Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer among adults. The disease begins as a benign adenomatous polyp, which develops into an advanced adenoma with high-grade dysplasia and then progresses ...Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer among adults. The disease begins as a benign adenomatous polyp, which develops into an advanced adenoma with high-grade dysplasia and then progresses to an invasive cancer. Appropriate apoptotic signaling is fundamentally important to preserve a healthy balance between cell death and cell survival and in maintaining genome integrity. Evasion of apoptotic pathway has been established as a prominent hallmark of several cancers. During colorectal cancer development, the balance between the rates of cell growth and apoptosis that maintains intestinal epithelial cell homeostasis gets progressively disturbed. Evidences are increasingly available to support the hypothesis that failure of apoptosis may be an important factor in the evolution of colorectal cancer and its poor response to chemotherapy and radiation. The other reason for targeting apoptotic pathway in the treatment of cancer is based on the observation that this process is deregulated in cancer cells but not in normal cells. As a result, colorectal cancer therapies designed to stimulate apoptosis in target cells would play a critical role in controlling its development and progression. A better understanding of the apoptotic signaling pathways, and the mechanisms by which cancer cells evade apoptotic death might lead to effective therapeutic strategies to inhibit cancer cell proliferation with minimal toxicity and high responses to chemotherapy. In this review, we analyzed the current understanding and future promises of apoptotic pathways as a therapeutic target in colorectal cancer treatment.展开更多
Proposed agroforestry options should begin with the species that farmers are most familiar with,which would be the native multipurpose trees that have evolved under smallholder farms and socioeconomic conditions.The A...Proposed agroforestry options should begin with the species that farmers are most familiar with,which would be the native multipurpose trees that have evolved under smallholder farms and socioeconomic conditions.The African birch(Anogeissus leiocarpa(DC.)Guill.&Perr.)and pink jacaranda(Stereospermum kunthianum Cham.)trees are the dominant species in the agroforestry parkland system in the drylands of Tigray,Ethiopia.Smallholder farmers highly value these trees for their multifunctional uses including timber,firewood,charcoal,medicine,etc.These trees also could improve soil fertility.However,the amount of soil physical and chemical properties enhanced by the two species must be determined to maintain the sustainable conservation of the species in the parklands and to scale up to similar agroecological systems.Hence,we selected twelve isolated trees,six from each species that had similar dendrometric characteristics and were growing in similar environmental conditions.We divided the canopy cover of each tree into three radial distances:mid-canopy,canopy edge,and canopy gap(control).At each distance,we took soil samples from three different depths.We collected 216 soil samples(half disturbed and the other half undisturbed)from each canopy position and soil depth.Bulk density(BD),soil moisture content(SMC),soil organic carbon(SOC),total nitrogen(TN),available phosphorus(AP),available potassium(AK),p H,electrical conductivity(EC),and cation exchange capacity(CEC)were analysed.Results revealed that soil physical and chemical properties significantly improved except for soil texture and EC under both species,CEC under A.leiocarpus,and soil p H under S.kunthianum,all the studied soils were improved under both species canopy as compared with canopy gap.SMC,TN,AP,and AK under canopy of these trees were respectively 24.1%,11.1%,55.0%,and 9.3% higher than those soils under control.The two parkland agroforestry species significantly enhanced soil fertility near the canopy of topsoil through improving soil physical and chemica展开更多
The study was conducted to determine the applicability of gravity separation method on the Ashashire gold ore deposit Benishangul gumuz region, western Ethiopia. The Ashashire composite was produced to provide suffici...The study was conducted to determine the applicability of gravity separation method on the Ashashire gold ore deposit Benishangul gumuz region, western Ethiopia. The Ashashire composite was produced to provide sufficient mass for this study and experiment, including sample preparation, mineralogical analysis of gold and associated elements, gravity concentration, and data interpretation and analysis. During the study, a grind optimization was conducted on the composites sample with varying grind size to evaluate the effect of grind size on gold recovery. The ore was moderately ground to the standard grind size of 80%, passing 106 µm, 75 µm, 53 µm and this nominal size was selected for the preliminary assessment for concentration optimization for this deposit. The gravity testing comprised three-stage concentration using Knelson concentrator. High recovery of gold from the gravity concentrates was achieved from the second gravity concentration. Based on the laboratory experimental result analysis, a grind size of P80 75 µm is selected as optimal size for the Ashashire gold deposit. Increasing the grind size from P80 of 75 µm to 106 µm decreases the recovery rate from 75% to 54%, or decreasing the grind size from P80 of 75 µm to 53 µm decreases the gold recovery rate to 37%. The native gold grain in the ores is mostly associated with quartz and fine gold is closely associated with pyrite. According to analysis of the fire assay, chemical, and mineralogical data, only gold and telluride is commercially valuable elements in the ores. Predominantly gold was occurred in the native form of Au-Te. The sample subjected to gravity separation assayed about 2.6 g/t Au.展开更多
Despite many studies on land degradation in the Highlands of Northern Ethiopia, quantitative information regarding long-term changes in land use/cover(LUC) is rare. Hence, this study aims to investigate the LUC change...Despite many studies on land degradation in the Highlands of Northern Ethiopia, quantitative information regarding long-term changes in land use/cover(LUC) is rare. Hence, this study aims to investigate the LUC changes in the Geba catchment(5142 km2), Northern Ethiopia, over 80 years(1935–2014). Aerial photographs(APs) of the 1930 s and Google Earth(GE) images(2014) were used. The point-count technique was utilized by overlaying a grid on APs and GE images. The occurrence of cropland, forest, grassland, shrubland, bare land, built-up areas and water body was counted to compute their fractions. A multivariate adaptive regression spline was applied to identify the explanatory factors of LUC and to create fractional maps of LUC. The results indicate significant changes of most types, except for forest and cropland. In the 1930 s, shrubland(48%) was dominant, followed by cropland(39%). The fraction of cropland in 2014(42%) remained approximately the same as in the 1930 s, while shrubland significantly dropped to 37%. Forests shrank further from a meagre 6.3% in the 1930 s to 2.3% in 2014. High overall accuracies(93% and 83%) and strong Kappa coefficients(89% and 72%) for point counts and fractional maps respectively indicate the validity of the techniques used for LUC mapping.展开更多
Opuntia ficus-indica(L.)Miller is a CAM(crassulacean acid metabolism)plant with an extraordinary capacity to adapt to drought stress by its ability to fix atmospheric CO_(2) at nighttime,store a significant amount of ...Opuntia ficus-indica(L.)Miller is a CAM(crassulacean acid metabolism)plant with an extraordinary capacity to adapt to drought stress by its ability to fix atmospheric CO_(2) at nighttime,store a significant amount of water in cladodes,and reduce root growth.Plants that grow in moisture-stress conditions with thick and less fine root hairs have a strong symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF)to adapt to drought stress.Water stress can limit plant growth and biomass production,which can be rehabilitated by AMF association through improved physiological performance.The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of AMF inoculations and variable soil water levels on the biomass,photosynthesis,and water use efficiency of the spiny and spineless O.ficus-indica.The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse with a full factorial experiment using O.ficus-indica type(spiny or spineless),AMF(presence or absence),and four soil water available(SWA)treatments through seven replications.Water treatments applied were 0%–25%SWA(T1),25%–50%SWA(T2),50%–75%SWA(T3),and 75%–100%SWA(T4).Drought stress reduced biomass and cladode growth,while AMF colonization significantly increased the biomass production with significant changes in the physiological performance of O.ficus-indica.AMF presence significantly increased biomass of both O.ficus-indica plant types through improved growth,photosynthetic water use efficiency,and photosynthesis.The presence of spines on the surface of cladodes significantly reduced the rate of photosynthesis and photosynthetic water use efficiency.Net photosynthesis,photosynthetic water use efficiency,transpiration,and stomatal conductance rate significantly decreased with increased drought stress.Under drought stress,some planted mother cladodes with the absence of AMF have not established daughter cladodes,whereas AMF-inoculated mother cladodes fully established daughter cladodes.AMF root colonization significantly increased with the decrease of SWA.AMF caused an increase in biomass 展开更多
