The dynamics of resource conflict: Lessons from Nigeria and Malaysia

Since the emergence of environmental resource conflict on the international political discourse in the early 1980s, there has been growing concern that, resource conflicts in developing countries is likely to exacerbate conflicts originating in strenuous struggles over scarce resources due to population increase. The apparent manifestation of conflicts in the oil rich Niger Delta region in Southern Nigeria and Farmer-herder conflicts in Northern Nigeria to the lingering forest logging controversy in Malaysia is an upsurge of the coming resource “crisis” in these countries. The focus of this paper is to discuss issues on management of resource conflicts in developing countries like Nigeria and Malaysia. The paper suggests that, there is the need for commitment from the states and all stakeholders through institutionalization of proactive conflict resolution and peace building strategies, instead of resolution through the grave yards. Discussions are based on secondary data with examples from recent experiences from farmer-herder conflict, and Niger Delta crisis in Nigeria, and forest logging in Malaysia

Effects of nitrite and pH on a tropical fish fry, puntius gonionotus (Bleeker)

The effects of short term and long term exposure of a tropical fish fry, Barbodes gonionotus (Bleeher), to pH and nitrite separately and in combination, were evaluated using static and flow-through bioassays respectively. The 96-hour LC50 values of pH and nitrate were 4.9 and 7.91 mg/l N02-N -respectively. However the 96-hour LC50 of pH was higher (5.4 pH unit) in the presence of nitrite 5.00 mg/l N02-N) than that without nitrite. At pH 5.00,100% mortality was found at 4.00 mg/l N02-N concentration after 48-hour exposure. Under long-term exposure, the growth rates of the fish fry decreased with increased nitrite concentrations. Fish fry grown at 2.00 mg/l N02-N had significantly lower growth rate (P < 0.05) than the control, but had a significantly higher rate (P < 0.05) than in the 4.00 mg/l N02-N (PH 7.33-7.56). One hundred per cent mortality occurred within 30 days at pH 5.00 - 7.00 when the fish were exposed to 4.00 mg/l N02-N concentration at the same time. The study demonstrated that the effects of combined pH and nitrite on the survival and growth rates of the fish fry were more serious than the effects of each factor separately

Keberadaan Mikroba Pada Bakso Ikan Asap Cair, Yang Dikemas Dalam Retortable Pouch, Dipasteurisasi Dan Disimpan Pada Temperatur Ruang

A research has been done to assess the presence of microbes and the shelf life of fish balls dipped in liquid smoke, packed in retortable pouch, pasteurized, and stored at room temperature. The method used in this research is an experimental method that revealed the facts based on existing problems through hypothesis testing. Parameters assessed are Total Plate Count (TPC), total Salmonella, total coliforms and E. coli, total vibrio, water content, and pH. Fish balls were pasteurized in 85ºC and stored in room temperature for 0, 3, 6, and 9 days, and were pasteurized at 100°C and storage in room temperature for 0, 9, 18, and 27 days. The results shown that all pathogen were negative, but based on Indonesian standard (SNI 01-7266-1-2006) especially TPC value, fish balls were packaged in retortable pouch and without pasteurized is no longer acceptable for consumption after 3 days of storage, and fish balls were packaged in retortable pouch and pasteurized at 85ºC no longer acceptable for consumed after 6 days of storage. While the fish balls are packaged in retortable pouch and pasteurized at 100°C is no longer acceptable for consumed after 18 days of storage. Keyword: Retortable Pouch, Pasteurization, Pathogens. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui keberadaan mikroba dan daya awet bakso ikan yang direndam dalam asap cair dan dikemas dalam Retortable pouch, dipasteurisasi, dan disimpan pada temperatur ruang. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode eksperimen untuk menguji hipotesa. Parameter yang diamati yaitu Angka Lempeng Total (ALT), Salmonella, total koliform dan E.coli, total vibrio, analisa kadar air, dan nilai pH. Bakso ikan asap cair yang dipasteurisasi pada 85ºC, disimpan pada temperatur ruang selama 0, 3, 6, dan 9 hari, dan yang dipasteurisasi pada 100ºC, disimpan pada temperatur ruang selama 0,9,18, dan 27 hari. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa bakso ikan yang dikemas dalam Retortable pouch, tanpa dipasteurisasi sudah tidak layak lagi untuk dikonsumsi setelah penyimpanan 3 hari, dan bakso ikan yang dikemas dalam Retortable pouch dan dipasteurisasi pada 85ºC sudah tidak layak lagi untuk dikonsumsi setelah penyimpanan 6 hari. Bakso ikan yang dikemas dalam Retortable pouch, dan dipasteurisasi pada 100ºC nanti tidak layak lagi dikonsumsi setelah penyimpanan 18 hari

Rust Phase Transformation In The Presence Of Mangrove Tannins.

The transformation of rust in the presence of 5 g L-1 tannins extracted from mangrove barks was studied

Classical scrapie prions in ovine blood are associated with B lymphocytes and platelet-rich plasma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Classical scrapie is a naturally occurring transmissible spongiform encephalopathy of sheep and goats characterized by cellular accumulation of abnormal isoforms of prion protein (PrP^Sc) in the central nervous system and the follicles of peripheral lymphoid tissues. Previous studies have shown that the whole blood and buffy coat blood fraction of scrapie infected sheep harbor prion infectivity. Although PrP^Schas been detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), plasma, and more recently within a subpopulation of B lymphocytes, the infectivity status of these cells and plasma in sheep remains unknown. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine whether circulating PBMCs, B lymphocytes and platelets from classical scrapie infected sheep harbor prion infectivity using a sheep bioassay.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Serial rectal mucosal biopsy and immunohistochemistry were used to detect preclinical infection in lambs transfused with whole blood or blood cell fractions from preclinical or clinical scrapie infected sheep. PrP^Scimmunolabeling was detected in antemortem rectal and postmortem lymphoid tissues from recipient lambs receiving PBMCs (15/15), CD72⁺B lymphocytes (3/3), CD21⁺B lymphocytes (3/3) or platelet-rich plasma (2/3) fractions. As expected, whole blood (11/13) and buffy coat (5/5) recipients showed positive PrP^Sclabeling in lymphoid follicles. However, at 549 days post-transfusion, PrP^Scwas not detected in rectal or other lymphoid tissues in three sheep receiving platelet-poor plasma fraction.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Prion infectivity was detected in circulating PBMCs, CD72⁺pan B lymphocytes, the CD21⁺subpopulation of B lymphocytes and platelet-rich plasma of classical scrapie infected sheep using a sheep bioassay. Combining platelets with B lymphocytes might enhance PrP^Scdetection levels in blood samples.</p

HbA1c response and hospital admissions following commencement of flash glucose monitoring in adults with type 1 diabetes

Introduction Our aim was to assess the effect of introducing flash monitoring in adults with type 1 diabetes with respect to change in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and frequency of hospital admissions.Research design and methods Prospective observational study of adults with type 1 diabetes in our center, in whom a prescription for a flash monitoring sensor was collected. Primary outcome was change in HbA1c between 2016 and after flash monitoring. Rates of hospital admission were compared between the first year after flash monitoring and the corresponding 12-month period 2 years earlier.Results Approximately half of all adults with type 1 diabetes, attending our center, collected prescriptions for flash monitoring sensors (n=2216). Median fall in HbA1c was −1 (−0.1) mmol/mol (%) (p&lt;0.001) and was greatest in those with baseline HbA1c &gt;75 (9.0) mmol/mol (%): −10 (−0.9) mmol/mol (%), p&lt;0.001. 43% of those with a baseline HbA1c &gt;53 mmol/mol (7%) experienced a ≥5 mmol/mol (0.5%) fall in HbA1c. In addition to higher HbA1c, early commencement within 1 month of NHS-funded flash monitoring (p&lt;0.001), and male gender (p=0.013) were associated with a fall in HbA1c of ≥5 (0.5) mmol/mol (%). Socioeconomic deprivation (p=0.009) and collecting fewer than 2 sensors per month (p=0.002) were associated with lack of response. Overall, hospital admissions did not change but an increase in admissions for hypoglycemia was observed (1.1% vs 0.3%, p=0.026).Conclusions Flash monitoring is associated with reduction in HbA1c in individuals with HbA1c &gt;58 mmol/mol. Numerous clinical features are independently associated with HbA1c response. An increase in hypoglycemia admissions occurred following flash monitoring