Pelatihan Penggunaan Sistem Informasi Pengelolaan Surat Keluar di Desa Dunggala Kecamatan Tapa Kabupaten Bone Bolango

Assessment of good government performance is characterized by the quality of its services to the community. One of the roles of the village as the lowest administrative level in a region is to serve the community in making letters. Management of outgoing mail in Desa Dunggala, Kecamatan Tapa, Kabupaten Bone Bolango is still done conventionally, namely by recording the letter number in the agenda book. This resulted in village officials experiencing difficulties in managing the correspondence archives if in the future a letter with a certain number was needed. This community service activities aimed at helping the village government in managing outgoing mail by designing information system for managing outgoing mail. The information system was built based on the web application, but in its application is still used offline or localhost, due to internet network constraints in the village office. A database system is used for data storage so that it is easy to search the letters that have been made. Then, the village officials has been trained to use the information system. The results obtained from this activity are the information system for managing outgoing mail and the training of village officials in using the application. This information system can be further developed by taking into account the needs that exist in the village

The Application Design of Interactive Multimedia of IT-based Mathematics Learning on Strengtening Students' Characters

This research aims to develop interactive multimedia application of Coordinate System-based on the strengthening of Grade VIII Junior High students’ characters. The development model used in this study refers to the 4-D model proposed by Thiagarajan, Semmel and Semmel consisting of Define, Design, Develop, and Disseminate stages. Product development was tested on 20 students and field test was conducted in three junior high schools namely SMPN 3 Gorontalo, SMPN 1 Kabila Bone Bolango District and SMPN 11 Gorontalo City. The results of this study indicate that interactive multimedia Coordinate System that has been developed: (1) Categorized valid and feasible according to the expert; (2) Multimedia interactive coordinate system is easy to use and improves learners' response in learning. In addition, the implementation of learning by using multimedia coordinate system is in very good criteria, (3) Multimedia can improve the activity and learning outcomes of learners which based on observations obtained the percentage of student activities by 89.75% for limited and average trial class percentage for the field trial class of 94.87% with very good criteria.Students' learning outcomes provide classical completeness data for the limited trial class of 87.50% and field trial classes obtained by an average percentage of 89.33% with very good criteria, (4) Improving character based on the above, the interactive Multimedia coordinate system developed has been said to be valid, practical and effective so that it can be used in the process of Mathematics learning at grade VIII Junior High School

Current knowledge on Amaranthus spp.: research avenues for improved nutritional value and yield in leafy amaranths in sub-Saharan Africa. Euphytica

Abstract In the past 20 years, very little progress has been achieved in reducing food insecurity, child malnutrition and hunger in Africa. Under-nutrition and micronutrients deficiencies are widespread and affect mainly women and children. To address these problems, increased consumption of African leafy vegetables is promoted as sources of both micronutrients and bio-active compounds. Widely promoted African leafy vegetables include Amaranthus spp., a taxonomic group cultivated worldwide. Species of this genus are used as pseudo-cereals in Europe and America, and are mostly planted as vegetables in Africa. Amaranthus has been rediscovered as a promising food crop mainly due to its resistance to heat, drought, diseases and pests, and the high nutritional value of both seeds and leaves. Leaves are rich in proteins and micronutrients such as iron, calcium, zinc, vitamin C and vitamin A. All parts of the plant are used as medicine to heal many diseases in African communities. This paper focuses on leafy amaranths traditionally utilized on the continent. It briefly reviews the current knowledge on taxonomy, ecology, nutritional and nutraceutical value, production and cultivation systems, reproductive biology, genetic resources and breeding of amaranths. Species of interest include: A. blitum, A. caudatus, A. cruentus, A. dubius, A. hypochondriacus, A. spinosus, A. thunbergii, A. tricolor, and A. viridis. Research and development opportunities on nutritive and nutraceutical properties, production and commercialization, taxonomic evaluation and breeding perspectives were explored

