Influence of shifting thermal regimes on tomato fruit borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) in the Eastern Himalaya: implications for pest management strategies.

Climate change, particularly temperature fluctuations, profoundly impacts pest populations. This study focuses on the tomato, a crucial commercial crop in the Eastern Himalayan Region of India. The study examined the impact of varying thermal regimes on tomato fruit borers. Field experiments were conducted at three locations, with altitudes ranging from < 500 to > 1500 m. At lower altitudes, fruit borer incidence commenced earlier (5th - 18th March) and peaked higher (1.47 ± 0.34 to 1.73 ± 0.37 larvae/plant), causing more damage (26-29%) as compared to the highest location (~ 9%). The generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) analysis indicated that maximum temperature had significant positive impacts on the H. armigera incidence and fruit damage. Climatic datasets indicate an increase in the temperature of the region during the tomato growing season, thereby increasing the risk of fruit borer impact. As an adaptation option, we evaluated eight different tomato varieties/genotypes and studied biochemical parameters to understand their tolerance. Results showed a strong positive association of fruit borer incidence with total soluble solids whereas negative association with acidity. Cherry tomato (7.62%) and MT-2 (10.04%) had relatively lower fruit damage; MT-3 (50.92 t/ha) and MT-2 (50.57 t/ha) consistently yielded the highest across all locations. Hence, the selection of appropriate genotypes and the development of varieties with suitable characteristics hold the key to fruit borer management. This insight is crucial for developing effective pest management strategies and ensuring sustainable agricultural practices in the region.

Remote sensing and GIS based analysis of temporal land use/land cover and water quality changes in Harike wetland ecosystem, Punjab, India.

Wetlands help in maintaining ecological balance in an area, but are shrinking fast all over the world. A study was conducted on the Harike wetland in Punjab state of India to analyze temporal changes in land use/land cover (LULC), water spread area and water pollution by using RS and GIS techniques. The LULC map of Harike wetland ecosystem covering an area of 22213.91 ha was prepared through on-screen visual interpretation of multispectral Resourcesat 2 LISS-IV satellite data (2014 and 2018) having spatial resolution of 5.8 m. Area under agriculture, forest and built up increased and that under waste land, water bodies and wetland decreased during 2014-18. The rate of increase in agricultural land was quite high (18.87 ha/year) during 2006-2014, but reduced to 3.53 ha/year during 2014-2018. The built up land increased comparatively at low rates (0.87 and 0.90 ha/year). Areas under waste land, water bodies and wetland decreased at the rate of 4.32, 1.61 and 13.80 ha/year during 2006-2014 and 2.37, 0.34 and 1.71 ha/year during 2014-2018, respectively. The water spread area of Harike wetland which was 4073 ha and 4166 ha in year 2002 and 2006 reduced to 3918.98 ha and 3910.56 ha in the year 2014 and 2018, respectively. However, wetland ponded area shrinked at a rate of 30.37 ha/year during 2006-2014 and 2.11 ha/year during the period 2014-2018. The area under low and medium turbidity increased by 22.02% and 15.2%, respectively, but decreased by 49% under high turbidity during 2014-18. Wetland water was observed to be rich in macro and micronutrients. The pH, BOD and COD of wetland water increased by 0.51, 9.7 mg/l and 24 mg/l, respectively, during 2002-14 and by 0.03, 2.0 mg/l and 5.92 mg/l, respectively during 2014-18. Interaction between land use, water quality, water inflow, ground water and wetland area has also been studied. Intensive cultivation and declining groundwater levels in the area are negatively affecting the wetland. This necessitates regular monitoring of wetland structural components and water quality along with an urgent plan in place for conservation, rehabilitation and management of Harike wetland ecosystem in participatory mode.

Organochlorines in urban soils from Central India: probabilistic health hazard and risk implications to human population.

