Continental copepod biodiversity in North-Eastern Borneo, Malaysia

To obtain a relevant information on copepod biodiversity/distribution in continental Borneo water bodies in June 2011 about 30 different sites in Malaysian state Sabah were visited and more than 50 alcohol and formalin preserved samples in nine rivers, 10 ponds, and six near-road ditches and canals, rice fields and forest leaf litter environment were collected. In literature 16 copepod species were referred for Borneo and 10 other species for Kalimantan (Indonesean) states. After the Sabah sample analyses, the copepodspecies richnessin the Borneo island increased more than twice. The most abundant with species number genera were ranged as: Mesocyclops (13), Elaphoidella (6), Microcyclops (5), Eucyclops (4), Thermocyclops (4), Halicyclops (3) and Paracyclops (3). Species biodiversity in different sites plotted against type of water body and several environment parameters revealed significant positive correlations for number of species and both for depth and temperature in sampling site (Pearson non-parametric tests 0.6 and 0.5 respectively at p < 0.05). One way Kruscal-Walise dispersal analysis confirmed significant relationship between copepod biodiversity and water transparence/ turbidity (p < 0.05). The highest copepod biodiversity values were found in ponds (23 species), near road ditches (15), rivers with transparent water (12), lowland or swamp areas related with rivers (9). The lowest number of species were found in rivers with turbid water colored in orange with soil-erosive matter where the average number of copepod species (0.2 ± 0.08 species per site) was about 20 times less than in waters without silt particles (3.8 ± 2.8 species per site). This indicates a strong negative effect of soil erosion resulting water land-used activities and deforestation in the watershed on the biodiversity of aquatic organisms in Borneo. In one sub-urban population of Mesocyclops cf. thermocyclopoides, a trans-sexual mutation of female-sized but constructed as male armed with genicu late antennule organisms was found that possibly reflect a negative result of wide artificial hormone-based pesticide usage in this area. Keys for Harpacticoida species for Borneo and for Eucyclops species known for SEAsia, Australia and India are provided. Within practically each copepod genus studied in Borneo there are forms with problems on species identification by existing faunistic keys. This possibly indicates a necessity of new species description from this area in the nearest future

Investigation of oil palm empty fruit bunches in biosoda pulping by tropical white-rot fungi, Ganoderma australe (Fr.) Pat.

Ganoderma australe, a white-rot fungus, is well-known as a decomposer of logs and stumps in the Malaysian forest. We investigated G. australe (KUM60848) strain for production of ligninolytic enzymes i.e. lignin peroxidase (LiP) and laccase, and hydrolytic enzymes, i.e. cellulase and xylanase, using oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) in solid-substrate fermentation (SSF). EFB was shown to support good mycelial growth for G. australe during 28 days of solid-substrate fermentation. All tested enzyme activities demonstrated highest activities of LiP (0.18±0.02 U/ml), laccase (1.92±0.03 U/ml), cellulase (0.72±0.11 U/ml) and xylanase (0.42±0.01 U/ml) throughout the 28 days of incubation. Compared to an untreated control, the pretreated EFB yield increased to a maximum of 18% during biopulping. Fourteen days of SSF had the highest degree of material dissolved, as shown by pulp yields and the optimum values (29.8 Nm/g tensile index and 2.73 Kpa m2/g burst index) acceptable to obtain paper sheets

Growth and nutritional value of a Tropical Green Alga, Ankistrodesmus convolutus corda, in Agro-industrialeffluents

