31 research outputs found
Bronze image casting in Tanjavur District, Tamil Nadu: Ethnoarchaeological and archaeometallurgical insights
No full textThe profusion of metal images made in the Tanjavur region, going back to the early medieval Chola
bronzes of the 9th-13th century ranks amongst the finest of Indian artistic expressions. Clusters of artistic and
artisanal activities have thrived over generations in the Tanjavur district including metalworking workshops for
bronze and bell metal casting of images and ritual objects especially around Swamimalai and Kumbakonam.
Ethnometallurgical and archaeometallurgical insights on the making of icons at Swamimalai are highlighted from
observations made over the past couple of decades, especially in relation to making comparisons with historical
practices of bronze casting going back to Chola times. Since the processes are rapidly undergoing change, to get
a better sense of the trajectory of past practices, this paper particularly aims to highlight unpublished observations
made by the author going back to her first visits in 1990-1, as background to her doctoral work (Srinivasan 1996)
and in relation to observations reported by other scholars going back to the early landmark efforts of Reeves (1962).
These observations were particularly made by the author at the workshop of late master craftsman Devasena
Sthapathy, in his time the most renowned of Swamimalai Sthapathis. His son Radhakrishna Sthapathy has now
inherited this mantle. While Levy et al (2008) give a more recent account of image casting at the workshop of
Radhakrishna Sthapathy, this paper attempts to also contextualise the previous trajectory that has not been covered
much therein. Since their workshop now goes under the name of Sri Jayam Industries, for the sake of convenience
it will be referred here by the same name
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No full textCharity Begins At Home
Inaugural Adress By Her Royal Highness Princess Sharada Sha
Protein Engineering: A Novel Approach in Vaccine Development
No full textDue to advances in biotechnology, immunology and molecular biology, protein engineering has been an innovative technique for the development, optimization and production of vaccine. Deliberate alternation in the protein structure causes the improvement or change in the properties of the protein and due to this approach modification of the antigens for inducing the strong immune response is possible thus creating a benchmark in vaccine development. Recombinant DNA Technology, Epitope Mapping, Molecular Display Systems, Fusion Proteins and Designing of virus like particles are some of the key techniques in the protein engineering. Development of the various vaccines such as Hepatitis B vaccine, HPV Vaccine and Covid-19 Vaccine are some of the successes of protein engineering approach. However, there are some challenges associated with the techniques such as Antigen Stability, Immune Evasion and High production cost. Study of structure function relationship is a crucial part of the vaccine development.
Keywords: Protein Engineering, Antigens, Recombinant DNA Technology, Epitope Mapping, Immune Evasion
Monoclonal Antibodies: A Brief Review on Delivery Trends
No full textImmunoglobulin derivatives which are derived from the monoclonal cell line and which offers a wide range of specificity are the monoclonal antibodies. They are specially produced by the hybridoma technology by the fusion of B-cells with the immortal myeloma cells in presence of PEG. Humanized mAbs are considered to be the fastest growing group in clinical trials. After development, these mAbs undergoes analytical evaluation for their efficient characterization. Developed hybridomas can be preserved for long term use through the cryopreservation techniques. Monoclonal antibodies can be delivered for the therapeutic purpose through the various systemic and non-systemic routes. Large groups of the antibodies are found to be very effective through the oral routes and the ophthalmic routes. Besides the therapeutic application for the treatment of various infectious and autoimmune diseases, these groups of therapeutics show different limitations. Monoclonal antibodies after development suffers from the stability issues and using the various techniques, the stability can be increased. With the advancement of science and technology, we can observe various advances in the monoclonal antibody development like brain targeting is possible through the antibody engineering techniques. Variability and control challenges in the serum based acquisitions, consumption of time, difficulty in the development, potential limitation in the sequence and epitope diversity etc. are some of the challenges associated with the monoclonal antibodies.
