Yield and drupe characteristics of coconut palms affected with Leaf Scorch Decline

The yield and drop characteristics of healthy coconut palms have been compared with those of palms affected by leaf Scorch Decline wich have been grouped into Mild Leaf Scorch Decline, Moderate Leaf Scorch Decline and Advanced Leaf Scorch Decline. Significant reduction in yield and drupe componenets have been observed in palms showing moderate and advanced Leaf Scorch Decline while the difference in these characteristics between healthy palms and those showing mild Leaf Scorch Decline was not significan

Different Power Sharing Techniques for Converter-Interfaced DERs in an Autonomous Microgrid

A three-level hierarchical control system is considered for microgrids. The microgrid central controller receives the desired ratio for the output power of the available distributed generation units (DG) from the network tertiary controller. It then passes this information to the primary controller of each DG in the form of setpoints. In addition, the central controller receives some information from the DGs or the network and considers them to adjust the setpoints for the DGs. In this paper, the effect of the data transfer delays in the communication system of future microgrids is investigated on the dynamic operation of the distributed energy resources

Asian-Pacific Weed Science Society: A Glimpse of the Past 50 Years and Perspectives

Since the mid-1940s, exciting discoveries of new herbicides led to noticeable improvements in weed control in many crops over the following two decades, leading to yield increases. However, the optimism of achieving weed control through herbicides alone was short-lived. The harmful effects caused by an overuse of chemicals were felt through the 1950s, igniting the need for ecological thinking to understand weeds prior to their control. This is why Weed Science took an important change in direction in the late-1950s to encompass studies of weed biology and, ecology - to anchor the evolving discipline in a broader agro-ecological context. As the World’s population increased dramatically in the 1960s, in the Asian-Pacific region, there was a deeply-felt need to improve weed control to increase food production. In 1967, the Asian-Pacific Weed Science Society (APWSS) was born to promote an exchange of ideas on weed control across the region, including the use of herbicides. The period of ecological enlightenment (1960 to 1975) led to weeds being understood as ‘colonizing species’. Colonizing species opportunistically capture resources created by habitat disturbances caused naturally, or by human activities. The placement of weed studies within this ecological framework broadened the discipline to include sustainable weed control practices promoted through the vehicle of Integrated Weed Management (IWM). As a result, discourses in Weed Science, including those at the APWSS, from around the late-1980s, expanded to cover biological and ecological aspects of weeds, as well as mechanisms of crop-weed interactions (i.e. competition, allelopathy, and critical weed-free periods). This trend has continued in recent decades, causing a paradigm shift - from herbicide dominated weed control to Weed Science. In more recent times, research in the Asian-Pacific region has focused on reducing a dependence on herbicides, in favour of integrated weed management (IWM). Management of herbicide resistance in weeds; understanding the potential impacts of climate change and genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) in agriculture; and special weed problems, such as weedy rice, dominate the APWSS research agenda. Reducing conflicts between weeds and men, through a recognition of the redeeming value of weeds and utilization of weeds as bio-resources are also emerging as topics of interest. In our time, when the need to increase the output of food for the rising population of the world is acutely felt, and interlinked human impacts on the globe are accelerating, the scope of Weed Science cannot but expand. The major challenges humans face in this second decade of the 21st Century will encourage us to deeply reflect on our relationship with weeds. We hope that Weed Science will help us learn from weeds that ‘co-existence’ and austerity are virtues for the future survival of our species

Commemorating 50 Years (1967-2017) 50th Anniversary Celebratory Volume, Asian-Pacific Weed Science Society (APWSS); Indian Society of Weed Science (ISWS), India and The Weed Science Society of Japan (WSSJ)

The impetus for this 50th Anniversary Celebratory Volume of the Asian-Pacific Weed Science Society (APWSS) came from our firm conviction of the immense effort by the Society’s founding fathers, and those who followed in their footsteps, to nurture the discipline in a way beneficial to the people and cultures in the Asian-Pacific region. After 50 years of existence, there is reason for the success of this ‘interchange’ of knowledge and association of like-minded people, to be celebrated. In this Celebratory Volume, with contributions from several members, we have attempted to contextualize the contributions of the APWSS, in terms of its origin and development, as well as its activities, which are firmly rooted in promoting the understanding of weeds and responsibly managing weed impacts with appropriate methods..

EQ-5D-3L Derived Population Norms for Health Related Quality of Life in Sri Lanka

Background Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) is an important outcome measure in health economic evaluation that guides health resource allocations. Population norms for HRQoL are an essential ingredient in health economics and in the evaluation of population health. The aim of this study was to produce EQ-5D-3L-derived population norms for Sri Lanka. Method A population sample (n =  780) was selected from four districts of Sri Lanka. A stratified cluster sampling approach with probability proportionate to size was employed. Twenty six clusters of 30 participants each were selected; each participant completed the EQ-5D-3L in a face-to-face interview. Utility weights for their EQ-5D-3L health states were assigned using the Sri Lankan EQ-5D-3L algorithm. The population norms are reported by age and socio-economic variables. Results The EQ-5D-3L was completed by 736 people, representing a 94% response rate. Sixty per cent of the sample reported being in full health. The percentage of people responding to any problems in the five EQ-5D-3L dimensions increased with age. The mean EQ-5D-3L weight was 0.85 (SD 0.008; 95%CI 0.84-0.87). The mean EQ-5D-3L weight was significantly associated with age, housing type, disease experience and religiosity. People above 70 years of age were 7.5 times more likely to report mobility problems and 3.7 times more likely to report pain/discomfort than those aged 18-29 years. Those with a tertiary education were five times less likely to report any HRQoL problems than those without a tertiary education. A person living in a shanty was 4.3 more likely to have problems in usual activities than a person living in a single house. Conclusion The population norms in Sri Lanka vary with socio-demographic characteristics. The socioeconomically disadvantaged have a lower HRQoL. The trends of population norms observed in this lower middle income country were generally similar to those previously reported in high income countries

