Using Nonlinear Differential Equations to Formulate a Novel Approach to Combat HIV-1
The combat against HIV, the virus responsible for AIDS has witnessed consistent advancements and studies put forward by researchers in various fields. To identify a more intelligent and effective approach to combat HIV-1 and enhance the understanding of the workings of its treatments, Dr Koyel Chakravarty, Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics has published a paper titled “Mathematical modelling of HIV-1 transcription inhibition: a comparative study between optimal control and impulsive approach” in the Q2 journal, Journal of Computational and Applied Mathematics.
Abstract
By adopting a proactive strategy, this study facilitates the interaction with human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1), successfully navigating its sequential fusion stages. This approach enables efficient infiltration of the virus into a target CD4+T helper cell within the host organism, initiating the virus’s replication cycle. As a retrovirus, HIV-1 orchestrates the conversion of its single-stranded viral RNA genome into a more stable double-stranded DNA structure. The newly formed DNA integrates with the host cell’s genetic material, and the pro-viral DNA transforms into functional messenger RNA (mRNA) with the assistance of the host enzyme RNA polymerase II (Pol II).
The ongoing research focuses on constructing a meticulous mathematical framework using a system of nonlinear differential equations. The investigation aims to assess the impact of a Tat inhibitor on suppressing the transcriptional activity of HIV-1, treating it as an optimal control problem. The study also evaluates the Tat inhibitor’s efficacy as a potential therapeutic intervention for HIV-1 infection. Employing a one-dimensional impulsive differential equation model to determine the mathematically derived maximum concentration of the elongating complex (P2), the research considers the crucial aspect of optimal timing between successive dosages. A comparative analysis contrasts the effects of continuous dosing with impulse dosing of the Tat inhibitor, using numerical analysis to evaluate outcomes. The findings underscore the superior effectiveness of impulsive dosing over continuous dosing in inhibiting HIV-1 transcription. Visual representations of the model’s parameter sensitivities enhance understanding of the intricate physiological and biochemical processes within the system.
Practical implementation/social implications of the research
1. Treatment Optimization:
• Practical Implementation: Develop personalized treatment plans for individuals with HIV-1 based on the optimal control and impulsive approaches identified in the study.
• Social Implication: Improve the effectiveness of HIV-1 treatments, potentially leading to better health outcomes and a higher quality of life for individuals living with the virus.
2. Drug Administration Guidelines:
• Practical Implementation: Provide guidelines for healthcare professionals on the timing and dosage of Tat inhibitors using insights from the comparative study.
• Social Implication: Enhance the efficiency of drug administration, potentially reducing side effects and improving patient adherence to treatment regimens.
3. Public Health Planning:
• Practical Implementation: Incorporate the study’s findings into public health planning, considering the optimal and impulsive control strategies in broader HIV-1 prevention and treatment programs.
• Social Implication: Contribute to more effective and resource-efficient public health interventions, potentially reducing the overall burden of HIV-1 in communities.
4. Drug Development Strategies:
• Practical Implementation: Inform pharmaceutical companies and researchers about the comparative study results to guide the development of new HIV-1 inhibitors or improvements to existing drugs.
• Social Implication: Accelerate the development of more potent and targeted therapies, offering new options for managing HIV-1 infections.
5. Patient Education:
• Practical Implementation: Develop educational materials for individuals with HIV-1, explaining the importance of adherence to optimized treatment plans based on the study’s findings.
• Social Implication: Empower patients to actively participate in their treatment, potentially leading to better treatment outcomes and reduced transmission rates.
6. Policy Recommendations:
• Practical Implementation: Present policy recommendations to healthcare institutions and government agencies based on the study’s outcomes.
• Social Implication: Influence health policies to integrate the most effective strategies for HIV-1 transcription inhibition, potentially contributing to more efficient resource allocation and improved public health outcomes.
7. Global Health Impact:
• Practical Implementation: Collaborate with international health organizations to disseminate the study’s findings globally.
• Social Implication: Contribute to global efforts in controlling the HIV-1 pandemic, fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing among nations.
8. Reduced Healthcare Costs:
• Practical Implementation: If the impulsive approach proves more cost-effective, healthcare systems can implement this strategy to potentially reduce the overall cost of HIV-1 treatment
• Social Implication: Alleviate financial burdens on both individuals and healthcare systems, making HIV-1 treatment more accessible
In summary, the practical implementation and social implications of this study extend from optimizing individual treatment plans to influencing global health policies, ultimately contributing to more effective HIV-1 management and improved public health outcomes.
