Crossing the salt barrier

Salinity of water is a stumbling block for the movement of aquatic animals. There are thousands of fish species whose localization in water bodies is strictly restricted to either the sea or freshwater (rivers, lakes, ponds, etc.), or brackish water (where river or lake water mixes with sea water). Only three species known so far have conquered this deadly salt barrier and made crossing it a regular life process. This article gives an indepth account of the processes and strategies that enable them to do so.     

The Evolution of Knowledge in the University

This essay analyzes how the university arrived at its present crisis regarding research and teaching, especially in the sciences. The medieval university began as a teaching institution for training in three professions: law, medicine, and theology, along with a preparatory arts program. In the 19th century, universities in absolutist German states added research in natural and social sciences. However, the cultures of research institutions and teaching schools proved difficult to integrate outside of Germany. Moreover, our present market economy and democratic polity differ dramatically from the cultural contexts that gave rise to earlier models. We therefore need to rethink the future of teaching and research in contemporary universities to determine how the enterprise might be sustainable in any recognizable form. The goal of this historical and critical inquiry is to better understand how contemporary university teaching and research might be supported, given today's very different political and economic circumstances.     

Audit of the Prevalence of Noncorrelation of Immunofixation with Protein Electrophoresis and Serum Free Light Chain Assays in Multiple Myeloma in a Tertiary Cancer Care Center

Multiple myeloma (MM) is diagnosed and monitored by correlating panel of test results including serum Protein electrophoresis (SPE), Immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE), serum Free Light chain (sFLC) measurements. This audit is aimed to evaluate the prevalence of non-correlation and discrepancies amongst the three investigations (SPE/IFE/sFLC) for assessment of MM. 106 MM patients were reviewed over 16 months in a tertiary cancer care center by the availability of 3 serum test results (SPE/IFE/sFLC). Patients were divided into 2 groups: group1, newly diagnosed MM patients who were yet to receive myeloma specific treatment (n = 48); and group2, already diagnosed MM patients on treatment and followup (n = 58). Treatment modalities included stem cell transplantation and standard chemotherapy regimens. Non-correlation between the three test results (IFE/SPE/sFLC) was observed (21% in group1 and 45% in group2). Three types of discrepancies were detected as follows: (a) IFE showing less number of restriction bands as compared to SPE (8.6% patients in group2); (b) SPE/IFE negative with an abnormal sFLC ratio (12.5% patients in group1 and 13.7% in group2); (c) SPE/IFE positive but normal sFLC ratio (8% in group1 and 22% in group2). To conclude, IFE may sometimes provide information that does not always correlate with either of the SPE or sFLC results due to different sensitivities, antigen–antibody interactions, or treatment. Hence, SPE plus sFLC may be more useful particularly for patients on follow-up while IFE plus sFLC may help screen the new patients. The judicious selection of the biochemical assays can effectively reduce the treatment cost in a developing country like India.     

Our experience with experimental<Emphasis Type="Italic">Wuchereria bancrofti</Emphasis> infection in Indian langur (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Presbytis entellus</Emphasis>)

Thyroid antibodies are commonly utilized in the assessment and diagnosis of autoimmune thyroid disorders. We compared the measurements of antithyroglobulin and antithyroidperoxidase antibodies by enzyme immunoassay with that of the conventional agglutination method. This fully automated enzyme immunoassay is more specific and cost effective than the agglutination method. Further this is a very quantitative and rapid method producing results in two hours as compared to at least twenty=four hours required by the conventional method. Antithyroidperoxidase antibodies determined by enzyme immunoassay are more specific and sensitive in the diagnosis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis than the antithyroglobulin antibodies.     

Antigens of diagnostic and prophylactic importance inEntamoeba histolytica

Summary  Amoebiasis, caused by an enteric protozoanEntamoeba histolytica, is one of the major parasitic diseases of mankind. Current estimate suggests that the parasite infects about 10% of the world population at any given time. There is an urgent need to characterize the antigenic molecules ofE. histolytica, and find out antigens which have both immunodiagnostic and prophylactic potential against amoebiasis. The results of somatic antigen analysis, using sera from immune or infected individuals, indicated that the wholeE. histolytica trophozoites, are highly complex and heterogeneous in nature and both immunodiagnostic and immuno prophylaxis activity remain mainly in a surface associated 29 kDa glycoprotein ofE. histolytica. Future studies at molecular level particularly, genes responsible for expression of this protein, their homology with other proteins and structure analysis will give better understanding about this polypeptide. Studies on excretory secretory antigens, clearly demonstrated thatE. histolytica like many organisms, also liberates certain antigenic moieties into the culture medium during in vitro cultivation and this antigen has similar diagnostic values like the conventional somatic antigens. It is important that the ESA should be prepared from the supernatant after collecting the cell and use for immunodiagnosis of amoebiasis. This is an additional source of antigen which will help in carrying out more tests using the same reagents. Further studies are needed to clarify the location of these molecules on the parasite, along with detailed biochemical and immunological characterization and their relation with the pathogenesis. This was presented at the symposium on “Recent Trends in Tropical Disease Research”, held at Sevagram on 5-6 September, 1997.     

A Three-Dimensional Print Model of the Pterygopalatine Fossa Significantly Enhances the Learning Experience

The pterygopalatine fossa (PPF) is a bilateral space deep within the skull that serves as a major neurovascular junction. However, its small volume and poor accessibility make it a difficult space to comprehend using two-dimensional illustrations and cadaveric dissections. A three-dimensional (3D) printed model of the PPF was developed as a visual and kinesthetic learning tool for completely visualizing the fossa, its boundaries, its communicating channels, and its neurovascular structures. The model was evaluated by analyzing student performance on pre- and post-quizzes and a student satisfaction survey based on the five-point Likert scale. The first cohort comprised of 88 students who had never before studied the PPF. The second cohort consisted of 30 students who were previously taught the PPF. Each cohort was randomly divided into a control group who were provided with a half skull and an intervention group that were provided with the 3D printed model. The intervention group performed significantly better on the post-quiz as compared to the control group in cohort I (P = 0.001); while not significant, it also improved learning in cohort II students (P = 0.124). Satisfaction surveys indicated that the intervention group found the 3D printed model to be significantly more useful (P < 0.05) as compared to the half skull used by the control group. Importantly, the effect sizes for cohorts I and II (0.504 and 0.581, respectively) validated the statistical results. Together, this study highlights the importance of 3D printed models as teaching tools in anatomy education.     

Mixing mediums,mixing selves: arts-based contemplative approaches to border crossings

In this paper, in collaboration with a friend, who is an artist and a licensed counselor, I use a mixed-medium art project to enact Gloria Anzaldúa’s theorizations of nepantlera. I do so by making visible how I operate from the liminal space that Anzaldúa terms nepantla, as a transnational woman of color in US higher education. Using Anzaldúa’s framework of autohistoria-teoría, I integrate fragmented storytelling, art-making, and theorization, exposing the wounds that accompany my movement through personal and professional spaces in academia. Critical to this exploration are a sense of isolation and exile, unsettling understandings of home and belongingness, and the deep excavation of wounds that maintain and proliferate divisions between self and other. Such divisions offer sites of interrogation into our complicity with our oppression through denying power that comes from within, waging war on ourselves, and venerating oppressive externalized power structures.