Cytokine expression in malaria-infected non-human primate placentas

Malaria parasites are known to mediate the induction of inflammatory immune responses at the maternal-foetal interface during placental malaria (PM) leading to adverse consequences like pre-term deliveries and abortions. Immunological events that take place within the malaria-infected placental micro-environment leading to retarded foetal growth and disruption of pregnancies are among the critical parameters that are still in need of further elucidation. The establishment of more animal models for studying placental malaria can provide novel ways of circumventing problems experienced during placental malaria research in humans such as inaccurate estimation of gestational ages. Using the newly established olive baboon (Papio anubis)-Plasmodium knowlesi (P. knowlesi) H strain model of placental malaria, experiments were carried out to determine placental cytokine profiles underlying the immunopathogenesis of placental malaria. Four pregnant olive baboons were infected with blood stage P. knowlesi H strain parasites on the one fiftieth day of gestation while four other uninfected pregnant olive baboons were maintained as uninfected controls. After nine days of infection, placentas were extracted from all the eight baboons through cesarean surgery and used for the processing of placental plasma and sera samples for cytokine sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Results indicated that the occurrence of placental malaria was associated with elevated concentrations of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-{\alpha}) and interleukin 12 (IL-12). Increased levels of IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 and interferon gamma (IFN-{\gamma}) levels were detected in uninfected placentas. These findings match previous reports regarding immunity during PM thereby demonstrating the reliability of the olive baboon-P. knowlesi model for use in further studies.Comment: Open Veterinary Journal 1st June 2012. Seven pages, Three Figures. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1201.323

Effect of Cooperative Learning Approach on Students’ Academic Achievement in English in Co-Educational Public Secondary Schools, Nakuru County, Kenya

A lot of scholarly research articles have lauded the positive significant contribution of Cooperative Learning Approach (CLA) and its effect on student’s academic achievement. However none of those studies have been conducted on English subject, therefore this study investigated how the use of CLA affects students’ academic achievement in English in public coeducational secondary schools in Nakuru County. The study adopted quasi experimental design, based on Solomon Four- group, Non-equivalent Control Group Design. The study involved two Experimental groups, E1 and E2 which were taught through CLA method and two Control groups, C1 and C2 which were taught through the Conventional methods. The target populations were students and teachers from the four co-educational public secondary schools of Nakuru County. The accessible population was 766 form three students in the four schools. The study sample size was 242 Form three students from the four co-educational public secondary schools in Nakuru County. The study used English Achievement Test (EAT) to collect quantitative data. Data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 24). Comparing the mean gain for the two groups of students’, it was established that students using cooperative learning approach were 12% higher in English achievement test as compared to their peers who were taught using conventional methods. The study concluded that there was statistically significant effect of cooperative learning approach on students’ achievement of English in public co-educational secondary schools in Nakuru, County Kenya (F(1,216)=113043.974, p<0.05). The study further concluded that use of cooperative learning approach improves student achievement in English compared to use conventional methods. The study recommended teachers to adopt modern constructivism approaches to teaching students especially Cooperative learning approach that is student centered. Keywords: Cooperative Learning Approach, Academic Achievement DOI: 10.7176/JLLL/64-07 Publication date: January 31st 202

Estimation of the aboveground biomass in the trans-boundary River Sio Sub-catchment in Uganda

The enormous land cover in Uganda is rapidly being depleted or encroached. To examine this, the study aimed at estimating the above-ground biomass in River Sio sub-catchment in Uganda. The study utilized an ortho-rectified Landsat TM/ETM image of 2004 which was classified using NDVI classification system for the aboveground biomass assessment in ILWIS 3.3 software. A total of 42 homogenous sampling sites were identified for biomass estimation along six laid transects measuring 500m long. The seven randomly selected sampling plots measured 50m X 50 m. The classification showed that Bushlands (0.17), wetlands (0.03) and small scale farming (- 0.29-0.03) had relatively more medium and low biomass ranges compared to grasslands (-0.41/-0.29) which mainly comprised of bare land. The above ground biomass was relatively higher in bushlands (4.9 tons) and wetlands (4.7 tons) compared to non-uniform small scale farming (farmlands) with 3.9 tons and grasslands with 1.6 tons. The variation in biomass shows that the sub-catchment requires an urgent need for land use/cover planning and management to prevent further degradation of land cover

