International Journal of Scientific Research in Biological Sciences
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Using the Linear Programming in Mediterranean Forest Management : A Study Case from the North of Morocco
Get PDFThe multiple uses of Moroccan forest, the social context, and the limitation of traditional management methods makes it necessary to develop a new management method for forest management in Morocco. Therefore, the forest needs to be managed efficiently for multiple purposes. The present study consists of developing a new management approach for Moroccan forests. This approach will be based on a linear programming model to provide an optimal solution to the current forest management problems. The relevance of the approach and its various components requires a prerequisite for the computerization of forest management in Morocco. This method will be applied to the pine forests in the Oued Laou watershed. The forest is located in the North of Morocco and contains three artificial plantations that are Aleppo pine, Maritime pine, and Monterey pine. They occupy 104 Hectares, 41 Hectares, and 349 Hectares, respectively. To solve the linear programming model, 28 scenarios will be defined for all forests based on harvesting age, silviculture, and a planning horizon for the next 100 years, divided into 20 planning periods of 5 years. The new model should satisfy a maximum of timber production while respecting various management constraints, including land availability, forest normality, sustainable timber volume, and the legal right of grazing. The optimal solution guarantees a volume of wood production equal to 105.753 m3 while preserving the legal right of grazing. The irregular structure of forests will then be converted into a regular one.
 
Butterfly-Plant Diversity in Malappuram District Of Kerala, India: A Way of Plant – Pollinator Communications
Get PDFThe present study documented that, total of 33 plant species belonging to 18 families and 29 genera were pollinated by various kinds of butterflies (41 butterfly species belongs to 27 genera and 5 families) Among the documented plant familiesAsteraceae is the dominant one with 10 species, followed by Fabaceae with 4 species and Boraginaceae and Verbenaceae with 2 species respectively. The plants which are documented from the study are divided in to two categories such as plants are pollinated by various butterflies (33 species) as well as plants are preferred by different butterflies for their ovi posting and larval development (63 species). The flower colour analysis reveals that maximum number of butterflies which are visited yellow colour (10 species) followed by white colour (8 species), orange colour (7 species), red colour (6 species), violet (3 species), yellowish-orange (2 species), purple (2 species). Cream, rose and blue colour visited by single butterfly species respectively. Present study also concluded that, the plant-insect interaction is an essential factor for pollination process and better yield in both wild as well as crop plants. Hence an adequate care should be taken to conserve both flora and fauna of our surroundings for future generation.
 
Characterization, Phytochemical Screening and Antimicrobial Properties of stem bark extract of Theobroma cacao (Cocoa)
Get PDFTheobroma cacao (cocoa) is one of the medicinal plants that most of its properties is yet to be fully unravel as it is underutilized in most part of the countries. Several reports have focused on few of its uses in the area of ethno-medicine and folk medicine. The aim of this study is to characterize the phytochemical screening and antimicrobial properties of Theobroma cacao stem bark extract. The phytochemicals were extracted from dried milled stem bark of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) using solvent extraction method. The results showed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, glycosides, phenols, carboxylic acids and flavonoids. Antimicrobial acid metabolite indicates the presence of micro-organisms such as Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, while the neutral and basic metabolites activities indicates nil-potential towards same micro-organisms. The proximate analysis of cocoa stem bark extract was also evaluated and the antimicrobial activities of the extract were compared with standard antibiotics.
PhytochemicalAntimicrobialMetabolitesCharacterizatio
A Survey of the Critically Endangered Vultures of Gashaka Gumti National Park, Nigeria
Get PDFThe traditional significance attached to the vultures has made the bird of prey objects of inquests and persecutions by local actors with nonconformist disposition to wildlife conservation in Nigeria. With the ascendancy of wildlife persecutions, vultures are now rare across landscapes and previous information about vulture distribution remain largely altered, outdated and insignificant to guide precise conservation action. Our paper focuses on advancing baseline population statistics for the critically endangered vultures of the project location. From the eight (8) survey routes objectively allotted for data collection, Route 3 (Pompo 2A – Mayo-Yum) had the highest record of 21 individuals (30%) of Necrosyrtes monachus, while Route 1 (Gashaka –GF/Kwano - Filinga), had 13 individuals (92%) of the Gyps africanus recorded during the inventory. Across all the survey routes, 71 and 14 individuals of N. monachus and G. africanus, respectively, were sighted and enumerated. Thus, an overall unadjusted count of 85 individuals from two (2) species of the Critically Endangered (CE) vultures were encountered and recorded within Gashaka Gumti National Park and the support zone communities. The Park has, therefore, great potentials for the conservation of vultures considering its vast landmass of about 6,730 sq.km, the spread of pastoral settlements and diversity of local tribes. However, due to the low sampling intensity (< 1%) and several exploratory sightings of unnamed species of vultures by locals, complementary surveys are required to update existing records of vultures in the park. The park is significant to upholding vulture biodiversity at the habitat-level in Nigeria.
 
