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Indigenous crops also known as orphan crops are key contributors to food security, which is becoming increasingly vulnerable with the current trend of population growth and climate change. They have the major advantage that they fit well into the general socio-economic and ecological context of developing world agriculture. However, most indigenous crops did not benefit from the Green Revolution, which dramatically increased the yield of major crops such as wheat and rice. Here, we describe the Tef Improvement Project, which employs both conventional- and molecular-breeding techniques to improve tef—an orphan crop important to the food security in the Horn of Africa, a region of the world with recurring devastating famines. We have established an efficient pipeline to bring improved tef lines from the laboratory to the farmers of Ethiopia. Of critical importance to the long-term success of this project is the cooperation among participants in Ethiopia and Switzerland, including donors, policy makers, research institutions, and farmers. Together, European and African scientists have developed a pipeline using breeding and genomic tools to improve the orphan crop tef and bring new cultivars to the farmers in Ethiopia. We highlight a new variety, Tesfa, developed in this pipeline and possessing a novel and desirable combination of traits. Tesfa’s recent approval for release illustrates the success of the project and marks a milestone as it is the first variety (of many in the pipeline) to be released., Euphytica, 214 (2), ISSN:0014-2336, ISSN:1573-5060

COVID-19 has had an instant effect on food systems in developing countries. Restrictions to the movement of people and goods have impaired access to markets, services and food. Unlike other concurrent crises, rather than threatening the material hardware of food systems, COVID-19 has so far affected the ‘software’ of food systems, highlighting again that connectivity is at the heart of these systems. Drops in demand, the loss of markets and employment and growing concerns about international cooperation are indications of possible deeper disruptions to come. Amidst this uncertainty, strategies to safeguard food and nutrition security of the world’s poor need to prioritize diversification of production and markets. Nutritious, biofortified crops such as potato, sweetpotato, but also wheat, maize and beans among others, can play a more significant role to provide key micronutrients (vitamin A, iron, zinc) at large scale. Strong local market chains, robust smallholder production systems and increasing commercial utilization make these crops powerful vehicles for securing nutrition when markets and mobility look uncertain. We posit that the evolving impacts of COVID-19 provide an opportunity to focus agricultural innovations, including the development and delivery of biofortified crops, on new and more specifically defined ‘jobs to be done’ throughout the food system. This will help bridge some of the current disruptions in supply and demand and will help prepare food systems for future crises.

Potato is a major food staple that makes a significant contribution to food security, having potential to smooth the volatility in food prices resulting from recent episodes of global food price increases. Despite its importance, most potato growers continue to use poor-quality seed, normally obtained from local/community sources. This study uses means-end chain theory to examine the drivers of use of quality seed potato, and the mental models associated with quality seed potato use. It finds that the decision to purchase and use quality seed is driven by deep-seated life goals that farmers pursue, and that profit-making is merely a means to these end/life goals. It further finds that the structure of mental models differs by the gender of the adopter and between adopters and nonadopters. The study concludes that the structure and content of farmers’ mental models differ by farmer type. The implications of the study findings for policy are discussed.

Bemisia tabaci biotype B is considered to be the primary vector of Sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV, Crinivirus). However, Trialeurodes abutiloneus also has been shown to transmit SPCSV in a semipersistent manner. Mixed infection of SPCSV with the aphid-transmitted Sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV, Potyvirus) causes sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) virus disease (SPVD), the major virus disease affecting this crop. High populations of B. afer sensu lato are seasonally associated with sweetpotato in Peru during times of low B. tabaci incidence. The transmission of SPCSV (in single and double infection with SPFMV) by laboratory-reared B. afer sensu lato and B. tabaci biotype B was investigated. For SPCSV transmission efficiency, individual adult insects were allowed 48 h for acquisition and inoculation access periods at both 20 and 25°C. SPCSV was transmitted by both whiteflies, with similar transmission efficiency when the virus was acquired from plants singly infected by SPCSV or doubly infected with SPCSV and SPFMV, at 20 and 25°C. We conclude that B. afer sensu lato is a newly identified vector of SPCSV. This finding may have important epidemiological significance for the spread of SPCSV and SPVD.

