105064 research outputs found
Sort by
Can calcium sprays alleviate jelly seed in mango fruits?
No full textJelly seed is a major challenge in mango production leading to enormous losses in the value chain. This internal fruit disorder is characterised by disintegration of cells, consistency of jelly and broken cells. Calcium plays an important role in enhancing tissue stability and firmness thus reducing cell disintegration. A two-year field study was conducted in Embu County, Kenya using ‘Van Dyke’ cultivar trees of approximately 10 years old. The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of varied sources of calcium, applied at different rates and timing on jelly seed occurrence and tissue calcium distribution. Calcium in the form of calcium chloride, calcium nitrate and easygro® were applied at 1.0 %, 1.5 %, 2.0 % or 0 % (control) at three stages of fruit development (fruit set, 30 days after fruit set and 30 days to anticipated physiological maturity). The experiment was set up in a randomised complete block design with a split-split arrangement replicated three times. Fruits were harvested at physiological maturity and ripened at ambient conditions (28 ± 1 °C, 75–80 RH). Data collected included: jelly seed occurrence, calcium distribution (exocarp, mesocarp, endocarp and cotyledon) and fruit weight. Jelly seed occurrence and calcium distribution were determined at ripe stage. All the calcium sources invariably suppressed the occurrence of jelly seed. Calcium chloride (2.0 %) applied at fruit set had the lowest average jelly seed score of 1.2 and 2 in seasons I and II respectively. There was a significant negative relationship between fruit weight (r = − 0.55, r = − 0.52), calcium content in the exocarp (r = − 0.56, r = − 0.49), mesocarp (r = − 0.52, r = − 0.76), endocarp (r = − 0.76, r = − 0.66) and jelly seed incidence occurrence. This suggested that calcium has a role in alleviating jelly seed disorder. Application of calcium at fruit set was more effective in suppressing jelly seed occurrence than later applications. Calcium chloride (2.0 %) applied at fruit set was more effective in reducing jelly seed occurrence. There is need to study further on soil based calcium and other calcium formulations on the effects on jelly seed occurrenc
Sexualising the performance, objectifying the performer: The twerk dance in Kenya
No full textShifting arenas of dance performance and youths’ counterculture have brought the twerk to the internet, thus exposing it to the discourse of cultural imperialism, appropriation, and cultural resistance. This has changed the symbolism of the art form: from a performance meant for celebration, to a dance of sexual rage. The media associates the dance with bottom provocation, prostitution or celebrity achievement stories − rarely celebrating the intellect, aesthetics or the expression of freedom in it. From a western point of view, twerking is overly sexualised and the performers participants in a cultural notoriety – thus, objectifying it. However, in its original context it is primarily a dance for festive celebrations. As a form of artistic expression resisting cultural destruction in Kenya, twerk is a way of re-politicising the African female body, and decolonising it from the male, western influenced gaze. Sexual expression in it is therefore a dialogue, not simply an invitation to sex
The Phytochemical Composition of Melia volkensii and Its Potential for Insect Pest Management.
No full textDue to potential health and environmental risks of synthetic pesticides, coupled with their non-selectivity and pest resistance, there has been increasing demand for safer and biodegradable alternatives for insect pest management. Botanical pesticides have emerged as a promising alternative due to their non-persistence, high selectivity, and low mammalian toxicity. Six Meliaceae plant species, Azadirachta indica, Azadirachta excelsa, Azadirachta siamens, Melia azedarach, Melia toosendan, and Melia volkensii, have been subject to botanical pesticide evaluation. This review focuses on Melia volkensii, which has not been intensively studied. M. volkensii, a dryland tree species native to East Africa, has shown activity towards a broad range of insect orders, including dipterans, lepidopterans and coleopterans. Its extracts have been reported to have growth inhibiting and antifeedant properties against Schistocerca gregaria, Trichoplusia ni, Pseudaletia unipuncta, Epilachna varivestis, Nezara viridula, several Spodoptera species and other insect pests. Mortality in mosquitoes has also been reported. Several limonoids with a wide range of biological activities have been isolated from the plant, including volkensin, salannin, toosendanin, trichilin-class limonoids, volkendousin, kulactone among others. This paper presents a concise review of published information on the phytochemical composition and potential of M. volkensii for application in insect pest management
Land use controls Kenyan riverine nitrate discharge into Lake Victoria - evidence from Nyando, Nzoia and Sondu Miriu river catchments.
No full textNitrate (NO3-) sources and discharge were investigated using isotope and hydrochemical analyses in three river catchments draining Lake Victoria basin, Kenya. Hierarchical cluster analysis grouped Nyando, Nzoia and Sondu Miriu River stations into clusters corresponding to major land use classes of the catchments. Mixed agriculture (MA) in Nyando showed higher NO3- compared to the other land uses. Nitrate levels obtained (0.1-11.6 mg L-1) are higher than those reported in previous studies. Hydrochemistry support isotope data indicating that ammonium-based fertilizers and soil N were the major NO3- sources in tea dominated areas with average δ15N (6.5 ± 1.3 ‰), δ18O (6.7 ± 2.3 ‰) values. Manure/sewage were the main source in MA areas with average δ15N (8.4 ± 2.4 ‰), δ18O (7.8 ± 5.4 ‰) values. Sewage was the likely source in urban, residential & industrial areas recording average δ15N (10.0 ± 2.4 ‰), δ18O (6.9 ± 3.7 ‰) values. δ15N between land uses were significantly different (p < 0.0001) while δ18O were similar (p = 0.4). Seasonally, inorganic/organic fertilizers influenced river NO3- mostly in the wet cropping season. Lower NO3- concentrations observed in Nyando and Sondu Miriu during dry or start-wet season could be a result of in situ denitrification
Trends and risk factors associated with stillbirths: A case study of the Navrongo War Memorial Hospital in Northern Ghana.
No full textBackground
Maternal and Child health remains at the core of global health priorities transcending the Millennium Development Goals into the current era of Sustainable Development Goals. Most low and middle-income countries including Ghana are yet to achieve the required levels of reduction in child and maternal mortality. This paper analysed the trends and the associated risk factors of stillbirths in a district hospital located in an impoverished and remote region of Ghana.
Methods
Retrospective hospital maternal records on all deliveries conducted in the Navrongo War Memorial hospital from 2003–2013 were retrieved and analysed. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to summarise trends in stillbirths while the generalized linear estimation logistic regression is used to determine socio-demographic, maternal and neonatal factors associated with stillbirths.
Results
A total of 16,670 deliveries were analysed over the study period. Stillbirth rate was 3.4% of all births. There was an overall decline in stillbirth rate over the study period as stillbirths declined from 4.2% in 2003 to 2.1% in 2013. Female neonates were less likely to be stillborn (Adjusted Odds ratio = 0.62 and 95%CI [0.46, 0.84]; p = 0.002) compared to male neonates; neonates with low birth weight (4.02 [2.92, 5.53]) and extreme low birth weight (18.9 [10.9, 32.4]) were at a higher risk of still birth (p<0.001). Mothers who had undergone Female Genital Mutilation had 47% (1.47 [1.04, 2.09]) increase odds of having a stillbirth compared to non FGM mothers (p = 0.031). Mothers giving birth for the first time also had a 40% increase odds of having a stillbirth compared to those who had more than one previous births (p = 0.037).
Conclusion
Despite the modest reduction in stillbirth rates over the study period, it is evident from the results that stillbirth rate is still relatively high. Primiparous women and preterm deliveries leading to low birth weight are identified factors that result in increased stillbirths. Efforts aimed at impacting on stillbirths should include the elimination of outmoded cultural practices such as FGM
