Directing Interfacial Events Using Biomimetic Polymer Brushes

Polymer brushes are versatile surface modification tools, wherein composition, architecture and biological functionality can be controlled precisely and independently. By growing biomimetic polymer chains from substrate-bound initiator sites through atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), engineered biointerfaces were developed for four application areas. Spatioselective deactivation of ATRP initiator coatings made via chemical vapor deposition polymerization was demonstrated to synthesize micropatterned polymer brushes in a substrate-independent, modular and facile manner. Exposure of 2-bromoisobutyryl groups to UV light resulted in the loss of the bromine atom and effectively inhibited polymer brush growth. Microstructured brushes were selectively grown from those areas on the initiator that were protected from UV exposure, as confirmed by atomic force microscopy (AFM), Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and imaging ellipsometry. Protein patterns based on specific as well as non-specific adsorption can be created on technologically relevant substrates such as polystyrene, PDMS, polyvinyl chloride and steel. Model surfaces can aid in examining different hypotheses relevant to viral adsorption and formulating design rules for virus-resistant coatings. Thermodynamic models predicted that the extent of viral adsorption is shaped by the interplay between electrostatic attraction offered by binding sites and steric and hydration repulsions arising from surrounding polymer brushes. To verify these predictions, electrostatically heterogeneous carbohydrate-functional brushes were developed. Experimental results confirmed model predictions and offered guidelines for designing virus-resistant surfaces in realistic scenarios where electrostatically attractive defects are prevalent. By allowing the carbohydrate brushes to attain brush thicknesses between 3-5 nm, low levels of protein and viral adsorption could be achieved, even when the defect density was as high as 25-30%. The development of polymeric materials that facilitate the culture of large numbers of human pluripotent stem cells in fully defined conditions, poses a critical engineering challenge. Prior work had indicated that modifying the extent of zwitterionic self-association of PMEDSAH coatings could enhance the propagation rate of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Moderately self-associated PMEDSAH coatings were reported to be capable of expanding an initial population of 20,000 hESCS to 4.7 billion pluripotent cells at the end of five weeks, which is 2-fold and 12-fold higher than the estimated propagation rates for unassociated and highly associated coatings respectively. It was hypothesized that a property-prediction tool based on statistical design of experiments could identify reaction parameters that would yield targeted gel architectures. Model predictions were used to decrease the critical thickness at which the wettability transition occurs by merely increasing the catalyst quantity from 1 mol% to 3 mol%. Pro-regenerative M2 macrophages (M2 Mps) have the potential to remediate chronic inflammation in a spectrum of disorders pertaining to macrophage polarization, such as diabetic wounds. By targeting the CD206 receptor on these cells using mannose molecules presented in multivalent architectures, we could engineer coatings that preferentially adhered to M2 cells over pro-inflammatory M1 cells. While a selectivity ratio (for M2 over M1) between 6 to 7 was observed on mannosylated surfaces, the control glucosylated surfaces did not discriminate between M1 and M2 phenotypes, exhibiting a selectivity ratio between 0.4 to 0.7. By applying insights from polymer chemistry, surface science, and thermodynamics, an intimate understanding of biomedically relevant interfacial phenomena was acquired. This enabled the development of a platform based on multifunctional polymer brushes to address diverse problems at the interface of polymers and biology.PHDChemical EngineeringUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/144127/1/rmykmr_1.pd

Pattern of drug use among the geriatric patients: a prospective, observational and hospital based study

