Ex-Ante Analysis of the Benefits of Transgenic Drought Tolerance Research on Cereal Crops in Low-Income Countries

This paper examines the ex-ante benefits of transgenic research on drought in eight developing countries, including the potential magnitude of private sector profits. The framework employs country-specific agroecological-drought risk zones and considers both yield increases and yield variance reductions when estimating producer and consumer benefits from research. Risk benefits from yield variance reductions are shown to be an important component of aggregate drought research benefits, representing 41 percent of total benefits across the eight countries. Further, estimated annual benefits of $US 93 million to the private sector suggest that significant incentives exist for private sector participation in varietal drought tolerance research.Crop Production/Industries, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Seroprevalence of varicella zoster antibodies among children with malnutrition, malignancies and HIV infection

Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of varicella zoster in paediatric patients at a high risk of developing complications. Design: A cross-sectional study. Setting: Paediatric general wards at Kenyatta National Hospital. Subjects: Children with malignancies, severe malnutrition and were HIV positive. Interventions: The sample size was calculated at 147 subjects. Venous samples were tested for varicella zoster virus (VZV) antibodies using enzyme immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique at Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) laboratories, The data were anaIysed using the SPSS software and presented in form of tables and graphs. The prevalence of VZV antibodies was determined and 95% confidence interval computed. Results: The overall seroprevalence of VZV antibodies in the three groups of children studied was 23.6% (95% CI= 17.4, 29.8), The seroprevalence of VZV antibodies in those with malignancies and severe malnutrition was 24.1 and 25.0% respectively. About 22% of HIV positive children had protective levels of VZV antibodies. Though the seroprevalence increased with age, it was not significantly associated with area of residence, size of residence, family size or income. Conclusions: The low prevalence of protective VZV antibodies among children with severe malnutrition, malignancies and HIV infection children at Kenyatta National Hospital warrants routine immunisation of the high-risk population

Perspective on Opportunities for Research and Interventions provided by Community Based Health Information System illustrated by the Potential use of Motivational Interviewing Intervention

Background: With the growth of Community-Based Health Information (CBHIS) for decision making and service provision in the low income settings, innovative models of addressing Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH) morbidity and mortality are necessary. World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that five hundred thousand mothers and about three million newborns die each year in middle and low income countries. Objectives: To stimulate interest in utilisation CBHIS for research and interventions, with an illustration of potential using on Motivational Interviewing intervention. Data Source: Literature searched electronically, discussion with behavioural experts, health system researchers, and maternal and Newborn Health (MNH) experts, and book reviews. Study Selection: Broad selection criteria including all current literature relevantsubjects including CBHIS, behaviour change methods and Community MNH. Data Extraction: A checklist for relevance was used to identify the relevant behaviour change intervention to use in the illustration. Data Synthesis: A method that met the criteria was identified, and based on a discussion with behavioural experts, the decision to use it the illustration was reached. Conclusion: Motivational Interviewing Intervention (MII) should be considered for implementation and study on near-term Pregnant women in a setting where these mothers can be identified and a targeted intervention instituted

Analysis of effective resistance calculation methods and their effect on modelling evapotranspiration in two different patches of vegetation in semi-arid SE Spain

International audienceEffective parameters are of major importance in modelling surface fluxes at different scales of spatial heterogeneity. Different ways to obtain these effective parameters for their use in meso-scale and GCM models have been studied. This paper deals with patch-scale heterogeneity, where effective resistances were calculated in two patches with different vegetation (Retama sphaerocarpa (L.) Boiss shrubs, and herbaceous plants) using different methods: aggregating soil and plant resistances in parallel, in series or by an average of both. Effective aerodynamic resistance was also calculated directly from patch fluxes. To assess the validity of the different methods used, the Penman-Monteith equation was used with effective resistances to estimate the total ?E for each patch. The ?E estimates found for each patch were compared to Eddy Covariance system measurements. Results showed that for effective surface resistances, parallel aggregation of soil and plant resistances led to ?E estimates closer to the measured ?E in both patches (differences of around 10%). Results for effective aerodynamic resistances differed depending on the patch considered and the method used to calculate them. The use of effective aerodynamic resistances calculated from fluxes provided less accurate estimates of ?E compared to the measured values, than the use of effective aerodynamic resistances aggregated from soil and plant resistances. The results reported in this paper show that the best way of aggregating soil and plant resistances depends on the type of resistance, and the type of vegetation in the patch

A consensus on malnutrition in Africa: A report from the micronutrient deficiency awareness forum (Nairobi 2017)

