Informatics Publishing Limited

Subodh Kumar ¹, Rakesh K. Tyagi ¹

Affiliations
1 Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi – 110067, IN

Abstract

The Pregnane & Xenobiotic Receptor (PXR), a member of the nuclear receptor family of ligand-activated transcription factors, is an integral component of the body's defense mechanism against toxic xenobiotics and endobiotic metabolites. Due to highly promiscuous nature and broad ligand specificity, this 'xenosensor' has emerged as a master-regulator of xenobiotic metabolism and regulator of all phases of drug metabolism and clearance. It has also been implicated to play an important role in induction of drug-drug interactions. During the past few years, research has unveiled some novel and mostly unanticipated roles for PXR in inflammation, lipid homeostasis, bone homeostasis, vitamin D metabolism, energy homeostasis, endocrine-related functions and cancer. Recent evidences have revealed existence of PXR cross-talk with several other cellular signaling pathways that profoundly expand the horizon of this promiscuous xenosensor. These cross-talks between PXR and other signaling pathways may elucidate molecular mechanisms to explain the involvement of PXR in several hitherto unanticipated physiological functions. The present article summarizes some of the important cross-talks of PXR with other nuclear receptors and different signaling pathways to describe how these cross-talks integrate into novel biological functions. It is anticipated that better understanding towards the mechanisms of PXR cross-talk might divulge novel therapeutic approaches to combat various diseases.

Keywords

Cross-Talk, Drug Metabolism, Nuclear Receptor, PXR, Xenobiotics.

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Subodh Kumar ¹, Harmanjit Singh ¹, Janardan Sharma ²

Affiliations
1 Pharmacology AIIMS, New Delhi, IN
2 Pharmacology of Therapeutics RIMS, Ranchi, IN

Abstract

Background: Epilepsy is one of the most prevalent non-communicable neurologic diseases leading to significant disability and mortality. Complaints of impaired learning and memory are common in patients of epilepsy. Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) may further enhance this impairment. So the present study was carried out on albino rats to evaluate the effect of AEDs on learning and memory.

Objective: To assess the effect of lamotrigine, levetiracetam and phenytoin on learning and memory in albino rats.

Material and Methods: Albino rats of about 150 -200 gm of either sex were treated with drugs for 15 days and assessed for effect on learning behavior and again treated for next 15 days after which they were assessed for retention behavior (memory) on Morris water maze and Elevated plus maze. The data was statistically analyzed by applying Mann- Whitney test.

Result:Phenytoin and lamotrigine caused significant impairment of learning whereas levetiracetam had no statistically significant effect on learning. Phenytoin also caused significant impairment of memory whereas lamotrigine and levetiracetam did not cause statistically significant impairment of memory.

Conclusion: Learning was impaired by phenytoin and lamotrigine but not by levetiracetam which has novel mechanism of action. Phenytoin resulted in memory impairment on Morris water maze but no impairment on elevated plus maze and no other drug caused this effect.

Keywords

Anti Epileptic Drugs, Learning, Memory, Elevated Plus Maze, Morris Water Maze.

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Davender ¹, V. N. Yadav ¹, Pratibha ¹, Subodh Kumar ², Satish Kumar ³, Kuldeep Nara ⁴

Affiliations
1 Govt. P.G. College Bhiwani, Haryana, IN
2 Rehabilitation Council of India New Delhi, IN
3 Department of Psychology Vaish College, Bhiwani, IN
4 Department of Physical Edu. A.I. Jat H. M. College, Rohtak, IN

Abstract

The present study is designed to find the relationship between happiness and life satisfaction among three age groups. The age groups are; below 20 yrs, between 30-40 yrs and above 50 yrs. Satisfaction with life scale by Diener etal. (1985), and a statement 'select the face that best fits you most of the time' with five face figures (self constructed) have been taken to assess the happiness were used for collection of the relevant data. These tests were administered to 99 subjects in the three age group(33 in each group). A correlational design was used to see the relationship between happiness and life satisfaction. It was found that the correlation coefficient for all the age groups were high and statistically significant. The study concluded that there exist positive and strong correlation betweenhappmess andlife satisfaction.

Keywords

Happiness, Life Satisfaction.

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V. N. Yadav ¹, Subodh Kumar ², Satish Kumar ³, Kuldeep Nara ⁴, Davender ⁴, Pratibha ⁵, Archana ⁵

Affiliations
1 Department of Psychology, Govt. College, Bhiwani, IN
2 Rehabilitation Council of India, Delhi, IN
3 Department of Psychology, Vaish College, Bhiwani, IN
4 Department of Physical Edu. A. I. Jat H. M, College, Rohtak, IN
5 Govt. College, Bhiwani, IN

Abstract

Values affect human behaviour and values are fundamental sources of meaningful way of reaction and response. Patterns of value orientation are the most crucial cultural determinant of mental and physical health. Cultures have cognitive, appreciative and moral value standards which are acquired by the actors living in these cultures. The current study was designed to examine value orientation of 25 urban and 25 rural parent couples. The age range of the sample was 40-50 years. The results were analyzed by using two way ANOVA and t-ratios. The results revealed significant mean differences between urban and rural parents with respect to different types of values. The study concluded that rural and urban parents differ in their value orientation.

