Shiv Nadar University is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, research-focused, and student-centric University offering a full range of academic programs at the undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral level. With state-of-the-art infrastructure, the University comprises of academic wings, sophisticated labs, international standard sports facilities, amphitheaters, auditorium, conference rooms and smart classrooms. The University&rsquo;s goal is to become internationally recognized for the quality of its research and creative endeavors and their applicability to improving quality of life, generating new insights and expanding the boundaries of human knowledge creativity. Committed to excellence in teaching, research and service, the University aims to serve the higher education needs of India and the world beyond.

Shiv Nadar University

(SoNS) School of Natural Sciences

The increasing need of on-demand power for enabling portable low-power devices and sensors has necessitated work in novel energy harvesting materials and devices. In a recent work, we demonstrated the production and suitability of three-dimensional (3-D) spacer all fibre piezoelectric textiles for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy for wearable and technical applications. The current work investigates the textile performance properties of these 3-D piezoelectric fabrics including porosity, air permeability, water vapour transmission and bursting strength. Furthermore, as these textiles are intended for wearable applications, we have assessed their wear abrasion and consequently provide surface resistance measurements which can affect the lifetime and efficiency of charge collection in the piezoelectric textile structures. The results show that the novel smart fabric with a measured porosity of 68\% had good air (1855 l/m2/s) and water vapour permeability (1.34 g/m2/day) values, good wear abrasion resistance over 60,000 rotations applied by a load of 12 kPa and bursting strength higher than 2400 kPa. Moreover, the antibacterial activity of 3-D piezoelectric fabrics revealed that owing to the use of Ag/PA66 yarns, the textiles exhibit excellent antibacterial activity against not only Gram-negative bacteria E. coli but they are also capable of killing antibiotic methicillin-resistant bacteria S. aureus. © 2018, © 2018 The Textile Institute.

World University root node

Life Sciences

Fulltext

Journal of the Textile Institute

Evaluating the fabric performance and antibacterial properties of 3-D piezoelectric spacer fabric

Bacterial cell division is a complex process brought about by the coordinated action of multiple proteins. Separation of daughter cells during the final stages of division involves cleavage of new cell wall laid down at the division septum. In E. coli, this process is governed by the action of N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidases AmiA/B/C, which are regulated by their LytM activators EnvC and NlpD. While much is known about the regulation of septum cleavage in E. coli, the mechanism of daughter cell separation is not clear in Caulobacter crescentus, a dimorphic crescent-shaped bacterium. In this work, we characterized the role of AmiC, the only annotated amidase in C. crescentus. AmiC from C. crescentus is functional in E. coli and restores cell separation defects seen in E. coli amidase mutants, suggesting that AmiC has septum splitting activity. The medial localization of AmiC was independent of DipM, an LytM domain-containing endopeptidase. Our results indicate that enzymatic activity is essential for medial recruitment of AmiC. Overexpression of AmiC causes cell separation defects and formation of chains. Finally, overexpression of AmiC in cells inhibited for cell division leads to lysis. Collectively, our findings reveal that regulation of daughter cell separation in C. crescentus differs from that of E. coli and can serve as a model system to study bacterial cytokinesis. © 2017, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

Current Genetics

Amidase activity is essential for medial localization of AmiC in Caulobacter crescentus

The huge therapeutic potential and the market share of painkillers are well-known. Due to the side effects associated with traditional NSAIDs and selective cyclooxygenase (COX-2) inhibitors, a new generation of painkillers is the need of the hour. In this regard, microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) offers great potential as an alternative drug target against inflammatory disorders. The present study is aimed at identifying the amino acids crucial in effective inhibitor binding at the mPGES-1 active site by performing molecular dynamics based studies on a series of 7-Phenyl-imidazoquinolin-4(5H)-one derivatives. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, MM-PBSA, per-residue energy decomposition and Dimensionality Reduction through Covariance matrix Transformation for Identification of Differences in dynamics (DIRECT-ID) analysis were performed to get insights into the structural details that can aid in novel drug design against mPGES-1. The high correlations of electrostatic and polar energy terms with biological activity highlight their importance and applicability in in silico screening studies. Further, per-residue energy decomposition studies revealed that Lys42, Arg52, Arg122, Pro124, Ser127, Val128 and Thr131 were contributing more towards inhibitor binding energy. The results clearly show that MM-PBSA can act as a filter in virtual screening experiments and can play major role in facilitating various mPGES-1 drug discovery studies. © 2018

