bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multilateral Framework of Investment Facilitation at the WTO: Initiatives and Perspectives from the Global South
Authors: Codeço Rafael Ramos , Freitas Ana Rachel
Published: August 2021

Abstract The focus of International Investment policymaking in the global South has been shifting from investment protection to investment facilitation (IF). This movement marks an attempt to improve the attractiveness of national economies for foreign direct investment (FDI) and to recover the policy space previously curbed by traditional investment protection clauses. The popularity of investment facilitation led to the beginning of a negotiation process at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to formulate a multilateral agreement in this area. However, the differing negotiation practices related to IF could provoke schisms between the WTO members engaging in this discussion. The latest international investment agreements (IIAs) featuring IF provisions, signed by countries in the global South, indicate that during multilateral negotiations, these countries will focus on improving transparency, predictability and simplicity of the investment environment, as well as preserving their ability to develop public policies that are in line with their development strategies. However, some of the provisions that bring such preferences to fruition would challenge these countries’ bureaucratic and financial capacity. As discussions evolve at the WTO, countries in the global South will need to clarify their positions and co-ordinate their efforts in order to shape an alternative framework that fits their interests.
Rethinking Polanyi’s Fictitious Commodities Based on the Brazilian Nuclear Segment
Authors: Abdalla Márcio Moutinho
Published: August 2021

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to show evidence of the undetermined expansion of Polanyi’s fictitious commodities within the Brazilian nuclear context. The issue of the marketification of social agendas has drawn a lot of attention to the data, collected through in-depth interviews. The analytical process was guided by the decolonial theory approach and by critical discourse analysis. Among the analysis’ main findings, it is possible to point out the elaboration of a framework which reveals the mechanisms employed by the Brazilian nuclear segment as a way of exercising parallel power and silencing social agendas. The main contributions are the temporal and geopolitical updating of Polanyi’s thesis; and the definition of the mechanisms used by the company Eletronuclear and by institutions as a way of co-optation, naturalisation and marketification of social and political agendas.
Comparison of serological and molecular tests to investigate Leishmania spp. infections in stray dogs from an area of intense visceral leishmaniasis transmission in Brazil
Authors: Evaristo Anna Maria da Cruz Ferreira , Araujo Andreina de Carvalho , da Costa Andréa Pereira , Sales Kamila Gaudêncio da Silva , da Silva José Alexandre Menezes , Dantas-Torres Filipe , Horta Mauricio Claudio
Published: August 2021

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the level of exposure to Leishmania infection in stray dogs in an area of intense visceral leishmaniasis transmission in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. Blood samples from 178 dogs were analyzed using serological and molecular assays: rapid immunochromatographic test (ICT), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT), and conventional and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (cPCR and qPCR). Positivity values obtained with serological tests were 71.4% (127/178), 70.2% (125/178), and 50.6% (90/178) using ICT, ELISA, and IFAT, respectively, with 38.8% (69/178) of the dogs were simultaneously positive for all three tests. The positivity values obtained with cPCR and qPCR were 20.2% (36/178) and 38.8% (69/178), respectively, with 11.8% (21/178) testing positive in both molecular assays. Overall, 87.1% (155/178) were positive for anti-Leishmania spp. antibodies and/or Leishmania spp. DNA. Positivity to one or more tests was statistically associated with lymphadenomegaly, skin lesions, lymphocytosis, anemia and hyperproteinemia. The results of this study revealed a high level of exposure to Leishmania in stray dogs in an area of intense human visceral leishmaniasis transmission, suggesting that dogs play a role as reservoirs in the transmission cycle of this zoonosis.
Fiction as prosthesis: Reading the contemporary African queer short story
Authors: Macheso Wesley Paul
Published: August 2021

In this article, I read contemporary African queer fiction as a tool employed by writers to represent and rehumanise queer identities in Sub-Saharan African societies. In these societies, heteropatriarchal authorities strive to disable queer agency by dehumanising queer subjects. I argue that African queer identities, desires, and experiences are controlled and restricted under the heterosexual gaze, which strives to ensure that human sexuality benefits patriarchy, promoting heterosexual desire as ‘natural’ and authentically African and pathologising homosexuality. African writers then employ fiction as a means of rehumanising queer subjects in these disabling heteronormative societies to grant voice and agency to identities that have been multifariously subjugated and/or deliberately erased, and fiction acts as a type of prosthesis, a term I borrow from disability studies. Rewriting such lives in fiction does not only afford discursive spaces to queer identities, but also reconstructs the queer person as a human subject worth the dignity that they are often denied. In the article, I analyse a selection of six short stories from the collections Queer Africa 2: New Stories and Fairytales for Lost Children to demonstrate how these stories function as prosthesis for queer people in disabling societies.
Eschatological Dimensions of the Seventh-day Sabbath within the Adventist Doctrinal Framework
Authors: Petre Dan-Adrian
Published: August 2021