Background:Hard mineral and acid salt deposits that clump together in concentrated urine are known as kidney stones.A complicated chain of physicochemical events,including hyper saturation,nucleation,growth,aggrega-ti...Background:Hard mineral and acid salt deposits that clump together in concentrated urine are known as kidney stones.A complicated chain of physicochemical events,including hyper saturation,nucleation,growth,aggrega-tion,and retention in the urinary tract,leads to urolithiasis,the third most prevalent urinary tract issue.Numerous traditional medications and therapies are less successful in treating urolithiasis and frequently cause recurrences.Objective:The present study is focused on evaluating the anti-urolithiasis activities of the polyherbal formulation prepared from Spinacia oleracea L.and Coriandrum sativum L.seeds.Methods:To evaluating the anti-urolithiasis activities of the polyherbal formulation prepared from S.oleracea and C.sativum seeds against oxalate crystals by employing an in vitro inhibition,aggregation,and nucleation assay,employing a spectrophotometer followed by microscopic observation,and further monitored by egg semiperme-able membrane model,using cystone as a standard drug.Results:In the present work,the alkaloids,glycosides,flavonoids,glycosides,phenols,saponins,steroids,tannins,terpenoids,and triterpenoids were found in the extracts of S.oleracea and C.sativum.The in vitro assays in the present study clearly indicated that all the mixture extracts readily prevented crystal nucleation,growth and ag-gregation.The aqueous extract of the mixture inhibited significant inhibitory potential against the crystallization process.Conclusion:It can be said that the phyto-constituents enriched homemade preparation possibly will be used as a medication for the management of kidney stones by dissolving the oxalate stone in the kidney.展开更多
Background: Road traffic accidents are commonly encountered incidents that can cause high-intensity injuries to the victims and have direct impacts on the members of the society. Iran has one of the highest incident r...Background: Road traffic accidents are commonly encountered incidents that can cause high-intensity injuries to the victims and have direct impacts on the members of the society. Iran has one of the highest incident rates of road traffic accidents. The objective of this study was to model the patterns of road traffic accidents leading to injury in Kurdistan province, Iran. Methods: A time-series analysis was conducted to characterize and predict the frequency of road traffic accidents that lead to injury in Kurdistan province. The injuries were categorized into three separate groups which were related to the car occupants, motorcyclists and pedestrian road traffic accident injuries. The Box-Jenkins time-series analysis was used to model the injury observations applying autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) and seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) from March 2009 to February 2015 and to predict the accidents up to 24 months later (February 2017). The analysis was carried out using R-3.4.2 statistical software package. Results: A total of 5199 pedestrians, 9015 motorcyclists, and 28,906 car occupants’accidents were observed. The mean (SD) number of car occupant, motorcyclist and pedestrian accident injuries observed were 401.01 (SD 32.78), 123.70 (SD 30.18) and 71.19 (SD 17.92) per year, respectively. The best models for the pattern of car occupant, motorcyclist, and pedestrian injuries were the ARIMA (1, 0, 0), SARIMA (1, 0, 2) (1, 0, 0)12, and SARIMA (1, 1, 1) (0, 0, 1)12, respectively. The motorcyclist and pedestrian injuries showed a seasonal pattern and the peak was during summer (August). The minimum frequency for the motorcyclist and pedestrian injuries were observed during the late autumn and early winter (December and January). Conclusion: Our findings revealed that the observed motorcyclist and pedestrian injuries had a seasonal pattern that was explained by air temperature changes overtime. These findings call the need for close monitoring of the accidents during the hi展开更多
Introduction:Exclusion of grazing animals and tree plantations were among the methods used for the restoration of degraded lands in tropical semiarid areas.Exclosures can foster secondary forest succession by improvin...Introduction:Exclusion of grazing animals and tree plantations were among the methods used for the restoration of degraded lands in tropical semiarid areas.Exclosures can foster secondary forest succession by improving soil conditions and modifying microclimate for understory growth.This paper compared the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF)spore density,root colonization of woody plants and soil chemical properties under exclosure with increasing age,and grazing land at different slope positions.Methods:The study was conducted in northern Ethiopia from 12 exclosure sites paired each with adjacent grazing land in total from 24 sites with four treatments replicated three times.In the entire study,216 plots were examined of which 108 were in exclosures and 108 in communal grazing lands.There were four age classes and three slope positions in each of the land uses.Composite soil and root samples were collected using nested plots measuring 100m2 from four sides of 1763 plants for spore enumeration and root colonization.Soils for chemical properties were collected from the four corners and center of 5 m×5 m plots.Results:All the 61 woody plant species that belong to 41 families were colonized by AMF.Spore density and root colonization were significantly higher in exclosures as compared to grazing land and increased with increasing ages of exclosures.Foot slope had significantly higher spore density and root colonization than middle and upper slopes.Soil chemical properties were significantly higher in the exclosure,oldest age of exclosure,and foot slope position(except P).AMF spore density and root colonization were significantly positively correlated with soil chemical properties.Conclusions:Exclosures are helpful to restore the AMF spore density and root colonization of woody species and soil fertility.展开更多
Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi(AMF) are vital in the regeneration of vegetation in disturbed ecosystems due to their numerous ecological advantages and therefore are good indicators of soil and ecosystem health at large....Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi(AMF) are vital in the regeneration of vegetation in disturbed ecosystems due to their numerous ecological advantages and therefore are good indicators of soil and ecosystem health at large. This study was aimed at determining how the seasonal, vegetation cover density, edaphic and anthropogenic factors affect AMF root colonization(RC) and spore density(SD)in Desa’a dry Afromontane forest. AMF RC and SD in the rhizosphere of five dominant woody species, Juniperus procera, Olea europaea, Maytenus arbutifolia, Carissa spinarum and Dodonaea angustifolia growing in Desa’a forest were studied during the rainy and the dry seasons in three permanent study vegetation cover density plots(dense, medium, and poor). Each plot(160 x40 m2) has two management practices(fenced and unfenced plots) of area. A 100 g sample of rhizosphere soil from moisturefree composite soil was used to determine spore density.Spore density ranged from 50 to 4467 spores/100 g soil,and all species were colonized by AMF within a range of 4–95%. Glomus was the dominant genus in the rhizosphere of all species. Vegetation cover density strongly affected SD and RC. The SD was significantly higher(p < 0.05) in the poor vegetation cover density than in the other two and lowest in the dense cover; root colonization showed the reverse trend. Management practices significantly(p <0.05) influenced AMF SD and RC, with the fenced plots being more favoured. Seasons significantly(p < 0.05) affected RC and SD. More RC and SD were observed in the wet period than the dry period. Correlating AMF SD and RC with soil physical and chemical properties showed no significant difference(p> 0.05) except for total nitrogen. Disturbance, vegetation cover density, season and total nitrogen are significant factors that control the dynamics and management interventions to maintain the forest health of dry Afromontane forests.展开更多
This paper investigates whether or not there is a policy window for making health data ‘Findable’, ‘Accessible’(under well-defined conditions), ‘Interoperable’ and ‘Reusable’(FAIR) in Ethiopia. The question is...This paper investigates whether or not there is a policy window for making health data ‘Findable’, ‘Accessible’(under well-defined conditions), ‘Interoperable’ and ‘Reusable’(FAIR) in Ethiopia. The question is answered by studying the alignment of policies for health data in Ethiopia with the FAIR Guidelines or their ‘FAIR Equivalency’. Policy documents relating to the digitalisation of health systems in Ethiopia were examined to determine their FAIR Equivalency. Although the documents are fragmented and have no overarching governing framework, it was found that they aim to make the disparate health data systems in Ethiopia interoperable and boost the discoverability and(re)usability of data for research and better decision making. Hence, the FAIR Guidelines appear to be aligned with the regulatory frameworks for ICT and digital health in Ethiopia and, under the right conditions, a policy window could open for their adoption and implementation.展开更多
