Digital Commons Network^™

Feasibility Of Implementing Recommendations To Improve Neglected Tropical Diseases Surveillance And Response In Kenya: A Modified Delphi Study, Arthur K.S. Ng’Etich, Kuku Voyi, Clifford M. Mutero

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background: Effective health information systems (HIS) are critical towards achieving timely response to preventive chemotherapy neglected tropical diseases (PC-NTDs) and their eventual elimination. Strengthened HIS enable prompt case detection and effective response to halt disease transmission and prevent probable outbreaks. This study aimed to assess the importance and feasibility of implementing recommendations for improving surveillance core functions, support functions and surveillance attributes concerning PC-NTDs in Kenya. Methods: A descriptive web-based Delphi process comprising of two survey rounds was used to achieve group consensus on the importance of recommended actions and feasibility of their implementation. In the first round, participants were …

An Update On The Distribution Of Glossina (Tsetse Flies) At The Wildlife-Human-Livestock Interface Of Akagera National Park, Rwanda, Richard S. Gashururu, Samuel M. Githigia, Methode N. Gasana, Richard Habimana, Ndichu Maingi, Giuliano Cecchi, Massimo Paone, Weining Zhao, Daniel K. Masiga, James Gashumba

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background: Glossina (tsetse flies) biologically transmit trypanosomes that infect both humans and animals. Knowledge of their distribution patterns is a key element to better understand the transmission dynamics of trypanosomosis. Tsetse distribution in Rwanda has not been well enough documented, and little is known on their current distribution. This study determined the current spatial distribution, abundance, diversity, and seasonal variations of tsetse flies in and around the Akagera National Park. Methods: A longitudinal stratified sampling following the seasons was used. Biconical traps were deployed in 55 sites for 6 consecutive days of each study month from May 2018 to June …

Calibration Of The Spearpesticides Bioindicator For Cost-Effective Pesticide Monitoring In East African Streams, Akbar A. Ganatra, Faith Jebiwot Kandie, Ulrike Fillinger, Francis Mcodimba, Baldwyn Torto, Werner Brack, Matthias Liess, Henner Hollert, Jeremias M. Becker

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background: Pesticides are washed from agricultural fields into adjacent streams, where even short-term exposure causes long-term ecological damage. Detecting pesticide pollution in streams thus requires the expensive monitoring of peak concentrations during run-off events. Alternatively, exposure and ecological effects can be assessed using the SPEARpesticides bioindicator that quantifies pesticide-related changes in the macroinvertebrate community composition. SPEARpesticides has been developed in Central Europe and validated in other parts of Europe, Australia and South America; here we investigated its performance in East African streams. Results: With minimal adaptations of the SPEARpesticdes index, we successfully characterized pesticide pollution in 13 streams located in …

Pest Interceptions On Imported Fresh Fruits Into South Africa, Livhuwani R. Nnzeru, Phumudzo P. Tshikhudo, Bester T. Mudereri, Moleseng C. Moshobane

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Global trade through imports and exports of commodities brings an excessive risk of accidental introduction of invasive alien species in many countries. South Africa imports a range of fresh fruits and other commodities to complement its local production. Despite the substantial impacts of these invasive alien species, relatively little is known about the pathways and origins by which these organisms arrive in South Africa. In this study, we analyzed the susceptibility of South Africa to introduced plant-feeding pests detected from imported consignments of fresh fruits into the country over 10 years between 2009 and 2018. The analysis was conducted from …

2021 Taxonomic Update Of Phylum Negarnaviricota (Riboviria: Orthornavirae), Including The Large Orders Bunyavirales And Mononegavirales, Jens H. Kuhn, Scott Adkins, Bernard R. Agwanda, Rim Al Kubrusli, Sergey V. Alkhovsky, Gaya K. Amarasinghe, Tatjana Avšič-Županc, María A. Ayllón, Justin Bahl, Anne Balkema-Buschmann, Matthew J. Ballinger, Christopher F. Basler, Sina Bavari, Martin Beer, Nicolas Bejerman, Andrew J. Bennett, Dennis A. Bente, Éric Bergeron, Brian H. Bird, Carol D. Blair, Kim R. Blasdell, Dag Ragnar Blystad, Jamie Bojko, Wayne B. Borth, Steven Bradfute, Rachel Breyta, Thomas Briese, Paul A. Brown

