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The biology of citrus butterfly was studied under laboratory (room temperature 29-35°C; RH 60-75%) and screen house conditions on Kinnow mandarin. The results revealed that pre-oviposition, oviposition and post-oviposition period averaged 1.30±0.48, 4.20±0.79 and 2.44±0.45 days, respectively. A single female laid 100.9±4.04 eggs which hatched in 4.24±0.69 days. The mean duration of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th larval instar was 2.7±0.48, 2.6±0.52, 2.9±0.31, 3.2±0.42 and 5.2±0.42 days, respectively. The mean longevity of male was 4.07±0.18 days and that of female as 6.84±0.19 days. Morphometric studies on P. demoleus revealed that the eggs measured 1.01±0.05 mm in diameter. Average body lengths of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th instar larvae was 5.30±0.38, 9.18±0.11, 14.00±0.53, 26.21±2.02 and 45.00±2.62 mm, respectively. The average wingspan and body length measured 90.45±1.59 and 27.35±0.97 mm in male, while 90.93±2.13 and 28.58±1.24 mm in female, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biology of the citrus psylla, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama was studied on screen house. The biological characteristics of each lifestage are described. Theaverage pre- mating, pre-oviposition and oviposition period lasted for 5.2 ± 0.61, 1.8 ± 0.26 and 22.1 ± 0.75 days on the host plant. The incubation period, 3.5 ± 0.24 days during autumn season and egg measured 0.28±0.03 mm in length and 0.13±0.01 mm in width on average. The pest passed through five nymphal instars. The adult longevity of female with a mean duration 33.2 ± 0.75 day and for male with mean duration of 28.6 ± .0.52 days, thereby, indicating shorter longevity in males compared to the females and total life span was completed of 56.2 ± 0.82 days for female and 51.8 ± 1.07 days for male in citrus psylla on sweet orange. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infusion profiles, partitioning property and spectrophotometric correlations for different components present in tea have been discussed in the present work. The infusion profiles of four different marketed tea brands were studied over 50-100°C. The results obtained from the studies show the direct relationship of infusion profiles with brewing temperature and different particle size fractions. The HPLC analysis of brew shows the epicatechin gallate (ECG) and catechin gallate (CG) to be fast eluting compared to other components studied. The partition constants of major catechins and methyl xanthines between swollen tea granules and aqueous solution have been determined. The partition constants (K) of all components range between 0.23-0.82 g/mL over 60-80°C. The correlation between the most commonly used methods in routine tea brew analysis namely, delivered polyphenol content (DPP), UV spectrophotometry and HPLC have been developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) is challenging in the presence of morphological mimickers. Flow cytometric immunophenotyping (FCI) has been added to the diagnostic armamentarium, but its use in clinical practice is variable. Materials and Methods: Bone marrow aspirate samples from 54 patients with a clinical and/or morphological suspicion of MDS were subjected to FCI using a single-tube, 6-colour panel comprising of monoclonal antibodies against CD13, CD11b, CD16, CD34, CD45 and CD56. Analysis was centered on the abnormal maturation pattern of granulocytes, blast percentage (≥3%) and ratio of side scatter peak channel value (SSC-PCV) of granulocytes and lymphocytes. Each of these parameters was assigned a score of 1. Overall sensitivity and specificity of this panel was ascertained to differentiate cytopenia/s of MDS from non-MDS cases. Results: Forty MDS and 14 non-MDS cases were diagnosed based on morphology and cytogenetic results. Twenty control samples were also processed simultaneously for FCI to assign the cutoff for various flow cytometric parameters. A score ≥2 was defined as positive for MDS. Hypogranularity was present in 62.5% cases of MDS. The median SSC-PCV of granulocytes and lymphocytes was 6.16 in the MDS group, 7.9 in the non-MDS group and 8.90 in the control group (p <0.05). This cut-off value of 6.16 had a specificity of 92.5% based on the ROC curve analysis. Abnormal granulocyte maturation patterns for CD13/16, CD13/11b and CD11b/16 dot plots were observed in 95.3, 69.8 and 74.4% cases, respectively. The overall sensitivity and specificity of the panel was found to be 87.5% and 64.2%, respectively. Conclusion: FCI is now an important tool for diagnostic workup in patients presenting with persistent cytopenia with or without morphological evidence of dyspoiesis. Inclusion of objective parameters like SSCPCV would also reduce inter-lab variability in MDS diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brinjal Shoot and Fruit Borer, Leucinodes orbonalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a monophagous pest (feeds only on Brinjal). It is an important and most destructive pest of brinjal owing to its feeding habit. Laboratory experiment carried out on biological parameters of L.orbonalis in the department of Entomology, CCSHAU, Hisar during 2014 revealed that a single female could lay 112-149 eggs (average 131.0 eggs) preferably on the lower surface of the