Use of Hyperspectral Remote Sensing to Estimate Water Quality

Approximating and forecasting water variables like phosphorus, nitrogen, chlorophyll, dissolved organic matter, and turbidity are of supreme importance due to their strong influence on water resource quality. This chapter is aimed at showing the practicability of merging water quality observations from remote sensing with water quality modeling for efficient and effective monitoring of water quality. We examine the spatial dynamics of water quality with hyperspectral remote sensing and present approaches that can be used to estimate water quality using hyperspectral images. The methods presented here have been embraced because the blue-green and green algae peak wavelengths reflectance are close together and make their distinction more challenging. It has also been established that hyperspectral imagers permit an improved recognition of chlorophyll and hereafter algae, due to acquired narrow spectral bands between 450 nm and 600 nm. We start by describing the practical application of hyperspectral remote sensing data in water quality modeling. The surface inherent optical properties of absorption and backscattering of chlorophyll a, colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM), and turbidity are estimated, and a detailed approach on analyzing ARCHER data for water quality estimation is presented

THE IMPORTANCE OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE FOR CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE ASEAN

This article presents the reasons why ASEAN students must study English Language in order to be better placed in the ASEAN job market. Another preoccupation of the article is to define and understand what the words career and English for career means. The article also includes a proposed syllabus for career English. That is the various topics that teachers should teach students in other to prepare them for the ASEAN job market. In order words, the proposed syllabus is based on English for communication at the workplace. However, no matter how intelligent and knowledgeable a teacher is, if he or she has no grasp of good teaching techniques or methods, it will be difficult to transmit knowledge to the students. As a result, this article also examines some teaching method that ESL (English as Second Language Teachers) should adopt in order for students to be able to grasp the four language skills which are listening, speaking, reading and writing

Habitat Suitability Analysis for Mountain Lions (Puma Concolor) Recolonization/ Reintroduction in Minnesota

The mountain lion range once extended throughout the state of Minnesota. The breeding population has been greatly reduced with time, new roads, and timber harvesting, which have broken large tracts of contiguous forest into isolated patches that are too small and no longer suitable for the breeding mountain lion population. The objective of this study is to use suitability analysis to determine the most suitable habitat to conserve mountain lion populations threatened by habitat fragmentation. To attain our objective, we created three sub models that contribute to the overarching goal of the suitability model. A habitat sub model was developed for finding the best habitat, a food sub model for access to the maximum amount of food needed, and a security sub model focusing on the distance from houses, roads, and urban development. Using the Weighted Sum tool, the three sub models were combined to produce a suitability surface based on the trade-off of the preferences of the goals represented by each sub model. Our suitability model shows large areas of high-quality mountain lion habitat in the northern and north-eastern sections of the state. These areas contain favourable locations for mountain lion habitat, such as forested land cover, low-density populations, steep slopes, short distances to streams, and area unimpeded by major roads. The southern and western parts of the state are characterized by lower slopes, more agricultural land, grassland, developed land, and higher population density, which results in lower quality habitat. The twin cities have the worst mountain lion habitat

The community-based actions that removed barriers to inclusive education in Kenya

This article represents a culmination of inclusive education projects implemented in western Kenya since 2010. In this article, we discuss the 2018 iteration of this on-going community-based participatory research (CBPR)-informed project in which we utilised multiple theoretical frameworks to inform our methods in this project, including decolonising methodologies and Critical Disability Studies (CDS). We conducted qualitative interviews as a way to learn about the ways in which inclusion committees facilitated the partial removal of barriers to the development of an inclusive education system in the region over the last decade. In this article, we provide an overview of the barriers to inclusive education in the global South and sub-Saharan Africa, with a particular focus on western Kenya. We present findings that highlight the various inclusion committee actions that contributed to the partial removal of barriers which included: sensitising communities about inclusive education; promoting access to inclusive education; and implementing inclusive strategies like income generating activities (IGAs) and co-teaching. We conclude the article by suggesting potential ways forward for inclusive education in Kenya including: a multi-sector approach for family supports; providing government incentives to inclusive schools; and promoting IGAs and co-teaching practices in teacher education programs and in schools

Rate of co-infection with malaria parasites and Salmonella typhi in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Background: Typhoid and malaria co-infection is a major public health problem in many developing countries. Most of the co-infections treated are based on methods of diagnosis plagued with assumptions which possibly exaggerate the situation. Thus the aim of this work was to investigate the rate of co-infection with respect to the use of Widal test and blood culture methods for diagnosing typhoid fever in Zaria, Nigeria. Method: A total of 218 blood samples were collected from patients with a clinical suspicion of malaria and typhoid fever and examined for malaria parasites and S. typhi infection. Results: Sixty samples were positive for malaria parasites, 22 of which were positive for typhoid by the Widal test and only one by the culture method. The rate of co-infection was significantly high when typhoid was diagnosed by Widal (10.1%) than by blood culture method (0.5%). A correlation analysis showed no specific relationship between malaria parasite load and the level of Salmonella antibody titres in malaria patients (r = 0.05 and 0.08 for somatic and flagella antigens of S. typhi respectively). Conclusion: The incidence of typhoid and malaria co-infection will greatly reduce if the diagnosis of typhoid fever in malaria endemic areas such as Zaria is bases on blood culture. Keywords: Malaria, typhoid fever, co-infection Annals of African Medicine Vol.2(2) 2003: 64-6