Sesame(Sesamum indicum L.) plays a crucial role in Ethiopian agriculture,serving both subsistence and commercial purposes.However,our understanding of the extensive genetic diversity and population structure of Ethiop...Sesame(Sesamum indicum L.) plays a crucial role in Ethiopian agriculture,serving both subsistence and commercial purposes.However,our understanding of the extensive genetic diversity and population structure of Ethiopian sesame remains limited.To address this knowledge gap,we genotyped 368 Ethiopian sesame germplasms,categorizing into four distinct breeding groups:Accessions,landraces,improved varieties,and wild types,using a comprehensive set of 28 polymorphic markers,including 23 simple sequence repeat(SSR) and five Insertion-Deletion(InDel) markers.These markers ensured robust genomic representation,with at least two markers per linkage group.Our results unveiled substantial genetic diversity,identifying a total of 535 alleles across all accessions.On average,each locus displayed 8.83 alleles,with observed and expected heterozygosity values of 0.30 and 0.36,respectively.Gene Diversity and Polymorphic Information Content(PIC) were recorded at 0.37 and 0.35.The percentage of polymorphic loci varied significantly among breeding groups,ranging from8.00% to 82.40%,indicating high diversity in accessions(82.4%),moderate diversity in improved varieties(31.20%) and landraces(29.60%),and limited diversity in wild types(8.00).Analysis of Molecular Variance(AMOVA) results emphasized significant genetic differentiation among populations,with substantial diversity(P<0.001) within each population.Approximately 8% of the entire genetic diversity could be attributed to distinctions among populations,while the larger proportion of genetic diversity(92%) resided within each individual sesame population,showcasing heightened diversity within each group.Our study’s findings received support from both Bayesian clustering and Neighbor-joining(NJ) analysis,reaffirming the credibility of our genetic structure insights.Notably,Population structure analysis at its highest Δk value(k=2) revealed the existence of two primary genetic clusters,further subdivided into four sub-populations at k=4.Similarly,NJ analysis identified two promi展开更多
Objective:To screen the antibacterial activity of nine ethnoveterinary plants traditionally used for the treatment of mastitis,wound and gastrointestinal complications.Methods:Hydroalcoholic exctracts of medicinal pla...Objective:To screen the antibacterial activity of nine ethnoveterinary plants traditionally used for the treatment of mastitis,wound and gastrointestinal complications.Methods:Hydroalcoholic exctracts of medicinal plants namely,Achyranthes aspera(A.aspera) L.(Family Asparagaceae),Ficus caria(F.caria)(Family Moraceae).Malvi parviflora(M.parviflora)(Family Malvaceae),Vernonia species(V.species) docal name Alakit.Family Asteraceae),Solatium hastifolium(S.hastifolium)(Family Solanaceae),Calpurinia aurea(C.aurea)(Ait) Benth(Family Fabaceae),Nicotiana tabacum(N.tabacum) L.(Family Solanaceae),Ziziphus spina-christi(Z.spina-christi)(Family Rhamnaceae).Croton macroslachys(C.macrostachys)(Family Fuphorhiaceae).were screened against clinical bacterial isolates of veterinary importance from October 2007 to April2009.The antibacterial activity was tested using disc diffusion at two concentrations(200 mg/mL and 100 mg/mL) and broth dilution methods using 70%methanol macerated leal extracts.Results:With the exception ol S.hastifolium all plant extracts exhibited antibacterial activity.Among the medicinal plants tested C.aurea.C.macrostachyus,A.aspera,N.tabacum and vcrnonia species(Alakit) showed the most promising antimicrobial properties.Conclusions:It can be concluded that many of the tested plants have antibacterial activity and supports the traditional usage of the plants for mastitis,wound and gastrointestinal complications treatment.Further studies into their toxicity and phytochemistry is advocated.展开更多
Introduction:Forests form a major component of the carbon(C)reserves in the world’s ecosystems.However,little is known on how management influences C stocks of woody vegetation,particularly in dry areas.We developed ...Introduction:Forests form a major component of the carbon(C)reserves in the world’s ecosystems.However,little is known on how management influences C stocks of woody vegetation,particularly in dry areas.We developed regression models for two dominant tree species to predict C stocks and quantified the potential of community managed forests as C sinks.Methods:Plots were randomly selected from community-managed natural forest,herbivore exclosures,and from communal grazing land.Tree and shrub biomass were estimated using a regression model on the most dominant woody species while herbaceous biomass was determined using destructive sampling.Results:The simplest model,based on only one single predictor variable,showed a good fit to the data for both species(Juniperus procera and Acacia abyssinica).Diameter at breast height(r2>0.95)was a more reliable predictor than height(r2>0.54),crown diameter(r2>0.68)(p<0.001).The C content of the total biomass for the managed natural forest and the exclosure were estimated as,58.11 and 22.29 Mg ha−1,respectively,while that for the grazing land was 7.76 Mg ha−1,and the mean carbon content between the three land uses were significantly different(p<0.05).Conclusions:We conclude that forests managed by the community have a high potential for C sequestration and storage and their conservation should be promoted.展开更多
Rootstocks have a significant influence on adaptation to biotic and abiotic stress conditions and quality of fruit.So,choice of rootstock for a specific growing region is an important decision for a grower to make whe...Rootstocks have a significant influence on adaptation to biotic and abiotic stress conditions and quality of fruit.So,choice of rootstock for a specific growing region is an important decision for a grower to make when establishing a commercial citrus orchard.This study was undertaken to assess effects of rootstock and location on quality of orange fruit.The study was conducted over two consecutive years(2017/18 and 2018/19).Scions from the Gunda Gundo orange grove were grafted on rough lemon and sour orange rootstocks and planted in Tigray and Afar,Ethiopia at four sites(Abala,Agulae,Adiha and Rama).The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design(RCBD)with four replications.Data on different physico-chemical and bioactive compounds were collected and analyzed using R software(version 4).Compared to sour orange,rough lemon rootstock revealed higher fruit mass(151.96 g,195.38 g),fruit length(62.27 mm,68.88 mm)and fruit diameter(65.58 mm,71.3 mm),in 2017/18,2018/19,respectively.Among the four locations(Abala,Agulae,Adiha and Rama),higher juice percentage was found in Adiha(43.47%in 2017/18)and Abala(49.87%,in 2018/19).In 2017/18 higher total soluble solid(TSS,13.87%),TSS/acid ratio(19.18)and fruit rag(32.77%),were obtained at the Rama site.On the one hand,higher vitamin C(826.6 mg·kg^(-1))and total phenolic content(208 mg·kg^(-1 )GAE)were recorded at Agulae than Abala,Adiha and Rama sites from sour orange rootstock.High TSS,TSS/acid ratio and antioxidant were recorded from orange fruits at Rama site.This was expected to have resulted from hot climate conditions at the site.Besides,at a relatively cooler condition of the Agulae site,high phenolic,reduced ferric power and high vitamin C were recorded.Rough lemon rootstock improved fruit size,while rootstock did not affect the contents of TSS,TSS/acid ratio across the sites in both harvesting years.展开更多
Introduction:Dispersed trees such as Oxytenanthera abyssinica(A.Rich.)and Dalbergia melanoxylon(Guill.&Perr.)which are objectively maintained or planted on farmland provide a significant contribution to soil ferti...Introduction:Dispersed trees such as Oxytenanthera abyssinica(A.Rich.)and Dalbergia melanoxylon(Guill.&Perr.)which are objectively maintained or planted on farmland provide a significant contribution to soil fertility improvement.However,there was no quantitative information on the level of soil nutrient additions of these trees to the soil system.Methods:This study was conducted on the farmers’fields in Kafta Humera district,Tigray region(northern Ethiopia),where mature stands of O.abyssinica and D.melanoxylon trees exist.Radial distance-based soil sampling(under the canopy,near to canopy,and far from canopy)was adopted to quantify the role of these trees on soil fertility improvement.Soil parameters tested were soil reaction(pH),total nitrogen(TN),available phosphorus(AvP),electrical conductivity(EC),cation exchange capacity(CEC),and organic carbon(OC).Results:There was a negative linear relationship between the radial distance of the O.abyssinica tree trunk and soil TN,OC,CEC,and AvP contents but not for pH.Similarly,negative linear relationship between distance from D.melanoxylon and TN,OC,and AvP was obtained.The average total nitrogen(0.26%and 0.13%),available phosphorus(7.21 ppm and 6.37 ppm),and organic carbon(1.73%and 1.02%)contents were respectively higher under the tree canopies of O.abyssinica and D.melanoxylon compared with the adjacent open canopies.The amount of soil OC,TN,AvP,and CEC under O.abyssinica tree species was also significantly higher by 69%,100%,13%,and 42%compared to that of D.melanoxylon tree species.However,the amount of EC and soil pH was significantly lower by 57%and 19%,respectively.Conclusion:In general,O.abyssinica and D.melanoxylon added a significant amount of nutrients to the soil.Thus,retaining these important tree species on farmland played a positive role in replenishing soil fertility for resource-constrained households so as to reduce chemical fertilizer amendments.展开更多
Rapid and effective data sharing is necessary to control disease outbreaks,such as the current coronavirus pandemic.Despite the existence of data sharing agreements,data silos,lack of interoperable data infrastructure...Rapid and effective data sharing is necessary to control disease outbreaks,such as the current coronavirus pandemic.Despite the existence of data sharing agreements,data silos,lack of interoperable data infrastructures,and different institutional jurisdictions hinder data sharing and accessibility.To overcome these challenges,the Virus Outbreak Data Network(VODAN)-Africa initiative is championing an approach in which data never leaves the institution where it was generated,but,instead,algorithms can visit the data and query multiple datasets in an automated way.To make this possible,FAIR Data Points—distributed data repositories that host machine-actionable data and metadata that adhere to the FAIR Guidelines(that data should be Findable,Accessible,Interoperable and Reusable)—have been deployed in participating institutions using a dockerised bundle of tools called VODAN in a Box(Vi B).Vi B is a set of multiple FAIR-enabling and open-source services with a single goal:to support the gathering of World Health Organization(WHO)electronic case report forms(e CRFs)as FAIR data in a machine-actionable way,but without exposing or transferring the data outside the facility.Following the execution of a proof of concept,Vi B was deployed in Uganda and Leiden University.The proof of concept generated a first query which was implemented across two continents.A SWOT(strengths,weaknesses,opportunities and threats)analysis of the architecture was carried out and established the changes needed for specifications and requirements for the future development of the solution.展开更多
