Implications of Micro-Level Fractal Poverty Traps on Poverty Reduction Strategies at Meso and Macro Levels

Poverty, particularly in developing countries, is endemic and has attained a crisis stage. It is compounded by conflicts, corrupt/inefficient governments and other manmade issues that seem to keep people in perpetual deprivation and want. Although serious, this poverty trap is fixable. This paper reports on an ongoing research about poverty reduction strategies. It is based on the proposition that the first step in poverty reduction is understanding what makes an agent trapped. Therefore, this paper conceptualises poverty traps as fractal, self-perpetuating conditions when individuals are caught in a vicious cycle of poverty and continue to suffer from undesirable hardships for a long period of time. Using the neo-classical economic development theory and data obtained from the United Nations Development Programme, this paper argues that current poverty reduction strategies, which have been in use over the last five decades, have been ineffective. From the experiences of one of the authors in poverty reduction over the last two decades, a new poverty reduction strategy that focuses on individuals is thus proposed. This strategy uses the synergetic concept that indicates the simultaneous causation of poverty through the interaction between the individual and the context. This paper demonstrates that individuals in poverty are caught between externalisation and internalisation of conditions that are nonetheless transient and removable. Based on this new understanding, a four-stage interactive model called Learn, Relate and Adapt (LERA) is proposed for use in poverty research and the poverty reduction implementation strategy. Keywords/Phrases: poverty, fractal poverty, neo-classical economic development model, synergetics, LERA Mode

Isolation, characterization and biological properties of betulin from Entada africana Guill. and Perr. (Mimosaceae).

The present study is aimed at the isolation and characterization of betulin from Entada africana.  A dichloromethane soluble portion of the stem bark methanol/acetone (1:1 v/v) extract was subjected to gradient elution using ethyl acetate in hexane (5 – 30 %) on an open column. A pure compound was obtained with Rf = 0.61 in hexane/ethyl acetate (8:2 v/v) after repeated washing and recrystallization from methanol and coded Enac1. The pure compound was analyzed using IR, 1H & 13C NMR and GC-MS. Clinical isolates of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhi and Staphylococcus aureus were used to assess the antibacterial activity of the pure compound while its preliminary Cytotoxicity was evaluated using brine shrimp nauplii. Based on the spectroscopic data obtained and in comparison with literature, the isolated compound was identified as betulin. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of betulin ranged between 62.50 - 250.00 µg/mL for all the four bacterial isolates in the study while its fifty percent lethal concentration (LC50) was 10.00 µg/mL. Significant Cytotoxicity with moderate antibacterial activity was observed. The study therefore justifies the existence of bioactive compounds in the stem bark of Entada africana and its use in traditional medicine

Growth components and Yield of \u3cem\u3eBrachiaria ruziziensis\u3c/em\u3e (Congo grass) and \u3cem\u3eCentrosema pascuorum\u3c/em\u3e (Centro) Mixtures as Influenced by Mixture Ratios, Phosphorus Levels and Stage of Harvest

This study was conducted during the 2017 and 2018 rainy season at the Crop Production Research farm, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi to determine the effects of plant mixture ratios in Brachiaria ruziziensis and Centrosema pascuorum (100% Sole B. ruziziensis, 75% B.R: 25% C.P, 50% B.R: 50% C.P, 25% B.R: 75% C.P and 100% Sole C. pascuorum) and phosphorus fertilizer (SSP) levels (0, 100 and 150kg/ha). The experiment was in a split-plot design with 5x3 factorial arrangement in which the mixture ratios constituted the main plots while phosphorus (SSP) levels constituted the sub treatments. Number of plants per stand ranged from 6.11 in 25% B.R: 75% C.P to 9.56 in 100% B. ruziziensis and 2.89 in 75% B.R: 25% C.P to 11.11 in 50% B.R: 50% C.P. The highest plant height for B. ruziziensis was obtained in 25% B.R: 75% C.P (38.0). Similarly, 25% B.R: 75% C.P mixture had highest plant height for C. pascuorum (45.11). However, tiller per branch per m2 ranged from 57.60 in 25% B.R: 75% C.P to 190.9 in 100 B. ruziziensis and 32.9 in 75% B.R: 25% C.P to 257.90 in 100 C. pascuorum. The mean values indicated that mixture ratios and phosphorus (SSP) levels significantly (P \u3c 0.05) increased plant height and tiller numbers in B. ruziziensis and C. pascuorum mixtures and 75% B.R: 25% C.P mixture, 150kg/ha Single Super Phosphate fertilization and sampling period at week 8 had the best plant height and tiller per branch

Comparative study of the level of bacterial/helminths contamination of vegetables produced from polluted and unpolluted irrigation site of Kano

