Antiseptic and herbal soaps labeled as antibacterial are widely available in Sri Lanka, yet their antimicrobial efficacy against skin pathogens is not well documented. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of eight selected soap samples, including two widely available commercial brands, two doctor-prescribed antiseptic soaps, and four herbal soaps, against selected skin pathogens. Agar well diffusion and broth dilution assays were used to measure antibacterial activity and determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values. Test organisms included a common skin pathogen Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), as well as Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 700603) known to be associated with skin infections in immunocompromised people. Among these, only S. aureus revealed zones of inhibition (ZOI) in the agar diffusion assay against all tested soap samples. Antiseptic soaps prescribed by physicians exhibited maximum antibacterial activity with the highest ZOI (15 ± 1.0 mm), while herbal soaps revealed comparatively less activity, with the lowest zone of (9.2 ± 0.3 mm) at the concentration of 150 mg/mL. The MIC values for P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae ranged from 25 to 100 mg/mL, while those for S. aureus ranged from 12.5 to 50 mg/mL. In broth dilution tests, all soap samples demonstrated both bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity, indicating their potential role in controlling skin infections caused by these pathogens. However, Further studies are needed to evaluate their efficacy against a broader range of microorganisms responsible for skin-related infections.

In an attempt to control the coronavirus, governments worldwide imposed lockdown measures, yet the consequences on productivity income for microeconomic policy were not clearly known, especially in developing countries. This study examined the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the productivity and income of Nigerian households under strict lockdown during 2020 using a cross-section based online survey. Participants were sampled from Nigeria’s geopolitical zones via a snowball sampling method. A total of 467 household data were utilized for the analysis. Descriptive statistics, hierarchical and stepwise regression models were applied to the data. Results show that the COVID-19 lockdown negatively affected productivity by 71.3% and income by 58.2%. Younger populations were more affected (β = -0.159, p<0.05) as well as people with marital responsibilities (β = 0.617, p<0.05). The global pandemic had negative consequences on the productivity of young populations. The reducing effect of the pandemic on income had the potential to add a greater burden to the household welfare of family people. This study provides an empirical insight into the microeconomic effect of a pandemic on households in developing nations.

Limestone core samples from Igumale-1 and Igumale-2 wells, Central Benue Trough, Nigeria were petrographically studied in detail to determine their paleo-depositional environment and diagenetic history. Petrographic examination of the limestone shows that the limestone comprised monocrystalline quartz, ferroan calcite (3-15 %), peloids (3-20 %), ooids (7-10 %), micrite (33-48 %) and sparites (10-50 %). Fossil fragments consist of foraminifera and gastropods (17-57%), and suggest subtidal to shallow marine environment. Four sedimentary facies (oobiosparite, biosparite, biopelmicrite, and biomicrite) were recorded and characterised by moldic and vuggy porosity. This study has provided a petrographic synopsis of the limestone for further consideration and may impact both the exploration and development of the limestone deposit.

Nutritional assessment of processed fish is needed to ensure that such products sold in the local communities are safe for human consumption. Present study aimed at evaluating the nutritional quality of selected catfishes, namely, Clarias gariepinus, Heterobranchus spp and Synodontis spp from Abinsi and Wadata fish markets in Benue State, Nigeria. Samples of smoked catfish each weighing approximately 500 g were sourced from Abinsi and Wadata fish markets, and packaged using foil paper and polythene bags. The smoked fish samples were analysed to determine organoleptic qualities, proximate and mineral composition. The results of the study revealed a significant (p<0.05) variation in proximate and mineral composition of the three smoked catfishes between the two markets. The percentage moisture content for the three species of catfish ranged from 8.19 ± 0.031 to 10.34 ± 0.035%. Synodontis spp. from Abinsi market had the least moisture content (8.19 ± 0.031%) while Heterobranchus spp. from Wadata market had the highest moisture content (10.34 ± 0.035%). Protein content of the three species ranged from 55.80 ± 0.060 to 68.97 ± 0.125%. C. gariepinus from Wadata market had the highest protein content (68.97 ± 0.125%). The lipid content of the fish ranged from 10.37 ± 0.023 to 22.68 ± 0.035. The most abundant mineral was Potassium (K) and was more abundant in C. gariepinus from Wadata market which had the highest K content (410.15 ± 0.895 mg/100 g). Heterobranchus spp. had the highest Calcium (Ca) content (395.48 ± 0.499 mg/100 g), Sodium (Na) (39.84 ± 0.045 mg/100 g) and Zinc (Zn) (0.80 ± 0.015 mg/100 g) while the highest concentration (12.0 ± 0.093 mg/100 g) of Iron (Fe) was recorded in Synodontis spp. The concentrations of Cu, Zn, and Fe in the three species across the markets were well above WHO permissible limits of 20-30 ppm, 30-100 ppm and 50-100 ppm respectively. The smoked catfishes retained good scores for taste, appearance, texture, and odour. However, there was significant (p < 0.05) differences in taste, appearance, texture, and odour for Heterobranchus spp., C. gariepinus and Synodontis spp in Abinsi and Wadata markets.

