Marketing Portfolio Choices by Independent Peach Growers: An Application of the Polychotomous Selection Model

In selecting a marketing channel for fresh peach sales, Georgia commercial peach growers choose the channel after accounting for buyers' preferences for quality attributes. Using the polychotomous selection model and survey data we identified external and internal quality attributes as essential factors influencing the choice of a marketing channel and the share of the crop marketed. Other factors influencing the choice and the volume sold through each marketing channel included orchard characteristics and the variety-determined fruit maturity.Marketing,

The ameliorative effects of Moringa oleifera leaf extract on cardiovascular functions and osmotic fragility of wistar rats exposed to petrol vapour

The present study was aimed at evaluating the ameliorating effects of Moringa oleifera extract compared to captopril and candesartan cilexetil on cardiovascular functions and osmotic fragility of rats exposed to petrol vapour. Twenty five adult male Wistar rats (130g-200g) were randomly grouped to five with five rats in a group. Group 1 (control) was not exposed to petrol fume. Groups 2 (petrol only), was exposed to petrol fume only. Groups 3, 4 and 5 were pretreated with Moringa oleifera extract (40mg/kg), captopril (25 mg/kg) and candesartan (16mg/kg), respectively before exposure to petrol vapour, 10 minutes every day for eight weeks. All groups were given feed and water ad-libitum. Petrol vapour was generated by using human compressor nebulizer adopted for rats and connected to fume chamber where the rats were kept. The pretreatment were administered by oral cannula. At the end of the exposure, 0.2ml of blood samples obtained from individual rat in each group were suspended in separate sets of Phosphate buffer saline (PBS) solution of decreasing concentrations. Erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF) was determined by spectrophotometer. Electrocardiography was done using EDAN 10. There was significant increase (p<0.05) in EOF of the rats exposed to petrol vapour only. However, Moringa oleifera, captopril and candesartan cilexetil significantly ameliorated this effect. There was no significant difference in the amelioration of Moringa oleifera and candesartan cilexetil. There was absence of p-wave and significant increase in heart rate observed in the electrocardiogram of petrol only group, this was significantly restored in the Moringa oleifera, captopril and the candesartan cilexetil group. The results showed that exposure to petrol vapour elevated EOF, resulted in atria arrhythmia and increased heart rate. These effects were ameliorated by pretreatment with Moringa oleifera, captopril and candesartan cilexetil. The amelioration in Moringa oleifera was comparable with that of candesartan cilexetil suggesting that Moringa oleifera may be an Angiotensin II receptor blocker.Keywords: Candesartan cilexetil, Captopril, Moringa oleifera, Osmotic fragility, Petrol vapou

Time to focus on outcome assessment tools for childhood vasculitis

Childhood systemic vasculitides are a group of rare diseases with multi-organ involvement and potentially devastating consequences. After establishment of new classification criteria (Ankara consensus conference in 2008), it is now time to establish measures for proper definition of activity and damage in childhood primary vasculitis. By comparison to adult vasculitis, there is no consensus for indices of activity and damage assessment in childhood vasculitis. Assessment of disease activity is likely to become a major area of interest in pediatric rheumatology in the near future. After defining the classification criteria for primary systemic childhood vasculitis, the next step was to perform a validation study using the original Birmingham vasculitis activity score as well as the disease extent index to measure disease activity in childhood vasculitis. Presently, there are efforts in place to develop a pediatric vasculitis activity score. This paper reviews the current understanding about the assessment tools (i.e., clinical features, laboratory tests, radiologic assessments, etc.) widely used for evaluation of the disease activity and damage status of the children with vasculitis. © 2011 Demirkaya et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd

Modulus of rapture (MOR) of porcelain by substitution of quartz with rice husk ash (RHA) and palm oil fuel ash (POFA) at different temperatures

This paper investigates to effects RHA and POFA in porcelain body as substitute materials for quartz. In order to collect experimental data, the effects of ground RHA and POFA replacement rate from 0 wt% up to 25 wt% in porcelain body was studied. The RHA and POFA were grounded in a ball mill until the median particle size was reduced to about 50 μm. They were used to substitute quartz in porcelain body from 0 wt% to 25 wt%. The mixed powder was pressed into pellets at mould pressure of 91 MPa. All the pellets were sintered at a temperatures of 1000 ºC, 1100 ºC, 1200 ºC and 1300 ºC for the soaking times of 2 hours. It was found out among other things that the Modulus of Rapture (MOR) of the samples increases with increase in substitution and also with the increase in temperature. With a value of 35 MPa the MOR of the samples containing 20 wt% sintered at a soaking time of 2 hours were higher than the standard porcelain. This could be attributed to the formation of larger amount of SiO2 glass, in the presence of fluxing components such as MgO, CaO and Na2O), more abundant in samples containing RHA and POFA

