Displaying publications 141 - 160 of 598 in total

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  1. Fulltext Socio-demographic determinants of Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in migrant workers of Peninsular Malaysia
    Sahimin N, Lim YAL, Ariffin F, Behnke JM, Basáñez MG, Walker M, et al.
    Parasit Vectors, 2017 May 15;10(1):238.
    PMID: 28506241 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2167-8
    BACKGROUND: The number of migrants working in Malaysia has increased sharply since the 1970's and there is concern that infectious diseases endemic in other (e.g. neighbouring) countries may be inadvertently imported. Compulsory medical screening prior to entering the workforce does not include parasitic infections such as toxoplasmosis. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection among migrant workers in Peninsular Malaysia by means of serosurveys conducted on a voluntary basis among low-skilled and semi-skilled workers from five working sectors, namely, manufacturing, food service, agriculture and plantation, construction and domestic work.

    METHODS: A total of 484 migrant workers originating from rural locations in neighbouring countries, namely, Indonesia (n = 247, 51.0%), Nepal (n = 99, 20.5%), Bangladesh (n = 72, 14.9%), India (n = 52, 10.7%) and Myanmar (n = 14, 2.9%) were included in this study.

    RESULTS: The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii was 57.4% (n = 278; 95% CI: 52.7-61.8%) with 52.9% (n = 256; 95% CI: 48.4-57.2%) seropositive for anti-Toxoplasma IgG only, 0.8% (n = 4; 95% CI: 0.2-1.7%) seropositive for anti-Toxoplasma IgM only and 3.7% (n = 18; 95% CI: 2.1-5.4%) seropositive with both IgG and IgM antibodies. All positive samples with both IgG and IgM antibodies showed high avidity (> 40%), suggesting latent infection. Age (being older than 45 years), Nepalese nationality, manufacturing occupation, and being a newcomer in Malaysia (excepting domestic work) were positively and statistically significantly associated with seroprevalence (P 

    Matched MeSH terms: Agriculture
  2. Impact of Mg rich synthetic gypsum application on the environment and palm oil quality
    Sahibin AR, Shamshuddin J, Fauziah CI, Radziah O, Wan Mohd Razi I, Enio MSK
    Sci Total Environ, 2019 Feb 20;652:573-582.
    PMID: 30368186 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.232
    A study was conducted in an oil palm plantation in Peninsular Malaysia to elucidate the effects of applying Magnesium Rich Synthetic Gypsum (MRSG), a by-product of chemical plant, on the chemical properties of soil, the uptake of heavy metals by the palm trees, the oil quality and its impact on the surrounding environment. The results showed that MRSG application onto soil cropped to oil palm could bring positive impact in terms of soil chemical properties and oil palm production. The quality of the oil was not significantly affected by the continuous MRSG application as shown by the low heavy metals and trace elements of concern content (Cu: 0.062 mg/kg; Fe: 2.10 mg/kg; Mn: 1.93 mg/kg; Pb: 0.006 mg/kg; Zn: 0.103 mg/kg; Cr: 0.354 mg/kg; Ni: 0.037 mg/kg). From the I-geochem index, the soil was found to have values ranging from -3.81 to -1.03 which is considered as uncontaminated. Further, its application did not result in negative impact on the surrounding environment; hence, the quality of the soil and surface water in the plantation and/or the surrounding area remained intact. Phytotoxic elements in the oil palm tissue (As: 0.12 mg/kg; Se: 0.05 mg/kg; Zn: 1.48 mg/kg; Ce: 0.47 mg/kg; La: 0.26 mg/kg; Sr: 3.03 mg/kg) and cytotoxic elements in the oil were below the acceptable limit. Based on the results of the Environmental Monitoring out during the period of the study, it was concluded that application of the by-product of the chemical plant as a source of Mg to enhance soil fertility in the oil palm plantation was considered safe and sustainable. The effects of applying MRSG and Chinese kieserite was almost similar. So, MRSG can be used as a possible source of Mg to replace Chinese kieserite for oil palm production on the Ultisols in Peninsular Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Agriculture
  3. Fulltext Cholinesterase-based biosensor for preliminary detection of toxic heavy metals in the environment and agricultural-based products
    Sabullah, M. K., Khalidi, S. A. M., Abdullah, R., Sani, S. A., Gansau, J. A., Ahmad, S. A., et al.
