Breeding for Promiscuous Soybeans at IITA

Peer Revie

Selection for yield and its component traits in interspecific recombinant inbred lines of tef

Forty recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of interspecific cross of Eragrostis tef x E. pilosa were evaluated to study variability and interrelationships among agronomic traits using randomized complete block design. The RILs were evaluated for 17 traits. The result showed panicle length, rind penetrometer resistance of the first and the second basal internodes, 100-kernel weight, kernel weight per panicle, plant height and grain yield per plant had high estimates of genetic coefficient of variation, broad sense heritability and genetic advance. Thus, improvement of these traits could be attained through direct selection without the masking effect of the environment. The correlation study showed positive and significant (p<0.01) phenotypic and genotypic associations of grain yield per plant with days to heading and maturity, panicle length, 100-kernel weight, kernel weight per panicle, biomass yield per plant and harvest index. Genotypic path coefficient analysis revealed that panicle length, biomass yield per plant, crushing strength of the second basal internode, harvest index, days to heading and kernel weight per panicle exerted appreciable positive direct effect on grain yield per plant. These traits could, therefore, be considered as indirect selection criteria while selecting lines in order to improve grain yield of the interspecific population

Inhalation Exposures to Particulate Matter and Carbon Monoxide during Ethiopian Coffee Ceremonies in Addis Ababa: A Pilot Study

The unique Ethiopian cultural tradition of the coffee ceremony increases inhalation exposures to combustion byproducts. This pilot study evaluated exposures to particulate matter and carbon monoxide in ten Addis Ababa homes during coffee ceremonies. For coffee preparers the geometric mean (57 μg/m3) and median (72 μg/m3) contributions to an increase in a 24-hour time-weighted average exposure were above World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. At 40% of the study sites the contribution to the 24-hour average exposure was greater than twice the WHO guideline. Similar exposure increases existed for ceremony participants. Particulate matter concentrations may be related to the use of incense during the ceremony. In nearly all homes the WHO guideline for a 60-minute exposure to carbon monoxide was exceeded. Finding control measures to reduce these exposures will be challenging due to the deeply engrained nature of this cultural practice and the lack of availability of alternative fuels

Transforming primary health care unit service delivery through leadership, management and governance (LMG) training: A field action report from Ethiopia

Background: In order to achieve global and national health targets in Ethiopia, it is crucial that cadres of leaders have the skills, knowledge and tools to manage and govern the primary health care reform initiative currently underway. To support this, John Snow, Inc. (Strengthening Ethiopia’s Urban Health Program (JSI/SEUHP),the implementing partner, collaborated with the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), regional health bureaus (RHBs), and town and sub-city health offices to provide leadership, management and governance (LMG) training between November 2016 and August 2017. The training of trainers (ToT) was undertaken by professionals from the FMOH, RHB and universities, who cascaded it to health care workers in 12 health centers (HCs), one sub-city health office and one town health office, in phases, followed by workplace implementation. This field action report documents the results and lessons learned from the implementation of this LMG training. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was used to assess the impact of LMG training. Changes in leadership competencies were assessed through pre- and post-test evaluations and the impact of LMG training on primary healthcare service delivery was assessed through facility records. The implementation process and impact on providers’ perceptions were documented through a combination of coaching discussions, group work, and quarterly activity implementation reports. Results and Discussion: Health facilities implementing the LMG project improved institutional delivery from 40% to 80% in Sodo town, and the ANC follow-up retention rate increased from 40% to 78% in Addis Ababa Woreda10 HC. As a result of the LMG training, providers working in supported facilities noted improvements in the workplace atmosphere, provider motivation, teamwork and resource management. Conclusions: The LMG training resulted in improved manager and provider motivation, and competency to carry out LMG practices. The training catalyzed positive competition between health facility teams to achieve facility-level service delivery goals. Findings suggest that scaling LMG training is a promising mechanism to support health sector transformation in Ethiopia. [Ethiop.J. Health Dev. 2020; 34(Special issue 2):33-41] Keywords: Leadership, management, governance, Ethiopi

QTL mapping of agronomic traits in tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc) Trotter]

