Drivers of Solid Waste Segregation and Recycling in Kampala Slums, Uganda: A Qualitative Exploration Using the Behavior Centered Design Model.

Solid-waste management is a challenge in many cities, especially in low-income countries, including Uganda. Simple and inexpensive strategies such as solid-waste segregation and recycling have the potential to reduce risks associated with indiscriminate waste management. Unfortunately, these strategies have not been studied and adopted in slums in low-income countries. This cross-sectional qualitative study, therefore, used the behavioral-centered design model to understand the drivers of recycling in Kampala slums. Data were coded using ATLAS ti version 7.0, and content analysis was used for interpreting the findings. Our findings revealed that the study practices were not yet habitual and were driven by the presence of physical space for segregation containers, and functional social networks in the communities. Additionally, financial rewards and awareness related to the recycling benefits, and available community support were found to be critical drivers. The availability of infrastructure and objects for segregation and recycling and the influence of politics and policies were identified. There is, therefore, need for both the public and private sector to engage in developing and implementing the relevant laws and policies on solid waste recycling, increase community awareness of the critical behavior, and create sustainable markets for waste segregated and recycled products.

Topical hydrogen peroxide treatment of ischemic ulcers in the guinea pig: blood recruitment in multiple skin sites.

BACKGROUND: Oxygen deficit is a key factor associated with delayed healing of ischemic wounds in human beings. Topical oxygen-releasing compounds such as hydrogen peroxide or tetrachlorodecaoxide have been suggested as therapy for ischemic tissue. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to monitor the effect of hydrogen peroxide cream on the process of ischemic ulcer healing with a model for ischemic ulcers in the guinea pig. METHODS: Measurement of vascular perfusion with a laser Doppler velocimeter and gross observations of percentage of nonnecrotic wound surface were made on ischemic wounds in guinea pigs after treatment with either a hydrogen peroxide cream or a placebo cream. RESULTS: Visual evaluations of the percentage of nonnecrotic wound surface showed no statistically significant differences among the treatments. In contrast, vascular perfusion measurements resulted in statistically significant differences. Blood flow was significantly higher up to day 15 in ulcers treated with 2% hydrogen peroxide cream than in those treated with placebo cream. Vascular perfusion was significantly higher in ulcers treated with 3.5% hydrogen peroxide cream than in ulcers treated with either 1.5% hydrogen peroxide cream or placebo. Adjacent control sites in guinea pigs whose ulcers were treated with hydrogen peroxide cream showed increased vascular perfusion compared with corresponding sites in animals whose ulcers were treated with placebo. Even distant flank control sites of ulcers treated with 3.5% hydrogen peroxide cream showed increased vascular perfusion. CONCLUSION: Treatment of ischemia-induced ulcers with hydrogen peroxide cream enhanced cutaneous blood recruitment not only to ulcers and adjacent sites, but also to distant sites.

Adhesion re-formation in the rabbit uterine horn model: I. Reduction with carboxymethylcellulose.

Adhesion re-formation frequently complicates the performance of adhesiolysis in reproductive pelvic surgery. To assess the ability of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) to reduce adhesion re-formation, a rabbit uterine horn model was employed. Adhesions were created at laparotomy by scraping a 5-cm segment of each uterine horn. This injury reproducibly creates adhesions. Two weeks later, repeat laparotomy was performed, at which time all adhesions were lysed by sharp dissection. Animals were then randomly assigned to the control or CMC (20 mL of 2% solution) group. Necropsy was performed 2 weeks later. At both the second operative procedure and the time of necropsy, adhesions were graded in a blind fashion for severity and tenacity. There was no difference in adhesion score in the control and CMC-treated rabbits at the time of adhesiolysis. Subsequently, at the time of necropsy, the mean adhesion reformation score in the control group was 3.96 (median = 4.0). In contrast, adhesion re-formation in the CMC-treated group was significantly less (mean score = 2.15; median = 2.0; sign test, P less than .01). In summary, CMC significantly reduced adhesion re-formation in the rabbit uterine horn model. The mechanism by which CMC was able to reduce adhesion reformation is uncertain, but may be related to "hydroflotation" or "siliconizing" effects.

Assessment of carboxymethylcellulose and 32% dextran 70 for prevention of adhesions in a rabbit uterine horn model.