Keywords

Value, Mental Health, Geographical Location.

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Pramod Prasad ¹, S. C. Bhardwaj ¹, Hanif Khan ¹, O. P. Gangwar ¹, Subodh Kumar ¹, S. B. Singh ¹

Affiliations
1 Regional Station, ICAR-Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research, Shimla 171 002, IN

Abstract

Wheat, the second most important cereal crop after rice, plays an important role in food and nutritional security worldwide. Wheat rusts, viz. black or stem rust (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici), brown or leaf rust (P. triticina) and yellow or stripe rust (P. striiformis), capable of spreading aerially over long distances, are highly variable and devastating pathogens.

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Pramod Prasad ¹, S. C. Bhardwaj ¹, O. P. Gangwar ¹, Subodh Kumar ¹, Hanif Khan ¹, Shravan Kumar ², H. C. Rawal ², T. R. Sharma ²

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research, Flowerdale, Shimla 171 002, IN
2 ICAR-National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology, Pusa Campus, New Delhi 110 012, IN

Abstract

Leaf or brown rust caused by Puccinia triticina (Pt) is one of the most important diseases of wheat. Among the rusts, it is the most ubiquitous in all the wheatgrowing regions and causes considerable yield loss. Microsatellite marker-based genotyping and virulence- based phenotyping of 48 pathotypes of Pt was performed. The pathotypes exhibit low virulence frequencies for Indian leaf rust differentials Lr24, Lr9, Lr10, Lr19, Lr28 and Lr9. Using avirulence/virulence formula six major clusters of pathotypes were observed, revealing high degree of phenotypic variation. Molecular analysis performed using SSR markers showed high genetic diversity among the pathotypes, and grouped them in seven major clusters. The percentage of polymorphic loci ranged from 17.95 to 84.62, Nei's gene diversity from 0.07 to 0.32 and Shannon's information index from 0.11 to 0.47. Analysis of molecular variance revealed significantly high genetic variation within Pt population. Mantel's Z test proved low positive correlation (r = 0.28) between virulence and molecular diversity, suggesting independent nature of the duo. These findings offer valuable information for framing suitable disease management strategies through appropriate region-specific gene deployment and improve the understanding of the population biology and evolution of Pt in the Indian subcontinent.

Keywords

Genetic Differentiation, Leaf Rust, Microsatellites, Puccinia triticina, Virulence Phenotype.

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Subodh Kumar ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Uttarakhand Open University, Haldwani-Nainital (UK.), IN

Abstract

Neither Tourism is free from journalism nor journalistic approaches are wide from tourism activities. We can combine both for a holy purpose. Simply a tourist can traverse a place, collects the facts and informations about the place and major installations but a journalist can analyze all those facts and informations and he can spread the veracity of the facts to all over world. Through Newspapers, Magazines, Online Blogs, Use of social media and Electronic media, he can popularise the place on its own modes and measures. A journalist can also evolve new places for tourism industry, Only he can energise the government and other responsible agencies to create the facilities and basic amenities for the tourists on a particular place. On other hand, a tourist can also play a vital role to extract the weak points and slackness of govt. On a place specific. Finally, a person, who has an eyes of reporter and the etiquettes of a tourist, he can explore the new dimensions of informations, which will be useful for the govt. and the upcoming tourists from different corners of the world.

Keywords

Tourism, Journalism, Role of Media, Dimensions.

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Mohit Mann ¹, Subodh Kumar ¹, A. S. Rao ², Ramesh C. Sharma ¹

Affiliations
1 Laser Science and Technology Centre, Defence Research and Development Organization, Delhi 110 054, IN
2 Department of Applied Physics, Delhi Technological University, Delhi 110 042, IN

Abstract

The present study describes a novel approach to distinguish between bio- and fluorescing non-bioparticles from a stand-off distance of 5 m using laser-induced fluorescence technique. The variations of peak fluorescence intensities of bio- and non-bioaerosols with time were observed experimentally. Substantial decay of fluorescence peak intensities with time was observed in case of bioparticles, while it was negligible in case of non-bioparticles. This difference in decay of fluorescence peaks with time can form the basis for making a distinction between bio- and fluorescing non-bioparticles from stand-off distance. Further, this approach can be converted to a handy product for defence and security applications.

Keywords

Bio and Non-Bio Agents, Laser Induced Fluorescence, Laser Spectroscopy, UV Radiation Effect.

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