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AbstractArrowleaf sida (Sida rhombifolia L.) is a weed that has a fibrous stem, aggressive root system and waxy leaves that can hinder herbicide absorption. Based on knowledge of the environmental requirements for germination of this species, it is possible to predict emergence to assist in integrated management. The aim of this investigation was to characterize the air temperature and soil water potential requirements for arrowleaf sida germination, to model the emergence in the field using thermal and hydrothermal time models and to evaluate the longevity of the arrowleaf sida seed bank. Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the temperature and water potential for seed germination by testing eight temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, and 45 °C) and 10 water potentials (0, −0.05, −0.1, −0.2, −0.4, −0.6, −0.9, −1.2, −1.5, and −2.0 MPa). Field experiments were conducted between 2014 and 2018 to model the emergence using three sampling times (starting on 10/20, 11/10, and 12/01), during which soybean seeds were sown. To evaluate the longevity and persistence of the seed bank, a factorial experiment was conducted, in which the first factor included three burial depths (0, 3, and 6 cm) and the second factor included five collection times (0, 1, 4, 10, and 16 months) after seed burial. The base, optimal and maximum temperatures for arrowleaf sida germination were 10.0, 24.8, and 42.5 °C, respectively, and the base water potential was −1.20 MPa. It is possible to predict the emergence of arrowleaf sida in the field by hydrothermal and thermal time models under different environmental conditions. In addition, this species has a persistent seed bank, with 30% of seeds being viable after 16 months of burial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shelf life is an important determinant of the quality of parasitoids used as natural enemies in augmentation biological control. Cotesia chilonis (Munakata) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), an obligate endoparasitoid of Chilo suppressalis (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), has potential for use through augmentation biological control in China. Here, the effects of cold storage temperature, host status, and larval stage on the biological characteristics of C. chilonis were investigated to extend the agent's shelf life. Results showed that the number of healthy C. chilonis adults obtained was reduced by 3.5% and 47.7% when C. suppressalis larvae in either natural or induced diapause were used as hosts compared to nondiapausing control larvae. Both parasitism and cold storage significantly reduced the supercooling point of nondiapausing C. suppressalis larvae, whereas the opposite result was observed in those of natural diapause. In order to improve the long‐term storage of C. chilonis, nondiapausing C. suppressalis larvae were parasitized for 1, 3, 5, and 7 days to allow C. chilonis to develop into different larval stages before being transferred into cold storage for 30 days at 4 or 10°C. Compared to the control, the C. chilonis cocoon formation and emergence rates of the 1‐day‐old egg treatment group held at 10°C were reduced by 15% and 17%, respectively. The results also showed that the duration of the larval stage of C. chilonis was prolonged fourfold after storage at 4 and 10°C. Individuals held at 10°C had a significantly longer cocoon and adult stage compared to those held at 4°C. The biological parameters and life history of the F1 generation of C. chilonis returned to normal levels under laboratory conditions. In conclusion, C. suppressalis larvae were successfully used to extend the shelf life of C. chilonis for use in augmentative biocontrol programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pomfret fish, particularly the black pomfret (Parastromateus niger), serves as a significant economic resource in South Asia, particularly in the coastal regions of Balochistan, Pakistan. This study investigates various biological parameters of Parastromateus niger collected from the Gaddani coastal area of Pakistan, focusing on length-weight relationships, gut fullness, and population demographics. A total of 117 fish specimens were collected, with females dominating the samples. Length and weight data were analyzed separately for males and females, with statistical calculations revealing strong correlations (r2 values ranging from 0.918 to 0.985) between length and weight for both sexes. Gut fullness was categorized into five levels, with the highest percentage observed during July, suggesting potential breeding activity during this period. The zooplanktons were identified as primary dietary components of Parastromateus niger. The study also highlights the importance of regulatory measures to sustainably manage fish populations, especially during breeding seasons, and calls for further research into the intensive culturing and feeding regimes of black pomfret to enhance its production. Overall, these findings contribute to a better understanding of the biological characteristics and potential for aquaculture development of Parastromateus niger in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As innovative and versatile agents with potential applications in a wide range of fields including medicine, electronics, wastewater treatment, cosmetics, and energy storage devices, magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) are significant attention. However, our knowledge of the harmful effects of different-sized NPs, particularly of their effects on aquatic animals, is limited. In this study, we evaluated the impact of different-sized (sub-2, 5, and 15 nm) cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) NPs on the biological parameters of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) embryos and larvae. The NPs were characterized using techniques such as high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) for imaging, X-ray diffraction (XRD) for crystallographic analysis, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) for elemental analysis, and were tested for impact through a series of toxicity, genotoxicity, and biochemical assays at a concentration of 100 mg/L. The obtained results showed that toxicity of CoFe2O4 NPs depended on the size of NPs and the developmental stage of the fish. Our results, which revealed significant changes in biological parameters of O. mykiss under exposure to CoFe2O4 NPs, imply that these NPs may be not environmentally safe. The hierarchical cluster analysis showed that embryos of the control group were clearly separated from those exposed to NPs of various sizes. However, in the exposed larvae, the effects of control and the smallest-sized NPs (sub-2 nm) differed from those induced by larger NPs (5 nm and 15 nm). Additional research is necessary to comprehend the mechanisms underlying the observed variations, which would be advantageous for both managing the risk of NPs to humans and advancing the field of aquatic nanotoxicology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mulberry silkworm is a monophagous insect, so the only way to improve the silk industry is the enrichment of mulberry leaves with supplementary nutrients. In this investigation mulberry leaves treated with algal probiotics (Spirulina plantalis and Azolla Pinnata) with different concentrations (1, 2, and 3%) from 4th larval instar till spinning to study the impact of these supplements on some biological parameters (larval weight (g.), growth rate%, longevity (hr.) and fecundity (no.)), economical parameters (cocoon weight (g.), cocoon shell weight (g.), shell ratio%, and pupa weight(g.)) and biochemical parameters ( total protein, protease, amylase, and invertase). The obtained results indicate that all types of probiotics with different concentrations have a positive impact on all parameters under study but the most effective one was azolla 2% that affect positively on the fecundity of females and the shell ratio % of males reduced feeding days in the 5th larval stage that is a very important economical factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple, effective and economically cheaper method for mass rearing of the brinjal shoot and fruit borer, Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee was developed using both modified artificial diet fortified with brinjal powder and natural diet - potato. A comparison of the various biological parameters such as egg incubation period, larval period, larval weight (12-day old), pre-pupal period, pupal period, pupal weight (1-day old), adult longevity, fecundity, oviposition period and sex ratio of different life stages of the test-insect were studied for both the food sources in this investigation. The larval and pupal periods on natural (potato) diet were 14.58± 1.51 and 6.7± 1.22 days respectively, with a mean fecundity of 165.55± 36.26 per female and a mean life cycle of 26.91days. The