Assessment of phytotoxic potential of oil palm leaflet, rachis and frond extracts and powders on goosegrass (Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.) germination, emergence and seedling growth

In order to achieve higher yields and protect crops from competition with weeds, various herbicides are widely employed in plantations and farms. However, the excessive use of herbicides has caused adverse impact to agricultural areas and water sources through the process of leaching and water infiltration besides causing herbicide resistance in weeds like goosegrass (Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.). This study aimed to determine the phytotoxic potential of oil palm residue extracts and residues on goosegrass under laboratory and glasshouse conditions. Crude extracts of oil palm residues, viz; leaflet, rachis or frond was applied onto Petri dishes containing goosegrass seeds. Leaflet, rachis or frond powder was manually applied as mulching on the soil surface sown with goosegrass seeds. Rachis powder was the most effective treatment where it reduced emergence and growth of goosegrass seedlings by approximately 20 and 50% at 4 t ha-1, respectively, while the rachis extract provided complete inhibition of goosegrass germination at a concentration of as low as 1.0% (w/v). These results suggest that oil palm rachis powder has the potential to be an alternative to commercial herbicides for goosegrass control

Chlorinated Organics in Tropical Hardwood Kraft Pu1p and Paper Mill Effluents and their Elimination in an Activated Sludge Treatment System

The identity and concentration of major chlorinated organics in the combined effluents of the SFI Pulp and Paper Mill in Sabah, Malaysia, were determined. In the biologically treated effluent, chlorinated organics found to occur in a relatively higher concentration were trichloroacetic acid (838-994 µg/L), 1,1-dichlorodimethyl sulfone (DDS) (86-232 µg/L), dichloroacetic acid (14-18 µg/L), and trichloro syringol (5-18 µg/L). Compared to those of a number of softwood kraft mills, the load of chlorinated phenols and acids in the wastewater of SFI hardwood kraft mill was 3-8 times lower. The effectiveness of oxygen activated sludge treatment system in eliminating these chlorinated organics was found to be as follows: chlorinated phenols 20-70 %, DDS 60 %, and chlorinated acetic acids 30-99

Strategic positioning of manufacturing operations within global supply chains

This paper describes research that has sought to create a structured and integrated methodology that guides manufacturers through the decision of strategic positioning within global supply chains. The position of a company is concerned with deciding a boundary and configuration of internal and external business activities to the company and is directly related to initiatives such as outsourcing, make or buy, and offshoring. This paper provides an in-depth description of this concept, describes work carried out to form a methodology for strategic positioning within the global supply chain, and presents the details of the methodology. This research has made a significant contribution to the knowledge on how manufacturing companies can form a strategic positioning within global supply chains

Evolutionary minority game with heterogeneous strategy distribution

We present detailed numerical results for a modified form of the so-called Minority Game, which provides a simplified model of a competitive market. Each agent has a limited set of strategies, and competes to be in a minority. An evolutionary rule for strategy modification is included to mimic simple learning. The results can be understood by considering crowd formation within the population.Comment: Revtex file + 4 figure

Joint action of selective herbicides used in paddy field on control of Lemna minor L.

To minimise herbicide inputs, reduce environmental burdens, and delay the evolution of herbicide resistance, it is of the utmost significance to study the interaction between herbicides. This may be accomplished by selecting the optimal combination, which, through synergy, delivers more cost-effective weed control than a single herbicide. Under laboratory conditions, interactions between binary mixtures of bensulfuron, propanil, 2,4-D, or bentazon on chlorophyll reduction of Lemna minor were investigated using the Additive Dose Model. Mixtures of propanil/2,4-D resulted in low antagonism whereas strong antagonism was evident in bensulfuron-methyl/propanil. Combinations of bensulfuron/bentazon and bensulfuron/2,4-D led to moderate antagonism. By contrast, propanil in combination with bentazon demonstrated a modest degree of synergism. The findings of this study could provide good guideline and insights when mixing two herbicides for weed control in rice fields and other aquatic environment

Mesenchymal stem cell secretes microparticles enriched in pre-microRNAs

10.1093/nar/gkp857Nucleic Acids Research381215-22

Depression, anxiety and stress among patients with dialysis and the association with quality of life

Studies addressing the nature of relationship between psychological symptoms and quality of life among dialysis patients in Malaysia are scarce. Hence, this study is intended to investigate the association between psychological symptoms such as depression, anxiety and stress on the quality of life in dialysis patients. A cross sectional multicentre study was conducted from May to October 2012 at 15 centres that provide haemodialysis and/or peritoneal dialysis. Apart from socio-demographic profile data collection, WHOQOL-BREF and DASS21 questionnaires were administered to study subjects. All three psychological symptoms had significant impact on quality of life domains of physical health, psychological health, social impact, perceived environment and overall quality of life. These findings suggest that subjects with symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress had poorer quality of life than those without, highlighting the negative impact of psychological symptoms

Screening of cosmological constant for De Sitter Universe in non-local gravity, phantom-divide crossing and finite-time future singularities

We investigate de Sitter solutions in non-local gravity as well as in non-local gravity with Lagrange constraint multiplier. We examine a condition to avoid a ghost and discuss a screening scenario for a cosmological constant in de Sitter solutions. Furthermore, we explicitly demonstrate that three types of the finite-time future singularities can occur in non-local gravity and explore their properties. In addition, we evaluate the effective equation of state for the universe and show that the late-time accelerating universe may be effectively the quintessence, cosmological constant or phantom-like phases. In particular, it is found that there is a case in which a crossing of the phantom divide from the non-phantom (quintessence) phase to the phantom one can be realized when a finite-time future singularity occurs. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the addition of an $R^2$ term can cure the finite-time future singularities in non-local gravity. It is also suggested that in the framework of non-local gravity, adding an $R^2$ term leads to possible unification of the early-time inflation with the late-time cosmic acceleration.Comment: 42 pages, no figure, version accepted for publication in General Relativity and Gravitatio

E-retailing ethics in Egypt and its effect on customer repurchase intention

The theoretical understanding of online shopping behaviour has received much attention. Less focus has been given to the formation of the ethical issues that result from online shopper interactions with e-retailers. The vast majority of earlier research on this area is conceptual in nature and limited in scope by focusing on consumers’ privacy issues. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to propose a theoretical model explaining what factors contribute to online retailing ethics and its effect on customer repurchase intention. The data were analysed using variance-based structural equation modelling, employing partial least squares regression. Findings indicate that the five factors of the online retailing ethics (security, privacy, non- deception, fulfilment/reliability, and corporate social responsibility) are strongly predictive of online consumers’ repurchase intention. The results offer important implications for e-retailers and are likely to stimulate further research in the area of e-ethics from the consumers’ perspective