Facile fabrication of thin metal oxide films on porous carbon for high density charge storage

In an effort to minimize the usage of non-renewable materials and to enhance the functionality of the renewable materials, we have developed thin metal oxide coated porous carbon derived from a highly abundant non-edible bio resource, i.e., palm kernel shell, using a one-step activation-coating procedure and demonstrated their superiority as a supercapacitive energy storage electrode. In a typical experiment, an optimized composition contained ~10 wt.% of Mn2O3 on activated carbon (AC); a supercapacitor electrode fabricated using this electrode showed higher rate capability and more than twice specific capacitance than pure carbon electrode and could be cycled over 5000 cycles without any appreciable capacity loss in 1 M Na2SO4 electrolyte. A symmetric supercapacitor prototype developed using the optimum electrode showed nearly four times higher energy density than the pure carbon owing to the enhancements in voltage window and capacitance. A lithium ion capacitor fabricated in half-cell configuration using 1 M LiPF6 electrolyte showed larger voltage window, superior capacitance and rate capability in the ~10 wt.% Mn2O3@AC than the pure analogue. These results demonstrate that the current protocol allows fabrication of superior charge storing electrodes using renewable materials functionalized by minimum quantity of earthborn materials

Global Climate Change and Invariable Photoperiods: A Mismatch That Jeopardizes Animal fitness

The Earth\u27s surface temperature is rising, and precipitation patterns throughout the Earth are changing; the source of these shifts is likely anthropogenic in nature. Alterations in temperature and precipitation have obvious direct and indirect ef‐ fects on both plants and animals. Notably, changes in temperature and precipita‐ tion alone can have both advantageous and detrimental consequences depending on the species. Typically, production of offspring is timed to coincide with optimal food availability; thus, individuals of many species display annual rhythms of reproductive function. Because it requires substantial time to establish or re‐establish reproduc‐ tive function, individuals cannot depend on the arrival of seasonal food availability to begin breeding; thus, mechanisms have evolved in many plants and animals to monitor and respond to day length in order to anticipate seasonal changes in the environment. Over evolutionary time, there has been precise fine‐tuning of critical photoperiod and onset/offset of seasonal adaptations. Climate change has provoked changes in the availability of insects and plants which shifts the timing of optimal reproduction. However, adaptations to the stable photoperiod may be insufficiently plastic to allow a shift in the seasonal timing of bird and mammal breeding. Coupled with the effects of light pollution which prevents these species from determining day length, climate change presents extreme evolutionary pressure that can result in se‐ vere deleterious consequences for individual species reproduction and survival. This review describes the effects of climate change on plants and animals, defines photo‐ period and the physiological events it regulates, and addresses the consequences of global climate change and a stable photoperiod

Randomized Clinical Trial of High-Dose Rifampicin With or Without Levofloxacin Versus Standard of Care for Pediatric Tuberculous Meningitis: The TBM-KIDS Trial

Background. Pediatric tuberculous meningitis (TBM) commonly causes death or disability. In adults, high-dose rifampicin may reduce mortality. The role of fluoroquinolones remains unclear. There have been no antimicrobial treatment trials for pediatric TBM. Methods. TBM-KIDS was a phase 2 open-label randomized trial among children with TBM in India and Malawi. Participants received isoniazid and pyrazinamide plus: (i) high-dose rifampicin (30 mg/kg) and ethambutol (R30HZE, arm 1); (ii) high-dose rifampicin and levofloxacin (R30HZL, arm 2); or (iii) standard-dose rifampicin and ethambutol (R15HZE, arm 3) for 8 weeks, followed by 10 months of standard treatment. Functional and neurocognitive outcomes were measured longitudinally using Modified Rankin Scale (MRS) and Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL). Results. Of 2487 children prescreened, 79 were screened and 37 enrolled. Median age was 72 months; 49%, 43%, and 8% had stage I, II, and III disease, respectively. Grade 3 or higher adverse events occurred in 58%, 55%, and 36% of children in arms 1, 2, and 3, with 1 death (arm 1) and 6 early treatment discontinuations (4 in arm 1, 1 each in arms 2 and 3). By week 8, all children recovered to MRS score of 0 or 1. Average MSEL scores were significantly better in arm 1 than arm 3 in fine motor, receptive language, and expressive language domains (P < .01). Conclusions. In a pediatric TBM trial, functional outcomes were excellent overall. The trend toward higher frequency of adverse events but better neurocognitive outcomes in children receiving high-dose rifampicin requires confirmation in a larger trial. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT02958709

Review Seasonality and management of stone weevil, Aubeus himalayanus Voss (Curculionidae: Coleoptera): An emerging pest of Indian Jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana L.)

