Toward an Alternative Intrinsic Probe for Spectroscopic Characterization of a Protein

The intrinsic fluorescent amino acid tryptophan is the unanimous choice for the spectroscopic investigation of proteins. However, several complicacies in the interpretation of tryptophan fluorescence in a protein are inevitable and an alternative intrinsic protein probe is a longstanding demand. In this contribution, we report an electron-transfer reaction in a human transporter protein (HSA) cavity which causes the tryptophan residue (Trp214) to undergo chemical modification to form one of its metabolites kynurenine (Kyn214). Structural integrity upon modification of the native protein is confirmed by dynamic light scattering (DLS) as well as near and far circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Femtosecond-resolved fluorescence transients of the modified protein describe the dynamics of solvent molecules in the protein cavity in both the native and denatured states. In order to establish general use of the probe, we have studied the dipolar interaction of Kyn214 with a surface-bound ligand (crystal violet, CV) of the protein. By using the sensitivity of FRET, we have determined the distance between Kyn214 (donor) and CV (acceptor). Our study is an attempt to explore an alternative intrinsic fluorescence probe for the spectroscopic investigation of a protein. In order to establish the efficacy of the modification technique we have converted the tryptophan residues of other proteins (bovine serum albumin, chymotrypsin and subtilisin Carlsberg) to kynurenine and confirmed their structural integrity. We have also shown that catalytic activity of the enzymes remains intact upon the modification

多重偏波を利用した高速データ伝送MIMO通信システムに関する研究

電気通信大学200

THE IMPACT OF INDUSTRIAL PLACEMENT ON STUDENTS’ EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS IN TERTIARY EDUCATION

This research aims at assessing the impact of industrial placement on students’ employability skills in the tertiary education sector in Mauritius. Long-time neglected and considered as accessory to academic learning, industrial placement is nowadays a necessity for this category of students. In a competitive world where there needs be a suitable match between employment skills and job demands, industrial placement is rightly considered as a stepping stone to the forthcoming work-life career of the individual. The research states that students undergoing industrial placement in suitable companies learn the various skills and techniques in a job environment, gain greater confidence and maturity prior to embarking on a job. This study is limited to a sample of students from Université des Mascareignes that has formalised such training using an established methodology and framework to assess students. It is clearly approved that industrial placement is relevant in tertiary academic learning in that it bridges the gap between school and the immediate work environment

Research for all, an initiative to promote research in the Mauritian society

At a time when leaders are globally discussing of the impact of climate change on the environment, it has become a necessity for strategists to think of democratising research to enable the wider community to get opportunities to undertake and participate in research. Very often, this aspect is dismissed and the lack of citizen involvement in research leaves a majority as users of models prescribed by knowledgeable people. This paper addresses a broad concept "Research for All" with the intention of sensitising information on allowing the community to develop, create and contribute to research in a meaningful way since bright ideas sometimes come from the community and these are commercialised by researchers. The effort of the community is usually underestimated with biased thoughts like they are not deep enough to be claimed as research but, in essence, have their contribution in society. The paper focus is on initiatives to democratise research and see how the wider community provides useful input to innovation, research and development

