Study of vascular movement of Potato virus X (PVX) TGBp1, TGBp2 and CP using the Commelina yellow mottle virus promoter and GFP

Scope and Method of Study:The green fluorescent protein (GFP) was fused to Potato virus X (PVX) TGBp1, TGBp2, or coat protein (CP) genes and inserted into the plasmids next to a companion cell specific CoYMV promoter. These plasmids were used to prepare transgenic tobacco plants expressing PVX proteins specifically in the phloem. Transgenic tobacco plants expressing a GFP:GFP fusion were also prepared as a control. GFP fluorescence was used to visualize phloem translocation and exit of the fusion proteins. Immunofluorescence and immunogold labeling was used to characterize the sub-cellular distribution of the fusion proteins within phloem.Findings and Conclusions:Fluorescence due to GFP:TGBp1, GFP:TGBp2, GFP:CP, and GFP:GFP was seen in transgenic tobacco leaf veins and failed to spread to nonvascular tissue. However, following PVX inoculation of GFP:TGBp1 and GFP:CP transgenic plants fluorescence spread into nonvascular tissues. Thus the destination of GFP:TGBp1 and GFP:CP, but not GFP:TGBp2 and GFP:GFP was altered by the presence of the virus indicating that the TGBp1 and CP directly interact with the virus to unload from the veins. Further studies explored phloem translocation of proteins within the stem and petioles. In petiole cross sections all fusion proteins were seen in phloem companion cells, sieve elements, and phloem parenchyma indicating that the proteins spread from the companion cells into surrounding phloem tissues. Only GFP:TGBp1 was seen in xylem parenchyma indicating that TGBp1 has a specific ability to move extensively throughout the vasculature. Nontransgenic scions were grafted to transgenic rootstocks and after 28 days fluorescence was seen in scions indicating that all fusions were phloem mobile.Immunogold labeling and transmission electron microscopy revealed GFP:TGBp1 and GFP:CP accumulated in the chloroplasts, plastids, vacuoles and cytoplasm in companion cells, and associated with plastids and P-proteins in sieve elements. GFP:TGBp1 expressing plants showed increased numbers of starch bodies in xylem parenchyma, pericycles and endodermal cells and fewer tracheary elements in petiole cross sections suggesting that TGBp1 affects vascular development and carbohydrate partitioning

Study on the prevalence of ectoparasite infestation of ruminanats in and around Kombolcha and damage to fresh goat pelts and wet blue (pickled) skin at Kombolch Tannary, Northestern Ethiopia

An attempt was made to study the prevalence of ectoparasite damage on live cattle, sheep and goats in and around Kombolcha town and on raw goat skin to assess their skin defect on processed wet-blue (pickled) skins at Kombolcha tannery, south wollo zone, North-Eastern Ethiopia. A total of 240 cattle, 175 sheep, 66 goats, were used to study the prevalence of ectoprasites on live animals as well as 344 fresh goat pelts and pickled (wet-blue) goat skins were used to assess skin defects. The result obtained from live cattle demonstrated a high prevalence of Amblyomma (28.33%) followed by Sarcoptes scabiei (23.75%), Boophilus (11.25%) Demodex (9.58%), Psoroptes (0.4 %), respevtively. The prevalence of ectoprasite infestation of live sheep revealed Mellophagus ovinus (sheep ked) (32.57%), Bovicola ovis (22.28%), Amblyomma spp (12.57%), Sarcoptes scabiei (14.28 %), Ctenocephaliedes spp (8.57%), Demodex (6.85%), Linognathus africanus (6.28%) and Boophilus spp (4%). The result from goats demonstrates a high prevalence of Sarcoptes scabiei (30.3%) followed by Linognathus stenopsis (9.09%), Amblyomma (4.54%), Ctenocephalides spp (3.03%), Bovicola caprea (1.51%) and Demodex (1.51%) in that order. Result obtained from fresh goats pelts revealed an over all high prevalence of Sacoptes scabie (53.29%) followed by Linognathus stenopsis (9.88%), Bovicola caprae (2.08%) and Demodex (2.08%). Examination of pickled (wet-blue) skins from follow-up skins show a high prevalence of scratch (74.25%) followed by “Ekek” (68.56%), scar (67.06%), processing defect (28.44%). “Ekek” (Typical scatter type cockle) was found to show a significant (

