403 research outputs found
Essays on Life, Science and Society [electronic resource] : The World through the Eyes of a Life Scientist /
No full textThis collection of nine essays provides an entertaining and thoughtful glimpse into trending topics in our lives. The author, Dr. Akula, tackles questions on life, science, and society from a biologist’s perspective. The book covers a broad range of topics, including common questions with complex answers intermixed with some religion and humor, making it a great read to give your brain cells a boost. The field of Science is massive - in fact, it’s the size of the universe, which means picking just a few topics to discuss is no mean feat. This book is a start, but there is more to come as Dr. Akula explores various subjects to discuss and shed new light on. This collection of essays will appeal to scientists, and to lay readers with an interest in the natural sciences. Its goal is to ensure that science isn’t accessible to only a few people, but is instead disseminated to many. After all, a Smart World is the key to a Better Tomorrow and a Brighter Future.Chapter 1. Understanding Order in the disorder -- Chapter 2. Einstein’s theory of relativity borrowed from the spice rack of Hinduism? -- Chapter 3. Flu or a bug? -- Chapter 4. Why I chose evolution over religion! -- Chapter 5. It is mi(y) RNA! -- Chapter 6. A morons footnote to controlling human brain -- Chapter 7. An insiders’ view! -- Chapter 8. Down the Line -- Chapter 9: What is intelligence?This collection of nine essays provides an entertaining and thoughtful glimpse into trending topics in our lives. The author, Dr. Akula, tackles questions on life, science, and society from a biologist’s perspective. The book covers a broad range of topics, including common questions with complex answers intermixed with some religion and humor, making it a great read to give your brain cells a boost. The field of Science is massive - in fact, it’s the size of the universe, which means picking just a few topics to discuss is no mean feat. This book is a start, but there is more to come as Dr. Akula explores various subjects to discuss and shed new light on. This collection of essays will appeal to scientists, and to lay readers with an interest in the natural sciences. Its goal is to ensure that science isn’t accessible to only a few people, but is instead disseminated to many. After all, a Smart World is the key to a Better Tomorrow and a Brighter Future
Determination of Energy Changes and Length of Micro Cracks Formed in Cotton Fibre Reinforced Natural Composite Laminate Due to Environmental Degradation
No full textAbstractThis study is to know the effect of biodegradation on the cotton fiber reinforced composites. Four types of cotton fiber reinforced composites were prepared in hand layup process by using matrixes Plaster of paris POP, wheat starch WS, rice starch RS and urea formal dehyde UF. The tensile tests were conducted as per ASTM D 638. Initially tensile test were conducted on few of them. Other samples were exposed to atmospheric air for six months and then the tensile test is conducted on them, the strengths of all the samples were found to be lowered considerably. The starch and Urea formal dehyde composites were found degraded. But the POP composites were not degraded. The sum of the lengths of micro cracks was calculated for the degraded laminates
Фазовый состав покрытий системы Zr-C-N
No full textChekan Nikolay Mikhailovich, Akula Igor Petrovich, Vasilevich Ivan Borisovich, Onysko Sergey Romanovich. Phase composition of coatings of the Zr-C-N systemИсследовано влияние условий осаждения на фазовый состав и структуру покрытий Zr-C-N. Показано, что при взаимодействии испаренного посредством катодной дуги циркония с азотом и углеродной плазмой образуется монофазный материал в виде δ-Zr(CᵪN₁-ᵪ)₁-ᵧ с формированием аксиальной текстуры (111) в пленках, осажденных на основу из алюминия
Напряженное состояние ZrCN:DLC покрытия
No full textOnysko S. R., Khvisevich V. M., Chekan N. M., Akula I. P. ZrCN stress state: DLC coatin
Термостойкие покрытия, формируемые на основе рефракторных металлов
No full textChekan N. M., Ovchinnikov E. V., Akula I. P., Eisymont E. I., Shagoyka G. A. Heat-resistant coatings formed on the basis of refractory metal
Antifungal efficacy of lauric acid and caprylic acid – Derivatives of virgin coconut oil against Candida albicans
No full textBackground: Candida albicans is the primary causative agent of oral mycotic infections and can be fulminant, especially in immunocompromised individuals, which often necessitates a therapeutic intervention with antifungal drugs. However, with emergence of multidrug-resistant fungi and concomitant intolerance and adverse side effects of antifungal drugs, it is pivotal to find an alternative. One approach is to screen natural compounds which represent a rich source of novel antimicrobial agents. Aim: The present study focused on the pharmacological screening of active ingredients of virgin coconut oil, the medium-chain fatty acids – lauric acid and caprylic acid, for antifungal activity on C. albicans comparatively with those of standard antifungal drugs such as fluconazole and clotrimazole. Methods: The efficacy of lauric acid and caprylic acid against C. albicans was evaluated by using standard protocol of disc diffusion method. It was assessed by the presence or absence of inhibition zones, diameter of inhibition zones (in cm), and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values. Results: Caprylic acid and lauric acid (MCFS) have potential anticandidal activity against C. albicans. Caprylic acid has the highest antifungal potential at MIC of 40μg/ml. Conclusion: Both the natural compounds have shown encouraging antifungal activity in the present study. However, further microbiological and clinical evaluation is essential to consider their utilization for therapeutic purposes
