Near-infrared spectroscopy applications for high-throughput phenotyping for cassava and yam: a review

Open Access Article; Published online: 12 Aug 2020The review aimed to identify the different high‐throughput phenotyping (HTP) techniques that used for quality evaluation in cassava and yam breeding programmes, and this has provided insights towards the development of metrics and their application in cassava and yam improvements. A systematic review of the published research articles involved the use of NIRS in analysing the quality traits of cassava and yam was carried out, and Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Sciences and Google Scholar were searched. The results of the review established that NIRS could be used in understanding the chemical constituents (carbohydrate, protein, vitamins, minerals, carotenoids, moisture, starch, etc.) for high‐throughput phenotyping. This study provides preliminary evidence of the application of NIRS as an efficient and affordable procedure for HTP. However, the feasibility of using mid‐infrared spectroscopy (MIRS) and hyperspectral imaging (HSI) in combination with the NIRS could be further studied for quality traits phenotyping

Leptospirosis Prevalence and Risk Factors Among Patients Presenting With Fever to 4 Healthcare Sites in Sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia: An International Multisite Observational and Nested Case-Control Study

BACKGROUND: We investigated the prevalence, diversity, and risk factors for acute leptospirosis in the Febrile Illness Evaluation in a Broad Range of Endemicities (FIEBRE) study. METHODS: Febrile patients aged ≥2 months in Laos, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe underwent a standardized clinical and exposure assessment. Acute and convalescent serum were tested by Leptospira microscopic agglutination test (MAT) and acute plasma by lfb1 polymerase chain reaction. A ≥4-fold rise in antibody titer, or a single reciprocal titer ≥800, or Leptospira PCR positive defined confirmed leptospirosis. The identity of possible infecting strains was investigated by MAT and sequencing of PCR products. RESULTS: Of 7851 febrile participants enrolled, 134 (1.7%) had confirmed leptospirosis: 88 (4.6%) in Laos, 17 (1.0%) Malawi, 7 (0.3%) Mozambique, and 22 (1.2%) Zimbabwe, and 23 (0.8%) had supportive evidence of leptospirosis. Participants with leptospirosis had greater odds of headache (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.20, P < .001), rash (aOR 1.45, P < .001), conjunctivitis (aOR 3.33, P < .001), and jaundice (aOR 1.75, P < .001); and had greater odds of being older (aOR 1.02 per year, P < .001), working in rice fields (aOR 6.24, P < .001), drinking river water (aOR 5.11, P = .001). Predominant reactive Leptospira serogroups were Ballum and Icterohemorrhagiae at African sites, and Australis in Laos. Identified species were Leptospira borgpetersenii, L. interrogans, and L. kirschneri. CONCLUSIONS: Leptospirosis was a cause of febrile illness at all sites. Some clinical features helped to identify patients with leptospirosis. Interventions related to rice field work and river exposure may prevent disease. Diverse Leptospira serogroup reactivity was observed and may suggest potential hosts

Predicting mortality in febrile adults: comparative performance of the MEWS, qSOFA, and UVA scores using prospectively collected data among patients in four health-care sites in sub-Saharan Africa and South-Eastern Asia

Background Clinical severity scores can identify patients at risk of severe disease and death, and improve patient management. The modified early warning score (MEWS), the quick Sequential (Sepsis-Related) Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA), and the Universal Vital Assessment (UVA) were developed as risk-stratification tools, but they have not been fully validated in low-resource settings where fever and infectious diseases are frequent reasons for health care seeking. We assessed the performance of MEWS, qSOFA, and UVA in predicting mortality among febrile patients in the Lao PDR, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. Methods We prospectively enrolled in- and outpatients aged ≥ 15 years who presented with fever (≥37.5 °C) from June 2018–March 2021. We collected clinical data to calculate each severity score. The primary outcome was mortality 28 days after enrolment. The predictive performance of each score was determined using area under the receiver operating curve (AUC). Findings A total of 2797 participants were included in this analysis. The median (IQR) age was 32 (24–43) years, 38% were inpatients, and 60% (1684/2797) were female. By the time of follow-up, 7% (185/2797) had died. The AUC (95% CI) for MEWS, qSOFA and UVA were 0.67 (0.63–0.71), 0.68 (0.64–0.72), and 0.82 (0.79–0.85), respectively. The AUC comparison found UVA outperformed both MEWS (p < 0.001) and qSOFA (p < 0.001). Interpretation We showed that the UVA score performed best in predicting mortality among febrile participants by the time follow-up compared with MEWS and qSOFA, across all four study sites. The UVA score could be a valuable tool for early identification, triage, and initial treatment guidance of high-risk patients in resource-limited clinical settings

