Using a Logistic Regression Model to Analyze Alley Farming Adoption Factors in Sierra Leone

Slash-and-burn shifting cultivation is the conventional farming practice in Sierra Leone, where communal land tenure is by far the most common form of land use. Alley farming, the alternative agricultural system, has been introduced as a technical option to increase yield, reduce or eliminate fallow and conserve soil water. This study uses a logistic regression model to determine the factors influencing the adoption of alley farming in Sierra Leone. Data for the study were collected from a total of 160 farmers in 16 farming communities across 4 ecotones in the Freetown Peninsula through a survey, interactive discussion and personal observation. It is found that although most of these communities are aware of alley farming, female farmers are less likely than males to adopt this farming technology. Also membership of farmers’ associations and access to extension services positively influences adoption of alley farming, but limited land availability hinders adoption in the region. Most of the farmers practicing or trying out alley farming prefer this farming system over slash-and-burn shifting cultivation. High demand for fuelwood, short or no fallow periods and replenishment of soil fertility are among the attributes driving farmers to switch to alley farming. Despite its merits, alley farming is not perceived as a complete substitute for slash-and-burn shifting cultivation in the study area. For wider adoption, there is the need to develop demonstration farms to show the feasibility of incorporating farmer-specific biophysical, hydro-climatic and socio-economic conditions into alley farming system in the region.     

Correction to: Occurrence and distribution of bovine TB pathology by age,sex, and breed of cattle slaughtered in Gusau Abattoir,Zamfara State Nigeria

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Unfortunately the Abstract was missing in the original version of this article. The Abstract is published below. Abstract. This study was aimed to record...     

Histology,histochemistry and ultrastructure of the nasopharyngeal tonsil of the buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

The light microscopic appearance and ultrastructure of the nasopharyngeal tonsil (tonsilla pharyngea), collected from 12 adult buffaloes of local mixed breed, were explored for the distribution of different types of epithelia, lymphoid tissue and high endothelial venules. The tonsillar mucosa was lined by pseudostratified columnar ciliated epithelium having goblet cells. The respiratory epithelium associated with the underlying lymphoid tissue formed the lymphoepithelium. The epithelium was further modified into follicle‐associated epithelium (FAE) characterized by reduced epithelial height, presence of a few dome‐shaped cuboidal cells equivalent of the M‐cells and absence of goblet and ciliated cells. The lymphoid tissue was distributed in the form of isolated lymphoid cells, diffuse lymphoid tissue and lymphoid follicles, mainly distributed within the propria‐submucosa along with the sero‐mucous glandular tissue. The goblet cells of the respiratory epithelium and the acinar cells contained different mucopolysaccharides. Scanning electron microscopy of the surface mucosa demonstrated a dense mat of cilia, island‐like arrangement of microvillus cells, M‐cells and a few brush‐like cells. The transmission electron microscopy revealed the different cell organelles of the respiratory epithelium and the FAE. Lymphocyte migration via the high endothelial venules in the propria‐submucosa was also observed.     

Prevalence and economic implications of calf foetal wastage in an abattoir in Northcentral Nigeria

The study was conducted to evaluate the volume of pregnant cows slaughtered at Minna abattoir, Niger State, Nigeria between 2001 and 2009 based on abattoir meat inspection records. Of the 98,407 cows slaughtered, 4,368 were pregnant, translating to a ratio of one calf foetal wastage in every 23 cows slaughtered. The wastage was significantly (P < 0.05) high during the early rainy season (April to June). There was no significant difference observed across the years. The economic impact of the wastage is estimated at N8, 353,800.00 ($56,828.57) which is a great loss to the livestock industry. With these findings, there is the need to advocate for adequate enforcement of legislations on routine veterinary examinations at the slaughter houses in Nigeria. Also, livestock owners should be educated on the seasonal breeding patterns of cattle in order to avoid selling cows during the calving season to salvage high level of calf foetal wastage.     

利用实时荧光定量PCR技术检测樱桃叶斑驳病毒

樱桃叶斑驳病毒(Cherry mottle leaf virus,CMLV)是南美洲樱桃上重要的病害之一。本研究针对Genbank上公布的该病毒的核酸序列,人工合成了CMLV(AF170028.1)6741～7322 nt的核酸序列并连接载体,构建了阳性标准质粒,进行实时荧光定量PCR(Fluorescence quantitative,FQ-PCR)检测。实验结果表明,本研究设计的利用FQ-PCR检测CMLV的引物及探针特异性良好,经灵敏度检测,最低检测浓度为23 copies/μL,比普通PCR检测灵敏度高100倍。该FQ-PCR检测方法为樱桃叶斑驳病毒的防控提供了重要的技术支持。     

Discovery of the atomic oxygen green line in the Venus night airglow

Green line emission at 557.7 nanometers arising from the O(1S - 1D) transition of atomic oxygen has been observed on the nightside of Venus with HIRES, the echelle spectrograph on the W. M. Keck I 10-meter telescope. We also observe optical emissions of molecular oxygen, consistent with the spectra from the Venera orbiters, but our green line intensity is so high that we cannot explain how it could be inconspicuous in the Venera spectra. An upper limit for the intensity of the O(1D - 3P) oxygen red line at 630 nanometers has also been obtained. The large green/red ratio indicates that the source is not associated with the Venus ionosphere. An important conclusion is that observation of the green line in a planetary atmosphere is not an indicator of an atmosphere rich in molecular oxygen.     

Chemical and Mineralogical Properties of Norwegian Alum Shale Soils,with Special Emphasis on Heavy Metal Content and Availability

Abstract

Alum shale and till soils overlying alum shale bedrock were analysed for aqua regia and NH₄OAc/EDTA extractable Pb, Cu, Zn, Ni, Mn and Cd. The means of these determinations were compared with those of Norwegian, Finnish and Swedish non-alum shale soils. Alum shale soils seemed to contain higher amounts of both total and easily extractable Cu, Zn, Ni and Cd. Total Pb content also seemed to be higher in the alum shale soils. The relative availability of Cd, Ni and Mn, expressed as the ratio of NH₄OAc/EDTA to aqua regia extractable, was found to be greater than that of Pb, Cu and Zn in the alum shale and till soils.     

不同植物对KF的剂量反应及其伤害阈值和致死浓度

为确定不同植物受氟害后的表现症状以及氟污染对不同植物的伤害阈值及致死浓度,从而为氟污染防治提供理论依据,使用不同浓度的氟化钾溶液及氯化钾溶液处理多种植物幼苗和成熟枝叶,观察记录各种植物受氟害后的症状并检测不同浓度氟化钾处理后植物叶片氟含量。结果表明,用氟化钾溶液处理后,不同植物会出现不同的伤害症状。相同处理时段内,氟化钾浓度越高,植物伤害症状越明显,叶片氟含量越高;不同处理时段,氟化钾对植物的伤害阈值及致死浓度不一样,但植物开始出现伤害症状以及死亡时叶片氟含量基本一致。同样条件的氯化钾溶液处理后,植物无明显伤害症状出现,说明氟的存在不利于植物的正常生长。根据氟化钾的处理浓度、时间及对植物的伤害程度,确定了氟化钾对各种植物幼苗及成熟枝叶的伤害阈值及致死浓度。