ROLE OF SELF HELP GROUPS (SHGS) IN THE PURSUIT OF EMPOWERING RURAL WOMEN: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY FROM VILLAGE CHOWGACHA, GAIGHATA, NORTH 24 PARGANAS, WEST BENGAL

The present study attempts to analyze the role of self-help groups (SHGs) to empower the rural women under National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) with a case study. For this purpose, members of different SHGs as well the organizers have been interrogated with specific question schedules at the study area. It has been observed that after joining in SHG under the microcredit programme of NRLM, important changes have been brought in women’s life regarding of social mobility, awareness and skill development. But economic decision-making power in respect to the use of loan, use of income from loan, utilization and repayment of the loan is not pleasing at the household level

EFFECT OF 8 WEEKS HIGH INTENSITY INTERVAL TRAINING ON MAXIMUM OXYGEN UPTAKE CAPACITY AND RELATED CARDIO-RESPIRATORY PARAMETERS AT ANAEROBIC THRESHOLD LEVEL OF INDIAN MALE FIELD HOCKEY PLAYERS

Aim: In order to achieve maximal performance, need for high oxygen uptake is complemented with rigorous training program. To evaluate the effect of 8 weeks high intensity interval training (HIIT) on maximum oxygen uptake capacity and related cardio-respiratory parameters at anaerobic threshold level. Materials and methods: High intensity interval training programme was implemented among 20 trained young male hockey players for 3 days/week. The training set included 2 minutes of intense sprint workout followed by a minute each of active recovery and complete rest. The point of anaerobic threshold was identified with ventilatory equivalent method while the players were subjected to exercise on computerized bicycle ergometer. Results: Present study depicts significant increase in maximum oxygen consumption (+8%, p=0.000), maximum heart rate (+3%, p=0.01) and glycogen content (+3%, p=0.421) with significant decrease in pre-exercise heart rate (-7%, p=0.001), recovery heart rate (-7%, p=0.000) and average breathing frequency (-6%, p=0.014) after 8 weeks of interval training. Oxygen consumption (p=0.505), heart rate (p=0.000) and work load (p=0.004) were also improved significantly at anaerobic threshold level by 11%, 6% and 9% respectively. Conclusion: HIIT protocol ultimately allows the athlete to exercise at higher workload with greater cardiac proficiency within the aerobic zone.  Article visualizations

Purification and characterization of a thermoalkaline, cellulase free thermostable xylanase from a newly isolated Anoxybacillus sp. Ip-C from hot spring of Ladakh

An alkaline, highly thermostable cellulase free xylanase was purified from a thermophilic Anoxybacillus sp. Ip-C, newly isolated from hot spring of Ladakh. The enzyme was purified using ammonia sulphate precipitation followed by Sephadex G-75. The molecular weight of the xylanase was about 45 kDa, as analyzed by SDS-PAGE. The enzyme had optimum activity at pH 9.0 and 70ºC temperature; the enzyme retained 90% of its original activity for 96 hrs at 70 ºC. Vmax and Km of the enzyme were found to be 13.5 µmol min-1 mg-1 protein and 4.59 mg ml-1, respectively. Metal ions, Ca+2, Fe+2 and Mg+2 highly enhance the enzyme activity to 122.45, 119.06 and 118.98% respectively; whereas SDS and Hg+2 completely inhibit (0 U/ml) the enzyme activity. TLC analysis of enzymatic hydrolysis products showed that this xylanase is an endoxylanase, and generates xylooligosaccharides. Thus, it provides a potential thermostable alkaline xylanase for industrial applications

DelPhi Web Server: A comprehensive online suite for electrostatic calculations of biological macromolecules and their complexes.

