Thesis (M.S. in soil science)--Washington State University, December 2008. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on June 15, 2009). "Department of Crop and Soil Science." Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 195-207). Also available on Internet.

Thesis (doctoral)--Ruprecht-Karls-Universität, Heidelberg, 2003.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 2000. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (p. 195-207).

Faculty of Science; School of Geography, Archaelogy and Environmental Studies; PhD Thesis / This thesis investigates agropastoral production and ecological conditions under which complex socio-political systems in the Shashe/Limpopo River Basin, southern Africa, periodically expanded and declined between ~AD 900 and 1700. Environmental reconstruction for this period, derived from multi-stable isotope analysis of modern and archaeological fauna from the area, demonstrate that agropastoral settlement and changes in their social, economic and political complexity were less driven by climate than previously had been assumed. Rather, at a relatively short-term climatic scale, these cultural events took place even as precipitation and temperature appeared to have fluctuated above and below the modern seasonal mean of ~350mm and ~22oC, conditions presently considered to be marginal for agropastoral production. Alternative to a climate driven model for settlement, ethnographies of traditional southern African agropastoral systems provide a comparative basis for understanding the range of environmental and social parameters that past agropastoralists in the Shashe/Limpopo River Basin may have employed to sustain population growth and intensify socio-political complexity in the face of short-and long-term climatic variability. Over a long-term climatic scale, the δ15N and δ18O values from Bos taurus and Ovis/Capra indicate that the initial settlement by Zhizo agropastoralists people, between AD 900 and 1010, took place under semi-arid conditions that were similar to, or only marginally wetter, than the present. This thesis suggests that the Zhizo settlement and their ‘capital’ site of Schroda were motivated by broader cultural factors, such as trade networks, and not solely by climate conducive for agriculture. As documented ethnographically, crops and livestock herds could have been sustained by taking advantage of various geographical features of the river basin, such as planting near outcrops where dammed water keep soils moist even in dry periods and using browse and crop fodder to offset diminished grazing lands. Results for sites dating between AD 1010 to 1415, support previous interpretations that the Leopard’s Kopje A and B cultural period ‘capitals’ of K2 and Mapungubwe, respectively, rose to prominence under a trend towards increased available moisture. The additional moisture would have facilitated the greater floodplain settlement recorded between AD 1010 and 129, which was most likely a response to increased population pressures of the capitals and the need to extend cultivated lands. This spatial shift was accompanied by an apparent greater management of livestock. The preliminary 87Sr/86Sr data, together with intra-annual δ18O and δ13C values, from B. taurus and Ovis/Capra indicates a geographical expansion of herd management took place with the transition from K2 to Mapungubwe. This thesis proposes that to sustain population and socio-political growth in the face of short-and long-term climatic variability, livestock management would need to be politically coordinated. Maintaining large-scale herds outside the river basin would have allowed for expansion of crop production onto previous river basin pasturelands, while extending territories or networks. Further, the δ15N and δ18O data indicates that the period of increased available moisture extended beyond the abandonment of Mapungubwe at AD 1290. Previous assumptions that link this event to the negative agricultural impact of a cool dry trend starting at ~AD 1300, as extrapolated from sub-continental scale climatic sequence, must be re-assessed. The isotopic data from Moloko/Khami cultural period sites suggest that drier conditions did not develop in the area until after ~AD 1450. Their initial settlement in the area during this drier period needs to be re-considered, as does the entire sequence from ~AD 900 onward, in terms of agropastoral production strategies within shifting natural, economic and political environments.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of London, 1990. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 555-577).

La fièvre de la vallée du Rift (FVR) est une arbovirose zoonotique émergente, touchant principalement l'homme et les ruminants. En l'absence de traitement spécifique et de moyen de prévention efficace, la prédiction des lieux à risque est un enjeu important de la lutte contre cette maladie. En milieu agropastoral sahélien du Sénégal, la période à risque est la saison des pluies, lorsque hôtes et vecteurs se rencontrent autour de mares temporairement inondées. La transmission du virus est complexe, car elle implique au moins deux espèces de vecteurs d'écologies différentes (Aedes vexans et Culex poicilipes) et des hôtes sédentaires ou nomades. Le virus est enzootique dans la communauté rurale de Barkedji. Afin d'y prédire le niveau de risque, défini comme l'intensité du contact hôtes-vecteurs en saison des pluies, nous avons mis en place un modèle prédictif de la répartition spatiale des troupeaux, à partir de données satellitales et de terrain. Puis les mares temporaires, gîtes des vecteurs, ont été détectées sur une série d'images SPOT5 et utilisées pour estimer l'abondance vectorielle relative. Ces données ont ensuite été synthétisées dans un modèle attribuant à chaque pixel de la zone d'étude un niveau de risque relatif. Les résultats obtenus sont encourageants, quoi que le modèle doive être amélioré et validé. L'intérêt majeur de notre travail est de présenter une approche méthodologique spécifique aux problématiques de santé-environnement, basée sur l'étude des interactions entre les éléments du cycle épidémiologique et le milieu. Nous espérons également qu'à moyen terme, il constituera une aide appréciable pour le réseau de surveillance sénégalais de la FVR.

The aim of the study was to develop strategies to reduce the unmet need for modern contraception among agro-pastoral women. The objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence of unmet need for modern contraception, determine the factors associated with unmet need for modern contraception, and explore the barriers that hindered agro-pastoral women from using modern contraception. A mixed-method research design was used to conduct the study. Data were collected from agro-pastoral women and family planning service providers. Questionnaire and individual in-depth interviews were used to collect the data. The validity and reliability of the quantitative data and trustworthiness of the qualitative data were ensured. Use of standard data collection tools, employing method and data triangulation, and documenting all the procedures of data collection and analysis were among the ways employed to do so The quantitative data were analysed using simple descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse the qualitative data. Ethical principles of research such as beneficence, justice, informed consent, respect for persons, privacy and confidentiality and scientific integrity were considered to conduct the study. The study revealed an unmet need of 29.2% (n=112) for modern contraception among agro-pastoral women. The unmet need for birth spacing constituted 21.1% (n=81), whereas the unmet need for birth limiting was 8.1% (n=31). The age of the women, the number of living children, knowledge of modern contraceptive methods, and knowledge of FP service centres were found to be associated with women‘s unmet need for modern contraception. Lack of time and money, lack of knowledge about modern contraception, and fear of side effects were the major individual-level barriers. There were also culture-related factors such as the need for many children that hindered agro-pastoral women from using modern contraception. Moreover, the study disclosed that religious unacceptability and husband‘s and relatives‘ opposition were also among the mentioned barriers. The quality of FP service provision in terms of the competence and behaviour of health service providers, unavailability and inaccessibility of FP service, were also indicated as barriers. The findings informed the development of strategies to reduce agro-pastoral women‘s unmet needs for modern contraception in Eastern Ethiopia. The study further recommended that the health bureaus of the region, zone and district collaborate in ensuring that agro-pastoral women realise the significance of the provision of accessible, equitable, quality modern contraception. It is also essential to equip health facilities with qualified health service providers and necessary facilities. Religious leaders should be involved in disseminating vital, relevant and empowering FP information. / Health Studies / Ph. D. (Public Health)