En el sistema teológico adventista, el sábado tiene un papel clave, funcionando como la red neuronal del cuerpo de creencias. Como tal, entrega energía escatológica a todo el sistema. El presente artículo describe varias dimensiones escatológicas del sábado según las principales categorías de la teología sistemática: teología propiamente dicha, antropología, soteriología, eclesiología y escatología. Después de presentar los matices escatológicos del sábado evidenciados en Éxodo 20:8-11, se analiza la relación escatológica del séptimo día con cada categoría doctrinal. El artículo concluye que, como insignia escatológica del sistema teológico adventista, el sábado encarna un significado teológico rico y multifacético.
Formalin fixing and paraffin embedding, sectioning and H&E staining of tissue specimens _St. Jude Children's Research Hospital v1
Authors: Henry Charlene , M Holcombe Raven , Orr Brent
Published: August 2021

This document describes the Formalin fixing and embedding of tumor specimens & Microtomy and Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining procedures performed by the Department of Pathology at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Exome, whole genome and bulk RNA-Sequencing_St. Jude Children's Research Hospital v1
Authors: Olsen Scott , Neale Geoffrey
Published: August 2021

This document describes the Whole Exome Sequencing (WES), Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) and bulk RNA Sequencing performed by Hartwell Center at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Bulk RNA sequencing (mRNA seq) v2
Authors: H. Kaestner Lab Klaus , Shapira Suzanne
Published: August 2021

Bulk RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) is a quantitative method used to interrogate the transcriptome of a biological sample at a given point in time. This protocol describes a method for generating bulk RNA-seq libraries from human islet material. This method also allows for isolation of genomic DNA, which can be used for additional assays such as whole genome bisulphite sequencing.
Modern approaches to organ-conserving surgical hemostasis in obstetric bleeding
Authors: Fatkullina Irina B. , Yashchuk Alfia G. , Fatkullina Yulia N. , Lazareva Anna Yu.
Published: August 2021

BACKGROUND: Obstetric hemorrhage is an urgent problem of global health care, since it occupies a leading position in the structure of maternal mortality. AIM: The aim of this study was to analyze data on hemostasis in obstetric bleeding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The article presents a review of the world literature on modern approaches to hemostasis, which take into account new data on the anatomical structure of the female reproductive system. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Based on the foreign and domestic literature data, a strict step-by-step implementation of all prescribed measures along with a differentiated approach to treatment that takes into account anatomical features is the key to success in the fight against obstetric bleeding as the main cause of maternal mortality in the world.
Premature ovarian insufficiency: Genetic causes and treatment options. A literature review
Authors: Denisova Valentina M. , Yarmolinskaya Maria I. , Zakurayeva Karina A.
Published: August 2021

Premature ovarian insufficiency is a syndrome characterized by hypergonadotropic ovarian insufficiency and the reduction of ovarian function before age 40. This leads to reproductive failures, metabolic changes, and a decrease in quality of life. Currently, occult and initial forms of premature ovarian insufficiency, which have their own diagnostic features and management tactics, can be figured out. The frequency of this syndrome is between 1.1 and 3.7% and the tendency for incidence to increase can be seen. This article is a literature review of the data available in the PubMed database (20052020), with international clinical guidelines taken into consideration. The genetic causes of premature ovarian insufficiency, clinical signs of this pathology and treatments options for such patients are included into the review. In addition, some features of assisted reproductive technology within this group are described.
Legal aspects of perinatal loss
Authors: Bezhenar Vitaly F. , Ivanova Lidia A. , Ivanov Dmitry O.
Published: August 2021

BACKGROUND: Perinatal death is the death of the fetus, starting from 22 weeks of pregnancy and in childbirth, as well as the death of a newborn in the first seven days of life. Despite the fact that reducing perinatal losses is one of the most important tasks of contemporary medicine, the level of perinatal mortality in Russia in recent years has been about 7.5 .
AIM: The aim of this study was to analyze documentation related to the legal aspects of perinatal loss.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The article analyzes the main federal laws, agency regulations, orders, methodological letters, recommendations, and materials on the Internet concerning the main aspects and questions that most often arise among doctors, as well as postpartum women who have undergone perinatal loss and their family members.
RESULTS: The article provides data on:
the medical criteria for birth, basic documentation issued in case of stillbirth, the birth of a live child who died in the perinatal period, and the rules for their issuance;
the rules and procedure for notifying state bodies in case of perinatal death, the rules for registering a stillborn and a child who died in the first 168 hours of extrauterine life;
the types of perinatal death certificate;
the rules for conducting a pathological autopsy and the possibility of refusing it;
the issues of burial of children who died perinatally;
the rules for handling material obtained during termination of pregnancy up to 22 weeks.
CONCLUSIONS: The legislative framework was analyzed and answers were given to the most frequently asked questions regarding the legal aspects of perinatal loss.
Exploring the intersectionality of age, race, and gender on the barriers to career advancement for African American Millennial women
Authors:   , Ingram Tiffany , Phillips Joy C.
Published: August 2021

