The Basic Surgical Skills course in sub-Saharan Africa: an observational study of effectiveness

Background: The Basic Surgical Skills (BSS) course is a common component of postgraduate surgical training programmes in sub-Saharan Africa, but was originally designed in a UK context, and its efficacy and relevance have not been formally assessed in Africa. Methods: An observational study was carried out during a BSS course delivered to early-stage surgical trainees from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Technical skill in a basic wound closure task was assessed in a formal Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSAT) before and after course completion. Participants completed a pre-course questionnaire documenting existing surgical experience and self-perceived confidence levels in surgical skills which were to be taught during the course. Participants repeated confidence ratings and completed course evaluation following course delivery. Results: A cohort of 17 participants had completed a pre-course median of 150 Caesarean sections as primary operator. Performance on the OSAT improved from a mean of 10.5/17 pre-course to 14.2/17 post-course (mean of paired differences 3.7, p < 0.001). Improvements were seen in 15/17 components of wound closure. Pre-course, only 47% of candidates were forming hand-tied knots correctly and 38% were appropriately crossing hands with each throw, improving to 88 and 76%, respectively, following the course (p = 0.01 for both components). Confidence levels improved significantly in all technical skills taught, and the course was assessed as highly relevant by trainees. Conclusion: The Basic Surgical Skills course is effective in improving the basic surgical technique of surgical trainees from sub-Saharan Africa and their confidence in key technical skills

Divergências morfológicas e de caracteristicas qualitativas nas variedades de uva Itália e Italia melhorada no Submédio São Francisco.

As variedades de uva Italia e Italia Melhorada são amplamente difundidas no Vale do Submédio São Francisco. Porém, não se sabe a origem da Italia Melhorada. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo comparar morfologicamente as variedades Italia e Italia Melhorada, a fim de constatar as semelhanças e divergências entre elas. Os trabalhos foram realizados na coleção de videira da Embrapa Semi-Árido, localizada na Estação Experimental de Mandacaru, Juazeiro-BA. As avaliações levaram em consideração caracteres morfológicos de folhas e frutos. Para as características de folhas, foram coletadas amostras de quatro plantas das regiões apical, mediana e basal, medindo-se os comprimentos das nervuras denominadas nervura mediana (L1); lateral superior (L2); lateral inferior (L3) e nervura peciolada (L4). Avaliaram-se também as características qualitativas tais como pilosidade, cor, forma do limbo e dos ?dentes?, e número de lóbulos. Em relação às características de frutos, avaliaram-se o comprimento e o diâmetro dos cachos e das bagas, em 10 frutos/planta, coletados em cinco plantas de vinhedos comerciais. Para análise estatística, utilizou-se o delineamento de blocos inteiramente casualizados, onde as plantas foram consideradas repetições. Realizaram-se a análise de variância e a comparação de médias pelo teste de Tukey ao nível de 5% de probabilidade. Os resultados revelaram diferenças significativas apenas em relação aos comprimentos das nervuras L1 nas folhas medianas e L4 nas folhas basais, em que a Italia Melhorada apresentou médias superiores (9,8 e 3,4 cm, respectivamente) às da Italia (7,6 e 2,7 cm, respectivamente). Para a morfologia do cacho, houve diferença significativa em relação ao comprimento do cacho, largura e comprimento das bagas em que a Italia Melhorada apresentou médias superiores (24,7; 30,43 e 25,54 cm, respectivamente) às da Italia (16,1; 26,38 e 23 cm, respectivamente). Nas avaliações referentes aos caracteres qualitativos, não foram observadas diferenças entre as duas variedades