International Journal of Biological Macromolecules

MM-PBSA and per-residue decomposition energy studies on 7-Phenyl-imidazoquinolin-4(5H)-one derivatives: Identification of crucial site points at microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) active site

Sepantronium bromide (YM155), originally developed against the anti-apoptotic protein survivin, performed exceptionally well in pre-clinical and phase I clinical trials. However, in phase II trials of several cancer types including breast cancer it performed poorly. Additionally, no definitive correlation between survivin level and response to therapy was found. In an attempt to understand the true reason of the late-stage failure of this promising drug, we developed YM155-resistant MCF-7 breast cancer cell line and characterized side-by-side with the drug-naïve parental cell line. Chronic YM155 treatment resulted in downregulation of survivin expression yet triggered cellular responses typical of adaptation to persistent DNA damage. Lowering endogenous antioxidant glutathione level and activity of cell cycle checkpoint kinase restored YM155 activity. Thus, contrary to its development as a survivin suppressant, YM155 primarily acts as a chemotherapeutic drug causing oxidative stress-mediated DNA damage. Adaptation to long-term exposure to YM155 can be prevented and/or overcome by interfering with detoxification and DNA damageresponse pathways. Finally, proteins associated with DNA damage-response pathway will be more appropriate as predictive biomarkers of YM155 in breast tumor cells. © 2018 Impact Journals LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Oncotarget

Adaptation to chronic exposure to sepantronium bromide (YM155), a prototypical survivin suppressant is due to persistent DNA damage-response in breast cancer cells

Slow inactivation in voltage-gated sodium channels (NaVs) directly regulates the excitability of neurons, cardiac myocytes and skeletal muscles. Although NaV slow inactivation appears to be conserved across phylogenies-from bacteria to humans-the structural basis for this mechanism remains unclear. Here, using site-directed labeling and EPR spectroscopic measurements of membrane-reconstituted prokaryotic NaV homologues, we characterize the conformational dynamics of the selectivity filter region in the conductive and slow-inactivated states to determine the molecular events underlying NaV gating. Our findings reveal profound conformational flexibility of the pore in the slow-inactivated state. We find that the P1 and P2 pore helices undergo opposing movements with respect to the pore axis. These movements result in changes in volume of both the central and intersubunit cavities, which form pathways for lipophilic drugs that modulate slow inactivation. Our findings therefore provide novel insight into the molecular basis for state-dependent effects of lipophilic drugs on channel function.

Journal of General Physiology

The voltage-gated sodium channel pore exhibits conformational flexibility during slow inactivation

A bridge to the world of mathematics for readers who want to gain a good foundation in basic mathematical skills for research and other activities.This book aims to help students of social sciences, liberal arts, and humanities to develop the ability to analyze and reason mathematically, to model situations and problems, and to be able to infer, present, and communicate their analysis effectively. Mathematical concepts are presented in both historical and everyday contexts to ease their utilization in the real world.Readers are introduced to the skills of expressing mathematical ideas using the language of sets, logically analyzing arguments and their validity, processing and interpreting data, and using probability to handle the inherent randomness of our world. Chapters dedicated to symmetry, perspective, and art will enable readers to reason, model, and evaluate everyday situations. The book will also increase awareness of how mathematical patterns pervade the world around us.

