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Volume 1, Issue 1 (Winter 2023)
Abstract

Rice farmers in the study area as elsewhere in some developing parts of the world have been negatively affected by floods annually. There have been several solutions, some suggested and others implemented to mitigate the effect of these floods on the farmers. Different initiatives have been undertaken by various stakeholders in the food production chain. Providing a multidimensional approach to highlighting these initiatives is essential to an effective and efficient resolution. The prospects and challenges of incorporating technology, capacity development, business and government support have been evaluated. The solutions proposed in this paper would bring economic benefits to the rice farmers, private companies, and government, leading to the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2- Zero Hunger and the other 16 SDGs.
 

Volume 1, Issue 3 (Summer 2023)
Abstract

This study focuses on determining the concentration of fluoride ions in selected hand-dug wells and investigating its health implications in Gwagwalada Area Council, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The necessity for this investigation arose from observed health issues, including dental and skeletal fluorosis among the residents in the area. Fifteen sampling points (well water sources) were chosen in the study area, and a total of forty-five samples (three per sampling point) were collected. The calorimetric water quality analysis method was employed to analyze these samples in the laboratory. Additionally, the Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) interpolation method was used to generate a spatial variation map for fluoride ion concentration using ArcMap. The results indicate a concentration range of 0.122 mg/L to 1.910 mg/L across the study area. When compared with the recommendations for fluoride ion concentration in the Nigeria Industrial Standard (NIS) for drinking water (0.1 – 1.0 mg/L), approximately 67% of the sampling points (10 out of 15) fall within the recommended values, while 33% fall outside. The areas with higher fluoride ion concentrations include Dupa 1, Dupa 2, Tunga Maje 1, Tunga Maje 2, and Old Kutunku 2. The study concludes that the observed dental and skeletal fluorosis in these areas can be attributed to the consumption of water with high fluoride concentrations. Consequently, the study recommends increased attention from both local and federal authorities to provide potable water for human consumption in these areas to address the associated health challenges.

Volume 3, Issue 3 (Number 3 - 2001)
Abstract

A pressure-based coupled heat and mass transfer model was used to simulate temperature and soil suction in a drying process within a clay soil column. Closed form functions were used for all parameters needed in the governing equations. Model predictions were compared with experimental data using the mean relative percentage deviation method. Thermocouples and mini-gypsum blocks were used to monitor the data collected hourly at different depths of the soil column. The model showed very high sensitivity to the proposed hydraulic conductivity function, while lower sensitivity was found for the proposed thermal conductivity function. This result highlights the importance of a proper hydraulic conductivity estimate while a rough estimate for thermal conductivity would have no significant adverse effect on the predicted values.

Volume 10, Issue 2 (2-2021)
Abstract

The black pod disease of cocoa in Ghana caused by Phytophthora palmivora and P. megakarya is traditionally managed with fungicides. Because of challenges associated with fungicide use, biological control options, if available, are worth trying. A fungus with proven usefulness in suppressing P. palmivora and P. megakarya in dual plate cultures and cocoa pods has partly been identified as an Aspergillus (designated AI_1). However, its exact identity has been unknown, requiring specific identification by comparing it with known Aspergillus flavus strains (designated AI_2, AI_3, AI_4, and AI_5). It was retested against P. palmivora to confirm the potency of AI_1. The putative A. flavus isolates were also tested for the first time against P. palmivora. Morphological features were determined on carrot agar (CA), potato dextrose agar (PDA), and malt extract agar (MEA). Genomic DNAs from the Aspergillus isolates were subjected to the ITS region and β-tubulin gene sequencing. All the Aspergillus isolates inhibited P. palmivora in assay plates by levels ranging from 89.33 to 95.33% (Experiment 1) and 46.67 to 60.33% (Experiment 2). Generally, the AI_1 produced culture features similar to those of the putative Aspergillus flavus isolates. ITS region sequence analysis grouped all isolates as A. flavus and beta-tubulin also grouped AI_1, AI_2, AI_3, and AI_4 as A. flavus but differentiated AI_5 as A. flavus var. parvisclerotigenus. AI_3 recorded the highest inhibition zone and prevented black pod development of inoculated pods as well. The previously unknown Aspergillus isolates AI_1 is now conclusively identified as A. flavus.