There is a shortage of research examining the workplace experiences of African American millennial women and understanding the challenges faced in the advancement of their careers. This study investigated the role of age, race, and gender in the career advancement of African American millennial women (AAMW) and identified barriers affecting their career growth by using a qualitative phenomenological approach. The study used Intersectionality, Self-Efficacy, and Critical Race theories to examine the perspectives of AAMW and systemic barriers faced when seeking to advance their careers. The research questions of this phenomenological research study were focused on the lived experiences of African American millennial women in their childhood, educational, and workplace experiences. Data were collected from nine African American women, who identify as millennials born between 1980 and 1995, employed in the private sector in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. The study findings revealed that most participants believed that they were viewed in a negative light by their own peers and managers and cite their childhood experiences-in particular, the influence of observed female leadership during their upbringing-as having an impact on how they navigate the workplace. Practical recommendations include ensuring managers and supervisors of AAMW create opportunities for feedback and skill development for them to advance in the workplace, creating mentoring programs within organizations, and developing diversity and equity programming to improve workplace culture. Recommendations for African American millennial women include taking more ownership over their careers and seeking to learn what is required for promotion and advancement to ensure they are better positioned for career growth. Recommendations for further study include conducting a study with larger sample size of African American millennial women to understand the lived experiences of this workforce generation across employment industries and geographic location.
Development of a Co-loaded Lonidamine and Paclitaxel Ultrasound Contrast Agent for Treatment of Multi-Drug Resistant Tumors
Authors:   , Patel Raj S. , Wheatley Margaret A.
Published: August 2021

Multi-drug resistance (MDR) is a condition often found in breast cancer that significantly reduces the efficacy of chemotherapy. Many factors contribute to this, including tumor hypoxia, which further serves to increase the resistance of tumors to radiotherapy. Combination therapy has been shown to be effective at reversing the effects of MDR through the combined effects of various therapeutics targeting different mechanisms of the tumor. One such combination involves the co-delivery of lonidamine (LND) and paclitaxel (PTX), which has shown greater efficiency in treating and reversing MDR tumors than the delivery of single drug alone. Multimodal therapy takes this principle a step further, and employs combinations of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, and phototherapy to treat cancer, and has shown greater survival rates in patients than monomodal therapy alone. Currently, our group has developed a LND loaded D-[alpha]-Tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) and sorbitan monostearate surfactant stabilized microbubble (LND-SE61 MBs) with an oxygen core for the application of sensitizing hypoxic tumors to radiotherapy. This MB also doubles as an ultrasound contrast agent (UCA), allowing for enhanced ultrasound imaging. The aim of this proof-of-principle study was to further leverage the LND-SE61 MB to include PTX within its surfactant shell in an effort to expand its capability to treat MDR tumors using chemotherapy, as well as to make the tumor more sensitive to radiotherapy, through a multimodal approach. As PTX had not been previously loaded onto the SE61 MB through TPGS micelle solubilization, the first aim of this study was to ensure that this was possible, and that the loading of the drug did not affect its acoustical properties. PTX SE61 MBs were created following a similar protocol to the existing LND SE61 MBs and tested for their drug load and acoustical properties. The PTX SE61 MBs met the required drug load needed for therapeutic benefit (1.7 [mu]g PTX/mL MB), as well as retained the properties of an UCA (enhancement >15 dB, half-life > 1.5min, and diameter < 6 [mu]m). The next step included exploring the dual LND and PTX loading of the SE61 MB. As LND and PTX have very different molecular weights and hydrophilicities, three different methods of LND-PTX dual drug loading were explored in an effort to account for any potential problems that could arise from their differences in chemical structure. Overall, all three methods resulted in MBs with the required drug load for therapeutic benefit for both LND and PTX (1.7 [mu]g PTX/mL MB and 2 [mu]g LND/mL MB). The MBs also maintained their general acoustic properties for an UCA. The next step included creating sterilized PTX and LND-PTX SE61 MBs. There was an overall negligible effect of sterilization found on the drug loaded MB acoustical properties, size populations or drug load.
Addition of Consortium of Lactic Acid Bacteria Inoculants Improved Fermentation Quality and Microbial Communities of Whole Corn Silage
Authors: Jiang Fugui
Published: August 2021

Due to outstanding characteristics such as stress resistance and high biomass production, Elymus sibiricus (StH genomes) and E. nutans (StHY genomes) are regarded as ecologically important perennial bunchgrass species belonging to Elymus genus of tribe Triticeae (Poaceae), which were widely used to promote the restoration of degraded grassland in the eastern Tibetan Plateau. In this study, the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of E. sibiricus and E. nutans were sequenced and annotated with de novo analysis, to clarify their inter-species variation and their evolutionary relationships with relative species. The result showed that both two whole cp genomes shared a typical quadripartite structure, the cp genome length of E. sibiricus and E. nutans were 135,075 bp and 135,060 bp, respectively. Three genes tRNA-CGA, tRNA-CGU, and tRNA-CGU were unique in E. sibiricus while the gene ycf1 (hypothetical chloroplast reading frame no. 1) was only found in E. nutans. The identification of hotspot regions (tRNA-GUC~psbM, tRNA-UAA~ndhJ, rbcL~psaI, rpl33~rps18) between the two cp genomes would be pertinent to the development of barcode marker of these two Elymus species. Comparative cp genome analysis and phylogenetic relationships further confirmed that Pseudoroegneria were putative matrilineal donors of St genome of Elymus species at plastome level. Whole cp genomes could be used as an effective barcode for species identification or for developing specific markers, which is essential useful for the evolutionary history and conservation of Elymus species. © 2021 Friends Science Publishers
FaTT10, a Laccasel-Like Polyphenol Oxidase Involved in the Accumulation of Proanthocyanins Monomerin Strawberry Fruit
Authors: Hou Guoyan
Published: August 2021

