DETERMINANTS OF CHILD IMMUNIZATION AND MEASURMENT OF GENDER BIAS

This paper attempts to analyse the role of some socio-economic and demographic variables on the likelihood of being fully immunised in Indian scenario . Six childhood vaccinations are being considered for the children of the age between one to two years in India. The data used in this paper are from the India Human Development Survey (IHDS), which was conducted in 2004-05 by the University of Maryland in collaboration with the National Council of Applied Economic Research, New Delhi between November 2004 and October 2005.The nationally representative data covers 1504 villages and 971 urban areas across33 states and union territories of India. The paper also tries to decompose the gender gap in full immunisation among children of age one to two years and tries to quantify the gender discrimination with regard to childhood immunisation

Structural sensitivity of chaotic dynamics in Hastings-Powell's model

The classical Hastings-Powell model is well known to exhibit chaotic dynamics in a three-species food chain. Chaotic dynamics appear through period-doubling bifurcation of stable coexistence limit cycle around an unstable interior equilibrium point. A specific choice of parameter value leads to a situation where the chaotic attractor disappears through a collision with an unstable limit cycle. As a result, the top predator goes to extinction. Here we explore the structural sensitivity of this phenomenon by replacing the Holling type II functional responses with Ivlev functional responses. Here we prove the existence of two Hopf-bifurcation thresholds and numerically detect the existence of an unstable limit cycle. The model with Ivlev functional responses does not indicate any possibility of extinction of the top predator. Further, the choice of functional responses depicts a significantly different picture of the coexistence of the three species involved with the model

The bacterial community structure and functional profile in the heavy metal contaminated paddy soils, surrounding a nonferrous smelter in South Korea

Funding Information: The authors wish to thank the Basic Science Research Program of the National Research Foundation (NRF) under the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (2015R1A2A1A05001885), South Korea for providing funding support toward the completion of this study. This study was supported partially by the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research (Grant IUT2–16), and by the European Regional Development Fund through the Centre of Excellence EcolChange. We thank Saale Truu for the assistance in computer graphics. Funding Information: National Research Foundation of Korea, Grant/Award Number: 2015R1A2A1A05001885; Estonian Ministry of Education and Research, Grant/ Award Number: IUT2–16; European Region Development Fund Publisher Copyright: © 2018 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Copyright: Copyright 2018 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Fludarabine, cytarabine, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and idarubicin with gemtuzumab ozogamicin improves event-free survival in younger patients with newly diagnosed aml and overall survival in patients with npm1 and flt3 mutations

Purpose To determine the optimal induction chemotherapy regimen for younger adults with newly diagnosed AML without known adverse risk cytogenetics. Patients and Methods One thousand thirty-three patients were randomly assigned to intensified (fludarabine, cytarabine, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and idarubicin [FLAG-Ida]) or standard (daunorubicin and Ara-C [DA]) induction chemotherapy, with one or two doses of gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO). The primary end point was overall survival (OS). Results There was no difference in remission rate after two courses between FLAG-Ida + GO and DA + GO (complete remission [CR] + CR with incomplete hematologic recovery 93% v 91%) or in day 60 mortality (4.3% v 4.6%). There was no difference in OS (66% v 63%; P = .41); however, the risk of relapse was lower with FLAG-Ida + GO (24% v 41%; P < .001) and 3-year event-free survival was higher (57% v 45%; P < .001). In patients with an NPM1 mutation (30%), 3-year OS was significantly higher with FLAG-Ida + GO (82% v 64%; P = .005). NPM1 measurable residual disease (MRD) clearance was also greater, with 88% versus 77% becoming MRD-negative in peripheral blood after cycle 2 (P = .02). Three-year OS was also higher in patients with a FLT3 mutation (64% v 54%; P = .047). Fewer transplants were performed in patients receiving FLAG-Ida + GO (238 v 278; P = .02). There was no difference in outcome according to the number of GO doses, although NPM1 MRD clearance was higher with two doses in the DA arm. Patients with core binding factor AML treated with DA and one dose of GO had a 3-year OS of 96% with no survival benefit from FLAG-Ida + GO. Conclusion Overall, FLAG-Ida + GO significantly reduced relapse without improving OS. However, exploratory analyses show that patients with NPM1 and FLT3 mutations had substantial improvements in OS. By contrast, in patients with core binding factor AML, outcomes were excellent with DA + GO with no FLAG-Ida benefit

Immunize thy children—paving the way for their success : micro-level evidence from India

Childhood interventions like nutrition and immunizations have immediate as well as far-reaching impacts including potential labour market outcomes. However, there are insufficient studies on the association between immunization and children’s future cognitive abilities, which might directly impact labour market outcomes. Cross-sectional data cannot do justice to this programme evaluation as the children eligible for immunization are too young to be tested for any cognitive abilities. Using individual-level panel data from the Indian Human Development Survey (IHDS) round I (2004–2005, N = 3,208, age = 12–23 months with 50.6% male) and round II (2011–2012, N = 2,534, age = 96–107 months with 50.8% male), we are trying to assess the linkage between childhood care and child’s cognitive development. We also addressed the potential endogenous relation between parents’ decision for full immunization and kids’ cognitive achievement by using a quasi-experimental regression technique: propensity score matching. Our study finds a significant effect of childhood immunization on the cognitive development of grown-up children through better reading, writing and mathematics skills

