Biocidal Activities of Some Tropical Moss Extracts Against Maize Stem Borers

Solutions of four moss powders, namely: Calymperes afzelii Sw., Thuidium gratum (P. Beauv.) Jaeg., Bryum coronatum Schwaegr. and Barbula lambarenensis (Hook) Spreng., were evaluated for insecticidal activity against maize stem borers. The aqueous solutions were smeared periodically on mature maize plants in the field. All mosses tested showed some toxic activity against the established maize stem borers, deterrence regarding further infestation and some influence on the distribution of the borers. C. afzelii and B. coronatum showed encouraging toxic activities, deterrent activities and promptness that were better or just as good as with Tricel, the control inorganic insecticide. The order of activity of the moss solutions was C. afzelii\u3e B. coronatum \u3eT. gratum= B. lambarenensis. The incidence of stem borer in the most preferred internode, i.e. III, was reduced significantly by C. afzelii, T. gratum and B. coronatum treatments, while B. lambarenensis like, Tricel, restricted the incidence of borer holes to internodes III and IV. The advantages proffered by the window of utilizing mosses as pesticide, namely: availability, safety, low cost, ease of application, as well as, the disadvantages, i.e. laborious serial repetitions, was highlighted

A New Approach to the Design, Fabrication, and Testing of Chalcogenide-Based Multi-State Phase-Change Nonvolatile Memory

A new approach to developing, fabricating, and testing chalcogenide-based multi-state phase-change nonvolatile memory (NVM) is presented. A test chip is fabricated through the MOSIS service. Then post processing, in the Boise State University lab, is performed on the chip to add the chalcogenide material that forms the NVM. Each memory bit consists of an NMOS access transistor and the chalcogenide material placed between the metal3 of the test chip, connected to the access device, and a common, to all memory bits, electrode. This paper describes the design of the memory bit and of the test structures used for reliability and radiation testing. Fabrication and postprocessing of the memory are also discussed

La cerámica de estilo Cogotas I y los ciclos culturales en las postrimerías de la Edad del Bronce en Navarra

En el presente artículo se analizan los yacimientos conocidos en Navarra con cerámica decorada de estilo Cogotas I, situándolos en su contexto cronológico y cultural. Se analiza la división del territorio en dos grupos con importantes diferencias culturales

Analysis of high resolution satellite digital data for land use studies in the derived savanna ecosystem of Nigeria

High-resolution satellite data can give vital information about land cover, which can lead to better interpretation and classification of land resources. This study examined the relationship between Systeme Probatoire d'Observation de la Terre (SPOT) digital data and land use types in the derived savanna ecosystem of Nigeria. The digital data of arable land, tree crops, burnt surface, riparian and settlements were analysed to establish relationships and potential of SPOT for resource discrimination and mapping. The results show that SPOT digital data are significantly different for the different land use types identified, spectral behaviour bears strong relationships with land features, and digital data are not significantly different (P < 0.01) within the ecosystem. Hence, the spectral behaviour from one area can be used to characterize the other within this and similar ecosystems.Les données de satellite de haute résolution pourraient donner d'information vitale au sujet de la couverture de la terre, qui pourraient mener à une meilleure interprétation et classification des resources de la terre. Cette recherche était conduite pour étudier le rapport entre les données numériques du Système Probatoire d'Observation de la Terre (SPOT) et les types d'emploi de terre dans la savane dérivée de l'écosystème du Nigéria. Les données numériques de terre arable, de cultures d'arbres, de surface brûlée, de riveraine et de habitations étaient analysées pour établir les rapports et le potentiel de SPOT pour la distinction de resource et le mappage. Les résultats montrent que les données numériques de SPOT sont considérablement différentes pour les différents types d'emploi de terre identifiés, le comportement spectral a un rapport solide avec les caractéristiques de la terre et les données numériques ne sont pas considérablement différentes (

Charting the complete elastic properties of inorganic crystalline compounds

The elastic constant tensor of an inorganic compound provides a complete description of the response of the material to external stresses in the elastic limit. It thus provides fundamental insight into the nature of the bonding in the material, and it is known to correlate with many mechanical properties. Despite the importance of the elastic constant tensor, it has been measured for a very small fraction of all known inorganic compounds, a situation that limits the ability of materials scientists to develop new materials with targeted mechanical responses. To address this deficiency, we present here the largest database of calculated elastic properties for inorganic compounds to date. The database currently contains full elastic information for 1,181 inorganic compounds, and this number is growing steadily. The methods used to develop the database are described, as are results of tests that establish the accuracy of the data. In addition, we document the database format and describe the different ways it can be accessed and analyzed in efforts related to materials discovery and design

Characterisation and Soil Pollution in Agrarian Floodplain of Ibadan Peri-Urban in South Western Nigeria

