Yield Effects of Tissue Culture Bananas in Kenya: Accounting for Selection Bias and the Role of Complementary Inputs

We analyze yield effects of tissue culture (TC) banana technology in the Kenyan small farm sector, using recent survey data and an endogenous switching regression approach. TC banana plantlets, which are free from pests and diseases, have been introduced in East Africa since the late-1990s. While field experiments show significant yield advantages over traditional banana suckers, a rigorous assessment of impacts in farmers' fields is still outstanding. A comparison of mean yield levels between TC adopters and non-adopters in our sample shows no significant difference. However, we find a negative selection bias, indicating that farmers with lower than average yields are more likely to adopt TC. Controlling for this bias results in a positive and significant TC net yield gain of 7%. We also find that TC technology is more knowledgeintensive and more responsive to irrigation than traditional bananas. Simulations show that improving access to irrigation could lift TC productivity gains to above 20%. The analytical approach developed and applied here may also be useful for the evaluation of other knowledgeintensive package technologies and innovations in perennial crops. --Biotechnology,adoption,productivity,impact,endogenous switching regression,Kenya

Uloga adrenalnih žlijezda u nastanku promjena u metabolizmu ugljikohidrata izazvanih diazinonom u štakora

Treatment of rats with diazinon (40 mg/kg, i.p.) resulted in hyper-glycaemia and depletion of glycogen from the brain and peripheral tissues two hours after administration. The activities of glycogen phosphorylase and phosphoglucomutase were significantly higher in the brain and liver; that of glucose-6-phosphatase was not altered. The activities of the glycolytic enzymes hexokinase and lactate dehydrogenase were increased only in the brain. The cholinesterase activity in the brain was reduced by treatment with diazinon. The activities of the hepatic gluconeogenic enzymes fructose I.6-diphosphatase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase were significantly increased. The lactate level was increased in the brain and blood, whereas that of pyruvate was not changed. The activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was not changed to any major extent. Cholesterol and ascorbic acid contents of adrenals were depleted in diazinon-treated animals. The changes were pronounced after intraperitoneal administration of 40 mg/kg diazinon, they were slight but significant after 20 mg/kg, and absent after l0 mg/kg. Hyperglycaemia and changes in carbohydrate metabolism were abolished by adrenalectomy suggesting possible involvement of adrenals.U štakora koji su dobivali diazinon (40 mg/kg) intraperitonealno dva sata nakon pnm1ene utvrđena je hiperglikemija i smanjenje nivoa glikogena u tkivima mozga i živaca. Aktivnosti glikogen fosforilaze i fosfoglukomutaze u mozgu i jetri bile su značajno više, dok se aktivnost glukoza-6-fosfataze nije promijenila. Glikolitski enzimi heksokinaza i laktat dehidrogenaza imali su povišenu aktivnost samo u mozgu. Tretman diazinonom doveo je do smanjene aktivnosti kolinesteraze u mozgu. Aktivnosti glukoneogenih enzima jetre fruktoza 1,6-difosfataze i fosfoenolpiruvatne karboksikinaze značajno su porasle. Nivo laktata bio je povišen u mozgu i krvi, dok je koncentracija piruvata ostala nepromijenjena. Aktivnost glukoza-6-fosfatne dehidrogenaze nije se bitno promijenila. Sadržaj kolesterola i askorbinske kiseline u nadbubrežnim žlijezdama bioje niži u životinja koje su primale diazinon, Promjene su bile najizraženije nakon doze od 40 mg kg diazinona, male ali značajne nakon doze od 20 mg/kg, a nije ih bilo nakon doze od 10 mg/kg. Hiperglikemija i promjene u metabolizmu ugljikohidrata bile su spriječene adrenalektomijom što ukazuje na moguću ulogu nadbubrežnih žlijezda u biokemijskim promjenama izazvanima diazinonom

Assessment of the functional results of hemiarthroplasty in geriatric individuals with unstable intertrochanteric femur fractures

Background: The objective of our study is to measure early weight bearing, mobilization, rapid rehabilitation, complications in unstable intertrochanteric femur after hemiarthroplasty fractures in elderly patients. Methods: Prospective and retrospective, non-randomized study was conducted to assess functional results of hemiarthroplasty in elderly individuals with unstable intertrochanteric femur fractures following surgery in patients who underwent surgery from 2019 to 2021 in department of orthopaedics of Seth Nandlal Dhoot Hospital, Aurangabad. Out of total 44 participants, there were 16 males and 28 females with mean age of 79.54 years of study participants. The patients were evaluated radiologically with routine X-rays i.e. pelvis with both hip joint anteroposterior (AP) view and affected side hip lateral view and clinically early weight bearing, mobilization, rapid rehabilitation and complication with Harris hip score. Results: In our study we observed good result of 86.53±5.73 mean Harris hip score at the end of 1 year was following surgery in 44 study participants who underwent hemiarthroplasty in unstable intertrochanteric femur fractures in elderly patients. Conclusions: Primary hemiarthroplasty offers an essentially pain-free movable joint and is a preferable mode of treatment for older osteoporotic patients who suffers from unstable intertrochanteric femur fractures. Hemiarthroplasty allows for early mobilization and offers rapid stability and mobility, preventing the issues associated with recumbency. Hemiarthroplasty has a lower rate of complications and revision surgery than fixation. According to the Harris hip score, primary bipolar hemiarthroplasty results in a good functional outcome, but long-term monitoring is necessary

