Week Of August Research Articles

The Relationships between Wind Speed and Temperature Time Series in Bangkok, Thailand.

In this research we investigate the relationships between wind speed and temperature time series data in Bangkok, Thailand, from the time interval of January 2009 to December 2011 using wavelet transform (WT), cross wavelet transform (XWT) and wavelet coherence (WTC). The results from all three wavelet analysis show the strong periodicity around period 1 day (hourly data) and period band 256-450 days (daily data) variations that are exhibited in both wind speed and temperature data across the entire power spectrum from 2009 to 2011. These two oscillations are connected with the natural day time effects and the annual natural season cycle. Although the daily periodic for the temperature is appeared nearly uniform all year but it is not the case for wind speed. In 2009 this wind speed oscillations appear only from mid-February to mid-April in summer and from the fourth week of May to the third week of August in rainy season. XWT also detects strong high common power between the wind speed and temperature at a period band of 14-25 days in summer 2009, a period band of 4-8 days in summer 2009, July 2009, summer 2010 and summer 2011. WTC shows the coherence period band around 10-30 days appeared in summer and rainy season and 32-50 days in summer 2009 and rainy season in 2010. From these three wavelet analysis, the wind speed and temperature time series data show the strong correlation especially at 1 day and 256-450 days period band and also at several different scales. This studied will be helpful in predicting the wind speed and temperature for the future used.

Ecological Studies on Cotton Mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: ‎ Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae) on Eggplant at ‎ Sharkia Governorate, Egypt

Field experiments were conducted on cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae) which infested eggplant at Hihhya distract, Sharkia Governorate during two successive seasons 2015 and 2016. The population density, activity periods, the effects of some weather factors, number of insect generations and preferable leaf surface of of P. solenopsis were considered. The obtained results revealed that the total numbers of a live stages had four peaks of activity during the first season. They were in third week of June, third week of July, fourth week of August and second week of September. While, during the second season, three peaks of activity were noticed in the last week of June, first week of August and second week of September. The total effects of some weather factors such as maximum and minimum air temperature (˚C) and relative humidity percentage (R.H.%) showed positive significant relationship with the cotton mealybug population. P. solenopsis had three generations during the first and second seasons the first generation was taken seven weeks. While, the second and third generations took sex weeks. The first generation was during the period extended from the third week of May till the end of June, the second one took place from the first week of July till the second week of August and the third one was during the period extended from the third week of August till the third week of September. The insect pest preferred the lower leaf surface than the upper one during the first and second seasons.

Survey and Population Fluctuations of Arthropod Pests and Predators in Sweet Potato at Nile Delta, Egypt

Experiments were carried out at El-Riad district, Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate during two successive growing seasons (2015 and 2016) to study the survey and population fluctuations of arthropod pests, insect predators and spiders in sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas (L.) (Apis Cultivar). The investigation revealed the presence of 26 Arthropods; 16 as pests and 10 as predators. Bemisia tabaci Genn.,(Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) was the most occurring (41.51 & 45.37%) followed by Tetranychus sp., (Acarina: Tetranychidae) (18.74 and 15.39%), Empoasca spp., (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) (13.24 & 14.15%), Agrius convolvuli (L.), (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) (7.12 & 6.18%), Nezara viridula (L), (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) (6.90 & 6.09%) and Eysarcoris ventralis (Westwood), (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) (6.27 & 5.66 %), in 2015 and 2016 season, respectively. The insect pests; Scantius aegyptius (L.), Gryllus domesticus L., (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) and Aiolopus strepens (Latreille), ( Orthoptera: Acrididae) exhibited the least population densities. Spiders were the most occurring predators (49.30 & 43.27%) followed by coccinellids (34.43 & 32.66%) and Chrysoperla carnea Steph., (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) (11.36 & 11.80%), in 2015 and 2016 season, respectively), the lowest predatory densities were those of Eupeodes corollae (F.), (Diptera: Syrphidae) (0.95 & 0.81%) in 2015 and 2016 season, respectively. The surveyed spiders by different sampling techniques were found belonging to 13 families; Araneidae, Clubionidae, Dictynidae , Dysderidae, Eutichuridae, Gnaphosidae, Linyphiidae, Lycosidae, Philodromidae, Salticidae, Tetragnathidae, Theridiidae and Thomisidae, with araneid and lycosid being the most abundant. Pitfall traps proved to Coccinella undecimpunctata L. be the most efficient in collecting spiders, followed by sweep net, and hand catch. Predators were detected on sweet potato plants by mid or late June. The population density of Stethorus gilvifrons (Mulsant) was quite low and then increased gradually to exhibit its peak by the first week of August while, C. carnea adults peaked by the first week of September. The peak of C. undecimpunctata adult occurred on June 23 rd. Spiders recorded peaks by late June in 2015 and late July in 2016.

