Measures of Biodiversity Index of Algal Communities in a Freshwater Ecosystem in Northern Nigeria

The study of the diversity, species richness, and abundance of algae was under taken for the period of eight months (February – September 2007) in Shadawanka River, Bauchi State. Assessment of physicochemical characteristics of the river was also attempted to find out the state of the water quality of the river. Four hundred and eighty one species of phytoplankton were recorded. This consisted of 276 species of diatoms, which was made up of 237 species of Pennales and 39 species of Centrales. 123 species of desmids (green algae), 41 species of Euglenophyceae, 34 species of Cyanophyceae, 3 species of Phaeophyceae and Xanthophyceae having 4 species from a single order Heterococcales. Two hundred ad twenty-one algal species in the Epiphytic were identified, 122 species belonged to the Bacillariophyceae. This consisted of 97 species of Pennales and 25 species of Centrales. There were 58 species of Chlorophyceae, 14 species of Cyanophyceae, 7 species of Euglenophyceae, and 3 species of Xanthophyceae respectively. Seventy one species of Epilithic were observed, which included 33 species of Bacillariophyceae consisted of 22 species of Pennales and 11 species of Centrales, 23 species of Chlorophyceae and 9 species of Cyanophyceae and 6 species of Euglenophyceae. The highest species richness (16.50) was obtained in the phytoplankton and the lowest (3.82) was in the Epilithic whilst Epiphytic was an average (10.51). The similarities between phytoplankton and Epiphytic and that between Epiphytic and Epilithic were same (0.17), whilst the similarities obtained between the phytoplankton and Epilithic communities was lower (0.14). The River is well oxygenated (DO>9.8mg/L) and is Characterised by moderate nutrient levels, high electrical conductivity (>204 µmScm-1) and low BOD (2.1-6.4mg/L). pH was circumneutral, having three regimes, this attest that the water is not polluted and can support other forms of aquatic life Keywords: Centrales, Pennales, Physicochemical, Phytoplankton, Epilithic, Epiphyti

Sosialisasi Tanggap Darurat Pencegahan Covid-19 di Kepulauan Talaud

Since the World Health Organization or WHO declared that the Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) is a pandemic, the President of the Republic of Indonesia and the Regional Government and their staff have worked hand in hand to make some tactical steps to prevent the spread of this virus. The public must be informed on the dangers of Covid-19, through creation of special protocols which are expected to prevent the spread of this virus. The purpose of this activity was to conduct socialization directly or indirectly in providing education, convincing, and providing an overview of the dangers of the Covid-19 Virus and applying health protocols to the community in Melonguane District, Talaud Islands Regency, North Sulawesi Province. This activity took place from July 7 to August 28, 2020. The results of this activity showed that the people in the Talaud Islands have understood the importance of using good and correct masks when outside the home and also the use of hand soap or hand sanitizer which can help people to avoid this dangerous virus. Keywords: covid-19, emergency response, Kepulauan Talaud, Melonguan

LC/ESI-ITMS Detection of the Neurotoxic Amino Acids in Cultured Cyanobacterial Isolate Nostoc MAC PCC 8009

The non-protein amino acid β-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA), is a neurotoxic agent that is produced by various strain of cyanobacteria. 2,4-diaminobutyric acid (2,4-DAB), and N-(2-aminoethyl) glycine (AEG) are the common isomers of BMAA. 2,4-DAB exhibit neurotoxic properties like BMAA. Various studies have shown that cyanobacteria produce BMAA and DAB, however, no studies have shown the  detection of these amino acids using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-ITMS) method. This study aimed to assess the occurrence of BMAA and its isomer 2,4-diaminobutyric acid (DAB) in axenic laboratory culture of  cyanobacterial strain Nostoc MAC PCC 8009. Axenic laboratory cultures were harvested after 12 weeks of growth and non-protein amino acids were extracted by trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and methanol extraction. Liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry (LC/ESIITMS) was employed to analyse the presence of BMAA and 2,4-DAB. Both BMAA and 2,4-DAB were detected in the axenic cultures, which confirms the production of these neurotoxic amino acids by cyanobacteria. Multiple stage mass analysis by ESI-ITMS using [M+H] + was useful to distinguish between the two isomers

Hubungan Penguasaan Struktur Dan Ciri Kebahasaan Teks Dengan Kemampuan Menulis Teks Deskripsi Siswa Kelas VII SMP Negeri 23 Medan Tahun Pembelajaran 2014/2015

