Impact de l’activité de butinage de Dactylurina staudingeri Gribodo (Hymenoptera: Apidae) sur la pollinisation et les rendements de Cajanus cajan (L.) Millspaugh (Fabaceae) à Dang (Ngaoundéré, Cameroun)

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Venceslas Zra Ganava ◽  
Sanda Mazi ◽  
Michelson Azo'o Ela ◽  
Sidonie Fameni Tope ◽  
Fernand-Nestor Tchuenguem Fohouo

Les investigations ont été faites sur les fleurs de Cajanus cajan en vue d’estimer l’impact de l’activité de Dactylurina staudingeri sur la pollinisation, la production en gousses et en graines à Dang, en 2016 et 2017. Pour  chacune de ces années, 540 boutons floraux ont été étiquetés sur 120 plantes réparties en quatre traitements: 120 fleurs laissées en libre pollinisation, 120 fleurs protégées des insectes, 200 fleurs protégées, puis découvertes, visitées exclusivement par D. staudingeri et de nouveau protégées et 100 fleurs protégées, découvertes et à nouveau protégées, sans visite d’insectes ou de tout autre organisme. Le taux de fructification, le nombre moyen de graines par gousse et le pourcentage de graines normales ont été comparés entre ces traitements. Sur 33 espèces d’insectes recensées, D. staudingeri était majoritaire avec 12,19% de 6037 visites. Cette abeille prélevait fortement le nectar et récoltait faiblement le pollen au niveau des fleurs de C. cajan. La vitesse moyenne de butinage était de 7,14 fleurs/min. Via l’efficacité pollinisatrice d’une visite florale, D. staudingeri a augmenté le taux de fructification de 14,71%, le nombre moyen de graines par gousse de 35,29% et le pourcentage de graines normales de 17,31%. La conservation des colonies de D. staudingeri à proximité des exploitations de C. cajan est recommandée pour assurer la hausse des rendements de cette culture et favoriser une bonne pratique de la méliponiculture dans la région.Abstract Investigations were made on the flowers of Cajanus cajan in order to estimate the impact of the activity of Dactylurina staudingeri on pollination and yields at Dang, in 2016 and 2017. For each of these years, 540 flowers buds labeled on 120 plants were divided into four treatments: 120 open-pollinated flowers, 120 bagged flowers, 200 flowers protected, then unbagged, exclusively visited once by D. staudingeri and rebagged, and 100 flowers bagged, unbagged and rebagged without insect or any other organism visit. The fruiting rate, the mean number of seeds per pod and the percentage of normal seeds were compared between these treatments. Among 33 insect species recorded, D. staudingeri was prominent with 12.19% of 6037 visits. This bee harvested intensely nectar and collected slightly pollen from C. cajan flowers. The mean foraging speed was 7.14 flowers/min. Through the pollinating efficiency of a single flower visit, D. staudingeri increased the fruiting rate by 14.71%, the mean number of seeds per pod by 35.29% and the percentage of normal seeds by 17.31%. The conservation of D. staudingeri colonies close to C. cajan farms is recommended to improve yields of the crop and to promote the good meliponiculture in the region.


Author(s):  
Issaya Kodji issaya ◽  
Beaudelaine Stephanie Kengni ◽  
Tope Sidonie Fameni ◽  
Fohouo Fernand-Nestor Tchuenguem

This study was carried out to evaluate the impact of Amegilla calens bee on fruit and seed yields of G. hirsutum in an experimental field, in September 2018 and 2019. The experiments were carried out on 540 flowers divided in four treatments: 120 flowers accessible to all visitors; 120 flowers bagged to avoid all visits; 200 flowers protected and uncovered when they were opened, to allow A. calens visits; 100 flowers bagged then uncovered and rebagged without the visit of insects or any other organism. Bees daily rhythm of activity, its foraging behaviour on flowers, its pollination efficiency, the fruiting rate, the number of seeds per fruit and the percentage of normal seeds were evaluated. Results indicate that among 11 insect species recorded on flowers, X. olivacea ranked second and harvested nectar. Throughout the pollination efficiency of a single flower visit, X. olivacea provoked a significant increase of the podding rate, the mean number of seeds per pod, the percentage of normal seeds and the mean weight of a seed by 39.48 %, 18.19 %, 49.62 % and 31.53 % respectively. The conservation and installation of X. olivacea nests close to P. vulgaris fields is recommended to improve its pod production and seed quality.



