Impacts of Land use on Selected Physicochemical Properties of Soils of Gindeberet Area, Western Oromia, Ethiopia

This study was carried out with the objective of determining impact of land uses on selected soil physicochemical properties of Gindeberet area, Western Ethiopia. Disturbed and undisturbed surface soil samples (0-20 cm) were collected from each land use type and examined for their analysis of soils physicochemical properties. Soil samples were analyzed at Ambo University Chemistry Laboratory. Standard procedures were employed for the analyses of selected soil properties. Soil pH ranged from 4.88 (cultivated land) to 5.65 (forest land). Soil bulk density was ranged from 1.09 (forest land) to 1.28 (g/cm3) (cultivated lands). Mean organic matter ranged from 1.38 (cultivated land) to 2.01% (forest land). Mean soil available phosphorus ranged from 2.23 (cultivated land) 4.30ppm (forest land). Mean total nitrogen ranged from 0.08% (cultivated land) to 0.11% (forest land). Mean soil exchangeable calcium and magnesium ranged from 8.16(cultivated land) to 13.44 cmol(+)/ kg (forest land) and 3.54(cultivated land) to 5.33 cmol(+)/ kg (forest land) respectively, while mean soil exchangeable potassium and sodium ranged from 0.28 (cultivated land) to 0.71 cmol(+)/ kg (forest land) and 0.36(cultivated land) to 0.75 cmol(+)/ kg (forest land) respectively. The CEC ranged from 7.63 (cultivated land) to 16.53 cmol(+)/ kg (forest land).Mean available iron, manganese, zinc and copper ranges from 37.08 to 37.71, 22.18 to 37.70, 4.79 to 6.39 and 1.88 to 2.49 respectively. All available micronutrients are higher in forest land and lower in cultivated land. The study pointed out that, the difference between different land use type on soil moisture content, pH, cation exchange capacity, organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus and exchangeable bases. From the present study, it could be concluded that the soil quality and health were maintained relatively under the forest land, whereas the influence on most soil parameters were negative on the cultivated land, indicating the need for employing integrated soil fertility management in sustainable manner to optimize and maintain the favorable soil physicochemical properties

Analysis of rice profitability and marketing chain: the case of Fogera Woreda, South Gondar Zone, Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia

This study examined the profitability and marketing chain of rice in Fogera Woreda, South Gondar zone of Amhara Regional State. From the woreda, 14 peasant associations (PAs) producing rice were selected purposively and it is stratified based on the existing rice production farming system (upland and lowland), from each farming system two PAs were selected randomly. Then samples of respondents were selected randomly proportional to its population size. A total of 165 sample farm households were selected from the four PAs for the interview. In addition, market related data were collected from 25 assemblers (20 rural and five urban marketers) and six wholesalers and 10 millers at Woreta market, 21 retailers and five urban distributors at Bahir Dar market and 29 retailers at Gondar market. Both econometrics and descriptive analyses consistency used in this study. Results from the descriptive analysis show that wholesalers and millers are the most important buyers of rice from producers, about 45% and 27%, respectively. Farmers travel, on average, 1.6hr to the woreda market to sell their rice produce. The market concentration ratio is 0.77, showing that the rice market is oligopsonsitic. High initial capital and prior control of farmers is a barrier to entry in rice trading. Results from the Heckman’s two step selection model show that, market information access, quantity of paddy produced, total value of livestock unit and extension contact with farmers increase household’s probability of selling rice. Household head’s education level and total quantity rice produced were positively affecting the level of rice sale. However increase in family size decrease the volume of rice supply to the market per household. The Tobit result also revealed that quantity produced is jointly affected both the probability of market participation and volume of supply. The cost benefit analysis of rice production shows that rice production is a profitable business for farmers. The net income obtained from production per hectare of rice is Birr 5006.48. The cost margin indicate that producers obtain on average 35.97 Birr per qt, assemblers get 139 Birr per qt, millers a profit of 5.4 Birr per qt, wholesalers 9 Birr per qt, urban distributors birr 3.88 Birr per qt and retailers around 19 Birr per qt respectively. Though, assemblers get more profit, they also incur more marketing cost. The possible recommendations forwarded are strengthening market information and extension system, intervention to increase production and productivities by using improved agricultural inputs, promoting education and trainings about rice production and marketing and finally promoting family planning are the recommended policy implications

