University of Rajasthan

About: University of Rajasthan is a education organization based out in Jaipur, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Chemical shift & Derivative (chemistry). The organization has 15058 authors who have published 15733 publications receiving 117400 citations. The organization is also known as: Rajasthan University.

Genotoxic effect of ciprofloxacin during photolytic decomposition monitored by the in vitro micronucleus test (MNvit) in HepG2 cells.

Abstract: Ciprofloxacin (CIP), a broad-spectrum, second-generation fluoroquinolone, has frequently been found in hospital wastewaters and effluents of sewage treatment plants. CIP is scarcely biodegradable, has toxic effects on microorganisms and is photosensitive. The aim of this study was to assess the genotoxic potential of CIP in human HepG2 liver cells during photolysis. Photolysis of CIP was performed in aqueous solution by irradiation with an Hg lamp, and transformation products were monitored by HPLC-MS/MS and by the determination of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). The cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of CIP and of the irradiated samples were determined after 24 h of exposure using the WST-1 assay and the in vitro micronucleus (MN) test in HepG2 cells. The concentration of CIP decreased during photolysis, whereas the content of DOC remained unchanged. CIP and its transformation products were not cytotoxic towards HepG2 cells. A concentration-dependent increase of MN frequencies was observed for the parent compound CIP (lowest observed effect level, 1.2 μmol L−1). Furthermore, CIP and the irradiated samples were found to be genotoxic with a significant increase relative to the parent compound after 32 min (P < 0.05). A significant reduction of genotoxicity was found after 2 h of irradiation (P < 0.05). Photolytic decomposition of aqueous CIP leads to genotoxic transformation products. This proves that irradiated samples of CIP are able to exert heritable genotoxic effects on human liver cells in vitro. Therefore, photolysis as a technique for wastewater treatment needs to be evaluated in detail in further studies, not only for CIP but in general.

Cytokinins in pathogenesis and disease resistance of Pyrenophora teres-barley and Dreschslera maydis-maize interactions during early stages of infection.

Abstract: Infection of Hordeum vulgare L. by Pyrenophora teresand of Zea mays by Dreschslera maydis were characterized by ‘green island’ formation, higher cytokinin levels and accumulation of metabolites in the infected areas. Higher cytokinin concentrations of the order 6-Y,Y-dimethylallylaminopurine > zeatinriboside > zeatin >dihydrozeatinriboside were detected at infection sites of susceptible hosts. By virtue of these cytokinins, infection sites may be acting as metabolic sinks helping proliferation of the pathogen. Existence of translocatory sinks at infection zones was confirmed from autoradiographic studies,where, accumulation of labeled metabolites was prominent at infection sites of susceptible hosts. Upon infection the lower cytokinin levels of resistant hosts decreased further with progress of infection. In the infected resistant hosts the concentrations of zeatin/zeatinriboside were the maximum among the four identified cytokinins. The pathogen is also capable of secreting cytokinins as evident from quantification of cytokinins in culture filtrate extracts using HPLC. Since detached leaves were used in the experiments the increase/decrease of various cytokinin levels may be attributed to pathogen influence. The increase in cytokinin levels in the susceptible host may be aiding the growth of the pathogen on one hand, while the decrease in the infected resistant host may signal the host to activate defenses against a potential pathogen at the early stage of infection.

The Maoist Insurgency in Nepal Nature, Growth and Impact

Abstract: The Maoist insurgency in Nepal is a new development in the politics of South Asian insurgencies. It has emerged and grown in the socio-economic and political conditions of Nepal, and in a decade has become a major political force with the capacity to challenge the state and the country's socio-economic fabric. With its wide ranging domestic, regional and international support base and ideological and material linkages, the Maoist movement is not an isolated phenomenon. The Nepali state has tried to find a military solution to the problem of insurgency. It is, however, a moot question whether the movement can be dealt with by force, which has failed to prevent the insurgency from becoming increasingly violent. Resolution of the conflict will depend upon the perspective of the Nepali ruling elite. The attitude of the present government does not appear to be sufficiently broad based.

Cratons of the Indian Shield

Abstract: The Indian shield is made up of a mosaic of Precambrian metamorphic terrains that exhibit low to high-grade crystalline rocks in the age range of 3.6–2.6 Ga. These terrains, constituting the continental crust, attained tectonic stability for prolonged period (since Precambrian time) and are designated cratons. The cratons are flanked by a fold belt, with or without a discernible suture or shear zone, suggesting that the cratons, as crustal blocks or microplates, moved against each other and collided to generate these fold belts (Naqvi, 2005). Alternatively, these cratons could be the result of fragmentation of a large craton that constituted the Indian shield. In either case, rifting or splitting of cratons is documented by the presence of fold belts that are sandwiched between two neighbouring cratons. The cratons or microplates collided and developed the fold belts that occur peripheral to the cratonic areas of the Indian shield. The rocks making up the fold belts were the sediments derived from crustal rocks and volcanic material derived from the mantle, all deformed and metamorphosed during subsequent orogeny(s) brought about by collision of crustal plates (cratonic blocks) that are now flanking the fold belts.