Auditing the accessibility of electronic resources.

yesThis paper describes a project undertaken by the University of Bradford library to assess systematically the accessibility of our electronic resources, and gives recommendations for others wishing to do the same with their collections. Since the 2001 Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (SENDA), academic libraries in the UK have had a legal duty to provide all students with information in a form accessible to them, an obligation strengthened by the 2010 Equality Act (c. 15) to include all kinds of impairments, not just visual. The change in information sources from print to electronic has raised further challenges to providing access to information for all library users. Electronic resources have the potential to address many of the accessibility needs of our readers, but concerns have been growing in the higher education sector that the way in which e-resources are delivered can make them less accessible

Auditing the accessibility of electronic resources.

Since the UK’s 2001 Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (SENDA, 2001), academic libraries have had a legal duty to provide all students with information in a form accessible to them, an obligation strengthened by the 2010 Equality Act (c15). Crucially, the latter duty covered readers with all kinds of impairments, not just visual impairment, and thus covers a huge range of needs for an enormous number of individuals. Libraries have put a huge amount of time and effort into providing documents in accessible format (alt-format) but obviously it is preferable for both libraries and readers if the documents are accessible as supplied from the publisher. Electronic resources have the potential to address many of the accessibility needs of our readers, but concerns have been growing in the HE sector (see, for instance, JISCTechdis, 2013) that the way in which e-resources are delivered actually renders them, in some cases, less accessible. This paper describes a project undertaken by the University of Bradford library to systematically assess the accessibility of our electronic resources, and gives recommendations for others wishing to do the same

Current prevalence of falciparum malarial infection among HIV patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy in university of Uyo teaching hospital, Uyo Nigeria

Background: Malaria and HIV remain two leading causes of morbidity and mortality to patients in developing African countries. Both infectious diseases have been documented to account for an enormous morbidity and mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa. The geographical overlap in sub-Saharan Africa and South America has led to similarities in co-infection with Plasmodium and HIV, this has resulted in the quick progression and severity of both diseases particularly among the poor, and contributes to the poverty of sub-Saharan African nations by taking a toll on young people who contribute greatly to the workforce of the economy. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of malarial infection in HIV patients receiving high active antiretroviral therapy in university Uyo teaching hospital, Uyo Nigeria.Methods: A predesigned structured questionnaire was administered to collect bio data and socio-demographic characteristics from the participants consisting 35 HIV infected adult patients and 32 non HIV infected adults as controls. All HIV patients were receiving HAART during this study. The HAART regimens used by HIV infected patients consist of zidovudine, lamivudine, efavirenze, and nevirapine.Results: About 5 (14.2%) HIV patients on HAART had falciparum malaria. No falciparum malaria was detected in HIV negative participants. Of the five positive malaria cases detected in HIV patients, 8.5% were females and 5.7% were males.Conclusions: There was no significant difference of malaria parasite infection by gender (P = 0.88), age group (P = 0.17), and CD4+ count (O.R:1.0, P = 0.81)

The utility of MODIS-sPRI for investigating the photosynthetic light-use efficiency in a Mediterranean deciduous forest

The present study investigated the utility of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)-derived sPRI (scaled photochemical reflectance index) and its relationship to photosynthetic light-use efficiency (LUE) calculated from eddy covariance tower data. The analysis was performed over two consecutive years (2003–2004) in a Mediterranean Quercus cerris L. forest site in Italy. Temperature and rainfall conditions differed markedly over the study period, with 2003 being a notable drought year and 2004 a non-drought year. MODIS ocean bands 11 (centred at 531 nm) and 12 (centred at 551 nm) were used for calculating sPRI. LUE exhibited substantial variability within 2003 and 2004, and a moderate relationship between MODIS-sPRI and LUE was observed during the wet year, and for backscattering scenes. This demonstrated the capacity of sPRI to detect xanthophyll cycle activation by vegetation during high light conditions. However, our results show that sPRI should be used with care, particularly under severe water stress conditions, when an increased influence of confounding factors, such canopy structure, illumination, and viewing angles, is observed

We remember… Elders’ memories and perceptions of sleeping sickness control interventions in West Nile, Uganda

The traditional role of African elders and their connection with the community make them important stakeholders in community-based disease control programmes. We explored elders’ memories related to interventions against sleeping sickness to assess whether or not past interventions created any trauma which might hamper future control operations. Using a qualitative research framework, we conducted and analysed twenty-four in-depth interviews with Lugbara elders from north-western Uganda. Participants were selected from the villages inside and outside known historical sleeping sickness foci. Elders’ memories ranged from examinations of lymph nodes conducted in colonial times to more recent active screening and treatment campaigns. Some negative memories dating from the 1990s were associated with diagnostic procedures, treatment duration and treatment side effects, and were combined with memories of negative impacts related to sleeping sickness epidemics particularly in HAT foci. More positive observations from the recent treatment campaigns were reported, especially improvements in treatment. Sleeping sickness interventions in our research area did not create any permanent traumatic memories, but memories remained flexible and open to change. This study however identified that details related to medical procedures can remain captured in a community’s collective memory for decades. We recommend more emphasis on communication between disease control programme planners and communities using detailed and transparent information distribution, which is not one directional but rather a dialogue between both parties

