Cognitive dimensions of talim: evaluating weaving notation through cognitive dimensions (CDs) framework

The design process in Kashmiri carpet weaving is distributed over a number of actors and artifacts and is mediated by a weaving notation called talim. The script encodes entire design in practice-specific symbols. This encoded script is decoded and interpreted via design-specific conventions by weavers to weave the design embedded in it. The cognitive properties of this notational system are described in the paper employing cognitive dimensions (CDs) framework of Green (People and computers, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1989) and Blackwell et al. (Cognitive technology: instruments of mind—CT 2001, LNAI 2117, Springer, Berlin, 2001). After introduction to the practice, the design process is described in ‘The design process’ section which includes coding and decoding of talim. In ‘Cognitive dimensions of talim’ section, after briefly discussing CDs framework, the specific cognitive dimensions possessed by talim are described in detail

Situated and distributed cognition in artifact negotiation and trade-specific skills: A cognitive ethnography of Kashmiri carpet weaving practice

This article describes various ways actors in Kashmiri carpet weaving practice deploy a range of artifacts, from symbolic, to material, to hybrid, in order to achieve diverse cognitive accomplishments in their particular task domains: information representation, inter and intra-domain communication, distribution of cognitive labor across people and time, coordination of team activities, and carrying of cultural heritage. In this repertoire, some artifacts position themselves as naïve tools in the actors’ environment to the point of being ignored; however, their usage-in-context unfolds their cognitive involvement in the tasks. These usages-in-context are shown through artifact analysis of their routine, improvised, and opportunistic uses, where cognitive artifacts like talim—the central artifact of this practice—are shown to play not only multifunctional roles beyond representation, but are also complemented by trade-specific skills bearing strong cognitive implications in a task

Towards Configured Intrusion Detection Systems

This paper studies the challenges in the current intrusion detection system and comparatively analyzes the active and passive response systems. The paper studies the existing IDS and their usefulness in detecting and preventing attacks in any type of network and control traffic with the performance of the system to be improved. The study also evaluates the emerging avenues in Intrusion Detection System and explores the possible future avenues in intrusion detection scheme. It is observed that the detection-based systems have started to gain popularity in the IT security domain. The paper highlights the need to implement an appropriately configured IDS since an optimally configured IDS deters hackers, thus, reducing the need for investigation by security experts for security violations

Cognitive bearing of techno-advances in Kashmiri carpet designing

The design process in Kashmiri carpet weaving is a distributed process encompassing a number of actors and artifacts. These include a designer called naqash who creates the design on graphs, and a coder called talim-guru who encodes that design in a specific notation called talim which is deciphered and interpreted by the weavers to weave the design. The technological interventions over the years have influenced these artifacts considerably and triggered major changes in the practice, from heralding profound cognitive accomplishments in manually driven design process causing major alterations in the overall structure of the practice. The recent intervention is by the digital technology: on the one hand, it has brought precision and speedy processing in the design process, and on the other, it has eliminated some of the crucial actors from the practice. This paper, which forms part of a larger study on the situated and distributed cognitive process in Kashmiri carpet-weaving practice, describes the technological makeover of the design artifacts involved in this practice over the years and their resultant cognitive impact on the design process as well as on the practice

Non-genomic effects of the Pregnane X Receptor (PXR) and Retinoid X Receptor (RXR) in platelets

