Market Power and Efficiency of Islamic Banking and Conventional Banking in Indonesia

ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) of banking industry requires both Islamic and conventional banking to improve their efficiency because the competition in banking market industry will be more intense. Therefore, this study aims to identify the type of hyphotesis of industrial organization which exists in Islamic and conventional banks in order to investigate their readiness for AEC. The research sampling consists of 10 Islamic banks and 10 conventional banks from January 2009 to December 2016. To measure x-efficiency and scale efficiency, this research uses Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Meanwhile, the concentration is measured by Lerner index. The hypothesis is tested by using panel regression. The result shows SCP (Structure-Conduct-Performance) hypothesis is closely applied to Islamic and conventional banks because market concentration significantly influences profitability. RMP (Relative Market Power) hypothesis is also closely applied to Islamic and conventional banking, this indicates Indonesian banking has market power in determining prices and this condition makes the profit higher. RES (Relative Efficiency Structure) and SES (Scale Efficiency Structure) hypothesis do not exist in both conventional and Islamic banks because x-efficiency and scale efficiency do not affect profitability, concentration, and market share simultaneously. Market power and efficiency researches are commonly conducted in conventional banking, however there are only a few research in Islamic banking area. The novelty of this study is the comparison between conventional and Islamic banking in the term of market structure and efficiency

Πειραματική διερεύνηση της διαλυτότητας του διοξειδίου του άνθρακα σε υδατικά διαλύματα ανθρακικού καλίου με πρόσθετες αμίνες και αμινοξέα

Recent studies into the distribution of Xanthomonas species causing Bacterial Leaf Spot (BLS) in Australian solanaceous crops detail varied genomic profiles that may influence pathogenicity. These genomic studies are expanded upon here by reporting the pathogenicity, race and copper tolerance of the previously sequenced Xanthomonas strains. Capsicum (Yolo Wonder), tomato (Grosse Lisse) and differential lines of capsicum (Early Cal-Wonder) were used to determine pathogenicity and race. Copper tolerance of 44 Xanthomonas strains was measured by observing bacterial growth on copper sulphate amended media. Protein sequence associated with these traits was detected using genomic analysis and compared using protein alignments. Only strains of X. euvesicatoria (16 strains) were found to be pathogenic on both tomato and capsicum. These were determined to be race 4 and 9. High copper tolerance was detected in the majority of Xanthomonas strains tested. Multiple copper resistance and avirulence proteins were detected in genomic sequence. Relatively few of these were associated with plasmid sequences. The genomic basis for copper tolerance was determined to be complex, as the tolerance thresholds did not directly correlate with gene number or presence. Similarly, pathogenicity of the strains was also not always clearly linked with presence or absence of specific Avr genes. This study highlights the need for detailed and ongoing investigations into the function of these proteins and how they produce the phenotypes that affect crop production

Genomic sequence analysis reveals diversity of Australian Xanthomonas species associated with bacterial leaf spot of tomato, capsicum and chilli

The genetic diversity in Australian populations of Xanthomonas species associated with bacterial leaf spot in tomato, capsicum and chilli were compared to worldwide bacterial populations. The aim of this study was to confirm the identities of these Australian Xanthomonas species and classify them in comparison to overseas isolates. Analysis of whole genome sequence allows for the investigation of bacterial population structure, pathogenicity and gene exchange, resulting in better management strategies and biosecurity

The seasonal detection of strawberry viruses in Victoria, Australia

AbstractPCR tests were adopted from international, peer-reviewed literature and developed for the detection of Strawberry mottle sadwavirus (SMoV), Strawberry crinkle cytorhabdovirus (SCV), Strawberry mild yellow edge potexvirus (SMYEV), Strawberry vein banding caulimovirus (SVBV), Beet pseudos yellows crinivirus (BPYV), and Strawberry pallidosis associated crinivirus (SPaV) in Victoria, Australia. The PCR tests were applied to 23 positive control plants infected with one or more viruses and these plants have been tested monthly from May 2005 to April 2007. Our results have indicated that the viruses were most reliably detected by PCR during May-October. In November, December and January of each year a decline in the number of positive PCR results for BPYV, SVBV and SPaV was observed. Twelve positive control plants maintained at the AQIS post entry quarantine screenhouse at Knoxfield, Victoria, and also infected with one or more viruses, were tested monthly from August 2006 to April 2007. A similar decline in the ability to detect SMoV, SVBV and SPaV in the AQIS positive control plants was observed in 2006/07 and November was the least reliable month for detection of strawberry viruses in these plants. These results indicate that spring and autumn may be the optimal times for PCR detection of strawberry viruses in south east Australia.Keywords: Strawberry mottle sadwavirus; Strawberry crinkle cytorhabdovirus; Strawberry mild yellow edge potexvirus; Strawberry vein banding caulimovirus; Beet pseudos yellows crinivirus; Strawberry pallidosis associated crinivirus; detection; polymerase chain reaction; PCR; certificatio

