On L-Fuzzy Sets

Abstract It is found that the interval [0, 1] of real numbers is insufficient to have the truth values of general fuzzy statements. In this paper it is argued that a complete lattice L satisfying the infinite meet distributive law is a best candidate to assume the truth values of fuzzy statements. Such a lattice is called a frame. A thorough discussion is made of fuzzy subsets of a set having truth values in an abstract frame

Identification of Colletotrichum species associated with anthracnose disease of coffee in Vietnam

Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, C. acutatum, C. capsici and C. boninense associated with anthracnose disease on coffee (Coffea spp.) in Vietnam were identified based on morphology and DNA analysis. Phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences from the internal transcribed spacer region of nuclear rDNA and a portion of mitochondrial small subunit rRNA were concordant and allowed good separation of the taxa. We found several Colletotrichum isolates of unknown species and their taxonomic position remains unresolved. The majority of Vietnamese isolates belonged to C. gloeosporioides and they grouped together with the coffee berry disease (CBD) fungus, C. kahawae. However, C. kahawae could be distinguished from the Vietnamese C. gloeosporioides isolates based on ammonium tartrate utilization, growth rate and pathogenictity. C. gloeosporioides isolates were more pathogenic on detached green berries than isolates of the other species, i.e. C. acutatum, C capsici and C. boninense. Some of the C. gloeosporioides isolates produced slightly sunken lesion on green berries resembling CBD symptoms but it did not destroy the bean. We did not find any evidence of the presence of C. kahawae in Vietnam

The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010-19 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. Methods The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk-outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. Findings Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4.45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4.01-4.94) deaths and 105 million (95.0-116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44.4% (41.3-48.4) of all cancer deaths and 42.0% (39.1-45.6) of all DALYs. There were 2.88 million (2.60-3.18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50.6% [47.8-54.1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1.58 million (1.36-1.84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36.3% [32.5-41.3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20.4% (12.6-28.4) and DALYs by 16.8% (8.8-25.0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34.7% [27.9-42.8] and 33.3% [25.8-42.0]). Interpretation The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden. Copyright (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.Peer reviewe

Undernutrition and associated factors among children aged 6–59 months living in slum areas of Gondar city, northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Atanaw Gelu,1 Melkie Edris,2 Terefe Derso,2 Zegeye Abebe2 1Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 2Department of Human Nutrition, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia Background: Many people, especially in developing countries such as Ethiopia, are migrating to cities. The majority of these people have settled in slum areas, which often have poor sanitation and housing conditions. Therefore, this study was conducted to gather evidence on nutritional status and associated factors among children aged 6–59 months living in slum areas of Gondar city, northwest Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out from 3 to 28 May 2017. A total of 593 children from the slum areas aged 6–59 months were included in the study. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were carried out to identify the independent determinants of stunting and wasting. Results: The overall prevalences of stunting and wasting were 42.3% (95% CI 38.34, 46.3%) and 7.3% (95% CI 5.3, 9.4%), respectively. Poor wealth status (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] =1.79; 95% CI 1.19, 2.70) and age of child 24–35 months (AOR=2.56; 95% CI 1.32, 4.96), 36–47 months (AOR=2.27; 95% CI 1.14, 4.54) and 48–59 months (AOR=2.69; 95% CI 1.35, 5.32) were independently associated with stunting. Similarly, presence of a fever in the previous 2 weeks (AOR=2.29; 95% CI 1.20, 4.38) and paternal control over resources (AOR=3.66; 95% CI 1.12, 11.04) were associated with wasting. Children of uneducated mothers (AOR=3.30; 95% CI 1.29, 8.46) were also more likely to be wasted. Conclusion: This study illustrates that undernutrition is prevalent in the slum areas of Gondar city and is a critical public health problem. Therefore, attention should be targeted at economically disadvantaged children living in slum areas. In addition, there is a need to improve medical awareness of families with young children in these areas and increase the health-seeking behavior of these families, primarily by focusing on maternal education. Increasing women’s decision-making autonomy over household resources is also recommended to address the problem. Keywords: stunting, wasting, undernutrition, slum area, Ethiopi

Mango production knowledge and technological gaps of smallholder farmers in Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Mango production is steadily expanding in Amhara region, Ethiopia. However, its productivity is below the national average. A survey conducted in four representative districts of Amhara region using 70 randomly selected mango growers in order to assess mango production knowledge and technological gaps of smallholder farmers. Data collected through individual interview using semi-structured questioner and field observation, and analyzed using SPSS statistical software version 15. Majority (91.4%) of the respondents had less than 21 year mango production experiences. Further, 54.3% of the respondents did not attend formal education. Only 1.4 % of the respondents can do mango grafting. Majority of the respondents did not apply inorganic fertilizer, did not spray pesticides and fungicides to control pests and diseases, and did not prune their mango trees. These depict mango production knowledge and skill gaps of smallholder farmers. There is no site specific recommendation on irrigation interval, fertilizer rate, spacing, pruning season, scion and rootstock varieties, and insect pest and disease control methods for mango production. About 66% of the mango trees of the respondents are developed from seedlings and need to be converted into improved varieties through top-working. These indicate the existing technological gaps for mango production in the study area. Therefore, farmers need to be trained and improved mango production technologies should have to be introduced in order to improve the quality and boost the productivity of mango in the study area

