Vepris nobilis plant: a potential source of anticancer agents

Background: Cancer is one of the major causes of death worldwide. Current cancer therapy is costly, it has poor therapeutic outcomes and many side effects. Therefore, new medications are needed. Plants have been used as sources of anticancer drugs. Vepris species have anticancer properties. The purpose of this study is to assess Vepris nobilis, a plant found in Kenya as a potential source of anticancer drugs.Methods: The dichloromethane/methanol (CH2Cl2/MeOH) 1:1 extract of the stem bark of Vepris nobilis led to the isolation of an alkaloid named, 4,6-dimethoxy-7-((3-methylbuta-1,3-dien-1-yl)oxy)furo[2,3-b]quinolone. SwissADME online tool was used to assess the compound’s pharmacokinetic parameters. Pass online tool identified potential targets while protox server described the toxicity of the compound. Chimera and Avogadro softwares were used for molecular docking studies.Results: In-silico pharmacokinetic studies, showed that the isolated compound complied with Lipinski rule of five, it showed high gastrointestinal activity, and it also inhibits cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms 1A2, 2C9 and 2C19. In toxicity studies the compound was relatively safe with a predicted median lethal dose (LD50) of 1600 mg/kg, apart from potential immunotoxicity and mutagenicity. Molecular docking studies demonstrated that, the compound has potential anticancer activity, it interacted with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) topoisomerase I in an almost similar manner to camptothecin though it had less binding potential.Conclusions: 4,6-dimethoxy-7-((3-methylbuta-1,3-dien-1-yl)oxy) furo[2,3-b]quinolone derived from Vepris nobilis is a potential drug for the management of cancer which can be administered orally

Prevalence of pain symptoms suggestive of endometriosis among adolescents in Kenya

Objective: To determine the prevalence of pain symptoms suggestive of Endometriosis among adolescent Kenyans and their impact on quality of life.Study Design: Analytical cross- sectional studySetting: Dual centered study at Githunguri Girls High School (Rural) and Moi Girls High School Nairobi (Urban).Subjects: Three hundred and thirteen adolescents were interviewed with even distribution between rural (50.8%) and urban (49.2%) schools.Outcome Measure: The primary outcome measure was the prevalence of pain symptoms suggestive of endometriosis.Results: Dysmenorrhea was the most prevalent symptom at 72% with severedysmenorrhea reported at 29%. Regular absenteeism was reported at 4% in those with dysmenorrhea, 1% was due to acyclic pelvic pain and 1% reported intermenstrual pain limiting their daily activities. In the students’ interviewed, 94% had not heard of endometriosis, of whom 70% were interested to know more about it. The dysmenorrhea and pelvic pain that interfered with ordinary chores was most likely due to endometriosis.Conclusion: Majority of adolescent girls with chronic pelvic pain, not corresponding to conventional therapy have endometriosis. Endometriosis appearing in adolescence is more likely to progress and if not treated, may progress beyond pain to infertility. Endometriosis in adolescence is a hidden progressive and severe disease that deserves attention, not just compassion

Model Checking Access Control Policies: A Case Study using Google Cloud IAM

Authoring access control policies is challenging and prone to misconfigurations. Access control policies must be conflict-free. Hence, administrators should identify discrepancies between policy specifications and their intended function to avoid violating security principles. This paper aims to demonstrate how to formally verify access control policies. Model checking is used to verify access control properties against policies supported by an access control model. The authors consider Google's Cloud Identity and Access Management (IAM) as a case study and follow NIST's guidelines to verify access control policies automatically. Automated verification using model checking can serve as a valuable tool and assist administrators in assessing the correctness of access control policies. This enables checking violations against security principles and performing security assessments of policies for compliance purposes. The authors demonstrate how to define Google's IAM underlying role-based access control (RBAC) model, specify its supported policies, and formally verify a set of properties through three examples

