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Objective: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) prevalence ranges from 24% to 35% in Pakistani population. Studies have demonstrated GERD frequency is directly proportional to increasing weight. Thus, the frequency of obesity among gastro esophageal reflux disease patients was determined. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted on outpatients with GERD visiting Department of Hepatogastroenterology, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Karachi; from December 2017 to June 2018. Clinical and demographic parameters of study population were recorded. Body mass index (BMI) more than 27 was labeled as obese. Patients with history of ischemic heart disease, pregnancy, ascites and/or Patients on NSAIDS, bisphosphonates or steroids were excluded. Results: One hundred and fifty patients with mean age of 43.3±11.5 years were included in study. Eighty-seven patients (63.3%) had age more than 40 years. Majority of study population were males 95 (63.3%). Mean height and weight of study population were 163.09±9.56 cm and 72.92±15.13 kg, respectively. Mean BMI were 27.55±6.02 in which 71 (47.3%) were obese i.e., BMI >27. Majority were Urdu speaking i.e., 57 (38%) followed by Sindhi 31 (20%) Diabetes mellitus was documented in 22 (14.7%) and hypertension in 16 (10.7%) patients. Statistically significant association of GERD was seen in obese females (p-value: 0.018) Conclusion: Increase frequency of obesity is significantly associated with GERD. More proportion of obese females has GERD. Keywords: Gastro esophageal reflux disease; Body mass index; Weight; height

An aggregation-induced emission (AIE) active Schiff base L was obtained by reacting pyridoxal and 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde with p-phenylenediamine in two simple steps. The colorimetric, UV/VIS and fluorescence studies of L revealed that the yellow emissive L (λ

Submarine Groundwater Discharge (SGD) is one of the main external nutrient sources to the coastal waters. The concentrations of nutrients in groundwaters are a few folds higher than that of adjacent coastal waters; therefore, SGD enhances nutrients levels in the coastal waters and influences coastal biota. In order to examine the spatial and seasonal variability in nutrient concentrations and exchange to the coastal waters, groundwater samples were collected at ~ 90 locations along the Indian coast during the wet and dry seasons. This study revealed that dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and dissolved inorganic phosphates (DIP) and urea were found to be high during the dry than wet period. Higher concentrations of DIN and DIP were observed during both wet and dry periods in the groundwater along the east than the west coast of India. The State-wise mean amount of fertilizer used during Kharif (wet) and Rabi (dry) period in each Indian State showed significant correlation with mean concentrations of DIN and urea. The observed linear relationship of DIN with bacterial respiration and inverse relationship with DO saturation and ammonium in groundwater suggested that decomposition of organic matter and nitrification contributed to the DIN pool in the groundwater. The mean rate of SGD fluxes varied between 1.6 × 104 m3/day and 1.75 × 1011 m3/day in the Indian coastal region. The annual mean SGD flux of DIN and DIP was estimated to be 0.103 ± 0.02 and 0.021 ± 0.01 Tg (1 Tg = 1012 g) to the western coastal Bay of Bengal (east coast of India) and 0.06 ± 0.03 and 0.015 ± 0.01 Tg/y to the eastern coastal Arabian Sea (west coast of India) respectively. The estimated SGD flux of DIN and DIP to the Indian coastal waters amounted to 0.163 ± 0.04 and 0.036 ± 0.02 Tg/y respectively, and it is almost close to that of nutrients discharged by rivers (0.22 ± 0.05 and 0.11 ± 0.03 Tg/y respectively). Among the external sources of nitrogen and phosphorus, such as river discharge, atmospheric deposition, the contribution by SGD is highly significant in the Bay of Bengal (30 and 17% respectively) than in the case of Arabian Sea (24 and 25% respectively).

