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A critique of the EIA Report selected from the East African region, taking into consideration what is required in an ideal of EIA Report
No full textAt present, every country strives to realize development for its people. Therefore, to achieve this requires the construction of various projects for the realization of a country's socio-economic and political development. However, the development of the projects is associated with various ecological challenges that can have an impact on society as a whole and the environment. Therefore, there is a need to conduct an environmental impact assessment (EIA), a tool that can be used to determine the environmental, social and economic impacts of a project before making a decision. The EIA process is linked to the detailed report containing all possible environmental, social and health impacts after, during and after the project. Therefore, this paper aims to deliver the critique of one of the EIA reports in the East African region. To achieve this, EIA legislation and guidelines for preparing and verifying EIA reports in the East African region will be examined. The critique contains the issues that include the advisory team (environmental and social impact assessment team), an executive or non-technical summary, a description of the proposed project, a description of the development, the local environment and initial conditions, the political, legal and administrative framework, and public participation/stakeholder analysis in the EIA process
Nutmeg with yellow arils-potential tree spice with high essential oil content: Nutmeg with yellow arils
No full textThe mace derived from the arils of Myristica fragrans, is red in colour, whereas the present study reports the evaluation of Myristica fragrans with yellow arils. Morphological features of fruits of M. fragrans with yellow arils and that of common red aril variant from cultivated locations in Kerala, South India, were similar. The average mace yield was higher for the yellow arils (2.5 kg plant-1) than the red arils (2.0 kg plant-1). The volatile chemical profiling revealed that the essential oil yield of the yellow mace (19.3% v/w) was more than twofold higher than standard red mace (9.2% v/w). GC-MS analysis showed that the distribution of monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, and phenylpropanoids were similar in both the varieties, except for the percentage distribution. The major constituents of mace of both the red and yellow types were α-pinene, and sabinene followed by elemicin and safrole. Though an exotic species, M. fragrans has been naturalized in south India, and several high-yielding varieties have been reported from the region. The present study highlights nutmeg with yellow arils as a potential spice crop with high oil yield
Performance of Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) hybrids for yield and quality traits: Chilli hybrids for yield and quality
No full textTwenty-eight F1 combinations of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) obtained from half-diallel cross along with eight diverse parents were evaluated in a field study to elucidate the information on the extent of mean performance of various horticultural traits. The analysis revealed that all the genotypes possessed wide spectrum of variability and showed significant differences for parents and hybrids for the traits studied. For parents UHF CHI 13 (216.20), UHF CHI 15 (193.80), UHF CHI 5 (139.00) and for hybrids H1 (182.60), H9 (181.40) and H7 (172.80) hold highest fruit count per plant. The parents UHF CHI 5 (1047.13 g), UHF CHI 15 (949.62 g) and UHF CHI 7 (912.61 g) and cross combinations H17 (1535.10 g), H8 (1320.00), H6 (1229.76) and H18 (967.60) recorded the high ripe fruit yield per plant. As for earliness, parents UHF CHI 5 (43.33), UHF CHI 11 (45.00), UHF CHI 7 (45.33) and hybrids H27 (42.67), H26 (43.00) and UH28 (43.00) took minimum days for flowering. For pungency UHF CHI 12 (0.28%), UHF CHI 13 (0.26%), DKC-8 (0.24%) and H23 (0.33%), H5 (0.31%), H26 (0.26%) recorded high capsaicin content
DSS fertirrigation system: An Italian case study
Get PDFThe proposed paper deals with a Decision Support System (DSS) conceived for agronomists and farm managers involved in the fertirrigation (FER) process. The DSS has been developed within the Smart District 4.0 (SD 4.0) project, funded with the contribution of the Italian Ministry of Economic Development (MISE), aiming to sustain the digitization process of the Italian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The DSS is part of an integrated framework, mainly including advanced services for blockchain traceability and agriculture planning, optimizing the cooperation among different actors, such as farmers, agronomists and fertilizer suppliers. The most relevant and challenging part of the platform consists of Machine Learning (ML) supervised and unsupervised algorithms with high performance, to optimize production and quality in viticulture. Specifically, the Probabilistic Neural Network (PNN) model provides the performance about time shortage prediction when compared with other ML algorithm performance. Finally, the clustering k-Means algorithm is applied to extract information about active substances, doses, time of shortage, adversities, and pathogen elements, useful to optimize a FER plan. All the analyzed algorithms are applied to an experimental dataset. The work starts with the design of the processes and of the information flow able to optimize grape supply chain and traceability, and then focuses on data analysis. The data analysis approach is suitable to formulate precision farming rules. 
