Lemur kinase 1A (LMTK1A)の細胞骨格構造との相互作用

首都大学東京, 2016-09-30, 博士（理学）首都大学東

Educational Reforms and Implications on Teachers’ World of Work: Perspectives of Fijian Primary Teachers

This preliminary study reports on educational changes and its impact on primary teachers’ world of work in Fiji. Data were gathered from 38 primary teachers, using a questionnaire of Likert scale items and open-ended questions aiming to identify the intensity of the changes that have occurred in their work. The data analysis reveals the educational reforms as having intensified the work of teachers. In this regard, the principal stakeholder needs to be mindful of cumulative ongoing changes, to avoid any serious ramifications for teachers’ workload and in turn children’s learning outcomes. Teachers themselves highlighted the need for future changes to include more opportunities for continuous professional development to enable them to cope well with new demands of work. Implications of the study’s findings are also pertinent to other developing contexts such as those in the Pacific region and beyond because of ongoing transformations occurring in education systems worldwid

Sensors and Systems for Monitoring Mental Fatigue: A systematic review

Mental fatigue is a leading cause of motor vehicle accidents, medical errors, loss of workplace productivity, and student disengagements in e-learning environment. Development of sensors and systems that can reliably track mental fatigue can prevent accidents, reduce errors, and help increase workplace productivity. This review provides a critical summary of theoretical models of mental fatigue, a description of key enabling sensor technologies, and a systematic review of recent studies using biosensor-based systems for tracking mental fatigue in humans. We conducted a systematic search and review of recent literature which focused on detection and tracking of mental fatigue in humans. The search yielded 57 studies (N=1082), majority of which used electroencephalography (EEG) based sensors for tracking mental fatigue. We found that EEG-based sensors can provide a moderate to good sensitivity for fatigue detection. Notably, we found no incremental benefit of using high-density EEG sensors for application in mental fatigue detection. Given the findings, we provide a critical discussion on the integration of wearable EEG and ambient sensors in the context of achieving real-world monitoring. Future work required to advance and adapt the technologies toward widespread deployment of wearable sensors and systems for fatigue monitoring in semi-autonomous and autonomous industries is examined.Comment: 19 Pages, 3 Figure

Economics of production and marketing of natural rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) in Jhapa, Nepal

A study was carried to assess the production and marketing status of natural rubber in Jhapa district in 2019, from a random sample of 70 households and 5 traders. Results were drawn using descriptive and inferential statistics employing SPSS and MS-Excel. The average area under natural rubber cultivation was 2.2 bigha and the productive area was 1.21 bigha. The average rubber sheet produced per household was 1167.092 kg and average yield was found to be 958.77 kg/bigha in the study area. The average annual household income from natural rubber was found to be NRs. 233418.57 which contributes 58.54 percent in the total household income. Three marketing channels were identified and the price spread ranged from NRs. 20 to 40. The producers’ share in consumers’ price ranged from 81.82% to 90.91%. The major production problem identified was the lodging by wind (0.80) and the major marketing problem faced by producers and traders was the absence of grading facility (0.82). Rubber farms were found to be a profitable farm enterprise with a discounted benefit-cost ratio of 1.88. The calculated NPV was 410992.40, IRR was 22% and PBP was 8.52 years respectively denoting the sustainability of rubber cultivation. RRIM 600, RRII 105 and GT1 were the major growing varieties of rubber in the study area. The cost of establishment in the first year (48.702%) is highest compared to the following years. The selling price of latex and sheet was found higher in 2015 and 2016 with a reduction of price in 2017 due to the high import of Indonesian rubber sheet. This research tries to present the general idea on the overall production and marketing status in the study area

Evaluation of Phytochemical, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant Activity and Cytotoxic Potentials of Agave americana

Ethnomedicinal plants are being used as a source of medicine from ancient time but they lack the proof of modern scientific evidence for their effectiveness. This study focuses on the evaluation of phytochemical, antimicrobial, antioxidant properties of one of the ethnomedicinal plant Agave americana from Dhulikhel region of Nepal. The plant extract was prepared using solvent-based warm soxhlet extraction from the leaves of the plant and antimicrobial activity against six different non-resistant clinical isolates of bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Bacillus thuringiensis, and Salmonella paratyphi) was evaluated using agar disc diffusion method along with qualitative analysis for presence/absence of phytochemicals. Antioxidant activity was measured by DPPH assay and the cytotoxicity was evaluated using MCF-7 (human breast adenocarcinoma) cancer cell. Presence of phytochemicals like alkaloids, flavonoids, reducing sugars and saponins were detected in the plant extract. The extract was found to show some level of antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Bacillus thuringiensis at 50, 100 and 200 mg/ml. The IC50 value of the extract was found to be 7.68 μg/ml. The extracts of Agave americana showed 50 % cell-death of MCF-7 in 12 h at 5 μg/ml. Although this study provided some scientific evidence for the medicinal value of Agave americana, further studies are still needed for the detailed evaluations of every molecule present in this plant along with screening in larger geographical area of Nepal

