Overpopulation Research Articles

Biodiversity prospecting for phytoremediation programs intended for utilizing polluted lands and obtaining bioeconomy

AbstractLand degradation and soil contamination have become global problem due to irresponsible anthropogenic activities and the overutilization of natural resources by humans. Land degradation and contamination due to toxic heavy metals have adversely impacted not only crop productivity but also the overall environmental health of our planet. Mitigation and management of polluted land are urgently required to achieve the goal of sustainable development because of the continuous human population explosion. In recent years, the biodiversity under phytoremediation is gaining scientists' attention for utilizing polluted lands and obtaining a bio‐based economy aimed at economically valuable and nonedible native plants. In the present review, we have focused on the biodiversity prospecting and phytoremediation potentials of economically important native plants, which may open up new horizons for sustainable development and redevelopment of polluted land sites.

Hydroponics as an advanced vegetable production technique: an overview

In the recent past, population explosion across the globe has presented many challenges that include the availability of arable land diminishing per capita for traditional soil-based farming. Therefore, the development of advanced agricultural technologies and methods has become important in response to these persistent situations. Amongst these innovations, soilless crop cultivation has emerged as one of the promising solutions, leading from the forefront. This current review offers a comprehensive investigation of hydroponics as an advanced technology for vegetable production. It explains many aspects related to hydroponic systems, viz., methods used in hydroponics, its advantages, challenges as well as application in vegetable production. This paper also explores the hydroponics evolution historically, various hydroponic systems, their essential components, and nutrient solution role in plant growth facilitation. Furthermore, it highlights various advantages of farming under hydroponic culture, viz., increase in yields, efficient usage of water, optimum space utilization, and less environmental impact. Additionally, this review also sheds light on challenges related to hydroponics, like initial setup cost, technical complexity, and management of diseases. Moreover, it also enlightens about vegetables that are suitable to cultivate under hydroponic culture and provides insight into continuing research, and forthcoming projections in the area of vegetable production under hydroponic cultivation.

CORRELATION ANALYSIS AND MODELLING OF HEAVY METAL CONCENTRATIONS AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS FROM SOIL SAMPLES OF FIVE SELECTED REFUSE DUMPSITES IN LAFIA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Thousands of tons of solid wastes are generated and disposed daily in open dumps of most Nigerian cities due to rapid population explosion and commercial activities. In this study, concentrations of heavy metals and physicochemical parameters from 20 soil samples each from selected refuse dumpsites in wet and dry seasons were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer and Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) standard methods. The results showed that during the wet and dry seasons, the concentration of heavy metals, Hg, Cr, Mn were above that of World Health Organisation (WHO), and National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), while that of Pb, As, Fe, Zn, Cu and Ni were below the tolerable limits. The results for physicochemical parameters in wet and dry seasons for nitrates, phosphates and organic matter were above WHO standards. Statistical test at 0.05 probability level (p < 0.05) was used to determine the degree of association between pairs of the variables. The principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to measure the direct and inverse relationship between these parameters and heavy metal availability. Based on the different variables obtained at the study areas, a multiple linear regression analysis was determined from which a general linear model was formulated. The study recommends appropriate government agencies should as a matter urgency integrate the regular monitoring of waste disposal into the state developmental plan and framework in order to prevent excessive build-up of these metals in humans through the food chain.

A Study on Socio-Demogrpahic Profile on Suicidal Hanging Cases Brought for Autopsy to Gmch Mortuary: A Cross Sectional Prospective Study

