Public Libraries and Knowledge Commons in a Municipality in the Free State, South Africa

The purpose of the study is to examine the emergence of Commons in the public libraries in the Free State in South Africa using the Institutional Analysis and Development Framework. The study examined the roles of the libraries and communities, the linkage of the new library with open access to knowledge, level of awareness of both users, and the community and administrators. Also, the study examined the role of library users and their communities in the maintenance of the new library. The study adopted a qualitative research design to study 16 community leaders and 17 library staff using an interview schedule. The interview schedule was developed following the Institutional Analysis and Development Framework and administered by the researchers. Data analysis was conducted by a narrative approach to highlight the voices of the participants. Knowledge commons is emerging in the communities studied in a serendipitous manner; there is no formal national or regional policy that spells out what knowledge commons is and their entailments. There is strong evidence of community ownership and governance of human knowledge and other resources that are associated with learning and innovation in the communities

Nutritional anaemia and malaria in children.

Background: The most common cause of anemia is a deficiency of iron; but it may also be caused by deficiencies of folates, vitamin B12 and protein. Some anemias are not caused by nutritional factors, but by congenital factors and parasitic diseases such as malaria. This study attempted to estimate the prevalence of anemia among pre-school and school- aged children in two rural areas of Odogbolu Local government area, and to determine whether its cause was nutritional or could be attributed to malaria. Methods: A total of 177 children between the ages of 2 and 11 years were included in the study. Children were examined for malaria parasites by microscopy. The World Health Organization (WHO) age-adjusted cut-off for hemoglobin and hematocrit were used to classify anemia. An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for serum ferritin was compared with standard methods of determining iron deficiency. Under- nutrition (stunting, wasting and underweight) was classified according to the National Centre for Health Statistics standards. Values below  - 2SD were defined as mild-moderate under-nutrition, and those below  -3SD as severe malnutrition. Results: Most of the children were anemic, 87.1%, having PCV values below the 32% cut-off and 95% with hemoglobin levels lower than the 11g/dl, although parasite prevalence and density were low. Malnutrition was patent; 36% of the children were stunted, 18.3% wasted and 44.2% underweight. Serum ferritin was more sensitive than PCV in detecting anemic children. Although anemia was higher in boys and preschoolers compared to girls and school aged children, the difference was significant only in preschoolers (P = .004). Anaemia was also significantly higher in Irawo village school than in Iloti (P = .0001) Conclusion: The anemia detected in this population may be due more to under-nutrition than to malaria. Keywords: Anaemia, nutrition, childrenAnnals of African Medicine Vol. 7 (1) 2008 pp. 11-1

Convection enhanced delivery in the setting of high‐grade gliomas

Development of effective treatments for high-grade glioma (HGG) is hampered by (1) the blood–brain barrier (BBB), (2) an infiltrative growth pattern, (3) rapid development of therapeutic resistance, and, in many cases, (4) dose-limiting toxicity due to systemic exposure. Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) has the potential to significantly limit systemic toxicity and increase therapeutic index by directly delivering homogenous drug concentrations to the site of disease. In this review, we present clinical experiences and preclinical developments of CED in the setting of high-grade gliomas

Equation of state of single-crystal cubic boron phosphide

The 300 K equation of state of cubic (zinc-blende) boron phosphide BP has been studied by in situ single-crystal X-ray diffraction with synchrotron radiation up to 55 GPa. The measurements have been performed under quasi-hydrostatic conditions using a Ne pressure medium in a diamond anvil cell. A fit of the experimental p-V data to the Vinet equation of state yields the bulk modulus B0 of 179(1) GPa with its pressure derivative of 3.3(1). These values are in a good agreement with previous elastic measurements, as well as with semiempirical estimations.Уравнение состояния кубического (цинковая обманка) фосфида бора BP при 300 К изучено in situ до давления 55 ГПа с применением монокристаллической дифракции рентгеновских лучей с синхротронным излучением. Измерения проводили в алмазных наковальнях в квазигидростатических условиях с использованием Ne в качестве среды, передающей давление. Соответствие экспериментальных p-V данных уравнению состояния Винета (Vinet) дает объемный модуль упругости B0 = 179(1) ГПа и его производную по давлению 3,3(1). Эти величины хорошо согласуются с прежними измерениями упругости, а также с полуэмпирическими оценками.Рівняння стану кубічного (цинкова обманка) фосфіду бору BP при 300 К вивчено in situ до тиску 55 ГПа зі застосуванням монокристалічної дифракції рентгенівських променів із синхротронним випромінюванням. Вимірювання проводили в алмазних ковадлах у квазігідростатичних умовах з використанням Ne в якості середовища, що передає тиск. Відповідність експериментальних p-V даних рівнянню стану Вінета (Vinet) дає об’ємний модуль пружності B0 = 179(1) ГПа і його похідну по тиску 3,3(1). Ці величини добре узгоджуються з попередніми вимірюваннями пружності, а також із напівемпіричними оцінками

