Ant Species Richness Around Amravati City Maharashtra, India

Ants deserve a special place in the study of ecology, including behavior, given their species richness, social habits, and high densities, contributing to much of the animal biomes on earth (Gadagkar et.at. 1993). As ants can be studied virtually everywhere from forest interiors below ground, right up to the kitchen, we attempted a study to assess the ant species richness in a variety of habitats in and around Amravati city. The prime objective of this study is to prepare a partial checklist of ants of Amravati and to compare species richness between selected study sites. Eight study sites with different levels and types of vegetation were selected for the study.
We employed an “all out search” method for collection in the months of June and July 2010. Ants were hand collected using a brush and forecep during the day time for 6 hrs at each study site. Collected samples were preserved in 70% alcohol in the Department of Zoology, Govt. Vidarbha Institute of Science & Humanities, Amravati.
We identified Ants up to the genus level by using a Stemi DV4 Stereo microscope based on taxonomic keys of (Holldobles & Wilson, 1990; Bolton, 1994; Mathew & R.N. Tiwari, 2000).
During the present study a total of 34 species of 20 genera have been recognized from Amravati city representing five subfamilies namely Myrmicinae, Formicinae, Ponerinae, Dolichoderinae and Pseudomyrmicinae. Out of this subfamily, Myrmicinae is the most abundant having 11 genera including the genus Rhoptromyrmex. It has been recorded for the first time in this region, followed by Formicinae with four genera for being recorded for the first time as genus Oecophylla. Subfamily Ponerinae and Dolichoderinae were recorded only with two genera each; while the subfamily Pseudomyrmicinae where recorded very poorly with only one genera from G.V.I.S.H. campus.
Few ant genera such as Crematogaster and Myrmicaria of subfamily Myrmicinae, Camponotus and Polyrhachis of subfamily Formicinae and Leptogenys of subfamily Ponerinae were mostly found in all the habitats and most localities. Few genera are confined to few localities or habitat types, such as Rhoptromyrmex and Oecophylla recorded only from Pohara forests. Genus Tetraponera of subfamily Pseudomyrmicinae were collected from the tree trunk of Azadirakhta indica in the G.V.I.S.H. campus. 
Comparison of ant species distribution between the different study sites revealed that ant species richness was highest in Pohara forest with 28 species & lowest with 9 species around urban areas. Relatively high ant species richness was recorded at all the study sites such as the Agriculture field, Tree plantation area, and the Wadali and Chhatri Garden. On the other hand, ant species richness was low around urban houses compared to rural houses due to little or no vegetation and high levels of disturbance. The tree plantation site, roads, and pavement showed higher numbers of ant species compared to around urban areas probably due to road side richness of tree plantation.
From this study we conclude that due to availability of food and shelter, richness of ant species increases in forest and tree plantation areas. The number of ant species declines in low vegetative areas including urban areas. It is possible to study the ecology and biodiversity of living faunas by the studying the habitats of ants. The environs of Amravati city are rich in Ant fauna which deserve further study

Allelic Frequency of ABO And Rh D Blood Group Among The Banjara Backward Caste of Yavatmal District, Maharashtra , India

The distribution of ABO blood groups and Rh(D) factor has been studied among the Banjara of Backward population of Yavatmal (Maharashtra). The A, B, O and AB blood group percentage were recorded as 24.54%, 33.82%, 29.64% and 12% respectively. The allele frequencies of O, A, B and AB groups in the combined data were found to be 0.5354, 0.2022 and 0.2624 respectively. The distribution of Rh(D) group varies among the ABO blood groups. The Rh(D) positive allelic frequency was 0.8405 and the Rh(D) negative incidence was recorded as 02.55% in the studied population

New Chromogenic Spray Reagent for TLC Detection and Identification of Organophosphrous Insecticide Monocrotophos in Biological Material.

