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May 2026 DOI 10.14302/issn.2693-1176.ijgh-26-6165
Christine Ruth PiloyaCorresponding author
Background Women’s participation in environmental conservation within patriarchal societies is a critical factor for achieving sustainable development and improved community outcomes. Despite this importance, limited research has examined women’s perceptions of their roles and contributions to environmental conservation. The current study aimed to (1) explore women’s perceptions of their roles in environmental conservation within patriarchal structures, and (2) to document the effectiveness of strategies enhancing their participation. Methods This study followed a phenomenological design, using thematic data analysis. Information was gathered through semistructured interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), and key informant interviews with technocrats, civil servants, local leaders, and NGO staff. The sample size of the study was 30 participants, obtained using the point of saturation principle. The focus group consisted of 24 participants and 06 Key Informants. The study tools were pretested with a small group before the main fieldwork. Participants were selected using purposive sampling. The size of the sample was guided by data saturation. Results The findings show that although women’s representation in local councils and environmental committees has grown due to the 30% quota requirement, their influence remains constrained by systemic barriers. Political interference undermines technical teams’ conservation efforts, while widespread community ignorance of environmental laws limits compliance. Weak enforcement and corruption, with leaders themselves implicated in destructive practices, further erode progress. Critically, inadequate financing such as subcounties allocating only 600,000 shillings for sensitization, leaves many activities unimplemented, forcing reliance on development partners. Conclusion The study concludes that sustainable environmental stewardship requires not only legal reforms and institutional accountability but also adequate financing and communitydriven strategies that amplify women’s voices and foster collective responsibility.
Feb 2026 DOI 10.14302/issn.2693-1176.ijgh-25-5735
Ruth Piloya ChristineCorresponding author
Background In Northern Uganda’s patriarchal communities, women play vital yet underrecognized roles in environmental conservation. There is limited research examining the socio-cultural roles women play in society in northern Uganda. This study, conducted in Gulu District, examined the socio-cultural functions performed by women in safeguarding natural resources. Methods This study employed an analytical cross-sectional design involving 395 women aged 18–49 in Gulu District, selected for its patriarchal context. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed with SPSS, applying descriptive and inferential statistics. Key variables included women’s roles in environmental conservation and barriers to participation. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained to ensure research integrity. Results The study found that women in Gulu District play vital socio-cultural roles in environmental conservation, particularly as custodians of indigenous knowledge (Mean = 4.42), active participants in tree planting (Mean = 4.11), and conservers of ecosystems (Mean = 4.04). However, their involvement in advocacy (Mean = 3.46) and decision-making (Mean = 3.20) was perceived as limited, reflecting the constraints of a patriarchal society. Additionally, evolving gender roles have negatively impacted women’s engagement, with 47.6% citing excessive domestic workload and 44.1% reporting reduced participation in conservation activities. These findings highlight both the significance of women’s contributions and the structural barriers that hinder their full involvement in environmental governance. Conclusion Despite these challenges, women’s contributions remain central to sustainable environmental stewardship. The study recommends targeted sensitization and training programs to promote gender equality and community acceptance of women’s leadership in environmental governance.
Dec 2025 DOI 10.14302/issn.2694-2275.jzr-25-5595
S GopalakrishnanCorresponding author
Andipalayam Lake, a freshwater body located in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, plays a significant role in sustaining the local ecosystem, particularly through its diverse insect populations. This study aims to document and analyze the insect biodiversity present in and around Andipalayam Lake, focusing on the ecological roles these species play in maintaining the lake’s health. Insects are key components of aquatic ecosystems, contributing to processes such as pollination and nutrient cycling and serving as prey for higher trophic levels. Despite their ecological importance, studies on the insect biodiversity of Andipalayam Lake have been limited, prompting the need for an extensive survey. This research employed a combination of sweep nets, pitfall traps, and light traps to collect insect species over a year, covering various seasons to capture population dynamics and seasonal variations. Water quality parameters, such as temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen, were monitored to assess their influence on insect diversity. The study identified over 38 species of insects from diverse orders, including Odonata (dragonflies), Diptera (flies), Coleoptera (beetles), and Hemiptera (true bugs). Seasonal variations were observed, with higher species richness during the monsoon period due to increased vegetation and moisture levels. The most abundant species were found to belong to Diptera and Coleoptera, indicating their adaptability to fluctuating water levels. Environmental factors such as pollution from nearby agricultural runoff and urban development were found to negatively affect insect diversity, with a notable decline in sensitive species during periods of increased contamination.
Dec 2025 DOI 10.14302/issn.2768-5209.ijen-25-5732
S Isaac AnvyCorresponding author
The growing population demands and environmental concerns associated with traditional protein sources have prompted the exploration of alternative and sustainable food sources. The purpose of this comprehensive review is to highlight the nutritional benefits and sustainability of insect-based foods as a promising solution. Global population growth necessitates innovative approaches to meet the demand for nutritious and sustainable protein sources. There are numerous challenges associated with traditional livestock farming, including land use inefficiency, high water usage, and greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, edible insects have emerged as a viable alternative, providing proteins (35-77% of dry matter), healthy fats (10-50%), essential amino acids, and micronutrients such as iron (up to 31mg/100g) and zinc (up to 20mg/100g), vitamins, and minerals. In contrast to livestock, which requires 22,000-43,000 liters of water to produce 1 kg of beef, insect farming consumes significantly less water and land resources. Insects have the potential to address nutritional deficiencies and strengthen food security as they are recognized for sustainable production. The study thoroughly investigates the literature addressing environmental and sustainability concerns associated with edible insect farming, using a rigorous bibliometric and scientometric analysis via Vos viewer. With the help of Vos Viewer, it was possible to identify the geographical distribution of countries that contributed to the field of edible insects and their acceptance, as well as the top ten documents in this field with the most citations and mostly used keywords in this field of research. Future research and implementation strategies will be able to benefit global food security and environmental conservation through these alternative protein sources.
Nov 2023 DOI 10.14302/issn.2693-1176.ijgh-21-3909
safari YahyaCorresponding author
Background & Objective Changing people’s attitude toward the environment is an important approach to the prevention of environmental damages. The present study aimed to evaluate environmentally responsible health-oriented behaviors in students. Materials and Methods This research was performed on 360 medical students (180 males and 180 females) who were selected via stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a responsible environmental behaviors questionnaire. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 21 using linear regression analysis and Pearson’s correlation-coefficient. Results The scores of the environmental attitude, environmental knowledge, and environmental behaviors of the participants were estimated at 52.63±5.74, 74.43±5.99, and 103.37±11.51, respectively. An insignificant correlation was observed between the environmental knowledge and environmental behaviors of the students (r=0.07; P=0.20). However, the correlation-coefficient between the environmental attitude and environmental behaviors of the students was positive and significant (r=-0.54; P<0.001). A negative, significant correlation was also denoted between the environmental knowledge and environmental attitude of the students (r=-0.39; P<0.001). Conclusion Despite relatively poor environmental awareness and attitude, the majority of the students had proper environmental behaviors. Therefore, it seems that having an environmentally responsible behavior does not rely on environmental attitude and knowledge. In fact, behaviors influenced by social conditions and structure encourage and facilitate environmental behaviors.
Apr 2023 DOI 10.14302/issn.2576-6694.jbbs-22-4390
Berhane NegaCorresponding author
Background The genetic material of the genetically modified crop has been altered to develop the necessary insect resistance features by introducing genes from the Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) bacterium. The objective of this study was to find smuggled GM Bt crops in the Metema farming area and examine its environmental effects. Method An experimental; Completely Randomized Design (CRD) was used to collect crop samples in the study area. The CTAB (Cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide) technique was used to isolate DNA from all transported samples, and the purity was determined using a Nano Drop spectrophotometer. Conventional PCR with particular primers for different Bt gene events was used to detect the presence of genes. Furthermore, utilizing Bt cotton specific primer sets, the prevalence of GM cotton was measured, and amplified fragments were confirmed using agarose gel electrophoresis. Result The PCR results revealed that 15 (33.3 percent) of the samples were Bt cotton smuggled from Sudan. The PCR assay also revealed the presence of GM maize. Moreover, the effects of GM genes on the environment were studied in diseased samples, and no transgenes were found. Furthermore, domestic and indigenous crops were used to determine horizontal gene transfers of GM genes to other crops, and the transgene was not found in any of the samples analyzed. Conclusion: In the current study, 28 (13.4%) of the 209 (100%) total analyzed samples were GM crops which indicated the presence of unauthorized GM seeds in the study area. Environmental impact studies and horizontal gene transfer data similarly revealed that the Bt gene was not transferred to other crops and had no harmful environmental effects. For a better understanding of the Impact of imported unauthorized GM seeds, more additional detection of GM events should be done by expanding the sampling site and sample types.
Oct 2021 DOI 10.14302/issn.2690-0904.ijoe-21-3966
Polyana Rocha Mendes MicheleCorresponding author
Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
The impact of the environment on the development of non-communicable chronic diseases has gained prominence in recent years. In this context, a new chemical exposure assessment strategy is needed that is capable of revealing multiple exposures, as well as reflecting the cumulative interaction between such environmental contaminants in the biological system. From this perspective, metabolomics emerges as a promising tool in this field of knowledge, since it is able to identify changes in metabolism and/or gene expression resulting from exposure to environmental factors. The aim of this study was to describe important concepts, as well as the steps that permeate the metabolomics analysis, and also to present some relevant works with the application of metabolomics in the assessment of chemical exposure. A literature review showed a significant increase in the use of metabolomics in environmental toxicology in recent years. This increase is mainly due to advances in analytical techniques and the improvement of data processing tools. However, this field of investigation remains little explored, especially with regard to the study of toxicity associated with chronic exposure to low levels of chemical agents. Thus, it is urgent that omic biomarkers can be used as a tool for decision-making, especially with a view to protecting, diagnosing and recovering human health.
Oct 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2379-7835.ijn-20-3610
Maiti Choudhury SujataCorresponding author
Department of Human Physiology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore-721102, West Bengal, India
Aim To assess the sanitation and hygienic practices of women and its effects on the nutritional status of the mother and preschool children of the Lodha tribal community in two districts of West Bengal. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted during November, 2014 - December, 2018 of 941 Lodha mothers and 1043 of their preschool children in Paschim Medinipur and Jhargram districts. All information was collected by using KAP questionnaire following interview and group discussion. Mother nutritional status was assessed based on body mass index (BMI) and mid upper arm circumference (MUAC). A child was classified as underweight, stunting and wasting as weight-for-age, height-for-age and weight-of -height Z-score below -2 standard deviation of WHO standard. Results This study found 35% of the households used safe drinking water. Almost 97.2% of the mother had the low hand wash score and about 67.1% of them had an average WaSH score. Overall, 41.6% and 1.6% mothers were suffered from undernutrition (BMI <18.5 kg/m2) and overweight/obesity (BMI≥25kg/m2). Whereas, 48.9% women were undernourished based on MUAC<22.0cm. Moreover, the overall prevalence of wasting, stunting and underweight of preschool children was 31.9%, 62.1% and 61.3%, respectively. The WaSH score of family was significantly associated with child stunted and underweight. Conclusion There is a good association between poor household WaSH practices with child undernutrition and morbidity. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop the comprehensive knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) guidelines in their language to educate them about appropriate water storage, retrieval methods, sanitation and hand washing practices.
May 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-3166.jar-20-3246
H. M. Adam AbubakerCorresponding author
Department of Crop Science, College of Agriculture, University of Bahri, Khartoum North, Sudan
The fruit flies of familyTephritidae are considered as serious pests of Mango in Sudan. They cause substantial damage to Mango in all Mango production areas. The application of various pesticides appeared to be ineffective. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the efficacy of Spinosad as new promising control measure to the fruit flies. This study was carried out at Shendi area, River Nile State during the period from April 2012 to August 2014, where Pheromone and food bait traps were used for detection and monitoring the fruit flies species in the study area. Spinosad (0.24g\L) was applied as a partial spraying pesticide. Results indicated that; the application of Spinosad highly decreased the fruit flies numbers. The average number of fruit flies collected in April was (947.22 and 1001.67) for the treated and untreated orchards respectively. The numbers of fruit flies in the treated orchards had decreased gradually during May, June, July and August, 904.7, 760.22, 609.6 and 452.7, respectively, but in untreated orchards for the same months had increased to 1003.67, 1103.67, 1336.67and 1468.67 respectively. However, the infestation level in mango fruits in the treated orchards was found to be 2% compared with 64% for untreated one.
Apr 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2637-6075.jpae-20-3322
Omozemoje Ayobami AigberuaCorresponding author
Department partment of Environment, Research and Development, Anal Concept Limited, Elelenwo, Rivers State, Nigeria
In spite of the popularity of open-air waste dumping in Nigeria, it remains a relatively less effective waste management option across the globe because of its associated environmental impacts which includes the release of green house gases (GHGs), persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and metal micro-pollutants amongst others. This study aims to assess the potential environmental risks associated to metals released and vertically delineated across the soil profile within surroundings of dumpsite. Heavy metals in soil samples were acid-digested using the aqua-regia mixture of hydrochloric and nitric acid, followed by instrumentation analysis using the GBC 908 PBMT model atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Contaminated sites showed metal concentrations ranging from 1.493 to 109.460 mg/kg, 0.133 to 4.237 mg/kg, and 5.200 to 25.367 mg/kg for lead, cadmium and chromium respectively, with location 1 land area showing the most contamination. Only soil chromium was observed within regulatory stipulations in all cases. There was significant variation (p < 0.05) between the different sample locations, thereby indicating variations in composition of dumped wastes. Lead and cadmium showed the strongest positive correlation (r = 0.855, p < 0.01) and the application of some heavy metal pollution indicators revealed relatively higher metal loads and degree of contamination, as well as depicting potential ecological risk for soils of location 1. The significant heavy metal contamination of soils in the Tombia-Amassoma waste dumpsite requires that the local environmental sanitation and regulatory authorities take necessary remedial action to forestall the escalation of public health concerns that may emanate from this open-air dump.
