Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were successfully synthesised from aqueous silver nitrate using the extracts of Arachis hypogaea peels. The synthesised SNPs were characterized by Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy analysis, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy analysis and high-resonance scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. AgNPs were well defined and measured 20 to 50 nm in size. The nanoparticles were crystallized with a face-centered cubic structure. Larvicidal activity of synthesised AgNPs from A. hypogaea peels was tested for their larvicidal activity against the fourth instar larvae of Aedes aegypti (Yellow fever), Anopheles stephensi (Human malaria). The results suggest that the synthesised AgNPs have the potential to be used as an ideal eco-friendly resource for the control of A. aegypti and A. stephensi. This study provides the first report on the mosquito larvicidal activity of synthesised AgNPs from A. hypogaea peels against vectors of malaria and dengue.

Zinc status in 186 full term and preterm infants was determined at birth, and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of age along with determination of zinc levels in breast or formula milk to find out if routine zinc supplements are needed during infancy. The leukocyte and plasma zinc levels in all breastfed infants were high at birth and gradually declined reaching lowest values by 4-6 months of age, and improved to normal levels by 9 months following weaning. The preterm infants however, had significantly (P < 0.05) higher leukocyte zinc (213.6 +/- 46.91 micrograms/10(10) cells) at birth compared to term infants. Colostrum of all the mothers had higher zinc concentrations which declined to significantly lower levels in breastmilk by 4-6 months of lactation, corresponding to the age when the breastfed infants had lower zinc levels. The improvement of the levels to normal after weaning suggests that the fall in zinc status during early infancy could be a transient phenomenon which could be reversed by proper weaning, thus strengthening the plea for timely food supplements rather than the need for single nutrient supplements. Formula-fed full term infants had significantly lower leukocyte zinc levels (49.3 +/- 2.59 micrograms/10(10) cells) at 3 months of age compared to breastfed infants of the same age (92.8 +/- 14.04 micrograms/10(10) cells). Even these infants improved their zinc status after weaning on par with breastfed infants. The functional significance of their transient, but low zinc values during early infancy needs to be investigated.

Interspecific hybridization in Jatropha species plays a significant role in crop improvement by transferring useful traits such as yield, high oil content, maximum number of seeds, more femaleness, and hard stems for promoting Jatropha as a biofuel crop. The wide crosses among the species resulted in limited success due to pollen incompatability. Hence, the objective of the study was to assess pre‐ and postzygotic barriers through pollen–pistil interaction between cultivated Jatropha curcas and other three wild Jatropha species. In this study, the cross J. curcas × J. gossypifolia, even though the pollen tubes reached ovaries after pollination, failed to produce seeds, and the cross between J. curcas × J. podagrica indicated incompatibility signs of bulged pollen tubes coupled with reverse direction of pollen tube growth. The interspecific cross of J. curcas with J. villosa showed crossability barriers of crinkled and twisted growth pattern of pollen tubes and failed to reach ovary. In the case of selfing (J. curcas × J. curcas), pollen tubes reached ovary within an hour and produced normal seeds. Reciprocal crosses of these species exhibited successful fertilization of pollen tubes, but seed set was very low or no seed set was noticed.

Vector control is facing a threat due to the emergence of resistance to synthetic insecticides. Insecticides of plant origin my serve as an alternative biocontrol technique in the future. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the larvicidal activity of fractions and compounds from the whole-plant methanol extracts of Leucas aspera on the fourth-instar larvae of Aedes aegypti, Anopheles stephensi, and Culex quinquefasciatus. The larvae were exposed to fractions with concentrations ranging from 1.25, 2.25, 5, 10, and 20 ppm and isolated compounds. After 24 h exposure, larval mortality was assessed. Among the eight fractions, four from hexane extractions showed potent larvicidal activity against tested mosquito species at 20 ppm concentration. The isolated compound catechin showed pronounced larvicidal activity at very low concentrations. The LC50 and LC90 values of catechin were 3.05 and 8.25 ppm against Ae. aegypti, 3.44 and 8.89 ppm against An. stephensi, and 3.76 and 9.79 ppm against C. quinquefasciatus, respectively. The isolated compound was subjected to spectral analyses (GC-MS, FTIR, (1)H NMR, and (13)C NMR) to elucidate the structure and to compare with spectral data literature.

Cell-mediated immune status (CMI) of sixty-five children suffering from various clinical forms of tuberculosis and thirty age- and sex-matched healthy children aged between 1 and 5 years was investigated to understand the role of malnutrition in tuberculosis. A significant association between severe malnutrition and severe forms of infection was observed. Data on CMI showed immunosuppressive effect of tuberculosis per se in all children. Well nourished children had similar CMI status irrespective of the severity of the disease while malnourished children with severe forms of disease showed lowest CMI response. These data suggest not only the synergistic interactions of malnutrition and tuberculosis, but the contributory role of malnutrition in causing more severe immuno suppression. The results point out the importance of better nutritional status of the child in preventing the severe forms of the disease.