Gender power in Kenyan dairy: cows,commodities, and commercialization

In Western Kenya, smallholder dairy production is becoming incrementally commercialized through the commodification and sale of milk through formal market channels. While commercialization is often construed as a way to boost rural livelihoods through increased income from milk, emerging evidence suggests that married women are not directly benefiting from formal milk market participation. This critical issue of gender power imbalance has been framed by development interventions in economic efficiency and social justice perspectives, but thus far interventions in the sector have not addressed how underlying social-market mechanisms embedded in gendered ideology influence smallholder engagement in dairy commercialization. Drawing on feminist theories of power and social embeddedness, this study investigates how gendered power relationships materialize and influence formal milk marketing engagement and practices in Western Kenya. Facilitated discussion groups with smallholder farmers revealed the gendered ideologies and norms that ascribe masculinized meaning to cattle, milk, and commercial enterprise. Key informant interviews with commercial dairy management and farmers were used to identify current practices for increasing women’s formal market participation—namely, direct payments to women for milk deliveries. Findings from this study indicate that cattle and formal dairy market participation are imbued with gendered meaning that create legitimacy around men’s privilege over dairy proceeds. Interventions in the sector aimed at addressing gender power imbalances must acknowledge this dynamic, and accept the social trade-offs and gendered costs of dairy commercialization.     

Improvement in recruitment of Japanese sardine with delays of the spring phytoplankton bloom in the Sea of Japan

To evaluate the impact of temporal variation of primary productivity on the recruitment of Japanese sardine (Sardinops melanostictus) in the Sea of Japan, the phenology of sea surface phytoplankton abundance was estimated from 8 day multiple satellite (SeaWiFS, MODIS‐Aqua, MERIS, and VIIRS) derived sea surface chlorophyll (SSChl) a concentrations from January 1998 to December 2015. Because relationships between SSChl a and in situ chlorophyll a concentrations were significantly different among periods based on the satellite combinations used, maximum and minimum SSChl a concentrations of 1 year were relativized as 1 and 0, respectively. Spatio‐temporal variation of relativized SSChl a concentrations was determined by using empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis. Scores in the first EOF mode denoted the basin‐scale variations of SSChl a concentrations in the Sea of Japan, and the major peak from the end of February to the end of May displayed the spring bloom. The logarithm of recruitment per spawner (LNRPS) for sardine was positively affected by delays in the start and end dates of the spring phytoplankton bloom. The delay of the date of the lowest sea surface temperature contributed to the delay of the end of the spring bloom during the period 1998–2015 and elevated the LNRPS during the period 1982–2015. Sardine spawns in the southern Sea of Japan from April to May, hence, delays of the spring bloom prolonged its overlap with sardine larval periods, and thus improved the recruitment of Japanese sardine in the Sea of Japan.     

Interspecific differences in the post-settlement survival of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acropora</Emphasis> corals under a common garden experiment

Extremely low post-settlement survival is one of the largest barriers for artificial rehabilitation of Acropora corals. However, little data have been found for interspecific difference of the post-settlement survival probably because the observation of coral juvenile is difficult in the field. Here, we analyzed the survival of three dominant species of Acropora corals (A. digitifera, A. tenuis, A. yongei), with different colony morphologies and habitat preferences, for 2 years after settlement under the same environmental conditions. The post-settlement survival was significantly higher for A. tenuis than for A. digitifera 3 months after settlement. Two years later, the survival rate of A. tenuis was approximately 15 times higher than A. digitifera. In a separate analysis of three bottle-brush species (A. awi, A. echinata, A. subglabra) and A. tenuis, post-settlement survival was always higher for A. awi than for other two bottle-brush species, suggesting that the initial survival was different among morphologically sister species. Low survival was possibly associated with slow growth rates during the first 7 months. Thus, species selection is important for successful artificial coral rehabilitation, with A. tenuis being the most viable option. Alternatively, new techniques are required to improve post-settlement survival of slow growing coral species.     

Correlation between C-reactive protein level,immunology, and hematology of a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oncorhynchus mykiss</Emphasis> infected with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactococcus garvieae</Emphasis>

The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the symptoms, variation, and correlation of hematological factors and some parameters of the innate immune response of the infected rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fish with Lactococcus garvieae bacteria. A total of 270 fish were divided into three groups including infected fish with a high and low concentration of L. garvieae and a control group without infection. The blood and tissue (brain, head, kidney, and spleen) samples were collected from each group (n?=?6 fish) at 0, 3, 14, and 21 days after treatment. The most observed symptoms during infection were lethargy, exophthalmia, and ascites. The mortality rates for the high and low dose-infected fish were defined as 60 and 25%, respectively. The infected groups had significantly (p?<?0.05) higher activity of serum lysozyme, myeloperoxidase, classical and alternative pathways of complement, serum bactericidal effects, and the specific antibody titer. Also, a significant (p?<?0.05) lower hematocrit and hemoglobin levels and higher white blood cell numbers were observed in the infected groups. A significant correlation was observed between the CRP levels and some of the hematological and immunological indices as bactericidal effects, classical complement pathways, lysozyme activity myeloperoxidase activity, white blood cell numbers, and hematocrit levels. The clinical symptoms, immune responses, and hematological indices variation among L. garvieae-infected fish are dependent on the duration and bacterial dose of the infection.     

