New era for the coconut sector. What prospects for research?

For years and years, the main output of the coconut sector on the international market was copra, crude coconut oil (CNO) and its derivatives. However, since approximately 10 years, we see new products so called “non-traditional” products entering global exchanges. The market growth of these products, mainly coconut water extracted from mature or immature nuts, virgin coconut oil (VCO) cold pressed from the fresh kernel, coconut sugar taken from the sap flowing out of the flower, is exponential. They benefit from the healthy, simple and natural image that is conveyed by the coconut tree in the subconscious minds of the consumers. The craze for this new products create also biggest expectative from the consumers towards the coconut stakeholders. This is why this article will also suggest some tracks of reflection for the research and expert’s communities, who would like to support this expansion, thus contributing to the future of the millions of small coconut farmer

Genomic prediction and quantitative trait locus discovery in a cassava training population constructed from multiple breeding stages

Open Access Article; Published online: 11 Dec 2019Assembly of a training population (TP) is an important component of effective genomic selection‐based breeding programs. In this study, we examined the power of diverse germplasm assembled from two cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) breeding programs in Tanzania at different breeding stages to predict traits and discover quantitative trait loci (QTL). This is the first genomic selection and genome‐wide association study (GWAS) on Tanzanian cassava data. We detected QTL associated with cassava mosaic disease (CMD) resistance on chromosomes 12 and 16; QTL conferring resistance to cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) on chromosomes 9 and 11; and QTL on chromosomes 2, 3, 8, and 10 associated with resistance to CBSD for root necrosis. We detected a QTL on chromosome 4 and two QTL on chromosome 12 conferring dual resistance to CMD and CBSD. The use of clones in the same stage to construct TPs provided higher trait prediction accuracy than TPs with a mixture of clones from multiple breeding stages. Moreover, clones in the early breeding stage provided more reliable trait prediction accuracy and are better candidates for constructing a TP. Although larger TP sizes have been associated with improved accuracy, in this study, adding clones from Kibaha to those from Ukiriguru and vice versa did not improve the prediction accuracy of either population. Including the Ugandan TP in either population did not improve trait prediction accuracy. This study applied genomic prediction to understand the implications of constructing TP from clones at different breeding stages pooled from different locations on trait accuracy

Lack of association between the Serotonin Transporter Promoter Polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) and Panic Disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim of this study is to assess the association between the Serotonin Transporter Promoter Polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) and Panic Disorder (PD).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This is a systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control studies with unrelated individuals of any ethnic origin examining the role of the 5-HTTLPR in PD according to standard diagnostic criteria (DSM or ICD). Articles published in any language between January 1996 and April 2007 were eligible. The electronic databases searched included PubMed, PsychInfo, Lilacs and ISI. Two separate analyses were performed: an analysis by alleles and a stratified analysis separating studies by the quality of control groups. Asymptotic DerSimonian and Laird's Q test were used to assess heterogeneity. Results of individual studies were combined using the fixed effect model with respective 95% confidence intervals.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Nineteen potential articles were identified, and 10 studies were included in this meta-analysis. No statistically significant association between 5-HTTLPR and PD was found, OR = 0.91 (CI95% 0.80 to 1.03, p = 0.14). Three sub-analyses divided by ethnicity, control group quality and Agoraphobia comorbidity also failed to find any significant association. No evidence of heterogeneity was found between studies in the analyses.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Results from this systematic review do not provide evidence to support an association between 5-HTTLPR and PD. However, more studies are needed in different ethnic populations in order to evaluate a possible minor effect.</p

Extraction of Citric Acid by Liquid Surfactant Membranes: Bench Experiments in Single and Multistage Operation

