A study of faculty development programs in India to improve student engagement

Student engagement refers to the degree of awareness, curiosity and interest that students show in their formal educational environment, which also reflects their motivation for learning and academic achievements. There has been lot of research about how to build a positive climate for learning, improve student curiosity, and enhance classroom association. The research findings are unambiguous. Student learning, persistence, and attainment in educational institutes are strongly associated with student engagement. In India, a project named Mission 10x has been started by an esteemed IT Corporation Wipro as a faculty development programme (FDP) that particularly focus on elements that can lead to improvement in student engagement. This paper presents a study of these FDPs and examines (1) the parameters that affect student engagement (2) the extent to which student engagement is improved after the conduct of Mission 10x FDPs, and (3) whether institutions differ in terms of their ability to convert student engagement into academic performance via these FDPs. The sample consisted of 2,236 students at 6 four-year engineering colleges and universities that completed several FDPs during 2012-2014. Many measures of student engagement were linked positively with such FDPs, although some of the relationships were weak in strength. The results suggest that the lowest-ability students were more benefitted after conducting these FDPs and application of novel approaches in conducting classes. Also, different forms of engagement are converted into academic achievement, and certain institutions convert student engagement into higher performance on critical thinking tests more effectively

Cardiovascular adverse events associated with BRAF versus BRAF/MEK inhibitor: Cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis using two large national registries

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular adverse events (CVAEs) associated with BRAF inhibitors alone versus combination BRAF/MEK inhibitors are not fully understood. METHODS: This study included all adult patients who received BRAF inhibitors (vemurafenib, dabrafenib, encorafenib) or combinations BRAF/MEK inhibitors (vemurafenib/cobimetinib; dabrafenib/trametinib; encorafenib/binimetinib). We utilized the cross-sectional FDA\u27s Adverse Events Reporting System (FAERS) and longitudinal Truven Health Analytics/IBM MarketScan database from 2011 to 2018. Various CVAEs, including arterial hypertension, heart failure (HF), and venous thromboembolism (VTE), were studied using adjusted regression techniques. RESULTS: In FAERS, 7752 AEs were reported (40% BRAF and 60% BRAF/MEK). Median age was 60 (IQR 49-69) years with 45% females and 97% with melanoma. Among these, 567 (7.4%) were cardiovascular adverse events (mortality rate 19%). Compared with monotherapy, combination therapy was associated with increased risk for HF (reporting odds ratio [ROR] = 1.62 (CI = 1.14-2.30); p = 0.007), arterial hypertension (ROR = 1.75 (CI = 1.12-2.89); p = 0.02) and VTE (ROR = 1.80 (CI = 1.12-2.89); p = 0.02). Marketscan had 657 patients with median age of 53 years (IQR 46-60), 39.3% female, and 88.7% with melanoma. There were 26.2% CVAEs (CI: 14.8%-36%) within 6 months of medication start in those receiving combination therapy versus 16.7% CVAEs (CI: 13.1%-20.2%) among those receiving monotherapy. Combination therapy was associated with CVAEs compared to monotherapy (adjusted HR: 1.56 (CI: 1.01-2.42); p = 0.045). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In two independent real-world cohorts, combination BRAF/MEK inhibitors were associated with increased CVAEs compared to monotherapy, especially HF, and hypertension