E-MODUL BERBASIS INTERTEKSTUAL PADA KONSEP KESETIMBANGAN KIMIA UNTUK MENGEMBANGKAN KEMAMPUAN REPRESENTASIONAL SISWA

Penelitian yang dilakukan bertujuan untuk mengembangkan e-modul berbasis intertekstual pada konsep kesetimbangan kimia untuk meningkatkan kemampuan representasional siswa. Metode penelitian yang digunakan mengacu pada lima tahap awal Research and Development (R & D) yaitu: tahap penelitian dan pengumpulan informasi, perencanaan pengembangan produk, pengembangan produk awal, uji coba terbatas dan revisi produk awal. Hasil yang didapat dari penelitian ini ialah: 1) E-modul yang dikembangkan disusun dengan kerangka penyusunan yang sistematis dan dihubungkan dengan intertekstual yang meliputi aspek substansi, metode instruksional, bahasa dan media. Pada aspek substansi, setiap konsep yang disajikan merupakan pertautan antara level makroskopis, submikroskopis, dan simbolis. 2) Hasil penilaian ahli menunjukkan bahwa e-modul berbasis intertekstual yang dikembangkan sudah memenuhi kriteria kelayakan berdasarkan penilaian dari 7 ahli dengan latar belakang kimia, pendidikan kimia, bahasa indonesia, dan multimedia dengan beberapa saran perbaikan. 3) Hasil uji coba terbatas menunjukkan bahwa e-modul berbasis intertekstual dapat meningkatkan kemampuan representasional siswa yang dilihat dari meningkatnya hasil post test. 4) Berdasarkan penelitian e-modul berbasis intertekstual pada konsep kesetimbangan kimia yang dikembangkan diperoleh hasil respon guru dengan persentase 77,14% (baik) dan hasil respon siswa diperoleh persentase 80,79% (sangat baik). 5) Berdasarkan hasil uji kelayakan, uji coba terbatas, serta tanggapan guru dan siswa dilakukan revisi terhadap e-modul berbasis intertekstual pada konsep kesetimbangan kimia yang siap dilakukan uji coba lebih luas. Kata Kunci: e-modul pembelajaran, intertekstual, kesetimbangan kimia This research aims to develop an intertextual-based e-module on the concept of chemical equilibrium to improve students representational abilities. The research method used refers to the five initial stages of Research and Development (R & D), namely:research and information collecting,planning, the initial product development, the limited trial phase and initial product revision. The results obtained in this study are: 1) The developed e-module is structured with a systematic framework and is linked to intertextual content which includes aspects of substance, instructional methods, language and media. In the aspect of substance, each concept presented is a link between the macroscopic, submicroscopic, and symbolic levels. 2) The results of the expert assessment indicate that the intertextual-based e-module developed has met the eligibility criteria based on the assessment of 7 experts with backgrounds in chemistry, chemistry education, Indonesian language, and multimedia with some suggestions for improvement. 3) The results of the limited trial show that intertextual-based e-modules can improve students' representational abilities as seen from the increase in post-test results. 4) 4) Based on the intertextual-based e-module research on the chemical equilibrium concept developed, the teacher response results obtained with a percentage of 77.14% (good) and the student response results obtained a percentage of 80.79% (very good). 5) Based on the results of the feasibility test, limited trial, and teacher and student responses, revisions were made to the intertextual-based e-module on the concept of chemical equilibrium which is ready for wider trials. Keywords: e-learning module, intertextual, chemical equilibriu

Socio-demographic and treatment-related variables associated with CD4 cell counts in Kenyan HIV patients on second-line regimens

Background: CD4 cell response in patients on second-line therapy has not been evaluated in Kenya. Patients failing second-line are changed to third-line, however, the drugs used for third-line are expensive and unavailable. Therefore, early identification of potential poor responders to treatment would lead to early intervention and thus improve therapy of patients on second-line. Objectives: To identify socio-demographic and treatment related variables that affect CD4 response of HIV-positive patients on second-line regimens in Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). Methods: A historical cohort study carried out at KNH between January and April 2016 and entailed collection of patient data from the files. The main outcome variable was CD4 cell count.  The predictor variables of interest were sex, age, education level, and ART regimens. Results: All the study participants were on a lopinavir-based regimen. The study involved 84 study participants, 59.5% female study participants and 40.5% male. Male patients had significantly lower baseline CD4 cell counts and lower CD4 cell counts at ART (antiretroviral therapy) switch to second line compared to female patients. Efavirenz-based regimens were significantly associated with low CD4 cell count at ART switch to second-line. Conclusion: Patients should be started on nevirapine-based regimens unless contraindicated. Keywords: CD4 cell count, ART switch, second-lin

Molecular epidemiology of Klebsiella pneumoniae invasive infections over a decade at Kilifi County Hospital in Kenya.