Mathematics

A Bridge to Mathematics

The thermal stability and tribological performance of silicon- and oxygen-incorporated diamond-like carbon (DLC) and silicon doped-DLC films were investigated. The DLC and DLC:Si are deposited on various (silicon, stainless steel and aluminium) substrates within the thickness range 200–400&nbsp;nm by radio frequency plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) method. Carbon dioxide (CO2) precursor gas is used to reduce the hydrogen content and to increase the adhesion of the films to the substrate. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, surface profilometry and nano-indentation are used to study the chemical composition, microstructure, thermal stability and mechanical properties of the films. For CO2 precursor made DLC samples, Raman parameters did not show any significant change up to temperature 500&nbsp;°C. The lowest coefficient of friction was found to be 0.298 for the DLC:Si film prepared with CO2 at room temperature and corresponded lowest wear rate of 1.77&nbsp;×&nbsp;10−&nbsp;10&nbsp;mm3/Nm. The micro-structural properties at various annealing temperature were critically analysed by monitoring graphitization behaviour and oxidation of the film surface. © 2016 Elsevier B.V.

Physics

Diamond and Related Materials

A facile method for the deposition of thermally stable diamond like carbon thin films via carbon dioxide precursor gas

Oxygen vacancy (OV) controlled hydrophobicity of self-assembled TiO2 nanorods (NRs) on chemically etched Si pyramids is investigated by irradiating with 50 keV Ar+-ions at room temperature. Apparent contact angle (CA) is found to increase from 122° to 141° up to a fluence of 1 × 1015 ions/cm2, followed by a gradual reduction to 130° at 1 × 1017 ions/cm2. However, the drop in apparent CA is found to be associated with the decrease in fractional surface area via transformation of NRs to an amorphous layer above 1 × 1015 ions/cm2, though it is still higher than that of as-grown one. Detailed X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance measurements suggest that the control of hydrophobic behavior is related to the suppression of surface free energy via migration of OVs into the voids in TiOx layers. © 2016 American Chemical Society.

Journal of Physical Chemistry C

Role of oxygen vacancy on the hydrophobic behavior of TiO2 nanorods on chemically etched Si pyramids

High-energy electrochemical storage containing earth abundant materials could be a choice for future battery development. Recent research reports indicated the possibility of room-temperature sodium-ion-sulfur chemistry for large storage including smart grids. Here, we report a room-temperature sodium-sulfur battery cathode that will address the native downsides of a sodium-sulfur battery, such as polysulfide shuttling and low electrical conductivity of elemental sulfur. In this Letter, we use a sustainable route which ensures a large sulfur confinement (i.e., ∼90 wt \%) in the cathode structure. The sulfur-embedded polymer is realized via thermal ring-opening polymerization of benzoxazine in the presence of elemental sulfur (CS90) and later composite with reduced graphene oxide (rGO). The resulting CS90 allows a homogeneous distribution of sulfur due to in situ formation of the polymer backbone and allows maximum utilization of sulfur. This unique electrode structure bestows CS90-rGO with an excellent Coulombic efficiency (99\%) and healthy cycle life. © 2017 American Chemical Society.

Chemistry

ACS Energy Letters

Sulfur Copolymer: A New Cathode Structure for Room-Temperature Sodium-Sulfur Batteries

The statistical behaviour of the smallest eigenvalue has important implications for systems which can be modeled using a Wishart-Laguerre ensemble, the regular one or the fixed trace one. For example, the density of the smallest eigenvalue of the Wishart-Laguerre ensemble plays a crucial role in characterizing multiple channel telecommunication systems. Similarly, in the quantum entanglement problem, the smallest eigenvalue of the fixed trace ensemble carries information regarding the nature of entanglement. For real Wishart-Laguerre matrices, there exists an elegant recurrence scheme suggested by Edelman to directly obtain the exact expression for the smallest eigenvalue density. In the case of complex Wishart-Laguerre matrices, for finding exact and explicit expressions for the smallest eigenvalue density, existing results based on determinants become impractical when the determinants involve large-size matrices. In this work, we derive a recurrence scheme for the complex case which is analogous to that of Edelman's for the real case. This is used to obtain exact results for the smallest eigenvalue density for both the regular, and the fixed trace complex Wishart-Laguerre ensembles. We validate our analytical results using Monte Carlo simulations. We also study scaled Wishart-Laguerre ensemble and investigate its efficacy in approximating the fixed-trace ensemble. Eventually, we apply our result for the fixed-trace ensemble to investigate the behaviour of the smallest eigenvalue in the paradigmatic system of coupled kicked tops. © 2017 IOP Publishing Ltd.