Abstract. The electrochemical studies of picric acid were carried out in acidic, neutral and basic buffer media at bare glassy carbon (GC) and polypyrrole modified GC electrode. Cyclic Voltammogram (CV) of picric acid exhibited three reduction peaks at -0.4, -0.8 and -1.5V (vs. Ag/AgCl) and two oxidation peaks at 0.8 and 1.4V (vs. Ag/AgCl). Among the various pH studied, highly sensitive response was observed at pH 1.0. The effect of scan rate was studied between 25 and 500 mVs-1 at the optimal pH.CV results revealed the adsorption-controlled reaction at the electrode surface. The GC electrode was modified with polypyrrole conducting polymer film to enhance the electrocatalytic activity of the reductive species. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images showed the nanosphere morphology of the polypyrrole film, which was coated uniformly on the electrode surface. Under optimum experimental conditions, the influence of concentration on the stripping signal was studied. The linear range of detection was found between 50 ppb and 250 ppb with the lower limit of detection of 10±3 ppb.

Resumen. Los estudios electroquímicos del ácido pícrico se realizaron en medios amortiguados ácidos, neutros y alcalinos con un electrodo de carbono vítreo (GC) y de GC modificado con polipirrol (PP). El voltamperograma cíclico (CV) del ácido pícrico mostró tres picos de reducción a -0.4, -0.8 y -1.5 V (frente a Ag/AgCl) y dos picos de oxidación a 0.8 y 1.4 V (frente a Ag/AgCl). Entre los diversos valores de pH estudiados, se observó una respuesta altamente sensible a pH de 1.0. El efecto de la velocidad de barrido se estudió entre 25 y 500 mVs-1 en el pH óptimo. Los resultados de CV revelaron que la reacción está controlada por adsorción en la superficie del electrodo. El electrodo de GC fue modificado con una película polimérica conductora de PP para mejorar la actividad electrocatalítica de las especies. Las imágenes de la microscopía de fuerza atómica (AFM) mostraron la morfología de la nanoesfera de la película de PP, que recubre uniformemente la superficie del electrodo. Bajo condiciones experimentales óptimas, se estudió la influencia de la concentración en la señal de stripping. El rango lineal de detección se encontró entre 50 ppb y 250 ppb con el límite inferior de detección de 10±3 ppb.

The present study involves the discovery of quality of soils associated with dump mines and native forest encompassing the Kakari mine, a coal mining site in Sonbhadra, to distinguish the effect of coal mining on associated soil ecosystem. Soil ecophysiological indicator of the site was analyzed in terms of floral diversity by method of quadrat analysis, which revealed that dumps were devoid of any floral community whereas the natural forest around the mines was enriched with a number of plant species. Importance value index (IVI) was calculated and with respect to their IVI index the tree species viz., Acacia mangium (23.17, 24.48 & 26.81) and Acacia catechu (20.34, 22.10 & 25.36) were found to be the most dominant species. Soil enzymatic and physico-chemical analysis were analyzed by standard method and the result emphasized that dump soils possess poor enzymatic activity and acidic pH due to the decomposition of waste material in dumps which eventually affects the microbial diversity of soil and its fertility. The plant growth promotion (PGP) and stress tolerance characteristics of bacterial isolates were further examined so that the potential isolates will be utilized further to reclaim and remediate soil property of degraded soils. The promising isolates were characterized by BIOLOG identification system and isolate NU36 and NU25 showed greatest similarity with Pseudomonas sp. and Acinetobacter sp. respectively. Based on the potential to produce plant growth promoting substances and withstand in stressed environment the most promising isolates will be used to remediate soil and reclaim soil characteristics.

