Annual Report 2004-2005

Infrastructure Development

Sophisticated analytical instruments are vital for pursuing research in many areas of modern science and technology. Many institutions in the country do not have such instruments. These instruments are expensive and cannot be provided through individual project mechanism. The Department of Science & Technology has set up Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facilities (SAIFs) in different parts of the country to provide the facilities of sophisticated analytical instruments to the research workers in general and specially from the institutions which do not have access to such instruments to enable them to pursue R&D activities requiring such facilities and keep pace with developments taking place globally. At present, thirteen Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facilities (SAIFs) are being supported at IIT, Chennai; IIT, Mumbai; Bose Institute, Kolkata; CDRI, Lucknow; Panjab University; Chandigarh; NEHU, Shillong; Nagpur University, Nagpur; IISc., Bangalore; AIIMS, New Delhi, Gauhati University, Guwahati; IIT, Roorkee; CVM, Vallabh Vidyanagar and Sophisticated Test & Instrumentation Centre (STIC), Kochi.

Analytical Instrument Facilities available in the SAIFs

The SAIFs are equipped with sophisticated analytical instruments such as X-ray Fluorescence
Spectrometer (Figure 4.1) Scanning Electron Microscopes (Figure 4.2), Transmission Electron
Microscopes, Electron Probe Micro Analyzer, Mass Spectrometers, ICP, NMR, EPR Spectrometers, X-ray Diffractometers, Thermal Analysis Systems etc. to meet the needs of users in various areas of science & technology. The instruments that are being added to the existing SAIFs to strengthen them are TEM at SAIF, Chandigarh; 400 MHz FT-NMR Spectrometer at SAIF, Lucknow; LC-Mass Spectrometer at SAIF, Shillong; and Thermal Analysis System (DTA/ TGA) at SAIF, Mumbai. Accessories including Ion Milling System for TEM and EDS with Peltier Cooling system for SEM are also being added to the existing instruments at the SAIFs at Mumbai and New Delhi respectively. The SAIFs over the years have acquired the capabilities of repair and maintenance of instruments and majority of the instruments with them are being maintained inhouse.

New Facilities

A new Facility has been set up at Sophisticated Test & Instrumentation Centre (STIC) located within Cochin University of Science & Technology. Instruments including UV-VIS-NIR, FT-IR Spectrometers, GC-Mass Spectrometer, ICP-Atomic Emission Spectrometer (Figure 4.3), Powder X-ray Diffractometer (Figure 4.4), Thermal Analysis System (DTA/TGA, DSC) and CHNSO Analyzer were installed and the SAIF has started functioning. The instrument facilities at the SAIF will be useful for chemical/material analysis and characterization. In addition to serving the research workers from about a dozen universities, science departments of the colleges affiliated with these universities, R&D laboratories and industries in Kerala/adjoining states/region, it will cater to the needs of users from all parts of the country.

Services provided/Other activities undertaken

Analytical services

The instrument facilities at the SAIFs met the analytical needs of scientists in various areas of science & technology, enabling them to pursue research in frontline areas. About 80,000 samples were analyzed at the facilities during the year. Some of the major facilities/analytical
techniques offered were as follows:

• Almost all types of techniques/facilities related to NMR Spectroscopy including 1D and 2D NMR of all NMR active nuclei, 3D experiments, inverse experiments, gradient experiments, imaging of small objects, structure determination of peptides/bio-molecules;
  
• Techniques/facilities related to Electron Microscopy including study of surface topography/ morphology and internal architecture of cells/tissues, immuno-electron microscopy, 3D imaging of biological specimen etc.;
• Techniques/facilities in Mass Spectrometry including EI, ESI, APCI, GC-MS, LCMS, MS-MS, MALDI-TOF MS, analysis of organic and organo-metallic compounds and bio-molecules etc.;
  
• Techniques/facilities related to X-ray based analysis including single crystal X-ray diffractometer data to obtain unit cell parameters, space groups, morphology; three dimensional molecular structure of bio and other molecules and molecular packing etc.;
• Qualitative and quantitative elemental analysis including trace elements in silicate rocks, limestone, cement and other materials etc.; and
• Facilities and assistance for sample preparation, testing of quality of raw material and endproducts.

