Evaluation of the Bioefficacy and Insecticide Compatibility of Entomopathogens for Management of Whitefly (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) on Upland Cotton Under Laboratory and Polyhouse Conditions.

Entomopathogens (EPFs) are potential alternatives to chemical insecticides for managing Bemisia tabaci (Genn.), an invasive pest of the cotton crop. EPFs alone may not always provide enough insect pest control, but combining EPFs with pesticides, provided both components are compatible, can make an integrated pest management program considerably more effective. Hence, the bioefficacy of EPFs against whitefly, their compatibility with pesticides, and the factors responsible for determining compatibility were studied. The highest nymphal mortality was recorded with the Beauveria bassiana strains Bb-4511 (95.1%) and Bb-4565 (89.9%), and Metarhizium anisopliae Ma-1299 (86.7%) at 1 × 106 conidia ml-1. Lower LC50 values were observed for Cordyceps javanica Cj-089 and Bb-4511, 0.2 × 104 and 0.5 × 104 conidia ml-1, respectively. The toxicity index values in insecticide sensitivity assays ranged from 19.4 to 119.6% among all the EPFs. Comparatively, all the EPFs except Bb-4543 and Bb-4565 showed compatible to moderately toxic reactions to neonicotinoids and spinosyns. Organophosphates (ethion) and pyrethrins (bifenthrin) were toxic to very toxic to all the EPFs except Bb-4511, Fv-083, and Ma-1299. Cj-102 and Cj-089 were compatible with 50% of the average recommended dose of bifenthrin and ethion, and the average recommended dose for the field application of neonicotinoids and spinosyns. Principal component analysis showed that spore production and toxicity index values correlate with each other and are responsible for determining the EPF compatibility with insecticides. The EPF spore production and toxicity index are important factors for determining chemical compatibility. Compatible EPFs can be used individually or in combination as promising and compatible biological alternatives to insecticides in the management of whitefly in cotton.

Robustness of self-compacting concrete containing waste foundry sand and metakaolin: A sustainable approach.

Waste foundry sand (WFS) is a solid waste generated from the metal casting industries around the world, problem of its disposal and utilization are burgeoning universally. WFS is termed as a hazardous material due to the presence of organic and inorganic materials that are capable of contaminating the environment and can cause serious health issues. The study aims to re-utilize WFS in large volumes in concrete as a fine aggregate. The major impediment in the production of self-compacting concrete (SCC) is the robustness of concrete mixture. To study the effect of WFS on the robustness of SCC, six different mixtures were prepared having WFS up to 50 % at regular intervals of 10 % employing metakaolin as a substitute for cement at a constant ratio. It was revealed that the incorporation of WFS improved the robustness behavior of SCC, despite the change of ±10 L/m3 water dosage in SCC mixtures, all the mixes were observed falling in the same classes. Incorporation of 40 % WFS increased compressive strength by 17.2 % relative to control concrete at 56 days curing ages. The findings of the study suggest that WFS can be used in large volumes for the development of SCC without compromising its properties.

Impact of lockdown in COVID 19 on glycemic control in patients with type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: COVID 19 is a novel pandemic affecting globally. Although no reliable data suggests that patients of well controlled Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) being at increased risk of becoming severely ill with SARS-CoV2, but lockdown may impact patients with T1DM requiring regular medications and follow up. Hence this study was planned to see the impact of lockdown on glycemic control in patients with T1DM. METHODS: A cross sectional study was done in T1DM patients in whom a structured questionnaire was administered on follow up within 15 days after lockdown. Data regarding hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic episodes, Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), insulin dose missed, regular glucose monitoring, dietary compliance, physical activity, hospitalization during the phase of lockdown was taken. Average blood glucose and HbA1C of lockdown phase was compared with the readings of prelockdown phase. RESULTS: Out of 52 patients, 36.5% had hyperglycemic and 15.3% had hypoglycemic episodes. Insulin dose was missed in 26.9%, glucose monitoring not done routinely in 36.5% and 17.4% were not diet compliant during lockdown. Average blood glucose during lockdown phase was 276.9 ± 64.7 mg/dl as compared to 212.3 ± 57.9 mg/dl during prelockdown phase. Mean HbA1c value of lockdown (10 ± 1.5%) which was much higher that of pre lockdown (8.8 ± 1.3%) and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Glycemic control of T1DM patients has worsened mainly due to non availability of insulin/glucostrips during lockdown period. There is a need for preparedness in future so that complications can be minimised.

Disembowelment following unsafe home delivery: Young life lost!

Injuries to the bowel are seldom reported. Yet these pose serious problems associated with uterine perforation during deliveries that take place outside of hospitals. This is also true for abortions that are performed illegally in developing countries by persons without any medical training. This case study is about a 20 years old girl who lost her life following an unsafe delivery at home. To avoid morbidity and mortality associated with unsafe deliveries, it is necessary to understand the scope of this problem and the factors related to it: governments, nongovernmental organizations, religious groups and women groups.

