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Gannon Suarez

Physicists build circuit that generates clean, limitless power from graphene: Researche... - 0 views

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    ""An energy-harvesting circuit based on graphene could be incorporated into a chip to provide clean, limitless, low-voltage power for small devices or sensors," said Paul Thibado, professor of physics and lead researcher in the discovery."
katherine-medina

Anti-Oxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Ginger in Health and Physical Activity:... - 1 views

  • the rhizome
  • Ginger has staring potential for treating a number of ailments including degenerative disorders (arthritis and rheumatism), digestive health (indigestion, constipation and ulcer), cardiovascular disorders (atherosclerosis and hypertension), vomiting, diabetes mellitus, and cancer.
    • katherine-medina
       
      It has the potential for it, so there may not be many studies on these different things that ginger can supposedly do. So it makes me Infinitely more curious to look and see if there are other studies that actually have information about these said claims.
  • Furthermore, it has antimicrobial potential as well which can help in treating infectious diseases.[2
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  • The bioactive molecules of ginger like gingerols have shown antioxidant activity in various modules
  • Inflammatory disorders such as gastritis, esophagitis, and hepatitis, which are caused not only by infectious agents such as viruses, bacteria, and parasites but also by physical and chemical agents like heat, acid, cigarette smoke, and foreign bodies, are recognized as risk factors for human cancer
  • This study aimed to review the current evidence on ginger effects as an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative.
  • es.[2
  • 6-Shogaol has exhibited the most potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in ginger, which can be attributed to the presence of alpha, beta-unsaturated ketone moiety
  • Furthermore, feeding ginger to rats at 1% w/w during administration of malathion
    • katherine-medina
       
      Wow, so they fed the rats pesticides than ginger
  • so it can possibly value in treatment of Parkinson's disease.[17]
    • katherine-medina
       
      Really cool
  • This effect was improved by a treatment with 1% dietary ginger 1 month in rats which suggest that ginger may have protective role against the ethanol induced hepatotoxicity.
  • could be useful in preventing acute liver injury
  • Habib et al. showed that ginger extract can reduce the elevated expression of NFκB and TNF-α in rats with liver cancer
  • howed that gingerols can inhibit LPS-induced COX-2 expression while shogaol containing extracts has no effect on COX-2 expression
  • Ginger and its bioactive molecules are effective in controlling the extent of colorectal, gastric, ovarian, liver, skin, breast, and prostate cancers
    • katherine-medina
       
      Wow it can do a lot.
  • They observed that [6]-gingerol inhibits TRAIL-induced NF-κB activation by impairing the nuclear translocation of NF-κB, suppresses cIAP1 expression, and increases TRAIL-induced caspase-3/7 activation
  • Inhibition of angiogenesis in the mouse skin is the mechanism of ginger for treating of skin cancer.
  • However, ginger significantly lowered blood glucose, serum total cholesterol, LDL, VLDL, and triglycerides, and raised HDL in hyperglycemic rats, in models that are diabetic, deficient in the apolipoprotein E gene or those that have been fed a high lipid diet.
  • ethanolic extract of ginger reduced body weights and levels of glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, free fatty acids, and phospholipids in high-fat diets.
  • CONCLUSIONS
    • katherine-medina
       
      Overall a good synopsis on what ginger can do.
Sean Nash

Low-dose radiation from A-bombs elongated lifespan and reduced cancer mortality relativ... - 1 views

  • individuals
    • Sean Nash
       
      These "individuals" could just as easily be plants of lower invertebrates (as model organisms at this level). This is fascinating to me. There is no doubt that we would be limited in our ability to work with ionizing radiation, but that's not to say a project couldn't be developed along these lines. I never cease to be amazed at what a motivated student can resourcefully come up with when their passion for a particular line of research is so high.
Hannah Herrera

Space travel alters gene expression in white blood cells, weakening our immune system -... - 1 views

  • Space travel alters gene expression in white blood cells, weakening our immune system
    • Hannah Herrera
       
      very interesting article, there is a conclusion with insights to this underlining issue in the "read original paper" link in red. I overall think its a ear pricking issue that has yet to be solve or given the clear conclusion as to why it happens in the first place.
  • pre-flight strength: the length of this period is likely to depend on age, sex, genetic differences, and childhood exposure to pathogens.
  • These observations suggest that our immune system might be weakened by space travel.
    • Hannah Herrera
       
      could it have a possible connection with the strong gravitational pull while actually going up to space? (like the continuing feeling of a steep rollercoaster drop).
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  • change in gene expression of leukocytes under microgravity is triggered by ‘fluid shift’, where blood plasma is redistributed from the lower to the upper part of the body, including the lymphatic system. This causes a reduction in plasma volume by between 10% and 15% within the first few days in space. Fluid shift is known to be accompanied by large-scale physiological adaptations, apparently including altered gene expression.
Sean Nash

