NU Research Week - II
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These proceedings present abstract of the projects conducted at Nazarbayev University and presented at the NU Research Week-II conference which was held in Astana on November 24-28, 2014. The purpose of the conference was to present the research conducted at NU, as well as to foster links for collaboration. This event also gave an opportunity for undergraduate, Master and PhD students to familiarise themselves with the variety of research topics available at NU and meet with their participants. During the Conference over 200 papers were presented. They focus on flagship programs within the three strategic multi-disciplinary thematic pillars: 1) Healthier and longer life;
2) Earth observation, exploration and conservation; 3) Socio-economic development. These pillars leverage the institutional strengths, and are aligned to the needs and strategic directions of the Republic of Kazakhstan with an expectation of exciting discoveries at the research frontiers.
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Item Open Access Semiclassical gravitational collapse and avoidance of singularities(Nazarbayev University, 2014) Malafarina, D.General Relativity (GR) predicts that, under standard conditions for normal matter, when gravity prevails over other forces, a space-time singularity must form [1]. On the other hand singularities are not expected to occur in the real universe as they may lead to pathological problems for the causal structure of the space-time. Several recent studies suggest that there may be mechanisms that prevent the formation of singularities and that these are likely to be related to quantum correction to GR that appear in the strong field regime. We considered some mathematical toy models describing complete gravitational collapse of a massive cloud that classically lead to the formation of a singularity. In order to fully characterize the final stages of collapse we would then need to use a theory of quantum-gravity which we do not possess yet. On the other hand semi-classical approaches are possible and they provide valuable hints at how gravity behaves in such extreme conditions [2].Item Open Access High rate continuous synthesis of nanocrystalline materials in a colliding vapor stream of microdroplets(Nazarbayev University, 2014) Ould-Ely, T.; Reing, L. K.; Morse, D. E.Progress in nanotechnology is driving the need of large scale synthesis of functional nanomaterials. The lack of a workforce trained on process control and scale-up of nanomaterials manufacturing, the gap between laboratories and economically practical nanofabrication and the funding strain on the survivability of startup companies all contribute to the difficulties in scaling up nanotechnologies and their commercialization [1,2]. We report here a high rate continuous synthesis of functional inorganic nanomaterials using colliding vapor stream of reagents microdroplets.Item Open Access New arthritic pannus-specific protein promotes fibroblast motility and polarization(Nazarbayev University, 2014) Adilbayeva, A.; Myngbay, A.; Adarichev, V. A.Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the development of hypercellular pannus tissue in the affected joints of patients. Pannus invasiveness and activation correlates with stronger tissue destruction and worse clinical prognosis. Using murine arthritis model, we recently discovered that synovial concentration of Collagen Triple Helix Repeat-containing 1 (CTHRC1) message and protein is directly correlated with arthritis severity. In carcinogenesis, overexpression of CTHRC1 is associated with enhanced metastatic potential of solid tumors and increased cell motility. Our goal is to investigate the mechanism of synovial cell motility and invasiveness and the role of non-canonical WNT signaling in pannus development.Item Open Access ALIAS calculus for a simple imperative language(Nazarbayev University, 2014) Shilov, N. V.This research has been supported by Nazarbayev University Seed Grant KF-14/16 "Research of Formal Models for analysis of programs with Dynamic Memory".Item Open Access Development of novel highly productive track etch membranes for forward osmosis process(Nazarbayev University, 2014) Arkhangelsky, E.; Zdorovets, M.Forward osmosis (FO) process has gained vast popularity in recent years. FO has the potential advantages of low energy demand, insignificant membrane fouling, and as result rare membrane cleaning is required [1]. Despite that nowadays different research groups from around the world [2] working on development of highly productive membranes for direct osmosis process, water flux of FO membranes is far away from water flux of reverse osmosis membranes. With reference to that it can be claimed that development of the new generation of forward osmosis membrane is of high importance.Item Open Access Vacuum breakdown mitigation(Nazarbayev University, 2014) Insepov, Z.; Tynyshtykbayev, K.; Imanbayev, G.; Ainabayev, A.; Berdenova, B.; Dybyspayeva, K.; Ramazanova, Z.; Kuzembayeva, N.; Bulekbayeva, G.Understanding the breakdown voltage process in vacuum, specifically technology of breakdown mitigation, is important for applications such as accelerators and thermonuclear synthesis. In our work, we present simulation results and our conclusions about crater formation on a material surface due to vacuum arc and plasma heating. