Effects of Speed on Draft for Selected Tractor-Driven Tillage Implements in Samaru Soil, Zaria, Nigeria

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of speed on drafts of some selected tractordriven tillage implements in Samaru soil in order to address the problem of inadequacy of local design data, inappropriateness and inadaptability of such imported implements. Three tillage implements were used at three tractor  speeds on the field at three tillage depths using two Eicher tractors (5660). The draft forces replicated, three times, were measured using dynamometer. Soil samples collected from different points in the field were analyzed for moisture content (MC), humus content and bulk density (BD). The results showed that draft of the three implements were related to the speed of the tractor. Result obtained also showed MC varies from 8.40-15.11%, BD varies from 1.62-1.77g/cm3 and humus  content from 4.207-0.625% down the soil profile. At the lowest MC of 8.40%, drafts of 3.07, 5.13 and 9.33kN at speed  2.5 m/s were obtained for the selected implements. Drafts of 2.00, 2.80 and 4.03kN were obtained at the highest MC of  15.11% at 2.5m/s speed. It is clear from the experiment that draft increases with increase in speed for disc plough, disc  harrow, tillage depths and BD, while draft decreases with increase in MC and speed of mouldboard ridger. The best speed  for tillage is 2.5 m/s obtained at optimum MC 10.67–15.11% for soil under consideration. Disc plough requires highest  draft 2.8-9.33kN followed by mouldboard ridger 4.03-5.83kN and disc harrow requires least draft 2.0-3.57kN at each of  the three speeds considered

Effect of Carbamate Insecticide, Lannate, on the Gonads of Mice

The effect of the carbamate insecticide, lannate, on the gonads of mice was studied. Treating mice with lannate at a dose level of 10mg/kg body weight daily for 3-6 weeks had induced degenerative effects in the gonads, as follows, first in testis, a significant reduction in the diameter of the seminiferous tubules and germinal epithelial height. Histological examination of the testis showed that the seminiferous tubules were elongated and contained reduced spermatogenic cells. The number, of mature sperms was markedly reduced and after 3 weeks the sperm bundles were completely absent. On the other hand, the effect on the ovarian structure showed that, decrease in the number of secondary ovarian follicles and corpora lutea was recorded, while, the number of atretic follicles showed a significant increase. It is speculated that it may be resulted from the inhibition of RNA synthesis due to the effect of lannate

Evidence for a mixed mass composition at the `ankle' in the cosmic-ray spectrum

We report a first measurement for ultra-high energy cosmic rays of the correlation between the depth of shower maximum and the signal in the water Cherenkov stations of air-showers registered simultaneously by the fluorescence and the surface detectors of the Pierre Auger Observatory. Such a correlation measurement is a unique feature of a hybrid air-shower observatory with sensitivity to both the electromagnetic and muonic components. It allows an accurate determination of the spread of primary masses in the cosmic-ray flux. Up till now, constraints on the spread of primary masses have been dominated by systematic uncertainties. The present correlation measurement is not affected by systematics in the measurement of the depth of shower maximum or the signal in the water Cherenkov stations. The analysis relies on general characteristics of air showers and is thus robust also with respect to uncertainties in hadronic event generators. The observed correlation in the energy range around the `ankle' at $\lg(E/{\rm eV})=18.5-19.0$ differs significantly from expectations for pure primary cosmic-ray compositions. A light composition made up of proton and helium only is equally inconsistent with observations. The data are explained well by a mixed composition including nuclei with mass $A > 4$. Scenarios such as the proton dip model, with almost pure compositions, are thus disfavoured as the sole explanation of the ultrahigh-energy cosmic-ray flux at Earth.Comment: Published version. Added journal reference and DOI. Added Report Numbe

Global trends of hand and wrist trauma: A systematic analysis of fracture and digit amputation using the Global Burden of Disease 2017 Study

Background: As global rates of mortality decrease, rates of non-fatal injury have increased, particularly in low Socio-demographic Index (SDI) nations. We hypothesised this global pattern of non-fatal injury would be demonstrated in regard to bony hand and wrist trauma over the 27-year study period. Methods: The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2017 was used to estimate prevalence, age-standardised incidence and years lived with disability for hand trauma in 195 countries from 1990 to 2017. Individual injuries included hand and wrist fractures, thumb amputations and non-thumb digit amputations. Results: The global incidence of hand trauma has only modestly decreased since 1990. In 2017, t

Phylogenomic analysis of a 55.1 kb 19-gene dataset resolves a monophyletic Fusarium that includes the Fusarium solani Species Complex

Scientific communication is facilitated by a data-driven, scientifically sound taxonomy that considers the end-user¿s needs and established successful practice. In 2013, the Fusarium community voiced near unanimous support for a concept of Fusarium that represented a clade comprising all agriculturally and clinically important Fusarium species, including the F. solani species complex (FSSC). Subsequently, this concept was challenged in 2015 by one research group who proposed dividing the genus Fusarium into seven genera, including the FSSC described as members of the genus Neocosmospora, with subsequent justification in 2018 based on claims that the 2013 concept of Fusarium is polyphyletic. Here, we test this claim and provide a phylogeny based on exonic nucleotide sequences of 19 orthologous protein-coding genes that strongly support the monophyly of Fusarium including the FSSC. We reassert the practical and scientific argument in support of a genus Fusarium that includes the FSSC and several other basal lineages, consistent with the longstanding use of this name among plant pathologists, medical mycologists, quarantine officials, regulatory agencies, students, and researchers with a stake in its taxonomy. In recognition of this monophyly, 40 species described as genus Neocosmospora were recombined in genus Fusarium, and nine others were renamed Fusarium. Here the global Fusarium community voices strong support for the inclusion of the FSSC in Fusarium, as it remains the best scientific, nomenclatural, and practical taxonomic option availabl

Astrophysical Interpretation Of Pierre Auger Observatory Measurements Of The Uhecr Energy Spectrum And Mass Composition

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Evidence For A Mixed Mass Composition At The ‘ankle’ In The Cosmic-ray Spectrum

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The Pierre Auger Observatory Status And Latest Results

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Depth Of Maximum Of Air-shower Profiles At The Pierre Auger Observatory. I. Measurements At Energies Above 1017.8ev

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Burden of diarrhea in the eastern mediterranean region, 1990-2013: Findings from the global burden of disease study 2013

Diarrheal diseases (DD) are leading causes of disease burden, death, and disability, especially in children in low-income settings. DD can also impact a child's potential livelihood through stunted physical growth, cognitive impairment, and other sequelae. As part of the Global Burden of Disease Study, we estimated DD burden, and the burden attributable to specific risk factors and particular etiologies, in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) between 1990 and 2013. For both sexes and all ages, we calculated disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), which are the sum of years of life lost and years lived with disability. We estimate that over 125,000 deaths (3.6 of total deaths) were due to DD in the EMR in 2013, with a greater burden of DD in low-and middle-income countries. Diarrhea deaths per 100,000 children under 5 years of age ranged from one (95 uncertainty interval UI = 0-1) in Bahrain and Oman to 471 (95% UI = 245-763) in Somalia. The pattern for diarrhea DALYs among those under 5 years of age closely followed that for diarrheal deaths. DALYs per 100,000 ranged from 739 (95% UI = 520-989) in Syria to 40,869 (95% UI = 21,540-65,823) in Somalia. Our results highlighted a highly inequitable burden of DD in EMR, mainly driven by the lack of access to proper resources such as water and sanitation. Our findings will guide preventive and treatment interventions which are based on evidence and which follow the ultimate goal of reducing the DD burden. Copyright © 2016 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene