Grain zinc, iron and protein concentrations and zinc-efficiency in wild emmer wheat under contrasting irrigation regimes

Micronutrient malnutrition, and particularly deficiency in zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe), afflicts over three billion people worldwide, and nearly half of the world’s cereal-growing area is affected by soil Zn deficiency. Wild emmer wheat [Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccoides (Körn.) Thell.], the progenitor of domesticated durum wheat and bread wheat, offers a valuable source of economically important genetic diversity including grain mineral concentrations. Twenty two wild emmer wheat accessions, representing a wide range of drought resistance capacity, as well as two durum wheat cultivars were examined under two contrasting irrigation regimes (well-watered control and water-limited), for grain yield, total biomass production and grain Zn, Fe and protein concentrations. The wild emmer accessions exhibited high genetic diversity for yield and grain Zn, Fe and protein concentrations under both irrigation regimes, with a considerable potential for improvement of the cultivated wheat. Grain Zn, Fe and protein concentrations were positively correlated with one another. Although irrigation regime significantly affected ranking of genotypes, a few wild emmer accessions were identified for their advantage over durum wheat, having consistently higher grain Zn (e.g., 125 mg kg−1), Fe (85 mg kg−1) and protein (250 g kg−1) concentrations and high yield capacity. Plants grown from seeds originated from both irrigation regimes were also examined for Zn efficiency (Zn deficiency tolerance) on a Zn-deficient calcareous soil. Zinc efficiency, expressed as the ratio of shoot dry matter production under Zn deficiency to Zn fertilization, showed large genetic variation among the genotypes tested. The source of seeds from maternal plants grown under both irrigation regimes had very little effect on Zn efficiency. Several wild emmer accessions revealed combination of high Zn efficiency and drought stress resistance. The results indicate high genetic potential of wild emmer wheat to improve grain Zn, Fe and protein concentrations, Zn deficiency tolerance and drought resistance in cultivated wheat

Pengaruh Tingkat Inflasi dan Nilai Tukar Rupiah terhadap Harga Saham Perusahaan Bank BUMN yang terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui hubungan antara variabel tingkat inflasi dan nilai tukar dalam mempengaruhi harga saham. Untuk mencapai tujuan tersebut digunakan jenis penelitian deskriptif kausal. Populasi penelitian ini adalah data tingkat inflasi dan nilai tukar rupiah dan harga saham bank BUMN yang terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia. Adapun teknik pengambilan sampel yang dipakai adalah purposive sampling, yakni data tingkat inflasi dan nilai tukar dan harga saham tahun 2015. Data dikumpulkan dengan teknik dokumentasi dan diolah dengan menggunakan uji statistik, analisis regresi berganda, analisis koefisien determinasi, uji-t dan uji-f. Dengan hipotesis bahwa secara simultan tingkat inflasi dan nilai tukar rupiah berpengaruh terhadap harga saham (H1) dan inflasi memberikan pengaruh yang lebih besar terhadap harga saham (H2). Dari hasil uji yang dilakukan menunjukkan (a) antara variabel tidak terdapat multikolonieritas di dalam hasil regresi tersebut, (b) menunjukkan tidak terdapat autokorelasi dan (c) data dalam penelitian ini berdistribusi normal. Hasil analisis regresi berganda menunjukkan Y= 0,971-0,267X1-0,402X2 menunjukkan bahwa nilai tukarlah yang paling dominan dalam mempengaruhi harga saham sebesar 0,402%, serta didapatkan bahwa tingkat inflasi dan nilai tukar rupiah berpengaruh terhadap harga saham secara simultan dan pengaruhya sebesar 32%. Maka dapat disimpulkan bahwa hipotesis 1 (H1) diterima dan hipotesis 2 (H2) tertolak. Kata kunci: Inflasi, Nilai Tukar, Harga Saha

Foliar-applied glyphosate substantially reduced uptake and transport of iron and manganese in sunflower (helianthus annuus L.) plants

Evidence clearly shows that cationic micronutrients in spray solutions reduce the herbicidal effectiveness of glyphosate for weed control due to the formation of metal-glyphosate complexes. The formation of these glyphosate-metal complexes in plant tissue may also impair micronutrient nutrition of nontarget plants when exposed to glyphosate drift or glyphosate residues in soil. In the present study, the effects of simulated glyphosate drift on plant growth and uptake, translocation, and accumulation (tissue concentration) of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) were investigated in sunflower ( Helianthus annuusL.) plants grown in nutrient solution under controlled environmental conditions. Glyphosate was sprayed on plant shoots at different rates between 1.25 and 6.0% of the recommended dosage (i.e., 0.39 and 1.89 mM glyphosate isopropylamine salt). Glyphosate applications significantly decreased root and shoot dry matter production and chlorophyll concentrations of young leaves and shoot tips. The basal parts of the youngest leaves and shoot tips were severely chlorotic. These effects became apparent within 48 h after the glyphosate spray. Glyphosate also caused substantial decreases in leaf concentration of Fe and Mn while the concentration of Zn and Cu was less affected. In short-term uptake experiments with radiolabeled Fe (59Fe), Mn (54Mn), and Zn (65Zn), root uptake of 59Fe and 54Mn was significantly reduced in 12 and 24 h after application of 6% of the recommended dosage of glyphosate, respectively. Glyphosate resulted in almost complete inhibition of root-to-shoot translocation of 59Fe within 12 h and 54Mn within 24 h after application. These results suggest that glyphosate residues or drift may result in severe impairments in Fe and Mn nutrition of nontarget plants, possibly due to the formation of poorly soluble glyphosate-metal complexes in plant tissues and/or rhizosphere interactions

