Influence of Abiotic Factors on Population of Aphid Complex and Its Coexisting Natural Enemies in Mustard Agroecosystem

A field experiment was conducted to determine the population build-up of mustard aphid and their natural enemies in relation to abiotic factors at TCA, Dholi during the Rabi season of 2018-19 and 2019-20 respectively. The incidence of mustard aphid started in the 2nd and 3rd SMW of 2019 and 2020 respectively and reached maximum in 8th SMW in both the years. However, the predatory activity of coccinellids, syrphid larvae and spiders were started from 3rd SW with their peak activity at 3rd and 4th week of February in both the years. Mustard aphid population exhibited positive correlation with maximum temperature (0.347 & 0.543), minimum temperature (0.317 & 0.152) and negative correlation with relative humidity (-0.083 & -0.479) during 2019 & 2020 respectively and rainfall (-0.35) during 2020. However, natural enemies viz., coccinellids, syrphid larvae and spiders exhibited positive correlation with Tmax, Tmin, rainfall and negative correlation with RH in both the years.

Diel Activity Patterns of Two Distinct Populations of Aedes Aegypti in Miami, FL and Brownsville, TX

The diel biting activity of Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (L) populations was extensively investigated in the early 1900s to gain more information on the biology of Ae. aegypti, and this information was used to devise effective approaches to controlling populations of this species and protect the human population from widespread arbovirus outbreaks. However, few contemporary studies are available regarding the diel activity patterns of Ae. aegypti. To assess the diel activity patterns of Ae. aegypti in southern Florida and Texas, we conducted 96-hour uninterrupted mosquito collections once each month from May through November 2019 in Miami, Florida, and Brownsville, Texas, using BG-Sentinel 2 Traps. The overall diel activity pattern in both cities was bimodal with morning and evening peak activity between 7:00 and 8:00 and between 19:00 and 20:00. There were significant daily, monthly, seasonal, and site-specific differences in activity patterns, but these differences did not affect the overall peak activity times. These differences suggest daily, monthly, seasonal, and site-specific variations in human exposure to Ae. aegypti. Our observations can be used in planning and executing Ae. aegypti vector control activities in southern Florida and Texas, especially those targeting the adult mosquito populations.

The Finds of Golden Horde Coins in India and China

Research objectives: The study of all known Golden Horde coin finds in India and China. Research materials: All the known coin finds of the Golden Horde in India and China in the context of published coin finds (the research of Ch.J. Rodgers, M.A. Stein, and others). Results and novelty of the research: The author, for the first time ever, summarized the information about Golden Horde coin finds from these two countries. All Golden Horde coins from China and a portion of Golden Horde coins from India (Indian museum) were minted in Khwarazm. There is numismatic catalogue of Islamic coins from the Calcutta Museum where it is possible to find information about Golden Horde coins from the collection of the museum. Any information about finds of these coins is absent in this publication. However, it is most probable that these coins were found in India because the numismatic collections of such local museums were created practically only from local finds. The Golden Horde coins from the Calcutta Museum collection are mainly silver dirhams of the fourteenth century from Khwarazm, but there are also several coins from Lower Volga region. Probably, the Golden Horde coins went to India and China via Khwarazm. The materials published in the article gives archaeological evidence about close trade routes between Khwarazm on one end and India and Eastern Turkestan on the other end. The peak activity on these trade routes is dated to the second half of fourteenth century (mainly the coins of Uzbek and Janibek Khan of the Golden Horde). At the end of fourteenth century, the most important cities of the Golden Horde were in decline or ceased to exist as a result of Timur’s campaigns against it. The main trade routes between East and West shifted towards the south and stopped passing through the territory of the Ulus of Jochi. Not a single specimen of the finds is dated to the fifteenth century.

2-Day Westward-Propagating Inertio-Gravity Waves during GoAmazon

The dynamical and thermodynamical features of Amazonian 2-day westward-propagating inertia-gravity waves (WIG) are examined. On the basis of a linear regression analysis of satellite brightness temperature and data from the 2014-15 Observations and Modeling of the Green Ocean Amazon (GoAmazon) field campaign, it is shown that Amazonian WIG waves exhibit structure and propagation characteristics consistent with the n=1 WIG waves from shallow water theory. These WIG waves exhibit a pronounced seasonality, with peak activity occurring from March to May and a minimum occurring from June to September. Evidence is shown that mesoscale convective systems over the Amazon are frequently organized in 2-day WIG waves. Results suggest that many of the Amazonian WIG waves come from pre-existing 2-day waves over the Atlantic, which slow down when coupled with the deeper, more intense convection over tropical South America. In contrast to WIG waves that occur over the ocean, Amazonian 2-day WIG waves exhibit a pronounced signature in surface temperature, moisture, and heat fluxes.