Potential distribution of six endemic species of Stanhopea (Orchidaceae) genus in Mexico
Get PDFStanhopea is an orchid’s genus that includes 55 species distributed from Mexico to Argentina. However, due to its horticultural potential, a decrease in wild populations has been generated by the effect of over-collecting, further aggravated by the effect of habitat destruction, placing some species of Stanhopea from Mexico in some risk categories. In this work, the potential distribution areas of six endemic Stanhopea species in Mexico and in some Federal Natural Protected Area (ANP) were modeled with the use of the MaxEnt software. The potential distribution of the six endemic species in Mexico was obtained, in addition to the fact that it is possible to find one or more species within 74 ANPs
Emphasizing play production concept(s): Relevance and application for student directors in the University of Cape Coast
Get PDFThe relevance of production concept(s) in play production(s) cannot be overemphasized as it forms the theoretical spine for any play production and it informs all the aspects of theatre production. Therefore, the apparent absence of a production concept in any production is problematic; this warrants critical examination. There is a great need to bring the issue of a production concept to student directors if they are to eventually end up as front-runners in theatre practice. Student directors and other budding directors ought to see what lies as the merits and demerits of having a production concept injected into the body of their creative work or not; they also ought to be shown the way in formulating one in the first place as well as how to apply it in their production for the best of results. This paper seeks to examine student directors’ appreciation and application of production concepts for their practical projects at the University of Cape Coast. The aim is to spark a discourse with this subject matter at its core, bridging the gap between it and budding directors for their comprehension, appreciation and application of production concept(s)
Antioxidant and Phytochemical analysis of selected lichen species from Mizoram, India
Get PDFLichens are an important source of biologically active substances, primarily phenols, which are well known for their antioxidant properties. The aim of the present study was to evaluated phytochemical constituents (flavonoids and phenols), and the antioxidant activity of the methanol extract of the selected lichens species viz. Usnea baileyi, Hypotrachyna cirrhata and Lobaria pulmonaria collected from Tawi Wildlife Sanctuary, Mizoram, India. The total phenolic content and total flavonoid of the various extracts varied from 31.11 to 67.84 mg of Gallic acid equivalent per gram dry weight (GAE/g DW) and from 27.43 to 37.06 mg of Quercetin equivalent per gram dry weight (QE/g DW) respectively. DPPH free radical scavenging activity of the methanol extract of tested samples showed a concentration-dependent manner with an IC50 value ranges from 133.6 µg/ml in L. pulmonaria to 243.9 µg/ml in U. baileyi. A comparison between lichens extract and positive control (BHT) showed a strong antioxidant capacity (IC50=10.81 μg/ml) of positive control than the lichens methanolic extract. A high negative and significant negative correlation (P<0.05) was observed between total phenol content and antioxidant activity IC50 of DPPH assay. Moreover, a positively high significant correlation was also obtained between total flavonoid and phenol content (P<0.01). The present study showed that bioactive compounds present in the lichen thallus may be used as good sources of natural antioxidants and a potential candidate for curing several ailments. 
