Multicomponent Approaches for the Generation of Structurally Diverse Microporous Coordination Polymers.

Microporous coordination polymers (MCPs), materials built from metal clusters bridged with organic linkers, constitute a rapidly growing class of porous solids. The conventional synthetic strategies for production of MCPs involve coordination polymerization of one type linker with a single metal. Despite the success of this method, there exist several challenges with regard to producing highly porous and commercially viable MCPs. These disadvantages include interpenetration of frameworks upon linker extension causing a reduction in porosity and the requirement for synthetically complex linkers to achieve high porosity leading to a drastic increase in cost. This thesis is focused on multicomponent approaches for synthesis of structurally diverse MCPs. In addition, using multiple building units enables suppression of interpenetration, higher predictability over network topology, and an overall reduction in cost. Chapter 2 describes a coordination copolymerization approach of three carboxylate linkers; this strategy was employed to generate a series of isoreticular (having the same network topology) pillared-layer MCPs wherein structures were tuned uniaxially via controllable replacement of pillar linker. Moreover, pillar linker extension occurred in absence of interpenetration resulting in highly porous MCPs. The coordination terpolymerization strategy described in chapter 2 is also exploited to alter the connectivity within the layer arrangement of a pillared-layer MCP in chapter 3. Using a mixture of commercially available linkers of differing lengths enabled formation of a pillared-layer MCP with a non-regular layer structure and no interpenetration. In chapter 4 the power of the multicomponent approach is leveraged through covalent bond formation in tandem with coordination chemistry. A linker was designed which allows either coordination processes or a combination of coordination processes and covalent bond formation to occur in presence of Zn(II). Upon addition of various reaction partners, materials with variable architectures and pore characteristics are obtained. This approach, in addition to being a compelling material discovery method, also offers a fundamental understanding of factors influencing the two distinct modes of assembly.PHDChemistryUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/113422/1/anidutta_1.pd

We Deliver: The Condition of the Woman Academic in India Today

This auto-ethnographic essay draws upon Foucault’s Archaeology of Knowledge to discuss the condition of Indian women in the Humanities in academia today. While acknowledging the encouragingly gender-inclusive projections in India’s National Education Policy vision statement from 2020, I argue for more probing engagement with the concrete reality of being a woman teacher and researcher in the increasingly competitive and corporatized milieu of higher education. My methodology has been a close reading of the NEP’s vision statement to analyze recurrences of terms and concepts as pointers to its discursive field. I argue that this policy statement implicitly envisions an empowered new-age Indian woman teacher, notionally mother to all her pupils, aiding their awakening intuitively from the very heart of her experiences, skills, and memories. Against this somewhat idealized feminine ecology of the NEP in principle and spirit, I juxtapose the actual everyday choices and struggles of women in academic positions. Does the decolonization of education in spirit also impart actual transformative agency to women academics? Will women be listened to? Not one essential woman, but heterogeneous women—women across different strata, identities, professional spaces, and ideologies? Above all, my essay probes the challenges and dividends of transitioning to a more home-grown teaching and research methodology derived from current Western academic models. For instance, what forms and lines of interdisciplinarity could best serve the interest of quality control in research and teaching? In the third and last section, I argue that women are equal contributors in the discourse of academics in the future. We are committed stakeholders that can help enhance collective performance and efficiency in ways that are commensurate and compatible with our particular needs, contexts, restraints, aptitudes, and encumbrances. I conclude my essay by urging colleagues in academia, women and men, to recognize that we can truly deliver on this challenge only in a spirit of intellectual, ethical, and interpersonal collaboration and collegiality

Porous Solids Arising from Synergistic and Competing Modes of Assembly: Combining Coordination Chemistry and Covalent Bond Formation

