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Faculty Sections / 17 Reasons Why You Need a Mango Every Day

« on: May 05, 2016, 12:02:12 PM »

Mangoes may very well be the king of all fruits. They fight cancer, alkalize the body, aid in weight loss, regulate diabetes, help digestion, clean your skin, and make the perfect snack. Here are 17 healthy reasons why you should be eating a mango every day.
Nutrition chart
One cup of mangoes (225 gms contain) contains the following percentages that apply to daily value.
105 calories
76 percent vitamin C (antioxidant and immune booster)
25 percent vitamin A (antioxidant and vision)
11 percent vitamin B6 plus other B vitamins (hormone production in brain and heart disease prevention)
9 percent healthy probiotic fibre
9 percent copper (copper is a co-factor for many vital enzymes plus production of red blood cells)
7 percent potassium (to balance out our high sodium intake)
4 percent magnesium
1. Fights cancer
Antioxidants like quercetin, isoquercitrin, astragalin, fisetin, gallic acid and methylgallat present in mango protect the body against colon, breast, leukemia and prostate cancers.
2. Keeps cholesterol in check
Mango has high level of vitamin C, pectin and fibres that help to lower serum cholesterol levels. Fresh mango is a rich source of potassium, which is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps to control heart rate and blood pressure.
3. Skin cleanser
Mangoes help you unclog your pores and add freshness to the face. Mangoes are applicable to any skin type. They help clear clogged pores that cause acne. Just slice a mango into thin pieces and keep them on your face for 10 to 15 minutes and then take bath or wash your face and see the results.
4. Alkalizes the body
According to natural health school.com, mango is rich in tartaric acid, malic acid and traces of citric acid that primarily help in maintaining the alkali reserve of the body.
5. Weight loss
Mango has a lot of vitamins and nutrients that help the body feel fuller. Also, the fibrous fruit boosts the digestive function of the body by burning additional calories, helping in weight loss.
6. Regulates diabetes
Not only the fruit but the leaves of mangoes are healthy too. For people suffering from diabetes, just boil 5-6 mango leaves in a vessel, soak it through night and drink the filtered decoction in the morning. This is helps in regulating your insulin levels.
Mango has a low glycemic index (41-60) so going a little overboard will not increase your sugar levels.
7. Aphrodisiac
Mango has aphrodisiac qualities and is also called the ‘love fruit’. Mangoes increase the virility in men. Vitamin E, which is abundantly present in mangoes, helps to regulate sex hormones and boosts sex drive.
8. Eye care
Did you know that mango is rich in vitamin A. One cup of sliced mangoes equals 25% intake of your daily need of vitamin A. Mangoes help in promoting good eye sight, fights dry eyes and also prevent night blindness.
9. Helps in digestion
Mango contains enzymes that help in breaking down protein. The fibrous nature of mango helps in digestion and elimination. It is is rich in pre-biotic dietary fibre, vitamins and minerals.
10. Heat stroke
When the sun is bogging you down this summer, just chop of a mango in a juicer; add a little water and a tbsp of sugar free or honey. This juice will instantly cool you down and prevent heat stroke.
11. Strengthens your immune
The deadly combination of vitamin C, vitamin A and 25 different kinds of carotenoids keep your immune system healthy.
12. Body scrub
Make a paste of mashed mango, honey and milk and use as a body scrub, you will feel that your skin is tender and smooth.
13. Aids concentration and memory
Studying for exams? This fruit is rich in glutamine acid– an important protein for concentration and memory. Feed mangoes to children who find it difficult to concentrate on studies.
14. High iron for women
Mango is rich in iron, hence it is a great natural solution for people suffering from anemia. Menopausal and pregnant women can indulge in mangoes as this will increase their iron levels and calcium at the same time.
15. Reduces Kidney Stones
In Chinese medicine, mangoes are considered sweet and sour with a cooling energy also capable of reducing the risk of kidney stone formation.
16. Perfect Snack
Instead of snacking on unhealthy chips and cookies, why not feast on slices of mangoes instead. They are perhaps one of the tastiest dehydrated fruits of all.
17. Stomach Tonic
Before going to bed put some 10 or 15 mango leaves in warm water and close it with lid. The next day morning filter the water and drink it in empty stomach. Do this regularly.

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Faculty Sections / Learn how to judge ripeness of a Mango

« on: May 05, 2016, 11:56:55 AM »

Mango “The king of the fruits," is one of the most popular, nutritionally rich fruits with unique flavor, fragrance, taste, and heath promoting qualities, making it numero-uno among new functional foods, often labeled as “super fruits." So to get a well ripe mango, the following points should be considered.
• Don’t focus on color. It is not the best indicator of ripeness.
• Squeeze the mango gently. A ripe mango will give slightly.
• Use your experience with produce such as peaches or avocados, which also become softer as they ripen.
• Ripe mangos will sometimes have a fruity aroma at their stem ends.
• The red color that appears on some varieties is not an indicator of ripeness. Always judge by feel

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Faculty Sections / Peer reviewed Journal related some important considerations

« on: May 05, 2016, 11:44:13 AM »

What does "peer reviewed" or "refereed" mean?
Peer review is the process used by publishers and editors of academic / scholarly journals to ensure that the articles they publish meet the accepted standards of their discipline. Manuscripts being considered for publication are sent to independent experts in the same field (the author's scholarly or scientific peers). They evaluate the quality of the scholarship, reliability of findings, relevance to the field, appropriateness for the journal, etc. Most, but not all scholarly journals are peer reviewed.

