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Climate Change Estimates Surpass Rates Of Climatic Niche Evolution In Primates
No full textPrimates might be particularly vulnerable to experiencing adverse effects from climate change, given their level of exposure, sensitivity to climatic conditions, and biological traits associated with extinction proneness (e.g., low dispersal ability). Therefore, a key question is whether primates will be able to adapt fast enough to keep up with future climate change. In this study, we used phylogenetic comparative methods to estimate rates of climatic niche evolution for 293 species of primates. We then compared these with projected rates of future climate change. We show that for temperature-related variables, future rates are in general >2800 times faster than rates of niche evolution characteristic of their recent evolutionary past. For precipitation-related variables, the overall difference between rates is >6700. If emissions continue unabated, differences between past and future rates can be at least 4800-fold for temperature-related variables and >7900-fold for precipitation. Species occurring in Central South America, Central and Eastern Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Malay Archipelago are expected to experience the fastest rates of future climate change, relative to their past rates of climatic niche evolution. Our results suggest that primate adaptation to future climate change would require rates of niche evolution unparalleled in the recent history of the group. These findings reinforce the evidence that climate change is a major threat to primates worldwide
3D Printing in Neuroscience
No full textPresentation held at the LabHack 2022 in Pretoria, South Africa
Education-based grant programmes for bottom-up distance learning and project catalysis: Antimicrobial Resistance in Sub-Saharan Africa
No full textInternational development and aid are often conducted through the allocation of funding determined by decisions of non-locals, especially in the west for those in the global south. In addition, such funding is often disassociated from local expertise, therefore providing little long-term developmental impact and generating distrust. This is particularly true for conservation, as well as environmental and educational programmes. We hypothesise that by granting local people the educational tools and the necessary funding to develop their own projects through the use of an applicant driven peer-review approach, it is possible to relocalize the decision-making process to the programme participants, with the potential to generate and select more relevant projects with developmental outcomes of higher quality. Here we created an online curriculum for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) education that was followed by 89 participants across Ghana, Tanzania, Nigeria, and Uganda. We then created an open research programme that facilitated the creation of eight de novo projects on AMR. Finally, we organised an applicant-driven grant round to allocate funding to the “Neonatal Sepsis in Nigeria” project to conduct a pilot study and awareness campaign. This work opens perspectives for the design of frugal educational programmes and the funding of context-specific, community-driven projects aimed at empowering local stakeholders in the global South
Occurrence and prevalence of fish parasites and the interaction with water quality parameters in selected small water bodies in western Kenya
No full textWater quality and the environment greatly influence the existence and proliferation of parasites in the water and consequently, fish. This can have profound implications on aquaculture within the water bodies. Few studies have been conducted on parasite aggregations about the water quality in small water bodies in Kenya. This study assessed the suitability of selected Small Water Bodies (SWBs) for aquaculture as regards fish parasites by assessing the relationship between the occurrence and prevalence of parasites to water quality, water depth, land use, and shoreline habitat type. Standard protocols and procedures were used in the collection, analysis of water quality, and assessment of fish specimens for parasitology. White spot disease, (a parasite with economic significance) was in 4 of the 6 SWBs studied and had varying prevalence rates ranging between 10% to 20%. Clinostomum, a zoonotic parasite was also recorded in one of the SWBs sampled in this study. Additionally, the study realised some significant differences in the water quality from the various selected SWBs (p˂0.05), which could be a pointer to the noted diversities in the parasite communities. The findings of this study indicated that there was a strong positive correlation (r2 > 0.8) between some parasites (Ichthyopthirius multifiliis, Clinostomum spp., Procamallanus, and Camallanus) and some water quality parameters (temperature, turbidity, Soluble Reactive Phosphorous, Total Phosphorous, and Silicates). In light of the increase in focus on fisheries and aquaculture as key drivers of the blue economy and food and nutrition security, and as the country explores new frontiers for investment in aquaculture in SWBs, the water quality and consequent habitat features such as depth and land use, need to be addressed before investment
