Overview of the agricultural input sector in Ghana

Knowledge of the characteristics and size of the agricultural input sector of a country is critical for policymakers to design appropriate interventions that not only foster growth in the sector, but also support the agricultural development goals of the country. In 2009, the International Food Policy Research Institute and the International Fertilizer Development Center jointly conducted a census of agricultural input dealers in Ghana to fill a critical data gap on the nature of the country’s agricultural input sector. This paper presents a detailed description of the sector’s structure, market practices, and supply chain. It also assesses the sector’s response to recently implemented fertilizer subsidies, and findings show that, despite the government’s goal of making the subsidy program supportive of the private market, the majority of fertilizer retailers were excluded from participating.agricultural input sector, fertilizer, agro-dealers network, vouchers, subsidies,

Rehabilitating agriculture and promoting food security following the 2010 Pakistan floods: Insights from South Asian experience

The recent floods in Pakistan have had a devastating effect on the Pakistani population. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA 2010) estimates that, as of early September 2010, more than 20 million people had been displaced by the flood and by some estimates the damage to crops, housing, other buildings, roads, and irrigation infrastructure now reaches $6.5 billion (OCHA 2010).* Recovery experiences from previous natural disasters in Pakistan and throughout South Asia, especially the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan and the 1998 flood in Bangladesh, suggest lessons in four broad areas that are relevant for recovery efforts following the 2010 Pakistan flood. First, market and trade policies should be clear, transparent, and consistent, maintaining adequate price incentives so that private trade and imports can contribute to postdisaster recovery. Restoration of private trade (and even promotion of expansion of trade) can enhance both price stability and food security more effectively and at far less cost than otherwise, particularly in the rehabilitation phase. Recovery experiences from previous natural disasters in Pakistan and throughout South Asia, especially the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan and the 1998 flood in Bangladesh, suggest lessons in four broad areas that are relevant for recovery efforts following the 2010 Pakistan flood. Second, there is a need for a strong institutional framework to coordinate the large-scale disaster response. Long-term and short-term goals need to be accounted for and integrated into a comprehensive postdisaster response framework. Involvement of all affected stakeholders in the policy formulation is important to ensure representation and participation. Third, recovery efforts should also include support for livelihood security and restoration and ensure inclusion of the stakeholders. In the immediate aftermath of the floods, a provision of compensation based on loss of livelihoods might be necessary to assist affected groups. Alternative strategies for the poor to cope with the loss of income need to be examined (including credit provision) so as to avoid high and unsustainable household indebtedness. Fourth, evaluation of previously implemented projects suggests that focus on not only restoring infrastructure facilities but also upgrading them can lead to enhanced flood resistance as well as a reduction in future disaster loss. In addition, the resumption of normal agricultural activities as soon as possible is vital for the country's recovery. The provision of inputs to affected smallholders is necessary for the resumption of normal livelihood activities. The 2010 Pakistan National Disaster Response Plan incorporates some of these lessons learned from earlier disasters. However, despite the establishment of national and sub-national disaster management authorities, significant challenges to the functioning of this system still remain. Two alternative institutions present themselves as possible vehicles for the delivery of poverty-alleviating interventions and resources—the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) and the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). PPAF uses a participatory and community-based model and comprises a network of more than 130,000 community organizations and groups in 127 districts covering 30,000 villages. This large and established network puts PPAF in a convenient position to reach affected communities in a timely and efficient manner. BISP has a partnership with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) that is being used to provide necessary financial support to flood victims throughout the country. However, there are several obstacles to the successful disbursement of funds through BISP. In particular, because a large percentage of displaced people do not possess computerized national identity cards, these people could be excluded from the income support programs unless a new comprehensive listing is done. Finally, it is important to establish and strengthen disaster response capability so that the country can better respond to recurring natural disasters. Emergency early warning system mechanisms have the potential to substantially reduce casualties and economic losses from disasters, and they need to be strengthened. Likewise, the lessons learned from the relief and rehabilitation response to the 2010 floods should be incorporated in contingency plans for future natural disasters.floods, lessons learned, postdisaster recovery and rehabilitation,

Rehabilitating Agriculture and Promoting Food Security After the 2010 Pakistan Floods: Insights from the South Asian Experience

