Performance of different mulching materials on soil moisture content, weed infestation and growth of maize (Zea mays L.)

Two field experiments were conducted at Yezin farm and Sepin research farm, Yamenthin, Myanmar to investigate the effect of different mulching materials on growth, soil moisture and weed infestation of maize and to identify the most Two field experiments were conducted at Yezin and Sepin research farms, Yamethin, Myanmar to investigate the effect of different mulching materials on growth, soil moisture and weed infestation of maize and to identify the most suitable mulching materials for maize cultivation in the study areas during the dry season (October, 2019 to March, 2020). The experiments used randomized complete block design (RCB) with three replications. No mulching and six mulching materials, including rice straw mulching, rice husk mulching, maize stover mulching, mung bean stover mulching, soybean stover mulching and white plastic polyethylene mulching were tested. NK-621 (120 days) was used as the tested variety. Different mulching materials showed higher plant height and SPAD value than no mulching whereas rice straw mulching was highest at both locations. The highest LAI was achieved from rice straw mulching at Yezin. At Yamethin, the maximum LAI (2.19) was recorded from rice straw mulching at maximum growth stage (MGS), LAI (2.71) observed from maize stover mulching at tasseling stage (TS). The maximum crop growth rate (CGR) (13.31 gm-2day-1) was achieved from rice straw mulching at Yezin and (14.19 gm-2day-1) at Yamethin.  Soil moisture content and weed infestation were significantly different among different mulching materials at two locations. White plastic polyethylene mulching and rice straw mulching were observed as the most suitable for soil moisture content and minimal weed infestation. According to the results, rice straw mulching is the best in all parameters among the treatments for Yezin and Yamethin areas. suitable mulching materials for maize cultivation in the study areas during the dry season (October, 2019 to March, 2020). The experiments were assigned by using randomized complete block design (RCB) with three replications. A total of seven treatment; no mulching (T1) and six mulching materials including rice straw mulching (T2), rice husk mulching (T3), maize stover mulching (T4), mung bean stover mulching (T5), soybean stover mulching (T6) and white plastic polyethylene mulching (T7) were tested. The most widely sown variety, NK-621 (120 days) was used as the tested variety. Different mulching materials showed higher plant height and SPAD value than no mulching whereas rice straw mulching (T2) was highest at both locations. At three sampling times, the highest LAI was achieved from rice straw mulching (T2) at Yezin. At Yamenthin, the maximum LAI (2.19) was recorded from rice straw mulching at maximum growth stage (MGS), LAI (2.71) observed from maize stover mulching (T4) at tasseling stage (TS) and LAI (2.00) achieved from white plastic polyethylene mulching (T7) at grain filling stage (GFS). The maximum crop growth rate (CGR) (13.31 gm-2day-1) was achieved from rice straw mulching (T2) at Yezin and (14.19 gm-2day-1) at Yamenthin.  Soil moisture content and weed infestation were significantly different among different mulching materials at two locations. White plastic polyethylene mulching and rice straw mulching were observed as the most suitable for soil moisture content and minimal weed infestation. According to the results, rice straw mulching is the best in all parameters among the treatments for Yezin and Yamenthin areas

Community-based MDR-TB care project improves treatment initiation in patients diagnosed with MDR-TB in Myanmar

<div><p>Background</p><p>The Union in collaboration with national TB programme (NTP) started the community-based MDR-TB care (CBMDR-TBC) project in 33 townships of upper Myanmar to improve treatment initiation and treatment adherence. Patients with MDR-TB diagnosed/registered under NTP received support through the project staff, in addition to the routine domiciliary care provided by NTP staff. Each township had a project nurse exclusively for MDR-TB and 30 USD per month (max. for 4 months) were provided to the patient as a pre-treatment support.</p><p>Objectives</p><p>To assess whether CBMDR-TBC project’s support improved treatment initiation.</p><p>Methods</p><p>In this cohort study (involving record review) of all diagnosed MDR-TB between January 2015 and June 2016 in project townships, CBMDR-TBC status was categorized as “receiving support” if date of project initiation in patient’s township was before the date of diagnosis and “not receiving support”, if otherwise. Cox proportional hazards regression (censored on 31 Dec 2016) was done to identify predictors of treatment initiation.</p><p>Results</p><p>Of 456 patients, 57% initiated treatment: 64% and 56% among patients “receiving support (n = 208)” and “not receiving support (n = 228)” respectively (CBMDR-TBC status was not known in 20 (4%) patients due to missing diagnosis dates). Among those initiated on treatment (n = 261), median (IQR) time to initiate treatment was 38 (20, 76) days: 31 (18, 50) among patients “receiving support” and 50 (26,101) among patients “not receiving support”. After adjusting other potential confounders (age, sex, region, HIV, past history of TB treatment), patients “receiving support” had 80% higher chance of initiating treatment [aHR (0.95 CI): 1.8 (1.3, 2.3)] when compared to patients “not receiving support”. In addition, age 15–54 years, previous history of TB and being HIV negative were independent predictors of treatment initiation.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Receiving support under CBMDR-TBC project improved treatment initiation: it not only improved the proportion initiated but also reduced time to treatment initiation. We also recommend improved tracking of all diagnosed patients as early as possible.</p></div

Baseline characteristics of patients diagnosed with MDR-TB between January 2015 and June 2016 in 33 CBMDR-TBC project supported townships in Myanmar.

