Agri Biotech Foundation

This study presents a comprehensive investigation of electrical discharge machining (EDM) applied to Al-SiC metal matrix composites (MMCs), focusing on the comparative performance of copper and graphite tool electrodes. Material removal rate (MRR) and tool wear rate (TWR) were considered as the primary response variables, while current, pulse-on time (TON), and pulse-off time (TOFF) served as the controlling parameters. A Box–Behnken experimental design was employed to construct the design matrix, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to evaluate the statistical significance of the process variables. Results indicate that both current and TON exert a strong influence on MRR and TWR, whereas increasing TOFF consistently reduces TWR for both electrodes. Overall, copper electrodes demonstrated superior machinability, offering up to 18% higher MRR and 25% lower TWR compared to graphite. These findings establish copper as a more efficient tool material for EDM of Al–SiC MMCs and provide practical guidelines for optimizing EDM parameters to enhance productivity and reduce tool wear in composite machining applications.

Aims: To understand the role of detoxifying enzymes in resistance development in Spodoptera litura against emamectin benzoate Place and Duration of Study: This experiment was carried out in the laboratory of Department of Entomology and Central Instrumentation Cell, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar during kharif, 2022 Methodology: Quantitative alterations in detoxification enzymes linked to emamectin benzoate resistance were evaluated in S. litura field populations collected from Chevella and Maheshwaram mandals and compared with a susceptible reference strain. The activities of esterase, glutathione S-transferase (GST) and cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (MFO) were measured in third-instar larvae that survived LC₅₀ exposure, using standard biochemical assay methods. Results: The activity of detoxifying enzymes in emamectin benzoate–treated F1 third instar larvae of S. litura revealed that GST and esterases were significantly higher in Chevella and Maheshwaram field populations compared to the susceptible population, while MFO activity did not differ significantly. GST showed the highest increase (2.84–2.86-fold) followed by esterases (1.63–1.74-fold), indicating their major and partial roles, respectively, in detoxification of emamectin benzoate. Correlation analysis further confirmed a strong positive relationship between GST and esterase activities with resistance ratios (R² = 0.95–0.99), whereas MFO showed negligible correlation. Overall, GST emerged as the key enzyme conferring resistance to emamectin benzoate in field populations of S. litura, with esterases contributing to a lesser extent. Conclusion: Understanding the enzymatic basis of resistance highlights the need for proper insecticide rotation and integrated pest management strategies to sustain its effectiveness.

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), is a serious pest of cruciferous crops worldwide and cause serious damage, resulting in up to 90 % yield loss. Heavy dependence on synthetic insecticides has led to widespread resistance and raised environmental concerns, demanding an urgent need for safer, eco-friendly pest control options. In this study, we examined the electrophysiological, behavioural responses of P. xylostella to ten Essential Oils (EOs): Pelargonium hortorum, Ocimum basilicum, Acorus calamus, Trachyspermum ammi, Piper betle, Cymbopogon nardus, Rosmarinus officinalis, Zingiber officinale, Mentha piperita, and Eucalyptus citriodora. Electro Antennogram (EAG) analysis showed that all EOs tested elicited antennal response in adult females; however, R. officinalis, A. calamus, Z. officinale and C. nardus caused significantly higher responses than the other oils tested, and this antennal response aids in host and mate selection. In the behavioural assay using the Y-tube olfactometer revealed that A. calamus, P. betel, Z. officinale, R. officinalis and P. hortorum produced highly significant repellency (P ≤ 0.01). Oviposition assays further revealed that A. calamus, P. hortorum, and Z. officinale at 5% reduced egg laying by 91.78%, 86.9%, and 73.86%, respectively and it was 2.4 to 3.0 times more effective than neem Azadirachta indica. Overall, the results demonstrate robust olfactory and behavioural impacts of several essential oils, particularly A. calamus, Z. officinale and P. hortorum, supporting their potential as botanical repellents or oviposition deterrents for integrated pest management targeting P. xylostella.

Multimodal biomedical datasets, such as those from neurodegenerative disease cohorts, present significant challenges in stratifying heterogeneous patient populations due to missing values, high dimensionality, and modality-specific biases. Traditional clustering methods often require extensive preprocessing and fail to integrate heterogeneous data types effectively. We introduce ci-fGBD(Cluster-Integrated Fast Generalized Bruhat Decomposition), a novel matrix factorization and clustering framework that natively operates on block-structured, multimodal datasets. ci-fGBD extends the classical Bruhat decomposition by jointly learning latent representations and patient clusters while automatically harmonizing contributions across diverse modalities, including neuroimaging, cognitive assessments, genomics, wearable sensors, and environmental exposures. Benchmarking against standard methods on real datasets demonstrates that ci-fGBD consistently identifies clinically meaningful subgroups, capturing subtle biological, cognitive, and demographic heterogeneity in Alzheimer disease cohorts with superior interpretability and robustness.