larval and pupal period of shoot and fruit borer reared on modified diet were 15.97± 1.24 and 6.25± 1.23 days respectively with a mean fecundity of 149.45± 25.83 per female and a mean life cycle of 25.26 days. Provision of a suitable site for adult mating and oviposition was attained by designing a separate mating chamber along with a suitable egg laying substratum. Thus, an easy and economical rearing technique could successfully support the rearing to six generations of target-insect in laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) analysis and prediction is the hottest topic in the medical healthcare industry. However, identifying the sleep disorder and its Severity is too complex because of the unique biological parameters of every human. So, the current research plans to develop a novel Chimp-based Recurrent Mets Framework (CbRMF) for predicting metabolism syndrome features. It is functioned based on artificial intelligence and bio-inspired optimization principles. Hence, based on the abnormal metabolism syndrome density, the severity score of OSA has been forecasted. The noise features were removed in the hidden layer of the CbRMF, and then the feature analyzing and prediction function was performed. Moreover, the designed model is tested in the Python environment, and the performance has been measured based on prediction accuracy rate, sensitivity score, F-value, precision, and misclassification rate. Incorporating the chimp fitness function has afforded the finest OSA symptoms detection and severity classification outcome. The efficiency of the proposed technique is measured by testing it with different databases like metabolism syndrome data, stroke unit data and Polysomnography data. The proposed novel CbRMF has defined the finest outcome for the Polysomnography data, which is 99.3% accuracy for sleep disorder prediction and has recorded a 0.7% error rate. Hence, the presented novel CbRMF has earned the finest OSA severity categorization exactness than the other compared models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The post-harvest period of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp] is marked by substantial losses due to the insect pest Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius). The primary goal of the current study is to identify environmentally appropriate substitutes for synthetic pesticides in the management of stored seed pests. Thus, in a laboratory setting, the insecticidal activity of essential oils (EOs) from Ziziphora hispanica and Satureja calamintha against the cowpea weevil C. maculatus was assessed. Methods: The fumigant effects of these two EOs were tested with concentrations (4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 µL L-1 of air per 10 g of cowpea seeds) on four biological parameters of C. maculatus: adult mortality, fecundity, fertility, and adult emergence, while concentrations of 4, 12, 16, and 20 µL/cm2 of air were used for the repulsion test. Results and discussion: The fumigant effects of these two EOs were tested with concentrations (4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 µLL-1 of air per 10 g of cowpea seeds) on four biological parameters of C. maculatus: adult mortality, fecundity, fertility, and adult emergence, while concentrations of 4, 12, 16, and 20 µL/cm2 of air were used for the repulsion test. The results of fumigation tests showed a remarkable efficacy of both essential oils against adult C. maculatus after 24 h of exposure. Z. hispanica EO yielded a mortality rate of 80± 20%, with an LC50 of 2.77 µLL-1 for males and 66.66± 11.54% with an LC50 of 3.57 µLL-1 for females at 4 µLL-1 of air. However, the S. calamintha EO resulted in a mortality rate of 100% for males and 86.66± 23.09% with an LC50 of 2.17 µLL-1 for females at low doses. The fecundity was 1.33 ± 0.57 eggs per female. In contrast, this parameter was absent with S. calamintha EO at the low dose, while fertility and emerging adults were missing for both EOs. Furthermore, both EOs showed highly repellent activity towards C. maculatus adults, with 81.66% for Z. hispanica and 91.67% for S. calamintha EO. According to the results of the GC-MS analysis, the primary components of Z. hispanica EO were found to be pulegone (28.17%), alpha-naphtonitrite (10.77%), and 3-(3-thienyl) pro-2-enoic acid (10.62%). Similarly, the main constituents of S. calamintha EO were pulegone (21.48%), piperitenone oxide (17.71%), and eucalyptol (11.99%). Hence, these substances are regarded as the volatile compounds accountable for controlling C. maculatus activities. The study reports that Z. hispanica and S. calamintha show promising fumigant and repellent efficacy and offer new avenues for their potential use as an alternative to synthetic pesticides against stored seed pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grafting is a technique greatly used in fruit trees and vegetable crops by joining the rootstock of one plant with the scion of another plant. The rootstock is chosen for its ability to provide the scion with a healthy root system that provides not only higher tolerance to abiotic stress conditions but also a stronger resistance against pests and pathogens. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of two commonly used rootstocks, sour orange and volkamer lemon, in lemon grafting on population densities and life table parameters of Eutetranychus orientalis (Klein). The results were then related to the chemical identification of polyphenol compounds using HPLC. Significant changes in population density and life table parameters of E. orientalis were observed between the two rootstocks used in lemon grafting. The rootstock sour orange had a high influence on population growth of E. orientalis. Balady limes and adalia lemons grafted onto sour orange showed lower density of E. orientalis movable stages than balady limes grafted onto volkamer lemon. Balady limes and adalia lemons grafted onto sour orange significantly increased the total developmental periods of E. orientalis and decreased the adult longevity period, oviposition period, and the total fecundity of females. The total developmental period was 9.64 and 10.14 days, the adult longevity period was 3.58 and 3.59 days, and the total fecundity of females was 4.59 and 5.50 eggs/female, respectively. Additionally, the use of sour orange in grafting lemon resulted in a decrease in the net (R0) and gross (GRR) reproductive rates, which in turn reduced the intrinsic (r) and finite (λ) rates of increase. The rootstock's high performance may be attributed to the presence of high concentrations of polyphenol compounds that deter feeding and reproduction by E. orientalis. The study suggests that this rootstock can be utilized as a tool in integrated pest management strategies against the citrus brown mite, E. orientalis. When incorporated into an integrated pest control program for E. orientalis in citrus orchards, this technique enhances plant tolerance to infestation, while also ensuring that the output is effective and sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Plant Protection & Pathology is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Nittaya Sriprachot,1 Katekaew Seangpraw,1 Parichat Ong-Artborirak2 1School of Public Health, University of Phayao, Phayao, 56000, Thailand; 2Department of Research and Medical Innovation, Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University, Bangkok, 10300, ThailandCorrespondence: Katekaew Seangpraw, Email eungkaew@gmail.comPurpose: Hypertension (HT) can cause renal complications or deterioration of kidney function. HT management is very important because it reduces the severity of illnesses. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between health literacy (HL), self-care behaviors (SCB), and biochemical parameters in hypertensive patients with renal complications.Methods: A cross-sectional study of 405 hypertensive patients with renal complications among Tai Lue people living in Thailand was conducted using simple random sampling. Face-to-face interviews with questionnaires were used to collect information. Blood pressure (BP) and biochemical parameters, such as fasting blood sugar (FBS) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), were measured.Results: The participants’ mean age was 68.3 years. A significant correlation was found between HL score, SCB score, systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), FBS, and eGFR (p< 0.01). Multiple linear regression revealed that eating salty foods was a risk factor for SBP in males and for SBP and DBP in females. Body mass index (BMI) (B = 0.54), sweet food consumption (B = 13.90), and SCB score (B = − 0.29) were significantly associated with FBS level (R2 = 17.8%, p< 0.05). Employment (B = 2.55), eating bland food (B = 4.07), receiving information from family (B = 3.53), SCB (B= 0.31), and age (B = − 0.51) were all significant factors for eGFR (R2 = 35.0%, p< 0.05).Conclusion: HL and SCB levels were associated with the health of hypertensive patients with renal complications in the Tai Lue ethnic community. The significance of organizing health education programs is to emphasize increasing HL to lead to self-care decisions and reduce complications in patients, resulting in improved SCB and quality of life in the future.Keywords: health literacy, self-care behaviors, biological parameters, hypertension, renal complication

