Past and Future Operations Concepts of NASA's Earth Science Data and Information System

NASA committed to support the collection and distribution of Earth science data to study global change in the 1990's. A series of Earth science remote sensing satellites, the Earth Observing System (EOS), was to be the centerpiece. The concept for the science data system, the EOS Data and Information System (EOSDIS), created new challenges in the data processing of multiple satellite instrument observations for climate research and in the distribution of global-coverage remote sensor products to a large and growing science research community. EOSDIS was conceived to facilitate easy access to EOS science data for a wide heterogeneous national and international community of users. EOSDIS was to provide a spectrum of services designed for research scientists working on NASA focus areas but open to the general public and international science community. EOSDIS would give researchers tools and assistance in searching, selecting and acquiring data, allowing them to focus on Earth science climate research rather than complex product generation. Goals were to promote exchange of data and research results and expedite development of new geophysical algorithms. The system architecture had to accommodate a diversity of data types, data acquisition and product generation operations, data access requirements and different centers of science discipline expertise. Steps were taken early to make EOSDIS flexible by distributing responsibility for basic services. Many of the system operations concept decisions made in the 90s continued to this day. Once implemented, concepts such as the EOSDIS data model played a critical role developing effective data services, now a hallmark of EOSDIS. In other cases, EOSDIS architecture has evolved to enable more efficient operations, taking advantage of new technology and thereby shifting more resources on data services and less on operating and maintaining infrastructure. In looking to the future, EOSDIS may be able to take advantage of commercial compute environments for infrastructure and further enable large scale climate research. In this presentation, we will discuss key EOSDIS operations concepts from the 1990's, how they were implemented and evolved in the architecture, and look at concepts and architectural challenges for EOSDIS operations utilizing commercial cloud services

Jobs, Skills and Incomes in Ghana: How was poverty halved?

Poverty has halved in Ghana over the period from 1991 to 2005. Our objective in this paper is to assess how far this fall was linked to the creation of better paying jobs and the increase in education. We find that earnings rose rapidly in the period from 1998 to 2005, by 64% for men and by 55% for women. While education, particularly at the post secondary level, is associated with far higher earnings there is no evidence that the increase in earnings that occurred over the period from1998 to 2005 is due to increased returns to education or increased levels of education. In contrast there is very strong evidence, for all levels of education, that the probability of having a public sector job approximately halved over the period from 1991 while the probability of having a job in a small firm increased very substantially. In 1991/92 a male worker with secondary education had a 7 per cent probability of being employed in a small firm, by 2005/06 this had increased to 20 per cent which was higher than the probability of being employed by the public sector. Employment in small firms, which is the low paying occupation within the urban sector, increased from 2.7 to 6.7 percent of the population, an increase from 225,000 to 886,000 employees. Jobs in total have been increasing in line with the population but the proportion of relatively low paying ones increased markedly from 1998/99 to 2005/06. The rises in income that occurred over this period were due almost entirely to increases in earnings rates, for given levels of education, across all job types particularly among the unskilled. Why unskilled earnings rates rose so rapidly is unclear.

Assessment of the Impact of Anthropogenic Activities on the Drinking Water Qualities of Boreholes/Shallows Well Water in Huruma Estate -Eldoret, Kenya

The objective of this research was to investigate the drinking water qualities of boreholes/shallows well water used by inhabitants of Huruma –Eldoret , by comparing the chemical, physical and bacteriological qualities with WHO standards. Samples were collected in the dry season in the months of January and February, 2014 and analysed for pH, Turbidity, TDS, Conductivity, Total Hardness, Chloride, Nitrate, Phosphate, Calcium, Magnesium, Lead, Zinc, Total Iron, Copper, Manganese, Cadmium, Total Chromium, Total Coliform, Feacal Coliform and E-coli. Standard methods were adopted for field and laboratory studies. Results of the comparisons from the four sampled stations showed that the water was not acidic as the pH was within acceptable limits. The turbidity level was high in three of the sampled stations with the highest in Lutheran church (55.0 NTU). The metals were within the safe limits. The heavy metals investigated were within tolerable limits of WHO standards with the exception of lead and total iron. Lead and total iron were detected in all the sampled stations butexceeded tolerable limits in Bondeni and Lutheran church. The Total coliform exceeded the tolerable limits for drinking water. However the hardness levels were within tolerable limits. These results showed that the borehole/well water from Huruma estate is contaminated with some pollutants entering the water table. The borehole water should therefore be protected and treated before consumption. There is need for periodic monitoring of water samples from boreholes/wells sources to ascertain their qualities

