ABSTRACT In a recent recommendation, the World Health Organization (WHO) advises that adults and children reduce free sugars to less than 10% of total daily energy intake. This guidance is based on research evidence for the relationship between sugar and chronic non-communicable diseases, specifically obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), cardiovascular disease as well as dental caries. Over-consumption of free sugars has been attributed largely to the availability and popularity of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). Recent data have shown that the Caribbean region as a whole has high consumption of SSBs and Trinidad and Tobago has been singled out for having the highest daily intake in the world. The need to implement the new WHO guidance on sugar consumption is urgent, given the high and apparently increasing prevalence of obesity, T2D and dental caries particularly among the nation's children. This paper recommends that national policy for Trinidad and Tobago aimed at reducing sugar consumption should be developed and implemented and that such policy should be based on strategies that have been shown to be effective internationally and regionally but leave ample room for locally relevant, culturally sensitive and socially acceptable innovative models of intervention.

ABSTRACT Blazars are the most active extragalactic gamma-ray sources. They show sporadic bursts of activity, lasting from hours to months. In this work we present a 10-year analysis of a sample of bright sources detected by Fermi-LAT (100 MeV 300 GeV). Using 2-week binned light curves (LC) we estimate the duty cycle (DC): fraction of time that the source spends in an active state. The objects show different DC values, with an average of 22.74% and 23.08% when considering (or not) the extragalactic background light ( EBL). Additionally, we study the so-called “blazar sequence” trend for the sample of selected blazars in the ten years of data. This analysis constrains a possible counterpart of sub-PeV neutrino emission during the quiescent states, leaving open the possibility to explain the observed IceCube signal during the flaring states.

RESUMEN Los blazares son las fuentes de rayos gamma más activas. Presentan períodos esporádicos de actividad, con duraciones de horas a meses. En este trabajo presentamos un análisis de una muestra de fuentes brillantes detectadas por Fermi-LAT (100 MeV - 300 GeV) durante una década. Usando curvas de luz con episodios de 2 semanas estimamos el ciclo de actividad (DC): la fracción de tiempo que la fuente pasa en el estado activo. Los objetos presentan diferentes valores del DC, con promedios de 22.74% y 23.08% cuando se considera y no se considera el fondo de luz difusa. Adicionalmente, estudiamos la tendencia conocida como “secuencia de blazares”. Este análisis restringe una posible contraparte de neutrinos con energías de sub-PeV durante los estados estacionarios, dejando la posibilidad de explicar las observaciones de IceCube durante los períodos de fase activa.

Abstract Aim: Prison is an especially difficult environment for promoting oral health and leads to the exacerbation of unhealthy behaviors. This study set out to assess the impact of incarceration on nutritional status and oral health among the male prison inmates of Central Jail of Jaipur city, Rajasthan, India. Material and method: A cross sectional study was conducted among 181 male inmates. Dental caries and periodontal status were assessed by using modified the Decayed Missing Filled Teeth (DMFT) index and Community Periodontal Index (CPI) and Loss of Attachment (LOA) index as per the WHO methodology 1997. Nutritional status was assessed by Body Mass Index (BMI) and weight (kg)/height (m2). Results: Out of 181 inmates, 141 (77.90%) had normal BMI. The majority (n=128, 70.70%) of inmates were incarcerated for less than 6 years. A significant difference (P<0.05) was found between age and periodontal status. A significant difference was observed (P<0.05) in the CPI score 3 and LOA 0 and 1 score. However, no significant difference (P>0.05) was observed in DMFT and period of incarceration. Age was the significant (P<0.001) risk factor for CPI and LOA. Discussion: Dental caries and periodontal health deteriorates with age and period of incarceration. Oral hygiene maintenance along with comprehensive oral care can be accomplished by establishing dental care facilities in prisons.