This study aimed to monitor abiotic factors at three stations in the Oum Er Rbia estuary, not far from the mouth. The stations were situated upstream (S1), in front (S2) and downstream (S3) from the discharge of urban wastewater from the town of Azemmour, which is discharged directly without treatment near the estuary's mouth. The selection of these stations appeared appropriate to assessing the quality of the waters, which are influenced by both marine hydrodynamics resulting from very low freshwater inflows and sewage discharges. Monitoring of several parameters, including temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, salinity, turbidity, as well as the content of chlorophyll (a) and pheopigments, enabled the examination of the impact of marine hydrodynamics and the and the specific characteristics of the three surveyed stations. The analyzes were performed using R software version 4.2.0. The results obtained indicate that the studied physico-chemical and biological parameters exhibited variations with significant correlations. Statistical approaches allowed the determination of profiles for stations S1, S2 and S3. It is evident that S1 (located slightly far from the discharge) showed a profile that tended to differ from the other two stations, S2 and S3, especially for certain parameters (temperature, pH, turbidity, and chlorophyll (a). On the other hand, all stations were impacted to some extent by the discharge of wastewater during rising tides. The present study can serve as an assessment tool to support decision-making regarding the physico-chemical quality of the waters of the Oum Er Rbia estuary.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of the season and the physiological stage on the health status of Ouled Djellal ewes. In arid zones through the analysis of biological blood parameters. This study focused on ewes of the Ouled Djellal breed belonging to a state-owned farm (The "Ain Ben Naoui" station the Technological Institute for the Development of Saharan Agriculture "T.I.D.S.A", located in the commune of Elhajeb). Samples were taken from clinically healthy ewes at different physiological stages (ewes in gestation, ewes in lactation). The study was carried out over two seasons (winter and spring). Circulating concentrations of glycemia, cholesterol, triglycerides, hematological parameters (hemoglobin, white blood cells and red blood cells) and hormonal parameters (progesterone, prolactin) were determined. Analysis of the results showed that the physiological stage in this study made no significant difference to the levels of the parameters in question. With regard to the seasonal factor, the results showed a significant influence on cholesterol levels in winter-pregnant ewes compared with spring-pregnant ewes, and a highly significant influence on circulating triglyceride levels in winter-pregnant ewes compared with spring-pregnant ewes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Kirkuk University for Agricultural Sciences is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) is a common pest of various stored commodities, globally. It is a notorious pest in terms of developing resistance against different insecticides used for its control. In the present study, T. castaneum population was selected with deltamethrin to investigate aspects related to deltamethrin resistance development, such as fitness tradeoff, stability, realized heritability and cross-resistance. After 12 continuous selections, deltamethrin-selected T. castaneum (Delta-Sel strain) developed 49.74-fold and 92.85-fold resistance as compared to field and unselected population, respectively. However, a decrease in level of deltamethrin resistance was observed when selection with deltamethrin was ceased for three generations (G12 to G15), which suggests the unstable nature of deltamethrin resistance. The realized heritability (h2) value for deltamethrin resistance was 0.05. The cost paid to develop resistance was observed as reduced fecundity and hatching (%), lower biotic potential, low relative growth rate, and prolonged developmental time, resulting in a decline in the growth potential of the Delta-Sel strain. No cross-resistance to imidacloprid and a very low cross-resistance to chlorpyrifos and bifenthrin was observed. Based on the results, it appears that utilizing insecticides with low or no cross-resistance by interchanging with deltamethrin can be an effective approach for managing resistance and maintaining T. castaneum's susceptibility to deltamethrin. These findings will be helpful for researchers to refine resistance management strategy for delaying resistance and impair survival of T. castaneum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work were conducted to determine the effect of two biocides (i.g., Dipel Df and Biofly) on the biological aspects of true spider, Chericanthium jovium Denis which collected from tomato fields at laboratory conditions (25±1°C and 75±5% R.H.). Both the biocides not effected on biological parameters of this predator, when reared on treated larvae of Spodoptera littoralis Boisd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to monitor abiotic factors at three stations in the Oum Er Rbia estuary, not far from the mouth. The stations were situated upstream (S1), in front (S2) and downstream (S3) from the discharge of urban wastewater from the town of Azemmour, which is discharged directly without treatment near the estuary mouth. The selection of these stations appeared appropriate to assessing the quality of the waters, which are influenced by both marine hydrodynamics resulting from very low freshwater inflows and sewage discharges. Monitoring of several parameters, including temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, salinity, turbidity, as well as the content of chlorophyll a and pheopigments, enabled the examination of the impact of marine hydrodynamics and the and the specific characteristics of the three surveyed stations. The analyses were performed using R software version 4.2.0. The results obtained indicate that the studied physico-chemical and biological parameters exhibited variations with significant correlations. Statistical approaches allowed the determination of profiles for stations S1, S2 and S3. It is evident that S1 (located slightly far from the discharge) showed a profile that tended to differ from the other two stations, S2 and S3, especially for certain parameters (temperature, pH, turbidity, and chlorophyll a). On the other hand, all stations were impacted to some extent by the discharge of wastewater during rising tides. The present study can serve as an assessment tool to support decision-making regarding the physico-chemical quality of the waters of the Oum Er Rbia estuary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are a well-established biocontrol agent for insect pests. Using such a bio-agent to eliminate ticks has only been reported in a few cases. The current study intended to determine how the camel tick, Hyalomma dromedarii Koch, 1844 (Acari: Ixodidae), engorged female, was affected by various concentrations and timing of exposure to infected juveniles of five EPN isolates from two species. The six groups of engorged females, each with 25 ticks, were subjected to five concentrations of 50, 100, 150, 300, and 600 infective juveniles (IJs)/female in order to perform the work. Female mortality was observed every day for up to 72 h. The groups' average weights were statistically equivalent. The following biological parameters: initial weight of the female (mg); pre- and oviposition periods (days); survival period (days); initial weight of the egg mass (mg); hatching percentage (%H); nutritional efficacy index (NEI); and the control efficacy (%) of the engorged females as influenced by Heterorhabditis indica NEM-23 and H. bacteriophora NEM-26 infections were also measured. The results showed a linear increment in female mortality with the increase in EPN concentrations. Three days after being exposed to H. bacteriophora at 300 or 600 IJs/Female, all H. dromedarii individuals died, while the group containing 50 IJs/Female of the same EPN reached 75 %. All biological parameters were altered by EPNs, and there were extremely noticeable variations between the concentrations and the untreated group. These findings indicate that both Heterorhabditis isolates acted negatively on the parameters that were being observed, encouraging one to believe that this EPN was effective in controlling engorged females of H. dromedarii in the laboratory.

