Showing papers by "Japan International Cooperation Agency published in 2005"
TL;DR: The correlation coefficients (r) between starch paste breakdown (RVA) and noodle viscoelasticity and smoothness were 0.63 and 0.59, suggesting that in breeding wheat for high CFWN quality, the starch pasting properties are of major importance.
Abstract: The variation in grain compositional traits related to Chinese fresh white noodle (CFWN) quality was examined in 25 leading Chinese common wheat cultivars and advanced lines. Large variations were observed in flour yield, flour particle size, protein and ash contents, farinograph and rapid visco-analyzer (RVA) parameters, flour colour components, and polyphenol oxydase (PPO) activity. An improved sensory method was proposed for adequately evaluating CFWN quality of common wheat flour based on methodology used in the Japanese quality scoring system for white salted noodles, but with major modifications in the score weight given to each noodle quality parameter. Large differences in CFWN quality were observed among Chinese wheat cultivars. The correlation coefficients (r) between starch paste breakdown (RVA) and noodle viscoelasticity and smoothness were 0.63 and 0.59, respectively, suggesting that in breeding wheat for high CFWN quality, the starch pasting properties are of major importance. Low ash content was significantly correlated (r = − 0.66) with bright white noodle colour.
62 citations
TL;DR: It is concluded that the half-day training using the rapid and simple test was feasible for non-laboratory staffs to attain enough proficiency to implement VCCT services for PMTCT in resource-limited settings, and that human error was more likely to occur in laboratory before giving reports to counsellors.
Abstract: In Cambodia, nearly half of pregnant women attend antenatal care (ANC), which is an entry point of services for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT). However, most of ANC services are provided in health centres or fields, where laboratory services by technicians are not available. In this study, those voluntary confidential counselling and testing (VCCT) counsellors involved in PMTCT were trained by experienced laboratory technicians in our centre on HIV testing using Determine (Abbot Laboratories) HIV1/2 test kits through a half-day training course, which consisted of use of a pipette, how to process whole blood samples, and how to read test result. The trained counsellors were midwives working for ANC and delivery ward in our centre without any experience on laboratory works. The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of the training by evaluating the proficiency of the trained non-laboratory staffs. The trained counsellors withdrew blood sample after pre-test counselling following ANC, and performed the rapid test. Laboratory technicians routinely did the same test and returned reports of the test results to counsellors. Reports by the counsellors and the laboratory technicians were compared, and discordant reports in two groups were re-tested with the same rapid test kit using the same blood sample. Cause of discordance was detected in discussion with both groups. Of 563 blood samples tested by six trained VCCT counsellors and three laboratory technicians, 11 samples (2.0%) were reported positive in each group, however four discordant reports (0.7%) between the groups were observed, in which two positive reports and two negative reports by the counsellors were negative and positive by the laboratory technicians, respectively. Further investigation confirmed that all the reports by the counsellors were correct, and that human error in writing reports in the laboratory was a cause of these discordant reports. These findings lead us the conclusion that the half-day training using the rapid and simple test was feasible for non-laboratory staffs to attain enough proficiency to implement VCCT services for PMTCT in resource-limited settings, and that human error was more likely to occur in laboratory before giving reports to counsellors.
37 citations
TL;DR: Recommendations are extensive application of microscopic diagnosis, prevention of hepatitis B transmission, and addressing the issues of regional differences in the prevalence of RTI and of less wealthy people.
26 citations
TL;DR: The tissue culture proved to be a powerful tool both to multiply the Scoparia material incorporated to the authors' germplasm collection and to obtain new improved varieties of this beautiful genus.
22 citations
TL;DR: It would seem wise to stratify the study region into areas of high, moderate and low-risk of human–triatomine contact, so that appropriate vector-control strategies can be targeted at the worst-affected areas.
Abstract: In an entomological study in 2002, the degree of domestic and peridomestic infestation with triatomine bugs and the geographical distribution of such infestations were investigated in north-central Guatemala. The survey team searched for triatomines in houses constructed with mud walls or thatched roofs, in villages suspected of being infested. The level of infestation observed was lower than that seen in the same area and in eastern Guatemala, in a preliminary survey, 3 years earlier. Most of the infestations detected were of Triatoma dimidiata but even this species was found in <7% of the houses investigated. Infestations with Rhodnius prolixus or other potential vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi were much rarer. The generally low levels of infestation make the elimination of R. prolixus and the reduction of the domestic population of Tri. dimidiata feasible in the study area. The southern part of the study area had higher levels of domestic infestation and colonization than the north, and peridomestic infestation was highest in the south-west. Given such geographical variation in the pattern of infestation, it would seem wise to stratify the study region into areas of high, moderate and low-risk of human-triatomine contact, so that appropriate vector-control strategies can be targeted at the worst-affected areas. Regular entomological surveillance, ideally with community participation, is recommended. Analysis of the relationship between the geographical patterns of infestation and factors such as vegetation, altitude and vector migration would be useful.
