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AbstractThis paper investigates the extent of “greenness” of South African REITs; and whether green investments have any significant effects on the REITs return performance at the aggregate level. It used publicly-accessible green buildings and financial data obtained from the Green Building Council of South Africa’s (GBCSA) website and financial reports of 27 REITs that operate in South Africa, respectively. With only 11 REITs having green buildings in their portfolios, the results show phenomenal growth in the cumulative amount of green Gross Lettable Area (GLA) in under a decade – from a paltry 38,133 square metres of GLA in 2013, to over two million square metres of GLA in 2021. From panel analyses, consistent regression results show that green variables were positive and statistically significant across most of the estimated models. The statistically significant results imply that increased investments in green infrastructures have positive effects on REITs’ return performances. The study has implications for research and practice as far as the investments by REITs in green buildings in South Africa is concerned.

Expression of mutant splicing factors alters RNA splicing in myeloid malignancies, including increased production of nonsense transcripts that rely on nonsense-mediated RNA decay (NMD) for clearance. Cell lines expressing spliceosome mutants are more sensitive to NMD inhibition than wild-type cells, and the differential sensitivity is partially dependent on R-loop formation. However, the impact of NMD disruption on the viability of primary hematopoietic cells with splicing factor mutations has not been tested in vivo.

AbstractResearch has paid relatively little attention to two aspects that are increasingly important in understanding data journalism as a maturing field: (a) journalism today is increasingly provided by a diverse set of actors both inside and outside of legacy media organizations, and (b) data journalism has become a global phenomenon that cannot be fully grasped within national contexts only. Our article brings both of these aspects together and investigates the roles and practices of peripheral actors in European and African contexts. We engage with research on the role of non-profits and civic technologists in journalism to interrogate further the entanglements between civic technology organizations and data journalism. Following in-depth interviews with 29 practitioners of data-driven non-profits in Europe and Africa, we conclude that practices and roles of these non-profits in relation to journalism are similar, but transcultural and contextual influences shape how they complement or expand data journalism.

Purpose: This paper aims to determine the effect of intrinsically motivating idiosyncratic deals (I-deals) on innovative work behaviour (IWB) among tied life insurance agents in Kenya. Design/methodology/approach: Standard multiple regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses from data collected from a field study from 498 employees and 48 managers. Findings: The study findings showed a positive relationship between both flexibility I-deals and IWB (ß= 0.461, p< 0.00) and between task and responsibilities I-deals and IWB (ß= 0.171, p< 0.01). Research/limitations/implications: The cross-sectional collection of data weakens the author’s claim of causality between the variables in focus. The study extends literature on the effects of flexibility as well as tasks and responsibilities I-deals on IWB. Practical implications: Organizations must grant their employees with intrinsically motivating I-deals in order for display of IWB. Social implications: These I-deals provided intrinsic motivation of the employees in displaying IWB in the organizations. The exchange relationship with the employers got enhanced through their granting motivating employees to look for new ways of doing their work. Originality/value: This is the first study to investigate a linear relationship between intrinsically motivating I-deals and IWB.

The prominence of “fake news” today has sparked an open challenge to the legitimacy of traditional news media. As a result, a series of independent data-driven organisations are emerging to fact-check legacy news media as well as other news sources. This study examines how these actors advocate and adopt journalistic practice and the perceived impact they have on news journalism. We draw our data from in-depth interviews with 14 practitioners working in three organisations—Code for Africa, Open Up and Africa Check—that are currently leading major data and fact-checking operations in sub-Saharan Africa. Our findings show that while these non-journalistic actors are at the periphery of news media as institutions, their operations, activities and goals are at the heart of journalistic discourse. In their data strategies, they emerge as data advocates and activists seeking to reformulate fact-checking processes within news media.

In sub-Saharan Africa, severely immunocompromised HIV-infected individuals have a high risk of mortality during the first few months after starting antiretroviral therapy (ART). We hypothesise that universally providing ready-to-use supplementary food (RUSF) would increase early weight gain, thereby reducing early mortality compared with current guidelines recommending ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) for severely malnourished individuals only.