    International Food Research Journal, 2020;27(4):597-609.
    MyJurnal
    Heavy metals with high chemical activity from sludge and waste release, agriculture, and
    mining activity are a major concern. They should be carefully managed before reaching the
    main water bodies. Excessive exposure to heavy metal may cause toxic effect to any types of
    organism from the biomolecular to the physiological level, and ultimately cause death. Monitoring is the best technique to ensure the safety of our environment before a rehabilitation is
    needed. Nowadays, enzyme-based biosensors are utilised in biomonitoring programmes as
    this technique allows for a real-time detection and rapid result. It is also inexpensive and easy
    to handle. Enzyme-based biosensors are an alternative for the preliminary screening of
    contamination before a secondary screening is performed using high-performance technology.
    This review highlights the current knowledge on enzyme-based biosensors, focusing on
    cholinesterase for toxic metal detection in the environment.
    Matched MeSH terms: Agriculture
  4. Exploring use of a commercial passive sampler in a closed static chamber to measure ammonia volatilization
    Sabrina J, Nurulhuda K, Amin AM, Sulaiman MF, Man HC
    Environ Pollut, 2022 Dec 15;315:120282.
    PMID: 36174812 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120282
    Studies have indicated that up to 47% of total N fertilizer applied in flooded rice fields may be lost to the atmosphere through NH3 volatilization. The volatilized NH3 represents monetary loss and contributes to increase in formation of PM2.5 in the atmosphere, eutrophication in surface water, and degrades water and soil quality. The NH3 is also a precursor to N2O formation. Thus, it is important to monitor NH3 volatilization from fertilized and flooded rice fields. Commercially available samplers offer ease of transportation and installation, and thus, may be considered as NH3 absorbents for the static chamber method. Hence, the objective of this study is to investigate the use of a commercially available NH3 sampler/absorbent (i.e., Ogawa® passive sampler) for implementation in a static chamber. In this study, forty closed static chambers were used to study two factors (i.e., trapping methods, exposure duration) arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design. The three trapping methods are standard boric acid solution, Ogawa® passive sampler with acid-coated pads and exposed coated pads without casing. The exposure durations are 1 and 4 h. Results suggest that different levels of absorbed NH3 was obtained for each of the trapping methods. Highest level of NH3 was trapped by the standard boric acid solution, followed by the exposed acid-coated pads without casing, and finally acid-coated pads with protective casing, given the same exposure duration. The differences in absorbed NH3 under same conditions does not warrant direct comparison across the different trapping methods. Any three trapping methods can be used for conducting studies to compare multi-treatments using the static chamber method, provided the same trapping method is applied for all chambers.
    Matched MeSH terms: Agriculture
  5. Fulltext APPLICATION OF MFRS 141: INSIGHTS FROM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF COMPANIES IN MALAYSIA
    SITINURIZZATI JAMIL,, AKMALIA MOHAMAD ARIF, SHAHNAZ ISMAIL
    UMT Journal of Undergraduate Research, 2019;1(2):59-68.
    MyJurnal
    This study examined biological asset information that has been reported by companies in Malaysia and the methods of valuation used in reporting the biological assets. It aimed to provide useful information to the regulators about the application of MFRS 141, the accounting standards for agriculture, in corporate reporting. This study employed the data derived from the 2016 annual reportsof plantation companies listed on Bursa Malaysia. Descriptive analysis was used to examine the biological asset information that has been reported and the characteristics of the companies such as age, size, and leverage. The results of this study showed that most of the plantation companies believed that fair value and historical cost could be the best way to measure their biological assets. The findings of this study provide input towards identifying the gap in corporate reporting practices and the challenges faced by companies in the application of MFRS 141. The findings are expected to contribute to the regulatory improvement towards increasing the full adoption of MFRS 141 by companies in Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Agriculture
  6. Evolution of adsorption process for manganese removal in water via agricultural waste adsorbents
    Rudi NN, Muhamad MS, Te Chuan L, Alipal J, Omar S, Hamidon N, et al.
