Table of Contents: Volume 17; Issue 11; November 2025

This article re-examines the life and legacy of Tippu Tip (1832–1905) through three interrelated but underexplored dimensions: memory, cultural mediation, and environmental history. Drawing on oral traditions from the Swahili coast and the Congo Basin alongside European records, the study interrogates how Tippu Tip has been remembered across different cultural landscapes. It argues that Tippu Tip functioned not only as a commercial actor but also as a cultural mediator, diffusing Swahili-Islamic practices, reshaping identities, and bridging African, Arab, and European spheres of influence. Furthermore, the article highlights the ecological transformations precipitated by his ivory trade and large caravan networks, revealing the environmental consequences of precolonial globalization. By combining historiography, cultural analysis, and environmental perspectives, the study reframes Tippu Tip as a complex figure whose legacy exceeds the simplistic colonial portrayals of slave trading.

La conservation du maïs demeure un enjeu majeur en Guinée, où les pertes post récolte dues à Sitophiluszeamais peuvent dépasser 40 %, compromettant la sécurité alimentaire et la qualité des semences. Les insecticides de synthèse, bien qu’efficaces, posent des risques sanitaires et environnementaux, d’où l’intérêt croissant pour les biopesticides d’origine végétale comme le neem (Azadirachta indica). Cette étude conduite à Faranah avait pour objectif d’évaluer l’efficacité d’extraits de différentes parties du neem a été évaluée dans la protection des grains de maïs. Cinq traitements ont été comparés : un témoin positif (Sarsa-super, T0), les poudres de graines (T1), péricarpe des fruits (T2), feuilles (T3) et écorces (T4), appliquées sur 4 kg de maïs infesté artificiellement par 20 adultes de Sitophilus zeamais. Les observations ont porté sur la pureté, le taux d’infestation, la perte de poids, la mortalité des insectes et le pouvoir germinatif des graines. Les résultats montrent que les extraits de graines (T1) et de péricarpes (T2) ont significativement réduit les infestations (39 %) et les pertes de poids (0,1 %), tout en maintenant une pureté élevée (87 %) et un pouvoir germinatif comparable au témoin (89 %). Les extraits d’écorces (T4) ont été moins performants, probablement en raison d’une faible teneur en métabolites bioactifs. En conclusion, les extraits de neem, notamment ceux issus des grains (T1 et T2), représentent une alternative écologique, économique et durable aux insecticides chimiques pour la gestion post récolte du maïs, contribuant à la réduction des pertes et à la préservation de la qualité semencière.

Background: Recent research highlights the neuroinflammatory basis of Schizophrenia with an intrigue into biomarkers for schizophrenia. The involvement of immunological dysfunction in schizophrenic patients with a blunted type 1 (i.e., IL-2, gamma interferon, IL-12 and TNF-β) and an increased type 2 cytokine pattern (i.e., IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-13) has been seen. Aim: To assess the baseline immunological parameters in drug naïve patients of schizophrenia, compare the levels of interleukins-2,6 and 8 in patients on clozapine and risperidone at baseline, 6 weeks and 12 weeks and study their correlation with clinical response. Material and methods: It was a prospective, randomized, and comparative study. Patients with ICD 11 diagnosis of Schizophrenia were randomized to receive either clozapine or risperidone after baseline assessment of socio- demographic and clinical parameters, baseline blood investigations, immunoglobulins and estimation of interleukin (IL-2, 6 and 8) levels. Levels of interleukins were reassessed at 6 weeks and 12 weeks along with application of PANSS and Glasgow antipsychotic side effect check list. Results: 54 of 65 patients completed the study; 30 patients in clozapine group and 24 in risperidone group. A significant rise was seen in IL-2 levels over 12 weeks. There was decrease in IL-6 levels which correlated with the decrease in positive symptoms at week 12. IL-8 had a negative correlation with the general psychopathology score at week 6 which continued till week 12. Risperidone did not have a significant alteration in the interleukin levels over the 12 weeks. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the elevated cytokine levels (IL-6) at baseline in both clozapine and risperidone groups validate the inflammatory basis of schizophrenia and may be used as the state marker for schizophrenia.

