Biological control potential of North West Himalayan strains of heterorhabditid nematodes against the turnip moth, Agrotis segetum (Denis & Schiffermuller) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Himachal Pradesh is a northern state of India and is situated to the southern of the mighty Himalaya. The agro-climatic conditions are conducive for the production of off-season vegetables. Biological control by entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) is one of the alternatives to manage the turnip moth, Agrotis segetum (Denis & Schiffermuller) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). The present study was, therefore, undertaken with the objective to assess the virulence of local EPN isolates from Himachal Pradesh, Heterorhabditis sp., against pests to minimize the use of insecticides during crop protection. Against L3–L5 of A. segetum, Heterorhabditis indica was found highly effective, resulting in 33.33–93.33% mortality at 40 infective juveniles (IJs)/larva after 96 h of treatment. Among local isolates, Heterorhabditis sp. (HSG) influenced maximum mortality of L3 and L4, whereas in L5, H. bacteriophora (HRJ) influenced maximum mortality. The sensitivity of L3 to different EPNs was (7.0–16.6%) higher than that of L4. In soil bioassay carried out against L4 of A. segetum, H. bacteriophora (HRJ) was found highly effective, followed by Heterorhabditis sp. (HKM) and Heterorhabditis sp. (HSG) at 10,000 IJs/kg of soil. The mortality varied from 78.33 to 81.67% with local isolates after 7 days of treatment. The results suggested that EPNs can be used as one of the components for managing A. segetum under field and greenhouse conditions to reduce over dependence on insecticides

On b-chromatic Number of Prism Graph Families

A b-coloring of graph is a proper -coloring that verifies the following property: for every color class , 1≤≤, there exists a vertex , with color , such that all the other colors in are utilized in neighbors. The b-chromatic number of a graph , denoted by (), is the largest integer such that may have a b-coloring by colors. In this paper we discuss the b-coloring of prism graph , central graph of prism graph (), middle graph of prism graph () and the total graph of prism graph () and we obtain the b-chromatic number for these graphs

Pathogenicity of Heterorhabditis nematodes isolated from north-western Himalaya against the larvae of Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

The efficacy of three entomopathogenic nematodes (Heterorhabditis spp.), from north western Himalaya, India was studied against the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), under laboratory conditions. The larvae were exposed to 10, 20, 30 and 40 infective juveniles (IJs) of each nematode species for different time periods and they were found to be susceptible to all the EPNs tested. However, the susceptibility of larvae to nematode infection varied according to the dosages of IJs and their exposure periods. The efficacy of these indigenous entomopathogenic nematodes was also evaluated against the commercially available entomopathogenic nematode H. indica. An indigenous isolate, H. bacteriophora (HRJ), along with the commercial isolate H. indica recorded 100.0% mortality of insect larvae in 96 h exposure time against third instar larvae of P. xylostella. However, it was noticed that with the advancement of larval stage its mortality rate reduces and vice versa with the exposure period. All the tested nematode species were also found to reproduce within the host and produced infective juveniles. In conclusion, the evidence obtained in this study suggests that all the three indigenous EPN species are virulent enough to produce 100% mortality of larvae of P. xylostella. These EPN species thus have potential for the management of P. xylostella under integrated management practices

Status of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in knee osteoarthritis among type 2-diabetic postmenopausal women

Background: Knee osteoarthritis is the most common form of joint disorder and a leading cause of pain and functional disability among elderly female population.  Type 2-diabetes is frequently reported comorbidity in elderly female patients with knee osteoarthritis. VCAM-1 is emerging as a strong and independent predictor for severe osteoarthritis. VCAM-1 is an inducible cell surface sialo glycoprotein and mediates heterotypic cellular aggregation. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess the role of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 at the onset of knee osteoarthritis among type 2 diabetic postmenopausal women.Methods: The present study includes 100 type 2-diabetic female subjects of age above 50 years as cases and 100 normal healthy female age matched individuals as controls. Osteoarthritis of knee was ascertained using the American college of rheumatology classification criteria. Serum soluble VCAM-1 concentration was measured by ELISA method in all 200 subjects. Biochemical parameters-Fasting blood sugar and lipid profile were measured using Mind ray BS-400 and HbA1c was measured by turbidimetric immunoassay method. Statistical analysis was made by student independent sample t-test. Correlation was determined by using spearman’s rank correlation coefficient.Results: Serum level of soluble VCAM-1 was found statistically highly significant (p<0.001) in type 2 diabetic postmenopausal women having early stage of knee osteoarthritis as compared to control healthy subjects. The mean levels of fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, total cholesterol, TG, LDL-C and VLDL-C were also found significantly increased while HDL-C was found significantly decreased in cases as compared to controls.Conclusions: The increased level of soluble VCAM-1 in type 2 diabetic subjects shows active inflammation or cartilage damage. Therefore, it can be used as an early biomarker for osteoarthritis among type 2 diabetic postmenopausal women

Genotype By Environment Interaction and Stability Analysis for Maize Hybrids in North Western Himalayas Ecology

