Feminist Ethics of Reproduction and Women's Bodies

Jyotsna A. GUPTA 이화여자대학교 아시아여성학센터 2012 이화여자대학교 아시아여성학센터 학술대회자료집 Vol.2012 No.1

The twentieth century saw the development and use of various scientific and medical technologies to intervene in the process of human biological reproduction, and in principle to extend our reproductive options. I analyse some of the developments in the application of these technologies, in particular the technologies for sex (pre-) selection to consider their consequences for society in general and for women in particular by making use of some of the concepts in feminist ethics. I argue that applied in a social, political and economic context of inequality, exclusion and discrimination, reproductive technologies replicate or exacerbate existing inequality, and create new forms of inequality. Although, they may further the individual interests of a few women, they violate several feminist ethical principles, in particular the principles of reproductive justice and gender justice.

청구의 해석과 확립된 판례법

( Jyotsna Kapadia ) 한국지식재산연구원 2009 지식재산연구 Vol.4 No.4

본문은 특허 청구항의 해석과 관련된 확립된 판례법을 설명한다. 일반적으로 청구는 도입부와 청구항 본문, 연결부의 세 부분으로 구성된다. 청구항의 각 부분에 선택된 단어는 청구에 대한 해석의 의미를 가지고 있다. 도입부는 청구의 범위를 제한할 수 있다. 특허의 청구는 모순이나 혼란을 유발해서는 안된다. 청구는 분명하고 간결해야 한다. 청구항 작성 시 기술적 정보를 제공하지 않는 상표의 이용은 피해야 한다. 또한 상표를 포함한 개시는 권한을 부여하는 캐시로 볼 수 없으며 상표의 의미가 특허 기간 동안 계속 유지된다는 보장을 할 수 없다. 청구항은 독립항, 종속항, 다중종속항의 형태로 작성될 수 있다. 종속항이나 다중종속항은 기초 청구항의 한계를 지정한다. 단 다중종속항은 다른 다중종속항의 근거 역할을 할 수 없다. 옴니버스 청구항은 발명의 성격 상 43(6) EPC에 따라 설명을 참조하지 않고 표시가 불가능한 경우를 제외하고는 허용되지 않는다. 연방순회항소법원의 판결에 따르면 청구항 구분의 원칙에 따라 각 청구항이 서로 다른 범위를 가진 것으로 간주한다. 방법적 물건청구항은 제품의 구성이나 다른 성격이 완전히 알려지지 않아 제조 방법을 참조하지 않고서는 제품의 설명이 불가능한 경우에 허용된다. 제품이 파라미터에 의해 정의된 경우에는 피근미터 측정이 잘 알려져 있지 않은 한 파라미터의 측정 방식을 제공해야 한다. 포괄적인 대체 표현은 청구의 범위나 명료성에 관련하여 불확실성이나 모호성이 없는 경우 마쿠시형 청구항으로 허용된다. 기술적 관계가 없는 두 가지 방법은 단일 다단계 방법 청구항을 구성할 수 없는 것으로 판결되었다. 청구항에 이용된 용어는 명세서에서 특별히 정의되지 않는 한 해당 기술분야에서 관습적으로 이용되는 의미를 가진 것으로 해석된다. 청구의 해석을 위해 각각의 증거 출처에 얼마나 높은 가중치를 둘 것인가는 사안마다 다르다. This article covers some established Case-Laws in respect of patent claim interpretation. Generally a claim is drafted as a single sentence with three parts, a preamble, main body of the claim and a link connecting both. Wordings chosen for each part of claim has implications on interpretation thereof. Preamble may restrict the scope of claim. Claim(s) of a patent must not be self-contradictory or creating confusion. Claim must be clear and concise. Use of a trademark should be avoided in drafting claim as it does not provide information in technical terms. Moreover, a disclosure involving trademark cannot be said to be enabling disclosure. Further, there is no guarantee that the meaning of a trademark will remain same throughout the patent term. A claim may be in an independent, dependent or multiple-dependent form. Dependent or multiple-dependent claims specify limitations of base claim. However, a multiple dependent claim cannot serve as a base for another multiple-dependent claim. Omnibus claims are not allowable as per Rule 43(6) EPC, unless in case if the nature of an invention is such that the claim cannot be expressed without reference to description. As per the opinion of Federal Circuit, under the doctrine of claim differentiation, each claim in a patent is presumptively different in scope. Product-by-process claims are allowed where structure or other characteristics of a product are not completely known and hence the description of product is not possible without referring to the process by which it is made. When a product is defined by its parameters, it is necessary to give method of measurement of those parameters, unless the method of such measurement is well known in the art Alternative generic expressions are permitted in Markush type claims if they present no uncertainty or ambiguity with respect to the scope or clarity of the claims. It was held in a case that two methods without any technical bearing on each other cannot be considered as a technical whole and hence it cannot be allowed in form of a single multi-step process claim. The terms used in claims should be generally interpreted to give a meaning conventionally used in the relevant art, unless any special meaning is defined in the specification. For interpretation of claims, how much weight should be given to each available source of evidence differs from case to case.

