adaptive capacity? The study was carried out in Mpofu, Njage and Miwangani villages. Data were collected through participatory rural appraisal, key informant interviews, household questionnaire interviews and focus group discussions. Findings show that there is prevalence of climate stresses including; prolonged dry spells, unpredictable floods, pests and diseases. Due to these stresses farmers have developed local adaptation strategies which are farming and non-farming. Farming strategies were crop diversification for food and cash and shift of cropping calendar. Non-farming strategies include the use of forest products, livestock rearing, fishing, petty trade, casual labours and remittances. Inferential statistics show that family size, number of years the respondent lived in the village, trend of rainfall and temperature are the factors influencing adaptation strategies positively. The study recommends local adaptation strategies to be streamlined to relevant policies in order to enhance local farmers’ adaptive capacity and become helpful in facing both present and future climate change effects.Keywords: Climate Change, Farmers, Stresses, Perceptions, Adaptation, Tanzani

Can HIV/AIDS be fought by targeting youths in Zambia? Analysis of the Knowledge, Attitudes and Sexual Behaviour among youths aged 15 – 24 years.

Background: Although people of any age are susceptible to HIV, youths aged 15 – 24 face disproportionate risk of contracting it because of challenges that they face with regard to correct HIV and AIDS related knowledge, attitudes and practices. This study was aimed at determining whether HIV and AIDS can be fought by targeting interventions at youths aged 15 – 24 years by assessing their current knowledge, attitudes and sexual behaviours in Zambia.   Methods: The study utilised secondary data from a self-weighting nationally representative sample of the 2009 Zambia Sexual Behaviour Survey. Results: Generally correct comprehensive knowledge is very low among youths (43 percent). This is in spite having good command of general and full general knowledge and the ABCs of HIV and AIDS prevention. Attitudes towards PLHIV, Condom use and HIV counselling and testing were negative. About one third (58 percent) of youths in Zambia have a history of early sexual debut (sex before age 15) with more females (64 percent) than males (51 percent) having hard sex. Male youths were more likely to have used a condom with most recent sexual partner as compared to females (AOR=0.265, 95%CI: 0.160, 0.438; p<0.001). Youths in rural areas had reduced odds of using a condom during their first sexual intercourse compared with those in urban areas (AOR=0.530, 95%CI: 0.387, 0.726; p<0.001). Conclusions: Therefore, it can be seen lack of comprehensive correct knowledge, gender disparities, poor educational levels, youth’s age and place of residence are some of the contributing factors that may hinder the fight against HIV/AIDS among youths in Zambia

The treatment of skin ulcers in patients with systemic sclerosis

Systemic Sclerosis (Ssc) is a complex disease of the connective tissue, characterized by progressive thickening and fibrosis of the skin and the internal organs and by diffused damage of the microvascular system. The fibrosis ones of the skin associated to the characteristic vascular alterations lead to the genesis of ulcers, more or less extended, often multiple, peripheral localization, chronic course, painful, able to influence patient's quality of life. Indeed, immunity reactivity, the thinning and the loss of elasticity of the skin, the peripheral neurological damage and the eventual drug assumption that can reduce regenerative/reparative abilities, can easy chronicizzate an ulcer and become infected complicating still more the patient disease, rendering more difficult the cure often, ulcer evolves to gangrene, and in some cases, in amputation too. For all these reasons, we have begun to study ulcers therapy (local and systemic), considering this activity it leave integrating of the charitable distance of the sclerodermico patient, putting to point on strategy both diagnostic and therapeutic, but above all with the primary scope, if possible, is to prevent ulcers, in contrary case, to alleviate the pain and to render the quality of the life of the patient better

IMPLEMENTATION OF A WEB SOCKETS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A GAME

Ovaj završni rad opisuje izradu web aplikacije kolekcije igara s naglaskom na implementaciju web utičnica (engl. web socket). Igre su zamišljene tako da se glavni sadržaj prikazuje na jednom uređaju, dok igrači koriste dodatne uređaje kao upravljače. Aplikacija sadrži dvije igre. Jedna igra je interaktivni kviz gdje je igračima cilj zavarati protivnike dajući domišljate krive odgovore na postavljeno pitanje, a usput odabrati točan odgovor na isto pitanje među mnoštvom krivih odgovora. Druga igra je implementacija društvene igre Poveži četiri (engl. Connect four) za dva igrača. Igrači naizmjence postavljaju novčiće u polja s ciljem da njihovi novčići naprave niz od četiri uzastopna novčića horizontalno, vertikalno ili dijagonalno.This paper describes the process of building a web application focusing on the implementation of web sockets. The web application is a hub for games which are played through multiple devices. One device is used to display the main content to players, while other devices are used by players as controllers. This application contains two games. One game is an interactive quiz where players try to deceive each other by giving false answers to a prompt while also trying to guess the correct answer themselves. The second game is an implementation of the board game Connect four for two players. Players take turns dropping coins onto the board with the aim of creating a horizontal, vertical or diagonal line of four of their coins

Power relations between upstream and downstream common pool resource users: winners and losers in the Uluguru mountains, Morogoro, Tanzania