Growth and yield components of some groundnut (<i>Arachis hypogaea</i> L.) cultivars infected with <i>blackeye cowpea mosaic virus</i>

Blackeye cowpea mosaic virus (BlCMV) is a major virus, infecting legumes with attendant huge losses. Cultivation of resistant varieties is the most effective and sustainable control strategy. Therefore, some groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) cultivars were evaluated against BlCMV in Minna, Southern Guinea savanna zone of Nigeria. The experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm, Federal University of Technology, Minna. It was arranged as infected and uninfected using Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Groundnut seeds were sowed in the second week of August, 2015. Seedlings were inoculated by sap transmission at 10 days after sowing. Disease incidence, severity, growth and yield attributes were recorded. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and means separated at p ≤0.05 probability level. Disease incidence varied significantly p <0.05 from 28.3 to 60.3 % at one week after inoculation (WAI) and 44.7 to 100 % at 2 WAI. ICGV 91317 which expressed mild infection (symptom score = 2) at 9 WAI also exhibited the lowest leaf diameter reduction (3.6 %) at that growth stage. FDRF7-82 which had the lowest reduction in number of leaves per plant at 3 and 6WAI (10.7 and 9.6 %, respectively) also exhibited the lowest reduction in fresh haulm weight per plant (42.2 %). None of the cultivars exhibited consistent reactions, FDRF7-82 and ICGV 91317 had an appreciable combination of growth and yield attributes under BlCMV infection. However, these cultivars could be improved upon either through conventional or molecular breeding by coding with desirable genes. The cultivars which were adversely affected by BlCMV disease could so be improved genetically through appropriate gene introgression from the resistant cultivars. Keywords: Blackeye cowpea mosaic virus; disease incidence and severity; growth and yield; groundnut

Groundwater Evaporation and Recharge for a Floodplain in a Sub‐humid Monsoon Climate in Ethiopia

AbstractGroundwater levels are declining at unsustainable levels in many areas of the world. To secure this resource for future generation, well‐documented groundwater level observations are needed to derive recharge rates and sustainable withdrawal amounts. Although groundwater is routinely monitored in most of the world, relatively little information is available in sub‐Saharan Africa including the Ethiopian highlands where groundwater irrigation could greatly increase food security. To obtain sustainable withdrawal rates for the wet Ethiopian highlands, we selected the Fogera plain in the Lake Tana basin with a sub‐humid climate. Weekly groundwater levels were measured in 32 abandoned shallow wells over a 2‐year period in 2014 and 2015. Our observations showed that in the 2 years, the groundwater level reached the surface during the rainy monsoon phase around first week of August. At the end of the dry monsoon phase in May, the average groundwater table was at 4 m depth. The amount of water removed by evaporation during the dry phase was 850 mm year−1. This is replenished through recharge during the wet phase. Rain in excess of the recharge and evaporation is stored on the surface or converted to overland flow. The groundwater flowed slowly towards the lake, but water passing the lakeshore was not a significant term in the water balance of the plain. Irrigation from groundwater seems to be sustainable especially when rivers flood periodically. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Effect of foliar application of potassium and its spray schedule on yield and yield parameters of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis Osbeck) cv. Jaffa