This study presents distribution of organochlorines (OCs) including HCH, DDT and PCBs in urban soils, and their environmental and human health risk. Forty-eight soil samples were extracted using ultrasonication, cleaned with modified silica gel chromatography and analyzed by GC-ECD. The observed concentrations of ∑HCH, ∑DDT and ∑PCBs in soils ranged between < 0.01-2.54, 1.30-27.41 and < 0.01-62.8 µg kg-1, respectively, which were lower than the recommended soil quality guidelines. Human health risk was estimated following recommended guidelines. Lifetime average daily dose (LADD), non-cancer risk or hazard quotient (HQ) and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) for humans due to individual and total OCs were estimated and presented. Estimated LADD were lower than acceptable daily intake and reference dose. Human health risk estimates were lower than safe limit of non-cancer risk (HQ < 1.0) and the acceptable distribution range of ILCR (10-6-10-4). Therefore, this study concluded that present levels of OCs (HCH, DDT and PCBs) in studied soils were low, and subsequently posed low health risk to human population in the study area.

Spatial distribution of persistent organic pollutants in the surface water of River Brahmaputra and River Ganga in India.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) like organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyles (PCBs) and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are discharged in surface water by various point and nonpoint sources thereby degrading the functioning of the ecosystem and threatening human health. Chlorinated pesticides such as Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCHs) and Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDTs) are effective pest control chemicals, used in agriculture and public health activities (malaria eradication, etc.) in India for the past several decades and are still in use. POPs can cause endocrine disruption and food chain biomagnification because of their lipophilicity and environmental persistence. This study aims to assess the environmental occurrence and spatial distribution of OCPs, PAHs and PCBs in the surface water of River Brahmaputra and Ganga ending at the of the Bay of Bengal.The order of organochlorine pesticides is as: heptachlor>HCHs>DDTs>dieldrin>aldrin>endosulfan. Diamond Harbour and Bakkhali were the two places with elevated level of all individual HCH isomers compared to all other sites. ß-Endosulfan and α-Endosulfan were high at Dibrugarh than other sampling sites. This is due to the ongoing use of Endosulfan in the tea estates in Assam especially the estates close to the town of Dibrugarh. p,p'-DDT and o,p'-DDT levels indicate the fresh input of DDT in all the sampling sites. Heptachlor has been observed in 57% of the total samples reported in the present study.These reasons may attribute to high deposition of pesticides in the surface water of Ganga and Brahmaputra.In addition the catchments area of the Ganga River is surrounded by agricultural lands so a relatively higher residue of pesticides was prevalent. Σ27 PCBs varied from BDL to 142 (Avg±SD, 3.96±6.71) ng L-1. PCB-18, PCB-52 & PCB-44 showed the highest concentration levels for all the sampling sites. PCB-126 was observed in samples taken from sites close to the city limit of Kolkata and Assam which is an indication of higher toxic effect from this highly toxic congener. PCB-169 was prevalent in most of the sites. The total concentrations of PAHs varied from BDL to 31 (Avg±SD, 0.2±1.5) µg L-1. PAHs concentrations were very low as PAHs are particle bound compounds.

Preliminary analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in air particles (PM10) in Amritsar, India: sources, apportionment, and possible risk implications to humans.

Preliminary analysis was performed to assess human health risks of exposure to 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by way of inhalation by children and adults living in urban area of Amritsar, Punjab, India. In particular, the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA's) 16 priority PAH compounds were analyzed in air particulate matter (PM10) from different geographical locations by high-volume air sampler. Sum concentrations of PAHs (37-274 ng m(-3)) were comparable with those of other cities in India as well many cities on a global scale. Pyrene, naphthalene, acenaphthene, acenaphthylene, fluoranthene, fluorene, and dibenzo(a,h)anthracene accounted for >80% of ∑16PAH concentrations. Furthermore, the contribution of seven carcinogenic PAHs accounted for 12% of ∑16PAHs. The estimated carcinogenicity of PAHs in terms of benzo(a)pyrene toxic equivalency (BaPTEQ) was assessed and confirmed that dibenzo(a,h)anthracene was the dominant PAH contributor (88.7%) followed by benzo(a)pyrene (6.67%). Homolog pattern and diagnostic ratios of PAHs suggested that mixed pyrogenic sources--including biomass burning, coal combustion, and petrogenic sources, such as vehicular emissions--are dominant PAH sources in Amritsar. Health risk of adults and children by way of PAHs was assessed by estimating the lifetime average daily dose (LADD) and corresponding incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) using USEPA guidelines. The assessed cancer risk (ILCR) was found to be within the acceptable range (10(-6)-10(-4)).

The morphology of lumbar sympathetic trunk in humans: a cadaveric study.

