Journal of Science and Mathematics Letters

Effects of Heuristic Problem-Solving strategies on students’ achievement and retention in Mathematics in Ogun State, Nigeria

Taiwo Oluwadayo Abiodun — 2024-01-05

The ability to solve problems is an important and integral part for learning mathematics. Teaching students to use Heuristic Problem-Solving strategies can help them become expert problem-solvers and assist them in transferring and applying their contextual knowledge to novel problems and situations. It is on this background that this study examines the effects of Heuristic Problem-Solving strategies on students’ achievement in and retention in mathematics in Ogun-State, Nigeria. The research made use of quantitative and quasi-experimental design. A total of eighty students from two public secondary classes participated in the study. Three hypotheses guided the study. Based on the hypotheses, an experimental and a control group was used. Three tests (pre-test, post-test and delayed post-test) were administered. Mathematics Achievement Test (MAT) was used as instrument to collect data. The reliability coefficient of MAT is 0.82. Data was analysed using independent t-test analysis. Three important contributions were made by this work. First of all, it is the first field study to examine whether the student – oriented teaching method (Heuristic Problem-Solving) affects the Senior Secondary school one (SSS1) in Ogun state, Nigeria. Secondly, the intervention has been showed to be effective and efficient in teaching mathematics in senior secondary schools, since it enhances the achievement and retention of the students in learning of mathematics. Thirdly, this research can inform suggestions in the implementation of student-centered teaching methods in education reforms in Nigeria.

Taxonomic Significance of Trichome Ultrastructure in Five Genera of Lamiaceae

Norhazila Hussin — 2024-01-05

The trichome of 12 species from five problematic genera of the Lamiaceae family, comprising Petraeovitex bambusetorum, Petraeovitex membranacea, Petraeovitex wolfei, Petraeovitex scortechinii, Petraeovitex trifoliata, Peronema canescens, Congea forbesii, Congea griffithiana, Sphenodesme racemosa, Sphenodesme triflora, Sphenodesme pentandra, and Rotheca serrata was investigated under scanning electron microscope (SEM). This study aimed to assess their ultrastructure and ascertain their respective taxonomic value accordingly. Two types of glandular trichomes, specifically peltate and capitate, and three types of non-glandular trichomes, namely multicellular uniseriate, stellate, and conical were thus observed. The stellate type of non-glandular trichome was solely found in S. pentandra among the 12 studied species, while the data further demonstrated both Congea species to reflect the multicellular uniseriate structure on the respective leaf surfaces, whereas C. forbesii depicted the longest length size among others at 600 µm. In the case of P. canescens and R. serrata, both were found to be with compact trichomes on both surfaces. Going forward, new data on trichome types, distribution, and size, particularly of these 12 studied species, would provide useful guidance for infrageneric classification.

Effects of Eggshells and Wood Ashes as Organic Fertilizers on the Growth Performance of Scallions (Allium fistulosum L.)

Leomarich F. Casinillo — 2024-01-05

This study intended to evaluate the growth of Scallions (Allium fistulosum L.) using eggshells and wood ashes as organic fertilizer. It aims to assess and determine the best possible (optimal) fertilizer material combination that is compatible with the growth performance of scallions using eggshells and wood ashes. Four different treatment combinations were considered in this study as follows: T1 (consisting of 100% garden soil), T2 (consisting of 75% garden soil, 25% wood ash), T3 (consisting of 75% garden soil and 25% eggshells) and T4 (consisting of 70% garden soil, 15% wood ash, and 15% eggshells). The height and number of leaves per experimental unit were gathered as the variable of interest. A Complete Randomized Design (CRD) was employed in this study as an experimental design under a one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The finding of the study shows that Treatment 2 (consisting of 75% garden soil, and 25% wood ash) has a small effect (p-value=0.15) on the growth performance of scallions concerning the number of leaves. Moreover, results showed that organic fertilizer treatments significantly (p-value<0.01) affected the plant height of scallions at the last of the month. In particular, scallion plants treated with wood ash mixed with eggshells as fertilizer were higher in terms of plant height. Hence, the study recommends that egg shells and wood ash are suitable fertilizers to enhance the growth performance of scallions.

