A Metrics-based Framework for Estimating the Maintainability of Object-Oriented Software

Time,  effort  and  money  required  in  maintaining software has always  been  considered  greater  than  its  development  time. Also, its ambiguity in forecast at early stage of software development makes the process more complicated. The early estimation of maintainability will significantly help software designers to adjust the software product, if there is any fault, in early stages of designing. By doing this; time, effort and money required in maintaining software will be lessened. Although Object Oriented Software Development (OOSD) approach is equipped for enhancing software maintainability, a method for finding out if the required level of maintenance is being achieved amid the development process is required. This can be accomplished through measurement. This paper outlines the need and importance of maintainability at design phase and develops a Metrics-Based Maintainability Estimation Framework for Object-Oriented software(MEFOOS) that estimates the maintainability of object oriented software components in regard of their Understandability, Modifiability and Portability—which are the sub-attributes of maintainability. Keywords: Software maintenance, Software Maintainability, maintainability model, Software Metrics, Software Component DOI: 10.7176/JIEA/9-4-02 Publication date:June 30th 201

Maasai livelihood and household sources of revenue report

Understanding the complex relationships and causes of threats to sources of income and livelihoods and the prevailing poverty among the Maasai of Kenya and Tanzania is a necessary first step toward informed and effective policymaking and interventions as well as community food security and poverty reduction initiatives. This overview paper provides a glimpse of the interplay between policy and legal regimes and the challenges that this community has to grapple with in seeking incomes and livelihoods from household to community levels. It has four general objectives: (1) to generate a report of key cases; (2) to highlight data bases including information on key respondents; (3) generate context dependent indicator variables; and (4) to propose variables common to Kenya and Tanzania that can be used for comparative purposes

The Occurrence of Cereal Aphids in Rainfed Wheat in Kenya: The Problem and Possible Integrated Pest Management Strategies

Cereal aphids cause direct damage to rainfed wheat through sucking of plants sap and cause losses of up to 90%, particularly in dry years in Kenya. The Russian wheat aphid (RWA) is the most destructive and may account for up to 50% yield loss or more depending on the severity and length of infestation. Current control strategies mainly rely on the use of insecticides to control cereal aphids’ infestations. Chemicals improve yields in the short term, but adversely affect the environment, hence the need for development of effective IPM strategies. Early planted crops escape heavy aphid attacks and give good yields. A combination of seed rate of 100 kg and 100 kg N/ha provided the best cultural management of RWA. Ladybird beetles Adonia variegata, lacewings (Chrysoppa spp.) and parasitic wasp Aphidius sp. were the most important natural enemies. Control of cereal aphids can be achieved with systemic insecticides applied as seed dressings or foliar applied insecticides. Four lines of wheat were found to show RWA resistance and crosses with Kenyan wheat made and populations are being evaluated for resistance to cereal aphids

Segurança e reação de hipersensibilidade tardia na pele de macacos vervet imunizados com antígeno sonicado de Leishmania donovani junto com adjuvantes