An investigation to evaluate the effect of foliar application of potassium and its spray schedule on yield and yield parameters in sweet orange cv. Jaffa was undertaken at experimental orchard, Department of Horticulture, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar during the year 2014-15. The results revealed that the foliar application of potassium nitrate at the rate of 2 and 4 % and potassium sulphate at 1.5 and 3.0 % significantly improved average fruit weight, fruit diameter, percentage of medium and large fruits, and fruit yield of sweet orange cv. Jaffa over control (water spray). The trend was vice-versa on the percentage of small fruits. The number of fruits per plant could not differ significantly due to various treatments. Among K sources and doses, foliar application of KNO3 at 4 % exhibited superiority over other treatments with respect to yield and yield parameters followed by KNO3 at lower dose (2 %) or K2SO4 at higher dose (3 %). Among various spray schedules, application of three sprays of K in the last week of April, May and August were found superior or at par in improving yield and yield parameters with 2 sprays in the last week of April and August. The fruit yield was recorded the highest (76.90 kg/plant) with a combination of the foliar application of KNO3 at 4 % and 2 sprays in the last week of April and August which was non-significant with KNO3 with an additional spray in the last week of May. The findings signify the importance of K spray in improving yield and yield parameters of sweet orange under semi-arid climatic conditions of north western India.

Vertebrate-faunal diversity profile of Sisauli Wetland, Belbari, Morang

The research work on Sisauli Wetland area of Belbari Municipality, Morang was conducted from first week of April to last week of August, 2018. A total of 12 species of mammals, 19 species of Aves, 13 species of reptiles, 8 species of amphibian and 19 species of Pisces were documented from Sisauli Wetland area.

Effect of weather factors on the population of Chaetocnema spp.,Monolepta signata Oliver and Aulacophora foveicollis (Lucas) on paddy under rainfed lowland conditions in Mizoram, India

The present study was undertaken during kharif 2013 and 2014 to know the relationship between weather parameters and chrysomelids (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)viz., Chaetocnema spp., Monolepta signata Oliverand Aulacophora foveicollis (Lucas)in rice agro-ecosystem in Mizoram, India.Chaetocnema spp., and M. signata were found to first invade the crop during last week of August, whereas A. foveicollis was recorded during third week of September. The highest populations of Chaetocnema spp. and M. signata were during September. However, the highest population of A. foveicollis was during October. Morning relative humidity (RH) had significant correlation with populations of Chaetocnema spp., M. signata and A. foveicollis. When there was abrupt fall in minimum temperature and coupled with increase in morning RH, rainfall and rainy days a build-up in Chaetocnema spp. population was recorded during the pooled year. These studies clearly indicate that weather factors play an important role in Chaetocnema spp., M. signata and A. foveicollis incidence.

Assessing the prevalence of dexamethasone use in patients undergoing surgery, and subsequent glucose measurements: a retrospective cohort study

AbstractA single dose of glucocorticoid can cause hyperglycaemia. Hyperglycaemia is associated with poor outcomes in all surgical specialties. Dexamethasone is widely used to prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting. We aimed to assess how many individuals were given dexamethasone as part of their general anaesthetic regimen, and how many had a subsequent capillary blood glucose concentration measured during the next 24 hours.We undertook a retrospective case‐note analysis, set in a single centre teaching hospital, of all patients undergoing surgery during one week in August 2013. In terms of interventions and measurements, we assessed how many patients were given dexamethasone perioperatively and the number of patients who had a capillary blood glucose concentration measured during the subsequent 24 hours.It was found that 373 patients had had a general anaesthetic; 18 sets of case notes were unavailable. A total of 234 patients (66%) had dexamethasone. Twenty of the 355 (5.7%) had a blood glucose measured prior to surgery, 14 of whom had diabetes. Only 16/355 (4.5%) people had a blood glucose level measured during the first 24 hours after surgery. All of these had diabetes.Despite evidence that postoperative hyperglycaemia is associated with harm, and that glucocorticoids are associated with hyperglycaemia, glucose levels are not commonly measured after dexamethasone administration. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley &amp; Sons.

TETTEGOUCHE STATE PARK SUMMER VISITORS’ PERCEPTIONS ON ECOSYSTEM SERVICES OF THE PARK AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES THEY SUPPORT

