While our lives are ruled by MCQs, there will be demand for books dedicated to these. This book provides 1,800 questions which, by and large, are reasonable and straightforward. There are questions on regional anatomy, histology and embryology. In addition, there are a number of simple line diagrams to be labelled. The standard of the questions indicates that they are aimed at the undergraduate rather than those aspiring to primary F.R.C.S. This is a good little book.

https://pmj.bmj.com/content/postgradmedj/63/741/596.2.full.pdf

Annual Review of Public Health.

University of Washington has propelled the ideas and ideals of our region's people for 153 years. As a result, our region has become a world-class hub of innovation, research, culture and creativity, fueled by UW students, faculty, staff, alumni and strategic partners here and worldwide. Together, our community works to solve virtually every major challenge in society, from autism to Ebola, from aerodynamics to the education achievement gap. And thanks to a recent report, we now know in dollars and cents just how boundless our impact is on our great state: $12.5 billion annually and growing, according to a new report by Tripp Umbach, a national leader in economic impact analysis.

Economic impact report.

China has continuously stepped up its efforts to protect the ecological environment of the Ganjiang River Basin. The government has played a leading role, but the residents, who have also played an important role in this issue, are often overlooked. Consequently, it is necessary and urgent to study the willingness of the residents, who are the direct stakeholders, to pay for the protection of the ecological environment of the Ganjiang River Basin. Based on a survey of 773 households, this study examines the downstream residents’ willingness to pay (WTP) and their payout levels. Using the payment card (PC) contingent valuation method (CVM), we measure the payment probability of the downstream residents and the amount they are willing to pay. Additionally, Heckman’s two-stage model is adopted for exploring the influencing factors of the surveyed residents’ WTP and payout levels and avoiding the possible presence of sample selection bias. The results showed that 75.03% of the surveyed residents are willing to pay for ecological compensation in the Ganjiang River Basin. The downstream residents are willing to pay an annual average amount of about $47.62/household for ecological compensation. The factors that significantly influence their WTP include the educational background, work type, residential location, and water quality and quantity. In the case of payout levels, the influencing factors include the education background, work type, household annual disposable income, and water quality and quantity. In addition, the factor of value recognition is marginal and significantly related to WTP and payout levels. The results of this empirical study have important policy implications and recommendations that the government should intensify its propaganda about the ecological value, increase investment in education, and establish a variety of ecological compensation payments, in order to protect and improve the ecological environment of the Ganjiang River Basin.

Analysis of the Factors Influencing Willingness to Pay and Payout Level for Ecological Environment Improvement of the Ganjiang River Basin

Are people willing to support the construction of charging facilities in China

Urban-rural divides in preferences for wetland conservation in Malaysia.

The objective of this study is to estimate the visitors’ willingness to pay (WTP) for conservation of Paya Indah Wetlands (PIW) using Contingent Valuation Method (CVM). Respondents were randomly selected for data collection through face-to-face interview. A logit model was used to estimate the visitors’ WTP entrance fee to PIW. The study results indicated that visitors’ level of income and bid price were the significant factors influencing visitors’ WTP. The mean WTP amount obtained was RM 7.12 per visitor. The findings also showed that the expected benefit of conservation program in PIW was estimated at RM 630,768 in 2012.

Estimating willingness to pay for wetland conservation: a contingent valuation study of Paya Indah Wetland, Selangor Malaysia.

Approximately 15–18% of crops losses occur as a result of animal pests, while weeds and microbial diseases cause 34 and 16% losses, respectively. Fungal pathogens cause about 70–80% losses in yield. The present strategies for plant disease control depend transcendently on agrochemicals that cause negative effects on the environment and humans. Nanotechnology can help by reducing the negative impact of the fungicides, such as enhancing the solubility of low water-soluble fungicides, increasing the shelf-life, and reducing toxicity, in a sustainable and eco-friendly manner. Despite many advantages of the utilization of nanoparticles, very few nanoparticle-based products have so far been produced in commercial quantities for agricultural purposes. The shortage of commercial uses may be associated with many factors, for example, a lack of pest crop host systems usage and the insufficient number of field trials. In some areas, nanotechnology has been advanced, and the best way to be in touch with the advances in nanotechnology in agriculture is to understand the major aspect of the research and to address the scientific gaps in order to facilitate the development which can provide a rationale of different nanoproducts in commercial quantity. In this review, we, therefore, described the properties and synthesis of nanoparticles, their utilization for plant pathogenic fungal disease control (either in the form of (a) nanoparticles alone, that act as a protectant or (b) in the form of a nanocarrier for different fungicides), nano-formulations of agro-nanofungicides, Zataria multiflora, and ginger essential oils to control plant pathogenic fungi, as well as the biosafety and limitations of the nanoparticles applications.