Light guidance in hollow core photonic cage structures

Diese Doktorarbeit stellt das Konzept, die Entwicklung und die Charakterisierung eines photonischen Hohlkern-Lichtkäfigs vor, welcher auf einem Siliziumchip platziert ist und dadurch durchlässige optische Mode in "Quasi-Luft" unterstützt. Der photonische Käfig besteht aus einer Anordnung von Stäben (Stabdurchmesser ~ 3 mm), die hexagonal um einen hohlen Kern angeordnet sind (Abstände zwischen den Stäben ~ 6 und 9 mm) und Längen von mehreren hundert Mikrometern (längste Struktur 720 mm) aufweisen. Der hochauflösende Photonenkäfig mit offenem Netzwerk wurde durch einen 3D-Druckprozessin IP-Dip Fotolack hergestellt. Durch Hinzufügen weiterer Segmente zu dem ursprünglichen Käfig kann das Design auf wenige Zentimeter erweitert werden. Die Probleme des Zusammenfallens des Käfigs während der Entwicklung wurden durch experimentelles Konstruieren von Stützelementen ((1 mm Ö 2 mm)) gelöst, die sich in Abständen von jeweils 75 mm in Längsrichtung des Käfigs wiederholen. Der Käfig arbeitet aufgrund eines optischen Antiresonanzeffektes, wobei eine verlustarme Ausbreitung der Mode im Kern erreicht wird, wenn sich die Kern-Mode in Antiresonanz (nicht phasenangepasst) zu den antel-Super-Modes beenden. Durch die Simulationen konnten die spektralen Positionen der Antiresonanzwellenlängen (und experimentelle Transmissionsdips) gefunden werden. Bei diesenWellenlängen unterstützt der Käfig die Ausbreitung eines fundamentalen Kern-Mode mit Sechs symmetrischen Einknickungen und einem Wellenfeldanteil > 99,9%, innerhalb des ultravioletten, sichtbaren und nahinfraroten Spektrums, obwohl die Stangen nur 15% des gesamten Querschnitts des Käfigs einnehmen. Durch die experimentellen Ergebnisse wurde die Bildung einer sechsfachsymmetrischen Kern Mode bestätigt. Messungenzeigten eine ausgeprägte Übertragungsdiskusion mit einer maximalen Dämpfung von bis zu 10 dB, die auftritt, wenn die Mantel-Super-Modi in Resonanz mit dem durchlässigen Kern-Mode sind und deren spektrale Positionen grob mit den Mantel-Super-Modi unter dem Cut-Off übereinstimmen

Identification and functional characterization of protein kinases that modulate Notch signaling under physiological conditions and in cancer

The Notch signaling pathway is a key regulator of cell fate decisions in embryonic development and in adult tissue homeostasis. Mounting evidence suggests that Notch signaling is frequently deregulated in human neoplasms, where depending upon the cellular context it can function both as an oncogene or a tumor suppressor. A plethora of studies shed light on how Notch crosstalks with signaling pathways downstream to manifest either its oncogenic or tumor suppressive activity. However, regulatory networks upstream of the Notch signaling pathway are still poorly understood. Since protein kinases are well-known regulators of a majority of cell signaling pathways, the aim of the current study was to identify novel positive and negative regulatory kinases that modulate Notch signaling. Using a HeLa cell based co-culture assay to read Notch-dependent luciferase activity, a small interference RNA (siRNA) library against the human kinase genome was previously tested in a high-throughput manner. Validation of top candidate kinases from the screening using both siRNA as well as pharmacological inhibitors led to further elimination of false positives and identification of Protein Kinase B (AKT2) and Calmodulin Kinase II (CaMKII) as key positive while Janus kinases (JAKs) as key negative regulators of the Notch signaling pathway. In the first part of the study, we analyzed the positive regulation of AKT2 and CaMKII kinases on Notch signaling in the T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cells where Notch is oncogenic. It was shown that pharmacological inhibition of either AKT2 or CaMKII kinase in T-ALL cell lines in vitro abrogated the expression of active Notch1 intracellular domain (N1-ICD) as well as of Notch target genes. Moreover, inhibition of these kinases blocked proliferation of T-ALL cells. In the second part of the study, we analyzed the negative regulation of JAK kinases on Notch signaling using a distinct physiological context where Notch is tumor suppressive. It was shown that pharmacological inhibition of JAK kinases led to an induction of Notch receptor transcription and of Notch target genes in the human primary epidermal keratinocytes (HPEK) as well as in the skin squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cell lines. In addition, the pharmacological inhibition of JAK kinases induced a block in proliferation, cell cycle arrest and differentiation in HPEKs and skin SCCs by increased expression of early differentiation markers. Suppression of Notch signaling in primary keratinocytes counteracted the differentiation-inducing effect of JAK inhibition. Since JAK inhibition affected Notch transcription, global gene expression profiling using RNA sequencing was done to identify transcription factors involved in an indirect regulation of JAK kinases on the Notch cascade. EGR1 and EGR2 belonging to the early growth response family of transcription factors were significantly modulated downstream of JAK inhibition. In vivo, topical inhibition of JAK kinases provided marked resistance against chemically induced cutaneous carcinogenesis.Taken together, our data reveals a key role of AKT2 and CaMKII kinases in positive regulation while of JAK kinases in the negative regulation of Notch signaling, of potential relevance for combinatory approaches for cancer therapy. Pharmacological inhibitors against these kinases could be tested for their ability to modulate Notch signaling and may prove highly beneficial in the therapy of Notch-driven cancers

