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Common lands, being a significant form of natural resource endowment in many developing countries, play a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance, and more particularly in supporting the people, especially the rural poor, in eking out their livelihood. However, the contributions of common lands to the rural economy and ecology have remained unappreciated which has led to the depletion and degradation of these lands. In an attempt to examine the nature and extent of contribution of common lands to household economies, 432 sample households from eight sample villages across four ecological regions in Haryana, northwest India, were surveyed using a structured questionnaire during 1995. We found that common lands still hold an important place in the household economy of rural people of this state. A significant proportion of the sample households obtained substantial biomass resources, income and employment from common lands. The contributions of these lands in terms of variety and extent were many times higher in the households belonging to less developed than developed regions, and those households belonging to poor than wealthy classes. Hence, there is an immediate need to develop effective strategies for the regeneration and sustainable use and management of common lands.

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Trend and climate change were studied in annual rainfall data for the period of 62 years (1949-2010) of Sagar and 65 years (1945-2010) of Damoh districts of Bundelkhand region of central India. The analysis of weekly rainfall probability was also carried out at both the locations for field operations and crop planning in rainfed agricultural system for improving the farmer's livelihood. Mean annual rainfall was 1233.8 mm with 32.6% variability for Sagar and 1225.1 mm with 30.3% variability for Damoh region. Sagar and Damoh region exhibited significant decreasing trend in the total amount of annual rainfall in the last 15 years (1996 to 2010). Also, both locations showed significant long-term decreasing trend in annual rainfall. Climate of both the regions have changed as in the recent 15 years annual rainfall had decreased by 156.4 and 310.7 mm at Sagar and Damoh from their long period average (LPA), respectively. The Initial and conditional rainfall probability analysis at Damoh reinforced that Initial probabilities {P (W)} of getting 10 mm rainfall per week was 76% during 25 th (18-24 June) SMW. Thus, the seed bed preparation could be initiated during this week. Initial as well as conditional probability of wet week followed by wet week {P(W/W} of getting 20 mm rainfall was more than 80% during 27 th SMW (2-7 July) in Sagar district. Therefore, this week is most suitable for sowing operation in this district.

Human telomerase reverse transcriptase is an essential rate-limiting component of telomerase complex. hTERT protein in association with other proteins and the human telomerase RNA (hTR) shows telomerase activity, essential for maintaining genomic integrity in proliferating cells. hTERT binds hTR through a decapeptide located in the RID2 (RNA interactive domain 2) domain of N-terminal region. Since hTERT is essential for telomerase activity, inhibitors of hTERT are of great interest as potential anti-cancer agent. We have selected RNA aptamers against a synthetic peptide from the RID2 domain of hTERT by employing in vitro selection protocol (SELEX). The selected RNAs could bind the free peptide, as CD spectra suggested conformational change in aptamer upon RID2 binding. Extracts of cultured breast cancer cells (MCF7) expressing this aptamer showed lower telomerase activity as estimated by TRAP assay. hTERT-binding RNA aptamers hold promise as probable anti-cancer therapeutic agent.

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Pterion a cranio-metric point has been described according to its location, type and relationship with the surrounding bony landmarks. Approach through pterion is mostly used to treat lesions of anterior and middle cranial fossa. Pterion ossicle or Epipteric bone are sometimes mistaken as a fracture at this point. AIM & OBJECTIVE: The study was set to explore the morphometry of Pterion in the human dry skulls of Uttarakhand region. The data may be useful for the anthropologists, forensic pathologists, neurosurgeons and maxillo-facial surgeons. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 40 dry human skulls of unknown sex collected from the department of anatomy of SGRR medical college. Instrument used for linear measurements-Sliding Caliper. ANALYTICAL TEST: Students 't' test. RESULT: Sphenoparietal type accounted 86.25%, frontotemporal 11.25% and stellate 2.5% collectively on the both sides of skull. The pterion is located 3.25 ±1.05cm behind frontozygomatic suture and 3.76 ±6.62cm above the temporozygomatic suture. CONCLUSION: Pterion is less likely to be diagnosed as a fracture site due to nonoccurrence of epipteric type of pterion in human skull of Uttarakhand. Pterion can be easily located with its relation to bony landmarks, and is most preferable approach in neurosurgery.

This paper assessed the impact of soil and water conservation practices on farm productivity and risk exposure using data from 1204 plots in the semiarid tropics of India. A probit model was used to assess the determinants of adoption of soil bunds. We employed a moment-based approach for estimating crop revenue, its variability and downside risk exposure, i.e., crop failure. Furthermore, we also used a doubly robust method for assessing the impact of soil bunds on crop revenue, its variability and downside risk. Matching and propensity-based methods were also used to check robustness. The results show that training, access to credit and extension services are key determinants of adoption of soil bunds. Furthermore, the results also suggest that soil bunds not only improve the crop revenue but also reduce its variability. Most interestingly, we show that soil bunds also reduce the chances of downside risk, i.e., crop failure. Therefore, in view of increasing climate change and variability in the semiarid tropics, it can be suggested that soil bunds could be an important adaptation strategy for improving productivity and reducing risk exposure. This paper supports the investment in soil and water conservation technologies for sustaining the livelihood of resource-poor farmers of ecologically fragile regions such as the semiarid tropics.