It has been said that youth and their parents are losing their connection to nature as evidenced by attendance in protected nature areas (PNA’s) such as state and national parks (Outdoor Foundation, 2010, 2014; Monz, Cole, Leung & Marion, 2010). Managers have increased their efforts to encourage greater attendance through advertisements and specialized programs. A challenge to park managers is to manage the park in a manner that protects the natural resource while also managing the visitor experience (Francis, 2016; Lofthouse & Simmons, 2016). A primary benefit of a PNA to a visitor exists through Ecosystem Services, which is an outcome of the quality of the park experience (MEA, 2005). The quality of the visitor experience is determined to be beneficial to ones quality of life or sense of well-being (Diversitas, 2016). Using a survey design, we queired park visitors at one of the most popular state parks in the state of Minnesota called Tettegouche State Park. Visitors (n=222) were administered a questionnaire during two weeks in August, 2013, which is peak season. We asked respondents about the purpose and quality of their visit. Additionally, visitors’ perceptions of ecosystem services related to the park were asked (e.g. “I believe that Tettegouche State Park is particularly important because it is a place of scenic beauty”). The ecosystem services items were based on the Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES, 2013, 2016). Analysis used descriptive statistics and a factor analysis to determine groupings of perceived ecosystem services and management actions. Results indicated a positive park experience with respondents indicating that they intended to revisit the park. Factor analyses revealed visits for “A place of scenic beauty”, “A place for hiking”, and “A place for the use and enjoyment by people”. Management views were to “Provide more information about plants and animals along the trails” and “Educate more about sustainability of park resources”. These results indicate a challenge to park managers to manage the park for a more deliberately improved visitor experience beyond resources protection and more toward education provided about sustainability of the resource. This can be a dilema for PNA managers because maintaining the balance between an enhanced visitor experience through additional signage can conflict with sustainability of the natural resources. This can also be a conflict because increased use can directly conflict with sustainability of the PNA (Francis, 2016; Lofthouse & Simmons, 2016). Keywords: Ecosystem Services, Protected Nature Areas, Park Management, Sustainability, Nature-based Tourism

Effect of Sowing Method and N Application on Seed Yield and N Use Efficiency of Winter Oilseed Rape

In northern Europe, replacing winter barley with winter wheat as the preceding crop for winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.; WOSR) often results in a delayed WOSR sowing and poor autumn growth. Based on data from a field experiment running in 2009/2010, 2010/2011, and 2012/2013, this study aims (i) to investigate how a delayed sowing method affects seed yield, N offtake with the seeds, and apparent N use efficiency (NUE) of WOSR; (ii) to test the ability of autumn and spring N fertilization to compensate for the negative effects of a delayed sowing method; and (iii) to estimate the minimum autumnal growth for optimal seed yield. In order to create sufficiently differentiated canopies, a combination of four sowing methods (first week of August until the third week of September) and four autumn N treatments (0, 30, 60, and 90 kg·N·ha−1) was established. Each of these 16 different canopies was fertilized with 5 N amounts (0/0, 40/40, 80/80, 120/120, 140/140 kg·N·ha−1) in spring in order to estimate separate N response curves. Above-ground N accumulation in autumn and seed yield and N offtake by the seeds were determined. Plant establishment after mid-September significantly decreased seed yield. Autumn N fertilization of at least 30 kg·N·ha−1 increased seed yield and N offtake by the seeds without any significant interaction with sowing method and spring N supply. However, the pathway(s) remain(s) unclear. Spring N fertilization up to 130 kg·N·ha−1 (estimated by a Linear-Plateau N response curve) increased seed yield. NUE decreased with increasing N supply, where WOSR used autumn N to a lesser extent than spring N. An above-ground N uptake of at least 10–15 kg·N·ha−1 at the end of autumn growth was required to achieve high seed yields. From an environmental point of view, optimal autumn growth should be attained by choosing an adequate sowing method, not by applying additional N in autumn.

Flowering performance and yield of established and recent strawberry cultivars (Fragaria × ananassa) as affected by raising temperature and photoperiod

ABSTRACTPlants of six strawberry cultivars were raised under controlled conditions and tested for flowering and yield potential. Short days (SD) at intermediate temperatures for 4 weeks in August induced profuse flowering in subsequent long days (LD) in all cultivars except the late-flowering ‘Malwina’. LD conditions induced flowering only in ‘Nobel’, which has an everbearing parent. ‘Nobel’ and ‘Saga’ exhibited broad temperature adaptation for SD floral induction, which was generally reduced or suppressed at 9 and 27°C. After autumn planting, all cultivars flowered most abundantly in plants raised in SD and intermediate temperatures. Flowering was earliest in ‘Nobel’ and ‘Rumba’. Plants that did not reach floral commitment after 4 weeks in SD continued and completed induction under subsequent natural SD conditions after planting in the field, demonstrating the capability of fractional induction. Berry yield varied in parallel with flowering in the field and was always higher in plants raised under SD conditions. The traditional cultivars ‘Florence’ and ‘Sonata’ out-yielded the more recent cultivars. Some cultivars lost more than two thirds of their initiated flowers during the winter with obvious consequences for their yields. With proper raising management, acceptable yields were obtained after autumn planting even in a cool Nordic climate.

