Efficacy of different bio-pesticides against sucking pests of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench)

The field experiment was carried out in the pre-kharif season of 2013 at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal, India to evaluate the efficacy of different bio-pesticides against sucking pests of okra. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications for each treatment. The treatments viz. annonin 1% EC, karanjin 2% EC, Azadirachtin 1% EC, Metarrhizium anisopliae, Verticillium lecanii , Beauveria bassiana , Bacillus thuringiensis var Kurstaki, spinosad 45 % SC and imidacloprid 17.8% SL were applied at 15 days interval starting from seedling stage when whitefly and jassid infestation started. Results revealed that the overall best performance of insecticides against whitefly was recorded in imidacloprid treated plots with lowest mean population of whitefly (3.91 whitefly/15 leaves) followed by karanjin (4.16 whitefly/15 leaves) and azadirachtin (5.16 whitefly/15 leaves while the order of efficacy aginst jassid were imidacloprid (15.27 jassids/15 leaves) > karanjin (33.91jassids/15leaves)>azadirachtin(40.38jassids/15leaves). Effectiveness of test insecticides on the yield of okra wasspinosad>Bt>B. bassiana>azadirachtin>imidacloprid>annonin>karanjin>M. anisopliae

Anthocyanins: Plant-based flavonoid pigments with diverse biological activities

Anthocyanins are flavonoid containing polyphenolic phytochemicals. They are widely present in plants and accounts for different color shades displayed by the plant organs. A broad range of health-revitalizing effects is attributed to anthocyanins, constituting a vital part of the human diet. They are also accountable for ameliorating the detrimental effects of various lifestyle diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disorders, neurological disorders, etc. These beneficial impacts highly depend on the bioavailability of anthocyanins, governed by their absorption and metabolism in the human body. The primary goal of this review is to summarize the latest anthocyanin knowledge while focusing on the chemistry, pharmacokinetics, and various biological advantages with anti-cancer, neuroprotective, antidiabetic, antioxidant, cardiovascular protective, vision improvement, antiviral, and antimicrobial effects

Host-guest interaction of cucurbit[7]uril with para-nitrophenol: A weakly binding inclusion complex

Host-guest interaction between water soluble rigid molecular container cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) and a water soluble organic guest para-nitrophenol (PNP) has been investigated using 1H NMR spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry. The stoichiometry, binding constant and other thermodynamic parameters of complexation have been obtained which show the formation of weakly binding 1:1 inclusion complex resulting from enthalpy-entropy compensation. Cyclic voltammetry study of PNP-CB[7] complex in acidic pH reveals a large cathodic shift in the reduction potentials of PNP, indicating either stabilization of PNP or destabilization of the electro-reduced product inside CB[7] cavity

Age of air as a diagnostic for transport timescales in global models

This paper presents the first results of an age-of-air (AoA) inter-comparison of six global transport models. Following a protocol, three global circulation models and three chemistry transport models simulated five tracers with boundary conditions that grow linearly in time. This allows for an evaluation of the AoA and transport times associated with inter-hemispheric transport, vertical mixing in the troposphere, transport to and in the stratosphere, and transport of air masses between land and ocean. Since AoA is not a directly measurable quantity in the atmosphere, simulations of ²²²Rn and SF₆ were also performed. We focus this first analysis on averages over the period 2000–2010, taken from longer simulations covering the period 1988–2014. We find that two models, NIES and TOMCAT, show substantially slower vertical mixing in the troposphere compared to other models (LMDZ, TM5, EMAC, and ACTM). However, while the TOMCAT model, as used here, has slow transport between the hemispheres and between the atmosphere over land and ocean, the NIES model shows efficient horizontal mixing and a smaller latitudinal gradient in SF₆ compared to the other models and observations. We find consistent differences between models concerning vertical mixing of the troposphere, expressed as AoA differences and modelled ²²²Rn gradients between 950 and 500hPa. All models agree, however, on an interesting asymmetry in inter-hemispheric mixing, with faster transport from the Northern Hemisphere surface to the Southern Hemisphere than vice versa. This is attributed to a rectifier effect caused by a stronger seasonal cycle in boundary layer venting over Northern Hemispheric land masses, and possibly to a related asymmetric position of the intertropical convergence zone. The calculated AoA in the mid–upper stratosphere varies considerably among the models (4–7 years). Finally, we find that the inter-model differences are generally larger than differences in AoA that result from using the same model with a different resolution or convective parameterisation. Taken together, the AoA model inter-comparison provides a useful addition to traditional approaches to evaluate transport timescales. Results highlight that inter-model differences associated with resolved transport (advection, reanalysis data, nudging) and parameterised transport (convection, boundary layer mixing) are still large and require further analysis. For this purpose, all model output and analysis software are available

An integrated organic farming system: innovations for farm diversification, sustainability, and livelihood improvement of hill farmers

