Inadequate Use Research Articles

Dengue Outbreak Control and Prevention: A Case Study of Gampaha District, Sri Lanka

Dengue fever remains a persistent public health challenge in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka. Despite ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Healthcare, Nutrition & Indigenous Medicine, the district reported 10,212 cases in 2022, with significant hospital admissions and deaths in high-risk areas like MC Negombo, Gampaha, and Minuwangoda. The study examines Dengue control and prevention strategies implemented from November 2022 to March 2023. Data was collected from existing records, interviews with key informants, and field observations. Major challenges were identified and prioritised using evidence-based methodologies, including the "Five Whys" root cause analysis. The analysis revealed significant challenges categorised into program-related and non-program-related issues. Key issues include inadequate use of existing data, insufficient evidence-based control measures, and operational inefficiencies. The root cause analysis identified core problems such as lack of funding, poor planning, and limited community engagement. The study highlights the critical need for data-driven decision-making and enhanced collaborative efforts. Establishing a technical body, develop context-specific programs, and improve community involvement. Resource mobilisation for research and forecasting epidemics was also emphasised. This case study provides valuable insights into the challenges and strategic interventions necessary for effective Dengue control in the Gampaha District. Emphasising evidence-based decision-making and a comprehensive action plan underscores the importance of collaborative efforts to combat Dengue in the region.

Creating a robust coordinated data and policy framework for addressing substance use issues in the United States

The ongoing opioid epidemic has been met with the inadequate use of data-informed approaches to respond to the crisis. Although data relevant to opioid and substance use do exist and have been utilized for research in the literature and practice, they have not been prepared for cross-sector coordination and for providing practical intelligence to inform policy planning directly. In this article, we share our views on how data can better serve the purposes of informing policy and planning to maximize population health and safety benefits. Based on our experience in advising state policymakers on developing settlement allocation strategies based on empirical data, we discuss several issues in the data, including coverage, specificity in drug types, time relevance, geographic units, and access, which may hinder data-informed policymaking. Following these discussions, we envision a coordinated data and policy framework as an ideal case to ensure access to meaningful and timely data and harness the full potential of the data to inform policy to combat the continuing epidemic.

Corrosion-oriented self-healing coating based on ZnMg MOF for efficient corrosion protection of aluminum alloy via in-situ LDH film formation

A corrosion-oriented self-healing coating system relying on metal–organic framework (MOF) based nanofiller is designed for aluminum alloy protection. The nanofiller is comprise of ZnMg MOF nanoparticle as a framework, salicylaldoxime corrosion inhibitors inside the MOF, and a polydopamine layer on the MOF surface. The Al3+ ions generated from the aluminum alloy substrate at the damaged coating area can etch the nanofiller, causing the collapse of the nanofiller and releasing the corrosion inhibitors to suppress the corrosion process in time. Subsequently, Zn2+ and Mg2+ ions from the nanofiller co-precipitate with Al3+ to form a dense AlZnMg layered double hydroxide (LDH) film, which provides further protection performance at the exposed alloy surface. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results demonstrate that the intact MOF@S/P coating exhibits a remarkable corrosion resistance property. For the damaged coating, the self-healing performance originated from the formation of LDH layer and the release of corrosion inhibitors gradually took effect, with the |Z|0.01Hz value increasing 2.27 times within 14 days. Moreover, under near-infrared irradiation, the photothermal effect of polydopamine will accelerate the release of corrosion inhibitor, the formation of LDH film, as well as the shape memory effect of coating defect for an efficient recovery of the corrosion resistance property. This novel coating system enables a corrosion-driven and location-specific repair with in-situ deposition of both an inhibitor film and an LDH film. As the first work to fully utilize and consume nanofillers on demand, this approach prevents inadequate use of healing agents, addressing a significant challenge in corrosion-driven self-healing coatings. The self-healing mechanism ensures target-oriented corrosion protection that makes the most efficient use of the healing substances.

