Determination of Pesticide Residues in Organic and Conventional Exotic Vegetables

Pesticides are used to protect crops from diseases and pests. Their application in agriculture has been in existence since ancient times to date. They have also been used in growing vegetables especially exotic vegetables that are more prone to pests and diseases. There have been concerns over indiscriminate use of pesticides by farmers to grow vegetables especially for local markets since there are no guidelines on Maximum residue levels. This study was done to determine the concentration of cypermethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin pesticide residues in Collard (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) and swiss chard (Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla). The samples included both organic and conventional vegetables that use chemical pesticides. Experimental study design was used which involved laboratory analysis of the samples. Sample extraction was done using AOAC official method 2007.01 known as Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS) method. The method involves use of Acetonitrile, sodium chloride and anhydrous magnesium sulphate for extraction. Clean-up was done using dispersive-solid phase extraction method using Primary-Secondary Amine and anhydrous magnesium sulphate. Residues analysis was done using Reverse-phase High Performance Liquid chromatography. Peak areas of the curves were calculated using Motic Images plus 2.0 and data analysis was done using SPSS 22. Recovery rates of pesticide ranged from 87.78% to 97.93% for cypermethrin and 90.65% to 95.72% for lambda-cyhalothrin. The results indicated that organic vegetable samples had pesticide residues below detectable levels while conventional vegetable samples had levels ranging from 2.495mg/kg to 0.238mg/kg for cypermethrin and 0.352mg/kg to 0.119mg/kg for lambda-cyhalothrin. The residues of both pesticides were above the recommended, this is likely to cause negative health effects such as uncoordination, whole-body tremors and seizures. This indicates that conventional vegetable consumers are exposed to pesticide residues. Farmers should strictly adhere to good agricultural practice to reduce pesticide residues

Influence of Logistics Optimization on Performance of Agricultural Firms in Murang’a County, Kenya

Purpose: The goal of this study was to explore the influence of logistics optimization on agricultural firm performance in Kenya's Murang'a County. The study focused on transportation management, inventory Management, information management and packaging management. It is anticipated that the findings of this study was useful to the government through the ministry of agriculture and county government in Kenya. Therefore, this research study was limited to the scope of the study, target population, specific objectives, theories under this study, and indicators of this study. Keywords: transportation management, inventory Management, information management, packaging management and performance of agricultural firms. DOI: 10.7176/CEIS/13-1-01 Publication date: January 31st 202

EVALUAREA COMPLICAŢIILOR CARDIO-METABOLICE ASOCIATE OBEZITĂŢII: O METODĂ ANTROPOMETRICĂ SIMPLĂ UTILIZATĂ ÎNTR-O PROBLEMĂ COMPLICATĂ

Introducere. Măsurarea indicilor somato-metrici reprezintă o metodă clinică simplă, ce poate fi utilizată pentru evaluarea complicaţiilor cardio-metabolice asociate obezităţii. Obiective. Identifi carea complicaţiilor cardio-metabolice asociate obezităţii şi evaluarea relevanţei utilizării IMC sau a raportului circumferinţă talie-înălţime pentru diagnosticul precoce al acestora, într-un grup de copii şi adolescenţi obezi. Material şi metode. Studiul a inclus 174 de copii diagnosticaţi cu obezitate primară pe o perioadă de 3 ani. Varia bilele analizate au fost: indicii antropometrici (inclusiv IMC, raportul circumferinţă talie-înălţime) şi rezultatele investigaţiilor biochimice. Rezultate. 4,28% dintre copii prezentau suprapondere, 31,43% obezitate şi 64,29% obezitate extremă. Principalele complicaţii cardio-metabolice diagnosticate au fost: insulinorezistenţa (47,76%), hiperinsulinismul, alterarea metabolismului lipidic şi hipertensiunea arterială. Toţi copiii au avut un raport circumferinţă talieînălţime ≥ 0,5. Pentru compararea celor doi indici antropometrici s-a folosit testul ANOVA unifactorial şi analiza post-hoc; nu au existat diferenţe statistic semnifi cative între loturile analizate. Concluzii. Obezitatea defi nită prin valoarea IMC şi raportul circumferinţă talie-înălţime ≥ 0,5 se asociază, în majoritatea cazurilor, cu complicaţii cardio-metabolice. În practica medicală atât IMC, cât şi WHtR ar trebui utilizaţi ca şi metode de evaluare dar, raportul circumferinţă talie-înălţime prezintă câteva avantaje importante

Communities, property rights and forest decentralisation in Kenya: Early lessons from participatory forestry management