Deaths by ligation around the neck are in practice from the time immemorial and before adventure of civilization.Hanging is that form of asphyxia, which is caused by suspension of the body by a ligature which encircles theneck, the constricting force being the weight of the body or a part of the body weight. Due to population explosion,poverty and increasing stress and strain in our daily life, we frequently come across cases of suicides, homicidesand accidents. The present study aims towards analyzing socio-demographic pattern, causes& precipitating factorsfor committing suicide by hanging in this region. Due to population explosion, poverty and increasing stress andstrain in our daily life, we frequently come across cases of suicides, homicides and accidents22. According to theWorld Health Organization (WHO), over eight hundred thousand people commit suicide every year all over theworld. In India, every year >1 lakh people commit suicide, and it accounts for 17.5% of all suicidal deaths in theworld. Hanging is the most common method of committing suicide as it is believed to offer a rapid and relativelypainless death, and there is no cost involvement other than that of the ligature material2. According to NCRBreports the incidence of suicides by hanging increasing every year by India, 31.5% in 2010, 32.2% in 2011, 37.0%in 20122. The present study aims towards analyzing socio-demographic pattern, causes precipitating factors forcommitting suicide by hanging in this region.

From small beginnings... population explosions of migrant Belenois aurota (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) in Türkiye, with rare observations in Syria and a first record for Cyprus

Incursions of Belenois aurota (Fabricius, 1793), a vigorous, tropical migrant pierid, have become more common in recent years in countries of the southern Levant, with rare appearances in south-eastern Türkiye. Here, we report on the species presence in other Levant countries of the eastern Mediterranean, including Mediterranean Syria and, for the first time, in Cyprus, on which island B. aurota was discovered in 2023. We also report on experiences in south-eastern Türkiye, where, during the same autumn period, extensive breeding resulted in at least three local broods leading to significant population irruptions and dispersal. Likely migration routes via the Jordan Rift Valley System into countries of the Levant are discussed, and we introduce an additional migratory route east of the Lebanon, Anti-Lebanon and Silsilat al-Jib āl as-Sāhilīyah (Latakia) mountain ranges, not previously recognized to our knowledge. The value of the Tigris River as a conduit for migrant butterflies from the Middle East into the provinces of south-eastern Türkiye had previously been documented and is again well illustrated by numerous observations in south-eastern Türkiye along the river's route south from its origins in the mountains of eastern Türkiye. Although B. aurota is recognized as an obligate migrant, it is considered that 2023 weather systems assisted the arrival of the species into the northern Levant and south-eastern Türkiye.

GNSS and Sentinel-1 InSAR Integrated Long-Term Subsidence Monitoring in Quetta and Mastung Districts, Balochistan, Pakistan

Land subsidence (LS) is a global phenomenon that has affected several urban centres around the world such as Jakarta (Indonesia), Mexico City (Mexico), Xi’an (China), and Iron County (US). It has mainly been attributed to anthropogenic activities such as groundwater exploitation, especially in unconsolidated aquifer systems rich in highly compressible clay and silt. The platy clay minerals rearrange into horizontal stacks after dewatering, leading to a volume change due to overburden. In this study, land subsidence is investigated in the Quetta and Mastung districts, Balochistan, Pakistan, by employing Small Baseline Subset (SBAS) Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR), Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), and groundwater level (GWL) variations. This study represents the first attempt in Pakistan to measure the long-term land subsidence by fusing GNSS and InSAR data for improved validity. InSAR data from the Sentinel-1 satellite in the Ascending (195 scenes) and Descending (183 scenes) tracks were used to analyse LS from December 2015 to December 2022. High-accuracy Trimble NetRS GNSS receivers were used in five locations from October 2006 to December 2022. An average subsidence ranging from 3.2 cm/y to 16 cm/y was recorded in the valley mainly due to the GWL decline and clay-rich sediments, which are prone to compaction due to dewatering. An accumulative LS of 2 m was recorded by the permanent GNSS station in central Quetta from October 2008 to January 2023 (14.2 years). An acceleration in the subsidence from 12 cm/y to 16.6 cm/y after 2016 was recorded by the continuous GNSS. Additionally, the InSAR and GNSS values were compared for validation, resulting in a good correlation between both techniques. A GWL decline ranging from 1.7 m to 6 m was recorded by the piezometers in Quetta during the period 1987–2022. Large- and small-scale fissures were observed in the study area during the surveys. These fissures are responsible for damage to the city’s infrastructure and aquifer contamination. The subsidence profile also agrees with the subsurface lithology. Our assessment concludes that Quetta may be the fastest-sinking metropolitan city in Pakistan. The overexploitation of groundwater and the population explosion may be the main contributing factors for the land subsidence.

