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Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on June 26, 2020 at 7:24am

Gold nanoparticles to save neurons from cell death
In a recent experiment, researchers have developed gold nanoparticles in the laboratory in order to reduce the cell death of neurons exposed to overexcitement.

Excessive stimulation of neurons by the neurotransmitter glutamate, which is usually involved in the excitatory communication among neurons, can damage nerve cells and cause their degeneration. This phenomenon, known with the term excitotoxicity, is common in many neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease, but also in case of epilepsy, brain trauma and stroke.

In particular, these nanoparticles were designed and prepared by a IIT team in Lecce (Italy), and are functionalized with peptides that allow selective inhibition of extrasynaptic glutamate receptors involved in the excitotoxicity. In fact, the size of the nanoparticles is 20, which is 50 times larger than that of classic drugs resulting in the blockade of only the receptors located outside the synapses. In this way, correct neurotransmission is preserved while the excessive activation that leads to cell death is avoided.

The molecular mechanism underlying the neuroprotective effect of the nanoparticles has been clarified by the experimental work.

The results of this research sets the basis for treatment of neurological diseases in which the excessive release of glutamate is at the basis of the pathology. The possibility of specifically blocking extrasynaptic receptors, mainly responsible for cell death, without interfering with synaptic transmission, opens up promising perspectives for targeted therapy without major side effects.

This study shows how nanotechnology can provide important indications for treatment of many neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases.

Source: Stefania Alexandra Iakab et al, Gold Nanoparticle-Assisted Black Silicon Substrates for Mass Spectrometry Imaging Applications, ACS Nano (2020). DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c00201

https://phys.org/news/2020-06-gold-nanoparticles-neurons-cell-death...

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on June 26, 2020 at 6:46am

Why bacterial toxins are 'fascinating machines of death'

https://phys.org/news/2020-06-bacterial-toxins-fascinating-machines...

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https://phys.org/news/2020-06-boron-lanthanide-nanostructure.html?u...

Researchers discover new boron-lanthanide nanostructure

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https://phys.org/news/2020-06-scientists-tool-fusion-devices.html?u...

Scientists develop new tool to design better fusion devices

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https://theconversation.com/siberia-heat-wave-why-the-arctic-is-war...

Siberia heat wave: why the Arctic is warming so much faster than the rest of the world

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https://techxplore.com/news/2020-06-online-trackers-health-site-vis...

Study: Online trackers follow health site visitors

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https://techxplore.com/news/2020-06-solar-energy-harvesting-biomimi...

Solar energy harvesting through biomimicking the wings of a butterfly

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You can't win the game when you are playing against science: When great players peddle pseudo-science in a tennis court, 'Covid Science' hits back. Like this ...

https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/tennis/story/novak-djokovic-pseudo...

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on June 26, 2020 at 6:31am

Light harvesting is the collection of solar energy by protein-bound chlorophyll molecules. In photosynthesis—the process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water—light energy harvesting begins with sunlight absorption.

Newly created model by researchers now shows that by absorbing only very specific colors of light, photosynthetic organisms may automatically protect themselves against sudden changes—or 'noise'—in solar energy, resulting in remarkably efficient power conversion.

Green plants appear green and purple bacteria appear purple because only specific regions of the spectrum from which they absorb are suited for protection against rapidly changing solar energy.

Why are plants green? Research team's model reproduces photosynthesis

https://phys.org/news/2020-06-green-team-photosynthesis.html?utm_so...

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on June 25, 2020 at 11:01am

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/electrified-fabric-could...
Electrified Fabric Could Zap the Coronavirus on Masks and Clothing
New materials and coatings could make fabric inactivate or repel viral particles

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https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-06-role-hippocampus-humans-ment...

The role of the hippocampus in how humans mentally travel in time and space

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https://phys.org/news/2020-06-quantum-entanglement-aboard-orbiting-...

Quantum entanglement demonstrated aboard orbiting CubeSat

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https://phys.org/news/2020-06-black-hole-collision.html?utm_source=...

Black hole collision may have exploded with light

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https://phys.org/news/2020-06-gene-duplicates-retained-perish.html?...

When two are better than one: Why some gene duplicates are retained while others perish

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on June 25, 2020 at 9:15am

Neutrinos reveal final secret of Sun’s nuclear fusion

Detection of particles produced by the Sun’s core supports long-held theory about how our star is powered.

hysicists have filled in the last missing detail of how nuclear fusion powers the Sun, by catching neutrinos emanating from the star’s core.

The detection confirms decades-old theoretical predictions that some of the Sun’s energy is made by a chain of reactions involving carbon and nitrogen nuclei. This process fuses four protons together into a helium nucleus, releasing two neutrinos — the lightest known elementary particles of matter — as well as other subatomic particles and copious amounts of energy. This carbon-nitrogen (CN) reaction is not the Sun’s only fusion pathway — it produces less than 1% of the Sun’s energy — but it is thought to be the dominant energy source in larger stars.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-01908-2?utm_source=Natur...