    Heliyon, 2020 Sep;6(9):e05049.
    PMID: 33033772 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05049
    Manganese has recently been a topic of interest among researchers, particularly when 1,752 million tonnes of manganese are expected to be produced by the steel industry in 2020. Manganese discharges from industrial effluents have increased manganese contamination in water sources. Its concentrations of more than 0.2 mg/L in the water sources could have negative impacts on human health and the aquatic ecosystem. Thereby, the available water treatment processes face challenges in effectively removing manganese at low cost. In response to these challenges, adsorption has emerged as one of the most practical water treatment processes for manganese removal. In particular, agricultural waste adsorbents received a lot of attention owing to their low cost and high efficiency (99%) in the removal of manganese. Therefore, this paper reviews the removal of manganese by adsorption process using agricultural waste adsorbents. The factors affecting the adsorption process, the mechanisms, and the performances of the adsorbents are elucidated in detail.
    Matched MeSH terms: Agriculture
  7. Fulltext Chlorpyrifos blood level and exposure symptoms among paddy farmers in Sabak Bernam, Malaysia
    Rozita Hod, Azimatun Noor Aizuddin, Shamsul Azhar Shah, Mohd Rohaizat Hassan, Nazarudin Safian, Mohd Hasni Jaafar
    Int J Public Health Res, 2011;1(1):1-6.
    MyJurnal
    Accepted 21 July 2011.
    Introduction The extensive and intensive use of pesticides in agricultural practices has exposed farmers to various hazards resulting in varying degrees of health
    outcomes.
    Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study among paddy farmers in Sabak Bernam district, Malaysia. The objective of this study was to gather baseline information on chlorpyrifos blood level and its relationship with pesticides exposure symptoms.
    Results We detected chlorpyrifos in farmers’ blood in 7 percent of the respondents, with mean 7.29 nanogram per millilitre blood (sd 5.84 nanogram per millilitre). The percentage of farmers who experienced at least one pesticide exposure symptoms was 75 percent. However, we found no significant association between chlorpyrifos blood level and its exposure symptoms. The farmers had low scores on safe practice of pesticide use even though they have high marks on knowledge and attitude. We found no significant association between the scores on knowledge, attitude and practice on pesticide use and the chlorpyrifos blood level.
    Conclusions The presence of pesticide exposure symptoms proved that most of the farmers were exposed to hazardous effects of pesticides. Specific trainings on safe use and handling of pesticides should be given on regular basis to these farmers to ensure they are protected from hazardous effects of pesticides exposure.
    Matched MeSH terms: Agriculture
  8. First Report of Dolabra nepheliae on Rambutan and Litchi in Hawaii and Puerto Rico
    Rossman AY, Goenaga R, Keith L
    Plant Dis, 2007 Dec;91(12):1685.
    PMID: 30780638 DOI: 10.1094/PDIS-91-12-1685C
    A stem canker disease on rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.) and litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn. (Sapindaceae) was found in plants in Hawaii and Puerto Rico. A fungus associated with cankers was identified as Dolabra nepheliae C. Booth & Ting (1). Numerous black, stipitate, elongate ascomata were produced within cracks of cankers. These ascomata contain elongate, bitunicate asci amid unbranched, interthecial elements and thin, cylindrical, hyaline ascospores measuring 96 to 136 × 2.5 to 3.5 μm. This fungus was originally described from Malaysia on N. lappaceum (1) and is also known on pulasan (N. mutabile Blume) in Australia (2). Classified by the Food and Agriculture Organization as a 'minor disease', the canker appears to be relatively common in Hawaii and was most likely introduced into Puerto Rico on imported germplasm. Nevertheless, efforts are underway to study the potential damage of this disease as well as mechanisms of control, including introduction of disease resistant clones. Specimens have been deposited at the U.S. National Fungus Collections (Hawaii on Nephelium BPI 878189, Puerto Rico (PR) on Nephelium BPI 878188, and PR on Litchi BPI 878190). Although a specimen of D. nepheliae on L. chinensis was collected from Hawaii in 1984 by G. Wong and C. Hodges and deposited as BPI 626373, this fungus was not known on Nephelium spp. in Hawaii and was not previously known from Puerto Rico on either host. References: (1) C. Booth and W. P. Ting. Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc. 47:235, 1964. (2) T. K. Lim and Y. Diczbalis. Rambutan. Page 306 in: The New Rural Industries. Online publication. Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, Australia, 1997.