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Variability In Biochemical Composition And Cell Wall Constituents Among Seven Varieties In Ghanaian Yam ( Dioscorea Sp.) Germplasm

This work characterized the most cultivated and consumed yam ( Dioscorea ) cultivars within the Ghanaian yam germplasm based on their biochemical and cell wall constituents to assess their potential alternative food and industrial processing applications. Samples were analyzed for their biochemical composition - starch, amylose, amylopectin, total sugars, reducing sugars and non-reducing sugars along the head, middle and tail regions of each tuber using standard analytical methods. Cell wall constituents - acid detergent fibre, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose of each tuber were also determined using standard analytical methods. The results showed no significant differences at p<0.05 in biochemical compositions along the length of the studied cultivars. D. cayenensis (Pure-yellow), D. rotundata (Pona) and D. alata (Matches) were found to have high starch contents (63.16-65.69%, 63.54-65.30% and 63.24-65.17% respectively). Amylose content was observed to vary along the length of the tubers for the varieties studied. D. alata (Matches) was observed to contain the highest amylose content of 19.66-20.64%. No identifiable trend was however, observed for the amylopectin content along the length between the varieties investigated. D. bulbifera recorded the lowest amylopectin content of 41.29%, 43.59% and 44.63% while D. esculenta had the highest with 49.84%, 50.24% and 50.13% along the tail, middle and head sections respectively. Total sugar content varied significantly (p<0.05) along the lengths of all the varieties investigated. It was higher at the tail portions for all the varieties studied than the head regions; the middle portions recorded the least. D. bulbifera recorded highest total sugar contents (4.74-4.84%) and total sucrose (3.58-3.64%). There were significant differences (p<0.05) in the cell wall constituents of the yam varieties. Cellulose was found to be the most common cell wall component with D. rotundata having the highest level of 3.36% whilst D. dumetorum had the least (1.56%). Hemicellulose content ranged between 0.42 g/100g in D. alata to 4.58 g/100g in D. esculenta whiles lignin content ranged from 1.56 g/100g in D. dumetorum to 2.87 g/100g for D. praehensalis There were significant differences (p<0.05) in the neutral detergent fibre found in Dioscorea esculenta and the other yam species. It ranged from 1.18 g/100g in D. alata to 5.46 g/100g in D. esculenta. Less than 1% of acid detergent fibre was identified in the yam varieties, suggesting varied levels of biochemical composition and cell wall constituents in the different yam varieties. Key words: Biochemical quality, cell wall composition, yam

Variability In Biochemical Composition And Cell Wall Constituents Among Seven Varieties In Ghanaian Yam ( Dioscorea Sp.) Germplasm

