17 research outputs found
Effect of compost application on the growth of Acacia Nilotica
Acacia nilotica is an important agroforestry specie, which is used in both compact and linear forms. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effect of compost on the growth performance and biomass production of A. nilotica. Completely randomized design (CRD) was used to analyze the variations among several growth morphological traits. Two parallel trials, pot trial (seedlings), field trial (saplings) were conducted simultaneously. Compost and litter mixture were applied in mentioned trials. Following
treatments were used: T0 â control; T1 - 25% of compost and 75% of nursery soil;
T2 - mixture of 50% nursery soil and 50% compost; T3 - mixture of 75% compost and 25% of nursery soil; T4 - where 100% compost was applied. Increase in plant growth was observed with the increases in the amount of compost mixture. In field trial maximum plant
height, shoot length, root length, rootshoot ratio and biomass production was observed when 100% compost level was applied, while minimum was observed without any compost appli-cation. In pot trials, the maximum plant height, rootshoot ratio and biomass production was recorded when 75% compost level was applied. Overall, Acacia performed better with 100% of compost application in field trail and 75% of compost application in
pot trial. The results of this study demonstrated the positive effects of compost on the growth of Acacia. The seedling development was improved considerably with different levels having greater percentage of organic fertilizer and it was concluded that compost
improves soil fertility and it should be used as organic fertilizer in farming and forestry practices for improving crop growth and yield
Contributions of agroforestry on socioeconomic conditions of farmers in Central Punjab, Pakistan â a case study
Agroforerstry (AF) in the
farmlands of Punjab (Pakistan) is a
tradition, but it was practiced without any
proper methodology. From last few years,
AF practices have become popular in
Punjab. Especially in the rural areas woody
biomass is being used as a major source of
energy. The study was designed to examine
the contributions of AF on the socioeconomic
conditions of the farmers in the
central Punjab of Pakistan. District Chiniot
was selected as the universe of study and a
detailed survey was conducted in the three
tehsiles by interviewing 150 randomly
selected farmers with the use of a wellstructured
questionnaire. In addition,
secondary data was also collected from
district agriculture offices. Chi-Square test
was used for quantitative data analysis.
Results showed that farmerâs annual income
and household status was improved after
practicing AF. Reasonably less poor farmers
have more income increase than the poor
farmers due to an extra investment, but
income generation helped poor farmers to
maintain the minimal living standards.
Farmers perceived the advantage of trees
immensely and the large scale farmers
taking this as a genuine source of income. In
adoption of AF, attitude of the farmers was
independent of family size and settlement
period, but was dependent on the occupation
and number of livestock holding. The study
suggested that, in the present financial
scenario of the poor farmers, planting of
suitable tree species with multiple benefits
is an escape way to come out of the vicious
circle of poverty. Along with that
agroforestry can play a vital role in
increasing the vegetation cover in forest
deficient countries. Extension services and
awareness programs should be arranged in the areas where people have negative
attitude about AF practices, because the
cultivated fields are the best places to grow
the tree with crops. Moreover, subsidies and
income generating project should be
launched to motivate people towards AF
Age at first birth in women is genetically associated with increased risk of schizophrenia
Prof. Paunio on PGC:n jÀsenPrevious studies have shown an increased risk for mental health problems in children born to both younger and older parents compared to children of average-aged parents. We previously used a novel design to reveal a latent mechanism of genetic association between schizophrenia and age at first birth in women (AFB). Here, we use independent data from the UK Biobank (N = 38,892) to replicate the finding of an association between predicted genetic risk of schizophrenia and AFB in women, and to estimate the genetic correlation between schizophrenia and AFB in women stratified into younger and older groups. We find evidence for an association between predicted genetic risk of schizophrenia and AFB in women (P-value = 1.12E-05), and we show genetic heterogeneity between younger and older AFB groups (P-value = 3.45E-03). The genetic correlation between schizophrenia and AFB in the younger AFB group is -0.16 (SE = 0.04) while that between schizophrenia and AFB in the older AFB group is 0.14 (SE = 0.08). Our results suggest that early, and perhaps also late, age at first birth in women is associated with increased genetic risk for schizophrenia in the UK Biobank sample. These findings contribute new insights into factors contributing to the complex bio-social risk architecture underpinning the association between parental age and offspring mental health.Peer reviewe
The Cholecystectomy As A Day Case (CAAD) Score: A Validated Score of Preoperative Predictors of Successful Day-Case Cholecystectomy Using the CholeS Data Set
Background
Day-case surgery is associated with significant patient and cost benefits. However, only 43% of cholecystectomy patients are discharged home the same day. One hypothesis is day-case cholecystectomy rates, defined as patients discharged the same day as their operation, may be improved by better assessment of patients using standard preoperative variables.
Methods
Data were extracted from a prospectively collected data set of cholecystectomy patients from 166 UK and Irish hospitals (CholeS). Cholecystectomies performed as elective procedures were divided into main (75%) and validation (25%) data sets. Preoperative predictors were identified, and a risk score of failed day case was devised using multivariate logistic regression. Receiver operating curve analysis was used to validate the score in the validation data set.
Results
Of the 7426 elective cholecystectomies performed, 49% of these were discharged home the same day. Same-day discharge following cholecystectomy was less likely with older patients (OR 0.18, 95% CI 0.15â0.23), higher ASA scores (OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.15â0.23), complicated cholelithiasis (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.48), male gender (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.58â0.74), previous acute gallstone-related admissions (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.48â0.60) and preoperative endoscopic intervention (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.34â0.47). The CAAD score was developed using these variables. When applied to the validation subgroup, a CAAD score of â€5 was associated with 80.8% successful day-case cholecystectomy compared with 19.2% associated with a CAAD score >5 (pâ<â0.001).
Conclusions
The CAAD score which utilises data readily available from clinic letters and electronic sources can predict same-day discharges following cholecystectomy
Antioxidant status and their enhancements strategies for water stress tolerance in chickpea
Gravity and configurational energy induced microstructural changes in liquid phase sintering
An analysis of grain boundaries and grain growth in cemented tungsten carbide using orientation imaging microscopy
Genetic correlation between amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and schizophrenia
We have previously shown higher-than-expected rates of schizophrenia in relatives of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), suggesting an aetiological relationship between the diseases. Here, we investigate the genetic relationship between ALS and schizophrenia using genome-wide association study data from over 100,000 unique individuals. Using linkage disequilibrium score regression, we estimate the genetic correlation between ALS and schizophrenia to be 14.3% (7.05-21.6; P=1 Ă 10) with schizophrenia polygenic risk scores explaining up to 0.12% of the variance in ALS (P=8.4 Ă 10). A modest increase in comorbidity of ALS and schizophrenia is expected given these findings (odds ratio 1.08-1.26) but this would require very large studies to observe epidemiologically. We identify five potential novel ALS-associated loci using conditional false discovery rate analysis. It is likely that shared neurobiological mechanisms between these two disorders will engender novel hypotheses in future preclinical and clinical studies