Comparing Efficiency and Productivity in Islamic Banking : Case Study Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan

The objective of this research is to analyze both efficiency and productivity of Islamic Banking Industry in Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan. The technique that used in this research is Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) as for measuring efficiency and thus Malmquist Index (MI) as for measuring productivity. The result of this research found that Islamic Banking Industry in Indonesia is facing inefficiency that shown by five years average that is not reach 100% efficiency rate. Malaysia also experiences the problem of inefficiency but the condition is better compared to Indonesia. In five years, the efficiency rate of Malaysia Islamic Bank has not reach 100% efficiency rate. Pakistan among the closest country that could reach an efficient rate level for their Islamic banks. Pakistan close to reach 100% efficient rate within the last five years. DOI: 10.15408/aiq.v9i2.515

Recent emergence and worldwide spread of the red tomato spider mite, [i]Tetranychus evansi[/i]: genetic variation and multiple cryptic invasions

Publication Inra prise en compte dans l'analyse bibliométrique des publications scientifiques mondiales sur les Fruits, les Légumes et la Pomme de terre. Période 2000-2012. http://prodinra.inra.fr/record/256699Plant biosecurity is increasingly challenged by emerging crop pests. The spider mite Tetranychus evansi has recently emerged as a new threat to solanaceous crops in Africa and the Mediterranean basin, with invasions characterized by a high reproductive output and an ability to withstand a wide range of temperatures. Mitochondrial (868 bp of COI) and nuclear (1,137 bp of ITS) loci were analyzed in T. evansi samples spanning the current geographical distribution to study the earliest stages of the invasive process. The two sets of markers separate the samples into two main clades that are only present together in South America and Southern Europe. The highest COI diversity was found in South America, consistent with the hypothesis of a South American origin of T. evansi. Among the invaded areas, the Mediterranean region displayed a high level of genetic diversity similar to that present in South America, that is likely the result of multiple colonization events. The invasions of Africa and Asia by T. evansi are characterized by a low genetic variation associated with distinct introductions. Genetic data demonstrate two different patterns of invasions: (1) populations in the Mediterranean basin that are a result of multiple cryptic introductions and (2) emerging invasions of Africa and Asia, each likely the result of propagules from one or limited sources. The recent invasions of T. evansi illustrate not only the importance of human activities in the spread of agricultural pests, but also the limits of international quarantine procedures, particularly for cryptic invasion

High-throughput sequencing for plant virology diagnostics and its potential in plant health certification

High-throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies have revolutionized plant virology through simultaneous detection of mixed viral infections. HTS advances have uncovered and improved understanding of virus biology, ecology, and evolution which is vital for viral disease management. Plant viruses continue to threaten global agricultural productivity and strict quarantine measures are essential to prevent the introduction and spread of virulent viruses around the world. The gradual decrease in HTS operational costs, including improved computational systems and automation through robotics, has facilitated the adoption of this tool for plant diagnostics, including its use in surveillance and quarantine programs. However, the speed of technology advancements and distinct HTS chemistries, laboratory procedures, data management, and bioinformatic analyses have proven challenging. In addition, the lack of viral species reference sequences, compared with the estimated number of distinct viral taxa, makes classification and identification of novel viruses difficult. There is a need for standardized HTS testing, especially within plant health programs. In this review, we consider the application of HTS in plant virology, explore the technical challenges faced and the opportunities for HTS in plant health certification. We propose standards for overcoming current barriers and for ensuring reliable and reproducible results. These efforts will impact global plant health by reducing the risk of introduction and the spread of damaging novel viruses.</jats:p

Efecto de la liofilización en la retención de antocianinas de los frutos de calafate (Berberis microphylla G. Forst.) y su incorporación en cerveza

Los frutos de calafate son extremadamente ricos en compuestos antioxidantes, principalmente antocianinas. El objetivo fue evaluar la influencia de la liofilización sobre el contenido de antocianinas en los calafates durante el almacenamiento. Un grupo de frutos fue analizado inmediatamente y los restantes fueron sometidos a congelado a -80 ºC y liofilización. Por otra parte, a cerveza comercial tipo block se le adicionó 1,0; 2,5; 5,0 o 20 g L-1 de frutos liofilizados y pulverizados. Los frutos frescos tuvieron 35 mg g-1 de antocianinas y la liofilización redujo su contenido en 7 %. El contenido de antocianinas se mantuvo sin variaciones por 21 y 45 días respectivamente. Hacia los 60 días el contenido de antocianinas de los frutos liofilizados representó el 67% del contenido inicial. El pH de la cerveza fue de 4,34 y no varió con el agregado de polvo de calafate hasta 5 g L-1. En el caso de las cervezas con el agregado de 20 g L-1 el pH descendió a 4,00. El agregado de calafate provocó un cambio en el color de la cerveza debido a su aporte de antocianinas, y este cambio en el color fue función de la cantidad de fruto adicionado. La absorbancia a 520 nm fue de 0,230; 0,254; 0,291; 0,353 y 0,644 para la cerveza sin agregado o con 1,0; 2,5; 5,0 o 20 g L-1 de calafate  espectivamente. Solo cantidades mayores a 2,5 g L-1 de polvo adicionado provocaron un incremento de actividad antioxidante, llegando al 30 % con la adición de 20 g L-1. La liofilización es una estrategia adecuada para preservar las antocianinas de los frutos de calafate sin alteraciones por 45 días. Dependiendo de la cantidad adicionada, el calafate provoca en la cerveza cambio de color y descenso del pH que puede ser de utilidad en cervezas especiales

