Successive governments, both military and civilian regimes, funded senior high school education in Ghana to increase access and improve quality since the nation attained independence on 6 March 1957. In the study reported on here we adopted a quantitative research method using secondary data from five public senior high schools in the Wa Municipality, as these schools are beneficiaries of government funding in Ghana. We used the generalised linear model to test the impact of government funding on student enrolment. The study reveals that government funding has a significant impact on increasing enrolment among girls but it is not statistically significant in increasing boys' enrolment.

ABSTRACT Bacterial leaf blight (BLB) caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae is one of the major hindrances in rice (Oryza sativa L.) production across the world including Malaysia. Therefore, the development of disease-resistant varieties remains a very economical and effective method of controlling BLB in rice. Based on this background, this study was conducted to analyze segregation pattern of simple-sequence repeat (SSR) markers associated with BLB resistance genes in an F2 bulk population derived from a resistant variety (IRBB60) and a susceptible variety (MR219). Out of 129 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers screened, 18 distinct polymorphism markers including R-gene based markers were used to screen 345 F2 progenies for resistance to BLB. Among the polymorphic markers, the chi-square analyses showed that 15 SSR markers (i.e. RM13 (xa5), RM21 (Xa21), RM122 (xa5), RM153 (xa5), RM164 (Xa13), RM206 (Xa10), RM5509, RM20B, RM25, RM163, RM169, RM218, RM267, RM276, and RM334) had a segregation ratio of 1:2:1 for a single gene model (df = 2.0, p ≤ 0.05). For phenotypic ratio, the F2 population segregated in ratio 3:1 (R:S) for resistant and susceptible plants, respectively. This indicated that resistance to BLB caused by pathotype X. oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) in the ‘MR219’ × ‘IRBB60’ F2 population is controlled by single dominant genes. The result presented in this study will help breeders to further breeding research in rice by enabling selection based on the genotype rather than on the phenotype. Similarly, the markers reported in this study will serve as a valuable tool for marker-aided selection for BLB resistance gene.

Background: Endophytic bacteria are ubiquitous in all plant species contributing in host plant's nutrient uptake and helping the host to improve its growth. Moringa peregrina which is a medicinal plant, growing in arid region of Arabia, was assessed for the presence of endophytic bacterial strains. Results: PCR amplification and sequencing of 16S rRNA of bacterial endophytes revealed the 5 endophytic bacteria, in which 2 strains were from Sphingomonas sp.; 2 strains from Bacillus sp. and 1 from Methylobacterium genus. Among the endophytic bacterial strains, a strain of Bacillus subtilis LK14 has shown significant prospects in phosphate solubilization (clearing zone of 56.71 mm after 5 d), ACC deaminase (448.3 ± 2.91 nM α-ketobutyrate mg-1 h-1) and acid phosphatase activity (8.4 ± 1.2 nM mg-1 min-1). The endophytic bacteria were also assessed for their potential to produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Among isolated strains, the initial spectrophotometry analysis showed significantly higher IAA production by Bacillus subtilis LK14. The diurnal production of IAA was quantified using multiple reactions monitoring method in UPLC/MS-MS. The analysis showed that LK14 produced the highest (8.7 uM) IAA on 14th d of growth. Looking at LK14 potentials, it was applied to Solanum lycopersicum, where it significantly increased the shoot and root biomass and chlorophyll (a and b) contents as compared to control plants. Conclusion: The study concludes that using endophytic bacterial strains can be bio-prospective for plant growth promotion, which might be an ideal strategy for improving growth of crops in marginal lands.

RESUMOO estudo foi realizado no Centro de Arroz da Universidade Putra Malásia (UPM), para avaliar o desempenho produtivo de plantas resistentes a brunose do arroz recém desenvolvidas de BC2F3 gerações derivadas do cruzamento entre MR263, uma variedade de arroz de alta produtividade, embora suscetível a brunose e Ponsu Seribu 1, doador com resistência a brunose [Pi- 7 (t) e Pi-d (t) 1, Pir2-3 (t)genes e qLN2 QTL], e também uma variedade local da Malásia. Com base nas características avaliadas, as plantas 12, 6, 7, 5, 21, 22, 5, 26, 11, 8, 10, 13 e 15 apresentaram o maior rendimento, resistência a brunose e boas características morfológicas. Mais de 70% de herdabilidade foram encontradas em dias para maturação, altura da planta, número de perfilhos por cova, e panículas por cova, 80% de herdabilidade foram encontradas em grãos e rendimento por colina e mais de 90% de herdabilidade foi observada em grãos, largura de grãos e peso das sementes. A análise de agrupamento com base nos traços agruparam 30 plantas, juntamente com MR263 em sete clusters. De acordo com o PCA, os quatro primeiros componentes principais responsáveis por cerca de 69,3% da variação total para todas as características medidas apresentaram alta correlação entre as características analisadas.