This work characterized the most cultivated and consumed yam ( Dioscorea ) cultivars within the Ghanaian yam germplasm based on their biochemical and cell wall constituents to assess their potential alternative food and industrial processing applications. Samples were analyzed for their biochemical composition - starch, amylose, amylopectin, total sugars, reducing sugars and non-reducing sugars along the head, middle and tail regions of each tuber using standard analytical methods. Cell wall constituents - acid detergent fibre, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose of each tuber were also determined using standard analytical methods. The results showed no significant differences at p<0.05 in biochemical compositions along the length of the studied cultivars. D. cayenensis (Pure-yellow), D. rotundata (Pona) and D. alata (Matches) were found to have high starch contents (63.16-65.69%, 63.54-65.30% and 63.24-65.17% respectively). Amylose content was observed to vary along the length of the tubers for the varieties studied. D. alata (Matches) was observed to contain the highest amylose content of 19.66-20.64%. No identifiable trend was however, observed for the amylopectin content along the length between the varieties investigated. D. bulbifera recorded the lowest amylopectin content of 41.29%, 43.59% and 44.63% while D. esculenta had the highest with 49.84%, 50.24% and 50.13% along the tail, middle and head sections respectively. Total sugar content varied significantly (p<0.05) along the lengths of all the varieties investigated. It was higher at the tail portions for all the varieties studied than the head regions; the middle portions recorded the least. D. bulbifera recorded highest total sugar contents (4.74-4.84%) and total sucrose (3.58-3.64%). There were significant differences (p<0.05) in the cell wall constituents of the yam varieties. Cellulose was found to be the most common cell wall component with D. rotundata having the highest level of 3.36% whilst D. dumetorum had the least (1.56%). Hemicellulose content ranged between 0.42 g/100g in D. alata to 4.58 g/100g in D. esculenta whiles lignin content ranged from 1.56 g/100g in D. dumetorum to 2.87 g/100g for D. praehensalis There were significant differences (p<0.05) in the neutral detergent fibre found in Dioscorea esculenta and the other yam species. It ranged from 1.18 g/100g in D. alata to 5.46 g/100g in D. esculenta. Less than 1% of acid detergent fibre was identified in the yam varieties, suggesting varied levels of biochemical composition and cell wall constituents in the different yam varieties. Key words: Biochemical quality, cell wall composition, yam

Variability in biochemical composition and cell wall constituents among seven varieties in Ghanaian yan (Dioscorea SP) germplasm

This work characterized the most cultivated and consumed yam ( Dioscorea ) cultivars within the Ghanaian yam germpla sm based on their biochemical and cell wall constituents to assess their potential alternative food and industrial processing applications. Samples were analyzed for their biochemical composition - starch, amylose, amylopectin, total sugars, reducing sugar s and non- reducing sugars along the head, middle and tail regions of each tuber using standard analytical methods. Cell wall constituents - acid detergent fibre, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose of each tuber were also determined using standard analytical methods. The results showed no significant differences at p&lt;0.05 in biochemical compositions along the length of the studied cultivars. D. cayenensis (Pure -yellow), D. rotundata (Pona) and D. alata (Matches) were found to have high starch contents (63.16- 65.69%, 63.54- 65.30% and 63.24- 65.17% respectively). Amylose content was observed to vary along the length of the tubers for the varieties studied. D. alata (Matches) was observed to contain the highest amylose con tent of 19.66- 20.64%. No identifiable trend was however, observed for the amylopectin content along the length between the varieties investigated. D. bulbifera recorded the lowest amylopectin content of 41.29%, 43.59% and 44.63% while D. esculenta had the highest with 49.84%, 50.24% and 50.13% along the tail, middle and head sections respectively. Total sugar content varied significantly (p&lt;0.05) along the lengths of all the varieties investigated. It was higher at the tail portions for all the varieties studied than the head regions; the middle portions recorded the least. D. bulbifera recorded highest total sugar contents (4.74- 4.84%) and total sucrose (3.58 -3.64%). There were significant differences ( p&lt;0.05) in the cell wall constituents of the yam varieties. Cellulose was found to be the most common cell wall component with D. rotundata having the highest level of 3.36% whilst D. dumetorum had the least (1.56%). Hemicellulose content ranged between 0.42 g/100g in D. alata to 4.58 g/100g in D. esculenta while lignin content ranged from 1.56 g/100g in D. dumetorum to 2.87 g/100g for D. praehensalis . There were significant differences (p&lt;0.05) in the neutral detergent fibre found in Dioscorea esculenta and the other yam species . It ranged from 1.18 g/100g in D. alata to 5.46 g/100g in D. esculenta . Less than 1% of acid detergent fibre was identified in the yam varieties , suggesting varied levels of biochemical composition and cell wall constituents in the different yam varieties .</jats:p