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This study was conducted to assess the habitat suitability of Carissa carandas in India is crucial for its sustainable integration into agriculture under changing climatic conditions. This study utilized Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) modelling to evaluate the species’ distribution across current and future scenarios (2050 and 2070) under four Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs: 2.6, 4.5, 6.0, and 8.5). Results indicated that temperature-related variables, particularly the Minimum Temperature of the Coldest Month (MiTCM, contributing 46.8% in 2070 RCP 2.6) and Isothermality (contributing up to 35.2% in 2070 RCP 8.5), are the dominant climatic drivers. Land use and land cover (LULC) factors such as urbanization (49.8%), total cultivated land (28.1%), and grassland (9.0%) significantly influence habitat suitability. Under current conditions, optimal habitat spans 4,588 km², decreasing by 38.95% under LULC scenarios. Projected habitat changes indicate a 2.04% gain under 2070 RCP 2.6 but an 11.06% decline under 2050 RCP 2.6. Southern and western regions, including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, exhibit high suitability, habitat fragmentation is projected in northern and western India due to climate change and land use modifications. These findings underscore the need for proactive conservation planning and climate-adaptive agricultural strategies to optimize the cultivation of C. carandas. Policymakers and stakeholders should focus on preserving suitable regions while mitigating urbanization-induced habitat loss. Furthermore, integrating underutilized crops into climate-resilient agriculture can enhance biodiversity, improve food security, and support sustainable farming practices in the face of climate change.
 

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The social vespid wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Vespinae and Polistinae) was studied in Bhutan during 2014-2016. A total of fifteen species were collected and identified that all of them are reported as new records from Bhutan: Vespa vivax Smith, V. velutina variana van der Vecht, V. fumida van der Vecht, Dolichovespula lama (du Buysson), Vespula flaviceps Smith, V. nursei Archer, V. vulgaris (Linnaeus), V. structor (Smith), Polistes (Polistella) nigritarsus (Cameron), Parapolybia varia (Fabricius), P. nodosa van der Vecht, Ropalidia artifex (de Saussure), R. stigma (Smith), R. ornaticeps (Cameron) and R. rufoplagiata gravelyi (Dover & Rao). Diagnostic characters and geographical distribution of all species are presented.

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According to conciliationist (reductionist) argumentations in epistemology of disagreement, disagreement with an epistemic peer, due to epistemic symmetry, reduces the confidence in the justification. But many religious believers are not willing to take the existence of epistemic peer disagreement. They think that they have different evidence for their religious beliefs and, hence, aren’t really epistemic peers with their opponents. They present private evidence, especially religious experiences, as a symmetry breaker. For this reason, some reductionists have argued to defend the reductionist position. In this article, we examine the responses of the reductionists to this challenge. In one of these answers, it is added an “alternative explanation or story” to the conditions of epistemic peer and claimed that the true epistemic peer under full disclosure should takes into account private evidences or experiences and gives a good story or explanation about why such experiences aren’t as efficacious as the religious person might think. We show that the “alternative explanation” presented by reductionists is not readily available in the most of the religious disagreements.
 

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In the present study, seven indigenous, widely distributed plants of Meghalaya, namely, Pinus kesiya Royle (Pinaceae), Lantana camara Linn. (Verbenaceae), Litsea cubeba Lour. (Lauraceae), Gaultheria fragrantissima Wall. (Ericaceae), Mikania micrantha Kunth.(Asteraceae), Ambrosia artemisiifolia Linn.(Asteraceae) and Eupatorium riparium Regel (Asteraceae) were screened for their larvicidal and antifeedant activity against fourth instar larvae of the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) under laboratory conditions. The crude extracts of all the seven plants demonstrated a dose dependent increase in bioactivity. However the bioactivity of four plants namely, L. camara, G. fragrantissima, L. cubeba and P. kesiya was significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) than the negative (solvent) control and extracts of A. artemisiifolia, E. riparium and M. micarantha. Methanol extract of L. camara caused highest oral toxicity with larval mortality ranging between 27.77% and 53.33% across the test concentration (0.25%, 0.5% and 1% w/v) while extract of G. fragrantissima demonstrated the highest feeding deterrence with reduction in larval feeding by50.92% and 70.61% at 0.1% and 0.5% respectively. Crude extract of L. cubeba leaves demonstrated high oral toxicity and feeding deterrence while extract of the needles of P. kesiya showed moderate level of oral toxicity as well as feeding deterrence at the highest tested concentration. Phytochemical analysis of the extracts of these four plants, revealed the presence of five different classes of phytocompounds each of which is known to have deleterious effect on insect pests.Thus it may be concluded that four out of the seven plants possess insecticidal property and can be further investigated for the development of a potent botanical insecticide.

