Consumers’ Willingness to Buy CRISPR Gene-Edited Tomatoes: Evidence from a Choice Experiment Case Study in Germany

The CRISPR gene-editing (GE) breeding method is used to increase the resilience of high-yielding tomato cultivars against pests and diseases, reducing crop protection requirements. This study investigated consumers’ willingness to buy CRISPR GE tomatoes in a repeated discrete-choice experiment. We observed a strong positive effect of providing information on the CRISPR breeding technology, while the sensory experience of the CRISPR GE tomatoes in a visit to a greenhouse had a rather weak, predominantly negative effect on the participants’ willingness to buy CRISPR GE tomatoes. We found that roughly half of the 32 participants demonstrated constant CRISPR GE tomato choices during the experiments, and these participants were mainly employed as scientists. However, the rest of the participants changed their CRISPR GE tomato choices, with the majority showing an increase in their willingness to buy CRISPR GE tomatoes; these “changers” were dominated by non-scientists. Science communication on CRISPR GE breeding technology should target people with little knowledge about the technology, and consumers of organic tomatoes seem to have more specified, stable preferences regarding the technology. Further, scientific information about the CRISPR GE methodology should preferentially be provided when new technology and information about it are not yet widespread and people have not yet formed a strong opinion about the technology.

​Standardization of Grafting in Bittergourd (Momordica charantia L.)

Background: Commercial cultivation of bitter gourd is affected by biotic stresses like mosaic disease, fusarium wilt and root-knot nematode as well as abiotic stress like drought. Grafting with resistant rootstocks can be a tool to control these problems. In vegetable production, grafting is exploited commercially in many parts of the world. The cultivated area of grafted solanaceae and cucubitaceae plants has increased tremendously in recent years because of the advantages of grafted plants. Commercial use of vegetable grafting is a relatively recent innovation in India and scientific information on grafting in bittergourd is meager. In this context, identification of suitable rootstocks and standardization of grafting techniques that do not have adverse effect on yield and fruit quality not only lay foundation for further evaluation on tolerance to different biotic and abiotic stresses but also enhance the area and production of bitter gourd especially in sustainable production systems. Methods: Grafting in bitter gourd was carried out with three grafting methods such as hole insertion grafting, one cotyledon grafting and cleft grafting using growth regulators viz., alar and CCC to control height of rootstocks in order to identify suitable method, growth regulator and its concentration. The grafting experiment was done independently to four cucurbitaceous rootstocks viz., sponge gourd, pumpkin, bottle gourd and bitter gourd using bittergourd var. Preethi as scion. Height and diameter of the rootstocks before grafting were recorded and then the growth regulators alar and CCC each at 10 mgL-1 and 50 mgL-1 along with distilled water as control were sprayed on rootstocks in order to prevent the lodging of the root stocks and then grafted using different methods. Days taken for graft union and percentage success were also evaluated after grafting. Result: Our study of grafting bitter gourd scion into four cucurbitaceous rootstocks utilizing three methods and two growth regulators at two different concentration along with control exhibited significant difference in graft success among the methods as well as concentration of growth regulator in all four experiments. This work can be further utilized for imparting resistance against abiotic and biotic stresses in bitter gourd by selecting suitable rootstocks.

Fundamentals of scientific research

The textbook outlines the concepts and methods of conducting scientific research and presenting their results. The fundamentals of scientific thinking and methodological foundations of scientific research are considered. The process of scientific research, methods of obtaining and analyzing data, collecting and summarizing scientific information, the sequence of the process of scientific research are described. The approaches, methods, rules and norms of preparation of reports on the results of scientific research, scientific articles and dissertations are described. The organization, financing of scientific research and training of scientific personnel in the Russian Federation, the organization of research work of students, the principles of scientific ethics are characterized. Recommendations for the preparation of final qualifying papers and dissertations are given. The textbook includes topics and questions, the study of which is necessary to master the competencies provided for by the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation. It is intended for undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students of the enlarged group of training areas 38.00.00 "Economics and Management".

Current findings and future prospective of high-value trans Himalayan medicinal plant Lycium ruthenicum Murr: a systematic review

Background The genus Lycium is commercially known for its nutrient dense goji-berries, among these berries, black goji-berries obtained from Lycium ruthenicum Murr are highly valued and widely used as traditional medicine in trans-himalayan cold desert Ladakh and as functional food in several countries. Methods The current collection of data and literature was done by exploring different scientific portals like SciFinder, Google scholar, PubMed, Dictonary of Natural Products, Institute for Scientific Information, Web of Science and Scopus by searching keywords like black goji berry, crystal pearl, and trans-Himalayan plant. Results Fruits of L. ruthenicum Murr, are overwhelmingly enriched in anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, polysaccharides, spermine and spermidine alkaloids. The presence of these bioactive phyto-chemicals has been linked with reported anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-fatigue, anti-atherosclerosis and neuro-protective properties of black goji berries. A unique color of these berries makes them exceptional as compared to other berries. Conclusions In this article, we have reviewed the variety of high value phytochemicals of Lycium ruthenicum Murr, with a special focus on health promoting anthocyanins which will provide an insight to the readers for exploring novel applications of L. ruthenicum Murr in field of medicine and food industries.

