This study assessed the seasonal variation in helminth parasite infections in Oreochromis niloticus from sewage ponds in Gwale Local Government Area, Kano State, Nigeria. A total of 385 tilapia fish were examined over a 15-month period from January 2024 to March 2025, spanning both dry and rainy seasons. Standard parasitological techniques were used to recover helminths from the gastrointestinal tract and gills. The overall prevalence of infection was significantly higher during the rainy season (48.2%) than in the dry season (18.7%) (χ²=27.16, p<0.001). Three helminth species were identified: Clinostomum spp., Euclinostomum sp., and Polyonchobothrium polyepteri. Trematodes dominated the infection profile, with a peak in parasite recovery between July and September. These results show the influence of rainfall and seasonal ecological shifts on helminth transmission dynamics and emphasize the need for targeted health and food safety measures during high-risk periods.
This study comprehensively evaluated the phytoremediation potential and physiological responses of Amaranthus viridis and Lactuca sativa to heavy metal contamination (Cd, Pb, Hg, and Zn) under controlled screen house conditions at Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria. Using a randomized complete block design with three replicates, plants were grown in both uncontaminated and contaminated sandy soil, with metal concentrations verified weekly via flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Growth parameters (leaf number, shoot length, leaf area, fresh/dry weight, and biomass) were measured alongside heavy metal accumulation in roots, stems, and leaves, with bioconcentration (BCF) and translocation factors (TF) calculated to assess uptake and mobility. Results demonstrated A. viridis exhibited superior tolerance to metal stress, maintaining higher growth metrics than L. sativa under contamination (e.g., 8.5 vs. 4.8 leaves under Cd stress). Both species accumulated metals beyond WHO/FAO safety limits, with A. viridis roots showing exceptional Pb retention (35.00 mg/kg) and significant Cd/Hg translocation (TF>1), while L. sativa preferentially stored Hg in roots (7.30 mg/kg) but displayed unexpected Pb mobility (TF=3.81). Zinc accumulation remained within safe limits for both species. The BCF values highlighted A. viridis as an effective Phyto stabilizer for Pb (BCF=3.50) and L. sativa for Zn (BCF=1.24). Statistical analysis (p>0.005) confirmed species-specific responses were significant. These findings suggest A. viridis is suitable for phytoremediation in heavily contaminated sites, while L. sativa may be cultivated with caution in moderately polluted soils, provided Pb levels are monitored. The study advances the practical selection of plants for metal-polluted agroecosystems, balancing ecological restoration and food safety. Recommendations include field trials to validate these screen house observations and molecular studies to elucidate the mechanisms behind L. sativa’s anomalous Pb translocation.
Breastfeeding is recognized as an effective way to save children’s lives. Nigerien breastfeeding mothers with insufficient milk production traditionally use medicinal plants to enhance milk yield, despite of absence of scientific reports confirming the evidence-based safety and efficacy of these practices. The aim of this study is to review the ethnomedicinal knowledge about the use of medicinal plants to promote lactation in breastfeeding mothers by Nigerien peoples, and to assess their evidence-based toxicological and chemical studies reported across the world. Relevant data about the plant species used to promote lactation were extracted from published or unpublished valuable reports of ethnobotanical surveys conducted in Niger for a comprehensive review. Six studies were reviewed. A total of thirteen (13) plant species belonging to 11 families were recorded as being used as galactagogues by Nigeriens. This review poined out three species including Sclerocarya birrea, Caralluma longidens and Guiera senegalensis to be the most cited. Using plants to promote lactation in breastfeeding mothers is a very common practice in Niger republic. However, there are no scientific reports based on laboratory studies which could justify the rational use of these plants. Further local studies are urgently needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of these plants.