Comparative pharmaceutical and analytical study of Kasisadi Ghrita prepared by two different methods

Introduction: Sneha Kalpana are the dosage forms which can be used both internally as well as externally. Generally, Sneha Kalpana is prepared by using Agni as source of heating. However, Kasisadi Ghrita is an exception where the sunlight is used as source of heating. This unusual method of preparation looks attractive because of natural heat (sunlight) that is required in the preparation and the yield that may be obtained. The Sneha is heated with volatile drugs in Surya Paka for a specific time so that less heat allows them to leave their active principles in Sneha. The difference between Bhanupaka and Agnipaka is also an area of interest, on this formulation as far as its manufacturing is considered. Kasisadi Ghrita is a herbo-mineral formulation indicated for various skin diseases. Materials and Methods: Kasisadi Ghrita were prepared by classical method of Bhanupaka (KGB) and usual method of Agnipaka (KGA). Both KGB and KGA were analyzed as per the standard protocol. Discussion and Conclusion: Preparation of Kasisadi Ghrita by Agnipaka method is easy as it consumes less time. There were no pharmaceutical constraints in preparation of both samples. Tamra Paatra helps to retain more heat than other vessels during Bhanupaka. The results of the pharmaceutical and analytical study can be considered as the preliminary standards for the preparation of Kasisadi Ghrita

Phytochemical screening, antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of Nepalese medicinal plants Swertia chirayita and Dendrobium amoenum

Research on medicinal plants are important to Nepal because most of its rural population relies on it as mode of medicine. Medicinal plants namely Swertia chirayita and Dendrobium amoenum were collected from mid hills of Nepal. The present study was undertaken to find the antimicrobial activity, phytochemical presence and their cytotoxicity in different extraction medium. The percentage yield from the plants were highest in warm methanol extraction with 12.6%, followed by ethyl acetate and lowest was for cold methanol. Plant extract showed the presence of antioxidants like alkaloid, terpenoids, flavonoids, tannin, glycosides. The Brine Shrimp Bioassay of methanol and ethyl acetate extract showed cytotoxicity. Chiraito extract showed LC50 of 199 ppm for Dhunche sample, 128.82 ppm for Daman sample and 131.82 ppm of Illam sample. The antibacterial activity of methanol extract of Chiraito and Dendrobium amoenum showed significant bioactivity by inhibiting growth of microbial species selected for the test. The zone of inhibition shown by the extracts was comparable to the standard antibiotics. Similarly, methanol extract of Chiraito also showed significant antifungal activity with the zone of inhibition comparable to amphotericin.Nepal Journal of Biotechnology. Dec. 2015 Vol. 3, No. 1: 48-5

Dhattura Lavana: An Eccentric Salt Preparation in Folklore

Lavana kalpana is a formulation in Ayurveda which is prepared from combination of certain drugs with lavana (Salt). A particular heating pattern is followed for drugs and lavana in an earthen crucible by subjecting it to putapaka. Number of lavana kalpana like Narikela lavana Arka lavana and other such formulations are being practiced in Ayurveda. Dhattura lavana is also a formulation of Dhattura and lavana used in alcohol dependence.  An attempt was made in this work to gather the information about this formulation. It is observed that this formulation is used by traditional practioners of Kerala. The reference of Dhattura lavana could not be found in the books or literatures of Ayurveda. Deviating from the general method of preparation of putapaka, Dhattura lavana is prepared in a unique way. In this formulation, a decoction of Dhattura is prepared first and to that equal amount of lavana is added and dehydrated. Keywords: Dhattura lavana, Lavana kalpana, madatyaya, tadarthakari chikitsa

Experimental study on antiepileptic action of Kousheyashma Bhasma

364-369Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases. It is characterised by recurrent episodes of disturbance in movement, sensation and consciousness. With the increased incidence rate of epilepsy, a number of treatment modalities as well as formulations are being developed in recent years. In Ayurveda also many formulations are available for the treatment of epilepsy. However, there is a search of formulations which can show quick and longstanding efficacy on epilepsy. Kousheyashma is a mineral drug used in Ayurveda pharmaceutics. It is yellowish white and is identified as asbestos. Magnesium, calcium and silicate are the chief chemical entity of this drug. It is an easily and abundantly available mineral in India. The Bhasma is economic as the pharmaceutical processing of it is easy. In the pharmacological and therapeutic properties of this drug, it is mentioned that it has anti-epileptic activity. However, there is no substantial evidence to prove the antiepileptic activity of Kousheyashma. Hence, the present study was undertaken to experimentally evaluate the efficacy of Kousheyashma Bhasma in epilepsy. Antiepileptic activity was evaluated in Swiss albino mice by two methods namely Pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced seizure method and kindling PTZ-induced seizure method. Mice selected based on exclusion and inclusion criteria were randomly allocated into five groups. Mice were subjected to chemo convulsions by injecting PTZ intraperitoneally and observed for 35 min to analyse convulsion behaviours. Kousheyashma Bhasma has shown statistically significant results in PTZ-induced epileptic symptoms in Swiss albino mice