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Inspite of being a plentiful and inexpensive metal, the use of copper nanoclusters is limited in bio-medical research because of their toxicity and low stability due to its easily oxidizable nature. It also has a low quantum yield. The interdisciplinary publication of the researchers at SRM University-AP successfully addressed these constraints, resulting in strong fluorescence, superior colloidal stability, and non-toxicity of copper nanoclusters for bio imaging applications. The research was a collective work of Dr Manjunatha Thondamal from the Department of Biological Sciences, Dr Mahesh Kumar Ravva and Dr Sabyasachi Chakrabortty from the Department of Chemistry along with their PhD scholars; Mr Kumar Babu Busi, Ms Kotha Jyothi, Ms Sheik Haseena, Ms Shamili Bandaru and Ms Jyothi Priyanka Ghantasala.

The article titled ‘“Engineering colloidally stable, highly fluorescent and nontoxic Cu nanoclusters via reaction parameter optimization” was featured in the prestigious Q1 journal RSC Advances (IF: 4.036), published by the ‘Royal Society of Chemistry’. They successfully prepared the protein stabilised copper nanoclusters inside the aqueous medium with exceptional optical properties. To the best of their knowledge, the reported colloidal stability and quantum yield of their as-synthesized Cu NCs are the highest reported in the literature, where the emission wavelength is in the red region. Also, optimised copper nanoclusters showed excellent biocompatibility towards solid cancer cell lines and C. elegans as in vitro and in vivo environments. Thus, these red colour luminescent copper nanoclusters were becoming a suitable fluorescent probe for deep tissue penetration, photodynamic, photothermal and diagnostic applications.

Abstract of the Research

Metal Nanoclusters (NCs) composed of the least number of atoms (few to tens) became very attractive for their emerging properties owing to their ultrasmall size. Preparing copper nanoclusters (Cu NCs) in an aqueous medium with high emission properties, strong colloidal stability, and low toxicity has been a long-standing challenge. Although they are earth-abundant and inexpensive, they are comparatively less explored due to their limitations such as ease of surface oxidation, poor colloidal stability, and high toxicity. To overcome these constraints, we established a facile synthetic route by optimizing the reaction parameters, especially altering the effective concentration of the reducing agent to influence their optical characteristics. The improvement of photoluminescence intensity and superior colloidal stability was modelled from a theoretical standpoint. Moreover, the as-synthesized Cu NCs showed a significant reduction of toxicity in both in vitro and in vivo models. The possibilities of using such Cu NCs as a diagnostic probe towards C. elegans were explored. Also, the extension of this approach towards improving the photoluminescence intensity of the Cu NCs on other ligand systems was demonstrated.

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Hon’ble Minister Dr Audimulapu Suresh ensured support of the State Government in the ongoing developmental projects

The foundation stone is laid for the third phase of infrastructure development at SRM University-AP. Dr Audimulapu Suresh, Hon’ble Minister for Municipal Administration & Urban Development, Government of Andhra Pradesh expressed his happiness in laying the foundation for the Phase III development on the auspicious day of Guru Purnima. “ I appreciate the role of SRM AP as a level playing field in the education sector in Andhra Pradesh”, he said.

In the initial phases, two Academic Blocks, Administrative Block, Research Building, Dining areas, an auditorium, and six Hostel buildings were completed and they are functioning fully-fledged. Dr P Sathyanarayanan, President of SRM University-AP elaborated on the ten thousand square feet project of the new phase. “Bricks and mortar won’t speak for itself, it is the faculty, students, and their opportunities that make a university and we have a proven track record of achievers in research, entrepreneurship, placement, and higher studies”, he added.

A slew of facilities for research, innovation, and entrepreneurship, will be open to the students in the new phase. In a statement, Dr T R Paarivendhar, the Founder Chancellor-SRM Group of Educational Institutions said that these new projects are going to give a huge impetus to the modern education ecosystem of Andhra Pradesh. The new phase will house Centres of Excellence focusing on areas of Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Data and Analytics, Sustainability, and other futuristic areas of research and innovation, in addition to the state-of-art classrooms.

In his address, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof D Narayana Rao highlighted the gamut of opportunities at SRM University-AP. Hon’ble Minister Dr Audimulapu Suresh also acknowledged the contributions of SRM group of institutions in bridging the gap between the haves and have-nots. Vice-Chancellor Prof V S Rao stated that SRM AP is the first educational institute established with a global vision of providing quality education and international exposure to the students of Andhra Pradesh.

The Minister distributed certificates and President’s scholarship upto ₹ 5,00,000 to the Class of 2022 who started successful entrepreneurial ventures, obtained Marquee Placement offers and secured Higher studies opportunities in Top QS 50 global universities. APSCHE Chairman Hemachandra Reddy and University Registrar Dr R Premkumar were also present in the event held at the auditorium following the stone laying ceremony.

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Students from the second batch of students from SRM University-AP, Andhra Pradesh, has completed the Familiarisation Programme at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), Malaysia in the month of June. This is part of Global Immersion facilitated by the Office of International Relations and Higher Studies at SRM AP.

Students and faculty mentors from SRM AP participated in several on and off-campus activities such as campus tours, cultural exchange, and recreational activities in UTP Malaysia. There were educational trips to Kuala Lumpur and PETRONAS Twin Towers. The students were accompanied by Dr Ashu Abdul , Assistant Professor at SRM University-AP.

In the five-day programme, SRM University-AP students enrolled in two non-credited courses – Introduction to Technical Reporting & Latex Scripting and Data Analysis with R Statistics. The students were introduced to UTP’s facilities, programmes, research capabilities, and campus life as a part of the Familiarisation Programme.

