ABSTRACT Crinum jagus is a medicinal plant used traditionally to treat tuberculosis, malaria and other bacterial infections. However, there are limited documented scientific studies to substantiate the use of this plant. Due to increase in resistance to malaria and tuberculosis drugs, the need for the development of other drugs is pertinent. This study was designed to determine the pharmacological activities of extract and fractions of Crinum jagus. Methanol extract of C. jagus obtained by so...
ABSTRACT Most studies on groundwater in Nigeria have always been limited to either their occurrence or chemistry, with insufficient attention on potential, chemical character and evolution. This study therefore was designed to evaluate groundwater in Abeokuta (Basement Complex) and Ikorodu (Sedimentary) areas with the aim of highlighting groundwater potential, chemical characteristics and provenance in the two geologically contrasting terrains. A total of 125 Vertical Electrical Soundings (VE...
ABSTRACT Management of tourism-based protected areas often presents challenges in balancing biodiversity conservation and tourism development. Thus, understanding the interaction of related socio-ecological systems is essential for conservation. This study assessed how tourist roads, being part of tourism infrastructural development, impacts on the conservation efforts in the Etosha National Park, one of Namibia’s hotspot for biodiversity conservation and visitor attractions. For empirical...
ABSTRACT Tylosema esculentum is a nutritious drought avoiding plant endemic to the Kalahari Desert. Our study assessed the density, diversity and distribution of endophytic microbial community structures associated with leaves, stems and tuberous roots of T. esculentum in Eastern Namibia. Culture-dependent and PCR-based 454 pyrosequencing methods were used. ANOVA with pairwise comparison revealed a significant difference in bacterial density between below and above ground. Endophytic bacteri...
ABSTRACT Provision of electricity in rural areas enhances the achievement of economic and social development objectives. A photovoltaic mini-grid in the Tsumkwe Settlement Area of Namibia was established to enhance human and community development in the sparsely populated rural areas of Namibia to alleviate poverty. The impact that the mini-grid has had on the target beneficiaries has not been fully quantified and qualified. This study evaluated, and documents such impacts, thus facilitating...
ABSTRACT Informal settlements expansion and development continues to be a problem for the government and urban planners. Understanding spatial dynamics of informal settlements may therefore be a key for future success in their effective management. This research explores the possibilities offered by the advancement in GeoInformation science and spatial analysis to improve the understanding of informal settlement spatial dynamics. A geographical information system (GIS) was used to analyse th...
Abstract The protection of biodiversity within cities is becoming more crucial by the increasing number of people living in urban areas. Within this study urban agriculture projects (UAP) are analysed according to their ability to face this challenge. It was uncertain if UAP exist in Windhoek, this study proofs that they do. This research was undertaken in two cities: Windhoek, Namibia and Berlin, Germany under special consideration of two main research questions: (1) Does UAP have the abili...
Abstract The Ohangwena Multi-Layered Aquifer (KOH) is one of the six Aquifer Systems found in the Cuvelai-Etosha Basin, Namibia. The aquifer system is multi layered, consisting of a shallow perched Ohangwena 0 aquifer (KOH-0), semi-confined Ohangwena I aquifer (KOH-1), and confined Ohangwena II aquifer (KOH-2). Currently, a large portion of the population in the study area rely on water from KOH-0 by means of hand-dug wells. The occurrence and potential of this perched aquifer is not fully u...
ABSTRACT The poor performance of grade 10 learners has been a big concern over the last few years and in the effort to understand this phenomenon there has been efforts to present models that explain it. Modelling semi-continuous data with the presence of excess zeros has become a common phenomenon in real life situations. Common models such as linear models cannot handle zero-inflated data. This study aimed at exploring the factors which influence Khomas Region grade 10 learners’ pass rat...
ABSTRACT This empirical study was conducted in the Kabbe Constituency of the Zambezi Region which is inundated by recurrent floods of varying magnitudes each year. The flood risk perceptions and coping strategies used by the indigenous residents have not been given much academic attention. Although the flood mitigation approaches applied in the Kabbe Constituency seemingly ameliorate the disastrous impacts, they have proved inadequate. This study used 150 unstructured interviews and field st...
ABSTRACT We studied two models describing transmission dynamics of tuberculosis (TB) and discussed their implications to human health. The first model is analyzed in the presence of treatment of active TB persons and the screened asymptomatic TB infectives. The second model is analyzed by looking at treatment of drug sensitive TB as well as drug resistant TB individuals. The models are built with a motive to study the dynamical behaviors of the trajectories which has the potential to guide T...
Abstract Biotic and abiotic factors can alter the abundance and community composition of mammals and in turn that of associated parasites. The aim of the study was to measure the impact of climatic variables (temperature and relative humidity) on mammal populations and on the population dynamics of associated micro- and ecto-parasites. For this, the current study described prevalence and diversity of pathogenic Leptospira, the etiological agent of leptospirosis, and fleas, arthropod vectors ...
Abstract Namibia is among the driest countries in the world, and with the current drought that the country is experiencing, there is a greater need to provide drinking water not only to Windhoek, but the greater Nation at large. The Gammams Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is responsible for treating domestic and some industrial wastewater, regularly experiences toxic pluses that result in the inhibition of nitrification in the activated sludge process, leading to poor removal of ammonia. T...
Abstract An understanding of the water used by vegetation in water limited environment is critical to fully understand water relations of natural areas with vegetation. Such information can be integrated in water management plans to estimate the influence of groundwater abstraction on the vegetation. Trees and shrubs are able to access water from: the upper unsaturated soil profile, the capillary zone of a groundwater store, from nearby streams and rivers. Previous studies have proven that u...
ABSTRACT Medicinal plants are rich in a wide variety of bioactive compounds associated with various ailments; including antibacterial activity and some of them have been used worldwide in traditional settings to treat diarrheal diseases. However evidence on safety and efficacy of some of these traditional medicinal plants is lacking, preventing their mainstream use. This study aimed at determining the antibacterial activity of Boscia albitrunca, Ziziphus mucronata, Combretum apiculatum, Sola...