17 citations
TL;DR: This paper examined the influence of NGOs on local people's perceptions of CF management by using a quantitative analysis based on a questionnaire survey and found that the limited support from NGOs or FUGs during the formation process seemed insufficient to fulfill the expectations of aid agencies with respect to the enhancement of satisfaction and active participation on the part of FUG members.
Abstract: Despite high expectations of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) as project partners in bilateral-aid community forestry (CF) projects in Nepal, it remains unclear whether the NGO involvement favored by donors is efficient. This study examined the influence of NGOs on local people's perceptions of CF management by using a quantitative analysis based on a questionnaire survey. Three different forest user groups (FUGs) supported by the Nepal Swiss Community Forestry Project were selected from the Dolakha and Ramecchap districts: an FUG supported by another FUG acting as an NGO, an FUG supported by an NGO specializing in CF, and an FUG without NGO support. A structured survey examined the perception of CF management based on satisfaction, involvement, and self-reliance in 244 selected households belonging to the three FUGs. Knowledge of CF and personal information was also surveyed and analyzed. The results showed that NGO involvement influences factors such as self-reliance and knowledge of CF. FUG members who were supported by an NGO or an FUG had a significantly higher perception with respect to self-reliance and knowledge than did members without such support. This indicates that experienced FUGs can serve as adequate service providers for the CF formation procedure, in a manner similar to that of NGOs. On the other hand, the limited support from NGOs or FUGs during the formation process seemed insufficient to fulfill the expectations of aid agencies with respect to the enhancement of satisfaction and active participation on the part of FUG members. If aid agencies expect NGOs and FUGs to enhance the satisfaction and participation of members, these intermediary organizations should be assigned to support more CF activities than just the formation procedure. Aid agencies should take responsibility for strengthening the capabilities of NGOs and FUGs, as needed.
12 citations
TL;DR: This study indicated that education was a more important factor affecting the height of the adolescents via improved food habits even under adverse economic conditions.
Abstract: There is scarce information on the relative importance of socio-economic factors in determining the adolescent anthropometric measurements. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of economic status, education level, and food consumption on the height and weight of community adolescents in Nepal. The study was done in the communities of the Kathmandu Valley area in Nepal. All together 426 unmarried adolescent girls aged 14-19 y were selected. The adolescents were interviewed regarding socioeconomic background (education, occupation and property possessions) and frequency of foods consumption. Height and weight were determined and BMI was calculated. Z-scores of height-for-age and weight-for-age were calculated based on the WHO/NCHS standard to avoid bias by age. The adolescents participating in the survey were categorized into three groups using the various indicators of economic status: Low Economic Status (LES) group, Middle Economic Status (MES) group and High Economic Status (HES) group. The Z-scores of height and weight were significantly lower in the LES group than in the MES and HES groups (p<0.05). The Z-score of height was significantly increased with education level even under the condition of controlling economic level (p<0.05). Since the frequency of milk consumption was significantly related not only with height (p<0.05), but also with economic (chi2=31.6, df=4, p<0.001) and education levels (chi2=22.4, df=6, p<0.01), the increased height in the groups of the better economic status or the better education level was interpreted to be due to the outcome of the higher frequency of milk consumption. This study indicated that education was a more important factor affecting the height of the adolescents via improved food habits even under adverse economic conditions.
9 citations
TL;DR: In this article, an equation model to calculate the content of total soil sulphur was first obtained by regression analysis, and then the rated total sulphur content was incorporated into the national soil map database of GIS to produce a map with the total sulfur content of Zambian soils.
Abstract: Total sulphur content of some benchmark soils was evaluated by correlating with the contents of soil organic C and amorphous oxides (Al and Fe), and the particle size distribution. An equation model to calculate the content of total soil sulphur was first obtained by regression analysis. Introducing these chemical and physical data of all the map units except for the wetlands into the equation model, the sulphur level on a national scale was estimated for each soil mapping unit in the exploratory soil map of Zambia. Second, the total sulphur content was rated into 3 classes based on the frequency distribution of the total sulphur content in the benchmark soils. Finally, the rated total sulphur content was incorporated into the national soil map database of GIS to produce a map with the total sulphur content of Zambian soils. The extent of each class was calculated and the distribution of the areas was examined in relation to rainfall and soil formation.
8 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the relationship between the contents of soil sulphur and plant sulphur was studied in order to evaluate the distribution of plant-available sulphur in Zambian soils and the optimum method to determine the available sulphur content of the soils was applied to the analysis of other benchmark soils.
