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This study sought to detect the presence of sucrose as an adulterant in selected honey varieties from different floral origins by employing Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) technique which has been simultaneously supported by Fourier Transform-Mid Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-MIR) measurements to provide a rapid, robust yet simple platform for honey quality evaluation. Variation of electrical parameters such as impedance, capacitance and conductance for 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60% and 70% (w/w) sucrose syrup (SS) adulterated honey samples are analyzed and their respective current-voltage (I-V) characteristics are studied. Capacitance, conductance and net current flowing through the system are observed to decrease linearly whereas system impedance has been found to increase similarly with the increase in adulterant content. Also, FT-MIR measurements in the spectral region between 1800cm -1 and 650cm -1 reveal the increment of absorbance values due to the addition of SS. Full-Width-at-Half-Maximum (FWHM) is estimated from the spectral peak 1056cm -1 for all pure and adulterated honey samples and is observed to be linearly increasing with increase in adulterant content. Finally, the coefficient of sensitivity has been extracted for all varieties of honey considered in terms of the measured conductance values., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Authors investigated the circumstantial evidence for autoimmunity in schizophrenia patients of Siliguri by considering the immune parameters like HLA Class I genes, IL-2 and IL6 and T cell subsets. Low resolution PCR-SSP method was applied for typing the HLA genes. Serum levels of IL-2 and IL-6 were measured by ELISA method. The CD4+ and CD8+ subset count were done using flow cytometry. A significant increase in HLA A*03 gene was observed in patients along with the significant decrease of HLA-A*31 and HLA-B*51. Both IL-2 and IL-6 were found to have decreased levels in the patients. Although the mean percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ cells was higher in patients but not significantly higher than controls. These cumulative preliminary findings are suggestive of alterations in the immune system of schizophrenia patients of this region., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)