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Imaging spectroscopy/hyperspectral remote sensing technique acquires images in a very narrow and contiguous spectral bands. High spectral resolution data provided by imaging spectrometers enables remote compositional mapping of earth surface. In the present study, we demonstrate the potentials of airborne AVIRIS-NG datasets for identification and mapping of non-metallic minerals. Several minerals such as carbonates, sulphates and phyllosilicate exhibit diagnostic absorption feature in Short Wave Infrared Region (SWIR) (2.0–2.5 μm). Therefore, mapping of wavelength of deepest absorption in SWIR is very useful for exploratory earth surface composition/mineral mapping. To map the mineralogical diversity in the parts of Banswara region, Rajasthan, wavelength of deepest absorption feature and absorption band depth in SWIR region was calculated at each pixel. It was found that majority of pixels showed absorption near ∼2.31, 2.33 and 2.20 μm. Detailed analysis of spectra of image revealed dolomite as dominant mineral at pixels showing deepest absorption at 2.31 μm. Calcite and clays were found to be present at pixels showing deepest absorption feature near 2.33 and 2.20 μm respectively. It is noted that mapping wavelength position of deepest feature is a very fast and reliable indicator of mineralogy. The mineral map of calcite and dolomite shall be useful for locating new mining prospect in the region.

Systematic inventory of glaciers is required for a variety of applications needed for the comprehensive development of the Himalayan region such as: a) disaster warning, b) estimation of irrigation potential, c) planning and operation of mini and micro hydroelectric power stations, etc. A systematic inventory of the Himalayan glaciers at 1 : 50,000 scale was created for Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra basins using Indian Remote Sensing Satellite data and attempted to modified global standards in GIS environment (Sharma et al, 2013). A robust, user- friendly web-based Himalayan Glacier Information System (HGIS), a first of its kind in the country is developed which facilitates any user to selectively display, query, analyse, compose maps and graphs and print, spatial and aspatial information on glaciers relevant to respective interests. The HGIS architecture is based on Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) standards and utilises OpenGeo Suite bundled software comprising of Postgresql (PostGIS), Geoserver, GeoWebCache and GeoExplorer each of those having a different function (Anonymous 2010). The spatial and aspatial glacier data sets were stored in a pre-defined format (Sharma et al, 2008) and imbibed into spatially enabled database (PostGIS), having sophisticated functions for spatial data analysis and query. For publishing the data on web page OGC-compliant services are used. The HGIS information content comprise of a) glacier inventory maps and b) inventory data sheet. The map displays the glacier morphology features like accumulation zone and ablation (ice exposed and debris covered) zones, snout location, de-glaciated valleys, moraines and glacier lakes. The basin, sub-basin and administrative boundaries form the background. The inventory data sheet attributes for each glacier provides information on glacier Location, Identification, Dimension, Orientation, Elevation, Classification, etc. The spatial map and datasheet are linked by unique glacier identification number (galc_id) which is a key field present in all corresponding glacier related point, polygon or line layers. All the glacier attribute were made amenable to query and analysis by users. HGIS represents a significant step towards mapping and compiling individual glacier level inventory data in spatial form to fill the void in data and information on the status of Glaciers in the Himalaya and Trans-Himalayan Karakoram region. HGIS provides a basis for assessing the glacier inventory data which has applications in studies related to climate change, water resource planning, hydropower site selection and mitigation of glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) hazards.

Abstract: Hematopoietic stem-cell gene therapy is a promising treatment of X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID-X1), but currently, it requires recipient conditioning, extensive cell manipulation, and sophisticated facilities. With these limitations in mind, we explored a simpler therapeutic approach to SCID-X1 treatment by direct IV administration of foamy virus (FV) vectors in the canine model. FV vectors were used because they have a favorable integration site profile and are resistant to serum inactivation. Here, we show improved efficacy of our in vivo gene therapy platform by mobilization with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and AMD3100 before injection of an optimized FV vector incorporating the human phosphoglycerate kinase enhancerless promoter. G-CSF/AMD3100 mobilization before FV vector delivery accelerated kinetics of CD3+ lymphocyte recovery, promoted thymopoiesis, and increased immune clonal diversity. Gene-corrected T lymphocytes exhibited a normal CD4:CD8 ratio and a broad T-cell receptor repertoire and showed restored γC-dependent signaling function. Treated animals showed normal primary and secondary antibody responses to bacteriophage immunization and evidence for immunoglobulin class switching. These results demonstrate safety and efficacy of an accessible, portable, and translatable platform with no conditioning regimen for the treatment of SCID-X1 and other genetic diseases.

Background: This study was planned to compare and evaluate the staining efficacy of Leishman–Giemsa cocktail (LG), Papanicolaou, and Giemsa stain (G) in potentially malignant disorders and malignant lesions. Aims: To evaluate the quality of nuclear and cytoplasmic staining of LG with G, and rapid Papanicolaou stain (Pap) and to compare the total staining efficiency of LG against G and P. Materials and Methods: One hundred and eighty participants were studied under three groups – 60 as healthy controls, 60 with potentially malignant disorders, and 60 with malignant lesions; smears were taken thrice from the buccal mucosa. One smear was fixed with Bio-Fix spray and other two smears were allowed to air dry for 2–3 minutes. Then, the ethyl alcohol-fixed smear was stained with Pap and the two other air-dried smears were stained with G and LG stains. Analysis was done using Friedman test and Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test with SPSS Version 15.0. Results: In the normal group, staining of LG was highly significant (P < 0.001). Among potentially malignant lesions, LG was observed to be highly significant (P < 0.001) when compared with G and was not significant when compared with Pap (P = 0.186). In the malignant group, LG was highly significant (P < 0.001). LG was superior with the highest average staining score of (2.018) than Pap and G. Conclusion: LG cocktail is a better stain with excellent cytoplasmic and nuclear staining intensity compared to Pap and G stains.

Conditioning chemotherapy is used to deplete hematopoietic stem cells in the recipient’s marrow, facilitating donor cell engraftment. Although effective, a major issue with chemotherapy is the systemic genotoxicity that increases the risk for secondary malignancies. Antibody conjugates targeting hematopoietic cells are an emerging non-genotoxic method of opening the marrow niche and promoting engraftment of transplanted cells while maintaining intact marrow cellularity. Specifically, this platform would be useful in diseases associated with DNA damage or cancer predisposition, such as dyskeratosis congenita, Schwachman-Diamond syndrome, and Fanconi anemia (FA). Our approach utilizes antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) as an alternative conditioning regimen in an FA mouse model of autologous transplantation. Antibodies targeting either CD45 or CD117 were conjugated to saporin (SAP), a ribosomal toxin. FANCA knockout mice were conditioned with either CD45-SAP or CD117-SAP prior to receiving whole marrow from a heterozygous healthy donor. Bone marrow and peripheral blood analysis revealed equivalent levels of donor engraftment, with minimal toxicity in ADC-treated groups as compared with cyclophosphamide-treated controls. Our findings suggest ADCs may be an effective conditioning strategy in stem cell transplantation not only for diseases where traditional chemotherapy is not tolerated, but also more broadly for the field of blood and marrow transplantation.

Unilateral absent pulmonary artery is an uncommon condition and may be associated with other congenital cardiac defect. Patients without associated cardiac abnormality usually present in adulthood with symptoms of dyspnea, hemoptysis, etc. We encountered two adults with absent right pulmonary artery who presented with hemoptysis and on investigations found to have absent right pulmonary artery. Considering the rarity of this entity, we found it worthy of reporting.