Excellence in Higher Education in India: Way Forward

Indian higher education is at a crossroads. Since independence India has seen a proliferation in terms of the number of institutes of higher learning. Unfortunately, this growth has often been accompanied with compromising quality. Besides internal management issues, the external regulation has also focused on inputs rather than process or output. As a result Indian higher education has lost its way in terms of creating new frontiers of knowledge. The emerging global competition & commitment under GATS is likely to make the situation further complex. It is high time the policy makers look seriously into all contours of quality of institutes of higher learning

Label-free CARS microscopy reveals similar triacylglycerol acyl chain length and saturation in myocellular lipid droplets of athletes and individuals with type 2 diabetes

Aims/hypothesis: Intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) content associates with development of insulin resistance, albeit not in insulinsensitive endurance-trained athletes (trained). Qualitative and spatial differences in muscle lipid composition may underlie this so-called athlete’s paradox. Here we studied triacylglycerol (TAG) composition of individual myocellular lipid droplets (LDs) in trained individuals and individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods: Trained (˙V O2max 71.0 \ub1 1.6 ml O2 [kg lean body mass (LBM)]−1 min−1), normoglycaemic (fasting glucose 5.1 \ub1 0.1 mmol/l) individuals and untrained (V O2max 36.8 \ub1 1.5 ml O2 [kg LBM]−1 min−1) individuals with type 2 diabetes (fasting glucose 7.4 \ub1 0.5 mmol/l), with similar IMCL content (3.5 \ub1 0.7% vs 2.5 \ub1 0.3%, p = 0.241), but at opposite ends of the insulin sensitivity spectrum(glucose infusion rate 93.8 \ub1 6.6 vs 25.7 \ub1 5.3 μmol [kg LBM]−1 min−1 for trained individuals and those with type 2 diabetes, respectively) were included from our database in the present study. We applied in situ label-free broadbandcoherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy to sections from skeletal muscle biopsies to measure TAG acyl chain length and saturation of myocellular LDs. This approach uniquely permits examination of individual LDs in their native environment, in a fibre-type-specific manner, taking into account LD size and subcellular location.Results: Despite a significant difference in insulin sensitivity, we observed remarkably similar acyl chain length and saturation in trained and type 2 diabetic individuals (chain length: 18.12 \ub1 0.61 vs 18.36 \ub1 0.43 number of carbons; saturation: 0.37 \ub1 0.05 vs 0.38 \ub1 0.06 number of C=C bonds). Longer acyl chains or higher saturation (lower C=C number) could be detected in subpopulations of LDs, i.e. large LDs (chain length: 18.11 \ub1 0.48 vs 18.63 \ub1 0.57 carbon number) and subsarcolemmal LDs (saturation: 0.34 \ub1 0.02 vs 0.36 \ub1 0.04 C=C number), which are more abundant in individuals with type 2 diabetes.Conclusions/interpretation: In contrast to reports of profound differences in the lipid composition of lipids extracted from skeletal muscle from trained and type 2 diabetic individuals, our in situ, LD-specific approach detected only modest differences in TAGcomposition in LD subpopulations, which were dependent on LD size and subcellular location. If, and to what extent, these modest differences can impact insulin sensitivity remains to be elucidated

Identification of New Drug Candidates Against \u3cem\u3eBorrelia burgdorferi\u3c/em\u3e Using High-Throughput Screening

Lyme disease is the most common zoonotic bacterial disease in North America. It is estimated that .300,000 cases per annum are reported in USA alone. A total of 10%–20% of patients who have been treated with antibiotic therapy report the recrudescence of symptoms, such as muscle and joint pain, psychosocial and cognitive difficulties, and generalized fatigue. This condition is referred to as posttreatment Lyme disease syndrome. While there is no evidence for the presence of viable infectious organisms in individuals with posttreatment Lyme disease syndrome, some researchers found surviving Borrelia burgdorferi population in rodents and primates even after antibiotic treatment. Although such observations need more ratification, there is unmet need for developing the therapeutic agents that focus on removing the persisting bacterial form of B. burgdorferi in rodent and nonhuman primates. For this purpose, high-throughput screening was done using BacTiter-Glo assay for four compound libraries to identify candidates that stop the growth of B. burgdorferi in vitro. The four chemical libraries containing 4,366 compounds (80% Food and Drug Administration [FDA] approved) that were screened are Library of Pharmacologically Active Compounds (LOPAC1280), the National Institutes of Health Clinical Collection, the Microsource Spectrum, and the Biomol FDA. We subsequently identified 150 unique compounds, which inhibited .90% of B. burgdorferi growth at a concentration of ,25 µM. These 150 unique compounds comprise many safe antibiotics, chemical compounds, and also small molecules from plant sources. Of the 150 unique compounds, 101 compounds are FDA approved. We selected the top 20 FDA-approved molecules based on safety and potency and studied their minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration. The promising safe FDA-approved candidates that show low minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration values can be chosen as lead molecules for further advanced studies

A cross-discipline approach to healthcare needs

With rapid advancements in technology and growing demand for better healthcare, hospitals are struggling to find a balance between providing the best possible care and maintaining a responsible budget. This issue is especially evident in small hospitals lacking resources and infrastructure to keep up with modern technology. The Engineering for Modern Healthcare Creative Inquiry is a collaboration between Industrial Engineering and Bioengineering students. Our goal is to help small hospitals to develop efficient, cost-effective solutions to their needs. Currently, we are working with hospitals in South Carolina and Virginia to explore these solutions. We are interviewing clinicians, nurses, and other staff members to better understand current practices and identify improvement opportunities. Our initial focus will be on inventory management and sterile processing. Utilizing both departments\u27 expertise, we will develop a comprehensive solution to this complicated need

