116 research outputs found
Bioethanol as an alternative fuels: A review on production strategies and technique for analysis
No full textBioethanol production represents an alternative source of energy that also helps minimize greenhouse gas effects. Currently, the focus of advanced technologies for bioethanol production is on the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into renewable energy for transportation as it offers a low cost of investment and non-pollution bioprocesses. However, the utilization of lignocellulosic biomass has several challenges, including the high cost of pretreatment, the recalcitrant nature of the biomass and the requirement for robust microbes to ferment various types of sugars. Informations on the subject were achieved through a literature search using various electronic databases such as Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and others. From literature findings, few strategies such as separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF), simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF), simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation (SSCF), and consolidated bioprocessing (CBP); were found established to overcome these challenges, ultimately increasing the effectiveness of the bioconversion process and minimizing the overall cost of production. CBP was found to be the most promising strategy as direct production of ethanol from pretreated corn cob yielded 11.1 g/L ethanol without the addition of external hydrolytic catalyst. Various analytical techniques are commonly used to quantify bioethanol in a sample, and these methods were theoretically analyzed in relation to established theories. Currently, gas chromatography is known to be the most effective approach with limits of detection typically around 0.099 mg/mL, demonstrating excellent linearity and recovery rates between 91% and 109%. This paper aims to highlight the efficiency of every strategy involved in the bioconversion process and provide insights into every suitable analytical technique that can be employed to ensure the sustainability of biofuel by allowing researchers to improve the productivity and quality of bioethanol, thus promoting its role as a feasible alternative fuel
Mychorrhizae of Tiger orchids (Grammatophyllum spp.) and symbiotic germination of seed of Grammatophyllum stapeliiflorum (Teijsm. & Mann.) S. S. Smith.
No full textGrammatophyllum seeds are minute and lack endosperm. As their other orchid’s counterpart, the seeds are dependent on
mychorrhizal fungi for seed germination in nature. The abilities to uptake nutrients from substrate were assisted by preferable fungal symbionts. Seed of Grammatophyllum stapeliiflorum were used to determine the specificity of its fungus relationship using fungal isolated from roots of G. speciosum, G. stapeliiflorum and G. scriptum. A total of 31 isolates of different species of fungus was isolated from the host plants. All isolates were inoculated on G. stapeliiflorum seed on Oat Meal Agar (OMA) for symbiotic germination test. The result obtained from the test demonstrated that seed germination rates were best when co-cultured with Curvularia sp. isolated from G. speciosum; an increment in 40.1% when compared to the seeds’ original size (width 0.127mm). The seed also can germinate in variable degrees when inoculated with fungus isolated from different species. The germination experiments showed that G. stapeliiflorum is a generalist in its association with fungal symbionts
Effect of antimicrobial activities on the various solvents extracts of leaves of Scurrula ferruginea (Jack) Danser (Loranthaceae)
No full textScurrula ferruginea is widely distributed in Southeast Asian countries and has commonly been used as a medicinal plant to treat many diseases caused by microbes. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of using various solvents extractions on S. ferruginea leaves and their antimicrobial activities. Oven dried (60°C) leaves of S. ferruginea were extracted with aqueous and organic solvents. Antimicrobial activities of the extracts were tested against Staphylococcus aureus S261, Escherichia coli E57, Candida albicans C205 and Trichophyton rubrum T62 using Disc Diffusion Method, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) respectively. The ideal solvent was 80% methanol with values of the zone of inhibition ranging from 7.98 to 9.71 mm and 450 to 900μg/mL (MIC and MBC) for S. aureus and E. coli, respectively. The present findings revealed that the leaves of S. ferruginea have inhibitory effects on several pathogenic microbes and can be suggested as a potential source of natural antimicrobial compounds
