Sex trafficking of girls and women : Evidence from Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh

A crucial gap in the trafficking literature from India is the dearth of primary data and micro studies that could be used for vulnerability mapping of the source areas and addressing the identified risk factors. The present paper is a small attempt to contribute to plugging the gap in the context of Andhra Pradesh, identified as a hot spot in the trafficking literature. This paper is based on case studies of 78 women who had been trafficked from their places of origin in Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh to metropolitan cities across India and who have since returned to their homes. The paper attempted to identify the individual and family circumstances that contribute to the causes of trafficking, to highlight in particular the gendered vulnerabilities that set these women up for trafficking, and to capture the process of the trafficking experience. The findings of the study are located in the dynamic interplay of the social structural context and specificities of the district that contribute to causes of trafficking and the individual circumstances and agency of the women. The case studies reported in this paper are a pointer to the compelling urgency of interventions that will go beyond the forced / voluntary divide in trafficking and sex work.Andhra Pradesh, India, trafficking

Size distribution of sputtered particles from Au nanoislands due to MeV self-ion bombardment

Nanoisland gold films, deposited by vacuum evaporation of gold onto Si(100) substrates, were irradiated with 1.5 MeV Au$^{2+}$ ions up to a fluence of $5\times 10^{14}$ ions cm$^{-2}$ and at incidence angles up to $60^{\circ}$ with respect to the surface normal. The sputtered particles were collected on carbon coated grids (catcher grid) during ion irradiation and were analyzed with transmission electron microscopy and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry. The average sputtered particle size and the areal coverage are determined from transmission electron microscopy measurements, whereas the amount of gold on the substrate is found by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry. The size distributions of larger particles (number of atoms/particle, $n$ $\ge$ 1,000) show an inverse power-law with an exponent of $\sim$ -1 in broad agreement with a molecular dynamics simulation of ion impact on cluster targets.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures, Submitted for publication in JA

Analytic Coulomb matrix elements in the lowest Landau level in disk geometry

Using Darling's theorem on products of generalized hypergeometric series an analytic expression is obtained for the Coulomb matrix elements in the lowest Landau level in the representation of angular momentum. The result is important in the studies of Fractional Quantum Hall effect (FQHE) in disk geometry. Matrix elements are expressed as simple finite sums of positive terms, eliminating the need to approximate these quantities with slowly-convergent series. As a by-product, an analytic representation for certain integals of products of Laguerre polynomials is obtained.Comment: Accepted to J. Math. Phys.; 3 pages revtex, no figure

Clinical study on feto-maternal outcome in teenage pregnancy in a tertiary care institute

Background: Pregnancies that occur below the age of 20 years are called teenage pregnancies. Teenage pregnancy is a common public health problem worldwide which is detrimental to the health of both the mother and the new-born. This study aims to evaluate the obstetric and perinatal outcomes of teenage pregnancy in the Indian rural and semi urban population. Methods: A retrospective observational study was undertaken in the department of obstetrics and gynecology, Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, Mysore, for a period of one year from August 2021 to September 2022. All the teenage mothers during the study period were included in the study. Data was analysed included various maternal parameters, fetal parameters, and the outcome of pregnancy. Results: Study showed the incidence of teenage pregnancy is 12.6%. About 88.3% were primgravida, 74% were booked cases. 51.6% of the teenage mothers had varying grades of anaemia, 29.09% of teenage mothers had spectra of hypertensive disorders if pregnancy, 27.92% had PROM. Caesarean section rates were 25%, Fetal distress being the most common indication in 47.3% followed by fail induction in 29.8%. Preterm delivery rates were as high as 13.6%. Postpartum complications included postpartum hemorrhage in 2.5%, puerperal pyexia in 1.9%, postpartum eclampsia in 1.38%. Respiratory distress was seen in 17.6% neonates, prematurity in 15.49%, IUGR in 13.6%, 2.99% were stillborn send 3.36% succumbed due to pre-maturity, respiratory distress, and sepsis. Conclusions: From the present study we infer that the prevalence of teenage pregnancy is still high in rural and semi urban population and they suffered from a significant number of complications in pregnancy including anemia pre-eclampsia and preterm labour, neonatal respiratory distress and early onset sepsis. To surmount these problems a multidisciplinary team involving health and social workers, obstetrician and gynaecologist are required to improve adolescent reproductive health.

