Influence of temperature and humidity on the longevity of the spores of the entomogenous fungus, beauvaria bassiana (bals.) vuill., (fungi imperfecti), and the potentialities of utilizing this fungus for the control of some coleopterous stored grain pests.

Of the three principal biological agents that are employed in the control of insects pests; namely, parasites, predators, and pathogens, use of pathogenic microorganisms has made very rapid progress within recent years. However, microbial control is not new. Considerable natural control is microbial. It is only an increasing appreciation of the role played by insect pathogens in nature, with some of its advantages over other methods of control, including chemical control, that have given an impetus to this method. Some of the spectacular successes achieved by the use of pathogens to control forest tree and field crop insect pests by Canada and the United States, in addition to other countries, have contributed to the use of microbial control. Polyhedrosis virus has been used very successfully to control the European spruce sawfly, Diprion hercyniae (Htg.), and the European pine sawfly, Neodiprion sertifer, in both Canada and the United States

Constraints to Automating Public Sector Service Deliveries in Ghana: The Example of Permit Acquisition and Detection of Unauthorized Building Processes in Metropolitan Assemblies

Automated public services have brought enormous benefits to many countries; yet developing countries have not fully exploited its benefits owing to certain barriers and Ghana is no exception to this. This research explores the factors militating against automating permit acquisition and detection of unauthorized building processes in Metropolitan Assemblies in Ghana, using the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly as a case study, and come out with measures to curb them. This survey used questionnaires to collect data from 75 respondents; data was analyzed using Relative Importance Analysis. The survey revealed that barriers to automating permit acquisition and detection of unauthorized building processes in the Metropolis were Political, Educational, Cultural, Social, Administrative, Economical, Legislative and Technological barriers; with political barriers contributing most to the phenomena whiles technological barriers were relatively the least contributing barrier.This paper will help local authorities in policy formulation to curb barriers to automating public services. Keywords: Automating, Unauthorized Buildings, Permit, Barriers and Questionnaire

An Empirical Enquiry into the Attributes of Residential Satisfaction that Predict Students’ Satisfaction in Public Halls of Residence in Technical Universities in Ghana

This study aim at identifying the attributes of residential satisfaction that predict students’ satisfaction in public halls of residence in Technical Universities in Ghana, and to establish the relative significance level of each of the attributes, using Takoradi Technical University as a case study. The study adopted a questionnaire survey approach; and questionnaires were self-administered to 558 students. Data were analysed using RSI and percentages, and were presented in tables. The study revealed that, in order of relative significance, Building quality, Owners’ maintenance culture, Social, Neighbourhood, Management, and Dwelling unit features with corresponding RSI values of 0.80871, 0.80753, 0.80172, 0.79345, 0.79313, and 0.78374, respectively, were the main residential satisfaction attributes that predict students’ satisfaction in public halls of residence in Takoradi Technical University. The inclusion of Owners’ maintenance culture in predicting students’ satisfaction in public halls of residence gave the study a more holistic approach. This study will inform management of Takoradi Technical University, and Technical universities in general about the attributes that holistically define students’ satisfaction in public halls of residence. Keywords: Technical University, Public, Hall, Satisfaction, Student

Divine mandates and political realities: exploring power, religion, and transition in The Gambia

This article analyses the role of religious symbolism and religiosity during The Gambia’s autocracy (1994-2017) and its democratic transition (2017-2023). Former autocratic ruler, Yahya Jammeh, exploited religious symbolism to legitimise his authority, leading to crackdowns, extrajudicial punishment, and political repression. Drawing on community engagements and interviews with 61 civil-society members, political actors, community stakeholders, and girls in rural and urban areas across The Gambia's West Coast Region, the findings highlight the influence of cultural and value systems, particularly the intersection of religion and politics, in shaping the country's autocracy. Exploring some of the nuances of religious ideology and religious symbols concerning the state, The Gambia's political history allows for deeper examinations of power dynamics within the broader cultural and societal context. By adopting a multidimensional perspective of power that incorporates religion, cultural values, and ethnic dimensions, this article offers new perspectives for analysing power structures and transformations in diverse socio-political settings

Blood cancer care in a resource limited setting during the Covid-19 outbreak; a single center experience from Sri Lanka

