This paper examines the factors that affect human–wildlife conflict and its socio-ecological consequences, including impacts on the daily lives of rural people, farming activities, children’s schooling, and livestock rearing. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were employed. Data were collected from secondary sources, primarily the Uttarakhand State Forest Department and the Forest Survey of India, covering 25 years (2000–2025). Information on wildlife species, their populations, and the number of people killed or injured by wildlife was obtained. The author visited some affected areas of human–wildlife conflict in July 2024 and January 2025. A perception study was conducted in which 212 people from five villages were interviewed. A map of human–wildlife conflict hotspots was also prepared. Three districts of Uttarakhand—Pauri, Almora, and Tehri—were identified as human-wildlife conflict hotspots. This study reveals that elephants dominate the plains—namely the Doon Valley and the Tarai region—whereas leopards and bears dominate the middle Himalayan region in terms of human–wildlife conflict. Wild boars and langurs are also found in the same region. Snow leopards are confined to the Greater Himalayan region. Every day, one or more people are killed by wildlife, and the number of injured people is considerably high. Fatalities from leopard attacks are highest, followed by bear attacks, mainly in the middle Himalayan region. The study suggests that both the Forest Department and local communities can play significant roles in managing wildlife through awareness programmes and improved forest management.
The evolution of the skin Industry, together with the consumer’s dream to maintain a younger appearance for living longer, has pushed the industry to formulate and distribute science-oriented cosmetics and diet supplements. Consequently, the worldwide production and selling of cosmeceuticals (specialized Cosmetics) and nutraceuticals (specialized diet supplements) have been notably increased for the consumer request of the Beauty from Within also. Thus the increased studies, formulations, and consumer requests of products more effective and safe. At this purpose the paper reports some data of a new pro-aging formulation controlled in vitro by the use of aged keratinocytes and fibroblasts and in vivo by controlling the skin of 30 selected women aged between 58 and 67 years. The studies have involved the use of an innovative anti-aging/pro-aging cosmeceutical-formulation con eyes by a specialized tissue (carrier-tissue). This tissue, made by selected active ingredients embedded into a biodegradable tissue-vehicle (activated-tissue), has been compared to the same actives embedded into a normal emulsion. The active ingredients used as anti-aging skin-repairing agents have been Nicotinamide, Allantoin, and sodium ascorbyl phosphate enriched by the fish-Collagen-peptides, considered an ingredient useful to increase the product’s penetrability through the skin’s Stratum Corneum when applied on its surface. On the other hand, both the tissues might be used as nutraceuticals also, due to their water-solubility, effectiveness, and safety. The selected and positive results, obtained by both the in vitro by keratinocytes/fibroblasts cultures and in vivo by engineering methods, will be reported and discussed, trying to show the effectiveness and safety of the realized tissues and the innovative cosme-nutraceutical’formulation.
In late May 2026, the Euphrates River experienced a significant flooding event, with water levels rising approximately four meters in some locations. Water flows increased from normal levels of approximately 300–500 m3/s to peak releases of 1800 m3/s. The flood resulted from a confluence of extreme meteorological conditions—record rainfall across Syria and Türkiye, combined with rapid snowmelt in the Turkish highlands—and dam operations, including the first opening of the Atatürk Dam spillway gates in seven years and the first opening of the Euphrates Dam floodgates in approximately four decades. While the 2026 event was moderate by historical standards (smaller than the 1969 flood and the 1988 flood of 2760 m3/s at Husaybah), the opening of the Euphrates Dam floodgates after approximately 40 years was unprecedented in the post-dam era. This paper synthesizes available data on the event’s causes, impacts, and implications for transboundary water management, drawing on official statements from Syrian, Turkish, and Iraqi authorities as well as hydrological literature and multiple language sources. The analysis places the 2026 event within the broader context of the Euphrates River’s hydrological history, examining both historical flooding events and the multi-decadal drought patterns that have characterized the basin over the past century. The paper also identifies institutional instability in Syria’s water sector following the 2024 political transition as a potential contributing factor deserving investigation, while acknowledging that direct causal evidence remains limited. Based on these findings, the paper recommends improved transboundary coordination, infrastructure upgrades, and—subject to further investigation of the institutional hypothesis—reconstitution of Syria’s water management technical capacity to ensure future hydrological resilience.
This study aimed to determine the acute dietary toxicity and Maximum Allowable Concentration (MAC) of selenium (Se-NPs) and iron (Fe-NPs) nanoparticles for the ragworm (Hediste diversicolor). This worm is a critical live feed source in sturgeon aquaculture, directly influencing the health and growth of larvae and juveniles. However, the safe dietary levels of these nanoparticles for the ragworm itself, and consequently the risk of trophic transfer to sturgeon, remain unknown. Determining safe dietary levels of nanoparticles in this organism is therefore essential for ensuring the safety of the entire sturgeon feed chain. Worms were exposed to six concentrations (0, 100 μg/kg, 1, 10, 100 mg/kg, and 1 g/kg diet) of each nanoparticle for 96 h in three replicates. Throughout the experiment, aeration was provided, and worm behavior was monitored. Cumulative mortality was recorded at 24, 48, 72, and 96-h intervals. Data were recorded in Microsoft Office Excel 2019, and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software (Version 26). Data were analyzed by Probit analysis with a 95% confidence level. The LC10, LC50, and LC90 values for Se-NPs were calculated to be 291.2, 989.8, and 1690 mg/kg, respectively. For Fe-NPs, these values were 924.3, 3300, and 5700 mg/kg, respectively. Using a standard Safety Factor (SF) of 10, the calculated MAC are 98.98 mg/kg for Se-NPs and 330.0 mg/kg for Fe-NPs. This study establishes critical toxicity thresholds for Se-NPs and Fe-NPs in ragworm. The findings provide essential data for developing safe feeding protocols in sturgeon aquaculture, helping to prevent potential nanoparticle toxicity transfer through contaminated live feed and ensuring sustainable sturgeon production.
