457 research outputs found
Sexuality Beyond Consent: Risk, Race, Traumatophilia: A Conversation Among Artemis Christinaki, Amrita Narayanan, and Avgi Saketopoulou
No full textThis transcribed conversation of an online dialogue between Artemis Christinaki, Amrita Narayanan, and Avgi Saketopoulou introduces readers to Saketopoulou’s recently published book, Sexuality Beyond Consent: Risk, Race, Traumatophilia. With astute questions and through a series of probing observations, Christinaki and Narayanan engage the author, opening up crucial dimensions of psychoanalysis, gender and sexuality studies, and politics. The exchange tracks the three main signifiers of the book, risk, race, and traumatophilia, and articulates Saketopoulou’s critical concern with the traumatophobic logics rippling through the field. What emerges is a rich discussion of how Saketopoulou’s three terms work within psychoanalysis and the risks, opportunities, and challenges they unfurl in the clinic and in the broader field of psychosocial and psychoanalytic studies.<br/
Introduction
No full textByline: G. Narayanan Author Affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FLAcademi
Evaluation of Antibacterial (Antibiofilm) Activity Potential of ZnONPs Coated on Wound Dressing Cloth
No full textIntroduction: In light of the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the necessity for efficient wound treatment, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) have garnered interest for their potent antibacterial and antibiofilm characteristics. This study examines the incorporation of green synthesized ZnONPs into wound dressing fabric to inhibit bacterial colonization and biofilm development, and significant obstacles in wound healing. The present study aims to assess the antibacterial efficacy of plant-mediated and pre-synthesized as well as characterized ZnONPs against opportunistic bacterial pathogens to create more effective wound dressings that facilitate expedited, infectionfree recovery.
Methods: The antibacterial efficiency of this green-mediated ZnONPs coated wound dressing material against the opportunistic Gram-positive and negative bacterial pathogens were checked. Various concentrations (0.20, 0.40, and 0.60%) of ZnONPs were used to coat the dressing material. This ZnONPs antibacterial activity was analyzed quantitatively by various time intervals (4-24 hr) and incubated as per the standard bacterial growth conditions.
Results: The findings show that 20 hr after incubation, Gram-negative bacterial growth was inhibited on dressing cloth coated with 0.60% ZnONPs, while Gram-positive bacteria inhibition was observed 24 hr after incubation on dressing cloth coated with 0.40% ZnONPs. These findings suggest that 0.40% and 0.60% ZnONPs significantly kill both groups of opportunistic pathogens.
Discussion: Bacterial infections as well as biofilm formation on wound surfaces significantly impede effective healing, resulting in chronic wounds and elevated healthcare expenses. Conventional wound dressings frequently exhibit inadequate antimicrobial efficacy, particularly against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. ZnONPs have attracted interest owing to their strong antibacterial, antibiofilm, and biocompatibility characteristics. This study assesses the efficacy of ZnONPs-coated wound dressings in suppressing bacterial proliferation and biofilm development, potentially providing a remedy for infectionassociated complications in wound care. The results may facilitate the creation of more efficient wound dressings, thereby decreasing infection rates and enhancing patient outcomes in clinical environments.
Conclusion: Thus, these ZnONPs could be employed as an antibiofilm/antibacterial coating material in wound dressing cloths to prevent secondary opportunistic bacterial infections
An Evaluation of Antibacterial, Antioxidant, and Biocompatibility (Hemocompatibility) Nature of Green Synthesized ZnONPs: An In-vitro Approach
No full textIntroduction: Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) derived from plant extracts are garnering attention in medical applications due to their unique properties and eco-friendly synthesis, which enhance antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects. This research investigated the antibacterial and biocompatibility properties of previously characterized ZnONPs against bacterial pathogens, with biocompatibility evaluated through a hemocompatibility study using human blood samples.
Methods: The bactericidal efficacy of phyto-synthesized ZnONPs was evaluated using the standard agar well-diffusion method against bacterial pathogens including E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, and S. flexneri. Moreover, their antioxidant capacity was evaluated using various nonenzymatic in-vitro assays, including ABTS, DPPH, TRP, and TAC assays.