How to recognize peer-reviewed (refereed) journals
In many cases professors will require that students utilize articles from “peer-reviewed” journals. Sometimes the phrases “refereed journals” or “scholarly journals” are used to describe the same type of journals. But what are peer-reviewed (or refereed or scholarly) journal articles, and why does faculty require their use?
Three categories of information resources:
•   Newspapers and magazines containing news - Articles are written by reporters who may or may not be experts in the field of the article. Consequently, articles may contain incorrect information.
•   Journals containing articles written by academics and/or professionals — although the articles are written by “experts,” any particular “expert” may have some ideas that are really “out there!”
•   Peer-reviewed (refereed or scholarly) journals - Articles are written by experts and are reviewed by several other experts in the field before the article is published in the journal in order to insure the article’s quality. (The article is more likely to be scientifically valid, reach reasonable conclusions, etc.) In most cases the reviewers do not know who the author of the article is, so that the article succeeds or fails on its own merit, not the reputation of the expert.

How do you determine whether an article qualifies as being a peer-reviewed journal article?
First, you need to look for actual articles, excluding those types of information that are not. Then, you need to be able to identify which journals are peer-reviewed. There are generally four methods for doing this:
1.   Limiting a database search to peer-reviewed journals only.
Some databases allow you to limit searches for articles to peer reviewed journals only. For example, Academic Search Premier has this feature on the initial search screen - click on the pertinent box to limit the search. In some databases you may have to go to an “advanced” or “expert” search screen to do this. Remember, many databases do not allow you to limit your search in this way.
2.   Checking in the database Ulrichsweb.com to determine if the journal is indicated as being peer-reviewed. If you cannot limit your initial search to peer-reviewed journals, you will need to check to see if the source of an article is a peer-reviewed journal. This can be done by searching the database Ulrichsweb.com. From the Online Resources box in Ram Port, go to the alphabetical listing of databases and click on the “U”. Select Ulrichsweb.com. Choose the Quick Search for “Title (Exact)”. Type in the EXACT title of the source journal. (Note: in Ulrichsweb.com, unlike most other databases, you must type the exact title INCLUDING ANY INITIAL A, AN, or THE in the title. For example, searching for The Chronicle of Higher Education as “Chronicle of Higher Education” is incorrect – the initial “The” must be included.) If the original search is not successful, you may want to try an additional Quick Search using the “Title (Keyword)” option. If the journal you are interested in is not found, you will need to utilize Method C below. If your journal title IS displayed, check to see if the journal is indicated as being refereed by having the symbol next to the title.
3.   Examining the publication to see if it is peer-reviewed.
If by using the first two methods you were unable to identify if a journal (and an article therein) is peer-reviewed, you may then need to examine the journal PHYSICALLY to determine if it is peer-reviewed. This method is not always successful with resources available only online, and is not recommended in this latter situation.
4.   Find the official Web site on the Internet, and check to see if it states that the journal is peer-reviewed. Be careful to use the official site (often located at the journal publisher’s Web site), and, even then, information could potentially be “inaccurate.”

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Teaching & Research Forum / Bangladeshi Nano Scientist Made Artificial Human Lung

« on: September 13, 2015, 09:44:47 AM »

বাংলাদেশী বিজ্ঞানীদের বিজয় রথ এগিয়ে চলেছে। এবারের সাফল্য এসেছে একজন তরুণ নারী বিজ্ঞানীর হাত ধরে। আয়েশা আরেফিন টুম্পা ন্যানো-প্রযুক্তির মাধ্যমে তৈরি করেছেন কৃত্রিম মানব ফুসফুস। যে কারণে বিষয়টি আরো বেশি আনন্দের। কারণ, বাংলাদেশ দুর্ভাগ্যজনকভাবে সেই দেশগুলোর মাঝে একটি যেখানে নারী বিজ্ঞানীদের সংখ্যা অনেক কম। অনেক মেয়েরই স্বপ্ন থাকে বিজ্ঞানী হবার। কিন্তু সামাজিক ও অর্থনৈতিক অবস্থা আর অনেক ক্ষেত্রে প্রচলিত অনেক কুসংস্কার মেয়েদের এই স্বপ্নের পথে বাধা হয়ে দাঁড়ায়। কিন্তু এত বাঁধা-বিপত্তির মাঝেও অনেক মেয়ে এগিয়ে যাচ্ছেন তাঁদের স্বপ্নের পথে।

