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This brief reflects on the cases of two villages in Lingoni section, Domasi EPA in Machinga district, combined with literature review and key informant interviews, to highlight the significant contribution of village-level responsible governance in enhancing agroecological intensification amongst small holders. The study reveals that through using village by-laws as tools, successful control of free grazing of livestock and uncontrolled fires has been prevented for many years, allowing local cropping systems to embrace long season crops such as cassava and pigeon peas, and winter cropping including multiple cropping with irrigation. The full range of resulting agroecological benefits are presented and discussed including the trade-offs from all sides of the systems.

This chapter provides a summary of the most current sensors being used for monitoring infrastructure. We also provide case studies on: The use of time-series radar interferometry (InSAR) to monitor critical highways, railways, and pipelines affected by landslides that are triggered by coastal erosion, spring snowmelt, permafrost thaw, monsoons, and hurricanes. The use of InSAR, change detection, and image fusion techniques to explore and monitor mining sites. The use of radar images to monitor shoreline change and oil spills.

The pendulum has swung too far. Before covid there was perhaps too great an emphasis on face-to-face consultations, but Matt Hancock’s assertion that all initial general practice consultations should happen on the phone or online …

A review of the component-level flight qualification efforts and power processing unit development status of the Ascendant Sub-kW Transcelestial Electric Propulsion System (ASTRAEUS) program is presented. Component-level qualification efforts were undertaken for the system’s ultra-compact heaterless LaB6 hollow cathode and electromagnets, both of which employ designs bespoke to ASTRAEUS, as they represent the highest failure risks for the thruster. Through parallel long-duration wear and ignition tests, the ASTRAEUS cathode demonstrated invariant discharge performance over more than 5000 h of operation at its maximum operating current of 4 A and demonstrated more than 25,000 ignition cycles. The ASTRAEUS electromagnets completed their environmental qualification through a demonstration of more than 1200 deep thermal cycles with no indication of coil degradation (the test articles previously completed qualification-level vibration and shock testing). ASTRAEUS’s prototype power processing unit has demonstrated more than 92% total power conversion efficiency and class-leading power density & specific power density of 4.5 W/cm3 & 1670 W/kg, respectively. The various power converters found in the ASTRAEUS power processing unit are reviewed with a focus on the methods by which such high performance was achieved.

Newson falls into his own trap of seeking ‘evidence’ to reinforce his own prejudices. There are many more possible explanations for his anecdotal diagnostic delays than training or skills of individual GPs. With regard to his …

Nasotracheal intubation remains an underused but invaluable technique for securely managing the airway during oral and maxillofacial surgery. In this article, we present a modified clinical technique that allows for the potential introduction into clinical practice of 2 new airway devices: a nasal laryngeal mask airway and an interchangeable oral/nasal endotracheal tube. We hypothesize that with the use of proper techniques, these devices can add new and safer alternatives for securing an airway by the nasal route. The advantage of this novel technique is that the airway is secured by the oral route prior to performing a modified retrograde nasal intubation, eliminating the danger of profuse epistaxis precipitating a “cannot intubate, cannot ventilate” scenario. In addition, the design and materials used in the components of the devices may minimize trauma. The authors aim to inform clinicians about the indications, physical characteristics, and insertion/removal techniques related to these new devices.

Against a background of continuing loss of biodiversity, it is argued that for the successful conservation of threatened plant species we need to ensure the more effective integration of the various conservation actions employed, clarify the wording of the CBD targets and provide clearer operational guidance as to how they are to be implemented and their implementation monitored. The role and effectiveness of protected areas in conserving biodiversity and in particular plant species in situ are discussed as are recent proposals for a massive increase of their extent. The need for much greater effort and investment in the conservation or protection of threatened species outside protected areas where most plant diversity occurs is highlighted. The difficulties involved in implementing effective in situ conservation of plant diversity both at an area- and species/population-based level are discussed. The widespread neglect of species recovery for plants is noted and the desirability of making a clearer distinction between species recovery and reintroduction is emphasized. Key messages from a global overview of species recovery are outlined and recommendations made, including the desirability of each country preparing a national species recovery strategy. The projected impacts of global change on protected areas and on species conservation and recovery, and ways of addressing them are discussed. Keywords: Plant conservation, CBD targets, Protected areas, Species recovery, Conservation approaches