Influence of Intercropping on Larval Population of Chickpea Pod Borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hub.) in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

A field experiment on influence of intercropping on the larval population of chickpea pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hub.) in chickpea was conducted at Agricultural Research Farm of Brahmanand Post Graduate College, Rath, Hamirpur, Uttar Pradesh during 2016-17 and 2019-20. In Bundelkhand agro-climatic region the activity of chickpea pod borer was observed from last week of December to last week of March while, its peak activity was noticed at 9th, 10th and 11th SMW in chickpea agro-ecosystem. The infestation of chickpea pod borer (H. armigera) larvae was started from last week of December when the crop was in vegetative growth stage. Thereafter, its population increase gradually to reach maximum (1.72 larvae/mrl) at 10th standard (first fortnight of March) after that its population declined gradually till the harvesting of the crop. The chickpea intercropped with safflower, mustard, linseed, barley and marigold had significant influence in reducing the larval population of chickpea pod borer (H. armigera). The chickpea intercropped with marigold (0.71larva/mrl) and mustard (0.75larva/mrl) was found the most effective in reducing the larval population of H. armigera. It was followed by chickpea + linseed, chickpea + barley and chickpea + safflower intercropping systems. The maximum population of chickpea pod borer was observed in chickpea sole crop (1.07larvae/mrl).

Demographic characteristics associated with circadian rest-activity rhythm patterns: a cross-sectional study

Background Rest-activity rhythm (RAR), a manifestation of circadian rhythms, has been associated with morbidity and mortality risk. However, RAR patterns in the general population and specifically the role of demographic characteristics in RAR pattern have not been comprehensively assessed. Therefore, we aimed to describe RAR patterns among non-institutionalized US adults and age, sex, and race/ethnicity variation using accelerometry data from a nationally representative population. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted using the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2014. Participants aged ≥20 years who were enrolled in the physical activity monitoring examination and had at least four 24-h periods of valid wrist accelerometer data were included in the present analysis. 24-h RAR metrics were generated using both extended cosinor model (amplitude, mesor, acrophase and pseudo-F statistic) and nonparametric methods (interdaily stability [IS] and intradaily variability [IV]). Multivariable linear regression was used to assess the association between RAR and age, sex, and race/ethnicity. Results Eight thousand two hundred participants (mean [SE] age, 49.1 [0.5] years) were included, of whom 52.2% were women and 67.3% Whites. Women had higher RAR amplitude and mesor, and also more robust (pseudo-F statistic), more stable (higher IS) and less fragmented (lower IV) RAR (all Ptrend < 0.001) than men. Compared with younger adults (20–39 years), older adults (≥ 60 years) exhibited reduced RAR amplitude and mesor, but more stable and less fragmented RAR, and also reached their peak activity earlier (advanced acrophase) (all Ptrend < 0.001). Relative to other racial/ethnic groups, Hispanics had the highest amplitude and mesor level, and most stable (highest IS) and least fragmented (lowest IV) RAR pattern (Ptrend < 0.001). Conversely, non-Hispanic blacks had the lowest peak activity level (lowest amplitude) and least stable (lowest IS) RAR pattern (all Ptrend < 0.001). Conclusions In the general adult population, RAR patterns vary significantly according to sex, age and race/ethnicity. These results may reflect demographic-dependent differences in intrinsic circadian rhythms and may have important implications for understanding racial, ethnic, sex and other disparities in morbidity and mortality risk.

Population dynamics of stem fly and defoliator pests of soybean and their natural enemies in relation to weather parameters

