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Chemistry is omnipresent in nuclear energy programmes all over the world. From the isolation and fabrication of fuel to the development of non-fuel materials and important nuclear processes, chemistry has played a crucial role. This article outlines the remarkable contribution that chemistry has made to the development of India's nuclear science programme. After a general introduction that deals with the inception and diversification of chemistry in the Department of Atomic Energy and some initial milestone achievements, a few notable contributions at BARC and IGCAR have been discussed in detail. These include the contribution of chemistry towards the front-end and back-end of the nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear safety, radiation chemistry and chemical innovations catering to the needs of society. Each subsection also includes possible future developments in the fields necessary for a sustainable nuclear energy programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India is home to a large and diverse buffalo population. The Murrah breed of North India is known for its milk production, and it has been used in breeding programs in several countries. Selection signature analysis yield valuable information about how the natural and artificial selective pressures have shaped the genomic landscape of modern-day livestock species. Genotype information was generated on six buffalo breeds of India, namely, Murrah, Bhadawari, Mehsana, Pandharpuri, Surti, and Toda using ddRAD sequencing protocol. Initially, the genotypes were used to carry out population diversity and structure analysis among the six breeds, followed by pair-wise comparisons of Murrah with the other five breeds through XP-EHH and F ST methodologies to identify regions under selection in Murrah. Admixture results showed significant levels of Murrah inheritance in all the breeds except Pandharpuri. The selection signature analysis revealed six regions in Murrah, which were identified in more than one pair-wise comparison through both XP-EHH and F ST analyses. The significant regions overlapped with QTLs for milk production, immunity, and body development traits. Genes present in these regions included SLC37A1 , PDE9A , PPBP , CXCL6 , RASSF6 , AFM , AFP , ALB , ANKRD17 , CNTNAP2 , GPC5 , MYLK3 , and GPT2. These genes emerged as candidates for future polymorphism studies of adaptability and performance traits in buffaloes. The results also suggested ddRAD sequencing as a useful cost-effective alternative for whole-genome sequencing to carry out diversity analysis and discover selection signatures in Indian buffalo breeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is among the ten leading malignancies worldwide, with India solely contributing one-third of global oral cancer cases. The current focus of all cutting-edge strategies against this global malignancy are directed towards the heterogeneous tumor microenvironment that obstructs most treatment blueprints. Subsequent to the portrayal of established information, the review details the application of single cell technology, organoids and spheroid technology in relevance to head and neck cancer and the tumor microenvironment acknowledging the resistance pattern of the heterogeneous cell population in HNC. Bioinformatic tools are used for study of differentially expressed genes and further omics data analysis. However, these tools have several challenges and limitations when analyzing single-cell gene expression data that are discussed briefly. The review further examines the omics of HNC, through comprehensive analyses of genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and epigenomics profiles. Patterns of alterations vary between patients, thus heterogeneity and molecular alterations between patients have driven the clinical significance of molecular targeted therapies. The analyses of potential molecular targets in HNC are discussed with connotation to the alteration of key pathways in HNC followed by a comprehensive study of protein kinases as novel drug targets including its ATPase and additional binding pockets, non-catalytic domains and single residues. We herein review, the therapeutic agents targeting the potential biomarkers in light of new molecular targeted therapies. In the final analysis, this review suggests that the development of improved target-specific personalized therapies can combat HNC's global plight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mustura subhashi, new species, is described from the Dikal River, a north bank tributary of the Brahmaputra drainage in Arunachal Pradesh. It is distinguished from all its congeners by having a colour pattern of 14–23 dark‐greyish black to dark brown irregular bars on a greyish to pale beige body; pre‐dorsal bars thin, numerous, wider than interspaces, weakly contrasted, uniting dorsally at lateral one‐third or midway on flank to form thicker bars, coalescing further at lateral one‐fifth and continuous on dorsum with contralateral bars; bars below dorsal fin exhibiting similar condition but slightly wider than pre‐dorsal bars; post‐dorsal bars thicker than anterior bars, wider than interspaces, sharply contrasted, rarely coalescing on flank; and a short bar along the caudal mid‐line, rarely forming a blotch. Based on re‐examination of the type specimens and additional materials, Mustura dikrongensis is confirmed as a species belonging to Mustura, and M. harkishorei is not sufficiently diagnosed from 'Nemacheilus' corica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carrying out of indoor radon studies have been done in the 50 dwellings of Bathinda district (Punjab), India using LR-115 type II cellulose nitrate films in the bare mode. The films were exposed into four consecutive trimesters, i.e. from March 2010 to February 2011. The work has been undertaken for health risk assessment. The calibration constant of 1 track cm-2 day-1 equal to 50 Bqm-3 (Becquerel/m³) was used. In the present study average radon values vary from 83.15 (BTD-7) to 124.35 (BTD-8) Bqm-3 in different villages, which are higher than the word average value of 40 Bqm-3. The inhabitants of the area of study receive average annual radiation dose varying from 1.41 (BTD-7) - 2.12 (BTD-8) mSv (millisievert). The effective dose is found to be less than lower limit of the recommended action level (3-10 mSv). The value of radon for the first floor portion of the same dwelling is lower in comparison to the ground floor. The values in the cemented floors are lower than in the dwellings with the un-cemented floors. The indoor radon values are more in very poorly ventilated dwellings in comparison to the very well-ventilated dwellings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is primarily transmitted by Aedes spp. mosquitoes. The present study investigated vector competence for CHIKV in Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes found in Madurai, South India. The role of receptor proteins on midguts contributing to permissiveness of CHIKV to Aedes spp. mosquitoes was also undertaken. Mosquitoes were orally infected with CHIKV DRDE‐06. Infection of midguts and dissemination to heads was confirmed by immunofluorescence assay at different time points. A plaque assay was performed from mosquito homogenates at different time points to study CHIKV replication. Presence of putative CHIKV receptor proteins on mosquito midgut epithelial cells was detected by virus overlay protein binding assay (VOPBA). The identity of these proteins was established using mass spectrometry. CHIKV infection of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus midguts and dissemination to heads was observed to be similar. A plaque assay performed with infected mosquito homogenates revealed that CHIKV replication dynamics was similar in Aedes sp. mosquitoes until 28 days post infection. VOPBA performed with mosquito midgut membrane proteins revealed that prohibitin could serve as a putative CHIKV receptor on Aedes mosquito midguts, whereas an absence of CHIKV binding protein/s on Culex quinquefasciatus midguts can partially explain the non‐permissiveness of these mosquitoes to infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The knowledge of the extent and pattern of diversity in the crop species is a prerequisite for any crop improvement as it helps breeders in deciding suitable breeding strategies for their future improvement. Rice is