Feb 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2690-0904.ijoe-20-3205
Neuberger ManfredCorresponding author
Felbigergasse 3/2/18, A-1140 Wien, Austria
The aim was to record the smoking behaviour of 13- to 16-year-old Austrian pupils and to investigate changes in smoking behaviour following amendments of legislation and gender-specific differences. The survey took place in Vienna, Lower Austria, Burgenland, Styria and Carinthia and was conducted at eight different school types. The data was collected by means of a questionnaire in a group setting at the beginning of a school lesson. The completion of the questionnaire was anonymous. 95,1% of the returned questionnaires could be used for this study, yielding data from a total of 1029 young people for analysis. 38.4% of the participants stated that they had at least once consumed tobacco or related products, with girls having tried them more often (41,6%) than boys (34,9%) (p = .028). At the time of the study, 3,3% used tobacco daily and 4,6% several times a week; thus 7,9% smoke regularly. Although friends or family are the most popular type of acquisition for girls and boys, girls buy their tobacco products from vending machines (11,6%) much more frequently than boys (6,0%) (p = .014) and prefer normal cigarettes (p < .001). The results of this study show that while the number of adolescents who smoke daily is decreasing, the number of occasional smokers is increasing. Already 38,4% of the 13 to 16-year olds have had some experience consuming tobacco. Austria must take the measures recommended by the WHO to reduce the smoking prevalence and protect minors from the health damage caused by tobacco smoke.
Dec 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-7669.ject-19-3125
C.N Angaye TariwariCorresponding author
Department of Biological Sciences, Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
Emission of Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) from dumpsites has become a global threat due to its impact on global climate change. This study assessed the spatial and seasonal levels of H2S emissions from 6 dumpsites (LA - LF), with portable air quality meter (AEROQUAL-Series 300). Results showed that the spatial level of H2S ranged from 1.40 ppm - 14.34 ppm. Based on seasonal variation level of H2S ranged from 1.88 ppm – 3.86 ppm (p<0.05), with higher values in wet season. Meanwhile H2S were not detected in the control station (LX). Based on model for Air Quality Index (AQI), H2S emission was predominantly rated as safe and moderate, except for the two stations in the central dumpsite (LE and LF). These results confirmed the emission of H2S from the dumpsite due to anthropogenic activities. We therefore recommend policies aimed at sequestration of H2S, by the reduce, reuse and recycle policy of waste stream.
Oct 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2689-4602.jes-19-2760
Lawan Muhammad UsmanCorresponding author
Department of Chemistry, Al-Qalam University, Katsina Nigeria.
The environmental impacts of waste disposal of polyethylene bags and seasonal variation of polyethylene disposal in Gusau City of Zamfara state, Nigeria was investigated. General public waste disposals from homes, schools and daily markets, were randomly selected for data collection. The data showed that polyethylene waste is generated more in the dry season than the wet season. The result also showed that table water sachet has 75% disposal. This is because, sachet water is cheap and consumed throughout the year with very little seasonal variation while at homes and markets also, displayed a very interesting pattern. The study revealed that in the market, polyethylene for table water sachets (10%) was the least, followed by ice cream sachets (6%), assorted items (5%) and biscuits wrappers (4%). On the other hand, the results showed that, at home, polyethylene for assorted items was the highest (61%), closely followed by biscuit wrappers (20%), table water sachets (14%) and ice cream wrappers (5%) respectively. Polyethylene waste poses various threats to public health and adversely affects flora and fauna as well as the environment especially when it is not appropriately collected and properly disposed. And based on this research, it was found that most of the public do not know the advantages, disadvantages and the health effects of rampant and improper disposal of polyethylene bags. It is concluded that aggressive campaign and enlightenment of the masses on the threats posed by polyethylene bags pollution should be carried out to prevent further negative environmental impact.
Feb 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-7669.ject-19-2595
C.N Angaye TariwariCorresponding author
Department of Biological Sciences, Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
Over the decades there have been problems associated with Particulate Matter (PM) arising from anthropogenic activities. Evaluation and health risk assessment of PM associated with football field was carried out in 5 sampling locations, including the control station. Digital portable AEROCET 513 (Metone instrument) PM meter was used for the evaluation Results showed levels of PM for; PM1.0(13.73 – 20.18 µg/m3), PM2.5 (19.11 – 28.83 µg/m3), PM4.0 (24.73 – 44.63 µg/m3), PM7.0 (41.07 – 67.04 µg/m3), and PM10 ranging from 65.48 – 90.82 µg/m3. In addition, value of the control station was lowest amongst all recorded values of PM (p<0.05). Based on Air Quality Index evaluation, the football fields were predominantly rated as unhealthy, with other cases rates as; hazardous and unsafe for sensitive group. This investigation therefore concludes that the emission of PM from the football field are reflection of vehicular emissions and agitated dust particles. Hence mitigable measure must be applied without much ado, in order to ameliorate the daily chronic exposure to PM.
Oct 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2637-6075.jpae-18-2336
C.N Angaye TariwariCorresponding author
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
Environmental impact of anthropogenic activities from industrial sources, have become a threat to biodiversity. Water samples were collected from rivers around the flow station, and analysed from some physicochemical parameters and hydrocarbon contents. Result of the physicochemistry was reported for: pH (6.58± 0.04 - 6.76±0.01), conductivity (168.30±13.98 - 194.57±3.78 µS/cm), conductivity 8.29±0.04 - 10.66±0.02 NTU, salinity (0.07±0.00 - 0.09± 0.00 mg/l), and Total Solids (83.96±1.49 - 103.66±0.60mg/l). Other elemental analysis includes: sulphates (2.43±0.01 - 4.28 ±0.02 mg/l), nitrates (0.19±0.01 - 0.28±0.01 mg/l), carbonates (1.14±0.07 - 2.06±0.07 mg/l), calcium (8.45±0.10 - 11.70±0.25 mg/l), magnesium (1.14±0.07 - 2.56±0.03 mg/l), and sodium (4.37±0.15 - 5.62±0.03 mg/l). The values of THC and TPH were 0.92±0.08 - 1.51±0.03, and 0.37±0.13 - 0.76±0.07 mg/l respectively. Generally, the result indicated mild level of contamination in terms of Hydrocarbon contents. However, diagnostic data emerging for physicochemistry and some elemental property indicates the water is unfit for consumption. Notwithstanding, the order on contamination were reported as; downstream > midstream > upstream. Therefore this study concludes that there should be frequent monitoring of the recipient water bodies associated with the flow station in order to check anthropogenic activities, and conserve biodiversity.
May 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2690-4829.jen-18-2043
Rameshthangam PalanivelCorresponding author
Department of Biotechnology, Alagappa University, Karaikudi 630003, Tamilnadu, India
Disposal of chitin wastes from crustacean shell can cause environmental and health hazards. Chitin is a well known abundant natural polymer extracted after deproteinization and demineralization of the shell wastes of shrimp, crab, lobster, and krill. Extraction of chitin and its derivatives from waste material is one of the alternative ways to turn the waste into useful products. Chitinases are enzymes that degrade chitin. Chitinases contribute to the generation of carbon and nitrogen in the ecosystem. Chitin and chitinolytic enzymes are gaining importance for their biotechnological applications. The presence of surface charge and multiple functional groups make chitin as a beneficial natural polymer. Due to the reactive functional groups chitin can be used for the preparation of a spectrum of chitin derivatives such as chitosan, alkyl chitin, sulfated chitin, dibutyryl chitin and carboxymethyl chitin for specific applications in different areas. The present review is aimed to summarize the efficacy of the chitinases on the chitin and its derivatives and their diverse applications in biomedical and environmental field. Further this review also discusses the synthesis of various chitin derivatives in detail and brings out the importance of chitin and its derivatives in biomedical and environmental applications.
Jul 2026 DOI 10.14302/issn.3070-2232.jf-26-6359
Jana SnehasisCorresponding author
This study investigated the influence of a non-contact based spiritual blessing energy treatment (SBET) on the growth dynamics and reproductive productivity of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.). Utilizing a Randomized Complete Block Design, okra seeds and farming land were divided into treated and untreated cohorts under identical environmental conditions. The treated cohort received spiritual thought-intention-based energetic blessings, while the control group received none (untreated). Both qualitative and quantitative analysis revealed significant enhancements in the treatment group across multiple agronomic indices. Phenological parameters such as plant height, stem collar diameter, number of branches per plant, number of leaves per plant, fruit weight, fruit length, and fruit diameter were significantly increased by 29.57% (p ≤ 0.001), 45.83% (p ≤ 0.001), 40.49% (p = 0.006), 41.61% (p ≤ 0.001), 47.61% (p ≤ 0.001), 40.26% (p ≤ 0.001), and 37.58% (p ≤ 0.001), respectively, in the treatment group compared to the control group. Further, fruits yield (tons per hectare) was rose by 38.25% in the treatment group compared to the control. These findings suggest that subtle, thought-intention-based spiritual blessing energy treatment may interact positively with plant biophysical pathways, modifying cellular or metabolic efficiency and improved vegetative growth and yields of okra.
May 2026 DOI 10.14302/issn.3070-3379.jwc-26-6201
R. Hodgson BruceCorresponding author
A sustainable global net-zero carbon emission is when emissions are equivalent to the uptake of carbon by global terrestrial and aquatic plants. To meet that objective, an approximate 50% reduction of fossil-fuel emissions was estimated for net-zero by 2050 using carbon dioxide concentrations and mass emission monitoring by NOAA and related references. From that data, the initial target level of reduction to obtain net-zero was selected for year 2000 to minimise effects of climate change on environmental damage. The recent finding that about half global emissions are taken up from the atmosphere and increases global terrestrial and aquatic plant growth, including agriculture plants for food production, indicates it is important to maintain the year 2000 levels in the atmosphere. It was concluded as renewable energy was found to need support, it could be supplemented by electricity production remaining after obtaining net-zero, which also supports the atmospheric carbon dioxide levels for their important global ecological contribution.
May 2026 DOI 10.14302/issn.3070-2232.jf-26-6197
Jana SnehasisCorresponding author
Background The increasing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly agricultural practices has led to the exploration of non-traditional methods to enhance crop yield and resilience. Spiritual Blessings (Biofield) Energy Treatment (SBET), a form of consciousness-driven energy healing, is increasingly being investigated for its potential to modulate biological systems at the cellular and molecular levels without use of chemical additives Objective This study aimed to evaluate the impact of SBET on the growth characteristics and overall productivity of summer squash (Cucurbita pepo L.). Methods The study was conducted using a controlled experimental design, where seeds and plots were divided into two groups: control and treated. The treated group received a remote SBET by a recognized practitioner, while the control group remained untreated. Both groups were maintained under identical environmental conditions (soil, water). Parameters such as germination rate, plant height, leaf area index, and total fruit yield were monitored over a full growth cycle. Results Results showed that plant height, number of branches, and total number of leaves per plant were significantly improved by 35.14% (p ≤ 0.001), 41.64% (p = 0.011), and 49.01% (p = 0.029), respectively, in the treatment group compared to the control group. Additionally, fruit length and total fruit yield (tons per hectare) were significantly increased by 39.68% (p = 0.002) and 15.92%, respectively, in the treatment group compared to the control group. Conclusion Exposure of SBET significantly improved both vegetative and reproductive development, yielding substantial increases in plant height, branching, and leaf production.
Dec 2025 DOI 10.14302/issn.2643-2811.jmbr-25-5731
Mukeredzi InnocentCorresponding author
Background Typhoid fever remains a significant public health issue in Harare City, Zimbabwe, exacerbated by recurrent outbreaks between 2018 and 2020. Key challenges, including inadequate water supply and sanitation infrastructure, high population density, and limited healthcare access, have intensified the disease burden. Understanding the key transmission drivers and assessing the impact of various interventions are essential for informing policy and health strategies. Objectives This study aimed to: 1: To predict future trends in typhoid fever cases Harare City typhoid hot areas. 2: To develop a mathematical model to simulate the spread of typhoid fever incidence under different intervention scenarios and recommend evidence-based strategies for reducing the disease burden in Harare City. Methods A dynamic compartmental SIR-based model, adapted from the Pitzer Vaccine Effectiveness (VE) framework, was employed to simulate disease transmission. This model accounted for both short-cycle (human-to-human) and long-cycle (environmental) transmission pathways. Data from Harare City (2018–2020) were used for model calibration and forecasting, and sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the impact of different intervention levels. Findings The model identified inadequate sanitation, contaminated water sources, and low health- seeking behaviors as primary drivers of typhoid transmission. In the absence of interventions, the model projected a sustained high rate of transmission. However, treatment and WASH interventions could reduce the disease burden by 50–60%, while combined strategies incorporating vaccination and education led to an 80% reduction in cases. Sensitivity analysis indicated that treatment and WASH interventions were particularly impactful at moderate coverage levels. Conclusion Mathematical modeling effectively demonstrated the multifactorial drivers of typhoid fever transmission in Harare. Integrated interventions that combine WASH, vaccination, treatment, and education present the most promising approach for long-term control of the disease. The findings offer a solid, data-driven foundation for public health decision-making and resource allocation.
Dec 2025 DOI 10.14302/issn.2690-6759.jpar-25-5496
Chigozie Divine OnwukaCorresponding author
Intestinal parasitic helminths pose a significant public health burden, particularly among children. This cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence and risk factors of intestinal parasitic helminths among 550 school children aged 4-12 years in Oru-West L.G.A, Imo State, Nigeria. Stool samples were examined using parasitological techniques, and questionnaires were administered to collect data on risk factors. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic helminths was 49.1% (270/550), with Ascaris lumbricoides being the most prevalent (30.37%). Multivariate analysis revealed significant associations between intestinal parasitic helminths and lack of hand-washing, insufficient toilet facilities, consumption of unwashed vegetables, and poor environmental sanitation. Males had a significantly higher infection rate than females (P < 0.05). Age-related prevalence was highest among children aged 4-6 (51.85%). Occupational status and educational level of parents were also significant predictors of infection. These findings highlight the need for public health education, provision of basic sanitation facilities, and regular de-worming as preventive measures.
Dec 2025 DOI 10.14302/issn.2768-5209.ijen-25-5602
Lassaad MdellelCorresponding author
Chemical insecticides have been the primary method used by farmers to control pests. However, their negative environmental impacts, harmful effects on beneficial insects and human health, and prohibition in organic farming systems have driven the search for natural alternatives with insecticidal properties. These alternatives provide a safer and more sustainable way to control insect pests. Medicinal plants and their constituents play an important role in pest management. For example, ginger (Zingiber officinale) extracts contain bioactive compounds with insecticidal activities. The objective of this work was to track the population of the green peach aphid (Myzuspersicae) on pepper crops in a greenhouse, identify the active ingredients in ginger extracts, and evaluate the insecticidal effects of three concentrations of ginger-derived aqueous and essential oil extracts against M. persicae on pepper plants under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. The results demonstrate that M. persicae grows rapidly on pepper crops under greenhouse conditions, reaching high densities on leaves. The ginger extract contains two active ingredients with insecticidal effects against this pest. The significant reduction in aphid (M. persicae) populations indicates that Z. officinale aqueous extract (150 mL/L) and essential oil (2 mL/L) have strong potential for the biological control of this pest under greenhouse conditions. Thus, the use of ginger plant extract emerges as a promising alternative for reducing M. persicae infestations on pepper plants.
