Towards Semantic Integration of Heterogeneous Sensor Data with Indigenous Knowledge for Drought Forecasting

In the Internet of Things (IoT) domain, various heterogeneous ubiquitous devices would be able to connect and communicate with each other seamlessly, irrespective of the domain. Semantic representation of data through detailed standardized annotation has shown to improve the integration of the interconnected heterogeneous devices. However, the semantic representation of these heterogeneous data sources for environmental monitoring systems is not yet well supported. To achieve the maximum benefits of IoT for drought forecasting, a dedicated semantic middleware solution is required. This research proposes a middleware that semantically represents and integrates heterogeneous data sources with indigenous knowledge based on a unified ontology for an accurate IoT-based drought early warning system (DEWS).Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, In Proceedings of the Doctoral Symposium of the 16th International Middleware Conference (Middleware Doct Symposium 2015), Ivan Beschastnikh and Wouter Joosen (Eds.). ACM, New York, NY, US

A Comparison Of Governance Of Some Community Based Woodland And Wetland Projects With Grazing Schemes In Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe

Centre for Applied Social Sciences, University of Zimbabwe & Programme for Land and Agrarian Studies, University of the Western Cape. Bellville, South Africa

Governance of grazing lands and schemes in Zimbabwe with emphasis on schemes in Masvingo province

A research paper on the governance of grazing lands in a province of rural Zimbabwe.There have been concerns about land degradation and many other problems associated with agricultural production in the communal lands (areas) of Zimbabwe. Concern over high stocking rates of livestock, “overgrazing”, and what was perceived as a low level of productivity in peasant farming areas was first expressed by government officials in the 1920s and has over the years involved several attempts to restructure land use settlement patterns (Cousins, 1988). These attempts include the introduction of grazing schemes. Grazing schemes are interventions aimed at, firstly, improving livestock productivity in communal areas, and secondly, conserving the vegetation cover of grazing land and reducing the risk of irreversible environmental degradation (Cousins, 1988). It was assumed that the low productivity was due to poor management, both of stock and range-land feed resources, and that the high stocking rates caused severe land degradation. In general, grazing schemes in the Zimbabwe communal areas aim to control stock numbers, restrict access to communal range-land by means of fences, and manage the range-land by means of rotational resting systems. Grazing schemes have involved the modification of traditional tenure rules and the development of a new kind of resource management institution, the committee. Sometimes management decisions and procedures are embodied in sets of by-laws, formally written down and officially sanctioned or else informally held in the memories of community members. They are an example of the evolution of common property management systems

Potential Growth, Yields and Socioeconomic Benefits of Four Indigenous Species for Restoration in Moist Forests, Mau Kenya

Natural forests in Kenyan are important national assets that play critical roles in the economy while offering a range of ecological services. The natural forests ecosystems have experienced massive degradation over the last three decades. The early assault on natural forests involved clearing thousands of hectares to create farms and room for establishment of exotic plantation species known for their superior growth performance and economic returns since 1920s. The recent prominence placed environmental conservation and provisioning of environmental service such as water and biodiversity has enhanced investment in rehabilitation of degraded natural forests since 1990s. The development of multiple uses of natural forests for production of timber and environmental services is one strategy that is being discussed by policy makers and forest users.   However, the strategy is hindered by limited information on potential yields and economic gains from use of indigenous species in forest restoration activities. The study was aimed at bridging the knowledge gap by assessing the growth, yield potentials and financial returns of four indigenous species namely P. africana, X.gilletti, J. procera, and P. fulva was initiated in 2006. The study is important because of the increasing focus on biodiversity and forest conservation and their contribution to socioeconomic development in developing countries. The study involved collection of growth data from old plantation stands in Kakamega, Nandi and Mt Elgon and derivation of individual tree volumes and yields using volume equation tables developed by Wachiori eta al (1996).  The generated costs of establishing and maintaining plantations and prevailing stumpage prices were used in the financial cost-benefit analysis for study species.  The study revealed a strong correlation between growth in yield per tree and age as the coefficient of determination of all the species was over 50%. The mean annual increment in volume were 10.09 m3/ha for P. africana, 9.57 m3/ha for X. gilleti 7.46 m3/ha P. fulva, and 3.73 m3/ha for J. procera that is relatively low as compared competing exotic species that ranged between 15 to 60 m3/ha/yr. The optimal financial rotation for X. gilleti, P. fulva and J. procera was 38 years while that for P.africana was 48 years. The study revealed that at an interest rate of ten percent the four species was found to be financially viable for use in forest restoration activities. However, the yields and returns are low as compared to competing exotic species. It is recommended that more experimental plots need to be established for collection of accurate data for better growth and yield assessments. Keywords: Indigenous species, growth, yield modeling, financial return

Effect of pre-operative bicarbonate infusion on maternal and perinatal outcomes among women with obstructed labour in Mbale hospital: A double blind randomized controlled trial