২০১১ সালে আমেরিকার আলামস ন্যাশনাল ল্যাবেরটরির গবেষক ক্রিস ডেটার বাংলাদেশে বৈজ্ঞানিক গবেষণা সংক্রান্ত এক কাজে এসে এরকমই এক সম্ভাবনাময় জিনবিজ্ঞানী আয়েশা আরেফিনের দেখা পান। ডেটার ও তাঁর সহকর্মী ল্যান্স গ্রিনের একান্ত সহযোগিতার ফলেই আয়েশা লস আলামস ন্যাশনাল ল্যাবেরটরিতে উচ্চতর পড়াশোনা ও গবেষণার সুযোগ পান। আয়েশা তার যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের জীবনের প্রথম দিন গুলোতে ডেটারের বাড়িতেই থাকতেন। আয়েশা আরেফিন, যার ডাক নাম টুম্পা বর্তমানে ইউনিভার্সিটি অব নিউ মেক্সিকোতে ন্যানো-সায়েন্সের উপর ডক্টরেট করছেন। একই সাথে লস আলামস ন্যাশনাল ল্যাবেরটরিতে চলছে তাঁর গবেষণা। আয়েশা আরেফিন সিলেটের শাহজালাল বিজ্ঞান ও প্রযুক্তি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের জেনেটিক ইঞ্জিনিয়ারিং ও বায়োটেকনোলজি বিভাগের ২০০৫-০৬ শিক্ষাবর্ষের শিক্ষার্থী ছিলেন।

আয়েশা তাঁর ক্যারিয়ার শুরু করেন লস আলামস ন্যাশনাল ল্যাবেরটরির বায়ো-সিকিউরিটি বিভাগে। এরপরেই ঐ ল্যাবের ভারতীয় গবেষক প্রখ্যাত টক্সিকোলজিস্ট রাশি আইয়ার আয়েশাকে অপ্টোজেনিক্স সঙ্ক্রান্ত গবেষণা কাজের জন্য নিয়োগ দেন। অপ্টোজেনিকস হচ্ছে জিন-বিদ্যা ও প্রোটিন প্রকৌশল(ইঞ্জিনিয়ারিং) এর মাধ্যমে জীবন্ত টিস্যুর মাঝে ঘটতে থাকা বিভিন্ন স্নায়বিক কাজ (neuron activity) নিয়ন্ত্রণ করা। এই প্রযুক্তির মাধ্যমে কৃত্রিম অঙ্গপ্রত্যঙ্গ ও কৃত্রিম টিস্যু বা কলা তৈরি করা সম্ভব।

আয়েশা ও রাশি আয়ারের দলের অন্যান্য সদস্যরা বিভিন্ন জীবাণু দ্বারা সৃষ্ট বিষক্রিয়া, রোগ ও কৃত্রিম অঙ্গ সংস্থাপনের জন্য সম্পূর্ণ নতুন প্রযুক্তির উদ্ভাবন করেছেন। তাঁরা একটি কৃত্রিম মানব ফুসফুস তৈরি করেন। তাঁদের উদ্দেশ্য ছিল, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease এর সময় ফুসফুসের কোষগুলো কিভাবে কাজ করে তা জানা ও এর প্রতিষেধক উদ্ভাবন করা।। এটি হচ্ছে তৃতীয় সর্বোচ্চ ভয়াবহ রোগ যাতে আমেরিকার অনেক মানুষ মৃত্যুবরণ করে। আয়েশা একই সাথে বিভিন্ন স্নায়বিক ব্যাধি ও মস্তিষ্কে রক্ত-ক্ষরণ নিয়েও গবেষণা করছেন।

বাংলাদেশী বিজ্ঞানী আয়েশা আরেফিন টুম্পা ভবিষ্যতে দেশে ফিরে এসে মানুষের জন্য কাজ করতে আগ্রহী। দেশে থাকাকালীন সময়ে তিনি নির্যাতিত নারীদের পুনর্বাসনের জন্য কাজ করেছেন। এছাড়া তিনি এইচ আই ভি/এইডস নিয়ে পারিবারিক সচেতনতা বৃদ্ধির জন্য স্বেচ্ছাসেবক হিসেবেও কাজ করেছেন। তাঁর ইচ্ছা দেশে এসে নিজের বাড়িতে একটি স্কুল খোলার। যেখানে যে কোন শিশু বিজ্ঞান ও গণিত পড়ার সুযোগ পাবে।

আয়েশা আন্তরিকভাবেই বিশ্বাস করেন ভাগ্য ও আশেপাশের কিছু মানুষের সহযোগিতা ছাড়া তাঁর এই সাফল্য আসতো না। তিনি বলেন, “ আমি আমার গবেষণাগারের, এর মানুষগুলোর প্রতি কৃতজ্ঞ। আমি আনন্দিত যে ব্যতিক্রম কিছু করার সুযোগ পেয়েছি”। তিনি আরো বলেন লস আলামসে কর্মরত অন্য অনেক দেশের গবেষক বিশেষ করে মন্টেনিগ্রোর গবেষক Momo Vuyisich তাঁর জীবনের লক্ষ্য নির্ধারণে গুরত্বপূর্ণ ভূমিকা রেখেছেন।

