Optical stability and spectroscopic studies of 1,1-binaphthyl and related compounds

Previous work on tlie optical stabilities of substituted 1,1'-binaphthyls has shown that the energy of activation for the racemisation of optically active 1,1'-binaphtliyls with Planar substituents in the 8,8- positions is almost identical with that of unsubstituted 1,1'-binaphthyl. 8'-Methyl-1,1'-binaphthyl-8-carboxylic acid has been prepared, resolved and its Arrhenius parameters and transition state theory functions for racemisation determined. The values of , and A S are remarkably close to those of 8-methyl-1,1'-binaphthyl and it is concluded that here again the -COOH group offers a negligible steric barrier to the transition state for racemisation.Optically active 2,2'-dimethyl-1,1'-binaphthyl has been synthesised and found to be highly optically stable; this is explained on the basis that its ground state energy is much lower than that of an 8,8'-substituted 1,1'-binaphthyl.Attention was then turned to an investigation of the ground states of certain of the substituted 1,1'-binaphthyls using , mass spectra, O.R.D. and C.D. Ultraviolet spectra indicate that the 8,8'-substituted 1,1'-binaphthyls are overall more "planar" than 2,2'-substituted 1,1'-binaphthyls. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectra indicate that the substituents in the 2,2'- positions are further away<p

Assessment of Community Participation in Solid Waste Management in Bagamoyo Town, Tanzania

Solid waste management is a primary cause for concern in most municipals in Tanzania as most municipals cannot collect and dispose-off all of the solid waste generated, the remaining are left causing health hazards, smell nuisance, increased pests and environmental problems. This study assessed local community participation in solid waste management in Bagamoyo town, Tanzania. A cross sectional study was used in the study and data were collected using both structured and non-structured interviews. Field observations and secondary data supplemented the data collected using questionnaires. Collected data were analysed using SPSS version 20 software. Results indicated respondents were mainly involved in cleaning of their surroundings, collection, storage, transportation and final disposal of solid waste but are not involved in treatment and recycling. Results indicated that only 28% of the households involved in this study use burning, 25% use refuse pits, 28% use communal centres/ collection points and 19% use open dumping as mechanisms for managing solid wastes produced in the households. Results also indicated that, lack of collection and storage facilities at household and community levels is a major problem and solid waste management (SWM) is largely perceived to be a responsibility of local government authorities thus their attitude towards participating in SWM is quite unfavourable. There is a need to put more efforts towards educating and sensitizing community members about their role in SWM activities and use of modern alternatives of SWM like composting. There is a need also to have strong environmental committees for purposes of enhancing community participation at community members

The Role of Agricultural Market Intermediaries on Poverty Reduction in Njombe.

Pokhrel and Thapa, (2007) and Nkolimwa, (2010) highlighted that marketing intermediaries in developing countries, including Tanzania, often exploit farmers in rural areas and that farmers frequently receive too low prices for their products. This may contribute to the persistent poverty in rural areas of Tanzania and potentially delay Tanzanian economic growth. Targets to reduce poverty in the rural areas of Tanzania by the year 2015 by 5 to 7% set by the Tanzanian Government may therefore not be feasible (Policy forum, 2010). This study not only demonstrates the exploitation of Irish potato farmers in the Tanzanian Njombe region but also that fair trading in the region is hindered by the lack of the implementation of governmental policies enforcing it. About 155 households purposively sampled from four villages were involved in the current survey; similarly, other market stakeholders were sampled in the chain from Njombe Township and the large markets in Dar-es- Salaam. Collected data were analyzed through Excel spreadsheet as well as SPSS 20.0 program. The results revealed Market intermediaries to have a poverty gap index equals to zero, while farmers in surveyed villages had a positive range in poverty gap with a mean of about 166.05. This result implies that, the higher the range in poverty gap index from zero the higher the range below the poverty line. The implementation of the Agricultural marketing policy (AMP) had remained in an immotile state. The general implication here is that, market intermediaries involved in agricultural marketing as well as the lack of implementation of government AMP have a negative contribution towards poverty alleviation in rural areas

Can village savings and loan groups be a potential tool in the malnutrition fight? Mixed method findings from Mozambique

