Analysis of sand gradation effects on relative density

The relative density is a better indicator for specifying the compaction of granular cohesionless soils i.e. coarser soil as compared to relative compaction. It has been also found that sands are a more preferred material for use as filling in foundation/base material because of its affinity to be less affected by pore moisture content as compared to cohesive soils. Practically it is very difficult to obtain homogeneous sands during various cut and fill operations or other purposes of construction. This leads to procuring sand from different sources, which result in heterogeneous properties in the sample used. From the literature survey carried out, it has been found that there has not been an appropriate effort to establish a relationship between relative density, bearing capacity and gradation of sand, i.e. the different proportions of coarse, medium and fine sand. Hence, an effort is being made to carry out an experimental study regarding the relation between the two and conclude with an empirical relation between the two. Erstwhile, sieve analysis and specific gravity test were carried out for the samples from the four sources to find out the natural proportion. After establishing the empirical relation between relative density and sand gradation, steps have been taken to carry the experiment further and relate the bearing capacity of the sample with the relative density for its easier application in the field. Finding the internal angle of friction from the direct shear test, the bearing capacity has been calculated in accordance with IS 6403:2002. The relation between relative density and internal angle of friction has been found in accordance with the Meyerhof’s relation, with an allowable error of ± 5 % from the ideal values

ANALYSIS OF ADAPTATION DIVERSITY TO CLIMATE VARIABILITY AND CHANGE AMONG PASTORAL COMMUNITIES IN NORTH-EASTERN UGANDA

Adaptation framing remains one of the major challenges to achieving greater implementation of adaptation initiatives in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Using an integrated analytical framework that frames adaptation indicators into three dimensions; adaptive, absorptive and transformative capacities, we analysed the adaptation diversity in Karamoja sub-region, Uganda. We found a strong perception of the existence of climate variability and change manifested through the occurrence of droughts, floods, hailstorms, late onset and early rainfall onset. Absorptive capacity revealed varied status of asset ownership, custodianships, and access to these assets, presence of informal social safety nets, and social cohesion. Adaptive capacity revealed the presence of a diversity of livelihood sources, livelihood assets and associated income, but its human capital indicator revealed considerably high illiteracy levels among respondents. Meanwhile, transformative capacity revealed existence of network structures, governance and institutions, facilitated access to early warning information on pests, diseases and rainfall onset. Traditional institutions and the justice system played a key role in conflict resolution, mediation and negotiation for kraals establishment, grazing, and watering rights. We conclude that pastoral communities in Karamoja have a high inclination to maintenance of stability while their flexibility and ability to change decreases with the intensity of change pro-rata.Le cadrage de l\u2019adaptation reste l\u2019un des d\ue9fis majeurs pour parvenir \ue0 une plus grande mise en \u153uvre des initiatives d\u2019adaptation en Afrique subsaharienne (ASS). En utilisant un cadre analytique int\ue9gr\ue9 qui encadre les indicateurs d\u2019adaptation en trois dimensions; capacit\ue9s d\u2019adaptation, d\u2019absorption et de transformation, nous avons analys\ue9 la diversit\ue9 de l\u2019adaptation dans la sous-r\ue9gion de Karamoja, en Ouganda. Nous avons trouv\ue9 une forte perception de l\u2019existence de la variabilit\ue9 et des changements climatiques qui se manifestent par la survenue de s\ue9cheresses, d\u2019inondations, de temp\ueates de gr\ueale, d\u2019apparition tardive et pr\ue9coce des pr\ue9cipitations. La capacit\ue9 d\u2019absorption a r\ue9v\ue9l\ue9 des statuts vari\ue9s d\u2018\ua0actifs\ua0de\ua0propri\ue9t\ue9, de la protection de ses actifs et d\u2019acc\ue8s \ue0 ces actifs, la pr\ue9sence des r\ue9seaux de la s\ue9curit\ue9 sociale informels et la coh\ue9sion sociale. La capacit\ue9 d\u2019adaptation a r\ue9v\ue9l\ue9 la pr\ue9sence d\u2019une diversit\ue9 de sources de subsistance, d\u2019actifs de subsistance et de revenus associ\ue9s, mais son indicateur de capital humain a r\ue9v\ue9l\ue9 des niveaux d\u2019analphab\ue9tisme consid\ue9rablement \ue9lev\ue9s parmi les r\ue9pondants. Pendant ce temps, la capacit\ue9 de la transformation a r\ue9v\ue9l\ue9 l\u2019existence de structures de r\ue9seau, de gouvernance et d\u2019institutions, a facilit\ue9 l\u2019acc\ue8s aux informations d\u2019alerte pr\ue9coce sur les ravageurs, les maladies et l\u2019apparition des pluies. Les institutions traditionnelles et le syst\ue8me judiciaire ont jou\ue9 un r\uf4le cl\ue9 dans la r\ue9solution des conflits, la m\ue9diation et la n\ue9gociation pour l\u2019\ue9tablissement des \ue9tables et les droits de p\ue2turage et d\u2019abreuvement. Nous concluons que les communaut\ue9s pastorales du Karamoja ont une forte tendance au maintien de la stabilit\ue9 tandis que leur flexibilit\ue9 et leur capacit\ue9 \ue0 changer diminuent avec l\u2019intensit\ue9 du changement au prorata