IntroductionThe post-harvest period of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp] is marked by substantial losses due to the insect pest Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius). The primary goal of the current study is to identify environmentally appropriate substitutes for synthetic pesticides in the management of stored seed pests. Thus, in a laboratory setting, the insecticidal activity of essential oils (EOs) from Ziziphora hispanica and Satureja calamintha against the cowpea weevil C. maculatus was assessed.MethodsThe fumigant effects of these two EOs were tested with concentrations (4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 μL L−1 of air per 10 g of cowpea seeds) on four biological parameters of C. maculatus: adult mortality, fecundity, fertility, and adult emergence, while concentrations of 4, 12, 16, and 20 μL/cm2 of air were used for the repulsion test.Results and discussionThe fumigant effects of these two EOs were tested with concentrations (4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 μL L−1 of air per 10 g of cowpea seeds) on four biological parameters of C. maculatus: adult mortality, fecundity, fertility, and adult emergence, while concentrations of 4, 12, 16, and 20 μL/cm2 of air were used for the repulsion test. The results of fumigation tests showed a remarkable efficacy of both essential oils against adult C. maculatus after 24 h of exposure. Z. hispanica EO yielded a mortality rate of 80 ± 20%, with an LC50 of 2.77 μL L−1 for males and 66.66 ± 11.54% with an LC50 of 3.57 μL L-1 for females at 4 μL L−1 of air. However, the S. calamintha EO resulted in a mortality rate of 100% for males and 86.66 ± 23.09% with an LC50 of 2.17 μL L−1 for females at low doses. The fecundity was 1.33 ± 0.57 eggs per female. In contrast, this parameter was absent with S. calamintha EO at the low dose, while fertility and emerging adults were missing for both EOs. Furthermore, both EOs showed highly repellent activity towards C. maculatus adults, with 81.66% for Z. hispanica and 91.67% for S. calamintha EO. According to the results of the GC–MS analysis, the primary components of Z. hispanica EO were found to be pulegone (28.17%), alpha-naphtonitrite (10.77%), and 3-(3-thienyl) pro-2-enoic acid (10.62%). Similarly, the main constituents of S. calamintha EO were pulegone (21.48%), piperitenone oxide (17.71%), and eucalyptol (11.99%). Hence, these substances are regarded as the volatile compounds accountable for controlling C. maculatus activities. The study reports that Z. hispanica and S. calamintha show promising fumigant and repellent efficacy and offer new avenues for their potential use as an alternative to synthetic pesticides against stored seed pests.

Flea beetle Podagrica decolorata (Duvivier) is a defoliator of okra. The study of some biological parameters of bedbug, Rhynocoris rapax (Stal) was carried out in locality of Man, The study is part of the control of this crop pest. Boxes were used to rear the insects. A thermohygrometer was used to determine the regular temperature and humidity. Larval monitoring revealed five larval stages, with the longest development time of 16.28±2.41 days for stage 5. The highest survival rate was observed for fifth-stage larvae (96.09± 03.14%). Female biological cycle was an mean 82.10± 09.41 days, and male biological cycle was an mean 68.67± 08.44 days. The sex ratio was 0.58. This study revealed positive correlations between humidity and the larval cycle, followed by negative correlations between temperature and the larval cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Poor handling of potable water is a well-known route of contamination. Despite this, Nigeria’s most consumed packaged potable water called “sachet” or “pure water” is still poorly handled with long hours of exposure to sunlight which may affect its quality. This study examined the potential deterioration of the sachet water quality (potential toxic metals and bacteriological), and the health implication posed by long-time exposure to sunlight. Collected water samples were subjected to physiochemical analysis, metal analysis, risk assessment, and microbiological examination. Three sachet water brands (n = 4 bags per brand) exposed to sunlight daily for 14, 28, and 42 days were analysed for potentially toxic metals, and health risk assessments (Average daily dose-ADD, hazard quotient-HQ, hazard index-HI, and carcinogenic risk-CR). The physicochemical, and microbiological (total heterotrophic bacteria count-THBC, and total coliform count-TCC) parameters were equally analysed using the Kirby Bauer and pour plate technique. In all brands, the levels of physicochemical parameters (except pH), and potential toxic metals were comparatively higher than the control in an exposure time-dependent fashion. Furthermore, all the exposed samples failed to meet the safety limits of the WHO, and national standards (NAFDAC and NDSWQ) for drinking water. Among the metals, zinc was the most ingested metal in all the brands. The ADD, HQ, and HI evaluations revealed that consuming the exposed water could lead to higher accumulation of Cr, Cd, Pb, As, and Ni in the body following exposure. The CR of Cr, As, and Ni after exposure to sunlight were > than the safe value (10–4), implying the likelihood of cancer after over 60 years. Microbial counts increased with the length of exposure, and all the isolates showed pathogenicity and multidrug resistance. The potential health risk inherent in sachet water after exposure to sunlight has significant health implications for consumers.