Collaborations
- Prof. D C Dalal, Professor, Department of Mathematics, IIT Guwahati
- Prof. A K Sarkar, Professor, Centre for Mathematical Biology and Ecology, Department of Mathematics, Jadavpur University
- Dr L N Guin, Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics, Visva-Bharati
Future Prospects of the Research
- Mathematical Modelling of Cholesterol Dynamics.
- Mathematical Modelling of Muscle Regeneration.
- Mathematical Modelling of Bone Remodelling
- Mathematical Modelling of Glucose-Insulin Dynamics.
- Mathematical Modelling on HIV-1 Transcription.
- Mathematical Modelling of Population Dynamics for Patients suffering from Diabetes.
- Published in Departmental News, Math News, News, Research News
A Novel IRS-relay Network for ITS with Nakagami-m Fading Channels
The Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering is proud to announce the publication of a research paper by Dr Sunil Chinnadurai, Assistant Professor and Research scholar Shaik Rajak titled “Novel Energy Efficient IRS-relay Network for ITS with Nakagami-m Fading Channels” in the Q1 journal ICT Express, having an Impact Factor of 5.4. The paper focused on developing an energy-efficient network for ITS that utilises Nakagami-m fading channels to improve communication reliability and efficiency.
In this work, the research duo introduced a cooperative system involving relay technology and an IRS (Intelligent Reflective Surface) with passive elements. Evaluating energy efficiency and achievable rates, they found that the cooperative relay-IRS system outperformed individual relay and IRS setups. The study also compared multi-IRS setups, highlighting their effectiveness in reducing power consumption and deployment costs for improved ITS development.
Abstract
The research paper investigates the performance of energy efficiency (EE) for Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) using a cooperative IRS-relay network. The proposed cooperative IRS-relay-aided ITS network integrates an IRS block with a number of passive reflective elements to improve EE. The research analyses the ITS in terms of EE and achievable rate under Nakagami-m fading channel conditions. The research aims to reduce power consumption over long distances and operate the system faster and safer.
Practical implementation/ social implications of the research
The proposed cooperative IRS-relay network for Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) has practical implications for improving energy efficiency and achieving higher data rates in ITS networks. Integrating an IRS block with passive reflective elements in the relay model enhances the coverage area and reduces power consumption in ITS. The research highlights the significance of cooperative IRS-relay and multi-IRS-aided networks in the development of ITS, which can contribute to safer and faster transportation.
Dr Chinnadurai and Mr Rajak Future will continue to work on their research focusing on optimizing the design of the cooperative IRS-relay network for ITS to improve energy efficiency and achievable data rates further in real-world scenarios.
- Published in Departmental News, ECE NEWS, News, Research News
SRM University-AP Excels in Employment Creation at FICCI HEE Awards 2023
SRM University-AP, Andhra Pradesh has been bestowed with “Excellence in Creating Employment” at the 9th FICCI Higher Education Excellence (HEE) Awards organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) on November 29, 2023. Dr Vinayak Kalluri, Dean – Academic Affairs and Dr Karthik Rajendran, Associate Dean – Quality Assurance & Ranking, SRM University-AP received the award on behalf of the varsity for the institutions’ exemplary contribution to creating employment success amongst students at the university.
SRM University-AP has been ensuring 100% placement since its inception, and the university has formulated a system wherein the quality of outgoing students is on par with industry expectations. The revamped curricula, exemplary faculty with doctoral and post-doctoral degrees, and industry-oriented experiential learning are some of the measures undertaken to ensure the quality of students. “Receiving special recognition from FICCI for Excellence in Creating Employment is indeed a proud moment for SRM University-AP. Graduate outcome is our ultimate goal and this worthy achievement has inspired us to further work in significantly improving the graduate outcomes through greater academic rigour and innovative research”, commented Prof. Manoj K Arora, Vice Chancellor, SRM University-AP.
Pro-Chancellor, SRM University-AP, Dr P Sathyanarayanan congratulated the team and stated that the award is a commendable recognition for the Placement Cell of the Directorate of Corporate Relations & Career Services (CR&CS). He lauded the CR&CS Team for their continuous and consistent efforts in honing students’ skills to make them industry-ready.
“SRM University-AP, a nascent institute, has exhibited exponential growth in creating employment. The last academic year witnessed 100% placements, with the highest package being 45 LPA and an average salary of 9 LPA, which is a 25% increase from last year. The university has 1,500 alumni, of which 34% are working in Fortune 500 companies, 17% are studying abroad, and 7 have their own startups. The key objective of the Placement cell at SRM University-AP is to facilitate secure and lucrative placement at reputed companies with a high average salary” remarked Mr Vivekanandan M S, Associate Director – Corporate Relations & Career Services, SRM AP.