Resumen Objetivo: El centro penitenciario es un entorno difícil para la promoción de la salud bucodental y puede llevar a la exacerbación de comportamientos poco saludables. Este estudio pretende evaluar el impacto del ingreso sobre el estado de nutrición y salud bucal entre la población masculina de reclusos del centro penitenciario de la ciudad de Jaipur, en Rajastán (India). Material y método: Se llevó a cabo un estudio transversal de 181 reclusos masculinos. Se evaluaron las caries dentales y los estados periodontales, utilizando de forma modificada el índice de dientes cariados, perdidos y obturados (CPO), el índice periodontal comunitario (IPC) y el índice de perdida de anclaje (PA), según la metodología de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) del 1997. Se evaluó el estado nutricional utilizando el índice de masa corporal (IMC), es decir, peso (kg)/altura (m2). Resultados: De los 181 reclusos, 141 (77,90%) tenían un IMC normal. La mayoría de los reclusos (n=128, 70,70%) fueron internados durante menos de seis años. Se encontró una diferencia significativa (P <0,05) entre la edad y el estado periodontal y también en la calificación 3 del IPC (P <0,05) y en la calificación 0 y 1 del PA. Sin embargo, no se encontró ninguna diferencia significativa (P >0,05) en el CPO y el periodo de encarcelamiento. La edad fue el factor de riesgo significativo (P <0,001) para IPC y PA. Discusión: Las caries dentales y la salud periodontal se deterioran con la edad y el tiempo de encarcelamiento. El mantenimiento de higiene oral con atención oral integrada puede mejorarse estableciendo servicios de asistencia dental en centros penitenciarios.

RESUMO: Os pesticidas são aplicados no mundo todo para proteger as plantas contra as pragas. No entanto, essa aplicação também causa toxicidade às plantas, o que afeta de forma negativa o crescimento e o desenvolvimento delas. A toxicidade dos pesticidas resulta na redução dos teores de clorofila e proteína, acompanhada de menor eficiência fotossintética das plantas. O estresse causado por pesticidas também gera espécies reativas de oxigênio, que causam estresse oxidativo às plantas. Para atenuar os efeitos negativos do estresse oxidativo, o sistema de defesa antioxidante das plantas é ativado, e isso inclui antioxidantes enzimáticos e não enzimáticos. A presente revisão fornece uma visão geral de várias respostas fisiológicas de plantas sob toxicidade de pesticidas, em forma de tabela.

ABSTRACT: Pesticides are applied all over the world to protect plants from pests. However, their application also causes toxicity to plants, which negatively affects the growth and development of plants. Pesticide toxicity results in reduction of chlorophyll and protein contents, accompanied by decreased photosynthetic efficiency of plants. Pesticide stress also generates reactive oxygen species which causes oxidative stress to plants. To attenuate the negative effects of oxidative stress, the antioxidative defense system of plants gets activated, and it includes enzymatic antioxidants as well as non-enzymatic antioxidants. The present review gives an overview of various physiological responses of plants under pesticide toxicity in tabulated form.

O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar comparativamente a atividade antibacteriana de seis plantas indianas contra linhagens clínicas de Streptococcus mutans, que foram isoladas das amostras de biofilme dental de 45 pacientes pediátricos, com 0,2% de clorexidina. Seis extratos vegetais foram preparados em três formas diferentes, a saber, extratos aquosos, extratos à base de solventes orgânicos e extratos brutos. Os testes de sensibilidade antimicrobiana foram realizados por método de difusão em agar. A atividade antimicrobiana dos extratos foi determinada através da medição da zona de inibição, em milímetros, produzida contra os isolados bacterianos. Os resultados mostraram que o extrato de alho cru apresentou maior atividade antibacteriana do que a clorexidina. O extrato aquoso de amla e o extrato à base de solventes orgânicos de gengibre mostraram a máxima atividade antibacteriana contra S. mutans, enquanto o extrato aquoso de tulsi (manjericão) e o extrato à base de solventes orgânicos de amla mostraram mínima atividades antibacteriana. Este estudo sugere que extratos de plantas como o alho em forma bruta, amla como infusão aquosa e gengibre como tintura alcoólica tem um potencial para o controle de S. mutans. Estes extratos podem ser utilizados como uma via alternativa para a prevenção de cáries dentárias ou sob a forma de bochechos, que são seguros e econômicos.