Decomposing maternal socioeconomic inequalities in Zimbabwe; leaving no woman behind

Background Several studies in the literature have shown the existence of large disparities in the use of maternal health services by socioeconomic status (SES) in developing countries. The persistence of the socioeconomic disparities is problematic, as the global community is currently advocating for not leaving anyone behind in attaining Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, health care facilities in developing countries continue to report high maternal deaths. Improved accessibility and strengthening of quality in the uptake of maternal health services (skilled birth attendance, antenatal care, and postnatal care) plays an important role in reducing maternal deaths which eventually leads to the attainment of SDG 3, Good Health, and Well-being. Methods This study used the Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey (ZDHS) of 2015. The ZDHS survey used the principal components analysis in estimating the economic status of households. We computed binary logistic regressions on maternal health services attributes (skilled birth attendance, antenatal care, and postnatal care) against demographic characteristics. Furthermore, concentration indices were then used to measure of socio-economic inequalities in the use of maternal health services, and the Erreygers decomposable concentration index was then used to identify the factors that contributed to the socio-economic inequalities in maternal health utilization in Zimbabwe. Results Overall maternal health utilization was skilled birth attendance (SBA), 93.63%; antenatal-care (ANC) 76.33% and postnatal-care (PNC) 84.27%. SBA and PNC utilization rates were significantly higher than the rates reported in the 2015 Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey. Residence status was a significant determinant for antenatal care with rural women 2.25 times (CI: 1.55–3.27) more likely to utilize ANC. Richer women were less likely to utilize skilled birth attendance services [OR: 0.20 (CI: 0.08–0.50)] compared to women from the poorest households. While women from middle-income households [OR: 1.40 (CI: 1.03–1.90)] and richest households [OR: 2.36 (CI: 1.39–3.99)] were more likely to utilize antenatal care services compared to women from the poorest households. Maternal service utilization among women in Zimbabwe was pro-rich, meaning that maternal health utilization favoured women from wealthy households [SBA (0.05), ANC (0.09), PNC (0.08)]. Wealthy women were more likely to be assisted by a doctor, while midwives were more likely to assist women from poor households [Doctor (0.22), Midwife (− 0.10)]. Conclusion Decomposition analysis showed household wealth, husband’s education, women’s education, and residence status as important positive contributors of the three maternal health service (skilled birth attendance, antenatal care, and postnatal care) utilization outcomes. Educating women and their spouses on the importance of maternal health services usage is significant to increase maternal health service utilization and consequently reduce maternal mortality

Identification of larval sea basses (Centropristis spp.) using ribosomal DNA-specific molecular assays

This paper is not subject to U.S. copyright. The definitive version was published in Fishery Bulletin 106 (2008): 183-193.The identification of sea bass (Centropristis) larvae to species is difficult because of similar morphological characters, spawning times, and overlapping species ranges. Black sea bass (Centropristis striata) is an important fishery species and is currently considered to be overfished south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. We describe methods for identifying three species of sea bass larvae using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assays based on species-specific amplification of rDNA internal transcribed spacer reg ions. The assays were tested against DNA of ten other cooccurring reef fish species to ensure the assay’s specificity. Centropristis larvae were collected on three cruises during cross-shelf transects and were used to validate the assays. Seventysix Centropristis larvae were assayed and 69 (91%) were identified successfully. DNA was not amplified from 5% of the larvae and identification was inconclusive for 3% of the larvae. These assays can be used to identify sea bass eggs and larvae and will help to assess spawning locations, spawning times, and larval dispersal.Collection of larvae at sea was supported by funding from the National Science Foundation through OCE 9876565 to C. Jones, S. Thorrold, A. Valle-Levinson, and J. Hare. Additional funding for this project was provided by Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and by Grays Reef National Marine Sanctuary