Recent studies indicated that the bacterial infections persist during the dry period and are responsible for clinical mastitis in the subsequent lactation. Dry cow therapy generally in managing existing infection and in preventing new infection during the dry period. It involves in use of intra-mammary antibiotics. Many modifiable management practices are following during dry period to overcome the intramammary infections. The study objective is to assess the efficacy of ethno veterinary formulations in prevention of mastitis during dry period under field conditions. The Ethno-veterinary formulation consisting of Aloe vera, Curcuma longa and Calcium hydroxide is effective in prevention of mastitis during the dry period under field conditions in comparison with regular antibiotics therapy. The study indicated that the natural plant based formulation helped to contain the microbial infection of the udder better than the control. The pH of the milk during dry period and early lactation found to be normal. Somatic Cell Count (SCC) is higher in the control group on the day of complete drying, day of calving and 5th day of calving.

Introduction: The aim of this chapter were to collect the ethno-veterinary practices for prevention and cure of animal health conditions and associated flora from healers and knowledgeable dairy farmers and to rapidly assess these practices for their safety and efficacy. Methods: Participatory rural appraisal and matrix ranking are used for prioritization of the animal health conditions. The documented formulations were rapidly assessed for their safety and efficacy using rapid assessment methodology. Results: Local people used 248 species of plants belonging to 80 families for prevention and cure of animal health conditions. Out of 441 formulations using various plants, 353 are safe and efficacious. The majority of these medicinal plants belong to Leguminosae (27 species with 20 genera), Apiaceae (nine species), Cucurbitaceae (8 species), Euphorbiaceae (11 species) and Poaceae (14 species). Leaves are commonly used (34.42%) followed by roots, (11%), fruits (9.74%), seeds (8.76%), barks (8.76%, whole plant (3.57%) stem (3.25%) and rhizome (2.6%). Average expenditure incurred for animal health care by a household was Indian Rupees 726.00 with western veterinary treatment and Indian Rupees 42.4 with ethno-veterinary practices, saving Indian Rupees 684 per episode. Conclusion: In the community, there is a wealth of cost-effective conventional animal health information and services. In livestock management, ethno-veterinary methods are a feasible alternative to antibiotics and other chemical medicines.

Submarine Groundwater Discharge (SGD) is one of the main external nutrient sources to the coastal waters. The concentrations of nutrients in groundwaters are a few folds higher than that of adjacent coastal waters; therefore, SGD enhances nutrients levels in the coastal waters and influences coastal biota. In order to examine the spatial and seasonal variability in nutrient concentrations and exchange to the coastal waters, groundwater samples were collected at ~ 90 locations along the Indian coast during the wet and dry seasons. This study revealed that dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and dissolved inorganic phosphates (DIP) and urea were found to be high during the dry than wet period. Higher concentrations of DIN and DIP were observed during both wet and dry periods in the groundwater along the east than the west coast of India. The State-wise mean amount of fertilizer used during Kharif (wet) and Rabi (dry) period in each Indian State showed significant correlation with mean concentrations of DIN and urea. The observed linear relationship of DIN with bacterial respiration and inverse relationship with DO saturation and ammonium in groundwater suggested that decomposition of organic matter and nitrification contributed to the DIN pool in the groundwater. The mean rate of SGD fluxes varied between 1.6 × 10

An easy to prepare novel vitamin B6 cofactor derivative 3-hydroxy-N′-((3 hydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-methylpyridin-4-yl)methylene)-2-naphthohydrazide (NPY) was synthesized by a one pot condensation reaction of pyridoxal with 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoic hydrazide and applied for the optical detection of Zn2+ and cysteine in the aqueous DMSO medium. The addition of Zn2+ ions leads to a selective blue-shift in the fluorescence emission spectrum of NPY from 530 nm to 475 nm, which allowed ratiometric detection of Zn2+ ions down to 8.73 × 10−7 M without any interference from other tested metal ions. This system was also successfully applied to detect intracellular Zn2+ ions in live HeLa cells. Further, when the in situ generated NPY·Zn2+ complex was interacted with various amino acids, the addition of cysteine resulted in an instantaneous colour change from light yellow to colourless and the absorbance at 435 nm of the complex was quenched selectively. Also, the fluorescence of the NPY·Zn2+ complex was quenched, which allowed the detection of cysteine down to 6.63 × 10−7 M.

