Assessment of Students Performances in Biology: Implication for Measurements and Evaluation of Learning

Scienceeducation is believed to be a vital tool for individual and societal development at large. The persistent low levels of students' achievement in sciences at the various public examinations in Nigeria have continued to draw the attention of major stakeholders in education. This study examined academic achievement of Senior Secondary School students in biology and gender difference in students' achievement was examined. Ex-post facto design of descriptive research was adopted for the study. A proforma was used to collect data from a sample of two hundred (200) students, selected using stratified random sampling procedure from the Science secondary schools in Kano state Nigeria. The data collected were the students' performances in biology achievement tests. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and independent-sample t-test. Overall results showed that the test internal consistency reliability is low and unsatisfactory; the students performed below average (M=47.02, SD=16.493 (47%). Similarly, gender difference exists in biology performance with another significant difference between performance of urban and rural school students. The study concludes that, biology test used in Kano state qualifying examinations to assess students potential ability in biology is not a reliable measurement tool and that, academic performance of students in biology is unsatisfactory and evidence of differential performance between gender and schools locations. The implication for measurements and evaluation of learning as well as recommendations has been discussed

Differentiation of Schistosoma haematobium from related schistosomes by PCR amplifying an inter-repeat sequence.

Schistosoma haematobium infects nearly 150 million people, primarily in Africa, and is transmitted by select species of local bulinid snails. These snails can host other related trematode species as well, so that effective detection and monitoring of snails infected with S. haematobium requires a successful differentiation between S. haematobium and any closely related schistosome species. To enable differential detection of S. haematobium DNA by simple polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we designed and tested primer pairs from numerous newly identified Schistosoma DNA repeat sequences. However, all pairs tested were found unsuitable for this purpose. Differentiation of S. haematobium from S. bovis, S. mattheei, S. curassoni, and S. intercalatum (but not from S. margrebowiei) was ultimately accomplished by PCR using one primer from a newly identified repeat, Sh110, and a second primer from a known schistosomal splice-leader sequence. For evaluation of residual S. haematobium transmission after control interventions, this differentiation tool will enable accurate monitoring of infected snails in areas where S. haematobium is sympatric with the most prevalent other schistosome species

Kinerja Keuangan Pada USAha Kecil Menengah Penerima Dana Bergulir Modal Kerja Di Kabupaten Kediri

The objective of research is to analyze the financial performance of UKM beforeand after receiving Dana Bergulir Modal Kerja. The main data that is collected as secondarydata. Descriptive analysis is used to investigation on company characteristic has received DanaBergulir Modal Kerja, while the financial and marketing are analyzed by using quantitaveanalysis which used financial ratio analysis and different t-test. Result of analysis showed thatthe organized of Dana Bergulir Modal Kerja done by the businessmen who has right target.There's only one financial ratio index that has real differenciates statistically that is net profitmargin showed that almost the big of UD decreased on that index. Statistically the sellingturnover after receiving Dana Bergulir Modal Kerja. The right empowerment for UKM by DanaBergulir Modal Kerja is done by “tanggung renteng”system

Discovery of a 6.4 keV Emission Line in a Burst from SGR 1900+14

We present evidence of a 6.4 keV emission line during a burst from the soft gamma-ray repeater SGR 1900+14. The Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) monitored this source extensively during its outburst in the summer of 1998. A strong burst observed on August 29, 1998 revealed a number of unique properties. The burst exhibits a precursor and is followed by a long (~ 1000 s) tail modulated at the 5.16 s stellar rotation period. The precursor has a duration of 0.85 s and shows both significant spectral evolution as well as an emission feature centered near 6.4 keV during the first 0.3 s of the event, when the X-ray spectrum was hardest. The continuum during the burst is well fit with an optically thin thermal bremsstrahlung (OTTB) spectrum with the temperature ranging from about 40 to 10 keV. The line is strong, with an equivalent width of 400 eV, and is consistent with Fe K-alpha fluorescence from relatively cool material. If the rest-frame energy is indeed 6.4 keV, then the lack of an observed redshift indicates that the source is at least 80 km above the neutron star surface. We discuss the implications of the line detection in the context of models for SGRs.Comment: AASTex preprint, 14 pages, 3 embedded figures. Accepted for Publication in Astrophysical Journal Letter

Effect of solar fraction on the economic performance of a solar air conditioning by an adsorption chiller / F. Basrawi et al.

Solar cooling is a promising way for a sustainable air-conditioning system. However, since solar has intermittent output, it is usually backed-up by a conventional heater. Thus, it still needs electricity or fossil fuel to operate stabily. This study presents the effect of ratio of heat delivered by solar to the total heat delivered to an adsorption chiller (solar fraction) on the economic performance of a solar cooling system. This cooling system need covers cooling demand for an office building in a tropical region (Kuala Lumpur). Cooling demand was simulated using well-known energy analysis software for building, Equest. Flat-plate collectors and an adsorption chiller were the main component of the cooling system. Flat-plate collecters were simulated using another software, Watsun, and the adsorption chiller was based on our simulation model that is comparable with other studies. Economic performance was analyzed by life cycle cost analysis. Solar fraction of 0.33, 0.74 and 0.98 were studied. It was found that none of the solar fraction studied can generate Net Profit under subsidized electricity. It was also found that a natural gas boiler is a better solution than an electric heater as an auxiliary heater in term of economic. For a natural gas boiler, Net Profit increased when solar fraction decreased; the highest one was solar fraction of 0.33 with US$15,600. However, since more energy is used for the auxiliary heater in lower solar fraction, more emissions is expected to be released. Thus, emissions for all solar fraction need to be considered and studied further

Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Technique for Speed Control of Six-Step Brushless DC Motor

The brushless DC motors with permanent magnets (PM-BLDC) are widely used in a miscellaneous of industrial applications. In this paper, The adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) controller for Six-Step Brushless DC Motor Drive is introduced. The brushless DC motor’s dynamic characteristics such as torque , current , speed, , and inverter component voltages are showed and analysed using MATLAB simulation. The  propotional-integral (PI) and fuzzy system controllers  are developed., based on designer’s test and error process and experts. The  experimential and hardware resuts for the inverter- driver circuits are presented. The simulation results using MATLAB simulink are conducted to validate the proposed (ANFIS) controller’s robustness and high performance relative to other controllers

The Relationship of Radiological Value and Functional Scale of Lower Motion Devices in Patients with Bone Defects Given Synthetic Bone Graft and BMP2

Background: Broken bones in a severe lower motion device, especially those associated with a bone defect, often fail or are slow to fuse. The possibility of non-union in patients triggering clinicians to use bone-grafting as part of a procedure aims at achieving the union. The Gold Standard is to use autogenous bone graft, but it actually has some disadvantages. To overcome this, there are alternative measures of bone grafting. Hydroxyapatite is known to be synthetic bonegraft which has good osteoconductive properties. For hydroxyapatite, it has been widely used and easily available. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are the family of osteo-inductive proteins in the bone matrix. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of synthetic bone graft and BMP-2 as a bonegraft in the process of bone healing with "bone defect" in long bones by evaluating the process of radiological closure of defects and clinical bone healing process.Subjects and Method: This was a cross sectional study. A sample of 20 patients with bone defect in the tibia and femur was selected for this study. An evaluation of radiological defect closure was evaluated using a calculation system using the FDA-determined radiological evaluation method and a periodic lower function of the LEFS (Lower Extremity Functional Scale) every 2 months up to the 6th month. The statistical tests were performed using linear regression.Results: There is a negative relationship between the radiological value and the functional scale of the lower motion device (b = -1.26; p = 0.001). There is an improvement in bone defect closure and clinical functional improvement in patients who performed a synthetic bonegraft closure action added by BMP-2 as well. The evaluation is carried out through radiological calculations that show a periodically reduced size of the defect which affects the increase in the value of the functional scale of the lower motion device.Conclusions: There is a negative relationship between radiological values and functional scale of lower motion devices in patients with bone defect in the tibia bone or femur given synthetic bone graft and Bmp2.Keywords: bone defects, synthetic bone grafts and BMP-2, LEFSCorrespondence:Farid Ibrahim. Masters Program in Family Medicine, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Jl. Ir. Sutami 36 A, Surakarta 57126, Central Java.Indonesian Journal of Medicine (2018), 3(2): 77-83https://doi.org/10.26911/theijmed.2018.03.02.0

Quantum states in a magnetic anti-dot

We study a new system in which electrons in two dimensions are confined by a non homogeneous magnetic field. The system consists of a heterostructure with on top of it a superconducting disk. We show that in this system electrons can be confined into a dot region. This magnetic anti-dot has the interesting property that the filling of the dot is a discrete function of the magnetic field. The circulating electron current inside and outside the anti-dot can be in opposite direction for certain bound states. And those states exhibit a diamagnetic to paramagnetic transition with increasing magnetic field. The absorption spectrum consists of many peaks, some of which violate Kohn's theorem, and which is due to the coupling of the center of mass motion with the other degrees of freedom.Comment: 6 pages, 12 ps figure

Integrated Mobile and web-based Application for Enhancing delivery of HIV/AIDS Healthcare Information in Tanzania

This study aims to develop an integrated e-health platform for enhancing delivery of HIV/AIDS healthcare information in Tanzania, which consists of a mobile application and a web-based system. The study is based on the system's functional and non-functional requirements for an e-health system for delivery of HIV/AIDS healthcare information. The Rapid Application Development (RAD) model was adopted during the system development. The system requirements were modelled into Data Flow Diagram (DFD) in order to obtain the clear flow of the HIV/AIDS healthcare information between the clients and HIV/AIDS healthcare practitioners. With the use of different software development tools and environment such as Android studio and Symfony framework; both android application and web-based system were developed. Finally, the developed system was tested for individual module functioning as well as the functioning of the fully integrated system. The user acceptance survey gave the mean score of above 4 on the scale of 5 for each tested aspect of the system. These scores show that the developed system was positively accepted by the users and commended the Ministry of Health and to deploy the system for enhanced delivery of HIV/AIDS healthcare information

A morphological generator for the indexing of Arabic audio

This paper presents a novel Arabic morphological generator (AMG) for Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) which is designed and implemented using Prolog. The AMG is used to generate inflected forms of words used for the indexing of Arabic audio. These words are also the relevant terms in the Arab authority system (library information retrieval system) used in this study. The AMG generates inflected Arabic words from the root according to pre-specified morphological features that can be extended as needed. The Arabic word is represented as a feature structure which is handled through unification during the morphological generation process. The inflected forms can then be inserted automatically into a speech recognition grammar which is used to identify these words in an audio sequence or utterance