Author: SSSIHL

Prof. (Hon.) B. Andallu, a distinguished faculty member of the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences at the Anantapur Campus represented SSSIHL at the 5th International Hybrid Conference on Food Science and Nutrition, held on September 20, 2024, at the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando Disney Spring Area, Orlando, Florida, USA. This prestigious event brought together leading food science and nutrition experts to discuss the latest advances in research.

During the conference, Prof. Andallu delivered a keynote presentation titled “Medicinal Potential of Phytochemicals in Spices: Extraction and Bioactivity Assessment by In Vitro Methods and Model Systems”. In this presentation, she explored therapeutic properties of phytochemicals found in spices and highlighted their medicinal potential.

In addition to her keynote address, Prof. Andallu also presented at a plenary session, where she discussed “In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of Aniseeds (Pimpinella anisum L.) for Therapeutic Potential”. The Research contributions of Prof. Andallu demonstrated significant health benefits of aniseeds (saunf) and their potential as therapeutic agents.

Both presentations were highly appreciated for their depth and practical implications in food science and nutrition, contributing significantly to the academic discussions at the conference.

The Sri Sathya Sai International Centre for Sports was transformed into a venue of reverence as Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning hosted a heartfelt felicitation ceremony for 19 esteemed faculty members who superannuated from SSSIHL between 2018 and now, on Sunday, Oct 6, 2024. These distinguished educators, hailing from diverse departments and across the campuses of the Institute, were honoured for their decades of dedicated service and selfless contribution to the institute’s mission.

Imbued with warmth and gratitude, the gathering celebrated the faculty for their academic excellence and their profound impact on students’ lives. University officials, students, and colleagues came together to pay tribute to these individuals who nurtured intellectual growth and character development, in line with the university’s values.

Heartfelt speeches by a student of the Anantapur Campus and a faculty member of the Brindavan Campus reflected on the unwavering dedication, love for students, and lifelong commitment these educators had shown. Each teacher was invited to be seated on the stage by turn, and his/her contributions in all the years of service were appreciated. The teacher was then honoured with a shawl and presented with a memento and citation, symbolizing the university’s deep appreciation for their invaluable contributions, making it a memorable and inspiring occasion.

Listen to the Message from the Vice-Chancellor

The teachers felicitated were:

• Dr. Sharada Subramaniam – Dept. of Philosophy
• Dr. T R Rajeswari – Dept. of Management & Commerce
• Prof. Ch Radhakumari – Dept. of Management & Commerce
• Dr. Rita Gupta – Dept. of Mathematics & Computer Science
• Dr. M Venkatalakshmi – Dept. of Philosophy
• Prof. M Praphulla – Dept. of Telugu Language & Literature
• Dr. Vijeyakumary Vijayaratnam – Dept. of Biosciences
• Dr. Meera Manikkavachakan – Dept. of Food & Nutritional Sciences
• Prof. G Nageswara Rao – Dept. of Chemistry
• Prof. R Prabhakara Rao – Dept. of Economics
• Prof. B S Vijayakumar – Dept. of Biosciences
• Sri V N Prakash Sharma – Dept. of Management & Commerce
• Sri Sanjay Sahni – Dept. of Management & Commerce
• Dr. T Ravikumar – Dept. of Chemistry
• Dr. K S Narahari – Dept. of Chemistry
• Prof. C N Sundaresan – Dept. of Chemistry
• Sri R Subramanian – Dept. of Mathematics & Computer Science
• Sri Rajkumar Jain – Dept. of Physics
• Dr. A Ashok – Dept. of Biosciences

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The “Women in Leadership: Breaking the Glass Ceiling – Indian Style” event was held on 20th September 2024 at the Anantapur Campus. Organized by the Department of Management and Commerce, the event brought together prominent women leaders from diverse fields.

