A laboratory experiment of a completely randomised design and replicated four times evaluated the effectiveness to control the bruchid, Callosobruchus maculatus in cowpea by the synthetic insecticide Actellic dust, and by the natural protectants ash, coconut oil, powdered cloves and black pepper. The data collected included the number of damaged and undamaged seeds, weight of damaged and undamaged seeds and the number of live and dead bruchids. Seeds treated with Actellic dust and black pepper powder had significantly low percentages of damaged seeds. Black pepper powder and coconut oil showed good potential in protecting cowpea against bruchid damage.

Twenty adult, domestic short hair cats were randomly allocated into four groups of five cats and housed in separated cages. Each cat was infested with 25 fleas Ctenocephalides felis felis and 25 Ctenocephalides felis strongylus and 2 days later (day 0) the cats in group 1, 2 and 3 received a spot on application of selamectin, imidacloprid or fipronil, respectively, while the cats in group four were not treated. The cats were combed 48 h later, the fleas were removed, counted and their subspecies were determined. All the cats were reinfested with the same number of the two subspecies of fleas on days 7, 14, 21, 29 and 35. The efficacy of each treatment was calculated 48 h after each infestation. The mean number of fleas on the control cats was 16.4 C. f. felis and 13.4 C. f. strongylus. The three treatments were effective for the first 31 days for C. f. felis and for the full 37 days for C. f. strongylus. Over the first 31 days, the efficacy of selamectin ranged from 89 to 100% and 85 to 100% against C. f. felis and C. f. strongylus, respectively, the efficacy of imidacloprid ranged from 76 to 100% and 92 to 100% and the efficacy of fipronil ranged from 98 to 100% and 97 to 100% against C. f. felis and C. f. strongylus. There were no significant differences between the control of C. f. felis and C. f. strongylus by the three products.

To understand the evolution, attenuation, and variable protective efficacy of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccines, Mycobacterium bovis BCG Pasteur 1173P2 has been subjected to comparative genome and transcriptome analysis. The 4,374,522-bp genome contains 3,954 protein-coding genes, 58 of which are present in two copies as a result of two independent tandem duplications, DU1 and DU2. DU1 is restricted to BCG Pasteur, although four forms of DU2 exist; DU2-I is confined to early BCG vaccines, like BCG Japan, whereas DU2-III and DU2-IV occur in the late vaccines. The glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene, glpD2, is one of only three genes common to all four DU2 variants, implying that BCG requires higher levels of this enzyme to grow on glycerol. Further amplification of the DU2 region is ongoing, even within vaccine preparations used to immunize humans. An evolutionary scheme for BCG vaccines was established by analyzing DU2 and other markers. Lesions in genes encoding σ-factors and pleiotropic transcriptional regulators, like PhoR and Crp, were also uncovered in various BCG strains; together with gene amplification, these affect gene expression levels, immunogenicity, and, possibly, protection against tuberculosis. Furthermore, the combined findings suggest that early BCG vaccines may even be superior to the later ones that are more widely used.

Spiromesifen is a novel insecticide (belonging to the new chemical class of spirocyclic phenyl-substituted tetronic acids) with a unique mode of action. Laboratory and field experiments were conducted to test the efficacy of this insecticide against the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) on strawberry, Fragaria ananassa (L.). Laboratory experiments showed that spiromesifen at 0.5 and 1.0 μg·mL-1 a.i. inhibited egg hatching by 80% and 100%, respectively, whereas at concentrations of 3.1, 3.0, and 10.0 μg·mL-1 a.i., this insecticide, respectively, killed 100% of the first, second, and third instar nymphs. Much lower toxicity to adults was observed. Field trials revealed that application of spiromesifen reduced the whitefly egg numbers by 61% to 80% from 2 to 3 weeks posttreatment in comparison with the pyriproxyfen treatment, whereas the application lowered the egg numbers by 34% to 73% from 2 to 5 weeks posttreatment compared with the buprofezin treatment. In comparison with pyriproxyfen treatment, spiromesifen application decreased the numbers of immature whiteflies by 29% to 92% from 1 to 6 weeks posttreatment. The effect of spiromesifen on reduction of immatures was similar to that of buprofezin. Also, the efficacy of spiromesifen on suppression of adult numbers was comparable to that of pyriproxyfen or buprofezin. Spiromesifen shows promise for inclusion in integrated greenhouse whitefly management programs and insecticide resistance management programs on strawberry.

Bone graft had been investigated previously to restore bone defects in orthopedics. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy on new bone formation in bone autografts by treatment of implants. Cortical bone autografts were transplanted to midshaft of diaphyseal fibulae of 9 rabbits which were divided in 3 groups according to the treatment method of implants. Cortical bone implants for graft were treated with 3 different methods; freezing, freeze-drying, defat-freezing. Autografts were achieved by cross-transplantation method to bilateral fibulae of the presented rabbits after implant treatment procedures.

