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Information on comparative gasification reactivity of high temperature chars in CO2 with high ash coal (C), sawdust (SD) and rice husk (RH) under identical condition is important for clean energy development drive particularly in countries like India, where energy matrix is dominated by coal and introduction of larger quantity of biomass in energy‐mix is attracting global interests. Therefore, TGA‐studies on char‐gasification reactivity using CO2 as a gasifying agent were performed at temperatures 850–1000 °C. In case of coal and RH‐chars, CO2 reactivity found to increase with increasing the BET surface area and reverse trend was observed with SD‐chars. Both the biomass‐chars showed increased specific micro pore surface area with increasing char preparation temperature through t‐plot analysis, still keeping unusual behavior of CO2 reactivity of SD‐char unexplained. The estimations indicating the presence of catalytically active alkali and alkaline earth metals in substantial quantity is only important criteria found to explain the decreasing trend of gasification reactivity of SD‐char prepared at various temperatures despite the increase in surface area. Catalytic activity of the components decreases with the rise in char preparation temperature. Kinetic analysis reveal that activation energy values of SD‐chars varied in the range123–182 kJ mole−1, whereas those for coal‐ and RH‐chars remained in the range 204–214 kJ mole−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aphid transmitted viruses are the most significant constraint for quality seed potato production. Potato virus Y and Potato leaf roll virus are the most important aphid transmitted viruses in potato, which can be transmitted by a large number of aphid species. In order to determine the species composition of aphids infesting potato crops and to determine their viruliferous nature, aphid samples were collected from all the potatoes growing zones in India. Fourteen distinct aphid species were identified from 541 samples using morphological and molecular characterization. The identified species include Aphis craccivora, A. gossypii, A. fabae, A. spiraecola, Aulacorthum solani, Macrosiphum euphorbiae, Rhopalosiphum rufiabdominale, and Myzus persicae among the colonizing species and A. nerii, R. padi, R. maidis, Hyadaphis coriandri, Brevicoryne brassicae, and Lipaphis erysimi among the non-colonizing species. M. persicae and A. gossypii were the most abundant and most widespread species on potato in the country. Based on whole body testing of aphid samples through RT-PCR, M. persicae, A. gossypii, A. solani, and M. euphorbiae were found positive for PVY while M. persicae and A. gossypii tested positive for PLRV, which could potentially transmit the respective viruses in potato crops. The current study revealed that aphid species other than M. persicae could be important in determining the virus incidence in seed crops in the country. Therefore, management decisions should include such information to maintain the health standard of seed stocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potato crops are infected by a large number of aphid-transmitted viruses resulting in yield loss and degeneration of seed stocks. These viruses are transmitted by a large number of colonizing and non-colonizing aphids. The non-colonizing aphid species are mainly responsible for the spread of non-persistent viruses like potato virus Y (PVYo). The cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae L, an important pest of cruciferous crops, is a non-colonizing aphid visiting potato crops transiently. We evaluated the relative prevalence of cabbage aphids in potato crops at four locations namely, Jalandhar (Punjab), Shimla (Himachal Pradesh), Modipuram (Uttar Pradesh) and Kalyani (West Bengal), where most of the seed and ware potato production is carried out in India. The cabbage aphids constitute an appreciable proportion (3.57% to 19.04%) of the aphid population on potato plants at these locations. The cabbage aphids were found to successfully acquire and transmit the PVYo from and to potato plants. The virus transmission efficiency came out to be 11.25%, with a relative efficiency factor (REF) of 0.13, in comparison to the peach-potato aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer). This is the first report of B. brassicae being a vector of PVYo in India. Therefore, isolation of seed potato crops from cruciferous crops or stringent management of the aphids on the latter is necessary for production of healthy seed potatoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thrips populations were sampled from potato in north western hills, central and plateau regions and their association with Groundnut bud necrosis virus (GBNV) was studied. We report the occurrence of Haplothrips tenuipennis Bagnall on potato for the first time from north western hills of India. The thrips was recorded from Shimla, Kufri and Fagu in Himachal Pradesh. The abundance of this species was higher in Shimla followed by Fagu and Kufri. Field collected populations of H. tenuipennis were tested for GBNV and 53, 35, 48% of them tested positive from Kufri, Fagu and Shimla locations, respectively. Also, 36.36% potato samples from Shimla were found positive for GBNV followed by 25% and 20% in Fagu and Kufri, respectively. The importance of the vector-virus complex under field conditions remains to be studied. Therefore, present reports only the occurrence of H. tenuipennis for the first time on potato in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of Gujjars of Himachal Pradesh, India, evaluation of the impact of various state run development programmes on Gujjar tribe and awareness about the different welfare programmes among these tribes.