The 2010 floods in Pakistan had a devastating effect on the Pakistani population. This paper summarises recovery experiences from previous natural disasters in South Asia, including the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan and the 1998 flood in Bangladesh, and suggests several lessons relevant for recovery efforts following the 2010 Pakistan flood. First, market and trade policies should maintain adequate price incentives so that private trade and imports can contribute to postdisaster recovery. Second, a strong institutional framework is needed to coordinate the large-scale disaster response. Third, recovery efforts should also include support for livelihood security and restoration, ensuring inclusion of the stakeholders. Fourth, restoring and upgrading infrastructure facilities can lead to enhanced flood resistance as well as a reduction in future disaster loss. Two alternative institutions may be possible vehicles for poverty-alleviation—the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) and the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). To address future disasters, however, it is important to establish and strengthen disaster response capability, including applying lessons learned from the relief and rehabilitation response to the 2010 floods

Rifampicin Does not Significantly Affect the Expression of Small Heterodimer Partner in Primary Human Hepatocytes

The small/short heterodimer partner (SHP, NR0B2) is a nuclear receptor corepressor lacking a DNA binding domain. SHP is induced by bile acid-activated farnesoid X receptor (FXR) resulting in CYP7A1 gene suppression. In contrast, Pregnane X receptor (PXR) activation by its ligands was recently suggested to inhibit SHP gene transactivation to maximize the induction of PXR target genes. However, there are also conflicting reports in literature whether PXR or rodent Pxr activation down-regulates SHP/Shp expression. Moreover, the PXR-mediated regulation of the SHP gene has been studied only at the SHP mRNA and transactivation (gene reporter assay) levels. In this study, we studied the effect of rifampicin, a prototype PXR ligand, on SHP mRNA, and protein expression in three primary human hepatocyte cultures. We found that SHP mRNA is not systematically down-regulated in hepatocyte in culture after 24 h treatment with rifampicin. Consistently, we did not observe down-regulation of SHP protein in primary human hepatocytes after 24 and 48 h of incubation with rifampicin. We can conclude that although we observed slight down-regulation of SHP mRNA and protein in several hepatocyte preparations, the phenomenon is unlikely critical for PXR-mediated induction of its target genes

Vers de nouvelles matrices minérales pour l'immobilisation et la valorisation des déchets ultimes de l'incinération des déchets ménagers

L'objectif général de cette thèse est de transformer les déchets ultimes et dangereux contenant des métaux lourds, en matières minérales chimiquement stables. L'augmentation de la production des ordures ménagères (OM) est un problème qui concerne et préoccupe le monde entier. Parmi les différentes méthodes de traitement des déchets municipaux, l'incinération est une technologie qui peut fournir une solution efficace et respectueuse pour l'environnement. Le problème de ce traitement est la production de REFIOM. Les REFIOM peuvent contenir de grandes quantités de composés métalliques toxiques et est considéré comme un déchet dangereux ce qui oblige à les mettre en décharges classées. Trois types de matériaux pour l'immobilisation du plomb et du cadmium ont été étudiés : les vitrocéramiques, les céramiques frittées et les géopolymères. Nous sommes parvenus à synthétiser une base de vitrocéramique à partir de cendres incinérées purs et nous avons diminué sa volatilisation lors de sa production. Des résultats prometteurs ont été obtenus pour la vitrocéramique Ca-Mg-Si-O qui a incorporé durablement une quantité élevée de cadmium dans les structures cristallines et le plomb dans la structure amorphe. La phase cristalline est plus résistante à l'attaque acide en raison de son incorporation dans une matrice vitreuse qui génère une double protection. Ses travaux ouvrent la possibilité de créer cette matrice en ajoutant des oxydes commerciaux aux résidus d'incinération. Nous avons étudié la céramique frittée à base du système Ba-Mg-Ti-O. Nous avons obtenu les trois phases minérales présentées dans la céramique SYNROC (hollandite, pérovskite et rutile) où le cadmium substitue le magnésium tandis que le plomb a occupé le site appartenant au baryum. La céramique frittée est satisfaisante en termes d'immobilisation des métaux lourds avec de bonnes propriétés physiques. Pour produire des géopolymères résistants à partir de REFIOM, il est avantageux d'utiliser un rapport L/S = 1,2 et de les sécher à température ambiante. Il a été observé que le frittage influence le taux de réorganisation structurelle avec l'apparition de la phase sodalite ( Na4Si3Al3O12Cl), qui se compose de tunnels où les métaux lourds peuvent être incorporés. Le plomb et le cadmium restent largement en dessous de la limite des normes TCLP. Le traitement thermique à plus de 500C augmente la densité de l'échantillon. Lorsque les REFIOM sont mélangés avec d'autres types de déchets tels que des MIOM ou du calcin, il est possible d'augmenter la résistance chimique et mécanique. Nous avons conclu que les trois matrices de stockages étudiées offrent de bonne perspective pour l'immobilisation du plomb et du cadmiumThe overall objective of this thesis is to transform ultimate and hazardous waste containing heavy metals, into chemically stable mineral materials. The increasing municipal solid waste (MSW) generation is a problem ranging to global concern. Among various MSW treatment methods, incineration is a technology, which may provide an efficient and environmental friendly solution. Problem of this treatment is the production of fly ash. Fly ash may contain large amounts of toxic metal compounds and is considered as hazardous waste with obligation of final disposal into specialized landfills. Three types of materials for immobilization of lead and cadmium have been investigated: glass ceramics, sintered ceramics and geopolymers. We manage to synthetize a glass-ceramic based purely on the incinerated ashes and to decrease the volatilization during its production. Promising results have been obtained for Ca-Mg-Si-O bearing glass-ceramic with high sustainable incorporation of cadmium into crystalline structures and lead into an amorphous structure. Crystalline structure was evaluated being more resistant against acid attack because of its embedding into a glass matrix that generates a double protection. The future research should be done on possibility obtaining this phase by addition of commercial oxides into fly ash. Sintered ceramic investigated was based on Ba-Mg-Ti-O system. We obtained three mineral phases presented in SYNROC (hollandite, perovskite and rutile) where cadmium substituted the site of magnesium while lead occupied the site belonging to barium. The sintered ceramic is satisfactory in terms of toxic elements incorporation and of chemical and mechanical resistance. For production of resistant geopolymer from fly ashes, it is favorable to use ratio L/S =1.2 and drying at room temperature. It was observed that sintering affects the rate of structural reorganization with apparition of sodalite phase (Na4Si3Al3O12Cl), which consists of tunnels where heavy metals can be incorporated. Lead and cadmium stay mainly below the limit of TCLP standards. The heat treatment over 500C increases density of the sample. When fly ash mixed with other types of waste such as bottom ash or waste glass powder, it is possible to obtain a more resistant. It was found that all three matrices are a good prospect for a stabilization technique with respect to the major pollutants lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd)PARIS-EST-Université (770839901) / SudocSudocFranceF