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Tef [<it>Eragrostis tef </it>(Zucc.) Trotter] is the major cereal crop in Ethiopia. Tef is an allotetraploid with a base chromosome number of 10 (2n = 4× = 40) and a genome size of 730 Mbp. The goal of this study was to identify agronomically important quantitative trait loci (QTL) using recombinant inbred lines (RIL) derived from an inter-specific cross between <it>E. tef </it>and <it>E. pilosa </it>(30-5).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Twenty-two yield-related and morphological traits were assessed across eight different locations in Ethiopia during the growing seasons of 1999 and 2000. Using composite interval mapping and a linkage map incorporating 192 loci, 99 QTLs were identified on 15 of the 21 linkage groups for 19 traits. Twelve QTLs on nine linkage groups were identified for grain yield. Clusters of more than five QTLs for various traits were identified on seven linkage groups. The largest cluster (10 QTLs) was identified on linkage group 8; eight of these QTLs were for yield or yield components, suggesting linkage or pleotrophic effects of loci. There were 15 two-way interactions of loci to detect potential epistasis identified and 75% of the interactions were derived from yield and shoot biomass. Thirty-one percent of the QTLs were observed in multiple environments; two yield QTLs were consistent across all agro-ecology zones. For 29.3% of the QTLs, the alleles from <it>E. pilosa </it>(30-5) had a beneficial effect.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The extensive QTL data generated for tef in this study will provide a basis for initiating molecular breeding to improve agronomic traits in this staple food crop for the people of Ethiopia.</p

Factors affecting the academic performance of female students at Mekelle University, Ethiopia

The study examined factors affecting the academic performance of female students in Mekelle University, Ethiopia. A total of 392 regular undergraduate students were sampled using (i) stratified random sampling-since students stratified into heterogeneous colleges and departments, (ii) proportional sampling method since the number of students differ in all departments, and (iii) simple random sampling to select respondents. Students were ranked from 1-4, whereas: 4= CGPA>=3.75, 3 = CGPA=3.5, 2=CPA<3.5 and CGPA>=3.25, 1 = CGPA<3.25. An ordered logit model was used to analyze data. Results indicated that academic background of students such as National examination results of grade 10 and grade 12, study strategy, choice of department, and involvement in network studying system were significant determinants of academic performance. Socioeconomic characteristics of parents and tutorial class did not have a significant impact on academic performance. Strategies should be developed to allow weak students to learn and take up study and time management strategies employed by high academic performers

Evaluating the effectiveness and implementation of an online professional development program for health professional educators: The case of Jimma University

The usage of virtual platforms for reforming teachers' continuous professional development (CPD) is becoming more and more necessary in contemporary higher education (HE) settings. For a comprehensive understanding of the implications of this strategy for CPD, research studies from various contexts are required. This study evaluated the effectiveness and implementation of a pilot online professional development (PD) package called the ‘higher diploma program (HDP)’ for health professional educators (HPEs) in the Ethiopian HE context. We used mixed methods in a Hybrid II design. Additionally, a comprehensive e-learning quality framework guided the overall research and integration of the qualitative and quantitative data. The qualitative component includes a key-informant interview (KII) with facilitators, a program coordinator, and a single focus group discussion with HPEs. Additionally, the quantitative component includes a cross-sectional survey of the (HPEs’) responses to a self-report questionnaire. The findings show that this pilot project was feasible and well accepted by the HPEs, facilitators, and coordinators of the project. These participants also perceived several implementation challenges as weaknesses of the pilot project. Mitigating the prevailing challenges requires sustained and collaborative efforts by universities, the education and health sector, and other partner institutions. Our interpretations imply that customizing online PD in HE is, ultimately, a local phenomenon that results from individual motivation and interest, institutional capacity, and contextual factors like access to technology, the quality of online PD resources, and program management

Age- and sex-specific HIV-1 prevalence in the urban community setting of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Objective: To estimate the age and sex-specific prevalence of HIV infection in th

Maternal and Child Health Services Utilization During COVID-19 in Eastern Ethiopia

Objectives: This study aimed to describe the impact of COVID-19 on maternal and child health service utilization in the Eastern part of Ethiopia.Methods: Comparative analysis was used to examine 2 years of maternal and child health service utilization. Data were extracted from client registers. A traditional Expert Modeler and one-way Analysis of Variance were used to compare service utilization before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.Results: A total of 34,576 client records were reviewed, of which 17,100 (49.5%) and 17,476 (50.5%) had visited the MCH service before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, respectively. The total client visit has shown a 2% percentage point increase. However, postnatal care and child immunization services showed a decrease. Moreover, there was a significant difference between service visits before and during COVID-19 (f = 4.6, p &lt; 0.04).Conclusion: Mothers and children have missed or unattended facility appointments due to protective impositions or fear of getting infected with COVID-19, which might suggest a higher proportion of MCH issues were not addressed during the pandemic. The health system should therefore improve its resilience and strengthen its access at the lowest health care inlets