Fetal Movement Counting Improved Identification of Fetal Growth Restriction and Perinatal Outcomes – a Multi-Centre, Randomized, Controlled Trial

Background Fetal movement counting is a method used by the mother to quantify her baby's movements, and may prevent adverse pregnancy outcome by a timely evaluation of fetal health when the woman reports decreased fetal movements. We aimed to assess effects of fetal movement counting on identification of fetal pathology and pregnancy outcome. Methodology In a multicentre, randomized, controlled trial, 1076 pregnant women with singleton pregnancies from an unselected population were assigned to either perform fetal movement counting from gestational week 28, or to receive standard antenatal care not including fetal movement counting (controls). Women were recruited from nine Norwegian hospitals during September 2007 through November 2009. Main outcome was a compound measure of fetal pathology and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Analysis was performed by intention-to-treat. Principal Findings The frequency of the main outcome was equal in the groups; 63 of 433 (11.6%) in the intervention group, versus 53 of 532 (10.7%) in the control group [RR: 1.1 95% CI 0.7–1.5)]. The growth-restricted fetuses were more often identified prior to birth in the intervention group than in the control group; 20 of 23 fetuses (87.0%) versus 12 of 20 fetuses (60.0%), respectively, [RR: 1.5 (95% CI 1.0–2.1)]. In the intervention group two babies (0.4%) had Apgar scores <4 at 1 minute, versus 12 (2.3%) in the control group [RR: 0.2 (95% CI 0.04–0.7)]. The frequency of consultations for decreased fetal movement was 71 (13.1%) and 57 (10.7%) in the intervention and control groups, respectively [RR: 1.2 (95% CI 0.9–1.7)]. The frequency of interventions was similar in the groups. Conclusions Maternal ability to detect clinically important changes in fetal activity seemed to be improved by fetal movement counting; there was an increased identification of fetal growth restriction and improved perinatal outcome, without inducing more consultations or obstetric intervention

Critical Assessment of Metagenome Interpretation:A benchmark of metagenomics software

International audienceIn metagenome analysis, computational methods for assembly, taxonomic profilingand binning are key components facilitating downstream biological datainterpretation. However, a lack of consensus about benchmarking datasets andevaluation metrics complicates proper performance assessment. The CriticalAssessment of Metagenome Interpretation (CAMI) challenge has engaged the globaldeveloper community to benchmark their programs on datasets of unprecedentedcomplexity and realism. Benchmark metagenomes were generated from newlysequenced ~700 microorganisms and ~600 novel viruses and plasmids, includinggenomes with varying degrees of relatedness to each other and to publicly availableones and representing common experimental setups. Across all datasets, assemblyand genome binning programs performed well for species represented by individualgenomes, while performance was substantially affected by the presence of relatedstrains. Taxonomic profiling and binning programs were proficient at high taxonomicranks, with a notable performance decrease below the family level. Parametersettings substantially impacted performances, underscoring the importance ofprogram reproducibility. While highlighting current challenges in computationalmetagenomics, the CAMI results provide a roadmap for software selection to answerspecific research questions

Modelling climate change adaption in vulnerable crop and livestock production systems in Mgeta, Tanzania

Increased occurrences of draught and dry spells during growing seasons have resulted in increased interest for protection of tropical water catchment areas. In the paper, we examine opportunities for improving economic performance and explore more environmental sustainable adaptation strategies in the integrated crop-livestock production systems in Mgeta, a water catchment area in the Uluguru Mountains, Tanzania. In Mgeta water for fruit and vegetable production is provided through canals from the Uluguru forest reserve. The clearing of forest land for cultivation in the steep slopes is causing severe land degradation, threatening the water source, livelihoods and food security of the local communities as well as major population centers in the lowlands. A linear programming (LP) crop-livestock model, maximizing farm income, is applied for studying the economic performance of dairy goats in the production system today and in a scenario with lower crop yields and increased variability due to climate change. Data obtained from a questionnaire to a sample of farmers were used to develop and parameterize the model. The assessments suggest that in the steep slopes of the area a crop-dairy goat system with extensive use of grass and MPPT will do better under climate change since the yield variation of the grass and MPPT system is less affected compared to vegetable crops due to more tree cover and the perennial grasses. Currently goat milk production is limited by inadequate feeding, and farmers should purchase more concentrate feed to enhance production of the dairy goats. Policy measures to promote such a development are briefly mentioned.Available in Proceedings of the International Conference on Reducing Climate Change Challenges through Forestry and Other Land Use PracticesClimate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation (CCIAM) Programme funded through the Norwegian embassy in Tanzani

