Crop phenology and productivity of upland rice/legume intercropping systems

Sole and intercrop rice had almost similar leaf, stem, and total dry matter, indicating that planting pattern did not affect the biomass production of the crop. The sole soybean and the sole pigeonpea produced higher dry matter than that of their respective intercrops because of a higher LAI and consequently higher light interception. Yield of the rice was relatively poor. The sole rice gave slightly higher yield than the intercrop. The sole soybean and sole pigeonpea also gave higher yields than their respective intercrops. Intercropped pigeonpea in the (3:1) ratio gave highest partial LER (0.98). The intercrop of rice with pigeonpea in the (5:1) ratio gave highest total LER (1.53) indicating a yield advantage of (53%) over the sole crop. When comparing root length of the crops, the intercropped rice with soybean gave highest partial LER (0.98). The intercrop of rice and soybean gave a total LER of (1.88), indicating 88% of root growth advantage over the sole crop

Organic matter and nitrogen returns to soil by different cropping systems rotations on a vertisol in the Indian semi-arid tropics

Organic matter plays an important role in soil management and crop production: It is the natural source of mineral N. The results of the experiments carried out show the importance of quantifying the organic matter inputs to the soil by different cropping systems rotations. The results show that in the absence of N fertilizers, S/PP S/PP can deposit in the soil a substantial (2395 kg ha-') amount of root organic matter on the other hand the non-leguminous system StSAF S+SAF contribute 1652 kg ha1 of root organic matter to the soil. But if the crops are given adequate N fertilizer the results show that almost similar mounts of root can be deposited even by the non-leguminous system. The sane findings were observed in the case of N content of the roots deposited to the soil by the different crops in the different systems. Legumes can also contribute to the organic matter of the soil by way of fallen dry leaves, which if incorporated into the soil mineralize and conitributes ubstantial amounts of N

Strategi Pemakaian Epoetin Alfa Dalam Mempertahankan Kadar Hemoglobin Pada Kemoterapi Ajuvan Berbasis Antrasiklin Karsinoma Payudara Operabel

Pada kanker payudara operabel dengan metastasis regional, pemberian kemoterapi ajuvan berbasis antrasiklin dapat menyebabkan terjadinya anemia ringan sampai berat pada sekitar 4% - 63% kasus. Telah dilakukan berbagai penelitian tentang peran epoetin alfa sebagai alternatif pengganti transfusi, tetapi hasilnya masih belum memuaskan. Dilakukan penelitian uji klinik desain paralel dengan randomisasi blok terhadap 64 sampel penelitian yang dibagi atas 2 kelompok, yaitu kelompok perlakuan yang mendapatkan epoetin alfa dan kelompok kontrol. Kadar Hb pasca-operasi yang termasuk dalam kriteria inklusi adalah > 10 gr/dL - 12 gr/dL. Epoetin alfa diberikan 1 minggu pasca-mastektomi diteruskan sampai 6 kali pemberian dengan dosis 40.000 IU/ minggu dan kadar Hb dinilai mulai dari pemberian kemoterapi siklus pertama sampai 3 minggu setelah kemoterapi siklus keenam. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan pemberian epoetin alfa dengan strategi di atas mampu mempertahankan kadar hemoglobin di atas 10 gr/dL dan tidak dibutuhkan transfusi selama kemoterapi. Sedangkan pada kelompok kontrol membutuhkan transfusi sebanyak 28,1% kasus dan kebutuhan transfusi paling banyak terjadi pada kemoterapi siklus keempat. Kesimpulan: strategi pemakaian epoetin alfa yang dapat dipilih adalah mulai 1 minggu pasca-mastektomi yang diteruskan sampai kemoterapi siklus kedua atau 6 kali pemberian dengan dosis 40.000 IU/minggu dan kadar Hb pasca-mastektomi harus > 10 gr/dL - 12 gr/dL

Organic Matter Inputs by Selected Cropping Systems on a Vertisol in the Semi-arid Tropics of India

Soils of the Semi-Arid Tropics (SAT) are often low in organic matter. Concern about the maintenance of organic matter levels under conditions of intensified land-use makes knowledge of organic matter returns to soil by different crops and cropping systems important.....

