Enhancing Capacity and Network Performance of Client-Server Architectures Using Mobile IPv6 Host-Based Network Protocol

A huge number of studies have been done supporting seamless mobility networks and mobile technologies over the years. The recent innovations in technology have unveiled another revolution from the static architectural approach to more dynamic and even mobile approaches for client-server networks. Due to the special equipments and infrastructure needed to support network mobility management, it is difficult to deploy such networks beyond the local network coverage without interruption of communications. Therefore, MIPv6 as developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and ancillary technologies were reviewed to provide clear insights on implementing MIPv6 in Client-Server architectures. However, MIPv6 technology presents weaknesses related to its critical handover latency which appears long for real-time applications such as Video Stream with potential loss of data packets during transmission

Factors Influencing Adoption of Conservation Agriculture in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The agricultural sector in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is still struggling to cope with its post-independence political and structural instability. From 1961 to 2000, the DRC experienced a decrease of 34% and 37% in daily caloric intake and protein intake, respectively. The DRC’s agriculture sector, led by women (who are the core of subsistence farming), is now being targeted as a potential pathway out of poverty through sustainable development programs. Empowering farmers to increase productivity by educating them to use conservation agriculture (CA), a more sustainable alternative to the traditional slash-and-burn agricultural practice, could contribute to reducing vulnerability, alleviate food insecurity, and fight poverty while being ecologically sustainable. This study assesses the impact of the “Improving Agricultural Productivity through No-Tillage Agriculture” program in the DRC from 2009 to 2012. This program targeted vulnerable women who were victims in some capacity of the Congolese War. Training on the sustainable CA practice was provided to 8,290 farmers in the Maniema province of the DRC. The program goal was to increase agricultural productivity and sustainability through CA adoption by improving crop yields and soil management and decreasing deforestation caused by slash-and-burn. Findings suggest that the location of the farm (being in the savannah or forest), training, having accessed to credit, belonging to a farmers’ group, and being a vulnerable female, all drove adoption to varying degrees and directions. Vulnerable women, the target for this project, were found to be less likely to adopt CA. From this study’s findings, targeting vulnerable women who are part of a farmers’ group may increase the number of vulnerable women who would adopt CA in the future. The results of this study provide future CA projects with important information on what the drivers of adoption are and what the perceived benefits of adoption by adopters. From these two important pieces of information, future research and CA projects in the DRC can more precisely focus on specific groups of producers based on location, gender, and other social characteristics to both increase adoption of CA and market the specific benefits producers are looking for more efficiently

Enhancing Capacity and Network Performance of Client-Server Architectures Using Mobile IPv6 Host-Based Network Protocol

A huge number of studies have been done supporting seamless mobility networks and mobile technologies over the years The recent innovations in technology have unveiled another revolution from the static architectural approach to more dynamic and even mobile approaches for client-server networks Due to the special equipments and infrastructure needed to support network mobility management it is difficult to deploy such networks beyond the local network coverage without interruption of communications Therefore MIPv6 as developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force IETF and ancillary technologies were reviewed to provide clear insights on implementing MIPv6 in Client-Server architectures However MIPv6 technology presents weaknesses related to its critical handover latency which appears long for real-time applications such as Video Stream with potential loss of data packets during transmissio

Tree Stock, Structure and Use of Common Woody Species of a Town Neighboring Forest Reserve in Tanzania: Implication for Managing Carbon Accumulation

Town neighboring forests in the tropics suffer high human pressure owing to unregulated harvest to supply domestic energy and equipment. Although this causes considerable source of income among communities, it poses significant deforestation, thus, jeopardizing carbon accumulation potentials of most of the forests. This study therefore assessed the stock, structure and use of common woody species in a town neighboring forest reserve to elucidate the reserve’s carbon accumulation potential amid pressures from surrounding communities. It was found out that the structure of the forest had been altered following unregulated tree harvest. There were selective harvesting and removal of valued timber trees, and key species that otherwise are responsible in regulating the ecosystem functioning of the reserve. It was apparent that the unregulated harvest is likely to jeopardize the ecosystem functioning and carbon accumulation potential of the reserve. Thus, to manage the reserve sustainably, awareness education on forest biodiversity conservation among surrounding local communities is recommended. We also recommend exploration of the reserve for ecotourism potentials. This might stimulate ecotourism activities in the area and provide an alternative source of income among the local population. This would add value and sense of ownership and stimulate self-mobilization for protection of the reserve