Fasciolosis: Prevalence, financial losses due to liver condemnation and evaluation of a simple sedimentation diagnostic technique in cattle slaughtered at Hawassa Municipal abattoir, southern Ethiopia

This study was carried out from November 2007 to April 2008 to determine the prevalence of fasciolosis and costs incurred due to liver condemnation and evaluate the sensitivity of direct sedimentation method for diagnosis of fasciolosis in cattle slaughtered at Hawassa Municipal abattoir. A total of 3251 adult indigenous cattle were slaughtered at the abattoir during the study period, of which 931 animals (28.63%) were found to be positive for fasciolosis. There was a statistically significant (χ2 = 33.10; p = 0.004) variation in prevalence between the study months where the highest (35.6%) and lowest (21.03%) prevalence were recorded in February and April, respectively. Fasciola hepatica (58.9%) was the predominant fluke identified compared to F. gigantica (10.6%). Mixed infections by both species and unidentified immature flukes were detected in 14.7% and 15.8% of the affected livers, respectively. The mean fluke burden in the affected livers was 55 flukes per liver. As to the severity of infection, 36.63%, 52.31% and 11.06% were lightly, moderately and severely affected, respectively. Moderately affected livers showed the highest mean fluke count (69 ± 1.91) followed by severely (48 ± 1.71) and lightly affected ones (25 ± 1.75) signifying the presence of acquired resistance and local tissue reaction as chronicity of infection supervenes. Taking liver examination as gold standard for diagnosis of fasciolosis, the sensitivity of the direct sedimentation technique was found to be 67.13% and the specificity 100% with substantial agreement (k = 0.74) between the two methods. The financial loss due to liver condemnation was estimated to be 106,400 Ethiopian birr (8312.5 USD) per annum. In conclusion, the observation of such a level of infection in the dry season, high fluke pathogenicity and substantial financial loss associated with condemnation of infected livers warrants the institution of appropriate control measures. Keywords: Cattle, fasciolosis, financial loss, Hawassa abattoir, prevalence, southern Ethiopi

A framework for realistic 3D tele-immersion

Meeting, socializing and conversing online with a group of people using teleconferencing systems is still quite differ- ent from the experience of meeting face to face. We are abruptly aware that we are online and that the people we are engaging with are not in close proximity. Analogous to how talking on the telephone does not replicate the experi- ence of talking in person. Several causes for these differences have been identified and we propose inspiring and innova- tive solutions to these hurdles in attempt to provide a more realistic, believable and engaging online conversational expe- rience. We present the distributed and scalable framework REVERIE that provides a balanced mix of these solutions. Applications build on top of the REVERIE framework will be able to provide interactive, immersive, photo-realistic ex- periences to a multitude of users that for them will feel much more similar to having face to face meetings than the expe- rience offered by conventional teleconferencing systems

Nutrient Utilization and Yield Response of Lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus) to Rhizobium Inoculant and Sulphur Fertilization

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus) is a major food crop in Ethiopian. It is affordable protein source and important in sustaining soil fertility through nitrogen fixation. However, its current national productivity of 1.46 t ha-1 is lower than its potential due to inadequate agronomic management practices, nutrient imbalance and lack of indigenous or commercial Rhizobium strains of lentil. Therefore, the field experiment was conducted at Ada’a district under rain-fed condition during 2016/17 main cropping season to assess the role of S and Rhizobium inoculant on nodulation, nutrient utilization and yield response of lentil. The experiment consisted of three levels of S (0, 20 and 40 kg ha-1) and Rhizobium inoculant (un-inoculated and inoculated) in a factorial combination using Alemaya lentil variety as a test crop. The experiment was conducted using randomized complete block design with three replications. The result showed the interaction of sulphur fertilization and Rhizobium inoculant were significant on days to flowering, number of nodules plant-1, nodule dry weight plant-1, number of seeds pod-1, aboveground dry biomass, seed yield, seed S uptake, haulm S uptake, total S uptake, sulphur agronomic and recovery efficiency as well as sulphur harvest index. Application of 40 kg S ha-1 without Rhizobium inoculant led to produce the highest seed yield (2.27 t ha-1) and delayed days to flowering (46 days) of lentil whereas, the highest nodule dry weight plant-1 (1.1mg) and sulphur harvest index (17.68%) were obtained at the rate of 40 kg S ha-1under Rhizobium inoculations. On the other hand the maximum number of nodule plant-1 (15.60), number of seed pod-1 (1.99), total aboveground dry biomass (8.22 t ha-1), Sulphur agronomic efficiency (32.11kg ha-1), sulphur recovery efficiency (66.00 kg ha-1) were obtained in response to sulphur application at 20 kg ha-1 under Rhizobium inoculations. Moreover, Rhizobium inoculation without S fertilization gave the highest seed (3.88kg ha-1), haulm (23.33kg ha-1) and total S uptake (24.89 kg ha-1). Rhizobium inoculation without S application had high net benefit, relatively low variable cost with an acceptable and maximum MRR for lentil production in Ada'a district. However, since the experiment was conducted only for one season and one site, repeating the trial at different sites as well as in the same trial site would be important in order to draw sound recommendation