Nigerian Family Planning: Taking Socioeconomic and Sociocultural Aspects into Account for Sustainable Development

The present paper attempts to scrutinize the complex aspect of family planning in Nigeria which is seen as being a catalyst for positive outcomes among women's health issues, wellbeing of their families and the country's progress. Agreeing with SDG that family planning is its top most mission, the World Health Organization (WHO) has chosen it to save the life of mothers and children who are facing complications during the child birth. Although the trend of declining fertility worldwide at the hands of the global contraception is an established fact, the situation of Nigerian women is quite different as they are actually facing a high birth rates and such a phenomenon could eventually lead to a population explosion which in turn would aggravate the economic and social problems. The research explores the multidimensional factors of family planning that comprise the socioeconomic and socio-cultural driving force and emphasizes the intervention efficiency necessity. Keywords: Family Planning, Society, Socio economic matters, and Cultural factor

Maize Cultivation Three Hundred Years Ago Triggered Severe Rocky Desertification in Southwest China

AbstractUnderstanding the forest evolution is vital to answering the reforestation potential in karst areas. Here, we present the first‐ever pollen record in karst depression sediment, combined with comprehensive dating methods (137Cs, 210Pbex, and 14C) and historical documents, to reveal plant change history in southwest Guangxi, a severe rocky‐desertification region. We inferred three stages of “virgin forest–deforestation–sparse tree planting” over the past three centuries. Before the 1780s, the barren mountains used to be a lush mixed broadleaf forest probably. However, maize cultivation, along with explosive population growth and migration, accelerated mountain reclamation and deforestation, leading to severe rocky desertification since the 1780s, featured by the co‐occurrence of Zea pollen appearance and Dicranopteris spore surge from 0.92% to 12.18%. Since the 1930s, sparse tree planting began, as Cupressaceae/Taxodiaceae pollen abruptly increased by 32%. Our study is significant in understanding the rocky desertification causes and guiding ecological restoration in the region.

The application of the internet of things technology in the smart grid

The development of electric power and the energy industry is an important guarantee for national economic development. With the explosion of population and the development of science and technology, the power system needs to be more intelligent and networked to facilitate management and optimization. In recent years, the Internet of Things (IoT) technology has continued to develop through the combination of Internet technology and sensor technology, and the fast network transmission speed as well as the miniaturization and refinement of sensing can help the construction of the smart grid. This paper analyzes the application of IoT technology in the smart grid, including different types of smart grid architecture and the practical application of the IoT technology in the whole process of power transmission. Besides, the paper also discusses different application links and network levels. At present, the IoT technology has been applied to the smart grid information collection, transmission, and processing process, participating in information management in the power station, power transmission, substation, and other links. However, due to the complexity of processing the massive data of the power grid and the multiple network connections during the transmission process, ensuring the security of information and networks has become a challenge. While realizing high-speed communication, it is necessary to ensure the security of users as well as the information communication and networks.

India’s industrial policy: The role of human capital

The aim of the study is to study the transformation of India’s industrial policy and the changing role of human capital during its implementation and transition to a model of selfsustaining economic growth. Since 1947, India’s industrial policy has undergone several significant rotations, while a number of provisions remain relevant today, simultaneously affecting and strengthening the role of human capital. One of the key problems considered in the work is the very high share of unorganized business, which employs, according to various estimates, from 90 to 93 % of the total workforce, which entails both social and economic problems. The methodological basis of the research consists of traditional methods used in this type of work, namely: methods of retrospective, induction, deduction, comparison. The industrial policy implemented in the country since 1948 and its transformation were accompanied by mixed results, not only in terms of economic indicators, but also social ones. The main result of the country’s industrialization was the fact that India was faced with a population explosion, and a serious discrepancy between structural changes in output and employment structure - agriculture still employs the overwhelming share of the country’s population, while the share of the agricultural sector in the structure of GDP is about 15 %. Informal employment remains one of the most significant problems in the Indian market. Despite a number of developed and implemented programs for the transition of workers from informal forms to regular jobs, significant changes have not occurred.

