Indian students preyed upon for socio-economic reasons: Victoria police chief

Melbourne, July 1 (IANS) Some of the attacks against Indian students in Australia over the past few weeks had racist overtones, admits Victoria state's top police official. But he also underscores that the victims were vulnerable due to socio-economic reasons.
"I am not saying there have been no racist undertones. There may well have been but I would like to stress that opportunistic crime and the fact that these kids are vulnerable have also contributed to the number of incidents," admits Simon Overland, Victoria's chief commissioner of police who has been in the eye of the storm quelling sit-in protests and demonstrations in the wake of the attacks.
"Because of their sheer numbers, they will be victims of crime. But I will ensure that these incidents are not disproportionate," Overland told IANS in an interview.
Over the last few weeks, there have been at least 20 such incidents of either students being attacked in public transport or waylaid near their houses in both Melbourne and Sydney, sparking allegations of widespread racism in Australian society and a failure by law enforcement authorities to act.
"They have been preyed upon. But they are vulnerable for a whole set of other reasons which need to be addressed urgently and most of these are socio-economic," he asserts.
"They live in cheap housing, work late hours and often take on more than one job to stay afloat. Many of them drive taxis in the late hours, so that can invite trouble from louts who are drunk, while others work in convenient stores that are open right through the night."
"In addition, many who use public transport to go back home that is usually in the suburbs, sometimes unknowingly invite trouble by using i-pods and laptops. The transport system can be unsafe in the wee hours of the morning," says Overland, who commands a force of nearly 11,000 men for the entire state boasting of a population of over five million.
"Ideally, I would like more men on the force but the challenge is to use my resources effectively," he says.
Just this week, Victoria Police launched a new scheme called 'Operation Safe Stations' under which it has increased its presence in trains and stations in suburbs with the aim of reducing muggings and robberies, especially those targeted at international students.

The solution is nol more intensely coloured than reference solution BS8, Appendix 6.2. Hahdes: 15 ml of a 5% w/v solution in carbon dioxide free water