Nitrogen returns to soil by selected cropping systems on a Vertisol in the semi-arid tropics of India

Limited nitrogen (N) availability is a common constraint for crop production on Vertisols. Erratic rainfall in the semi-arid tropics and relatively high cost of N fertilizers make its application a risky investment, therefore, most farmers do not apply N fertilizer in dryland crops. Cropping systems which improve soil fertility can minimize the need for synthetic fertilizers. In a two-year experiment, four cropping systems and mirror images of two systems were examined for their returns of N to soil in roots and fallen leaves. Sorghum/pigeonpea intercrop for two years (S/PP S/PP) and cowpea/pigeonpea intercrop rotated with sorghum followed by safflower (COW/PP S+SAF) contributed around 54 kg N ha-1 in roots and fallen leaves when no nitrogen fetilizer was applied. The largest proportion of this N was returned to soil through fallen leaves of pigeonpea. In terms of root mass a rotation of sorghum followed by safflower in the post-rainy season (S+SAF S+SAF) deposited almost the same amount of N in roots if adequately fertilized. Under S/PP S/PP the soil mineral N content was measurable higher compared to other systems

The root system and N uptake of a safflower crop (Carthamus tinctorius L.)

Field experiment was conducted to study the root system and nitrogen (N) uptake of safflower crop, using three levels of N (0, 40 and 80 kg N ha'1). N application has increased root dry matter and length. When there was shortage of rainfall, the crop roots extended in the deeper layers of the soil. Root and shoot N content also increased with the application of N. In the early stages of growth, it was found that most of the N in the plant was present in the leaves and stems but as the plant matured this N would shift towards the seeds but around 6-10% of the N in the plant would also be present in the roots

Seed degeneration in potato : the need for an integrated seed health strategy to mitigate the problem in developing countries

Seed potato degeneration, the reduction in yield or quality caused by an accumulation of pathogens and pests in planting material due to successive cycles of vegetative propagation, has been a long-standing production challenge for potato growers around the world. In developed countries this problem has been overcome by general access to and frequent use of seed, produced by specialized growers, that has been certified to have pathogen and pest incidence below established thresholds, often referred to as certified seed. The success of certified seed in developed countries has concentrated the research and development agenda on the establishment of similar systems in developing countries. Despite these efforts, certified seed has had little penetration into the informal seed systems currently in place in most developing countries. Small-scale farmers in these countries continue to plant seed tubers acquired through the informal seed system, i.e. produced on-farm or acquired from neighbours or local markets. Informal seed tubers frequently have poor health status, leading to significant reductions in yield and/or market value. This review emphasizes the need to refocus management efforts in developing countries on improving the health status of seed tubers in the informal system by integrating disease resistance and on-farm management tools with strategic seed replacement. This 'integrated seed health strategy' can also prolong the good health status of plants derived from certified seed, which would otherwise be diminished due to potential rapid infection from neighbouring fields. Knowledge gaps, development challenges and impacts of this integrated seed health strategy are discussed.PostprintPeer reviewe

Digital Health Technologies to Improve Medication Adherence and Treatment Outcomes in Patients With Tuberculosis:Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