The extraction of citric acid by liquid surfactant membranes (LSM) was performed using A/O/A emulsions, composed of sodium acetate aqueous solutions (inner phase), mixtures of Alamine 336 and ECA 4360 dissolved in Exxsol D240/280 (membrane phase), and citric acid aqueous solutions (feed phase). Two factorial designs (25–1 and 23) were used to define suitable operating conditions, in a single stage, producing citric acid solutions at 0.25 g mL–1 from aqueous feed solutions at 0.10 g mL–1. The parameters investigated and the best operating conditions obtained were pH of the feed phase (pH = 1.5), surfactant (ws = 2 %) and carrier concentration in the membrane phase (wc = 20 %), stirring speed (v = 145 rpm), and permeation time (t = 10 minutes) upon the citric acid concentration in the inner and feed phases, and inner phase swelling. Under these conditions, an extraction greater than 50 % and swelling equal to 80 % were obtained. Use of recycled membranes as well as extraction in multiple stages was also evaluated. Experiments of recycling revealed that the membranes can be reused for at least three times with good performance. Extraction in multiple stages showed high efficiency for the citric acid separation (~100 %) after three steps of operation

Conceptual model for cloud ERP adoption for SMEs

The Small and Medium Enterprise industry is experiencing a major transformation towards cloud ERP systems. These systems can organize, and maintain data remotely, accept a pay-as-you- use method and enhance related information through a cloud computing platform. Hence, this makes the cloud ERP system crucial for their sustainability and enables them to become competitive in the market. However, the adoption rate of cloud ERP among Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) has been recorded as slightly low compared to other enterprise systems like Customer Relationship Management. This could be attributed to unclear adoption factors among SMEs and the lack of a theoretical model that can enhance the predictive power to adopt a cloud ERP system. To address this gap, the objective of this study is to develop a conceptual model by which to investigate the broad factors which influence or inhibit the adoption of cloud ERP, the model based on TOE, DOI and FVM. Thus, this model intends to help SMEs managers understand and increase predictive capacity on cloud ERP adoption. The model has been constructed using four dimensions, namely; task, technology, organization and environmental. Findings from this study are projected to be able to instruct SMEs decision-makers on the factors that will lead to successful adoption. The proposed model will be a critical lens for decision-makers on cloud ERP adoption

Particle transport from the Amazonian biomass burning zone to Argentina and Uruguay regions

Presentamos resultados de la dispersión de contaminantes particulados (aerosoles) desde la fuente situada en la zona de quema de biomasa en el Amazonas (Oriente boliviano) hacia regiones alejadas de la geografía Argentina y de Uruguay, luego de atravesar Paraguay. Las mediciones realizadas por el equipo satelital TOMS/NASA del índice de aerosol en el periodo de quema de biomasa de junio-nov 1999, son comparadas con el modelo dispersivo de la pluma gaussianaWe present results of the particulate contaminants (aerosols) dispersion from the source situated in the biomass burning region in the Amazonas (East Bolivia) to distant regions of the Argentina and Uruguay geography, after passing over Paraguay. Measurements done by the satellite instrument TOMS (Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer)/NASA of the Aerosol Index in the biomass burning period of June-Nov 1999, are compared with the dispersive gaussian plume model.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

Otimização do cultivo de Burkholderia gladioli BRM 58833 por fermentação submersa.

O objetivo do estudo foi entender as melhores condições de fermentação da Burkholderia gladioli BRM 58833 submersa a partir de condições encontradas na literatura para a produção de enzima com atividade lipolítica elevada. Para isso, foi realizado um Delineamento Composto Central Rotacional (DCCR), considerando três variáveis (pH, concentração de fosfato de amônio e óleo de dendê) em cinco níveis e em cinco diferentes tempos. Resultou&#8209;se então em cinco conjuntos de análises estatísticas e 15 cinéticas. As análises estatísticas dos dados indicaram que apenas o cultivo de 24 horas apresentou um coeficiente de ajuste adequado do modelo gerado, porém com atividades lipolíticas inferiores aos tempos mais longos. O modelo gerado indica que menor concentração de fosfato de amônio e pH próximo da neutralidade tendem a mostrar atividades lipolíticas mais elevadas. Essa tendência foi verificada nos tempos subsequentes (48 horas, 72 horas, 96 horas e 168 horas)