solution add 0.1 ml of sodium sulphide solution. The solution is nol more intensely coloured than reference solution BS8, Appendix 6.2. Hahdes: 15 ml of a 5% w/v solution in carbon dioxide free water complies with the limit test for chlorides, Appendix 3.10, using 0.3 ml of chloride standard solution [25 ppm Cl) for preparing the standard Apomethylalropine: A 0. 1% w/v solution in 0.01M hydrochloric acid exhibits maxima at about 252 nm and 257 nm. The ralio of the absorbance al about 257 nm to that at about 252 nm is not less than 1.17, Appendix 5.5. Relaled substances: Carry out the method for thin-layer chromalography, Appendix 4. 6, using silica gel G as the coaling substance and a mixlure of 60 volumes of ethyl acetate, 15 volumes of anhydrous formic acid, 15 volumes of waler and 10 volumes of methanol as the mobile phase Apply separately to the plate 5 µl of each of two solutions in methanol (90°10) containing (1) 4.0% w/v of the substance being examined and (2) 0.020% w/v of the substance being examined. After removal of the plate, dry it at 105° until the odour of the solvent is not deteclable. Allow it to cool to room temperature and spray with dilute potassium lodobismuthate solution until spots appear. Any secondary spot in the chromatogram obtained with solution (1) is nol more intense lhan the spot in the chromatogram obtained with solution (2). Sulphaled ash: Not more than 0.1 %, Appendix 3. 22. Loss on drying: Not more than 0.5%, determined on 1 g by drying in an oven al 105°, Appendix 8.6. Assay: Weigh accurately aboul 0.3 g and dissolve in 50 ml of anhydrous glacial acetic acid Carry out Method A for non-aqueous titration, Appendix 3.45, determining the end-point potentiometncally. Perform a blank determination and make any necessary correction Each ml of0. 1M perchloric acid is equivalent to 0 03664 g of C18H28N2O6. ATROPINE SULPHATEAtropme Sulphate is (1 R,3r,5S)-3-tropoyloxylropainum sulphate monohydrale. Category: Anlicholinergic; antidole to cholineslerase inhibitors. Dose: As anlicholmergic, orally, 250 µg to 2 mg daily in single or divided doses, by; subcutaneous, intramuscular, or by intravenous injection, 400 ug lo 600 ug four to six times a day; as antidote to cholmeslerase inhibitors, by intravenous injection, 2 lo 4 mg initially, followed by mlramuscular injection, 2 mg repeatred every 5 to 10 minutes. Description: Colourless cryslals or white, crystalline powder; odourless .Solubility: Very soluble in waler; freely soluble in ethanol (95%) and in glycerin, praclically insoluble in chloroform and in ether. Storage Store in well-closed, light-resistanl containers STANDARDSAlropine Sulphate contains not less than 99.0 percent and not more than 101.0 per cent of (C17H23NO3)2.H2SO4, calculated with reference to the anhydrous substance. Identification Test A may be omitted if tests B, C and D are carried out Tests B and C may be omitted if tests A and D are carried out. A: The infra-red absorption spectrum, Appendix 5.4, is concordant with the reference spectrum of atropme sulphate or wilh the spectrum obtained from atropme sulphate RS. B: To a 2% w/v solution add sodium hydroxide solution, filter and transfer the precipitate with water Dry the precipilate al 60°. To 5 mg of the residue add 5 drops of fuming nitric acid and evaporate to dryness on a water-bath. Cool the family yellow coloured residue and add 2 ml of acetone and 4 drops of a 3% w/v solution of potassium hydroxide in methanol; a violet colour is produced C Gives the reaction of alkaloids, Appendix 3.1. D: A 5% w/v solution gives the reactions of sulphates, Appendix 3.1. pH: Between 4.5 and 6.2, determined in a 2.0% w/v solution, Appendix 8.11. Specific optical retation: Between -050° and +0.05°, determined in a 10% w/v solution, using a 2-dm tube, Appendix 8.9 (distinction from hyoscyamme). Apoatropme: Absorbance of a 0.1 % w/v solution in 0.01M hydrochloric acid at about 245 nm, not more than 0.4, Appendix 5.5 (about U.5%). Foreign alkaloids and decomposition products: Carry out the method for thin-layer chromalography, Appendix 4.6, using silica gel G as the coaling substance and a mixture of 90 volumes of acetone, 7 volumes of water and 3 volumes of strong ammonia solution as the mobile phase. Apply separately to the plate 10 µl of each of three solutions of the substance being examined in methanol containing (1) 2.0%. w/v, (2)

China May Overtake India in Gold Demand, Council Says (Update2)

July 24 (Bloomberg) -- China may overtake India to become the world’s top gold consumer this year, the World Gold Council said, as the nation became the first of the major economies to rebound from the global recession.
Jewelry demand in China expanded in the first quarter while dropping in India, Marcus Grubb, a managing director at the London-based council, said today at a conference in Hong Kong. Chinese gold demand will keep rising, he said.
China’s economy grew 7.9 percent in the second quarter after a 4 trillion yuan ($586 billion) stimulus package spurred record lending and consumption. India’s gold purchases slumped 54 percent in the six months ended June after a decline in the rupee pushed up the cost of owning bullion, cooling demand from housewives and jewelers, the Bombay Bullion Association said.
“There is a possibility that China might overtake India as the world’s largest gold consumer this year,” Hou Huimin, deputy head of the China Gold Association, said by phone from Beijing today. “India’s gold consumption is reportedly dropping this year due to the financial crisis.” Total demand from India in the first quarter fell 83 percent to 17.7 metric tons, from 107.2 tons a year earlier, according to figures from the World Gold Council. Purchases in China rose 1.8 percent to 105.2 tons from 103.3 tons. Total Chinese demand for gold was six times that of India in the first quarter, the council said in May.

