RESUMEN Este estudio tenía como objetivo estimar el rendimiento de la inversión de tres estrategias para el abandono del tabaco dirigidas a la población y de tres intervenciones farmacológicas. El análisis incluyó a 124 países de ingreso bajo y mediano y consideró que el período de inversión era de 10 años (2021-2030). Los resultados muestran que los seis programas sobre el abandono del tabaco podrían ayudar a unos 152 millones de personas a dejar el tabaco y salvar 2,7 millones de vidas en el período 2021-2030. Si se siguiera a las personas que dejan el tabaco hasta que cumpliesen 65 años, el número de vidas que se podrían salvar sería de 16 millones. Se estimó que el costo combinado de la inversión era de 1,68 dólares estadounidenses (US$) per cápita al año, o US$ 115 billones durante el período 2021-2030, y que el costo de inversión más bajo se encontraba en los países del Caribe (US$ 0,50 per cápita al año). Se estimó que el rendimiento de la inversión era de 0,79 (a finales de 2030) y de 7,50 si se tenían en cuenta los beneficios que obtienen las personas que dejan el tabaco hasta que alcanzan los 65 años. Los resultados desglosados por nivel de ingresos de los países y región también mostraron que el rendimiento de la inversión era inferior a 1,0 a corto plazo y superior a 1,0 de mediano a largo plazo. En todos los países, las intervenciones dirigidas a la población fueron menos costosas y produjeron un rendimiento de la inversión superior a 1,0 a corto y largo plazo, con un costo de las inversiones estimado en US$ 0,21 per cápita al año, o US$ 14,3 billones durante el período 2021-2030. Las intervenciones farmacológicas fueron más costosas y solo fueron generaron beneficios en función de los costos a más largo plazo. Probablemente son unos resultados prudentes, pero sirven de base para adoptar un enfoque gradual en la aplicación de estrategias dirigidas a la población primero donde la mayoría de los países alcanzarían el punto de equilibrio antes del 2030.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to estimate the return on investments of three population-level tobacco cessation strategies and three pharmacological interventions. The analysis included 124 low- and middle-income countries, and assumed a 10-year investment period (2021–2030). The results indicate that all six cessation programmes could help about 152 million tobacco users quit and save 2.7 million lives during 2021–2030. If quitters were followed until 65 years of age, 16 million lives could be saved from quitting. The combined investment cost was estimated at 1.68 United States dollars (US$) per capita a year, or US$ 115 billion over the period 2021–2030, with Caribbean countries showing the lowest investment cost at US$ 0.50 per capita a year. Return on investments was estimated at 0.79 (at the end of 2030) and 7.50 if benefits were assessed by the time quitters reach the age of 65 years. Disaggregated results by country income level and region also showed a return on investments less than 1.0 in the short term and greater than 1.0 in the medium-to-long term. In all countries, population-level interventions were less expensive and yielded a return on investments greater than 1.0 in the short and long term, with investment cost estimated at US$ 0.21 per capita a year, or US$ 14.3 billion over 2021–2030. Pharmacological interventions were more expensive and became cost beneficial over a longer time. These results are likely conservative and provide support for a phased approach implementing population-level strategies first, where most countries would reach break-even before 2030.

RESUMO Este estudo teve como objetivo estimar o retorno dos investimentos de três estratégias de cessação do tabagismo no nível populacional e de três intervenções farmacológicas. A análise incluiu 124 países de baixa e média renda e presumiu um período de investimento de 10 anos (2021-2030). Os resultados indicam que todos os seis programas de cessação poderiam ajudar cerca de 152 milhões de usuários de tabaco a parar de fumar e salvar 2,7 milhões de vidas entre 2021 e 2030. Se houvesse acompanhamento até os 65 anos de idade daqueles que parassem de fumar, 16 milhões de vidas poderiam ser salvas. O custo de investimento combinado foi estimado em 1,68 dólares americanos (US$) per capita por ano, ou US$ 115 bilhões no período 2021-2030, com os países do Caribe apresentando o menor custo de investimento, a US$ 0,50 per capita por ano. O retorno dos investimentos foi estimado em 0,79 (no fim de 2030) e 7,50 se os benefícios fossem avaliados até o momento em que aqueles que pararam de fumar chegassem aos 65 anos de idade. Os resultados desagregados por nível de renda nacional e por região também mostraram um retorno dos investimentos inferior a 1,0 no curto prazo e superior a 1,0 no médio e longo prazos. Em todos os países, as intervenções no nível populacional foram menos caras e renderam um retorno dos investimentos superior a 1,0 no curto e longo prazos, com um custo de investimento estimado em US$ 0,21 per capita por ano, ou US$ 14,3 bilhões entre 2021 e 2030. As intervenções farmacológicas foram mais caras e tiveram um bom custo-benefício durante um período mais longo. Estes resultados são provavelmente conservadores e servem de apoio para uma abordagem em fases que implemente primeiramente estratégias no nível populacional, onde a maioria dos países atingiria o ponto de equilíbrio antes de 2030.