AN APPROACH TO DEVELOPING AN INFORMATION RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT FOR ANALYSIS OF SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION RESOURCES AND CREATING ANNOTATED CORPORA

В статье предложен подход к построению исследовательской среды для интеграции информационных ресурсов определенной области знаний и поддержки научных исследований. Особенностью подхода является комбинация в рамках единой информационной системы, основанных на онтологиях средств представления, систематизации и аннотирования интегрированных в систему ресурсов, а также ориентация на совместную работу специалистов над созданием размеченного корпуса. В статье приведен пример применения предложенного подхода для разработки информационной системы. The paper presents an approach to the development of a research environment, facilitating an integration of information resources dedicated to a certain scientific domain and supporting scientific research. The main feature of the approach is combining an ontology-based tools for presenting and annotating scientific information resources within a single information system. The development of the information system is aimed towards the joint work of researchers on the creating annotated corpora of resources. The paper provides an example of the proposed approach being put into practice when developing an information system.

Measuring capacities and protecting communities: strengthening regional resilience in the flooded industrial area in Thailand

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to measure the capacities and identify the vulnerabilities of the communities to contribute to their flood disaster risk management. Design/methodology/approach Questionnaire-style surveys and interviews in the four target communities and 25 critical facilities have been used. Their flood experience is also collected to explore the practical risk management solutions and preserve those as their local assets. Findings Findings show the capacity gaps among the target communities. For instance, the relatively populated urbanized communities tend to have high capacities. On the other hand, the not-so-populated farmer-based communities have low capacities, tending to focus more on droughts than floods, and lack scientific information. This research also identifies vulnerability groups and critical facility locations on the map with narratives. Originality/value The findings enable the communities to clarify their updated capacities, examine the vulnerabilities, identify the risks with possible hazard information and guide them to cope with flood risk to protect them with self, mutual and public help. This study can contribute to other industrial parks/estates in Thailand and anywhere in the world as an insightful reference to build resilient industrial complex areas.

PENINGKATAN LAYANAN PERPUSTAKAAN IPDN KAMPUS JAKARTA MELALUI SISTEM PERPUSTAKAAN DIGITAL

Digital library system is an application of information technology that keep, obtain and disseminate the scientific information in digital format. In a simple analogy, it is a place to keep the digital library collections. Currently, Campus IPDN Jakarta Library does not yet have a digital library system due to the lack of attention from the leadership, limited budget, and lack of human resources who manage the library. The constraints faced by the Campus IPDN Jakarta Library have led to a decline in lending services, reference services, information retrieval services, and Internet services. To overcome it, a digital library system is needed in Campus IPDN Jakarta Library environment. This requires the adequate facilities and infrastructure, human resources who master technology, and an adequate budget. ABSTRAKSistem perpustakaan digital adalah penerapan teknologi informasi sebagai sarana untuk menyimpan, mendapatkan dan menyebarluaskan informasi ilmu pengetahuan dalam format digital. Atau secara sederhana dapat dianalogikan sebagai tempat menyimpan koleksi perpustakaan yang sudah dalam bentuk digital. Saat ini, Perpustakaan IPDN Kampus Jakarta belum memiliki sistem perpustakaan digital dikarenakan kurangnya perhatian Pimpinan, terbatasnya anggaran, dan kurangnya Sumber Daya Manusia yang mengelola perpustakaan. Kendala yang dihadapi Perpustakaan IPDN Kampus Jakarta ini menyebabkan menurunnya layanan peminjaman, layanan referensi, layanan Penelusuran Informasi, dan layanan Internet. Untuk mengatasi ini, diperlukan sistem perpustakaan digital di lingkungan Perpustakan Kampus Jakarta. Hal ini memerlukan sarana dan prasarana yang memadai, sumber daya manusia yang menguasai teknologi, dan anggaran yang mencukupi.

Priorities for Improving Distance Education and Human Capital in Azerbaijan Public Administration

Distance education can also be used by a large part of the community. The form of distance education optimally develops learners' independence, activity, consciousness, and creativity in comparison with traditional forms of education. In addition, in this system, more scientific information can be obtained in a short time, and the student's conscious and logical ability to acquire systematic knowledge expands. On the other hand, distance education is one of the tools that can help our higher education to have an international rating. Let us take into account that one of the main tasks of the education system is to develop the human capital necessary for the modernization of the country and thus increase the international competitiveness of the Republic of Azerbaijan. It should be noted that digitalization can create real opportunities to turn our weak performance in education into strong performance. In this regard, the chapter examines the prospects for improving distance education in public administration for the development of human capital in Azerbaijan.

Analysis of Gayo wine-coffee processing facility development

The Indonesian plantation sector plays an important role in the overall national economy. The development of coffee processing methods into a variety of products, including the relatively new product Gayo wine coffee, will provide added value for farmers. However, the main question that is often asked about relatively new ventures is how viable they are. Thus, a techno-economic analysis of Gayo wine-coffee processing facility development was aimed to answer how viable is the business to ensure sustainability. The results of this research are expected to add scientific information regarding the feasibility study of developing a sustainable Gayo wine-coffee processing facility. The research was conducted in Aceh Tengah District by conducting a comparative study to a micro-scale wine coffee producer in the location, the Syukran Kopi Wine processing facility. Analysis of the facility development was more focused on the technological and financial aspects. The research results considered that Aceh Tengah District is very suitable as a location for a wine coffee factory to minimize the purchasing costs. Moreover, the process of wine coffee production is more difficult than the process of common coffee production. However, the Gayo wine-coffee processing facility uses semi-modern technology like the common coffee processing facility. Besides, all financial indicators meet the financial feasibility criteria for five years economic life of the project. Sensitivity analysis also shows that in both scenarios, all financial indicators still meet the financial feasibility criteria, although decreasing the benefit make a higher impact on most values of the investment criteria than increasing the operational cost.