"I Wonder...": Reconnecting with Our Natural Curiosity - YouTube - 0 views

  • Reconnecting with Our Natural Curiosity
    • Sean Nash
       
      This is Caitlyn with the Society for Science (the group that sponsors the ISEF & RTS. I saw her give this talk in person last October. she gives some really good suggestions for reconnecting to the curiosity and wonder of your childhood. It is THIS skill that separates the typical student from the creative mind of a scientist. Will YOU try out any of her suggestions??
izzy kelly

Further link identified between autoimmunity and schizophrenia -- ScienceDaily - 0 views

  • Synaptic adhesion proteins are specialized proteins that bind to create physical connections between brain cells
  • utoantibodies against the synaptic protein neurexin 1α,
  • neurexin 1α can cause schizophrenia-related changes, at least in mice,
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  • which is expressed by one cell in the synapse and binds to proteins known as neuroligins on the other cell in the synapse,
  • autoantibodies is important for improving symptom control
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    autoantibodies that target neurexin 1a could possibly play a role in the development of schizophrenia. possible treatment with identifying autoantibodies
katherine-medina

IJMS | Free Full-Text | Antioxidant Versus Pro-Apoptotic Effects of Mushroom-Enriched D... - 0 views

  • In addition, the gut microbiota has also been described to be modulated by mushroom bioactive molecules, with implications in reducing liver inflammation during NAFLD progression.
  • non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
    • katherine-medina
       
      I like the abbreviation
  • NASH is currently the third most common indication for liver transplantation in the United States and accounts for 10% of all HCC cases in Europe
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  • The increase in nutrient availability causes systemic metabolic alterations that lead to an increase in hepatic mitochondrial respiration as well as changes in the mitochondrial lipid membrane composition.
  • They are also rich in phenolic acids, such as hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acid, flavonoids, tocopherols, ascorbic acid and carotenoids that are known for their antioxidant activity
    • katherine-medina
       
      They are high in polyphenols, just like I had thought, I do wonder if they have tried to single out a certain flavonoid or stilbene in order to determine whether or not it was the mechanism that caused the positive reaction.
  • Of note, indeed NAFLD patients present a “metabolic inflexibility”, that is, a reduced capacity to switch back from
    • katherine-medina
       
      I did not know that
  • The increased levels of β-oxidation seem to result in an increase in citrate within the mitochondrial matrix that can be transported to the cytosol via the citrate-malate shuttle and converted to acetyl-CoA and oxaloacetate by the enzyme ATP-citrate lyase [90,106]. Indeed, NAFLD patients present increased citrate levels in plasma
  • An alternative explanation for the deficient mitochondrial respiration might be the alterations in the mitochondria lipid composition, which are already present in steatosis.
  • As defined by mitohormesis, ROS production is physiological at low levels, acting as a crucial effector in proliferation, expression of antioxidant enzymes and insulin signalling. However, high levels of ROS formation causes oxidative stress and cell damage by reacting with its different components [90,114,115]. Oxidative stress occurs when the antioxidant capacity of the cell is not sufficient to neutralize the overproduction of ROS. ROS generation causes the peroxidation of phospholipids and cardiolipin at the mitochondrial membrane
  • All these mechanisms seem to be involved in the progression from NAFL to NASH. Indeed, NASH patients present increased ROS production, DNA damage, as measured by 8-Oxo-2’-deoxyguanosine (8OHdG) levels, and hepatic lipid peroxidation coupled with decreased expression of ETC Com
    • katherine-medina
       
      So essentially NASH patients have a higher level of ROS which damages their DNA. increase of ROS = DNA damage
  • In parallel, the negative regulation on the inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) mediated by the translocation of a series of IAP antagonists such as Smac, HTRA2/Omi and apoptosis-related protein in the TGF-ß signalling pathway (ARTS) to the cytosol, results in the release and activation of caspases
  • Aiming at weight loss, calorie-restricted diets and regular physical activity can improve hepatic mitochondria dysfunction by decreasing FFA liver input and alleviating oxidative stress.
  • New therapies need to be developed to target NAFLD and NASH,
    • katherine-medina
       