Source: https://aiche.confex.com/aiche/2013/webprogram/Paper325988.html

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Textile Engineering / Modern Dyeing Techniques in the Carpet Trade

« on: July 11, 2015, 11:52:01 AM »

Recent developments in dyeing for the carpet trade are reviewed under two headings, viz. (a) dyeing by batchwise or substantive methods and (b) continuous dyeing. Reference is made to new techniques for the batchwise dyeing of wool—nylon and wool—Evlan*—nylon unions, as well as to a new type of nylon-reserving agent for use when dyeing these blends. Piece dyeing of carpet containing polyamide fibres with differential-dyeing affinity to give solid, tone-in-tone, and contrast effects is also reviewed, and mention is made of a technique that can be used on all-wool carpets to produce similar results.

The continuous dyeing of different fibres in the form of loose stock, card sliver, slubbing, tow; and carpet is reviewed, and methods for space-dyeing synthetic-polymer yarns are outlined.

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Teaching & Research Forum / Russian scientists find new way to repair DNA that may cure Alzheimer’s

« on: July 11, 2015, 10:38:58 AM »

A group of Russian scientists have discovered a new method of DNA repair which may be able to prevent and cure neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s and even stop the process of cell death.
The research team led by Vasily M. Studitsky, professor at the Lomonosov Moscow State University, published their findings in an article “Structure of transcribed chromatin is a sensor of DNA damage” in the Science Advances journal.
“Early detection and repair of damaged DNA is essential for cell functioning and survival,” says the study.
The paper raises the question of single-strand breaks (SSBs) which are called in the research “common DNA damages generated during various processes of cell metabolism.”
“Unrepaired SSBs can interfere with transcription, replication, and DNA repair; induce accumulation of double-stranded DNA breaks; increase genomic instability and apoptosis [process of programmed cell death]; and lead to severe neurodegenerative diseases.” Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease and spinal muscular atrophy are examples of such diseases.

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Teaching & Research Forum / Researchers discover a 2 billion year old Nuclear Reactor in Africa Read more:

« on: July 11, 2015, 10:36:07 AM »

A worker at a nuclear fuel processing plant noticed something suspicious in a routine analysis of uranium obtained from a normal mineral source from Africa. As is the case with all natural uranium, the material under study contained three isotopos- ie three forms with different atomic masses: uranium 238, the most abundant variety; uranium 234, the rarest; and uranium 235, the isotope that is coveted because it can sustain a nuclear chain reaction. For weeks, specialists at the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) remained perplexed
Elsewhere in the earth’s crust, on the moon and even in meteorites, we can find uranium 235 atoms that makes up only 0.720 percent of the total. But in the samples that were analyzed, which came from the Oklo deposit in Gabon, a former French colony in West Africa, the uranium 235 constituted only 0.717 percent. That small difference was enough to alert French scientists that there was something very strange going on with the minerals. These small details led to further investigations which showed that least a part of the mine was well below the normal amount of uranium 235: some 200 kilograms appeared to have been extracted in the distant past, today, that amount is enough to make half a dozen nuclear bombs. Soon, researchers and scientists from all over the world gathered in Gabon to explore what was going on with the Uranium from Oklo.
What was fund in Oklo surprised everyone gathered there, the site where the uranium originated from is actually an advanced subterranean nuclear reactor that goes well beyond the capabilities of our present scientific knowledge. Researchers believe that this ancient nuclear reactor is around 1.8 billion years old and operated for at least 500,000 years in the distant past. Scientists performed several other investigation at the uranium mine and the results were made public at a conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency. According to News agencies from Africa, researchers had found traces of fission products and fuel wastes at various locations within the mine area.
Incredibly, compared with this huge nuclear reactor, our modern-day nuclear reactors are really not comparable both in design and functionality. According to studies, this ancient nuclear reactor was several kilometers long. Interestingly, for a large nuclear reactor like this, thermal impact towards the environment was limited to just 40 meters on all sides. What researchers found even more astonishing, are the radioactive wastes that have still not moved outside the limits of the site as they are still held in place tanks to the geology of the area.