Volume 10, Issue 4 (Fall 2022)
Abstract

Aims: Technology can facilitate the limitations of health literacy for children with special needs. Therefore a design is needed that is adapted to the limitations of children with special needs, especially deaf children. This study aimed to develop reproductive health reading materials on puberty for deaf students based on digital pocketbooks.
Materials & Methods: The present study is a design and development research with qualitative and quantitative approaches (mixed method) with ADDIE steps. This study involved 15 deaf children in SMALB class X to XII who were selected using a purposive sampling method. Data were collected through in-depth interviews. This study was conducted during the Covid-19 pandemic, so surveys and other research activities were online. The qualitative results were analyzed using content analysis, and quantitative results were analyzed using the Wilcoxon test.
Findings: Most students said they had never been invited to discuss what changes would occur when they entered puberty. The knowledge of deaf students significantly increased after receiving reproductive health promotion intervention using digital pocketbooks (p=0.001).
Conclusion: Parents and deaf students need comprehensive reproductive health literacy adapted by focusing on digital-based text and images to be widely accessible.
 

Volume 12, Issue 3 (August & September 2021 (Articles in English & French) 2021)
Abstract

Thai students’ writing in English is a chronic problem documented in the literature of English Language Teaching (ELT) in Thailand. However, little research has been conducted on how Thai teachers and students perceive the importance of English-writing and what difficulties and expectations/suggestions they have in teaching and learning this skill at upper-secondary schools (U-SS). This study, therefore, plans to fill this gap by employing two sets of surveys and semi-structured interviews with 114 teachers and 170 students from 30 different U-SS in the Northeastern part of Thailand and two provincial supervisors of Foreign-Language-Education Divisions (Pro-Sup). Besides their various stated personal and contextual problems in terms of time constraint, insufficient resources and poorly-motivated and mixed-ability students, national test structures and the presence of untrained English teachers, the participants acknowledged the importance of English-writing and expected to have this skill taught at all school levels. These findings suggest that to improve the teaching and learning practices of this skill at U-SS in Thailand and other countries with similar contexts, relevant support and necessary reforms from teachers, school leaders and national-test and policymakers are needed.

Volume 12, Issue 5 (November & December, (Articles in English & French) 2021)
Abstract

This study is conducted to reveal the types of mood, speech function realizations, and the persuasion strategies applied to Donald Trump’s clauses in his three remarks regarding the issue of COVID-19. Discourse analysis is applied to analyze the data. The applied mood types and speech function realizations are then correlated with Cialdini's principles of persuasion to see the persuasion principles applied in the three remarks. The results show that the President's three remarks are dominated by declarative mood with three most frequently used speech functions: statements of fact, statements of opinion, and statements of the assertion. In terms of Cialdini's persuasion principles, the speaker uses all of the six principles in his three remarks, except the principle of preference employed only in the third remark. The other five principles, namely authority, consistency, social-evidence, reciprocity, and rareness/scarcity, are contained in the three remarks with their persuasive purposes. In Cialdini's persuasion principles, the clauses used by President Trump reveals the strategies of taking advantage of his powerful authority in his remarks, showing his consistency while delivering the remarks, expressing his best efforts for his inhabitants, and showing successful evidence in overcoming the pandemic compared with other countries’ endeavors.

Volume 14, Issue 3 (July & August 2023 (Articles in English & French) 2023)
Abstract

Dyadic Data Analysis (DDA) has been suggested, in the existing literature, to be used to explore interpersonal variables which have long been conventionally investigated in isolation. DDA is effective in analyzing procedures that go on among dyads in studies of family relations, partnership, teacher-student affairs, and many other interpersonal relationships. Illustrative examples come from psychological, behavioral, and sociological studies that help develop the researcher's ability to investigate relationship processes, model and test for the effects of actors, partners, and relationships, and control for the statistical inter-dependence which can be conceived between partnersThe present paper first reviews the distinctive features of DDA and the potential advantages it can have for language studies. Also, it shows how longitudinal DDA is strongly needed in the investigation of L2 affective variables in the Second Language Acquisition (SLA) domain to longitudinally explore the dynamic and developmental nature of language learners’ affective factors. Finally, it goes on with making suggestions for a future line of inquiry using this innovative analytic procedure and ends with several conclusive remarks about this analytical framework which is compatible with the complexity of dynamic systems theory (CDST).
 