Multidrug resistant (MDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae is a common cause of nosocomial infections worldwide. Recent years have seen an explosion of resistance to extended-spectrum ?-lactamases (ESBLs) and emergence of carbapenem resistance. Here, we examine 198 invasive K. pneumoniae isolates collected from over a decade in Kilifi County Hospital (KCH) in Kenya. We observe a significant increase in MDR K. pneumoniae isolates, particularly to third generation cephalosporins conferred by ESBLs. Using whole-genome sequences, we describe the population structure and the distribution of antimicrobial resistance genes within it. More than half of the isolates examined in this study were ESBL-positive, encoding CTX-M-15, SHV-2, SHV-12 and SHV-27, and 79% were MDR conferring resistance to at least three antimicrobial classes. Although no isolates in our dataset were found to be resistant to carbapenems we did find a plasmid with the genetic architecture of a known New Delhi metallo-?-lactamase-1 (NDM)-carrying plasmid in 25 isolates. In the absence of carbapenem use in KCH and because of the instability of the NDM-1 gene in the plasmid, the NDM-1 gene has been lost in these isolates. Our data suggests that isolates that encode NDM-1 could be present in the population; should carbapenems be introduced as treatment in public hospitals in Kenya, resistance is likely to ensue rapidly

Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles ameliorate airway inflammation in a rat model of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an incurable and debilitating chronic disease characterized by progressive airflow limitation associated with abnormal levels of tissue inflammation. Therefore, stem cell-based approaches to tackle the condition are currently a focus of regenerative therapies for COPD. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by all cell types are crucially involved in paracrine, extracellular communication. Recent advances in the field suggest that stem cell-derived EVs possess a therapeutic potential which is comparable to the cells of their origin. Methods In this study, we assessed the potential anti-inflammatory effects of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (hUC-MSC)-derived EVs in a rat model of COPD. EVs were isolated from hUC-MSCs and characterized by the transmission electron microscope, western blotting, and nanoparticle tracking analysis. As a model of COPD, male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to cigarette smoke for up to 12 weeks, followed by transplantation of hUC-MSCs or application of hUC-MSC-derived EVs. Lung tissue was subjected to histological analysis using haematoxylin and eosin staining, Alcian blue-periodic acid-Schiff (AB-PAS) staining, and immunofluorescence staining. Gene expression in the lung tissue was assessed using microarray analysis. Statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism 7 version 7.0 (GraphPad Software, USA). Student’s t test was used to compare between 2 groups. Comparison among more than 2 groups was done using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Data presented as median ± standard deviation (SD). Results Both transplantation of hUC-MSCs and application of EVs resulted in a reduction of peribronchial and perivascular inflammation, alveolar septal thickening associated with mononuclear inflammation, and a decreased number of goblet cells. Moreover, hUC-MSCs and EVs ameliorated the loss of alveolar septa in the emphysematous lung of COPD rats and reduced the levels of NF-κB subunit p65 in the tissue. Subsequent microarray analysis revealed that both hUC-MSCs and EVs significantly regulate multiple pathways known to be associated with COPD. Conclusions In conclusion, we show that hUC-MSC-derived EVs effectively ameliorate by COPD-induced inflammation. Thus, EVs could serve as a new cell-free-based therapy for the treatment of COPD

Documenting daily life through reportage drawing

This thesis is a practice-based inquiry into contemporary Reportage Drawing in the UK. The role of the practice in present day, its various forms and purposes and how digital media has influenced both the working process and reception of such work, is discussed through comparisons of visual work and theoretical engagement from practitioners. Verbal and visual contributions from current artists about their methods, means and motivations are included to present a clear picture of the varied forms of documentary drawing. This research is structured around questions and issues raised about the process of Reportage Drawing from original reportage drawings made observing everyday life in Kisumu, western Kenya. It begins with a brief historical overview of Reportage Drawing and develops with chapters visually engaging with the drawings from Kisumu and other artist's contirbutions. The main body of drawings is designed to be viewed as a visual display as specific groups of drawings create a dialogue about the various issues raised. At the heart of this research is the investigation into observational drawing, the presence of the reportage artist as a documenter of the every day and the question of the importance of this specific field of art. Attention is paid to the practical aspects of making work as this often influences artists' choice in engaging in this form of drawing while reasons behind the commissioning of reportage artists are also elaborated on. This all contributes to the objectives of this thesis, which is to create the start of a database of contemporary reportage artists, present a clear picture of the nature of reportage drawing in' present day, including its limitations, and reflect on my own work in the light of others' while championing this practice

