Turkish and BRICS Engagement in Africa: Between humanitarian and economic interests

This paper studies the political economy of Turkey’s relations with Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) since 2002 while under the Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) rule. It argues that Turkey has focused its engagement in Africa mostly on humanitarian assistance and the economy. Contextualizing Turkey’s relations with SSA vis-à-vis other emerging market economies, especially the BRICS (Brazil/Russia/India/China/South Africa) bloc, provides ample insights into the nature of Turkey’s engagement in SSA. While Turkey’s involvement has some similarities to that of the BRICS, there are greater fundamental and structural differences from how the BRICS established their presence in SSA. These differences mostly find resonance in when we juxtapose the activism of non-governmental actors engaging in humanitarian missions and charity work with trade related economic investments and activism

Hemoparasites effect on interferon-gamma and miRNA 125b expression in Bubalus bubalis

This study aimed to determine and evaluate the effect of the g4467 G>A SNP on the expression profile of IFN-γ and miRNA 125b in dairy buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) with and without hemoparasites. Molecular diagnosis was performed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) on 145 buffaloes for Babesia spp., Trypanosoma vivax, and Anaplasma marginale. All buffaloes were investigated for the presence or absence of the polymorphism and genotyped using the restriction enzyme. Real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) quantified the expression of IFN-γ and miRNA 125b. All buffaloes were negative for Babesia spp. and A. marginale, and only 12 were positive for T. vivax. The genotypes GG, GA, and AA were found in proportions of 3.4%, 2.1%, and 94.5%, respectively. The A allele was the most frequent (95.5%). The SNP showed deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) (P<0.05) and a deficit of heterozygotes with FIS 0.759. All animals of the found genotypes expressed both genes, except for GG positive for T. vivax. IFN-γ expression was higher for GA and GG negative (P<0.05) and AA positive. However, miRNA 125b expression was lower for AA and GA positive and higher for AA, GA, and GG negative. AA-positive buffaloes for T. vivax may exhibit susceptibility due to higher IFN-γ expression and lower miRNA 125b. GG and GA-negative buffaloes exhibited higher expression in both, suggesting they have greater resistance to positive ones

Impact of mothers’ socio-demographic factors and antenatal clinic attendance on neonatal mortality in Nigeria

Neonatal death is often referred to maternal complications during pregnancy, and other exogenous factors that exist around the time of birth or shortly after birth. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG)-Goal 3, Targets 3.2 aimed at ending preventable deaths of newborns by demanding that all countries should reduce neonatal mortality to 12 per 1000 live births by 2030. The objective of the study was to examine the relationship between mothers’ socioeconomic and demographic factors on neonatal deaths in Nigeria. The study used quantitative data from the 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys (NDHS). The data analyzed consisted of 26,826 women aged 15–49 years who had a live or dead birth within the 5 years preceding the survey. STATA 12 computer software was used to carry out data analyses. Data analyses were at univariate (frequency distribution), bivariate (chi-square) and due to the dichotomous nature of the outcome variable (i.e., whether a child was born alive or dead during the delivery; coded as (1, 0), a binary logistic regression was carried out to examine the relationships between various socio-demographic factors, antenatal clinic attendance and neonatal mortality in Nigeria. The results, among others, revealed that background factors of the women such as age, region, residence, education, and wealth status have a significant association with neonatal mortality (P < 0.05). The study also found that adequate antenatal clinic attendance helps to reduce neonatal deaths. The study recommended that women should be encouraged to observe regular antenatal clinic visits during pregnancy and also go for institutional delivery for possible reduction of neonates and infant deaths in Nigeria

<i>Metarhizium</i> Associated with Coffee Seedling Roots: Positive Effects on Plant Growth and Protection against <i>Leucoptera coffeella</i>

Metarhizium species can be mutualistic symbionts of plants. They are able to colonize roots, promote plant growth and provide protection against pests. We previously found Metarhizium robertsii and M. brunneum associated with coffee roots in a diversified coffee system. Here, we investigated whether these fungi, when inoculated in coffee seedlings, can associate with roots, improve seedling growth and indirectly protect against the coffee leaf miner (CLM) Leucoptera coffeella (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae). We performed a greenhouse experiment with coffee seedlings using suspensions of each Metarhizium species applied as soil drenches to potted seedlings. We also challenged these plants with CLM infestation (two adult couples per plant). We recovered Metarhizium spp. from most of the seedling roots 43 days after fungal inoculation. Plants inoculated with M. robertsii showed a 30% leaf area increase compared to the control. Both isolates promoted protection against CLM in coffee seedlings, reducing the percentual of leaf area mined and prolonging CLM development time by two days versus controls. Besides this protection provided by Metarhizium, M. robertsii also improves seedling growth. Therefore, these Metarhizium species could be considered for the development of inoculants for coffee seedlings