For more: http://www.disclose.tv/news/researchers_discover_a_2_billion_year_old_nuclear_reactor_in_africa/118482

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Teaching & Research Forum / New mechanism of DNA repair

« on: July 11, 2015, 10:32:26 AM »

The DNA molecule is chemically unstable giving rise to DNA lesions of different nature. That is why DNA damage detection, signaling and repair, collectively known as the DNA damage response, are needed.
A group of researchers, lead by Vasily M. Studitsky, professor at the Lomonosov Moscow State University, discovered a new mechanism of DNA repair, which opens up new perspectives for the treatment and prevention of neurodegenerative diseases. The article describing their discovery is published in AAAS' first open access online-only journal Science Advances.
"In higher organisms DNA is bound with proteins in complexes called the nucleosome. Every ~200 base pairs are organized in nucleosomes, consisting of eight histone proteins, which, like the thread on the bobbin, wound double helix of DNA, which is coiled into two supercoiled loops. Part of the surface of the DNA helix is hidden, because it interacts with histones. Our entire genome is packed this way, except for the areas, from which the information is being currently read",—says Vasily M. Studitsky , who is the leading researcher and the head of the Laboratory of Regulation of Transcription and Replication at the Biological Faculty of the Lomonosov Moscow State University.
The dense packing allows DNA molecule with a length of about two meters to fit into a microscopic cell nucleus, but it makes significant surfaces of the DNA inaccessible for the repair enzymes—the proteins that manage the "repair" of damaged DNA regions. The damage of the DNA, if not repaired, leads to accumulation of mutations, cell death, and to the development of various diseases, including neurodegenerative, e.g. Alzheimer's disease.
A group of researchers, lead by Vasily M. Studitsky, studied the mechanism of detection of single-stranded DNA breaks at which the connection is lost between nucleotides on one strand in the places where the DNA is associated with histones.
Scientists know quite a lot about the mechanism of the repair. It is known that for the synthesis of a protein, information written in the genetic code, which could be imagined as the manual for its assembly where triples of nucleotides match certain amino acids, should be taken out of the nucleus into the cytoplasm of the cell.
Thin and long strand of the DNA is packed in the nucleus and can tear at the exit to the outside. Moreover, it cannot be sacrificed as the cell's nuclear DNA is is only present in two copies. Therefore, when it is necessary to synthesize specific protein, small region of DNA is unwound, the two strands are disconnected, and the information on the protein structure with one of the DNA strands is written in form of RNA, single-stranded molecule. The mRNA molecule, which serves as the template for making a protein, is synthesized by the principle of complementarity: each nucleotide pair corresponds to another one.
During the transcription of information (its rewriting into RNA) the RNA polymerase enzyme "rides" on the DNA chain, and stops when it finds the break. Like a proofreader of a text, RNA polymerase after it is stalled, triggers a cascade of reactions, resulting in the repair enzymes fixing the damaged area. At the same time, the RNA polymerase cannot detect discontinuities present in the other DNA strand.
"We have shown, not yet in the cell, but in vitro, that the repair of breaks in the other DNA chain, which is "hidden" in the nucleosome, is still possible. According to our hypothesis, it occurs due to the formation of special small DNA loops in the nucleosome, although normally DNA wounds around the histone "spool" very tightly",—says Vasily M. Studitsky,—"The loops form when the DNA is coiled back on nucleosome together with polymerase. RNA polymerase can "crawl" along the DNA loops nearly as well as on histone-free DNA regions, but when it stops near locations of the DNA breaks, it "panics", triggering the cascade of reactions to start DNA "repairs".
During the experiment, special sites, where single-stranded breaks can be introduced by adding specific enzymes in a test tube, were inserted into the DNA. Then a single nucleosome transcribed by a single RNA molecule was studied. In this model system, which was developed in 2002 by the same group of scientists, histones were assembled on the molecule with an accuracy within one nucleotide. Having specially introduced breaks at precise locations on the DNA, the researchers examined the impact of breaks on the progression of the RNA polymerase. It turned out that only in nucleosomes, rather than in the histone-free DNA, the enzyme stopped, when the break was present in the other DNA strand. Wherein it did not stop before the break, but immediately after it. It was difficult enough to understand the mechanism that allows it to notice the damage at the "back" of RNA polymerase, as if it had "eyes on the back of the head", although, obviously, it does not have neither one nor the other.
The analysis of breaks in different positions allowed to hypothesize that stalling of RNA polymerase is caused by the formation of the loop, which blocks movement of the enzyme. The findings open up a new direction for the work on the subject of DNA repair.
Previously the role of chromatin considered passive as scientists thought the DNA repair is possible only on histone-free DNA. However, professorr Vasily M. Studitsky and his colleagues found that the thread can be repaired without complete unwinding of DNA "coils". The highly conserved histones play an important role in this process as changes in their structure are rejected by natural selection. Moreover, the high level of protein conservation just assumes its active participation in many processes.
Furthermore, the models proposed by the scientists first time ever explains the role of the so-called topological locks, which are formed during the passage of any enzyme along the DNA when it meets a nucleosome.
"In terms of applied science discovery of a new mechanism of reparation promises new prospective methods of prevention and treatment of diseases. We have shown that the formation of loops, which stop the polymerase, depends on its contacts with histones. If you make them more robust, it will increase the efficiency of the formation of loops and the probability of repair, which in turn will reduce the risk of disease. If these contacts are destabilized, then by using special methods of drug delivery you can program the death of the affected cells",—Vasily Studitsky concluded, adding that the process of development and testing of such drugs, of course, requires considerable time.