The global agricultural sector faces significant challenges due to increasing demands from a growing population, limited arable land and the environmental degradation caused by chemical inputs. As a potential solution, microbial inoculants, particularly arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), offer an eco-friendly alternative to traditional fertilizers and pesticides. AMF enhance plant growth by improving nutrient and water uptake while protecting against stressors, fostering sustainable agriculture. This study explores the production, development, and application of AMF bioformulations, emphasizing key requirements for their effectiveness, including strain selection, genetic stability, environmental compatibility, other beneficial microbial compatibility, and eco-friendly carriers. Advances in production methods such as substrate-based systems, bioreactors, and solid media are discussed, along with the role of synergistic microbial combinations to enhance agricultural productivity. Additionally, challenges in the stability, shelf-life, and quality control of AMF bioformulations are addressed, with a focus on adjuvants, fillers, and storage methods. Risk evaluation and biosafety concerns related to the use of novel microbial strains are examined, particularly in the context of regulatory frameworks that classify bioformulations as biostimulants or biopesticides. Barriers to widespread adoption, including farmer awareness, product quality, and regulatory constraints, are identified. Despite these obstacles, the potential of mycorrhizal inoculants for sustainable agricultural practices remains high, provided that ongoing research, development, and collaboration between stakeholders can address these challenges.

Business angels, as key providers of capital financing, are informal investors who often support innovative ventures. Their investment decision-making process is inherently complex and evolves over time. Understanding this process is critical for enhancing the strategic approaches of business angels and guiding entrepreneurs seeking such investment. This study identifies and models the key factors influencing angel investment decisions in the context of entrepreneurship and classifies them into four clusters for improved clarity and application. Data were collected through a primary survey of business angels and an extensive literature review. The Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) method was employed to establish a structural framework of the factors, while MICMAC analysis was used to categorise them into clusters based on their driving and dependence power. The findings indicate that business angels investing in entrepreneurial ventures should prioritise strategies centred on the nature of the product or service, the venture’s potential impact, and related financial considerations. Entrepreneurs, in turn, should clearly articulate the required capital, anticipated returns, and the measurable value proposition of their ventures. The proposed framework and clustering provide practical insights for refining investment decisions and enhancing the attractiveness of entrepreneurial projects to angel investors.

Managing the Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), a significant pest affecting maize, has become challenging due to widespread restrictions on synthetic pesticide use and the emergence of insecticide-resistant populations. As a sustainable alternative, entomopathogenic fungi have shown promise as biological control agents against S. frugiperda. In this study, commercial formulations of two fungal biocontrol agents, Metarhizium rileyi (Mr-18 strain) and Beauveria bassiana (Bb-52 strain), were assessed against third-instar larvae of S. frugiperda under laboratory conditions. Results showed that both M. rileyi and B. bassiana were similarly effective, with M. rileyi exhibiting a slightly lower LC50 value (1.648 x 10⁵ ppm) compared to B. bassiana (2.203 x 10⁵ ppm), particularly in populations from Telangana. These results highlight the potential of using effective strains of B. bassiana and M. rileyi at a concentration of 1 x 10⁵ conidia/ml as viable biocontrol strategies against S. frugiperda.

The present review summarises the in vitro multiple plantlet regeneration of Stemona tuberosa. MS medium fortified with 7 mg/L Kn was found to be the optimum for multiple shoot induction from axillary buds. Excision and culture of nodal segments from the in vitro shoots on medium containing 7 mg/L Kn and 4 mg/L TDZ showed a maximum number of shoot multiplication. Shoots developed were rooted best on ½ strength MS with 1 mg/L IAA. Plantlets established in pots exhibited 85% survival.

<p>Background: Coronavirus is a zoonotic disease and transmits between animals and humans. The disease known as COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) has become a pandemic since its outbreak. In addition to vaccines, a combination of antiretroviral agents, chloroquine derivatives, and vitamins are being used to treat SARS-CoV-2. <p> Method: We performed molecular docking analysis of SARS-CoV-2 inhibitor N3 (6LU7) using a series of flavonoid derivatives and vitamins. The X-ray crystallographic 3D structures of COVID-19 main protease in complex with an inhibitor N3 (PDB code: 6LU7, resolution 2.16 Å complexed with a selective substance) were downloaded from the online Protein Data Bank. The structures of the ligands and protein were constructed using ChemDrawUltra 8.0. The docking process, interactions, and binding of ligands were visualized using the software Molegro Virtual Dockings (MVD). The physicochemical and toxicity characteristics of tested flavonoid derivatives and vitamins were determined using Swiss-ADME and pkCSM online software. We found that molecular docking scores were between -64.42 and –172.00 Kcal/mol. The H-bonding and steric interactions were compared with other flavonoid derivatives. The ADMET parameters suggested that compounds 4, 68, 90, 92, and 94 have a higher GI rate. <p> Results: Our results also indicated that compound 78 was more potent and had higher skin permeation than other flavonoid derivatives. The study showed that the compounds 5, 28, 74, 78, and folic acid fitted well in the active site of COVID-19 inhibitor N3 (6LU7) and interacted with the residues in the active site, which are essential for their biological activity. <p> Conclusion: Therefore, compounds 5, 28, 74, and 78 and folic acid can be a COVID-19 inhibitor N3 (6LU7) and might be used in the treatment of COVID-19 infection.</p>