Molecular docking analysis on 16 therapeutic ligands of Ocimum tenuiflorum L. (Tulasi) and their prospects in drug design for COVID-19
Get PDFThe PyRx software and Discovery studio were used in the present molecular docking studies of the 16 ligands of Ocimum tenuiflorum L., selected based on their high therapeutic potentials, viz., (E)-6-hydroxy-4,6-dimethylhept-3-en-2-one, Apigenin, Bieugenol, Cirsilineol, Cirsimaritin, β-Caryophyllene epoxide, Dehydrodieugenol B, Eugenol, Ferulaldehyde, Isothymonin, Isothymusin, Linalool, Luteolin, Ocimarin, Rosmarinic acid, and Thymol. Saquinavir was used as a positive control. The binding affinities of the 16 ligands to the main proteases of COVID-19 6LU7 and 6Y2E (critical for viral replication) and their ability to arrest the virus replication were recorded. The binding affinities of the ligands to 6LU7 and 6Y2E ranged from -4.3 and -4.7 kcal/mol (for (E)-6-hydroxy-4,6-dimethylhept-3-en-2-one) to -7.6 (for Rosmarinic acid to both target proteins). While the corresponding values for the control drug Saquinavir were -7.8 and -7.6 respectively. The Rosmarinic acid, in binding with both the proteases (-7.6 and -7.6 kcal/mol) showed six conventional hydrogen bonds, one carbon hydrogen bond (ASP 153 had one conventional hydrogen bond and one carbon hydrogen bond), one Pi-alkyl bond, one Pi-Pi stacked bond, eight van der waals bonds for 6LU7 protease; it formed three conventional hydrogen bonds, two Pi-alkyl bonds, one unfavourable donor – donor bond and 14 van der waals bonds with 6Y2E protease. The control drug – Saquinavir in binding with 6LU7 protease showed 12 van der waals, one alkyl, one Pi-alkyl, one Pi-cation, one Pi-stacked and four conventional hydrogen bonds, which indicates that it has less affinity when compared with Rosmarinic acid. Similarly, the control drug on binding with 6Y2E protease exhibited ten van der waals, four Pi-alkyl, one cation and three hydrogen bonds. The results are in conformity to similar other studies, and herald a promising scope for Rosmarinic acid as lead molecule in the drug discovery for COVID-19
Determining genetic variability of traits in backcross populations of sweet corn (Zea mays L. var. Saccharata)
Get PDFTo understand the nature of the traits in breeding programme, knowledge on heritability, genetic advance and genetic variability are inevitable. The paramount aim of the present study was to estimate the heritability, genetic advance and genetic variability of the backcross and selfed population of sweet corn and β-carotene rich inbred combinations viz., USC1-2-3-1× UMI1230β+ and SC1107× UMI1230β+ in order to identify the plants with superior trait combinations. The study involved the recording of fourteen biometrical traits in both the cross combinations which revealed that in backcross and selfed populations, the phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was found to be greater than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) indicating the probable influence of environment in the expression of the traits evaluated. High heritability was recorded for the important trait single plant yield in both the cross combinations of BC2F2 generation. Further, high heritability and high genetic advance as percent of mean was noticed for the traits like plant height, cob length, leaf length and single plant yield under both the cross combinations of BC2F2 generation indicates the governance of additive genes in expression of these traits. Hence, selection for these traits would be effective in developing a genotype with improved yield
Survey for incidence of coffee white stem borer, Xylotrechus quadripes (Chevrolet) on robusta coffee (Coffea canephora Pierre ex A. Froehner) plantations at Kodagu region of Karnataka state, India
Get PDFCoffee is an important commercial crop attacked by various insect pests. Among them, coffee white stem borer (CWSB), Xylotrechus quadripes (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), is the most serious and economically important pest of arabica coffee. The incidence of CWSB has been noticed in arabica coffee, whereas the other commercial variety, viz., robusta, has been tolerant against this pest so far. Of late, the incidence of CWSB is reported regularly in robusta plantations in the Kodagu region of Karnataka State, India. To understand the extent of CWSB incidence in robusta coffee, a systematic survey was conducted in 40 estates of Polibetta and Siddapura liaison Zones during the year 2019. CWSB infestation and the details on the percentage of CWSB, cultivar types, and age of the plants were recorded. The results of the survey revealed that the incidence was more in aged plants of Old Peridenia and S.274 (>50 years) compared to young plants and C × R hybrid (Coffea congensis × Coffea canephora). Data on the percentage infestation was found more in Old Peridenia (16.81%), followed by S.274 (4.8%) and C × R (0.88%). The infested plants of Old Peridenia and S.274 showed typical symptoms as in the case of arabica plants like ridge formation, drooping and yellowing of leaves, wilting, defoliation, exit holes and death of branches and whole plants. Hence, Indian coffee farmers are shifting slowly from arabica to robusta coffee because of CWSB infestation. This survey emphasized that a complete shift from arabica to robusta cultivation may face a similar infestation problem unless management practices are followed promptly