171 research outputs found
Ankita Bansal
No full textOne folder is containing a link to the CRG tool developed by the author and second folder named "dataset" consists of four open-source datasets that are used in this study for empirical validation. All the datasets belong to a common domain i.e. operating system
Ankita Bansal
No full textOne folder is containing a link to the CRG tool developed by the author and second folder named "dataset" consists of four open-source datasets that are used in this study for empirical validation. All the datasets belong to a common domain i.e. operating system
Correlation between rheumatoid arthritis and chronic periodontitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
No full textINTRODUCTION: The aim of this article is to summarize, compare, and assess possible association in individuals with or without rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for periodontitis. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Three study repositories were searched for quantitative studies examining the relationship between periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis between 2000 and December 2022. Quality was evaluated using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS). The standardized mean difference (SMD), with a random effect model and a P value of 0.05 as the significance level, was utilized as a summary statistic measure. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Fourteen papers were included in the descriptive synthesis. Thirteen were qualified for meta- analysis. Our findings suggest a link between the two conditions in terms of clinical attachment levels (CAL), tooth loss, Plaque Index, and probing depth. The estimated SMD for CAL was found to be 0.68 (95% CI: 0.15-1.21) (P<0.01). For tooth loss, the forest plot analysis revealed an SMD of 1.62 (95% CI: 0.48-2.76) (P0.005). Similarly, for pocket depth, the SMD was 0.53; CI: 0.07-0.99 (P>0.05). The pooled estimates for plaque index were 0.29; CI: 0.03-0.61 (P>0.05). The funnel plot showed a symmetric distribution with the absence of systematic heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS: Although our data suggest a link between periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis, larger population-based investigations are needed to validate this connection. Case-control studies must pave the way to more rigorous investigations with well-defined populations and clinical outcomes as primary outcome measures
Book review: an economist in the real world: the art of policymaking in India by Kaushik Basu
No full textIn An Economist In The Real World: The Art of Policymaking in India, Chief Economist of the World Bank Kaushik Basu seeks to explain Indian policymaking in lay terms. Ankita Mukhopadhyay writes that the book deftly delves into the complexities of the Indian economy. However, she warns that while the author is an excellent storyteller, a reader without a background in economics may find it hard to follow the more theoretical sections of the book
Comparative genomic analyses of the cyanobacterium, Lyngbya aestuarii BL J, a powerful hydrogen producer.
No full textThe filamentous, non-heterocystous cyanobacterium Lyngbya aestuarii is an important contributor to marine intertidal microbial mats system worldwide. The recent isolate L. aestuarii BL J, is an unusually powerful hydrogen producer. Here we report a morphological, ultrastructural and genomic characterization of this strain to set the basis for future systems studies and applications of this organism. The filaments contain circa 17 μm wide trichomes, composed of stacked disk-like short cells (2 μm long), encased in a prominent, laminated exopolysaccharide sheath. Cellular division occurs by transversal centripetal growth of cross-walls, where several rounds of division proceed simultaneously. Filament division occurs by cell self-immolation of one or groups of cells (necridial cells) at the breakage point. Short, sheath-less, motile filaments (hormogonia) are also formed. Morphologically and phylogenetically L. aestuarii belongs to a clade of important cyanobacteria that include members of the marine Trichodesmiun and Hydrocoleum genera, as well as terrestrial Microcoleus vaginatus strains, and alkalyphilic strains of Arthrospira. A draft genome of strain BL J was compared to those of other cyanobacteria in order to ascertain some of its ecological constraints and biotechnological potential. The genome had an average GC content of 41.1 %. Of the 6.87 Mb sequenced, 6.44 Mb was present as large contigs (>10,000 bp). It contained 6515 putative protein-encoding genes, of which, 43 % encode proteins of known functional role, 26 % corresponded to proteins with domain or family assignments, 19.6 % encode conserved hypothetical proteins, and 11.3 % encode apparently unique hypothetical proteins. The strain’s genome reveals its adaptations to a life of exposure to intense solar radiation and desiccation. It likely employs the storage compounds, glycogen and cyanophycin but no polyhydroxyalkanoates, and can produce the osmolytes, trehalose and glycine betaine. According to
