Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are among the most ecologically influential terrestrial invertebrates, playing major roles in soil modification, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem regulation. In coastal ecosystems, where environmental conditions are highly dynamic, ant nesting behavior reflects strong adaptive responses to abiotic and biotic factors. This review synthesizes current knowledge on ant nest architecture, spatial distribution, ecological roles, and their significance as bioindicators in coastal habitats. Special attention is given to environmental drivers such as soil texture, salinity, moisture, vegetation cover, and tidal influence that shape nesting patterns. The review also integrates conceptual frameworks and discusses how ant colonies respond to anthropogenic disturbances. Overall, ants are highlighted as ecosystem engineers and reliable indicators of coastal ecosystem health.

Keywords: Ant nests, coastal ecosystem, bioindicator, soil ecology, spatial distribution, Formicidae.

Gregor Mendel conducted a series of hybridization experiments on the garden pea, Pisum sativum, to elucidate the mechanisms of heredity. For his studies, he selected seven pairs of contrasting traits, each occurring in alternative forms. Crosses involving any single pair of traits are known as monohybrid crosses, while those in which two or three pairs of traits were followed simultaneously are termed dihybrid and trihybrid crosses, respectively. Mendel tracked these crosses for two generations, meticulously recording the number of progeny phenotypes during each stage. He observed that these traits followed a predictable pattern: the F1 generation expressed only one of the parental phenotypes, whereas the F2 generation saw the reappearance of all parental traits in specific, predictable ratios. Based on these observations, he postulated the fundamental laws of heredity: the Law of Dominance, the Law of Segregation, and the Law of Independent Assortment. This review paper explains these laws and their corresponding ratios using principles of probability. Furthermore, it provides a historical account of similar experiments carried out by Mendel’s predecessors, evaluating their merits and shortcomings to examine how they ultimately helped Mendel formulate his pioneering concepts that later laid the foundation of classical genetics.

Keywords: Alleles, dominance, independent assortment, Mendelian laws, Mendelian ratios, Product rule, segregation

Chronic inflammatory diseases, including cardiovascular disorders, metabolic syndrome, autoimmune diseases, cancer, and neurodegenerative conditions, are driven largely by continuous activation of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signalling. While NF-κB is recognized as a transcription factor regulating immune and inflammatory gene expression, emerging evidence demonstrates that NF-κB activity is tightly controlled through epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin remodelling, and non-coding RNA regulation. Dietary polyphenols have gained increasing attention as epigenetic modulators of this NF-κB signalling pathway. This review focuses on current advances in understanding how dietary polyphenols including resveratrol, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), quercetin, genistein, fisetin, luteolin, and epicatechin regulate inflammatory signalling through epigenetic reprogramming. These compounds influence DNA methyltransferases, histone acetyltransferases, histone deacetylases, Silent Information Regulator T1(SIRT1) activation, and microRNA networks, ultimately reducing NF-κB p65 acetylation, suppressing transcriptional activation of pro-inflammatory genes, and restoring immune homeostasis. Evidence from experimental studies reveal the potential of these polyphenols in managing chronic inflammatory disorders like atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, and neuroinflammatory disorders. Despite promising insights, translational challenges remain, including limited bioavailability, variability in metabolism, optimal dosing strategies, and potential epigenome-wide effects. Future studies integrating nutrigenomics, epigenomics, systems biology, and clinical trials are required to validate polyphenol-based interventions. Targeting the NF-κB–epigenetic axis is an innovative strategy for precision therapeutics and management of chronic inflammatory diseases through dietary and nutraceutical approaches.

NF-κB; Epigenetic regulation; Nutraceutical polyphenols; Chronic inflammation; DNA methylation; Histone modification.

