Mental health interventions for university students: A critical review of literature

Being a student, the high intensity of events within a university setting creates significant levels of stress, which may also be associated with mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. This review aims to examine the impact of mental health interventions on mental health challenges among university students. A comprehensive literature search in Google Scholar, Academic Search Complete, PsycINFO, and APA. Thirty-two articles were included in the review from the database searched according to the PRISMA criteria. Eligible articles were appraised using Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tools. In total, 14 randomised controlled trials and 19 cross-sectional studies with the intervention were included. Only eleven studies reported racial/ethnic characteristics of participants, and most of the studies (60%) involved female participants. Evidence indicates that cognitive-behavioural therapy applied in different modalities is a major effective therapy to reduce depression, anxiety, and suicidal symptoms and increase well-being. This review identified the effectiveness of mental health interventions on depression and anxiety among university students. The review highlighted the disparity of ethnic minority representation in mental health intervention studies; hence it is suggested that future research should incorporate elements of ethnic minorities in mental health interventions

Lessons from an international trial evaluating vaccination strategies for recovered inpatients with COVID-19 (VATICO)

The protection provided by natural versus hybrid immunity from COVID-19 is unclear. We reflect on the challenges from trying to conduct a randomized post-SARS-CoV-2 infection vaccination trial study with rapidly evolving scientific data, vaccination guidelines, varying international policies, difficulties with vaccine availability, vaccine hesitancy, and a constantly evolving virus

Guidelines for assessing the risk to groundwater from on-site sanitation

There has been encouraging progress with access to safe drinking water and sanitation in both rural and urban areas since the United Nations Water Decade of the 1980s. However, more than 1 billion people around the world still lack access to safe water supplies and more than 2.4 billion are without adequate sanitation. A substantial majority of these people live in Asia where the lack of sanitation provision is particularly acute. In Africa, over one third of the population still remains without access to safe water and sanitation, and many of these can only be served by groundwater. The need for renewed efforts to improve the situation is recognised in DFID’s recently published water strategy paper – "Addressing the Water Crisis - Healthier and More Productive Lives for Poor People". The health benefits of safe water supply are only properly realised when programmes combine safe water supply with sanitation and the promotion of safe hygiene practice. With increasing population, the pressure on land in all cities is becoming intense. High levels of pollution are increasing the risk to groundwater from sanitation and drainage facilities. These guidelines are an important contribution to risk assessment and the avoidance of the contamination of groundwater supplies from on-site sanitation. They have been developed as part of a project funded by DFID through the water component of the Infrastructure and Urban Development Division’s Knowledge and Research Programme

On-site sanitation and urban aquifer systems in Uganda

Absence of microbial indicators from groundwater does not always mean absence of contamination. Research in sub-Saharan Africa warns against generalized assumptions - and solutions. Faecal contamination of groundwater is only significant if a threat to human health is posed; it is possible that there may be contamination without posing such a risk (raised nitrate levels, though still complying with water quality standards, and an absence of pathogens). The resource management issue here would be whether the long-term trend was for nitrate levels to exceed quality standards. It is also important to note that research has yet to be carried out correlating the persistence and transport of standard microbial indicators (faecal coliforms and faecal streptococci) with actual pathogens. Whilst there are currently no better alternatives to these standard indicators, the assumption that an absence of indicator species equates to an absence of pathogens may be unsafe. Research at the Robens Centre (in collaboration with Birmingham University) into enterovirus occurrence and transport in groundwater is ongoing. Whilst it is accepted that the provision of on-site sanitation facilities will have a positive impact on human health, it is equally clear that impacts on groundwater quality will result. Experience has shown that once contaminated, groundwater is often extremely costly to treat. To maximize public health benefits, an integrated approach to sanitation and groundwater management is required, based on a long-term cost-benefit decision-making process. It is vital to this process that further progress is made on the understanding of the persistence and transport of sewage contaminants in groundwater

A comparison of the extent and impacts of sewage contamination on urban groundwater in developed and developing countries.

In much of the world urban groundwater is an important resource for domestic and industrial use. In many developing countries, groundwater taken directly (untreated) from individual springs and wells is the only option available to communities where comprehensive, reliable reticulated supply systems are absent. A common feature of urban groundwater in both developing and developed countries is contamination by sewage. Current and recent research is presented that shows sewer leakage impacts groundwater in developed countries whilst on-site sanitation contaminates groundwater in developing countries. In the latter case, the competing demands of sanitation and groundwater protection must be addressed. Limitations on the usefulness of accepted standard sewage indicator species in groundwater are also highlighted. As sewage contamination of groundwater is usually addressed only if an actual health risk is posed, it is vital both to developed and developing countries to understand the movement of actual pathogens in groundwater in the context of groundwater management. Further research is required on microbial survival and health risks posed by sewage contamination

Analysis of induction generator controller techniques for Pico hydropower a case study of A 3kW Pico hydropower scheme in Kasese, Western Uganda

Conference paperThis paper presents a comparative analysis of control techniques used on induction generators for stand-alone Pico hydropower schemes. The techniques were tested on a prototype Pico hydropower system modeled for the site developed in western Uganda by the Centre for Research in Energy and Energy Conservation. The case study scheme to date is manually operated, a process that requires constant attention due to variations in load. This demonstrated the need for an automatic load controller. The site specifications were considered when designing models using Matlab simulink employing the automatic load control techniques. These model designs are simple so that it is affordable for local practical application. The proposed designed control techniques presented in this paper are composed of logic gates, IGBT switch, uncontrolled diode rectifier, the PID controller and other semiconductor devices supplying an electrical load and a ballast load. In addition, the response of the case study site and the Matlab model to load variations is presented