The vasospastic diseases and chronic pain related to lower limb have been successfully treated by surgical ablation of lumbar sympathetic trunk for last 80 years.Precise knowledge of anatomy of lumbar sympathetic trunk and its adjoining structures is mandatory for safe and uncomplicated lumbar and spinal surgeries.We aim to study the detailed anatomy of entry and exit of lumbar sympathetic trunk, the number, dimensions and location of lumbar ganglia in relation to lumbar vertebra. Thorough dissection was carried out in 30 formalin embalmed cadavers available in the Department of Anatomy, Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Rural Medical College (RMC), Loni, Maharashtra. A total of 238 ganglia were observed in 60 lumbar sympathetic trunks. The sympathetic trunk traversed dorsal to the crus of diaphragm in 72.6% and in 13.3% it entered dorsal to the medial arcuate ligament. The most common site of the location of lumbar ganglia was in relation to the second lumbar vertebra, sometimes extending up to the L2-L3 vertebral disc. There was a medial shift of sympathetic trunk in lumbar region and it coursed over sacral promontory to reach the pelvic region in 96% of specimens. These variations should be kept in mind in order to prevent hazardous complications like accidental avulsion of first lumbar ganglia and genitofemoral neuritis.

Ion exchange during heavy metal bio-sorption from aqueous solution by dried biomass of macrophytes.

In this study, potentials of oven dried biomass of Eichhornia crassipes, Valisneria spiralis and Pistia stratiotes, were examined in terms of their heavy metal (Cd, Ni, Zn, Cu, Cr and Pb) sorption capacity, from individual-metal and multi-metal aqueous solutions at pH 6.0+/-0.1 (a popular pH of industrial effluent). V. spiralis was the most and E. crassipes was the least efficient for removal of all the metals. Cd, Pb and Zn were efficiently removed by all the three biomass. Cd was removed up to 98% by V. spiralis. Sorption data for Cr, Ni and Cd fitted better to Langmuir isotherm equation, while, the sorption data for Pb, Zn and Cu fitted better to Freundlich isotherm equation. In general, the presence of other metal ions did not influence significantly the targeted metal sorption capacity of the test plant biomasses. Ion exchange was proven the main mechanism involved in bio-sorption and there was a strong ionic balance between adsorbed (H(+) and M(2+)) to the released ions (Na(+) and K(+)) to and from the biomass. No significant difference was observed in the metal exchanged amount, by doubling of metal concentration (15-30 mg/l) in the solution and employing individual-metal and multi-metal solutions.

Biogas production from plant biomass used for phytoremediation of industrial wastes.

In present study, potentials of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and water chestnut (Trapa bispinnosa) employed for phytoremediation of toxic metal rich brass and electroplating industry effluent, were examined in terms of biogas generation. Inability of the plants to grow in undiluted effluent directed to select 20%, 40% and 60% effluent concentrations (with deionized water) for phytoremediation experiments. Slurry of both the plants used for phytoremediation produced significantly more biogas than that by the control plants grown in unpolluted water; the effect being more pronounced with plants used for phytoremediation of 20% effluent. Maximum cumulative production of biogas (2430c.c./100gdm of water hyacinth and 1940c.c./100gdm of water chest nut) and per cent methane content (63.82% for water hyacinth and 57.04% for water chestnut) was observed at 5mm particle size and 1:1 substrate/inoculum ratio, after twenty days incubation. Biogas production was quicker (maximum from 8-12days) in water hyacinth than in water chestnut (maximum from 12-16days). The qualitative and quantitative variations in biogas production were correlated with COD, C, N, C/N ratio and toxic metal contents of the slurry used.

Role of bilirubin, vitamin C and ceruloplasmin as antioxidants in coronary artery disease [CAD].

A study has been carried out on 250 CAD patients to see how the serum levels of three antioxidants i.e., Vitamin C, Bilirubin and Ceruloplasmin are related to the CAD risk factors and characteristics in these patients. The number of severe category CAD patients declined by 7-18% with increasing serum levels of the three antioxidants and, triple vessel disease declined by 14-20%. A decline of 39% in Myocardial Infarction (MI) occurred with increasing serum Ceruloplasmin. Serum Ceruloplasmin was significantly lower in the MI group compared to the non MI group CAD patients. There was a steady and a significant decline in the mean values of serum levels of cholesterol, Triglyceride, VLDL cholesterol along with BMI with increasing serum level. The study indicates that with increasing serum levels of the three antioxidants studied, the % MI along with % Triple vessel disease and severity of CAD goes down suggesting that the modifiable risk factors have to be suitably modified in order to maintain a reasonably high level of these antioxidants, as the risk factors are inversely related to the serum antioxidant levels.