Combating antibiotic resistance using guidelines and enhanced stewardship in Kenya: a protocol for an implementation science approach

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing problem globally especially in Sub-Saharan Africa including Kenya. Without any intervention, lower/middle-income countries (LMICs) will be most affected due to already higher AMR levels compared with higher income countries and due to the far higher burden of diseases in the LMICs. Studies have consistently shown that inappropriate use of antimicrobials is the major driver of AMR. To address this challenge, hospitals are now implementing antibiotic stewardship programmes (ASPs), which have been shown to achieve reduced antibiotic usage, to decrease the prevalence of resistance and lead to significant economic benefits. However, the implementation of the guideline is highly dependent on the settings in which they are rolled out. This study, employing an implementation science approach, aims to address the knowledge gap in this area and provide critical data as well as practical experiences when using antibiotic guidelines and stewardship programmes in the public health sector. This will provide evidence of ASP performance and potentially contribute to the county, national and regional policies on antibiotics use. Methods and analysis: The study will be conducted in three geographically diverse regions, each represented by two hospitals. A baseline study on antibiotic usage, resistance and de-escalation, duration of hospital stay, rates of readmission and costs will be carried out in the preimplementation phase. The intervention, that is, the use of antibiotic guidelines and ASPs will be instituted for 18 months using a stepwise implementation strategy that will facilitate learning and continuous improvement of stewardship activities and updating of guidelines to reflect the evolving antibiotic needs. Ethics and dissemination: Approvals to carry out the study have been obtained from the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation and the Mount Kenya University Ethics Review Committee. The approvals from the two institutions were used to obtain permission to conduct the study at each of the participating hospitals. Study findings will be presented to policy stakeholders and published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. It is anticipated that the findings will inform the appropriate antibiotic use guidelines within our local context

Willingness to Pay for Improved Milk Sensory Characteristics and Assurances in Northern Kenya Using Experimental Auctions

Pastoralists in northern Kenya may be able to diversify income by selling milk in nearby towns and cities. However, milk sold in open-air markets in communities in northern Kenya is often of low quality in terms of its sensory characteristics. The milk is also often adulterated before sale. These markets are characterized by poor consumers who need to make choices about milk quality with virtually no information other than their own sensory perceptions. These conditions are similar in many parts of the world for many different commodities and products. An examination was undertaken using experimental auctions to determine if consumers in the border town of Moyale, Kenya are willing to pay for enhanced milk sensory characteristics and assurances. The results suggest that even poor consumers are willing to pay for enhanced sensory characteristics and assurances if these can be communicated in a trusted manner. Older, relatively well-informed women are the group most willing to pay the highest prices for milk quality.willingness-to-pay, milk, Kenya, Agribusiness, Agricultural Finance, Q10, Q14,

Electrical properties of maize kernels contaminated with aflatoxin

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of aflatoxin contamination on the dielectric constant of maize kernels. A factorial experiment comprising of three levels of moisture content (13.3, 15.3, and 16.4%), three frequencies (25, 50, and 100 kHz), and nine levels of aflatoxin contamination (0, 1.5, 2.6, 10, 50, 100, 150, 172, and 230 μg/kg) was used. The maize kernels were poured into a custom-built sample holder comprising a shielded parallel plate capacitor. An ISO-TECH LCR-821 meter was used to measure the capacitance, from which the dielectric constant was computed. The results indicated that moisture content and frequency significantly (p ≤ 0.05) affected the dielectric constant. The dielectric constant increased with increase in moisture content and decreased with increasing frequency. However, aflatoxin contamination level had no significant (p > 0.05) effect on the dielectric constant of maize kernels. The coefficient of determination (R2) of dielectric constant and aflatoxin contamination levels was low (R2 = 0.2687), indicating a poor correlation between the aflatoxin levels and the dielectric constant of maize kernels. Based on the findings, the dielectric constant is unsuitable for predicting the level of aflatoxin contamination in maize kernels within the 20 – 200 kHz frequency range