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) and irradiation by gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) can be applied to smoothen electrode surfaces; thus reducing the risks of a breakdown.Item Open Access Towards an artificial photosystem II: the second generation of the bacterioferritin "Reaction centre"(Nazarbayev University, 2014) Mahboob, A.; Poddutoori, P.; Vassiliev, S.; van der Est, A.; Bruce, D.Item Open Access Finite amplitude pressure wave propagation in chemically active heterogeneous media(Nazarbayev University, 2014) Vakhguelt, A.This paper presents a mathematical analysis of pressure wave propagation in gas media containing particles and proposed mathematical model of the process.Item Open Access Modeling nonlinear waves in graphene(Nazarbayev University, 2014) Wei, D.; Elgindi, M.; Hazin, H.; Soukiassian, Y.; Daripa, P.The graphene-based resonator and its application to mass sensing based on nonlinear waves have been poorly studied numerically [1]. The project's main objective is to model and understand how graphene behave in free and forced vibrations and calculate the nonlinear resonance frequencies.Item Open Access NURA-Nazarbayev University research accelerator: a new linac for WDM, HEDP and HIF(Nazarbayev University, 2014) Tikhonov, A.; Urazbayev, A.; Kaikanov, M.; Waldron, W.; Kwan, J.; Henestroza, E.A project called NURA [1] which is a new linear accelerator (Linac) for Warm Dense Matter (WDM), High Energy Dense Plasma (HEDP) and Heavy Ion Fusion (HIF) is described. The NURA will be similar to the NDCX-II at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory featuring an induction linac [2]. Furthermore, the facility will be designed to allow the flexibility of additional laser heating and diagnostic beam in combination with the ion beam.Item Open Access New nucleic dyes for pico-and nanoplankton cytometric analysis(Nazarbayev University, 2014) Dashkova, V.; Segev, E.; Khromov, V.; Kolter, R.; Vorobjev, I.; Barteneva, N. S.Flow cytometry (FCM) is a promising tool in the field of aquatic phytoplankton ecology because it allows for multi-parameter assessment of the physiological state of individual cells in an algal population. It can help to elucidate major questions such as phytoplankton taxa identification, the evaluation of cell quantity and viability, and the measuring of phytoplankton and general microbial metabolic activities. Traditionally, microalgal characterization is performed by microscopic analysis using UV-excited nuclear dyes (e.g. Hoechst and DAPI) or dyes that are excited in the blue-green part of the spectrum such as propidium iodide and eosin. The development of multi-laser cytometric systems has widened the possibilities for multi-parametric analysis and cell sorting of phytoplankton populations. Notwithstanding, significant algae autofluorescence originating from different types of chlorophyll and accessory pigments may overlap with propidium iodide and/or eosin staining and affect the resolution of algae clusters and cell sorting.Item Open Access Brain growth in chimpanzees: wild vs.captive, mass vs. volume(Nazarbayev University, 2014) Cofran, Z.This study compares postnatal brain size change in two important samples of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes): brain masses of captive apes from the Yerkes National Primate Research Center, and endocranial volumes (ECVs) of wild-collected individuals from the Ta'i Forest, Cote d'Ivoire. Unlike for other skeletal collections, age at death is known for every individual in these samples. These cross-sectional datasets therefore allow inferences of patterns and rates of brain growth in these populations. Previous studies have revealed differences in growth, development and health between wild and captive animals, but such habitat effects have yet to be investigated for brain growth. It has also been hypothesized that brain mass and endocranial volume follow different growth curves.Item Open Access Importance of single nodes in dynamics on networks(Nazarbayev University, 2014) Klemm, K.; Serrano, M. A.; Eguiluz, V. M.; San Miguel, M.Identifying key players in collective dynamics remains a challenge in several research fields, from the efficient dissemination of ideas to drug target discovery in biomedical problems. The difficulty lies at several levels: how to single out the role of individual elements in such intermingled systems, or which is the best way to quantify their importance. Centrality measures describe a node's importance by its position in a network. The key issue obviated is that the contribution of a node to the collective behavior is not uniquely determined by the structure of the system but it is a result of the interplay between dynamics and network structure.Item Open Access Tunable photonic oscillators(Nazarbayev University, 2014) Kovanis, V.Limit Cycle oscillators are used to model a broad range of periodic nonlinear phenomena. Using the optically injected semiconductor oscillator as a paradigm, we have demonstrated that at specific islands in the optical frequency detuning and injection level map, Period