Forests and water are important Common Pool Resources (CPRs) in the Uluguru Mountains (UMs). Water connects socio-economic groups of different altitudinal zonation namely upstream and downstream with multiple uses and conflicting interests. Researches have been done on ecosystem value, CPRs depletions and the role of socio- economic incentives in biodiversity conservation but little is known about power relations underlying upstream and downstream CPRs users. This study therefore, was conducted with the objective of assessing power relations between upstream and downstream CPR users and mapping winners and losers under prevailing management regimes. The study was carried out in four villages, two in upstream (Ruvuma and Peko Misegese) and the other two in the downstream (Mafisa and Mlali). Qualitative and quantitative data were collected. Qualitative data were analyzed by means of content analysis technique. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were employed to analyze quantitative data. Social Network Analysis was used to analyse interactions of stakeholders. Forty four stakeholders were identified that are involved in the management and utilization of forest and water. The identified stakeholders fall into three categories namely regulators, facilitators and users. The study further identified three types of power: strategic, institutional and structural embedded in peoples’ livelihood in both upstream and downstream. Strategic power was found to be dominant in the upstream while institutional power was dominant in the downstream. The study revealed conflictive power relation which created winners and losers, whereby upstream dwellers were the winners. Also the study revealed the existence of resource use conflicts that centred on power relations between upstream and downstream. Furthermore, the study identified existing formal and informal conflict resolution mechanisms. The study concludes that resource use conflicts in the Uluguru Mountains are consequence of poweriii imbalance between upstream and downstream communities. The study recommends the need of forming stakeholders’ platforms and improving institutional arrangements

IMPLEMENTATION OF A WEB SOCKETS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A GAME

Ovaj završni rad opisuje izradu web aplikacije kolekcije igara s naglaskom na implementaciju web utičnica (engl. web socket). Igre su zamišljene tako da se glavni sadržaj prikazuje na jednom uređaju, dok igrači koriste dodatne uređaje kao upravljače. Aplikacija sadrži dvije igre. Jedna igra je interaktivni kviz gdje je igračima cilj zavarati protivnike dajući domišljate krive odgovore na postavljeno pitanje, a usput odabrati točan odgovor na isto pitanje među mnoštvom krivih odgovora. Druga igra je implementacija društvene igre Poveži četiri (engl. Connect four) za dva igrača. Igrači naizmjence postavljaju novčiće u polja s ciljem da njihovi novčići naprave niz od četiri uzastopna novčića horizontalno, vertikalno ili dijagonalno.This paper describes the process of building a web application focusing on the implementation of web sockets. The web application is a hub for games which are played through multiple devices. One device is used to display the main content to players, while other devices are used by players as controllers. This application contains two games. One game is an interactive quiz where players try to deceive each other by giving false answers to a prompt while also trying to guess the correct answer themselves. The second game is an implementation of the board game Connect four for two players. Players take turns dropping coins onto the board with the aim of creating a horizontal, vertical or diagonal line of four of their coins

Tracking forest resource condition through Permanent sample plots established in Bukombe-Mbogwe forest reserve in Shinyanga Region, Tanzania

After decades of decentralized forest management in Tanzania, few scientific studies exist that provide baseline information on forest resources condition and eventual impact of decentralization policy. This paper presents efforts by Tanzania Forestry Research Institute (TAFORI) to establish Permanent Sample Plots (PSPs) as a means of setting baseline information on forest resources condition and eventual assessment of the impact of decentralization policy for Bukombe- Mbogwe Local Authority Forest Reserve (BLAFR). The BLAFR is surrounded by seven villages namely Kasaka, Isungabula, Ituga, Bukombe, Nasihukulu, Rubeho, and Mgaya. A total of 132 nested circular PSPs were established and assessed as baseline information in order to track forest condition in terms of stand parameters, species diversity, species composition and stand structure. Results indicated that the stock was dominated by small diameter class trees, stems ha-1 averaged 588, stand volume was 46.67 m3ha-1., and stand basal area was 6.60 m2 ha-1. Species Diversity Index value was 94.11. High stocking levels were recorded for less preferred species. The Shannon-Wiener Index of Diversity was 3.47 and Index of Dominance was 0.95. A total of 89 different tree species were recorded. Illegal anthropogenic activities and resource extraction are on the increase. In conclusion, regeneration status of trees found in the BLAFR is good, with low stand basal area and volume, which result in failing to reach PFM goals if extraction trends are not controlled.Key words: Forest condition, baseline information, Joint Forest Management, species diversity, basal area, species dominance

Poor implementation of village land use plan impedes conservation efforts in Kilosa district, Tanzania

Journal paperVillage Land Use Plan is increasingly becoming a tool for land resource management in rural areas of Tanzania. The plan is expected to enhance conservation and reduce resource use conflicts and degradation. Despite the good prospects of the plan and large investments vested in it, little is known about its adoption and implementation. This paper provides the required information, based on interviews administered to households and key informants in two villages located in East Central Tanzania. Results revealed that on average a village land use plan is adopted and implemented by only 45%. Low level of implementation is partly due to inadequate involvement of local community and lack of land suitability analysis during the planning stage. Poor adoption and implementation of land use plans threatens the conservation efforts since land set aside for conservation is used contrary to the prescription