Potential in vivoapplications of RNA interference (RNAi) require suppression of various off-target activities. Herein, we report that replacement of a single phosphate linkage between the first and second nucleosides of the passenger strand with an amide linkage almost completely abolished its undesired activity and restored the desired activity of guide strands that had been compromised by unfavorable amide modifications. Molecular modeling suggested that the observed effect was most likely due to suppressed loading of the amide-modified strand into Ago2 caused by inability of amide to adopt the conformation required for the backbone twist that docks the first nucleotide of the guide strand in the MID domain of Ago2. Eliminating off-target activity of the passenger strand will be important for improving therapeutic potential of RNAi.

ABSTRACTDoxycycline is widely used for malaria prophylaxis by international travelers. However, there is limited information on doxycycline efficacy in Kenya, and genetic polymorphisms associated with reduced efficacy are not well defined. In vitrodoxycycline susceptibility profiles for 96 Plasmodium falciparumfield isolates from Kenya were determined. Genetic polymorphisms were assessed in P. falciparummetabolite drug transporter (Pfmdt) and P. falciparumGTPase tetQ(PftetQ) genes. Copy number variation of the gene and the number of KYNNNN amino acid motif repeats within the protein encoded by PftetQwere determined. Reduced in vitrosusceptibility to doxycycline was defined by 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) of ≥35,000 nM. The odds ratio (OR) of having 2 PfTetQ KYNNNN amino acid repeats in isolates with IC50s of >35,000 nM relative to those with IC50s of <35,000 nM is 15 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.0 to 74.3; Pvalue of <0.0002). Isolates with 1 copy of the Pfmdtgene had a median IC50of 6,971 nM, whereas those with a Pfmdtcopy number of >1 had a median IC50of 9,912 nM (P= 0.0245). Isolates with 1 copy of PftetQhad a median IC50of 6,370 nM, whereas isolates with a PftetQcopy number of >1 had a median IC50of 3,422 nM (P< 0.0007). Isolates with 2 PfTetQ KYNNNN motif repeats had a median IC50of 26,165 nM, whereas isolates with 3 PfTetQ KYNNNN repeats had a median IC50of 3,352 nM (P= 0.0023). PfTetQ sequence polymorphism is associated with a reduced doxycycline susceptibility phenotype in Kenyan isolates and is a potential marker for susceptibility testing.

ABSTRACTIn combination with antibiotics, quinine is recommended as the second-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria, an alternative first-line treatment for severe malaria, and for treatment of malaria in the first trimester of pregnancy. Quinine has been shown to have frequent clinical failures, and yet the mechanisms of action and resistance have not been fully elucidated. However, resistance is linked to polymorphisms in multiple genes, including multidrug resistance 1 (Pfmdr1), the chloroquine resistance transporter (Pfcrt), and the sodium/hydrogen exchanger gene (Pfnhe1). Here, we investigated the association between in vitroquinine susceptibility and genetic polymorphisms in Pfmdr1codons 86 and 184, Pfcrtcodon 76, and Pfnhe1ms4760 in 88 field isolates from western Kenya. In vitroactivity was assessed based on the drug concentration that inhibited 50% of parasite growth (the IC50), and parasite genetic polymorphisms were determined from DNA sequencing. Data revealed there were significant associations between polymorphism in Pfmdr1-86Y, Pfmdr1-184F, or Pfcrt-76T and quinine susceptibility (P< 0.0001 for all three associations). Eighty-two percent of parasites resistant to quinine carried mutant alleles at these codons (Pfmdr1-86Y, Pfmdr1-184F, and Pfcrt-76T), whereas 74% of parasites susceptible to quinine carried the wild-type allele (Pfmdr1-N86, Pfmdr1-Y184, and Pfcrt-K76, respectively). In addition, quinine IC50values for parasites with Pfnhe1ms4760 3 DNNND repeats were significantly higher than for those with 1 or 2 repeats (P= 0.033 and P= 0.0043, respectively). Clinical efficacy studies are now required to confirm the validity of these markers and the importance of parasite genetic background.

Cross-resistance after first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) failure is expected to impair activity of nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) in second-line therapy for patients with HIV, but evidence for the effect of cross-resistance on virological outcomes is limited. We aimed to assess the association between the activity, predicted by resistance testing, of the NRTIs used in second-line therapy and treatment outcomes for patients infected with HIV.

