Microbial composition and diversity of the tobacco leaf phyllosphere during plant development

Phyllosphere-associated microorganisms affect host plant’s nutrients availability, its growth and ecological functions. Tobacco leaves provide a wide-area habitat for microbial life. Previous studies have mainly focused on phyllosphere microbiota at one time point of tobacco growth process, but more is unknown about dynamic changes in phyllospheric microbial composition from earlier to the late stage of plant development. In the current study, we had determined the bacterial and fungal communities succession of tobacco growth stages (i.e., seedling, squaring, and maturing) by using both 16S rRNA sequencing for bacterial and ITS sequencing for fungi. Our results demonstrated that among tobacco growth stages, the phyllospheric bacterial communities went through more distinct succession than the fungal communities did. Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria exerted the most influence in tobacco development from seedling to squaring stages. At maturing stage, Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria dominance was gradually replaced by Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. Network analysis revealed that Proteobacteria, as the core phyllospheric microbia, played essential role in stabilizing the whole bacterial network during tobacco development, and consequently rendered it to more profound ecological functions. During tobacco development, the contents of leaf sugar, nicotine, nitrogen and potassium were significantly correlated with either bacterial or fungal communities, and these abiotic factors accounted for 39.3 and 51.5% of the total variation, respectively. We overall evinced that the development of tobacco phyllosphere is accompanied by variant dynamics of phyllospheric microbial community

Le diagnostic-intervention appliqué à une entreprise d'état au Rwanda : cas de l'usine d'allumettes de Butare (une application de la méthodologie systémique)

L'Usine d'allumettes de Butare est une PME rwandaise d'Etat créée essentiellement dans le but de produire des allumettes pour le marché national. Construite en 1980, d'après une étude effectuée en 1976, considérée dès sa mise en opération comme dépassée et comme un projet peu réaliste, l'Usine ne tarda pas à rencontrer toutes sortes de problèmes, peu de temps après son démarrage en 1981: - absence d'une main-d'oeuvre qualifiée; - pénuries de matières premières qui doivent être importées dans une proportion de 70%; - problèmes de mise en marché; - difficultés à obtenir un fonds de roulement adéquat; - et autres. Ces problèmes sont d'autant plus cruciaux que la nouvelle entreprise d'Etat ne dispose pas de personnalité juridique ni de propriétaire directement impliqué dans la définition des objectifs généraux. La présente étude, qui utilise la méthodologie systémique de diagnostic organisationnel de Checkland, après avoir fait ressortir toute la problématique, définira le point d'ancrage comme étant l'Usine en tant que système autonome qui gère des ressources pour atteindre des objectifs. L'étude s'attachera par la suite à conceptualiser un modèle de système autonome qui analysera l'environnement interne et externe, puis proposera des moyens d'action, des structures et processus de direction, de planification et de contrôle en vue d'une gestion efficace. Ce modèle, une fois élaboré, sera comparé à 1'"image riche" de l'Usine et des mesures seront suggérées pour combler l'écart entre le modèle théorique de système autonome et la réalité. Ce mémoire se terminera, enfin, par une réflexion méthodologique fondamentale sur l'adéquacité et l'utilité ultérieure de l'approche "système" pour la réalité rwandaise, ainsi que sur les savoir-faire et savoir-être acquis et transmissibles par le chercheur

Performance of snap beans varieties in lowland of Morogoro in Tanzania

Snap beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are among the important vegetable crops grown in Tanzania, but the yield is low (2 to 8 t ha-1) as snap beans mostly are grown in highland of that country. The aim of the study was to evaluate the growth and yield of snap bean varieties in lowland areas of Morogoro, in Tanzania. The trial was conducted in 3 different seasons at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) from 13th July 2010 to 25th June 2011. Four snap bean varieties (Serengeti, Teresa, HS 215 and HS 217) were tested in a randomized complete block design replicated three times. Measurements were recorded including plant height, branches number, harvesting duration and pods weight per plant. Collected data were subjected to ANOVA, mean separation was done based on Student-Newman-Keuls using statistical software COSTAT6.4 (p≤5%). The results showed that seasons differed significantly (p≤ 0.001) and first season gave the tallest plant (49.65 cm), highest pods weight per plant (193.33g), longer harvesting duration (23.40 days) but branches number were equal in all seasons. Snap bean varieties also varied in their performance, with the tallest height, longest period of harvest and highest pods weight per plant observed in Teresa variety; while the contrast was observed in HS 217 in almost all seasons. From these results, growing snap bean especially Teresa variety in season one gave high yield and best pods quality compared to other seasons. Therefore, it is advised to the farmers of Morogoro to maximize their income and yield from snap bean varieties by growing them in season starting from July up to September. Keywords: Snap beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), high temperature, lowland, growth, yiel

Burundi’s ‘Worst Enemy’: the Country’s Fight Against COVID-19

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has proved to be a severe global public health threat, causing high infection rates and mortality worldwide. Burundi was not spared the adverse health outcomes of COVID-19. Although Burundi’s initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic was criticized, hope arose in June 2020 when the new government instituted a plan to slow virus transmission that included public health campaigns, international travel restrictions, and mass testing, all of which proved effective. Burundi has faced many challenges in containing the virus, the first of which was the lack of initial preparedness and appropriate response to COVID-19. This was exacerbated by factors including shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE), limited numbers of life-saving ventilators (around 12 ventilators as of April 2020), and the presence of only one COVID-19 testing center with less than ten technicians in July 2020. Moreover, as Burundi is amongst the poorest countries in the world, some citizens were unable to access necessities such as water and soap, required for compliance with government recommendations regarding hygiene. Interestingly, Burundi did not implement a nationwide lockdown, allowing mass gatherings and public services to continue as usual due to a firm belief in God’s protection. As the daily confirmed cases have tripled since December 2020, Burundi must prepare itself for the threat of a new wave. Establishing precautionary measures to contain the virus and strengthening the health surveillance system in Burundi would significantly positively impact the prevention and management of COVID-19

