Abstract DBW222 is characterized by potential yield of 8210 kg ha-1 under high fertility when sown in timely conditions in North India. It possesses better agronomic attributes and has better adaption to sowing time, high rust resistance, quality attributes, and lodging tolerance because of a shorter 2nd internode and wider diameter.

Aflatoxin contamination of peanut, due to infection by Aspergillus flavus, is a major problem of rain-fed agriculture in India. In the present study, molecular characterisation of 187 Aspergillus flavus isolates, which were sampled from the peanut fields of Gujarat state in India, was performed using AFLP markers. On a pooled cluster analysis, the markers could successfully discriminate among the ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘G’ group A. flavus isolates. PCoA analysis also showed equivalent results to the cluster analysis. Most of the isolates from one district could be clustered together, which indicated genetic similarity among the isolates. Further, a lot of genetic variability was observed within a district and within a group. The results of AMOVA test revealed that the variance within a population (84%) was more than that between two populations (16%). The isolates, when tested by indirect competitive ELISA, showed about 68.5% of them to be atoxigenic. Composite analysis between the aflatoxin production and AFLP data was found to be ineffective in separating the isolate types by aflatoxigenicity. Certain unique fragments, with respect to individual isolates, were also identified that may be used for development of SCAR marker to aid in rapid and precise identification of isolates.

Diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) is a microsomal enzyme that catalyzes the final step of triglyceride synthesis. The DGAT1 gene is a strong functional candidate for determining milk fat content in cattle. In this work, we used PCR-SSCP (polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism) and DNA sequencing to examine polymorphism in the region spanning exon 7 to exon 9 of the DGAT1 gene in Murrah and Pandharpuri buffaloes. Three alleles (A, B and C) and four novel single-nucleotide polymorphisms were identified in the buffalo DGAT1 gene. The frequencies of the alleles differed between the two buffalo breeds, with allele C being present in Murrah but not in Pandharpuri buffalo. The allele variation detected in this work may influence DGAT1 expression and function. The results described here could be useful in examining the association between the DGAT1 gene and milk traits in buffalo.

Fundamental properties such as mode field distribution, real effective refractive index, imaginary effective refractive index, confinement loss of two new kinds of honeycomb photonic crystal fibers are successfully studied by using Full-Vectorial Finite element method (FV-FEM). Low confinement loss 0.1×10-4dB/km is achieved at wavelength 1.55µm in hollow core honey comb PCF by removing 6-air holes in cladding region with air hole diameter 1.38µm in cladding region, pitch 2.3µm and air core diameter 0.2µm.

In this paper a highly polarization maintaining birefringent photonic crystal fiber at telecommunication window is reported via Full-Vectorial Finite Element Method (FV-FEM). By taking triangular lattice of three ring hexagonal structure PCF with suitable designing parameters such as symmetrical elliptical hole along radial axis of ellipticity a/b=5µm, air hole diameter d=1µm and pitch Λ=2.3µm, high birefringence (2.437×10-3) with small effective mode area(9.47µm²) and beat length (0.64cm) are found at wavelength 1.55µm.

O flurbiprofen (FB) apresenta efeitos colaterais comuns às drogas do tipo NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - drogas não esteróides anti-inflamatórias), devido à presença do grupo carboxílico livre. O objetivo desse estudo foi retardar esses efeitos adversos de origem gastrointestinal. Dez pró-fármacos derivados do FB foram sintetizados por amidação com ésteres etílicos de amino-ácidos, a saber: glicina, L-fenilanilina, L-triptofan, L-valina, L-isoleucina, L-ácido glutâmico, L-ácido aspártico e beta alanina. Os pró-fármacos sintetizados e purificados foram caracterizados por m.p., TLC, solubilidade, coeficientes de partição, análise elementar, UV, FTIR, NMR e MS. Foram submetidos também a estudos de biodisponibilidade, à atividade analgésica e anti-inflamatória e ao índice ulcerogênico. Os resultados obtidos mostraram redução acentuada do índice ulcerogênico e das atividades analgésica e anti-inflamatória comparáveis em todas os casos em relação ao FB. Os pró-fármacos sintetizados AR-9, AR-10 e AR-2 apresentaram uma excelente resposta farmacológica e velocidade de hidrólise encorajadoura em ambos os testes com SIF (Simulated Intestinal Fluid) e com plama humano a 80%. Os pró-fármacos com cadeia lateral aumentada ou com um substituinte aromático apresentam um melhor coeficiente de partição. Contudo, a solubilidade e a velocidade de hidrólise decresceram. Tais pró-fármacos podem ser considerados para uso com liberação sustentável.