Child malnutrition is a pervasive problem in sub-Saharan Africa that affects individual and national development. This article examines the impact of participation in village savings and loan (VSL) groups, alone and in combination with a rotating labor scheme called Ajuda Mútua (AM), on household and child nutritional outcomes in Nampula Province in Mozambique. It combines findings from an impact evaluation and a qualitative exploration of the dynamics underlying nutritional outcomes.Three pairs of districts were randomly allocated to two interventions (VSL or VSL. +. AM) or control. The impact evaluation utilized a prospective, longitudinal design. In total, 1276 households were surveyed at baseline in 2009 and three years later. Difference-in-difference propensity score matching models estimated program impacts on months of food sufficiency and household dietary diversity scores (HDDS) at the household level, and on individual dietary diversity scores (IDDS) and weight-for-age at the child level. In the qualitative study, in-depth interviews (IDIs) were completed with a subset of 36 VSL and 36 VSL. +. AM participants from two districts who had taken part in the two surveys. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis.Survey data indicate that both interventions had a statistically significant, positive effect on months of food sufficiency. The HDDS increased for VSL. +. AM households and their matched controls; however, the increase was smaller for the VSL. +. AM group. The difference in increase between the two groups was statistically significant. At the child level, participation in VSL only was found to increase the IDDS. There was no significant effect for weight-for-age. Mean values for both the HDDS and the IDDS remained low. IDIs confirmed that there were improvements in seasonal and transitory food insecurity, which occur when recurring periods of extreme scarcity or sporadic crises are experienced. Due to the timing of the cycle, VSLs provided participants with an infusion of cash to purchase food during the hunger season. VSLs and AMs also offered mechanisms to cope with unexpected events through loans and social support. However, IDIs highlighted lack of money as a persistent challenge in accessing foods to supplement home-grown staples for a diversified nutritional intake. Though parents tended to be aware of the nutritional needs of children, they faced financial constraints in meeting them. There were also indications of a sex gap between control over resources by men and the role played by women in child nutrition.Findings underscore the potential of economic-strengthening activities such as VSLs for improving seasonal and transitory food security, but highlight the need for additional supporting interventions in order to overcome chronic nutritional challenges

Oral health behavior patterns among Tanzanian university students: a repeat cross-sectional survey

PURPOSE: This study examines oral health behavioral trends and the development of sociodemographic differences in oral health behaviors among Tanzanian students between 1999 and 2000. METHODS: The population targeted was students attending the Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences (MUCHS) at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Cross-sectional surveys were conducted and a total of 635 and 981 students, respectively, completed questionnaires in 1999 and 2001. RESULTS: Cross-tabulation analyses revealed that in 1999, the rates of abstinence from tobacco use, and of soft drink consumption, regular dental checkups, and intake of chocolate/candy were 84%, 51%, 48%, and 12%, respectively, among students of urban origin and 83%, 29%, 37%, and 5% among their rural counterparts. The corresponding rates in 2001 were 87%, 56%, 50%, and 9% among urban students and 84%, 44%, 38%, and 4% among rural ones. Multiple logistic regression analyses controlling for sex, age, place of origin, educational level, year of survey, and their interaction terms revealed a significant increase in the rate of soft drink consumption, implementation of oral hygiene measures, and abstinence from tobacco use between 1999 and 2001. Social inequalities observed in 1999, with urban students being more likely than their rural counterparts to take soft drinks and go for regular dental checkups, had leveled off by 2001. CONCLUSION: This study provides initial evidence of oral health behavioral trends, that may be utilized in the planning of preventive programs among university students in Tanzania

Does crop diversity contribute to dietary diversity? Evidence from integration of vegetables into maize-based farming systems

Background: Maize is the most important staple crop for food security and livelihood of smallholder farmers in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, but it alone cannot ensure food security. Cropping patterns must be diversified to ensure an adequate supply and economic access to greater variety of foods for smallholder farm households. This study measured the effect of crop diversification on household dietary diversity in a selected study locale using a survey of 300 randomly stratified farm households in 10 villages located in the Babati, Kongwa and Kiteto districts of Tanzania. Results: Based on multiple regression analysis, the study found that simply increasing Simpson’s Index does not influence dietary diversity of farm households due to the presence of interaction effect between Simpson’s Index and crop income. It is much more critical and significant to increase the revenue generated from diversified crops along with other socioeconomic endowment and behavioral characteristics of farm households. This is particularly applicable to poorer smallholder farmers who receive crop income less than US$85 per sales transaction and per season. Particularly, marginal and smallholders might be exposed to the effects of crop diversification and crop income toward increasing in their household dietary diversity score. Conclusion: Under average crop income scenarios, households that diversify their crop production tend to increase their dietary diversity from their existing dietary diversity score at a decreasing rate. However, under below average crop income threshold scenarios, farmers tend to increase their dietary diversity score from their existing score at an increasing rate when they diversify into high-value crops that attract relatively high farm gate values and accrue higher net revenues from the market. Monthly food expenditure also tends to positively influence household dietary diversity, indicating that farm households that spend more on market-purchased food have consistent increases in their dietary diversity scores at the household level. This study concludes that improving economic access to variety of foods at the smallholder household level by diversifying diets through increased crop diversification should be encouraged within maize-based farming systems of the study locale, through integration of micronutrient-rich foods such as vegetables

