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Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) plays an important role as a vector of different deadly diseases particularly dengue fever. Insecticides are used as a primary tool to control Ae. aegypti. However, due to the excessive use of insecticides on agricultural, public health, and industrial levels, mosquitoes have developed resistance. In this study, the current susceptibility status of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes against different insecticides (Temephos, DDT, dieldrin, Malathion, Bendiocarb, Permethrin, Cypermethrin, and Lambda-cyhalothrin) was evaluated in district Lahore and district Muzaffargarh of Punjab, Pakistan. For this purpose, WHO bioassays and biochemical assays were performed on Ae. aegypti population from Lahore (APLa) and Aedes population from Muzaffargarh (APMg). Results of APLa and APMg showed high levels of resistance against the larvicide Temephos. Resistance against all adulticides was also observed in APLa and APMg (% mortality < 98%). The biochemical assays indicated statistically significant elevated levels of detoxification enzymes in APLa and APMg. APLa showed slightly higher levels as compared to APMg. Mosquitoes were also screened for the presence of kdr mutations. The results revealed no mutation in domain II while the presence of mutation F1534C in domain III was found in both field populations. The results showed the presence of moderate to high grade resistance against all insecticides in Ae. aegypti in district Lahore and district Muzaffargarh of Punjab, Pakistan.

Accurate, consistent and timely cropland information over large areas is critical to solve food security issues. To predict and respond to food insecurity, global cropland products are readily available from coarse and medium spatial resolution earth observation data. However, while the use of satellite imagery has great potential to identify cropland areas and their specific types, the full potential of this imagery has yet to be realized due to variability of croplands in different regions. Despite recent calls for statistically robust and transparent accuracy assessment, more attention regarding the accuracy assessment of large area cropland maps is still needed. To conduct a valid assessment of cropland maps, different strategies, issues and constraints need to be addressed depending upon various conditions present in each continent. This study specifically focused on dealing with some specific issues encountered when assessing the cropland extent of North America (confined to the United States), Africa and Australia. The process of accuracy assessment was performed using a simple random sampling design employed within defined strata (i.e., Agro-Ecological Zones (AEZ’s) for the US and Africa and a buffer zone approach around the cropland areas of Australia. Continent-specific sample analysis was performed to ensure that an appropriate reference data set was used to generate a valid error matrix indicative of the actual cropland proportion. Each accuracy assessment was performed within the homogenous regions (i.e., strata) of different continents using different sources of reference data to produce rigorous and valid accuracy results. The results indicate that continent-specific modified assessments performed for the three selected continents demonstrate that the accuracy assessment can be easily accomplished for a large area such as the US that has extensive availability of reference data while more modifications were needed in the sampling design for other continents that had little to no reference data and other constraints. Each continent provided its own unique challenges and opportunities. Therefore, this paper describes a tale of these three continents providing recommendations to adapt accuracy assessment strategies and methodologies for validating global cropland extent maps.

Although Amblyomma variegatum and Ehrlichia ruminantium infections have been reported in cattle from some agro‐ecological zones (AEZs) of Cameroon, the transmission patterns of this bacterium seem to vary according to endemic areas and its prevalence as well as that of Heartwater remains not well understood in most sub‐Saharan African countries. This study was designed to detect E. ruminantium infections in cattle of four AEZs of Cameroon and to identify areas presenting enzootic stability and those with potentially high risk for Heartwater. Blood samples were collected from cattle in four AEZs of Cameroon. DNA was extracted from blood and semi‐nested PCR targeting the 16S rRNA gene of E. ruminantium was used to search for this bacterium. From 569 cattle analysed, an E. ruminantium DNA fragment was detected in 197 of them, giving an overall prevalence of 34.6%. The highest prevalence of E. ruminantium of 48.0% was recorded in cattle from AEZ IV and the lowest (26.0%) in those from AEZ III. Among the AEZs, significant differences (X2 = 14.85, p = 0.002) were recorded in terms of the prevalence of E. ruminantium infections. Villages of the westerly areas are at higher risk for E. ruminantium infections. This study revealed a high prevalence and a wide distribution of E. ruminantium infections in AEZs of Cameroon. It enabled the identification of areas showing an enzootic stability for E. ruminantium transmission as well as those where the transmission of this bacterium is low and where livestock are at higher risk of developing Heartwater. • The wide distribution of Ehrlichia ruminantium infections in Cameroon highlights an enzootic stability in its transmission. • Villages of the westerly areas of Cameroon are at higher risk for Heartwater.

