Comparative Efficacy of Neem Seed Extract with Carbofuran in the Management of African Rice Gall Midge, Orseolia oryzivora Harris and Gagne (Diptera: Cecidomyppdae)

African rice gall midge (AfRGM) Orseolia oryzivora Harris and Gagné is one of the major insect pests of rice in Africa. The dominant pest control strategy in the tropical rice over the past few decades has been in the use of synthetic insecticide. Unfortunately synthetic insecticides have not given the desired results in the management of African rice gall midge, in addition to the side effects of synthetic insecticides on the environment. In order to alleviate the growing public concerns regarding the effects of synthetic pesticides on human health and environmental impact, much attention has been given to botanicals pesticides in the recent decades. Consequently, this study was conducted to determine the efficacy of neem seed extracts in the management of AfRGM compare to carbofuran during 2006/ 2007 farming seasons at two eco-sites in Nigeria. Moreover the effect of the treatments on grain yields was carried out to determine its efficiency. Results showed that the plots treated with neem seed kernel extracts significantly (P < 0.001) reduced AfRGM damage compared to untreated check, and was not statistically different from those plots treated with synthetic pesticide across the levels and seasons. The highest infestation was recorded in the untreated control plots throughout the experimental periods. There was also significant (P < 0.05) increase in number of productive tillers in the treated plots, which significantly increased rice grain yield than in the control plots. The results therefore suggest that the application of neem seed extracts could serve as a suitable alternative to synthetic insecticides in the management of AfRGM. More so the extract has the potential to increase rice grain yield without the disruption of the agro-ecosystem. Keyword: Plant extract, Carbofuran, Orseolia oryzivora control, grain yield

Review of the Fertility Status of the Wetlands of the Lower Anambra River Basin for Sustainable Crop Production.

The Wetlands of the Lower Anambra River Basin have been subjected to continuous crop production for a long time without adequate fertility restoration strategies. There was therefore the need to re-evaluate the soils health for sustainable crop production. Soil samples were   collected from the different zones of the study area and used to evaluate the soils texture, and physico- chemical properties. The results revealed that bulk density ranged from 1.3gcm-3 to 1.74gcm-3 with a mean value of 1.50gcm-1, while the hydraulic conductivity values ranged from 48.0 to 120.0 cm/hr with a mean value of 72.7cm/hr.  The moisture content of the soils was as high as 47.72 to 59.11%.  The soils were generally strongly acidic, ranging from pH 3.39 to 4.94. The organic matter status was generally low, ranging from 0.7 to 2.53 %. The Cation exchange capacity (CEC) was also generally low. The soils suffer multi-nutrient deficiencies. Total N was generally low in all the zones <0.15%, with a range of 0.042 to 0.14%. The available phosphorus in most of the soils were low (<15.0mg kg ), the exchangeable K had a range of 0.077 to 0.246 Cmol/kg. The exchangeable Ca had a range of 1.60 to 5.20 Cmol/kg, low to medium level, while Mg and Na had ranges of 0.80 to 3.20 Cmol/kg and 0.044 to 0.139 Cmol/kg respectively. It was concluded that the soils require conventional to minimum tillage, use of organic manures, judicious use of organic residues, liming, Bio-fertilizers and NPK fertilizers in other to sustain the soil for intensive crop production. Keywords: Soil fertility; Wetlands; Anambra river basin; Crop production

Effect of Abiotic Factors on the Incidence of African Rice Gall Midge, Orseolia oryzivora and its Parasitism by Platygaster diplosisae and Aprostocetus procerae

