Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages
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Sociological Profile of Tibetan Community –A Case Study of District Srinagar,
No full textAnthropology is derived from the root-words anthropos meaning man & logos meaning science. Anthropology is not a vague study, nor even ambi-tiously vague as a study without a portfolio. Anthropology is a well defined study of the physical, social and cultural aspects of man. It is not an idler‟s pursuit, a study that doesn‟t concern us, of the modern word; it concerns us very vitally in our own lives. “It is the study with an aim, and that aim is, as Evans-Pritchard put it, to have an understanding of the wondrous creature that is man, wherever and at whatever time, past or present, he has lived or lives today”. 1. It is the study of man without limitations of time, place and cultural level.
Anthropologists are more concerned with primitive societies. In the 18th century the primitive societies, discovered by explorers, travelers, business-man and missionaries, also attracted the attention of the political philoso-phers of Europe as the latter thought that these societies were example of the state of nature before any man-made government came into being. “Darwin published his Origin of Species in 1859.This may be said to be the date of birth of anthropology as also of all evolutionary studies. Darwin‟s contempo-rary, Herbert Spencer, working independently came to the conclusion that evolution had not operated only in the case of the physical aspects of man, but also in human social life”.
Effect of Antioxidants on the Chemical Behaviour of Belousov-Zhabotinsky Reaction.
Get PDFMany complex and interesting phenomena in nature are due to nonlinear interactions of the
constituents. The study of nonlinear dynamical systems have achieved significant progress
over the last four decades, which allows scientists and researchers to understand various
rather complicated behaviors such as self organization and pattern formation in the neural
networks of brain, pacemaker functioning of heart and many cyclic processes in living
systems. Unusual properties of reagents in far-from-equilibrium conditions and prevalence of
instability where small changes in initial conditions may lead to amplified effects have been
documented more than a century ago. Recent discovery of oscillating behavior in
homogeneous solution reaction between acidic bromate and malonic acid in presence of metal
catalyst has gained lot of attention. The system is commonly known as Belousov-Zhabotinsky
reaction and is now considered as the work horse of nonlinear chemical dynamics.
Understanding of the onset of exotic phenomena in chemical systems has provided important
insight into the formation of similar behavior in nature. As opposed to nonlinear systems in
physical and biological areas, in which control parameters are often inaccessible or difficult to
adjust, chemical reactions can be conveniently manipulated through adjusting the initial
concentration of each reagent, temperature or flow rate. As such, nonlinear chemical
phenomena have played a very important role in gaining insights into the various nonlinear
behaviors encountered in nature.
In the present investigation, we have chosen Catechol (1,2-dihydroxy benzene) as an organic
substrate to study its exotic behavior. It has been investigated to show a good wealth of
dynamic behavior. Selection of catechol as a BZ substrate has been made in view of the facts
that it is present as a part or constituent of many biomolecules such as antioxidants, hormones
and vitamins. Its derivatives have also been found involved in neural transmission. Thus, the
study of nonlinear dynamics of catechol would help to gain insight into some natural
phenomena occurring in living systems. Temperature dependence of oscillatory behavior of
catechol-based BZ system has been studied for the first time. The activation parameters such
as enthalpy of activation and entropy of activation have been derived from the temperature
dependence of oscillatory parameters. Effect of antioxidants such as ascorbic acid and inosine
on the above catechol-based BZ oscillator have been investigated in detail and the
mechanisms of their interactions with the parent system have been elucidated. Some
interesting analytical results have been worked out. The oscillatory behavior of the system
was studied by using potentiometry and spectrophotometry
The Hero as a Deep-Diver: Existential Problematics in Kurt Vonnegut’s Breakfast of Champions & Jerzy Kosinski’s Pinball
Get PDFAmerican novelists of the late nineteenth century and twentieth century have been quite adept at creating deep memorable characters. These novelists often used their protagonists for higher purposes, such as endeavouring to construct a critique of the times by placing the characters in opposition to their respective societies. As a result, in American novel, the hero often became an unassuming type of hero who courageously defied the conventional beliefs and ignorant assumptions of society. The American fictional hero is constantly confronted by an ugly challenging reality; that is society and its pressures of conformity. In American tradition society is never a neutral force; rather it is intrusively active force which encroaches on the lives of individuals. The hero can never ignore or neglect it. He is forced to fight against a suffocating society and repelling reality