Socio-demographic and behavioural correlates of oral hygiene status and oral health related quality of life, the Limpopo - Arusha school health project (LASH): A cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Promoting oral health of adolescents is important for improvement of oral health globally. This study used baseline-data from LASH-project targeting secondary students to; 1) assess frequency of poor oral hygiene status and oral impacts on daily performances, OIDP, by socio-demographic and behavioural characteristics, 2) examine whether socio-economic and behavioural correlates of oral hygiene status and OIDP differed by gender and 3) examine whether socio-demographic disparity in oral health was explained by oral health-related behaviours.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Cross-sectional study was conducted in 2009 using one-stage cluster sampling design. Total of 2412 students (mean age 15.2 yr) completed self-administered questionnaires, whereas 1077 (mean age 14.9 yr) underwent dental-examination. Bivariate analyses were conducted using cross-tabulations and chi-square statistics. Multiple variable analyses were conducted using stepwise standardized logistic regression (SLR) with odds ratios and 95% Confidence intervals (CI).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>44.8% presented with fair to poor OHIS and 48.2% reported any OIDP. Older students, those from low socio-economic status families, had parents who couldn't afford dental care and had low educational-level reported oral impacts, poor oral hygiene, irregular toothbrushing, less dental attendance and fewer intakes of sugar-sweetened drinks more frequently than their counterparts. Stepwise logistic regression revealed that reporting any OIDP was independently associated with; older age-groups, parents do not afford dental care, smoking experience, no dental visits and fewer intakes of sugar-sweetened soft drinks. Behavioural factors accounted partly for association between low family SES and OIDP. Low family SES, no dental attendance and smoking experience were most important in males. Low family SES and fewer intakes of sugar-sweetened soft drinks were the most important correlates in females.</p> <p>Socio-behavioural factors associated with higher odds ratios for poor OHIS were; older age, belonging to the poorest household category and having parents who did not afford dental care across both genders.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Disparities in oral hygiene status and OIDP existed in relation to age, affording dental care, smoking and intake of sugar sweetened soft drinks. Gender differences should be considered in intervention studies, and modifiable behaviours have some relevance in reducing social disparity in oral health.</p

The diagnostic suitability of a xerostomia questionnaire and the association between xerostomia, hyposalivation and medication use in a group of nursing home residents

The study objective was to explore the diagnostic suitability of the Xerostomia Inventory and the association between xerostomia, hyposalivation and medication use in a group of nursing home residents. A cross-sectional study was carried out in 50 physically impaired nursing home residents (20 men) with a mean age of 78.1 years (range, 53–98) in The Netherlands. The Xerostomia Inventory-Dutch version was completed for all residents and the data were subjected to exploratory factor analysis to determine the diagnostic suitability. Residents’ data on xerostomia, whole saliva secretion rates and hyposalivation-related medications used were collected and statistically analyzed. The diagnostic suitability of the Xerostomia Inventory-Dutch version appeared restricted. The prevalence of xerostomia was 52%, without gender and age difference. The prevalence of hyposalivation was 24% for resting, 60% for chewing-stimulated and 18% for acid-stimulated whole saliva. All whole saliva secretion rates were significantly lower in women than in men and in older than in younger residents. Forty-four percent of all medications used were hyposalivation-related and women used significantly more medications than men. Xerostomia was significantly negatively correlated with the resting whole saliva secretion rate. The number of hyposalivation-related medications used was not significantly correlated with the various whole saliva secretion rates. In nursing home residents, xerostomia, hyposalivation and using hyposalivation-related medications seem common and partially associated features

Urbanization and international trade and investment policies as determinants of noncommunicable diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa

There are three dominant globalization pathways affecting noncommunicable diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA): urbanization, trade liberalization, and investment liberalization. Urbanization carries potential health benefits due to improved access to an increased variety of food imports, although for the growing number of urban poor, this has often meant increased reliance on cheap, highly processed food commodities. Reduced barriers to trade have eased the importation of such commodities, while investment liberalization has increased corporate consolidation over global and domestic food chains. Higher profit margins on processed foods have promoted the creation of ‘obesogenic’ environments, which through progressively integrated global food systems have been increasingly ‘exported’ to developing nations. This article explores globalization processes, the food environment, and dietary health outcomes in SSA through the use of trend analyses and structural equation modelling. The findings are considered in the context of global barriers and facilitators for healthy public policy.Department of HE and Training approved lis

Consumer acceptance of quality protein maize (QPM) in East Africa

BACKGROUND : Undernutrition in sub-Saharan Africa remains problematic, and quality protein maize (QPM) can benefit populations whose diets are heavily based on maize and who are consequently at risk for inadequate intakes of quality protein. However, the changes in QPM‟s chemical composition may affect its sensory characteristics and, hence, acceptance. Acceptance tests were, therefore, conducted to evaluate QPM varieties in three East African countries using central location tests with one or two varieties in each country, using the most popular preparations: ugali (Tanzania), githeri (Kenya), and injera (Ethiopia). In total, 281 urban and rural consumers of both sexes and varying levels of education evaluated the products on standard sensory criteria: appearance, aroma, texture, taste, and overall, using a Likert scale.RESULTS : The results show African consumers can differentiate QPM products from their conventional counterparts, indicating that the QPM trait results in distinguishable sensory changes. Analysis by ordinal mixed regression models showed that consumers found QPM acceptable and even preferable to conventional maize. CONCLUSION : The sensory characteristics of QPM are, therefore, no impediment to its adoption; on the contrary, when coupled with good agronomic performance, they may help its utilization, leading to a positive impact in nutritionally vulnerable populations.Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Nutritious Maize for Ethiopia (NuME) Projecthttp://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1097-00102015-05-30hb201