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

In March 2021, following the annual International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) ratification vote on newly proposed taxa, the phylum Negarnaviricota was amended and emended. The phylum was expanded by four families (Aliusviridae, Crepuscuviridae, Myriaviridae, and Natareviridae), three subfamilies (Alpharhabdovirinae, Betarhabdovirinae, and Gammarhabdovirinae), 42 genera, and 200 species. Thirty-nine species were renamed and/or moved and seven species were abolished. This article presents the updated taxonomy of Negarnaviricota as now accepted by the ICTV.

Immediate Impacts Of Covid-19 Measures On Bean Production, Distribution, And Food Security In Eastern Africa, Eileen Nchanji, Cosmas Kweyu Lutomia, David Karanja

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The outbreak of coronavirus was expected to adversely affect African countries more than any other region in the world. This assertion was based on the existing conditions in sub-Saharan Africa that exposed the region to the dire consequences of the pandemic. Previously existing underlying conditions that affected the food system include a high dependence on trade for inputs supply, the adverse effects of climate change, crop pests and diseases, poverty, low input use, weak institutions and ineffective policies, and insecurity and conflicts. We collected data from farmers, aggregators, bean research coordinators, and urban and peri-urban consumers in five Eastern African …

Genomic Analysis Reveals Independent Evolution Of Plasmodium Falciparum Populations In Ethiopia, Deriba Abera, Caleb K. Kibet, Teshome Degefa, Lucas Amenga-Etego, Joel L. Bargul, Lemu Golassa

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background: Plasmodium falciparum parasite populations in Ethiopia have been experiencing local selective pressures from drugs and immunity, leading to evolutionary adaptation. However, there was a paucity of data on genomic characterization and evolutionary adaptations of P. falciparum isolates from the central area of Ethiopia. Methods: Whole-genome analysis of 25 P. falciparum isolates from central Ethiopia, specifically from West Arsi, were studied to determine their genetic diversity, population structures, and signatures of selection in known drug resistance alleles against global isolates from Cambodia, Thailand, DR Congo, and Malawi. Results: A total of 18,517 high-quality single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in Ethiopian …

Evaluation Of Health Surveillance System Attributes: The Case Of Neglected Tropical Diseases In Kenya, Arthur K.S. Ng’Etich, Kuku Voyi, Clifford M. Mutero

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background: Control of preventive chemotherapy-targeted neglected tropical diseases (PC-NTDs) relies on strengthened health systems. Efficient health information systems provide an impetus to achieving the sustainable development goal aimed at ending PC-NTD epidemics. However, there is limited assessment of surveillance system functions linked to PC-NTDs and hinged on optimum performance of surveillance system attributes. The study aimed to evaluate surveillance system attributes based on healthcare workers’ perceptions in relation to PC-NTDs endemic in Kenya. Methods: A cross-sectional health facility survey was used to purposively sample respondents involved in disease surveillance activities. Consenting respondents completed a self-administered questionnaire that assessed their perceptions …

Molecular Detection Of Leishmania Donovani, Leishmania Major, And Trypanosoma Species In Sergentomyia Squamipleuris Sand Flies From A Visceral Leishmaniasis Focus In Merti Sub-County, Eastern Kenya, Barrack O. Owino, Jackline Milkah Mwangi, Steve Kiplagat, Hannah Njiriku Mwangi, Johnstone M. Ingonga, Alphine Chebet, Philip M. Ngumbi, Jandouwe Villinger, Daniel K. Masiga, Damaris Matoke-Muhia