Assessment of tobacco, alcohol and cannabinoid metabolites in 645 meconium samples of newborns compared to maternal self-reports

Prenatal psychoactive substance exposure has significant impact on neonatal health and child development and the development of reliable biomarkers is critical. Meconium presents several advantages for detecting prenatal exposure to psychoactive substances, as it is easy to collect and provides a broad time frame of exposure (third trimester). The aim of our study was to compare the prevalence of alcohol, tobacco and/or cannabis use during the third trimester of pregnancy (using maternal self-reports) with the results of meconium testing of their metabolites in newborns (cotinine, ethyl-glucuronide (EtG) and cannabinoid metabolites).Among all deliveries (993) that occurred in all maternities in Rouen (Normandy) during a defined time period (5 consecutive weeks in August, 2010 and August, 2011), 724 mothers were included and 645 meconium samples were collected. Maternal self-reports, using the Addiction Severity Index (5th edition), and meconium samples were collected within 72 h of delivery.Cotinine detection appears highly correlated to maternal self-reports (Kappa value: 0.79; [95%CI: 0.73–0.85]). Moreover, detection in meconium seems more accurate in the prediction of neonatal consequences of prenatal tobacco exposure as compared to maternal self-reports. In contrast, we have found a lower concordance between maternal self-reports and meconium testing for EtG and cannabinoid metabolites (Kappa value: 0.13; [95%CI: 0.04–0.22] and: 0.30; [95%CI: −0.03–0.63], respectively); however the total number of EtG- and cannabinoid-positive meconium samples was small. Interestingly, meconium samples with the highest levels of EtG mainly corresponded to negative maternal self-reports. Fetal exposure to alcohol, tobacco or cannabis may also considerably differ as displayed in our pairs of dizygotic twins. Finally, a polyconsumption of these psychoactive substances was not frequently observed according to meconium testing.In conclusion, cotinine detection appears as a valuable meconium biomarker. EtG measurement in meconium samples seems interesting if there is any risk of high fetal exposure, whereas assessment of prenatal cannabis exposure, using meconium testing, needs to be improved.

ECOLOGICAL STUDIES ON SOME PIERCING-SUCKING INSECTS INFESTING COWPEA AT EL-SHARKIA GOVERNORATE, EGYPT

the present work was conducted during 2012 and 2013 seasons to survey the Hemipterous insects, aphids, leafhoppers and whiteflies infesting cowpea crop at Abo- Hammad district, El-Sharkia Governorate, Egypt. The seasonal abundance of the aforementioned dominant species and the effects of maximum & minimum temperatures and relative humidity on the pest population was also studied. Plant samples collecting proved to be the most efficient method for collecting aphids and whiteflies, while the sweeping net is more efficient for collecting leafhoppers. A. craccivora, A. gossypii, E. decipiens, E. decedens, C. china and B. tabaci were surveyed. A. craccivora recorded one peak at the 4th week of July in the two study seasons. A. gossypii recorded one peak at the 2nd week of August in 2012 season. In the second season, 2013, two peaks were recorded in the 4th week of July and the 2nd week of August, respectively. E. decipiens recorded two peaks, the first one was recorded at the 3rd and 4th week of July for 2012 and 2013 seasons, respectively, while the second one occurred at the 3rd week of August for the two seasons, respectively. E. decedens recorded two peaks at the 4th week of July and August for the two seasons, respectively. Two peaks for immature B. tabaci were recorded. The first peak was obtained at the end of July for the two seasons of the study. The second one was noticed at the 3rd week of August for the two seasons. Adults of B. tabaci recorded the first peak at the 3rd week of July for 2012 and 2013 seasons. Their second peak occurred in the 2nd week of August for the two seasons. The results clearly indicated the presence of significant and insignificant correlation coefficient and partial regression between numbers of different insect species and maximum & minimum temperature and relative humidity during the two successive seasons.