9

Faculty Sections / 17 Reasons Why You Need a Mango Every Day

« on: July 08, 2015, 09:59:24 PM »

Mangoes may very well be the king of all fruits. They fight cancer, alkalize the body, aid in weight loss, regulate diabetes, help digestion, clean your skin, and make the perfect snack. Here are 17 healthy reasons why you should be eating a mango every day.
1. Fights cancer
Antioxidants like quercetin, isoquercitrin, astragalin, fisetin, gallic acid and methylgallat present in mango protect the body against colon, breast, leukemia and prostate cancers.
2. Keeps cholesterol in check
Mango has high level of vitamin C, pectin and fibres that help to lower serum cholesterol levels. Fresh mango is a rich source of potassium, which is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps to control heart rate and blood pressure.
3. Skin cleanser
Mangoes help you unclog your pores and add freshness to the face. Mangoes are applicable to any skin type. They help clear clogged pores that cause acne. Just slice a mango into thin pieces and keep them on your face for 10 to 15 minutes and then take bath or wash your face and see the results.
4. Alkalizes the body
According to natural health school.com, mango is rich in tartaric acid, malic acid and traces of citric acid that primarily help in maintaining the alkali reserve of the body.
5. Weight loss
Mango has a lot of vitamins and nutrients that help the body feel fuller. Also, the fibrous fruit boosts the digestive function of the body by burning additional calories, helping in weight loss.
6. Regulates diabetes
Not only the fruit but the leaves of mangoes are healthy too. For people suffering from diabetes, just boil 5-6 mango leaves in a vessel, soak it through night and drink the filtered decoction in the morning. This is helps in regulating your insulin levels.
Mango has a low glycemic index (41-60) so going a little overboard will not increase your sugar levels.
7. Aphrodisiac
Mango has aphrodisiac qualities and is also called the ‘love fruit’. Mangoes increase the virility in men. Vitamin E, which is abundantly present in mangoes, helps to regulate sex hormones and boosts sex drive.
8. Eye care
Did you know that mango is rich in vitamin A. One cup of sliced mangoes equals 25% intake of your daily need of vitamin A. Mangoes help in promoting good eye sight, fights dry eyes and also prevent night blindness.
9. Helps in digestion
Mango contains enzymes that help in breaking down protein. The fibrous nature of mango helps in digestion and elimination. It is is rich in pre-biotic dietary fibre, vitamins and minerals.
10. Heat stroke
When the sun is bogging you down this summer, just chop of a mango in a juicer; add a little water and a tbsp of sugar free or honey. This juice will instantly cool you down and prevent heat stroke.
11. Strengthens your immune
The deadly combination of vitamin C, vitamin A and 25 different kinds of carotenoids keep your immune system healthy.
12. Body scrub
Make a paste of mashed mango, honey and milk and use as a body scrub, you will feel that your skin is tender and smooth.
13. Aids concentration and memory
Studying for exams? This fruit is rich in glutamine acid– an important protein for concentration and memory. Feed mangoes to children who find it difficult to concentrate on studies.
14. High iron for women
Mango is rich in iron, hence it is a great natural solution for people suffering from anemia. Menopausal and pregnant women can indulge in mangoes as this will increase their iron levels and calcium at the same time.
15. Reduces Kidney Stones
In Chinese medicine, mangoes are considered sweet and sour with a cooling energy also capable of reducing the risk of kidney stone formation.
16. Perfect Snack
Instead of snacking on unhealthy chips and cookies, why not feast on slices of mangoes instead. They are perhaps one of the tastiest dehydrated fruits of all.
17. Stomach Tonic
Before going to bed put some 10 or 15 mango leaves in warm water and close it with lid. The next day morning filter the water and drink it in empty stomach. Do this regularly.

10

Teaching & Research Forum / 3D-printed cars moving closer to production

« on: July 08, 2015, 09:47:48 PM »

The 3D-printed car, easily configurable and made right before your eyes, is coming closer to reality.
A California-based company unveiled a prototype supercar that it says could dramatically reduce ‘‘the pollution, materials and capital costs’’ that go into their manufacture.
And next week, a Phoenix company says it is ready to unveil the design for its ‘‘road-ready’’ 3D-printed car. Last year, it showed a fairly crude version of a car and demonstrated the process of making it at a trade show in Las Vegas.
Both moves show progress toward a car that can be built as soon as the buyer’s preferences are programmed into the machine that then makes it out of carbon fiber.
Divergent Microfactories of San Francisco recently showed what it says is the world’s first 3D-printed supercar, the Blade. The company says it’s eco-friendly because uses a combination of aluminum joints and carbon fiber tubing to make the chassis in minutes, using less material. It is envisioned as having a 700-horsepower engine that uses either compressed natural gas or gasoline. Weighing only 1,400 pounds, it would be capable of zero to 60 mile per hour speeds in about two seconds.
The company says it plans to make a limited number of them in its own plant. Its founder portrays the company as being on the industry’s cutting edge.
‘‘We’ve developed a sustainable path forward for the car industry that we believe will result in a renaissance in car manufacturing, with innovative, eco-friendly cars like Blade being designed and built in microfactories around the world,’’ says Kevin Czinger, CEO of Divergent Microfactories.
Czinger says the goal would be create teams around the world that could built the car in their own ‘‘microfactories.’’
Local Motors, meanwhile, is taking its own approach.
CEO John ‘‘Jay’’ Rogers told USA TODAY last year that he plans to make 3D-printed cars made of carbon-fiber reinforced ABS plastic costing from $18,000 to $30,000. The roofless version he was showing, looking a bit like a carbon-fiber dune buggy, had 50 parts, instead of the thousands in modern cars.
A machine makes the chassis, body -- even the dashboard -- and the wheel, engine and controls are then attached. The process takes about 40 hours. It’s easy to make changes.

