Plutella xylostella (L.), a menacing threat to cruciferous crops, exhibits cross-resistance to various chemical agents. The exploration of plant-derived insecticides emerges as an intervention strategy for the successful management of P. xylostella. Millettia pachyloba Drake is renowned as a traditional remedy for diverse health issues and has insecticidal properties. Experimental investigations in both laboratory and greenhouse settings utilized M. pachyloba extract (EMPE) at concentrations ranging from 2 to 10% (w/v). The objectives included inducing toxicity and controlling P. xylostella larvae effectively, assessing nutritional impacts through parameters like relative consumption rate (RCR), relative growth rate of larvae (RGR), efficiency of conversion of digested food (ECD), efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI), approximate digestibility (AD), and assimilation ratio (AR), and evaluating leaf damage inflicted by P. xylostella larvae on Brassica juncea. In the laboratory, the application of EMPE on P. xylostella larvae and pupae for 24, 48, and 72 hours yielded markedly higher mortality rates than the water-treated control (p < 0.05). Significant reductions in RGR, RCR, ECD, ECI, AD, and AR were evident throughout the larval stage (p < 0.05). In the greenhouse, EMPE treatments demonstrated notable differences from the water control treatment. On the 15th day of treatment, the EMPE treatment at 10% (w/v) exhibited the highest mortality rate (p < 0.05). Significantly reduced leaf damage was observed with EMPE treatments, displaying an inverse correlation with escalating concentrations. Particularly, the highest enhancement across all surveyed parameters was observed in the EMPE 10% (w/v) treatment, which was comparable to the positive control with fipronil (p > 0.05). Noteworthy differences in damage reduction percentage (DRP) were identified between EMPE contact treatments and the water control group (p < 0.05), indicating the promising potential of Millettia pachyloba extract for pest control.

ABSTRACT:

Forgeries of coins can either be contemporary or modern. Already in the Middle Ages, it was well known that bracteates were considerably more difficult to counterfeit than two-faced coins. The main reason is that bracteates are struck with a more complicated technology originating from goldsmithing. Therefore, most bracteate forgeries have been produced since the eighteenth century. Compared to original bracteates, modern bracteate forgeries often have the following characteristics: 1) an incorrect weight; 2) a lower relief; 3) sharper contours on the reverse; 4) an artistically clumsy design; 5) evidence of being struck with the same die if there are several specimens; and/or 6) empty fields in the background.

The accurate measurement of time-of-flight (TOF) is essential in ultrasonic testing. Further, noise interference is the key factor affecting the measurement accuracy. Therefore, to develop a reliable computational method of TOF for test pieces working in noisy environments, an integration method of a hybrid genetic algorithm and the Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm (GA–LM) for ultrasonic thickness measurement is proposed in the present research. A Gaussian model is first established for an echo signal. Further, the model-based parameter estimation is converted into a nonlinear optimization problem by applying the least square method. As the parameter estimation methods are easily affected by the initial value, an integrating innovation of the GA–LM algorithm is proposed. The initial values of the model parameters are selected by GA to obtain an approximate global optimal solution. Subsequently, this approximate solution is used as the initial value for the LM algorithm to perform iterations. The accurate global optimal solution of the Gaussian model is obtained through these iterations. Finally, the measuring accuracy and robustness of the GA–LM algorithm for TOF computation are verified by both numerical simulation and experiment data

The persons with intellectual disability have serious difficulties in language skills and consequently in the process of learning. The problems can be caused by Central Auditory Processing Disorders. In this paper we present research results on effectiveness of the Warnke method as a supporting tool in the development of language skills and in the process of education of children with such intellectual disabilities of mild degree.