Methods for nanoemulsion and nanoencapsulation of food bioactives

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Nanoencapsulation is a promising technology allowing miniaturized dosage and administration of valuable volatiles, degradable bioactives and biologicals. The...     

Exploring the diversity of neem bioactives as eco-benign pesticides: a reappraisal

Biological activity of neem seeds, leaves and bark is well-established as feeding deterrent and growth disrupter against insects and other arthropods. Neem is a valuable natural pesticide with low toxicity for vertebrates. However, it has not yet achieved a prominent place among pesticides due to its unstability. Recent studies have focused on newer formulations like microencapsulation, inclusion complexes, microemulsion, and granular formulations to enhance efficacy shelf life. Several studies have been undertaken on the effects of neem on predator, parasitoids, and other beneficial organisms as well as impact on the environment. Biotechnological interventions have been carried out for mass production of the active molecule. Once stable formulations of the active molecules are developed, the farming community will benefit the most due to the low toxicity and marked efficacy of neem insecticides.     

Fungicidal activity and molecular modeling of fusarubin analogues from Fusarium oxysporum

Abstract

Fusarubin analogues of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris were investigated for antifungal activity in vitro against five soil borne phytopathogenic fungi. 3-O-Methyl-8-O-methyl-fusarubin was inhibitory towards S. sclerotiorum (EC₅₀ 0.33?mmol L^?1) and Sclerotium rolfsii (EC₅₀ 0.38?mmol L^?1). A structure–antifungal activity relationship of fusarubin analogues was established from their activity performance. Possible mechanism of action of these compounds was studied using molecular docking and simulations against three target enzymes which revealed receptor ligand binding affinity. Docking of 3-O-methyl-8-O-methyl-fusarubin into the succinate dehydrogenase site revealed formation of salt bridge, hydrogen bond, π–anion, π–alkyl, and Van der Waals interactions.     

Women executives and off-the-job misconduct by high-profile employees: A study of National Football League team organizations

The risk of off-the-job misconduct by high-profile employees is a serious concern of top management in professional sport organizations, media and entertainment companies, and public-facing entities in the government and education sectors. Yet there is little research on how to prevent or mitigate this form of misconduct in organizations. Utilizing upper echelons theory and the literature on demographic composition, we examine the relationship between the gender composition of executives of team organizations in a men's professional sport league and subsequent misconduct by players on those teams. Specifically, we employed multilevel and logistic regression analyses to unique data on U.S. National Football League team organizations, and we found that firms with a critical mass of women executives experienced fewer player arrests. No support was found for executive power as a moderator of this relationship. We discuss the implications of our findings for the demographic composition literature. We also offer guidance for preventing and managing off-the-job misconduct by high-profile employees.     

Residue and bio-efficacy evaluation of controlled release formulations of imidacloprid against pests in soybean (Glycine max)

Controlled release (CR) formulations of imidacloprid (1-(6 chloro-3-pyridinyl methyl)-N- nitro imidazolidin-2- ylideneamine) were prepared using novel amphiphilic polymers synthesized from polyethylene glycol and aliphatic diacids employing encapsulation technique. The bioefficacy of the prepared CR formulations was evaluated against major pests of soybean, namely stem fly, Melanagromyza sojae Zehntmer and white fly, Bemisia tabaci Gennadius along with a commercial formulation at the experimental farm of Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi during kharif 2009 and 2010. Most of the CR formulations of imidacloprid gave significantly better control of the pests compare to its commercial formulations, however the CR formulations, Poly [poly (oxyethylene-1000)-oxy suberoyl] amphiphilic polymer based formulation performed better over others for controlling of both stem fly incidence and Yellow Mosaic Virus (YMV) infestation transmitted by white fly. Some of the developed CR formulations recorded higher yield over commercial formulation and control. Nodulation pattern of soybean was not affected due to treatment of CR and commercial formulations of imidacloprid. Also the residues of imidacloprid in seed and soil at harvest were not detectable for both CR and commercial formulations.     

Food-grade nanoencapsulation of vitamins

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Vitamin deficiency arises when the dietary intake of essential vitamins is too low. Insufficient levels of vitamin weaken the body and induce diseases. Although...     

Chemical and photochemical transformation of fenamiphos—an organophosphorus nematicide

Fenamiphos, an organophosphorus nematicide and its hydrolysis product 4‐methylthio‐m‐cresol under dye‐sensitized photo‐oxidative conditions yielded the corresponding sulfoxide analogs. Under UV‐photolytic conditions, fenamiphos in methanol solution gave mainly the cleavage products. To obtain standards of the oxidative degradation products/metabolites in larger quantities, fenamiphos and fenamiphos phenol was chemically transformed to the corresponding sulfoxide and sulfone. Their structures were confirmed by ‘HNMR and mass spectra.     

Triethylamine induced photolysis of endosulphan

Photolysis of pure isomers of endosulphan in the presence of triethylamine gives products arising by the loss of a chlorine atom from the geminal bridge. The structures of these products have been established. The α‐isomer of endosulphan isomerised to ß‐isomer on a leaf surface.     

Development of controlled release formulations of carbofuran and imidacloprid and their bioefficacy evaluation against aphid, Aphis gossypii and leafhopper, Amrasca biguttula biguttula Ishida on potato crop

Controlled release (CR) formulations of carbofuran and imidacloprid were prepared employing polyvinyl chloride and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and their bioefficacy was evaluated against the aphid, Aphis gossypii and leafhopper, Amrasca biguttula biguttula Ishida on potato crop. The CR formulations of carbofuran and imidacloprid provided better or equal control of the pests than commercial formulations. CMC-based formulation provided a superior control of both the pests. The Imida-CMC, which showed the lowest population of leaf hopper (10.50 leafhopper/100 cl), provided significantly superior control among all treatments after 35 days after germination (DAG). The residue of carbofuran and imidacloprid in potato tuber and soils were not detectable at the time of harvesting in any one of the formulations.     

Development of controlled release formulations of imidacloprid employing novel nano-ranged amphiphilic polymers

Amphiphilic copolymers, synthesized from poly (ethylene glycols) and various aliphatic diacids, which self assemble into nano-micellar aggregates in aqueous media, were used to develop controlled release (CR) formulations of imidacloprid [1-(6 chloro-3-pyridinyl methyl)-N- nitro imidazolidin-2- ylideneamine] using encapsulation technique. High solubilisation power and low critical micelle concentration (CMC) of these amphiphilic polymers may increase the efficacy of formulations. Formulations were characterised by Infrared (IR) spectroscopy, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). Encapsulation efficiency, loading capacity and stability after accelerated storage test of the developed formulations were checked. The kinetics of imidacloprid release in water from the different formulations was studied. Release from the commercial formulation was faster than the CR formulations. The diffusion exponent (n value) of imidacloprid, in water ranged from 0.22 to 0.37 in the tested formulations. While the time taken for release of 50 % of imidacloprid ranged from 2.32 to 9.31 days for the CR formulations. The developed CR formulations can be used for efficient pest management in different crops.