BackgroundThe Covid-19 pandemic has caused significant morbidity and mortality among patients with cancer. Most countries employed measures to prevent spread of Covid-19 infection which include shielding, quarantine, lockdown, travel restrictions, physical distancing and the use of personal protective equipment. This study was carried out to assess the change in patient attendance and the efficacy of newly implemented strategies to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on services at the Lanka Hospital Blood Cancer Centre (LHBCC) in Colombo, Sri Lanka.MethodologyTelephone consultation, infection control, personal protective measures and emergency admission policy were implemented with the aim of having a Covid-19 free ward and to prevent cross-infections. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 1399 patient episodes (in-patient care or day-case review). We analysed patients treated as in-patient as well as day-case basis between 01st April 2020 and 31st December 2020.ResultsThere were 977 day-case based episodes and 422 in-patient based episodes. There was a 14% drop in episode numbers compared to same period in 2019. There was no cross infection and no patients with Covid-19 related symptoms or positive test results entered the LHBCC during the study period.ConclusionServices in blood cancer care were maintained to prevent late stage presentation and adverse outcome. Measures implemented to prevent Covid-19 were effective to allow continuation of treatment. This study highlights the importance of implementing strict protocols, clinical screening, use of appropriate personal protective equipment in delivering blood cancer care during the Covid-19 pandemic. This is the only documented study relating to outcome and successful applicability of measures to prevent spread of Covid-19 infection and maintaining services among blood cancer patients in Sri Lanka

Views from the Ground : Reflections on Studying Indigeneity in Southeast Asia

This roundtable took place at the end of a two-day workshop, ‘Unpacking Indigeneity in Southeast Asia’, which was held on 25–26 April 2019 at the University of Malaya. It was convened by the editors of this special section, Rusaslina Idrus and Liana Chua, as part of their British Academy/Newton Mobility Grant collaboration (NMGR1180433)

Response and Survival Estimates of Patients With Plasma Cell Myeloma in a Resource-Constrained Setting Using Protocols From High-Income Countries:A Single-Center Experience From Sri Lanka

There is a significant disparity in global cancer care and outcome between countries. Progress in the treatment of symptomatic plasma cell myeloma (PCM) in high-income countries is not seen in low- and middle-income countries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is was a retrospective cohort study of all patients diagnosed with PCM between May 1, 2013, and September 30, 2021, at the first hemato-oncology center in Sri Lanka. We aimed to provide data on clinicopathologic characteristics, response, and survival estimates. RESULTS: A total of 79 patients with PCM received first-line therapy during the study period. The median age was 64 years, and approximately one third (33%) of patients were older than 70 years. There were 42 (53%) males and 37 females. Hypercalcemia, renal impairment, anemia, and bone disease were detected in 36.7%, 38%, 72.1%, and 81%, respectively. Thirty-nine, 34, and six patients received a combination of cyclophosphamide, thalidomide, and dexamethasone; bortezomib, thalidomide, and dexamethasone; and other treatments, respectively. The overall response rate (≥ partial response) was approximately 97% for both cyclophosphamide, thalidomide, and dexamethasone and bortezomib, thalidomide, and dexamethasone. Twenty-three (29%) of these patients died during the study period, but only 14 (18%) died due to PCM or associated sepsis. After a median follow-up of 40.6 months (range, 35.2-59.07 months), the median overall survival was 84.2 months (95% CI, 60.87 to not available). The 5-year estimated overall survival was 65%. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the only well-characterized study on long-term survival of patients with PCM in Sri Lanka. We have shown that it is possible to successfully apply Western treatment and supportive care protocols to the local population. These published data will help to benchmark and improve the treatment and develop blood cancer care in the local setting

Transoral tongue base mucosectomy for the identification of the primary site in the work-up of cancers of unknown origin:systematic review and metaanalysis

The use of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) and laser microsurgery (TLM) in the diagnosis and identification of the site of the unknown primary has become increasingly common. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to assess the use and efficacy of TORS and TLM for this indication. Systematic review and meta-analysis of studies employing TORS or TLM in diagnosis of the unknown primary tumor site in patients with cervical nodal metastases of squamous cell origin. MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINHAL were searched from inception to July 2018 for all studies that used TORS and or TLM in identifying the unknown primary. 251 studies were identified, of which 21 were eligible for inclusion. The primary tumour was identified by TORS/TLM in 78% of patients (433 out of 556). Tongue base mucosectomy (TBM) identified the primary in 222 of 427 cases (53%). In patients with negative physical examination, diagnostic imaging and PETCT, TBM identified the primary in 64% (95% CI 50, 79) cases. In patients who had negative CT/MRI imaging, negative PETCT and negative EUA and tonsillectomy, TBM identified a tongue base primary in 78% (95% CI 41, 92) cases. Haemorrhage, the commonest complication, was reported in 4.9% cases. Mean length of stay varied between 1.4 and 6.3 days. Tongue base mucosectomy, performed by TORS or TLM, is highly efficacious in identifying the unknown primary in the head and neck region

"THE SEA IS MY COUNTRY, THE SEA IS MY ALLY": IRREGULAR MIGRANTS AND THE WATER AT THE BORDERS OF THE MALAYSIAN STATE OF SABAH

Ph.DDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (FASS