The ability of solutions of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and 32% dextran 70 to reduce postoperative adhesion formation was examined using a rabbit uterine-horn scrape model. Utilization of 50 mL of 32% dextran 70 did not reduce adhesion formation compared with control rabbits. However, intraperitoneal instillation of CMC significantly reduced postoperative adhesion formation. An inverse correlation was established between either the concentration of CMC employed (1%, 2%, and 3%) or the volume of 2% CMC employed (20, 30, 40, and 50 mL) and the extent of adhesion formation. It is concluded that in this animal model CMC, but not 32% dextran 70, was able to retard postoperative adhesion formation.

Adhesion reduction in the rabbit uterine horn model using an absorbable barrier, TC-7.

Use of a resorbable barrier (TC-7) to reduce adhesion formation was examined in the rabbit uterine horn model. Early evaluation (four days) established that the material remained where initially placed. Examination at two, four and eight weeks postoperatively in both control and treated groups revealed that the extent of adhesion formation did not change as a function of time. When compared to control animals without TC-7, the treated rabbits has a significant reduction (P less than .01) in postoperative adhesion formation. No complications from use of this fabric were noted, and no gross remnants were noted at the two-week time point. TC-7 appears to be an efficacious barrier for reducing adhesion formation in the rabbit uterine horn model.

A model for sidewall adhesions in the rabbit: reduction by an absorbable barrier.

Despite use of surgical adjuvants, pelvic adhesions frequently develop following infertility surgery. Recently a resorbable biocompatible material, TC 7, has been designed to be used as a barrier to reduce adhesion formation. Reproducibly severe sidewall adhesions were only able to be created in one of six models tested. The model consisted of the following steps: excision of a full thickness 2 x 2-cm musculoperitoneal tissue mass, scraping of an adjacent 2-cm length of uterine horn, tamponading of all bleeding, and suturing (6-0 Vicryl) of normal tube and sidewall so as to directly approximate the traumatized tissues. Studies were conducted in 13 rabbits after creation of the bilateral sidewall and horn lesions, each serving as its own control. Choice of control and TC 7 sides was determined randomly. Adhesion formation was examined 2 weeks postoperatively. No residual material was noted at that time. Adhesion scores were the composite total of extent (0-4), type (0-4), and tenacity (0-3) of sidewall adhesions, and were significantly reduced on the TC 7 side as compared with the control side (mean 6.8 +/- 0.4 vs 9.0 +/- 0.3, median 6 vs 9, sign test P = 0.0032). No complications of use of the barrier were noted. It is concluded that use of TC 7, a resorbable biocompatible barrier, was able to significantly reduce postoperative adhesion formation on the rabbit sidewall.

The kinetics of ornithine decarboxylase activity as a function of wounding in guinea pig ear epidermis.

Guinea pig ear stratum corneum was removed to increasing depths by 1, 3, 6 or 9 strippings with adhesive tape. Increasing ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity responses were observed in the epidermis 4.5 hr after wounding with 3, 6 or 9 tape strippings. The kinetics of this ODC response were investigated at intervals including, 2, 4.5, 12, 18, 24 and 72 hr after tape stripping. ODC activity was significantly elevated for 12 hr after 3 or 6 tape strippings and for at least 72 hr after 9 tape strippings. These effects were independent of hair plucking or depilation prior to wounding. This model is potentially useful for comparing the effects of chemical, mechanical and physical stimuli on ODC activity and subsequent polyamine synthesis.

Role of naming in delayed matching-to-sample.

A delayed matching-to-sample task, with pictures as sample and comparison stimuli, was given to four severely retarded youths. Although they matched accurately when the sample picture was available for comparison, they performed poorly on the delayed-matching in which the sample was removed a few seconds before the comparison stimuli appeared. When dictated names rather than pictures were presented as samples, three of the four subjects could match pictures to the names even under delay conditions which caused complete breakdown of picture-picture matching. Further tests indicated that these three subjects could name the pictures. Apparently, these three subjects were not applying existing skills (naming and remembering names during a delay) to the performances of the visual delayed-matching task. The second experiment confirmed that when the subjects were instructed to name the pictures during the matching task, they could do delayed picture-picture matching accurately. These findings suggested that some retarded persons, like some young children, may fail to bring existing language skills to the performance of a new task; instructions may bring out such skills, but the effect of the instructions may be transitory.