In Vitro Evaluation of Lithium Disilicate Endocrowns and Post and Core Crowns—A Systematic Review
No full textThe aim of this systematic review was to summarize the results of the studies that have compared the physical and mechanical properties of lithium disilicate (LDS) endocrowns constructed for posterior teeth to those retained by post-and-core retention systems. The review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. The electronic search process was conducted on PubMed-Medline, Scopus, Embase and ISI Web of Knowledge (WoS) from the earliest available date till 31 January 2023. Additionally, the studies were assessed for their overall quality and risk of bias using the Quality Assessment Tool For In Vitro Studies (the QUIN). The initial search resulted in 291 articles, out of which, only 10 studies met the eligibility criteria. In all studies LDS endocrowns were compared with various kinds of endodontic posts and crowns made from other materials. There were no definite pattern or trends observed in the fracture strengths of tested specimens. There was no predilection observed in failure patters among the experimental specimens. No predilection was observed in the fracture strengths of LDS endocrowns when compared to post-and-core crowns. Furthermore, no differences in failure patterns could be observed when both types of restorations were compared. The authors propose standardized testing of endocrowns against post-and-core crowns in future studies. In conclusion, long-term clinical trials are advocated to compare the survival, failure and complication rates of LDS endocrowns and post-and-core restorations
Ankita Bansal
No full textOne folder is containing a link to the CRG tool developed by the author and second folder named "dataset" consists of four open-source datasets that are used in this study for empirical validation. All the datasets belong to a common domain i.e. operating system
Interphase phosphorylation of H1.4 in transcriptional control
No full textSubmission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'U of I Access', the embargo will last until 2020-12-01The student, Ankita Saha, accepted the attached license on 2018-11-30 at 13:35.The student, Ankita Saha, submitted this Dissertation for approval on 2018-11-30 at 13:42.This Dissertation was approved for publication on 2018-12-03 at 09:02.DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #13162 on 2019-02-07 at 14:18:41Made available in DSpace on 2019-02-07T20:36:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 3
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Previous issue date: 2018-12-03Embargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 109846
Lift date: 2021-02-07T20:36:09Z
Reason: Author requested U of Illinois access only (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD systemEmbargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 109846
Lift date: 2021-02-07T20:39:46Z
Reason: Author requested U of Illinois access only (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD systemEmbargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 109846
Lift date: 2021-02-07T20:44:35Z
Reason: Author requested U of Illinois access only (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD systemU of I Only Restriction Lifted for Item 109846 on 2021-02-08T10:15:22Z.Core histone variants such as H2A.X and H3.3 serve specialized roles in chromatin processes that depend on the genomic distributions and amino acid sequence differences of the variant proteins. Modifications of the variants alters interactions with other chromatin components and thus the protein’s functions. Similarly, growing evidence suggests that amino acid sequence variance also modifies the functions of H1 linker histone family members, altering their effects on transcription, differentiation and development. These data are contrary to the notion that linker histones are redundant repressors. For example, complete loss of H1 does not result in an overall increase in transcription, implying that not all H1 variants are associated with repression. Furthermore, certain modifications of H1 variants can confer distinct roles. On the one hand, phosphorylation of H1 reportedly results in its release from chromatin and subsequent transcription of HIV-1 genes. On the other hand, recent evidence has shown that the phosphorylated H1 may in fact be associated with active promoters. This conflict suggests that different H1 isoforms may play distinct functional roles. Here, we provide the first genome- wide evidence that when phosphorylated, H1.4 remains associated with active promoters and may even play a role in transcription activation.
Using novel, highly specific antibodies, we generated the first genome-wide view of the H1.4 isoform phosphorylated at serine 187 (pS187-H1.4) in estradiol-inducible MCF7 cells. We observe that pS187-H1.4 is enriched primarily at the transcription start sites (TSSs) of genes activated by estradiol treatment, and depleted from those that are repressed. We also show that pS187-H1.4 strongly associates with ‘early estrogen response’ genes and co-localizes with active RNA polymerase signals.