Nov 2025 DOI 10.14302/issn.3070-3379.jwc-25-5549
Chukwuma Sr ChrysanthusCorresponding author
This short communication/mini-review immensely emphasizes human health to explicate and elucidate management of the global scourge associated with the determinants and impact of vulnerabilities to extreme hydrologic events and climate change in the absence of risk reduction and their concomitant sequelae. The most effective approach for risk reduction associated with biodiversity, environmental, and health vulnerabilities due to climate change and extreme hydrological events, an ecological framework must take into cognizance exposure, vulnerability, and resilience. This framework emphasizes the significance of understanding the inextricable linkage between ecosystems and human communities are exposed and susceptible to hazards, sensitivity to these hazards, and capacity to cope, adapt and recuperate. Risk reduction incorporates structurally attenuating exposure, strengthening resilience, and sustainably enhancing overall vulnerability management. Extreme weather and climate-associated incidents impinge on human health with consequential morbidity, mortality and socioeconomic challenges and constraints. Climate change and extreme event have altered the frequency, intensity, geographic distribution, and propensity as drivers for change in the future. The indicted variables include hydrological events, such as precipitation, floods and droughts as well as heat waves, wildfires, global warming, extreme temperatures, and hurricanes. The pathways inextricably-linked with extreme events to economic dissipation, human health prognosis and outcomes remain inexplicably diverse and complex; and thus, difficult to predict due to their emergence and reemergence from local, societal and environmental factors which influence disease burden.
Mar 2024 DOI 10.14302/issn.2642-3146.jec-24-4935
Yakubu SufyanCorresponding author
Promoting responsible energy usage in student hostels and residential buildings plays a crucial role in ensuring sustainable development. By implementing cost-efficient strategies for managing and conserving energy, both students and homeowners can not only reap economic and social benefits but also mitigate the adverse environmental effects associated with energy consumption. Unfortunately, student hostels and residential buildings in developing countries like Ghana are falling behind in the adoption of energy efficiency and management practices, thereby missing out on valuable implementation opportunities. This study investigates the potential for energy efficiency and conservation measures in student hostels, specifically the GETFUND hostel of the University of Energy and Natural Resources in Ghana. The hostel's monthly energy consumption is approximately 64,929.458kWh, which translates to $5,667.20. The objectives of the study include analysing the current electricity consumption pattern, identifying energy misuse, and recommending measures to save energy, as well as calculating the financial benefits of implementing energy management practices. The methodology employed is an energy audit approach. The results of this study can contribute to overall energy conservation efforts in Ghana and may be applied to other university residence halls in sub-Saharan African countries with similar climatic and energy-use characteristics. In a broader sense, the primary objective of this study is to enhance the energy efficiency of the GETFUND hostel and minimize energy wastage, resulting in substantial financial savings.
Feb 2024 DOI 10.14302/issn.2997-2248.jwl-23-4791
Sahile AtinafaCorresponding author
The Trans boundary protection of migratory species is a common argument for international cooperation. Ecotourism supports these activities through long-term commitment from international conservation organizations, all interest groups and various political entities. However, due to anthropogenic influences and inadequate understanding of species ecology, sustainable conservation of migratory species is often challenging. Therefore, this review article evaluates the migration status, potential anthropogenic threats, and conservation directives from the perspective of ecotourism of the white-eared kob (Kobuskobleucotis, Lichtenstein and Peters, 1854). Ethiopia. Kobus kobleucotis migrate through the Boma-Gambella border ecosystems of Ethiopia and South Sudan at certain times of the year. This migration is anonymous and requires an understanding of the overall ecology of the species. Currently, the white-eared Kob population exceeds half a million, making it the second largest migration in Africa, after the wildebeest migration in the Serengeti, Tanzania. Kobs occur in groups of five to forty depending on sex and age and are nocturnal but inactive on the hottest days. Rich grasslands and permanent water sources are the preferred habitats for the species. However, the decline in grassland potential, frequent hunting, expanding settlements, changes in land use and land cover are potential threats to the white-eared kob in Gambella National Parks. Therefore, understanding the total ecological, anthropogenic and behavioral variables that influence the movement and status of the species is the ultimate parameter for conservation activity. Furthermore, entire migration corridors require sustainable management by balancing stakeholder interests and rural community development through nature-based tourism. It is also noted that solid economic and environmental incentives through nature-based tourism require adequate protection in Gambella and the surrounding regions.
Dec 2023 DOI 10.14302/issn.2766-8681.jcsr-23-4811
Isea RaúlCorresponding author
Biotechnology has changed our relationships and perspectives of the world, influencing industry and serving as a catalyst for scientific discoveries. With this change, biotechnology enters a new age known as Biotechnology 2.0. "Modern Biotechnology" and "Artificial Intelligence" are getting married. In order to lessen food poverty, this idea incorporates the most recent advancements in genetic engineering, medicine, environmental preservation, and agricultural productivity and loss reduction strategies. The importance of openness and public involvement in addressing public concerns and advancing moral behavior in biotechnology's future, fostering cooperation among diverse stakeholders, and accomplishing this in a sustainable way for the good of society and humanity cannot be overstated, especially with the backing of biotechnology governance.
Oct 2023 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-3166.jar-21-4033
Wole Damena AregaCorresponding author
Root is has great role for plant adaptation and productivity of the agricultural crops as well as other plants by exploiting the soil resource thus, important for plant growth and development or main growth factors. Root system architecture is made up of structural features which exhibits great role in response to environmental stress, and critical to plant growth and development with sufficient root growth. Root system architecture has a central role in crop plants’ response to abiotic (soil microorganisms) and abiotic stresses like water stress, mechanical impedance. Root morphology can be affected by nutrient availability, osmotic stress, salinity, and light. Phenotyping root is one of the drought management tools as roots are more prone to drought conditions and play a significant role in the plant’s life by extracting soil resources from deeper soil layers to carry on several metabolic functions in the plant’s body and its phenotyping helps to understand different root traits. Understanding interactions between roots and their surrounding soil environment is important to increase root growth, which can be improved through root phenotyping. In addition, knowing of the development and architecture of roots, as well its plasticity, holds thus great role for stabilizing the productivity under suboptimal conditions in the root environment
Oct 2023 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-3166.jar-23-4463
Haroun M. Adam AbubakerCorresponding author
Genotype by environment (GE) interaction is considered to be among the major factors limiting the efficiency of breeding programs.Five chickpea genotypes were evaluated to study their adaptability and stability in eight environments of Sudan. The experiments were carried out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications in four locations in over two years (2017/2018 and 2018/2019).Stability was estimated using additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model.A Combined analysis of variance showed significant effects of genotypes, locations, years and their interactions on seed yield. Mean seed yield ranged between 1.88 and 1.45 t ha-1 for the genotypes FLIP 08-59 C and FLIP 09-187 C, respectively. The genotype FLIP 08-59 C gave the highest average seed yield and out-yielded the two checks, Shiekh Mohamed and Burgeig by 9.5% and 10.1%, respectively. The newly introduced (FLIP 08-59 C) showed non- significant differences in earliness as compared to the other two standard checks resistant to fusarium wilt disease and with good seed weight. The statistical analysis showed that genotype (G), environment (E) and their interaction (GEI) had highly significant (P ≤ 0.001) effect on seed yield. It also revealed that environmental differences accounted for 90.2% of the total variation. The results of data analysis displayed that the percentages of seed yield by environment, genotype and genotype environment interaction were 90.2%, 3.6% and 6.3%, respectively. The IPCA 1 and IPCA 2 axes (Principal Components) were highly significant P ≤ 0.001). The model for seed chickpea yield stability (the Additive Main Effect and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) model) showed that the G1 (FLIP 08-59 C) was adapted, high yielding and considered as stable genotype for Gezira, River Nile and Northern States of Sudan. In addition, this genotype is early flowering with non-significant differences in earliness as compared to the two checks and with good seed weight. Therefore, the above mentioned genotype FLIP 08-59 C could be recommended as commercially stable and high yielding cultivar and/or incorporated as breeding stocks in any future breeding programs aiming to produce high yielding genotypes of chickpea.
Aug 2023 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-3166.jar-23-4662
Kinanthi Putri FebrianaCorresponding author
Environmental pollution until this moment still become crucial environmental problem. Environmental pollution can occur anywhere, one of them is in agriculture sectoral. Environmental pollution in the agriculture area caused by usage of chemical pesticide for managing agriculture. Using chemical pesticide can leave residue that raises pollution. Bioremediation become one of the solutions for the problem. Besides it is environmental friendly, bioremediation is also easy to apply and cheap. This study aim to examine the potency of Bacillus altitudinis , Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas b68, and Pseudomonas b70 as biological agent for bioremediation of pesticide residues in soil Biological agent was incubated in liquid medium polluted pesticide type fungicide for 15 days on some variation concentration pesticides (100, 200, 300) mg/L. Concentration of pesticides and values Optical density (OD) is measured every 3 days with spectrophotometer UV -Vis on long 280 nm and 578 nm waves. The Results showed that the bioagents lower pesticides concentration. and can growing under polluted pesticides conditions The effectiveness and decline in pesticide residue by Bacillus altitudinis ranged from 49.91-59.33%; Bacillus subtilis (50.06-60.51%); Pseudomonas b68 (81.32-86.13 %); Pseudomonas b70 (50.02- 62.1 %). The bioagents produced decreases in the concentration of pesticides, increase in OD value, and decrease in pH indicate. The results affirmed that Bacillus altitudinis, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas b68, and Pseudomonas b70 are effective as bioagents in the remediation pesticides polluted soils
Jul 2023 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-3166.jar-23-4606
B. McCarty LambertCorresponding author
St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze) generally has poor cold tolerance yet good to excellent shade tolerance. As mostly hot summers follow cold winters in USDA Hardiness Zone 7, severely damaging tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh.) and centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides (Munro) Hack.), a St. Augustinegrass cultivar cold tolerant enough to be grown for shady lawns would greatly benefit home owners, recreational sites, and sod growers in the “transition zone.” Eight St. Augustinegrass samples were selected, including industry standards ‘Raleigh’ and ‘Palmetto’, plus ‘Palisades’ zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.) for further testing from an established germplasm collection of material collected from lawns grown in USDA Hardiness Zone 7. Overall, based on 8-week greenhouse studies, the experimental lines had similar shade tolerance compared to commercial standards ‘Raleigh’ ‘Palmetto’ and ‘Palisades’ zoysiagrass. Field studies may be warranted to validate greenhouse studies to help further evaluate shade tolerance of experimental and commercial lines. Information generated supports the use of certain St. Augustinegrass selection in a wider environmental conditions such as reduced light environments (RLE).
Jun 2023
Rifkatu Kambel DogaraCorresponding author
The increasing demand for environmentally-friendly materials has led to a surge in research on the production of biodegradable polymers. In this study, we investigate the synthesis of a biodegradable polymer by graft copolymerization of gum Arabic (GA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG). GA, a natural polysaccharide and PEG, a synthetic water-soluble polymer, were used as the backbone and graft monomer, respectively. The graft copolymerization was carried out using benzoyl peroxide as an initiator and performed under nitrogen atmosphere. The resulting polymer was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Xray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The FTIR spectra confirmed the formation of the graft copolymer, and TGA analysis showed that the copolymer had higher thermal stability than GA. The DTA thermograms indicated two thermal events. The evaporation of water and organic polyethylene glycol components was measured, and the first mass loss was due to the loss of adsorbed and structural water in the gum Arabic, which occurred between 31.87 and 180°C, while the second, corresponding to the pyrolysis of polyethylene glycol functional groups and polysaccharide decomposition, resulted in a 70% mass loss. SEM morphological analysis of gum Arabic showed aggregates of high irregularity in particle shape. The cracks and holes obtained in the Gum Arabic micrograph disappeared from the new gum Arabic-graft-polyethylene glycol, leaving a smooth surface with scattered particles in the image, which was due to the grafting copolymer. From the XRD patterns, the percentages of the amorphous and crystalline phases were determined. The results show that gum Arabic has a 78% degree of crystallinity, whereas gum Arabic-graft-polyethylene glycol has the lowest value of 51%. Biodegradation activity was observed using the fungus Aspergillus flavus on different days on gum Arabic-g-polyethylene glycol. The results clearly showed inhibition zones with a change in the state of the copolymer from solid to liquid from days 8 to 14. These results indicate that the GA-PEG copolymer has potential as a biodegradable material for use in various applications, such as packaging, agriculture, and medical industries.
Apr 2023 DOI 10.14302/issn.3070-2232.jf-21-3946
Nigussie GebresilassieCorresponding author
Hot pepper is an important spice and vegetable crop in Ethiopia. Its production is constrained by a number of problems among which climatic condition is the primary. The amount rain fail temperature humidity the solanaceous groups of vegetables including hot pepper generally are sensitive to environmental conditions. The amount of rain fall required depends on the altitude of the environment, wind speed sunshine hour, which in turn is influenced by a number of genetic and environmental variables. In the absence of any other production constraints, suitable climatic condition and yield of hot pepper are closely related. Pepper, like other crop produces well when it is grown in good environmental condition. Farmers produce hot pepper in different environment without considering the suitable environment. The yield of hot pepper varies year to year; this indicates that pepper crop need intensive care and management for high return per unit area and also appropriate environmental condition. So in order to produce good hot pepper with the required amount of capsaicinoid content it is butter to grow at temperature range of 17.5-28oc. at low altitude hot environment give high capsaicinoid content and in high altitude / Low humidity and high temperatures will cause abscission of buds, flowers and small fruits.
