Open Access Research Paper

A study was conducted from December 2020 to July 2021 in the application and research farm of the University of Dschang to test the efficiency of two botanical insecticide extracts on FAW (Fall Army Worm). The randomized complete block design with three replications and two maize varieties Panar 53 (white) and Panar 12 (yellow), was used. The treatments (control; Emamectin benzoate 10g / sprayer; 1.5l Chromolaena odorata / sprayer; 1l C. odorata / sprayer; 1.5l Pteridium aquilinum/sprayer) were tested. FAW and other pests encountered were counted weekly until flowering. FAW has been present as well as grasshoppers and leafhoppers and the natural enemies of FAW (ants, spider and ladybug). Leafhoppers transmit viruses to maize in the dry season. The dry season registered the highest average leaf infestation rate (24.39±0.55%) than the rainy season (2.10±0.20%) only on yellow maize. Caterpillars were observed more during the dry season than the rainy season. The peak of FAW infestation reached on the 34th day after planting in both seasons. The control plots were most infested (0.46±0.07; 37.48±1.47%) than the treated one. Chromolaena 1l and Pteridium 1.5l plots were less infested with the lowest FAW (0.34±0.15; 0.15±0.09) and lowest average leaf infestation (18.26±1.02%; 22.63±1.13%). The yields obtained in the rainy season (5.58±0.18t/ha) were higher than in the dry season (4.34±0.20t/ha) on Pannar 12. Chromolaena 1l and Pteridium presented the best yields compared to control in both seasons. In summary, Chromolaena 1l and Pteridium are botanical insecticides substitutes for Emamectin benzoate during the high FAW infestations.

The study was conducted to establish habitat connectivity of Siganids and Lutjanids along mangrove, seagrass and coral reef ecosystems in the coastal waters of Misamis Occidental. A total of 449 individuals belonging to six species of Siganids and five of Lutjanids were identified from the three different study sites. Three species of Siganids and one species of Lutjanids were found common in all ecosystems. Coral reef ecosystem had higher abundance of siganids and lutjanids compared to mangrove and seagrass ecosystems. Siganus spinus and Siganus guttatus exhibited behavior of being ontogenetic shifters. The juvenile individuals prefer to inhabit mangrove and seagrass ecosystem and migrate to coral reef ecosystem as they become adult. Siganus fuscescens are a generalist species, moving across three ecosystems from early life stage to adult. Lutjanus ehrenbergii is an ontogenetic shifter species: the juveniles prefer to stay in mangrove and seagrass ecosystems and adults migrate to coral reef ecosystem. The distribution of common Siganids and Lutjanids among the three major coastal ecosystems based on their different life stages suggests that these ecosystems are interconnected. Results on gut-content analysis reveal that the major food items of Siganids were seagrasses and seaweeds indicating a general trend of being herbivores while the major food items of Lutjanids were crustaceans, small fishes and cephalopods indicating that they are mainly carnivores. The study provides evidence of connectivity of major coastal ecosystems. Thus, removing one ecosystem will affect the other important ecosystems.

The present study was conducted under arid sub-tropical conditions of Quetta Balochistan to evaluate the impact of climatic variations on five olive cultivars, i.e., (Kalamata, Leccino, Pandolino, Arbosona and Arbiquina) through the selection of suitable gene types based on fruit production and oil production. The data recorded for different olive cultivars revealed that the highest oil production percentage was observed in olive cultivars Kalamata 21%, Leccino 20%, and Arbiquina 17%. The lowest oil production percentage was detected in the cultivars Pandolino 16% and Arbosona 10%. Tree canopy, the staminate height of trees and final fruit set percentage and yield per plant reported extremely significant differences among different cultivars. However, fruit size (Length and width), canopy and height of trees and 100 fruit weight of each plant showed less variation among the cultivars. Oil extraction percentage and total fruit weight per plant showed extreme variability among all the characters. Concluding, olive cultivars, i.e., Kalamata, Leccino and Arbiquina found most suitable for oil extraction under the climatic condition of Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan.

