Different, resilient and relevant: A conversation about time and space for the Zimbabwean diaspora

This paper revisits the roles that Zimbabwean diaspora populations can play in shaping economic development trajectories in Zimbabwe. Building a case for recognition and harnessing of the difference, resilience and relevance of these populations, this paper argues for a conversation around time and space as vantage points of knowledge co-location and co-creation which can be leveraged at different scales to enhance individual and societal progress. Using a case study of Zimbabweans in the UK, we explore people’s current locations in different professional settings, how they had to adjust from different or similar roles that they played in Zimbabwe and how this adjustment process could be a source of lessons as Zimbabwe adjusts into a new political atmosphere. In particular, one adjustment that was inevitable was the mindset on the time resource, in professional as well as the wider social spaces. We envisage these adjustments and shifts to be tangible assets that would enable a different, yet relevant contribution to an evolving Zimbabwe by the diaspora. The idea of difference, resilience and relevance have long permeated the stories of Zimbabweans in the diaspora. As a diaspora population Zimbabweans regularly share experiences of sustained struggle, of constant compromise, that demonstrate a different kind of resilience, of battles to stay relevant against often challenging situations

Enhancing the functional properties of acetylated hemicellulose films for active food packaging using acetylated nanocellulose reinforcement and polycaprolactone coating

CITATION: Mugwagwa, L. R. & Chimphango, A. F. A. 2020. Enhancing the functional properties of acetylated hemicellulose films for active food packaging using acetylated nanocellulose reinforcement and polycaprolactone coating. Food Packaging and Shelf Life, 24. doi:10.1016/j.fpsl.2020.100481The original publication is available at https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/food-packaging-and-shelf-lifeAcetylated hemicellulose (AH)-nanocellulose (ACNC) films coated with polycaprolactone (PCL) films, were evaluated as active packaging for aqueous, alcoholic, fatty and acidic food. The effects of nanocellulose loading (0–50 %), degree of acetylation (DS) (0–2.34) and polycaprolactone coating (0.3 g/mL) on hydrophobicity and solubility of AH films in food simulants, were investigated. In addition, AH-CNC/PCL films were doped with polyphenols and their antioxidant release (temperature 5 °C–40 °C, time - 48 h) into food simulants was evaluated experimentally and by modelling (Migratest software). Increasing ACNC DS and loading, combined with a PCL coating increased films’ hydrophobicity (24.59° to 82.48°) and reduced film solubility in all the simulants (∼82.8 %). The release of polyphenols by the films was highest and best predicted using Migratest software for the fatty food simulant. Therefore, these films can be used as active packaging for fatty foods. Furthermore, Migratest modelling can be used to predict film performance during film design.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221428941930496XPublishers versio

Nitrogen effect on zinc biofortification of maize and cowpea in Zimbabwean smallholder farms

Agronomic biofortification of crops with zinc (Zn) can be enhanced under increased nitrogen (N) supply. Here, the effects of N fertilizer on grain Zn concentration of maize (Zea mays L.) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) were determined at two contrasting sites in Zimbabwe over two seasons. All treatments received soil and foliar zinc‐sulphate fertilizer. Seven N treatments, with three N rates (0, 45, and 90 kg ha−1 for maize; 0, 15, and 30 kg ha−1 for cowpea), two N forms (mineral and organic), and combinations thereof were used for each crop in a randomized complete block design (n = 4). Maize grain Zn concentrations increased from 27.2 to 39.3 mg kg−1 across sites. At 45 kg N ha−1, mineral N fertilizer increased maize grain Zn concentration more than organic N from cattle manure or a combination of mineral and organic N fertilizers. At 90 kg N ha−1, the three N fertilizer application strategies had similar effects on maize grain Zn concentration. Co‐application of N and Zn fertilizer was more effective at increasing Zn concentration in maize grain than Zn fertilizer alone. Increases in cowpea grain Zn concentration were less consistent, although grain Zn concentration increased from 39.8 to 52.7 mg kg−1 under optimal co‐applications of N and Zn. Future cost/benefit analyses of agronomic biofortification need to include information on benefits of agro‐fortified grain, complex farmer management decisions (including cost and access to both N and Zn fertilizers), as well as understanding of the spatial and site‐specific variation in fertilizer responses

WHO 2010 Guidelines for Prevention of Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission in Zimbabwe: Modeling Clinical Outcomes in Infants and Mothers

