Poor infant feeding practices and high prevalence of malnutrition in urban slum child care centres in nairobi: a pilot study

Little is known about the style and quality of feeding and care provided in child day-care centres in slum areas. This study purposively sampled five day-care centres in Nairobi, Kenya, where anthropometric measurements were collected among 33 children aged 6–24 months. Mealtime interactions were further observed in 11 children from four centres, using a standardized data collection sheet. We recorded the child actions, such as mood, interest in food, distraction level, as well as caregiver actions, such as encouragement to eat, level of distraction and presence of neutral actions. Of the 33 children assessed, with a mean age of 15.9 ± 4.9 months, 14 (42%) were female. Undernutrition was found in 13 (39%) children with at least one Z score <−2 or oedema (2): height for age <−2 (11), weight for age <−2 (11), body mass index for age <−2 (4). Rates of undernutrition were highest (9 of 13; 69%) in children aged 18–24 months. Hand-washing before the meal was lacking in all centres. Caregivers were often distracted and rarely encouraged children to feed, with most children eating less than half of their served meal. Poor hygiene coupled with non-responsive care practices observed in the centres is a threat to child health, growth and development

A conceptual flowsheet for heap leaching of platinum group metals (PGMs) from a low-grade ore concentrate

peer reviewedThis research proposes a new conceptual process to economically extract platinum group metals (PGMs), and as a secondary aim, base metals (BMs) from a low-grade concentrate originating from typical PGM concentrator plants. Slurry made from the concentrate was coated onto granite pebbles and packed into a column, in which it was bioleached with a mixed culture of thermophiles and mesophiles at 65 °C. After 30 days the extractions achieved were 52% copper, 95% nickel and 85% cobalt. The residual concentrate material was subsequently subjected to a cyanide leach also in a packed column operating at a room temperature of 23 °C. After 21 days 20.3% Pt, 87% Pd and 46% Rh were extracted. Using these results and projected extractions over longer operating times, a conceptual flowsheet was proposed for a possible process route to recover PGM values circumventing the problematic smelter route for this material

Lymphatic filariasis in Luangwa District, South-East Zambia

BACKGROUND: Past case reports and recent data from LF mapping surveys indicate that LF occurs in Zambia, but no studies have been carried out to document its epidemiology and health implications. The present study assessed infection, disease, transmission and human perception aspects of LF in an endemic area of Luangwa District, South-East Zambia, as a background for planning and implementation of control. METHODS: Two neighbouring rural communities were registered and a questionnaire survey undertaken. Clinical examination, and sampling of blood for circulating filarial antigens (CFA; marker of adult worm infection) and antibodies to Bm14 antigen (marker of exposure to transmission), were carried out during the daytime. Blood from CFA positive individuals was examined for microfilariae (mf) at night. Vector surveys were carried out in selected households, using light traps. RESULTS: 985 individuals aged ≥ 1 year were registered. The CFA prevalence increased with age from 1.2% in age group 1–14 years to 20.6% in age group 50+ years (overall 8.6%). Wuchereria bancrofti mf were identified in 10.9% of CFA positive individuals (corresponding to a community prevalence of 0.9%). Prevalence and intensity of Bm14 antibodies were much higher in individuals ≥ 30 years than in younger individuals (57.2 vs. 19.3%; 0.594 vs. 0.241 OD-values). Elephantiasis and hydrocele were well known clinical manifestations in the area, but only one case of hydrocele was detected in the study population. Identified potential vectors were Anopheles funestus and An. gambiae. CONCLUSION: The study confirmed that LF was endemic in the study communities, but infection and disease prevalence was low. Several indications, including a marked recent decline in CFA prevalence, suggest that transmission in the area is on the decrease, perhaps because of intensive application of malaria control measures targeting the Anopheles vectors. It is recommended that mass drug administration is initiated to accelerate this positive trend of decline in LF transmission in the area

Metallothionein from wild populations of the African catfish Clarias gariepinus : from sequence, protein expression and metal binding properties to transcriptional biomarker of metal pollution

Anthropogenic pollution with heavy metals is an on-going concern throughout the world, and methods to monitor release and impact of heavy metals are of high importance. With a view to probe its suitability as molecular biomarker of metal pollution, this study has determined a coding sequence for metallothionein of the African sharptooth catfish Clarias gariepinus. The gene product was recombinantly expressed in Escherichia coli in presence of Zn(II), Cd(II), or Cu, and characterised by Electrospray Ionisation Mass Spectrometry and elemental analysis. C. gariepinus MT displays typical features of fish MTs, including 20 conserved cysteines, and seven bound divalent cations (Zn(II) or Cd(II)) when saturated. Livers from wild C. gariepinus fish collected in all three seasons from four different sites on the Kafue River of Zambia were analysed for their metal contents and for MT expression levels by quantitative PCR. Significant correlations were found between Zn and Cu levels and MT expression in livers, with MT expression clearly highest at the most polluted site, Chililabombwe, which is situated in the Copperbelt region. Based on our findings, hepatic expression of MT from C. gariepinus may be further developed as a major molecular biomarker of heavy metal pollution resulting from mining activities in this region

