Indigenous Production Research Articles

What drives diversity in climate change adaptation strategies for African indigenous vegetable production in Kenya?

Smallholder farmers have adopted diverse adaptation practices to lessen the effect of climate change. However, context-specific information about why particular adaptation strategies are adopted remains limited. This study examined the factors that facilitate the choice of farm-level adaptation strategies to climate change (CC) using data collected from 269 African indigenous vegetable (AIV) farmers in Kenya. A multivariate probit (MVP) regression model was used to evaluate the determinants of adaptation choices. The most frequently adopted strategies considered for analysis were manure application, increased pesticide use, crop rotation, irrigation, change of planting dates and terracing. The results reveal that land ownership, group membership, access to extension services and education level were some of the key drivers of adoption. This implies that policies and programmes that are designed to build the ability of smallholder AIV farmers to adapt to climate change should focus on organising farmers into groups, disseminating timely weather information, improving land tenure security, increasing off-farm employment and providing greater access to extension services.

Edible Oil Deficit and Its Impact on Food Expenditure in Pakistan

Pakistan, a developing country, is the sixth most populous in the world [U. S. Census (2008)], whose demand is rising due to steady economic growth. Agriculture contributes 23 percent of the GDP, 42 percent of the total work force is employed to the agriculture sector and also contributes substantially to Pakistan’s export earnings [Alam (2008)]. Agriculture Commodities and Textiles Products accounts for 62.6 percent of Pakistan's total exports [Memon (2008)]. Pakistan is the ninth largest producer of wheat, 12th largest producer of rice, 5th largest producer of sugarcane and 4rth largest producer of cotton among the top producers in the world as per statistics of FY05 [Memon, et al. (2008)]. Despite overwhelmingly an agrarian economy, Pakistan is unable to produce edible oil sufficient for domestic requirements. Edible oil is considered a necessity in Pakistan and hence its demand is relatively inelastic. There are many reasons behind this shortcoming, for example, lack of awareness of farmers, ignorance of policy makers regarding oilseed crops, technological deficiency in oilseed production and smuggling to neighbouring countries (Afghanistan in particular). The major crop responsible for 57 percent of edible oil production is cotton seed which is primarily a fiber crop. Indigenous production of edible oil is below the consumption levels with a very wide gap between the production and consumption. This gap is bridged through import of edible oil worth more than Rs 45.0 billion1 annually. Presently the oilseed production only meet about 30 percent2 of the domestic requirements and the rest is covered with imports. The high dependency on imports not only exerts the pressure on balance of payment but also develops a close linkage between international price shocks and edible oil price in Pakistan which is ultimately reflected in food expenditure. The common Pakistani food includes a significant quantity of edible oil which is the reason behind high consumption growth rates.

Reexamining Ceramic Standardization During Agricultural Transition: A Geometric Morphometric Investigation of Initial – Early Yayoi Earthenware, Japan

Abstract The quantifiable and reproducible representation of variability in material culture has continued to play a key role in the elucidation of shifting patterns of production organization in prehistoric archaeology. The study of standardization of ceramics has traditionally illuminated on how agents shift means of production to a common goal. However, while geometric morphometric (GMM) approaches to standardization quantification overcome issues of reproducibility faced in traditional literature, the lack of widespread radiocarbon dating in Japan requires adherence to traditional methods of temporal control. This study seeks to extrapolate ceramic standardization in a quantifiable means, while also maintaining temporal control utilizing traditional methods. In a pilot case study of the agricultural transition period of the Yayoi period of the Japanese peninsula (∼900/800 BC–300 BC), results of mortuary vessels show that while a previous model based on visually determined traditional methods assumed that ceramic manufacture was centralized in the Hakata Bay subregion of the northern Kyushu island region; utilizing GMM analysis to extrapolate variable standardization is able to identify a decline in morphological variation, despite increases in population density and potential variability between migrant and indigenous production patterns. These results further illuminate the strong correlation between production intensity and its effect on standardization practices in material culture production, as seen in modern ethnoarchaeological literature.

