Public Health at the Zimbabwean Border: Medicalizing Migrants and Contesting Colonial Institutions, 1890-1960

As colonial powers in Africa consolidated their authority, borders became significant areas of focus for nascent colonial administrations. Border monitoring and regulation sought to control the cross-border movements of people, animals, and goods for varied reasons, including public health. In Zimbabwe, colonial public health measures at the border comprised the “medicalization” of African migrants, perceived by colonial authorities as diseased. These measures involved medical inspections or examinations, diagnosis, treatment, vaccinations or immunizations, and detention and quarantine, relating to diseases such as malaria, sleeping sickness, plague, tuberculosis, smallpox, and syphilis. Yet, while colonial authorities in Zimbabwe advanced these explanations for regulating borders, some African migrants crossing the Zimbabwean border from neighboring countries often had their own understandings of the medical encounter and imperial boundaries. They questioned colonial governments’ motives, contesting both public health measures and the border itself, both of which they considered oppressive and discriminatory.À mesure que les puissances coloniales en Afrique ont consolidé leur autorité, les frontières sont devenues des centres d’intérêt importants pour les administrations coloniales naissantes. La surveillance et la réglementation des frontières visaient à contrôler les mouvements transfrontaliers des personnes, des animaux et des biens pour diverses raisons, dont la santé publique. Au Zimbabwe, les mesures de santé publique coloniale à la frontière comprenaient la « médicalisation » des migrants africains, perçus par les autorités coloniales comme des malades. Ces mesures impliquaient des inspections ou des examens médicaux, un diagnostic, un traitement, des vaccinations ou des immunisations ainsi que la détention et la quarantaine en ce qui concerne notamment la malaria, la maladie du sommeil, la peste, la tuberculose, la variole et la syphilis. Pourtant, alors que les autorités coloniales du Zimbabwe avançaient ces explications pour réguler les frontières, certains migrants africains venant des pays voisins voyaient souvent autrement les frontières impériales et leur rencontre avec les médecins. Ils remettaient en question les motivations des gouvernements coloniaux et contestaient à la fois les mesures de santé publique et la frontière elle-même, deux éléments qu’ils jugeaient oppressifs et discriminatoires

Poultry-based poverty alleviation projects in Ehlanzeni District Municipality: do they contribute to the South African government’s ‘developmental state’ ambition?

The aim of this study was to identify both institutional and production constraints to the success of poultry-based poverty alleviation projects (PAPs) in Bushbuckridge Municipality of the Ehlanzeni District of Mpumalanga Province. A mixed methods research design was used. Purposive sampling was used to select 10 Chairpersons, 20 ordinary members, and five extension officers of PAPs who served as respondents in the study. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using a semi-structured guide to collect qualitative data. The qualitative data was analysed using the Atlas ti 7.0.81 software. The results were used to develop a questionnaire employed to collect quantitative data from 116 respondents. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0 was used to analyze the latter data. The major institutional constraints identified, in descending order of severity, were: lack of regulation of prices of poultry feed, lack of government start-up capital/subsidy, inadequate extension shows the poor support the PAPs receive. High price of poultry feeds force PAPs to stock fewer chickens was the major production constraint followed by diseases, in particular New Castle and Bronchitis are killing chickens and water supply is so erratic and unreliable that it affects effective running of poultry-based PAPs. It was concluded that despite the wide range of constraints facing them, PAPs were improving people’s livelihoods. The need for revamping the local extension service in order to deal with the numerous challenges that the PAPs faced was highlighted. Central to this reengineering of the extension support system is the need for creating platforms and opportunities for the PAPs to co-learn and learn from each other, both of which are fundamental ingredients of sustainability.Keywords: Constraints; developmental state; extension; povert

Merger Motives For U.S. Utility Acquirers: Evidence From Performance, Risk Metrics, And Executive Compensation

We study post-acquisition performance of US public utilities that acquired other US exchange listed firms during 1996?2002.  We find that acquirer shareholders do not gain any abnormal returns from the acquisition over the two years following the acquisition and there are no unexpected gains in the underlying operating performance of the acquirers. We also find that while stock acquirers show a decrease in post-acquisition performance, their CEO salary increases relative to the industry. This suggests that method of payment may be an important factor in discerning the motivation for an acquisition. Lack of clarity regarding effects of a complex process like an acquisition, for shareholders and perhaps the even the management, combined with potential increase in prestige and salary for the management, may be the motivation for M&A activity in stock mergers. Cash acquirers may be more careful and consequently do not show subsequent underperformance

Productivity and Carbon Storage in Silvopastoral Systems with \u3cem\u3ePinus ponderosa\u3c/em\u3e and \u3cem\u3eTrifolium\u3c/em\u3e spp. Plantations and Pasture on a Volcanic Soil in the Chilean Patagonia

