Makna Simbol-Simbol dalam Tradisi Hamis Batar (Syukur Jagung) pada Suku Tetun Desa Wehali Kecamatan Malaka Tengah Kabupaten Malaka

Meaning of Symbols in the Tradition of Hamis Batar (Gratitude of Maize) On the Suku Tetun of Wehali Village, Malaka Tengah Sub-district, Malaka Regency. (Culture society of Malaka Regency have a set of meaning value system.,The system is manifested in the structure and the social patterns that are implemented in accordance with the standards passed down from generation to generation. The meaning is contained in "culture" as the linking thread between human beings and the facts that exist outside of himself.) The tradition of Hamisbatar/gratitude of maize is one of the traditional cultures in Malaka regency. This tradition is one of the cultures of many cultures in this area, where are people celebrating in every year as the key roles in community life. Basically the tradition of Hamisbatar reveals the meanings that come as a hope that is always believed by humans. The tradition of Hamisbatar is a regular ceremony that presents the belief that always colored the life of the community because the HamisBatar culture shows the gratitude ceremony that comes through the maize for God or Maromak in Tetun. In this study, the researcher aims to examine the meaning of the symbols contained in the tradition of Hamisbatar (Gratitude of the Maize) with Roland Barthes's theory of semiotic analysis, which in theory examines the meaning of denotation, connotation, and the myth of the symbol in the tradition of Hamisbatar. This research uses the qualitative method. The study was conducted in Wehali Village, Malaka Regency. The data was collected by observation and in-depth interviews. The results showed that the ceremony of HamisBatar performed as a good relationship between human beings with the highest being believed is God. The people follow the ceremony of Hamis Batarwith big hope of obtaining the blessing of the Supreme Being, so as to live healthy, safe, peaceful, and harmonious and live well. The traditions contain various tools used as symbols that represent gratitude offerings to the highest form

Use of Herbicides among Rural Women Farmers in Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract The study examined the use of herbicides among rural women farmers in Abia State, Nigeria. Specifically, identified the sources of information and practices in the use of herbicides, assessed the knowledge level of the rural women on the use of herbicides, ascertained the practices of rural women farmers regarding herbicide use and determined the constraints to the use of herbicides among the women. Using a multistage sampling technique, 70 farmers were selected. The data collected using structured interview schedule, were analysed using descriptive statistics. Some of the herbicides used by the respondents were primextra (22.9%), force up (21.5%), raze down (18.6%) and tackle (18.6%). Majority (64.3%) applied herbicide twice in one growing season. The mean quantity applied was 8.5%. On the farmers’ knowledge level, about half (51.8%) of the women had moderate knowledge on herbicide technology while 30.0% had high knowledge and 18.2% had the low knowledge. The respondents practised cleaning and rinsing of sprayers after use (=1.31), using separate utensil for mixing herbicides (=1.39) and washing of clothes used or spraying separately from other clothes (=1.14). The perceived major constraints to the use of herbicides were: inadequate training (=1.12), inadequate awareness (=1.10), and high cost of herbicides (=1.07). The study recommends increase in extension contact for awareness and training on right use of herbicides. Keywords: herbicides, rural women, Abia State

Use of Herbicides among Rural Women Farmers in Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract The study examined the use of herbicides among rural women farmers in Abia State, Nigeria. Specifically, identified the sources of information and practices in the use of herbicides, assessed the knowledge level of the rural women on the use of herbicides, ascertained the practices of rural women farmers regarding herbicide use and determined the constraints to the use of herbicides among the women. Using a multistage sampling technique, 70 farmers were selected. The data collected using structured interview schedule, were analysed using descriptive statistics. Some of the herbicides used by the respondents were primextra (22.9%), force up (21.5%), raze down (18.6%) and tackle (18.6%). Majority (64.3%) applied herbicide twice in one growing season. The mean quantity applied was 8.5%. On the farmers’ knowledge level, about half (51.8%) of the women had moderate knowledge on herbicide technology while 30.0% had high knowledge and 18.2% had the low knowledge. The respondents practised cleaning and rinsing of sprayers after use (=1.31), using separate utensil for mixing herbicides (=1.39) and washing of clothes used or spraying separately from other clothes (=1.14). The perceived major constraints to the use of herbicides were: inadequate training (=1.12), inadequate awareness (=1.10), and high cost of herbicides (=1.07). The study recommends increase in extension contact for awareness and training on right use of herbicides. Keywords: herbicides, rural women, Abia State

Effectiveness of Climate Change Adaptation Measures used by Women Garden Egg Farmers in Enugu State, Nigeria

This study investigated the effectiveness of climate change (CC) adaptation measures used by women in garden egg production in Enugu State, Nigeria.  Multistage sampling procedure was used to select Eighty respondents for the study. Data were collected through the use of semi-structured interview schedule and analyzed with descriptive statistical tools such as frequency count & percentage, mean scores and standard deviation. The major effects of climate change on the garden egg production were scarcity of adequate floral resources (M =3.00), increased spread of pests and pathogens ( M=2.78), reduced pollen production in flowers ( M=2.68), reduced behavior and distribution activities, increase garden egg susceptibility to pathogens and decreased quantity and quality of garden egg production (M =2.67) and others. The most effective adaptation strategies used by women in garden egg production were change of the sites for farming (M=2.97), establishment of water reserve and farming close to irrigated area (M=2.92). The identified constraints to adapting to the present climate change scenario included: unstable weather (M=3.00), unavailability of modern harvesting techniques (M=2.75), increased pest and disease pathogens (M=2.68), poor access to materials and equipment (M=2.63), among others.  Hence, this study recommends awareness and training of garden egg farmers on how to improve the effects of the adaptation measures