Developmental competence of bovine oocytes: effects of follicle size and the phase of follicular wave on in vitro embryo production.

Abstract Developmental competence of bovine oocytes collected from follicles of different size categories (in either the growth or the dominant phase of the first follicular wave) was studied, with the aim of improving in vitro embryo production. Estrus and ovulation of 39 cyclic Holstein dairy cows were synchronized by two prostaglandin F 2a treatments at 11-day intervals and one hCG treatment on the day of onset of estrus (Day 0). Cows with follicles in either the growth (Day 3, n ¼ 25) or the dominant phase (Day 7, n ¼ 14) were slaughtered, and follicles >5 mm were counted. Three oocyte populations were recovered separately from large (11-15 mm), medium (6-10 mm) and small (2-5 mm) follicles in both follicular phases. All collected cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC), except for markedly atretic oocytes without cumulus cells, were used in experiments. Oocytes were matured, fertilized and cultured by standard methods. There were no significant differences between the growth and the dominant phases for mean numbers of large follicles, useable oocytes and embryos per donor. Generally, those numbers were low, but the development rates of oocytes into blastocysts were high, particularly in the growth phase (60.0%). Mean (AES.E.M.) numbers of medium follicles, oocytes and embryos per donor were higher in the growth as compared with the dominant phase; in the useable oocytes and embryos, this difference was significant (9:6 AE 1:4 and 3:5 AE 0:6 versus 3:9 AE 0:6 and 1:1 AE 0:3; P < 0:01). The development rates of oocytes into blastocysts, however, did not differ significantly between the growth and the dominant phases (36.7% versus 27.8%). Mean numbers of useable oocytes and embryos per donor recovered from small follicles in both follicular wave phases were similar. The development rate of oocytes into blastocysts was generally low, but higher (P < 0:01) in the growth than in the dominant phase (24.5% versus 11.7%). Comparison between the two phases showed that mean number of all counted follicles and all useable oocytes collected per donor were similar, but the mean number of embryos per donor and the development rate of oocytes into blastocysts were higher in the growth phase than in the dominant phase (8:0 AE 1:2 versus 3:8 AE 2:4; P ¼ 0:012 and 30.3% versus 14.9%; P < 0:01). The interaction between follicle size and the phase of follicular wave affected the efficiency of embryo production. The yield of embryos was primarily influenced by the number of oocytes collected from medium follicles and the developmental competence of oocytes from small follicles. The growth phase was more effective for oocyte collection; the number of oocytes from medium follicles and the developmental competence of oocytes from small follicles decreased in the dominant phase.