Ο ρόλος της τεχνολογίας στον Εσωτερικό Έλεγχο

Η διπλωματική εργασία εξετάζει το ρόλο της τεχνολογίας στον εσωτερικό έλεγχο. Συγκεκριμένα, προσπαθεί να διερευνήσει την εφαρμογή και αξιοποίηση νέων αναδυόμενων τεχνολογιών από τμήματα εσωτερικού ελέγχου σε εταιρείες και οργανισμούς στην Ελλάδα. Στο πρώτο μέρος της διπλωματικής εργασίας παρουσιάζονται οι θεωρητικές πτυχές της μελέτης. Παραδοσιακά, οι εσωτερικοί έλεγχοι διενεργούνταν αναδρομικά και η αξιολόγηση κινδύνου περιλάμβανε χειροκίνητη επιλογή δειγμάτων για τον εντοπισμό κενών στη συμμόρφωση, τη διακυβέρνηση και τους εσωτερικούς ελέγχους μετά την πραγματοποίηση των συναλλαγών. Στις μέρες μας, έχουν εμφανιστεί μια σειρά από νέες αυτοματοποιημένες τεχνολογίες που επιτρέπουν τον έλεγχο ολόκληρων πληθυσμών σε συντομότερο χρόνο, τον εντοπισμό και την αντιμετώπιση των κινδύνων προληπτικά, με αποτέλεσμα να διενεργούνται έλεγχοι υψηλότερης ποιότητας. Είναι αδιαμφισβήτητο ότι η χρήση νέων εργαλείων, λογισμικού και τεχνικών θα ωφελήσει τους οργανισμούς, ωστόσο, ορισμένες επιπτώσεις και προκλήσεις για τους εσωτερικούς ελεγκτές είναι αναπόφευκτες. Το δεύτερο μέρος της διπλωματικής εργασίας περιλαμβάνει την εμπειρική ανάλυση. Η έρευνα διεξήχθη μέσω ερωτηματολογίου που διαβιβάστηκε σε εσωτερικούς ελεγκτές που εργάζονται σε εταιρείες και οργανισμούς στην Ελλάδα. Πραγματοποιήθηκαν μια σειρά από στατιστικές δοκιμές για να απαντηθεί το ερευνητικό μας ερώτημα σχετικά με το επίπεδο ανάπτυξης τεχνολογικών εργαλείων και τεχνικών από τα ελληνικά τμήματα εσωτερικού ελέγχου και να βρεθεί η αιτία της υστέρησης στην υιοθέτηση της τεχνολογίας. Οι οργανισμοί καθυστερούν τις επενδύσεις σε αναδυόμενες τεχνολογίες και ακόμη πολλά τμήματα εσωτερικού ελέγχου βασίζονται στα υπολογιστικά φύλλα του Excel ως κύριο εργαλείο για την ανάλυση δεδομένων.The dissertation thesis examines the role of technology in internal auditing. Specifically, it tries to explore the implementation and utilization of new emerging technologies from internal audit departments in companies and organizations in Greece. The first part of the thesis presents the theoretical aspects of the study. Traditionally, internal audits were conducted retrospectively, and risk assessment involved manual selection of samples to identify gaps in compliance, governance and internal controls after the transactions have occurred. The current days a number of new automated technologies have emerged that allow auditing entire populations of transactions in shorter time, identifying and mitigating risks proactively, resulting in higher quality audits. Eventually, the utilization of new tools, software and techniques will benefit organizations; however, some implications and challenges for the internal auditors are inevitable. The second part of the thesis includes the empirical analysis. The research was conducted via a survey questionnaire conveyed to internal auditors that work in companies and organizations in Greece. A number of statistical tests were performed attempting to answer our research question regarding the level of deployment of technological tools and techniques from Greek audit departments and find the reason for the laggard in technology adoption. Organizations are holding back on investments in emerging technologies, and still many internal audit departments are relying on Excel spreadsheets as a primary tool for data analysis

An Interim Evaluation of the Masters in Development Practice Initiative of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

The Foundation invested in the Master's in Development Practice (MDP) to train a new generation of development practitioners with the technical and practical skills necessary to diagnose and address the interlinked global problems of sustainable development and poverty. This program was designed as a time-bound initiative for the Foundation.The Foundation commissioned this evaluation to examine (1) the quality and strength of the individual programs and Global MDP Association, (2) the capacity of the Global MDP Secretariat to support the Association, (3) the demand for the program as demonstrated by the quantity, quality, and caliber of students attracted, and (4) the future viability, sustainability, and replicability of the MDP model at other institutions of higher learning. The evaluation team used a mixed method approach. They administered online surveys to MDP institutional leaders, reviewed documents related to the inception and implementation of the initiative, and conducted in-depth interviews with MDP directors, program staff, and students