Solvent extraction studies carried out at BARC, India on the evaluation of N,N-dialkyl amides as alternative extractants to tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) for reprocessing of spent fuel have suggested that straight chain N,N-dihexyloctanamide (DHOA) is promising alternative to TBP for the reprocessing of irradiated uranium based fuels. This paper presents the batch as well as mixer settler studies for uranium and plutonium extraction/stripping to evaluate DHOA visa-vis TBP for the reprocessing of Pu rich fuels. These studies showed that uranium extraction using DHOA as extractant was comparable to that of TBP; however, it displayed better stripping behavior than TBP. Plutonium extraction behavior was better in the case of DHOA as compared to that of TBP. However, Pu stripping data indicated towards the need of reducing agent in the stripping cycle for both the extractants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potato crops are infected by a large number of aphid-transmitted viruses resulting in yield loss and degeneration of seed stocks. These viruses are transmitted by a large number of colonizing and non-colonizing aphids. The non-colonizing aphid species are mainly responsible for the spread of non-persistent viruses like potato virus Y (PVYo). The cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae L, an important pest of cruciferous crops, is a non-colonizing aphid visiting potato crops transiently. We evaluated the relative prevalence of cabbage aphids in potato crops at four locations namely, Jalandhar (Punjab), Shimla (Himachal Pradesh), Modipuram (Uttar Pradesh) and Kalyani (West Bengal), where most of the seed and ware potato production is carried out in India. The cabbage aphids constitute an appreciable proportion (3.57% to 19.04%) of the aphid population on potato plants at these locations. The cabbage aphids were found to successfully acquire and transmit the PVYo from and to potato plants. The virus transmission efficiency came out to be 11.25%, with a relative efficiency factor (REF) of 0.13, in comparison to the peach-potato aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer). This is the first report of B. brassicae being a vector of PVYo in India. Therefore, isolation of seed potato crops from cruciferous crops or stringent management of the aphids on the latter is necessary for production of healthy seed potatoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Diabetes is a major public health problem in migrants and ethnic minorities worldwide. We determined the incidence and risk factors of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in migrant Indians living in Singapore., Methods: We included data from 759 Indian adults with diabetes, who participated in the baseline (aged 40-80 years, 2007-2009) and 6-year follow-up 2012-2015 of the Singapore Indian Eye Study. Retinal photographs were graded for the presence and severity of DR using modified Airlie House Classification. Incidence was assessed in participants who were free of DR at baseline visit (n=501), while progression in those with DR but free of proliferative DR at baseline visit (n=189). Risk factors included demographic, lifestyle, socioeconomic, family history, genes, duration of diabetes, glycaemic control, insulin use, ocular and clinical factors., Results: The 6-year age-standardised DR incidence and progression were 21.89% and 33.45%, respectively. HbA1c (risk ratio (RR) 1.41, 95% CI 1.28 to 1.55 per unit increase), current smoking (RR 1.63, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.62) and insulin use (RR 2.63, 95% CI 1.44 to 4.82) were associated with higher incidence, whereas estimated cerebrospinal fluid pressure (RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.82 to 0.98) and body mass index (BMI) (RR 0.74, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.93) were associated with lower incidence of DR. Higher HbA1c (RR 1.26, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.42), BMI (RR 1.26, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.56) and estimated cerebrospinal fluid pressure (RR 1.11, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.21) were associated with DR progression. The population attributable risk of HbA1c >8% was 41.29% and 49.63% for DR incidence and progression., Conclusion: DR incidence and progression in migrant Indians living in Singapore was more than double that reported in Indians living in urban India. Consistent with past studies, poor glycaemic control was an important predictor for incidence and progression of DR., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Purpose: The introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors has transformed the care of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia, with survival approaching that of healthy individuals. Current-day challenges in chronic myeloid leukemia care include adherence to tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy. We studied adherence from resource-constrained settings and tried to analyze the factors responsible for nonadherence in these individuals. We also correlated adherence to current molecular status., Patients and Methods: This was a single-center, cross-sectional, observational study from north India. It consisted of a questionnaire-based survey in which a one-to-one interview technique was used by trained nursing staff administering the Modified Morisky Adherence Scale (MMAS-9) questionnaire. Adherence was also measured on the basis of physician's assessment. JMP 13.0.0 was used for statistical analysis., Results: A total of 333 patients with a median age of 42 years were included in the study. The median BCR-ABL/ABL ratio (IS) was 0.175 (0.0 to 98.0). The mean MMAS-9 score was 11 ± 2. Adherence was seen in 54.95% on the basis of MMAS-9, whereas physician's assessment reported adherence in 90.39% of patients. Using the χ 2 test, no relationship was found between the two assessment techniques. There was a significant relationship between major molecular response status and adherence by physician's assessment and MMAS-9 ( P < .001). Bivariate analysis by logistic fit showed a good relation between the MMAS-9 score and the BCR-ABL/ABL ratio (IS), χ 2 (1,220) = 135.45 ( P < .001). On multivariate analysis, enrolment in the Novartis Oncology Access program (a patient assistance program) was significantly associated with adherence ( P = .012)., Conclusion: This study highlights the lack of adherence in real-world settings and the various factors responsible. Such studies are important from a public health services perspective in various settings around the world because they may lead to corrective action being taken at the institutional level.

Purpose: To investigate the independent impact of the incidence and progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR) on visual functioning (VF)., Design: Population-based cohort study., Participants: A total of 518 participants aged 40 to 80 years (baseline visit 2007-2009 and second visit 6 years later, 2013-2015), with diabetes, clinical data, and VF information at both visits., Main Outcome Measures: VF-7 scores, converted to interval-level person measures (in logits) using Rasch analysis., Methods: Incident DR was defined using the Modified Airlie House classification as "none or minimal" DR at baseline and at least mild nonproliferative DR at follow-up; incident vision-threatening DR (VTDR; severe nonproliferative DR, proliferative DR, and/or clinically significant macular edema) as no VTDR at baseline, and present at follow-up; and DR progression as at least a 1-step worsening in DR at follow-up from mild or worse status at baseline. The longitudinal associations between incident DR, VTDR, and DR progression, as well as change in composite and individual item scores of VF, were assessed using multivariable linear regression models., Results: Of the 518 participants (mean age ± standard deviation [SD] 59.8±9.0 years; 47.7% female), 42 (9.8%), 14 (2.8%), and 32 (42.7%) had incident DR, incident VTDR, and DR progression, respectively, at follow-up. In models adjusting for traditional confounders, persons with incident DR and VTDR had a 13.7% (β = -0.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.96 to -0.24; P = 0.001) and 23% (β = -1.00; 95% CI, -1.61 to -0.38; P = 0.001) reduction in mean VF scores at follow-up. Furthermore, individuals with incident DR had similar independent reductions in scores for 7 individual items of the VF-7, whereas those with incident VTDR had the largest reductions for activities like cooking (31%; P = 0.003), reading the newspaper (29.6%; P < 0.001), and seeing street signs (28%, P = 0.001) at follow-up. Progression of DR was not independently associated with change in overall VF (β = -0.18; 95% CI, -1.00, 0.64; P = 0.660)., Conclusions: Incident DR, particularly vision-threatening stages, has a substantial negative impact on people's overall vision-dependent functioning and specific activities such as cooking, seeing street signs, and reading the newspaper. Our findings reinforce the need for strategies to prevent or delay the development of DR., (Copyright © 2018 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)