Rapid determination of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) by an electrically driven blood droplet biosensor

In healthcare practice, the sedimentation rate of red blood cells (erythrocytes) is a widely used clinical parameter for screening of several ailments such as stroke, infectious diseases, and malignancy. In a traditional pathological setting, the total time taken for evaluating this parameter varies typically from 1 to 2 h. Furthermore, the volume of human blood to be drawn for each test, following a gold standard laboratory technique (alternatively known as the Westergren method), varies from 4 to 5 ml. Circumventing the above constraints, here we propose a rapid (∼1 min) and highly energy efficient method for the simultaneous determination of hematocrit and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) on a microfluidic chip, deploying electrically driven spreading of a tiny drop of blood sample (∼8 μl). Our unique approach estimates these parameters by correlating the same with the time taken by the droplet to spread over a given radius, reproducing the results from more elaborate laboratory settings to a satisfactory extent. Our novel methodology is equally applicable for determining higher ranges of ESR such as high concentration of bilirubin and samples corresponding to patients with anemia and patients with some severe inflammation. Furthermore, the minimal fabrication steps involved in the process, along with the rapidity and inexpensiveness of the test, render the suitability of the strategy in extreme point-of-care settings.     

The anatomy of anatomy: A review for its modernization

Anatomy has historically been a cornerstone in medical education regardless of nation or specialty. Until recently, dissection and didactic lectures were its sole pedagogy. Teaching methodology has been revolutionized with more reliance on models, imaging, simulation, and the Internet to further consolidate and enhance the learning experience. Moreover, modern medical curricula are giving less importance to anatomy education and to the acknowledged value of dissection. Universities have even abandoned dissection completely in favor of user‐friendly multimedia, alternative teaching approaches, and newly defined priorities in clinical practice. Anatomy curriculum is undergoing international reformation but the current framework lacks uniformity among institutions. Optimal learning content can be categorized into the following modalities: (1) dissection/prosection, (2) interactive multimedia, (3) procedural anatomy, (4) surface and clinical anatomy, and (5) imaging. The importance of multimodal teaching, with examples suggested in this article, has been widely recognized and assessed. Nevertheless, there are still ongoing limitations in anatomy teaching. Substantial problems consist of diminished allotted dissection time and the number of qualified anatomy instructors, which will eventually deteriorate the quality of education. Alternative resources and strategies are discussed in an attempt to tackle these genuine concerns. The challenges are to reinstate more effective teaching and learning tools while maintaining the beneficial values of orthodox dissection. The UK has a reputable medical education but its quality could be improved by observing international frameworks. The heavy penalty of not concentrating on sufficient anatomy education will inevitably lead to incompetent anatomists and healthcare professionals, leaving patients to face dire repercussions. Anat Sci Educ 3: 83–93, 2010. © 2010 American Association of Anatomists.     

New technology adoption in US telecommunications: The role of competitive pressures and firm-level inducements

In this study we examine the reasons for the differential adoption levels of a new technology, that of electronic switching, across firms in the US telecommunications industry. Using theoretical postulates from the market-structure inducements approach to firm behavior, and the behavioral theory of the firm, we propose that the incentives to adopt a new technology are positively related to the competitive pressures faced by a firm in its micro-market, negatively related to past levels of performance, and positively related to slack availability. Our sample consists of 40 of the largest firms in the industry. We use firm-level data collected for the years 1973, 1978, 1981, 1984, and 1987, and the results indicate strong support for our proposition. Our findings show that, in general, market effects via the mechanism of competitive pressures generated are strong in explaining inter-firm variations in levels of technology adoption in the period since moves to deregulate the industry began; however, the firm-level effects are equally strong, if not stronger, in explaining such variations both in the period leading up to the commencement of deregulatory moves and also immediately thereafter.     

Societal trust and open innovation

While open innovation provides a new paradigm to sustain a firm’s competitive advantage, opening up to external knowledge also entails substantial risks of appropriation and opportunism. Building on this “open paradox” framework, this study investigates whether societal trust—a key aspect of informal cultural norms—serves as an effective mechanism in improving relational governance among partners, thereby leading to better collaborative outcomes. Using a novel panel data on co-owned patents across 29 countries, we show that firms in high trust countries are able to produce a higher level of joint output (i.e., co-owned patents). This effect is more pronounced when perceived opportunism is higher (i.e., firms in high-tech industries, or in countries with less disclosure transparency), and when formal contracts are less enforceable (i.e., in countries with relatively weak legal systems). We further show that open innovation is the channel through which societal trust promotes innovative efficiency. Overall, our study establishes societal trust as a key factor in influencing the efficiency of open innovation.     

Science, Society, and Technology—Three Cultures and Multiple Visions

The article reviews the strikingly divergent viewpoints of intellectuals—scientists and non-scientists—about Science and Technology. It shows that while scientists implicitly accept the difference between Science and Technology, to non-scientists that difference is irrelevant. The most important differences between Science and Technology that lie in their relative scales, outputs and accuracy of predictions are highlighted. The complexity of and difficulty in trying to quantify the contribution of science and technology to economic growth are discussed. Views of science and technology that include their societal perceptions are recommended.     

Effects of some antituberculous and anti-leprotic drugs on cathepsins B,H and L

The cysteine proteinases like cathepsins B, L and H are main hydrolytic enzymes present in lysosomes and play an important role in intracellular protein degradation. Tuberculosis and leprosy, both are tissue- destructive diseases. Main drugs used in chemotherapy of these diseases may inhibit the main lysosomal cysteine proteinases i.e. cathepsins B, L and H released during tissue destruction and thus prevent the further destruction of tissue by these enzymes. So the aim of this study is to see the effect of antituberculous and antileprotic drugs on these proteolytic enzymes. The effect of commonly used antituberculous and antileprotic drugs was screened on the activities of purified brain lysosomal cysteine proteinases namely cathepsins B [EC 3.4.22.1], L [EC 3.4.22.15] and H [EC 3.4.22.16]. Among the antileprotic drugs, only clofazimine inhibited the enzymic activities whereas dapsone had no effect whatsoever. In antituberculous drugs, rifampicin was the most inhibitory while isoniazid had little inhibitory potency. Streptomycin and pyrazinamide did not effect the activities at all. As regards the mechanism of inhibition, clofazimine and isoniazid inhibited the enzymes in a non-competitive manner with K values of 0.25 mM and 5.0 mM for cathepsin B, 0.071 mM and 0.833 mM for cathepsin L and 1.513 mM and 0.885 mM for cathepsin H, While rifampicin could effect in a competitive manner with K_i values of 0.03 mM, 0.125 mM and 0.027 mM for cathepsin B, L and H respectively.