The aim of the study was to comparatively evaluate the antibacterial activity of six Indian plant extracts and 0.2% chlorhexidine against clinical strains of Streptococcus mutans, which were isolated from the plaque samples of 45 pediatric patients. Six plant extracts were prepared in three different forms, namely aqueous extracts, organic solvent-based extracts and crude (raw) extracts. The antimicrobial sensitivity testing was done by agar well diffusion method. Antimicrobial activity of the extracts was determined by measuring the mean zones of inhibition (mm) produced against the bacterial isolates. Results showed that crude garlic extract exhibited greater antibacterial activity than chlorhexidine. Aqueous extract of amla and organic solvent-based extract of ginger showed the maximum antibacterial activity against S. mutans, whereas aqueous extract of tulsi and organic solvent based extract of amla showed the minimum antibacterial activity. This study suggests that plant extracts like garlic in crude form, amla as aqueous infusion and ginger as alcoholic tincture have potential for the control of S. mutans. These extracts can be used as an alternative remedy for dental caries prevention or in the form of mouthwash, which is safe and economical.

The present study was carried out to find the effect of fruit harvesting stage (October, November and December) on the physicochemical and antioxidant properties in five kiwi cultivars (Abbot, Bruno, Allison, Hayward, Monty). Results showed that soluble solid content (SSC) and pH increased while ascorbic acid (Vit C), titrated acidity (TAD) and SSC/TAD decreased in all the cultivars with delay in harvesting. Total polyphenols (TP) were decreased while total flavonoids (TF) increased in all tested cultivars with delay in harvesting. The highest concentration of TP (2.02 mg gallic acid equivalent/g fresh weight) and TF (51.12 mg catechin equivalent/100g FW) were found in cultivar 'Allison' in the month of October and December, respectively. Antioxidant activities (AA) were genotype depended and no trend was observed with month of harvesting. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed strong correlation between Vit C, TP and antioxidant activities. Two major clusters were computed using agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC). All the studied important traits may be used in the breeding programmes to increase the variability for different physiochemical and antioxidative characteristics and to make suitable selections that could be acceptable to consumers.

A comparison study between the isolated indigenous bacteria and chemical Zn fertilizer (ZnSO4.7H2O) was conducted to evaluate their potential to augment Zn nutrition of Zn responsive (NDR 359) and Zn non responsive (PD 16) varieties of rice under the green house. Three bacterial strains namely; BC, AX and AB isolated from a Zn-deficient rice-wheat field belonging to the genera Burkholderia and Acinetobacter were investigated for the growth promotion and Zn uptake in rice plants. The plant growth promotory properties such as Zn solubilization and IAA production of the isolates was checked in a previous study. These three isolates when used individually or in combination were found effective in significantly increasing the mean dry matter yield/pot (12.9%), productive tillers/plant (15.1%), number of panicles/plant (13.3%), number of grains/panicle (12.8%), grain yield (17.0%) and straw yield (12.4%) over the control and Zn fertilizer treatment, respectively. Bacterial inoculations also significantly enhanced the total Zn uptake/pot (52.5%) as well as grain methionine concentration (38.8%). Effect of bacterial treatments on the bioavailability of Zn was assessed by estimating the levels of phytic acid in grains. A reduction of nearly 38.4% in phytate: Zn ratio in grains was observed under bacterial inoculations.

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) improve growth of the host plants in a variety of ways. For this reason five bacterial strains isolated form the rice rhizospheric soil (B 15, B 17, B 19, BN 17 and BN 30) and three standard PGPR strains (viz. Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonasfluorescens and Azospirillum lipoferum) were tested for plant growth promotion when applied to the rice plants as seedling treatments. The experiment was conducted for two rainy seasons of the years 2010 and 2011. Rice plants inoculated with the bacterial isolates recorded an improved plant growth and higher photosynthetic capacity signified by the higher chlorophyll content. Root and shoot dry mass was also found to be increased in the inoculated plants. Besides these iron and zinc content of the treated rice plants was also found to be higher in comparison with the uninoculated control plants. Hence, it can be concluded that application of PGPR has immense potential to be used as agricultural crop inoculants as they promote plant growth as well as improve the health and yield of the plants.

