37 research outputs found
The Effect of Canopy Architecture and Seasonal Variations on Several Seed Quality Attributes in Soybean (Glycine Max L. Merr.)
No full textProducing high quality soybean seed in the hot humid tropics is no easy task. During
seed production, several environmental factors and plant morphological characteristics
can exert their influences on seed quality. A study was undertaken at Universiti Putra
Malaysia to study the effect of canopy architecture and seasonal variations on several
seed quality attributes in soybean (GZycine max L. Merr.). Four soybean cultivars
namely, Palmetto, AGS190, Deing and Cikurai were grown in the field for four seasons
during 2003 and 2004. Four levels of defoliation treatments [0% defoliation
(*170.89pmol m'2s" light intensity), 25% defoliation (*324.33pmol m'2s-' light
intensity), 50% defoliation (*473.01pmol m-2s-' light intensity) and 75% defoliation
(+642.84pmol m'2s" light intensity], were iniposed at the pod initiation stage (R3).
Weather factors such as light intensity, canopy, air and soil temperatures, canopy and air
relative humidity, soil moisture and leaf area index were recorded at seven-day intervals
starting from the imposition of defoliation until plants reached physiological maturity
(R7). Seeds harvested at harvest maturity (R8) were used to determine seed yield,
viability, vigour, 1 00-seed weight and for Phomopsis bioassay. Phomopsis sp. seed
infection was predicted using weather factors and leaf area index. Scanning electron
microscopy (SEM) was used to study the progression and colonization of Phomopsis sp.
on the stem, pod and seed starting from R3 until R8.
Defoliation treatments were found to have inconsistent effects on seed yield (kg ha-')
and pods per plant for AGS190, Deing and Palmetto. Pod number of Palmetto was
affected during season Ill only whereas the pod number for Cikurai was significantly
affected for all seasons. However, defoliation treatments affected 100-seed weight for all
cultivars except for AGS 190 (season I), Deing (season IV) and Cikurai (season 111).
From the combined analysis of data over the four seasons, defoliation improved percent
seed germination from 6.8 to 13.2%. Increasing the level of defoliation resulted in
increasing percent germination and 3-day seedling height and reduced Phomopsis
incidence for all cultivars. The highest germination was recorded during season I1 which
coincided with the least level of Phomopsis sp. seed infection. Moreover, this disease
was influenced by seasonal variations. The disease incidence was high during seasons Ill
(51.3%) and IV (49.5%) characterized by high rainfall during seed development and
maturation as compared to seasons I and 11 which encountered low rainfall situations
(33.3% and 32.5%, respectively). AGSl90, a large seeded cultivar, was severely
affected by the seed-borne disease (51.5% infection) whereas Deing, a small seeded
cultivar, was the least affected (34.7%).
Defoliation treatments increased light intensity within the plant canopy for all cultivars
studied. Light intensity and canopy temperature revealed negative correlation with
percentage Phomopsis incidence indicating that high light intensity and temperature
inside plant canopy reduced Phomopsis sp. seed infection. On the contrary, positive
relationship was observed between canopy and air relative humidity, soil moisture and
leaf area index with percentage Phomopsis incidence. From the stepwise multiple
regression analysis, Phomopsis sp. seed infection can be predicted by leaf area index,
soil moisture and canopy relative humidity; while its reduction can be predicted by
increased light intensity and canopy temperature during seed development and
maturation.
Scanning electron microscopy revealed that hngi progression and colonization started at
different growth stages for different plant parts. Stems were infected during the early
reproductive stage (R3) whereas pods became noticeably infected during the full seed
stage (R6) and seeds were the last to be infected. The hngi were internally- borne within
the infected seeds. Fungal hyphae were observed externally on the surface of the plant
parts studied and internally both in the pod and in all the three layers of the seed coat:
palisade cell, hourglass cell and parenchyma cell layers. Fungi colonization was highest
at the late plant growth stages of R7 and R8.
A progressive increase in pod and seed infection was detected during subsequent growth
stages between R6 and R8. From the pod, the pathogen can infect and colonize the seed.
