Trade deregulation and fiscal revenue in selected Pacific Island countries.

This paper examines the revenue implications of trade deregulation in a panel of Pacific Island countries from 2010 to 2021. First, we undertake a cross-country analysis of tax revenue, trade, and tax structure. Secondly, we empirically analyze the effect of trade deregulation on trade tax and overall government tax revenue.

Biological validation of peak-width of skeletonized mean diffusivity as a VCID biomarker: The MarkVCID Consortium.

Background: Peak-width of skeletonized mean diffusivity (PSMD), a neuroimaging marker of cerebral small vessel disease (SVD), has shown excellent instrumental properties. Here, we extend our work to perform a biological validation of PSMD.

Methods: We included 396 participants from the Biomarkers for Vascular Contributions to Cognitive Impairment and Dementia (MarkVCID-1) Consortium and three replication samples (Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology = 6172, Rush University Medical Center = 287, University of California Davis Alzheimer's Disease Research Center = 567).

Implementation and validation of face de-identification (de-facing) in ADNI4.

Introduction: Recent technological advances have increased the risk that de-identified brain images could be re-identified from face imagery. The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) is a leading source of publicly available de-identified brain imaging, who quickly acted to protect participants' privacy.

Methods: An independent expert committee evaluated 11 face-deidentification ("de-facing") methods and selected four for formal testing.

Determinants of carbon emission: A multiple scale decomposition of Gansu Province.

China, being the largest contributor to total carbon emissions, still has a long way to go in energy conservation and emission reduction. Employing the structural decomposition analysis (SDA) method and using input-output table data, this study examines the evolution of carbon emissions resulting from energy consumption in Gansu Province in China over the period 2007 to 2017. By exploring carbon emission driving factors and identifying key final demand and sectors for carbon emissions, Gansu province can formulate more effective emission reduction policies that can balance economic development and carbon emission control.

Mesoporous silica-amine beads from blast furnace slag for CO capture applications.

Steel slag, abundantly available at a low cost and containing over 30 wt% silica, is an attractive precursor for producing high-surface-area mesoporous silica. By employing a two-stage dissolution-precipitation method using 1 M HCl and 1 M NaOH, we extracted pure SiO, CaO, MgO, . from blast furnace slag (BFS).

Indian Society of Periodontology Good Clinical Practice Recommendations for Peri-implant Care.

Current implant therapy is a frequently employed treatment for individuals who have lost teeth, as it offers functional and biological advantages over old prostheses. Concurrently, active exploration of intervention strategies aims to prevent the progression of peri-implant diseases and manage the existing peri-implant tissue damage. Indian Society of Periodontology has recognized the need for systematic documents to update the everyday clinical practice of general dental practitioners and has provided evidence-based consensus documents, namely good clinical practice recommendations from time to time to raise the oral health-related awareness and standards of oral health-care delivery across the country.

Development of near homozygous lines for diploid hybrid TPS breeding in potatoes.

Diploid inbred-based F hybrid True Potato Seed (DHTPS) breeding is a novel technique to transform potato breeding and cultivation across the globe. Significant efforts are being made to identify elite diploids, dihaploids and develop diploid inbred lines for heterosis exploitation in potatoes. Self-incompatibility is the first obstacle for developing inbred lines in diploid potatoes, which necessitates the introgression of a dominant S locus inhibitor gene () for switching self-incompatibility to self-compatibility.

Kaolinite nanoclay-shielded dsRNA drenching for management of Globodera pallida: An environmentally friendly pest management approach.

Globodera pallida, an obligate sedentary endoparasite, is a major economic pest that causes substantial potato yield losses. This research aimed to study the effects of gene silencing of three FMRFamide-like peptides (FLPs) genes to reduce G. pallida infestation on potato plants by using kaolinite nanoclay as a carrier to deliver dsRNAs via drenching.

Identification of genes governing resistance to PCN (Globodera rostochiensis) through transcriptome analysis in Solanum tuberosum.

Potato cyst nematodes (PCNs) are major pests worldwide that affect potato production. The molecular changes happening in the roots upon PCN infection are still unknown. Identification of transcripts and genes governing PCN resistance will help in the development of resistant varieties.

CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of phytoene desaturase () gene in an important staple crop, potato.

The gene editing using the CRISPR/Cas9 system has become an important biotechnological tool for studying gene function and improving crops. In this study, we have used CRISPR/Cas9 system for editing the phytoene desaturase gene () in popular Indian potato cultivar Kufri Chipsona-I. A construct (pHSE401) carrying two target gRNAs with glycine tRNA processing system under the control of Arabidopsis U6 promoter and the Cas9 protein was constructed and transformed in potato plants using -mediated genetic transformations.

