Selecting a Sampling Plan for Reinforcement Bars

In this study we employ modern statistical methods to the sampling problem. The application of statistics by engineers dates back a long while in solving industrial, management, and research problems. Quality and reliability engineers, technicians and laboratory analysts, inspectors, operators, opinion pollsters and other scholars are known users of sampling methods. Sampling techniques save time and cost and obtain relevant data that is representative. The methods described here are viable alternatives to the sampling problem. Ultimately the cost factor comes out as the loudest voice in the debate on best choice of sampling plan for reinforcement bars in Kenya. Keywords: normal distribution, standard deviation, variance, opinion poll, random sampling, confidence level, acceptable error, representative sample, population size, sample size, accidental sampling

A CUSTOMER-EMPLOYEE ENCOUNTER: A REVIEW OF CUSTOMER QUALITY CONTROL ON RESTAURANT FOOD SERVICE

Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this study review was to fill the literature gap into the customer quality control on restaurant food and beverage service, with the objective of identifying customer quality control methodologies within the hospitality’s food and beverage operations. Methodology: For purposes of carrying out the study review, the concept of customer employees encounter in the process of not only creating and offering goods and services but also the quality control aspect, and the various methodologies in doing so were considered and reviewed. The study employed a meta-analysis in gathering, analyzing, presentation and discussion of the study results. Main Findings: The study review findings reveal that hospitality organizations are facing a drift from the conventional restaurant standard operating procedures in reference to foodservice quality control with the customer taking a central position in the production and presentation of food services. Limitations: This is a study review and therefore the study findings were arrived at in consideration of mainly secondary sources. Some studies are traditionally region and/ or country-specific and therefore much caution is needed when generalizing the study findings. Social implications: There is a myriad of ways through which restaurant food service quality control can be integrated into the customer employee service encounter. They reviewed three main methodologies in this study review may provide the best tools not only for quality control function but also build confidence among the customer base, thus yielding customer satisfaction and retention on the one hand, while creating business sustainability on the other hand. Originality: This study will, therefore, help the hospitality restaurant business to appreciate the role of customers in the process of quality services provision, thus enable organizations to achieve a strategic business competitive position

THE TIPPING CONSEQUENCE ON HOSPITALITY’S RESTAURANT FOOD AND BEVERAGE SERVICE RESPONSIVENESS IN KISUMU COUNTY - KENYA

Purpose of study: The purpose of this study was to investigate the tipping consequence of restaurant food service responsiveness. Methodology: The study employed a descriptive survey approach within Kisumu County in Kenya, with a focus on classified hotel restaurant (dependent). A simple random sampling methodology was applied in the selection of restaurant clients, with a sample size of 384 respondents. Main Findings: According to the study, tipping was found to have an effect on foodservice responsiveness (P ˂ 0.05), and thus a clear indication that foodservice responsiveness is dependent on tipping within classified dependent restaurants in Kisumu County, Kenya. Limitations: The study captured dependent restaurants in star-rated hotels within Kisumu County. Therefore, the results of the study may be applied with caution outside the scope of the study. Social Implications: Since its inception, tipping has been thought of as an incentive towards quality food service provision, hence customer satisfaction and retention. However, tipping has had a negative influence on foodservice responsiveness and therefore a compromise on food service quality, customer satisfaction and retention. Originality: There is insufficient literature on the topic, although with a handful on the relationship between service quality and tipping. This study will, therefore, fill the gap and used as a benchmark for other studies within not only the hospitality industry but the entire service industry. As a result, the study will be utilized both in policy and practice

Effects of exposing adults of Amblyomma variegatum to neem cake extracts in traps baited with semiochemicals under semi–laboratory conditions

The efficacy of a trap baited with an attractant blend comprising of attraction aggregation- attachment pheromone (AAAP), 1-octen-3-ol and CO2 and treated with Neem (Azadirachta indica) cake extracts (0.6% of azadirachtin) to attract and expose the ticks, Amblyomma variegatum (Fabricius) (Acari: Ixodidae) to the active constituents of the cake was evaluated in circular field plots.. Ticks were released at various distances from trap placed at the center of the plots. Ticks that arrived at the trap (and exposed to the extracts) and those in control plots were collected and their mortality was monitored in the laboratory over a three-week period. All concentrations of the neem extracts caused mortality of A. variegatum adults with highest mortality rate (97.8%) recorded in the concentration of 30 % of extracts. The mortality of the ticks was also dependent upon the time ticks were exposed to the extracts. The findings suggest the possibility of using semiochemicals-baited traps in combination with neem extracts for off-host control of these ticks in smallholder farms.Key words: Amblyomma variegatum, traps, Azadirachta indica, semiochemical

