Yearly Archives: 2016
Inflammatory bowel disease as a paradoxical effect of anti-TNF alpha therapy
Anti-TNF alpha therapies are used in the treatment of different inflammatory conditions as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Specifically, IBD is a chronic disease characterized by inflammation of gastrointestinal tract, particularly of colon. It includes Crohn disease and
An entangled flexible MOF for capture of CO2 and store/ separation of (C1-C3) hydrocarbons
Globally the swift growth of industrial sectors has immensely shuddered the environmental balance, particularly due to large quantity of greenhouse gas emission from the fossil fuel combustion. Therefore the capture of greenhouse gas, such as CO2 and
How Vitamin C affects the immune system
DNA contains four bases, A, C, G and T (Fig.1). There are 3 billion of these bases in the human genome, and they code for about 22,000 genes. Because each cell carries the same genetic information –
Retromer in polarized protein transport
In living organisms, all cells contain different compartments called organelles. Each organelle, surrounded by lipid membranes, includes a characteristic set of resident molecules. Maintenance of such precise set of components in each organelle is critical for proper
PDGF-D – a potential novel treatment for kidney diseases with scaring
Estimates suggest that a huge number of people, more than 10% of the world-population, are suffering from chronic kidney disease. Chronic kidney disease eventually leads to complete loss of kidney function, which is fatal if not treated
Ethnic classification in the New Zealand health care system
In New Zealand a section of the Maori population experiences inter-generational low health status. Evidence from numerous studies, in that country as elsewhere, show that differential health status is strongly associated with socioeconomic status and inequalities in
Polymer-brush lubrication: How your artificial knee lasts longer
The desire to minimize friction between surfaces is as old as human civilization. While the architects of the Egyptian pyramids used water and sand, modern machine parts typically are lubricated by oil. Nature has found superior solutions.
Modeling the nonlinear interaction of ultrasound and stable cavitation gas bubbles in liquids
The propagation of ultrasound in a liquid in which a population of tiny nuclei of gas exists, due to the presence of impurities in the liquid or crevices on solid surfaces in contact with the liquid, can
Complete solids retention activated sludge process
While biological treatment offers great treatment performance with relatively low cost, it also entails significant sludge production due to the growth of bacteria and the accumulation of inactive sludge (influent inert solids and cell debris from dead
Building and rebuilding gastric epithelium: Trop2 as a common denominator
In mammals, the stomach is lined by a contiguous layer of cells called epithelium, further organized into units called glands. Gastric glands are divided into two areas: corpus and antrum, according to their specific function depending on
Topical application of hyaluronidase accelerates cutaneous wound healing
Chronic wound care poses a significant biomedical burden. The management and treatment of chronic wounds affect millions of people annually; these numbers are rapidly growing worldwide owing to the increase in the aging population and a sharp
Slaughterhouses fungal burden assessment: A contribution for the pursuit of a better assessment strategy
Bioaerosols are comprised of airborne bacteria, fungi, viruses and their by – products, endotoxins and mycotoxins. Fungal spores are complex agents that may contain multiple hazardous components. Health hazards may differ across species and strains because fungi
A surgical treatment for high blood pressure
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 70 million Americans are diagnosed with high blood pressure, also referred to as hypertension in the medical field. The majority of these individuals are not experiencing any symptoms
Tuning rapid brain response to rare emotional stimuli may calm down impulsivity
We may have experiences of doing something on impulse (e.g., impulse buying). Although impulsivity helps us to explore something new, and is important for establishing a prominent leadership to head up people in our communities. However, unusual
Active role of cell-derived microparticles in diabetes associated cardiovascular complications
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose (or hyperglycaemia) resulting from defects in insulin secretion from the pancreatic beta cells, insulin action, or both. The chronic hyperglycaemia produces disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and
G-quadruplexes: novel DNA structures controlling life from the beginning
The process by which a single cell, the zygote, becomes a fully formed organism has been a historic scientific enigma. Now we know that the information stored in the genes of the DNA is the responsible for
Temperament traits, and what are they based on
Families with two and more kids know that these children were different from the day they were born, and there is something biological, fundamental that makes them different. These biologically-based differences are called temperament. Temperament is not
A chirality change in XPC- and Sfi1-derived peptides affects their affinity for centrin
Centrins are small Ca2+-binding proteins that bind several cellular targets: XPC, Sfi1, Sac3, and transducin β. Thus, centrins are involved in several cellular processes, including centrosome division (Sfi1 protein), DNA repair (the recognition of UV-induced damage by
A psychology of globalized identities: Where are we headed, and why
Our social and psychological reality is increasingly shaped by globalization—the increasing interconnectedness of societies, economies, and cultures. Neither good nor bad, globalization contributes to global crises (e.g., rising inequality, climate change), but also provides many opportunities for
Particulate organics degradation and waste sludge minimization in complete solids retention activated sludge wastewater treatment plants
Activated sludge (AS) process has been widely applied for the treatment of wastewaters containing biodegradable substrates, such as organic compounds. It is based on the microbial utilization of biodegradable substrates that contain carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus. The