The impact of climate change on the world food supply is the drastic decrease of cereal production in the Sudano‐Sahelian region of Africa. The objective of this research is to analyze the impact of climate variability on the dynamics of current and future soybean (Glycine max) production areas in the second agricultural development pole of Benin in the Sudanian region. The maximum entropy approach (Maxent) was adopted. To this end, 10,135 points of soybean (G. max) occurrence in the field and at the GBIF site were associated with environmental variables of three climatic scenarios, namely: climatic conditions, the optimistic scenario (RCP 4.5), and the most pessimistic but probable scenario (RCP 8.5) for the purposes of the analysis. The results show that climate variability will lead to profound changes in soybean agro‐ecological areas by 2050. These changes will be marked by an increase in non‐suitable and completely non suitable areas for soybean production at the expense of currently suitable and completely suitable areas. Non suitable areas, which currently occupy 26% of the study area, will increase to 27% in the RCP8.5 scenario by 2050. The same trends are observed in the completely non suitable areas, with 23% under current conditions and 26% under RCP8.5. It is therefore necessary to anticipate the adaptation and resilience strategies of producers in the face of future climate change.

Objective: Gastrointestinal parasites (GIPs) negatively impact small ruminant production and pro¬ductivity nationwide, particularly in tropical and sub-tropic regions. Amongst other nematodes, Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus colubriformis, and Teladorsagia circumcincta are the most common species in small ruminants animals. Thus, this study aimed to investigate communal sheep farmer’s knowledge and attitudes toward GIPs in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between September and November 2018 from three agro-ecological zones, namely, arid region, semi-humid, and humid. All data from this study were analysed with the Statistical Analysis System. Results: Of the total of 107 farmers who participated in the study, 69% were males, and 38% were females. Most livestock owners (85%) were aged >46 years old across all the study areas. The majority of farmers (83%) perceived that their animals are susceptible to wireworm (H. contortus) during the hot-wet season, followed by the hot-dry season (14%), with relatively low during the cold season (2%). Most farmers (85%) interviewed revealed that lambs are more exposed to para¬sitic infection, than mature sheep (15%) across all agro-ecological zones. An insignificant number of farmers (8%) with knowledge about GIPs life cycle and its biology (92%) across all agro-eco¬logical zones. This study reveals a significant increase in the occurrence of GIPs over the past few years across all agro-ecological, with largely (67%) attributed to the resistance of the strain to deworming remedies and changes in climatic weather patterns (33%). The farming experience was strongly (p < 0.05) associated with the farmer’s gender and age. Helminths were reported significantly higher (p < 0.05) in humid zones than in other agro-ecological zones. Conclusions: This study concludes that most farmers perceived lambs as more susceptible to GIPs than old sheep. Therefore, farmers should be enlightened about the infection and transmission dynamics of the GIPs to develop appropriate control measures against worm infection to boost sheep production in the study area. It was also suggested that farmers should adhere to remedial instruction and adopt rotational deworming programs to avoid anthelmintic resistance.

Known by many names, including \"dentritic organopiastoids\", (1) whale burps, sea balls, and aegagropila, Neptune balls are material clusters found on lake and ocean shores around the world, created through the action of wind and waves, incorporating dead grasses and other vegetative matter into dense, potato-like spheres. Increasingly, the clusters also include post-consumer waste such as rogue synthetic threads from boating rope and fishing line, balloon strings, bits of Styrofoam, and shards of miscellaneous beach refuse. Dancing across the littoral zone, the Neptune balls trap plastics that would otherwise go in the water, where the combination of waves and photodegradation would break them up into smaller and more elusive fragments and threads.