    Matched MeSH terms: Agriculture
  9. Cultivation of aerobic granular sludge for rubber wastewater treatment
    Rosman NH, Nor Anuar A, Othman I, Harun H, Sulong Abdul Razak MZ, Elias SH, et al.
    Bioresour Technol, 2013 Feb;129:620-3.
    PMID: 23317554 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.12.113
    Aerobic granular sludge (AGS) was successfully cultivated at 27±1 °C and pH 7.0±1 during the treatment of rubber wastewater using a sequential batch reactor system mode with complete cycle time of 3 h. Results showed aerobic granular sludge had an excellent settling ability and exhibited exceptional performance in the organics and nutrients removal from rubber wastewater. Regular, dense and fast settling granule (average diameter, 1.5 mm; settling velocity, 33 m h(-1); and sludge volume index, 22.3 mL g(-1)) were developed in a single reactor. In addition, 96.5% COD removal efficiency was observed in the system at the end of the granulation period, while its ammonia and total nitrogen removal efficiencies were up to 94.7% and 89.4%, respectively. The study demonstrated the capabilities of AGS development in a single, high and slender column type-bioreactor for the treatment of rubber wastewater.
    Matched MeSH terms: Agriculture/methods
  10. Fulltext Using Non-supervised Artificial Neural Network for Determination of Anthropogenic Disturbance in a River System
    Rosli NRM, Yahya K
    Trop Life Sci Res, 2017 Jul;28(2):189-199.
    PMID: 28890770 MyJurnal DOI: 10.21315/tlsr2017.28.2.14
    The study of river water quality plays an important role in assessing the pollution status and health of the water bodies. Human-induced activities such as domestic activities, aquaculture, agriculture and industries have detrimentally affected the river water quality. Pinang River is one of the important rivers in Balik Pulau District that supplies freshwater for human consumption. A total of 442 physical and chemical parameters data of the Pinang River, Balik Pulau catchment were analysed to determine the sources of pollutants entering the river. Non-supervised artificial neural network (ANN) was employed to classify and cluster the river into upstream, middle-stream and downstream zones. The monitored data and non-supervised ANN analysis demonstrated that the source of nitrate was derived from the upper part of the Pinang River, Balik Pulau while the sources of nitrite, ammonia and ortho-phosphate are predominant at the middle-stream of the river system. Meanwhile, the sources of high total suspended solid and biological oxygen demand were concentrated at the downstream of the river.
    Matched MeSH terms: Agriculture
  11. Meta-analysis contrasting freshwater biodiversity in forests and oil palm plantations with and without riparian buffers
    Rojas-Castillo OA, Kepfer Rojas S, Juen L, Montag LFA, Carvalho FG, Mendes TP, et al.
    Conserv Biol, 2024 Feb;38(1):e14172.
