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

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

Immunological, behavioral and other characteristics of the study participants, in three screening centers, Southern Ethiopia, 2013 (n=448).

<p>^* among those who were on HAART </p