Keywords: Immunoglobulin, Hybridoma Technology, Cryopreservation, Antibody Engineerin
Microneedle Delivery of Protein and Peptides: Advances in Drug Delivery
No full textMicroneedles are the advances in the transdermal drug delivery system of proteins and peptide drugs which exerts its effect through the formation of the micro channels. Microneedles are of various types such as solid microneedles, dissolving microneedles, metallic microneedles, 3D printed microneedles; polymer based microneedles, Hydrogel microneedles and coated microneedles. Microneedle characterization is the most important part after the formulation. These dosage forms have both advantages and limitations. Stability enhancement, targeted drug delivery, low invasiveness, enhanced skin absorption etc. are some of the advantages associated with microneedles. Likewise shallow penetration, chances of skin irritation and injury, chances of degradation in different extreme temperature and pH etc. are some of the limitations. Needle integrity, uniform drug distribution, diffusion and degradation, sterility and contamination, immunogenicity and immune response, Activity preservation are the crucial parts that should be controlled during formulation. Improved stability of proteins, stabilization of inactive ingredients, utilization in the field of gene therapy and mRNA delivery, development of smart microneedles, development of multilayered microneedles, ligand targeting etc. are some of the advances in the microneedle delivery system. These delivery systems are widely recognized as the future of the drug delivery addressing the challenges associated with the patient compliance.
Keywords: Microneedles, Needle Integrity, Immunogenicity, Patient complianc
Narrative as unit of analysis for teaching‐learning praxis and action: tracing the personal growth of a professional voice
No full textNurtured as a teacher and mentored as a mathematics education researcher, the reflective voice of a teacher‐researcher‐educator is portrayed in this paper. While drawing upon experience of creating teaching‐learning environments, the author outlines the growth of praxis within her practice. She then outlines her coming upon narrative as a deployable unit of analysis with which to grasp teaching‐learning practice. With narrative inquiry as strategy, she finally outlines examples of educational action research she is able to conduct. She argues in favour of empowering the praxis of teachers, recognising their language of practice and urges us to listen to their individual voice.</p
Megalithic high-tin bronzes: Ethnoarchaeological and archaeometallurgical insights on manufacture and possible artistic and musical significance
No full textThe megalithic of peninsular and southern India represent one of the enigmatic aspects of Indian archaeology, with few burial-cum-habitation sites having been uncovered near cairns or burials. Archaeometallurgical investigations by the author on a range of thin vessel fragments from a range of megalithic sites such as Adichanallur and the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu, and Mahurjhari in the vidarbha region of early to mid 1st millennium BC point to the use of binary copper tin alloys with higher content of tin
On Higher Carbon and Crucible Steels in Southern India: Further Insights from Mel-siruvalur, Kodumanal and Pattinam
No full textThis paper touches on some further insights into the questions of the use, modes of production or antiquity of higher carbon steel or higher carbon iron alloys from studies related to some finds from surface, megalithic and early historic finds in southern India. In particular the sites discussed include the surface finds of crucible steel production identified by the author at Mel-siruvalur, finds from the megalithic burial-cum-habitation site of Kodumanal, and the early historic site of Pattinam in Keral
Megalithic and continuing peninsular high-tin binary bronzes: Possible roots in Harappan binary bronze usage?
No full textThis paper attempts to trace the development of
an unusual and skilled class of alloys, of binary high-tin
bronze (i.e. alloys of only copper with a higher percentage
of tin), which are found from surprisingly early contexts
from Indian antiquity. In particular, the deliberate use was
made of binary beta bronze with around 22–24 % tin,
specifically exploiting the properties of higher hot-forgability
of bronze of this composition due to the formation of
the high temperature beta intermetallic compound phase of
22.9 % tin. Quenching resulted in the retention of the beta
phase, yielding a musical alloy with golden lustre and
improved tensile strength as compared to the as-cast state.
Examples of hot forged and quenched high-tin beta bronzes
studied by the author from the South Indian Iron Age and
megalithic cultures from Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra and
Gandharan Grave Culture of Taxila are summarised here
ranking amongst the earliest and most finely wrought such
finds. There are technological and morphological similarities
to surviving high-tin bronze crafts practices documented
by the author in Kerala since 1990. Since the
1990’s she has also documented the making of high-tin
delta bronze mirrors at Aranmula with a composition closer
to the pure delta phase of 32.6 % tin, which instead
exploited the specular properties this alloy while managing
its brittleness. Although it is difficult to speculate about
origins, a long standing practice of using binary tin–bronzes
(i.e. only copper–tin alloys) can be detected going back
to Harappan bronzes which also seem to be predominantly
binary bronzes with not much lead added to them. Though
most of these seem to be low-tin bronze, the presence of a couple with higher tin of about 20 % is also notable in terms of the above discussion
