Academic literature on the topic 'Inter-fertility'

SummaryIntense, sustained nursing lengthens inter-birth intervals and is causally linked with low natural fertility. However, in traditional settings, the effects of such nursing on fertility are difficult to disentangle from those of nutrition. Results from an prospective, direct observational study of reproductive function in well-nourished Amele women who nurse intensively and persistently but who also have high fertility are here presented. Endocrine measures show that ovarian activity resumes by median 11·0 months postpartum. Median duration of postpartum amenorrhoea is 11·3 months, time to next conception is 19·0 months, and the inter-birth interval is 28·0 months. Average life time fertility is 6·8. High fertility in Amele women is due both to refractoriness of reproductive function to suckling stimuli, and to maintenance of equivalent age-specific fertility rates across the reproductive life span.

This study explored the underlining reproductive factors that cause sterility in rice, using hybrids obtained from crosses among landrace selections and improved varieties. The study was carried out between 2016 and 2018. Nine landrace cultivars and two improved varieties were involved in the hybridization experiment. Among the 17 putative hybrids that were obtained, only 5 were confirmed as true hybrids. Meiotic chromosome studies and pollen studies in the F1, and Mendelian segregation studies for fertility in the F2 were carried out. Some F2 lines were monitored to F3 to ascertain the level of fixation of gene combinations for fertility. The results obtained from the chromosomal studies showed that phenomena such as laggards, precocious movements, formation of multivalents, and unequal segregation to the poles are associated with pollen sterility in all - 5 hybrids, at the F1 and F2 generations. The indehiscence of anthers contributed to infertility due to pollen shortage than the fertility of the pollens themselves. Even though in males, there is a preponderance of male sterility, female sterility is also a phenomenon that is possibly contributing to inter-varietal sterility. The segregational pattern of 13:3 was observed for fertility in the F2 which suggests the inhibition of fertility by a gene in the dominant state. There was the restoration of fertility in many of the lines advanced to the F3 to up to 93 % fertility. It was, therefore, concluded from the study that landraces of rice still hold the key for the rice crop improvement and should therefore be conserved.

The inter-row soils in conventionally run citrus orchards in Eastern Spain lose fertility, either physically, chemically, or biologically, as a consequence of machinery traffic and the use of herbicides. In order to regain inter-row soil fertility, two grass-cover management alternatives to the commonly used herbicide-kept bare management, namely, spontaneous plants and fescue, were established and left for four years until their effects on several physical, chemical, and biological parameters were monitored for two years more. The fescue ground cover exhibited lower average and maximum soil temperatures due to higher evapotranspiration rates but also higher annual soil water content on average and, additionally, higher rhizodeposition. Despite the fact that these new beneficial conditions helped enhance the soil’s biological fertility under fescue, the physical or chemical fertilities did not improve and neither did the organic carbon (SOC). The spontaneous plants also enhanced the biological fertility, but in this case, beneficial conditions were reflected by improvements in the chemical fertility, particularly the exchangeable potassium, and in the physical fertility by increasing the surface hydraulic conductivity and decreasing the bulk density. In the inter-rows of this citrus orchard, a seeded grass cover does not seem able to provide any soil fertility enhancement in comparison to a spontaneous one; rather the opposite. However, a lack of natural or man-driven nitrogen inputs poses a constraint to SOC gains. For this aim, the annual surface application of organic nitrogen-rich materials or even better, the fostering of N-fixing organisms would be recommended.

Using the tools of statistical analysis, the author investigates the tendencies of fertility of Romania’s population, especially among the Hungarians in Romania, and its determinants. The main conclusion of his analysis is that the regional differences is the key independent variable of fertility variations, and the ethnic-cultural patterns are only secondary. The analyses were necessary as one could believe that etno-cultural differences influence fertility

Within sociological and demographic research many argue that recent demographic transformations can be explained, at least in part, by a growth in individualism. Such approaches, with their emphasis on growing individual autonomy, offer a model of human action in which the social recedes from analysis. This paper offers an alternative framework for analysing processes shaping demographic change, taking as a particular focus aspects of changing patterns of fertility in the UK. Interpretations of the fertility decline at the turn of the twentieth century emphasise the importance of changing patterns of inter-dependence across generations and between women and men. It is argued that in parallel, although to a lesser degree, recent decades have manifest a change in the social positioning of these groups. Change in the reproductive regime is offered as a concept for denoting this restructuring of inter-dependencies. We are witnessing a reconfiguration of social ties and not their displacement. It is as an integral part of such changes that developments in fertility are best interrogated.

As a special class of rice germplasm, wide-compatibility varieties (WCVs) guarantee the fertility of hybrids when there is cross-fertilization between two subspecies. In this study, Chenghui9348 was identified as a new member of the WCV family that improves pollen fertility in an inter-subspecific hybrid. Cytological analysis showed that the abnormal mitosis of microspores resulted in the sterility of pollens at the early bicellular stage in the inter-subspecific hybrid. Furthermore, the new F12 locus, corresponding to improvements in fertility of the indica-japonica hybrid, was found to co-segregate with the RM1047 marker and associated with a region of approximately 630 kb flanked by the D1101 and D1164 markers on chromosome 12. In this region, two putative genes were predicted as the candidates for wide-compatibility genes (WCGs). Sequence analysis revealed that, compared with indica/japonica alleles, deletion/insertion occurred within exons of both putative genes. Together, the present study identified another new WC locus, F12, and offers more opportunities for further exploitation of inter-subspecific hybrids in rice.

Purpose: Sub-Saharan African countries are experiencing rapid population growth. This is essential in achieving the Demographic Dividend. Age structure, fertility and education play a key role in the achievement of the Demographic Dividend. Although gains from age structure are crucial, its gains are not automatic. However, the inter-relatedness of fertility and education makes a reduction in fertility a cause and effect on investments in education. Methodology: This narrative review looks at studies discussing the Demographic Dividend from a development theory point of view. It is an attempt to explain how different countries within Sub-Saharan Africa are faring due to the inter-play between fertility and education. Findings: The results highlight how the Demographic Dividend is really an Educational Dividend. It also shows a negative correlation between education and fertility across regions and time. The political environment with emphasis on good governance plays a key role in harnessing the Demographic Dividend. Aside this, a fertility decline alone could worsen the existing economic conditions if it is not in tandem with higher education rates among young adults. This is in line with Ester Boserup’s view of seeing population as a resource. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy (recommendation): A conducive political environment attracts investments and creates room for entrepreneurship and job creation which are necessary to be able to harness the Demographic Dividend. There’s the need to however, look at the definition of working age group and conditions necessary to promote entrepreneurship.

AbstractReproductive performance of 714 Holstein Friesian dairy cows was monitored between October 1995 and June 1998 using thrice weekly milk progesterone determinations. Defined endocrine parameters such as interval topost-partumcommencement of luteal activity, inter-ovulatory interval and length of luteal and inter-luteal intervals were used with a number of traditional measures of reproductive performance to investigate the current status of fertility in a sample of United Kingdom dairy herds. A comparison of the results of the 1995 to 1998 trial with those of a previous (1975 to 1982) milk progesterone database, which included 2503 lactations in British Friesian cows monitored using a similar milk sampling protocol, revealed a decline infertility between these periods.Between 1975-1982 and 1995-1998, pregnancy rate to first service declined from 55·6% to 39·7% (P< 0·001), at a derived average rate approaching 1% per year. This decline was associated with an increase (P< 0·001) in the proportion of animals with one or more atypical ovarian hormone patterns from 32% to 44%. There was a significant (P< 0·001) increase in the incidence of delayed luteolysis during the first cyclepost partum(delayed luteolysis type I; 7·3% to 18·2%) and during subsequent cycles (delayed luteolysis type II; 6·4% to 16·8%), although the incidence of prolonged anovulation post partům (delayed ovulation type I; 10·9% to 12·9%) and prolonged inter-luteal intervals (delayed ovulation type II; 12·9% to 10·6%) did not alter significantly. These changes resulted in an increase in mean luteal phase length from 12·9 (s.e. 0·09) to 14·8 (s.e. 0·17) days and an increase in inter-ovulatory interval from 20·2 (s.e. 0·1) to 22·3 (s.e. 0·2) days. The decline infertility was also reflected in traditional measures of fertility since although interval to first service remained relatively unchanged (74·0 (s.e. 0·4) to 77·6 (s.e. 1·1) days) calving interval lengthened from 370 (s.e. 2·2) to 390 (s.e. 2·5) days. Collectively these changes may have contributed to the decline in pregnancy rates observed over the last 20 years.

