Impact of Cultural Practice on the Control of Cosmopolites sordidus in Banana and Plantain Communities in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area, Ondo State, Nigeria

In a study of the assessment of the banana weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus in an environment that sustains high production of banana and plantain in Ondo State, Nigeria, low levels of C. sordidus population and infestation were discovered. Population surveys of the weevil were conducted in randomly selected crop plots near living homes ( 500m). Investigation was done by the use of trapping systems, dissections of cut decaying pseudo stems and culturing of immature stages of insects to adulthood. A total number of 23 C. sordidus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) were collected from 50 sampled plots that showed 10% infestation. Number of near – living home infested plots 2 (4%) did not significantly differ (P > 0.05) from number of far-from living home 3 (6%) infested plots. The result of this study also showed that the number of the pest found in banana and plantain crops in plots near living homes 11 (47.83%) did not significantly differ (P > 0.05) from those in plots far from living homes 12 (52.17%). This suggests that site of crop plot has no obvious impact on the prevalence of C. sordidus in banana and plantain communities. In this study, the relationship between backyard / kitchen waste and the population of C. sordidus needs further investigation while the low population and infestation levels recorded strongly indicate cultural practice effect.Key words: Banana weevil, high production, population, living homes, trapping systems

Participatory Savings And Borrowing For Start-Up And Recapitalization Needs: Farmers Experience In Nigerian Agricultural Cooperatives And Rural Development Bank (Nacrdb) Abia State, Nigeria

This study of Farmer cash savers and borrowers was conducted in 5 branches of a formal small farmer-centered credit institution- the Nigerian Agricultural Cooperatives and Rural Development Bank(NACRDB) in Abia State, Nigeria. Thirty-two (32) farmers who had mandatory savings with the bank were involved. The savings rate across the branches averaged 8.33% but the borrowing rate was as high as 75.18% across the bank branches. A relatively higher proportion of the loans served re-capitalization purposes than start-up needs of the participants/beneficiaries .Experienced farmers with on-going projects were more prepared to manage credit facilities and should be considered for more loans whenever they meet up with the conditions for such new contracts. Keywords: Participation, Start-up needs, Re-capitalization needs.Journal of Agriculture and Social Research Vol. 8 (1) 2008: pp. 89-9

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Background: Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. // Methods: We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung's disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. // Findings: We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung's disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middle-income countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in low-income countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. // Interpretation: Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Analysis of preweaning body weights in West African dwarf goats and their crosses

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Farmers Utilization Of Loan Schemes Of The Nigerian Agricultural And Cooperatives Bank (Nacrdb) In Abia State, Nigeria

This study on utilization of loans was conducted in the five branches of theNigerian Agricultural and Cooperatives Bank (NACRDB), in Abia State Nigeria. Two farmer customers were sampled randomly in proportion to the category of the bank branch . Thirty-two (32) farmers who had mandatory savings with the bank were involved. The savings rate across the branches averaged 8.33% but the borrowing rate was as high as 75.18% across the bank branches. A relatively higher proportion of the loans served re-capitalization purposes than start-up needs of the participants/beneficiaries .Experienced farmers with ongoing projects were more prepared to manage credit facilities and should be considered for more loans whenever they meet up with the conditions for such new contracts Keywords: Participation, Start-up needs, Re-capitalization needs.Global Approaches to Extension Practice Vol. 3 (2) 2007: pp. 44-4

Effects of Particle Size on Palm Kernel Oil Yield under Uniaxial Loading

The effects of particle size on oil yield expelled from palm kernel under uniaxial loading were studied. Palm kernel (Dura Variety) was obtained and dried to 4.5% moisture content. The palm kernels were crushed, the crushed meal was further size reduced to obtain fine samples. The crushed samples were classified into fine and coarse particle sizes using a set of laboratory Endocotts Test Sieves and Shaker. A laboratory mechanical oil expeller with a temperature controller and a force measuring device were used to express oil from the palm kernel under uniaxial compression using a hydraulic press. The effects of coarse and fine particle size on oil yield were studied at heating temperatures of 70, 90, 110 and 130°C and applied pressures of 6.0, 9.0, 12.0 and 15.0 MPA, respectively. The results obtained were subjected to statistical analysis using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and T-test. Particle size had significant effects on oil yield at 1% level of significance. The study revealed that oil yield from fine particle size are higher and significantly different from that obtained from the coarse particle size at all operative parameters (temperature and pressure) investigated. The highest oil yield of 22.90% was obtained with fine particle samples at a heating temperature of 70°C and applied pressure of 15.0 MPA. It is then concluded that, in order to maximize oil yield during mechanical expression of oil from palm kernel under uniaxial loading, the palm kernel size should be reduced to fine particles.Keywords: Oil yield, uniaxial compression, particle size, palm kerne