The Economic Rationale for Agricultural Regeneration and Rural Infrastructure Investment in South Africa

This paper informs government policy insofar as it relates to the agricultural and rural de- velopment sectors and infrastructure investment within these sectors. The paper first quantfies the role of agriculture in the South African economy. This is done within the context of, inter alia, food security, agriculture's contribution to gross domestic product (GDP), economic link- ages and multipliers with respect to the agricultural sector, as well as agriculture's employment creation and external stabilisation capacity. Investment in the agricultural and rural sectors are then analysed with a view of supporting the argument that agriculture's role in the economy is su¢ ciently important to warrant regenerative strategies, including renewed emphasis on agricul- tural and rural infrastructure investment by South African policy makers. The quantification of the agricultural sector in relation to the total economy and that of agricultural and rural infrastructure investment are investigated against the backdrop of declining government sup- port, increasing production risks due to a variety of exogenous events like climate change, and increasing dynamic trade impacts. In this paper, the authors offer both supporting arguments in terms of current economic policy and recommendations for more decisive policy measures aimed at agricultural regeneration and rural infrastructure investment.

Antibacterial activity of the crude extract of Chinese green tea (Camellia sinensis) on Listeria monocytogenes

The antibacterial activity of the methanol and aqueous extract of Camellia sinensis on Listeria monocytogenes were investigated using agar-gel diffusion, paper disk diffusion and microbroth dilution techniques. The results obtained showed that methanol and water extract exhibitedantibacterial activities against L. monocytogenes. The leaf extract produced inhibition zone ranging from 10.0 – 20.1 mm against the test bacteria. The methanol extracts of the test plant produces largerzones of inhibition against the bacteria than the water extract. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for the methanol and water leaf extract was 0.26 and 0.68 mg/ml, respectively

Testicular abnormalities of rams in two slaughterhouses in Sokoto, Nigeria

This study was designed to determine the testicular abnormalities in rams slaughtered in Sokoto, Nigeria. The testicles of rams presented for slaughter were examined, and the age, breed, position, and sites of testicular abnormalities were noted. Out of 638 rams examined, 3 had testicular abnormalities, representing a prevalence of 0.47%, comprising 2 (0.31%) unilateral cryptorchidism and 1 (0.16%) unilateral hypoplasia. The prevalence of (0.58% (2/342) and 0.34% (1/296) were obtained at the Sokoto metropolitan abattoir and Batta Shuni slaughter slab, respectively. Two (0.31%) of the rams with abnormality were 1 < - ≤ 2 years old, comprising 1(0.16%) cryptorchid ram and testicular hypoplasia. There was 1 (0.16%) ram 2 < - ≤ 3 years with testicular hypoplasia. Based on breed, there was 1(0.16%) each of Yankasa, crosses (cryptorchidism) and Uda (testicular hypoplasia). The abnormalities were all on the right testis, while one cryptorchid testis each was in the subcutis and abdomen. There was a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the testicular weight and mid-testicular circumference of the abnormal testis compared to the normal. The longitudinal length of the abnormal testis was smaller than the normal, although this was not significantly (p > 0.05) different. There was atrophy of the seminiferous tubules with a poorly developed tubular lumen in the cryptorchid ram. In addition, the epididymis was devoid of spermatogenic cells. The hypoplastic testis had reduced spermatogenic activity and slight testicular degeneration which were absent in the normal testis. The study shows that rams with testicular abnormalities are rare among rams slaughtered in Sokoto although those with abnormalities may be infertile, rendering them unfit for breeding

Liquid Metal Jetting for Printing Metal Parts

Liquid Metal Jetting (LMJ) is solid freeform fabrication process for producing metal mechanical parts and electronic interconnects. It is a technology similar to ink jet printing where individual molten droplets are accurately printed. LMJ will produce metal parts on demand from a CAD database with functional performance parameters similar to metal parts produced by machining or casting. By controlling solidification rates and metal alloy composition, LMJ is able to produce parts with unique properties such as metal matrices and functionally graded materials. This paper will review the current status of LMJ and future applications for this technology.Mechanical Engineerin

Two Leucine-Rich Repeat Receptor Kinases Mediate Signaling, Linking Cell Wall Biosynthesis and ACC Synthase in Arabidopsis

The plant cell wall is a dynamic structure that changes in response to developmental and environmental cues through poorly understood signaling pathways. We identified two Leu-rich repeat receptor-like kinases in Arabidopsis thaliana that play a role in regulating cell wall function. Mutations in these FEI1 and FEI2 genes (named for the Chinese word for fat) disrupt anisotropic expansion and the synthesis of cell wall polymers and act additively with inhibitors or mutations disrupting cellulose biosynthesis. While FEI1 is an active protein kinase, a kinase-inactive version of FEI1 was able to fully complement the fei1 fei2 mutant. The expansion defect in fei1 fei2 roots was suppressed by inhibition of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) synthase, an enzyme that converts Ado-Met to ACC in ethylene biosynthesis, but not by disruption of the ethylene response pathway. Furthermore, the FEI proteins interact directly with ACC synthase. These results suggest that the FEI proteins define a novel signaling pathway that regulates cell wall function, likely via an ACC-mediated signal

Etude Ethnobotanique des plantes médicinales utilisées dans le traitement traditionnel des hépatites virales B et C dans quelques départements du Bénin