Comparison and Prediction of toxicity parameters of principal Aflatoxins, antimicrobial compounds and Antifungal Drugs by pKCSM server
Get PDFThe purpose of this short study is to estimate the main toxicity properties of main Aflatoxins, Antimicrobial bio- compounds and Antifungal Drugs by pKCSM server. Several tests are performed, for instance AMES toxicity; Max. tolerated dose (human) (log mg/kg/day in units); Oral Rat Acute Toxicity (LD50) (mol/kg in units) Oral Rat Chronic Toxicity (LOAEL); Log mg/kg_bw/day in units);Hepatotoxicity; Skin Sensitisation; Pyriformis toxicity (log µg/L)and Minnow toxicity (log mM in units).
 
Prevalence of Parasites of Medical Importance on Fruits and Vegetables Sold in Markets of Makurdi and Otukpo, Benue State-Nigeria
Get PDFThe recovery of protozoa cysts and helminths ova from fruits and vegetables is of great public health significance. Consumption of improperly washed fresh fruits and vegetables constitutes considerable health risk and is the major route of transmission of intestinal parasites. This study aimed at determining the prevalence of parasites on edible fruits and vegetables sold in Makurdi and Otukpo metropolises, Nigeria. Samples were obtained from 3 markets per location and a total of 9 fruits and vegetables were used for the study. Sediments obtained from washing the fruits and vegetables with normal saline were centrifuged and then viewed under the microscope using x4 and x10 objectives. Eggs, cysts, and larvae of parasites including Ascaris lumbricoides (37.60%), Giardia lamblia (10.86%), Entamoeba histolytica (14.13%), Fasciola hepatica (10.86%) and Strongyloides stercolaris (22.82%) were found to be prevalent in this study across the sampled locations. There was no statistical significance between infected fruits and vegetables with markets, locations and all sampled variables in this study (p<0.05). The result from this study showed high contamination (40.4%) of fruits and vegetables sold in Makurdi and Otukpo markets in Benue State. All parasites recovered in this study are of public health importance as they have been mostly implicated to cause morbidity in man and animals. Hygienic Practices should be promoted among farmers, vendors and the public through health education, health awareness campaigns, to mitigate contamination of fruits and vegetables.
 
Recording of Hermaphroditism in Sardinella Maderensis Caught in Lattakia Marine Waters-Syria
Get PDFClupeid fish occupies the first place in the economic fisheries in the world, as the annual catch rate of its species has reached (11) million tons (more than 20% of the general catch of fish in the world), of which more than a thousand tons are caught annually in the Mediterranean [1] [2]. While doing our current research entitled: "Study of diet, age and growth, and determination of the concentrations of some trace elements in Sardinella maderensis (Lowe, 1838) fish in marine waters of Lattakia coast", after collecting about 350 sardines in the period from 20/10/2021 to 28/04/2022, and when studying the gonads and stages of sexual maturity for those individuals, we found a case of hermaphroditism in one individual of Sardinella maderensis fish, 13 cm long and 18.05 g, caught on 17/03/ 2022 using the gill net, after examining and comparing the data of our current research and with the reference data, we confirm the existence of this phenomenon among individuals of Sardinella maderensis fish in our Syrian marine environment, and it is recorded for the first time.
 