Ibadan metropolis in Nigeria has population of about 6millons people. There is increasing concern about lowland soils around Ibadan periurban where most of the industrial wastes transported  majorly by River Ona were deposited. These soils are used for dry season farming and  contribute to food security. This research was carried out to characterise and  determine the vulnerability of periurban lowland  soils to industrial pollution . The area was studied using 50mx50m  grid. Surface samples were taken at 50m interval. Representative profile pits were dug and described using USDA method. Particle size analysis and chemical analyses including Phosphorus, Nitrogen , exchangeable Cations (Ca, Mg, Na, K,),  Mn and heavy metals such as Pb. Cu, Zn, Cr, Fe, Cd determinations were carried out. The results shows that the surface soil of the flood plain was fertile with high N (0.35cmol/kg), P (51.25 cmol/kg), K (0.61 cmol/kg) with very high to toxic levels of phosphorous in the soil which range between 28.99 to 87.70 ppm. Average lead concentration was (34.30 mg/kg), Zn (171.20 mg/kg), Fe (83.97 mg/kg), Cu (19.11 mg/kg), Mn (31.10 mg/kg), Cr (0.69 mg/kg), Cd (0.3 mg/kg). The predictions from soil-plant heavy metal transfer coefficient (Pb:35-343; Cr:0.46-4.6; Zn:171-1712; Cu:19-191; Fe:83-840; Mn:31-281; Cd:0.1-10)  shows that there might be toxic level in crops in the area but the high yield and health of plant from field evidence and farmers interaction indicate that the  high level of P (28.99-87ppm) must have inhibited uptake of some metals such as Pb, Zn and Cu. Keywords: Fadama, Urban waste, Heavy metals, Soil pollution, Peri-urban farmin

Adsorption Kinetics of Pb(II) and Zn(II) Ions unto Carbonized Groundnut Shells and Maize Cobs

Maize cobs and groundnut shell adsorbents from agricultural by-products were carbonized and investigated for adsorption of two selected metals, Lead (Pb II) and Zinc (Zn II) from aqueous solutions of these metals. Kinetic studies of the adsorption processes were investigated employing Elovich and the intraparticle diffussion models. The results showed that, the adsorption capacities of these comparatively cheaper adsorbents and their efficiency for the removal of Pb(II) and Zn(II) ions from aqueous solution present them suitable for use in place of the costly commercial activated carbons

APORTES AL CONOCIMIENTO DE LOS YACIMIENTOS AL AIRE LIBRE, NUEVOS CAMPOS DE HOYOS EN NAVARRA

En este artículo se presentan diez nuevos campos de hoyos aparecidos durante los trabajos de control arqueológico de diferentes obras de construcción en la zona media y ribera de Navarra. Caracterizan diferentes momentos cronológicos de la Prehistoria Reciente, con ejemplos entre el Neolítico Inicial y el Hierro Antiguo. This article presents ten new pit fields discovered during the archeological monitoring of different construction works in the Zona Media and Ribera of Navarra. This sites characterize diverse chronological periods of Recent Prehistory, with samples ranging between the First Neolithic and the Ancient Iron Age

Beyond Covid-19: The Future of Festivals in Calabarzon, Philippines

Purpose: This study aims to determine or forecast the willingness of regular participants of festivals to attend or join events festivals in the post-COVID-19 scenario. Specifically, it aimed to 1.) identify the perceived future of festivals in the post-pandemic scenario and if people are still willing to participate in or join in any of the festival's events, and 2.) discuss the role of festivals in the post-pandemic scenario.   Theoretical framework: The researchers employed the stakeholder theory technique to predict the future of the festival's events. A stakeholder is "any group or person who may impact or is affected by the attainment of the institution's objective," Freeman (1984). Freeman contends that a person or group is a stakeholder if it has a sincere interest in a particular component of the institution's operations and, as a result, either can influence the company's performance or has a stake in that performance. Particularly, in this study, the stakeholders are the participants, the businessmen, and the organizers of the festivals. Ultimately, the perception of the stakeholders may be used by festival organizers as a basis for holding festivals in the post-pandemic scenario.   Design/methodology/approach: This study used a qualitative design using phenomenological approach based on the lived experiences of the participants with the festivals they have attended. Snowball sampling was used to choose 32 participants, commencing with the tourist local government official that had control over the festival events. The researchers utilized key informant interviews and focus group discussions on obtaining data, guided by a semi-structured questionnaire to allow the researchers to adjust questions according to the participant's willingness and manner of answering. For data clustering and theme identification, the researchers utilized a qualitative research tool (NVIVO) with license key: (N-L-Z-7-7) and used the analytical framework by Moustakas (1994), as covered by Creswell (2007). The researchers began by outlining the subject's or participant’s encounters concerning the festivals being examined. Next, they created collection of noteworthy remarks and organized these into more substantial units of information (i.e., units or themes).   Findings: As a result, every participant is eager to engage, be present, or take part in their respective festivals again, once the COVID-19 restrictions are removed, but some have a few reservations.   Implications for research, everyday life, and society: In the Philippines, the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted in 2023. This is also a time for the local economy to recover. The series of lockdowns heavily hampered the local economy due to the pandemic. The local governments may use festivals to help small, medium, and microenterprises recover from the losses they took during the pandemic, and festivals. can kick start the local economy. Festival organizers may utilize the findings of this research as a foundation.   Originality/value: All the data gathered in this research was at the peak of lockdowns and cases of COVID-19 in the Philippines. This made it very difficult for the researchers to collect data, thus resulting in an integration of in-person interactions, key informant interviews and online focus group discussions. It was a time when mass gatherings were hard to imagine, let alone the celebration of festivals uncertain. Nevertheless, the result was surprising since all the participants were still willing to join or attend festivals