The effect of supply chain power on bank financing

Using comprehensive bank-loan contract information, we show that the power of a firm relative to its suppliers eases its terms of bank financing, specifically through lower loan prices and less restrictive non-price contract terms. Our results are robust to controlling for product-market competition. Supply chain power enables the firm to achieve a greater level of control over its inventory, constituting a significant portion of the reduction in its overall loan cost. We argue that it is important to consider supply-chain related issues when analyzing the external-financing capacity of firms

Socioeconomic Inequalities in Child Malnutrition in Bangladesh: Do They Differ by Region?

Socioeconomic inequality in child malnutrition is well-evident in Bangladesh. However, little is known about whether this inequality differs by regional contexts. We used pooled data from the 2011 and 2014 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey to examine regional differences in socioeconomic inequalities in stunting and underweight among children under five. The analysis included 14,602 children aged 0-59 months. We used logistic regression models and the Concentration index to assess and quantify wealth- and education-related inequalities in child malnutrition. We found stunting and underweight to be more concentrated among children from poorer households and born to less-educated mothers. Although the poverty level was low in the eastern regions, socioeconomic inequalities were greater in these regions compared to the western regions. The extent of socioeconomic inequality was the highest in Sylhet and Chittagong for stunting and underweight, respectively, while it was the lowest in Khulna. Regression results demonstrated the protective effects of socioeconomic status (SES) on child malnutrition. The regional differences in the effects of SES tend to diverge at the lower levels of SES, while they converge or attenuate at the highest levels. Our findings have policy implications for developing programs and interventions targeted to reduce socioeconomic inequalities in child malnutrition in subnational regions of Bangladesh

Situation de référence de la phytodiversité et la productivité herbacée d’un dispositif de suivi du feu de brousse au Niger

Cette étude entre dans le cadre de la mise en place d’un dispositif de suivi des impacts des feux dans la Réserve Totale de Faune de Tamou contiguë au Parc Régional du W. Pour cela, la phytomasse a été prélevée par la méthode de la récolte intégrale et les relevés phytosociologiques ont été faits suivant l’approche Braun-Blanquet. L’Analyse Factorielle des Correspondances (AFC) a été appliquée à une matrice relevés X espècespour l’individualisation des groupements à l’aide du logiciel CANOCO 5.1. Pour l’interprétation écologique des résultats, une Analyse Canonique des Correspondances (ACC) a été réalisée sur la matrice relevés X variables environnementales. Au total, 107 espèces ont été recensées dont 37 ligneuses et 70 herbacées, reparties dans 80 genres et 39 familles. L’AFC a mis en évidence 7 groupements suivant un gradient nord-sud. Quatre (4) de ces groupements sont des faciès de savanes arborées +/- arbustives, localisées dans la partie sud de la station expérimentale et les trois (3) autres, situés au nord sont des savanes herbeuses. Par ailleurs,l’analyse de la diversité alpha au sein de ces différents faciès végétaux a fait ressortir un gradient d’augmentation de la phytodiversité selon le type de faciès. Quant à la productivité herbacée, elle varie dans le sens inverse.Mots clés: Savane ; productivité herbacée, phytodiversité, feux de brousse, Réserve Totale de Faune de Tamou, Niger

Effect of cow dung as organic manure on the growth, leaf biomass yield of Stevia rebaudiana and post harvest soil fertility

Organic manures as a source of plant nutrients for the cultivation of field crops has received worldwide attention due to rising costs, rapid nutrient loss and adverse environmental impacts from inorganic fertilizers. A pot experiment was conducted in the net house of the Department of Agricultural Chemistry, BangladeshAgriculturalUniversity, Mymensingh to observe the effects of cow dung on growth, yield of stevia along with post-harvest fertility status of soil. Four treatments of CD viz. 0, 5, 7.5 and 10 t ha–1 in two contrasting soils (acid and non-calcareous) were examined following Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. Growth and yield attributes increased significantly with the advancement of growth period (60 DAP) and increased rate of CD up to 10 t ha–1. An overall performance of non-calcareous soil was better than acid soil. In non-calcareous soil, the leaf biomass yield was increased by 275% whereas in acid soil it was 268% over control. The acidity of both soils significantly decreased with the increased rate of CD. All essential plant nutrients viz. total N, available P exchangeable K, Ca, Mg, available S, Zn, B and organic matter content of soil were significantly increased with the increased levels of CD up to its highest dose (CD @ 10 t ha–1) in both soils. Thus from the findings of the present research work it can be concluded that for getting optimum leaf biomass yield of stevia along with fertility of both soils CD should be applied @ 10 t ha–