The SEM results suggested that the reproductive growth period of R6 to R7 was more
critical with respect to Phomopsis sp. seed infection than earlier reproductive growth
periods, since more severe colonization of pods and seeds took place at the later stages
of plant growth. SEM revealed that stem infection allowed buildup of inoculum for
subsequent infection of the pod, whereas pod infection was necessary for further
infection of seeds. Since pod infection is the prerequisite for seed infection, this study
suggests that fbngicide would be best applied between R4 and R5 before the seed-borne
fungi reach the seed during R6 and the subsequent growth stages.
Prediction model based on four seasons' data accurately described the relationship
between the environmental conditions and leaf area index during seed development and
maturation and the levels of seed infection by Phomopsis sp. Moreover, the model fitted
well with the field and laboratory data collected. However, this model needs to be tested
at multilocational trials for validity.
The results of the present study have shown that plant canopy modification through
defoliation appears to improve quality of seeds produced under wet and warm tropical
environments. In addition, the study also suggested that growing of soybean cultivars
with open canopies and having low leaf area index, coupled with rain-free harvesting
seasons can result in the production of high quality seeds. Although the prediction model
so developed in this study needs to be tested for validity at different locations and
variable environments, it has the potential to be used as a practical tool in plant disease
forecasting programs
Linear Estimate of the Number of Zeros of Abelian Integrals for a Kind of Quartic Hamiltonians
No full textAbstractAn upper bound B(n)⩽7n+5 is derived for the number of zeros of Abelian integrals I(h)=∮Γhg(x, y)dy−f(x, y)dx on the open interval Σ, where Γh is an oval lying on the algebraic curve H(x, y)=12y2+U(x)=h, degU(x)=4, and Σ is the maximal interval of existence of Γh. f(x, y), g(x, y) are polynomials of x and y and n=max{degf(x, y), degg(x, y)}
The Role of European Male in Relation to African Female Sexulization During Congo's Nineteenth Century Colonial Era
No full textabstract: Colonialism is the practice of conquering lands of already established individuals for the greater good of Western civilization. These actions are often rooted in the idea that the ways of the indigenous people are almost primitive in comparison to the ways of the West. Many forms of modern-day oppression are rooted in the disastrous acts against marginalized groups during colonial eras. In discourse relating to colonialism, it is necessary that the topic of the sexualization of Native groups are mentioned. Sexualization can be referred to as the act of sexualizing both humans and objects that are not intended to be innately sexual. Many literary texts were written during the nineteenth century expose the trends of sexualization towards indigenous peoples. More specifically, Heart of Darkness brings light to colonialism and provides insight into the European man’s sexualization for the Native woman. Within the text, the sexualization for the Native Congo woman is undeniably present all throughout the novel. Within the novella, the main character, Marlow, is infatuated with many aspects of the Native culture. He takes a particular interest in the land, when describing the land he uses verbiage such as “impenetrable� to describe lands that have yet to be discovered by Westerners. He describes the ways in which he no longer finds interest in lands that have been “penetrated�. These sexual undertones of virginity used to describe the Native land can be compared to that of a Native woman. Various aspects of the Native culture were sexualized in this similar manner, the sexual perspective they had on the Native women was so strong that they viewed all aspects of the Native sexually due to their linkage to the Native woman. This thesis serves to address the sexual connections made between the land and culture of the Congo to the Native woman. Many scholars praise the author for including a Native woman of power within the text, however, this thesis contradicts these claims and analyzes the ways in which this The native woman is only powerful due to the European male gaze. to how Africans within the congo were treated during their colonial era. The text provides insight into the unhealthy environments the Africans were forced to live in. They were forced to eat hippo meat and many physically looked as if they were on the verge of death while their white counterparts were dressed in luxury. Additionally, there was carelessness for the bodies of the Africans. Many were oversexualized and taken advantage of, due to the power systems placed upon them they were unable to deny any advances even if they wanted to. These systems of oppression are still in place, literary analysis of the remnants of colonialism can be found through twentieth and twenty-first-century texts. (abstract
Genotype-by-Environment Interaction and Yield Stability Analysis in Finger Millet (<i>Elucine coracana</i> L. Gaertn) in Ethiopia
