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This study aimed to analyze the decisions of farmers in the use of organic fertilizer and analyze the impact of the use of organic fertilizers on productivity and farm income. This study was conducted in Ngawi regency of East Java Province. A total of 88 farmers of paddy were used as respondents in this study. The logit regression and propensity score matching (PSM) were used to examine factors affecting farmers to adopt organic fertilizers and the impact of organic fertilizer on the productivity of rice farming. The results of the study showed field school, farmer ages, farmers 'education level and participation in farmer groups had a positive and significant influence on farmers' decisions to use organic fertilizer. Furthermore, the results of the PSM analysis show that farmers who use organic fertilizer obtain higher production than farmers who do not apply. This can be stated that the use of organic fertilizers is able to provide higher productivity and better agricultural sustainability.

The aim of this study is to analyze the level of technical efficiency of rice farming in the rainy and dry seasons in Ngawi Regency, East Java Province. And compare the level of technical efficiency in the rainy and dry seasons. Respondents in this study were 88 rice farmers. Data analysis method used is Data envelopment analysis to obtain the level of technical efficiency of farmers and the average difference test (t test) to compare the level of technical efficiency in the rainy season and dry season. Tobit regression to analysis factors that influence technical efficiency. The results show that in the dry season farmers have higher technical efficiency than the rainy season. Similarly, the results of the average difference test (t test) show that the dry season has a higher average value of technical efficiency compared to the rainy season with a significant level of 1%. Field schools, farmers group, distance of plants, seed quality and season have a significant effect on the technical efficiency. This implies that there needs to be an increase in knowledge related to rice farming in the rainy season so that it can improve the technical efficiency and productivity of rice farming in the rainy season.

Ferrite spinel's MFe2O4 (M = Co, Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu) nanoparticles were produced by a co-precipitation method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was used to verify phase purity, crystal structure, and average crystallite size of MFe2O4 nanoparticles. All samples have not any phase impurity, which has a spinel structure with crystallite sizes between 7 and 29 nm. The results of far Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) of all samples were revealed in two strong bands about 570 cm−1 and 380 cm−1, which characterize the intrinsic lattice vibrations of octahedral and tetrahedral sites of the spinel structure, respectively. To measure the magnetic properties, a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) was used, and the results showed that the manganese nano-ferrite presents the highest saturation magnetization of 55.2 emu/g, while zinc ferrite reveals a low saturation magnetization value of 2.114 emu/g, among different synthesized nano-ferrites. Also, our findings indicated that although both particle size and cation distribution, the magnetic properties are affective on the magnetic properties; however, the role of particle size is more significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research is focused on assessing the feasibility of corn cultivation. This research was conducted through a survey using a simple random sampling method involving 47 farmers. The survey was conducted in October 2020, and primary and secondary data were collected. Primary data included details about the respondents, characteristics of corn farming, and input-output data was taken from the third Planting Season (July-September 2020). Secondary data was sourced from relevant agencies associated with the research. Descriptive analysis was used to assess the data on the respondents and farming characteristics, while financial analysis was applied to the input-output data to evaluate the viability of the farm and determine the breakeven point for production and price. The results showed: a) corn productivity at 7,200 t/ha grain yield, b) R/C ratio of 1.58, d) BEP price at IDR 3,130/kg, and BEP production at 4,453 kg/ha. As per the criteria of >1, the research concludes that corn farming is economically viable in this case.

The aim of the present study is to study the effects of adding diopside (CaMgSi2O6) as well as silica sulfuric acid nanoparticles to ceramic part of glass ionomer cement (GIC) in order to improve its mechanical properties. To do this, firstly, diopside (DIO) nanoparticles with chemical formula of CaMgSi2O6 were synthesized using sol-gel process and then, the structural and morphological properties of synthesized diopside nanoparticles were investigated. The results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and particle size analyzing (PSA) confirmed that synthesized diopside are nanoparticles and agglomerated. Besides, the result of X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses approved the purity of diopside nanoparticles compounds. Silica sulfuric acid (SSA) nanoparticles are also prepared by chemical modification of silica nanoparticles by means of chlorosulfonic acid. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) technique was used to find about the presence of the (SO3H) groups on the surface of silica sulfuric acid nanoparticles. Furthermore, various amounts (0.1, 3 and 5 wt.%) of diopside and silica sulfuric acid nanoparticles were added to the ceramic part of GIC (Fuji II GIC commercial type) to produce glass ionomer cement nanocomposites. The mechanical properties of the produced nanocomposites were measured using the compressive strength, three-point flexural strength and diametral tensile strength methods. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy technique confirmed the presence of the (SO3H) groups on the surface of silica nanoparticles. The compressive strength, three-point flexural strength and diametral tensile strength were 42.5, 15.4 and 6 MPa, respectively, without addition. Although adding 1% silica solfonic acid improved nanocomposite mchanical properties by almost 122%, but maximum increase in nanocomposite mechanical properties was observed in the nanocomposites with 3% diposid, in which 160% increase was seen in the mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of this assessment are to determine the type of KUB chicken agribusiness and feasibility of its business in household scale. The assessment was carried out from November to December 2020 using a survey method. Data were collected by using structured questionnaires to 133 KUB chicken farmers in East Java. Data were analyzed descriptively, using tabulation methods for understanding farming conditions and R/C ratio analysis for knowing economic feasibility. The results showed that there were many types of businesses run by KUB chicken farmers in East Java, namely day old chicks (DOC) production 29%, meat production 29 %, consumption egg production 19%, and others are hatching eggs and pullet productions. Farming population capacity was more than 100 (30.5%), 50-100 chickens (35.9%) and less than 50 chickens (33.6%). The highest business feasibility was in the type of breeding business for DOC production with an R/C ratio of 2.12, and the lowest was in egg production and meat production with R/C ratio of 1.16. It can be concluded that the main type of business that has a high value of business feasibility in the household scale KUB chicken farm in East Java is the nursery to produce DOC.