Soil quality assessment is essential for understanding the ecological health of freshwater-influenced environments and in determining potential risks posed by heavy metal contamination. In areas where communities depend on soil and water resources, establishing baseline information on physicochemical characteristics and heavy metal concentrations provides crucial support for environmental management and protection initiatives. This study assessed the physicochemical characteristics and the levels of selected heavy metals (cadmium, copper, chromium, cobalt, lead, manganese, and nickel) in soil samples collected from Lourdes, Alubijid, Misamis Oriental, and compared these values with established soil quality standards. Samples were obtained from purposively selected sampling locations near a river, a waterfall and a creek that represent different freshwater-influenced environments. Results showed no significant differences across soils sampled among stations in terms of pH, conductivity, salinity, total dissolved solids, temperature, and moisture content. Only organic matter was observed to vary significantly across sites reflecting localized environmental conditions and potential anthropogenic influences. Metal concentrations were highest in soil sampled near the river, followed by the waterfall, and the creek. Chromium exceeded the permissible limits at all stations indicating serious contamination concern. Nickel, and cobalt also showed elevated levels in both stations (near the creek and the river) suggesting site-specific contamination patterns, whereas copper, lead, and cadmium remained within safe thresholds. These findings highlight the need for targeted source tracing, continuous monitoring, including standards-based risk assessment to better understand contamination dynamics, especially for metals that exceeded guideline values, to guide appropriate mitigation or remediation strategies in the area.

Lipolytic enzymes (triacylglycerol hydrolases E.C. 3.1.1.3), especially lipases are biocatalysts that hydrolyse biopolymers of oil into glycerol and fatty acids of great practical importance in industry, as well as transesterifiers and biocatalysts used in oil synthesis. These substances of serious industrial importance are obtained from different sources (plant, animal and microorganism) and used for different purposes. Examples include waste disposal, medicine, biotechnology, bioremediation, wastewater treatment, detergents, vegetable and animal oils, dairy products, and biodiesel production. As we mentioned, even though lipolytic enzymes are acquired from various sources, these enzymes obtained from micromycetes are practical because the enzyme system is extracellular, and they are easy to obtain and relatively inexpensive. However, the research done and carried out in this field is still not at the required level, and the demand for a physiological, microbiological and biochemical study of these enzymes obtained from fungi remains relevant for the modern era. This review article is dedicated to the possibilities of application and production of lipolytic enzymes in some fields in the Republic of Azerbaijan, taking as an example the world practice of recent years and based on the work done in this field in our Republic. As an example of these problems, we can point to the bioremediation of oil-contaminated soils and the biological cleaning of wastewater. so the problems in these areas are relevant and important to be solved not only in our country but also in the world, against the background of environmental protection and the inevitability of water shortages in the future due to the depletion of water resources.

A major pathological defect in diabetes is insulin resistance, which is characterized by the impaired capacity of peripheral tissues to utilize glucose effectively in the face of hyperinsulinemia. Peripheral insulin resistance is the central pathogenesis of major metabolic disorders, and thus insulin resistance in skeletal muscle impacts whole-body glucose homeostasis. There are currently a limited number of options to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and oral and injectable medications often become less effective over time. Thus, there is an urgent need to identify new targets for the development of novel treatment strategies. Carnosine (β-alanyl-L-histidine) is an endogenously synthesized dipeptide that is widely and abundantly distributed in skeletal muscles. A diabetic model of glucolipotoxicity was generated by incubating myotubes in standard tissue culture media supplemented with 28mM glucose, 200μM palmitic acid, and 200μM oleic acid. Intracellular reactive species content was assayed using 2, 7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate dye (DCFDA), whereas 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) content, were assayed and quantified using respective ELISA assays. Glucose uptake was determined through 2-deoxy glucose-6-phosphate (2-DG6P) luminescence. Carnosine supplementation resulted in the protection of cells against GLT-mediated generation of reactive species, and thereby enhanced glucose uptake into skeletal muscle. Thus, this dipeptide could offer potential therapeutic benefits to individuals that are insulin-resistant or diabetic.

South Kalimantan, which has a very large forest area, certainly offers a variety of natural beauty that can be a main attraction for tourists, one of which is the Kembang River natural attraction located in Tambela Village, Aranio District, Banjar Regency. The purpose of this study was to formulate a development strategy for Tourism Attraction Objects (ODTW) in Tambela Village, Aranio District, Banjar Regency. The study was conducted at the Tourism Attraction Object (ODTW) in Tambela Village, Banjar Regency. The time of the study was carried out in January 2018 until March 2018. Tourism development strategies were obtained based on data in the field for the development of the Tourism Attraction Objects of Tambela Village, which was immediately coordinated with the Provincial Forestry Service, Banjar District, Aranio Sub district, Head of Village Aranio, Resort Police and Military Headquarters at the ward District Aranio regarding the ODTW management system in Aranio/Tambela Village. So that it can create a beneficial synergy between the two parties, empower the community in management through socialization, and counseling on tourism development, in order to increase productive human resources.