Airway responsiveness to inhaled histamine in chronic obstructive airways disease. Chronic bronchitis vs emphysema.

Airway responsiveness to inhaled histamine was examined in two groups of carefully selected patients with nonasthmatic chronic obstructive airways disease (COAD). Twelve patients with chronic bronchitis and airflow obstruction but little emphysema and 13 with predominantly emphysema and airflow obstruction but little bronchitis were selected based on history, chest roentgenogram, and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (Dsb). Emphysema patients had less cough, less sputum, less chronic bronchitis, lower Dsb, and more radiographic evidence of vascular deficiency. There was no difference in anthropometric features, smoking history, atopic skin sensitivity, hemoglobin, blood eosinophilia, PaO2, PaCO2, ECG, lung volumes, or expiratory flow rates. The two groups had similar airway responsiveness to inhaled histamine; the geometric mean provocation concentrations producing a 20 percent FEV1 fall (PC20) was 0.56 mg/ml for the bronchitis patients and 0.28 mg/ml for the emphysema patients (p greater than 0.20). Regression of log histamine PC20 vs percent predicted FEV1 showed a high correlation in both groups (r = 0.73, p less than 0.01 in bronchitis and r = 0.79, p less than 0.001 in emphysema). The regression lines were almost identical. These data suggest that in COAD bronchial responsiveness to inhaled histamine is mainly due to the altered airway geometry, and that there is no difference in histamine responsiveness between patients with emphysematous COAD and nonemphysematous COAD with chronic bronchitis.

New indolic hypotensive agents.

Seven substituted piperazino indoles were synthesized by the condensation of substituted piperazines with substituted indole-3-aldehyde, and evaluated for hypotensive activity. Only compound 2 exhibited promising hypotensive activity.

Synthesis of some newer piperazinoquinazolones as cardiovascular agents.

Twenty nine new substituted 2-methyl-3-(gamma-piperazino-propiophenyl)-4-quinazolone hydrochlorides were synthesised by the Mannich reaction of substituted quinazolones with substituted piperazines and evaluated for their cardiovascular activity. Several compounds of the series exhibited marked and sustained hypotensive activity.

Protective effects of ethanolic extract of Nigella sativa seed in paracetamol induced acute hepatotoxicity in vivo.

Paracetamol overdose causes serious liver necrosis. Hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic extract of Nigella sativa in Paracetamol induced acute hepatotoxicity was investigated in rats. Fasted male Wistar rats were orally treated with Nigella sativa extract in graded doses for 5 days followed by Nigella sativa extract and paracetamol 3 g kg(-1) on 6 and 7th day. Circulatory liver markers and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were estimated and histopathological study of liver performed. Paracetamol caused a significant increase in serum alkaline phosphatase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase and total Bilirubin and a significant decrease in GSH compared to control. Nigella sativa pretreatment significantly prevented the increase in liver enzymes and total bilirubin and decrease in GSH level as compared to paracetamol group. Liver histopathology showed marked reduction in sinusoidal dilatation, midzonal necrosis, portal triaditis and occasional apoptosis in Nigella sativa extract treated groups as compared to group receiving only paracetamol. Nigella sativa extract possesses hepatoprotective action against paracetamol induced acute hepatoxicity. Further research is needed to advocate its prophylactic use for drug induced hepatotoxicity.

In vitro assessment of cytotoxicity and labeling efficiency of 99mTc-HMPAO with stromal vascular fraction of adipose tissue.