No full textAntiretroviral Therapy and Retention in Care Experiences and Needs of Adolescents Living with HIV in Southern Ethiopia
No full textBackground: Adolescents with HIV are faced with challenges when taking care of their medication, which affects their treatment adherence. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the experiences and needs of adolescents living with HIV regarding their antiretroviral therapy adherence and retention in care in southern Ethiopia.Methods: An inductive qualitative study design was applied to explore adolescents' experiences and needs regarding antiretroviral treatment adherence and retention in care in southern Ethiopia. Eighteen adolescents were selected from five HIV care and treatment facilities by purposive sampling. The interviews followed an interview guide, translated into the participants' national language. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and the first author developed a coding frame for the analysis by using NVivo software including meaning units and codes, which were discussed by all authors. Then, sub-themes and themes were identified and analyzed by qualitative content analysis.Results: The results were described in two themes: barriers and facilitators for treatment adherence and retention in care. Barriers were described in seven subthemes and facilitators in three subthemes. Forgetting to take medication, hiding information, or non-disclosure of HIV status, being afraid to collect treatment drugs, being in an orphanage, and school activities were described as barriers while support from health care workers, families, personal motivation to cope with medication-related problems were described as facilitators for antiretroviral therapy adherence and retention in care.Conclusion: Adherence is a major challenge among adolescents living with HIV in Ethiopia, with barriers that are unique to this age group and their living conditions. Therefore, interventions should be targeted to address privacy barriers, stigma, and lack of support
Antiretroviral Therapy and Retention in Care Experiences and Needs of Adolescents Living with HIV in Southern Ethiopia [Elektronisk resurs]
No full textBackground: Adolescents with HIV are faced with challenges when taking care of their medication, which affects their treatment adherence. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the experiences and needs of adolescents living with HIV regarding their antiretroviral therapy adherence and retention in care in southern Ethiopia. Methods: An inductive qualitative study design was applied to explore adolescents' experiences and needs regarding antiretroviral treatment adherence and retention in care in southern Ethiopia. Eighteen adolescents were selected from five HIV care and treatment facilities by purposive sampling. The interviews followed an interview guide, translated into the participants' national language. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and the first author developed a coding frame for the analysis by using NVivo software including meaning units and codes, which were discussed by all authors. Then, sub-themes and themes were identified and analyzed by qualitative content analysis. Results: Theresults were described in two themes: barriers and facilitators for treatment adherence and retention in care. Barriers were described in seven subthemes and facilitators in three subthemes. Forgetting to take medication, hiding information, or non-disclosure of HIV status, being afraid to collect treatment drugs, being in an orphanage, and school activities were described as barriers while support from health care workers, families, personal motivation to cope with medication-related problems were described as facilitators for antiretroviral therapy adherence and retention in care. Conclusion: Adherence is a major challenge among adolescents living with HIV in Ethiopia, with barriers that are unique to this age group and their living conditions. Therefore, interventions should be targeted to address privacy barriers, stigma, and lack of support
Latv. dęgun-s and three different -n terminations
No full textLatvių kalbos degun-s (su reta -un- priesaga: Endzelīns 1971, 106; Būga RR II 213: vienintelis žodis latvių kalboje su tokia priesaga), deguon-s (dial.) 'nosis' turėtų reikšti 'bėgiką' ir pan. Iš tiesų tai agento priesaga. Ši priesaga, straipsnio autoriaus nuomone, turėjo bent jau baltų kalbose susilieti su *-l[w](o)n-; taigi *H[3](l[w]) turėjo suskardinti gretimą konsonantizmą: *-len-, *H[2]ap-H[3]( )n-, *peik'- (*l [w]-n-) Hamp 2004, 64; 1988; 1994a ir kt.). Vadinasi *t(e)k [w]-l [w](o)n- >*d(e)g [w]-( )n- yra iš tiesų itin reikšminga formai degu(o)ns, kurioje skardumas galėjo paplisti per nulinio laipsnio pamatinę formą. Ankstyvaisiais laikais nulinio laipsnio kamienas turėjo būti labai tinkamas paradigmos silpniesiems linksniams, ir sintaksiškai "silpni" daiktavardžio nosis, lietuvių nosis *nVH[a]s- linksniai pasirodė kaip lengviausių ir efektyviausių pradžių klasė supletyviam šnekamosios kalbos kamienui sudaryti. Reikšminiai žodžiai: Latvių kalba; Etimologija; Latvian; EtymologyThe degun-s in the Latvian language (with the rare suffix -un-: Endzelīns 1971, 106; Būga RR II 213: the only word in the Latvian language with such a suffix), deguon-s (dial.) 