On the thermal bending and twisting of thin skewed plates

A solution for pure bending and twisting of thin skewed plates of uniform thickness under a constant temperature moment is obtained by using the basic equations for thermal bending. The corresponding expressions for classical case are obtained as particular cases

Heterosis among the lines selected for pupal weight in the direct and reciprocal hybrids of mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori L.

Manifestation of heterosis in interbreed crosses of high, medium, low, and control lines selected for pupal wt. in silkworm is reported. Significant pos. heterosis over better parent in the selected and correlated traits was obtained due to the wider genetic distance noticed in Pure Mysore (multivoltine) and NB18 (Bivoltine)​. Whereas, the magnitude of heterosis varied among interbreed crosses which involved all 3 types of gene effects (additive, dominance, and epistatic interactions)​. The present study indicated that heterosis was more pronounced in the crosses involving bivoltine which happen to be either low male or female component and is clearly demonstrated in the heterosis averaged over male and female parents. Higher pupal wt. does not necessarily result in higher heterotic values so, while selecting the parents for com. exploitation differential pupal wt. should also need to be considered

Effects of Wolbachia-targeted tetracycline on a host-parasitoid-symbiont interaction

The uzifly, Exorista sorbillans (Diptera: Tachinidae), a parasite of the silkworm, Bombyx mori L. (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae), causes heavy losses to the silk industry. This parasitoid harbours a Wolbachia endosymbiont, which controls the fly's reproduction. In the present study a method for curtailing this notorious pest by administering Wolbachia-targeted tetracycline via its silkworm host's diet is investigated. Tetracycline not only influenced the larval growth of the silkworms' by decreasing larval duration, increased silk production and fecundity, without affecting hatchability, it also decreased the reproductive fitness of the uzifly endoparasite by killing the Wolbachia. The antibiotic exerts a beneficial influence by affecting the intestinal flora of silkworm larvae. On the other hand the reproductive fitness of uzifly was greatly reduced in terms of different reproductive abnormalities. When male and female flies that emerged from treated host silkworms were crossed and males from untreated hosts and females from treated hosts were crossed, approximately 72 and 97 of the eggs failed to hatch, respectively. However, of the eggs from crosses between male and female flies that emerged from untreated hosts and between males from treated hosts with females from untreated hosts, an average of 30 failed to hatch and the Wolbachia infection enhanced the fecundity of uziflies. These results demonstrate that the Wolbachia may be essential for uzifly reproduction and that Wolbachia-targeted antibiotics have a beneficial influence on silkworm growth while decreasing the reproductive fitness of the uzifly, E. sorbillans

Cytological Changes during Oogenesis in Exorista sorbillans (Diptera: Tachinidae)

The cytological changes and growth rate of nurse cell nuclei, the oocyte nucleus, and the egg chamber during 14 stages of egg development in E. sorbillans Wiedemann are described. Stages 1-3 are mitotically active, resulting in the formation of one oocyte and 15 nurse cells. The visible nonbanded polytene chromosomes are formed at stage 3 in 32n nuclei of smaller nurse cells and 64n nuclei of larger nurse cells. The larger nurse cell nuclei attain a maximal ploidy of 1024n at stage 10. Soon after disintegration of the polytene chromosomes, the nurse cells at stage 6 synthesize the nuclear proteins and transfer them to the developing oocyte, which grows rapidly from stages 11 to 13. At stages 13 and 14, the nurse cells disintegrate and the oocyte matures with chorion, aeropyles, operculum, micropyle, and hatching pleat. At the end of stage 14, the matured oocyte has enlarged to 137,651.92 times that of the oogonium. The results are compared with those from allied species

Effects of Wolbachia in the uzifly, Exorista sorbillans, a parasitoid of the silkworm, Bombyx mori

The uzifly, Exorista sorbillans (Diptera: Tachinidae), a parasitoid of the silkworm, Bombyx mori L. (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae), harbours Wolbachia (Rickettsia) endosymbionts. Administration of 0.05 mg/ml oxytetracycline to the adult uziflies removed Wolbachia endosymbionts and resulted in different reproductive disorders, such as i) reduction in fecundity of uninfected females, ii) cytoplasmic incompatibility in crosses between infected males and uninfected females, iii) sterility in the crosses between both males and females from uninfected populations, and iv) sex-ratio distortion in uninfected females irrespective of the presence of Wolbachia in males. However, tetracycline treatment did not have much effect on longevity of the uzifly. These results suggest that the interaction of Wolbachia with its uzifly host is one of mutual symbiosis as it controls the reproductive physiology of its hosts

Overview of Distribution and Diversity of Wolbachia Endosymbiont among the Different Geographical Populations of Indian Uzifly, Exorista Sorbillans (Diptera: Tachinidae).