Dimensions of Students’ Academic Engagement as Predictors of Senior Secondary School Mathematics Achievement

Akorede Ayoola Asanre — 2024-01-05

Academic engagement has been a persistent problem and potentially more harmful to the future well-being of the educational system in Nigeria, as students show low turnout in achievement. It is in the light of this, that this study investigated student academic engagement dimensions as predictors of Mathematics achievement in senior secondary school. A descriptive survey research approach was used for the investigation. Sample used in the research comprised 1680 senior secondary school 2 (SS2) offering Mathematics from the twenty one randomly selected schools in the three local government areas of Ogun State's Remo division. The instruments for the collection of data are Mathematics Student Academic Engagement Scale (MSAES) with and Mathematics Achievement Test (MAT) with 0.88. Five hypotheses were developed and put to the test at a significant level. Results indicated that cognitive engagement significantly predicts Mathematics achievement (F = 8.950, p<0.05). The study also revealed that behavioural engagement significantly contribute to the variation in learners' mathematical achievement (F = 17.474, p<0.05), Further more emotional engagement significantly contribute to the variation in learners' mathematical achievement (F = 6.393, p<0.05). Result also revealed that the predictor variables cognitive, behavioural and emotional engagement when taken together significantly contribute to the variance in students’ Mathematics achievement (F = 6.205, p<0.05). This study concluded that Mathematics achievement is well predicted by student's dimension of academic engagement. Hence it is recommended that stakeholders in Nigeria secondary schools should ensure that the students are academically engaged.

Semi-synthesis of N-substituted Mahanimbine via Alkylation

Nurliana Mohd Yunos — 2024-01-05

Mahanimbine, a prenylated carbazole found primarily in the Rutaceae family, has remarkable biological features such as anticancer, antidiabetic and antioxidant. Therefore, it is intriguing to tweak the mahanimbine structure with the aim of adding extra value to their activity. Three new derivatives were semi-synthesised by N-alkylation of naturally isolated mahanimbine using alkyl bromides, yielding N-butylmahanimbine, N-(3-methylbutyl) mahanimbine, and N-benzylmahanimbine. The structures of N-alkylated mahanimbines were elucidated using different spectroscopic techniques (FTIR, GCMS, and NMR).

Estimating Upsurge of Hiv Cases in Malaysia by Using Heun's Predictor-Corrector Method

Sabastine Emmanuel — 2024-01-05

The prevalence of HIV/AIDS remains a significant global health concern, including in Malaysia. In this study, a mathematical model was developed to simulate the dynamics of HIV transmission and progression within the Malaysian population. The model incorporates various factors such as population size, infection rate, progression to AIDS, recruitment, natural death, and death due to the disease. Heun's predictor-corrector method was applied to numerically solve the model equations and predict the population of susceptible individuals, infected individuals, and AIDS cases over time. Real-world data on HIV/AIDS cases in Malaysia were used to validate the model and provide accurate predictions. The results indicated a gradual decline in the number of susceptible individuals and an increase in the number of infected individuals and AIDS cases over the simulation period. These findings can contribute to a better understanding of the dynamics of HIV/AIDS transmission in Malaysia and aid in the development of effective prevention and control strategies. Further research and refinement of the model are essential for continuous monitoring and projection of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Malaysia, facilitating timely interventions and resource allocation for healthcare planning and policy-making.

The Effects of Peer Interaction towards Mathematical Understanding during Learning Activities among Elementary Students

Noor Aida Affida Abdul Rahman — 2024-01-05

This study investigated the effect of peer interaction on mathematical understanding during learning activities among primary school students. This study gives an overview of how peer interaction impacts student understanding of mathematics. It enlightens educators and learners on the importance of communication in the teaching and learning process, especially in mathematics. The objectives of this study are to investigate students’ peer interaction during learning activities and to study the effects of their interaction on their understanding of mathematics while completing their mathematics group tasks. This study employed the qualitative approach. Four Year 5 students, aged between 10 and 11 years old, have been selected through purposive sampling as respondents. The data collected were the recorded videos of the mathematics lessons on the selected subtopics. Based on the findings, peer interaction among the respondents significantly affects their understanding. The communication among the respondents also indicated that peer interaction or group discussion is an effective tool for enhancing their mathematical understanding.

