The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Social capital, agriculture Extension services and access of resources toward innovation adoption in household farming in Malaysia

The objectives of the researcher were to find out the impacts of social capital, extension services and access of resources on innovation adoption in household farming, for which, a major mediating impact of human capital has been considered as well. The target population of the researcher was a subsector of the agricultural sector in Malaysia, which is household farming sector. The researcher performed detailed review of literature and then adopted research design for this study having quantitative research method, positivist research philosophy, deductive research approach and cross-sectional time horizon. Moreover, from the target population, a sample of 330 individuals is selected based on purposive sampling technique. The researcher has collected the data with the help of self-administered questionnaire-based survey and 323 valid responses have been obtained by the researcher. The collected data is arranged and analyzed with the help of Microsoft excel and SPSS software, with the application of confirmatory factor analysis and regression analysis. The results propose significant impacts of extension services and access of resources on innovation adoption in household farming, and the human capital significantly mediates the relationship present among social capital, extension services, excessive resources, and innovation adoption in household farming as well. However, the impact of social capital on innovation adoption in household farming has been found to be insignificant. The study is significant for considering a subsector in the agricultural sector of Malaysia, and it is also significant and novel for considering diversified factors while analyzing the innovation adoption in household farming.Rida Shibli (AL-Ahliyya Amman University, Hourani Center for Applied Scientific Research), Sobhia Saifan (AL-Ahliyya Amman University, Hourani Center for Applied Scientific Research), Mohd Shukri Ab Yajid (Management and Science University), Ali Khatibi (Management and Science University), S.M. Ferdous Azam (Management and Science University)Includes bibliographical reference

Commercialization and farmer literacy's role on agricultural Extension services in Malaysia

Commercialization has played a significant role in the agriculture industry of Malaysia as increased literacy of the farmers and the access to developmental services in their fields aid in the production of the crops that are rich in nutrients and provide better standards of living. Moreover, the increasing demand and incorporation of technology in the farming practices has necessitated that farmer gain access to technical and educational services to improve their propensity. Literacy and commercialization play a vital role in the dissemination of information and lead to adoption of extension services. Extension services assist the farmers through educational processes and work through the improvement in the farming procedures and practices. Adoption of extension services lead to improved farm outputs like increased efficiency and income and thus the factors influencing the adoption of extension services needs to be addressed. Thus, the main objective of the study was to evaluate the role played by commercialization and farm literacy in the adoption of extension services. The study was based on a quantitative methodology and survey technique was used. A convenient sample of 316 farmers was collected from Malaysia. The method of structural equation modelling was used for estimation of variable estimation. The technique of confirmatory factor analysis was used for estimation of model validity. The results indicate that the commercialization and farm literacy significantly influence the adoption of extension services. Also, social influence and information quality were found to mediate the associations positively as well.Rida Shibli (AL-Ahliyya Amman University, Hourani Center for Applied Scientific Research), Sobhia Saifan (AL-Ahliyya Amman University, Hourani Center for Applied Scientific Research), Mohd Shukri Ab Yajid (Management and Science University), Ali Khatibi (Management and Science University), S.M. Ferdous Azam (Management and Science University)Includes bibliographical reference

Time series analysis to enhancing net revenue of farming in Malaysia through agriculture Extension and risk aversion

Farming and agricultural industry is prone to risk due to factors that are beyond the control of farmers like weather, and this can lead to adversely affecting the farm income. Because the farmers are found to be risk-averse, it is essential to focus on the impact that it can create on the net income of the farm. Another, facet of the agricultural industry and revenue is the exposure and access to extension services. Extension services assist the farmers through educational processes and work through the improvement in the farming procedures and practices. These services and practices can lead to substantiating the net revenue of the farms through adoption of profitable practices. Thus, the focus of the present study is on evaluating the impact of risk aversion and agricultural extension on the net revenue of farms in Malaysia. The study adopts a time series approach and adapts the dynamic time series model for studying the associations among the variables in the long and short run. The study found evidence of cointegration and lack of stochastic issues in the data. The results from the estimation indicated that agricultural extension leads to improved net revenue for the farms. However, risk aversion pertains detrimental effects to the profitability and revenue of the farming households. The study has important implications and policy recommendations.Sobhia Saifan (AL-Ahliyya Amman University, Hourani Center for Applied Scientific Research), Rida Shibli (AL-Ahliyya Amman University, Hourani Center for Applied Scientific Research), Mohd Shukri Ab Yajid (Management and Science University), Junainah Abd Hamid (Management and Science University), S.M. Ferdous Azam (Management and Science University)Includes bibliographical reference

EuCAPT White Paper: Opportunities and Challenges for Theoretical Astroparticle Physics in the Next Decade

Astroparticle physics is undergoing a profound transformation, due to a series of extraordinary new results, such as the discovery of high-energy cosmic neutrinos with IceCube, the direct detection of gravitational waves with LIGO and Virgo, and many others. This white paper is the result of a collaborative effort that involved hundreds of theoretical astroparticle physicists and cosmologists, under the coordination of the European Consortium for Astroparticle Theory (EuCAPT). Addressed to the whole astroparticle physics community, it explores upcoming theoretical opportunities and challenges for our field of research, with particular emphasis on the possible synergies among different subfields, and the prospects for solving the most fundamental open questions with multi-messenger observations

EuCAPT White Paper: Opportunities and Challenges for Theoretical Astroparticle Physics in the Next Decade

Astroparticle physics is undergoing a profound transformation, due to a series of extraordinary new results, such as the discovery of high-energy cosmic neutrinos with IceCube, the direct detection of gravitational waves with LIGO and Virgo, and many others. This white paper is the result of a collaborative effort that involved hundreds of theoretical astroparticle physicists and cosmologists, under the coordination of the European Consortium for Astroparticle Theory (EuCAPT). Addressed to the whole astroparticle physics community, it explores upcoming theoretical opportunities and challenges for our field of research, with particular emphasis on the possible synergies among different subfields, and the prospects for solving the most fundamental open questions with multi-messenger observations

EuCAPT White Paper: Opportunities and Challenges for Theoretical Astroparticle Physics in the Next Decade

Astroparticle physics is undergoing a profound transformation, due to a series of extraordinary new results, such as the discovery of high-energy cosmic neutrinos with IceCube, the direct detection of gravitational waves with LIGO and Virgo, and many others. This white paper is the result of a collaborative effort that involved hundreds of theoretical astroparticle physicists and cosmologists, under the coordination of the European Consortium for Astroparticle Theory (EuCAPT). Addressed to the whole astroparticle physics community, it explores upcoming theoretical opportunities and challenges for our field of research, with particular emphasis on the possible synergies among different subfields, and the prospects for solving the most fundamental open questions with multi-messenger observations