Pembuatan dan Karaktrisasi Karbon Aktif Berbahan Dasar Cangkang Sawit dengan Metode Aktivasi Fisika Menggunakan Rotary Autoclave

Activated carbon is an absorbent that has widely used because it's high absorption capacity. Necessity to improve the quality of activated carbon made from palm shells with low price and easy to obtain. The process of preparation and characteristics of activated carbon conducted in this research using physical activation using CO2 as the activating agent. Carbonization and activation processes performed in a rotating furnace (rotary autoclave) by flowing nitrogen gas (N2) at 100 ml/min and CO2 flow rate of 250 ml/min. Carbonization temperature 500oC was used with some variation of carbonization time, activation time and activation temperature. The results seen with activated carbon characteristics knowing iodine numbers obtained from any activated carbon produced. Optimum characteristics of activated carbon obtained by activation at 750oC temperature, the duration of carbonization and activation of activated carbon produced during 2 hours with 603 g / kg of iodine number

Cadmium sulphide-reduced graphene oxide-modified photoelectrode-based photoelectrochemical sensing platform for copper(II) ions

A photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensor with excellent sensitivity and detection toward copper (II) ions (Cu2+) was developed using a cadmium sulphide-reduced graphene oxide (CdS-rGO) nanocomposite on an indium tin oxide (ITO) surface, with triethanolamine (TEA) used as the sacrificial electron donor. The CdS nanoparticles were initially synthesized via the aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD) method using cadmium acetate and thiourea as the precursors to Cd2+ and S2-, respectively. Graphene oxide (GO) was then dip-coated onto the CdS electrode and sintered under an argon gas flow (50 mL/min) for the reduction process. The nanostructured CdS was adhered securely to the ITO by a continuous network of rGO that also acted as an avenue to intensify the transfer of electrons from the conduction band of CdS. The photoelectrochemical results indicated that the ITO/CdS-rGO photoelectrode could facilitate broad UV-visible light absorption, which would lead to a higher and steady-state photocurrent response in the presence of TEA in 0.1 M KCl. The photocurrent decreased with an increase in the concentration of Cu2+ ions. The photoelectrode response for Cu2+ ion detection had a linear range of 0.5-120 μM, with a limit of detection (LoD) of 16 nM. The proposed PEC sensor displayed ultra-sensitivity and good selectivity toward Cu2+ ion detection

The Influence of Physical Parameters Towards Hyper Cholesterol Reducing Agent Production, Lovastatin, Under Solid Substrate Fermentation (SSF) Condition

Two potential substrates namely rice bran and unprocessed brown rice indicated positive result of lovastatin existence. Aspergillus Niger SAR I, our local isolated fungus, took a responsibility to cooperate with those substrates in SSF system. Further experiment including initial profile production, effect of physical parameters (temperature, inoculum size and substrate quantity) and final profile production, were carried out. For initial profile, a basic condition of SSF which consisted 70% (v/w) of moisture content (adjusted to pH 6.0), 5 g substrates mixture (ungrounded size), 1x107 spore/ml of inoculum size and incubation temperature at 30±2 0C, was conducted in a flask system and fermented for 7 days. Those conditions allowed 160.03±3.79 mg lovastatin/g dry substrate of lovastatin production during initial stage. After a study of effect of physical parameters, it showed that the optimum temperature was still at ambient temperature (30±2 0C) and substrate quantity of 5 g but different inoculum size (1x105 spore/ml). Each parameters specifically temperature, inoculum size and substrate quantity produced 253.98±5.92 mg lovastatin/g dry substrate, 297.64±0.56 mg lovastatin/g dry substrate and 298.72±44.12 mg lovastatin/g dry substrate, respectively. Throughout the final profile, the production was 305.08±14.15 mg lovastatin/g dry substrate which made the total increment hit to almost 91%. In this experiment, lovastatin was subjected into high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with acetonitrile and phosphoric acid (pH 3.0) as a mobile phase

Assessing the prevalence of refractive errors and accuracy of vision screening by schoolteachers in Liberia

Background Evidence indicates that school-based vision screening by trained teachers is an effective way of identifying and addressing potential vision problems in schoolchildren. However, inconsistencies have been reported in both the testing methods and accuracy of the screeners. This study assessed the prevalence of refractive errors and accuracy of screening by teachers in Grand Kru County, Liberia. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from four schools where, in February 2019, children were screened for refractive errors by trained teachers and then re-examined by ophthalmic technicians. One row of five optotypes of the Snellen 6/9 (0.2 logMar) scale (tumbling E chart) was used at a distance of 3 m. The prevalence of visual impairment and associations with sex, age and school were explored. Sensitivity, specificity and predictive values were calculated. Results Data were available for 823 of 1095 eligible children with a mean age of 13.7 y (range 5–18) and male:female ratio of 1:0.8. Poor vision was identified in 24 (2.9%) children with no differences by either sex or age but small differences by school. Screening by teachers had a sensitivity of 0.25 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.077 to 0.423) and a specificity of 0.996 (95% CI 0.992 to 1.000). Positive and negative predictive values were 0.667 (95% CI 0.359 to 0.975) and 0.978 (95% CI 0.968 to 0.988), respectively. The results were influenced by a high number of misclassifications in one of the four schools. Conclusions Teachers can be trained to conduct vision screening tests on schoolchildren to an acceptable level of accuracy, but strong monitoring and quality assurance systems should be built into screening programmes from the onset. In settings like Liberia, where many children do not attend school regularly, screening programmes should extend to community platforms to reach children out of school

