Between local connectedness and sum connectedness

A new generalization of local connectedness called Z-local connectedness is introduced. Basic properties of Z-locally connected spaces are studied and their place in the hierarchy of variants of local connectedness, which already exist in the literature, is elaborated. The class of Z-locally connected spaces lies strictly between the classes of pseudo locally connected spaces (Commentations Math. 50(2)(2010),183-199) and sum connected spaces ($\equiv$ weakly locally connected spaces) (Math. Nachrichten 82(1978), 121-129; Ann. Acad. Sci. Fenn. AI Math. 3(1977), 185-205) and so contains all quasi locally connected spaces which in their turn contain all almost locally connected spaces introduced by Mancuso (J. Austral. Math. Soc. 31(1981), 421-428). Formulations of product and subspace theorems for Z-locally connected spaces are suggested. Their preservation under mappings and their interplay with mappings are discussed. Change of topology of a Z-locally connected space is considered so that it is simply a locally connected space in the coarser topology. It turns out that the full subcategory of Z-locally connected spaces provides another example of a mono-coreflective subcategory of TOP which properly contains all almost locally connected spaces

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Not AvailableEleven New World Camelids microsatellite primer pairs were used to investigate the genetic polymorphism in Bikaneri camel. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood and polymerase chain reactions were carried out for 30 unrelated camels of Bikaneri breed. Microsatellite technique was used for analysis of DNA. The amplification products were resolved in 6%(denaturing) urea PAGE and stained with silver nitrate. Six microsatellite primer pairs could amplify the polymorphic microsatellite loci in Bikaneri camel. The number of alleles ranged from 2 to 5. The expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.289 to 0.686 and the polymorphic information content ranged from 0.267 to 0.639. The results indicated the utility of these microsatellite loci for studying genetic polymorphism in Indian dromedary and the potential use of microsatellite markers for further genetic investigations including individual identification, parentage testing and production enhancement.Not Availabl

Structural Characterization of Asphaltenes and Ethyl Acetate Insoluble Fractions of Petroleum Vacuum Residues

Asphaltenes and insoluble fractions of vacuum residues (VRs) of two Indian crude oils (viz. Heera and Jodhpur) of different specific gravity were obtained by precipitation of VRs in n-hexane, n-heptane, and ethyl acetate, and also by subsequent reprecipitation of n-heptane and ethyl acetate soluble fractions by n-pentane. The effect of various solvents on average molecular structure of asphaltenes and insolubles was studied using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The asphaltenes and insolubles of Jodhpur VR have higher amounts of high molecular weight species with a high concentration of condensed and substituted aromatic rings, branched and/or short alkyl side chains, oxygen and nitrogen functionalities, compared to that of Heera VR. Ethyl acetate insolubles comprise a higher number of substituted aromatic structures, branched aliphatic structures, complex average unit structures, nitrogen and oxygen functionalities, and high molecular weight (MW) species as compared to hexane and heptane asphaltenes. Heptane insolubles consist of more naphthenic rings condensed with aromatic rings than C6A and EAI. Keywords: asphaltenes, FTIR, insolubles, NMR, petroleum, SEC, vacuum residu

Dengue vectors prevalence and the related risk factors involved in the transmission of dengue in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala, south India

Background & objectives: A longitudinal, entomological and virological study was conducted from 2007 to 2010 in four dengue fever affected areas of Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala to understand the risk factors involved in the dengue transmission. Methods: Aedes surveys were carried out seasonally in the selected localities both indoors and peridomestic sites. Water holding containers were sampled for the presence of immature. Outdoor and indoor resting/landing mosquitoes were collected. Blood meal identification was performed by gel diffusion test and viral assay using the ELISA test. Results: The species found were Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Linn.), Ae. (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse) and Ae. (Stegomyia) vittatus (Bigot). Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus immature stages were also found during the study period. Aedes aegypti was the only prevalent species in the water-starved Vizhinjam, a rural coastal area with breteau index (BI) ranging from 40 to 271. Aedes albopictus was recorded in rest of the three surveyed localities—two urban and one rural ghat areas of Thiruvananthapuram district. Interpretation & conclusion: The vector control measures should be focused mainly on source reduction of water storage containers present in both outdoor (Ae. albopictus and Ae. vittatus) and indoor (Ae. aegypti). To achieve effective vector management, a public health response beyond routine larviciding or focal spraying is essential throughout the year

Insecticide Susceptibility and Resistance Development in Malathion Selected Aedes albopictus (Skuse)

Aedes albopictus was bioassayed to determine resistance development to malathion (OP). Two methods were applied, including WHO larval bioassay to determine the susceptibility to lethal concentration (LC), and adult bioassay to determine lethal time (LT). Larvae from colonies that had undergone selection pressure with malathion to yield 50 mortality were further subjected to selection for subsequent 10 generations. Selection of Ae. albopictus with malathion could relatively induce a consistent resistance ratio of 1.0 throughout 10 generations. It was noted that Ae. albopictus larvae showed less susceptibility to malathion compared to adults. The susceptibility test of adult mosquitoes to diagnostic dosage of 5.0 malathion-impregnated paper showed a variety of susceptibility to malathion when compared to the susceptible strain. Bioassay results indicated that the LT 50 values of malathion-selected Ae. albopictus ranged between 11.5 - 58.8 minutes for ten consecutive generations. Biochemical enzyme studies indicated that there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in esterase level in malathion-selected mosquitoes compared to non-selected control. Electrophoretic patterns of non-specific esterases at different life stages in malathion-selected Ae. albopictus suggested that non-specific esterases do not play a role in resistance of malathion-selected Ae. albopictus