One of the biological components that play a vital role in the ecological integrity of an aquatic ecosystem is zooplankton. These organisms are good indicators of stressors, especially anthropogenic stressors in their environment. Thus, there is a need to study the diversity in a diversified freshwater lake (Dangana Lake) in order to provide baseline information and knowledge on the status of the lake for proper and adequate water preservation and conservation. In addition to the zooplankton structure determination, the study also examined the physicochemical parameters of the Lake. Three sampling sites were identified with distinct characteristics where water and zooplankton samples were collected for physicochemical analyses and biotic identification using standard protocols. Sampling was conducted for a duration of eight months. The monitored physicochemical parameters, i.e., temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) and pH revealed no significant difference (p>0.05) among sampling sites. However, significance (p<0.05) amongst sampling sites was recorded in electrical conductivity, nitrate and phosphate. Seasonally, there was a significant difference (p<0.05) among sampling months in all the monitored parameters. A total of ten species of zooplankton were recorded with four species each of rotifera and copepoda and two species of cladocera. The order of abundance of zooplankton population was rotifera (56.39%), copepoda (29.18%) and cladocera (14.42%). Zooplankton population was significantly (p<0.05) higher during the dry season than in the rainy season. The Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) revealed a strong correlation between the zooplankton and physicochemical parameters. Ipso-facto, the lake exhibited spatiotemporal changes in zooplankton composition and physicochemical parameters during the sampling period.

Mammalian guard hairs have been used for their identification and have been proved useful in wildlife population surveys and trafficking. The qualitative and quantitative features of the dorsal guard hairs of four non-human primates (NHPs) from Shasha Forest Reserve were studied using standard procedures to determine their differences. The NHPs were mona (MM), putty-nosed (PNM), and white-throated (WTM) monkeys, and red-capped mangabey (RCM). The qualitative features determined were medulla pattern, and structure, scale margin distance and type, and scale pattern. The quantitative values studied were scale length and width, shaft diameter (μm), medulla diameter, and medulla index and fraction. Continuous medulla pattern was the only qualitative feature common to all the species. The MM hair had the highest recorded values for all morphological characteristics except shaft diameter and scale width in which PNM had the highest value of 323.00 ± 58.37 and 630.55 ± 213.95μm respectively. The medullary diameter, index and fraction, and shaft diameter were highly significant (P<0.001) among all the species. Post-hoc comparison showed that the medullary diameter, index, and fraction of hairs of the MM was significantly different (P≤0.001) from the other three NPHs. The shaft diameter of the MM was also significantly different from that of the PNM (P≤0.001), and WTM (P≤0.004). The scale width of RCM differed from PNM (P≤0.01), and WTM (P≤0.05). These empirically established morphological differences in guard hairs of the four NHPs in SFR would be useful in verifying their habitat occupancy and forensic evidence in case of illegal trafficking.

Ruhuna Journal of Science (RJS) is a multidisciplinary Science Journal published by the Faculty of Science, University of Ruhuna. It welcomes articles resulting from original research work covering many areas in Pure and Applied Sciences, and Technology, and scientific articles with interdisciplinary focus.Ruhuna Journal of Science is indexed in Web of Science (Master Journal List/ Zoological Records), and included on DOAJ and World Catalogue of Scientific Journals (WCOSJ).To submit your manuscript please go to http://rjs.ruh.ac.lk/index.php/rjs/indexCover Page ImageYala (යාල) National Park is the most visited and second largest national park in Sri Lanka, bordering the Indian Ocean. It is situated in the southeast region of the country with 124 km distance towards east from University of Ruhuna. Including Sri Lankan elephant, 44 species of mammals are resident in Yala National Park, and it has one of the highest leopard densities in the world. Shown in the cover image is the Patanangala, a rock outcrop in the Yala beach.Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yala_National_Park

Ruhuna Journal of Science (RJS) is a multidisciplinary Science Journal published by the Faculty of Science, University of Ruhuna. It welcomes articles resulting from original research work covering many areas in Pure and Applied Sciences, and Technology, and scientific articles with interdisciplinary focus.Ruhuna Journal of Science is indexed in Web of Science (Master Journal List/ Zoological Records), and included on DOAJ and World Catalogue of Scientific Journals (WCOSJ).To submit your manuscript please go to http://rjs.ruh.ac.lk/index.php/rjs/index

In this study, the Lagrange’s equations of motion for a 2D double spring-pendulum with a time-dependent spring extension have been derived and solved approximately. The resulting equations are also solved numerically using Maple, and plots of motion for the pendulum bobs m1 and m2 are presented and compared. It was observed that motion along the x-axis is characterized by sine wave function while motion along y-axis is characterized by cosine wave function with slightly changing amplitudes. Change in stiffness constant, angle of deflection, mass of pendulum bob and spring length were found to have significant effect on the dynamics of the double spring-pendulum. The periodic and chaotic behaviour noticed in this study is consistent with current literature on spring-pendulum systems. Keywords: Lagrange equations, double spring-pendulum.

Unregulated harvesting and habitat degradation of marine gastropods are major anthropogenic activities done by the local people in Barangay Day-asan, Surigao City, Philippines. This study was undertaken to determine the diversity of marine gastropods found in the intertidal of Dapya Island. Collection of specimens was done through hand picking and beachcombing methods in the three established study stations. Data revealed a total of 184 individuals belonging to 37 species in 5 orders, 15 families and 25 genera. The order Neogastropoda obtained the highest number of species with 15 species, followed by order Mesogastropoda with 10 species, order Archaeogastropoda with 7 species, order Neritopsina with 4 species and order Caenogastropoda. Among the 37 species, Nerita undata was the most abundant. Shannon-Weiner diversity index revealed that station 2 (H=1.193) obtained the highest species diversity, followed by station 3 (H= 1.103) and station 1 (H=1.063). The Bray-Curtis analysis of species composition showed two different clusters of habitat. Cluster 1 is composed of two related habitats joined by Stations 1 and 2 with Si= 54.26% and cluster 2 composed of Stations 3 and 1 with Si= 40.65%. Furthermore, among the 37 species, six of which were concordant in all study stations viz., Angaria delphinus, Astralium calcar, Conus miles, Lambis lambis, Euprotomus bulla and Canarium labiatum. The results of the study showed a low diversity of intertidal gastropods in Barangay Day-asan. The area is known to be the most gleaned by locals and it is been already disturbed due to overharvesting of gastropod species.