ABSTRACTThe malaria SYBR green assay, which is used to profile in vitrodrug susceptibility of Plasmodium falciparum, is a reliable drug screening and surveillance tool. Malaria field surveillance efforts provide isolates with various low levels of parasitemia. To be advantageous, malaria drug sensitivity assays should perform reproducibly among various starting parasitemia levels rather than at one fixed initial value. We examined the SYBR green assay standardized procedure developed by the Worldwide Antimalarial Resistance Network (WWARN) for its sensitivity and ability to accurately determine the drug concentration that inhibits parasite growth by 50% (IC50) in samples with a range of initial parasitemia levels. The initial sensitivity determination of the WWARN procedure yielded a detection limit of 0.019% parasitemia. P. falciparumlaboratory strains and field isolates with various levels of initial parasitemia were then subjected to a range of doses of common antimalarials. The IC50s were comparable for laboratory strains with between 0.0375% and 0.6% parasitemia and for field isolates with between 0.075% and 0.6% parasitemia for all drugs tested. Furthermore, assay quality (Z′) analysis indicated that the WWARN procedure displays high robustness, allowing for drug testing of malaria field samples within the derived range of initial parasitemia. The use of the WWARN procedure should allow for the inclusion of more malaria field samples in malaria drug sensitivity screens that would have otherwise been excluded due to low initial parasitemia levels.

In the past, different technologies have had varied impacts on the development of nations, regions, cities, and citizens worldwide. Currently, the impacts of information and communication technologies (ICTs)² are the manifestations of that legacy. However, the disparities in access to ICTs among nations, regions, cities, and citizens -- that is, the digital divide -- portend a gloomy picture to the realization and equitable distribution of the impacts accruing from their investments. Against this background, this article examines the extent and determinants of the intra-national digital divide in Kenya and the link between Kenya's intra-national digital divide and the pattern of economic development. It employed spatial analysis using regional-level (or district) Internet cafés' data. It shows spatial dependence in the number of Internet cafés, implying that adoption and use of ICTs show spatial clustering. Overall, the article's findings suggest that there is need for deliberate efforts by governments and other players to avoid the risk of widening regional development disparities, especially in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

WHO guidelines recommend dolutegravir plus two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) for second-line HIV therapy, with NRTI switching from first-line tenofovir to zidovudine. We aimed to examine whether dolutegravir is non-inferior to darunavir, the best-in-class protease inhibitor drug, and whether maintaining tenofovir in second-line therapy is non-inferior to switching to zidovudine.

An experiment was conducted to determine the association of tea catechins to water stress in tea, with the objective of determining their suitability as indicators for predicting drought tolerance in tea (Camellia sinensis). The study consisted of six tea clones (BBK 35, TRFK 6/8, TRFK 76/1, TRFK 395/2, TRFK 31/30, and TRFK 311/287) and four levels of soil water content (38, 30, 22, and 14% v/v), which were arranged in a complete randomized design and replicated 3 times. The treatments were maintained for a period of 12 weeks. Tea shoots were sampled for catechin analysis during the 6th week of water treatment, in which fresh shoots with two leaves and a bud were plucked and steamed for 2 min, and dried at 70 °C to constant weight. Subsequently, the samples were ground and analyzed for catechins using an HPLC system. The total catechins showed significant correlation with shoot growth (r=0.65, P=0.006), soil water content (r=0.54, P=0.0066), and water stress index (r=0.67, P=0.0004). The epicatechin (EC) correlated with shoot growth (r=0.58, P=0.0032), soil water content (r=0.62, P=0.0014), and water stress index (r=0.63, P=0.0010). Similarly, epigallocatechin (EGC) correlated with shoot growth (r=0.65, P=0.0006), soil water content (r=0.50, P=0.0133), and water stress index (r=0.60, P=0.0021). However, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) and epicatechin gallate (ECG) showed no significant response to changes in soil water content. The shoot contents of EC and EGC in the six clones showed varied responses, with a distinct pattern in the water-stress tolerant clones (TRFK 6/8 and TRFK 31/30). The results suggest a potential use for EC and EGC as indicators in predicting drought tolerance in tea.