A study on Ovine pneumonic pasteurellosis: Isolation and Identification of Pasteurellae and their antibiogram susceptibility pattern in Haramaya District, Eastern Hararghe, Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Sheep constitute the second major component of livestock in Ethiopia. However, efficient utilization of this potential resource is hampered by combination of health problems, poor management and feed shortage. Haramaya district is one of the remote settings in Ethiopia where information about the livestock disease is not well documented. Hence this study was conducted to determine the causative agents and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of bacterial Pasteurella isolates among pneumonic ovine in Haramaya district, Eastern Hararghe, Ethiopia. RESULTS: Out of 256 samples examined, Pasterurella was isolated in 64 (25%), of which 38 (59.4%) were from lungs and 26 (40.6%) were from nasal cavities. 87.5% of the isolates were Mannheimia haemolytica and 12.5% were Pasteurella multocida. All of the isolates from the lungs were Mannheimia haemolytica whereas 69% of the isolates from nasals cavities were Mannheimia haemolytica. Age and body temperature were significantly associated with Pasteurella isolates from clinic (P < 0.05). Despite diverse in the site of origins, the isolates exhibited uniformity in sensitivity to a majority of the antibacterial agents. The most effective drug was Cholramphenicol (100%) followed by Sulfamethoxazole (89.1%) and Tetracycline (84.4%). Both species were completely resistant to Gentamycin and Vancomycin. CONCLUSION: Mannheimia haemolytica is the most common cause of ovine pneumonic pasteurellosis in the study area. The isolates were susceptible to limited antimicrobial agents. Therefore, the antimicrobial susceptibility test should be conducted before treatment, except for critical cases

Identification of two distinct structural regions in a human porcine endogenous retrovirus receptor, HuPAR2, contributing to function for viral entry

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Of the three subclasses of Porcine Endogenous Retrovirus (PERV), PERV-A is able to infect human cells via one of two receptors, HuPAR1 or HuPAR2. Characterizing the structure-function relationships of the two HuPAR receptors in PERV-A binding and entry is important in understanding receptor-mediated gammaretroviral entry and contributes to evaluating the risk of zoonosis in xenotransplantation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Chimeras of the non-permissive murine PAR and the permissive HuPAR2, which scanned the entire molecule, revealed that the first 135 amino acids of HuPAR2 are critical for PERV-A entry. Within this critical region, eighteen single residue differences exist. Site-directed mutagenesis used to map single residues confirmed the previously identified L109 as a binding and infectivity determinant. In addition, we identified seven residues contributing to the efficiency of PERV-A entry without affecting envelope binding, located in multiple predicted structural motifs (intracellular, extracellular and transmembrane). We also show that expression of HuPAR2 in a non-permissive cell line results in an average 11-fold higher infectivity titer for PERV-A compared to equal expression of HuPAR1, although PERV-A envelope binding is similar. Chimeras between HuPAR-1 and -2 revealed that the region spanning amino acids 152–285 is responsible for the increase of HuPAR2. Fine mapping of this region revealed that the increased receptor function required the full sequence rather than one or more specific residues.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>HuPAR2 has two distinct structural regions. In one region, a single residue determines binding; however, in both regions, multiple residues influence receptor function for PERV-A entry.</p

Rock Magnetism of Hematitic Bombs From the Araguainha Impact Structure, Brazil

Hematite impact “bombs” are one of the most striking (and enigmatic) features of the large Araguainha impact structure in central Brazil. They have both porous or massive textures, elongated shapes from 5 to 50 cm in diameter, and botryoidal textures that suggest hydrothermal origin. Some authors have considered these objects as a possible analog of hematite nodules found in Mars, and consequently related to a hydrothermal system. Here we report rock magnetic measurements, X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectra for both massive and porous samples for a detailed description of the hematite. Room temperature magnetic measurements, including hysteresis loops, back-field and saturation magnetization acquisition, FORC, as well as X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer experiments are compatible with both massive and porous types being almost pure hematite. Room temperature FORCs after heating in a He atmosphere show two peaks; the original high-coercivity peak of hematite and a low-coercivity one (probably maghemite) at the Bc and Bb origin, thus indicating significant modification of the magnetic mineralogy of the material during thermal treatment in reducing conditions. However, conditioning in an oxidizing environment (heating in air) seemed to block generation of this low coercivity material in subsequent heating in a reducing (Ar) atmosphere. Therefore, we conclude that this material was not heated greatly in its generation. This would not be likely for impact-ejected bombs, so origin from post-impact hydrothermal activity seems likely

