WWF Tanzania

Abstract We investigated the distribution of range overlap between contiguous pairs of congeneric bird species along a 200-2800 m elevational gradient in the eastern Himalayas. Over a 3-year field survey between from 2012 to 2014 we recorded 15867 birds comprising 245 species in elevational intervals of 50 m. From this data set, we selected 107 congeneric pairs and fit a logistic curve to the abundance ratio versus elevation data to estimate the width of transition zone over which the species ratio changes from 90% to 10%. We found that the distribution of the transition widths range from < 50 m (about a quarter of the pairs) to more than 500 m. This lack of physical exclusion suggests that there is considerable niche separation between closely related species. For a smaller subset of species pairs with better quality data and model fit we investigated the correlation between the degree of range overlap (transition width) on the one hand, and phylogenetic distance and morphological trait difference on the other. We found a significant correlation with mass, beak width and wing size, but not with tarsus length, beak length and phylogenetic distance. This suggests that mass beak width and wing size may play an important role in niche differentiation in the area.

This study explored the roles, practices, and challenges of teachers in advancing Braille literacy among learners with visual impairments in the foremost schools for the blind in Ghana. Data were collected through focus group interviews and an observation schedule with teachers, particularly those specialising in language instruction. Findings revealed that teachers’ roles in Braille literacy extend beyond direct instruction of Braille symbols to encompass pedagogy, resource management, technology mediation, emotional support, and advocacy, highlighting the multifaceted nature of their responsibilities. In setting up Braille literacy programmes, teachers reported that they considered the age of onset of the disability, employed task analyses to facilitate gradual learning, and assessed the nature of impairment to determine whether learners could engage with both Braille and print or only Braille. However, the study also identified significant challenges undermining Braille literacy instruction. These include shortage and irregular supply of Braille textbooks and learning materials, limited teacher preparation and professional development in Braille pedagogy, large class sizes that restricte individualised instruction, and systemic issues such as inconsistent implementation of inclusive-education policies, inadequate funding for special education, and weak inter-agency coordination. The study recommends the need for targeted professional training, improved resource provision, stronger policy implementation, and stakeholder collaboration to enhance Braille literacy and educational outcomes for learners with visual impairments in Ghana.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0093/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Proper nutrition is essential for women with HIV during pregnancy; however, information on how to access nutritious diets is scarce. This study, informed by the socio-ecological perspectives, examines the barriers to obtaining a healthy diet among pregnant women living with HIV in the Njombe region of Tanzania. A qualitative study employing the ethnography method using semi-structured and narrative interviews to gather information from key informant interviews, indepth interviews and focus group discussions engaged a diverse range of stakeholders. The analysis was done by MAXQDA software employing qualitative content analysis. Further, the thematic analysis was carried out by assigning data into relevant codes to generate categories based on study objectives. The study found inadequate nutritional knowledge among individuals and some healthcare providers in the Njombe region. Poor emotional and physical support from spouses and family members caused pregnant women living with HIV to shoulder an excessive household workload, leading to exhaustion and stress, which hindered their ability to practice healthy dietary behaviors. The level of alcohol consumption was high, posing a risk to their health and well-being. The study identified significant barriers at the individual, community, environmental, and organizational levels that prevent pregnant women living with HIV in the Njombe region of Tanzania from accessing healthy diets. Elevating nutritional awareness within these communities is essential for improving the knowledge, skills, and motivation of pregnant women, their partners, and the wider community to embrace healthy and nutritious dietary practices. While various obstacles to healthy diets may exist, motivation and intentionality in pursuing those dietary choices are equally important. Even in the face of challenges, individuals with a strong understanding of nutrition are more likely to discover alternative strategies to maintain healthy diets.

