Agro Physiological Characteristics of QPM Genotypes As Influenced by Irrigation and Plant Population in a Semi Arid Region of Nigeria

Maize is the agronomic grass species that is most sensitive to variations in plant population. An experiment was conducted to assess the response of agrophysiological characters of QPM genotypes to plant population under irrigated conditions in a semi arid ecology of Northern Nigeria. Field trials were conducted at the Irrigation Research Station, Institute for Agricultural Research, Kadawa (110 39’N, 08o 20’E) and 500m above sea level) during 2007, 2008 and 2009 dry seasons to study the effect of (Zea mays L.) genotypes (TZE-W Pop X 1368, EV-DT W99 STR and DMR-ESRW), four plant population (33,333, 44,444, 55,555 and 66,666 plants ha-1) and three irrigation scheduling (40, 60 and 80 centibars soil moisture tension) on the growth and yield of quality protein maize. A split plot design was used with combinations of genotypes and irrigation regimes assigned to the main plot and plant population assigned to the sub-plot. The treatments were replicated three times. The study revealed that genotype EV-DT W99 STR had significantly higher relative growth rate, crop growth rate and net assimilation rate. Increase in plant population significantly decreased leaf area index and net assimilation rate. Delayed irrigation significantly depressed total dry matter production. Based on the results obtained in this study, it can be concluded that the use of genotype EV-DT W99 STR, at 60 centibars irrigation scheduling and 55,555 plants ha-1 had resulted in good agrophysiological characters of QPM at Kadawa. Keywords: Quality protein maize genotypes, plant population, irrigation, agrophysiological characteristic

YIELD AND YIELD CHARACTERS OF SORGHUM (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench )VARIETIES AS INFLUENCED BY IRRIGATION INTERVAL AND PLANT DENSITY AT KADAWA IN THE SUDAN SAVANNAH

A two-years field experiment was conducted during 2008 and 2009 dry seasons at Irrigation ResearchStation Kadawa in the Sudan savannah to study the yield and yield characters of sorghum (Sorghumbicolor L. Moench) varieties as influenced by irrigation intervals and plant densities. The treatmentsconsisted of factorial combination of three sorghum varieties (KSV-4, KL-2 and NR 71168), three irrigationintervals (7, 14 and 21 days) and three plant densities (66,666, 53,333 and 44,444 ha-1). Splitplot design was used in the experiment and replicated three times with irrigation interval and varietyassigned to main plots and plant density allocated to the sub plots. The sub plots size was 4m x 3m(12m2), while the net plot was 6m2. Significantly longer panicles were found in KSV4 and KL-2 at 14days interval in 2008 and at 21 days interval in 2009. Higher grain weight per panicle was recorded inNR 71168 at 21 days irrigation interval in both years. NR 71168 variety out yielded other two varietiesin both years when irrigation interval was extended from 7 to 14 days. No significant response wasrecorded due to varying plant densities although, 66,666 gave higher grains output compared to otherplant densities studied. From this study it is concluded that NR 71168 variety at 14 days irrigation intervaland 66,666 ha-1 plant density under irrigation could be used at Kadawa in the Sudan savannahagro ecological zone of Nigeria

Spatiotemporal correlations of handset-based service usages

We study spatiotemporal correlations and temporal diversities of handset-based service usages by analyzing a dataset that includes detailed information about locations and service usages of 124 users over 16 months. By constructing the spatiotemporal trajectories of the users we detect several meaningful places or contexts for each one of them and show how the context affects the service usage patterns. We find that temporal patterns of service usages are bound to the typical weekly cycles of humans, yet they show maximal activities at different times. We first discuss their temporal correlations and then investigate the time-ordering behavior of communication services like calls being followed by the non-communication services like applications. We also find that the behavioral overlap network based on the clustering of temporal patterns is comparable to the communication network of users. Our approach provides a useful framework for handset-based data analysis and helps us to understand the complexities of information and communications technology enabled human behavior.Comment: 11 pages, 15 figure

Cystic Fibrosis in Egyptian Children: Achievements and Future Directions

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common potentially lethal and life-shortening genetic disease caused by mutations of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. Clinical consequences of the CFTR defect are site-specific and range from severe (lungs, pancreas, male reproductive tract) to mild (intestine) to asymptomatic (sweat glands). In many developing countries CF has remained largely unrecognized, and inadequately managed, resulting in avoidable death or suffering in infancy, childhood, and adulthood. Delivering adequate CF services is met by substantial difficulties as the spectrum and distribution of CF in Egypt are still not well known. Against this background, the aim of this work is to emphasize the challenges facing initiation of a CF center in low privileged settings with the objectives of improving diagnosis, survival, and to eventually provide optimum management. Strategies for the implementation and development of CF services, as well as proper collection and documentation of patient data are therefore of vital importance. The characterization of the prevalence and molecular genetics of CF in Egypt is of utmost importance so that appropriate genetic counseling to CF patients and their families can be achieved and to pave the way for new treatment modalities

Essential Medicines at the National Level : The Global Asthma Network's Essential Asthma Medicines Survey 2014

Patients with asthma need uninterrupted supplies of affordable, quality-assured essential medicines. However, access in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is limited. The World Health Organization (WHO) Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Global Action Plan 2013-2020 sets an 80% target for essential NCD medicines' availability. Poor access is partly due to medicines not being included on the national Essential Medicines Lists (EML) and/or National Reimbursement Lists (NRL) which guide the provision of free/subsidised medicines. We aimed to determine how many countries have essential asthma medicines on their EML and NRL, which essential asthma medicines, and whether surveys might monitor progress. A cross-sectional survey in 2013-2015 of Global Asthma Network principal investigators generated 111/120 (93%) responses41 high-income countries and territories (HICs); 70 LMICs. Patients in HICs with NRL are best served (91% HICs included ICS (inhaled corticosteroids) and salbutamol). Patients in the 24 (34%) LMICs with no NRL and the 14 (30%) LMICs with an NRL, however no ICS are likely to have very poor access to affordable, quality-assured ICS. Many LMICs do not have essential asthma medicines on their EML or NRL. Technical guidance and advocacy for policy change is required. Improving access to these medicines will improve the health system's capacity to address NCDs.Peer reviewe

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century