the main staple crop in India with the large number of varieties released every year. Studies based on the small set of rice genotypes have reported a loss in genetic diversity especially after green revolution. However, a detailed study of the trend of diversity in Indian rice varieties is lacking. SSR markers have proven to be a marker of choice for studying the genetic diversity. Therefore, the present study was undertaken with the aim to characterize and assess trends of genetic diversity in a large set of Indian rice varieties (released between 1940-2013), conserved in the National Gene Bank of India using SSR markers. Result: A set of 729 Indian rice varieties were genotyped using 36 HvSSR markers to assess the genetic diversity and genetic relationship. A total of 112 alleles was amplified with an average of 3.11 alleles per locus with mean Polymorphic Information Content (PIC) value of 0.29. Cluster analysis grouped these varieties into two clusters whereas the model based population structure divided them into three populations. AMOVA study based on hierarchical cluster and model based approach showed 3% and 11% variation between the populations, respectively. Decadal analysis for gene diversity and PIC showed increasing trend from 1940 to 2005, thereafter values for both the parameters showed decreasing trend between years 2006-2013. In contrast to this, allele number demonstrated increasing trend in these varieties released and notified between1940 to 1985, it remained nearly constant during 1986 to 2005 and again showed an increasing trend. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that the Indian rice varieties harbors huge amount of genetic diversity. However, the trait based improvement program in the last decades forced breeders to rely on few parents, which resulted in loss of gene diversity during 2006 to 2013. The present study indicates the need for broadening the genetic base of Indian rice varieties through the use of diverse parents in the current breeding program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An attempt was made to document various constraints faced by Ahir community goat keepers by selecting 300 goat keepers from Valsad and Navsari districts of south Gujarat using multistage random sampling technique. The data was collected by interview schedule on five point agreement scale. The analyzed data revealed nine management related, ten socio-economic and five region specific constraints. Among them high feed cost and more illness and mortality emerged as the most important management related constraints. Lack of credit facility and high wage rate emerged as top socio-economic constraints. The region specific constraints identified were heavy rainfall condition and floods/natural disasters. It was suggested that the above said most important constraints must be considered for developing remedial package for profitable goat farming in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the world is more focused on hydraulic energy, which scientists have initiated thorough analyses of hydropower resources. The potential of wind power generation is immense. It is an historical source of energy but wind power is not applicable in this case. In India, water can be used for both - as a source of electricity and for irrigation and agricultural use. Impulse type water wheels were employed until flow is accessible. According to available literature, there are three types of water wheels and the application of a particular type of water wheel depends upon the stream of water. In this article, an extremely uncomplicated category impulse water wheel is fabricated. To fabricate this water wheel, little engineering is required. The experimental results obtained indicate that intensity of generated power depends upon the angle of water impact on the turbine blade, height, quantity of water flowing in pipe etc. The aim of this article is to suggest an alternative source of economical and environmentally friendly green energy for a small quantity of fluid flowing. There are various sources of small quantity water such as large society storage tank water, sewer line water, canals water and many more. The construction cost of water wheels is not as much since it does not have an intricate blade profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pregnancy-related vital registration is important to inform policy to reduce maternal, fetal and newborn mortality, yet few systems for capturing accurate data are available in low-middle income countries where the majority of the mortality occurs. Furthermore, methods to effectively implement high-quality registration systems have not been described. The goal of creating the registry described in this paper was to inform public health policy makers about pregnancy outcomes in our district so that appropriate interventions to improve these outcomes could be undertaken and to position the district to be a leader in pregnancy-related public health research. Methods: We created a prospective maternal and newborn health registry in Belgaum, Karnataka State, India. To initiate this registry, we worked with the Ministry of Health to first establish estimated birth rates and define the catchment areas of the clusters, working within the existing health system and primary health centers. We also undertook household surveys to identify women likely to become pregnant. We then implemented monitoring measures to ensure high quality and completeness of the maternal newborn health registry. All pregnant women in the catchment area were identified, consented and enrolled during pregnancy, with follow-up visits to ascertain pregnancy outcomes and mother/infant status at 42-days postpartum. Results: From 2008 through 2014, we demonstrated continued improvements in both the coverage for enrollment and accuracy of reporting pregnancy outcomes within the defined catchment area in Belgaum, India. Nearly 100% of women enrolled had follow-up at birth and 99% had 42-day follow-up. Furthermore, we facilitated earlier enrollment of women during pregnancy while achieving more timely follow-up and decreased time of reporting from the date of the pregnancy event. Conclusions: We created a pregnancy-related registry which includes demographic data, risk factors, and outcomes allowing for high rates of ascertainment and follow-up while working within the existing health system. Understanding the elements of the system used to create the registry is important to improve the quality of the results. Tracking of pregnancies and their outcomes is an important step toward reducing maternal and perinatal mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A house based survey was conducted during 2007–2009 in a representative sample of population in Wardha district implementing Directly Observed Treatment Short Course strategy for tuberculosis (TB) control since 2001. The objective was to estimate prevalence of bacillary pulmonary TB (PTB) in individuals aged 15 years or above, and to estimate trends in prevalence when compared to a previous survey carried out in mid 1980's. Two sputum samples (one spot, one early morning) collected from individuals having symptoms suggestive of PTB, history of previous anti-TB treatment (ATT) or abnormal pulmonary shadow on Mass Miniature Radiography (MMR) consistent with possibly or probably active tuberculosis were subjected to Ziehl–Neelsen microscopy and culture on Lowenstein–Jensen medium. Of 55,096 individuals registered into the survey, 50,332 (91.4%) were screened by interview for symptoms and history of ATT and/or by MMR. Of them, 4805 were eligible for sputum collection; both specimens were collected in 4285 (89.2%) and only one specimen in 27 (0.6%). A total of 86 bacillary cases were detected during the survey. Prevalence of bacillary PTB was estimated at 188.7 (140.3–236.9) per 100,000 populations. There was a decline of 61% in the prevalence of PTB over a period of 22 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study related to thermal requirements and heat use efficiency of Indian mustard varieties under different environment in India. It mentions that heat stress during post anthesis and seed filling negatively influences the movement of photosynthates to the developing sinks and inhibits the synthetic processes. It also mentions that the quantification of heat use efficiency (HUE) is useful for the assessment of yield potential of different crops in different environments.

