Spectrum monitoring: Radio Frequency Interferences (RFI) profile for hydroxyl (OH) lines window

It was crucial to monitor the Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) in order to conduct the radio astronomical research with very minimum RFI. These RFI will be distorted the astronomical data. In this work, we have investigated the RFI strength (dBm) and presenting on how the nearby RFI affect to the OH lines window (1600 MHz-1800 MHz). Measurement of RFI spectrum was done in one minute interval in 24 hours observation at Kusza Observatory (KO) using spectrum analyzer. RFI analysis was done by identifying the RFI strength (dBm) in 3 separated OH lines window which is window A, window B and window C. Window C was found as the higher RFI strength compared other two window. Besides, interference peak (1575MHz) has found affected the OH lines window by spilling out untill 90MHz to the left and 180MHz to the right.Keywords: radio frequency interference; hydroxyl lines; RFI strengt

Multi-criteria decision analysis integrated with GIS for radio astronomical observatory site selection in peninsular of Malaysia

No AbstractKeywords: site selection; radio astronomical observatory; multi-criteria decision  analysis; geographical information system; Peninsular of Malaysi

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

The Effects of Mother-Plant Irrigation Schedule on the Quality Of Tomato ( Lycopersicum esculentum ) Seed

A study was carried out to examine the quality of seeds of two tomato cultivars (\u2018Ibadan Local\u2019 and \u2018Ife 1\u2019) produced under irrigation intervals of 2, 4, 6 and 8 days at the Federal University of Technology, Minna. Fruits were harvested when fully ripe and the seed/juice mixture (pulp) was removed immediately and left to ferment for four days after which the seeds were washed under running tap water and dried at room temperature. Seeds of the two cultivars were spread in open plastic Petri dishes and stored in a growth chamber at 30\ub0C and about 70% relative humidity to accelerate ageing for 16 weeks. Seed samples were drawn and tested for germination, seedling emergence, seedling height and number of leaves per seedling, at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 weeks of storage. Results showed that seeds of \u201cIbadan Local\u201d were significantly heavier than those of \u201cIfe 1\u201d but the trait was not significantly affected by irrigation interval. Seed viability declined as storage period increased irrespective of irrigation treatment in both cultivars. There was no consistent superiority of one irrigation interval over the other in respect of seed longevity over time. A general increase in seedling height and number of leaves per seedling was recorded as storage period progressed before a decline sets in at different ages. Generally, performance was best with seeds produced under 4 and 6 days irrigation intervals in both cultivars

Yes, size does matter (for cycling safety)! Comparing behavioral and safety outcomes in S, M, L, and XL cities from 18 countries

Although most actions aimed at promoting the use of active transport means have been conducted in ‘large’ cities, recent studies suggest that their cycling dynamics could hinder the efforts put into infrastructural, modal share, and cycling culture improvements. Aim The present study aimed to assess the role of city sizes on riding behavioral and crash-related cycling outcomes in an extensive sample of urban bicycle users. Methods For this purpose, a full sample of 5705 cyclists from >300 cities in 18 countries responded to the Cycling Behavior Questionnaire (CBQ), one of the most widely used behavioral questionnaires to assess risky and positive riding behaviors. Following objective criteria, data were grouped according to small cities (S; population of 50,000 or fewer), medium cities (M; population between 50,000 and 200,000), large cities (L; population between 200,000 and one million), and megacities (XL; population larger than one million). Results Descriptive analyses endorsed the associations between city size, cycling behavioral patterns, and mid-term self-reported crash outcomes. Also, it was observed a significant effect of the city size on cyclists' traffic violations and errors (all p < .001). However, no significant effects of the city size on positive behaviors were found. Also, it stands out that cyclists from megacities self-reported significantly more violations and errors than any of the other groups. Further, the outcomes of this study suggest that city sizes account for cycling safety outcomes through statistical associations, differences, and confirmatory predictive relationships through the mediation of risky cycling behavioral patterns. Conclusion The results of the present study highlight the need for authorities to promote road safety education and awareness plans aimed at cyclists in larger cities. Furthermore, path analysis suggests that “size does matter”, and it statistically accounts for cycling crashes, but only through the mediation of riders' risky behaviors

Food and Feeding Ecology of Cattle Egret (Bubulcus Ibis) in Federal College of Wildlife Management, New-Bussa, Niger State Nigeria

The dynamic nature of resources such as availability of cattle and nest tree availability for a variety of cattle egret species determine the movements, social structure, breeding season, productivity, and moult. Therefore, this study access the food and feeding ecology of cattle Egret in federal college of Wildlife Management, New-Bussa, Niger state for six months (January to June, 2019) using personal ground observation. The result revealed that the food list of cattle egret involves both animals and plants matter. The animals matter includes insects, Annilida and Arachinids. Insects form the highest percentage of the food composition especially Orthoptera. The plants matter includes Nectar of cotton plant and seeds of neem plant. The result also indicated that the bird is engaged in many activities during the day. Cattle egret diurnal activities include feeding, flying, perching and pecking. The highest activity was feeding while flying was the least. The part consumed are fruits, seed and animals. The part consume mostly is the seed, followed by the Fruit and the least is animals food source. The study concludes that Cattle egret are omnivorous animals but they fed mostly on insects of the order Orthoptera but they also fed on plants such as cotton and neem seed

Determination of Radio Environmental Level in Hydrogen (HI) Band Spectrum by using Kurtosis Analysis

The Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) nowadays becomes a serious problem and crucial issue in the radio astronomy observation. The radio astronomical lines observation become worse due to the more RFI in Ultra High Frequency (UHF) and Very High Frequency (VHF) which influences the data in radio image. The aims of this paper are to investigate the radio environment level in hydrogen (HI) band (1300-1500MHz) and also in a wide band (0-9000 MHz). The observation site is at KUSZA Observatory (KO), Langkawi National Observatory (LNO) and East Coast Environmental Research Institute (ESERI). In this paper, the statistical kurtosis and waterfall method are applied on the radio environment data. The highest average of kurtosis values indicates the lowest of radio environment level at these sites. From obtained results, the highest average of kurtosis value in wide band obtained at 'LNO' which 20.33 and in the specific band was found at 'KO' with a value of 6.06. This preliminary study is important to identify the radio environment level in radio astronomical specific band such as HI band

Preliminary study of radio astronomical lines effect of rain below 2.9 GHZ

An appropriate site selection for radio astronomy observation is very important in order to find a low level site in RFI value. The aim of this study is to select the best possible factors for astronomical observation sites. There are many factors such as slope, raindrop, river, population density, road network, land used, wireless telephone technology interrupts radio astronomy observation. In this study, we have reported one of the factors that affect radio observation which is rain effect. The site selection study is the most crucial part of decision makers proposes where to build an astronomical observatory, especially in radio astronomy with a maximum efficiency. The observation apparatus was set up to study the effect of rainfall and raindrop to the radio signal. We found that, in the inside observation, we found that spectral lines (Deuterium, Hydrogen, and two Hydroxyl lines) show that the rain gives no effect to radio signal in those windows. We also found that there is very small fluctuate value are very small (about -2 dB) for outside observation. It can be considered has no significant effect on rain below 2.9 GHz