AGRICULTURAL DIVERSITY AND CASH RECEIPT VARIABILITY FOR INDIVIDUAL STATES

Changes in individual states' agricultural production diversity and variance of cash receipts were measured over the 30-year period 1960 through 1989. Diversity was measured using a general index, of which the inverse Herfindahl and the Entropy are special cases. Cash receipt variability was measured using a heteroscedasticity correction process. Although 38 states experienced an increase in cash receipt variability, only 14 states also experienced a decrease in diversification. Thus, it appears that an increase in cash receipt variability was not due to reduction in diversification for most states.Production Economics,

Use of recombinant antigen in the diagnosis of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus infection

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg for the degree of Master of Science.The Special Pathogens Unit (SPU) of the National Institute for Virology has diagnosed a total of 158 cases of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) from the time that the disease was first recognized in South Africa in 1981 up until the end of 2000. The virus has a propensity to cause nosocomial infections, and consequently rapid diagnosis is important for the isolation of the patient and the institution of barrier-nursing to protect medical staff and the community at large. Thus it is essential that the SPU should have the latest diagnostic and research tools available. Diagnosis of CCHF is generally confirmed by isolation of the virus, detection of viral RNA amplified by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), demonstration of seroconversion or a >4-fold increase in IgG antibody titre, or detection of specific IgM antibody activity. Virus can be isolated in 1-6 days in cell culture, but the method is less sensitive for the isolation of low concentrations of virus than the use of suckling mice which, however, takes 7-9 days

Challenges for agricultural diversification in Botswana under the proposed SADC-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)

Botswana has been pursuing the economy-wide objective of economic diversification for the past three decades. This paper examines the challenges Botswana's Agriculture is likely to face under the EU/ACP Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). While the sector has witnessed some diversification in the past, such success was, however, induced by the provision of government grants to investors and the use of import controls to minimize cross-border competition. It is argues that, since they involve trade liberalization, EPAs should theoretically reverse the progress so far made in diversifying the country's agriculture. It is further argued, however, that Botswana being a member of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), hence a de facto member of the Trade and Cooperation Development Agreement (TCDA) between South Africa and the EU, it is currently exposed to the gradual trade liberalization under the TCDA. Thus, if import controls are to be removed under SACU, where they are currently being challenged, the TCDA impacts will trickle fully into the Botswana market even in the absence of EPAs. Furthermore, it would be imprudent for Botswana to negotiate and implement a different tariff reduction structure with the EU when the TCDA is already in existence. The paper concludes that policymakers should opt to promote the utilization of the EU development assistance to strengthen local institutions and promote the development of sustainable diversification activities within the sector

Bridging the Financial Divide: Factors That Influence Financial Exclusion amongst The Unbanked Population of Botswana

Purpose: The aim of this research is to determine the primary causes behind the unbanked population's exclusion from Botswana's official financial system.  The study aims to address the following research question: What are the main causes of the unbanked population's exclusion from Botswana's formal financial system, and how do these causes affect financial inclusion? Deign/Methodology/Approach: This study used a mixed-methods approach to research, collecting and analysing data using both quantitative and qualitative techniques. Participants in the data collection process were given surveys to accomplish this goal. These surveys collected detailed data regarding people's financial inclusion status in Botswana. The surveys also explored the reasons behind the unbanked population's absence from the official financial system. Findings: The study's findings indicate that the unbanked population's degree of financial inclusion in Botswana is greatly impacted by the factors that keep them out of the country's formal financial system. The results of this study will add to the body of knowledge in business studies and financial technologies. Additionally, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), commercial banks, government policy makers, and regulators in the financial and insurance sectors can use the study's findings to obtain useful information and guidance

Computational approaches to find transcriptomic and epigenomic signatures of latent TB in HIV patients

Abstract: HIV infection promotes the progression of latent infection of Mtb to the active disease with the primary challenge of diagnosis being the development of efficient and sensitive methods to detect latent TB in HIV infected individuals. Previous studies have identified transcriptional signatures for active TB along with signatures predicting the risk of active TB disease in latent TB infected individuals or those with other diseases. Existing studies have also identified characteristic genes for active TB in HIV infected patients. However, no studies have identified predictive transcriptional signatures that discriminate latent TB from active TB disease in HIV positive persons as well epigenetic mechanisms associated with latent TB/HIV coinfection. The aim of this study was to develop a computational pipeline using statistical modelling and machine learning (ML) methods to identify a transcriptomic signature associated with latent TB in HIV positive patients and to identify candidate epigenetic modifications for future studies. A novel pipeline, that leverages statistical differential expression analyses (OPLS-DA) and supervised ML and feature selection methods, was applied to an existing transcriptomic dataset (NCBI GEO repository accession number GSE37250) and the outcome of the two methodologies were integrated to define a gene signature characterising the progression of latent to active TB in HIV infected patients. Enrichment analysis was performed on the transcriptomic panel of genes to predict candidate epigenetic marks in latent TB/HIV coinfection. An 11-gene minimal signature was identified of which the expression levels discriminate between latent TB and active TB in HIV positive patients. A broader analysis of DEGs identified by the ML and OPLS-DA revealed enrichment of pathways related to T- and B-cell receptor signalling, metabolic processes, insulin signalling, endocrine resistance and ATP-binding. Candidate epigenetic alterations associated with latent TB in the HIV positive cohort were identified using transcription factor (TF), histone modification (HM) and miRNA enrichment analyses. This novel integrative approach to identify a discriminative latent TB gene signature provided new insights into the response mechanism of HIV co-infection with Mtb, and pathways that merit further investigation was identified. The genes of interest identified may provide novel diagnostic and therapeutic targets for latent TB in patients who are HIV positive.M.Sc. (Biochemistry