This study was performed to determine effectiveness of honey on sex reversal of guppy.  Guppy broodstock was dipped on 1 L of water containing 0, 20, 40 or 60 mL of honey, for 10 hours.  Sex identification was carried out by morphologically and histological method.  The results of study show that percentage of male progeny tends to increase by increasing the dose of honey used.  Higher percentage of male fish is obtained by the dose of 60 ml/L (59.5% male), about 2.4 fold higher than that of control (24.3% male).  Dipping of honey has no effect on survival of broodstock and larvae.  Keywords: honey, sex reversal, monosex, Poecilia reticulata   ABSTRAK Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk mengetahui efektivitas madu dalam pengarahan diferensiasi kelamin ikan gapi. Induk ikan gapi direndam dalam 1 L air yang mengandung 0, 20, 40 atau 60 mL madu, selama 10 jam.  Jenis kelamin ikan gapi diidentifikasi secara morfologis dan metode histologi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa persentase anak ikan gapi jantan cenderung meningkat seiring dengan peningkatan dosis madu yang diberikan. Persentase tertinggi ikan gapi jantan diperoleh pada perlakuan 60 mg/l media (59,5%), sekitar 2,4 kali lebih tinggi daripada kontrol (24,3%). Perendaman dengan madu terbukti tidak mempengaruhi tingkat kelangsungan hidup induk dan larva. Kata kunci: madu, pengarahan kelamin, monoseks, Poecilia reticulata

Biological efficacy of chemical and natural rodenticides in controlling rodents in alfalfa and wheat crops was investigated. The experiment was set up using a randomized block design with four replicates and 400 m2 plots in compliace with a standard OEPP/EPPO method. Examination was based on the average number of active holes and rodenticide efficacy was measured three, seven, 14 and 28 days after treatment. Rodent numbers were computed from the number of active holes, and rodenticide efficacy using Abbott’s formula.The appearance and arrangement of active holes indicated the presence of common vole (Microtus arvalis Pall) and striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius) in the plots. The products tested demonstrated satisfactory efficacy in controlling rodents in alfalfa and wheatcrops. Products based on vitamin D3 achieved 87-90% efficacy in both crops. The efficacy of a bromadiolone-based product ranged from 84% to 90%, while a cellulose product displayed the highest variation in efficacy, ranging from 86% to 98%.

Biological efficacy of chemical and natural rodenticies in controlling rodents in alfalfa and wheat crops was investigated. The experiment was set up using a randomized block design with four replicates and 400 square meter plots in compliance with a standard OEPP/EPPO method. Examination was based on the average number of active holes and rodenticide efficacy was measured three, seven, 14 and 28 days after treatment. Rodent numbers were computed from the number of active holes, and rodenticide efficacy using Abbott formula. The appearance and arrangement of active holes indicated the presence of common vole (Microtus arvalis Pall) and striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius) in the plots. The products tested demonstrated satisfatory efficacy in controlling rodents in alfalfa and wheat crops. Products based on vitamin D3 achieved 87-90%% efficacy in both crops. The efficacy of a bromadiolone-based product ranged from 84% to 90%, while a cellulose product displayed the highest variation in efficacy, ranged from 86% to 98%.

Iron and iodine deficiencies affect more than 30% of the world's population. Typical Indian diets contain adequate amounts of iron, but the bioavailability is poor. This serious limiting factor is caused by low intake of meat products rich in heme iron and intake of phytates in staple foods in the Indian diet, which inhibits iron absorption. To test the stability of double-fortified salt (DFS) during storage and to assess its efficacy in improving the iron and iodine status of the communities. The stability of both iodized salt and DFS during storage for a 2-year period was determined. The bioefficacy of DFS was assessed in communities covering three states of the country for a period of 1 year. This was a multicenter, single-blind trial covering seven clusters. The experimental group used DFS and the control group used iodized salt. The salts were used in all meals prepared for family members, but determination of hemoglobin by the cyanmethemoglobin method was performed in only two or three members per family, and not in children under 10 years of age (n = 393 and 436 in the experimental and control groups, respectively). The family size was usually four or five, with a male: female ratio of 1:1, consisting of two parents with two or three children. Hemoglobin was measured at baseline, 6 months (midpoint), and 12 months (endpoint). Urinary iodine was measured in only one cluster at baseline and endpoint. All the participants were dewormed at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. The iron and iodine in the DFS were stable during storage for 2 years. Over a period of 1 year, there was an increase of 1.98 g/dL of hemoglobin in the experimental group and 0.77 g/dL of hemoglobin in the control group; the latter increase may have been due to deworming. The median urinary iodine changed from 200 μg/dL at baseline to 205 μg/dL at the end of the study in the experimental group and from 225 μg/dL to 220 μg/dL in the control group. There was a statistically significant (p < .05) improvement in the median urinary iodine status of subjects who were iodine deficient (urinary iodine < 100 μg/L) in both the experimental and the control groups, a result showing that DFS was as efficient as iodized salt in increasing urinary iodine from a deficient to sufficient status. There was a statistically significant increase (p < .05) in hemoglobin in all seven clusters in the experimental group compared with the control. The iron and iodine in the DFS are stable in storage for 2 years. The DFS has proved beneficial in the delivery of bioavailable iron and iodine.