The Zimbabwean national prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) program provided primarily single-dose nevirapine (sdNVP) from 2002-2009 and is currently replacing sdNVP with more effective antiretroviral (ARV) regimens.Published HIV and PMTCT models, with local trial and programmatic data, were used to simulate a cohort of HIV-infected, pregnant/breastfeeding women in Zimbabwe (mean age 24.0 years, mean CD4 451 cells/µL). We compared five PMTCT regimens at a fixed level of PMTCT medication uptake: 1) no antenatal ARVs (comparator); 2) sdNVP; 3) WHO 2010 guidelines using "Option A" (zidovudine during pregnancy/infant NVP during breastfeeding for women without advanced HIV disease; lifelong 3-drug antiretroviral therapy (ART) for women with advanced disease); 4) WHO "Option B" (ART during pregnancy/breastfeeding without advanced disease; lifelong ART with advanced disease); and 5) "Option B+:" lifelong ART for all pregnant/breastfeeding, HIV-infected women. Pediatric (4-6 week and 18-month infection risk, 2-year survival) and maternal (2- and 5-year survival, life expectancy from delivery) outcomes were projected.Eighteen-month pediatric infection risks ranged from 25.8% (no antenatal ARVs) to 10.9% (Options B/B+). Although maternal short-term outcomes (2- and 5-year survival) varied only slightly by regimen, maternal life expectancy was reduced after receipt of sdNVP (13.8 years) or Option B (13.9 years) compared to no antenatal ARVs (14.0 years), Option A (14.0 years), or Option B+ (14.5 years).Replacement of sdNVP with currently recommended regimens for PMTCT (WHO Options A, B, or B+) is necessary to reduce infant HIV infection risk in Zimbabwe. The planned transition to Option A may also improve both pediatric and maternal outcomes

Early infant HIV-1 diagnosis programs in resource-limited settings: opportunities for improved outcomes and more cost-effective interventions

Early infant diagnosis (EID) of HIV-1 infection confers substantial benefits to HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected infants, to their families, and to programs providing prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services, but has been challenging to implement in resource-limited settings. In order to correctly inform parents/caregivers of infant infection status and link HIV-infected infants to care and treatment, a 'cascade' of events must successfully occur. A frequently cited barrier to expansion of EID programs is the cost of the required laboratory assays. However, substantial implementation barriers, as well as personnel and infrastructure requirements, exist at each step in the cascade. In this update, we review challenges to uptake at each step in the EID cascade, highlighting that even with the highest reported levels of uptake, nearly half of HIV-infected infants may not complete the cascade successfully. We next synthesize the available literature about the costs and cost effectiveness of EID programs; identify areas for future research; and place these findings within the context of the benefits and challenges to EID implementation in resource-limited settings

STECS Plus: An analysis of contributions to COVID-19 responses by science granting councils in selected African countries

The COVID-19 pandemic has upended many aspects of human life across the globe, through its sudden, pervasive and cascading impact. In pushing back against the virus, countries have deployed multi-pronged mechanisms towards rapid diagnosis, behaviour management through restrictions and social distancing, protecting people through the use of personal protective equipment, deployment of ventilators and other means for oxygen therapy, trying out different therapeutics and rapid progression with vaccine development. At the heart of some of these responses is the role of tools from science, technology and innovation, anchored in the work of national and international science system actors. Science granting councils (SGCs) with funding, regulatory and coordination roles in national science systems, have thus been an integral actor in these responses. To understand these roles more closely, this report draws from a multi-country case study which explored the content and context of interactions between national SGCs in nine (9) selected African countries , and other national stakeholders in shaping and implementing responses to the unravelling pandemic. The SGCs whose responses form the core of this report are part of the on-going Science Granting Councils’ Initiative (SGCI) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) which was launched in 2015 as a multi-funder initiative to strengthen SGCs in 15 SSA countries. The question that this study sought to answer and draw lessons from is: how have SGCs applied capacities and capabilities acquired from the SGCI in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic

Quantification of naive and memory T-cell turnover during HIV-1 infection

Background: In HIV infection, the homeostasis of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells is dramatically disturbed, and several studies have pointed out that T-cell turnover rates are increased. To understand how the CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell pools are affected, it is important to have quantitative insights into the lifespans of the cells constituting the different T-lymphocyte populations. Methods: We used long-term in-vivo 2H2O labeling and mathematical modeling to estimate the average lifespans of naive and memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in untreated (n = 4) and combination antiretroviral therapy-treated (n = 3) HIV-1-infected individuals. Results: During untreated chronic HIV-1 infection, naive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells lived on average 618 and 271 days, whereas memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells had average lifespans of 53 and 43 days, respectively. These lifespans were at least three-fold shorter than those in healthy controls (n = 5). In patients on effective combination antiretroviral therapy with total CD4+ T-cell counts in the normal range, we found that naive CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell lifespans had not completely normalized and were still two-fold shortened. Conclusion: The average lifespan of both naive and memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells decreased during untreated chronic HIV-1 infection. Although the turnover of the memory T-cell populations nearly normalized during effective treatment, the turnover of naive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells did not seem to normalize completely