An easy to prepare novel vitamin B6 cofactor derivative 3-hydroxy-N'-((3 hydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-methylpyridin-4-yl)methylene)-2-naphthohydrazide (NPY) was synthesized by a one pot condensation reaction of pyridoxal with 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoic hydrazide and applied for the optical detection of Zn2+ and cysteine in the aqueous DMSO medium. The addition of Zn2+ ions leads to a selective blue-shift in the fluorescence emission spectrum of NPY from 530 nm to 475 nm, which allowed ratiometric detection of Zn2+ ions down to 8.73 × 10-7 M without any interference from other tested metal ions. This system was also successfully applied to detect intracellular Zn2+ ions in live HeLa cells. Further, when the in situ generated NPY·Zn2+ complex was interacted with various amino acids, the addition of cysteine resulted in an instantaneous colour change from light yellow to colourless and the absorbance at 435 nm of the complex was quenched selectively. Also, the fluorescence of the NPY·Zn2+ complex was quenched, which allowed the detection of cysteine down to 6.63 × 10-7 M.

The detection of intracellular fluoride was achieved by a novel Schiff base chemosensor derived from vitamin B6 cofactor (L) using fluorescence imaging technique. The sensor L was synthesized by condensation of pyridoxal phosphate with 2-aminothiophenol. The anion recognition ability of L was explored by UV–Vis and fluorescence methods in DMSO and mixed DMSO-H2O system. The sensor L showed both naked-eye detectable color change from colorless to light green and remarkable fluorescence enhancement at 500 nm in the presence of F− and AcO−. The anion recognition was occurred through the formation of hydrogen bonded complexes between these anions and L, followed by the partial deprotonation of L. The detection limit of L for the analysis of F− and AcO− was calculated to be 1.88 μM and 9.10 μM, respectively. Finally, the detection of cytoplasmic fluoride was tested using human cancer cell HeLa through fluorescence imaging.

A simple validated RP HPLC method for the estimation of rizatriptan benzoate in pharmaceutical dosage form and bulk was developed for routine analysis. This method was developed by selecting Agilent TC C18 (250 x 4.6 mm, 5 μ) column as stationary phase and acrylonibrile:water (45:55), pH adjusted to 3, as mobile phase. Flow rate of mobile phase was maintained at 4: 1 mL/min at ambient temperature throughout the experiment. Quantification was achieved with ultraviolet (DAD) detection at 220 nm. The retention time obtained for rizatriptan was 2.8 min. The detector response was linear in the concentration range of 2-25μg/mL. This method was validated and shown to be specific, sensitive, precise, linear, accurate, rugged and robust. Hence, this method can be applied for routine quality control of rizatriptan benzoate in dosage forms as well as in bulk drug.

PMCID: PMC4112539.-- International Myeloma Working Group: et al., Plasma cell leukemia (PCL) is a rare and aggressive variant of myeloma characterized by the presence of circulating plasma cells. It is classified as either primary PCL occurring at diagnosis or as secondary PCL in patients with relapsed/refractory myeloma. Primary PCL is a distinct clinic-pathological entity with different cytogenetic and molecular findings. The clinical course is aggressive with short remissions and survival duration. The diagnosis is based upon the percentage (≥20%) and absolute number (≥2 × 10 9/l) of plasma cells in the peripheral blood. It is proposed that the thresholds for diagnosis be re-examined and consensus recommendations are made for diagnosis, as well as, response and progression criteria. Induction therapy needs to begin promptly and have high clinical activity leading to rapid disease control in an effort to minimize the risk of early death. Intensive chemotherapy regimens and bortezomib-based regimens are recommended followed by high-dose therapy with autologous stem cell transplantation if feasible. Allogeneic transplantation can be considered in younger patients. Prospective multicenter studies are required to provide revised definitions and better understanding of the pathogenesis of PCL., This work has been supported in part by “Josep Font” Grant from Hospital Clínic de Barcelona and RD06/0020/0005 from Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain.

Worldwide breast cancer remains as the most common malignancy in women and the numbers who form a subgroup with dense breast parenchyma are substantial. In addition to mammography, the adjuncts used for further evaluation of dense breasts have been anatomically based modalities such as ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging. The practice of functionally based imaging of breasts is relatively new but has undergone rapid progress over the past few years with promising results. The value of positron emission mammography is demonstrated in patients with dense breasts and mammographically occult disease.