Analysis of patterns in mining time series using Qlucore

Raw measurement data does not always immediately convey useful information, but applying mathematical statistical analysis tools into measurement data can improve the situation. Data analysis can offer benefits like acquiring meaningful insight from the dataset, basing critical decisions on the findings, and ruling out human bias through proper statistical treatment. In this thesis we analyze data from an industrial mineral processing plant with the aim of studying the possibility of forecasting the quality of the final product, given by one variable, with a model based on the other variables. For the study mathematical tools like Qlucore Omics Explorer (QOE) and Sparse Bayesian regression (SB) are used. Later on, linear regression is used to build a model based on a subset of variables that seem to have most significant weights in the SB model. The results obtained from QOE show that the variable representing the desired final product does not correlate with other variables. For SB and linear regression, the results show that both SB and linear regression models built on 1-day averaged data seriously underestimate the variance of true data, whereas the two models built on 1-month averaged data are reliable and able to explain a larger proportion of variability in the available data, making them suitable for prediction purposes. However, it is concluded that no single model can fit well the whole available dataset and therefore, it is proposed for future work to make piecewise non linear regression models if the same available dataset is used, or the plant to provide another dataset that should be collected in a more systematic fashion than the present data for further analysis

A comparative study of medical and health terms with special reference to seSotho sa Leboa and Western teminology

This study focuses on the comparison of medical and health terms with special reference to Sesotho sa Leboa and Western languages. The study was conducted in the communities of Zebediela, Groblersdal and Marble Hall. From time immemorial, traditional medical and health terms were associated with certain types of diseases and health problems among Africans. With the introduction of Western civilisation, most of the medical and health terms which were used in the past by the Basotho ba Leboa, are no longer in use, as Western languages are regarded as prestige languages compared to the indigenous African languages. This perception led to a shortage of Sesotho sa Leboa documents that explain medical and health terms. The literature review revealed that traditional medicine is used for healing by many communities. Scholars further revealed that Western health terminology is more developed than traditional health terminology. The study uses the qualitative approach to explain concepts, and coding schemes were used to categorise medical and health terms. Ethnographic and historical theories were used to analyse data. The similarities and differences between the Sesotho sa Leboa terms and their Western counterparts were discussed and assessed. The study found that a relationship exists between diseases and the body parts in both Sesotho sa Leboa and Western terminology, and that the diseases were classified according to the affected body parts. The medical terms of both languages have similar and different semantic properties. Most of the differences were brought about by the cultural differences of the two communities. As the Sesotho sa Leboa medical terms are inimitable, the culture specific terms used in this study are discussed in Sesotho sa Leboa rather than in Western terminology. Conversely, as most of the recent outbreaks of diseases are named in Western terminology, they are translated into Sesotho sa Leboa.D. Litt. et Phil. (African Languages)African Language

Development of selective real-time PCR (SPCR) asays for the detection of K103N resistance mutation in minor HIV-1 populations

