The Political Economy of FDI flows into Developing Countries: Does the depth of International Trade Agreements Matter?

There is considerable debate whether the domestic political institutions (specifically, the country s level of democracy) of the host developing country toward foreign investors are effective in establishing the credibility of commitments are still underway, researchers have also analyzed the effect of international institutions such as (GATT-WTO) membership and Bilateral Investment treaties (BIT) in their role of establishing the credibility of commitment to attract foreign investments. We argue that there are qualitative differences among various types of trade agreements and full-fledged trade agreements (FTA-CU) provide credibility to foreign investors and democracy level in the host country conditions this effect whereas the partial scope agreements (PSA) are not sufficient in providing credibility of commitments and not moderated by democracy. This paper analyses the impact of heterogeneous TAs, and their interaction with domestic institutions, on FDI inflows. Statistical analyses for 122 developing countries from 1970 to 2005 support this argument. The method adopted relies on fixed effects estimator which is robust to control endogeneity on a large panel dataset. The strict erogeneity of results by using a method suggested by Baier and Bergstrand (2007) and no feedback effect found in sample. The results state that (1) More the FTA-CU concluded, larger the amount of FDI inflows are attracted into the developing countries and PSA are insignificant in determining the FDI inflow; (2) FTA CU are complementary to democratic regime whereas the conditional effect of PSA with democracy on levels of FDI inflows is insignificant.Comment: University of Orleans (France

Genome-wide Integrative Analysis of Zika-Virus-Infected Neuronal Stem Cells Reveals Roles for MicroRNAs in Cell Cycle and Stemness.

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is implicated in severe fetal developmental disorders, including microcephaly. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) post-transcriptionally regulate numerous processes associated with viral infection and neurodegeneration, but their contribution to ZIKV pathogenesis is unclear. We analyzed the mRNA and miRNA transcriptomes of human neuronal stem cells (hNSCs) during infection with ZIKV MR766 and Paraiba strains. Integration of the miRNA and mRNA expression data into regulatory interaction networks showed that ZIKV infection resulted in miRNA-mediated repression of genes regulating the cell cycle, stem cell maintenance, and neurogenesis. Bioinformatics analysis of Argonaute-bound RNAs in ZIKV-infected hNSCs identified a number of miRNAs with predicted involvement in microcephaly, including miR-124-3p, which dysregulates NSC maintenance through repression of the transferrin receptor (TFRC). Consistent with this, ZIKV infection upregulated miR-124-3p and downregulated TFRC mRNA in ZIKV-infected hNSCs and mouse brain tissue. These data provide insights into the roles of miRNAs in ZIKV pathogenesis, particularly the microcephaly phenotype

Impact of Political and Economic Institutions on FDI Inflows: evidence from South Asian countries

The current study examines the effects of political and economic institutions on the FDI inflows for the selected 4 South Asian countries including Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.  For this, Panel data is employed for the period 1984--2020. Panel unit root test, Pedroni Cointegration test, Dynamic OLS (DOLS), and Panel Error Correction Model (PECM) methods have been used to extract the results. The empirical findings revealed the significant and positive effect of economic institutions on the inward FDI of South Asian countries. However, political institutions are found to be insignificant for inward FDI. The outcomes of the VECM and the panel cointegration approach confirmed the presence of a cointegrated relationship among the variables. The short-run effects are found to be insignificant.  Therefore, Policymakers should make certain policies by taking into account the heterogeneity between economic and political institutions. They need to pay attention to the steps through which the institutions can be made stronger and more effective so that they can make the environment more favorable to attract the maximum number of FDI projects into a specific region

Utilization of RSM for optimization of physical variables to improve bacteriocin production from Lactobacillus plantarum strain MS

The utilization of natural antimicrobial substances has been increased in the pharmaceutical sector due to their stability and inhibition activity against pathogenic microorganisms. In the current study, the bacteriocin synthesis by locally isolated Lactobacillus plantarum MS from yogurt, has been optimized by using response surface methodology. Statistical optimization of physical variables by using Box-Behnken design, 3200 AU/mL bacteriocin activity was detected at 30 °C temperature, 18h incubation time and pH 6 against Staphylococcus aureus. The resulting bacteriocin was found to be stable a broad range of pH (2-12) and temperature (37-100 °C) but the activity of bacteriocin was slightly disturbed at 121 °C. Besides, bacteriocin showed stability after treatment with various enzymes (catalase, amylase, and lipase), salt (NaCl), and surfactants (triton X-100, EDTA, and SDS) but found sensitive by treating with proteolytic enzymes (proteinase K and trypsin) in comparison with untreated bacteriocin. Because of such biochemical characteristics, these antibacterial peptides could be possibly incorporated in the field of pharmacy to fulfil consumer’s demand for natural remedies

Integration of 1401 Graduate Studies (Groundwater Management for Sustainable Farming Systems)