The field experiment was carried out at Polasa Farm, Regional agricultural research station Jagtial during the Kharif, 2014-15 and 2015-16. Study about pre dominant lepidopteran insect –pests in soybean crop noticed that the tobacco cut worm, (Spodptera exigua Hubner), green semi looper(Crysodexis acuta Walker), and tobacco caterpillar (Spodoptera litura Fab) along with stemfly, (Melanagromyza obtusa Zehnter) as non lepidopteran pest were noticed at various growth stages of cropgrowth. The peak activity of stem fly (37.84%) was observed during 37th standard week per meter row) for the year 2014 and for the year 2015 to a maximum infestation of 35.70 per cent during 30th std.week. The peak activity of caterpillar pests i.e., S. litura (7.6 larvae per meter row) for the year 2014 was observed during 34th std.week and for the year 2015 (12.4 per meter row during 36th std.week and C. acuta (0.7 larvae per meter row) during 36th std. week for the year 2014 and for the year 2015 (2.20 larvae/mrl on 37th std week. S. exigua (1.6 larvae per meter row) for both the years 2014 and 2015 was observed during 32th std.week Among the natural enemies, one predators namely, spiders (Oxyopes sp. was observed to prey on the insect pests.The biocontrol agent’s one species, lynx spider, Oxyopes sp. population recorded on the crop during Kharif , 2014 ranged from 0.15 to 0.40 /mrl and 0.15 to 0.60/ mrl during Kharif, 2015.

Peak Activation Shifts in the Sensorimotor Cortex of Chronic Stroke Patients Following Robot-assisted Rehabilitation Therapy

Background: Ischemic stroke is the most common cause of complex chronic disability and the third leading cause of death worldwide. In recovering stroke patients, peak activation within the ipsilesional primary motor cortex (M1) during the performance of a simple motor task has been shown to exhibit an anterior shift in many studies and a posterior shift in other studies. Objective: We investigated this discrepancy in chronic stroke patients who completed a robot-assisted rehabilitation therapy program. Methods: Eight chronic stroke patients with an intact M1 and 13 Healthy Control (HC) volunteers underwent 300 functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans while performing a grip task at different force levels with a robotic device. The patients were trained with the same robotic device over a 10-week intervention period and their progress was evaluated serially with the Fugl-Meyer and Modified Ashworth scales. Repeated measure analyses were used to assess group differences in locations of peak activity in the sensorimotor cortex (SM) and the relationship of such changes with scores on the Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity (FM UE) scale. Results: Patients moving their stroke-affected hand had proportionally more peak activations in the primary motor area and fewer peak activations in the somatosensory cortex than the healthy controls (P=0.009). They also showed an anterior shift of peak activity on average of 5.3-mm (P<0.001). The shift correlated negatively with FM UE scores (P=0.002). Conclusion: A stroke rehabilitation grip task with a robotic device was confirmed to be feasible during fMRI scanning and thus amenable to be used to assess plastic changes in neurological motor activity. Location of peak activity in the SM is a promising clinical neuroimaging index for the evaluation and monitoring of chronic stroke patients.

Reproductive Biology of the Tigris Scraper, Capoeta Umbla (Heckel, 1843) Population Living in Solhan Creek of Murat River (Bingöl, Turkey)

We studied the reproductive traits in 23 of 190 individuals of Capoeta umbla caught monthly in the Solhan Creek of the Murat River between April 2017 and March 2018. The sex ratio (F:M) was found to be 1:1.11. The macroscopic examination of the gonads and gonado-somatic index indicated that the reproductive period lasted from May to August with peak activity in May. The fecundity ranged from 2,000 to 9,000 oocytes, and it correlated with the total length and body weight. This work represents the first attempt to investigate the reproductive traits of the Capoeta umbla population in the Solhan Creek. The results provide information on the reproductive biology and contribute to the conservation of the fish population and its sustainable management.

Seasonal trends of Influenza in Islamabad, Pakistan

Background: Viral outbreaks have always been a challenging task for clinicians and Influenza virus has been on top of the list. The history of influenza epidemic reveals its devastating effects in the form of multiple deaths and economic burden. Hence this study was planned to recognize the peak activity time span of Influenza infection and its frequency in our set-up at Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad Pakistan. Material and Methods: A cross sectional study was performed in Pathology Laboratory, Shifa international hospital Islamabad from April 2016 to March 2019. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from patients of all age groups, with clinically suspected influenza infection throughout the year, irrespective of gender, according to hospital’s standard policy. Samples were analysed on GeneXpert kit (Xpert Flu Assay). Data collected was entered and then analysed in SPSS version 17. Results: Of the total 591 samples included in study, 233 (39.4%) were positive for influenza (Flu A or Flu B), while 358 (60.6%) showed negative results. Total 172 (73.8%) were positive for Flu A while 61 (26.1%) were positive for Flu B. Among Flu A cases, 107 (62.2%) were positive for H1N1. Most of the positive cases (n=206; 88.4%) were reported in the months of January and February during the three-year period (2016-2019) of this study. Conclusions: Influenza virus has peak activity in the months of January and February. Both Influenza A and B are circulating in the environment but Flu A is predominant and H1N1 is more prevalent.