    PMID: 37650444 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14172
    The expansion of oil palm plantations has led to land-use change and deforestation in the tropics, which has affected biodiversity. Although the impacts of the crop on terrestrial biodiversity have been extensively reviewed, its effects on freshwater biodiversity remain relatively unexplored. We reviewed the research assessing the impacts of forest-to-oil palm conversion on freshwater biota and the mitigating effect of riparian buffers on these impacts. We searched for studies comparing taxa richness, species abundance, and community composition of macroinvertebrates, amphibians, and fish in streams in forests (primary and disturbed) and oil palm plantations with and without riparian buffers. Then, we conducted a meta-analysis to quantify the overall effect of the land-use change on the 3 taxonomic groups. Twenty-nine studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. On average, plantations lacking buffers hosted 44% and 19% fewer stream taxa than primary and disturbed forests, respectively. Stream taxa on plantations with buffers were 24% lower than in primary forest and did not differ significantly from disturbed forest. In contrast, stream community composition differed between forests and plantations regardless of the presence of riparian buffers. These differences were attributed to agrochemical use and altered environmental conditions in the plantations, including temperature changes, worsened water conditions, microhabitat loss, and food and shelter depletion. On aggregate, abundance did not differ significantly among land uses because increases in generalist species offset the population decline of vulnerable forest specialists in the plantation. Our results reveal significant impacts of forest-to-oil palm conversion on freshwater biota, particularly taxa richness and composition (but not aggregate abundance). Although preserving riparian buffers in the plantations can mitigate the loss of various aquatic species, it cannot conserve primary forest communities. Therefore, safeguarding primary forests from the oil palm expansion is crucial, and further research is needed to address riparian buffers as a promising mitigation strategy in agricultural areas.
    Matched MeSH terms: Agriculture
  12. Fasciolopsiasis: a first case report from Malaysia
    Rohela M, Jamaiah I, Menon J, Rachel J
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 2005 Mar;36(2):456-8.
    PMID: 15916055
    Fasciolopsiasis is a disease caused by the largest intestinal fluke, Fasciolopsis buski. The disease is endemic in the Far East and Southeast Asia. Human acquires the infection after eating raw freshwater plants contaminated with the infective metacercariae. There has been no report of fasciolopsiasis either in man or in animal in Malaysia. We are reporting the first case of fasciolopsiasis in Malaysia in a 39-year-old female farmer, a native of Sabah (East Malaysia). This patient complained of cough and fever for a duration of two weeks, associated with loss of appetite and loss of weight. She had no history of traveling overseas. Physical examination showed pallor, multiple cervical and inguinal lymph nodes and hepatosplenomegaly. Laboratory investigations showed that she had iron deficiency anemia. There was leukocytosis and a raised ESR. Lymph node biopsy revealed a caseating granuloma. Stool examination was positive for the eggs of Fasciolopsis buski. The eggs measure 140 x 72.5 microm and are operculated. In this case, the patient did not present with symptoms suggestive of any intestinal parasitic infections. Detection of Fasciolopsis buski eggs in the stool was an incidental finding. She was diagnosed as a case of disseminated tuberculosis with fasciolopsiasis and was treated with antituberculosis drugs and praziquantel, respectively.
    Matched MeSH terms: Agriculture
  13. Fulltext The health of plantation workers
    Richards T
    Br Med J (Clin Res Ed), 1986 Sep 20;293(6549):714.
    PMID: 3094623
    Matched MeSH terms: Agriculture*
  14. Fulltext IoT-Based Sensor Data Fusion for Determining Optimality Degrees of Microclimate Parameters in Commercial Greenhouse Production of Tomato
    Rezvani SM, Abyaneh HZ, Shamshiri RR, Balasundram SK, Dworak V, Goodarzi M, et al.
    Sensors (Basel), 2020 Nov 12;20(22).
