A Situational Assessment of Children Living with HIV and AIDS in Bangalore

Christy Abraham Research Institute of Asian Women Sookmyung Women' 2005 Asian Women Vol.21 No.-

In its efforts to combat the HIV and AIDS epidemic in India, the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) in line with Government's efforts has developed an integrated work plan on combating the disease. NACO and the State AIDS Control Societies' primary activity targeting children has been prevention of mother-to-child transmission, which involves administering a short course of antiretroviral drugs to mother and newborn that greatly reduces the risk of HIV transmission during pregnancy and child birth. The most vulnerable group of the population, the HIV positive children and children who are now orphans due to the death of one or both of their parents from AIDS, have received little attention both in terms of practical programs and in sector plans. This is much so because the number of AIDS orphans in the country is not known let alone their living conditions and their needs as other children. This paper assesses the situation of 100 children who are living with HIV and AIDS and who are now orphans due to the death of one or both of their parents from AIDS and the concerns and challeges of positive mothers in Bangalore, India. While 63 children live with their families 36 positive children live in one of the Positive Children's Homes in Bangalore. Out of the 64 positive children, 30 children are paternal orphans, three children are maternal orphans, and nine children are double orphans. Thirteen children are living with their positive parents and the double orphans live with their extended families. The information was gathered in individual therapy sessions, group discussions, and family support sessions with positive children and widows. Out of the 36 Positive Children in the institution, 26 are double orphans and 10 children are either maternal orphans or paternal orphans. The paper also gives an insight on how a Family Support Network, MILANA in Bangalore, India, is addressing and coping with the varied issues and problems faced by orphans and their families. The assessment suggests the need to map out the children orphaned by AIDS, so as to get reliable data on the total number of children orphaned by AIDS, and to frame policies for children orphaned by AIDS, taking into consideration not only the educational, health, and nutritional aspects but also the psycho social and economic aspects.

Stabilization of Bacillus subtilis Lipase A by increasing the residual packing

Abraham1, Tajo,Pil Pack1, Seung,Je Yoo, Young Taylor Francis 2005 Biocatalysis and biotransformation Vol.23 No.3

<P>Introduction of well-packed residues to the interior of a protein structure could be considered as a stabilization strategy since the reduction of buried cavities might stabilize protein structure. In this study, the less-packed residues with no water-contact were selected as target sites for increasing residual packing. When Lipase A from Bacillus subtilis (179 amino acids) was used as a model system, 43 less-packed residues were initially considered by analyzing their residual packing value and residual exposure ratio. Among the 43 residues, small amino acids such as GLY and ALA were chosen as target sites. Packing increases of ALA to VAL and GLY to ALA were estimated, by molecular modeling, to give 0.5368∼⃒0.7433  kcal mol −1 stabilization. Mutants of Lipase A such as A38V, A75V, G80A, A105V A146V, and G172A were obtained via protein engineering. Thermostability assays revealed that A38V, G80A and G172V were the most stable mutants. This procedure for selecting the target residues for improved thermostability of Lipase A could be applied for improving the thermostability of other proteins and enzymes.</P>

Role of colour and volatile in foraging behaviour of honeybee Apis cerana on Jacquemontia pentanthos

Anitha Annamma Abraham,Abraham Verghese,Subramanyam Muthangi 한국응용곤충학회 2018 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.21 No.4

Floral visual and olfactory cues guide the insect visitors to the source of reward. This work addresses one such interaction between honeybee Apis cerana and a garden climber Jacquemontia pentanthos. Field studies have indicated that A. cerana showed preference to J. pentanthos over the other flowering plants during its visits for foraging. The objectives of the work is to understand the role of colour and scent in the attraction of Apis cerana to the host plant. Bioassays performed emphasized the involvement of colour and volatiles for the visits of A. cerana. Petals show high reflectance to ultraviolet light with ultraviolet absorbing regions in the centre which serve as a nectar guide. Gas chromatography linked electroanntenogram detector (GC-EAD) showed antennal response to the floral volatile of J. pentanthos identified as sesquiterpene β-caryophyllene. Behavioural studies have shown similar preference to β- caryophyllene as that of α-humulene. Our studies suggest an interplay of colour and volatiles cues for A. cerana visitation to Jacquemontia flowers and these findings are further supported by behavioural studies on.

