Post-Taliban State-Building in Afghanistan: The State Governmental Design at the National Level and the Role of Democratic Provincial Councils in Decentrali-zation at the Sub-National Level

This research endeavors to critically study the state-building inter-vention in Afghanistan since the collapse of the Taliban regime in late 2001. By analyzing field interviews collected from six large Af-ghan provinces, this dissertation, in particular, explores an alterna-tive state governmental design at the central level, and examines the role of elected provincial councils for decentralization at the sub-national level in Afghanistan. Since the Bonn conference in 2001, the Afghan ethnopolitical elites are divided between the Pashtuns for a heavy centralized presidential state system, and the non-Pashtuns (mainly Tajik, Hazara, and Uz-bek) for semi-presidential parliamentarism, among them some advo-cates for parliamentary federalism. While the 2004 Afghan constitu-tion adopted a heavy unitary centralized state system. In practice, it continued an ethnopolitical elite power-sharing government agreed upon at the December 2001 Bonn conference. The findings of this study reveal that implementing a non-ethnic-party and merit-based democratically elected unitary government as envisioned in the 2004 Afghan constitution, would neither be accepted by the various ethnic groups and parties nor would it be backed by the regional and inter-national partner countries. A complete federal option also fails to have majority Afghan support, nor is it suitable for a geographically and socio-politically complex, and economically weak Afghanistan. The National Unity Government (NUG) model in place since 2014 – a somewhat semi-presidential system – has not been successful, and the lack of a strong political party system also weakens the ar-guments for adopting semi-presidentialism. If peace, social justice, political stability, good governance, economic development, and na-tional integration is the optimum goal for system change, Afghans need to adopt a unitary ethnic grand-coalition at the center, (a presi-dent with three vice-presidents with no constitutional pre-specifica-tion of ethnic status for these executive posts) and a moderate decen-tralized administration at the sub-national level. This dissertation also finds that the Afghan elected Provincial Councils (PC) in place since 2005 are constitutionally week and in some instances dominated by warlords and drug mafias. Nevertheless, they have proved significant to local governance in rural Afghanistan, improving political awareness, the mobilization and participation of women, government legitimacy, democracy, and economic development. If the Afghan government ever managed to make peace with the Taliban, curbed warlordism and corruption, then for implementing decentralization, the Afghan PCs are the most feasible democratic institution to build on

Economics of Street Food Venders in Nigeria and Afghanistan

Of every 10 workers in the world six work in the informal economy, while four out of every five organizations operate in the informal economy. An important sector in the informal economy is street food vending. Street food vendors not only earn their own living but provide a service to the market by making affordable food available quickly to the participants of the street market. While their role in the developing economies cannot be overlooked, not a lot has been known about them. This thesis explores street food vending in Afghanistan and Nigeria. Nigeria is used as an example for the rest of West Africa. In this thesis we will find out what crops are predominantly used by street food vendors, what are the impacts of price volatility on the profitability of street food vendors, are the vendors profitable, and how they make decisions under risk. We will be using tornado graphs, as well histograms, and cumulative density function to determine profitability and risk for street food vendors. We will also be using decision making trees to visualize how decisions are made by street food vendors

Particle Nanoarchitectonics for Nanomedicine and Nanotherapeutic Drugs with Special Emphasis on Nasal Drugs and Aging

Aging is a multifunctional physiological manifestation. The nasal cavity is considered a major site for easy and cost-effective drug and vaccine administration, due to high permeability, low enzymatic activity, and the presence of a high number of immunocompetent cells. This review article primarily focuses on aging genetics, physical parameters, and the use of nanoparticles as delivery systems of drugs and vaccines via the nasal cavity. Studies have identified various genes involved in centenarian and average-aged people. VEGF is a key mediator involved in angiogenesis. Different therapeutic approaches induce vascular function and angiogenesis. FOLR1 gene codes for folate receptor alpha protein that helps in regulating the transport of vitamin B folate, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate and folate analogs inside the cell. This gene also aids in slowing the aging process down by cellular regeneration and promotes healthy aging by reducing aging symptoms. It has been found through the literature that GATA 6, Yamanaka factors, and FOLR1 work in synchronization to induce healthy and delayed aging. The role and applications of genes including CBS, CISD, SIRT 1, and SIRT 6 play a significant role in aging

Particle Nanoarchitectonics for Nanomedicine and Nanotherapeutic Drugs with Special Emphasis on Nasal Drugs and Aging

