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Tannic acid or tannin, type of phenolic compound contains in kenaf bast fibre. Conventional extraction has certain limitations in terms of time, energy, and solvent consumption. Ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) can extract bioactive components in shorter time, low temperature, with lesser energy and solvent requirement. UAE as alternative extraction technique is better equipped to retain the functionality of the bioactive compounds. In this study, the conditions for ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) of tannic acid from kenaf bast fibre by assessing the effect of sonication time and different duty cycles were optimized. The use of ultrasound to extract tannic acid from kenaf bast fiber was evaluated. Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) was carried out using ethanol as solvent to intensify the extraction efficacy. Phytochemical screening was conducted to identify the presence of tannic acid in extracts. The extracts then were analyzed using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). It was found that 0.2429 mg/mL of tannic acid was obtained under the extraction conditions of extraction temperature of 40°C, sonication time of 20 minutes and duty cycle of 50%. From SEM analysis, it was found that the raw sample demonstrated rough surface and no porous but kenaf bast fibre display smoother surface with less impurities and few pores appeared after the extraction process using UAE. These results indicate that ultrasound-assisted extraction is an efficient method for extracting tannic acid from kenaf bast fibre with the advantages of lower extraction time and higher extraction yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psyllid fauna of Pakistan is represented by few species only. Here, a Psyllid species: Pseudophacopteron tuberculatum (Crawford, 1912) is recorded for the first time from Pakistan. Description of immatures and adult morphology, micrographs and biology are given to validate this new faunal record and facilitate its prompt identification. Distribution map along with notes on new distributional records of four psyllid species including Acizzia indica (Heslop-Harrison, 1949); Diaphorina aegyptiaca Puton, 1892; Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, 1908 and Euphyllura pakistanica Loginova, 1973 are provided. Ecological relationship of recorded species with ants has also been given. All collected material was identified using the most relevant and available literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: Ichneumonidae; Pimplinae; Xanthopimpla; Pothwar; New country record EN Ichneumonidae Pimplinae Xanthopimpla Pothwar New country record INTRODUCTION Pimplinae is the most studied group of family Ichneumonidae as parasitoids of important Lepidopterous pest of agriculture crops (Brooks and Wahl, 1987; Matsumoto and Konishi, 2007). Townes and Chiu (1970) described the genus Xanthopimpla from Indo-Australian area with 22 species groups to classify the large number of species. Xanthopimpla punctata, Xanthopimpla stremmator, and Xanthopimpla flavelinate are reported as new additions from Pothwar region of Pakistan. Pimpia transversalis Vollenhoven, 1879 Xanthopimpla ruficornis Krieger, 1899 Zanthopimpla appendiculata Cameron, 1902 Xanthopimpla brunneciornis Cameron, 1903 Xanthopimpla kandyensis Cameron, 1905 Xanthopimpla lissonola Cameron, 1906 Neopimpla punctata Kvroiwa, 1908 Xanthopimpla punctata Morley, 1913 Diagnosis: Areola complete enclosed by carina 0.4-0.5x as long as wide. [Extracted from the article]

Genus Rodolia Mulsant, 1850 (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) mostly associated with the species of scale insects and mealybugs. A total of two species i.e. Rodolia fumida and R. octoguttata were studied from Pothwar Plateau, Pakistan during 2015-2017. R. octoguttata is recorded for the first time from Pakistan. Both of the species have been found as predator of Drosicha mangiferae (Mango mealybug) and collected from six host plants viz. Lagerstroemia indica, Mangiferae indica, Eriobotrya japonica, Alstonia scholaris, Prunus persica and Dalbergia sissoo. Information about host plants, prey, distribution, diagnostic characters and their illustrations have been provided. This information will helpful in identification of these species and their possible utilization in IPM of Mango mealybug and future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroelectric BaZr1-xTixO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 8) ceramic composition was synthesized by using solid state reaction method. The material was calcined at 1250 °C in air. In this work we have examined that the ferroelectric, energy storage and microwave dielectric properties of BaZr1-xTixO3 at room temperature. The XRD patterns showed that