Theoretical Study on the Mechanism of Rearrangement Reactions of Bicyclic Derivatives of Cyclopropane to Monocyclic Derivatives under the Catalysis of Pt-Salt

In this paper, the mechanistic studies on the isomerization of hydroxyl and silyl derivatives of bicyclic cyclopropanes under the catalytic action of Zeise’s salt have been reported. The catalytic activity of both the monomeric and the dimeric forms of Zeise’s salt has been studied by applying the high-level quantum mechanical method. Results from this investigation reveal that the reaction goes favorably under the catalysis of the dimeric form of Zeise’s salt. The calculated activation barrier for the catalytic process using Zeise’s dimer reveals that the rearrangement occurs with an activation barrier of 19–25 kcal mol–1. Depending on the nature of substituents present on the substrate, formation of various products has been explained. This study also includes the heteronuclear counter part of Zeise’s dimer where one of the Pt-metals is replaced by palladium (Pd) and nickel (Ni) successively. The calculated activation barrier using these heteronuclear catalysts is found to be close enough to that calculated for the catalytic pathway using Zeise’s dimer

Beneficial Soil Bacterium Pseudomonas frederiksbergensis OS261 Augments Salt Tolerance and Promotes Red Pepper Plant Growth

Soil salinity, being a part of natural ecosystems, is an increasing problem in agricultural soils throughout the world. Pseudomonas frederiksbergensis OS261 has already been proved to be an effective bio-inoculant for enhancing cold stress tolerance in plants, however, its effect on salt stress tolerance is unknown. The main aim of the present study was to elucidate P. frederiksbergensis OS261 mediated salt stress tolerance in red pepper. The plants were exposed to a salt stress using NaCl at the concentrations of 50, 100, and 150 mM after 12 days of transplantation, while plant growth and enzyme activity were estimated 50 days after sowing. The height in P. frederiksbergensis OS261 inoculated plants was significantly increased by 19.05, 34.35, 57.25, and 61.07% compared to un-inoculated controls at 0, 50, 100, and 150 mM of NaCl concentrations, respectively, under greenhouse conditions. The dry biomass of the plants increased by 31.97, 37.47, 62.67, and 67.84% under 0, 50, 100, and 150 mM of NaCl concentrations, respectively. A high emission of ethylene was observed in un-inoculated red pepper plants under salinity stress. P. frederiksbergensis OS261 inoculation significantly reduced ethylene emission by 20.03, 18.01, and 20.07% at 50, 100, and 150 mM of NaCl concentrations, respectively. Furthermore, the activity of antioxidant enzymes (ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase) also varied in the inoculated red pepper plants. Salt stress resistance in the bacterized plants was evident from the improved antioxidant activity in leaf tissues and the decreased hydrogen ion concentration. Thus, we conclude that P. frederiksbergensis OS261 possesses stress mitigating property which can enhance plant growth under high soil salinity by reducing the emission of ethylene and regulating antioxidant enzymes

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Quillaja saponaria Molina bark extract and its antivenom activities

753-760Snakebite is an issue of concern, especially in India which accounts for half of the global deaths due to venomous snakebites every year. Saponins are glycosides of triterpenes and steroids known for their antivenom properties. The soap bark tree or Quillaya, Quillaja saponaria Molina represents the major resource of saponins for commercial applications. Here, we investigated the antivenom property of silver nanoparticle mediated saponins (AgNP-SP) from the Q. saponaria bark extract. AgNP-SP was prepared conducive to optimal temperature, pH of extract and concentration of AgNO3. UV-VIS, FT-IR, XRD, TEM and SEM interpretations were devised to characterize AgNP-SP. AgNP-SP was tested for its efficacy to neutralize venom lethality and increase in myotoxicity biomarkers (LDH) in animal models. AgNP-SP was synthesized optimally at a concentration of 50 mg/mL, extract (pH 6.8) and temperature (80°C) with AgNO3 (1 mM). The colour change and synthesis of AgNP-SP was examined by UV–Vis analysis at 430 nm. TEM studies showed the size for AgNP-SP to be 74.4 nm. FT-IR analysis showed peaks of AgNP-SP at 3422 cm−1 and 2926 (O–H stretching), 2358 cm−1 (O=C=O stretching), 1616 cm−1 (C=C stretching), 1097 cm−1 (C–F stretching), 813 cm−1 (C–CL stretching) and 651 cm−1 (C–Br stretching). The EDAX established the purity of the AgNP-SP. The biosynthesized AgNP-SP could significantly neutralize Vipera russelli venom (VRV) mediated elevation of biomarkers lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum creatinine and serum uric acid. The present study, thus promulgates the therapeutic potential of silver nanoparticle mediated saponins (AgNP-SP) in ameliorating the biochemical and pharmacological effect of haemotoxic snake venom in animal models