Celiac disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder triggered by the ingestion of gluten-containing foods in genetically susceptible individuals. This multifactorial disease has both genetic and environmental components, with gluten serving as the environmental trigger and specific genetic variations in the major histocompatibility complex region contributing to the genetic predisposition. Contrary to previous assumptions, celiac disease is not a rare disorder, with a global prevalence estimated at approximately 1%. However, it often remains under-recognized because many affected individuals do not exhibit the classic gastrointestinal symptoms associated with the condition. Instead, they may present with nonspecific manifestations of nutritional deficiencies or may be entirely asymptomatic. Celiac disease is associated with an increased incidence of autoimmune disorders, and its identification in asymptomatic or silent cases is crucial for managing associated conditions and preventing long-term complications such as lymphoma. The relationship between celiac disease and other autoimmune disorders, particularly type 1 diabetes, suggests a potential trigger role for gluten. In this article we review the development of celiac disease, including its types, pathogenesis, clinical features, and associated diseases or complications. We will also discuss available tests, treatments, and preventive approaches related to this subject.
Cervical squamous cell carcinoma is observed as the second major cause of mortality worldwide. A highly conserved mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway occurs in a wide range of cellular processes which includes differentiation, proliferation, migration, senescence, and apoptosis. MAPK pathway can be activated by various extracellular signals, capable of generating responses as per the cell type. Thus, alteration of the EGFR receptor in this particular pathway leads to the condition of cancer due to abnormal activation of receptor tyrosine kinases. The characteristic features of microRNA (miRNA) which are endogenous, single-stranded, small non-coding RNA for their role in RNA silencing and post-transitional regulation of gene expression have been studied over the years. The miRNA functions by base pairing with the complementary sequences within the mRNA molecule. One such miRNA, miR-329-3p has a critical tumor suppressor role in the MAPK pathway, however, is least understood. Therefore, miRNA could be considered as a potential biomarker for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic purposes and brought out to its fullest use to mankind.
The intensive integration of Azerbaijan into the global economy, mainly through international gas and oil pipeline construction, has led to significant archaeological research in the past two decades. The construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline (BTC) and the Southern Caucasus Pipeline gas pipeline (SCP) prompted a four-year archaeological fieldwork program, followed by a six-year post-excavation program. The current work applied an interdisciplinary approach using various instrumental methods for studying ancient artifacts found during those projects. The thermogravimetric method and differential thermal analysis were employed to obtain insights into the production technology of the ancient pottery and information about the mineralogy of the ceramic sherds. The complex processes involved in firing the ceramic paste have been studied extensively, and patterns in mass loss ratios during different temperature ranges have been established. In total, 15 samples were investigated, and the thermogravimetric analysis of ceramic shards revealed that the firing temperature of the samples was in the range of 700 °C. XRD analysis confirmed the presence of quartz, feldspar, and clay minerals in the ceramic samples. The presence of calcite and other specific minerals is subject to the origin of the ceramic materials. The results obtained from this multidisciplinary approach provide insights into the firing technology and the origin of the ceramic samples.
In the past century, the concept of controlling gene expressions to enhance desirable traits in living organisms through recombinant DNA technology was merely a concept. However, in recent times, this field has made significant advancements, offering unique benefits to human life. Recombinant DNA technology allows for the safe, accessible, and abundant production of crucial proteins needed for addressing various health issues. Through laboratory methods of genetic manipulation, scientists generate recombinant DNA molecules by merging genetic material from various origins that wouldn’t naturally occur within organisms. Although the chemical structure of DNA is the same across all organisms, the nucleotide sequences vary. The application of recombinant DNA technology extends to diverse fields such as regenerative medicine, nanotechnology, and tissue engineering, allowing for the production of proteins with specific characteristics and effectiveness. This article will delve into the prevalent applications of recombinant DNA technology within fundamental research, highlighting its crucial role in contemporary endeavours across the realms of biological and biomedical sciences, particularly within the fields of regenerative medicine and nanotechnology.
