Seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 IgG in Juba, South Sudan, 2020

Relatively few coronavirus disease cases and deaths have been reported from sub-Saharan Africa, although the extent of its spread remains unclear. During August 10-Sep-tember 11, 2020, we recruited 2,214 participants for a representative household-based cross-sectional serosurvey in Juba, South Sudan. We found 22.3% of participants had severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2) receptor binding domain IgG titers above prepandemic levels. After accounting for waning antibody levels, age, and sex, we estimated that 38.3% (95% credible interval 31.8%-46.5%) of the population had been infected with SARS-CoV-2. At this rate, for each PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection reported by the Ministry of Health, 103 (95% credible interval 86-126) infections would have been unreported, meaning SARS-CoV-2 has likely spread extensively within Juba. We also found differences in background reactivity in Juba compared with Boston, Massachusetts, USA, where the immunoassay was validated. Our findings underscore the need to validate serologic tests in sub-Saharan Africa populations

A formal synthesis of (plus or minus)-calodendrolide

Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 1994, 8(1) 35-38

A formal synthesis of (plus or minus)-calodendrolide

Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 1994, 8(1) 35-38

Electronic structure analysis of quasi-one-dimensional monophosphate tungsten bronzes

Synchrotron-radiation angle-resolved photoemission measurements were performed in the nondoped (PO_2)_4(WO_3)_4(WO_3)_4 compound in order to obtain a detailed picture of the electronic structure. This material is a low-dimensional compound due to the strong anisotropic structure built up with chains. The measurements were done at room temperature, probing different crystalline directions. Three states are observed in the vicinity of the Fermi level: one of them exhibits one-dimensional character while the other two are of two-dimensional nature. A very good agreement has been found between these electronic bands and theoretical calculations based on the hidden nesting mechanism

Health effects and association of demographic characteristics with Khat chewing for residents between 18 – 50 years in Moyale Sub-County, Kenya

Objectives: To determine the proportions, social demographic characteristics and association of health effects with khat chewing for residents between 18 – 50 years in Moyale Sub-County.Design: A cross-sectional descriptive study.Setting: Moyale Sub-County, Marsabit County.Subjects: Four hundred and twenty two randomly selected persons aged between 18 – 50 years in Moyale Sub-County. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and associations were determined using inferential statistics. Main outcome measures: Health effects and association of demographics with khat chewing.Results: The study found that the proportion of khat users in Moyale Sub-County was 81%. Majority of khat users were males (75%) compared to females (25%). Males spend more than 5 hours a day chewing khat. There was a strong association between the number of people who live in the household and chewing khat (p=0.046). The study found reasons for chewing khat as; peer pressure (73.2%),stress (10.3%) and idleness (7.2%). The health effects associated with khat chewing were: difficulty in sleep (94%) decreased energy (77.5%) and reduced sexual desire.Conclusion: Khat chewing affects a large proportion (81%) of the population with 75% being males and 25% females. Prolonged use of khat leads to adverse negative effects