Category Archives: Research
Urbanization facilitates migration of the human health pest, Western black widow spider
By 2050, more than half of the global human population is expected to live in urban areas. As these urban areas rapidly grow, they replace some of our most pristine habitats. One effect that urbanization has is
Virtual unrolling of damaged historic scrolls from X-ray micro-tomography scans
For many years there has been limited success in extracting the contents of historical parchments that are so badly damaged by fire, water, etc. that they cannot be opened or unrolled without causing further damage, meaning that
Suicide and drug overdose mortality in Australian young males as a socioeconomic malady
When mortality trends in Australian young adult (20–34 year) males are analysed over 1979–2011, some interesting features emerge. First, a decline in motor vehicle accident mortality by half between 1980 and 1998 did not translate into reduced
Future trends in high-resolution 3D visualization of individualized neurons in whole tissues using Synchrotron-based X-ray microtomography: a new world to be explored
The understanding of neuron cells as individualized entities has its beginning in the 19th century as a result of the work developed by Santiago Ramon y Cajal on the basis of histological techniques developed by Camillo Golgi. These
Binge eating increases compulsivity through dopamine mechanisms in the oval bed nucleus of the stria terminalis
Binge eating is a common feature of disordered eating and the defining characteristic of binge eating disorder (BED), the most prevalent of all eating disorders. Binge eating, with or without a psychiatric diagnosis, is a likely contributor
Alpha-amylases from stemborer pest caterpillars inform the Cotesia parasitoids on their suitability
Biological control, using parasitoids in particular, has received increased attention because this control method is cost effective and offers a management strategy that safeguards human health and the environment. Insect parasitoids are, in many cases, a significant
Multimodal sensory processing in Caenorhabditis elegans
During their lifetime, organisms need to adapt to the environment by evaluating and responding to numerous and diverse external cues. The nervous system senses these cues and integrates them, a process called multisensory integration. Research on sensory
Bessel-Bessel laser bullets: not that kind of bullet!
A light bullet produced by a powerful laser system, and a metallic bullet fired from a real gun, have at least one sure thing in common: they both may cause real damage to objects and people. But
Developmental origins of aging trajectory
Traditionally, gerontological research is focused on later stages of life cycle. Accumulating evidence, however, suggests that the rate of aging-associated functional decline (senescence) as well as the risk for chronic pathological conditions can originate early in life.
Predictive safety assessment of engineered nanomaterials
With the rapid development and numerous applications of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) in science and technology, their impact on environmental health and safety should be considered carefully. This requires an effective platform to investigate the potential adverse effects
3D-printed artificial intelligence running at the speed of light – from object classification to optical component design
Deep learning is one of the fastest-growing machine learning methods that relies on multi-layered artificial neural networks. Traditionally, deep learning systems are implemented to be executed on a computer to digitally learn data representation and abstraction, and
Myocardium contractility: effects of subchronic lead intoxication in rats
A moderate subchronic lead intoxication was observed in outbred male rats after repeated intraperitoneal injections of lead acetate during 5 weeks. Half of so exposed and control rats where given a calcium preparation with fodder. The next
Plasma CTSD activity: a non-invasive biomarker for hepatic insulin sensitivity
Due to the obesity epidemic, the incidence and prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus continues to rise globally. Type 2 diabetes is characterised by a relative insulin deficiency and an impaired insulin sensitivity in certain specific target organs. Insulin sensitivity can
Should we think that neem gum polysaccharide and their semi-synthetic derivatives can be utilized as carrier for nanoformulation
One of the major concerns related to the newly synthesized drug is poor water solubility, which seems to be a major concern for the pharmaceutical manufacturer and also a rate limiting step in the bioavailability. In this
Early detected Minamata disease victims were the tip of a large iceberg
The Chisso Company began discharging contaminated wastewater into the sea at Minamata in 1932. Twenty-four years later, in 1956, some inhabitants were found with acute, severe, profound neurological disorders, including not only sensory disturbances but also walking,
Truncation: A possible mechanism for diversity in Alpha-synuclein prion-like properties
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the most common neurodegenerative movement disorder, which is characterized by motor disturbances such as tremor and bradykinesia resulting from severe degeneration of nigral dopaminergic neurons. The pathological hallmark of PD is the presence
Using controlled disorder to probe coexisting quantum orders in NbSe2 superconductor
Many pure elements and complex compounds become superconducting when their electrical resistance drops to zero below critical temperature, Tc. For more than a century, the race for higher Tc remains one of the most exciting topics in
Educational hospitalization for ulcerative colitis: relapse prevention by plant-based diet
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a collective term for ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD). IBD is no longer a disease mainly seen in Europe and North America and is now a global disease. The disease
Erythropoietin can improve urethral healing
The most important problem of urethral wound healing is an increase in abnormal fibrosis because of imbalances in the healing processes. Healing of traumatic or idiopathic wounds in the urethra is known to be complicated and a longer process
Ca2+ dynamics and allosterism in synergistic action between Beta2-adrenergic agonists and muscarinic antagonists
G proteins (Gs, Gi)/large conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (KCa) channels/L-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ (VDC) channels linkage (Ca2+ dynamics) may play key roles in β2-adrenergic relaxation and muscarinic contraction in the airways. β2-Adrenergic receptor agonists and muscarinic receptor antagonists are
