Influence of salicylic acid and potassium nitrate on plant height and flowering time of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) under varying salinity and drought-induced stresses

This study was conducted to examine the effects of Salicylic acid (SA) and Potassium nitrate (KNO3) on plant height and flowering time of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) under induced stresses of salinity, drought and combined salinity and drought. Three watering regimes namely; normal, moderate and severe were used. For salinity stress, 50 mM NaCl, 100 mM NaCl, 150 mM NaCl and combination of water and salinity regimes were used. 50 μm KNO3 and 50 μm SA were separately applied to plants under water, salinity and combined water and salinity stresses. The mean plant height at 100 mM salt concentration were 42.29 cm for KNO3, 42.27 cm for SA, compared with 40.98 cm for control (F = 2.73; P ≤ 0.008). In combined severe watering and 150 mM NaCl treatment, flowering time was 57 DAP (days after planting) compared to 34 DAP in control plants. When KNO3 and SA were applied to severe watering and 150 mM NaCl combined stress induced plants, flowering time was 51 DAP and 53 DAP for KNO3 and SA treated plants respectively. In conclusion, the exogenous application of plant growth regulators such as SA and KNO3 reduce impact of water stress on groundnut and effectively improve yield

Dowry Abuse Decision Tree: A Guide to Support Clients Impacted by Dowry Abuse

This decision tree is to aid case workers, support services or clinical professionals in their client's journey from dowry abuse recovery

No Change in Perceptual or Chronotropic Outcome When Altering Preferred Step Frequency for a Short Duration

IIntroduction: Millions of individuals incorporate jogging into their physical activity routines as a leisurely pursuit and as a way to achieve positive health outcomes. People appear to choose jogging speed and the associated step frequency on pure, natural preference. Understandably, kinesthetics are important, but another important underlying factor is metabolic cost. The purpose of this work was to investigate if preferred step frequency (at a preferred jogging pace) also minimizes perceived effort (Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion, 6-20; RPE) and chronotropic stress (heart rate; HR) during a ten-minute activity bout when compared with step frequencies altered by 5%. Methods: Recreationally-trained male subjects underwent two testing visits. The first visit was used to establish RPE and HR responses during a 10-minute jogging activity at preferred speed and step frequency. On a subsequent visit, between two and four days later, with preferred speed maintained, subjects were guided by metronome to strike at either 95% or 105% of their preferred step frequency. The 10-minute runs were randomized, crossed-over, and separated by 20 minutes. RPE and HR were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA. Results: Fourteen subjects (age: 21.1 ± 0.95; body mass index: 23.2 ± 2.5) enrolled. Preferred jogging speed (speed. 6.4 ± 1.0 miles per hour; 10.2 ± 1.6 kilometers per hour) and step frequency (steps. 161.2 ± 10.3 steps/minute) were determined at the first visit, along with RPE (11.3 ± 1.7) and HR (166.4 ± 12.7). At the second visit, preferred speed was maintained while the frequency of foot-strike was altered. Neither differences in RPE (p = 0.252; 11.3 ± 1.7, 11.6 ± 1.9, 11.8 ± 1.5) nor HR (p = 0.547; 166.4 ± 12.7, 164.7 ± 14.9, 165.2 ± 15.3) were different when comparing the preferred, 95%, and 105% step frequency trials, respectively. Although anecdotal, some subjects verbalized displeasure with the change in pace and most all appeared to markedly alter the initial foot strike phase of the gait to meet the directed foot strike tempo. Discussion: Our data must be interpreted cautiously. While altering step frequency by 5% for a short duration does not appear to alter an individual’s RPE or HR appreciably, the result during longer duration activity may not be the same. In addition, the implications for biomechanical loading and metabolic cost were not presently investigated

Dowry Abuse and South Asian Populations in Australia: A Narrative of Project Findings

Dowry is a cultural practice where a person transfers money, property, goods, in the form of gifts to their partner's family before, upon or after marriage. Dowry abuse is an act of violence or abuse and threats, linked with giving or receiving dowry, any time before, during or after the marriage. The giving of dowry is a marriage custom prevalent in South Asian countries and becoming increasingly popular in Australia. The South Asian populations comprise of those originating from countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka. Although dowry is illegal in key South Asian countries, it remains a common practice. This project funded by City of Parramatta Council and Western Sydney University, aims to understand how to define and identify dowry abuse and address this type of domestic and family violence within the South Asian community of Western Sydney

Dowry Abuse and South Asian Populations in Australia: Identifying Core Features, Exploring Community Narratives and Developing Resources for Prevention and Intervention

Dowry abuse is defined as ‘any act of violence or harassment associated with the giving or receiving of dowry at any time before, during or after the marriage’ (United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women, 2009). It is not a uniquely religious practice and affects women and families of various backgrounds (Jopson, 2017). The issue of dowry abuse is of particular concern to the City of Parramatta Council. The Council recognises that their community is diverse; and therefore, uniquely affected by dowry abuse. Through their relationships with local domestic and family violence services, the Council has recognised that dowry abuse is a significant issue with the newly arrived and established migrant communities. Currently, there is a dearth of research and best practice models about dowry abuse in Australia and how it manifests in communities and services. This project, therefore, seeks to fill in this gap in knowledge by exploring case files related to dowry abuse as well as engaging with the perspectives of South Asian women and service providers to better understand how to define, identify and address this significant issue of domestic and family violence. The South Asian community is defined as communities of people who have settled in Australia but whose ancestors originate from countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Research Aims and Objectives This research, funded by both Western Sydney University and the City of Parramatta Council, aimed to develop data and evidence about the incidence, rate and impact of dowry abuse within the South Asian community of Western Sydney. The objectives of this project were: 1. To develop and run a community-led, culturally competent research project that captures community voices and strengths. 2. To create high quality data that can be utilised in advocacy initiatives and training programs for communities and front-line professionals. 3. To build the capacity of community and service providers to prevent and address dowry abuse