Assessment of fruit postharvest handling practices and losses in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

Demand for fresh fruit is steadily increasing in big cities of Northwestern Ethiopia. As a result, fruits are transported from nearby as well as long distance sources to urban centers such as Bahir Dar. The type of fruit crops available in the market and number of fruit retailers are increasing from time to time. However, the key challenge facing the sector is loss across the supply chain. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to analyze fruit marketing practices, document causes and extent of postharvest losses in Bahir Dar fruit market. The study was conducted in June 2016 sing semi structured questionnaire. Thirty-one fruit retailers were randomly selected and interviewed to obtain information on their socio-economic characteristics, fruit marketing practices and postharvest losses. Data analyzed using SPSS statistical software. Results revealed that, 77.4% fruit retailers are less than 31 years old , 67.8% attended above primary school education, and 83.9% have less than six years fruit trading experience. Therefore, fruit retailers are young and educated but have very limited fruit trading experience. Of the seven fruit crops commonly sold in Bahir Dar market; mango, banana and avocado were the most prevalent. The average shelf life of fruits in retailers’ hand is only 3 to 4 days and about 20% of the fruits purchased by retailers lost before reaching to consumers mainly due to inappropriate handling and lack of proper storage facility. Therefore, multifaceted interventions such as capacity development, improved fruit production and harvesting practice, and proper storage and transportation facilities establishment are required to reduce postharvest loss and extend fruit shelf-life

Smallholder fruit development in Bure District, Ethiopia: Experiences from IPMS

Bure district has a diverse ago-ecology, different soil types, a relatively long rainy season and a number of rivers and streams for irrigation. Therefore, it has suitable tract of land to grow temperate, subtropical and tropical fruit crops. In 2007, fruits were identified as a potential marketable commodity by the stakeholders participating in the IPMS project. They diagnosed that farmers had limited orchard management knowledge and skill and were growing locally available less productive and low quality fruit varieties. In addition, the linkage among fruit production stakeholders was very weak. Moreover, fruit seedlings from local seeds were only multiplied and distributed from the government fruit nursery and the supply was inadequate. Therefore, the quantity and quality of fruit produced in the district was still very low. The stakeholders also identified possible interventions along the value chain and subsequently intervened in capacity building (orchard management and propagation techniques), improved varieties introduction, input supply (established private nurseries, introduced grafting in government nurseries), stakeholders linkage and marketing of outputs. Thirteen (13) private fruit nurseries were established in four Peasant Associations (PAs) and in Bure town, which produced 68% of the seedlings in the district in 2008. Poor women and landless youth were also able to participate. The skill and knowledge of farmers, Development Agents (DAs) and experts improved through training and study tours which created linkages with new knowledge and capacity development actors. However, shortage of scion to multiply grafted fruit planting materials hampered mango and avocado expansion. i.e. only 3% of the mango and avocado seedlings in 2008 were grafted. Project partners are however addressing the issue by identifying alternative scion supply for avocado. Presently, 35% and 93% of the avocado seedlings raised for July 2010 planting, in the government and private nurseries, respectively, are grafted

Smallholder apiculture development in Bure, Ethiopia: experiences from IPMS project interventions

Beekeeping has a long history in Bure district as in other parts of Ethiopia. On average, it is estimated that 110 tons of honey are produced annually by smallholder farmers, and approximately 5000 households (hhs) are engaged in beekeeping as a sideline income generating activity, including landless farmers. Most beekeepers use local hives and beekeeping practices. Consequently, the quantity and quality of honey produced in the district was very low. The Office of Agriculture and Rural Development (OoARD) in Bure and the Regional BoARD started addressing these problems in 2004 through a campaign style distribution of modern hives and processing equipments. In 2007, the Improving Productivity and Market Success (IPMS) of Ethiopian Farmers project in collaboration with the district OoARD introduced a participatory market oriented value chain development approach in which stakeholders identified problems/potentials and possible interventions in production, input supply/credit, marketing and extension approaches/activities. Major problems were the low occupancy rate (23%) of the newly introduced modern hives, partly as a result of lack of knowledge and skills; lack of market price information and linkages for honey produced from modern hives as well as lack of price incentive for quality honey. Furthermore, private sector involvement in the supply of inputs was minimal. Stakeholders started addressing these problems and the objective of this case study is to review and document results and lessons generated from these interventions. Beekeepers multiplied 198 bee colonies, planted improved bee forages in the backyards, purchased smokers and protective clothing from input suppliers and collectively sold over 15 tons honey to honey traders and consumers in Addis Ababa. Beekeepers who adopted/benefited from the various interventions, earned on average Birr 2374/annum, as compared to Birr 201 for beekeepers who did not adopt/benefit. Statistics from the OoARD also suggest that the occupancy rate of modern hives doubled over the past two years because of improved management. In addition, the beekeeping knowledge and skill of farmers have been improving. Still the average yield from modern hives is still well below its potential and requires further attention. While the overall honey production in the district increases and has attracted the interest of commercial investors, linkages with the clean honey market need to be strengthened to reap the full benefits. The commercial processing (honey extraction) also requires further attention by either cooperatives and/or private processors