    PMID: 33198414 DOI: 10.3390/s20226474
    Optimum microclimate parameters, including air temperature (T), relative humidity (RH) and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) that are uniformly distributed inside greenhouse crop production systems are essential to prevent yield loss and fruit quality. The objective of this research was to determine the spatial and temporal variations in the microclimate data of a commercial greenhouse with tomato plants located in the mid-west of Iran. For this purpose, wireless sensor data fusion was incorporated with a membership function model called Optimality Degree (OptDeg) for real-time monitoring and dynamic assessment of T, RH and VPD in different light conditions and growth stages of tomato. This approach allows growers to have a simultaneous projection of raw data into a normalized index between 0 and 1. Custom-built hardware and software based on the concept of the Internet-of-Things, including Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LoRaWAN) transmitter nodes, a multi-channel LoRaWAN gateway and a web-based data monitoring dashboard were used for data collection, data processing and monitoring. The experimental approach consisted of the collection of meteorological data from the external environment by means of a weather station and via a grid of 20 wireless sensor nodes distributed in two horizontal planes at two different heights inside the greenhouse. Offline data processing for sensors calibration and model validation was carried in multiple MATLAB Simulink blocks. Preliminary results revealed a significant deviation of the microclimate parameters from optimal growth conditions for tomato cultivation due to the inaccurate timer-based heating and cooling control systems used in the greenhouse. The mean OptDeg of T, RH and VPD were 0.67, 0.94, 0.94 in January, 0.45, 0.36, 0.42 in June and 0.44, 0.0, 0.12 in July, respectively. An in-depth analysis of data revealed that averaged OptDeg values, as well as their spatial variations in the horizontal profile were closer to the plants' comfort zone in the cold season as compared with those in the warm season. This was attributed to the use of heating systems in the cold season and the lack of automated cooling devices in the warm season. This study confirmed the applicability of using IoT sensors for real-time model-based assessment of greenhouse microclimate on a commercial scale. The presented IoT sensor node and the Simulink model provide growers with a better insight into interpreting crop growth environment. The outcome of this research contributes to the improvement of closed-field cultivation of tomato by providing an integrated decision-making framework that explores microclimate variation at different growth stages in the production season.
    Matched MeSH terms: Agriculture
  15. Fulltext Changes in forest land use and management in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, 1990-2010, with a focus on the Danum Valley region
    Reynolds G, Payne J, Sinun W, Mosigil G, Walsh RP
    Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 2011 Nov 27;366(1582):3168-76.
    PMID: 22006960 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2011.0154
    In an earlier special issue of this journal, Marsh & Greer summarized forest land use in Sabah at that time and gave an introduction to the Danum Valley Conservation Area. Since that assessment, during the period 1990-2010, the forests of Sabah and particularly those of the ca 10 000 km(2) concession managed on behalf of the State by Yayasan Sabah (the Sabah Foundation) have been subject to continual, industrial harvesting, including the premature re-logging of extensive tracts of previously only once-logged forest and large-scale conversion of natural forests to agricultural plantations. Over the same period, however, significant areas of previously unprotected pristine forest have been formally gazetted as conservation areas, while much of the forest to the north, the south and the east of the Danum Valley Conservation Area (the Ulu Segama and Malua Forest Reserves) has been given added protection and new forest restoration initiatives have been launched. This paper analyses these forest-management and land-use changes in Sabah during the period 1990-2010, with a focus on the Yayasan Sabah Forest Management Area. Important new conservation and forest restoration and rehabilitation initiatives within its borders are given particular emphasis.
    Matched MeSH terms: Agriculture
  16. Fulltext Draft Genome Sequence of Erwinia mallotivora BT-MARDI, Causative Agent of Papaya Dieback Disease
    Redzuan RA, Abu Bakar N, Rozano L, Badrun R, Mat Amin N, Mohd Raih MF
    Genome Announc, 2014;2(3).
    PMID: 24812220 DOI: 10.1128/genomeA.00375-14
    Erwinia mallotivora was isolated from papaya trees infected with dieback disease, which were planted at the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), Malaysia. Here, we report a draft genome sequence of E. mallotivora BT-MARDI, which offers an important source of information for understanding pathogen and host interaction during papaya dieback development.
    Matched MeSH terms: Agriculture
  17. Fulltext Supermarket revolution in Asia and emerging development strategies to include small farmers
    Reardon T, Timmer CP, Minten B
    Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2012 Jul 31;109(31):12332-7.