The ultrasonic-aided co-precipitation method was used to create SnO2-TiO2 nanocomposite particles. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and UV-vis spectroscopy were used to characterize the nanocomposite particles. XRD patterns revealed the crystalline structure of particles and the average particle size determined by Debye Scherrer’s equation was found to be 11.355, 4.9577, and 4.333 nm for TiO2 nanoparticles, SnO2 nanoparticles, and SnO2-TiO2 nanocomposites, respectively. The Ti, Sn, and O species were confirmed to exist by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The UV absorption peaks at 288, 305, and 350 nm were attributed to SnO2, TiO2-SnO2, and TiO2 respectively. The photocatalytic aspect was investigated in a model organic contaminant (methyl orange). Data obtained by the above-mentioned characterization methods confirmed the superior photocatalytic activity of SnO2-TiO2 nanostructure than SnO2 or TiO2 alone.
Four ancient ceramic shreds from the archaeological site Leletepe in the Fizuli region of the Republic of Azerbaijan and two local raw ceramic pastes were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and thermal analysis (TG-DTG) techniques. XRD analysis of ceramic sherds reveals that all investigated samples contain similar minerals: quartz, feldspar, and clay. Three samples out of four contain calcite. Based on the traditional approach, it has been assumed that the firing process in these samples stopped before 700 °C. The mass loss ratios of samples of ancient ceramics also indicate that reversible dehydroxylation took place in all four samples, thus indicating the initial mild firing conditions. The summary of all the applied methods indicates that the ceramic samples were made using a similar manufacturing technology. According to XRD analysis, samples N1 and N4 contain diopside, and samples N2 and N3 contain maghemite, indicating the different origins of the ceramic shreds. Analysis of the raw ceramic mass also did not reveal the presence of these minerals, which may indicate a discrepancy between the origin of ancient ceramic sherds and modern ones.
From an industrial, environmental, and scientific standpoint, the creation of renewable and sustainable products to replace fossil fuels is an important concern in this decade. Due to the growing use of different lubricant types, the majority of which are mineral-based, there is an unavoidable flow of mineral-based lubricants into the environment. Another issue is using cooking oil that pollutes the environment when discarded. Both of these issues can be resolved by creating bio-based lubricants from discarded cooking oil. This article discusses formulating a green cutting fluid made from used cooking oil. This enables the use of waste oil as a cutting fluid while retaining its tribological and environmental characteristics. In order to compete in the market, biodegradable cutting fluid might gain from decreased costs for used natural oils. The many components and trends that make up this topic are briefly covered in this article, along with waste cooking oils’ potential application as a bio-based lubricant.
The Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, already prohibit the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of plastic carry bags having a thickness of less than 75 microns. They also provide for a ban on plastic carry bags with a thickness of less than 120 microns as of December 31, 2022. So, there is an increasing demand for paper bags. The already existing paper bag-making machines are expensive and consume 25-50 square meters for their operation. A machine whose initial cost is less, which does not require large space consumption and operates with simple technologies, can be used for small-scale production. This will help the manufacturer earn money through the small-scale production of paper bags. The demand for paper bags is continuously increasing, so this project aims to develop an economical and easily fabricable machine with simple methods that promote the use of paper bags instead of plastic carry bags and helps reduce the impact on the environment.
Electrified transportation will help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and petrol prices. Electrified transportation demands that a wide variety of charging networks be set up, in a user-friendly environment, to encourage adoption. Wireless electric vehicle charging systems (WEVCS) can be a potential alternative technology to charge electric vehicles (EVs) without any plug-in problems. This paper outlines the currently available wireless power transfer technology for EVs. In addition, it also includes wireless transformer structures with a variety of ferrite shapes, which have been researched. WEVCS are associated with health and safety issues, which have been discussed with the current development in international standards. Two major applications, static and dynamic WEVCS, are explained, and up-to-date progress with features from research laboratories, universities, and industries is recorded. Moreover, future upcoming concepts-based WEVCS, such as ‘‘vehicle-to-grid (V2G)” and ‘‘in-wheel” wireless charging systems (WCS) are reviewed and examined, with qualitative comparisons with other existing technology.