Implementing enterprise systems for management: a case of Kenyan Universities

Received: July 10, 2012 / Accepted: August 10, 2012 / Published: August 25, 2012.Kenyan universities, as other business entities, are implementing various information systems to facilitate their operations. The systems include enterprise systems which are implemented to enhance institutional management given their emphasis on standardisation, streamlining, and integration of business operations. In this study, the authors have established that Kenyan universities have mainly implemented systems for finance and accounting, student admissions, examinations management, and library services. The authors have also established that there are no significant differences in information systems needs among Kenyan universities, but there are significant differences in strengths and weaknesses among the private and public universities in the capabilities of systems they have implemented. The authors have further established that despite fears especially on delays in projects implementation and system costs, Kenyan universities are in a position to implement enterprise systems to facilitate their operations. However, the universities need to allocate more funds to systems implementation if they have to successfully implement enterprise systems which generally require more resources than ordinary software applications.Kenyan universities, as other business entities, are implementing various information systems to facilitate their operations. The systems include enterprise systems which are implemented to enhance institutional management given their emphasis on standardisation, streamlining, and integration of business operations. In this study, the authors have established that Kenyan universities have mainly implemented systems for finance and accounting, student admissions, examinations management, and library services. The authors have also established that there are no significant differences in information systems needs among Kenyan universities, but there are significant differences in strengths and weaknesses among the private and public universities in the capabilities of systems they have implemented. The authors have further established that despite fears especially on delays in projects implementation and system costs, Kenyan universities are in a position to implement enterprise systems to facilitate their operations. However, the universities need to allocate more funds to systems implementation if they have to successfully implement enterprise systems which generally require more resources than ordinary software applications

Estudo preliminar da compatibilidade da variedade Thompson Seedless sobre 10 porta-enxertos.

Tendo em vista a grande variação de comportamento da combinação copa x porta-enxerto, para diferentes condições de clima e solo, este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o nível de compatibilidade e pegamento na enxertia da cultivar Thompson Seedless sobre 10 tipos de porta-enxertos, visando ampliar a gama de variedades disponíveis, com bons resultados na enxertia de mesa

Testing experiences of HIV positive refugees in Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda: informing interventions to encourage priority shifting

Background: Recent initiatives by international health and humanitarian aid organizations have focused increased attention on making HIV testing services more widely available to vulnerable populations. To realize potential health benefits from new services, they must be utilized. This research addresses the question of how utilization of testing services might be encouraged and increased for refugees displaced by conflict, to make better use of existing resources. Methods: Open-ended interviews were conducted with HIV-infected refugees (N=73) who had tested for HIV and with HIV clinic staff (N=4) in Nakivale Refugee Settlement in southwest Uganda. Interviews focused on accessibility of HIV/AIDS-related testing and care and perspectives on how to improve utilization of testing services. Data collection took place at the Nakivale HIV/AIDS Clinic from March to July of 2011. An inductive approach to data analysis was used to identify factors related to utilization. Results: In general, interviewees report focusing daily effort on tasks aimed at meeting survival needs. HIV testing is not prioritized over these responsibilities. Under some circumstances, however, HIV testing occurs. This happens when: (a) circumstances realign to trigger a temporary shift in priorities away from daily survival-related tasks; (b) survival needs are temporarily met; and/or (c) conditions shift to alleviate barriers to HIV testing. Conclusion: HIV testing services provided for refugees must be not just available, but also utilized. Understanding what makes HIV testing possible for refugees who have tested can inform interventions to increase testing in this population. Intervening by encouraging priority shifts toward HIV testing, by helping ensure survival needs are met, and by eliminating barriers to testing, may result in refugees making better use of existing testing services

Etude De La Variabilite Structurale Et Floristique Des Forets Sur Terre Ferme En Chefferie De Bahema-Boga (Province De L’ituri, RDC)

The knowledge of the structural and floristic variability of forest is the principal tool which makes it possible to know the floristic composition of forest in an area. This paper focuses on analyzing the structural and floristic variability between compounds of forest on firm earth in chieftainship Bahema-boga in Ituri Province in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The study provides knowledge and education to those responsible for environmental protection and those who are concerned with the forest based on the floristic potential for the conservation and the sustainable management of the forests. The structure and the floristic composition vary from one forest to another. The quantity of carbon stoke also vary due to the function of structures and floristic composition of forests. The forests play an important role in the reduction of CO2. The inventories of trees whose diameter is ≥ 10 cm have allowed us to collect the data to analyze this structural and floristic variability in a sample of 3 ha (plots) of forests in firm earth. The results obtained indicate that 812 inventoried individuals (trees) are extended in 16 species, 11 kinds, and 8 famillies. The total earth surface of inventoried individuals is 32,06 m2 /ha. The species of Cynometra sessiliflora dominated those forests with 408 individuals (50,25%). The diametric class of the most  elevated inventoried plants are located between 10-20cm (63,17%). The family of the Fabaceae is better represented in those forests (73,65%)

The Oesophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Line COLO-680N Fails to Support Sustained Cryptosporidium parvum Proliferation

Cryptosporidium parvum is an important diarrhoea-associated protozoan, which is difficult to propagate in vitro. In 2017, a report described a continuous culture of C. parvum Moredun strain, in the oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell line COLO-680N, as an easy-to-use system for C. parvum propagation and continuous production of oocysts. Here, we report that—using the Köllitsch strain of C. parvum—even though COLO-680N cells, indeed, allowed parasite invasion and early asexual parasite replication, C. parvum proliferation decreased after the second day post infection. Considering recurring studies, reporting on successful production of newly generated Cryptosporidium oocysts in the past, and the subsequent replication failure by other research groups, the current data stand as a reminder of the importance of reproducibility of in vitro systems in cryptosporidiosis research. This is of special importance since it will only be possible to develop promising strategies to fight cryptosporidiosis and its ominous consequences for both human and animal health by a continuous and reliable methodological progress

“The Peer Educator Is the Game-Changer of My Life”: Perceptions of Adolescents Living with HIV in DR Congo on Involving Peer Educators in the Process of HIV Disclosure

Several approaches to the disclosure of HIV status to children and adolescents have been described. Each of these places particular emphasis on the role of parents and health care workers (HCWs) to mitigate the impact of disclosure on the adolescent without exploring the possible roles that other individuals might play in the process of disclosure. This article assesses the perceptions of adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) about disclosure done by parents, guardians, HCWs, peer educators in the role of peer supporters, accidentally or by self-discovery, and the subsequent effects of disclosure method on their mental health. We used a qualitative study to conduct semi-structured interviews with 73 ALHIV at the Kalembelembe Paediatric Hospital, in DR Congo disclosed to by parents, guardians, HCWs, and/or peer educators, respectively, or disclosed to accidentally or by self-discovery. Microsoft Excel analysis matrix was used to organize the qualitative data. The majority of ALHIV whose disclosure involved a peer educator unanimously acknowledged the important role of the peer in accepting their HIV status, in their ART adherence, and their development of self-esteem. However, most ALHIV disclosed without involving peers declared that they had accepted their situation after a relatively long period followed by contact with the peer and integration in the self-support group. We found that the peer approach is the game-changer of the HIV status disclosure process that would allow ALHIV to accept their HIV status with minimum distress, it builds resilience, and allows them to adhere to treatment.publishedVersio

Divergência fenotípica entre acessos de uvas de vinho no semi-árido brasileiro.

No manejo das coleções de germoplasma vegetal, a estimativa variabilidade entre acessos proporcionao estabelecimento de estratégias de identificação de parentais de interesse para obtenção de híbridos em programas de melhoramento

Determinação do potencial germinativo e caracterização de acessos de Cucurbita moschata e C. Maxima no Vale do São Francisco.

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo descrever e estudar sucintamente todo o processo pós-germinativo de dezesseis acessos compostos de Cucurbita moschata e C. maxima para obter estimativas da divergência genética entre as mesmas. Tais estimativas são fundamentais para o sucesso na condução de um programa de melhoramento envolvendo hibridações. A seleção de acessos foi feita em materiais pertencentes ao Banco Ativo de Germoplasma - BAG da Embrapa Semi-Árido referentes aos dados de passaporte no que diz respeito à coloração da polpa, acesso com maiores números e variabilidade de sementes. O plantio foi realizado em casa de vegetação na Embrapa Semi-Árido (Petrolina-PE). Foi analisada a percentagem de germinação das sementes, formato e comprimento dos cotilédones, diâmetro e comprimento da haste, sendo também avaliados outros descritores para folha, flores e a precocidade no surgimento da primeira flor feminina. Os resultados obtidos evidenciaram diferenças entre os acessos estudados, sendo que a maioria apresentou índice de germinação igual a 100%, formato do cotilédone predominante elíptico largo, observando-se ainda diferenças significativas em relação à altura e diâmetro da haste