How can I improve N12 students’ ability to write simple chemical entities using chemical symbols and formulas on introductory general chemistry course-1 (chem. 101)?

This study an action research intended to improve my own students’ abilities to write chemical symbols and formulas correctly while studying Chemistry in the college (KCTE) that I am serving as an instructor. The specific objectives of the study were a) to identify the major difficulties of students in writing the most commonly used chemical symbols and chemical formulae for common inorganic entities, and b) to enable students write the correct chemical symbols and formulas for these common inorganic chemical entities

How can I improve my students’ ability in doing laboratory practical work on analytical chemistry-I? A case on class n23 at KCTE

From my experience of teaching in KCTE and class N23 (Natural science department, year 2 section 3) in the years of past time, these students were active in class participation and did what was given to them in theoretical approach. However, they were getting confused specially on the concepts requiring applications during practical laboratory activities. They lose their individual confidence of handling and manipulation of apparatus and chemicals. That was why I chose them specially in doing Practical Analytical Chemistry-I (Chem 223) of the semester. This action research was aimed at improving students’ ability in doing the practical laboratory work and exercising of science process skills. This was because these students show lack of experience in specially handling laboratory materials, chemicals and following scientific processes like observation, data record, analysis, measuring and following of appropriate safety rules while working in lab independently or being in groups. In this study, observation, questionnaires and tests were used as tools to gather information about the participants for bothpre-and –post interventions. It was seen from the study that students feel more interactive and confident when working in group rather than independently. This has also boomed students`experiences as it was multi-side interaction between student-student, student-teacher and teachers-teachers as well. This study reveals that students’ achievement improved from 52.37% to 70.21% on questionnaire, 68.06% to 84.44% in test and 69.47% to 72.50% in assessment which covered lab class activity, practical show activity and report writings. In general, it will be better for instructors like me to plan “starting-ongoing-ending” and “cooperative learning” approach while designing the practical lab instruction to enhance students’ learning. [African Journal of Chemical Education—AJCE 5(1), January 2015

Cell membrane integrity, callose accumulation, and root growth in aluminum-stressed sorghum seedlings

Aluminum stress usually reduces plant root growth due to the accumulation of Al in specific zones of the root apex. The objectives of this study were to determine the localization of Al in the root apex of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moech. and its effects on membrane integrity, callose accumulation, and root growth in selected cultivars. Seedlings were grown in a nutrient solution containing 0, 27, or 39 μM Al3+ for 24, 48, and 120 h. The Al stress significantly reduced root growth, especially after 48 and 120 h of exposure. A higher Al accumulation, determined by fluorescence microscopy after staining with a Morin dye, occurred in the root extension zone of the sensitive cultivar than in the tolerant cultivar. The membrane damage and callose accumulation were also higher in the sensitive than resistant cultivar. It was concluded that the Al stress significantly reduced root growth through the accumulation of Al in the root extension zone, callose accumulation, and impairment of plasma membrane integrity

Innovative Partnership Approach to Chickpea seed production and Technology Dissemination: Lessons from Ethiopia

Innovative partnership in chickpea seed production and technology dissemination was assessed in increasing chickpea productivity through facilitated access to quality seed. The study was designed to evaluate the benefits gained from partnership implemented for the last 10 years in chickpea technology by seed system of crop production. Farmers' participatory variety selection (FPVS)' has been implemented as epicenter of the new innovation. The varieties selected by the farmers were ultimately demonstrated and visited by large number of farmers and other stakeholders. This was complemented with the establishment and technical backstopping of farmers' seed producer associations to produce and market quality seed to fill the gap by the formal sector. Intervention with chickpea technologies were initiated right after training partners in chickpea seed and grain vale chain. From 2008 to 2015, over 350 FPVS trials were conducted concurrently with demonstrations. The farmers' seed producer associations cover the lion's share of the seed supply and became an innovative approach that enhanced the chickpea seed system. The production of certified and quality declared seed increased from 632.7t in 2008 to 3290 tons in 2014. The drastic increase in productivity and production of chickpea during the intervention period were largely attributed to the interventions made. The national chickpea productivity has doubled in a decade's time (2006-2015) and attained peak of 1.9ton ha-1 in 2014. Similarly production showed drastic increase during the intervention period where the production in 2015 was 124% more compared to the production in 2006. Lessons were driven from the approach that many development parties and the government policy recognized the approach as key player for enhancing the chickpea sector

A transnational and holistic breeding approach is needed for sustainable wheat production in the Baltic Sea region

The Baltic Sea is one of the largest brackish water bodies in the world. Eutrophication is a major concern in the Baltic Sea due to the leakage of nutrients to the sea with agriculture being the primary source. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the most widely grown crop in the countries surrounding the Baltic Sea and thus promoting sustainable agriculture practices for wheat cultivation will have a major impact on reducing pollution in the Baltic Sea. This approach requires identifying and addressing key challenges for sustainable wheat production in the region. Implementing new technologies for climate-friendly breeding and digital farming across all surrounding countries should promote sustainable intensification of agriculture in the region. In this review, we highlight major challenges for wheat cultivation in the Baltic Sea region and discuss various solutions integrating transnational collaboration for pre-breeding and technology sharing to accelerate development of low input wheat cultivars with improved host plant resistance to pathogen and enhanced adaptability to the changing climate.Peer reviewe

Genetic diversity in cultivated carioca common beans based on molecular marker analysis

A wide array of molecular markers has been used to investigate the genetic diversity among common bean species. However, the best combination of markers for studying such diversity among common bean cultivars has yet to be determined. Few reports have examined the genetic diversity of the carioca bean, commercially one of the most important common beans in Brazil. In this study, we examined the usefulness of two molecular marker systems (simple sequence repeats – SSRs and amplified fragment length polymorphisms – AFLPs) for assessing the genetic diversity of carioca beans. The amount of information provided by Roger’s modified genetic distance was used to analyze SSR data and Jaccards similarity coefficient was used for AFLP data. Seventy SSRs were polymorphic and 20 AFLP primer combinations produced 635 polymorphic bands. Molecular analysis showed that carioca genotypes were quite diverse. AFLPs revealed greater genetic differentiation and variation within the carioca genotypes (Gst = 98% and Fst = 0.83, respectively) than SSRs and provided better resolution for clustering the carioca genotypes. SSRs and AFLPs were both suitable for assessing the genetic diversity of Brazilian carioca genotypes since the number of markers used in each system provided a low coefficient of variation. However, fingerprint profiles were generated faster with AFLPs, making them a better choice for assessing genetic diversity in the carioca germplasm