A Case of Fibrous Pseudotumor of the Paratesticular Region

Jyotsna Naresh Bharti,Biswajit Dey,Ashna Mittal,Prerna Arora 대한남성과학회 2013 The World Journal of Men's Health Vol.31 No.3

A 78-year-old male patient presented with an inguinoscrotal nodule that had lasted for 3 years. The patient reported a past medical history of hydrocele formation. The final diagnosis was fibrous pseudotumor of the paratesticular region, which was based on a histopathological examination and immunohistochemical findings. The aim of this case report is to spread awareness and recognition of neoplastic and non-neoplastic entities that occur in the paratesticular region.

Parenthood in the era of Reproductive Outsourcing and Global Assemblages

GUPTA, Jyotsna Agnihotri Ewha Womans University Press 2012 Asian Journal of Women's Studies(AJWS) Vol.18 No.1

Technologies to assist reproduction are deconstructing conventional scripts regarding age, parenting and sexuality. Helping individuals and infertile couples with a child wish has become a thriving global business. Women’s reproductive bodies and their reproductive body parts have been turned into commodities that are donated or traded. Several centers all over the world are dealing in reproductive body parts, and functioning as global assembly points. Advocates of surrogacy point out the advantages for both intending parents and surrogates, arguing for its regulation. Women’s health and rights advocates on the other hand argue that the practice commodifies women and should be legally banned. Feminists are divided in their response to these technologies, particularly over whether they enhance women’s agency and subjectivity or not. These developments and competing frameworks of analysis pose new challenges not only for women’s rights advocates, but also for sociologists researching on the family, health policy makers, legislators and bioethicists.

Evaluation of toxicity & therapeutic efficacy of a new liposomal formulation of amphotericin B in a mouse model

Mishra, Jyotsna,Dey, Ayan,Singh, Niti,Somvanshi, Ramesh,Singh, Sarman Medknow PublicationsMedia Pvt Ltd 2013 The Indian journal of medical research Vol.137 No.4

<P><B>Background & objectives:</B></P><P>Current therapy for leishmaniasis is limited and unsatisfactory. Amphotericin B, a second-line treatment is gradually replacing antimonials, the first-line treatment and is used as the preferred treatments in some regions. Though, presently it is the only drug with highest cure rate, its use is severely restricted by its acute toxicity. In the present study novel lipid-amphotericin B formulations with lower toxicity than the parent drug were evaluated for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in a mouse model.</P><P><B>Methods:</B></P><P>The toxicity and therapeutic efficacy of a new amphiphilic formulation of amphotericin B (Kalsome™10) was compared to that of amphotericin B deoxycholate (Fungizone) in a mouse model of VL using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR).</P><P><B>Results:</B></P><P>The toxicity of amphotericin B was significantly less with liposomal formulation as compared to the deoxycholate form, evidenced by reduced nephrotoxicity and higher tolerated dose in BALB/c mice. The therapeutic efficacy was evaluated by quantitative real time (RT) PCR using primers highly specific for the <I>ITS</I> region of <I>Leishmania donovani</I>. There was reduction in parasite load by 2 log unit after 7 days of treatment and finally resulting in complete clearance of parasite from infected mice after 30 days of treatment with Kalsome™10.</P><P><B>Interpretation & conclusions:</B></P><P>This new formulation showed a favourable safety profile and better efficacy when compared to conventional amphotericin B. If production cost is kept low, it may prove to be a feasible alternative to conventional amphotericin B.</P>

