Mutation determination of rice by using RAPD primers

PCR is a powerful tool for the amplification of genetic sequences but sometimes, even though using an established PCR protocol that had been optimized and successful for the amplification of a particular DNA segment, use of that same protocol on a different region can result in a less than desirable outcome. Therefore, an experiment was conducted at Molecular biology laboratory of Malaysian Nuclear Agency during December 2016 to January 2017 used seeds of 6 indica rice cultivars. To conduce RAPD experiments for the rice species it was established the following reaction conditions for the final volume of 20 μl where 0.1 unit of Taq DNA polymerase, 0.4 μl of each dNTP, 2.5 mM MgCl2, 1 μl primer and 2.0 μl of DNA template. From this experiment, it is clear that after mutation the parent MR219 performed some genetic modification and produce genetically different variety namely NMR151, NMR152, ML3, ML10 and ML30. These mutant varieties have two different groups based on their mutation source and it is clear enough from their RAPD profile. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 9 (1): 1-7, June, 201

Parental line selection for yield contributing character of rice (Oryza sativa)

The prime objective of any hybrid program is to bring the desirable genes present in the parent into a single genetic background. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the parental performance at the experimental farm of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University. Nine A (male sterile) lines and Four R (restoral) lines were used here. To consider their performance various agronomic trait was selected and most emphasis was provide for plant height, days to maturity and other yield contributing character. The characters studied in this investigation exhibited low to moderate range of variability and heritability. Out of all RGBU0014A perform the height days to maturity then others. Although yield is more or less similar for the restorer parent, but considering other agronomic yield contributing trait RGBU003A, RGBU002A, RGBU009A can be selected to cross with superior restoral SL8 R and Mitali R to obtain ideal plant type.Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 7 (1): 46-50, June, 201

Audit committees, female directors and the types of female and male financial experts : further evidence

Evidence on the association between female directors on audit committees and audit quality is weak. Further, researchers’ failure to identify the types of female and male financial experts may have a) resulted in the mixed evidence on the relationship between female financial experts on audit committees and financial reporting monitoring, and b) led them to question male financial experts on audit committees. Thus, we examine whether female directors and the types of female and male financial experts on audit committees are associated with audit quality. Using FTSE 350 firms from 2009 to 2017 and ordinary least-squares regression, this study finds that female directors and female accounting experts on audit committees are positively associated with audit quality. Our results may explain the conflicting evidence on the association between female financial experts and financial reporting oversight and also suggest that firms’ audit quality may increase with female accounting experts on audit committees

4-tert-Butyl-2-[2-(1,3,3-trimethyl­indolin-2-yl­idene)ethyl­idene]cyclo­hexa­none

The title mol­ecule, C23H31NO, has two alternative cyclo­hexa­none configurations at the 4-position in a ratio of 0.663 (3):0.337 (3). The plane of the five-membered planar ring in the indolin-2-yl­idene subtends an angle of 2.19 (7)° with its fused aromatic ring, an angle of 16.24 (8)° with the plane of the major cyclo­hexa­none configuration and an angle of 8.54 (15)° with the bridging planar ethyl­idene C atoms. These last atoms subtend an angle of 8.37 (16)° with the mean plane through the major cyclo­hexa­none configuration. The mol­ecules pack approximately parallel to the (01) plane via C—H⋯π and C—H⋯O inter­actions

Potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on future birth rate

Here, we examine the potential effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on future birth rates. This highly contagious disease originated in China, and rapidly spread worldwide, leading to extensive lockdown policies being implemented globally with the aim of containing the infection rates and its serious attendant consequences. Based on previous extant literature, this paper overviews the potential demographic consequences of the current progressively widespread epidemic on conception and fertility as driven by the data obtained during similar prior incidents. In general, epidemics manifest a common pattern as far as their impact on population, which is remarkably similar to natural disasters, i.e., a steep decline in birth rates followed by gradual increases and then followed by a baby boom. Additionally, we have also depicted how economic conditions, mental health, fear, and mortality may also influence future birth rates

Fear of COVID-19 and depression: a comparative study among the general population and healthcare professionals during COVID-19 pandemic crisis in Bangladesh