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) are of public health concern in Merti sub-County, Kenya, but epidemiological data on transmission, vector abundance, distribution, and reservoir hosts remain limited. To better understand the disease and inform control measures to reduce transmission, we investigated the abundance and distribution of sand fly species responsible for Leishmania transmission in the sub-County and their blood-meal hosts. Methods: We conducted an entomological survey in five villages with reported cases of VL in Merti sub-County, Kenya, using CDC miniature light traps and castor oil sticky papers. Sand flies were dissected and identified to the …

Climate Change And Specialty Coffee Potential In Ethiopia, Abel Chemura, Bester Tawona Mudereri, Amsalu Woldie Yalew, Christoph Gornott

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Current climate change impact studies on coffee have not considered impact on coffee typicities that depend on local microclimatic, topographic and soil characteristics. Thus, this study aims to provide a quantitative risk assessment of the impact of climate change on suitability of five premium specialty coffees in Ethiopia. We implement an ensemble model of three machine learning algorithms to predict current and future (2030s, 2050s, 2070s, and 2090s) suitability for each specialty coffee under four Shared Socio-economic Pathways (SSPs). Results show that the importance of variables determining coffee suitability in the combined model is different from those for specialty coffees …

Assessment Of Surveillance Core And Support Functions Regarding Neglected Tropical Diseases In Kenya, Arthur K.S. Ng’Etich, Kuku Voyi, Clifford M. Mutero

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background: Effective surveillance and response systems are vital to achievement of disease control and elimination goals. Kenya adopted the revised guidelines of the integrated disease surveillance and response system in 2012. Previous assessments of surveillance system core and support functions in Africa are limited to notifiable diseases with minimal attention given to neglected tropical diseases amenable to preventive chemotherapy (PC-NTDs). The study aimed to assess surveillance system core and support functions relating to PC-NTDs in Kenya. Methods: A mixed method cross-sectional survey was adapted involving 192 health facility workers, 50 community-level health workers and 44 sub-national level health personnel. Data …

The Pacifican December 2021, University Of The Pacific

All Issues - Student Newspaper, The Pacifican, Pacific Weekly

No abstract provided.

Socially Distant Signing: Why Georgia Should Adopt Remote Will Execution In The Post-Covid World, Jessie Daniel Rankin

Georgia Law Review

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and other state governors issued emergency executive orders authorizing the attestation and execution of wills, trusts, and other testamentary documents through the use of audio-video technology. Most states have traditionally required that such testamentary documents be signed in the physical presence of two or more witnesses to be valid. Georgia’s executive order permits these witnesses to instead observe the signing via video-conferencing software, alleviating the requirement that the witnesses be physically present with the testator. This authorization, however, only exists through this executive order and could lapse or be …

Exegesis: Mark 6:30-44, Younggwang Kim

Masters Theses

Jesus’ feeding the five thousand is the only miracle that the four Gospels commonly recorded among the miracles Jesus Himself performed. The feeding miracle episode is like the gem, which changes light colors slightly depending on how people see it. However, some scholars try to approach it only in a particular direction and partially understand it. Based on the literary-historical-theological methodology, this thesis has a focal point to disclose the compressive and multi-dimensional implications. The exegesis of Mark 6:30-44 begins with the refinement of interpretive methodology. The methodology of this thesis prudently considers both the traditional perspective and recent research. …

Reflip Type: Developing Visual Strategies For Teaching Typography To Collegiate Students With Dyslexia, Brittany D. Strozzo

Masters Theses

In educational facilities today, the approaches to teaching typography to college students with dyslexia are limited. This thesis provides a research-based pedagogy for teaching typography to students in a way that accommodates the visual, processing, and auditory differences present in students with dyslexia. Through the analysis of the learning disability itself, existing material for graphic designers with dyslexia, and current accessibility standards for those with dyslexia, this thesis offers a practical solution to provide a more balanced learning experience for all students, especially those with dyslexia. The aim of this study was to examine the current graphic design standards and …