About 6,700 scientists/users from all over the country utilized the facilities during the year including research workers from almost all the universities in the country. About 75% of the users were from academic sector. Consultancy services like solution to analytical problems including development of analytical methods for specific needs, sampling problems, spectrum analysis and interpretation of results etc. were also offered by the SAIFs.

Short term courses/training programmes/workshops

Short term courses/training programmes/workshops were organized by the SAIFs on use and application of various instruments and analytical techniques to create awareness among the research community about them and on maintenance/ repair/ operation of the instruments for technicians. Some of the training programmes/workshops organized during the year were as follows:

• Workshop on “Working principles and use of sophisticated instruments in biological sciences” by SAIF, Chandigarh;
  
• Workshops and training programmes on Electron Microscopy by SAIFs at New Delhi, Chandigarh and Shillong;
  
• Workshop on LC-NMR Spectroscopy by SAIF, Bangalore;
• Workshop on processing of 1D and 2D NMR data using public domain software by SAIF, Bangalore;
• Training programme on operation of NMR Spectrometer for regular 1H and 13C experiments by SAIF, Mumbai; and
• About 40 persons were trained in operation/maintenance of various analytical instruments etc. at SAIF, Lucknow;

New measurements/analytical techniques developed/unique measurements done

Some of the new analytical techniques developed/unique measurements done during the year are as follows:

• A new technique for indexing twin and multiple crystals (by XRD) was developed at SAIF, Chennai;
  
• Methods were developed for determination of several drugs and metabolites including anti material drug arteether and bulaquire in biological fluids using HPLC- MS/MS at SAIF, Lucknow;
• Towards developing new vaccine targets, a 26 residue synthetic polypeptide sequence has been designed at SAIF, Bangalore. NMR Structural analyses have been carried out. The results are encouraging and lead to new directions in such designs;
  
• A single scan experiment for fast measurement of spin relaxation time for the slowly relaxing spins (in NMR spectroscopy) has been developed at SAIF, Bangalore; • Spatial encoding in NMR photography has been developed at SAIF, Bangalore;
  
• Use of bicellar orienting media has been made to align small organic molecules at SAIF, Bangalore; and
• Z-COSY experiments on an oriented molecule have been used to obtain the complete energy level diagram at SAIF, Bangalore;

R&D work resulting from the use of the facilities

The first example of a pair of interconvertible diastereomeric epimers 2a/2b-hydroxy-2-phydroxy benzyl-3(2H)-benzofuranone-7-C-b-D-glucopyranoside isolated from the heartwood of Pterocarpus marsupium was studied by NMR at SAIF, Lucknow. The predominance of one epimer over the other was supported by dynamic exchange rates and activation parameters obtained from NMR studies. The mechanism of this unique phenomenon is thought to be operative by the formation of diketone as suggested by deuterium exchange as observed by Deuterium NMR. Fund for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure in Universities and Higher Educational Institutions (FIST) Program

“FIST - Fund for improvement of S&T infrastructure in universities and higher educational institutions scheme was launched by DST in 2000-2001. Under this scheme, financial supports have been provided to all University Departments and Colleges for creating basic infrastructure & enabling facilities for promoting high quality teaching and R&D in new and emerging areas.

The Program is being implemented in six broad subject areas of S&T i.e. Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Engineering Sciences, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences & Mathematical Sciences through two levels of support e.g. Level – I & Level – II.

Under this scheme, support is given for acquiring latest equipment to carry out R&D in thrust areas, renovating laboratories for better post graduate teaching & research, setting up of computer laboratory for computational facilities, for accessing internet and acquiring books and journals in the relevant areas.