Visceral leishmaniasis patients display altered composition and maturity of neutrophils as well as impaired neutrophil effector functions

Immunologically, active visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is characterised by profound immunosuppression, severe systemic inflammatory responses and an impaired capacity to control parasite replication. Neutrophils are highly versatile cells, which play a crucial role in the induction as well as the resolution of inflammation, the control of pathogen replication and the regulation of immune responses. Neutrophil functions have been investigated in human cutaneous leishmaniasis, however, their role in human visceral leishmaniasis is poorly understood. In the present study we evaluated the activation status and effector functions of neutrophils in patients with active VL and after successful anti-leishmanial treatment. Our results show that neutrophils are highly activated and have degranulated; high levels of arginase, myeloperoxidase and elastase, all contained in neutrophils’ granules, were found in the plasma of VL patients. In addition, we show that a large proportion of these cells are immature. We also analysed effector functions of neutrophils that are essential for pathogen clearance and show that neutrophils have an impaired capacity to release neutrophil extracellular traps, produce reactive oxygen species and phagocytose bacterial particles, but not Leishmania parasites. Our results suggest that impaired effector functions, increased activation and immaturity of neutrophils play a key role in the pathogenesis of VL

The usefulness of school-based syndromic surveillance for detecting malaria epidemics: experiences from a pilot project in Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Syndromic surveillance is a supplementary approach to routine surveillance, using pre-diagnostic and non-clinical surrogate data to identify possible infectious disease outbreaks. To date, syndromic surveillance has primarily been used in high-income countries for diseases such as influenza--however, the approach may also be relevant to resource-poor settings. This study investigated the potential for monitoring school absenteeism and febrile illness, as part of a school-based surveillance system to identify localised malaria epidemics in Ethiopia. METHODS: Repeated cross-sectional school- and community-based surveys were conducted in six epidemic-prone districts in southern Ethiopia during the 2012 minor malaria transmission season to characterise prospective surrogate and syndromic indicators of malaria burden. Changes in these indicators over the transmission season were compared to standard indicators of malaria (clinical and confirmed cases) at proximal health facilities. Subsequently, two pilot surveillance systems were implemented, each at ten sites throughout the peak transmission season. Indicators piloted were school attendance recorded by teachers, or child-reported recent absenteeism from school and reported febrile illness. RESULTS: Lack of seasonal increase in malaria burden limited the ability to evaluate sensitivity of the piloted syndromic surveillance systems compared to existing surveillance at health facilities. Weekly absenteeism was easily calculated by school staff using existing attendance registers, while syndromic indicators were more challenging to collect weekly from schoolchildren. In this setting, enrolment of school-aged children was found to be low, at 54%. Non-enrolment was associated with low household wealth, lack of parental education, household size, and distance from school. CONCLUSIONS: School absenteeism is a plausible simple indicator of unusual health events within a community, such as malaria epidemics, but the sensitivity of an absenteeism-based surveillance system to detect epidemics could not be rigorously evaluated in this study. Further piloting during a demonstrated increase in malaria transmission within a community is recommended

Anti-Inflammatory Diets in Fertility: An Evidence Review

Infertility is a global health concern affecting 48 million couples and 186 million individuals worldwide. Infertility creates a significant economic and social burden for couples who wish to conceive and has been associated with suboptimal lifestyle factors, including poor diet and physical inactivity. Modifying preconception nutrition to better adhere with Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDGs) is a non-invasive and potentially effective means for improving fertility outcomes. While several dietary patterns have been associated with fertility outcomes, the mechanistic links between diet and infertility remain unclear. A key mechanism outlined in the literature relates to the adverse effects of inflammation on fertility, potentially contributing to irregular menstrual cyclicity, implantation failure, and other negative reproductive sequelae. Therefore, dietary interventions which act to reduce inflammation may improve fertility outcomes. This review consistently shows that adherence to anti-inflammatory diets such as the Mediterranean diet (specifically, increased intake of monounsaturated and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, flavonoids, and reduced intake of red and processed meat) improves fertility, assisted reproductive technology (ART) success, and sperm quality in men. Therefore, integration of anti-inflammatory dietary patterns as low-risk adjunctive fertility treatments may improve fertility partially or fully and reduce the need for prolonged or intensive pharmacological or surgical interventions.Simon Alesi, Anthony Villani, Evangeline Mantzioris, Wubet Worku Takele, Stephanie Cowan, Lisa J. Moran, and Aya Mous