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Malaria resurgence after significant reduction by mass drug administration on Ngodhe Island, Kenya
Get PDFAlthough WHO recommends mass drug administration (MDA) for malaria elimination, further evidence is required for understanding the obstacles for the optimum implementation of MDA. Just before the long rain in 2016, two rounds of MDA with artemisinin/piperaquine (Artequick) and low-dose primaquine were conducted with a 35-day interval for the entire population of Ngodhe Island (~500 inhabitants) in Lake Victoria, Kenya, which is surrounded by areas with moderate and high transmission. With approximately 90% compliance, Plasmodium prevalence decreased from 3% to 0% by microscopy and from 10% to 2% by PCR. However, prevalence rebounded to 9% by PCR two months after conclusion of MDA. Besides the remained local transmission, parasite importation caused by human movement likely contributed to the resurgence. Analyses of 419 arrivals to Ngodhe between July 2016 and September 2017 revealed Plasmodium prevalence of 4.6% and 16.0% by microscopy and PCR, respectively. Risk factors for infection among arrivals included age (0 to 5 and 11 to 15 years), and travelers from Siaya County, located to the north of Ngodhe Island. Parasite importation caused by human movement is one of major obstacles to sustain malaria elimination, suggesting the importance of cross-regional initiatives together with local vector control
The role of 8-quinolinyl moieties in tuning the reactivity of palladium(II) complexes: a kinetic and mechanistic study
No full textThe rate and mechanism of chloride substitution from Pd(II) complexes, chlorobis-(2-pyridylmethyl)aminepalladium(II), 1, chloro-8-[(2-pyridylmethyl)amino]quinolinepalladium(II), 2, chloro-N-(2-pyridinylmethylene)-8-quinolinaminepalladium(II), 3, and chlorobis(8-quinolinyl)aminepalladium(II), 4, are reported. The labile chloride was substituted from the complexes by thiourea nucleophiles viz, thiourea (Tu), N,N′-dimethylthiourea (Dmtu) and N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylthiourea (Tmtu). The reactions were monitored under pseudo-first-order conditions in methanol using stopped-flow spectrophotometry as a function of concentration and temperature. All the reactions obeyed the rate law kobs = k2[Nu] following the order 1 > 3 > 2 > 4 with 4 exhibiting the slowest rate of substitution due to the stronger σ-donor effect of 8-quinolyl moiety of the coordinated ligand, which makes the Pd center more electron-rich. This slows the nucleophilic attack by the nucleophiles. The values of the thermodynamic parameters (ΔH# and ΔS#) support an associative substitution mechanism. The trends in the DFT calculated data support the experimentally observed order of the reactivity of the complexes
Effects of Automated Stock Control Systems on Organizational Efficiency (A Survey on Selected Government Parastatals in Nakuru CBD)
No full textThe study aimed at finding out the effects of automated stock control systems on
organizational efficiency at government parastatals in Nakuru CBD. Hence the
specific objectives were; to determine the effects of bar coding automated stock
control system on organizations efficiency at government parastatals in Nakuru CBD,
to find out the effects of electronic point of sale automated stock control system
on organizational efficiency at government parastatals Nakuru CBD, to identify the
effects of electronic data interface automated stock control system on organizational
efficiency at government parastatals in Nakuru CBD and to determine the effects
of enterprise resource planning automated stock control system on organizational
efficiency at government parastatals in Nakuru CBD. The study findings are expected
to benefit the management of selected government parastatals in Nakuru CBD as
they will lead to generation of new ideas and knowledge of better use of automated
stock control systems and also find ways on how to improve them. A survey research
design was adopted for the study where the target population comprised of 40
employees drawn from the procurement department in the selected government
parastatals. Stratified sampling technique was used since the target population
which was from the procurement department from selected parastatals comprised
of different sizes. The researcher used closed ended type of questionnaires as a data
collecting tool. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics such as frequencies
and percentages while presentation was done using tables, charts and graphs. The
findings revealed that automated stock control systems such as bar code systems
improved accuracy, electronic point of sale improves accurate restocking, electronic
data interchange enhances customer satisfaction while enterprise resource planning
helped in knowing when to purchase. Based on these findings, the researcher
recommended that the management of the selected organizations should facilitate
the use of bar code systems. The researcher suggested that a replica of the current
study should be done in a manufacturing industry to see if the same result will be
achieved to form a strong base for the generalization of the findings
Comprehensive analysis of antibody responses to Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 domains