BaZr1-xTixO3 composition is of perovskite structure with a space group of Pm-3m. SEM morphology shows that increase in number of grain boundaries result in increase of polarisation. The energy storage properties were calculated from (P-E) loops by varying the electric field (range) and composition of the ceramic material. It has observed that the relative permittivity increases along with temperature. The storage energy density (Wrec) has been reported 0.043 J/cm³, whereas efficiency (ɳ) was 57% at room temperature and 40 kv/cm at contents (x=0.06). The Barium zirconium titanate (BZT) will be an excellent candidate material for storage energy devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sn-Bi-S system based thin film layers have been studied. These thin films were deposited on glass substrates by using magnetron sputtering. Sn-Bi thin films were deposited at chamber ambient temperature by co-sputtering of Sn and Bi and then sulphurized by encapsulating deposited Sn-Bi thin films in evacuated glass tubes by placing some amount of S in the tube to produce Sn-Bi-S system thin films. These glass tubes were annealed at different temperatures. From Raman spectroscopy SnS, Bi2S3, Sn2S3, peaks were observed. Using Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) elemental analysis was done. Optical properties were studied by analyzing the transmission spectra of prepared samples using UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometer. The optical results showed that these materials have bandgap around 1.4eV. Photoconductivity response for 530 nm wavelength was studied and showed that materials have better photoconductivity around bandgap energy. Conductivity type determination showed that these Sn-Bi-S system thin films have p-type conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work was to study the genetic variability between the major carps Labeo rohita and Cirrhinus mrigala and their hybrids of L. rohita (male♂) and C. mrigala (female♀). Genetic variability was studied by employing RAPD molecular markers. 25 samples of each target species having different sizes with the same age group for the determination of interspecific variation were collected. The morphometric parameters such as body weight, total length, tail length, and lengths of dorsal and anal fins of each individual were recorded and results showed that wet body weight, total length, dorsal fin, anal fin, and tail fin length are positively correlated and then the DNA was extracted using the inorganic salt-based method and conformed by Gel electrophoresis. Twenty-four arbitrary decamer primers were used to get species-specific RAPD analysis Distinct and highly reproducible RAPD profiles with significant genetic variability was detected among species. Only five primers showed amplification. The RAPAD primer OPB-05 produced a total of seven bands out of these 5 monomorphic and 2 polymorphic, so in this case, the percentage polymorphism was 28.57%. The Hybrid show more than a 50% difference from the Labeo rohita. This shows that the Hybrid more resembles C.mrigala. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that hybrid (L. rohita ♂ X Cirrhinus mrigala ♀) is the closest to C. mrigala and the farthest from L. rohita. Overall data are presented concerning the applications of RAPD markers for hybrid identification, genetic diversity assessment, and studying taxonomic relationships at a molecular level.

Previous studies have suggested that arsenic crosses the placenta and affects the fetus development. The study under consideration aims to show comparative ameliorative effect of Moringa oleifera leaf and flower extracts against sodium arsenate induced fetus toxicity of mice. Pregnant mice (N=44) were kept in lab and divided into eleven group from (A to K) and were orally administered the doses 6 mg/kg, 12 mg/kg for sodium arsenate, 150 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg for Moringa oleifera leaf extracts (MOLE) and 150 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg for Moringa oleifera flower extracts (MOFE) comparing with control. The investigation revealed evident reduction in the fetuses weight, hind limb, fore limb, tail and snout length, crown rump and head circumferences well as malformations in tail, feet, arms, legs, skin and eyes in the negative control group (only administered with sodium arsenate). Co-administration of sodium arsenate with MOLE and MOFE ameliorate the reversed effect of sodium arsenate on the shape, length, body weight and DNA damage of fetus significantly at 95% confidence interval. However, Moringa oleifera leaf extract showed more significant results in comparison to Moringa oleifera flower extract. Hence concluded that Moringa oleifera leaf extract ameliorated the embryo toxic effects of sodium arsenate and can be used against environmental teratogens.