Notes on behaviour and morphology of some species of Odonata in the Maltese Islands

The Maltese Islands have limited availability of freshwater, so the local species of Odonata may adopt behavioural strategies which they may not use elsewhere where water is readily available. Moreover, since local species of Odonata tend to be the more common, hardy and adaptable species found in neighbouring countries, their behavioural strategies and morphological features may be relatively less studied than species which are rarer and perhaps more vulnerable. Between September 2012 and September 2013, behavioural strategies and morphological features of Odonata were observed along four valleys (Wied Qlejgħa, Fiddien, Wied ta’ Għajn Riħana, and Wied Ħesri) and a saltmarsh (Is-Simar) in Malta.peer-reviewe

Some physiological effects of the herbicide bromacil (5-bromo-3-sec-butyl-6-methyluracil) on Asparagus officinalis L. : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at Massey University

The root-absorbed, photosynthesis-inhibiting herbicide bromacil (5-bromo-3-sec-butyl-6-methyluracil) was applied in sand culture to tissue-cultured 18-month-old Mary Washington 500W clone of Asparagus officinalis L. grown under controlled environmental conditions. Dose-response characteristics were determined and ED₂⁰ and ED⁵⁰ values computed by regression analysis for several parameters for asparagus plants exposed to a single application of 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, and 512 p.p.m. bromacil in non-draining pots. The results of this initial broad spectrum studies revealed a drastic decline in visually assessed foliage damage score, shoot growth and root fresh weight, and an increase in shoot death at relatively low concentrations. Good dose-response characteristics were obtained, and time-course data showed that the rate and severity of effects increased with increasing dose. The ED⁵⁰ values 18 days after treatment were: visually assessed damage score, 2.7 p.p.m.; shoot growth, 25 p.p.m.; shoot death, 4.6 p.p.m.; and root fresh weight, 2.1 p.p.m. A catalogue of colour plates showing visual phytotoxic effects was compiled. The injury symptoms observed were: yellowing of cladophyll tips followed by bleaching with the effects extending towards the base, cladophyll tipping and progressive cladophyll death leading to shoot death. Equal increment dose-response experiments were conducted at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 p.p.m. bromacil, using a portable fluorometer (Model SF-10) to obtain fluorescence emission measurements. The results showed a dramatic decline in the initial rise in fluorescence yield from the cladophyll tips 156 hours after treatment. The ED⁵⁰ value was computed to be 2.3 p.p.m. Fluorescence emission measurements from cladophyll tips from excised shoots placed in bromacil solution at the same concentrations showed a dramatic decline in fluorescence yield within 17 hours indicating that uptake and translocation was more rapid without the roots. No significant changes in chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll concentrations, as determined by 80% acetone extraction technique, were evident in the samples in which a dramatic decline in fluorescence yield occurred. The results of this study, conducted under controlled environmental conditions, showed that the asparagus clone tested readily absorbed bromacil through its roots and translocated it to the foliage causing severe initial damage to the photosynthetic apparatus followed by detrimental effects on other parameters such as shoot growth, root fresh weight and shoot death. Even at a bromacil concentration of 2 p.p.m. the asparagus plants were found to susceptible to herbicide damage

An annotated catalogue of the Odonata collection of Guido Lanfranco at the National Museum of Natural History in Malta

An annotated list of the Odonata collection of Guido Lanfranco, is provided. The specimens were captured between 1952 and 1971, and may be the oldest surviving specimens caught and still available in local collections from Malta. Almost all locally occurring species are represented, with some specimens collected in sites and habitats that have since been destroyed by urban development. A portion of the specimens bear no data labels and do not contribute to the knowledge of the distribution of the species. During the cataloguing process, specimens in poor condition were restored.peer-reviewe

Technique for highly efficient recovery of microbiological contaminants

Collecting and recovery small assay samples of viable microbiological contaminants in a gas stream involves use of a commercially available water-soluble paper. This paper is nontoxic to a number of microbiological organisms and can be dry-heat-sterilized