Abstract Piper betle L., is an evergreen perennial creeper belonging to family Piperaceae and is known to possess numerous medicinal properties. Current study focuses on evaluating antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of betel leaf. For the present study, distilled water, hexane, acetone and ethanolic extracts of two varieties of betel leaves: Meetha paan and Banarasi paan were used. Biochemical tests such as proximate analysis (moisture, ash, protein, lipids, minerals viz., sodium and potassium), antioxidant activity tests (DPPH radical scavenging activity, total phenolics, ascorbic acid, reducing power) and antimicrobial test (antibacterial and antifungal susceptibility test) against four pathogens viz., B. subtilis, E. coli, A. niger and S. cerevisiae were determined. Ethanolic extract had the highest antioxidant activity (89.46% inhibition), while the aqueous extract exhibited lowest antioxidant activity (62.03% inhibition). With increasing concentration (5, 10, 25 and 50 µg/mL), the reducing power of leaf extracts also increased. The ascorbic acid was not significant in Banarasi paan (5.21mg/100 g) and Meetha paan (5.20mg/100 g). The highest antibacterial activity of ethanolic extract (Banarasi paan) may be attributed to the presence of phytosterols in the leaf varieties. Antioxidant and antimicrobial potential study will help to build a database and promote the utilization of betel leaf as a medicinal herb.

The synthesis of novel amino alcohol derivatives based on cardanol and glycerol were achieved in good yields and characterized by 1H and 13C NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) and MS (mass spectrometry). In addition, we evaluated the in vitro antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, standard and clinical strains), Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and M. tuberculosis bacterial strains. The bioassay results indicated that four compounds showed activity against S. aureus, including the clinical resistant strain, with MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) ranging from 3.90 to 15.60 µg mL-1 and M. tuberculosis, with MIC90 (minimum inhibitory concentration required to inhibit the growth of 90% of organisms) ranging from 3.18 to 7.36 µg mL-1.

In the present work niobium based complex cubic perovskite oxide Ba2AlNbO6 ceramics were produced, characterized and their stability in crude petroleum environment was studied for inert ceramic embedding used in petroleum extraction. Ba2AlNbO6 ceramic powder was prepared by means of thermo-mechanical processing. Structural characteristics of calcined material were investigated by powder X - ray diffractometry, which presented a single phase complex cubic perovskite structure with lattice parameter a = 8.3418 Å. Compacted Ba2AlNbO6 ceramics were sintered at 1150ºC during 72 hours in ambient atmosphere. The microstructure of the sintered ceramics was studied by scanning electron microscopy and mechanical behavior was studied by Vicker's micro-hardness testing. The sintered ceramics were submerged in crude petroleum for 60 days. The ceramics were taken out from petroleum periodically and subjected to structural, microstructural and mechanical characterizations. The results showed that the ceramics submerged in crude petroleum did not suffer any change at any stage of submersion. These characteristics make this material suitable for inert ceramic embedding for sensors used in petroleum extraction.

ABSTRACT We attempted to study the compatibility among plant beneficial bacteria in the culture level by growing them near in the nutrient agar plates. Among all the bacteria tested, Rhizobium was found to inhibit the growth of other bacteria. From the compatible group of PGPR, we have selected one biofertilizer (Azospirillum brasilense strain TNAU) and one biocontrol agent (Pseudomonas fluorescens strain PF1) for further studies in the pot culture. We have also developed a bioformulation which is talc powder based, for individual bacteria and mixed culture. This formulation was used as seed treatment, soil application, seedling root dip and foliar spray in groundnut crop in vitro germination conditions. A. brasilense was found to enhance the tap root growth and P. fluorescens, the lateral root growth. The other growth parameters like shoot growth, number of leaves were enhanced by the combination of both of the bacteria than their individual formulations. Among the method of application tested in our study, soil application was found to be the best in yielding better results of plant growth promotion.

