Lablab purpureus—A Crop Lost for Africa?

In recent years, so-called ‘lost crops’ have been appraised in a number of reviews, among them Lablab purpureus in the context of African vegetable species. This crop cannot truly be considered ‘lost’ because worldwide more than 150 common names are applied to it. Based on a comprehensive literature review, this paper aims to put forward four theses, (i) Lablab is one of the most diverse domesticated legume species and has multiple uses. Although its largest agro-morphological diversity occurs in South Asia, its origin appears to be Africa. (ii) Crop improvement in South Asia is based on limited genetic diversity. (iii) The restricted research and development performed in Africa focuses either on improving forage or soil properties mostly through one popular cultivar, Rongai, while the available diversity of lablab in Africa might be under threat of genetic erosion. (iv) Lablab is better adapted to drought than common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) or cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), both of which have been preferred to lablab in African agricultural production systems. Lablab might offer comparable opportunities for African agriculture in the view of global change. Its wide potential for adaptation throughout eastern and southern Africa is shown with a GIS (geographic information systems) approach

Not all cows are epidemiologically equal:quantifying the risks of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) transmission through cattle movements

International audienceMany economically important cattle diseases spread between herds through livestock movements. Traditionally, most transmission models have assumed that all purchased cattle carry the same risk of generating outbreaks in the destination herd. Using data on bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) in Scotland as a case example, this study provides empirical and theoretical evidence that the risk of disease transmission varies substantially based on the animal and herd demographic characteristics at the time of purchase. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that purchasing pregnant heifers and open cows sold with a calf at foot were associated with an increased risk of beef herds being seropositive for BVDV. Based on the results from a dynamic within-herd simulation model, these findings may be partly explained by the age-related probability of animals being persistently infected with BVDV as well as the herd demographic structure at the time of animal introductions. There was also evidence that an epidemiologically important network statistic, "betweenness centrality" (a measure frequently associated with the potential for herds to acquire and transmit disease), was significantly higher for herds that supplied these particular types of replacement beef cattle. The trends for dairy herds were not as clear, although there was some evidence that open heifers and open lactating cows were associated with an increased risk of BVDV. Overall, these findings have important implications for developing simulation models that more accurately reflect the industry-level transmission dynamics of infectious cattle diseases

Ruby laser for the treatment of trichiasis.

Trichiasis, the misdirection of eyelashes arising from their normal sites of origin, may cause discomfort, corneal abrasions, ulceration and scarring. The therapies currently used for this condition have a variety of success rates and complications. In this report we describe epilation using a ruby laser to treat ten patients (11 lids). In six patients laser treatment was completely successful in achieving alopecia, in three patients the treatment was partly successful, and one patient was lost to follow up. In all cases ruby laser treatment was well tolerated, and there were no reported complications; thus, ruby laser treatment can be a viable and well-tolerated option for the relief of the symptoms of trichiasis

Ruby laser for the treatment of trichiasis.

Trichiasis, the misdirection of eyelashes arising from their normal sites of origin, may cause discomfort, corneal abrasions, ulceration and scarring. The therapies currently used for this condition have a variety of success rates and complications. In this report we describe epilation using a ruby laser to treat ten patients (11 lids). In six patients laser treatment was completely successful in achieving alopecia, in three patients the treatment was partly successful, and one patient was lost to follow up. In all cases ruby laser treatment was well tolerated, and there were no reported complications; thus, ruby laser treatment can be a viable and well-tolerated option for the relief of the symptoms of trichiasis