Procyanidins (PAs) is the important flavonoids components in strawberry young fruits, whichis synthesizedthrough direct polymerizationof flavanone-3-ol units. Numerous studies have beendone on the synthesis of PAs, while the oxidation/polymerization processes have not been fully explored. AtTT10, a laccasel-like polyphenol oxidase,was recently reported to be participated in the oxidative polymerization of proanthocyanidins. Whether FaTT10hasapositiveeffect onoxidative polymerization of strawberry fruit PAsis unclear. In this study, FaTT10 in strawberries were isolated and analyzed. Transient overexpression of FaTT10 decreased the accumulation of PAs monomer in strawberry fruit,whereas RNA interference increased the level of anthocyanin and PAs monomer. 4-Dimethylaminocinamaldehyde (DMACA)staining results also showed that lighter blue color in the FaTT10-RNAi fruit and concentrated blue color in the FaTT10-overexpression fruit. Meanwhile, PAs monomer showed a drop-and-rise tendency during strawberry fruit development and ripening.Furthermore, the expression of several flavonoids metabolism-related geneswere affected by the altered FaTT10 gene expression levels, such as L-phenylalanine ammonia-lyase(PAL); dihydroflavonol reductase(DFR);chalcone isomerase(CHI); flavanone 3-hydroxylase(F3H); 4-coumarate:CoA ligase(4CL); Cinnamate 4-hydroxylase(C4H); chalcone synthase(CHS); anthocyanin reductase(ANR); lecoanthocyanidins reductase(LAR) andanthocyanin synthase(ANS). In conclusion, these results revealed that FaTT10 is specifically involved in oxidative polymerization of PAsby regulating the expression of flavonoids metabolism-related genes in strawberry fruits. © 2021 Friends Science Publishers
Development of a SCAR Marker Based on SCoT Polymorphisms for Sugarcane Smut Resistance
Authors: Deng Quanqing
Published: August 2021

Sugarcane smut caused by Sporisorium scitanmineumis the most severe sugarcane disease that causes major economic losses in sugarcane production in China, and disease resistance breeding is an important way of preventing and controlling this disease. In this study, BC3F1lines derived from the cross between YC 73-226 and YCE 06-111 were used to generate sugarcane smut-resistant and -susceptible gene pools using bulked segregant analysis (BSA). Eighty-nine random primers of start codon targeted (SCoT) polymorphisms were screened, whereas only primer SCoT44 could stably amplify the specific fragment (HE-Ss44) in the resistant pool. Then, several primer pairs of sequence characterized amplified regions (SCARs) were designed based on the sequence alignment of HE-Ss44 (920 bp), which was recovered after purification, and only one pair of SCAR primers (Ss44-F2/R2, forward: 5'-GGCGGGCACCGTCGAGTCCACAT-3'; reverse: 5'-CCGTCCGTCGG TCTCGTCCTTACG-3') could stably amplify a 400-bp specific band in resistant gene pool and its individuals. A validation test of SCAR marker Ss44-F2/R2 was performed using 34 sugarcane cultivars with known smut resistance, which revealed a selection accuracy of 82.35% between marker detection and known smut resistance. Moreover, Pearson’s correlation analysis also showed that the SCAR marker Ss44-F2/R2 was significantly correlated (r= 0.583, P= 0.0003 < 0.01) with the smut resistance trait in sugarcane. In addition, the nucleotide sequence of HE-Ss44 linked with smut-resistancewas not aligned to the homologous sequence in GenBank (NCBI), and the accession number was MG740763. The SCAR marker Ss44-F2/R2 developed in this study can be used for the rapid detection of smut resistance in sugarcane and may be utilized as reference for the improvement of sugarcane smut resistance based on molecular marker-assisted selection.© 2021 Friends Science Publishers
Mechanisms of Antimicrobial Resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and a Multi-Pronged Approach to Combat its Infection in Veterinary Science and Public Health: A Review
Authors: Mustafa Bahar-e-
Published: August 2021

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most important nosocomial pathogens associated with a variety of medical and veterinary infections and therefore, it presents a major public health threat. Different classes of antibiotics are being used to treat its infections which are increasing selective pressure to multi-drug resistance development. Resistance to antibiotics in P. aeruginosa is due to many of the common and unique mechanisms which include: reducing membrane permeability, modification or inactivation of antibiotics, alteration of enzymes, modification of target sites and over-expression of efflux systems. Over or under expression of the genes of porin channels and components of efflux systems play a major role in the resistance mechanisms of P. aeruginosa. To overcome the problem of the emergence of antibiotic resistance, many new strategies are being employed to control infections caused by P. aeruginosa. These include the use of herbs/medicinal plants and phage therapy. With the advent of modern technology, the molecular mechanisms of these alternative therapies are being elucidated and may be used in future to treat P. aeruginosa infections in humans and veterinary clinics. This review thus highlights the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance of P. aeruginosa against the commonly used antimicrobials and also some alternative strategies to control P. aeruginosa infection. © 2021 Friends Science Publishers
Patterns of Antimicrobial and Multi Drug Resistance in E. coli and Salmonella Isolates of Commercial and Non-Commercial Poultry
Authors: Kamboh Asghar Ali
Published: August 2021

