UCT Open Access Journals (Univ. of Cape Town)
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Dune Lark longevity in the Namib Sand Sea
Get PDFResighting’s of Dune Larks with SAFRING rings indicate that this species can live for close to 12 years in the Namib Sand Sea, double the previously published estimate
Near-exclusive use of Setaceus Asparagus Fern Asparagus setaceus in the construction of nests by three South African bird species
Get PDFThe nesting material used by birds can be an important habitat requirement and a potential limiting factor for the successful reproduction of many bird species. I present records of the use of the Setaceus Asparagus Fern Asparagus setaceus by Bronze Mannikin Lonchura cucullata, and Swee Waxbill Coccopygia melanotis (Family Estrildidae) and Amethyst Sunbird Chalcomitra amethystine (Family Nectariniidae) in the Western Cape, South Africa. It is the large percentage of fronds of Setaceus Asparagus Fern which have been used in these nests which is of particular interest
Adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV-positive adolescents attending the Korle Bu teaching Hospital
Get PDFBackground: As a result of increased access to antiretroviral therapy, children with perinatal infections are surviving into adolescence. However, challenges during adolescence may result in poor adherence to treatment. Studies documenting poor adherence in adolescents have revealed that factors such as older adolescents, lack of HIV disclosure, and forgetfulness are some leading causes of non-adherence. Adherence is a key determinant in minimising the emergence of HIV drug resistance.
Aim: To determine the adherence rate to antiretroviral therapy among adolescents attending a tertiary hospital and the factors associated with adherence.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was done amongst adolescents (10-19 years) with HIV infection at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana. The data was collected by face-to-face structured interviews and a medical record review. The tool used to determine adherence was the 3-day self-recall tool. The percentage of medication doses taken (≥95%) was used to define adherence, which translated as not missing any dose in the 3 days prior to the study interview. The predictors of adherence were explored using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.
Results: There were 210 adolescents enrolled, mostly younger adolescents (10-14years); 71.8%, and a slightly high male population of 52.4%. The adherence rate was 50.0%. Taking medication at the same time daily and having other people taking antiretroviral therapy in the same house were predictors of adherence.
Conclusion: There was a low adherence rate of 50.0% among the adolescents. Interventions toward improving adherence among adolescents in this setting are needed. Taking antiretroviral therapy at the same time daily and having others in the home who take antiretroviral therapy can help to improve their adherence.
Assessment of Awareness and Barriers to the Application of Lean Construction Techniques in Kano State, Nigeria
Get PDFGenerally, construction industry is notable for its poor performances in terms of cost and time overruns, as well as poor project planning. To improve efficiency and effectiveness of construction process, many countries adopt lean construction. However, in Nigerian construction practitioners do not apply most of the lean techniques in their projects. The aim of this study is to assess level of awareness and barriers to the application of lean construction techniques in Kano State, Nigeria. The study adopted quantitative approach, whereby 200 questionnaires were administered to construction professionals in the study area. A total of 159 were returned completed, representing 79.5% response rate. The data collected were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics, and effect index analyses. The results reveal that, the level of awareness/ knowledge of lean techniques among construction practitioners in the study area was low. In addition, the study found that the major barriers to the application of lean techniques in construction projects were lack of awareness program to increase knowledge about LC and lack of education and training needed to apply LC techniques in construction improvement. It can be concluded that, construction firms in the study area are still using traditional approach in project management instead of adopting innovative approach that improve project performance. The study has proposes guiding strategies that will help increase the level of application of lean techniques in Nigeria. Thus, the study can assist government and construction practitioners to understand strategies that can lead to improvement in the application of lean techniques in Nigeria.
