Agricultural Land Market Transactions in Chhattisgarh : A Case Study

In the newly born state of Chhattisgarh a large number of land buyers have become actively engaged in the villages located along the national highway and at the periphery of Raipur city, the capital of Chhattisgarh to purchase prime agricultural land. In view of the fast emerging land markets after the formation of the state, it is imperative to understand the role of market and non-market forces in transaction of prime agricultural land for non-agricultural uses and transactions within the agriculture sector. This study is an attempt in this direction. The study has been conducted in the Jora, Labhandi, Serikhedi and Dharampura villages of Dharsiwa block in Raipur district of Chhattisgarh state. These villages are located on both sides of Mumbai-Raipur-Kolkatta National Highway No.6 and are in the close periphery of the Raipur city. Two-stage least square technique of simultaneous equation system has been used to estimate demand and supply relationship in land market. Total owned land of seller and the price of land have been reported as the two important determinants of supply relations in land sale market. Similarly, the ownership of total owned land of buyers and non-farm income of buyer are major determinants of demand for agriculture land. Also, distances from National Highway, revenue grades and land sold under distress have been found important factors. The linear trends in land sale and land prices have indicated that area of the land for sale has increased year after year. Prices of land have also increased year after year. The most important factors which have forced the farmers to sell out their lands have been identified as functioning of aggressive land market forces, extremely poor capital base of the farmers, desire to construct their houses, increasing addiction to alcohol and inclination towards starting non-agricultural enterprises or professions, landhunger tendency of urban businessmen and colonizers. The study has suggested that certain effective legislations and institutional measures will have to be introduced and enforced for non-transfer of agricultural land.Agricultural and Food Policy,

Evaluation of the effects of different groove length and thickness of the retainers on the retention of maxillary anterior base metal resin bonded retainers ' an in vitro study

Objectives: The resin-bonded fixed partial dentures have gained immense popularity in recent years as they are more conservative, esthetic, economic and easily fabricated. However debonding is considered the most common cause of failure of resin bonded prosthesis. The objective of the study were to compare the effects of different groove lengths and thickness of retainers on retention of maxillary anterior base metal resin bonded retainers. Study Design: Twenty five metal dies of maxillary central incisor duplicated from pure typhodont teeth (maxillary left central incisors) prepared to receive retainer for resin bonded fixed partial denture having different test designs were made. Five test groups were made with each group having five specimens. Two groups were having preparation depth of 0.5mm and retention groove lengths of 3mm and 5mm. Two groups had preparation depths of 0.3 and 0.7mm with no groove preparation with retainer thickness of 0.3 and 0.7mm respectively. Fifth group with no groove preparation and preparation depth of 0.5mm was kept as control for all the groups. All the specimens were cemented using calibra (Dentsply) resin cement. Each specimen was subjected to tensile loading in vertical direction on universal testing machine (Instron 5569) at a crosshead speed of 1mm/min. \ Results: Groups with 5mm and 3mm groove length recorded higher mean vertical forces when compared to the group with no groove preparation. Group with 5mm groove length showed highest mean vertical forces. The group with 0.7mm retainer recorded higher mean vertical force values when compared to groups with 0.5mm and 0.3mm retainer thickness. Group with 0.3mm retainer thickness recorded the least mean vertical force value. Conclusion: Placement of the grooves increased the retention values almost 2 ½ times than the grooveless preparation and as the thickness of the retainers increased retention values also increased. Retention value was directly proportional to the groove length and retainer thickness

BEST FROM WASTE

In our country, India, worshiping is the way of living and people offer various offerings to the deities which mainly consist of flowers, leaves, fruits, coconuts, clothes. out of which floral offerings are found in huge quantity. Thus, temple waste has a unique share of flower waste in the total waste. After fulfilling their purpose, flowers along with other waste, find their way into the garbage or are discarded either into some water bodies or left up on the open places as a waste causing various environmental problems. The majorly offered flowers in temples are rose, jasmine, marigold, chrysanthemum, hyacinth, hibiscus, etc. This floral waste can be utilized in different ways to produce valuable products and can thus help to save environment from pollution caused due to improper disposal of flower waste. Techniques like vermicomposting, composting, dyes extraction, extraction of essential oils, making of holy colors and bio-gas generation can be used. Moreover, this flower waste can also be used for making incense sticks besides using them for some art and craft techniques. Petals of different flowers can also be utilized for handmade papermaking by extracting the pulp or by mottling them into the readymade pulp. In this paper, we have reviewed the ways by which temple waste can be utilized and managed to get valuable products which will lead to a healthier and waste free environmen