Visual Effects: A Fake Indigenous Warrior, A Contested Hill and Urban Imaginaries of Indigeneity in Santiago de Chile

In Latin American cities, indigenous peoples' presence is often overlooked: symbols and iconographies either exclude them as a minority or ‘memorialise’ them as part of a distant past. Through ethnographic observation, walking and visual narrative analysis, and adapting Charles Hale's constructions of indigeneity, this article examines the different representations of indigeneity in urban public space in Santiago de Chile. It interrogates its forms and multiple meanings and the ways in which these are challenged and appropriated by current indigenous artistic production and activism, highlighting the struggle to emphasise contemporary, hybrid lived experiences rather than essentialised, neo‐colonial memorialisation. The article addresses urban imaginaries of indigeneity as an arena for the struggle between different representations, which are highly relevant to the new Chilean Constitution and demands for pluri‐nationalism, and form part of an ongoing (de)construction of entrenched power relations.

Decoloniality of knowledge: Scientific dissemination of indigenous women productions

This study analyzed theses and master's dissertations of indigenous women in public universities of Brazil. The history of the colonization in Brazil left traces of a power dynamic that devalued indigenous culture. With this, the monopolization of knowledge and communication was established by people who reinforce the Eurocentric production of knowledge. We outlined a study that crossed the lines of indigenous women's productions with the discussions already produced by researchers of the decoloniality in human sciences. We faced the silencing processes that these women went through during their studies. We identified the difficulties of dissemination of these important works and the impacts generated by the new dynamics of those who were once objects of study and slowly occupy their spaces in a claim for their standpoint. Therefore, we highlighted the need for direct action by universities to encourage and better disseminate the counter-hegemonic productions of indigenous women.

Defluoridation potential of indigenous thirst-quenching herbal products commonly used in Kerala, India

Background: Drinking fluoride-contaminated water is a severe health hazard problem. Fluorosis -both skeletal and dental- is an important clinical and public health problem in about 24 countries including India. The best method to overcome the problem of excess fluoride in drinking water is defluoridation. Adsorption methods are simple, economical, and globally pursued techniques. Thirst-quenching herbal products locally called ‘Dahashamini’ are plant parts that are used during boiling drinking water. Possessing a defluoridation potential is an added benefit. Methods: Two grams of each of dried and ground Zingiber officinale, Elettaria cardamomum, Eugenia caryophyllus, Coriandrum sativum, Acacia catechu, Caesalpinia sapans, Vetiveria zizanioides, Cuminum cyminum, and Hemidesmus indicus, were added to 100 millilitres of fluoridated water of baseline concentrations of 5 and 10 ppm, boiled till its boiling point, and cooled. The samples were then filtered and analyzed for fluoride content using fluoride ion specific electrode method. Statistical analysis was done using one-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey’s post hoc test for pair-wise comparison. Results: Caesalpinia sapans, Vetiveria zizanioides, Acacia catechu, Eugenia caryophyllus, and Coriandrum sativum, had a significant ability to adsorb fluoride from fluoridated water, with an efficiency ranging from 12% to 56% (at a baseline concentration of 10 ppm) and 19% to 82% (at a baseline concentration of 5 ppm). Conclusion: The study indicates the possibility of the use of five ingredients in developing a cost-effective and acceptable method of defluoridation based on the adsorption method.

Speaking for the People: Native Writing and the Question of Political Form

Speaking for the People: Native Writing and the Question of Political Form

Efficacy of biorationals against the two-spotted spider mite infesting cucumber cultivated under net house