Comparative Study of the Supercritical Extraction on Extracts of Palm Kernel Cake and Candlenut Samples After being used
Get PDFIn this paper, the extraction of palm kernel oil from palm kernel cake and candlenut samples after being used was studied. Supercritical fluid (SC-CO2) at pressure of 7.28 MPa and temperature 31°C was examined and tested. The obtained results indicated that the increase in particle size, pressure and temperature enhanced the oil solubility. The supercritical carbon dioxide extraction at optimized parameters resulted in oil yield extraction of 46.4% at solubility of 9.6 g oil/kg CO2. The obtained candlenut oil from supercritical carbon dioxide extraction has better oil quality than oil which was extracted by Soxhlet extraction using n-hexane solvent. The oil contains high unsaturated oil (linoleic acid and linolenic acid), which have many beneficial effects on human health.
 
The Effect of Secondhand and Thirdhand E-cigarette Vapor on the Geotaxis and Olfaction of Larval and Adult Drosophila melanogaster
Get PDFRapidly increasing in popularity, e-cigarettes have proved to be detrimental to human health. Appealing most to youth aged 12-17, e-cigarettes have been the cause of thousands of cases of lung-related illnesses around the world. Adequately addressing this situation requires a complete understanding of the effects of e-cigarettes. This study examines how secondhand and thirdhand exposure to e-cigarette vapor affects youth and adult populations via the model organism Drosophila melanogaster. This experimental study analyzed groups of 6-10 flies that were exposed to e-cigarette vapor once a day for 8 consecutive days. The experiment analyzed the activity and behavior of the flies and showed that both secondhand and thirdhand exposure to e-cig vapor affects both youth and adult populations negatively through the assessments of geotaxis and olfactory perception. Data from the flies exposed to secondhand and thirdhand vapor were compared to data from flies not exposed to vapor. The flies exhibited both a lower average climb height and reduced ability to smell fruit placed in the environment. Additionally, it was observed that youth were affected more severely than adults, and that thirdhand exposure was almost as harmful as secondhand exposure. The different types of exposure presented to populations in different stages of life prove to have a visible effect on the perceptionary strength of the flies, which may translate to effects experienced by humans undergoing the same types of exposure.
 
Microbiological and Physico-Chemical Analysis in Potable Water from Different Sources via Elite Regions of Meghalaya, India
Get PDFIntroduction: Quality of drinking water is one of the major concern in the Globe. Drinking water should be free from pathogens and within limit of physico chemical parameters such as pH, chloride, alkalinity etc., for preventing diseases and improving quality of life.
Objectives: Assessment of water quality on the basis of microbiological and physico-chemical properties from different sources of water from selected regions of Meghalaya i.e., from stream, spring, groundwater, well water, PHE UV treated water and drill water(raw).
Study Design: This study was conducted on six different samples from stream, spring, groundwater, well water, PHE UV treated water and drill water(raw) respectively at State Food testing laboratory, Meghalaya which is accredited by National Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL- A constituent board of Quality Council of India).
Methods: Microbiological methods include IS 15185:2002 for detection of E.coli, IS 5402:2012 method for detection of Standard Plate Count and IS 5403:1999 for detection of Yeast and mould and basic physicochemical methods from FSSAI manual for detection of pH, Total hardness, total alkalinity, Calcium magnesium, chloride and samples appearance.
Results: In this study; it was observe that PHE UV treated water depicts absence of bacterial & fungal growth, also passes physio-chemical parameters as per IS:10500.
Conclusion: On microbiological & physicochemical analysis, it was found that PHE UV treated water is the only source of water fit for consumption