This thesis focuses on the edible fungus Lepista (Pied Bleu or Wood Blewit). Factors affecting its potential commercial cultivation were explored and a contribution to knowledge of the morphology and cultivation of Australian species of Lepista has been made. Australian collections of Lepista were made within a 200 km zone of Sydney. A study of the morphology and taxonomic species of these collections was undertaken. Intra- and inter-fertility crosses were completed with French L. nuda and L. sordida to determine genetic relationships and biological species. Suitable substrates for agar medium, spawn production and cultivation were explored. The response to temperature of French and Australian Lepista in vitro, and Australian Lepista under cultivation, using cold shock, was observed. The effect of modified atmosphere exchanges per hour, CO2 levels, and cold shock during the cultivation cycle and sporophore production were investigated. A genebank of Australian Lepista was established. Three species of Lepista were found in Australia : L. nuda, L. sordida and L. saeva. Two other groups of Lepista were identified. The use of A. bisporus compost appeared to be optimal for experimental and commercial applications. Australian isolates of Lepista tolerate higher temperatures than French isolates, and grew at double the rate of the French at all temperatures except 5 degrees centigrade. The length of the spawn run was reduced from 43-58 days to 12-16 days with introduced CO2 of 9,000-11,000 ppm, but an erratic cyclic pattern of net CO2 production occurred which could only be stabilised by increasing ventilation. This initial cyclic pattern appeared to inhibit subsequent sporophore formation.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

This thesis focuses on the edible fungus Lepista (Pied Bleu or Wood Blewit). Factors affecting its potential commercial cultivation were explored and a contribution to knowledge of the morphology and cultivation of Australian species of Lepista has been made. Australian collections of Lepista were made within a 200 km zone of Sydney. A study of the morphology and taxonomic species of these collections was undertaken. Intra- and inter-fertility crosses were completed with French L. nuda and L. sordida to determine genetic relationships and biological species. Suitable substrates for agar medium, spawn production and cultivation were explored. The response to temperature of French and Australian Lepista in vitro, and Australian Lepista under cultivation, using cold shock, was observed. The effect of modified atmosphere exchanges per hour, CO2 levels, and cold shock during the cultivation cycle and sporophore production were investigated. A genebank of Australian Lepista was established. Three species of Lepista were found in Australia : L. nuda, L. sordida and L. saeva. Two other groups of Lepista were identified. The use of A. bisporus compost appeared to be optimal for experimental and commercial applications. Australian isolates of Lepista tolerate higher temperatures than French isolates, and grew at double the rate of the French at all temperatures except 5 degrees centigrade. The length of the spawn run was reduced from 43-58 days to 12-16 days with introduced CO2 of 9,000-11,000 ppm, but an erratic cyclic pattern of net CO2 production occurred which could only be stabilised by increasing ventilation. This initial cyclic pattern appeared to inhibit subsequent sporophore formation.