This study was conducted at Sugarcane Research Station, Muzaffarnagar, Utar Pradesh, India during 2005-08 crop seasons to evaluate the associations of cane and sugar yields and their components by inter-se correlations. Thirteen. sugarcane cultivars (Co 1148; Co J 64; Co S 687; Co S 767;. Co S 88230; Co S 94257; Co S 94270; Co S 95222;Co S 95255; Co 5 96258; Co 5 96260; Co Se 92423 and UP 22)were studied in a replicated trial under RCBD. Data on eight parameters were collected and used for unit analysis and correlation coefficients analysis to find associations among these traits. The results showed that cane yield had almost positive association with its components. A significant positive association was observed between cane yield and, number of canes per plot at environmental (re = +0.781), phenotypic (rp=+0.682) and genotypic (rg =+0.679) levels. A highly significant correlation was observed for association of cane yield with cane weight (+0.683), cane height (+0.779) and low degree association with cane thickness at genotypic levels. Sugar yield per plot had also a highly significant positive correlation with cane yield (re =+0.979, rp +0.890, rg =+0.869) and number of canes per plot (re +0.803, rp+0.663, rg =+0.664) at all three levels showing almost similar pattern of association with cane weight. However, juice sucrose percent at harvest had a non-significant negative association with sugar yield at all three levels. Sucrose percent also exhibited negative association with cane yield at all levels but significant (-0.595) at genotypic level only. The pattern of association of cane and sugar yields with their components was found, by and large, to be similar. Cane and sugar yield components like number of canes, cane weight and cane height are desirable traits for selection criteria in sugarcane varietal improvement programme. A low magnitude negative correlation of sucrose with cane and sugar yields implied that both traits i.e yield and sucrose could be selected simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Riverine fisheries are of particular importance in the tropical regions as they provide food and nutrition to millions of people and support their livelihood. However, ever-increasing, multiple demands on water for irrigated agriculture, domestic and industrial supplies and hydropower generation have greatly impacted upon the river flows and riverine habitats and consequently the fisheries and riverine-fish-dependent communities. Other anthropogenic activities such as deforestation, mining, urbanisation and various flood control measures have further degraded the river ecosystems. Yet, little attention is paid to the fisheries and issues of conser-vation and sustainability of riverine ecosystems which contribute significantly to the food security and economy of the people. Three major Himalayan rivers - Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra - are of greatest importance the Indian subcontinent as their drainage basins lie in China, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, cover nearly two-thirds of the subcontinent and are among the most densely populated regions of the world. Of these, Ganga and Brahmaputra, drain 26.2% and 5.9% respectively, of the total Indian territory, and join (together with another river, Meghna) in their lower reaches within Bangladesh before forming the world's largest delta and supporting the single largest patch of mangroves, the Sundarbans. The Ganga and Brahmaputra basins are sometimes treated as sub-basins of the combined Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) basin. We review here the state of two major Himalayan rivers of India, Rivers Ganga and Brahmaputra, with reference to their fisheries, summarise various threats to them and discuss strategies for their sustainable management in the context of current policies, laws and institutional arrangements. Physiographically, the Ganga river is divisible into Upland reaches (from sources at 4100 m altitude to Rishikesh at 360 m; gradient 1:67; and equivalent range of its northern tributaries), Upper plains (from Rishikesh to Allahabad (58 m altitude; gradient 1:4100), Middle plains (from Allahabad to Farakka (19 m altitude; gradient 1:13000) and Lower plains (the delta in India and Bangladesh, which includes the Sundarbans and an extensive floodplain). River Ganga in the upper stretch has a vast catchment formed by River Yamuna and its tributaries joining it from the south, and the many tributaries originating in the Central Himalaya. River Brahmaputra has more than one-third of its catchment within India where it receives a large number of tributaries on its both banks. The upper reaches flow through mountain ranges and narrow valleys but later the river forms extensive floodplains. The Ganga and Brahmaputra basins experience a monsoonal climate that exhibits extremes of spatial and temporal variability in temperature (sub-freezing to nearly 50 °C) and precipitation (10 cm in westernmost parts to >500 cm in the east). About 80% of rainfall occurs during the monsoon months (June to September) and this is reflected in the discharge of the two rivers and their tributaries that increases up to 100 times its dry season values. The two rivers are also unique in carrying huge sediment loads that are among the highest in the world. Both Ganga and Brahmaputra are rich in their fisheries (265 species in Ganga and 167 species in Brahmaputra that include both freshwater and estuarine species). River reaches vary greatly in the proportion of species they contain; the Alaknanda has the lowest number of species (41). The upper stretches of the two rivers (up to Haridwar in river Ganga and Pasighat in river Brahmaputra) support Mahseers, carps, snow trouts and catfishes. Commercial fisheries in both the rivers assume importance in the middle and lower stretches. Over the years, drastic decline in fish catch from the rivers has adversely impacted the livelihoods of landless fishers; they simply fish poverty every time they go to river to catch fish. This situation has been caused also by factors other than the fishery in these river systems. Although the flows of River Ganga and its tributary Yamuna had been diverted soon after their descent on to the plains more than a century ago, intensive river regulation has occurred in the post-Independent India. Numerous dams and barrages have been constructed over all tributaries, and their large stretches have been channelised by embankments. Numerous hydel projects have come up throughout the mountain stretches and many more are in different stages of development. Thus, both longitudinal and lateral connectivity of the rivers has been greatly lost and the migration of the fishes to their breeding and feeding sites has been obstructed. These changes have resulted in significant decline of fisheries, particularly the the cold water fishes (snow trout and mahseers) in the upper stretches and Indian major carps (IMC) in the plains. Among the more prominent and well known effects has been that of the Farakka barrage on river Ganga shortly before it enters Bangladesh. While the Indian shad, Tenualosa ilisha has declined almost completely upstream of the Farakka barrage, the fisheries downstream have increased several fold. Increased deforestation in the upper catchment basins of rivers is also having an adverse effect on water quality through increased siltation and alteration of river regimes with increased runoff during the rains and reduced flow during dryer periods. Besides extensive alteration of flow regimes and the loss of floodplain habitats, the rivers have been severely impacted by excessive discharge of untreated or only partly treated domestic sewage and industrial effluents all along their course. Climate change is projected to stress the fisheries further with the melting of glaciers, rise in water temperature, alteration of flow regimes, extreme events like flood and drought, and change in water demands for other uses. Conservation and sustainable management of fisheries must be based on natural recruitment by protecting the micro- and macro-habitats of different fishes for their breeding, spawning, feeding and refuge. Maintenance of environmental flows is urgently required in the affected reaches. Further, management for sustainable fishery in the Ganga-Brahmaputra river system requires effective networking of the multiple stakeholders through appropriate institutional arrangements for development, implementation, policy and planning of management of fish stock, production, marketing and distribution. There is a strong need to involve all basin states of India to evolve policies on water and biological resources of the rivers. Cooperation between India and Nepal in the management of the migratory stock of Mahseer and between India and Bangladesh in the management of Hilsa is also needed. It is hoped that the recently constituted Ganga River Basin Authority in India will address some of these issues to