Volume 45 (2012): Issue 1 (March 2012)

Cronobacter spp. (formerly Enterobacter sakazakii) has been isolated from a wide range of environmental and several food sources. Cronobacter spp. is an opportunistic pathogen causing serious infection in infants, particularly neonates. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize Cronobacter spp. from food sources (infant food, herbs and spices and vegetables) and from environmental sources as dust from vacuum cleaners. Isolation of Cronobacter spp. was performed on selective chromogenic agars, fi rstly using commercial ESIA agar and thereafter on Kim and Rhee-KR agar described in the literature. Phenotypic characteristics were obtained by commercial miniaturized biochemical ENTEROTEST 24 kits and the fi nal confi rmation of isolated strains was performed by molecular techniques (PCR, PCR - DGGE analysis, and 16S rDNA sequencing). Altogether, 99 samples were analyzed (47 samples of foods and 52 samples of dust). In total, 43 isolates of presumptive Cronobacter spp. were initially identifi ed, however, only 22 isolates (51%) were identifi ed as Cronobacter spp. with high identity scores (75-99%). The occurrence of presumptive cronobacters in environmental samples was signifi cantly higher than in samples of food (18 out of 52 vs. 4 out of 47; P = 0.003). No cronobacters were found in 17 samples of infant food, 3 isolates originated from herbs and spices, 1 isolate from spinach and 18 isolates from samples of dust (households, restaurants, dormitory rooms). It can be concluded that Cronobacter spp. is a ubiquitous pathogen contaminating food and environment. Cronobacter spp. could be well identifi ed by means of ENTERO24 test kits with high probability. Both phenotypic and genotypic methodology could be used for identifi cation of Cronobacter spp. and they can be combined for reliable identifi cation.

Sweet Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is an annual herbaceous species used for centuries in a multitude of countries, especially in Africa (Sub-Saharan Africa), but also in the Americas and Asia, mainly for its grain and fi brous remainders, these used as animal fodder or as a combustible. Already for some decades the non-structural sugars from Sorghum stalks became of interest for the ethanol production business either for industrial, beverage or fuel uses. The species is particularly interesting because of its characteristic low energy, chemicals and water inputs. In addition, this is achieved with a very interesting performance in terms of Greenhouse Effect Gases (GEG) emission mitigation. This paper discusses the Sweet Sorghum production under climatic/soil conditions in Portugal and its possible use in a combined bio-energy production plant. Results from experimental fi eld trials ran in Portugal (Province of Beira Interior) for two years showed yields up to 90 tonnes of fresh biomass per hectare at very low inputs. They confi rm that this crop cultivation is technically feasible and economically effective for the above region and can become a cash crop. The technical aspects of the Sweet Sorghum growing processes and profi table use are especially discussed. These include the ethanol production, co-generation of heat and power as well as biogas generation. The interest in some valuable co-products use is raised, too. Advantages of integrating these processes are also analyzed.

The regional disparities in the socioeconomic development are observed in all countries of the world and are given by objective and subjective reasons. This article provides an overview of a study of regional backwardness in the Republic of Uzbekistan; it also identifi es common features among lagging regions and possible reasons for this state. Uzbekistan is divided into 14 regions. By means of the statistical analysis of socioeconomic indicators and empiric study, 5 regions were found to belong into a group of regions with low level of socioeconomic development: Autonomic Republic of Karakalpakstan, Khorezm, Namangan, Syrdarya and Surkhandarya. Even though the absolute elimination of regional disparities is not possible, if they continue to be ignored, they could undermine the socioeconomic and political situation in the country.

The paper is an examination of Balassa’s ‘revealed comparative advantage’ (RCA). The results of researches show that when using the RCA, it should always be attuned in such a way, that it becomes symmetric.This paper consists of three major parts i.e. theory, analytical tool and case studies of comparative advantage. First we evaluate the theory and various empirical measures. Then this analytical tool is applied to analyze exported product. The results indicate that Iran had not comparative advantage in export of walnut, almond hazelnut, apple, orange. To increase competitiveness, we suggest several policy recommendations such as increasing agricultural productivity, promoting the development of indigenous technological capabilities, and reducing the cost of doing business. The conclusion is based on a theoretical discussion of the properties of the measure, and on convincing empirical evidence, according to the Balassa index.The index for 2007 shows that Iran does not have a comparative advantage in export of walnut, almond hazelnut, apple and orange and reduced its market share in these products.

Physical control methods are preferred in post-harvest management of insect pests because chemical intervention is extremely hazardous. Use of audible sound waves in insect pest intervention is a novel idea which has not been popular hitherto. An attempt has been made in this study, to understand the mechanical impact of sine sound waves on red fl our beetle, Triboliumcastaneum (Herbst), a common secondary pest of fl our and other stored products. Last instar T. castaneum larvae (n = 50 and number of replicates = 4) were bombarded with 12 different frequencies of sine sound waves (900 to 2 000 Hz) by placing them directly on a matted polymer surface facilitating maximum sound absorption. The LD50 value of sine sound waves for the larvae was 665.14 and the LD90 1339.43 Hz. The dorsal pronotum of adult beetles, developing from bombarded larvae were studied using scanning electron microscope (SEM) to look for mechanical damage of the dorsal cuticle. The setae were lost or damaged, the epicuticle was obliterated and the sockets became obscure. The results of the study would throw light on the applications of sound waves in the interventional management of stored products pests.

This study was carried out to estimate the level of poverty gap between female and male headed farm families in Delta state, Nigeria. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 210 respondents in 27 communities from a list of farm families drawn with assistance of extension offi cers covering the area. The study was conducted in 2010. Various methods were employed in analyzing the data, including descriptive statistical tools and inferential statistics such as t-test and ordinary least square regression analysis. Results of the study indicate that the farmers were characteristically smallholders with about 66% of males and 86% of female household heads having not more than 1.50 hectares of farm land. On the poverty levels of the households, it was found that the core poverty and moderate poverty lines for male, female and all households were N4078, N2217 and N3376 and N8146, N5435 and N6752 respectively. This implies that poverty was wide spread among the farm households especially the female headed ones. A test analysis to determine the effect of selected socioeconomic characteristics of the household heads on their levels of poverty indicates that four variables were signifi cantly related to the household poverty levels, namely level of formal education, family size, farm size and household monthly income (P ≤ 0.05). A number of recommendations were made including the need for family planning among the rural households so that they produce only the number of children they can take care of to guarantee them minimum acceptable standard of living.

In most parts of the world ratite farming (i.e. farming of ostriches, emus and rheas) is a new fi eld of livestock production. These birds are livestock with broad utilisation of their products. Both wild and captive ostriches, emus and rheas may be infested with their own specifi c parasites as well as with external and internal parasites of other birds and animals. Eimeria spp. (protozoa), Houttuynia struthionis (cestoda) and Libyostrongylus douglassii (nematoda) belong to parasites causing the most serious economic losses in ratites in the world. As farming of these big birds is still in the beginning, many years of research and development are necessary to reach levels of medical and technological progress that is nowadays practised in poultry industry.