UPASI Tea Research Foundation

The primary goal of this investigation is to explore the impact of diffusion-thermo on the flow characteristics of MHD natural convection via a permeable medium past an infinitely oscillating upright plate, while accounting for chemical reaction and thermal radiation effects. The Laplace transformation approach is employed to solve the governing equations for species continuity equation, energy and momentum. The simulation findings show that thermal radiation increases the primary fluid velocity while decreasing the secondary fluid velocity. Furthermore, increasing the Dufour number (Du) results in higher temperature fields as well as an increase in both primary and secondary fluid velocities. Also, the diffusion-thermo effect contributes to improve the temperature field. The equation for skin friction is obtained and graphically shown. Three-dimensional surface plots are used to demonstrate the Nusselt and Sherwood numbers. In addition, graphical representations are used to portray the effect of non-dimensional factors on concentration, temperature, and velocity patterns.

The study investigates the noncovalent interactions between Schiff’s base derivatives of trans-2-hexenal and the B12N12 inorganic-fullerene nanocage cluster using density functional theory (DFT). Schiff’s bases synthesised from the reaction of trans-2-hexenal with cytosine and L-leucine are examined for their complexation with B12N12. Key findings include the identification of a dative bond in one of the complexes, CSB1, leading to enhanced stability and lower energy formation. The study also highlights the distinct electronic properties of the complexes, contributing to our understanding of their potential applications in sensing and material science. The reaction energy (ΔE), representing the change in total energy due to the formation of the complexes, and Gibbs free energy (ΔG), indicating the spontaneity of the formation, are key metrics used. The use of local energy decomposition (LED) and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD), offer insights into the electronic motions and stability of the complexes.

The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) has published the complete 2023 GOLD report, which can be freely downloaded from its web page (www.goldcopd.org) together with a“pocket guide” and a “teaching slide set”. It contains important changes compared to earlier versions, and incorporates 387 new references. Here, we present an executive summary of this GOLD 2023 report that (1) summarizes aspects that are relevant from a clinician’s perspective and (2) updates evidence published since the prior executive summary in 2017.

<b>Background:</b> Prevalence surveys rarely report the day-to-day burden of chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs). We aimed to assess the burden of CRDs on quality of life, work/activities, and use of healthcare resources in Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, and Pakistan. <b>Methods:</b> Using random sampling, in five sites in the four LMICs, we piloted a questionnaire (BOLD-1 + eight questions from ECRHS-II). Prevalence data has been published (Agarwal J Global Health 2021; 11:04065). We here report a descriptive analysis of CRDs burden. <b>Results:</b> Of 508 participants, 496 provided complete data of whom 273 (55.0%) reported one or more chronic respiratory symptoms (e.g., breathlessness 28.8%; wheezing 21.4%). Prevalence of CRDs in our study population was estimated as 24.4% (asthma [16.7%], COPD [4.6%], other CRDs [3.1%]). Impact on lifestyle amongst those with CRDs was substantial: 42.9% [CI 34.0-52.2%] reported interference in social activities; 62.8% [CI 53.5-71.4%] reported that their physical health limited their daily activities; 17.4% [CI 11.0-25.3%] reported that their health problem stopped them working for income. 52.9% [CI 43.6-62.0%] felt depressed which further affected their quality of life and capacity to work. Only 36.3% [CI 27.8-45.6%] used government facilities for their healthcare; 79.2% [CI 70.8-80.6%] paid healthcare costs from their pocket. <b>Conclusion:</b> Only reporting prevalence fails to emphasise the substantial impact of CRDs on ability to work and restriction on social activities. Highlighting this burden adds weight to the need to develop sustainable interventions to improve quality of life of people suffering from CRDs in LMICs.

Abstract Insect pests of tea include tea mosquito bugs Helopeltis theivora, Scirtothrips bispinosus and Scirtothrips dorsalis, citrus aphid Toxoptera aurantii, spherical mealybug Nipaecoccus viridis, leaf hoppers Empoasca flavescens, Empoasca onukii and Empoasca vitis, green scale Coccus viridis, brown scales Saissetia coffeae, Drepanococcus chiton and Ceroplastes spp., oriental yellow scale Aonidiella orientalis, coconut scale Aspidiotus destructor, tea flush worm Cydia leuocostoma, tea tortrix Homona coffearia, tea leaf roller Caloptilia theivora, fringed nettle grub Darna nararia, white banded nettle grub Thosea recta, saddle backed nettle grub Thosea cervina, large gelatin grub Belippa lalaena, large faggot worm Eumeta crameri, red slug caterpillar Eterusia aedea virescens, tobacco leaf eating caterpillar Spodoptera litura, coffee red borer Zeuzera coffeae Nietner, hepialid borer Sahyadrassus malabaricus, lobster caterpillar Neostauropus alternus, bunch caterpillar Andraca bipunctata, tea looper Biston suppressaria, leaf miner Tropicomyia theae, tea shot hole borer Euwallacea fornicatus, white grub Holotrichia sp. and the termites Odentotermes sp. and Microtermus obesi. Methods of management of key pests are also discussed.