This paper addresses the effects of seasonal and annual rainfall variability on agricultural production that has had great influence on sugarcane biomass yields in Mumias Sub County in Kakamega County of Kenya. Seasonal and annual rainfall variability has adversely affected agricultural production globally. Mumias Sub County experienced rainfall variation between 1982 and 2012. The objective of this paper was to establish the effects of variations in total seasonal rainfall and total annual rainfall amounts on sugarcane biomass yields. A descriptive longitudinal research design was adopted. Document analysis was used to obtain data on rainfall amounts from Mumias weather station and sugarcane biomass yields from Mumias Sugar Company records. Quantitative data on seasonal and annual rainfall variability and sugarcane yield were analyzed using simple linear regression. The results show 55% (r²=0.55) and 40% (r²=0.4) of variation of sugar cane biomass yields can be explained by long seasonal rainfall (March, April, May) and short seasonal rainfall (October, November, December) respectively. Similarly, 61 % (r²=0.61) of variation of sugarcane biomass yield can be explained by total annual rainfall amounts. The study demonstrated that long seasonal rainfall and total annual rainfall amounts are dominant climatic factors accounting for variation of sugar cane biomass yields in Mumias. Recommendations made to farmers are they align activities of sugarcane production with temporal rainfall variability by observing planting dates, apply fertilizers when heavy rains sub size and apply mitigating measures such as irrigation to supplement water supply to sugarcane crops during dry seasons and grow more of drought resistant varieties

Contemporary market-oriented agricultural innovation has become a fundamental driver of food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In rural SSA, many small farmers are currently embarking on innovative agricultural systems (IAS), which are not only technically challenging, but food insecurity prone. Progressively, labour input in staple food crop production is dwindling and conversely increasing in the cultivation of income generating crops. SSA boost of no rigorous empirical study on the relationship between market-oriented agriculture and food insecurity. To fill this knowledge gap, this study relied on conceptual insights from scholars, oral histories captured through interviews, informal conversations, focus group discussions, questionnaire administration to 60 households’ respondents and field observation to analyze the correlation between unprecedented cultivation of income generating crops and food insecurity in rural North West Cameroon using Binka community as case study. Quantitative data collected were processed and presented in the form of tables and graphics for descriptive analysis while in-vivo codes, analytical codes and themes were generated for qualitative data analysis. Results reveal that 73.9% of farmers have embraced IAS though mastery of inputs application, farm maintenance capability, issues of purchasing power and institutional challenges remain critical (62.5%). Over dependence on IAS has engendered food insecurity and kept poverty in perpetuity. Reconciling poverty alleviation and food security in the region advocates for enhancement of subsistence agriculture and farmers training on IAS and techniques

Taxes are the obligations of citizens to the country, not least for the owners of companies in carrying out their business. This study discusses the effect of tax on pricing in minimarkets in Bone Regency. This study is an explanatory study with a quantitative approach using descriptive statistical analysis and inferential statistics using the application AMOS version 23. This study shows that there is no significant effect of tax on pricing. This means that taxes are not a consideration in setting prices. The tax is applied after the price is set by the company. Taxes are based on income from minimarkets.

The digitalization era of industrial revolution 4.0 provides convenience in transforming human activities into digitalization access, including in the field of financing and finance both micro and macro. However, financial system stability in the industrial revolution era 4.0 still needs to be improved. While waqf is an instrument for solving social and economic problems both macro and micro. This article is a conceptual design study that aims to find out in-depth or the extent to which the role of waqf contributes to improving the system of national financial stability. The research method used is a descriptive qualitative study of literature analysis and documentation. The results of this study indicate that waqf can contribute and provide solutions to the stability of the financial system in Indonesia by optimizing one indicator of the financial stability system, which is a reliable and safe payment system. Namely through (1) the socialization of studies on the endowment of money to the community by applying the basic principles of online membership. (2) synchronization between Bank Indonesia (BI), the Financial Services Authority (OJK), and the Indonesian Waqf Board (BWI) to create a good waqf governance, namely by applying (a) Core Principal Waqf (WCP) as a basis for waqf management in the governance system waqf management, (b) Waqf Linked Sukuk (WLS) as one of the waqf investment instruments that makes it easy for people to represent safely and reliably, and (c) the Indonesian Conscious Awareness Waqf (GISWAF) Movement, and the Islamic Center for Awqaf Studies (ICAST) as a center for the study of waqf by providing special treasures for Waqf through the academic system.

The Bundelkhand region of central India is different geographically, socially and economically. It is a semi-arid plateau area. This region is marked by extremes of temperature. The climatic and geographical conditions in this region favours the development of skin diseases. Studies have shown that several variants of psoriasis are developed in this region. Aims: The aim of this present study was to investigate the immunohistochemical expression of VEGF and Survivin in psoriatic skin and to detect their role in the pathogenesis of Psoriasis so that therapy could be targeted against suvivan and angiogenesis in the treatment of psoriasis patients. Settings: A retrospective case control study in a tertiary referral centre. Material & methods: A total of 54 cases were taken who visited the Dermatology OPD from January 2016 to october2017. These cases were diagnosed as Psoriasis after histopathological examination. Each case was subjected to general examination, H&E staining (Culling 1975) and immunohistochemistry with VEGF and Survivin. Results: Maximum 37% cases shows cytoplasmic VEGF staining in epidermis, dermis & blood vessels. 13% cases shows VEGF staining in epidermis and blood vessels. 30 cases showed nuclear and cytoplasmic SURVIVIN staining in epidermis. 26 cases shows Survivin staining in epidermis + sweat glands .The value of |Z| obtained is 5.04216 and p<0.0001 implies that there is high significant difference between Psoriasis studied with age and duration of Psoriasis. Conclusion: Over expression of survivin in psoriasis denotes its important role in the apoptosis suppression as a possible mechanism in the pathogenesis of Psoriasis so that survivin targeted therapies can be benifited in the treatment of psoriasis.

Background and Aims: To compare the efficacy and safety of intrathecal hyperbaric Ropivacaine without adjuvant and with adjuvant Dexmedetomidine for lower abdominal surgeries. Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, comparative study conducted among the patients who were ASA grade I or II, age 18 to 60 years planned for lower abdomen surgeries under spinal anaesthesia. Patients were randomly allocated to two groups (30 in each): Ropivacaine Group (control group or R group): spinal anesthesia with 3ml of 0.6% hyperbaric Ropivacaine (18mg) + 0.5ml NS. Dexmedetomidine Group (R+D or D group): spinal anesthesia with 3ml of 0.6% hyperbaric Ropivacaine (18mg) + 0.5ml Dexmedetomidine (5 mcg). All patients scheduled for operation were given oral tablets ranitidine 150 mg and Alprazolam 0.25mg in the night before surgery. Results: There was no significant difference in the basic characteristics between the groups. Heart rate, MAP and SpO2 were similar between the groups across time. The onset sensory levels and bromage were significantly (p=0.0001) higher among the patients of Group R compared with R+D. The 2 segment sensory regression (min), sensory regression S2 (hr), motor recovery (hrs), long term mobilization after spinal anesthesia, total amount of vasopressor given and total amount of Atropine given were significantly (p<0.05) lower among the patients of Group R compared with R+D. The percentage of complications was almost low in both the groups. Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine may be more suitable drug in surgeries in which muscle relaxation has greater value in lower abdominal surgeries.