L’étude ethnobotanique a été réalisée sur les plantes médicinales utilisées dans le traitement traditionnel des hépatites virales B et C. Elle a été menée dans cinq (05) départements du Bénin et avait pour objectif général d’inventorier et d’apporter davantage d’informations sur quelques plantes médicinales utilisées par la médecine alternative dans le traitement des infections virales B et C. Au cours de cette étude, une comparaison des résultats avec ceux des données bibliographiques concernant l’utilisation des plantes dans le traitement des hépatites virales a été réalisée. Au total, 54 plantes ont été recensées avec leurs modes d’utilisation. La décoction et la boisson sont les modes de préparation et d’administration les plus fréquents. Les feuilles constituent la partie de la plante la plus utilisée au cours des traitements. Aristolochia albida, Euphorbia hirta, Phyllanthus amarus et Opilia celtidifolia sont largement utilisées par les tradipraticiens du Bénin dans le traitement des hépatites virales B et C. Les propriétés antivirales de ces plantes sont certainement induites par des composés chimiques qui devront être identifiés ultérieurement à travers les recherches phytochimiques.Mots clés: Plantes hépatoprotectrices, activité antivirale, hépatite virale, tradithérapeutes, Bénin

Low infra red laser light irradiation on cultured neural cells: effects on mitochondria and cell viability after oxidative stress

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Considerable interest has been aroused in recent years by the well-known notion that biological systems are sensitive to visible light. With clinical applications of visible radiation in the far-red to near-infrared region of the spectrum in mind, we explored the effect of coherent red light irradiation with extremely low energy transfer on a neural cell line derived from rat pheochromocytoma. We focused on the effect of pulsed light laser irradiation vis-à-vis two distinct biological effects: neurite elongation under NGF stimulus on laminin-collagen substrate and cell viability during oxidative stress.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We used a 670 nm laser, with extremely low peak power output (3 mW/cm²) and at an extremely low dose (0.45 mJ/cm²). Neurite elongation was measured over three days in culture. The effect of coherent red light irradiation on cell reaction to oxidative stress was evaluated through live-recording of mitochondria membrane potential (MMP) using JC1 vital dye and laser-confocal microscopy, in the absence (photo bleaching) and in the presence (oxidative stress) of H₂O₂, and by means of the MTT cell viability assay.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found that laser irradiation stimulates NGF-induced neurite elongation on a laminin-collagen coated substrate and protects PC12 cells against oxidative stress.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These data suggest that red light radiation protects the viability of cell culture in case of oxidative stress, as indicated by MMP measurement and MTT assay. It also stimulates neurite outgrowth, and this effect could also have positive implications for axonal protection.</p

Auxin, actin and growth of the Arabidopsis thaliana primary root

Summary To understand how auxin regulates root growth, we quantified cell division and elemental elongation, and examined actin organization in the primary root of Arabidopsis thaliana. In treatments for 48 h that inhibited root elongation rate by 50%, we find that auxins and auxin-transport inhibitors can be divided into two classes based on their effects on cell division, elongation and actin organization. Indole acetic acid (IAA), 1-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and tri-iodobenzoic acid (TIBA) inhibit root growth primarily through reducing the length of the growth zone rather than the maximal rate of elemental elongation and they do not reduce cell production rate. These three compounds have little effect on the extent of filamentous actin, as imaged in living cells or by chemical fixation and immuno-cytochemistry, but tend to increase actin bundling. In contrast, 2,4-dichlorophenoxy-acetic acid (2,4-D) and naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA) inhibit root growth primarily by reducing cell production rate. These compounds remove actin and slow down cytoplasmic streaming, but do not lead to mislocalization of the auxin-efflux proteins, PIN1 or PIN2. The effects of 2,4-D and NPA were mimicked by the actin inhibitor, latrunculin B. The effects of these compounds on actin were also elicited by a 2 h treatment at higher concentration but were not seen in two mutants, eir1-1 and aux1-7, with deficient auxin transport. Our results show that IAA regulates the size of the root elongation zone whereas 2,4-D affects cell production and actin-dependent processes; and, further, that elemental elongation and localization of PINs are appreciably independent of actin

Development of next generation Streptococcus pneumoniae vaccines conferring broad protection

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major pathogen causing pneumonia with over 2 million deaths annually, especially in young children and the elderly. To date, at least 98 different pneumococcal capsular serotypes have been identified. Currently, the vaccines for prevention of S. pneumoniae infections are the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide-based vaccine (PPV23) and the pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV10 and PCV13). These vaccines only cover some pneumococcal serotypes and are unable to protect against non-vaccine serotypes and unencapsulated S. pneumoniae. This has led to a rapid increase in antibiotic-resistant non-vaccine serotypes. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop new, effective, and affordable pneumococcal vaccines, which could cover a wide range of serotypes. This review discusses the new approaches to develop effective vaccines with broad serotype coverage as well as recent development of promising pneumococcal vaccines in clinical trials. New vaccine candidates are the inactivated whole-cell vaccine strain (∆pep27∆comD mutant) constructed by mutations of specific genes and several protein-based S. pneumoniae vaccines using conserved pneumococcal antigens, such as lipoprotein and surface-exposed protein (PspA). Among the vaccines in Phase 3 clinical trials are the pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, PCV-15 (V114) and 20vPnC. The inactivated whole-cell and several protein-based vaccines are either in Phase 1 or 2 trials. Furthermore, the recent progress of nanoparticles that play important roles as delivery systems and adjuvants to improve the performance, as well as the immunogenicity of the nanovaccines, are reviewed