Mountain West Clinical Translational Research-Infrastructure Network: Introduction

The Mountain West (MW) Clinical Translational Research Infrastructure Network (CTR- IN) Program represents a consortium of all of the 13 major public universities across seven Institutional Development Awards (IDeA) states with the overall goal of increasing and enhancing research capacity. The MW CTR-IN Program covers 1/3rd the U.S. land mass and almost 1/3rd of all IDeA states stretching across 4 time zones. The 13 major U.S. public partner universities in the 7 IDeA states are as follows: University of Alaska at Anchorage (UAA), University of Alaska at Fairbanks (UAF), University of Montana (UM), Montana State University (MSU), University of Idaho (UI), Boise State University (BSU), University of Idaho State (UIS), University of Wyoming (UW), University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), University of Nevada Reno (UNR), New Mexico State University (NMSU), University of New Mexico (UNM) - Health Science Center (HSC), and the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM). The initial five-year grant was awarded to UNLV in 2013 by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and has been recently renewed in August 2018 to continue until June 2023. [Funded by National Institute of General Medical Services (NIGMS) – U54GM104944-02] Over the years, the MW CTR-IN Program has supported, stimulated and facilitated collaborations to foster and enhance clinical research from many diverse disciplines. The MW CTR-IN Program has stimulated research in a spectrum of scientific disciplines (e.g., epidemiology, biostatistics, pharmacology, social and behavioral sciences, nutrition, nursing, health economics, community-based participatory research, dental health, and medicine), methodologies (e.g., observational and experimental) and health professions (e.g., nursing, public health, pharmacy, clinical psychology, sports physiology, physical therapy), including Engineering, which traditionally does not engage in clinical and translational human research. One of the important mechanisms by which the MW CTR-IN Program supports and facilitates collaborations is through our Pilot Grants Program. The Pilot Grants are designed as catalysts to help researchers lay the groundwork for larger, independent grant proposals. To date, almost $47 million in extramural grant funding has been achieved, representing a return on investment of 1013%! The major focus of the MW CTR-IN Program is on addressing health disparities in the MW Region. Hence, our abstracts for our 6th Annual MW CTR-IN Meeting reflect our focus on health disparities. The MW CTR-IN 6th Annual Meeting showcased the health disparity research results of our 10 Pilot Grant Awardees (Table 1). These 10 Pilot Grants represented most of our University Partners involving a wide range of health disparity research areas and very diverse populations. For example, our current PG Awardees’ research areas varied from Dr. Atif Zafar’s focus on “Healthcare disparities among Hispanics, Native Americans, and Caucasians in Ischemic Stroke Patients” to Dr. Renee Robinson’s research in “Assessing the Long-Term Outcomes of Specialized Supportive Care on the Health of Infants with In-Utero Opioid Exposure”. In addition, our “Call for Abstracts” also generated a tremendous interest from our MW faculty investigators. In total, over 26 abstracts were submitted, of which only 3 were accepted for oral podium presentation and 9 were accepted for poster presentation (Table 2). These abstracts also again showed the diversity of research being conducted in the MW region

The Price of Progress: Funding and Financing Alzheimer\u27s Disease Drug Development

Introduction Advancing research and treatment for Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD) and the search for effective treatments depend on a complex financial ecosystem involving federal, state, industry, advocacy, venture capital, and philanthropy funding approaches. Methods We conducted an expert review of the literature pertaining to funding and financing of translational research and drug development for AD. Results The federal government is the largest public funder of research in AD. The National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, and National Center for Advancing Translational Science all fund aspects of research in AD drug development. Non-National Institutes of Health federal funding comes from the National Science Foundation, Veterans Administration, Food and Drug Administration, and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Academic Medical Centers host much of the federally funded basic science research and are increasingly involved in drug development. Funding of the “Valley of Death” involves philanthropy and federal funding through small business programs and private equity from seed capital, angel investors, and venture capital companies. Advocacy groups fund both basic science and clinical trials. The Alzheimer Association is the advocacy organization with the largest research support portfolio relevant to AD drug development. Pharmaceutical companies are the largest supporters of biomedical research worldwide; companies are most interested in late stage de-risked drugs. Drugs progressing into phase II and III are candidates for pharmaceutical industry support through licensing, mergers and acquisitions, and co-development collaborations. Discussion Together, the funding and financing entities involved in supporting AD drug development comprise a complex, interactive, dynamic financial ecosystem. Funding source interaction is largely unstructured and available funding is insufficient to meet all demands for new therapies. Novel approaches to funding such as mega-funds have been proposed and more integration of component parts would assist in accelerating drug development

