Efficiency of Web-Based, Computer and Mobile Software Applications in Facilitating Teaching and Learning of Chemical Concepts

Some of the most commonly used technologies for chemistry education are web-based, mobile, and computer software applications. Thus, this study investigated the teachers’ perceptions of the efficiency of web-based, mobile, and computer software applications in facilitating the teaching and learning of chemical concepts. The study adopted a survey research design to cover a large, scattered population in the shortest possible time. The survey was developed from the literature of related studies. About 266 responses were retrieved from an estimated population of 700 chemistry teachers in both public and private secondary schools, polytechnics and monotechnics, colleges of education, and universities across the Sokoto metropolis. The obtained data was computed and analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. The result of the study reveals that chemistry teachers considered web-based, mobile, and computer software applications efficient in delivering effective classroom and laboratory instructions

Case Study: Students’ Achievement In Chemistry, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (CTEM) at Urban School

Since Malaysia  engaged to become a developed country and compete globally, Chemistry, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (CTEM) integrated into Malaysia education since the year 2017. This study determined  students’ achievement in CTEM  at urban schools. The Methodology for this study was quasi-experimetal with a sample of 30 students. The instrument used for data collection was test validated by two experts and reliability index of 0.79 was obtained. . The findings showed that the urban students learning CTEM for chemistry topics were still in improvement stage.  It was concluded that learning achievement and  performance  such as critical thinking, creatitivity, problem-solving and innovative skills get improved as the CTEM are continuously integrated into the curriculum of urban schools

Case Study: Students’ Achievement In Chemistry, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (CTEM) at Urban School

Since Malaysia  engaged to become a developed country and compete globally, Chemistry, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (CTEM) integrated into Malaysia education since the year 2017. This study determined  students’ achievement in CTEM  at urban schools. The Methodology for this study was quasi-experimetal with a sample of 30 students. The instrument used for data collection was test validated by two experts and reliability index of 0.79 was obtained. . The findings showed that the urban students learning CTEM for chemistry topics were still in improvement stage.  It was concluded that learning achievement and  performance  such as critical thinking, creatitivity, problem-solving and innovative skills get improved as the CTEM are continuously integrated into the curriculum of urban schools

Performance of the lightning air terminal for the macro model of buildings

"Lightning is a natural occurring phenomenon having a very high voltage and current. Building protection from the effect of lightning stroke is one of the most important features. Lightning flash, nature changes with increasing the clearance between the ground structure and the cloud. Providing proper protection to the building, Frankling rod/Lightning air terminal is an essential element to receive the lightning flashes in order to make sure the protection of building. In this paper a down scaled building with four lightning rods has been chosen to see how the lightning rods with different air gap and view of the building perform, in lightning flash. The building is tested with three different views which are front, back and side views. The lightning rods provided different air gaps/clearance between the plain and the top plate. Single stage impulse generator is used. A voltage up to 90 kV is applied to analyze the lightning flash receiving ability of lightning rods. Through experimental work the lightning flash receiving ability is studied in detail for three views of the down scaled building.

The Impact of Formative Assessment on High Achievers and Low Achievers – A Systematic Review

Abstract. Assessments are vital tools for evaluating what a student has learnt and to determine if a learning objective has been achieved. The effectiveness of either formative or summative assessment as an evaluation tool has been debated over decades around the world. This article presents a systematic review of the impact formative assessment on academically high or low achieving students. The related studies were identified through online searches of the educational journal databases: Science Direct, Web of Science and Springer Link. Fourteen published articles were identified as the most relevant to this study and the content and findings were analysed. The benefits and implications of this study on the educational system are further discussed in this article. Based on the Systematic review, tables are provided to summarise the research findings. Both groups; high and low achievers benefitted from implementing formative assessment in the classroom. There are two main domains where both groups specifically benefitted from; the cognitive and the affective. The limitations of the study include the small number of articles that relate to the impact of formative assessment in science-related disciplines. This review also focusses on the effects on formative assessment but there is no emphasis given on how formative assessment can be implemented effectively to have a meaningful impact

Investigations for the possible use of a monoclonal antibody produced against strongyloides ratti antigen as an immunodiagnostic reagent for active strongyloidiasis

Background: Currently, most of the available serological diagnostic kits for strongyloidiasis are based on the use of the crude antigens of Strongyloides ratti, which are good, but with less sensitivity towards the infection. Hence, this study aimed to produce and evaluate monoclonal antibody for detecting soluble parasite antigen in animal sera. Methods: The study was conducted in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, University Putra Malaysia in 2014-2017. Saline extract protein from the infective larvae of S. ratti was used to immunize BALB/c mice and subsequent fusion of the B-cells with myeloma cells (SP2/0) using 50% PEG. The hybridomas were cultured in HAT medium and cloned by limiting dilutions. Positive hybrids were screened by indirect ELISA. The ascites fluid from the antibody-secreting hybridoma was purified and the MAb was characterized by western-blots and evaluated in sandwich ELISA for reactivity against the homologous and heterologous antigens. Results: An IgG1 that recognizes a 30 and 34 kDa protein bands was obtained. The MAb was recognized by all S. ratti-related antigens and cross-reacted with only Toxocara canis antigens in both assays. The minimum antigen detection limit was found to be 5 ng/ml. All antibody-positive rat and dog sera evaluated have shown antigen-positive reactions in Sandwich-ELISA. Conclusion: The MAb produced, was able to detect antigens in strongyloidiasis and toxocariasis in animal models and may also be useful for the serological detection of active strongyloidiasis and visceral toxocariasis in human sera

