Statistical problem of ideal gas in general 2-dimensional regions

In this paper, based on the conformal mapping method and the perturbation theory, we develop a method to solve the statistical problem within general 2-dimensional regions. We consider some examples and the numerical results and fitting results are given. We also give the thermodynamic quantities of the general 2-dimensional regions, and compare the thermodynamic quantities of the different regions.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figures, 3 table

Diagnosis of \u3cem\u3eSchistosoma mansoni\u3c/em\u3e without the Stool: Comparison of Three Diagnostic Tests to Detect \u3cem\u3eSchiostosoma mansoni\u3c/em\u3e Infection from Filtered Urine in Zambia

Diagnosis for intestinal Schistosoma mansoni lacks sensitivity and is arduous to conduct. The standard diagnostic tests, Kato-Katz (KK) and circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) both lack sensitivity and with KK, require obtaining, transporting, and examining fresh stool. We compared diagnostic efficacy of KK, CCA, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect S. mansoni infection (species-specific DNA) from 89 filtered urine samples collected in Zambia. The PCR was the strongest indicator of positive cases with sensitivity and specificity of 100% in comparison to CCA (67% and 60%) and KK (50% and 100%). High positive and negative predictive values (100%) were also indicative of robustness of PCR. The same pattern was observed when stratified for sex and age group-specific analysis. Diagnosis of S. mansoni from filtered urine samples by PCR is an effective means to detect low intensity infection and would enhance the effectiveness of surveillance and control programs of schistosomiasis

Susceptibility to intestinal infection and diarrhoea in Zambian adults in relation to HIV status and CD4 count.

BACKGROUND: The HIV epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa has had a major impact on infectious disease, and there is currently great interest in the impact of HIV on intestinal barrier function. A three year longitudinal cohort study in a shanty compound in Lusaka, Zambia, carried out before anti-retroviral therapy was widely available, was used to assess the impact of HIV on susceptibility to intestinal infectious disease. We measured the incidence and seasonality of intestinal infection and diarrhoea, aggregation of disease in susceptible individuals, clustering by co-habitation and genetic relatedness, and the disease-to-infection ratio. METHODS: Adults living in a small section of Misisi, Lusaka, were interviewed every two weeks to ascertain the incidence of diarrhoea. Monthly stool samples were analysed for selected pathogens. HIV status and CD4 count were determined annually. RESULTS: HIV seroprevalence was 31% and the prevalence of immunosuppression (CD4 count 200 cells/microL or less) was 10%. Diarrhoea incidence was 1.1 episodes per year and the Incidence Rate Ratio for HIV infection was 2.4 (95%CI 1.7-3.3; p < 0.001). The disease-to-infection ratio was increased at all stages of HIV infection. Aggregation of diarrhoea in susceptible individuals was observed irrespective of immunosuppression, but there was little evidence of clustering by co-habitation or genetic relatedness. There was no evidence of aggregation of asymptomatic infections. CONCLUSION: HIV has an impact on intestinal infection at all stages, with an increased disease-to-infection ratio. The aggregation of disease in susceptible individuals irrespective of CD4 count suggests that this phenomenon is not a function of cell mediated immunity

Integration of Services for Victims of Child Sexual Abuse at the University Teaching Hospital One-Stop Centre

Objective. To improve care of sexually abused children by establishment of a "One Stop Centre" at the University Teaching Hospital. Methodology. Prior to opening of the One Stop Centre, a management team comprising of clinical departmental heads and a technical group of professionals (health workers, police, psychosocial counselors lawyers and media) were put in place. The team evaluated and identified gaps and weaknesses on the management of sexually abused children prevailing in Zambia. A manual was produced which would be used to train all professionals manning a One Stop Centre. A team of consultants from abroad were identified to offer need based training activities and a database was developed. Results. A multidisciplinary team comprising of health workers, police and psychosocial counselors now man the centre. The centre is assisted by lawyers as and when required. UTH is offering training to other areas of the country to establish similar services by using a Trainer of Trainers model. A comprehensive database has been established for Lusaka province. Conclusion. For establishment of a One Stop Centre, there needs to be a core group comprising of managers as well as a technical team committed to the management and protection of sexually abused children.Centre for Disease Control and Prevention Zambia; Zambia Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect; Zambia Victim Support Unit; UNICEF Zambi

School Principal\u27s Leadership Style and Teacher\u27s Self-Efficacy in High and Low Achieving Schools in Chikankata, Zambia