The relationships between the physicochemical composition of Tamarindus indica pulp and seeds, and agro‐ecological zones and land use types were assessed in Uganda. The objective was to determine the relationship between the physicochemical composition, agro‐ecological zones, and land use types. The samples were processed by manually depulping the T. indica pods, sun‐drying the pulp and seeds, and grinding into powder. The powdered samples were analyzed for β‐carotenoids, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), calorific value, crude oil, acid, and peroxide values. Data were analyzed using ANOVA in the general linear model (GLM). Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to relate the physicochemical properties to the agro‐ecological zones and land use types. There were significant differences (p ≤ .05) in the physicochemical composition variables between agro‐ecological zones and land use types. Land use types showed strong correlations with physicochemical properties while agro‐ecological zones did not show correlations. The results show that in terms of general properties, T. indica pods provide a valuable, rich, and exceptional source of vitamin C, compared to many widely consumed indigenous and conventional fruits and vegetables. The pods from land use types characterized by natural habitats had relatively more nutrient levels than the land use types influenced by anthropogenic activities. The physicochemical compositions of Tamarindus indica pulp and seeds were evaluated on samples from the wild and on‐farm land use types in the three agro‐ecological zones of Uganda. The result shows that there were significant differences (p < .05) in physicochemical composition variables between agro‐ecological zones and land use types. Vitamin C (138.40‐201.70; 85.10‐104.80 mg/100 g), β‐carotenoids (0.14‐0.17: 0.13‐0.33 mg/100 g) for pulp samples while, calorific values (265.00‐280.90 kcal), acid value (10.00‐19.50 g/mg), and peroxide values (111.00‐235.10 mEq/kg) were documented in the seed samples. While land use types showed strong correlations with physicochemical properties, agro‐ecological zones did not show any correlations. Analysis of both pulp and seed showed that it is a valuable product for physicochemical composition such as vitamin C production and hence its consumption.

This study investigates future impacts of global warming on climate and extreme climate events in Nigeria, the most populous African country that depends on rain-fed agriculture. Past and future climate simulations from 9 GCMs were downscaled (using a statistical model) and analyzed for the study. The study considers the impacts of two emission scenarios (B1 and A2) on the future climates (2046–2065 and 2081–2100) over ecological zones in Nigeria. The model evaluation shows that the downscaling adds values to the GCMs simulation, and the results capture all the important climatic features over the country. The model projections show that both B1 and A2 scenarios change the future climate over Nigeria. They significantly increase the temperature over all the ecological zones, with greatest warming (between 1 and 4 °C) over the Sudan (short grass) Savanna in March. The warming, which increases the occurrence of extreme temperature and heat wave events over the entire country, enhances the frequency of the extreme rainfall events in the south and southeast and reduces the annual rainfall over the northeast. Since heavy rains and floods are major problems in the south and southeast, and drought is major problem in the northeast, the global warming may further aggravate these environmental problems in future. These could have negative impacts on agriculture and further threaten livelihood and food security in the rapidly growing country. Hence, there is need for further studies on adaptation and mitigation strategies to address the impacts of global warming in Nigeria.

Cold‐pressed oil content of Cannabis sativa (hemp) seeds from three different agro‐ecological zones of Pakistan ranged from 26.90 to 31.50%. Protein, fiber, ash, and moisture content were found to be 23.00–26.50, 17.00–20.52, 5.00–7.60, and 5.60–8.50%, respectively. Results of some other physical and chemical parameters of the oil were as follows: iodine value, 154.00–165.00; refractive index (40°C), 1.4698–1.4750; density (24°C), 0.9180–0.9270 mg ml−1; saponification value, 184.00–190.00; unsaponifiable matter, 0.70–1.25%; and color (1‐in cell), 0.50–0.80 R+27.00–32.00 Y. The induction period (Rancimat, 20 L h−1, 120°C) of the nondegummed and degummed oils ranged from 1.35 to 1.72 h and from 1.20 to 1.49 h, respectively. Specific extinctions at 232 and 270 nm were 3.50–4.18 and 0.95–1.43, respectively. The hemp oils investigated were found to contain high levels of linoleic acid, 56.50–60.50%, followed by α‐linolenic, oleic, palmitic, stearic, and γ‐linolenic acids: 16.85–20.00, 10.17–14.03, 5.75–8.27, 2.19–2.79, and 0.63–1.65%, respectively. Tocopherols (α, γ, and δ) in the nondegummed oils were found to be 54.02–60.40, 600.00–745.00, 35.00–45.60, respectively, and were reduced to 29.90–50.00, 590.00–640.00, and 30.40–39.50 mg kg−1, respectively, after degumming. The results of the present analytical study, compared with those found in the typical literature on hempseed oils, showed C. sativa indigenous to Pakistan to be a potentially valuable nonconventional oilseed crop of comparable quality.