African rice gall midge (AfRGM), Orseolia oryzivora is one of the most damaging insect pests of lowland rice in Nigeria in the recent time, and could result in total crop failure in endemic areas. Of all the control measures adopted so far biological control is the most promising. Two parasitoids (Platygaster diplosisae, Hym: Platygastridae and Aprostocetus procerae, Hym: Eulophidae) have been identified with the potential to suppressed AfRGM population. In the current study, we evaluated the effect of abiotic factors (rainfall, relative humidity and temperature) in two eco-sites for two years on the incidence of AfRGM, and on the efficiency of the two parasotioids in the management of AfRGM. The incidence of AfRGM was significantly influenced by abiotic factors (rainfall, relative humidity and temperature). The percentage infestation increased with increase in rainfall and relative humidity. The trend was similar at both locations with the highest infestation recorded in October, and decreased in November. At both locations, percentage tiller infestation was greater in the rainy season of 2006 with more frequent rains than in 2007, with highest infestation recorded at Edozhigi in both years. Percentage parasitisms by the two parasitoids were found to have significant correlation with the abiotic factors. Heavy rains and high humidity significantly reduced the efficiency of the two parasitoids. On the contrast, the population and efficiency of the parasitoids were observed to increase with reducing rainfall, RH, but increasing temperature thus increasing the efficiency of the parasitoids later in the season with up to 70% parasitism when combined, with P. diplosisae dominating the field. The results suggest that abiotic factors played significant role on the incidence of AfRGM and the efficiency of these parasitoids and should be considered in the adoption of these parasitoids as bio-control agents of AfRGM. Keywords: Orseolia oryzivora, Platygaster diplosisae, Aprostocetus procerae, abiotic factor

Effect of Different Sources of Heat on Nutritional Composition of Tilapia Fish (Oreochromis niloticus)

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of traditional smoking methods on fresh tilapia fish (Oreochromis niloticus). For this purpose, proximate, mineral and amino acid compositions of tilapia fish smoked with sawdust, rice bran, melon husk and electric oven (control) heat treatments were determined using standard analytical technique. The results showed that crude protein content (%) ranged between 55.10 to 64.16% with the highest value recorded in sample smoked with rice bran heat treatment while crude fat had the highest value (18.10%) also in rice bran smoked sample. Sodium was found to be more abundant in all the samples (5.75 – 10.10 mg/100g) compared with magnesium (5.45 – 9.15 mg/100g), potassium (4.55 – 6.45 mg/100g) and phosphorus (4.70 – 6.00 mg/100g) while the least abundant mineral was chromium (0.05 – 0.15 mg/100g). The harmful metals such as cadmium and lead were not at detectable range of atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The amino acid profile revealed that only Oreochromis niloticus fish sample smoked with sawdust enhanced the contents of total amino acid (TAA), total essential amino acid (TEAA) and total sulphur amino acid (TSAA) by 3.77, 3.95 and 7.03%, respectively while melon husk and rice bran heat treatments reduced TAA, TEAA and TSAA. The limiting amino acid (LAA) for all the samples with different heat treatments was Ile except sample smoked with rice bran which has Val as LAA. Generally, all the smoked samples contained nutritionally useful quantities of total essential amino acids. Keywords: Oreochromis niloticus, agricultural wastes, smoke, proximate, amino acids

On-Orbit Results of Photoelectron Current Measurement System in Low Earth Orbit on HORYU-IV Satellite

On-orbit photoelectron current experiment is one of the missions carried out with the less resource available from a HORYU-IV satellite, for measuring the current from metallic and insulator surfaces from air mass zero (AMO) spectrum. This is with the view to determined photoelectron potential of materials widely used in spacecraft in space. HORYU-IV also known as Arc Event Generator and Investigator satellite (AEGIS) is among HORYU satellite series of Kyushu Institute of Technology, which was launched on February 17, 2016 as a piggy-back on-board H-IIA rocket. The measurement system consists of current-voltage amplifier circuits for Au, Kapton and Black Kapton samples with varying gains and other discrete components. We present the analysis of the telemetry data obtained after the launch; validate the effectiveness of the design and verification processes. The results show that the current measured from Black kapton sample surface had 1.80 nA and 2.70 nA, corresponds to 69.1ᵒ and 75.1ᵒ minimum and maximum elevation angles respectively. This paper described the on-orbit result of PEC and its verification through ground tests

Economic burden of heart failure: investigating outpatient and inpatient costs in abeokuta, southwest Nigeria

