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Byline: M. Manjuladevi, Surbhi. Gupta, K. Vasudeva Upadhyaya, A. Kutappa Shoulder arthroscopy is a routine procedure performed for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Complications related to patient positioning and anaesthesia are [...]

Background: Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue blocks are routinely preserved after pathological diagnosis and possess tremendous potential for biomarker discovery. These archival samples are prone to degradation on prolonged storage due to the formalin cross-linking. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate whether the storage period of the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor blocks had a significant impact on the yield and purity of the isolated DNA archived for 11 years. Settings and Design: A retrospective study was carried out in the Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology in accordance with the Institutional Ethics Committee. Materials and Methods: Genomic DNA extraction was performed using TaKaRa DEXPAT Easy DNA kit from 40 FFPE tissue blocks of oral squamous cell carcinoma archived for 11 years (2006–2017). NanoDrop spectrophotometer was used to determine the DNA yield (A260) and purity (A260/A280 ratio). The quality of DNA fragments was validated using agarose gel electrophoresis. Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical analysis was obtained by SPSS 22, MS Excel and analyzed using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. P < 0.05 was set for statistical significance. Results: There was no statistically significant difference observed both in terms of DNA yield (P = 0.996) and purity (P = 0.997) of FFPE tumor blocks archived for 11 years among the study groups. Conclusions: It was concluded that, irrespective of years of storage of the FFPE, it is possible to extract genomic DNA and use it for molecular studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phonon anomalies in the intermediate valence compounds SmS, TmSe and YS were studied extensively using a three-body force rigid shell model. Three-body interactions were used because, due to valence fluctuations, the radii of rare-earth ions change significantly and, therefore, the amount of overlap with neighboring chalcogen ions also changes. Change in the radii of the rare-earth ions results in the deformation of the rare-earth ions, whereas change in the amount of overlap with the neighboring chalcogen ion gives rise to long-range three-body interactions between the transferred charges of the lattice. Both of these changes strongly influence the phonon dispersion curves, particularly along the zone boundary. Results obtained from the model are in agreement with the measured data for phonon dispersion as compared to the results obtained using a three-body rigid ion model. Results for Debye temperature variations and two-phonon IR/Raman spectra for these crystals have also been presented, probably for the first time, but could not be compared with experimental data due to their non-availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species composition, density, importance value index, diversity, dominance and distribution pattern of dominant tree species in three pine stands subjected to varying intensities of disturbance at Umiam watershed (UWS) in N.E. India were studied during peak growth period in 2001. A total of 89 plant species were encountered in the study. The species diversity for trees and shrubs was higher in the mildly disturbed stand than the highly disturbed and undisturbed stands. The number of shrub species showing contagious distribution increased with decreasing intensity of disturbance while the trees and herbs did not show any particular trend. The density of tree species however decreased with increasing dbh class in all the stands. Our study suggested that the disturbance can lead to the formation of more assemblage of species and therefore it can be used as a tool for silvicultural and managemental practices. However further research is needed on suitable methods and thinning intensities for sustainable utilization of pine forests in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study in determining the biomass and productivity of four Indian bamboo species B. pallida, Bambusa balcooa, Phillostachys bambusoides and Arundinaria racemosa in different elevated regions in India. Bamboo species P. bambusoides' biomass per culm decreased as it grows older which is opposite to the characteristics of other three species. Foliage biomass of B. balcooa and B. pallida was lower compared to P. bamusoides and A. racemosa in lower altitude.

Litter decay and nutrient release rates of leaf and leaf sheath litters of Bambusa balcooa Roxb. and B. pallida Munro were determined using the litter-bag technique in a 9-year-old jhum fallow in the humid tropics of north east India. C concentration was highest in leaf and leaf sheath litters of B. pallida, while N and lignin concentrations were greater in B. balcooa litter. Both leaf and scale leaf litters of B. balcooa and B. pallida showed similar decomposition patterns. The daily decay constants did not differ significantly between the two litter types and among bamboo species studied. Nonetheless, mass-loss rates during decomposition of the leaf and leaf sheath litters of both the species showed positive correlations with incubation period (the time after burying the samples in the soil). In general, until 120 days of incubation, there was N immobilization and later during the study period rapid release occurred. The release of N from B. pallida is greater than B. balcooa as per KN values. P was initially being immobilized followed by a gradual release after 120 days of litter decomposition in B. balcooa. In B. pallida, no definite pattern was observed. The rate of weight loss and N release showed significant positive relationships with lignin and N concentrations and lignin/N, C/P and N/P ratios, and negative relationships with C and P concentrations and C/N ratio. However, release rates of P did not show significant correlations with most chemical compositions of the litter except with initial P concentration, C/P ratio and lignin/N. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patterns of litter decay and nutrient mineralization rates of leaf and scale-leaf of Bambusa balcooa and B. pallida were determined using the litter-bag technique in a 9-year-old ‘jhum’ fallow in the humid tropics of northeast India. C concentration was higher in leaf and scale-leaf litters of B. pallida, while N and lignin concentrations were greater in B. balcooa litter. Both leaf and scale-leaf litters of B. balcooa and B. pallida showed similar decomposition patterns. The daily decay constants did not differ significantly between the two litter types and bamboo species studied. Nonetheless, mass-loss rates during decomposition of the leaf and scale-leaf litters of both species showed positive correlations with incubation period (the time after burying the samples in the soil). In general, until 120 days of incubation, there was N immobilization and later during the study period rapid mineralization occurred. The release of N from B. pallida litter was greater than from B. balcooa as per kN value. P was initially being immobilized followed by a gradual mineralization after 120 days of litter decomposition in B. balcooa. In B. pallida, no definite pattern was observed. The rate of weight loss and N release showed significant positive relationships with lignin and N concentrations and lignin/N, C/P and N/P ratios, and negative relationships with C and P concentrations and C/N ratio. However, mineralization rates of P did not show significant correlations with most chemical compositions of the litter except with initial P concentration, and lignin/N and C/P ratios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial N, CO2 evolution rate and mineral-N dynamics were determined in soils collected beneath the canopy of two different bamboo species in a 9-year-old bamboo forest developed on an abandoned sloping agricultural land in a humid tropical zone of north-east India. A laboratory incubation study was set up to determine the dynamics of microbial biomass, soil respiration and N mineralization rates as influenced by addition of bamboo residues (leaves and scale leaves). Soil nutrients and microbial biomass C, N and P were greater in soils under Bambusa pallida as compared to B. balcooa. Lignin and N concentrations were greater in B. balcooa. Scale leaves had low lignin and N concentrations than the leaf litter. The litter quality, particularly lignin/N, influenced the dynamics of soil mineral-N and, therefore, on the net N mineralization rate. CO2 evolution rate in the soil had a negative relationship with the N mineralization rate, while the microbial N showed weaker correlations with the dynamics of the mineral N. Overall, amendments using the sclerophyllous and slow decomposing foliage did not contribute to the increasing N mineralization in the soils. The study also suggests that soil management practices in bamboo forests should take into account incorporation of residues of good quality, probably of other plant species, failing which, soil quality may deteriorate over a long term that would be critical in productivity and nutrient cycling of secondary bamboo forests regenerating on nutrient-poor, fragile and marginal fallow agricultural lands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comments on the impact of deforestation on the soil chemistry of a humid tropical forest in Arunachal Pradesh, India. Results of microbial biomass after clear-felling; Details of vegetation and microclimatic conditions; Effect of tree-felling on microbial biomass-carbon.