achieve the objective of sustainable fisheries in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Among the many different objectives of large scale structural genomics projects are expanding the protein fold space, enhancing understanding of a model or disease-related organism, and providing foundations for structure-based drug discovery. Systematic analysis of protein structures of Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been ongoing towards meeting some of these objectives. Indian participation in these efforts has been enthusiastic and substantial. The proteins of M. tuberculosis chosen for structural analysis by the Indian groups span almost all the functional categories. The structures determined by the Indian groups have led to significant improvement in the biochemical knowledge on these proteins and consequently have started providing useful insights into the biology of M. tuberculosis. Moreover, these structures form starting points for inhibitor design studies, early results of which are encouraging. The progress made by Indian structural biologists in determining structures of M. tuberculosis proteins is highlighted in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria necessitates development of novel drugs for treatment. The present study assessed the efficacy and safety of 3 dose levels of arterolane (RBx 11160), a synthetic trioxolane, for treatment of acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria. Methods. In this randomized, double-blind, multicenter, parallel-group, dose-finding, phase II trial, 230 patients from 4 centers in Thailand, India, and Tanzania (mainland and Zanzibar) received either 50 mg (n=78), 100 mg (n=76), or 200 mg (n=76) of arterolane once daily for 7 days. Patients (aged 13-65 years) with asexual parasite density of 1000-100,000 parasites/mL were included and were followed up for 28 days. The median time to 90% parasite clearance (PC90) was evaluated. Results. The median PC90 was longer in the group receiving the 50-mg dose (19.4 h), compared with the groups receiving the 100-mg dose (12.8 h) and 200-mg dose (12.6 h) (P < .01). The polymerase chain reaction-corrected adequate clinical and parasitological responses on day 28 were 63%, 71%, and 72% for the groups receiving the 50-mg, 100-mg, and 200-mg doses, respectively, by intention-to-treat analysis (odds ratio, 1.55; 95% confidence interval, 0.78-3.06, for comparison of the 200-mg and 50-mg dose groups). Treatment was generally well tolerated. No patient died or experienced any serious adverse event. Mild complaints were reported in <10% of the patients and were similar in the 3 groups. Biochemistry and hematological analyses did not show any sign of drug toxicity in any patient. Conclusion. Arterolane at daily doses of 100 and 200 mg is a rapidly acting, effective, and safe synthetic antimalarial drug, which may potentially represent an alternative to artemisinin derivatives in antimalarial combination therapy. Trial registration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper summarizes the findings obtained in a monitoring study to understand the sources and processes affecting the quality of shallow and deep groundwater near central air conditioning plant site in Trombay region by making use of physicochemical and biological analyses. All the measured parameters of the groundwaters indicate that the groundwater quality is good and within permissible limits set by (Indian Bureau of Standards ). Shallow groundwater is dominantly of Na–HCO3 type whereas deep groundwater is of Ca–Mg–HCO3 type. The groundwater chemistry is mainly influenced by dissolution of minerals and base exchange processes. High total dissolved solids in shallow groundwater compared to deeper ones indicate faster circulation of groundwater in deep zone preferably through fissures and fractures whereas groundwater flow is sluggish in shallow zone. The characteristic ionic ratio values and absence of bromide point to the fact that seawater has no influence on groundwater system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The essential oil of the rhizome of Alpinia speciosa K. Schum. collected from Dehradun, India, was isolated by hydrodistillation and analyzed by CC and CC/MS. Sixty-six compounds representing 95.98% of the oil were identified. The major constituents of the essential oil of the rhizome were terpinen-4-ol (15.4%), 1,8-cineole (11.1%) and T-cadinol (8.8%). The oil showed antibacterial activity against Micrococcus luteus, Streptococcus niutans, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus (Grain-positive), Salmonella typhi and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Grain-negative) using the well diffusion method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper an attempt has been made to identify places of high surface uplift in the Alaknanda valley using the steepness index method. Locations that are undergoing faster surface uplift are marked by convex river profile and high steepness index (ks) values. Conventionally, the Main Central Thrust (MCT) is known to be the zone of high uplift (incision), which accords well with our analyses. The second zone of relatively higher surface uplift is identified south of the MCT around Chamoli, Nandprayag and Karnprayag. These locations are traversed by the Chamoli, Nandprayag and the Alaknanda faults respectively. Our preliminary study suggests that for future earthquake risk evaluation, detailed geomorphological and seismotectonic studies should be undertaken in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Studies were conducted on the efficacy of Olyset nets—a long-lasting insecticidal net (LLIN) factory treated with 2% (w/w) permethrin on malaria transmission in an area under the influence of pyrethroid susceptible vector species Anopheles culicifacies and A. fluviatilis in Sundargarh District, Orissa, India. The study area comprised 22 villages that were randomized into three clusters and designated as Olyset net, untreated net, and no net area. Malaria incidence in the study population was measured through longitudinal active surveillance at fortnightly intervals. There was a reduction of 65–70% in malaria incidence in Olyset net area as compared to the control areas. The attack rate of Plasmodium falciparum or number of episodes per person per year in different age groups also showed significant reduction in Olyset net area as compared to untreated net and no net areas. Cross-sectional point prevalence surveys showed 45.7% reduction of malaria prevalence in Olyset net users, whereas there was an increase of 33.3% and 51% in untreated net and no net villages respectively. The compliance rate of Olyset net usage in the study population was 80–98% during different months, whereas it was between 70% and 90% for untreated nets. There were minimal complains of skin irritation (4%), itching (8%) and eye irritation (1.2%). However, these effects were only transitory in nature lasting for few hours of the first usage. Olyset nets also provided collateral benefits in terms of relief not only from mosquitoes and malaria but also from other household pests such as head lice, bed bugs, cockroaches, ants and houseflies. The Olyset nets were found to be safe to humans as no adverse event was recorded in the net users that can be attributed to the use of net. The study showed that Olyset nets are effective personal protection tool that can be used in a community based intervention programme. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Jute is an important crop of the Indian subcontinent and comprises tossa jute (Corchorus olitorius) and white jute (C. capsularis). The yield and fiber quality of this crop remained stagnant for many years and could not be improved through conventional plant breeding. Also, no effort has been made to develop molecular markers on a scale required for marker-assisted selection (MAS) to supplement conventional plant breeding. As a first step toward deploying MAS for jute improvement, 2469 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were developed in tossa jute (JRO 524) using four SSR-enriched genomic libraries. A random subset of 100 SSRs (25 SSRs from each library) was used to detect polymorphism between the parental genotypes of each of the two recombinant inbred line (RIL) mapping populations. The RILs are being developed from JRO 524 × PPO4 (for fiber fineness) and JRC 321 × CMU 010 (for lignin content) crosses to prepare molecular maps and conduct quantitative trait loci (QTL) analyses. Both SSR length polymorphism and ± polymorphism (null alleles, i.e., presence and absence of specific SSR) were detected; 50 SSRs detected polymorphism between the two genotypes of tossa jute, whereas 45 SSRs detected polymorphism between the two genotypes of white jute. This SSR allelic polymorphism in jute is higher than that reported in other crops and is adequate for construction of genetic maps for OIL analysis. The large-scale SSRs will also prove useful in