Extent of Integration of Priority Interventions into General Health Systems: A Case Study of Neglected Tropical Diseases Programme in the Western Region of Ghana

Background The global health system has a large arsenal of interventions, medical products and technologies to address current global health challenges. However, identifying the most effective and efficient strategies to deliver these resources to where they are most needed has been a challenge. Targeted and integrated interventions have been the main delivery strategies. However, the health system discourse increasingly favours integrated strategies in the context of functionally merging targeted interventions with multifunctional health care delivery systems with a focus on strengthening country health systems to deliver needed interventions. Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) have been identified to promote and perpetuate poverty hence there has been global effort to combat these diseases. The Neglected Tropical Diseases Programme (NTDP) in Ghana has a national programme team and office, however, it depends on the multifunctional health delivery system at the regional and district level to implement interventions. The NTDP seeks further health system integration to accelerate achievement of coverage targets. The study estimated the extent of integration of the NTDP at the national, regional and district levels to provide evidence to guide further integration. Methodology/Principal Findings The research design was a descriptive case study that interviewed key persons involved in the programme at the three levels of the health system as well as extensive document review. Integration was assessed on two planes—across health system functions–stewardship and governance, financing, planning, service delivery, monitoring and evaluation and demand generation; and across three administrative levels of the health system–national, regional and district. A composite measure of integration designated Cumulative Integration Index (CII) with a range of 0.00–1.00 was used to estimate extent of integration at the three levels of the health system. Service delivery was most integrated while financing and planning were least integrated. Extent of integration was partial at all levels of the health system with a CII of 0.48–0.68; however it was higher at the district compared to the national and regional levels. Conclusions/Significance To ensure further integration of the NTDP, planning and finance management activities must be decentralized to involve regional and district levels of the health system. The study provides an empirical measure of extent of integration and indicators to guide further integration. Author Summary Two main strategies have been used to address diseases that affects large sections of populations. One strategy called targeted or vertical programme sets up separate system from the general health system with its own human resources, management, implementation, data reporting and evaluation systems. Integrated (also called horizontal) strategy on the other hand uses existing health system structures to implement activities to control target health problems. Integrated strategy is preferred because it strengthens country health systems. The Neglected Tropical Diseases Programme (NTDP) in Ghana has a dedicated management structure at the national level but uses general health system structures at the regional and district levels to implement activities. This study assessed the extent of integration of the NTDP into the health system at the national, regional and district levels. It was found that the NTDP activities were better integrated at the district compared to the regional and national levels of the health system. Furthermore, it also found that service delivery activities were most integrated while financing and planning activities were least integrated at all levels of the health system. These findings provide points to guide efforts to make the NTDP more integrated and can be applied to other health programmes

Geospatialization of Spilling Facility From Spdc 2015 Oil Spill Reports of The Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

A hundred and thirty two (132) Oil spill Incidents that occurred in year 2015 based on the existing SPDC Oil Spill JIV Reports were studied using GIS. The JIV reports were downloaded and the requisite information was acquired and incorporated into ArcMap10.2 and they were analysed to produce different maps. Result shows that about 18,233.04bbl of Oil was spilled and an area of 1,718,091.88m2 was impacted in year 2015.Pipelines account for 65.15% (86) of the spills, followed by flowlines 14.39% (19), Wellheads 13.63% (18) while others account for the rest. Pipelines are the most sabotaged Production Facility with 73.63 %( 81) of the Sabotage that occurred followed by wellhead13.63 % (15) and, flowline 10 % (11) while other Production Facilities account for the rest. This Study also shows that JIV Reports to an extent are a good and convenient tool for characterising Oil spills and the JIV culture should be encouraged. This study should be carried out on all JIV so that they are put in a Digital Format where they can be easily queried to produce the necessary information as needed

