Monthly Archives: January 2016
Enhanced radioactive content of “balance” bracelets
Individual monitoring of internal dose at the Nuclear Research Center Negev (NRCN) includes routine Whole Body Counting (WBC) check (Fig. 1.). In one of these checks, an abnormal high activity of 232Th (Thorium-232) and natural uranium was
Vodka vs. fortified wine in Russia: retrospective view
Alcohol consumption and alcoholism in Russia are broadly discussed in professional literature, while it is often taken for granted that vodka has been a predominant form of consumed alcohol. In fact, fortified wines with alcohol concentration around
The protective role of estrogens in prostate cancer and its relationship with the SCF/c-KIT system
Prostate Cancer (PCa) is the most common oncological disorder in men worldwide, mainly affecting individuals over the age of 50. Therefore, the population aging and the improved expectancy of life have been contributing to the increased incidence
Can hypertension and related cardiovascular diseases be caused by Dark-Matter-like RNAs?
Hypertension is a common but one of the most important health problems, because it is a major risk factor for many cardiovascular diseases. Hypertension is a multi-factorial disease involving complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors. To treat
Muscle stem cells fail to become activated in Pompe disease and do not repair the accumulating muscle damage
Skeletal muscle is the largest organ of the body and is responsible not only for movement , breathing and posture, but is also important in regulating body temperature. It is not surprising that defects in muscle function
Probing how alcohol affects the structure of water
Water, despite its ubiquity, is an extraordinarily complex substance. The structure of water on a molecular level is defined by the interactions, “hydrogen bonds”, that individual molecules have with each other. These are the reason that upon
Computer analysis of calcium cyclings of stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes
As any organ, the heart of an individual is built of an innumerable number of cells called cardiomyocytes. Traditionally our understanding of human cardiac cells is based on animal studies, but with the aid of new stem
Limitations in nanoelectronics: current and temperature effects
Electrical cables are commonly used in our daily life. Typically they have metallic core covered with isolation. For example, one uses this wire to connect a lamp to a battery. When connected, electrons (negative elementary electric charges)
How does presenting ourselves on Facebook influence our sense of self?
Social media have become an integral part of many people’s lives, but what influence would they bring? One area in which social media such as Facebook may have an impact is users’ sense of self. Facebook allows
Amniotic membranes in ophthalmology
The amniotic membrane (AM) is the inner layer of the fetal membranes and is comprised of 3 distinct layers; epithelium, basement membrane and stroma, the innermost layer that further consists of an inner compact layer, middle fibroblast
Silencing suppressor proteins shape virus-host co-evolution
Plant viruses are amongst the most important pathogens causing huge economic losses worldwide by reducing crop quality and quantity. A better understanding of the viral infection processes and plant defense strategies is important for crop improvement. During
L-amino acids, key for the evolution of life came from extraterrestrial space?
All proteins, which are functional molecules of living creatures are made by combining 20 kinds of amino acids. Except one amino acid, each amino acid has two forms (isomer) named D (dexer meaning right) and L (meaning
The cellular advantage of using a macrolide for community-acquired pneumonia
Community-acquired pneumonia has been one of the top ten causes of death in the US over the last 60 years despite the widespread use of antimicrobials. National guidelines (at idsociety.org) recommend two primary antibiotic regimens – one
S5nA – a novel group a streptococcal immune evasion factor
Streptococcus pyogenes (aka Group A Streptococcus, GAS) is a pathogenic bacterium that causes disease in humans, ranging from pharyngitis (‘strep throat’) and skin infections to severe invasive diseases, such as necrotizing fasciitis (‘flesh-eating disease) and life-threatening toxic
Mathematicians solve 60-year-old problem
Fermi-Pasta-Ulam chain is a theoretical model of a one dimensional crystal. It consists of point masses connected by nonlinear strings. This model was introduced by Enrico Fermi, John Pasta, Stanislaw Ulam, and Mary Tsingou in 1953, and
Allergic mechanisms of Eosinophilic oesophagitis
The concept of eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) as a food allergy seems foreign to many patients, and even physicians, since EoE does not exhibit the typical symptoms associated with allergic reactions such as hives, swelling, pruritus, wheezing or
A new phase change material for thermal energy storage
The technologies currently used to generate energy through renewable sources such as solar, wind and biomass are still characterized by high costs and insufficient continuity of generation. Such sources will therefore continue to have a secondary role
Can inhaled formoterol be used to prevent hypoglycemia?
Patients with type 1 diabetes need insulin treatment for their survival. However insulin can cause low blood sugar (or hypoglycemia); a major limiting factor for good diabetes control. Hypoglycemia occurs when there is an excess of insulin
Lipids are major players in Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common neurodegenerative disorder affecting over 36 million people worldwide. Alzheimer’s patients suffer from dementia and memory loss and go through a progressive, irreversible and eventually fatal loss of cognitive functions. When Alois
Why do we conform?
In 1951, Solomon Ash conducted one of the most famous experiments in the history of psychology. He had participants watch confederates judging the length of a line, often obviously incorrect. And yet, when requested to make the