Gene S Characterization of Hantavirus Species Seoul Virus Isolated From Rattus Norvegicuson an Indonesian Island

Background: Hantavirus lives and reproduces in the body of rodents. Rattus norvegicuswas one found in the Kepulauan Seribu islands of Indonesia. Hantavirus species Seoul virus (SEOV) is a negative single chain RNA viruses included in the family Bunyaviridae. It has a few specific genes, especially genes S that can be developed for a diagnostic test. The aim of this study was to ascertain the character of gene S of hantavirus species Seoul virus. Methods: Gene sequencing of S Seoul virus from lung tissue of rodents was conducted. DNA fragment sequencing used primer pairs of SEOS-28F and SEOS -360R, VNS-1501F and VNS-CSR. The results of sequencing were analyze by seqscapeprogram to obtain a sequence of nucleotides, and analyzed by Mega5 programs. Phylogenetic analysis was done for homology nucleotides and amino acids which were compared to other hanta virus species from the gene bank. Results: The comparison analysis showed, the highest homology from strain KS74 was 88.4% and the lowest from strain KS90 was 87.2%. The highest homology of amino acids sequence compared with Seoul virus came from strain KS74 was 91.3% and the lowest came from strain KS90 was 89.5%. Conclusion: Gene S of viruses was found in Kepulauan Seribu in Indonesia and it was comparable to that found in Singapore and Korea. (Health Science Indones 2014;1:1- 6)

Means of transportation affects the physical qualities of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus [Thunb]) fruit within the Tamale Metropolis in the Northern Region of Ghana

The high perishable nature of fruits and vegetables in the agricultural sector is a major concern to scientists and the various stakeholders along the value chain. Postharvest handling practices and transportation systems are some of the factors responsible for some postharvest losses. This study therefore sought to identify the various means of transport used by traders and also to assess the kinds of mechanical damage that confront watermelon fruits during transportation within the Metropolis. Field survey collected information on handling practices and the means of transportation. It revealed that the means of transport used by watermelon traders included Kia mini truck (0.80 t), Motor King (Tricycle) (0.45 t) Kia mini truck (1.5 t) and Mini Pickup truck (1.00 t). It was also observed that majority (35%) of watermelon traders used Kia mini truck while Mini Pickup truck was the least used (15%). It further revealed that Motor King (0.45 t) recorded the highest percentage of cracks (0.08%) while Kia mini truck (1.5 t) had the least (0.03%).  Additionally, Kia mini truck (0.80 t) had the highest percentage of bruises (0.14%) while Kia mini truck (1.5 t) had the least (0.53%). Keywords: mechanical injury, hinterlands, transport, cracks and bruise

Identification of a Novel Salt-Tolerant Streptomyces Isolate with Bio-Fertilizing Property

A 65 local Streptomyces isolates were tested for their salt tolerance ability. Four of them were found to grow on 6% salt concentration medium. These were selected as candidates for bio-fertilizing use. Only one of them named Streptomyces NS-38 was found to pose such trait by enhancing accelerated seed germination of different types of plants on salt and normal media. Result showed that incubation of seeds with this bacterium extract for 15 hours before implantation increased the number of germinating seeds and yield significantly

Chemical Information from Proximate and Elemental Composition of Acalypha hispida Leaf

Communication in Physical Sciences 2020, 5(2): 240-245 Authors: Abdulazeez, N. C. Nwokem, I. L. Ibrahim, H. L. Zubairu, A. Uthman and M. Abubakar Received 17 May 2020/Accepted 28 May 2020  Proximate and elemental compositions of plant leaves can provide useful information on the nutritional benefits of the plant. Proximate and elemental analysis of Acalypha hispida leaves were conducted using official and recommended methods. The result obtained indicated that the plant leaf contain moisture (11.02%), crude fat (6.05%), total ash (10.17%), crude protein (13.17%), crude fibre (10.36%) and carbohydrate (48.65%). Analysis for the presence of some elements indicated the presence of essential elements, which included iron, zinc and copper. The toxic lead was also found to be present in the plant leaves as Fe, Zn, Cu and Pb. Iron had the highest mean concentration of 20.7mg/g while concentrations of Zn, Cu, and Pb were 0.230, 0.778 and 1.729 mg/g respectively. Concentration of these metal ions were within the tolerance and safe limits for the human nutrition

The effect of aqueous extracts of Hibiscus sabdariffa (Sorrel) calyces on heamatological profile and organ pathological changes in Trypanasoma congolense – infected rat

The effects of aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa calyces on haematology and pathological changes in some selected organs during experimental Trypanosoma congolense infection of rats were investigated. Three groups of rats were intraperitoneally infected with T. congolense (Karu stock). One group was administered with the aqueous extract and another given a solution of vitamin C in drinking water; the remaining infected group was left untreated. Data from these groups were compared with those of two groups of healthy rats, one of which was similarly treated with the aqueous extract. The experiment was terminated three weeks, post-infection (pi). The uninfected and infected rats administered the extract consumed the equivalent of 9.94 mg – and 9.61 mg ascorbic acid / 100g / day during the experiment. Consumption of the extract significantly (