Wireless Inductive Charging for Low Power Devices

Currently wireless charging for most consumer electronics is still evolving in the mainstream market. This technology has taken a slow adoption. I n a world faced with variety of handheld devices demand for a shorter charging time is constantly being explored. Wireless charging has its challenges and successes The goal of this project was to design a prototype through research and design that would critically address and analyze the major design challenges that bring about longer charging periods of the new inductive wireless charging compared to the old fashioned, wired charging method and provide probable solutions. All the sections of the prototype namely transmitter, receiver and coil arrangement were designed and tested. The entire circuit was finally simulated and later fabricated on a PCB to come up with a prototype. Results were compared. This study showed that proper choice of coils must be made during design in order to minimize power losses and therefore increase efficiency

Synthesis and characterization of novel polyaniline/metal composites

The chemical synthesis of polyaniline (PANI) is explored using tetrachloroaurate, AuCl4- and hexachloroplatinate, PtCl 62-. These studies provide a simple method for the direct oxidation of aniline by these metal species and simultaneous formation of bulk quantities of PANI/Au and PANI/Pt composites, respectively. Studies of the PANI/Au composite indicate that the properties of the polymer are consistent with more traditional methods of preparation. The incorporation of metal into the polymer matrix shows an increase in conductance for the doped PANI/Au composite relative to PANI/HBF4 without Au particles. In the case of the PANI/Pt composite, the polymer is found to exist as an amine salt leading to diminished conductance for the doped PANI/Pt composite relative to PANI/HBF 4 without Pt particles. Most importantly, the data suggests that both metal dispersion and acid doping can be used to adjust the electronic properties of PANI

Outcome for hospitalized road trauma patients at a tertiary hospital in Kenya

Background: The developing world continues to experience a disproportionate burden of injury. About one half of injury deaths are due to motor vehicle collisions. Road traffic fatalities per 10,000 vehicles are ten to 20 times higher in Africa compared to Europe. Patients and Methods: 233 patients were consecutively analyzed. Injury acuity was determined by calculating Injury Severity Scores (ISS) for each patient. Information on the care and treatment outcome was obtained from patient interviews, case notes and discharge summaries. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS version 10.0 statistical software. Results: Injury accounted for 48.8% of all emergency hospitalizations into the surgical units. Injury due to traffic comprised a third (31%) of trauma admissions. Injuries to the limbs were predominant (54%). Acuity ranged from ISS 1 to 43. The mean ISS was 8.78. Major injury (ISS \u3e 15) constituted 13% of all the admissions. Operating room resources were utilized in 52% of the patients (major operations were performed in 12% of this group). The overall complication rate was 12.0%. Although the overall mortality amounted to 6%, mortality was 35.6% amongst those with major injury. It was also higher with associated head injury, pedestrian injury and weekend injury. Conclusion: The overall trauma acuity was moderate injury. Mortality escalated to 35% for major injury. There is need to explore the factors contributing to this high mortality and a system of care that can optimize outcome. © Urban & Vogel

The synthesis and systematic evaluation of modified polymeric foams and electrically conductive polyimide/carbon/metal films

