Addition of bidara leaves (Ziziphus spina – christi L.) in drinking water on production and mortality of broiler chickens

The bidara plant is known as a plant that contains active ingredients and phytochemicals that have the benefit of stimulating physiological processes in the body to run well and have a healthy effect. This study aimed to determine the effect of giving bidara leaf extract on the production performance and mortality of broiler chickens. A total of 60 DOC broiler chickens were used in this study with an average body weight of 45 g which was divided into 4 treatments, including T0: control, T1: 10% bidara leaf extract, T2: 15% bidara leaf extract, T3: 20% bidara leaf extract. Each treatment was repeated 5 times with 3 research units per plot. The study was carried out experimentally in vivo using the Completely Randomized Design (CRD) research method. The data was processed by analysis of variance with the F test at the 5% level and continued with Duncan’s test. The results showed that the treatment had a significant effect (P<0.05) on production performance and mortality in broiler chickens at the 10% bidara leaf usage level. The use of bidara leaf extract can be used as a supplement in the maintenance of broiler chickens as a substitute for synthetic supplements.

Preservice biology teachers’ knowledge and usage level regarding lab equipment and materials

Laboratories are an indispensable part of the fundamental sciences. Laboratories are important learning environments that enable students to relate events to daily life as well as being places where theoretical knowledge is implemented. The present study investigated the knowledge and usage level of preservice biology teachers regarding lab equipment and materials. The study utilized a descriptive survey. A total of 61 preservice biology teachers from the Biology Education Department of a public university in Turkey constituted the participants. Lab Equipment and Materials Recognition Form that is developed by the researcher of the present study was used to collect data. In the design of this form, the 9–12 grade biology curriculum was first analyzed, and a list of frequently-used equipment and materials of biology laboratories was created in line with the opinions of field experts. The form included 40 laboratories equipment and materials and questions regarding the recognition of these items, their functions, and their application processes. The preservice teachers’ answers to these questions were graded as: zero points for each incorrect answer, one point for each partially correct answer, and two points for each correct answer. The data obtained were analyzed using cluster analysis, descriptive analysis, one-way analysis of variance, and independent samples T-test in SPSS27 software, and the Polycoric correlation coefficient in Factor Analysis software. The results revealed that the preservice teachers mainly recognize the biology laboratories equipment and materials but generally lack information regarding the application process of laboratories equipment and materials.

Microbial Community’s Dynamic Response to Fomesafen Usage in Chermozems of Northeast China

The main purpose of this study was to explore the effects of the recommended usage level and twice the recommended usage level of the long-acting herbicide fomesafen on the soil enzymes and microbial community structure in chernozems of soybean fields. Culturable microbial biomass and phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) were used as the main references for this evaluation. The digestion curve of fomesafen in soil conforms to the law of a single exponential function. The activities of four soil enzymes decreased significantly when exposed to twice the recommended amount, and then returned to the control level. The inhibition of the fungal and bacterial biomass section of culturable microorganisms in soil at twice the recommended usage level was greater than that under the recommended usage level, and this dosage also stimulated the rapid recovery of the initial level of fungal biomass before the application of fomesafen. The PLFA analysis showed that the ratio of GN/GP decreased significantly, and soil pressure increased significantly. Compared with the recommended usage level, the effect of twice the recommended usage level of fomesafen on soil microbial community structures was more significant. This provides a reference for environmental location recommendations, environmental safety assessments, and the rational use of herbicides.

Use of WhatsApp Application on Fruit Marketing Communication

WhatsApp is mobile messaging application which is widely used in communication. However, its use in marketing communication is relatively new. This study investigates WhatsApp user profile, factors that influence the use of WhatsApp and relationship between the factors with WhatsApp usage level in fruit marketing communication. Respondents were selected using census method by taking all fruit wholesalers in Giwangan Fruit Central Market, the largest fruit market in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Data were analyzed using descriptive methods and Spearman Rank correlation. The results showed that majority of WhatsApp users among traders are male in millennial age, with high school education. Furthermore, the convenience in use and economical reason were the most influential factors in the use of WhatsApp on marketing communication. Moreover, this study found that there was a strong and positive correlation between benefits factors and the use of WhatsApp on fruit marketing communication.

The Sustainability of Upland Rice Farming in Bangli District, Bali Province

This study aimed to determine index and status of upland rice farming sustainability in terms of economic, ecological, socio-cultural, legal and institutional as well as technological and infrastructural dimensions; to identify what attributes are sensitive to upland rice farming sustainability; and to establish the strategy for upland rice farming sustainability in Bangli District of Bali Province. Data analysis was performed using RAP-FARM through Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) method, leverage and prospective analysis. Based on the results, the sustainability index of upland rice farming for ecological (60.21) and socio-cultural dimension (56.98) were categorized as quite sustainable. Meanwhile, for economic (41.53), legal and institutional (27.80), technological and infrastructural dimensions (36.61) were classified as less sustainable. In multidimensional term, index value and sustainability status of upland rice farming were considered as less sustainable (44.63). On the leverage analysis, 15 sensitive attributes of 5 sustainability dimensions were acquired. On the prospective analysis, 6 key variables had a strong effect on the upland rice farming sustainability, namely last five-year government subsidies, inorganic fertilizer usage level, organic fertilizer usage level, straw utilization as organic fertilizer, rice price stability among farmers, and frequency of counseling and training activities. To improve the status of upland rice farming sustainability, efforts should be performed through intervening sensitive attributes and establishing a sustainability strategy.

Internet of Things Adoption Among Micropreneurs in Regional Coast of Sabah

This study aimed to determine the awareness and usage of the internet of things (IoT) technologies in aquafarming within the coastal community of Sabah. The UTAUT approach was applied in identifying the acceptance and usage level among these farmers. In conducting the research, both quantitative and qualitative data were collected during the fieldwork from 4 different coastal locations, which specialize in 4 different aqua-farming products. For this preliminary study, the expected outcome of the research project is a UTAUT framework for Aquafarming for the community. The main objective of the study is to determine the awareness (hearing and seeing) and usage (use, time and purpose) of IoT technologies (smartphones, computers and tablets) in aqua-farming communities in Sabah and the moderating effects of age and experience linked between predictors and behavioral intention based on the multi-group analysis. The result of this research is expected to benefit the community in devising new IoT-based policies, which may assist aqua-farmers in their business.

Effect of Covid-19 on the electronic payment system: usage level trust and competence perspectives

<span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Covid-19 has dramatically spread globally and dramatically made several effects in almost all sectors. Electronic commerce and electronic payment systems are important sectors which affected directly by the Covid-19 pandemic. Online markets and electronic payment systems have been recognized as one of the fastest-growing technology in the last decade even within normal situations. However, several factors may influence such growth, which many consider as barriers or enablers of using the electronic payment system. This study aims to shed the light on the influence of Covid-19 on the electronic payment system from trust and competence perspectives. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative methodological approaches for data collection and analysis. The data was collected from 31 semi-structured interviews, 718 surveys, and annual reports. NVivo, Microsoft Visio, and Microsoft power business intelligence were used for the data analysis process. As a part of this study, a proposed framework has been developed which includes both technical and managerial parts.</span>