Deprived of the Sea: Being a Kenyan Final-year Medical Student During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Five months after the confirmation of the first case of COVID-19 in Kenya, the cases and fatalities due to the disease is still on the rise. The effects of the disease in the developing country have been far-reaching, and closure of all learning institutions has now shifted attention to online learning. However, challenges such as inconsistent access to the internet and electricity have led to inequality in education access. As final-year medical students, online lectures have been a new exciting experience, but it also came with challenges. The halt in clinical medical education has significantly affected the learning and school calendar. Although we are almost done with our journey through medical school, we cannot proceed any further. However, we remain hopeful that a leeway shall be found, and we shall join other healthcare workers in serving our country

Extent to which Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid Screening Guidelines are Adhered to in Selected Health Facilities in Embu County, Kenya before and after Intervention

Cervical cancer is one of the few diseases that reflect global inequities. In low and middle income countries, its incidence is nearly twice as high and its death rates three times as high compared to high income countries. Programs must focus on changing these trends. Visualizing with acetic acid encompasses the following: First, the health Care provider (HCP) does vaginal examination using a speculum, then dilute (3-5%) acetic acid (vinegar) is applied to the cervix. The presence of abnormal tissue often temporarily appears white when exposed to vinegar and then cervical color changes are observed with a naked eye. The outcome of Visual inspection with acetic acid is very subjective and depends with the level of skill of health care provider as well as availability of procedure supplies and adhering to Via procedure guidelines. The aim of this study was to determine the Extent to which Visual Inspection with acetic acid guidelines are adhered to in selected health facilities in Embu county prior to intervention and after intervention. An intervention study design was used. In particular, fourteen health care providers who were the initial study respondents were taken through an intensive VIA training for two days didactic and a four days clinical practice with guidance of preceptors. The facilities where respondents were recruited from were selected using a purposeful sampling method. Prior to intervention, a baseline data was taken that included use of questionnaires and observational checklist to determine adherence to VIA guidelines. The health care providers were then followed up for a period of four months where by 434 women were screened. The study area was Embu County in Kenya and the target population was the health services providers who provided VIA services in government facilities. The data was collected through self-administered questionnaires and observational checklists. In addition, secondary data was obtained from the health facility records and KDHS 2014. For data analysis, quantitative techniques of analysis were used. This study established that, despite all the respondents having some form of prior training on cervical cancer screening using VIA/VILLI, positivity rate was low before intervention. Cervical cancer screening guidelines were poorly adhered to prior to training compared to improved adherence after training. After intervention, healthcare providers were able to make the correct diagnosis and identify precancerous lesions. Cervical cancer screening uptake also scaled up. Baseline positivity was 0.8% and after training it was 14.1%. The study Concludes and Recommends that based on the key findings of this study, the MOH VIA training guidelines and curriculum should be revised to accommodate clinical practice for at least 4 days after 2 days didactic training with use of preceptors and cervical images

Review of the Imaging Performance and the Current Status of the Cascade Gamma-Rays Coincidence Imagers

Various studies that have investigated the detection of gamma coincidence events have revealed that design factors and image reconstruction approaches dictate the spatial resolution, coincidence efficiency, and levels of statistical noise of the detection system. In the case of imaging, cascade gamma-ray coincidence (CGC) imagers coupled with collimated detectors offer promising values for both spatial resolution and coincidence efficiency. However, to date, no CGC imager with single or multiple collimated detectors has reported a performance level beyond 6.7 mm spatial resolution (FWHM) and 6.0 ×1ncidence efficiency. Given the recent developments and the current interests in high resolution and localization of an individual decaying nucleus, there is a need for CGC imagers with higher performance in terms of spatial resolution and efficiency. Therefore, deploying a CGC imager coupled with multiple collimated detectors may prove to be of value in nuclear imaging and probably in clinical application

The effect of farming system on dairy cow cleanliness in the UK and implications to udder health