Mortality excess analysis for year 2015 in Palermo Province (Sicily Region, Southern Italy)

a death number increment compared to the previous years was observed in Italy for the year 2015; its causes are under study. to verify if the mortality occurred in Palermo Province (Sicily Region, Southern Italy) for the year 2015 was greater than the one observed in the previous period (years 2009-2014) and to find which death causes it would be attributable to. observed number of deaths in 2015 were compared with expected numbers calculated with the traditional analysis of direct adjusted rates, and with a 90% predictive interval estimated fitting a Generalized Additive Model (GAM), via a quasi-Poisson distribution of the observed deaths in the period 2009-2014; various measures of the environmental temperature were used as regressor. The latter method was used also to analyse causes of death. all deaths occurred in residents in Palermo Province in the years 2009-2015. for each population subgroup based on sex and residence, direct adjusted rates for 2015 were lower than those observed in the previous period, but for women resident in towns outside Palermo (observed/estimated ratio: 1.04; 95%IC 1.00-1.08). GAM analysis shows mortality excesses only in men aged more than 64 years; in Palermo residents, excesses were shown in the 2nd week of December; in residents in towns of the Province excesses were shown in the 2nd and 3rd week of February and in the 1st and 2nd week of August. In the death causes analysis, mortality excesses were shown for pneumonia and bronchial pneumonia in the 1st and 2nd weeks of January; 3rd week of February; in the 1st, 2nd and 4th week of August; and in the 1st week of October. For infectious diseases, these excesses were observed in the 1st week of March. it is plausible that in some weeks of the year 2015 there have been a mortality excess; however, as all-year mortality is lower or equal to that of the previous periods, the Authors believe that there is an harvesting effect, that is a mortality displacement that does not affect total mortality.

Availability of information in Public Health on the Internet: An analysis of national health authorities in the Spanish-speaking Latin American and Caribbean countries

IntroductionAccess to reliable and quality health information and appropriate medical advice can contribute to a dramatic reduction in the mortality figures of countries. The governments of the Americas are faced with the opportunity to continue working on this challenge, and their institutional presence on their websites should play a key role in this task. In a setting where the access to information is essential to both health professionals and citizens, it is relevant to analyze the role of national health authorities. Given that search engines play such a key role in the access to health information, it is important to specifically know – in connection to national health authorities – whether health information offered is easily available to the population, and whether this information is well-ranked in search engines. MethodsQuantitative methods were used to gather data on the institutional presence of national health authorities on the web. An exploratory and descriptive research served to analyze and interpret data and information obtained quantitatively from different perspectives, including an analysis by country, and also by leading causes of death. A total of 18 web pages were analyzed. Information on leading causes of death was searched on websites of national health authorities in the week of August 10–14, 2015. ResultsThe probability of finding information of national health authorities on the 10 leading causes of death in a country, among the top 10 results on Google, is 6.66%. Additionally, ten out the 18 countries under study (55%) do not have information ranked among the top results in Google when searching for the selected terms. Additionally, a total of 33 websites represent the sources of information with the highest visibility for all the search strategies in each country on Google for the ten leading causes of death in a country. Two websites, the National Library of Medicine and Wikipedia, occur as a result with visibility in the total of eighteen countries of the sample. ConclusionsTaking into consideration that providing reliable and quality information on these topics to the population should be one of the priorities of national health authorities, these results suggest that national health authorities need to take measures to try to better position their contents.

Effect of abiotic factors on the rice caseworm Nymphula depunctalis (Guenee) in Manipur

Incidence of rice caseworm, Nymphula depunctalis was studied by quadrat method in two sites viz., Iroisemba and Wabagai on rice varieties, RCM-9 and Jatra-phou in kharif, 2013–2014. At Iroisemba, the maximum adult (2.7± 0.26/quadrat) and larval populations (2.4±0.45/quadrat) were recorded from the RCM-9 variety in the first week of September and 3rd week of August, 2013, respectively. At Wabagai, the maximum adult (2.3±0.30/quadrat) and larval population (1.9±0.41/quadrat) were during the last and 2nd week of August, 2013, respectively. Multiple correlation analyses revealed a nonsignificant relationship of abiotic factors with adult population except in Jatra-phou in the Wabagai variety. However, with larval population, the abiotic factors had a significant correlation, and partial correlation (t-test) revealed positive significant relationships with mean temperature and rainfall.

