Synthesis and Optoelectronic Properties of Thiophene Donor and Thiazole Acceptor Based Blue Fluorescent Conjugated Oligomers.

We report on the synthesis and characterization of low band gap, blue light emitting and thermal stable conjugated oligomer by Wittig condensation. Thiophene and thiazole type of donor-acceptor based series of conjugated oligomers, Oligo-4,5-bis-[2-[5-[2-thiophene-2-yl-vinyl]thiophene-2-yl]-vinyl]-thiazole (OBTV-TZ) and Oligo-2,4,5-Tris-[2-[5-[2-thiophene-2-yl-vinyl]thiophene-2-yl]-vinyl]-thiazole (OTTV-TZ) were synthesized. These oligomers were confirmed by FT-IR and (1)H-NMR and LC/MS analysis. The effect of the number of thiophene rings on the optical, electrochemical, thermal and morphological properties of the oligomers were systematically investigated. Both oligomers were exhibited almost same absorption wavelength in methanol solution (λmax = 365 nm and 369 nm) which indicates both oligomers illustrate similar intra molecular charge transfer (ICT). In solid state, the oligomers were exhibited broadening peaks with higher onset absorptions (λmax = 600 nm and 580 nm). The photoluminescence absorption spectrum of the oligomers was observed at 433 nm and 434 nm respectively in methanol solution with blue emission. The electrochemical band gap ([Formula: see text]) of the OBTV-TZ was 1.55 eV (low band gap) and OTTV-TZ was exhibited greater highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) value (E HOMO = -6.6 eV). Moreover morphological parameters of both oligomer film of 2D and 3D diagrams were observed by using AFM studies.

Adolescents living with HIV in India - the clock is ticking.

The term "Adolescence" literally means "to emerge" or "to attain identity" and is essentially the period of rapid physical and psychological development starting from the onset of puberty to complete growth. All adolescents go through a myriad of physical, psychological, neurobehavioural, hormonal and social developmental changes. Given the social taboos often surrounding puberty, the lives of millions of adolescents worldwide are at risk because they do not have the information, skills, health services and support they need to go through the enormous, rapid changes that adolescence brings. A HIV infected adolescent particularly presents enormous challenges in the current cultural and social context of India. The distinct groups of adolescents in the context of HIV are those who were infected at birth and survived and those who became infected during adolescence. Risk factors and situations for adolescents contracting HIV infection are life on streets, lack of adult love/care and support, extreme poverty, child trafficking, migrant population, exploitation in terms of sex and labor. HIV-infected adolescents with long standing HIV infection often face considerable physical challenges - delayed growth and development, late puberty, stunting/wasting, malnutrition, etc. Added to this are many other challenges related mainly to disclosure of HIV status, developmental delay, and transition from pediatric to adult care, including the choice of appropriate treatment regimens and adherence. Psychological and social factors deeply impact the ability to deal with the illness and must be addressed at all levels to encourage and support this vulnerable group.

Synergistic effect of calcium stearate and photo treatment on the rate of biodegradation of low density polyethylene spent saline vials.

The biodegradation of spent saline bottles, a low density polyethylene product (LDPE) by two selected Arthrobacter sp. under in vitro conditions is reported. Chemical and UV pretreatment play a vital role in enhancing the rate of biodegradation. Treated LDPE film exhibits a higher weight loss and density when compared to untreated films. Arthrobacter oxydans and Arthrobacter globiformis grew better in medium containing pretreated film than in medium containing untreated film. The decrease in density and weight loss of LDPE was also more for pretreated film when compared to untreated film indicating the affect of abiotic treatment on mechanical properties of LDPE. The decrease in the absorbance corresponding to carbonyl groups and double bonds that were generated during pretreatment suggest that some of the double bonds were cut by Arthrobacter species. Since Arthrobacter sp. are capable of degrading urea, splitting of urea group were also seen in FTIR spectrum indicating the evidence of biodegradation after microbial incubation. The results indicated that biodegradation rate could be enhanced by exposing LDPE to calcium stearate (a pro-oxidant) which acts as an initiator for the oxidation of the polymers leading to a decrease of molecular weight and formation of hydrophilic group. Therefore, the initial step for biodegradation of many inert polymers depends on a photo-oxidation of those polymers. The application in sufficient details with improved procedures utilizing recombinant microorganism with polymer degradation capacity can lead to a better plastic waste management in biomedical field. The present plastic disposal trend of waste accumulation can be minimized with this promising eco-friendly technique.

Paediatric HIV--trends & challenges.

With the availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV infection, which was once considered a progressively fatal illness, has now become a chronic treatable condition in children, as in adults. However, the challenges these children are forced to face are far more daunting. The most significant shortcoming in the response to paediatric HIV remains the woefully inadequate prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT), allowing a large number of children to be born with HIV in the first place, in spite of it being largely preventable. In the west, mother-to-child transmission has been virtually eliminated; however, in resource-limited settings where >95 per cent of all vertical transmissions take place, still an infected infants continue to be born. There are several barriers to efficient management: delayed infant diagnosis, lack of appropriate paediatric formulations, lack of skilled health personnel, etc. Poorly developed immunity allows greater dissemination throughout various organs. There is an increased frequency of malnutrition and infections that may be more persistent, severe and less responsive to treatment. In addition, these growing children are left with inescapable challenges of facing not only lifelong adherence with complex treatment regimens, but also enormous psychosocial, mental and neuro-cognitive issues. These unique challenges must be recognized and understood in order to provide appropriate holistic management enabling them to become productive citizens of tomorrow. To address these multi-factorial issues, there is an urgent need for a concerted, sustainable and multi-pronged national and global response.

Correction of anterior open bite in a case of achondroplasia.

Treatment planning for patients with skeletal deformities is often considered challenging. This article reports a female patient with achondroplasia who presented with severe maxillary retrognathism and vertical excess along with anterior open bite. The clinical and cephalometric findings of the patient are detailed here. The treatment plan consisted of modified anterior maxillary osteotomy for simultaneous vertical and sagittal augmentation along with orthodontic intervention. The course of surgical-orthodontic treatment and the results are presented. This treatment is to be followed by correction of vertical maxillary excess after completion of growth. This paper concludes that the dentoalveolar component of a skeletal deformity can be handled independent of the craniofacial management.

Guidelines for management of impacted canines.

Though the management of impacted canine is considered a multi-disciplinary entity requiring the expertise of a number of specialists, the general practitioner needs to coordinate care and must know about the diagnosis and management of canine impaction. The management of canine impactions can be simplified by following a logical and systematic approach. The schematic treatment plan for impacted canines and the factors influencing and determining the plan are discussed in this article.

Anti-steroidogenic activity of floral extract of Thespesia populnea Corr. in mouse ovary.

Anti-steroidogenic activity of various extracts of T. populnea was screened in female albino mice. The weight of the uterus and ovaries were reduced significantly and the cholesterol and ascorbic acid content in ovaries were significantly elevated due to the treatment with extract of T. populnea. The significant inhibition of delta 5, 3 beta hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, the two key enzymes involved in ovarian steroidogenesis were also observed in mouse ovaries after 15 days of treatment.