A survey of the distribution of and consumer preference for dried fruits and vegetables in the Harare-Chitungwiza metropolis

A journal article based on a survey of the distribution of and consumer preference for dried fruits and vegetables in Zimbabwe.The distribution of and consumer preference for dried fruits and vegetables in the Harare-Chitungwiza metropolis was studied by conducting two surveys. Data was collected over eight weeks between December 1999 and February 2000. The survey on the distribution of dried fruits and vegetables was conducted in 47 retail shops located in low, medium-and high density areas and the Central Business District (CBD). Low density areas are generally inhabited by high income earners (at least US$909 to Z$50 000 per month) while medium income earners inhabit medium density areas (earning between US$182 and US$909 to Z$10 000 and Z$50 000). The high density areas are home to low income earners earning at most US$182 (Z$10 000). The objective of the survey was to determine the types and brands of dried fruits and vegetables on the market, their source, and to draw a comparison between the prices of fresh and dried products. The products on the market were found to be predominantly from Zimbabwe and South Africa. The distribution of products was found to be related to the socioeconomic status of the hinterland serviced by a particular shop. Low density area shops had more total products (both fresh and dry) than the shops in other residential areas. Shops in the low density areas and the CBD had equal ratios of fresh and dried products suggesting that they were patronised by the same type of clients. Medium density area shops had 16 times more fresh than dried products while shops in the high density areas had no dried products at all. On a weight basis dried products were found to be more expensive than fresh products. Price ratios for dried to fresh products ranged from four-fold for apples (Malus domestics Borkh.) to 20 fold for mangoes (Mangifera indica L.). The survey on consumer preference for dried products was conducted by administering samples of dried fruits; mangoes, apples, peaches (Prunus persica L. Batsch) and pears (Pyrus communis L.) and questionnaires to a total of 120 individuals in the Harare-Chitungwiza metropolis. The survey was aimed at determining the favourite brand of product for each fruit as well as the attribute considered to be the most important by the consumers, in influencing their preference for the products among colour, texture, taste, shape, size and smell. Optimal Scaling Procedures were used to analyse the data. For all fruits colour was considered to be the most important attribute followed by taste and smell, respectively. Size and texture were considered of less importance in influencing consumer preference

Indigenous and institutional profile: Limpopo River Basin

River basins / Water resource management / History / Institutions / Social aspects / Legal aspects

AIDS-related mycoses: the way forward.

The contribution of fungal infections to the morbidity and mortality of HIV-infected individuals is largely unrecognized. A recent meeting highlighted several priorities that need to be urgently addressed, including improved epidemiological surveillance, increased availability of existing diagnostics and drugs, more training in the field of medical mycology, and better funding for research and provision of treatment, particularly in developing countries

Cryptococcal infection in the era of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) amomg HIV infected patients with meningitis at a tertiary hospital in a low - resource setting.

Background: Despite improved access to anti-retroviral therapy (ART) in Africa, HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis (CM) appears to remain a cause of substantial morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan African. This study determined the prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of CM among HIV positive meningitis patients at a tertiary hospital in Zimbabwe. Methods: Eligible HIV positive patients admitted with clinical features of meningitis were recruited into the study. CM was diagnosed on the basis of a positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture for cryptococcus species, a positive CSF cryptococcal antigen test (CRAG) or a positive CSF India ink test. Patients’ demographic information, clinical features and laboratory test values were recorded. Results: One hundred and forty-four participants were enrolled into the study. CM was diagnosed in 41% (59/144). Of the patients with CM, slightly more than half [54.2% (32/59)] were on ART and 53% (17/32) had initiated ART within one year prior to the diagnosis of CM. Median current CD4 counts were significantly lower among CM patients [32 .0(IQR 10.5 – 64.0)] compared to non-CM patients [158.0(IQR: 47.0–324.0)] (p<0.001). In-hospital mortality associated with CM was 45%. Conclusions: The proportion of cryptococcal meningitis cases and the associated in-hospital mortality were very high in the study. This suggests that cryptococcal disease burden is still significantly high despite improved access to ART. Expansion of prevention strategies, such as screening for asymptomatic cryptococcal infection among patients with low CD4 count (less than 200), has the potential to improve the morbidity and mortality associated with cryptococcal meningitis

Intercultural consolidation: exploring the experiences of internationally qualified social workers and the English post-qualifying framework

The increasing movement of social workers from one country to another, especially with the expansion of the European Union, appears likely to pose a number of challenges to host countries in terms of receiving, supporting and developing social workers who trained in other countries. This paper explores the provision of a post-qualifying ‘consolidation’ module to a group of 15 internationally qualified social workers and evaluates both the student experience and the cultural challenges faced by individual social workers who came to practise in England after qualifying in their home countries. These social workers undertook the module at the University of Greenwich in London, England, and were selected for this as a part of a project with two London boroughs. Factors which have an important influence on successful ‘settlement’ into a new role and culture are discussed and analysed. It is argued that the provision of post-qualifying training can be a key part of the acculturation process but timing and other factors need to be considered. The paper explores what was learned from the project and its evaluation about the experiences and support needs of internationally qualified social workers. The project took place in 2007-2008 and was evaluated

Parameter Baserad Prediktionsmodell för Upplevd Talkvalité i Säker VoIP trafik

More and more sensitive information is communicated digitally and with thatcomes the demand for security and privacy on the services being used. An accurateQoS metric for these services are of interest both for the customer and theservice provider. This thesis has investigated the impact of different parameterson the perceived voice quality for encrypted VoIP using a PESQ score as referencevalue. Based on this investigation a parametric prediction model has been developedwhich outputs a R-value, comparable to that of the widely used E-modelfrom ITU. This thesis can further be seen as a template for how to construct modelsof other equipments or codecs than those evaluated here since they effect theresult but are hard to parametrise. The results of the investigation are consistent with previous studies regarding theimpact of packet loss, the impact of jitter is shown to be significant over 40 ms.The results from three different packetizers are presented which illustrates theneed to take such aspects into consideration when constructing a model to predictvoice quality. The model derived from the investigation performs well withno mean error and a standard deviation of the error of a mere 1:45 R-value unitswhen validated in conditions to be expected in GSM networks. When validatedagainst an emulated 3G network the standard deviation is even lower.