studying genetic diversity, population structure, and association mapping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) is the treatment of choice for uncomplicated falciparum malaria. Artemether-lumefantrine (AL), a fixed dose co-formulation, has recently been approved for marketing in India, although it is not included in the National Drug Policy for treatment of malaria. Efficacy of short course regimen (4 × 4 tablets of 20 mg artemether plus 120 mg lumefantrine over 48 h) was demonstrated in India in the year 2000. However, low cure rates in Thailand and better plasma lumefantrine concentration profile with a six-dose regimen over three days, led to the recommendation of higher dose globally. This is the first report on the therapeutic efficacy of the six-dose regimen of AL in Indian uncomplicated falciparum malaria patients. The data generated will help in keeping the alternative ACT ready for use in the National Programme as and when required. Methods: One hundred and twenty four subjects between two and fifty-five years of age living in two highly endemic areas of the country (Assam and Orissa) were enrolled for single arm, open label prospective study. The standard six-dose regimen of AL was administered over three days and was followed-up with clinical and parasitological evaluations over 28 days. Molecular markers msp-1 and msp-2 were used to differentiate the recrudescence and reinfection among the study subjects. In addition, polymorphism in pfmdr1 was also carried out in the samples obtained from patients before and after the treatment. Results: The PCR corrected cure rates were high at both the sites viz. 100% (n = 53) in Assam and 98.6% (n = 71) in Orissa. The only treatment failure case on D7 was a malnourished child. The drug was well tolerated with no adverse events. Patients had pre-treatment carriage of wild type codons at positions 86 (41.7%, n = 91) and 184 (91.3%, n = 91) of pfmdr1 gene. Conclusion: AL is safe and effective drug for the treatment of acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria in India. The polymorphism in pfmdr1 gene is not co-related with clinical outcome. However, treatment failure can also occur due to incomplete absorption of the drug as is suspected in one case of failure at D7 in the study. AL can be a viable alternative of artesunate plus sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine (AS + SP), however, the drug should be used rationally and efficacy needs to be monitored periodically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetotelluric investigations have been carried out in the Garhwal Himalayan corridor to delineate the electrical structure of the crust along a profile extending from Indo-Gangetic Plain to Higher Himalayan region in Uttarakhand, India. The profile passing through major Himalayan thrusts: Himalayan Frontal Thrust (HFF), Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) and Main Central Thrust (MCT), is nearly perpendicular to the regional geological strike. Data processing and impedance analysis indicate that out of 44 stations MT data recorded, only 27 stations data show in general, the validity of 2D assumption. The average geoelectric strike, N70°W, was estimated for the profile using tensor decomposition. 2D smooth geoelectrical model has been presented, which provides the electrical image of the shallow and deeper crustal structure. The major features of the model are (i) a low resistivity (<50Ωm), shallow feature interpreted as sediments of Siwalik and Indo-Gangetic Plain, (ii) highly resistive (> 1000Ωm) zone below the sediments at a depth of 6 km, interpreted as the top surface of the Indian plate, (iii) a low resistivity (< 10Ωm) below the depth of 6 km near MCT zone coincides with the intense micro-seismic activity in the region. The zone is interpreted as the partial melting or fluid phase at mid crustal depth. Sensitivity test indicates that the major features of the geoelectrical model are relevant and desired by the MT data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was aimed to assess the prevalence of naturally acquired humoral immune responses and their association with reduced susceptibility to malaria in children and adults with differential clinical conditions from an Indian zone where malaria is endemic. The study was undertaken in an eastern province of India (Keonjhar, Orissa) in a group of 341 children (both younger and older) and 98 adults living in two different areas, Town area and Forest area. They were studied for their parasitological and immunological profiles. Sera from different age-matched groups were screened by ELISA to measure IgG reactivities for characterizing humoral immune responses to the B-cell epitopes of Plasmodium falciparum MSP1, AMA1, RAP1 and EBA175 peptides and P. falciparum-infected erythrocyte lysate. In Town area, overall P. falciparum cases were 5.5%, whereas those in Forest area were 26.7%. We observed an age-wise increasing trend of immunity in these two populations. It was also noticed that the frequency of responders to stage-specific antigens was higher in individuals from the Town area where the frequency of malaria was lower. The naturally acquired humoral immune responses to different stage-specific antigens of P. falciparum reflect the reduced risk of malaria in the study groups. The higher frequency of seroresponders showed correlation with lower risk of developing malaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Summary: The Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (Pfcrt) K76T mutation and haplotype (amino acids 72–76) were analyzed as markers of chloroquine (CQ) resistance in the blood samples of patients from two sites of different intensities of malaria transmission (high, n =70; low, n =68) in Sundergarh district of Orissa, India and correlated with the in-vivo response. Early treatment failure (ETF) was significantly more frequent in the high endemic area (32.9 vs. 7.4%, P <0.001), with children below 5 years suffering more. A high frequency of pfcrt K76T mutation was observed in both the areas (87.1 vs. 79.4%, P =0.22). Patients carrying pfcrt 76T were the most likely to develop ETF (odds ratio 36; 95% CI 3.35–1653.3; P <0.001). The ratio of 76T:K76 was 22:9 and 11:14, respectively, in high and low endemic areas (odds ratio 3.1; 95% CI 0.9–11.03; P =0.04), which may be used as a measure of drug pressure. Sequences of pfcrt codons 72–76 showed 16 of the CQ-resistant haplotypes to be SVMNT, 5 CVMNT and 12 CVIET. The CQ-sensitive haplotypes were mostly CVMNK in 10 samples; CVIEK in 2 samples. Both Southeast Asian and South American haplotypes were present, with the latter predominating. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The C-terminal region of merozoite surface protein-1 (MSP-1) is one of the leading candidates for vaccination against the erythrocytic stages of malaria. However, a major concern in the development of MSP-1 based malaria vaccine is the polymorphism observed in different geographical Plasmodium falciparum isolates. To explore whether the sequence heterogeneity of PfMSP-1 leads to variation in naturally acquired anti-MSP-119 antibodies, the present study was undertaken to study PfMSP-119 sequence polymorphism in malaria-endemic villages in eastern India and also carried out a competition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using three PfMSP-119 variant forms. Methods: The sequence variations in the C-terminal region of PfMSP-119 were determined in a malaria endemic region. Three PfMSP-119 variants were produced in Escherichia coli (PfMSP119QKNG-L, PfMSP119EKNG-L and PfMSP119ETSR-F) and an immunodepletion assay was carried out using the corresponding patients' sera. Results: Results revealed predominance of PfMAD20 allele among Indian field isolates. Seven PfMSP-119 variant forms were isolated in a singe geographical location. Three of PfMSP-119 variant forms when expressed in E. coli showed presence of cross-reaction as well as variant specific antibodies in malaria infected patient sera. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates the existence of allele specific antibodies in P. falciparum-infected patient sera, however their role in protection requires further investigation. These results thereby, suggest the importance of a multi-allelic PfMSP-119 based vaccine for an effective malaria control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: A study of the epidemiology of malaria transmission was undertaken in 13 tribal villages located in forest and plain areas of Sundargarh District of Orissa state, India, from January 2001 to December 2003. In forest areas, intense transmission of malaria is attributed to the highly anthropophagic vector Anopheles fluviatilis sibling species S and is complemented by A. culicifacies sibling species C. In plain areas, A. culicifacies sibling species C is responsible for malaria transmission. The entomological inoculation rate in the forest and plain areas was 0.311 and 0.014 infective bites/person/night, respectively, during 2003. Malaria transmission is perennial both in forest and plain areas but is markedly low in the plain area compared with the forest area. Plasmodium falciparum accounted for 85.0% of the total malaria cases during the study period. In forest and plain areas, the number of P. falciparum cases per 1000 population per year was 284.1 and 31.2, respectively, whereas the parasite rate was 14.0% and 1.7%, respectively. In forest areas, clinical malaria occurs more frequently in children aged 0–5 years and declines gradually with increasing age. The study showed that villages in forest and plain areas separated by short geographical distances have distinct epidemiology of malaria transmission. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Growing salt-tolerant under-explored crops utilizing saline ground water can provide for an economic use of abandoned semiarid lands. Field trials were conducted between 1999 and 2003 on a calcareous soil in a semiarid region of northwest India. Woody perennials were planted at the sill of furrows and irrigated with water of high salinity (EC 10–28 dS m-¹), low salinity (EC 5–9 dS m-¹) and alternately with these two waters. Woody species included Azadirachta indica, Cordia rothii, Salvadora persica, Jatropha curcas, J. gossipifolia, Ricinus communis, Catharanthus roseus, Adhatoda vasica and Aloe barbadensis. Most of these could be grown successfully but S. persica—a highly salt-tolerant halophyte—though it produced huge biomass, could not yield mature fruit due to frost injury. The salinity build up in the soil was greater during low-rainfall years, but a good rainfall year, e.g. 714 mm in 2001, helped to leach out the accumulated salts. The uptake of Na+ in plants was greater when irrigated with water of high salinity, while K+ accumulation was greater with water of low salinity. Na+ accumulation was higher in roots as compared to other parts except in Jatropha and Salvadora, while K+ accumulation was greater in leaves. There was a negative correlation between Na+ and K+ accumulation and a positive correlation between Ca²+ and Mg²+. Thus, saline water (ECiw 12 dS m-¹) can successfully be used for growing several under-explored crops of high economic value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the role of Anopheles subpictus Grassi as a vector of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) transmission in Cuddalore, an area of Tamil Nadu endemic for the disease. Method We collected 98 pools (4900 specimens) of wild adult male An. subpictus mosquitoes outdoors during dusk hours and screened them for JEV antigen by antigen-capture Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay. Additionally, over a period of 1 year, we tested 166 pools (8300 specimens) of wild adult female An. subpictus mosquitoes collected indoors for JEV. Results Four pools of male An. subpictus tested positive. This indicates possible natural transovarial transmission of the virus through An. subpictus. Nineteen female pools were positive with a minimum infection rate of 2.3. From January through March the maximum infection rate was highest: 5.0 compared with 1.7 between April and September and 2.1 from October to December, although the difference was not statistically significant. From the 19 positive female pools, four isolates were confirmed as JEV by insect bioassay. Conclusion The role of An. subpictus as a secondary vector in JEV transmission in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu lends support to the hypothesis of periodic epidemics in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Opposite clinal variation for desiccation and starvation tolerance are observed in four altitudinal populations (219–2202 m), each of two sympatric and cold adapted species: Drosophila takahashii and Drosophila nepalensis from northern India. The high-altitude populations are more tolerant to desiccation than those from lower altitudes, whereas the reverse trend occurs for starvation tolerance. The magnitude of tolerances are significantly high in D. nepalensis, which is better adapted to cold conditions. During winter months (November to February), there are significant decreases in Tmax, Tmin and relative humidity along the altitudinal transect. Higher desiccation resistance can develop under cold conditions over short-range, altitudinally varying, geographical areas (250 km) compared with our previously reported long-range (>2000 km), latitudinal variations under tropical climatic conditions. However, significant starvation tolerances are favoured by small body size, higher dispersal rate and higher ambient temperature of the site of origin of populations. Significant correlations of two climatic factors (the mean monthly coefficients of variation of temperature and relative humidity) with these two physiological traits can best explain the observed altitudinal clinal variations under natural conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize and berseem are among the most important crops in India and several other countries in the world. Irrigation is provided to these crops to get higher production; hence, determining the water requirements of these crops is important for irrigation planning. Improved water management of these crops requires accurate scheduling of irrigation, which in turn requires accurate measurement of crop evapotranspiration (ETc). Thus, the first objective of this study was to measure daily, weekly and seasonal ETc of maize and berseem directly from weighing type lysimeters. Experiments were conducted in a set of two electronic weighing-type lysimeters of 7.82 m3 to measure the hourly ETc of maize and berseem from June 1996 to April 1998 at Karnal, India. The average daily ETc of maize varied from <2.8 mm day–1 in the early growing period to >4 mm day–1 at development and reproductive stages. The peak daily ETc of maize was 7.7 mm day–1 and this occurred 9 weeks after sowing (WAS) at the silking stage of maize when leaf area index (LAI) was 5.5. The measured seasonal ETc of maize was 354 mm. In the case of berseem, the average daily ETc was 0.9 mm day–1 at the initial stage, achieved a peak value of 6.9 mm day–1 between 25 and 26 WAS during the fifth cut. The measured seasonal ETc of berseem was 480 mm. Precise information on the crop coefficient, which is required for regional-scale irrigation planning, is lacking for semi-arid climates such as those found in north India. Therefore, the second objective of this study was to develop crop coefficients (Kc) for maize and berseem from ETc measurements and weather data. The estimated values of Kc for maize by the Penman–Monteith method at the four crop growth stages; namely, initial, crop development, mid-season and maturity, were 0.55, 1.00, 1.23 and 0.64, respectively, and the corresponding values for berseem were 0.76, 0.82, 1.11 and 1.24, respectively. In the case of these two crops, actual Kc values determined from this study are different from those suggested by the FAO (Allen et al. 1998), indicating the need for generating these values at the local/ regional level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the findings of a study about the evaluation of potential toxic effects of the pyrethroid cyfluthrin during short-term community exposure of bed net impregnators and users under certain conditions in India. The study found that the short-term exposure with cyfluthrin ensued no toxic effects on renal, hepatic, pulmonary function and nerve conduction. It also revealed that the nets which are impregnated at 50 mg/m2 are safe to use. The study averred that long-term exposure to cyfluthrin may have possible toxic effects in human beings. It showed that there were no reported symptoms related allergy, irritation, skin manifestations and other clinical abnormality from the impregnators.

The article records the evidence in India of a new and unusual mass communications strategy in that country's family planning program. India's brave radical departures in mass motivation techniques are worth study because they hold promise of unprecedented payoffs at reasonable cost, within the pressing time limits of national fertility control programs in the crucial developing countries. India herself, by virtue of the massive attention she has received from aid-giving countries, exemplified diagrammatically the unhappy record of mass communications at work in a national development program. The first important fact that struck the Indians in their examination of their mass media program was that the press, radio and films reach only an estimated 20-25 percent of the population, mainly in the urban and semi-urban concentrations, where the need for motivation is least. The Indian program must reach out to the minds of some 400 million persons. Illiteracy is widespread, incomes are low, and there is little built-in motivation toward family planning. Effective mass media in the vast rural areas are insufficient.

