Pre-Exposure to 50 Hz Magnetic Fields Modifies Menadione-Induced Genotoxic Effects in Human SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells

BACKGROUND: Extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields (MF) are generated by power lines and various electric appliances. They have been classified as possibly carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, but a mechanistic explanation for carcinogenic effects is lacking. A previous study in our laboratory showed that pre-exposure to ELF MF altered cancer-relevant cellular responses (cell cycle arrest, apoptosis) to menadione-induced DNA damage, but it did not include endpoints measuring actual genetic damage. In the present study, we examined whether pre-exposure to ELF MF affects chemically induced DNA damage level, DNA repair rate, or micronucleus frequency in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Exposure to 50 Hz MF was conducted at 100 µT for 24 hours, followed by chemical exposure for 3 hours. The chemicals used for inducing DNA damage and subsequent micronucleus formation were menadione and methyl methanesulphonate (MMS). Pre-treatment with MF enhanced menadione-induced DNA damage, DNA repair rate, and micronucleus formation in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Although the results with MMS indicated similar effects, the differences were not statistically significant. No effects were observed after MF exposure alone. CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm our previous findings showing that pre-exposure to MFs as low as 100 µT alters cellular responses to menadione, and show that increased genotoxicity results from such interaction. The present findings also indicate that complementary data at several chronological points may be critical for understanding the MF effects on DNA damage, repair, and post-repair integrity of the genome

Social Safety Nets for Food and Nutritional Security in India

This paper brings together existing literature on the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNRGEA) and the Public Distribution System (PDS) in India, offering a narrative review of the evidence on impacts on food security, health and nutrition of beneficiaries. Both programs operate on a large scale and have the capacity to impact the factors leading to undernutrition. It is evident that despite the deficiencies in implementation, both the MGNREGA and the PDS are inclusive and reach the poor and the marginalized who are likely to also experience greater undernutrition and poor health. Data challenges have however prevented researchers from conducting studies that assess the ultimate impact of these two large-scale programs on health and nutrition. The evidence that exists suggests largely positive impacts indicating a clear potential to make these programs more nutrition sensitive not just by incorporating elements that would explicitly address nutritional concerns but also by directing specific attention to innovations that strengthen critical complementarities and synergies that exist between the two programs

The Relative Importance of Credit in Agricultural Production in Ghana: Implications for Policy and Practice

Empirical literature and policy documents always capture access to credit as one of the most important determinants of successful agricultural production in Ghana and elsewhere in the developing world, particularly Africa. It is often argued that access to credit allows farmers to invest confidently in their agricultural production activities leading to increased productivity, which consequently is able to urge them out of poverty. The extent to which these long held views and narratives are true in modern Ghana is yet to be ascertained. This paper therefore uses mixed methods to ascertain whether or not farmers accord the same level of importance to credit in their agricultural production as being perceived by policy makers, development practitioners and researchers. Thus, the paper analyzed the importance of credit relative to other factors of agricultural production of farm households in Ghana. Multistage sampling was employed in the selection of sub-study areas and research participants across the three main ecological zones (i.e. coastal, forest and savannah) of Ghana. The results indicated that the five most important factors of agricultural production, in the view of farmers are, in descending order, equity finance, technological change, farm implements, credit finance and labor. This result show that in relative terms, access to credit is the fourth most important, which means that its importance has over the years been exaggerated in the empirical literature and by policy makers, implementers and development practitioners. The implication of this is that policies that aim to improve agricultural production and promote transformation of Ghana’s agricultural sector must focus on helping farmers accumulate equity capital, provide them with the requisite technologies and mechanized farm equipment before thinking of credit financing

Estimation of the Determinants of Credit Demand by Farmers and Supply by Rural Banks in Ghana’s Upper East Region

Credit is a strategic empowerment tool that has the potential to change the life of a person, family or community from a situation of abject poverty to a more dignified life. It can transform self-image, unlock potential and boost the productivity and well-being of the poor and vulnerable, especially farmers. This paper estimates the determinants of credit demand by farmers and supply by Rural Banks in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Semi-structured questionnaire complimented by key informant interviews and focus group discussions were used in gathering data from 250 farmers in 5 districts of Upper East Region. The logit model was used to estimate the determinants of credit demand by farmers and the Tobit model used to estimate the determinants of credit supply by Rural Banks. The findings showed that age of farmers, gender and political affiliations among others are the main determinants of credit demand by farmers. Type of crop grown, farm size and the amount of savings made are some determinants of credit supply by the Rural Banks. It is concluded that demand for credit by farmers and supply of it by Rural Banks in Ghana‟s Upper East Region are determined by socio-economic and politico-cultural factors. It is recommended that government; the Bank of Ghana and the Rural Banks themselves should develop strategies that aim at enhancing the positive determinants of credit demand and supply and mitigating the negative ones to ensure credit widening and deepening among farmers