PENERAPAN MODEL AGROFORESTRI PADA KELOMPOK TANI HUTAN FETOMONE DI DESA SILLU KECAMATAN FATULEU KABUPATEN KUPANG

The Government of Eastern Nusa Tenggara province is currently facing the problem of an increasing size of critical land as well as decreasing availability of clean water which occurs in most of the landscape of Timor island. The increasing size of critical lands resulted from biophysical conditions, socio-economic and cultural situations which related to land use as the main factor for production, as well as the policy implementation that did not consider sustainability. One of the largest critical land can be found in Sillu village which is located in Fatuleu District in Kupang Regency. To overcome this critical land problem, an appropriate Agroforestry model is set to be developed and implemented. This community service aims to overcome the critical area in Sillu village and to increase the community’s well being through the implementation of an Agroforestry model specifically for the Fetomone Forest-Farmer group. Following methods were used: (1) site survey and family approach towards local community through head of the village, head of hamlets, and chair of Fetomone Forest-Farmer group; (2) Focus Group Discussion were conducted with head of the village and chair of Fetomone Forest-Farmer group to developed an activity plan including modelling design that will be used; (3) Community sensitization regarding socio, ecology and economic benefit of agroforestry system through lecture and discussion; and (4) Training in making agroforestry’s plot. Focus Group Discussion resulting in modelling design of Agrosilvopastural with alley cropping pattern. 53 local communities participated in community sensitization resulting in 96.2% understanding the socio, ecology and economic benefit of agroforestry system. 37 participants from Forest-Farmer group were included in the agroforestry’s plot making trainiing. Our 3 months post planting monitoring showed that 86.48% of them have been implemented the design on their own agricultural land.  ---  Permasalahan yang dihadapi pemerintah NTT adalah peningkatan  luas lahan kritis dan ketersedian air bersih yang terjadi pada sebagian besar daerah yang berada pada bentangan Pulau Timor. Peningkatan luas lahan kritis merupakan kesatuan yang bersifat simultan antara kondisi biofisik, sosial ekonomi dan budaya yang berkaitan dengan pemanfaatan lahan sebagai faktor produksi utama, serta penerapan kebijakan yang kurang mempertimbangkan kelestarian. Salah satu  daerah yang memiliki lahan kritis yang cukup luas adalah Desa Sillu yang berada di Kecamatan Fatuleu Kabupaten Kupang. Untuk mengatasi masalah tersebut, tim pengabdian menerapkan model agroforestri. Tujuan pengabdian adalah untuk mengatasi lahan kritis di Desa Sillu dan meningkatkan kesejahteraan masyarakat melalui penerapan model agroforestri di Kelompok Tani Hutan Fetomone. Metode  yang digunakan adalah 1) survei lokasi dan metode pendekatan kekeluargaan dengan masyarakat lokal melalui Kepala Desa, Kepala Dusun, dan Ketua Kelompok Tani Fetomone, 2) Metode Focus Group Discusion (FGD) dengan Kepala Desa dan Ketua Kelompok Tani Fetomeno untuk menyusun perencanaan kegiatan termasuk rancangan desain model yang akan digunakan, 3) Penyuluhan kepada masyarakat tentang manfaat sosial, ekologis, dan produktif (ekonomi) dari sistem agroforestri  dengan metode ceramah dan diskusi, 4) Pelatihan pembuatan demplot agroforestri. FGD menghasilkan desain model agosilvopastural dengan pola tanam alley cropping. Penyuluhan melibatkan 53 masyarakat dan  hasilnya 96,2% memahami manfaat sosial, ekologis, dan produktif (ekonomi) dari sistem agroforestri. Pelatihan pembuatan demplot melibatkan 37 anggota KTH dan hasil monitoring setelah 3 bulan kegiatan menunjukkan bahwa 86,48% sudah menerapkan model tersebut di lahan milik pribadi

Model Pendugaan Volume Tegakan Jati (Tectona grandis Linn.F) di Hutan Produksi Wemata Unit Pelaksana Teknis Daerah Kesatuan Pengelolaan Hutan Wilayah Kabupaten Belu

Pendugaan model tegakan jati (Tectona grandis Linn.f) di kawasan hutan produksi Wemata dilakukan pada 150 pohon contoh, dimana sebanyak 90 pohon menjadi pohon model dan 60 pohon dijadikan dasar untuk memvalidasi model yang telah disusun. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk menentukan potensi tegakan jati (Tectona grandis Linn.f) berdasarkan model terbaik yang terpilih. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa potensi tegakan jati seluas 154, 741 ha sebanyak 26.259,4 m3 – 27.420,1 m3. Penentuan model terbaik berdasarkan nilai koefisien determinasi (R²), bias (SEE), dan validasi model berdasarkan nilai rata-rata deviasi (SR), deviasi aggregate (SA), root mean square of deviation (RMSE) dan bias (e). model yang terbaik berdasarkan kriteria-kriteria tersebut adalah V = -0.17 + 0.865 D2T (R² = 98.1 %), SEE = 0.095, SR = 0.436%, SA = 0.18%, RMSE = 0.78 dan e = 0.33. dengan potensi tegakan jati (Tectona grandis Linn.f), sebesar 36.001,017m3- 37.741,329 m

Collective Intelligence-Based Participatory COVID-19 Surveillance in Accra, Ghana: Pilot Mixed Methods Study.