Here we report a web server, the DelPhi web server, which utilizes DelPhi program to calculate electrostatic energies and the corresponding electrostatic potential and ionic distributions, and dielectric map. The server provides extra services to fix structural defects, as missing atoms in the structural file and allows for generation of missing hydrogen atoms. The hydrogen placement and the corresponding DelPhi calculations can be done with user selected force field parameters being either Charmm22, Amber98 or OPLS. Upon completion of the calculations, the user is given option to download fixed and protonated structural file, together with the parameter and Delphi output files for further analysis. Utilizing Jmol viewer, the user can see the corresponding structural file, to manipulate it and to change the presentation. In addition, if the potential map is requested to be calculated, the potential can be mapped onto the molecule surface. The DelPhi web server is available from http://compbio.clemson.edu/delphi_webserver

Viability of Noether symmetry of F(R) theory of gravity

Canonization of F(R) theory of gravity to explore Noether symmetry is performed treating R - 6(\frac{\ddot a}{a} + \frac{\dot a^2}{a^2} + \frac{k}{a^2}) = 0 as a constraint of the theory in Robertson-Walker space-time, which implies that R is taken as an auxiliary variable. Although it yields correct field equations, Noether symmetry does not allow linear term in the action, and as such does not produce a viable cosmological model. Here, we show that this technique of exploring Noether symmetry does not allow even a non-linear form of F(R), if the configuration space is enlarged by including a scalar field in addition, or taking anisotropic models into account. Surprisingly enough, it does not reproduce the symmetry that already exists in the literature (A. K. Sanyal, B. Modak, C. Rubano and E. Piedipalumbo, Gen.Relativ.Grav.37, 407 (2005), arXiv:astro-ph/0310610) for scalar tensor theory of gravity in the presence of R^2 term. Thus, R can not be treated as an auxiliary variable and hence Noether symmetry of arbitrary form of F(R) theory of gravity remains obscure. However, there exists in general, a conserved current for F(R) theory of gravity in the presence of a non-minimally coupled scalar-tensor theory (A. K. Sanyal, Phys.Lett.B624, 81 (2005), arXiv:hep-th/0504021 and Mod.Phys.Lett.A25, 2667 (2010), arXiv:0910.2385 [astro-ph.CO]). Here, we briefly expatiate the non-Noether conserved current and cite an example to reveal its importance in finding cosmological solution for such an action, taking F(R) \propto R^{3/2}.Comment: 16 pages, 1 figure. appears in Int J Theoretical Phys (2012

Detection of S-nitrosothiol and nitrosylated proteins in Arachis hypogaea functional nodule: response of the nitrogen fixing symbiont.

To detect the presence of NO, ROS and RNS in nodules of crack entry legumes, we used Arachis hypogaea functional nodule. The response of two cognate partner rhizobia was compared towards NO and GSNO using S. meliloti and Bradyrhizobium sp NC921001. ROS, NO, nitrosothiol and bacteroids were detected by fluorescence microscopy. Redox enzymes and thiol pools were detected biochemically. Nitrosothiols were found to be present but ROS and NO were absent in A. hypogaea nodule. A number of S-nitrosylated proteins were also detected. The total thiol pool and most of the redox enzymes were low in nodule cytosolic extract but these were found to be high in the partner microorganisms indicating partner rhizobia could protect the nodule environment against the nitrosothiols. Both S. meliloti and Bradyrhizobium sp NC921001 were found to contain GSNO reductase. Interestingly, there was a marked difference in growth pattern between S. meliloti and Bradyrhizobium sp in presence of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO). Bradyrhizobium sp was found to be much more tolerant to NO donor compounds than the S. meliloti. In contrast, S. meliloti showed resistance to GSNO but was sensitive to SNP. Together our data indicate that nodule environment of crack entry legumes is different than the nodules of infection mode entry in terms of NO, ROS and RNS. Based on our biochemical characterization, we propose that exchange of redox molecules and reactive chemical species is possible between the bacteroid and nodule compartment

Repair of Preduodenal Portal Vein Injury with Polytetrafluoroethylene Graft with Midgut Rotation and Left Sided Inferior Vena Cava

Preduodenal Portal Vein (PDPV) is a rare congenital anomaly. The presence of PDPV carries the risk of injury to Portal Vein (PV) during operations involving biliary duct, duodenum and pancreas. This report is about a 50-year-old female patient with PDPV associated with midgut malrotation and left sided Inferior Vena Cava (IVC). The patient was operated for Recurrent Pyogenic Cholangitis (RPC) and associated biliary stones. The patient sustained iatrogenic injury to PV during surgery which was subsequently repaired with Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft doppler showed patent graft at three months of follow-up. This report highlights the fact that pre-existing inflammatory conditions of bile duct and hepatoduodenal ligament further increase the risk of injury to PDPV during surgery