Effectiveness of Climate Change Adaptation Measures used by Women Garden Egg Farmers in Enugu State, Nigeria

This study investigated the effectiveness of climate change (CC) adaptation measures used by women in garden egg production in Enugu State, Nigeria.  Multistage sampling procedure was used to select Eighty respondents for the study. Data were collected through the use of semi-structured interview schedule and analyzed with descriptive statistical tools such as frequency count & percentage, mean scores and standard deviation. The major effects of climate change on the garden egg production were scarcity of adequate floral resources (M =3.00), increased spread of pests and pathogens ( M=2.78), reduced pollen production in flowers ( M=2.68), reduced behavior and distribution activities, increase garden egg susceptibility to pathogens and decreased quantity and quality of garden egg production (M =2.67) and others. The most effective adaptation strategies used by women in garden egg production were change of the sites for farming (M=2.97), establishment of water reserve and farming close to irrigated area (M=2.92). The identified constraints to adapting to the present climate change scenario included: unstable weather (M=3.00), unavailability of modern harvesting techniques (M=2.75), increased pest and disease pathogens (M=2.68), poor access to materials and equipment (M=2.63), among others.  Hence, this study recommends awareness and training of garden egg farmers on how to improve the effects of the adaptation measures

Effectiveness of Climate Change Adaptation Measures used by Women Garden Egg Farmers in Enugu State, Nigeria

This study investigated the effectiveness of climate change (CC) adaptation measures used by women in garden egg production in Enugu State, Nigeria.  Multistage sampling procedure was used to select Eighty respondents for the study. Data were collected through the use of semi-structured interview schedule and analyzed with descriptive statistical tools such as frequency count & percentage, mean scores and standard deviation. The major effects of climate change on the garden egg production were scarcity of adequate floral resources (M =3.00), increased spread of pests and pathogens ( M=2.78), reduced pollen production in flowers ( M=2.68), reduced behavior and distribution activities, increase garden egg susceptibility to pathogens and decreased quantity and quality of garden egg production (M =2.67) and others. The most effective adaptation strategies used by women in garden egg production were change of the sites for farming (M=2.97), establishment of water reserve and farming close to irrigated area (M=2.92). The identified constraints to adapting to the present climate change scenario included: unstable weather (M=3.00), unavailability of modern harvesting techniques (M=2.75), increased pest and disease pathogens (M=2.68), poor access to materials and equipment (M=2.63), among others.  Hence, this study recommends awareness and training of garden egg farmers on how to improve the effects of the adaptation measures

Immune response to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination in multiple sclerosis patients after rituximab treatment interruption

Peripheral B cell depletion via anti-CD20 treatment is a highly effective disease-modifying treatment for reducing new relapses in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. A drawback of rituximab (RTX) and other anti-CD20 antibodies is a poor immune response to vaccination. While this can be mitigated by treatment interruption of at least six months prior to vaccination, the timing to resume treatment while maintaining subsequent vaccine responses remains undetermined. Here, we characterized SARS-CoV-2 S-directed antibody and B cell responses throughout three BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine doses in RTX-treated MS patients, with the first two doses given during treatment interruption. We examined B-cell mediated immune responses in blood samples from patients with RTX-treated MS throughout three BNT162b2 vaccine doses, compared to an age- and sex-matched healthy control group. The first vaccine dose was given 1.3 years (median) after the last RTX infusion, the second dose one month after the first, and the third dose four weeks after treatment re-initiation. We analyzed SARS-CoV-2 S-directed antibody levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the neutralization capacity of patient serum against SARS-CoV-2 S-pseudotyped lentivirus using luciferase reporter assay. In addition, we assessed switched memory (CD19+CD20+CD27+IgD-), unswitched memory (CD19+CD20+CD27+IgD+), naïve (CD19+CD20+CD27-IgD+), and double negative (DN, CD19+CD20+CD27-IgD-) B cell frequencies, as well as their SARS-CoV-2 S-specific (CoV+) and Decay Accelerating Factor-negative (DAF-) subpopulations, using flow cytometry. After two vaccine doses, S-binding antibody levels and neutralization capacity in SARS-CoV-2-naïve MS patients were comparable to vaccinated healthy controls, albeit with greater variation. Higher antibody response levels and CoV+-DN B cell frequencies after the second vaccine dose were predictive of a boost effect after the third dose, even after re-initiation of rituximab treatment. MS patients also exhibited lower frequencies of DAF- memory B cells, a suggested proxy for germinal centre activity, than control individuals. S-binding antibody levels in RTX-treated MS patients after two vaccine doses could help determine which individuals would need to move up their next vaccine booster dose or postpone their next RTX infusion. Our findings also offer first indications on the potential importance of antigenic stimulation of DN B cells and long-term impairment of germinal centre activity in rituximab-treated MS patients

Legal approaches to the burial rights of a surviving wife

Article by Dr Remigius N. Nwabueze (City Solicitors' Educational Trust Lecturer in Property Law at the School of Law, University of Southampton; Leverhulme Research Fellow; Visiting Fellow of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies) published in Amicus Curiae - Journal of the Society for Advanced Legal Studies. The Journal is produced by the Society for Advanced Legal Studies at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London