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum Linn) belongs to the Poaceae family and used widely for the preparation of traditional medicines in Benin. The present study was designed to evaluate phytochemical and cytotoxicity potential of seven sugarcane varieties. The precipitation and coloration method were used to determine phytochemical compounds whilst larval toxicity was performed using brine shrimp larvae (Artemia salina Leach). Results of the study revealed variation in phytochemical compounds in the different sugarcane varieties screened. Difference in phytochemical composition was observed also between the juice and bark of same sugarcane variety. Alkaloids, leuco-anthocyanins and reducing compounds were found in juice and bark from all sugarcane varieties used. The CL50 vary from 0.74 mg/mL to 2.66 mg/mL for sugarcane juice and from 0.28 mg/mL to 0.54 mg/mL for the bark extracts. Neither the juice nor bark of sugarcane has presented a risk of toxicity to consumers. The results of the study confirm the potency of sugar cane in preparation of indigenous food and medicine in Benin.

Arboviral diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever are major public health concerns in Africa, with Aedes aegypti as the primary vector. Insecticide‑based interventions remain the cornerstone of vector control, but their effectiveness is increasingly compromised by the evolution of resistance. Monitoring resistance dynamics is therefore essential to guide sustainable control strategies. Adults emerged from eggs collected in urban and peri‑urban sites of Ouagadougou in 2019 and 2020, were exposed to insecticide-treated papers according to WHO standard tubes protocols. Mosquitoes were exposed to 0.03% deltamethrin, 0.08% malathion, and 0.21% pirimiphos‑methyl for one hour. The mortality rate was recorded 24 hours after exposure and compared across years and sites using Chi‑square test. The tested populations were resistant to deltamethrin, with lower mortality rates at the urban site (20.20% in 2019 vs. 23.76% in 2020; p = 0.5434) but a significant change at the peri-urban site (70.24% vs. 24.30%; p < 0.001). The resistance to malathion was moderate with, mortality rate decreasing from 91.51% to 82.98% in the urban site (p = 0.069), and from 98.99% to 59.61% in the peri‑urban site (p= 0.001). Pirimiphos‑methyl mortality rates slightly drop from 80.39% to 74.72% (p=0.44) in urban site and from 93.20% to 84.69% (p=0.001). These findings reveal a worrying trend of reducing susceptibility of Aedes aegypti to both pyrethroids and organophosphates, particularly in peri‑urban areas within in one year. The results underscore the urgent need for continuous resistance monitoring and the implementation of early resistance management strategy to sustain arbovirus prevention efforts in Burkina Faso.

Habitat shrinkage, along with the loss of quality habitat, results in a higher human-wildlife conflict throughout the world. The Dibru-Saikhowa National Park of Assam once consisted of dense semi-evergreen forests, crane brakes, moist deciduous forests, and grasslands, now facing severe anthropogenic pressure that resulted in higher human-wildlife conflict. The study conducted in four suba (sub-village) of Laika and Dodhia villages found that wild buffalo was responsible for the highest degree of conflict (39.8%), followed by elephant 35% and wild boar 23.7% during 2016-17. The Pomuwa suba encountered the highest degree (94.6%) of human-wildlife buffalo conflict, followed by Tengabari suba 68.4%, Pasidiya 65.2%, and Rikbi 10.4%, which was found statistically significant between different subas (χ2=64.084, p≤0.05). A similar trend was also found in the case of human-elephant conflict, which was also found significant between different subas (χ2=83.829, p≤0.05). Although the extent of conflict was comparatively less, the Tengabari suba encountered the highest human-wild boar conflict and Rikbi suba human-leopard conflicts, which were also found to be statistically significant. However, crop depredation forms the major concern of human-wildlife conflict as compared to other kinds of conflict. The overall extent of conflict indicates that the Pomuwa suba is the highest sufferer as compared with other subas. A landscape-level policy and its proper execution along with timely disbursement of ex-gratia may help in mitigating human-wildlife conflict.