BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC FACTORS IN Anopheles gambiae BREEDING HABITATS AS A POTENTIAL TOOL TO FIGHT MALARIA IN CENTRAL UGANDA

Background: There is a high risk of malaria infection in Uganda due to availability of conducive conditions in breeding habitats of An. gambiae s.l., the vectors for Plasmodium, the causative agent of malaria.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine whether the abundance and distribution of macro-invertebrates and An. gambiae s.l. are influenced by water physico-chemical parameters.

Methods: In this study, habitats were classified as ponds, streams, temporary pools and roadside ditches. From these habitats, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, temperature and pH were measured in-situ in the morning and afternoon between October and December 2017. Macro-invertebrates and An. gambiae s.l. larvae were sampled, preserved, morphologically identified and counted.

Results: There was a strong association between An. gambiae s.l. with land use, habitat types and water physico-chemical parameters. Baetidae, Coenagrionidae, Aeshnidae, Nepidae, Lymnaeidae and Hirudidae were highly abundant in streams. Notonectidae, Haliplidae and Elmidae were dominant in ponds while Dytiscidae, Culicidae, Chironomidae, Sphaerolichidae and An. gambiae s.l. were abundant in temporary pools. Carabidae were abundant in roadside ditches.

Conclusion: Water physico-chemical parameters, land use and habitat types influenced the abundance and distribution of macro-invertebrates including An. gambiae s.l. We recommend that studies should be conducted to establish the mechanisms through which these factors influence abundance and distribution of An. gambiae s.l. and other macro-invertebrates.

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EFFECT OF SCAFFOLDING INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES AND GENDER ON PERFORMANCE OF PUPILS IN BASIC SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

This study examined the effect of scaffolding instructional strategies and gender on the performance of pupils in Basic Science and Technology in public primary schools in Rivers State. Two specific objectives and two null hypotheses guided the study. Non-randomized pretest, post-test and control group experimental design was adopted for the study. The population size consisted of 42,409 basic four pupils; out of which 147 were drawn as sample size using purposive sampling technique. The instrument for data collection was the Basic Science and Technology Performance Test. The data was analyzed using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). The findings of the study revealed that there is a significant difference in the Basic Science and Technology mean performance scores of pupils taught with scaffolding instructional strategies and those taught with conventional method. The Basic Science and Technology mean performance scores of boys and girls taught with scaffolding instructional strategies does not differ significantly with those taught with conventional method. Recommendations were made which include that scaffolding instructional strategy should be used in classroom teaching/learning interaction to enhance the teaching and learning of pupils as well as improve their performance in all subjects.

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CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ON MEASUREMENT AND EVALUATION OF FIRM INNOVATION PERFORMANCE BASED ON “EFFICIENCY-OUTPUT”

As a main index of firm technological innovation capacity, firm innovation performance captures extensive attentions among management and academia, although disagreement on its measurement or evaluation among different researchers still exist, which mainly caused by the lack or inexistence of universally used measurement scheme of firms innovation performance. Based on investigation to current researches related to firm innovation performance, we place, in this paper, more emphasis on the identification of influencing factors and upgrading path of firm innovation performance, measurement or evaluation of firm innovation performance, after carding and review, we construct a comprehensive framework to evaluate firm innovation performance according to the composition and representation forms, in hopes to show the direction for future researches.

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CRYSTAL GROWTH AND COMPARATIVE STUDIES OF NMR, SPECTRAL STUDIES ON NEW NLO CRYSTALS OF THIOSEMICARBAZONE OF 4-CHLOROBENZALDEHYDE AND M –NITROBENZALDEHYDE

The thiosemicarbazone of 4-Chlorobenzaldehyde and Thiosemicarbazone of M-Nitrobenzaldehyde is an interesting of organic compound in the crystalline nature. The quartz meth glass which is grown slow evaporation method from the solvent methanol. The harvested crystals were purified by repeated recrystallization. FT-IR spectroscopic study was held out on the growth, recognize the fundamental function group. Optical absorption studied illustrate the low absorption in the entire UV and visible spectral. The UV-Visible Spectra are confirming the optical transparency. This is more helpful to use these crystals in option applications. The harvested crystals Thiosemicarbazone of 4-Chlorobenzaldehyde and Thiosemicarbazone of M-Nitrobenzaldehyde were characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance and of 13C NMR spectra which show the molecular structure of the crystals. Its thermal stability for analysis in the crystal by TGA and DSC. The TGA and DSC confirm the decay of the sample at 210°C. It further confirms the grown crystal Thiosemicarbazone of 4-Chlorobenzaldehyde and Thiosemicarbazone M-Nitrobenzaldehyde is thermally stable up to 210°C. The frequencies was identified in the crystal by dielectric properties. The second harmonic generation efficiency of the powdered thiosemicarbazone of 4-Chlorobenzaldehyde and Thiosemicarbazone of M-Nitrobenzaldehyde and was tested using Nd: YAG laser and it is found to be 6.1 and 5.6 times higher than that of urea.