Apigenin inhibits PMA-induced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and AP-1 factors in A549 cells

Acute and chronic alveolar or bronchial inflammation is thought to be central to the pathogenesis of many respiratory disorders. Cytokines and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factors (GM-CSF) play an important role in chronic inflammation. Activator protein-1 (AP-1) the superfamily of transcription factors is involved in proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and transformation including inflammation. Understanding the function and regulation of proinflammatory factors involved in inflammation may provide the novel therapeutic strategies in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Our aim of the present study is to investigate the pro-inflammatory cytokines and pattern of AP-1 factors expressed during activation of lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells by Phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) and to understand the anti-inflammatory effect of apigenin. A549 cells were treated with and without PMA or apigenin, and the cell viability was assessed by MTT assay. Expressions of inflammatory mediators and different AP-1 factors were analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. IL-6 protein secreted was analyzed by ELISA, and expressions of IL-1β, c-Jun, and c-Fos proteins were analyzed by Western blotting. Activation of A549 cells by PMA, induced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) mRNAs and secretion of IL-6 and the expression of specific AP-1 factors (c-Jun, c-Fos, and Fra-1). Treatment of cells with apigenin, significantly inhibited PMA-stimulated mRNA expression of above pro-inflammatory cytokines, AP-1 factors, cyclooxygenase-2, and secretion of IL-6 protein. Results suggested that the AP-1 factors may be involved in inflammation and apigenin has anti-inflammatory effect, which may be useful for therapeutic management of lung inflammatory diseases. © 2015, Springer Science+Business Media New York

Medicinal plants of Hirekalgudda state forest, Karnataka, India

The present contribution relates to the diversity of the medicinal flora of the Hirekalgudda state forest of Hassan district in the state of Karnataka. 54 medicinal floras belonging to 28 families have been reported which are used by villagers for primary health care to cure various ailments. These documented medicinal plants are remedy for number of diseases like bronchitis, diarrhea, skin diseases, gonorrhoea, jaundice etc. Relative abundance of medicinal flora showed maximum of Fabaceae (18.44%), followed by Euphorbiaceae (12.88%), Laminaceae (7.36%), Apocyanaceae (7.36%), Asclepidaceae (3.70%), Myrtaceae (3.70%), Verbinaceae (3.70%), Curbitaceae (3.70%) and Rubaceae (3.70%). Out of 28 families, 19 families were represented by a single species each (1.84%). The investigators identify the plants that need conservation and protection. Public and private involvement in management and utilization of medicinal plants in sustainable way is essential to combat human pressures on these valuable natural resources. The present investigation also gives some basic ideas to the researchers who are working in the areas of phytochemistry, pharmacology and biotechnology for further detailed study

Interplay of nuclear receptors (ER, PR, and GR) and their steroid hormones in MCF-7 cells

Steroid hormones and their nuclear receptors play a major role in the development and progression of breast cancer. MCF-7 cells are triple-positive breast cancer cells expressing estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and glucocorticoid receptor (GR). However, interaction and their role in expression pattern of activator protein (AP-1) transcription factors (TFs) are not completely understood. Hence, in our study, MCF-7 cells were used as an in vitro model system to study the interplay between the receptors and hormones. MCF-7 cells were treated with estradiol-17β (E2), progesterone (P4), and dexamethasone (Dex), alone or in combination, to study the proliferation of cells and expression of AP-1 genes. MTT assay results show that E2 or P4 induced the cell proliferation by more than 35 %, and Dex decreased the proliferation by 26 %. E2 and P4 are found to increase ERα by more than twofold and c-Jun, c-Fos, and Fra-1 AP-1 TFs by more than 1.7-fold, while Dex shows opposite effect of E2- or P4-induced effect as well as effect on the expression of nuclear receptors and AP-1 factors. E2 antagonist Fulvestrant (ICI 182,780) found to reduce proliferation and E2-induced expression of AP1-TFs, while P4 or Dex antagonist Mifepristone (RU486) is found to block GR-mediated expression of NRs and AP-1 mRNAs. Results suggest that E2 and P4 act synergistically, and Dex acts as an antagonist of E2 and P4