Monoclonal antibodies: A review of therapeutic applications and future prospects

The increasing demand for monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) used for diagnostic and therapeutic applications has led to the development of large scale manufacturing processes, with improvements in production achieved through continuous  optimization of the inherent systems. The number of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that have already been approved for therapeutic applications and for use in clinical trials have significantly increased in the past few years. In view of the side effects and limitations of mAbs, several improvements and modifications to monoclonal antibodies have been developed. These modifications have facilitated the use of mAbs in various forms of therapeutic applications such as treatment of infectious diseases caused by bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic organisms. Monoclonal antibodies have also been applied in the treatment of non-infectious diseases such as cancer, immune diseases, arthritis and other disorders resulting from organ transplantation. This review highlights mAbs applications in biomedicine, and discusses state-of-the-art technologies related to their potential uses.Keywords: Monoclonal antibodies, Therapeutic application, Infectious diseases, Cancer, Auto-immune diseases, Metabolic disorder

Histopathological confirmation of disseminated larvae (iL3) of Strongyloides ratti in an immunosuppressed Wistar rat

Human strongyloidiasis research requires a large supply of Strongyloides stercoralis.This can be achieved through in vivo maintenance of Strongyloides stercoralis in Merionesunguiculatus, but isolating a large quantity of Strongyloides stercoralis to establish thecolony from an infected patient is too difficult to achieve. Hence, Strongyloides ratti havebeen used as a model in human strongyloidiasis research. This study describes a successfulestablishment and maintenance of Strongyloides ratti infection in experimentallyimmunosuppressed Wistar rats. Large quantities of filariform (iL3) larvae of Strongyloidesratti for research related to human strongyloidiasis have been harvested following thisprotocol. Molecular detection method based on PCR using species specific primers was usedto confirm the species of the harvested infective larvae (iL3). Additionally, the identificationof histopathological lesions confirmed the presence of infective larvae (iL3) in the liver andlungs as a result of an increased parasite burden due to hyperinfection and disseminateddisease. This pathological presentation was found to be similar to that reported inStrongyloides stercoralis-infected immunocompromised human subjects

Global distributions and strain diversity of avian infectious bronchitis virus: a review

The poultry industry faces challenge amidst global food security crisis. Infectious bronchitis is one of the most important viral infections that cause huge economic loss to the poultry industry worldwide. The causative agent, infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is an RNA virus with great ability for mutation and recombination; thus, capable of generating new virus strains that are difficult to control. There are many IBV strains found worldwide, including the Massachusetts, 4/91, D274, and QX-like strains that can be grouped under the classic or variant serotypes. Currently, information on the epidemiology, strain diversity, and global distribution of IBV has not been comprehensively reported. This review is an update of current knowledge on the distribution, genetic relationship, and diversity of the IBV strains found worldwide

Teaching and learning chemistry using smartphones

Learning in chemistry can indeed be quite difficult and a challenging task as the subject involves creating knowledge about abstract and complex concepts. In this regard, mobile devices became an integral part of the student of the 21st century serving several functions ranging from digital cameras to mobile tablets, from cell phones to mp3 players. These and many more functions of mobile phones are regarded as suitable and could assist learners when properly utilized. To some extent, it is considered that educating matured students without the use of smartphones is similar to educating a doctor without a scalpel. In view of this, the study utilized secondary data from a peer-reviewed and referenced journal articles, conference proceedings and well-authored books from different data-base including scopus, web of science, google scholar, science direct, academia.com etc. A total of fourty-one articles were selected and critically studied. Based on these studies, concepts were defined and described on how a smartphone is considered suitable to make the learning environment conducive and passionate for students as there are various applications found to support their learning of chemistry. The paper also discusses how leaning mobility and access to technology outside the schools could be enhanced using technology. Using smartphones in university and colleges, as instructional pedagogy was also part of the discourse in this paper. Some limitations for full integration of smartphones in learning chemistry such as of lack skills, technical issue and teachers’ anxiety were part of the limitations outlined by the paper. The paper finally concludes that, although PCs are the most widely used computer technology with far-reaching meaning nowadays, the use of mobile phone technology is now increasing more rapidly than the PC and, in the future, it tends to restructure traditional classroom systems