Electronic Health Record Serious Illness Conversation Dashboards: An Implementation Case Series

IntroductionDashboards are used to track and visualize quality indicators within health systems to improve clinical performance. Structured serious illness conversation (SIC) documentation templates within electronic health records (EHR) have enabled the development of SIC dashboards for quality improvement. Little is known about the successes and challenges of SIC dashboards. MethodsThis implementation case series describes findings from semi-structured interviews and surveys with nine palliative care leaders in eight health systems that implemented SIC dashboards. Interviews and case information were analyzed to identify themes. ResultsFive themes were identified. First, dashboards focus on process metrics. By creating transparent and efficient access to data on EHR-documented SICs, dashboards facilitated monitoring of the results of clinician training and quality improvement efforts. Second, palliative care leaders used dashboard data on documented SICs to implement clinician practice change strategies (e.g. data feedback; quality incentives), but clinicians had mixed reactions to data. Third, dashboards facilitated leadership investment in SIC efforts and required financial and technical resources to build and maintain. Fourth, while dashboards streamlined data collection for implementation teams, participants noted challenges with data reliability, including inadequate clinician use of structured SIC documentation templates (which most dashboards rely on for measurement). Fifth, needs and tensions arose with integrating patient-centered outcome measures as part of dashboards. ConclusionDashboards can be powerful tools for identifying gaps in SIC and driving interventions for clinician practice change. However, challenges related to clinician adoption of structured templates for SIC documentation and mixed clinician receptivity to data feedback may limit their reliability and use.

Contract Farming in Low and Lower-Middle-Income Countries: Using Meta-Analysis and Factor Analysis

Purpose: Smallholder farmers' agriculture in developing countries particularly in low and lower-middle-income countries is known for poor production and productivity levels which has been related to the inadequate use of improved agricultural inputs and marketing systems, and in this case, contract farming. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the various factors which affect contract farming among smallholder farmers in developing countries. However, trying to investigate those contract farming determinants by a single analytical method leads it to have limited findings, narrowed generalizability and difficulty in investigating major determinants that determine contract farming success. Therefore, a joint approach using factor analysis and meta-analysis can give a more comprehensive understanding of contract farming factors. Methodology: The data was gathered through a Systematic Literature Review, finding a total of 3007 studies from SCOPUS, PubMed, PubAg, and EMBASE. The PRISMA method was applied to, and finally, 35 peer-reviewed articles in English between January 1990 to September 2023 were selected. Findings: The meta-analysis showed interesting insights into factors influencing contract farming participation. Education and household size exhibited a negative association, suggesting that farmers with higher education levels and larger families may be less likely to participate in contract farming arrangements. This could be due to a preference for independent decision-making or the need for family labor in alternative income-generating activities. On the other hand, farmers with larger landholdings are more inclined to participate. To encourage broader participation, policymakers, and program designers could consider targeted outreach and support services for these specific demographics. Originality and value: Our new approach, joining meta-analysis and factor analysis, sheds innovative light on contract farming determinants. While the expected determinants like farm and household size, along with education, remained significant, our analysis showed unexpected nuances. Age of the household head emerged as potentially favoring younger, less experienced farmers. Moreover, access to extension services played an important role, while large household size might have a more complex influence depending on age composition. This comprehensive approach offers valuable insights for targeted outreach programs and collaboration with extension services to optimize contract farming adoption and success in developing countries.

