Personalized NanoMedicine: Towards new Theranostic Approach

Since decades, researchers are seeking novel therapeutic strategies to cure and monitor diseases for personalized health care needs. Numerous successful efforts are being made to design and develop personalized NanoMedicine approach to cure diseases at target site with minimum or no adverse effects. The designing of novel nanomaterials, maximum binding with therapeutic agent, controlled navigation, on demand or sustained release of drug, good biocompatibility, and maximum therapeutic potentials are crucial for effective theranostic approaches. Numerous studies have been conducted to formulate NanoMedicine and testing its efficacy using various in-vitro models. Unfortunately, such therapeutic nanoformulations are not well-tested yet using pre-clinical or human models

Performance Studies of Multimedia Traffic in CDMA Cellular Network

The current generation of wireless cellular network is mostly used for voice communication. Although data services such as short message services (SMS) are available, voice communication still takes precedence. However, in the near future, it is anticipated that wireless communication is expected to handle multimedia traffic that is currently available on land networks. Multimedia traffic includes video services such as real time video and audio, voice services and data services similar to the ones available in the Internet. The cellular network carrying multimedia traffic is analysed in a single cell where Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) protocol is used for users to access the network simultaneously. The study is analysed for the reverse link communication, i. e., communication between the user and the base station. CDMA is used because of its merits in minimising the effect of interference, increasing cell capacity and high security features compared to other access technologies. The model inputs include co- channel interference, signal to noise ratio, bit error rate requirements, number of users, the channel access priority and threshold. Suitable assumptions to enable simulation are made. The model is simulated to see the impact of complementing data traffic along with voice and video traffic. The model is also simulated for synchronous transmission and asynchronous transmission of packets. The results shows that data traffic can be successfully complemented along with voice and video traffic without significantly degrading voice and video delay. Data traffic can tolerate delay but is loss sensitive. Data traffic delay can be used without suffering any loss, even by reducing the data access priority. The model also compared the effects of synchronous and asynchronous transmission. Synchronous transmission indicated an overhead in packet delay compared to asynchronous transmission. It is concluded from the work that voice, video and data traffic can be served in a cell simultaneously with asynchronous transmission. A higher bandwidth can assure a higher number of multimedia users in a asynchronous CDMA cellular network. The model will serve as a useful design tool

Studies of laser-based, solid freeform fabrication and coating processes using nanoscale and functionally-graded materials

The purpose of this body of investigation is to examine the role of nanoscale and functionally-graded materials on the laser processing and performance of freeform parts and coatings. Both laser experiments and thermal transport models were utilized to achieve the end goal with applications targeted to dies, molds and light-weight aluminum structures. Specifically a computer-numerical-controlled, high-power CO2 laser system with the aid of computer-aided-design models was used to study: (1) nanoscale material additive manufacturing (NAM) process where Ni-nanoparticles are dispersed in H13 steel molten pool in layer-by-layer fashion to produce three-dimensional gear molds; (2) laser-cladding based freeform fabrication (LBFF) process where shaped beam and novel quasi co-axial powder delivery system were used to produce functionally graded H13/Ni-Cr/TiC mold inserts; and (3) laser sintering (LS) of nanocrystalline diamond powders on aluminum alloy substrate to form thick diamond-like carbon coatings for enhanced wear resistance.;In the NAM process, AISI H13 steel micro-powder (70-100 mum), the standard material in the industry for dies and molds, was blended with Ni nano-powder (70-150 nm) in a volumetric ratio of 4:1 and then laser melted under conditions such that only H13 powder was melted and solidified. With the aid of CAD/CAM models and layer-by-layer addition process, gear-shaped molds were fabricated, characterized and tested. Scanning electron microscopy, surface profilometry, Rockwell and Vicker\u27s hardness tests, corrosion test and injection-molding test using polystyrene were used to evaluate the performance of Ni/H13 molds. Results showed that nanoparticle dispersion has distinct improvements on the functional capability of H13 steel molds to produce precision plastic parts; this is attributed to the role of nanoparticles in enhancing mechanical, chemical and tribological properties.;In the LBFF process, a hollow square-shaped, functionally-graded mold (FGM) insert was designed and built with additive layers of H13 steel, Ni/Cr alloy and TiC using circular and rectangular beam profiles. Finite element numerical methods were applied to determine temperature fields and thermal gradients. The cooling rates were estimated and correlated with secondary dendrite arm spacing. Analysis and characterization of FGM insert revealed nearly full density mold with excellent integrity, favorable microstructures, strong interfaces and high hardness. Strength and dimensional stability of molds were tested in a thermal fatigue environment and compared with baseline H13 steel. Improved strain tolerance, better crack resistance and higher oxidation resistance were the primary benefits of FGM mold.;In LS, nanocrystalline diamond powders (4-8 nm) were sprayed on 6061 aluminum alloy substrates to a nominal thickness of 25 mum by an electrostatic spray method and then laser sintered to consolidate and transform the diamond powder to diamond-like carbon (DLC) for a nominal thickness of 10 mum. Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the presence of DLC coatings. Microhardness tests showed an average hardness of 2250 kg/mm 2 (some regions had a hardness of 9000 kg/mm2) indicative of DLC. Fracture toughness and surface roughness were well within the typical ranges of DLC. Scanning electron microscope analysis revealed a near dense, fairly uniform coating with a flaw-free interface. Scratch tests indicated the ability of DLC coating to carry high loads without delamination. One-dimensional thermal energy transport models were formulated based on laser energy absorption, thermal properties of diamond and aluminum, heat conduction and convection and solved using finite element ANSYS code. Results guide to a hypothesis that laser sintering of nano-diamond powder takes place in solid state around 800 K followed by densification and phase transition to DLC and coating/substrate interface heating to nearly the melting temperature of aluminum.;The general findings of this study lead to the conclusion that laser processing of nanoparticles and functionally-graded materials is a prudent approach for not only manufacturing of high performance dies, molds and aluminum structures but also a means of offering the design flexibility in part geometry, tolerance and surface finish