The distribution and sources of particulate organic carbon (POC) and nitrogen (PN) in 27 Indian estuaries were examined during the monsoon using the content and isotopic composition of carbon and nitrogen. Higher phytoplankton biomass was noticed in estuaries with deeper photic zone than other estuaries receiving higher suspended matter. The δ 13 CPOC and δ 15 NPN data suggests that relatively higher δ 13 CPOC (-27.9 to -22.6‰) and lower δ 15 NPN (0.7 to 5.8‰) were noticed in the estuaries located in the northern India, north of 16 o N, and lower δ 13 CPOC (-31.4 to -28.2‰) and higher δ 15 NPN (5 to 10.3‰) in the estuaries located in the southern India. This is associated with higher Chl-a in the northern than southern estuaries suggesting that in situ production contributed significantly to the POC pool in the former whereas terrestrial sources are important in the latter estuaries. The spatial distribution pattern of δ 15 NPN is consistent with fertilizer consumption in the Indian subcontinent, which is twice as much in the northern India as in the south whereas δ 13 CPOC suggests that in situ production is a dominant source in the southern and terrestrial sources are important in the northern estuaries. Based on the SIAR (Stable Isotope Analysis in R) model, 40-90% (70-90%) of organic matter is contributed by C3 plants (freshwater algae) in the estuaries located in the northern (southern) India.

Biochemical composition of surface sediment samples from off major and minor rivers along the east coast of India revealed that spatial distribution of sediment organic carbon (SOC) composition was mainly governed by differential characteristics of discharged water and associated biogeochemical processes in the water column. The northwest (NW) region of coastal Bay of Bengal was influenced by discharges from Ganges river while peninsular (monsoonal) rivers influenced the southwest (SW) region. The NW region characterized by low nutrients suspended particulate matter (SPM), high phytoplankton biomass in the water column and high SOC while contrasting to that observed in the SW region. The isotopic ratios of SOC (−22 ‰) in the NW region were close to that of organic matter derived from phytoplankton (−23 ‰) suggesting in situ production is the major source whereas terrigeneous source contributed significantly in the SW region (−19.6 ‰). Though low in situ biological production in the SW region, relatively higher total carbohydrates (TCHO) were found than in the NW and insignificant difference of total and free amino acid concentrations between NW and SW were resulted from faster removal of organic matter to the sediment in association with SPM in the SW region. Higher proteins concentrations than total amino acids indicate that nitrogenous organic matter is preserved in the former form. The protein to TCHO ratio was lower in the SW suggesting significant contribution of aged and non-living organic matter in this region.

A study on biogeochemical cycling in the west coastal Bay of Bengal was undertaken during the peak discharge period to understand the influence of enhanced stratification and primary production on the possible intensification of the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ). Our study reveals that oxygen concentrations were below the detection limits in the northwestern (NW) coastal Bay of Bengal between 100 and 500 m associated with strong stratification and high phytoplankton biomass. Such low oxygen concentrations have never been reported so far from the coastal Bay of Bengal. Despite the existence of an environment conducive to denitrification in the coastal Bay of Bengal, accumulation of neither secondary nitrite nor nitrous oxide (N2O) was observed. The absence of denitrification was reported to be caused by faster scavenging of organic matter and low bacterial respiration rates; in contrast, our results suggest that neither of these factors are potential reasons for the absence of denitrification in the coastal Bay of Bengal.

This phase 1 study (clinical trial NCT00477815) was conducted to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of yttrium-90 ibritumomab tiuxetan (

Changes in river discharge alter material load and the consequent estuarine and coastal biogeochemical process. Evidence for biogeochemical response to variable rainfall over catchment area or changes in river discharges due to dam regulations is sparse. Inter-annual variability in monsoon rainfall and the consequent river discharges, either dam regulated or otherwise, in India are the best suited to test the influence of altered discharges on estuarine biogeochemistry. Our experiments in Godavari river estuary over three years revealed that a decrease in precipitation over the Indian subcontinent from 2007 to 2009 resulted in the lowering of mean annual discharge from 748.63 m 3 s -1 in 2007 to 218.40 m 3 s -1 in 2009. The reduced water discharge, during the peak discharge period, slowed the flushing of the estuary from 1.2 days to 6.3 days, respectively. The consequent increase in stability of water column and reduced suspended material load gave rise to intense phytoplankton blooms (Chl a 18 μg l -1 in 2007 to 28 μg l -1 in 2009). Resilience towards the unwanted phytoplankton bloom and overall health of the Indian estuaries is thus tuned by the variability in monsoon rainfall and dam regulated discharge.