Assessment and determinants of household food security status in the Umzumbe local municipality, KwaZulu-Natal.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.Although South Africa is a nationally food-secure country, this is not the case at household and individual levels, where food insecurity is unacceptably high, particularly in rural areas, where many households struggle to meet their own food needs. In order to address the food insecurity and poverty challenges in the rural areas of South Africa, the Department of Agriculture has been promoting home and community garden programmes to increase the food production of poor and vulnerable rural households. This study aimed to assess the level of participation of households in the food garden programmes and the factors affecting their access to them. In addition, the study evaluated the effect of these two programmes on the household’s food security status and their determinants in the uMzumbe Local Municipality. As home and community garden programmes have been widely implemented in all the municipality wards, this study applied a simple random sampling method, in order to give all the wards a chance of being selected. The purposive sampling method was used to select the village samples from the wards, in which both the home and community garden programmes have been implemented. In order to collect data, a structured questionnaire was administered directly to 223 household respondents out of 1792 households within three sampled wards. The results of the study showed that the level of participation of the households in the food gardens implemented was very low (23.8%). About 13%, 10.3% and 0.45% of respondents participated in home garden, community garden, and a combination of community and home garden programmes, respectively. The Logistic model results indicated that factors, such as livestock ownership (p=0.067) and extension services (p=001), positively influenced the participation of households in the community garden programme, while the farm size (p=0.008), the purpose of farming (p=0.068) and the total income negatively affected their participation. In contrast, the farm size (p=0.026), the purpose of farming (p=091) and the extension services (p=0.001) positively affected the participation of farmers in home garden programme. The results revealed that both programmes were ineffective for improving the food security status of households in the uMzumbe area. Their food security status was positively impacted by the total income (p=0.001), extension services (p=0.04), credit access (p=0.067), age, farm size (p=0.024) and education level (p=0.091), whereas it was negatively influenced by the household size (p=0.001), as well as the size of the home gardens (p=0.046) and community gardens (p=0.032). The study indicated that the implementation of the home and community garden programmes was not enough, in and of itself, for improving the food security status of those living in the uMzumbe area. Therefore, it is recommended that factors, such as income generation, credit access, educational and extension services, should be considered for improving the participation in, and effectiveness of, the home and community garden programmes, and for improving the food security status of residents in the uMzumbe Local Municipality. Key words: home garden, community garden, uMzumbe Municipality and food securit

The formulation and validation of PV inverter efficiency under South Africa climate conditions

Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Technology: Electrical Engineering (Energy) in the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa.In photovoltaic power systems, the DC/AC conversion efficiency depends on weather conditions causing PV inverters to operate under fluctuating input power from PV modules. The peak efficiency stated by the inverter manufacturers are often used by project designers to estimate how much power PV plants can produce. However, the varying nature of the DC input power to the inverters, occasioned by varying irradiation and temperature, leads to deviations of the actual efficiency from the peak efficiency. Literature surveys prove that inverter efficiencies must be evaluated against local irradiation profiles to get more precise annual energy yield estimations, since meteorological conditions and solar irradiation profiles vary from one site to another around the planet

Treatment of chronic osteomyelitis with locally made calcium sulfate bone cement pellets impregnated with antibiotics at University Teaching Hospital of Butare (CHUB), Rwanda

Background: Chronic osteomyelitis remains a challenging and potentially lifelong disease. Its treatment includes surgery, which is essential and consists of the removal of all dead bone and necrotic soft tissues, and systemic antibiotic administration. One excellent modality for antibiotic delivery is the use of antibiotic-impregnated bone cement. In this paper, we report our experience of operating-room-made antibiotic-impregnated bone cement at University Teaching Hospital of Butare (CHUB), Rwanda. Methods: Fifty-five patients with haematogenously spread chronic osteomyelitis were operated upon and benefited from our protocol between January 2015 and December 2016. Excluded from this study were cases in which we estimated that soft tissue bone coverage might have been a challenge. We mixed 300 g of calcium sulfate powder with 2 g of ceftriaxone and 480 mg of gentamicin to form pellets. To allow for drying, we prepared the mixture 2 hours before implantation into operated bone. Results: Thirty-one patients (56%) were children under 15 years of age, and 44 (80%) of the cases involved the tibia or the femur. After 12 months of follow-up, only 3 cases (5%) presented with complications that needed additional surgeries. All complications were related to the biodegradation of the calcium sulfate pallets. The rest of the patients in this study improved without complications. Conclusions: The locally made (within in the operating room) antibiotic-impregnated bone cement at CHUB was safe, effective, and of low cost. Keywords: chronic osteomyelitis; bone cement; calcium sulfate; antibiotics; locally available materials; Rwanda