Thermally processed PU foams are examined as a function of processing temperatures (25, 45, 65, and 85°C) at the side, middle, and center of a simple cylindrical mold. The PU foams show both chemical and morphological differences as a function of the processing temperature and radial position within the mold. Thermal degradation of uretoneimine structures, the emergence of carbodiimide structures, and extent of reaction of isocyanate groups are measured using photoacoustic FTIR spectroscopy. Chemical gradients and morphology differences between the side, middle, and center of the molded foam are observed for all processing temperatures. The data indicate that thermal activation at the center of the mold is important for samples regardless of processing temperature. Furthermore, in spite of thermal processing at temperatures well above the decomposition of uretoneimine structures (40°C), chemical gradients remain within the simple molded foams. Thermally treated epoxy foams were found to undergo both chemical and structural changes associated with the degradation of Diels-Alder bonds and changing structural packing of siloxane units in the foam network. FTIR results show that these changes are not reversible and occur immediately after thermal exposure. The combination of changing chemistry, structure, and thermal expansion lower the overall density of the foam by approximately 41% relative to the pristine foam. The change in density also influences the modulus of the material which is reduced by 68% after ten thermal cycles. The results indicate that thermal exposure reduces the rigidity of the material through chemical and structural changes that cause the foam to expand, lowering the density and modulus in the process. A composite material was successfully prepared by incorporating carbon black in PI. Platinum metal was successfully deposited on the resulting PI/Carbon film using cyclic voltammetry. Results obtained from four-point probe conductivity measurements show that increased carbon loading or platinum loading enhances the electrical conductivity of the composite. However, beyond 10% carbon loading, the mechanical integrity of the film is compromised. TGA and DSC results show that the thermal stability of PI is maintained with carbon incorporation and platinum deposition. PI/carbon/Pt was found be thermally stable up to 561°C as determined by DSC and 559°C as determined by TGA. SEM imaging suggests that carbon is well dispersed in PI while XPS results show that the platinum deposited Carbon/PI is metallic. The deposition of gold on carbon/PI was found to enhance its sensitivity to the ferricyanide redox couple. However, slower electron transfer is observed at both PI/Carbon/Pt and PI/Carbon/Au films as compared to Pt and Au planar electrodes

Understanding Consumers` Attitudes: The Key to Increased Intake of Traditional African Vegetable in Tanzania

The contribution of Traditional African Vegetables (TAVs) to reduction of malnutrition, stunting and poor health among consumers in Sub-Saharan Africa cannot be overemphasized. This is due to high contents of vitamins, essential minerals and a source of dietary fiber. Although TAVs forms a significant component of many families` diets in Tanzania, consumption is still below the recommend by WHO and FAO in most regions. This paper aims at assessing attitudes towards TAVs and how they influence the intake of these nutrient-dense vegetables in Arumeru District, Tanzania. Cross-sectional design was used during the study. Pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire was used in the survey for face-to-face interview with consumers (n=262). Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis and Principal Components Analysis to show the interrelation among a set of attitudinal statements in order to identify the underlying structure of those attitudinal statements. From factor analyses scores, increasing intake of nutrient-dense vegetables (TAVs) was found to depend on Taste, Health, Freshness and Perception. The results showed that, the likelihood of consuming TAVs tend to be highly dependent on their taste among consumers. Next, Health benefits of TAVs was of high importance to consumers. Also, fresh TAVs were preferred than dried ones. Perception was least important attribute to consumers of TAVs. Consumers with a high awareness on the health benefits from TAVs attached more importance to consumption of these vegetables. In order to increase consumption of traditional African vegetables, promoting positive attitudes of consumers towards these vegetables as well as targeting to change the negative attitudes could play a significant role in encouraging consumers to increase the amounts and varieties of TAVs in their diets. Keywords: Consumer attitude, traditional African vegetables, principal component analysis, Arumeru Distric

Effect of a voice recognition system on pediatric outpatient medication errors at a tertiary healthcare facility in Kenya

Background: Medication-related errors account for one out of every 131 outpatient deaths, and one out of 854 inpatient deaths. The risk is threefold greater in the pediatric population. In sub-Saharan Africa, research on medication-related errors has been obscured by other health priorities and poor recognition of harm attributable to such errors. Our primary objective was to assess the effect of introduction of a voice recognition system (VRS) on the prevalence of medication errors. The secondary objective was to describe characteristics of observed medication errors and determine acceptability of VRS by clinical service providers. Methods: This was a before–after intervention study carried out in a Pediatric Accident and Emergency Department of a private not-for-profit tertiary referral hospital in Kenya. Results: A total of 1196 handwritten prescription records were examined in the pre-VRS phase and 501 in the VRS phase. In the pre-VRS phase, 74.3% of the prescriptions (889 of 1196) had identifiable errors compared with 65.7% in the VRS phase (329 of 501). More than half (58%) of participating clinical service providers expressed preference for VRS prescriptions compared with handwritten prescriptions. Conclusions: VRS reduces medication prescription errors with the greatest effect noted in reduction of incorrect medication dosages. More studies are needed to explore whether more training, user experience and software enhancement would minimize medication errors further. VRS technology is acceptable to physicians and pharmacists at a tertiary care hospital in Kenya

