Preparation of transversely isotropic test specimen of natural FRP composite - an innovative approach-II

Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) composites can be broadly classified as synthetic and natural, based on the type of fibers incorporated. Abundantly available natural fibers like toddy palm, sisal, jute and banana are attracting the attention of researchers due to ever increasing demand for lighter, stronger and eco-friendly materials from the industry. However, natural fibers are limited in length, not so uniform in size and behave differently in different atmospheric conditions. Added to this, the inherent tendency of natural fibers to twist and curl in dry conditions poses many problems to researchers while preparing test specimens. Researchers in general and academicians in particular are handicapped by non-availability of relevant literature on fabrication techniques to prepare natural FRP composite test specimens close to their analytical models. Present paper addresses typical problems faced by researchers during preparation of unidirectional continuous fiber reinforced composite test specimen ensuring transversely isotropic nature. Using simple hand tools coupled with a few precautions taken as described herein, prospective researchers can condition natural fibers and prepare composite specimen to suit their requirements.&nbsp

Preparation of transversely isotropic test specimen of glass FRP composite - an innovative approach-I

FRP composites have attracted attention of researchers due to ever increasing demand for lighter and stronger materials from the industry, more so from aerospace and automotive sector. Researchers, particularly in academic institutions, are suffering due to non-availability of detailed information on fabrication techniques for preparing FRP test specimens that are equivalent to an analytical model. Accurate test specimen close to analytical model reduces the compulsion of going for unrealistic assumptions that takes the analysis away from reality. An easy to follow method to design, compute and achieve correct volume fraction is presented in this work. A technique for preparing and dismantling molds with commonly available materials is presented in detail. Using simple tools and tackles coupled with a few precautions followed as described herein, prospective researchers can fabricate FRP test specimen close to their requirement.&nbsp

Neighbours of cancer-related proteins have key influence on pathogenesis and could increase the drug target space for anticancer therapies

Even targeted chemotherapies against solid cancers show a moderate success increasing the need to novel targeting strategies. To address this problem, we designed a systems-level approach investigating the neighbourhood of mutated or differentially expressed cancer-related proteins in four major solid cancers (colon, breast, liver and lung). Using signalling and protein–protein interaction network resources integrated with mutational and expression datasets, we analysed the properties of the direct and indirect interactors (first and second neighbours) of cancer-related proteins, not found previously related to the given cancer type. We found that first neighbours have at least as high degree, betweenness centrality and clustering coefficient as cancer-related proteins themselves, indicating a previously unknown central network position. We identified a complementary strategy for mutated and differentially expressed proteins, where the affect of differentially expressed proteins having smaller network centrality is compensated with high centrality first neighbours. These first neighbours can be considered as key, so far hidden, components in cancer rewiring, with similar importance as mutated proteins. These observations strikingly suggest targeting first neighbours as a novel strategy for disrupting cancer-specific networks. Remarkably, our survey revealed 223 marketed drugs already targeting first neighbour proteins but applied mostly outside oncology, providing a potential list for drug repurposing against solid cancers. For the very central first neighbours, whose direct targeting would cause several side effects, we suggest a cancer-mimicking strategy by targeting their interactors (second neighbours of cancer-related proteins, having a central protein affecting position, similarly to the cancer-related proteins). Hence, we propose to include first neighbours to network medicine based approaches for (but not limited to) anticancer therapies

Multiple novel prostate cancer susceptibility signals identified by fine-mapping of known risk loci among Europeans

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified numerous common prostate cancer (PrCa) susceptibility loci. We have fine-mapped 64 GWAS regions known at the conclusion of the iCOGS study using large-scale genotyping and imputation in 25 723 PrCa cases and 26 274 controls of European ancestry. We detected evidence for multiple independent signals at 16 regions, 12 of which contained additional newly identified significant associations. A single signal comprising a spectrum of correlated variation was observed at 39 regions; 35 of which are now described by a novel more significantly associated lead SNP, while the originally reported variant remained as the lead SNP only in 4 regions. We also confirmed two association signals in Europeans that had been previously reported only in East-Asian GWAS. Based on statistical evidence and linkage disequilibrium (LD) structure, we have curated and narrowed down the list of the most likely candidate causal variants for each region. Functional annotation using data from ENCODE filtered for PrCa cell lines and eQTL analysis demonstrated significant enrichment for overlap with bio-features within this set. By incorporating the novel risk variants identified here alongside the refined data for existing association signals, we estimate that these loci now explain ∼38.9% of the familial relative risk of PrCa, an 8.9% improvement over the previously reported GWAS tag SNPs. This suggests that a significant fraction of the heritability of PrCa may have been hidden during the discovery phase of GWAS, in particular due to the presence of multiple independent signals within the same regio

A Clinical Study of Etiological and Epidemiological profile of Fungal Keratitis following Trauma

Background: Fungal keratitis is a common ocular infection following ocular trauma leading to visual impairment. So, our study was to know the etiological and epidemiological profile of fungal keratitis following trauma. Objectives: This study was to evaluate the etiological and epidemiological profile of fungal keratitis following trauma, a common cause of visual impairment. Materials and Methods: This was a hospital based prospective observational study in the department of Cornea, Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital, Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad over a period from August 2009 to August 2012. 60 Patients with a history of trauma developing fungal keratitis were evaluated. The Fungal keratitis was diagnosed based on the history, clinical examination by slit lamp and microbiological investigations of smear and culture. The details of the type of causative fungal agent and the type of causative traumatic agent with the demographic data of age, sex, occupation and Rural/urban status were collected. The data was analyzed by simple statistical methods. Results: This study data analysis of 60 patients diagnosed as fungal keratitis following trauma, showed the Causative Fungi as Fusarium species in 28 (46.7%), Aspergillus Species in 25 (41.7%), and Candida Species in 7 (11.6%). The type of Causative Traumatic Agents showed the vegetative matter in 41 (68.3%) which includes leaves of Plants in 13(21.7%), Dust in 12(20.0%), wood in 10(16.7), Thorn in 3(5.0%), Husk of paddy grain in 3(5.0%). The other agents were in 10 (16.7%), which includes Sand in 3(5.0%), stones in 3(5.0%), insects in 3(5.0%) and Animal tail in 1(1.7%). The type of traumatic agent was not known in 9(15.0%). 34(56.7%) were males with 26(43.3%) females. Age wise distribution was 7(11.7%) in > 10-20yrs, 7(11.7%) in 21–30 yrs, 12(20.0%) in 31-40 yrs, 18(30.0%) in 41-50 yrs, 10(16.7%) in 51-60 yrs and 6 (10%) in 61-70 yrs. 47(78.3%) were with agriculture and 13(23.3%) with other occupations. 47(78.3%) were from the rural areas with 13(21.7%) from urban Conclusions: The most frequent causes of fungal keratitis following trauma were Fusarium species in 28 (46.7%), Aspergillus Species in 25 (41.7%), and Candida Species in 7 (11.6%). The type of causative traumatic agents was the vegetative matter in 41 (68.3%). The prevalence was significantly higher with rural and agricultural background (78.3%), and increasing with age. All the causes were avoidable