Plant endophytes help in maintaining plant health by means of their biofertilizer and biocontrol attributes and, are currently being explored for their ability to produce novel biologically active compounds. Herein, we have isolated beneficial endophytic bacteria from Echinacea purpurea (EF.B3) and Lonicera japonica (LS.B11) that showed phosphate solubilization, siderophore, indole acetic acid and hydrogen cyanide production, and fixation of atmospheric nitrogen. Additionally, the endophytes also conferred antifungal activity against Fusarium sp., Rhizoctonia sp., Pythium sp. and Alternaria sp. When tested in plantae, the LS.B11 and EF.B3 strains were able to promote plant growth and control fungal infections in peaseedlings. Both strains were found to be endophytic as tested by RAPD and viability count. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we show that the LS.B11 and EF.B3 strains are related to Pseudomonas sp. And Burkholderia sp. By using degenerate primers, we identified genes related to polyketide synthases and non-ribosomal peptide synthetases in EF.B3 and LS.B11, respectively that are typically involved in the production of antimicrobial compounds. Therefore, we conclude that both endophytes can be used for increasing agriculture productivity and in the production of antimicrobial compounds for crop improvement.

OBJECTIVES: Variations such as communications between the median nerve and musculocutaneous nerve or in their abnormal branching pattern constitute a major concern in clinical and surgical field. Knowledge of these variations not only provides the clinician with a proper interpretation of the case, but also minimizes the complication in surgical approaches in this region. METHOD: We examined 50 isolated upper limbs to investigate the possible incidences of various types of communications between these two neighbouring peripheral nerves. RESULT: Twenty-eight per cent of limbs were found to have communication between these two nerves. When categorized according to Venieratos and Anagnostopoulou's classification method, 11 out of 14 cases (79%) showed type I communications, two out of 14 (14%) showed type II and the remaining one (7%) showed type III communication pattern. CONCLUSION: Prior knowledge of communications between these two neighbouring nerves, both in terms oftheir incidences and pattern ofcommunications, may be ofconsiderable significance to neurologists and orthopaedic surgeons in dealing with nerve entrapment syndromes in the upper limb of patients.

OBEJTIVOS: Las variaciones tales como las comunicaciones entre el nervio mediano y el nervio musculocutáneo o en su patrón de ramificación anormal constituyen un interés principal en el campo clínico y quirúrgico. El conocimiento de estas variaciones no sólo proporciona una interpretación adecuada del caso clínico, sino que también minimiza la complicación en abordajes quirúrgicos en esta región. MÉTODO: Se analizaron 50 miembros superiores aislados para investigar las posibles incidencias de diversos tipos de comunicaciones entre estos dos nervios periféricos vecinos. RESULTADO: Se halló que el veintiocho por ciento de los miembros tenía comunicación entre estos dos nervios. Cuando fueron categorizados según el método de clasificación de Venieratos y Anagnostopoulou, 11 de 14 casos (79%) mostró comunicaciones de tipo I, dos de 14 (14%) mostraron el tipo II, y el restante (7%) mostró un patrón de comunicación de tipo III. CONCLUSIÓN: El conocimiento previo de las comunicaciones entre estos dos nervios vecinos, en términos tanto de sus incidencias como patrones de comunicación, puede ser de una importancia considerable para los neurólogos y ortopédicos a la hora de tratar con el síndrome del atrapamiento del nervio en la extremidad superior de los pacientes.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and dental caries and to study the role of sweet consumption in predicting this relationship among adolescent children in Udupi district, India. METHODS: The study population consisted of 463 school children in the 13-15-year age group. Anthropometric (height in metres and weight in kilograms) and caries measurements and decayed missing filled teeth (DMFT) index, were carried out by a trained recorder according to standard criteria. RESULTS: The majority of the children were having low normal weight (BMI < 25) with 18.6% classified as overweight (BMI 25-29.9) and 3.5% as obese (BMI > 30). The frequency of sweet consumption significantly increased from low normal weight children to overweight and obese children. Analysis showed that the obese group of children had more caries than the overweight and low normal weight children. Correlation analysis showed significant positive relation with BMI, decayed teeth (DT) [r = 0.254, p < 0.001] and DMFT (r = 0.242, p < 0.001). Binomial logistic regression showed that males (OR = 2.09, CI = 1.01, 4.33), obese/overweight children (OR = 3.68, CI = 1.79, 7.56) and those who consumed sweets more than once a day (OR = 3.13, CI = 1.25, 7.85) were more likely to have high caries experience. CONCLUSION: There was a significant association between overweight/obesity and caries experience among school children of the Udupi district. Obesity and dental caries have common risk determinants and require a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach by both medical and dental healthcare professionals.

