Read NLA Newsletter 2019 (vol 2)
January 5, 2020
We are happy to present you a new issue of NLA newsletter 2019 (vol 2)
Enjoy your reading!
We are happy to present you a new issue of NLA newsletter 2019 (vol 2)
Enjoy your reading!
On December, 12, 2019 Prof. Zhumabay Bakenov, Director of Center for Energy and Advanced Materials Science, NLA won the «Researcher of the year» National Scopus Award 2019 according to the international information and analytical platform Scopus.
The award ceremony held during the II Science Forum: Research Impact at the AIFC Bureau.
«Scopus Award 2019 is being held on the eve of the Independence Day of Kazakhstan. It is recognition for any scientist. In this case, it is an acknowledgment by colleagues all over the world. It is important when one scientist quotes another one. The Government pays great attention to the development of science. The Head of State charged to work out the state program for the development of education and science until 2025,» Kazakh Education and Science Minister Askhat Aimagambetov told those present.
It should be reminded that recently Prof. Zhaxybay Zhumadilov, Samat Kozhakhmetov, and Maxsat Zhabagin, NLA won the «Science Leader-2019» award according to the international information and analytical platform Web of Science.
On October 2, 2019 NLA was held the 1st International Environmental Science and Technology Workshop. This event was academically supported by the group of distinguished scientists from the Pohang University of Science and Technology, Korea (prof. Wonyong Choi), Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Korea (prof. Seunghee Han) and Yonsei University, Korea (prof. Giehyeon Lee).
During the workshop it was said that our future depends on innovation and technological advances to significantly reduce the pressures and the energy input as well as to align production with the concept of the circular economy. Academic research should work together with the industry and society. Through research, we are discovering new ways to implement advanced technologies, to address emerging environmental challenges as well as use research findings to influence policymakers and promote socially responsible policies.
Established this year, the workshop could be the leading environmental platform where top experts, scientists, entrepreneurs, representatives of public administration and social initiatives present state-of-the-art research on current and emerging environmental issues.
According to the requirements of part 7 of the order of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated June 15, 2015 No. 380 “On approval of the Rules for conferring academic ranks (associate professor, professor) National Laboratory Astana publishes information about PhD Dinara Begimbetova, senior researcher, Laboratory of Translational Medicine and Life Sciences Technologies, Center for Life Sciences for the assignment of academic title - Associate Professor.
Information about the candidate for the academic title Associate Professor according to the specialty 03.01.00 "Biology".
List of the printed scientific publications PhD on “Molecular and Cellular Biology” by the Senior Researcher, Laboratory of Translational Medicine and Life Sciences Technologies, Center for Life Sciences, NLA Dinara Begimbetova. These papers were published after the defending a dissertation for the academic title of Associate Professor candidate, Specialty 03.01.00 "Biology".
We are happy to present you a new issue of NLA newsletter 2019.
Enjoy your reading!
We cordially invite you to participate in the 7th International Conference on Nanomaterials and Advanced Energy Storage Systems (INESS-2019), organized by Nazarbayev University, National Laboratory Astana, Al Farabi Kazakh National University and Institute of Batteries to be held on August 7-9, 2019 in Almaty at Al Farabi Kazakh National University.
Participants are encouraged to submit a short paper based on the accepted abstract which will be published in a Materials Today: Proceedings journal.
INESS-2019 TOPICS:
Advanced Nanomaterials
Advanced Energy Conversion and Storage Systems
Materials for electrochemical sensors and electroanalytical applications
Quantum mechanical and theoretical modeling of energy materials
Materials and technology for alternative advanced energy applications
Solar energy materials and solar cells
Semiconductors and optoelectronics
Catalysis and fuel cells
Battery monitoring and management systems
Battery safety and utilization
Development of electric vehicles and stationary energy storage
Modelling tools in materials science and energy conversion systems
Energy and environment
Smart energy systems
We look forward to welcoming you at INESS-2019. More information can be found in https://iness.kz.