Enteral nutrition is currently the route of choice for feeding critically ill patients with a functioning gut but delivery is commonly associated with disruptions. Common reasons for interruptions to enteral nutrition are fasting for diagnostic procedures, surgery and airway management. These interruptions result in significant calorie deficits that are associated with increased complications. We aimed to describe the specific interruptions in our patient group and the impact they have on nutrition delivery before and after implementation of a fasting guideline.A service improvement project was undertaken over two different time points, 1 year apart, to evaluate the effectiveness of a fasting guideline in a general/trauma ICU in a London teaching hospital.There were 62 interruptions to enteral nutrition delivery with the first data collection and 64 in the second. Prolonged fasting before and after surgery and airway procedures were initially identified as the two most important causes of delays. Implementation of the fasting guideline resulted in statistical and clinical improvements in reducing fasting for airways procedures. The calorie deficit also statistically and clinically decreased as a result of the guideline.We conclude that the introduction of a simple guideline stipulating reduced fasting times before ICU procedures can result in less time lost in feed interruptions and improved enteral nutrition delivery.

Summary The evolutionary divergence of Potato mop‐top virus (PMTV), a tri‐partite, single‐stranded RNA virus, is exceptionally low, based on the analysis of sequences obtained from isolates from Europe, Asia and North America. In general, RNA viruses exist as dynamic populations of closely related and recombinant genomes that are subjected to continuous genetic variation. The reason behind the low genetic variation of PMTV remains unclear. The question remains as to whether the low variability is a shared property of all PMTV isolates or is a result of the limited number of isolates characterized so far. We hypothesized that higher divergence of the virus might exist in the Andean regions of South America, the centre of potato domestication. Here, we report high variability of PMTV isolates collected from 12 fields in three locations in the Andean region of Peru. To evaluate PMTV genetic variation in Peru, we generated full‐length cDNA clones, which allowed reliable comparative molecular and pathobiological characterization of individual isolates. We found significant divergence of the CP‐RT and 8K sequences. The 8K cistron, which encodes a viral suppressor of RNA silencing, was found to be under diversifying selection. Phylogenetic analysis determined that, based on the CP‐RT sequence, all PMTV isolates could be categorized into three separate lineages (clades). Moreover, we found evidence for recombination between two clades. Using infectious cDNA clones of the representatives of these two clades, as well as reassortants for the RNA‐CP genomic component, we determined the pathobiological differences between the lineages, which we coined as S (for severe) and M (for mild) types. Interestingly, all isolates characterized previously (from Europe, Asia and North America) fall into the S‐type clade, whereas most of the Peruvian isolates belong to the M‐type. Taken together, our results support the notion of the single introduction of PMTV from the centre of potato origin to Europe, and subsequent spread of the S‐type into Asia and USA. This is also supported by the suggested novel classification of isolates based on genetic constellations.

Summary The 5th National Audit Project (NAP5) of the Royal College of Anaesthetists and the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland into accidental awareness during general anaesthesia (AAGA) yielded data related to psychological aspects from the patient, and the anaesthetist, perspectives; patients' experiences ranged from isolated auditory or tactile sensations to complete awareness. A striking finding was that 75% of experiences were for

Potato is a major food staple that makes a significant contribution to food security, having potential to smooth the volatility in food prices resulting from recent episodes of global food price increases. Despite its importance, most potato growers continue to use poor-quality seed, normally obtained from local/community sources. This study uses means-end chain theory to examine the drivers of use of quality seed potato, and the mental models associated with quality seed potato use. It finds that the decision to purchase and use quality seed is driven by deep-seated life goals that farmers pursue, and that profit-making is merely a means to these end/life goals. It further finds that the structure of mental models differs by the gender of the adopter and between adopters and nonadopters. The study concludes that the structure and content of farmers’ mental models differ by farmer type. The implications of the study findings for policy are discussed.

Government policy has been complicit in the increasing role of commercial companies in research, which in turn have little incentive to share the benefits of research. As a result, huge swathes of medical research rely on commercialisation and related patent protection in order to thrive. There is a distinct lack of evidence that commercialisation has led to an improvement in public health, the claim of increased innovation simply does not have empirical support. Commercialisation has led to skewed benefits in favour of companies, whereby industry is using the public’s resource without adequately paying for it, this imbalance may be seen as a form of exploitation. In this paper I argue that the skewed relationship between commercial and public interest needs to be addressed in order to ensure we meet healthcare needs of our patients in the future and ensuring the healthcare remains affordable.