Evaluation of routes to chiral core dendrimers

Dendrimers are macromolecules with a highly branched three-dimensional shape, produced in an iterative sequence of reaction steps, in which each reaction results in a new generation. Dendrimers have stimulated wide interest in the field of chemistry and biology, particularly with respect to applications to drug delivery and more recently imaging. They have also been of growing interest as macromolecular hosts, potential catalysts and have been attached to surfaces and polymeric materials, and have significant potential in new materials development. Dendrimers can have comparable molecular dimensions to some proteins and could potentially have internal microenvironments akin to the active site of an enzyme. Encapsulation within dendrimers has significant potential biomedical applications, whilst dendrimer surface behavior is of interest to evaluate interactions of dendrimer surface functionality (its most accessible region) with biological molecules. Exploiting many of these areas are dependent on generating chirality in dendrimers

Concurrent sexual and substance-use risk behaviours among female sex workers in Kenya’s Coast Province: Findings from a behavioural monitoring survey

While many studies confirm the association between HIV, alcohol and injecting drug use by female sex workers (FSWs), little is known about their use of marijuana, khat and other substances and the association of these substances with HIV, risky sexual behaviour, and sexual violence. To better understand this association, data were analysed from a cross-sectional, behavioural survey of 297 FSWs in Mombasa, a well-known tourist destination and the second largest port in Africa and capital city of the Coast Province in Kenya. Among the FSWs, lifetime use of different substances was reported by 91% for alcohol, 71% for khat, 34% for marijuana, and 6% for heroin, cocaine, glue or petrol. The majority (79%) used more than one substance, and multiple-substance use was reported by all respondents who ever used marijuana, heroin, cocaine, glue and petrol. The risk of HIV acquisition was perceived as medium to highby 41% of respondents, 75% of whom attributed this risk to multiple partners. Sexual violence was reported by 48% of respondents,and 30% indicated that this happened several times. Despite HIV prevention programmes targeting FSWs in Mombasa, most of them continue to engage in risky sexual behaviours. This suggests that harm reduction strategies for substance use should be coupled with efforts to promote consistent condom use and partner reduction

LAND USE AND COVER CHANGE IN PASTORAL SYSTEMS OF UGANDA: IMPLICATIONS ON LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT UNDER DROUGHT INDUCED PASTURE