Imunização subcutânea na infecção do camundongo pela Leishmania major: eficácia dos promastigotos mortos pela formalina combinada com adjuvantes

Promastigotos mortos pela formalina (FKP) de Leishmania major combinados com Montanide ISA 720 (MISA), BCG ou alumen foram usados na vacinação de modelo murino cutâneo de leishmaniose (CL). Aumento significante e específico de resposta IgG anti FKP foram detectados tanto no FKP com alumen como naquele com BCG comparados ao MISA-FKP (p < 0,001). Aumento significante da proliferação esplênica de linfócitos de memória foi obtida nos camundongos vacinados com MISA-FKP quando comparados aos grupos vacinados com alumen-FKP ou BCG-FKP (p < 0,01). As maiores respostas por interferon-gama foram observadas no grupo BCG-FKP seguido pelo MISA-FKP enquanto que o alumen-FKP deu a menor resposta. No grupo MISA-FKP foram obtidas reduções significantes do tamanho das lesões quando comparado aos grupos vacinados com BCG/adjuvante de alumen-FKP. Embora o grupo BCG-FKP tenha mostrado a maior resposta por interferon-gama, não houve controle das lesões cutâneas. Redução significante no número de parasitas foi observada tanto no grupo vacinado com MISA-FKP como no BCG-FKP (p < 0,001). Houve boa correlação entre a carga parasitária e o nível de interferon-gama indicando que a resposta do interferon-gama é parâmetro sensível do estado imunológico. Em conclusão, MISA-FKP é a forma mais eficaz de vacina contra a leishmaniose cutânea murina.Formalin-killed promastigotes (FKP) of Leishmania major, in combination with Montanide ISA 720 (MISA), BCG or alum were used in vaccination of an inbred murine model against cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). Significant and specific increases in anti-FKP IgG responses were detected for both alum-FKP and BCG-FKP compared to MISA-FKP (p < 0.001). Significant increases in splenic lymphocyte recall proliferation was obtained in the MISA-FKP vaccinated mice compared to alum-FKP or BCG-FKP vaccinated groups (p < 0.01). The highest interferon-&#947; responses were observed in the BCG-FKP group followed by the MISA-FKP while the alum-FKP gave the least responses. Significantly reduced lesion sizes were obtained in the MISA-FKP group compared to the BCG/alum adjuvants-FKP vaccinated groups. Although the BCG-FKP group showed the highest IFN-&#947; responses, it failed to control cutaneous lesions. Significant reductions in parasite numbers were observed in the MISA-FKP and BCG-FKP vaccinated groups (p < 0.001). There was a good correlation between parasite burden and IFN-&#947; level indicating IFN-&#947; response as a sensitive parameter of the immune status. In conclusion, MISA-FKP is the most efficacious vaccine formulation against murine cutaneous leishmaniasis

Factors influencing choice of skilled birth attendance at ANC: evidence from the Kenya demographic health survey

Background: In Kenya, skilled attendance at delivery is well below the international target of 90% and the maternal mortality ratio is high at 362 (CI 254–471) per 100,000 live births despite various interventions. The preventative role of skilled attendance at delivery makes it a benchmark indicator for safe motherhood. Methods: Maternal health data from the Service Provision Assessment Survey, a subset of the 2010 Kenya Demographic Health Survey was analyzed. Logistic regression models were employed using likelihood ratio test to explore association between choice of skilled attendance and predictor variables. Results: Overall, 94.8% of women are likely to seek skilled attendance at delivery. Cost, education level, number of antenatal visits and sex of provider were strongly associated with client’s intention to deliver with a skilled birth attendant at delivery. Women who reported having enough money set aside for delivery were 4.34 (p \u3c 0.002, 95% CI: 1.73; 10.87) times more likely to seek skilled attendance. Those with primary education and above were 6.6 times more likely to seek skilled attendance than those with no formal education (p \u3c 0.001, 95% CI: 3.66; 11.95). Women with four or more antenatal visits were 5.95 (p \u3c 0.018, 95% CI: 1.35; 26.18) times more likely to seek skilled attendance. Compared to men, female providers impacted more on the client’s plan (OR=2.02 (p \u3c 0.014, 95% CI: 1.35; 3.53). Conclusion: Interventions aimed at improving skilled attendance at delivery should include promotion of formal education of women and financial preparation for delivery. Whenever circumstances permit, women should be allowed to choose gender of preferred professional attendant at delivery

