Nutrient Status and Ameliorating Effects of MORINGA Leaves or Poultry Droppings on Soil Ph and Garden Egg Yield

Sustainable production of crops on tropical soils requires soil amendment to remediate soil acidity status and raise fertility level. Industrial lime and inorganic fertilizers are either not available or too expensive to buy. This study was carried out with the objective of investigating the effects of two organic manures, Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) leaves and poultry droppings, on soil acidity amelioration and increased fertility for sustained production of garden egg (Solanum aethiopicum L.). The field trials were conducted at the Teaching and Research Farms of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, and the Faculty of Agriculture, Cross River University of Technology, Obubra in 2009 and 2010. Two varieties of African garden egg (Gilo and Kumba) and two organic manure sources (Moringa leaves litter or poultry droppings) were factorially combined. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Treatments were applied at the rates of 0, 5, 10 and 20 t ha-1 Moringa leaves and 5, 10 and 15 t ha-1 poultry droppings.  The results obtained showed that all rates of the manure reduced the soil pH within 30 days after incorporation in both years and locations. At 60 days after application, and up to 140 days after incorporation, all manure rates increased the soil pH in both locations and years. The highest increase occurred with 15 t ha-1 poultry droppings at 140 days after incorporation. With no manure application, there was a steady decrease in pH up to the harvest time. All manure rates significantly (P<0.05) increased the yield of the garden egg varieties over when no manure was used. Poultry droppings at 15 t ha-1 produced the highest fruit yield in both years and locations. The crop yields were significantly (t<0.05) higher in Makurdi than Obubra in both years. Yield for 2010 was significantly higher than 2009 in both locations. Moringa leaves at 20 t ha-1 or poultry dropping at the rate of 15 t ha-1 may be used to remediate soil pH and improve fertility for sustainable production of garden egg in the Guinea savanna or the Rainforest agro-ecologies. Keywords; Garden egg, Moringa, poultry droppings, soil acidity remediatio

Popcorn Yield and Nutrient Composition as affected Nitrogen Fertilization and Liming in Calabar, Nigeria

Zea mays L. everta (Popcorn) is a relatively new maize sub-species that is being introduced into the cropping system of arable crop farming in Calabar, Nigeria. Its productivity can, however, be impeded by low N concentration in the soil and high soil acidity that already affect the yield of conventional maize grown in the study area. Therefore, a two year trial was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Calabar, Nigeria to determine the effects of nitrogen and liming rates on growth, yield and nutrient composition of popcorn (Zea mays L. everta). A 3 x 4 factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design with three replication was used while treatments consisted of four levels of nitrogen (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg N ha-1), applied as urea (46% N) and fitted in a factorial arrangement with three levels of lime (0, 500 and 1000 kg ha-1) applied as calcium trioxocarbonate (iv) (CaCO3). Results indicated that all plant parameters examined were significantly (p=0.05) higher with the application of 80 kg N ha-1 and 500 kg ha-1 lime rates than other N and lime rates. Grain yield performance was in the order 80 > 120 > 40 > 0 kg Nha-1, which corresponded to 23.78, 33.55, 50.32% during 2009 and 15.14, 36.41 and 76.76% in 2010 above the 120, 40 and 0 kg N ha rates of N applied, respectively. Also, an increase of 20.0 and 24.83% in 2009, and 9.09 and 18.03% in 2010, in grain yield were observed when 500 kg ha-1 lime rates was applied and out-yielded both the 1000 kg ha-1 and control rates, respectively in both years. The application of lime at 1000 kg ha-1 resulted in significantly (p=0.05) higher N and Ca uptake in crop in both years. The P and Mg concentrations were highest from plants treated with 500 kg ha-1 lime. Effect of liming was not significant (p=0.05) in 2009, but was statistically at par at 0 and 500 kgha-1 lime rates and significantly (p=0.05) higher than tissue K content at 1000 kg ha-1 liming rates in 2010. The effect of lime was not consistent in both years but N xLime (L) interaction was significant while 500 kg ha-1 liming rate was most promising. Maize grain yield performance was better and most rewarding with the application of 80 N ha-1 while grain yield was best when 500 kg ha-1 lime rates was applied, Therefore, application of 80 kg Nha-1 and 500 kg ha-1 of lime are recommended for a profitable popcorn production in Calabar, Nigeria

Exploring the effectiveness of the output-based aid voucher program to increase uptake of gender-based violence recovery services in Kenya: a qualitative evaluation

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.Background: Few studies in Africa have explored in detail the ability of output-based aid (OBA) voucher programs to increase access to gender-based violence recovery (GBVR) services. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in 2010 and involved: (i) in-depth interviews (IDIs) with health managers, service providers, voucher management agency (VMA) managers and (ii) focus group discussions (FGDs) with voucher users, voucher non-users, voucher distributors and opinion leaders drawn from five program sites in Kenya. Results: The findings showed promising prospects for the uptake of OBA GBVR services among target population. However, a number of factors affect the uptake of the services. These include lack of general awareness of the GBVR services vouchers, lack of understanding of the benefit package, immediate financial needs of survivors, as well as stigma and cultural beliefs that undermine reporting of cases or seeking essential medical services. Moreover, accreditation of only hospitals to offer GBVR services undermines access to the services in rural areas. Poor responsiveness from law enforcement agencies and fear of reprisal from perpetrators also undermine treatment options and access to medical services. Low provider knowledge on GBVR services and lack of supplies also affect effective provision and management of GBVR services. Conclusions: The above findings suggest that there is a need to build the capacity of health care providers and police officers, strengthen the community strategy component of the OBA program to promote the GBVR services voucher, and conduct widespread community education programs aimed at prevention, ensuring survivors know how and where to access services and addressing stigma and cultural barriers.The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundatio

Antidepressant stimulation of CDP-diacylglycerol synthesis does not require monoamine reuptake inhibition

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Recent studies demonstrate that diverse antidepressant agents increase the cellular production of the nucleolipid CDP-diacylglycerol and its synthetic derivative, phosphatidylinositol, in depression-relevant brain regions. Pharmacological blockade of downstream phosphatidylinositide signaling disrupted the behavioral antidepressant effects in rats. However, the nucleolipid responses were resistant to inhibition by serotonin receptor antagonists, even though antidepressant-facilitated inositol phosphate accumulation was blocked. Could the neurochemical effects be additional to the known effects of the drugs on monoamine transmitter transporters? To examine this question, we tested selected agents in serotonin-depleted brain tissues, in PC12 cells devoid of serotonin transporters, and on the enzymatic activity of brain CDP-diacylglycerol synthase - the enzyme that catalyzes the physiological synthesis of CDP-diacylglycerol.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Imipramine, paroxetine, and maprotiline concentration-dependently increased the levels of CDP-diacylglycerol and phosphatidylinositides in PC12 cells. Rat forebrain tissues depleted of serotonin by pretreatment with <it>p</it>-chlorophenylalanine showed responses to imipramine or maprotiline that were comparable to respective responses from saline-injected controls. With fluoxetine, nucleolipid responses in the serotonin-depleted cortex or hippocampus were significantly reduced, but not abolished. Each drug significantly increased the enzymatic activity of CDP-diacylglycerol synthase following incubations with cortical or hippocampal brain tissues.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Antidepressants probably induce the activity of CDP-diacylglycerol synthase leading to increased production of CDP-diacylglycerol and facilitation of downstream phosphatidylinositol synthesis. Phosphatidylinositol-dependent signaling cascades exert diverse salutary effects in neural cells, including facilitation of BDNF signaling and neurogenesis. Hence, the present findings should strengthen the notion that modulation of brain phosphatidylinositide signaling probably contributes to the molecular mechanism of diverse antidepressant medications.</p

Factors influencing the experience of sexual and reproductive healthcare for female adolescents with perinatally-acquired HIV: a qualitative case study

Background: Young people living with perinatally-acquired HIV require age-appropriate support regarding sex and relationships as they progress towards adulthood. HIV affects both genders but evidence suggests that young women are particularly vulnerable to sexual abuse and more prone to engaging in sexual behaviours to meet their daily survival needs. This can result in poor sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes. HIV services in Malawi provide support for young women’s HIV-related clinical needs, but it is unclear whether there is sufficient provision for their SRH needs as they become adults. This paper explores the sex and relationship experiences of young women growing up with perinatally-acquired HIV in order to understand how to improve SRH care and associated outcomes. Methods: A qualitative case study approach was adopted in which each ‘case’ comprised a young woman (15–19 years) with perinatally acquired HIV, a nominated caregiver and service provider. Participants were purposively selected from three multidisciplinary centres providing specialised paediatric/adolescent HIV care in Malawi. Data was collected for 14 cases through in-depth interviews (i.e. a total of 42 participants) and analysed using within-case and cross-case approaches. The interviews with adolescents were based on an innovative visual method known as ‘my story book’ which encouraged open discussion on sensitive topics. Results: Young women reported becoming sexually active at an early age for different reasons. Some sought a sense of intimacy, love, acceptance and belonging in these relationships, noting that they lacked this at home and/or within their peer groups. For others, their sexual activity was more functional – related to meeting survival needs. Young women reported having little control over negotiating safer sex or contraception. Their priority was preventing unwanted pregnancies yet several of the sample already had babies, and transfer to antenatal services created major disruptions in their HIV care. In contrast, caregivers and nurses regarded sexual activity from a clinical perspective, fearing onward transmission of HIV and advocating abstinence or condoms where possible. In addition, a cultural silence rooted in dominant religious and traditional norms closed down possibilities for discussion about sexual matters and prevented young women from accessing contraception. Conclusion: The study has shown how young women, caregivers and service providers have contrasting perspectives and priorities around SRH care. Illumination of these differences highlights a need for service improvement. It is suggested that young women themselves are involved in future service improvement initiatives to encourage the development of culturally and socially acceptable pathways of care

Effects of biofertilizer containing N-fixer, P and K solubilizers and AM fungi on maize growth: A greenhouse trial.

An in vitro study was undertaken to evaluate the compatibility of indigenous plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) with commonly used inorganic and organic sources of fertilizers in tea plantations. The nitrogenous, phosphatic and potash fertilizers used for this study were urea, rock phosphate and muriate of potash, respectively. The organic sources of fertilizers neem cake, composted coir pith and vermicompost were also used. PGPRs such as nitrogen fixer; Azospirillum lipoferum, Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB); Pseudomonas putida, Potassium Solubilizing Bacteria (KSB); Burkholderia cepacia and Pseudomonas putida were used for compatibility study. Results were indicated that PGPRs preferred the coir pith and they proved their higher colony establishment in the formulation except Azospirillum spp. that preferred vermicompost for their establishment. The optimum dose of neem cake powder

Action to protect the independence and integrity of global health research

Storeng KT, Abimbola S, Balabanova D, et al. Action to protect the independence and integrity of global health research. BMJ GLOBAL HEALTH. 2019;4(3): e001746