Category Archives: Research
Quantum breaking of ergodicity in adiabatic electron transfer
The problem of ergodic vs. non-ergodic behavior alludes, generally speaking, to the following question: Can we deduce from a collective behavior of a large ensemble of noninteracting identical entities statistical properties of single individual objects entering this
The mechanisms of MCP-1 production in tumor microenvironments: Tumor cells are not home alone
When you look at tumors, you may think they are composed of 100% tumor cells. The fact is that tumor tissues contain not only tumor cells but also a variety of non-tumor stromal cells, including fibroblasts, endothelial
A “Cool” way to study Parkinson´s Disease
The Big Bang Theory left us amazed about how Leonard was able to bring back a snowflake embedded in resin from the North Pole to give to Penny. The reality is that this concept is not so
How carbon monoxide interacts with the rutile titania surface?
Carbon monoxide (CO) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) are among the most studied probe molecules and metal oxide single crystalline supports in surface science, respectively. The variations in the adsorption infrared or ultraviolet-visible spectra of CO have been
Tapeworm-related cutaneous larva migrans is caused by a cysteine protease from the larvae themselves
The parasitic disease sparganosis is a form of cutaneous larva migrans and caused by larval tapeworms of the genus Spirometra. The life cycle of Spirometra includes two intermediate hosts, and adult worms parasitize the intestines of carnivorous
Coordination of DNA transcription and DNA replication by the DNA damage response through the Ddx19 RNA helicase
DNA transcription is a fundamental cellular process that allows gene expression through generation of messenger RNA molecules (mRNA) that are then translated into proteins in the cytoplasm of the cell. However when cells proliferate, another key cellular
Overcome obstacles in the treatment of scarred kidneys
More than 10% of the world’s population suffer from chronic kidney disease (CKD), a serious disorder that leads to a prominent reduction in quality of life and might end fatally. Independent of its initial cause, virtually all
Visualizing transcription factor dynamics, one molecule at a time
In a multicellular organism, each cell type expresses only a subset of genes encoded in the genome. Moreover, hundreds of genes can be regulated by external stimuli. This complex regulation is mediated by proteins called transcription factors.
Performing physiology outreach
Traveling to Australia and seeing its beautiful landscapes, friendly people, and exotic wildlife is a wonderful experience that creates lifelong memories. In 2015, I received a summer fellowship from my university which allowed me to make the
The road to new aortic valve disease treatment: Innovations in 3D models and drug delivery
Calcific Aortic Valve Disease (CAVD) resulting in aortic stenosis is a common heart disease that affects 25% of people over 65 years old, causing 17,000 deaths per year in the USA. The aortic valve regulates blood flow
What we know of evolution of the pelvis and walking upright
As children grow, the shape of the spine slowly changes from a C-shape in a newborn into a double-S-shape during adulthood. In the field of medicine, research has shown that the exact shape of this double-S is
Antibacterial substrate for wound dressing from waste products
It is now or never that we make use of our generated waste to produce valuable products. In this way, we can have closed loop recycling systems that can boost our economy. Chitin is a waste product
HspB1, a polypeptide sensor whose structure reacts to changes in the physiology and environment of the cell
The small heat shock protein HspB1 acts as an ATP-independent chaperone helping cells to cope with stress-induced aberrantly folded polypeptides. Other interesting properties of HspB1 are its constitutive expression in many unstressed human cells and its up
Vertebral asymmetry of the scoliotic spine
Scoliosis is a three-dimensional (3D) deformity of the spine, including lateral deviation in the coronal plane, as well as deformations in the sagittal plane and vertebral rotation in the transverse plane. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is the
A novel synthetic approach to alternating peptides
Polypeptide with a repeating sequence has attracted particular attention as a promising candidate of innovative structural materials. Fibrous proteins such as fibroin, collagen, and elastin are the representative class among natural polypeptides with specific repeating sequence. For
IQ differences between right-handers and left-handers are negligible
How can we best approach the question of IQ differences between left-handers and right-handers? As with any scientific question, one should look at the scientific literature. Only there is an issue: when trying combinations of words, such
Effect of alpha-fetoprotein on lifespan of old mice
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is one of the best-known embryo-specific proteins. It is primarily known as an oncomarker for tumors of the liver and gastrointestinal tract, but its antitumor effects have also been shown. AFP is the prevention of
Computational topology for biomedical image segmentation in pathomics
Topology concerns the study of fundamental and intrinsic properties of spaces which are invariant to continuous deformations, extrinsic evaluations or changes in magnitude e.g. scale, shape, distance, intensity, etc. Topology became an influential field of research by
Managing diabetes with 3D nanostructured
Researchers have synthesized a sensitive nanosensor that can monitor the blood glucose levels though glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) detection. HbA1c monitoring is very useful for patients suffering from Diabetes which provide patients to plan for their quantity and
Pregnant women exposed to extreme temperatures relative to their usual environment may be at increased risk for having smaller babies
Common environmental factors such as extreme ambient temperatures and air pollution are known to increase the risk of many serious health problems including stroke, heart attack, asthma, and lung cancer. More recently, there is also evidence suggesting