Abstract The ADHD Rating Scale (ADHD RS-IV; parent report) and Adult ADHD Self-Rating Scale (ASRS; self-report) are validated instruments for measuring symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The objectives of this study were to elicit descriptions of phenylketonuria (PKU) symptoms and assess content validity of these instruments in PKU. Parents (N = 15) of children with PKU (?8 years old) and adults with PKU (N=13) described PKU-related symptoms and commented on the scale’s clarity, comprehensiveness, and relevance to their experience with PKU. Most of the adults (84.6%) and all of the children were on a phenylalanine-restricted diet, according to respondent report. The inattentiveness symptoms reported by participants mapped to the inattentive items of the questionnaires. Most participants felt the inattentive items were clear and relevant to their experience. Despite study design limitations, these results demonstrate the relevance of assessing inattentiveness in PKU, and both instruments achieved content validity for inattentive subscale items.

Many techniques have been proposed to design microstrip patch antennas with multiband characteristics. In the proposed antenna design, a combination of dual U-slot and multiple layers is used to get multiple bands and wide bandwidth. A multiband triple-layer probe fed double U-slot microstrip patch antenna for next generation wireless applications is proposed in this paper. Parametric studies of antenna structure with double U-slot, variation of feed position, and also with multiple layers are presented. The proposed antenna is fabricated and tested. The simulation and experimental results are presented. The proposed antenna provides triple bands at 1.6 GHz, 1.9 GHz and 3.8 GHz and a bandwidth of 600 MHz for a substrate thickness of 1.6 mm and 1.8 GHz, 2.2 GHz and 4.8 GHz and a bandwidth of 800 MHz for a substrate of 0.6 mm thickness.

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the potential effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus mosseae & Acaulospora laevis) and phosphate solubilizing bacteria (Pseudomonasfluorescens) with different levels of superphosphate on Chrysanthemum indicum L. After 100 days, different plant growth parameters such as mycorrhization's characteristics, phosphatase activity and phosphorus uptake were measured. The obtained results revealed that the inoculation of plants with biofertilizers and recommended dose of superphosphate significantly improved the growth parameters. Inoculation with A. laevis + P. fluorescens at medium concentration of superphosphate showed maximum height, fresh and dry root weight, AM root colonization, AM spore count, alkaline phosphatase activity, acidic phosphatase activity and the percent phosphorus uptake in shoot and root whereas root length was maximum in G. mosseae + A. laevis + P.fluorescens. Leaf area and fresh and dry shoot weight were maximum in the treatment (G. mosseae + A. laevis + P. fluorescens) at low concentration of superphosphate. The use of AMF increased nutrient acquisition from an organic fertilizer source by enhancing acidic phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, thus facilitating P acquisition and improving plant growth.

An L-strip proximity coupled circular microstrip antenna is proposed. The structure is investigated using circuit theoretic approach and simulated using IE3D simulation software. The patch is designed on a thick substrate of thickness of 11 mm for a design frequency of 3.74 GHz and provides ultra wide band operation. The numerical results for input impedance, VSWR, radiation pattern, efficiency and gain are presented. Bandwidth is found to be dependent on length of horizontal part of L-strip. A bandwidth of 69.52% is achieved (for VSWR<2) for y0=0.112λ0 and h2=0.097λ0. The beam of antenna rotates with operating frequency.

A finalidade principal deste trabalho foi estudar o tratamento anaeróbio de resíduos sólidos orgânicos com alta e baixa concentração de sólidos. O sistema experimental se compunha de dois reatores com capacidade unitária de 2.200 L, enquanto o substrato utilizado era composto de resíduos sólidos vegetais e lodo de esgotos sanitários, sendo um dos reatores alimentado com substrato contendo 20% de sólidos totais (80% de umidade) e o outro com apenas 5% de sólidos totais (95% de umidade). Verificou-se, quando da utilização de substrato contendo 5% (percentagem em peso) de sólidos totais, que o tempo de retenção de sólidos requerido para que fossem alcançados 80% de redução da massa de DQO aplicada, foi de 90 dias, propiciando uma taxa de produção de gás metano de 0,25 Nm³ CH4 kg-1 DQO Aplicada. Com relação ao substrato contendo 20% de sólidos totais, o tempo de retenção de sólidos requerido para bioestabilizar 80% da massa de DQO aplicada, foi de 270 dias, com taxa de produção de gás metano de 0,10 Nm³ CH4 kg-1 DQO Aplicada.

In this study the anaerobic treatment of organic solid waste with high and low concentrations of solids was studied. The experimental system comprised of two reactors, with unitary capacity of 2,200 L, while the used substrate was composed of solid vegetable waste and sludge. One of the reactors was loaded with substrate containing 20% of total solids and the other with only 5% of total solids on weight basis. It was verified that, for the substrate containing 5% of total solids, the retention time of solids required for 80% reduction of the applied COD mass was 90 days, during which the methane gas production rate was of 0.25 Nm³ kg-1 COD Applied; whereas in the substrate containing 20% of total solids, the retention time of solids required for biostabilization of 80% of the mass of applied COD was 270 days, with a methane gas production rate of 0.1 Nm³ CH4 kg-1 COD Applied.

