Author: admin

Characterization of a UPEC degS mutant in vitro and in vivo

Summary
Escherichia coli DegS is an integral inner membrane protein that breaks down incorrectly assembled proteins and helps regulate the σ ᴱ stress response pathway. When degS is deleted, approximately 200-fold more outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are produced. As OMVs contain sections of the outer membrane and proteins from the periplasm, they may play a role in the virulence of E. coli. To test whether degS or OMVs play a role in uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) virulence, we characterized a degS mutant. We found that the degS deletion did not affect the morphology of the bacterium, but did result in decreased virulence in vivo and in vitro. When we tested our mutant in a murine model of cystitis, mice infected with degS::cat bacteria had a 100-fold decrease in bacterial titers in the bladder at 24 hours post-infection. In vitro binding and invasion assays showed no difference in the ability to bind to host cells, but a significant decrease in the ability of mutant bacteria to invade cells. Together, these data suggest that degS deletion decreases the virulence of E. coli and that an increase in OMV production may be a detriment to virulence. Future studies can separate the role of degS and OMV production in UPEC virulence.

 

India C. Bradley and Elizabeth S. Danka

Child Sexual Abuse

Child Sexual Abuse is prevalent in today’s society more than before and they say 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 20 boys are victims of CSA (Child Sexual Abuse). What does CSA mean? When children are forced to take part in sexual activities for sexual stimulation by older people, we can call it Child Sexual Abuse. This need not be physical, it can happen online too and children being too young wouldn’t even know that they are being abused. There are two typed of sexual abuse: one that includes contact where the child is made to participate in sexual activities, penetration, or making them remove their clothes and touch someone else’s genitals and masturbate. The other one is non-contact abuse where children are made to do things over the internet like showing pornography, distributing filthy pictures showing sexual acts, and listening to sexual acts.

It’s not always so easy to detect children who are abused because the perpetrator will be someone the family knows and trusts and they usually will have the power to tell the child that it’s normal and they enjoyed it. The effects of CSA can be traumatic and most of them display a wide range of emotions and they might even find it difficult to trust anyone, have proper relationships with other adults when they grow up, and also in their sexual functioning. Feelings of worthlessness, low self-esteem, and a distorted view of sex is usually seen in these abused children as they are growing up.

Warning signs are always there for the parents to notice that their child is not the usual self.  Many of them will have phobias; shrink away from physical contact, bed-wetting, thumb sucking, new names for body parts, depression, anxiety, and many more. It is important to act immediately instead of waiting for proof.

There are many ways to prevent CSA: Listen to children properly and don’t force them to go with anyone they don’t want to. Encourage your children to talk and be an active listener so that you know what is happening in their lives when they are not with you. It’s also very important to teach children to say NO and keep an eye on their online life. Be observant on anyone who is showering your child with a lot of gifts. Parents should also speak about safety openly at home with their children. Babysitters and caregivers should be screened properly. Schools and communities also should provide programs to keep the children safe and be persistent in their prevention methods so that children are not sexually exploited.

Sung W. Han

NUMERALS

The numerals, now in everyday use, are called Arabic numerals, because it was from the Arabs that these numerals spread to Europe. Actually they are Indian in origin and should rightly be called Indian numerals.

The concept of zero and the digital system (including decimals) are India’s contribution to the science of numerals. The Arabs adopted the Indian system. The European got it from the Arabs (see landmarks of science).

Among the authors, who were instrumental in transmitting Indian mathematical knowledge from Arab sources to Europe, the most famous was Leonardo of Pisa (AD 1202). Other important authors were John Seville (1135), Adelard of Bath (1142), Robert of Chester (1142), Villedien (1240) and Sacrabosa (1242).

 

Student: CHITRA.K.LAL

The Quiet Revolution of Biomedical Technology

Biomedical technology is often associated with dramatic inventions like surgical robots or gene editing, but some of the most vital advances happening today are quieter and more practical. Across hospitals, laboratories, and even homes, new tools are steadily transforming healthcare into something faster, smarter, and more personalized. These developments may not always make headlines, but together they are reshaping how people experience medicine from diagnosis to recovery. We are moving away from a world of waiting for symptoms to appear and toward a reality where technology acts as a silent partner in our long term well-being.

One important area of progress is diagnostic technology. In the past, diagnosing a disease often depended on symptoms becoming severe enough to notice. Today, biomedical devices are making it possible to detect problems much earlier. Advanced imaging systems, portable ultrasound machines, and highly sensitive blood tests can reveal illness before it reaches a dangerous stage. In some cases, early detection can mean the difference between a manageable condition and a life-threatening crisis. This is especially important for diseases such as cancer or heart disease where every day counts.

Another major advance is the growing use of artificial intelligence in medicine. AI is not replacing doctors, but it is becoming a powerful support tool. It can analyze medical images, identify patterns in patient data, and help predict which patients may be at risk for complications. For example, AI systems can assist radiologists by highlighting suspicious areas on scans that the human eye might miss. In hospitals, predictive tools can help staff respond more quickly to warning signs of infection or organ failure. This makes care not only more efficient but also significantly safer for the person in the hospital bed.

Biomedical technology is also improving how we create the medicines of tomorrow. Creating a new drug has traditionally been an expensive and slow process. New computational tools now allow scientists to model how drugs interact with the body before they ever enter large scale testing. Researchers are even using organ on a chip systems. These are tiny devices lined with living human cells that allow scientists to study disease in ways that closely resemble the human body. These tools can reduce wasted time and increase the chances that promising treatments will succeed.

At the patient level, implantable and assistive technologies are making everyday life easier and more dignified. Pacemakers, cochlear implants, insulin pumps, and prosthetic limbs have all become more sophisticated and intuitive. Modern prosthetics can respond more naturally to movement and offer much better comfort. Smart insulin delivery systems can track glucose levels and adjust medication automatically. These are not simply machines attached to the body. They are becoming integrated systems that support independence and help people feel more like themselves.

Telemedicine has also benefited from this wave of innovation. Remote consultation became common recently, but its future depends on better diagnostic tools that patients can use at home. Home testing kits, digital stethoscopes, and smartphone connected devices now allow doctors to gather meaningful health data from a distance. This is particularly valuable for people in rural areas or older adults with mobility challenges. Even with these leaps, we must ensure that breakthroughs are affordable and accessible to everyone. The ultimate goal of biomedical technology is to build a medical system that sees problems earlier and supports healthier lives in everyday ways.

MINGHAO WANG

BEHIND THE SPIRIT

I walk the hills, and the barren lands,

With a passion in my eyes, a gun in my hands.

 

Roads to freedom, the journey long and short,

The incessant firing, the sound of the impending calm.

 

Cold winds blow and they hit me hard,

Violent and fierce, but I can’t scream, not even an ‘ah’.

 

In my aim to protect my country,

I wonder what would happen if we go wrong.

 

Banish the thought from my head,

With a promise to my motherland, I move on.

 

The gun shots and the wounded friend,

I see them all with my two eyes, I am human I want to say out loud.

 

I tell myself to be of stone, be invincible to it all,

A small prayer to God to let me see the end of the day.

 

It all goes unanswered when I am shot in the head,

One last bullet I fire, take the one last step.

 

To kill the enemy, that was the perfect aim,

Free my country from the bondages of Satan’s game.

 

Heavens above call to me, for I have done my duty, they say

Protect the people I love down here, don’t let my sacrifice be in vain.

Student: Shruti Chopra