Fatty-acid composition of Macrobrachium vollenhovenii in Ogun estuary, Nigeria

A study was carried out on the fatty-acid composition of Macrobrachium vollenhovenii (African river prawn) in Ogun estuary, Ogun State, Nigeria. Sexes and size groups were considered during the study. Fatty-acid analysis was done in triplicates and data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance and Duncan's multiple range tests. Fatty acids analysed which included oleic acid, linoleic acid,' stearic acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid and lauric acid were classified into saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. All values of saturated fatty acids were higher in female (29.64%) than in male (25.50%) p< 0.05. So also the monounsaturated fatty acid also showed higher value in female (29.64%) than in male (25.50%). All fatty- acid values were higher in female M. vollenhovenii than in male. Meanwhile, myristic acid was highest in the two sexes and the combined sexes, (35.68% female), (33.14% male) and (34.74% combined sexes). The fatty-acid components were not influenced by the size of the fish. This study clearly indicated that the nutritive value of M. vollenhovenii is quite well comparable to the edible species of decapods already studied (shrimps, prawns and lobsters) and could be included in both human and livestock diets

EuFe2_2As2_2 under high pressure: an antiferromagnetic bulk superconductor

We report the ac magnetic susceptibility $\chi_{ac}$ and resistivity $\rho$ measurements of EuFe$_2$As$_2$ under high pressure $P$. By observing nearly 100% superconducting shielding and zero resistivity at $P$ = 28 kbar, we establish that $P$-induced superconductivity occurs at $T_c \sim$~30 K in EuFe$_2$As$_2$. $\rho$ shows an anomalous nearly linear temperature dependence from room temperature down to $T_c$ at the same $P$. $\chi_{ac}$ indicates that an antiferromagnetic order of Eu$^{2+}$ moments with $T_N \sim$~20 K persists in the superconducting phase. The temperature dependence of the upper critical field is also determined.Comment: To appear in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn., Vol. 78 No.

Letter to Irene Crespin from W.O. George on 1951-04-26

Jackson School of Geoscience

Evaluation criteria for the district health management information systems: lessons from the Ministry of Health, Kenya

Background: The District Health Management Information Systems (DHMISs) were established by the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Kenya more than two decades ago. Since then, no comprehensive evaluation has been undertaken. This can partly be attributed to lack of defined criteria for evaluating them. Objective: To propose evaluation criteria for assessing the design, implementation and impact of DHMIS in the management of the District Health System (DHS) in Kenya. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in three DHSs in Kenya: Bungoma, Murang'a and Uasin Gishu districts. Data was collected through focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and documents' review. The respondents, purposely selected from the Ministry of Health headquarters and the three DHS districts, included designers, managers and end-users of the systems. Results: A set of evaluation criteria for DHMISs was identified for each of the three phases of implementation: pre-implementation evaluation criteria (categorised as policy and objectives, technical feasibility, financial viability, political viability and administrative operability) to be applied at the design stage; concurrent implementation evaluation criteria to be applied during implementation of the new system; and post-implementation evaluation criteria (classified as internal – quality of information; external – resources and managerial support; ultimate – systems impact) to be applied after implementation of the system for at least three years. Conclusions: In designing a DHMIS model there is need to have built-in these three sets of evaluation criteria which should be used in a phased manner. Pre-implementation evaluation criteria should be used to evaluate the system's viability before more resources are committed to it; concurrent (operational) - implementation evaluation criteria should be used to monitor the process; and post-implementation evaluation criteria should be applied to assess the system's effectiveness