A comparative study was contaminations of five major crops (Lactuca veriso, Darcus carota, Solanum lycopersicum, Phylanthus amarus, Alium cepa) produced from polluted (industrial/residential effluents) Sharada and unpolluted (tube well water)Yarimawa using the method described by FAO, (1979). The result shows that the five crops, produced with polluted water viz, Lactuca veriso, Darcus carota, Solanum lycopersicum Phylanthus amarus, Alium cepa, had mean aerobic plate count of 2.0 x 102 cfu/g, 8.40 x 102 cfu/g , 1.13 x 103 cfu/g , 5.8 x 104 cfu/g cfu/g, 5.7 x 101 cfu/g, respectively, and all the five crops had mean coliform count of 180 MPN/g, while that of unpolluted water had mean aerobic plate count of of 1.22 x 102 cfu/g 5.1 x 102 cfu/g , 1.4 x 102 cfu/g, 1.43 x 102 cfu/g, 1.32 x 101 cfu/g respectively, and had mean coliform count of 30, 21,21, 21 and 21MPN/g respectively. The organisms isolated in all the crops produced with polluted water were E. coli, Salmonella sp, Shigella sp, S. aureus, Ascaris egg, Strongloides and Ancylostoma while E. coli, Shigella sp, S. aureus, wer the organisms isolated in the crops produced with unpolluted water, only Lactuca verosa and Solanum lycopersicum, shows the presence of helmiths in the crops produced with the unpolluted water.Key words: Kano, Bacteria, Helminth, effluent, Yarimawa, Sharad

Effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa Calyx (Zobo) on the Growth Performance of Broilers (Obamarshal) Chickens

Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) is a leaf use to make a drink locally known as zobo. The seed is considered an excellent feed for chicken because of the presence of certain vitamins especially vitamin C which is known for its antioxidant property hence stimulating the immune system. Farmers are constantly seeking for cheaper and healthier means to improve the quality of meat and weight of broilers. Also cheap and readily available synthetic drugs including antibiotics that were used as growth promoters have been banned due to their side effect in both poultry and human health. Many attempts have been made locally by farmers to use natural plant as supplements for birds to replace synthetic antibiotics. There is also a significant lack of knowledge about the beneficial effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa in poultry. Although other supplements such as anise seed (pinpinell anisume )have been used to improve meat characteristics and carcass weight, there is a suggestion that calyxes of roselle (zobo) may be used as best alternative. The study aims to test the effect of feeding different level of “zobo” in drinking water on the growth performance of broilers.Fifty day old broilers were sourced and exposed to the same feeding, watering and other management conditions like vaccinations and treatment until they were 4 weeks old. They were then divided into groups of 10 and treated with different concentrations of roxelle calyx gotten from water and ethanol extraction. The groups were A1 (broiler chicks on 1g/4l water extract of roselle calyx), A2 (broiler chick on 1g/4L ethanol extract of roselle calyx), B1 (broiler chick on 2g/4L water extract of roselle calyx), B2 (broiler chick on 2g/4L ethanol extract of roselle calyx) and C which were the control (broilers on plain water). Rectal temperatures were taken every Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the mornings and evenings. Live weight, carcass weight, dislocated carcass weight, internal organs and feed intake were the response criteria used when broilers were 8 weeks old. The birds (A2) on Hibiscus sabdariffa had the highest weight gain and consumed the largest quantity of feed as compared to control. This was statistically significant (P˂0.05). It can be concluded from this study that roselle calyx (zobo) tends to enhance weight gain, feed consumption and conversion in broilers. Keywords: Roselle calyx, zobo, water extract, ethanol extract, weight gain

Noise and spectral stability of deep-UV gas-filled fiber-based supercontinuum sources driven by ultrafast mid-IR pulses

Deep-UV (DUV) supercontinuum (SC) sources based on gas-filled hollow-core fibers constitute perhaps the most viable solution towards ultrafast, compact, and tunable lasers in the UV spectral region. Noise and spectral stability of such broadband sources are key parameters that define their true potential and suitability towards real-world applications. In order to investigate the spectral stability and noise levels in these fiber-based DUV sources, we generate an SC spectrum that extends from 180 nm (through phase-matched dispersive waves - DWs) to 4 {\mu}m by pumping an argon-filled hollow-core anti-resonant fiber at a wavelength of 2.45 {\mu}m. We characterize the long-term stability of the source over several days and the pulse-to-pulse relative intensity (RIN) noise of the strongest DW at 275 nm. The results indicate no sign of spectral degradation over 110 hours, but the RIN of the DW pulses at 275 nm is found to be as high as 33.3%. Numerical simulations were carried out to investigate the spectral distribution of the RIN and the results confirm the experimental measurements and that the poor noise performance is due to the RIN of the pump laser, which was hitherto not considered in numerical modelling of these sources. The results presented herein provide an important step towards an understanding of the noise mechanism underlying such complex light-gas nonlinear interactions and demonstrate the need for pump laser stabilization

Tuberculosis infection and disease in people living with HIV in countries with low tuberculosis incidence

