Prevalence of diabetes mellitus among tuberculosis patients in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Background: Tuberculosis and diabetes mellitus are significant global public health challenges. In Sub-Saharan Africa, study findings regarding prevalence of diabetes mellitus amongst tuberculosis patients have been inconsistent and highly variable. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis estimates the overall prevalence of diabetes mellitus among tuberculosis patients in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Effects of angiotensin converting enzyme gene polymorphism on hypertension in Africa: A meta-analysis and systematic review.

Background: Hypertension is dramatically increasing in Africa with evidence of increased severity and resistance to treatment. Although angiotensin converting enzyme gene polymorphism is associated with higher prevalence of hypertension, the evidence is inconclusive on its influence on the emerging pattern in Africa. This meta-analysis is conducted to pool the available evidence to inform future research and interventions.

coenurosis in Tanzania: a major and under-recognised livestock disease problem in pastoral communities.

A neurological syndrome of small ruminants, known locally as '', has been reported among pastoralist livestock keepers in Tanzania. This study was carried out in four affected pastoral communities to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors, characterise the clinical signs and investigate the aetiology of the syndrome. Questionnaires were administered at all households (n=480) within four study villages.

Signatures of Selection in Admixed Dairy Cattle in Tanzania.

Multiple studies have investigated selection signatures in domestic cattle and other species. However, there is a dearth of information about the response to selection in genomes of highly admixed crossbred cattle in relation to production and adaptation to tropical environments. In this study, we evaluated 839 admixed crossbred cows sampled from two major dairy regions in Tanzania namely Rungwe and Lushoto districts, in order to understand their genetic architecture and detect genomic regions showing preferential selection.

Corrigendum: Spatial and temporal distribution of foot-and-mouth disease in four districts situated along the Uganda-Tanzania border: Implications for cross-border efforts in disease control.

No abstract available.

Intimate partner violence and associated factors among pregnant women in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) during pregnancy is a serious public health concern globally. Within Sub-Saharan Africa nearly 40% of women reported abuse by their intimate partners. In Ethiopia, study findings regarding prevalence and associated factors of IPV among pregnant women have been inconsistently reported and highly variable.

Correction to: A metagenomic study of the rumen virome in domestic caprids.

Unfortunately, the original article was online published with error in the results section. The error is correction by this erratum.

A metagenomic study of the rumen virome in domestic caprids.

This project sought to investigate the domestic caprid rumen virome by developing a robust viral DNA isolation and enrichment protocol (utilizing membrane filtration, ultra-centrifugation, overnight PEG treatment and nuclease treatment) and using RSD-PCR and high throughput sequencing (HTS) techniques. 3.53% of the reads obtained were analogous to those of viruses denoting Siphoviridae, Myoviridae, Podoviridae, Mimiviridae, Microviridae, Poxviridae, Tectiviridae and Marseillevirus.

A deconvolutional Bayesian mixing model approach for river basin sediment source apportionment.

Increasing complexity in human-environment interactions at multiple watershed scales presents major challenges to sediment source apportionment data acquisition and analysis. Herein, we present a step-change in the application of Bayesian mixing models: Deconvolutional-MixSIAR (D-MIXSIAR) to underpin sustainable management of soil and sediment. This new mixing model approach allows users to directly account for the 'structural hierarchy' of a river basin in terms of sub-watershed distribution.

Effects of NHF and distilled water on structure of pores in TiO nanotube arrays.

In this study, we report the influences of distilled water and ammonium fluoride (NHF) on morphology of pores in honeycomb-like titanium dioxide (TiO) nanotube arrays. We observed the structure and arrangement of pores in the TiO nanotube arrays based on scanning electron microscopy images and analyzed the spatial distribution of the pores using fast Fourier transform and Voronoi diagram. We studied the individual pore properties including pore diameter, wall thickness, and interpore distance and found that locally connected ordering defects decreased with increasing distilled water concentration.

Prevalence and determinants of diarrhea among under-five children in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Despite remarkable progress in the reduction of under-five mortality, childhood diarrhea is still the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in this highly susceptible and vulnerable population. In Ethiopia, study findings regarding prevalence and determinants of diarrhea amongst under-five children have been inconsistent. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis estimates the pooled prevalence of diarrhea and its determinants among under-five children in Ethiopia.

Seasonal variation of organic matter characteristics and fluoride concentration in the Maji ya Chai River (Tanzania): Impact on treatability by nanofiltration/reverse osmosis.

The Maji ya Chai River in Northern Tanzania, a fluoride-rich tropical area, shows a seasonal variation of natural organic matter (NOM) and fluoride concentration. Water samples collected monthly during one year from two locations of the River were characterized. High levels of precipitation in the rainy seasons increased the total organic carbon (TOC) concentration to as high as 36 mgC L and diluted the fluoride concentration from a dry season high of 24 mg L to <4 mg L.

Effects of undernutrition on survival of human immunodeficiency virus positive children on antiretroviral therapy.

Background: The relationship between undernutrition and HIV is bidirectional, ultimately contributing to quality of life and survival of affected individuals. Ethiopia is a sub-Saharan nation influenced by both undernutrition and HIV. In Ethiopia, although individuals are often dually impacted, the effect of undernutrition on the survival of HIV positive children on anti-retroviral therapy (ART) has not been well investigated.

Comparative sorption isotherms and removal studies for Pb(II) by physical and thermochemical modification of low-cost agro-wastes from Tanzania.

Corn and rice husks, agro-wastes available in large quantities in Tanzania, were used to remove Pb from aqueous solution. Husks were used in raw form, pyrolyzed form, and chemically modified form. Material characterization was carried out using the BET method, FTIR spectroscopy, SEM, pH, and cation exchange capacity analysis.

Renewable energy powered membrane technology: Impact of pH and ionic strength on fluoride and natural organic matter removal.

Real water pH and ionic strength vary greatly, which influences the performance of membrane processes such as nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO). Systematic variation of pH (3-12) and ionic strength (2-10g/L as total dissolved solids (TDS)) was undertaken with a real Tanzanian water to investigate how water quality affects retention mechanisms of fluoride (F) and natural organic matter (NOM). An autonomous solar powered NF/RO system driven by a solar array simulator was supplied with constant power from a generator.

Fatty Acid Composition of Dried Fruits of Sclerocarya birrea, Diospyros blancoi and Landolphia kirkii.

Wild fruits are commonly consumed in the rural communities of South Africa. The information on their nutritionally important fatty acids is, however, limited. Three wild fruit species, , and from Limpopo Province were selected for evaluation of fatty acid content.

Exploring the Role of IL-32 in HIV-Related Kaposi Sarcoma.

The intracellular proinflammatory mediator IL-32 is associated with tumor progression; however, the mechanisms remain unknown. We studied IL-32 mRNA expression as well as expression of other proinflammatory cytokines and mediators, including IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, the proangiogenic and antiapoptotic enzyme cyclooxygenase-2, the IL-8 receptor C-X-C chemokine receptor (CXCR) 1, and the intracellular kinase focal adhesion kinase-1. The interaction of IL-32 expression with expression of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-8, and cyclooxygenase-2 was also investigated.

Effect of ivabradine on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with stable angina: meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Background: Although there are established drugs for treatment of cardiovascular diseases, due to adverse effects these drugs may not be clinically applicable to all patients. Recent trends have seen the emergence of drugs which act on funny current channels to induce selective heart rate reduction. Ivabradine is one such drug developed for coronary artery disease and heart failure.

Erratum to: Development and evaluation of mosquito-electrocuting traps as alternatives to the human landing catch technique for sampling host-seeking malaria vectors.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s12936-015-1025-4.].

Synthesis and Application of Ferroelectric Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride-co-Trifluoroethylene) Films using Electrophoretic Deposition.

In this study, we investigated the deposition kinetics of polyvinylidene fluoride copolymerized with trifluoroethylene (P(VDF-TrFE)) particles on stainless steel substrates during the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) process. The effect of applied voltage and deposition time on the structure and ferroelectric property of the P(VDF-TrFE) films was studied in detail. A method of repeated EPD and heat treatment above melting point were employed to fabricate crack-free P(VDF-TrFE) thick films.

High genetic diversity and population differentiation in Clarias gariepinus of Yala Swamp: evidence from mitochondrial DNA sequences.

In order to improve the conservation and sustainable utilization of the African catfish Clarias gariepinus of the Yala Swamp in Kenya, genetic diversity and population structure of Lakes Kanyaboli and Namboyo populations of the species were studied using DNA sequences of the mitochondrial D-loop control region. Genetic diversity inferred as haplotype and nucleotide diversities and number of singletons and shared haplotypes was higher in the Lake Kanyaboli population (LKG) than the Lake Namboyo population (LNG) of C. gariepinus.

Seasonal variation of organic matter concentration and characteristics in the Maji ya Chai River (Tanzania): Impact on treatability by ultrafiltration.

Many waters in Tanzania exhibit high concentrations of organic matter and dissolved contaminants such as fluoride. Due to bacteria and virus removal, ultrafiltration (UF) is an attractive option for drinking water treatment, and when coupled with adsorbents, may compete with other established processes like nanofiltration (NF) for lower contaminant concentrations. The results presented here examine the characteristics and treatability of tropical natural organic matter (NOM) by UF as a function of seasonal variation.

The Opportunity To Eradicate Peste des Petits Ruminants.

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a highly infectious disease of sheep and goats that is caused by PPR virus, a member of the genus Morbillivirus that includes the viruses that cause rinderpest (RP) in cattle. RP was the first animal disease to be globally eradicated in 2011 and is only the second disease, after smallpox, to have ever been eradicated. PPR is one of the principal constraints to small ruminant production in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.