Pharmacological Activities of the Genus Globimetula and Scurrula

Kamal Ja’afar Muhammad — 2024-01-05

This article aims to deliver updates on the pharmacological activities of Globimetula and Scurrula species and their usage as ethnomedicine worldwide. About 13 species of Globimetula and 10 species of Scurrula are spread in Africa and Asia respectively. There is a need to establish the pharmacological properties of the plant extracts and isolated compounds from these species. Research on the biological activities of Globimetula and Scurrula species showed considerable disease-related enzyme (tyrosinase) inhibition as well as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticonvulsant, central nervous system depressant, and cytotoxic activities. This review also affords important information for the future growth of isolated compounds from Globimetula and Scurrula species.

Development and Validation of Quantification Method for Homocysteine in Human Plasma Using Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Mohd Salleh Rofiee — 2024-01-05

We developed and validated a sensitive and robust method for quantifying homocysteine in human plasma using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Isocratic elution of the analyte and internal standard were achieved within 2 minutes using Zorbax Eclipse Plus C18 column, with 5% of mobile phase A (0.1% formic acid in water) and 95% of mobile phase B ( 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile). Quantification was performed using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode, based on parent and product ion transitions for L-Homocysteine (136 > 90.1, 56.2) and d8-DL-Homocysteine (140 > 94.1, 59.3) as the internal standard. The method was validated for linearity, sensitivity, accuracy, precision, recovery, and stability. Good linearity was observed within a range of 250-3000 ng^-1, with correlation coefficients (r² = 0.98). The extraction recovery ranged between 83% and 92%. Homocysteine remained stable under all five tested conditions, including 2 and 8 hours on the benchtop at room temperature, overnight storage in the autosampler (10 ºC), three freeze-thaw cycles (-20 ºC), and long-term storage (1 month) at -20 ºC. Based on these findings, the developed method met the criteria as stipulated by European Medicines Agency (EMA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and International Council of Harmonisation (ICH). In conclusion, this validated method can be used for quantitating homocysteine levels in human plasma.

Identifying Student Prior-Knowledge and Conceptual Changes Profile on Newton Law Using by using POE (Predict, Observe, and Explain) as Probing Understanding Strategy

Hisbulloh Als Mustofa — 2024-01-05

Newton's law is an important topic and a key concept that students need to understand to proceed to the next step of physics learning, but students can have wrong conceptions in learning, knowing students' conceptions of newton's law is important for teachers. This study aimed to identify students' prior knowledge and conceptual changes in Newton's Laws using the Predict-Observe-Explain (POE) strategy. This case study used a qualitative approach involving observation, document analysis, and interview. This qualitative method allows one to understand the phenomenon under study by directly examining the context and experiences involved. Profile of student prior knowledge categorized as student has Scientific Conception, Lack of Knowledge, Misconceptions, and has No Conception at all. The conceptual change level is categorized into Construction, Revision, Static, and Disorientation. Complementation Participants in this study consisted of 15 respondents with four students. The analysis reveals that a significant percentage 40% of respondents entered the study with misconceptions about Newton's law. A substantial percentage 53.33% of respondents demonstrated a lack of knowledge as their prior understanding. The pattern of conceptual changes shows that almost all students have experienced an increase in their conception of the third law of Newton's motion. This can be seen from the changes that occur a lot at the revision level even with some changes at the static level. Hence, POE probing as an understanding strategy can be used to identify the student's initial knowledge and conceptual changes.

