Fetal-maternal outcomes of induction of labour among women delivered at regional referral hospitals in Dar es Salaam Tanzania

Purpose: Africa has a very low rate of induction of labour with high maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. However fetal-maternal outcomes following induction of labour are not well documented in Tanzania. This study aimed to assess fetal-maternal outcomes following induction of labour among women delivered at Dar es Salaam regional referral hospitals in Tanzania.Design/methodology/Approach: A total of 301 expectant mothers were recruited in a prospective observational study conducted at all regional referral hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Data on fetal-maternal outcomes were collected using a pre-designed clinical sheet. Demographic data, obstetric history, methods as well as outcomes of labour induction were recorded. The continuous variables were summarized using the median and corresponding interquartile range. Categorical variables were summarized using frequency and proportions and the significance of differences were assessed using Chi-square at P<0.05.Results: The leading methods for induction of labour were Oxytocin (48.5%) and a combination of Folley’s catheter with Oxytocin (28.4%). Induction of labour significantly improved fetal outcomes at birth P<0.05. Induction of labour associated with improved Apgar scores in newborn babies. Failure of induction of labour was the largest contributor to the increased Caesarean Section rate observed in this study.Research limitation/Implication: This study has therefore explored the fetal-maternal outcomes following induction of labour in Tanzanian regional referral hospitals.Practical implication: Induction of labour improves and minimizes neonatal complications in referral regional hospitals in Dar es Salaam.Originality/Value: These findings fill a gap of information which was missing on the fetalmaternal outcomes following induction of labour among expectant mothers in Dar es Salaam regional referral hospitals

Discovery of Reflection Nebulosity Around Five Vega-like Stars

Coronagraphic optical observations of six Vega-like stars reveal reflection nebulosities, five of which were previously unknown. The nebulosities illuminated by HD 4881, HD 23362, HD 23680, HD 26676, and HD 49662 resemble that of the Pleiades, indicating an interstellar origin for dust grains. The reflection nebulosity around HD 123160 has a double-arm morphology, but no disk-like feature is seen as close as 2.5 arcsec from the star in K-band adaptive optics data. We demonstrate that uniform density dust clouds surrounding HD 23362, HD 23680 and HD 123160 can account for the observed 12-100 micron spectral energy distributions. For HD 4881, HD 26676, and HD 49662 an additional emission source, such as from a circumstellar disk or non-equilibrium grain heating, is required to fit the 12-25 micron data. These results indicate that in some cases, particularly for Vega-like stars located beyond the Local Bubble (>100 pc), the dust responsible for excess thermal emission may originate from the interstellar medium rather than from a planetary debris system.Comment: The Astrophysical Journal, in press for March, 2002 (32 pages, 13 figures

Tests to determine relative values of alcohol, gasoline, and kerosene as fuel for internal combustion engines

Citation: WIlson, Clare A. Wheat as food. Senior thesis, Kansas State Agricultural College, 1897.Morse Department of Special CollectionsIntroduction: The object of this series of tests was to determine the relative value of gasoline, denatured alcohol, and kerosene as fuel for an internal combustion engine designed and built for the use of gasoline. The fuels were tested under practically the same conditions, the only changes made in the engine were such that were necessary for obtaining the greatest brake horse power possible. The first or trial tests were made with a strap brake but it was soon found that this was not suitable for engines or motors above five horse power. We also found that oil was the best for cooling a brake of this type. After proving that the strap brake was insufficient, a wooden Prony brake was constructed and used throughout the remaining tests. With this brake a constant supply of water proved better for cooling, but there was a small amount of chattering which could not be avoided on account of the engine being of the four cycle type. The engine used was a ten horse power Witte Gasoline using the "hammer break" type of igniter. The fuel tank was placed on the wall above the engine so the supply did not depend on the pump. This tank was fitted with a gage glass so the amount of fuel at the start could be marked and at the end of the test, the overflow was put back and the tank filled to the point marked at the start. The amount required to fill the tank to the starting point, after putting back the overflow, was what the engine had used during the test. The cooling water for the cylinder..

