Assessment of Zooplankton Density in Khajikotnoor Reservoir, Kalaburagi District, Karnataka

/in /by

Zooplankton are of prime importance in aquatic systems, playing vital roles as water-quality indicators and having significant influences on food web dynamics. This paper examines the abundance and diversity of zooplankton species in the Khajikotnoor reservoir, which is a vital freshwater body in Khajikotnoor village, Kalaburagi District, Karnataka. The sampling was conducted from January 2024 to December 2024 using conventional methods for the collection of plankton. Later, the zooplanktons collected were analyzed and grouped up to the species level. A total of 26 different zooplankton species were documented. They were grouped under principal groups consisting of Rotifers, Cladocera, Copepods, and Ostracoda. Among them, Rotifers turned out to be the dominant group. The results indicate that the Khajikotnoor reservoir harbours a very diverse population of zooplankton with a relatively healthy aquatic ecosystem. But human activities and eutrophication pose potential threats to the reservoir’s biodiversity. This research highlights the significance of continuous monitoring of zooplankton diversity as a bioindicator in assessing ecological well-being and formulating conservation strategies to protect the aquatic biodiversity of the reservoir.

Factors Influencing HIV Testing and Status Disclosure Among Young Women and Men in Kafue and Lusaka Districts

/in /by

Adolescent HIV testing and status disclosure rates remain low in Zambia with many people unaware of their status. HIV testing rates for adolescents and young people are about 61 percent for females and 49 percent for males while HIV disclosure is about 83 percent for females and 77 percent for males. This study explored the factors influencing HIV testing and status disclosure among male and female young people in Kafue and Lusaka Districts. The study specifically intended to identify factors that influence HIV testing and status disclosure among young people, explore experiences and attitudes towards HIV Testing and status disclosure among young males and young females living with HIV and determine facilitators and barriers for HIV Testing and status disclosure among the male and female participants. The study adopted a cross-sectional design and was anchored in a mixed method approach. It was conducted in Lusaka and Kafue districts of Zambia. The study applied both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis techniques. The study utilized both primary and secondary data. Primary data was obtained from young people, while secondary data was sourced from relevant national and international reports and policy documents as well as peer reviewed journals.  The sample comprised of 359 male and female young people (i.e.180 females and 179 males. Out of this total, 83 males and 101 females were from Kafue district while 96 males and 79 females were from Lusaka district) attending youth friendly corners and the ART clinics. The participants were randomly selected. Results showed that HIV testing awareness and knowledge were prevalent among Adolescents and Young People (AYP), with educational platforms and friends being significant sources of information. It was also found that many factors influenced HIV status disclosure among adolescents and young people (AYP) in Kafue and Lusaka. These included strong support networks, comprehensive sexuality education (CSE), youth-friendly health services, anti-stigma campaigns and the influence of role models, family members, high rates of disclosure to sexual partners, healthcare providers and school counsellors or teachers.  Barriers to disclosure included fear of stigmatization and discrimination, concerns about confidentiality, negative family reactions and the impact on romantic relationships. Further, respondents experienced significant hardships following the disclosure of their HIV status, with girls often suffering from increased judgment and social isolation, while boys faced stigma and a pressure to appear unaffected. In coping with these challenges, they developed various strategies: finding solidarity in support groups, drawing strength from family support, seeking professional counselling, engaging in education and advocacy, expressing themselves artistically, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, it was recommended that there must be the development of gender-sensitive programs, community engagement with a focus on gender roles, and the creation of accessible services with consideration for gender dynamics. Additionally, urban youth engagement needed to incorporate gender-specific messaging, and educational efforts to emphasize gender equality. Support networks and safe spaces needed to account for gender differences. In addition, the policies ought to advocate for gender equity, addressing legal and social challenges specific to young men and women in the context of HIV testing and disclosure.

Exploring Prototype-Based Clustering for Malware Detection: Insights from MutantX-S

/in /by

Computers and internet-based technologies are an essential aspect of modern life. Numerous network architectures are used to connect computers, and occasionally, it’s feasible for a particular network or machine to be attacked by malicious software, or malware. Numerous negative outcomes, such as system damage, data theft, performance deterioration, spamming, and more, might arise from these attacks. Malware comes in a variety of forms, including as viruses, worms, spyware, rootkits, and many more. Every year, millions and millions of new malware samples are sent to antivirus research firms. The ever-increasing number of malware samples makes it impossible to examine each one separately. This results in a low detection rate of fresh malware samples due to a delay in the propagation of malware signatures. Researchers from Symantec Labs created Mutant X-S, a scalable malware categorization framework, to address this problem. MutantX-S is able to efficiently group samples according to how similar they are to one another. This framework offers a scalable solution to handle the enormous volume of malware that exists in the wild. The Mutant X-S is designed to enhance current dynamic behavior-based systems rather than replace them in order to improve malware program coverage and clustering accuracy [1].