INTRODUCTION: Noninvasive radionuclide imaging of cells using technetium99m-hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime ((99m)Tc-HMPAO) is a potential diagnostic tool for several applications. Herein we aimed to evaluate the labeling efficiency and cellular toxicity of (99m)Tc-HMPAO with Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF) of adipose tissue to develop a process tool for theranostic purposes, in particular imaging cardiac stem cell therapy. METHODS: Ten million cells of SVF were labeled with (99m)Tc-HMPAO complex and excess radiolabel was cleared off through washing in PBS. The labeling efficiency of (99m)Tc-HMPAO was detected in labeled cells and their subsequent supernatant wash using isotope dose calibrator and gamma camera. The cytotoxicity was assessed for the comparative reactive oxygen species (ROS) by H2DCFDDA, apoptotic events by annexin-V and TUNEL assay and mitochondrial potential by JC-1. RESULTS: An encouraging labeling efficiency of 33% was observed with (99m)Tc-HMPAO complex. The radionuclide labeling of SVF demonstrated significant safety profile as evaluated by apoptotic assays. CONCLUSION: (99m)Tc-HMPAO labeling efficiency of 33% of total SV fraction would produce sufficient radioactive signals that would enable for in vivo tracking of cells by SPECT-CT. The radionuclide did not demonstrate any significant impact on the structural or functional organization of the labeled cells. Our study indicates that SVF can be safely labeled with (99m)Tc-HMPAO without adverse cytotoxic events and for its potential role in imaging cardiac stem cell therapy.

Acceptability and safety profile of oral and sublingual misoprostol for uterine evacuation following early fetal demise.

BACKGROUND: It has been established that sublingual (SL) route of misoprostol has a great potential to be developed for medical abortion, but there is dearth of evidence to reveal satisfaction rate and safety profile among patients of oral and SL routes. Thus, this study was conducted to provide an insight into the acceptability and safety profile of the same. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was carried out by giving 200 mg mifepristone orally, followed by administration of 600 µg misoprostol orally to 50 women and sublingually to 50 women. The primary endpoints of study were measurements of acceptability and safety profile parameters (average blood loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hot flushes, fever) of both the groups. The secondary endpoints of the study were number of doses required for complete abortion, success rate and the induction to evacuation interval in both the groups. RESULTS: SL route of administration was more acceptable than the oral route (P = 0.009). Average blood loss was higher in the oral group than in the SL group (P = 0.001). Amongst the side effects, 34% in the SL group and 52% in the oral group had nausea (P = 0.264), 22% in the SL group and 44% in the oral group had vomiting (P = 0.031), 48% in the SL group and 86% in the oral group had diarrhea (P < 0.05), hot flushes were presented by 24% in the SL group and 50% in the oral group (P < 0.05), fever was presented by 20% in the SL group and 44% in the oral group (P < 0.05), and the number of cases aborted with only one dose was higher (86%) in the SL group as compared to 63% in the oral group (P = 0.004). The evacuation (success) rates were 92% in the SL group and 84% in the oral group (P = 0.218) and the mean ± SD induction to evacuation intervals in the SL and oral groups were 5.6 ± 4.54 hours and 9.44 ± 5.61 hours, respectively (P = 0.0002). CONCLUSION: The SL route had fewer undesirable effects, was more satisfactory, required less number of doses and was more acceptable to the patient compared to the oral route.

Acute non-organic psychotic state in India: symptomatology.

Patients with acute onset, non-organic psychotic states are frequently reported from India and certain other developing countries. This paper relates to an investigation of such cases in terms of their clinical history and their symptomatology examining the extent to which these are similar /dissimilar to schizophrenia and affective psychosis. 109 cases of acute psychosis fulfilling specified screening criteria were assessed on the Schedule for Clinical Assessment Acute Psychotic States (SCAAPS) and Present Slate Examination (PSE). Vie findings revealed that about 34% of all patients experienced significant strees before the onset of psychosis. About 40% of all cases presented with Catego subtype which was not indicative clearly of a specific diagnostic category. This subgroup of patients differed from the remaining 60% of patient in having greater frequency of stress before the onset of psychosis. On the whole the delusions were more commonly seen in patients from upper socioeconomic status & urban background. Limitations of classificatory provisions in the ICD-9 and catego in dealing with acute psychotic state are highlighted.

Sensation seeking scale: Indian adaptation.

Sensation seeking refers to a biologically based personality dimension defined as the need for varied, novel and complex sensations and experiences, and the willingness to take physical and social risks for the sake of such experiences. Although researched worldwide for nearly three decades now, there is to date no published Indian study utilizing the concept of sensation seeking. This paper describes adaptation of the Sensation Seeking Scale for the Indian population. After due modification of the scale, its reliability, internal consistency and discriminant validity were established Norms were developed for a defined segment of general population. This study may be seen as the beginning of research in India on the subject of sensation seeking.