And The Lord Added To Their Number Daily: A Historical Overview Of The Growth Of The American Evangelical Church, Erica Morgan Wrench

Masters Theses

Serving Special Education Students In The Music Classroom: Accommodating And Advocating For Learners With Exceptionalities, Kathryn Lambert

Masters Theses

Music education programs positively impact the lives of students both socially and emotionally. As the following research suggests, music may have an even greater impact on students with disabilities or exceptionalities. Due to the lack of accessibility, funding, time, training, and other issues, opportunities in music education programs may be limited to groups of students who may not fit the standard music education student profile. As teachers of common core classes may struggle to accommodate students with exceptionalities and may feel as if they are lacking in resources or other needed preparation to adequately serve these students, these struggles are …

Tomb And Temple : The Poet’S Use Of Positive Body Imagery To Communicate Messages Of Psychological Wellbeing, Shelby Elizabeth Poulin

Masters Theses

Mary Oliver writes that imagery is the texture of a poem, and the “detailed, sensory language incorporating images . . . gives the poem dash and tenderness” (Oliver 92). Imagery brings poetry to life, offering the reader a whole-body experience over simple description. Oliver cautions, however, that imagery is powerful and should be used responsibility, further implying that this texture can also become jolting, harsh, or offensive if used incorrectly (Oliver 107-108). With this caution in mind, the purpose of my forty-six poem collection—Tomb and Temple: Letters to the Body—is to use images of the body responsibly, in a way …

Curriculum Framework For Composing And Arranging For Contemporary A Cappella Choirs, Hillary Nicole Goodson-Spear

Masters Theses

As vocalists, it is important for us to understand techniques regarding current styles of vocal composing and arranging including voicing, beat boxing, and body percussion. The success of several mainstream television programs such as Glee and The Sing-Off, popular movies franchises like Pitch Perfect, and groups like Pentatonix and Straight No Chaser, demonstrate the rising popularity of contemporary a cappella music. It also reflects the need to be able to write unique arrangements of traditional or popular songs to keep up with recent trends. Current research suggests that there are very few resources available for music educators to teach this …

Patrick Henry And John Jay: True Patriots And Advocates For Civil And Religious Liberty, Nancy Lynn Greenwood

Masters Theses

Patrick Henry and John Jay had a significant impact in the founding of the United States of America as two of the principal and most influential Founders. They were also among the most public Christians of all the Founding Fathers. Their dedication in their fight for civic and religious freedom as a means to maintaining liberty was well-known. Despite these similarities, they opposed each other on most every major issue. Each envisioned different governments in which to obtain liberty and to keep the American republic. This thesis seeks to explore the differences and similarities between Henry, as a leader of …

Eldre65: Creating A Website For Senior Adults Based Upon User Experience, Rebecca Joy Bozarth

Masters Theses

Geoffrey Chaucer wrote, “Time and tide wait for no man.” He was correct. Aging is universal. It affects all humans in positive and negative ways. From children becoming teens to adults becoming senior adults, each stage of life brings changes and challenges. In one’s forties, menus can become harder to read, hair can fall out, hearing in loud environments can become difficult. Then, in one’s mid-sixties, more difficult challenges can arrive. Health issues such as high blood pressure, diabetes, lung disease can become a regular part of one’s life. Cognition slowness, vision and hearing loss can create difficulties not only …

Analytical Solutions For Advanced Functional Differential Equations With Discontinuous Forcing Terms And Studying Their Dynamical Properties, Amal Khalaf Haydar, Habeeb Kareem Abdullah, Kawther Reyadh Obead

Baghdad Science Journal

This paper aims to find new analytical closed-forms to the solutions of the nonhomogeneous functional differential equations of the nth order with finite and constants delays and various initial delay conditions in terms of elementary functions using Laplace transform method. As well as, the definition of dynamical systems for ordinary differential equations is used to introduce the definition of dynamical systems for delay differential equations which contain multiple delays with a discussion of their dynamical properties: The exponential stability and strong stability

Biological Evaluation And Theoretical Study Of Bi-Dentate Ligand For Amoxicillin Derivative With Some Metal Ions, Sahar S. Hassan, Nidhal M. Hassan, Shaymaa Rajab Baqer, Asmaa M. Saleh

Baghdad Science Journal

In this paper, the complexes of Shiff base of Methyl -6-[2-(diphenylmethylene)amino)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acetamido]-2,2-dimethyl-5-oxo-1-thia-4-azabicyclo[3.2.0]heptane-3-carboxylate (L) with Cobalt(II), Nickel(II), Cupper(II) and Zinc(II) have been prepared. The compounds have been characterized by different means such as FT-IR, UV-Vis, magnetic moment, elemental microanalyses (C.H.N), atomic absorption, and molar conductance. It is obvious when looking at the spectral study that the overall complexes obtained as monomeric structure as well as the metals center moieties are two-coordinated with octahedral geometry excepting Co complexes that existed as a tetrahedral geometry. Hyper Chem-8.0.7 program was employed, after calculating the heat of formation (ΔH°f), binding energy (ΔEb), dipole moment( µ ), …

Enhancement Of Electron Temperature Under Dense Homogenous Plasma By Pulsed Laser Beam, Khalid A. Yahya

Baghdad Science Journal

The applications of hot plasma are many and numerous applications require high values of the temperature of the electrons within the plasma region. Improving electron temperature values is one of the important processes for using this specification in plasma for being adopted in several modern applications such as nuclear fusion, plating operations and in industrial applications. In this work, theoretical computations were performed to enhance electron temperature under dense homogeneous plasma. The effect of power and duration time of pulsed Nd:YAG laser was studied on the heating of plasmas by inverse bremsstrahlung for several values for the electron density ratio. …

Drinking Water Quality Evaluation Of Hand Pumping Wells Using Water Quality Index And Standard Algal Toxicity Testing In Mansoura And Talkha Cities, Egypt, Marriam M. Ismail, Ahmed M. El-Naggar, Mai I. El-Gammal, Ahmed E. Hagras

Baghdad Science Journal

Six house-hold Abyssinian pumps distributed in different villages of Mansoura (Mans-I, Mans-II and Mans-III) and Talkha (Talk-I, Talk-II and Talk-III) cities, Egypt, have been selected for regular seasonal water quality assessment during 2017. Water samples have been collected within the mid-periods of four seasons Standard assessment tools were employed for the integrated water quality assessment including Water Quality Index (WQI) and ISO standard algal toxicity test. WQI displayed remarkable local and seasonal variations with excellent (≥ 90) and good (70 - 89) only recorded for water samples collected from Mans-I pump located in sparsely populated area and far 50 meters …

Designing Primers With A Plant Signal Peptide To Enhance The Expression Of Gba1 In Transgenic Soybean Plants, Zainab Tuama Al-Dallee

Baghdad Science Journal

Transgenic plants offer advantages for the manufacture of recombinant proteins with terminalmannose residues on their glycan chains. So plants are chosen as source of pharmaceutical products and forthe development of alternative expression systems to produce recombinant lysosomal enzymes. In thepresent study the sequence of the natural cDNA encoding for the human lysosomal enzymeglucocerebrosidase (GCD) was modified to enhance its expression in soybean plants. The glucocerebrosidasegene signal peptide was substituted with that signal peptide for the Arabidopsis thaliana basic endochitinasegene to support the co-translational translocation into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and the storagevacuole. So, targeting signal from tobacco chitinase A, to …

On (Ɱ,ɳ)-Strongly Fully Stably Banach Algebra Modules Related To An Ideal Of Am ×ɳ, Radhi Ibraheem Mohammed Ali, Muna Jasim Mohammed Ali, Samira Naji Kadhim