Two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), is one of the key pests in cucumber cultivation, especially under protected conditions. The net houses and poly-net houses provide favourable environment for the multiplication of spider mite populations. The active stages of T. urticae suck cells sap which produces yellowish-white specklings on leaves and in severe infestations on the fruits. To promote non-chemical approach for mite management, studies on the efficacy of biorationals against T. urticae on net house cucumber were undertaken at Ludhiana, India. Cucumber variety Punjab kheera-1 was transplanted in February, 2021 and the crop was raised as per university recommended cultural and management practices for production of cucumber. The trial was conducted in a double-door, naturally ventilated net house structure made of galvanized iron pipes covered with ultraviolet stabilized 40 mesh size net and an arc-shaped dome. The trial was laid out in randomized block design with each of the concentration of the biorationals as one treatment with three replications each for all the treatments. The maximum and minimum temperature varied from 31oC to 36oC and 16oC to 18oC, respectively, while morning and evening relative humidity varied from 68 to 82% and 20 to 26 %, respectively during this period. There were 10 plants per plot in each treatment, separated by a distance of 50cm between 2 plots to avoid chemical interference owing to drift to adjacent treatments. For foliar applications of different treatments, a battery-operated knapsack sprayer fitted with hollow cone nozzle (40 PSI pressure) was used. Different biorationals including indigeneous ‘gurukul’ products as given in Palekar’s model of organic farming i.e. brahamastra (20 litres cow urine, 2 kg each of neem, mango, guava, castor leaves boiled in 100 litres of water and then filtered), neemastra (5 litres cow urine, 2 kg cow dung, 5 kg neem leaves boiled in 100 litres of water and then filtered), agniastra (20 litres cow urine, 5 kg neem leaves, 500g each of chilli and garlic fruits boiled in 100 litres of water and then filtered), all at the dose of 10, 20 and 30 ml/litre and botanicals viz. PAU homemade neem (Azadirachta indica) extract (PAUHMNE) @ 12, 14, 16 ml/litre, dried neem fruit powder extract (DNFPE) @ 3, 4, and 5%, PAU homemade dharek (Melia azaderach) extract (PAUHMDE) @ 12, 14, 16 ml/litre, dried dharek fruit powder extract (DDFPE) @ 3, 4 and 5%, and water spray along with untreated control were evaluated. The different indigenous products and botanicals were prepared freshly. Two sprays of the treatments were given at weekly interval, with the first spray at the appearance of 20–25 % mite infestation on plants. Observations were recorded from randomly selected three leaves each from top, middle and bottom canopies. The number of active stages of mites were recorded before the treatment, 1, 3, 5 and 7 days after each spray (DASI and DASII). The data were subjected to square root transformation and analyzed statistically following Analysis of Variance. The results were interpreted at 5 per cent level of significance using Tukey’s test. The number of mites before treatment ranged from 31.00 to 36.67 mites/ 2 cm leaf area in different treatments. Significantly lower mean number of mites was observed in agniastra (9.78), PAU HMDE (9.67), neemastra (10.67), DNFPE (11.47), DDFPE (12.22), brahamastra (12.67) and PAU HNE (13.11) at highest doses after 3 DASI and 5 DASI, compared to the untreated control (35.66 and 36.22). After the second spray of the biorationals, mean number of mites in PAU HNE (14.33), neemastra (14.67), PAU HMDE (15.17), DNFPE (15.33), DDFPE (16.17), agniastra (16.50), brahamastra (18.83) were observed at highest doses after 3 DASII and 5 DASII. No phytotoxicity was observed in any treatment. Seeing the overall results, it can be concluded that these botanicals and indigenous products can be incorporated in integrated mite management programme which will help in reducing the pesticide load and promoting organic cultivation of the vegetable crops. 

Influence of Machine Parameters and Coagulant on the Textural Properties of Paneer (Indian Cottage Cheese)

Paneer is an acid coagulated concentrated indigenous Indian dairy product. The texture of paneer manufactured from a developed automatic machine was studied with respect to the processing parameters such as coagulation temperature (70–90°C), pressure (0.3–0.6 MPa), types of coagulant (vinegar and citric acid), and milk (cow, buffalo, and full cream milk). The paneer samples were analysed for texture profile analysis of hardness, adhesiveness, springiness, gumminess, chewiness, and cohesiveness. An inscribed central composite design was used to optimize the desired textural characteristics of paneer such as minimum hardness and maximum springiness of paneer. The optimization result concluded that the full cream milk at the coagulation temperature of 88°C with citric acid at pneumatic pressure of 0.3 MPa would result on minimum hardness of 105.84 N and the springiness value of 0.6073, and the result was validated.