Power games and their history in the Indian Ocean: A Mauritian perspective

This paper aims to discuss the situation of Mauritius in the post-colonial geopolitical configuration of the Indian Ocean. The island nation, a former British colony that has been independent since 1968, is today confronted with geopolitical issues that place it within a dilemma. Its recent allegiance with India, through preferential trade partnership, makes claiming sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago which was part of its territory before independence complicated. There is in an ongoing conflict with Great Britain and, indirectly, the United States on this contentious issue. At the same time, Mauritius needs to consider China’s influence in the region since it partners with most of the independent nations on matters of economic development. Mauritius itself has established an important trading platform through Chinese assistance. Concurrently, the Mauritian relationship with the United States cannot be compromised as it has been the major trading partner since 1794 with an embassy established in 1968. Hence, trapped between economic ties from all the partners engaged in the Indian Ocean, Mauritius strives to maintain its neutrality, while also being obliged to accept that its location, size and influence might not be enough to contest against past and emerging superpowers. To this end, the power games remain as complex as ever in the Indian Ocean when seen from a Mauritian perspective.Este artículo discute la situación de Mauricio en la configuración geopolítica poscolonial del océano Índico. Este Estado insular fue primero una colonia británica y obtuvo su independencia en 1968. En esa época, el archipiélago de Chagos, que hacía parte del territorio de la isla, fue extirpado de Mauricio. Después de la independencia, Mauricio se enfrentó continuamente a la Guerra Fría entre Occidente y la antigua Unión Soviética, al tiempo que pedía la descolonización del archipiélago sobre el cual Mauricio afirma tener soberanía. En el contexto actual, existe una nueva configuración geopolítica que ha visto el surgimiento de países en desarrollo como China e India como nuevas naciones emergentes que buscan ejercer influencia tanto militar como económica en la región. En lo que concierne a China, hay un gran avance con el desarrollo del Cinturón Marítimo de la Seda, mientras India persigue el sueño de mantener el poder en un océano que lleva su nombre. Desde la perspectiva mauriciana, aún queda el objetivo de terminar con la descolonización de Chagos, mientras se enfrenta a la influencia de las nuevas potencias que dominan el contexto geopolítico actual. También existe el problema para Mauricio de mantener lazos políticos con potencias emergentes como China e India, al tiempo que mantiene sus relaciones históricas con Occidente. El nuevo paradigma, en consecuencia, establece un argumento complejo en la nueva configuración geopolítica

The Impact of Nine-Year Schooling on Higher Learning in Mauritius

Nine-Year Schooling is the new educational concept developed in Mauritius by the Ministry of Education and Human Resources with the perspective of favouring holistic learning aimed at the future of the Mauritian workforce. With its main intention of being a strategy that aligns Mauritius with international learning standards, this concept should be an effective one although its outcomes have not yet been developed. It is expected that higher learning might be affected by the inputs of the NineYear Schooling namely in terms of competences and skills that are likely to be developed by learners in the new system. This research work analyses how Nine-Year Schooling will impact higher education in terms of prerequisites developed by existing learners, the new paradigm of secondary school education and the new challenges of tertiary education. It also analyses the challenges that the Nine-Year Schooling might pose to higher education. Assuming that outcomes are not yet available, the research seeks expert advice from various stakeholders and a panel of expert opinion to see how the Nine-Year Schooling posits itself in the future and how universities will have to embrace such a new concept

Development of manufacturability constraints for press forming of sheet metal components

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/2869757

Cefixime and Ofloxacin fixed dose combination induced petechial rash: a case report

Petechial rash is a type of rash which is associated with many infectious and non-infectious conditions. We present a case of Petechial rash induced by administration of cefixime with ofloxacin tablet. A eighteen year old male patient reported to us with a presentation of rash with itching for three days on administration of the fixed dose combination of cefixime + ofloxacin along with paracetamol for the previous symptoms of fever with chills, headache and bodyache. Patient describes itching in the rash which is increasing. The duty doctor attended the patient and immediately stopped the further administration of the offending medication. The patient was prescribed tablet cetirizine orally along with calamine lotion for local application. The patient reported back in for follow-up and was without any residual rashes or other such complaints. He was advised to remember and cautious from the use of drugs in the offending category

Towards a Policy on Assessment Methodology for Malagasy Students at the Universite Des Mascareignes

With an increase in the intake of foreign students to the Université des Mascareignes (UdM), there are arguments on reviewing the assessment system in force in the university. It might be correct to assume that universities have the flexibility of providing various forms of assessments but these have to be tailored to the needs of contemporary students. The research is based on the fact that Malagasy and foreign students coming from the African region have different educational backgrounds that differ from the Mauritian Anglo-Saxon inherited system with formal examinations and a little change in evaluations recently. The fact that foreign students are now an integral part of the university revealed that Malagasy students, taken as a sample of the research, tended to favour the use of French language and appeared to be more versed in practical applications of learning provided by the UdM. This situation puts them in slight confrontation with Mauritian students who are more apt to learn by heart and assimilate English language without much difficulty. In view of this situation, the researcher claims that it might be possible to make assessments more flexible and adaptable to such foreign students while confirming that the essence of formal examinations should be maintained. This approach could be more practical as evaluation suited to the needs and of foreign students at the UdM