The 2025 edition of the Dietary Reference Intakes for Japanese has raised the recommended vitamin D intake from 5.5 micrograms to 9.0 micrograms. The reason for this is that more and more people are taking measured to protect themselves from the sun on a daily basis, and also to prevent osteoporosis. Therefore, the goal of this study was to develop a new food product (disaster food or space food) using wood ear mushrooms, which are known to be high in vitamin D. First, we began by analyzing how much vitamin D and calcium wood ear mushrooms contain, and we report on this. We requested the Japan Food Research Laboratories, Nagoya branch. To measure the vitamin D and calcium contents of commercially available Chinese wood ear mushrooms and wood ear mushrooms cultivated using commercially available Japanese mushroom beds. As a result, the vitamin D content of commercially available wood ear mushrooms was 83.5 µg/100g, and the calcium content was 108mg/100g. The vitamin D content of cultivated wood ear mushrooms was below the detection limit (0.7 µg/100g or less), and the calcium content was 49.5mg/100g. Vitamin D is not only required to be taken together with calcium to prevent osteoporosis, but is also an important nutrient because it regulates immune function, inhibits cell proliferation and differentiation, and suppresses inflammation. However, this analysis has revealed that the foods we eat, thinking we are getting vitamin D, may actually contain no vitamin D or only trace amounts. In the development of future disaster and space food, it is necessary to clarify the nutritional analysis values of the wood ear mushrooms to be used before processing them into food.

This paper explores a comparative study of John Milton and Mirza Ghalib, two poetic giants who, despite belonging to distinct linguistic and cultural traditions, share a common spirit of rebellion and introspection. Through a close reading of Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained, and Deewan-e-Ghalib, this study investigates how both poets question divine authority, confront moral contradictions, and reinterpret religious dogma in light of human experience. While Milton’s Puritan worldview seeks to justify divine justice through reason and scripture, Ghalib’s Urdu poetry expresses an existential skepticism toward the same cosmic order. The analysis reveals how both poets transform theological discourse into a humanistic quest for freedom, positioning poetry as a dialogue between the finite and the infinite. The topic Comparative Literature in itself offers a broader range of research to a student who is willing to dig deep the intertextuality of literature. The comparisons more often lead to a new dimension of thought, explore hidden meaning and most importantly flourish the life in a text. As in the words of Julia Kristeva, “Any text is the absorption and transformation of another.” So, we can say literature is a process of dialogues and counter dialogue or a continuous reply of reply to the text. The stalwart of English literature of the Puritan age, John Milton (1608-1674), famously known for his masterpiece, ‘Paradise Lost’ and the Urdu literature poet Mirza Ghalib (1794-1869), both share the same kind of magnitude. When we study both the poets the grandeur, the diction, the style, the tone these poets have some magnificent impact on readers. In spite of having linguistic differences, cultural differences, religious differences their ideas are equivocally radical, phenomenal. It is not just an overnight conclusion but over the passing decades people looked upon their works and found it still majestic and stately. In the age of globalization when we study these writers closely we realize that humanity has just one race and that is humanity itself. We cannot make an analogy between the writers that how they appear same but on some context they almost react the same towards the society. In the case of John Milton when Europe was loaded with Puritan thoughts he dare to project the religious mythology in his own way, though we cannot fully understand the intention of the writer what he means by his text, the collective response was to him was a little different as William Blake argued that “he was of the Devil’s Party without knowing it. The radical views of John Milton is very much similar to Mirza Ghalib. Milton and Ghalib both belong to the same school of thought who ponder over the development of mankind. They both carry the responsibility of more a moral teacher. We can perceive the same pinch in Ghalib’s poetry, as he says, Humko Maloom hai Jannat ki Haqeeqat lekin Dil ke Khush Rakhne ko Ghalib yeh Khayal Achha hai… How Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib satirizes over the concept of heaven and even indirectly makes fun of it. The spirit of questioning over the Lordly sayings is as bitter as we find in Milton’s.

Work Stress is a challenge for banking industry as it can negatively affect job performance of employees. Work Stress may impair their ability to concentrate, make decisions, and handle complex tasks employees experience high levels of stress. This can lead to a decline in their productivity and job performance. When employees feel burned out, they may be more likely to take sick leave or seek employment elsewhere, impacting the continuity and stability of the workforce. High levels of work stress can contribute to increased absenteeism and higher turnover rates among employees. Banks rely heavily on providing quality customer service. The results of correlations and regression analysis revealed that there is negative correlations between work stress and job performance of the employees. Work stress is higher in private banks than in government banks. There was negative impact of work stress on job performance. If employees are stressed, they may become less patient, less empathetic, and less willing to go the extra mile to assist customers. This can have a negative impact on customer satisfaction and loyalty. Therefore, it is important to minimise the impact of work stress on the job performance of employees through proper training and development and maintaing the conducive working environment in public and private sector banks.