Mar 2023 DOI 10.14302/issn.2690-0904.ijoe-21-3884
Keshaverz VajiheCorresponding author
Background and Purpose Public health problems are caused by the emergence of environmental pollution and infectious diseases, which have caused concern around the world. The public health threat affects the relationship between people. Population growth and associated pressures increase difficulties associated with effective means of maintaining public health. The diseases transmitted from human and livestock communication, water pollution, air pollution, and environmental pollutants urge us to find new solutions to address these problems. Understanding the environmental and environmental health is a prerequisite for protecting public health. In Iran, like other countries in the world, the issue of environmental protection and its compliance with the first program of economic, social and cultural development of the Islamic Republic has begun and expanded in the future. In this regard, new perspectives are being introduced that will bring about dramatic changes at various levels of planning, processes and specialized sectors such as civil, industrial and educational sectors. The training of engineers in this regard can play a very important role in refining the attitudes of young engineers and using these bases in their specialized activities. One of the important tasks of universities is to provide a suitable platform for such training. In this regard, it is essential that the major industrial universities of the country develop various programs in this field. Materials and Methods The present study is a review of the type of validity that is performed through search of authoritative scientific databases such as PubMed and Scopus, Google scholar, PubMed using the key words of building safety and health, HSE, and prevention methods are the latest information. Results Implementing the principles of HSE in various construction, industrial and other projects requires time, because any change that is considered in the system requires a change of attitude, which in turn requires time to adapt and adapt to the new conditions. The conditions for the projects in this research are their current conditions, and the next research, after a while, can determine the percentage of project progress in terms of HSE. Conclusion In order to comply with the principle of HSE cases, there is a need for training. These trainings should be executed at different levels and levels of contracting and monitoring so that the level of awareness of the risks involved in the development of civil operations between the personnel reaches a common frontier.
Aug 2022 DOI 10.14302/issn.3070-3379.jwc-22-4233
Emmanuel EkpaCorresponding author
Biology Unit, Faculty of Science, Airforce Institute of Technology Kaduna
Man’s activity and/ or inactivity continually impedes the environment in many ways. Sometimes, these impediments could be negative with catastrophic consequences. Emission of greenhouse gases, desert encroachment, deforestation, global warming, and general environmental degradation by different human practices poses a lot of threat to this planet. It has therefore become imperative to explore novel ways or technologies in checkmating hazards emanating from these disasters. Biotechnology which simply refers to the use of living organisms or their parts particularly microorganisms to produce materials for human and animal consumption comes in handy. The aim of this paper is to do a brief review on the merits of applying this technology in mitigating hazards arising from climate change. Focus will be centered on agricultural and industrial biotechnology more as a result of their involvement in land and environmental related matters. Manipulation of crops via genetic engineering for varieties with stress resistance, phytoremediation, tissue culture of orphan crops, and so many other biotechnological practices will be examined so as to highlight their role in stemming disasters caused by climate change. In conclusion, the paper will attempt to explain the reason why developing countries like Nigeria should also join the global race in curtailing this menace via her indigenous biotechnology.
Jul 2022 DOI 10.14302/issn.2691-6622.ijar-22-4221
Tadesse TeferaCorresponding author
National Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Holotta, Ethiopia
Cyanobacteria are considered as one of the important group of organisms having significant ecological, industrial, and biotechnological importance. Cyanobacteria have gained a lot of atten ion in recent years because of their potential applications in biotechnology. This review presents an overview of uses of cyanobacteria in industry agriculture, environment pharmaceutical and medicinal roles and to provide future prospects of the field of cyanobacteria biotechnology. Nowadays cyanobacteria have gained attention researchers because of their various potential applications such as food and feed pharmaceutical industries in medicine, in bioremediation, soil conditioning, as biopolymers, bio adhesives, bioenergy and biofertilizers. Due to presence of wide spectrum of bioactive compounds cyanobacteria has possesses antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal and anticancer activities. Several strains of cyanobacteria are also rich in food supplements. Further nitrogen fixing and soil conditioning capacity of cyanobacteria attracted researchers. Recent studies have also shown that cyanobacteria have capability to degrade environmental pollutants and are also being used as a promising source of alternative energy. Cyanobacteria has also its limitations through bloom production it influnces on the nutrient availability and usage of phytoplankton plants. This review is an effort to forward the valuable information about the qualities of cyanobacteria and their potential role in solving the agricultural and environmental problems for the future welfare of the planet.Thus more efforts should be made in search of more potential strains of cyanobacteria to ensure maximum production of the desired products.
May 2022 DOI 10.14302/issn.2643-0282.imsj-22-4160
Donald Hawkins AnthonyCorresponding author
Kincraig, Blairs, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom.
Many marine and freshwater fisheries are now in a very poor state, and many fish stocks are close to collapse. There is a need to manage fisheries more carefully, especially since fishing can affect other aspects of the environment. It is also important to reduce the adverse effects of climate changes upon the marine and freshwater environments, fishes, and other animals, and the need to manage other human activities taking place in the sea, to improve the marine environment and protect the wildlife and the fishing activities. Marine pollution, includes human waste materials, chemicals and plastics, and there is also noise and substrate vibration, from industrial and other activities that may affect both the abundance and quality of fishes and other marine animals. This paper deals with fisheries management, and environmental protection, and concludes that fishermen, fisheries scientists, fisheries managers and environmental interests must work closely together, if fishes are to be adequately protected, and fisheries are to be better managed. It describes current systems of management. It especially draws attention to the importance of moving towards an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management. Such an approach aims to manage all those human activities that have an impact upon the marine environment and its life forms.
Dec 2021 DOI 10.14302/issn.2766-8681.jcsr-21-3805
Adiche ChiaaCorresponding author
Laboratory of Fine Chemistry (L.F.C), Chemistry Department, Faculty of Exact and Applied Sciences University of Oran 1 Ahmed BenBella BP 1524 El M’naouer Oran 31000 Algeria.
A convenient one-pot synthetic protocol for the preparation of sulfonyl amidines has been developed. The procedure combines three-component reaction of sulfonyl azide, methyl propiolate and secondary cyclic amine coupling in one sequence without any solvent or catalyst and at room temperature. The reaction proceeds smoothly and a variety of desired sulfonyl amidines were obtained in moderate to good yields. This protocol has synthetic advantages in terms of low environmental impact and very short reaction time.
Oct 2021 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-7669.ject-21-3970
Dias Toledo Arruda-Neto JoaoCorresponding author
Linear Accelerator Laboratory, Physics Institute, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo-SP, Brazil
Microcystins (MCs) are toxins profusely synthesized by cyanobacteria, causing livestock poisonings and endangering human health. We design and execute an experiment to investigate the attenuation (degradation) of microcystins by exposing them to gamma radiation and electron beams at doses of 0 (control), 3, 5, 10 and 15 kGy. The experimental conditions simulate microcystin contamination of aquatic environments; we thus consider (1) microcystins inside whole cells and extracellular dissolved in water, simulated by non-sonicated and sonicated cells, respectively, and (2) two acute microcystin concentrations within water. Toxicity tests of Microcystis aeruginosa detected immobilization (i.e., paralysis) of Ceriodaphniasilvestrii exposed to aqueous crude extracts of irradiated and non-irradiated M. aeruginosa (NPLJ-4 strain) at concentrations of 45 and 90 mg.L-1 (mg dry weight of freeze-dried material), and the results were analyzed using the Trimmed Spearman-Karber statistical program to obtain 48-h EC50, the average effective concentration causing immobility in 50% of organisms after 48 hours. We conclude that electron beams are effective physical agents for toxin attenuation (degradation) and reach 100% effectiveness at 5 kGy and above; their efficiency is two orders of magnitude greater than that of gamma radiation. This new body of information contributes to (1) remediating environmental water sources; (2) designing water/wastewater treatment facilities; (3) combatting chronic microcystin environmental contamination; and (4) inspiring further studies to promote the use of biomonitors (e.g., Cladocerans) to detect and evaluate microalgae contamination.
Oct 2021 DOI 10.14302/issn.2379-7835.ijn-21-3908
B. Oluwole OluwatoyinCorresponding author
Food Technology Department, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, Lagos, Nigeria
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a menace in the global public health system. According to GLOBOCAN reports, colorectal cancer is the second most diagnosed cancer in the world with more than 1.9 million cases and 935,000 deaths in 2020 alone. Diet plays a key role in exposing humans to environmental carcinogens and anti-carcinogens, consequently mitigating or aiding in the development of various cancers. CRC is most prevalent in western countries with a high intake of saturated fats, refined carbohydrates, and processed meat. CRC was an extremely rare disease in Africa some decades ago, but the situation is fast changing. The traditional African diet consists of leafy, roots and cruciferous vegetables, fruits, roots, tubers and plantains, legumes, whole grains, and spices, all of which have been shown to possess protective effects against CRC. However, the effect of urbanization has contributed to the shift of dietary choices among the African population to consuming more ultra-processed foods with high levels of unhealthy components that have originated from colorectal cancer prevalent regions. This review evaluates the current nutritional challenges of the African diet to colorectal cancer and the potential roles of the traditional African diets and lifestyle modification in the prevention and management of colorectal cancer.
Jul 2021 DOI 10.14302/issn.2577-2279.ijha-21-3869
Jain JuliCorresponding author
Neuroscience Research Lab, Department of Zoology, School of Biological Sciences, Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Sagar – 470003 (MP), India.
Rotenone is well known environmental neurotoxin used to induce Parkinson’s disease (PD) model. Numerous studies are investigated its toxicity on the brain but few studies are available that examined its toxicity on the liver and kidney. Therefore, the main aim of the present work was to explore the toxicity of rotenone on the liver and kidney and its protection through quercetin. Administration of rotenone orally at the dose of (5mg/kg b.w daily for 60 days) caused a significant increase in the levels of liver function and renal function biomarkers as compared to controls. A significant increase in the level of lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide, and decrease in the levels of reduced glutathione, reduction in the activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase were observed in the liver and kidney as compared to control. The histopathological and SEM study in rotenone-treated mice showed alteration and signs of inflammation in the liver and kidney. While co-treatment of quercetin orally (30 mg/kg b.w for 60 days) together with rotenone, reversed the above parameters. In conclusion, rotenone significantly damages the liver and kidney, and the administration of quercetin along with rotenone shown a protective role. This study provides a new insight into where rotenone-induced liver and kidney dysfunction could be successfully protected by quercetin.
Jul 2021 DOI 10.14302/issn.2769-2264.jw-21-3870
Danielly da Silva Lopes IrisCorresponding author
Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia. Instituto Sócio Ambiental e Recursos Hídricos. Avenida Presidente Tancredo Neves, 2501-Terra Firme. Belém-PA. Brasil. CEP: 66077-530.
In this study, were multivariate analysis of the waters of the Arienga and Murucupí rivers located near an area of intense industrial activity in the Barcarena City, Pará State, Brazil. Were analyzed the variables temperature, pH, total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, DO, BOD, ammoniacal-N, nitrite-N, nitrate-N, phosphate, sulfate and total hardness in four sampling campaigns in the year 2011. This amazon rivers presented physicochemical characteristics well heterogeneous, but similar behaviors for the variables pH, temperature and DO in the extensions evaluated, that is, increase in the source-mouth direction, with variations from 4.77 to 7.33 and 5.51 to 7.3, 25 to 31°C and 27 to 32°C and from 4.4 to 7.98 mg.L-1 and 1.17 to 6.55 mg.L-1 for the Arienga and Murucupi rivers respectively. In addition to these characteristics, the Arienga River also presented an increase for ammoniacal-N, nitrite-N, nitrate-N and hardness in the dry period, with variations from 0.014 to 6.336 mg.L-1, 0.005 to 0.334 mg.L-1, 0.009 to 4.818 mg.L-1 and 1.146 to 14.389 mg.L-1 respectively. In general, Murucupí River presented different physicochemical characteristics that are coherent with the local scenario, where the launch domestic effluents and the environmental impacts caused by industrial waste are visible and recurrent respectively.
Jun 2021 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-3166.jar-21-3857
Mohamed Adam AbubakerHarounCorresponding author
Department of Crop Science, College of Agriculture, University of Bahri-Sudan.
The Fall armyworm worm (FAW) (Spodopterafrugiperda) is one of the important economic pests which goes on several field crops and causes serious damage. The aim of this study was to look for efficient, less cost and environmentally friend plant extract for controlling Fall armyworm worm in cereal crops. A Complete Randomized Block Design (CRBD) experiments with three replications were conducted in the laboratory to investigate the insecticidal effects of four plant extracts consisting of ethanolic extract of Neem (Azadirachta indica) seeds, Black pepper (Piper nigrum) seeds, Usher (Calotropis procera ) leaves and water extracts of Argel (Solenostemma argel) leaves on larvae of the Fall armyworm (FAW) (Spodoptera frugiperda). Newly emerged larvae of FAW were treated topically by 4 concentrations (10, 25, 50 and 75%) of each extract, and then the larval mortalities were calculated after 24, 48 and72 hrs. The results showed the highest concentrations (75%) of the three ethanolic extracts gave higher mortality percentages (100%) after 72 hrs of exposure, compared with other concentrations. Also, these were not significantly different from the recommended dose of the standard pesticide “Spinosad”. On the other hand, Argel water extract showed no effect on the (FAW) larvae. It is recommended that this experiment to be replicated under different environments.
Mar 2021 DOI 10.14302/issn.2329-9487.jhc-21-3742
Sisay TesfayeCorresponding author
Associate Professor
Cardiovascular disease is actually a major cause of mortality, illness and hospitalization worldwide. Several risk factors have been identified that are strongly associated with the development of cardiovascular disease. Public prevention strategies have relied predominately on managing environmental factors that contribute to cardiovascular disease, such as obesity, smoking and lack of exercise. The understanding of the role of genetics in cardiovascular disease development has become much more important to link genetics with the onset of disease and response to therapy. This seeks to examine how genes can predispose individuals to cardiovascular disease and how this knowledge might be applied to more comprehensive preventive strategies in the future. In addition, the review explores possibilities for genetics in cardiovascular disease treatment, particularly through the use of identified driver genes and gene therapy. To fully understand the biological implications of these associations, there is a need to relate them to the exquisite, multilayered regulation of protein expression and regulatory elements, mutation, microRNAs and epigenetics. Understanding how the information contained in the DNA relates to the operation of these regulatory layers will allow us not only to better predict the development of cardiovascular disease but also to develop more effective therapies.
Dec 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-3166.jar-20-3639
Masoero GiorgioCorresponding author
Accademia di Agricoltura di Torino, Via A. Doria 10, 10123 Torino (Italy).
An experiment on watercress (Lepidium sativum) 42 d days after sowing was set up to evaluate the effect of UVAB radiation on foliar pH and on NIR tomoscopy. The effect of 8 h of UV exposure (about 500 µWcm-2) was clear, causing a reduction in the foliar pH of 6.0%, compared to the contemporary control group (5.22 vs. 5.56). When the treated leaves were returned to white light, their pH rose by 1.7% (5.31), reaching the same level as leaves grown outdoors (5.33). On the basis of the NIR spectra, the leaves of the plants grown outdoors were recognized 100%, that is, more than the control leaves (87%) and the plants treated with UV on the day of measurement (81%). However, the effect of the UV marking on the leaves is not permanent as, after the UV treatment, the leaves returned to white light were classified at 61%, which is a greater value than the 37% of overlapping between the two groups. The foliar pH was highly correlated with the NIR spectra, with R2 0.43. These results corroborate the hypothesis of the influence of the solar cycle on the variation of the pH of leaves in plants, which we believe may have played a major role in past agricultural pandemics. These results call for the introduction of the pH test for the evaluation of resistance to pathogens. From the environmental point of view, the foliar pH could be enlisted as an in vivo long-time indicator of the response of plants to climate changes.
