Global Journalist: Singapore confronts a second coronavirus

On this April 27, 2020 program, veteran news editors in Singapore discussed how journalists there are adapting to COVID-19 by applying the lessons learnt from SARS, another coronavirus which hit the country in 2003. Host: Aqil Hamzah. Guests: P.N Balji, Eugene Wee

Aplikasi Bioinformatika pada Studi Genetik Jagung Provitamin A

One type of functional maize that is currently studied and developed at Indonesian Cereals Research Institute is rich beta carotene maize (Pro vitamin A maize). This study aims to study the bioinformatics aspect of beta carotene maize as a basis in the determination of appropriate crossing combinations in generating pro vitamin A maize. Genetic studies used 15 high vitamin A maize inbreeds originating from within and outside the country (Cimmyt Mexico introduction). The study was conducted from April to July 2015 at the Molecular Biology Laboratory of Indonesian Cereals Research Institute. Preparation and DNA scoring were performed by using NTSYS-pc 2.1 version for generating dendogram/ data clustering. The results showed that the genetic diversity analysis based on UPGMA against genetic similarity matrix in the form of a dendogram of genetic similarity coefficient values obtained ranged from 0.36 to 0.91. The result of genetic diversity clustering of 15 inbreeds of Pro vitamin A maize in genetic similarity of 0.44 is divided into four groups: groups I, II, III and IV. Dendrogram shows groups I and II at the GD level of 0.44. Group III is at the level of GD 0.45 and divided into two sub groups namely A1 and A2. Group IV is at GD 0.503 level divided into four sub groups namely B1, B2, B3 and B4. The genetic clustering of inbreds tested indicated that the variability of the material characterized was relatively high and enables inbreds recombination in developing new varieties

Biodegumming Rami Menggunakan Enzim Amobil dari Cairan Rumen Sapi

Serat rami adalah serat yang didapat dari tanaman rami. Proses pengolahan rami terdiri atas beberapa tahap, salah satunya adalah proses degumming. Proses degumming merupakan proses penghilangan gum pada helaian serat rami kasar. Proses degumming umumnya dilakukan menggunakan bahan kimia. Proses degumming kimiawi memiliki beberapa kelemahan, diantaranya menghasilkan limbah yang tidak ramah lingkungan. Guna mengatasi kelemahan degumming kimiawi, maka salah satu alternatif proses yang digunakan adalah proses degumming secara enzimatis (biodegumming). Dalam penelitian ini dilakukan isolasi enzim pektinase dan protease dari cairan rumen sapi dilanjutkan dengan proses imobilisasinya serta aplikasinya pada proses degumming rami. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah menentukan variabel paling berpengaruh, mengkaji pengaruh variabel proses yang meliputi, waktu inkubasi, rasio enzim substrat dan temperature, serta menentukan kondisi optimum proses. Degumming enzimatik dilakukan dengan merendam dan menginkubasi 10 gram serat rami kasar pada suhu 400C atau 700C selama 4 atau 8 jam sesuai dengan variabel (sesuaikan pH 9 dengan larutan bufer). Ukuran plot 1:10 (perbandingan antara bahan yang akan didegum dengan bahan pendegum). Setelah masa inkubasi selesai serat dicuci sampai bersih dan dikeringkan kemudian di timbang. Variabel proses yang sangat berpengaruh adalah suhu dimana efek variabelnya sebesar 0,8. Kondisi operasi proses degumming enzimatis yang optimum adalah suhu 700C dengan waktu 8 jam dan rasio enzim-subtrat 1:10 dimana persentase gum yang hilang adalah sebesar 8,7%

Dielectric properties of PbSrWO4 and PbBaWO4 compounds

PbSrWO4 and PbBaWO4 have been synthesised by the solid state reaction technique XRD patterns show them to be tetragonal. Dielectric constant (K/) and Dielectric loss (K//) of PbSrWO4 and PbBaWO4 have been measured at 1 kHz in the temperature range of 300 to 1050 K. The log K/ vs T as well as log K// vs T plot of PbSrWO4 and PbBaWO4 shows rapid increase of dielectric constant above 590 K and 640 K, respectively.Author Affiliation: S V Singh, A N Thakur, O P Singh, S C Kumar and Aqil Ahmad 1.Department of Physics, T D Post Graduate College Jaunpur-222 002, Uttar Pradesh, India E-mail : [email protected] of Physics, T D Post Graduate College Jaunpur-222 002, Uttar Pradesh, Indi

Topography driven spreading

Roughening a hydrophobic surface enhances its nonwetting properties into superhydrophobicity. For liquids other than water, roughness can induce a complete rollup of a droplet. However, topographic effects can also enhance partial wetting by a given liquid into complete wetting to create superwetting. In this work, a model system of spreading droplets of a nonvolatile liquid on surfaces having lithographically produced pillars is used to show that superwetting also modifies the dynamics of spreading. The edge speed-dynamic contact angle relation is shown to obey a simple power law, and such power laws are shown to apply to naturally occurring surfaces

The Influence of the Contextual Teaching and Learning (CTL) Learning Model on Students' Learning Outcomes