Volume 14, Issue 3 (July & August 2023 (Articles in English & French) 2023)
Abstract

 This study focused on capturing the research landscape of past studies related to the effects of electronic books on young children’s reading development from 1999 to 2022 through a bibliometric analysis. All 99 included bibliographic data were extracted from the Scopus database. The findings show an increasing trend in publications and citations over the last twenty years. The publications were distributed over six continents, namely North America, South America, Europe, Oceania, Africa, and Asia. The United States was the most productive country with the highest number of publications, h-index, and g-index. The foci of the research are (i) the important role digital device plays in children’s book reading; (ii) strategies taken by families and teachers to support the emergent literacy skills based on e-book; (iii) cognition and language skills domains in e-book reading among preschoolers. The findings of this study help researchers to understand the current landscape of research on e-book reading among preschoolers and provide guidelines for researchers to understand the core issues.
 

Volume 14, Issue 4 (7-2012)
Abstract

China is one of the largest grain producing and consuming nations in the world and the importance of grain security to the Chinese can never be overemphasized. In this paper, we present a comprehensive early-warning model for evaluating the status of grain security in China. The model is based on the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method and the Dempster–Shafer theory (DST). We divided the risk assessment into four stages. First, we seek risk sources and identify the indices to be used in the model. Then, we preprocess the index data to obtain the index directions and risk bounds. After that, we assign index weights via AHP method. Finally, we evaluate risk of grain security via DST method and determine the overall risk degree. An empirical analysis is conducted to demonstrate the use of the model for evaluating the status of grain security in China. The result shows that the model which conforms to the reality of China is effective and can be used as a grain security pre-warning monitoring tool.

Volume 14, Issue 5 (November & December 2023 (Articles in English & French) 2023)
Abstract

Due to the advancement of multimedia technology, it is now very common to use tools and equipment for teaching and learning. Understanding how to best utilize the benefits and functions of multimedia technology has now taken the lead in English teaching and learning. The positive contributions that multimedia technology makes to the teaching and learning of English listening, speaking, reading, and writing are highlighted in this essay. It also focuses on strategies and methods to enhance English comprehensive ability in a multimedia environment and highlights issues that need to be addressed. It is advised to focus more on the natural integration of multimedia technology and English teaching, expand the range of English reading, increase interest in English learning, enhance the comprehensive ability of English application, and establish a resource-sharing environment for teachers.
 

Volume 14, Issue 6 (11-2012)
Abstract

Agronomic and physiological traits and protein expression were compared between non-Bt glandless upland cotton variety-Zhong5629 and its Bt-transgenic near-isogenic lines differing in cryIAc gene. Results showed that the Bt isogenic line had higher plant height and rate of effective bolls, more internal bolls but lower yield, than the non-Bt line. The Bt isogenic line had lower chlorophyll content and transpiration rate relative to the non-Bt line, but had higher Chl a/b, F0 and Fm. Soluble protein content in the Bt isogenic line was significantly higher at boll setting stage (BSS) but lower at initial flowering stage (IFS) compared with the non-Bt line. The Bt isogenic line had significantly higher concentrations of Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn, Mn and Fe at IFS, and P and Cu at BSS, whereas it had lower in concentrations of P, K and B at IFS, and K, S, Zn and Fe at BSS. The Bt-isogenic line exhibited less malondialdehyde content at BSS and lower superoxide dismutase activity at IFS and BSS. Furthermore, proteomic analysis of the two NILs detected 20 differentially expressed proteins. The 4 up- regulated proteins in Bt vs non-Bt-isogenic line were attributed to signal transduction, photosynthetic carbon assimilation and defense response, whereas the 16 down- regulated proteins were attributed to signal transduction and protein metabolism.

Volume 14, Issue 7 (Supplementary Issue - 2012)
Abstract

Tea leaves contain unsaturated fatty acids, key precursors of volatile compounds contributing to tea aroma quality. Tea is cultivated in areas with diverse environmental conditions. Nitrogenous fertilizers influence tea yields and quality. A previous single site study demonstrated that increasing nitrogenous fertilizer rates raised fatty acid levels. However it is not known if the magnitudes and patterns of the responses are replicated in different locations due to variations in growth factors. Nonetheless, there is a single fertilizer rate recommendation in all tea growing locations in Kenya. This study assessed possible variations in patterns and magnitudes of fatty acids in a single cultivar grown under similar nitrogenous fertilizer rates in different locations. Trials were conducted in five locations using clone BBK 35, receiving varying nitrogenous fertilizer rates. Fatty acids in two leaves and a bud were quantified as methyl esters. The levels varied (P≤ 0.05) with locations and increased (P≤ 0.05) with nitrogenous fertilizer rates. The rates of increase differed with locations leading to significant (P≤ 0.05) interaction effects. Thus, similar fertilizer rates in different locations result in different fatty acid levels, explaining differences in tea aroma quality from different locations even with the same agronomic inputs. The results demonstrate the need to develop region-specific agronomic inputs for the production of same tea quality.

