Open Access Research Paper

The main objective of this study was to find out changes in level of haemoglobin concentration associated with high and low altitude areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK). A randomized blood samples were collected from 215 healthy male and female belonging to 20-50 years of age from June 2018 to November 2018. The subjects of the current study were selected from four different district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Abbottabad, Dera Ismail Khan, Peshawar and Swat). Haemoglobin levels of the subjects were analyzed on Nihon Kohden Hematology analyzer (Celltac X MEK-6410K). There was an increase in haemoglobin level, at high altitude namely Abbottabad and Swat as compare to a selected low altitude region i.e. Dera Ismail Khan and Peshawar. We found statistically significant difference in Mean haemoglobin level at high-altitude region (14.25±1.40) and low-altitude region (13.58±1.28). Haemoglobin concentration increases in the blood with elevated altitudes and, thus, at high-altitude areas anemia was less frequent. The mechanism that produces the mean differences showed that altitude may play a vital role in haemoglobin production. This study provides the basis for future research in this area that explores the process of haemoglobin production at both cellular and molecular level. This will focus not only on haemoglobin or red blood cells but also on the tissues they supply.

Black rice is native rice grown by farmers under upland and rain-fed conditions. This open-pollinated rice is increasingly attractive due to its high value and having a high level of anthocyanin compared to white rice. Hence, the study was conducted at the DMMMSU Research and Production Farm from the 2016 to 2019 cropping season; to determine the growth and yield of black rice (var. Isek) fertilized with inorganic and organic fertilizers, to determine which of the inorganic and organic fertilizer combinations would maximize the yield potential of black rice grown during the wet season and to determine the cost and return analysis based on three cropping seasons with the following treatments: T1 – Recommended Rate (100%), T2 – 50% RR + 5t vermicompost + Bio-N, T3 – 25% RR+10t vermicompost + Bio-N and T4 – 15t vermicompost + Bio-N + Foliar fertilizer. Results of the study revealed that 25 – 50% RR fertilization when added with 5-10 tons/ha vermicompost + Bio-N was found comparable to 100% RR using inorganic fertilizer in terms of plant height at harvest, number of productive tillers, weight of 1000 grains and grain yield (t/ha). However, applications of organic and inorganic fertilizer combinations did not influence panicle length due to black rice inherent characteristic of being short variety. Hence, the use of 25-50% RR combined with 5-10 t/ha vermicompost as organic fertilizer maximized the yield potential of black rice.

This study assessed the uptake and distribution of fluoride in maize and beans grown in fluoride contaminated soils, (Ngarenanyuki) around Mount Meru in Northern Tanzania during the rainy season. The study revealed that fluoride uptake increases with increasing fluoride concentration in soils except in a stem and root part of maize and beans respectively. It was observed that fluoride accumulation followed the order of soil >roots > leaves >stem >grain > cob for maize, while the order soil> root> grain> stem was observed for the beans. when the soil contained 116.93ppm of fluoride, the corresponding plants harvested had the mean fluoride accumulation (ppm dry weight) in root, leaves, stem, grain, and cob of maize of 38.560, 24.251, 10.629, 7.7756 and 2.100 respectively, while the soil with 129.2ppm mean fluoride concentration, the accumulation in root, grain, and stem of beans were 16.27, 11.328 and 8.459 respectively. It was reported that beans plant had a higher efficiency in fluoride uptake to bean grain than maize plant. Maize and bean grain collected from Ngarenanyuki contains higher fluoride levels than other fluoride endemic areas. It was also reported that fluoride in the soil samples has a strongly positive correlation with sodium (p-0.000). This suggests that there is a high possibility of fluoride to be present in the form of NaF. Significant accumulation of fluoride in both bean and maize were observed in this study at p≤ 0.05.