Author(s):  
issaya Kodji issaya ◽  
Beaudelaine Stephanie KENGNI ◽  
TOPE Sidonie FAMENI ◽  
FOHOUO Fernand-Nestor TCHUENGUEM

This study was carried out to evaluate the impact of Amegilla calens bee on fruit and seed yields of G. hirsutum in an experimental field, in September 2018 and 2019. The experiments were carried out on 540 flowers divided in four treatments: 120 flowers accessible to all visitors; 120 flowers bagged to avoid all visits; 200 flowers protected and uncovered when they were opened, to allow A. calens visits; 100 flowers bagged then uncovered and rebagged without the visit of insects or any other organism. Bee’s daily rhythm of activity, its foraging behaviour on flowers, its pollination efficiency, the fruiting rate, the number of seeds per fruit and the percentage of normal seeds were evaluated. Among the 20 insect species recorded on G. hirsutum flowers, A. calens was the most frequent insect with 30.72 % of 655 visits. On flowers, individual bee intensely collected pollen and slightly harvested nectar. The mean duration of a visit per flower was 23.56 sec for pollen harvest and 13.68 sec for nectar collection. For the two years, through its pollination efficiency, A. calens increased the fruiting rate by 20.30 %, as well as the percentage of normal seeds by 32.39 %.



Author(s):  
Dunyuan Huang ◽  
Ruomei Kou ◽  
Michael C. Orr ◽  
Hongying Li ◽  
Feiyue Dou ◽  
...  

Abstract Andrena camellia Wu is one of the primary pollinators of Camellia oleifera A. in China. In this paper, the essential number of individuals for efficient pollination by this species was calculated via two criteria, based on various indicators including counts of pollen grains in provisions, from single visits, and from single foraging trips overall; single flower visit duration; single flight period duration; number of eggs laid by a single female over their lifetime; and the average number of flowers per plant. Based on the number of pollen grains collected per flower visit, the essential number of females necessary is 2107 in a 1-ha Camellia oleifera garden with 1800 plants, while only 1998 female individuals are essentially needed when estimated based on the mean number of pollen grains collected in a single flight period. We argue that the essential number estimated by the former method is more reasonable and accurate for practical applications.



1997 ◽  
Vol 161 ◽  
pp. 197-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duncan Steel

AbstractWhilst lithopanspermia depends upon massive impacts occurring at a speed above some limit, the intact delivery of organic chemicals or other volatiles to a planet requires the impact speed to be below some other limit such that a significant fraction of that material escapes destruction. Thus the two opposite ends of the impact speed distributions are the regions of interest in the bioastronomical context, whereas much modelling work on impacts delivers, or makes use of, only the mean speed. Here the probability distributions of impact speeds upon Mars are calculated for (i) the orbital distribution of known asteroids; and (ii) the expected distribution of near-parabolic cometary orbits. It is found that cometary impacts are far more likely to eject rocks from Mars (over 99 percent of the cometary impacts are at speeds above 20 km/sec, but at most 5 percent of the asteroidal impacts); paradoxically, the objects impacting at speeds low enough to make organic/volatile survival possible (the asteroids) are those which are depleted in such species.



Author(s):  
Julie L. Wambaugh ◽  
Lydia Kallhoff ◽  
Christina Nessler

Purpose This study was designed to examine the association of dosage and effects of Sound Production Treatment (SPT) for acquired apraxia of speech. Method Treatment logs and probe data from 20 speakers with apraxia of speech and aphasia were submitted to a retrospective analysis. The number of treatment sessions and teaching episodes was examined relative to (a) change in articulation accuracy above baseline performance, (b) mastery of production, and (c) maintenance. The impact of practice schedule (SPT-Blocked vs. SPT-Random) was also examined. Results The average number of treatment sessions conducted prior to change was 5.4 for SPT-Blocked and 3.9 for SPT-Random. The mean number of teaching episodes preceding change was 334 for SPT-Blocked and 179 for SPT-Random. Mastery occurred within an average of 13.7 sessions (1,252 teaching episodes) and 12.4 sessions (1,082 teaching episodes) for SPT-Blocked and SPT-Random, respectively. Comparisons of dosage metric values across practice schedules did not reveal substantial differences. Significant negative correlations were found between follow-up probe performance and the dosage metrics. Conclusions Only a few treatment sessions were needed to achieve initial positive changes in articulation, with mastery occurring within 12–14 sessions for the majority of participants. Earlier occurrence of change or mastery was associated with better follow-up performance. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.12592190



