Rural Poverty in Southeast Asia: Issues, Policies, and Challenges

Economic growth among Southeast Asian countries during the last 25 years has averaged at five percent per year and has been accompanied by a decline in the relative importance of agriculture in the national output and employment. The response of poverty to this growth and structural transformation has been equally remarkable, with the headcount ratio in 2002 registering a more than 50 percent drop from the 1990 figure. Although impressive, Southeast Asia's overall record in growth and poverty reduction has not been uniform, as evident in the experiences of countries like Indonesia, Philippines and East Timor, as well as the transition economies, namely, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam. In these countries, liberalizing agricultural trade, combined with public investment in productivity-enhancing support services, would advance the interests of the poor. To contribute in the efforts to strengthen the continuing war on poverty especially in these transition economies, the paper highlights the lessons learned in poverty reduction so as to identify more clearly the policy options for achieving the Millennium Development Goals in the region. One powerful lesson that has emerged in tackling poverty and food insecurity concerns the use of policy, investment and institutional reforms to enable the rural poor to partake of the windfall from efficient domestic markets and the improved access to technology, infrastructure and education. The success stories would show that the main push to these efficiency-enhancing reforms has come, not from globalization nor agricultural policy but from the internal realization that the country and its citizens were the major beneficiaries of the reform. Another important challenge facing countries in the region is to find the appropriate mix of policies and institutions that would maximize the enormous benefits from globalization while protecting against its risks and pitfalls. Lastly, given that the investment requirements for poverty reduction are beyond the resources of low-income countries, the paper identifies the critical role of the development assistance community.rural poverty, Southeast Asia,

Anatomical variation of the palmaris longus muscle: finding in zone V flexor injury

The palmaris longus is a muscle located on the anterior surface of the forearm, known for its significant anatomical variability. This ranges from its absence, the most common variant, to having multiple insertions or muscular bellies. The aim of the study is to highlight the uncommon anatomical variant diagnosed as an incidental finding and to contribute to the statistics of this type of pathology in our country. A case is reported involving a 14-year-old patient with no significant medical history who sustained a cut injury. Surgical exploration through the previous wound was conducted by the plastic surgery department at the General Hospital of Mexico (2023). The incidental finding revealed complete laceration of both tendons of the palmaris longus muscle, prompting the repair of both tendons. The bifid palmaris longus is a rare anatomical anomaly, not previously described in the statistics of our country. Therefore, the significance of reporting this anatomical variant as an incidental finding is noteworthy

Genetic mapping and legume synteny of aphid resistance in African cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) grown in California.

The cowpea aphid Aphis craccivora Koch (CPA) is a destructive insect pest of cowpea, a staple legume crop in Sub-Saharan Africa and other semiarid warm tropics and subtropics. In California, CPA causes damage on all local cultivars from early vegetative to pod development growth stages. Sources of CPA resistance are available in African cowpea germplasm. However, their utilization in breeding is limited by the lack of information on inheritance, genomic location and marker linkage associations of the resistance determinants. In the research reported here, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross between a susceptible California blackeye cultivar (CB27) and a resistant African breeding line (IT97K-556-6) was genotyped with 1,536 SNP markers. The RILs and parents were phenotyped for CPA resistance using field-based screenings during two main crop seasons in a 'hotspot' location for this pest within the primary growing region of the Central Valley of California. One minor and one major quantitative trait locus (QTL) were consistently mapped on linkage groups 1 and 7, respectively, both with favorable alleles contributed from IT97K-556-6. The major QTL appeared dominant based on a validation test in a related F2 population. SNP markers flanking each QTL were positioned in physical contigs carrying genes involved in plant defense based on synteny with related legumes. These markers could be used to introgress resistance alleles from IT97K-556-6 into susceptible local blackeye varieties by backcrossing

A major QTL corresponding to the Rk locus for resistance to root-knot nematodes in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.).

Key messageGenome resolution of a major QTL associated with the Rk locus in cowpea for resistance to root-knot nematodes has significance for plant breeding programs and R gene characterization. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) is a susceptible host of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) (RKN), major plant-parasitic pests in global agriculture. To date, breeding for host resistance in cowpea has relied on phenotypic selection which requires time-consuming and expensive controlled infection assays. To facilitate marker-based selection, we aimed to identify and map quantitative trait loci (QTL) conferring the resistance trait. One recombinant inbred line (RIL) and two F2:3 populations, each derived from a cross between a susceptible and a resistant parent, were genotyped with genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. The populations were screened in the field for root-galling symptoms and/or under growth-chamber conditions for nematode reproduction levels using M. incognita and M. javanica biotypes. One major QTL was mapped consistently on linkage group VuLG11 of each population. By genotyping additional cowpea lines and near-isogenic lines derived from conventional backcrossing, we confirmed that the detected QTL co-localized with the genome region associated with the Rk locus for RKN resistance that has been used in conventional breeding for many decades. This chromosomal location defined with flanking markers will be a valuable target in marker-assisted breeding and for positional cloning of genes controlling RKN resistance

A Novel Root-Knot Nematode Resistance QTL on Chromosome Vu01 in Cowpea.