Abstract Background This study aimed to identify an initial screening tool for congenital ectopia lentis (CEL) by comparing ocular biological parameters in children with myopia. Methods A retrospective case-control study was conducted at one tertiary referral centre, from October 2020 to June 2022. Axial length (AL), corneal curvature (CC), refractive astigmatism (RA), corneal astigmatism (CA), internal astigmatism (IA), the difference between the axis of RA and CA [AXIS(RA-CA)], white-to-white corneal diameter (WTW), and axial length-corneal radius ratio (AL/CR) were compared in 28 eyes of CEL patients, and 60 eyes of myopic patients matched for age and refraction. The spherical equivalent of each eye was < -3.00 D. Area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curves were calculated. Results The differences in RA, AL, mean keratometry (Kmed), maximum keratometry (Kmax), minimum keratometry (Kmin), CA, IA, AXIS(RA-CA), WTW, and AL/CR between the CEL and myopic groups were statistically significant (p

Mulberry silkworm is more sensitive to any infection during the rearing season. Maintaining a healthy larva was the main target of this research to lower the probability of infection with microbes besides increasing silk production. There was evidence-based efficacy suggesting that Echinacea purpurea can help to improve immune system barriers by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as Peroxidase and Phenol oxidase, which boosts silk production. The present investigation was carried out to study the impact of Echinacea purpurea on some biological and biochemical parameters. Silkworm larvae reared on mulberry leaves enriched with different concentrations of Echinacea purpurea (0.5%, 1%, and 2%) at the beginning of the 4th instar till the spinning stage. The obtained results indicated that the feeding larvae on 2% concentration of Echinacea purpurea extract increases, all the economic and biological characteristics also, most of the biochemical parameters (total protein, peroxidase activity, and phenoloxidase). while larvae fed at 1% concentration recorded high ascorbic acid values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tomato leaf miner (TLM), Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is a destructive insect pest of tomatoes and other solanaceous plants in Egypt and other countries all over the world. To monitor the preferred tomato cultivars for T. absoluta, some biological aspects, non-choice bioassay and free-choice bioassay tests were studied on six common tomato cultivars. Our results found that the tomato-86 cultivar has a superior ability to delay the development rate of TLM, while the tomato-GS cultivar accelerated the development rate. Also, results showed that T. absoluta larvae reared on the tomato-86 cultivar reduced the larval weight, larval survival, male and female pupal weight, mean number of laid eggs/plant and oviposition preference%. Conversely, the tomato-GS reported a highly significant increase in all non-choice and free-choice bioassay parameters. So, the results indicated that tomato-86 was the least preferred cultivar, while tomato-GS was the most preferred to T. absoluta. Therefore, we recommend planting the tomato-86 cultivar that could be used as a fundamental approach in integrated pest management (IPM) programs against T. absoluta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poor handling of potable water is a well-known route of contamination. Despite this, Nigeria’s most consumed packaged potable water called “sachet” or “pure water” is still poorly handled with long hours of exposure to sunlight which may affect its quality. This study examined the potential deterioration of the sachet water quality (potential toxic metals and bacteriological), and the health implication posed by long-time exposure to sunlight. Collected water samples were subjected to physiochemical analysis, metal analysis, risk assessment, and microbiological examination. Three sachet water brands (n = 4 bags per brand) exposed to sunlight daily for 14, 28, and 42 days were analysed for potentially toxic metals, and health risk assessments (Average daily dose-ADD, hazard quotient-HQ, hazard index-HI, and carcinogenic risk-CR). The physicochemical, and microbiological (total heterotrophic bacteria count-THBC, and total coliform count-TCC) parameters were equally analysed using the Kirby Bauer and pour plate technique. In all brands, the levels of physicochemical parameters (except pH), and potential toxic metals were comparatively higher than the control in an exposure time-dependent fashion. Furthermore, all the exposed samples failed to meet the safety limits of the WHO, and national standards (NAFDAC and NDSWQ) for drinking water. Among the metals, zinc was the most ingested metal in all the brands. The ADD, HQ, and HI evaluations revealed that consuming the exposed water could lead to higher accumulation of Cr, Cd, Pb, As, and Ni in the body following exposure. The CR of Cr, As, and Ni after exposure to sunlight were > than the safe value (10–4), implying the likelihood of cancer after over 60 years. Microbial counts increased with the length of exposure, and all the isolates showed pathogenicity and multidrug resistance. The potential health risk inherent in sachet water after exposure to sunlight has significant health implications for consumers.Article highlights: •Concentration of potential toxic metal increased linearly with exposure time. • Carcinogenic risk assessment showed potential cancer risk after 60 years. • All the brands failed all bacteriological regulatory guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The melon aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover is one of the most important pests in pepper fields and greenhouses, which is of special economic importance due to its wide distribution and large host range. In this research, biological and reprodutive parameters of A.gossypii on two pepper cultivars (Poblano and Paprika) treated with salicylic acid, were investigated at laboratory conditions (25 ± 2 ˚C, 65 ± 5 % RH, and a photoperiod of 16L: 8D h). According to the results, the use of salicylic acid in both cultivars had a significant effect on most of the demographic parameters of the A.gossypii, compared to the control (spraying with distilled water) and decreased its life span, life cycle length, and Survival. The lowest and highest lifespan were 5.91 days (salicylic acid treatment in Paprika) and 10.25 days (control treatment in Poblano), respectively. Also, the use of this hormone had a significant effect on the reducing gross reproductive rate (GRR), net reproductive rate (R0), intrinsic rate of increase (r), and finite rate of increase (λ) of the aphid. The minimum and maximum values of r were obtained in salicylic acid treatment on Paprika and control treatment on Poblano (0.2570 and 0.4046 d1 respectively). So, salicylic acid can considerably reduce biological and reprodactive parameters of A.gossypii in pepper and can be used in integrated pest management programs of melon aphid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to identify an initial screening tool for congenital ectopia lentis (CEL) by comparing ocular biological parameters in children with myopia. Methods: A retrospective case-control study was conducted at one tertiary referral centre, from October 2020 to June 2022. Axial length (AL), corneal curvature (CC), refractive astigmatism (RA), corneal astigmatism (CA), internal astigmatism (IA), the difference between the axis of RA and CA [AXIS(RA-CA)], white-to-white corneal diameter (WTW), and axial length-corneal radius ratio (AL/CR) were compared in 28 eyes of CEL patients, and 60 eyes of myopic patients matched for age and refraction. The spherical equivalent of each eye was < -3.00 D. Area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curves were calculated. Results: The differences in RA, AL, mean keratometry (Kmed), maximum keratometry (Kmax), minimum keratometry (Kmin), CA, IA, AXIS(RA-CA), WTW, and AL/CR between the CEL and myopic groups were statistically significant (p < 0.05; p < 0.001; p < 0.001; p < 0.001; p < 0.001; p < 0.05; p < 0.001; p < 0.001; p < 0.001; p < 0.001, respectively). In logistic regression analysis RA, IA, AXIS(RA-CA), and AL/CR were significantly associated with CEL (p < 0.05). AUCs for RA, IA, AXIS(RA-CA), and AL/CR were 0.694, 0.853, 0.814, and 0.960, respectively. AUCs for AL/CR in SE< -6.00 D subgroup was 0.970, and 0.990 in -6.00 D ≤ SE < -3.00 D group. An AL/CR < 3.024 was the optimal cut-off point differentiating the CEL and control groups (sensitivity, 92.9%; specificity, 88.30%). Conclusions: A smaller AL/CR could identify CEL in children with myopia. An AL/CR cut-off value of 3.024 may be the