<p>Baseline characteristics of patients diagnosed with MDR-TB between January 2015 and June 2016 in 33 CBMDR-TBC project supported townships in Myanmar.</p

Map of Myanmar showing 33 CBMDR-TBC project supported townships across four states/regions of upper Myanmar, 2015–16.

<p>*CBMDR-TBC project–community-based multi-drug resistant tuberculosis care project.</p

Package of support to patients diagnosed with MDR-TB for treatment initiation by NTP’s PMDT in Myanmar, 2015–16 [7].

<p>Package of support to patients diagnosed with MDR-TB for treatment initiation by NTP’s PMDT in Myanmar, 2015–16 [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0194087#pone.0194087.ref007" target="_blank">7</a>].</p

Factors associated with treatment initiation among patients diagnosed with MDR-TB between January 2015 and June 2016 in thirty three CB MDR-TBC project townships in Myanmar.

<p>Factors associated with treatment initiation among patients diagnosed with MDR-TB between January 2015 and June 2016 in thirty three CB MDR-TBC project townships in Myanmar.</p

Support package to all MDR-TB patients from diagnosis to treatment initiation under the community-based MDR-TB care (CBMDR-TBC) project in Myanmar, 2015–16.

<p>Support package to all MDR-TB patients from diagnosis to treatment initiation under the community-based MDR-TB care (CBMDR-TBC) project in Myanmar, 2015–16.</p

Distribution of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Lineages and Drug Resistance in Upper Myanmar

Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) is divided into 9 whole genome sequencing (WGS) lineages. Among them, lineages 1&ndash;4 are widely distributed. Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a major public health threat. For effective TB control, there is a need to obtain genetic information on lineages of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and to understand distribution of lineages and drug resistance. This study aimed to describe the distribution of major lineages and drug resistance patterns of Mtb in Upper Myanmar. This was a cross-sectional study conducted with 506 sequenced isolates. We found that the most common lineage was lineage 2 (n = 223, 44.1%). The most common drug resistance mutation found was streptomycin (n = 44, 8.7%). Lineage 2 showed a higher number of MDR-TB compared to other lineages. There were significant associations between lineages of Mtb and drug resistance patterns, and between lineages and geographical locations of Upper Myanmar (p value &lt; 0.001). This information on the distribution of Mtb lineages across the geographical areas will support a lot for the better understanding of TB transmission and control in Myanmar and other neighboring countries. Therefore, closer collaboration in cross border tuberculosis control is recommended

Flow chart showing treatment initiation cascade stratified by CBMDR-TBC status among diagnosed MDR-TB patients in 33 CBMDR-TBC project supported townships of upper Myanmar, January 2015-June 2016.

<p>*MDR-TB: Multi drug resistant tuberculosis^{. a}Patient considered receiving support if date of project initiation in patient’s township was before the date of MDR-TB diagnosis, date of MDR-TB diagnosis is missing for 20 patients and therefore could not be classified. ^bwhether patients were under CBMDR-TBC project or not cannot be ascertained as date of diagnosis was missing. cfollow-up period from diagnosis ranged from 6 months to 2 years.</p

Exposure to diverse sarbecoviruses indicates frequent zoonotic spillover in human communities interacting with wildlife

BackgroundSarbecoviruses are a subgenus of Coronaviridae that mostly infect bats with known potential to infect humans (SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2). Populations in Southeast Asia, where these viruses are most likely to emerge, have been undersurveyed to date.MethodsWe surveyed communities engaged in extractive industries and bat guano harvesting from rural areas in Myanmar. Participants were screened for exposure to sarbecoviruses, and their interactions with wildlife were evaluated to determine the factors associated with exposure to sarbecoviruses.ResultsOf 693 people screened between July 2017 and February 2020, 12.1% were seropositive for sarbecoviruses. Individuals were significantly more likely to have been exposed to sarbecoviruses if their main livelihood involved working in extractive industries (logging, hunting, or harvesting of forest products; odds ratio [OR]&nbsp;=&nbsp;2.71, P&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.019) or had been hunting/slaughtering bats (OR&nbsp;=&nbsp;6.09, P&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.020). Exposure to a range of bat and pangolin sarbecoviruses was identified.ConclusionExposure to diverse sarbecoviruses among high-risk human communities provides epidemiologic and immunologic evidence that zoonotic spillover is occurring. These findings inform risk mitigation efforts needed to decrease disease transmission at the bat-human interface, as well as future surveillance efforts warranted to monitor isolated populations for viruses with pandemic potential