UTP Centre for Student Development (CSD) thanked SRM University-AP for entrusting them to provide our students with a global experience by participating in this programme.

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Worldwide, 1.3 billion tons of bio-waste are generated annually. By 2025, this is predicted to be increased by 2.2 billion tons/year. The emerged biowaste biorefinery has proved as a sustainable approach for integrated bioproducts, such as bioenergy, biopolymers, biochemicals, bioplastics, and biofertilizers further used for industrial, commercial, agricultural, and energy applications. Integrating biorefinery concepts into biowaste management is promising for a circular bioeconomy. Recent research at the Department of Environmental Sciences investigates the potential of sustainable biorefinery approaches. Assistant professor Dr Karthik Rajendran and his PhD scholar Mr. Prabakaran G published a paper, Sustainable biorefinery approaches towards circular economy for conversion of biowaste to value added materials and future perspectives, in Fuel, a Q1 journal, with an impact factor of 8.03. For this paper, they have collaborated with Dr Mukesh Kumar Awasthi from the College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, China.

Biorefinery is designed to improve the economic potential and achieve a circular bioeconomy by integrating various technologies such as pyrolysis, anaerobic digestion, gasification, incineration, and aerobic composting to gain energy, nutrients, and material recovery. Biowaste biorefinery contributes as a driving force to cope with challenges of resource scarcity, climate changes, and increased demand. The sustainable biorefinery approaches toward circular bioeconomy require a comprehensive understanding of the biowaste across the value chain. Based on the carbon neutralized biowaste biorefinery concept, this paper explained biowaste generation and utilization as a renewable resource through biorefinery techniques from the perspective of energy, nutrients, and material recovery. Meanwhile, clarify the implementation status, public engagement, and prospects of biowaste recycling with the central concept of biorefinery circular bioeconomy.

Abstract

With the colossal energy demand inevitably exacerbating the non-renewable resources depletion and ecological-social challenges, renewable energy has become a crucial participant in sustainable strategy. Biorefinery emerged as a sustainable approach and recognized promising transformation platforms for products to achieve a circular bioeconomy that focuses on biomass efficiency and sustainable valorisation, promotes resource regeneration, and restorative. The emerged biowaste biorefinery has proved as a sustainable approach for integrated bioproducts and further applied this technology in industrial, commercial, agricultural, and energy sectors. Based on carbon-neutral sustainable development, this review comprehensively explained biowaste as renewable resource generation and resource utilisation technologies from the perspective of energy, nutrient, and material recovery in the concept of biorefinery. Integrating biorefinery concepts into biowaste management is a promise for the conversion of biowaste into value-added materials. It contributes as a driving force to cope with resource scarcity, climate changes, and huge material demand in a circular bioeconomy. In practice, the optimal of biorefinery technologies depends on environmentally friendly, economic and technical feasibility, and social and policy acceptance. Additionally, policy interventions are necessary to promote biowaste biorefinery implements for a circular bioeconomy and contribute to a low-carbon cleaner environment.

Read the full article here.

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“Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research” (INSPIRE) programme is a flagship initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) to persuade young and talented science enthusiasts to pursue various fields of sciences and instigate quality research to strengthen the Science and Technology network of the country.

INSPIRE fellowship is one of the important components under the purview of INSPIRE programme to attract Science graduates to undertake Doctoral research in both basic and applied sciences. The fellowship enables the aspirants to pursue research at any recognized university or institute in India.

SRM University-AP is glad to host the subject expert committee meeting on July 14 & 15, 2022, to select the meritorious candidates for the DST-INSPIRE fellowship 2022 to pursue PhD in physics at any recognized institute across the country. During the meeting, the expert committee will list out the most deserving candidates among scores of applicants from all over the country.

As part of the event, an interactive session has been scheduled with the eminent scientist Dr Umesh K Sharma, DST New Delhi. He would cast light on the scopes and opportunities of pursuing doctorate with an INSPIRE fellowship. A talk by Prof Dinakar Kanjilal, Ex-Director IUAC Delhi, will also be organized to give the faculty and students a comprehensive understanding of the same.

Distinguished Members of the DST INSPIRE Meeting

Dr Umesh K Sharma

Dr Dinakar Kanjilal

Dr G Vijaya Prakash

Dr Anandamayee Tej

Dr Rajendra

Dr Arijit Chowdhuri

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Transactions on Computer Systems and Networks is a unique series that aims to capture advances in the evolution of computer hardware and software systems and progress in computer networks. Associate Professor Dr Ashok Kumar Pradhan, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, becomes a part of this book series by publishing the book titled Internet of Things- Security and Privacy in Cyber Space. Edition 1 of the book was launched on May 27, 2022, under the publishing house Springer Nature. The series aims to present leading works on advances in theory, design, behaviour, and applications in computing systems and networks.

This book covers major areas of device and data security and privacy related to the Internet of Things (IoT). It also provides an overview of lightweight protocols and cryptographic mechanisms to achieve security and privacy in IoT applications. Besides, the book also discusses intrusion detection and firewall mechanisms for IoT. It also covers topics related to embedded security mechanisms and presents suitable malware detection techniques for IoT. The book also contains a unique presentation on heterogeneous device and data management in IoT applications and showcases the major communication-level attacks and defense mechanisms related to IoT.

The book is beneficial for the students who pursue under graduation, post-graduation, and PhD as a reference to get the fundamental as well as research ideas about IoT/ cyber security/ Blockchain technology and their application areas.

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