Raman spectroscopy can be used to measure the chemical composition of a sample, which can in turn be used to extract biological information. Many materials have characteristic Raman spectra, which ...means that Raman spectroscopy has proven to be an effective analytical approach in geology, semiconductor, materials and polymer science fields. The application of Raman spectroscopy and microscopy within biology is rapidly increasing because it can provide chemical and compositional information, but it does not typically suffer from interference from water molecules. Analysis does not conventionally require extensive sample preparation; biochemical and structural information can usually be obtained without labeling. In this protocol, we aim to standardize and bring together multiple experimental approaches from key leaders in the field for obtaining Raman spectra using a microspectrometer. As examples of the range of biological samples that can be analyzed, we provide instructions for acquiring Raman spectra, maps and images for fresh plant tissue, formalin-fixed and fresh frozen mammalian tissue, fixed cells and biofluids. We explore a robust approach for sample preparation, instrumentation, acquisition parameters and data processing. By using this approach, we expect that a typical Raman experiment can be performed by a nonspecialist user to generate high-quality data for biological materials analysis.
The direct targets of extremely low and microwave frequency range electromagnetic fields (EMFs) in producing non‐thermal effects have not been clearly established. However, studies in the literature, ...reviewed here, provide substantial support for such direct targets. Twenty‐three studies have shown that voltage‐gated calcium channels (VGCCs) produce these and other EMF effects, such that the L‐type or other VGCC blockers block or greatly lower diverse EMF effects. Furthermore, the voltage‐gated properties of these channels may provide biophysically plausible mechanisms for EMF biological effects. Downstream responses of such EMF exposures may be mediated through Ca2+/calmodulin stimulation of nitric oxide synthesis. Potentially, physiological/therapeutic responses may be largely as a result of nitric oxide‐cGMP‐protein kinase G pathway stimulation. A well‐studied example of such an apparent therapeutic response, EMF stimulation of bone growth, appears to work along this pathway. However, pathophysiological responses to EMFs may be as a result of nitric oxide‐peroxynitrite‐oxidative stress pathway of action. A single such well‐documented example, EMF induction of DNA single‐strand breaks in cells, as measured by alkaline comet assays, is reviewed here. Such single‐strand breaks are known to be produced through the action of this pathway. Data on the mechanism of EMF induction of such breaks are limited; what data are available support this proposed mechanism. Other Ca2+‐mediated regulatory changes, independent of nitric oxide, may also have roles. This article reviews, then, a substantially supported set of targets, VGCCs, whose stimulation produces non‐thermal EMF responses by humans/higher animals with downstream effects involving Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent nitric oxide increases, which may explain therapeutic and pathophysiological effects.
•Three main schistosomiasis species can infect humans; S. haematobium, S. japonicum, and S. mansoni.•The parasites life cycle includes two kind of reproduction; asexual reproduction in snails and ...sexual reproduction in mammals.•Multiple diagnostic techniques are used.•Currently praziquantel is the only drug therapy approved for control of schistosomiasis but other promising candidate drugs (e.g. SpAE, and ruthenium compounds) are being tested.•A number of vaccine candidates exist including SmCB1, SjAChE, and SmCB.•Genetic manipulations are being investigated.
Human schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by blood-worms that infect multiple organs, including the liver, intestine, bladder, and urethra. This disease may be eliminated with Praziquantel, vaccines, and gene therapy.
In this review, the author describes the progress in a study of schistosomiasis that focused on the life cycle, diagnosis, and control.
The author searched the PubMed Database at NCBI for articles on schistosomiasis published between 2014 and 2018. All articles were open access and in English.
The life cycle of this parasites involve two hosts: snails and mammals. Manifestations of schistosomiasis can be acute or chronic. Clinical manifestations of acute schistosomiasis can include fever and headache. Symptoms of chronic infections can include dysuria and hyperplasia. Infection can occur in several sites including the bile ducts, intestine, and bladder. The different sites of infection and symptoms seen are related to which of the species involved. Five species can infect humans. The three most commons are S. haematobium, S. japonicum, and S. mansoni. Detection tools for people with schistosomiasis can include the Kato-Katz and PCR. Praziquantel is at present the only effective treatment of this disease. In the future, vaccination or gene therapy may be used.
Kato-Katz and PCR are tools for detecting schistosomiasis on humans. Praziquantel, diagnosis, vaccines, and gene therapy are useful methods for eliminating schistosomiasis.
MUC16 (the cancer antigen CA125) is the most commonly used serum biomarker in epithelial ovarian cancer, with increasing levels reflecting disease progression. It is a transmembrane glycoprotein with ...multiple isoforms, undergoing significant changes through the metastatic process. Aberrant glycosylation and cleavage with overexpression of a small membrane-bound fragment consist MUC16-related mechanisms that enhance malignant potential. Even MUC16 knockdown can induce an aggressive phenotype but can also increase susceptibility to chemotherapy. Variable MUC16 functions help ovarian cancer cells avoid immune cytotoxicity, survive inside ascites and form metastases. This review provides a comprehensive insight into MUC16 transformations and interactions, with description of activated oncogenic signalling pathways, and adds new elements on the role of its differential glycosylation. By following the journey of the molecule from pre-malignant states to advanced stages of disease it demonstrates its behaviour, in relation to the phenotypic shifts and progression of ovarian cancer. Additionally, it presents proposed differences of MUC16 structure in normal/benign conditions and epithelial ovarian malignancy.