Cover management and support practices largely control the magnitude and variability of soil erosion.Although soil erosion models account for their importance(particularly by C-and P-factors in the Revised Universal S...Cover management and support practices largely control the magnitude and variability of soil erosion.Although soil erosion models account for their importance(particularly by C-and P-factors in the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation),obtaining spatially explicit quantitative field data on these factors remains challenging.Hence,also our insight into the effects of soil conservation measures at larger spatial scales remains limited.We analyzed the variation in C-and P-factors caused by human activities and climatic variables by reviewing 255 published articles reporting measured or calculated C-and P-factor values.We found a wide variation in both factor values across climatic zones,land use or cover types,and support practices.The average C-factor values decreased from arid(0.26)to humid(0.15)climates,whereas the average P-factor values increased(from 0.33 to 0.47,respectively).Thus,support practices reduce soil loss more effectively in drylands and drought-prone areas.The global average C-factor varies by one order of magnitude from cropland(0.34)to forest(0.03).Among the major crops,the average C-factor was highest for maize(0.42)followed by potato(0.40),among the major orchard crops,it was highest for olive(0.31),followed by vineyards(0.26).The P-factor ranged from 0.62 for contouring in cropland plots to 0.19 for trenches in uncultivated land.The C-factor results indicate that cultivated lands requiring intensive site preparation and weeding are most vulnerable to soil loss by sheet and rill erosion.The low P-factor for trenches,reduced tillage cultivation,and terraces suggests that significantly decreased soil loss is possible by implementing more efficient management practices.These results improve our understanding of the variation in C-and P-factors and support large-scale integrated catchment management interventions by applying soil erosion models where it is difficult to empirically determine the impact of particular land use or cover types and support practices:the datasets compiled in this study ca展开更多
The incompleteness of patient health data is a threat to the management of COVID-19 in Africa and globally.This has become particularly clear with the recent emergence of new variants of concern.The Virus Outbreak Dat...The incompleteness of patient health data is a threat to the management of COVID-19 in Africa and globally.This has become particularly clear with the recent emergence of new variants of concern.The Virus Outbreak Data Network(VODAN)-Africa has studied the curation of patient health data in selected African countries and identified that health information flows often do not involve the use of health data at the point of care,which renders data production largely meaningless to those producing it.This modus operandi leads to disfranchisement over the control of health data,which is extracted to be processed elsewhere.In response to this problem,VODAN-Africa studied whether or not a design that makes local ownership and repositing of data central to the data curation process,would have a greater chance of being adopted.The design team based their work on the legal requirements of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation(GDPR);the FAIR Guidelines on curating data as Findable,Accessible(under well-defined conditions),Interoperable and Reusable(FAIR);and national regulations applying in the context where the data is produced.The study concluded that the visiting of data curated as machine actionable and reposited in the locale where the data is produced and renders services has great potential for access to a wider variety of data.A condition of such innovation is that the innovation team is intradisciplinary,involving stakeholders and experts from all of the places where the innovation is designed,and employs a methodology of co-creation and capacity-building.展开更多
The beneficiation methods for Ethiopian Kenticha pegmatite–spodumene ores were assessed through mineralogical and quantitative analyses with X-ray diffraction（XRD） and energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence（EDXRF）....The beneficiation methods for Ethiopian Kenticha pegmatite–spodumene ores were assessed through mineralogical and quantitative analyses with X-ray diffraction（XRD） and energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence（EDXRF）. The tantalite in the upper zone of the Kenticha pegmatite–spodumene deposit is 58.7wt% higher than that in the inner zone. XRD analysis revealed that the upper zone is dominated by manganocolumbite, whereas the inner zone is predominantly tantalite-Mn. Repeated cleaning and beneficiation of the upper-zone ore resulted in concentrate compositions of 57.34wt% of Ta_2O_5 and 5.41wt% of Nb_2O_5. Washing the tantalite concentrates using 1vol% KOH and 1 M H_2SO_4 led to the removal of thorium and uranium radioactive oxides from the concentrate. The findings of this study suggest that the beneficiation and alkaline washing of Kenticha pegmatite–spodumene ores produce a high-grade export-quality tantalite concentrate with negligible radioactive oxides.展开更多
The design studio environment has remained the same throughout the past century. As the Studio Culture Task Force of the American Institute of Architecture Students （ALAS） （Koch et al., 2006） noted, the ongoing ch...The design studio environment has remained the same throughout the past century. As the Studio Culture Task Force of the American Institute of Architecture Students （ALAS） （Koch et al., 2006） noted, the ongoing changes in architecture education are not aligned with today＇s fastchanging world, especially in the context of architectural practice. The AlAS analyzed the design studio problem and expressed doubts on the effectiveness of current studio practices in providing adequate design-thinking education. The report indicates that studio culture values project appearance instead of the actual design process. In recent years, similar problems have been the topic of debates in Khartoum. Criticisms are mostly centered on the observation that students show no interest in the design process and tend to focus on form making. As a result, efforts to teach design methods and to restore the balance between creativity and rationality in the design process have failed. The reason is related to the difficulties associated with the implicit nature of conventional design methods. These difficulties, which are common in architecture schools, include the lack of a clearly defined design methodology and the misunderstood role of the systematic approach to design in the studio. Nevertheless, signs of change are gradually emerging, as demonstrated by the global call for change in the studio environment. This call for change indicates a general agreement on the need for the reorientation of architectural design education toward an engaging policy that considers the social responsibility of architects. This study proposes that the route for change is through the return of rationalism in the studio. Since the 1960 s, many writers have recognized the importance of balancing rationality and creativity, which are mutually interdependent, in the design process. From this perspective, the research question is drawn： how can we bridge the gap between the rational and the creative design activities in the design process？ A theor展开更多
文摘Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer among adults. The disease begins as a benign adenomatous polyp, which develops into an advanced adenoma with high-grade dysplasia and then progresses to an invasive cancer. Appropriate apoptotic signaling is fundamentally important to preserve a healthy balance between cell death and cell survival and in maintaining genome integrity. Evasion of apoptotic pathway has been established as a prominent hallmark of several cancers. During colorectal cancer development, the balance between the rates of cell growth and apoptosis that maintains intestinal epithelial cell homeostasis gets progressively disturbed. Evidences are increasingly available to support the hypothesis that failure of apoptosis may be an important factor in the evolution of colorectal cancer and its poor response to chemotherapy and radiation. The other reason for targeting apoptotic pathway in the treatment of cancer is based on the observation that this process is deregulated in cancer cells but not in normal cells. As a result, colorectal cancer therapies designed to stimulate apoptosis in target cells would play a critical role in controlling its development and progression. A better understanding of the apoptotic signaling pathways, and the mechanisms by which cancer cells evade apoptotic death might lead to effective therapeutic strategies to inhibit cancer cell proliferation with minimal toxicity and high responses to chemotherapy. In this review, we analyzed the current understanding and future promises of apoptotic pathways as a therapeutic target in colorectal cancer treatment.