In countries with low tuberculosis (TB) incidence, TB is concentrated in vulnerable populations, including people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV), who have a substantially greater risk of TB than people without HIV. We searched PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science for studies evaluating the risk factors for latent tuberculous infection (LTBI) or active TB in PLHIV in countries with TB incidence 10 per 100 000 population. Due to the number of risk factors evaluated and heterogeneity in study designs, we present summary data and a narrative synthesis. We included 45 studies: 17 reported data on the risk factors for LTBI and 32 on active TB. Black, Asian or Hispanic ethnicity, birth or long-term residence in a country with high TB incidence, and HIV acquisition via injecting drug use (IDU) or heterosexual sex were strong predictors of both LTBI and active TB. History of contact, a greater degree of immunosuppression at diagnosis or higher viral load increased the TB risk. Early HIV diagnosis to allow timely initiation of antiretroviral therapy is essential for the prevention of TB in PLHIV. Screening and treating PLHIV for LTBI to reduce the risk of progression to active TB disease should also be considered to further reduce the burden of active TB in low TB incidence settings. Research to support the expansion of TB and HIV prevention and treatment globally is essential to eliminate TB in low-incidence settings

Training workshop report on good agricultural practices for the production and conservation of seed potato in the West, Adamawa, and Northwest regions. Workshop report.

The International Potato Center (CIP), in collaboration with the Green Innovation Centers for the Food and Agriculture sector (ProCISA), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER), and the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD), organized and facilitated training workshops for seed growers on Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) for the production and conservation of seed potato. The workshops that took place in ADYS hotel in Dschang on 26 – 27 April 2021, TRANSCAM hotel in Ngaoundere on 5 – 7 May 2021, ADYS Hotel in Dschang on 9 -11 August 2021, brought together active and potential seed growers from the West, Adamawa, and Northwest regions, respectively. Seed growers from Lebialem division (South-West region) were also invited to join the Northwest cohort. The aim of the workshops was to share the knowledge with participants on Good Agricultural Practices for the production and conservation of seed potato. The workshops were moderated by the regional MINADER – ProCISA Focal Points and facilitated by CIP and IRAD researchers, as well as representatives of the Directorate of Regulation and Quality Control of Agricultural Inputs and Products (DRCQ). In the Adamawa, a translator was brought on board to translate all the presentations and questions and answersinto the local language Fulfulde, given that participants could neither express themselves in the French language nor understand it. This was an opportunity for participants in the three regions to (i) identify the constraints they face in seed production and conservation, (ii) know about the standard seed and variety schemes, (iii) learn GAPs for the production and conservation of seed potato, (iv) and identify their individual needs and define individual action plans to improve their agribusiness in seed potato. The theoretical sessions were conducted in a participatory manner combining PowerPoint presentations, questions, and answers as well as discussions and sharing of personal experiences. Field demonstrations were equally carried out during which participants were drilled on the identification of pests and diseases, positive and negative selection, dehaulming, phytosanitary treatment, and the proper handling of phytosanitary products, amongst others. Participants in the workshops were either active seed potato growers or those aspiring to venture into seed potato production. In the West region, fifteen (15) participants attended, of whom only one (01) was a woman. In the Adamawa region, eighteen (18) participants took part, of whom six (06) were women. For the Northwest region and Lebialem division, twenty-four (24) participants attended the training, of whom six (06) were women. At the end of the workshops, trainees were satisfied with the knowledge acquired and expressed the need to be accompanied for bettering the quality and quantity of their seed in their respective regions and divisions

Yield and Yield Attributes of Extra-early Maize (Zea Mays L.) as Affected by Rates of Npk Fertilizer Succeeding Chilli Pepper (Capsicum Frutescens) Supplied with Different Rates Sheep Manure

Field experiment was conducted in 2005 and 2006 to study response of extra-early maize variety (95TZEE-Y1) to rates of NPK (0, 40:20:20, 80:40:40 and 120:60:60 kg N:P2O5:K2O ha-1) and residual FYM (0, 5, 10 and 15 t ha-1 applied to chilli pepper the previous season) in the semi-arid zone of Nigeria. Randomized complete block design with three replicates was used. Higher values for soil physical and chemical properties were obtained in plots supplied with manure the previous season with soil from 2006 experiment more fertile than for the first year, hence produced 21% more grain yield. All the applied NPK rates in 2005 and except 40:20:20 ha1 in 2006 had resulted in early maize crop as compared to control. Husked and de-husked cob and 100-grain weights and grain yield/ha were higher at 120:60:60 kg NPK ha-1. Maize grown in plot supplied with 15 t FYM ha1 the previous year matured earlier. Cobs and 100-grain weights and grain yield were highest in plot supplied with 10 t FYM ha1. The 10t FYM ha-1 had 69% and 68% more grain yield than the control in 2005 and 2006, respectively. Highest maize yield was obtained at 120:60:60 kg NPK ha-1 or 10t FYM ha-1. All the parameters measured significantly and positively related to each other when the two years data were combined