The demise of enemy release associated with the invasion of specialist folivores on an invasive tree

There is a long history of humans either intentionally or accidentally moving plant species to areas outside of their native ranges. In novel environments, populations of many of these plant species exhibit explosive population growth and spread, in part due to the absence of coevolved enemies such as herbivorous insects. However, over time such enemies can ‘catch up' with their host and re‐establish host–herbivore relationships. Though this phenomenon has been documented in several systems, little evidence exists on how this re‐assembly of enemies results in increased levels of herbivory. In this study we focus on the case of black locust Robinia pseudoacacia, a sparsely populated tree species when growing on undisturbed sites in its limited native range in the eastern USA but a highly invasive species, especially in disturbed environments, in most temperate world regions. We recorded folivore damage on invasive populations in five continents, including both native and invaded portions of North America. Here, we investigated 1) how total foliage damage and damage caused by different groups of folivores differs among regions; 2) how seasonal development of folivore damage differs among regions; 3) how folivory varies with distance from the native range within North America; and 4) how the number of recorded specialist folivores correlates with the amount of folivory. We observed strong differences among regions in the amount and type of folivore damage, with the native range experiencing the highest damage, especially that caused by the native chrysomelid beetle Odontota dorsalis, which is limited to the native and invaded North American range of R. pseudoacacia. Among world regions, total folivory is negatively associated with the distance from the native range and positively associated with the number of established R. pseudoacacia specialist folivore species, supporting the hypothesis that global patterns of herbivore invasions are associated with diminished enemy release.

Overpopulation of Animals in India: Analyzing Legislative Shortcomings

The overpopulation of animals in India is a critical issue with far-reaching consequences, impacting animal welfare, public health, and community safety. This legal research paper examines the root causes of this problem and the inadequacies in India's current legislative framework governing animal welfare. It explores how vague language, lax enforcement, and gaps in coverage have contributed to the unchecked growth of stray animal populations, resulting in suffering, public health risks, and safety concerns. Comparative analysis with regions known for effective animal welfare legislation reveals best practices and strategies that can be adapted to the Indian context. The paper proposes a series of legal reforms tailored to the Indian context, including mandatory spaying and neutering, comprehensive registration and microchipping, stricter licensing and breeding regulations, public education and awareness campaigns, strengthened animal cruelty penalties, and the introduction of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs for feral animals. Addressing challenges, objections, and ethical considerations, these recommendations aim to strike a balance between personal freedoms and the need for responsible pet ownership. Through case studies and a contextualized approach, this research underscores the importance of addressing legislative shortcomings in India to safeguard animal welfare, protect public health, and ensure community safety. The proposed reforms seek to harmonize India's rich cultural diversity with modern animal welfare standards, ultimately creating a more compassionate and secure environment for both animals and humans in the Indian context.

Sugarcane breeding: a fantastic past and promising future driven by technology and methods.

Sugarcane is the most important sugar and energy crop in the world. During sugarcane breeding, technology is the requirement and methods are the means. As we know, seed is the cornerstone of the development of the sugarcane industry. Over the past century, with the advancement of technology and the expansion of methods, sugarcane breeding has continued to improve, and sugarcane production has realized a leaping growth, providing a large amount of essential sugar and clean energy for the long-term mankind development, especially in the face of the future threats of world population explosion, reduction of available arable land, and various biotic and abiotic stresses. Moreover, due to narrow genetic foundation, serious varietal degradation, lack of breakthrough varieties, as well as long breeding cycle and low probability of gene polymerization, it is particularly important to realize the leapfrog development of sugarcane breeding by seizing the opportunity for the emerging Breeding 4.0, and making full use of modern biotechnology including but not limited to whole genome selection, transgene, gene editing, and synthetic biology, combined with information technology such as remote sensing and deep learning. In view of this, we focus on sugarcane breeding from the perspective of technology and methods, reviewing the main history, pointing out the current status and challenges, and providing a reasonable outlook on the prospects of smart breeding.