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The fungus feeding genus Preeriella Hood is reported first time based on Preeriella armigera Okajima, collected on leaf litter from West Bengal, India. Another phlaeothripid species Hoplandrothrips ochraceus Okajima & Urushihara is recorded from India for the first time. Specimens of H. ochraceus were collected on Curcuma species (rhizomatous annual or perennial herb) belonging to family Zingiberaceae. Notes on the material examined, distribution, diagnostic characters and illustration for the new records are presented.

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Two species of family Thripidae, Hydatothrips onari Kudô, 1997 from subfamily Sericothripinae and Thrips alius Palmer, 1992 from subfamily Thripinae are collected on Guizotia abssinica and general vegetation respectively for the first time from India after their original description. Due to the addition of these two species in the Indian fauna, the number of species increased under the genus Hydatothrips from 10 to 11 and under the genus Thrips from 44 to 45. Species diagnosis with illustrations and distribution of the newly recorded taxa is also provided.

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This study was designed and performed to evaluate the effect of using the active edible coating of sodium alginate containing different levels of rosemary extract on physicochemical and microbial properties of silver carp-chicken fillet mixed burger during storage. 5 treatments including uncoated burgers (control) with sodium alginate coating enriched with levels of 0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5% of rosemary extract were considered. Burgers were stored at -18 ° C for 3 months. Results showed that the use of sodium alginate coating significantly decreased the percentage of burger cooking drop. Enrichment of sodium alginate coating with different levels of rosemary extract improved its performance (P<0.05). The lowest total microbial count, psychrophilic bacteria count, TVN, PV and TBA were observed in coated burgers containing 1.5% of rosemary extract (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the performance of coatings containing levels of 1 and 1.5% of rosemary extract in decreasing TBA. Thus it is possible to use the active edible coating of sodium alginate containing 1.5% of rosemary extract to delay bacterial and oxidative spoilage of silver carp-chicken fillet burgers during a 3-month storage period at -18 ° C used.

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Planococcus Ferris (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha, Pseudococcidae) is a genus of mealybug containing 49 species worldwide. Many species of Planococcus are important pests of agricultural crops. Surveys have been set up in Bengkulu Province, Sumatra-Indonesia, on coffee plantations, in 2023. Planococcus bengkuluensis Zarkani & Kaydan sp. nov. was found in association with Coffea robusta Lindl. ex De Will. (Rubiaceae), described and illustrated. The new species has multilocular disc pores and oral collar tubular ducts on the posterior dorsum in limited numbers. It is another species of Planococcus possessing dorsal multilocular disc pores. An identification key to the known Planococcus species of southern Asia is also provided

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This paper investigates the impact of exchange rate on non-oil export covering the period from 1978 to 2006. The method used in this study is Panel data, and these countries are selected as the hosts: Turkey, The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Pakistan. In this research, Gross Domestic Product of the host country, Bilateral Exchange Rate, Price Raito and Dummy Variable are used as regressor for non-oil exports. The result of this study shows that, gross domestic product and exchange rate have positive effect, but price ratio and dummy variable have negative effect on non-oil exports of Iran to these countries. Also Cross Section Specific coefficient shows that exchange rate has positive effect on export to Turkey, The UAE and Pakistan, while negative effect on other countries.

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For the first time, this paper analyzes the portfolio selection theory in the presence of housing market in Iran. One of the important theories about the housing price is household portfolio theory. Based on the theory, housing business cycles have determining effect on housing share in portfolio. For this purpose, a set of assets data consisting stocks, exchange, gold coins, bank deposits, bonds and housing over the period 1991-2006 are used. After calculation of returns, risks and correlation coefficients of assets over the period using Mean - Variance Model and MATLAB software, a combination of household assets in the portfolio have been extracted .The model, through simulating and supposing different weights for each asset determines an optimal combination of assets in portfolio based on risk classification of households: low risk, medium risk and high risk. Then, they are thoroughly examined to explore: whether the presence of housing asset in the portfolio can improve its risk, return and the composition of assets? Efficient frontier which covers all portfolios is also extracted. The results reveal that housing is an important asset in the portfolio during the housing boom period and causes the efficient frontier transmission move outwards.