In this study, we report on the safety and skin delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH), responses of the Leishmania donovani whole cell sonicate antigen delivered in conjunction with alum-BCG (AlBCG), Montanide ISA 720 (MISA) or Monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) in groups of vervet monkeys. Following three intradermal injections of the inoculums on days 0, 28 and 42, safety and DTH responses were assessed. Preliminary tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-&#945;) and interferon gamma (IFN-&#947;) levels were also measured and these were compared with DTH. Only those animals immunized with alum-BCG reacted adversely to the inoculum by producing ulcerative erythematous skin indurations. Non-parametric analysis of variance followed by a post-test showed significantly higher DTH responses in the MISA+Ag group compared with other immunized groups (p < 0.001). The MPLA+Ag group indicated significantly lower DTH responses to the sonicate antigen compared with the AlBCG+Ag group. There was a significant correlation between the DTH and cytokine responses (p < 0.0001). Based on this study we conclude that Leishmania donovani sonicate antigen containing MISA 720 is safe and is associated with a strong DTH reaction following immunization.Neste estudo reportamos segurança e resposta de hipersensibilidade tardia (DTH) do antígeno sonicado de células totais de Leishmania donovani introduzidos juntamente com alume-BCG (AIBCG) Montanide ISA 720 (MISA) ou lípide A monofosforilado (MPLA) em grupos de macacos vervet. Depois de três injeções intradérmicas do inóculo nos dias 0, 28 e 42 segurança e resposta DTH foram avaliados. Preliminarmente níveis de fator de necrose tumoral alfa (TNF-&#945;) e interferon gama (IFN-&#947;) foram também medidos e comparados com o DTH. Somente os animais imunizados com alume-BCG reagiram de maneira diversa ao inóculo produzindo indurações ulceradas e eritematosas na pele. Análise não paramétrica de variação seguida por um teste posterior mostraram resposta significantemente mais alta do DTH no grupo MISA + Ag quando comparado com outros grupos imunizados (p < 0.001). O grupo MPLA + Ag demonstrou resposta DTH significantemente menor do antígeno sonicado comparado com o grupo AIBCG + Ag. Houve correlação significante entre o DTH e a resposta às citocinas (p < 0.0001). Baseados neste estudo concluímos que o antígeno sonicado de Leishmania donovani contendo MISA 720 é seguro e está associado com forte reação DTH após imunização

Estudo in vitro e in vivo da eficácia anti leishmaniótica de terapêutica combinada de Diminazene e Artesunate contra Leishmania donovani em camundongos Balb/c

The in vitro and in vivo activity of diminazene (Dim), artesunate (Art) and combination of Dim and Art (Dim-Art) against Leishmania donovani was compared to reference drug; amphotericin B. IC50 of Dim-Art was found to be 2.28 ± 0.24 µg/mL while those of Dim and Art were 9.16 ± 0.3 µg/mL and 4.64 ± 0.48 µg/mL respectively. The IC50 for Amphot B was 0.16 ± 0.32 µg/mL against stationary-phase promastigotes. In vivo evaluation in the L. donovani BALB/c mice model indicated that treatments with the combined drug therapy at doses of 12.5 mg/kg for 28 consecutive days significantly (p < 0.001) reduced parasite burden in the spleen as compared to the single drug treatments given at the same dosages. Although parasite burden was slightly lower (p < 0.05) in the Amphot B group than in the Dim-Art treatment group, the present study demonstrates the positive advantage and the potential use of the combined therapy of Dim-Art over the constituent drugs, Dim or Art when used alone. Further evaluation is recommended to determine the most efficacious combination ratio of the two compounds.A atividade in vitro e in vivo de Diminazene (Dim), Artezunate (Art) e a combinação Dim e Art (Dim-Art) contra Leishmania donovani foi comparada com a droga de referência Anfotericina B. IC50 da Dim-Art foi 2,28 ± 0,24 µg/mL enquanto aquelas de Dim e Art foram 9,16 ± 0,3 µg/mL e 4,64 ± 0,48 µg/mL respectivamente. O IC50 da Anfotericina B foi 0,16 ± 0,32 µg/mL contra a fase estacionária de promastigotas. A avaliação in vivo do modelo de L. donovani em camundongos Balb/c indicou que os tratamentos com a terapêutica de drogas combinadas em doses de 12,5 mg/kg por 28 dias consecutivos significantemente (p < 0,001) reduziu a carga parasitária no baço quando comparada a tratamentos com uma única droga dada nas mesmas dosagens. Embora a carga parasitária tenha sido levemente mais baixa (p < 0.05) no grupo Anfotericina B quando comparada com o grupo tratado Dim-Art, o estudo presente demonstra a vantagem positiva do uso potencial da terapêutica combinada Dim-Art sobre drogas como Dim ou Art quando usadas isoladamente. Posterior avaliação é recomendada para determinar a média de combinação mais eficaz dos dois compostos

Evaluation of the Therapeutic Potential of Warburgia ugandensis, Prunus africana, and Piliostigma thonningii against Leishmania donovani in vitro and in Balb/c Mice

Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. Conventional chemotherapy remains to be the most preferred measure against leishmaniasis despite being associated with high toxicity and relapse rates. They are also expensive and require hospitalization. Plant-based compounds provide a better treatment alternative because they are effective, cheap, and less associated with toxicity and resistance. This study examined the therapeutic potential of Warburgia ugandensis, Prunus africana, and Piliostigma thonningii against Leishmania donovani infection in BALB/c mice. Anti-promastigote and toxicity studies were evaluated by incubating the test compound with promastigotes and Vero cells, respectively. Serum was obtained from the mice for total immunoglobulin gamma (IgG) quantification. For in vivo studies, the mice were infected with virulent Leishmania donovani then treated with methanolic extracts of Warburgia ugandensis, Prunus africana, and Piliostigma thonningii and control drug, pentostam (sodium stibogluconate). Treatment with the plant extracts and standard drug resulted to significant reduction in parasite burden. Outcomes in the mice treated with plant extracts were comparable to those treated with pentostam (P≥0.05). In the promastigote assay, all the test compounds killed more than half of the promastigotes at the highest concentration (500 µg/mL). Warburgia ugandensis, P. thonningii, and P. africana reduced the number of promastigotes from 2.0 × 106 to 7.7 × 103 , 72.0 × 103 , and 5.0 × 103 , respectively. Pentostam had the lowest IC50 (210 µg/mL), followed by Warburgia ugandensis (IC50 of 270 µg/mL). Piliostigma thonningii and P. africana were less toxic with IC50 of 720 µg/mL and 500 µg/mL, respectively. There was low production of IgG antibodies following treatment with the plant extracts and high levels in the untreated control

Lake Naivasha, Kenya: ecology, society and future

We examine the degradation of the natural capital and ecosystem services of an important tropical lake, Kenya&rsquo;s Lake Naivasha, in the context of human activities and exploitation since the mid-20th century.&nbsp; These factors have culminated in the recent emergence of innovative governance arrangements with potential contributions to the future sustainability of the lake ecosystem.Lake Naivasha maintains high ecological interest and biodiversity value despite its food web being controlled, at three trophic levels, by alien species for the past 40 years.&nbsp; The lake now has very high economic value, being the centre of Kenya&rsquo;s floricultural industry, itself the top foreign exchange earner for the country.&nbsp; It became internationally-renowned in 1999 as one of the first wetland sites worldwide to be nominated by the government for Ramsar status as a result of local action, guided by the Lake Naivasha Riparian Association (LNRA).&nbsp; This led, in 2004, to gazettement by the Kenyan Government for the management of the lake by a Committee under LNRA guidance.By 2010, however, progress towards sustainable management was limited, not least because the lake water had continued to be over-exploited for irrigation, geothermal power exploration and domestic supplies outside the catchment.&nbsp; A prolonged drought in Kenya in 2009&ndash;10, in conjunction with this ongoing over-exploitation, caused the lake level to recede to the lowest since the late 1940s and brought the ecological degradation to global attention.&nbsp; Arguably, this new prominence catalysed the political interventions which now offer new hope of progress towards a sustainable lake basin.We examine the ecological changes over the past 40 years and the reasons why new management regimes instituted over the past 10 years have to date been unable to halt ecological degradation of the lake and its environs. We outline a future trajectory that links new governance initiatives with a wider network of stakeholders which, together with external interventions that have been initiated in 2011, may well help to restore the ecosystem&rsquo;s health

In vitro and in vivo antileishmanial efficacy of a combination therapy of diminazene and artesunate against Leishmania donovani in BALB /c mice