Daily variations in nutrients were monitored for 15 months (September 2007–November 2008) in the Godavari estuary, Andhra Pradesh, India, at two fixed locations. River discharge has significant influence on nutrients loading to the estuary, which peaks during June–August (peak discharge period; monsoon) whereas exchanges at the sediment–water interface, groundwater and rainwater contribute significantly during other period. Despite significant amount of nutrients brought by discharge to the study region, phytoplankton biomass, in terms of chlorophyll- a (Chl a ), did not increase significantly due to high suspended load and shallow photic depth. Nutrients showed downward gradient towards downstream of the estuary from upstream due to dilution by nutrient poor seawater and biological uptake. The N:P ratios were higher than Redfield ratio in both upstream and downstream of the estuary during no discharge period suggesting PO 4 to be a limiting nutrient for phytoplankton production, at levels −1 . On the other hand, Si:N ratios were always more than unity during entire study period at both the stations indicating that Si(OH) 4 is not a limiting nutrient. Our results suggest that suspended matter limits phytoplankton biomass during peak discharge period whereas PO 4 during no discharge period.

Thermal buckling analysis of laminated smart composite plates subjected to uniform temperature distribution has been presented. Shape memory alloy (SMA) fibers whose material properties depend on temperature have been used as a smart material. A three-dimensional layerwise plate model has been employed in developing the system equations using variational approach. Finite-element method has been adopted for discretization of the laminate. Lagrangian interpolation functions have been used to approximate the displacement components along the thickness as well as in the in-plane direction. The actual variation of prebuckling stresses has been accounted for in the derivation of the geometric stiffness matrix of the laminates. An incremental load technique has been used in the analysis to take into account the nonlinearity in the material properties of the SMA arising due to their temperature dependence. The effects of thickness ratio, orthotropic ratio, fiber orientation, aspect ratio, stacking sequence and va...

Electrochemical hydrogen pumping using a high temperature (>100°C) PBI membrane was demonstrated under non-humidified and humidified conditions at ambient pressures. Relatively low voltages were required to operate the pump over a wide range of hydrogen flow rates. The advantages of the high temperature capability were shown by operating the pump on reformate feed gas mixtures containing various amounts of CO and CO{sub 2}. Gas purity measurements on the cathode gas product were conducted and significant reductions in gas impurities were detected. The applicability of the PBI membrane for electrochemical hydrogen pumping and its durability under typical operating conditions was established with tests that lasted for nearly 4000 hours.

In the original paper ( Ecol. Model. , 57: 193–219, 1991) a seven-component plankton-nutrient model was proposed so as to enable simulations of plankton growth and nutrient uptake in a coastal upwelling area. Since publication two coding errors have been discovered, affecting all results; these errors had the effect of reducing nitrogen uptake rates substantially. However on correcting the errors we discovered that the uptake rates calculated with the original coefficients are excessive. In this note the coefficients are revised and a simulation with the revised coefficients is compared with the original. The mathematical structure of the model is unchanged.

We have investigated the spectral dispersion of second molecular hyperpolarizability gamma (-omega'; omega, -omega, omega) of three derivatives of heteroarylene methine by antiresonant ring interferometric nonlinear spectroscopic technique using femtosecond modelocked Ti:sapphire laser in the spectral range of 725-820 nm. The observed dispersion of gamma has been explained in the framework of three-essential states model involving the ground state, a one-photon excited state and a two-photon excited state. The spectral response of the hyperpolarizability has been correlated with the electronic and chemical structures of the three derivatives of heteroarylene methine. The estimated gamma values have been compared to the fundamental quantum mechanical limit. We have found for the first time that the heteroarylene methines approach this limit within a factor of 2 while even the best known molecule so far falls short of this limit by a factor of 30.