Accumulating Variation at Conserved Sites in Potyvirus Genomes Is Driven by Species Discovery and Affects Degenerate Primer Design

Unknown and foreign viruses can be detected using degenerate primers targeted at conserved sites in the known viral gene sequences. Conserved sites are found by comparing sequences and so the usefulness of a set of primers depends crucially on how well the known sequences represent the target group including unknown sequences. Methodology/Principal Findings: We developed a method for assessing the apparent stability of consensus sequences at sites over time using deposition dates from Genbank. We tested the method using 17 conserved sites in potyvirus genomes. The accumulation of knowledge of sequence variants over 20 years caused ‘consensus decay ’ of the sites. Rates of decay were rapid at all sites but varied widely and as a result, the ranking of the most conserved sites changed. The discovery and reporting of sequences from previously unknown and distinct species, rather than from strains of known species, dominated the decay, indicating it was largely a sampling effect related to the progressive discovery of species, and recent virus mutation was probably only a minor contributing factor. Conclusion/Significance: We showed that in the past, the sampling bias has misled the choice of the most conserved target sites for genus specific degenerate primers. The history of sequence discoveries indicates primer designs should be update

Physiological and proteomic approaches to address the active role of ozone in kiwifruit post-harvest ripening

Post-harvest ozone application has recently been shown to inhibit the onset of senescence symptoms on fleshy fruit and vegetables; however, the exact mechanism of action is yet unknown. To characterize the impact of ozone on the post-harvest performance of kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa cv. ‘Hayward’), fruits were cold stored (0 °C, 95% relative humidity) in a commercial ethylene-free room for 1, 3, or 5 months in the absence (control) or presence of ozone (0.3 μl l−1) and subsequently were allowed to ripen at a higher temperature (20 °C), herein defined as the shelf-life period, for up to 12 days. Ozone blocked ethylene production, delayed ripening, and stimulated antioxidant and anti-radical activities of fruits. Proteomic analysis using 1D-SDS-PAGE and mass spectrometry identified 102 kiwifruit proteins during ripening, which are mainly involved in energy, protein metabolism, defence, and cell structure. Ripening induced protein carbonylation in kiwifruit but this effect was depressed by ozone. A set of candidate kiwifruit proteins that are sensitive to carbonylation was also discovered. Overall, the present data indicate that ozone improved kiwifruit post-harvest behaviour, thus providing a first step towards understanding the active role of this molecule in fruit ripening

Enzymatic capacities of metabolic fuel use in cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) and responses to food deprivation: insight into the metabolic organization and starvation survival strategy of cephalopods

Food limitation is a common challenge for animals. Cephalopods are sensitive to starvation because of high metabolic rates and growth rates related to their "live fast, die young" life history. We investigated how enzymatic capacities of key metabolic pathways are modulated during starvation in the common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) to gain insight into the metabolic organization of cephalopods and their strategies for coping with food limitation. In particular, lipids have traditionally been considered unimportant fuels in cephalopods, yet, puzzlingly, many species (including cuttlefish) mobilize the lipid stores in their digestive gland during starvation. Using a comprehensive multi-tissue assay of enzymatic capacities for energy metabolism, we show that, during long-term starvation (12 days), glycolytic capacity for glucose use is decreased in cuttlefish tissues, while capacities for use of lipid-based fuels (fatty acids and ketone bodies) and amino acid fuels are retained or increased. Specifically, the capacity to use the ketone body acetoacetate as fuel is widespread across tissues and gill has a previously unrecognized capacity for fatty acid catabolism, albeit at low rates. The capacity for de novo glucose synthesis (gluconeogenesis), important for glucose homeostasis, likely is restricted to the digestive gland, contrary to previous reports of widespread gluconeogenesis among cephalopod tissues. Short-term starvation (3-5 days) had few effects on enzymatic capacities. Similar to vertebrates, lipid-based fuels, putatively mobilized from fat stores in the digestive gland, appear to be important energy sources for cephalopods, especially during starvation when glycolytic capacity is decreased perhaps to conserve available glucose