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To promote the dissemination of Positive Selection (PS) technology for quality seed yam production, this study was undertaken to provide empirical evidence and to examine differences in the Total Factor Productivity resulting from the use of PS technology. Through multistage sampling, 368 CAY-Seed beneficiaries from Ghana and Nigeria were sampled. Results indicate that productivity of PS technology was 0.758 as compared to 0.700 for non-use of PS. Furthermore, the use of PS also led to a reduction in technology gap by 2.3%. The most important factors of seed yam productivity were: land, seed, labour, chemical and neem leaf powder application with sex, experience, education, cropping system and extension as the inefficiency determinants. It is therefore recommended that the PS technology should be widely disseminated with policies to reduce inefficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Escherichia coli carrying bla CTX–M–1 mediating resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporins was recently described as a new genotype in Norwegian broiler production. The aim of this study was to characterize these isolates (n = 31) in order to determine whether the emergence of the genotype was caused by clonal expansion or horizontal dissemination of bla CTX–M–1-carrying plasmids. All included isolates were subjected to whole genome sequencing. Plasmid transferability was determined by conjugation, and plasmid replicons in the transconjugants were described using PCR-based replicon typing. Plasmid sizes were determined using S1 nuclease digestion. Plasmids in a subset of strains were reconstructed and compared to plasmids from broiler production in other European countries. The isolates belonged to nine different sequence types (STs), with the largest group being ST57 (n = 12). The vast majority of bla CTX–M–1-carrying plasmids were conjugative. All transconjugants were positive for the IncI1-Iγ replicon, and several also harbored the IncFIB replicon. Highly similar plasmids were present in different E. coli STs. Additionally, high similarity to previously published plasmids was detected. A reconstructed plasmid from an ST57 isolate harbored both IncI1-Iγ and IncFIB replicons and was considered to be co-integrated. The presence of one large plasmid was confirmed by S1 nuclease digestion. Our results show that dissemination of bla CTX–M–1 in Norwegian broiler production is due to both clonal expansion and horizontal transfer of plasmids carrying bla CTX–M–1. The bla CTX–M–1/IncI1-Iγ plasmids grouped into two main lineages, namely clonal complex (CC)-3 and CC-7. The genetic diversity at both strain and plasmid level indicates multiple introductions to Norway. We also show that the bla CTX–M–1 plasmids circulating in Norwegian broiler production are highly similar to plasmids previously described in other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potentials of organic soil amendments (OSA) to control plant parasitic nematodes (PPN) infection in yam production were evaluated in Ghana. The ability of organic soil amendments; neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) seed powder, cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) bean testa powder and cowitch (Mucuna pruriens L.) seed powder to suppress PPN in yam were compared to Fulan (a synthetic pesticide) and a non-treated control. The organic soil amendments suppressed Pratylenchus and Rotylenchulus soil population densities compared to the control. M. pruriens also reduced soil populations of Meloidogyne and Scutellonema with reductions similar to nematicide application. Only M. pruriens reduced population densities of plant parasitic nematodes in yam tubers compared to the control. There were no differences in yield. Mucuna pruriens treated plots yielded 32.1 t/ha while the control yielded 17.4 t/ha. In terms of relative yield, M. pruriens treated plots were 1.84 times higher than the control. The application of organic materials may be sufficient to keep some nematode populations below the economic threshold level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the on premise/product oriented software escrow protections relied upon by colleges and universities in their "Software as a Service" (SaaS), a software delivery model in which software and associated data are centrally hosted on the cloud, acquisitions. It discusses the scenario in which a software licensor or SaaS provider files for bankruptcy and ceases to offer support for the software application. It suggests some considerations for SaaS licensees in such a scenario.

Corrigendum: bla CTX-M-1/IncI1-I Plasmids Circulating in Escherichia coli From Norwegian Broiler Production Are Related, but Distinguishable Keywords: plasmid; IncI1; cephalosporin resistance; Escherichia coli; broiler; bla CTX-M-1 EN plasmid IncI1 cephalosporin resistance Escherichia coli broiler bla CTX-M-1 1 1 1 07/20/21 20210716 NES 210716 In the published article, there was an error in affiliation B 1 b . Plasmid, IncI1, cephalosporin resistance, Escherichia coli, broiler, bla CTX-M-1. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Infectious disease surveillance is difficult in many low- and middle-income countries. Information market (IM)-based participatory surveillance is a crowdsourcing method that encourages individuals to actively report health symptoms and observed trends by trading web-based virtual "stocks" with payoffs tied to a future event., Objective: This study aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a tailored IM surveillance system to monitor population-level COVID-19 outcomes in Accra, Ghana., Methods: We designed and evaluated a prediction markets IM system from October to December 2021 using a mixed methods study approach. Health care workers and community volunteers aged ≥18 years living in Accra participated in the pilot trading. Participants received 10,000 virtual credits to trade on 12 questions on COVID-19-related outcomes. Payoffs were tied to the cost estimation of new and cumulative cases in the region (Greater Accra) and nationwide (Ghana) at specified future time points. Questions included the number of new COVID-19 cases, the number of people likely to get the COVID-19 vaccination, and the total number of COVID-19 cases in Ghana by the end of the year. Phone credits were awarded based on the tally of virtual credits left and the participant's percentile ranking. Data collected included age, occupation, and trading frequency. In-depth interviews explored the reasons and factors associated with participants' user journey experience, barriers to system use, and willingness to use IM systems in the future. Trading frequency was assessed using trend analysis, and ordinary least squares regression analysis was conducted to determine the factors associated with trading at least once., Results: Of the 105 eligible participants invited, 21 (84%) traded at least once on the platform. Questions estimating the national-level number of COVID-19 cases received 13 to 19 trades, and obtaining COVID-19-related information mainly from television and radio was associated with less likelihood of trading (marginal effect: -0.184). Individuals aged <30 years traded 7.5 times more and earned GH ¢134.1 (US $11.7) more in rewards than those aged >30 years (marginal effect: 0.0135). Implementing the IM surveillance was feasible; all 21 participants who traded found using IM for COVID-19 surveillance acceptable. Active trading by friends with communal discussion and a strong onboarding process facilitated participation. The lack of bidirectional communication on social media and technical difficulties were key barriers., Conclusions: Using an IM system for disease surveillance is feasible and acceptable in Ghana. This approach shows promise as a cost-effective source of information on disease trends in low- and middle-income countries where surveillance is underdeveloped, but further studies are needed to optimize its use., (©Gifty Marley, Phyllis Dako-Gyeke, Prajwol Nepal, Rohini Rajgopal, Evelyn Koko, Elizabeth Chen, Kwabena Nuamah, Kingsley Osei, Hubertus Hofkirchner, Michael Marks, Joseph D Tucker, Rosalind Eggo, William Ampofo, Sean Sylvia. Originally published in JMIR Infodemiology (https://infodemiology.jmir.org), 12.08.2024.)