Growth, leaf biomass yield of stevia and post-harvest soil fertility as influenced by different levels of poultry manure

Stevia represents an interesting species for the development of new ingredients characterized by a low caloric contribution having high antioxidant and phytochemical properties. As a valuable organic fertilizer, poultry manure (PM) serves as a suitable alternate to chemical fertilizer due to having higher total solid content than most other manures. The present study was conducted in the net house of the Department of Agricultural Chemistry, BangladeshAgriculturalUniversity, Mymensingh to evaluate the effects of poultry manure on growth and leaf yield of stevia and post-harvest soil fertility. The experiment was laid out in a Complete Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. PM was applied at rates of 0, 5, 7.5 and 10 t ha−1. Data of the plant height, number of branches and number of leaves per plant were collected at 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 days after planting (DAP). At harvest, leaf area, fresh weight, dry weight of leaves of stevia and post-harvest soil were evaluated. Plant that received 5 t ha−1 of PM was the best with respect to all the parameters assessed except post-harvest soil fertility. The contents of total N, available P, exchangeable K, Ca, Mg, available S, Zn and B were significantly increased with the increased levels of PM up to 10 t ha−1 in both soils. pH and soil organic matter content were also increased several folds and favored higher growth and yield of stevia. It can be recommended from the findings of the study that farmers should apply PM @ 5 t ha−1 to obtain maximum growth and leaf yield of stevia where as PM @ 10 t ha−1 can be applied for maintaining soil fertility in the agro-climatic condition of Bangladesh

Diversité agro-morphologique des accessions de fonio [Digitaria exilis (Kippist.) Stapf.] au Niger

La variablité morphologique de 67 accessions de fonio [Digitaria exilis (Kippist.) Stapf.] collectées au Niger a été évaluée au cours de deux  années (2011 et 2012). Seize (16) caractères agro morphologiques (dont 14 caractères quantitatifs et 2 caractères qualitatifs) ont été évalués en station dans deux zones agroécologiques différentes (Tarna en zone sahélo-saharienne et Tara en zone soudanienne). La classification  acsendante hierarchique (CAH) et l’analyse factorielle discriminante (AFD) ont mis en évidence quatre groupes (GI, GII, GIII et GIV). Les accessions du groupe GIV ont en moyenne un cycle de maturité compris entre 85 et 90 jours tandis que les autres groupes présentent un cycle de maturité superieur à 90 jours dans nos conditions expérimentales. Les résultats montrent que les variables les plus discriminantes qui permettent de  décrire la variabilité entre les groupes identifiés sont la biomasse sèche (tige et feuille) par hectare, la longueur des entrenoeuds, le rendement en graine par hectare et dans une certaine mesure le cycle de la plante. L’observation des caractères qualitatifs a montré que cinq accessions (représentant 7% du total) ont des graines non decortiquées de couleur rouge et quatre accessions (6% du total), une tige de couleur rouge. Les caractères analysés peuvent ainsi constituer des critères de base pour différencier les accessions des autres régions de l’Afrique de l’Ouest et servir pour une étude de variabilité entre les restes des accessions de fonio collectées au Niger. Des possiblités d’amélioration peuvent  également être envisagées une fois que le regime de réproduction de l’espèce est bien identifié.Mots clés: Digitaria exilis, variabilité morphologique, accessions, diversité, fonio, Niger

Effects of combined application of chemical fertilizer and vermicompost on soil fertility, leaf yield and stevioside content of stevia

