Effects of row spacing on productivity and nodulation of two soybean varieties under hot sub-moist tropical conditions in south-western Ethiopia

The objective of this study was to determine the optimum row spacing to improve the productivity of two soybean (Glycine max L.) varieties under the tropical hot sub-moist agroecological conditions of Ethiopia. A two-year split-plot design experiment was conducted to determine the effect of variety (Awasa-95 [early-maturing], Afgat [medium-maturing]) and row spacing (RS: 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60 cm) on the productivity, nodulation and weed infestation of soybean. Seed and total dry matter (TDM) yield per ha and per plant, and weed dry biomass per m^2 were significantly affected by RS. Soybean variety had a significant effect on plant density at harvest and some yield components (plant height, number of seeds/pod, and 1000 seed weight). Generally, seed and TDM yield per ha and per plant were high at 40 cm RS, and weed dry biomass per m^2 was higher for RS = 40 cm than for narrower RS. However, the results did not demonstrate a consistent pattern along the RS gradient. The medium-maturing variety Afgat experienced higher mortality and ended up with lower final plant density at harvest, but higher plant height, number of seeds per pod and 1000 seed weight than the early-maturing variety Awasa-95. The results indicate that 40 cm RS with 5 cm plant spacing within a row can be used for high productivity and low weed infestation of both soybean varieties in the hot sub-moist tropical environment of south-western Ethiopia

A Roadmap for Building Data Science Capacity for Health Discovery and Innovation in Africa

Technological advances now make it possible to generate diverse, complex and varying sizes of data in a wide range of applications from business to engineering to medicine. In the health sciences, in particular, data are being produced at an unprecedented rate across the full spectrum of scientific inquiry spanning basic biology, clinical medicine, public health and health care systems. Leveraging these data can accelerate scientific advances, health discovery and innovations. However, data are just the raw material required to generate new knowledge, not knowledge on its own, as a pile of bricks would not be mistaken for a building. In order to solve complex scientific problems, appropriate methods, tools and technologies must be integrated with domain knowledge expertise to generate and analyze big data. This integrated interdisciplinary approach is what has become to be widely known as data science. Although the discipline of data science has been rapidly evolving over the past couple of decades in resource-rich countries, the situation is bleak in resource-limited settings such as most countries in Africa primarily due to lack of well-trained data scientists. In this paper, we highlight a roadmap for building capacity in health data science in Africa to help spur health discovery and innovation, and propose a sustainable potential solution consisting of three key activities: a graduate-level training, faculty development, and stakeholder engagement. We also outline potential challenges and mitigating strategies

Organic versus conventional fertilization effects on sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) growth in a greenhouse system

Ocimum basilicum L. (sweet basil) is an essential oil producing crop used in culinary and fragrance applications. The objective of this controlled environment study was to evaluate the effects of organic and conventional fertilization (applied at two nitrogen rates, 150 and 250 kg N/ha) on plant growth, essential oil yield and chemical profile, and tissue nutrient accumulation in sweet basil. Overall, basil plants fertilized with organic fertilizer at a rate of 150 kg N/ha accumulated greater concentrations of potassium (K) and manganese (Mn). The highest fresh weight was obtained from the plants grown with conventional fertilizer at a rate of 250 kg N/ha. Treatments did not affect the oil content in dried biomass (0.23–0.36% range), oil yields (11.4–20.7 mg/pot), nor the concentration of eucalyptol, (−)-linalool, bornyl acetate, eugenol, α-trans-bergamotene, germacrene D, ɤ-cadinene and epi-α-cadinol in basil oil. The results from this study demonstrated that organic or conventional fertilizer can alter fresh or dry weight, and nutrient absorption without modifying essential oil composition.Keywords: Essential oil, (-)-Linalool, Eugenol, Nutrients, Nitroge

Recent Advances in Extraction, Phytochemical Analysis and Bioactivity of Nonfood Plants with Well Established Relationships with Humans

