Growth, mortality and yield-per-recruit of Copadichromis likomae (Cichlidae) in Lake Niassa, Mozambique

Analysis of the length-frequency data on Copadichromis likomae (Cichlidae) from Lake Niassa, Mozambique, suggests an asymptotic length of SL∞=14 cm associated with a K value of 0.93 yearˉ¹. Total and natural mortalities were estimated as 3.2 yearˉ¹ and 1.9 yearˉ¹, respectively. Yield-per-recruit analysis suggests that E=0.36 in this fishery

Analysis of implementation constraints for planning programs : a case study of the city of Maputo, Mozambique.

Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.No abstract available

Associations Between Helminth Infections, Plasmodium falciparum Parasite Carriage and Antibody Responses to Sexual and Asexual Stage Malarial Antigens.

Infections with helminths and Plasmodium spp. overlap in their geographical distribution. It has been postulated that helminth infections may influence malarial transmission by altering Plasmodium falciparum gametocytogenesis. This cross-sectional study assessed the effect of helminth infections on P. falciparum gametocyte carriage and on humoral immune responses to sexual stage antigens in Gabon. Schistosoma haematobium and filarial infections as well as P. falciparum asexual forms and gametocyte carriage were determined. The antibody responses measured were to sexual (Pfs230, Pfs48/45) and asexual P. falciparum antigens (AMA1, MSP1, and GLURP). A total of 287 subjects were included. The prevalence of microscopically detectable P. falciparum asexual parasites was higher in S. haematobium-infected subjects in comparison to their uninfected counterparts (47% versus 26%, P = 0.003), but this was not different when filarial infections were considered. Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte carriage was similar between Schistosoma- or filaria-infected and uninfected subjects. We observed a significant decrease of Pfs48/45 immunoglobulin G titer in S. haematobium-infected subjects (P = 0.037), whereas no difference was seen for Pfs230 antibody titer, nor for antibodies to AMA1, MSP1, or GLURP. Our findings suggest an effect of S. haematobium on antibody responses to some P. falciparum gametocyte antigens that may have consequences for transmission-blocking immunity

Higher education in Mozambique during covid-19

The current covid-19 pandemic that the world is experiencing is leading us to unexpected and complex context. The Covid-19 crisis has brought the disruption of higher education systems in Mozambique, affecting approximately 239 600 students and 5716 teachers by closing all institutions. The emergence of COVID-19 awakened controversy over the role of HEI. Questions have been raised about the role of HE in Mozambique to reach certain societal agendas – democratization, economic development and innovation. There is a demand for a full participation of university outside academia, both in society and in business. Thus, the study provides an overview of the higher education in Mozambique during covid-19 crisis. Methodologically, the study uses a comprehensive literature review, policy document analysis and statistical data from various official sources. While others students are coping well with online learning, others are experiencing difficulties due to lack of digital literacy and poor infrastructures. Despite effort over the last two decades, Mozambique has one of the lowest (20.9%) internet penetration rate of the population and one of the highest data cost in Africa as proportion of income. Thus, polices and effective strategies about connectivity, data cost, digital skills training and internet infra-structure must be considered to ensure inclusive education

Le Français au Gabon : émergence d'une norme endogène : le cas de la presse écrite