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PREPARATION OF ADSORBENT FROM PHOSPHATE ROCK WASTE TO BE USED FOR THE REMOVAL OF HEAVY METAL IONS FROM WASTEWATER

In this study a cost-effective adsorbent was prepared from phosphate rock waste. An abundant phosphate rock waste was generated, as by-product, from phosphate concentration processes. Phosphate rock waste was activated by chemical activators (including  different concentration of HNO3 and  NaOH or with both). The developed adsorbent was characterized using different techniques (XRD, XRF and SEM). Batch experiments were conducted to test the heavy metal ions (Cd+2, Cu+2, Ni+2, Pb+2 and Zn+2) removal efficiency by the developed adsorbent. The adsorption process was evaluated as a function of various operating parameters such as contact time, solution pH, temperature, initial metal ion concentration, and adsorbent dosage. The results concluded that activation phosphate rock waste was effective with 2M HNO3, and the developed adsorbent is suitable for effective removal of Cd+2, Cu+2, Ni+2, Pb+2 and Zn+2 from aqueous solution. Initial uptake of these metal ions increases with time and reaches equilibrium at 60 min, while the optimum adsorbent dosage and solution temperature were 0.5 g 100 mL-1 and 25°C, respectively. The adsorption process was pH-dependent with high adsorption capacity at pH 7. The experimental isotherms data were analyzed using the Langmuir, and Freundlich   models. The data obtained from adsorption isotherms of metal ions at different time fitted well to linear form of Langmuir model.

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SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF (2-[2-CHLOROBENZYLIDENE]) HYDRAZINE CARBOTHIOAMIDE AND THEIR ANTI-MICROBIAL ACTIVITIES

The significance of thiosemicarbazone and their complexes, apart from their diverse chemical and structural characteristics, stems from not only their potential but also their proved application as biologically active particles. The full application and structural diversity of complexes of thiosemicarbazone prompted us to synthesize the tridentate NNO- donor thiosemicarbazones and their complexes. Due to good chelating ability, the present work is mainly concerned with the studies on complexes of 2-Chlorobenzaldehyde, Thiosemicarbazones. By emphasizing this point the objectives of the present work are as follows: synthesis of the 2-Chlorobenzaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (2-[(2-Chlorobenzylidene)]) Hydrazine carbothioamide. The composition of 2-Chlorobenzaldehyde was determined by the spectral analysis. For the characterization of this compound by 1HNMR and IR spectral studies. The complexes of 2-chloro benzaldehyde were characterized by 1HNMR, 13CNMR, IR and UV spectral studies. The 2-Chlorobenzaldehyde thiosemicarbazone, have been screened against Bacteria (a) gram positive Staphylococcus aureus (Saureus), (b) gram negative Ecoli and fungi Aspergillus Niger and Candida albicans by the agar disc diffusion method. Therefore antimicrobial activities are analyzed in this work specifically for 2-Chlorobenzaldehyde thiosemicarbazone crystal. This crystal was grown by solution growth technique and analyzed analytically.

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FINE ROOT DYNAMICS AND PRODUCTION IN Acacia auriculiformis PLANTATION

Fine roots absorb water and nutrients for the tree's life and play an important role in carbon and nutrient cycling. Therefore, understanding fine root dynamics and production will contribute to sustainable management and improve the productivity of forest plantation. This work aims at investigating vertical distribution and production of Acacia auriculiformis plantation in Northeast Vietnam. A 20 m × 15 m plot containing 30 trees was established at a 2-year old plantation of A. auriculiformis. Sequence soil core sampling was applied to collect data on the mass of live roots and that of dead roots. While litter bag technique was used to estimate the decomposition ratio of dead fine roots. The continuous inflow method was employed to estimate fine root decomposition, mortality, and production. The results indicated that more than 50% fine roots distribute at 0-10 cm soil depth, while less than 12% distribute at deeper than 40 cm soil depth. In addition, more fine roots distribute at 0-10 cm soil depth in summer than that in winter. While more fine roots distribute at 40-80 cm soil depth in winter than that in summer. Fine root decomposition, mortality, and production are seasonal-dependent. The highest mortality (1.9 g m-2 day-1) was found during Dec-Mar and the lowest (1.3 g m-2 day-1) was found during Mar-Jun. While the highest mortality (1.8 g m-2 day-1) was found during Jun-Sep and the lowest (1.3 g m-2 day-1) was found during Sep-Dec. The similar pattern with mortality was found in production with the highest of 2.2 g m-2 day-1 during Jun-Sep and the lowest (1.2 g m-2 day-1) during Sep-Dec. In the present study plantation, total decomposition was 530 g m-2 year-1, mortality was 547 g m-2 year-1, and production was 548 g m-2 year-1. High production during Jun-Sep/summer may indicate a higher nutrient requirement to support growths during the growing season. Therefore, this should be a time for fertilizing plantation.

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BIOASSAY OF ZnO-SnO2 NANO COMPOSITE ON BLACK GRAM (Vigna mungo)

Present experimentation was done to study the effect of ZnO-SnO2 composite on different morphological parameters of Black gram. In this work, we have synthesized ZnO-SnO2 nanocomposite by Chemical co-precipitation method and characterized it using X-ray diffraction spectrograph, UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope and Transmission electron microscope. The particle size of synthesized nanocomposite material lies between 25.75 nm to 39.16 nm. The synthesized nanocomposite exhibited needle shaped morphology and showed maximum absorbance at 355 nm of wavelength. For studying the effect of synthesized nanocomposite material on morphological parameters of Black gram, healthy and presoaked seeds of Black gram were treated with three different concentration of ZnO-SnO2 composite (i.e. 20, 40, and 60%). Control was also maintained for each set. Black gram belongs to family Fabaceae and is commonly used as a food for protein and other nutritive substances. Black gram is also used as green manure for agricultural practices. During the field observation a significant effects have been observed on various morphological parameters. A reduction in germination and survival percentages were also observed in treated sets.

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