Euroopa Liidu identiteedi kujunemine ja roll Valgevene-suunalise välispoliitika diskursuses

The paper deals with identity articulations in foreign policy, using European Union’s (EU’s) human rights policy in Belarus as an example. Based on poststructuralist discourse analysis of formal documents, the study analyzes how does the identity of the EU define this discourse, how does this discourse reproduce the EU’s identity, and what can we say about the EU as a foreign policy actor in international relations. In the paper Belarus as a significant Other for the EU is also analyzed. The latter is a good example because of its poor human rights records and ‘dictatorship’ that is in contrast to the democratic society of the EU. The latter sees Belarus as Europe’s ‘black sheep’. This figure is also a metaphor for Belarus as the Other. Seeing Belarus as the Other makes it possible to (re)produce the EU’s own identity by identifying what the Self is not. Through human rights policy discourse, the EU confirms its self-image as the fighter for human rights and also legitimizes its actions in the eyes of the West and itself

A geo-electrical resistivity conceptual model update for the Menengai geothermal system

A geo‐electrical conceptual model for the Menengai geothermal prospect is built using magnetotellurics data both of low and high amplitude collected over time. The data is corrected for static shift by use of transient electromagnetic data collected at the same data stations. Data collected previously in the same area using these techniques is also incorporated into the working data base. The entire data set is jointly inverted and cross sections taken along four profiles cutting across the caldera and intersecting major structures in the area. An interpretation of these results show the existence of geothermal indicators within the caldera bounds with a general north‐eastern to south‐western trend and is significantly shallower towards the eastKey words: Geothermal, Menengai, resistivity, MT, TEM, AM

Antitubercular and Phytochemical Investigation of Methanol Extracts of Medicinal Plants Used by the Samburu Community in Kenya

Purpose: To determine the potential benefits of nine medicinal plants used by the Samburu community for the treatment of tuberculosis.Methods: The extract was tested against four strains of Mycobacteria namely; Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), M. Kansasii (Mk), M. fortuitum (Mf), and M. smegmatis (Ms) using BACTEC MGIT960 system. The crude extracts were also analyzed for the presence of phytochemical constituents. Results: Both the extracts of Scadoxus multiflorus and Acacia nilotica showed strong antimycobacterialactivity against the four tuberculosis-causing strains. Eurphobia scarlatina was the most active against both the slow (Mtb and Mk) and the fast (Mf and Ms) growers with Zero GUs at 0.5mg/ml. Phytochemical screening indicated presence or absence of tannins, saponins and flavonoids, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides and alkaloids in the extracts. Conclusion: The data suggest that some of the methanol extracts could be a rich source of antituberculosis agents. The results further show that there is some merit in the use of some of the plants studied in alternative medical practice. Pharmacological and toxicological studies of the active plants are still under investigation.Keywords:  Medicinal plants, Methanol extract, Antituberculosis, Samburu

Broad spectrum antibiotic use among in-patients at a hospital in Nairobi, Kenya

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is an increasingly serious threat to global public health. While the use of antibiotics is an important contributing factor, there are gaps regarding this in our region. This study aimed to describe the use of nine broad spectrum antibiotics among in-patients of The Nairobi Hospital (TNH) so as to identify opportunities for quality improvement.Methods: This was a retrospective review of the use of meropenem, ertapenem, imipenem, cefepime, piperacillin, gentamicin, amikacin, vancomycin and teicoplanin among in-patients of TNH from 1st January 2018 to 31st March 2018. Demographic and clinical data of all in-patients who were prescribed these antibiotics during the study period were retrieved from patient files.Results: There were 301 study participants with a median age (range) of 30years (1day-74years), of whom 161 (53.5%) were male. More than half of the participants were admitted for less than one week and had at least one co-morbidity. Meropenem was the most commonly prescribed study antibiotic 123 (40.9%) followed by amikacin 89 (29.6%). Respiratory tract infections 125 (41.5%) were the predominant indications. Meropenem had the longest mean duration of administration, 6.5days while the aminoglycosides were administered for a relatively shorter duration of about 4.8days. Cultures were done on 187 (62.1%) patients though it is only samples of 45 patients that grew an organism, E. coli and Klebsiella sp being the most frequently isolated organisms.Conclusions: There’s a need to strongly intensify implementation of restriction strategies for Meropenem use and introduction of education programs on antimicrobial stewardship targeting all prescribers

FACTORS AFFECTING TAX COMPLIANCE AMONG SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SMES) IN NAKURU COUNTY IN KENYA: A SURVEY OF SMES IN NAIVASHA SUB COUNTY