The rangelands of Uganda used to be historically managed under traditional systems where grazers had open access with mobility as a main coping strategy to drought. Changes in land ownership, increased population and demand for food and fuel have led to changes in land use and cover types, affecting livestock management practices. This study assessed the extent of land use and cover change in Buliisa and Nakasongola Districts in the cattle corridor of Uganda over 27 years (1986 \u20132013), and their impacts on livestock management under drought induced pasture. Landsat TM (1986) and Landsat ETM+ (2000 and 2013) images were processed using a hybrid of supervised and unsupervised classification algorithm, using ENV1 software 4.7. Area under open water and grassland declined by 3.5 and 48.3%, while woodland, wetland, small scale farming and forest increased by 0.2, 62.2, 320.7 and 64.1%, respectively, in Buliisa. In Nakasongola, grassland, bushland and forest decreased by 96.1, 25.6 and 17.2%, respectively; while open water, bare ground, wetland, and small scale farming increased by 5.3, 210.9, 2.7 and 26.8%, respectively, between 1986 and 2013. Individualisation of land in Nakasongola led to settlement of cultivators and fencing of land leading to blockage of livestock migration routes. Reduced mobility of livestock during drought, increased stock densities resulting in land degradation exemplified by bare land in Nakasongola compared to Buliisa, where communal land ownership and limited cultivation enabled mobility. The current land use and cover changes have delineated mobility as a coping strategy to drought, contributed to degradation of rangelands, reduced the resilience of pastoral systems to drought and increased their vulnerability to climate change. Farm based water and forage conservation should be enhanced to sustain livestock production.Les p\ue2turages de l\u2019 Ouganda \ue9taient historiquement g\ue9r\ue9s sous syst\ue8me traditionnel o\uf9 les \ue9leveurs avaient un acc\ue8s facile avec libre mouvement comme strat\ue9gie d\u2019adaptation aux conditions de s\ue9cheresse. Les changements dans les syst\ue8mes de propri\ue9te fonci\ue8re , l\u2019augmentation de la population et la demande accrue de la nourriture et produits de chauffe ont induit des changements dans l\u2019utilisation des terres et types de couvert, affectant ainsi les pratiques de gestion de l\u2019\ue9levage. Cette \ue9tude a \ue9valu\ue9 l\u2019ampleur du changement dans l\u2019utilisation des terres et couvert v\ue9g\ue9tal dans les districts de Buliisa et Nakasongola dans le corridor du b\ue9tail en Ouganda depuis 27 ans (1986 \u20132013), et leurs impacts sur la gestion de l\u2019\ue9levage en conditions de s\ue9cheresse. Les images Landsat TM (1986) et ETM+ (2000 et 2013) \ue9taient exploit\ue9es par utilisation d\u2019un m\ue9lange d\u2019algorithme de classification supervis\ue9e ou non supervis\ue9e utilisant le logiciel 4.7 ENV1. Les surfaces d\u2019eau et les p\ue2turages ont diminu\ue9 de 3.5 et 48.3%, pendant que les zonesz bois\ue9es , les marrais, les surfaces cultiv\ue9es et les forets ont augment\ue9 de 0.2, 62.2, 320.7 et 64.1%, respectivement, dans Buliisa. Dans la r\ue9gion de Nakasongola, les p\ue2turages, les terres sur-brulis et les forets ont diminu\ue9 de 96.1, 25.6 et 17.2% respectivement; pendant que les surfaces d\u2019eau, les surfaces d\ue9nud\ue9es , les marrais et les surfaces cultiv\ue9es ont augment\ue9 de 5.3, 210.9, 2.7 et 26.8%, respectivement, entre 1986 et 2013. La privatisation des terres \ue0 Nakasongola a conduit \ue0 l\u2019occupation des terres par les cultivateurs, restreignant ainsi les mouvement migratoire du b\ue9tail. Cette r\ue9duction de la mobilit\ue9 du b\ue9tail durant la saison s\ue8che a entrain\ue9 une augmentation de leur densit\ue9 entrainant une d\ue9gradation avec d\ue9nudation des terres en comparaison avec Buliisa, o\uf9 l\u2019utilisation des terres communales et l\u2019activit\ue9 agricole limit\ue9e ont facilit\ue9 la mobilit\ue9. L\u2019utilisation actuelle des terres et les changements du couvert v\ue9g\ue9tal ont renforc\ue9 la mobilit\ue9 du b\ue9tail comme strat\ue9gie d\u2019adaptation \ue0 la s\ue9cheresse, contribu\ue9 \ue0 la d\ue9gradation des p\ue2turages, r\ue9duit la r\ue9silience des syst\ue8mes pastoraux \ue0 la s\ue9cheresse et augment\ue9 leur vuln\ue9rabilit\ue9 au changement climatique. La conservation du fourrage et de l\u2019eau au niveau des exploitations devrair \ueatre renforc\ue9e pour permettre un \ue9levage durable

Concurrent sexual and substance-use risk behaviours among female sex workers in Kenya\u27s Coast Province: findings from a behavioural monitoring survey