Little information is available about carbon (C) sequestration potentials in ecosystems on Andisols of the Chilean Patagonia. This study was undertaken to measure the size of the C stocks in three predominant ecosystems: Pinus ponderosa-based silvopastoral systems (SPS), pine plantations (PPP) and natural pasture (PST), and to examine how clover (Trifolium spp.) affect tree growth and stocks of soil C. The C contents of trees and pasture were determined by destructive sampling and dry combustion. Soil samples were taken at 0-5, 5-20, 20-40 cm depths in order to determine soil C and N. For PPP and SPS, respectively, 38.4 and 53.1 kg/tree of total tree C were stored aboveground, whereas 21.3 and 23.4 kg/tree were stored belowground. Tree diameter at breast height increased 1 and 2 cm/year in PPP and SPS, respectively, and was significantly higher in SPS, an interesting value for the region. Tree growth in SPS was enhanced by lower tree competition and the additional soil N provided by the leguminous pasture, resulting in larger amounts of C being sequestered. Soil organic C (SOC) stocks at 0-40 cm depth were 193.76, 177.10 and 149.25 Mg/ha in SPS, PST and PPP, respectively. The conversion of PPP to SPS and PST to PPP resulted in an increase of 44.51 Mg/ha and a decrease of 27.85 Mg/ha in SOC, respectively, at 0-40 cm soil depth. A favourable micro-climate (air temperature, soil moisture) has been observed in SPS as well as a synergistic effect between trees and pasture

The Treatment of Possible Severe Infection in Infants: An Open Randomized Safety Trial of Parenteral Benzylpenicillin and Gentamicin Versus Ceftriaxone in Infants <60 days of Age in Malawi

Background - The World Health Organization recommends benzylpenicillin and gentamicin as antimicrobial treatment of infants with sepsis in low income settings (LICs), and ceftriaxone or cefotaxime as an alternative. In a meta-analysis from 13 LICs, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella spp. and E.coli accounted for 55% of infants with sepsis. In a review of bacterial meningitis, resistance to third generation cephalosporins was >50% of all isolates, and 44% of Gram-negative isolates were gentamicin resistant. However, ceftriaxone may cause neonatal jaundice and gentamicin may cause deafness. Therefore, we compared parenteral benzylpenicillin plus gentamicin to ceftriaxone as first line treatment, assessing outcome and adverse events. Methods - This was an open randomized trial carried out in the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi from 2010 to 2013. Infants < 60 days of age with possible severe sepsis received either benzylpenicillin and gentamicin or ceftriaxone. Adverse events and outcomes were recorded until 6 months post discharge. Results - 348 infants were included in analyses. Outcome in the benzylpenicillin and gentamicin or ceftriaxone groups was similar; deaths were 13.7% and 16.5% and sequelae 14.5% and 11.2% respectively. More infants in the penicillin/gentamicin group required phototherapy: 15% v 5%, p=0.03. Thirteen (6%) survivors had bilateral hearing loss. There was no difference between the treatment groups. By 6 months post discharge 11 more infants had died and 17 more children were found to have sequelae. Conclusions - Ceftriaxone and gentamicin are safe for infants in our setting. Infants should receive long term follow up as many poor outcomes occurred after hospital discharge

Función de biomasa para Acacia caven (Mol.) Mol. distribuida en áreas secas del centro sur de Chile

Acacia caven is a key native species in the dry land region of south-central Chile. It is a species of high social and productive interest to landowners. Therefore, this study proposes a biomass function for A. caven, which involves incorporating predictor variables that are easily obtainable in the field and less complex than those used in already existing functions for the species. Due to the multi-purpose nature of the species and its potential for silvopastoral systems, these functions typify important planning tools to improve the management of this plant resource. To generate the biomass function, the methodology of destructive analysis of components was used on a total of 71 trees. These trees were selected, cut and weighed in the field to generate and test different models. Statistical analysis models were used and root collar diameter, diameter at breast height and total height served as predictor variables, resulting in a good adjustment of the models (R2 adjusted the 0.97 for stem-branches, 0.90 for stems and 0.96 for total biomass), with high correlations between estimated and real values. These functions may be used safely in plant formations of A. caven located in the same distribution area and within the range of the used variables. In the future, however, they require validation with new measurements in other sectors than the area considered to increase geographical representativeness.Acacia caven, es una de las principales especies nativas presentes en el secano interior de la zona central de Chile. Es una especie que tiene un alto interés social y productivo para los propietarios de este recurso. En este sentido, el objetivo de este estudio es proponer una función de biomasa validada para A. caven, y que incorpore variables predictoras de fácil obtención en terreno y de menor complejidad que las consideradas en funciones ya conocidas para la especie. Dadas las características de especie multipropósito y su potencial para su uso en sistemas silvopastorales, estas funciones son importantes herramientas de planificación para mejorar la gestión y manejo de este recurso vegetacional. Para la generación de la función de biomasa, se utilizó una metodología de análisis destructivo por componentes de 71 árboles, los cuales fueron seleccionados, volteados y pesados en terreno, para posteriormente generar y probar diferentes modelos. A través de análisis estadísticos se seleccionaron modelos que utilizan como variables predictoras el diámetro a la altura del cuello, diámetro a la altura del pecho y altura total. Los resultados muestran un buen ajuste de los modelos (R2 ajust. de 0,97 para fuste-ramas, 0,90 para ramillas y 0,96 para biomasa total), lo que indica un alto nivel de correlación entre valores estimados y valores reales. Estas funciones se pueden utilizar con seguridad en formaciones vegetacionales de A. caven que se ubiquen en la misma zona distribucional del recurso y dentro de los rangos de las variables utilizadas, siendo conveniente en el futuro validarlas con nuevas mediciones de sectores distintos al área considerada para estos análisis, aumentando su representatividad geográfica.Fil: Lucero Ignamarca, Alejandro. Universidad de Concepción (Chile)Fil: Muñoz Sáez, Fernando. Universidad de Concepción (Chile)Fil: Cancino Cancino, Jorge. Universidad de Concepción (Chile)Fil: Sotomayor Garreton, Alvaro. Universidad de Concepción (Chile)Fil: Dube, Francis. Universidad de Concepción (Chile)Fil: Villarroel Muñoz, Arnoldo. Universidad de Concepción (Chile)Fil: Sáez Carrillo, Katia. Universidad de Concepción (Chile

