Botanical metabolites are increasingly realized as potential replacements to chemical insecticides. In the present study, Acacia nilotica seed essential oil and seed pod solvent extracts were tested for bioefficacy against three important types of mosquitoes. Mortality was recorded 24 h post-treatment, while smoke toxicity of adult mosquitoes was recorded at 10 min intervals for 40 min. Seed pod powder was extracted with different solvents and hydrodistilled seed oil chemical constituents were determined by using Gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) -. Larvicidal and adulticidal efficacy of seed hydrodistilled essential oil and solvent extracts were tested against larval and adult mosquitoes. The seed hydrodistilled oil provided strong larvicidal activity against Anopheles stephensi, (LC50 (lethal concentration that kills 50% of the exposed larvae) = 5.239, LC90 (lethal concentration that kills 90% of the exposed larvae) = 9.713 mg/L); Aedes aegypti, (LC50 = 3.174, LC90 = 11.739 mg/L); and Culex quinquefasciatus, (LC50 = 4.112, LC90 = 12.325 mg/L). Smoke toxicities were 82% in Cx. quinquefasciatus, 90% in Ae. aegypti, and 80% mortality in An. stephensi adults, whereas 100% mortality was recorded for commercial mosquito coil. The GC-MS profile of seed essential oil from A. nilotica showed the presence of hexadecane (18.440%) and heptacosane (15.914%), which are the main and active compounds, and which may be involved in insecticidal activity. Overall findings suggest that the seed oil showed strong mosquitocidal activity against mosquito vectors and therefore may provide an ecofriendly replacement to chemical insecticides.

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Objectives: Meditation influences brain waves. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of Simplified Kundalini Yoga (SKY) meditation on the brain waves of technical college students using the Neurosky mindwave Electroencephalogram (EEG) device. Methods: Eighty-six participants were recruited from an engineering college in South India, with ages ranging from 18 to 19 years. They were divided into the yoga group (43 participants) and the sports group (43 participants). During pre-data collection, students of both groups were asked to sit with closed eyes for 20 minutes. During post-data collection, students in the sports group sat with closed eyes for 20 minutes, and yoga group students performed Thuriya meditation for 20 minutes. Findings: Pre-test and post-test results showed significant differences within sessions in EEG meditation state and Low Alpha state in both groups. After the intervention, the sports group showed a significant difference at the end of the session, whereas the yoga group showed a significant difference at the beginning of the session. At the baseline, there were significant differences between groups in the High Gamma state and within sessions in the Mid Gamma state. In terms of other variables, there was no significant difference in both groups. Novelty: We conclude that the SKY meditation technique can influence the state of mediation, low alpha, high gamma, and mid gamma EEG bands. Sports group have also shown comparable improvements. Hence, meditation and sports activities can be suggested in technical educational institutes for the promotion of positive health.