Application of Chaos Theory in Different Fields - A Literature Review

Adib Mashuri — 2024-01-05

This comprehensive literature review delves into the multifaceted world of Chaos Theory and its pervasive applications across a wide spectrum of disciplines, including meteorology, economics, biology, engineering, medicine and social sciences. Chaos Theory's core principles, such as sensitivity to initial conditions and the discovery of hidden order within apparent chaos, are explored in-depth. This analysis delves into the intricate interconnections between Chaos Theory and dynamical systems, elucidating their shared objective of elucidating complex and dynamic phenomena. The research also investigates the application of the chaotic method as a problem-solving approach that acknowledges the inherent uncertainty and unpredictability of complex systems. The aforementioned approach is gaining traction in the realms of business, economics and the social sciences, despite facing criticism. The present study demonstrates the continued relevance of Chaos Theory in the contemporary era, as evidenced by its capacity to generate novel insights, provide comprehension of intricate scenarios and foster innovative advancements. The aforementioned aspect remains highly significant in addressing contemporary challenges and opportunities, as it profoundly influences our perception of the evolving global landscape in which we reside.

Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activities of Fruits of Solanum hirtum Vahl. from Venezuela

Rubén Ramirez — 2024-01-05

Solanum hirtum (Solanaceae) has been used in traditional medicine to heal several illnesses, it’s worked as an antiseptic for sore throat and other diseases. The present study describes the phytochemical profiles, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties of S. hirtum fruits. The phytochemicals from the dried fruits were extracted using a maceration technique with methanol and the flash column chromatography with n-hexane, dichloromethane, and methanol was the selected means to fraction the extract. The phytochemical screening was implemented using standard chemical tests. The antibacterial and antioxidant activities were screened using the disc diffusion method, and analyzing the radical scavenging activity using 2,2´-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl (DPPH), respectively, whilst the total phenolic content was measured using the Folin-Ciocalteu method. The phytochemical analysis results revealed the presence of terpenoids, steroids, phenols, flavonoids, and alkaloids. Antibacterial activity results showed the dichloromethane fraction exhibited activity against S. aureus (7.0 mm) and K. pneumoniae (9.0 mm) and methanolic fraction against P. aeruginosa (7.0 mm), S. aureus (8.0 mm) and K. pneumoniae (9.0 mm). In the DPPH scavenging assay, the IC₅₀ value of the extract was 268.66±0.01 μg/mL. S. hirtum showed dose-dependent DPPH radicals scavenging activity. The total phenolic content (in gallic acid equivalents, GAE) was 18.54±0.30 mg GAE/g and the flavonoids content (in quercetin equivalents, QE) was 5.14±0.10 mg QE/g. Solanum genus is enriched with a diverse class of chemical compounds based on the literature survey and in our study, the resulting bioactivities are basically due to a mixture of phytochemicals possessed in the extracts or may be due to the synergistic activity of various constituents held by this plant species.

Mining Secondary Metabolites of Chassalia curviflora Leaves Using SIRIUS and High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry Data

Aina Syuhada Ammar — 2024-01-05

Chassalia curviflora (Wall ex Kurz.) Thwaites is a flowering plant from Rubiaceae family. Previous phytochemical investigation on Chassalia species led to the isolation of benzoic acid, benzoquinone derivatives, flavonoids, monoterpenoid indole alkaloids and its essential oil composition. However, these are still scarce in terms of its scientific report on studied species. This study was carried out to investigate fast screening of secondary metabolites by using data-dependent acquisition (DDA) LC-MS/MS analysis of methanolic extract of the leaf of the C. curviflora in positive ionization mode. The data were analysed using computational mass spectrometry method from molecular structure database search implemented in Sirius. This led in discovering of 13 known secondary metabolites from a distinct tandem MS data. De novo molecular formula annotations and predictions from SIRIUS suggested five major class compounds classified as coumarin, benzofuran, fatty acids, esters and triterpenes. Stigmasterol 12 and β-sitosterol 13 were successfully isolated, thus used to verify the data obtained from the Sirius. With our results, we advocate the MS-based approach as a useful starting method for the dereplication of compounds from the complex crude extract of plants.