A REVIEW OF THE ELEMENTS OF NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE INSTRUMENTATION

The early efforts to detect nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) when reviewed, carries a valuable message on how to go about making discoveries of phenomena on the basis of what is known already. Particularly the instrumentation is an effort which has an outlook on enterprises that provide various laboratory equipments and assembling these units in a way that brings out precisely what is being looked for is a creative preoccupation in scientific research. The kind of home-built spectrometers which have been used by every researcher for the achievements in the NMR spectroscopic technique  is an example of the material manipulation to improve stage by stage thoughtfully knowing what went on before. Thus the review would have educative value while revealing the lessons on scientific matter studied. NMR of the current days is aplenty with commercial spectrometers which have unimaginable features built in and produce high quality spectra automatically without the user having to know much about the settings. Essentially black-box approach to the use of the spectrometers makes possible strides in leaps and jumps in a wide variety of disciplines of study. On the other hand the early efforts have been more educative on the equipments and instrumentation aspects. The researchers themselves had a hand on laboratory exercise to make the equipment for what they have to research on. In this contrasting situation a review of the early days NMR instrumentation is provided in this article for the benefit of student community to find an occupation while innovating their learning methods. Descriptions in this article are oriented towards school and college standards so as  to inspire the readers to look for more on instrumental methods and grasp the recent advances quickly and confidently in these days of conveniently automated and much simplified ‘black-box’ approach to use of  instruments. An important point to mention is that the circuit diagrams given in this articles are the author’s original version of block diagrams or schemes similar to concept diagrams (pedagogically speaking) to introduce  newly certain topics. Hence the students should not expect to plug in working circuits to see the functions. Note carefully that no specific component value is given nor any model numbers to commercially available components – even the circuit elements are not copied ones but drawn by the author with MS WORD drawing tools

Bridging the English Language Divide and Building Self-Confidence In Marginalized Communities: An Exploratory Study in Tamil Nadu, India

The purpose of this study was to critically evaluate the implementation of a community based English program in villages in Tamil Nadu, India and examine their model from the perceptions of students, parents, teachers, program tutors, trainers and administrators. The study using visual qualitative research methods describes the experiences of various stakeholders in the program. The data for the study was collected in video format through in-person interviews and site observations and edited to produce the documentary film “I Can!” Findings demonstrated that an asset based approach utilizing strengths in the community, culturally responsive teaching practices and a positive teacher student relationship based on empathy and care had a positive impact on student self-confidence, academic engagement and upward social mobility. The findings also indicated that the asset based approach enabled women tutors in the program to build self-confidence and social capital. Future research areas are described to extend the knowledge gained through this study to other marginalized populations across the world

DYNAMIC NUCLEAR POLARIZATION [D.N.P.]: ELEMENTARY EXPOSURE TO THE PHENOMENON OF DNP

Within a single experimental specimen there could be several spin species ensembles present. In a strong externally (external to the specimen) applied magnetic field, every one of the spin ensemble would be in equilibrium with the lattice (non-spin quantized levels of various degrees of freedom) and attain thermal equilibrium populations governed by the Boltzmann distribution for the corresponding quantization of energy level differences. In a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, of the several nuclear species, one of the species is selected to apply the RF radiation at frequency corresponding to energy level difference of one of the species namely electron, proton, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus etc. As a variation, it is possible to saturate the levels of one spin species. That is, by a high power RF radiation the RF induced transition rates can be increased so that the populations almost equalize. This would be a non-thermal population difference. Since this is part of the lattice of some other spin species, its population distribution can be affected. Presence of such a non thermal population difference can cause non-thermal equilibrium in another spin ensemble in the specimen. When such non-thermal equilibriums attain a steady ate, then what is called Dynamic Spin Population exists. In general when it pertains to nuclear ensembles it is referred to as Dynamic Nuclear Polarization. The description of such Dynamic Nuclear Polarization, and the enumeration of a variety of experiments involving Dynamically Polarized nuclear states are the subject matter to be included in this contribution.

Architecture-Function Analysis of the Kinetochore Reveals the Mechanism of Spindle Assembly Checkpoint Signaling.