Quantitative and qualitative traits characterisation of indigenous chickens in Southern African countries

Indigenous poultry production is important to human lives as they alleviate poverty by providing an affordable source of animal proteins. Besides, it serves as the easiest source of income for rural farmers in developing countries. The current review was conducted to evaluate the research findings of indigenous chickens’ quantitative and qualitative traits characterisations in Southern African countries. Quantitative and qualitative traits characterisation is the first step for genetic improvement in livestock. The documents used in the review were attained from different search engines, most of which were published lately (after 2010). Potchefstroom Koekoek, Venda, Naked Neck, Ovambo, Boschveld and Tswana indigenous chicken breeds in the Southern African countries were characterised. The studies suggest that there are variations in quantitative traits including live weight, egg weight, wing length, comb length and shank length and qualitative traits including feather color, comb type, comb color and eggshell color of indigenous chickens of Southern African countries. The single red comb types and red wattles were observed in most indigenous chicken breeds in Southern African countries. The present review concludes that the characterisation of quantitative and qualitative traits assists greatly in the differentiation and identification of indigenous chicken breeds.

Taxonomic and functional profiling of Indian smokeless tobacco bacteriome uncovers several bacterial-derived risks to human health.

Smokeless tobacco (ST) consumption keeps human oral health at high risk which is one of the major reasons for oral tumorigenesis. The chemical constituents of the ST products have been well discussed; however, the inhabitant microbial diversity of the ST products is less explored especially from south Asian regions. Therefore, the present investigation discusses the bacteriome-based analysis of indigenous tobacco products. The study relies on 16S amplicon-based bacteriome analysis of Indian smokeless tobacco (ST) products using a metagenomic approach. A total of 59,15,143 high-quality reads were assigned to 34 phyla, 82 classes, 176 orders, 256 families, 356 genera, and 154 species using the SILVA database. Of the phyla (> 1%), Firmicutes dominate among the Indian smokeless tobacco followed by Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria (> 1%). Whereas, at the genera level (> 1%), Lysinibacillus, Dickeya, Terribacillus, and Bacillus dominate. The comparative analysis between the loose tobacco (LT) and commercial tobacco (CT) groups showed no significant difference at the phyla level, however, only three genera (Bacillus, Aerococcus, and Halomonas) were identified as significantly different between the groups. It indicates that CT and LT tobacco share similar bacterial diversity and poses equal health risks to human oral health. The phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states (PICRUSt 2.0) based analysis uncovered several genes involved in nitrate/nitrite reduction, biofilm formation, and pro-inflammation that find roles in oral pathogenesis including oral cancer. The strong correlation analysis of these genes with several pathogenic bacteria suggests that tobacco products pose a high bacterial-derived riskto human health. The study paves the way to understand the bacterial diversity of Indian smokeless tobacco products and their putative functions with respect to human oral health. The study grabs attention to the bacterial diversity of the smokeless tobacco products from a country where tobacco consumers are rampantly prevalent however oral health is of least concern.

Impact of Market Participation of Indigenous Crops on Household Food Security of Smallholder Farmers of South Africa

Market participation by smallholder indigenous crop farmers holds significant potential for the alleviation of food insecurity and poverty amongst rural households. Smallholder farmers generally play a vital role in the production and marketing of indigenous crops in South Africa. However, smallholder farmers continue to remain among the food-insecure populations. This is more worrisome for indigenous crop farming households whose produce is far more limited in the market yet may contribute towards improving their food security status and livelihoods. This study analysed the impact of market participation of indigenous crops on the household food security of smallholder farmers in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa. A sample size of 209 indigenous crop producers were selected from a population of 1520 smallholder farmers. The study adopted a multi-stage stratified random sampling technique. The data were collected using both qualitative and quantitative research and were analysed using descriptive analysis, Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), and the Poisson regression model with the endogenous treatment model. The household size, marital status, household members living with HIV, and access to extension services were found to be positive and significant in determining household food security, whereas the disability of a household member was significant but negative. While the number of smallholder farmers involved in the production of indigenous crops is still limited, enhanced marketing of indigenous crops may improve the food security status of smallholder farmers. There is still a need for the government to channel its interventions towards the indigenous crop production sector, and this may include the provision of trained extension officers to assist smallholder farmers. Policymakers need to develop policies that support the production and marketing of indigenous crops. More awareness and promotion of indigenous crops are needed to encourage more smallholder farmers to adopt this farming practice. Further study of smallholder indigenous farmers across nine provinces of South Africa should be conducted to obtain deeper and broader insights into the role of these farmers on household food security.