Dans l’hémisphère Nord, les populations de grands herbivores ont connu ces dernières décennies des modifications environnementales majeures, liées d’une part à l’augmentation importante de leur densité, et d’autre part aux changements globaux qui affectent leur habitat (notamment réchauffement climatique, modification des activités humaines, et fragmentation de l’habitat). Mieux comprendre comment ces espèces vont adapter leurs stratégies d’histoire de vie pour répondre à ces modifications est une question majeure de l’écologie des populations, et une étape nécessaire pour pouvoir adapter leur gestion aux enjeux environnementaux et sociétaux actuels. C’est dans ce contexte que nous avons étudié quelles étaient les sources de variation des tactiques de survie et de reproduction chez trois espèces de grands herbivores de montagne (l’isard Rupicapra pyreneica, le chamois Rupicapra rupicapra, et le mouflon méditerranéen Ovis gmelini musimon × Ovis sp.). A partir de suivis longitudinaux par capture-marquage-recapture (CMR) nous nous sommes plus particulièrement focalisés sur le rôle de l’hétérogénéité individuelle latente, de la variabilité climatique et de la structuration spatiale sur les paramètres démographiques.Ce travail s’est appuyé sur l’utilisation de modèles de mélange et d’une combinaison innovante du robust-design et des modèles multi-événements pour analyser des données démographiques collectées à différentes échelles spatio-temporelles. L’hétérogénéité individuelle s’est avérée être une composante majeure de la démographie des 3 espèces étudiées, avec l’identification chez le mouflon et l’isard de femelles aux performances reproductives contrastées, et l’existence chez le chamois de différences de survie entre individus liées à la qualité de l‘habitat occupé. Ces modèles ont aussi permis de révéler une augmentation de l’investissement reproducteur en fin de vie chez les femelles de mouflon au détriment de leur survie et d’étudier chez les femelles d’isard les différentes phases de l’effort reproducteur, de la gestation au sevrage, pour mettre en évidence que seule la lactation a un coût sur la reproduction suivante. Nos résultats ont également mis en exergue le rôle prépondérant du climat hivernal et printanier sur les paramètres démographiques des 3 espèces, tout en confirmant que ces effets sont souvent spécifiques à la population et au site étudiés. Cette étude montre également que l’isard et le mouflon, bien que relativement comparables en termes de taille, de traits écologiques, et de position phylogénétique, adoptent des stratégies d’histoire de vie contrastées.Au final, nos résultats soulignent donc l’importance des études démographiques comparatives à plusieurs niveaux d’organisation (inter-espèces, inter-population, intra-population), pour mieux comprendre le devenir des espèces de grands herbivores face aux perturbations environnementales
In Northern hemisphere, populations of large herbivores have to cope with major environmental modifications linked to the increase of their density and to global change which strongly impacts their habitat (climate change, modification of human activities and habitat fragmentation). Understanding how these species adjust their life history strategies in response to such modifications is central for population ecology and for management issues. In this context, this work aimed to identify the sources of variation of survival and reproductive tactics in 3 species of mountain ungulate (Pyrenean chamois Rupicapra pyreneica, Alpine chamois Rupicapra rupicapra, and Mediterranean mouflon Ovis gmelini musimon × Ovis sp.). Using capture-mark-recapture monitoring we specifically investigated the role of individual heterogeneity, climate change, and spatial heterogeneity in shaping vital rates.This work relied on mixture models and an innovative combination of robust-design into a multi-events framework to explore demographic data collected at different spatio-temporal scales. Fixed heterogeneity appeared as a major demographic component in the 3 studied species by highlighting in mouflon and Pyrenean chamois two groups of females with contrasted reproductive performance, and by providing evidence in chamois of among-females differences in survival rates linked to the quality of their habitat. These models allowed us to provide evidence for the terminal investment hypothesis in female mouflon and to decompose reproductive effort in females of Pyrenean chamois from gestation to weaning, to unveil that lactation only led to cost on subsequent reproduction. Our results also highlighted the major influence of winter and spring climatic conditions on demographic parameters in the 3 studied species, and confirmed the general trend that climate effects are often species- and site-specific. Our findings provided evidence that Pyrenean chamois and mouflon evolved contrasted life history strategies, although both species share strong similarities in terms of body mass, ecological traits and phylogenetic position.Finally, our work stresses the importance of conducting comparative demographic studies, based on longitudinal monitoring of marked individuals, at inter-specific, inter-population and within population levels, to better understand and predict the future of large herbivores populations in the current context of global changes

