Feasibility of comparing medical management and surgery (with neurosurgery or stereotactic radiosurgery) with medical management alone in people with symptomatic brain cavernoma - protocol for the Cavernomas: A Randomised Effectiveness (CARE) pilot trial.

INTRODUCTION: The top research priority for cavernoma, identified by a James Lind Alliance Priority setting partnership was 'Does treatment (with neurosurgery or stereotactic radiosurgery) or no treatment improve outcome for people diagnosed with a cavernoma?' This pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) aims to determine the feasibility of answering this question in a main phase RCT. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will perform a pilot phase, parallel group, pragmatic RCT involving approximately 60 children or adults with mental capacity, resident in the UK or Ireland, with an unresected symptomatic brain cavernoma. Participants will be randomised by web-based randomisation 1:1 to treatment with medical management and with surgery (neurosurgery or stereotactic radiosurgery) versus medical management alone, stratified by prerandomisation preference for type of surgery. In addition to 13 feasibility outcomes, the primary clinical outcome is symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage or new persistent/progressive focal neurological deficit measured at 6 monthly intervals. An integrated QuinteT Recruitment Intervention (QRI) evaluates screening logs, audio recordings of recruitment discussions, and interviews with recruiters and patients/parents/carers to identify and address barriers to participation. A Patient Advisory Group has codesigned the study and will oversee its progress. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study was approved by the Yorkshire and The Humber-Leeds East Research Ethics Committee (21/YH/0046). We will submit manuscripts to peer-reviewed journals, describing the findings of the QRI and the Cavernomas: A Randomised Evaluation (CARE) pilot trial. We will present at national specialty meetings. We will disseminate a plain English summary of the findings of the CARE pilot trial to participants and public audiences with input from, and acknowledgement of, the Patient Advisory Group. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN41647111

COMPARATIVE YIELD OF FOUR SWEET POTATO (IPOMOEA BATATAS) CULTIVARS PLANTED IN SINGLE AND DOUBLE ROWS

A study was conducted in split-plot design to determine the effect of single- and double-row plantings on the yield of four sweet potato cultivars (local names: 'Manager's Pudding', 'Caroline Lee', 'CBS 49' and 'CBS 32') commonly planted on the estates of the Barbados Agricultural Management Company Ltd. Cuttings were established on raised beds 5.5 ft apart. Single-rows consisted of cuttings placed on the centre of the beds with a spacing of 1 ft intra-row. For the double-rows, cuttings were established on both sides of the bed with 1.5 ft between rows and 1 ft intra-row. Shortly after establishment, the sweet potato was sprayed with Fusilade® (Fluazifop-p-butyl) using the recommended rate for the control of grass weeds. Mono-ammonium Phosphate was manually placed 6 inches away from all cuttings, after they were well established, at a rate of 100 lb per acre. Yield data showed that double-row planting of 'Caroline Lee', 'CBS 49', 'Manager's Pudding' and 'CBS 32' resulted in 21.3%, 31.4%, 16.7% and 16.8% significant decrease in average weight/ tuber, respectively, compared to single-row plantings. The total weight of tubers/ hole also decreased from single- to double-row planting ('Caroline Lee' - 35.7%, 'CBS 49' - 44.7%, 'Manager's Pudding' - 38.5% and 'CBS 32' - 43.5%) due to increased competition for resources in the smaller inter-row space. Smaller tubers were obtained from double-rows. These are suitable for the average household purchaser while the larger tubers from the single-rows are ideal for processors. Data extrapolation showed that the total yield/ acre increased from single- to double-row planting for each cultivar. As one moves from single- to doublerow planting, the total number of holes per acre doubles resulting in the expected increase in total yield. Total yield per acre (kg) increased by 28.7% for 'Caroline Lee'; 10.5% for 'CBS 49'; 23% for 'Manager's Pudding'; and 13.0% for the 'CBS 32' cultivar

EFFECT OF CULTIVAR AND MATURITY ON YIELD AND NUTRIENT COMPOSITION OF BREADFRUIT (ARTOCARPUS ALTILIS) FLOUR

Breadfruit, a versatile tree crop predominately used for its nutritious and starchy fruit, is commonly consumed among West Indian people. Because of its seasonality and shortshelf life, there is a need for an economical method of extending its availability. One such process is through the production of breadfruit flour. However, detailed information is needed on the nutrient profile of the flour. More research is needed in order to determine whether there are cultivar differences; previous research has been limited to one un-named cultivar at one stage of maturity. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of cultivar and maturity on the yield and nutrient composition of breadfruit flour. Four breadfruit cultivars, Jackson Macca (JM), Kashee Bread (KB), Local White (LW) and Local Yellow (LY), growing in the germplasm collection of the University Field Station, Valsayn, Trinidad, were evaluated for flour yield and nutrient composition. The fruits were harvested at the immature and mature stages. The flesh was sliced 5 mm thick, dried at 60° C for 24 hours, milled and sieved (0.60 mm). Proximate analyses were done in triplicate and according to the AOAC methods (1990). There were no significant differences in the fresh weights of the four selected cultivars. However, there were significant differences (p<0.05) in yield, dry matter, ash, crude protein, ether extract, dietary fibre, carbohydrates, calcium, magnesium, and iron content of the breadfruit flours. Cultivar JM showed the highest yield (46.5±1.4%) in addition to the highest levels of crude protein (5.5±0.4 g/100 g), ether extract (1.6±0.1 g/100 g) and carbohydrates (71.7±0.3 g/100 g). There were significant differences between dry matter (91.8±0.3 g/100 g immature; 90.9±0.2 g/100 g mature) and carbohydrates (67.9±0.8 g/100 g immature; 69.9±0.4 g/100 g mature). This finding illustrates that as the fruit matures, there is an increase in moisture and in carbohydrate content. This increase may be partly due to metabolic water and the bulking up of starches and sugars within the fruit as it matures. The knowledge of the nutrient composition of breadfruit flour is necessary for the production of acceptable food products which satisfy the nutritional needs of consumers, leading to increased use of breadfruit and thereby contributing to sustainable agriculture and food security