The Effect of Different Amounts Addition of Seaweed (Eucheuma Cottonii) Flour Toward Characteristics of Catfish (Pangasius Hypopthalmus) Empek-empek Quality

This research was aimed to obtain the best amount of seaweed (Eucheuma cottonii) flour in processing of catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus) empek-empek from organoleptic quality and chemical analysis aspects. The seaweed (Eucheuma cottonii) was obtained directly from seaweed cultivation in Tanjung Medang water of north Rupat, Bengkalis regency, Riau. This research used completely randomized design, one factor with four levels of treatment 0%, 10%, 15% and 20%. The results of the study was very significant effect on organoleptic value includes the appearance, taste, aroma, texture and chemical values which include water content, fat content, ash content, whereas the levels of protein and calcium were significantly different. Based on parameters tested, the best treatment was the catfish empek-empek with addition 10% of seaweed flour, with appearance (7.99) of light brown colour, fish flavor more pronounced (7.61), fish aroma (7.61), solid, compact and chewy texture (7.26), and 65.97% of water content, 14.10% of protein content, 7.65% of fat content, 4.86% of ash content and 17.18 mg / 100 g of calcium content

R-values in Low Energy e^+e^- Annihilation

This presentation briefly summarizes the recent measurements of R-values in low energy e^+e^- annihilation. The new experiments aimed at reducing the uncertainties in R-values and performed with the upgraded Beijing Spectrometer (BESII) at Beijing Electron Positron Collider (BEPC) in Beijing and with CMD-2 and SND at VEEP-2M in Novosibirsk are reviewed and discussed.Comment: 17 pages, 10 figures, invited presentation at the XIX International Symposium on Lepton and Photon Interactions at High Energy, Stanford University, August 199

Introduced Drosophila subobscura populations perform better than native populations during an oviposition choice task due to increased fecundity but similar learning ability

The success of invasive species is tightly linked to their fitness in a putatively novel environment. While quantitative components of fitness have been studied extensively in the context of invasive species, fewer studies have looked at quali- tative components of fitness, such as behavioral plasticity, and their interaction with quantitative components, despite intuitive benefits over the course of an invasion. In particular, learning is a form of behavioral plasticity that makes it possible to finely tune behavior according to environmental conditions. Learn- ing can be crucial for survival and reproduction of introduced organisms in novel areas, for example, for detecting new predators, or finding mates or oviposition sites. Here we explored how oviposition performance evolved in relation to both fecundity and learning during an invasion, using native and introduced Drosophila subobscura populations performing an ecologically rele- vant task. Our results indicated that, under comparable conditions, invasive populations performed better during our oviposition task than did native pop- ulations. This was because invasive populations had higher fecundity, together with similar cognitive performance when compared to native populations, and that there was no interaction between learning and fecundity. Unexpectedly, our study did not reveal an allocation trade-off (i.e., a negative relationship) between learning and fecundity. On the contrary, the pattern we observed was more consistent with an acquisition trade-off, meaning that fecundity could be limited by availability of resources, unlike cognitive ability. This pattern might be the consequence of escaping natural enemies and/or competitors during the introduction. The apparent lack of evolution of learning may indicate that the introduced population did not face novel cognitive challenges in the new environment (i.e., cognitive "pre-adaptation"). Alternatively, the evolution of learning may have been transient and therefore not detected

Ensayos preliminares de germinación en Puya raimondii Harms (Bromeliaceae)

Puya raimondii Harms is an endemic especie of the highlands of Peru and Bolivia, whose population and area of distribution are being reduced. Aiming at contributing to the knowledge of the mechanisms of propagation of this species, a study of the effects of the illumination and stratification on the germination of the seed was carried out. The seed was collected in the rodal of Puya raimondii in Huashta Cruz (Pueblo Libre, Ancash) in December 1999 and were stored under laboratory conditions in Lima until the tests. The seeds were desinfected with sodium hipochloride 2,6% and for the germination test seeds were placed in petri dishes with distilled and sterilized water during 2000. The preliminary results show that the seed of Puya raimondii has a high percentage and velocity of germination when exposed to light. A similar effect was achieved by stratifying them for two months at 11 °C or by increasing time of storage to 8 months, but germination dropped upon applying both processes simultaneously. We hypothesize that the high seed moisture content and high temperature during storage and germination affect germination success negatively.Puya raimondii Harms es una especie endémica de la zona altoandina de Perú y Bolivia, cuyas poblaciones y área de distribución se están reduciendo. Con el objetivo de contribuir al conocimiento de los mecanismos de propagación de la especie se realizaron estudios del efecto de la iluminación y estratificación en la germinación de sus semillas. Éstas se colectaron en el rodal de P. raimondii de Huashta Cruz (Pueblo Libre, Áncash) en diciembre de 1999 y fueron almacenadas bajo condiciones de laboratorio en Lima, Perú, hasta el momento de los ensayos. Las semillas fueron desinfectadas con hipoclorito de sodio 2,6% y la germinación se realizó en placas petri con agua destilada estéril durante el año 2000. Los resultados preliminares muestran que las semillas de P. raimondii tienen altos valores de porcentaje e índice de velocidad de germinación al ser iluminadas. Efecto semejante tuvo estratificarlas por dos meses a 11 °C o incrementar el tiempo de almacenamiento hasta 8 meses pero resultó negativo aplicar los dos tratamientos a la vez. Se plantea que los altos contenidos de humedad de la semilla, temperatura de almacenamiento así como temperatura de germinación afectan negativamente los valores de germinación

Effectiveness of n-hexane and ethanol extract of papaya (Carica papaya L.) leaves as shallot pest (Spodoptera exigua Hübner) natural insecticide

One of the agricultural commodities that has a high selling value and consumption level is shallot (Alium ascalonicum). However, the productivity of shallots is known to be susceptible to plant-destroying organisms, such as the shallot caterpillar (Spodoptera exigua). Currently, most shallot farmers control S. exigua using synthetic insecticides. Synthetic insecticides are poisonous and use for a long time  period will cause resistance to pests and environmental pollution. One of the natural ingredients that has the potential as a botanical insecticide is papaya (Carica papaya). This study aimed to determine the effectiveness and concentration of n-hexane and ethanolic extracts of papaya leaves which are the most effective against toxicity and inhibition of the feeding power of S. exigua second instar larvae. The extract was obtained by gradual maceration of n-hexane (non polar) and ethanol (polar) solvents. Test the secondary metabolite content of papaya leaves using Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). The results showed that the ethanol extract was the most effective extract in causing toxicity to larvae with the highest percentage of 96.67%. Meanwhile, n-hexane extract was more effective in inhibiting larval feeding than ethanol extract with the lowest feeding area of 2,27 mm. The most effective concentration of against toxicity and feeding inhibition of larvae is concentration 3%. The LC50 value of the ethanol extract was 0.0207% and the n-hexane extract was 0.0459%. Both extracts are known to contain compound groups, namely tannins, terpenoids, flavonoids, and alkaloids