The Impact of menopause to the Well-Being of Women

Abraham B. Asto,Asuncion L Campolet,Kimberly R. Abrenica,Jeric Voltaire D. Cruz,Earl Kristoffer C. De Guia,Aubrey Marie R. Espiritu,Carra Louise C. Esteban,Emelene A. Hipol,Zyra April R. Martinez,Ries 한국간호과학회 2011 한국간호과학회 학술대회 Vol.2011 No.10

Synthesis of Multinuclear Pyridylimine Based Palladium(II) Complexes with a Functionalized Star Polystyrene Core and Evaluation of Their Catalytic Activity Towards Ethylene Oligomerization

Abraham, Sinoj,Ha, Chang-Sik,Kim, Il WILEY-VCH Verlag 2006 Macromolecular Rapid Communications Vol.27 No.16

<P>Summary: The synthesis of a novel series of multi-nuclear macroligated pyridylimine based palladium(II) complexes conjugated to a synthetic star polymer core has been well-described. Star shaped polystyrene with a finite number of arms were prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and the chain ends were chemically modified in order to introduce the desired end functionality. Utilizing this polymer as organic supports for pyridylimine-based ligands, palladium(II) complexes were synthesized. On activating with methylaluminoxane (MAO), this complex showed substantially high activity towards ethylene oligomerization, producing C<SUB>4</SUB> and C<SUB>6</SUB> compositions as major products. The plausible mechanistic insight concerning the process of ethylene oligomerization is also broached.</P><P> <img src='wiley_img/10221336-2006-27-16-MARC200600244-gra001.gif' alt='wiley_img/10221336-2006-27-16-MARC200600244-gra001'> Graphic An example of trinuclear pyridylimine based palladium(II) complex having a functionalized star polystyrene core. </P>

Synthesis of Star-like Random Copolymers from Resorcinarene-Based Octa-Functional Alkoxyamine Initiator via Nitroxide Mediated Free Radical Polymerization

Abraham, Sinoj,Choi, Jae-Ho,Lee, Jin-Kyu,Ha, Chang-Sik,Kim, Il The Polymer Society of Korea 2007 Macromolecular Research Vol.15 No.4

An octa-functional alkoxyamine initiator, with the 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-l-piperidinyloxy (TEMPO) free radical, was synthesized based on resorcinarene, with its efficiency to initiate the nitroxide-mediated free radical copolymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate (MMA) described. A difunctional analogue of this initiator was also synthesized, using resorcinol as the core molecule. The structures of the resulting initiators were confirmed by homolysis studies based on electron spin resonance spectroscopy and molecular modeling. The polymerization behavior and characteristics of the polymers obtained using these two initiators were also compared. Well-defined star-shaped and linear random copolymers, with low polydispersities and controlled molecular weights, were prepared. The efficiencies of these initiators towards copolymerization, as well as the parameters permitting the formation of well-defined polymers, were also investigated. The reactivity ratios were $r_a=0.42(a=styrene)\;and\;r_b=0.33(b=MMA)$ for the octa-functional initiator system and $r_a=0.45\;and\;r_b=0.39$ for the difunctional initiator system.

Microfluidics assisted synthesis of well-defined spherical polymeric microcapsules and their utilization as potential encapsulants

Abraham, Sinoj,Jeong, Eun Ho,Arakawa, Takahiro,Shoji, Shuichi,Kim, Kyung Chun,Kim, Il,Go, Jeung Sang Royal Society of Chemistry 2006 Lab on a chip Vol.6 No.6

<P>In this article, the development of a novel technique to fabricate spherical polymeric microcapsules by utilizing microfluidic technology is presented. Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was employed to synthesize well-defined amphiphilic block copolymers. An organic polymer solution was constrained to adopt the spherical droplets in a continuous water phase at a T-junction microchannel, and the generation of the droplets was studied quantitatively. The flow conditions of two immiscible solutions were adjusted for the successful generation of the polymer droplets. The morphology of the microcapsules was examined. The efficiency of these polymer microcapsules as containers for the storage and controlled release of loaded molecules was evaluated by encapsulating the microcapsules with Congo-red dye and investigating the release performance using temperature controlled UV-VIS spectroscopy.</P> <P>Graphic Abstract</P><P>The priority of this work is the innovative conjunction of well-defined amphiphilic block copolymers and stable microfluidics to develop the functional spherical microcapsule with quantitative evaluation of its drug release performance, potentially aiming at mass-production. <IMG SRC='http://pubs.rsc.org/services/images/RSCpubs.ePlatform.Service.FreeContent.ImageService.svc/ImageService/image/GA?id=b518006f'> </P>

Insecticidal Activity of Ethyl Acetate Extracts from Culture Filtrates of Mangrove Fungal Endophytes