In this paper, a 50 MWe design capacity solar parabolic dish concentrator Stirling engine power plant (SPDCSPP) has been modeled for analysis, where 2000 units of 25 kWe parabolic dish concentrator each considered for getting desired capacity. An attempt has been made to carryout the economic evaluation of SPDCSPP for selected Indian tropical condition. Variations of the efficiency of Stirling engine power plant at the variation of the load conditions are considered for year round performance evaluation. The developed model is examined for Indian location, i.e., Delhi. It is found that year round collector-receiver efficiency varies from 69.43% to 77.88%, and overall power plant efficiency varies from 16.86% and 25.79%. The installation cost per MWe electrical capacity is 15.32 crore rupees, and 28.10 lakhs rupees as operation and maintenance cost per MWe electrical capacity. The unit cost of electric energy generation (kWhe) is about 11.06 Indian rupees, with 30 years lifespan of the plant and 10% interest rate on investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India does not have a clear stand on the release and consumption of genetically modified crops (food). The only approved crop is Bt-cotton, which has put India on the global map as a cotton exporting country. Even so, Bt-brinjal is under moratorium and GM mustard is prevented from undergoing commercial trial. All these decisions are not based on sound scientific principles. Activism against has successfully prevented exploitation of a powerful technology that can contribute to India's food and nutrition security. This article attempts to give a balanced perspective of genetic modification technology as one of the serious options to be considered on case to case basis. Ambivalence will seriously affect India's food security in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Matiali fan is a coarse-grained, small alluvial fan in the eastern Himalayan foothills. It co-exists side by side with the large Tista megafan and other Quaternary fluvial deposits, and has been affected by a number of young thrust faults. It is generally believed that tectonics is the main control in the deposition of these proximal fan–terrace systems. In this paper, geomorphologic and sedimentologic study of the Matiali fan and associated river terraces are combined with five OSL dates from these deposits to understand the succession of events and the forcing mechanism that shaped the geomorphology in the study area during late Quaternary time. Two aggradational terraces (T1 and T2; T2 > T1) occur within the river valleys incised on the Matiali fan. Three E–W scarps cross the fan surface, and they represent the steeper limb of the asymmetric fault-propagation folds formed over blind thrusts. These folds have deformed the fan (T3) and T2 terrace sediments, but the youngest T1 terrace deposits have remained undeformed. Sedimentological studies indicate continuous gradation from the coarsening-upwards mass-flow megagravel in the proximal part to the traction transported finer sheetflood gravels in the distal part, implying a continuous sedimentation history across the fan, uninterrupted by any evidence of syn-depositional tectonic movement. Poorly consolidated sandy gravels of the terraces indicate deposition through braided fluvial processes during a later period of sediment aggradation that filled up the incised river valleys. Previously published 14 C dates indicate that deposition of the Matiali fan started around 34 ka coinciding with a period of the intensified Indian summer monsoon of MIS-3. It is suggested that the fan was abandoned and river valleys incised during the LGM between 24 and 18 ka when the discharge decreased substantially. Increased rainfall and sediment supply, with their inherent fluctuations, during wetter periods of MIS-2 and MIS-1 since 12 ka probably resulted in the aggradation of T2 and T1 as shown by our OSL dates. OSL dates from the top of deformed T2 and base of undeformed T1 indicate that the Chalsa fold formed between ~ 11 and ~ 6 ka. Succession of geomorphic and deformational events reconstructed from this study and available age data indicate that the Matiali fan and terrace aggradation coincides with periods of increased monsoonal precipitation, whereas tectonic movements along blind thrusts of Chalsa and Matiali took place later, deforming the fan and older terrace deposits. The evidence unequivocally indicates, contrary to the prevalent notion of tectonic control of geomorphic features in the proximal mountain-front setting, that the deposition of the fan–terrace system was primarily controlled by the fluctuation of the Asian summer monsoon rather than Himalayan tectonics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & objectives: Japanese encephalitis (JE) is one of the most important arboviral diseases of human beings with outbreaks in many parts of Southeast Asia including India. We present the entomological findings of an outbreak occurred in northern part of West Bengal during 2011-2012 with special emphasis on the role of JE vectors in different seasons. Methods: Adult mosquito collections were made with the help of mouth aspirators, aided by flash lights during day time resting inside human and animal habitations as indoor, and resting outside field grasses, bushes, underneath of culverts and bridges as outdoor, and in and around the pig enclosures and cattle sheds during dusk period in JE affected villages from Cooch Behar, Dakshin Dinajpur, Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts in North West Bengal. In all study villages, a long handled with enamel bowl dipper was used to obtain immature stages of mosquitoes from various breeding habitats. Results: A total of 19 different types of mosquito breeding habitats were examined for vectors of JE. From these habitats, 23.7 per cent were positive for breeding during the study period. Overall, nine different species were recorded through emergence, but none was positive for JE virus when subjected for detection of virus. Adult mosquitoes of more than 50 per cent of the potential JE vector species obtained through dusk and the rest through indoor and outdoor collections in all seasons. Altogether, 27 different species were recorded. Most of these were JE vectors. Interpretation & conclusions: Our results showed that in addition to Cx. vishnui subgroup, detection of JE virus antigen in Cx. quinquefasciatus indicated the possible maintenance of JE virus in nature through poor vector mosquitoes throughout the year. Since, all potential vector species reported elsewhere in India were also found in this region and fluctuated in density in different seasons, a proper integrated vector control programme needs to be implemented to control JE transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & objectives: Development of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors has been a major problem for achieving effective vector control. Due to limited availability of insecticides, the only option is management of resistance by judiciously using the insecticides and rotating them to maintain their effectiveness. This study was carried out in a malaria endemic area of Sundergarh district in Orissa where synthetic pyrethroids (SP) were in use for the last couple of years. The change-over from SP to DDT was done in one arm of study, and the other two arms remained on SP and insecticide-treated nets (ITN). Entomological and parasitological monitoring was done to assess the impact. Methods: The study design comprised of three arms (i) two rounds of indoor residual spraying (IRS) with DDT 1g/m² as a change-over insecticide in areas previously under synthetic pyrethroids; (ii) two rounds of IRS with synthetic pyrethroid (alphacypermethrin, ACM) @ 25 mg/m²; and (iii) an unsprayed area under ITN/long lasting insecticide nets (LNs). Indoor residual spraying was undertaken under strict supervision to maintain quality and coverage. Contact bioassays were conducted to know the persistence of insecticide on sprayed surfaces and adult vector density was monitored in fixed and randomly selected houses. Malaria incidence was measured through fortnightly domiciliary surveillance under primary health care system in all the study villages. Results: The insecticide susceptibility tests showed that An.culicifacies was resistant to DDT but susceptible to malathion and ACM. However, An. fluviatilis was susceptible to all the three insecticides. ACM was effective in killing An. culicifacies on mud and wooden sprayed surfaces and maintained effective bioefficacy ranging from 92 to 100 per cent up to five months, whereas DDT failed to achieve effective mortality in An. culicifacies. However, there was significant decline in the density of An. culicifacies ACM and DDT areas in comparison to ITNs/LNs. There was 61 per cent reduction in the slide positivity rate in ACM area in comparison to 48 and 51 per cent in DDT and ITN/LNs areas, respectively. The adjusted incidence rate of malaria cases per 1000 population in three study areas also showed significant declines within each group. Interpretation & conclusions: The present findings show that the change-over of insecticide from synthetic pyrethroids to DDT brings about the same epidemiological impact as envisaged from continuing SP spray or distributing insecticide treated nets/long-lasting insecticidal nets provided there is a good quality spray and house coverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A field trial was conducted on the efficacy of Interceptor nets—a long-lasting insecticidal net (LLN) factory treated with alphacypermethrin 0.667% (w/w) corresponding to 200mg/m2, against malaria vectors Anopheles culicifacies and Anopheles fluviatilis in one of the highly endemic areas of Orissa. The study area comprised 19 villages which were randomized into three clusters and designated as Interceptor net cluster, untreated net cluster, and no net cluster. Baseline studies showed that both the vector species An. culicifacies and An. fluviatilis were 100% susceptible to alphacypermethrin. Results of wash-resistance and bio-efficacy of Interceptor nets showed 100% mortality in An. culicifacies and An. fluviatilis even after 20 washings. Bioassays on the Interceptor nets while in use in the field conditions showed a knockdown effect on 70–90% mosquitoes during different months of intervention after 3min of exposure and 100% mortality was recorded after 24h of recovery period. The median knockdown time for these species ranged between 4.10–5.25min and 4.00–5.00min respectively during intervention period. In Interceptor net study area, there was a significant reduction of 88.9, 96.3 and 90.6% in the entry rate of An. culicifacies, An. fluviatilis and other anopheline species respectively with an over all reduction of 87.5% in total mosquitoes. The overall feeding success rate of mosquitoes in the trial villages was only 12.8% in comparison to 35.0 and 78.8% in villages with untreated nets and no nets respectively. A significant reduction was also recorded in parity rate and human blood index of vector species in Interceptor net area. The results of the study showed that Interceptor nets are effective against the malaria vectors and may be used as a suitable intervention strategy in high-risk areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented about a study on the role of the dengue virus serotype 3 in the prevalence of dengue fever in Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, India.