In a dividing cell, equal segregation of chromosomes between the two daughters is necessary for accurate genome inheritance. For successful segregation, chromosomes must attach to and move along microtubule tracks provided by the division machinery. A complex, multi-protein machine called the kinetochore establishes this attachment and generates force to move chromosomes. It also signals the absence of attachment by triggering a biochemical cascade called the Spindle Assembly Checkpoint (SAC), which in turn stalls the cell cycle. My thesis work provides mechanistic insights into this attachment-sensitive execution of the SAC by the kinetochore. These findings have significant implications in understanding how the checkpoint fails in conditions like cancer and Down's syndrome. Functionality of kinetochore emerges from its 'architecture', defined by the spatial arrangement of multiple copies of > 60 proteins. I first reconstructed this architecture in the presence of microtubule attachment by combining high resolution imaging with FRET microscopy in budding yeast. This allowed me to then probe this architecture for changes that directly controlled SAC signaling. Using novel methods, I discovered a specific attachment-sensitive change in kinetochore architecture that regulates SAC signaling. Attachment controls the spatial separation between two conserved kinetochore proteins, Ndc80 and Spc105, like a mechanical toggle-switch. This nanoscale separation of ~ 30 nm in turn controls a key phosphorylation event, to turn the SAC on or off. I then investigated the biochemical reaction cascade that acts downstream from the triggering phosphorylation event to produce the final SAC signal. To understand the operational characteristics of individual steps in this cascade, I perturbed key parameters that govern these reactions and measured the effects on the steady-state concentration of the reaction intermediates in vivo, using quantitative fluorescence microscopy. This revealed novel mechanisms that tune the maximal signaling capacity of unattached kinetochores in the cell. Two commonly occurring regulatory themes, substrate limitation and modulation of binding affinities through negative cooperativity, tune the maximal SAC signal output from unattached kinetochores. These regulations likely enable sensitive detection of unattached kinetochores, while ensuring rapid reversibility of the SAC cascade following microtubule attachment.PHDBiophysicsUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/113299/1/pavithra_1.pd

Establishing and reporting content validity evidence of Training and Development Capacity Building Scale (TDCBS)

Training and development is a matter of paramount interest to contemporary organisations. The attention given to the subject has given way to a stream of analysis, diagnosis and prescription on the part of organizational scholars, practitioners and popular management writers. But, the closer analysis of the extant training and development literature revealed that focus of the research has been limited to the indivudual phases of the training cycle. A comprehensive instrument, focusing on assessment of all the phases of training cycle has been missing. This gap in the literature provided the impetus to develop the Training and Development Capacity Building Scale (TDCBS). When an instrument is constructed, psychometric testing is needed and the first step is to study content validity. Hence, it was decided to establish and report the content validity evidence for the newly developed scale

Establishing and reporting content validity evidence of Training and Development Capacity Building Scale (TDCBS)

Training and development is a matter of paramount interest to contemporary organisations. The attention given to the subject has given way to a stream of analysis, diagnosis and prescription on the part of organizational scholars, practitioners and popular management writers. But, the closer analysis of the extant training and development literature revealed that focus of the research has been limited to the indivudual phases of the training cycle. A comprehensive instrument, focusing on assessment of all the phases of training cycle has been missing. This gap in the literature provided the impetus to develop the Training and Development Capacity Building Scale (TDCBS). When an instrument is constructed, psychometric testing is needed and the first step is to study content validity. Hence, it was decided to establish and report the content validity evidence for the newly developed scale

Competency Based Learning In Aerospace Structures I In an Online Environment - Work in Progress

In Fall 2020, we converted the engineering upper division class “Aerospace Structural Analysis I” from a traditional format to a competency-based learning model. “Aerospace Structural Analysis I” is a combination of topics from statics and strength of materials applied to aerospace systems. A total of about 100 students were enrolled in the class. Due to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, this class was conducted in an online environment for the first time in Fall 2020. Competency based learning assesses students on how many topics/skills they are proficient, and allows students to engage with more complex topics only after mastering prerequisite skills. To pass the class in the competency-based learning model, students must be proficient on seven fundamental skills related to aerospace structures. Students are required to be proficient on further skills to obtain a higher grade. Students demonstrate proficiency on a skill by completing a quiz without major errors. The class was offered in Fall 2020 as fully online, with synchronous, recorded lectures. Although the online format poses new challenges for students, we think that it was easier for students to progress at their own pace in an online environment. The effectiveness and limitations of the competency-based pedagogy are assessed in the paper comparing students\u27 progress and grade between Fall 2020 and the previous class offering (Fall 2019). In addition, students\u27 experience and perception about the new format are assessed with an end-of-semester survey. Students generally had a positive experience with competency-based learning format, but they identified the necessity to provide more timely feedback

Optimal Advertisement Scheduling in Breaks of Random Lengths

Broadcasters generate a large part of their revenue through advertising, especially in live sports. Scheduling advertisements can be challenging in live broadcasting, however, for sports such as Cricket that have breaks of random lengths and number during which the ads are shown. This uncertainty, coupled with the high price of spots for major competitions, means that improving ad scheduling can add significant value to the broadcaster. This problem shares similarities with the stochastic cutting stock problem and the dynamic stochastic knapsack problem, with applications in the wood, steel and paper industry and the transportation industry respectively. This dissertation adds to the existing literature on advertising scheduling by taking stochasticity in break sizes into consideration. We propose an optimal scheduling rule under simplifying assumptions and prove that our policy outperforms traditional scheduling methods. We also study the performance of several heuristics, and find that a flexible heuristic that does not depend on creating bundles performs the best