One Limit Cycle oscillation frequency is simultaneously insensitive to multiple perturbation sources. In our system these include the temperature fluctuations experienced by the master and slave lasers as well as fluctuations in the bias current applied to the slave laser. Tuning of the oscillation frequency then depends only on the injected optical field amplitude. Experimental measurements are in good quantitative agreement with numerical modeling and analysis based on a reduced Adler}} phase dynamics type equations. These special operating regions should prove valuable for developing ultra-stable nonlinear oscillators, such as sharp linewidth, frequency tunable photonic microwave oscillators. Finally the concept of an Isochron originally developed in mathematical biology will be reviewed and placed on context for efficient design of stable frequency sources in systems of optically coupled limit cycles oscillators [1,2].Item Open Access Z-DNA forming regions in the human genome(Nazarbayev University, 2014) Fujimoto, Y.; Schonbach, C.Z-DNA is the left-handed helical structure of the usually right-handed B-DNA double helix structure. Z-DNA conformations have been found to cause mutagenesis and genetic instability [1]. In this study, human genome sequences potentially forming Z-DNA regions (ZDRs) were extracted and analysed for functional implications.Item Open Access SNX 9 interacts with dynamin 2 and N-wasp to regulate focal adhesion disassembly and cell migration(Nazarbayev University, 2014) Zhubanchaliyev, A.; Chao, W. T.; Kunz, J.The turnover of focal adhesions is essential for normal cell migration and tumor invasion, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. We have previously shown that the disassembly of focal adhesions occurs by endocytosis of activated integrins from adhesion sites (1). We have further identified new components that mediate integrin endocytosis. Here, we provide the initial characterization of one of these components, sorting nexin 9 (Snx9), an endocytic adaptor protein not previously implicated in cell adhesion and migration.Item Open Access Students' perceptions of the role of their NIS experience in their academic performance at Nazarbayev University(Nazarbayev University, 2014) Almukhambetova, A.Government support of gifted children in Kazakhstan is based in understanding human capital as a main component of the country's further successful economic development. In 2009, the government of Kazakhstan launched a project of intellectual schools, a policy which has the aim to accelerate the development of education system and in turn, the country. Since 2010, graduates of NIS have been entering higher education institutions in Kazakhstan and abroad. It is thus interesting to examine how the students undergo their transition from secondary school to post-secondary education and how well they are prepared to study at the university of international standard.Item Open Access Estimation of carrier life time from intrinsic photoluminescence of ZnO(Nazarbayev University, 2014) Bhowmick, M.; Ullrich, B.; X i, H.; Flores, D.A.Comprehensive knowledge of the optical properties, particularly of the room temperature (RT) photoluminescence (PL), of ZnO is essential for the future employment of this wideband gap (~3.3 eV at 300 K) II-VI compound semiconductor in photonic and optoelectronic device structures [1]. Hence, vigorous research activities on ZnO thin films, epilayers, and crystals took place during the last two decades, encompassing a vast variety of effects and phenomena such as birefringence, photocurrent, PL including sub-band gap emission, reflectance, transmittance, excitonic properties, Raman modes, and absorption edge steepness [1-4]. However, despite that large body of knowledge and its essential importance for light emitting processes, a discussion of the ZnO PL lineshape is not found in the literature [5].Item Open Access Quantum dynamics in molecules and nanostructures in strong fields(Nazarbayev University, 2014) Bubin, S.With the advance of time-dependent probes the investigation of the dynamical behavior of matter at the nanoscale has become a very important research direction. Laser-assisted steering of the electron motion in molecules and manipulation of their structure and composition has been dreamt about since the very emergence of coherent light sources. Realizing new possibilities in selective photochemistry of complex molecular systems, however, requires good understanding of underlying quantum dynamics. First-principles quantum-mechanical simulations can be of great help in assisting experiments, understanding the complex quantum dynamics, and interpreting the experimental data.Item Open Access PIPK1a regulates RAC1 and akt activation to promote cell migration and proliferation(Nazarbayev University, 2014) Merzhakupova, D.; Adilgozhina, G.; Kim, A.; Chao, W. T.; Kunz, J.Rac1 activity is concentrated at the front of migrating cells where it initiates signaling processes necessary for cell migration in normal and pathological situations. The signaling pathways downstream of Rac1 are well characterized. However, how Rac1 activation is regulated to confer cell movement is incompletely understood.
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