The FICCI HEE Awards serve as a prestigious platform that acknowledges innovative practices, cutting-edge research, academic leadership, and industry engagements of higher education institutes and leaders. SRM University-AP, being a young institute, is advancing significantly while exhibiting qualities to learn and adapt to the demands of the evolving job market. Active industry collaborations with significant organisations/companies are assured through the various media by the university.
- Published in News
Utilising Social Media Platforms for Crisis Management
Dr Vimal Babu, Associate Professor and Mr Selvakumar R, Research Scholar from the Department of Management, Paari School of Business has published a fascinating book chapter titled “Crisis Management and Social Media Platforms: A Review and Future Research Agenda” in the book Social Capital in the Age of Online Networking: Genesis, Manifestations, and Implications examining their perspectives on the ever-changing digital ecosystem and its repercussions.
In this chapter, we research duo has made a concerted effort to advance the understanding of crisis management using social media platforms (Social networking sites). Crisis management encompasses a broader spectrum of crisis leadership, and utilising social media platforms (SMPs) for crisis management (CM) has become the modern approach to handling crisis events. Recognising the importance of exploring and advancing crisis leadership concepts to enhance the existing body of knowledge, his work is the first to employ a bibliometric approach to investigate this area, contributing to the nascent literature on the subject. The unique insights garnered from this analysis are expected to provide valuable guidance to researchers and scholars interested in this emerging field.
The book “Social Capital in the Age of Online Networking” digs into the fascinating growth of relationships and connections in the virtual sphere in a digital era when clicks matter as much as handshakes. This edited volume reveals the pattern of our modern networked society, linking theoretical ideas and real-world implementations. The book’s objective is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current and prospective state of theory and applications of this phenomenon, and it will benefit researchers, government and private research institutions, business corporations, and students in various fields such as business, economics, information technology, psychology, medicine, and humanities.
- Published in Departmental News, News, Paari Current Happenings, Research News
Exploring the Dynamics of Democracy and Foreign Policy
Dive into the intricate realms of Indian democracy and its ever-evolving foreign policy with a compelling research paper by Dr Vineeth Thomas, Assistant Professor, Department of Liberal Arts. The university is happy to announce the publication of Dr Thomas’ latest work, titled “The Illiberal Turn in Indian Democracy: Shifting the Trajectory of India’s Foreign Policy“, in the prestigious Q2 Journal “India Review“.
The paper is a profound exploration of the dynamic shifts in India’s foreign policy, drawing attention to the complexities of the nation’s democratic journey. His research delves into the nuanced interplay of domestic politics and global diplomacy, providing fresh perspectives on the illiberal turn in India’s democratic trajectory. The insightful work takes on a thought-provoking journey into the evolving facets of Indian democracy and the intricate interplay between domestic politics and foreign policy.
Abstract
Long-standing democracies such as India were not exempt from the global trend of democratic retreat. India has come under increasing international attention due to certain domestic policies such as the revocation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, the National Register of Citizens and Citizenship (Amendment) Act passed under the Bharatiya Janata Party government. In addition to India’s democratic decline being reflected in global democratic rankings, this has induced strains on India’s foreign relations. In its pursuit of becoming a leading power, India’s perceived democratic backsliding is likely to influence the direction of its foreign policy. To discern the impact of its perceived illiberal turn on its foreign engagement, the role of democracy in India’s foreign policy needs to be explored. While attempts have been made to understand democratic backsliding through a theoretical lens, the impact of a nation’s democratic status on its foreign relations and policy remains a largely unexplored area.
This study will help to understand how India’s democratic backsliding can induce a shift in its foreign policy.
- Published in Departmental News, Liberal Arts News, News, Research News
Vice Chancellor Prof. Manoj K Arora Honoured with Bhaskar Award
Vice Chancellor, Prof. Manoj K. Arora has been honoured with the Bhaskar Award, the highest recognition by the Indian Society of Remote Sensing. The award consists of a medal, citation and Rs. 2,00,000/-. The award was conferred to Prof. Arora by Dr Shailesh Naik, Former Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences and Dr Prakash Chauhan, Director-National Remote Sensing Centre; President of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing during the ISG-ISRS Annual Convention & National Symposium on the theme “GeoDiscover: Unravelling India’s Spatial Frontier”, held on Nov 28, 2023 in Pune.