Making Anti-CD19 CAR-T Cell Therapy Accessible and Affordable: First-in-Human Phase I Clinical Trial Experience from India

Background: Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cells therapy has shown remarkable success in haematological malignancies. However, complexity of the manufacturing platform and exorbitant costs of the available therapy limits their accessibility in limited resource settings including India. Recently, we developed a novel humanized anti-CD19 CAR-T cell therapy (HCAR19) and showed its efficacy in preclinical models (Dwivedi et al, Mol Cancer Ther. 2021). Here we report our experience of HCAR19 manufacturing in an integrated platform for first-in-human Phase-I clinical trial. Further, we performed the cost analysis of CAR-T delivery from development to clinic. Methods: Lymphocytes were collected from 17 patients of r/r B cell malignancies (DLBCL, transformed follicular lymphoma, PMBCL and B-ALL) through apheresis (Fresenius Fomtek or Spectra Optia) upon receiving the regulatory approvals from central and local agencies. CD3+ T cells were enriched and activated using CTS™Dynabeads™ CD3/CD28 for 36-48 hours followed by consecutive double transduction with CD19 encoding lentivirus vector. Final product was harvested, cryopreserved and stored in ultra-low temperature until further use. All steps were carried out in closed gas permeable bags. Final product quality control (QC) assays were performed by flowcytometry, ELISA, analytical and cell-based assays. The cost of CAR T cell manufacturing was calculated for unit economics on fully scale production model by standard costing methodology. The final unit economics included cost of goods and services (COGS), overhead costs, financing costs of infrastructure, R&D and clinical trials costs. The model was scaled towards a 200 patient per annum in a centralized manufacturing facility. Results: Of the 19 patients enrolled in the study, only 17 patients underwent apheresis procedure for harvest of total 5-10 X 109 mononuclear cells. HCAR19 cells from all 17 patients were manufactured successfully in functionally closed integrated manufacturing platform. The required HCAR19 dose was achieved within 8 days of culture (dosage range: 1.78 x 106 - 17 x 106 viable HCAR19/kg). The transduction efficiency of HCAR19 in r/r DLBCL, r/r PMBCL and r/r B-ALL was 37.7 ± 6.64%, 28.8 ± 8.81% and 34.6 ± 9.72% (Mean ± SEM) respectively . The HCAR19 showed a robust expansion (~20-fold) ex vivo and maintained the presence of potent anti-tumor subsets like naïve and central memory T cells (Figure 1a). Final product from all 17 patients qualified the QC release criteria for safety, identity, purity and potency as per specifications. Finally, the unit economics in fully-scaled production model indicated the estimated cost of CAR-T cell delivery was approximately 30,000 USD (or 25,00,000 INR) per dosage including logistics, lentiviral vector cost and quality control (Figure 1b). The major costs incurred were towards consumables, overhead and financing costs of clinical trials and infrastructure. There was very minor components of logistics and utility costs. More importantly, the major contributors of overall low cost of CAR-T delivery in our settings were frugal R&D costs in an academic setting, scalable integrated manufacturing platform, and highly qualified yet economical manpower. Conclusions: We developed a robust, scalable and highly affordable CAR-T cell therapy platform (product and process development, and first-in-human clinical study), and proven its clinical delivery successfully with our first indigenous HCAR19 product. Given the benefit of affordable platform to broader socio-economic base of patients, the cell and gene therapy will be poised for a transformational change as a mass therapy. Figure 1View largeDownload PPTFigure 1View largeDownload PPT Close modal

Food Production in the Wabigoon Basin: The First Nine Thousand Years

This local history of the Wabigoon Basin surveys food security in the region over the longue durée: from the retreat of the glaciers until the imposition of the Indian Act and industrialization in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Synthesizing local history and ethnohistory with recent archaeological and anthropological readings of landscapes managed by Indigenous peoples as anthropogenic spaces, we aim to critique traditional nineteenth-century historiography that saw Canadian landscapes (especially the Canadian Shield) as untouched wilderness before Euro-Canadian agriculture. Here, we use colonization in the 1890s not as a beginning point for history but, rather, as an end point for nine thousand years of Indigenous peoples’ food sovereignty, unhindered by bureaucracy and third-party management. We also discuss the conceptual gap between the reality of Indigenous (specifically Ojibwe/Anishinaabeg) farming food production and farming in the Dryden-Wabigoon and Boundary Waters region, within their long history of innovation and adaptation versus Euro-Canadian fantasies of Indigenous stasis and unpopulated wilderness used to justify late-19th-century colonization.