The study purpose was to establish factors affecting tax compliance among SMEs in Naivasha Sub-County, case study of Naivasha town Central Business District (CBD). The study specific objectives were: To determine the effect of tax knowledge on tax compliance amongst SMEs in Naivasha Sub-County; to establish the effect of tax rates on tax compliance among the SMEs in Naivasha Sub-County; to determine the effect of filing procedures on tax compliance amongst SMEs in Naivasha Sub-County and to establish the effect of tax accountability on tax compliance among the SMEs in Naivasha Sub-County. Research study adopted descriptive research design. Data collection was done using questionnaires that were pilot tested first before administration and the analysis was carried out with the aid of SPSS and descriptive statistics and results are presented in table and figures. The study found out that taxpayer’s knowledge, tax rate, filling procedures and accountability are among the factors that affects tax compliance among SMEs. The study established that Tax data, tax learning tends to advance tax compliance than tax organization and thus informing taxpayers on taxation laws and controls by coordinate free symposia and courses. The study also established that Tax rates are too high, fines and penalties charged for late fillings are stiff, the cost required for filling the tax returns is high, hiring a profession to do the fillings as expensive and that the number of government bodies involved in tax collection are many and this has led to poor tax compliance. The study also established that concluded that procedures for tax filing are too complicated, the tax complexity of laws contribute to wrong tax returns, forms taxpayer has to present and combining filings number per year are numerous, there are delays in electronic filing and payment systems. Research study concluded that low level of accountability and transparency in the use of public resources creates distrust of the tax system, misuse of tax revenue by officials entrusted with its management affects tax morale thus leading to evasion, inadequate laws reduces the accountability in public institutions that affects the level of compliance among the taxpayers if the government uses the tax it collects for development and provision of quality services and Tax payers are apprehensive of the need for paying taxes when governments are not accountable hence the low level of tax compliance. The study concluded that tax rates, PAYE, tax penalties and fines contribute greatly to tax compliance and finally tax compliance cost have the most significant influence on tax compliance. Tax threshold for SMEs should be reduced to a maximum of four tax returns per year and should have a possibility of moving it towards annual or after every six months and KRA should consider simplifying returns by regularly reviewing tax laws. The study also concludes that tax compliance can be influenced by provision of tax payer education on the social responsibility for paying taxes and taxpayer’s intention would be to comply. There are more gains in assisting compliant taxpayers in meeting their fiscal obligation instead of spending more resources on a few non compliers. SMEs are able to understand tax obligation where there is tax benefits and tax benefits that are received in real time. The study recommended that tax payers learning ought to be emphasized since tax data, tax learning tends to advance tax compliance than tax organization. The study recommend that tax rates should be reduced since expansion in tax rates prompts higher development, appropriation and offering costs which prompt higher costs and accordingly customers change their purchasing conduct, tax laws should not be complex so as to not contribute to wrong tax returns and that recommended there should be Tax accountability and transparency with greater emphasis on the various kinds of taxes such as firm’s income tax, individual income tax, value added tax, petroleum profit tax and stamp duties since they are perceived to have a direct correlation with the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

Patient Associated Factors that Affect Adherence to Warfarin Therapy in a Tertiary Referral Hospital in Kenya

Warfarin is the most widely used oral anticoagulant but non-adherence to its therapy contributes significantly to sub-optimal anticoagulation control. A crosssectional study was carried out among 147 adult outpatients at Kenyatta National Hospital to determine the level of adherence and explore the associated factors. Adherence was associated with age, gender heart valve surgery, alcohol consumption, and cost of treatment. On multivariate analysis, the independent variables associated with adequate adherence were age (OR = 0.429, 95% CI = 0.228-0.808; p = 0.009), gender (OR = 0.299, 95% CI = 0.123-0.728; p = 0.008) and the type of thromboembolic disease (OR = 0.385, 95% CI = 0.214-0.690; p = 0.001). Adherence was better among females, older age groups and patients who had undergone heart valve surgery. Adherence was poorer among males, younger participants and patients with venous thromboembolism. We suggest that medication adherence counseling to warfarin therapy should be emphasized in poor-adherent patient populations.Key words: Warfarin, adherence, patient factors, Keny

Characterization, Comparative Genomics and Genome Mining for Antibiotics and Secondary Metabolite of two Actinomycetales isolates

