Aerial survey of Elephants (Loxodonta africana africana), other large mammals and human activities in Waza National Park, Cameroon

Total aerial count of elephants, other large mammals and human activities in Waza National Park was conducted between 21st and 23rd February 2007. Total counts of elephants and other wildlife species were done and livestock numbers were estimated. A Cessna 206 Stationair six-seater aircraft fitted with GPS was used in navigation, recording survey paths and waypoints. A total of three different herds of 180 and 66 in the park along with a further 250 migrating elephant population towards Kalamaloue National Park were counted. The herds in the park were aggregated around central part of the park along watering point. The consideration of the number of the migrating herd then put the total Waza ecosystem elephant population at 496 individuals. The total number of carcasses recorded was 7 giving a carcass ratio of 2.85%. About 21,002 heads of livestock and over 50 farmlands and human settlement were estimated in the zone abutting the park. This signifies a high level of human pressures at the periphery and thus a high potential for loss of range for the elephants and illegal killing

Lithopaedon Presenting as Intestinal Obstruction with a Previous Co-Existing Intra-Uterine Pregnancy

This is a case report of a 25 year old lady Para 4 + 0 gravida 5, who was referred to Kisii level 5 hospital from a district hospital with a diagnosis of intestinal obstruction and a four year history of an intra-abdominal mass. A year prior to the admission she conceived and delivered vaginally at home but the baby died a few hours after the delivery. On examination on admission there was a solid mass in the right upper quadrant. Ultrasound imaging showed a poor echo-calcified mass suggestive of a colonic metastatic mass and an erect abdominal x ray revealed foetal bones within the abdominal cavity. At laparatomy a lithopedion with a normal uterus was found. The presence of a lithopedion and a normal intra-uterine pregnancy followed by spontaneous vertex delivery has not been reported in Kenya.Patients with lithopaedon can present with intestinal obstruction as a complication but the presence of a co-existing pregnancy is rare

(Pyridyl)benzoazole ruthenium(III) complexes: Kinetics of ligand substitution reaction and potential cytotoxic properties

The present work investigates the kinetics of ligand substitution reaction and anticancer activities of the complexes, [{2-(2-pyridyl) benzimidazole} RuCl3] (C1), [{2-(2-pyridyl) benzoxazole} RuCl3] (C2), [{2-(2-pyridyl) benzothiazole} RuCl3] (C3) and [{1-propyl-2- (pyridin-2-yl)-H-benzoimidazole} RuCl3] (C4). The substitution kinetics reaction of the complexes with the three bio-relevant nucleophiles, viz.: thiourea (TU), 1, 3-dimethyl-2-thiourea (DMTU) and 1, 1, 3, 3-tetramethyl-2-thiourea (TMTU) was investigated under pseudo first-order conditions as a function of concentration and temperature using UV–Visible spectrophotometer. The substitution of the coordinated chloride was controlled by the electronic effect. The order of reactivity of the complexes with the nucleophiles is in the form C1 > C2 > C3 > C4 which is in line with the density functional theory (DFT) studies. The complexes showed minimal anticancer activity against the HeLa cell line, which is in contrast to the molecular docking experiments that exhibited stronger DNA binding affinities. © 2018 Elsevier B.V

2,6-Bis(tosyl­oxymeth­yl)pyridine

The title compound, C21H21NO6S2, is organized around a twofold axis parallel to the crystallographic c axis and containing the N atom and a C atom of the pyridine ring. The tosyl moiety and the pyridine ring are both essentially planar [maximum deviations 0.028 (2) and 0.020 (3) Å, respectively]; their mean planes form a dihedral angle of 33.0 (2)°

Informal task-sharing practices in inpatient newborn settings in a low-income setting-A task analysis approach.

Aim To describe the complexity and criticality of neonatal nursing tasks and existing task‐sharing practices to identify tasks that might be safely shared in inpatient neonatal settings. Design We conducted a cross‐sectional study in a large geographically dispersed sample using the STROBE guidelines. Methods We used a task analysis approach to describe the complexity/criticality of neonatal nursing tasks and to explore the nature of task sharing using data from structured, self‐administered questionnaires. Data was collected between 26th April and 22nd August 2017. Results Thirty‐two facilities were surveyed between 26th April and 22nd August, 2017. Nearly half (42%, 6/14) of the “moderately critical” and “not critical” (41%, 5/11) tasks were ranked as consuming most of the nurses' time and reported as shared with mothers respectively. Most tasks were reported as shared in the public sector than in the private‐not‐for‐profit facilities. This may largely be a response to inadequate nurse staffing, as such, there may be space for considering the future role of health care assistants

Satellite rainfall bias correction incorporating effects on simulated crop water requirements