Aeromonas caviae strains have been isolated from blood and stool cultures of three immunocompetent patients, residents of Northern India, who presented with community acquired septicemia without any recent history of diarrhea. Cell culture infectivity test performed on Hep-2 cells have shown substantial degree of invasiveness in the isolated strains. This case unleashes a possibility of asymptomatic gastrointestinal carriage of such strains of A. caviae in a very large population of India, as several areas of India have very high rates of Aeromonas induced acute diarrhea/gastroenteritis (up to 13%). It needs to be appraised further in India as well as other countries having high rates of Aeromonas induced acute diarrhea/gastroenteritis.

A estequiometria de poliânions formados pela ação do ácido nítrico sobre a solução de tungstato de sódio (< 0,01M) foi estudada por meio de técnicas eletrométricas envolvendo titulações potenciométricas e condutométricas. As inflexões e degraus bem definidas nas curvas de titulações forneceram evidências convincentes pela existência de poliânions, para-W12O41(10-) e meta-W12O39(6-) nas faixas do pH 5,7-6,0 e 3,6-4,1; correspondendo a razão H+:WO4(2-) como 7:6 e 9:6, respectivamente. A interação entre soluções de nitrato de lantânio e tungstato de sódio a específicos níveis de pH 8,0; 5,9 e 4,0 também foi estudada por titulações potenciométricas e condutométricas, nos meios aquoso e etanólico, com cada reagente usado alternadamente como titulante. Os experimentos eletrométricos forneceram evidências incontestáveis sobre a formação de tungstatos normal-La2O3.3WO3, para-5La2O3.36WO3 e meta-La2O3.12WO3 nas proximidades de valores de pH 6,3; 5,0 e 4,2; respectivamente. Investigações analíticas sobre os precipitados formados confirmam os resultados do estudo eletrométrico.

The stoichiometry of the polyanions formed by the action of nitric acid on sodium tungstate (< 0.01M) has been studied by means of electrometric techniques involving pH-potentiometric and conductometric titrations. The well defined inflections and breaks in the titration curves provide evidence for the existence of the polyanions, para-W12O41(10-) and meta-W12O39(6-) corresponding to the ratio of H+:WO4(2-) as 7:6 and 9:6 in the pH ranges 5.7-6.0 and 3.6-4.1, respectively. The interaction of lanthanum nitrate with sodium tungstate solutions, at specific pH levels 8.0, 5.9 and 4.0 was also studied by pH and conductometric titrations, in aqueous and alcoholic media, with each of the reagents alternatively used as titrant. The electrometric experiments provide definite evidence of the formation of normal-La2O3.3WO3, para-5La2O3.36WO3 and meta-La2O3.12WO3 tungstates in the vicinity of pH 6.3, 5.0 and 4.2, respectively. Analytical investigations on the precipitates formed confirm the results of the electrometric study.

The phytopathogenic bacteria Agrobacterium rhizogenes genetically transforms plants by transferring a portion of the resident Ri plasmid, the T-DNA to the plant. Plant species differ in their temporal competence for transformation. But various physical and chemical methods are found to enhance transformation frequency. Agrobacterium rhizogenes mediated transformation efficiency was assessed under the influence of sonication, calcium treatment, acetosyringone and macerating enzymes in suitable combinations in Nicotiana tabacum as a model system. Manual wounding resulted in 21% transformation frequency. Where as sonication resulted in 2.2 fold increase, followed by sonication with CaCl2 treatment resulted in 2.5 fold increase and sonication with acetosyringone treatment resulted in 4.1 fold increase in transformation frequency. However, sonication with macerating enzyme treatment resulted in 1.5 to 5.25-fold decrease in transformation frequency. Micro wounding through sonication followed by acetosyringone treatment enhanced transformation frequency substantially. The results of this study may be very useful in genetic manipulation of plants by Agrobacterium rhizogenes mediated gene delivery to higher plants, which are recalcitrant to A. tumefaciens mediated genetic manipulation.

This work on the process of biosorption of nickel and chromium in an ascendant continuous-flow, fixed packed-bed bioreactor of sanitary sewage sludge was conducted in a search for solutions to the environmental problem caused by heavy metals. Analysis of the results demonstrated that the absorbent had an extraordinary capacity for biosorption of the heavy metals studied at about 9.0 pH of the effluent, with a removal percentage of over 90.0% for the two metals. Chemometric study results demonstrated that 20 days of the experimental system function were sufficient for achieving the maximum efficiency of sorption of the heavy metals studied by the sanitary sewage sludge employed.