Sep 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2693-1176.ijgh-20-3545
Ezinna E EnwerejiCorresponding author
Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria
Public health professionals working in rural communities are aware of the health disparities which result from lack of physicians, limited services, and income during the pandemic. Also they are aware that some populations are more vulnerable than others. People in the rural areas are experiencing problems on their physical, social and economic life styles because the pandemic is exacerbating some inequities. Individuals especially women and children in the rural areas are facing barriers in accessing health care services due to lack of resources and availability of health care providers in the communities. With COVID-19, women are less likely to seek services, including sexual and reproductive health services. Such services may be postponed to limit exposure to COVID-19 infection. This is particularly disturbing because in addition to the women maintaining their own health, they are also responsible for taking care of the mental, emotional and physical health needs of their families as well as all domestic responsibilities. As such, women in rural settings face special challenges as a result of these significant roles they play. Therefore, the impacts of COVID-19 are exacerbated on women by virtue of their sex and the roles they play in the family. This is a qualitative study that reviewed the reports of the 36 health care professionals under the aegis of members of COVID-19 committee working in partnership with state government to control, prevent and cushion the effects of COVID-19 in the society. This study is therefore, a summary of the observations of the COVID-19 committee members made up of 10(27.8%) females and 26(72.2%) males. The study focused on exploring how individual lifestyles in the rural areas have been affected in the face of COVID- 19 pandemic by identifying the vulnerabilities in social, political and economic systems which can amplify the impacts of the pandemic. Findings showed that preventive measures like lockdown and social distancing rules, wearing of face mask, hand washing with soap, and environmental cleanliness were not observed. The study noted that health seeking behaviours, sexual and marital life including income, education, employment and social interactions were all negatively affected. Most hospitals were battered and health care professionals boycotted the hospitals for fear of being infected. It was found that lack of health workers in the hospitals caused a good number of individuals to engage in self-medications. Also most pregnant women delivered their babies at home and few with traditional birth attendants. Some of the women who had deliveries at home experienced complications during and after delivery. Unfortunately, the report showed that governments’ financial supports to these women and their family members were insignificant as the government was more concerned with mitigating the spread of COVID-19 than assisting women to have safe deliveries. Therefore, the vulnerable groups especially women, children, and the elderly who experienced threats to their safety and wellbeing as a result of the services that were disrupted during the pandemic, should be assisted so as not to lose their lives to preventable diseases.
Sep 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2377-2549.jndc-20-3516
Bhargava AksheyCorresponding author
Ex. Rajasthan Pollution Control Board, CEPT University, India
Municipal solid waste generation and disposal is a problem not only in India but all over the world. Presently majority of such waste is being dumped indiscriminately over vacant lands causing problems of odor, methane generation leading to air pollution, leaching effect polluting ground water and runoff polluting water bodies. Technological options are available to treat this solid waste and convert it into usable products but the biggest problem is its segregation preferably at the source of generation or even at the disposal area. Municipal solid waste generated in India consists of 15 percent non biodegradable which has high calorific contents and can be converted into power generation. Remaining 85 percent is degradable which can either be converted into compost or bio fuels. Under the present context, sustainable municipal waste management strategy needs to be evolved and put in place with effective implementation to address the issue of environmental pollution. An attempt has therefore been made by the authors of the present paper to take up a case study of Kanpur, India for managing such wastes having sustainable approach. The authors have worked out trends of population starting from the year 1951 and projected to 2051. Similarly waste generation trends established on the lines of population. An effort has also been made as to how much compost, bio fuel and power can be generated along with economic value to make it sustainable on a time scale.
Aug 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2835-2165.jfsh-20-3487
Roozbeh Nasiraie LeilaCorresponding author
Assistant Professor, Department of Food Science and Technology, Nour Branch of Islamic Azad University, Nour, Iran
The ever-present need for human communities to extract herbal active ingredients has necessitated many studies to be carried out in order to introduce more efficient and cost-effective extraction processes. The traditional extraction methods are very time consuming and use large volumes of solvents. The large volumes of solvents consumed in such methods not only increase costs but also pose many environmental problems. New extraction methods have been recently introduced to replace the traditional ones. These new methods reduce the volumes of required solvents, shorten the process and increase its efficiency and improve the quality of the products. In this study, the three methods of immersion, boiling, and ultrasound using water/ethanol solvents were employed for garlic extraction and compared with each other in terms of the extraction speed and time, the antioxidant property of the extract, and the quantity of the heat-sensitive active ingredient. The results showed that the highest allicin content (0.086%) was observed in the ultrasonic aqueous extract. The largest amounts of phenolic compounds (0.311 mg gallic acid equivalent) were observed in the ultrasonic aqueous extract followed by the aqueous extract prepared after 72 h in a shaking incubator. The highest inhibition rate (50% at 5000 ppm) was that of the ultrasonic aqueous extract and the shaken aqueous extract. Other extracts achieved an inhibition rate of 50% at 8000 ppm. Therefore, ultrasonic extraction can be a good alternative to traditional extraction methods.
Aug 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2643-2811.jmbr-20-3476
Naderi A.Corresponding author
School of Mechanical Engineering, Imam Ali University, Tehran, Iran,
Nowadays, supplying energy for the global population has turned into a prominent issue for countries engendering the consumption of huge amounts of fossil fuels which leads to some serious environmental problems. Among the renewable energy technologies, solar collectors can play major role to improve the efficiency, in air conditioning utility systems by minimum pollution. In photovoltaic/thermal (PVT) solar collectors, which are currently considered as the most advanced type to produce electricity and heat simultaneously, working fluid absorbs Energy from photovoltaic (PV) module engendering to decrease temperature of PV module and increase the electricity efficiency and also provide permissible amount of heat for other residential applications. Meanwhile, utilizing nanofluid as the working fluid in collector, regarding that the nanofluid has enhanced thermal properties relative to the base fluid, leads to a higher collector efficiency. In this research, PVP coated silver nanofluid was prepared in three volume concentration being 250, 500 and 1000 ppm by two-step method. To assess the stability of nanofluid the zeta potential is calculated which is obtained -41.6 V. Also, the prominent thermal properties of the nanofluid were analyzed regarding PVT solar collector applications. According to the results, thermal conductivity of the PVP coated silver nanofluid, improves the properties of base fluid, to the extent that thermal conductivity coefficient grows up 50% in some temperatures and increased from 0.594 for base fluid to 1.098 W/mK by escalation of concentration to 1000 ppm. Thus, PVP coated silver nanofluid can be deemed as the vital working fluid to improve the performance of PVT solar collectors.
Jul 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2377-2549.jndc-20-3460
Tamilvanan NivedharshiniCorresponding author
India
Laccase enzyme production is important and more beneficial for environment, because it has many roles like, involved in bioremediation, biodegradation, decolorization of environmental polluted dyes and pharmaceutical sector also. Production of laacse enzyme from bacillus sp as using of Agro waste (rice bran) as a substrate. The Agricultural soil sample was collected, after the sample were processed for the preliminary and biochemical tests to identification of Bacillus organism. The Guiacol inducer were used for microbial screening of laccase enzyme production. After that microbial screening, various optimization parameters (pH, Temperature, Inducers, carbon and nitrogen sources) are checked for that production of laccase enzyme in mass level. Based on that optimization the bulk fermentation (large scale) (solid state fermentation) were done as a rice bran substrate. The fermentation product was subjected to analyzed the physiochemical properties and purification based on that techniques of Gel filtration chromatography, Dialysis, Ammonium sulfate preciptation. The protein estimation of that product to analysed by lowry’s method.
Jul 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2642-3146.jec-20-3428
Bhargava AksheyCorresponding author
Ex. Rajasthan Pollution Control Board, CEPT University, India
Urbanism and urbanization is a complex term in as much as that it is highly diversified in terms of culture, traditions, religion, social behavior and life, size and capacity, supporting infrastructure, governance, administration, planning approach, trade, so on and so forth. The present scenario is highly sophisticated and alarming in the context of growing and continuous expansion of the urbanization world over leading to associated problems and pose threats to social, environmental, and economic. An effort has been made by the authors of the present paper to conceptualize the parameters for environmental sustainability in urban development.
Jul 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2642-3146.jec-20-3389
Tageldin Hago Ahmed SuhailCorresponding author
Faculty of Engineering, University of Khartoum, Sudan
Since the independence of South Sudan, Sudan lost 75% of its oil reserves, this led to major fuel shortages country wide, the fuel shortage raised the fuel prices and the overall transport prices. Scarcity led to black market trade of fuel specially in states away from the Capital City (Khartoum). Managing the available stock comes first before increasing the supply amount in order to solve the problem, one of the major fuel consumers to be managed is the transport sector specially the long haulage freight transport. Moving freight in Sudan is constrained by inadequate infrastructure and high costs. This paper covers specifically the long haulage freight transport between Khartoum State and Western side of the country (Darfur Region), Contributing to manage fuel consumption for trucks, taking into account trucks types used, roads, environmental impacts and mitigation measures applicable to save fuel . The results showed that the primary reason for the excessive fuel consumption is the usage of the rigid trucks (lorries) for transport specially the Hino700 series, this truck type, overload and absence of weight stations and control policies contributed significantly to deterioration of roads and transport efficiency decreasing. First step towards the solution would be in upgrading roads infrastructure assuring high quality along with enforced weight regulations and weight stations to protect roads from damages. High quality roads shall ease the usage of different truck types with different configurations. Then stablish a policy to force replacement of the low efficiency lorry truck types with high quality tractor semi-trailer combinations.
Jun 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-4538.jphi-20-3442
Cameron Y. S. LeeCorresponding author
The Covid-19 pandemic has swept rapidly from Wuhan, China to the entire globe in less than six months, infecting over 7 million people and claiming the lives of over 500,000. In the United States, greater than 2 million individuals have become infected and over 110,000 people killed. With no evidence of slowing of the coronavirus that causes Covid-19, public health authorities must prepare for possible sustained transmission of Covid-19, or a second wave into the Fall 2020, but with the presence of the influenza A virus. In the Fall 2020, schools will reopen from kindergarten to 12th grade. Dual pandemics or epidemics will result in high morbidity and mortality not observed when either virus was solely active. Community leaders, educational administrators and public health systems must be prepared for simultaneous outbreaks of both Covid-19 and influenza. Although there are no clinical studies that have evaluated the benefits on the use of face masks during an epidemic or pandemic, public health non-pharmaceutical intervention (NPIs) measures should include the routine use of face masks during school sessions. Using face masks with other NPI may interrupt viral transmission as it has been established that respiratory viruses, such as Covid-19 and the influenza virus are transmitted via respiratory droplets, aerosols, and environmental surface contact.
Jun 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2572-3030.jcgb-20-3407
Parviz MahmoudiCorresponding author
Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Air Pollution and Respiratory Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
Benzene is known as an environmental and industrial pollutant. One way to check the amount of exposure to benzene is to measure its metabolites in the urine. Trans, Trans-Muconic Acid which is one of its metabolites is also as a biological indicator of exposure to benzene. In this study, the relationship between the amount of this biomarker and the environmental benzene concentration was investigated in two groups of policemen working outdoors in the traffic-congested areas and indoor in the same area. The results showed that the highest amount of benzene was in Salman Farsi Station at 4.44 ppm. At the same time, the biomarker measured in the urine showed 127.20 μg / L, which was the highest amount. In addition, the amount of benzene in the outdoor was approximately 3 times more than indoor and the amount of biomarker measured in outdoor employees was two times more than indoors ones. In general, wherever there was more benzene, the biomarker would also show a higher amount.
Apr 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2474-7785.jarh-20-3301
Amjad KarismaCorresponding author
PhD Fellow, Institute of Social Welfare and Research, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Bangladesh many older people spend their life in not only the unwell health but also in poverty which is major risk for the elderly population. This is especially true for older women, who suffer from various difficulties ensuing from prejudices to gender, widowhood and old age. Climate migrants start living in urban slums are in search of better and secure life. But urban slums located mostly in low lying environmentally hazardous area coupled with inadequate facilities like food, shelter, sanitation, health care make their life even worse. Older Women are the vulnerable groups in society in terms of climate change, movement; haphazard growth and unhealthy environment are the target group for this research. This study represents the nature and extent of elderly abuse of climate migrant urban poor women slum dwellers in Dhaka city in Bangladesh context. Besides, this paper also observe the socio-economic status of the study respondents and try to find out the self-stated reasons of elderly abuse. This study conducted both quantitative and qualitative types study on two slums of Dhaka with purposive sample survey, KII and in depth qualitative interview of selected climate migrant slum dwellers while purposive sample size of 50. Decreasing in earning capacity, inability and economic dependency, health hazard, maladjustment, changing social values have a separate role in the connection of older abuse. Planned migration, awareness program implantations against elderly abuse and secured socioeconomic factors are suggested through this paper to lessen exposure to further neglecting of elderly climate migrant women in urban slums.
Apr 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2574-4518.jsdr-20-3161
Sedky KarimCorresponding author
Psychiatry Residency Director and Medical Student Education Director, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
Delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS) is a circadian rhythm disorder where individuals experience difficulty modifying the time they go to sleep and wake up in response to environmental changes. The circadian rhythm itself is regulated by a variety of clock genes, and various other genes (e.g., AA-NAT gene, CKIϵ gene) code for proteins that regulate clock genes. Various polymorphisms of the clock gene influencers have been shown to increase susceptibility to DSPS. This paper seeks to examine how certain cultural characteristics (e.g., napping, timing of meals, exposure to artificial light) and the presence of the AA-NAT gene (G619A polymorphism) and the CKIϵ gene (S408N polymorphism) influence the prevalence of DSPS amongst Japanese and Brazilian populations.