Role of immune-checkpoint inhibitors in lung cancer

Immune checkpoint inhibitors, mainly drugs targeting the programmed cell death 1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4) pathways, represent a remarkable advance in lung cancer treatment. Immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting PD-1 and PD-L1 are approved for the treatment of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer, with impressive clinical activity and durable responses in some patients. This review will summarize the mechanism of action of these drugs, the clinical development of these agents and the current role of these agents in the management of patients with lung cancer. In addition, the review will discuss the role of predictive biomarkers for optimal patient selection for immunotherapy and management of autoimmune side effects of these agents

Supernumerary teeth: Case series with their planned management

Introduction: Supernumerary teeth are extra teeth to normal dental formula. They are developmental anomalies which may have multiple etiologies. They may or may not erupt in the oral cavity and are mostly diagnosed incidentally. Case Reports: This is the presentation of case series of seven such different types of supernumerary teeth. Among these cases, the treatment of two cases has been shown along with their photographs. Conclusion: Their most common form is mesiodens which are commonly found in the maxillary anterior region creating unesthetic appearance for which patient seeks treatment. If not diagnosed and managed on time they can create complications such as malalignment, diastema, crowding, noneruption, delayed, or altered eruption of permanent tooth. This case series is an attempt to showcase the deleterious effect of supernumerary teeth and their varied clinical presentation along with their plan of management

Comparison of different doses of magnesium sulphate and fentanyl as adjuvants to bupivacaine for infraumbilical surgeries under subarachnoid block

Background and Aims: Spinal anaesthesia is used for many years for surgeries below the level of umbilicus. It has certain disadvantages such as limited duration of blockade and post-operative analgesia. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of additives fentanyl and magnesium sulphate along with bupivacaine during spinal anaesthesia for prolongation of analgesia and motor blockade. Methods: This randomised study was conducted in 120 patients of either sex of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I and II, posted for infraumbilical surgeries. Patients were randomly allocated to four groups and were given the following drugs intrathecally as per group distribution; group A - bupivacaine 15 mg (0.5% heavy) with fentanyl 25 μg, group B - bupivacaine 15 mg (0.5% heavy) with magnesium 100 mg, group C - bupivacaine 15 mg (0.5% heavy) with magnesium 50 mg and group D - bupivacaine 15 mg (0.5% heavy) with 0.5 ml normal saline. Parameters monitored were duration of analgesia along with haemodynamic parameters and side effects. Data were analysed using the Student′s t-test for the continuous variables and two-tailed Fisher exact test or Chi-square test for categorical variables. Results: There was significant increase in duration of analgesia in group A (374.37 min) and B (328.13 min) as compared to group C (274.87 min) and D (246.03 min). In group A, all haemodynamic parameters decreased by more than 20%, compared to baseline parameters, which was clinically and statistically significant as compared to other groups. There was also increase in duration of motor blockade in groups A and B. Conclusion: Addition of magnesium sulphate at 100 mg dose or fentanyl 25 μg as adjuvants to intrathecal bupivacaine significantly prolongs the duration of analgesia, though in the given doses, magnesium provides better haemodynamic stability than fentanyl, with fewer side effects