University of Zimbabwe

About: University of Zimbabwe is a education organization based out in Harare, Harare, Zimbabwe. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The organization has 4378 authors who have published 6800 publications receiving 160720 citations. The organization is also known as: UZ & University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

Estimation of actual evapotranspiration using the Surface Energy Balance System (SEBS) algorithm in the Upper Manyame catchment in Zimbabwe

Abstract: Evapotranspiration plays a central role in the water balance of arid and semi-arid areas, as it is the major loss flux. The spatial estimation of actual evapotranspiration is thus of critical importance for hydrologic, environmental and agricultural purposes. This study therefore applied the Surface Energy Balance System for turbulent heat fluxes (SEBS) algorithm to determine actual evapotranspiration in the Upper Manyame catchment in Zimbabwe. The SEBS algorithm was run using atmospherically corrected MODIS satellite imagery on nine clear skies days stretching from 2003 to 2005. SEBS determined actual evapotranspiration was evaluated based on two criteria over Harare-Kutsaga and Grasslands research stations. Firstly, a plausibility or physical consistency check was applied by which SEBS actual evapotranspiration estimates were compared to FAO Penman–Monteith potential evapotranspiration estimates. On average, it was observed that SEBS actual evapotranspiration estimates were physically consistent. SEBS estimates were 36.5% and 76.5% of potential evapotranspiration over Harare-Kutsaga and Grasslands stations, respectively. However, on a few days over Grasslands station SEBS actual evapotranspiration estimates were physically inconsistent as they were greater than potential evapotranspiration. SEBS actual evapotranspiration estimates were also evaluated against actual evapotranspiration from the advection aridity equation. Over Harare-Kutsaga the mean error showed a slight underestimation of 0.32 mm d−1 by SEBS and the mean absolute error was 0.5 mm d−1. However, over Grasslands station the results were not as good as the mean error and mean absolute error showed an overestimation 2.6 mm d−1. This was relatively high. The discussed reasons for the relatively high overestimation errors over Grasslands station include; roughness parameterisation, the spatial variability of input temperature data and heterogeneity. An analysis of the evaporative behaviour of the different land cover types in the catchment showed that: water bodies, closed broadleaved deciduous forests, and open broadleaved deciduous forests had relatively higher mean actual evapotranspiration rates and yet these land cover types constituted less than 5% of the catchment area. Open grasslands were observed to have low evaporative behaviour. Overall this study showed that SEBS has potential for estimating spatial actual evapotranspiration and providing useful information that can be used for water resources and environmental management and planning.

Randomised controlled trial of intrapartum fetal heart rate monitoring.

Abstract: Objective : To compare effectiveness of different methods of monitoring intrapartum fetal heart rate. Design : Prospective randomised controlled trial. Setting : Referral maternity hospital, Harare,Zimbabwe. Subjects : 1255 women who were 37 weeks or more pregnant with singleton cephalic presentation and normal fetal heart rate before entry into study. Interventions : Intermittent monitoring of fetal heart rate by electronic monitoring, Doppler ultrasound, use of Pinard stethoscope by a research midwife, or routine use of Pinard stethoscope by attending midwife. Main outcome measures - Abnormal fetal heart rate patterns, need for operative delivery for fetal distress, neonatal mortality, Apgar scores, admission to neonatal unit, neonatal seizures, and hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy. Results : Abnormalities in fetal heart rate were detected in 54% (172/318) of the electronic monitoring group, 32% (100/312) of the ultrasonography group, 15% (47/310) of the Pinard stethoscope group, and 9% (28/315) of the routine monitoring group. Caesarean sections were performed for 28% (89), 24% (76), 10% (32), and 15% (46) of the four groups respectively. Neonatal outcome was best in the ultrasonography group: hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy occurred in two, one, seven, and 10 cases in the four groups respectively; neonatal seizures occurred only in the last two groups (six and nine cases respectively); and deaths occurred in eight,two, five, and nine cases respectively. Conclusions : Abnormalities in fetal heart rate were more reliably detected by Doppler ultrasonography than with Pinard stethoscope, and its use resulted in good perinatal outcome. The use ofrelatively cheap ultrasound monitors should be further evaluated and promoted in obstetric units caring for high risk pregnancies in developing countries with scarce resources.

Whither Zimbabwe? crisis & democratisation

Abstract: When it attained its independence in 1980, there were high hopes expressed for Zimbabwe's political and economic future. It was amongst the top four more industrialized countries in Sub‐Saharan Africa; it possessed a more diversified economy than most countries; and it had a better human resource base than most; and it had a middle‐income status. Comparatively speaking, therefore, Zimbabwe had better prospects of making a head start in economic and political development than most countries on the continent. For some years, especially in its first decade of independence, it appeared to live up to some of these expectations. There were considerable investments in social development (characterised by a massive expansion in the education and social sectors); the economy itself grew; and it quickly became the regional breadbasket. Furthermore, the country was an oasis of stability in a region then mired in turmoil from Angola to Mozambique, and in liberation struggles from Namibia to South Africa.

Differences in the Faecal Microbiome in Schistosoma haematobium Infected Children vs. Uninfected Children

Abstract: Background: Several infectious diseases and therapeutic interventions cause gut microbe dysbiosis and associated pathology. We characterised the gut microbiome of children exposed to the helminth Schistosoma haematobium pre- and post-treatment with the drug praziquantel (PZQ), with the aim to compare the gut microbiome structure (abundance and diversity) in schistosome infected vs. uninfected children. Methods: Stool DNA from 139 children aged six months to 13 years old; with S. haematobium infection prevalence of 27.34% was extracted at baseline. 12 weeks following antihelminthic treatment with praziqunatel, stool DNA was collected from 62 of the 139 children. The 16S rRNA genes were sequenced from the baseline and post-treatment samples and the sequence data, clustered into operational taxonomic units (OTUs). The OTU data were analysed using multivariate analyses and paired T- test. Results: Pre-treatment, the most abundant phyla were Bacteroidetes, followed by Firmicutes and Proteobacteria respectively. The relative abundance of taxa among bacterial classes showed limited variation by age group or sex and the bacterial communities had similar overall compositions. Although there were no overall differences in the microbiome structure across the whole age range, the abundance of 21 OTUs varied significantly with age (FDR<0.05). Some OTUs including Veillonella, Streptococcus, Bacteroides and Helicobacter were more abundant in children ≤ 1 year old compared to older children. Furthermore, the gut microbiome differed in schistosome infected vs. uninfected children with 27 OTU occurring in infected but not uninfected children, for 5 of these all Prevotella, the difference was statistically significant (p <0.05) with FDR <0.05. PZQ treatment did not alter the microbiome structure in infected or uninfected children from that observed at baseline. Conclusions: There are significant differences in the gut microbiome structure of infected vs. uninfected children and the differences were refractory to PZQ treatment.