Oct 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2691-6622.ijar-19-2991
H Radwan ECorresponding author
Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Damanhour University, Egypt
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of organic pollution of EL-Mahmodia canal on the fish (Oreochromis niloticus)muscles tissues collected from two sites at EL-Mahmodia canal in summer and winter 2017. EL-Mahmodia canal is exposed to excessive of effluents which impact fish. The present results showed high concentrations of organic pollutants, particularly in winter. Organic pollutants were analyzed using the gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A variety of environmental screening studies concerning varieties of water pollutants in Egypt, the target of the present study was to scan the organic pollutants of El-Mahmodia stream at El-Beheira Governorate, Egypt within the muscles of Tilapia fish. Within the present study, it was found that; the analysis of fish muscles in summer season showed a high level of organic pollutants. The organic pollutants that are reported in the muscle of fish in the polluted site were reported as; Dimethomorph-(E), Hexestrol, Diisobutyl phthalate, Diamyl phthalate, Di-n-propyl phthalate, Chlorpyrifos, Phorate sulfoxide, Exaltolide (15-Pentadecanolide), Chlorfenapyr, Pyridate, Ethofumesate, Bis (2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, Dicyclohexyl phthalate, Di-n-octyl phthalate, Tricresylphosphate, meta-, XMC (3, 4-Dimethylphenyl N-methyl, XMC (3,5-Dimethylphenyl N-methyl, Hexestrol, Thymol, Kinoprene, Diisobutyl phthalate, Diisobutyl phthalate, Di-n-hexyl phthalate, Di-n-hexyl phthalate, Carbofuran-3-keto, Tefluthrin, cis-, Carbofuran-7-phenol, Carbofuran, Dicyclohexyl phthalate, Di-n-propyl phthalate, Di-n-propyl phthalate, Bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, Ethofumesate, Hexestrol, Kinoprene, Di-n-hexyl phthalate, Exaltolide (15-Pentadecanolide), Spiroxamine metabolite (4-tert-b), Chlorfenapyr, Tricresylphosphate, para, Tricresylphosphate, meta-, Tricresylphosphate, ortho-, XMC (3, 5-Dimethylphenyl N-methyl, XMC (3,4-Dimethylphenyl N-methyl, Fluroxypyr-1-methylheptyl ester, Cashmeran, Propargite metabolite (Cyclohexa), and Quinoclamine. The present results showed that Diisobutyl phthalate, Bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, Pyridate and Ethofumesate were detected in winter season in the polluted site, whereas, Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, and Pyridate were the only organic pollutants that were found in winter in the reference site. The accumulation patterns of organic pollutants percentage in the polluted site in summer in the muscles of O. niloticus were in the following order: Chlorpyrifos> Diamyl phthalate> Diisobutylphthalate> Di-n-butylphthalate> Diamyl phthalate> Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, whereas, in the reference site in summer, it was Chlorpyrifos> Chlorfenapyr> Di-n-butylphthalate> Diisobutylphthalate> Hexestrol> Di-nhexyl phthalate. The accumulation patterns of organic pollutants in the polluted site in winter in the muscles of O. niloticus, were in the following order: Bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate> Pyridate> Ethofumesate, whereas in the reference site it was; Bis (2-ethylhexyl)phthalate> Pyridate.
Oct 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2642-3146.jec-19-2977
Tian WufengCorresponding author
University of Wisconsin Eau Claire-Barron County, Rice Lake, WI
The effects of global warming have been causing irreversible damage to the Earth over the past decades. One way we can reduce our individual impact on the environment is to focus on the production and consumption of Eco‐friendly sources of electricity such as solar, wind, or bio-electric energy. Based on the current available and suitable energy options, we have proposed to modify a chosen house from Northern Wisconsin by using a hybrid system including solar energy and wind turbine energy to replace the traditional power grid. Considering sunlight‐time, wind speed in Northern Wisconsin, we have predicted the immediate and long‐term fiscal and environmental impacts. From this cost‐benefit analysis, we project that the best hybrid option is a combination of 95% solar power and 5% wind energy, which would save about $41,000 over the next 30 years.
Jun 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2474-3585.jpmc-19-2825
M. Chaudhary SanjeevCorresponding author
Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Nagpur
Background Concordance or husband wife agreement on various factors like sleep, substance use, dietary supplement use, and diseases like obesity and hypertension has been extensively studied worldwide. But the data regarding concordance of stress among married couples in India is lacking. Objective The prime objective of this study was to find out proportion of concordance of stress among married couples in Nagpur, Central India. Methods This was a community based cross sectional study conducted in an urban area of Nagpur. 260 couples in whom both husband and wife were of the age 30 years or more were included. Stress among couples was assessed by Presumptive stressful life events scale (PSLES). Results 82.3% concordance of stress was observed. Getting married, birth of daughter, death of close family member, illness of family member, gain of new family member and going on pleasure trip or pilgrimage were most common events reported by both spouses. Pregnancy of wife was the most common event reported by husbands. Four husbands reported death of spouse as a life event. None of the spouses reported extra marital relation of spouse and conflict over dowry as life time events. Conclusions Concordance of stress was very high among couples. This suggests role of shared marital environmental factors, which could affect stress concordance among couples.
Jun 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2688-5328.ijp-19-2731
Wei XiangCorresponding author
Hospital of Suzhou University, Suzhou, China
The rise of epigenetics provides a new idea for studying the regulation of chronic pain-related genes and synaptic plasticity. External environmental stimuli can regulate BDNF genes through different epigenetic modifications. The epigenetic changes of the BDNF gene can affect the expression of its mRNA and protein and participate in the development of chronic pain. By reviewing the literature, this paper reviews the mechanism of epigenetic regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in chronic pain, which provides some new directions and targets for the treatment of chronic pain.
May 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2637-6075.jpae-19-2803
Chibueze Izah SylvesterCorresponding author
Department of Biological Sciences, Bayelsa Medical University, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
This study evaluated the phytoplankton community of Taylor creek from Polaku to Agbia between November 2013 and July 2014. Sampling was carried out in 12 locations along the stretch of the creek following standard protocol. The phytoplankton enumeration was done and identified accordingly. In all the 12 locations, 100 species of phytoplankton belonging to 14 taxonomic groups including Bacillariophyta (31 species), Chlorophyta (25 species), Pyrrophyta (4 species), Cyanophyta (17 species), Spermatophyta (9 species), Euglenophyta (3 species), Phaeophyta (1 species), Heterokontophyta (2 species), Myxophyta (1 species), Xanthophyta (1 species), Chrysophyta (2 species), Lycopodiophyta (1 species), Cryptophyta (1 species), Dinophyta (2 species). Bacillariophyta, Chlorophyta, Cyanophyta and Spermatophyta with occurrence rate of 36%, 34%, 10% and 10%, respectively were the predominant phytoplankton in the study area occurring in all the locations across the period of the study. The various species have some distinct environmental condition that enable them thrive in their niche, and this determines the structure of the phytoplankton in the study area. The diversity indices provided information about the distribution and health condition of the creek. The study showed significant relationships between Shannon-Wiener, Menhinick, Margalef, equitability and Fisher-alpha indices. The ecosystem showed moderate to heavy pollution based on Shannon Wiener index. There is the need for improved method of waste disposal and other anthropogenic activities being carried in and/ or within the creek.
Feb 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2643-6655.jcap-18-2570
Emanuela ZappellaCorresponding author
Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, Italy
Self-determination is a key concept to promote greater self-awareness in the subjects with disability, to build appropriate educational or professional projects and to evaluate the already active programs. Using PRISMA checklist, I selected articles from different databases (CINAHL, Medline, Psych INFO, Cochrane Library, ERIC, Scholar. The 9 evaluation measures identified are analyzed with respect to: choice of the points of view to be collected, domains, items and data collection methods. The results show that while some scales focus on autonomy, empowerment, self-realisation and self-regulation and others focus on knowledge, skills and abilities, attitudes and beliefs. Two instruments added also: opportunities and support. With respect to the choice of the points of view to be collected: in some cases the student’s opinion is collected but in other cases their point of view is integrated or replaced with that of teachers and parents. Only one tool is designed for all children and starts from the belief that self-determination is important for all people, including those with a disability. A third element of the analysis is the possibility of answering the questions posed by the various evaluation tools. A typical form is Likert scale while in other cases open questions are used. The analysis highlights two critical issues. The variety of definitions of self-determination is inevitably reflected in the choice of domains and items and therefore self-determination is only partially investigated. Secondly the opinion and people with disabilities are sometimes completed or replaced by that of third persons as parents and teachers. Starting from the analysis of existing instruments. the article closes with a reflection on the possibility of constructing a scale that considers all the aspects of self-determination offered in the literature (at the individual and environmental level) and collects the opinion of all the subjects involved in self-determination projects. This synthesis represents a first step in the construction of a possible universal scale starting from the analysis of the literature. A comparison would then be necessary with the students with intellectual disabilities, the family members and the other actors involved to understand which domains are really meaningful to them and to build indicators that correspond to the elements that are important to them. In this way we would have a tool capable of combining the point of view of literature with that of the people directly involved.
Feb 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2377-2549.jndc-18-2507
Jana SnehasisCorresponding author
Trivedi Science Research Laboratory Pvt. Ltd., Thane (W), India
Hydroxypropyl β-Cyclodextrin (HPBCD) used in food, pharmaceutical, chemical industries, as well as environmental, and agriculture engineering. But the major issue related to HPBCD is the low solubility profile. In this study, the influence of the Consciousness Energy Healing Treatment (the Trivedi Effect®) on the physicochemical properties of HPBCD was evaluated using spectroscopic and calorimetric analytical techniques. The test sample (HPBCD) was divided into control sample and treated sample. The control sample did not receive the Biofield Energy Treatment. Whereas, the treated sample received the Biofield Energy Treatment remotely by a renowned Biofield Energy Healer, Dahryn Trivedi. The particle size values of the treated sample were decreased by 3.28%(d10), 1.36%(d50), 0.45%(d90), and 1.04%{D(4,3)}; therefore, the specific surface area was increased by 1.9% compared with the control sample. The evaporation temperature of the treated HPBCD sample was significantly decreased by 19.89%; however, the latent heat of evaporation and latent heat of fusion were significantly increased by 56.27% and 47.41%, respectively compared with the control sample.The total weight loss in the treated HPBCD was decreased by 5.11%; whereas, the residue amount was significantly 309.67% more compared to the control sample.The results indicated that the Trivedi Effect® might have produced a new form of HPBCD which may show better thermal stability, solubility, dissolution rate, and bioavailability. This new form of HPBCD would be more useful for improvement of solubility of the lipophilic drug, preparation of cholesterol free food products, weight loss supplements, anti-obesity medication, stabilize volatile and unstable compounds, and other manufacturing industry using it as a raw material.
Jan 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2643-6655.jcap-18-2541
S.O OyamakinCorresponding author
Department of Statistics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Many researchers have devoted considerable attention to the impact of individual-level factors on child mortality, but little is known about how family and community characteristics affect health of children. Trend in child mortality as well as its determinants, has long been the subject of academic and policy debates. In spite of this, the problem of child mortality remains as daunting as ever. In fact, advancement in medical sciences and the upsurge in information and telecommunication technology equipment have not significantly reduced child mortality in the country, unlike in the West. The Multilevel proportional hazards model for data that are hierarchically clustered at three levels was applied to the study of covariates of child mortality in Nigeria. This study merges two parallel developments of statistical tools for data analysis: statistical methods known as hazard models that are used for analyzing event-duration data and statistical methods for analyzing hierarchically clustered data known as multilevel models. These developments have rarely been integrated in research practice and the formalization and estimation of models for hierarchically clustered survival data remain largely uncharted. The model was estimated using the Newton-Raphsons numerical search approach. The model accounts for hierarchical clustering with three random effects or frailty effects. We assume that the random effects are independent and follow the Exponential and Weibull distribution. The results indicate that bio-demographic factors are more important in infancy while socioeconomic factors and household and environmental conditions have a greater effect in childhood. Furthermore, there is significant variation in child mortality risks even after controlling for measured determinants of mortality. Also, factors that fall under family and community level are more significant indicating that child survival is most controlled or determined by family and community factors and variables at the child level is not weighty. This suggests that there may exits unobserved or unobservable factors related to mortality.
Jan 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-3166.jar-18-2496
Raj GuptaCorresponding author
Nutrient depletion and imbalanced use of fertiliser nutrients, inappropriate tillage and rain- water management practices often result in land degradation. Declining soil health contributes to climate change through loss in soil productivity, biodiversity, soil carbon, and moisture and ecosystem services. In order to address declining soil health, government of India has launched a soil health card (SHC) scheme aimed at need base use of chemical fertilisers. The paper points out the short-comings in the SHC scheme. Balanced and need base use of chemical fertilizers can be helpful in environmental protection and restoring soil health. The paper identifies potential agronomic practices and production management systems that can reduce our dependence on synthetic nutrients. Integration of soil fertility management domains with computer based QUEFT crop model has the potential of making fertiliser recommendations more domain and crop specific and less cumbersome. For soil health assessment chemical indicators must be integrated with physical and biological properties of the soils which can be predicted through reflectance spectroscopy. For assessing soil health related issues across different agro-ecoregions, there is however an urgent need for building-up more robust soil reflectance libraries.
Dec 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2691-3208.ijli-18-2476
H Radwan ECorresponding author
Faculty of Science, Damanhour University, Egypt
Bivalves are used as bioindicators of heavy metals pollution because they are known to concentrate these elements, providing a time integrated indication of environmental contamination. Trace metals can reach high concentrations in sediments and also in aquatic organisms by bioaccumulation through the food chain. Six heavy metals (Hg, Zn, Pb, Fe, Mg and Cu) were collected and investigated from Abu Hummus, El Behara. The concentration of Hg was high in winter as 2.3µg/g in sediment. The Zn concentration was high in summer in sediment as 8.1µg/g. The Pb concentration was high in winter in water as 3.3µg/l. The concentration of Fe in sediment was high in summer as 492 µg/g. The concentration of Mg was high in sediment as 408µg/g. The concentration of Cu was high in summer in sediment as 301µg/g. The mean concentrations of Fe in the present study are within the permissible limits of law 48/1982 (<1 mg/l) and the guideline of (WHO, 1993) which is <1 mg/l. The mean concentration level of copper is within the permissible limits of law 48/1982 (<1.0 mg/l). The mean levels of the heavy metals (Hg, Zn, Pb, Fe, Mg and Cu) detected in the present study in the water stream are less than the permissible limits recommended by (USEPA, 2005). In the present study there is a significance between all seasons in the protein content in the soft tissue of Spathopsisrubensas the mean concentration level in Spring was reported as 102.83mg/g which is higher then that of autumn 100.5mg/g, summer 93.33 mg/g and winter 80.50 mg/g. In the present study the mean activity level of GPx in spring was higher than the other seasons such as spring 31.33u/g ˃ summer 28.33 u/g ˃Autumn 26.67 u/g ˃ winter 20.50u/g. The mean activity level of SOD in summer was higher than the other seasons such as summer 38.83 u/g ˃ spring 33.33 U /g ˃Autumn 28.83U/g ˃ winter 22.83U/g. The mean activity level of CAT in spring was higher than the other seasons such as spring 25.67u/g ˃ summer and autumn19.83u/g ˃ winter 15.17u/g. The mean activity level of MDA in winter was 30.50 U/g ˃ summer 22.50U/g ˃ autumn 18.0 U/g ˃ spring 16.83U/g. In the present study it was found that the mean activity level of MDA increased in winter at the same time the mean activity level of CAT, SOD and GPx were decreased in winter. Negative correlation was reported between CAT and Hg in winter as r=-0.88*. A positive correlation coefficient in winter was found between SOD activity level and CAT activity level as r=0.838*.