Gendering Entrepreneurship and Technology: A Mixed Methods Study of Retailers in a Developing Economy

This study explored the application of technology in entrepreneurial activities of retailers in a developing economy. The conceptual framework for this study is based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). TAM was adopted to examine gender differences in perceived usefulness, perceived user friendliness, and ICT usage among entrepreneurs in Cameroon. Specifically, this study examined the types of technological equipment used by male and female entrepreneurs and their reasons for the choice preferences. Cameroon’s entrepreneurs in the North West Region were the subject of this study. The perceptions of 158 female and male entrepreneurs were surveyed and focus groups interviews/discussions conducted from December 2014 to February 2015. The non-random sampling approach was applied in selecting participants. Results indicate that there are gender differences in the perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use of ICT of choice by entrepreneurs in this study. The paper concludes by recommending further studies be conducted on entrepreneurs in all ten regions of the country in order to address the major limitation of this study

Human Resource Management Issues at a Rising Entrepreneurial Company in Cameroon: Employees' Perspective

This case study examines the human resources practices in Universal-Cameroon Link, a promising small business in Cameroon. In-depth interviews were conducted with current and past employees to gain insight into their perspectives on management implementation of human resource management strategies and their (non-)effectiveness. Management treatment of employees not as significant contributors to the growth and success of the business, but mere as "tools" has resulted in distrust from both parties. Employees' dissatisfaction is exhibited through actions such as absenteeism and turnover while management practices of withholding earnings, nepotism, forfeiting overtime payments and bullying employees are indications of serious human resource management challenges for the business. Based on these discussions, targeted areas/questions are identified for management consideration to ensure the maximum utilization of the employees' contributions to the success of the business

Gendering Entrepreneurship and Technology: A Mixed Methods Study of Retailers in a Developing Economy

This study explored the application of technology in entrepreneurial activities of retailers in a developing economy. The conceptual framework for this study is based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). TAM was adopted to examine gender differences in perceived usefulness, perceived user friendliness, and ICT usage among entrepreneurs in Cameroon. Specifically, this study examined the types of technological equipment used by male and female entrepreneurs and their reasons for the choice preferences. Cameroon’s entrepreneurs in the North West Region were the subject of this study. The perceptions of 158 female and male entrepreneurs were surveyed and focus groups interviews/discussions conducted from December 2014 to February 2015. The non-random sampling approach was applied in selecting participants. Results indicate that there are gender differences in the perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use of ICT of choice by entrepreneurs in this study. The paper concludes by recommending further studies be conducted on entrepreneurs in all ten regions of the country in order to address the major limitation of this study

Molecular epidemiology of group A human rotaviruses in North West region, Cameroon

Background: Rotavirus (RV) is the most common cause of severe diarrhea in children <5 years of age worldwide accounting for 527,000 deathsannually. Over 80% of these deaths occur in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. RV vaccines have significantly reduced RV-associated morbidityand mortalities in several countries like the United States and Mexico while vaccine trials have proved efficacious in Ghana and other developingcountries. However, there is paucity of data on RV infection in Cameroon where diarrhea is a major childhood disease. Methods: A total of 534 stool specimens collected between January 2003 and December 2004 from children with acute gastroenteritis in five health districts in the NWR of Cameroon were screened for group A human rotavirus antigen by ELISA and their electropherotypes determined by Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.Results: RV was detected in 153 (28.7%) diarrheic specimens with infection occurring throughout the year, being more commonin children under two years of age (P < 0.01) with the highest incidence in the 7-9 months age group (P <0.05). Sub clinical infections (9%)occurred mostly in children aged 0 - 6 months old (P<0.01). Source of drinking water was not associated with RV infection. Elevenelectropherotype patterns were detected with predominance of long electropherotypes (92.8%) and mixed electropherotypes were seen only inhospitalized children. Some isolates showed overlapping or merged genome segments 7 and 8 or 9 and presenting with 10 segments of the RV genome. Conclusion: RV is a significant cause of pediatric diarrhea in the NWR affecting mostly children under 2 years of age. Continuous RVsurveillance and nationwide surveys are recommended to improve the health of young children in Cameroon. More research is needed to fullycharacterize the isolated RV strains.Key words: Rotavirus, diarrhea, molecular epidemiology, electropherotype