Knowledge, attitude, and perception of low back pain and activities that may prevent it among adolescents in Nigeria

Background: Awareness of activities that may result in low back pain (LBP) among adolescents is fundamental in preventing adulthood LBP. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate adolescents' knowledge, attitude, and perception of LBP and activities that may prevent LBP in Kano, North-western, Nigeria.Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey involving 400 school-going adolescents recruited using a multistage random sampling technique. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square test with 0.05 set as level of significance. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 16.0±1.50 years. LBP annual prevalence was 34.2%, with more girls (31.1%) reporting having LBP compared to boys (28.4%). More than half (59.3%) of the respondents had poor knowledge of LBP and activities that may prevent it. However, they had a good attitude (63%) and perception (74%) of LBP and activities that may prevent it. There was no significant association of levels of knowledge, attitude, and perception of LBP and activities that may prevent LBP with gender, age, and class of study (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Adolescents in Kano, North-western Nigeria had poor knowledge of LBP and activities that may prevent it. Therefore, there is a need to embark on an LBP prevention program among adolescents in Kano, North-western Nigeria. Keywords: Low back pain; prevention; adolescents; knowledge; attitude; perception

Determination of Flower Characteristics of Some Kiwifruit Genotypes (Actinidia Spp.) Obtained with Breeding Program

All Actinidia species are dioecious, male and female flowers grow on separate kiwifruit plants. In breeding studies, it is generally desirable to obtain female individuals. However, male plants are also of great importance for pollination. Therefore, it is necessary to examine the flower characteristics of the genotypes obtained by breeding studies. This research was conducted in the kiwifruit breeding plot of Yalova Atatürk Horticultural Central Research Institute for two years. Genotypes obtained from cultivars belonging to Actinidia deliciosa and Actinidia chinensis were used in the research. At the time of flowering, phenological observations of male and female genotypes, which are prominent in the population, have been made and the developmental stages of the flowers have been determined. At least 10 flowers of each genotype were used to determine the morphological characteristics.Number of leaves, number of petals, number of male organs, number of filaments, number of female organs, number of female organs and number of stylus were examined in order to determine flower characteristics. When the data obtained as a result of two years are evaluated; significant differences have been obtained particularly in terms of flowering time, flowering period, the number of stylus, the filament size, the number of female organs and the number of male organs. Female cultivars/genotypes tend to flowering later than male cultivars/genotypes, and female cultivars/genotypes have shorter filament length than male cultivars/genotypes. It has also been clearly observed that ovaries are not functional in male types

Bioproductivity and grain quality of two cowpea varieties in relation to frequency of hand weeding

The concern for human health and safety coupled with the increase in herbicides resistant weeds necessitated the need to investigate the effect of frequency of hand weeding on weed suppression, productivity and grains quality in two varieties of cowpea (Tvx 3236 and Ife brown). Plot layout was a split-plot arrangement in complete randomized block design with three replications. The cowpea lines were subjected to five treatments of frequency of hand weeding. Data on weed and crop were subjected to Analysis of Variance. Means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test at 0.05 level of significance. Weed species that were found to be preponderant include Brachiaria deflexa, Euphorbia heterophylla and Commelina benghalensis. The three hand weeding at 3, 6 and 9 weeks after planting (WAP) showed the highest weed control efficiency of 90.48 % followed by those of two hand weeding at 3 and 6 WAP (86.98%) and one hand weeding at 3 WAP (74.68%). The weed free check was the most effective in controlling weeds (93.80%). Growth and productivity of the two cowpea lines were enhanced with increase in frequency of hand weeding when compared with the weedy check. Weeds reduced crop yield by 56.17%. The results of grain quality such as crude protein, lipid content, ash and crude fibre were also enhanced with increase in frequency of hand weeding. Generally, growth and yield were higher in Ife brown than Tvx3236. The research was limited to one cropping season and there is need for reproducibility for consistent of results. The study concluded that weeding twice and three times were found to be feasible since these frequencies of weeding times promoted effective weed reduction, higher growth, and yield and grain quality of the two cowpea varieties studied.Keywords: growth and yield, proximate composition, three hand weeding, cowpea productivit