[1] Estuaries have been under sampled to establish them as sources or sinks of the atmospheric carbon dioxide. Such poor coverage is well known for tropical, particularly monsoon driven, estuaries. In an attempt to study the variability in CO2 in a tropical monsoon estuary we made systematic time-series observations in the Gautami Godavari estuarine system in the east coast of India. Our 18 month-long extensive monitoring in the tropical Godavari estuarine system revealed pH >7.8 during dry period that decreased by 1.5 ± 0.01 during peak discharge period. The decrease in pH was associated with high nutrients and bacterial activities suggesting significant organic carbon decomposition. High bacterial respiration (20.6 ± 7.2 μMC l−1 d−1) in the estuary resulted in very high pCO2 of ∼30,000 μatm during peak discharge period, which otherwise were

Steroid receptors and human epidermal growth receptor 2 (HER2) have been used for predicting response to treatment in breast cancers. Fine needle aspiration cytology can provide highly cellular material and can be used for such analysis. The present study was undertaken to assess the reliability of oestrogen and progesterone receptor (ER, PR) status and HER2 as demonstrated by immunochemistry (IHC) on cell blocks from breast carcinoma cases, in comparison with histological sections.IHC for ER, PR and HER2 was performed on cell blocks and their corresponding tissue sections of 50 primary pre-chemotherapy breast carcinomas. Positivity for ER and PR was scored according to the Allred scoring system. Strong membranous positivity in more than 30% of tumour cells was considered positive for HER2. The tumours were classified as luminal A, luminal B, HER2-over-expressing and triple negative on the basis of ER, PR and HER2 status and results on cell blocks compared with histological sections.Correlation between immunostaining on cell blocks and the corresponding tumour tissues revealed a concordance rate for ER, PR and HER2 of 90% [Correlation coefficient (r) = 0.79], 94% (r = 0.86) and 90% (r = 0.76), respectively. Including five cases in which cell blocks were either ER or PR positive, 43/50 cases (86.0%) could be correctly classified on cell block immunostaining alone. The main reasons for seven discordant cases included technical errors (sampling error and staining error) and interpretational error in HER2 evaluation on cell blocks; the core biopsy was inadequate in one, and apparently false negative for HER2 in another.Cell blocks are useful in the assessment of hormone receptor status and HER2 by IHC, especially in cases of locally advanced breast cancer for planning neoadjuvant chemotherapy. It is highly recommended to have good quality cell blocks and quality control of their interpretation.

BBDT-TTF, C 14 H 16 S 8 , cristallise dans P2 1 /c avec a = 5,233, b = 14,274 et c = 13,430 A, β = 109,44 °, Z = 2; affinement jusqu'a R = 0,0400. Le squelette C 6 S 8 de la molecule est plan et empile le long de l'axe a. Trois distances intermoleculaires S...S sont tres proches de la somme des rayons de van der Waals du soufre. Dans le cristal, les molecules sont arrangees en paires.

A stability analysis is given for a model of plankton dynamics introduced by Wroblewski et al. (Global Biogeochem. Cycles 2, 199–218, 1988). The detailed dependence of the steady-states and their stability on the various model parameters is explicitly presented and analysed. It is shown that under certain conditions the coexistence of phytoplankton and zooplankton occurs in an orbitally stable oscillatory mode. A distinguished parameter is varied and the steady-states computed. The significance of the lack of stable steady-states leading to periodic population levels is investigated and related to certain oceanographic data.

Leiomyoma of the ciliary body is a rare tumor that often causes a diagnostic dilemma. Sclerouvectomy has been found to be beneficial in the management of iris and ciliary body leiomyoma. We treated a case of leiomyoma of the ciliary body presenting as a fleshy mass in the anterior chamber, removed by partial lamellar sclerouvectomy. Ultrasound biomicroscopic and histopathologic features, including light microscopic, immunohistochemistry, and transmission electron microscopic features, were studied and the literature was reviewed.