Use of agro-industrial effluents for microalgal culture was investigated using a tropical freshwater green alga, Ankistrodesmus convolutus cultured in various dilutions of latex concentrate effluent (LCRE), standard Malaysian rubber effluent (SMRE) and digested palm oil mill effluent (POMED). Ankistrodesmus convolutus grown in 40%and 60%LCRE, 60%SMRE and 10% POMED showed significantly higher (P < 0.05) specific growth rate in terms of cell number and chlorophyll a than that grown in other effluent media and inorganic fertiliser (N:P:K = 1:1:0.5) as control. Total biomass of this microalgae grown in 60%LCRE, 60%SMRE and 10% POMED was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that cultured in other effluent media and the control. Ankistrodesmus convolutus cultured in 40% and 60% LCRE, 60% SMRE and 10% POMED showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher amount of crude protein and lipid than that grown in other effluent media and the control. Significantly higher (P < 0.05) amount of most of the essential amino acids (EAAs) except a few were found in A. convolutus cultured in 60% LCRE and 60% SMRE than that grown in other effluent media and control. Ankistrodesmus convolutus cultured in 10% POMED resulted in significantly higher (P < 0.05) amount of all the EAAs except threonine and tyrosine that were grown in other POMED media and control. Ankistrodesmus convolutus grown in 40% and 60% LCRE, contained significantly higher (P < 0.05) amounts of all the C18 and C20 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PDFAs) than that cultured in other SMRE media and control, except eicosadienoic acid (20: 2n-11). A similar trend of PUFAs was recorded in A. convolutus cultured in 60% SMRE except eicosatrienoic acid (20:3n-6) and arachidonic acid (20:4n-6). It was found that A. convolutus contained significantly (P < 0.05) higher amount of PUFAs such as linoleic acid (l8:2n-6), linolenic acid (18:3n-3) and arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) when grown in 10% POMED than that cultured in other POMED media and control. This study showed that A. convolutus grown in 40-60% rubber and 10% POMED has higher nutritional value that that cultured in other effluent media and inogranic fertilizer

Stress appraisal, coping, and work engagement among police recruits: an exploratory study.

This study investigated the influence of stress appraisal and coping on work engagement levels (Absorption, Vigour, and Dedication) of police recruits. Participants were 387 men, ages 20 to 33 yr. (M = 24.1, SD = 2.4), in their last month of academy training before becoming police officers. Partially in support of predictions, work engagement was associated with Stressor control perceived, but not Stress intensity experienced over a self-selected stressor. Although the three dimensions of work engagement were explained by Stressor control and coping, Absorption was the dimension better explained by these variables. Police recruits reporting higher Absorption, Vigour, and Dedication reported using more Active coping and less Behavioural disengagement. Results showed that stress appraisal and coping are important variables influencing work engagement among police recruits. Findings suggested that future applied interventions fostering work engagement among police recruits should reinforce perceptions of control over a stressor as well as Active coping strategies

Tools and concepts of journey towards a natural capitalism with special reference to environmental impact assessment, life cycle assessment and industrial ecology.

The evolution of tool applications and approaches for industrial-environmentally related management systems in minimizing their impact on natural environment has facilitated the concept of journey to natural capitalism, notably, on physical flows and the accumulation of substances and materials due to industrial activities. These environmental management tools include risk assessment, resource accounting, costbenefit analysis, environmental impact statement, and environmental impact assessment. In addition, environmental management system (EMS) series of standards derived fromSociety of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) and International Standard of Organization (ISO) Technical Committee 207 initiatives emphasizing on EMS, environmental auditing, life cycle assessment, ecolabeling, environmental performance evaluation, design for environment and climate change. Recent concept on industrial ecology (IE) was introduced and applied respectively into EMS for industrial sustainability. It is based on the integration of human dimension, industrial processes, and environmental concerns that perpetually mimics natural ecosystem processes. This paper describes how these theoretical frameworks of Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tools being developed and applied and subsequently used as central tenet in IE concept in meeting their objectives that indirectly could be further enhanced the journey towards natural capitalism

Water Thermocline Confirms Susceptibility of Tilapia Cultured in Lakes to Streptococcus agalactiae