Problem and Purpose Much research has been done in past years on the topic of student achievement, with most of those studies focusing on factors that contribute to student achievement. Little, or no research has been done, especially in the country of Zambia, that has focused on the relationship between leadership style, teacher self-efficacy, and the extent to which these constructs impact student achievement. This study explored the school principals\u27 leadership style, teacher self-efficacy, and the extent to which these factors contribute to student achievement in Chikankata District, Zambia. The Ministry of Education in Zambia and other educators, especially those in training institutions, may use the results of this study to improve on school principals’ training and selection of school principals to maximize the impact of leadership style and teachers’ self-efficacy in student achievement. Method A quantitative and non-experimental design was utilized to collect data through a survey questionnaire from 18 school principals and 211 teachers from Chikankata District. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) and the Teachers’ Self-efficacy Belief (TEBS) instruments were used to collect data. SPSS was used to analyze data. Bivariate descriptive, independent samples t-tests, canonical correlation, and descriptive discriminant function analysis were used to determine the relationship between leadership style, teacher self-efficacy, and their impact on student achievement. Findings The Chikankata District study showed that the school principals’ leadership style, particularly transformational and transactional, plays an essential role in influencing student achievement. Canonical correlation between teacher ratings of principal leadership styles and school performance suggests that about 9% of the variation in school performance may be accounted for by leadership styles. High-achieving schools were more likely to have high transformational leadership styles and lower transactional leadership styles, suggesting that schools where principals use higher levels of transformational leadership and lower levels of transactional leadership tend to be associated with high-achieving schools. This study, however, could not statistically establish that teacher self-efficacy played a role in the student achievement of the two sets of schools. Canonical correlation for function 1 suggested the perceived leadership styles explain about approximately 9% of the variance in teacher self-efficacy, meaning that about 9% of self-efficacy could be explained by leadership style. Not all three leadership styles explained or accounted for the 9% of self-efficacy, but rather principals with transformational and transactional leadership styles were more likely to influence teacher self-efficacy in enhancing student learning. Conclusion and Recommendations. The findings of the Chikankata District study suggest that those elected to school leadership as principals would enhance their ability to influence student performance if they used transformational leadership style more and lower transactional leadership. The use of the same leadership style would increase the influence on teacher self-efficacy. The Higher Education Authority and training institutions could consider including in their educational curriculum for teachers training them in transformational and transactional leadership style. District Education Board Secretaries and other personnel responsible for on-job-training programs for school leaders could include training those leaders in transformational and transactional leadership styles. Implementing these recommendations has the likelihood of increasing student achievement and teacher self-efficacy

Sport for Development : Addressing HIV/AIDS in Zambian Underserved Community Schools through Sport and Physical Education Programmes : an analysis of the contextual realities of programme participants

Master in International Education and Development (NOMA)This study addresses the implications of sport for development. It focuses on how sport and Physical Education (PE) programmes are being used in addressing HIV/AIDS in Zambian under-served community schools. It, however, takes into consideration, the contextual de facto of the target groups where these programmes are implemented. The study argues that local contexts have a direct influence on these programmes. Thus, different stake-holders in the programmes ought not to overlook this school of thought. Among the contextualised realities in community schools is that, there are no desirable facilities that may fully support such programmes. The learning environment is not as conducive as one may expect, and naturally these schools are somehow neglected by the country’s political powers. The schools do not have enough qualified teaching staff, a problem, which stake-holders appreciate. On the other hand, poverty and unemployment levels in the wider communities hosting these schools highly influence the outcome of the programmes in question. The study reveals that awareness and knowledge of HIV/AIDS among participants is present. The use of sport and PE in disseminating HIV/AIDS awareness information is working. But other factors as indicated above bring to the table, different dynamics that stand as challenges to a much significant result. The study also revealed that the “Kicking Aids Out” (KAO) activities, particularly the actual sessions with the target groups are even more effective. They form a good platform for sustainable behaviour formation and change among participants. However, leaders of the programmes at all levels must be well informed of both the global and the contextual HIV/AIDS issues. The desire to claim a bigger share in the implementation of HIV/AIDS education through sport and PE activities has seen the introduction of many leaders in advance of capacity to understand fully, their responsibilities. The study concludes that by seeking economic prowess, under-served communities may result into well developed community capacity that could cushion local challenges. The study shows poverty, economic and gender inequality, unemployment and other negative socio-cultural beliefs to have highly contributed to the spreading of HIV/AIDS. The subsequent pressure to survive a day seems to have made the HIV/AIDS situation worse. Programmes whose outcomes do not reflect immediate survival are not taken as serious. As such, more attention should be given to under-served communities by supporting them with monitory and material resources, if the high prevalence rates of HIV/AIDS transmission are to be intervened

Promovendo a adoção e utilização de serviços de computação em nuvem para desenvolvedores de software ágeis: uma experiência Sul-Africana

The recent past has witnessed an upsurge of cloud technology which has, undoubtedly become an indispensable basis for contemporary application deployments. Cloud computing is vital in providing efficiency and scalability, borne in its “as a service” types of delivery models. As application developers consider the move into this cloud environment, there is an increasingly need to understand key factors necessary for dealing with challenges related to the use of cloud technologies, to realise full potential and benefits of cloud computing. This research paper attempts to establish an adoption framework particularly focussing agile developers with a view to promoting adoption and utilisation of cloud computing. A blend of methodological approaches was employed in the study. A pilot study was initially used with 36 respondents who were involved in the field of software development successfully participating. Based on some results of this pilot study and objectives underpinning the research, an in-depth study involving a case study was conducted on a select group of individuals who are professional in the domain area, enabling a better description of processes, concepts and procedures in context. Guided by Technology, organisation, and environment (TOE) framework themes, and interactions between and amongst each other, five propositions were structured around the problem to create new thinking on promoting cloud computing adoption and its utilisation by agile developers. It was found that Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) using agile development methodologies can benefit from using the proposed framework when choosing to move into utilisation of cloud computing resources

Entrepreneurship and poverty reduction; opportunities and challenges. A case study of Lusaka district of Zambia

The study was prompted by high poverty levels in Lusaka despite several poverty interventions in place. Respondents for the study were drawn from beneficiaries of poverty reduction intervention through stratified random sampling and structured questionnaires where used. Descriptive statistics were employed with results indicating that 97% of respondents categorized themselves as poor. The reason provided for the status quo was inability to generate enough income for normal livelihoods. &nbsp;An exploration was then done on the role of entrepreneurship with respective challenges and opportunities in increasing incomes and contributing to poverty reduction. Content analysis of literature was done and results highlighted major huddles to entrepreneurship development as access to finance challenges, undeveloped markets, lack of supportive infrastructure and low entrepreneurial competence. This was in the midst of favorable environment supporting the thriving of entrepreneurship.&nbsp; Recommendations were to remedy identified challenges which if implemented, could lead to thriving entrepreneurship and poverty reduction