Rho-kinase inhibition blunts renal vasoconstriction induced by distinct signaling pathways in vivo

In addition to intracellular calcium, which activates myosin light chain (MLC) kinase, MLC phosphorylation and hence contraction is importantly regulated by MLC phosphatase (MLCP). Recent evidence suggests that distinct signaling cascades of vasoactive hormones interact with the Rho/Rho kinase (ROK) pathway, affecting the activity of MLCP. The present study measured the impact of ROK inhibition on vascular F-actin distribution and on vasoconstriction induced by activation/inhibition of distinct signaling pathways in vivo in the microcirculation of the split hydronephrotic rat kidney. Local application of the ROK inhibitors Y-27632 or HA-1077 induced marked dilation of pre- and postglomerular vessels. Activation of phospholipase C with the endothelin ET B agonist IRL 1620, inhibition of soluble guanylyl cyclase with 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo-[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), or inhibition of adenylyl cyclase with the adenosine A1 agonist N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) reduced glomerular blood flow (GBF) by about 50% through vasoconstriction at different vascular levels. ROK inhibition with Y-27632 or HA-1077, but not protein kinase C inhibition with Ro 31-8220, blunted ET B-induced vasoconstriction. Furthermore, the reduction of GBF and of vascular diameters in response to ODQ or CPA were abolished by pretreatment with Y-27632. ROK inhibitors prevented constriction of preglomerular vessels and of efferent arterioles with equal effectiveness. Confocal microscopy demonstrated that Y-27632 did not change F-actin content and distribution in renal vessels. The results suggest that ROK inhibition might be considered as a potent treatment of renal vasoconstriction, because it interferes with constriction induced by distinct signaling pathways in renal vessels without affecting F-actin structure

Evaluation of hyperbaric filtration for fine coal dewatering. Final report

The main objectives of the project were to investigate the fundamental aspects of particle-liquid interaction in fine coal dewatering, to conduct laboratory and pilot plant studies on the applicability of hyperbaric filter systems and to develop process conditions for dewatering of fine clean coal to less than 20% moisture. The program consisted of three phases, namely Phase 1 -- Model Development, Phase 2 -- Laboratory Studies, Phase 3 -- Pilot Plant Testing. The Pennsylvania State University led efforts in Phase 1, the University of Kentucky in Phase 2, and CONSOL Inc. in Phase 3 of the program. All three organizations were involved in all the three phases of the program. The Pennsylvania State University developed a theoretical model for hyperbaric filtration systems, whereas the University of Kentucky conducted experimental studies to investigate fundamental aspects of particle-liquid interaction and application of high pressure filter in fine coal dewatering. The optimum filtration conditions identified in Phase 1 and 2 were tested in two of the CONSOL Inc. coal preparation plants using an Andritz Ruthner portable hyperbaric filtration unit

Formation of Ejecta and Dust Pond Deposits on Asteroid Vesta

Dust and melt ponds have been studied on planetary bodies including Eros, Itokawa, and the Moon. However, depending on the nature of the regolith material properties and the location of the planetary body, the formation mechanism of the ponded features varies. On Eros and Itokawa, ponded features are formed from dry regolith materials whereas on the Moon similar features are thought to be produced by ejecta melt. On the surface of Vesta, we have identified type 1, ejecta ponds, and type 2, dust ponds. On Vesta type 1 pond are located in the vicinity of ejecta melt of large impact craters. The material is uniformly distributed across the crater floor producing smooth pond surfaces which have a constant slope and shallow depth. The hosting crater of melt-like ponds has a low raised rim and is located on relatively low elevated regions. Whereas, the type 2 ponds on Vesta reveal an undulating surface that is frequently displaced from the crater center or extends toward the crater wall with an abruptly changing slope. We suggested that for the production of the type 2 ponds, localized seismic diffusion and volatile-induced fluidization may be responsible for Vesta. Due to Vesta's large size (in comparison to Eros and Itokawa), the surface may have experienced local-scale rare high-amplitude seismic diffusion which was sufficient to drift fine material. Similarly, short-lived volatile activities were capable to transfer dusty material on to the surface. Segregation and smoothing of transferred material lack further surface activities, hindering the formation of smooth morphology

Experimental and CFD Analysis on the Effect of Various Cold Orifice Diameters and Inlet Pressure of a Vortex Tube

An experimental investigation was conducted to investigate the effects of different cold orifice diameters and operating pressures of the vortex tube. A vortex tube test rig was employed to conduct the experiments for various cold orifice diameters and operating pressures. Cold orifice diameters range from 1 mm to 6 mm, whereas the pressure condition ranges from 2 to 5 bar. The vortex generators were made up of brass material having six inlet nozzles. It was found that the temperature separation of the vortex tube significantly depends on the cold orifice diameter of the vortex tube and operating pressure. The study demonstrates the deviation of cold temperature separation with respect to the cold orifice diameters and inlet pressure for different cold mass fractions. In addition, present experimental results are used to determine the optimum cold orifice diameter, which is 5 mm at 5 bar inlet pressure. The percentage improvement in average cold temperature separation for 5 mm cold orifice diameter is 66.18% compared to rest of the cold orifice diameters at an inlet pressure of 5 bar. The maximum cooling power separation is 0.08 kW at 0.3 cold mass fraction and inlet pressure of 5 bar. The CFD technique was approached to discuss the complex fluid flow inside the tube at various radial distances. A three-dimensional numerical study was done and validated with the present experimental work. It was found that the numerical results are in good agreement with the present experimental data