No full textAcquired antibodies directed towards antigens expressed on the surface of merozoites and infected erythrocytes play an important role in protective immunity to Plasmodium falciparum malaria. P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1), the major parasite component of the infected erythrocyte surface, has been implicated in malaria pathology, parasite sequestration and host immune evasion. However, the extent to which unique PfEMP1 domains interact with host immune response remains largely unknown. In this study, we sought to comprehensively understand the naturally acquired antibody responses targeting different Duffy binding-like (DBL), and Cysteine-rich interdomain region (CIDR) domains in a Ugandan cohort. Consequently, we created a protein library consisting of full-length DBL (n = 163) and CIDR (n = 108) domains derived from 62-var genes based on 3D7 genome. The proteins were expressed by a wheat germ cell-free system; a system that yields plasmodial proteins that are comparatively soluble, intact, biologically active and immunoreactive to human sera. Our findings suggest that all PfEMP1 DBL and CIDR domains, regardless of PfEMP1 group, are targets of naturally acquired immunity. The breadth of the immune response expands with children’s age. We concurrently identified 10 DBL and 8 CIDR domains whose antibody responses were associated with reduced risk to symptomatic malaria in the Ugandan children cohort. This study highlights that only a restricted set of specific domains are essential for eliciting naturally acquired protective immunity in malaria. In light of current data, tandem domains in PfEMP1s PF3D7_0700100 and PF3D7_0425800 (DC4) are recommended for extensive evaluation in larger population cohorts to further assess their potential as alternative targets for malaria vaccine development
The Role of Kenyan Universities in Promoting Growth of Small and Medium Enterprises
No full textThe following presentation is normative more so than analytical in the classical
academic sense. Based on five years of presence in Kenya, the presentation observes
and argues the following. First, Kenya has almost no share in the world prevalence
of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). 80% of its potential growth-creating enterprises
die before they reach beyond the family-owned stage. Few of them, even if they may
have potential IPR to unfold/defend, work with universities. Secondly, a close, longsighted
collaboration between Universities, Industries and Government is requested
to mobilize the potential of the Kenyan society when it comes to positioning itself
in the global competition among nation states (“triple helix”). This requires proactive
initiatives from all three parties and ideally an exchange of staff among the
players. In addition, unless universities, public as well as private, contribute through
developing their learning methodologies away from primarily requesting students
to reproduce at the unit-exams what the lecturer informed them about, we shall
not be able nurture and unleash the potential of innovations and entrepreneurship.
Universities must support a mistake-are- allowed (or even encouraged!) culture and
mindset, once students do their outmost. Universities in addition must pro-actively
take upon them their key role of research-based institutions generating IPR. The
fundamental and applied knowledge needed to implement strategies for Kenyan
growth in alliance with Government and Industry must come from universities and
unfold within specific partnerships with industry following strategic goals developed
in dialogue with Government. We need role models of different ways of teaching
and learning and a systematic Training of Trainers to develop a different mindset
among university lecturers, which can subsequently lead to changes in the unitbased
curricula, at least at degree-levels. Serving to illustrate the above, Copenhagen
Business School-Executive in partnership with Equip Africa Institute, has developed
a 16-month hands-on problem-solving program for SME leaders and owners. The
program, leading to a master degree for executives, sets out to bridge the gap between
academia and business and involves assignments on how to create business growth
and value addition to Kenyan companies in Kenya and when expanding abroa
The Efficacy of Traditional Innovation and Modern Science in Managing the Banana Value Chain
No full textBananas (Musa paradisiaca), have played and continue to play a major role in the diets
of the people and the economies world over. It is an important food crop providing
carbohydrates for both rural and urban households; though grossly suffering loss on
the value chain due to its perishable nature. To mitigate this, farmers have adopted
several traditional innovative coping strategies which include various ripening
practices. The efficacy of these practices in enhancing ripening and their effects on
the management of the banana value chain needs to be evaluated. The study was
conducted in Imenti South sub-county of Meru County-Kenya. The study involved an
experiment to evaluate the effects of traditional innovative banana ripening practices
on the duration of ripening and quality of bananas. The five ripening practices were
tested in a completely randomized design with three replications. It was found that
the practices had an influence on the duration of ripening and quality of bananas. It
was observed that the practice where avocado pears and purple passion fruits were
used, bananas were influenced to ripen faster. Bananas induced with avocado pear
fruits achieved higher sugar levels and a longer shelf life. Findings from this study led
to the conclusion that it is beneficial to induce ripening of bananas. Use of avocado
fruits influence; faster ripening, develop an appealing peel color, and give bananas
a longer shelf life. Further study is recommended with a combination of ripening
inducement materials
Effects of E-Banking on Customer Satisfaction by SACCOS (A Case Study of Kingdom Sacco Nakuru Town Branch)
No full textThe main purpose of this study was to assess the effects of E-banking on customer
satisfaction by SACCOs. It was carried out at Kingdom Sacco, Nakuru Town Branch,
Nakuru County. The specific objectives were; - to establish whether e-banking has led
to improved banking convenience; to investigate whether e-banking has provided
security of transactions; to investigate whether e-banking has improved accuracy
of data; and to establish whether e-banking has improved loyalty of customers of
Kingdom Sacco. The findings will be important in the management of Kingdom Sacco
in making strategic decisions to improve the customer satisfaction. A case study was
adopted with a target population comprising 215 and a sample of thirty five was
taken to represent the target population. A questionnaire containing closed ended
questions was used as the data collection instrument. Data analysis was done by
descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, tables, pie charts and graphs.