. The solution is not more intensely coloured than reference solution BS8, Appendix 6.2. Hahdes: 15 ml of a 5% w/v solulion in carbon dioxide free wal

solution add 0.1 ml of sodium sulphide solution. The solution is not more intensely coloured than reference solution BS8, Appendix 6.2. Hahdes: 15 ml of a 5% w/v solulion in carbon dioxide free waler complies with the limit test for chlorides, Appendix 3.10, using 0.3 ml of chloride standard solution [25 ppm Cl) for preparing the standard. Apomethytatropine A 0 1% w/v sotution in 0 01M hydrochloric acid exhibils maxima at about 252 nm and 257 nm The ralio of the absorbance at about 257 nm to that at about 252 nm is not less than 1 17, Appendix 5.5 Related substances: Carry out the method for thin-layer chromatography, Appendix 4.6, using silica gel G as the coating substance and a mixture of 60 volumes of ethyl acetate, 15 volumes of anhydrous formic acid, 15 volumes of water and 10 volumes of methanol as the mobile phase. Apply separately to the plate 5 µl of each of two solutions in methanol (90°10) containing (1) 4.0% w/v of the substance being examined and (2) 0.020% w/v of the substance being examined. After removal of the plate, dry it at 105° until the odour of the solvent is not deteclable. Allow it to cool to room temperature and spray with dilute potassium iodobismuthate solution until spots appear. Any secondary spot in the chromatogram obtained with solution (1) is not more intense than the spot in the chromatogram obtained with solution (2). Sulphated ash: Not more than 0.1 %, Appendix 3.22. Loss on drying: Not more than 0.5%, determined on 1 g by drying in an oven at 105°, Appendix 8.6. Assay: Weigh accurately about 0.3 g and dissolve in 50 ml of anhydrous glacial acetic acid Carry out Method A for non-aqueous titration, Appendix 3.45, determining the end-point potentiometncally. Perform a blank determination and make any necessary correction. Each ml of 0.1M perchloric acid is equivalent to 0.03664 g of C18H28N2O6. ATROPINE SULPHATEAtropine Sulphale is (1 R,3r,5S)-3-tropoyloxytropainum sulphate monohydrale. Category: Anticholinergic; antidote to cholinesterase inhibitors. Dose: As anticholmergic, orally, 250 ug to 2 mg daily in single or divided doses; by subcutaneous, intramuscular, or by intravenous injection, 400 ug to 600 ug four to six times a day; as antidote to cholmesterase inhibitors, by intravenous injection, 2 to 4 mg initially, followed by intramuscular injection, 2 mg repeated every 5 to 10 minutes. Description: Colourless crystals or white, crystalline powder, odourless. Solubility: Very soluble in water, freely soluble in ethanol (95%) and in glycerin; practically insoluble in chloroform and in ether.Slorage: Store in well-closed, light-resistant containers.STANDARDSAlropine Sulphate contains not less than 99.0 percent and not more than 101.0 per cent of (C17H23NO3)2,H2SO4 calculated with reference to the anhydrous substance. Identification Test A may be omitted if tests B, C and D are carried out. Tests B and C may be omitted if tests A and D are carried out. A: The infra-red absorption spectrum, Appendix 5.4, is concordant with the reference spectrum of alropine sulphate or with the spectrum obtained from atropine sulphate RS. B: To a 2% w/v solution add sodium hydroxide solution, filter and transfer the precipitate with water. Dry the precipitate at 60°. To 5 mg of the residue add 5 drops of fuming nitric acid and evaporate to dryness on a water-bath Cool the family yellow coloured residue and add 2 ml of acetone and 4 drops of a 3% w/v solution of potassium hydroxide in methanol; a violet colour is produced. C: Gives the reaction of alkaloids, Appendix 3.1.D: A 5% w/v solution gives the reactions of sulphates, Appendix 3. 1. pH: Bel we en 4.5 and 6.2, determined in a 2.0% w/v solution, Appendix 8.11. Specific optical relation: Belween -0.50° and +0.05°, determined in a 10% w/v solution, using a 2-dm tube, Appendix 8.9 (distinction from hyoscyamine) Apoatropine: Absorbance of a 0.1 % w/v solulion in 0.01M hydrochloric acid at about 245 nm, not more than 0.4, Appendix 5.5 (about U.5%). Foreign alkaloids and decomposition products Carry out the method thin-layer chromatography, Appendix 4.6, using silica gel G as the coating substance and a mixture of 90 volumes of acetone, 7 volumes of water and 3 volumes of strong ammonia solution as the mobile phase. Apply separately to the plate 10 µl of each of three solutions of the substance being examined in methanol containing (1) 2.0% w/v, (2)