Thank you, Speakers and Panelists:

• Mrs. Subhasri Sriram, Managing Director & CEO, Shriram Capital Pvt. Ltd.
• Mrs. Rajashree Natarajan, Champion for FLN program, Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vahini, and Former CEO, Cognizant Foundation
• Mrs. Rajeshwari Natarajan, Managing Director, Deloitte India (Offices of US)
• Mrs. Saipriya Viswanathan, Senior Manager, Devices Services, Trust and Privacy, Amazon
• Mrs. Phani Keerthi Y, Global Mobilization Manager, Accenture
• Mrs. Sai Geetha M N, Senior Director of Engineering, Enterprise Data & Analytics, Giant Eagle Inc.
• Ms. Tarini Iyengar, Enterprise Architect, Unisys
• Ms. Shraddha S. Jaitly, Chief General Manager, Finance, BPCL, Kochi Refinery

The event highlighted key themes like mentorship, overcoming societal stigmas, skill development, and networking, offering participants valuable insights on breaking external and internal barriers in leadership. The workshop, attended by around 200 students, provided a platform for meaningful interactions between students and industry leaders. It concluded with a panel discussion and a valedictory address, inspiring the next generation of women leaders.

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Watch Recording:

Morning Session: https://www.youtube.com/live/79XxggIWp60.

Afternoon Session: https://www.youtube.com/live/ZnkUdKgGu3c

Sri Akash Sai S.M, a final-year postgraduate student from the Department of Chemistry, SSSIHL, earned recognition for his outstanding presentation at the Online International Symposium on Current Trends in Advanced Materials 2024. The event was organized by the Department of Chemistry, VIT-AP University’s School of Advanced Sciences, in collaboration with the American Chemical Society, and took place from 26th to 31st August 2024.

During the symposium, Sri Akash Sai received special mention for his insightful research on “Ruddlesden-Popper Phases of LaNiO₃ Perovskite Oxides and Their Application in Supercapacitors.” His work explores the innovative application of these perovskite oxides in supercapacitors, a cutting-edge technology in energy storage. His research was conducted under the guidance of Dr. Kumar Sai Smaran and Sri Undavalli Venkata Gopi.

The symposium featured renowned scientists and researchers from across the globe, who gathered to discuss the latest trends and breakthroughs in materials science and chemistry. Esteemed speakers included Prof. Kazuo Umemura (Tokyo University of Science, Japan), Prof. Sabu Thomas (Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam), Prof. Rachel A. Oliver (University of Cambridge, UK), and Prof. Partha Sarathi Mukherjee (IISc, Bangalore). The poster presentation competition attracted 125 participants from various institutions worldwide.

Identifying the Issue

• Commonly used anti-cancer drugs come with side-effects.
• Need for better drugs to cure cancer.

Objective of the Research

• Pyrazoles are well-known pharmacophores. To explore pyrazole –andrographolide hybrids
• To synthesize novel pyrazole acetals of andrographolide and isoandrographolide with potent anti-cancer activity

Who should read this?

Research community working in cancer drug discovery and development, medicinal chemists, and pharmaceutical industry

Solution

Designed and synthesized novel pyrazole acetals of andrographolide and isoandrographolide with potent anti-cancer activity. Four compounds, having promising GI50s (50% growth inhibitory activity) on all 60-cell lines were selected for further in vitro studies. Out of these four compounds, compound 1g exhibited the best IC₅₀ (3.08 µM) against the colon cancer cell line, HCT-116.

Key Features and Benefits

• Semi-synthetic natural products
• Potent anti-cancer activity against colon cancer cell line HCT-116
• Arresting in HCT-116 cell cycle progression in G0/G1 phase, cell apoptosis, and elevated levels of ROS in HCT-116 cells
• ADMET screening

Impact

• Synthesis of novel pyrazole acetals of andrographolide and isoandrographolide
• Investigated the synthesized compounds on 60 human cancer cell lines.
• Potent compound 1g induced G0/G1 phase arrest, cell apoptosis by increasing the levels of ROS in HCT-116 cells

Team

Siva Kumar Rokkam, Manohar Bhujel, Dolly Jain, Lakshminath Sripada, Srinivas Nanduri, Avinash Bajaj and Nageswara Rao Golakoti

Title of paper: “Synthesis of novel pyrazole acetals of andrographolide and isoandrographolide as potent anticancer agents”

Read Paper Here: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2024/ra/d4ra00547c

India observes the National Sports Day on August 29, honoring hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand on his birth anniversary.

The National Sports Day celebrations across the Prasanthi Nilayam, Brindavan, and Anantapur campuses of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning showcased a blend of sportsmanship and learning. At Prasanthi Nilayam, a series of events including cricket, football, basketball, and races took place from 25-31 August 2024, with enthusiastic participation from students and faculty. The celebrations concluded with a prize distribution ceremony recognizing the winners across the sporting events. Similarly, the Brindavan campus held competitions in badminton, tennis, and table tennis, from 27-31 August 2024 where students demonstrated remarkable skills and sportsmanship, with several finals providing thrilling moments for the participants and spectators alike.

