Filling nanotubes for photocatalysis

The work presented in this thesis describes the preparation, characterisation and applications of novel classes of one-dimensional nanostructures comprising guest-species encapsulated within host-boron nitride and carbon nanotubes (BNNT and CNT respectively). A number of methods to open, shorten and purify the tubular host-nanostructures were evaluated in order to provide the most accessible route for guest-species into the internal volume of the nanotubes and maximise the filling yield. C60¬-fullerene was inserted into BNNT from the gas-phase and found to exhibit unusual and diameter-dependent stacking arrangements and temperature-dependent dynamic behaviour inside nanotubes. Subsequent heating of this material resulted in the formation of a CNT inside BNNT – an important step toward realisation of the world’s smallest co-axial cable, now affordable on a preparative scale. Both liquid- and gas-phase impregnation of CNT and BNNT with ionic cadmium precursors, followed by confined reactions with sulphur-containing compounds, lead to the templated formation of cadmium sulphide quantum dots inside nanotubes. These novel photocatalytic nanoreactors were applied for the degradation of methylene blue, exploring the effects of quantum dot location (inside versus outside nanotubes) and the type of nanotube (CNT versus BNNT) on the rates of reaction. No effect of spatial confinement inside nanotubes was observed, but BNNT were seen to outperform CNT, a feat that has been attributed to the transparency of BNNT to visible light. These results further demonstrate the outstanding ability of CNT and BNNT to act as nanoscale containers and reaction vessels for molecules, affording unique materials with potential applications in electronic and catalytic devices

Quantifying the Association between Campylobacter Infection and Guillain-Barré Syndrome: A Systematic Review

Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is a neurologic disease that causes ascending paralysis and is triggered by a preceding bacterial or viral infection. Several studies have shown that patients with GBS have a recent history of infection due to Campylobacter jejuni. A literature review of published studies that reported rates of Campylobacter infection before or in conjunction with GBS was done. These reported data were used for calculating the proportion of GBS cases who tested positive for Campylobacter compared to the control population and the incidence of GBS among patients infected with Campylobacter. Results of the analysis suggest that 31% of 2,502 GBS cases included in these papers are attributable to Campylobacter infection

Effect of HIV/AIDS and Malaria on the Context for Introduction of Zinc Treatment and Low-osmolarity ORS for Childhood Diarrhoea*

Diarrhoea was estimated to account for 18% of the estimated 10.6 million deaths of children aged less than five years annually in 2003. Two—Africa and South-East Asia—of the six regions of the World Health Organization accounted for approximately 40% and 31% of these deaths respectively, or almost three-quarters of the global annual deaths of children aged less than five years attributable to diarrhoea. Much of the effort to roll out low-osmolarity oral rehydration solution (ORS) and supplementation of zinc for the management of diarrhoea accordingly is being devoted to sub-Saharan Africa and to South and South-East Asia. A number of significant differences exist in diarrhoea-treatment behaviours and challenges of the public-health systems between Africa and Asia. The differences in rates of ORS use are the most common indicator of treatment of diarrhoea and vary dramatically by and within region and may significantly influence the roll-out strategy for zinc and low-osmolarity ORS. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS and the endemi-city of malaria also differ greatly between regions; both the diseases consume the attention and financial commitment of public-health programmes in regions where rates are high. This paper examined how these differences could affect the context for the introduction of zinc and low-osmolarity ORS at various levels, including the process of policy dialogue with local decision-makers, questions to be addressed in formative research, implementation approaches, and strategies for behaviour-change communication and training of health workers

Building Capacity in the Zambian Mental Health Workforce through Engaging College Educators: Evaluation of a Development Partnership in Higher Education (DelPHe) project

yesBetween 2008 and 2011 academic teaching staff from Leeds Beckett University (UK) and Chainama Hills College of Health Sciences (Zambia) worked together on a Development Partnership in Higher Education (DelPHe) project funded by the Department for International Development (DFID) via the British Council. The partnership focused on “up-scaling” the provision of mental health education which was intended to build capacity through the delivery of a range of workshops for health educators at Chainama College, Lusaka. The project was evaluated on completion using small focus group discussions (FGDs), so educators could feedback on their experience of the workshops and discuss the impact of learning into their teaching practice. This chapter discusses the challenges of scaling up the mental health workforce in Zambia; the rationale for the content and delivery style of workshops with the health educators and finally presents and critically discusses the evaluation findings.Department for International Development (DFID) via the British Counci

“It's like you’re actually playing as yourself”: Development and preliminary evaluation of ‘Green Acres High’, a serious game-based primary intervention to combat adolescent dating violence