OBJETIVO: Evaluar la relación entre el índice de masa corporal (IMC) y las caries dentales y estudiar el papel del consumo de dulces en la predicción de esta relación entre los adolescente en el distrito de Udupi, India. MÉTODOS: El estudio de la población consistió en 463 niños escolares en el grupo etario de 13 a 15 años. Las mediciones antropométricas (altura en metros y peso en kilogramos) y de las caries - índice de dientes cariados, perdidos, u obturados (DMFT) fueron realizadas por un registrador entrenado, de acuerdo con criterios estándar. RESULTADOS: La mayoría de los niños estaba teniendo peso normal bajo (IMC < 25) con 18.6% clasificados como sobrepeso (IMC 25-29.9) y 3.5% como obesos (IMC > 30). La frecuencia de consumo de dulce aumentó significativamente de bajo en niños de peso normal a niños con sobrepeso y obesos. El análisis mostró que los niños en el grupo de obesos tenían más caries que los niños con sobrepeso y los niños de peso normal bajo. El análisis de la correlación mostró una relación significativamente positiva con el IMC, los dientes cariados (DT) [r = 0.254, p < 0.001] y DMFT (r = 0.242, p < 0.001). La regresión logística binomial mostró que los varones (OR = 2.09, CI = 1.01, 4.33), los niños obesos y pasados de peso (OR = 3.68, CI = 1.79, 7.56) y aquéllos que consumían dulces más de una vez al día (OR = 3.13, CI = 1.25, 7.85) tenían mayor probabilidad de presentar serios problemas de caries. CONCLUSIÓN: Hubo una asociación significativa entre el sobrepeso/obesidad y la presencia de caries entre los escolares del distrito de Udupi. La obesidad y la caries dentales tienen determinantes de riesgo en común y requieren un enfoque multidisciplinario integral por parte de los profesionales de la atención tanto médica como odontológica.

The 3-hydroxykynurenine transaminase (3-HKT) gene plays a vital role in the development of malaria parasites by participating in the synthesis of xanthurenic acid, which is involved in the exflagellation of microgametocytes in the midgut of malaria vector species. The 3-HKT enzyme is involved in the tryptophan metabolism of Anophelines. The gene had been studied in the important global malaria vector, Anopheles gambiae. In this report, we have conducted a preliminary investigation to characterize this gene in the two important vector species of malaria in India, Anopheles culicifacies and Anopheles stephensi. The analysis of the genetic structure of this gene in these species revealed high homology with the An. gambiae gene. However, four non-synonymous mutations in An. stephensi and seven in An. culicifacies sequences were noted in the exons 1 and 2 of the gene; the implication of these mutations on enzyme structure remains to be explored.

The manuscript describes a study on the blood cholinesterase (ChE) level in an exposed population at different interval of time after spraying with malathion suspension (SRES) use for kala-azar vector control in an endemic area of Bihar, India. The toxicity of a 5% malathion formulation in the form of a slow release emulsified suspension (SRES) was assessed by measuring serum ChE levels in spraymen and in the exposed population.The study showed a significant decrease in ChE levels in the spraymen (p < 0.01) after one week of spraying and in exposed population one week and one month after of spraying (p < 0.01), but was still within the normal range of ChE concentration, one year after spraying, the ChE concentration in the exposed population was the same as prior to spraying (p > 0.01). On no occasion was the decrease in ChE level alarming. A parallel examination of the clinical status also showed the absence of any over toxicity or any behavioural changes in the exposed population. Hence, it may be concluded that 5% malathion slow release formulation, SRES, is a safe insecticide for use as a vector control measure in endemic areas of kala-azar in Bihar, India so long as good personal protection for spraymen is provided to minimize absorption and it can substitute the presently used traditional DDT spray.