Ethnic minorities and their vulnerability to AIDS in a border state of India

To successfully stall the spread of HIV/AIDS among the ethnic minorities in India, it is imperative that we not only understand the complexity of issues in India with regard to HIV spread among ethnic groups but also comprehend that straightforward measures that might have worked in the context of other countries may not work in the Indian context. The authors present field work data and the results of interviews with 635 opinion leaders from eight 'tribal groups' from the north eastern border state of Manipur in India where a high rate of HIV infection is reported among the IDUs (intravenous drug users). The study found community support for AIDS, sex and drug education, along with an increasing perception of social vulnerability. Even though respondents perceive the threat of infection, few feel that they are personally susceptible. As HIV/AIDS prevention programmes compete with other socioeconomic conditions, the prevention blue print must be tailored to meet diverse demands in the study area and of the ethnic minorities in India.

A design of a vermiculite column adsorber for the removal of lead from water

Mini-column techniques were employed to determine the mass transfer coefficient for lead adsorption onto vermiculite. Variation of the mass transfer coefficient with flow rate, particle size of sorbent, and influent lead concentration were studied. Multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis showed that the mass transfer coefficient varied as the 0.43 power of the liquid flow rate and inversely as the 0.272 power of particle diameter of the vermiculite, but was independent of the influent concentration of lead. Different parameters of a fixed bed column design for the removal of lead by vermiculite were determined using the data from the batch sorption study. The performance of the liquid bed column in removing lead was in close agreement with predicted performance using the batch isotherm data.

Monoamineoxidase activity in certain brain regions associated with xanthurenic acid excretion in rats on oral contraceptive steroids

Monoamineoxidase (MAO) activity in some regions of brain and urinary xanthurenic acid were investigated in female rats administered with oral contraceptive (OC) steroids-ethynyl estradiol (Ees), lynestrenol (Ly) and both in combination (Cm) for 75 days. The MAO activity was reduced significantly in most regions specially in cortex-the extent of reduction being 65 per cent with Ees, 51 per cent with Ly and 69 per cent with Cm treatments. In the hypothalamus, the activity was decreased by 50 per cent with Ees, 38 per cent with Ly and by 40 per cent with Cm treatments. In the corpus striatum the activity was reduced by 14 per cent with Ly treatment, 25 per cent with Cm treatment and in the midbrain by 59 per cent with Ees treatment only. The concentration of xanthurenic acid in urine was higher by 55 per cent with Ees, 109 per cent with Ly and by 120 per cent with Cm treatments. These changes in MAO activity and level of xanthurenic acid excretion indicate the possible alteration in the metabolism of neurotransmitter, associated with prolonged use of OC.