Open Access Research Paper

The most cultivated olive oil variety in Tunisia “Chemlali Sfax” has low oleic acid level and high palmitic acid level. In order to resolve this problem, a genetic improvement program throught controlled crosses between Chemlali Sfax and other Tunisian and foreign varieties was started in 1993 and had generated a collection of 1200 hybrids. The aim of this study is to characterize two selected hybrids on the morphological, agronomic and oil quality plans (Hd1= Meski/Chemlali Sfax and Hd2 = selfpollinated Chemlali Sfax). Morphological characters showed a wide variability. Also, the results of tolerance to Verticillium showed that the average infection rate of Hd2 hybrid (48.46%) is significantly lower than that of the hybrid Hd1 (76.08%). Moreover, the acid composition of both hybrids was more interesting. In November, palmitic and linoleic acids concentrations for Hd2 were low (11.5 and 14.1%), while the oleic acid concentration was high (70.5%) as compared to the hybrid Hd1 (65.3%). Thus, the database analysis revealed that the plant material was clustered into two main groups according to the year. Consequently, the principal component analysis generated two principal compounds which accumulated 91.1% of the total variance.

Staphylococcus aureus is an acquired hospital infection and which has been shown to develop resistance against several antibiotics. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was performed to categorize bacterial antibiotic-resistant. The present study aimed to examine S. aureus in pus samples through using Polymerase Chain Reaction and study the resistance of the bacterial isolates against certain antibiotics. A total of (n=100) pus samples were obtained from surgical wound patients through sterile cotton swabs. The samples were immediately cultured, and positive samples were tested for gram staining, biochemical test, and antibiotic susceptibility. Our study showed that 58(58%) of the surgical patients were found positive for S.aureus and 42 (42%) were showed negative. This current study represents the S.aureus bimolecular identification and screening test of strain methicillin-resistant bacteria from the pus of surgical wounds of different hospitals from Quetta Balochistan. From hundred samples of 58 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus were confirmed through biochemical and PCR-based techniques. This current study reveals the S.aureus resistance variability against different antibiotics.

Deforestation in the Democratic Republic of Congo becomes an important problem and causes loss of biodiversity and degradation of many ecosystems. Among this problem, many strategies are used such as reforestation, use of stoves to reduce firewood cut. This study analyzes the dynamic of land use/cover change in forest ecosystems of Kabare and Idjwi over a period of 29 years. Remote sensing was used in GIS to detect change from 1986 to 2015. The results show an increasing of the area in woodlots about 8.48 % in 1986 to 8.79 % in 2015, tropical grasslands from 0.78% to 0.84%, farmlands to 29.99% to 31.94% and settlements from 0.03% to 1.29%. Other classes decreased such as dense forests (14.12% to 10.76%) and water (46.59% to 46.38%). The matrices of change detection show that the area has been changing from one land use to another. The increasing was observed in agricultural area and settlements area from 1986 to 2015. There is the need to take critical measures to regulate land use/cover and conserve the environment not only in this area of study but also whole forest ecosystems in DRC eastern.

The study was conducted at Piat, Cagayan, Philippines from January 2021 to September 2021 to determine the socio-demographic profile, socio-economic profile and problems encountered by the vegetable growers. Descriptive research was adopted in the study. The researcher used the questionnaire as the main instrument in data gathering. It was observed that the vegetable growers are elementary graduates with an age bracket ranging from 31-40 years old. Based on the above findings, farmers should participate and be a member of such organizations to help them in marketing their products at a higher price. The vegetable growers’ socio-economic status can be improved more by attending such training or seminars and looking into the possibility of adopting suitable technologies that will lessen the costs of their inputs to gain higher income.

The objective of this work is to contribute to the study of starch products in particular Dioscorea cayenensis, Colocasia esculenta and Ipomoea batatas by the characterization of their kinetics of convectif drying to the drying oven and the determination their properties thermodynamic. The convectif drying of the samples of these three starch products of parallel epipedic form of thickness 4 and 14 mm was carried out at temperatures of 50, 60 and 70°C. The results obtained show that the kinetics of drying of Dioscorea cayenensis, Colocasia esculenta and Ipomoea batatas present two (02) phases. It is of the phase of temperature setting and the phase at decreasing speed. The temperature and the thickness of the product have significant effects on the duration of drying, effective diffusivity (Deff), the energy of activation (Ea), the differential of enthalpy (ΔH*) and the energy of Gibbs (ΔG*) except for values of entropy (ΔS*). A titrates illustrative, the reduction the thickness of the product from 14 to 4mm makes it possible to reduce the energy of action from 19.43 to 10.68kJ.mol-1, 35.33 to 11.52kJ.mol-1 and from 11.08 to 5.77kJ.mol-1 respectively during the drying of Dioscorea cayenensis, of Colocasia esculenta.

In the study, total 20 cows (10 Red and 10 Black Holstein) were used. The observed means for somatic cell counts (SCC) and total bacteria counts (TBC) of both groups were compared with the cow health standards for subclinical mastitis test (max. 200000 cells/ml for SCC and max. 1000 cells/ml for TBC) using one-sample t test. The SCC means in both Holstein groups were lower than critical thresholds for subclinical mastitis, whereas TBC means in both groups were statistically higher than critical thresholds. According to findings in our study, we can say that diagnosis of subclinical mastitis was not found according to the SCC means even if the TBC means of both groups were higher than the critical threshold. The SCC is more useful indicator for mastitis detection in raw milk than TBC. It is not reliable that TBC is the only criterion for mastitis detection in raw milk.