Although potatoes are the second most valuable crop in Kenya, poor seed potato quality has limited industry expansion. The objectives of this study were to describe the seed potato system, identify problems, determine use of high-quality seed and estimate farmer willingness to pay (WTP) for different types of seed. Data was collected from interviews, forums and surveys. A contingent valuation method (CVM) model was also developed to analyze the factors that influence farmer WTP. It was found that the seed system consists of three sub-components: Formal, Semi-Formal and Farmer. More than 96 % of Kenya seed potatoes were produced in the Farmer category, and were considered to be poor quality. Growers identified bacterial wilt, viral diseases and late blight as the most serious problems. The WTP model revealed that farmer age, distance to seed source, potato training, gender and region were statistically significant explanatory variables. The study recommends that training be conducted to increase production of “clean seed” and “positively-selected seed” in the Semi-Formal part of the seed system.

Producing large quantities of high quality mini- tubers at low cost is essential for an economically viable supply of seed potatoes. Here we systematize the technical and economic aspects of aeroponics and provide a bench- mark comparison of this technology with other mini-tuber production systems as developed in Latin America: conven- tional, semi-hydroponics, and fiber-cement tiles technology. Research methodologies included: 3-year registration of cash flows and production registers of aeroponics, economic and technical surveys, in-depth inquiry with managers of technologies. Results show that aeroponics as promoted by the International Potato Center (CIP) has several advantages, including high multiplication rates (up to 1:45), high produc- tion efficiency per area (> 900 mini-tubers per m 2 ), savings in water, chemicals and/or energy, and positive economic indi- cators. The fiber-cement tiles technology from Brazil is also shown to be highly efficient and slightly more robust com- pared to aeroponics. Preconditions for the successful adoption of the different technologies in developing countries are discussed.

This paper evaluates the application of lightweight drilling riser systems, comprised of aluminum alloy material that is significantly lighter than steel riser systems. The paper describes the system's design and specifications, and presents operational and maintenance procedures particular to lightweight riser use. The paper evaluates the comparative costs and benefits of upgrading a rig versus using lightweight alloy risers to increase water depth capability, and reviews the performance of these systems after more than a decade of operation. The first lightweight alloy drilling riser system was deployed in Brazil in 20031. The initial aluminum alloy riser replaced a steel riser on a drill ship to reduce riser weight by 30% and increase the rig's water depth capacity by 2,000 ft. By the end of 2005, lightweight riser systems were deployed on another drill ship and two semisubmersible rigs, also working in Brazilian waters. By switching to lightweight risers, these units could operate in deeper waters without undergoing expensive upgrades. The lightweight riser systems on three rigs of the original rigs are still in use and continue to be in excellent condition. As water depths increase, risers for drill ships and semisubmersible rigs become some of the most critical components of the drilling operation. Risers must be strong enough to maintain integrity during deployment and operation, be light enough to be handled and supported by the floating drilling unit, and be constructed of materials that resist corrosion while exposed to seawater. Lightweight alloy risers provide a means of increasing the water depth rating of floating rigs by as much as 50% without requiring expensive upgrades. Because of their lightweight construction, alloy risers are easier to handle, require fewer buoyancy modules, and can enable earlier generation floating rigs to increase their water depth capabilities, when compared to using conventional steel risers. The first generation of lightweight deepwater (DW) alloy risers has been used successfully for more than a decade while drilling in water depths up to 7,200 ft.