Abraham, Silva,Basukriadi, Adi,Pawiroharsono, Suyanto,Sjamsuridzal, Wellyzar The Korean Society of Mycology 2015 Mycobiology Vol.43 No.2

In the search for novel potent fungi-derived bioactive compounds for bioinsecticide applications, crude ethyl acetate culture filtrate extracts from 110 mangrove fungal endophytes were screened for their toxicity. Toxicity tests of all extracts against brine shrimp (Artemia salina) larvae were performed. The extracts with the highest toxicity were further examined for insecticidal activity against Spodoptera litura larvae and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition activity. The results showed that the extracts of five isolates exhibited the highest toxicity to brine shrimp at 50% lethal concentration ($LC_{50}$) values of 7.45 to 10.24 ppm. These five fungal isolates that obtained from Rhizophora mucronata were identified based on sequence data analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region of rDNA as Aspergillus oryzae (strain BPPTCC 6036), Emericella nidulans (strains BPPTCC 6035 and BPPTCC 6038), A. tamarii (strain BPPTCC 6037), and A. versicolor (strain BPPTCC 6039). The mean percentage of S. litura larval mortality following topical application of the five extracts ranged from 16.7% to 43.3%. In the AChE inhibition assay, the inhibition rates of the five extracts ranged from 40.7% to 48.9%, while eserine (positive control) had an inhibition rate of 96.8%, at a concentration of 100 ppm. The extracts used were crude extracts, so their potential as sources of AChE inhibition compounds makes them likely candidates as neurotoxins. The high-performance liquid chromatography profiles of the five extracts differed, indicating variations in their chemical constituents. This study highlights the potential of culture filtrate ethyl acetate extracts of mangrove fungal endophytes as a source of new potential bioactive compounds for bioinsecticide applications.

Economic Effects of Microsurfacing on Thermally-Cracked Pavements

Abraham Bae,Shelley M. Stoffels 대한토목학회 2008 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.12 No.3

The exclusive effects of microsurfacing on thermal cracks were quantified in terms of IRI. In addition, vehicle operating costsrelated to the IRI were estimated. For the MnROAD project, using a measurement device with high resolution, pavement surfaceswith thermal cracks were profiled before and after microsurfacing. The crack profiles were transferred into longitudinal profiles withno cracks so that the exclusive contribution of original and microsurfaced cracks to roughness could be analyzed. Then, vehicleoperating costs corresponding to the exclusive roughness were evaluated. Applying the given amount of microsurfacing materials,the IRI resulting from cracks with 0.7 cm depth and 0.58 m width was reduced by about 80 percent for serviceable roughness levels.1.8 cm depth and 0.80 m width were decreased by about 60 percentand about 45 percent, respectively. By examining vehicle operating costs, it was found that a small difference in crack severitiesresults in a greater increase in cost. Therefore, it was concluded that prompt operation of microsurfacing for any crack severity levelsis no less important than earlier operation for low severity cracks. In addition, it was concluded that microsurfacing can be a cost-effective maintenance technique for cracks for a year. If more than 3 cracks would be detected in the field, microsurfacing would bestill a cost-effective maintenance method for any severity crack level.

Critical Remarks on the State of Religions and Religious Studies in Hungary

( Abraham Kovacs ) 서울대학교 종교문제연구소 2014 종교와 문화 Vol.0 No.26

This paper deals with two major themes. First, it offers a survey of the religious landscape of Hungary with a focus on politics, religion and multiculturalism. In this part the legal status of religions in Hungary will be explained then, Christian religious education and the issue of ‘education about religion’ will be critically discussed. The study sheds lights on how religious tolerance was valued as a treasured Hungarian cultural heritage. Out of this unique in European tradition religious tolerance flourished in Hungary. Some critical remarks are made about how nationalism created a myth of a Christian Hungary for patriotic politicians. It is argued that Hungary is a secular country with a strong presence of Christian culture. However, it is also pointed out that devout religious practices are at low ebb which politicians often dismiss. Through some selected examples it is shown why ‘education about religion’ is vital for the country. This leads us to the second part of the paper where the state of Religious Studies in Hungary is discussed and some suggestions are made about its possible contribution to the development of ‘education about religion’. Here the study presents an overview of three major circles influencing the landscape of the Study of Religions. The current situation of Religious Studies at Hungarian universities is also concisely described to demonstrate that Hungarian scholarship has a good potential to train future teachers to teach the public about religions. It is argued that ‘education about religion’, which is not to be confused with ‘religious education’ (hittan, vallasoktatas), is vital to promote religious tolerance for building up a post-modern society.