most sensitive and specific parameter for the differential diagnosis of CEL in patients with mild to high myopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamma irradiation is a non-thermal method for prolonging the shelf-life of foods and it is a possible alternative technology for oilseeds. After harvest, the development of pests and microorganisms, as well as the reactions caused by enzymes reason numerous problems in the oilseeds. Gamma radiation is one of the methods that could inhibit undesired microorganisms, but it can also change the physicochemical and nutritive characteristics of oils. This paper is a brief review of recent publications on the effects of gamma radiation on the biological, physicochemical and nutritional parameters of oils. Overall, gamma radiation is a safe and environmentally friendly method that improves the quality, stability and safety characteristics of oilseeds and oils. In the future, there may also be many health reasons to produce oils using gamma radiation. Investigation of other radiation techniques such as x-rays and electron beams have a good potential once the specific doses that would free them from pests and contaminants have been identified while conserving the benefits without altering their sensory properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Helicoverpa zea, an economic pest in the south‐eastern United States, has evolved practical resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Cry toxins in maize and cotton. Insect resistance management (IRM) programs have historically required planting of structured non‐Bt maize, but because of its low adoption, the use of seed blends has been considered. To generate knowledge on target pest biology and ecology to help improve IRM strategies, nine field trials were conducted in 2019 and 2020 in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina to evaluate the impact of Bt (Cry1Ab + Cry1F or Cry1Ab + Cry1F + Vip3A) and non‐Bt maize plants in blended and structured refuge treatments on H. zea pupal survival, weight, soil pupation depth, adult flight parameters, and adult time to eclosion. RESULTS: From a very large sample size and geography, we found a significant difference in pupal mortality and weight among treatments in seed blends with Vip3A, implying that cross‐pollination occurred between Bt and non‐Bt maize ears. There was no treatment effect for pupation depth, adult flight distance, and eclosion time. CONCLUSION: Results of this study demonstrate the potential impact of different refuge strategies on phenological development and survival of an important pest species of regulatory concern. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction The striped bug, Graphosoma lineatum L. is one of the pests of Apiaceae family such as parsley, carrot, celery and some medicinally important plants. The adults and nymphs of this insect feed on seeds of host plants. The eggs of the striped bug have an important role in mass rearing program of some parasitoids. Nutritional supplements undertake an essential function in mass rearing of insects and increase the efficiency of production. Vitamins such as B group have different functions in physiology of insects. The growth and development of insects hinge on acquiring essential nutrients through food materials. Apart from their primary food source, insects rely on essential amino acids and certain minerals for proper nutrition. These crucial components must be obtained from their food sources. Symptoms of nutritional deficiency, as reported in various research studies, include delayed growth, weight loss, prolonged immature stages, increased mortality, wing deformities, alterations in mating behaviors, and various physiological issues. In this study the effects of some vitamins and amino acids on anatomy of salivary glands, total protein of body, developmental time and fecundity of G. lineatum were evaluated in controlled conditions. Material and Methods Insects reared on parsley seeds adhered on the inner side of big plastic containers in controlled condition. Supplements including vitamins B12, B6, B1 and Serine and Phenylalanine amino acids selected for evaluation. These supplements used for the treatmnet of G. lineatum in four different concentrations dissolved in water. For evaluating the effects of nutritional supplements on anatomy of salivary glands, both glands separate after dissection of adult's thorax, and dimension of glands including width and length of posterior and anterior lobs, measured by micrometer apparatus located on stereomicroscope. Total body protein measured by Kjeldahl apparatus after well drying the total body of insects in oven followed by fine powder of dry materials. Total protein was determined using a standard method, calculated by multiplying the nitrogen amounts by 6.38, a constant value. In distinct experiments, the impact of nutritional supplements on the duration of each nymphal stage was investigated. One-day-old eggs were employed for this purpose. Following treatment justification, the time required for the development of each instar was recorded on a daily basis. All tests were replicated three times, with distilled water used for the control treatment. The data were analyzed by One-way ANOVA experimental randomized design and Duncan's multiple range test using SAS software used for comparing the means. Results and Discussion The results disclosed a significant impact of all vitamins and amino acids on all studied parameters. Notably, in the case of salivary glands, the posterior lobe exhibited a more pronounced effect in insects fed with B1, B6, and Phenylalanine. Different concentrations of vitamin B6, B1 and Phenylalanine affected total protein content of male and female insect's body. Vitamin B12 had non-significant effect on male and female total body protein. Nutritional supplements changed the rate of laid and hatched eggs in addition with nymph's developmental time. Vitamin B12 in the concentration of 0.005 g/l, B6 in the concentration of 0.25 g/l, B1 in the concentration of 0.5 g/l, Serine and Phenylalanine both in the concentration of 0.5 g/l showed the highest rate of laid and hatched eggs. Vitamin B6 and B1 in the concentration of 1 and 1.5 g/l resulted in prolonging the nymph's life span in comparing with controls. The negative effects of high concentrations of nutritional supplements on fecundity and normal developmental period of nymphs well documented in this study. Metabolism, cell division, hormone synthesis, enzymes activity and many physiological parameters affects by supplements especially vitamins. Any disorder in utilization, absorption and inhibition of their function leads to biological and behavioral problems in insects. In some cases, the function of symbionts for compensation essential supplements documented. Conclusion The results of this study indicate important function of vitamins B12, B6 and B1 on G. lineatum nymphal developmental period. In high concentrations, rate of growth decreased in comparison with controls. Salivary glands anatomy showed some changes in dimensions especially in posterior lobs in dose-depending manner. Number of eggs laid and hatched decreased especially in high concentrations of nutritional supplements. The results of this study will help to justify better meridic diet for rearing striped bug. In semi-artificial diets for rearing this insect, corporation of little concentrations (optimum) will improve the fitness of insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was developed with longitudinal data measurements of Norfolk rabbits from birth to 119 days of age to estimate the average growth curve, with the primary objective of proposing a non-linear model. It also selected the most appropriate sigmoidal model to describe the growth of Norfolk rabbits. The adjustments provided by the logistic, von Bertalanffy, Gompertz, Brody, Richards, and proposed models were compared. The parameters were estimated using the “nls” function of the “stats” package in R software, the least-squares method, and the Gauss-Newton convergence algorithm. The goodness-of-fit comparison was based on the following criteria: adjusted coefficient of determination (), mean square error (MSE), mean absolute deviation (MAD), Akaike information criterion (AIC), and Bayesian information criterion (BIC). Cluster analysis helped select and classify the non-linear growth models, considering the other goodness-of-fit criteria results. The proposed non-linear, von Bertalanffy, Gompertz, and Richards models described the growth curve of Norfolk rabbits satisfactorily, providing parameters with practical interpretations. The goodness-of-fit criteria showed that the proposed and von Bertalanffy models best represented the growth of rabbits.