Prof. Manoj K Arora said, “I am thrilled to receive the coveted Bhaskar Award and to be in the league of great fellow Bhaskar Awardees who have contributed immensely to the Indian Space Programme. I dedicate this award to my teachers, mentors and students.” The award has been given in recognition of his outstanding contribution and achievements in the fields of Remote Sensing, Digital Image Processing, Land Cover Mapping, Earth Sciences and Civil Engineering applications.
Some of the other awardees in this league are Mr Somanath, current ISRO Chairman, former ISRO Chairmen, Dr Radha Krishnan, Dr Kiran Kumar, Dr K Sivan, former Secretary of Ministry of Earth Sciences, Dr Shailesh Nayak, Chief guest of the event and Former Surveyor General of India, Dr Prithvish Nag, to name a few.
Prof. Arora has done pioneer work in extracting accurate land cover information from a variety of remote sensing data using Machine Learning techniques. In particular, his work on generating fractional land cover images from coarse spatial resolution images (fraught with mixed pixels) using neuro-fuzzy classification and super-resolution mapping techniques in the late 1990s and early 2000s is widely acclaimed. He is one of the harbingers in using fuzzy set and pattern recognition techniques for landslide hazard zonation and risk assessment.
His works on accurate extraction of snow cover from remote sensing and estimation of snow depths are being used at an operational level in the Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment (earlier SASE), a DRDO lab. He has also been involved in the use of geospatial techniques for the rail route alignment surveys of Rishikesh Karna Prayag and Annandpur Sahib Badrinath Railway Lines, and the prestigious Char Dham Railway Project of Government of India being executed by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited, and Drone surveys for cadastral mapping of Chandigarh City.
Some of his other works recognised by the scientific community are; the accuracy assessment of fuzzy classification, detection of surface; sub-surface military targets using hyperspectral and microwave remote sensing data, development of models for landslide movement estimation at a spatial level as well as at individual landslide level using PS InSAR and SBAS techniques, and development of Object Based Image Analysis model for mapping glacier cover classes and land use in general from high spatial resolution remote sensing data.
Prof. Arora is equally contributing to academic administration to mentor higher educational institutions, departments, centres of excellence and research laboratories. He has been instrumental in establishing the Kalpana Chawla Chair of Geospatial Technology from an endowment given by Indian Railways at PEC Chandigarh and Atal Community Innovation Centre (ACIC) from the Niti Aayog at BML Munjal University. At SRM University-AP, he has established two new Centres of Excellence, viz, Centre for Geospatial Technology and Centre for Drone Technology focusing on product and technology development in Geospatial Sciences.
“Prof. Arora is a visionary leader and committed researcher under whose guidance the university has flourished as a research-intensive institute, embarking on novel frontiers of cutting-edge research. We at SRM University-AP heartily congratulate Prof. Arora for his worthy achievement and are elated to witness his future contributions to the field of Remote Sensing,” remarked Dr P Sathyanarayanan, Pro-Chancellor, SRM University-AP.
SRM University-AP is proud and ecstatic to have him as its leader.
- Published in News
“A Celebration of Research”: 7th Research Day at SRM University-AP
“Motivating young potential minds to pursue research and nurture a scientific career defines the true meaning of research”, said Prof. Siva Umapathy, Senior Professor at the Department of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, Indian Institute of Sciences, Bengaluru, in his distinguished speech as the chief guest for Research Day at SRM University-AP.
The varsity celebrated the 7th Research Day on November 17, 2023, in the august presence of Prof. Siva Umapathy, Chief Guest (virtual mode), Prof. Manoj K Arora, Vice Chancellor; Dr R Premkumar, Registrar; Prof. Ranjit Thapa, Dean Research; Deans and Associate Deans of SRM University-AP. Faculty, scholars, students and researchers graced the event commemorating research excellence by young potential minds. Prof. Umapathy emphasised the significance of research in undergraduate studies in his address by stating that, “True advancement in research occurs when you gain depth in your area of study and utilise the knowledge to pursue innovation”.
Prof. Ranjit Thapa remarked that research is an essential pillar of the university that has contributed to the university’s growth as a world-class research-intensive institute. He highlighted that with 1760+ journal publications with 50% in Q1 journals, 41 Nature Index publications, 155 patents published and 10 granted, industry and research projects with an outlay of 29+ crores, 50+ research laboratories, 300+ research scholars, the university has achieved unprecedented success in the research frontier within a span of 6 years. The Deans of all schools also presented a brief report on the research activities and significant achievements of their faculty at the event.