STUDENTS’ DIFFICULTIES IN READING COMPREHENSION OF FACTUAL REPORT TEXT AT THE ELEVENT GRADE OF SMK NEGERI 2 TOMA

This research was carried out to investigate students’ difficulties in reading comprehension of factual report text at the eleventh grade students of SMK Negeri 2 Toma. The objectives of this research were to find out what difficulties are faced by class XI students at SMK Negeri 2 Toma in reading comprehension of factual report text and to explain the factors that contribute to students’ difficulties in reading comprehension of factual report texts in class at SMK Negeri 2 Toma. This research was qualitative research design and data were obtained through reading tests and interviews. Data were analyzed using Miles and Huberman's theory such as data reduction, data display and conclusion drawing and verification. The results of this research were eleventh grade students at SMK Negeri 2 Toma experience difficulties in reading comprehension. It was found that five difficulties experienced by students in reading comprehension they are finding factual information, finding the main idea, finding the meaning of vocabulary, identifying references and making inferences. Factors that contribute to students’ difficulties in reading comprehension of factual report texts include limited vocabulary knowledge, inadequate use of effective reading strategies, and problems with processing information. This research shows that students experience difficulties in reading comprehension. It is suggested that students eleventh grade of SMK Negeri 2 Toma should study more the component of reading comprehension.

Public Knowledge and Attitude of Caregivers Regarding Leftover Medications for Children under 6 Years of Age in Japan: A Descriptive Study on a Nationwide Exploratory Questionnaire Survey to Caregivers.

Leftover medications are a global concern for harm to health and inadequate medical care costs. However, information on leftover medicines and their inappropriate use in children in Japan is lacking. We aimed to clarify the proportion of leftover and re-use of children's medications in Japan. We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional questionnaire survey using eight web-based domains, which covered parents' demographics, children's demographics, actual practices in handling about leftover (1) acute medication, (2) chronic medication, (3) short-term medicine, (4) antibiotic, and (5) topical medication, and attitudes towards leftover medicine. The questionnaire comprised 40 questions. We obtained responses from 3046 caregivers with children aged under 6 years before elementary school. Among these participants, 95% (2674/2809), 57% (147/256), and 69% (1687/2457) had experience with leftover acute medication use, medication for chronic disease, and short-term medication use, respectively. Instances of leftover antibiotics being given to the child's brother/sister, parents, and child's friends were 8.7, 7.9, and 3.2%, respectively. This trend was similar to other medication categories. In conclusion, most caregivers have experienced leftover medications; however, managing leftover medications depends on their beliefs and is influenced by inadequate knowledge about medications. Most of these cases lead to inadequate use of medications in children. Medical staff, especially pharmacists, need to educate and instruct caregivers on the appropriate use of children's medications.

Towards making EIA more human-centric: Demonstration in Nepal of a values crystallization approach to capture local shared values for scoping use

Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) are a critical component of planning and decision-making processes before projects are conducted, because they are used to forecast and inform mitigation of potential impacts on the local community, including its social, physical, and natural environments. Current EIA processes predominantly focus on issues that can be directly measured using objective methods, with mostly tokenistic inadequate use of suites of qualitative methodologies needed for identification and documentation of issues relating to community shared values. On the other hand, protests and tensions are known to easily arise which are related to such human values-based issues not being addressed. In this pragmatic study, a method is demonstrated which can bridge this gap, by capturing local community shared values in a well-defined manner and short time. The approach, called WeValue InSitu, enables local communities to construct their own bespoke group shared values statements in a specialized crystallization process, with outputs which are well-articulated proto-indicators. In this study we compare the outputs from two existing scoping reports of EIA in Nepal with the outputs from the values crystallization approach which we conducted with ten groups in a village in Nepal, and show that the latter brings out many more, and more localised, shared values of the community, and additionally reveals underlying interrelationships between values, producing conceptual maps for planning effective mitigations. Future studies can investigate whether the achievements of this method offer any advantages to existing qualitative methods in improving EIA-SIA scoping, and/or whether the hegemony of objectivism of institutions and proponents is an unsurmountable barrier.

PocketDTA: an advanced multimodal architecture for enhanced prediction of drug-target affinity from 3D structural data of target binding pockets.

