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Clinacanthus nutans (Acanthaceae) is a local plant consumed as tisane in Indonesia and ‘ulam’ in Malaysia. This plant has been claimed for its ability to prevent many diseases including diabetes. However, the scientific proof on this claim is still lacking. Therefore, the present work study was designed to evaluate the antidiabetic potential and antioxidant capacity of C. nutans leaves extracts using in vitro bioassay tests. The 80% methanolic crude extract of this plant was further partitioned using different polarity solvents namely hexane, hexane:ethyl acetate (1:1, v/v), ethyl acetate, ethyl acetate:methanol (1:1, v/v), and methanol. All the sub-fractions were analysed for antioxidant effect via 2, 2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) scavenging activity, ferric reducing power (FRAP) and xanthine oxidase (XO) assays followed by antidiabetic evaluation via α-glucosidase and dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) inhibitory assays and glucose uptake experiment. The ethyl acetate fraction showed a good antioxidant potential while the hexane fraction exhibited high α-glucosidase and DPP-IV enzyme inhibition. The hexane fraction also improved glucose uptake in a dose-dependent manner. The present work thus provides an informative data on the potential of C. nutans to be developed as a functional food in preventing diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The snow leopard is one of the highly valued species from high-altitude mountain ecosystems of Central and Southeast Asia, including Pakistan. This keystone species is facing a myriad of conventional and emerging threats, including poaching and trade, that are poorly documented in Pakistan. To understand the dynamics and drivers of the poaching and trading of snow leopards in Pakistan, we investigated the issue in depth through a multifaceted survey in the snow leopard range of the country. We recorded 101 snow leopard poaching incidences from 11 districts during 2005–2017. The reported poaching incidences varied spatially (x̄ = 9 ± 2.6 [95% Cl: 3–15]) and temporally (x̄ = 7.8 ± 1.09) and accounted for 2–4% annual population loss (n = 200–420) in a period of 13 years. Poaching and trade together constituted 89% of the total incidence reported and animals were mostly shot (66%), poisoned (12%), snared (12%) and captured (4%), respectively. Only a fraction (3%) of the incidences were reported to the relevant law enforcement agencies. Trade routes included large cities and neighbouring countries, even the Middle East and Europe. The average base and end prices for each item were 245 ± 36 USD and 1,736 ± 520 USD, respectively, while maximum monetary fines set as per the law were 275 USD. Our results establish the need for developing multi-stakeholder coordination mechanisms at regional, national and international levels and information sharing to curb this menace. Improving the existing laws and surveillance system, while taking the local communities onboard, will further help to this end.

Measurement(s) Newspaper articles on human-spider encounters Technology Type(s) Manual extraction Sample Characteristic - Organism Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) Sample Characteristic - Environment Online Sample Characteristic - Location Global

Introduction: The Five-Factor Nonverbal Personality Questionnaire (FF-NPQ) is a non-verbal personality inventory consisting of illustrations of different social situations, designed to measure five broad factors underlying the Big-Five model of personality. This study aimed to prove the validity of the FF-NPQ in Malaysia. Methods: The FF-NPQ instruction and the answer option were translated to the Malay language, which is the main language spoken in Malaysia. A total of 153 university students aged 18-30 years from Universiti Sains Malaysia were involved in this study. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), composite reliability and intraclass correlation (ICC) were applied to show evidence of validity by internal structure. Results: CFA indicated that only 26 out of 60 items remained in the final model while maintaining the five personality factors. Each factor had a good composite reliability value of 0.68-0.77. The ICC values from the test-retest analysis ranged from 0.65 to 0.75. Conclusion: Overall, the shortened Malay Version of the FF -NPQ (five-factor, 26 items) exhibited acceptable evidence of validity in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an automatic visual inspection of exterior surface defects of oil tanks using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and image processing with two cascading fuzzy logic algorithms. Corrosion is one of the defects that has a serious effect on the safety of the surface of oil and gas tanks. At present, human inspection, and climbing robots inspection are the dominant approach for rust detection in oil and gas tanks. However, there are many shortcomings to this approach, such as taking longer, high cost, and covering less surface area inspection of the tank. The purpose of this research is to detect the rust in oil tanks by localizing visual inspection technology using UAVs, as well as to develop algorithms to distinguish between defects and noise. The study focuses on two basic aspects of oil tank inspection through the images captured by the UAV, namely, the detection of defects and the distinction between defects and noise. For the former, an image processing algorithm was developed to improve or remove noise, adjust the brightness of the captured image, and extract features to identify defects in oil tanks. Meanwhile, for the latter aspect, a cascading fuzzy logic algorithm and threshold algorithm were developed to distinguish between defects and noise levels and reduce their impact through three stages of processing: The first stage of fuzzy logic aims to distinguish between defects and low noise generated by the appearance of objects on the surface of the tank, such as trees or stairs, and reduce their impact. The second stage aims to distinguish between defects and medium noise generated by shadows or the presence of small objects on the surface of the tank and reduce their impact. The third stage of the thresholding algorithm aims to distinguish between defects and high noise generated by sedimentation on the surface of the tank and reduce its impact. The samples were classified based on the output of the third stage of the threshold process into defective or non-defective samples. The proposed algorithms were tested on 180 samples and the results show its superiority in the inspection and detection of defects with an accuracy of 83%.

This paper explores potential barriers to the adoption of soil-less, small-scale hydroponic systems operated through digital technology within gardening communities and related projects. It investigates whether these communities view a technology-driven approach to food cultivation as limiting. The backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic highlights interconnected challenges spanning food security, climate change, and economic turmoil. Disruptions in global supply chains and economic activities resulting from the pandemic have precipitated an economic crisis, income disparities, and increased food insecurity. Agricultural disruptions have exacerbated food security issues, while climate change-induced extreme weather events further jeopardize food systems. This economic crisis impedes effective climate change mitigation and adaptation. A holistic approach is crucial, integrating sustainable agriculture, resilient food systems, and climate change strategies. Collaboration among governments, researchers, and communities is vital for enduring food security and sustainable economies. The Hydroponic Verticulture System (HVS), a modern urban agricultural technology, offers a practical solution that fosters urban farming, ensures food quality, and supports community engagement. A full tank of water or mixed organic material of 13.5 Liter with 5rm speed provided sufficient watering for effective nourishment and hydration throughout the vertical system. Furthermore, HVS contributes to climate change mitigation by reducing CO2 and increasing O2 levels through smart urban farming practices, aligning with environmental sustainability goals.