Dec 2018
K. Bhardwaj NishiCorresponding author
Joint Director, Avantha Centre for Industrial Research & Development, Paper Mill Campus, Yamuna Nagar – 135 001 (Haryana)
The agricultural organic wastes pose major environmental issues and their inappropriate disposal is a major cause of pollution while these as cheap lignocellulosic resources can be utilized for many value added products such as enzymes. The purpose of the present study was to utilize wheat bran as a sole substrate for enhanced cellulase production under submerged fermentation (SMF) or solid state fermentation (SSF) and optimize the various process variables involved in the selected fermentation type. In order to achieve high titer of cellulase, a central composite design (CCD) was constructed and performed for optimization of SSF with five process variables at five coded levels. A 25 full factorial design was constructed leading to a set of 50 experiments that were performed in triplicates. The key variables namely incubation time, temperature, wheat bran and tap water ratio, pH and inoculum size were evaluated. The optimization of the process variables resulted in 1.14 IU/ml of cellulase activity from Bacillus subtilis PJK6 under SSF using wheat bran as a sole organic substrate with tap water. The optimum conditions included incubation time- 72 h, temperature- 45oC, pH- 6, inoculum size- 14% with 1:4 as wheat bran and tap water ratio. The production of cellulase using only moistened wheat bran was demonstrated and found to be significantly controlled by incubation time and temperature while pH showed the least effect. The economic production of valuable and useful enzyme using agricultural residue was achieved at moderate conditions from a GRAS microbe that can benefit the industry as well as the environment.
Dec 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-4538.jphi-18-2470
Takele Melku AbulieCorresponding author
Madda Walabu University Goba Referral Hospital School of Health Science Department of Nursing, Assistant Professor (PhD).
Background: Acute diarrheal diseases are the leading cause of preventable childhood death, especially in developing countries. It is the second leading cause of death in under-five year children nest to pneumonia. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude and associated factors of diarrhea in under-five in Harena Buluk district. Methods: A community based Cross sectional study was conducted in February, 2018. A two stage stratified sampling method was done to select the eligible households. Data was collected by trained data collectors using pretested questionnaire list which was prepared based on EDHS and WHO core questionnaires related to diarrhea. Data was entered in to a computer using Epi data 3.1 and exported to SPSS V.20 for further analysis. Logistic regression was used to determine level of association with 95% CI. A p-value <0.05 in the final model were considered as significant. Result: The two weeks period magnitude of diarrhea among under-five children was 28.4% with 95% CI (14.5-20.8) which was associated with households with one under five children (AOR: 0.268, 95% CI(.08,0.90)), living in the home with single room ((AOR = 6.01, 95% CI(1.01,36.01)), clean latrine/faces not seen around the pit or on the floor of latrine(AOR: 0.298, 95% CI(0.097,0.92)), long time take to fetch water from source (AOR: 0.046,95%CI(0.01,0.22)), home based water treatment ((AOR = 0.15, 95% CI: (0.04, 0.62)), living with animal in the same house(AOR: 8.31, 95% CI(2.46,28.06)), children who took gruel type of food(AOR: 0.24, 95% CI(0.07,0.81)), hand washing practice before cooking food (AOR: 0.195(0.066, 0.574)). Conclusion: The two weeks period magnitude of acute under-five diarrhea was relatively high and number of under five children in the household, cleanness latrine, time taking from the source of water, home based water treatment, number of rooms in the home, live with animal in the same house, type of food child take, hand washing before food preparation had significant association with the occurrence of under-five diarrhea. Improve community about home and environmental sanitation and hand practices were recommended.
Nov 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2572-3030.jcgb-18-2428
Gupta ShilpiCorresponding author
Stem Cell and Cancer Research Lab, Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine & Stem Cell Research (AIMMSCR), Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Sector-125, Noida-201313, India.
Head and neck cancers (HNCs) are the most prevalent and aggressive type of cancers. Genetic, epigenetic, environmental and viral risk-factors are associated with HNC carcinogenesis. Persistent infection of oncogenic human papillomaviruses (HR-HPVs) represent distinct biological, molecular and epigenetic entities in HNCs. There are three main epigenetic mechanisms that regulate transcription, these are DNA methylation, histone modifications and alteration in non-coding RNA networks, which can dissected to identify innovative and accurate epigenetic biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of HNC patients. Due to the lacunae of accurate distinctive biomarkers for the definite diagnosis of HNC, the identification of predictive epigenetic markers is necessary that might modify or increase HNC patient’s survival. In this mini review, we briefly summarize the current knowledge of different epigenetic biomarkers in HNC.
Sep 2018
Chabchoub GhaziCorresponding author
Laboratoire de Génétique Moleculaire Humaine.
A concise review of autoimmune disease etiology emphasizes genetic susceptibility, inflammatory pathways, and environmental exposures. It points to systems approaches for risk stratification and prevention with illustrative examples.
Sep 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-9467.jgrc-18-2270
Li YuanCorresponding author
Department of Astronomy and Theoretical Physics
Rice, as one of the most important crops in the world, is facing an ever-accelerating challenge from climate change. Epigenetic modification with its substantially high epimutation rate and the possibility for some epigenetic variation to act as a heritable contributor to crop environmental adaptability may hold great potentials for rapid crop breeding. Epigenetic modification is controlled by epigenetic pathways, and mutations disturbing the epigenetic pathways may lead to significant epigenetic and/or genetic changes. This is especially true for rice, whose genome is rich in epigenetic modifications and transposable elements (TEs) that are generally epigenetically silenced. Here, in this paper, we first reviewed the pathways that establish, maintain and remove rice DNA methylation, which is the most well studied epigenetic marker, as well as the genes that are involved. We then discussed how TEs amplify the phenotypic impact of epigenetic changes that could be a result of epigenetic pathway disturbances. At last, we presented the enormous amount of rice genome data that are publically available, within which great genetic variation in the genes that are involved within the epigenetic pathways is embedded. This genetic variation awaits to be exploited for their potentials in generating a heritable source of variation for rapid environmental adaptation, which may hold tremendous importance for rice breeding in the face of climate change.
May 2018
Alatsathianos IoannisCorresponding author
Laboratory of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Genetics alone cannot thoroughly expound the environmental impact on the molecular complexity of the endocrine system. Epigenetic-induced alteration in gene expression has emerged as a way in which environmental compounds may exert endocrine effects. The environmental compounds that interfere with normal endocrine signaling are one of the largest classes of toxicants we are exposed to, on a daily basis. Epigenetic mechanisms, mainly the methylation of DNA and the modification of histones, lead to differentiated activation and deactivation of genome domains creating phenotype plasticity and divergent endocrine function among populations and individuals, as well. The issues examined in the present review are related to environmental epigenetics, and more precisely, the epigenetic-mediated modulation and relevance of endocrine disrupting chemicals, focusing on three broad aspects: 1) persistence of EDs, 2) their major hormonal effects and 3) the potential of compounds previously considered as endocrine disruptors to induce epigenetic effects. Evidence suggests that environmental exposures notably impact expression of endocrine-related genes and, thus, affect clinical endocrine outcomes.
Feb 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2637-6075.jpae-17-1890
Chibueze Izah SylvesterCorresponding author
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island,Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
Cassava is the fourth largest staple food after rice, wheat and maize. Cassava is produced in the tropical and sub-tropical countries. Currently, the global production of cassava is about 215,436,496 tons. Out of these, Nigeria accounts for 20.3%, being the largest producing nation. During processing of cassava flour (Gari), three main wastes are generated including cassava mill effluents (CME), solid and gaseous emission. This paper reviews the impacts of CME in Nigeria. The study found that CME’s physicochemical quality often exceeds the limit for effluents discharge onto land and surface water as recommended by Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA), Nigeria. CME alters the quality of soil and water with regard to physicochemical, heavy metal and microbial characteristics. CME can induce toxicological effects on the environments and its biota including humans, fisheries, flora and fauna. The impacts are mostly associated with physicochemical (viz: odour, cyanide, acidic, dissolved oxygen, biological and chemical oxygen demand, conductivity) and heavy metals characteristics. Therefore, there is the need for treatment and sustainable management strategies of CME through biotechnological advancement.
Feb 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2379-7835.ijn-17-1872
Agaba EdgarCorresponding author
FTF Nutrition Innovation Lab, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
Objective: To elaborate on the procedures undertaken to establish blood draws and cold chain for nutrition assessments. Setting: A total of 5,044 birth cohort households were enrolled and assessed using household questionnaires, anthropometry, and blood sampling to assess nutritional issues and exposures to environmental contaminants. The challenge was to obtain, transport, process, store, and analyze tens of thousands of serum samples obtained in sites that were often difficult to reach. Approach: Before enrollment began, 24 healthcare facilities in the North and Southwest of Uganda were assessed for suitability as local nodes for processing and storage. Equipment needs included functional centrifuges, refrigeration, ice machines, and -20oC freezers. Other important physical infrastructure included the presence of backup power (generator or solar generated) in the event of electricity failure. Once samples were obtained, they were transported within 5 hours to the facility laboratories, where serum was separated and aliquoted into properly labelled storage tubes and then frozen. Relevant Changes: At community level, our team visited households or small group of household members close to their homes to reduce on travel time hence contributed to high retention rates. Our immediate testing for anemia and malaria results benefited enrollees and enhanced community acceptance. By using Village Health Teams (VHTs), we could accommodate household preferences for the timing of sample collection. Our engagement with phlebotomists transformed their role from a simple service into active team members. Lessons Learned: Our first lesson was that in our setting, the success of this nutrition biological sampling system required community engagement and acceptance. By combining an immediately actionable set of tests (for anemia and malaria), and visiting cohort households, we greatly enhanced the success of the system.
Dec 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-3166.jar-17-1901
Narain PremCorresponding author
Professor and Independent Researcher
This perspective reviews shifts in agriculture driven by technology, market forces, and climate pressures. It discusses productivity trends, resource constraints, and the transition toward sustainable, resilient practices. The article outlines policy and research priorities to balance yields with environmental stewardship and rural livelihoods.
Dec 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2576-6694.jbbs-17-1869
de Cassia Stocco RitaCorresponding author
Genetics Laboratory, Butantan Institute, São Paulo-SP, Brazil
Introduction Bovine papillomavirus (BPV) is the etiological agent of bovine papillomatosis, infectious and neoplastic disease, characterized by the presence of multiple papillomas that can regress spontaneously or to persist and progress to malignancies when in association with environmental cofactors. Although recognized that the BPV can induce DNA damages, the viral role following cancer initiation remains unresolved. Based on this, we stablished cell lines derived from cutaneous papilloma, fibropapilloma and esophageal carcinoma to study the BPV action on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Our results showed strong evidences that the virus action can contribute to EMT and, therefore, metastasis. Aim In this study, we analyzed the expression levels of the EMT markers (cytokeratin 10, STAT3 Y705, Oct-3/4 and vimentin) in paraffin-embed samples, using the same tissues that originated the cell lines previous studied, aiming to validate the results observed using cell lines. Material and Methods Expression levels of these markers was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and the collagen composision by Picrosirius red staining. Results We verified an overexpression of these markers in fibroblastoid cells present into the epidermis and ketarinocyte-like cells into the dermis present in dermo-epidermal junction. These data reinforce our previous results using cell cultures, validating both systems (cell culture and paraffin-embed tissues) as useful models to study the natural history of BPV-infected lesions. Conclusion Altogether, the results from these systems indicate that the BPV promote the cancer progression and metastasis through the transdifferentiation of an epithelial to mesenchymal cells (EMT).
Nov 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2576-9383.jhhr-17-1768
Yassin Ibrahim SaharCorresponding author
Botany Department, Faculty of Women for Arts, Science and Education, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
Antifungal antagonism of different fourteen plant essential oils was examined as natural agents against economic and hygienic effective three yeasts; the preservative efficacy of most potent anti-yeast essential oil in food sanitary was also tested. Study involved oils antifungal bioactivity screening against Saccharomycescerevisiae, Candida albicans,and Candida utilis. Study also included selection and invitro extraction of most bioactive oil, and evaluation of its antifungal minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs). Control ofjuice spoilage by Saccharomycescerevisiae under the effect of in vitro oil extract different concentrations was also screened. Among the tested essential oils, apricot seed oil was the most bioactive anti-yeast agent. Two MIC values of apricot oil invitro extract, 12.5μgml-1 and 25μgml-1 were recorded. In juice samples, oil extract bioactivity increased gradually up to concentration 100μgml-1.Highest oil preservative ability was observed at oil concentration of and above 125μgml-1. Higher oil concentrations needed for juice preservation were found more than in vitro assay to give the same effect. Applying of apricot oil and some other plant essential oils could be used as an environmental safety mode in osmophilic food preservation and in Candidate diseases biocontrol.
Aug 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2474-3585.jpmc-17-1591
Scott JanCorresponding author
Professor, Academic Psychiatry, Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Background: There are relatively few research publications of mental health promotion initiatives for primary school aged children that are based in community rather than educational settings. Aims: To describe developmental frameworks and models of mentoring, coaching and mental health promotion and to summarize any evidence for the efficacy of community initiatives. Methods: An umbrella review was undertaken of publications on theories and models, and a synthesis of findings from reviews of outcomes of mentoring, mental health promotion initiatives undertaken outside of school time for children aged 5-11 years. Results: Developmental mentoring on its own or in combination with outside school activities is potentially more flexible in terms of delivery and targets than school-based programs. Pooled effect sizes (range about 0.2-0.4) suggest modest but significant gains across several key domains (cognition, emotion, physical health, and social connectedness) that equate to about 10 percentile point on the developmental evaluations employed. Mediators of benefits include the level environmental or individual risk of the child and parental involvement. It is noteworthy that poor quality, atheoretical programs can have detrimental effects. Conclusions: Children aged 5-11 years may be more accepting of, and could make significant gains from, community-based mental health promotion interventions such as developmental mentoring. However, there are some significant gaps in the knowledge-base that need to be addressed through more systematic research.
