Level of antiretroviral therapy adherence and associated factors during COVID-19 pandemic era in public hospitals of Jigjiga City eastern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Coronavirus-19 disease is more severe in patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Low-income countries, such as those in Sub-Saharan Africa, are particularly vulnerable to the virus' spread. However, there is little information on antiretroviral therapy (ART) use in Ethiopia during the pandemic, particularly in the study area.

Effect of Preharvest Ethephon Application on Selected Biochemical Components and Polyphenol Oxidase Activity in Macadamia Nuts.

Ethephon is a plant growth regulator that triggers diverse responses in plants, such as fruit ripening, leaf senescence, hull senescence, stem elongation, and nut abscission. This study examined how the preharvest application of ethephon 480 SL® affects selected biochemical components and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity in two macadamia nut cultivars: '788' and 'Beaumont'. Ethephon was applied to the trees via a Cima mist blower at rates of 13.

Impact of Preharvest Ethephon Foliar Spray on the Postharvest Fatty Acid Profile and Dietary Indicators of Macadamia Nuts.

The use of ethephon, designed to stimulate nut detachment, initiates the release of ethylene, a well-established regulator of postharvest shelf-life in various agricultural products. This study aimed to assess the impact of ethephon application on individual fatty acids and dietary indicators in two macadamia nut cultivars, namely '788' and 'Beaumont,' during postharvest storage. Nuts that naturally abscised and those detached through ethephon treatment were divided into two groups: the ethylene-treated group (ED) and the control group (CD).

Morpho-physiological and biochemical characterization of African spider plant ( (L.) Briq.) genotypes under drought and non-drought conditions.

The African spider plant ( (L.) Briq.) is a nutrient-dense, climate-resilient indigenous vegetable with a C4 carbon fixation pathway.

Assessing the Impact of Roasting Temperatures on Biochemical and Sensory Quality of Macadamia Nuts ().

Depending on the temperature regime used during roasting, the biochemical and sensory characteristics of macadamia nuts can change. 'A4' and 'Beaumont' were used as model cultivars to examine how roasting temperatures affected the chemical and sensory quality of macadamia nuts. Using a hot air oven dryer, macadamia kernels were roasted at 50, 75, 100, 125, and 150 °C for 15 min.

The Antifungal Effect of Gaseous Ozone on Causing Stem-End Rot in 'Keitt' Mangoes.

This study evaluated the antifungal activity of ozone (O) against stem-end rot of mango fruit (. Keitt). Mango fruit were exposed to gaseous ozone (0.

Nanotechnology-enhanced edible coating application on climacteric fruits.

Climacteric fruits continue to ripen after harvest and produce ethylene, coupled with an increase in respiration rate, which contributes to more rapid perishability. Inhibition of ethylene biosynthesis has been shown to be an efficient way to delay the onset of ripening and lengthen shelf life. The use of edible materials as coatings presents an efficient approach in preserving the quality of fruits.

Effects of stem training on the physiology, growth, and yield responses of indeterminate tomato () plants grown in protected cultivation.

The lower yield of tomatoes grown in tunnels, due to the limited space, remains a challenge. Stem training has long been identified as one of the most important horticultural practices used to improve the yield and fruit quality of tomatoes grown in commercial tunnels; however, there is little information available on the dome-shaped tunnels that are used, particularly by smallholder farmers. The common stem-training methods used in tunnels include the Single-Stem (SS), the Double-Stem (DS) and the Two-Plants-per-Pot (TPP) methods.

Biopriming with Seaweed Extract and Microbial-Based Commercial Biostimulants Influences Seed Germination of Five Genotypes.

Seed germination is a crucial step in plant propagation, as it controls seedling production, stand establishment and ultimately crop yield. Approaches that can promote seed germination of valuable crops remain of great interest globally. The current study evaluated the effect of biostimulant (Kelpak and plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria-PGPR) biopriming on the seed germination of five (VI037996, VI046567, VI055421, VI050956, and VI033796) genotypes.

Rapid spectroscopic method for quantifying gluten concentration as a potential biomarker to test adulteration of green banana flour.

