The physicochemical properties of saliva, such as pH, buffering capacity, calcium, phosphorous, amylase and Streptococcus mutans has a definite relationship with caries activity.

Effect of cooking on the nutritional quality of graded level (20, 40 and 60 percent of infestation) of Insect (Callosobruchus chinensis (L) infested Bengal gram was seen. The parameters studied were physical characteristics (Weight, per cent damage, colour) and chemical properties i.e. proximate constituents, energy, uric acid and anti nutrients viz, phytic acid and trypsin inhibitors. The results revealed that with increase in the level of infestation, significant increases (p ≤ 0.05) in all the parameters were observed, except for decreases in values for energy, and true protein. Insect infestation showed an adverse effect on the physical and nutritional quality of Bengal gram. Presence of insect body fragments and excreta made the pulse unhygienic. The insect infested Bengal gram was damaged qualitatively as well as quantitatively. Even After cooking only, about 50 per cent decrease was noted in uric acid, Phytic acid and Trypsin Inhibitors. Even cooking of insect infested Bengal gram could not improve the quality of the legume.

Spatial distribution of Thrips tabaci Lindeman on rabi onion was assessed in mid-hill regions of Himachal Pradesh, representing north-western Indian Himalayas. Thrips followed negative binomial distribution in onion. Based on the Lewis index, Index of dispersion, Morisita coefficient of dispersion, Lloyd’s mean crowding and Index of patchiness it was observed that in early stages of crop growth stages of rabi onion, thrips were distributed randomly whereas in later crop stages, thrips distribution was aggregated/ overdispersed/ clumped. Aggregated distribution of thrips was also confirmed by Taylor’s power law and Iwao’s patchiness regression index with the corresponding values of 1.29 and 2.65. For estimation of thrips population in vegetative, bulb initiation and bulb development stage, the mean number of samples needed were 15476, 760 and 270, respectively at P = 0.1 (precision level of 90%). Whereas at 80% (P = 0.2), relatively small number of samples were needed (869, 190 and 68) for corresponding crop stages.