The sociolinguistic environment in Gabon comprises the languages of the Pigmies, the Bantou languages, French and the other languages spoken by foreigners. French, as the official language, has three speeh registers: the acrolectal, mesolectal and basilectal forms. At the start, the manifestations of the endogenous norm of French in the Gabonese written media are rooted in urbanisation. Libreville, as the concrete expression of Gabonese urban disparity, carries the dynamic at the heart of the socioliguistic process of French establishing itself in Gabon. Thus, the political and administrative capital of Gabon is either a factor of unification, conflict and linguistic coexistence; either Libreville gives the outline of communication involving the media broadcasters, advertisers and producers, as seen from the angles of two currents of a diverse press: the State and the opposition medias.Then, in a second stage, the linguistic characteristics of the French language are conveyed through a linguistic imaginative world. It includes three types of norms: systemic, statistical and subjective ones. The systemic norms throw light on the development of linguistic idiosyncratic forms, on the influence of substratum languages, on the use of all language registers and on the intermingling of written and oral codes. The statistical norms reflect the statistical hierarchy of linguistic features and causalities linked to the changes of the language in the process of urbanisation, to the sociopolitical context and to logical discursive causes. The last i.e. the subjective norms translate the differences in language representations generating a feeling of linguistic insecurity. This can be sensed under a double perspective, the one of the co-text as related to Makaya and the one of the context. Makaya, perceived as “improper”, presents the man/woman in the street taking offense at the failings of society. Journalists are spokepersons who through their working for a newspaper take part in the construction of the endogenous norm and its recognition.La situation sociolinguistique du Gabon est constituée des langues des Pygmées, des langues bantoues, du français et des langues des autres Étrangers. Le français, avec son statut de langue officielle, se décline en trois registres de langue : la variété acrolectale, la variété mésolectale et la variété basilectale. Dans un premier temps, les manifestations de norme endogène du français dans la presse écrite gabonaise du 1er août 2002 au 30 octobre 2002, résultent des phénomènes de l’urbanisation. Libreville, produit d’une disparité urbaine gabonaise, porte la dynamique factrice des processus sociohistoriques de l’implantation du français au Gabon. Ainsi, la capitale politique et administrative du Gabon, représente tantôt un facteur d’unification, de conflit et de coexistence linguistique ; tantôt Libreville porte le schéma de communication réunissant les émetteurs, les annonceurs, les producteurs des médias sous l’angle de la presse écrite plurielle ayant deux courants : la presse d’État et la presse d’opposition. Dans un deuxième temps, les particularités linguistiques du français de la presse écrite gabonaise sont traduites à travers un imaginaire linguistique. Ce dernier comporte trois types de normes : les Normes Systémiques, les Normes Statistiques et les Normes Subjectives. Les premières mettent en lumière le processus de formation des particularités linguistiques : l’influence des langues substrats, l’usage de tous les registres, le mélange code écrit/code oral. Les deuxièmes reflètent la hiérarchisation statistique des particularités linguistiques et les causalités liées à la dynamique de l’urbanisation des langues, aux causalités sociopolitiques, aux causalités logico discursives. Les dernières, les Normes Subjectives, retranscrivent les représentations linguistiques sur les écarts, suscitant ainsi le sentiment d’Insécurité Linguistique. Mais ce dernier est sous une double perspective : celle du co texte par la figure de Makaya et celle du contexte par le journaliste. Makaya, porteur de l’« incorrect » présente l’homme de la rue s’offusquant devant les travers de la société. Le journaliste est le porte-parole qui par son appartenance à un journal, participe à la construction de la norme endogène et à sa légitimité

Some considerations on methodology for catch assessment in Lake Niassa (Mozambique)

Lake Niassa fisheries are artisanal and are carried out by numerous fishing boats using various types of gear and operating from numerous fish landing places scattered along the shoreline. A frame survey was conducted in 1983 to get information on the size and structure of the fisheries in Lake Niassa. The methodology to be applied for a catch assessment survey is explained. The primary objective of the survey is to obtain reliable current estimates, for the Mozambican side of Lake Niassa, of the total quantity of fish harvested by the fishermen at the lake (in terms of live weight in tons). Secondary objectives include the species composition of the catch and the fishing effort involved in obtaining the catch

Gel-based solid dosage form for pesticide delivery

The aim of this research was to develop a solid dosage form containing 1.5 g of the pesticide cypermethrin. The dosage should be stable in a tropical climate. In addition, it is to disintegrate and disperse in 10 L of tap water within 3 minutes. Such dissolution should yield a 150 ppm dispersion of cypermethrin, stable for at least one week. This provides for a dip dispersion to treat ticks and fly infestation on livestock. A new solid dosage was formulated as the scope of this research. It is a gel-based solid dosage form. Polymer electrolyte ASP4 - a copolymer of methacrylic acid, ethyl acrylate and diethyl maleate, was used to produce the gel. Preliminary tests revealed that ASP4- based gel, on its own, failed to meet the required dissolution time of 3 minutes. Strong entanglements of ASP4 chains impeded rapid dissolution. These strong entanglements occurred owing to the use of a high concentration of ASP4. Reducing the concentration of ASP4 yielded a solution of high viscosity instead of a gel. It was therefore decided to Gel-based solid dosage form for pesticide delivery use a superabsorbent (Product Z1069) in conjunction with ASP4 to produce the gel. Product Z1069 is a cross-linked sodium polyacrylate. Before producing the gel, a 1:1.5 by mass oil/water (O/W) emulsion was prepared using the phase-inversion route. The water (W) phase comprised 85.9% distilled water, 3.9% ASP4 at 20% dispersion, 8.6% sodium carbonate (0.5 M) and 1.6% Emulsogen EL. All concentrations are indicated in mass %. The oil (O) phase consisted of 76.9% cypermethrin, 19.3% Solvesso S200 and 3.8% Phenyl Sulphonate CA, also by mass. This emulsion was gelled by adding the superabsorbent Product Z1069 (ca. 37.5% by mass relative to the W phase of the emulsion). The superabsorbent strongly absorbed water, depleting it from the emulsion. This resulted in an increase of the effective concentration of ASP4 in the water phase of the emulsion. This increase of the polymer electrolyte concentration brought about a gel-like state corresponding to the desired solid dosage form. Rheometry confirmed that the dosage form maintained a solid gel-like consistency at 50°C. The dosage contained 24.6% m/m cypermethrin. Thus, the required dosage of 1.5 g was achieved in pellets weighing ca. 6.1 g. Such pellets rapidly disintegrated with mild stirring in 10 L of tap water. Complete pellet disintegration and active dispersion occurred within 2.5 minutes at ambient temperature (25 ± 2°C).Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2008.Chemistryunrestricte