Since inception of the scheme, more than 600 departments in two levels spread over 189 academic institutions have been identified and supported at a total outlay of about Rs 291 crores for 5 years. The grants for these departments are being released in installments from time to time under various heads. All departments, identified during 2000, have more or less completed the process of acquiring equipment, renovation of the existing laboratories and setting up of computer laboratories. The departments supported during 2002 & 2003 are in the process of creating the required facilities in their departments.

For effective implementation of Program, the follow-up visits to the departments including review of the progress are also undertaken. The review/monitoring of departments identified during 2000 has been completed through on-the-spot visits by Expert Members and also through presentations by the concerned departments. Several departments have quoted that the FIST Program has brought a remarkable impact in the progress of the department by enhancing their teaching and research facilities.

Some of the state-of-art facilities installed by the departments were Ion Chromatograph, Automated DNA Sequencers, Ultracentrifuges, FACS, X-ray Diffractometer, Scanning Probe Microscope, Oligonucleotide Synthesizer, HPLC-cum–FPLC, Molecular Imaging System, Small size Liquid Nitrogen Plant, High Resolution Powder X-ray Diffractometer, Single Crystal X-ray Diffractometer, 300 MHz & 400 MHz FT-NMR Mass Spectrometer, Thermal Analyser Systems, Plasma Deposition Eatching System, Universal Testing Machines (UTMs), Reneshaw Raman System, Electron Microprobe Analyser, High Resolution Microscopes, Confocal Microscope, Protein Sequencing Platform, AFMs, Scanning Tunneling Microscope, Vacuum Melting Furnace,
Mass Spectrometer, etc. Apart from this, more than 500 departments in various universities, colleges and academic institutions have also created Central Computer Laboratory in the departments.

The identification of fresh departments has been compledted and the support to these freshly identified departments shall also be made in the current financial year. Seminars/ Symposia and Assistance to Professional Bodies

The scheme for seminar/symposia and assistance to professional bodies aims at providing platform for interaction among scientists. The programme provides grant-in-aid for holding national/ international seminars/symposia, conferences, workshops, and for publishing journals etc.

Some of the international conferences supported during the year were International Workshop on the Indian Summer Monsoon and Climate Variability during Holocene, International Conference on Advances in Structural Integrity, International Conference on High Performance Textiles, Second International Conference of Logistics and Supply Chain Management (ILSCM2004), World Congress on Vedic Sciences, International Workshop on the Electromagnetic Induction in the Earth, 8th Asian & Oceanian Congress of Child Neurology, International Conference on Hydraulic Engineering Research & Practice, Second Global Summit on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, International Conference on Electronics in Cancer Surgery update-2004, Third International Conference on Computers, Controls and Communication, International Conference on “Chemistry Biology interface Synergistic new frontiers”, International Workshop on Biodiversity Informatics, International Conference on Sustainable Habitat for cold climates, International Seminar on Ecotechnology for Sustainable Development (Ecotech-2004), International Conference on Workshop on participatory experiments for synthesis of nano materials by thermal plasma, International workshop WM- Symposium on Paediatric Urology, International Steroid hormone receptors superfamily and molecular signalling, 20th International Conference on Coffee Science, 2nd International Microwave, Antenna, Propagation and Remote Sensing, International Workshop on Risk Assessment in Site Characterization and Geotechnical Design, International Workshop on Wind Engineering & Sciences, International Conference on Mathematical Fluid Dynamics, International conference on “soil and groundwater contamination: Risk assessment & remedial measures”, International congress on Computational Mechanics & Simulation (ICCMS-04), International Conference on Biogeochemistry of Estuaries-Mangroves and the Coastal Zone Management, International Conference on Polymers for Advanced Technologies and 8th National Conference of Society for Polymer Science, 5th International Conference on Cryptology in India, 3rd International Conference on Hypertension, Atheroscerosis and Coronary Artery Disease, International Conference on Design and Characterisation of Advanced Materials etc.

Continuous support was provided to Professional Bodies/Societies for important journals published by them.