Design and synthesis of porous solids employing both reversible coordination chemistry and reversible covalent bond formation is described. The combination of two different linkage modes in a single material presents a link between two distinct classes of porous materials as exemplified by metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs). This strategy, in addition to being a compelling material‐discovery method, also offers a platform for developing a fundamental understanding of the factors influencing the competing modes of assembly. We also demonstrate that even temporary formation of reversible connections between components may be leveraged to make new phases thus offering design routes to polymorphic frameworks. Moreover, this approach has the striking potential of providing a rich landscape of structurally complex materials from commercially available or readily accessible feedstocks.Auf gute Zusammenarbeit: Koordinationschemie und die Bildung kovalenter Bindungen können im selben Material zur gleichen Zeit auftreten. Ein Gleichgewicht zwischen Inkubationszeit der organischen Verbindungen und Solvenszerfall/Basenbildung steuert die Konkurrenz zwischen den beiden Prozessen und bestimmt die gebildete Phase. Selbst die temporäre Bildung reversibler Verknüpfungen zwischen Komponenten lässt sich zur Herstellung neuer Phasen nutzen.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/110844/1/ange_201411735_sm_miscellaneous_information.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/110844/2/4055_ftp.pd

A questionnaire based study to evaluate the perception, attitude and feedback of second year undergraduate students with respect to their pharmacology teaching methodology

Background: Pharmacology, like any other branch of medicine, is progressing by leaps and bounds. Attempts have been made all over India to make the teaching of pharmacology more interesting and relevant. The course assessment instruments like feedback may help to know about the pros and cons of teaching and assessment methods. Currently, student’s feedback represents the primary means used by most programs to assess their methodology.Methods: A questionnaire was designed and given to second-year medical students to fill in and make suggestions according to the options given and were also free to express their own opinion at various places.Results: Majority of the students showed preference for tutorials, short answer questions and revision classes. About one third of the students felt that more group discussions should be introduced during teaching sessions. Students’ interest in microteaching and problem based learning was evident from their feedbacks.Conclusions: There is a need of conducting few microteaching sessions and more of clinical oriented problem based learning with MCQ based revisions at the end of each class in the pharmacology teaching at undergraduate level

Effects of Ipomoea aquatica Forsk. in cyclophosphamide induced dyslipidaemia in albino rats

Background: Cyclophosphamide (CP) is commonly used as anticancer and immuno suppressant agent. It induces hyperlipidemia and myocardium damage. Ipomoea aquatic Forsk. is traditionally used for cardiovascular disease, paralysis and general debility. The present study was done to evaluate the protective effect of the plant against CP induced dyslipidaemia in albino rats.Methods: Twenty albino rats were divided into 4 groups of 5 animals each. Group I (normal group) received normal saline intraperitoneally. Groups II to IV received CP (200mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneally) single dose on day 1 of experimental period. Groups I and II (toxic group) animals were given 2% gum acacia per orally daily for 10 days. Groups III and IV received aqueous extract of stem and leaves of Ipomoea aquatica 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg per orally respectively daily for 10 days. On 11th day, blood samples were collected for estimation of triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol and heart tissues were sent for histopathology examination (HPE).Results: CP administration significantly (P<0.05) increased the levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and decreased the level of HDL-cholesterol in toxic group compared to normal group. Treatment with aqueous extract of Ipomoea aquatica significantly (P<0.05) reversed the status of lipid profile compared to toxic group. HPE of myocardium showed reversal of the toxic effects of CP in the extract treated groups.Conclusions: Ipomoea aquatica showed protective effects against CP induced dyslipidaemia in albino rats

Android based EEG Speller for the Disabled

Steady State Visually Evoked Potential (SSVEP) is the electro encephalograph (EEG) response observed at the occipital region of the brain to a visual stimulation having a periodic intensity variation. When the retina is excited by a visual stimulus ranging from 3.5 Hz to 75 Hz, the brain generates electrical activity at the same or multiples of frequency of the visual stimulus. SSVEP response can be used to determine the light source the subject is viewing and can form an useful part of a brain machine interface (BMI). Here we present an Android Application that produces visual stimuli, receives EEG signals and performs real time signal processing that enables the classification of the signal spectrum. This is aimed at providing a speller technology for the disabled