Effects of estradiol and FSH on maturation of the testis in the hypogonadal (hpg) mouse

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The hypogonadal (hpg) mouse is widely used as an animal model with which to investigate the endocrine regulation of spermatogenesis. Chronic treatment of these GnRH-deficient mice with estradiol is known to induce testicular maturation and restore qualitatively normal spermatogenesis. The aim of the current studies was to investigate whether these effects of estradiol are direct effects in the testis, or indirect actions via paradoxical stimulation of FSH secretion from the pituitary gland.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Initially, Western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to analyse tissues from hpg mice to identify potential sites of action of estradiol. In the main study, hpg mice were treated for 50 days with either an estradiol implant or daily injections of recombinant human FSH, or a combination of both, to determine whether estradiol would have an additive or synergistic effect with FSH on testis development, as assessed by histological analysis and stereological quantification of Leydig, Sertoli and germ cell proliferation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Western blot analysis revealed ERα immunoreactive bands of appropriate molecular weight in extracts of testis and pituitary glands from hpg mice, and immunohistochemical studies confirmed ERα in nuclei of anterior pituitary cells and Leydig and peritubular cells in hpg mice. Histological and morphometric analyses revealed that estradiol treatment alone was as effective as FSH in promoting Sertoli cell production and proliferation of the seminiferous epithelium, resulting in the production of elongating spermatids. Combined estradiol and FSH treatment did not produce a greater effect than either treatment alone, though an increased dose of FSH significantly increased seminiferous tubule volume and testis weight and increase Sertoli cell numbers further within the same time frame. In contrast, estradiol caused substantial increases in the wet weight of the seminal vesicles, whereas FSH was without effect on this tissue, and did not augment the actions of estradiol.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>As ERalpha receptor is abundantly expressed in the pituitary gland of hpg mice, and estradiol did not exert effects on testis development over and above those of FSH, we conclude that the action of estradiol on testis development in <it>hpg </it>mice is predominantly via the stimulation of pituitary FSH release.</p