Concept of “ama dosha” WSR to free radicals

Ama is considered as root cause of all diseases in the body. It has tremendous capacity to vitiate the Doshas and disturbing the homeostasis (Dhatusamya).  Ama is the result of improper digestion or partially digestion of the food particle due to hypo function of Jatharagni and also due to accumulation of mala in the body. In modern physiology, Ama can be correlated with deadly Free radicals. Free radicals are atoms, ions or molecules that contain one or more unpaired electron, which requires neutralization by free radical scavengers. The majority of free radicals that damage biological systems are oxygen free radicals, and these are known as “Reactive oxygen species”. Thus it exists in incomplete metabolic state which is also the state of Ama described as Avipakam (incompletely metabolized).  This Ama is responsible for the production of various diseases. In the same way, free radicals are also found to be root cause of many diseases. The aim of present article is to understand the concept of Ama as well as free radicals as a root cause of diseases and its treatment

A critical review on keeta visha: an ayurvedic approach

Indian system of medicine plays an important part in health care system all over India. Ayurveda is an ancient Indian system of medicine having eight important branches. Agad tantra is among one of them which deals with toxicological conditions and their management. Sage Susruta in Kalpasthaana of his work Susruta Samhita, and Sage Vaagbhata in Uttaratantra of his work Ashtaanga Hrdaya, and in other classics and regional texts have narrated regarding the origin of Visha and Keeta Visha. There are several types of Keeta Visha described. Among animal poisoning, Acharayas have described different creatures (Sarpa, Keeta, and Luta) responsible for life threatening situations. The importance of Keeta Visha is more because it causes severe manifestations in the human being, even death also. Acharya Suhsruta described Keeta Visha under Jangama Visha and explained 67 varieties of Keeta under 4 groups. According to its variety diagnosis and treatment of Keeta Visha is found to be very difficult because these varieties are not yet correctly identified and besides, regional variations of these Keetas manifests very differently

Camels Rating Model For Evaluating Financial Performance of Banking Sector: A Theoretical Perspective

The function and significance of banking sector cannotbe under-estimated in the development of an economy. Thestrength of economy of any country basically hinges on thestrength and efficiency of financial system, which, in turn, dependsupon a sound banking system. Reserve Bank of Indiarecommended two supervisory rating models named as CAMELS(Capital Adequacy, Assets Quality, Management, Earning,Liquidity, Systems and Controls) and CACS (Capital Adequacy,Assets Quality, Compliance, Systems and Controls) for rating ofIndian commercial, private and foreign banks operating in India.The present study describes the various financial ratios used in theabove mentioned models to measure the financial performance ofbanking sector. The study examined each parameter of CAMELSsystem by review of literature and empirical studies

Impact of Quality Management System Dimensions on Organizational Effectiveness of Engineering Institutions in India

148-155The aim of this study was to examine the role of Quality Management System (QMS) dimensions and to analyse interrelationships and their combined impact on the organizational effectiveness of engineering institutes of India. This study was carried through an extensive literature survey, descriptive and exploratory research, case studies and interviews. A pilot-tested structured questionnaire investigates three hundred and sixty-five faculty members from fifty engineering institutes of India's National Capital Region (NCR). Fifteen hypotheses have been analysed through quantitative data analysis, regression analysis using SmartPLS 3.0 software. The findings of the complete investigation indicated the correlation between eight QMS parameters, which positively and significantly affect the quality of engineering institutes. The study shows eight critical quality factors that need attention from the top management to establish quality in engineering education. The enablers include leadership, people, processes, infrastructure and policies. The results mainly focus on people results, user results and key performance results. The findings also reveal that leadership enabler positively impacts people results, institute results, and social satisfaction. The institute's top management leadership and policy & strategy were the main driving forces for developing a sound QMS in engineering educational institutes. The research can be utilized as a base model to assess the interrelationships of QMS dimensions and their impact on organizational effectiveness in any engineering institution in India