Prevalence and factors associated with neonatal sepsis among hospitalized newborns at Ruvuma, southern Tanzania

Introduction: Neonatal sepsis is one of the most common causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality in developing countries.Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with neonatal sepsis among hospitalized new-borns at Ruvuma, southern Tanzania.Methods: A facility-based retrospective study was conducted at Songea Regional Referral hospital in Ruvuma, during August-October, 2018. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect demographic, obstetric and clinical information from medical case files of patients. Neonatal sepsis was diagnosed clinically. Data were analysed using SPSS version 24.0. Chi square test was used to assess relationship between outcome and exposure variables. Multivariate logistic regression was used to measure association after controlling for confounders, and P-values of <0.05 were statistically significant.Results: Medical case files of 263 neonates were reviewed. Of these, 131(49.8%) had sepsis. Factors associated with neonatal sepsis were  prematurity (AOR=2.2; 95%CI. 1.3 – 3.6, p=0.002), age of more than a week (AOR=2.2; 95%CI. 1.0 – 4.6, p=0.04), intravenous cannulation after birth (AOR=6.3; 95%CI. 2.1 – 19.0, p=0.002), and resuscitation with nasal oxygen prongs (AOR=1.7; 95%CI. 1.1 – 2.9, p=0.02).Conclusions: Neonatal sepsis is relatively common among neonates in Ruvuma and is associated with maternal and health services related factors.The findings underscore the importance of routine assessment and close monitoring of neonates. Key words: neonatal sepsis, prevalence, risk factor

Contrat de performance avec une administration sanitaire provinciale : cas du Nord Kivu en République Démocratique du Congo.

Introduction : De nombreuses expériences de financement basé sur les performances sont documentées au niveau des hôpitaux et centres de santé, mais pas sur les administrations sanitaires. La présente étude décrit une expérience de contrat de performance au niveau de l’administration sanitaire provinciale du Nord Kivu, en RD Congo. Méthodes : Cette étude a recouru à la triangulation de trois méthodes : (i) une analyse documentaire, (ii) l’analyse des données d’interviews d’acteurs clés sur leur perception de la stratégie, (iii) l’analyse des données d’utilisation des services curatifs et préventifs dans la province. Résultats : Le contrat de performance a été négocié entre les cadres de l’administration sanitaire provinciale, l’administration centrale et les partenaires. Les trois parties prenantes se sont référées à huit fonctions jugées pertinentes pour l’administration sanitaire provinciale. Ces fonctions sont liées à la gouvernance provinciale du système sanitaire et à l’appui sociotechnique et logistique aux districts sanitaires (zones de santé). Les engagements négociés tous les trois mois ont varié en fonction du contexte et des besoins de soutien des zones de santé. Le niveau de réalisation des engagements et le score de fonctionnalité de l’administration sanitaire provinciale ont évolué respectivement de 75,3% à 87,3% et de 67% à 82%, entre 2007 et 2009. L’utilisation des services curatifs et préventifs au niveau de la province s’est également améliorée : l’utilisation des services curatifs est passée de 0,40 NC/habitant à 0,65 NC/habitant entre 2007 et 2009. En revanche peu d’améliorations de la qualité des soins ont été observées. Cette stratégie a été perçue par les acteurs impliqués comme s’étant bien intégrée à d’autres stratégies au niveau provincial et ayant renforcé leur mise en oeuvre, notamment le financement basé sur les performances au niveau des centres de santé et hôpitaux. Conclusion : Le contrat de performance peut s’avérer utile au niveau d’une administration sanitaire provinciale d’un pays à faible revenu pourvu qu’il soit mis en oeuvre dans une perspective globale. Cette perspective impose de prendre en compte certains défis notamment une articulation avec les fonctions pertinentes de l’administration sanitaire provinciale et une flexibilité