An Economic Evaluation of Investment on Aonla (Emblica officinalis G.) in Gujarat

The economic viability of aonla plantation in Gujarat has been studied through a sample of 120 aonla growers spread over 12 selected villages of the Kheda and Anand districts for the agricultural year 2003-04. It has been found that establishment of aonla orchard involves high investment, but the annual net returns are also quite high, after the third year of plantation. The values of economic parameters, viz. NPV, BCR, IRR and PBP have been found to be Rs 652652, 5.25, 65.03 per cent and 55 months, respectively at 10 per cent discount rate. Under varying cost and return situations, values of all these feasibility parameters have satisfied the acceptance rules for the investment proposition. It has confirmed the economic viability, stability and certainty of investment on aonla orchard. The study has suggested that financial institutions should give credit to aonla producers in the area.Crop Production/Industries,

Comparative Economics of Contract and Non-contract Farming of Potato in Gujarat

To study the comparative economics of contract and non-contract farming of potato in Gujarat state, a sample of 120 potato growers comprising 60 each from contract and non-contract were selected. The Cost Concept (CACP approach) was used to work out various costs and “t” test was used for testing their statistical significance. The results revealed that the cost of cultivation (Cost C2) was higher on contract farms (` 185435 per ha) when compared to the non-contract farms, (` 154930 per ha) due to higher cost of labor, manures, seeds and chemical fertilizers. The average production of potato was higher on contract farms (399.92 q/ha) than on the non-contract farms (303.83 q/ha). This might be due to the use of better variety, proper use of inputs and better production technology as specified by the contracting firm. The average price received by the farmers was higher on the contract farms (` 830.29 per quintal) when compared to the non-contract farms (` 808.17 per quintal). The net returns received over Cost C2 was higher on contract farms (` 146615 per ha) when compared to the non-contract farms (` 90620 per ha). The yield uncertainty ratio was lower on the contract farms (0.1806) than the non-contract farms (0.4588). Similarly, the price uncertainty ratio was lower on contract farms (0.0162) than the non-contract farms (0.1358). In nutshell, these results clearly revealed that the contract farming in potato was economically more profitable and less risky when compared to traditional non-contract farming

Gastrointestinal microbiota in autistic spectrum disorder

In this thesis, gut bacteria of children with autism were examined. The results provided new information and a compelling picture of the gut bacteria of children with autism and gastrointestinal symptomatology. The mechanisms that underlie gut dysfunction might involve factors like stress-induced changes in gut physiology associated with autism

EPIGENETIC MEDIATION OF PARTICULATE MATTER-ASSOCIATED CHANGES IN HEART RATE VARIABILITY AND QT INTERVAL DURATION

Background. Ambient particulate matter (PM) air pollution is a modifiable exposure that has been consistently associated with higher cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, at least in part through autonomic dysfunction and prolonged ventricular repolarization, as observed by decreases in heart rate variability (HRV) and increases QT interval duration (QT) on the electrocardiogram. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these associations are not well understood. Methods. PM associations with leukocyte count, proportions, and DNA methylation were estimated using linear mixed, covariate-adjusted models using multiply-imputed, multi-center, longitudinal data in racially, ethnically and environmentally diverse populations of U.S. women and men. Then, PM-associated changes in HRV and QT – and epigenetic mediation of those associations – were estimated. Results. Monthly to yearly mean PM2.5 concentrations were associated with = higher leukocyte counts, higher granulocyte proportions, and lower CD8+ T cell proportions. Methylome-wide association analyses identified three significant CpG sites (cg19004594, cg24102420, and cg12124767) annotated to MATN4, ARPP21 and CFTR at which higher monthly mean PM10 and PM2.5-10 concentrations were associated with leukocyte DNAm. However, neither monthly mean PM10 or PM2.5-10 nor methylation at cg19004594, cg24102420, or cg12124767 were appreciably associated with HRV or QT, thereby yielding null PM-DNAm-HRV and PM-DNAm-QT mediation associations. Conclusions. Findings suggest that PM is associated with leukocyte count, composition and DNAm at concentrations below U.S. Environmental Protection Agency National Ambient Air Quality Standards. However, monthly exposures to coarser particulates, while associated with DNAm, did not exert appreciable, epigenetically mediated effects on cardiac autonomic function or ventricular repolarization. Nonetheless, the methods and results described herein may inform causal and mediation methods at the junction of epigenetics, environmental and cardiovascular epidemiology, and the findings have implications for policy-relevant decision-making and standard setting by the US Environmental Protection Agency under the Clean Air Act.Doctor of Philosoph

Pilot scale hybrid fed batch and continuous processing of biologics

Pfizer Bioprocessing R&D is focused on developing enabling technologies that will reduce capital and operational expenses, decrease equipment scale, increase automation and utilize fewer FTEs. To realize this vision, our Pilot Facility has partnered with our cell culture process development colleagues to adapt a fed batch platform 150L stainless steel bioreactor to run in hybrid perfusion, standard perfusion, low volume cell controlled perfusion, and continuous stirred tank modes. Through adjustments to impeller configuration, sparging strategy, and addition ports the bioreactor was able to deliver multiple batches that produced ~3X gains in cell density and volumetric productivity versus conventional fed batch platform methods