Keywords: Awareness; Barriers; Construction projects; Lean techniques; Questionnaire survey
Arthropod associates of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus on Vaca Key, Monroe County, Florida, USA
Get PDFExamination of a carcass of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus (L.) (Cuculiformes: Cuculidae) provided the first record of a louse in the genus Cuculoecus (Psocodea: Philopteridae), a springtail Seira brasiliana (Arlé) (Collembola: Entomobryidae), and a tetranychid mite in the genus Oligonychus (Trombidiformes: Tetranychidae), from Vaca Key, Monroe County, Florida, USA
Sparrows roosting and breeding in old nests of Cape Weavers Ploceus capensis
Get PDFThe first record of Southern Grey-headed Sparrows Passer diffusus breeding in a nest in an old colony of Cape Weavers Ploceus capensis is described. This is the second record of this species breeding in any weaver nest. A pair of Cape Sparrows Passer melanurus were observed roosting in another nest in the colony. They returned to the same nest during the night after being disturbed
Leveraging on Blockchain Technology for the Sustainability of Real Estate Practice: A Systematic Review
Get PDFBlockchain technology (BCTech) in real estate is innovative and full of potential, even though it is not widely accepted and scarcely applied. To establish the potentials of BCTech in the real estate sector, this study used a systematic review of the literature found in Researchgate, ScienceDirect, Semantic Scholar, IEEE Xplore, and Google searches. This was done with a view to ascertaining the current challenges in real estate practice and the potential benefits of applying BCTech to mitigate or eliminate these challenges. A total of 99 publications from 2016 to 2022 were examined, and their contents were assessed using descriptive statistical tools and presented in charts and tables. Based on the review, BCTech can provide platforms for tokenized ownership, smart contracts, quick transactions and cost reduction. Moreover, the outcome also showed that some countries have applied BCTech to land registration, with a few others to record keeping and real estate tokenization. In addition, the majority of the research efforts (55%) were from journal outlets published between 2020 and 2022. Finally, BCTech offers secure and transparent platforms for real estate stakeholders; hence, they have a lot to gain by encouraging and embracing its adoption. The study concluded that though BCTech is not yet widely used, it has a lot of potential to offer in terms of the sustainability of the real estate industry
Distribution and habits of the Sclater’s Lark Spizocorys sclateri on the Aberdeen Plain, South Africa
No full textSclater’s Lark Spizocorys sclateri is classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN and is described as a species endemic to the arid Karoo biomes, which stretch from South Africa through to central Namibia. It is a rare and poorly understood species. We report on intensive BirdMap sampling by author ANON using the BirdLasser app across the Aberdeen Plain, that section of the Karoo south of the escarpment to better understand patterns of occurrence for this subpopulation. We also report on incidental surveys across the Greater Karoo, and comment further on a formal survey across the Karoo conducted between 2017-2018. Surveys around Beaufort West indicate a strong preference for a specific type veld associated with calcrete derived soils, with the indicator plant species Salsola tuberculata. We mapped these sites using their distinctive visual signature using Google Earth for the Aberdeen plain, suggesting suitable available habitat covering a prime area of 158 km2 and area of mixed habitat suitability of 685 km2. Monitoring from 2017 – 2022 at waterpoints for livestock indicate year-round occurrence, suggesting the species is resident in the Aberdeen plain, with no evidence for nomadism. Validation expeditions to parts of the range north of the escarpment suggest the strong habitat association identified for the Aberdeen plain also applies to that population. We raise concerns regarding this habitat for ‘big development’ and suggest this species is flagged as a species of conservation concern during environmental impact assessments, as there are no populations in formally protected areas
Hooded Vultures Necrosyretes monachus scavenge on a mass wreckage of large terns in a major HPAI outbreak in The Gambia: a photo report of scraper feeder damage to corpses
No full textWe report on findings when Critically Endangered Hooded Vultures Necrosyretes monachus scavenged on fresh corpses at a mass wreckage of two large tern species; the death of which was caused by the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) H5. Observations were made on the south Gambian coast in April 2023. Hooded Vultures scavenged on bare and unfeathered parts such as eyes and mandibular areas and gained access to the skull cavity to feed on brain tissue. Although our group report no resulting cases of infected vultures this raises concern regarding alimentary HPAIV infection as is described for other avian raptor species in Asia, Europe and the Americas, where HPAI H5 viruses of the goose/Guangdong (gs/GD) lineage have established enzootic status in wild bird populations.