Growth and yield responses of pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.) to varied poultry manure rates in Uyo, southeastern Nigeria

Field trial was carried out during the early cropping seasons of 2007 and 2008 at University of Uyo Teaching and Research Farm, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria to evaluate the effects of poultry manure rates (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 t/ha) on growth and yield of pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.). A randomized complete block design with three replicates was used. Results showed that increase in poultry manure rate resulted in increase in growth and yield of pepper up to 8 t/ha rate. It also showed decline in yield with application rate above 8t/ha. Application of 8 t/ha produced 22.75 and 23.56 t/ha of fresh pepper in 2007 and 2008, respectively while 10 t/ha produced 22.70 and 23.91 t/ha of fresh pepper in 2007 and 2008, respectively. This implies that application above 8t/ha rate will not be economical and beneficial to the farmer. Keywords: pepper, poultry manure, growth, yield

Evaluation of Yield Productivity and Economic Returns of Some Yam (Dioscorea esculenta Poir) Genotypes Grown in a Kaolinitc Ultisol

A two-year (2008 and 2009) study was carried out at the University of Uyo Teaching and Research Farm, Use-Offot to evaluate yield productivity of eight yam genotypes (TDr 200/3/7A, M2/75/3, M2/25/1, M2/50/5x, 99/AMO/053, 99/AMO/094, 95/18894, and local -Eteme).and their economic returns to management. Randomized Complete Block Design with three replicates was used. Results of the study indicated significant differences in all the yield and yield components of the different yam genotypes considered in both years., Cost of production in 2009 was 2% above the cost of production in 2008 due to increase in cost of land preparation. The cost -benefit ratio of all the genotypes were above 10.00 except in local variety, Eteme with values of 4.9 and 6.3 in 2008 and 2009, respectively. The average cost- benefit ratio of 14.25 recorded in TDr 95/18894 suggesting strongly that the genotype is more adaptable to Uyo, agro- ecology than others

ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science GROWTH AND YIELD RESPONSES OF PEPPER (Capsicum frutescens L.) TO VARIED POULTRY MANURE RATES IN UYO, SOUTHEASTERN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT Field trial was carried out during the early cropping seasons of 2007 and 2008 at University of Uyo Teaching and Research Farm, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria to evaluate the effects of poultry manure rates (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 t/ha) on growth and yield of pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.). A randomized complete block design with three replicates was used. Results showed that increase in poultry manure rate resulted in increase in growth and yield of pepper up to 8 t/ha rate. It also showed decline in yield with application rate above 8t/ha. Application of 8 t/ha produced 22.75 and 23.56 t/ha of fresh pepper in 2007 and 2008, respectively while 10 t/ha produced 22.70 and 23.91 t/ha of fresh pepper in 2007 and 2008, respectively. This implies that application above 8t/ha rate will not be economical and beneficial to the farmer

Dimethyl Fumarate Mediates Sustained Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Remodeling in a Mouse Model of Cerebral Aneurysm

Cerebral aneurysms (CA) are a type of vascular disease that causes significant morbidity and mortality with rupture. Dysfunction of the vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from circle of Willis (CoW) vessels mediates CA formation, as they are the major cell type of the arterial wall and play a role in maintaining vessel integrity. Dimethyl fumarate (DMF), a first-line oral treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, has been shown to inhibit VSMC proliferation and reduce CA formation in a mouse model. Potential unwanted side effects of DMF on VSMC function have not been investigated yet. The present study characterizes the impact of DMF on VSMC using single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) in CoW vessels following CA induction and further explores its role in mitochondrial function using in vitro VSMC cultures. Two weeks of DMF treatment following CA induction impaired the transcription of the glutathione redox system and downregulated mitochondrial respiration genes in VSMCs. In vitro, DMF treatment increased lactate formation and enhanced the mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These effects rendered VSMCs vulnerable to oxidative stress and led to mitochondrial dysfunction and enhancement of apoptosis. Taken together, our data support the concept that the DMF-mediated antiproliferative effect on VSMCs is linked to disturbed antioxidative functions resulting in altered mitochondrial metabolism. This negative impact of DMF treatment on VSMCs may be linked to preexisting alterations of cerebrovascular function due to renal hypertension. Therefore, before severe adverse effects emerge, it would be clinically relevant to develop indices or biomarkers linked to this disturbed antioxidative function to monitor patients undergoing DMF treatment

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with paediatric cancer in low-income, middle-income and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, observational cohort study

OBJECTIVES: Paediatric cancer is a leading cause of death for children. Children in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) were four times more likely to die than children in high-income countries (HICs). This study aimed to test the hypothesis that the COVID-19 pandemic had affected the delivery of healthcare services worldwide, and exacerbated the disparity in paediatric cancer outcomes between LMICs and HICs. DESIGN: A multicentre, international, collaborative cohort study. SETTING: 91 hospitals and cancer centres in 39 countries providing cancer treatment to paediatric patients between March and December 2020. PARTICIPANTS: Patients were included if they were under the age of 18 years, and newly diagnosed with or undergoing active cancer treatment for Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, Wilms' tumour, sarcoma, retinoblastoma, gliomas, medulloblastomas or neuroblastomas, in keeping with the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: All-cause mortality at 30 days and 90 days. RESULTS: 1660 patients were recruited. 219 children had changes to their treatment due to the pandemic. Patients in LMICs were primarily affected (n=182/219, 83.1%). Relative to patients with paediatric cancer in HICs, patients with paediatric cancer in LMICs had 12.1 (95% CI 2.93 to 50.3) and 7.9 (95% CI 3.2 to 19.7) times the odds of death at 30 days and 90 days, respectively, after presentation during the COVID-19 pandemic (p<0.001). After adjusting for confounders, patients with paediatric cancer in LMICs had 15.6 (95% CI 3.7 to 65.8) times the odds of death at 30 days (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected paediatric oncology service provision. It has disproportionately affected patients in LMICs, highlighting and compounding existing disparities in healthcare systems globally that need addressing urgently. However, many patients with paediatric cancer continued to receive their normal standard of care. This speaks to the adaptability and resilience of healthcare systems and healthcare workers globally