Background: The world’s population continues to grow at an unprecedented rate. With the advances in medical therapeutics have contributed to health gains and increase in life expectancy. So strategies to improve prescribing are essential so as to ensure that the medications available to manage concurrent disease states are prescribed appropriately. This study is undertaken to identify patterns of drug use in treating elderly patients and assessment of polypharmacy among the geriatric age group.Methods: The study was approved by institutional ethics committee of Rangaraya Medical College, Kakinada. The study was conducted as a hospital based study in different departments in Government General Hospital during period from January 2016 to December 2016 at Government General Hospital with a total of 549 patients among outpatient and inpatients.Results: Polypharmacy is unfortunately very common in India and some other countries. In the present study average number of drugs prescribed per patient was 4.66.Conclusions: With ever increasing therapeutic options, escalating proportions of older people worldwide, the prescription pattern among them matters a lot. Also as this group of patients are vulnerable, taking necessary care and reviewing the past drug history will have a major role and increase the betterment of the geriatric age group

Mass exchange evaluation during optimization of osmotic dehydration for Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus sajor-caju) in salt-sugar solution

The objective of this study was to investigate the osmotic dehydration of Oyster mushrooms in salt-sugar solution at different solution concentrations, immersion times, temperatures and solution to fruit ratio to analyze the water loss, solute gain and weight reduction. Salt-sugar uptake and water transfer were quantitatively investigated during osmotic dehydration of Oyster mushrooms using response surface methodology. Experiments were conducted in a thermostatically controlled agitating incubator. With respect to water loss, solute gain and weight reduction both linear and quadratic effects of four process variables were found to be significant. For each response, second order polynomial models were developed using multiple linear regression analysis. ANOVA was performed to check the adequacy and accuracy of the fitted models. The response surfaces and contour maps showing the interaction of process variables were constructed. Applying desirability function method, the optimum operating conditions were found to be: solution temperature – 42.3° C, immersion time – 44.21 min, salt-sugar concentration – 15 %: 52.57° B and solution to fruit ratio 4.99:1. At these optimum values, water loss, solute gain and weight reduction was 41, 2.15 and 38.6 (g/100 g initial mass) respectively

Ownership Pattern of Public Debt in India: A Study

To bridge the inevitable gap between the expenditure and revenue of governments, public debt has been resorted to increasingly by the government all over the world. In India, too, public debt has been reckoned as a device though which governments attempt to garner enough resources for both developmental and non-developmental activities. The present paper looks into the change and pattern in the ownership of public debt in India in recent years. In recent times, there has been a slight decline in the State government securities issued in India. Provident Funds have become dominant and permanent owners of state government securities in Indi, especially in recent times. Commercial banks in India are the main owners of GOI dated securities. Half of the T-Bills have been held by the Commercial Banks in the country. Mutual Funds also have been buying the Treasury Bills on a large scale. Provident Funds (PFs) do not seem to be interested in engaging in Treasury Bills operations in the country

Influence of packaging material, storage condition and duration on quality attributes of osmo-cum-microwave dehydrated mushroom flakes

The present article investigates influence of packaging material, storage condition and duration on quality attributes of osmo-cum-microwave dehydrated Pleurotus sajor-caju mushroom flakes during storage. Oyster mushrooms were dried by microwave drying technique to a moisture content of 6 % (w.b.) succeeding osmosis. The ultimate superior quality dried product obtained through optimization was stored in different packaging material for confined duration of three months at different storage conditions. Various quality attributes that assist in bestowal of overall consumer acceptability were studied during storage period. The present research study revealed that mushroom flakes were highly acceptable upto two months of storage that was packed in high density polyethylene by retaining much of the quality attributes. The outcome of the present investigation perhaps supportive for those involved in the post-harvest processing and value addition of oyster mushrooms

Online Dormitory Reservation System

This project is Online Dorms Systems which allows users to book their room in the dorm from anywhere; this is an automated system where the user can search the availability of rooms in the dorm. The search can be done based on the dates. The rooms that available are come with the status available, it will display all the rooms available as of that particular search date. Once the room has been booked the user can cancel the reservation within 48 hours. And there is concept of user login. As the user creates his own account with his email id, he can login into his account. There is an administrator login page for administrator, who has the control over the dorms system application. He can also review the business profit and growth. The proposed system reduces a lot effort for student and the administrator of the dorms as well. The objective of this application is to develop an online dorm system for Improving Software Quality and Reliability is useful for applications developed in an organization. This system can be used for reduce problems of student against an application/module, assigning dorms to individuals and solving problems of student