Aim: This study explored the drivers of seasonal African elephant (Loxodonta africana) habitat use in small, enclosed conservation areas with limited space and no migration corridors. It also examined how these habitat-use dynamics influence management strategies, human–wildlife conflict mitigation, and long-term sustainability of elephant populations in isolated protected areas. Location: The study was conducted in Mwea National Reserve, a 44 km² fenced protected area in Kenya. Methods: Elephant distribution was assessed using indirect signs of presence. A total of 96 straight-line dung transects (250 m each) and 350 m reconnaissance walks were conducted across the reserve to document dung occurrence. Seasonal distribution was modeled using Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) employing five environmental predictors. We hypothesized that (i) water and forage availability would be the primary determinants of dry-season habitat use, and (ii) landscape variables would be more influential in the wet season when water and forage are less limiting. Results: MaxEnt models performed moderately well, with AUC values of 0.714 (dry season) and 0.664 (wet season). In the dry season, the most influential predictors were the presence of invasive plant species (28.9%), proximity to permanent rivers (26.9%), and elevation (26.5%). In the wet season, distance to the reserve boundary was the strongest predictor (38.9%). The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) maintained a relatively stable influence across seasons (16.2% dry, 20.1% wet). Conclusions: Seasonal shifts in elephant habitat-use underscore the need for targeted management while control of invasive species in dry-season grazing areas would enhance forage availability. Furthermore, maintaining fence integrity in the wet season is essential tool for reducing elephant range expansion and mitigating human–wildlife conflict. These findings provide spatially explicit insights for managing elephant populations in small, enclosed conservation areas particularly in savanna ecosystems.

We aimed to determine the association between frailty status and outcomes in patients with post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP). Appended data were obtained from the 2016-2017 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. We performed a nationwide cohort study utilizing International Classification of Diseases (ICD) diagnostic codes to identify adult patients with PEP. The Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS) was used to classify patients as frail or non-frail. The primary outcome was composite complications related to PEP including all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes were length of stay and total hospitalization costs. There were 41,615 patients represented in the data, with 34.6% (14,382) characterized as frail and 65.4% (27,233) as non-frail. Of frail patients, 60.7% suffered composite complications related to PEP compared with 29.3% of non-frail patients ( P < 0.001). Frail patients had more cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, renal and endocrine, neurological, and infectious complications compared with non-frail patients. Frail patients also had higher all-cause mortality rates during inpatient admission (4.6% vs under 0.1%, P < 0.001) and increased length of stay (11.6 vs 0.8 d, P < 0.001) as well as total hospitalization charges ($140,855 vs $73,539, P < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, positive frailty status was associated with 2.94 times increased odds of having composite complications. Frailty assessments can be utilized as a predictor of outcomes and serve to guide clinical decision-making when determining prophylactic measures in patients undergoing ERCP who may be at risk for PEP.

The study assessed the effect of mental mathematics games with consecutive numbers’ datasets on students’ fluency in determining with means and medians of datasets. The embedded mixed methods design was employed using the non-equivalent group quasi-experimental design. A purposive sample of two schools out of four senior high and technical schools in the district were selected, and simple random sampling technique was used to select one Form 2 intact class from each school, one as control group and the other as experimental group. A sample size of 61 students were involved comprising 30 in the control group and 31 in the experimental group. Both qualitative and quantitative data was collected using tests and interview guide. Pre-test was administered to all students before the experiment, which was followed by a post-test. The experimental group was taught using mental mathematics games with consecutive numbers’ datasets and the contorol group was taught with the conventional method without mental math exercises. The findings from the independent samples t-test showed that the mean score of students taught using mental mathematics games with consecutive numbers’ datasets (M=19.71; SD=6.28) was significantly higher than the mean score of students taught using the conventional method (M=12.17; SD=3.65), leading to a statistically significant difference in the students’ mean scores [t (59) = 7.48, p = .000). This suggests there was a positive effect of the treatment in improving the students’ fluency in determining means and medians. Though the results demonstrated that both groups improved, the paired sample t-test indicated the experimental group’s effect size, 1.47, was higher than the control group’s 0.75. The interview results indicated the students perceived the mental mathematics games as making their learning meaningful, enjoyable and led to better conceptual understanding. It is recommended that teachers should incorporate the use of mental mathematics games in their lessons to improve students’ mental computational fluency.

ABSTRACT In the transformation of our subjectivity into its three-dimensional simulation it is easy to overlook the moment when our psycho-corporeality starts to lose its proper proportions. One way to remedy this is a rethinking of the metaphorical potential of the “tridimensional body.” In the psychoanalytic theory of Jacques Lacan we can find the tripartition of the real, the imaginary, and the symbolic as an accurate description of the mind–body wholeness. Therefore, the scope of this article is presented from the perspective of Lacanian tripartition, in the hope that this approach will help to reveal the full dimensions of the body.