Phytotherapeutics Attenuation of Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Lipid Peroxidation in Severe and Chronic Diseases

Lipid peroxidation is an end process of cellular injury driven by oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation through several molecular changes. Metabolism-generated reactive oxygen species avidly attack the polyunsaturated fatty acids in lipid cell membranes, initiating a self-propagating chain-reaction. Cell membrane destruction, lipids and the end-products of lipid peroxidation reactions are hostile to the viability of cells, even tissues causing and exacerbating Diabetes Mellitus (DM), neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs), cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Current treatment regimens have untoward side effects in the long-term necessitating phytochemical use as these are part of natural food sources. Enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense mechanisms may be over run causing lipid peroxidation to take place. In disease states, oxidative stress may increase with subsequent production of increased free radicals which may over run the antioxidant capacity of the body with resultant oxidative damage on polyunsaturated fatty acids in the cell fluid membranes with cellular and tissue damage. Phytochemicals, have been shown to ameliorate diseases through attenuation of oxidative stress, inflammation, lipid peroxidation, causing tissue regeneration by regulating signaling systems and neuroprotective processes. Involvement of polyphenolic and non-phenolic phytochemical in the attenuation of OS, inflammation and lipid peroxidation remain areas of critical importance in combating DM, CVDA, NDD and RA

Helicobacter pylori glycan biosynthesis modulates host immune cell recognition and response

IntroductionThe pathogenic bacterium Helicobacter pylori has evolved glycan-mediated mechanisms to evade host immune defenses. This study tests the hypothesis that genetic disruption of H. pylori glycan biosynthesis alters immune recognition and response by human gastric epithelial cells and monocyte-derived dendritic cells.MethodsTo test this hypothesis, human cell lines were challenged with wildtype H. pylori alongside an array of H. pylori glycosylation mutants. The relative levels of immune response were measured via immature dendritic cell maturation and cytokine secretion.ResultsOur findings indicate that disruption of lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis diminishes gastric cytokine production, without disrupting dendritic cell recognition and activation. In contrast, variable immune responses were observed in protein glycosylation mutants which prompted us to test the hypothesis that phase variation plays a role in regulating bacterial cell surface glycosylation and subsequent immune recognition. Lewis antigen presentation does not correlate with extent of immune response, while the extent of lipopolysaccharide O-antigen elaboration does.DiscussionThe outcomes of this study demonstrate that H. pylori glycans modulate the host immune response. This work provides a foundation to pursue immune-based tailoring of bacterial glycans towards modulating immunogenicity of microbial pathogens

Large branchiopod occurrence and community structure in relation to land-use types in temporary ponds of northern Tanzania

This research article was published by Springer Nature Switzerland AG., 2023Large branchiopods are a key component of the fauna of temporary ponds and play an important role in the functioning of these vulnerable ecosystems. Owing to the establishment of new settlements and agricultural expansion, temporary ponds in Tanzania are disappearing at an alarming rate whilst little is known about their diversity and ecology. We contrasted temporary ponds from a protected area with those in communal lands to detect associations between land-use types and large branchiopod community structure. Six large branchiopod species were collected, five of which have been previously reported from Southern Africa, whilst one turned out to be new to science: Streptocephalus manyarensis n.sp. Kafula and Brendonck (2023). The clam shrimp Cyzicus sp., fairy shrimps Streptocephalus lamellifer Thiele (1900) and S. bourquinii Hamer and Appleton (1993) were the most abundant and widely occurring. Variation in large branchiopod community structure was explained by the presence of Nothobranchius killifish and orthophosphate concentration. The large branchiopod community structure was different in settlement and protected areas. Our study on the occurrence and structure of large branchiopod communities in relation to land-use types serves as a base for formulation of guidelines and management tools to regulate land-use practices adjacent to temporary pond ecosystems