The in vitro and in vivo activity of diminazene (Dim), artesunate (Art) and combination of Dim and Art (Dim-Art) against Leishmania donovani was compared to reference drug; amphotericin B. IC50 of Dim-Art was found to be $2.28 \pm 0.24 \mu$ g/mL while those of Dim and Art were $9.16 \pm 0.3 \mu$ g/mL and $4.64 \pm 0.48 \mu$ g/mL respectively. The IC50 for Amphot B was $0.16 \pm 0.32 \mu$ g/mL against stationary-phase promastigotes. In vivo evaluation in the L. donovani BALB/c mice model indicated that treatments with the combined drug therapy at doses of 12.5 mg/kg for 28 consecutive days significantly ($p < 0.001$) reduced parasite burden in the spleen as compared to the single drug treatments given at the same dosages. Although parasite burden was slightly lower ($p < 0.05$) in the Amphot B group than in the Dim-Art treatment group, the present study demonstrates the positive advantage and the potential use of the combined therapy of Dim-Art over the constituent drugs, Dim or Art when used alone. Further evaluation is recommended to determine the most efficacious combination ratio of the two compounds.Comment: 4 Pages, 3 Figure

La Comunicación: un Derecho Imprescindible para el Desarrollo Sostenible

En este libro se afirma lo obvio: toda actividad humana y social depende de la comunicación. No obstante, limitarse a afirmar lo obvio no garantiza que la gente y las comunidades dispongan de las mismas posibilidades o capacidad de comunicarse. Se están dejando de lado cuestiones de accesibilidad y asequibilidad; diversidad y pluralismo; propiedad y control; representación y tergiversación; privacidad y seguridad. En resumen, se ignoran los numerosos obstáculos – políticos, económicos, culturales y sociales– a la plena inclusión en la sociedad, que impactan en las vidas y sustentos, en particular, de hombres mujeres, jóvenes y niños marginalizados, desatendidos y perseguidos en todos los países del mundo.Fil: Lee, Philip. Asociación Mundial para la Comunicación Cristiana. Canadá.Fil: Macharia, Sarah. Asociación Mundial para la Comunicación Cristiana. Programa de Género y Comunicación. Canadá.Fil: Sunuwar, Dev Kumar. Universidad Tribhuvan. NepalFil: Traber, Michael. Universidad de Fordham. Universidad de Nueva York. Estados UnidosFil: Vargas, Lorenzo. Asociación Mundial para la Comunicación Cristiana. Canadá.Fil: Segura, María Soledad. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias de la Comunicación. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales. Argentin

Red blood cell tension protects against severe malaria in the Dantu blood group.

Malaria has had a major effect on the human genome, with many protective polymorphisms-such as the sickle-cell trait-having been selected to high frequencies in malaria-endemic regions1,2. The blood group variant Dantu provides 74% protection against all forms of severe malaria in homozygous individuals3-5, a similar degree of protection to that afforded by the sickle-cell trait and considerably greater than that offered by the best malaria vaccine. Until now, however, the protective mechanism has been unknown. Here we demonstrate the effect of Dantu on the ability of the merozoite form of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum to invade red blood cells (RBCs). We find that Dantu is associated with extensive changes to the repertoire of proteins found on the RBC surface, but, unexpectedly, inhibition of invasion does not correlate with specific RBC-parasite receptor-ligand interactions. By following invasion using video microscopy, we find a strong link between RBC tension and merozoite invasion, and identify a tension threshold above which invasion rarely occurs, even in non-Dantu RBCs. Dantu RBCs have higher average tension than non-Dantu RBCs, meaning that a greater proportion resist invasion. These findings provide both an explanation for the protective effect of Dantu, and fresh insight into why the efficiency of P. falciparum invasion might vary across the heterogenous populations of RBCs found both within and between individuals.JCR, AM and DK were supported by the Wellcome Trust (206194/Z/17/Z). MPW is funded by a Wellcome Senior Fellowship (108070). TNW is funded through Fellowships awarded by the Wellcome Trust (091758 and 202800). SNK is supported by the Wellcome Trust-funded Initiative to Develop African Research Leaders (IDeAL) early-career postdoctoral fellowship (107769/Z/10/Z), supported through the DELTAS Africa Initiative (DEL-15-003). The Wellcome Trust provides core support to The KEMRI/Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya (084535), Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK (206194/Z/17/Z) and the Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Oxford, UK (090532/Z/09/Z, 203141). PC is supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) (EP/R011443/1), and VI is supported by the EPSRC and the Sackler fellowship