Genotype (G) x Environment (E) interaction of 25 medium maturity maize hybrids tested at three environments inNorth-Western Himalayas was analyzed to identify stable high yielding hybrids for mid-hill conditions. The G x Einteraction was studied using different stability statistics viz; Additive main effects and multiplicative interaction(AMMI), AMMI stability value (ASV), rank-sum (RS), and yield stability index (YSI). Combined analysis of varianceshows that genotype, environment, and G x E interaction is highly significant. This indicated the possibility of selectionof stable genotypes across the environments. The results of the AMMI analysis showed that the first two principalcomponents (PC1-PC2) were highly significant (P<0.05). The partitioning of TSS (total sum of squares) exhibitedthat the environment effect was a predominant source of variation followed by genotypes and G×E interaction,suggesting the possible existence of different environmental groups. The first two interaction principal componentaxis (IPCA) cumulatively explained 82.87% of the total interaction effect. The study revealed that G11 and G7 werefound to be stable based on all stability statistics and GGE biplot assessment. Based on GGE biplots, it is concludedthat E3 is the best environment for testing the hybrids for more extensive adaptability and E2 and E1 locations can beused to identify location-specific hybrids. Grain yield is positively and significantly correlated with rank-sum (RS)And yield stability index (YSI). The above-mentioned stability statistics could be useful for identification of stablehigh yielding genotypes, whereas, GGE biplots facilitated visual comparisons of high yielding genotypes acrossthe multi-environments

Persistence and decontamination of insecticide residues in polyhouse grown capsicum (Capsicum annuum)

The persistence and dietary intake of deltamethrin, endosulfan and malathion residues from coloured capsicum (Capsicum annuum L. var. Orobelle) grown under open ventilated polyhouse, was assessed after following common culinary processes. Each insecticide was applied at two concentrations, i.e. the recommended (single dose) and double the recommended doses. Insecticide residues were extracted using acetone and cleaned up over charcoal and Florisil columns. The determination and quantification of insecticide residues were done by using gas chromatograph equipped with ECD. The application of single dose, i.e. deltamethrin (0.0028%), endosulfan (0.05%) and malathion (0.05%) resulted in initial deposits of 0.667, 3.900 and 2.026 mg/kg; whereas, 0.937, 5.694 and 4.078 mg/kg at double dose, respectively, on capsicum fruits. The RL50 values were worked out as 1.90-2.41 days for deltamethrin, 1.75-1.88 days for endosulfan and 1.83 days for both the doses of malathion. Fruits washing under tap water for 1 minute provided relief of 30.05-38.81, 23.58-37.52 and 25.0-27.64% from deltamethrin, endosulfan and malathion residues, respectively, upto 3rd day, irrespective of doses. However, steaming after washing of the fruits provided maximum decontamination from insecticide residues. The endosulfan treated capsicum fruit consumption as salad revealed an appreciable risk to the consumers till 3rd day, whereas, washing+steaming reduced the dietary risk to the day of insecticide application

LES investigation into the generation of momentum deficits in the supersonic wake of a micro-ramp

Implicitly implemented large eddy simulation (LES) with a fifth-order WENO scheme was conducted in this study. Based on Navier-Stokes equations, this LES was carried out to explore the origin of momentum deficit caused by a supersonic micro-ramp at flow conditions of M a = 2.5 and Re θ = 5760. The numerical results were validated through qualitative and quantitative comparisons with existing experimental data. After describing the aerodynamic properties of the supersonic wake, such as the deficit and the streamwise vortices, the momentum deficit was later detected to originate from the lower portion of the upstream boundary layer, while the high momentum fluid originated from close to the wall at the upper portion. Position alternation trigged by the micro-ramp was finally proposed as a revised mechanism

Mouse models for preeclampsia: disruption of redox-regulated signaling

The concept that oxidative stress contributes to the development of human preeclampsia has never been tested in genetically-defined animal models. Homozygous deletion of catechol-Omethyl transferase (Comt-/-) in pregnant mice leads to human preeclampsia-like symptoms (high blood pressure, albuminurea and preterm birth) resulting from extensive vasculo-endothelial pathology, primarily at the utero-fetal interface where maternal cardiac output is dramatically increased during pregnancy. Comt converts estradiol to 2-methoxyestradiol 2 (2ME2) which counters angiogenesis by depleting hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha) at late pregnancy. We propose that in wild type (Comt++) pregnant mice, 2ME2 destabilizes HIF-1 alpha by inhibiting mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (MnSOD). Thus, 2ME2 acts as a pro-oxidant, disrupting redox-regulated signaling which blocks angiogenesis in wild type (WT) animals in physiological pregnancy. Further, we suggest that a lack of this inhibition under normoxic conditions in mutant animals (Comt-/-) stabilises HIF-1 alpha by inactivating prolyl hydroxlases (PHD). We predict that a lack of inhibition of MnSOD, leading to persistent accumulation of HIF-1 alpha, would trigger inflammatory infiltration and endothelial damage in mutant animals. Critical tests of this hypothesis would be to recreate preeclampsia symptoms by inducing oxidative stress in WT animals or to ameliorate by treating mutant mice with Mn-SOD-catalase mimetics or activators of PHD

The potential of entomopathogens in biological control of white grubs

White grubs are highly polyphagous and most destructive soil pests inflicting damage to a wide variety of crops. In India, more than 1000 species of white grubs are known of which over 40 species attack wide range of plants. White grubs are naturally infected by various entomopathogens which include fungi, bacteria and nematodes. Entomopathogenic fungi offer great potential and members of genera Beauveria and Metarhizium are widely used against white grubs. Several commercial products of entomopathogenic fungi like Bio Green, ORY-X, Grub X 10G, Betel, Biotrol FMA and Meta-Guard have been developed for the control of white grubs. In India, good control of white grubs in paddy, ginger and sugarcane has been achieved with different entomofungi. Among EPNs, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora is moderately effective against Popillia japonica and Rhizotrogus majalis. H. indica and H. bacteriophora are effective against potato white grubs in India. Paenibacillus popilliae cause milky disease in P. japonica grubs. The bacterium is pathogenic to Holotrichia consanguinea, H. serrata and Leucopholis lepidophora. In north-western Himalaya, B. cereus is highly toxic to the grubs of H. seticollis and Anomala dimidiata