Urban Microclimate Impacts on Aedes Mosquitoes’ Life Cycle: A Concept Paper

Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are two types of Aedes spp. responsible for the spreading of dengue in urban settings. Over the years, dengue remained a significant public health concern due to its disease burden worldwide. Urban microclimate factors such as temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall have long been known to influence the increase or decrease of Aedes spp. density in urban settings due to their impact on the mosquitoes' life cycle. This concept paper intends to provide a conceptual framework for determining the impact of urban microclimate on the Aedes mosquito development life cycle in urban settings

Evaluating the growth and development of black soldier fly (BSF) (Hermetia illucens (L.) (DIPTERA: STRATIOMYIDAE) larvae reared on different agricultural waste materials

The black soldier fly (BSL), Hermetia illucens (L.), is a beneficial insect that helps manage high concentrations of animal manure and other biosolids in tropical and warm-temperate areas. Bioremediation with black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) can turn biosolids into high-value biomass (proteins, oils, lipids, and chitin). This study explored the effects of three agricultural wastes as feedstocks for the growth and development of BSFL. A total of 1000 7-day-old BSFLs were reared separately in containers containing either palm kernel extract (PKE), soybean waste (SW), or coconut milk waste (CMW). The effect of feeding substrate on larval growth and development was determined for ten days by daily measurements of the BSFL’s length and weight. BSFL reared on PKE substrate resulted in the highest mean length (22.67±2.31 mm) and weight growth (0.27±0.02 g), followed by BSFL reared on SW (length: 18.67±1.53 mm; weight: 0.20±0.02 g) and CMW (length: 18.33±0.58mm; weight: 0.15±0.01 g). Bioconversion rate of BSFL was also found to differ across treatments; BSFL reared on PKE grows and converts substrates twice as fast as those fed on SW or CMW. This work then examines the effects of several SW:PKE ratios (20:80; 80:20; 30:70; 70:30 and 50:50) on BSFL growth. The weight (0.28±0.04 g) and length (22.67±2.52 mm) of BSFL were highest when SW:PKE ratio of 80:20 is used. High content of SW resulted in a significant increase in BSFL length (6.76%-15.25%) and weight (23.54%-64.71%). Therefore, it can be concluded that substrate feed type has a substantial effect on BSFL’s growth and development

Association of Air Pollutant Index (API) on SARS-CoV-2 of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Malaysia

Abstract Malaysia reported its first COVID-19 case on January 25, 2020, and the cases have continued to grow, necessitating the implementation of additional measures. Hence, determining the factors responsible for the significant increase in COVID-19 cases is the top priority issue for the government to take necessary action and ultimately restrain this virus before the vaccine availability. Researchers had predicted that air pollution had an indirect relationship with COVID-19 in terms of virus infections. As a result, this study focuses on the link between the Air Pollutant Index (API) and COVID-19 infections. The initial data set consists of daily confirmed COVID-19 cases in Malaysia and API readings obtained from the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Department of the Environment (DOE). The results show that Klang (S22) recorded the highest mean of API which at 62.70 while the lowest is at Limbang (S37) (25.37). Next, due to the implementation of Movement Control Order (MCO) in Malaysia and reducing social movement, 27 stations recorded a good level of API compare to the stations that recorded moderate and unhealthy levels. There is positive relationship between API and COVID-19 at each of the region which are North 0.4% (R2=0.004), Central 2.1% (R2=0.021), South 0.04% (R2=0.0004), East 1.6% (R2=0.016), Sarawak 0.2% (R2=0.002), meanwhile Sabah recorded negative correlation at 4.3% (R2=0.043). To conclude, the API value did not have a strong relationship with the rising number of COVID-19 daily cases