Background Monitoring of malaria vector populations provides valuable information regarding disea... more Background Monitoring of malaria vector populations provides valuable information regarding disease transmission risk as well as estimates of the effectiveness of vector control. The Suna trap is introduced and evaluated with regard to its potential as a new standardised odour-baited tool for mosquito monitoring and control. Methods Dual-choice experiments with female Anopheles gambiae sensu lato under free-flight conditions in a laboratory room and a semi-field enclosure were used to compare catch rates of an odour baited Suna trap compared with an odour baited MM-X trap. The relative performance of the Suna trap, CDC light trap and MM-X trap as tools for mosquito monitoring was compared inside a human-occupied experimental hut in a semi-field enclosure. Use of the Suna trap as a tool to prevent mosquito house entry was also evaluated using an experimental hut in a semi-field enclosure, and the optimal hanging height of Suna traps was established by placing traps at heights ranging from 15 to 105 cm above the ground outside houses in western Kenya. Results In dual-choice laboratory experiments the mean proportion of An. gambiae s.l. caught in the Suna trap was 3.2 times greater than in the MM-X trap (P<0.001), whereas in semi-field conditions, the traps performed equivalently (P=0.615). As a tool for monitoring mosquitoes inside an occupied house, the Suna trap outperformed an unlit CDC light trap (P<0.001). When the CDC light trap was illuminated the two traps performed equally (P=0.127). Suspending a Suna trap outside an experimental hut reduced entry rates by 32.8% compared with nights where no Suna trap hung outside (P<0.001). Under field conditions, suspending the trap at 30 cm above ground level resulted in the greatest catch sizes (mean 25.8 An. gambiae s.l. per trap night). Conclusions The performance of the Suna trap equals that of the CDC light trap and MM-X trap when used to sample An. gambiae s.s. inside a human-occupied house under semi-field conditions. The trap is effective in sampling mosquitoes outside houses in the field, and the use of a synthetic blend of attractants negates the requirement of a human bait. Hanging a Suna trap outside a house can reduce An. gambiae house entry, its use as a novel tool for reducing malaria transmission risk will be evaluated in peri-domestic settings in sub-Saharan Africa.
This paper is an effort to utilize abundant availability of natural fibres and waste plastics for... more This paper is an effort to utilize abundant availability of natural fibres and waste plastics for the development of composite materials based on polymer and particles of natural fibres for conservation of natural resources such as forests. Ensete false banana (EFB) fibres were used as reinforcement to obtain composites with melted waste polyethylene bottled as matrix phase. The composites were prepared by means of compression moulding, and then the effects of fibres loading on mechanical properties such as impact strength, flexural strength, and wear resistance were investigated. Water uptake was also studied. It was observed that the flexural modulus, compressive strength and flexural strength of treated EBF reinforced PE increased linearly with increment of fibres loadings. This trend was similar for impact strength where it exhibited a slight reduction at the initial stage but increased later as the fibres loading increased. It was also observed the water absorption increased with increase in fibres loading. Machining operations such as grinding, milling, drilling and cutting can be performed on the composite. The study has demonstrated that the optimum fibres loading for the best performance of the composite achieved was 30 wt%. The composite produced has a high potential as alternative block board materials.
Background Monitoring of malaria vector populations provides valuable information regarding disea... more Background Monitoring of malaria vector populations provides valuable information regarding disease transmission risk as well as estimates of the effectiveness of vector control. The Suna trap is introduced and evaluated with regard to its potential as a new standardised odour-baited tool for mosquito monitoring and control. Methods Dual-choice experiments with female Anopheles gambiae sensu lato under free-flight conditions in a laboratory room and a semi-field enclosure were used to compare catch rates of an odour baited Suna trap compared with an odour baited MM-X trap. The relative performance of the Suna trap, CDC light trap and MM-X trap as tools for mosquito monitoring was compared inside a human-occupied experimental hut in a semi-field enclosure. Use of the Suna trap as a tool to prevent mosquito house entry was also evaluated using an experimental hut in a semi-field enclosure, and the optimal hanging height of Suna traps was established by placing traps at heights ranging from 15 to 105 cm above the ground outside houses in western Kenya. Results In dual-choice laboratory experiments the mean proportion of An. gambiae s.l. caught in the Suna trap was 3.2 times greater than in the MM-X trap (P<0.001), whereas in semi-field conditions, the traps performed equivalently (P=0.615). As a tool for monitoring mosquitoes inside an occupied house, the Suna trap outperformed an unlit CDC light trap (P<0.001). When the CDC light trap was illuminated the two traps performed equally (P=0.127). Suspending a Suna trap outside an experimental hut reduced entry rates by 32.8% compared with nights where no Suna trap hung outside (P<0.001). Under field conditions, suspending the trap at 30 cm above ground level resulted in the greatest catch sizes (mean 25.8 An. gambiae s.l. per trap night). Conclusions The performance of the Suna trap equals that of the CDC light trap and MM-X trap when used to sample An. gambiae s.s. inside a human-occupied house under semi-field conditions. The trap is effective in sampling mosquitoes outside houses in the field, and the use of a synthetic blend of attractants negates the requirement of a human bait. Hanging a Suna trap outside a house can reduce An. gambiae house entry, its use as a novel tool for reducing malaria transmission risk will be evaluated in peri-domestic settings in sub-Saharan Africa.
This paper is an effort to utilize abundant availability of natural fibres and waste plastics for... more This paper is an effort to utilize abundant availability of natural fibres and waste plastics for the development of composite materials based on polymer and particles of natural fibres for conservation of natural resources such as forests. Ensete false banana (EFB) fibres were used as reinforcement to obtain composites with melted waste polyethylene bottled as matrix phase. The composites were prepared by means of compression moulding, and then the effects of fibres loading on mechanical properties such as impact strength, flexural strength, and wear resistance were investigated. Water uptake was also studied. It was observed that the flexural modulus, compressive strength and flexural strength of treated EBF reinforced PE increased linearly with increment of fibres loadings. This trend was similar for impact strength where it exhibited a slight reduction at the initial stage but increased later as the fibres loading increased. It was also observed the water absorption increased with increase in fibres loading. Machining operations such as grinding, milling, drilling and cutting can be performed on the composite. The study has demonstrated that the optimum fibres loading for the best performance of the composite achieved was 30 wt%. The composite produced has a high potential as alternative block board materials.
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