The role of kopjes in bird species’ conservation within an agricultural matrix west of the Greater Serengeti Ecosystem, Tanzania

This study was conducted in unprotected agricultural land located just west of the Greater Serengeti Ecosystem to assess 1) avian community composition in four different habitat types, and 2) the importance of kopjes found in agricultural areas in conservation of birds. All species recorded during this study have been recorded in the nearby Serengeti Ecosystem suggesting that the study area is a subset of this ecosystem. The density of bird species and individuals were higher in the kopjes than in the surrounding human-impacted habitats. Thus the kopjes in farmland increase regional avifaunal diversity, and this is likely due to the provision of diverse habitats. The kopjes as well as the surrounding habitats are important for bird species conservation even though they are found in agricultural areas

Making Waves: Biocatalysis and Biosorption: Opportunities and Challenges Associated with a New Protein-Based Toolbox for Water and Wastewater Treatment

New water and wastewater treatment technologies are required to meet the demands created by emerging contaminants and resource recovery needs, yet technology development is a slow and uncertain process. Through evolution, nature has developed highly selective and fast-acting proteins that could help address these issues, but research and application have been limited, often due to assumptions about stability and economic feasibility. Here we highlight the potential advantages of cell-free, protein-based water and wastewater treatment processes (biocatalysis and biosorption), evaluate existing information about their economic feasibility, consider when a protein-based treatment process might be advantageous, and highlight key research needs

Cattle Identification Using Muzzle Images and Deep Learning Techniques

Traditional animal identification methods such as ear-tagging, ear notching, and branding have been effective but pose risks to the animal and have scalability issues. Electrical methods offer better tracking and monitoring but require specialized equipment and are susceptible to attacks. Biometric identification using time-immutable dermatoglyphic features such as muzzle prints and iris patterns is a promising solution. This project explores cattle identification using 4923 muzzle images collected from 268 beef cattle. Two deep learning classification models are implemented - wide ResNet50 and VGG16\_BN and image compression is done to lower the image quality and adapt the models to work for the African context. From the experiments run, a maximum accuracy of 99.5\% is achieved while using the wide ResNet50 model with a compression retaining 25\% of the original image. From the study, it is noted that the time required by the models to train and converge as well as recognition time are dependent on the machine used to run the model.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, 2 table

Bacteriospermia, extended spectrum beta lactamase producing Gram-negative bacteria and other factors associated with male infertility in Mwanza, Tanzania: a need of diagnostic bacteriology for management of male infertility

Background: Infections caused by Extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) producing bacterial are global challenge. There is limited information on the magnitude of bacteriospermia, ESBL producing Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) causing bacteriospermia and factors associated with male infertility. This study determined magnitude of bacteriospermia, ESBL-GNB and other factors association with infertility among presumptive infertile men in Mwanza, Tanzania. Methods: A cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted between May 2017 and July 2018 among 137 presumptive infertile men. Semen specimens were self-collected by masturbation into clean, sterile and none-spermicidal containers and processed following laboratory standard operating procedures (SOPs). Data analysis was done using STATA 13.0. Results: Gram-negative bacteria were predominantly isolated (86.4%), of which 31.6% were ESBL producers. In a total 44 bacteria were isolated from semen culture. The blaCTX-M gene was detected in 75% of phenotypically confirmed ESBL producers. Infertility was independently found to be associated with abnormal spermatozoa morphology (OR (95%CI): 14.48(3.17-66.05)) and abnormal spermatozoa motility (OR (95%CI): 0.05(0.01-0.24)). However, neither bacteriospermia (OR (95%CI): 0.86(0.29-2.59)) nor ESBL bacteriospermia (OR (95%CI): 0.13(0.01-1.22)) was found to be associated with infertility. Conclusion: One third of bacteriospermia is due to ESBL-producers with history of antibiotic use being protective factor for infertility. Abnormal spermatozoa morphology and poor spermatozoa forward motility independently predicted infertility

A care bundle including antenatal corticosteroids reduces preterm infant mortality in Tanzania a low resource country