Actinomycetes are ubiquitous Gram (+) bacteria commonly found to have high G+C content and best known for their metabolic by-products and novel enzymes [1]. Isolates CCMMD2014 & MRMD2014 were co-cultured from soil impacted by a rusty fire hydrant in Woods Hole, MA. The Streptomyces sp. and Curtobacterium sp. isolates were identified by marker genes for 16S rRNA, rpoB, xylose isomerase, tryptophan synthase beta chain and Cytochrome P450 monooxygenase. Both isolates showed lactic acid fermentation and urease activity. The co-isolates were separated by selective culturing with antibiotics. In addition, whole genome sequencing revealed distinct inherent metabolic pathways in each culture that allowed for mutually exclusive selective culture conditions. Assembly was done using HGAP3 with Celera8 assembler using SMRT portal [2,3]. Annotation was done using the RAST server [4], with 7540 and 3969 CDS for Streptomyces sp. and Curtobacterium sp. respectively being revealed by AMIGene and BASys [5,6]. Subsequently, antiSMASH [7], was used to predict 52 and 26 secondary metabolite biosynthetic clusters that included genes for lantipeptides, terpenes, siderophores, polyketide synthases type I and II, bacteriocin and nonribosomal peptide synthase genes for Streptomyces sp. and Curtobacterium sp. respectively. The isolates have genes of potentially beneficial traits that could help study, among others, the role of fimbrial adhesins and iron in biofilm formation and investigation on natural products

Body-wave tomographic imaging of the Turkana Depression: Implications for rift development and plume-lithosphere interactions

The Turkana Depression, a topographically-subdued, broadly-rifted zone between the elevated East African and Ethiopian plateaus, disrupts the N–S, fault-bounded rift basin morphology that characterizes most of the East African Rift. The unusual breadth of the Turkana Depression leaves unanswered questions about the initiation and evolution of rifting between the Main Ethiopian and Eastern rifts. Hypotheses explaining the unusually broad, low-lying area include superposed Mesozoic and Cenozoic rifting and a lack of mantle lithospheric thinning and dynamic support. To address these issues, we have carried out the first body-wave tomographic study of the Depression’s upper mantle. Seismically-derived temperatures at 100 km depth exceed petrological estimates, suggesting the presence of mantle melt, although not as voluminous as the Main Ethiopian Rift, contributes to velocity anomalies. A NW–SE-trending high wavespeed band in southern Ethiopia at urn:x-wiley:15252027:media:ggge22580:ggge22580-math-0001200 km depth is interpreted as refractory Proterozoic lithosphere which has likely influenced the localization of both Mesozoic and Cenozoic rifting. At urn:x-wiley:15252027:media:ggge22580:ggge22580-math-0002100 km depth below the central Depression, a single localized low wavespeed zone is lacking. Only in the northernmost Eastern Rift and southern Lake Turkana is there evidence for focused low wavespeeds resembling the Main Ethiopian Rift, that bifurcate below the Depression and broaden approaching southern Ethiopia further north. These low wavespeeds may be attributed to melt-intruded mantle lithosphere or ponded asthenospheric material below lithospheric thin-spots induced by the region's multiple rifting phases. Low wavespeeds persist to the mantle transition zone suggesting the Depression may not lack mantle dynamic support in comparison to the two plateaus

The development of multiple phases of superposed rifting in the Turkana Depression, East Africa: evidence from receiver functions

The Turkana Depression in Eastern Africa separates the elevated plateaus of East Africa to the south and Ethiopia-Yemen to the north. It remains unclear whether the Depression lacks dynamic mantle support, or if the entire East Africa region is dynamically supported and the Depression compensated isostatically by thinned crust. Also poorly understood is how Miocene-Recent extension has developed across the Depression, connecting spatially separated magmatic rift zones in Ethiopia and Kenya. Receiver function analysis is used to constrain Moho depth and bulk-crustal V P /V S ratio below new seismograph networks in the Depression, and on the northern Tanzania craton. Crustal thickness is ∼40 km below northern Uganda and 30–35 km below southern Ethiopia, but 20–30 km below most of the Depression, where mass-balance calculations reveal low elevations can be explained adequately by crustal thinning alone. Despite the fact that magmatism has occurred for 45 Ma across the Depression, more than 15 Ma before East African Rift (EAR) extension initiated, bulk crustal V P /V S across southern Ethiopia and the Turkana Depression (∼1.74) is similar to that observed in areas unaffected by Cenozoic rifting and magmatism. Evidence for voluminous lower crustal intrusions and/or melt, widespread below the Ethiopian rift and Ethiopian plateau to the north, is therefore lacking. These observations, when reviewed in light of high stretching factors (β ≤ 2.11), suggest Cenozoic extension has been dominated until recently by faulting and plate stretching, rather than magma intrusion, which is likely an incipient process, operating directly below seismically-active Lake Turkana. Early-stage EAR basins to the west of Lake Turkana, with associated stretching factors of β ≈ 2, formed in crust only moderately thinned during earlier rifting episodes. Conversely, ∼23 km-thick crust beneath the Kino Sogo Fault Belt (KSFB) has small offset faults and thin sedimentary strata, suggesting almost all of the observed stretching occurred in Mesozoic times. Despite the KSFB marking the shortest path between focused extensional zones to the north and south, seismicity and GPS data show that modern extension is localized below Lake Turkana to the west. Failed Mesozoic rift zones, now characterized by thinned crust and relatively refractory mantle lithosphere, are being circumnavigated, not exploited by EAR rifting