Aqueous areca nut extract induces oxidative stress in human lung epithelial A549 cells: Probable role of p21 in inducing cell death

Areca nut a well-known masticator used across globe. Habitual chewing of areca nut is associated with serious oral health effects. However, the role of areca nut in oxidative stress induction and cell death is less understood. Hence, in the present study we aimed to evaluate the toxic mechanism of areca nut extract on human lung epithelial A549 cells. Cells were treated with or without aqueous areca nut extract and cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Cells treated with areca nut extract show reduced viability in a dose dependent manner with the IC50 of 0.5 concentration. Areca nut extract induced the reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation followed by membrane damage with leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) enzyme. Cells with continuous exposure of areca nut extract depletes the free radical neutralizing anti-oxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and Glutathione-S-transferase (GST). Further, the analysis of mRNA expression of apoptotic genes and cell cycle regulators show decreased expression of anti-apoptotic gene (Bcl-2), Cyclin E1, Cyclin D1, CDK4, Rb and p53 whereas induced expression of p21 and marginal increase of pro-apoptotic gene (Bax) confirms the toxic nature of areca nut. Thus, cell death due to areca nut exposure may be through different mechanism rather than the conventional apoptotic pathway, where p21 induction might be independent of p53 action, which possibly suggests that there may be a role of p21 in oxidative stress induced cell death. Further FACS analysis confirms cell death in areca nut treated cells. © 2016 Elsevier Inc

Cadmium induces oxidative stress and apoptosis in lung epithelial cells

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the well-known highly toxic environmental and industrial pollutants. Cd first accumulates in the nucleus and later interacts with zinc finger proteins of antiapoptotic genes and inhibit the binding of transcriptional factors and transcription. However, the role of Cd in oxidative stress and apoptosis is less understood. Hence, the present study was undertaken to unveil the mechanism of action. A549 cells were treated with or without Cd and cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Treatment of cells with Cd shows reduced viability in a dose-dependent manner with IC50 of 45 μM concentration. Cd significantly induces the reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation followed by membrane damage with the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Cells with continuous exposure of Cd deplete the antioxidant super oxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) enzymes. Further, analysis of the expression of genes involved in apoptosis show that both the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways were involved. Death receptor marker tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), executor caspase-8 and pro-apoptotic gene (Bax) were induced, while antiapoptotic gene (Bcl-2) was decreased in Cd-treated cells. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis further confirms the induction of apoptosis in Cd-treated A549 cells

Differential expression of AP-1 transcription factors in human prostate LNCaP and PC-3 cells: role of Fra-1 in transition to CRPC status

Androgen receptor (AR) signaling axis plays a vital role in the development of prostate and critical in the progression of prostate cancer. Androgen withdrawal initially regresses tumors but eventually develops into aggressive castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Activator Protein-1 (AP-1) transcription factors are most likely to be associated with malignant transformation in prostate cancer. Hence, to determine the implication of AR and AP-1 in promoting the transition of prostate cancer to the androgen-independent state, we used AR-positive LNCaP and AR-negative PC-3 cells as an in vitro model system. The effect of dihydrotestosterone or anti-androgen bicalutamide on the cell proliferation and viability was assessed by MTT assay. Expression studies on AR, marker genes-PSA, TMPRSS2, and different AP-1 factors were analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and expressions of AR and Fra-1 proteins were analyzed by Western blotting. Dihydrotestosterone induced the cell proliferation in LNCaP with no effect on PC-3 cells. Bicalutamide decreased the viability of both LNCaP and PC-3 cells. Dihydrotestosterone induced the expression of AR, PSA, c-Jun, and Fra-1 in LNCaP cells, and it was c-Jun and c-Fos in case of PC-3 cells, while bicalutamide decreased their expression. In addition, constitutive activation and non-regulation of Fra-1 by bicalutamide in PC-3 cells suggested that Fra-1, probably a key component, involved in transition of aggressive androgen-independent PC-3 cells with poor prognosis. © 2017, Springer Science+Business Media New York