While most forms of malnutrition are easy to identify at an early age, micronutrient deficiency also manifests in form of “Hidden Hunger”, where children could seem to be well fed, but still suffer from deficiencies due to lack of key micronutrients in their diets whose absence is hard to detect. While the symptoms of micronutrient deficiency may not be obvious in the short-term, they translate into cognitive deficiencies in the longterm that negatively affect the economic productivity of these infants when they become adults, perpetuating the malnutrition cycle. The Micronutrient Deficiency Awareness Forum was held in April 2017 in Nairobi Kenya, comprising seven specialties from across sub-Saharan Africa. The forum was convened to discuss how to increase awareness of conditions associated with micronutrient deficiencies developing from early childhood, especially those impacting brain development, identify sections of the population that were at high risk of micronutrient deficiencies, outline available guidelines on diagnostic tools, assessment and management of deficiencies, and develop a consensus on best practices in diagnosing, managing, and preventing micronutrient deficiency and malnutrition. It is estimated that 40% of the children in sub-Saharan Africa are affected by stunting, which is the most prevalent form of malnutrition, and an estimated 69-82% of malnutrition cases are not properly treated. This phenomenon is not without a cost, as malnutrition greatly undermines cognitive development, and ultimately economic productivity. A 2014 study revealed that Ethiopia lost the equivalent of 12% of its GDP to malnutrition in 2009. Studies in different countries across the world have shown that focused interventions work. For instance, early childhood macronutrient intervention led to a 46% higher wage in adult years in Guatemala. The Micronutrient Deficiency Awareness Forum 2017 Consensus Report provides suggestions on policy design and implementation strategies that may lead to early detection, treatment, and ultimately prevalence reduction of malnutrition across the region

Randomly Evolving Idiotypic Networks: Structural Properties and Architecture

We consider a minimalistic dynamic model of the idiotypic network of B-lymphocytes. A network node represents a population of B-lymphocytes of the same specificity (idiotype), which is encoded by a bitstring. The links of the network connect nodes with complementary and nearly complementary bitstrings, allowing for a few mismatches. A node is occupied if a lymphocyte clone of the corresponding idiotype exists, otherwise it is empty. There is a continuous influx of new B-lymphocytes of random idiotype from the bone marrow. B-lymphocytes are stimulated by cross-linking their receptors with complementary structures. If there are too many complementary structures, steric hindrance prevents cross-linking. Stimulated cells proliferate and secrete antibodies of the same idiotype as their receptors, unstimulated lymphocytes die. Depending on few parameters, the autonomous system evolves randomly towards patterns of highly organized architecture, where the nodes can be classified into groups according to their statistical properties. We observe and describe analytically the building principles of these patterns, which allow to calculate number and size of the node groups and the number of links between them. The architecture of all patterns observed so far in simulations can be explained this way. A tool for real-time pattern identification is proposed.Comment: 19 pages, 15 figures, 4 table

Do clinicians adhere to practice guidelines? A descriptive study at a referral hospital in Kenya

Background: Clinical guidelines when implemented correctly have shown to improve disease outcomes. This study describes utilization of Kenya National guidelines in managing ante partum haemorrhage (APH) in 3rd trimester.Objective: To describe adherence to clinical guideline in management of antepartum haemorrhage at Garissa Provincial General Hospital Design: Crossectional mixed methods studySetting: Garissa Provincial General HospitalSubjects: Medical records of patients managed for APH between 2002 and 2012 and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) of Health workers.Results: 36.1% of the cases assessed were managed with strict adherence to guidelines. 90% of health care workers had high levels of awareness of the existence of guidelines and sited utilization challenges attributed to resource inadequacies.Conclusion: Clinicians are skilled on APH guidelines, but adherence levels are still low. Therefore, continuous appraisal of clinical practices, availing equipment, facilities and supplies to reinforce adherence is recommended

The Intermediate Scale Branch of the Landscape

Three branches of the string theory landscape have plausibly been identified. One of these branches is expected to exhibit a roughly logarithmic distribution of supersymmetry breaking scales. The original KKLT models are in this class. We argue that certain features of the KKLT model are generic to this branch, and that the resulting phenomenology depends on a small set of discrete choices. As in the MSSM, the weak scale in these theories is tuned; a possible explanation is selection for the dark matter density.Comment: 16 pages. More thorough analysis; additonal reference

Quality of care for pregnant women and newborns—the WHO vision

In 2015, as we review progress towards Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), despite significant progress in reduction of mortality, we still have unacceptably high numbers of maternal and newborn deaths globally. Efforts over the past decade to reduce adverse outcomes for pregnant women and newborns have been directed at increasing skilled birth attendance.1,2 This has resulted in higher rates of births in health facilities in all regions.3 The proportion of deliveries reportedly attended by skilled health personnel in developing countries rose from 56% in 1990 to 68% in 2012.4 With increasing utilisation of health services, a higher proportion of avoidable maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity have moved to health facilities. In this context, poor quality of care (QoC) in many facilities becomes a paramount roadblock in our quest to end preventable mortality and morbidity