Assessing the accuracy of remote sensing techniques in vegetation fractions estimation

This study aimed at exploring different remote sensing (RS) techniques for quantitatively measuring vegetation and bare soil fractions in dune ecosystems along the Kenyan coast. The accurate measurements of field samples are required by Kenya Wildlife for environmental monitoring. The current methodology for measuring fractions (ecological surveys) is biased, expert dependent and subjective, and for this reason, remote sensing techniques have been explored to find a better cost- effective alternative.Three methods were carried out to estimate different vegetation coverages in field samples and to analyze their performance: classification of photography’s taken by hand-held camera, unmixing of aerial photographs, unmixing of Crop scan and Field spec spectral measurements. For these purposes 32 plots of 1x1square meters distributed in 4 transects were selected and measured in the dune ecosystem.According to the field spectral measurements, different targets (lichens, vascular plants, mosses, and bare soil) showed a large spectral variation and overlapping between their spectral signatures. Therefore, classification methods and unmixing techniques led to poor results since they are based upon the spectral signature of the targets.The hand held camera method proved more accurate than Field Spec, Aerial photograph and Crop Scan. Therefore, from the remote sensing methods, this is the best method when considering accuracy. The performance of this method could be improved by adding an extra band (Infrared for instance). This extra band would allow operators to identify and classify better different kind of vegetation in the image.Keywords: Unmixing, Remote sensing techniques, spectral measurement

Stigma as a Challenge To Adherence To Antiretroviral Therapy Among People Living With Hiv/Aids In Nigeria – A Review

Human Immunodeficiency Virus/ Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) still remains a public health challenge in Nigeria as people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) do not adhere to their antiretroviral therapy (ART). Stigma is considered as a strong reason why people living with HIV/AIDS do not access HIV clinics and thus do not adhere to their treatment regimen. The objective of this study is to determine if stigmatisation affects adherence to ART. A comprehensive literature search of databases such as Medline, BioMed Central, Global Health (CABI), PUBMED, PsycINFO, Web of Science Core Collection and BMJ Best Practice was done to retrieve articles relevant for the study. Eleven (11) primary articles – descriptive cross-sectional surveys (from 2008 to 2020 - adults 19 years and above) of studies conducted in Nigeria which met the inclusion criteria was selected and reviewed. The result showed that low self esteem (internalized stigma), facility based (status disclosure), community based (hostility & restriction in family events), family based (not sharing cutleries / toilet facilities) and workplace based stigma (isolation by co-workers & threats of employment termination) contributed to non-adherence to ART. Sex workers do not feel free accessing HIV services due to fear of possible shaming and blaming by the service providers. The introduction of HIV and AIDS AntiDiscrimination Act 2014 enhance the protection of the fundamental rights of these PLWHA. The review concludes that stigma is a key factor to non-adherence to ART in Nigeria. This study recommends adoption of human rights approach, strengthening of Anti-Discrimination Laws and future research on inclusion of family members in the treatment of PLWHA in Nigeria to promote their adherence to ART

Conflicts In Nigerian Politics: Diagnosis and Marketing Prescriptions

POlitics is simply the art and science of governance, according to (Horby, 1974). This art or science of governance is often conducted via political parties which compete among themselves for power in a democratic system. Conflict, on the other hand, is disagreement rising from variations of social and cultural identities among people existing together in a defined setting. Such setting, in our case-the Nigerian political space, creates challenges and opportunities. Thus, managing conflict in our political life means understanding its alure and effects to enable political actors implement behaviours and policies that respond olhem in an effective way. The focus of this paper, therefore, is to interrogate the subject of political conflict in Nigeria from the etymological and theoretical perspectives with a view to providing solutions based on political marketing Paradigm

Technical Report. Rapid market assessment: viable sweetpotato technologies in Africa-Tanzania.