Making Mobile Corn Dryer Using Temperature and Water Content Sensors Based on The Internet of Things

/in /by

This corn drying is done to increase the storage capacity and increase the economic value of the corn and the corn used has been shelled by reducing the water content to a maximum of 14% if the corn is said to be dry. The heating element here is very important to accelerate drying, the more elements used, the faster the time required for the drying process. To detect room temperature and humidity, a DHT11 sensor and a water content sensor are needed to determine the water content in the corn. The research method used in writing this article is a literature study by comparing the results of water content sensor measurements in experiments according to SNI. The results of the lowest water content measurement which has a water content of 13.4% with a time of only 120 minutes and 100 g of corn. The study of the water content value with the lowest value in the test can be used as a reference for designing a corn dryer prototype with a heating element using a DHT11 sensor and an Arduino Uno-based water content sensor.

The Comprehension of Language Recognition Among Social Media Users in Jakarta

/in /by

Living life and building relationships, an individual needs recognition that can generate respect and admiration from others. This research uses a quantitative method. The data was collected using a questionnaire distributed to 97 respondents with certain criteria. The validity test uses the Pearson Correlation statistical test. Cronbach’s Alpha statistical test was used to test reliability. Because the Cronbach’s Alpha value is 0.548 > 0.198 (Rtable), it can be concluded that the questionnaire is reliable or trustworthy as a data collection tool. The standard deviation of respondents’ answers is 6.580%. The total average score or mean is 57.51%, respondents’ level is at ENOUGH level (between 41%-60%). The results show that the level of understanding of Recognition Language among social media users in Jakarta is ‘enough’. There is still a lack of language of recognition between fellow students or even between teachers and students or in society, which finally culminates in bullying.

Facile Synthesis and Antifungal Efficiency of Nickel and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles

/in /by

Nickel oxide (NiO) and Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were synthesized using a simple, eco-friendly co-precipitation method followed by ultrasonication. The synthesis utilized AR-grade NiCl2·6H2O and Zn(NO3) 2·6H2O with NH4OH as a precipitating agent, offering a cost-effective and scalable approach. Structural analysis via X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the formation of pure cubic phases with crystallite sizes ranging between 10.4–18.5 nm for NiO and 11.6–19.2 nm for ZnO, depending on the calcination temperature (400–600°C). UV–Vis spectroscopy revealed a tunable band gap: NiO exhibited Eg values of 4.1 eV (500°C) to 1.6 eV (600°C), while ZnO showed Eg from 3.6 eV (500°C) to 4.0 eV (600°C), indicating potential for visible-light-driven photocatalytic or optoelectronic applications. FTIR confirmed strong metal–oxygen bonding, and SEM revealed well-defined porous morphologies. Notably, antifungal activity tested against Aspergillus niger and Fusarium spp. using the Kirby–Bauer method showed zone of inhibition (ZOI) up to 17.4 mm for ZnO and 16.6 mm for NiO, respectively, at a nanoparticle concentration of 200 µg/ml. This study is innovative in demonstrating a temperature-tuned synthesis approach that correlates nano-structural features with antimicrobial efficiency, enabling design of next-generation biocompatible antifungal agents for biomedical coatings and environmental remediation.

An Overview of Attitudes Toward Mathematics Across Different Disciplines, Gender and STEM

/in /by

In this research study, the aim is to inspect the attitudes toward mathematics amongst disciplines, gender, and STEM and non-STEM students. To attain this objective, a questionnaire-based research was chosen; this instrument with 20 items in total consisted of four components, namely, self-confidence, enjoyment, motivation, and value. A total of 391 university students answered the questionnaire; the data is tested and analysed using SPSS 20. Since the data was not normally distributed, the Kruskal-Wallis Test for each factor was performed to check for significant differences across disciplines and post hoc tests in all cases to confirm which pairs have differences. Results of pair comparison revealed that a significant difference in all factors exists between Math Education (with higher mean rank) and other disciplines. To provide evidence of the possibility of group differences between STEM and non-STEM students in self-confidence, value, enjoyment, and motivation, the Mann-Whitney U Test is used. Findings detected slightly more positive attitudes among STEM students than non-STEM students. Performing the Mann-Whitney U Test for each factor revealed a significant difference between them with a medium effect size. Related to gender, no significant difference was detected. Whereas a significant difference was detected regarding gender among students in STEM disciplines. Evaluating attitudes of the respondents towards mathematics revealed that students had a moderately high level of enjoyment, self-confidence, and motivation in learning mathematics.