The Impact of Lecture and Interactive Methods onStudent’s English Competency

The current research deals with the perceptions of non-native students at a university college in Oman on the use of the lecture and interactive methods in teaching English. The aim is to find out the method which may assist satisfactorily in improving students’ English language competency in terms of skills, developing their cognitive abilities and enhancing their personal growth. This study employs the quantitative approach through conducting and analyzing students’ questionnaires related to the lecture and interactive methods of teaching. The findings of this research indicate that the interactive methods are highly viewed by students while the lecture is lower. However, weak students incline to the lecture method in contrast to average, good and very good students. The implications of the use of both methods could be extended to the social side of education. Students exchange ideas, suggestions and feelings which contribute to strengthening their relationships as colleagues. They would practice expressing their thoughts freely and respecting the viewpoints of others no matter whether they agree or disagree with them. Consequently, this would have positive impacts on their lifestyle when dealing with their surrounding society and in workplaces in later stages

Species Composition and Plasmodium falciparum Infection Rates of Anopheles gambiae s.l. Mosquitoes in Six Localities of Kwara State, North Central, Nigeria

Entomological data gathering is essential for monitoring malaria vector disease risks and selection of appropriate interventions for the protection of exposed human populations. This study assessed the relative abundance, species composition, and sporozoite infection rates of indoor resting An. gambiae s.l. malaria vectors in six communities across 3 Local Government Areas in Kwara State, Nigeria. Total number of mosquitoes collected by Pyrethrum Spray Catch method over a period of eighth months were correlated with rainfall values in the area. Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite infection rates and sibling species identification of collected An. gambiae s.l. mosquito samples were determined by ELISA and PCR respectively. Results showed a positive correlation (r = 0.639, p = 0.08) between rainfall and numbers of Anopheles mosquitoes in the study areas. The overall composition of the An. gambiae s.l sibling species in the collected samples from all the six communities showed the predominance of An. gambiae s.s 298 (75.3%) compared to An. coluzzii 94(23.7%) and An. arabiensis 4(1.0%). However, the sporozoite infection rate of An. coluzzii (22.3%) was higher compared to An. gambiae s.s (12.8%) and An. arabiensis (0%). Mean numbers of An. gambiae s.l mosquitoes were significantly higher in Ilorin west LGA compared to Asa (F = 17.81, P < 0.001) and Ilorin East LGAs (F = 22.81, P < 0.001). Sporozoite rates of both An. gambiae s.s and An. coluzzii sibling species were higher in Ilorin West communities (Aiyede 21%, Ogundele 32%) compared to Asa (Idi Emi 11.1%, Lasoju 5.1%) and Ilorin East (Oke Oyi 2.4%, Ote-efan 0%) communities. Prevalence of sporozoite-infected An. gambiae s.s and An. coluzzii indoors highlight the need for effective insecticide treated bed-nets interventions to protect the residents from malaria risks. Higher numbers of An. coluzzii in the swampy rice marshed Ilorin West LGA communities require larval source management as an additional strategy for effective malaria vector control

Neuronal Glud1 (Glutamate Dehydrogenase 1) Over-Expressing Mice: Increased Glutamate Formation and Synaptic Release, Loss of Synaptic Activity, and Adaptive Changes in Genomic Expression

Glutamate dehydrogenase 1 (GLUD1) is a mitochondrial enzyme expressed in all tissues, including brain. Although this enzyme is expressed in glutamatergic pathways, its function as a regulator of glutamate neurotransmitter levels is still not well defined. In order to gain an understanding of the role of GLUD1 in the control of glutamate levels and synaptic release in mammalian brain, we generated transgenic (Tg) mice that over-express this enzyme in neurons of the central nervous system. The Tg mice have increased activity of GLUD, as well as elevated levels and increased synaptic and depolarization-induced release of glutamate. These mice suffer age-associated losses of dendritic spines, nerve terminals, and neurons. The neuronal losses and dendrite structural changes occur in select regions of the brain. At the transcriptional level in the hippocampus, cells respond by increasing the expression of genes related to neurite growth and synapse formation, indications of adaptive or compensatory responses to the effects of increases in the release and action of glutamate at synapses. Because these Tg mice live to a relatively old age they are a good model of the effects of a “hyperglutamatergic” state on the aging process in the nervous system. The mice are also useful in defining the molecular pathways affected by the over-activation of GLUD in glutamatergic neurons of the brain and spinal cord