Liver Cirrhosis of Unknown Etiology and Its Predictors in Eastern Ethiopia

Background: The global burden of liver cirrhosis is increasing, with 2.1 million incident cases and nearly 1.5 million deaths in 2019. Despite the enormous progress in our understanding of the etiology of liver cirrhosis, significant cases of the disease have been reported in Eastern Ethiopia due to unidentified causes. Hence, this study aimed to identify predictors of liver cirrhosis of unknown etiology in Eastern Ethiopia. Methods: A score of 7 out of 11 possible points on the ultrasound-based cirrhosis scale was used as a diagnostic criterion to include 127 liver cirrhosis patients. The study participants’ demographic, dietary, lifestyle, and clinical data were gathered using a structured questionnaire and standardized reporting forms. The associations between the outcome (known and unknown etiology) and indepen-dent variables were modeled using binary logistic regression analysis. Results: The etiology of liver cirrhosis was known in only 23% of patients and attributed to hepatitis B virus (21%), hepatitis C virus (0.8%), and alcohol abuse (0.8%). Sorghum consumption as a staple food (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) =3.8; 95% CI: 1.2, 12.5), splenomegaly (AOR = 4.0; 95% CI: 1.1, 14.4), and a family history of liver disease (AOR = 0.24; 95% CI: 0.06, 0.91) were significantly associated with liver cirrhosis of unknown etiology. Conclusion: Sorghum consumption was found to be the determinant factor of liver cirrhosis of unknown etiology, suggesting it as a possible source of exposure to aflatoxin B1

The State of the World's Midwifery 2021 report: findings to drive global policy and practice.

The third global State of the World's Midwifery report (SoWMy 2021) provides an updated evidence base on the sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn and adolescent health (SRMNAH) workforce. For the first time, SoWMy includes high-income countries (HICs) as well as low- and middle-income countries. This paper describes the similarities and differences between regions and income groups, and discusses the policy implications of these variations. SoWMy 2021 estimates a global shortage of 900,000 midwives, which is particularly acute in low-income countries (LICs) and in Africa. The shortage is projected to improve only slightly by 2030 unless additional investments are made. The evidence suggests that these investments would yield important returns, including: more positive birth experiences, improved health outcomes, and inclusive and equitable economic growth. Most HICs have sufficient SRMNAH workers to meet the need for essential interventions, and their education and regulatory environments tend to be strong. Upper-middle-income countries also tend to have strong policy environments. LICs and lower-middle-income countries tend to have a broader scope of practice for midwives, and many also have midwives in leadership positions within national government. Key regional variations include: major midwife shortages in Africa and South-East Asia but more promising signs of growth in South-East Asia than in Africa; a strong focus in Africa on professional midwives (rather than associate professionals: the norm in many South-East Asian countries); heavy reliance on medical doctors rather than midwives in the Americas and Eastern Mediterranean regions and parts of the Western Pacific; and a strong educational and regulatory environment in Europe but a lack of midwife leaders at national level. SoWMy 2021 provides stakeholders with the latest data and information to inform their efforts to build back better and fairer after COVID-19. This paper provides a number of policy responses to SoWMy 2021 that are tailored to different contexts, and suggests a variety of issues to consider in these contexts. These suggestions are supported by the inclusion of all countries in the report, because it is clear which countries have strong SRMNAH workforces and enabling environments and can be viewed as exemplars within regions and income groups