Water in parts of England is already under significant pressure. In a world of growing pressures from climate change, increasing population and concerns over energy and food security, the competing demands on land and water will only increase in the future. A combination of catchment flood management plans, and other catchment-based planning, together with development of river basin management plans, have enabled good progress in advancing catchment-scale management of land and water. However, successful protection of the environment, management of flood risk and diffuse pollution and ensuring security of water for use into the future depend on greater integration of all the activities involved in management of the land and water. An integrated planning framework looking to the longer term, providing comprehensive and cross-cutting actions, is necessary to maximise environmental gains, protect ecosystems, and the services they provide to society. In particular, in low-lying areas of England, the suite of land and water management and planning frameworks set out the long-term delivery actions required to deliver sustainable flood risk management, and improvements to water quality and resources. These management frameworks are complemented by good land, soil and nutrient management to deliver an integrated catchment management approach resulting in multiple benefits for the environment and society, as well as ensuring that water and land are resilient to climate change and able to meet growing demands. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. RESUME L'eau dans certaines parties de l'Angleterre est deja sous pression significative. Dans un monde de pressions croissantes, de changement climatique, d'augmentation de la population, aux quelles on peut ajouter les inquietudes sur la securite energetique et alimentaire, la demande en terres et en eau ne fera qu'augmenter dans l'avenir de facon tres concurrentielle. Une combinaison de plans de gestion des crues et de plans de gestion de bassin ont permis des progres notables dans la promotion de la gestion de la terre et l'eau a l'echelle du bassin versant. Toutefois, la protection efficace de L'environnement, la gestion du risque d'inondation et de pollution diffuse, la securite de L'eau pour une utilisation future depend de la plus grande integration de L'ensemble activites impliquees dans la gestion de la terre et L'eau. La planification integree sur le long terme, offrant des actions a la fois globale et transversale est necessaire pour maximiser les gains environnementaux et proteger les ecosystemes ainsi que les services qu'ils fournissent a la societe. En particulier, dans les zones basses de l'Angleterre, la suite des plans de gestion et d'amenagement du territoire et de l'eau mettent en œuvre les actions a long terme a meme d'offrir une gestion durable des risques d'inondation, d'amelioration la ressource en eau et sa qualite. L' East Anglia couvre plus de 27.000 km2, avec de vastes zones planes et de bas-fonds. Elle contient environ 60% terres agricoles anglaises les plus productives. Elle contient egalement certains la plupart des habitats humides importants de l'Angleterre (et d'Europe), y compris les Fens et le Norfolk Broads. Ces plans de gestion sont completes par une gestion respectueuse du sol et des nutriments pour approcher la gestion integree des bassins versants. Il en resulte de multiples avantages pour l'environnement et la societe tout en assurant que l'eau et les sols sont resistantes aux changements climatiques, meme si les demandes croissantes sont satisfaites.

Seed potato systems in East Africa are described and opportunities for improvement identified on the basis of interviews with potato producers in Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia, and an assessment of Ralstonia solanacearum and virus disease levels in Kenya. 3% of seed potato sold in Kenyan markets was virus free. Ralstonia solanacearum was found in 74% of potato farms. Less than 5% of the farmers interviewed source seed potato from specialized seed growers. Over 50% rely entirely on farm-saved seed. Current seed potato prices justify this behavior. To improve the system the local and specialized chain need to be tackled simultaneously. To improve the local chain ware potato farmers require training on seed quality maintenance and managing bacterial wilt and viruses. Research into virus resistance and the effect of mixed virus infection on yield deserves attention. Private investment in seed potato production could increase volumes produced and reduce prices.

Background Previous research indicates a much higher incidence of awareness during anaesthesia in children than in adults. The present study is the first large-scale, intraoperative assessment of awareness during paediatric anaesthesia using the isolated forearm technique, and the first large-scale study of memory function during paediatric anaesthesia. Methods One hundred and eighty-four children, 5–18 yr, underwent the isolated forearm technique during the first 17 min of surgery while receiving volatile anaesthesia. The isolated forearm technique was modified to accommodate brief or no paralysis. Bispectral index was monitored in a subset of 54 patients. Sixteen neutral words were played 20 times during surgery and, on recovery, implicit memory for these words was tested with a word identification task. Explicit memory for the surgical period was tested with a structured interview. Behavioural changes were assessed with age-appropriate questionnaires. Results No child had explicit recall of intraoperative events on recovery, and there was no evidence of implicit memory for words presented during anaesthesia. Two of 184 children made unambiguous and verified responses on the modified isolated forearm technique, an incidence of intraoperative awareness of 1.1%. One of these children reported that he was uncomfortable and not completely unconscious during surgery. Neither child had implicit memory for the neutral words, or adverse behaviour change. Conclusions The incidence of awareness during surgery in children is approximately eight times that measured in adults by postoperative recall. In contrast to adults, there is no evidence for preserved memory priming during anaesthesia.

s 9 Theme One 9 Appropriate policies for germplasm exchange, food security and trade in Africa ........ 9 Analysis of the value chain of sweetpotato and household food security in Southern Benin 10 Ex-ante evaluation of improved potato varieties for Sub-Saharan Africa 11 Identifying factors that determine potato varietal adoption at the farmer level in East Africa: emphasis on Ethiopia 11 Market structure and price: an empirical analysis of Irish potato markets in Kenya ..12 Nutrient uptake and yield efficiency of Exotic Sweetpotato Cultivars under organic Soil Management systems in Abeokuta Southwestern Nigeria 13 The farming systems of potential potato production areas of Chencha, southern Ethiopia 14