Dear Colleagues, As we know, medicinal and aromatic plants are important mainly because they contain plant secondary metabolites (such as essential oils, alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, tannins, vitamins, and other bioactives). While plant secondary metabolites are produced by pathways derived from primary metabolites, they do not play a direct role in the growth and development of the plant cells but, rather, have roles associated with plant protection and defense mechanisms. Medicinal and aromatic plants have been used by humankind for a long time. Every traditional medicine system (e.g., Ayurveda, Siddha medicine, Unani, ancient Iranian medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, traditional African medicine, and traditional Korean medicine) may include hundreds to thousands of medicinal plants used for various forms of herbal medicine or for the production of extracts and pure chemicals that are being used by modern medicine for treatment, or prevention of various diseases. However, there are some medicinal and aromatic plant species that have established special relationships with humans; these plants and their products have been utilized by humankind for centuries or millennia and are still some of the most utilized species and sources for plant natural products in modern times. This Special Issue will focus on “Recent Advances in Extraction, Phytochemical Analysis, and Bioactivity of Non-Food Plants with Well-Established Relationships with Humans”. These include tobacco (Nicotiana sp), hops (Humulus lupulus), hemp (Cannabis sativa), coffee (Coffea arabica), cacao (Theobroma cacao), tea (Camellia sinensis), cinchona (Cinchona officinalis), and opium poppy (Papaver somniferum). Dr. Valtcho Jeliazkov Dr. Filippo Maggi Prof. Dr. Tessema Astatkie Guest Editor

Root traits and biomass production of drought‐resistant and drought‐sensitive arabica coffee varieties growing under contrasting watering regimes

Abstract Drought is a major factor affecting coffee production, and different genotypes exhibit varying degrees of resistance to drought stress. We examined root traits and biomasses of drought‐resistant (74110, Angafa, Bultum, Chala, and Gawe) and drought‐sensitive (75227, Koti, Melko CH2, Menasibu, and Mokah) Coffea arabica varieties at seedling stage under contrasting watering regimes (water stressed and well watered) for 30 days followed by 15 days of recovery to identify the association between drought resistance and root traits and dry matter partitioning, and the impact of drought stress on growth performance of arabica coffee varieties. We used a split‐plot design with three blocks, where watering regime was the whole‐plot factor and variety was the subplot factor. During water‐stress and recovery periods, the interaction effect between watering regime and variety significantly affected root traits and dry matter partitioning, while the watering‐regime main effect affected biomass. We observed a higher (1) tap root diameter (0.34 cm), lateral root number (80.7), and root volume (4.7 cm−3) for 74110; (2) lateral root number (79.3), specific root length (24.8 cm g−1), and root‐mass ratio (0.41 g g−1) for Bultum; and (3) root length density (3.3–5.2 cm cm−3), root angle (42.6°–47.8°), root‐mass ratio (0.40–0.42 g g−1), and root‐shoot ratio (0.67–0.72 g g−1) for Angafa, Chala, and Gawe under water‐stressed condition. During both study periods, biomasses were much lower under water‐stressed than under well‐watered condition. The findings show the association between drought resistance and root traits and dry matter partitioning, and the impact of drought stress on growth performance of young arabica coffee

The Status of Young Children\'s Nutrition Security in Rural Area of Northwest Ethiopia

Background: Nutrition security is a vital component of growth and development in a nation. However, dietary diversity and availability of healthy food are serious challenges to many local communities in Ethiopia. The objective of the study was to identify the status and the determinants of nutrition security of school-age children in Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: Primary data were collected and analyzed using a binary logistic regression model to determine the significance of nutrition security odds ratio of 12 variables. Results: The results revealed that around 55.4% of school-age children were nutritionally insecure and underweight, and 44.6% were stunted. The significant determinants of nutrition security in the study area were milk consumption, healthy eating habit, fruits and vegetables consumption, educational status of the guardian, meat consumption, and the child’s place of residence. Conclusion: The findings of the study showed the need for nutrition education of the children and their guardians, and the need for accessibility of diverse and nutritious food products to help the school-age children with acute wasting and stunting problems they are facing

Nutritional and sensory quality of wheat bread supplemented with cassava and soybean flours

Sixteen composite flours were prepared using D-optimal constrained mixture design within a range of wheat 40–80%, cassava 10–30% and soybean 10–30% to optimize bread nutrient quality and sensory acceptability. Results obtained showed blending had a significant (p < 0.05) effect on protein, ash, energy, iron, calcium, phytate, bread loaf volume, taste and odor. Higher quantities of soybean addition increased protein, energy, mineral, phytate and condensed tannin contents, whereas cassava increased total carbohydrate contents. The optimum blending ratio for both nutritional and sensory acceptability was in the range of 49.0–71.0% wheat, 10.6–29.0% cassava and 18.2–22.0% soybean flours. Loaf volume of bread processed from less than 70% wheat flour in this study was observed to be inferior in terms of quality attributes

Logistic regression analysis of factors associated with precancerous cervical cancer lesion (PCCL) in Southern Ethiopia, 2013.

<p>^* student, daily laborer, job seeker. COR: Rrude Odd Ratio. AOR: Adjusted Odd Ratio. </p