The study was conducted in South Central Timor and North Central Timor in the month of March to May 2017, the aims are the determinate the additional amount of money value of feed crops planted as a hedge row in vegetative conservation than without conservation, and the value of money of corn plants grown in the hedge row cultivation land for five years. Data were collected through interviews and field observations. The results showed that: (a) Production of biomass feed is grown as a hedge row to increase over time utilization and production will be stable after the fourth year by 25 t ha-1 year-1, (b) The relationship between biomass production and utilization of time to form a linear line with equation y = 6032.63 x - 592.6. (c) The relationship between biomass with time concession revenue line shape with the linear equation Y = 2,021,458.37x-2,444,254.57, (d) Hedge row has the potential to supply cattle feed about 2-3/6 months fattening or 4-6 fish/year, (e) Gross margin vegetative conservation concession for five years at IDR 50,111,138 ha-1 and without conservation of IDR 20,077,617

In our previous publication, we identified novel gene candidates involved in shell formation by EST analyses of the nacreous and prismatic layer-forming tissues in the pearl oyster Pinctada fucata. In the present study, 14 of those genes, including two known genes, were selected and further examined for their involvement in shell formation using the RNA interference. Molecular characterization based on the deduced amino acid sequences showed that seven of the novel genes encode secretory proteins. The tissue distribution of the transcripts of the genes, as analyzed by RT-PCR and in situ hybridization, was mostly consistent with those obtained by the EST analysis reported previously. Shells in the pearl oysters injected with dsRNAs targeting genes 000027, 000058, 000081, 000096, 000113 (nacrein), 000118, 000133 and 000411 (MSI60), which showed expression specific to the nacreous layer forming tissues, showed abnormal surface appearance in this layer. Individuals injected with dsRNAs targeting genes 000027, 000113 and 000133 also exhibited abnormal prismatic layers. Individuals injected with dsRNAs targeting genes 000031, 000066, 000098, 000145, 000194 and 000200, which showed expression specific to prismatic layer forming tissues, displayed an abnormal surface appearance in both the nacreous and prismatic layers. Taken together, the results suggest that the genes involved in prismatic layer formation might also be involved in the formation of the nacreous layers.

Background: Since December 2019, countries experienced different numbers of COVID-19 pandemic waves. The COVID-19 pandemic led to adverse psychologic problems in the communities and among healthcare workers (HCWs), but the dynamic of these problems through different waves needs to be established more., Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in October 2020, through the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, in Isfahan, Iran. We studied HCWs' depression, anxiety, and stress using Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and insomnia using Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) questionnaires. Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the association of some characteristic factors with different psychologic symptoms., Results: Our results showed that about 80% of HCWs had one or more psychological problems. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia was 46.0%, 50.2%, 44.6%, and 66.5%, respectively. Female sex, working in ICU, and having a history of chronic disease were predictors of psychological symptoms in our participants., Conclusion: HCWs' mental health state could be underestimated or neglected. The third pandemic wave negatively affected the mental health of the HCWs. Since mental health problems of HCWs may reduce the quality of care, the potential impact of not addressing this issue should be highlighted., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2023 Advanced Biomedical Research.)

The study was aimed at obtaining a vermicelli formulation on a mixture of corn and rice flour, adding carrageenan and its economic analysis. The experiment applied a 2-factorial randomized block design, where factor 1 was a mixture of corn and rice flour (5 levels) and factor 2 was carrageenan concentration (5 levels), repeated three times. The data were analyzed using ANOVA provided in SPSS. When there were significant differences, the analysis proceeded with DMRT at a level of 5% to see differences among treatments. The results show that the higher the corn flour and carrageenan concentration, the higher the vermicelli's ash and fat content. The formulation produces wet vermicelli with a good appearance. The production of vermicelli uses an extruder method. The selected vermicelli formulation was a mixture of 25% corn flour with 75% rice flour and the addition of 0.6% carrageenan. The characteristics of the wet vermicelli are moisture content of 42.84%, ash content of 0.21% on a wet basis (wb), and fat content of 0.43% wb. The organoleptic test of vermicelli was color 3.9 (liked), aroma 3.6 (liked), texture 2.6 (quite soft), taste 3.7 (liked), and general appearance 3.5 (liked). Economically, making vermicelli made of corn and rice flour is profitable because the R/C ratio value is greater than one, which is 2.27. The resulting wet vermicelli resembles wet noodles, large in size and yellow in color, so it can be recommended as gluten-free noodles, suitable for consumption by people with gluten allergies., Competing Interests: All authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Moh Saeri et al.)