Nutritional Anaemia and Malaria in Pre-School and School Age Children

Background: The most common cause of anemia is a deficiency of iron; but it may also be caused by deficiencies of folates, vitamin B12 and protein. Some anemias are not caused by nutritional factors, but by congenital factors and parasitic diseases such as malaria. This study attempted to estimate the prevalence of anemia among pre-school and school- aged children in two rural areas of Odogbolu Local government area, and to determine whether its cause was nutritional or could be attributed to malaria. Methods: A total of 177 children between the ages of 2 and 11 years were included in the study. Children were examined for malaria parasites by microscopy. The World Health Organization (WHO) age-adjusted cut-off for hemoglobin and hematocrit were used to classify anemia. An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for serum ferritin was compared with standard methods of determining iron deficiency. Under- nutrition (stunting, wasting and underweight) was classified according to the National Centre for Health Statistics standards. Values below \u3bc - 2SD were defined as mild-moderate under-nutrition, and those below \u3bc -3SD as severe malnutrition. Results: Most of the children were anemic, 87.1%, having PCV values below the 32% cut-off and 95% with hemoglobin levels lower than the 11g/dl, although parasite prevalence and density were low. Malnutrition was patent; 36% of the children were stunted, 18.3% wasted and 44.2% underweight. Serum ferritin was more sensitive than PCV in detecting anemic children. Although anemia was higher in boys and preschoolers compared to girls and school aged children, the difference was significant only in preschoolers (P\u2009=\u2009.004). Anaemia was also significantly higher in Irawo village school than in Iloti (P=.0001) Conclusion: The anemia detected in this population may be due more to under-nutrition than to malaria.Introduction: La cause la plus fr\ue9quente de l\u2019an\ue9mie est une carence en fer, mais elle peut aussi \ueatre caus\ue9e par des carence en folates, vitamine B12 et de prot\ue9ines. Certaines an\ue9mies ne sont pas caus\ue9es par des facteurs nutritionnels, mais par les facteurs cong\ue9nitales et les maladies parasitaires telles que le paludisme. Cette \ue9tude est pour but d\u2019estimer la pr\ue9valence de l\u2019an\ue9mie chez les pr\ue9scolaires et les enfants d\u2019\ue2ge scolaire dans deux zones rurales de l\u2019administration locale d\u2019Odogbolu, et de d\ue9terminer si sa cause est nutritionnel ou pouvaient \ueatre attribu\ue9s \ue0 la malaria. M\ue9thodes: Un total de 117 enfants \ue2g\ue9s entre 2 et 11 ans ont \ue9t\ue9 inclus dans l\u2019\ue9tude. Des enfants ont \ue9t\ue9 \ue9tudi\ue9s pour les parasites du paludisme par microscopie. L\u2019Organisation Mondiale de la Sant\ue9 (OMS), l\u2019\ue2ge corrig\ue9 de coupure de l\u2019h\ue9moglobine et l\u2019h\ue9matocrites ont \ue9t\ue9 utilis\ue9s pour classer l\u2019an\ue9mie. L\u2019an\ue9mie. Une enzyme ayant rapport avec immunosorben assay pour la ferritinemie a \ue9t\ue9 compar\ue9e avec les m\ue9thodes standard de la d\ue9termination de la carence en fer. La sous-alimentation (retard de croissance, \ue9maciation et l\u2019insuffisance pond\ue9rale) ont \ue9t\ue9 class\ue9es selon le standard du Centre national pour les statistiques de la sant\ue9. Les valeurs au dessous de \ub5 - 2SD ont \ue9t\ue9 d\ue9finis comme \ue9tant doux mod\ue9r\ue9, et sous-alimentation, et celles du moins de \ub5 - 3SD comme \ue9tant la malnutrition grave. R\ue9sultats: La plus part des enfants sont an\ue9miques, 87,1% ayant des valeurs PCV au dessous de 32% niveau de la limite et 95% avec des taux d\u2019h\ue9moglobine inf\ue9rieurs \ue0 la 11g/dl, bien que la pr\ue9valence du parasite et de la densit\ue9 \ue9tait faible. La malnutrition \ue9tait de brevets, 36% des enfants avaient un retard de croissance. 18,3% gaspille et 44,2% d\u2019une insuffisance pond\ue9rale. La ferritine s\ue9rique a \ue9t\ue9 plus sensible que PCV dans la d\ue9tection des enfants an\ue9miques. Bien que l\u2019an\ue9mie est plus \ue9lev\ue9 chez les gar\ue7ons et pr\ue9scolaires par rapport aux filles et aux enfants d\u2019\ue2ge scolaire, la diff\ue9rence \ue9tait significative seulement chez l\u2019\ue2ge pr\ue9scolaire (p = 0,004). An\ue9mie a \ue9galement \ue9t\ue9 sensiblement plus \ue9lev\ue9e dans l\u2019\ue9cole du village que dans Iloti (p = 0,0001). Conclusion: L\u2019an\ue9mie d\ue9tect\ue9e dans cette population est peut-\ueatre du davantage \ue0 la sous alimentation que de la malaria

Towards Open and Equitable Access to Research and Knowledge for Development

Leslie Chan and colleagues discuss the value of open access not just for access to health information, but also for transforming structural inequity in current academic reward systems and for valuing scholarship from the South