This report presents the integration of research studies carried out by the graduate students at UTS and UNSW as part of the CRC for Sustainable Rice Production Graduate Studies Program. It evaluates the methodologies and modelling scenarios in rice-based irrigation areas. Moreover, the report collates the research findings and conclusions to establish the benefits to rice industry. The main objective of the graduate studies was to develop strategies for managing groundwater for salinity mitigation at farm and regional scale. Through field experimentation and modelling approaches, the studies examined the impacts of land use on the environment and the effect of irrigation water with different quality levels on the rising watertable and the subsequent salinisation. These studies developed hydrogeological information base for rice growing areas mainly MIA (Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area) and WID (Wakool Irrigation District) has been developed that includes monitoring groundwater levels, groundwater quality, soil analysis and geophysical surveys. The modelling exercises show strong interaction between shallow and deep aquifer. The simulations show significant rise in groundwater levels during the rice crop season and fall during the fallow season. Subsurface lateral groundwater flows are dominant from east to west; from Narrandera to Hay. Groundwater monitoring indicated a rapid response to rainfall as well as irrigation events with a recharge estimation of about 80% for the shallow aquifer and 50% for the deep aquifer. The shallow aquifer (2 m) responds slightly faster than the deep aquifer (7 m) to irrigation events. Groundwater quality at Whitton (M.I.A) is classified as brine and therefore not suitable for irrigation. However, the irrigation water was classified as fresh. Sodium, Sulfate and Chloride were the most abundant elements found in the four water samples. The piezometers in irrigated paddocks showed substantially lower salinity indicating that irrigation water was recharging the aquifer. The deep aquifer piezometers monitoring displayed conductivity values of about 5 to 6 ms/cm. The geophysical resistivity imaging has shown a great promise for developing understanding about surface-ground water interactions and salinization. Large spatial variations in apparent resistivity were observed in irrigated and non-irrigated areas. Resistivity decreases with depth in a linear fashion. Variations in resistivity have been noticed in the upper 10 metre layer of soil indicating recharge zone. Increase of resistivity closer to rice paddocks during irrigation is due to the fresh water infiltrating to the aquifer. Irrigation events resulted in decreased resistivity at most depths, particularly at 15 m that reflecting rising water table or input of fresh water from the irrigated paddocks. These studies have shown a strong correlation between resistivity and electromagnetic responses from EM31 and EM34. The MODFLOW model developed by the UTS graduates with a 10 m minimum discretisation and a refined time scale (2 days stress period) simulated the groundwater dynamics with 80% accuracy. Six key parameters are identified influencing the system. They include rice ponding, precipitation, drainage, evapotranspiration deep leakage and lateral groundwater flow. The solute transport model revealed that the groundwater salinity is controlled by rising groundwater levels due to rice ponding. Salinity concentration is higher in top 2 metres below -2- ground surface. The solute transport model has successfully simulated salinity trends. The irrigated areas are affected by irrigation water salinity. The salinity of top 3 m profile is higher and decreases with depth. Groundwater salinity ranges from 1500 mg/l directly below and is approximately 2500 – 3000 mg/l in the fallow paddocks adjacent to the rice pond. According to the optimization results, an extensive bore network of several hundred pumping bores at shallow depths would be necessary to lower water levels around the irrigated area. However, it impossible to pump out the necessary groundwater volumes in order to lower water table to the targeted levels in low permeability areas as vertical hydraulic conductivity is one order of magnitude lower than horizontal hydraulic conductivity. The UNSW PhD (Xu, 2003) study in Wakool region predicted that about 2 kg/m2 salt will be added to root zone per one rice crop per season. This prediction quantifies to 20 t/ha per crop season each year. Moreover, if repeated irrigation with saline water is practiced, the salt concentration in root zone will continue to increase with time, which is alarming for future of rice industry. Therefore, careful decisions need to be done while working out the soil suitability for rice growers regarding existing soil salinity and the EC levels in irrigation water. The ponded rice irrigation is a major contributing factor to groundwater accessions resulting in rising watertables and subsequent salinity problem. The alternative use of fresh and low salinity water could be practiced on short-term basis for ponded irrigation as long as it does not affect rice growth or rice yield. This will help remove accumulated salts in the root zone by fresh water irrigation after the irrigation with water containing salts. The six graduate modelling studies described in this report are site specific. Efforts to apply these methods to other farms or regions will need to incorporate site specific information on cropping, topography and groundwater systems to describe and calibrate the salinisation processes

Human Retroviral Host Restriction Factors APOBEC3G and APOBEC3F Localize to mRNA Processing Bodies

APOBEC3G is an antiviral host factor capable of inhibiting the replication of both exogenous and endogenous retroviruses as well as hepatitis B, a DNA virus that replicates through an RNA intermediate. To gain insight into the mechanism whereby APOBEC3G restricts retroviral replication, we investigated the subcellular localization of the protein. Herein, we report that APOBEC3G localizes to mRNA processing (P) bodies, cytoplasmic compartments involved in the degradation and storage of nontranslating mRNAs. Biochemical analysis revealed that APOBEC3G localizes to a ribonucleoprotein complex with other P-body proteins which have established roles in cap-dependent translation (eIF4E and eIF4E-T), translation suppression (RCK/p54), RNA interference–mediated post-transcriptional gene silencing (AGO2), and decapping of mRNA (DCP2). Similar analysis with other APOBEC3 family members revealed a potential link between the localization of APOBEC3G and APOBEC3F to a common ribonucleoprotein complex and P-bodies with potent anti–HIV-1 activity. In addition, we present evidence suggesting that an important role for HIV-1 Vif, which subverts both APOBEC3G and APOBEC3F antiviral function by inducing their degradation, could be to selectively remove these proteins from and/or restrict their localization to P-bodies. Taken together, the results of this study reveal a novel link between innate immunity against retroviruses and P-bodies suggesting that APOBEC3G and APOBEC3F could function in the context of P-bodies to restrict HIV-1 replication