The cleanliness of dairy cows was assessed using a 20 point hygiene score system at different times in the year on 14 organic and 14 conventional farms in the UK. Overall, cows were dirtier during winter housing compared to summer grazing. Farming system had no effect on cow cleanliness when cows were at grass, but when housed in the winter, organic cows were more likely to be cleaner. There was a link between cow hygiene scores and milk hygiene, with herds having lower bulk tank somatic cell counts (BTSCC) tending to have cleaner cows. This relationship was strongest for the organic herds. There was no significant link between hygiene score and Bactoscan (BS) count or mastitis incidence

Occurrence of cyanobacteria genera in the Vaal Dam: implications for potable water production

The occurrence of cyanobacteria genera in the Vaal Dam was analysed and the factors that influence its dominance in the particular reservoir were also investigated. The study was motivated by the effects of the secondary metabolites of cyanobacteria genera on potable water production. Cyanobacteria genera have been found to be potentially toxic and capable of producing taste and odour secondary metabolites such as geosmin. Historical data from the Department of Water and Sanitation on percentage composition of cyanobacteria genera in the Vaal Dam, were collected for the 2006, 2007, 2011 and 2012 years. The concentrations of NO2-N and NO3-N and total phosphorus as well as water temperature data were collected from the same sampling point for the study period. This data, together with weather data, was statistically analysed for trends and relatedness between variables. It was found that Microcystis and Anabaena were the dominant cyanobacteria genera in Vaal Dam and they were jointly dominant over other phytoplankton genera during February and March. It was also found that the dominance of cyanobacteria genera significantly correlated with air and water temperature and concentration of NO2-N and NO3-N. It was concluded that the dominance of Microcystis and Anabaena genera among the cyanobacteria genera has significant implications for potable water production as the genera are associated with taste and odour metabolites and toxins. It was recommended that depth profiling be employed in order to identify an abstraction depth in the multilevel intake of the reservoir with relatively low levels of cyanobacteria cells. This would assist in minimising taste and odour events in potable water production.Keywords: Anabaena, cyanobacteria dominance, environmental conditions, Microcystis, Vaal Dam, water treatment

An investigation into the creation of a learning organization :a case study of Waltons KZN.

Thesis (M.Com.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2010.In SA dire skills shortages exist in numerous fields. My employer is also subjected to these uncompromisingly difficult times. Clearly, all the companies need to re-visit their approach towards investing in the skills of their people, and as human resources practitioners we can make a major positive impact in this area by facilitating skills development in our organizations. The researcher was motivated to do this study as he currently works in the human resources department within the company. The researcher has been working in the human resources for the past ten years and has developed a keen interest in skills development. The researcher presented himself, as far as possible, in neutral fashion during the study. Barnad and Schaap (2005) highlight the fact that organizations are confronted with ever increasing turbulence and change in their environment. Senge (1990) argues that a learning organization is critical during these times of rapid changes in the business environment. What the study sought to achieve Through a study of the literature available, I found out what a learning organization really is. Secondly, through open-ended interviews, observations and archival research I established to what extent Waltons KZN is a learning organization. Questions that were answered in the research: The questions were aimed at determining to what extent Waltons KZN is a learning organization. Given the features that Senge (1995) says should be present in learning organizations, how does Waltons KZN match these “prescriptions”? According to Senge (1990), a Learning organization has the following features: • Continuous training and development • Performance management • Team work • Proactive change management • Existence of a culture of continuous feedback between line management and workers All my questions that will be answered by the study participants are based on these features. Research questions were: • Why is continuous training and development so critical in a learning organization? • Does a culture of continuous feedback between line management and workers exist in Waltons KZN? • To what extent does Waltons KZN proactively deal with change? • To what extent is Waltons KZN managing the performance of its employees? • What is the role of team work in a learning organization? The research methods used in the study were open-ended interviews, observations and archival research. Twenty five (25) managers of the company participated in the study. The study found that even thought the respondents feel that the company is doing well in the area of learning and skills development; it’s still unable to manage change effectively. It was also found that the company does not have a formal performance management system which makes it difficult to manage performance and productivity of employees. It was also clear from the study that there is a good relationship between management and workers. This is underpinned by the spirit of team work which exists within the company. These conclusions gave rise to several recommendations. In the main it was recommended that the company needs to develop a comprehensive change management strategy, which places a premium on communication with all stakeholders. It is also recommended that the company develops a formal performance system that will ensure that performance incentives are objectively given to employees

