Severity of clubroot in kale related to management practices and soil attributes

ABSTRACT: Clubroot disease, caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae, limits the production of Brassica spp. worldwide. Little is known about the factors related to the development of the disease in kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) plants and in crops in mountainous areas under tropical conditions. This study examined the severity of clubroot in kale crops as well as identify potential flaws in management and the soil and relief factors related to its occurrence. The study was conducted in 24 kale fields in the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). Soil and kale growth management practices adopted in the region were identified and samples of soil and plants were collected. Subsequently, soil and relief attributes, disease severity, biomass and nutrient and Al contents and accumulation in the plants were determined. There was a high spread of the pathogen in the areas. Inappropriate and recurrent practices in the region were detected, e.g., sequential cultivation of host species, low adoption of soil fertility analysis and liming and conservation practices, and community use of agricultural machinery and implements without prior cleaning. The disease was associated with more acidic soils, subject to greater water accumulation and with high levels of Al3+ as well as with higher Al contents and accumulation in the roots. Management practices must be adopted in the region to reduce the potential inoculum of P. brassicae and to increase soil fertility.

School desegregation, school re-zoning, and growth management in two Maryland counties

This article examines how school and non-school policies interact to reinforce or disrupt school segregation in the context of suburban communities and how these systems are maintained by structural and institutional mechanisms. Methodologically, we use a case study approach to delve deeply into the interpretation and implementation of school attendance zone redesign and non-school policies, specifically land use policies and tools. We draw on neo-institutionalist theory and Ray’s (2019) framework of racialized organizations to make sense of school districts, planning agencies, and their policies. We find that school district rezoning policies provide a weak regulatory framework for desegregating schools because school zoning decisions are not made in a vacuum but rather are shaped by policies and actions taken by other actors in a multi-level governance structure. School zoning policies themselves prioritized capacity over desegregation, and regulations and norms governing the public engagement processes privilege opposition to desegregation. Our study points to the importance of greater coordination across governmental levels and policy arenas, and underscores how desegregation policy is part of a political and relational process between advocates, elected leaders, families, and youth across policy sectors.

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION CONNECTOR IN PROVIDING ECONOMIC GROWTH PRODUCTION SPHERE

Исследовано влияние человекоцентричного ресурса на инновационные преобразования в обществе и бизнесе на основе проницаемости информационных воздействий, затрагивающих поведенческие и мотивационно-эмоциональные механизмы человека. Идентификация состояния информационных компонентов, составляющих смысл и содержание регулирующих и управленческих импульсов, модулируемых различными участниками рынка из разных источников, необходима для оценки состояния имеющихся противоречий между разными субъектами маркетингово-коммуникационного пространства социально-экономической системы и их разрешения. Обозначены различные аспекты влияния информационной среды на решение проблем экономического роста и укрепления конкурентоспособности субъектов бизнеса в производственной сфере. Аргументировано повышение значимости категорий «ложь», «правда» и «доверие» на формирование моделей устойчивого экономического роста и позитивных инновационных преобразований в системообразующих сферах экономики, в том числе пищевой промышленности. Показано, что создаваемые субъектами производственной сферы информационно-коммуникационные платформы на базе виртуализации социально-экономического пространства требуют ужесточения контроля за информационными потоками и используемым для воздействия на различные целевые аудитории рекламно-маркетинговым инструментарием для недопущения искажения реальной картины мира, деформации рыночных отношений и формирования условий для активизации человекоцентричного ресурса на укрепление тренда позитивных инновационных изменений и социального благосостояния. Предложена модель управления экономическим ростом бизнеса посредством включения информационно-коммуникационного коннектора для активизации позитивных инновационных преобразований в производственной сфере, в которой он наделяется свойствами инструмента повышения доверия потребителей к модулируемым информационным сигналам в развивающихся коммуникационных полях. The influence of a human-centered resource on innovative transformations in society and business is indicated on the basis of the permeability of information influences affecting the behavioral and motivational-emotional mechanisms of a person. Identification of the state of information components that make up the meaning and content of regulatory and managerial impulses modulated by various market participants from different sources is necessary to assess the state of existing contradictions between different subjects of the marketing and communication space of the socio-economic system and their resolution. Various aspects of the influence of the information environment on solving the problems of economic growth and strengthening the competitiveness of business entities in the production sector are identified. The author argues for increasing the importance of the categories «lie», «truth» and «trust» for the formation of models of sustainable economic growth and positive innovative transformations in the system-forming spheres of the economy (including in the food industry).The information and communication platforms created by the subjects of the industrial sphere on the basis of virtualization of the socio-economic space require stricter control over information flows and advertising and marketing tools used to influence various target audiences in the interests of preventing distortion of the real picture of the world, deformation of market relations and the formation of conditions for activating a human-centered resource to strengthen the trend of positive innovative changes and social welfare. The model of business economic growth management is proposed by including an information and communication connector to activate positive innovative transformations in the production sector, in which it is endowed with the properties of a tool for increasing consumer confidence in modulated information signals in developing communication fields.