Blank Five

Poetry by Elizabeth Godwi

The media, ethnicity and religion as determinants of failed republics in Nigeria

This paper analyses the covert influence of ethnicity and religion on the media and voting in Nigerian elections and demonstrates how previous Nigerian republics have been hindered because of the impact of ethnic disservice and election crises, thereby providing opportunities for the military to topple each of those failed civilian administrations. Unfortunately, the press could not play a meaningful role in the 1964/65 election crises because the leaders of the factional groups in those conflicts were equally the owners of the early newspapers. So, they simply converted their papers into channels for fighting wars of personal vendetta. In fact, ethnic rivalry and religious intolerance are today the two major sources of conflict in Nigerian politics. For these reasons the paper advises the media to avoid playing the role of an advocate in the support of individuals and governmental agencies as well as ethnic nationality whose aims and objectives are inimical to the national interest and religious tolerance among the Nigerian public

Energy Power, Digital Infrastructure and Elearning Platforms: Afrrican Experience.

Information and communication technologies are one of the most pervasive technologies in the world, second only to 'human intelligence' or the human brain. Thus, understanding the factors that determine the diffusion of new technologies across african countries is important to understanding the process of economic development. And whereas, energy is linked with the capacity to perform, the rate at which energy is consumed for the acceleration of the pace of socio-economic activities is regarded as power. Consequently, it will be obvious that the magnitude of the standard of living in any society; the growth and development of such an economy; and its ability to affect the course of events(such as ICT revolution)will be a function of the extent to which its energy(power) resources are developed and utilised. This paper therefore argued for the need to provide assistance in reducing vulnerability and building the capacity of african countries to more widely reap the benefits of the clean development mechanism in areas such as the development of cleaner and renewable energies. Inevitably, this is the critical condition for the sustainability of the emergent e-learning platforms and digital networks in africa.ICT, learning, elearning, development, energy, power, information, communication, solar, electricity, wind, governance, africa, electronics, telecommunications, internet, digital, satellite, renewable energy, gas turbine, power plants, bandwidth, coal, hydro, biomass, steam, transmission, distribution, utilisation

The Economics of Politics vs the Politics of Economics: Nigerian case

Indeed, the recent emphasis on eco-political governance in Nigeria is unique in that it was initiated by external donors (international organizations) and not by domestic leaders under pressure from their own constituencies. Thus, while Nigeria have embraced the market economy and liberalized their policies; issues related to political participation, democracy and institution building have proven harder to tackle. This paper therefore argued that government must devote resources and political will to overcoming the harsh poverty experienced by the majority of Nigerians. In this regard, the emerging participatory e-development and traditional development strategies should not be seen as mutually exclusive but rather complementary (so as to avert the status of a failed state).politics;economics;corruption;economy;Nigeria; e-development;ICT;participation;governance;policies; development;resources;new economy;financialcrisis;poverty; economicmanagement;electoralprocess;technology

THE NIGERIAN WARS, REGIONAL CRISES AND ETHNIC DISTURBANCES:POLICY RESPONSES AND DEMOCRATIC IMPLICATIONS

Nigeria was incorporated in 1914 when Frederick Lugard (First Governor General) amalgamated the two British protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria and the Crown Colony of Lagos into a single entity. The primary reason for amalgamation was economic rather then political. It is therefore, a matter for great regret that this country (Nigeria) has sulfured as a result of the all-pervasive disunity that has characterized all government action since our accession to independence in 1960. This disunity has distorted, complicated and to a large extent stultified every development effort undertaken by government. This paper therefore argents that the much-celebrated Nigeria reform progress might be rhetoric or much ado about nothing. And that the âÃÂÃÂBB-, BB and BâÃÂàrating of the Nigerian economy might have been a baseless exercise. Consequently, the paper recommends the adoption of e-governance (development) as a therapy for a heterogeneous and divisible nation such as Nigerian (Ceteris Paribus).war; nigeria; biafra; ethnicity; trabalism; regionalcrises; disturbances; policy; democracy; governance-voting; elections; economy; corruption; coup; constitution; nigerdelta