This report is based on a rapid assessment study conducted in 14 markets in the intervention areas of the Viable Sweetpotato Technologies in Africa (VISTA) Tanzania project. We would like to thank the male and female traders, consumers and local government partners in Tanzania who participated in the study. We believe that this report captures their voices, interests and hopes and we hope that the findings will be a significant contribution in improving sweetpotato interventions in not only Tanzania but also other parts of Africa where the VISTA project is being implemented

Informing industrial policy in Uganda: interaction between institutions, technology and market reforms

This study examines the motive ideas and assumptions that have informed industrial policy in Uganda since 1945. I deploy a historical perspective in order to understand the process of industrial policy and hope to capture the practices of industrial policy so as to explain the failure to pursue a successful industrialisation process in the country. The objective is to explain the nature of Uganda’s industrial policy practices, historically, with the view to deepening our understanding its impact on the industrialisation process. The study contends that industrial policy and industrialisation are often products of numerous historical, social, economic and political considerations. The major finding of this thesis is that the lack of a coherent industrial policy was a major contributing factor in the explanation of Uganda’s stunted industrialisation process. Secondly, the study analyses industrial policy practices in light of the imposition of Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs) on the country. Apart from the specific policies and institutional framework under SAPs, the study endeavours to explain their impact on industrial sector and it is focused on three themes: i) effects of liberalisation and privatisation on industry, ii) the sources of finance for industry and iii) the technology policy and its implications for industrial policy. The study as well addresses the public-private sector interactions which are seen as an expression of embryonic embedded autonomy. The study contends that for industrial policy to be effective at the national level and enhance competitiveness of industry there should be a selective, sectoral focus approach rather than a general regulation of the entire economy. Given the variant sectoral characteristics and features, the understanding of specific sectoral needs is critical to avoid a generalised industrial policy practices. The focus on sectors brings out similarities and differences which may inform state policy towards each of them. To illustrate the differences and similarities between sectors and the need for differentiated industrial policy options, we take the cases of the textile and fish processing industry sub-sectors. In conclusion, the thesis contends that to advocate for industrial policy in the current global context constitutes a movement away from traditional interventionism and goes beyond the market versus the state dichotomy and recommends their close interactions to realise sustained industrialisation. In this case, the interaction between institutions, technology and market reforms as the basis of a coherent industrial policy. From a policy perspective, this study attempts to provide an analysis that may lead to improved industrial policy-making within Uganda’s broad political economy

A study of the diversity, adaptation and gene effects for blast resistance and yield traits in East African finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn) landraces.

Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.Finger millet (Eleusine coracana) productivity in East Africa has remained low in all production agro-ecologies for decades owing to the low yielding potential of existing that are susceptible to the blast disease caused by the fungus Magnaporthe grisea (Hebert) Barr. and the limited research on the crop. The region holds large finger millet germpasm collections whose value is not yet been fully exploited. However, with the ongoing breeding efforts through hybridization, there is a need to comprehensively characterize the germplasm to identify valuable traits to address biotic and abiotic stresses that affect finger millet productivity. Studies on gene action and inheritance of key traits that contribute to yield improvement are also required to help formulate an effective breeding strategy for finger millet improvement. The objectives of this study were to (i) determine the genetic diversity in a set of germplasm from East Africa (ii) determine association between grain yield and its component traits (iii) identify genotypes for target production agro-ecologies (iv) identify blast resistant finger millet genotypes for use in breeding and production and (v) generate information on the inheritance of blast, grain yield and yield components for the development of an effective breeding strategy. A total of 340 finger millet accessions were collected from three countries in East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and 80 global minicore accessions sourced from ICRISAT-India. High phenotypic variability in the germplasm was recorded for 23 quantitative traits, blast reaction and five qualitative traits. Both morphological and molecular characterization (using SSR markers) of the 340 accessions revealed higher diversity within than among the countries Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Seven morphological clusters and three major genetic clusters were detected. Morphological diversity delineation was largely influenced by leaf sheath length, plant height, peduncle length, panicle exertion and grain yield. The mean polymorphic information content (PIC) of 19 polymorphic markers was 0.606 with mean alleles of 195 with sizes that ranged from 148-474 base pairs. The Kenyan and Tanzanian accessions had higher diversity than the Ugandan with the Kenyan and Ugandan, and the Kenyan and Tanzanian accessions being closely related than the Tanzanian and Ugandan. The low diversity in the Ugandan accessions could be attributed to higher research intervention in the country leading to the promotion and use of improved cultivars. Efforts have to be directed towards collection and conservation of valuable diversity before it is lost. The diversity in plant height, maturity, yield and blast reaction and the cluster groups detected in the germplasm should provide a basis for finger millet improvement through hybridization and selection. Higher genotypic than phenotypic correlations were recorded for most of the traits studied with grain yield having high positive correlations with finger width, grains per spikelet, threshing percent, peduncle length and panicle exertion. Both grain yield and days to flowering had negative correlations with all three blast types (leaf, neck and finger). Path coefficient analysis revealed that productive tillers per plant, 1000 grain mass, grains per spikelet and threshing percent had positive direct genetic effects on grain yield with strong indirect effects from several of the other traits which necessitates simultaneous selection for those traits with strong direct effects and those with strong indirect effects for grain yield improvement. High broad sense heritability estimates and high genetic advance as percent of mean were recorded in fingers per panicle, flag leaf sheath length, 1000 grain mass, finger length, peduncle length, panicle exertion, number of leaves per plant and leaf sheath length probably indicating the predominance of additive gene effects in controlling these traits hence the potential for improvement through selection. Adaptation and stability analysis using the GGE biplot model identified Lanet 2012 long rains, Serere 2012 long rains and Miwaleni 2012 long rains as the most discriminating environments for the low temperature, sub-humid mid altitude and dry lowland areas, respectively. Alupe 2012 long rains was the ideal environment for genotype discrimination for blast while Lanet 2012 long rains was best for grain yield. Genotypes G3, G5, G17, G25, G28, G36 and G71 were identified as being stable across environments and G1, G18, G19, G37, G54, G61, G74, G75, and G77 were found ideal for specific adaptation. Disease severity scores were highly negatively (P<0.01) correlated with days to flowering and grain yield suggesting that early lines suffered more disease damage leading to reduced yield. Resistant genotypes were slow blasting (probably associated with horizontal resistance) which may enable them to withstand blast pathogen variability for longer periods. Nine genotypes were identified with high resistance to blast and will be useful for breeding as blast resistance sources. Resistant genotypes had low AUDPC values and disease severity rating for the three blast types and vice-versa for susceptible genotypes. Further investigations need to be carried out to determine the possibility of the three blast types being controlled by the same genes. Early maturing blast susceptible genotypes with good yield potential could be utilized in areas with low blast prevalence. To understand the gene action for inheritance of the various traits 16 F2 families plus their four female and four male parents were evaluated at Alupe and Kakamega western Kenya under artificial blast inoculation. Significant additive genetic effects were recorded for all traits (except for finger width and grains per spikelet) meaning that improvement for these traits would be possible through the common selection methods for self pollinating crops. Parent lines KNE 392, and KNE 744 and IE 11 were found to be suitable for blast resistance breeding while Okhale 1 was found to be suitable for high grain yield and blast resistance improvement due to their high desirable GCA effects. Most of the F2 families showed transgressive segregation for the three blast types in either direction which gives hope for the development new pure lines with better blast resistance than the parents. Crosses IE 3104 x KNE 796, KAT FM 1 x Okhale 1, IE 11 x Okhale, IE 11 x P 224 and KNE 744 x KNE 392 have potential to generate lines with blast resistance due to their high desirable SCA effects. The F2 segregation distributions for blast indicated quantitative inheritance. However the one to four minimum number of genes (effective factors) detected for resistance control in all the three blast types was not in sync with the segregation patterns in the F2 families and further investigations are required. There were differences in segregation patterns between crosses which may suggest the presence of different resistance genes in the different parents used. This would call for gene pyramiding for durable resistance. These results confirm the potential of sourcing valuable parental stocks in the local germplasm for the development of genotypes to improve finger millet productivity in East Africa. Already some of the high yielding and blast resistant genotypes identified here have been incorporated in the regional cultivar trials. The diversity information generated will facilitate effective conservation and utilization of this germplasm. Results of gene action for inheritance of the various traits from this study will enable breeders to develop sound breeding strategies for finger millet improvement in the region

Potentially Harmful Algae along the Kenyan Coast: A Norm or Threat.