Aging is a multifunctional physiological manifestation. The nasal cavity is considered a major site for easy and cost-effective drug and vaccine administration, due to high permeability, low enzymatic activity, and the presence of a high number of immunocompetent cells. This review article primarily focuses on aging genetics, physical parameters, and the use of nanoparticles as delivery systems of drugs and vaccines via the nasal cavity. Studies have identified various genes involved in centenarian and average-aged people. VEGF is a key mediator involved in angiogenesis. Different therapeutic approaches induce vascular function and angiogenesis. FOLR1 gene codes for folate receptor alpha protein that helps in regulating the transport of vitamin B folate, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate and folate analogs inside the cell. This gene also aids in slowing the aging process down by cellular regeneration and promotes healthy aging by reducing aging symptoms. It has been found through the literature that GATA 6, Yamanaka factors, and FOLR1 work in synchronization to induce healthy and delayed aging. The role and applications of genes including CBS, CISD, SIRT 1, and SIRT 6 play a significant role in aging

Effect of Chilled Storage on Antioxidant Capacities and Volatile Flavors of Synbiotic Yogurt Made with Probiotic Yeast Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745 in Combination with Inulin

Fermentation of available sugars in milk by yogurt starter culture initially and later by Saccharomyces boulardii (Probiotic yeast) improves the bioavailability of nutrients and produces bioactive substances and volatile compounds that enhance consumer acceptability. The combination of S. boulardii, a unique species of probiotic yeast, and inulin, an exopolysaccharide used as a prebiotic, showed remarkable probiotic and hydrocolloid properties in dairy products. The present study was designed to study the effect of fermentation and storage on antioxidant and volatile capacities of probiotic and synbiotic yogurt by incorporation of S. boulardii and inulin at 1%, 1.5%, and 2% (w/v), compared with the probiotic and control plain yogurt. All samples were stored at 4 °C, and during these four weeks, they were analyzed in terms of their antioxidant and volatile compounds. The synbiotic yogurt samples having inulin and S. boulardii displayed significantly higher DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical activity values and more values of TPC (total phenol contents) than control plain yogurt. A total of 16 volatile compounds were identified in S5-syn2 and S4-syn1.5, while S3-syn1 and S2-P had 14, compared with the control S1-C plain yogurt samples, which had only 6. The number of volatile compounds increased with the increasing concentration of inulin throughout the storage period. Therefore, this novel synbiotic yogurt with higher antioxidant and volatile compounds, even with chilling storage conditions, will be a good choice for consumer acceptability

Myogenesis and Analysis of Antimicrobial Potential of Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) against Pathogenic Bacteria

The widespread and indiscriminate use of broad-spectrum antibiotics leads to microbial resistance, which causes major problems in the treatment of infectious diseases. However, advances in nanotechnology have opened up new domains for the synthesis and use of nanoparticles against multidrug-resistant pathogens. The traditional approaches for nanoparticle synthesis are not only expensive, laborious, and hazardous but also have various limitations. Therefore, new biological approaches are being designed to synthesize economical and environmentally friendly nanoparticles with enhanced antimicrobial activity. The current study focuses on the isolation, identification, and screening of metallotolerant fungal strains for the production of silver nanoparticles, using antimicrobial activity analysis and the characterization of biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles by X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In total, 11 fungal isolates were isolated and screened for the synthesis of AgNPs, while the Penicillium notatum (K1) strain was found to be the most potent, demonstrating biosynthetic ability. The biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles showed excellent antibacterial activity against the bacteria Escherichia coli (ATCC10536), Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC9144), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC10145), Enterococcus faecalis, and Listeria innocua (ATCC13932). Furthermore, three major diffraction peaks in the XRD characterization, located at the 2θ values of 28.4, 34.8, 38.2, 44, 64, and 77°, confirmed the presence of AgNPs, while elemental composition analysis via EDX and spherical surface topology with a scanning electron microscope indicated that its pure crystalline nature was entirely composed of silver. Thus, the current study indicates the enhanced antibacterial capability of mycologically synthesized AgNPs, which could be used to counter multidrug-resistant pathogens

Plant-Microbiome Interactions in Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Soils

The use of green remediation technologies (i.e.,phytoremediation,biore- mediation, mycoremediation) for the restoration of hydrocarbon-contaminated sites is one of the keys for sustainable development. These technologies rely on the joint action of biotic components of the ecosystem, namely, plants, bacteria, and fungi. Despite the fact that previous studies showed that the clean-up of hydrocarbons could be achieved individually by plants or microorganisms, present investigations suggest that the interaction of plants with their surrounding microbiome determines the outcomes of green remediation technologies. This book chapter reviews the state of the art to explain the two-way relationship established between plants and their associated microbiome in hydrocarbon-polluted soils. Special focus is put on stressing the results obtained in recent studies that employ omics approaches.Fil: Agnello, Ana Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales; ArgentinaFil: Morelli, Irma Susana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales; ArgentinaFil: del Panno, Maria Teresa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales; Argentin