Validation of reference genes for quantitative PCR in the forest pest, Ips calligraphus

The six-spined ips, Ips calligraphus, is a North American bark beetle that can exploit most eastern North American Pinus species and can cause mortality. Biotic and abiotic disturbances weaken trees, creating breeding substrate that promotes rapid population growth. Management historically relied on silvicultural practices, but as forests become increasingly stressed, innovative management is needed. Manipulation of the cellular RNA interference (RNAi) pathway to induce gene silencing is an emerging means of insect suppression, and is effective for some bark beetles. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) is a powerful tool for analysis of gene expression, and is essential for examining RNAi. To compare gene expression among individuals, stably expressed reference genes must be validated for qPCR. We evaluated six candidate reference genes (18s, 16s, 28s, ef1a, cad, coi) for stability under biotic (beetle sex, developmental stage, and host plant), and abiotic (temperature, photoperiod, and dsRNA exposure) conditions. We used the comprehensive RefFinder tool to compare stability rankings across four algorithms. These algorithms identified 18s, 16s, and 28s as the most stably expressed. Overall, 16s and 28s were selected as reference genes due to their stability and moderate expression levels, and can be used for I. calligraphus gene expression studies using qPCR, including those evaluating RNAi.

Analysis of Bank Health on Profit Growth in New Normal Conditions with CAMELS Method at BPR Syariah in East Java

Assessment of various aspects that affect the performance of a bank through other factors, among others, Asset Quality, Management, Earning, Liquidity, and Sensitivity to Market Risk is the health of the bank. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of bank health on new normal profit growth at BPR Syariah East Java in 2020. The research method used in this research is multiple linear regression analysis method. The type of data used in this study is quantitative and the data sources used are included in secondary data. The results of the study of capital have no influence on profit growth, asset quality has no influence on profit growth, management has no influence on profit growth, income has no influence on profit growth, liquidity has no influence on profit growth, and sensitivity to market risk has no influence on profit growth.

Interaction of Light Intensity and CO2 Concentration Alters Biomass Partitioning in Chrysanthemum

Biomass partitioning is one of the pivotal determinants of crop growth management, which is influenced by environmental cues. Light and CO2 are the main drivers of photosynthesis and biomass production in plants. In this study, the effects of CO2 levels: ambient 400 ppm (a[CO2]) and elevated to 1,000 ppm (e[CO2]) and different light intensities (75, 150, 300, 600 μmol·m−2·s−1 photosynthetic photon flux density – PPFD) were studied on the growth, yield, and biomass partitioning in chrysanthemum plants. The plants grown at higher light intensity had a higher dry weight (DW) of both the vegetative and floral organs. e[CO2] diminished the stimulating effect of more intensive light on the DW of vegetative organs, although it positively influenced inflorescence DW. The flowering time in plants grown at e[CO2] and light intensity of 600 μmol·m−2·s−1 occurred earlier than that of plants grown at a[CO2]. An increase in light intensity induced the allocation of biomass to inflorescence and e[CO2] enhanced the increasing effect of light on the partitioning of biomass toward the inflorescence. In both CO2 concentrations, the highest specific leaf area (SLA) was detected under the lowest light intensity, especially in plants grown at e[CO2]. In conclusion, elevated light intensity and CO2 direct the biomass toward inflorescence in chrysanthemum plants.

Urban Containment Planning: Is It Effective? The Case of Portland, OR

The paper attempts to evaluate Oregon’s and Portland’s growth management policies as for their tradeoffs between effectiveness in containing urban sprawl and impacts on housing markets and on property values. Carruthers argued that in order to correctly evaluate growth management policies, it is necessary to jointly consider their effects on urban development patterns, on land and housing markets, and on the fragmentation of land use controls. Nowadays, we have sufficient empirical research to evaluate the effects of Oregon’s growth management policies both on land markets and housing affordability and on urban development patterns. Therefore, the time has come to comprehensively reanalyze this longstanding case of public regulation. Once again, the issue of comparing grounded-on-planning–regulations’ effectiveness with grounded-on-price regulations’ effectiveness is at stake. The paper finds that urban-containment centralized-planning in Portland and Oregon have not been effective in containing sprawl and that price-based mechanisms are the most logical solution to the excess of sprawling urban growth.

Bank Ownership vs Credit Growth: Empirical Evidence from Vietnamese Commercial Banks

This paper is aimed at analyzing the relationship between bank ownership and credit growth of Vietnamese commercial banks. With the data of 20 commercial banks in period 2009-2018 period, the REM method is applied. The key findings are: First, credit growth rate of state-owned commercial banks in Vietnam is higher than of private commercial banks, which is opposite to the expected signal. The main reasons are (i) decision making of state-owned commercial banks on lending are backed by the government, which is more straight-forward than private banks; (ii) State Bank of Vietnam considers credit policy as one of the important monetary policy tools, of which state-owned commercial banks are the key drivers; (iii) state-owned commercial banks have stable and cheap funding sources, which create the good base for expanding credit with cheap interest rates. Second, asset size does not have any impact on credit growth. Credit growth rates are determined by the bank’s overall performance and maximum growth rate set by State Bank of Vietnam, not on assets. Third, the other bank-specific factors are statistically significant with credit growth, of which liquidity and ROA have the strongest influences. Recommendations for better credit growth management of commercial banks include: (i) State Bank of Vietnam and the Government to ensure soundness of the banking system, including applying the Basel II requirements to all banks; and establish more support packages in order to boost the lending activities of privately-owned banks. (ii) Commercial banks to reduce its non-performing loans in order to stimulate the growth in lending. Keywords: bank liquidity, bank ownership, credit growth, non-performing loans, ROA.