Accurately predicting the drug-target binding affinity (DTA) is crucial to drug discovery and repurposing. Although deep learning has been widely used in this field, it still faces challenges with insufficient generalization performance, inadequate use of 3D information, and poor interpretability. To alleviate these problems, we developed the PocketDTA model. This model enhances the generalization performance by pre-trained models ESM-2 and GraphMVP. It ingeniously handles the first 3 (top-3) target binding pockets and drug 3D information through customized GVP-GNN Layers and GraphMVP-Decoder. In addition, it uses a bilinear attention network to enhance interpretability. Comparative analysis with state-of-the-art (SOTA) methods on the optimized Davis and KIBA datasets reveals that the PocketDTA model exhibits significant performance advantages. Further, ablation studies confirm the effectiveness of the model components, whereas cold-start experiments illustrate its robust generalization capabilities. In particular, the PocketDTA model has shown significant advantages in identifying key drug functional groups and amino acid residues via molecular docking and literature validation, highlighting its strong potential for interpretability. Code and data are available at: https://github.com/zhaolongNCU/PocketDTA.

Link between pregnancy planning and antenatal care utilization in sub-Saharan Africa: An analysis of DHS data (2010-2023).

This study aims to analyse the relationship between pregnancy planning and antenatal care in sub-Saharan Africa and to identify which categories of mothers are most likely to make inadequate use of antenatal care in the event of a mistimed or unwanted pregnancy. The latest data from the Demographic and Health Surveys of 32 countries were analysed using bivariate and multivariate descriptive methods. The results show that compared with planned births, mistimed and unwanted births are respectively 27% (OR=0.733) and 29% (OR=0.711) less likely to have an antenatal visit in the first three months of pregnancy, and 25% (OR=0.752) and 29% (OR=0.705) less likely to have the four recommended antenatal visits. In addition, the births of the most privileged women (richest, educated and exposed to the media) are the least likely to have an adequate prenatal visit in the event of mistimed or unwanted pregnancies, probably due to an increased psychosocial impact linked to school dropouts, damage to professional projects and a desire to hide the pregnancy from those around her.

Scientific Analysis with a Retrospective Method on the Incidence and Severity of Adverse Drug Reactions in Hospitalized Cancer Patients

Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) often result from omissions or inadequate use of preventative measures, making them definitely or probably preventable. Discrepancies between clinical severity and patients' perceptions of ADRs' impact on their well-being highlight the need for targeted interventions. This study focused on the frequency, manifestations, and severity of ADRs from chemotherapeutic agents, utilizing a cross-sectional design with data from ADR reports spanning November 2021 to October 2023 at dr. Saiful Anwar General Hospital, Indonesia. A total of 177 ADRs were analyzed descriptively. Of these, 99 (55.93%) occurred in women, with the highest incidence in the 19–60-year age group (77.40%). The most common malignancies were Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (10.17%), Colorectal Malignancy, and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (9.60% each). ADRs related to chemotherapy constituted 41.80%, involving drugs such as cisplatin, oxaliplatin, afatinib, imatinib, and Doxorubicin. The severity distribution was 70.37% mild, 27.16% moderate, and 2.47% severe. Monitoring and reporting these ADRs are crucial for patient safety and preventing recurrence.

Multi-view clustering with adaptive anchor and bipartite graph learning

Multi-view subspace clustering optimizes and integrates the graph structure information of each view. At present, the subspace clustering methods based on the abstract graph have better performance and improve the clustering results. Although the existing clustering algorithms have achieved excellent results, there are still four deficiencies: 1) Expensive time overhead, with most algorithms having a high time complexity; 2) Using fixed anchor points and the separation of anchor graph learning from subsequent graph construction, resulting in inadequate use of underlying graph structure between views; 3) Multi-view data have inevitable noise and in the original high-dimensional space data fusion may cause the loss of important information; 4) Most algorithms require additional post-processing to obtain clustering labels. To solve the above problems, we innovate a novel anchor-adaptive multi-view clustering algorithm based on a bipartite graph . Specifically, anchor graph learning and subspace graph construction are adaptively combined into a unified optimization framework. The projection matrix, consensus anchor matrix, and similarity matrix optimize each other to promote the clustering effect and structure a constrained bipartite graph to describe the relationship between representative points and sample points. At the same time, connectivity constraints are used to ensure that the connected components represent clusters directly. Our method has linear time complexity about sample size. Comparison experiments with the state-of-the-art algorithms demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method on various benchmark datasets. Moreover, our method is robust to noisy data and suitable for large-scale datasets.