Background: The pregnane X receptor (PXR) is a nuclear receptor (NR) involved in the detoxification of xenobiotic compounds via upregulation of cytochrome P450 enzyme expression. Recently, the presence of PXR was reported in the human vasculature and its ligands were proposed to exhibit anti-atherosclerotic effects. The retinoid X receptor (RXR) is another NR that regulates numerous biological functions. RXR (α and β) is expressed in platelets, and its ligands have been reported to inhibit platelet function mediated by Gq coupled ADP and TXA2 receptors. Aims: Platelets play a substantial role towards the initiation of atherosclerosis and express numerous NRs. Given the anti-atherosclerotic effects of PXR ligands, we explored whether PXR is present in human platelets and evaluated the role of its ligands in regulating platelet activation in response to different platelet agonists. Since RXR is known to modulate platelet function in response to ADP and U46619, and is able to function in other cells in collaboration with PXR, we also sought to extend studies of the role of RXR in the modulation of platelet activation stimulated by collagen/CRP-XL or thrombin. Results: The expression of PXR in human platelets was confirmed using western blot and immunoprecipitation analysis. Platelets treated with PXR ligands (SR12813 or rifampicin) inhibited a range of platelet activities such as aggregation, fibrinogen binding to integrin αIIbβ3, degranulation, intracellular calcium mobilisation, integrin αIIbβ3 outside-in signalling. In the absence of nuclei, the actions of PXR are non-genomic in nature. Human and mouse PXR ligands reduced thrombus formation in vitro in human and mouse blood respectively. These effects of human and mouse PXR ligands were observed in a species-specific manner. Anti-thrombotic effects of SR12813 were observed in humanised PXR knock-in mice using an in vivo mouse model of thrombosis. In addition to the reduced tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple GPVI signalling components, caused by PXR ligands, inhibition of phosphorylation of Src family kinases (SFKs) proximal to GPVI, CLEC-2 and integrin αIIbβ3 receptor was also observed. This suggests SFKs as a potential target of PXR function. Furthermore, RXR ligands (9-cis-RA or methoprene acid), in a non-genomic manner, down-regulated platelet activity stimulated by collagen/CRP-XL or thrombin. RXR was found to exist in the form of a heterodimer with other NRs such as PXR, liver X receptor (LXR) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARβ and PPARγ). Exposure to 9-cis-RA also caused a reduction in thrombus formation in vitro and in vivo, with impairment of haemostatic response. Conclusions: This study identifies the ability of PXR and RXR to regulate platelet activation and thrombus formation in a non-genomic manner. The potential anti-atherosclerotic properties of PXR and RXR ligands, together with newly identified anti-thrombotic effects may provide additional cardio-protective benefits

Identification of EhTIF-IA: the putative E. histolytica orthologue of the human ribosomal RNA transcription initiation factor-IA

Initiation of rDNA transcription requires the assembly of a specific multi-protein complex at the rDNA promoter containing the RNA Pol I with auxiliary factors. One of these factors is known as Rrn3P in yeast and Transcription Initiation Factor IA (TIF-IA) in mammals. Rrn3p/TIF-IA serves as a bridge between RNA Pol I and the pre-initiation complex at the promoter. It is phosphorylated at multiple sites and is involved in regulation of rDNA transcription in a growth-dependent manner. In the early branching parasitic protist Entamoeba histolytica, the rRNA genes are present exclusively on circular extra chromosomal plasmids. The protein factors involved in regulation of rDNA transcription in E. histolytica are not known. We have identified the E. histolytica equivalent of TIF-1A (EhTIF-IA) by homology search within the database and was further cloned and expressed. Immuno-localization studies showed that EhTIF-IA co-localized partially with fibrillarin in the peripherally localized nucleolus. EhTIF-IA was shown to interact with the RNA Pol I-specific subunit RPA12 both in vivo and in vitro. Mass spectroscopy data identified RNA Pol I-specific subunits and other nucleolar proteins to be the interacting partners of EhTIF-IA. Our study demonstrates for the first time a conserved putative RNA Pol I transcription factor TIF-IA in E. histolytica