Ebola virus disease, formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a zoonotic viral infection affecting humans and non-human primates. The incubation period spans from two days to three weeks post-infection. Historically, Ebola outbreaks exhibit a case fatality rate ranging from 25% to 90%, with a mean mortality rate of approximately 50%. A new Ebola outbreak emerged during the last week of April 2026. However, early infections are theorized to have begun as early as February 2026 in the town of Mongbwalu. Since then, imported cases from Ituri have been reported in both North Kivu Province and Uganda’s capital, Kampala. On May 21, 2026, a case in South Kivu was epidemiologically linked to Tshopo Province. The ongoing Ebola outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus. This specific virus has caused only two recorded outbreaks in the past: the first in the Bundibugyo district of Uganda during 2007–2008, from which the virus derives its name, and the second in Isiro, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), in 2012. As of June 26, 2026, a total of 1,138 confirmed Ebola cases and 293 deaths have been reported across the DRC and Uganda with a case fatality rate of 25.7%.

Keywords: Bundibugyo virus disease, Ebola outbreaks, healthcare preparedness Orthoebolavirus.

The present study evaluated the effect of 27 different Mineral Salt Medium-Lignin (MSM-L) formulations on the biomass production and sporulation of two laccase-producing Aspergillus species, Aspergillus nomiae and Aspergillus niger. Laccase activity was confirmed using the guaiacol plate assay, demonstrating the ligninolytic potential of both species. Furthermore, optimization of culture medium composition for enhanced growth and sporulation was carried out. The findings indicate that these two Aspergillus species may serve as promising candidates for laccase production and other biotechnological applications involving lignin degradation and bioremediation.

Keywords: Aspergillus nomiae, Aspergillus niger, fungal growth, laccase, lignin degradation, mineral salt medium.

This study explores the intricate relationship between home environment and personality traits among higher secondary school students. Over recent decades, research has increasingly recognized the home environment as a pivotal factor influencing a child's educational and cognitive development, as well as their overall personality. This study aims to fill a gap in understanding how these dimensions interact during a critical phase of adolescent growth. The primary objectives of the study are to assess the personality traits of students and evaluate their home environments, as well as to analyse the correlation between these two variables. The sample comprised fifty higher secondary school students, evenly divided between boys and girls, each contributing unique perspectives to the study. The data collection employed a two-pronged approach: a structured questionnaire to gauge the home environment and a standardized personality assessment tool to evaluate personality traits. The results indicate notable differences in how various family atmospheres influence the development of personality traits among adolescent boys and girls. The analysis revealed that 58% of the selected students were introverts, 22% were ambiverts, and 20% were extroverts. In addition, 86% demonstrated emotional stability, whereas 14% exhibited neurotic personality characteristics. The findings of this study call for a collaborative effort among families, schools, and communities to create supportive environments that foster healthy personality development.

Keywords: Behaviour problems, emotional stability, home environment, neuroticism, personality trait.

Galls are distinct structures formed as a result of interactions between host plants and gall-inducing insects. Gall inducers manipulate host plant physiology by altering the biochemical signalling pathways of the plant. The present study aims to find the ontogenetic changes in phytohormones, such as salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA), during gall development induced by Phacopteron lentiginosum on the leaves of Garuga pinnata. Galls with 3rd, 4th and 5th instars of the gall inducer were collected and the concentrations of SA and JA were analysed. Both phytohormones varied significantly across the developmental stages of galls. The highest concentrations of SA (147.67 ± 0.58 µg ml⁻¹) and JA (676.58 ± 25.48 µg ml⁻¹) were recorded in galls containing 3rd instar nymphs, followed by a decline in 4th and 5th stages of galls. Elevated SA and JA levels during early gall induction suggest a synergistic host plant defence mechanism, whereas their subsequent decline may be associated with gall development and maintenance. This study highlights the role of SA and JA in mediating insect–plant interactions.

Keywords: Cecidogenesis, gall inducer, Garuga pinnata, jasmonic acid, Phacopteron lentiginosum, plant-insect interactions, salicylic acid.

Curd, a traditional fermented dairy product, harbours a diverse bacterial community that contributes to its nutritional and functional properties. The present study was undertaken to isolate a beneficial bacterial strain, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, from curd and to evaluate its antimicrobial properties. The findings suggest that Bacillus amyloliquefaciens possesses significant antibacterial and antifungal activities, indicating its potential application in food preservation and in the development of natural antimicrobial agents.

Keywords: Antibacterial activity, antifungal activity, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Gram staining.