Microsatellite multiplex panels for genetic studies of gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus) and lane snapper (Lutjanus synagris)

Microsatellites are codominantly inherited nuclear-DNA markers (Wright and Bentzen, 1994) that are now commonly used to assess both stock structure and the effective population size of exploited fishes (Turner et al., 2002; Chistiakov et al., 2006; Saillant and Gold, 2006). Multiplexing is the combination of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification products from multiple loci into a single lane of an electrophoretic gel (Olsen et al., 1996; Neff et al., 2000) and is accomplished either by coamplification of multiple loci in a single reaction (Chamberlain et al., 1988) or by combination of products from multiple single-locus PCR amplifications (Olsen et al., 1996). The advantage of multiplexing micro-satellites lies in the significant reduction in both personnel time (labor) and consumable supplies generally required for large genotyping projects (Neff et al., 2000; Renshaw et al., 2006)

Photo-and thermoresponsive N-salicylideneaniline derivatives : solid-state studies and structural aspects

Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. CCDC 1899401, 1902658, 1966932, 1989369, 1989398, 1989403, 2014911, 2014914, 2019418, 2049690, 2049691, 2062423, 2157376, 2156456–2156467 and 2191107–2191119. For ESI and crystallographic data in CIF or other electronic format see DOI: https://doi. org/10.1039/d1nj03056f.N-Salicylideneaniline (SA) and its derivatives are known to possess chromism upon exposure to external stimuli. Herein, we present mechanochemical synthesis of a series of photo-and thermoresponsive SA-derivatives and report on solid-state stabilisation of their tautomeric forms either by change in temperature or by photoirradiation. The influence of UV light on proton transfer between the enol-imine (EI) and keto-amine (KA) forms was investigated at λ1 = 254 and λ2 = 365 nm. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements provided extra information on the thermodynamic relationship between the prototropic tautomers, and their exposition to liquid nitrogen, combined with variable temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction (VT-SCXRD) and spectroscopic data, ascertained structural reasons for the intrinsic thermo-optical properties of the compounds. A series of structural determinations between 150 and 300 K further shed light on the thermomechanical behaviour exhibited by the thermoresponsive compounds. By virtue of calorimetry we were able to demonstrate proton transfer via the intramolecular O⋯N hydrogen bond over the temperature range 193–453 K. This present work demonstrates the importance of applying complementary analytical techniques and appropriate approaches for understanding the switching behaviour between the EI and KA forms. Furthermore, the assertion that it is predominantly the planarity (φ < 25°) that determines thermochromaticity is questioned.The National Research Foundation (NRF), South Africa and Rhodes University Research Council.http://rsc.li/njchj2023Chemistr

Socioeconomic inequalities in food insecurity and malnutrition among underfive children : within and between-group inequalities in Zimbabwe

CITATION: Lukwa, A. T., et al. 2020. Socioeconomic inequalities in food insecurity and malnutrition among under-five children : within and between-group inequalities in Zimbabwe. BMC Public Health, 20:1199, doi:10.1186/s12889-020-09295-z.The original publication is available at http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.comBackground: Food insecurity and malnutrition in children are pervasive public health concerns in Zimbabwe. Previous studies only identified determinants of food insecurity and malnutrition with very little efforts done in assessing related inequalities and decomposing the inequalities across household characteristics in Zimbabwe. This study explored socioeconomic inequalities trend in child health using regression decomposition approach to compare within and between group inequalities. Methods: The study used Demographic Health Survey (DHS) data sets of 2010\11 and 2015. Food insecurity in under-five children was determined based on the WHO dietary diversity score. Minimum dietary diversity was defined by a cut- off point of > 4 therefore, children with at least 3 of the 13 food groups were defined as food insecure. Malnutrition was assessed using weight for age (both acute and chronic under-nutrition) Z-scores. Children whose weight-for-age Z-score below minus two standard deviations (− 2 SD) from the median were considered malnourished. Concentration curves and indices were computed to understand if malnutrition was dominant among the poor or rich. The study used the Theil index and decomposed the index by population subgroups (place of residence and socioeconomic status). Results: Over the study period, malnutrition prevalence increased by 1.03 percentage points, while food insecurity prevalence decreased by 4.35 percentage points. Prevalence of malnutrition and food insecurity increased among poor rural children. Theil indices for nutrition status showed socioeconomic inequality gaps to have widened, while food security status socioeconomic inequality gaps contracted for the period under review. Conclusion: The study concluded that unequal distribution of household wealth and residence status play critical roles in driving socioeconomic inequalities in child food insecurity and malnutrition. Therefore, child food insecurity and malnutrition are greatly influenced by where a child lives (rural/urban) and parental wealth.Publisher's versio

