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Not AvailableModified ANOVA method, which enforces restriction on the parameter space of the variance components, has been used to get the heritability estimates in the admissible range. A Monte Carlo study was conducted to compare the performance of this method with the other traditional methods such as ANOVA, ML, REML and MIVQUE(0) in the presence of unbalancedness and scale contamination. The modified ANOVA estimator has lesser MSE than ANOVA for all the parametric values of heritability under different sample sizes.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThe application of Bayesian statistical techniques has been illustrated by subjecting the simulated data sets to Bayesian procedure of estimating variance components. This technique is based on the posterior distribution of the unknown parameters by utilizing data and some prior distribution of the parameters. This method ensures non-negative estimates of variance components and heritability for all the practical situations.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableIn robust elementwise estimation approach, the variance components are expressed as functions of variances and covariances of sample covariance matrices in half-sib data structures. These variances and covariances were replaced by robust variances and covariances that were estimated in an elementwise manner. From the robust covariance matrices, we get robust estimates of variance components and heritability. Among the non-iterative robust estimators, biweight estimator with c=10 showed superior performance as compared to others. In the presence of outliers none of the classical methods give the reliable estimate, but the robust methods behave better than the classical estimators in terms of bias and MSE. Even in the presence of scale contamination, the estimates obtained by this method were close to parametric values.Not Availabl

Outbreak of Kyasanur Forest disease in Thirthahalli, Karnataka, India, 2014

Kyasanur Forest disease virus (KFDV) was first identified in 1957, when it was isolated from a sick monkey from the Kyasanur Forest in Karnataka State, India. Since then it has been reported to be enzootic in five districts of Karnataka State, India. Recent reports of human infections have reached an alarming level, in spite of the availability of a vaccine. This disease has also been reported from new areas, such as Tamil Nadu and Kerala State. During January–March 2014, KFDV-positive cases were detected in Thirthahalli taluk, Shimoga District, Karnataka State, India. Here, we report an outbreak of Kyasanur Forest disease occurring in the Kannangi and Konandur area, Thirthahalli taluk in Karnataka State, India, with sporadic cases from eight other areas

Kyasanur Forest Disease, India, 2011–2012

To determine the cause of the recent upsurge in Kyasanur Forest disease, we investigated the outbreak that occurred during December 2011–March 2012 in India. Male patients >14 years of age were most commonly affected. Although vaccination is the key strategy for preventing disease, vaccine for boosters was unavailable during 2011, which might be a reason for the increased cases