BACKGROUND: Infectious disease surveillance is difficult in many low- and middle-income countries. Information market (IM)-based participatory surveillance is a crowdsourcing method that encourages individuals to actively report health symptoms and observed trends by trading web-based virtual "stocks" with payoffs tied to a future event. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a tailored IM surveillance system to monitor population-level COVID-19 outcomes in Accra, Ghana. METHODS: We designed and evaluated a prediction markets IM system from October to December 2021 using a mixed methods study approach. Health care workers and community volunteers aged ≥18 years living in Accra participated in the pilot trading. Participants received 10,000 virtual credits to trade on 12 questions on COVID-19-related outcomes. Payoffs were tied to the cost estimation of new and cumulative cases in the region (Greater Accra) and nationwide (Ghana) at specified future time points. Questions included the number of new COVID-19 cases, the number of people likely to get the COVID-19 vaccination, and the total number of COVID-19 cases in Ghana by the end of the year. Phone credits were awarded based on the tally of virtual credits left and the participant's percentile ranking. Data collected included age, occupation, and trading frequency. In-depth interviews explored the reasons and factors associated with participants' user journey experience, barriers to system use, and willingness to use IM systems in the future. Trading frequency was assessed using trend analysis, and ordinary least squares regression analysis was conducted to determine the factors associated with trading at least once. RESULTS: Of the 105 eligible participants invited, 21 (84%) traded at least once on the platform. Questions estimating the national-level number of COVID-19 cases received 13 to 19 trades, and obtaining COVID-19-related information mainly from television and radio was associated with less likelihood of trading (marginal effect: -0.184). Individuals aged 30 years (marginal effect: 0.0135). Implementing the IM surveillance was feasible; all 21 participants who traded found using IM for COVID-19 surveillance acceptable. Active trading by friends with communal discussion and a strong onboarding process facilitated participation. The lack of bidirectional communication on social media and technical difficulties were key barriers. CONCLUSIONS: Using an IM system for disease surveillance is feasible and acceptable in Ghana. This approach shows promise as a cost-effective source of information on disease trends in low- and middle-income countries where surveillance is underdeveloped, but further studies are needed to optimize its use

Partial sequencing of the bottle gourd genome reveals markers useful for phylogenetic analysis and breeding

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Bottle gourd [<it>Lagenaria siceraria </it>(Mol.) Standl.] is an important cucurbit crop worldwide. Archaeological research indicates that bottle gourd was domesticated more than 10,000 years ago, making it one of the earliest plants cultivated by man. In spite of its widespread importance and long history of cultivation almost nothing has been known about the genome of this species thus far.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We report here the partial sequencing of bottle gourd genome using the 454 GS-FLX Titanium sequencing platform. A total of 150,253 sequence reads, which were assembled into 3,994 contigs and 82,522 singletons were generated. The total length of the non-redundant singletons/assemblies is 32 Mb, theoretically covering ~ 10% of the bottle gourd genome. Functional annotation of the sequences revealed a broad range of functional types, covering all the three top-level ontologies. Comparison of the gene sequences between bottle gourd and the model cucurbit cucumber (<it>Cucumis sativus</it>) revealed a 90% sequence similarity on average. Using the sequence information, 4395 microsatellite-containing sequences were identified and 400 SSR markers were developed, of which 94% amplified bands of anticipated sizes. Transferability of these markers to four other cucurbit species showed obvious decline with increasing phylogenetic distance. From analyzing polymorphisms of a subset of 14 SSR markers assayed on 44 representative China bottle gourd varieties/landraces, a principal coordinates (PCo) analysis output and a UPGMA-based dendrogram were constructed. Bottle gourd accessions tended to group by fruit shape rather than geographic origin, although in certain subclades the lines from the same or close origin did tend to cluster.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This work provides an initial basis for genome characterization, gene isolation and comparative genomics analysis in bottle gourd. The SSR markers developed would facilitate marker assisted breeding schemes for efficient introduction of desired traits.</p