Thesis (MScMedSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2011.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background: The conventional sequence analysis is the most common method used for the detection of drug-resistant mutants. Due to its sensitivity limitations, it is unable to detect these mutants when comprising less than 20% (minor populations) of the total virus population in a sample. However, real-time PCR-based assays offer a rapid, sensitive, specific and easy detection and quantification of such mutants. The HIV-1 variants harbouring the K103N mutation are associated with resistance to nevirapine (NVP) and efavirenz (EFV). The persisting drug-resistant mutants decay slowly to low levels, and therefore they are called minor drug-resistant mutants. Consequently, they affect subsequent treatment with the drugs of the relevant class. Objectives: The objective of this study was to design two TaqMan real-time PCR-based assays called selective-polymerase chain reaction (SPCR), namely the total viral copy SPCR assay and the K103N-SPCR assay. The former detects HIV-1 of subtype C reverse transcriptase sequences, whereas the latter detects K103N drug-resistant variants in these sequences. Design and Methods: In developing the SPCR assays, sets of appropriate primers and probes for the HIV-1 subtype C reverse transcriptase (RT) were developed to use in the K103N-specific reaction and the total copy reaction. Twelve DNA plasmid standards with sequence diversity were constructed for the assay from two HIV-1subtype C samples known to harbour the K103N mutation (AAC or AAT) in our Department‟s Resistance Databank. Their RT regions were amplified, cloned and verified with sequencing. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to induce mutations at 103 amino acid position in some of these clones to generate more standards with either one of the three codons (AAA, AAC and AAT). The two assays were optimized and validated, and a standard curve was generated for each assay using 10-fold serial dilution (5x107-5x100 DNA copy/μL) of a K103N-mutant plasmid standard. The optimized and validated SPCR assays were used to screen 40 nested PCR products of previously genotyped patient samples for minor K103N variants. Results: Two sensitive and reproducible selective real-time PCR (SPCR) assays, with cut-offs of 8.23 and 10.33 and a detection limit of 0.01% for the K103N resistance variants, were successfully developed. The assays detected a prevalence of 25.64-46.15% for the K103N resistance mutation in 39 patient samples. The genotyping (population sequencing) missed 40-53.85% of these variants. Conclusion: In conclusion, sensitive and reliable selective real-time PCR assays to detect and quantify minor K103N variants of HIV-1 in nested PCR products were successfully developed. The assay had a lower detection limit of 0.01%.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Agtergrond: Konvensionele volgorde bepaling analise is die mees algemeenste metode wat gebruik word vir die opsporing van middel-weerstandige mutasies, maar weens beperkte sensitiwiteit is dit nie moontlik om hierdie mutante op te spoor wanneer dit minder as 20% (minderheids populasie) van die totale viruspopulasie in `n monster uitmaak nie. Nietemin, kwalitatiewe PKR-gebaseerd toetse bied vinnige, sensitiewe, spesifieke en makliker opsporings en kwantifisering van sulke mutante aan. MIV-1 variante wat die K103N mutasie bevat word geassosieer met weerstand teen nevirapine (NVP) and efavirenz (EFV). Volhoudende middel-weerstandige mutasies vergaan stadig na laer vlakke en word daarom na minderheids middel weerstandige mutasies verwys. Gevolglik affekteer dit opvolgende behandeling met die middel van die relevante klas. Doelwitte: Die doel van die studie was om twee TaqMan kwantifiserende PKR gebaseerde selektiewe polymerase ketting reaksies (SPKR), naamlik totale virale kopie SPKR en K103N-SPKR te ontwikkel. Die voormalige toets het die MIV-1 subtipe C omgekeerde transkriptase volgorde bepaal, waar K103N die middel-weerstand variante in hierdie volgorde opspoor. Ontwerp en Metodes: `n Geskikte stel inleiers en peiler was ontwikkel vir die MIV-1 subtipe C omgekeerde transkriptase (OT) vir gebruik in die K103N-spesifieke en die totaal kopie reaksie. Twaalf DNS plasmied standaarde met volgorde diversiteit was saamgestel vir die toets vanaf twee MIV-1 subtipe C monsters wat volgens ons Departement se weerstand databasis geklassifeer is vir die besit van die K103N mutasie (AAC of AAT). Die OT streke was geamplifiseer, gekloneer en geverifieer deur volgorde bepaling. Punt-gerigte mutagenese is gebruik om `n mutasie by die amino suur posisie 103 van sekere klone te induseer om meer standaarde te genereer wat een van die drie kodons (AAA, AAC en AAT) bevat. Die twee toetse is geoptimiseer en gevalideer en `n standard kurwe is genereer vir elk van die toetse deur die gebruik van tienvoud serie verdunnings (107-1 DNS kopie/μL) van `n algemene K103N-mutante plasmied standard. Die geoptimiseerde en gevalideerde SPKR toets was gebruik om vir die minderheids K103N variante in 40 “nested” PKR produkte van voorheen gegenotipeerde pasiënt te soek. Resultate: Twee sensitiewe en herproduseerbare selektiewe kwantitiewe PKR toetse met `n ΔCt afsnypunt van 8.23 en `n deteksie limiet van 0.006% was ontwikkel vir die K103N weerstand variant. Die toets het `n voorkomsyfer van 25.6 % vir die K103N weerstand mutasie in 40 pasiënt monsters bepaal, waar genotipering (populasie volgorde ) 40% van hierdie variante nie opgespoor het nie. Gevolgtrekking: `n Sensitiewe en betroubare selektiewe kwantitatiewe PKR toets vir die opspoor en kwantifisering van die minderheids K103N variante van MIV-1 in PKR produkte was ontwikkel. Hierdie toets het `n laer opsporings limiet van 0.01%.Poliomyelitis Research Foundation (PRF)National Research Fund (NRF)National Health Laboratory Service Research Trust (NHLS RT