The increase in the earth temperature is one of the latest problems threatening the earth ecosystem. Insects as poikilothermic organisms have a high dependence on their environment's temperature so increasing global temperature makes impressions on their distributions, activity, and biological parameters. Trichogramma brassicae (Hymenoptera.: Trichogrammatidae) wasp is one of the most important biological control agents in Iran used to control many species of lepidopterans. In this study, the effect of temperature changes on biological parameters and the expression of two heat shock genes, HSP70 and HSP90, in T. brassicae was studied under laboratory conditions. At first, the main T. brassicae colony was divided into two groups, each of them was separately reared for 20 generations at 30 and 33° C. Then, biological parameters, such as the rate of parasitism, appearance rate, and sex ratio, beside two heat shock gene expressions were assessed. The results indicated that at 33°C, the HSP90 and HSP70 expressions were 2.45 and 1.9 times more than 30°C, respectively, suggesting significant differences at a 99% confidence level. Furthermore, the parasitism rate of T. brassicae at 30 and 33°C were 53.5±2.09 and 40.7±2.14 (from 200 initial eggs), respectively. The obtained results showed that rearing at higher temperature caused to affect the sex ratio, adult appearance rate, and preadult development time. The results of the current study show that increasing global temperature could be result in reducion of the natural enemies efficacy, which will lead to an increase in the probability of pest outbreaks.

Abstract Background The Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a cosmopolitan polyphagous pest that feeds on nearly 80 species of plants The pest can cause upto 100% damage to crops if neglected. It is also resistant to the most of the chemical molecules available in the market, so it is necessary to identify alternate technology to combat this pest. Results The crude cyanobacterial extracts of hexane, petroleum ether, ethanol and methanol extracts of Spirulina sp. and Nostoc muscorum were evaluated against second instar larvae of S. frugiperda through diet overlay method of bioassay. The results revealed that N. muscorum hexane extract and N. muscorum petroleum ether extract recorded the lowest LC50 value of 49.09 and 61.37 ppm, respectively. This was followed by Spirulina hexane extract, Spirulina petroleum ether extract, N. muscorum ethanol extract, N. muscorum methanol extract, Spirulina ethanol and methanol extract which were recorded 173.16, 227.22, 530, 730, 970 and 1000 ppm, respectively. Further, their potential effects on different biological parameters of S. frugiperda, viz. larval duration, pupal duration, percent pupation, pupal weight, pupal malformation, adult malformation, percent adult emergence, fecundity, and male and female adult longevity, were studied. The significant effects on different biological parameters were recorded by N. muscorum hexane and petroleum ether extract, followed by Spirulina hexane and petroleum ether extract. Similarly, an experiment was repeated for the confirmation of the first set of results, which followed by a similar trend. The first-ever novel study on S. frugiperda concluded that crude extracts of Spirulina sp. and N. muscorum extracts showed significant effects in causing larval mortality and affecting different biological parameters. Conclusions The experimental results can be recommended as a potential source of natural pesticides for the control of S. frugiperda.

Monitoring water quality is absolutely essential for formulating policies that affect public and environmental health. The study samples were collected during the period from autumn 2021 to summer 2022, The study show the environmental deterioration of Al-Ashar canal compared with Shatt Al-Arab estuary. including some physical parameters: air and water temperature, which had the highest values in station 2 during July and reached 38.9 and 29 C°, respectively while salinity concentrations recorded a high at station 1. achieved (8.8) g/L. Turbidity and total suspended matter concentrations increased at station 3, achieving 106 NTU and 100 mg/L, respectively. Also the chemical and biological parameters in Al-Ashar Canal were very poor compared to the Shatt Al-Arab, including: pH, whose values were in the basal direction, and the highest values were recorded in station 3, achieving 8.89 Also, there was an increase in the values of the biological oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand, achieving 2400 and 590 mg/L at stations 2 and 3 respectively. While a decrease was recorded in the dissolved oxygen values in station 3, which amounted to 0.13 mg /L, nutrients ( , and ) increased at station 3,2,2. achieving 1.79, 17.982 and 15.51 µg/L, respectively. Also, the values of chlorophyll A increased at station 2 and reached 215.72 µg/L. The aimed of the study is determined the water quality of Al-Ashar canal and compared with Shatt Al-Arab.

Background: The Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a cosmopolitan polyphagous pest that feeds on nearly 80 species of plants The pest can cause upto 100% damage to crops if neglected. It is also resistant to the most of the chemical molecules available in the market, so it is necessary to identify alternate technology to combat this pest. Results: The crude cyanobacterial extracts of hexane, petroleum ether, ethanol and methanol extracts of Spirulina sp. and Nostoc muscorum were evaluated against second instar larvae of S. frugiperda through diet overlay method of bioassay. The results revealed that N. muscorum hexane extract and N. muscorum petroleum ether extract recorded the lowest LC50 value of 49.09 and 61.37 ppm, respectively. This was followed by Spirulina hexane extract, Spirulina petroleum ether extract, N. muscorum ethanol extract, N. muscorum methanol extract, Spirulina ethanol and methanol extract which were recorded 173.16, 227.22, 530, 730, 970 and 1000 ppm, respectively. Further, their potential effects on different biological parameters of S. frugiperda, viz. larval duration, pupal duration, percent pupation, pupal weight, pupal malformation, adult malformation, percent adult emergence, fecundity, and male and female adult longevity, were studied. The significant effects on different biological parameters were recorded by N. muscorum hexane and petroleum ether extract, followed by Spirulina hexane and petroleum ether extract. Similarly, an experiment was repeated for the confirmation of the first set of results, which followed by a similar trend. The first-ever novel study on S. frugiperda concluded that crude extracts of Spirulina sp. and N. muscorum extracts showed significant effects in causing larval mortality and affecting different biological parameters. Conclusions: The experimental results can be recommended as a potential source of natural pesticides for the control of S. frugiperda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The nutritional and allelochemical quality of the host plant plays an important role in the population dynamics of insects. The dates moth Ectomyelois ceratoniae is considered one of the most dangerous pests threatening date production in Algeria. Our results show that the highest relative rate of intake (RRI) and relative growth rate (RGR) were observed in larvae fed by Deglet Nour variety just as The efficiency of biomass conversion of digested food (ECD) and ingested food conversion efficiency (ICE) in Ghars and approximate digestibility (AD) in Mech Degla. The calculation of gravimetric index (nutritional) consumption and utilization of food showed a very highly significant difference (RRI,RGR, ECD and ICE: P <0.0001; AD: P <0.0004) between larvae fed by the dates of the three varieties of dates (Deglet Nour, Mech Dagla and Ghars). We have determined the influence of different food substrates on biological parameters of dates moth. While the nutritional quality of the three varieties of dates has no effect on the fertility of females and eggs. The control of this pest requires knowledge of the bio-ecology under the effect of various biotic and abiotic factors. This results will represent a fundamental data in mechanisms interpretation of variation in abundance of this pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to ascertain the sublethal effects of azadirachtin 1 EC, anosom 1 EC, derisom 2 EC and NSKE 5% on biological parameters and nutritional indices of Spodoptera frugiperda. The longest larval and pupal lengths were observed in all the treatments involving botanicals, which also significantly decreased adult longevity, fecundity and egg hatchability. Regarding nutritional indices, larvae treated with anosom recorded the