The extensive and abuse of antibiotics have contributed to the universal spread of antibiotic resistance (AR). Commercial poultry birds harbor more antibiotic-resistant microorganisms than the backyard chicken, but the status is not published in quails. This study was designed to investigate the status of AR microbiota in C0: backyard chickens, C1: commercial broiler, Q0: backyard/wild quails and Q1: commercial quails (n=20). Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Salmonella isolates from carcass and ceca of these chickens and quails were investigated for incidence and extent of AR using disk diffusion method. The results of overall microbiota of the experimental birds revealed that C1 showed a greater (P < 0.01) AR as compared with C0 for ampicillin, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, neomycin, norfloxacin, oxytetracycline, and sulfamethoxazole, with about 57.39, 57.24, 38.78, 62.92, 36.51, 67.61, 55.83 and 55.68% greater incidence of AR, respectively. Similarly, Q1 also exhibited a greater (P < 0.01) AR than Q0 for these antibiotics, with about 65.59, 58.44, 54.38, 54.38, 55.68, 51.62, 54.87, and 64.93%, respectively. Moreover, the results of individual microbial numbers of both the pathogenic bacterial isolates from C1 and Q1 exhibited a higher (P < 0.01) AR for all tested antimicrobials than those isolated from C0 and Q0. Additionally, the E. coli and Salmonella isolates of C1 and Q1 were more (P < 0.05) multi drug resistant (MDR) as compared with C0 and Q0. Furthermore, the extent of AR was greater in E. coli and Salmonella isolates of C1 and Q1 in contrast to those of C0 and Q0. Finally, C1 and Q1 harbored a greater number of MDR bacterial species than those in C0 and Q0 thus may act as risk factors for antimicrobial dissemination. © 2021 Friends Science Publishers
Correlation of the Gastrointestinal Parasitism with the Phytominerals in the Grazing Sheep (Ovis aries)
Authors: Rizwan Hafiz Muhammad
Published: August 2021

Trace elements play an important role to boost the immunity and fight against parasitic infections. Concentration of trace elements like Copper (Cu), Cobalt (Co), Manganese (Mn) and Zinc (Zn) were determined in soil, forages and sera of sheep. An associative analysis was also made between the burden of Gastrointestinal (GI) parasites and concentrations of trace elements of sheep sera. For this, 384 faecal and blood samples of sheep, an appropriate number of forages and soil samples were collected. The faecal samples were subjected to determine the species and burden of GI parasites. The sera, plant and soil samples were subjected to pre-treatment (digestion) required for the determination of trace elements. The overall prevalence of GI parasites was 32.81% and the most prevalent species were Haemonchus (H.) contortus followed in order by Eimeria spp., Strongyloides spp., Trichostrongylus spp. and Fasciola spp. Variables like age, sex, breed and tehsils of Silakot district showed an insignificant association with GI parasitic burden. Trace elements concentration of forages showed a significant (P < 0.05) variation while trace elements concentration of soil showed an insignificant (P > 0.05) variation. In serum, Zn concentration showed significant (P < 0.05) results among all the tehsils of study district. Mean concentrations of Mn and Cu in serum were found inversely proportional to the mean egg count per gram of sheep faeces in tehsil Pasroor of the Sialkot district. Forages containing high concentrations of Mn and Cu can be used effectively against GI parasites. © 2021 Friends Science Publishers
Development of Alginate-Montmorillonite-Starch with Encapsulated Trichoderma harzianum and Evaluation of Conidia Shelf Life
Authors: Adzmi Fariz
Published: August 2021

Biological control agents, such as Trichoderma harzianum, are widely used in sustainable agriculture. However, commercialisation and mass production of biocontrol products have remained a challenge, especially in viability and efficiency in field application. The encapsulation method has emerged as a sophisticated technique to develop the formulation of T. harzianum. Hence, encapsulation through extrusion was used to prepare T. harzianum beads. The physical characteristics comprising weight, diameter, and swelling ability of the beads were significantly improved when the starch percentage was increased. Alginate-montmorillonite-starch (10%) revealed the lowest shrinkage and the highest swelling ability. The interaction within the functional groups of alginate, montmorillonite, and starch was confirmed by the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopic (FTIR) study. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopic analysis exposed compatible scattering of montmorillonite particles and starch granules over the alginate linkages. Meanwhile, the X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the exfoliation between starch and montmorillonite. Storage of T. harzianum beads at 5°C was more suitable than storage at 28°C. At low temperature, the encapsulated T. harzianum beads maintained their viability at 6.59 ± 0.12 log CFU g−1 for an effective threshold value for up to seven months. The current findings indicated that the combination of alginate, montmorillonite, and starch is the best formulation of encapsulated T. harzianum with improved conidia shelf life. © 2021 Friends Science Publishers
Heritability for Morphological Traits Determine Adaptability of Elite Cowpea Genotypes in different Environments
Authors: Akanwe Asiwe Joseph Nwafor
Published: August 2021