Results: The antibacterial efficacy of presynthesized and characterized ZnONPs showed dosage-dependent bactericidal activity against bacterial pathogens including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. At a concentration of 800 μg mL−1, the ZnONPs exhibited significant free radicals scavenging and reducing capabilities as demonstrated by DPPH, TAC, TRP, and ABTS assays. Moreover, the ZnONPs demonstrated excellent biocompatibility, as evidenced by hemocompatibility assay.
Discussion: Phytochemicals derived from plants, including alkaloids, flavonoids, and tannins, stabilize nanoparticles, thereby enhancing their antibacterial effectiveness against Grampositive and Gram-negative bacteria. Green synthesized ZnONPs demonstrate reduced toxicity to human cells, notable antimicrobial effectiveness, strong antioxidant characteristics, and low cytotoxicity, making them beneficial for anti-aging therapies, wound healing, drug delivery, and tissue engineering.
Conclusion: Green-synthesized ZnONPs demonstrate significant dose-dependent antibacterial efficacy against pathogenic bacteria such as P. aeruginosa, S. pneumoniae, S. aureus, E. coli, and K. pneumonia. The antioxidant test results demonstrated a significant dosedependent capacity of DPPH, TAC, TRP, and ABTS to eliminate free radicals. The antibacterial and antioxidant properties of ZnONPs exhibited notable biological compatibility
Bioremediation on Effluents from Magnesite and Bauxite Mines using Thiobacillus Spp and Pseudomonas Spp
No full textDiffuse Pulmonary Lesions Due to Invasive Fungal Infection in an Immune-capable Male: A Case Report
No full textIntroduction: Invasive fungal pulmonary infection is a fungal illness caused by many species of fungi, including Aspergillus, generally presenting as life-threatening hazards to people with compromised immune systems. Although instances in immunecompetent individuals are infrequent, a recently published report detailed active lung infection within an immune-competent patient at postmortem. We report a rare instance of invasive fungal infection (IFI) in an immune-capable male, exhibiting diffuse systemic lesions.
Case Report: A 33-year-old male approached our facility, complaining of chest discomfort and dyspnea lasting for 3 months. Upon clinical examination, he looked emaciated and presented with sinus symptoms. A radiographic examination showed indistinct lesions in the lower left lobe of the lung. Bronchoscopy as well as bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were conducted, before the commencement of oral antibiotic treatment. The lavage findings were negative for staining techniques (e.g., acid-fast bacilli (AFB)), and culture demonstrated many septate hyphae on the fungal screen. Histopathological analysis of lung tissue (via bronchoscopy) revealed persistent granulomatous inflammation with apical fungal hyphae, diagnostic of aspergillosis. Further cultures confirmed the presence of Aspergillus fumigatus, leading us to commence voriconazole treatment. The patient had a notable recovery, evidenced by gaining weight and a recovered appetite within a brief timeframe. His symptoms improved within three months of medication, allowing him to return to almost normal life.
Conclusion: This case underscores the identification of IFI in an immune-capable patient exhibiting extensive nodular lesions throughout the respiratory tract, mediastinum, and belly. Clinicians must uphold a heightened concern for aspergillosis in persistent pneumonia and diffuse nodular lesions, despite patients having no conventional risk factors
Plant Bioactive Chemicals With Antiepileptic Properties and Their Promising Mechanisms-A Systematic Review
No full textBackground:
Epilepsy is a major nervous illness impacting about 1% of the worldwide population, with a considerable percentage of cases resistant to standard antiepileptic medications. Current pharmacological therapies demonstrate limitations, like exorbitant costs, significant adverse effects, and diminished patient compliance. As a result, bioactive chemicals derived from plants are gaining interest for their potential antiepileptic effects, providing economical and safer alternatives.
Objectives: This comprehensive review aimed to analyze the antiepileptic potency of phytochemicals, such as alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, glycosides, and terpenoids, by examining their mechanisms of action, effectiveness, and therapeutic potential.
