Aquatic insects as bio-indicators of water quality – a study on Sungai Kawal, Johor National Park of Endau-Rompin, Peninsular Malaysia

Biological indicator species or bio-indicators are sensitive to specific environmental factors so that changes in their environment will be reflected by their incidence or abundance. In fact, aquatic insects of freshwater river and stream ecosystems have been widely used as bioindicators to examine the species-habitat relationship with regard to the water quality of the habitat. Therefore, this study attempted to determine species richness of aquatic insects in Sungai Kawal, Johor National Park of Endau-Rompin (TNJER), Mersing, Johor, Malaysia; to identify traditional knowledge (TK) used by Jakun tribe in Kampung Peta, TNJER for maintaining rivers and streams at good level; and then to correlate the relationship between the scientific perspective and TK perspective. Aquatic insects were collected and sampled by using kick sampling technique and D-framed net. Throughout the study, a total of 618 individuals consisting of 23 families belonging to seven orders of aquatic insects were reported. The documentation of TK was done by interviewing 10 total respondents of the Jakun tribe in Kampung Peta. Physical features of Sungai Kawal were also recorded during sampling. The correlation between the scientific perspective and TK perspective regarding how the ecosystem maintenance by the Jakun tribe has contributed to an excellent habitat for the aquatic insects to breed and multiply. The number of species recorded indicated the good status of water quality of Sungai Kawal based on science and then supported by TK of the Jakun tribe of Kampung Peta. Furthermore, the findings also suggested a good correlation between the scientific perspective and TK perspective, and the significant contribution of TK of the Jakun tribe to the management of natural resources

Survey on Pest and Disease of Corn (Zea Mays Linn) grown at BRIS Soil Area

A field survey was conducted to identified insect pest, beneficial insect and plant disease that associated with corn (Zea mays Linn) at BRIS soil area. Hybrid sweet corn variety Sugar King 516 was used as a sentinel plant in this study. All insect pest and beneficial insect observed at the experimental plot was collected and identified in the laboratory. Corn plant that shows the symptom of disease infection was collected for the isolation of pathogen and identification. The data on plant growth such as plant height, corn ear height, dry straw weight, ear weight, ear length, grain dry weight and shell weight was recorded. Data obtained shows the performance and adaptability of hybrid sweet corn variety Sweet King 516 in this experiment was comparable to the local hybrid sweet corn grown at other BRIS soil area at Terengganu. There is no strange pattern on the plant growth, thus prove that the insect infestation or disease infection does not disturb the plant development. Thirteen species of insect pest were identified. There are grasshopper (family Acrididae), katydid (family Tettigoniidae), sweet potato bug (Physomerus grossipes- family Coreidae), derbid plant hopper (Proutista moesta- family Derbidae), cotton stainer (Dysdercus sp- family Pyrrhocoridae), largid bug (Physopelta sp- family Largidae), corn leaf hopper (Peregrinus maidis- family Delphacidae), corn rootworms (Diabrotica virgifera- family Chrysomelidae), green chafer beetle (Anomala albopilosa- family Scarabaeidae) and tussock moth (Orgyia sp- family Erebidae). Three species of predatory insect were identified; Asian lady beetles (Harmonia axyridis- family Coccinellidae), transverse lady beetle (Coccinella transversalis- family Coccinellidae) and assassin bug (family Reduviidae). Two species of fungal pathogen that attacks corn in this experiment were identified as Fusarium sp. and Puccinia sp. Data obtained in this study provides info on pests and diseases associateed with corn, thus could be beneficial for the farmers to be prepared with the best pest and management strategies for their corn plantation at BRIS soil area. Keywords: Sweet corn, insect pest, plant disease, BRIS soi