NOISE-RELATED HEARING LOSS FREQUENCY AND RELATED FACTORS IN A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES CLINIC. Ege University Faculty of Medicine Hospital Occupational Diseases Clinic -2018

Objective: Noise is an important hazard that negatively affects hearing and perception in humans, causes physiological and psychological disorders, and reduces work performance. We wanted to determine the socio-demographic and occupational factors associated with the frequency of noise-induced hearing loss in patients who applied to the occupational diseases clinic and draw attention to what should be done to prevent its occurrence. Methods: The population of the cross-sectional study consisted of 463 workers who applied to a university hospital Occupational Diseases Policlinic between November 2015 and November 2018. General physical examination was performed and hearing problems were evaluated and than audiometric examination was performed with Madsen Itera II audiometry device. Chi-square test and descriptive statistics were used as statistical analysis. Results: 23.5% of the workers were diagnosed with hearing loss. 397 (85.7%) of the participants described that they were exposed to noise in the workplace. Noise exposure has been associated with hearing loss. 15 packs / year and above smoking, expressing noise exposure in the workplace and not using headphones, chemical substances in the work environment; Exposure to any of the lead, manganese and mercury made a significant difference in terms of hearing loss. Conclusion: The correct use of personal protective equipment such as earphones depends on individual factors. Incorrect and inadequate headphone use is an important factor in noise-induced hearing loss. For this reason, engineering measures are extremely important among the primary preventive methods. Smoking, chemical exposure are effective factors in noise-related hearing loss.

Dyschromatopsia due to welding arcs: An underestimated occupational injury

Welders are at risk of developing dyschromatopsia, a color vision deficiency, due to occupational exposure, including welding arcs. This visual impairment can impact occupational safety and performance but has received limited attention in research. : This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of defective color vision among welders exposed to welding arcs. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 52 male welders working in various industries. Demographic and occupational data were collected through a questionnaire. Color vision assessment was performed using Ishihara and Farnsworth Munsell test. Welding exposure data were collected through self-reporting and workplace observations. Chi-square test was used for data analysis. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The prevalence of defective color vision among welders was 15.4%. Age, gender, years of experience, and types of welding performed did not significantly influence the prevalence. Welders in the age group of 31-40 years showed a higher prevalence. Inadequate use of eye protection was identified as a barrier to preventing color vision impairments. Defective color vision is a prevalent occupational injury among welders exposed to welding arcs. The study underscores the importance of preventive measures, including proper eye protection and education programs, to reduce the risk of visual impairments and improve occupational safety. Further research is needed to understand the long-term consequences of welding arc exposure on color vision and its impact on worker performance.

