Importance of Architecture and Planning of Kanchipuram and the Dynamics of Implementing Architectural Restoration

The importance of traditional architecture and planning of Kanchipuram is expressed through a set of objective and subjective map based indicators. The analysis is done at the block level. The results brings out values expressing the epitome of the traditional architecture and planning. The paper presents the map based analysis of the traditional core. The map based analysis perceives changes in the tissues of the study area. The paper emphasizes the importance of social activities as a key to good urban life. The importance of social activities in par with physical component holding it is also presented. A subjective note on climatic considerations at the block level is given based on observations. To compliment conservation measures, a feasibility study to revamp vernacular elements in the modern facades of the city is probed. Stated preference survey method was adopted for the feasibility study. Emphasis is given to public participation and professional involvement in the process of planning and implementing conservation measures. The measures shall realize economic development and life processes. Further certain morale ethics involved in the process methods of planning is discussed. Though the changes are high; the city upholds bright quos towards conservation pertaining to acceptance of traditional aspects and the urge for socialization

Organizational citizenship behavior and job involvement of Indian private sector employees using visual PLS–SEM model

The organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), which is explained as a discretionary behavior of employees, is inevitable in the global competitive scenario, because organizations are highly competitive and their differentiation is primarily related to people. The organizational citizenship is considered as a “contextual performance”, which is related to the specific non-task aspects. Such a “state of the art” performance is possible only when employees are treated with utmost care. Therefore, the study on OCB, with its six dimensions (altruism, conscientiousness, civic virtue, interactional justice, recognition practices, procedural justice practice), is vital in management literature. The current study analyzed the relationship of OCB with its six dimensions with job involvement using Partial Least Square based Structural Equation Modelling (SEM)

Medicinal properties of some Dendrobium orchids – A review

 Orchids are known for their aesthetic qualities, and they are often used as decorative items in homes, offices, and public places. While most people admire them for their good looks, others have found practical uses for them. Since a long time ago, people from various parts of the world have used orchids for medicinal purposes. However, the use of orchids in medicine has declined over the years because not enough research has been done to determine their effectiveness and adverse effects

Nitrogen-containing carbon nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes containing small amounts of nitrogen are produced by the pyrolysis of aza-aromatics such as pyridine, methylpyrimidine and triazine over cobalt nanoparticles in an Ar atmosphere; good yields of such nanotubes are obtained by carrying out the pyrolysis of a mixture of pyridine and Fe(CO)5 in flowing Ar+H2

Computer simulation modeling for prediction of the extent of adoption of shrimp culture technologies (This paper is the part of the Ph.D thesis which got Jawaharlal Nehru Award 2006 for Outstanding Research in Social Sciences

Computer Simulation Modeling was used to Predict/forecast the extent of adoption of Shrimp Culture technologies by Shrimp farmers. The adoption behaviour of 120 Shrimp farmers was studied for the years ranging from 1997 to 2003 and the data was used to predict/ forecast the adoption behaviour for the years 2004 to 2020. The forecast values generated by the Baal Strap Computer Simulation model suggested a gradual increase in the overall extent of adoption from 2004 onwards which rises to reach a maximum value of 85.81 per cent in 2010. From 2011 onwards the model predicts a gradual decrease in the overall extent of adoption and continues to show th is trend until in 2020 the overall extent of adoption reaches 80.53 per cent. Besides, the model generated a goodness-of- fit value of 0.984 7 which indicated that the model explained 98.47 per cent of the prediction / forecasting of the overall extent of adoption of Shrimp culture technologies

Description of Sergentomyia (Parrotomyia) rectangulata sp. nov. (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) from southern India

Both sexes of Sergentomyia (Parrotomyia) rectangulata sp. nov. from southern India are described with illustrations. The specimens were collected in tree holes, termite mounds, cattle sheds and mud-walled, thatched roof human dwellings in rural areas. Our findings reveal similarity with Sergentomyia (Parrotomyia) modii Lewis

Bacterial degradation of palm olein in seawater and identification of some cultivable strains

Palm oil transported in bulk through ocean can increase pollution risks due to accidental spillage or ship collision, especially the refined, bleached and deodorized (RBD) palm olein. Bacterial degradation of RBD palm olein in seawater was investigated as a preliminary finding on palm oil degradation by marine bacteria. The degradation of RBD palm olein was evaluated in seawater in shaken-flask cultures with different oil concentrations. Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) in the seawater was determined based on changes in dissolved oxygen (DO) values before and at end of 5-day incubation. The concentrations of major fatty acid components in RBD palm olein before and after degradation were determined using gas chromatographyflame ionization detector (GC-FID). Isolated bacteria were screened for lipolytic activity using Spirit Blue Agar before molecular identification. The DO content reduced 20% over a 5-day incubation period and BOD value was determined to be 1.24 mg O2/L based on DO values. The concentrations of fatty acids, namely palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0) and oleic acid (C18:1) decreased by 53%, 31% and 37%, respectively. The bacterial count increased from 980 CFU/mL during inoculation to 1.8 x 104 CFU/mL on day 5. Five phenotypically different bacterial strains (Pseudoalteromonas gelatinolytica, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Vibrio harveyi and Vibrio alginolyticus) showed lipolytic activity. This study indicates that marine bacteria utilizes RBD palm olein as substrate, thus degrading it over time

PKCε-dependent potentiation of TTX-resistant Nav1.8 current by neurokinin-1 receptor activation in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Substance P (SP), which mainly exists in a subtype of small-diameter dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, is an important signal molecule in pain processing in the spinal cord. Our previous results have proved the expression of SP receptor neurokinin-1 (NK-1) on DRG neurons and its interaction with transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) receptor.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this study we investigated the effect of NK-1 receptor agonist on Na_v1.8, a tetrodotoxin (TTX)-resistant sodium channel, in rat small-diameter DRG neurons employing whole-cell patch clamp recordings. NK-1 agonist [Sar⁹, Met(O₂)¹¹]-substance P (Sar-SP) significantly enhanced the Na_v1.8 currents in a subgroup of small-diameter DRG neurons under both the normal and inflammatory situation, and the enhancement was blocked by NK-1 antagonist Win51708 and protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide (BIM), but not the protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor H89. In particular, the inhibitor of PKCε, a PKC isoform, completely blocked this effect. Under current clamp model, Sar-SP reduced the amount of current required to evoke action potentials and increased the firing rate in a subgroup of DRG neurons.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These data suggest that activation of NK-1 receptor potentiates Na_v1.8 sodium current via PKCε-dependent signaling pathway, probably participating in the generation of inflammatory hyperalgesia.</p

Inhibiting ACK1-mediated phosphorylation of C-terminal Src kinase counteracts prostate cancer immune checkpoint blockade resistance

Solid tumours are highly refractory to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies due to the functional impairment of effector T cells and their inefficient trafficking to tumours. T-cell activation is negatively regulated by C-terminal Src kinase (CSK); however, the exact mechanism remains unknown. Here we show that the conserved oncogenic tyrosine kinase Activated CDC42 kinase 1 (ACK1) is able to phosphorylate CSK at Tyrosine 18 (pY18), which enhances CSK function, constraining T-cell activation. Mice deficient in the Tnk2 gene encoding Ack1, are characterized by diminished CSK Y18-phosphorylation and spontaneous activation of CD