ABSTRACTThe study was carried out in the University Putra Malaysia (UPM) Rice Research Centre to evaluate the yield performance of newly developed selected blast resistant plants of BC2F3 generations derived from a cross between MR263, a high yielding rice variety but blast susceptible and Pongsu Seribu 1, donor with blast resistant (Pi-7(t)and Pi-d (t)1, Pir2-3(t)genes and qLN2 QTL), Malaysian local variety. On the basis of assessed traits, the plants 12, 6, 7, 5, 21, 22, 5, 26, 11, 8, 10, 13 and 15 had the higher yield, blast resistant and good morphological traits. More than 70% heritability was found in days to maturity, plant height, tiller numbers per hill, and panicle per hill, 80% heritability was found in filled grain and yield per hill and more than 90% heritability was found in grain length, grain width and seed weight. Cluster analysis based on the traits grouped 30 plants along with MR263 into seven clusters. According to PCA, the first four principal components account for about 69.3% total variation for all measured traits and exhibited high correlation among the characteristics analyzed.

Cytomegalovirus infection is a frequent complication after transplantation. This infection occurs due to transmission from the transplanted organ, due to reactivation of latent infection, or after a primary infection in seronegative patients and can be defined as follows: latent infection, active infection, viral syndrome or invasive disease. This condition occurs mainly between 30 and 90 days after transplantation. In hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in particular, infection usually occurs within the first 30 days after transplantation and in the presence of graft-versus-host disease. The major risk factors are when the recipient is cytomegalovirus seronegative and the donor is seropositive as well as when lymphocyte-depleting antibodies are used. There are two methods for the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection: the pp65 antigenemia assay and polymerase chain reaction. Serology has no value for the diagnosis of active disease, whereas histology of the affected tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage analysis are useful in the diagnosis of invasive disease. Cytomegalovirus disease can be prevented by prophylaxis (the administration of antiviral drugs to all or to a subgroup of patients who are at higher risk of viral replication) or by preemptive therapy (the early diagnosis of viral replication before development of the disease and prescription of antiviral treatment to prevent the appearance of clinical disease). The drug used is intravenous or oral ganciclovir; oral valganciclovir; or, less frequently, valacyclovir. Prophylaxis should continue for 90 to 180 days. Treatment is always indicated in cytomegalovirus disease, and the gold-standard drug is intravenous ganciclovir. Treatment should be given for 2 to 3 weeks and should be continued for an additional 7 days after the first negative result for viremia.

Genetic variability with mutagenic agents has been employed in plant breeding due to its significant contribution to the improvement of the existing rice genotypes by using genetically diverse parents. This study evaluated the genetic variability and diversity of mutant rice using quantitative traits and inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) molecular markers. A field experiment was carried out on M5 generation of 31 developed mutant lines and their parent (control). Morphological traits and 25 ISSR molecular markers were used as tools for determining cultivar identities and genetic diversity. The selected primers generated 443 clear polymorphic bands with an average number of 18 per primer. The bands were 85.10 % polymorphic. Un-weighted Pair Group of Arithmetic Means (UPGMA) with similarity coefficients were used for cluster analysis. Through this, all the genotypes were grouped into six clusters. It was shown that crosses between MR219-ML8 and MR219-ML22 could be done for development of high yielding varieties. Also, these mutants could be used as donor parents in rice breeding programs and some can be recommended as new rice varieties suitable for rice cultivation in Malaysia.

La variabilidad genética con agentes mutagénicos se ha usada en el cultivo de plantas debido a su contribución significativa a la mejora de los genotipos existentes de arroz a través de padres genéticamente diversos. En este estudio se evalúo la variabilidad y diversidad de mutantes de arroz mediante rasgos cuantitativos y marcadores moleculares de inter-secuencias simples repetidas (ISSR). El estudio se realizó en campo, en la generación M5 de 31 líneas mutantes desarrolladas y su padre (testigo). Características morfológicas y 25 marcadores ISSR se utilizaron como herramientas para determinar las identidades y diversidad genética de los cultivares. Los iniciadores seleccionados generaron claras 443 bandas polimórficas claras con un número promedio de 18 bandas por iniciador. Las bandas fueron 85.10 % polimórficas. El método no ponderado de pares de grupo de medias aritméticas (UPGMA) con coeficientes de similitud se usó para el análisis de los grupos. Mediante esto, todos los genotipos se agruparon en seis grupos. Las cruzas entre MR219-ML8 y MR219-ML22 podrían generarse para desarrollar variedades de alto rendimiento. Además, estos mutantes se pueden usar como padres donadores en programas de mejoramiento de arroz y algunos pueden recomendarse como variedades nuevas de arroz adecuadas para su cultivo en Malasia.