The present study is part of a vast program of valorization of the medicinal flora in order to help the populations to draw a real profit from the use of the plants. The objective of this work was to determine through a phytochemical screening, the main chemical groups and the evaluation of the estrogenic effect of the aqueous extract of the curled leaves of P. crispum in rats. To achieve this objective, a tri-phytochemistry was performed on the aqueous extract of P. crispum leaves and compounds such as phenols, flavonoids, catechic tannins, saponosides, sterols and polyterpenes were investigated. For the study of estrogenic properties, four groups of six rats were formed and treated orally. Group 1 received distilled water and constituted the control lot. Groups 2, 3 and 4 received the aqueous extract of P. crispum leaves at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight, respectively. The results of this study revealed that the aqueous extract of P. crispum leaves maintained the estrous cycle in estrus and significantly increased ovarian mass and uterine horn. The concentration of reproductive hormones increases significantly at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight. At these doses, the extract also stimulates follicular development and ovulation, which are at the origin of the estrus phenomenon. Thus its traditional use in the treatment of infertility is justified.

The research aims to highlight on the largest wades in the study area (wade Al-Khur and wade Haussab) which are located in the West of Al-Najaf province and study the possibility of investing in rainwater harvesting through establishment of several submersible dams. Building such of these dams their have many benefits for the region like the protection from floods, obstructing the waters to get more time to penetrate through the soil column, recharging of groundwater from aggregate of water behind the dam via injection of water directly in the groundwater aquifer by use the modern methods. On the other hand, existences of such water ponds which allow to provide the water to the local population (Bedouin) and watering their animals, also it can be used for irrigation. Drainage patterns of secondary valleys are drawn by using Digital Elevation Model (DEM) is applied to determine the typical locations of small dams or barriers of concrete or soil. Several of field traps were conducted in the study area, where the main course of both wades were tracked to determine the most appropriate location for constructions such of these submersible dams in the region.

The inventory of fungi associated with the white cochineal is an essential step in the possible microbiological control of this pest. A total of 16 fungal species belonging to 11 genera were inventoried on white cochineal infesting four date palm cultivars, namely Deglet-Nour and Ghars, Degla beidha and Hamraya. The infection rate of cochineal by these fungi differs from one cultivar to another; it is 38.42% in Deglet-Nour and 29.88% in Ghars. The Aspergillus is the most dominant genus on white cochineal, with three species present in the four cultivars studied. Aspergillus niger has a frequency of occurrence of 21.28% on Ghars. The factorial correspondence analysis (FCA) showed specific fungal species for white cochineal in each cultivar. The pathogenicity test of 05 fungal isolates showed that Trichoderma sp. caused the highest rate cochineal mortality (63% ±1.69), followed by Aureobasidum pullulans with 49%±1.65. These encouraging results open up new perspectives in the biological control of this very dangerous date palm pest.

Linear Alkyl Benzene Sulfonate (LAS) is a biodegradable surfactant, which is commonly utilized industrially and domestically. Concentrations of LAS had never been examined in Pittsburg’s Wastewater Treatment Plant because the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit does not specify any standard for LAS in Pittsburg’s wastewater. This study monitored influent and effluent LAS concentrations three times per day (10:00, 14:30, and 19:00), every day for 12 weeks February 24, 2014 – May 18, 2014). Concentrations were determined by the Methylene Blue Active Substances method. There was very little variation in the effluent concentrations which were much lower (one tenth) and more consistent (0.27 – 0.53mg/L) than those in the influent. LAS concentrations in influent were highly variable by the time of the day, day of the week, and week of the study period. Three weeks that were lower in influent LAS concentrations coincided with university activities (17 March – 22 April – 5 May). These three weeks were significantly different from almost all the other weeks but were not significantly different from each other. They coincided with certain university activities. College students may have a large impact on influent LAS concentrations because they make up 25% of Pittsburg’s population. The week of March 17 was spring break when many of the students were out of town, and the other two weeks were during final exams. During these two weeks, students probably are not doing much laundry. The effectiveness of Pittsburg’s Wastewater Treatment Plant was 90%, which is similar to others reported in the literature.

Adequate nutrition is a key among hospitalized patients. It is crucial and most significant aspect of improving quality of life of inpatients. However, hospitals in developing nations challenged with adequate meal provisions. In Tanzania, meal provision isn’t part of inpatients service. This impacted quality of life, causing an increased number of days in hospital stay. Furthermore, research has demonstrated the significance of food consumption to promote recovery. Cross-sectional study design was used in this study. Data were analyzed for descriptive statistical inferences by using R statistical software. Results showed; determinants of food intake were; distance to hospital, 76% inpatients used more than 60 minutes to arrive at hospital and 31% stayed hospital for 15 days and above. Moreover, dietary study was conducted; results showed 70% of inpatients didn’t meet minimum dietary diversity. Insufficient nutrition awareness was another determinant where, 70% of inpatients didn’t understand balanced diet. Findings revealed that, 86% of inpatients consumed monotonous diet high in starch, 12% of adult inpatients were underweight (BMI 30. Twenty nine percent of children aged 6 to 59 months were severely stunted (SD < -3). In this study, association between dietary intake and distance from home indicated, some patients lacking food services because of leaving far from hospital. It was concluded that, higher pro­portion of inpatients didn’t meet minimum dietary diversity due to monotonous diet they consumed. To meet SDGs challenges of zero hunger, good health and well-being, hospital meal provision is essential.