Correlation of DNA Ploidy with Progression of Cervical Cancer

The majority of squamous cell carcinomas of cervix are preceded by visible changes in the cervix, most often detected by cervical smear. As cervical cancer is preceded by long precancerous stages, identification of the high-risk population through detection of DNA ploidy may be of importance in effective management of this disease. Here we attempted to correlate aneuploid DNA patterns and their influence on biological behavior of flow-cytometry analysis of DNA ploidy which was carried out in cytologically diagnosed cases of mild (79), moderate (36), and severe (12) dysplasia, as well as “atypical squamous cells of unknown significance (ASCUS)” (57) along with controls (69), in order to understand its importance in malignant progression of disease. Cytologically diagnosed dysplasias, which were employed for DNA ploidy studies, 39 mild, 28 moderate, and 11 severe dysplasia cases were found to be aneuploid. Out of the 69 control subjects, 6 cases showed aneuploidy pattern and the rest 63 subjects were diploid. An aneuploidy pattern was observed in 8 out of 57 cases of cytologically evaluated ASCUS. The results of the followup studies showed that aberrant DNA content reliably predicts the occurrence of squamous cell carcinoma in cervical smear. Flow cytometric analysis of DNA ploidy may provide a strategic diagnostic tool for early detection of carcinoma cervix. Therefore, it is a concept of an HPV screening with reflex cytology in combination with DNA flow cytometry to detect progressive lesions with the greatest possible sensitivity and specificity

In vitro salt stress induced production of gymnemic acid in callus cultures of Gymnema sylvestre R.Br.

Gymnema sylvestre, a well known antidiabetic plant, was cultured in vitro for callus induction using leaf explant. Gymnemic acid content enhancement under the influence of different plant hormones like 2,4- D, BA with or without NaCl supplementation to the MS medium is presented in this investigation. The highest efficiency of callus formation was observed in the medium containing different concentrations of 2,4-D. The gymnemic acid content increased with increasing concentration of 2,4-D along with NaCl.Key words: In vitro, Gymnema sylvestre, callus culture, gymnemic acid, salt stress

Effects of Disorder in FeSe : An Ab Initio Study

Using the coherent-potential approximation, we have studied the effects of excess Fe, Se-deficiency, and substitutions of S, Te on Se sub-lattice and Co, Ni and Cu on Fe sub-lattice in FeSe. Our results show that (i) a small amount of excess Fe substantially disorders the Fe-derived bands while Se-deficiency affects mainly the Se-derived bands, (ii) the substitution of S or Te enhances the possibility of Fermi surface nesting, specially in FeSe$_{0.5}$Te$_{0.5}$, in spite of disordering the Se-derived bands, (iii) the electron doping through Co, Ni or Cu disorders the system and pushes down the Fe-derived bands, thereby destroying the possibility of Fermi surface nesting. A comparison of these results with the rigid-band, virtual-crystal and supercell approximations reveals the importance of describing disorder with the coherent-potential approximation.Comment: Redone VCA calculations, and some minor changes. (Accepted for publication in Journal of Physics:Condensed Matter

Pseudo-gap behavior in dynamical properties of high-Tc cuprates

Dynamical properties of 2D antiferromagnets with hole doping are investigated to see the effects of short range local magnetic order on the temperature dependence of the dynamical magnetic susceptibility. We show the pseudo-gap like behavior of the temperature dependence of the NMR relaxation rate. We also discuss implications of the results in relations to the observed spin gap like behavior of low-doped copper oxide high-$T_c$ superconductors.Comment: 3 pages, Revtex, with 2 eps figures, to appear in J.Phys.Soc.Jpn. Vol.67 No.

Gender Transformative Impacts from Watershed Interventions: Insights from a Mixed-Methods Study in the Bundelkhand Region of India

This study examined gender perspectives on water security by exploring an integrated water management approach for agriculture, livestock, and human consumption. The data were generated in a watershed project to enhance drought resilience of farming through groundwater recharge and agroforestry interventions in the water-scarce Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh in central India. Post-intervention, a quantitative survey and qualitative gender and social analysis tools were applied to understand the benefits of the interventions for women, men, and the community as a whole. Quantitative data were collected from 700 individuals in five villages (three treatment villages and two villages where watershed interventions were not implemented). In addition, 33 semi-structured interviews and eight focus group discussions were conducted to understand local gender norms at the project sites. Data analysis revealed that the community benefits accrued from the watershed interventions included increased crop productivity and diversification of agriculture and livelihoods. However, strict patriarchal norms restricted the visibility, mobility, and communication of women within the household and community during the interventions. Considering gender diversity, this study identifies that women can benefit from participating in watershed interventions and provides a deeper understanding of the constraints and barriers to women’s participation in such projects, including economic, social, and cultural factors. The construction of check dams reduced women’s time per day for fetching water by about 29%. Groundwater level increases reduced the effort required of women to draw water from open wells and hand pumps. Female education is a significant factor related to the benefits of watershed interventions, and regression analysis indicated that households with higher levels of education of adult women were significantly more likely to benefit from the interventions than other households. To avoid perpetuation of the exclusion of diverse local knowledge and gender inequality at the community level, mechanisms must be developed and adjusted continuously such that whole communities, including men and women, are empowered to participate in the decision-making process at various levels and for different purposes. When implementing watershed projects in a highly patriarchal context, as in the Bundelkhand region where women are hidden behind the strong presence of men, advocacy of behavioral change communication must be implemented regularly. The community needs to be sensitized toward systematic and gendersensitive institution building, social engagement, and capacity development for local as well as global water security