Trends in Nanotechnology and Its Potentialities to Control Plant Pathogenic Fungi: A Review

The objective of this study is to examine the factors that determine the local visitors’ willingness to pay (WTP) for conservation in Yankari game reserve, Bauchi, Nigeria. The study employed a dichotomous choice survey design – contingent valuation method (DC-CVM) on 335 local tourists. Binary Logit and Probit models were used to estimate the visitors’ willingness to pay (WTP) for conservation. The empirical results obtained revealed that the game reserve has a considerable use value in that 77.9% of the visitors interviewed are willing to pay for conservation. The results showed that age, gender, income, level of education and first-time visit are the significant determinants of visitors’ willingness to pay. This empirical study would guide not only the management of the game reserve, but also policymakers to consider the important market segment among the visitors with a view to encouraging the visitation of such a target group in order to create an avenue for enhancing revenue for conservation in the game reserve.

Factors determining visitors' willingness to pay for conservation in Yankari Game Reserve, Bauchi, Nigeria

Ecotourism is regarded as an ideal mechanism for achieving both economic and ecological sustainability. The objective of this study is to determine the tourists’ willingness to pay for conservation in Yankari game reserve using a dichotomous choice contingent valuation method (DC-CVM) on 335 local tourists. The result of the study showed that the mean willingness to pay as entrance fee by a tourist is 508 Naira (USD 3.4). The findings of this study would provide a guide to the management of the game reserve to take into account the benefits associated with resources conservation and the need to review their pricing policy.

Economic Valuation of Ecotourism Resources in Yankari Game Reserve, Bauchi Nigeria☆

The bacterial leaf blight (BLB) caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is one of the most serious rice diseases, causing huge yield losses worldwide. Several technologies and approaches have been opted to reduce the damage; however, these have had limited success. Recently, scientists have been focusing their efforts on developing efficient and environmentally friendly nanobactericides for controlling bacterial diseases in rice fields. In the present study, a scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) were utilized to investigate the mode of actions of ginger EOs on the cell structure of Xoo. The ginger EOs caused the cells to grow abnormally, resulting in an irregular form with hollow layers, whereas the dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) treatment showed a typical rod shape for the Xoo cell. Ginger EOs restricted the growth and production of biofilms by reducing the number of biofilms generated as indicated by CLSM. Due to the instability, poor solubility, and durability of ginger EOs, a nanoemulsions approach was used, and a glasshouse trial was performed to assess their efficacy on BLB disease control. The in vitro antibacterial activity of the developed nanobactericides was promising at different concentration (50-125 µL/mL) tested. The efficacy was concentration-dependent. There was significant antibacterial activity recorded at higher concentrations. A glasshouse trial revealed that developed nanobactericides managed to suppress BLB disease severity effectively. Treatment at a concentration of 125 μL/mL was the best based on the suppression of disease severity index, AUDPC value, disease reduction (DR), and protection index (PI). Furthermore, findings on plant growth, physiological features, and yield parameters were significantly enhanced compared to the positive control treatment. In conclusion, the results indicated that ginger essential oils loaded-nanoemulsions are a promising alternative to synthetic antibiotics in suppressing Xoo growth, regulating the BLB disease, and enhancing rice yield under a glasshouse trial.

Abdullahi Adamu

Papers

Estimating willingness to pay for wetland conservation: a contingent valuation study of Paya Indah Wetland, Selangor Malaysia.

Trends in Nanotechnology and Its Potentialities to Control Plant Pathogenic Fungi: A Review

Factors determining visitors' willingness to pay for conservation in Yankari Game Reserve, Bauchi, Nigeria

Economic Valuation of Ecotourism Resources in Yankari Game Reserve, Bauchi Nigeria☆

Ginger Essential Oils-Loaded Nanoemulsions: Potential Strategy to Manage Bacterial Leaf Blight Disease and Enhanced Rice Yield.