Infection with high-risk genotypes of human papillomavirus and cervical cytological findings among kidney transplant recipients in Kenya: a single centre experience

Background: High-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infection is linked with uterine cervix premalignant lesions and invasive carcinomaof the uterine cervix. Methods: Descriptive cross sectional study carried out among female kidney transplant (KTx) recipients in Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi-Kenya. We studied the risk factors for acquisition of hrHPV, examined cervical cytology and assayed for 14 hrHPV DNA using Cervista® HPV HR test and Cervista® MTA (Hologic®) automated platforms. Results: The 14-hrHPV genotypes assayed were 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, and 68 and the prevalence rate was 31.25 % (10/32). Abnormal cervical cytology was noted in 4/32 (12.5%) and included low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (2/32), atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (1/32) and atypical glandular cells (1/32). The average age was 41.9 years with mean age at first coitus being 20.4 years. Majority of the women 20(62.5%) were married while 8(25%) were single. About 18(56.3%) had only one sexual partner. About 20% of women were nulliparous and 4(12.5%) had a parity of five. Duration since transplantation ranged between 1-21 years. Conclusions: The burden of hrHPV and abnormal cervical cytology in our study seemed lower than that reported elsewhere andeven in general population. This study may form basis for further studies about HPV infections and carcinoma of the uterine cervixamong the kidney allograft recipients in our setting. Keywords: Cervical carcinoma; kidney transplant recipients; high risk Human Papillomavirus

A Single-Arm, Proof-Of-Concept Trial of Lopimune (Lopinavir/Ritonavir) as a Treatment for HPV-Related Pre-Invasive Cervical Disease

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is the most common female malignancy in the developing nations and the third most common cancer in women globally. An effective, inexpensive and self-applied topical treatment would be an ideal solution for treatment of screen-detected, pre-invasive cervical disease in low resource settings. METHODS: Between 01/03/2013 and 01/08/2013, women attending Kenyatta National Hospital's Family Planning and Gynaecology Outpatients clinics were tested for HIV, HPV (Cervista®) and liquid based cervical cytology (LBC -ThinPrep®). HIV negative women diagnosed as high-risk HPV positive with high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) were examined by colposcopy and given a 2 week course of 1 capsule of Lopimune (CIPLA) twice daily, to be self-applied as a vaginal pessary. Colposcopy, HPV testing and LBC were repeated at 4 and 12 weeks post-start of treatment with a final punch biopsy at 3 months for histology. Primary outcome measures were acceptability of treatment with efficacy as a secondary consideration. RESULTS: A total of 23 women with HSIL were treated with Lopimune during which time no adverse reactions were reported. A maximum concentration of 10 ng/ml of lopinavir was detected in patient plasma 1 week after starting treatment. HPV was no longer detected in 12/23 (52.2%, 95%CI: 30.6-73.2%). Post-treatment cytology at 12 weeks on women with HSIL, showed 14/22 (63.6%, 95%CI: 40.6-82.8%) had no dysplasia and 4/22 (18.2%, 95%CI: 9.9-65.1%) were now low grade demonstrating a combined positive response in 81.8% of women of which 77.8% was confirmed by histology. These data are supported by colposcopic images, which show regression of cervical lesions. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate the potential of Lopimune as a self-applied therapy for HPV infection and related cervical lesions. Since there were no serious adverse events or detectable post-treatment morbidity, this study indicates that further trials are clearly justified to define optimal regimes and the overall benefit of this therapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN Registry 48776874

High-Risk Cervical Human Papillomavirus Infections among Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Positive Women in the Bahamas