the cells are columnar and the amount of the colloid is reduced The colloid is made up of a protein, (secreted by the lining cuboidal cells), called,

of the colloid is great, but when it (i.e., the activity) is high, the cells are columnar and the amount of the colloid is reduced The colloid is made up of a protein, (secreted by the lining cuboidal cells), called, thyroglobulin Para follicular cells. Occasionally, in between the basement membrane of the follicle and the lining folhcular epithelium, special cells (fig.6.2.1) which are large in shape and called parafolhcular (or C) cells are seen. C cells secrete calcitonm. CHEMISTRY The thyroid gland secretes, three hormones-(i) thyroxine, (ii)triiodothyronine and (iii) -calcitonm. Of these three, the bulk is made up of Ihyroxine. In the peripheral tissues, thyroxine is converted into its more active form, tmodothyronine. But it is known that small amounts of tmodothyronine is also produced in the thyroid gland itself. Calcitonin is related to calcium homeostasis and wi be described in detail in connection with parat_hormone and calcium homeostasis (chap.3, sec.VI). Thyroxine (fig.A.6.2.2) Fig.6.2.2. Thyroid hormones Thyroxine contains two phenyl rings linked up by an ether bridge. The left hand side and righ hand side rings are called the outer and the inner rings respectively. At 3 and 5 (of the inner ring) and 3' and 5' (of the oute ring) positions, iodine atoms are attached Thus, it contains four iodine atoms and consequently called T4. An alanine mole cule is attached at position 1 of the inner ring, while the position 4' of the outer ring contains an OH group Thyroxme wa discovered by Kendal (who, incidentally, also isolated the fundamental corticosteroids) in 1915, but its structural chemistr was established by Harrington in 1926. Tmodothyronine It's structure is otherwise same as T4 but it lacks the iodine atom a 5' of the outer ring (fig. 6.2.2) and consequently it is called T3. Triiodothyronine was discovered and studied extensively in th early 1950s by Gross, Pitt-Rivers and J D Tata. Reverse T3. The iodine at position 5 (of the inner ring) may be absent am the resultant structure is called reverse T3. Reverse T3 is biologically inert. In the blood of the new born, reverse T3 occurs i heavier concentration. BIOSYNTHESIS Fig. 6.2.3. Iodine cycle. [ NB. In this diagram, the nomenclature is as follows : indm = all forms of the element; I- = the ionic form, le, iodide ] The principal events are as follows : Iodine containing foods ar laken converted (reduced) into iodide (Kl) in the gastrointestinal tract reaches the thyroid gland (fig.6.2.3). Afterwards (1 From the blood, the Kl is taken up by the folhcular cells of the thyroid, a process called 'iodide trapping', this iodide trappm can occur despite electrical or chemical ('electrochemical) gradient That is, inspite of the facts that - (a) interior of the folhcular cells are negative (and hence will repel any -vely charged particle like iodide) or (b) mtracellular iodide concentratio is usually higher than that of the plasma (chemical gradient), flow of iodide occurs from blood to the interior of the folhcula cells. This (= iodide trapping), therefore requires energy and comes from break down of ATP. Iodide trapping also involve participation of Nan- K+ ATPase enzyme and supply of oxygen. Perchlorate and pertechnetate ions can compete with iodide for gaming entry into the folhcular cell fie, when these ions are present in sufficient numbers, they rather than the iodides ar Irapped by the folhcular cells). Although use of perchlorate in therapeutics (to reduce thyroxme synthesis in Grave's disease is now obsolete, pertechnatate is used in thyroid imaging procedure, see later, this chapter. TSH strongly facilitates indid Irapping. Iodide trapping also depends strongly upon autoregulation of thyroid (see later, this chapter). Salivary (and also th gastric) glands have some power of iodide (or even other halogens, like bromide) trapping There is an interesting speculation that the iodide trapping is carried out by a carrier and lecithin may be the carrier. (2) Oxidation of iodide : Insid Ihe folhcular cell, the Kl is rapidly oxidized to iodine (12). The details are unknown but some known facts are : (a) the oxidatio requires an enzyme called 'pero-xidase' One enzyme which may be the peroxidase has been isolated and it contains, heme (b),H202 is necessary for the oxidation and is manufactured locally, (c) hydrogen ions are removed by NADPH, (d) a intermediate step may be formation of mdinum (l+) ion. (3) Orginfication. The folhcular cells synthesize thyroglobulm whic consists of two subuints of polypeptide chains. In each polypeptide chain, there are several tyrosme (= para hydroxy pheny alanme) molecules. Iodine atoms now attach themselves with the tyrosme molecules to form MIT (monoiodotyrosme) or Dl" (duo doty rosin e) molecules. The MITs or the DITs still remain attached with the thyroglobulm. TSH facilitates this orgamficatio and antithyroids like propylthiouracil inhibits orgamfication. (4) Coupling Two DITs fuse (although the fused complex remain within the thyroglobulm molecule) via an ether bridge (fig. 6. 2. 2), alanine side chain is replaced by a phenolic OH group in th outer (also called p ring, and a molecule of thyroxme (T4) is formed It still remains attached with thyroglobulm. One molecul of DIT and one MIT may also couple to form tmodothyronme (T) The process of fusion (to form T4 or T3) is called coupling Coupling requires oxidation and presence of the peroxidase mentioned in step 3 (above) is necessary Coupling is facilitate! by TSH and opposed by the antithyroids. The folhcular cell now extrudes little thyroglobulm (containing T4 and T, compounds) into the preexisting colloid of the acinus and the thyroid hormones are stored