AbstractThis study, which was undertaken in the Northern Kenya pastoral community, was aimed at documenting the various indicators the community use in monitoring the quality of range resources, especially vegetation. It should be noted that livestock production is the main livelihood system in this communities. Data was captured using interviews and focused group discussions with a section of the community members. The study revealed a wealth of knowledge in monitoring of the range resources quality within these communities. Among the two communities, it was evident that they observe livestock behavior, livestock attributes and physical phenomena, as indicators of vegetation quality. Livestock behavior observed could tell when the range conditions were suitable for livestock and when the conditions were unsuitable. Goats’ being playful is a common characteristic that indicates that the range conditions are suitable for livestock. Other observable livestock behavior or attributes indicating good range conditions are livestock responding to their names when called; increase on milk out put; increased mating. Indicators of bad range conditions include: - rough hair on camels; livestock grinding teeth at night; high mice populations; increase in camel flies. Some specific observations are specific to few individuals. This is in the case of judging the suitability of forage by smelling livestock urine. However these indicators are used to make decisions always when the community migrates from one region to another in search of pastures. Documenting this indigenous knowledge aids in better understanding the reasons behind the decisions made for livestock migration.

The use of legume crops as alternatives to a fallow in wheat–maize rotations in the Rift Valley of Kenya may suppress weeds and add nitrogen to the system. A field study was set up in the Njoro and Rongai regions to evaluate the effect of managing the traditional fallow with chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), field bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merril], field pea (Pisum sativum L.) and dolichos [Lablab purpureus (L) Sweet] on the following wheat and maize crops. The objectives of this study were to assess the impact of improved fallow on weed control, soil nitrogen and performance of the following cereals in a bid to improve their yields. The legumes, along with wheat and maize, were grown as fallow-management treatments during the short-rains season, and their residues were incorporated into the soil before sowing the test cereal in the long-rains season. Weed biomass and species diversity reduced by 35–92% and 25–58% at Njoro, and 10–100% and 83–100% at Rongai, respectively, in the succeeding cereal against preceding traditional fallow. The perennial weeds, which included Digitaria scalarum, Pennisetum clandestinum and Conyza sp., were substantially reduced in the managed fallow. Legume-managed fallow significantly improved soil nitrogen status and the yield of the following cereals. Grain yield in managed fallow increased on average by about 39 and 17% over locations in maize and wheat, respectively. Despite yielding less soil-incorporated residue, the impact of legumes was greater than that of the traditional fallow yielding large amount of organic material. Among the legume species, dolichos showed outstanding positive effect on succeeding cereal crop, probably due to increased soil nitrate levels. Field bean and chickpea have a potential seed advantage, although the latter is susceptible to 100% loss by Helicoverpa armigera. Hence, managing the traditional short-rains fallow with legumes could reduce weed infestation, in addition to improving soil nitrogen for subsequent crops.

Galectins are a family of proteins that bind β-galactosides and play key roles in a variety of cellular processes including host defense and entry of parasites into the host cells. They have been well studied in hosts but less so in parasites. As both host and parasite galectins are highly upregulated proteins following infection, galectins are an area of increasing interest and their role in immune modulation has only recently become clear. Correlation of CNS parasitic diseases with mental disorders as a result of direct or indirect interaction has been observed. Therefore, galectins produced by the parasite should be taken into consideration as potential therapeutic agents.

Six Cu(II)dimers, [{Cu(dien)}2(μ-dicyd)][CF3SO3]2(1), [{Cu(dien)}2(μ-Me2dicyd)][CF3SO3]2(2), [{Cu(dien)}2(μ-Cl2dicyd)][CF3SO3]2(3), [{Cu(L)}2(μ-dicyd)] (4), [{Cu(L)}2(μ-Me2dicyd)] (5), and [{Cu(L)}2(μ-Cl2dicyd)] (6), where dicyd2−, Me2dicyd2−and Cl2dicyd2−are unsubstituted, 2,5-dimethyl- and 2,5-dichloro-1,4-dicyanamidobenzene dianions, respectively, dien is diethylenetriamine, and L− = 1,3-bis(2-pyridylimino)isoindolinato, have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV–vis, and EPR spectroscopy, and magnetic studies. Temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements of the complexes 1–6from 5 to 300 K are reported. The data for 2, 3, 5, and 6have been fitted to a dimer model with a modified Bleaney–Bowers expression which derived antiferromagnetic exchange constants −J = 10.6, 4.5, 5.2, and 3.0 cm−1, respectively (where the Hamiltonian is of the form ) For 4, an approach to a maximum in χmwith decreasing temperature gave an estimated −J < 3.5 cm−1. Only complex 1showed Curie–Weiss behavior. This is far weaker antiferromagnetic exchange compared to that observed for dinuclear Ru(III) complexes incorporating the dicyd2−bridging ligands (J. Am. Chem Soc. 114, 5130 (1992)) and is attributed to a symmetry and energy mismatch between Cu(II) σ* magnetic orbitals and the πnbmolecular orbitals of the bridging ligand which are important for superexchange. Keywords: superexchange, copper dimer, dicyanamidobenzene.