Materials & Methods: A comprehensive examination was conducted in online databases, like Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Medline, Frontiers, and MDPI, utilizing keywords, such as epilepsy, antiepileptic phytochemicals, and seizure causes. Studies relevant to the topic, published from 2014 to 2024, were chosen according to established inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data extraction focused on study specifics, experimental frameworks, bioactive substances, and results related to seizure mitigation and neuroprotection.
Results: A total of 1,579 studies were obtained, with 135 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. The review identified many phytochemicals exhibiting antiepileptic effects via mechanisms, including GABAergic modulation, ion channel regulation, neurotransmitter equilibrium, immune response modulation, and oxidative stress mitigation. Experimental investigations showed the effectiveness of plant-based phytochemical/bioactive compounds in reducing seizures via GABAergic neurotransmission, antioxidant activity, and other pathways.
Conclusion: Phytochemicals demonstrate significant antiepileptic potential via many pathways. Additional clinical trials and mechanistic research are necessary to confirm their therapeutic effectiveness and possible incorporation into epilepsy treatment
Cu (59; 24.37 & 80.96; 47.72 mg/kg -1 ), Fe (2207.33; 1590.33 & 2207.33; 1354.33 mg/kg -1 ), Ca (4548; 2732 & 64.99; 31.75 mg/kg -1 )
No full textABSTRACT The aim of this study was to assess the physicochemical properties of mine soil. The waste dumps of magnesite (pH 8.19
A dangerous but powerful idea - counter acceleration and speed with slowness and wholeness
No full textThe dangerous idea is that school reform, in India in particular, but across the world too, is impossible. Changing education, at the systemic level or at the institutional or school level, or educating teachers and school leaders in change can be classified as largely first order change - that of school improvement, which involves doing more of the same but doing it better (where the focus is on efficiency) and that of school re-structuring, which involves re-organising components and responsibilities (where the focus is on effectiveness). Geetha Narayanan is Principal Investigator with Project Vision at the Centre for Education Research Training and Development (CERTAD) within the Srishti School of Art Design and Technology in Bangalore, India. She has dedicated her career to finding and establishing new models of education that are creative, synergistic and original in their approach to learning. Read the article and listen to audio of the author discussing her ideas
Exploring image recognition: applying convoluted neural networks and learning to recognize safe cyclists
No full text"Today, there is a need to focus on the mobility revolution that is currently taking place. With the advent of more intelligent data gathering, there is also a growing need for using existing technology and infrastructure to achieve this goal, without incorporating expensive, complicated systems. As single-occupancy give way to shared mobility solutions, combined with regular mass transit and pedestrian-aware street infrastructure (traffic lights, crosswalks etc.), there is a large ""networked mobility system'' that has the potential to be tapped. Moreover, autonomous cars will be here soon, to add to the mix.
With statistics showing an increase in bicyclist related crashes over the last decade and an increase in bicycle-borne road users, there is a necessity for cities and autonomous vehicles to build bicycle safety into their adaptation to the ""driverless future"". This paper is an exploration into the use of a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) based Machine Learning (ML) algorithm to identify bicycle-borne road users, who wear helmets.
We use a pre-made CNN framework-YOLO (You Only Look Once), and built around it further. After a brief proof-of-concept test on a publicly available dataset (including extraction, parsing and detection), the algorithm was modified. Some important features were added, such as identifying license plates, faces and encrypting them. Further, there is also a detailed account of using the ML capabilities that the framework is built with, and training it to identify bicycle-borne road users wearing a helmet."Submission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'U of I Access', the embargo will last until 2019-08-01The student, Ramakrishnan Narayanan, accepted the attached license on 2017-07-21 at 13:17.The student, Ramakrishnan Narayanan, submitted this Thesis for approval on 2017-07-21 at 13:34.This Thesis was approved for publication on 2017-07-21 at 13:47.DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #11580 on 2018-03-02 at 13:03:11Made available in DSpace on 2018-03-02T20:02:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2
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Previous issue date: 2017-07-21Embargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 105096
Lift date: 2020-03-02T20:02:46Z
Reason: Author requested U of Illinois access only (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD systemU of I Only Restriction Lifted for Item 105096 on 2020-03-03T10:15:18Z
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