Pertumbuhan dan Hasil Tanaman Sawi (Brassica Juncea L) Setelah Aplikasi Pupuk Hayati Tunggal dan dan Konsorsium

The use of biofertilizers is important to prevent the negative impact of the synthetic fertilizers in vegetable production. This study aimed to determine the effect of single biofertilizer Azotobacter, and consortial biofertilizer which consist of nitrogen fixer bacteria and pohosphate solubilizing bacteria on the growth and yield of green cabbage (Brassica juncea L). The experimental designed was randomized block design with five replications. Green cabbage seedling were inoculated with biofertilizer Azotobacter and consortial biofertilizer on the growth and yield of green cabbage. Plants with consortial biofertilizer showed better growth and yield than that received single biofertilizer. Consortial biofertilizer can increase plant height and shoot fresh weight up to 15.68 % and 17.05 %, while those with Azotobacter were 7.77 % and 9.58 % consecutively, compared with plants control

Penggunaan Pupuk Hayati dan Pupuk Npk untuk Menekan Penyakit Layu dan Meningkatkan Pertumbuhan dan Hasil Tanaman Kacang Panjang (Vigna Sinencis L.)

The use of either liquid or carrier-based biofertilizers reduced the application of excessive inorganic fertilizers. The purpose of this research was to verified the effect of biofertilizer application of Bokelas Plus (BP) and NPK inorganic fertilizer on the intensity of dumping off diseases, growth and yield of long bean plants. The experiment have been done in experimental field of Agricultural Extension Center of Baguala Sub-district in Nania Village, Ambon city. The treatments were 400 kg NPK / ha, 300 kg NPK / ha, 200 kg NPK / ha, 75 kg BP / ha + 400 kg NPK / Ha, 75 kg BP / ha + 300 kg NPK / ha, and 75 kg BP / ha + 200 kg NPK / ha. The results showed that the application of biofertilizer BP and NPK fertilizer affected intensity of wilt disease caused by Scerotium rolfsii pathogen, plant height, long and pea pod weight. The best dose was 75 kg BP / ha + 300 kg NPK / ha. This experiment suggest that BP biofertilizer reduced the use of NPK fertilizer by 25%

INVESTIGATION ON TEACHERS COMPETENCY ON USING ICT FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE SUBJECTS IN TANZANIAN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

This study focused on investigating teachers’ competence on using ICT in teaching and learning mathematics and science subjects in secondary schools in Morogoro municipality. The research employed a quantitative method with the use of the descriptive design. The study had objectives that are to examine the teacher’s ability to use the ICT tools, to show the relationship between the ICT tools and students’ performance and to find out the challenges that teachers face during the use of ICT in teaching and learning process. The study used a sample of two secondary schools of which 35 teachers were selected from each school making a total of 70 respondents, whereby the questionnaires were used to collect data and the data were analyzed using the SPSS method. It was found that many teachers have the ability to use the ICT tools in teaching, and that there is a significant relationship between teacher competency in the use of ICT in teaching and the students’ academic performance. It was also found that teachers face some challenges during the use of ICT tools in teaching including the poor infrastructure, the lack of expertise and capital problems. It was also found that the ways of overcoming them include improving the infrastructure, use of printed media as an alternative to the ICT tools as well as developing consistency of teachers. The study also recommends that the Ministry of Education, science and technology should ensure that all teachers train in ICT by introducing compulsory ICT courses to create the innovative model for teachers, sufficient facilities and resources should be provided and also professional development programs should be organized for teachers in order to develop ICT knowledge and competence

Schistosome-induced pathology is exacerbated and Th2 polarization is enhanced during pregnancy

The aim of this study was to investigate the immunopathological impact of pregnancy on an ongoing experimental schistosomiasis infection. Materials and Methods: Female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into three groups (A, B and C) of 15 animals each. The mice in Groups A and B were infected with 40 S. mansoni cercariae, percutaneously. Six weeks post-infection, the mice in Groups B and C (schistosome-naive controls) were mated. Schistosome-induced morbidity and cytokine recall responses were subsequently evaluated at weeks 7 and 8 post-infection. Results: Hepatic and pulmonary lesions resulting from trapped schistosome eggs were more frequent and more severe in Group B mice than in Group A mice. Group C mice had suppressed mitogen-stimulated interleukin 4 (IL-4) but maintained high intereferon gamma (IFN-gamma) responses. In contrast, Group A mice had elevated mitogen- and parasite-specific IL-4 but muted IFN-gamma responses. Group B mice had an early (week 7) high IL-4 response, even higher than in group A mice. Conclusion: Taken together the data suggest that pregnancy exacerbates schistosome-induced morbidity, probably through upregulation of parasite-specific IL-4.</p

Concomitant infection with <i>Leishmania donovani</i> and <i>Plasmodium berghei alters</i> clinical and immune responses in BALB/c mice

AbstractMalaria and visceral leishmaniasis coexist in the same geographical regions. However, dual co-infection with parasites causing these diseases and their impact on public health is poorly documented. Interactions between these parasites may play a role in disease outcome. The present study set out to evaluate the clinical and immunological parameters following Leishmania donovani and Plasmodium berghei co-infection in BALB/c mice. Mice were divided into four groups; L. donovani- only, L. donovani- P. berghei, P. berghei- only and naïve. Body weight, parasite burden, total IgG, IFN-γ and IL-4 responses were determined. To determine the survival rate, four mice were used from each group. Tissues for histological analysis were taken from spleen, liver and brain. Results indicated significant differences in body weight (P&lt;0.0001), L. donovani parasite load (P&lt; 0.0001), L. donovani IgG (P&lt; 0.0001), P. berghei parasitemia (P= 0.0222), P. berghei IgG (P= 0.002), IFN-γ (P&lt;0.0001) and IL-4 (P&lt;0.0001) in dual-infected mice. There was no correlation between L. donovani parasite load and IgG responses in single or dual infections, while there was a positive relationship of P. berghei parasitemia and IgG responses in the dual infection group only. Plasmodium berghei had the highest mortality rate compared to L. donovani- only and L. donovani- P. berghei infected mice groups. Histological analyses showed enlarged red and white pulps and pathological changes in the spleen, liver and brain tissues which were less pronounced in co- infected group. We conclude that L. donovani and P. berghei co-infection reduces disease severity and these changes seem to correlate with variation in serum IgG and cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-4). Therefore, the study recommends the importance of inclusion of early screening of malaria in Visceral Leishmaniasis patients in regions where malaria is co- endemic.Author SummaryVisceral leishmaniasis and malaria are the principal causes of morbidity and mortality affiliated with parasitic diseases universally warranting the necessity to investigate the control and immunology of the infections. Notwithstanding the probable incidences of leishmaniasis- malaria infections in endemic regions are not readily eminent to the clinicians if an individual is co-infected and almost frequently, such patients develop a fever and are customarily treated against malaria and hence the need to study disease progression and outcome during a co- infection. Furthermore, it is unclear if this co-infection could impede the clinical symptoms of the separate diseases and thus the necessity to demonstrate disease outcome in experimentally co-infected murine models. This present study was crucial to find out whether this mode of co- infection alters disease progression and enhanced severity leading to high morbidity and mortality. This current research was an imperative step in using murine as a model in the study of disease outcome and immunopathogenesis of visceral leishmaniasis and malaria co-infection thus establishing the feasibility of co-infecting the BALB/c mice with Leishmania donovani and Plasmodium berghei.</jats:sec