Development of planning index for evaluating climate change protocols: analysis of Mumbai Metropolitan Region’s Regional Plan 1996–2011

Conserving resources, harmonizing living standards, and employing energy efficient methods are potential solutions to climate change, which can be positively accomplished through development and planning. However, today, as the first world countries advance towards “positive development”, some third world countries are developing in an “unwanted pattern”. The metropolitan cities of developing countries attract most of the country’s population, consequently becoming the worst sufferers of the situation. They grow faster than their capacity allows, and then due to the lack of strategy, poor governance, and weak policies; face overwhelming pressure on land and natural resources. Documenting this situation using the case of a metropolitan city in India, the present paper aims to identify the problems faced by a metropolitan city in a developing country. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region’s Regional Plan 1996–2011 was analyzed to determine the response to climate change mitigation and adaptation. Furthermore, a new diagnostic tool, namely the “Climate Change Planning Index”, which can deliver valuable information at a glance, was developed. The paper concludes with a summary of the climate change crisis and the necessity of development in a developing metropolitan city.

Modulation of inflammatory platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptor by the acyl analogue of PAF

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a potent inflammatory mediator that exerts its actions via the single PAF receptor (PAF-R). Cells that biosynthesize alkyl-PAF also make abundant amounts of the less potent PAF analogue acyl-PAF, which competes for PAF-R. Both PAF species are degraded by the plasma form of PAF acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH). We examined whether cogenerated acyl-PAF protects alkyl-PAF from systemic degradation by acting as a sacrificial substrate to enhance inflammatory stimulation or as an inhibitor to dampen PAF-R signaling. In ex vivo experiments both PAF species are prothrombotic in isolation, but acyl-PAF reduced the alkyl-PAF-induced stimulation of human platelets that express canonical PAF-R. In Swiss albino mice, alkyl-PAF causes sudden death, but this effect can also be suppressed by simultaneously administering boluses of acyl-PAF. When PAF-AH levels were incrementally elevated, the protective effect of acyl-PAF on alkyl-PAF-induced death was serially decreased. We conclude that, although acyl-PAF in isolation is mildly proinflammatory, in a pathophysiological setting abundant acyl-PAF suppresses the action of alkyl-PAF. These studies provide evidence for a previously unrecognized role for acyl-PAF as an inflammatory set-point modulator that regulates both PAF-R signaling and hydrolysis.

Targeting Semaphorin 3C in Prostate Cancer With Small Molecules

Despite the amenability of early-stage prostate cancer to surgery and radiation therapy, locally advanced and metastatic prostate cancer is clinically problematic. Chemical castration is often used as a first-line therapy for advanced disease, but progression to the castration-resistant prostate cancer phase occurs with dependable frequency, largely through mutations to the androgen receptor (AR), aberrant AR signaling, and AR-independent mechanisms, among other causes. Semaphorin 3C (SEMA3C) is a secreted signaling protein that is essential for cardiac and neuronal development and has been shown to be regulated by the AR, to drive epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and stem features in prostate cells, to activate receptor tyrosine kinases, and to promote cancer progression. Given that SEMA3C is linked to several key aspects of prostate cancer progression, we set out to explore SEMA3C inhibition by small molecules as a prospective cancer therapy. A homology-based SEMA3C protein structure was created, and its interaction with the neuropilin (NRP)-1 receptor was modeled to guide the development of the corresponding disrupting compounds. Experimental screening of 146 in silico ‒identified molecules from the National Cancer Institute library led to the discovery of four promising candidates that effectively bind to SEMA3C, inhibit its association with NRP1, and attenuate prostate cancer growth. These findings provide proof of concept for the feasibility of inhibiting SEMA3C with small molecules as a therapeutic approach for prostate cancer.

Febuxostat remediates doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy

Adverse Drug Reactions to Anti-TB Drugs: Pharmacogenomics Perspective for Identification of Host Genetic Markers

Low Field Microwave Absorption in Mn:Ni Co-Doped ZnO μm Size Powders

Low Field Microwave Absorption in Mn:Ni Co-Doped ZnO μm Size Powders T.S. Mahulea,∗, J. Das, D.R. Sahu and V.V. Srinivasu Department of Physics, CSET, University of South Africa, Johannesburg, 1710, South Africa Department of Physics, Silicon Institute of Technology, Bhubaneswar, 751024, Odisha, India Department of Natural and Applied Sciences, Namibia University of Science and Technology, Windhoek, Namibia

Influence of Long Term Credit of Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Bank on the income of the Borrowers

The recent research was conducted to examine the economic effect (in term of net income) of long term credit from District Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Bank” (DCARDB), at Hoshangabad from 2005-06 to 200910. Two hundred forty respondents were selected in which each thirty were the beneficiaries of new well, electric & diesel pump, tube well, submersible pump, sprinkler, thresher, pipe line and tractor (these eight purposes were selected purposively and period of loan was different for every purpose and for every borrower), all these beneficiaries were selected from circle of 20 kilometres radius from each branch (Itarsi, Bankhedi, Piparia, Sohagpur, Babai, Banapura) of DCARDB (Hoshangabad). Paired t-test was used to compare the net income of the beneficiaries before and after utilization of long term credit. Study reveals that the “t” value for purchasing of electric & diesel pump and digging of tube well was 2.648 and 2.835, which were Significant, respectively. For the purpose of submersible pump the t-calculated value was 0.857, which was not significant and it also implies that there is no significant difference between net income before and after taking loan of cooperative farmers. It is also reveals that for the purpose of sprinkler and pipe line, the tcalculated value were 3.091 and 3.500 the differences were Significant, respectively. Paired t test showed that the t calculated value for thresher was 1.683, was nonsignificant and t calculated for tractor purchasing was 2.220 which was significant. Article history Received: 07 June 2018 Accepted: 16 August 2018

Nutrition Sensitive Annadata Kitchen Garden Model: Growth for Health and Wellbeing of Tribal Poor – A Couple of Case Studies

The experience and lessons learnt from the underutilized backyards of landless women make it imperative to create alternate livelihood options. Among them horticultural practices with strict adherence to sustainable technologies will be an everlasting solution. It ensures balanced household consumption of vegetables and fruits in their daily food habits and prevents nutritional maladies. 2552 farm families of Bhumia, Paroja, Kandha and Penthia tribal women of the Kundra Block, Koraput district, Odisha are involved in an organic Annadata Kitchen Garden model in their backyards. It ranges from 5-20 cents covering three seasons in a year. Multiple nutri-crops are grown with an initial investment of Rs 1200 to 2000/-. Till date, 329 such units have been established. It was observed through research that use of organic manure, botanical preparations and Integrated Pest Management tactics could enhance the crop productivity. The landless women not only serve the entire family with nutritious food but also get a reasonable income from the surplus produce. This paper analyzes dietary habits, diversity and household consumption. Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science Journal Website: www.foodandnutritionjournal.org ISSN: 2347-467X, Vol. 06, No. (3) 2018, Pg. 882-890

Parametric Theory of Cutoff Grade Estimation in Mining

Spatially Gain-Tailored Fiber Raman Laser Cladding-Pumped by Multimode Disk Laser at 1030 nm

A spatially gain-tailored fiber Raman laser with Ge-doped core and P-doped inner cladding generates 46 W of instantaneous power at 1084 nm with 64% slope efficiency when cladding-pumped by a 1030-nm quasi-cw multimode disk laser.