2013 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-125

The present study concerns the impact of a change in the rainfall regime on surface and groundwater resources in an experimental watershed. The research is conducted in a gauged mountainous watershed (15.18 km2) that is located on the eastern side of Penteli Mountain, in the prefecture of Attica, Greece and the study period concerns the years from 2003 to 2008. The decrease in the annual rainfall depth during the last two hydrological years 2006-2007, 2007-2008 is 10% and 35%, respectively, in relation to the average of the previous years. In addition, the monthly distribution of rainfall is characterized by a distinct decrease in winter rainfall volume. The field measurements show that this change in rainfall conditions has a direct impact on the surface runoff of the watershed, as well as on the groundwater reserves. The mean annual runoff in the last two hydrological years has decreased by 56% and 75% in relation to the average of the previous years. Moreover, the groundwater level follows a declining trend and has dropped significantly in the last two years.



2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Banasik ◽  
Dariusz Jemielniak ◽  
Wojciech P?dzich

BACKGROUND There have been mixed results of the studies checking whether prayers do actually extend the life duration of the people prayed for. Most studies on the topic included a small number of prayers and most of them focused on people already struggling with a medical condition. Intercessory prayer’s influence on health is of scholarly interest, yet it is unclear if its effect may be dependent on the number of prayers for a named individual received per annum. OBJECTIVE We sought to examine if there is a noticeable increased longevity effect of intercessory prayer for a named individual’s well-being, if he receives a very high number of prayers per annum for an extended period. METHODS We retrieved and conducted a statistical analysis of the data about the length of life for 857 Roman Catholic bishops, 500 Catholic priests, and 3038 male academics from the US, France, Italy, Poland, Brazil, and Mexico. We obtained information for these individuals who died between 1988 and 2018 from Wikidata, and conducted an observational cohort study. Bishops were chosen for the study, as they receive millions of individual prayers for well being, according to conservative estimates. RESULTS There was a main effect for occupation F(2, 4391) = 4.07, p = .017, ηp 2 = .002, with pairwise comparisons indicating significant differences between the mean life duration of bishops (M=30489) and of priests (M=29894), but none between the academic teachers (M=30147) and either of the other groups. A comparison analysis between bishops from the largest and the smallest dioceses showed no significant difference t(67.31)=1.61, p = .11. Our main outcome measure is covariance of the mean length of life in each of the categories: bishops, priests, academic teachers, controlled for nationality. CONCLUSIONS The first analysis proved that bishops live longer than priests, but due to a marginal effect size this result should be treated with caution. No difference was found between the mean length of life of bishops from the largest and the smallest dioceses. We found no difference between bishops and male academics. These results show that the impact of intercessory prayers on longevity is not observable.



2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Hanji He ◽  
Guangming Deng

We extend the mean empirical likelihood inference for response mean with data missing at random. The empirical likelihood ratio confidence regions are poor when the response is missing at random, especially when the covariate is high-dimensional and the sample size is small. Hence, we develop three bias-corrected mean empirical likelihood approaches to obtain efficient inference for response mean. As to three bias-corrected estimating equations, we get a new set by producing a pairwise-mean dataset. The method can increase the size of the sample for estimation and reduce the impact of the dimensional curse. Consistency and asymptotic normality of the maximum mean empirical likelihood estimators are established. The finite sample performance of the proposed estimators is presented through simulation, and an application to the Boston Housing dataset is shown.