Defining the importance of protein geranylgeranylation in innate immunity
No full textRHO family proteins and other intracellular proteins are prenylated with a 20-carbon lipid—a product of the cholesterol synthesis pathway—by protein geranylgeranyltransferase type I (GGTase-I). Prenylation is widely believed to target proteins to membranes where they encounter effector molecules that stimulate GTP-binding and activation. However, my host group found that knockout of GGTase-I in mouse macrophages (Pggt1bΔ/Δ) actually increases GTP-loading of RHO proteins such as RAC1, RHOA, and CDC42, and also increases proinflammatory signaling and cytokine production, and induces severe rheumatoid arthritis. These results suggest that prenylation may inhibit rather than stimulate RHO protein function. The mechanisms underlying increased GTP-loading and exaggerated innate immune responses in the absence of GGTase-I are not known. During my PhD, I have addressed these issues in two independent but interconnected projects.
In project 1, we found that there is an imbalance between inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines produced by Pggt1bΔ/Δ macrophages. We also found that knockout of GGTase-I prevents the interaction between KRAS and PI3K catalytic subunit p110δ and that this reduces signalling through the PI3K-AKT-GSK3β pathway. Moreover, Pggt1bΔ/Δ macrophages exhibit increased caspase-1 activity that is directly responsible for the production of active interleukin IL-1β, and that this effect requires the MEFV (pyrin) inflammasome. Thus, we conclude that GGTase-I promotes an association between KRAS and p110δ and thereby controls major inflammatory pathways in macrophages.
In project 2, we tested the importance of RHO proteins in the development of arthritis in Pggt1bΔ/Δ mice. We found that knockout of Rac1 (i.e., in Pggt1bΔ/ΔRac1Δ/+ mice), but not Rhoa and Cdc42, markedly reduced inflammatory cytokine production and arthritis in Pggt1bΔ/Δ mice. We also found that non-prenylated RAC1 bound more strongly to the RAS GTPase-activating-like protein 1 (IQGAP1) – which facilitated RAC1 GTP-loading and activation. Knockout of Iqgap1 in Pggt1bΔ/Δ mice abolished cellular phenotypes in vitro and inhibited arthritis in vivo. Thus, we conclude that blocking prenylation stimulates RAC1 effector interactions and activates wide-spread pro-inflammatory signaling. Thus, prenylation normally restrains innate immune responses by inhibiting RAC1 effector interactions
Нанокристаллические покрытия элементов штамповой оснастки
No full textONYSKO S. R., HVISEVICH V. M., CHEKAN N. M., AKULA I. P., VASILEVICH I. B. Nanocrystal coverings of the shtampova elements of equipmentВ работе приводятся результаты исследований нового материала для штамповой оснастки, основу которого составляют карбонитрид циркония и алмазоподобный углерод, анализируются результаты производственных испытаний пуансонов с упрочняющими покрытия
Interaction networks of lithium and valproate molecular targets reveal a striking enrichment of apoptosis functional clusters and neurotrophin signaling
No full textThe overall neurobiological mechanisms by which lithium and valproate stabilize mood in bipolar disorder patients have yet to be fully defined. The therapeutic efficacy and dissimilar chemical structures of these medications suggest that they perturb both shared and disparate cellular processes. To investigate key pathways and functional clusters involved in the global action of lithium and valproate, we generated interaction networks formed by well-supported drug targets. Striking functional similarities emerged. Intersecting nodes in lithium and valproate networks highlighted a strong enrichment of apoptosis clusters and neurotrophin signaling. Other enriched pathways included MAPK, ErbB, insulin, VEGF, Wnt and long-term potentiation indicating a widespread effect of both drugs on diverse signaling systems. MAPK1/3 and AKT1/2 were the most preponderant nodes across pathways suggesting a central role in mediating pathway interactions. The convergence of biological responses unveils a functional signature for lithium and valproate that could be key modulators of their therapeutic efficacy. The Pharmacogenomics Journal (2012) 12, 328-341; doi:10.1038/tpj.2011.9; published online 8 March 2011National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Healt
MWF of the corpus callosum is a robust measure of remyelination: Results from the ReBUILD trial
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