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a deadly, disabling and often costly syndrome world-wide. Unfortunately, there is a paucity of data describing its economic impact in sub Saharan Africa; a region in which the number of relatively younger cases will inevitably rise. Methods: Heath economic data were extracted from a prospective HF registry in a tertiary hospital situated in Abeokuta, southwest Nigeria. Outpatient and inpatient costs were computed from a representative cohort of 239 HF cases including personnel, diagnostic and treatment resources used for their management over a 12-month period. Indirect costs were also calculated. The annual cost per person was then calculated. Results: Mean age of the cohort was 58.0±15.1 years and 53.1% were men. The total computed cost of care of HF in Abeokuta was 76, 288,845 Nigerian Naira (US$508, 595) translating to 319,200 Naira (US$2,128 US Dollars) per patient per year. The total cost of in-patient care (46% of total health care expenditure) was estimated as 34,996,477 Naira (about 301,230 US dollars). This comprised of 17,899,977 Naira- 50.9% ($US114,600) and 17,806,500 naira −49.1$US118,710) for direct and in-direct costs respectively. Out-patient cost was estimated as 41,292,368 Naira ($US 275,282). The relatively high cost of outpatient care was largely due to cost of transportation for monthly follow up visits. Payments were mostly made through out-of-pocket spending. Conclusion: The economic burden of HF in Nigeria is particularly high considering, the relatively young age of affected cases, a minimum wage of 18,000 Naira ($US120) per month and considerable component of out-of-pocket spending for those affected. Health reforms designed to mitigate the individual to societal burden imposed by the syndrome are required

Electrophysiological and behavioral responses of female African rice gall midge, Orseolia oryzivora Harris and Gagné, to host plant volatiles

African rice gall midge, Orseolia oryzivora Harris and Gagné, is a major pest of rice in Africa. Depsite its economic importance, its chemical ecology is not well understood. Here, we assessed behavioral and electrophysiological responses of O. oryzivora to host plant volatiles. In olfactometer bioassays, mated female O. oryzivora were attracted to volatiles emitted from intact rice plants but were repelled by volatiles collected from plants infested by conspecifics. In a choice test, there was a preference for volatiles from uninfested plants over those from infested plants. Coupled gas chromatography-electroantennography analyses of panicle volatiles isolated four electrophysiologically active components: (S)-linalool, 4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene, (E)-caryophyllene, and (R/S)-(E)-nerolidol. A synthetic blend of volatiles at the same concentration and ratio as that from an intact plant was attractive to mated females, whereas a blend based on the ratio of volatiles from an infested plant was repellent. This suggests that O. oryzivora uses olfaction for host plant recognition. The identification of blends of volatiles emitted by plants that can both attract and repel O. oryzivora may aid the development of sustainable control measures

Epidemiological and Entomological Evaluations after Six Years or More of Mass Drug Administration for Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination in Nigeria

The current strategy for interrupting transmission of lymphatic filariasis (LF) is annual mass drug administration (MDA), at good coverage, for 6 or more years. We describe our programmatic experience delivering the MDA combination of ivermectin and albendazole in Plateau and Nasarawa states in central Nigeria, where LF is caused by anopheline transmitted Wuchereria bancrofti. Baseline LF mapping using rapid blood antigen detection tests showed mean local government area (LGA) prevalence of 23% (range 4–62%). MDA was launched in 2000 and by 2003 had been scaled up to full geographic coverage in all 30 LGAs in the two states; over 26 million cumulative directly observed treatments were provided by community drug distributors over the intervention period. Reported treatment coverage for each round was ≥85% of the treatment eligible population of 3.7 million, although a population-based coverage survey in 2003 showed lower coverage (72.2%; 95% CI 65.5–79.0%). To determine impact on transmission, we monitored three LF infection parameters (microfilaremia, antigenemia, and mosquito infection) in 10 sentinel villages (SVs) serially. The last monitoring was done in 2009, when SVs had been treated for 7–10 years. Microfilaremia in 2009 decreased by 83% from baseline (from 4.9% to 0.8%); antigenemia by 67% (from 21.6% to 7.2%); mosquito infection rate (all larval stages) by 86% (from 3.1% to 0.4%); and mosquito infectivity rate (L3 stages) by 76% (from 1.3% to 0.3%). All changes were statistically significant. Results suggest that LF transmission has been interrupted in 5 of the 10 SVs, based on 2009 finding of microfilaremia ≥1% and/or L3 stages in mosquitoes. Four of the five SVs where transmission persists had baseline antigenemia prevalence of >25%. Longer or additional interventions (e.g., more frequent MDA treatments, insecticidal bed nets) should be considered for ‘hot spots’ where transmission is ongoing

Blood pressure control and left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive Nigerians