IntroductionOrganic farming is a promising solution for mitigating environmental burdens related to input-intensive agricultural practices. The major challenge in organic agriculture is the non-availability of large quantities of organic inputs required for crop nutrition and sustaining soil health, which can be resolved by efficient recycling of the available on- and off-farm resources and the integration of the components as per the specific locations.MethodsAn integrated organic farming system (IOFS) model comprising agricultural and horticultural crops, rainwater harvesting units, livestock components, and provisions for nutrient recycling was developed and disseminated in the adopted organic villages Mynsain, Pynthor, and Umden Umbathiang in the Ri-Bhoi District, Meghalaya, India, to improve the income and livelihood of farmers. Harvested rainwater in farm ponds and Jalkunds was used for live-saving irrigation in the winter months and diversified homestead farming activities, such as growing high-value crops and rearing cattle, pigs, and poultry.ResultsMaize, french bean, potato, ginger, tomato, carrot, and chili yields in the IOFS model increased by 20%−30%, 40%−45%, 25%−30%, 33%−40%, 45%−50%, 37%−50%, and 27%−30%, respectively, compared with traditional practices. Some farmers produced vermicompost in vermibeds (made of high-density polyethylene) and cement brick chambers, generating 0.4−1.25 tons per annum. Two individual farmers, Mr. Jrill Makroh and Mrs. Skola Kurbah obtained net returns (without premium price) of Rs. 46,695 ± 418 and Rs. 31,102 ± 501 from their respective 0.27- and 0.21-ha IOFS models, which is equivalent to Rs. 172,944 ± 1,548/ha/year and Rs. 148,105 ± 2,385/ha/year, respectively. The net returns obtained from the IOFS models were significantly higher than those obtained from the farmers' practice of maize-fallow or cultivation of maize followed by vegetable (~30% of the areas). It is expected that, with the certification of organic products, the income and livelihood of the farmers will improve further over the years. While Mr. Jrill Makroh's model supplied 95.1%, 82.0%, and 96.0% of the total N, P2O5, and K2O, respectively, needed by the system, Mrs. Skola Kurbah's model supplied 76.0%, 68.6%, and 85.5% of the total N, P2O5, and K2O, respectively.DiscussionThus, IOFS models should be promoted among hill farmers so that they can efficiently recycle farm resources and increase their productivity, net returns, and livelihood while reducing their dependence on external farm inputs

Discovery of Jet-Induced Soft Lags of XTE J1550-564 during Its 1998 Outburst

X-ray time lags are complicated in nature. The exact reasons for complex lag spectra are yet to be known. However, the hard lags, in general, are believed to be originated due to the inverse Comptonization process. But, the origin of soft lags remained mischievous. Recent studies on "Disk-Jet Connections" revealed that the jets are also contributing to the X-ray spectral and timing properties in a magnitude which was more than what was predicted earlier. In this article, we first show an exact anti-correlation between X-ray time lag and radio flux for XTE J1550-546 during its 1998 outburst. We propose that the soft lags might be generated due to the change in the accretion disk structure along the line of sight during higher jet activity.Comment: The article contains six pages and two figures. Open access publisher link https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3900/17/1/

Facile acid-catalyzed condensation of ninhydrin with enols and aromatic compounds and microwave enhanced condensation of ninhydrin with hydroxy aromatic systems in solid state

604-611Di-and trihydroxybenzenes, 2,6-dihydroxyacetophcnone, α- and β-naphthols and also 3- and 4-hydroxycoumarins and various enols smoothly condense with ninhydrin in HOAc medium giving 2-substituted 1,3-dioxoindanes. Monoarylated products were also obtained upon microwave irradiation of the reactants adsorbed on silica gel. Reactions with corresponding methyl ethers are sluggish but are accelerated in the presence of conc. H2SO4 to 2,2-di substituted 1,3-dioxoindane stage. Under latter conditions monoarylated products are also further arylated paving the way for mixed 2,2-diaryl-l,3-dioxoindanes. Generally, ninhydrin adducts from phenols, naphthols and acyclic enols remain in intramolecular hemiketal form. AM1 computed heats of formation in some representative cases also favours such intramolecular hemiketal formation. A series of spirolactones have been generated through proper designing and synthesis of mono-arylated ninhydrin adducts

Epigenetic Regulation of Antifungal Drug Resistance

In medical mycology, epigenetic mechanisms are emerging as key regulators of multiple aspects of fungal biology ranging from development, phenotypic and morphological plasticity to antifungal drug resistance. Emerging resistance to the limited therapeutic options for the treatment of invasive fungal infections is a growing concern. Human fungal pathogens develop drug resistance via multiple mechanisms, with recent studies highlighting the role of epigenetic changes involving the acetylation and methylation of histones, remodeling of chromatin and heterochromatin-based gene silencing, in the acquisition of antifungal resistance. A comprehensive understanding of how pathogens acquire drug resistance will aid the development of new antifungal therapies as well as increase the efficacy of current antifungals by blocking common drug-resistance mechanisms. In this article, we describe the epigenetic mechanisms that affect resistance towards widely used systemic antifungal drugs: azoles, echinocandins and polyenes. Additionally, we review the literature on the possible links between DNA mismatch repair, gene silencing and drug-resistance mechanisms

Interface characteristics and performance of magnetic pulse welded copper-Steel tubes

An attempt has been made to join two tubes of pure copper and low carbon steel by magnetic pulse welding in lap joint configuration. Satisfactory welds were obtained with an optimal set of parameters consisting of discharge energy, standoff distance and initial collision angle. The welded interface revealed a wavy morphology with pockets of intermixed metal vortices. High resolution electron microscopy and microanalysis showed the formation of nano-grains along the interface and evidence of short distance interatomic diffusion across the weld joint respectively. The strain hardening effect due to high energy impact led to significantly higher microhardness on the steel side of the interface. Torsion tests confirmed acceptable joint strength as failure took place in the copper base material. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved