Corrosion inhibition studies and Solvation Analysis of Pyridine N-oxides by Polarizable Continuum Model method

Solvation analysis and corrosion inhibition studies has been carried out for pyridine N oxide, 3-carboxypyridine N-oxide and 2-methylpyridine N- oxide in polar and nonpolar solvents having a wide range of dielectric constants. The test set consists of water, methanol, ethanol, acetone, dichloromethane, chlorobenzene, chloroform, toulene, benzene and carbon tetrachloride. The physical properties of the systems such as free energies of solution, electrostatic interaction, dispersive energies, repulsive energies and dipole moments are discussed.  Quantum mechanical self consistent fields explain the properties of the compounds satisfactorily

Information and communication technology in disease surveillance, India: a case study

India has made appreciable progress and continues to demonstrate a strong commitment for establishing and operating a disease surveillance programme responsive to the requirements of the International Health Regulations (IHR[2005]). Within five years of its launch, India has effectively used modern information and communication technology for collection, storage, transmission and management of data related to disease surveillance and effective response. Terrestrial and/or satellite based linkages are being established within all states, districts, state-run medical colleges, infectious disease hospitals, and public health laboratories. This network enables speedy data transfer, video conferencing, training and e-learning for outbreaks and programme monitoring. A 24x7 call centre is in operation to receive disease alerts. To complement these efforts, a media scanning and verification cell functions to receive reports of early warning signals. During the 2009 H1N1 outbreak, the usefulness of the information and communication technology (ICT) network was well appreciated. India is using ICT as part of its Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP) to help overcome the challenges in further expansion in hard-to-reach populations, to increase the involvement of the private sector, and to increase the use of other modes of communication like e-mail and voicemail

Effect of Gadolinium on the properties and photo-catalytic applications of ZnO nanocrystals

Various weight % of Gadolinium doped ZnO nanocrystals were prepared by using simple co-precipitation method. All the prepared Gd doped ZnO nanocrystals are annealed at 450°C. The synthesized nanocrystals are characterized by using various techniques like X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The influence of various weight % of Gadolinium doping on structural, optical and photo-catalytic performance of the ZnO nanocrystals has been investigated. Photo-catalytic decolourization was analysed for Gadolinium doped ZnO nanocrystals by using Methylene blue as model dye. It has been found that 0.075% Gd doped ZnO nanocrystals shows enhanced catalytic performance

Structural and Electrical properties of ZnO Nanorod based dye sensitized solar cell

ThePreparation of nanorod involves simple and novel design of sol-gel process. Further, by using the prepared nanorods,working electrode will be prepared and it will be sensitized with ruthenium dye. A platinum coated FTO electrode will beused as a counter electrode. Dye sensitized solar cell will be assembled by using the working electrode and counterelectrode. FE-SEM and UV characteristics have been carried out at 250ᵒC, 350ᵒC&450ᵒC. The size and band gap ofnanorod at these temperatures has been found out to be 1μm and 2.95eV, 200nm and 2.86eV, 100nm and 2.79eVrespectively. The power conversion efficiency and the fill factor have been obtained as 2.72% and 0.722 respectively

Moving from rabies research to rabies control: lessons from India

BACKGROUND: Despite the availability of effective interventions and public recognition of the severity of the problem, rabies continues to suffer neglect by programme planners in India and other low and middle income countries. We investigate whether this state of 'policy impasse' is due to, at least in part, the research community not catering to the information needs of the policy makers. METHODS & FINDINGS: Our objective was to review the research output on rabies from India and examine its alignment with national policy priorities. A systematic literature review of all rabies research articles published from India between 2001 and 2011 was conducted. The distribution of conducted research was compared to the findings of an earlier research prioritization exercise. It was found that a total of 93 research articles were published from India since 2001, out of which 61% consisted of laboratory based studies focussing on rabies virus. Animals were the least studied group, comprising only 8% of the research output. One third of the articles were published in three journals focussing on vaccines and infectious disease epidemiology and the top 4 institutions (2 each from the animal and human health sectors) collectively produced 49% of the national research output. Biomedical research related to development of new interventions dominated the total output as opposed to the identified priority domains of socio-politic-economic research, basic epidemiological research and research to improve existing interventions. CONCLUSION: The paper highlights the gaps between rabies research and policy needs, and makes the case for developing a strategic research agenda that focusses on rabies control as an expected outcome