Digital Literacy and Reading Habits of the DMI-St. Eugene University Students
No full textDigital literacy is the skill of finding, evaluating, consuming, and generating
information using digital technologies. The study attempted to comprehend
university students' digital reading habits and skills. It also provides a glimpse of the pupil's favourite reading materials, including physical and digital sources. We examined BSc and BE Computer Science students of DMI-St. Eugene University, Zambia. The tool was a structured questionnaire that was distributed through WhatsApp. The study's findings revealed that most students thoroughly understand digital tools and how to use them, but lack the skills to build their websites and portfolio. Out of 115 students, all agreed they used computers for learning purposes. Usage of digital environments, generally, they used the World Wide Web for searching for information. Additionally, most students have medium digital application skills, despite their preference for reading electronic books. The results indicate that students' gender and level of education had a statistically significant link with their digital literacy, whereas age wasn't shown to be a statistically relevant predictor. The findings show that, in terms of education, especially reading, students' or readers' top priorities are electronic resources; print book preferences are reduced
Effect of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi on the growth, nutrient uptake, root infectivity and soil colonisation of rough lemon (Citrus jambhiri) seedlings
No full textThe effect of Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi on growth, nutrient uptake and root infectivity was determined in Rough Lemon (Citrus jambhiri) seedlings raised under four phosphorus regimes in sand culture and also in sand/nitrosol sterile and unsterile conditions. Inoculation with AM fungi increased the plant height, leaf number and stem girth in relation to un-inoculated seedlings grown under equivalent P concentrations. An increase in plant height, leaf number and stem girth also occurred in both inoculated sterile and un-sterile sand/nitrosol media in relation to un-inoculated sterile and unsterile media. Arbuscular mycorrhiza also increased the leaf area and the root, leaf and stem fresh and dry weights and also caused an increase in the uptake of phosphorus and potassium in the leaf tissues. It also favoured mycorrhizal infectivity of roots and increased the root absorptive surface area. This study indicates that AM fungi improves the capacity of tropical fruit to absorb and utilize plant nutrients possibly by increasing the effective root surface area from which available form of nutrients are absorbed and also by increasing access of roots by bridging the depletion zones. Inoculating seedlings with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi helps to alleviate the adverse effects of global warming and climate change. As a low cost technology, arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation is recommended as part of the regular practise for incorporating into nursery media used for tropical fruit seedling propagation
Optimal Trading Portfolio Allocation Enhancement with Maximum Drawdown Using Triple Penance Rule
No full textThis study focuses on optimal portfolio trading allocation, using historic trading data to propose an optimal allocation with risk consideration. The risk factors used sequentially in this study are Sharp Ratio (SR) and Maximum Drawdown (MDD). We use the Sequential Least Squares programming (SLSQP) solver to minimise the negative adapted Sharp Ratio for trading profit and loss (PNL) and then we use the Triple Penance Rule assumption for modelling a mathematical formula to represent the relationship between the MDD and the Time under Water (TUW). In this paper, we introduce the risk measure driven by the MDD as the area of the curve during the TUW. The inverse of this area is used to define a proportional weight to the MDD value. The final weight is obtained by applying an algorithm for removing all MDD outliers in the dataset after SLSQP optimization. The final optimal weight is a combination of the calculated proportional PNL weights and the weights from the MDD area. The benchmark is the equal weight portfolio and the maximal return portfolio from Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS). The tested portfolios are two portfolios made from stocks and securities of the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DOJI) and the NASDAQ Composite (COMP). The initial selection is made from only securities that offer at least five years of historical prices. The results show a good compromise in weight allocation between maximising the PNL and minimising MDD and Sharp ratio
Farmers perception on production constraints, trait preference and variety selection of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in Kenya