Assistive products to support daily time management of older persons with dementia in India: experiences and views of informal caregivers and occupational therapists

Purpose The present study aimed to understand how informal caregivers and occupational therapists support daily time management (DTM) of older persons with dementia (PwD) and their views regarding assistive products for DTM, i.e., time management products (TMPs). Methods The study involved a qualitative descriptive approach rooted in principles of naturalistic inquiry. Twelve caregivers of PwD and eight occupational therapists were interviewed. Conventional content analysis was performed. Results Findings are described in three categories. The first category “current strategies to support DTM” described the low-tech strategies used for specific cognitive functions. The second category “factors influencing DTM and TMP” entailed factors related to the PwD (especially premorbid time management), the caregiver (multiple caregivers, attitude towards technology), the occupational therapist (impairment-oriented practice, limited resources and training in DTM) and the context (attitude towards time, poor awareness and knowledge of dementia, an expectation of recovery, negative societal attitudes towards devices, affordability/access). The third category “expectations from TMP” described the participants’ expectations regarding device-related features (low-cost, easy to use, portable, low maintenance, customisable and useable across the disease continuum) and support for device use (maintenance, caregiver education). Conclusions The study provides contextually relevant recommendations and strategies to inform the provision, acceptance and adherence to DTM interventions and guide the development and prescription of indigenous TMP for PwD in India. Implications for rehabilitation Adoption of time management products (TMPs) for people with dementia in India requires an understanding of contextual factors, especially culturally influenced attitudes of persons with dementia and their family members towards time, assistive products and elders. Contextually relevant approaches and strategies are suggested to guide the provision of daily time management (DTM) interventions including TMPs for people with dementia and their families in India. It is imperative to assess the relevance, acceptance and feasibility of available TMPs for people with dementia and their families living in India and develop contextually relevant indigenous products. Occupational therapists working with people with dementia and their families would benefit from more opportunities for training and access to resources (including contextually relevant standardized assessments) to implement DTM interventions.

Heat storage in solar adsorption refrigeration systems: A case study for indigenous fruits preservation

The present study deals with heat storage in a solar-powered refrigeration system designed for indigenous products preservation in a cold room with a positive temperature. One of the key goals of this study is to show the importance of heat storage and the choice of the suitable coupling, position, and technology of thermal heat storage in these systems to ensure energy management and system operation flexibility. A new system configuration design where the direct connection between the solar collectors and the adsorption chiller used in the directly driven chiller without any heat storage module and in the classic storing system is suppressed and a new special regulation system is added to manage the temperature of the supplied water to the adsorption chiller. Under the same solar collectors' area, the new configuration design performs well than the existing configurations and offers more flexibility and stability to the system. It was found that, the heat storage, performed by a Hot Water Tank (HWT), enhances the system's cooling production time duration as well as offers stability and reduces the highly fluctuant hot water temperature in solar adsorption chillers. It's shown that the choice of the adsorption chiller cycle time duration is of great importance as well as the HWT volume on the system's performance. The study shows also that the system achieves better performances when considering a stratified HWT instead of a fully mixed HWT. Using a total solar collectors' area of 84.53 m2, a hot water tank of 3 m3, and a cycle time of 1200 s, a solar fraction of 86% is obtained when the proposed configuration is connected to the stratified heat storage technology however 80% is reached when the system is equipped with the mixed hot water tank.