The Study of Gravitational Galaxy Clustering in the Expanding Universe Using Thermodynamic Fluctuation Theory
Get PDFUnderstanding the formation of the large scale structure is one of the frontiers
ofmodern cosmological research. According to the standard scenario, the
large scale structure of the universe that we recognize today under the form
of galaxies, filaments and sheets is the result of evolution and gravitational
growth of small density fluctuations generated at very early times. The study
of large scale structure in the expanding universe is currently a challenging
problem for cosmologists. As universe expands, galaxies cluster under the
influence of motivating gravitational force. Recent observations indicate that
while, the large-scale distribution of galaxies appears to be uniform, however,
small scale distribution is appreciably influenced by well known tendency towards
clustering. Based on a few physically motivated assumptions, Saslaw
and Hamilton (1984) arrived at a simple gravitational distribution function,
based on the gravitational thermodynamic approximations which we call as
gravitational quasi-equilibrium distribution (GQED)
Molecular Characterization of Bean Common Mosaic Virus Infecting Phaseolus vulgaris L. in Kashmir
No full textExtensive survey of commercial bean growing areas of Kashmir conducted during kharif 2009 and 2010 revealed only 13 out of 100 surveyed locations free from Bean Common Mosaic Virus (BCMV) disease. The disease incidence was found to range from 0.50 to 85.00 per cent, with the maximum incidence recorded in Srinagar district followed by that in district Anantnag and Bandipora. The samples of BCMV from infected bean plants showing characteristic mosaic, leaf distortion and stunting type of symptoms were categorized into 21 isolates based on the symptomatology and the representative commercial bean growing areas of the Valley. Confirmation of the association of BCMV with each isolate was made by mechanical transmission and DAC-ELISA tests. The test isolates in DAC-ELISA test reacted positively with only BCMV polyclonal antisera, confirming the association of BCMV, which was further established through RT-PCR amplification of coat protein gene using BCMV specific primers. The strain spectrum of BCMV, discerned by inoculation separately of 21 BCMV isolates on international differentials, revealed the existence of three pathogroups - PG I, PG II and PG VII- based on the reaction of isolates on host group 1 to 5 of differential varieties having recessive resistance genes. The pathogroups PG I and PG II were further divisible into four strain groups viz., Ia (i.e., NL-1), Ib (i.e., NL-1n) and IIa (i.e., NL-7), IIb (i.e., NL-7n) , based on the capability to induce veinal necrosis at high temperature (>300C) on differential cultivar ‘Jubila’ possessing dominant gene. The prevalence of pathogroup PG VII (i.e., strain NL4) in the cooler regions of Kashmir recorded during the present studies is the first report of its occurrence in India. In order to characterize viral isolates, molecular characterization of coat protein gene of NL-1, NL-4 and NL-7 strains of BCMV was made using standard methods of molecular biology. RT-PCR of the test strains using specific primer pair amplified a product of ~860 bp. Purified PCR product (DNA) was ligated in PGEM-T easy vector system and transformed in E. coli strain DH5α. The cloned product revealed 860 bp sequences, which were submitted to NCBI gene bank Nucleotide Database under accession number JN692256, JN692258 and JN692257, respectively. The pair-wise homology between the nucleotide sequence of NL-1 and NL-4 was 95 per cent, whereas the homology between NL-1 and NL-4 and between NL-4 and NL-7 was 93 per cent, respectively. The nucleotide sequence of NL-4 from Kashmir showed maximum homology of 96 per cent with BCMV strains EU492546 and AF328753 from India and Mexico, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of CP sequence of NL-1, NL-4 and NL-7 from Kashmir were most closely related to BCMV strains from H.P. (India), USA and other countries. In all the three strains, DAG motif was present at a/a position 13 of CP which is important for aphid transmission in potyviruses. BCMV specific conserved motif MVWCIDN was also present in all the three strains. Further, eighty-five accessions were evaluated under controlled glass-house conditions against all the three pathogroups (I, II and VI) of BCMV prevalent in Kashmir to find out the sources of resistance against BCMV. Only 17 genotypes were found resistant to the test virus strains. Some of the resistant accessions/cultivars include R-40, R-155, R-3, B-6, Pencil white, SKAU-B-02, SKAU-B-01, Pointed lady, TO, P1207262, TU, KRC-5, R-14, Jubila, Contender and Monroe
