Nutrition and Trade Liberalization in Africa

Trade openness and nutrition are concepts that are closely related. Openness could contribute to an improvement in nutrition under only certain conditions. These include improved export earnings, ultimately the import capacity of the countries participating in the exchange, and maintaining a sufficient level of agricultural production. The objective of this article is to analyze the link between trade liberalization and nutrition in Africa. Trade openness and nutrition are concepts that are closely related. Openness could contribute to an improvement in nutrition under only certain conditions. These include improved export earnings, ultimately the import capacity of the countries participating in the exchange, and maintenance at a sufficient level of agricultural production. The objective of this article is to analyze the link between trade liberalization and nutrition in Africa

Acute intussusception in children seen at El Obeid Hospital, Western Sudan.

Objectives: To study the pattern, clinical presentations and management outcomes of childhood intussusception seen at El Obeid Hospital, Western Sudan. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective descriptive study. The medical records of children who presented with intussusception during 2004 to 2007 at the University Surgical Unit, in El Obeid Teaching Hospital were reviewed. The data were analyzed for gender, age, clinical presentations and treatment outcomes. Results: There were 24 children, males were 14. Infants constituted 71% of the study group. Patients came from rural areas, mainly during the dry season. They had their symptoms for more than 36 hours, were seen and initially treated elsewhere and only 41% presented with classical clinical features. All patients were operated and found to have ileocolic intussusceptions, with no pathologic lead point. 54.2% of cases had resection and anastomosis for bowel ischaemia, while in 45.8% manual reduction was done. The post-operative mortality was 16.7%. Conclusions: Childhood intussusception was common in male infants from rural areas in the dry season. Late presentation to the surgeon necessitated major operative procedures for bowel ischaemia with considerable morbidity and mortality. Keywords: Bowel invagination, Western Sudan. Sudan Journal of Medical Science Vol. 3 (4) 2008: pp. 315-31

Translation of Viral News Topics into Digital Marketing

In today’s digital marketing driven environment, it is essential that organizations understand the strategies behind technology in advertising. Unfortunately, many marketers do not have a strategy when they begin utilizing digital marketing strategies. The purpose of this study is to understand how viral topics translate into digital marketing. The research includes a case study on United Airlines, followed by in-depth interviews with digital marketers, and accompanied by an analysis of the business’ digital marketing campaigns. Analysis of the campaigns reveal the different digital marketing strategies organizations use to build and maintain relationships with consumers. The study concludes with a discussion of the lessons learned from the research: the implementation of viral topics in digital marketing increases brand exposure; focusing more on relationships than sales, increases sales; interesting content promotes interaction

Examining English Language Teachersa Beliefs in the Context of English Language Education Reforms (By Eba Mijena)

This study was aimed to examine English language teachers beliefs about the teaching and learning of English language in the context of English language education reforms in western Ethiopia It made survey with 125 school teachers from 43 schools Data were collected during the ELT Enhancement Workshop organized by Wollega University at three of its campuses in the months of February 2013 March 2013 and April 2014 The questionnaire focused on gathering data on teachers current thinking using the Likert Scale The data collected using questionnaire were analyzised using percentages These data were substantiated with the data collected using interviews The findings of the study have shown that in spite of the introduction of various teacher development programmes like CPD induction ELIP and other related workshops English language teachers have mixed beliefs about the use of language teaching approaches The study therefore suggests that the pre-service and in service trainings which address teachers beliefs need to be the focus area in the future professional development programmes for ELT teachers in the study are

Current Situation of Agricultural Trade: What Effects does it have on Food Security in Africa?