Background & objectives: Insecticide incorporated plastic sheeting is a new technology to control mosquitoes in emergency shelter places and also temporary habitations in different locations. Therefore, field studies were conducted to assess the efficacy of ZeroFly® plastic sheeting treated with deltamethrin on prevailing disease vectors Anopheles culicifacies and An. fluviatilis and its impact on malaria transmission in one of the highly endemic areas of Orissa. Methods: The study was conducted in Birkera block of Sundargarh district, Orissa State. The study area comprised 3 villages, which were randomized as ZeroFly plastic sheet, untreated plastic sheet and no sheet area. ZeroFly plastic sheets and untreated plastic sheets were fixed in study and control villages respectively covering all the rooms in each household. Longitudinal studies were conducted on the bioefficacy with the help of cone bioassays, monitoring of the mosquito density through hand catch, floor sheet and exit trap collections and fortnightly domiciliary active surveillance in all the study villages. Results: In ZeroFly plastic sheeting area, there was a significant reduction of 84.7 per cent in the entry rate of total mosquitoes in comparison to pre-intervention phase. There was 56.2 per cent immediate mortality, in total mosquitoes in houses with ZeroFly sheeting. The overall feeding success rate of mosquitoes in the trial village was only 12.5 per cent in comparison to 49.7 and 51.1 per cent in villages with untreated plastic sheet and no sheet respectively. There was a significant reduction of 65.0 and 70.5 per cent in malaria incidence in ZeroFly plastic sheeting area as compared to untreated plastic sheet and no sheet area respectively. Interpretation & conclusions: Our study showed that introduction of ZeroFly plastic sheets in a community-based intervention programme is operationally feasible to contain malaria especially in the high transmission difficult areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Complement receptor 1 (CR1/CD35) levels on erythrocytes and related CR1 polymorphisms have been associated with response to falciparum malaria in populations inhabiting malaria-endemic regions. Differences in disease association profiles of its low expression alleles have been observed in populations from different regions of the world. We analyzed the influence of CR1 levels and associated SNPs on susceptibility/resistance to falciparum malaria in Indian populations. Two CR1 SNPs [exon 22 (A/G) and intron 27 (A/T)] define the low expression (L) CR1 allele in populations inhabiting a Plasmodium falciparum–endemic and a nonendemic region of India. Populations of the endemic region have very low red blood cell surface CR1 levels and higher frequencies of the exon 22 and intron 27 mutant L alleles. Whereas low CR1 levels correlated with susceptibility to severe malaria in the nonendemic region, high CR1 levels were associated with manifestation of disease in the endemic region. In addition, the exon 22 L allele was a risk factor for severe malaria in the nonendemic region. Absence of correlation between levels of tumor necrosis factor– α, interferon-γ, and interleukin-6 with CR1 levels in patients with severe disease indicated that RBC CR1 levels in individuals are not the major determinants of pro-inflammatory cytokine release during infection. Our results are interpreted in the context of differences in the pathogenesis of severe malaria in the malaria-endemic and nonendemic region. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A letter to the editor about a sero-entomological survey on the outbreak of Japanese encephalitis in Gorakhpur division in Uttar Pradesh, India in 2007 is presented.

Background & objectives: The first chikungunya outbreak occurred in Kerala during 2006 affecting 14 districts, followed by another during May 2007 affecting almost whole of the State. Four of the worst affected districts viz, Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Kottayam and Thrissur were surveyed during 2007 to understand the magnitude of the problem of chikungunya fever, particularly clinical signs and symptoms. Methods: A total of 1265 persons from 310 houses were surveyed door-to-door in 20 different localities representing four affected districts. The history and examination findings from 354 clinically diagnosed chikungunya cases were recorded. The symptoms recorded were fever, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, itch/rash, oedema, eye congestion, eye pain, oral ulcers, distaste, nausea, vomiting and haemorrhage. Results: The major symptoms were fever (100%), headache (97.5%), arthralgia (99.4%) and myalgia (99.4%). A significant difference was observed in oedema, distaste, nausea and headache among different age groups and these symptoms were reported to be lower (12.2-89.8%) in younger age group than in older age group (90.4-100%). No genderwise difference was observed for any of the symptoms. In clinically diagnosed chikungunya cases higher age group (>35 years) found with higher rate of severity with symptoms of ocdema, distaste, nausea and headache when compared with lower age group (1-35 yr). Interpretation & conclusions: Chikungunya invaded Kerala State for the first time in 2006 and continues to be a major vector borne disease in the State. The clinical symptoms in affected cases highlighted high fever, sever myalgia and prolonged arthralgia, with occasional history of skin itch/rash (petechiae). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented about the aetiology of dengue fever outbreak in Tirupur, Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India.

Background & objectives: Dengue viruses are spread and maintained in an Aedes aegypti-human- Ae. aegypti cycle in urban areas of the tropics. Dengue viruses are also maintained in nature by vertical transmission by Ae. aegypti. A study was undertaken in Chennai, a known endemic city in south India, to comprehend the natural vertical transmission dynamics in Ae. aegypti and to assess its epidemiological importance. Methods: Ae. aegypti males collected in resting and landing collections were tested for dengue virus infection by antigen-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and further examined by insect bioassay, Toxorhynchites splendens inoculation-indirect immunofluorescence technique (Toxo-IFA) using serotype-specific monoclonal antibodies (Mabs), if found positive by ELISA. Results: Of the 509 pools of Ae. aegypti males (n=5408) screened, 15 pools, collected in April, June- July, November-December in 2003 and March, May in 2004, were found positive for dengue virus infection and the minimum infection rate (MIR) among adult males was high in June 2003 (28.0/ 1000). Three positive pools could be serotyped as dengue-2 (2 pools) and dengue-3 (1 pool). Interpretation & conclusions: Dengue virus isolations from wild caught males of Ae. aegypti indicate the occurrence of transovarial transmission. Vertical transmission was mainly observed in summer months when dengue infections in humans were low suggesting that dengue viruses adopt a novel strategy of surviving adverse climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which investigated an infection in human by Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and chikungunya virus in Alappuzha district, Kerala, India. Blood samples were collected by suspected JEV patients and were analyzed for JEV-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies and dengue virus (DENV). It was concluded that JEV and chikungunya virus infections could be encountered in Kerala.

The article discusses an entomo-virological study of a suspected Japanese encephalitis (JE) outbreak in Bihar, India. A group of researchers collected mosquitoes resting on vegetation and bushes around cattle sheds and pigstys. They performed antigen capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect the JE antigen.