Genetic modification and its impact on industry structure and performance: post-harvest deterioration of cassava in Thailand

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Vlaar ◽  
Paul van Beek ◽  
Richard Visser
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Modification ◽  
Genetically Modified ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Seasonal Fluctuation ◽  
Post Harvest ◽  
Processing Plants ◽  
Post Harvest Deterioration ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Starch Industry

Genetic modification has led to fierce debates around the world. Nevertheless, scientific evidence for its potential effects on the structure and performance of industries has hitherto remained rather meagre. In this article, we take some preliminary steps towards closing this gap by exploring the effects of the introduction of a genetically modified cassava variety on the structure and efficiency of the starch industry in Thailand. Currently, producers of cassava starch are confronted with a problem called post-harvest deterioration, which reduces the quantity and quality of starch in cassava roots within 24 to 48 hours after harvesting, leading to lower payments for farmers and lower starch recovery rates for factories. In addition, post-harvest deterioration prohibits factory owners to hold large stocks of fresh cassava. Combined with a strong seasonal fluctuation of supply, this leads to a low utilisation of installed processing capacities at the starch factories. In this article, we examine how the structure and performance of the Thai starch industry would change in case a genetically modified cassava variety would be introduced that no longer suffers from post-harvest deterioration. After having interviewed 19 stakeholders in this industry, we developed two simple linear programming models to examine the optimal locations, capacity classes and utilisation percentages for starch processing plants in the Northeast of Thailand. Our findings demonstrate that an extension of the storability of cassava to 45 days will not only diminish the number of factories needed, but it will also cause most large-sized factories to be replaced with medium-sized plants. Moreover, introducing a new cassava variety with such properties is estimated to render benefits of approximately US $ 35 million for Thai cassava farmers and factory owners.

scholarly journals Quality Improvement of Exportable Fish and Prawn through Post-Harvest Loss Reduction in Kulierchar under Participatory Stakeholder-Based Approach

2013 ◽  
Vol 21 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 105-115
Author(s):  
AAKM Nowsad ◽  
MN Hassan ◽  
MM Hossain ◽  
MS Hoque ◽  
MA Siddique ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Data ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Loss Reduction ◽  
Poor Knowledge ◽  
Good Practices ◽  
Post Harvest ◽  
Development Tools ◽  
Processing Plants ◽  
Post Harvest Loss

A participatory stakeholder-based approach was employed to improve the quality of exportable fish and prawn landed in Kulierchar of Kishoregonj through reduction of the post harvest loss and its impacts were assessed. Primary data revealed that wet fish were minimally washed with clean water immediately after harvest. Ice boxes were not used in any stages from harvest to processing plants. Bamboo split baskets were mostly used to keep or carry fish. Landed fish were found to be dispersed on plastic mat or polythene paper kept on earthen floor of the wholesaler shed, called “Arat”. Icing of individual catch soon after harvest was very insignificant, ranging from 2 – 15 % only. Prawn were found to be iced during transport to landing center at little higher rate (32%), but most of the other fish were not significantly iced during transport to landing center. Primary awareness of the beneficiaries on quality deterioration of fish was assessed and the impacts of participatory awareness development tools (PRA and RRA, personal contacts, brain storming and awareness development training) on export, income, nutrition and improved handling of landed exportable prawn/fish were re-assessed. Efficacy of such measures to improve the situation were monitored for sixteen months. Awareness in terms of benefit of good practices was high in factory technicians. Other stakeholders had very shallow or poor knowledge on use of improved handling and processing of fish. Participatory tools employed in this study was found to be effective in developing awareness of stakeholders in different value chains of wet fish handling and distribution and reducing post-harvest loss.DOI:  http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/pa.v21i1-2.16757 Progress. Agric. 21(1 & 2): 105 - 115, 2010

The rapid emergence of genetic modification in world agriculture: contested risks and benefits

2001 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 248-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jules Pretty
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Modification ◽  
Genetically Modified Organisms ◽  
Genetically Modified ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Scientific Progress ◽  
Genetically Modified Crops ◽  
Rapid Expansion ◽  
Marker Genes ◽  
Scientific Application ◽  
Independent Field

There has been a rapid expansion in the commercial cultivation of genetically modified crops, rising from the first plantings in 1995 to 44.5 million hectares worldwide in 2000, most of which have grown in North America. Though there are sharp divisions in opinions on benefits and risk, genetic modification (GM) does not represent a single, homogenous technology. Each application brings different potential benefits and risks for different stakeholders. This paper reviews recent scientific progress and future applications using a new typology of three generations of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) ranged against five types of scientific application. Agricultural GMOs pose a range of potential environmental and health risks. An analysis of recent independent field and scientific evidence from industrialized countries summarizes the current state of knowledge on seven types of risk that apply to all agricultural systems: (1) horizontal gene flow; (2) new forms of resistance and pest problems; (3) recombination to produce new pathogens; (4) direct and indirect effects of novel toxins; (5) loss of biodiversity from changes to farm practices; (6) allergenic and immune system reactions; and (7) antibiotic resistance marker genes. There remain highly contrasting positions taken by different stakeholders over GMOs. A review of three debates explains claims and counter-claims for (1) genetic modification as technological fix or contributor to sustainability; (2) genetic modification as driver of corporate power or friend of farmer; and (3) genetic modification as feeder of the world or eliminator of alternatives.