Several Baylis-Hillman adducts and their derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as targeted potential anti-malarials, The compounds 4, 7 and 9 were found to have highest potency against P. falciparum in vitro. The in vivo test result of compound 4 and 9 against P. berghei demonstrated activity at 80 mg/Kg dose level. (C) 1999 . .

To assess the impact of Vitamin A supplementation to the mother soon after delivery and to the infant at six months on morbidity in infancy.Randomized double blind placebo controlled field trial.51 villages in two contiguous Primary Health Centers in Villupuram Health Unit District of Tamil Nadu, South India.909 newly delivered mother-and-infant pairs.Both mother and infant received Vitamin A (300,000 IU for mothers and 200,000 IU for children) in 311 instances (AA); mother received Vitamin A but infant received Placebo in 301 instances (AP); and both mother and infant received Placebo in the remaining 297 instances (PP).Incidence of diarrhea and Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI); distributions of infants by frequency of episodes and number of infected days.233 in the AA Group and 228 each in the AP and PP Groups were followed up regularly. The incidence of diarrhea in these infants was 97.4%, 96.9% and 94.7% in the three groups, mean number of diarrheal episodes was 4.4, 4.6 and 4.2 and median number of days in infancy with diarrhea was 26, 26 and 22 days, respectively. For ARI, the incidences were 96.6%, 95.6% and 96.1%, means were 4.8, 5.1 and 4.8 episodes, and the medians were 32, 34 and 34 days, respectively.Prophylactic administration of mega doses of Vitamin A to the mother soon after delivery and to the infant at six months do not have any beneficial impact on the incidence of diarrhea and ARI in infancy.

Two new BEDT-TTF based charge transfer salts, [BEDT-TTF]{sub 4}[C(CN){sub 2}CONH{sub 2}]CuX{sub 2} (X = Cl and Br{sub 0.77}Cl{sub 0.22}) have been synthesized and characterized with use of X-ray diffraction, Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), and Raman spectroscopy. ESR spectroscopy reveals that the anion layer contains 3% of paramagnetic Cu(II) species which exhibit Curie-Weiss behavior with a Weiss constant of {theta} = {minus}2.8 K. Both compounds are metallic below 150 K. AC susceptibility, RF penetration depth, and RF impedance measurements under pressure do not reveal signals of superconductivity.

The response to intradermal administration of Rees soluble skin test antigen was studied in 12,142 randomly selected individuals living in a highly endemic area in South India. Taking a cut-off point of 12 mm induration as the criterion for 'positivity', 73% of PB cases, 45% of MB cases and 63% of noncase population (67% in contacts and 63% in non-contacts) were found to be positive. Age-specific positivity rates were higher in males than in females and in adults than in children. The difference in age-adjusted positivity rates between cases, contacts an noncontacts in the female population was found to be significant. However, the differences in reaction response are not sufficient to identify the sub-populations of cases, contacts and noncontacts and as such this antigen is not likely to be useful in epidemiological studies of infection and evolution of clinical disease in high endemic populations.

2,2'-Bi(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1,3-dithiolo-[4,5-b][1,4]dithiocinylidene) (BBDT-TTF), C14H16S8, M(r) = 440.75, m.p. = 424 K, monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 5.233 (1), b = 14.274 (4), c = 13.430 (3) angstrom, beta = 109.44 (2)-degrees, V = 944.10 angstrom 3, Z = 2, D(x) = 1.551 Mg m-3, lambda(Mo K-alpha) = 0.7107 angstrom, mu(Mo K-alpha) = 0.857 mm-1, F(000) = 456, T = 288 K, final R = 0.0403, wR = 0.0400 for 132 parameters and 2167 observed reflections. The C6S8 backbone of the BBDT-TTF molecule is planar and stacked along the a axis. Three intermolecular S...S distances [S2...S2i = 3.686 (1), S1...S4ii = 3.668 (1) and S3...S4iii = 3.705 (1) angstrom; (i) 2 - x, 1 - y, -z; (ii) -1 + x, y, z; (iii) -1 + x, 3/2 - y, -1/2 + z] are close to the sum of the van der Waals radii of sulfur. In the crystal, the molecules are arranged in pairs.