Optimization of osmotic dehydration process for Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus sajor-caju) in sodium chloride solution using RSM

Sodium chloride (NaCl) and water transfer were quantitatively investigated during osmotic dehydration of Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus sajor-caju) using response surface methodology with the NaCl concentration (10– 20%, w/v), solution temperature (30–60° C) immersio n time (15–240 min) and solution to fruit ratio (4:1 to 8:1) were taken as independent process variables. Experiments were conducted in a thermostatically controlled agitating incubator. For each response, second order polynomial models were developed using multiple linear regression analysis. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to check the adequacy and accuracy of the fitted models. The response surfaces and contour maps showing the interaction of process variables were constructed. Applying desirability function method, the optimum operating conditions were found to be: solution temperature – 45o C, immersion time – 53.54 min, salt concentration – 14.09% and solution to fruit ratio 6.08:1. Corresponding to these optimum values water loss, solute gain and weight reduction were 38.13, 2.1 and 36.02 (g/100 g initial mass) respectively

INCIDENCE OF POST-OPERATIVE ADR OF ANESTHETICS IN TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL: CLINICAL PHARMACIST PERSPECTIVES

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the use of anesthetics in various general surgical conditions and to identify the adverse clinical outcomes of anesthetics in post-operative patients using questionnaire and verbal rating scale (VRS) score and to assess the treatment pattern of adverse clinical outcomes of anesthetics.Methods: A prospective study was carried out in the Inpatient Department of General Surgery and ICU in S.R.M Medical College Hospital and Research Center involving patients up to 65 years of age. A total of 160 patients were recruited for the study based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patient demographics, medical history, type of surgery, type of anesthetics, duration of anesthesia, ASA Grade physical status, system examination, general examination, vital signs, and anesthetics drugs were assessed using pro forma. Adverse clinical outcomes of anesthetics were assessed using VRS score. Day of incidence of adverse outcomes was also monitored, and management of post-operative side effects and its effectiveness were assessed.Results: During the study period, approximately 50% of the patient's undergone general anesthetics reported post-operative pain. The incidence of post-operative nausea/vomiting, sore throat, and cough was highest in patient's undergone general anesthetics. The adverse outcomes were measured by VRS score, showed that mild adverse outcomes were predominated.Conclusion: Patients who undergone general anesthetics developed high risk of adverse outcomes. The post-operative recovery of the patientwas the main challenge. If an adverse drug reaction is not monitored the patients satisfaction can be weakened in general surgery. Hence, it isconcluded that pharmacists can play a major role in assessing adverse clinical outcomes and its management

Variational Student: Learning Compact and Sparser Networks in Knowledge Distillation Framework

The holy grail in deep neural network research is porting the memory- and computation-intensive network models on embedded platforms with a minimal compromise in model accuracy. To this end, we propose a novel approach, termed as Variational Student, where we reap the benefits of compressibility of the knowledge distillation (KD) framework, and sparsity inducing abilities of variational inference (VI) techniques. Essentially, we build a sparse student network, whose sparsity is induced by the variational parameters found via optimizing a loss function based on VI, leveraging the knowledge learnt by an accurate but complex pre-trained teacher network. Further, for sparsity enhancement, we also employ a Block Sparse Regularizer on a concatenated tensor of teacher and student network weights. We demonstrate that the marriage of KD and the VI techniques inherits compression properties from the KD framework, and enhances levels of sparsity from the VI approach, with minimal compromise in the model accuracy. We benchmark our results on LeNet MLP and VGGNet (CNN) and illustrate a memory footprint reduction of 64x and 213x on these MLP and CNN variants, respectively, without a need to retrain the teacher network. Furthermore, in the low data regime, we observed that our method outperforms state-of-the-art Bayesian techniques in terms of accuracy