Internal transport of alien and native plants by geese and ducks: An experimental study

© 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Summary: Alien plant species are rapidly spreading in aquatic ecosystems around the world, causing major ecological effects. They are typically introduced by humans, after which natural vectors facilitate their further spread. Migratory waterbirds have long been recognised as important dispersal vectors for native and aquatic plants, yet little is known about their role in the spread of alien species. We determined experimentally the potential for long-distance dispersal of native and alien wetland plants in Europe by two abundant waterfowl: mallards Anas platyrhynchos and greylag geese Anser anser. We fed seeds from two plants alien to Europe and two native plants to 10 individuals of each bird species, testing for the effects of bird and plant species on the potential for dispersal. Intact seeds were retrieved from faeces for up to 4 days after ingestion. The proportion of seeds retrieved intact varied significantly between plant, but not bird, species. Retrieval was highest for the invasive water primrose Ludwigia grandiflora (>35% of ingested seeds), lowest for the invasive cordgrass Spartina densiflora (<3%) and intermediate for the native glasswort Arthrocnemum macrostachyum and seablite Suaeda vera (5-10%). Seed retrieval patterns over time varied between both plant and bird species. Contrary to expectations, seeds were retained in the gut for longer in the smaller mallards. No Spartina seeds germinated after retention for over 8 h, whereas some seeds of the other species germinated even after retention for 72 h. Germinability was reduced by gut passage for Ludwigia and Arthrocnemum seeds. Ludwigia seeds recovered from geese were more likely to germinate than those recovered from mallards. Time to germination was reduced by gut passage for Spartina and Ludwigia, but increased with retention time. Ducks and geese evidently have the potential for long-distance transport of alien and native plant seeds, with maximal dispersal distances of well over 1000 km. The much greater potential of Ludwigia than Spartina for dispersal by waterfowl is consistent with its faster expansion across Europe. Maximum retention times of wetland seeds have been underestimated in previous experimental studies that lasted only 1-2 days. Contrary to previous studies, wetland plants with large seeds, such as Ludwigia, can still show high potential for long-distance dispersal. More attention should be paid to the role of waterbirds as vectors of alien plants and to the role of migratory geese as vectors of plants in general.Peer Reviewe

Life Quality Impairment Caused by Hookworm-Related Cutaneous Larva Migrans in Resource-Poor Communities in Manaus, Brazil

Hookworm-related cutaneous larva migrans (CLM) is a parasitic skin disease common in developing countries with hot climates. In resource-poor settings, CLM is associated with considerable morbidity. The disease is caused by animal hookworm larvae that penetrate the skin and migrate aimlessly in the epidermis as they cannot penetrate the basal membrane. Particularly in the rainy season, the intensity of infection is high with up to 40 larval tracks in an affected individual. Tracks are very itchy and are surrounded by a significant inflammation of the skin. Bacterial superinfection is common and intensifies the inflammation. The psychosocial consequences caused by CLM have never been investigated. We showed that CLM causes skin disease-associated life quality impairment in 91 patients with CLM. Skin disease-associated life quality was significantly impaired. The degree of impairment correlated to the intensity of infection and the number of body areas affected. After treatment with ivermectin, life quality was rapidly restored

What clinicians who practice in countries reaching malaria elimination should be aware of: lessons learnt from recent experience in Sri Lanka

Following progressive reduction in confirmed cases of malaria from 2002 to 2007 (41,411 cases in 2002, 10,510 cases in 2003, 3,720 cases in 2004, 1,640 cases in 2005, 591 cases in 2006, and 198 cases in 2007). Sri Lanka entered the pre-elimination stage of malaria in 2008. One case of indigenous malaria and four other cases of imported malaria are highlighted here, as the only patients who presented to the Professorial Medical Unit, Colombo North Teaching Hospital, Ragama, Sri Lanka over the past eight years, in contrast to treating several patients a week about a decade ago. Therefore, at the eve of elimination of malaria from Sri Lanka, it is likely that the infection is mostly encountered among travellers who return from endemic areas, or among the military who serve in un-cleared areas of Northern Sri Lanka. They may act as potential sources of introducing malaria as until malaria eradication is carried out. These cases highlight that change in the symptomatology, forgetfulness regarding malaria as a cause of acute febrile illness and deterioration of the competency of microscopists as a consequence of the low disease incidence, which are all likely to contribute to the delay in the diagnosis. The importance regarding awareness of new malaria treatment regimens, treatment under direct observation, prompt notification of suspected or diagnosed cases of malaria and avoiding blind use of anti-malarials are among the other responsibilities expected of all clinicians who manage patients in countries reaching malaria elimination

Hybrid conferences in the new normal: reality in a resource restricted context

No abstract availabl