SIMULTANEOUS ESTIMATION OF SUMATRIRTAN SUCCINATE AND NAPROXEN SODIUM IN BULK DRUG AND PHARMACEUTICAL DOSAGE FORM BY RP-HPLC METHOD

A simple, sensitive and rapid reverse phase high performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for simultaneous estimation of Sumatriptan succinate and Naproxen sodium. C18 column (250x 4.6 mm, 5μ) was used with a mobile phase containing a mixture Acetonitrile: Methanol: phosphate buffer in the ratio of 50:10:40 at pH 6.The flow rate was 1.0ml/min and effluents were monitored at 229 nm at flow rate of 1 ml/min. The retention time was found to be 4.037 min for Naproxen sodium and 2.813 min for Sumatriptan Succinate. Calibration curve was plotted with a range from 1-5μg/ml for Sumatriptan succinate and Naproxen sodium. The assay was validated for parameters like accuracy, precision, robustness and system suitability parameters. The proposed method can be useful in the routine analysis for determination on Sumatriptan succinate and Naproxen sodium. Key words: Sumatriptan succinate, Naproxen sodium, Reverse Phase HPLC

Gastrointestinal microbiota, diet and brain functioning

A growing interest for research in the relationship between the gastrointestine (GI), GI microbiota, health and disease is due to the potential for research identifying interventio

Faecal microbiota of individuals with autism spectrum disorder

Many children with autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs) suffer from gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhoea, constipation and abdominal pain. Such symptoms may be due to a disruption of the indigenous gut microbiota promoting the overgrowth of potentially pathogenic micro-organisms. These observations have stimulated investigations into possible abnormalities of intestinal microbiota in autistic patients. The purpose of the present study was to determine if a relationship exists between ASD severity (mild – severe) and GI microbial populations. The faecal microbiota of 22 male and 6 female participants with ASDs (aged 7 ± 6 years) were analyzed by standard microbial culture methods and compared within-group (based on ASD severity) and with a standard laboratory reference range. Comparisons between children with mild ASD and those with moderate to severe ASD, as well as comparisons to a neurotypical control group previously reported, revealed that no significant differences appear to exist in the composition of the gut microbiota. Nevertheless, examination of each individual’s gut microbial composition showed 10 cases of unusual findings witch means 1out of 3 cases have unusual microbiota. Our data do not support consistent GI microbial abnormalities in ASD children, but the findings do suggest that aberrations may be found in a minority subset of ASD children. Further studies are required to determine the possible association between the microbiota and gastrointestinal dysfunctions in a subset of children with both ASD and gastro-intestinal problems

Genetic variation associated with hypersensitivity to mercury

OBJECTIVES: Very little is known about mechanisms of idiosyncratic sensitivity to the damaging effects of mercury (Hg); however, there is likely a genetic component. The aim of the present study was to search for genetic variation in genes thought to be involved in Hg metabolism and transport in a group of individuals identified as having elevated Hg sensitivity compared to a normal control group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Survivors of pink disease (PD; infantile acrodynia) are a population of clinically identifiable individuals who are Hg sensitive. In the present study, single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes thought to be involved in Hg transport and metabolism were compared across two groups: (i) PD survivors (n = 25); and (ii) age- and sex-matched healthy controls (n = 25). RESULTS: Analyses revealed significant differences between groups in genotype frequencies for rs662 in the gene encoding paraoxanase 1 (PON1) and rs1801131 in the gene encoding methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR). CONCLUSIONS: We have identified two genetic polymorphisms associated with increased sensitivity to Hg. Genetic variation in MTHFR and PON1 significantly differentiated a group formerly diagnosed with PD (a condition of Hg hypersensitivity) with age- and gender-matched healthy controls

Renal artery stenosis complicated by an intraoperative rupture of renal artery: a case study

Renal artery stenosis (RAS) is a major contributor to the prevalence of secondary hypertension. Fibromuscular dysplasia and atherosclerosis are commonly responsible for the occurrence of the disease. Medical therapy is the primary means of treatment for RAS. However, surgical interventions for revascularization are also considered, in selected group of patients, which can effectively cure hypertension and chronic kidney disease. An older man presented at Venus hospital, Surat, Gujarat with the complaints of severe dyspnea, edema, uncontrolled hypertension and renal insufficiency. He was diagnosed RAS and was operatively managed with percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty. Written consent was taken from the patient mentioned in the study. During the procedure, the renal artery got ruptured, which was managed by placing a covered stent. The patient was successfully treated for RAS, in spite of comorbidities and intraoperative complication. In the subsequent clinical follow-up, the patient was asymptomatic. There was marked reduction in serum creatinine levels and even the blood pressure improved significantly. Absence of post-operative complications and positive recovery of the patient signifies the fact that management of renal artery rupture with a covered stent is a convenient approach in acquiring effective haemostasis. This approach can be useful in managing any sort of vessel rupture, related to revascularization procedures