Sustainable Community-Based Solutions: Source to Tap and Back Again

This article reflects the thoughts and conclusions of a session sponsored by the Women in Water Programme Steering Committee of the International Water Association (IWA) at the Second IWA Development Congress and Exhibition held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in November 2011. The session, held on 24 November, examined the role women can play in community-based water and sanitation solutions in urbanizing areas. Such solutions range from watershed protection and integrated water resources management (IWRM), to capacity development and stakeholder mobilization. The cases presented reflect the experience and results of projects undertaken by the authors in Asia. The experience of each author brings a broad range of approaches to tackling the challenges faced by water managers in densely populated urban areas. These provide the basis for innovative solutions to expand coverage, strengthen service provision and create new businesses. The article explores ways for communities to work together more effectively to increase knowledge and understanding of the wide variety of interests that exist in a water basin. In particular, community-based solutions can promote protection of the sources of water, and sustainable water and sanitation management. Source to tap and back again speaks to the imperative that all people understand the relationship between upstream and downstream users, and that both women and men be involved in resource management. This article addresses the following issues: Watershed management and urbanization; Community-based approaches for sustainable sanitation in urban areas; The leadership and participation of women in IWRM research and development; and Targeting capacity building programs to empower women water professionals in Asia

The conductivity study of hybrid solar cells of TiO2 and doped with Bixa orellana for solar cells application

The application of nature dyes was explored for solar cells due to several advantages for green technology. These can be supporting in renewable energy alternatives, which must include solar energy. This system was fabricated as hybrid solar cells, which consist of organic and non-organic materials. Metal oxide semiconductor (MOS), TiO2, was selected as charge separation and transport. Bixa orellana used as extracted natural dyes solution in order to enhance the absorption of photons. The dyes were extracted by using immerging in methanol solution and left until dyes being extracted. The dyes were coated on ITO glass by using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) varied by 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 layers of scan. This work focuses on conductivity and charge carrier study of thin film. The result shows the conductivity was increase due to several parameters that are, thickness of thin films, and intensity of light, mixture of natural dyes and concentration of dyes solution. The conductivity was then supported with the energy band gap via UV-Vis Spectroscopy

Optical characterization on ITO/TiO2/P3HT/Areca Catechu/Au for thin film hybrid solar cell

In this research, dye sensitized solar cell is fabricated by a combination of inorganic titanium dioxide nanoparticles sensitized by a locally available natural dye extract from organic Areca Catechu nut. This hybrid solar cells are fabricated accordingly by deposition of ITO/TiO2/P3HT/Areca Catechu/Au by using electrochemical method. The deposition rates of TiO2 are varied from 0.05, 0.07, 0.09 to 0.11 vs-1 whereas the number of scan of each layers are fixed to 5. The absorption spectra analysis is carried out in the wavelength range 200 to 600 nm, showed a wide and significant absorption spectrum in UV and visible regions. Analysis shows that scan rate affects the electrical conductivity of hybrid solar cell. The highest conductivity is recorded at 0.278 Scm-1 corresponding to the scan rate of 0.07 Vs-1at a potential value of 3.5 V

Water in the Green Economy: Capacity Development Aspects

This book discusses needs related to capacity development for water resources management, including water supply and sanitation, in the context of the green economy. It showcases theoretical and practical approaches with proven success. Most contributions come from members and partners within the interagency mechanism, UN-Water. The 11 case studies in this book range from innovative design and delivery of capacity development programs related to water in the green economy, market mechanisms, and quality control procedures supporting capacity development success towards the practical implementation of programs to enhance individual and institutional capacity

Scan rate effect of titania for hybrid solar cell applications: structural and electrical study