Vice Chancellor, Prof. Manoj K Arora lauded the university’s mission to provide research- centric education for its students. “At SRM University-AP, we encourage cutting-edge translational research and provide financial and technical support for students to rise to the global frontiers of breakthrough research. The university offers expert faculty, top-notch facilities and a research-driven curriculum designed to build a thriving innovative ecosystem”, remarked Prof. Arora.
A paper presentation contest was held as part of the Research Day. 200+ abstracts in the undergraduate/postgraduate category and 80+ abstracts in the PhD category were received from young researchers in various areas of research ranging from AI/ML to Environment and Sustainability, from Literature, Linguistics, Culture & Gender to Nanotechnology and Physical Sciences. Winners of the paper presentations were awarded with Gold and Silver medals with special mention of appreciation for their guides and mentors. The unveiling of the Abstract Book, with over 300 abstracts received from the participating researchers, was a highlight of the event.
Chief Guest, Prof. Siva Umapathy was virtually honoured with a memento as a token of appreciation by the dignitaries. Dr R Premkumar delivered the vote of thanks expressing his sincere gratitude towards the chief guest and the convenors of the Research Day. SRM University-AP hosted the 7th Research Day with great fervour to maintain the spirit of research among young students and nurture an innovative and conducive research ecosystem.
- Published in News, Research News
Research Fellowship from Humboldt University of Berlin
Dr Megha Yadav has received a prestigious fellowship from the Käte Hamburger Centre for Advanced Study, inherit.Heritage in Transformation, Humboldt Universität Zu Berlin, Germany. The fellowship allows for the undertaking of the research project, Visualising the Tradition, Preserving History: Material Practices in Tibetan Buddhism. This project takes an initiative to understand the ideas of heritage and history among the Tibetan Buddhist community by looking at the visual material and its heritage in Tibetan society to reach a nuanced picture of Tibetan history and heritage which keeps the Tibetan community at the centre of this understanding.
The project will attempt to understand the ways and methods of remembrance, preservation, and transmission of what Tibetan Buddhists consider to be their history. Most academic works have utilized Buddhist textual traditions to talk about Tibetan society, which has the inherent limitation of being one-dimensional. As a point of entry, this research will focus on thangka paintings as they create a very intimate window to people’s way of thinking about themselves, their universes, and their personal history. It was a ‘material’ to be showcased in public spaces, notably monasteries. It was meant for everyone to see, pay their respects, and take the image back with them in their minds and hearts. In a sense, these paintings were a showcase for the Tibetan Buddhist community.
This project will also pay attention to the changes brought about by 20th-century events, most notably colonization and the exile of the Dalai Lama and many Tibetans by inquiring into the changes brought into the idea and making of thangka paintings, raising questions about patronage, method, and content in the 20th century. An equally important intervention in the method and content of these paintings came with the spread of digital media platforms. While digital media has ‘democratised’ the making of thangka paintings, the question remains: what has it done to the process of making a thangka? How has the value associated with the paintings, as well as their making process, been changed by the technical medium? Has it impacted the content of these paintings? More importantly, what kind of changes have come into the community’s understanding of their past and present? These and any other issues that may come up during research will be addressed.
- Published in Departmental News, History Current Happenings, History News, News
MSc Environmental Science Students Secure Paid Japanese Internship
The Department of Environmental Science and Engineering takes pride in announcing that 8 students of MSc Environmental Science programme have bagged a paid internship in the Fuji Academy Private Limited, a prestigious Japanese company. The students shall work on projects related to environmental sustainability and participate in various engaging activities like workshops and training sessions, in addition to networking with different stakeholders in the sustainability sector. It is important to note that the students secured this internship within 2 months of commencing their MSc programme.
- Published in Departmental News, ENVS News, News, Students Achievements
Secularity Unveiled: A Critical Analysis by Prof. Vishnupad
Prof. Vishnupad, Dean – Easwari School of Liberal Arts, has published his latest book chapter, “Liberal Secularity and the Indian State: Notes on the Sabrimala Judgment,” in the prestigious book “Liberalism and its Others”. The intriguing essay explores the complexities of modern secularity in liberal and postcolonial governments and navigates the delicate tango between the political and the religious. The book chapter is a scholarly investigation that maintains the importance of politics over religion while addressing the intricate dynamics of distance to closeness, neutrality to autonomy, and tolerance to publicity. Prof. Vishnupad challenges traditional knowledge, pushing to embrace ethical secularity’s dedication to discourse, transcending political and religious hierarchies.
This stimulating work is a light of intellectual engagement that will affect discussions in the fields of political philosophy, liberalism, and the state’s relationship with religion. Dive deep into these issues as we consider the nexus between politics and faith.
- Published in Departmental News, Liberal Arts News, News, Research News