En oncologie, les avancées diagnostiques et thérapeutiques ont permis une amélioration significative des taux de survie au prix d’une altération de la santé reproductive des patients due à la gonadotoxicité des traitements. L’attention accordée à la qualité de vie durant et après le cancer est devenue un enjeu majeur de la prise en charge et inclue particulièrement les problématiques liées aux troubles de la sexualité et de la fertilité notamment chez les jeunes femmes. Des stratégies de préservation de la santé reproductive avant initiation des traitements doivent désormais faire partie intégrante de la prise en charge multidisciplinaire du cancer de la femme.L’évaluation épidémiologique et clinique de ces stratégies est indispensable pour améliorer l’offre de soins. Pourtant, le recours à ces stratégies n’avait pas encore été évalué aux Antilles Françaises.Ce projet de thèse, s’appuyant sur quatre études, a tenté de répondre à cette problématique en réalisant un état des lieux des besoins et du recours en préservation de la santé reproductive féminine en contexte de cancer aux Antilles Françaises (Martinique, Guadeloupe). Les différentes parties de ce travail ont été valorisées par des publications scientifiques présentées dans ce manuscrit.Une première étude s’est intéressée aux parcours de soins et réseaux de préservation de la santé reproductive dans le monde. Cette étude a permis de définir le paysage international des modèles organisationnels et la chaîne de coordination de la préservation de la santé reproductive dans le monde pour les patientes atteintes d’un cancer. Elle apporte des arguments afin de réduire les disparités dans l’accès aux soins des jeunes femmes survivant à un cancer dans le monde. Une seconde étude s’est intéressée à explorer l’épidémiologie des cancers de la femme et a permis de proposer une estimation de la population concernée par une préservation de la fertilité aux Antilles Françaises.La troisième étude a permis de réaliser un bilan des pratiques de préservation de la santé reproductive aux Antilles Françaises par l’analyse de l’expérience du CECOS-Caraïbe en matière de préservation de la fertilité féminine puis par la réalisation d’une enquête de pratique menée auprès des médecins impliqués dans la prise en charge oncologique des femmes jeunes aux Antilles Françaises.Enfin, le dernier volet a exploré la prise en charge des cancers associés à la grossesse en Martinique. Cette étude a mis en évidence le véritable challenge thérapeutique que représentent ces cancers rares en contexte insulaire, nécessitant un travail collaboratif régional et interrégional. L’analyse de nos résultats a permis de montrer que l’organisation des soins en préservation de la santé reproductive aux Antilles Françaises reste à structurer et à améliorer sur plusieurs points : l’accès aux soins, l’information des patientes, l’identification de référents en oncofertilité, la formation des professionnels, l’interaction entre les centres d’assistance médicale à la procréation et les services d’oncologie. Pour répondre à ces besoins, des solutions innovantes sont possibles afin de mettre en réseau les différents acteurs. Le projet de Réseau Intercaribbéen Cancer et Santé Reproductive est un projet d’e-santé visant à structurer le parcours de soins des patientes jeunes atteintes de cancer et résidant en Martinique et en Guadeloupe, en construisant un parcours de coopération interrégionale pouvant faire face aux contraintes territoriales. Il s’agit également de porter des projets de recherche sur la thématique de la préservation de la santé reproductive dans nos régions dans le but d’améliorer la qualité de vie des jeunes survivantes résidant aux Antilles Françaises
In oncology, diagnostic and therapeutic advances have allowed a significant improvement in survival rates at the cost of an alteration of the reproductive health of patients due to the gonadotoxicity of the treatments. The attention given to the quality of life during and after cancer has become a major issue of care and particularly includes issues related to sexual and fertility disorders, especially among young women. Strategies for preserving reproductive health before treatment initiation must now be an integral part of the multidisciplinary management of women's cancer. The epidemiological and clinical evaluation of these strategies is essential to improve the supply of care. However, the use of these strategies had not yet been evaluated in the French West Indies.This thesis project, based on four studies, tried to resolve this issue by realizing an inventory of recourse and needs in the preservation of female reproductive health in a context of cancer in the French West Indies (Martinique, Guadeloupe). The different parts of this work have been promoted through scientific publications presented in this manuscript.A first study looked at care pathways and networks for the preservation of reproductive health in the world. This study has defined the international landscape of organizational models and the chain of coordination for the preservation of reproductive health around the world for cancer patients. It brings arguments to reduce disparities in access to care for young women survivors of cancer around the world. A second study focused on exploring the epidemiology of women's cancers and proposed an estimate of the population concerned by fertility preservation in the French West Indies. The third study is dedicated to a review of the practices of preservation of reproductive health in the French West Indies by highlighting the experience of CECOS-Caraïbe in the preservation of female fertility and by the realization a practice survey conducted among doctors involved in the oncological management of young women in the French West Indies. Finally, the last part explored the management of cancers associated with pregnancy in the French West Indies. This study has highlighted the real therapeutic challenge represented by these rare cancers, requiring regional and interregional collaborative work.The analysis of our results made it possible to show that the organization of care in the preservation of fertility in the French West Indies remains to be structured and improved on several points: access to care, information of the patients, the identification of oncofertility referrals, training of professionals, interaction between the centers of medical assistance to procreation and oncology services.To meet these needs, innovative solutions are possible in order to network the different actors. The project Intercaribbean Network Cancer and Reproductive Health is an e-health project aimed at structuring the path of care of young cancer patients residing in Martinique and Guadeloupe, to build an inter-regional cooperation course that can cope with the constraints territorial. It also involves carrying out research projects on the theme of the preservation of reproductive health in our regions with the aim of improving the quality of life of young survivors living in the French West Indies

