Effect of Ovalbumin, Gelatin & Transfusion Gelatin on Micellization of Non-ionic Surfactants

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An Exploratory Study To Assess The Knowledge Regarding Disaster Preparedness Among People of Selected Community

Among various kinds of disasters, flooding is unique in the sense that it has a very high degree of predictability, both in the short term, as well as long term. Floods can have devastating consequence and can have effects on the economy, environment and people. Thoughnbsp flood situations cannot be entirely prevented but steps can be taken to prevent or minimize injury, loss and speed the recovery process. Present study is an effort to assess the knowledge regarding disaster preparedness. During the study it has been found that majority of the sample had average knowledge regarding disaster preparedness but they were not prepared to deal with disaster i.e. flood situation

Profitability and production cost of hybrid pigeonpea seed

Hybrid pigeonpea technology, based on cytoplasmic nuclear male-sterility and natural out-crossing, was developed at International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and the first commercial hybrid ‘ICPH 2671’ performed well in farmers’ fields with 30-35% yield advantage. The commercial viability of this hybrid, however, depends on the availability of seeds at an affordable cost so that even a small pigeonpea farmer could reap the benefits of this technology. So far no information is available on this aspect hence, the present investigation was undertaken at Agriculture College Research Farm, Indore (M.P.). In this large-scale experiment, one kilogram of hybrid (A x R) seed was produced at the cost of Rs 18.85. Further, the estimated profit from growing one hectare of seed production plot of this hybrid was Rs. 70,005. It was concluded that the seed production technology is easy and it can be adopted by seed producers; however, the presence of pollinating insects in the production area is essentia

Association of polymorphisms in pulmonary surfactant protein A1 and A2 genes with high-altitude pulmonary edema

Study objectives: A potential pathogenetic cofactor for the development of high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) is an increase in capillary permeability, which could occur as a result of an inflammatory reaction and/or free-radical-mediated injury to the lung. Pulmonary surfactant protein A (SP-A), the most abundant surfactant protein, has potent antioxidant properties and protects unsaturated phospholipids and growing cells from oxidative injury. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in SP-A1 and SP-A2, genes encoding SP-A, have been associated with susceptibility to respiratory distress syndrome, COPD, and pulmonary infections. In view of the protective role of SP-A against inflammatory reactions and oxidative damage, the two underlying mechanisms in development of HAPE, we examined the association of constitutional susceptibility to HAPE with polymorphisms in SP-A1 and SP-A2. Design: A cross-sectional case-control study. Setting: Blood samples were collected at an altitude (≥ 3,500 m). Participants: Twelve low-altitude native (LAN) subjects with a history of HAPE, 15 healthy LAN sojourners without a history of HAPE (LAN control subjects), and 19 healthy high-altitude natives (HANs) without a history of HAPE (HAN control subjects). Measurements: The SNPs in four exons and intermediate introns of the SP-A1 and SP-A2 were screened by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. Biochemical parameters related to oxidative stress (malondialdehyde and reduced glutathione in RBC) and membrane permeability (circulating levels of lactate dehydrogenase) were measured in plasma. Results: Allele frequencies of three loci in SP-A1 and one in SP-A2 were significantly different between LAN HAPE patients (SP-A1 C1101T: C allele, 36.4% and T allele, 63.6%; SP-A1 T3192C: T allele, 61.1% and C allele, 38.9%; SP-A1 T3234C: T allele, 61.1% and C allele, 38.9%; and SP-A2 A3265C: A allele, 21.4% and C allele, 78.6%) and LAN control subjects (SP-A1 C1101T: C allele, 8.3% and T allele, 91.7%; SP-A1 T3192C: T allele, 15% and C allele, 85%; SP-A1 T3234C: T allele, 15% and C allele, 85%; and SP-A2 A3265C: A allele, 37.5% and C allele, 62.5%) [C1101T odds ratio [OR], 6.3 with 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.8 to 14.3; T3192C OR, 8.9 with 95% CI, 4.5 to 17.6; T3234C OR, 8.9 with 95% CI, 4.5 to 17.6; and A3265C OR, 2.2 with 95% CI, 1.2 to 4.1 (p ≤ 0.01)]. Heterozygous individuals, with respect to SP-A1 C1101T and SP-A2 A3265C, showed less severity in oxidative damage in comparison with homozygous subjects (SP-A1 T1101 and SP-A2 C3265). Conclusion: The polymorphisms in SP-A1 (C1101T, T3192C, and T3234C) and SP-A2 (A3265C) might be one of the genetic factors contributing to susceptibility to HAPE

Long-term occupational exposure to DDT

Blood serum of twenty workers occupationally exposed to DDT for an average duration of 14 years was analysed for organochlorine pesticides by gas-liquid chromatography with an electron capture detector. Significant levels of BHC, p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD and p,p-DDE were detected. A higher incidence of total DDT equivalent, about 10 times, was observed in DDT exposed workers when compared with a comparable sample of unexposed persons from the general population. Levels of DDT in serum of occupationally exposed workers were more than the permitted level of 200 ppb. The daily intake was computed to be about 10 mg/man/day as against 0.25 mg-the acceptable daily intale. Abnormal nerve conduction was encountered in a few cases of DDT sprayers. No significant correlation was observed between the total DDT equivalent in serum and duration of occupational exposure in workers. Levels of BHC in controls was 2.3 times the level in exposed workers, possibly due to induction of hepatic drug metabolising enzymes by high levels of DDT in the latter group. Findings are discussed in the light of existing knowledge of the bio-chemical effects evoked due to residual intoxication of DDT during occupational exposure

Changes in carbohydrates, amino acids and proteins in developing seed of chickpea

Developing seeds of chickpea cultivars G-130, L-550 and 850-3/27 grown under field conditions were sampled at different stages of maturity and analysed for soluble sugars, starch, soluble nitrogen, protein nitrogen and amino acids. Fr. wt of seeds of all three cultivars decreased after 28 days of flowering while the dry wt continued to increase. Rapid starch accumulation was observed between 14 and 28 days after flowering. Starch as per cent of seed dry wt started to decrease after 28 days, while starch per seed increased till maturity. The percentage of salt-soluble proteins decreased with maturation of seed. The electrophoretic pattern revealed that deposition of seed storage protein in cotyledons occurred 14 days after flowering. Most of the biochemical activity apparently occurred between 14 and 28 days after flowerin