The AIP In this research, hybrid solar cell are produce by a combination of organic (Areca Catechu) extraction and Poly (3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and inorganic Titanium Dioxide, TiO2 materials. These hybrid solar cells are fabricated accordingly by layered of ITO/TiO2/P3HT/Areca Catechu/Au by using electrochemical method. The deposition of each layered by EIS was different by varied the scan rate of TiO2 deposition which are 0.05, 0.07, 0.09 and 0.11 vs-1 whereas the number of scans of each layers are fixed to 5 numbers of scans. Nanocrystals TiO2 (anatase structured) was prepared by dissolving the TiO2 nanoparticles with acetic acid which acts as capping agent in order to gain TiO2 nanostructures with better-controlled size and shape. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) images indicates that the TiO2 nanoparticles size was found to be around 15-34 nm. The XRD patterns indicate that the TiO2 film was highly crystalline and the anatase structure of TiO2 remains unchanged after annealed process took place at 450 °C. Sheet resistivity of the ITO/TiO2/P3HT/Areca Catechu/Au hybrid solar cell are measured in the dark and under different light intensity by using four point probes and power conversion efficiency are measured by using two point probes. In conclusion, the ITO/TiO2/P3HT/Areca Catechu/Au hybrid solar cell with 0.07 v s-1 scan rate produced the highest electrical conductivity and efficiency with 0.278 Scm-1 and 0.021 % respectively

Morphological and electrical characterization of hybrid thin-film composed of titania nanocrystals, Poly (3-hexylthiophene) and Piper Betle Linn

In this research, the effect of scan numbers of titania nanocrystals (TiO2 NCs) on the morphological and electrical characteristics of hybrid thin-films is investigated. These hybrid thin-films consist of a combination of organic (Piper Betle Linn extraction and Poly (3-hexytlthiophene) (P3HT)) and inorganic TiO2 NCs (anatase structure) materials. These hybrid thin-films are fabricated in bilayer heterojunction of ITO/TiO2 NCs/P3HT/Piper Betle Linn via electrochemistry method using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). The scan numbers of TiO2 NCs are varied by 1, 3 and 5 number of scans. The morphological characterization is carried out via Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) meanwhile the electrical characteristic of the hybrid thin-film is measured by using four point probes. FESEM image indicates the particle size was found to be around 17-34 nm. The increment of scan number of TiO2 NCs from one to five scan numbers of TiO2 NCs in bilayers thin films showed that the atomic percentage of titanium decrease from 5.23% to 2.20%. This result indicates that as the thickness of thin films increases, the electrons required more energy to excite into conduction band of TiO2. Meanwhile, the electrical conductivities of hybrid solar cell increase from 0.385 Scm-1 to 0.389 Scm-1 as the scan numbers of TiO2 increase from one to three, however the electrical conductivity decrease to 0.346 Scm-1 at five scan numbers. As a conclusion, this study shows that the morphological and electrical properties of hybrid thin-films can be significantly affected by the scan number of TiO2 NCs

Water management in deep peat soils in Malaysia

The study seeks to develop a field water management system for agriculture in peat soils in Malaysia, with an overall approach of integrating the engineering and agronomic aspects associated with crop production in deep peat areas. This includes the determination of soil physical parameters essential for field drainage design. The main experiments were carried out on a 10.9 hectare plot of land, initially drained 15 years earlier. The results were compared with data collected from a newly opened area and an area drained 40 years earlier. Cont/d

Improved Properties of Coconut Shell Regenerated Cellulose Biocomposite Films using Butyl Methacrylate

Butyl methacrylate acid (BMA) was used to enhance the properties of coconut shell (CS) and regenerated cellulose (RC) biocomposite films. The effects of coconut shell content and BMA on the tensile properties, crystallinity index (CrI), thermal properties, and morphology of biocomposite films were investigated. An increase in CS content, up to 3 wt.%, increased the tensile strength and modulus of elasticity, but decreased the elongation at break. The CS-RC biocomposite films treated with BMA exhibited higher tensile strength and modulus of elasticity but lower elongation at break. The crystallinity index (CrI) and thermal stability of CS-RC biocomposite films increased with increasing CS up to 3 wt.%. Treated CS biocomposite films had better thermal stability than untreated CS biocomposite films. The presence of BMA increased the crystallinity of CS regenerated cellulose biocomposite films. Enhancement of the interfacial interaction of CS-RC biocomposite films was revealed by morphological study