Background\ud \ud High-risk (HR) HPV genotypes other than 16 and 18 have been detected in a significant proportion of immunocompromised females. We aim to evaluate the frequency of HR HPV genotypes in a population of HIV-positive Caribbean women.\ud Methods\ud \ud One hundred sixty-seven consecutive, non-pregnant, HIV-positive females ≥18 years were recruited in this study. Each participant received a vaginal examination, PAP smear, and completed a questionnaire. DNA was extracted for HPV testing in 86 patients.\ud Results\ud \ud Mean age was 39.1 years for women positive for HR HPV and 43.1 years for women negative for HR HPV (P value = 0.040). 78% (130/167) of the women had HR HPV infections; the prevalence of abnormal cervical cytology was 38% among women who were HR HPV-positive compared to women who were HR HPV-negative (22%). Fifty-one percent of the 86 women with available genotype carried infections with HPV 16 and/or HPV 18; genotypes of unknown risk were also frequently observed. Women who had a CD4+ count of ≤200 had 7 times increased odds of carrying HR HPV infection in comparison to women with CD4+>200.\ud Conclusions\ud \ud HR HPV infections in HIV infected females may consist of more than just HPV 16 and 18, but also HPV 52 and 58. Further studies are needed to determine whether HPV 52 and 58 play a significant role in the development of cervical cytological abnormalities in HIV+ women

Infection of the malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae, with two species of entomopathogenic fungi: effects of concentration, co-formulation, exposure time and persistence

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Entomopathogenic fungi <it>Metarhizium anisopliae </it>and <it>Beauveria bassiana </it>isolates have been shown to infect and reduce the survival of mosquito vectors.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Here four different bioassays were conducted to study the effect of conidia concentration, co-formulation, exposure time and persistence of the isolates <it>M. anisopliae </it>ICIPE-30 and <it>B. bassiana </it>I93-925 on infection and survival rates of female <it>Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto</it>. Test concentrations and exposure times ranged between 1 × 10⁷- 4 × 10¹⁰conidia m^-2and 15 min - 6 h. In co-formulations, 2 × 10¹⁰conidia m^-2of both fungus isolates were mixed at ratios of 4:1, 2:1, 1:1,1:0, 0:1, 1:2 and 1:4. To determine persistence, mosquitoes were exposed to surfaces treated 1, 14 or 28 d previously, with conidia concentrations of 2 × 10⁹, 2 × 10¹⁰or 4 × 10¹⁰.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Mosquito survival varied with conidia concentration; 2 × 10¹⁰conidia m^-2was the concentration above which no further reductions in survival were detectable for both isolates of fungus. The survival of mosquitoes exposed to single and co-formulated treatments was similar and no synergistic or additive effects were observed. Mosquitoes were infected within 30 min and longer exposure times did not result in a more rapid killing effect. Fifteen min exposure still achieved considerable mortality rates (100% mortality by 14 d) of mosquitoes, but at lower speed than with 30 min exposure (100% mortality by 9 d). Conidia remained infective up to 28 d post-application but higher concentrations did not increase persistence.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Both fungus isolates are effective and persistent at low concentrations and short exposure times.</p

Expression of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Capsid Proteins in Silkworm-Baculovirus Expression System and Its Utilization as a Subunit Vaccine

Background: Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious disease of livestock that causes severe economic loss in susceptible cloven-hoofed animals. Although the traditional inactivated vaccine has been proved effective, it may lead to a new outbreak of FMD because of either incomplete inactivation of FMDV or the escape of live virus from vaccine production workshop. Thus, it is urgent to develop a novel FMDV vaccine that is safer, more effective and more economical than traditional vaccines. Methodology and Principal Findings: A recombinant silkworm baculovirus Bm-P12A3C which contained the intact P1-2A and 3C protease coding regions of FMDV Asia 1/HNK/CHA/05 was developed. Indirect immunofluorescence test and sandwich-ELISA were used to verify that Bm-P12A3C could express the target cassette. Expression products from silkworm were diluted to 30 folds and used as antigen to immunize cattle. Specific antibody was induced in all vaccinated animals. After challenge with virulent homologous virus, four of the five animals were completely protected, and clinical symptoms were alleviated and delayed in the remaining one. Furthermore, a PD50 (50 % bovine protective dose) test was performed to assess the bovine potency of the subunit vaccine. The result showed the subunit vaccine could achieve 6.34 PD50 per dose