The ber (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamarck) is an important fruit crop grown in arid and semi arid regions of India and elsewhere. Nutritionally, the fruits are rich in protein, phosphorus, calcium, carotene and vitamin C. In India, productivity tends to be low because of various biotic stresses such as pests and diseases. Of the various insect pests infesting ber, the stone weevil Aubeus himalayanus Voss (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a new threat to ber cultivation in India. This was recorded as a new pest of ber in India for the first time in the state of Andhra Pradesh in 1994. Serious attacks were later reported in Rahuri, Maharashtra and Jobner, in 1996, and in Karnataka during 1998. Recently, infestations of this pest were reported in Bikaner and Rajasthan in 2010 and in Bangladesh in 2009. The females lay their eggs on the stylar end of fruits, or rarely on the distal end. The newly emerged white coloured grubs enter the seeds by making a puncture in the endocarp of the immature fruits, and starts feeding on the soft seed coat. Later it enters the endosperm, feeds on it, and pupates within the seed. The weevil completes its life within a single fruit. The infestation results in severe fruit drop at the initial stage of fruit set. The damage intensity of the stone weevil varies with cultivars; stoned varieties are preferred more than the pulp rich varieties. Periodical monitoring of orchards for weevil incidence is essential for timely implementation of control strategies. Delayed detection makes management difficult as they enter the seed

Eco-friendly Management of Leaf Webber and Capsule Borer (Antigastra catalaunalis Duponchel) Menace in Sesame

Not AvailableSesame leaf webber and capsule borer (Antigastra catalaunalis) is one of the divesting pests of sesame in India. It starts to attack the crop from seeding stage continues till maturity of pod and almost damages all the plant parts (shoot, leaf, flower and pod). Under severe attacks at early stage of crop may cause complete failure of crop especially in rain fed areas. Mostly the pest is managed through application of synthetic chemicals. Sole reliance on synthetic chemicals will results in high cost of production, effects on non-targets and health hazards. In this paper, some of the eco-friendly strategies are recommended which could help to prevent and manage this pest successfully rather than control.Not Availabl

Host plant resistance against sesame leaf webber and capsule borer, Antigastra catalaunalis Duponchel (Pyraustidae: Lepidoptera)

A study was conducted to identify a resistance source against sesame leaf webber and capsule borer, Antigastra catalaunalis (Dup.) among 43 sesame genotypes under field and laboratory conditions. The reaction of genotypes was categorized using 0 to 9 scoring methodology. The genotypes KMR 14 and TKG 22 were found as moderately resistant with the score of 3 and grade 5 while SI 250, ES 22 and UMA were rated to be resistant with the score 1.6 and grade 3. Among 23 genotypes tested for biophysical (non-preference) and biochemical basis (antibiosis) of resistance three genotypes viz., ES 22, UMA, SI 250 and KMR 14 were identified as less preferred for oviposition with the lowest number of eggs laid on UMA. The egg laying of A. catalaunalis was positively correlated with the trichome density on the leaf. The low growth index of A. catalaunalis in the resistant genotypes ES 22, SI 250 and UMA indicates the presence of antibiosis mechanism in the genotypes. Hence, these genotypes could be used as resistant source in hybridization programmes for transferring leaf webber and capsule borer resistance

Evaluation of sesame genotypes for resistance to sesame leaf roller and capsule borer, Antigastra catalaunalis Duponchel (Pyraustidae: Lepidoptera)

In this study, 43 sesame genotypes were tested against the sesame leaf roller and capsule borer Antigastra catalaunalis (Dup) using 0–9 scale scoring technique. The differential response of the genotypes was noticed at the various crop growth stages. The genotypes, SI 250, ES 22 and UMA showed resistance at all the three stages, i.e. vegetative, flowering and pod maturity. However, TKG 309 and CST 2001-3 showed resistance only at the vegetative stage; KMR 14 and VRI 1 exhibited resistance only at the pod maturity stage. Based on the overall grading, SI 250 and UMA genotypes were found resistant, and ES 22 was highly resistant