In Vietnam, approximately 1.3 M ha of acacia and eucalypt plantations have been established in the past three decades to supply a growing local and international demand for pulp and sawlog. Wood production over successive rotations does not appear sustainable as yields are declining and soils, especially on steep sites, are being eroded and negatively impacted. There is concern that current practices, i.e. burning harvest residues and only applying a small dose of fertilisers at planting are in part responsible for this situation and need to be changed. This thesis examines if changes in the current practices i.e. the retention of harvest residues and increased P fertilisation will improve the soil properties and productivity of Eucalyptus hybrid (Eucalyptus urophylla × E. pellita) and Acacia mangium plantations planted on steep slopes in northern Vietnam. The first study investigated whether the decomposition of retained A. mangium harvest residues (branches, leaves and bark) could provide sufficient nutrients for the next rotation. The biomass and nutrient content of above-ground stand components of the previous 7-year-old Acacia mangium rotation were examined at harvest, and the rates of decomposition and nutrient release from the harvest residues determined. The decomposition constant k, half-life t0.5 and release of nutrients (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) were monitored by using the litterbag technique for a 1.5-year-period. At harvesting, the total above-ground stand biomass of the previous rotation was 60.8 t ha\(^{-1}\), comprising stemwood (42.7 t ha\(^{-1}\)), bark (8.9 t ha\(^{-1}\)), branches (6.6 t ha\(^{-1}\)) and leaves (2.5 t ha\(^{-1}\)). The retained bark on site made up one-third of the mass of all residues (harvest residues + litter + understorey vegetation) and conserved 6% Mg, 14% K, 18% P, 30% N and 41% Ca content for recycling. The decomposition rate of the leaves was the most rapid (k = 1.47 year\(^{-1}\); t0.5 = 0.47 year), then branches (k = 0.54 year\(^{-1}\); t0.5 = 1.29 year) and bark (k= 0.22 year\(^{-1}\); t0.5 = 3.09 year). During decomposition, the loss of nutrients from harvest residues was K ≈ Ca > N > P> Mg. Over 1.5 years of the study period, as much as 137.1 kg N ha\(^{-1}\), 4.7 kg P ha\(^{-1}\), 20.8 kg K ha\(^{-1}\), 94.5 kg Ca ha\(^{-1}\) and 2.2 kg Mg ha\(^{-1}\) were recycled. The N, Ca and K, though not P and Mg released from decomposing A. mangium harvest residues are potentially able to meet a significant part of the demand by trees growing in the next rotation. The second study examined whether the retention of residues, and application of phosphorus fertiliser at higher rates than the current practice, can increase rates of growth and vigour of trees, i.e. better tree form and lesser crown damage, of eucalypt and acacia plantations. A factorial combination of residue management (burning vs. retention) and phosphorus (P) fertiliser application at planting (15 vs. 100 kg ha\(^{-1}\)) treatments was applied at a steeply sloping site (slope rages from 8 – 40 ̊). Two adjacent experiments were established, one with A. mangium and the other with E. hybrid. Standing volume (V) and leaf area index (LAI) in A. mangium were greater following burning; this was mostly attributable to the significantly higher survival rate of seedlings. Burning of residues was associated with increases in the number of large branches per tree, and a higher crown damage index (CDI). In the E. hybrid, diameter and height responses to the higher rate of fertiliser were observed at age 6 and 12 months, but not beyond. High P application also led to higher CDI. Standard fertiliser treatment, applied in amounts equivalent to 17, 15 and 8 kg ha\(^{-1}\) of N, P, K, respectively, was adequate to meet the early growth requirement of eucalypt and acacia plantations at this site. The third study examined the effect of two contrasting harvest residue management treatments (burning vs. residue-retention) on soil properties i.e. soil total carbon (TC), total nitrogen (TN), extractable P (ext-P), exchangeable K (exch-K) and soil bulk density (BD) of E. hybrid and A. mangium plantations. In this study, soil samples were collected in plots treated with similar amounts of fertiliser (applied at the current rate) but subject to contrasting residue management treatments (burning vs. residue-retention). The soil properties were assessed at pre-establishment, and at age one and two years following planting. The results showed that the soil properties in either E. hybrid or A. mangium plantations were not significantly different between residue retention and residue burning inter-rotational treatments. However marked variations observed in soil TC, exch-K and ext-P suggest that position on the slope masked any overall trends. In summary, the relatively low amounts of harvest residues and high fertility levels at the site may be associated with the lack of significant growth and soil responses to the silvicultural treatments applied in this study. However, it is clear that the decomposition of harvest residues and the associated rate of nutrient release can supply a significant amount of nutrients required for stand development in the next rotation. The variation in standing volume, crown health and soil properties between slope positions suggest that factors driving any correlation of tree productivity with slope, for example surface run-off and soil erosion will need careful management to arrest potential yield decline on steeply sloping sites. Thus harvest residue retention with adequate weed and termite control may be preferential to burning on a steep slope because the residue not only can provide nutrients but reduce water run-off and soil erosion.