Social evolution in melittobia

Related paper: ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR, 2007, 74, 1163e1169 doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2006.10.027Interactions between individuals can range from peaceful cooperation, through mediated contest, to escalated conflict. Understanding such diversity of interactions between individuals requires an understanding of the costs and benefits involved with these behaviours, and the influence of relatedness between interacting individuals. Species in the parasitoid wasp genus Melittobia display social behaviours at both extremes of this spectrum, from the potentially cooperative traits of the ratio of male to female offspring that they produce, and the dispersal of females to new habitats, to the extreme conflict of violent contests between males. In this thesis, I examine a number of aspects of social evolution in Melittobia. First, I consider the pattern of sex allocation – the division of resources between male and female offspring - where local mate competition theory predicts that females will adjust their offspring sex ratio (proportion of males) conditionally, with females laying increasingly female biased sex ratios as the number of other females laying eggs on the same patch increases. In Chapter 2, I show that M. acasta females always lay an extremely female biased sex ratio, and that this may be explained in part by the fact that male Melittobia engage in violent lethal combat in competition for mates. Early emerging males have a competitive advantage and thus there is a limited advantage for later laying females to produce a less female biased sex ratio. However, I also demonstrate that the advantage of early emergence can be reduced when we consider male body size, which is linked to fighting ability, suggesting that the occurrence of this extreme conflict does not fully explain the unusual pattern of sex allocation in Mellitobia. In Chapter 3, I examine whether the level of dispersal varies in response to the extent of local competition for resources, and the relatedness between competitors. I use the species M. australica, which readily produces two distinct female dispersing morphs, to show that the production of dispersing females increases with the competition for resources. I consider the parallels between the evolution of dispersal and of sex ratio. In Chapter 4, I examine male fighting in more detail and explore theory that predicts that when extreme conflict does evolve, the incidence of fighting varies with resource value, number of competitors, and the level of relatedness between males. I show that mating opportunities are sufficiently valuable that male Melittobia will always engage in fighting irrespective of relatedness, that there is no evidence of opponent assessment prior to fighting, and that the intensity of fights increases with the number of competitors. This thesis highlights the importance of considering combinations of social traits and the interactions between them, to understand the evolution of social characters

Goat Breeding in the Katanga Copper Belt (KCB): Constraints, Opportunities and Prospects

DR Congo’s copper belt is south of the dismembered former province of Katanga. The population has grown over the past twenty years due to the resumption of industrial and artisanal mining. This situation has led to an increase in demand for agricultural products including meat. The majority of these products are imported due to insufficient local production. Goat meat is the most consumed of the ruminants and most of these animals are imported from Zambia. Thousands of the goats are slaughtered daily and its meat sold in all markets and especially next to thousands of drinking establishments as appetizers. Unfortunately, this opportunity does not benefit local breeders because of several factors including the low productivity of the local goat, a stray breeding system, insufficiency and lack of space for breeding, contamination of pastures by heavy metals, insecurity, supremacy of the mining code over agricultural law, the dispossession of agricultural land belonging to peasants for the benefit of private farmers … In perspective, the establishment of a collaborative structure between breeders, development agents and technicians, researchers and policy makers in sectors related to goat farming and its environment will provide access to information and improve goat production

Breaking the Silence: Understanding the practice of Breast ironing in Cameroon

This study described the prevalence of breast ironing in Cameroon using information collected through interviews of 5661 girls and women aged 10&82 years of age. Descriptive statistics were made and results showed that the practice of breast ironing is widespread across all provinces with high prevalence in the Littoral Province. In addition the study found that mother’s were the main perpetrators of breast ironing. Further research on the health effects (physical and psychological) on the practice of breast ironing is warranted. Keywords: Breast Ironing, Cameroon, Family violenc