Somatic Cell Counts in Milk of Buffaloes Administered Oxytocin During Early Lactation

Prasad, Jyotsna,Singh, Mahendra Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2001 Animal Bioscience Vol.14 No.5

To find out the effect of oxytocin on somatic cell count and milk production, 12 primiparous and multiparous Murrah buffaloes were selected, immediately after the parturition, from the Institute's buffalo herd. These were divided into two groups of 6 each. Buffaloes of group I did not receive oxytocin injection (control); whereas, buffaloes of group II were administered oxytocin during early lactation (av. 42.50 days). The oxytocin injection was given in doses of 2.5 IU i.m. before the start of milking, to let down the milk, for a period of 5 days. Samples of milk from individual buffaloes were collected for 5 days before (Period I), during (Period II) and after (Period III) from both the group of buffaloes. Milk samples of A. M. and P. M. milking were composited in proposition to milk yields for analysis of milk constituents. Normal values of somatic cell counts in group I of buffaloes varied from 0.54 to $0.75{\times}10^{5}cells/ml$. Mean cytoplasmic particles and epithelial cells varied from 3.68 to $7.19{\times}10^{5}cells/ml$ and 0.13 to $0.54{\times}10^{5}cells/ml$. On percentage basis the epithelial and the total leucocyte count were 60 and 40. Total leucocyte count, in the study varied from 0.17 to $0.69{\times}10^{5}cells/ml$. The differential cell count of milk indicated presence of lymphocytes (16.50 to $61.16{\times}1000$), neutrophil (0.00 to $2.00{\times}1000$) and monocyte (0.00 to $18.16{\times}1000$). Somatic cell count (p<0.01) and epithelial cells (p<0.05) varied between buffaloes and between periods of study. Total leucocyte counts of milk were also significantly varied between periods (p<0.05). The change in fat, lactose, chloride, EC and NEFA concentrations during different periods of study, were highly significant, indicated diurnal variations in different buffaloes during different days of experiment. Administration of oxytocin resulted in increase in somatic cell counts of milk (p<0.01) due to the increases in total leucocyte count (p<0.01) during the treatment period. The differential cell count indicated that oxytocin administration increased lymphocyte number significantly (p<0.01). However, secretion of neutrophil, monocyte and cytoplasmic particles were not affected by oxytocin. Eosinophil and basophil cell, though present in few samples, remain unaffected by oxytocin administration. There was no effect of oxytocin on milk production, composition, pH, EC and NEFA concentration.

Genetic Variation of the Major Histocompatibility Complex DRB3.2 Locus in the Native Bos indicus Cattle Breeds

Behl, Jyotsna Dhingra,Verma, Naresh Kumar,Behl, Rahul,Sodhi, Monika Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2009 Animal Bioscience Vol.22 No.11

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) plays well-defined roles in eliciting immune responses and combating infectious diseases. The major histocompatibility complex of cattle is referred to as BoLA (Bovine Lymphocyte Antigen). This genetic system is among the most polymorphic. In the present study, polymorphism of the BoLA- DRB3.2 locus in three Bos indicus breeds viz., Sahiwal, Rathi and Hariana was studied by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism technique using the enzymes RsaI, Bst Y1 and Hae III. Both Sahiwal and Rathi are good Indian dairy breeds and survive under tough tropical conditions, while Hariana is a prominent dual-purpose breed reared both as a dairy animal and for bullock production. A total of 30 different BoLADRB3.2 alleles were observed to be present in the 3 Bos indicus breeds. Certain alleles were common amongst the three breeds while there were others that were unique to each breed. Allelic distribution amongst the three breeds showed that each breed had a unique allelic distribution pattern that was different from each other and also different from the earlier breeds studied so far for the existence of allelic variation at this locus. A dendogram was constructed based on the frequencies of the BoLA-DRB3 alleles using the UPGMA method. The Rathi and Hariana animals were genetically the most apart. The Hariana animals clustered on a different branch from the other two breeds viz. the Rathi and the Sahiwal. The smallest genetic distances for the DRB3 alleles were those between Sahiwal and Rathi (0.5461) while genetic distance between Hariana and Sahiwal was 0.6123. A comparison of the allelic frequencies of the BoLADRB3.2 locus in these 3 breeds viz. Sahiwal, Hariana and Rathi with the allelic frequencies present in the previously characterized Bos indicus Kankrej breed, which is a dual purpose breed reared both as a draught and a dairy animal, showed that the Bos indicus Sahiwal and Rathi breeds clustered into one group while the Hariana and Kankrej breeds formed another group. The Rathi and Sahiwal showed the least genetic distance of 0.5461 amongst the breeds whereas the Rathi and Kankrej, with a Nei''s genetic distance of 1.1622, were genetically the most distant apart.

