No abstract

Directional transdifferentiation of bone marrow precursor cells assumes beta cell like properties in modified tissue microenvironment. The factors that modify the roles of precursor cells to functional beta cells enabling precise, defined and efficient in vitro differentiation protocols are yet to be conclusive. The study aims at the determination of appropriate induction factors that may aid the robust, reproducible transdifferentiation of rat bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to islet-like cells and enhance their transdifferentiation efficiency. High glucose concentration including nicotinamide, β-mercaptoethanol along with β-cellulin, IGF-1 were able to induce bone marrow precursor cells to islet like clusters ex vivo consistently. The four step induction protocol has enhanced the expression of pancreatic islet cell specific transcription and translational factors detectable by immunocytochemistry viz., pro-insulin, glucagon, somatostatin and polypeptide. The functionality was assessed by the glucose challenge assay followed by animal experiment. The streptozotocin (STZ) induced rats demonstrated significant reduction in glucose levels post islet like cell transplantation (P<0.05). The tropic and the growth factors thus used have a profound impact on the induction of the bone marrow precursors to functional islet like cells

No abstract

Surface quality is the most crucial factor affecting the product lifespan and performance of any component. Most earlier technologies display accuracy in the micrometre or submicrometre range, surface roughness in the nanometre range, and almost no surface defects in the production of optical, mechanical and electronic parts. Such finishing methods incorporate a magnetic field to control the finishing forces using magnetorheological fluid as the polishing medium. Magnetorheological fluid (MR) consists of ferromagnetic and abrasive particles. It is a type of modern intelligent fluid. An optimum selection of magnetorheological fluid constituents and their volume concentration plays an essential role for the ultra-fine finishing of newly developed engineering products. Rheological characteristics of magnetorheological fluid can change rapidly and effortlessly with the support of an activated magnetic field. Traditional finishing methods are comparatively inferior in finishing complex freeform surfaces, due to the lack of controlling finishing forces and limitations of polishing tool movement over the complex freeform contour of the components. There are different types of processes based on the magnetorheological fluid including magnetorheological finishing, magnetorheological abrasive flow finishing, rotational magnetorheological abrasive flow finishing and ball end magnetorheological finishing. This article discusses the development of different types of magnetorheological-fluid-based finishing processes and their modes of operation. The MR fluid devices developed in the last decade are thoroughly reviewed for their working principles, characteristics and applications. This article also highlights the study of rheological characterization of magnetorheological fluid and its applications in different polishing methods appropriate for finishing various complex freeform components.

No abstract

Since the epidemic began in November 2019, no viable medicine against SARS-CoV-2 has been discovered. The typical medication discovery strategy requires several years of rigorous research and development as well as a significant financial commitment, which is not feasible in the face of the current epidemic. Through molecular docking and dynamic simulation studies, we used the FDA-approved drug mezonavir against the most important viral targets, including spike (S) glycoprotein, Transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), Main protease (Mpro), human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2), and furin. These targets are critical for viral replication and infection propagation because they play a key role in replication/transcription and host cell recognition. Molecular docking revealed that the antiviral medication mozenavir showed a stronger affinity for SARS-CoV-2 target proteins than reference medicines in this investigation. We discovered that mozenavir increases the complex's stability and validates the molecular docking findings using molecular dynamics modeling. Furin, a target protein of COVID-19, has a greater binding affinity (-12.04 kcal/mol) than other COVID-19 target proteins, forming different hydrogen bonds and polar and hydrophobic interactions, suggesting that it might be used as an antiviral treatment against SARS-CoV-2. Overall, the present in silico results will be valuable in identifying crucial targets for subsequent experimental investigations that might help combat COVID-19 by blocking the protease furin's proteolytic activity.

No abstract

No abstract