Abstract: Relationship between the contents of soil sulphur and plant sulphur was studied in order to evaluate the distribution of plant-available sulphur in Zambian soils. Four soils series with distinct differences in texture and organic carbon content had been selected among representative benchmark soil series and used to cultivate maize (Zea mays L.) as a test plant in pots. From the results of the pot experiment, critical levels of sulphur deficiency in plants and soils were evaluated and the levels of available sulphur for maize nutrition were rated into four classes using data on the relative yield of maize. The optimum method to determine the available sulphur content of the soils was applied to the analysis of other benchmark soils. Satisfactory regression models for assessing the relation between the content of available soil sulphur with other soil constituents among benchmark soil could not be identified. A distribution map for available sulphur was drawn in a step-by-step format by using a different s...
4 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the species composition and structure of ex-burned heath forests in Danau Sentarum National Park, West Kalimantan, Indonesia.
Abstract: The objective of the research was to know species composition and structure of ex-burned heath forest. Field research was carried out from 23 June to 5 July and 10 to 25 September 2004 on the foot-slope of Semujan Hill, Danau Sentarum National Park, West Kalimantan. Ten-sample units (SU) with each size 10 x 10 m are placed based on random sampling method. On each SU, trees with diameter i‚³ 2 cm cm were identified and the diameter (DBH) and height are recorded. Fourteen tree species were found within a 0.1 ha SU, consisting of 12 genus and 8 families. Tree density is exponentially decreased from trees with small diameter to trees with big diameter.Key words: species composition, forest structure, ex-burned heath forest, Danau Sentarum National Park, West Kalimantan.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Wang et al. as discussed by the authors investigated the distribution of flour particle size in Chinese winter wheat cultivars and the rapid testing method by near infrared transmittance spectroscopy using laser diffraction particle size analyzer and NITS.
TL;DR: The research project titled “Developing Technical Approaches for the Master Plan of the Health Sector International Cooperation ” has been conducted for the duration of three years by the support of grants-in-aid for research on international medical cooperation from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.
Abstract: The research project titled “Developing Technical Approaches for the Master Plan of the Health Sector International Cooperation ” has been conducted for the duration of three years from 2002 by the support of grants-in-aid for research on international medical cooperation from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. Based upon comprehensive and detailed review on the development studies (DS) in the health sectors so far completed, and throughout extensive and detailed examinations on the various DS related issues at the organized workshops with the parties concerned, the following propositions were made for the orientation and possible improvement of future DS in the health sectors; 1) a master plan in the individual DS to be defined in association with the level of strategy with which the study deals, 2) the instruction of surveys and methods to be more crystallized, 3) appropriate survey methods with reproducibility to be employed, 4) qualitative researches to be complimentarily exercised with quantitative researches 5) the ownership of DS to be cultivated by adoption of participatory methods.
TL;DR: It is concluded that for school children in an endemic area of Tanzania who had no history of medication for schistosomiasis, the questionnaire for abdominal manifestations reliable information on S. mansoni infection is unreliable, and immunomodulation by anti-schistosOMiasis drugs that kill adult worms exerts an effect on the appearance of abdominal manifestations.
Abstract: 1 Abstract: The effect of mass treatment on questionnaire results in the diagnosis of schistosomiasis mansoni was examined in 267 school children in an endemic area of Tanzania by Kato-Katz analysis of fecal specimens. The questionnaire asked for information about self-diagnosis, abdominal symptoms, blood in stools, history of wild water contact, stool examination and medication for schistosomiasis, and knowledge of the disease. A logistic re- gression analysis disclosed a significant association between schistosomiasis and "diarrhea" (p = 0.007; odds ratio, 32.0; confidence interval, 2.5 - 403.3) and "abdominal enlargement" (p = 0.003; odds ratio, 15.2; confidence inter- val, 2.6 - 90.1) among 61 children who had no history of medication for schistosomiasis. The sensitivity and speci- ficity of the model were 86% and 64%, respectively. In contrast, no significant correlation was observed either for the 116 treated children, or for all the 267 children after the mass treatment. We conclude, therefore, that for chil- dren who had no history of medication for schistosomiasis, the questionnaire for abdominal manifestations pro- vides reliable information on S. mansoni infection. However, once a child takes medication, the questionnaire be- comes unreliable. This observation suggests that immunomodulation by anti-schistosomiasis drugs that kill adult worms exerts an effect on the appearance of abdominal manifestations and might explain the ambiguity of clinical symptoms in chronically infested patients, except in terminal cases. Further studies are required to develop a sim- ple, rapid and cost-effective diagnostic method for monitoring S. mansoni infection after medication in local areas