Open Access Research Paper

This study delves into the evaluation of fluorescent lights staining microscopy and its efficiency in cross validation by comparison with light microscopy. Rapid detection of microplastics of various sizes can be distinguished in assessing coastal marine sediment. A development of a novel approach in rapid detection is employed for analysis of coastal marine sediment microplastic contamination, based on fluorescent tagging using Nile Red (NR), separated by density-based extraction using Zinc Chloride (ZnCl2) and filtration. The fluorescent staining tags onto microplastic to fluorescent, aides with excitation of blue light and color filters. Fluorescence excitation is detected using simple smartphone photography through a polarizer filter. Rapid detection using light microscopy allows fluorescent particles to be identified and counted in image-analysis. The study used a paired sample t-test to compare particle counts across five mesh sizes, revealing minimal too little to no significant differences between fluoresced and suspected MPs particles, indicating a novel detection process with greater selectivity and fluorescence intensity.

Bacterial inoculation of Rhizobium species tend to improve the root architecture of legume crop through their potential of colonization and nitrogen fixing ability. Co-inoculation of Rhizobium and phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) strain will further improve the nutrient availability to plant. This study was conducted to evaluate the response of peas to Rhizobium and PSB inoculation individually and together at 20 and 40 mg kg-1 phosphorus (P) application in-vitro and pot culture experiment. Recommended fertilizer dose was an additional treatment. The co-inoculation of Rhizobium + PSB at 40 mg P kg-1 soil significantly increased shoot and root length, number of flowers, pod, and nodules per plant, root and shoot dry weight, 100 grain weight and number of grains per pod up to 37, 25, 60, 220, 25, 125, 34, 19 and 20%, respectively over 20 mg kg-1 P application. Similarly, N and P concentration of straw and grain as well as soil N and P contents after harvesting was also significantly increase by the co-inoculation of nitrogen fixing and PSB compared to single inoculation at 20 mg kg-1 P application. Results showed that co-inoculation at 20 and 40 mg kg P application can improve the nodulation, growth parameters, yield and nutrient concentrations and uptake.

Insufficient nutrients from agriculture output in some way create malnutrition. A better knowledge of requirement of sustainable and healthier diet from agriculture to food processing is critical. This study investigated the influence of food fortification in dealing with malnutrition related disorders. Various factors influencing the effectiveness of the strategy; include bioavailability of the nutrient, product acceptance, accessibility and edibility. In developing fortified food, these factors need to be considered for the selection of the fortifiers and the vehicle food. Mass fortification can only be effective in commonly consumed food items. Specific product level fortification found to be effective only dealing with the target population with similar food habits. Corrective actions needed to be taken for reducing or controlling the health problems in developing and developed countries. Though, the problem is more intense in developing countries, developed countries are also affected by nutritional issues. Food fortification have greater applicability for dealing with malnutrition related chronic issues that are less severe and do not require instant action, however in acute deficiency medical or supplements are required. The bioavailability of nutrients can be controlled with increased half-life in fortified foods in comparison to other strategies like direct supplementation, clinical interventions.

This study assesses the economic impact of the enhanced cacao value-adding program on local cacao growers in the Municipality of Lasam, Cagayan Valley, Philippines. The program, which focuses on processing cacao into value-added products such as chocolate and cacao powder, aims to improve the economic standing of smallholder farmers by increasing income, generating employment, and enhancing agricultural productivity. Using descriptive and explanatory methods, the study analyzes income changes, employment generation, yield and quality improvements, and market access before and after the program’s implementation. Findings indicate an 80% increase in farmer income, a 25% improvement in cacao yield, and a 20% enhancement in bean quality. The program also resulted in an 80% rise in local employment. However, challenges such as limited access to capital, technical knowledge, and infrastructure remain. The study concludes that the cacao value-adding program has significantly contributed to local economic development but requires further support to ensure sustainability.

Cake, Biscuits, Muffins, Bread, Noodles, and Toast are the among those food items which are popular bakery items, these food items are used by almost all type of the societies in Pakistan. The popularity of these food items is due to the low cost compared to other treated food items, these food items contain a good amount of the nutritional constituents and these are available in various forms, having varied taste and have a long shelf life. Cake, Biscuits, Muffins, Bread, Toast, and Noodlesare consumed as a rich and hasty source of proteins, fat, carbohydrates, and fibers along with different rich nutritional ingredients. The amount of nutritional ingredients of the final product depends upon the choice of the recommended quantity of raw ingredients during preparation. The aim of the current study was to analyze and compare different food parameters like protein, moisture, ash, fat, water absorption index (WAI) and fiber, of bakery products i.e. Biscuits, Cakes, Muffins, Bread, Toast, and Noodles made from commercially available flour of wheat in the supermarket of Sukkur City, Sindh and across Pakistan.

The heavy and hazardous metals have high impact on health of living organism mostly on human beings. Settled dust has great impact on natural environment and human health as it may contain heavy and hazardous metals contributed from anthropogenic activities. Four functional areas of Karachi city, were selected for this study that are named as industrial area (Port Qasim), Traffic area (National Highway from Malir Halt to Port Qasim), Urban Area (Gulshan-e-Iqbal), Rural Area (Saadi Town). 36 samples of settled dust were drawn from all these areas and analyzed on WD-XRF spectrometer. Chromium, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Nickel, Lead, Titanium, and Zinc were studied and their average results were 384, 664, 61699, 1379,167, 427, 4656 and 5909mg Kg-1. The average results of all metallic concentration of all four functional areas show that iron, Zinc, Titanium and Manganese are enriched in concentration while Nickel has the lowest concentration in settle dust. Morphological examination was carried out with SEM in which particles size, shape and particle composition was determined. SEM-EDX was used to analyze the particle’s chemical composition, and Carbon was also quantify with metals and has high concentration in all samples than heavy metals. The study aided valuable data related with heavy and hazardous metals for the city of Karachi

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.