Cytotoxicity and antiviral activity of Annona muricata aqueous leaves extract against dengue virus type 2

In this study, Annona muricata aqueous leaves extract was tested against dengue virus type 2. Firstly, the cytotoxicity of A. muricata was evaluated using a cell viability assay. The cytotoxicity of A. muricata on Vero cells was tested and the value of cytotoxic concentration, CC50 was ~2.5 mg/ml and the 50% Effective Concentration, EC50 was ~ 0.20 mg/ml. Selectivity index of extract against DENV-2 was more than 10 indicating potential as antiviral agent. Cells were pre- and post-treated with the extract and the viral inhibitory effect was investigated by observing the morphological changes, which were further confirmed the cellular viability evaluated by MTT technique. The results revealed that the post-treatment was more effective in inhibiting viral replication compared to pre-treatment. The findings indicated that A. muricata has good potential for prospective nature-based antiviral drug.Keywords: DENV-2, Annona muricata; Vero cells; MTT technique; antiviral dru

Sugars from sago frond as prebiotic substrate to enhance the growth of Lactococcus lactis IO-1 and production of L-lactic acid

Sago palm is often discredited for exhibiting long maturity period and barrenness of pre-harvest products, which restrain its potentials as an alternative and eternal starch provider. The use of sago fronds to produce prebiotic and fermentable sugars from pruned palms and fronds discarded upon harvesting is a possible enterprise to provide income for the cash-strapped sago farmers while waiting for the sago trunks to be harvestable. Dried sago frond powder coupled with the cellulolytic enzyme and incubated for 48 hours, producing a maximum recovery of cellobiose at 25%. This is of great advantage in reducing the cost of large-scale processes since the yield and productivity from SFS is comparable to the Standard Medium and SFS amended with yeast extract at 0.85g/g and 85%, respectively. Meanwhile, the composition of cellobiose as main sugar component increase the viability of the Lactococcus lactis I0- 1 by prolong the lifespan of the cell by perform as slow release carbon source, in fact, cellobiose was protected by β (1-4) glycosidic bond made it consumable to specific probiotic in human digestive system conceive that cellobiose as potential prebiotic component for human. Clearly, the use of sago frond is highly economical and sustainable as the raw material for the manufacturing of fermentable sugars and subsequently as the sustainable substrate for large-scale production of L-lactic acid

Temporal change detection of land use/land cover using GIS and remote sensing techniques in South Ghor Regions, Al-Karak, Jordan

This study examines the spatial and temporal changes of land use and land cover in South Ghor, Jordan. Satellite images for the years 1972, 1989, 1999 and 2016 were used for LULC supervised classification techniques, four LULC classes were decided: built-up areas, pastures and bare land, agricultural land and water bodies. For the accuracy of assessment classifications, matrix error and KAPPA analysis have been used in this paper. The analysis detected by supervised classification techniques show that agricultural land and built-up land have increased, while barren land and water bodies have decreased. It is predicted that the study would significantly contribute to better policy making, sustainable development and developing useful change detection planes for the south ghor regions and similar regions of the country.Keywords: land use/land cover change; change detection; classification; remote sensing; GI

Aquatic insect larvae as an indicator of ecological integrity of Panasen Upstream, Tondano Watershed, north Sulawesi

The upstream ecological integrity facing anthropogenic pressures has been assessed linked to the community of aquatic insect larvae inhabiting. This paper evaluate the ecological integrity of the Panasen Stream by determining the distribution and environmental parameters affecting the community of aquatic insect’s larvae in the Tondano Watershed. Physical and chemical parameters such as temperature, velocity, pH, Dissolved Oxygen, Conductivity, Turbidity, Hardness, Total Suspended Solids, Ammonia and Total Phosphate Water were collected. PCA analysis showed that current velocity, depth and width of the stream greatly affected the distribution and abundance of aquatic insect larvae, precipitation and substrate. Land use and active volcanic results in unsustainable anthropogenic activities have contributed to lowering the water quality, low species richness and weak ecological integrity of the Panasen Stream.Keywords: aquatic insect larvae; ecological integrity; panasen strea

Spatial variation of Melaleuca cajuputi powell essential oils

Cajuputi essential oil in Indonesia and Malaysia is extracted from the leaves of Melaleuca cajuputi Powell. This study identify the variation of Melaleuca cajuputi essential oil fingerprinting based on the essential oil. The leaves were collected from 10 different sites in Terengganu undergoes hydro distillation and detailed analysis by FTIR spectroscopy. ATR-FTIR result of Melaleuca cajuputi shows that functional group of Gelam are variable between different sites and also gave different fingerprinting characters due to the compound variation in relation to their adaptation to the changing environment. Result shows high correlation between several sites (0.97, 0.98 and 0.976) and also significant difference between different sampling stations (p-value < 0.01). The present study proved a significant spatial variation of Melaleuca cajuputi fingerprint in Terengganu from the essential oil collected.Keywords: essential oils; Melaleuca cajuputi Powell; spatial variation; FTIR spectroscop

Estimated probability of the number of buildings damaged by the floods and the cost of repairs

Flood disasters often cause buildings damaged, for repairs required considerable cost. This paper analyzes estimates of the probability and the number of buildings damaged by the Citarum River flood in the framework of cost recovery planning. The probability estimation of building damage was carried out using a logistic regression model with a genetic algorithm approach. The number of buildings damaged and risk of losses are estimated using the principle of expected value. The analysis shows that the probability estimator of the building damage significantly follows the logistic regression model. Meanwhile, the estimated the building damage is 349, with a loss of IDR67.80 billion. So the related parties (government, financial institutions and homeowners) should reserve the cost of repair at least worth the risk of loss, to face future flood disasters.Keywords: Citarum River; logistic regression; genetic algorithm; losses risk; expected valu