BACKGROUND: Nonadherence to medication in tuberculosis (TB) hampers optimal treatment outcomes. Digital health technology (DHT) seems to be a promising approach to managing problems of nonadherence to medication and improving treatment outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This paper systematically reviews the effect of DHT in improving medication adherence and treatment outcomes in patients with TB. METHODS: A literature search in PubMed and Cochrane databases was conducted. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that analyzed the effect of DHT interventions on medication adherence outcomes (treatment completion, treatment adherence, missed doses, and noncompleted rate) and treatment outcomes (cure rate and smear conversion) were included. Adult patients with either active or latent TB infection were included. The Jadad score was used for evaluating the study quality. The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guideline was followed to report study findings. RESULTS: In all, 16 RCTs were selected from 552 studies found, and 6 types of DHT interventions for TB were identified: 3 RCTs examined video directly observed therapy (VDOT), 1 examined video-observed therapy (VOT), 1 examined an ingestible sensor, 1 examined phone call reminders, 2 examined medication monitor boxes, and 8 examined SMS text message reminders. The outcomes used were treatment adherence, including treatment completion, treatment adherence, missed dose, and noncompleted rate, as well as clinical outcomes, including cure rate and smear conversion. In treatment completion, 4 RCTs (VDOT, VOT, ingestible sensor, SMS reminder) found significant effects, with odds ratios and relative risks (RRs) ranging from 1.10 to 7.69. Treatment adherence was increased in 1 study by SMS reminders (RR 1.05; 95% CI 1.04-1.06), and missed dose was reduced in 1 study by a medication monitor box (mean ratio 0.58; 95% CI 0.42-0.79). In contrast, 3 RCTs of VDOT and 3 RCTs of SMS reminders did not find significant effects for treatment completion. Moreover, no improvement was found in treatment adherence in 1 RCT of VDOT, missed dose in 1 RCT of SMS reminder, and noncompleted rate in 1 RCT of a monitor box, and 2 RCTs of SMS reminders. For clinical outcomes such as cure rate, 2 RCTs reported that phone calls (RR 1.30; 95% CI 1.07-1.59) and SMS reminders (OR 2.47; 95% CI 1.13-5.43) significantly affected cure rates. However, 3 RCTs found that SMS reminders did not have a significant impact on cure rate or smear conversion. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that DHT interventions can be a promising approach. However, the interventions exhibited variable effects regarding effect direction and the extent of improving TB medication adherence and clinical outcomes. Developing DHT interventions with personalized feedback is required to have a consistent and beneficial effect on medication adherence and outcomes among patients with TB

Paediatric radiology seen from Africa. Part I: providing diagnostic imaging to a young population

Article approval pendingPaediatric radiology requires dedicated equipment, specific precautions related to ionising radiation, and specialist knowledge. Developing countries face difficulties in providing adequate imaging services for children. In many African countries, children represent an increasing proportion of the population, and additional challenges follow from extreme living conditions, poverty, lack of parental care, and exposure to tuberculosis, HIV, pneumonia, diarrhoea and violent trauma. Imaging plays a critical role in the treatment of these children, but is expensive and difficult to provide. The World Health Organisation initiatives, of which the World Health Imaging System for Radiography (WHIS-RAD) unit is one result, needs to expand into other areas such as the provision of maintenance servicing. New initiatives by groups such as Rotary and the World Health Imaging Alliance to install WHIS-RAD units in developing countries and provide digital solutions, need support. Paediatric radiologists are needed to offer their services for reporting, consultation and quality assurance for free by way of teleradiology. Societies for paediatric radiology are needed to focus on providing a volunteer teleradiology reporting group, information on child safety for basic imaging, guidelines for investigations specific to the disease spectrum, and solutions for optimising imaging in children

Ab initio Hartree-Fock Born effective charges of LiH, LiF, LiCl, NaF, and NaCl

We use the Berry-phase-based theory of macroscopic polarization of dielectric crystals formulated in terms of Wannier functions, and state-of-the-art Gaussian basis functions, to obtain benchmark ab initio Hartree-Fock values of the Born effective charges of ionic compounds LiH, LiF, LiCl, NaF, and NaCl. We find excellent agreement with the experimental values for all the compounds except LiCl and NaCl, for which the disagreement with the experiments is close to 10% and 16%, respectively. This may imply the importance of many-body effects in those systems.Comment: 11 pages, Revtex, 2 figures (included), to appear in Phys. Rev. B April 15, 200