Background Religion is widely known to affect the acceptance of modern contraception among people, thus affecting their reproductive behavioural outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa. The significance of religion on the use of contraceptives has been currently neglected in SSA. Fertility transitions have been widely attributed to the increased use of contraceptives among women worldwide. Given that religion plays an important role in post-colonial Kenya, this study examined the differentials in contraceptive use by religious affiliation as well as the demographic and socio-economic factors that affect the use of contraceptives in Kenya. Methodology The study obtained data from the Kenyan Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS, 2008-2009) that uses a national cross sectional study design. The study population was women of reproductive ages (15-49 years) who were sexually active and the sample size was 4, 207. This study made use of descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and logistic regression. Results Religious affiliation is a significant predictor of contraceptive use in Kenya. Muslims were 51% less likely to use modern methods of contraceptives compared to Christians. There was no significant difference in the use of contraceptives among Roman Catholics and Protestants. Demographic and socio-economic factors - specifically age, education, number of living children, fertility intention, wealth and marital status - were significantly associated with the use of modern methods of contraceptives. Conclusion Religious affiliation affects the use of contraceptives and plays a vital role in the reproductive behaviours of women in Kenya. The low levels of contraceptive use among Muslims are accounted for by their low socio-economic characteristics in addition to Islam’s pro-natal doctrine. The lack of contraceptive use differentials among Roman Catholics and Protestants is as a result of their similar socio-economic characteristics, regardless of Roman Catholics pro-natal doctrine. Thus, a frontier for further study is to examine how religious involvement affects contraceptive use in addition to religious affiliation.

No description available.

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Johannesburg, 2016. / Primary microRNA (pri-miRNA) mimics have been shown to mediate effective gene silencing and are well-suited for therapeutic applications. Pri-miRNA mimics, like natural pri-miRNA, are processed in the endogenous microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis pathway. Elements of the secondary RNA structure are crucial for processing by the Drosha-DGCR8 microprocessor, including a basal stem of - 11 bp. However, structural variation is common and the exact determinants of pri-miRNA processing have been elusive. The aim of this project were to explore the use of natural pri-miRNAs with exceptional basal stem in the design of correspondingmimics and to identify optimal stem features.[Abbreviated Abstract. Open document to view full version] / LG2017

The 37kDa/67kDa laminin receptor (LRP/LR) is thought to play a major role in the adhesion to laminin and consequently invasion resulting in the metastasis of tumor cells. This receptor is reported to be over-expressed in several neoplastic cell lines and is believed to increase tumor aggressiveness. This research aims at determining whether the application of anti-LRP/LR specific antibody (IgG1-iS18) on neoplastic cell lines would result in a decrease in invasion and adhesion. All neoplastic cell lines had significantly increased cell surface LRP/LR levels compared to NIH/3T3 cells, with the most notable increase seen in SW480 cells (10.98%). Due to a positive correlation between the cell surface LRP/LR levels and invasion potential we propose that an increased LRP/LR level correlates to an increased ability to invade. A significantly decreased adhesion potential was noted in all neoplastic cell lines except the non-invasive MCF-7 cell line, upon application of IgG1-iS18, 21% decrease in HT-1080 cells, 14% in HeLa, 20% in LNCaP, 48% and 74% in A549 and SW480 cells, respectively. Incubation with the anti-LRP/LR antibody IgG1-iS18 resulted in a significant reduction of the invasive potential of HT-1080 (44%), A549 (33%), HeLa (69%), SW480 (91%) and LNCaP cells (38%). Furthermore, a high Pearson’s correlation coefficient between adhesion potential and invasive potential was seen, confirming that adhesion is indeed a pre-requisite for invasion. The significant reduction in invasion and adhesion of HT-1080, A549, HeLa, SW480 and LNCaP cells upon application of the IgG1-iS18 antibody suggests that this macromolecule might act as a promising therapeutic tool for the treatment of various metastatic cancer types.