LIGHTING AND PERFORMANCE: AN ANALYSIS ON LIGHTING EFFICIENCY OF ARCHITECTURE STUDIO

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 92
Author(s):  
Fazidah Hanim Husain
Keyword(s):  
Learning Environment ◽  
Comfort Level ◽  
Artificial Lighting ◽  
Level Measurement ◽  
Acceptable Range ◽  
Creative Learning ◽  
Illuminance Level ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Effect Of Light

Lighting is one of the key elements in any space and building infrastructure. Good design for an area in the building requires sufficient light that contributes to the efficiency of the activities. The correct method allows natural light to transmit, reduce heat and glare in providing a conducive learning environment. Light plays a significant influence to the quality of space and contributes focus of the students in an architecture studio. Previous research has shown that the effect of light also controlled emotions, behavior, and mood of the students. The operations of artificial lighting that have been used most of the time in an architecture studio during day and night may create lavishness and inadequacy at the same time. Therefore, this paper focuses on the identifying the quality of light for the architecture studio in UiTM (Perak), to instill a creative learning environment. Several methodologies adopted in this study such as illuminance level measurement using lux meter (LM-8100), and a questionnaire survey in gauging the lighting comfort level from students’ perspective. The study revealed that the illuminance level in the architecture studio is insufficient and not in the acceptable range stated in the Malaysian: Standards 1525:2007 and  not evenly distributed.  The study also concluded that the current studio environment is not condusive and appears monotonous. 

Strategic threats to energy security as risks of quality of people's life

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 730-744
Author(s):  
V.I. Loktionov
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Energy Security ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Scientific Methods ◽  
Analysis And Synthesis ◽  
General Scientific ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Economic Well Being ◽  
The Way

Subject. The article reviews the way strategic threats to energy security influence the quality of people's life. Objectives. The study unfolds the theory of analyzing strategic threats to energy security by covering the matter of quality of people's life. Methods. To analyze the way strategic threats to energy security spread across cross-sectoral commodity and production chains and influences quality of people's living, I applied the factor analysis and general scientific methods of analysis and synthesis. Results. I suggest interpreting strategic threats to energy security as risks of people's quality of life due to a reduction in the volume of energy supply. I identified mechanisms reflecting how the fuel and energy complex and its development influence the quality of people's life. The article sets out the method to assess such quality-of-life risks arising from strategic threats to energy security. Conclusions and Relevance. In the current geopolitical situation, strategic threats to energy security cause long-standing adverse consequences for the quality of people's life. If strategic threats to energy security are further construed as risk of quality of people's life, this will facilitate the preparation and performance of a more effective governmental policy on energy, which will subsequently raise the economic well-being of people.

Return on Invesment (ROI) of Software Product: A Systematic Literature Review

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-57
Author(s):  
Rizqa Raaiqa Bintana ◽  
Putri Aisyiyah Rakhma Devi ◽  
Umi Laili Yuhana
Keyword(s):  
Return On Investment ◽  
Assessment Criteria ◽  
Software Product ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Rational Consideration ◽  
Actual Return ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Investment Models ◽  
The Impact

The quality of the software can be measured by its return on investment. Factors which may affect the return on investment (ROI) is the tangible factors (such as the cost) dan intangible factors (such as the impact of software to the users or stakeholder). The factor of the software itself are assessed through reviewing, testing, process audit, and performance of software. This paper discusses the consideration of return on investment (ROI) assessment criteria derived from the software and its users. These criteria indicate that the approach may support a rational consideration of all relevant criteria when evaluating software, and shows examples of actual return on investment models. Conducted an analysis of the assessment criteria that affect the return on investment if these criteria have a disproportionate effort that resulted in a return on investment of a software decreased. Index Terms - Assessment criteria, Quality assurance, Return on Investment, Software product

Female Olympians’ voices: Female sports categories and International Olympic Committee Transgender guidelines

2021 ◽  
pp. 101269022110215
Author(s):  
Cathy Devine
Keyword(s):  
Female Athletes ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
International Olympic Committee ◽  
Political Discourses ◽  
Fair Competition ◽  
Fair Inclusion ◽  
Female Sports ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Unanimous Agreement