Effect of Intercrops on Growth, Yield, Quality and Leaf Nutrient Status in Apple and Cherry
No full textThe present investigations were carried out at Fruit Research Station, Balpora, Pahnoo (Shopian), SKUAST-K, Shalimar. The experiment consisted of eight treatments replicated thrice in a Randomised Block Design. Results revealed that the apple trees cv. Red Delicious intercropped with leguminous crops like (pea, french bean and red clover) recorded highest growth parameters and yield than control (clean cultivation) and heavy feeder crops like (strawberry, cabbage, oats and maize) and their foliage was highest with respect to nutrients content N, P and Mg. Commencement of flowering and maturity of fruits also occurred earlier in apple trees when intercropped with leguminous crops than heavy feeder crops. Quality parameters like fruit size was found highest in apple trees with pea, followed by red clover and french bean intercrop, while fruit firmness and fruit colour was better under red clover, followed by french bean, pea and control (clean cultivation), as compared to oats and maize intercrop. Maximum fruit TSS, reducing sugars and total sugars of apple trees were observed under pea and red clover while as with oats and maize less content was recorded. In case of cherry cv. Misri growth parameters like plant girth, plant height, plant spread, plant volume and annual extension growth and yield parameters like fruit yield (kg/tree) and yield efficiency (kg/cm2) was found higher in pea, followed by red clover and french bean. However control (clean cultivation) recorded highest growth and yield parameters than heavy feeder crops like strawberry, cabbage, oats and maize. Commencement of flowering and fruit maturity was recorded better under leguminous crops than control (clean cultivation). Quality parameters like fruit firmness and fruit colour of cherry trees was recorded good under red clover, followed by french bean, pea and control (clean cultivation). However, the use of intercrops like legumes recorded highest fruit size than heavy feeder crops. Maximum fruit TSS of cherry trees was observed under pea, followed by red clover, french bean and clean cultivation as compared to cabbage, oats and maize. Nutrient uptake of N, P and Mg by cherry trees was found more with leguminous crops like (pea, red clover and french bean) followed by control (clean cultivation) and less with oats and maize. An overview of the investigation revealed that the Apple trees cv. Red Delicious and Cherry trees cv. Misri intercropped with leguminous crops like pea, red clover and french bean resulted in higher yield, better quality of fruits and higher leaf nutrient status as compared to the trees intercropped with heavy feeder crops like strawberry, cabbage, oats and maize. The studies also revealed that apple and cherry trees when intercropped with rabi sown crops proved to be superior and beneficial than apple and cherry trees intercropped with kharif sown crops in terms for net profit and Benefit Cost ratio
Management of Elm Bark Beetle, Scolytus kashmirensis Schedl Infesting Elm Trees (Ulmus species) in Kashmir
Get PDFThe major sectors of state economy are silviculture, agriculture and horticulture. To meet the growing demands of timber and fodder, various attempts have been made to replace uneconomic and slow growing tree species with the more useful and fast growing ones. Elms (Ulmus spp.) are among the famous dine and shade trees of Kashmir, which, besides lending charm and healthful fragrance to the atmosphere, are a great factor of revenue to the Valley. The elm is preferred over most other tree species for the use of fodder for cattle (sheep, goat, cow, buffalo, etc.). Villagers plant elms near the house for a sustained yield of fodder, which is being dried and kept for winter usage (Heybroek, 1965). These trees are predominant in Kashmir mostly found in the forests, nurseries, along the streets, in graveyards, convents, tombs of Sufi saints and college campuses. It produces a good quality timber, with many uses (Gamble, 1922, Pearson and Brown, 1932). Being important forest trees, they yield timber for a variety of products, including, houseboats and paddles, vehicle stock, furniture, athletic equipments, boxes and crates, ploughs, oil-presses, and musical instruments etc. In Kashmir, there are two species of elm – Ulmus wallichiana Planch. (Kashmiri elm) and U. villosa. Brandis eXGamble (Cherry-bark elm) belonging to members of temperate-coniferous forests (Heybroek, 1965)
Evaluation of Insulin receptor (INSR), Leptin receptor (LEPR) and β3-adrenergic receptor (ADRB3) gene polymorphisms in Diabetes Mellitus patients of Kashmir valley
Get PDFThe prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus has reached epidemic proportions worldwide. This
complex disorder is characterized by defects in insulin secretion and insulin resistance. Type
2 diabetes is a consequence of complex interactions among multiple genetic variants and
environmental risk factors. The genetic basis of type 2 diabetes is still poorly understood.