Monocrotophos is a member of Organophosphate insecticide. It is an important insecticide and has a diversified role in agriculture in INDIA. The increasing numbers of human poisoning cases were found to be occurred by the consumption of organophosphate insecticide monocrotophos. So in this paper, we represent a novel Thin Layer Chromatographic spray reagent for the detection and identification of Monocrotophos

A study of clinico-demographic profile and ventilatory pulmonary function tests in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a non-communicable disease. DM produces damage in small blood vessels characterized by morphologic and biochemical alterations of the capillary basal lamina. These abnormalities have been observed in several organs including the lung. As the prevalence of diabetes is rapidly increasing, it would be important to study pulmonary functions in this sub group.Methods: The present observational study carried out at medicine department. It includes previously diagnosed type 2 DM patients between 31 to 50 years of age, non-smoker, non-pregnant with no major respiratory illness. Ventilatory Pulmonary Function Test (VPFT) which includes FVC, FEV1 and FEV1% were studied in all selected participants. VPFT categorized as per American Thoracic Society (ATS). All collected data analysed using Microsoft Excel 2010.  Results: The total of 55 previously diagnosed Type 2 DM cases was recruited. 26 (47.2 %) & 29 (52.7 %) were male & female respectively. 21 (38.2 %) has duration of DM more than 5. 11 (20 %) & 5 (9 %) had neuropathy and retinopathy respectively. 29 (52.7 %) had abnormal pulmonary function test.  The Mean FVC (84.11 ± 14.94), Mean FEV1 (84 ± 13.72) & Mean FEV1% was (100.05 ± 7.32) among the study participants.  29 (100.0 %) were restrictive type of abnormality. Conclusion: The reduced lung function is likely being a complication of diabetes mellitus. Lung functions needs to be checked periodically.

ZnO nanocrystalline thin films: a correlation of microstructural, optoelectronic properties

The compositional, structural, microstructural, dc electrical conductivity and optical properties of undoped zinc oxide films prepared by the sol-gel process using a spin-coating technique were investigated. The ZnO films were obtained by 5 cycle spin-coated and dried zinc oxide films followed by annealing in air at 600 ° C. The films deposited on the platinum coated silicon substrate were crystallized in a hexagonal wurtzite form. The energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrometry shows Zn and O elements in the products with an approximate molar ratio. TEM image of ZnO thin film shows that a grain of about 60-80 nm in size is really an aggregate of many small crystallites of around 10-20 nm. Electron diffraction pattern shows that the ZnO films exhibited hexagonal structure. The SEM micrograph showed that the films consist in nanocrystalline grains randomly distributed with voids in different regions. The dc conductivity found in the range of 10-5-10-6 (Ω cm)-1. The optical study showed that the spectra for all samples give the transparency in the visible range

Protein contain in Cyprinus carpio (Ham.) of experimental and control fishes due to administration of ovaprim, ovatide and pituitary gland extract at Fish Seed Production Centre, Paithan, Aurangabad, Maharashtra State, India

Protein contain is a cornerstone mechanism and form part and parcel of nutritive value in particular rely on season, food intake, breeding and spawning capacity. The protein contain in the fish body constitute as a firsthand source of energy for physiological functions incorporating reproduction. Present investigation display that variations in the protein is observed from the mature fishes of Indian major carps such as Cyprinus carpio comprises 20 to 50cm selected for the estimation of protein study considered as experimental and control fishes upon administration of PGE, ovaprim and ovatide synthetic hormonal doses to the male and female sex ratio separately. Protein in the liver of female major carps may be because of vitellogenin, a lipoprotein which is synthesized in the liver and is transported to the ovary (Wallace, 1985). Moreover, gonadal protein enhanced with maturation amongst these fishes. Protein estimation represents the variations throughout the study period amongst the muscle, gonad and liver. After hormonal injections are given then fishes are kept in the breeding pool at the Fish Seed Production Centres (FSPC) located near Paithan barrage. The protein is estimated upon satisfactory administration of hormonal doses Pituitary Gland Extract and by other two synthetic hormonal doses viz. Ovaprim and Ovatide. Study is conducted during 2013 to 2014