Background : Hypertension is a disease characterized by end-organ complications, leading to high morbidity and mortality in many cases. People with untreated or uncontrolled hypertension often run the risk of developing complications directly associated with the disease. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) has been shown to be a significant risk factor for adverse outcomes both in patients with hypertension and in the general population. We investigated the prevalence and pattern of LVH in a treated hypertensive population at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria, using non-hypertensive subjects as control. Design and Setting : A prospective observational study performed at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Methods : Patients had 6 visits, when at least one blood pressure measurement was recorded for each hypertensive subject and average calculated for systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) separately. The values obtained were used for stratification of the subjects into controlled and uncontrolled hypertension. Subjects also had echocardiograms to determine their left ventricular mass. Results : LVH was found in 14 (18.2%) of the normotensive group, 40 (20.8%) of the uncontrolled hypertensive group and 14 (24.1%) of the controlled hypertensive group when left ventricular mass (LVM) was indexed to body surface area (BSA). When LVM was indexed to height, left ventricular hypertrophy was found in none of the subjects of the normotensive group, while it was found present in 43 (22.4%) and 14 (24.1%) subjects of the uncontrolled and controlled hypertensive groups, respectively. Significant difference in the prevalence of LVH was detected only when LVM was indexed to height alone. Conclusion : Clinic blood pressure is an ineffective way of assessing BP control. Thus in apparently controlled hypertensive subjects, based on office blood pressure, cardiac structural changes do remain despite antihypertensive therapy. This population is still at risk of cardiovascular events.arri\ue8re-plan: l\u2019hypertension est une maladie caract\ue9ris\ue9e par l\u2019orgue de fi n complications menant \ue0 \ue9lev\ue9 de morbidit\ue9 et mortalit\ue9 dans de nombreux cas. Personnes avec l\u2019hypertension non trait\ue9e ou non contr\uf4l\ue9e souvent risquent de d\ue9velopper complications directement associ\ue9es \ue0 la maladie. Laiss\ue9 ventriculaire hypertrophie (LVH) a \ue9t\ue9 d\ue9montr\ue9 un facteur de risque signifi catif pour les effets n\ue9gatifs r\ue9sultats tant chez les patients atteints de l\u2019hypertension et de la population g\ue9n\ue9rale. Nous avons a enqu\ueat\ue9 sur la pr\ue9valence et le mod\ue8le de LVH dans un trait\ue9 hypertendues population au University College Hospital, \ue0 l\u2019aide Ibadan, Nigeria non-hypertendues des sujets comme contr\uf4le. conception et la confi guration: A \ue9ventuel \ue9tude d\u2019observation effectu\ue9e \ue0 la University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. m\ue9thodes: Patients avaient six visites o\uf9 au moins un sang mesure de pression a \ue9t\ue9 enregistr\ue9e pour chaque sujet hypertendues et moyenne calcul\ue9s s\ue9par\ue9ment pour SBP et DBP. Les valeurs obtenues ont \ue9t\ue9 utilis\ue9es pour stratifi cation des sujets dans l\u2019hypertension contr\uf4l\ue9e et incontr\uf4l\ue9e. Sujets ont \ue9galement echocardiograms pour d\ue9terminer leur masse ventriculaire gauche. r\ue9sultats: LVH a \ue9t\ue9 trouv\ue9 en 14(18.2%) de la groupe normotensive, 40(20.8%) de groupe de hypertendues non contr\uf4l\ue9es et 14(24.1%) de hypertendues contr\uf4l\ue9e groupe lorsque quitt\ue9 masse ventriculaire (LVM) a \ue9t\ue9 index\ue9e \ue0 corps surface (BSA). Lorsque LVM a \ue9t\ue9 index\ue9 \ue0 hauteur, laiss\ue9 ventriculaire hypertrophie a \ue9t\ue9 trouv\ue9 dans aucun du groupe normotensive, bien qu\u2019il a \ue9t\ue9 constat\ue9 pr\ue9sents dans les 43(22.4%) et 14(24.1%) de hypertendues non ma\ueetris\ue9e et contr\uf4l\ue9e groupes respectivement. \uc9tait de diff\ue9rence signifi cative dans la pr\ue9valence de la LVH d\ue9tect\ue9s uniquement lorsque LVM a \ue9t\ue9 index\ue9 \ue0 hauteur alone. conclusion: clinique art\ue9rielle est un moyen ineffi cace de mesurer le contr\uf4le de BP. Ainsi en sujet hypertendues apparemment contr\uf4l\ue9e bas\ue9e sur la pression art\ue9rielle de bureau, des changements structurels cardiaques restent malgr\ue9 th\ue9rapie antihypertensive. Cette population est toujours \ue0 risque de maladies cardiovasculaires \ue9v\ue9nements