tender leaves or the twigs of plant, flowers, calycis of the fruits, during her total life time. Incubation period of the eggs varied from 3.5 to 4.1 days (average 3.8 days). After egg hatching, larvae passed through 5 larval instars. Total larval and pupal period was observed on an average 13.5 and 7.5 days, respectively.Adult longevity of male and female was found on an average (1.6 & 5.5 days) and (0.8 & 2.7 days) in case of fed and unfed condition, respectively. Shoot and fruit borer completed its total life cycle in 27-32 days. Hence, these observation on nature and behaviour of each stage of its life cycle can be further utilised in the management of this pest at its damaging stage stage under field conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combining ability of thirteen lines for growth, yield and quality traits was conducted through a line × tester analysis. The analysis of variances mean sum of squares for combining ability revealed that the partitioning of variances due to lines × testers showed highly significant differences for all the characters except fruit length and pericarp thickness. Mean sum of squares due to lines were found highly significant for plant height followed by ascorbic acid, number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight, number of fruits per cluster, fruit length, total fruit yield per plant, marketable fruit yield per plant and pericarp thickness. The estimate of variance of GCA and SCA and their ratio indicated preponderance of non-additive gene action for most of the traits. Based on the mean performance and gca effects, male parents H-86 and NDT-4 were found as good general combiner for fruit yield per plant and number of fruits per plant, while female parents Arka Ahuti, Arka Abha and Azad T-6 were better for fruit yield per plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vortex tube splits the compressed air into two parts: a free vortex as the peripheral warm stream at the conical valve end and a forced vortex as the inner cold stream through the orifice. In the present work the conical valve at the hot end in existing model is replaced with a hollow conical valve gives a provision for flow through the inner core. A conical valve is introduced at the orifice, directs the forced vortex yet again to hit back develops one more forced vortex flow, which escapes through the central core of the hollow conical valve. Thus the revised vortex tube with three outlets: one hot outlet and two cold outlets, is named as dual forced flow vortex tube (DFFVT). Tests were made to evaluate the effect of end control plugs at both the ends on the performance of the modified vortex tube with various cone angles. Results reveal that 45° hollow cone angle with 55° solid cone angle is the optimum for effective temperature separation. Also it is identified that moderate cold fraction of 0.34 through the cold end-II with 0.21 cold fraction-I gives optimum temperature drops together at both the cold ends. Also the temperature drop through both the ends-I & II increases with increase of pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dairy industry is growing in Nepal and western dairy pocket area is the main milk producing area in Chitwan district. This study was carried out to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with N. caninum in western dairy pocket area in Chitwan district of Nepal. A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2014 to July 2014 among the small holder dairy farms, and out of 2188 animals from different sampling villages, 186 (8.5%) animals were randomly selected. Individual blood samples (5-10 ml) were collected and screened for N. caninum antibodies by ELISA test kit. The study showed that apparent overall prevalence of N. caninum to be 4.84% and true prevalence, 4.07%. The prevalence varied from a low of 0% to a high of 13.16% in various VDCs. The prevalence rates among Holstein-Friesian cross and Jersey cross Cattle were 6.94% and 3.51% respectively. The seroprevalence of N. caninum was found to be 16.13% and 2.5% in animals with and without history of abortion respectively, showed statistically significant different (p value <0.05). Similarly, prevalence were 13.64% and 3.66% in animals with and without presence of dog respectively and 8.5%, 3.39% and 0% in the animals of age group of 3-5 years, 1-3 years and above 5 years respectively, showed statistically non-significant association (p value <0.05). This study shows that N. caninum is associated with abortion in dairy cattle of Chitwan region. The study may contribute the base line data of N. caninum in Nepal for future preventive strategy for stake-holders and government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is a rare, small-vessel vasculitis associated with a prominent allergic component, asthma, and blood or tissue eosinophilia. Granulomas, eosinophils, and palisading histiocytes in extravascular tissues are hallmarks of this disorder. The presence of asthma or allergy as well as more than 10% of eosinophils in blood is 95% sensitive and 99% specific, respectively, in distinguishing CSS among a subgroup of patients with well-documented systemic vasculitis. We present a case of pleural effusion which was finally diagnosed as CSS. Considering its rarity, this case is reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]