IJEER 2/2
Metabolic Changes in Polyamines, Phenylethylamine, And Arginine During Bud Break in Apple Flower Buds Under Foliar-Applied Dormancy-Breaking Agents
The Environmental and climatic conditions affect the flower bud growth, flowering and yield performance of fruit species. Temperature appears to be important factors for temperate fruit trees in mild climates. The relationships between breaking bud dormancy and climatic influences on flowering, growth and metabolic changes in contents of biogenic amines (spermine, spermidine, putrescine, cadaverine and phenylethylamine), arginine and anthocyanin before and after bud break were evaluated for "Ain Shemer" apple (Malus sylvestris, Mill) trees under exogenously applied hydrogen cyanamide (dormex), calcium nitrate Ca(NO3)2 and thiourea. The studies have shown that breaking bud dormancy (as early date of bud break and percentage of bud break) by the above dormancy breaking agents were correlated with the high content of biogenic amines and arginine in buds. Seasonal variations in biogenic amines, arginine and anthocyanin level were present in buds during the research period (dormancy and dormancy release period).
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A Feminist Perspective and the Challenge of Post Conflict Development in Africa
In the last two decades, Africa has witnessed series of wars and ethno-religious conflicts with devastating impact on women. Various atrocities against women have been recorded during these conflicts and these developments have created a dangerous dimension against non-combatant women in the continent. In an attempt to resolve the conflict and armed conflict on women in the areas of sexual and gender-based violence, series of peace missions and peace building mechanism were put in place. Despite the various peace negotiations, evidence has shown that women are largely absent from formal peace negotiations and their voices are not heard both at local and continental levels especially within the modern-day challenges and post conflict development. In fact, the transformation agenda of post-conflict peace negotiations routinely failed to consider the gendered causes and consequences of armed conflict and post-conflict reconstruction.
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Integrative Potassium Humate and Biochar Application Reduces Salinity Effects and Contaminants, And Improves Growth and Yield of Eggplant Grown Under Saline Conditions
In agriculture sector, soil salinity is one of the major problems that limit plant performance, particularly in arid and semiarid regions, including Egypt. The effect of potassium humate (KH) and casuarina biochar (Bch), applied singly or in integration, on plant performance, physio-biochemical attributes and antioxidant, and contents of contaminants of Solanum melongena plants grown under salt stress (EC = 6. 96 – 7. 08 dS m?1 ) was investigated. Results showed that, soil treatment with KH significantly improved plant growth and productivity, physio-biochemical attributes, and contents of K+ , osmoprotectants and antioxidants (soluble sugars, proline and ascorbic acid), and significantly lowered plant contents of contaminants (NO3 ? , NO2 ? and Cd2+) and Na+ ion compared to the untreated controls.
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Foliar-Applied Mineral Oil Enhanced Hormones and Phenols Content and Hastened Breaking Bud Dormancy In “Astrachan” Apple Trees
The effect of mineral oil alone or in combination with Dintro-ortho-cresol (Universal) with different concentrations at early reaching break dormancy in buds of ‘Astrachan’ apple (Malus sylvestris, Mill) trees was investigated. Also, their effects on metabolic changes in the content of buds from promoter and inhibitor substances during their release from dormancy were detected. The efficiency of early bud break was noticed in varying degrees with mineral oil or Universal at different concentrations. It was observed that all applied concentrations lead to early bud break, short flowering duration, high percentages of bud break and fruit-set. In addition, high contents of total indoles, indole-3-acetic acid, gibberellic acid, total and conjugated phenols, as well as, low content of abscisic acid and free phenols were achieved.
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Biotechnology and Performance of SMEs in Nigeria
Nigerian SMEs suffers greatly in terms of struggling for survival. Access to finance is seen as the root of the major constrains including; limited access to water and power supply, good and quality raw-materials as well as modern infrastructures and processing methods. This paper adopts the desk research approach to review the cause and possible solutions and alternatives that can by-pass such constraints. Biotechnology, due to its natural and broad spectrum of application is seen as the potential solution to many of the problems that paralyses performance of Nigerian SMEs. When applied responsibly, the technology has potential of providing alternative source of; sufficient and high quality raw-materials, water and power supply as well as processing methods for industries at a considerably low price, thus, enhancing environmental friendliness, besides improving opportunities for new initiatives, and also enhancing performance efficiency of existing firms.
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