This chapter covers issues related to fertility and subfertility. It starts with lifestyle assessments that should be done as part of preconceptual care, and explains the psychological effects and counselling for subfertility alongside both male and female factors that affect difficulties in conceiving. Tests and investigations are covered for both partners, and the role of the fertility nurse specialist is defined. Ovulation induction, assisted conception, inter-uterine insemination, and IVF are all described. Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis is given a brief overview, and the chapter also explores adoption and surrogacy. Fertility preservation and the role of the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority are covered.

The health and healthcare needs of a population cannot be measured or met without knowledge of its size and characteristics. Demography is the scientific study of population and is concerned both with the measurement, or estimation, of population size and structure and with population dynamics—the interplay between fertility, mortality, and migration which determines population change. These are pre-requisites for making the forecasts about future population size and structure which largely determine the health profile of a population and should underpin public health planning. This chapter presents information on demographic methods and data sources, their application to health and population issues, information on demographic trends and their implications, and the major theories about demographic change. The aim is to illustrate and elucidate the complex inter-relationship between population change and human health.

Abstract The first chapter surveys Macbeth’s ‘blasted heath’ as a battleground between the forces of fertility and sterility to reveal how the play adjudicates disputes over the environmental management of this terrain in Shakespeare’s day. Agrarian improvers in Jacobean Britain wished to convert heaths to enclosed farmland and therefore took a dim view of this landscape as the sinister abode of witches and fortune-telling vagrants. Yet the Scottish play also reflects the Scottish king’s fondness for heathlands as valuable hunting grounds, whose wildfowl needed protection from farmers and poachers. In promoting selective conservation of some avian species such as doves (with whom Duncan, Malcolm, and Macduff are associated) and the persecution of others like the kite (identified with Macbeth), the tragedy espouses an inter-generational but shallow ecology, in contrast to the childless Macbeths, who renounce ‘reproductive futurity’ whilst bestowing a perverse glamour on inhuman wildness.