Impact of Nyiragongo volcanic eruptions on the resilience to the COVID-19 and Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

For decades, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been vulnerable to disasters. The most dangerous Nyiragongo volcanic eruption posed a threat to the country, particularly the city of Goma. The explosions on 22 May 2021 caused unfathomable damages, with loss of lives, properties, and the destruction of homes, displacing thousands of people, with thousands of children being left vulnerable as a result. Furthermore, it charred health and school infrastructures and decimated crops, an issue in the population where the COVID-19 has exacerbated the existing fragile health system. Importantly, these eruptions posed a challenge when DRC struggled to end COVID-19 and Ebola through surveillance, preventive measures, and vaccination. It is doubtless that priorities of the emergency have interrupted the surveillance system, thus increasing exposure to the COVID-19 and Ebola transmission. It is critical to provide basic needs to victims of the Nyiragongo volcanic eruptions in the aftermath of such a disaster. Local and global humanitarian organizations are needed to assist residents in relocating. Furthermore, appropriate and adjusted mitigation strategies will significantly prevent Ebola, COVID-19, and other infectious diseases. In this paper, we discuss the impacts of the volcanic eruption on population health and Ebola preparedness and response in the context of the global COVID-19 outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The global response: How cities and provinces around the globe tackled Covid-19 outbreaks in 2021

Background: Tackling the spread of COVID-19 remains a crucial part of ending the pandemic. Its highly contagious nature and constant evolution coupled with a relative lack of immunity make the virus difficult to control. For this, various strategies have been proposed and adopted including limiting contact, social isolation, vaccination, contact tracing, etc. However, given the heterogeneity in the enforcement of these strategies and constant fluctuations in the strictness levels of these strategies, it becomes challenging to assess the true impact of these strategies in controlling the spread of COVID-19.Methods: In the present study, we evaluated various transmission control measures that were imposed in 10 global urban cities and provinces in 2021 Bangkok, Gauteng, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, London, Manila City, New Delhi, New York City, Singapore, and Tokyo.Findings: Based on our analysis, we herein propose the population-level Swiss cheese model for the failures and pit-falls in various strategies that each of these cities and provinces had. Furthermore, whilst all the evaluated cities and provinces took a different personalized approach to managing the pandemic, what remained common was dynamic enforcement and monitoring of breaches of each barrier of protection. The measures taken to reinforce the barriers were adjusted continuously based on the evolving epidemiological situation.Interpretation: How an individual city or province handled the pandemic profoundly affected and determined how the entire country handled the pandemic since the chain of transmission needs to be broken at the very grassroot level to achieve nationwide control

Global impacts of Covid-19 on lifestyles and health and preparation preferences: an international survey of 30 countries

Background: The health area being greatest impacted by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and residents' perspective to better prepare for future pandemic remain unknown. We aimed to assess and make cross-country and cross-region comparisons of the global impacts of COVID-19 and preparation preferences of pandemic. Methods: We recruited adults in 30 countries covering all World Health Organization (WHO) regions from July 2020 to August 2021. 5 Likert-point scales were used to measure their perceived change in 32 aspects due to COVID-19 (-2 = substantially reduced to 2 = substantially increased) and perceived importance of 13 preparations (1 = not important to 5 = extremely important). Samples were stratified by age and gender in the corresponding countries. Multidimensional preference analysis displays disparities between 30 countries, WHO regions, economic development levels, and COVID-19 severity levels. Results: 16 512 adults participated, with 10 351 females. Among 32 aspects of impact, the most affected were having a meal at home (mean (m) = 0.84, standard error (SE) = 0.01), cooking at home (m = 0.78, SE = 0.01), social activities (m = -0.68, SE = 0.01), duration of screen time (m = 0.67, SE = 0.01), and duration of sitting (m = 0.59, SE = 0.01). Alcohol (m = -0.36, SE = 0.01) and tobacco (m = -0.38, SE = 0.01) consumption declined moderately. Among 13 preparations, respondents rated medicine delivery (m = 3.50, SE = 0.01), getting prescribed medicine in a hospital visit / follow-up in a community pharmacy (m = 3.37, SE = 0.01), and online shopping (m = 3.33, SE = 0.02) as the most important. The multidimensional preference analysis showed the European Region, Region of the Americas, Western Pacific Region and countries with a high-income level or medium to high COVID-19 severity were more adversely impacted on sitting and screen time duration and social activities, whereas other regions and countries experienced more cooking and eating at home. Countries with a high-income level or medium to high COVID-19 severity reported higher perceived mental burden and emotional distress. Except for low- and lower-middle-income countries, medicine delivery was always prioritised. Conclusions: Global increasing sitting and screen time and limiting social activities deserve as much attention as mental health. Besides, the pandemic has ushered in a notable enhancement in lifestyle of home cooking and eating, while simultaneously reducing the consumption of tobacco and alcohol. A health care system and technological infrastructure that facilitate medicine delivery, medicine prescription, and online shopping are priorities for coping with future pandemics