Lack of improved and high-yielding adapted varieties constitutes limitation to cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) production in South Africa. Therefore, field trials were conducted in two locations (the University of Limpopo Experimental Farm, (Mankweng) and Towoomba Research Station, Bela-Bela) during 2015–16 and 2016–17, to assess yield components, genotype x environment interaction as well as the adaptability of elite cowpea genotypes. The experiment was laid out using a randomized complete block design in three replications. Data were collected on flowering, maturity and yield components. Results revealed that “genotype, and genotype × year and genotype × location interactions were significant for most of the traits evaluated”. „The days to 50% flowering‟ and „90% maturity‟ ranged between 53 and 60 days, and between 89 and 96 days, respectively. The „100-seed weight‟ varied from 15.8 g to 22.5 g. „Broad-sense heritability‟ varied from 0 to 93% for days to maturity and grain yield, respectively. „Grain yield‟ varied from 1465.7 to 2594.9 kg ha-1, and the best yielders were lines „L2‟, „L10‟, and „L7‟. The „PC1‟ and „PC2‟ explained 82.57% variation for maturity, 79.12% for the „pods per plant‟, 83.78% for „seeds per pod‟, 93.09% for „100-seed weight‟ and 95.84% for „grain yield‟. Towoomba was a more productive location compared to Sykerfuil. Lines „L2‟, „L10‟, and „L7‟ yielded very well in both locations and years. This implies that they are adapted and are recommended for registration and commercial release in the region. © 2021 Friends Science Publishers
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Enhance Sorghum Plant Growth under Nitrogen-Deficient Conditions through Activation of Nitrogen and Carbon Metabolism Enzymes
Authors: Kchikich Anass
Published: August 2021

Nitrogen (N), one of the most important elements for plant growth, is needed by plants in large quantities. However, this nutrient has limited supply in the soil. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are known for their ability to form symbiotic association with plants and transfer the mineral nutrients to the host plants. To validate this hypothesis on sorghum plants, three ecotypes of this cereal (3p4, 3p9 and 4p11) were cultivated with and without AMF under low nitrogen concentration (0.5 mM NH4+). Growth parameters were determined and key enzymes responsible for nitrogen and carbon metabolisms such as glutamine synthetase (GS), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC), isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and asparate aminotransferase (AAT) were measured. For the three sorghum ecotypes, mycorrhizal plants showed a higher plant growth compared to the control plants. The biochemical parameters revealed a significant increase in the nitrogen assimilatory enzymes; GS and GDH in the leaves and roots of mycorrhizal plants. Furthermore, mycorrhizal fungi also appear to have a significant effect on carbon assimilatory enzymes. These enzymes are known to have a cardinal role in the provision of carbon skeletons essential for the assimilation of ammonium and thus, amino acids synthesis. Our study indicates clearly that AMF can be an efficient way to optimize nitrogen uptake and/or assimilation by plants and thus improve the crop yields with lower amount of nitrogen fertilizers. © 2021 Friends Science Publishers
Antifungal Effects against Phaeoisariopsis personata under Greenhouse Conditions and Phytochemical Analysis of Jatropha curcas Leaf Extracts
Authors: Francis Magreth
Published: August 2021

The study was conducted to test the antifungal efficacy of J. curcas leaf extracts against Phaeoisariopsis personata (causal pathogen for groundnut late leaf spot disease) under in vivo conditions, and to identify important phytochemical constituents exhibiting antifungal properties. The results showed that the greatest reduction of late leaf spot disease incidence was achieved by all the Jatropha curcas leaf extracts at the highest concentration (0.5 mg mL-1) as 36.89, 36.59 and 24.67% for chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts, respectively. Subsequently, J. curcas leaf extracts treatments enhanced the growth and yield of groundnut compared with the control (untreated). The antifungal effects of J. curcas were supported by the presence of phytochemical constituents identified by GC-MS. Hexadecane; n-hexadecanoic acid; phenol, 2, 4 bis (-dimethylethyl); phytol and hexadecanoic methyl ester were detected as major phytocompounds in J. curcas leaf extracts that were possibly responsible for the antifungal activity. © 2021 Friends Science Publishers
Seed Invigoration with Paclobutrazol Improves Seedling Growth, Physiological, Biochemical Attributes and Fruit Yield in Okra
Authors: Bashir Rohina
Published: August 2021

The production of okra is affected by improper seedling growth and abiotic factors like temperature and soil. This study was aimed to examine the effect of paclobutrazol (PBZ) seed priming on the growth, seedling vigor and yield of okra. A pot experiment was conducted in completely randomized design under natural conditions and seeds of two okra varieties were soaked in 0, 4, 8, 10 and 20 mg L-1 of PBZ solution. Results showed that PBZ seed soaking affected the germination rate and maximum reduction in germination rate was observed at 20 mg L-1 of PBZ. A gradual decrease in plant height was recorded in PBZ treated plants as compared to control. A decrease in plant height of PBZ treated plants was accompanied with an increase in plant biomass and number of branches. PBZ seed soaking resulted in darker green leaves with higher chlorophyll, protein and total free amino acid contents than control plants. The activity of antioxidant enzymes, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase was also higher in PBZ treated plants. The improvement in all vegetative and physiological parameters ultimately had a positive effect on yield. PBZ treated plants showed an increase in the number of pods and pod length while seed weight remained unaffected. Thus, seed priming with optimum doses of PBZ could improve the seedlings and yield of okra. © 2021 Friends Science Publishers
The Role of Root Tissue Membrane Proteins in Replanting Stress in Rehmannia glutinosa
Authors: Feng Fajie
Published: August 2021