    PMID: 21135250 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1003160108
    A "supermarket revolution" has occurred in developing countries in the past 2 decades. We focus on three specific issues that reflect the impact of this revolution, particularly in Asia: continuity in transformation, innovation in transformation, and unique development strategies. First, the record shows that the rapid growth observed in the early 2000s in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand has continued, and the "newcomers"--India and Vietnam--have grown even faster. Although foreign direct investment has been important, the roles of domestic conglomerates and even state investment have been significant and unique. Second, Asia's supermarket revolution has exhibited unique pathways of retail diffusion and procurement system change. There has been "precocious" penetration of rural towns by rural supermarkets and rural business hubs, emergence of penetration of fresh produce retail that took much longer to initiate in other regions, and emergence of Asian retail developing-country multinational chains. In procurement, a symbiosis between modern retail and the emerging and consolidating modern food processing and logistics sectors has arisen. Third, several approaches are being tried to link small farmers to supermarkets. Some are unique to Asia, for example assembling into a "hub" or "platform" or "park" the various companies and services that link farmers to modern markets. Other approaches relatively new to Asia are found elsewhere, especially in Latin America, including "bringing modern markets to farmers" by establishing collection centers and multipronged collection cum service provision arrangements, and forming market cooperatives and farmer companies to help small farmers access supermarkets.
    Matched MeSH terms: Agriculture/economics*; Agriculture/trends*
  18. Current Trends on the Effects of Metal-Based Nanoparticles on Microbial Ecology
    Rawat J, Kumar V, Ahlawat P, Tripathi LK, Tomar R, Kumar R, et al.
    Appl Biochem Biotechnol, 2023 Oct;195(10):6168-6182.
    PMID: 36847986 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-023-04386-0
    The growing field of nanotechnology and its many applications have led to the irregular release of nanoparticles (NPs), with unintended effects on the environment and continued contamination of water bodies. Metallic NPs are used more frequently in extreme environmental conditions due to their higher efficiency, which attracts more attention in various applications. Due to improper pre-treatment of biosolids, inefficient wastewater treatment practices, and other unregulated agricultural practices continue to contaminate the environment. In particular, the uncontrolled use of NPs in various industrial applications has led to damage to the microbial flora and caused irreplaceable damage to animals and plants. This study focuses on the effect of different doses, types, and compositions of NP on the ecosystem. The review also mentions the impact of various metallic NPs on microbial ecology, their interactions with microorganisms, ecotoxicity studies, and dosage evaluation of the NPs, mainly focused on the review article. However, further research is still needed to understand the complexity of interactions between NPs and microbes in soil and aquatic ecosystems.
    Matched MeSH terms: Agriculture
  19. Fulltext Plant Disease Detection and Classification: A Systematic Literature Review
    Ramanjot, Mittal U, Wadhawan A, Singla J, Jhanjhi NZ, Ghoniem RM, et al.
    Sensors (Basel), 2023 May 15;23(10).
    PMID: 37430683 DOI: 10.3390/s23104769
    A significant majority of the population in India makes their living through agriculture. Different illnesses that develop due to changing weather patterns and are caused by pathogenic organisms impact the yields of diverse plant species. The present article analyzed some of the existing techniques in terms of data sources, pre-processing techniques, feature extraction techniques, data augmentation techniques, models utilized for detecting and classifying diseases that affect the plant, how the quality of images was enhanced, how overfitting of the model was reduced, and accuracy. The research papers for this study were selected using various keywords from peer-reviewed publications from various databases published between 2010 and 2022. A total of 182 papers were identified and reviewed for their direct relevance to plant disease detection and classification, of which 75 papers were selected for this review after exclusion based on the title, abstract, conclusion, and full text. Researchers will find this work to be a useful resource in recognizing the potential of various existing techniques through data-driven approaches while identifying plant diseases by enhancing system performance and accuracy.
    Matched MeSH terms: Agriculture*
  20. Fulltext Suction elevator for ear surgery
    Raman R, Omar R
    Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 2011 Jul;63(3):302.
    PMID: 22754818 DOI: 10.1007/s12070-011-0155-4
    An instrument has been designed to combine a suction and an elevator for use in ear surgery.
    Matched MeSH terms: Agriculture
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