Search

Zia Sultan Pradhan,1 Shruthi Sreenivasaiah,1 Thanemozhi Srinivasan,1 Sujani Shroff,1 Sathi Devi,1 Dhanaraj AS Rao,1 Carroll AB Webers,2 Narendra K Puttaiah,1 Harsha Laxmana Rao1,2 1Department of Glaucoma, Narayana Nethralaya, Bangalore, India; 2Department of Ophthalmology, University Eye Clinic Maastricht, University Medical Center, Maastricht, the NetherlandsCorrespondence: Zia Sultan Pradhan, Department of Glaucoma, Narayana Nethralaya, 121/C, Chord Road, 1st “R” Block, Rajajinagar, Bangalore, 560010, India, Tel +91 80 66121300, Email zedpradhan@gmail.comPurpose: To evaluate the effect of the signal strength index (SSI) on a comparison of the vascular and structural OCT measurements between eyes with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PXF) and healthy controls of Asian-Indian origin.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 33 eyes of 33 PXF patients and 40 healthy eyes of 40 controls underwent OCT and OCT angiography (OCTA). Eyes with intraocular pressure (IOP) > 21mmHg, glaucomatous disc changes, or any other ocular pathology were excluded. Peripapillary vessel density (VD) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness were determined from the optic disc scans. Parafoveal VD and ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness were measured from the macular scans. These parameters were compared between the groups using mixed effect models after adjusting for clinical confounders such as IOP, as well as SSI of the scans.Results: The 2 groups were demographically similar. Average RNFL (94μm vs 100μm, p = 0.01) and GCC (91μm vs 95μm, p = 0.03) were thinner in the PXF group compared to controls. The average peripapillary VD appeared lower in the PXF groups compared to controls (58.2% vs 58.8%, p = 0.04), but after adjusting for IOP and SSI, no difference was noted (p = 0.39). After accounting for confounders, parafoveal VD in the PXF group was significantly lower compared to controls (44.3% vs 46.8%, p = 0.008).Conclusion: Peripapillary RNFL thickness, parafoveal GCC thickness and parafoveal VD were decreased in eyes with PXF when compared to controls. VD measurements are associated with the SSI and, therefore, clinicians and researchers evaluating OCTA scans quantitatively must consider the SSI value during analysis and interpretation.Keywords: optical coherence tomography angiography, signal strength index, vessel density, pseudoexfoliation syndrome

This paper explores the evolution and application of advanced insecticides in protecting field crops, emphasizing their efficacy and environmental implications. In response to global agricultural challenges such as population growth and increased environmental awareness, there has been a shift toward sustainable practices. Traditional broad-spectrum insecticides have raised significant concerns due to their harmful effects, leading to the development of novel compounds with greater efficacy, specificity, and reduced mammalian toxicity. Advances in organic chemistry have facilitated the creation of insecticides with innovative modes of action addressing pest resistance and enhancing eco-friendly pest management. Case studies across crops such as rice, wheat, maize, pulses, millets, cotton, sugarcane and oilseeds highlight the benefits of these insecticides in controlling major pests. Ultimately, the paper underscores the importance of continuous innovation in insecticide research as a crucial element in supporting sustainable agriculture, ensuring global food security and protecting both ecosystems and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) pose a serious threat to horticultural crops. Globally, fruit flies are responsible for reducing the export value of fruits and vegetables up to 30 to 100 percent. The fruit fly females are responsible for economic damage by laying about 300-400 eggs at a time on the rind of the fruits. Upon their emergence, the maggots feed on the fruits, causing them to rot and decay. Managing fruit flies is a challenging task as they have high reproductive capacity and greater adaptability. Locally, fruit flies are trapped using fish meal as lure but because of its putrefying properties, it also attracts other dipteran flies and occasionally helpful insects like parasitoids, which poses a limitation. While, farmers rely on pesticides to manage this notorious pest. Male Annihilation Technique (MAT), which exploits the olfactory senses to mass trap the fruit flies are very much successful where the males alone are trapped using para pheromones viz., methyl eugenol, cue-lure etc. But in recent years, a wide range of food materials;fruit pulp, vegetable pulp, protein hydrolysate, etc. have been utilized as baits to catch fruit flies, both male and female. The review discusses the several types of food baits that are used to attract fruit flies and how to use them to trap both sexes more successfully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]