The perennial herbaceous plant, Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch, is one of traditional Chinese medicines with a long history of cultivation and medicinal use. However, in production of R. glutinosa, replanting disease severely affected its yield and medicinal quality. Replanting disease is the special stress including biotic and abiotic factors. The membrane proteins system plays the important role in process of plants responding to stress factors. In this study, the differentially expressed root tissue membrane proteins between first planted and replanted R. glutinosa were identified through the isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ). As a result, the membrane protein extraction kit could highly effectively extract the membrane proteins from R. glutinosa root tissue. A total of 698 differential membrane proteins between first planted and replanted R. glutinosa were obtained. Functional analysis revealed that the differential membrane proteins were involved in various metabolic pathways, including transport and breakdown, signal transduction, membrane trafficking and environmental response. Two important molecular events that occurred in cellular membrane of replanted R. glutinosa including the imbalance of ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) metabolism and immune response were identified in this study. When replanted R. glutinosa plants faced the complex environment factors in rhizosphere, the proteins located in cellular membrane were often first activated to response to stress stimulus, resulted in the upregulated expression of a large number of LRR-RLKs (Leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases) receptor proteins. Meanwhile, the Ca2+ signal proteins and related receptor proteins transmitted and responded to the replanting stress, which induced severe oxidative stress response in the cell membrane of R. glutinosa, membrane peroxidation, intracellular signal disorder, and eventually produce replanting disease. Our findings provided the theoretical and data foundation for elucidating the key mechanisms associated with replanting stress. © 2021 Friends Science Publishers
Indonesian Sentence Boundary Detection using Deep Learning Approaches
Authors: Santoso Joan , Setiawan Esther Irawati , Purwanto Christian Nathaniel , Kurniawan Fachrul
Published: August 2021

Detecting the sentence boundary is one of the crucial pre-processing steps in natural language processing. It can define the boundary of a sentence since the border between a sentence, and another sentence might be ambiguous. Because there are multiple separators and dynamic sentence patterns, using a full stop at the end of a sentence is sometimes inappropriate. This research uses a deep learning approach to split each sentence from an Indonesian news document. Hence, there is no need to define any handcrafted features or rules. In Part of Speech Tagging and Named Entity Recognition, we use sequence labeling to determine sentence boundaries. Two labels will be used, namely O as a non-boundary token and E as the last token marker in the sentence. To do this, we used the Bi-LSTM approach, which has been widely used in sequence labeling. We have proved that our approach works for Indonesian text using pre-trained embedding in Indonesian, as in previous studies. This study achieved an F1-Score value of 98.49 percent. When compared to previous studies, the achieved performance represents a significant increase in outcomes..
Detection of Disease and Pest of Kenaf Plant Based on Image Recognition with VGGNet19
Authors: Fajri Diny Melsye Nurul , Mahmudy Wayan Firdaus , Yulianti Titiek
Published: August 2021

One of the advantages of Kenaf fiber as an environmental management product that is currently in the center of attention is the use of Kenaf fiber for luxury car interiors with environmentally friendly plastic materials. The opportunity to export Kenaf fiber raw material will provide significant benefits, especially in the agricultural sector in Indonesia. However, there are problems in several areas of Kenaf's garden, namely plants that are attacked by diseases and pests, which cause reduced yields and even death. This problem is caused by the lack of expertise and working hours of extension workers as well as farmers' knowledge about Kenaf plants which have a terrible effect on Kenaf plants. The development of information technology can be overcome by imparting knowledge into machines known as artificial intelligence. In this study, the Convolutional Neural Network method was applied, which aims to identify symptoms and provide information about disease symptoms in Kenaf plants based on images so that early control of plant diseases can be carried out. Data processing trained directly from kenaf plantations obtained an accuracy of 57.56% for the first two classes of introduction to the VGGNet19 architecture and 25.37% for the four classes of the second introduction to the VGGNet19 architecture. The 5×5 block matrix input feature has been added in training to get maximum results.
Noticias del BID: Vol. 1, no. 3, abril 1974
Authors:   Inter-American Development Bank
Published: August 2021

Noticias del BID, publicación mensual que tiene por objetivo informar acerca de las actividades del Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo.
Memorials of the Borgel Cemetery
Authors: Kazdaghli Habib
Published: August 2021

The article of the leading Tunisian historian, specialist in the national liberation movement and the fate of the Jewish community of Tunisia, Habib Kazdaghli analyses the three monuments dedicated to the victims of world wars, erected at the Borgel cemetery, the largest Jewish cemetery in the city of Tunisia. The article looks into the place of the monuments in the architectural complex of the cemetery, the circumstances of their construction, examines how their architecture reflected the specificity of the ethno-political development of the Jewish community and the peculiarities of the modernization processes. The author uses extensive material from the Tunisian Jewish press, which previously rarely presented the subject of academic research, as well as epigraphic materials. In the analysis of the monument dedicated to the Jews who died during the First World War, the author notes that its construction testified to the formation in the Jewish community of a non-religious cult of honouring the memory of the dead. At the same time, analysis of the monuments to victims of forced labour camps and deportations shows that their very erection placed the Jewish community of Tunisia in a broader historical and political context, making its tragedy a part of the global tragedy of the Jewish people and all humanity as a whole. It also linked the fate of Tunisian Jewry with the fate of European Jewry and, first of all, French Jewry, which acquired a special political meaning in the context of the national liberation movement and the processes of decolonization that unfolded after World War II.
B40 Online Business Platform: E-Commerce and Life Cycle Model Considerations
Authors: Haqmi Abas Mohamad Aqib , Mohd Yassin Ahmad Ihsan , Md Tahir Nooritawati , Zabidi Azlee , Amin Megat Ali Megat Syahirul
Published: August 2021