Land use land cover simulations using integrated CA-Markov model in the Tawi Basin of Jammu and Kashmir India

Land use and land cover (LULC) changes are important indicators of environmental and socio-economic changes made by the natural and anthropogenic sources. The present study is based on the Cellular Automata (CA) Markov model for predicting the LULC changes in the Tawi Basin. To decipher the spatio-temporal distributions of LULC, the Landsat images of 2010 and 2020 were used to analyse the LULC classification. Further, CA Markov model simulations of various scenarios of eight decades (2030 to 2100) were generated based on LULC of 2010 and 2020 data to know the LULC perspective changes in the Tawi Basin, which has witnessed the enormous developmental activities such as growth in settlement, population, and agriculture sector over the years. The model predicts that a population explosion leading to rapid urbanization and rural expansions.Settlement is expected to increase from 5.29% of the total area in 2020 to 13.975% in the year 2100. The CA–Markov model results paint a picture of significant changes in land use and settlement patterns in the Tawi Basin. The study serves as a crucial tool for guiding future planning efforts, urging environmentalists, planners, and decision-makers to prioritize sustainable practices and make informed decisions for the well-being of the region.

LESLIE MATRIX CONSTRUCTION AND ITS PROPERTIES IN PREDICTING THE SIZE OF THE FEMALE POPULATION

The growth of the female population needs to be considered because if the female population is not controlled, it is feared that it could trigger a population explosion. Using the Leslie matrix, this study aimed to predict the number and growth rate of the female population in Batugajah Village, Mdona Hyera Subdistrict, Southwest Maluku Regency. Based on the results of the study, the female population in Batugajah Village, Mdona Hyera Subdistrict, Southwest Maluku Regency, is predicted to be 157 people in 2021, 150 people in 2022, and 142 people in 2023. Furthermore, the most significant positive eigenvalue is 0.6521, which indicates that the population growth rate will tend to decrease.

Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria for Sustainable Production of Sugarcane and Rice

Sugarcane (Sacchraum officinarum L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.) are important cash and staple crop in the world respectively. In today’s population explosion the lots of pressure on cropping land to mitigate the feed need of consumers with judicious use of chemical fertilizers without considering the health of soil and its sustainability. The rhizobacteria live region around roots (2-80 mm) of crop with divers, dynamic and complex microflora having capacity with direct and indirect beneficial effects on crop health by availability of different nutrient, siderophores, rhizo deposits, auxins and role with bioremediation. There are different types of bacteria is isolated from rhizosphere of sugarcane and rice having Bacillus, Rhizobium, comamonas, cyanaobacteria, Nodosilinea, Levinella and Pseudomonas genera with most efficient nitrogen producer, solubilizers of inorganic phosphate, potash and other macro and micronutrient. In rice microbiome as Levinella, Psudomonas Anaeromyxobacter, Arenimonas, Arthrobacter, Bacillus, Bellilinea Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria and cyanobacteria with strains of Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter are further divided in vegetative and reproductive growth stage of rice crop. The article give brief idea about the large arena of them.

Sustainable Development Goals Contributing to Women Emancipation in India

The environment is an important part of our day-to-day life and it fulfils our basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothing. In our environment, we can find natural resources, biotic and abiotic things. For parochial interest, human beings are gradually destroying the environment and fulfilling present needs, but more and more natural resources are exhausted, which are not abundantly found in the world. Day by day, due to the population explosion, there is a danger to the environment. Basically, there are two types of energy resources, renewable and non-renewable sources of energy. Renewable sources can be recycled and abundantly found, such as solar energy, wind energy, hydropower energy, and non-renewable sources of energy are fossil fuels, such as coal, natural gas, nuclear energy, etc. Non-renewable sources of energy are found in a limited way. Through coal, thermal energy is produced, but it is harmful to the environment and exhaustible. Here the role of women is also increasing a lot. There was a time, that women were facing many problems to make food. They made their life dependent on forest wood. As far every country focused on sustainable policies, different type LPG gases has been using to make the women free from collecting woods and making food. Therefore, the government of India has initiated the International Solar Alliance with 121 countries to produce green energy through solar panels. The present research may show, what are the policies that has been taken by government of India for gender emancipation.