基金supported by the Sustainable Forest Management Project with the Local Communities in Tigray,northern Ethiopia,which was funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation(NORAD)under the Norwegian Programme for Capacity Development in Higher EducationResearch for Development(NORHED)Programme(ETH 13/0018)+4 种基金the Ecological Organic Agriculture Project,Mekelle University,Ethiopiathe Institute of International Education-Scholars Rescue Fund(IIE-SRF)Norwegian University of Life Sciences(NMBU)Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management(MINA)NORGLOBAL 2 Project in Ethiopia(303600)for supporting the research。
文摘Proposed agroforestry options should begin with the species that farmers are most familiar with,which would be the native multipurpose trees that have evolved under smallholder farms and socioeconomic conditions.The African birch(Anogeissus leiocarpa(DC.)Guill.&Perr.)and pink jacaranda(Stereospermum kunthianum Cham.)trees are the dominant species in the agroforestry parkland system in the drylands of Tigray,Ethiopia.Smallholder farmers highly value these trees for their multifunctional uses including timber,firewood,charcoal,medicine,etc.These trees also could improve soil fertility.However,the amount of soil physical and chemical properties enhanced by the two species must be determined to maintain the sustainable conservation of the species in the parklands and to scale up to similar agroecological systems.Hence,we selected twelve isolated trees,six from each species that had similar dendrometric characteristics and were growing in similar environmental conditions.We divided the canopy cover of each tree into three radial distances:mid-canopy,canopy edge,and canopy gap(control).At each distance,we took soil samples from three different depths.We collected 216 soil samples(half disturbed and the other half undisturbed)from each canopy position and soil depth.Bulk density(BD),soil moisture content(SMC),soil organic carbon(SOC),total nitrogen(TN),available phosphorus(AP),available potassium(AK),p H,electrical conductivity(EC),and cation exchange capacity(CEC)were analysed.Results revealed that soil physical and chemical properties significantly improved except for soil texture and EC under both species,CEC under A.leiocarpus,and soil p H under S.kunthianum,all the studied soils were improved under both species canopy as compared with canopy gap.SMC,TN,AP,and AK under canopy of these trees were respectively 24.1%,11.1%,55.0%,and 9.3% higher than those soils under control.The two parkland agroforestry species significantly enhanced soil fertility near the canopy of topsoil through improving soil physical and chemica
文摘The study was conducted to determine the applicability of gravity separation method on the Ashashire gold ore deposit Benishangul gumuz region, western Ethiopia. The Ashashire composite was produced to provide sufficient mass for this study and experiment, including sample preparation, mineralogical analysis of gold and associated elements, gravity concentration, and data interpretation and analysis. During the study, a grind optimization was conducted on the composites sample with varying grind size to evaluate the effect of grind size on gold recovery. The ore was moderately ground to the standard grind size of 80%, passing 106 µm, 75 µm, 53 µm and this nominal size was selected for the preliminary assessment for concentration optimization for this deposit. The gravity testing comprised three-stage concentration using Knelson concentrator. High recovery of gold from the gravity concentrates was achieved from the second gravity concentration. Based on the laboratory experimental result analysis, a grind size of P80 75 µm is selected as optimal size for the Ashashire gold deposit. Increasing the grind size from P80 of 75 µm to 106 µm decreases the recovery rate from 75% to 54%, or decreasing the grind size from P80 of 75 µm to 53 µm decreases the gold recovery rate to 37%. The native gold grain in the ores is mostly associated with quartz and fine gold is closely associated with pyrite. According to analysis of the fire assay, chemical, and mineralogical data, only gold and telluride is commercially valuable elements in the ores. Predominantly gold was occurred in the native form of Au-Te. The sample subjected to gravity separation assayed about 2.6 g/t Au.
基金a scholarship of the Special Research Fund (BOF) obtained from Ghent University, Belgiumpartially covered by the RIP-MU (VLIR, Belgium) project
文摘Despite many studies on land degradation in the Highlands of Northern Ethiopia, quantitative information regarding long-term changes in land use/cover(LUC) is rare. Hence, this study aims to investigate the LUC changes in the Geba catchment(5142 km2), Northern Ethiopia, over 80 years(1935–2014). Aerial photographs(APs) of the 1930 s and Google Earth(GE) images(2014) were used. The point-count technique was utilized by overlaying a grid on APs and GE images. The occurrence of cropland, forest, grassland, shrubland, bare land, built-up areas and water body was counted to compute their fractions. A multivariate adaptive regression spline was applied to identify the explanatory factors of LUC and to create fractional maps of LUC. The results indicate significant changes of most types, except for forest and cropland. In the 1930 s, shrubland(48%) was dominant, followed by cropland(39%). The fraction of cropland in 2014(42%) remained approximately the same as in the 1930 s, while shrubland significantly dropped to 37%. Forests shrank further from a meagre 6.3% in the 1930 s to 2.3% in 2014. High overall accuracies(93% and 83%) and strong Kappa coefficients(89% and 72%) for point counts and fractional maps respectively indicate the validity of the techniques used for LUC mapping.
基金supported by the Ethiopian Ministry of Education.