A new online business platform is needed in Malaysia. The proposed system aims to provide B40 household income group with the necessary knowledge for increasing readiness in online business, and equip them with access to available financing, e-commerce, and logistic solutions. Prior to project commencement, a review is performed on e-commerce and development life cycle models. The adopted approach includes issues such as client engagement, development team, duration of project, requirement of prototype, and scale of deployment. In this case, a modified Rapid Application Development model is suitable for monitoring project progress and delivery.
10. letna konferenca mehatronike 2021: Zbornik povzetkov študentskih projektov
Authors: Pogorelc Janez , Hace Aleš , Župerl Uroš
Published: August 2021

Fakulteta za elektrotehniko, računalništvo in informatiko (FERI) in Fakulteta za strojništvo (FS) Univerze v Mariboru (UM) sta edini v Sloveniji, ki izvajata kakovostne samostojne študijske programe Mehatronike na dodiplomski univerzitetni in visokošolski strokovni 1. stopnji ter na podiplomski magistrski 2. stopnji študija. Diplomirani inženir Mehatronike je v domači industriji, še bolj pa v naši soseščini, izredno in vedno bolj iskan profil, strokovnjaki na tem področju pa sodelujejo v proizvodnji in razvoju najsodobnejših mehatronskih izdelkov. Študijski programi Mehatronike na Univerzi v Mariboru se odlikujejo s projektno orientiranim načinom izobraževanja, kjer študenti delajo v skupinah na različnih praktičnih mehatronskih problemih. Rezultate svojega projektnega dela predstavijo študenti javno konec zimskega semestra in konec študijskega leta na Letni konferenci Mehatronike. Tako so letos na konferenci predstavili (organizirani v dveh delih 18. 2. 2021 in 23. 6. 2021) 44 projektov, od tega 17 projektov študenti visokošolskega strokovnega programa, 16 projektov študenti univerzitetnega dodiplomskega študijskega programa in 11 projektov študenti podiplomskega magistrskega študijskega programa. Povzetke teh projektov smo zbrali v pričujoči zbornik, kjer so predstavljene osnovne informacije, več podrobnosti pa so ekipe študentov predstavile na javni konferenci. Vsi projekti so zanimivi, zato vas v imenu organizatorjev FERI in FS vabimo, da se udeležite tudi naslednje Letne konference Mehatronike!
Plazovi: Temeljni vodnik o nevarnostih snežnih plazov
Authors: Burkeljca Jernej
Published: August 2021

Kdorkoli se pozimi zabava ali dela na snegu (žičničarji, oskrbniki koč, gozdarji, cestni in drugi delavci na terenu) se mora zavedati nevarnosti plazov in drugih snežnih pasti. Plazovi niso omejeni samo na strme in visoke gore, velika količina snega lahko pade tudi z ostrešij pod katerimi se pozimi igrajo otroci. Plazovi se pojavljajo kjerkoli je dovolj snega in dovolj strmo, to je lahko tudi le nekaj metrov od ceste, smučišča ali hiše. Osnovno zavedanje in prepoznavanje teh nevarnosti je ključnega pomena za široko populacijo ljudi, ki se stalno ali le začasno nahajajo v alpskem in drugih gorskih okoljih.
Vestibular Stimulation as An Interventional Approach for Cold Water Stress Induced Immunological and Histopathological Changes in Rats
Authors: Kranthi T. Rama , Archana R. , Senthilkumar S.
Published: August 2021

Background: Chronic exposure to stress results in immuno-suppression. The present study was carried out to explore the therapeutic benefits of vestibular stimulation on the immune system of stress-induced Wistar rats. Methods: Stress was intervened in the Wistar rats by cold water swimming method for a period of 14 days. Following stress, caloric vestibular stimulation was induced in the rats by irrigating external auditory meatus bilaterally with hot water (temperature 41oC) for 2 minutes for a period of 15 days and 30 days in respective groups. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were obtained and serum corticosterone, Interleukin 2 (IL2), Immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels were analyzed using ELISA method and histopathology of brain was assessed. Brain CD4 and CD8 cells were analyzed by Immunohistochemistry. Result: Stress significantly increased serum corticosterone, IL2 levels and reduced IgM levels. Stress group showed increased dendritic arborization in prefrontal cortex, neuronal atrophy, nuclear pyknosis with congested blood vessels in hippocampus and mononuclear cell inflammatory infiltrate in hypothalamus. Brain extravascular CD4 and CD8 showed positive in stress group. Caloric vestibular stimulation effectively reduced serum corticosterone levels, histopathological changes, brain extravascular CD4 and CD8 cells and improved IgM in the present study.