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Amis: Interconnected factors can cause increased stunting cases. One of the risk factors for stunting is adolescents’ lack of knowledge and attitudes. Various media, including Instagram, can be the reason behind the issue. This study aimed to determine the effect of providing the pre-marital education program through Instagram to increase the literacy and attitude of pre-marital couples regarding stunting prevention.
Materials & Methods: This quasi-experimental research with a pre-test and post-test design with a control group was conducted in pre-marital couples in the Gunung Kidul Regency from December 2021 to January 2022. The instruments were questionnaires (Google Forms) and educational media such as posters and videos via Instagram. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests.
Findings: After receiving the pre-marital education program through Instagram, pre-marital couples were stunted in both the intervention and control groups. There was an increase in attitude in the intervention group after the intervention. The literacy and attitudes about stunting prevention were increased in pre-marital couples of the intervention compared to the control groups after being given pre-marital education through Instagram.
Conclusion: The pre-marital education program improves the literacy and attitudes about stunting prevention in pre-marital couples.

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Recently there has been much attention to use of natural ingredients instead of synthetic compounds as food additives, dye and drug. Red beets have Betacyanins, which is used as the color of ice cream, jams and canned fruits. Today, there is a growing demand for the development of more efficient and effective methods to extract the active ingredients contained in the plant material. The aim of this study is extracting from red beet by maceration and ultrasonic methods and comparison extracts features based on the extraction efficiency, the extraction rate of Betacyanin and Betaxanthin  pigment, total sugar and soluble solids. Extraction was performed using both ultrasound and maceration with water and ethanol and water - ethanol 1:1 as solvents. Results showed that extraction by ultrasound with water-ethanol has highest (62%) and extraction by maceration with ethanol has lowest (4.8%) efficiency. In Ultrasonic extraction method by water solvent obtained the maximum amount of Betacyanin and the lowest amount of Betacyanin was related to maceration method by ethanol. The amounts of extracted Betaxanthin have no significantly difference in methods and the difference is in the type of solvents, So that water and water - ethanol solvents by absorption of 1.389 and 1.329, respectively, extracted more Betaxanthin  in compared to ethanol with absorption of 0.3. Highest and lowest sugar levels were extracted by water (1.48M) and ethanol (1.146M) respectively. Ultrasound method also extracts more sugar (1.589M) compared to maceration extraction methods (0.994M). Overall, we can conclude that the use of ultrasound method for the extraction of red beet, is more appropriate due to more efficiency in less time. With this method, more pigments and sugar were extracted in compare with maceration method. Among the solvents that used in this study, water has extracted more Betacyanin, Betaxanthin and sugar from redbeet.  

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Spatial patterns are useful descriptors of the horizontal structure in a plant population and may change over time as the individual components of the population grow or die out. But, whether this is the case for desert woody annuals is largely unknown. In the present investigation, the variations in spatial patterns of Tribulus terrestris during different pulse events in semi-arid area of the Thar Desert, India, was quantified. Further ordination technique and path analysis were utilized to link the pattern and process of spatial distribution of T. terrestris. Dispersal indices like index of dispersal (I_D), index of clumping (I_C), Green’s Index, Lloyd’s mean crowding and Morisita’s index of dispersion (I_δ) revealed uniform distribution pattern during non-pulse events, showing intense competition among plants for limited resources. Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) and Bartlett’s test of sphericity indicated the appropriate use of factor analysis and the significant relationships between variables. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) exhibited the significant correlation of the index of dispersion with the index of clumping and with the Lloyd index, while the Lloyd index correlated with the index of clumping and with the Morisita index. Path analysis suggested the association of soil organic carbon, nitrogen, and C/N ratio with the transition from clumped to uniform pattern. Further, lower soil phosphorus also supported the uniform distribution of this plant. Diversity indices like evenness and Simpson index are associated with uniform and clumped distribution patterns. Higher and intermediate level of percent cover and seed out-put of T. terrestris were also related to uniform and clumped patterns. Path analysis also indicated that salinity tolerance capacity of the species could be utilized for reclamation programme.