Poly(fluorenevinylene) derivative by Gilch polymerization for light-emitting diode applications

The synthesis of poly(9,9-di-n-octylfluorene-2,7-vinylene) (PFV) via Gilch polymerization together with its characterization and purification using membrane technology was reported. The purity and structure of the monomer were confirmed by 1H NMR , 13C NMR, and elemental analyses. The key factor for obtaining the high molecular weight of the PFV was the introduction of a chloromethyl group into the 9,9-di-n-octylfluorene unit. The optical absorption (Abs) and photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the thin PFV film were obtained.close1039

Influence of maturation stages in different varieties of wine grapes (vitis vinifera) on the production of ochratoxin a and its modified forms by aspergillus carbonarius and aspergillus niger

Ochratoxin A is the main contaminant mycotoxin of grapes produced mainly by Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus carbonarius. Besides, it is possible that the formation of modified mycotoxin occurs through the plant defense mechanism or also by fungus actions itself. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of grape variety and maturation stage on the formation of OTA and modified mycotoxin. The determination of OTA was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography, and a high-resolution mass spectrometry was used for the detection of modified ochratoxin. A positive correlation was observed between the following grapes physicochemical parameters: pH, total soluble solids, total glycosides in glucose, total anthocyanin, and OTA levels produced by A. niger and A. carbonarius. Therefore, the higher the concentrations of these parameters, the greater the production of mycotoxin in grapes. Among the elected targets, we identified the 14-decarboxy-ochratoxin A in Muscat Italia variety at veraison and 15 days after the beginning of veraison stages; and ethylamide-ochratoxin A as a biomarker in the Syrah variety at the ripeness stage663388248831CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESP#302763/2014-7; #305804/2017-0#33003017027P1#2016/21041-

Intercropped Plants Provide a Reservoir of Predatory Mites in Coffee Crop

Conservation biological control of pests may be achieved using a variety of integrated strategies based on crop diversification. We investigated whether the insertion of the intercropped plants species (IPS) Inga edulis, Senna macranthera, and Varronia curassavica modified the abundance of mites, their feeding behavior, and the dissimilarity of predator and herbivore mites over a gradient of distance from the IPS on coffee. To accomplish this, we recorded the mite species on coffee plants along transects of 16 m extending from the IPS, including on the IPS. A total of 8946 specimens were sampled. Tenuipalpidae was the most abundant family on coffee, followed by Tydeidae, while Eriophyidae was the most abundant on the IPS, followed by Phytoseiidae. The abundance and richness of mites differed between their feeding behavior and distance. The dissimilarity of predators and herbivores increased along a gradient of distance. Furthermore, the IPS harbored several mite species and the diversity of predator and herbivore mites among the IPS was different. The findings suggest that the intercropped plant species can attract and serve as a reservoir of predatory mites on coffee crops, which could improve the biocontrol of pest mites on coffee

Intercropped Plants Provide a Reservoir of Predatory Mites in Coffee Crop

Conservation biological control of pests may be achieved using a variety of integrated strategies based on crop diversification. We investigated whether the insertion of the intercropped plants species (IPS) Inga edulis, Senna macranthera, and Varronia curassavica modified the abundance of mites, their feeding behavior, and the dissimilarity of predator and herbivore mites over a gradient of distance from the IPS on coffee. To accomplish this, we recorded the mite species on coffee plants along transects of 16 m extending from the IPS, including on the IPS. A total of 8946 specimens were sampled. Tenuipalpidae was the most abundant family on coffee, followed by Tydeidae, while Eriophyidae was the most abundant on the IPS, followed by Phytoseiidae. The abundance and richness of mites differed between their feeding behavior and distance. The dissimilarity of predators and herbivores increased along a gradient of distance. Furthermore, the IPS harbored several mite species and the diversity of predator and herbivore mites among the IPS was different. The findings suggest that the intercropped plant species can attract and serve as a reservoir of predatory mites on coffee crops, which could improve the biocontrol of pest mites on coffee