Macular sensitivity and fixation patterns in normal eyes and eyes with uveitis with and without macular edema

PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate the relationship between macular sensitivity and thickness in eyes with uveitic macular edema (UME). DESIGN: This study is a prospective observational case series. METHODS: The setting for this study was clinical practice. The study included 59 (28 with UME, 31 without UME) eyes of 26 patients with uveitis and 19 eyes of 10 normal subjects. The procedure followed was fundus-related perimetry and retinal thickness map with an automated fundus perimetry/tomography system. Main outcome measures included quantification of macular sensitivity, fixation pattern, and relationship between macular sensitivity and thickness. RESULTS: Fixation stability revealed that 56 eyes (93.44%) had stable fixation (\u3e75% within the central 2° of point of fixation); three eyes (6.56%) were relatively unstable (75% located within 4°); and no eye had unstable fixation (50% of fixation point within 0.5 mm of foveal center); seven eyes (11.86%) had peri-central fixation location (25% \u3c 50% within 0.5 mm); and seven eyes (11.86%) had eccentric (280 μm. CONCLUSIONS: Perimetry quantification of macular sensitivity and retinal thickness, in association with other factors, may offer novel information regarding the impact of UME on retinal function

Hotspots of biogeochemical activity linked to aridity and plant traits across global drylands.

Perennial plants create productive and biodiverse hotspots, known as fertile islands, beneath their canopies. These hotspots largely determine the structure and functioning of drylands worldwide. Despite their ubiquity, the factors controlling fertile islands under conditions of contrasting grazing by livestock, the most prevalent land use in drylands, remain virtually unknown. Here we evaluated the relative importance of grazing pressure and herbivore type, climate and plant functional traits on 24 soil physical and chemical attributes that represent proxies of key ecosystem services related to decomposition, soil fertility, and soil and water conservation. To do this, we conducted a standardized global survey of 288 plots at 88 sites in 25 countries worldwide. We show that aridity and plant traits are the major factors associated with the magnitude of plant effects on fertile islands in grazed drylands worldwide. Grazing pressure had little influence on the capacity of plants to support fertile islands. Taller and wider shrubs and grasses supported stronger island effects. Stable and functional soils tended to be linked to species-rich sites with taller plants. Together, our findings dispel the notion that grazing pressure or herbivore type are linked to the formation or intensification of fertile islands in drylands. Rather, our study suggests that changes in aridity, and processes that alter island identity and therefore plant traits, will have marked effects on how perennial plants support and maintain the functioning of drylands in a more arid and grazed world

Author Correction: Hotspots of biogeochemical activity linked to aridity and plant traits across global drylands.

Correction to: Nature Plantshttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-024-01670-7, published online 12 April 2024 In the version of the article initially published, affiliation 30 was incorrect and has now been updated to Plant Ecology Group, Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany. Additionally, Pierre Liancourt’s second affiliation (State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany) was missing and has now been added. These changes have been made to the HTML and PDF versions of the article

Farmers’ Perception of Climate Change and Coping Strategies across Gender in Two Agro-Ecological Zones of Nigeria

This study examined farmers’ perception of climate change and coping strategies across gender in two agro-ecological zones of Nigeria. Two agro-ecological zones namely north-central and north-west were purposively selected and one State Agricultural Development Project each namely Niger and Kaduna were selected repectively. Structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from 140 respondents. Data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Personal experience was the most prominent means through which females (35.7%) and males (38.6%) became aware of climate change. Majority of the females (85.7%) and males (74.3%) in the north-central zone , started to notice the effect of climate change only about 1-5years ago. About 89% of males and 82% of females opined that yearly rainfull begins late. About 97% of the female and 99% of the males were of the opinion that there had been gradual reduction of vegetation cover. General perception by both females (mean=3.2) and males (mean=3.2) was that climate change reduces the yield of crops, increase the cost of crop production and reduces the productivity of livestock and also time spent by the females to look for water for domestic use had increased. Chi-square analysis indicated positive and significant relationship between perception of climate change and farm size (X2 = 4.1; p<0.05) in north- central and farming experience (X2 = 7.3; p<0.05) in north west zone. The results of t-test analysis showed significant difference between how the females and males perceived the effect of climate change with regards to rainfall ending early (t(138)=2.5; p<0.05) and time spent to look for water for cooking food has increased(t(138)=2.2;p<0.05). A multi-media enlightenment campagn of the effects and posssible coping strategies of climate change should be adopted by all tiers of government and NGOs to reach the farmers using available extension structure on ground. Also, farming communities can run local disaster risk committees to encourage local adaptation measures as survival tactics for the purpose of ensuring food security.Key Words: Gender, Farmers Perception, Coping strategies, Climate Change, Agro-ecological Zon

Farmers’ Perception of Climate Change and Coping Strategies across Gender in Two Agro-Ecological Zones of Nigeria

This study examined farmers’ perception of climate change and coping strategies across gender in two agro-ecological zones of Nigeria. Two agro-ecological zones namely north-central and north-west were purposively selected and one State Agricultural Development Project each namely Niger and Kaduna were selected repectively. Structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from 140 respondents. Data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Personal experience was the most prominent means through which females (35.7%) and males (38.6%) became aware of climate change. Majority of the females (85.7%) and males (74.3%) in the north-central zone , started to notice the effect of climate change only about 1-5years ago. About 89% of males and 82% of females opined that yearly rainfull begins late. About 97% of the female and 99% of the males were of the opinion that there had been gradual reduction of vegetation cover. General perception by both females (mean=3.2) and males (mean=3.2) was that climate change reduces the yield of crops, increase the cost of crop production and reduces the productivity of livestock and also time spent by the females to look for water for domestic use had increased. Chi-square analysis indicated positive and significant relationship between perception of climate change and farm size (X2 = 4.1; p&lt;0.05) in north- central and farming experience (X2 = 7.3; p&lt;0.05) in north west zone. The results of t-test analysis showed significant difference between how the females and males perceived the effect of climate change with regards to rainfall ending early (t(138)=2.5; p&lt;0.05) and time spent to look for water for cooking food has increased(t(138)=2.2;p&lt;0.05). A multi-media enlightenment campagn of the effects and posssible coping strategies of climate change should be adopted by all tiers of government and NGOs to reach the farmers using available extension structure on ground. Also, farming communities can run local disaster risk committees to encourage local adaptation measures as survival tactics for the purpose of ensuring food security.Key Words: Gender, Farmers Perception, Coping strategies, Climate Change, Agro-ecological Zone</jats:p