Antimicrobial prescription pattern and appropriateness for respiratory tract infection in outpatients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundMillions of people die every year as a result of antimicrobial resistance worldwide. An inappropriate prescription of antimicrobials (e.g., overuse, inadequate use, or a choice that diverges from established guidelines) can lead to a heightened risk of antimicrobial resistance. This study aimed to determine the rate and appropriateness of antimicrobial prescriptions for respiratory tract infections.MethodsThis review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Web of Science, PubMed, ProQuest Health and Medicine, and Scopus were searched between October 1, 2023, and December 15, 2023, with no time constraints. Studies were independently screened by the first author and the co-authors. We included original studies reporting antimicrobial prescription patterns and appropriateness for respiratory tract infections. The quality of included studies’ was assessed via the Joanna Briggs Institute’s Critical Appraisal Checklists for Cross-Sectional Studies. The assessment of publication bias was conducted using a funnel plot and Egger’s regression test. A random effect model was employed to estimate the pooled antibiotic prescribing and inappropriate rates. Subgroup analysis was conducted by country, study period, data source, and age group.ResultsOf the total 1220 identified studies, 36 studies were included in the review. The antimicrobial prescribing rate ranged from 25% (95% CI 0.24–0.26) to 90% (95% CI 0.89–0.91). The pooled antimicrobial prescription rate was 66% (95% CI 0.57 to 0.73). Subgroup analysis by region revealed that the antimicrobial prescription rate was highest in Africa (79%, 95% CI 0.48–0.94) and lowest in Europe (47%, 95% CI 0.32–0.62). Amoxicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanate antimicrobials from the Access group, along with azithromycin and erythromycin from the Watch group, were the most frequently used antimicrobial agents. This study revealed that the major reasons for antimicrobial prescription were acute bronchitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis, and the common cold. The pooled inappropriate antimicrobial prescription rate was 45% (95% CI 0.38–0.52). Twenty-eight of the included studies reported that prescribing antimicrobials without proper indications was the main cause of inappropriate antimicrobial prescriptions. Additionally, subgroup analysis by region showed a higher inappropriate antimicrobial prescription rate in Asia at 49% (95% CI 0.38–0.60). The result of the funnel plot and Egger’s tests revealed no substantial publication bias (Egger’s test: p = 0.268).ConclusionThe prescribing rate and inappropriate use of antimicrobials remain high and vary among countries. Further studies should be conducted to generate information about factors contributing to unnecessary antimicrobial prescriptions in outpatients.Systematic review registrationSystematic review registration: CRD42023468353.

“It’s not the beds, it’s the people”: Building capacity to better host First Nation evacuations in northeast Ontario, Canada

This study explores preventive evacuation experiences hosting First Nation evacuees, focusing on the case study Timmins, Ontario, Canada. Using qualitative semi-structured interviews with staff responsible for delivering municipal hosting operations and business, municipal, and regional partners, this study examines how and why this small city hosted evacuees, how the city and partners were impacted by hosting, and challenges faced while hosting evacuees. The impacts on hosting partners’ operations varied between each evacuation and depended on the needs of evacuees. Study participants highlighted challenges related to preparing for back-to-back evacuations, a lack of familiarity with evacuating First Nations communities and partners, inadequate substance use and crisis supports, absence of community leadership from an evacuated community, increased needs for child and family services, limited provincial hosting capacity, pressures on regional services, and problems with cost recovery. The study offers recommendations for host communities, as well as areas for further research.

A critical review of the Iranian National Olympic Committee's performance in designing the opening parade costumes: signs of inefficiency and damage to the national identity

This research aims to evaluate and critique the performance of the Iranian National Olympic Committee in designing the costumes for the Olympic opening parade. The study seeks to identify the strengths and weaknesses of these designs and compare them with successful global examples to help improve future designs. A review method was used to achieve this goal. This method involved examining previous research related to the design of Olympic uniforms and the criticisms they received. The analysis included public and media critiques, athlete surveys, and an examination of the characteristics of successful international designs.The findings indicate that Iran's Olympic uniforms have struggled to make a positive impact internationally due to weaknesses in aligning with global standards, a lack of attention to cultural symbols, and inadequate use of modern technologies. Compared to successful global designs, these uniforms have faced challenges in representing national identity and effectively communicating with audiences. The study concludes that to improve future designs, the Iranian National Olympic Committee should focus on enhancing collaboration with cultural and social experts, using international consultants to align with global standards, and establishing continuous evaluation processes to identify and address weaknesses. Additionally, developing specialized teams and providing training for designers are recommended to improve design quality and elevate national prestige on the international stage.