Lincolnshire diversity in the arts: research and development

Lincolnshire Diversity in the Arts: Research and Development is an Arts Council England funded project, undertaken by the University of Lincoln, aimed at exploring ways to develop cultural/artistic diversity in rural England, by taking Lincolnshire as a case study. The project commenced on 01 April 2016 and completed on 12 November 2017. The project was co-directed by 1) Dr Arya Madhavan, Senior Lecturer, University of Lincoln and 2) Dr Sreenath Nair, Senior Lecturer, University of Lincoln. The project: 1. Produced and toured an Edinburgh Fringe Award-winning (1982) Indian play, Charandas Chor (Charandas Chor: The Honest Thief) in selected arts centres around Lincolnshire and studied its impact among the audience using qualitative and quantitative analytical methods. 2. Organised a one-day symposium bringing together cultural and community leaders as well as artists in an event of artistic exchange, around the theme of diversity. 3. Analysed the cultural strategies employed by Tara Arts, London; Black Country Touring, West Bromwich; Kali Theatre, London; Yellow Earth, London; as well as two artists, Shane Shambhu (a British Asian dancer and choreographer) and Ni Made Pujawathi (a South East Asian dancer and choreographer) in developing their rural audience

Utilization of sardines

Oil sardine Sardinella longiceps stands out as the single largest pelagic fishery in India contributing to about 30% of total marine fish landings. Commensurate with the volume of the fishery, efforts at proper utilization of the fish by processing into canned and frozen products or by distributing in fresh state to internal consuming centres by quick transport have remained rather very poor. The paper presents the problems and prospects with regard to the utilization of the fish on the above lines. Results of investigations made at C.I.F.T. on the utilization of sardine body oil into industrially useful products such as factice, vehicle for paints, additive in lubricating oil and base for printing ink have also been discussed

Shark fin rays: technology of extraction

A simple process is described for extraction of rays from shark fins. The process consists in treating the rays with acetic acid to soften the tissue, separation of the rays by hand and drying. White fins yield almost double the quantity of rays compared to black fins

Importance of folate in human nutrition

From a public health perspective, some of the new insights into folic acid nutrition are of significance. Folate intake recommendations vary under different conditions. Intake of 350 µg is required to maintain plasma homocysteine levels, 650 µg for those with elevated plasma homocysteine, about 400 µg for women planning to become pregnant and 4000 mg for those with history of neural tube defect affected pregnancy. This raises the question whether the folate intake is adequate for the general population, particularly in the vulnerable groups or whether there is a need for scientists to take a fresh view of the requirements, recommended dietary intakes, and consider intervention measures which will have impact on the folate nutritional status. The recommendations should provide a margin of safety to allow for decreased intake, increased requirements, individual variability and bioavailability of natural food folates. The folate intake and nutriture in relation to India and other developing countries needs careful consideration to reduce anemia, neural tube defects and possibly impact on the high incidence of cardiovascular diseases

Interaction of drugs of abuse and microRNA with HIV: a brief review.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), the post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression, play key roles in modulating many cellular processes. The changes in the expression profiles of several specific miRNAs affect the interactions between miRNA and their targets in various illnesses, including addiction, HIV, cancer etc. The presence of anti-HIV-1 microRNAs (which regulate the level of infectivity of HIV-1) have been validated in the cells which are the primary targets of HIV infection. Drugs of abuse impair the intracellular innate anti-HIV mechanism(s) in monocytes, contributing to cell susceptibility to HIV infection. Emerging evidence has implicated miRNAs are differentially expressed in response to chronic morphine treatment. Activation of mu opioid receptors (MOR) by morphine is shown to down regulate the expression of anti-HIV miRNAs. In this review, we summarize the results which demonstrate that several drugs of abuse related miRNAs have roles in the mechanisms that define addiction, and how they interact with HIV

A review on oil sardine 3. Oil and meal industry

The author reviews the advances in the oil and meal industries related to the oil sardine fishery (Sardinella longiceps) since the 1920s. Data on the production of by-produced produced in Kerala over the period 1964- 69 are tabulated. Details of the properties of the commercial oil are given, and the values compared to those for other similar oils. The use of oil sardine for industrial purposes - the oil has been used to cure leather, temper metals and as fungicides or insecticides - and the production of fish meal and fish protein concentrate is considered