Tradeoff between insensitivity to depth-induced spherical aberration and resolution of 3D fluorescence imaging due to the use of wavefront encoding with a radially symmetric phase mask

Previously, a wavefront encoded (WFE) imaging system implemented using a squared cubic (SQUBIC) phase mask has been verified to reduce the sensitivity of the imaging system to spherical aberration (SA). The strength of the SQUBIC phase mask and, as consequence, the performance of the WFE system are controlled by a design parameter, A. Although the higher the A-value, the more tolerant the WFE system is to SA, this is accomplished at the expense of the effective imaging resolution. In this contribution, we investigate this tradeoff in order to find an optimal A-value to balance the effect of SA and loss of resolution

Two‐Dimensional Crystals from Reduced Symmetry Analogues of Trimesic Acid

The two‐dimensional assembly of multicarboxylated arenes is explored at the liquid–graphite interface using scanning tunneling microscopy. Symmetry variations were introduced via phenylene spacer addition and the influence of these perturbations on the formation of hydrogen‐bonded motifs from an alkanoic acid solvent is observed. This work demonstrates the importance of symmetry in 2D crystal formation and draws possible links of this behavior to prediction of coordination modes in three‐dimensional coordination polymers.Crystal clear: 2D assemblies of a series of five reduced symmetry multicarboxylated molecules (such as depicted) related to trimesic acid, a prototypical high symmetry adsorbate, through the addition of phenylene spacers, are explored at the liquid–graphite interface using scanning tunneling microscopy. The 2D assembly behaviors of these multicarboxylate molecules mirror their coordination modes in 3D coordination polymers.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/110860/1/chem_201406332_sm_miscellaneous_information.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/110860/2/5954_ftp.pd

Sonographic Association and Prediction of Treatment Response to Medical Therapy in Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A Prospective Cohort Study

Introduction: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is mainly managed with alpha-blocker and 5 alpha reductase inhibitors. Non responders are offered surgery. To wait for the drug response is sometimes cumbersome for the patients with bothersome symptoms and may also lead to complications. On the other hand, some have minimal symptoms on drugs but silently develop obstructive complications. Aim: To understand the role of sonographic parameters of prostate and bladder of BPH patients in predicting and assessing response to medical treatment. Materials and Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted in the Department of Urology at Army Hospital Research and Referral, New Delhi, India. The duration of the study was 15 months, from October 2017 to January 2019. A total of 100 consecutive patients of BPH with Prostate-specific Antigen (PSA) 35 cc were given three months of alpha-blocker and dutasteride. Based on there subjective response, they were grouped into Symptomatic Improved (SI) and Not Improved (NI) group. Values of sonographic parameters including Prostate Volume (PV), prostatic capsular artery Resistance Index (RI), Intravesical Protrusion of Prostate (IPP), Detrusor Wall Thickness (DWT) and Post-void Residual volume (PVR), as well as, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and Uroflowmetry (UFM) at baseline and after three months of treatment were analysed and compared in both the groups. The significance of change in parameters was analysed using paired t-test and two sample Student’s t-test. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 64.8±5.86 years. There was an association between IPSS and flow with initial reading of PV, PVR, DWT, RI and IPP. Post-treatment both, SI (n=74) and NI (n=26) group showed valuable difference in DWT, PV and PVR but it was significantly more in improved group. Significant change in RI was observed only in SI group and IPP did not change in either group. Area Under Curve (AUC) under Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) was suggestive of higher sensitivity for IPP in predicting drug outcome. Conclusion: Combined use of Ultrasonography (USG) and Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder (KUB) parameters as described above like RI, DWT, PV and IPP can be used to predict and assess the objective response to drug in BPH. This helps in determining therapeutic plan and the need for further medical therapy or surgical intervention