New records of terrestrial pteridophytes in Genting Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia
No full textGenting Highlands is the common name for a general area including a group of summits around Gunung Ulu Kali and their ridges. Located at the border between the State of Selangor to the west and Pahang to the east, the entire area was a virgin forest until 1967, when the roadwork was begun. To date, there have been fragmented reports in botanical studies in Genting Highlands. The previous works by Ridley, Holttum, Parris, Latiff and Piggott are lacking on studies, specially the ones focusing on pteridophytes in selected study sites. Fieldworks were conducted to assess the species list of terrestrial pteridophyes on April and September of 2005. From these expeditions, a total of 32 species of terrestrial pteridophytes were collected from two sites in Genting Highlands with 21 species being new records for the area. Two species namely, Diplazium subintegrum and Taenitis dimorpha, were found to be endemic to Peninsular Malaysia
A new species of Bromheadia sect. aporodes (Orchidaceae) from Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia
No full textA new Bromheadia species was rescued and collected from a fallen tree in one of the active logging sites by an avid nature conservationist and activist Mr. Dome with the UPM Orchid Research team. This collaboration was initiated as a conservation effort that is aimed to rescue as much orchids from the depleted forests to be nurtured exsitu in a managed conservatory. The genus Bromheadia was established by Lindley in 1841 based upon Grammatophyllum finlaysonianum in 1833 (Comber, 2001). The genus was named after Sir Edward French Bromhead, whose studies of the natural affinities of plants are well known to systematic Botanists (Kruizinga et al., 1997). The genus Bromheadia was later defined into
sections Bromheadia and Aporodes by Schlechter (1914: 367) based on their vegetative dissimilarity. They are easily comparable by the shape of the leaves; Sect. Bromheadia has leaves dorsiventrally flattened, tip
bilobed, blade more or less narrowed at the base; and Sect. Aporodes has leaves laterally flattened, tip acute, blade not narrowed at the base. The two groups are placed together in one genus of Bromheadia, in spite of the differences in habit, because of the presence of unique two lateral rostellar flaps, which meet over the viscidium covering the upper margin of the stigma. The new species described in this paper is belongs to
Sect. Aporodes. In Bromheadia sect. Aporodes, the dimensions of the leaf, the leaf index, and the relative length of the upper stem internode compared with the lower part of the stem, offer the diagnostic characters
(Kruizinga et al., 1997). The new species differs distinctively in plant and flower sizes if compared to other species of the same section. Its small and tufted habit had provided initial possible new entity to justify it as a new species to science. There are 31 species of Bromheadia listed in World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP) with 20 species are belonging to Sect. Aporodes (WCSP, 2018, June), excluding one species insufficiently known due to all known specimens were destroyed during
the second world war, but it was stated to be related to B. aporoides and B. falcifolia (in Kruizinga et al., 1997) and 12 species are found in Peninsular Malaysia with seven species from Sect. Aporodes (Ong et al., 2017)
Soil-transmitted Helminth (STH) Infections in Northern Nigeria between 2000-2022: A Review
No full textSoil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections, caused by parasitic nematodes, are significant public health concern in many parts of the world, including Nigeria. This review aims to comprehensively analyze the available studies and research trends on STH infections among children aged 0 – 17 years in northern Nigeria. The review focuses studies on the prevalence and risk factors related to STH infections from year 2000 – 2022 in this specific region and emphasizes the urgent need for effective control measure to mitigate the burden of these infections. The population involved 25 studies (92.6%) on School-aged Children (SAC) and 2 studies (7.4%) on Pre-school age Children (PSAC). A total of 8 514 children examined, 4 384 (51.5%) males and 4 130 (48.5%) females. Children from rural areas were 5 165 (60.7%) and 3 349 (39.3%) children from urban areas. Sample size ranges from 100 – 620, 22 (74.1%) studies employed Formol-ether concentration as stool examination technique, 4 (14.8%) and 3 (11.1%) used Kato-Katz and Direct smear methods respectively. The overall pool prevalence estimates (PPE) for STH infections were 3 160 (37.1%, 95% CI: 36.5–37.7). PPE for males 1 880 (59.5%, 95% CI: 58.6–60.1) was higher than for females 1 280 (40.5%, 95% CI: 54.2–55.3). Children from rural areas had the highest PPE 1 955 (37.9%) OR 1.26 (95% CI: 0.32–3.73) p=0.02, while children from urban areas had 3 160 (35.9%) OR 1.15 (95% CI: 0.62–5.02) p=0.01. There was no significant association between STH infections and community settings among SAC and PSAC. The most common PPEs by species identified was Ascaris lumbricoides 1 022 (32.3%, 95% CI: 31.7–32.9), hookworm 931 (29.5%, 95% CI: 28.9 – 30.1) and the least; Trichuris trichjura 356 (11.3%, 95% CI: 10.7 – 11.9). Children between 10 – 15 years had highest prevalence (48.6%), and 0 – 9 years had the least prevalence (23.5%) by age groups. Four common risk factors identified, walking barefooted 6 (22.2%) OR 1.16 (95% CI: 1.53 - 6.42) p-0.44, drinking untreated water 12 (44.4%) OR 1.66 (95% CI: 1.30 - 19.49) p=0.53, open field or bush defecation 8 (29.6) OR 3.41 (95% CI: 1.94 - 9.32) p=0.72 and eating unwashed fruits or vegetable 1 (3.7) OR 2.01 (95% CI: 1.32 - 4.51) p=0.54. The research underscores the need for enhanced surveillance, improved sanitation, and comprehensive sustainable interventions to reduce the prevalence and morbidity associated with STH infections in northern Nigeria
Orchid diversity in antropogenic-induced degraded tropical rainforest, an extrapolation towards conservation
No full textThe uncontrolled logging in Peninsular Malaysia and the resulting mudslides in the lowland areas have been perilous, not to just humans, but also to another biodiversity, including the wild orchids. Their survival in these highly depleted areas is being overlooked due to the inaccessible and harsh environment. This paper reports on the rescue of orchids at risk from the disturbed forests for ex-situ conservation, the identification of the diversity of orchids and the evaluation of the influence of micro-climatic changes induced by clear-cut logging towards the resilience of orchids in the flood-disturbed secondary forests and logged forests in Terengganu and Kelantan, located at the central region of Peninsular Malaysia, where the forest destruction by logging activities has been extensive. 109 orchid species belonging to 40 genera were collected from the disturbed areas. The diversity and data analyses show that the disturbed secondary forests had a higher orchid density (0.0133 plants/m2) than the logged sites (0.0040 plants/m2) as the habitat conditions were more dependable. Nevertheless, the logged forests harboured a higher diversity of orchids (H=4.50 and D=0.99) of which 97.9% were epiphytes. Eleven rare species were found along with six species endemic to Peninsular Malaysia, with two species new to science. The results highlighted the factors that allow the orchids to flourish or suffer in the disturbed forests. The logged forests had a higher ambient temperature and lower moisture level than the mud flood-disturbed and canopy-covered secondary forests. Apart from the extensive ground vegetation due to logs dragging extraction, low soil moisture and absence of leaf litter were believed to be the major attributes causing the low abundance of terrestrial orchids. The high abundance and diversity of epiphytic orchids and the large difference of their densities between the logged sites were influenced by the densities of fallen trees hosting orchid(s), disturbance-induced dryness stresses, durations of exposure to the anthropogenic-induced disturbance, and less favourable soil conditions for the terrestrial orchids
Two new species of Dendrobium Sect. Calcarifera (Orchidaceae) from Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia
No full textTwo new species, Dendrobium ainiae R. Go et E. E. Besi and Dendrobium ruseae E. E. Besi et Dome belonging to Sect. Calcarifera are described and illustrated from Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia. These species are so far known from a population in lowland dipterocarp forest. A field key to the Peninsular Malaysian taxa of Dendrobium Sect. Calcarifera including Dendrobium chewiorum is also provided
- …