On-farm inoculation trials have been conducted to evaluate the potential of Bacillus subtilis NRRL B-30408 in respect of plant growth promotion, for two consecutive years, under rainfed conditions at a mountain location in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR). For this, one cereal (Oryza sativa) and two millets (Eleusine coracana and Echinochloa frumentacea), were used as test crops. Observations were recorded in terms of plant growth, yield, chlorophyll content, and root colonization by various groups of microorganisms. Positive influence of bacterial inoculation on all the three crops, statistically significant in case of most parameters examined as compared to untreated controls, was recorded in both the years. There was a significant increase in chlorophyll concentration in leaves of inoculated plants. While the bacterial inoculation stimulated the free living bacterial and actinomycetes populations in the rhizosphere, the fungal population was somewhat suppressed; indicative of the antifungal property of the inoculant. The treatment also enhanced the colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM), and the endophytes associated with the roots. In conclusion, the plant growth promotion, recorded as a result of microbial inoculation, is attributed to the microbial shift in the native microflora of the rhizosphere. Based on the results of this field study, B. subtilis NRRL B-30408 can be proposed as an efficient bioinoculant for the hill crops, grown under rainfed conditions of the mountain ecosystem. The main aim of this study was on farm demonstration of the microbe based technology with peoples' participation, with a view of adoption of the technology by the farmers.

Pollution control measures have resulted in replacement of chlorine by peroxide as bleaching chemical. Change of chemical affects corrosion aspects, the suitability of existing plant metallurgy and materials of construction of bleach plants. Accordingly long term immersion and electrochemical corrosion tests were conducted on stainless steel 304L, 316L, 2205 and 6% Mo and mild steel in peroxide solutions of pH 10. The materials were tested for uniform corrosion, pitting and crevice corrosion and attack around the weld area. Corrosion attack estimated from long term immersion tests is found in agreement, by and large, with that analyzed from electrochemical test. E-pH diagrams drawn for water-peroxide system have been used to understand the corrosivity of the peroxide media. An attempt has been made to suggest a suitable material of construction for handling the test media on the basis of degree of corrosion attack on them and their cost and the mechanical properties.

A neural network (NN) technique is used to obtain vertical profiles of temperature from NOAA-15 and 16 Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A (AMSU-A) measurements over the Indian region. The corresponding global analysis data generated by National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) and AMSU-A data from July 2006 to April 2007 are used to build the NN training data-sets and the independent dataset of May 2007 to July 2007 divided randomly into two independent dataset for training (land) and testing (ocean). NOAA-15 and 16 satellite data has been obtained in the form of level 1b (instrument counts, navigation and calibration information appended) format and pre-processed by ATOVS (Advanced TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder) and AVHRR (Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer) Processing Package (AAPP). The root mean square (RMS) error of temperature profile retrieved with the NN is compared with the errors from the International Advanced TOVS (ATOVS) Processing Package (IAPP). The over all results based on the analysis of the training and independent datasets show that the quality of retrievals with NN provide better results over the land and comparable over the ocean. The RMS errors of NN are found to be less than 3 °C at the surface, 0.9° to 2.2° between 700 and 300 hPa and less than 2 °C between 300 and 100 hPa. It has also been observed that the NN technique can yield remarkably better results than IAPP at the low levels and at about 200-hPa level. Finally, the network based AMSU-A 54.94-GHz (Channel-7) brightness temperature (maximum Tb) and its warm core anomaly near the center of the cyclone has been used for the analysis of Gonu cyclone formed over Arabian Sea during 31 May to 7 June 2007. Further, the anomalies are related to the intensification of the cyclone. It has been found that the single channel AMSU-A temperature anomaly at 200 hPa can be a good indicator of the intensity of tropical cyclone. Therefore it may be stated that optimized NN can be easily applied to AMSU-A retrieval operationally and it can also offer substantial opportunities for improvement in tropical cyclone studies.