Malaria patterns across altitudinal zones of Mount Elgon following intensified control and prevention programs in Uganda

Background Malaria remains a major tropical vector-borne disease of immense public health concern owing to its debilitating effects in sub-Saharan Africa. Over the past 30 years, the high altitude areas in Eastern Africa have been reported to experience increased cases of malaria. Governments including that of the Republic of Uganda have responded through intensifying programs that can potentially minimize malaria transmission while reducing associated fatalities. However, malaria patterns following these intensified control and prevention interventions in the changing climate remains widely unexplored in East African highland regions. This study thus analyzed malaria patterns across altitudinal zones of Mount Elgon, Uganda. Methods Times-series data on malaria cases (2011-2017) from five level III local health centers occurring across three altitudinal zones; low, mid and high altitude was utilized. Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) interpolation regression and Mann Kendall trend test were used to analyze malaria patterns. Vegetation attributes from the three altitudinal zones were analyzed using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was used to determine the Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model was used to project malaria patterns for a 7 year period. Results Malaria across the three zones declined over the study period. The hotspots for malaria were highly variable over time in all the three zones. Rainfall played a significant role in influencing malaria burdens across the three zones. Vegetation had a significant influence on malaria in the higher altitudes. Meanwhile, in the lower altitude, human population had a significant positive correlation with malaria cases. Conclusions Despite observed decline in malaria cases across the three altitudinal zones, the high altitude zone became a malaria hotspot as cases variably occurred in the zone. Rainfall played the biggest role in malaria trends. Human population appeared to influence malaria incidences in the low altitude areas partly due to population concentration in this zone. Malaria control interventions ought to be strengthened and strategically designed to achieve no malaria cases across all the altitudinal zones. Integration of climate information within malaria interventions can also strengthen eradication strategies of malaria in such differentiated altitudinal zones

Socioeconomic inequalities in food insecurity and malnutrition among under-five children: within and between-group inequalities in Zimbabwe

Background Food insecurity and malnutrition in children are pervasive public health concerns in Zimbabwe. Previous studies only identified determinants of food insecurity and malnutrition with very little efforts done in assessing related inequalities and decomposing the inequalities across household characteristics in Zimbabwe. This study explored socioeconomic inequalities trend in child health using regression decomposition approach to compare within and between group inequalities. Methods The study used Demographic Health Survey (DHS) data sets of 2010\11 and 2015. Food insecurity in under-five children was determined based on the WHO dietary diversity score. Minimum dietary diversity was defined by a cut- off point of > 4 therefore, children with at least 3 of the 13 food groups were defined as food insecure. Malnutrition was assessed using weight for age (both acute and chronic under-nutrition) Z-scores. Children whose weight-for-age Z-score below minus two standard deviations (- 2 SD) from the median were considered malnourished. Concentration curves and indices were computed to understand if malnutrition was dominant among the poor or rich. The study used the Theil index and decomposed the index by population subgroups (place of residence and socioeconomic status). Results Over the study period, malnutrition prevalence increased by 1.03 percentage points, while food insecurity prevalence decreased by 4.35 percentage points. Prevalence of malnutrition and food insecurity increased among poor rural children. Theil indices for nutrition status showed socioeconomic inequality gaps to have widened, while food security status socioeconomic inequality gaps contracted for the period under review. Conclusion The study concluded that unequal distribution of household wealth and residence status play critical roles in driving socioeconomic inequalities in child food insecurity and malnutrition. Therefore, child food insecurity and malnutrition are greatly influenced by where a child lives (rural/urban) and parental wealth