The use of chemical insecticides causes important damages to environment and human health and there is a need to search for alternative solutions. Field surveys were organized from September to November 2023 during the small raining season in districts of Aplahoué, Djakotomey, Dogbo, Klouékanmè, lalo and Toviklin in Couffo department. Two villages were chosen in each of these districts by taking into account the sociodemographic data and the diversity of plants. The locations where these villages were chosen in each district were: Kissamey (Aplahoué), Kokohoué (Djakotomey), Totchangni (Dogbo), Tchikpé (klouekanmey), Doko (Toviklin) and Banigbé (Lalo). Then, investigations were done using ethnobotanical questions. These questions concerned: local names of plants used, the different organs of plants used, the using forms and using modes of these plants in malaria vector control in the villages surveyed. The results showed that more than thirty (30) plants were used by the people of Adja region in malaria vector control. These plants were used as powder applied on the skin of people in order to avoid that the mosquitoes took their meals on their body. The fumigation was the most using mode of cited plant species. Ethnobotanical study is very important in a context of resistance of malaria vector to the main classes of insecticide used in public health.

Agriculture needs both genders to participate if it is to be sustainable. This study assessed the participation of rural women in rice production activities in the municipality of Gonzaga. It described their socio-demographic characteristics and the income profile of the household respondents. It investigated the participation of rural women in rice production activities at the different stages of rice production. Seventy-six (76) respondents were purposively selected in the Municipality of Gonzaga, Cagayan. Fifteen (15) barangays were involved in representing the irrigated and non-irrigated rice ecosystems of the municipality. Descriptive analysis of the socio-economic characteristics and the different activities of rural women in rice production was conducted by analyzing the means, standard deviations, frequency counts, and percentage distribution. To determine the effects of the different independent variables on the dependent variable, women participation, regression analysis was conducted. The study revealed that there are tasks performed by the women-farmers which are expected to be performed by men. These include the decision on seed selection, plowing, and fertilizer application. The role of schooling is also emphasized as it influences the productivity of the women farmers. They have encountered problems that needed long-term solution, such as investments on solar and mechanical dryers.

In Niger River, the family of Mormyridae, also called elephant fishes, is one of the most speciose taxa that constitutes an economically and commercially important fishery resource in tropical Africa. From February 2015 to July 2016, Mormyrids fishes were collected monthly with gill net, cast net and seine. Eleven (11) Mormyrid fish species belonging to nine (9) genera have been recorded. The genus Mormyrus was the most speciose with 3 species Mormyrus macrophthalmus, Mormyrus rume, and Mormyrus hasselquisti. Because most Mormyrids are intolerant to pollution, less degraded sites such as “Gaya” and “Money” villages harbor the highest diversity, 11 and 10, respectively, whereas degraded locations such as “Sota stream” and “under Benin-Niger Bridge’ were less diverse with 5 and 4 Mormyrid species. Major threats to Mormyrid fish species were climate changes, pollution, uses of detrimental fishing methods, overfishing and the non-respect of fishing regulation. A holistic management scheme of the Niger River in Benin is required for a sustainable exploitation of the Mormyrid fishes.

Tribulus (Tribulus terrestris L.) is an annual, silky herb plant belonging to the Zygophyllaceae family widely distributed around the world. Small woody Plant, leaves are compound and opposite and fruit have long, sharp and strong spines. The leaf, root and fruit of the plant have been utilized medicinally in traditionally Ayurvedic medicine, Siddha and Unani for their phytochemical and pharmacological activities. An assemblage of endophytic fungi was isolated from Tribulus terrestris L. collected from the Delta Region of Tamil Nadu, India. Fungal endophytes were isolated using leaf surface sterilization standard methods. Thirty-one species and 21 (genus) endophytic fungal strains were isolated from the leaves, petioles and stems of Tribulus terrestris. The identification of fungal strain through morphological observation from standard manuals and showed that fungal endophytes were associated with host plants belonging to a few taxons of Alternaria, Cladosporium, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Curvularia, Fusarium and Phyllosticta capitalensis fungi that were frequently isolated. The endophytic fungus Fusarium oxysporum was the dominant species in this study; it was isolated from host plant samples during wet and dry seasons.