文摘Opuntia ficus-indica(L.)Miller is a CAM(crassulacean acid metabolism)plant with an extraordinary capacity to adapt to drought stress by its ability to fix atmospheric CO_(2) at nighttime,store a significant amount of water in cladodes,and reduce root growth.Plants that grow in moisture-stress conditions with thick and less fine root hairs have a strong symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF)to adapt to drought stress.Water stress can limit plant growth and biomass production,which can be rehabilitated by AMF association through improved physiological performance.The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of AMF inoculations and variable soil water levels on the biomass,photosynthesis,and water use efficiency of the spiny and spineless O.ficus-indica.The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse with a full factorial experiment using O.ficus-indica type(spiny or spineless),AMF(presence or absence),and four soil water available(SWA)treatments through seven replications.Water treatments applied were 0%–25%SWA(T1),25%–50%SWA(T2),50%–75%SWA(T3),and 75%–100%SWA(T4).Drought stress reduced biomass and cladode growth,while AMF colonization significantly increased the biomass production with significant changes in the physiological performance of O.ficus-indica.AMF presence significantly increased biomass of both O.ficus-indica plant types through improved growth,photosynthetic water use efficiency,and photosynthesis.The presence of spines on the surface of cladodes significantly reduced the rate of photosynthesis and photosynthetic water use efficiency.Net photosynthesis,photosynthetic water use efficiency,transpiration,and stomatal conductance rate significantly decreased with increased drought stress.Under drought stress,some planted mother cladodes with the absence of AMF have not established daughter cladodes,whereas AMF-inoculated mother cladodes fully established daughter cladodes.AMF root colonization significantly increased with the decrease of SWA.AMF caused an increase in biomass
文摘Background:Hard mineral and acid salt deposits that clump together in concentrated urine are known as kidney stones.A complicated chain of physicochemical events,including hyper saturation,nucleation,growth,aggrega-tion,and retention in the urinary tract,leads to urolithiasis,the third most prevalent urinary tract issue.Numerous traditional medications and therapies are less successful in treating urolithiasis and frequently cause recurrences.Objective:The present study is focused on evaluating the anti-urolithiasis activities of the polyherbal formulation prepared from Spinacia oleracea L.and Coriandrum sativum L.seeds.Methods:To evaluating the anti-urolithiasis activities of the polyherbal formulation prepared from S.oleracea and C.sativum seeds against oxalate crystals by employing an in vitro inhibition,aggregation,and nucleation assay,employing a spectrophotometer followed by microscopic observation,and further monitored by egg semiperme-able membrane model,using cystone as a standard drug.Results:In the present work,the alkaloids,glycosides,flavonoids,glycosides,phenols,saponins,steroids,tannins,terpenoids,and triterpenoids were found in the extracts of S.oleracea and C.sativum.The in vitro assays in the present study clearly indicated that all the mixture extracts readily prevented crystal nucleation,growth and ag-gregation.The aqueous extract of the mixture inhibited significant inhibitory potential against the crystallization process.Conclusion:It can be said that the phyto-constituents enriched homemade preparation possibly will be used as a medication for the management of kidney stones by dissolving the oxalate stone in the kidney.
文摘Background: Road traffic accidents are commonly encountered incidents that can cause high-intensity injuries to the victims and have direct impacts on the members of the society. Iran has one of the highest incident rates of road traffic accidents. The objective of this study was to model the patterns of road traffic accidents leading to injury in Kurdistan province, Iran. Methods: A time-series analysis was conducted to characterize and predict the frequency of road traffic accidents that lead to injury in Kurdistan province. The injuries were categorized into three separate groups which were related to the car occupants, motorcyclists and pedestrian road traffic accident injuries. The Box-Jenkins time-series analysis was used to model the injury observations applying autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) and seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) from March 2009 to February 2015 and to predict the accidents up to 24 months later (February 2017). The analysis was carried out using R-3.4.2 statistical software package. Results: A total of 5199 pedestrians, 9015 motorcyclists, and 28,906 car occupants’accidents were observed. The mean (SD) number of car occupant, motorcyclist and pedestrian accident injuries observed were 401.01 (SD 32.78), 123.70 (SD 30.18) and 71.19 (SD 17.92) per year, respectively. The best models for the pattern of car occupant, motorcyclist, and pedestrian injuries were the ARIMA (1, 0, 0), SARIMA (1, 0, 2) (1, 0, 0)12, and SARIMA (1, 1, 1) (0, 0, 1)12, respectively. The motorcyclist and pedestrian injuries showed a seasonal pattern and the peak was during summer (August). The minimum frequency for the motorcyclist and pedestrian injuries were observed during the late autumn and early winter (December and January). Conclusion: Our findings revealed that the observed motorcyclist and pedestrian injuries had a seasonal pattern that was explained by air temperature changes overtime. These findings call the need for close monitoring of the accidents during the hi
基金The data collection of the study was supported by the Swedish International Development Authority(SIDA)under the Agroecology and Sustainable development project in Mekelle UniversityThe write-up was funded by the steps towards sustainable forest management with the local communities in Tigray,Northern Ethiopia(ETH 13/0018)project funded by NORAD under the NORHED programme.
文摘Introduction:Exclusion of grazing animals and tree plantations were among the methods used for the restoration of degraded lands in tropical semiarid areas.Exclosures can foster secondary forest succession by improving soil conditions and modifying microclimate for understory growth.This paper compared the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF)spore density,root colonization of woody plants and soil chemical properties under exclosure with increasing age,and grazing land at different slope positions.Methods:The study was conducted in northern Ethiopia from 12 exclosure sites paired each with adjacent grazing land in total from 24 sites with four treatments replicated three times.In the entire study,216 plots were examined of which 108 were in exclosures and 108 in communal grazing lands.There were four age classes and three slope positions in each of the land uses.Composite soil and root samples were collected using nested plots measuring 100m2 from four sides of 1763 plants for spore enumeration and root colonization.Soils for chemical properties were collected from the four corners and center of 5 m×5 m plots.Results:All the 61 woody plant species that belong to 41 families were colonized by AMF.Spore density and root colonization were significantly higher in exclosures as compared to grazing land and increased with increasing ages of exclosures.Foot slope had significantly higher spore density and root colonization than middle and upper slopes.Soil chemical properties were significantly higher in the exclosure,oldest age of exclosure,and foot slope position(except P).AMF spore density and root colonization were significantly positively correlated with soil chemical properties.Conclusions:Exclosures are helpful to restore the AMF spore density and root colonization of woody species and soil fertility.
基金supported by The Steps Towards Sustainable Forest management with the Local Communities in Tigray,Northern Ethiopia(ETH 13/0018)
文摘Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi(AMF) are vital in the regeneration of vegetation in disturbed ecosystems due to their numerous ecological advantages and therefore are good indicators of soil and ecosystem health at large. This study was aimed at determining how the seasonal, vegetation cover density, edaphic and anthropogenic factors affect AMF root colonization(RC) and spore density(SD)in Desa’a dry Afromontane forest. AMF RC and SD in the rhizosphere of five dominant woody species, Juniperus procera, Olea europaea, Maytenus arbutifolia, Carissa spinarum and Dodonaea angustifolia growing in Desa’a forest were studied during the rainy and the dry seasons in three permanent study vegetation cover density plots(dense, medium, and poor). Each plot(160 x40 m2) has two management practices(fenced and unfenced plots) of area. A 100 g sample of rhizosphere soil from moisturefree composite soil was used to determine spore density.Spore density ranged from 50 to 4467 spores/100 g soil,and all species were colonized by AMF within a range of 4–95%. Glomus was the dominant genus in the rhizosphere of all species. Vegetation cover density strongly affected SD and RC. The SD was significantly higher(p < 0.05) in the poor vegetation cover density than in the other two and lowest in the dense cover; root colonization showed the reverse trend. Management practices significantly(p <0.05) influenced AMF SD and RC, with the fenced plots being more favoured. Seasons significantly(p < 0.05) affected RC and SD. More RC and SD were observed in the wet period than the dry period. Correlating AMF SD and RC with soil physical and chemical properties showed no significant difference(p> 0.05) except for total nitrogen. Disturbance, vegetation cover density, season and total nitrogen are significant factors that control the dynamics and management interventions to maintain the forest health of dry Afromontane forests.
基金VODAN-Africathe Philips Foundation+2 种基金the Dutch Development Bank FMOCORDAIDthe GO FAIR Foundation for supporting this research
文摘This paper investigates whether or not there is a policy window for making health data ‘Findable’, ‘Accessible’(under well-defined conditions), ‘Interoperable’ and ‘Reusable’(FAIR) in Ethiopia. The question is answered by studying the alignment of policies for health data in Ethiopia with the FAIR Guidelines or their ‘FAIR Equivalency’. Policy documents relating to the digitalisation of health systems in Ethiopia were examined to determine their FAIR Equivalency. Although the documents are fragmented and have no overarching governing framework, it was found that they aim to make the disparate health data systems in Ethiopia interoperable and boost the discoverability and(re)usability of data for research and better decision making. Hence, the FAIR Guidelines appear to be aligned with the regulatory frameworks for ICT and digital health in Ethiopia and, under the right conditions, a policy window could open for their adoption and implementation.