Rhinosporidium seeberi proven as a fungus for the first time after a century since its discovery

The 18S rRNA gene sequencing of a pure microorganism isolated in pure culture from human rhinosporidiosis cases coded UMH.48 and preserved at 4oC, and, the fungal extracts of biopsy from new cases of nasal rhinosporidiosis were done. Both the sequences were compared for the presence any identical regions by BLAST tool. Astonishingly both the sequences showed 100% identity with each other. The sequences were further compared with the sequences present in NCBI database, followed by sequences of specific organisms like Mesomycetozoa sp and Synchytrium sp. Based on the morphological features, life cycle and BLAST analysis the organism UMH.48 was categorized as a Fungus. The sequences of UMH.48 and sequences from the fungus extracts from new tissue biopsies were deposited in Genbank with accession numbers JN807465 and JN807466 respectively. This paper reports the identity of 18S rRNA sequences between the pure, preserved, isolate with those obtained from biopsies of nasal rhinosporidiosis obtained from totally new cases. Our isolate has been tentatively identified as a lower aquatic fungus with 100% alignment with Colletotrichum truncatum and Glomerulla sps and lesser score similarity with Synchytrium minutum. Yet the absence of a perfect sexual phase or any asexual fungal spores, very rare  microscopic morphology, life cycle and remarkable resemblance with members of lower aquatic fungi led us to surmise (also through personal communication with NCBI, Taxonomy expert) that the isolate is a Fungus (unknown) and not an Ascomycete

Bacillus isolates VTGP. A-D. 30808 Alcaligenes sp., Exiguobacterium sp., B. pumilus and B. fusiformis producing extracellular alkaline proteases, amylases and cellulases - a preliminary report

Garden soil samples collected from Angamali, Kerala, India were screened for potent bacteria capable of synthesizing extracellular hydrolytic enzymes. Four bacteria were obtained in pure culture. The isolates were systematically identified by microscopy, Gram and special staining techniques for capsule and spores, biochemical reactions and phylogeny by molecular techniques like 16 S rRNA ene sequencing followed by Blast analysis. Production of protease, cellulase and amylase were detected by inoculating nutrient agar containing casein/ skim milkagar, carboxy methyl cellulose and soluble starch respectively.  Alkalophilic and thermophilic properties were investigated by inoculation and incubation of the isolates on specific nutrient media at pH 7-12 and at a wide range of temperatures 28-30, 37, 50 and 650.C. The isolates were coded VTGP. A-D 30808. All the four expressed significant alkalophilic growth at pH 7-12. With respect to protease activity all  except A showed marked protease activity over a high pH range pH 7-12(A-115, B-1119, C-1500, D-1350 Units / ml of liquid culture   supernatant). Both C & D secreted protease as early as 8-12 hours on nutrient agar with 0.1% skim milk forming a clear wide zone of casein hydrolysis. Hence the proteases produced were highly alkalophilic. Amylase activity was marked in all (A-37.38, B-27.58, C-27.92, D-34.82 units per ml culture supernatant). On CMC agar, all the four isolates showed CMCase activity indicated by pale yellow zone of hydrolysis of carboxy methyl cellulose agar when tested with Congo red reagent. A, B and C were strongly positive with minimal visible activity in D. But when tested in CMC broth culture the activities were A-6.71, B-4.30, C-6.56 and D 0.58 units/ ml of culture supernatant). 16S r RNA gene  sequencing of isolates A to D showed maximum alignment with Alcaligenes sp., Exiguobacterium sp., Bacillus pumilus and B. fusiformis. The sequences have been deposited in GenBank with Accession  numbers HQ 848384, HQ 848385, HQ 848386, and HQ 848387