The demand for gluten-free banana flour has led manufactures to enforce strict measures for quality control. A need has arisen for the development of more sensitive and reliable methods to test the quality of green banana flour (GBF). The objective of this study was to develop rapid visible to near-infrared (Vis-NIR) based spectroscopic models to detect gluten concentration, as a biomarker to detect wheat flour adulteration in green banana flour (GBF).

Photochemistry and photoprotection of 'Gem' avocado (Persea americana Mill.) leaves within and outside the canopy and the relationship with fruit maturity.

A reduction in photosynthesis results in a reduced CO assimilation rate and availability of carbohydrates essential for fruit growth and development. This study determined photosynthetic efficiency and photoprotection mechanisms within and outside leaf canopy positions in 'Gem' avocado orchards and their relationship with avocado fruit maturity. The study was conducted in a commercial orchard at Everdon Estate in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Rapid visible-near infrared (Vis-NIR) spectroscopic detection and quantification of unripe banana flour adulteration with wheat flour.

Unripe banana flour is a premium nutritious product with a potential to curb degenerative diseases through resistant starch and gluten free traits, however, with scant techniques to monitor adulteration practices. The objective of the present study was to determine the efficacy of visible-near infrared spectroscopy (Vis-NIR) spectroscopy (Vis-NIRS) in the detection and quantification of unripe banana flour adulteration with wheat flour. To do this, simulated adulteration of a composite banana flour was performed with different levels of wheat flour, in intervals of 20 g kg, ranging from 0 to 800 g kg.

Evaluating the efficacy of chitosan and CMC incorporated with moringa leaf extracts on reducing peteca spot incidence on 'Eureka' lemon.

Lemon ( L.) is one of the most cultivated citrus fruit in South Africa. In citrus packhouses, fruit are coated with commercial synthetic waxes to enhance shelflife.

Investigating the involvement of ABA, ABA catabolites and cytokinins in the susceptibility of 'Nules Clementine' mandarin to rind breakdown disorder.

Background: 'Nules Clementine' mandarin was used to investigate the potential involvement of endogenous plant hormones in mediating citrus fruit susceptibility to rind breakdown disorder (RBD). The effect of light exposure (namely canopy position and bagging treatments) on the endogenous concentration of ABA, 7'-hydroxy-abscisic acid (7-OH-ABA), ABA-glucose ester (ABA-GE) and dihydrophaseic acid (DPA), and t-zeatin was tested using four preharvest treatments: outside, outside bagged, inside and inside bagged. Phytohormones concentration was evaluated during nine weeks of postharvest storage at 8 °C.

Model development for non-destructive determination of rind biochemical properties of 'Marsh' grapefruit using visible to near-infrared spectroscopy and chemometrics.

Rind biochemical properties play major roles in defence mechanisms against the incidence of rind physiological disorders of citrus fruit during cold storage. Hence, multivariate calibration models were developed to rapidly and non-destructively determine rind biochemical properties of citrus fruit from visible to near-infrared (Vis/NIR) spectra acquired by Vis/NIR spectroscopy using partial least square regression algorithm. To achieve optimum models for determination of each rind biochemical property, several mathematical pre-processing methods were explored, including no pre-treatment.

Drought tolerance of selected bottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl.] landraces assessed by leaf gas exchange and photosynthetic efficiency.

Successful cultivation of bottle gourd in arid and semi-arid areas of sub-Saharan Africa and globally requires the identification of drought tolerant parents for developing superior genotypes with increased drought resistance. The objective of this study was to determine the level of drought tolerance among genetically diverse South African bottle gourd landraces based on leaf gas exchange and photosynthetic efficiency and identify promising genotypes for breeding. The responses of 12 bottle gourd landraces grown in glasshouse under non-stressed (NS) and drought-stressed (DS) conditions were studied.

Effect of ultraviolet irradiation on postharvest quality and composition of tomatoes: a review.

Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation has recently emerged as a possible alternative to currently used postharvest phytosanitary treatments. Research has also highlighted other benefits associated with UV irradiation in postharvest technology. This review presents the effects of UV irradiation on postharvest and nutritional quality of tomatoes.

Screening of Bread Wheat Genotypes for Drought Tolerance Using Phenotypic and Proline Analyses.

Drought stress is one of the leading constraints to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production globally. Breeding for drought tolerance using novel genetic resources is an important mitigation strategy.