基金funded by the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences(CAAS-ASTIP-2021-OCRI)China Agriculture Research System(CARS14)+2 种基金Hubei International Science and Technology Cooperation Project(2022EHB034)the Science and Technology Innovation Project of Hubei Province(2021-620-000-001-035)the Fundamental Research Funds for Central Non-profit Scientific Institution(2013).
文摘Sesame(Sesamum indicum L.) plays a crucial role in Ethiopian agriculture,serving both subsistence and commercial purposes.However,our understanding of the extensive genetic diversity and population structure of Ethiopian sesame remains limited.To address this knowledge gap,we genotyped 368 Ethiopian sesame germplasms,categorizing into four distinct breeding groups:Accessions,landraces,improved varieties,and wild types,using a comprehensive set of 28 polymorphic markers,including 23 simple sequence repeat(SSR) and five Insertion-Deletion(InDel) markers.These markers ensured robust genomic representation,with at least two markers per linkage group.Our results unveiled substantial genetic diversity,identifying a total of 535 alleles across all accessions.On average,each locus displayed 8.83 alleles,with observed and expected heterozygosity values of 0.30 and 0.36,respectively.Gene Diversity and Polymorphic Information Content(PIC) were recorded at 0.37 and 0.35.The percentage of polymorphic loci varied significantly among breeding groups,ranging from8.00% to 82.40%,indicating high diversity in accessions(82.4%),moderate diversity in improved varieties(31.20%) and landraces(29.60%),and limited diversity in wild types(8.00).Analysis of Molecular Variance(AMOVA) results emphasized significant genetic differentiation among populations,with substantial diversity(P<0.001) within each population.Approximately 8% of the entire genetic diversity could be attributed to distinctions among populations,while the larger proportion of genetic diversity(92%) resided within each individual sesame population,showcasing heightened diversity within each group.Our study’s findings received support from both Bayesian clustering and Neighbor-joining(NJ) analysis,reaffirming the credibility of our genetic structure insights.Notably,Population structure analysis at its highest Δk value(k=2) revealed the existence of two primary genetic clusters,further subdivided into four sub-populations at k=4.Similarly,NJ analysis identified two promi
基金Ethiopian Ministry of Science and Technology research and development grant FVS/11/2008
文摘Objective:To screen the antibacterial activity of nine ethnoveterinary plants traditionally used for the treatment of mastitis,wound and gastrointestinal complications.Methods:Hydroalcoholic exctracts of medicinal plants namely,Achyranthes aspera(A.aspera) L.(Family Asparagaceae),Ficus caria(F.caria)(Family Moraceae).Malvi parviflora(M.parviflora)(Family Malvaceae),Vernonia species(V.species) docal name Alakit.Family Asteraceae),Solatium hastifolium(S.hastifolium)(Family Solanaceae),Calpurinia aurea(C.aurea)(Ait) Benth(Family Fabaceae),Nicotiana tabacum(N.tabacum) L.(Family Solanaceae),Ziziphus spina-christi(Z.spina-christi)(Family Rhamnaceae).Croton macroslachys(C.macrostachys)(Family Fuphorhiaceae).were screened against clinical bacterial isolates of veterinary importance from October 2007 to April2009.The antibacterial activity was tested using disc diffusion at two concentrations(200 mg/mL and 100 mg/mL) and broth dilution methods using 70%methanol macerated leal extracts.Results:With the exception ol S.hastifolium all plant extracts exhibited antibacterial activity.Among the medicinal plants tested C.aurea.C.macrostachyus,A.aspera,N.tabacum and vcrnonia species(Alakit) showed the most promising antimicrobial properties.Conclusions:It can be concluded that many of the tested plants have antibacterial activity and supports the traditional usage of the plants for mastitis,wound and gastrointestinal complications treatment.Further studies into their toxicity and phytochemistry is advocated.
文摘Introduction:Forests form a major component of the carbon(C)reserves in the world’s ecosystems.However,little is known on how management influences C stocks of woody vegetation,particularly in dry areas.We developed regression models for two dominant tree species to predict C stocks and quantified the potential of community managed forests as C sinks.Methods:Plots were randomly selected from community-managed natural forest,herbivore exclosures,and from communal grazing land.Tree and shrub biomass were estimated using a regression model on the most dominant woody species while herbaceous biomass was determined using destructive sampling.Results:The simplest model,based on only one single predictor variable,showed a good fit to the data for both species(Juniperus procera and Acacia abyssinica).Diameter at breast height(r2>0.95)was a more reliable predictor than height(r2>0.54),crown diameter(r2>0.68)(p<0.001).The C content of the total biomass for the managed natural forest and the exclosure were estimated as,58.11 and 22.29 Mg ha−1,respectively,while that for the grazing land was 7.76 Mg ha−1,and the mean carbon content between the three land uses were significantly different(p<0.05).Conclusions:We conclude that forests managed by the community have a high potential for C sequestration and storage and their conservation should be promoted.
基金supported by the Open Society Foundation-Africa Climate Change Adaptation Initiative(OSF-ACCAI Grant No.OR2014-18350)。
文摘Rootstocks have a significant influence on adaptation to biotic and abiotic stress conditions and quality of fruit.So,choice of rootstock for a specific growing region is an important decision for a grower to make when establishing a commercial citrus orchard.This study was undertaken to assess effects of rootstock and location on quality of orange fruit.The study was conducted over two consecutive years(2017/18 and 2018/19).Scions from the Gunda Gundo orange grove were grafted on rough lemon and sour orange rootstocks and planted in Tigray and Afar,Ethiopia at four sites(Abala,Agulae,Adiha and Rama).The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design(RCBD)with four replications.Data on different physico-chemical and bioactive compounds were collected and analyzed using R software(version 4).Compared to sour orange,rough lemon rootstock revealed higher fruit mass(151.96 g,195.38 g),fruit length(62.27 mm,68.88 mm)and fruit diameter(65.58 mm,71.3 mm),in 2017/18,2018/19,respectively.Among the four locations(Abala,Agulae,Adiha and Rama),higher juice percentage was found in Adiha(43.47%in 2017/18)and Abala(49.87%,in 2018/19).In 2017/18 higher total soluble solid(TSS,13.87%),TSS/acid ratio(19.18)and fruit rag(32.77%),were obtained at the Rama site.On the one hand,higher vitamin C(826.6 mg·kg^(-1))and total phenolic content(208 mg·kg^(-1 )GAE)were recorded at Agulae than Abala,Adiha and Rama sites from sour orange rootstock.High TSS,TSS/acid ratio and antioxidant were recorded from orange fruits at Rama site.This was expected to have resulted from hot climate conditions at the site.Besides,at a relatively cooler condition of the Agulae site,high phenolic,reduced ferric power and high vitamin C were recorded.Rough lemon rootstock improved fruit size,while rootstock did not affect the contents of TSS,TSS/acid ratio across the sites in both harvesting years.