Volume 15, Issue 3 (5-2013)
Abstract

In this research, a novel formulation of sponge cake was studied. Instant Tea Powder (ITP) with high ester-catechins content was used to replace 0, 7.5, 12.5, and 17.5% of flour to make sponge cakes, hereafter referred to as the control, ITP1, ITP2, and ITP3, respectively. The microbiological analysis and lipid oxidation experiments were conducted and the odor, flavor, color, chewiness, and overall acceptability of different samples were assessed by sensory evaluation. There was significant difference between ITP2 and the control in hedonic sensory evaluation results, whereas, ITP3 was rated lowest in sensory evaluation results. The results also showed the sponge cakes with ITP had good antimicrobial and antioxidant activity compared with the control, and the shelf life of ITP-treated cakes could be extended as a consequence.

Volume 15, Issue 7 (Supplementary Issue - 2013)
Abstract

The effects of the plant growth promoter gibberellic acid (GA3) and plant growth retardant chlormequat chloride (CCC) on biomass and quality of Angelica dahurica var.formosana plants were investigated employing physiological and biochemical methods. Plants were sprayed with GA3 or CCC at rosette stage and coumarin content was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) after harvest. Two coumarins in root were detected: isoimperatorin and imperatorin. The root content of imperatorin was not affected by application either GA3 or CCC, while isoimperatorin was increased to 127% after treatment with CCC (400 mg L-1). The lowest concentrations of GA3 (50 mg L-1) and CCC (400 mg L-1) increased root yield to 157 and 139%, respectively. We note here that GA3 and CCC might be used in improving the yield of A. dahurica var. formosanaandmaintaining the coumarin content.

Volume 16, Issue 5 (9-2014)
Abstract

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) contains the biological properties of the major standard non–volatile pungent compounds of ginger, namely, [6]–, [8]–, and [10]–gingerols, as well as [6]– , [8]–, and [10]–shogaols. So far, the comparative antioxidant potencies among shogaols and gingerols have not been studied in detail and reported. Accordingly, this study aimed to examine and compare the antioxidant abilities of the six main compounds. Results showed that[6]–, [8]–, and [10]–gingerols, as well as [6]–, [8]–, and [10]–shogaols exhibited substantial in vitro antioxidant activities. The DPPH, ABTS•+,and FRAP assays results showed that the antioxidant abilities of [6]–shogaol were greatest among the six gingerols and shogaols studied (P< 0.05), and those of [6]–, [8]–, and [10]–shogaols were greater than those of [6]–, [8]–, and [10]–gingerols, respectively, which can be attributed to the presence of α, β–unsaturated ketones moieties. Moreover, the observation that the antioxidant abilities of [6]–gingerol were greater than those of [8]– and [10]–gingerols (P< 0.05) indicated that the short carbon chains of [6]–gingerol and [6]–shogaol played a significant role in making them more potent antioxidants than the other four longer carbon chain compounds. This finding can be attributed to gingerols undergoing dehydration transformations into shogaols during oven drying. Our results provided some new information on the antioxidant abilities of gingerols and shogaols.

Volume 17, Issue 1 (1-2015)
Abstract

 The accumulation and composition of berry anthocyanin was measured in Vitis vinifera L. cv. Yatomi Rosa using various light qualities provided by polyethylene films (red, orange, green, blue, and white). The anthocyanin has been enhanced significantly by blue light filter film and suppressed by red, orange, and green films compared to white film (control), which suggests that Yatomi Rosa has adapted photoreceptors to UV-A/blue light. We also observed that Yatomi Rosa mainly accumulated glucosides of peonidin (Pn). Significant differences in composition of anthocyanin were observed in different light filter films. Despite the use of different light quality films, similar patterns were observed for phenylalanineammonia-lyase (PAL), cinnamate-4-hydroxylase (C4H), 4-coumarate: coenzyme A ligase (4CL), and chalcone isomerase (CHI) activities, which are components of the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway. But the activities of PAL and CHI were induced significantly under blue light filter film, which shows that blue light may increase anthocyanin accumulation in V. vinifera L. by stimulating PAL and CHI activities. The present study confirmed the importance of blue irradiance spectrum in anthocyanin biosynthesis in Yatomi Rosa. The increase of blue light under enough effective transmission light conditions in greenhouses can improve the color of Yatomi Rosa and may be used as a solution to overcome poor berry colors in hot and humid regions of Southern China.