Screening for blast resistance in rice using AMMI models to understand G x E interaction in Guyana

In rice, totally one hundred and three genotypes were evaluated for resistance against blast disease in three hot spot locations of Guyana. The experiments were conducted in spring and autumn seasons of 2015, 2016 and 2017. The modified upland blast nursery (UBN) method was adopted for screening blast resistance. The Additive Main effects and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) analysis was applied to understand the interaction between genotype (G) and environment (E). The results of all seasons at three locations showed the consistent expression of high resistance by genotype FL 127 followed by FG12–08 and FG12–273. The AMMI analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that, resistance was dominated by the genotype main effect. The magnitude of genotypes by environment (G x E) sum of square (SS) was 3.64 times smaller than genotype SS, and 6.74 times larger than environment SS. The analysis has indicated that the differences of the genotypes across the environment were not substantial. All of the seven environment vectors appeared to be positively correlated. The screening at Onverwagt Back, autumn 2016 (E7) and Black Bush Polder, spring 2015 (E5) were observed to be the most representative environment. This was clearly revealed by smaller average - environment axis (AEA) angle. Likewise, E4 (Canje, autumn 2015) was observed closer to the “ideal test environment”, thus suggested as an ideal environment for blast resistant screening. Also, genotypes clustered near the origin have showed stable blast disease resistant status and contributed little to both G and G x E. These genotypes proposed as useful ones for breeding disease resistant varieties and hybrids in rice.     

Effect of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Metarhizium guizhouense</Emphasis> infection on mating competition and mate choice of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bactrocera latifrons</Emphasis> (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Metarhizium guizhouense PSUM02 treated males of Bactrocera latifrons were investigated for the mating competition among males and mating choice by female flies to develop an auto-dissemination for the control of B. latifrons. In the present study, on day 1–4 of experiment, M. guizhouense–treated male flies were equally competitive with the normal male flies as we did not observe any differences in mating by treated and normal male flies of B. latifrons. Further, mating competitiveness were found low in treated adult male B. latifrons than normal male B. latifrons from 5th days of treatment until death. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of treated male flies gave average survival times (AST) of 4.3?±?0.1 days, while the healthy female and male flies in the same cage showed AST of 9.3?±?0.3 and 8.3?±?0.4 days, respectively. The AST of untreated flies in control experiment ranged from 14.2–14.5 days. In mating preference experiment, M. guizhouense–treated male flies were chosen by virgin female than gravid female flies for mating. The treated male flies caused mortality in both virgin and gravid female flies in the same cage with AST of 4.4?±?0.1, 5.6?±?0.1 and 7.4?±?0.2 days, respectively, while untreated flies showed AST ranged from 13.9–14.3 days in control. The treated male flies could transmit the fungus infection to both untreated female and male flies as well as in virgin and gravid female flies by mating and contact. Our experiments showed the potentiality of M. guizhouense PSUM02 in management of B. latifrons by auto-dissemination with treated male flies, which transmit the fungus to a healthy population to reduce insect pest infestations.     

Quantification of Oxidant Demand and Consumption for In Situ Chemical Oxidation Design: in the Case of Potassium Permanganate

Accurate estimation of oxidant consumption during in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) is the key to determining the treatment effectiveness in contaminated sites. We established the estimation model of soil oxidant demand (SOD) and simulation equations of potassium permanganate (KMnO₄) dynamic consumption based on the reaction equation of KMnO₄ with reductive minerals and the estimation model of SOD. Model validation, model application, and simulation assessment had been accomplished. Results indicated that the simulations are in good agreement with measured data. The confidence level of the SOD estimation model of KMnO₄ was over 80%, with sensitivity in decreasing order as follows: organic matter content > initial KMnO₄ concentration > reductive minerals (RMs). Particularly, the organic matter played a dominate role in the SOD model estimation. The coefficient of determination (R²) of the SOD dynamic consumption simulation equation was above 0.9. Among the various types of soils, the overall trend of SOD value and reaction period decreased as follows: clay > loam > sand. However, the consumption rate of KMnO₄ decreased in the order of clay > sand > loam. In addition, SOD value, reaction period, and reaction rate all increased as the initial concentration of KMnO₄ went up. This work can provide a methodology and reference for selecting and estimating of the optimal oxidant doses and reaction period during field application.     

Effect of Humic Acid on the Nitrate Removal by Strong Base Anion Exchanger Supported Nanoscale Zero-valent Iron Composite

To probe the effect of common coexist substances on the nitrate removal by polymeric resin supported nanoscale zero-valent iron composite (D201-nZVI), humic acid (HA) was added into the nitrate removal system to elaborate the different interactions between each two and among all in the system including HA, nitrate, and D201-nZVI. The results showed that the effect of HA on the reduction of nitrate by D201-nZVI was concentration-dependent. At low HA concentration (<?5 mg/L), HA coating formed by the HA adsorption on the surface of the nZVI particles enhanced the dispersion of the particles, which led to a more evenly distribution of nZVI particles in the solution, and thus a higher nitrate reduction activity. When HA concentration was increased to 5 mg/L or more, the competitive adsorption of HA and NO₃^? on the surfaces of the D201-nZVI dominated, and the nitrate removal rate and ammonia nitrogen production were decreased. When the HA concentration reached to a further high level (>?20 mg/L), HA acted as an electron shuttle to accelerate the reduction of Fe(III) to Fe(II) in the D201-nZVI, and thus the nitrate reduction rate was accordingly enhanced. The ammonia production increased by 24.8% at HA concentration of 40 mg/L as compared with that of the control (without addition of HA). This research elucidated the interaction of HA within different HA concentration in the complicate system of anions removal by organic support-nanoscale metal particle composite, which may shade some new light on the potential application of nanoscale zero-valent materials in the practical remediation of natural water.