Role of carvacrol and menthone in maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) management

Insecticides of synthetic origin used indiscriminately to manage insect pest populations are known for genotoxicity, neurotoxicity and teratogenicity in non-target organisms as well as the development of resistance in target insects. These issues have focused insect pest management research towards the use of plant-based chemicals of a volatile nature. In this study, two plant-origin volatile compounds, carvacrol and menthone have been evaluated for their potential insecticidal properties against the maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). These two natural volatile chemicals repelled adults and caused lethality in adults as well as larvae. These two volatile chemicals inhibited acetylcholine esterase enzyme activity in adults when fumigated with sub-lethal concentrations. Both volatile chemicals reduced oviposition potential, progeny production and feeding behavior as well as prolonged the developmental period of the insect. Therefore, it can be concluded that these two natural volatile chemicals can be used in the preparation of volatile chemical-based formulations in the management of maize weevil S. zeamais. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1014501

Design of a Portable and Compact Gyroscopic Device for Hand Rehabilitation

User centered design is an apt process for developing assistive devices, as user needs are given the utmost importance in this approach. On studying current, state of the art hand rehabilitation devices, it was inferred that there exists a need for a compact and portable hand rehabilitation device – one suitable for patients with adversely limited active range of motion of the hand. This thesis proposes a novel hand-held, portable device that is composed of a fully actuated rotor-gimbal assembly (US Patent Application: 62/413,130). The simultaneous motion of the rotor and gimbal results in a controlled gyroscopic torque that acts on the user’s hand. Based on the hand’s strength and mobility, the user may either synchronize the hand movement with that compelled by the device or restrict it. While the former results in the relaxation of muscles, the latter can potentially increase muscle co-ordination and muscle strength. The target specifications of the device were determined through interviews with personnel specialized in the field of hand rehabilitation. A working principle of the device was then established via a proof-of-concept model and mathematical simulations, which were further used to firm up the design parameters. The dynamic analysis of the device was then conducted to attest the structural integrity. Also, the range of forces imposed by the device on the hand were evaluated to be within safe measures through simulation and consecutive comparison with existing literature. Future work includes fabricating the final device and evaluating its performance via experiments with human subjects. hand were evaluated to be within safe measures through simulation and consecutive comparison with existing literature. Future work includes fabricating the final device and evaluating its performance via experiments with human subjects

Energy Efficient Skyrmion based Oscillator on Thermocoupled Nanotrack

The magnetic skyrmion-based spin transfer nano-oscillators (STNO) are the potential candidates for next-generation microwave signal generator and has gained popularity due to their performance, integrability and compatibility with existing CMOS technology. However, these devices suffer from the Joule heating problem that neglects their non-volatility advantage in spintronic devices. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the alternative driving mechanisms for the development of energy-efficient skyrmion based nano-oscillators. In this paper, a skyrmion-based nano-oscillator has been designed that utilizes thermal power to drive skyrmion on a thermocoupled nanotrack. The thermocoupled nanotrack is designed in such a way that both the upper and lower nanotracks have different values of damping constants and a temperature difference is maintained between the extreme ends, in order to create a temperature gradient in the two nanotracks. By employing this technique, skyrmion is able to exhibit the periodic motion on the nanotrack with the maximum achievable frequency of 2.5GHz without any external stimuli. Moreover, the proposed device offers low thermal energy consumption of 0.84fJ/oscillation. Hence, this work provides the pathway for the development of energy-efficient future spintronic devices

Effects of yoga in modifying blood pressure in patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background: The incidence of diabetes mellitus is increasing with the increase in unhealthy dietary habits, physical inactivity and sedentary lifestyle. Hypertension complicated with diabetes further aggravates the problem. Yoga has been found to be helpful in delaying the progression and complications of the disease. The present study was undertaken with an aim to evaluate the effect of yoga in modifying blood pressure in patients of diabetes mellitus.Methods: Thirty patients of diabetes mellitus who were known case of hypertension were taken and their fasting and post-prandial blood glucose levels, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and waist circumference were analysed before and after ninety days of yoga in the department of physiology and biochemistry.Results: Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, waist circumference and fasting and post-prandial blood glucose level showed significant reduction (p value <0.05).Conclusions: This study emphasizes the importance of yoga in the control and management of type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension

Pesticide applications in Agriculture and its Environmental and Human Health Impacts

The use of chemicals in modern agriculture has significantly increased productivity is very common now a days. There has been an increase in the concentration of pesticides in food and in our environment, with associated negative effects on human health and the environment. The excessive use of pesticides has generated increasing concerns on the negative effects of human health as well as the environment. Impact on the environment of Pesticides can pose serious distress on soil, water, territory, and other vegetation. The pesticides application directly kill the insects, pest, weeds and pathogens but it also indirectly can be harmful and toxic on to the host of the other organism which are birds, beneficial insects, and all other non-target plant and animals. Insecticides are usually the most extremely toxic class of pesticides; however, herbicides can also pose risks to non-target organisms. With this concern most of the pesticides and chemicals are non-biodegradable, and as a result of bioaccumulation, they can enter into the food chain and eventually distress human and animal health, on the whole environment and ecosystem

An unusual presentation of oral myiasis in maxilla: A case report

Myiasis is a universal term for infection by the parasitic fly larvae that feed on their host, which can be either living or dead tissue. Oral myiasis is still “rare” and “unique” due to the fact that oral cavity rarely provides the necessary habitat conducive for a larval lifecycle. In humans, the most commonly affected sites are the nose, eyes, skin wounds, sinuses, lungs, ears, gut, gallbladder, vagina, nasal cavities, and rarely the mouth. Here, we report a case of oral myiasis in an 83-year-old female patient reporting with swelling in the maxillary anterior region with the movement of bugs inside the mouth since 2–3 days. Treatment of myiasis has been discussed in the case report

Covid 19 pandemic: Impact on masses and prevention knowhow

Today the whole world is facing a very difficult time due to corona virus which initially originated in Wuhan city of China. In China an unusual pneumonia was noticed earlier which later recognized as a pandemic. There have been two events in the past wherein crossover of animal corona viruses to humans has resulted in severe disease, one was SARS-CoV and the other was MERS-CoV. The genetic sequence of the COVID19 showed more than 80% similarities to SARS-CoV and 50% to the MERSCoV. Corona viruses are enveloped positive sense single-stranded RNA virus belongs to a large family in which all strains of the family do not have virulent capacity. World Health Organisation has classified COVID-19 as a β CoV of group 2B. Structurally, SARS-CoV-2 has four main structural proteins and several accessory proteins through which it enters into the cell. This virus enters the through ACE2 receptors, which are found on various organs in human body. After entering into one body, it enters to another body via transmission through sneezing, coughing etc. People who have had diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, or even high blood pressure and cancer are at higher risk of coronavirus