Faba bean is an important pulse crop in terms of protein source, area coverage, and volume of annual production in Ethiopia. The aim of this paper is to assess the agronomic and crop physiology investigations in the past two decades in Ethiopia. The production limiting factors of this crop are low input usage, natural disasters, depletion of macronutrients, and unavailability of essential nutrients. Phosphorus is among the main limiting nutrients in soil systems in Ethiopia. Seed yield and biomass yield of faba bean were increased from 1338 to 1974 kg/ha and from 3124 to 4446 kg/ha when phosphorous was changed from 0 to 52 kg/ha, respectively at Holeta whereas application of 40 kg P ha − 1 resulted in higher grain yield (6323 kg ha−1) and 3303 kg ha−1 at Lemu-Bilbilo and Bore highlands, respectively. The highest grain yield of 32 kg ha−1 was obtained from the application of 92 kg P2O5 ha−1 at Sekela district while application of 46 kg P2O5 ha−1 resulted in a substantial increase in seed yield over unfertilized plots on vertisols of Ambo. On the other hand, the results suggest that using starter nitrogen from 0 to 27 kg/ha has marginally increased faba bean yield but, a farther increase of nitrogen has indicated deteriorate of yield at Arsi zone. Proper plant populations play a crucial role in enhancing faba bean production. Planting faba bean at 30 cm × 15 cm spacing gave the highest grain yield in Duna district while it was 30 × 7.5 cm at vertisols of Ambo University research farm. Significantly higher seed yield (4222 kg/ha) was observed in the 40 cm inter-row spacing as compared to 50 cm inter-row spacing, which gave the lowest seed yield per hectare (3138 kg/ha) on fluvisols of Haramaya University. Intercropping and crop rotation are cropping systems that can increase soil fertility and crop yield. Intercropping of faba bean with barley at Debre Birhan increased land equivalent ratio than both crops when planted as sole. An additional income of 18.5% and 40% was gained than planting sole faba bean and wheat, respectively at Kulumsa. Faba bean can fix about 69 kg/ha nitrogen in Northern Ethiopia. Generally, the current review results showed that only limited studies in organic and bio fertilizer, plant density, and cropping systems were done on faba bean in Ethiopia. Hence, studies regarding soil acidity, organic fertilizer, and secondary plus micronutrient impacts on faba bean production and productivity along soil types and weather conditions need great attention in the future in Ethiopia.

The use of chemical fertilizers as a supplemental source of nutrients has been on the increase but they are not applied in balanced proportion by most farmers [1]. Also, fertilizer requirements of the mixed intercropping systems have been a matter of conjecture; some studies had suggested that fertilizer requirements of the dominant component be applied [2], others recommend that the sum of the sole crop requirements, be applied [3]. Teriah [4], however, stated that both practices have proved either inadequate or wasteful. In this experiment the effects of different rates of NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer application on growth and yield of hot pepper and Egusi melon in an intercropping system was examined to determine optimum rate for production. The experiment was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, in the south western part of Nigeria. It took place from March to October 2017 during the growing season. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 5 treatments (fertilizer rates) and 3 replicates. Treatments were; 0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 kg/ha of NPK 15-15-15 applications. Plot size was 3m by 3m with a 1.5m gang way round each plot to reduce inter-plot effect. Data were collected on growth parameters at 6 weeks after treatment (WAT) and continued at two-week intervals until 10 WAT. Four plants each of pepper and Egusi melon from the inner rows were randomly selected and tagged for the purpose of data collection. Data on yield were also collected at ripening. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out on each observation and the Least Significant Difference (LSD) was used for means separation (P≤0.05). The effects of fertilizer rates showed significant difference on pepper plant height, number of leaves, number of branches and leaf area. However, there was no significant difference in the effect of fertilizer rate on days to 50% flowering of pepper. Number of vines and vine length of Egusi melon were significantly different in their responses to fertilizer rates but the leaf area and days to 50% flowering of melon were similar at the various treatment levels. Meanwhile, total fruit yield of pepper, number of Egusi melon pods per hectare and the dry matter yield of Egusi melon showed significant difference. It was concluded from the study that the growth and yield of pepper and Egusi melon in intercrop increased with increase in fertilizer rate up to 400Kg/ha of NPK (15:15:15). However, higher fertilizer application rates should be explored in future studies for a better yield increase. These studies should be carried out with various compositions of inorganic and organic fertilizer application rates to ensure sustainable fertilizer application and to also preserve the natural fertility of the soil.