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Abstract
Today, the use of plant extracts has been considered as natural preservatives or food additives with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties alone or in combination with edible coatings. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Eryngium caucasicum extract (0.75%) with combined edible coatings based on xanthan gum (1.5%) and guar (0.5%), an examination were carried out with 5 treatments of uncoated chicken fillets (control) fillets containing xanthan and guar coatings alone or in combination with Eryngium caucasicum extract and 3 replicates per treatment during a 12-day refrigerated storage. The results showed that Eryngium caucasicum extract significantly (p <0.05) improved the antibacterial function of guar coating. However, there was no effect on the antimicrobial efficacy of xanthan coatings. The lowest amount of pH was observed in the fillets containing xanthan and Eryngium caucasicum extract. Also, at the end of the period, the lowest amount of peroxide value and index of thiobarbituric acid was observed in the fillet coated with guar and Eryngium caucasicum extract (p <0.05). On the other hand, the type of edible coating did not have a significant effect on the content of total volatile nitrogen compounds. However, the effect of Eryngium caucasicum extract on improving the effectiveness of guar edible coating was significant in reducing total volatile nitrogen compounds of fillet (p <0.05). In general, the results showed that, given the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Eryngium caucasicum extract, it can be combined with edible coatings to increase the shelf life of chicken fillet at refrigerated storage.
Keywords: Xanthan, Eryngium caucasicum, chicken fillet, guar, shelf life

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To investigate of enrichment of breast and thigh meat using vegetable oil sources and effect on oxidative stability of meat during storage, the experiment using 1-old day chickens Arian commercial strain was conducted. Experimental diets were prepared with canola oil or pumpkin seed oil and their fatty acid profiles were determined. The chicks were fed one of two diets during the breeding period in four replicates per treatment . The results showed that thigh meat of broilers were fed with canola oil, significantly contained higher linolenic acid , oleic acid, and total unsaturated fatty acids (USFAs) and those were fed with diets containing pumpkin seed oil contained significantly (p<0.01) higher linoleic acid, arachidonic acid (omega 6) and total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUSFAs). The amount of linoleic acid and linolenic acid in the breast meat was not affected by the type of oil. But, oleic acid values (omega 9), ratio of USFAs / SFAs and ratio of PUSFAs / SFAs in canola oil-fed chickens and arachidonic acid (omega-6) in chickens pumpkin seed oil-fed were higher (p<0.01). The amount of malondialdehyde (MDA) in thighs and breasts were increased during storage at refrigerated temperature. Thigh meat MDA value of canola oil-fed broiler was significantly higher at the end of storage period (p<0.05). At freezing temperature, the oxidative stability of thigh and breast meat of broiler were fed pumpkin seed oil was significantly higher (p<0.05). Therefore, by manipulating the combination of dietary fatty acids with vegetable oil sources, can be altered the pattern of thigh and breast fatty acids profile. During the storage period, oxidation spoilage increases in meats enriched with PUSFAs, especially omega-3 fatty acids. Key words: Oxidation, Fatty acid profile, Omega 3, Oxidative stability, Vegetable oil, Enrichment

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Formation of nanocomposites in biopolymer coats can provide a new opportunity not only to improve the properties but also to reduce the price of these products. Also, nanocomposites, increase the efficiency of natural antibacterial materials. In order to investigate the antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of lemon grass extract and the amount of nanoclay on the efficacy of alginate-nanoclay composite coating of chicken fillet refrigerated storage, an experiment was performed in a completely randomized design with 6 treatments including alginate (2%) – nanoclay (1.5 and 3%) nanocomposite coating, without and with levels of 1.5 and 3% alcoholic extract of lemon grass and 3 replicates each treatment during 9 days. Results showed that contribution of nanoclay in the structure of nanocomposite coating was affected on its performance. Enrichment of alginate-nanoclay nanocomposite coating with lemon grass extract, added to its efficiency. Applying 3% of lemon grass extract in nanocomposite coatings, especially when using 3% nanoclay, significantly (p<0.05) reduced the number of psychrophilic bacteria, tiobarbitoric acid index, free fatty acids and total volatile nitrogen compounds and increased chicken fillets water holding capacity during refrigerated storage. The contribution of nanoclay in without extract nanocomposite coating, did not significantly affect the number of psychrophilic bacteria at the end of the storage period. In general, the efficacy of alginate-nanoclay nanocomposite coating in increasing the shelf life of chicken fillets in refrigerated conditions depends on the appropriate contribution of nanoclay and enrichment with the appropriate concentration of lemon grass extract.