The BC2F1 population was derived from a cross between rice variety, MR219 (susceptible to blast) and Pongsu Seribu 1 (resistant to blast). The objectives of this research were to know the inheritance pattern of blast resistance and to identify the linked markers associated with blast resistance in BC2F1 population. Sixteen microsatellite markers were found as polymorphic between the parents related to blast resistant genes (Pi-genes). Among the selected blast resistant linked markers, two markers RM6836 and RM8225 showed expected testcross ratio (1:1) for single-gene model in the BC2F1 population with the association between resistant and susceptible progeny. A total of 333-BC2F1 plants were challenged with the most virulent pathotype P7.2 of Magnaporthe oryzae. Chi-square (χ2) analysis for phenotypic segregation in single-gene model showed goodness of fit (P = 0.4463) to the expected segregation ratio (1:1). In marker segregation analysis, two polymorphic markers (RM6836 and RM8225) clearly showed goodness of fit to the expected segregation testcross ratio (1:1) for the single-gene model. The marker RM8225 and RM6836 showed significant R2 values higher than 10 for the trait of the blast lesions degree (BLD). The positions of RM6836 and RM8225 markers on rice chromosome 6 and the distance between these two markers is 0.2 cM. We conclude that single dominant gene control the blast resistance in Pongsu Seribu 1 located on chromosome 6, which is linked to RM8225 and RM6836 microsatellite markers. This information could be useful in marker-assisted selection for blast resistance in rice breeding involving Pongsu Seribu 1.

Introdução: A ansiedade infantil tem crescido em anos recentes. Questionários culturalmente adaptados e desenvolvidos para medir o nível de ansiedade são os melhores instrumentos de triagem para a população em geral. Este estudo descreve a tradução e adaptação científica da Escala de Ansiedade Infantil de Spence para a língua malásia.Método: O processo de tradução científica deste instrumento de autorrelato seguiu as orientações da Força-Tarefa para a Tradução e Adaptação Cultural da International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR).Resultados: A versão malásia e sua adaptação para um novo contexto cultural são descritas.Conclusão: A versão malásia atingiu os objetivos da versão original e sua equivalência conceitual e operacional. Poderá ser usada como o primeiro instrumento malásio para medir ansiedade entre crianças em contextos de pesquisa, clínicos ou comunitários.

Introduction: Anxiety among children has increased in recent years. Culturally adapted questionnaires developed to measure the level of anxiety are the best screening instruments for the general population. This study describes the scientific translation and adaptation of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS) into the Malay language.Method: The process of scientific translation of this selfreport instrument followed the guidelines of the Task Force for Translation and Cultural Adaptation of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR).Results: The Malay version and its adaptation for a new cultural context are described.Conclusion: The Malay version achieved the aims of the original version and its conceptual and operational equivalence. It may be used as the first Malay instrument to measure anxiety among children in research and in clinical and community settings.

Two alkaloids, erysodine (1) and erysothrine (2) were isolated from the flowers of a Pakistani medicinal plant, Erythrina suberosa. These compounds were investigated for anxiolytic properties, and the results showed significant effect, in an acute oral treatment with 1-2, which were suspended in saline (NaCl 0.9%) plus DMSO 1%, and evaluated in 122 Swiss male mice exposed to two tests of anxiety - the elevated plus-maze (EPM) and the light/dark transition model (LDTM).

Recent developments in nanotechnologies have helped to benchmark carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as one of the most studied nanomaterials. By taking advantages of CNTs extraordinary physical, chemical and electronic properties, a wide variety of applications has been proposed in various engineering fields. In this short review, the contribution of CNTs is addressed in terms of sustainable environment and green technologies perspective, such as waste water treatment, air pollution monitoring, biotechnologies, renewable energy technologies, supercapacitors and green nanocomposites. Consideration of CNTs for large scale application from the aspect of cost and potential hazards are also discussed. Based on the literature studied, CNTs pose a great potential as a promising material for application in various environmental fields.

Bioinformatics is a necessary technology and tool, which current molecular biologists cannot do without in light of the genome data explosion and advent of fields such as genomics and proteomics. Yet, even with this in mind, there is still a limited pool of human resource to support and develop bioinformatics particularly in poorer developing nations. The highly multidisciplinary nature of this field can be an obstacle in converting just any molecular biologist into a proficient and capable bioinformaticist. Coupled with the high costs of software, hardware, technical maintenance and systems support; many developing and poor countries may not be able to fully realize their biotech potential either academically or economically due to the inability to fully utilize bioinformatics as a technology to support and co-develop with molecular biology oriented research programmes. Malaysia, a developing South East Asian nation took steps to counter these problems and develop an infrastructure for bioinformatics to support nationally important biotech research agendas, particularly government initiatives in genomics and proteomics, with the setting up of NBBnet - The National Biotechnology and Bioinformatics network. We further propose the setting up of similar models in other developing countries, an endeavour which we are willing to share our experiences and resources. We hope that these networks may in the future evolve into a super network of national or regional networks on biotechnology and bioinformatics.