11

Teaching & Research Forum / Nanowire implants offer remote-controlled drug delivery

« on: July 08, 2015, 10:50:13 AM »

A team of researchers has created a new implantable drug-delivery system using nanowires that can be wirelessly controlled.

The nanowires respond to an electromagnetic field generated by a separate device, which can be used to control the release of a preloaded drug. The system eliminates tubes and wires required by other implantable devices that can lead to infection and other complications, said team leader Richard Borgens, Purdue University's Mari Hulman George Professor of Applied Neuroscience and director of Purdue's Center for Paralysis Research.

"This tool allows us to apply drugs as needed directly to the site of injury, which could have broad medical applications," Borgens said. "The technology is in the early stages of testing, but it is our hope that this could one day be used to deliver drugs directly to spinal cord injuries, ulcerations, deep bone injuries or tumors, and avoid the terrible side effects of systemic treatment with steroids or chemotherapy."

The team tested the drug-delivery system in mice with compression injuries to their spinal cords and administered the corticosteroid dexamethasone. The study measured a molecular marker of inflammation and scar formation in the central nervous system and found that it was reduced after one week of treatment. A paper detailing the results will be published in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Controlled Release and is currently available online.

The nanowires are made of polypyrrole, a conductive polymer material that responds to electromagnetic fields. Wen Gao, a postdoctoral researcher in the Center for Paralysis Research who worked on the project with Borgens, grew the nanowires vertically over a thin gold base, like tiny fibers making up a piece of shag carpet hundreds of times smaller than a human cell. The nanowires can be loaded with a drug and, when the correct electromagnetic field is applied, the nanowires release small amounts of the payload. This process can be started and stopped at will, like flipping a switch, by using the corresponding electromagnetic field stimulating device, Borgens said.

The researchers captured and transported a patch of the nanowire carpet on water droplets that were used used to deliver it to the site of injury. The nanowire patches adhere to the site of injury through surface tension, Gao said.

The magnitude and wave form of the electromagnetic field must be tuned to obtain the optimum release of the drug, and the precise mechanisms that release the drug are not yet well understood, she said. The team is investigating the release process.

The electromagnetic field is likely affecting the interaction between the nanomaterial and the drug molecules, Borgens said.

"We think it is a combination of charge effects and the shape change of the polymer that allows it to store and release drugs," he said. "It is a reversible process. Once the electromagnetic field is removed, the polymer snaps back to the initial architecture and retains the remaining drug molecules."

For each different drug the team would need to find the corresponding optimal electromagnetic field for its release, Gao said.

This study builds on previous work by Borgens and Gao. Gao first had to figure out how to grow polypyrrole in a long vertical architecture, which allows it to hold larger amounts of a drug and extends the potential treatment period. The team then demonstrated it could be manipulated to release dexamethasone on demand. A paper detailing the work, titled "Action at a Distance: Functional Drug Delivery Using Electromagnetic-Field-Responsive Polypyrrole Nanowires," was published in the journal Langmuir.

Other team members involved in the research include John Cirillo, who designed and constructed the electromagnetic field stimulating system; Youngnam Cho, a former faculty member at Purdue's Center for Paralysis Research; and Jianming Li, a research assistant professor at the center.

For the most recent study the team used mice that had been genetically modified such that the protein Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein, or GFAP, is luminescent. GFAP is expressed in cells called astrocytes that gather in high numbers at central nervous system injuries. Astrocytes are a part of the inflammatory process and form a scar tissue, Borgens said.

A 1-2 millimeter patch of the nanowires doped with dexamethasone was placed onto spinal cord lesions that had been surgically exposed, Borgens said. The lesions were then closed and an electromagnetic field was applied for two hours a day for one week. By the end of the week the treated mice had a weaker GFAP signal than the control groups, which included mice that were not treated and those that received a nanowire patch but were not exposed to the electromagnetic field. In some cases, treated mice had no detectable GFAP signal.

Whether the reduction in astrocytes had any significant impact on spinal cord healing or functional outcomes was not studied. In addition, the concentration of drug maintained during treatment is not known because it is below the limits of systemic detection, Borgens said.

