Limited Access to Iodized Salt among the Poor and Disadvantaged in North 24 Parganas District of West Bengal, India

Iodine deficiency is endemic in West Bengal as evident from earlier studies. This community-based, cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in North 24 Parganas district during August-November 2005 to assess the consumption of adequately-iodized salt and to ascertain the various factors that influence access to iodized salt. In total, 506 households selected using the multi-stage cluster-sampling technique and all 79 retail shops from where the study households buy salt were surveyed. The iodine content of salt was tested by spot iodine-testing kits. Seventy-three percent of the households consumed salt with adequate iodine content (≥15 ppm). Consumption of adequately-iodized salt was lower among rural residents [prevalence ratio (PR): 0.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.7-0.9], Muslims (PR: 0.8, 95% CI 0.7-0.9), and households with monthly per-capita income of ≤US$ 10 (PR: 0.7, 95% CI 0.6-0.8). Those who heard and were aware of the risk of iodine-deficiency disorders and of the benefit of iodized salt were more likely to use appropriate salt (PR: 1.2, 95% CI 1.1-1.3). Those who were aware of the ban on non-iodized salt were more likely to consume adequately-iodized salt (PR: 1.1, 95% CI 1.01-1.3). The iodine content was higher in salt sold in sealed packets (PR: 2.9, 95% CI 1.8-4.8) and stored on shelves (PR: 1.6, 95% CI 1.3-2.0). Seventy-two percent of the salt samples from the retail shops had the iodine content of ≥15 ppm. The findings indicate that elimination of iodine deficiency will require targeting the vulnerable and poor population

Stepwise reduction of electron-precise, six-electron, triangular, [Mo<SUB>3</SUB><SUP>IV</SUP>S<SUB>4</SUB>(CN)<SUB>9</SUB>]<SUP>5-</SUP> to electron-rich seven, eight and unstable nine-electron species resulting in core expansion to electron-precise, twelvee-lectron, tetrahedral, [Mo<SUB>4</SUB><SUP>III</SUP>S<SUB>4</SUB>(CN)<SUB>12</SUB>]<SUP>8-</SUP>

Facile reduction of the triangular {Mo3IV }6-core containing [Mo3S4 (CN)9]5- derivative is achieved in aqueous medium, containing the KOH-KCN-K2 [Zn(CN)4] ternary system as supporting electrolyte, in a two-step one-electron reduction reaction followed by an irreversible one. The diamagnetic species containing the {Mo3}8 core, obtained by chemical reduction of [Mo3S4(CN)9]5- with zinc in aqueous medium containing KOH-KCN, is oxidized by air in two steps. The partially oxidized species with {Mo3}7 core in the first step exhibits characteristic ESR signals which on further oxidation quantitatively reverts to the original compound with {Mo3}6 core displaying distinctly separate isosbestic points in the stepwise conversion of {Mo3}8 to {Mo3}7 and {Mo3}7 to {Mo3}6 cores. Under drastic reduction conditions with aluminium in 40% aqueous KOH solution the {Mo3}6 core is reduced to unstable trinuclear {Mo3III }9 core which expands to tetrahedral {Mo4III }12-core containing [Mo4S4(CN)12]8- derivative according to electron-precise cluster rule

Limited access to iodized salt among the poor and disadvantaged in north 24 parganas District of West Bengal, India

Iodine deficiency is endemic in West Bengal as evident from earlier studies. This community-based, cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in North 24 Parganas district during August-November 2005 to assess the consumption of adequately-iodized salt and to ascertain the various factors that influence access to iodized salt. In total, 506 households selected using the multi-stage cluster-sampling technique and all 79 retail shops from where the study households buy salt were surveyed. The iodine content of salt was tested by spot iodine-testing kits. Seventy-three percent of the households consumed salt with adequate iodine content ( 6515 ppm). Consumption of adequately-iodized salt was lower among rural residents [prevalence ratio (PR): 0.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.7-0.9], Muslims (PR: 0.8, 95% CI 0.7-0.9), and households with monthly per-capita income of 64US$ 10 (PR: 0.7, 95% CI 0.6-0.8). Those who heard and were aware of the risk of iodine-deficiency disorders and of the benefit of iodized salt were more likely to use appropriate salt (PR: 1.2, 95% CI 1.1-1.3). Those who were aware of the ban on non-iodized salt were more likely to consume adequately-iodized salt (PR: 1.1, 95% CI 1.01-1.3). The iodine content was higher in salt sold in sealed packets (PR: 2.9, 95% CI 1.8-4.8) and stored on shelves (PR: 1.6, 95% CI 1.3-2.0). Seventy-two percent of the salt samples from the retail shops had the iodine content of 6515 ppm. The findings indicate that elimination of iodine deficiency will require targeting the vulnerable and poor population

"The fruits of independence": Satyajit Ray, Indian nationhood and the spectre of empire

Challenging the longstanding consensus that Satyajit Ray's work is largely free of ideological concerns and notable only for its humanistic richness, this article shows with reference to representations of British colonialism and Indian nationhood that Ray's films and stories are marked deeply and consistently by a distinctively Bengali variety of liberalism. Drawn from an ongoing biographical project, it commences with an overview of the nationalist milieu in which Ray grew up and emphasizes the preoccupation with colonialism and nationalism that marked his earliest unfilmed scripts. It then shows with case studies of Kanchanjangha (1962), Charulata (1964), First Class Kamra (First-Class Compartment, 1981), Pratidwandi (The Adversary, 1970), Shatranj ke Khilari (The Chess Players, 1977), Agantuk (The Stranger, 1991) and Robertsoner Ruby (Robertson's Ruby, 1992) how Ray's mature work continued to combine a strongly anti-colonial viewpoint with a shifting perspective on Indian nationhood and an unequivocal commitment to cultural cosmopolitanism. Analysing how Ray articulated his ideological positions through the quintessentially liberal device of complexly staged debates that were apparently free, but in fact closed by the scenarist/director on ideologically specific notes, this article concludes that Ray's reputation as an all-forgiving, ‘everybody-has-his-reasons’ humanist is based on simplistic or even tendentious readings of his work

“Prevalence of intestinal-parasites and its association with sociodemographic, environmental and behavioral factors in children in Pokhara valley, Nepal”

No Abstract. African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology Vol. 7(2) 2006: 106-11

Surface functionalized carbon nanotube with polyvinylidene fluoride: Preparation, characterization, current-voltage and ferroelectric hysteresis behaviour of polymer nanocomposite films

A comparative study of current-voltage characteristics and ferroelectric properties of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) based nanocomposite films with pure multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and surface functionalized MWCNTs by different type of functionalize groups (-COOH, -OH, -NH2) as filler, was reported. The flexible nanocomposite films based on PVDF and surface modified MWCNTs were fabricated via solution casting method. The current voltage characteristics suggests that –COOH and –OH functionalize MWCNT loading PVDF films are semiconducting in nature whereas raw MWCNT and –NH2 functionalize MWNCT loading PVDF films are comparatively conducting in nature. Experimental data of current density-electric field were fitted with different existing theoretical models. It is observed that just by changing the functionalization group the electrical conductivity of the composite films significantly changes which is discernible from the current-voltage characteristic. From ferroelectric study the energy density of –COOH, -OH loaded PVDF films are doubled and tripled compare to the pure PVDF film. This work may provide a rout for using different functionalize MWCNTs into polymer matrix to enhance either the energy density or conducting nature of polymer nanocomposite