Analysis of food literacy dimensions and indicators: A case study of rural households

Food has always been the focus of much discussion due to its value and importance in human life. Policymakers use the idea of food literacy as a solution to population and environmental health and food security. Two objectives were considered in this research: investigating food literacy construct validity and reliability and also analyzing five dimension that reflect food literacy scale. The present research is a survey and the statistical population is rural households in Dashti County of Bushehr province. The number of statistical populations was determined by Cochran's formula 232 households. They were selected by stratified multi-stage random sampling method. Based on the results and fitness indicators, it was determined that the research factor analysis model based on the five dimensions of food literacy (social, economic, health, skills, environmental and welfare of farm animals) has suitable and acceptable measures (RMSEA = 0.065). Evidence from this study has shown that creating an effective link to promoting the indigenous and local foods and food production process is effective in promoting food diversity, food literacy and food security in rural communities. There is little research that considers food literacy indicators empirically, based on the proposed model, the selected constructs of the research had examined food literacy indices in rural communities. The results of cluster analysis showed that most studied groups classified in the average level in terms of food literacy and had the highest average in the social index of food literacy. The results of this study can help to perception and further professionalize and exploit opportunities to promote food literacy and provide guidance for planners and other stakeholders working in food security and sustainable development.

Feasibility of a culture-specific Moroccan Smell Identification Test (MoroSIT): a proposal using the case of Parkinson disease

Introduction: Olfactory problems are frequent in Parkinson disease. Their early onset relative to motor problems makes them a potential biomarker for the disease, yet no culture-specific standardized tests exist in Morocco. Aim: To use indigenous plant extracts generated in our laboratory to investigate olfactory impairment in patients with Parkinson disease. Method: Our study is a cross-sectional case-controlled analytical investigation in a group of 69 patients with Parkinson disease and another group of 66 healthy volunteers in order to assess odor threshold, odor identification, and odor discrimination in these two groups using Mentha pulegium and Lavandula latifolia extracts. Results: We found a marked decrease of the threshold of odor detection in patients compared to controls (p<0.001). A statistically significant difference was found between the ability to discriminate odors, with more patients with Parkinson disease unable to distinguish between odors (p<0.001). For the odor identification test, 70% of control subjects versus 36% of patients were able to correctly identify the test products. The difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). Conclusions: Our study points to the potential for the elaboration of a standardized smell identification screening battery using indigenous products with which patients are familiar.

Indigenous Production of Porous 316L through Powder Metallurgy and Investigation of their Mechanical Properties

Nowadays, 316L stainless steel implant materials exhibit a promising position in the field of biomaterials application, especially in medical due to their higher strength compared to other ceramic base materials. Therefore, in this work, the production of 316L implant materials and examination of the mechanical characteristics were carried out. Powder Metallurgy process has been chosen to produce the implant materials due to its high advantages in demonstrating the high mechanical properties of the green sample. 316L stainless steel with zinc streate powder of three different compositions, i.e., the first of 99% 316L stainless steel and 1% zinc stearate, the second of 97% 316L stainless steel and 3% zinc streate, and the third of 95% 316L stainless steel and 5% zinc streate, were cold pressed individually at 600 MPa pressure using UTM and sintered the green samples at 1120 °C for 1 hour and 30 minutes. Sintering temperature and time were the same for all the specimens. We investigated the mechanical behaviour of 316L stainless steel implant materials of different compositions at the same temperature for the same duration of time. After that, the mechanical properties and densification of this material were investigated.

Foundations of indigenous knowledge on disasters due to natural hazards: lessons from the outlook on floods among the Bayira of the Rwenzori region.

The role of indigenous knowledge in increasing context specificity and exposing blind spots in scientific understanding is widely evidenced in disaster studies. This paper aims to structure the processes that shape indigenous knowledge production and its optimisation using the case of floods. An inductive analytical approach is applied among riparian indigenous communities (focus on the Bayira) of the Rwenzori region of Uganda where plenty of indigenous flood practices have been recorded. Indigenous knowledge of floods is found to be based on intimate comprehension of local hydrometeorological regularities. Insofar as these regularities follow natural dynamics, indigenous socio-epistemic processes are noted to be consistent with the laws of nature. Coupled with regular open sociocultural deliberations, the conceptualisation of hydrometeorological regularities induces an indigenous ontology and empiricist epistemology. This, together with the techniques used, is the driver of crucial epistemic virtues which enable indigenous knowledge to provide disaster solutions that are adapted, pragmatic, and holistic.