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Summary: The majority of diabetes research to date has rightly focussed on the direct effects of hyperglycaemia on tissues and a number of theories relating to the pathogenesis of vascular disease have been proposed. This research is important as until methods are found to achieve glycaemic control in all diabetic patients, prophylactic interventions to prevent vasculopathy will be required. One of the major blood proteins, human albumin is known to be covalently modified by extended incubation with glucose, leading to an impairment of ligand binding. One of the important ligands bound by albumin is homocysteine. There is increasing and compelling clinical, experimental and epidemiological evidence that homocysteine, and in particular the free unbound fraction, is vasculotoxic. If homocysteine binding to albumin is impaired by increasing glycosylation of albumin then either drugs which reduce homocysteine levels (pyridoxine, folic acid and cobalamin) or inhibit glycosylation (aminoguanidines) may be of benefit in the prevention of vascular damage in diabetic patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We prepared zinc-doped tin oxide (ZTO) films of various concentrations of zinc using the ultrasonic spray pyrolysis technique. The surface morphology and roughness were studied by Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscope and atomic force microscope. Systematic x-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements revealed that all films have tetragonal rutile structure and mixed preferred orientation along the (200) and (110) planes. The proper substitution of zinc ions into tin sites and the absence of any secondary phase in the films were proved by the analysis of the x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements. The detailed analysis of the optical absorption spectra revealed the presence of four direct optical transitions within the energy range 3.8–5.1 eV. The defect levels of the neutral and double-ionized oxygen vacancy states were determined within the energy bandgap by the comprehensive analysis of the photoluminescence spectra. The existence of high concentration of oxygen vacancies is supported by the XPS results. The observed transitions were used to sketch the band diagram of ZTO films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To map the integration of existing maternal tetanus immunization programmes within antenatal care (ANC) services for pregnant women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and to identify and understand the challenges, barriers and facilitators associated with high performance maternal vaccine service delivery. A mixed methods, cross sectional study with four data collection phases including a desk review, online survey, telephone and face-to-face interviews and in country visits was undertaken between 2016 and 2018. Associations of different service delivery process components with protection at birth (PAB) and with country groups were established. PAB was defined as the proportion of neonates protected at birth against neonatal tetanus. Regression analysis and structural equation modelling was used to assess associations of different variables with maternal tetanus immunization coverage. Latent class analysis (LCA), was used to group country performance for maternal immunization, and to address the problem of multicollinearity. LMICs. The majority of LMICs had a policy on recommended number of ANC visits, however most were yet to implement the WHO guidelines recommending eight ANC contacts. Countries that recommended > 4 ANC contacts were more likely to have high PAB > 90%. Passive disease surveillance was the most common form of disease surveillance performed but the maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality indicators recorded differed between countries. The presence of user fees for antenatal care and maternal immunization was significantly associated with lower PAB (<90%). Recommendations include implementing the current WHO ANC guideline to facilitate increased opportunities for vaccination during each pregnancy. Improved utilisation of ANC services by increasing the demand side by increasing the quality of services, reducing any associated costs and supporting user fee exemptions, or the supply side can also enhance utilisation of ANC services which are positioned as an ideal platform for delivery of maternal vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been a growing interest in jatropha- and sugarcane-based biofuels across Sub-Sahara Africa. Biofuel expansion in the region reflects policy concerns related to energy security, poverty alleviation and economic development. However, biofuels have also been linked to numerous environmental and socioeconomic impacts such as GHG emissions, water availability/pollution, deforestation, biodiversity loss, poverty alleviation, energy security, loss of access to land and food security to name just a few. Yet there is (a) an insufficient understanding of these impacts (and their synergies) in Sub-Sahara Africa, and (b) a lack of policies that could regulate the biofuel sector and ensure its viability while at the same time preventing its negative impact. The aim of this literature review is to synthesize the current knowledge about biofuel impacts in Africa and to identify priority policy areas that should be targeted for enhancing biofuel sustainability in the continent. The findings of this review indicate that biofuel impacts can be positive or negative depending on several factors such as the feedstock, the environmental/socio-economic context of biofuel production, and the policy instruments in place during biofuel production, use and trade. In most cases there are significant trade-offs but at least part of the negative impacts can be mitigated through careful planning. The incomplete and piecemeal understanding of these trade-offs combined with agronomic, institutional and market failures are currently the most important barriers for the viability and sustainability of biofuel investments in the continent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]