"This study, conducted in nine languages, sought to examine the library use and reading habits of eminent individuals. All living Nobel Laureates were identified and asked to provide information about their childhood interests and habits and also those which characterize their adult careers. The respondents indicated that they enjoyed reading as children, and many relied on library services to provide them with most of the materials they read. The Laureates who grew up in the United States had more access to library services, made more use of libraries as children, and felt competent to use libraries at earlier ages than did many of their counterparts growing up outside this country. The reading habits of their childhood seem to persist into adulthood more predictably than their library use patterns, or for that matter their involvement in other leisure activities"--Introduction. / Typescript. / "1996." / "Submitted to the School of Library and Information Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy." / Advisor: F. William Summers, Major Professor. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (MTech (Horticulture))--Peninsula Technikon, 2004 / The term "horticultural therapy" is unfamiliar to most South Africans. However it is well accepted in South Africa that horticulture plays an important role in human well being both physically and psychological. It is generally believed that people who engage in gardening tend to benefit. The research study investigates whether plant related activities integrated into rehabilitation programme, actually benefit participants. It shows how patients at a chosen healthcare institution respond upon exposure to various horticulture activities in order to identify activities appropriate for the inclusion and design in a horticultural therapy programme. The study identifies factors necessary for the design of a business plan for a horticulturist engaging in a horticultural therapy programme under local conditions. The methodology adopted was mainly quantitative. The study is also descriptive in nature. It seeks to develop a model from a range of activities that would best meet the needs of specific groups subjects, through the careful and deliberate observation and evaluation of patients as they engage with the activities. The measuring instruments have been designed for experimentation research purpose. It involved setting up an experiment (patients engaged in a designed horticulture activity) and collecting the data. Information regarding the participant response to designed activities was also gathered on the basis of observations and interviews. The population consisted of patients admitted at a public (State) psychiatric institution in the Western Cape. The sample consisted of 12 patients, four patients from each of the following categories: Forensics, Intellectually Challenged, and Psychiatric. The designed activities consisted of 10 activities, and were centered around the following activities: Growing of herbs, learning to take cuttings, planting cuttings, planting seeds for outdoor garden, preparing a garden site, vegetable gardening, weeding, watering, and planting flowering annuals. The first objective of the study was to determine whether the response of different categories of patients to specific horticulture activities differ, in order to select the appropriate activity for each category. Forensic patients responded positively to all ten activities and recorded a high level (70%) of task accomplishment. Intellectually challenged patients had a medium level (46% to 69%) of task accomplishment for the majority of the activities. Psychiatric patients had a high level (70%) for 50 percent of the activities and a medium level (46% to 69%) of task accomplishment for the remainder of the activities. The second objective of the study was to evaluate the degree of effect of the different horticulture activities on each category of patients, in order to determine the relative importance of each activity in the programme in meeting the patients needs. The general findings are that the various categories responded differently to the subsections as shown in the results. Individual patients within the categories also differed in their response to various activities. The results of the study indicate that certain horticultural activities have an impact on patient's deficiencies and encourage their specific needs in the areas of a vocational/educational, interpersonal/social, and responsibility/development The study identified factors necessary for the design of a business plan for a horticulturist to engage in a horticultural therapy programme under local conditions. The business plan provides an outline to develop, market, and implement a horticultural therapy service. The business plan helps identify important ramifications of setting up a business and practicing as a contract worker. The research process has highlighted valuable aspects, which may be easily incorporated into a future horticulture therapy programme. It has shown that certain plant related activities, when successfully integrated into a rehabilitation programme, will benefit participants. The findings and recommendations provide guidelines for the formulation of a structured horticultural therapy programme. It encourages the concept of utilizing gardening in a structured/organized manner to benefit the well being of individuals. / TABEISA, SANTAM