Infant and Young Child Feeding in the Developed and Developing Countries

Infant feeding challenges continue to manifest in developed and developing countries. Worldwide, more than 80% of babies are breastfed in the first few weeks of birth. However, about 37%, 25%, and less than 1% are exclusively breastfed at 6 months of age in Africa, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom, respectively. These statistics are far below the World Health Organization targets of 50% and 70% by 2025 and 2030, respectively. Complementary feeding practices are varied as well due to nonadherence to Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) guidelines among parents. This accounts for the current trends in malnutrition in children under−5 years of age, adolescents, and the youth, and leads to intergeneration malnutrition. In this chapter we have included sections on appropriate infant feeding; including how to initiate breastfeeding in the first hour of birth, how to exclusively breastfeed infants until 6 months of age, how to complement breastfeeding after 6 months of infant’s age as well as continuing to breastfeed until 24 months of age and even beyond. Furthermore, we have included a description of how mothers who are unable to breastfeed can feed their infants on expressed breastmilk or replace breastmilk with appropriate homemade or commercial formula. This chapter as well covers infant feeding in prematurity

Analysis of Ground Water from Selected Sources in Jalingo Metropolis, Nigeria

Water is very significant in the development of a stable community, but many societies are confronted with the challenges of poor wastes management system with indiscriminate waste disposal and bad land practices, which easily pollute water sources and consequently degrade water quality. This study was to analyze the physicochemical properties of ground water from multiple point sources in Jalingo, Taraba state of Nigeria. Water samples were collected from twenty seven (27) sites from the study area during the raining and dry seasons. The analysis was carried out to determining the physico-chemical properties of the ground water and comparing with the World Health Organization (WHO) standard for drinking water. The physicochemical properties of ground water analyzed include; odor, taste, temperature and electrical conductivity were tested in the field using water meter tester. Whereas pH, total dissolved solids, alkalinity, hardness, salinity, iron, manganese, fluoride, nitrate, nitrite, chloride, sulphate and dissolved oxygen were analyzed in the laboratory using Wagtech potable water testing equipment. The physical properties of water analyzed were temperature, odor, taste, and turbidity. Whereas the chemical properties of water analyzed were pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), alkalinity, hardness, salinity, iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), fluoride (F−), nitrate (NO3−), nitrite (NO2−), Chloride (Cl−), sulphate (SO42−), dissolved oxygen (DO).The result shows the range of the mean values of the temperature(26.7–33.1) oC, p H(6.5–8.9), Fe (0.01–0.08 mg/L), NO3−(0.01–38.5 mg/l), NO2−(0.01–0.09 mg/l), Mn (0.01–0.17 mg/l), F(0.01–0.82 mg/l), alkalinity(39-204 mg/l), salinity (42-508 mg/l), SO4(14-93 mg/l), total dissolved solids (6–637) mg/l, turbidity(0.4–10.6 mg/l), hardness(48-187 mg/l), and fecal coliforms(1–4)fcu/100mi, dissolved oxygen(1.1–6.87)mg/l, EC(10.99–1066)ohm/cm, Cl (10-320 mg/l). All except alkalinity and hardness are within the WHO permissible standards of quality drinking water. The highest alkalinity (204 mg/l), hardness (187 mg/l) and low dissolved oxygen (6.87 mg/l) attributed to the high concentration of dissolved salts and basic cations in the water. The methodology applied in the study was effective in analyzing the physicochemical properties of water in the study area. Therefore, it was recommended that there should be frequent water source testing by stakeholder in water resources with the view to treating the water. Policy maker should also enforce the regulation of the use of chemical fertilizers, agro-chemicals and the indiscriminate waste disposal

Premature Infant Care and Feeding

The burden of premature birth is still high worldwide at 10.6% and ranges from 5 to 18% of all babies born. About 80% of these occur in Africa and South Asia. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the burden ranges from 3.4 to 49.4%. In almost all countries, premature birth rates are on increase, which poses a threat to newborn health. Premature babies usually present with complications that hinder their ability to feed. Due to this, premature babies are at risk of insufficient nutrient supply, leading to undernutrition, failure to thrive and early newborn deaths. However, improved newborn feeding can avert these deaths. In line with this noble cause, this chapter focused on care and feeding of premature babies in hospital and home settings, feeding development, feeding difficulties, and growth and development monitoring for premature babies