Category Archives: Research
Metallic iron for environmental remediation: A textbook message
The german word for science is “Wissenschaft” and can be word-wisely translated as „knowledge creation“. Knowledge is created by observing and understanding the nature. Once a natural process is understood, the conditions for its reproduction can be
Functional role of dissolved oxygen as TEA – Towards treatment of multiple pollutants
Domestic or industrial effluents need appropriate treatment prior to discharge into the ecosystem. Physicochemical processes have been commonly used for the treatment of wastewater. Alternatively, biological processes are considered to be advantageous and sustainable in comparison to the
Refuge women’s resettlement in western countries
Global movement has become a fashionable phenomenon. While some decide to migrate voluntarily, others cross borders in haste to settle down in safe countries. Recent worldwide conflicts including war, political conflicts, and economic crisis speeded up the
Immunological disturbances observed in chronic alcoholism
Alcoholism is a complex behavioral disorder characterized by the loss of control over alcohol consumption often involving other drug abuse with a relapsing and remitting course leading to significant impairment. Chronic alcohol use and alcoholism damages many
Transcription factor information system: A tool for detection of transcription factor binding sites
Transcription Factors are proteins those bind to DNA at specific sites (Transcription Factor Binding Sites or TFBSs) and control the gene expression. Hence identifying these TFBSs in DNA is important to understand the mechanism that regulates gene
Out-of-date statistics and traditional healers
It has been widely documented in the scientific literature, official fact sheets, reports and the press, that 80% of people in Asian and African countries (or sometimes: 80% of the world’s population) use traditional medicine practitioners to
The blood is Newtonian in LDL deposition through artery walls
The formation of an atherosclerotic plaque causes various cardiovascular diseases, such as a heart attack. In this process, the Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) has a main role, since it infiltrates in the artery wall and promotes the process,
Top on patient safety list: Do not turn off that beep
Patients in intensive care units (ICUs) are constantly connected to beside monitors for close monitoring of physiologic functions. These monitors are equipped with alarms to notify the healthcare team of changes in the patient medical condition or
Stroke mimics: Why we need to consider changing the protocol for stroke treatment
Stroke-like symptoms are not always what they seem. Certain disorders can mimic stroke symptoms, leading to the misdiagnosis of ischemic stroke in up to 19% of patients. Mistaking these stroke mimics with an actual stroke can have disastrous
Irrigation of Mediterranean dry farmland impacts weed comunities
Ancha es Castilla (Wide is Castile), a popular saying that perfectly describes the vast landscapes of the land of Don Quixote. Castile, the central plateau of the Iberian Peninsula, is roughly a continuous succession of cereal fields,
Pericardial diseases – a brief review of the main syndromes
In the era of evidence-based medicine the extent of data from clinical trials and basic research is expanding constantly, and in order to assist a physician in clinical decision making, a set of recommendations in the particular
An innovative forensic “clock” for determining the time of a crime
Determining the time since deposition, or age, of bloodstains found at crime scenes is a highly important and integral part of forensic investigations. Knowing this crucial information can help forensic investigators determine the order of events and
Different morphs for different seasons: Seasonality of an insect invader
The Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD), a cousin of the widely-studied model organism Drosophila melanogaster, is a devastating pest of fruit crops such as strawberries, cherries, blueberries, and blackberries. SWD females lay their eggs inside of fresh fruit,
Surprisingly diverse impacts of SMARCB1 loss on gene expression programs in a lethal pediatric cancer
Malignant rhabdoid tumors (MRTs) are aggressive childhood cancers that are often resistant to chemotherapies and spread to other areas in the body (metastasis), making them one of the most lethal solid cancers known. Primary MRTs are frequently
Zinc homeostasis in myeloid cells is regulated by epigenetic mechanisms
Zinc is an essential trace element with integral roles in numerous biological processes, including enzymatic function, protein structure, and cell signaling pathways. This metal serves as a catalytic or structural cofactor for about 300 different proteins. Abnormal
Are Irish therapists at increased risk of low back pain? – Comparison with national working population
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) is a broad term used to describe a number of inflammatory and degenerative conditions of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, nerves and supporting blood vessels. They affect the upper limbs, lower limbs and the
Inhibitors that reduce the acquisition of antibiotic resistance
The rapid emergence of antibiotic resistance is a worldwide crisis, endangering the efficacy of antibiotic treatment. A recent article in Scientific America (December 16, 2014) highlights the importance of developing strategies for reducing antibiotic resistance and prolonging
Simultaneous integrated analysis of biological datasets: an evaluation of O2PLS
The rapid progress in high throughput technology made it possible to measure biological processes at several levels: DNA markers (genetic code), gene expression (which represents the process of reading the code of a gene), proteomics (proteins are
Your DNA goes places you have never been: What does this mean for forensic scientists interpreting DNA found at a crime scene?
During a criminal investigation, items are commonly examined for DNA to try to identify a potential suspect (Fig. 1). But is this DNA really from someone involved in the crime or has it got there through innocent
Early-onset Alzheimer disease: what are we missing?
Memory is the first brain function that starts to fade away when Alzheimer disease (AD) pathology affects the brain of a patient. Decline of additional cognitive functions, shortly follows. This progressive and irreversible disease, intrudes the life