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a recent invasive pest species that has successfully established across sub-Saharan Africa where it continues to disrupt agriculture, particularly smallholder cereal production. Management of FAW in its native range in the Americas has led to the development of resistance to many commercial pesticides before its arrival in Africa. Pesticide use may therefore be ineffective for FAW control in Africa, so new and more sustainable approaches to pest management are required that can help reduce the impact of this exotic pest. Pesticidal plants provide an effective and established approach to pest management in African smallholder farming and recent research has shown that their use can be cost-beneficial and sustainable. In order to optimize the use of botanical extracts for FAW control, we initially screened ten commonly used plant species. In laboratory trials, contact toxicity and feeding bioassays showed differential effects. Some plant species had little to no effect when compared to untreated controls; thus, only the five most promising plant species were selected for more detailed study. In contact toxicity tests, the highest larval mortality was obtained from Nicotiana tabacum (66%) and Lippia javanica (66%). Similarly, in a feeding bioassay L. javanica (62%) and N. tabacum (60%) exhibited high larval mortality at the highest concentration evaluated (10% w/v). Feeding deterrence was evaluated using glass-fibre discs treated with plant extracts, which showed that Cymbopogon citratus (36%) and Azadirachta indica (20%) were the most potent feeding deterrents among the pesticidal plants evaluated. In a screenhouse experiment where living maize plants infested with fall armyworm larvae were treated with plant extracts, N. tabacum and L. javanica were the most potent species at reducing foliar damage compared to the untreated control whilst the synthetic pesticide chlorpyrifos was the most effective in reducing fall armyworm foliar damage. Further field trial evaluation is recommended, particularly involving smallholder maize fields to assess effectiveness across a range of contexts.

A windowless vacuum ultraviolet monochromator and mass spectrometer are combined for the study of photoionization processes in the energy range 2000 to 600 A (6 to 21 eV). Details of the apparatus and techniques of operation are given and results are reported for an initial study of acetylene, acetylene-d2, benzene, and benzene-d6. Ionization energies of 11.406 and 11.416 eV are obtained for the 1πu electron of C2H2 and C2D2, respectively. Vibrational levels of the ground state of the ion are observed with quantum intervals of 1855 cm−1(C2H2) and 1775 cm−1(C2D2). Ionization energies for the e1g(π) electron of C6H6 and C6D6 are determined to be 9.242 and 9.245 eV, respectively. Quantum intervals for vibrational levels of the ground state ions are apparently equal for the two isotopic molecules and estimated to be 800 cm−1. A second onset of ionization is observed at 11.53 eV for C6H6 and at 11.59 eV for C6D6. Results agree well with spectroscopic data.

Photoionization efficiency curves are obtained for the molecule and fragment ions of NO(2) and N(2)O from ionization threshold to 600 Å. Features of the molecule ion curves are ascribed to autoionization and the Rydberg levels are correlated with reported spectroscopic observations. The minimum onset of ionization for NO(2) occurs at 1272 Å (9.75 eV). The threshold value of 12.34 eV for the NO(+) fragment results in D(NO−O) of 3.09 eV in good agreement with that calculated from thermochemical heats of formation. The 0(+) ion is apparently formed with 0.1 eV excess energy. The minimum threshold energy for the N(2)O(+) ion is 962 Å (12.89 eV). The [Formula: see text] fragment ion curve has a threshold at 17.29 eV corresponding to the thermochemical bond energy, D(N(2) − 0)= 1.67 eV. However a lower-energy threshold at 15.57 eV is ascribed to ionization of molecular nitrogen from an unknown source. There is no evidence for an ion-pair process. The ground state transition for NO(+) is forbidden by spin conservation rules. The observed threshold is 0.8 eV in excess of the calculated value and suggests a vibrationally excited state of the ion. The N(+) ion is also formed with excess energy.

Photoionization efficiency curves are obtained for hydrogen chloride and several methyl halides, both ordinary and deuterated, from ionization threshold to 600 Å. Discussion is given on electronic structure of ions, autoionizing Rydberg states, and line-shape behavior. Ionization energies, heats of formation of ions, and bond dissociation energies are tabulated without regard to distribution of energy in internal modes, in relative kinetic energy, or other possible modes.

Background Cancer patients with recently placed drug-eluting stents (DESs) often require premature dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) discontinuation for cancer-related procedures. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) can identify risk factors for stent thrombosis such as stent malapposition, incomplete strut coverage and in-stent restenosis and may help guide discontinuation of DAPT. Methods We conducted a single-center prospective study in cancer patients with recently placed (1-12 months) DES who required premature DAPT discontinuation. Patients were evaluated with diagnostic coronary angiogram and OCT. Individuals with appropriate stent strut coverage, expansion, apposition, and absence of in-stent restenosis or intraluminal masses were considered low risk and transiently discontinued DAPT to allow optimal cancer therapy. Patients who did not meet all these criteria were considered high risk and underwent further endovascular treatment when appropriate and bridging with low-molecular weight heparin. The incidence of adverse cardiovascular events was assessed after the procedure and at 12 months. Results A total of 40 patients were included. Twenty-seven patients (68%) were considered low risk by OCT criteria and DAPT was transiently discontinued. Thirteen patients (32%) were considered high risk with one or more OCT findings: uncovered stent struts (4 patients, 10%); stent underexpansion (3 patients, 8%); malapposition (8 patients, 20%); in-stent restenosis (2 patients, 5%). The high-risk patients with uncovered stent struts and malapposition underwent additional stent dilatation. There were no cardiovascular events in the low-risk group. One myocardial infarction occurred in the high-risk group. Fourteen non-cardiac deaths were registered before 12 months due to cancer progression or cancer therapy. Conclusion OCT imaging allows identification of low-risk cancer patients with DES placed who may safely discontinue DAPT and proceed with cancer-related surgery or procedures.