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv Minaret) was grown long-term under CO₂ partial pressures of 36 and 70 or 100 Pa with various N applications (4 to 23 g m-2 N), to test hypotheses of N re-allocation: 1) a decrease in N from leaves to other organs, 2) a relative decrease in N from Rubisco to other photosynthetic components. Elevated CO₂ did not affect phenology, main stem leaf appearance, the pattern of N allocation throughout the plant, or the fraction of crop N in grain at harvest, but 1) stimulated biomass and yield by 5 to 20% over the N range used, and 2) caused a faster loss of N and components from flag leaves during grain-fill. Responses of photosynthesis to varying pCi were fitted, and rates of maximal carboxylation and non-photorespiratory respiration estimated. The former, was proportional to Rubisco content, and light-saturated photosynthetic rate at 70 Pa CO₂ was proportional to A TP-synthase. Potential photosynthetic rates at 70 Pa CO₂ were calculated, compared with observed, and used to estimate excess investment in Rubisco. The excess was greater in high N treatments than low, declining as leaves senesced. The fraction of Rubisco estimated to be in excess, was strongly dependent on leaf N content, increasing from - 5% in leaves with 1 g N m-2 to -40% in leaves with 2 g N m-2. Growth at elevated CO₂ usually decreased the excess somewhat, but only as a consequence of a general decrease in leaf N, given that relationships of components to leaf N content were independent of CO₂ and N treatment, demonstrating that no direct CO₂ effect on N allocation within leaves had occurred. It is concluded that there is scope for improving the N-use efficiency of C₃ crop plants in elevated CO₂ conditions, by genetic manipulation to decrease the amount of Rubisco.

Agriculture represents a class or expression of complexity which researchers need to look at because of its immense contribution to rural development and poverty reduction. Scientists and researchers per their disciplinary training and specialisations differ in wider perspectives and methodologies. In addition to the compartment functioning processes of organisations, fluid interaction and collaboration of actors are further limited. This study examines how actors in Crops for the Future (CFF) interacted formally and informally as a complex agricultural research organisation to address the transdisciplinary communication challenges it faces. Using ethnographic methods with participant observation, interviews and official document reviews, the study revealed that, the structuring of CFF into themes and programmes was intended to network and work in their areas of disciplines. The study revealed that internal policies of CFF such as the research value chain (RVC), the doctoral support programmes (DTP) and flagship projects aim to improve research collaboration and as a research strategy, tend to support working together effectively. However, it further revealed that, though actors collaborate and network across different knowledge communities, elements of personal interest and power appear to play a significant role in that drive. Raising questions of communication and reporting process, revealed a mixed form of vertical and horizontal hierarchies, supported by a project and functional structures of management in CFF. The informal practices of actors in CFF (social networking, friendship, interactions etc.) tend to strongly support and enhance the formal structures and policies (programmes, themes, reporting and management structure etc.).

Yang, Yaling. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 187-207). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts also in Chinese.

Chapter 1: Land Inequality and Human Capital: Evidence for the United States from the Homestead Act. This chapter uses historical records of land patents and county level census data to estimate the impact of the Homestead Act of 1862 |an egalitarian land distribution policy implemented in the United States| on land inequality, school enrolment, and literacy during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The results show that the Homestead Act reduced land inequality and increased school enrolment and literacy, and that there is not heterogeneous effects on school enrolment by sex, but the effect is driven by the impact on children of primary school age. Using the Homestead Act as an instrument for land inequality, the results show that land inequality had a strong negative impact on school enrolment. This result is relevant to the literature because identification does not rely on variation across geographic, climatic, or soil characteristics. These results are robust to the inclusion of state specific year fixed effects and are not driven by convergence. On the contrary, I argue that convergence in school enrolment was a consequence of the Homestead Act. Chapter 2: Land Redistribution and Crop Choice: Evidence from Reform and Counter-Reform in Chile. This chapter uses unique historical data on the Chilean land reform of the 1960s and 1970s to estimate the impact that redistribution had on land inequality and crop choice. The results show that land redistribution had a persistent negative effect on land inequality, and that areas that were treated with more reform increased their share of land cultivated with fruits, vegetables, and vineyards, and lowered the share of land destined to forest plantations. The fact that a military coup interrupted the reform process allows for the comparison of the effects of reform and counter-reform, which sheds light on the mechanisms through which redistribution operated. I find that land that was transferred to new owners drive the results for crop choice, but not those for land inequality. Chapter 3: Earthquakes and Birth Outcomes in Chile. This chapter estimates the e effects of earthquakes on birth weight and length of gestation. I use administrative data on the universe of live births in Chile between 1994 and 2011. I combine that data with GIS raster information from USGS ShakeMaps to assign a detailed measure of earthquake intensity for each birth during each trimester of pregnancy. I find that, although the baseline estimates suggest a weak negative effect, these results are not robust to the exclusion of births from a strong 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of south-central Chile, which caused approximately 500 casualties, heavy infrastructure damage, and significant disruption to the government's logistics.