The root-knot nematode (RKN) species Meloidogyne incognita and M. javanica cause substantial root system damage and suppress yield of susceptible cowpea cultivars. The narrow-based genetic resistance conferred by the Rk gene, present in some commercial cultivars, is not effective against Rk-virulent populations found in several cowpea production areas. The dynamics of virulence within RKN populations require a broadening of the genetic base of resistance in elite cowpea cultivars. As part of this goal, F1 and F2 populations from the cross CB46-Null (susceptible) x FN-2-9-04 (resistant) were phenotyped for M. javanica induced root-galling (RG) and egg-mass production (EM) in controlled growth chamber and greenhouse infection assays. In addition, F[Formula: see text] families of the same cross were phenotyped for RG on field sites infested with Rk-avirulent M. incognita and M. javanica The response of F1 to RG and EM indicated that resistance to RKN in FN-2-9-04 is partially dominant, as supported by the degree of dominance in the F2 and F[Formula: see text] populations. Two QTL associated with both RG and EM resistance were detected on chromosomes Vu01 and Vu04. The QTL on Vu01 was most effective against aggressive M. javanica, whereas both QTL were effective against avirulent M. incognita Allelism tests with CB46 x FN-2-9-04 progeny indicated that these parents share the same RKN resistance locus on Vu04, but the strong, broad-based resistance in FN-2-9-04 is conferred by the additive effect of the novel resistance QTL on Vu01. This novel resistance in FN-2-9-04 is an important resource for broadening RKN resistance in elite cowpea cultivars

Naturaleza y método. Para conocer a Blondel

El presente ensayo sobre la naturaleza y método de la filosofía en Maurice Blondel, recoge dos de los cinco capítulos de que consta la tesis doctoral, titulada: “La necesidad inexorable de Dios en la filosofía de la acción de Blondel: el vinculum perfectionis y la frontera entre la razón filosófica y la fe cristiana”. Fue defendida el 27 de mayo de 2015, en la Facultad de Filosofía de la Universidad de Oviedo. El tribunal estaba formado por el Catedrático Ángel Luis González García, como Presidente, de la Universidad de Navarra; La Profesora Titular María Asunción Herrera Guevara, como Secretaria, de la Universidad de Oviedo, y, el Catedrático Ildefonso Murillo Murillo, como Vocal, de la Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca. Dirigió la tesis doctoral el Catedrático Emérito de Metafísica, Modesto Verciano Villalibre, de la Universidad de Oviedo. La Secretaría de la Comisión de Doctorado me comunicó días después, con fecha 5 de junio: “el tribunal le ha otorgado la mención cum laude y ha sido propuesto como candidato al premio extraordinario de doctorado”

RSM optimization of the catalytic wet peroxide oxidation of methyl orange and correlation with major intermediates and by-products

Statistical response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the main parameters of the CWPO reaction in the catalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO) in a 1.5 L semi-batch reactor. Studied experimental variables were: (i) catalyst’s concentration, (ii) dose of hydrogen peroxide and (iii) reaction time; Non-controllable variables were: starting pH, Temperature and initial [MO] loading (as Total Organic Carbon - TOC)

Cross-leg flap after free flap failure: a case report

The cross-leg flap is a technique that has been used for a long time to address defects in the distal third of the leg. Currently, the gold standard for these defects is free flap reconstruction. However, the success of microsurgery is not always guaranteed due to a wide range of extrinsic and intrinsic factors. In this study, we present the use of a cross-leg flap as an alternative in the case of free flap failure, performed in the plastic and reconstructive surgery department of the General Hospital of Mexico. The cross-leg flap represents a reliable, simple, and effective alternative when free flaps are not suitable or as a rescue in case of their failure, either due to extrinsic or patient-related causes.

Degradación de naranja de metilo mediante la tecnología PCFH activada con un catalizador Al-Fe/PILC

Entre los procesos de oxidación avanzada (POAs), la Peroxidación Catalítica en Fase Húmeda (PCFH) activada con un catalizador de tipo Al/Fe-PILC ha demostrado un enorme potencial para la depuración de compuestos orgánicos tóxicos disueltos en agua (Figura 1) [1]. Por otra parte, recientes estudios han demostrado que la Materia Orgánica Natural (MON) en las fuentes de abastecimiento, está generando serios problemas en los sistemas de tratamiento para la producción de agua potable [2]. Sin embargo, dado que la estructura de la MON es bastante compleja, con una significativa contribución de fenoles y aminas aromáticas, los colorantes diazoicos como el naranja de metilo (NM) pueden servir como moléculas modelo para anticipar el comportamiento de la fracción nitrogenada presente en la MON ante la degradación vía POAs. De acuerdo a lo anterior, en el presente trabajo se reporta la optimización simultánea de los principales parámetros de la degradación PCFH de naranja de metilo (NM) en medio acuoso, empleando un diseño estadístico de experimentos central compuesto, seguido de análisis por superficies multi-respuesta (MSR). Durante el proceso se maximizaron las respuestas: mineralización de NM (eliminación de COD), decoloración (UV-Vis), fracción de peróxido reaccionada (UV-Vis) y eliminación de nitrógeno total (NT) combinadas en una función deseabilidad. También se siguieron los principales intermediarios y subproductos de la oxidación mediante HPLC/DAD y GC/FI