"This method allows a very, very small dose of a drug to effectively serve as a big dose right where you need it," Borgens said. "By the time the drug diffuses from the site out into the rest of the body it is in amounts that are undetectable in the usual tests to monitor the concentration of drugs in the bloodstream."

Polypyrrole is an inert and biocompatable material, but the team is working to create a biodegradeable form that would dissolve after the treatment period ended, he said.

The team also is trying to increase the depth at which the drug delivery device will work. The current system appears to be limited to a depth in tissue of less than 3 centimeters, Gao said.

12

Nutrition and Food Engineering / Top 10 Uses of NanoTechnology in Food

« on: July 08, 2015, 10:44:17 AM »

Nanoparticles may be able to detect bacteria, extend food shelf life, add health benefits, or improve flavor, reports Discovery.
While nanotechnology does not involve any genetic manipulation,  many companies are keeping secret about their work their doing. While this can keep competitors off their trail, it can also make it difficult for regulatory agencies to manage risks and create laws for these emerging technologies.
Nonetheless, nanotechnology offers some exciting potential benefits for the quality and safety of our foods.
1. CONTAMINATION SENSOR: Flash a light to reveal the presence of E. coli bacteria.
2. ANTIMICROBIAL PACKAGING: Edible food films made with cinnamon or oregano oil, or nano particles of zinc, calcium other materials that kill bacteria.
3. IMPROVED FOOD STORAGE: Nano-enhanced barrier keeps oxygen-sensitive foods fresher.
4. ENHANCED NUTRIENT DELIVERY
Nano-encapsulating improves solubility of vitamins, antioxidants, healthy omega oils and other ‘nutraceuticals’.
5. GREEN PACKAGING: Nano-fibers made from lobster shells or organic corn are both antimicrobial and biodegradable.
6. PESTICIDE REDUCTION: A cloth saturated with nano fibers slowly releases pesticides, eliminating need for additional spraying and reducing chemical leakage into the water supply.
7. TRACKING, TRACING; BRAND PROTECTION: Nanobarcodes can be created to tag individual products and trace outbreaks.
8. TEXTURE: Food spreadability and stability improve with nano-sized crystals and lipids for better low-fat foods.
9. FLAVOR: Trick the tongue with bitter blockers or sweet and salty enhancers.
10. BACTERIA IDENTIFICATION AND ELIMINATION: Nano carbohydrate particles bind with bacteria so they can be detected and eliminated.

13

Textile Engineering / Nano Fabric Shirt

« on: July 08, 2015, 10:40:37 AM »

Nano fabrics, which are fabric manufactured using nanoparticles thus enhance clothing. There is a thin layer of zinc oxide nanoparticles used in the fabric that provides better protection from UV radiation. In some of the clothes the nanoparticles are in the form of little hairs or whiskers, which helps in repelling water and other materials hence make the clothes stain-resistant.

The main features of nano fabrics are:
•   Odour control
•   Outperforms conventional fabric treatments
•   Provides long-lasting protection
•   Extends the life of the fabric Retains fabric's natural softness
•   Allows fabric to breathe naturally
•   Dry Inside
•   Static Elemination
•   Coolest comfort.Resist stains
•   Mosquito Repellent
•   Sweat Resistant
•   Improves blood circulation
•   Protect from harmful ultra violet rays

14

Teaching & Research Forum / Batteries That Operate With Any Liquid

« on: July 08, 2015, 10:16:22 AM »

Chungpin Liao, a professor at the Graduate School of Electro-Optic and Material Science of National Formosa University in Taiwan has invented an organic battery that creates electricity when wet.
The "organic" battery generates a charge within 10 seconds and will last anywhere from two days to a week depending on the liquid. It works with water, beverages or even urine.
Although it will only produce half the strength of traditional batteries, the organic battery has a storage capacity greater than water-powered fuel cells and is very cheap to manufacture.
Plus it contains no toxic substances and does not pose an environmental hazard" says Chungpin.
Liao received his degree in nuclear engineering from National Tsing Hua University in Hsinchu, Taiwan. He earned his Masters and Ph.D degrees in plasma science and fusion technology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, United States.

Source: www.nfu.edu.tw/eng/

15

Teaching & Research Forum / Water Drop Lens

« on: July 08, 2015, 10:14:58 AM »

Physicist and inventor, Bruno Berge, has created a liquid optical lens.
Using a process known as electro-wetting, a water drop is deposited on a metal substrate and covered by a thin insulating layer. When a voltage is applied to the metal, it modifies the angle of the liquid drop.
The liquid lens is comprised of two liquids, water and oil, one is a conductor while the other is an insulator. A variation in the voltage causes a change to the curvature of the liquid to liquid interface, which changes the focal length of the lens.
The use of liquids allows for low cost construction. There are no moving parts and electrical consumption is extremely low. The lens has a large inverse focal length range, quick response, high optical quality and can operate in a wide temperature range.

Source: varioptic.com