Understanding the interactions of genotype with environment and management (G×E×M) to maize productivity in Conservation Agriculture systems of Malawi.

Climatic variability and soil fertility decline present a fundamental challenge for smallholder farmers to determine the optimum management practices in the production of maize. Optimizing genotype (G) and management (M) of maize under different environmental conditions (E) and their interactions are essential for enhancing maize productivity in the smallholder sector of Malawi where maize is the main staple food. Here, we evaluated over seven seasons, the performance of four commercial maize genotypes [including hybrids and one open pollinated variety (OPV)] managed under different Conservation Agriculture (CA) and conventional practices (CP) across on-farm communities of central and southern Malawi.

Conservation Agriculture Affects Grain and Nutrient Yields of Maize ( L.) and Can Impact Food and Nutrition Security in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Maize is a major staple and plays an essential role in food and nutrition security in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Conservation agriculture (CA), a climate-smart agriculture practise based on minimum soil disturbance, crop residue retention, and crop diversification, has been widely advocated but without extensive research on the impact it may have on maize nutrient composition, and food and nutrition security. This study assessed the grain yield, macro- and micronutrient mineral content, and nutrient yield of eight maize varieties grown in Malawi, and how these are affected by CA practises over two seasons.

Genotypic variation in maize (Zea mays) influences rates of soil organic matter mineralization and gross nitrification.

Agricultural management practices that increase soil organic matter (SOM), such as no-tillage (NT) with crop residue retention, together with crop varieties best able to source nutrients from SOM, may help reverse soil degradation and improve soil nutrient supply and uptake by plants in low-input environments of tropical and subtropical areas. Here, we screened germplasm representing genetic diversity within tropical maize breeding programmes in relation to shaping SOM mineralization. Then we assessed effects of contrasting genotypes on nitrification rates, and genotype-by-management history interactions on these rates.

Intensifying cropping systems through doubled-up legumes in Eastern Zambia.

Declining soil fertility and negative impacts of climate effects threaten the food security of millions in Africa. Conservation Agriculture (CA) is a promising strategy to address these challenges. However, lack of viable economic entry points and short-term benefits for smallholders limit its adoption.

Combining local knowledge and soil science for integrated soil health assessments in conservation agriculture systems.

The challenges of soil degradation and climate change have led to the emergence of Conservation Agriculture (CA) as a sustainable alternative to tillage-based agriculture systems. Despite the recognition of positive impacts on soil health, CA adoption in Africa has remained low. Previous soil health studies have mainly focused on 'scientific' measurements, without consideration of local knowledge, which influences how farmers interpret CA impacts and future land management decisions.

Leaf versus whole-canopy remote sensing methodologies for crop monitoring under conservation agriculture: a case of study with maize in Zimbabwe.

Enhancing nitrogen fertilization efficiency for improving yield is a major challenge for smallholder farming systems. Rapid and cost-effective methodologies with the capability to assess the effects of fertilization are required to facilitate smallholder farm management. This study compares maize leaf and canopy-based approaches for assessing N fertilization performance under different tillage, residue coverage and top-dressing conditions in Zimbabwe.

Impacts of conservation agriculture on soil structure and hydraulic properties of Malawian agricultural systems.

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) faces climate change and food insecurity challenges, which require action to create resilient farming systems. Conservation agriculture (CA) is widely promoted across SSA but the impacts on key soil physical properties and functions such as soil structure and hydraulic properties that govern water storage and transmission are not well understood. The aim of this study was to assess the impacts of long term (10-12 years) maize-based CA on soil hydraulic conductivity, water retention and pore size distribution.

Agro-ecological options for fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda JE Smith) management: Providing low-cost, smallholder friendly solutions to an invasive pest.