FORMULATION AND IN VITRO EVALUATION OF METOPROLOL SUCCINATE FLOATING TABLETS

Gastroretentive dosage forms extend significantly the period of time over which the drug may be released. This prolonged gastric retention improves bioavailability, decrease drug waste and improve solubility of drugs that are less soluble in a high pH environment due to their availability in gastric pH for longer duration of time.Floating drug delivery systems have a bulk density less than gastric fluids and hence remain buoyant in the stomach. The main objective of the present study was to develop Gastroretentive (GR) controlled release ormulations of Metoprolol to prolong the gastric retention time so that its bioavailability can be improved. The formulations were prepared by using swellable polymers like HPMC K4M, HPMC K15M, HPMC K100M, Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum, Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and various effervescent compounds, e.g. sodium bicarbonate, and citric acid by the direct compression method. All the formulations were evaluated for different parameters like floating lag time, total floating time, hardness, weight variation, density measurements, drug content and water uptake/swelling index. Dissolution studies were done for all formulations in 0.1N HCl (pH 1.2). Formulations F3, F4 and F10 were found to provide maximum sustained release of metoprolol s uccinate up to 24 h with optimum floating properties.Key words : Controlled release; Gastro retentive; HPMC; Guargum; Xantham gu

VACHA (ACORUS CALAMUS LINN.): A VALUABLE MEDICINAL PLANT

Last few decades have again shown a notable resurgence of interest in medicinal plants. The reason behind is the increasing awareness about the limitations of the synthetic chemotherapeutic agents. Now herbal medicines and natural products are in big demand all over the world. One of the important medicinal plant used in Ayurveda traditional medicine to treat different ailments and maintain health condition is Vacha (Acorus calamus Linn.). It is a herbaceous perennial belonging to family Araceae. Vacha is one of the most renowned herbs of the ancient Vedic seer as a rejuvenative for the brain and nervous system. Vacha stimulates the power of self expression and intelligence. Rhizome of Acorus calamus Linn. Contain calamediol, essential oil, tanning substances and vitamin C. These constituents are valuable in a vast range of diseases. Vacha has a special potency as a nervine tonic. It is a very vigorous brain tonic, because it shows results in a very short time. It increases the overall memory of the person and strengthens the nervous system. Vacha is prescribed to people who have amnesia. Improving the memory is a quest on which human beings have embarked centuries ago. In almost all civilizations, there have been attempts to discover the best herbs for brain enhancement with minimum side effects. Perhaps, Ayurveda wins the race in this. All the herbs Ayurveda uses for its brain tonics have minimum side effects and are quite safe for the human beings. Western science is now warming up to these herbs and is looking upon them as effective supplements for the human brain. It works well in digestive ailments like flatulence, loss of appetite, distaste, abdominal dull pain and worms. Vacha relieves the phlegm, eases cough and asthma. It is also useful to reduce fever. It is also highly useful for the treatment of epilepsy and other mental ailments

Management of Class II Division 1 Subdivision malocclusion using unilateral bicuspid extractions and fixed functional appliance: A Two Year Follow-Up

Introduction: Management of Class II Subdivision cases pose a clinical dilemma and require a careful diagnosis to ascertain the source of asymmetry. Various treatment modalities involving: different protocols of tooth extractions; molar distalization; fixed functional appliances, or orthognathic surgery have been proposed for the same.Case presentation: This article reports a unique approach for management of a severe skeletal Class II with Angle’s Class II Division 1 subdivision malocclusion using unilateral bicuspid extractions in mandibular and maxillary arches and a fixed functional appliance.Results: A 13 year 1-month-old male in CVMI transition stage was successfully treated. Extraction of #44 was done to alleviate crowding in the mandibular anterior region and #15 was extracted to protract #16 to achieve a Class II molar relationship. A pre-functional Class II molar and canine relationship with co-incident midlines were achieved. The functional phase consisted of a fixed functional appliance (Forsus FRD) for mandibular advancement to correct the severe skeletal Class II. Class I molar and canine relationships were achieved with the reduction of facial convexity and overjet. The result remained stable 24 months after treatment. The improvement can be quantified by the reduction in scores of orthodontic indices measured pre and post-treatment.Conclusions: Management of Class II subdivision malocclusion requires careful planning. This paper presents a unique approach utilizing unilateral extractions and fixed functional appliances to address severe skeletal Class II discrepancy and the subdivision dilemma