PUBLIC HEALTH EXPENDITURE AND MATERNAL MORTALITY IN NIGERIA

This study examined the effect of public health expenditure on maternal mortality in Nigeria from 2002 to 2021. To achieve this objective, the study utilized data on maternal death, total government expenditure on health, and migration of doctors and nurses trained in Nigeria - doctors and nurses trained in Nigeria but working in other countries from OECD Health Statistics, 2021, WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank Group, the United Nations Population Division, and Central Bank of Nigeria Statistical Bulletin. The study employed an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) Bounds testing technique for data analyses. The result revealed that in the long run, total government expenditure on health has a negative and significant relationship with maternal mortality in Nigeria. Meanwhile, the migration of doctors and nurses trained in Nigeria - doctors and nurses trained in Nigeria but working in other countries have a positive and significant relationship with maternal mortality in Nigeria. In the short run, total government expenditure on health has a positive and significant relationship with maternal mortality in Nigeria. At the same time, the migration of doctors and nurses trained in Nigeria - doctors and nurses trained in Nigeria but working in other countries has a negative and significant relationship with maternal mortality in Nigeria. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended here that the government should step up investment in all components of health infrastructure to cope with the explosive population growth requiring medical services in Nigeria. Put differently, a crucial effort should be made by the government to channel more funds to the health sector in order to improve health standards, reduce the mortality rate and hence the life expectancy of the citizens since a healthy population and workforce is a major ingredient for rapid and sustainable productivity and growth.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0004/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Being Counted: Family Planning and Aboriginal Population, 1967–75

When the results of the 1966 census came out shortly after the 1967 referendum, they revealed something new: Australia’s Aboriginal population was growing, rapidly. This article examines white fears of an Aboriginal ‘population explosion’ and technocratic attempts to slow Aboriginal population growth during the twilight of assimilation policies and the beginnings of ‘self-determination’. It turns to two projects: one conducted by various government departments in remote communities and another through the Family Planning Association of South Australia and Council of Aboriginal Women. As government intervention in Aboriginal lives shifted from top-down institutional approaches to funding Aboriginal organisations themselves to implement government policies, Aboriginal motherhood nonetheless remained a focus for state interventions. These interventions deployed discourses of liberal individualism, development, cultural restoration, and modernity that ‘cloaked’ objectives of population control.

Balancing food security and environmental safety: rethinking modern agricultural practices

Agriculture has played an important role in human life, both for sustaining life and livelihood. The population explosion has necessitated huge agricultural production. Consequently, there has been modernisation of agriculture not only in farming practices, but also in introducing improved agricultural implements, irrigation, chemical fertilisers, synthetic pesticides, and high-yielding seeds. Agricultural intensification and monoculture make it possible to increase crop production, to a large extent gaining food security, but paying no or little attention to environmental well-being. Intensive tillage leads to soil erosion, nutrient loss, and soil organic carbon loss, which affects the soil biota. Extraction of underground water for irrigation causes groundwater levels to drop and hinders aquifer recharge. Monoculture and the cultivation of high-yielding crops lead to the loss of many indigenous crop varieties and the prevalence of pests and pathogens. Extensive chemical fertiliser application can cause soil acidification, eutrophication, and nitrate contamination in groundwater through leaching. Indiscriminate use of pesticides is a potential threat for non-target organisms, including humans. The agriculture sector contributes a considerable portion of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Therefore, the only way to protect our mother earth and create a healthy environment is through sustainable agriculture to ensure food safety and security.