The history of food policy in Africa started with the beginning of independence with the adoption of the strategy based on the planned development model. However, the financial and administrative planning requirements were felt quickly. By the early 80s, the debt crisis led African economies to abandon the policy of self-sufficiency and to adopt a so-called liberal agro-food strategy. In this context, food security based on external trade and its requirements became integral parts of structural adjustment programs. Thus, Africa took a stand before the rest of the world in the controlling of extraversion. Despite mixed results, in January 1995, Africa strengthened its accession to a liberal system by adopting the agreement on agriculture (AoA). Again, the promises would not match up to the results. In fact, the sector remains far from the liberal recommendations advocated by the World Trade Organization (WTO). Between protectionism and bilateralism, the liberalization of agricultural products was certainly imperfect, but full of future promise for Africa. A more just and multilateral agreement based on development issues is one of the cornerstones of trade that connects to food security

Righting laws: An appraisal of human rights in the context of HIV and their applicability to the normative content and implementation of HIV-specific laws in sub-Saharan Africa.

Doctor of Philosophy in Constitutional Law. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2017.Check the Thesis for abstract

The Effects of Machining Defects on the Lumber Quality of Cupressus lustanica (C. lusitanica) Grown in Arsi Forest Enterprise, Degaga, Ethiopia

Machining defects are the important types of wood defects that reduce the lumber quality of most timber tree species. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the main machining defects of C. lusitanica grown in Arsi Forest Enterprise, Degaga District, and to recommend suitable harvesting age for the species based on the results obtained. Nine C. lusitanica logs representing 25, 30 and 35 years (3 trees from each age category) were used in the study. Sample trees with similar diameters (27-33 cm) at breast height and planted with an original similar stand spacing of 2.5m were collected. Sample discs obtained from bottom, middle and top portions were used to determine average initial tree moisture content (MC) and basic density. Then, the logs were transported to mobile saw mill of Arsi Forest Enterprise, Degaga and converted into 126 boards. The sawn boards were dried in the compartment kiln of the Forest Product Utilization and Research Center of Ethiopia by using seasoning schedule suggested for C. lusitanica. Thirty six boards were used for evaluation of machining defects from all the three age groups. Completely randomized design with factorial experiment was used to conduct this experiment. The statistical analyses were conducted considering three factors (3 age-groups, 3 heights and 2 tree diameter) to evaluate the effects of age, tree height and diameter on machining defects. The results showed that C. lusitanica lumber of all the age classes considered exhibit major machining defects like saw marks, chip marks, torn grain and woolly grain were observed on all age groups of lumber. Height variation (position from which the lumbers are taken along the stem) has significantly (P < 0.05) effected machining properties. On the other hand age variation also showed high significant (P < 0.01) effect on machining defects. In general, the machining properties, chip mark planing defects was high for the 25 year-old trees (4.66mm) than 30 and 35 year-old trees. Generally, the effects of age and height variation had high significant effects on the lumber quality of C. lusitanica. Based on the results harvest at 30 years of age is recommendable for the species to obtain the best lumber quality. Keywords: Age variation, height variation, basic density, torn grain, chip mark, woolly grain

Growth and Survival Rate of Endemic Trees of Ethiopia: Olea Africana and Hagenia Abysinicca in the Degraded Lake of Haramaya Watershed, Ethiopia

The study was conducted to explore the growth and survival rate of the native tree species of Ethiopia, Olea africana and Hagenia abysinicca in the degraded Lake Haramaya Watershed, eastern Ethiopia. Three sub watersheds of Lake Haramaya Watershed, namely: Bachake, Damota, and Tinike were selected purposefully on the basis of their extreme degradation and nearby vanished Lake Haramaya. In each sub watersheds, a total of about 12 main standard quadrats have been applied and the required data has been recorded. The result of the study indicated that Olea africana performs well at Damota sub watershed, accounting 38% of survival rate followed by Tinike sub watershed having a survival rate of 37%. Only 29% of the total planted Olea africana were survived at Bachake sub watershed. Furthermore, it has been revealed via this study that about 55.6% of Hagenia abysinicca were survived at Damota sub watershed. Comparing the survival rate of the two species, Hagenia abysinicca were better withstand and grow under an extreme pressure of local peoples intervention at all sub watersheds. Therefore, the study indicated that growing and maintaining of these two endemic trees in all sub watersheds were difficult task unless much awareness will be made at grass root level. Lastly, the study encourages mega projects on growth and survival rate of other native trees species in the degraded areas of Ethiopia