Sustainable nutrient management with the combination of organic and chemical fertilizer amendment expects a key part in upgrading stevia yield without harming the environment and to build up the nutrient balance with increasing soil fertility. A pot experiment was conducted in the net house of the Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh to study the combined effect of vermicompost (VC) and chemical fertilizer (CF) on the growth, leaf biomass yield and stevioside content of stevia in acid soil. Six combinations of VC and CF were applied following completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. Results showed that VC along with different rates of CF exerted significant influence on the growth, leaf biomass yield and stevioside content of stevia and postharvest soil fertility. The highest values for most of the parameters were found from the plant receiving VC @ 7.5 t ha­−1 along with 50% CF. About 578% higher leaf biomass yield was obtained from the treatment VC7.5+CF50 over control. Stevioside content was increased with the increasing levels of VC up to 7.5 t ha−1 along with 75% of CF and also with the advancement of growth period from 30 to 60 days after planting. The highest amount of stevioside (11.05%) was detected in the leaves of plant of the same treatment at harvest. Soil acidity was significantly decreased with the increased levels of VC and CF where as soil fertility in terms of organic matter and nutrient content was increased. Considering the overall performance, farmers may be advised to cultivate stevia in acid soil applying VC @ 7.5 t ha−1 along with 50% chemical fertilizer to boost up stevia production under the agroclimatic condition of the study area in the context of Banglades

An unusual cause of hypoxia: getting to the heart of the matter

A 63-year-old female presented to hospital with progressive exertional dyspnoea over a 6-month period. In the year preceding her admission, she reported an intercurrent history of abdominal pain, diarrhoea and weight loss. She was found to be hypoxic, the cause for which was initially unclear. A ventilation–perfusion scan identified a right-to-left shunt. Transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) demonstrated a significant right-to-left intracardiac shunt through a patent foramen ovale (PFO); additionally severe tricuspid regurgitation was noted through a highly abnormal tricuspid valve. The findings were consistent with carcinoid heart disease with a haemodynamically significant shunt, resulting in profound systemic hypoxia. 24-h urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and imaging were consistent with a terminal ileal primary carcinoid cancer with hepatic metastasis. Liver biopsy confirmed a tissue diagnosis. The patient was commenced on medical therapy for carcinoid syndrome. She subsequently passed away while undergoing anaesthetic induction for valvular surgery to treat her carcinoid heart disease and PFO

A cost effectiveness and capacity analysis for the introduction of universal rotavirus vaccination in Kenya : comparison between Rotarix and RotaTeq vaccines

Background Diarrhoea is an important cause of death in the developing world, and rotavirus is the single most important cause of diarrhoea associated mortality. Two vaccines (Rotarix and RotaTeq) are available to prevent rotavirus disease. This analysis was undertaken to aid the decision in Kenya as to which vaccine to choose when introducing rotavirus vaccination. Methods Cost-effectiveness modelling, using national and sentinel surveillance data, and an impact assessment on the cold chain. Results The median estimated incidence of rotavirus disease in Kenya was 3015 outpatient visits, 279 hospitalisations and 65 deaths per 100,000 children under five years of age per year. Cumulated over the first five years of life vaccination was predicted to prevent 34% of the outpatient visits, 31% of the hospitalizations and 42% of the deaths. The estimated prevented costs accumulated over five years totalled US$1,782,761 (direct and indirect costs) with an associated 48,585 DALYs. From a societal perspective Rotarix had a cost-effectiveness ratio of US$142 per DALY (US$5 for the full course of two doses) and RotaTeq US$288 per DALY ($10.5 for the full course of three doses). RotaTeq will have a bigger impact on the cold chain compared to Rotarix. Conclusion Vaccination against rotavirus disease is cost-effective for Kenya irrespective of the vaccine. Of the two vaccines Rotarix was the preferred choice due to a better cost-effectiveness ratio, the presence of a vaccine vial monitor, the requirement of fewer doses and less storage space, and proven thermo-stability