A study was conducted on water quality profiling to confirm susceptibility of tilapia cultured in lakes to Streptococcus agalactiae infection. A total of 1,010 and 719 tilapias of different sizes were collected from two lakes; the Kenyir and Pedu lakes, respectively. They were randomly sampled for a period of 24 months. Swabs of brain, eye and kidney were streaked directly onto blood agar before S. agalactiae was identified by the API 20 STREP kit, Slidex Strepto-kit and PCR technique. The water temperature (thermocline) and dissolved oxygen profiling were determined at 1 m intervals for up to 20 m deep. Water clarity and flow rate were also recorded using Secchi disk and a current meter. S. agalactiae was successfully isolated from both lakes throughout the year, ranging between 2 and 78%. Isolation was more frequent during the hot and dry months of both years. During this period, the mean water temperature was >29 degrees C for up to 8 m deep due to the significantly (p12 m deep. This and the slow water flow kept the water temperature at 4 m deep where tilapias under the cage culture system were kept to remain high causing stress to tilapia and increases susceptibility to S. agalactiae. Dissolved oxygen profiling, however remained high at >5 mg L-1 for up to 8 m deep and did not give adverse effects to susceptibility of tilapia to S. agalactiae

Water Thermocline Confirms Susceptibility of Tilapia Cultured in Lakes to Streptococcus agalactiae

A study was conducted on water quality profiling to confirm susceptibility of tilapia cultured in lakes to Streptococcus agalactiae infection. A total of 1,010 and 719 tilapias of different sizes were collected from two lakes; the Kenyir and Pedu lakes, respectively. They were randomly sampled for a period of 24 months. Swabs of brain, eye and kidney were streaked directly onto blood agar before S. agalactiae was identified by the API 20 STREP kit, Slidex Strepto-kit and PCR technique. The water temperature (thermocline) and dissolved oxygen profiling were determined at 1 m intervals for up to 20 m deep. Water clarity and flow rate were also recorded using Secchi disk and a current meter. S. agalactiae was successfully isolated from both lakes throughout the year, ranging between 2 and 78%. Isolation was more frequent during the hot and dry months of both years. During this period, the mean water temperature was >29 degrees C for up to 8 m deep due to the significantly (p12 m deep. This and the slow water flow kept the water temperature at 4 m deep where tilapias under the cage culture system were kept to remain high causing stress to tilapia and increases susceptibility to S. agalactiae. Dissolved oxygen profiling, however remained high at >5 mg L-1 for up to 8 m deep and did not give adverse effects to susceptibility of tilapia to S. agalactiae

Effects of MgO on dielectric properties and electrical conductivity of ternary zinc magnesium phosphate glasses.

Glasses with composition (ZnO)30(MgO)x(P2O5)70-x(ZnO)30(MgO)x(P2O5)70-x (x = 5, 8, 13, 18 and 20 mol%) have been successfully prepared by the melt-quenching technique. The dielectric permittivity (ε′ε′) and loss factor (ε″ε″) were measured in the frequency range of 0.01 Hz to 1 MHz and in the temperature range of 303 to 573 K. From the results, there is evidence of dipolar relaxation occurring between View the MathML source103–106Hz, while at low frequencies, the spectrum is dominated by dc conduction which was manifested by the 1/ω1/ω slope of the loss factor plot. The value of the relaxing frequency (ωpωp) plotted against 1/T1/T shows a single relaxation mechanism with an activation energy of 0.45 eV. The average value of the activation energy for dc conduction was much higher (1.25 eV) suggesting its diffusion movement had encountered more difficult steps than the small displacement changing dipoles. With increasing MgO concentration, the dielectric permittivity (ε′ε′), dc conductivity (σdcσdc) and dielectric strength (ΔεΔε) decrease and these were attributed to some of the magnesium ions participated in the glass-forming positions as well as modifiers. At lower temperatures, the complex permittivity plots present a skewed arc with center point lying below the real axis which is a non-Debye characteristic. The empirical data were sufficiently fitted by using the Harviliak–Negami equation. The temperature dependent of the parameter αα is discussed