Satellite rainfall estimates (SRE) offer spatial-temporal rainfall representations in regions with limited ground-based gauge rainfall measurements. However, differences exist between SRE and gauge measured rainfall, which needs assessment and reduction. This study presents a method to correct errors in SRE to make their use in agro-hydrological applications and models meaningful. The main scientific objective is the determination of effective window sizes for SRE bias correction. To conclude on effective window sizes, the crop water requirement satisfaction index (WRSI) for gauged rainfall, uncorrected SRE and bias corrected SRE were estimated and propagation effects of SRE errors on respective WRSI estimates were assessed. WRSI indicates how much of the crop water needs are satisfied by rainfall. The Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data (CHIRPS) SRE was bias corrected using gauged rainfall data from 20 stations in the Lake Victoria basin of Kenya from 2012 to 2018. The results show that the error in WRSI can serve to determine effective window sizes for SRE bias correction rather than using SRE bias error itself. This proposed correction method resulted in improved estimates of WRSI

Diagnostic methods and treatment outcomes for TB in children under 15 years in Kisii County, 2012-2016

Background: Diagnosis of TB in children poses a challenge due to the paucibacillairy nature of TB and difficulties in making a bacteriological confirmation. Globally, the TB burden in children is unknown with WHO estimating that they account for 10‐15% of all cases. In Kenya, children contributed to 8.5% of all notified TB cases in 2016.Objective: To describe the diagnostic methods and treatment outcomes among children aged<15 years in Kisii County, 2012‐2016.Design: A descriptive analysis of children aged <15 years in Kisii County diagnosed and notified of TB to the National TB program.Results: We abstracted 825 records of children:217 in 2012,156 in 2013,164 in 2014,136 in 2015 and 152 in 2016.The median age was 8(IQR 2‐13) years with a male: female of ratio 1:1. The 10‐15 years age‐group accounted for 43% (351) while those aged<1year accounted for 10% (81). HIV testing was done among 806 (98%) with a TB/HIV co‐infection of 31% and 96% ART initiation rate. Bacteriological and clinical diagnosis was done for 129/825 (16%) and 696/825(84 %). Gene Xpert was done for 28/825 (3%) in 2016 and 1/825 in 2012. Overall, for the period 2012‐2015, the treatment success rate (TSR) was 96%Conclusion: There has been a decline in notification rates over time, however, it was not clear whether this was due to absence of disease or improved use of diagnostics which requires further research. Older children accounted for majority of the cases diagnosed for TB. Most of the children in the younger age groups <5 years were initiated on treatment based on clinical diagnosis or a chest X‐ray and hence a need to support health workers and health system in general on acquisition of sputum specimen in this younger age group

Banana and plantain production systems in Benin: ethnobotanical investigation, varietal diversity, pests, and implications for better production

The cultivated banana and plantain (Musa spp.) are valuable for nutritional and socio-economic security for millions of people worldwide. In Benin, banana and plantain are among the most produced, consumed, and traded commodities. Its production is mainly for local consumption and remains insufficient to the demand. However, the varietal diversity of banana and plantain cultivated in Benin is not documented. This study aims at characterizing the banana and plantain cropping systems, genetic diversity, and production constraints as a baseline to the full utilization of this resource in crop improvement and to identify the potential production and agronomic qualities. A baseline investigation of ethnobotanical attributes of banana cultivars was done in 51 randomly chosen villages in southern Benin. Interviews with randomly selected representative farmers were carried out. Key informant interviews and focus group discussions were used for global confirmatory investigation of survey data. Socio-demographic data and indigenous knowledge on the farmer uses of banana and plantain diversity, such as cultural practices, origin, and availability of banana and plantain planting materials, and the constraints and criteria of varietal preference cited by farmers were ranked. Eighty-seven locally recognized cultivars were found: 73 of banana and 14 of plantain groups. The most popular cultivars were Sotoumon (banana) (52.94%), Aloga (plantain) (41.17%), Planta (banana) (33.33%), and Adjangan (plantain) (27.45%). Of the eleven production constraints identified, the main biotic challenges were banana weevil Cosmopolites sordidus Germar and banana bunchy top virus (BBTV), while abiotic problems were drought and the wind. Some local varieties like Amandan, Assonwonnou, Coleti, and Ninkouin are extremely rare owing to agronomic and economic preference perceptions. This study provides a baseline for banana diversity in Benin and the West African region and entry points for biological characterization and production improvement. This would enable the exploitation of this resource for plant breeding towards biotic and abiotic challenges facing banana production

First reported case of fatal tuberculosis in a wild African elephant with past human-wildlife contact

Tuberculosis is emerging/re-emerging in captive elephant populations, where it causes morbidity and deaths, although no case of TB in wild African elephants has been reported. In this paper we report the first case of fatal TB in an African elephant in the wild. The infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis was confirmed by post-mortem and histological examinations of a female sub-adult elephant aged >12 years that died in Tsavo East National Park, Kenya, while under treatment. This case is unique in that during its lifetime the elephant had contact with both humans and wild elephants. The source of the infection was unclear because the elephant could have acquired the infection in the orphanage or in the wild. However, our results show that wild elephants can maintain human TB in the wild and that the infection can be fata