Prevalence and factors associated with cryptococcal antigenemia among severely immunosuppressed HIV-infected adults in Uganda: a cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cryptococcal infection is a common opportunistic infection among severely immunosuppressed HIV patients and is associated with high mortality. Positive cryptococcal antigenemia is an independent predictor of cryptococcal meningitis and death in patients with severe immunosuppression. We evaluated the prevalence and factors associated with cryptococcal antigenemia among patients with CD4 counts of 100 cells/mm³or less in Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda. Screening of a targeted group of HIV patients may enable early detection of cryptococcal infection and intervention before initiating antiretroviral therapy. Factors associated with cryptococcal antigenemia may be used subsequently in resource-limited settings in screening for cryptococcal infection, and this data may also inform policy for HIV care.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this cross-sectional study, HIV-infected patients aged 18 years and older with CD4 counts of up to 100 cells/mm³were enrolled between December 2009 and March 2010. Data on socio-demographics, physical examinations and laboratory tests were collected. Factors associated with cryptococcal antigenemia were analyzed using multiple logistic regression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We enrolled 367 participants and the median CD4 count was 23 (IQR 9-51) cells/mm³. Sixty-nine (19%) of the 367 participants had cryptococcal antigenemia. Twenty-four patients (6.5%) had cryptococcal meningitis on cerebrospinal fluid analysis and three had isolated cryptococcal antigenemia. Factors associated with cryptococcal antigenemia included: low body mass index of 15.4 kg/m²or less (adjusted odds ratio, AOR = 0.5; 95% CI 0.3-1.0), a CD4+ T cell count of less than 50 cells/mm³(AOR = 2.7; 95% CI1.2-6.1), neck pain (AOR = 2.3; 95% CI 1.2-4.6), recent diagnosis of HIV infection (AOR = 1.9; 95% CI 1.1-3.6), and meningeal signs (AOR = 7.9; 95% CI 2.9-22.1). However, at sub-analysis of asymptomatic patients, absence of neck pain (AOR = 0.5), photophobia (AOR = 0.5) and meningeal signs (AOR = 0.1) were protective against cryptococcal infection.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Cryptococcal antigenemia is common among severely immunosuppressed HIV patients in Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda. Independent predictors of positive serum cryptococcal antigenemia were CD4⁺T cell counts of less than 50 cells/mm, low body mass index, neck pain, signs of meningeal irritation, and a recent diagnosis of HIV infection. Routine screening of this category of patients may detect cryptococcosis, and hence provide an opportunity for early intervention. Absence of neck pain, photophobia and meningeal signs were protective against cryptococcal infection compared with symptomatic patients.</p

Opportunities Threats and Challenges in Anarchistic and Autarkic States-Utopian States versus Dystopian States-Plight of Communities and Individuals in the Modern World

This research looks at the hypothetical state of no governments and no external trade, the autarky situation as well as the ideal utopian democratic state juxtaposed as Utopia versus Dystopia. This essay is motivated by the current world situation of global internet connectivity which transcends borders and defies government regulation. The essay focuses on examining what opportunities would be presented in a situation of no government and also what challenges and threats would exist in such an instance bordering on Dystopia. The paper comprises findings that have been drawn from analyzing the different opinions, facts and findings from researchers on the topic of public policy. It fundamentally addresses the question from an assumption that there were no governments and concludes by drawing on the importance of public policy and why this is essential in order to avoid anarchy that arises as a result of not having laws and regulations to control the behaviors of societies and individuals in those Hobbesian societies. The findings in the paper are that a state of no government presents itself as a state of confusion and that it descends into the extreme form of a totally unregulated free market capitalist approach for communities and societies. This, in the end, results in lawlessness that to an extent permits the emergence of anarchist states where the rich take advantage of their power and become more powerful than societies or states as exemplified by the MNCs. The purpose of government is to provide essential services and ensure that the rights of individuals are protected. Without the regulatory and protective umbrella of government, the concept of protection and extending the benefits of external trade become the preserve of rich individuals who may brutally exploit and assault the poor to the point of enslavement and exploitation