The COVID-19 pandemic affects individuals’ mental health that can result in fear of getting COVID-19 infection and depression. As there is no prior study available, we evaluated these mental health outcomes and associated factors among the general population and healthcare professionals (HCPs) in Bangladesh. This nationwide cross-sectional study comprised 3388 individuals including 834 HCPs. The measures included socio-demographics, healthcare, and patient-care related information, the Bangla Patient Health Questionnaire, and the Bangla Fear of COVID-19 Scale. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors. Just over one-quarter of the participants were depressed, and was significantly associated with COVID-19 fear. Regression analyses showed that, both in general population and HCPs, depression and fear of COVID-19 were strongly predicted by being female; however, depression was inversely associated with being married. Particularly, among the HCPs, being restless while examining a patient with flu-like symptoms and while examining a patient returning from abroad was found to be significant predictor for both depression and fear of COVID-19. HCPs who were using single protective equipment for a week had greater depression and those who felt insecure due to the pandemic had a high level of COVID-19 fear. The findings identified major psychological impacts among the participants, suggesting the urgent need to promote mental wellbeing in both general population and medical professionals

Psychometric validation of the Bangla fear of COVID-19 Scale: confirmatory factor analysis and Rasch analysis

The recently developed Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) is a seven-item uni-dimensional scale that assesses the severity of fears of COVID-19. Given the rapid increase of COVID-19 cases in Bangladesh, we aimed to translate and validate the FCV-19S in Bangla. The forward-backward translation method was used to translate the English version of the questionnaire into Bangla. The reliability and validity properties of the Bangla FCV-19S were rigorously psychometrically evaluated (utilizing both confirmatory factor analysis and Rasch analysis) in relation to socio-demographic variables, national lockdown variables, and response to the Bangla Health Patient Questionnaire. The sample comprised 8550 Bangladeshi participants. The Cronbach α value for the Bangla FCV-19S was 0.871 indicating very good internal reliability. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis showed that the uni-dimensional factor structure of the FCV-19S fitted well with the data. The FCV-19S was significantly correlated with the nine-item Bangla Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-90) (r = 0.406,

Intertemporal excess burden, bequest motives, and the budget deficit

The author aims to empirically determine the significant factors that affect the levels of budget deficits of central governments across time and across countries. He empirically tests two prominent theories of budget deficits-the Barro (1979) tax-smoothing approach, and the still-untested theory of negative bequest motives advocated by Cukierman and Meltzer (1989). The author uses econometric techniques including fixed-effects (both country and time) panel regressions spanning 87 countries over the period 1975 to 1992, and the Griliches treatment of missing data. The author finds relatively stronger statistical support for the tax-smoothing approach among developing countries but not in industrial countries. The existence of empirical evidence supporting the theory of negative bequest motives is indeterminate. The author also conducted post-regression analyses to assess the proportion of observed differences in budget deficits the factors were actually able to explain. These reveal that both theories are generally weak in accounting for inter-temporal changes in budget deficit shares for both industrial and developing countries. The theories performed significantly better in accounting for cross-section differences. The author has many contributions to the literature. First, he analyzes the question of what determines the size of central government budget deficits using cross-country time series data leading into the 1990s. Second, he provides empirical tests of the still-untested Cukierman-Meltzer (1989) negative bequest motive theory of budget deficits. By using the panel data, the author attempts to determine the factors that influence not only the inter-temporal differences in budget deficits but also those factors that lead to cross-country differences. Last but not least, he provides some preliminary evidence that poverty reduction is necessary for long-term government budget deficit reduction.Public Sector Economics&Finance,Environmental Economics&Policies,Economic Theory&Research,Banks&Banking Reform,Municipal Financial Management,Public Sector Economics&Finance,Economic Theory&Research,Economic Stabilization,Banks&Banking Reform,National Governance

A newborn with Cornelia de Lange syndrome: a case report

Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) is a rarely seen multisystem developmental disorder syndrome characterized by facial dysmorphia (arched eyebrows, synophrys, depressed nasal bridge, long philtrum, down-turned angles of the mouth), upper-extremity malformations, hirsutism, cardiac defects, growth and cognitive retardation, and gastrointestinal abnormalities. The features of this disorder vary widely among affected individuals and range from relatively mild to severe. Early in life, the distinctive craniofacial features in mild de Lange syndrome may be indistinguishable from the severe (classical) phenotype. We present here a case of newborn with CdLs