Fall armyworm (FAW), a voracious agricultural pest native to North and South America, was first detected on the African continent in 2016 and has subsequently spread throughout the continent and across Asia. It has been predicted that FAW could cause up to $US13 billion per annum in crop losses throughout sub-Saharan Africa, thereby threatening the livelihoods of millions of poor farmers. In their haste to respond to FAW governments may promote indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides which, aside from human health and environmental risks, could undermine smallholder pest management strategies that depend to a large degree on natural enemies.

Mobile Workflow in Computed Tomography of the Chest.

A CT system with a tablet as mobile user interface and a wireless remote control for positioning and radiation release has recently been presented. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of a mobile CT examination workflow on the radiographers' performance compared to conventional examinations. A prototype of a radiation protection cabin was installed besides the gantry of a CT system.

Short-term Impacts of Tillage and Fertilizer Treatments on Soil and Root Borne Nematodes and Maize Yield in a Fine Textured .

Conservation agriculture (CA) based on the principles of minimum soil disturbance, crop residue retention, and crop rotation has been the focus of intensive research in recent years. A study was carried out to determine the effects of tillage and fertilizer on the population densities of plant-parasitic nematodes in maize. Three tillage regimes, (i) basin planting, (ii) rip line seeding, and (iii) conventional tillage, were combined with four fertilizer regimes: (i) no-fertilizer, (ii) low fertilizer rate, (iii) medium fertilizer rate, and (iv) high fertilizer rate.

Toward A Structured, Tri-Domain Model Of Companioning In Christian Formation By Pastoral Agents In A Congregational Setting: A Preliminary Report On An International Research Project.

A preliminary report is presented by an international project team working on developing a model for a structured and holistic approach to companioning parishioners in the journey of formation in the Christian life. A holistic model involves working in three domains: positive psychology, spirituality, and personal and social ethics. Structure is provided by utilizing four self-assessment instruments to inform the work the pastor and the parishioner do together.

Phenotyping Conservation Agriculture Management Effects on Ground and Aerial Remote Sensing Assessments of Maize Hybrids Performance in Zimbabwe.

In the coming decades, Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) faces challenges to sustainably increase food production while keeping pace with continued population growth. Conservation agriculture (CA) has been proposed to enhance soil health and productivity to respond to this situation. Maize is the main staple food in SSA.

The Bacterial Community Structure and Dynamics of Carbon and Nitrogen when Maize (Zea mays L.) and Its Neutral Detergent Fibre Were Added to Soil from Zimbabwe with Contrasting Management Practices.

Water infiltration, soil carbon content, aggregate stability and yields increased in conservation agriculture practices compared to conventionally ploughed control treatments at the Henderson research station near Mazowe (Zimbabwe). How these changes in soil characteristics affect the bacterial community structure and the bacteria involved in the degradation of applied organic material remains unanswered. Soil was sampled from three agricultural systems at Henderson, i.

Bone mineral density and its determinants in men with opioid dependence.

Data on the influence of opioid substitution therapy (OST) on skeletal health in men is limited. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of low bone mass in male drug users and to evaluate the relationship between endogenous testosterone and bone mass. We recruited 144 men on long-term opioid maintenance therapy followed in the Center of Addiction Medicine in Basel, Switzerland.

The Cu2O2 torture track for a real-life system: [Cu2(btmgp)2O2](2+) oxo and peroxo species in density functional calculations.

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the equilibrium geometry, vibrational modes, ionization energies, electron affinities, and optical response of [Cu2(btmgp)2(μ-O)2](2+) (oxo) and [Cu2(btmgp)2(μ-η(2):η(2)-O2)](2+) (peroxo) are presented. Comprehensive benchmarking shows that the description of the oxo-peroxo energetics is still a torture track for DFT, but finds the molecular geometry to be comparatively robust with respect to changes in the exchange-correlation functionals and basis sets. Pure functionals favor the oxo core found experimentally, whereas hybrid functionals shift the bias toward the peroxo core.

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus.

The reported prevalence of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) in Switzerland for the years 2008-2010 has been low at <5%. At the University Hospital Zurich, 17 cases of VRE were detected between 28 December 2009 and 15 February 2010. Nine cases were diagnosed clinically; eight cases were detected by rectal screening.