Se utilizó la técnica de redes neuronales (NN, por sus siglas en inglés) para obtener los perfiles verticales de temperatura a partir de las mediciones de la Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A NOAA-15 y 16 (AMSU-A, por sus siglas en inglés) sobre la región de la India. Los datos del correspondiente análisis global generados por el National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) y los del AMSU-A de mayo a julio de 2007 se utilizaron para construir el conjunto de datos de entrenamiento de la red neuronal; el conjunto de datos independiente de mayo a julio de 2007 se dividió al azar en dos para entrenamiento (tierra) y prueba (océano). Los datos de los satélites NOAA-15 y 16 se obtuvieron en el formato de nivel 1b (información de conteo instrumental, navegación y calibración incluida) y preprocesada por el Advanced TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder (ATVOS) y el Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR)_Processing Package (IAPP). El error medio de la raíz cuadrada (RMS) de los datos del perfil de temperatura recuperados con la NN se compara con los errores del International Advanced TOVS (ATOVS) Processing Package (IAPP). Los resultados globales basados en el análisis del entrenamiento y los conjuntos de datos independientes muestran que la calidad de los datos recuperados con la NN proporciona mejores resultados sobre la tierra y comparables sobre el océano. Se encontró que los errores RMS de la NN son menores a 3° en la superficie, entre 0.9 2.2° a 700-300 hPa y menores de 2° a 300-100 hPa. También se observó que la técnica de NN puede producir resultados notablemente mejores que los del IAPP en los niveles bajos y alrededor del nivel de 200 hPa. Finalmente, el brillo de temperatura (Tb máxima) con base en la red correspondiente a 54.94 GHz (canal 7) de la AMSU-A y la anomalía del núcleo cálido cercana al núcleo del ciclón se utilizaron para el análisis del ciclón Gonu que se formó sobre el Mar de Arabia del 31 de mayo al 7 de junio de 2007. Estas anomalías están relacionadas con la intensificación del ciclón. Se encontró que la anomalía de temperatura del canal único de la AMSU-A a 200 hPa puede ser un buen indicador de la intensidad del ciclón tropical. Por lo tanto, se puede establecer que una red neuronal optimizada puede ser aplicada con facilidad para la recuperación operacional de datos de la AMSU-A y que también puede ofrecer oportunidades sustanciales para mejorar el estudio de los ciclones tropicales.

A few mixed ligand transition metal carbodithioate complexes of the general formula [M(4-MPipzcdt)x(phen)y]Y (M = Mn(II), Co(II), Zn(II); 4-MPipzcdt = 4-methylpiperazine-1-carbodithioate; phen = 1,10-phenanthroline; x = 1 and y = 2 when Y = Cl; x = 2 and y = 1 when Y = nil) were synthesized and screened for their antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Staphylococcus aureus andEnterococcusfaecalis by disk diffusion method. All the complexes exhibited prominent antimicrobial activity against tested pathogenic strains with the MIC values in the range <8-512 μgmL-1. The complexes [Mn(4-MPipzcdt)2(phen)] and [Co(4-MPipzcdt)(phen)2]Cl inhibited the growth of Candida albicans at a concentration as low as 8 µgmL-1.The complexes were also evaluated for their toxicity towards human transformed rhabdomyosarcoma cells (RD cells). Moderate cell viability of the RD cells was exhibited against the metal complexes.

We present the first scientific results from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-National Laser Centre (CSIR-NLC) mobile LIght Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) and its validation and comparison with other ground-based and space-borne measurements. The LIDAR results are compared with aerosol extinction measurements from the Stratosphere Aerosol Gas Experiment (SAGE) II, optical depth derived from sun photometers employed under the AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) and backscatter coefficients simulated from weather balloon humidity measurements.

South Africa's first mobile LIDAR (LIght Detection And Ranging) system is being developed at the National Laser Centre (NLC) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Pretoria (25°45'S; 28°17'E). The system is designed primarily for remote sensing of the atmosphere. At present, the system is being optimised for measuring vertical atmospheric backscatter profiles of aerosols and clouds. In this paper, we describe the complete LIDAR system, including laser transmission, telescope configuration, data acquisition, data archival and post-processing.

Hymenoptera is a class of insects that sting in order to subdue their prey. Humans coming into accidental contact with these insects results in stings that may cause from mild local reaction like weal formation around the sting site to severe systemic reactions such as intravascular hemolysis, acute renal failure, pulmonary edema, cerebral edema, and rarely pancreatitis. We report here the clinical course of a patient who developed concurrent acute pancreatitis and pigment-induced acute renal failure after multiple hornet stings.