Due to declining supplies of once-affordable fossil fuels, research into renewable energy sources is being prioritized. Using solar energy for passive cooling and heating can significantly reduce the demand for primary energy sources. In this survey, we look at how changing a few variables might affect how well a solar air heater functions. It helps researchers learn more about these systems’ development, properties, and potential uses. This research analyses the current literature to emphasize the value of thermal properties. Focusing on laminar sublayer creation and increasing the heat transfer coefficient, it explores ways to increase the efficiency of solar air heaters. After reviewing several articles, it has been determined that rib roughness elements and their geometric characteristics play a significant role in enhancing the thermal performance of solar air heaters. The relative roughness height, pitch, angle of attack, and width are all important factors to consider.
The present work investigates the design and analysis of a staircase lift, which can be used as a Material Handling System. A staircase lift is a mechanical device for lifting people and wheelchairs up and down the stairs, who may find difficulty in doing so themselves. For sufficiently wide stairs, a rail is mounted to the treads of the stairs. A chair or lifting platform is attached to the rail. A person on the chair or platform is lifted as the chair or platform moves along the rail, old age and goods are to be carried across the staircase. A staircase lift is a type of lift that can be mounted on the staircase without altering civil structure. Not only altering, but the person need not change the seat from the wheelchair to the staircase lift, there is a foldable supporting rod for the staircase lift which directly attaches to the wheelchair. This lift runs on electric power and consists of a motor, reduction gearbox, rope drive, two rails and a sliding chair. In this system, we use a DC motor for changing the polarity of the power supply which will make the motor run in reverse direction. Advantages over the conventional hydraulic lift are no civil structure and alteration is required, low cost, less bulkiness, less power, less maintenance required. Easy design, easy installations can be of industrial use too. Moreover, considering some drawbacks due to weight carrying capacity completely depends upon the capacity of the motor. There is a lot of scope for further modification in the project as using a monorail instead of two, using a belt drive or chain drive instead of a rope drive. Incorporation and automation/timer unit will ease the use of the device. Rack and carrier arrangement for using the device for a curved staircase and use of work & roller reduction gear assembly.
Mineral oil-based cutting fluids are hazardous and non-biodegradable, and their widespread usage has had a terrible effect on the environment and living things. The creation of a novel, ecologically sustainable cutting fluid technology is essential to avoid the above crisis. Commercial mineral oil alternatives are considered to possess identical lubricating properties as vegetable oils. Most vegetable oils are edible, so waste-cooking sunflower oil (WSO) is selected from this group to serve as the base stock for the green cutting fluid. The green cutting fluid is created using silicon dioxide nanoparticles as an additive and food-grade emulsifiers like Tween 80 and Span 80. According to the experimental findings, 0.05 weight percent silicon dioxide nanoparticles in the green cutting fluid performed better on a pin-on-disc tribometer.
This project is based on voice interaction and object detecting properties. It will allow the users to do voice interaction with the artificial intelligence and it will reply with the system voice. That is how users will use their voice to command as a trigger to find out the category of any object by showing it using the camera module. At first, the user will show an object with the help of a camera and ask for identifying it in the system. The object detection system then captures a frame from the camera and predicts through the structure to identify which class the object belongs to by extracting the feature from there. The process of this application is to search the database to match the structural data to find out the exact category of the object. When this system approximately matches with the information of a category then the application will suggest the category for the object by mentioning the category name through voice. This application can also give some basic information by asking for it. Our general-purpose approach can be effective in interpreting the structure and properties of objects in different networks through natural language processing.