OPTIMAL USE OF HYDRO RESOURCES IN THE VICTORIA NILE BASIN

Uganda’s energy demand has been on a steady increase of about eight percent over the past decade and is expected to increase even more in the future. Several micro, small and large hydropower plants have been constructed and more are expected in the future as the country aims at having enough installed capacity to meet future energy demand. Uganda’s energy sector is hydropower dominated with a total installed capacity of 1182 MW as of May 2019. Over 80 percent of Uganda’s hydropower is generated by large hydropower plants which are all located along the upper Victoria Nile river, there by forming a cascade of four power plants consisting of Nalubaale, Kiira, Bujagali and Isimba HPP(s). As more power plants are constructed along the Victoria Nile river to increase generation capacity, this study was carried out with an objective of optimizing the production from the Upper Victoria Nile river cascade, with a focus on production maximization. The optimization process was carried out using nMAG simulation model as a decision support tool and human judgement. A model of the cascade was set up in nMAG simulation model and different flow scenarios were studied. An operation strategy was established that increased the total production from Nalubaale and Kiira HPP by 6.2 percent on average over the observed period of 10 years. This operation strategy involved operating Nalubaale HPP as a base load power plant at a constant generation of 25.5 MW and Kiira HPP as both base load and peaking power plant for generation of the rest of the power dispatched to the two power plants. The impact of climate change on future production from the cascade was assessed for the period 2020 to 2059 and indicated an increase in runoff. The increase in runoff lead to increased production from the cascade with Bujagali and Isimba HPP(s) being able to operate at maximum installed capacity for most of the time

Hydrometallurgical extraction of platinum group metals from a low-grade ore concentrate

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 143-153).The aim of this study is to investigate the economic and technical feasibility of processing platinum group metals (PGMs) and base metals (BMs) from a low-grade ore concentrate produced in the concentrator plant at Lonmin Pic. The PGMs of particular interest are platinum, palladium, ruthenium and rhodium, while the BMs of interest are copper and nickel. The ore concentrate, as a by-product, represents only 5 % of the total PGM value but as much as 70 % of the total tonnage of material processed in the concentrator plant. Further upgrading this material is not considered a viable route. However, even this low PGM content in the concentrate material accumulates to appreciable value on an annual basis motivating the need to develop alternative methods of extracting value from it. Initial estimates indicate that extraction levels of at least 50 % of the PGMs and 50 % of the BMs would need to be achieved, using low cost hydrometallurgical processes, to make the venture economically viable. These methods would exclude treatment via the smelter and pressure leaching: which are costly. energy intensive and result in leaching of large quantities of non-valuable elements. Previous studies revealed that organic acids had the potential to economically extract the PGMs under alkaline conditions, and BMs under acidic conditions, from various ores and concentrate materials. A literature survey confirmed that certain organic acids can be used to leach metals from ores and concentrates via chemical complexation. It further revealed that other chemical agents. namely cyanide, thiosulphate and bisulphide, were similarly capable of strongly complexing PGMs under various conditions of pH and temperature. The survey also revealed industrially established methods for extracting BMs from low-grade ores and concentrates. Based on this material, this study experimentally evaluated these options with the intent to propose a flowsheet to treat the concentrate material. This was conducted in two phases of experimental work

Effect of seed size and pre-treatment methods of Bauhinia thonningii Schum. on germination and seedling growth

Bauhinia thonningii Schum. a multipurpose tree species found in the savanna wood lands is a priority tree species for conservation in Malawi. The different plant parts are used in traditional medicine to treat different ailments. However, the seeds are dormant and the tree species remain undomesticated. A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of pre-sowing seed treatment and seed size on germination and seedling growth of B. thonningii in a nursery at Bunda College. Seeds grouped into two categories: small (1 to 5 mm) and large (>5 to 10 mm) were subjected to five main pre-sowing seed treatment methods namely; soaking in cold water for 12 h, soaking in hot water for 10 min, nicking, soaking in potassium nitrate (0.2%) for 10 min and soaking in concentrated hydrochloric acid (0.3 M) for 5 min, and a control where seeds were sown without any treatment. The results showed that the combination of nicking and large seeds produced the highest (100%) germination and highest height and diameter growth. Hot water treatment was also observed to be effective in both seed sizes producing 40 and 53.3% germination for small and large seeds, respectively. The increased seed germination and height for physically scarified seeds through nicking suggest that seed dormancy in B. thonningii is mainly due to relatively hard seed coat which renders the seed testa impermeable to water and gases required for germination process.Key words: Bauhinia thonningii, dormancy, germination, pre-sowing treatment, seed size

Climate Change adaptation practices for two communities in Southern Malawi

Climate change has caused extreme weather events such as frequent droughts, floods, heat and cold waves.  Farmers and communities lack contextualized information on adaptation to climate change, however, farmers and extension workers need to understand causes of weather disruptions and strengthen their adaptation and coping mechanisms. The study assessed the climate change adaptation practices adopted by 92 households in Chikhwawa and Nsanje districts of Southern Malawi.  A household survey was conducted in two villages in Chikhwawa and three villages in Nsanje District.  The communities were practising conservation of catchment areas, construction of dykes, growing of drought-tolerant crops and early maturing varieties. Thus irrigation agriculture, winter cropping, crop diversification and growing of drought tolerant crops are adopted to improve survival and productivity of crops.  Improved tillage practices to conserve moisture and soil including conservation tillage, planting of vetiver grass, crop residue management and ridge alignment and better crop husbandry practices including agroforestry technology are being practiced. Coping mechanisms to climate change impacts include sale of livestock, taking up casual labour and migration to other sites. The communities use indigenous knowledge to forecast early indicators of weather changes mostly using changes in the animal and plant behaviour and astronomical features. Keywords: Adaptation, Climate change, Climate refugees, Coping mechanisms, Indigenous knowledg