      Are there any new therapies to treat NASH and NAFLD
  • showed lipid metabolism-modulating properties in the liver
  • This may lead to a decrease in lipogenesis and a concomitant increase in β-oxidation that could explain the reduction in IHTG content [203]. Similarly, the supplementation with a 1% aqueous extract of A. cinnamomea for 8 weeks reduced the expression of leptin and increased the expression of adiponectin, which was accompanied by an increase of AMPK and PGC-1α and a reduced expression of ACC, FAS and SREBP
  • IHTG content that was similar to the positive control group, treated with rosiglitazone, a PPAR-agonist antidiabetic drug
    • katherine-medina
       
      Interesting, I wonder if there is more that can be done with this extract with these types of effects.
  • herefore, these studies suggest a pivotal capacity of mushroom extracts to counteract the detrimental oxidative damage of mitochondria in NAFLD.
  • which seems to exacerbate NASH. H2O2 over-production may open the mPTP, while its transmembrane diffusion to the cytoplasm may even result in highly detrimental OH• formation. [93,131,132]. In contrast, the capacity of mushroom extracts from species such as Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kumm. (oyster mushroom) or G. lucidum to elevate the entire antioxidant defence system of hepatocytes, seems a more promising therapeutic effect against the oxidative stress in NASH.
  • . Such evidence further supports the potential of G. lucidum extracts in reversing mitochondrial dysfunction in NAFLD.
  • In this line of research, novel therapies aim to target apoptosis via mitochondria, using molecules that mimic BH3 proteins and disrupt the interactions of pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic proteins.
  • Both aqueous and ethanol extracts, or isolated compounds (GL22 from Ganoderma leucocontextum T.H Li, W.Q. Deng, Dong M. Wang & H.P. Hu) increased the pro-apoptotic Bax to anti-apoptotic Bcl-2/Bcl-xL ratio
  • The antitumorigenic effects of mushroom extracts and isolated compounds have also been demonstrated in in-vivo xenograft models, resulting in tumour size reduction and increased animal survival rates (Table 2). Furthermore, in the HCC Huh7 xenograft mice model, fatty acid binding proteins
  • Therefore, the mechanisms by which mushroom extracts or isolated compounds induce mitochondrial-related apoptosis pathways are diverse and may be related with specific bioactive compounds. Modulation of pathways crucial for cell survival and alterations in lipid homeostasis seem to be related with the pro-apoptotic effects observed in HCC cell lines and in in-vivo xenograft models.
    • katherine-medina
       
      Cool
  • To sum up, mitochondria play a central role in the pathophysiology and progression of NAFLD as well as in the development of HCC, which can be a late-stage consequence of NASH. Hepatic mitochondria undergo bioenergetic remodelling to face the metabolic burden imposed by the increased FFAs load secondary to systemic IR. In turn, a decompensation of these processes may result in ROS formation and mitochondrial dysfunction, contributing to the development of NASH. Lastly, hepatic mitochondria also seem to be involved in anti-apoptotic oncogenic processes driving HCC. Targeting mitochondrial dysfunction is thus a promising approach for the treatment of the NAFLD continuum. The following section describes some of the in-vitro and in-vivo studies on the beneficial effects of mushroom-enriched diets or mushroom-derived compounds/extracts (Box 2) in preventing/reverting such liver damage.
  • This distinct property of mushroom-based therapy or -containing diet is especially relevant in the multifactorial context of NAFLD and especially NASH, where systemic synergistic metabolic alterations need to be addressed.
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    An article detailing a bit of the effects that mushrooms can have on the liver's mitochondrial cells.
katherine-medina

Marine Drugs | Free Full-Text | Microalgae Photo-Protectants and Related Bio-Carriers L... - 0 views

shared by katherine-medina on 14 Sep 23 - No Cached
Sean Nash liked it
  • This review focuses on the use of these microalgae compounds obtained by UV stimulation and takes advantage of their natural UV-resistant characteristics to potentially apply them as an alternative for UV protection products.
    • katherine-medina
       
      Can I put this on a plant in order to mitigate heat damage?
  • pproximately 90–99% of the solar UV radiation energy that reaches the Earth’s surface is UV-A
  • whereas only 1–10% is UV-B [4]. Both UV-A and UV-B are responsible for one of the biggest concerns related to UV radiation, which is skin cancer
  • ...28 more annotations...
  • The mechanisms leading to skin damage are not fully understood and may derive from the generation of ROS and subsequent lipid peroxidation
  • To prevent photodamage, organisms have evolved to provide biochemical and physical defenses to UV by synthesizing robust bioactive compounds
  • Some algae species synthesize substances with chemical structures that can absorb UV radiation as well as inhibit actions on melanin synthesis
    • katherine-medina
       