Baghdad Science Journal

The aim of this paper is introducing the concept of (ɱ,ɳ) strong full stability B-Algebra-modulerelated to an ideal. Some properties of (ɱ,ɳ)-strong full stability B-Algebra-modulerelated to an ideal have been studied and another characterizations have been given. The relationship of (ɱ,ɳ) strong full stability B-Algebra-modulerelated to an ideal that states, a B-Ạ-module Ӽis (ɱ,ɳ)-strong full stability B-Algebra-modulerelated to an idealῌ, if and only if for any two ɱ-element sub-sets {Ṋẋ1,Ṋẋ1,ẋ2,⋯,Ṋẋ1,ẋ2,⋯,ẋɳ}and {Ḿỳ1,Ḿỳ1,ỳ2,⋯,Ḿỳ1,ỳ2,⋯,ỳɳ}of Ӽɳ, if ����∉∑������∩Ӽɱῌ����=1, for each j = 1, ..., ɱ, i = 1,..., ɳ����∈{Ṋẋ1,Ṋẋ1,ẋ2,⋯,Ṋẋ1,ẋ2,⋯,ẋɳ}and ����∈{Ḿỳ1,Ḿỳ1,ỳ2,⋯,Ḿỳ1,ỳ2,⋯,ỳɳ}implies��Ạɳ({Ṋẋ1,Ṋẋ1,ẋ2,⋯,Ṋẋ1,ẋ2,⋯,ẋɳ}) ⊈��Ạɳ({Ḿỳ1,Ḿỳ1,ỳ2,⋯,Ḿỳ1,ỳ2,⋯,ỳɳ})have been proved

Improvement Of The Fault Tolerance In Iot Based Positioning Systems By Applying For Redundancy In The Controller Layer, Nawzad K. Al-Salihi

Baghdad Science Journal

In recent years, the positioning applications of Internet-of-Things (IoT) based systems have grown increasingly popular, and are found to be useful in tracking the daily activities of children, the elderly and vehicle tracking. It can be argued that the data obtained from GPS based systems may contain error, hence taking these factors into account, the proposed method for this study is based on the application of IoT-based positioning and the replacement of using IoT instead of GPS. This cannot, however, be a reason for not using the GPS, and in order to enhance the reliability, a parallel combination of the …

The Disrupt: A Measure Of Parent Distraction With Phones And Mobile Devices And Associations With Depression, Stress, And Parenting Quality., Brandon T. Mcdaniel Phd

Health Services and Informatics Research

Abstract

The landscape of modern parenting has shifted as an increasing number of parents have and utilize smartphones and other mobile devices throughout the day. A validated measure of parent distraction with these devices is needed in the field. It is important to have a validated measure of parent distraction with mobile devices (e.g., phubbing, technoference), as this distraction can be common at times and could negatively impact the quality of parenting that children receive. In the current study, I developed a brief, parent-reported survey measure of parent distraction (DISRUPT), examined its reliability and validity (convergent, divergent) in two survey …

Antimicrobial Effect Of Eco- Friendly Silver Nanoparticles Synthesis By Iraqi Date Palm (Phoenix Dactylifera) On Gram-Negative Biofilm-Forming Bacteria, Shaimaa Obaid Hasson, Sumod Abdul Kadhem Salman, Shurooq Falah Hassan, Shatha Mohammed Abbas

Baghdad Science Journal

Date palm silver nanoparticles are a green synthesis method used as antibacterial agents. Today, there is a considerable interest in it because it is safe, nontoxic, low costly and ecofriendly. Biofilm bacteria existing in marketed local milk is at highly risk on population health and may be life-threatening as most biofilm-forming bacteria are multidrug resistance. The goal of current study is to eradicate biofilm-forming bacteria by alternative treatment green synthesis silver nanoparticles. The biofilm formation by bacterial isolates was detected by Congo red method. The silver nanoparticles were prepared from date palm(khestawy) fruit extract. The formed nanoparticles were characterized with …