Harmful algal blooms are known to cause mortalities of aquatic organisms when in high biomass through formation of anoxic conditions or production of marine biotoxins (that ultimately reach humans through food web transfer). Only a few studies of phytoplankton communities have been carried out along the Kenyan coast. Of these studies, very few have focused on potentially harmful algae. Due to the increasing economic importance of harmful algal blooms, there is need to carry out an inventory of potentially harmful algal species that are present in the Kenyan coastal waters. Phytoplankton samples were collected along the Kenya Coast from 2009-2010 and analyzed for species abundance. A total of 39 taxa of potentially harmful algae were encountered over the study period. Potentially harmful algal taxa with high abundance were Chaetoceros sp., Nitzschia sp., Coscinodiscus sp., Pseudo-nitzschia sp., Rhizosolenia sp., Anabaena sp., Protoperidinium sp., Oscillatoria sp. and Trichodesnium sp. whereas the taxa with lowest abundances were Fibrocapsa sp., Chrysochromulina sp., Umezakia sp., Dinophysis sp. and Aphanizomenom sp. Taxa such as Dinophysis sp. that is generally known to be toxic at low cell densities occurred in most sampling stations. Highest cell densities of potentially harmful algae (39.51x102cells/L) were recorded in the estuarine systems as compared to the creeks (22.83x102cells/L) and near-shore (2.86x102cells/L) ecosystems. Compared to previous studies, this study registered increased number of potentially harmful algae species, an indication of potential threat of future bloom occurrences with the risks of phycotoxins contamination in the expected scenarios of increased eutrophication and climate change. Keywords: Phycotoxins, Abundances, Oceanic, Estuarine, Phytoplankton.

THE EFFECT OF SUCCESSION PLANNING ON EMPLOYEES' PERFORMANCE

The focus of this research work is on the effect of succession plans on employees performance. In order to achieve effectiveness and efficiency in an organization there is need for the recruitment or employment of the right and capable personnel to fit into the key areas/unit in a given organization. Succession planning today enables organizations to identify talented employees and provide education to develop them for further higher leach and broader responsibilities. This essay examines the need to identify and understand developmental needs of employees, which ensure that all key employees understand their career paths and theories as a potential managers. In this regard the research is to see how succession planning helps in the performance of employees and how it will impact on organizational activities. While the case study of this research work was the Bag Manufacturing Company, Ikeja, Questionnaire/ interview were deployed as the instruments for data collection. Also in the course of the research work some recommendations were made like, succession strategies should create corporate social identity, where employees sees themselves as partners with the employer in order to make the organization progress

Patients' Satisfaction with the Healthcare Services at a North Central Nigerian Tertiary Hospital

BACKGROUND: This study sought to determine the level of satisfaction of patients with the healthcare services at Federal Medical Centre, Bida (FMCB) Nigeria and the factors associated with patients' satisfaction.METHODS: The study utilized exit interview of 480 patients, sampled at the 9 service points of the Centre. The questions covered socio-demographic factors and the 3 core elements of healthcare service deliverynamely quality, access and interpersonal issues. The evaluation of satisfaction on the 5 point Likert scale were categorized into dissatisfied {very dissatisfied, dissatisfied and Neutral}and satisfied {satisfied andvery satisfied}, setting the threshold for satisfaction at a relatively higher level.RESULTS: On the overall, 78.5% of them were satisfied with the hospital services and 78.3% had their expectations met. Satisfaction was lowest (72.7%) at the revenue section and highest (96.1%) at the maternity section. Nine of every 10 respondents (91.7%) would recommend the facility to a friend. The patients' satisfaction had significant positive correlation with promptness of staff, communication level of staff, staffrelationship with patients, environmental cleanliness and comfort facilities. Cost of services and delay in obtaining services had negative but relatively weak correlation with satisfaction.CONCLUSION: The observed level of patients' satisfaction at FMC Bida is high. This can be maintained and enhanced by improvement in waitingtime, sustenance of the satisfactory hospital ambiance and staff attitude/aptitude. However, enlightenment of the hospital patients on the status of the hospital and the nature of services offered is necessary.KEYWORDS: patient satisfaction; quality of healthcare; tertiary hospital; Nigeri