Assessing genetic diversity among six populations of Gossypium arboreum L. using microsatellites markers.

Among the four cultivated cotton species, G. hirsutum (allotetraploid) presently holds a primary place in cultivation. Efforts to further improve this primary cotton face the constraints of its narrow genetic base due to repeated selective breeding and hence demands enrichment of diversity in the gene pool. G. arboreum (diploid species) is an invaluable genetic resource with great potential in this direction. Based on the dispersal and domestication in different directions from Indus valley, different races of G. arboreum have evolved, each having certain traits like drought and disease resistance, which the tetraploid cotton lack. Due to lack of systematic, race wise characterization of G. arboreum germplasm, it  has not been explored fully. During the present study, 100 polymorphic SSR loci were  used to genotype 95 accessions belonging to 6 races of G. arboreum producing 246 polymorphic alleles; mean number of effective alleles was 1.505. AMOVA showed 14 % of molecular variance among population groups, 34 % among individuals and remaining 52 % within individuals. UPGMA dendrogram, based on Nei's genetic distance, distributed the six populations in two major clusters of 3 populations each; race 'bengalense' was found more close to 'cernuum' than the others. The clustering of 95 genotypes by UPGMA tree generation as well as PCoA analysis clustered 'bengalense' genotypes into one group along with some genotypes of 'cernuum', while rest of the genotypes made separate clusters. Outcomes of this research should be helpful in identifying the genotypes for their further utilization in hybridization program to obtain high level of germplasm diversity.

SNP discovery in complex allotetraploid genomes (Gossypium spp., Malvaceae) using genotyping by sequencing.

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) marker discovery in plants with complex allotetraploid genomes is often confounded by the presence of homeologous loci (along with paralogous and orthologous loci). Here we present a strategy to filter for SNPs representing orthologous loci. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using Illumina next-generation sequencing, 54 million reads were collected from restriction enzyme-digested DNA libraries of a diversity of Gossypium taxa. Loci with one to three SNPs were discovered using the Stacks software package, yielding 25,529 new cotton SNP combinations, including those that are polymorphic at both interspecific and intraspecific levels. Frequencies of predicted dual-homozygous (aa/bb) marker polymorphisms ranged from 6.7-11.6% of total shared fragments in intraspecific comparisons and from 15.0-16.4% in interspecific comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: This resource provides dual-homozygous (aa/bb) marker polymorphisms. Both in silico and experimental validation efforts demonstrated that these markers are enriched for single orthologous loci that are homozygous for alternative alleles.

Efficacy of homeopathic intervention in subclinical hypothyroidism with or without autoimmune thyroiditis in children: an exploratory randomized control study.

INTRODUCTION: The decision to treat subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) with or without autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) in children, presents a clinical dilemma. This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of individualized homeopathy in these cases. METHODS: The study is an exploratory, randomized, placebo controlled, single blind trial. Out of 5059 school children (06-18 years) screened for thyroid disorders, 537 children had SCH/AIT and 194 consented to participate. Based on primary outcome measures (TSH and/or antiTPOab) three major groups were formed: Group A - SCH + AIT (n = 38; high TSH with antiTPOab+), Group B - AIT (n = 47; normal TSH with antiTPOab+) and Group C - SCH (n = 109; only high TSH) and were further randomized to two subgroups-verum and control. Individualized homeopathy or identical placebo was given to respective subgroup. 162 patients completed 18 months of study. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were similar in all the subgroups. The post treatment serum TSH (Group A and C) returned to normal limits in 85.94% of verum and 64.29% of controls (p < 0.006), while serum AntiTPOab titers (Group A and B) returned within normal limits in 70.27%of verum and 27.02%controls (p < 0.05). Eight children (10.5%) progressed to overt hypothyroidism (OH) from control group. CONCLUSION: A statistically significant decline in serum TSH values and antiTPOab titers indicates that the homeopathic intervention has not only the potential to treat SCH with or without antiTPOab but may also prevent progression to OH.

Internal jugular vein thrombosis: an uncommon presentation.

Internal jugular vein (IJV) thrombosis is a rare entity. It is usually secondary to various etiologies such as ovarian hyperstimulation, deep vein thrombosis of upper limbs, venous catheter, malignancy, trauma, infection, and neck surgery and hypercoagulable status. We report an unusual case of internal jugular vein thrombosis with cerebral sinus thrombosis, postpartum in a 22-year-old female patient who presented with a painful swelling on the left side of her neck. Diagnosis was established by color Doppler ultrasonography and magnetic resonance venography. Thorough evaluation of the patient revealed no etiological factor leading to thrombosis. Patient was treated with low-molecular-weight heparin.