While many studies confirm the association between HIV, alcohol and injecting drug use by female sex workers (FSWs), little is known about their use of marijuana, khat and other substances and the association of these substances with HIV, risky sexual behaviour, and sexual violence. To better understand this association, data were analysed from a cross-sectional, behavioural survey of 297 FSWs in Mombasa, a well-known tourist destination and the second largest port in Africa and capital city of the Coast Province in Kenya. Among the FSWs, lifetime use of different substances was reported by 91% for alcohol, 71% for khat, 34% for marijuana, and 6% for heroin, cocaine, glue or petrol. The majority (79%) used more than one substance, and multiple-substance use was reported by all respondents who ever used marijuana, heroin, cocaine, glue and petrol. The risk of HIV acquisition was perceived as medium to high by 41% of respondents, 75% of whom attributed this risk to multiple partners. Sexual violence was reported by 48% of respondents, and 30% indicated that this happened several times. Despite HIV prevention programmes targeting FSWs in Mombasa, most of them continue to engage in risky sexual behaviours. This suggests that harm reduction strategies for substance use should be coupled with efforts to promote consistent condom use and partner reduction

The role of indigenous knowledge (IK) in adaptation to drought by agropastoral smallholder farmers in Uganda

44-52Majority of agro pastoral smallholder farmers in developing countries are characterised by low pay status, high illiteracy levels and are tied to cultural beliefs and spirits. These drawbacks have led them into using more indigenous knowledge as a way of adapting to droughts. This study explored the contribution of IK in enhancing farmer’s resilience to drought in crop and livestock production systems in semi-arid areas. The objectives were: (i) to examine the agro pastoral farmer’s perceptions of drought indicators and associated impacts and (ii) determinants for the adoption of indigenous knowledge drought adaptation responses. Socio-economic data was collected using oral interviews. The farmers (240) were selected using random sampling procedures and subjected to structured questionnaires and key informant guides. This study highlights that the droughts experienced were perceived to be more severe, recurrent and pervasive but also erratic. The IK drought signs were: flowering of wild plants, blowing of strong winds and appearance of flying and crawling insects. In crop-based systems, droughts reduced yields, caused plant stunted growth, increased incidences of diseases and invasive weed species. In livestock, droughts reduced surface water levels, lowered milk and beef yields, and increased diseases. The farmers reacted to droughts by practicing indigenous agro forestry, mulching, changing planting time, crop rotation and hoeing of trenches to control fires and pests/diseases. They also took their animals to wetlands for foraging and drew water for animals to drink. The uptake of IK drought adaptation practices was related to: household size, personal farming life experience, gender and age of the agro pastoral farmers. Therefore, employing IK drought adaptation responses is an important step towards increasing the resilience of agro pastoral smallholder farmers but also the conservation of IK for forthcoming generations

Estimation of the aboveground biomass in the trans-boundary River Sio Sub-catchment in Uganda

The enormous land cover in Uganda is rapidly being depleted or encroached. To examine this, the study aimed at estimating the above-ground biomass in River Sio sub-catchment in Uganda. The study utilized an ortho-rectified Landsat TM/ETM image of 2004 which was classified using NDVI classification system for the aboveground biomass assessment in ILWIS 3.3 software. A total of 42 homogenous sampling sites were identified for biomass estimation along six laid transects measuring 500m long. The seven randomly selected sampling plots measured 50m X 50 m. The classification showed that Bushlands (0.17), wetlands (0.03) and small scale farming (0.29-0.03) had relatively more medium and low biomass ranges compared to grasslands (-0.41/-0.29) which mainly comprised of bare land. The above ground biomass was relatively higher in bushlands (4.9 tons) and wetlands (4.7 tons) compared to non-uniform small scale farming (farmlands) with 3.9 tons and grasslands with 1.6 tons. The variation in biomass shows that the sub-catchment requires an urgent need for land use/cover planning and management to prevent further degradation of land cover. @JASE