Background Preterm neonatal mortality (NM) has remained high and unchanged for many years in Tanzania, a resource-limited country. Major causes of mortality include birth asphyxia, respiratory insufficiency and infections. Antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) have been shown to significantly reduce mortality in developed countries. There is inconsistent use of ACS in Tanzania. Objective To determine whether implementation of a care bundle that includes ACS, maternal antibiotics (MA), neonatal antibiotics (NA) and avoidance of moderate hypothermia (temperature \u3c 36°C) targeting infants of estimated gestational age (EGA) 28 to 34 6/7 weeks would reduce NM (\u3c 7 days) by 35%. Methods A Pre (September 2014 to May 2015) and Post (June 2015 to June 2017) Implementation strategy was used and introduced at three University-affiliated and one District Hospital. Dexamethasone, as the ACS, was added to the national formulary in May 2015, facilitating its free use down to the district level. Findings NM was reduced 26% from 166 to 122/1000 livebirths (P = 0.005) and fresh stillbirths (FSB) 33% from 162/1000 to 111/1000 (p = 0.0002) Pre versus Post Implementation. Medications including combinations increased significantly at all sites (p\u3c0.0001). By logistic regression, combinations of ACS, maternal and NA (odds ratio (OR) 0.33), ACS and NA (OR 0.30) versus no treatment were significantly associated with reduced NM. NM significantly decreased per 250g birthweight increase (OR 0.59), and per one week increase in EGA (OR 0.87). Moderate hypothermia declined pre versus post implementation (p Interpretation A low-cost care bundle, ~$6 per patient, was associated with a significant reduction in NM and FSB rates. The former presumably by reducing respiratory morbidity with ACS and minimizing infections with antibiotics. If these findings can be replicated in other resource-limited settings, the potential for further reduction ofenormou

Enfermedades bucales de tejidos blandos en alcohólicos crónicos

Doctor en OdontologíaCuenc

Students’ perceptions of Black English teaching staff at education institutions in Johannesburg, South Africa

Since the official end of apartheid in South Africa, the English departments of some former whites-only secondary schools and universities have made attempts at transformation by employing both local and foreign black teaching staff. This paper qualitatively explores both secondary and tertiary students’ perceptions of black teachers/lecturers of English at two secondary schools, an FET college and a university located in Johannesburg. It does so against the backdrop of South Africa’s racial history, the high status the colonial language of English continues to have in the postcolonial country and now, its instruction by second-language speakers of English to multi-racial students. It is in this context that the paper investigates and comes to grips with how postcolonial identity constructs of the last century are today impacting the teaching-learning of English; how identity is being perceived, constructed and performed in some South African schools and higher education institutions. It concludes by recommending context-sensitive approaches that exploit the opportunities bi/multilingual identities offer, specifically to the teaching-learning of English and other languages generally

Characterization of isolates that cause black rot of crucifers in East Africa

A study was conducted in the East African countries of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda in the months of July and August 2009 with the objectives of assessing the status of black rot and race structure of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris in the three countries. Samples infected with black rot were collected from farmers’ fields mainly from Brassica oleracea crops (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and kales). A total of 399 farms were surveyed of which 260 were from Kenya, 91 from Tanzania and 48 from Uganda. Following successful isolations, a total of 249 isolates of the causal agent, Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris were recovered. Pathogenicity of all isolates was confirmed on B. oleracea susceptible cultivars Copenhagen Market F1 and Wirosa F1. Sixty of the 250 isolates were race-typed using a differential set Brassica spp. Only two races, 1 (Kenya and Tanzania) and 4 (Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda) were observed however, another race (5) was observed from one isolate recovered from a B. rapa sample obtained from Tanzania in 2003. Genomic fingerprinting with repetitive-PCR revealed clusters that did not depict significant correlations between isolates and geographical location, isolates and host adaptation or isolates and race. However, it did demonstrate existence of genetic differences within the East African X. campestris pv. campestris population indicating that it is not a similar clonal population of the same genetic background