Researchers at National Laboratory Astana are studying the effect of mobile phone frequency electromagnetic fields for the treatment of age-related dementia. The scientists started investigating opportunities for how radiofrequency electromagnetic fields could be used in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) therapy, and they selected a frequency of 918 MHz because it is so commonly used in mobile phones.
Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of age-related dementia is usually characterized by loss of memory, dramatic changes in character and behavior, and, at later stages, by the inability to carry out normal daily life activities. According to scientists, the cause of the disease is the accumulation of the toxic beta-amyloid peptide (Aβ42) in brain tissues, which leads to oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and ultimately – the death of nerve cells.
The study provides an insight into the mechanisms when an electromagnetic field of 918 MHz frequency suppresses oxidative stress triggered by beta-amyloid.
– We have studied the results of scientists from the USA, who have already conducted experiments with the same parameters of electromagnetic irradiation in 6 month exposure period. In our experiments, we used human and rat astrocyte cultures (model cells) and shorter exposure periods of 60 minutes. The results of our studies, obtained by irradiation of cells with an electromagnetic field frequency of 918 MHz in a period of up to 24 hours, confirmed the ability of the electromagnetic field to suppress oxidative stress, which indicates the possible therapeutic effect, – comments Andrey Tsoy, researcher of the Laboratory of Bioengineering and Regenerative Medicine. Thus, irradiation with an electromagnetic field frequency of 918 MHz can probably be used in the treatment of AD patients. Taking into account the data obtained, NLA’s scientists plan to continue research in this direction.
Please, click the link to access the PDF of the book of abstracts of the International Conference dedicated to 10th anniversary of Center for Life Sciences, NLA "Modern Perspectives for Biomedical Sciences: From Bench to Bedside":
According to WHO data, every day about 4 500 people die from tuberculosis (TB) and 30 000 become sick with TB. Over the last decade, the medical community has faced difficulties in fighting tuberculosis due to the emergence of strains that are either extensively resistant to drugs or multidrug resistant.
Currently, Nazarbayev University scientists are conducting studies on tuberculosis, specifically examining how genetic level factors of tuberculosis may influence resistance to basic anti-tuberculosis drugs. After genotyping the clinical isolates to identify M. tuberculosis genetic families, scientists at the Center for Life Sciences, PI ‘National Laboratory Astana’, identified seven main genotypes of tuberculosis strains distributed in Kazakhstan.
W-Beijing family strains are the most commonly distributed kind in Asia and are associated with anti-tuberculosis drug resistance. We identified that this genotype prevails among cases of tuberculosis in Kazakhstan showing up in 60% of new cases and in 83% of recurrent cases. – reported Ulan Kozhamkulov, a leading researcher of the Laboratory of Genomic and Personalized Medicine, PI ‘National Laboratory Astana’.
Beijing family strains spread frequently in Asian countries, although today strains of this family can be found globally and prevail among young people. Strains of Beijing family were first identified during the 1990s in New York (USA) during an outbreak of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. The strains in this family were named in 1995, when discovery of M. tuberculosis isolates with the same characteristics were found in ‘Beijing’ China, where 92% of all isolates belonged to this family. Among European countries, W-Beijing strains are mostly distributed in Eastern Europe and former USSR countries.
NLA researchers compared the genomes of clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis susceptible to anti-tuberculosis drugs with those of strains that are multidrug resistant and extensively drug-resistant. During the comparative bioinformatics analysis comparing the different strains, they found in the drug-resistant strains four common genetic loci (PE_PPE family genes) that were absent in the susceptible strains. Nazarbayev University scientists assume that these genes contribute to the extension of drug-resistant TB strains and may worsen disease symptoms of TB.
Now the scientists are planning to compare the results on drug-resistant Kazakhstani strains with data available in international databases. This analysis will help in understanding the mechanisms of tuberculosis resistance to anti-TB drugs and contribute to the development of improved tuberculosis diagnostics, vaccines and new anti-tuberculosis drugs.