Adaptability Evaluation and Selection of Improved Tef Varieties in Growing Areas of Southern Ethiopia

Eight Tef varieties including local checks were evaluated with the objective of selecting adaptable, best performing varieties and to assess farmers’ criteria for Tef variety selection during 2008 and 2009 cropping season at Areka and Hossana stations of Areka Agricultural Research center in the Southern region of Ethiopia. In the study the Tef varieties namely Koye, Gimbichu, Quncho, Dega Tef, Keytena, Amarach and Ajora-1 were collected from the Federal and regional Research center along with local checks, Ethiopia, and Regional Agricultural Research Institute. These materials were put into trial at Areka Agricultural Research center station farms at Areka and Hossana of Wolayta and Hadiya Zones. The trial was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Each plot measured 3 m × 3 m with 1 m between plots and 1.5 m between blocks. Sowing was done within the last week of July to 1st week of August 2008 and 2009. Data on various characters, such as plant height, panicle length, days to heading, and days to maturity and grain yield. Data was subjected to analysis of variance and there was highly significant difference (p<0.01) among the varieties for grain yield and some of agronomic traits. The results for the trials indicated that there were significant yield differences between the local check and the released varieties at two stations. At Areka, the combined analysis of variance over years indicated that varieties Koye, Amarch and Quncho gave the highest grain yield viz., 988.7, 984.3 and 958.7 kg/ha respectively. Similarly, at Hosanna, varieties Gimbichu, Quncho and koye out yielded other varieties and had yield advantage of 31.9, 25.14 and 15.14% over local variety, respectively. Both combined across locations over year’s analysis and farmers’ assessments identified two varieties Quncho and Koye as potential varieties for wider production. This result also indicated that farmers were as capable as Researchers in varietal choice. Therefore, based on objectively measured traits (grain yield, days to maturity, plant height, panicle length, days to heading and farmers’ preference, Koye and Quncho are recommended for wider cultivation in Areka and Hossana areas of south Ethiopia while varieties (Amarach and Gimbichu) showed specific adaptability for Areka and Hossana areas respectively.

Seasonal incidence of major insect pests in maize with intercrops under marigold farmscaping

Two years studies on “the seasonal incidence of the major insect pests in maize with intercrops under marigold farmscaping” showed that the sap feeding insect pests like the aphids, jassids and whiteflies were observed from the first week of August until harvest. The mean atmospheric temperature indicated significant positive correlation with some of the insect pests of maize and the pulse intercrops during both years; while the mean relative humidity evinced a significant negative correlation with the whitefly population on pulse crops during 1st year; whereas, during 2nd year, the mean atmospheric temperature as well as the mean relative humidity showed a significant positive correlation with some of the insect pests. During the two successive crop seasons, significantly low insect pest populations were recorded under the marigold farmscaping treatment. The mean population of maize aphid was significantly more in maize sole (14.56 & 26.59), maize + cowpea (13.53 & 20.84) and maize + blackgram (12.74 & 25.80) without seed treatment; likewise, the mean populations of jassids, whitefly and legume aphid were significantly higher in maize + cowpea, maize + blackgram with and without seed treatment the coccinellid populations were significantly higher under marigold farmscaping during both the years.

Seasonal incidence of rice yellow stem borer, Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker) on different accessions in rice agro-ecosystem

Studies on population dynamics of yellow stem borer on different rice varieties revealed that the dead heart formation was observed from the 2nd week of August and peak deadheart formation was observed during 4th week of September in PS-15 (30.3%) followed by PR-113 (26.7%) and was minimum in HKR-4 (14.6%). The white ear head formation started from the 1st week of September and attained its peak during 2nd week of November with maximum white ears in NDR-359 (44.9%) followed by PR-113 (44.3%) and minimum in variety PS-5 (27%). White earhead symptom and weather parameters, showed that varieties, PR-113, HKR-47 and PS-15 exhibited significant negative correlation with maximum temperature. Significant negative correlation values -0.962, -0.927, -0.903, -0.931, -0.940 and -0.931 were recorded in varieties, PR-113, HKR-47, PS-4, NDR-359, Sarju-52 and PS-21, respectively with minimum temperature. Varieties PR-113, NDR-359, and Sarju-52 showed significant negative correlation with minimum relative humidity.