An efficient RSSI-aware metric for Wireless Mesh Networks

In Wireless Mesh Networks (WMN), link quality routing is recently receiving much attention as it helps in improving network performance. However, further research through experimentation is needed to practically and particularly address routing issues in WMN. This paper proposes RSSI-aware (rETT) routing metric for WMN. The embedded RSSI information from the mesh nodes are extracted, processed, transformed and incorporated into the routing process. The performance of rETT metric is then optimised and the results compared with the fundamental hop count metric and the link quality metric by ETX. The implementation results on OLSR show that rETT improvement on network throughput is more than double (120%) compared to hop counts and a 21% improvement compared to ETX. Also, an improvement of 33% was achieved in network delay compared to hop counts and 28% better than ETX. This work provides a valuable insight into adapting RSSI information in mesh network routing and the implementation method ensures that the results are realistic

Yield potentials of improved rice varieties for increased lowland rice production within the mankran watershed in Ghana

Rice production in Ghana is limited by low varietal choices, which puts farmers at a disadvantage in meeting the market demand for consumers. The objectives of this study were to (i) assess the yield potentials of improved rice varieties developed by the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice), and (ii) to allow farmers to select improved varieties of their choice based on growth and yield, as observed in the field, in order to ensure a high adoption rate, increase productivity and food security. Two seasons (i.e. 2020 major and 2020–2021 minor) field experiments were conducted at two lowland within the Mankran watershed in the Ashanti region of Ghana. The experiment comprised thirteen (13) improved varieties and two local checks and was conducted using recommended good agronomic practices. The key findings of the study showed that growth and yield parameters vary significantly between varieties across locations. The biplot analysis showed that varieties FARO 66, SAHEL 317, and Amankwatia are the best in the major season while WITA 9, GT 11, ARS-957-BGJ-171-15-D-B, NERICA L36, and AGRA were the best in the minor season at both locations. Farmers’ preference for the varieties was based not only on growth and yield but on resistance to lodging, pests, and diseases. In conclusion, the best performing varieties have demonstrated yield potential which is about 92% higher than the yield of the local checks and can be recommended for adoption by farmers. Future breeding programs on these varieties should include the most preferred attributes by farmers in this study

Trente ans de lutte contre l’onchocercose en Afrique de l’Ouest. Traitements larvicides et protection de l’environnement

La lutte contre l'onchocercose, ou cécité des rivières, une maladie parasitaire endémique, fut entreprise en Afrique de l'Ouest dans une perspective do développement durable. Tous les moyens technologiques disponibles ont de ce fait été mobilisés pour le contrôle du vecteur, une simulie, puis du parasite responsables de cette maladie, par le Programme de Lutte contre l’Onchocercose en Afrique de l'Ouest (OCP). La lutte antivectorielle consistant en épandages d’insecticides chimiques sur les sites de développement de la simulie dans les rivières, il est apparu indispensable d’assurer la sauvegarde de l’environnement aquatique qui fournit aux communautés riveraines eau et ressources biologiques. Les technologies les plus modernes ont été mises en œuvre dès leur mise au point, pour combattre la maladie, contribuant ainsi à la protection de ce milieu. Le programme de surveillance écologique des rivières traitées par des larvicides anti-simulies a été mis en place dès le lancement d’OCP. et assuré par des spécialistes de I' hydrobiologie des pays africains participants du Programme, sous la supervision d’un groupe international d’experts indépendants, le Groupe Écologique. OCP est incontestablement un succès aussi bien pour ce qui est du contrôle de la maladie que de la protection de l'environnement. Il est l'exemple unique au monde d’un programme de santé publique de longue durée qui depuis son origine a mis en œuvre tout ce qui était possible pour harmoniser les enjeux de l’amélioration de la santé et ceux de la protection de l’environnement. Il s'est achevé avec la satisfaction de laisser aux générations montantes un environnement non dégradé et des vallées libérées de l’onchocercose, qui permettront d’accroître la productivité agricole des pays africains.The control of onchocerciasis, or river blindness, an endemic parasitic disease, was implemented in West Africa in the perspective of sustainable development AH the available technological means to fight this disease, by way of the control of its blackfly vector, then its parasite, were therefore implemented by the Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa (OCP). Vector control being achieved through applications of chemicals on its river breeding sites, it was necessary, at the same time, to fight for the preservation of the aquatic environment, which supplies the communities that live along the rivers with water and biological resources. This was the spirit in which the OCP was set up and implemented, and the most modem technologies were used as they become available to fight the disease, thus facilitating the preservation of the aquatic environment. This Programme has indisputably been a success as regards the control of the disease as also from the point of view of the preservation of the environment The aquatic monitoring programme of the rivers under treatment with anti-simulid larvicides was set up right from the very beginning, and performed by national experts of the Participating Countries of the Programme, under the aegis of a group of international independent experts, the Ecological Croup The Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa is an unique example in the world of a long-term public health programme which has made every effort possible from its inception to adequately combine health and environment issues. It ended with the satisfaction of bequeathing to the coming generations a non degraded environment and valleys freed from onchocerciasis which would increase the agricultural productivity of the countries