2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nana-Kwadwo Biritwum ◽  
Dziedzom K. de Souza ◽  
Odame Asiedu ◽  
Benjamin Marfo ◽  
Uche Veronica Amazigo ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The control of onchocerciasis in Ghana started in 1974 under the auspices of the Onchocerciasis Control Programme (OCP). Between 1974 and 2002, a combination of approaches including vector control, mobile community ivermectin treatment, and community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI) were employed. From 1997, CDTI became the main control strategy employed by the Ghana OCP (GOCP). This review was undertaken to assess the impact of the control interventions on onchocerciasis in Ghana between 1974 and 2016, since which time the focus has changed from control to elimination. Methods In this paper, we review programme data from 1974 to 2016 to assess the impact of control activities on prevalence indicators of onchocerciasis. This review includes an evaluation of CDTI implementation, microfilaria (Mf) prevalence assessments and rapid epidemiological mapping of onchocerciasis results. Results This review indicates that the control of onchocerciasis in Ghana has been very successful, with a significant decrease in the prevalence of infection from 69.13% [95% confidence interval) CI 60.24–78.01] in 1975 to 0.72% (95% CI 0.19–1.26) in 2015. Similarly, the mean community Mf load decreased from 14.48 MF/skin snip in 1975 to 0.07 MF/skin snip (95% CI 0.00–0.19) in 2015. Between 1997 and 2016, the therapeutic coverage increased from 58.50 to 83.80%, with nearly 100 million ivermectin tablets distributed. Conclusions Despite the significant reduction in the prevalence of onchocerciasis in Ghana, there are still communities with MF prevalence above 1%. As the focus of the GOCP has changed from the control of onchocerciasis to its elimination, both guidance and financial support are required to ensure that the latter goal is met.



2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S527-S527
Author(s):  
Jean-Etienne Poirrier ◽  
Justin Carrico ◽  
Jessica K DeMartino ◽  
Katherine A Hicks ◽  
Jeffrey J Stoddard ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Herpes zoster (HZ), or shingles, is a common neurocutaneous disease caused by the reactivation of latent varicella zoster virus that often includes rash and neuropathic pain that may last for months. Opioids and other analgesics may be prescribed. Recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) is preferentially recommended for the prevention of HZ in adults aged 50 years and older. This study aimed to assess the impact of RZV vaccination on opioid and other analgesic prescription-related outcomes. Methods Estimates of analgesic prescription rates (opioids, benzodiazepines, and other analgesics) among HZ cases were established using Truven claims data from 2012-2018 for adults aged 50 years and older. HZ case avoidance with RZV vaccination was calculated using a previously published cost-effectiveness model. This data was included in a calculator assessing the impact of RZV vaccination on analgesic prescription-related outcomes (compared to no vaccination). Results Between 24.4% and 28.0% of HZ cases in the observed claims had at least one opioid prescription, dependent on age group (4.5%-6.5% and 8.6%-19.6% for benzodiazepines and other analgesics, respectively). The mean number of opioid prescriptions per person in each age group with at least one opioid prescription was between 1.7 and 1.9 (1.7-2.3 and 1.7-2.0 prescriptions for benzodiazepines and other analgesics, respectively). Assuming a 1-million-person population and 65% RZV coverage, the calculator predicts RZV vaccination will prevent 75,002 cases of HZ and will prevent 19,311 people from being prescribed at least 1 HZ-related opioid, 4,502 people from being prescribed benzodiazepines, and 12,201 people from being prescribed other analgesics. Additionally, 34,520 HZ-related opioid prescriptions will be avoided (9,413 benzodiazepine prescriptions; 22,406 other analgesic prescriptions). Conclusion HZ is associated with high levels of opioid, benzodiazepine, and other analgesic use. Primary prevention of HZ by vaccination could potentially reduce opioid and other medication exposure. Disclosures Jean-Etienne Poirrier, PhD, MBA, The GSK group of companies (Employee, Shareholder) Justin Carrico, BS, GlaxoSmithKline (Consultant) Jessica K. DeMartino, PhD, The GlaxoSmithKline group of companies (Employee, Shareholder) Katherine A. Hicks, MS, BSPH, GlaxoSmithKline (Scientific Research Study Investigator, GSK pays my company for my contractual services.) Saurabh P. Nagar, MS, RTI Health Solutions (Employee) Juliana Meyers, MA, GlaxoSmithKline (Other Financial or Material Support, This study was funded by GlaxoSmithKline.)



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