The rapid growth of technology has had a significant effect on educational activities. As a result of this growth, a shift has taken place from a behaviorist teaching style to a constructivist perspective which enables adult learners to build up knowledge collaboratively. Mentoring, a valuable tool within the constructivism approach, can offer a two-way knowledge-sharing environment in which participants can adopt what they learn into their workplaces through a process called transformative learning. Mentoring has now embraced technological advances so that participants can contact each other with synchronous and asynchronous communication tools such as Skype and e-mail respectively. This research project was conducted in a governmental company as a case study in order to study how the participants of mentoring understand their roles, and how they perceive these roles when communicating through Skype and e-mail. The project culminates in suggestions for a new e-mentoring model for practitioners. One of the findings in the research shows that the understanding of the mentoring relationship is diverse, and most participants have confusion about the different meanings of coaching, mentoring and consulting. However, almost all the participants agree that mentors should have a strong position to foster transformative learning in a mentoring process. Although transformative learning has not occurred in the relationships, Skype is a supporting technology for mentors to complement e-mail dialogs by clarification, and building up a trusting relationship. Moreover, some mentors often take an active role to manage and control the relationships as a leading position, but mentees mostly support this action by asking good questions and initiating meetings. Additionally, e-mail is used as a storage tool to review previous conversations, and it is used to re-schedule and initiate online meetings. Lastly, the researcher reflects on the implementation process as practical implications for other practitioners who would like to implement electronic mentoring in workplaces.

We present the main findings of the 5th National Audit Project (NAP5) on accidental awareness during general anaesthesia (AAGA). Incidences were estimated using reports of accidental awareness as the numerator, and a parallel national anaesthetic activity survey to provide denominator data. The incidence of certain/probable and possible accidental awareness cases was ~1:19,600 anaesthetics (95% confidence interval 1:16,700-23,450). However, there was considerable variation across subtypes of techniques or subspecialities. The incidence with neuromuscular block (NMB) was ~1:8200 (1:7030-9700), and without, it was ~1:135,900 (1:78,600-299,000). The cases of AAGA reported to NAP5 were overwhelmingly cases of unintended awareness during NMB. The incidence of accidental awareness during Caesarean section was ~1:670 (1:380-1300). Two-thirds (82, 66%) of cases of accidental awareness experiences arose in the dynamic phases of anaesthesia, namely induction of and emergence from anaesthesia. During induction of anaesthesia, contributory factors included: use of thiopental, rapid sequence induction, obesity, difficult airway management, NMB, and interruptions of anaesthetic delivery during movement from anaesthetic room to theatre. During emergence from anaesthesia, residual paralysis was perceived by patients as accidental awareness, and commonly related to a failure to ensure full return of motor capacity. One-third (43, 33%) of accidental awareness events arose during the maintenance phase of anaesthesia, mostly due to problems at induction or towards the end of anaesthesia. Factors increasing the risk of accidental awareness included: female sex, age (younger adults, but not children), obesity, anaesthetist seniority (junior trainees), previous awareness, out-of-hours operating, emergencies, type of surgery (obstetric, cardiac, thoracic), and use of NMB. The following factors were not risk factors for accidental awareness: ASA physical status, race, and use or omission of nitrous oxide. We recommend that an anaesthetic checklist, to be an integral part of the World Health Organization Safer Surgery checklist, is introduced as an aid to preventing accidental awareness. This paper is a shortened version describing the main findings from NAP5--the full report can be found at http://www.nationalauditprojects.org.uk/NAP5_home.

James Legg & Eklou Attiogbevi Somado & Ian Barker & Larry Beach & Hernan Ceballos & Willmer Cuellar & Warid Elkhoury & Dan Gerling & Jan Helsen & Clair Hershey & Andy Jarvis & Peter Kulakow & Lava Kumar & Jim Lorenzen & John Lynam & Matthew McMahon & Gowda Maruthi & Doug Miano & Kiddo Mtunda & Pheneas Natwuruhunga & Emmanuel Okogbenin & Phemba Pezo & Eugene Terry & Graham Thiele & Mike Thresh & Jonathan Wadsworth & Steve Walsh & Stephan Winter & Joe Tohme & Claude Fauquet

The endangered Puerto Rican crested toad (Peltophryne [Bufo] lemur) has been held and bred in zoos for release into protected areas in Puerto Rico since 1982. In 2004, several cases of a novel syndrome of skin changes in toads were noticed at the Toronto Zoo. A total of 21 toads were found to have similar lesions and the condition has been seen in several other groups of toads in subsequent years. Affected toads show an uncharacteristic sheen of dark-brown leathery skin, followed by recurring dysecdysis, reduced appetite, weight loss, and death from secondary causes. Histologically the condition is characterized by epithelial hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis, ulceration, and the presence of superficial mats of bacterial and fungal agents. No etiology has been identified and to date toads have not permanently responded to treatment with various pharmaceutical and nutritional therapies.