Participation, characteristics and retention rates of HIV-positive immigrants in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study.

Objective: Data from observational cohorts may be influenced by population structure and loss to follow-up (LTFU). Quality of care may be associated with participation in cohort networks. We aimed to study the participation, characteristics and retention rates of immigrants in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS).

A highly accurate potential energy curve for the mercury dimer.

The potential energy curve of the electronic ground state of the mercury dimer based on CCSD(T) calculations at the complete basis set (CBS) limit, including corrections for the full triples DeltaT and explicit spin-orbit (SO) interactions at the CCSD(T) level of theory, is presented. In the far long-range part, the potential energy curve is complemented by symmetry-adapted perturbation theory calculations. Potential curves of an analytically simple, extended Lennard-Jones form are obtained from very accurate fits to the CBS/CCSD(T)+SO and CBS/CCSD(T)+SO+DeltaT data.

Prospectively ECG-triggered high-pitch spiral acquisition for coronary CT angiography using dual source CT: technique and initial experience.

Objective: We evaluated radiation exposure and image quality of a new coronary CT angiography protocol, high-pitch spiral acquisition, using dual source CT (DSCT).

Material And Methods: Coronary CTAwas performed in 25 consecutive patients with a stable heart rate of 60 bpm or less after premedication, using 2 x 128 0.6-mm sections, 38.

Kinetic and thermodynamic stability of the group 13 trihydrides.

The kinetic and thermodynamic stabilities of the group 13 hydrides EH(3) (E = B, Al, Ga, In, Tl, E113) are investigated by relativistic density functional and wave function based theories. The unimolecular decomposition of EH(3) --> EH + H(2) becomes energetically more favorable going down the Group 13 elements, with the H(2)-abstraction of InH(3), TlH(3), and (E113)H(3) (E113: element with nuclear charge 113) being exothermic. In accordance with the Hammond-Leffler postulate, the activation barrier for the dissociation process decreases accordingly going down the group 13 elements in the periodic table shifting to an early transition state, with activation energies ranging from 88.

Feasibility of dual-source cardiac CT angiography with high-pitch scan protocols.

Background: Cardiac CT angiography (CCTA) has become a frequently used diagnostic tool in clinical practice, but concern remains about the radiation exposure. Because of the second x-ray acquisition system, dual-source CT systems might allow for high-pitch CT data acquisition and thus for examination of the whole heart during a single heart beat, with the potential for radiation dose reduction.

Objective: We assessed the feasibility of a high-pitch scan mode with a dual-source CT system.

4D-Imaging of the lung: reproducibility of lesion size and displacement on helical CT, MRI, and cone beam CT in a ventilated ex vivo system.

Purpose: Four-dimensional (4D) imaging is a key to motion-adapted radiotherapy of lung tumors. We evaluated in a ventilated ex vivo system how size and displacement of artificial pulmonary nodules are reproduced with helical 4D-CT, 4D-MRI, and linac-integrated cone beam CT (CBCT).

Methods And Materials: Four porcine lungs with 18 agarose nodules (mean diameters 1.

Trends in imported malaria to Basel, Switzerland.

Background: Due to persistent international travel and immigration trends, imported malaria remains to be of clinical and public health importance in nonendemic countries. The aim of this study was to investigate trends in imported malaria over a period of more than three decades.

Methods: We assessed travel history, demographic characteristics, and clinical course with special regard to malaria diagnosis and intensive care unit (ICU) admission of patients diagnosed with malaria.

Management of pulmonary tuberculosis in Tajikistan: which factors determine hospitalization-.

Objective: To assess predictors for tuberculosis hospitalization and treatment outcome in Tajikistan.

Methods: Stratified, single stage cluster sample survey of 1495 adult patients with pulmonary TB during 2 calendar years (2005-2006) from the registries of 10 TB centres chosen by simple random sampling. The primary outcome was referral to hospital.