Presentation of the results was by tables, charts and graphs. The findings revealed
that e-banking platform had brought convenience to customers to a large extent as
customers were transacting at the comfort of their homes. Security of transaction
was found to have been improved to a large extent leading to customers shifting
from the conventional ways of banking to e-banking due to its guaranteed online
security. 90% respondents agreed that data was accurate as it minimized errors in
the accounts and significantly reduced accounts reconciliation. All respondents who
participated agreed that e-banking had improved customer loyalty as customers
were getting the information needed on time. Based on these findings the researcher
recommended that the management of Kingdom Sacco to begin periodic education
forums to create awareness to the members of the underutilized forms of e-banking.
The researcher suggested that such study be done to the rest of the Sacco branches
country wide
(Pyridyl)benzoazole ruthenium(III) complexes: Kinetics of ligand substitution reaction and potential cytotoxic properties
No full textThe present work investigates the kinetics of ligand substitution reaction and anticancer activities of the complexes, [{2-(2-pyridyl) benzimidazole} RuCl3] (C1), [{2-(2-pyridyl) benzoxazole} RuCl3] (C2), [{2-(2-pyridyl) benzothiazole} RuCl3] (C3) and [{1-propyl-2- (pyridin-2-yl)-H-benzoimidazole} RuCl3] (C4). The substitution kinetics reaction of the complexes with the three bio-relevant nucleophiles, viz.: thiourea (TU), 1, 3-dimethyl-2-thiourea (DMTU) and 1, 1, 3, 3-tetramethyl-2-thiourea (TMTU) was investigated under pseudo first-order conditions as a function of concentration and temperature using UV–Visible spectrophotometer. The substitution of the coordinated chloride was controlled by the electronic effect. The order of reactivity of the complexes with the nucleophiles is in the form C1 > C2 > C3 > C4 which is in line with the density functional theory (DFT) studies. The complexes showed minimal anticancer activity against the HeLa cell line, which is in contrast to the molecular docking experiments that exhibited stronger DNA binding affinities
Effect of CTAB and SDS on base hydrolysis of iron(II)-sulphonated and unsulphonated phenyl-1,2,4-triazine complexes - A kinetic and mechanistic study
No full textThe effect of cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) on base hydrolysis of iron(II)-triazine complexes viz., tris((3-(4-phenyl)-2-pyridyl)-5,6-bis(4-phenyl)-1,2,4-triazine)iron(II), Fe(PPDT)32+ and its sulphonated analogue, tris(3-(4-(4-phenylsulphonic acid)-2-pyridyl)-5,6-bis(4-phenyl sulphonic acid)-1,2,4-triazine)iron(II), Fe(PPDTS)37‐ has been studied under pseudo-first order conditions at 25, 35, 45 and 55 °C. These reactions are first order with respect to the substrate and hydroxide ion. The rate of base hydrolysis of Fe(PPDT)32+ decreases with the increase in ionic strength in both aqueous and CTAB media whereas the effect is minimal in SDS medium. In the case of Fe(PPDTS)37‐, the opposite is seen i.e., the rate of hydrolysis increases with the increase in ionic strength in both the aqueous and SDS media whereas in CTAB medium it has little effect. Specific rate constants (k2) and activation parameters, Ea, ΔH#, ΔS# and ΔG# have also been evaluated. The results obtained suggest that these reactions occur essentially by the same mechanism in aqueous and micellar media. About 104 times catalysis and 5 times inhibition were noticed in CTAB and SDS media respectively when compared to aqueous medium. The observed catalysis is ascribed to electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions between hydroxide and CTAB ions, whereas the inhibition is attributed to the electrostatic repulsions between hydroxide ion and dodecyl sulphonate anions. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were found to support the experimental results