'nose' should mean 'runner', etc.. This is actually the agent meaning suffix, which, in the opinion of the author of the article, had to, at least in the Baltic languages, merge with *-l[w](o)n-; therefore *H[3](l[w]) had to voice the adjacent consonants: *-len-, *H[2]ap-H[3]( )n-, *peik'- (*l [w]-n-) Hamp 2004, 64; 1988; 1994a, ir kt.). Therefore *t(e)k [w]-l [w](o)n- >*d(e)g [w]-( )n- is actually of a special importance to the form degu(o)ns, in which the voice could have spread through the underlying form of the zero degree. During the early times the zero degree stem had to be very suitable for the week cases of the paradigm and the syntactically “weak” cases of the noun nosis, Lithuanian nosis *nVH[a]s- appeared as the class of simplest and most efficient beginnings for formation of the suppletive stem in the spoken language
Some economic consequences of the transition from civil war to peace
No full textDrawing on evidence from Africa - especially Ethiopia and Uganda - the authors of this volume draw conclusions about economic policy in the aftermath of civil war. A sample of conclusions follows. Civil wars differ from international wars. They are informal, often have no clear beginning and end, weaken rather than strengthen the authority of the state, and leave two unreconciled armies to be demobilized within one territory. Civil wars erode the institutions of civil society, leading to a decline in the stock of social capital, which takes some time to restore. Private investment and government revenue are slow to recover, and military expenditures are not easily reduced. As a result, there is little or no peace dividend in the short run. The period of transition to peace is a particularly suitable time for radical policy reform, despite the high degree of polarization typical in countries engaged in civil war. And speedy reform, far from increasing uncertainty, is likely to reduce it. After a civil war, private agents are fearful both of each other and of the government. This, perhaps even more than physical damage to infrastructure, hinders private-sector-led recovery, as irreversible investment is delayed despite being financeable. The transition to peace is primarily the transition from fear and the defensive responses that became ingrained in wartime. The peace dividend comes as a gradual recovery of confidence induces repatriation of financial and human capital. Such confidence can be boosted by the early sequencing of investment-sensitive policy reforms and by preserving low inflation through direct consumer price index targeting. Lack of confidence can be compensated for by temporary undervaluation of the exchange rate, or however, may prove more difficult to make credibly time-bound. Finally, aid can permit accelerated rehabilitation of the infrastructure (especially transport networks) needed to return to a market economy. Contrary to the studies hypothesis, the authors found that demobilization - at least in Uganda - did not lead to a significant upsurge in insecurity. In the short term, demobilization significantly reduced crime, unless the demobilized lacked access to land. If the demobilized returned to their home areas and were given some assistance, with identifiable exceptions they were able to find income-earning opportunities.Debt Markets,Emerging Markets,Economic Theory&Research,,Investment and Investment Climate
Measuring Progress From 1990 To 2017 And Projecting Attainment To 2030 Of The Health-Related Sustainable Development Goals For 195 Countries And Territories: A Systematic Analysis For The Global Burden Of Disease Study 2017
No full textBackground Efforts to establish the 2015 baseline and monitor early implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) highlight both great potential for and threats to improving health by 2030. To fully deliver on the SDG aim of "leaving no one behind", it is increasingly important to examine the health-related SDGs beyond national-level estimates. As part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2017 (GBD 2017), we measured progress on 41 of 52 health -related SDG indicators and estimated the health-related SDG index for 195 countries and territories for the period 1990-2017, projected indicators to 2030, and analysed global attainment. Methods We measured progress on 41 health-related S DG indicators from 1990 to 2017, an increase of four indicators since GBD 2016 (new indicators were health worker density, sexual violence by non-intimate partners, population census status, and prevalence of physical and sexual violence [reported separately]). We also improved the measurement of several previously reported indicators. We constructed national-level estimates and, for a subset of health-related SDGs, examined indicator-level differences by sex and Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintile. We also did subnational assessments of performance for selected countries. To construct the