Organisms are continually exposed to exogenous and endogenous sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and other oxidants that have both beneficial and deleterious effects on the cell. ROS have ...important roles in a wide range of physiological processes; however, high ROS levels are associated with oxidative stress and disease progression. Oxidative stress has been implicated in nearly all major human diseases, from neurogenerative diseases and neuropsychiatric disorders to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. Antioxidant defence systems have evolved as a means of protection against oxidative stress, with the transcription factor Nrf2 as the key regulator. Nrf2 is responsible for regulating an extensive panel of antioxidant enzymes involved in the detoxification and elimination of oxidative stress and has been extensively studied in the disease contexts. This review aims to provide the reader with a general overview of oxidative stress and Nrf2, including basic mechanisms of Nrf2 activation and regulation, and implications in various major human diseases.
We tested special and general explanations of male adolescent sexual offending by conducting a meta-analysis of 59 independent studies comparing male adolescent sex offenders (
n
= 3,855) with male ...adolescent non-sex offenders (
n
= 13,393) on theoretically derived variables reflecting general delinquency risk factors (antisocial tendencies), childhood abuse, exposure to violence, family problems, interpersonal problems, sexuality, psychopathology, and cognitive abilities. The results did not support the notion that adolescent sexual offending can be parsimoniously explained as a simple manifestation of general antisocial tendencies. Adolescent sex offenders had much less extensive criminal histories, fewer antisocial peers, and fewer substance use problems compared with non-sex offenders. Special explanations suggesting a role for sexual abuse history, exposure to sexual violence, other abuse or neglect, social isolation, early exposure to sex or pornography, atypical sexual interests, anxiety, and low self-esteem received support. Explanations focusing on attitudes and beliefs about women or sexual offending, family communication problems or poor parent-child attachment, exposure to nonsexual violence, social incompetence, conventional sexual experience, and low intelligence were not supported. Ranked by effect size, the largest group difference was obtained for atypical sexual interests, followed by sexual abuse history, and, in turn, criminal history, antisocial associations, and substance abuse. We discuss the implications of the findings for theory development, as well as for the assessment, treatment, and prevention of adolescent sexual offending.
With climate change as prototype example, this paper analyzes the implications of structural uncertainty for the economics of low-probability, high-impact catastrophes. Even when updated by Bayesian ...learning, uncertain structural parameters induce a critical "tail fattening" of posterior-predictive distributions. Such fattened tails have strong implications for situations, like climate change, where a catastrophe is theoretically possible because prior knowledge cannot place sufficiently narrow bounds on overall damages. This paper shows that the economic consequences of fat-tailed structural uncertainty (along with unsureness about high-temperature damages) can readily outweigh the effects of discounting in climate-change policy analysis.
Repeated Wi-Fi studies show that Wi-Fi causes oxidative stress, sperm/testicular damage, neuropsychiatric effects including EEG changes, apoptosis, cellular DNA damage, endocrine changes, and calcium ...overload. Each of these effects are also caused by exposures to other microwave frequency EMFs, with each such effect being documented in from 10 to 16 reviews. Therefore, each of these seven EMF effects are established effects of Wi-Fi and of other microwave frequency EMFs. Each of these seven is also produced by downstream effects of the main action of such EMFs, voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) activation. While VGCC activation via EMF interaction with the VGCC voltage sensor seems to be the predominant mechanism of action of EMFs, other mechanisms appear to have minor roles. Minor roles include activation of other voltage-gated ion channels, calcium cyclotron resonance and the geomagnetic magnetoreception mechanism. Five properties of non-thermal EMF effects are discussed. These are that pulsed EMFs are, in most cases, more active than are non-pulsed EMFs; artificial EMFs are polarized and such polarized EMFs are much more active than non-polarized EMFs; dose-response curves are non-linear and non-monotone; EMF effects are often cumulative; and EMFs may impact young people more than adults. These general findings and data presented earlier on Wi-Fi effects were used to assess the Foster and Moulder (F&M) review of Wi-Fi. The F&M study claimed that there were seven important studies of Wi-Fi that each showed no effect. However, none of these were Wi-Fi studies, with each differing from genuine Wi-Fi in three distinct ways. F&M could, at most conclude that there was no statistically significant evidence of an effect. The tiny numbers studied in each of these seven F&M-linked studies show that each of them lack power to make any substantive conclusions. In conclusion, there are seven repeatedly found Wi-Fi effects which have also been shown to be caused by other similar EMF exposures. Each of the seven should be considered, therefore, as established effects of Wi-Fi.
•7 effects have each been repeatedly reported following Wi-Fi & other EMF exposures.•Established Wi-Fi effects, include apoptosis, oxidat. stress &:•testis/sperm dysfunct; Neuropsych; DNA impact; hormone change; Ca2+ rise.•Wi-Fi is thought to act via voltage-gated calcium channel activation.•One claim of no Wi-Fi effects was found to be deeply flawed.
In our research we use rigid-body dynamics and optimal control methods to generate 3-D whole-body walking motions. For the dynamics modeling and computation we created
RBDL
—the Rigid Body Dynamics ...Library. It is a self-contained free open-source software package that implements state of the art dynamics algorithms including external contacts and collision impacts. It is based on Featherstone’s spatial algebra notation and is implemented in C++ using highly efficient data structures that exploit sparsities in the spatial operators. The library contains various helper methods to compute quantities, such as point velocities, accelerations, Jacobians, angular and linear momentum and others. A concise programming interface and minimal dependencies makes it suitable for integration into existing frameworks. We demonstrate its performance by comparing it with state of the art dynamics libraries both based on recursive evaluations and symbolic code generation.
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