Flurbiprofen (FB) suffers from the general side effects of NSAIDs, owing to presence of free carboxylic acid group. The study was aimed to retard the adverse effects of gastrointestinal origin. Ten prodrugs of FB were synthesized by amidation with ethyl esters of amino acids, namely, glycine, L-phenylalanine, L-tryptophan, L-valine, L-isoleucine, L-alanine, L-leucine, L-glutamic acid, L-aspartic acid and beta alanine. Purified synthesized prodrugs were characterized by m.p., TLC, solubility, partition coefficients, elemental analyses, UV, FTIR, NMR and MS. Synthesized prodrugs were subjected for bioavailibility studies, analgesic, anti-inflammatory activities and ulcerogenic index. Marked reduction of ulcerogenic index and comparable analgesic, anti-inflammatory activities were obtained in all cases as compared to FB. Among synthesized prodrugs AR-9, AR-10 and AR-2 showing excellent pharmacological response and encouraging hydrolysis rate both in (Simulated Intestinal Fluid) SIF and in 80% human plasma. Prodrugs with increased aliphatic side chain length or introduction of aromatic substituent resulted in enhanced partition coefficient but diminished dissolution and hydrolysis rate. Such prodrugs can be considered for sustained release purpose.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the methods used in the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) to collect nationally representative data on the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and assess the value of such data to country HIV surveillance systems. METHODS: During 2001-04, national samples of adult women and men in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Dominican Republic, Ghana, Mali, Kenya, United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia were tested for HIV. Dried blood spot samples were collected for HIV testing, following internationally accepted ethical standards. The results for each country are presented by age, sex, and urban versus rural residence. To estimate the effects of non-response, HIV prevalence among non-responding males and females was predicted using multivariate statistical models for those who were tested, with a common set of predictor variables. RESULTS: Rates of HIV testing varied from 70% among Kenyan men to 92% among women in Burkina Faso and Cameroon. Despite large differences in HIV prevalence between the surveys (1-16%), fairly consistent patterns of HIV infection were observed by age, sex and urban versus rural residence, with considerably higher rates in urban areas and in women, especially at younger ages. Analysis of non-response bias indicates that although predicted HIV prevalence tended to be higher in non-tested males and females than in those tested, the overall effects of non-response on the observed national estimates of HIV prevalence are insignificant. CONCLUSIONS: Population-based surveys can provide reliable, direct estimates of national and regional HIV seroprevalence among men and women irrespective of pregnancy status. Survey data greatly enhance surveillance systems and the accuracy of national estimates in generalized epidemics.

OBJETIVOS: Describir los métodos utilizados en las encuestas sobre demografía y salud para recopilar datos sobre la prevalencia del virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) que sean representativos a nivel nacional, y determinar el valor de esos datos para los sistemas nacionales de vigilancia del VIH. MÉTODOS: Durante el periodo 2001-2004 se efectuaron pruebas de detección del VIH en muestras nacionales de mujeres y hombres adultos de Burkina Faso, Camerún, Ghana, Kenya, Malí, República Dominicana, República Unida de Tanzanía y Zambia. Las muestras de gotas de sangre secas para las pruebas de detección del VIH se obtuvieron siguiendo las normas éticas aceptadas internacionalmente. Los resultados de cada país se presentan estratificados en función de la edad, sexo y lugar de residencia (urbano o rural). Para estimar los efectos de la ausencia de respuestas, se calculó la prevalencia del VIH en los hombres y mujeres que no respondieron, utilizando para ello los modelos estadísticos multivariados obtenidos en aquellos que respondieron y que contenían un conjunto común de variables independientes. RESULTADOS: Las tasas de realización de pruebas de detección del VIH oscilaron entre el 70% en los varones de Kenya y el 92% en las mujeres de Burkina Faso y Camerún. Pese a las grandes diferencias entre las distintas encuestas con respecto a la prevalencia del VIH (1-16%), la distribución de la infección por VIH en función de la edad, sexo y lugar de residencia fue muy homogénea, registrándose tasas considerablemente mayores en las zonas urbanas y en las mujeres, sobre todo en las más jóvenes. El análisis del sesgo inducido por la ausencia de respuestas mostró que, a pesar de que la prevalencia prevista del VIH tendia a ser más elevada en los hombres y mujeres no sometidos a las pruebas que en los sometidos a ellas, los efectos generales de la ausencia de respuesta sobre las estimaciones nacionales de la prevalencia del VIH son insignificantes. CONCLUSIONES: Las encuestas de base poblacional pueden proporcionar estimaciones directas y fiables de la seroprevalencia nacional y regional del VIH en hombres y mujeres, independientemente de que estén embarazadas o no. Los datos de las encuestas mejoran mucho los sistemas de vigilancia y la precisión de las estimaciones nacionales en las epidemias generalizadas.

OBJECTIFS: Décrire les méthodes utilisées dans les enquêtes démographiques et de santé (DHS) pour recueillir des données représentatives au plan national sur la prévalence du virus de l'immunodéficience humaine (VIH) et évaluer l'utilité de ces données pour les systèmes nationaux de surveillance du VIH. MÉTHODES: Entre 2001 et 2004, on a procédé à un dépistage du VIH sur des échantillons provenant d'hommes et de femmes adultes au Burkina Faso, au Cameroun, au Ghana, au Mali, au Kenya, en République dominicaine, en République-Unie de Tanzanie et en Zambie. Des échantillons de sang séché ont été prélevés sélectivement en vue de dépister le VIH conformément à des normes éthiques internationalement acceptées. Les résultats pour chaque pays sont présentés en fonction de l'âge, du sexe et du milieu (urbain ou rural). Pour estimer les effets des nonréponses, la prévalence du VIH chez les non-répondants hommes et femmes a été évaluée en appliquant aux sujets testés des modèles statistiques multivariés utilisant une série courante de variables prédictives. RÉSULTATS: Les taux de dépistage se situaient entre 70 % chez les hommes au Kenya et 92 % chez les femmes au Burkina Faso et au Cameroun. Malgré les différences considérables de prévalence relevée par les enquêtes (1-16 %), des schémas d'infection par le VIH assez comparables ont été observés selon l'âge, le sexe et le milieu (urbain ou rural), les taux d'infection étant considérablement plus élevés en milieu urbain et chez les femmes, notamment les plus jeunes. L'analyse du biais lié aux non-réponses indique que malgré la prévision d'une prévalence plus élevée chez les personnes non testées comparativement aux personnes testées, l'effet global des nonréponses sur les estimations nationales étudiées de la prévalence du VIH est insignifiant. CONCLUSIONS: Les enquêtes en population peuvent fournir des estimations fiables et directes de la séroprévalence nationale et régionale du VIH chez les hommes et les femmes, que celles-ci soient enceintes ou non. Les données fournies par les enquêtes améliorent sensiblement les systèmes de surveillance et la fiabilité des estimations nationales en cas d'épidémies généralisées.