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui hubungan penguasaan struktur dan ciri kebahasaan teks dengan kemampuan menulis teks deskripsi siswa kelas VII SMP Negeri 23 Medan. Yang menjadi sampel penelitian sebanyak 36 orang, yaitu kelas VII-K. Hasil pengolahan data menunjukkan bahwa penguasaan struktur teks siswa adalah baik dengan skor rata-rata = 69,05 dan standar deviasi = 11,93. Penguasaan ciri kebahasaan teks siswa berada di posisi baik dengan skor rata-rata = 71,27 dan standar deviasi = 9,07. Kemampuan menulis teks deskripsi siswa tergolong baik dengan skor rata-rata = 70,69 dan standar deviasi = 8,79. Berdasarkan uji normalitas, variabel X1 diperoleh nilai Lhitung = 0,1158, variabel X2 diperoleh Lhitung = 0,0854, dan variabel Y diperoleh Lhitung = 0,1391, kemudian setelah dikonsultasikan dengan Ltabel pada taraf signifikan 5% (N= 36) didapat Ltabel = 0,1478. Artinya, uji normalitas setiap variabel diperoleh Lhitung 0,329), variabel X2 terhadap Y (0,32 > 0,329), dan variabel X1 terhadap X2 (0,72 > 0,329) maka rxy memenuhi kriteria pengujian hipotesis atau dengan kata lain terdapat hubungan antara penguasaan struktur dan ciri kebahasaan teks dengan kemampuan menulis teks deskripsi siswa kelas VII SMP Negeri 23 Medan Tahun Pembelajaran 2014/2015

Effect of Quality Service Indicators on the Attitude of Farmers towards Demand-driven Extension Services in Niger State, Nigeria

This study examined the effect of quality service indicators on the attitude of farmers towards demand-driven extension services in Niger State, Nigeria. Primary data for the study were collected through a cross-sectional survey using interview schedule. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression models. Result of the study shows that almost 86.0% of the respondents acquired formal education. With respect to the respondents’ attitude towards demand-driven extension services, 98.9% showed favourable attitude while 1.1% were neutral. Findings further revealed that quality service indicators of content accuracy, relevance, timeliness and effectiveness of extension services had significant positive effect on farmer’s attitude towards demand-driven extension services (P<0.05), while efficiency of extension services had significant negative effect on farmers’ attitude towards demand-driven extension services. It was therefore recommended that the extension service providers should always strive to provide high quality services to ensure and sustain farmers’ favourable attitude towards demand-driven extension services. It was also suggested that government policy should be created to favour demand-driven extension service providers to function where they have the comparative advantage in providing farmers with relevant extension services. Keywords: farmers, demand driven extension, attitude, qualit

Insecticidal activity of Wild Spikenard (Hyptis suaveolens L. Poit) on Adult Mortality and Female Oviposition of Groundnut Bruchid, Caryedon serratus Olivier on stored Groundnut Seeds and Tamarind pods

An investigation was conducted to estimate the insecticidal deterrence of wild Spikenard (Hyptis suaveolens L. Poit) on adult mortality and female oviposition of groundnut bruchid, Caryedon serratus Olivier on stored groundnut seeds and tamarind pods. Data were taken on mean percentage mortality and mean number of eggs laid (female oviposition). The highest mean percentage mortality for both stored produces were reported in actellic dust and 12.00g levels of H. suaveolens whole powders (93.50; 91.75 and 92.25; 91.25) while the least were obtained in the controls (4.75; 3.25). Moreover, 12.00g levels of H. suaveolens whole powder and actellic dust recorded the least mean number of eggs laid (female oviposition)  (18.00; 17.00 and 19.25; 18.00) while the highest was reported in the controls (318.25; 305.50) respectively. There was no significant difference between the effects of rates of synthetic insecticides and 12.00g level of H. suaveolens whole powder in all the parameters measured

A novel minimal in vitro system for analyzing HIV-1 Gag mediated budding

A biomimetic minimalist model membrane was used to study the mechanism and kinetics of cell-free in vitro HIV-1 Gag budding from a giant unilamellar vesicle (GUV). Real time interaction of Gag, RNA and lipid leading to the formation of mini-vesicles was measured using confocal microscopy. Gag forms resolution limited punctae on the GUV lipid membrane. Introduction of the Gag and urea to a GUV solution containing RNA led to the budding of mini-vesicles on the inside surface of the GUV. The GUV diameter showed a linear decrease in time due to bud formation. Both bud formation and decrease in GUV size were proportional to Gag concentration. In the absence of RNA, addition of urea to GUVs incubated with Gag also resulted in subvesicle formation but exterior to the surface. These observations suggest the possibility that clustering of GAG proteins leads to membrane invagination even in the absence of host cell proteins. The method presented here is promising, and allows for systematic study of the dynamics of assembly of immature HIV and help classify the hierarchy of factors that impact the Gag protein initiated assembly of retroviruses such as HIV.Comment: 27 pages, 9 Figures and 0 Table