Effects of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Soil Properties of Lowland Rice on Vertisols of Fogera District, Northwestern Ethiopia

Declining land productivity due to low soil fertility status as a result of continuous cultivation, inadequate use of organic and inorganic fertilizers is a major cause for decline crop productivity. Hence, a field experiment was conducted at Fogera National Rice Research and Training Center (FNRRTC) during the 2021 cropping season to determine the effects of integrated use of farmyard manure (FYM) and nitrogen fertilizer on soil properties and yield of lowland rice on the vertisols of Fogera district. The treatments were factorial combination of three levels of FYM (0, 5, and 7.5 t ha<sup>-1</sup>) and four levels of Nitrogen (0, 46, 92, and 184 kg ha<sup>-1</sup>). The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Representative soil samples were collected at a depth of 0-20 cm before treatment application and after crop harvest, and analyzed following the standard laboratory procedures. All collected soil data were analyzed by using SAS software (version 9.4). After crop harvest the results showed that soil pH, OC, TN, CEC, Exc. K, Ca, Mg and Av.P were significantly (p<0.01) affected by the main effects of FYM. The combined applications of FYM and N fertilizer also significantly (p<0.01) affected CEC, OC and Exc.Mg. The highest soil CEC, OC and Exc.Mg were recorded from the combine effects of 7.5 t/kg with 92 kg/ha. From the results of this experiment, it could be concluded that combined application of FYM and inorganic N fertilizers improved the chemical and physical properties, which may lead to enhanced and sustainable production of rice in the study area.

Effects of Farmyard Manure and Nitrogen Fertilizers on Yield and Yield Components of Low Land Rice (Oryza sativa L.) on Vertisols of Fogera District, Northwestern Ethiopia

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a major cereal crop in Fogera district; however, the current yield is decreased due to low soil fertility status as a result of continuous cultivation, inadequate use of organic and inorganic fertilizers. Hence, a field experiment was conducted at Fogera National Rice Research and Training Center (FNRRTC) during the 2021 cropping season to determine the effects of farmyard manure and nitrogen fertilizer on yield and yield components of lowland rice on vertisols of Fogera district. The treatments were laid out as factorial combination of three levels of FYM (0, 5, and 7.5 t ha-1) and four levels of Nitrogen (0, 46, 92, and 184 kg ha-1). The experiment was arranged at (RCBD) with three replications. The phenological, yield and yield components of rice data were collected during the growth period. All collected phenological, yield and yield components of rice data were analyzed by using SAS software (version 9.4). Analysis of the results revealed that application of FYM at 7.5 t ha-1 combined with 92 kg N ha-1 increased grain yield by 218.25% compared to the negative controls. The highest rice grain yield (7533.1 kg ha-1), biomass yield (14553.1kg ha-1), number of grains per panicle (153.27) and harvest index (51.89%) were obtained from the application of 7.5 t ha-1 FYM with 92 kg ha-1 N. Therefore, combined applications of 7.5 t ha-1 FYM with 92 kg ha-1 N is the recommended treatment that economically feasible for rice production and soil fertility improvements on the Vertisols of the study area, which provided the net benefit of (166,838.02ETB ha-1) with an acceptable MRR of 3122.99%.

Using the Bayes Probability Model to Evaluate the Risk of Accidents Caused by the Electronic Chart Display and Information System

The obligated implementation of the Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) began ten years ago, and during this time, we could observe different types of familiarization with the system through its users. The incorrect use of the ECDIS is a problem recognized by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), and it is caused by disparate levels of education and the quality of courses. Another aspect of the recognized problem is the unequal length of the ECDIS specific course training period through which users acquire type-specific familiarization with the system. Switching between different types of ECDISs makes users more prone to errors until they become fully familiar with the new product system. This paper analyzes seafarers’ knowledge and ECDIS usage over a 6-year period. Based on obtained data, models that enable risk analysis based on conditional probability were created. This paper presents the use of Bayesian modeling to reduce errors in maritime accidents caused by inadequate use of the ECDIS.