Volume 17, Issue 1 (1-2015)
Abstract

Virtual water adds a new dimension to crop trades and provides a new way of thinking about water scarcity. A systematic analysis of virtual water flows requires integration of all critical drivers of virtual water flows under a single consistent framework. The aim of this study was to assess virtual water flows related to trades of grain crops (wheat, corn, rice, and coarse cereals) and their influencing factors in Hetao irrigation district, China during 1981-2010. Results indicated that: (1) volume of virtual water export decreased from 2.08×109 m3 in 1981 to 1.27×109 m3 in 2010. Volume of virtual water import fluctuated around 621.48×106 m3 during study period; (2) Cultivated area per capita and total population were the major influencing factors for virtual water export in Hetao irrigation district. Volume of virtual water import was mainly influenced by consumption and retail price index of grain crops. Combination of large volume of virtual water export and severely constrained water resources confronted Hetao irrigation district with great challenges in its sustainable development. Decreasing virtual water export is a mean to alleviate regional water shortage pressure, and may be achieved by measures that constrain continued population expansion.

Volume 17, Issue 2 (3-2015)
Abstract

Nitrous oxide (N2O) has significant impact on global warming and leads to the depletion of ozone in the stratosphere. Agricultural soil is regarded as a major source of N2O emissions. In recent years, greenhouse grown vegetables have rapidly developed in China. Although excessive fertilizer application in greenhouse vegetable production can result in increased N2O emissions, research data on such emissions from greenhouse vegetables, such as cucumber, remains limited. In this study, four nitrogen (N) fertilizer treatments including 1,200 (N1200, traditional N amount), 900 (N900), and 600 kg N ha-1 (N600) and the control (N0) were carried out on cucumber in a greenhouse in the North China Plain. Results showed that N2O emissions mainly occurred in the first five days after topdressing, and accounted for 75.8%-95.2% of total N2O emissions produced in the whole interval (10 days). Significant exponential correlations were observed between N2O flux and nitrification or denitrification rates (P< 0.01). The results also indicated that nitrification dominated and played a more important role in N2O emissions than denitrification under the irrigation conditions of the study (water-filled pore spacewas 40.0 to 66.6%). Cumulative N2O emissions were 0.48-5.01 kg N ha-1 in the cucumber growing season, accounting for 0.28-0.38% of nitrogen input. Compared to N1200, treatment N600 significantly reduced the rate of N2O emissions by 53.4%, and also maintained cucumber yield. Based on this study, 50% of the traditional N fertilizer rate (N600) was considered sustainable for greenhouse cucumber production in the North China Plain.

Volume 17, Issue 4 (7-2015)
Abstract

Plant fatty acyl-acyl carrier protein thioesterase (FAT) is a major enzyme regulating the amount and composition of fatty acids in lipids. In this study, one type of cDNA, corresponding to the fatty acyl-acyl carrier protein (acyl-ACP) thioesterase (Fat) enzyme, was isolated from the seed of Brassica napus cv. Ningyou12. BLAST results revealed that the cDNA identified highly with the FatB class of plant thioesterases. The cDNA contained a 1,245 bp open reading frame (ORF), encoding a protein that contained 414 amino acid residues. Subcellular localization results showed that the BnFatB protein was located in the chloroplast. The BnFatB (KC445243) gene was expressed in many tissues and was strongly expressed in seeds. Heterologous expression of the BnFatB gene in yeast cells was performed in order to ascertain the function of the BnFatB gene. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR results indicated that the expression level of the BnFatB gene in transformed yeast had significantly increased compared to the control. GC analysis of the fatty acid revealed that, when compared with the control, the content of C16:0 and C18:0 in yeast cells expressing BnFatB increased by 45.7 and 21.7%, respectively; while C16:1 and C18:1 decreased by 15.3 and 30.6%, respectively. This study demonstrated that the BnFatB gene had similar function as the FatB enzyme, preferentially releasing saturated fatty acid from the acyl carrier protein. It can therefore be used as a candidate target for fatty acid improvement in oilseed rape.

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