AbstractThis paper provides an overview of the development of ‘Green Acres High’, a serious game-based primary intervention to raise awareness of and change attitudes towards dating violence in adolescents, and an analysis of how adolescents described their experience of playing this game. Transcripts from focus group data were analysed using thematic analysis. The global theme that was developed, Assessment of the game, was represented by two organising themes, Positive assessment: Pedagogical Underpinnings and Negative Assessment: Functionality Limitations and Frustrations. These represented the fact that overall the learning experience was positive based on the pedagogical principles and content that could be embedded in this digital game but that technical issues with the game needed to be addressed as these could impinge on the learning experience of the adolescents. It was seen that using a serious game was a valid and meaningful way for adolescents to learn about dating violence and that this is a viable alternative or adjunct to traditional teaching methods

Mixed methods evaluation of targeted selective anthelmintic treatment by resource-poor smallholder goat farmers in Botswana

AbstractDue to the threat of anthelmintic resistance, livestock farmers worldwide are encouraged to selectively apply treatments against gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs). Targeted selective treatment (TST) of individual animals would be especially useful for smallholder farmers in low-income economies, where cost-effective and sustainable intervention strategies will improve livestock productivity and food security. Supporting research has focused mainly on refining technical indicators for treatment, and much less on factors influencing uptake and effectiveness. We used a mixed method approach, whereby qualitative and quantitative approaches are combined, to develop, implement and validate a TST system for GINs in small ruminants, most commonly goats, among smallholder farmers in the Makgadikgadi Pans region of Botswana, and to seek better understanding of system performance within a cultural context. After the first six months of the study, 42 out of 47 enrolled farmers were followed up; 52% had monitored their animals using the taught inspection criteria and 26% applied TST during this phase. Uptake level showed little correlation with farmer characteristics, such as literacy and size of farm. Herd health significantly improved in those herds where anthelmintic treatment was applied: anaemia, as assessed using the five-point FAMACHA© scale, was 0.44–0.69 points better (95% confidence interval) and body condition score was 0.18–0.36 points better (95% C.I., five-point scale) in treated compared with untreated herds. Only targeting individuals in greatest need led to similar health improvements compared to treating the entire herd, leading to dose savings ranging from 36% to 97%. This study demonstrates that TST against nematodes can be implemented effectively by resource-poor farmers using a community-led approach. The use of mixed methods provides a promising system to integrate technical and social aspects of TST programmes for maximum uptake and effect

Effect of HIV/AIDS and Malaria on the Context for Introduction of Zinc Treatment and Low-osmolarity ORS for Childhood Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea was estimated to account for 18% of the estimated 10.6 million deaths of children aged less than five years annually in 2003. Two-Africa and South-East Asia-of the six regions of the World Health Organization accounted for approximately 40% and 31% of these deaths respectively, or almost three-quarters of the global annual deaths of children aged less than five years attributable to diarrhoea. Much of the effort to roll out low-osmolarity oral rehydration solution (ORS) and supplementation of zinc for the management of diarrhoea accordingly is being devoted to sub-Saharan Africa and to South and South-East Asia. A number of significant differences exist in diarrhoea-treatment behaviours and challenges of the public-health systems between Africa and Asia. The differences in rates of ORS use are the most common indicator of treatment of diarrhoea and vary dramatically by and within region and may significantly influence the roll-out strategy for zinc and low-osmolarity ORS. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS and the endemi-city of malaria also differ greatly between regions; both the diseases consume the attention and financial commitment of public-health programmes in regions where rates are high. This paper examined how these differences could affect the context for the introduction of zinc and low-osmolarity ORS at various levels, including the process of policy dialogue with local decision-makers, questions to be addressed in formative research, implementation approaches, and strategies for behaviour-change communication and training of health workers

Quantifying the Association between CampylobacterInfection and Guillain-Barr\ue9 Syndrome: A Systematic Review

Guillain-Barr\ue9 Syndrome (GBS) is a neurologic disease that causes ascending paralysis and is triggered by a preceding bacterial or viral infection. Several studies have shown that patients with GBS have a recent history of infection due to Campylobacter jejuni. A literature review of published studies that reported rates of Campylobacter infection before or in conjunction with GBS was done. These reported data were used for calculating the proportion of GBS cases who tested positive for Campylobacter compared to the control population and the incidence of GBS among patients infected with Campylobacter . Results of the analysis suggest that 31% of 2,502 GBS cases included in these papers are attributable to Campylobacter infection