Managing Diversity in Higher Education: USAFA Case

AbstractToday organizations are heavily affected by globalization and changes in the demographic structure of the society. Since the sex, race, and ethnic diversity of organizations are much broader than the past, nowadays the number of members in the same organization sharing different backgrounds and values has increased to a great extent. Moreover, the rapid development in technology not only entails more trained and skilled workforce but also necessitates sharpening intercultural collaboration skills in the organization. Organizations managing effectively a diverse workforce are capable of increasing organizational innovation and creativity, reaching more people and customers. Thus those organizations embracing diversity acquire competitive advantage and increase profitability. Educational institutions with a focus on diversity can graduate well trained employees capable of managing diversity and resolving diversity related workplace conflicts. Therefore as the organizations’ need increases in managing diversity, higher education institutions graduating labor force with intercultural communication skills and employees well aware of cultural diversity become more and more important in improving organizational effectiveness. United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), one of the world's largest military academies, sets a model in managing diversity with its policies and practices related to coping with diversity effectively. USAFA curriculum is tailored in accordance with the great number of cadets -approximately 4000- varying in ability, interests, and character. With its prep school, USAFA supports cadet candidates from disadvantaged sections of society by providing them with a one-year program enhancing their readiness for USAFA and helping them to maximize their full potential. Furthermore USAFA helps all cadets participate in learning and teaching activities via various innovative techniques. The focal point of this study will be USAFA and the study will elaborate on innovative USAFA policies regarding the diversity management in a higher education institution

Triz Methodology and an Application Example for Product Development

AbstractExplanation of innovative products, processes and services is a complex process which is possessed of strategies that have modern designs and systems. Nowadays, companies want to be more productive and more efficient. However, rapid and big changes are happened in competitive conditions and to exist in this competitive and rapidly changing and flourishing world, scientific developments had to be followed. To gain competitiveness, the companies need to procreate new products or eliminating the existing contradictory states. In this case, TRIZ (Theory And Innovative Problem Solving) methodolgy is one of the most effective scientific method, used by managers or inventors. In this study, TRIZ methodolgy was described in detail with creativity and innovation concepts and TRIZ was presented in comparison with other creative techniques. In the last part, a sample about TRIZ application has been expressed

Psychological well-being model

In past ten years, there is a rapid growing interest for negative experiences of psychological issues for instance depression, trauma and anxiety (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000). However, the promotion of well-being is compulsory as the comprehensive health accepted as including physical, mental and social well-being (Kirkwood, Bond, May, & McKeith, 2010). Thus, the extend research on psychology well-being has been observed (Huppert, 2009; Ryff & Singer, 2006)

Glyphosate inhibition of ferric reductase activity in iron deficient sunflower roots

Iron (Fe) deficiency is increasingly being observed in cropping systems with frequent glyphosate applications. A likely reason for this is that glyphosate interferes with root uptake of Fe by inhibiting ferric reductase in roots required for Fe acquisition by dicot and nongrass species. This study investigated the role of drift rates of glyphosate (0.32, 0.95 or 1.89 mM glyphosate corresponding to 1, 3 and 6% of the recommended herbicidal dose, respectively) on ferric reductase activity of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) roots grown under Fe deficiency conditions. Application of 1.89 mM glyphosate resulted in almost 50% inhibition of ferric reductase within 6 h and complete inhibition 24 h after the treatment. Even at lower rates of glyphosate (e.g. 0.32 mM and 0.95 mM), ferric reductase was inhibited. Soluble sugar concentration and the NAD(P)H oxidizing capacity of apical roots were not decreased by the glyphosate applications. To our knowledge, this is the first study reporting the effects of glyphosate on ferric reductase activity. The nature of the inhibitory effect of glyphosate on ferric reductase could not be identified. Impaired ferric reductase could be a major reason for the increasingly observed Fe deficiency in cropping systems associated with widespread glyphosate usage

Proposed development of Nusajaya Boulevard in Nusajaya Central Planning Area

This project is to design and plan a boulevard at the Nusajaya Central Planning Area, the new capital city of Johor state. Nusajaya consists of a new state legislative assembly complex, the offices of the Menteri Besar and State Secretary and a state department complex. Nusajaya's overall development is planned and designed to be sustainable and conducive for business, living and leisure and this boulevard follows the same concept. In the development of a new city, the major issue is to create the identity and image of modern Johor. Moreover, it also as acts as an open space for the Nusajaya that support recreation and leisure activities in the city. According to the overall development concept, this project can act as a catalyst for the commercial activity in surrounding area. The challenge is to consider the new of all development that including human behaviour and response to the new open space for the city. The design emphasis on image of the boulevard that is shows the power and wealth in the design. The concept of this boulevard is Jalur Johor, which means a stripe that represents a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic state with rich heritage, history and iconic elements. The Jalur comprised of three major spaces: state mall, transit park and business park. This design proposal focuses on the state mall because it is the place where ceremonial event such as Independence Day, Johor Government Open House during Hari Raya and daily activities including walking, strolling and resting. It design is the Jata which means coat of arms for Johor. The main amenity in the mall is a multi functional paved area bounded by several rows of shade and large canopied trees, which gives grandiose vista effect. With the heavy-duty pavement, the parade goes from the memorial area and along the central paved area surrounded by the terrace where people can enjoy this event. The mall also comprised of a memorial area for the Sultan of Johor representing power and sovereignty. The memorial is the gateway to the state mall, which made up of arch, water features and rows of palms. The design also includes a large reflective pool that denotes the power of the sultan and it serves as recreational place. For daily activities, people can enjoy the view of water while resting at the staged area under the shade trees. The hardscape elements such as lighting pole, seating and tree grating is designed in Johor’s motifs including gambier, black pepper and Kuda kepang. These motifs portrayed the identity of the state