Synthesis, spectral characterization and antioxidant activity of a supramolecular copper (II) complex obtained from pyridine-2, 6- dicarboxylic acid and 3,5-diamino - 1, 2, 4-triazole.

A supramolecular copper (II) compound, (HdatrzH)[Cu (Hdipic) (dipic)].3H2O (1) (Hdatrz = 3,5-diamino-1,2,4- triazole, dipic = pyridine- 2,6-dicarboxylic acid) was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV-Visible spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR), thermal analysis, and magnetic susceptibility measurement. The room temperature magnetic susceptibility measurement showed a magnetic moment of 1.67 BM for compound 1, deviating slightly from the spin-only magnetic moment value for Cu (II) ion. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed three decomposition stages for compound 1. The compound showed no activity against all the tested microorganisms. Interestingly, compound 1 exhibited a significant radical scavenging activity (RSA)

Reforming the Nigerian water and sanitation sector

Reforming the Nigerian water and sanitation secto

Evaluation of Phytochemical Constituents of Fresh Roots Aqueous and Ethanolic Extracts of the Medicinal Plants of Uvaria chamae, Anthocleista djalonensis and Euadenia eminens

Phytochemicals are bioactive plant chemicals nutrients typically found in fruits, vegetables, grains, and other plant foods which may provide desirable health benefits beyond basic nutrition and can help reduce risks of major chronic diseases. This study was conducted to evaluate the phytochemical constituents of fresh roots ethanolic and aqueous extracts of medicinal plants of Uvaria chamae, Anthocleista djalonensis and Euadenia eminens using standard methods of phytochemical screening and Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Phytochemical screening revealed a diverse array of phytochemical constituents such as alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, saponins, isoprenoids, steroids, phlobatanins and cardiac glycosides. The results of GC-MS analysis of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of U. chamae revealed the presence of four and fourteen compounds respectively. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of A. djalonensis had ten and seventeen compounds respectively while the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of E. eminens was found to have six and twenty compounds respectively.  These results indicate U. chamae, A. djalonensis and E. eminens possess phytochemicals which have potential antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory activity amongst others and as such, can be recommended as plants of phytopharmaceutical importance

Measuring adherence to antiretroviral therapy in northern Tanzania: feasibility and acceptability of the Medication Event Monitoring System

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Gender-related power differences, beliefs and reactions towards people living with HIV/AIDS: an urban study in Nigeria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although there are an increasing number of studies on HIV-related stigma in Nigeria, very little research has focused on how power differences based on gender perpetuate the stigmatization of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and how these gender differences affect the care that PLWHA receive in health care institutions. We explore gender-related beliefs and reactions of society, including health care professionals (HCPs), with regard to PLWHA, using Connell's theoretical framework of gender and power (1987). With Connell's structural theory of gender and power (financial inequality, authority and structure of social norms), we can describe gender differences in stigmatization of PLWHA.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>We conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews, lasting 60 to 90 minutes, with 100 persons (40 members of the general public, 40 HCPs and 20 PLWHA) in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The Nvivo 7 computer package was used to analyze the data.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There are similarities and differences between the general public and HCPs towards PLWHA in gender-related beliefs and reactions. For instance, although association with promiscuity and power differences were commonly acknowledged in the different groups, there are differences in how these reactions are shown; such as HCPs asking the female PLWHA to inform their partners to ensure payment of hospital bills. Women with HIV/AIDS in particular are therefore in a disadvantaged position with regard to the care they receive.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Despite the fact that men and women with HIV/AIDS suffer the same illness, clear disparities are apparent in the negative reaction women and men living with HIV/AIDS experience in society. We show that women's generally low status in society contributes to the extreme negative reactions to which female PLWHA are subject. The government should create policies aimed at reducing the power differences in family, society and health care systems, which would be important to decrease the gender-related differences in stigma experienced by PLWHA. Interventions should be directed at the prevailing societal norms through appropriate legislation and advocacy at grassroots level with the support of men to counter laws that put women in a disadvantaged position. Furthermore, development of a policy that encourages equality in access to health care for all patients with HIV/AIDS by applying the same conditions to both men and women in health care institutions is recommended. There is a need to protect women's rights through implementing support policies, including paying attention to gender in the training of HCPs.</p

A Spatial Analysis of County-level Variation in Syphilis and Gonorrhea in Guangdong Province, China

Sexually transmitted infections (STI) have made a resurgence in many rapidly developing regions of southern China, but there is little understanding of the social changes that contribute to this spatial distribution of STI. This study examines county-level socio-demographic characteristics associated with syphilis and gonorrhea in Guangdong Province.This study uses linear regression and spatial lag regression to determine county-level (n = 97) socio-demographic characteristics associated with a greater burden of syphilis, gonorrhea, and a combined syphilis/gonorrhea index. Data were obtained from the 2005 China Population Census and published public health data. A range of socio-demographic variables including gross domestic product, the Gender Empowerment Measure, standard of living, education level, migrant population and employment are examined. Reported syphilis and gonorrhea cases are disproportionately clustered in the Pearl River Delta, the central region of Guangdong Province. A higher fraction of employed men among the adult population, higher fraction of divorced men among the adult population, and higher standard of living (based on water availability and people per room) are significantly associated with higher STI cases across all three models. Gross domestic product and gender inequality measures are not significant predictors of reported STI in these models.Although many ecological studies of STIs have found poverty to be associated with higher reported STI, this analysis found a greater number of reported syphilis cases in counties with a higher standard of living. Spatially targeted syphilis screening measures in regions with a higher standard of living may facilitate successful control efforts. This analysis also reinforces the importance of changing male sexual behaviors as part of a comprehensive response to syphilis control in China

Determination of Ni(II) crystal structure by powder x-ray diffraction

X-ray powder diffraction pattern was used to determine the length of the unit cell, “a”, the lattice structure type, and the number of atoms per unit cell of Ni(II) crystal. The “a” value was determined to be 23.66 ± 0.005 Å, particle size of 34.87 nm, volume 13.24 Å and Strain value ε = 9.8 x 10-3. The cell search on PXRD patterns shows that the nickel (II) complex crystallizes in cubic structure with space group Fd3m and Z = 8. The experimental value of “a” was determined to be 23.66 ± 0.005 Å. It was deduced that the structure being face-centered cubic has the same number of electrons and therefore make one eighth of the actual unit cell. Taking this into consideration, each unit cell contains 4 atoms. The morphology and elemental composition of the Ni(II) was determined using Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy-Dispersive X-ray analysis. It was concluded that the unit cells and space groups were determined directly from the powder diffraction data.Key Words: Powder X-ray Diffraction, unit cell, Crystal Structur