The hormonal contraceptive medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) is associated with increased risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), via incompletely understood mechanisms. Increased diversity in the vaginal microbiota modulates genital inflammation and is associated with increased HIV-1 acquisition. However, the effect of MPA on diversity of the vaginal microbiota is relatively unknown. In a cohort of female Kenyan sex workers, negative for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), with Nugent scores <7 (N=58 of 370 screened), MPA correlated with significantly increased diversity of the vaginal microbiota as assessed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. MPA was also significantly associated with decreased levels of estrogen in the plasma, and low vaginal glycogen and α-amylase, factors implicated in vaginal colonization by lactobacilli, bacteria that are believed to protect against STIs. In a humanized mouse model, MPA treatment was associated with low serum estrogen, low glycogen and enhanced HIV-1 susceptibility. The mechanism by which the MPA-mediated changes in the vaginal microbiota may contribute to HIV-1 susceptibility in humans appears to be independent of inflammatory cytokines and/or activated T cells. Altogether, these results suggest MPA-induced hypo-estrogenism may alter key metabolic components that are necessary for vaginal colonization by certain bacterial species including lactobacilli, and allow for greater bacterial diversity in the vaginal microbiota. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is a serious postharvest pathogen of avocado fruits worldwide. Kenya lacks any registered fungicides for the management of the disease. Nevertheless, farmers commonly use commercially available fungicides such as Bayleton 25WP (Triadimefon 250 g/Kg), Milraz 76WP (Propineb 70% and Cymoxanil 6%), and Copper oxychloride 500WP for disease management. The efficacy of these fungicides against C. gloeosporioides is not known. The purpose of this study was therefore to test the inhibitory effect of these fungicides against 46 C. gloeosporioides isolates from avocado fruits collected from varieties grown at different agroecological zones in Murang’a County, a popular avocado-growing region in Kenya. Mycelial growth rate and sporulation for each isolate were measured in vitro on PDA plates amended with different concentrations of the fungicides. Plates were arranged in a completely randomized design with three replications per treatment. All fungicides were effective in vitro but there were significant differences in sensitivity among isolates. Bayleton had the highest mycelial inhibition followed by Milraz, while copper oxychloride had the lowest mycelial inhibition rates, ranging from 81% to 88%. However, copper oxychloride was more effective in inhibiting sporulation. The inhibitory effect of each fungicide was concentration-dependent, where twice the recommended concentration had the highest inhibitory effect, followed by the recommended concentration. Our results show that the fungicides used by farmers against C. gloeosporioides, the causal agent for anthracnose, are effective. We, however, recommend further field tests in different avocado-growing areas so as to validate their efficacy against various isolates and under different environments.

Non‐coding RNAs play important roles in regulation of gene expression. Specific recognition and inhibition of these biologically important RNAs that form complex double‐helical structures will be highly useful for fundamental studies in biology and practical applications in medicine. This protocol describes a strategy developed in our laboratory for sequence‐selective recognition of double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA) using triple‐helix‐forming peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) that bind in the major grove of the RNA helix. The strategy developed uses chemically modified nucleobases, such as 2‐aminopyridine (M), which enables strong triple‐helical binding under physiologically relevant conditions, and 2‐pyrimidinone (P) and 3‐oxo‐2,3‐dihydropyridazine (E), which enable recognition of isolated pyrimidines in the purine‐rich strand of the RNA duplex. Detailed protocols for preparation of modified PNA monomers, solid‐phase synthesis, HPLC purification of PNA oligomers, and measuring dsRNA binding affinity using isothermal titration calorimetry are included. Curr. Protoc. Nucleic Acid Chem. 58:4.60.1‐4.60.23. © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.