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) frequently follows prominent ear correction under general anaesthesia in children. In a prospective, single-blind study, we compared the incidence of PONV after propofol infusion anaesthesia with that following thiopentone induction and isoflurane maintenance in 30 children aged from four to 14 years randomly allocated to one of two groups. All the children were mechanically ventilated. Anaesthesia was supplemented in both groups with nitrous oxide and infiltration of the ears using a mixture of bupivacaine, adrenaline, and hyaluronidase. One child receiving propofol (group P) complained of nausea, compared with eight receiving thiopentone/ isoflurane, (group T) (P = 0.005), while three children in group P and ten in group T vomited before hospital discharge, (P = 0.01). Eight children in group P were considered to be fit for discharge on the day of surgery as against four in group T, (not significant). Only four out of twelve children receiving opioid analgesia vomited.

We have performed a randomized, cross over study in 22 children suffering from acute leukaemia, who underwent repeated anaesthesia for bone marrow aspiration and lumbar puncture. For their first anaesthetic, the children (aged 3-10 years old) received, either a thiopentone/isoflurane anaesthetic or intravenous propofol, both supplemented with nitrous oxide. On a second occasion they received the alternative technique. Of those children receiving thiopentone/isoflurane, 32% had significant coughing during anaesthesia, two progressing to laryngospasm requiring 100% oxygen. None of the patients receiving propofol had a respiratory disturbance (P = 0.016). 68% of the children preferred the propofol anaesthetic. Only one child in the thiopentone/isoflurane group preferred this technique. Twenty-seven per cent had no preference. There was no significant difference in length of anaesthetic time (P = 0.07) or the time taken for recovery (P = 0.17) between the two groups. There was a large individual variation in propofol requirements and movement was common during stimulation of patients in this group, though this did not adversely affect the surgical procedure.

This report details the case of a 2-month-old baby boy with known cyanotic congenital heart disease (double outlet right ventricle with subpulmonary ventricular septal defect, VSD) in whom tracheal stenosis was undetected, being found later on failed intubation while undergoing anaesthesia for an arterial switch operation and VSD closure. As a result, the cardiac surgery was postponed. Such an association between congenital heart disease and tracheal stenosis has been reported but remains exceptionally rare. The baby subsequently underwent a slide tracheoplasty the next day and had major cardiac surgery a few days later. He was discharged approximately 3 weeks later after spending 8 days on the cardiac intensive care unit.

Eighty per cent of the people of Kenya make a living from agriculture, but for 60% it is a precarious life of survival on less than a dollar a day. New, appropriate technol-ogy would increase agriculture’s current contribution of 24% to the gross domestic product (Republic of Kenya, 2009).Kenya can be divided into four agro-ecological zones, namely: (i) high potential (a) mixed farm-ing (b) cereal and dairy; (ii) marginal agriculture; (iii) agro-pastoral; and (iv) mostly pastoral (Republic of Kenya, 2009). The enterprises described in this chapter are all in the high potential, high alti-tude zone, with relatively high rainfall, high popula-tion density and constant migration. Here most seed technologies have been tested and adopted since the colonial period (Misiko, 2007).Since the colonial period, maize and beans have been popularized in Kenya along with cash crops such as coffee and tea. After independence, policies have neither evolved nor been imple-mented to promote other crops aggressively (Misiko, 2007). Compared with maize, groundnut or rice with established seed and commodity marketing channels, soybean, for instance, has a long way to go in improving the marketing links between farmers in rural areas and processers, both large and small (Misiko, 2007; Tinsley, 2009).

Botanically sweetpotato is called Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam and belongs to the morning-glory family (Convolvulaceae) and originated from Latin America. The exact date of arrival of sweetpotato on the continent of Africa is unknown. Evidence indicates that slave traders brought it into the region and since its introduction it has been displacing the true yam in tropical Africa (Davidson, 1999). Given that it has been in the food system for several hundred years, whereas round, Irish, or solanum potato (Solanum tuberosum) was introduced in the late 1800s, sweetpotato is often falsely considered by African farmers to be an indigenous crop and is often referred to as the “local” or “traditional” potato in most Sub-Saharan African countries.