N, P and K budgets for crop rotations on nine organic farms in the UK

On organic farms, where the importation of materials to build/maintain soil fertility is restricted, it is important that a balance between inputs and outputs of nutrients is achieved to ensure both short-term productivity and long-term sustainability. This paper considers different approaches to nutrient budgeting on organic farms and evaluates the sources of bias in the measurements and/or estimates of the nutrient inputs and outputs. The paper collates 88 nutrient budgets compiled at the farm scale in 9 temperate countries. All the nitrogen (N) budgets showed an N surplus (average 83.2 kg N ha-1 year-1). The efficiency of N use, defined as outputs/inputs, was highest (0.9) and lowest (0.2) in arable and beef systems respectively. The phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) budgets showed both surpluses and deficits (average 3.6 kg P ha-1 year-1, 14.2 kg K ha-1 year-1) with horticultural systems showing large surpluses resulting from purchased manure. The estimation of N fixation and quantities of nutrients in purchased manures may introduce significant errors in nutrient budgets. Overall, the data illustrate the diversity of management systems in place on organic farms, and suggest that used together with soil analysis, nutrient budgets are a useful tool for improving the long-term sustainability of organic systems

NICMOS Observations of the Pre-Main-Sequence Planetary Debris System HD 98800

Spectral energy distributions (SEDs) from 0.4 to 4.7 microns are presented for the two principal stellar components of HD~98800, A and B. The third major component, an extensive planetary debris system (PDS), emits > 20% of the luminosity of star B in a blackbody SED at 164 +/- 5K extending from mid-IR to millimeter-wavelengths. At 0.95 microns a preliminary upper limit of < 0.06 is obtained for the ratio of reflected light to the total from star B. This result limits the albedo of the PDS to < 0.3. Values are presented for the temperature, luminosity, and radius of each major systemic component. Remarkable similarities are found between the PDS and the interplanetary debris system around the Sun as it could have appeared a few million years after its formation.Comment: LaTeX, 9 pages with 1 encapsulated postscript figure and one specially formatted Table which is rendered as a postscript file and included as a figure. Accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journal Letter

Population-scale organization of cerebellar granule neuron signaling during a visuomotor behavior.

Granule cells at the input layer of the cerebellum comprise over half the neurons in the human brain and are thought to be critical for learning. However, little is known about granule neuron signaling at the population scale during behavior. We used calcium imaging in awake zebrafish during optokinetic behavior to record transgenically identified granule neurons throughout a cerebellar population. A significant fraction of the population was responsive at any given time. In contrast to core precerebellar populations, granule neuron responses were relatively heterogeneous, with variation in the degree of rectification and the balance of positive versus negative changes in activity. Functional correlations were strongest for nearby cells, with weak spatial gradients in the degree of rectification and the average sign of response. These data open a new window upon cerebellar function and suggest granule layer signals represent elementary building blocks under-represented in core sensorimotor pathways, thereby enabling the construction of novel patterns of activity for learning

Revenue Allocation in Nigeria: Implications for Sustainable National Development

This study examines the structure and formula for revenue allocation in Nigeria and highlights its implications for sustainable national development. The work uses the methodology of Error correction model (ECM) in conjunction with diagnostic tests of variables using Johansen Co-integration tests for robust policy recommendations. Using the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as the dependent variable and Revenue allocation to the three levels of government, inflation, and lending interest rate as the independent variables, the results from the study show that revenue allocations and the other variables have a significant relationship with economic growth in Nigeria. Based on our findings, the study recommends among others that there should be accountability and transparency in the federating units to achieve national goals and objectives. Various levels of government should be given adequate funds to enable it to carry out its expenditure responsibilities to accelerate grass root development in the economy. The government should focus on optimal revenue allocation targeted at economic growth to improve the standard of living of the citizenry. These would aid to achieve the goals of desired economic growth and sustainable national development in the years ahead