Introduction Oral bicarbonate solution is known to improve both maternal and perinatal outcomes among women with abnormal labour (dystocia). Its effectiveness and safety among women with obstructed labour is not known. Objective To determine the effect and safety of a single-dose preoperative infusion of sodium bicarbonate on maternal and fetal blood lactate and clinical outcomes among women with obstructed labour (OL) in Mbale hospital. Methods We conducted a double blind, randomised controlled trial from July 2018 to September 2019. The participants were women with OL at term (≥37 weeks gestation), carrying a singleton pregnancy with no other obstetric emergency, medical comorbidity or laboratory derangements. Intervention A total of 477 women with OL were randomized to receive 50ml of 8.4% sodium bicarbonate (238 women) or 50 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride (239 women). In both the intervention and controls arms, each participant was preoperatively given a single dose intravenous bolus. Every participant received 1.5 L of normal saline in one hour as part of standard preoperative care. Outcome measures Our primary outcome was the mean difference in maternal venous blood lactate at one hour between the two arms. The secondary outcomes were umbilical cord blood lactate levels at birth, neonatal sepsis and early neonatal death upto 7 days postnatal, as well as the side effects of sodium bicarbonate, primary postpartum hemorrhage, maternal sepsis and mortality at 14 days postpartum. Results The median maternal venous lactate was 6.4 (IQR 3.3–12.3) in the intervention and 7.5 (IQR 4.0–15.8) in the control group, with a statistically non-significant median difference of 1.2 mmol/L; p-value = 0.087. Vargha and Delaney effect size was 0.46 (95% CI 0.40–0.51) implying very little if any effect at all. Conclusion The 4.2g of preoperative intravenous sodium bicarbonate was safe but made little or no difference on blood lactate levels.publishedVersio

CHARACTERISTICS OF SMALL-HOLDER DAIRY GOAT PRODUCTION IN THREE DISTRICTS OF BOTSWANA

Small-holder dairy goat production systems are potentially important among the avenues of food production and provides a regular income and work for the less resourced households. Dairy goat production in Botswana has not gained much popularity due to the fact that dairy goats and goat milk has not been the subject of much research and development and is not among the local milk production improvement schemes. The objectives of this study were to describe the smallholder dairy goat production in Central, Kgatleng and Kweneng districts of Botswana, identify their production challenges and marketing opportunities; and suggest strategies that can be used to increase local dairy goat milk yield. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and through direct observations. There were only 12 dairy goat farmers in the study area. The results showed that majority of dairy goat farmers held a junior degree qualification (9/12) and had less than five years keeping dairy goats. Fifty-two per cent (52%) of the 100 dairy goat breeds kept by farmers were the Saanen, 30% indigenous x exotic crosses, 12% Toggenburg and 6% British Alpine. Dairy goat farmers practised a semi-intensive production system with average milk production estimated to be 2kg/d milk per goat at peak lactation. Insufficient quality feeds, unavailability of breeding stock, and lack of financial assistance to dairy goat farming were the major constraints to dairy goat farmers. The opportunities that were available to dairy goat farmers included the high local milk demand, potentials for dairy goat stud breeding and fodder production. In conclusion, local dairy goat farmers should be up skilled on the management principles of dairy goat production. They should also adopt proper breeding strategies and feed local affordable quality feeds in order to increase the productivity of dairy goats in Botswana. We recommend the government to promote dairy goat production and consider it as an economic diversification derive by including goat milk production in local milk production improvement schemes

Securing Africa’s health sovereignty : why investing in science and innovation matters

This paper aims at provoking broad-based dialogues and debates on ways and means of securing Africa’s health sovereignty. It argues that health sovereignty is about the realization of specific national constitutional and policy objectives on citizens’ access to and enjoyment of good health, resilient to COVID-19 and related disease pandemics. The paper also emphasizes the urgency of African countries fulfilling their commitments under global and regional declarations on health research. Investing in research, knowledge and innovation is critical to fight and win the war against COVID-19 and other diseases that undermine economic productivity and competitiveness of African countries. There is also a need for venture capitalists to demonstrate bankable ideas emanating from the science academies and funded by National Science Foundations. The base teachings at school level need to significantly invest in the “African philosophy” to create a shift in mind-set from the “grab and own without use mentality that is currently predominant on the continent. The paper recommends that executive, political and science leadership are needed to strengthen national health research and innovation systems through improved evidence-based policy implementation. With these thrusts working effectively together, rather than in silos, will afford the African continent to emerge victoriously in the combat against COVID-19 and other disease burdens

Feasibility of a streamlined tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment initiation strategy.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of a streamlined strategy for improving tuberculosis (TB) diagnostic evaluation and treatment initiation among patients with presumed TB. DESIGN: Single-arm interventional pilot study at five primary care health centers of a streamlined, SIngle-saMPLE (SIMPLE) TB diagnostic evaluation strategy: 1) examination of two smear results from a single spot sputum specimen using light-emitting diode fluorescence microscopy, and 2) daily transportation of smear-negative sputum samples to Xpert® MTB/RIF testing sites. RESULTS: Of 1212 adults who underwent sputum testing for TB, 99.6% had two smears examined from the spot sputum specimen. Sputum was transported for Xpert testing within 1 clinic day for 83% (907/1091) of the smear-negative patients. Of 157 (13%) patients with bacteriologically positive TB, 116 (74%) were identified using sputum smear microscopy and 41 (26%) using Xpert testing of smear-negative samples. Anti-tuberculosis treatment was initiated in 142 (90%) patients with bacteriologically positive TB, with a median time to treatment of 1 day for smear-positive patients and 6 days for smear-negative, Xpert-positive patients. CONCLUSION: The SIMPLE TB strategy led to successful incorporation of Xpert testing and rapid treatment initiation in the majority of patients with bacteriologically confirmed TB in a resource-limited setting