Enzymatic capacities of metabolic fuel use in cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) and responses to food deprivation: insight into the metabolic organization and starvation survival strategy of cephalopods

Food limitation is a common challenge for animals. Cephalopods are sensitive to starvation because of high metabolic rates and growth rates related to their "live fast, die young" life history. We investigated how enzymatic capacities of key metabolic pathways are modulated during starvation in the common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) to gain insight into the metabolic organization of cephalopods and their strategies for coping with food limitation. In particular, lipids have traditionally been considered unimportant fuels in cephalopods, yet, puzzlingly, many species (including cuttlefish) mobilize the lipid stores in their digestive gland during starvation. Using a comprehensive multi-tissue assay of enzymatic capacities for energy metabolism, we show that, during long-term starvation (12 days), glycolytic capacity for glucose use is decreased in cuttlefish tissues, while capacities for use of lipid-based fuels (fatty acids and ketone bodies) and amino acid fuels are retained or increased. Specifically, the capacity to use the ketone body acetoacetate as fuel is widespread across tissues and gill has a previously unrecognized capacity for fatty acid catabolism, albeit at low rates. The capacity for de novo glucose synthesis (gluconeogenesis), important for glucose homeostasis, likely is restricted to the digestive gland, contrary to previous reports of widespread gluconeogenesis among cephalopod tissues. Short-term starvation (3-5 days) had few effects on enzymatic capacities. Similar to vertebrates, lipid-based fuels, putatively mobilized from fat stores in the digestive gland, appear to be important energy sources for cephalopods, especially during starvation when glycolytic capacity is decreased perhaps to conserve available glucose

Guidelines for the reliable use of high throughput sequencing technologies to detect plant pathogens and pests

High-throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies have the potential to become one of the most significant advances in molecular diagnostics. Their use by researchers to detect and characterize plant pathogens and pests has been growing steadily for more than a decade and they are now envisioned as a routine diagnostic test to be deployed by plant pest diagnostics laboratories. Nevertheless, HTS technologies and downstream bioinformatics analysis of the generated datasets represent a complex process including many steps whose reliability must be ensured. The aim of the present guidelines is to provide recommendations for researchers and diagnosticians aiming to reliably use HTS technologies to detect plant pathogens and pests. These guidelines are generic and do not depend on the sequencing technology or platform. They cover all the adoption processes of HTS technologies from test selection to test validation as well as their routine implementation. A special emphasis is given to key elements to be considered: undertaking a risk analysis, designing sample panels for validation, using proper controls, evaluating performance criteria, confirming and interpreting results. These guidelines cover any HTS test used for the detection and identification of any plant pest (viroid, virus, bacteria, phytoplasma, fungi and fungus-like protists, nematodes, arthropods, plants) from any type of matrix. Overall, their adoption by diagnosticians and researchers should greatly improve the reliability of pathogens and pest diagnostics and foster the use of HTS technologies in plant health

Identification of Xanthomonas species associated with bacterial leaf spot of tomato, capsicum and chilli crops in eastern Australia

Several species of Xanthomonas cause bacterial leaf spot, a disease that affects solanaceous crops worldwide. The diversity of 64 Australian isolates of Xanthomonas spp. associated with bacterial leaf spot in tomato, capsicum and chilli crops in eastern Australia was determined using multi-locus sequence analysis of atpD, dnaK, efp and gyrB genes, species-specific PCR assays and biochemical analyses. At least five species of Xanthomonas associated with bacterial leaf spot were identified in Australian tomato, capsicum and chilli crops and their pathogenicity assessed. Phylogenetic and biochemical analyses identified X. euvesicatoria, X. perforans and X. vesicatoria as the most frequently recovered pathogenic species. Non-pathogenic and weakly pathogenic species were also identified. The suitability of the identification methods used and the implications of the detection of these species will be discussed