Green Synthesis, Characterization and Applications of Nanoparticles Using Cow Urine, Cow Dung and Vermiwash: Review of Article

/in /by

Green synthesis has recently drawn significant interest as a viable, evolving, and environmentally friendly method for synthesis of variety of nanomaterials, including metal/metal oxide nanoparticles. In this review, we summed up the general protocols and mechanism of green synthesis and mechanism of green synthesis routes, especially for Silver(Ag), Silver oxide(Ag2O), Cadmium(Cd), Copper(Cu), Copper ferrite(CuFe2O4), Palladium(Pd), and Graphene nanomaterials/nanoparticles using cow urine[1] and Zinc oxide(ZnO), C dots and Amorphous Nano-silica and other nanoparticles using cow dung extract and Copper oxide, silver, gold, molybdenum doped TiO2 nanoparticles from vermiwash. We carefully examined the primary function of biological elements found in cow dung, cow urine and vermiwash. Vermiwash is the leachate that comes from vermicomposting units. Because it is a natural substance with brown colour and contains a lot of nutrients for plants, it can be used as liquid fertilizer. Additionally, the humic acid it contains aids in the growth of plants. In the solvent system, these basic biomolecules serve as stabilizing and reducing agents[2]. Characterization techniques are also used to discuss surface shape, phase development, and nanoparticle stability. Lastly, we talked about the potential applications of these synthesized nanoparticles as an anticancer agent, antimicrobial activity, photocatalyst and a drug delivery system.

Effect of Condensed Molasses Soluble (CMS) as a Feed Ingredient on the Characteristics, pH and Intestinal Viscosity, and Intestinal Microba in Hybrid Ducks

/in /by

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of using Condensed Molasses Soluble (CMS) on the gut microba, pH and viscosity of hybrid ducks.  One hundred and sixty hybrid ducklings (Day Old Duck) initial body weight 55 grams were randomly divided into 5 treatments with 4 replicates (8 each) in a Completely Randomized Design. The treatments were basal feed without CMS as control treatment (T0), basal feed supplemented with 2.5% CMS (T1), basal feed supplemented with 5% CMS (T2), basal feed supplemented with 7.5% CMS (T3), basal feed supplemented with 10% CMS (T4). Parameters measured were analysis of Lactobacillus sp, and Escherichia coli, pH and viscosity of hybrid ducks. There was a very significant difference (P<0.01) on the microba, with the highes results Lactobacillus sp (200±95,68) Escherichia coli (289±22,00) and pH (6,5±0,58) and viscosity (3,6±0,11) of hybrid duck intestinal digesta. Based on these findings, it is concluded that the use of CMS with a maximum percentage of 7.5% had a positive effect on the health of the intestinal digesta of hybrid ducks due to reduction of the population of pathogenic microba (Escherichia coli).

Amino Acid Content in Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Oil in the Larval, Prepupal and Pupal Phases as a Feed Additive in Broiler

/in /by

The global livestock sector is facing mounting pressure to adopt sustainable and efficient feed alternatives that can meet the growing demand for animal protein. Among the emerging options, Hermetia illucens (Black Soldier Fly, BSF) oil presents a promising candidate due to its bioactive compound richness and capacity to upcycle organic waste into nutrient-dense biomass. This study investigates the essential and non-essential amino acid composition of BSF oil extracted from larvae (8 days), prepupae (14 days), and pupae (28 days) stages and evaluates its potential as a feed additive in broiler production. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) revealed significant variations across developmental phases, with larval oil exhibiting the highest lysine (4,467.56 mg/100g) and glutamic acid (7,564.45 mg/100g), while pupal oil was enriched in leucine (5,670.76 mg/100g) and tryptophan (4,356.79 mg/100g). The dynamic amino acid profile supports the inclusion of BSF oil as a stage-specific supplement in poultry feed, offering both nutritional and economic advantages. Findings from this study contribute to the growing body of knowledge on insect-based feed ingredients and provide critical insight for formulating phase-targeted broiler diets with optimized functional performance. However, essential amino acids such as leucine, lysine, and tryptophan remained stable or even increased. Among all stages, larval oil exhibited the richest amino acid composition, suggesting its suitability for use in high-performance starter feeds for broilers.