Study was conducted at Savanna Forestry Research Station Samaru, Zaria to evaluate effect of different pre-germination treatments on the germination and early growth of Balanites aegyptiaca seeds. The treatments includes partial cracking of seed, partial burning of seed, removal of seed coat, soaking in boiling water and untreated control. The experiments was laid out in a completely randomized design with five replication. The results of the germination test shows significantly (P<0.05) higher germination percentage among all treatments. Partially cracked seed recorded highest (67.3%) germination and seed with removed seed coat (45.6%) had the lowest germination among all the pre-germination treatments, while untreated control (9.6%) recorded the least germination. There were no significant (P>0.05) difference in the growth of B. aegyptiaca seedling among pre-germination treatments, although partially cracked seed (5.81cm and 7.40) recorded the highest seedling height and number of leaves, while seed with removed seed coat (5.61cm and 6.87) had the lowest seedling height and number of leaves respectively. The control (0.71cm and 0.71) recorded the least seedling height and number of leaves during the study period. The above findings has shown the potential of all the pre-germination treatments especially partial cracking of seed coat as most effective mechanism to break the dormancy of the seed in order to initiate germination and growth for efficient plantation establishment.

Mosquito are small insects, have three pairs of legs, two scaly wings, and a mouth (proboscis) to pierce and suck blood. Mosquito have various characteristics, especially in the morphology of the type of mosquito and their beneficial role for the ecosystem, namely as a food chain and their role that is detrimental to their host with their nature as a vector. This study aims to determine the biodiversity of mosquitoes and its prevalence in mountains ecosystems and beach in Luwu District. This type of research is a descriptive ecological study using an observational approach. The population and sample of the study were all mosquitoes and mosquitoes caught in the villages of Siteba, Limbong, Sangtandung as a mountains ecosystem and Bonepute, Temboe, Babang villages as a beach ecosystem in Luwu District. Data were obtained using the Animal Baited Trap, Human Landing Collection and Light Trap methods, then identification was carried out at the Entomology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University. The results of research in the mountain ecosystem of mosquito biodiversity obtained four genera, namely Anopheles, Aedes, Armigeres and Culex. Beach ecosystems are found in three genera Anopheles, Aedes and Culex. The density of mosquito in the mountains is more dominant, namely Cx.Tritaeniorhyncus, bait for people in the house 4.03 mosquito / person / night and bait people outside the house 4.39 mosquito / person / night. The more dominant biting beach ecosystem is Cx.Tritaeniorhynchus. Insider bait 3.47 mosquitos / person / night, bait outside the house 6.19 mosquito / person / night. The effectiveness of mountain traps obtained 14 species, beach 11 species. Further research is needed in depth information about the distribution patterns of mosquito fauna and their intensiveness in the mountains and beach ecosystems of Luwu District.

The habit of people disposing of solid waste, especially plastic type waste in the marine environment is the cause of the discovery of microplastic content in seawater. Microplastics with very small sizes can enter the body of marine life, such as mussels. This situation will form the food chain system. This study aims to analyze microplastic exposure through consumption of mussels in communities in the coastal area of Pa'lalakkang Village, Galesong, Takalar District. This research is a type of qualitative research with a descriptive approach. The human sample in this study amounted to 30 respondents, and the environmental sample was 20 mussels with tofu mussels. Data obtained by interview using questionnaires and food pictures, weight measurement, examination of mussels samples in the laboratory, identification of polymer types using FTIR spectroscopy, and documentation. The data obtained were then analyzed descriptively to describe the intake of mussels containing microplastics by the community. The results showed that the average concentration of microplastics found in mussels was 6.7 items/mussels, with Polystyrene polymer content. This proves that people have been directly exposed to microplastics through consumption of mussels. It is known that the average intake of mussels by the community is 91 g / day, with an average exposure frequency of 96 days/year.

Several wave-lengths can be used for an element analysis on atomic absorption spectrophotometry [1]. Et Park et al. [2] wrote that the wave-length of cobalt determination can be changed. So this time the researchers tried to find out the better wave length for cadmium (Cd) analysis. The researchers found that the flat state from the minus to the plus seems to be good for the appropriate Cd analysis (Figure 1). There is another thing for the appropriate wave length; the thing is the pillar near the 228.9 nanometer.

A reconnaissance soil survey and image analysis of Kware town Fringes was conducted to determine the effect of orchard cultivation on some soil properties. Two profile pits were dug and described in line with FAO guidelines for soil description. The data obtained were subjected to both descriptive and inferential statistics. Soils for orchard cultivation were clay loam in texture. The soil units were rated low in OC (1.20 – 10.80 g kg-1), EC (0.01 dSm-1) and bulk density (1.0-1.6 gcm-3). Similarly, all the soil units were also rated high in exchangeable Na (1.47 – 1.54 cmol kg-1) and PBS (95.54-98.74 %). The soil units were classified using USDA and WRB systems. Soils of the study site were high in CEC (15.55 cmol kg-1) and OC (6.70 g kg-1) as such incorporation of organic residues and reduced tillage was recommended to improve their fertility status. Soils of orchard cultivation were slightly alkaline (7.29), as such the soils are suitable for mango cultivation as it falls within optimum range.

Achieving sustainable food security for halve of the world population by 2025 is currently under threat because the multifaceted contribution of forest to household food security are shortened by the degradation of forests. This study however, examine the economic implication of forest degradation and food insecurity of farming households in Ibadan-Ibarapa Agricultural Development zone of Oyo State, Nigeria. The contribution of forest degradation to households’ food insecurity and its policy implication on food requirement. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the information obtained from one hundred and eighteen valid questionnaires. The forest-based farmers were sampled through a multistage sampling procedure; villages around the forest reserves in the zone were considered in the selection process and contact farmer. The result revealed that 59.2% of the respondents were food insecure while 40.8% were food secure. The food shortfall index was 0.68 and surplus of 2.51. Fuel wood, agricultural practices, charcoal production, logging for timber, wild fire, industrial expansion, games hunting, excessive grazing, inconsistence in government policies (forest-based) and changes in weather with its events are the main causes of forest degradation in the study area. Non-wood forest products such as vegetables, fruits, games, condiment are source of the peoples’ food where they obtain their daily food requirement. And that, farming experience (P≤0.01), household size (P≤0.1), excessive forest grazing (P≤0.05), income from games (P≤0.1) and logging (P≤0.1) significantly influence food insecurity in the area. Therefore, the study suggests policies that will limit the rate of exploiting the forests to aid forest degradation improvement.

Family assessment is the collection of data about the composition of family and relationship among its members. It is a continuous process of evaluating patterns of interaction between family members relevant to the child health issue. The purpose of comprehensive family functional assessment is to provide the information necessary to determine the functioning of the family and how it contributes to child safety, permanency and wellbeing. The framework of the assessment of children in need and their families provide detailed guidance for gathering and analysing information about all children and their families. The framework refers to three dimensions for the assessment; child developmental needs, parenting capacity and family environmental factors. The features of high-quality assessment ensure equality of opportunity and respect for diversity including family structures, culture, religion and ethnic origin. Family assessment tools can be used to gather additional information about the family’s functioning and can place strengths. Information about family can be illustrated by Genogram, Ecomap of family, Family life line and SCREEM. During the family assessment, the role of nurse is to gather information relating to the child developmental needs, child’s safety, risk of maltreatment, ability to achieve permancy, parental protective capacity, progress toward health and wellbeing and parents’ capacity to respond to those needs. Family assessment is more than simple medical care for a child with health issues. When the nurse meets the family, it is important to investigate how all the members of the family are affected by child health issue.