Estimating the avoidable burden of certain modifiable risk factors in osteoporotic hip fracture using Generalized Impact Fraction (GIF) model in Iran

Backgrounds: The number of hip fractures, the most common complication of osteoporosis, has increased rapidly over the past decades. The goal of this study is to estimate the avoidable burden of certain modifiable risk factor of the condition using the Generalized Impact Fraction (GIF) model, which has been suggested and used by epidemiologists to overcome the drawbacks associated with the use of Attributable Fraction index. In addition to preventing a risk factor or the avoidable fraction of burden, this index can also calculate the change in the burden, when a risk factor is altered.Methods: International databases were searched through PubMed, CINAHLD, Embase using OVID and Google scholar. National resources were searched through IranDoc, IranMedex, SID and Journal sites. Other resources include abstract books and articles sent to the IOF congress. The following search strategy was used: (" Osteoporotic fracture" OR " Fragility Hip fracture" OR " Calcium" OR " vitamin D" OR " BMI" OR " lean body weight" OR " Physical activity" OR " exercise" OR " Smoke" ) AND (" prevalence" OR " incidence" OR " relative risk" ) and limited to " humans." Results: With regards to different scenarios already explained in modifying the studied risk factors, the greatest impact in reducing the prevalence of risk factors on osteoporotic hip fractures, was seen in low serum vitamin D levels, low physical activity and low intake of calcium and vitamin D, respectively. According to the fact that interventions for low serum vitamin D and low intake of calcium and vitamin D, are related to each other, it can be concluded that implementing interventions to change these two risk factors, in the easy, moderate and difficult scenarios, would result in approximately a 5%, 11% and 17% decrease in the burden of osteoporotic hip fractures, respectively. The addition of interventions addressing low physical activity in the easy, moderate and difficult scenarios, an 8%, 21% and 35% reduction in the burden of osteoporotic hip fractures would be reported, respectively.Conclusion: Improving serum vitamin D levels, recommending the consumption of calcium and vitamin D supplementations and advocating physical activity are the most effective interventions to reduce the risk of osteoporotic hip fractures. © 2013 Shahnazari et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd

Can genetic engineering for the poor pay off? : an ex-ante evaluation of Golden Rice in India

Genetic engineering (GE) in agriculture is a controversial topic in science and society at large. While some oppose genetically modified crops as proxy of an agricultural system they consider unsustainable and inequitable, the question remains whether GE can benefit the poor within the existing system and what needs to be done to deliver these benefits? Golden Rice has been genetically engineered to produce provitamin A. The technology is still in the testing phase, but, once released, it is expected to address one consequence of poverty ? vitamin A deficiency (VAD) ? and its health implications. Current interventions to combat VAD rely mainly on pharmaceutical supplementation, which is costly in the long run and only partially successful. We develop a methodology for ex-ante evaluation, taking into account the whole sequence of effects between the cultivation of the crop and its ultimate health impacts. In doing so we build on a comprehensive, nationally representative data set of household food consumption in India. Using a refined disability-adjusted life year (DALY) framework and detailed health data, this study shows for India that under optimistic assumptions this country?s annual burden of VAD of 2.3 million DALYs lost can be reduced by 59.4% hence 1.4 million healthy life years could be saved each year if Golden Rice would be consumed widely. In a low impact scenario, where Golden Rice is consumed less frequently and produces less provitamin A, the burden of VAD could be reduced by 8.8%. However, in both scenarios the cost per DALY saved through Golden Rice (US$ 3.06-19.40) is lower than the cost of current supplementation efforts, and it outperforms international cost-effectiveness thresholds. Golden Rice should therefore be considered seriously as a complementary intervention to fight VAD in rice-eating populations in the medium term

Sediment Denitrification Potential in the Elizabeth River, Virginia

Sediment denitrification potential from two sites in the Elizabeth River estuary was studied over a nine-month period using the acetylene blockage method. Rates of microbial processes in this environment are of interest because of the high concentration of toxics present in some parts of the system. Highest rates were found in the highly polluted Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River with nitrate amended sediment ranging from 2-262 nmol N20/h per 20ml of sediment and exhibiting maximal rates during spring and fall. Rates in the Main Stem of the Elizabeth River were lower, with less than 1-85 nmol N2O/h/20ml in nitrate amended sediment, and maxima in late fall. Unamended sediment from the Southern Branch denitrified in spring (2-131 nmol N2O/h/20ml) and fall (1-124 nmol N2O/h/20ml) only. Main Stem unamended sediment denitrified ony minimally in the spring. Sediment denitrification potential was independent of temperature and dissolved oxygen in the water column. Comparison of phytoplankton abundance values and potential denitrification rates suggest that denitrification potential may be stimulated by phytoplankton bloom senescence. Comparison to other published studies shows sediment denitrification potential in the Elizabeth River to be within the range of values reported for other environments