Jul 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2476-1710.jdt-17-1564
Caroline Krefis AnneCorresponding author
Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
The objective of this first part of our study was to investigate associations of road traffic noise, socioeconomic and -demographic risk factors, and health access on depression on borough level. We investigated in a large metropolis associations between prevalence rates of depression per borough (n = 67 boroughs) in all age groups (excluding the age group of 0–17 years) using health claims data (year 2011) and the variables “social deprivation” and “number of family members”, which were obtained from a previously conducted principal component analysis, and by using multivariate regression model. Additionally, the proportion of borough area affected by noise > 65 db(A) and physician density used as a surrogate parameter for health access were considered as potentially associated factors for depression. The results demonstrated that depression might be associated with increasing social borough deprivation. Additionally, the number of family members used as a proxy measure for positive family support showed decreasing prevalence rates the more family members were present. Furthermore, proportions of borough areas affected by noise > 65 db(A) was positively associated with depression. Our ecological study design has the advantage that a large number of large-scale, population-based aggregated data could easily be obtained and analysed and first potential associations could be found and discussed. To improve our findings, future studies will use data from a survey and data from the Hamburg City Health Study, a local follow-up health study, to better elucidate the individual risk factors together with environmental living and working conditions.
Jun 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2577-2279.ijha-17-1539
LH AdamuCorresponding author
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
Fingerprint is an impression made by the friction ridges that are almost parallel at constant crest to crest wavelength. The pattern is dominated by central features, such as whorls, loops, arches and triradii. Fingerprints have been used for several decades in forensic and medical sciences. The fingerprints characteristics such uniqueness, consistency and universality are the main features that are used by forensic experts in identification processes, are well developed during intra-uterine life. Understanding embryogenesis of fingerprints is essential in linking its features to some disease conditions. The purpose of this review was to highlight information regarding establishment, formation, hypotheses and factors affecting fingerprints. Applications of the fingerprints in forensic and medical sciences were also highlighted. Both environmental (in utero) and genetic factors have role to play in the formation of the fingerprints. The primary role of fingerprints is personal identification; these can be achieved through revealing sex, ethnicity, diet and lifestyle of an individual. In another perspective the fingerprints can be used as tools in diagnosis and ascertaining presence of disease conditions, however, this is population specific.
Apr 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2474-3585.jpmc-16-1213
Wood-Nartker JeanneaneCorresponding author
Department of Human Environmental Studies, Central Michigan University
As people age, environments supporting changing needs can potentially impact their quality of life. The purpose of this exploratory study was to develop and assess the validity of a checklist instrument used to evaluate senior-supportive environmental risk factors within assisted living facilities (ALFs). Aging often leads to a decrease in the ability of a person to interpret sensory cues within his or her environment. This checklist instrument examined the relationship between sensory cue frequency and the influence on fall incidence within ALFs to maximize safety and quality of life. Observers visited 140 ALFs, utilizing the checklist instrument to document the presence or non-presence of 110 sensory cues. Contrary to the original hypothesis, a positive correlation was found between sensory cues and reported falls in each space. As the number of cues increased, the number of falls also increased. Additionally, the frequency of sensory cues within each room increased as facility size increased. Lastly, data revealed that more sensory cues were present in ALFs designed or renovated by design professionals. Although the results were contrary to expectations, the checklist instrument demonstrated face and predictive validity as a future research tool.
Apr 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2470-0436.jos-17-988
Chen Ying-LingCorresponding author
University of Tennessee Space Institute, 411 B. H. Goethert Parkway, Tullahoma.
Photorefraction (PR) methods have beenwidely used for pediatric vision screening since the 1980’s. While PR is easy to implement, the accuracy of refractive error measurements in humans has been unsatisfactory, largely due to the variations of intraocular scattering, the retinal reflectance, and pupil size. The objective of our studies was to clinically evaluate the accuracy of refraction measurements of an improved PR-based device, the Dynamic Ocular Evaluation System (DOES), and to investigate whether the accuracy is affected by the patient’s age, race, and pupil size, which are relevant to individual intraocular scattering and retinal reflectance. We performed DOES measurements in 99 volunteers (198 eyes) under two environmental light conditions and using four fixation targets. These results were compared to the standard clinical refraction testing performed the same day. The correlation and standard deviation were determined by Bland-Altman analysis. The influence of intraocular scattering, retinal reflectance, and pupil size was evaluated by comparing results from different age groups, races, and lighting conditions. In the region between -4 diopter (D) and +4D, the device showed a binocular refraction measurement accuracy of 0.45 D, 0.3 D, and 0.18 D root-mean-square (RMS) error (n=1337) for spherical equivalent and cross cylinders Jo and J45, respectively. Inaccuracy increased at high refraction (>4D). Age, race, and pupil size did not appear to significantly affect DOES PR measurement. This suggests that enhancements in the PR system and analysis may satisfactorily correct intersubject variability that currently limits the clinical use of PR devices and measurements.
Jul 2016 DOI 10.14302/issn.2474-3585.jpmc-16-1114
Okwundu Nwankwo InnocentCorresponding author
Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Nigeria.
Campylobacter infection has been detected in poultry processors at live bird markets in Sokoto, however the prevalence of Campylobacter species in more diverse group of the population is uncertain. For this purpose, 292 human fecal swabs from patients in four Government Hospitals in Sokoto State were analyzed for Campylobacter species using culture and phenotypic typing method. The prevalence rate of 55% was revealed in the tested samples while 56% and 55% were for males and females respectively. Campylobacter jejuni, C. coli and C. lari had 20%, 40% and 40% in males and 38%, 35% and 27% in females respectively. The prevalence rates of 60%, 52%, 45%, 41% and 80%,were revealed in age range of (less than 1-6, 7-13, 14-20, 21-55 and 56-76) yrs respectively. Furthermore, 70% and 43% prevalence rates were recorded in pregnant and non-pregnant women of reproductive age respectively. There was no statistical significant association (P>0.05) between Campylobacter infection and age range and sex, but the statistical association between infection and pregnancy was significant (P<0.05). The prevalence of Campylobacter species in patients as found in the various hospitals has revealed the level of environmental contamination in different homes in the state and the need to include Campylobacter in screening routine laboratory diagnosis of gastroenteritis in humans for appropriate treatment and management especially in young children, old adult and pregnant women.
Jul 2016 DOI 10.14302/issn.2470-0436.jos-16-940
Ofeibea Amedo AngelaCorresponding author
Department of Optometry and Visual Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Private Mail Bag, Kumasi, Ghana
Our aim was to evaluate the influence of visual impairment on the quality of life of patients reporting at the low vision centre of the Eastern Regional Hospital in Koforidua. The World Health Organization Quality Of Life (WHOQOL-Bref) which assesses quality of life in four main domains was administered to two hundred and ninety four (294) patients who visited the low vision centre of the Eastern Regional Hospital, for various eye services. Additional information on patient demographics and their visual acuities were obtained. The mean quality of life scores were determined for the visually and non-visually impaired. 86(29.3%) of the participants were visually impaired (presenting vision worse than 6/18). A significant difference in mean age was realized between subjects who were visually impaired (53.7 ± 18.4) (mean ± SD) and subjects who were not visually impaired (34.3 ± 13.1) (p = 0.001). The visually impaired participants had a lower quality of life scores in all four domains of quality of life naming, environmental, physical, social and psychological with 7.5% unadjusted reduction in overall quality of life. Visual impairment is associated with significant reduction in different quality of life domains for this population. Quality of life is poorer with increasing severity of visual impairment.
Feb 2016 DOI 10.14302/issn.2471-2175.jdrt-15-718
Gönül MüzeyyenCorresponding author
Ankara Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Education and Research Hospital, Dışkapı, Ankara, Turkey.
Pernio is an inflammatory disease that is usually characterized by the development of cold-induced erythrocyanotic skin lesions located in acral regions. Diagnosis is difficult if lesions are present in rare locations. A 21-year-old female suffering from fatigue presented with a 4-day history of painful, purple lesions on both thighs. She worked as a cashier, wore tight clothing, and was otherwise healthy except for mild obesity. Dermatological examination revealed tender and painful edematous papules and plaques on the outer aspects of her thighs. The patient was diagnosed with pernio based on her medical history, and clinical and histological findings. Laboratory tests were normal except for her cold agglutinin titer (1:4). Pernio rarely occurs on the thigh, except in people who ride horses. However, it sometimes occurs in non-riders depending on lifestyle and environmental conditions. Therefore, lesions in this region must be confirmed by a thorough medical history and evaluation of clinical and histopathological findings. Cold agglutinins may be associated with this disease.
Dec 2015 DOI 10.14302/issn.2372-6601.jhor-15-799
Hirayama YasuoCorresponding author
Higashi Sapporo Hospital Internal Medicine,
Objective: Hospital construction work, among other environmental factors, is a risk factor for invasive aspergillosis (IA). Methods: We retrospectively surveyed the incidence of IA in hematology-oncology patients before and during hospital construction and studied the effectiveness of prophylactic oral itraconazole (ITCZ) treatment. We compared the rates of galactomannan (GM)-positive cases and probable IA cases among 224 patients discharged before the start of construction work and among 67 patients hospitalized within two months after the start of the construction work. Results: Our results showed that, during the 12 months before the construction work was started, only four patients were GM-positive, and one had a probable diagnosis; in contrast, among patients hospitalized within two months from the start of the construction work, seven patients were GM-positive, and four had a probable diagnosis. Therefore, we started to administer oral ITCZ to 40 patients with hematological diseases. Although the construction work continued, after the ITCZ prophylaxis, no new probable cases of IA were detected. Conclusion: From our experience, GM surveillance among hematological patients is necessary during hospital construction work, and the administration of ITCZ to prophylactically prevent IA is suggested upon detection of an increase in GM-positive patients.
May 2015 DOI 10.14302/issn.2379-7835.ijn-14-584
W. Hey DavidCorresponding author
STRIDE California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
During the past three decades the prevalence of childhood obesity has steadily increased in the United States. Causes of childhood obesity are complex and include numerous individual and environmental factors. The purpose of this study was to determine parent perceptions on the social-ecological barriers (community, school, and family) to physical activity and healthy eating, perceived specific to their children. Self-reported data gathered from a 50-item questionnaire and six focus groups were conducted with parents (n=43) enrolled in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program. Participants (16 to 67 years old) were predominately female (88.4%), Hispanic (67%), low income, and living in or near Lompoc in Santa Barbara County, CA. The social-ecological model (family, school, and community) was utilized to create focus group questions and provide recommendations as part of the Lompoc Community Health Improvement Project (2006-to-the-present). Popular community barriers for physical activity were: disconnected sidewalks, lack of safe bike routes to school, lack of recreational programming at an affordable cost, and language barriers (lack of marketing physical activity programs in Spanish). Two safety barriers involved parks; fear of injury (dilapidated equipment) and fear of gangs (violence). Common school barriers were: teachers do not lead-by-example, lack of healthy food in school cafeteria, and insufficient time for children to purchase food and eat. Family barriers included: grandparents sabotaging healthy eating environments (e.g., spoiling children), insufficient nutrition knowledge (both children and parents), and economics (not being able to afford healthy food and a recreation/gym membership).
May 2015 DOI 10.14302/issn.2644-0105.jbfb-14-547
Di Luigi GianlucaCorresponding author
University of L’Aquila; Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences. Gynecology & Obstetrics. Ospedale Civile “San Salvatore”. L’Aquila, Italy.
Background: Scientific research is constantly expanding our knowledge of nutritional needs in pregnancy and lactation. In June 2014 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued draft-revised advice encouraging pregnant women, those who might become pregnant, breastfeeding mothers and young children to eat more fish, a total of least 8 ounces per week and to eat a variety of fish lower in mercury in particular anchovies, butterfish, catfish, clam, haddock (Atlantic), herring, mullet, oyster, perch (ocean), sardine, shad, trout (freshwater). However, the presence of radionuclides released from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Pacific biota has aroused worldwide attention and concern. Objective and Methods: Evaluating all the scientific literature available after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, the aim of this review is to demonstrate the safety of seafood products and the use of omega-3 supplements potentially derived from contaminated radioactive fish. Results and Conclusions: There are no reasons to fear the amount of radiation in Japanese fish. The dose received from seafood consumption can be estimated to result in two additional fatal cancer cases per 10,000,000 similarly exposed people. The safest way to get omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy is by taking a high-quality fish oil supplement, approved by a governing body that provides proof of quality such as the Council for Responsible Nutrition, the European Pharmocopeia Standard or the Norwegian Medicinal Standard and by the Food and Drug Administration or the Environmental Protection Agency 12. Pregnant and breastfeeding women do not need to cut fish out of their diet completely, and it may be safely eaten up to three times per week safely 3.
Jul 2014 DOI 10.14302/issn.2377-2549.jndc-12-172
Noubactep ChicgouaCorresponding author
Angewandte Geologie, Universität Göttingen, Goldschmidtstraße 3, D - 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
Despite two decades of intensive research on using metallic iron (Fe0) for environmental remediation and water treatment, basic concerns about their efficiency still prevail. This communication presents the basic idea of the view that challenges the prevailing paradigm on the operating mode of Fe0/H2O systems. The alternative paradigm is in tune with the mainstream science on aqueous iron corrosion. Its large scale adoption will enable a scientifically based system design and increase the acceptance of this already proven efficient technology.
Jan 2013 DOI 10.14302/issn.2328-0182.japst-12-145
Parhi RabinarayanCorresponding author
GITAM Institute of Pharmacy, GITAM University, Gandhi Nagar Campus, Rushikonda, Visakhapatnam-530045, Andhra Pradesh, India
The challenges ever faced by pharmaceutical industry is mainly due to discovery of new drugs and development of new technologies. Supercritical fluid (SCF) technology is one such technique, which has become an important tool in the production of different particulate systems along with extraction and drying of protein and peptides during last couple of decade because of its specific properties such as flexibility in use, reduced environmental concern and its simplicity. In this review, we briefly describe the operating principles and parameters influencing each one of SCF processes along with their merits and perspectives. The application of SCF technology in pharmaceutical industry, including particle and crystal engineering, composite particles’ preparation, coating of solid dosage form, liposome preparation, extraction and protein and peptide drying are discussed.