The pollutants are the harmful substances that are most dangerous and found in water. Some of them are non-biodegradable and cannot convert into harmless substances show high level of toxicity at low concentrations in the bodies of living organisms. Water contamination also adding pollutants and heavy toxic metals such as lead, mercury and chromium to natural water resources and overall lethal effects to the living organism living in ecosystem. There are many methods used for removal of toxic metal from drinking and wastewater such as adsorption, precipitation, ion exchange, reverse osmosis, electrochemical treatments, membrane filtration, evaporation, flotation, and oxidation and biosorption processes. Adsorption is most reliable among all methods because economically positive testing and technically simplest to separate chemicals found in water. Many adsorbents and advancements in membrane filtration systems have been designed for the treatment of contaminated metal found in drinking and wastewater. This article focuses on modification in sorbents for improving their efficiency and new developments in conventional methods of extraction of heavy metals from water. This article also focuses on the recent developments and modern applications in methods for of treatments and removal of heavy metals from drinking and industrial wastewater.

Agricultural extension programs play a crucial role in enhancing farm productivity, technology adoption, and rural livelihoods. In the Philippines, the Farmer-Scientists Training Program (FSTP) represents a participatory and capacity-building approach that empowers farmers as active innovators. Despite its widespread implementation and reported high satisfaction rates, limited empirical studies have comprehensively assessed its long-term economic and social impacts at the local level. In Bohol, existing evaluations largely focus on implementation rather than outcomes, creating a gap in understanding how the program influences productivity, income, and community development. This study addresses this gap by evaluating the challenges and impact of the FSTP among corn farmers in Bohol. A mixed-methods cross-sectional design was employed, involving structured surveys, key informant interviews, and field observations among program graduates. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), were used to analyze relationships between socio-demographic and farm characteristics, challenges encountered, and program impacts. Findings reveal that participants are predominantly smallholder, low-income farmers who received strong support in terms of training and farm inputs. However, gaps persist in access to credit, mechanization, and market linkages. Farmers experienced moderate challenges, particularly related to environmental factors, program participation demands, and operational inefficiencies such as delayed input distribution. Despite these constraints, the program contributed positively to knowledge enhancement, adoption of improved practices, and moderate productivity gains. The study highlights that the effectiveness of the FSTP is shaped by institutional support, resource accessibility, and local governance conditions. It implies that strengthening integrated support systems, particularly in financing, market access, and extension services, is essential to sustain program benefits and enhance community development outcomes.

This paper deals with the taxonomic studies of the representative species of five moss families; Enclyptaceae, Hedwigiaceae, Hypopterygiaceae, Splachnaceae and Timmiaceae reported from Mansehra District-Pakistan. Among these Enclyptaceae and Timmiaceae are acrocarpous while Hedwigiaceae, Hypopterygiaceae and Splachnaceae are Pleurocarpous. The aim of this study was the critical taxonomic characterization of the rare species of the mentioned families and to check the distribution of in the District Mansehra. Only one specimen of Enclypta streptocarpa, Timmia megapolitana and Tayloria froelichiana, collected by previous workers were examined in this study, no new specimen were found in the study area in recent investigation; however Hypopterygium flavolimbatum is collected from two more localities of the district. Hedwigia ciliata is new record for the district and occurred in one locality. The investigation is based on study of plants through extensive field surveys conducted from May 2013 to Jun 2015 along previously collected specimens hosted at Pakistan Museum of Natural History (PMNH). For identification examination of specimens was done both on morphological and anatomical basis. Detailed taxonomic descriptions, dates, collectors name, locality, key notes and Voucher specimen number has been given for each species along with altitude. This study reveals that the analyzed species are very rare in not only in the study area but also in Pakistan, Timmia megapolitana Tayloria froelichiana and Enclypta streptocarpa were found extinct in the study area. The current study will help to upgrade the existing information’s of the mosses taxonomy and distribution in the district Mansehra with special reference to Pakistan.