BACKGROUND According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) statistics annual sweetpotato production in Africa has increased moderately from 11.6 million tonnes in 2002 to 12.9 million tonnes in 2006. In 2006 the FAO estimated that West-, East-, Centraland Southern Africa had an annual production of 4.2, 7.2, 1.2, and 0.5 million tonnes, respectively. These figures might be underestimated. Sweetpotato is mainly produced by smallholders (the majority of whom are women) and for home consumption. Typically less than 20% of production is traded and reaches rural and urban markets. Data on piecemeal harvested crops such as sweetpotato are difficult to collect. FAO data often do not reflect the true situation. Extreme examples of biased sweetpotato production estimates are Malawi and Mozambique. Nationally representative sample survey data for Mozambique report a production of nearly 500 thousand tonnes and Donor funded Early Warning System Statistics indicate Malawi has a production of 1444 thousand tonnes of sweetpotato, whereas the FAO Statistical Database (FAOSTAT) reports no production in Malawi and only 60,000 tonnes in Mozambique. The yield estimations over the past decades are equally dubious. The FAO statistics indicate that there has been nearly no sweetpotato yield progress in Africa over the past two decades (yield estimations were in the range of 4.0 and 4.5 tonnes per hectare from 1987 to 2006). This implies that there has been no breeding progress, which is unlikely, and reflects the lack of quality statistics for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, breeding progress has been concentrated in a few countries and there is need for improvement across SSA.

Doctors, and paediatricians in particular, may be asked to attend Court on many occasions throughout their careers. Sometimes this will be to give evidence about treatment afforded for a patient’s illness or injuries seen and noted. In such circumstances, the doctor is usually considered to be a witness of fact, albeit a professional witness. Frequently, however, the paediatrician will then be asked to provide an opinion to the Court, based on his findings of the patient’s condition. This frequently occurs in cases of possible non-accidental injury (NAI) where the paediatrician gives evidence of injuries observed and then an opinion based on those injuries about possible causes. In such circumstances, the paediatrician may then not only be a professional witness of fact but, in giving an opinion about matters which are beyond the general understanding of the Court, the paediatrician then becomes more of an expert witness. ’ This article attempts to provide guidance to the paediatrician in acting as a witness, whether professional or expert. Many of the matters raised will apply equally to the paediatrician in either capacity.

We have studied the pharmacokinetics of lignocaine in children after local infiltration for cleft palate surgery. After induction of anaesthesia, lignocaine 2.5 mg kg-1 with adrenaline 1:200,000 was injected into the palate. Blood samples were collected before and at 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 60 and 120 min after infiltration. Plasma concentrations of lignocaine were measured by a gas-liquid chromatographic technique. There were no signs of systemic toxicity on routine monitoring of the patients and the peak plasma concentrations were less than the accepted toxic values. Mean half-life was 72.9 (SEM 9.9) min, similar to that found previously in adults and children. However differences in mean clearance (24.6 (2.04) ml kg-1 min-1) and volume of distribution (0.80 (0.07) litre kg-1) were found between this and previous studies.

An eight-year-old boy with a Burkitt's lymphoma of the upper airway is described. The use of sevoflurane for induction of anaesthesia in patients with airway obstruction is discussed. The logistical problems of upper airway surgery and anaesthesia in this type of patient are considered.

