A new species of the genus Hoplochaetella Michaelsen 1900 (Clitellata: Octochaetidae) from the Deccan Peninsula Biogeographic Zone, India.

A new species Hoplochaetella darwini sp. nov. is described from the Deccan Peninsula biogeographic zone of South Indian State, Tamil Nadu.

A new species of the genus Eutyphoeus Michaelsen 1900 (Clitellata: Acanthodrilidae) from the North-Eastern Biogeographic Zone, India.

A new species of the genus Eutyphoeus is described herein from the material collected from Assam, the North-eastern region of India. The new species Eutyphoeus dhubriensis sp. nov.

A new species of the genus Tonoscolex Gates, 1933 (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) from India.

Tonoscolex kalimpongensis Ahmed Julka sp. nov. is described from Neora Valley National Park in the Kalimpong district of West Bengal, India.

Identification of sources resistant to a virulent Fusarium wilt strain (VCG 0124) infecting Cavendish bananas.

Bananas are vital for food security in many countries, and half of banana production relies solely on 'Cavendish' (AAA), which is presently threatened by the fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) tropical race 4.

Notes on some crinoid associated decapod crustaceans (Crustacea: Decapoda) of Lakshadweep Archipelago, Central Indian Ocean.

Decapod crustaceans symbiotic with echinoderms (sea stars, brittle stars, feather stars, basket stars, sea cucumbers, and sea urchins) possess remarkable diversification in the Indo-Pacific. In the present study, seven species of decapod crustaceans symbiotic with crinoids are recorded based on collections from selected Islands (Agatti, Amini, Bangaram, Kavaratti, Kalpeni, and Minicoy) of Lakshadweep Archipelago. Of these decapods, five caridean shrimps (Alpheidae: Synalpheus carinatus (de Man, 1888), S.

Design and development of porous terracotta disc: An eco-friendly novel control agent for mosquito larvae.

In the present work, we synthesized silver nanoparticles supported by rice husk by hydrothermal treatment, as-synthesized silver nanoparticles rice husk (AgNPs-RH) bio-composite mixed with potter clay thoroughly, molded, dried into a disc-shaped before firing and applying as a point of use larvicidal agent. As designed, porous terracotta disc (PTD) infused with AgNPs-RH-biocomposite were characterized by UV spectrophotometer, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The amount of silver ions released from the PTD was also found to be within the prescribed limit of 0.

Chlorin e6 decorated doxorubicin encapsulated chitosan nanoparticles for photo-controlled cancer drug delivery.

In the study we have reported the physico-chemical, photophysical and morphological properties of chlorin e6 (Ce6) decorated doxorubicin (DOX) encapsulated chitosan (CS)-tripolyphosphate (TPP) nanoparticles which prepared by ionotropic gelation method. The Ce6 physically loaded onto the nanoparticles by self-assembly of CS with TPP-DOX under aqueous conditions. The results from DLS studies highlights the prepared nanoparticles that possess the size in the range of 80-120 nm.

Cytotoxic activity of alkyl benzoate and fatty acids from the red sea sponge Hyrtios erectus.

The chemical investigation of the methylene chloride fraction of marine sponge Hyrtios erectus led to the isolation of the known oxysterol (2) along with a new alkyl benzoate compound identified by spectroscopic methods (NMR and MS) as 4'-methylheptyl benzoate (1), whilst the n-butanol fraction afforded the known indole 3-carbaldehyde and β-carboline derivatives. Moreover, the hexane fraction was analysed by GC-MS for their fatty acids (FAs). A total of 17 FAs with chain lengths between 14 and 25 carbons were identified.

Community structure and coral status across reef fishing intensity gradients in Palk Bay reef, southeast coast of India.

Coral reef fishes are exploited without the knowledge of their sustainability and their possible effect in altering the community structure of a coral reef ecosystem. Alteration of the community structure could cause a decline in the health of coral reefs and its services. We documented the coral community structure, status of live corals and reef fish assemblages in Palk Bay at the reef fishing hotspots and its nearby reef area with minimum fishing pressure and compared it with a control reef area where reef fishing was banned for more than two decades.

Influence of functionalized nanoparticles on conformational stability of type I collagen for possible biomedical applications.

Collagen-nanoparticle interactions are vital for many biomedical applications including drug delivery and tissue engineering applications. Iron oxide nanoparticles synthesized using starch template according to our earlier reported procedures were functionalized by treating them with Gum Arabic (GA), a biocompatible polysaccharide, so as to enhance the interaction between nanoparticle surfaces and collagen. Viscosity, circular dichroism (CD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques have been used to study the collagen-nanoparticle interactions.