Seasonality and trends of drivers of mesoscale convective systems in southern West Africa

Mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) are the major source of extreme rainfall over land in the tropics and are expected to intensify with global warming. In the Sahel, changes in surface temperature gradients and associated changes in wind shear have been found to be important for MCS intensification in recent decades. Here we extend that analysis to southern West Africa (SWA) by combining 34 years of cloud-top temperatures with rainfall and reanalysis data. We identify clear trends in intense MCSs since 1983 and their associated atmospheric drivers. We also find a marked annual cycle in the drivers, linked to changes in the convective regime during the progression of the West African monsoon. Before the peak of the first rainy season, we identify a shear regime where increased temperature gradients play a crucial role for MCS intensity trends. From June onward, SWA moves into a less unstable, moist regime during which MCS trends are mainly linked to frequency increase and may be more influenced by total column water vapor. However, during both seasons we find that MCSs with the most intense convection occur in an environment with stronger wind shear, increased low-level humidity, and drier midlevels. Comparing the sensitivity of MCS intensity and peak rainfall to low-level moisture and wind shear conditions preceding events, we find a dominant role for wind shear. We conclude that MCS trends are directly linked to a strengthening of two distinct convective regimes that cause the seasonal change of SWA MCS characteristics. However, the convective environment that ultimately produces the most intense MCSs remains the same

Choroidal vascularity map in unilateral central serous chorioretinopathy: A comparison with fellow and healthy eyes

Background: To map the choroidal vascularity index and compare two eyes in patients with unilateral central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR). Methods: This was a retrospective, observa-tional study performed in patients with unilateral CSCR. Choroidal thickness (CT) and Choroidal vascularity index (CVI) were measured and mapped in various zones according to the early treatment diabetic retinopathy (ETDRS) grid. Results: A total of 20 CSCR patients (20 study and 20 fellow eyes) were included in the study. Outer nasal region CT was seen to be significantly lower than central CT (p = 0.042) and inner nasal CT (p = 0.007); outer ring CT was significantly less than central (p = 0.04) and inner ring (p = 0.01) CT in CSCR eyes. On potting all the CVI values against the corresponding CT values, a positive correlation was seen in CSCR eyes (r = 0.54, p < 0.01), which was slightly weaker in fellow eyes (r = 0.3, p < 0.01) and a negative correlation was seen in healthy eyes (r = −0.262, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Correlation between CVI and CT was altered in CSCR eyes as compared to fellow and normal eyes with increasing CVI towards the center of the macula and superiorly in CSCR eyes

Podoconiosis and soil-transmitted helminths (STHs): double burden of neglected tropical diseases in Wolaita zone, rural southern Ethiopia

Background Both podoconiosis and soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections occur among barefoot people in areas of extreme poverty; however, their co-morbidity has not previously been investigated. We explored the overlap of STH infection and podoconiosis in Southern Ethiopia and quantified their separate and combined effects on prevalent anemia and hemoglobin levels in podoconiosis patients and health controls from the same area. Methods and Principal Findings A two-part comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in Wolaita zone, southern Ethiopia. Data were collected from adult patients presenting with clinically confirmed podoconiosis, and unmatched adult neighborhood controls living in the same administrative area. Information on demographic and selected lifestyle factors was collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires. Stool samples were collected and examined qualitatively using the modified formalin-ether sedimentation method. Hemoglobin level was determined using two different methods: hemoglobinometer and automated hematology analyzer. A total of 913 study subjects (677 podoconiosis patients and 236 controls) participated. The prevalence of any STH infection was 47.6% among patients and 33.1% among controls (p<0.001). The prevalence of both hookworm and Trichuris trichiura infections was significantly higher in podoconiosis patients than in controls (AOR 1.74, 95% CI 1.25 to2.42, AOR 6.53, 95% CI 2.34 to 18.22, respectively). Not wearing shoes and being a farmer remained significant independent predictors of infection with any STH. There was a significant interaction between STH infection and podoconiosis on reduction of hemoglobin level (interaction p value = 0.002). Conclusions Prevalence of any STH and hookworm infection was higher among podoconiosis patients than among controls. A significant reduction in hemoglobin level was observed among podoconiosis patients co-infected with hookworm and ‘non-hookworm STH’. Promotion of consistent shoe-wearing practices may have double advantages in controlling both podoconiosis and hookworm infection in the study area

Combining quantitative and qualitative survey work. Methodological framework, practical issues, and case studies

This document is an output of the DFID funded research project R7033 "Methodological Framework for Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches for Socio-Economic Survey Work". The project's main objective was to improve survey methodologies used in the natural resources sector, leading in turn to improved quality of information required for decision-making at the various stages of natural resources programmes and projects. The project, which was jointly implemented by the Natural Resources Institute and the Statistical Services Centre, attempted to bridge the gap between informal I qualitative methods on the one hand and formal I quantitative ones on the other. The document is presented in the form of a manual, allowing the user to read each of its parts and sections independently of each other. Nevertheless, cross references indicate links to other parts of the document where appropriate. Part I provides a methodological framework, which will also be available as a Best-Practice Guideline published by the Natural Resources Systems Programme of DFID. Part 11, which contains six theme papers, looks into a number of practical issues encountered when combining quantitative and qualitative survey techniques. And finally, in Part III case studies are used to demonstrate how the two approaches can be integrated in survey work and experiments related to the natural resources sector. The framework document, theme papers and case studies have been produced between 1998 and 2000