The fair inclusion of female athletes at elite and Olympic levels is secured in most sports by way of female categories because of the extensively documented biological and performance-related differences between the sexes. International policy for transgender inclusion is framed by the definitive International Olympic Committee transgender guidelines in which the International Olympic Committee confirms the ‘overriding sporting objective is and remains the guarantee of fair competition’ and transwomen can be excluded from female categories if, in the interests of fairness, this is necessary and proportionate. Feminist theorists argue justice requires that women have equal moral standing in the sociocultural–political structures of society including sport. As such their voices should carry equal democratic weight. However, female elite and Olympic athletes are rarely heard in the sociocultural–political discourses of academic literature or policy formulation for transgender inclusion in female categories by the International Olympic Committee and governing bodies of sport. This empirical study investigated the views and presents the ‘voices’ of 19 female Olympians. The main findings include (1) these athletes thought both female and transgender athletes should be fairly included in elite sport, (2) unanimous agreement there is not enough scientific evidence to show no competitive advantage for transwomen, (3) unanimous agreement that the International Olympic Committee should revisit the rules and scientific evidence for transgender inclusion in female categories, and (4) the majority of athletes felt that they could not ask questions or discuss this issue without being accused of transphobia.

scholarly journals Results of Laboratory Studies of the Automated Sorting System for Root and Onion Crops

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1257
Author(s):  
Alexey Dorokhov ◽  
Alexander Aksenov ◽  
Alexey Sibirev ◽  
Nikolay Sazonov ◽  
Maxim Mosyakov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Control System ◽  
Automatic Control ◽  
Automatic Control System ◽  
Technological Parameters ◽  
Post Harvest ◽  
Manual Sorting ◽  
Sorting System ◽  
Working Bodies ◽  
Automatic Removal

The roller and sieve machines most commonly used in Russia for the post-harvest processing of root and tuber crops and onions have a number of disadvantages, the main one being a decrease in the quality of sorting due to the contamination of working bodies, which increases the quantity of losses during sorting and storage. To obtain high-quality competitive production, it is necessary to combine a number of technological operations during the sorting process, such as dividing the material into classes and fractions by quality and size, as well as identifying and removing damaged products. In order to improve the quality of sorting of root tubers and onions by size, it is necessary to ensure the development of an automatic control system for operating and technological parameters, the use of which will eliminate manual sorting on bulkhead tables in post-harvest processing. To fulfill these conditions, the developed automatic control system must have the ability to identify the material on the sorting surface, taking into account external damage and ensuring the automatic removal of impurities. In this study, the highest sorting accuracy of tubers (of more than 91%) was achieved with a forward speed of 1.2 m/s for the conveyor of the sorting table, with damage to 2.2% of the tubers, which meets the agrotechnical requirements for post-harvest processing. This feature distinguishes the developed device from similar ones.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of Shock Wave Therapy as a Treatment for Spasticity: A Systematic Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Isabel María Martínez ◽  
Nuria Sempere-Rubio ◽  
Olga Navarro ◽  
Raquel Faubel
Keyword(s):  
Shock Wave ◽  
Botulinum Toxin ◽  
Methodological Quality ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Motor Impairment ◽  
Functional Independence ◽  
Shock Wave Therapy ◽  
Jadad Scale ◽  
Type Of Injury

Background: The purpose of this study was to collect and analyse the available scientific evidence on the effectiveness of shock wave therapy as a treatment for spasticity. Methods: the search was performed in the following databases: PubMed, PEDro, Cochrane, Embase, and the Virtual Health Library. All publications from November 2009 to November 2019 were selected that included a sample of patients with spasticity and prior suspension of botulinum toxin, to whom shock wave therapy was applied. The methodological quality of the articles was evaluated using the Jadad scale and the pyramid of quality of scientific evidence. Results: 25 studies involving 866 participants with spasticity were selected. The results obtained suggest that shock wave therapy appears to be effective in reducing spasticity levels irrespective of the age of the participants, the type of injury, and the tool used to measure the effect. Conclusions: shock wave therapy reports evidence of improvement in motor function, motor impairment, pain, and functional independence, applied independently of botulinum toxin. However, due to the heterogeneity of the protocols, there is no optimum protocol for its application, and it would be appropriate to gain more high-quality scientific evidence through primary studies.

scholarly journals Manufacturing and development of a bolted GFRP flange joint for oil and gas applications

2021 ◽  
pp. 095440542198951
Author(s):  
Muhsin Aljuboury ◽  
Md Jahir Rizvi ◽  
Stephen Grove ◽  
Richard Cullen
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Vessel ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Polyester Resin ◽  
High Strength ◽  
Adhesively Bonded ◽  
Acceptable Quality ◽  
Composite Pipe ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Composite Pipes

The goal of this experimental study is to manufacture a bolted GFRP flange connection for composite pipes with high strength and performance. A mould was designed and manufactured, which ensures the quality of the composite materials and controls its surface grade. Based on the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section X, this GFRP flange was fabricated using biaxial glass fibre braid and polyester resin in a vacuum infusion process. In addition, many experiments were carried out using another mould made of glass to solve process-related issues. Moreover, an investigation was conducted to compare the drilling of the GFRP flange using two types of tools; an Erbauer diamond tile drill bit and a Brad & Spur K10 drill. Six GFRP flanges were manufactured to reach the final product with acceptable quality and performance. The flange was adhesively bonded to a composite pipe after chamfering the end of the pipe. Another type of commercially-available composite flange was used to close the other end of the pipe. Finally, blind flanges were used to close both ends, making the pressure vessel that will be tested under the range of the bolt load and internal pressure.

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