Chaetomium globosum KPC3: An Antagonistic Fungus Against the Potato Cyst Nematode, Globodera rostochiensis.

The potato cyst nematode (Globodera rostochiensis) is one of the most economically important pests of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), causing significant economic losses worldwide. The identification of biocontrol agents for the sustainable management of G.

Generation of Asynaptic Mutants in Potato by Disrupting Gene Using RNA Interference Approach.

Fixing the genomic composition and multiplication through true potato seed (TPS) is an important challenge in autotetraploid potato. Disrupted meiotic cDNA (DMC1) is a meiotic gene that plays a central role in DNA recombination through crossing over in meiosis. Using the DMC1 () gene sequence, we retrieved DMC1() from the diploid potato genome, and subsequently, sense and antisense regions of the gene were amplified in potato cv.

MRI free water as a biomarker for cognitive performance: Validation in the MarkVCID consortium.

Introduction: To evaluate the clinical validity of free water (FW), a diffusion tensor imaging-based biomarker kit proposed by the MarkVCID consortium, by investigating the association between mean FW (mFW) and executive function.

Methods: Baseline mFW was related to a baseline composite measure of executive function (EFC), adjusting for relevant covariates, in three MarkVCID sub-cohorts, and replicated in five, large, independent legacy cohorts. In addition, we tested whether baseline mFW predicted accelerated EFC score decline (mean follow-up time: 1.

Characterizing the Potato Growing Regions in India Using Meteorological Parameters.

Currently, the multi-location testing of advanced hybrids in India is carried out at 25 centers under the All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Potato (AICRP-P), which is spread across the country. These centres have been chosen to represent different potato growing regions based on soil and agronomic features. However, the reliable deployment of the newly bred varieties in different regions requires a scientific delineation of potato growing zones with homogenous climates.

Oral Hygiene practices and Oral Health Related Quality of Life observed in patients reporting to Dental Institution in North India during COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to ascertain Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHRQOL) and evaluate oralhygiene practices in patients visiting a dental institution during COVID-19 time.

Materials And Methods: Face-to face interviews were conducted using a semi-structured close-ended questionnaire,assessing oral hygiene practices and self-reported oral problems perceived in last 6 months, using both Hindi and English version of Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) Questionnaire. Frequency distribution of oral hygiene practices were obtained, and Descriptive statistics computed the scores of OHIP-14.

Genotypic variations for tuber nutrient content, dry matter and agronomic traits in tetraploid potato germplasm.

Unlabelled: Nutrient deficiencies lead to various health issues and are common worldwide. Potato germplasm is a rich source of natural variations and genetic variability present in it can be exploited for developing nutrient-rich high-yielding potato varieties. In this study, variations in the yield, dry matter (DM) and mineral nutrients concentrations were evaluated in both peeled and unpeeled tubers of 243 highly diverse tetraploid potato accessions.

Instrumental validation of free water, peak-width of skeletonized mean diffusivity, and white matter hyperintensities: MarkVCID neuroimaging kits.

Introduction: To describe the protocol and findings of the instrumental validation of three imaging-based biomarker kits selected by the MarkVCID consortium: free water (FW) and peak width of skeletonized mean diffusivity (PSMD), both derived from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume derived from fluid attenuation inversion recovery and T1-weighted imaging.

Methods: The instrumental validation of imaging-based biomarker kits included inter-rater reliability among participating sites, test-retest repeatability, and inter-scanner reproducibility across three types of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners using intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC).

Results: The three biomarkers demonstrated excellent inter-rater reliability (ICC >0.

Potato biofortification: an effective way to fight global hidden hunger.

Hidden hunger is leading to extensive health problems in the developing world. Several strategies could be used to reduce the micronutrient deficiencies by increasing the dietary uptake of essential micronutrients. These include diet diversification, pharmaceutical supplementation, food fortification and crop biofortification.

Tobacco smoking initiation among students in Samoa and health concerns.

Background: High prevalence of tobacco smoking among young students remains a serious health concern given the positive association between smoking and NCDs. More recently, some studies also noted young smokers were more likely to get infected with COVID-19 compared to non-smokers. This study aims to assess the factors that influence smoking uptake among young students in Samoa.

Single-Atom (Iron-Based) Catalysts: Synthesis and Applications.

Supported single-metal atom catalysts (SACs) are constituted of isolated active metal centers, which are heterogenized on inert supports such as graphene, porous carbon, and metal oxides. Their thermal stability, electronic properties, and catalytic activities can be controlled via interactions between the single-metal atom center and neighboring heteroatoms such as nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur. Due to the atomic dispersion of the active catalytic centers, the amount of metal required for catalysis can be decreased, thus offering new possibilities to control the selectivity of a given transformation as well as to improve catalyst turnover frequencies and turnover numbers.