least approximate digestibility index, efficiency of conversion of digested food and efficiency of conversion of ingested food of 64.7%, 13.2% and 8.4% respectively. Additionally, botanicals increased the percentage of defective and malformed adults. Thus, our findings suggest that these botanicals restrain the pests from causing damage and impede their further generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This scientific research was conducted in the period from 2019 to 2022, in the district of Plovdiv and Pazardzhik, under production conditions. All biological parameters were determined and assessment was made of the basic quality parameters of the tobacco raw materials, produced from the new line of large-leaf tobacco Virginia 0842. The basic physical parameters of raw tobacco were established. The basic chemical parameters of tobacco were determined: nicotine, soluble sugars, total nitrogen and ash. The results show high nicotine values (1.02 to 3.78) in Virginia 0842, in comparison with the reference variety Virginia 0514. Total sugar values in Virginia 0842 from the three crops are very high in both classes (11.10 – 25.52). Ash content is low – ranging from 8.01% to 15.09%; this shows high leaf content. Total nitrogen for Virginia 0842 ranges from 1.52 to 2.85 % and it is from 3.04 to 3.61 for the reference variety. The free burning rate of Virginia 0842 tobacco was determined (2.74 to 2.85 mm/min). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring water quality is absolutely essential for formulating policies that affect public and environmental health. The study samples were collected during the period from autumn 2021 to summer 2022, The study show the environmental deterioration of Al-Ashar canal compared with Shatt Al-Arab estuary. including some physical parameters: air and water temperature, which had the highest values in station 2 during July and reached 38.9 and 29 C°, respectively while salinity concentrations recorded a high at station 1. achieved (8.8) g/L. Turbidity and total suspended matter concentrations increased at station 3, achieving 106 NTU and 100 mg/L, respectively. Also the chemical and biological parameters in Al-Ashar Canal were very poor compared to the Shatt Al-Arab, including: pH, whose values were in the basal direction, and the highest values were recorded in station 3, achieving 8.89 Also, there was an increase in the values of the biological oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand, achieving 2400 and 590 mg/L at stations 2 and 3 respectively. While a decrease was recorded in the dissolved oxygen values in station 3, which amounted to 0.13 mg /L, nutrients (PO4,NO2 and NO3 ) increased at station 3,2,2. achieving 1.79, 17.982 and 15.51 µg/L, respectively. Also, the values of chlorophyll A increased at station 2 and reached 215.72 µg/L. The aimed of the study is determined the water quality of Al-Ashar canal and compared with Shatt Al-Arab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A surface plasmonic waveguide made of metal–insulator–metal (MIM) capable of generating triple Fano resonances is proposed and numerically investigated for multi-biological parameter sensing as well as tunable slow light. The waveguide is made up of a bus waveguide with a silver baffle, a square split-ring cavity with a square center (SSRCSC), and a circular ring cavity with a square center (CRCSC). Based on the triple Fano resonances, human blood temperature and plasma concentration are measured simultaneously at different locations in the waveguide, and the maximum sensitivities were 0.25 nm/°C and 0.2 nm·L/g, respectively. Furthermore, the two biological parameters can be used to achieve tunable slow light, and it was found that the group delay responses to human blood temperature and plasma concentration all conformed to cubic functions. The MIM waveguide may have great applications in future nano-sensing of multiple biological parameters and information processing of optical chips or bio-optical chips. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera; Noctuidae), is an important polyphagous insect pest of many vegetable and field crops in most parts of the world. Aimed at studies on insect manage methods including sterile insect technique (SIT), it is necessary to continuously maintain laboratory colonies of insect species on an artificial diet. The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of different protein-based diets (soybean chunks, chickpea, kidney bean, mung bean, pinto bean, white bean, lentil and corn) on the biology and growth indices of S. exigua. For this purpose, different artificial diets were prepared and the larvae were reared on these diets. The larval survival, larval period, pupation, pupal weight, pupal period, adult emergence, adult longevity, fecundity, fertility and life span were calculated accordingly. The larval survival rates were lowest on lentil, pinto bean and corn diets (P < 0.01) and pupation did not occur on these diets. Based on the results, among the other five artificial diets, all the highest studied parameters, the developmental and reproduction values and growth indices, were recorded on soybean chunks and chickpea diets (P < 0.01). The larval survival, pupation rates, larval growth index and fitness index have been further optimized when these two protein-based ingredients were mixed together (50:50). Consequently, soybean chunks and chickpea are introduced as the best dry ground protein ingredients in the beet armyworm artificial diet.

Abstract Background This study was conducted to investigate life table characteristics of the parasitoid species, Goniozus legneri Gordh (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae), a major gregarious larval ecto-parasitoids of the carob moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae Zeller (Lep.: Pyralidae). Demographic parameters of G. legneri reared on two hosts, the carob moth and the flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), were studied under laboratory conditions using age-stage, two-sex life table. Host stage preference and the functional response of this parasitoid were also determined. Results The duration of the immature period, adult pre-ovipositional period and total pre-ovipositional period of G. legneri reared on E. kuehniella was significantly longer than that of those reared on E. ceratoniae, while fecundity and ovipositional days of the wasp were greater/longer in females reared on E. ceratoniae. There were also significant differences in intrinsic and finite rates of increase and mean generation time between wasp parasitoid reared on two hosts. Moreover, population projection indicated that the G. legneri population can grow swifter when reared on E. ceratoniae than on E. kuehniella. Based on the experiments conducted to determine the larval stage preferences of G. legneri, for both hosts, larger larvae were more preferred stages compared to smaller ones, thereby fulfilling the optimal oviposition theory. The functional responses of G. legneri to different population densities of E. kuehniella two last instar larvae were determined as type III at 25 °C and 60% RH. Conclusion The results offer valuable information on some life history attributes of G. legneri. Although G. legneri performed better on E. ceratoniae larvae than on E. kuehniella, as the use of E. ceratoniae larvae as the main host in rearing of G. legneri might be a laborious process and can increase the production costs, E. kuehniella can be used as an alternative host. Further studies are required under greenhouse and field conditions for effective use of this biocontrol agent against the carob moth.

This study presents the first data of growth and age of Schmidt's cod Lepidion schmidti, a rare and poorly studied member of the Moridae family (Gadiformes, Teleostei). The research was focused on the Emperor Seamounts area with the aim of investigating the age, growth rates, and longevity of this species. The analysis involved examining annual growth increments on sagittal otoliths. Data were taken from longline catches in 2014 and 2016, resulting in the collection of 140 individuals and the use of 70 otoliths for age determination. The results revealed that Schmidt's cod can live for up to 49 years, with a mean age of 31.5 years in the catches. The relationship between body weight and total length was described by a power function, indicating positive allometric growth. The most suitable growth model for this species was determined to be the Von Bertalanffy growth equation. These results provide valuable insights to add to the limited knowledge of growth and age in the Moridae family and emphasize the long lifespan and slow growth of Schmidt's cod. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]