Fruit and vegetable biodiversity for nutritionally diverse diets: Challenges, opportunities, and knowledge gaps

Planetary health brings together intrinsically linked issues of human health and natural systems. This paper reviews evidence of how agrobiodiversity underpins dietary diversity for current human populations in the context of fruits and vegetables, and ways to maintain and improve these for future generations. Both the conservation and sustainable use of fruit and vegetable biodiversity and the consumption of diverse diets are sub-optimal, and in many contexts getting worse. Agrobiodiversity and nutrition are linked through food availability, access, conservation and consumption, with potential win-wins but notable trade-offs for policy and action through time, place, agrobiodiversity use, and equity. We pinpoint research gaps and call for inclusive deliberation for action

Re-evaluation of histological diagnoses of malignant mesothelioma by immunohistochemistry

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In order to provide reliable tissue material for malignant mesothelioma (MM) studies, we re-evaluated biopsies and autopsy material from 61 patients with a diagnosis of MM from the period of 1980-2002.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Basic positive (Calretinin, EMA, Podoplanin, Mesothelin) and negative (CEA, Ber-Ep4) immunohistochemical (IHC) marker reactions were determined. If needed, more markers were used. Histological diagnoses were made by three pathologists. Survival data were calculated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>49 cases (80%) were considered being MM by a high degree of likelihood, five more cases possible MM. Of the remaining seven cases, three were diagnosed as adenocarcinoma, three as pleomorphic lung carcinoma, in one peritoneal case a clear entity diagnosis could not be given. One of the possible MM cases and two of the lung carcinoma cases had this already as primary diagnoses, but were registered as MM.</p> <p>With a sensitivity of 100%, Calretinin and CEA were the most reliable single markers. The amount of MM cells with positive immunoreactivity (IR) for Podoplanin and Mesothelin showed most reliable inverse relation to the degree of atypia.</p> <p>In the confirmed MM cases, there had been applied either no IHC or between one and 18 markers.</p> <p>The cases not confirmed by us had either lacked IHC (n = 1), non-specific markers were used (n = 4), IR was different (n = 1), or specific markers had not shown positive IR in the right part of the tumour cells (n = 3).</p> <p>46 of the 49 confirmed and three of the not confirmed cases had been diagnosed by us as most likely MM before IHC was carried out.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In order to use archival tissue material with an earlier MM diagnosis for studies, histopathological re-evaluation is important. In possible sarcomatous MM cases without any positive IR for positive MM markers, radiology and clinical picture are essential parts of diagnostics. IHC based on a panel of two positive and two negative MM markers has to be adapted to the differential diagnostic needs in each single case. New diagnostic tools and techniques are desirable for cases where IHC and other established methods cannot provide a clear entity diagnosis, and in order to improve MM treatment.</p

Social factors influencing child health in Ghana

Objectives Social factors have profound effects on health. Children are especially vulnerable to social influences, particularly in their early years. Adverse social exposures in childhood can lead to chronic disorders later in life. Here, we sought to identify and evaluate the impact of social factors on child health in Ghana. As Ghana is unlikely to achieve the Millennium Development Goals’ target of reducing child mortality by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015, we deemed it necessary to identify social determinants that might have contributed to the non-realisation of this goal. Methods ScienceDirect, PubMed, MEDLINE via EBSCO and Google Scholar were searched for published articles reporting on the influence of social factors on child health in Ghana. After screening the 98 articles identified, 34 of them that met our inclusion criteria were selected for qualitative review. Results Major social factors influencing child health in the country include maternal education, rural-urban disparities (place of residence), family income (wealth/poverty) and high dependency (multiparousity). These factors are associated with child mortality, nutritional status of children, completion of immunisation programmes, health-seeking behaviour and hygiene practices. Conclusions Several social factors influence child health outcomes in Ghana. Developing more effective responses to these social determinants would require sustainable efforts from all stakeholders including the Government, healthcare providers and families. We recommend the development of interventions that would support families through direct social support initiatives aimed at alleviating poverty and inequality, and indirect approaches targeted at eliminating the dependence of poor health outcomes on social factors. Importantly, the expansion of quality free education interventions to improve would-be-mother’s health knowledge is emphasised