The introduction of participatory forestry management (PFM) in Kenya has led to the formation of community forest associations (CFAs). Data collected from 12 forests over a decade indicate that most associations are confederating to manage shared forests through the Forests Act of 2005. Emerging findings indicate that associations are responsible for diverse management activities in forest protection, monitoring, and management, yet access to decision-making, revenue streams, and overall resource control rights are vested in the Kenya Forestry Service. Still, this is an improvement as CFAs perform most governance functions autonomously, including the crafting of resource harvesting rules, the choice of leadership, and conflict resolution. In order to balance community incentives with the burdens and responsibilities they bear, rights to revenue streams generated from forest resources must be shared with communities to ensure continued commitment to the PFM process. Furthermore, the viability of CFAs is threatened by power struggles, leadership wrangles, and the splintering of groups. Negotiation support to moderate conflicting interests, and strengthen internal conflict resolution and governance is necessary

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis Compared to the Overweight and Obese: A Different Approach in Understanding the Results

(1) Background: In cystic fibrosis (CF), the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is recommended from 10 years old annually to screen and diagnose cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD). Alternative OGTT characteristics (glucose curve shape, time to glucose peak, one-hour glucose value, and three-hour glucose value with the new shape curve) were studied in other populations considered at high risk for diabetes; (2) Methods: The study analyses classical and alternative OGGT characteristics from 44 children (22 CF, 22 obese without CF), mean age: 12.9 ± 2.2 years evaluated in a single-center from Romania. (3) Results: In 59.1% of children with CF, the predominant OGTT pattern was: abnormal glucose metabolism or CFRD, with a monophasic curve shape, a late peak glucose level, and 1 h glucose ≥ 155 mg/dL, showing a very different pattern compared with sex and age-matched obese children. Statistical estimation agreement between the late glucose peak (K = 0.60; p = 0.005), the 1 h glucose ≥ 155 mg/dL during OGTT (K = 0.69, p = 0.001), and the classical method of interpretation was found. (4) Conclusions: Late peak glucose and 1 h glucose level ≥ 155 mg/dL during OGTT can be used for diagnosing the early glucose metabolism alteration in children with CF

THE EVALUATION OF OBESITY-RELATED CARDIOMETABOLIC DISEASES: A SIMPLE ANTHROPOMETRIC TOOL FOR A COMPLICATED MATTER

Introduction. Anthropometric measurements are simple clinical tools that can be used for the evaluation of obesity-related cardiometabolic complications. Objective. To identify obesity-related cardiometabolic outcomes and to compare the relevance of BMI or WHtR for early diagnosis in a group of obese children and adolescents. Material and methods. The study included 174 children diagnosed with simple obesity during a three year period. Anthropometric measurements (including BMI and WHtR) and biochemical variables were analyzed. Results. 4.28% of children were overweight, 31.43% were obese and 64.29% had extreme obesity. The main cardiometabolic complication was insulin resistance (47.76%) followed by hyperinsulinism, alteration of the lipid metabolism and hypertension. All children had a WHtR ≥ 0.5. One Way ANOVA with post-hoc t-test analysis was used for the comparative evaluation of the BMI and WHtR; there were no statistic signifi cant differences between groups. Conclusion. Obesity defi ned by BMI and a WHtR ≥ 0.5 is in the majority of cases associated with adverse cardiometabolic outcomes. Both anthropometric indexes should be used as evaluation tools in medical practice, but WHtR has some important advantages

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis Compared to the Overweight and Obese: A Different Approach in Understanding the Results

(1) Background: In cystic fibrosis (CF), the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is recommended from 10 years old annually to screen and diagnose cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD). Alternative OGTT characteristics (glucose curve shape, time to glucose peak, one-hour glucose value, and three-hour glucose value with the new shape curve) were studied in other populations considered at high risk for diabetes; (2) Methods: The study analyses classical and alternative OGGT characteristics from 44 children (22 CF, 22 obese without CF), mean age: 12.9 ± 2.2 years evaluated in a single-center from Romania. (3) Results: In 59.1% of children with CF, the predominant OGTT pattern was: abnormal glucose metabolism or CFRD, with a monophasic curve shape, a late peak glucose level, and 1 h glucose ≥ 155 mg/dL, showing a very different pattern compared with sex and age-matched obese children. Statistical estimation agreement between the late glucose peak (K = 0.60; p = 0.005), the 1 h glucose ≥ 155 mg/dL during OGTT (K = 0.69, p = 0.001), and the classical method of interpretation was found. (4) Conclusions: Late peak glucose and 1 h glucose level ≥ 155 mg/dL during OGTT can be used for diagnosing the early glucose metabolism alteration in children with CF