India gold futures tread water on dollar

MUMBAI (Reuters) - India gold futures treaded water on Thursday as the dollar stayed near its seven-week low against a basket of currencies, analysts said.
The most-active August gold contract was 0.04 percent higher at 14,945 rupees per 10 grams at 11:05 a.m.
The dollar hovered close to a seven-week low as steady stock markets and stronger U.S. home prices offset weak bank earnings and dented the greenback's safe-haven allure.
Gold is considered as an alternative asset to the U.S. currency.
"Gold may be on the higher side later supported by weak dollar and firm crude. The resistance is placed at 15,000 rupees," said Aurobinda Prasad, deputy manager-research, Karvy Comtrade.
Investors would also await jobless claims data from the U.S. to gauge direction in the precious metals complex.
Gold may be in the range of 14,880-15,00 rupees, said Kunal Shah, analyst with Nirmal Bang Commodities.
Open interest for August gold on MCX was at 12,985 lots, down from 13,175 a day earlier. Volume on Wednesday was 25.31 kg

Gold inches up, but off 6-wk high; eyes stocks, oil

TOKYO (Reuters) - Gold prices inched up on Friday but were off a six-week high hit the previous day, with investors eyeing the dollar and stocks for direction as growing recovery hopes fuel inflation concerns and boost bullion's appeal as a hedge.
Gold may also benefit from broad strength in commodities as investor risk appetite grows with the rally in equities markets.
Traders said activity was subdued but that they were looking at stock markets, oil prices, the dollar and how overseas markets develop later in the day to determine whether gold can advance toward $960 levels, which they said was the near-term resistance level.
"Risk appetite seems to have picked up quite a bit as seen in rising stock markets," said Adrian Koh, an analyst at Phillip Futures in Singapore.
"If we are looking at gold from a commodities point of view (including oil), then an increase in risk appetite could also support gold prices, as people would tend to buy riskier assets such as commodities," he said.
But if investors view gold as a safe-haven, then a rise in risk appetite would weigh on gold.
"But I guess the former is predominant for now," he said.
Spot gold edged up 0.2 percent to $948.80 per ounce as of 0306 GMT, compared with New York's notional close of $947.15 per ounce o