Microorganisms are unique life forms having great impact on functioning and perpetuation of biosphere. Among them, Wolbachia is ubiquitous gram negative rickettsial endosymbiont taking its shelter in somatic and reproductive tissues of class insecta. Wolbachia induces variety of phenotypes within insects from reproductive parasitism to mutualism. Due to the infection dynamics of Wolbachia and its ability to induce reproductive anomalies in their hosts, it has been touted as the most effective bio-control agent for management of insect pests and vectors. However, for implementation of any Wolbachia based bio-control strategies it is essential to know its distribution, diversity and interactions with their hosts. Wolbachia interactions in Uzi fly Exorista sorbillans are well documented and are proposed as agents for management of this pest. However, their distribution and diversity across the entire Indian sub-continent is left void. In the current study 31 populations of Uzi fly collected from the Mulberry Silkworm belts of India have been screened and characterized. 213 samples were screened and infection dynamics in the individuals have been documented. The findings suggest high prevalence of AB Wolbachia super infections in field populations of Uzi fly. This important update on the infection status and diversity of Wolbachia is of greater significance for implementation of the previously proposed Wolbachia based biocontrol strategies of Uzi fly in India

WHO 75 gram OGTT-A single step procedure for screening and diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus

Background: Indian women have an eleven fold increased risk of developing glucose intolerance during pregnancy compared to Caucasian women .Universal screening for GDM is essential in India. This study was undertaken to find out a single step procedure which serves both as a screening and a diagnostic tool. Methods: This study was carried out in a tertiary care teaching institute in Karnataka. 839 pregnant women with gestational age between 24-28 weeks were subjected to 50 gram OGCT and venous blood was drawn after 1 hour. These patients were requested to come after 72 hours on empty stomach for WHO-75 gram OGTT. Fasting and 2 hour blood samples after 75 gram of glucose were drawn.Results: Amongst the 839 pregnant women who underwent 50 gram OGCT, 136 (16.2%) women had one hour plasma glucose >140 mg/dl. Subsequent 75 gram OGTT revealed that only 43 (31.62%) of screen positive patients were diabetic.93 women who tested positive by 50 gram OGCT were false positive cases (10.58%). Prevalence of GDM in study population was 6.3 % (53/839). Screening OGCT missed 10 (15.87%) of gestational diabetes mellitus cases which were picked up by 75 gram WHO OGTT only.Conclusions: The diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus by OGTT based on initial OGCT screening leaves 15.87% undiagnosed. The two step method of screening OGCT and diagnosing GDM with subsequent OGTT is tedious and not economical. Instead a single step WHO 75 gram fasting OGTT with 2 hour PPG ≥ 140 mg/dl is simple and precise

Microwave Assisted Synthesis of Dihydrobenzo[4,5]Imidazo[1,2-A]Pyrimidin-4-Ones; Synthesis, In Vitro Antimicrobial and Anticancer Activities of Novel Coumarin Substituted Dihydrobenzo[4,5]Imidazo[1,2-A]Pyrimidin-4-Ones

The present article describes the synthesis of dihydrobenzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4-one (2a–h) under microwave irradiation. The product was obtained in excellent yield (74–94%) in a shorter reaction time (2 min). These molecules (2a, b) further reacted with various substituted 4-bromomethylcoumarins (3a–f) to yield a new series of coumarin substituted dihydrobenzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4-ones (4a–h). The structure of all the synthesized compounds were confirmed by spectral studies and screened for their in vitro antibacterial activity against three Gram-positive bacteria viz., Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus mutans and three Gram-negative bacteria viz., Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and antifungal activity against Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium chrysogenum and anticancer activity against Dalton's Ascitic Lymphoma (DAL) cell line. In general, all the compounds possessed better antifungal properties than antibacterial properties. The coumarin substituted dihydrobenzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4-one (4g) (R = i-Pr, R1 = 6-Cl) was found to be the most potent cytotoxic compound (88%) against Dalton's Ascitic Lymphoma cell line at the concentration of 100 µg/mL

A pilot study on genetic diversity in Indian honeybees-Apis cerana of Karnataka populations

Unravelling the genetic diversity studies of Apis cerana, the indigenous strain of India is very much essential as it provides significant guidance to beekeepers about breeding strategies that would aide in their colonies to survive. There are two predominant species of Indian honey bees, Apis cerana cerana (black strain) and Apis cerana indica (yellow strain). Currently there are no reports on diversity studies on these subspecies are available. The current research in this paper describes the pilot study undertook to evaluate the genetic diversity of Apis cerana from populations of Karnataka. Bee colonies from 12 localities of Karnataka have been genetically characterized through COI gene of mitochondrial genome, providing discreet characteristics for intra-specific diversity studies. This has led to infer the taxonomic status of two subspecies of Apis cerana. The results suggest that Indian populations have larger effective size and genetic diversity. The paper discusses the possibility of introduction of honeybees in India in evolutionary time frame and resolving the diversity in Indian honeybees by assessing the phylogeography