Experiments with hybrid Bernstein global optimization algorithm for the OPF problem in power systems

This paper presents an algorithm based on the Bernstein form of polynomials for solving the optimal power flow (OPF) problem in electrical power networks. The proposed algorithm combines local and global optimization methods and is therefore referred to as a `hybrid' Bernstein algorithm in the context of this work. The proposed algorithm is a branch-and-bound (B&B) procedure wherein a local search method is used to obtain a good upper bound on the global minimum at each branching node. Subsequently, the Bernstein form of polynomials is used to obtain a lower bound on the global minimum. The performance of the proposed algorithm is compared with the previously reported Bernstein algorithm to demonstrate its effi cacy in terms of the chosen performance metrics. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm is tested by solving the OPF problem for several benchmark IEEE power system examples and its performance is compared with generic global optimization solvers such as BARON and COUENNE. The test results demonstrate that the algorithm HBBB delivers satisfactory performance in terms of solution optimality.This research is supported by the National Research Foundation, Prime Ministers Office, Singapore, under its CREATE programme

Differential effects of the novel neurosteroid hypnotic (3β,5β,17β)-3-hydroxyandrostane-17-carbonitrile on electroencephalogram activity in male and female rats

BACKGROUND: We recently showed that a neurosteroid analogue, (3β,5β,17β)-3-hydroxyandrostane-17-carbonitrile (3β-OH), induced hypnosis in rats. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the hypnotic and anaesthetic potential of 3β-OH further using electroencephalography. METHODS: We used behavioural assessment and cortical electroencephalogram (EEG) spectral power analysis to examine hypnotic and anaesthetic effects of 3β-OH (30 and 60 mg kg RESULTS: We found dose-dependent sex differences in 3β-OH-induced hypnosis and EEG changes. Both male and female rats responded similarly to i.p. 3β-OH 30 mg kg CONCLUSIONS: Based on its behavioural effects and EEG signature, 3β-OH is a potent hypnotic in rats, with female rats being more sensitive than male rats

Acute encephalitis syndrome surveillance, Kushinagar district, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2011-2012

In India, quality surveillance for acute encephalitis syndrome (AES), including laboratory testing, is necessary for understanding the epidemiology and etiology of AES, planning interventions, and developing policy. We reviewed AES surveillance data for January 2011-June 2012 from Kushinagar District, Uttar Pradesh, India. Data were cleaned, incidence was determined, and demographic characteristics of cases and data quality were analyzed. A total of 812 AES case records were identified, of which 23\% had illogical entries. AES incidence was highest among boys<6 years of age, and cases peaked during monsoon season. Records for laboratory results (available for Japanese encephalitis but not AES) and vaccination history were largely incomplete, so inferences about the epidemiology and etiology of AES could not be made. The low-quality AES/Japanese encephalitis surveillance data in this area provide little evidence to support development of prevention and control measures, estimate the effect of interventions, and avoid the waste of public health resources

The global biopharma industry and the rise of Indian drug multinationals: implications for Australian generics policy

This article provides a synopsis of the new dynamics of the global biopharma industry. The emergence of global generics companies with capabilities approximating those of 'big pharma' has accelerated the blurring of boundaries between the innovator and generics sectors. Biotechnology-based products form a large and growing segment of prescription drug markets and regulatory pathways for biogenerics are imminent. Indian biopharma multinationals with large-scale efficient manufacturing plants and growing R&D capabilities are now major suppliers of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and generic drugs across both developed and developing countries. In response to generic competition, innovator companies employ a range of life cycle management techniques, including the launch of 'authorised generics'. The generics segment in Australia will see high growth rates in coming years but the prospect for local manufacturing is bleak. The availability of cheap generics in international markets has put pressure on Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) pricing arrangements, and a new policy direction was announced in November 2006. Lower generics prices will have a negative impact on some incumbent suppliers but industrial renewal policies for the medicines industry in Australia are better focused on higher value R&D activities and niche manufacturing of sophisticated products