The overarching aim of this study was to investigate various polymorphisms in Insulin
receptor (INSR), leptin receptor (LEPR) and β3-adrenergic receptor (ADRB3) genes and
evaluate their role in the incidence and progression of type 2 diabetes. Three single nucleotide
polymorphisms (233, 234 and 276) in the exon 3 of INSR gene, a CTTTA pentanucleotide
repeat Del/Ins polymorphism in the 3@ UTR of LEPR gene and a single nucleotide
polymorphism (Trp64Arg) in the ADRB3 gene were analysed. The study comprised of 500
local subjects including 200 type 2 diabetes patients and 300 age and gender matched healthy
controls. Restriction fragment length polymorphism and single stranded conformation
polymorphism techniques were used for genotyping and the results were validated by direct
sequencing assay. We observed that codon 233, 234 and 276 of INSR gene were
monomorphic in our population thereby ruling out any possible association with type 2
diabetes. However we found an association of LEPR and ADRB3 gene polymorphisms with
risk factors and severity of type 2 diabetes, such as obesity, abnormal lipid profile,
hypertension, elevated HbA1c levels and serum creatinine levels. The frequency of Del allele
was 89.7% and 59.3% in cases and controls respectively (p<0.001; odds ratio 6.0; 95%
confidence interval 3.61 - 9.97). The wild allele (Del) in the LEPR gene showed a positive
association with the disease as well as associated risk factors. The genotypes for Del/Ins
polymorphism did not satisfy Hardy and Weinberg equilibrium (χ2=57.22). In ADRB3 gene,
frequency of variant C (Arg) allele was observed to be 40% and 10.2% in cases and controls
respectively (p<0.001; odds ratio 5.89; 95% confidence interval 3.69-9.39). Presence of C
(Arg) allele was observed to be a risk factor, where as the wild T (Trp) allele exerted a
protective effect against type 2 diabetes in our population. Presence of C allele was directly
related to higher BMI, WHR, dyslipidemia and uncontrolled diabetes. Genotypes for
Trp64Arg polymorphism were in Hardy and Weinberg equilibrium (χ2=0.48). The study
signifies that Del allele in LEPR gene and Arg allele in ADRB3 are genotypic risk factors
that confer susceptibility to type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in ethnic Kashmiri population
Impact of Plant Invasion on Species Diversity of some Invaded Communities in the Kashmir Valley
No full textInvasion of ecosystems by alien species is a key driver of global
environmental change and many of these invasive species attain sufficiently
high abundance to alter ecosystem structure and function. Considerable
information exists that points towards significant threat of invasive alien
species to biodiversity besides impact on the
ecosystem services and human
well-being. The three invasive species, namely Anthemis cotula Linn., Conyza
canadensis (Linn.) Cronquist (belonging to family Asteraceae) and Sisymbrium
loeselii Linn. (belonging to family Brasssicaceae) represented the three most
widespread invasive species in the Valley and hence were investigated during
the present study and their impact on the invaded communities was explored