Yearly Archives: 2016

Relationship quality and sleep

The quality of social relationships and social support appears to be associated with physical health outcomes and sleep quality. Almost all previous research in this area focuses on positive aspects of relationships. In addition to supportive relationships,

Diagnosis of small cell lung carcinoma metastases

Cancer is defined by unscheduled cellular growth and metastatic spread into other organs of the body. Tumor cells gain their capacities form genetic alterations, also known as mutations, leading to altered protein functions and signaling pathways. Tumors

Improved antibody selection with assisting plasmid

When the human body is invaded by foreign molecules, the immune system will be activated to fight against these intruders. This is done with the help of antibodies which act as the defence force of our body.

Origin of photosynthesis: Is photosynthetic ability present in Actinobacteria?

The origin of photosynthesis, which sustains most life on earth, by converting light energy from the sun into chemical energy for plants, animals and other organism, remains an important unresolved problem in the history of life. Besides

Treatments for peritoneal metastases for colorectal cancer

In a recent attempt to initiate a uniform standard of care for peritoneal metastases from colorectal cancer around the globe, the Peritoneal Surface Oncology Group International (PSOGI), at their biennial meeting, formulated international recommendations for the management

Citing in science

A common way to measure the quality of academic research is counting how frequently it is cited. Citation counts are used in making decisions, including hiring and promotion, awarding grants, evaluating academic departments, and purchasing journals. To

Unusual behavior of benzoic acid at low temperature

Molecules of benzoic acid form dimers in the crystal, which is doubly hydrogen bonded through the carboxylic COOH groups (Fig. 1.). Since the left and right site of the dimer are fully equivalent, the protons “do not

Valproic acid treatment for brain tumors

Tumors arising in the brain represent only 2% of all cancers diagnosed in the United States with 23,000 new cases and 14,000 deaths annually.  The World Health Organisation (WHO) classifies brain tumors from grade 1 to grade

Markers that predict treatment response to inhaled corticosteroids in children with asthma

Asthma is a common chronic condition caused by inflammation in the tubes that pass air in and out of the lungs.  When asthma is poorly controlled, children cannot breathe normally, cannot play and exercise, and may have

A brucellosis vaccine that provides sterile immunity

Brucellosis is a disease caused by infection with bacteria of the genus Brucella. Most of Brucella species are capable of infecting humans, and they are all considered zoonotic since different animals are their preferential hosts. Brucella ovis

Non-genetic health professionals’ perceptions of genetic testing for hereditary cancer

Over the last decade more genetic tests are being ordered by non-genetic health professionals, such as oncologists, gynecologists, and primary care providers. Numerous studies have shown that non-genetic health professionals have insufficient knowledge of genetics, express educational

Chemically exfoliated MoS2 on TiO2 mesocrystal with efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Over the past decades, the rapid depletion of fossil fuels and serious environmental pollution were started to strongly affect the modern society. With concerning the deficiency of human energy and alleviating the environmental pollution, solar energy as

Could a newly-discovered bacteria contribute to cancer?

For many years, doctors and scientists have known that certain viruses, such as human papilloma virus (HPV), are capable of causing cancer.  Until recently, bacteria were ignored as potential carcinogens.  This changed with the discovery that Helicobacter

The fate and influence of engineered nanoparticles in wastewater treatment plants

Engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) (intentionally created particles with one or more dimensions greater than 1 nanometer and less than 100 nanometers) are now used in consumer and industrial products. However, there are concerns surrounding their potential effects on

Why do obese individuals choose to be active?

Individuals with a body mass index (BMI) over 30 are labelled obese and urged to lose weight. This often includes encouraging physical activity, but most individuals who lose weight regain the weight they lost. Without weight loss,

Innovative tool, promise for treating Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative brain diseases

If at the dawn of the twentieth century, Alzheimer’s disease was seen as a rare disease, but today the incidence of this disease has taken epidemic proportions and is treated as one of the diseases of civilization.

Smaller cut, same result

The mitral valve is one of the four cardiac valves. It sits in the left side of the heart where it serves to prevent backflow of blood from the pumping chamber of the heart (ventricle) and the

Parenting and social competence in school: the role of preadolescents’ personality

This study of 230 preadolescent students (mean age 11.3 years) from the wider area of Athens, Greece, examined the role of personality in the relation between parenting dimensions and social competence in school. Social competence was defined

Focusing on non-tumor-derived factors for leukemia therapy

Approximately 10-20 million people worldwide are estimated to be infected with human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I), and 1-3% of HTLV-I-infected individuals develop a cancer of CD4+ T lymphocytes in the blood each year.  The retrovirus-associated

Rapid detection of cocaine in fingerprints using ambient mass spectrometry

Fingerprint residues, commonly referred to as fingerprints, are the result of an accumulation of sweat at the fingertips which is transferred to any surface upon contact. The composition of the fingerprint residue is therefore dependant on the