Based on observations presented here, we propose that interphase phosphorylation at S187 by CDK9 represents an early event required for gene activation. This event may also be involved in release of promoter proximal polymerases to begin elongation by interacting directly with the polymerase or other parts of the transcription machinery. Although we focused on estrogen- responsive genes, taking into account previous evidence of H1.4 enrichment at promoters of pluripotency genes, we propose that H1.4 phosphorylation for gene activation may be a more general and global phenomenon
Politics of Identity Formation: Impact Of Jean Paul Sartre’s Criticism Of Négritude Philosophy
No full textThis paper undertakes an analysis of Jean Paul Sartre’s “Black Orpheus” in context of the Négritude movement to understand its impact on creating a distinct identity for Africa and its diaspora. The extant literature surrounding the subject has raised questions about the impetus for the stirring of Négritude; the pre-colonial representation of Africa that the poets and political leaders of the time wanted to revolt against. The movement was not only philosophical but also had literary underpinnings, creating questions about the role and personal vested interests of French-assimilated poets, politicians and thinkers. Criticisms of Négritude are in abundance. However, a gap exists in identifying the central disparities within popular works of literature of the movement, especially the literature that was considered to be the foundation of the movement. One of these was "Black Orpheus", a foreword to Léopold Sédar Senghor’s anthology of poems by the most renowned writers of Négritude. This article undertakes a rhetorical criticism, textual analysis and discourse analysis to study Sartre’s text. Sartre’s work is considered an important contribution, however, contrary to existing research, Sartre’s work subverts the paradigm he set out to dispute. He attempts to place Négritude within the larger class struggle in Europe and is on a quest for a concise definition of the movement. Frantz Fanon and Wole Soyinka, other prominent Black thinkers and theorists of the time, dispute Sartre’s romantic descriptions of the struggles and history of Africa. Upon further analysis, Senghor’s poetry also reveals themes of evoking Africa’s traditional mystical past, thus harping on Sartre’s sentimental commentary. A culmination of study of these thinkers concludes that “Black Orpheus” falls into the same trap of homogenizing Africa while remaining ignorant of its intellectual capacities and contributions
Rapid materials discovery of ternary transition metal chalcogenides
No full textSearch for new functional inorganic materials has been a perennial focus of materials science and plays a crucial role in uncovering novel phenomena. One class of materials that has particularly drawn tremendous attention is that of transition metal chalcogenides exhibiting strong d-electron correlations. These materials result in a plethora of exotic physical phenomena such as superconductivity, metamagnetic metallic behavior, and quantum phase transitions via a complex interplay of spin, charge, lattice and orbitals degrees of freedom. Since the discovery of superconductivity in low-dimensional materials, there has been a growing thrust to understand the emergent phenomena that arise from strong electron correlations. This dissertation describes attempts to find new materials with low-dimensional magnets as one use case in the ternary chalcogenide phase space. This work utilizes two different approaches to look for new magnetic materials – discovery of new magnetic compounds and chemical substitution of existing compounds.
Increased computing power and modern electronic structure calculations have tremendously aided the discovery of new materials. Core to this effort, however, is the validation of these predictions which demands versatile and efficient experimental methods. As a part of the first approach, novel transition metal chalcogenides will be explored using high-throughput experimental techniques, such as temperature and time-resolved in-situ x-ray diffraction, powered by computational predictions in the Ba–Ru–S and ternary chalcogenide phase diagrams of the form X–Y –Z (X = K, Na, Ba, Ca, Sr, La, K; Y is a 3d transition metal; and Z = S or Se) (by collaborating with computational scientists) In situ X-ray diffraction reveals the kinetic behavior of reagents, the course of their reaction, and the presence of any products regardless of their temperature existence window. The research presented here aims to bridge the gap between computational and experimental studies. New insights into prioritizing computationally predicted compounds will be suggested to guide experimental discoveries.
The second approach to discovering new compounds involves perturbing the ground state of known magnetic materials by chemical substitution which will result in spin frustration thereby resulting in new magnetic ground states. Examples here will include the bond and geometric frustration in Mn1−xFexPSe3 and K2MnS2−xSex. The competing exchange interactions caused by bond frustration due to cation substitution and anisotropy will be studied in Mn1−xFexPSe3 to reveal co-existing nanoscale magnetic phases in this solid solution. Second, the interplay between various exchange interactions caused by geometry and anisotropy will be exploited to reveal an unexpected incommensurate magnetic ordering in K2MnS2−xSex previously identified as a simple antiferromagnetic structure.Submission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'Closed Access', the embargo will last until 2021-05-01The student, Ankita Bhutani, accepted the attached license on 2019-04-14 at 13:33.The student, Ankita Bhutani, submitted this Dissertation for approval on 2019-04-14 at 14:04.This Dissertation was approved for publication on 2019-04-16 at 08:37.DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #13610 on 2019-08-22 at 16:21:16Made available in DSpace on 2019-08-23T20:47:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2
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Previous issue date: 2019-04-16Embargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 112312
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Reason: Author requested closed access (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD systemEmbargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 112312
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Reason: Author requested closed access (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD systemLimited Restriction Lifted for Item 112312 on 2021-08-24T09:15:24Z
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