      Which algaes
  • Microalgae can produce organic metabolites, such as sporopollenin, scytonemin, and MAAs to mention a few, and these metabolites have the purpose to protect the microalgae from UV radiation while allowing visible radiation involved in photosynthesis to pass through
  • two marine microalgae Pavlova lutheri, currently known as Diacronema lutheri, and Odontella aurita
    • katherine-medina
       
      After I get through the other ones I will get to you my pretty
  • UV-Resistant Microalgae
  • Marine organisms, including eukaryotic microalgae and cyanobacteria, during evolution, have developed physiological and biochemical traits for defense and/or tolerance to UV rays
    • katherine-medina
       
      Come back to this part
  • This research also mentioned the Antarctic microalgae Chaetoceros dichaeta, Phaeocystis antarctica, and Polarella glacialis, these were subjected to acclimation to photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and showed resistance to UV-B rays.
  • It was found that the tolerant species contained substantial amounts of acetolysis-resistant residue
  • So far, several species, e.g., Coelastrella rubescens, Coelastrella terestris, Enallax coelastroides, Scotiella chlorelloidea, Ankistrodesmus spiralis, Chlorella minutissima, Chlorella sorokiniana, and Pseudococcomyxa sp. have been reported as rich sources of MAAs
  • They are abundant in various aquatic and terrestrial environments and are known for being eco-sustainable compounds since they are the outcome of the evolution of algae. Unlike their synthetic counterparts used unconventional sunscreens, there are no possibilities for pollution caused by them [22]. Thus, algal metabolites shape the safety and sustainability profiles of commercial sunscreens [22].
    • katherine-medina
       
      How long can the algae last on the skin or leaf of a plant
  • The results obtained point out different resistance and defense mechanisms of the four microalgae in response to UV-B irradiance and suggest that the strain of Nostoc sp. tested is the most suitable for surviving under the high UV irradiation [33]
  • Certain microalgae produce organic metabolites, such as sporopollenin, scytonemin, and MAAs as well as other UV-absorbing substances to counteract the harmful effects of UV radiation and protect themselves while allowing visible radiation involved in photosynthesis to pass through
  • The best known photoprotective response in marine organisms is the production or accumulation of UV-absorbing compounds, including MAAs as the most common compounds with such properties, but there are also others, such as scytonemin, carotenoids, alganean, and various secondary metabolites
    • katherine-medina
       
      photoprootective means protecting the skin
  • f low molecular weight, commonly found in marine environments. These compounds have absorption maxima in the UV region between 310 and 360 nm, they can dissipate radiation as heat without producing ROS. Under fixed light, MAA biosynthesis seems the most effective photoprotective mechanism
  • For these reasons, they potentially can prevent UV-induced skin damage
  • It was reported that species of microalgae that were highly tolerant to UV radiation had substantial amounts of sporopollenin. This compound functions as an antimicrobial agent, confers rigidness to the cell wall, and may further protect from UV rays by increasing the optical density, whereas species containing little or no sporopollenin were highly UV radiation susceptible
  • However, the potential of microalgae as topical photoprotectants has not been fully exploited, since there are not a lot of studies regarding this application.
  • Other reports determine that scytonemin is suspected to be synthesized from metabolites of aromatic amino acid biosynthesis
    • katherine-medina
       
      No set decision on how it is created
  • Alginate is a
  • ydration
  • However, some microalgae have a great ability to overcome or counteract different stresses such as intense solar UV radiation, this has been happening over the years and with the evolution of microalgae, some examples of defense and/or tolerance mechanisms are: DNA repair, synthesis of antioxidants, and enzymatic/non-enzymatic compounds, such as MAAs and scytonemin to counteract the harmful effects of UV radiation
  • Scytonemin is a yellow-brown lipid soluble sheath pigment that absorbs maximally in the UV-A and UV-C regions, but with some absorbance in the UV-B region. It has an in vivo absorption maximum of 370 nm.
  • tigate UV damage induced.
  • photosensitizers, their antioxidant
  • V
  • ed.
  • t
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    A recent article showing the potential use of microalgae as a sunscreen.
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    Yes..... let's chat this one out!
Sean Nash

SciDraw | Scientific Drawings - 0 views

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    This is a great source for constructing diagrams you will need for your display, presentation, & manuscript
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