Category Archives: Research
Towards photovoltaics on curtains
Development of various devices for consumption of solar energy offers a range of new possibilities for a customer. When I imagine how we can collect solar energy, the first impression is a massive barrel on the roof
Characterization of the cell surface receptor GPR101: a molecular biology detective work
What did we know about GPR101 until a couple of years ago? Very little. The human gene was discovered in 2001, found to be located on chromosome X, and predicted to encode a seven-transmembrane receptor. In the
Can prolonged exposure to cortisol excess have an irreversible effect on emotion-related brain areas?
Cortisol is a hormone produced in humans by adrenal glands and it is necessary to live. In healthy people, cortisol level naturally increases in response to stressful situations, but when cortisol level in the body is too
‘Uberizing’ home care in Ontario
A strong home and community care system can contribute considerably to a sustainable healthcare system and to improving patient care, reducing healthcare system costs, decreasing lengths of hospital stays and shortening wait lists for long-term care. Unlocking
The effectiveness of the cuticular transpiration barrier of a desert plant
The efficient control of water loss from plant organs to the atmosphere is essential to enable plant survival. The water loss regulation mainly occurs via the stomata, small adjustable apertures controlling the gas exchange. Drought induces stomatal
An RNA degradative enzyme that stimulates breast cancer cells to move and invade
RNA degradative enzymes carry out key steps in regulating gene expression. They are broadly grouped into two groups; exonucleases, that degrade RNA from one end and endonucleases, which cut within the body of an RNA molecule. PMR1
A new trehalose-conjugated peptide protects neurons from Aβ’s oligomers insult
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is by far the most common cause of dementia affecting more than 35 million people worldwide. AD is characterized by memory loss, dramatic impairment of cognitive skills, and progressive body and mind decline ultimately
Antireductants – essential counterparts of antioxidants
The hype around ‘antioxidants for health’ largely overshadows the existence of antireductants. While antioxidants by definition decrease oxidative stress, antireductants decrease reductive stress (Fig. 1). Despite opposite reactivities, antioxidants and antireductants have in common that they are
A detection and reporting health system of occupational diseases
The Valencian Community in Spain has a system of communication of suspicions of occupational diseases (OD) developed by the General Public Health of Universal Health and Public Health Department, based on the current schedule of occupational diseases
Infections erode transplantation tolerance
Organ transplantation is an effective means of treating patients with organ failure, but rejection of the graft remains a major challenge. The life-long use of immunosuppressants needed to prevent rejection makes transplant recipients more susceptible to infections
Why are all button mushroom cultivars similar?
Button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) are very popular edible mushrooms. However, for such an important crop only few genetically different cultivars are available. One of the main reasons for this is the unique way in which the genetic
Prolonged survival with quality of life can come true by using low-dose pazopanib maintenance
Currently, pazopanib is used as a second- or third-line adjuvant chemotherapeutic in patients with soft tissue sarcoma, given at a fixed dose of 800 mg once a day. However, pazopanib has many side effects, and there is
Interaction of ZnO nanoparticle with biological system
Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are one of the few nanoparticles synthesised industrially. This nanoparticle possesses a broad spectrum of application in rubber industry, optoelectronics, biomedical sector and pharmaceutics. With extensive applications the exposure risk also increases
Management of apathy in the long-term care setting
Management of apathy is a very important issue in the long-term care because many residents with neurodegenerative disorders suffer from this syndrome. In Alzheimer’s disease, apathy is the most common behavioral syndrome and may occur already in
Understanding Schwann cells: new insights into the developing peripheral nervous system
Our study focuses on signals that control the development and function of Schwann cells, which are glial cells that reside in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Schwann cells sort axons, surround the axons and form a myelin
Feeding bacteria inhabiting oil reservoirs may enhance oil production
Bacteria live in oil reservoirs and eat the oil. Some of them are known to produce surface active molecules (biosurfactants), which act as detergents. Biosurfactants may help produce more oil through breaking globs of oil trapped in
Functional transcranial Doppler ultrasonography in the study of central sensitization to pain in fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia syndrome ( FMS ) is a chronic disease characterized by persistent and widespread musculoskeletal pain in addition to symptoms like depression, fatigue, sleep disturbance and impaired mental performance. The etiology and pathophysiology of FMS remain to
A new representation of the nervous system: the hypermatrix
It is a big challenge to develop the most appropriate mathematical model to describe the electrical activity of different groups of neurons. There are more neurons in the nervous system (about 86 billion) than we have seconds
Ultrastructural and molecular characterization of Glugea serranus, a microsporidian parasite infecting the blacktail comber
Microsporidians ( phylum Microsporidia Balbiani, 1882 ) are unicellular organisms that develop as obligatory intracellular parasites in different animal hosts, particularly in arthropods and fish. To date, about 187 genera have been described, 21 of which parasitize
LEP patients and call light communication
In hospitals across the United States, call light systems are used for patients to communicate directly with their health care providers. Communicating needs with English-speaking health care providers is difficult for limited English proficiency (LEP) patients who