At the Anantapur campus, the focus shifted to sports nutrition with a program titled “Optimizing Athletic Performance through Nutrition & AI,” featuring talks by experts like Dr. Geetanjali Bhide and Ms. Stuti Pahuja on the 29^th of August. These sessions offered insights into the importance of nutrition and emerging technologies like AI in enhancing athletic performance. The event highlighted the institute’s commitment to promoting holistic well-being through a combination of physical activities and educational workshops.

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The Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences at SSSIHL celebrated National Nutrition Week on September 11th, 2024, under the theme “Nutritious Diet for Everyone,” as set by the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

The event’s guest of honor, Dr. Subba Rao Gavaravarapu, Scientist ‘F’ and Head of the Nutrition Information, Communication, and Health Education (NICHE) division at NIN, ICMR, delivered a comprehensive presentation on “Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024.” His session highlighted the evolving nutritional needs of the Indian population and introduced students to new tools such as the Nutrition Atlas and updated food labeling guidelines, which represent significant strides in public health nutrition. These advancements aim to empower individuals to make informed dietary choices.

The talk was interactive and informative, helping students grasp the critical role of a balanced diet in maintaining overall health. A community outreach initiative followed, featuring a panel discussion titled “Nutritious Diet for All,” led by department faculty and members of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS). During the session, ICDS members raised questions regarding nutrition for various health conditions and deficiencies, with the panelists offering expert insights on appropriate diets for vulnerable populations.

The celebrations also featured a series of engaging club activities that blended education with entertainment, ensuring that learning about nutrition was both enjoyable and impactful for the students.

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Prof. U Suma, from the Department of Management and Commerce, and her research student, Mr. Sai Naveen R, represented Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL) at the prestigious 84th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, held at Chicago, Illinois from 9-13, August 2024.

Their research, titled “Rationalizing Vulnerability in Leadership,” was presented in a forum that brought together distinguished academics, industry leaders, and policymakers from across the globe.

The theme of this year’s meeting, “Innovating for the Future: Policy, Purpose, and Organization,” focused on the need for business strategies to evolve in a fast-paced world. Participants were introduced to cutting-edge trends in management research, ranging from novel ideas to advanced methodologies and tools shaping the future of the discipline.

The key highlights of the conference included exposure to global insights allowing participants the opportunity to engage with the latest research and innovations in management, gaining insights from scholars and practitioner researchers worldwide, networking opportunities facilitating meaningful conversations, and exploring possibilities for future collaboration and constructive feedback on their work from peers and mentors, enhancing the depth and direction of their research.

Mr. Sai Naveen also had the unique opportunity to participate in the Doctoral Student Consortium, organized by the Academy’s Division of Organizational Behavior, Change, and Development (DIG). He benefited from interactions with global scholars and received one-on-one mentoring from experts in the field, further enriching his academic journey.

This experience served as a pivotal moment for Mr. Naveen’s PhD journey, fostering both intellectual and professional growth. It reaffirmed the significance of management research in shaping the future of global leadership and organizational change.

Special thanks are due to SSSIHL alumni, Prof. Surya Prakash Pati (Professor of OB & HR, IIM Kozhikode) and Prof. Sai Chittaranjan Kalubandi (Professor of Strategy, IIM Bangalore), whose guidance and support enhanced the quality of this research and facilitated critical networking opportunities during the meeting.

The final year MBA students from the Brindavan Campus of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning undertook an enriching industrial visit to Chennai from August 11th to 15th, 2024. Their journey began with a spiritual visit to the Guindy Shirdi Sai temple, followed by a session at Sundaram.

During the visit, the students explored several leading companies, gaining insights into business operations and industrial processes. At Carborundum Universal Limited, they learned about abrasives manufacturing and TQM practices. The visit to ZF Rane Automotive provided a hands-on understanding of power steering and assembly lines, with a focus on quality standards and strategic business planning tools. At Chennai Petroleum Corporation, students were introduced to refining processes, gaining a deep understanding of the petrochemical industry.

The trip concluded with networking opportunities, where alumni shared their experiences, inspiring students for their future careers. This industrial visit offered the students a blend of technical knowledge, business strategies, and networking, making it a memorable learning experience.

The report delves into the details of each visit and its impact on the student’s development.

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