health related SDG index, we transformed the value for each indicator on a scale of 0-100, with 0 as the 2.5th percentile and 100 as the 97.5th percentile of 1000 draws calculated from 1990 to 2030, and took the geometric mean of the scaled indicators by target. To generate projections through 2030, we used a forecasting framework that drew estimates from the broader GBD study and used weighted averages of indicator-specific and country-specific annualised rates of change from 1990 to 2017 to inform future estimates. We assessed attainment of indicators with defined targets in two ways: first, using mean values projected for 2030, and then using the probability of attainment in 2030 calculated from 1000 draws. We also did a global attainment analysis of the feasibility of attaining SDG targets on the basis of past trends. Using 2015 global averages of indicators with defined SDG targets, we calculated the global annualised rates of change required from 2015 to 2030 to meet these targets, and then identified in what percentiles the required global annualised rates of change fell in the distribution of country-level rates of change from 1990 to 2015. We took the mean of these global percentile values across indicators and applied the past rate of change at this mean global percentile to all health-related SDG indicators, irrespective of target definition, to estimate the equivalent 2030 global average value and percentage change from 2015 to 2030 for each indicator. Findings The global median health-related SDG index in 2017 was 59.4 (IQR 35.4-67.3), ranging from a low of 11.6 (95% uncertainty interval 9.6-14.0) to a high of 84.9 (83.1-86.7). SDG index values in countries assessed at the subnational level varied substantially particularly in China and India, although scores in Japan and the UK were more homogeneous. Indicators also varied by SDI quintile and sex, with males having worse outcomes than females for non-communicable disease (NCD) mortality, alcohol use, and smoking, among others. Most countries were projected to have a higher health-related SDG index in 2030 than in 2017, while country-level probabilities of attainment by 2030 varied widely by indicator. Under-5 mortality, neonatal mortality, maternal mortality ratio, and malaria indicators had the most countries with at least 95% probability of target attainment. Other indicators, including NCD mortality and suicide mortality, had no countries projected to meet corresponding SDG targets on the basis of projected mean values for 2030 but showed some probability of attaimnent by 2030. For some indicators, including child malnutrition, several infectious diseases, and most violence measures, the annualised rates of change required to meet SDG targets far exceeded the pace of progress achieved by any country in the recent past. We found that applying the mean global annualised rate of change to indicators without defined targets would equate to about 19% and 22% reductions in global smoking and alcohol consumption, respectively; a 47% decline in adolescent birth rates; and a more than 85% increase in health worker density per 1000 population by 2030. Interpretation The GBD study offers a unique, robust platform for monitoring the health -related SDGs across demographic and geographic dimensions. Our findings underscore the importance of increased collection and analysis of disaggregated data and highlight where more deliberate design or targeting of interventions could accelerate progress in attaining the SDGs. Current projections show that many health -related SDG indicators, NCDs, NCD-related risks, and violence -related indicators will require a concerted shift away from what might have driven past gains curative interventions in the case of NCDs towards multisectoral, prevention -oriented policy action and investments to achieve SDG aims. Notably, several targets, if they are to be met by 2030, demand a pace of progress that no country has achieved in the recent past. The future is fundamentally uncertain, and no model can fully predict what breakthroughs or events might alter the course of the S DGs. What is clear is that our actions or inaction today will ultimately dictate how close the world, collectively, can get to leaving no one behind by 2030. Copyright (C) 2018 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.WoSScopu
Department of Error: Mapping geographical inequalities in childhood diarrhoeal morbidity and mortality in low-income and middle-income countries, 2000–17: analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 (The Lancet (2020) 395(10239) (1779–1801), (S0140673620301148), (10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30114-8))
No full textReiner RC Jr, Hay SI. Mapping geographical inequalities in childhood diarrhoeal morbidity and mortality in low-income and middle-income countries, 2000–17: analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet 2020; 395: 1779–801—In this Article, the author byline has been amended to Local Burden of Disease Diarrhoea Collaborators. This correction has been made to the online version as of June 4, 2020, and the printed version is correct.</p