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In order to investigate the effect of savory extract levels and polysaccharide-based active bio-composite coatings on the shelf life of broiler fillets, 2 separate experiments each with 6 treatments and 3 replications, were designed in a completely randomized design and performed simultaneously. Treatments in experiment 1 included fillet with coating 0 (control), 0.75% or 1.5% of savory extract alone or in combination with 3% sodium alginate coating and in experiment 2, included uncoated fillets (control), containing 1.5% of savory extract, guar coating 0.5% - extract, carboxy methylcellulose coating 1% - extract, guar coating – carboxy methylcellulose and guar coating – carboxy methylcellulose - savory extract. Chemical and bacterial spoilage indices including PV, TBARS and TVB_N were evaluated every 3 days during a 12-day period of keeping the fillets at 4±1^oC. The results of experiment 1 showed that in parallel with the increasing the concentration of savory extract to 1.5%, the sodium alginate-extract composite coating reduced the PV, TBARS and TVB_N of fillets (P <0.05). Minimum amount of PV (5.40 ± 0.30 meq/kg), TBARS (1.22 ± 0.00 mg MDA/kg) and TVB_N (26.50 ± 1.35 mg/100g) were seen in fillets containing alginate - 1.5% savory extract composite coating (P <0.05). Also, in experiment 2, the fillets containing guar gum – carboxy methylcellulose - savory extract bio-composite coating have the lowest ​​of PV (5.10 ± 0.33 meg/kg), TBARS (1.10 ± 0.05 mg MDA/kg) and TVB_N (25.30 ± 1.90 mg/100g) at the end of the storage period (P <0.05). Therefore, guar gum – carboxy methylcellulose - 1.5% savory extract bio-composite coating as a new packaging can be used to increasing the shelf life of broiler fillets during refrigerator storage (4±1^oC).

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In order to evaluate the effect of moderate dose gamma irradiation (10 KGr) on ​​antioxidant and antibacterial properties of Zataria multiflora Boiss, edible active coating containing normal and irradiated extract (1.5%) on base of Na-caseinate solution (8%) was prepared and shelf life of coated rainbow trout fillet was evaluted. An experiment was carry out with 4 treatments without coating (control), fillets coated with Na-caseinate (T1), and fillets coated with Na-caseinate enriched with  normal (T2) or irradiated (T3) Zataria multiflora Boiss extract and 4 replicates during 10 days at refrigerated (4±1^oC) storage. Chemical (TVN, TBA, PV) and microbial (TVC and PTC) tests were measured on days 0, 3, 6 and 10. The results showed irradiation of Zataria multiflora Boiss with a moderate dose of gamma rays, despite the possitive effects, did not cause significant changes in its antioxidant and antibacterial properties. But at the end of the storage period, the lowest levels of TBA (3.23±0.23 mg MDA/Kg), TVN (25.23±1.12 mg/100g) and psychrophilic bacteria counts (5.00±0.13 log cfu/g) was found in fillets containing active coating of Na-caseinate and irradiated Zataria multiflora Boiss extract (p <0.05). Therefore, Zataria multiflora Boiss extract can be used as normal or irradiated in the active coating of Na-caseinate, to increase the shelf life and quality of rainbow trout fillets at refrigerator temperature for at least 10 days.

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The methods used to maintain the quality of eggs during the storage period are mainly based on inactivating microorganisms and preventing mass exchanges. In order to investigate the effect of water washing and shell coating using active nanocomposite coating based on 2% carboxymethyl cellulose containing 3.5% nanoclay and 2% marjoram extract on internal quality and egg shell, an experiment with 4 treatments including control (unwashed and uncoated), washed and uncoated, unwashed and coated, washed and coated and 3 replicates during a 4-week storage period at ambient temperature (25±2^oC) with weekly evaluation the studied parameters were performed. At the end of the storage period, the highest values ​​of  HU (49.71±0.15), YI (0.32±0.00) and the lowest values ​​of WL percentage (3.07±0.02), albumen pH (8.59±0.02), TBARS (0.125±0.03 mg MDA/Kg) and TVC (2.75±0.05 log cfu/ml) were observed in coated eggs (P<0.05). In the evaluation of yolk color indices, coated eggs had significantly (P<0.05) higher values ​​of b^* (57.24), a^* (-7.72) and lower value of L^* (45/51). Regardless of the coating, egg washing had no significant effect on the evaluated parameters. Therefore, the use of active nanocomposite coating of carboxymethyl cellulose - nano montmorillonite - marjoram extract with barrier, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties is recommended to increase the shelf life of eggs at ambient temperature for 4 weeks.