A huge amount of information associated with the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak was circulated by mass media in Bangladesh. There has been a rare example so far of how media intervention during the epidemic can affect the public behaviour of Bangladesh. We aimed to assess mass media's influence on changing public behaviour during the second wave of COVID-19. An online cross-sectional survey among 416 Bangladeshi respondents was conducted between August and September 2021. Besides descriptive statistics, datasets were analyzed through a set of statistical methods such as Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression model. The results showed that knowledge level change towards COVID-19 (10 items) had the highest association with behaviour change towards COVID-19 (16 items), indicating a high adoption of public behavior change. There was a positive significant relationship between the behaviour change towards COVID-19 (16 items) with the media's role in making awareness regarding COVID-19 (r= 0.342, p < .001), while there was a negative relationship between the behaviour change towards COVID-19 (16 items) of the respondents with age of participants (r= -.234, p < .001). The results also disclosed that knowledge level, media credibility, and media check-in had the largest contribution to influence the public behavior change. We also found that social media was highly used media as expected during the COVID-19 outbreak. The outcomes of the survey have vital implications for public behavior change and may support infectious disease suppression and control. Our outcomes also stress the significance of the reliability of information shared via mass media outlets and practical strategies to counter misinformation during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Mealybug Planococcus lilacinus Cockerell (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) damages Cocoa, Guava, Citrus, Cotton and other plant families. Besides causing direct loss to the plants they also reduce the market value of infested fruits. The extent of the damage may go up to 70 percent in a severe infestation. An Australian ladybird beetle, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) introduced from Australia is a potential bio-control agent and is being utilized on many crops in Southern India. Mealybugs or scale insects constitute the natural food of certain ladybird beetles. The adult beetles as well as their larvae (grubs) seek the pests and feed voraciously on all stages. They often wipe out the entire pest colonies. The ladybird beetles are being used for suppression of mealy bugs in citrus, coffee, grapes, guava, ornamental and a variety of other crops. The feeding potential of different development stages of C. montrouzieri, a biological control agent against mealybugs, was investigated on P. lilacinus. Fourth instar grubs and adults of C. montrouzieri were the most voracious feeders of mealybug. The number of mealybug consumed by 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th instar larvae and adult beetles of C. montrouzieri was 20, 33.30, 37.50, 40 and 66.60 percent respectively. The results indicate that C. montrouzieri has the potential to be exploited as a bio-control agent. Inoculative releases of 4th instar larvae and adults may provide instant control of P. lilacinus. Field experiments should be conducted to determine the efficiency of the ladybird beetle on this mealybug.
In the present study clinical profile with specific attention to typical clinical presentation and deficiencies/lacunae in post-exposure prophylactic management as per WHO guidelines in adult rabies patients. An observational analysis was performed on a clinically suspected human rabies case, whose samples were gathered at a rabies diagnostic laboratory at Infectious Disease Hospital, Dhaka (IDH) over the course of three days (20/09/2021 to 23/09/2021). The patient’s clinical and demographic information was acquired. The clinical specimens involved cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), saliva, nuchal skin biopsy and serum collected antemortem, and brain tissue obtained post-mortem. A variety of laboratory tests were used to make the diagnosis. The patient died in hospital 3 days after hospitalization (20 days after the occurrence of animal bite). After referring the patient to the IDH, a lumbar puncture was administered, and PCR tests for rabies were forwarded to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum. The serum & CSF have indicated antibodies with rabies. The fluorescence microscopy screening program for rabies was positive in the brainstem, cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and cerebrum. The patient’s samples of saliva (0.5-1 mL) and skin were also sent to PCR for rabies. Diagnostic testing of the patient later confirmed human rabies. Human rabies is a crucial health problem. So, there are required to educate the community and health workers about the value of immediate and adequate post-exposure treatment, to launch an effective control program for rabid dogs, and to make availability of rabies vaccine as well as rabies immunoglobulin (RIG).
Recent Research in Science and Technology, 2021, 13, 13–18. https://doi.org/10.25081/rrst.2021.13.7005One of the authors’ (Md. Imdadul Hoque3) affiliations was mentioned incorrectly. It should be read as follows: 3Department of Computer Science and Telecommunication Engineering, Noakhali Science andTechnology University, Noakhali – 3814, Bangladesh
