Population study in Assam: ABO blood groups, haemoglobin E and G-6-PD deficiency

An attempt has been made to give a comprehensive picture of occurrence of ABO blood groups, haemoglobin E and G-6-PD deficiency among certain representative populations of the two major racial groups--Mongoloids and Caucasoids--of Assam, India. The qualitative pattern of distribution of ABO gene frequencies shows a clear demarcation between these two major groups. The same is true in respect of HbE gene, too. The Mongoloids present high frequencies of this gene, while among the Caucasoids its frequency is comparatively much lower. With regard to G-6-PD deficiency the distinction between the two groups is not so clear cut, yet some Mongoloid populations show relatively higher incidence of the trait in comparison to that in the Caucasoid populations.     

Investigations on the variability of haptoglobin, transferrin and Gc polymorphisms in Assam, India

Ten different population groups of Assam - Brahmins, Kalitas, Kaibartas, Rajbanshis, Muslims, Ahoms, Chutias, Kacharis, Karbis and Sandwals - have been typed for haptoglobin and for transferrin (Tf) and Gc subtype polymorphisms. Tf and Gc allele subtype frequencies show a considerable inter-population heterogeneity. From genetic distance analysis it appears that the populations under study form some distinct clusters, which can be explained by the historical and ethnic affiliations of these populations. Especially the distribution of Gc subtype alleles reveals some Mongoloid admixture among Assamese populations, which is reflected by the presence of Gc1A8 alleles in them.     

Theoretical investigation of the gas-phase reactions of CF2ClC(O)OCH3 with the hydroxyl radical and the chlorine atom at 298 K

A Theoretical study on the mechanism of the reactions of CF₂ClC(O)OCH₃ with the OH radical and Cl atom is presented. Geometry optimization and frequency calculations have been performed at the MPWB1K/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory and energetic information is further refined by calculating the energy of the species using G2(MP2) theory. Transition states are searched on the potential energy surface involved during the reaction channels and each of the transition states are characterized by presence of only one imaginary frequency. The existence of transition states on the corresponding potential energy surface is ascertained by performing intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC) calculation. Theoretically calculated rate constants at 298 K and atmospheric pressure using the canonical transition state theory (CTST) are found to be in good agreement with the experimentally measured ones. Using group-balanced isodesmic reactions as working chemical reactions, the standard enthalpies of formation for CF₂ClC(O)OCH_3, CF₂ClC(O)OCH₂ and CF₃C(O)OCH₃ are also reported for the first time.     

Effect of fuel burning on the microbial population of soil

An attempt was made to study the effect of different amount of fuel burning on the microbial populations of forest soil. Maximum effect of fire was observed in the surface layer of soil and not much variation was seen in the distribution of soil microflora. However, with increasing amount of fuel burned, the effect became higher, microorganisms being destroyed to a depth of 70 mm. Qualitatively, there was no significant difference in the composition of fungal species in comparison with the control soil. Similar types of fungal species were isolated from all the types of burned soil,Aspergillus, Penicillium, Trichoderma, Fusarium andPhoma being the predominant genera. This research was supported by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, under the Man and Biosphere Programme.     

Microbial Activity in High-Sulfur Reclaimed Coal Mine Overburden Sites

The high-sulfur containing coalmine overburden (OB) dumping ground of the Tirap colliery under the northeastern coalfields in Assam, India, was reclaimed by phytoremediation techniques. Native plant species were planted with line and field methods and by amending with cow dung and unmined soil. In this study, the changes in microbial activity of the reclaimed mine OB wasteland of the Tirap colliery are examined. The enzyme activities of urease, dehydrogenase, and phosphatase were compared over time. Improvements in soil pH, bulk density, and water-holding capacity in the mine OB were found. After four years of reclamation, 1.01% of particles were soil sized (=0.255 mm grain size) with the maximum degradation in the mine OB grain sizes of ?20 mm to +12 mm and of +25 mm. A 1,000-fold increase in microbial colony forming units (CFU) in the four years at the remediated site along with an increase in total DNA were evident for the mine OB reclaimed sites. The increase of microbial CFUs in the mine OB was related to a 100- to 2,000-fold increase in enzyme activity for the reclaimed areas. From this investigation, it can be concluded that the improvement of enzyme activities and the increase in microbial populations of reclaimed mine OB will yield information pertaining to the reclamation index of mine OB.     

Discovery of thiazolyl-phthalazinone acetamides as potent glucose uptake activators via high-throughput screening

With the aim to discover orally active small molecules that stimulate glucose uptake, high throughput screening of a library of 5000 drug-like compounds was conducted in differentiated skeletal muscle cells in presence of insulin. N-Substituted phthalazinone acetamide was identified as a potential glucose uptake modulator. Several novel derivatives were synthesized to establish structure activity relationships. Identified lead thiazolyl-phthalazinone acetamide (7114863) increased glucose uptake (EC₅₀ of 0.07 ± 0.02 μM) in differentiated skeletal muscle cells in presence of insulin. Furthermore, 7114863 was superior to rosiglitazone under similar experimental conditions without inducing PPAR-γ agonist activity thus making it a very interesting scaffold.