The purpose of this research is to describe the influence of the Contextual Teaching and Learning (CTL) learning model on student learning outcomes in Indonesian language subjects in grade fifth of Tondo Elementary School. The design of the experimental method used in this study is nonequivalent control group design. The subjects in this study were fifth grade students at Tondo Elementary School, totaling 55 people. There are 28 students in the experimental class and 27 students in the control class Data collection was carried out using multiple choice tests. Data analysis used the t test with the prerequisite test namely normality test, homogeneity test, and hypothesis testing with the help of SPSS Statistics Version 25. Based on the results of this study indicate the results of a significant value of 0.000 <0.05 then accept the hypothesis Ha and reject Ho, meaning the Contextual Teaching and Learning (CTL) learning model influential in improving student learning outcomes in Indonesian language grade fifth of Tondo Elementary School

The use of high aspect ratio photoresist (SU-8) for super-hydrophobic pattern prototyping

In this work we present a reliable technique for the production of large areas of high aspect-ratio patterns and describe their use as model super-hydrophobic systems. The high thickness and straight sidewalls possible with SU-8 were used to generate dense patterns of small pillars. These photoresist patterns could be used directly, without the need for micromoulding. A method is given allowing resist thickness to be varied over a wide range and a bottom antireflective layer was used to simplify patterning on reflective substrates. This patterning technique allows rapid testing of wetting theories, as pattern size and depth can be varied simply and samples can be produced in sufficient numbers for laboratory use. We show how the static contact angle of water varies with pattern height for one sample-pattern and how static and dynamic contact angles vary with dimension using high aspect-ratio patterns

Reliability of Community Health Worker Collected Data for Planning and Policy in a Peri-Urban Area of Kisumu, Kenya

A general introduction of this article is as follows: Reliable and timely health information is an essential foundation of public health action and health systems strengthening, both nationally and internationally (Aqil et al. in Health Policy Plan 24(3): 217–228, 2009; Bradshaw et al. in initial burden of disease estimates for South Africa, 2000. South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, 2003). The need for sound information is especially urgent in the case of emergent diseases and other acute health threats, where rapid awareness, investigation and response can save lives and prevent broader national outbreaks and even global pandemics (Aqil et al. in Health Policy Plan 24(3): 217–228, 2009). The government of Kenya, through the ministry of public health and sanitation has rolled out the community health strategy as a way of improving health care at the household level. This involves community health workers collecting health status data at the household level, which is then used for dialogue at all the levels to inform decisions and actions towards improvement in health status. A lot of health interventions have involved the community health workers in reaching out to the community, hence successfully implementing these health interventions. Large scale involvement of community health workers in government initiatives and most especially to collect health data for use in the health systems has been minimal due to the assumption that the data may not be useful to the government, because its quality is uncertain. It was therefore necessary that the validity and reliability of the data collected by community health workers be determined, and whether this kind of data can be used for planning and policy formulation for the communities from which it is collected. This would go a long way to settle speculation on whether the data collected by these workers is valid and reliable for use in determining the health status, its causes and distribution, of a community. Our general objective of this article is to investigate the validity and reliability of Community Based Information, and we deal with research question “What is the reliability of data collected at the Community level by Community health workers?”. The methods which we use to find an reliable answer to this question is “Ten percent of all households visited by CHWs for data collection were recollected by a technically trained team. Test/retest method was applied to the data to establish reliability. The Kappa score, sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive values were also used to measure reliability”. Finally our findings are as follows: Latrine availability and Antenatal care presented good correspondence between the two sets of data. This was also true for exclusive breast feeding indicator. Measles immunization coverage showed less consistency than the rest of the child health indicators. At last we conclude and recommend that CHWs can accurately and reliably collect household data which can be used for health decisions and actions especially in resource poor settings where other approaches to population based data are too expensive

Bioanalytical method development and validation for determination of metoprolol tartarate and hydrochlorothiazide using HPTLC in human plasma

A simple, sensitive, rapid and economic chromatographic method has been developed for determination of metoprolol tartarate and hydrochlorothiazide in human plasma using paracetamol as an internal standard. The analytical technique used for method development was high-performance thin-layer chromatography. HPTLC Camag with precoated silica gel Plate 60F254 (20 cm×10 cm) at 250 µm thicknesses (E. Merck, Darmstadt, Germany) was used as the stationary phase. The mobile phase used consisted of chloroform: methanol: ammonia (9:1:0.5v/v/v). Densitometric analysis was carried out at a wavelength of 239 nm. The rf values for hydrochlorothiazide, paracetamol and metoprolol tartarate were 0.13±0.04, 0.28±0.05, 0.48±0.04, respectively. Plasma samples were extracted by protein precipitation with methanol. Concentration ranges of 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200 ng/mL and 2000, 4000, 6000, 8000, 10000, 12000 ng/mL of hydrochlorothiazide and metoprolol tartarate, respectively, were used with plasma for the calibration curves. The percent recovery of metoprolol tartarate and hydrochlorothiazide was found to be 77.30 and 77.02 %, respectively. The stability of metoprolol tartarate and hydrochlorothiazide in plasma were confirmed during three freeze-thaw cycles (-20 ºC) on a bench for 24 hours and post-preparatively for 48 hours. The proposed method was validated statistically and proved suitable for determination of metoprolol tartarate and hydrochlorothiazide in human plasma