Juan Amós Comenio, perfil de un filósofo

Jan Patočka ingresó a la comeniología, en 1941, con un artículo programático titulado Una nueva mirada a Comenio[1]. El título de este artículo es la expresión prístina de lo que Patočka trató en los siguientes treinta años, a lo largo de su carrera científica. Patočka reconoce en su texto a los representantes más destacados de la comeniología del momento; sin embargo, cree que “otro, un nuevo Comenio, se necesita hoy”, que no sería sólo una decocción de comida literaria masticad

β-Catenin is a pH sensor with decreased stability at higher intracellular pH.

β-Catenin functions as an adherens junction protein for cell-cell adhesion and as a signaling protein. β-catenin function is dependent on its stability, which is regulated by protein-protein interactions that stabilize β-catenin or target it for proteasome-mediated degradation. In this study, we show that β-catenin stability is regulated by intracellular pH (pHi) dynamics, with decreased stability at higher pHi in both mammalian cells and Drosophila melanogaster β-Catenin degradation requires phosphorylation of N-terminal residues for recognition by the E3 ligase β-TrCP. While β-catenin phosphorylation was pH independent, higher pHi induced increased β-TrCP binding and decreased β-catenin stability. An evolutionarily conserved histidine in β-catenin (found in the β-TrCP DSGIHS destruction motif) is required for pH-dependent binding to β-TrCP. Expressing a cancer-associated H36R-β-catenin mutant in the Drosophila eye was sufficient to induce Wnt signaling and produced pronounced tumors not seen with other oncogenic β-catenin alleles. We identify pHi dynamics as a previously unrecognized regulator of β-catenin stability, functioning in coincidence with phosphorylation

Fucoxanthin Attenuates Rifampin-Induced Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) and Multiple Drug Resistance 1 (MDR1) Gene Expression Through Pregnane X Receptor (PXR)-Mediated Pathways in Human Hepatoma HepG2 and Colon Adenocarcinoma LS174T Cells

Pregnane X receptor (PXR) has been reported to regulate the expression of drug-metabolizing enzymes, such as the cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) family and transporters, such as multiple drug resistance 1 (MDR1). Fucoxanthin, the major carotenoid in brown sea algae, is a putative chemopreventive agent. In this study, we determined whether fucoxanthin could overcome drug resistance through attenuation of rifampin-induced CYP3A4 and MDR1 gene expression by PXR-mediated pathways in HepG2 hepatoma cells. We found that fucoxanthin (1–10 μM) significantly attenuated rifampin (20 μM)-induced CYP3A4, MDR1 mRNA and CYP3A4 protein expression at 24 h of incubation. Mechanistically, fucoxanthin strongly attenuated the PXR-mediated CYP3A4 promoter activity in HepG2 cells. In addition, fucoxanthin attenuated constitutive androstane receptor (CAR)- and rPXR-mediated CYP3A4 promoter activity in this cell line. Using the mammalian two-hybrid assay, we found that fucoxanthin significantly decreased the interaction between PXR and SRC-1, a PXR co-activator. Thus, fucoxanthin can decrease rifampin-induced CYP3A4 and MDR1 expression through attenuation of PXR-mediated CYP3A4 promoter activation and interaction between PXR and co-activator. These findings could lead to potentially important new therapeutic and dietary approaches to reduce the frequency of adverse drug reactions

Strong Inhibitory Effect, Low Cytotoxicity and High Plasma Stability of Steroidal Inhibitors of N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptors With C-3 Amide Structural Motif

Herein, we report the synthesis, structure-activity relationship study, and biological evaluation of neurosteroid inhibitors of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) receptors that employ an amide structural motif, relative to pregnanolone glutamate (PAG) – a compound with neuroprotective properties. All compounds were found to be more potent NMDAR inhibitors (IC50 values varying from 1.4 to 21.7 μM) than PAG (IC50 = 51.7 μM). Selected compound 6 was evaluated for its NMDAR subtype selectivity and its ability to inhibit AMPAR/GABAR responses. Compound 6 inhibits the NMDARs (8.3 receptors (8.3 ± 2.1 μM) more strongly than it does at the GABAR and AMPARs (17.0 receptors (17.0 ± 0.2 μM and 276.4 ± 178.7 μM, respectively). In addition, compound 6 (10 μM) decreases the frequency of action potentials recorded in cultured hippocampal neurons. Next, compounds 3, 5–7, 9, and 10 were not associated with mitotoxicity, hepatotoxicity nor ROS induction. Lastly, we were able to show that all compounds have improved rat and human plasma stability over PAG