Metal-Based Biologically Active Compounds: Synthesis, Spectral, and Antimicrobial Studies of Cobalt, Nickel, Copper, and Zinc Complexes of Triazole-Derived Schiff Bases

A series of cobalt, nickel, copper, and zinc complexes of bidentate Schiff bases derived from the condensation reaction of 4-amino-5-mercapto-3-methyl/ethyl-1,2,4-triazole with 2,4-dichlorobenzaldehyde were synthesized and tested as antimicrobial agents. The synthesized Schiff bases and their metal complexes were characterized with the aid of elemental analyses, magnetic moment measurements, spectroscopic and thermogravimetric techniques. The presence of coordinated water in metal complexes was supported by infrared and thermal gravimetric studies. A square planar geometry was suggested for Cu(II) and octahedral geometry proposed for Co(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) complexes. The Schiff bases and their metal complexes have been screened for antibacterial (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis) and antifungal activities (Aspergillus niger, A. flavus). The metal complexes exhibited significantly enhanced antibacterial and antifungal activity as compared to their simple Schiff bases

NEUROPROTECTIVE POTENTIAL OF AZADIRACHTA INDICA LEAVES IN DIABETIC RATS

Objective: Azadirachta indica is a treasure of multiple pharmacological properties and presently leaves of this plant have been explored to evaluate the neuroprotective potential in diabetic rats.Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with single intra peritoneal dose of streptozotocin (60mg/ Kg body weight (BW.) to develop animal model of diabetes. Post twenty one days of streptozotocin induction, animals were treated with aqueous Azadirachta indica Leaf Extract (ALE, 600mg/Kg BW.) for seven consecutive days. Followed this, all animals were evaluated for the levels of blood glucose, lipid peroxidation (LPO), C Reactive Proteins (CRP), pro oxidant biomarkers and histological changes.Results: Streptozotocin treated rats exhibited elevated levels of blood glucose, LPO, CRP and altered pro oxidant biomarkers in comparison to control rats. Additionally, histological alterations/damage was evidenced as fragmentation, vacuolization, inflammation etc. However, ALE treatment to these rats significantly decreased blood glucose levels, LPO, CRP levels and restored pro-oxidants status. Light microscopic and ultra microscopic analysis also indicated less damage, tissue architectural changes in comparison to untreated diabetic rats. Further decrease in hyperalgesia and inflammation levels; along with protective and restorative changes following ALE treatment suggested the neuroprotective potential of Azadirachta indica leaves in diabetic rats.Conclusion: The oral administration of ALE to streptozotocin induced diabetic animals resulted in neuro-protection against degenerative oxidative stress associated with metabolic and histopathological damage in the brain.Key words:  Azadirachta indica, Antioxidants, Hyperalgesia, Neuroprotection Â

A Critical Model for Achieving the Global Quality in ISO 9001 Certified Engineering Educational Institutions

810-813The technical institutes of India are seeking to create enough engineering graduates needed by employers. However, the capability to improve the quality of the average Indian engineering graduates has not yet been disclosed. The researchers of this paper suggested a critical model of integrated quality management systems (IQMS) with twenty key elements (IQMS 20-KE), which is nothing more than a package of global management concepts such as ISO 9001: 2015 QMS, ISO 14001: 2015 EMS, ISO 45001 OH & SM, Knowledge Management (KM), Lean Management (LM), 6-σ (DMAIC methodology) and TQM concepts. In general, the outcome of IQMS is to meet customer expectations and improve the work culture of the institution. Efforts have been made to elucidate the applications of IQMS model in the engineering education

A Critical Model for Achieving the Global Quality in ISO 9001 Certified Engineering Educational Institutions

The technical institutes of India are seeking to create enough engineering graduates needed by employers. However, the capability to improve the quality of the average Indian engineering graduates has not yet been disclosed. The researchers of this paper suggested a critical model of integrated quality management systems (IQMS) with twenty key elements (IQMS 20-KE), which is nothing more than a package of global management concepts such as ISO 9001: 2015 QMS, ISO 14001: 2015 EMS, ISO 45001 OH & SM, Knowledge Management (KM), Lean Management (LM), 6-σ (DMAIC methodology) and TQM concepts. In general, the outcome of IQMS is to meet customer expectations and improve the work culture of the institution. Efforts have been made to elucidate the applications of IQMS model in the engineering education