Empowering farmers? Collaborative research at Sokoine university of agriculture, Tanzania

Development in Practice,Vol. 25( 2015),pp No. 3, 347–359This article presents experiences with collaborative and on-farm research based on the implementation of a four-year Programme for Agricultural and Natural Resources Transformation for Improved Livelihoods (PANTIL) at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) in Morogoro, Tanzania. It outlines the basic elements in the implementation of a programme aimed to be demand-based, and discusses the challenges encountered in combining collaborative research with the empowerment of farmers. Finally, the article draws out some lessons with implications for the future organisation of collaborative and on-farm agricultural research

Empowering farmers? Collaborative research at Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania

Development in Practice, 2015; 25 (3): 347–359This article presents experiences with collaborative and on-farm research based on the implementation of a four-year Programme for Agricultural and Natural Resources Transformation for Improved Livelihoods (PANTIL) at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) in Morogoro, Tanzania. It outlines the basic elements in the implementation of a programme aimed to be demand-based, and discusses the challenges encountered in combining collaborative research with the empowerment of farmers. Finally, the article draws out some lessons with implications for the future organisation of collaborative and on-farm agricultural research. Cet article présente des expériences de recherches menées en collaboration et au sein même d’exploitations agricoles, basées sur la mise en oeuvre d’un programme de quatre ans, le Programme for Agricultural and Natural Resources Transformation for Improved Livelihoods (PANTIL - Programme pour la transformation des ressources agricoles et naturelles pour des moyens de subsistance améliorés) à la Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) de Morogoro, en Tanzanie. Il présente les éléments de base de la mise en oeuvre d’un programme visant à être fondé sur la demande et traite des défis rencontrés au moment de conjuguer les recherches collaboratives et l’autonomisation des agriculteurs. Enfin, cet article tire quelques enseignements ayant des implications pour l’organisation future de recherches agricoles menées en collaboration et au sein des exploitations. El presente artículo examina las experiencias surgidas de una investigación colaborativa realizada en parcelas agrícolas. La misma se basó en la implementación del Programa para la Transformación de la Agricultura y de los Recursos Naturales para el Mejoramiento de los Medios de Vida (PANTIL, por sus siglas en inglés), vinculado a la Universidad Sokoine de Agricultura de Morogoro, Tanzania, a lo largo de cuatro años. El artículo resume los elementos principales requeridos para impulsar un programa basado en la demanda, examinando los retos que debieron enfrentarse para combinar la investigación colaborativa y el empoderamiento de los productores. A manera de conclusión, el artículo esboza algunos de los aprendizajes obtenidos, los cuales tienen implicaciones para la organización de futuras investigaciones colaborativas que se realicen en parcelas agrícola

Empowering farmers? Collaborative research at Sokoine university of agriculture, Tanzania

Development in Practice,Vol. 25( 2015),pp No. 3, 347–359This article presents experiences with collaborative and on-farm research based on the implementation of a four-year Programme for Agricultural and Natural Resources Transformation for Improved Livelihoods (PANTIL) at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) in Morogoro, Tanzania. It outlines the basic elements in the implementation of a programme aimed to be demand-based, and discusses the challenges encountered in combining collaborative research with the empowerment of farmers. Finally, the article draws out some lessons with implications for the future organisation of collaborative and on-farm agricultural research