Ed Julian F Bion BMJ Books, £45, pp 456 ISBN 0 7279 1076 0 ——————— Rating: ★★★ Anaesthesia has its roots in the basic sciences and interfaces with every branch of medical practice. The specialty thus seems particularly suited to the publication of series of books that are more than journals but, individually, are not comprehensive textbooks. Intensive Care Medicine is the latest in the BMJ’s series Anaesthesia and Acute Medicine. The editor is a recognised authority in the specialty, the book consists of 32 monographs by 52 authors, mostly from Britain but including some from continental Europe, Australia, and north America. It is refreshing that some of the contributors are trainees; the book cannot be regarded as merely the idiosyncratic musings of a self selected group of crusty old consultants. The book is divided into three sections, the first being a historical introduction, necessarily brief because intensive care has only been around for four decades. Secondly, four essays on the pathogenesis of critical illness set the scientific scene. Thirdly, the main body of the book comprises 25 chapters covering many clinical problems as they manifest in intensive care. Each chapter is some 12 pages long, easy to read, and well referenced. The highlights are the chapters on acute lung injury and ventilatory failure, which should be compulsory reading for all who work in an intensive care unit, even the cleaner. They present well referenced, clearly summarised advice on some of the commonest problems presenting in every intensive care. Three other chapters are particularly worthy of attention. “Ethical Legal Issues” provides an authoritative review of consent in the management of adults and children, withholding and withdrawing intensive care, and the ethics surrounding research in the specialty. Its author, described modestly as “barrister at law,” was, in a previous career, one of the country’s foremost authorities on cardiothoracic intensive care and anaesthesia. “Tissue Hypoxia and Ischaemia—Reperfusion Injury” is the uninspiring title of a clearly explained, logical discussion of the mechanisms underlying cell damage during and after shock. It emphasises the role of free radicals and the place of antioxidants. These mechanisms are relevant to so many disease processes that all of us should have an appreciation of this science. “Obstetric Critical Illness” describes, in some detail, the presentation and current management of uncommon but potentially disastrous complications of pregnancy—HELLP syndrome, eclampsia, amniotic fluid embolism, and acute fatty liver of pregnancy. There is also a down side to the book. I was baffled by abbreviations in the chapter on cytokines: in one sentence the letters “TNF” appear six times. The chapter on the surgical abdomen summarises itself towards the end with the phrase “request a surgical consultation,” reminding me of a now retired colleague who gave a lecture to the FRCS course on anaesthesia by saying “Leave it to the experts” and departing the room. The chapter on the critically ill child paints a picture using the only photographs of patients in the book, but it is overshadowed by the book Paediatric Intensive Care in the same series. I was disappointed by the omissions. Perhaps budget holders will be pleased that protein C managed only one line. I could find little practical advice the on the rational choice of inotropes and vasoactive drugs. Most worrying of all, there was nothing on septic shock in spite of recent outbreaks of meningococcaemia in teenage and student populations. Anyone who reads this book cannot fail to appreciate the growth of intensive care from the “iron lung” ventilator to the scientifically based multidisciplinary management of some of our sickest patients. Who knows what the next 40 years will bring.

[][1] QBase: Anaesthesia: 1 E Hammond Greenwich Medical Media, £19.50, pp 160 ISBN 1 900151 758 ![][2] QBase: Anaesthesia: 2 E Hammond, Andrew McIndoe Greenwich Medical Media, £19.50, pp 208 ISBN 1 900151 324 QBase: Anaesthesia: 3 E Hammond, Andrew McIndoe Greenwich Medical Media, £22.50, pp 208 ISBN 1 900151 588 Rating: ![Graphic][3] ![Graphic][4] ![Graphic][5] (books ![Graphic][6] ![Graphic][7] ![Graphic][8] , CDs ![Graphic][9] ![Graphic][10] ) Candidates have different techniques for answering multiple choice exams. Many simply tick the answers they believe to be correct and then leave the room, but there are other, more complex, patterns of behaviour: the gambler, “I'm not sure about this answer, but the chances are that it's correct so I'll tick it”; the bookmaker, “If I answer 75% of the questions correctly then I'll pass the exam no matter what the results of the rest”; the compulsive ticker, “I can't bear to see both boxes left blank without my pencil mark … [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif [2]: /embed/graphic-2.gif [3]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif [4]: /embed/inline-graphic-2.gif [5]: /embed/inline-graphic-3.gif [6]: /embed/inline-graphic-4.gif [7]: /embed/inline-graphic-5.gif [8]: /embed/inline-graphic-6.gif [9]: /embed/inline-graphic-7.gif [10]: /embed/inline-graphic-8.gif

EDITOR,—R H Davies is to be praised for the sensitive approach taken in striving to obtain the most appropriate care for a ventilated patient.1 Undoubtedly those readers who have been in a similar situation will have been reminded of their own experiences and the seemingly endless round of meetings that took place. In 1993 I undertook a postal survey of members of the Paediatric Intensive Care Society asking about children ventilated at home in Britain. I hoped, forlornly, to organise a …

The development of dislocation cells in polycrystalline aluminium and nickel has been evaluated over a tensile strain range, 0.05–0.30, using transmission electron microscopy. The results of the two test series are compared. Measurements of both the cell sizes and relative cell misorientations have been made, the latter using microdiffraction. The results are then compared with previous studies from the literature.

We report the first identification of novel viruses, and sequence of an entire viral genome, by a single step of high-throughput parallel sequencing of small RNAs from diseased, as well as symptomless plants. Contigs were assembled from sequenced total siRNA from plants using small sequence assembly software and could positively identify RNA, ssDNA and dsDNA reverse transcribing viruses and in one case spanned the entire genome. The results present a novel approach which cannot only identify known viral pathogens, occurring at extremely low titers, but also novel viruses, without the necessity of any prior knowledge.