Caractérisation phénotypique et fonctionnelle des lymphocytes B dans la lymphocytose polyclonale chronique B

La lymphocytose polyclonale chronique B (LPCB) est un syndrome peu connu caractérisé par une élévation polyclonale du nombre de lymphocytes B et de l’IgM sérique. Elle se distingue des pathologies lymphoïdes classiques par son origine polyclonale, sa grande stabilité ainsi que sa symptomatologie discrète et affecte majoritairement des femmes fumeuses. La présence de caractéristiques morphologiques et cytogénétiques distinctives, notamment cellules binucléées et anomalies génétiques (réarrangements bcl2/Ig multiples, isochromosome +i(3q)), guide le diagnostic initial. Ces particularités associées à un processus de transformation maligne contrastent avec l’apparente bénignité de la LPCB. Néanmoins, elles n’ont pas permis la délimitation précise de la population B impliquée dans la lymphocytose. Nos travaux avaient pour but d’identifier la population et les mécanismes impliqués dans l’émergence du syndrome, et éventuellement d’estimer les risques de progression clinique. En premier lieu, l’évaluation détaillée du profil immunologique des lymphocytes sanguins chez plusieurs patientes nous a permis de circonscrire formellement la lymphocytose aux cellules B IgD+IgM+CD27+. Mettant à profit les récentes avancées techniques et théoriques concernant la biologie du développement chez le lymphocyte B mature, nous avons entrepris l’analyse moléculaire des régions variables des gènes des immunoglobulines. Ces investigations ont confirmé le statut mémoire des cellules B en expansion dans la LPCB. Elles n’ont toutefois pas révélé la signature moléculaire résultant de sélection antigénique, processus central de la réponse immunitaire T-dépendante. Parallèlement, nos études fonctionnelles ont attesté de l’intégrité des molécules CD40 et AID, deux régulateurs clés de la maturation chez le lymphocyte B. Il ressort de nos analyses qu’un défaut dans la régulation de la réponse immunitaire, permettant le contournement de la sélection antigénique dans les centres germinatifs, plutôt qu’un blocage de différenciation cellulaire, serait probablement à l’origine de la lymphocytose. Alternativement, ces cellules pourraient être dérivées d’une population nouvellement caractérisée, les lymphocytes B mémoires de la zone marginale splénique, aussi retrouvés dans le sang, provenant présumement d’une voie de diversification indépendante des centres germinatifs. En conclusion, nos résultats ont permis de préciser le portrait diagnostique de la LPCB et de délimiter de nouvelles pistes de recherche touchant tant les aspects cliniques que la biologie fondamentale du syndrome.Persistent polyclonal B cell lymphocytosis (PPBL) is an unusual haematological disorder, mainly detected in adult female smokers, that shares features of both benignity (polyclonal expansion, polyconal IgM secretion, lack of clinical symptoms, stable and mostly uneventful course); and features of malignancy (atypical binucleated cells, multiple bcl-2/Ig translocations, chromosome 3 anomalies, bone marrow involvement). Still, these morphological and clonal genetic anomalies have not been restricted to a distinctive B cell subset, and the apparent heterogeneity of the involved cellular population has long impeded further characterization of the syndrome. The aim of our research was to formally identify the population involved in the lymphocytosis, to gain some insight into the mechanisms at play in its development and to evaluate the risk for subsequent transformation in patients. Over the recent years, technical inputs from the molecular field have largely contributed to a better discrimination of the various B cells subsets and, by extension, of B cell lymphoid disorders. Thus, detailed immunophenotypic studies conducted in numerous PPBL patients allowed us to definitely circumscribe the disorder to IgD+IgM+CD27+ B lymphocytes, whereas exhaustive molecular analysis of immunoglobulin genes’ variable regions has corroborated the memory status of these cells. Yet, molecular signature of the antigenic selection process, the characteristic of a T-dependent immune response, was not detected. Sequencing of the CD40 and AID genes, key regulators in the diversification and affinity maturation of the immunoglobulin receptor, was additionally carried out and expression of both molecules was assessed. No anomaly was evidenced for either gene. In light of those observations, we conclude that a differentiation block in PPBL B lymphocytes is unlikely. Rather, we propose that defects in the affinity maturation process, namely impairment of the antigenic selection mechanism, allows the survival of low affinity IgD+IgM+CD27+ memory B lymphocytes in PPBL patients. Conversely, these cells could be related to the as yet scantily characterized IgD+IgM+CD27+ memory B cell subset from the splenic MZ, also found in the blood, and presumably derived from a germinal centre independent diversification pathway. Altogether, our results contributed to the elaboration of an accurate clinical definition for PPBL, and delineated avenues for future investigations regarding both the pathological aspects of the disorder and its purely fundamental biologic ramifications