文摘Introduction:Dispersed trees such as Oxytenanthera abyssinica(A.Rich.)and Dalbergia melanoxylon(Guill.&Perr.)which are objectively maintained or planted on farmland provide a significant contribution to soil fertility improvement.However,there was no quantitative information on the level of soil nutrient additions of these trees to the soil system.Methods:This study was conducted on the farmers’fields in Kafta Humera district,Tigray region(northern Ethiopia),where mature stands of O.abyssinica and D.melanoxylon trees exist.Radial distance-based soil sampling(under the canopy,near to canopy,and far from canopy)was adopted to quantify the role of these trees on soil fertility improvement.Soil parameters tested were soil reaction(pH),total nitrogen(TN),available phosphorus(AvP),electrical conductivity(EC),cation exchange capacity(CEC),and organic carbon(OC).Results:There was a negative linear relationship between the radial distance of the O.abyssinica tree trunk and soil TN,OC,CEC,and AvP contents but not for pH.Similarly,negative linear relationship between distance from D.melanoxylon and TN,OC,and AvP was obtained.The average total nitrogen(0.26%and 0.13%),available phosphorus(7.21 ppm and 6.37 ppm),and organic carbon(1.73%and 1.02%)contents were respectively higher under the tree canopies of O.abyssinica and D.melanoxylon compared with the adjacent open canopies.The amount of soil OC,TN,AvP,and CEC under O.abyssinica tree species was also significantly higher by 69%,100%,13%,and 42%compared to that of D.melanoxylon tree species.However,the amount of EC and soil pH was significantly lower by 57%and 19%,respectively.Conclusion:In general,O.abyssinica and D.melanoxylon added a significant amount of nutrients to the soil.Thus,retaining these important tree species on farmland played a positive role in replenishing soil fertility for resource-constrained households so as to reduce chemical fertilizer amendments.
基金VODAN-Africathe Philips Foundation+2 种基金the Dutch Development Bank FMOCORDAIDthe GO FAIR Foundation for supporting this research
文摘Rapid and effective data sharing is necessary to control disease outbreaks,such as the current coronavirus pandemic.Despite the existence of data sharing agreements,data silos,lack of interoperable data infrastructures,and different institutional jurisdictions hinder data sharing and accessibility.To overcome these challenges,the Virus Outbreak Data Network(VODAN)-Africa initiative is championing an approach in which data never leaves the institution where it was generated,but,instead,algorithms can visit the data and query multiple datasets in an automated way.To make this possible,FAIR Data Points—distributed data repositories that host machine-actionable data and metadata that adhere to the FAIR Guidelines(that data should be Findable,Accessible,Interoperable and Reusable)—have been deployed in participating institutions using a dockerised bundle of tools called VODAN in a Box(Vi B).Vi B is a set of multiple FAIR-enabling and open-source services with a single goal:to support the gathering of World Health Organization(WHO)electronic case report forms(e CRFs)as FAIR data in a machine-actionable way,but without exposing or transferring the data outside the facility.Following the execution of a proof of concept,Vi B was deployed in Uganda and Leiden University.The proof of concept generated a first query which was implemented across two continents.A SWOT(strengths,weaknesses,opportunities and threats)analysis of the architecture was carried out and established the changes needed for specifications and requirements for the future development of the solution.
基金the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development(SATREPS,Grant Number JPMJSA1601)the Japan Science and Technology Agency(JST)/Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA).
文摘Cover management and support practices largely control the magnitude and variability of soil erosion.Although soil erosion models account for their importance(particularly by C-and P-factors in the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation),obtaining spatially explicit quantitative field data on these factors remains challenging.Hence,also our insight into the effects of soil conservation measures at larger spatial scales remains limited.We analyzed the variation in C-and P-factors caused by human activities and climatic variables by reviewing 255 published articles reporting measured or calculated C-and P-factor values.We found a wide variation in both factor values across climatic zones,land use or cover types,and support practices.The average C-factor values decreased from arid(0.26)to humid(0.15)climates,whereas the average P-factor values increased(from 0.33 to 0.47,respectively).Thus,support practices reduce soil loss more effectively in drylands and drought-prone areas.The global average C-factor varies by one order of magnitude from cropland(0.34)to forest(0.03).Among the major crops,the average C-factor was highest for maize(0.42)followed by potato(0.40),among the major orchard crops,it was highest for olive(0.31),followed by vineyards(0.26).The P-factor ranged from 0.62 for contouring in cropland plots to 0.19 for trenches in uncultivated land.The C-factor results indicate that cultivated lands requiring intensive site preparation and weeding are most vulnerable to soil loss by sheet and rill erosion.The low P-factor for trenches,reduced tillage cultivation,and terraces suggests that significantly decreased soil loss is possible by implementing more efficient management practices.These results improve our understanding of the variation in C-and P-factors and support large-scale integrated catchment management interventions by applying soil erosion models where it is difficult to empirically determine the impact of particular land use or cover types and support practices:the datasets compiled in this study ca
基金VODAN-Africathe Philips Foundation+2 种基金the Dutch Development Bank FMOCORDAIDthe GO FAIR Foundation for supporting this research
文摘The incompleteness of patient health data is a threat to the management of COVID-19 in Africa and globally.This has become particularly clear with the recent emergence of new variants of concern.The Virus Outbreak Data Network(VODAN)-Africa has studied the curation of patient health data in selected African countries and identified that health information flows often do not involve the use of health data at the point of care,which renders data production largely meaningless to those producing it.This modus operandi leads to disfranchisement over the control of health data,which is extracted to be processed elsewhere.In response to this problem,VODAN-Africa studied whether or not a design that makes local ownership and repositing of data central to the data curation process,would have a greater chance of being adopted.The design team based their work on the legal requirements of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation(GDPR);the FAIR Guidelines on curating data as Findable,Accessible(under well-defined conditions),Interoperable and Reusable(FAIR);and national regulations applying in the context where the data is produced.The study concluded that the visiting of data curated as machine actionable and reposited in the locale where the data is produced and renders services has great potential for access to a wider variety of data.A condition of such innovation is that the innovation team is intradisciplinary,involving stakeholders and experts from all of the places where the innovation is designed,and employs a methodology of co-creation and capacity-building.
文摘The beneficiation methods for Ethiopian Kenticha pegmatite–spodumene ores were assessed through mineralogical and quantitative analyses with X-ray diffraction（XRD） and energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence（EDXRF）. The tantalite in the upper zone of the Kenticha pegmatite–spodumene deposit is 58.7wt% higher than that in the inner zone. XRD analysis revealed that the upper zone is dominated by manganocolumbite, whereas the inner zone is predominantly tantalite-Mn. Repeated cleaning and beneficiation of the upper-zone ore resulted in concentrate compositions of 57.34wt% of Ta_2O_5 and 5.41wt% of Nb_2O_5. Washing the tantalite concentrates using 1vol% KOH and 1 M H_2SO_4 led to the removal of thorium and uranium radioactive oxides from the concentrate. The findings of this study suggest that the beneficiation and alkaline washing of Kenticha pegmatite–spodumene ores produce a high-grade export-quality tantalite concentrate with negligible radioactive oxides.
文摘The design studio environment has remained the same throughout the past century. As the Studio Culture Task Force of the American Institute of Architecture Students （ALAS） （Koch et al., 2006） noted, the ongoing changes in architecture education are not aligned with today＇s fastchanging world, especially in the context of architectural practice. The AlAS analyzed the design studio problem and expressed doubts on the effectiveness of current studio practices in providing adequate design-thinking education. The report indicates that studio culture values project appearance instead of the actual design process. In recent years, similar problems have been the topic of debates in Khartoum. Criticisms are mostly centered on the observation that students show no interest in the design process and tend to focus on form making. As a result, efforts to teach design methods and to restore the balance between creativity and rationality in the design process have failed. The reason is related to the difficulties associated with the implicit nature of conventional design methods. These difficulties, which are common in architecture schools, include the lack of a clearly defined design methodology and the misunderstood role of the systematic approach to design in the studio. Nevertheless, signs of change are gradually emerging, as demonstrated by the global call for change in the studio environment. This call for change indicates a general agreement on the need for the reorientation of architectural design education toward an engaging policy that considers the social responsibility of architects. This study proposes that the route for change is through the return of rationalism in the studio. Since the 1960 s, many writers have recognized the importance of balancing rationality and creativity, which are mutually interdependent, in the design process. From this perspective, the research question is drawn： how can we bridge the gap between the rational and the creative design activities in the design process？ A theor