No full textChickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) production in Kenya is mainly practiced on a small scale and productivity per hectare is lower compared with the world average, despite its promotion in different regions. The chickpea adoption rate is also relatively slow, despite its benefits. This study investigated farmers’ production constraints, preferred traits, and selection criteria for specific varieties to generate information that can assist in the development of new varieties, which can be more readily adopted by farmers. A participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) through Focus Group Discussions (FGD) was conducted in Bomet and Embu counties of Kenya. The direct ranking was used to identify farmers’ constraints to chickpea production, preferred traits, and specific chickpea varieties based on preference. The collected data was analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Farmers’ responses indicated that the major production constraints were pests and disease infestations, drought, lack of early-maturing varieties, lack of market, and lack of information on chickpea production and utilization. The farmers reported that they preferred ICCV 97105, ICCV 92944, and ICCV 00108 due to high yielding, drought tolerant, early maturing, and pest and disease resistance. Farmers in both counties also had a higher preference for Desi than Kabuli chickpea types because of tolerance to drought and disease resistance and that its testa does not peel off when cooked. This study revealed farmer-preferred traits in varieties they would want to grow. Breeders should aim at developing varieties with multiple traits for increased chickpea adoption and production in Kenya
The exigency of ICT Resources on Teaching and Learning in South African Primary Schools
Get PDFThe effect of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on the teaching and learning fraterinity has globally necessitated its integration in the classroom. Nevertheless, it is important to note that the quest for Integration in individual school contexts remains an uphill task in-spite of ICT integration being a policy prerogative in a number of countries. This survey has the sole objective of unpacking how the teaching and learning process has been affected due to lack of ICT resources. By use of a simple questionnaire, the researcher made use of semi-structured interviews in order to solicit data from educators in selected South African primary schools. The interviews were transcribed manually and coded. The data analysis process was conducted by use of a thematic mode of analysis. The findindings thereof demonstrated that, due to many reasons, many schools do not make use of ICT tools in teaching and learning, as expected, and, in most cases, they do not maximise of the use of the existing resources, thus affecting the teaching and learningn processes. The reasearcher recommends that the South African Department of Basic Education (DBE) seriously takes into consideration individual school contexts when allocating ICT resources in order to try and mitigate the challenges. Stepping up the monitoring and evaluation mechanisms that are currently at play will help identify contextual challenges and the provision of assistance where necessary. Security issues also call for schools to team up with local communities to try and fight the theft and vandalization of IT resources. All these measures are meant to facilitate the preservation and use of ICT resources in the classroom for the betterment of the learning process
The Augment In Haya And Ekegusii
Get PDFThis article examines the behavior of the augment in Haya (E22) and Ekegusii (E42), two Bantu Zone E languages, revealing many similarities and a few differences between the Haya and Ekegusii augment. In both languages, morphosyntactic, semantic, and pragmatic requirements regulate the behavior of the augment. The common shape of the augment is a vowel (V, namely /a/, /e/, and /o/. Besides, Ekegusii has the CV shape in ri- and chi- of class 5 and 10, respectively. Augmented nouns in both languages are the default but are ambiguous between a specific and non-specific reading. In Haya and Ekegusii, the augment is not marked on proper names, most kinship terms, and vocative nouns because these pick out specific referents. Nouns used as adverbs of location, time, and manner omit the augment in both languages. The two languages require the augment in predicative and associative constructions. In complex nouns, both elements require the augment but in compound nouns, only the first is augmented in both languages. The two languages allow the augment in gerunds but not in infinitives. Most pronominals require the augment in the two languages. Haya and Ekegusii disallow the augment in interrogative and negative constructions, proverbs, and nouns modified by 'any' to signal non-specific reference. In both languages, affirmative declaratives require the augment. Emphatic nouns in topic and contrastive focus positions require the augment to mark emphasis and specificity even in negative contexts. These features of the augment in Haya and Ekegusii confirm that the so-called augment is actually a bound article