Mothers for life? Exploring emotional vulnerability of Indian commercial surrogate mothers

Gupta Jyotsna Agnihotri,Bakker Suzanne Merlijn 이화여자대학교 아시아여성학센터 2022 Asian Journal of Women's Studies(AJWS) Vol.28 No.1

In this article, we look at the predicament of Indian commercial surrogates and how they cope with the knowledge that the child they are carrying must be relinquished by them soon after delivery. How can a surrogate distance herself emotionally from the baby she is carrying? And to what extent is she supported by other surrogates, her family members and the social environment? Much has been written about the economic and social vulnerability of Indian surrogates. We would like to focus in particular on their emotional vulnerability. Following Rogers et al. (2012a), we ask what are the sources of these women’s vulnerability? How do they handle it? Our observations are based on literature review, and empirical research, the latter conducted by the second author in a clinic in South India. To conclude we suggest that the regulation in the making on surrogacy needs to be context and individual sensitive in order to address this aspect of their vulnerability.

Costs and benefits of reproduction in predaceous ladybird: Effect of multiple matings on reproduction and offspring development

Omkar,Jyotsna Sahu 한국응용곤충학회 2012 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.15 No.2

A few matings are sufficient for females to maximize their reproductive success, while male fitness usually increases with an increase in the number of matings. However, females of a majority of insects mate multiple times. This presents an evolutionary puzzle and brings an understanding that some benefits are associated with it. Therefore, to understand the costs and benefits of multiple matings, we performed an experimental study in a ladybird beetle, Anegleis cardoni and observed reproductive performance and longevity of adults as direct benefits and offspring development and survival as indirect benefits. This is the first time that the effect of multiple matings is being evaluated on offspring development and survival in a ladybird beetle. Results clearly reveal that females directly benefit from multiple matings in terms of increased lifetime fecundity and egg viability, but their longevity decreases with increased number of matings. Best-fit curves on lifetime fecundity and percent egg viability revealed that maximum fecundity and egg viability were both attained after 17 matings. Developmental duration of offspring decreased and their survival increased with an increase in number of matings. Developmental duration was shortest after 20 matings and longest after a single mating.

Age specific mating incidence and reproductive behavior of the ladybird beetle, Anegleis cardoni (Weise) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Omkar,Jyotsna Sahu,Gyanendra Kumar 한국응용곤충학회 2013 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.16 No.3

Age specific mating incidence, mating behavior, mate recognition cues and effect of sexual status on mating of ladybird beetle, Anegleis cardoni (Weise) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) were studied in detail. The mating duration was very short (14.40 ± 0.72 min) in comparison to other ladybirds. Courtship was male dominated and was displayed in steps, viz. approach, watch, examine, sharp turns,mount, attempt and mate. Sharp turns is an additional behavior observed during courtship in this ladybird, and is characterized by sharp turning movements towards the mate, and is undertaken by both males and females. Active mating of A. cardoni involved multiple strokes of the aedeagus. Mating duration and the number of strokes were higher in unmated males than in mated ones. Results reveal that physical cues probably play a role in the initiation of courtship, while chemical signals are probably involved in the continuation of courtship, culminating in intromission. The removal ofmale antennae and obscurity of elytral patterns significantly decreased mating success, whereas female antennal ablation and obscuring of the pronotum did not affect mate recognition.