Turn-Around Strategy by Kwale International Sugar Company Limited

Turnaround strategic management philosophy revolves around short-term survivability while endeavoring not to compromise longer-term turnaround viability thereafter. The study sought to bring out clearly the strategies employed by Kwale Sugar Company Limited to revamp back to life after having collapsed for a very long period of time. The main objectives of the study included identifying the turnaround strategies adopted by the company and also establish the factors influencing the turnaround process. One of the important strategies included reorganizing, refocusing of the existing team under new leadership, turnaround management consulting support and the extensive support from turnaround interim managers. The study applied a case study since it is a research on one organization targeting senior managers as the respondents. The study used both primary and secondary data. Primary data was collected using interview guide as data instrument whereas secondary data was collected from the organization brochures, available documents and the web. Data was analyzed using content analysis and findings of the study were analyzed in prose. From the findings of the study, some of the many strategies employed by the Company to revamp back to business included financial restructuring, reorganization, strategic repositioning, modernization and asset reduction. Execution of the turnaround strategy faces immense complexities, pressure of limited time, information and resources, as well as uncertainty about the future which have to be addressed. As a conclusion, the study found out that various strategies need to be applied in plural to have a successful turnaround process. Keywords: Turn-around strategy and survival abilit

Segurança e reação de hipersensibilidade tardia na pele de macacos vervet imunizados com antígeno sonicado de Leishmania donovani junto com adjuvantes

In this study, we report on the safety and skin delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH), responses of the Leishmania donovani whole cell sonicate antigen delivered in conjunction with alum-BCG (AlBCG), Montanide ISA 720 (MISA) or Monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) in groups of vervet monkeys. Following three intradermal injections of the inoculums on days 0, 28 and 42, safety and DTH responses were assessed. Preliminary tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-&#945;) and interferon gamma (IFN-&#947;) levels were also measured and these were compared with DTH. Only those animals immunized with alum-BCG reacted adversely to the inoculum by producing ulcerative erythematous skin indurations. Non-parametric analysis of variance followed by a post-test showed significantly higher DTH responses in the MISA+Ag group compared with other immunized groups (p < 0.001). The MPLA+Ag group indicated significantly lower DTH responses to the sonicate antigen compared with the AlBCG+Ag group. There was a significant correlation between the DTH and cytokine responses (p < 0.0001). Based on this study we conclude that Leishmania donovani sonicate antigen containing MISA 720 is safe and is associated with a strong DTH reaction following immunization.Neste estudo reportamos segurança e resposta de hipersensibilidade tardia (DTH) do antígeno sonicado de células totais de Leishmania donovani introduzidos juntamente com alume-BCG (AIBCG) Montanide ISA 720 (MISA) ou lípide A monofosforilado (MPLA) em grupos de macacos vervet. Depois de três injeções intradérmicas do inóculo nos dias 0, 28 e 42 segurança e resposta DTH foram avaliados. Preliminarmente níveis de fator de necrose tumoral alfa (TNF-&#945;) e interferon gama (IFN-&#947;) foram também medidos e comparados com o DTH. Somente os animais imunizados com alume-BCG reagiram de maneira diversa ao inóculo produzindo indurações ulceradas e eritematosas na pele. Análise não paramétrica de variação seguida por um teste posterior mostraram resposta significantemente mais alta do DTH no grupo MISA + Ag quando comparado com outros grupos imunizados (p < 0.001). O grupo MPLA + Ag demonstrou resposta DTH significantemente menor do antígeno sonicado comparado com o grupo AIBCG + Ag. Houve correlação significante entre o DTH e a resposta às citocinas (p < 0.0001). Baseados neste estudo concluímos que o antígeno sonicado de Leishmania donovani contendo MISA 720 é seguro e está associado com forte reação DTH após imunização