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on June 25, 2020 at 8:50am

Transgenic rice lowers blood pressure of hypertensive rats

What if taking your blood pressure medication could be as simple as eating a spoonful of rice? And if this "treatment" could also have fewer side effects than current blood pressure medicines? Who wouldn't like it?

As a first step, researchers have made transgenic rice that contains several anti-hypertensive peptides. When given to hypertensive rats, the rice lowered their blood pressure.

A common class of synthetic drugs used to treat hypertension, called ACE inhibitors, target the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), which is involved in blood pressure regulation. However, ACE inhibitors often have unpleasant side effects, such as dry cough, headache, skin rashes and kidney impairment. In contrast, natural ACE inhibitors found in some foods, including milk, eggs, fish, meat and plants, might have fewer side effects. But purifying large amounts of these ACE-inhibitory peptides from foods is expensive and time-consuming. So researchers wanted to genetically modify rice—one of the world's most commonly eaten foods—to produce a mixture of ACE-inhibitory peptides from other food sources.

The researchers introduced a gene to rice plants that consisted of nine ACE-inhibitory peptides and a blood-vessel-relaxing peptide linked together, and confirmed that the plants made high levels of the peptides. The researchers then extracted total protein (including the peptides) from the transgenic rice and administered them to rats. Two hours after treatment, hypertensive rats showed a reduction in blood pressure, while rats treated with wild-type rice proteins did not. Treatment of rats over a 5-week period with flour from the transgenic rice also reduced blood pressure, and this effect remained 1 week later. The treated rats had no obvious side effects in terms of growth, development or blood biochemistry. If these peptides have the same effects in humans, a 150-pound adult would need to eat only about half a tablespoon of the special rice daily to prevent and treat hypertension, the researchers say.

Dandan Qian et al. Hypotensive Activity of Transgenic Rice Seed Accumulating Multiple Antihypertensive Peptides, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (2020). DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.0c01958

https://phys.org/news/2020-06-transgenic-rice-lowers-blood-pressure...

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on June 25, 2020 at 8:41am

Forensic science: Bringing burnt bones back to life using 3-D technology

Forensic scientists at the University of Portsmouth have discovered a new way of presenting fragile evidence, by reconstructing a 'jigsaw' of human bone fragments using 3-D printing.

In the first known study of its kind, researchers took fragmented burnt human bones and tested the ability to make 3-D models suitable to be shown to a jury in court.

Forensic investigation of crime scenes and other incidents requires the analysis of many different items as evidence, including human remains, some of which may be damaged or fragmented. To determine whether these pieces of evidence were originally one whole, they have to undergo a process called 'physical fit analysis'.

A positive physical fit indicates that two or more fragments having originated from the same object. Confirming physical fit at a crime scene is essential to draw links between locations, place suspects at the scene, and allow for object reconstruction."

However, physical fit analysis relies on the manual handling and then placing back together of the human remains and is often challenging to conduct with bone fragments particularly when fragile, sharp, or embedded in other materials.

The scientists compared two different 3-D imaging techniques, micro computed tomography and structured light scanning. By generating virtual 3-D models and prints of burned human bone fragments, they tested the suitability of these imaging techniques and subsequent 3-D printing for physical fit analysis. The researchers ultimately found that 3-D imaging and printing allowed for effective physical fit analysis without excessively handling the original fragments.

Limiting the handling of fragile forensic evidence minimizes damage and contamination. Additionally, the use of 3-D prints opens up the possibility for physical fit demonstration, and the opportunity for a jury to explore the evidence replicas. Interaction with 3-D virtual models and animations also provides 360 degree visualization in an engaging, understandable and potentially impactful way, improving a jury's understanding.

Amber J. Collings et al, Reconstruction and physical fit analysis of fragmented skeletal remains using 3D imaging and printing, Forensic Science International: Reports (2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.fsir.2020.100114

https://phys.org/news/2020-06-burnt-bones-life-d-technology.html?ut...

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on June 25, 2020 at 8:35am

How fake accounts constantly manipulate what you see on social media – and what you can do about it

https://techxplore.com/news/2020-06-fake-accounts-constantly-social...

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https://phys.org/news/2020-06-alcohol-key-ingredients-medicines.htm...

Turning alcohol into key ingredients for new medicines:

Chemists have found a way to turn alcohol into amino acids, the building blocks of life.

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https://phys.org/news/2020-06-molecular-simulations-drugs-block-key...

Molecular simulations show how drugs block key receptors

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https://phys.org/news/2020-06-toxic-chemicals-environmentally-frien...

Removing toxic chemicals from water: New environmentally-friendly method

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https://phys.org/news/2020-06-moment-ultrafast-chemical-bonding-cap...

Every moment of ultrafast chemical bonding captured on film

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on June 25, 2020 at 6:51am

Binary and multiple stars

An apple falls but not the moon, why?

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on June 25, 2020 at 6:43am

Why Doesn't the Moon Fall to Earth? 

Gravity...

Does The Moon Really Orbit The Earth?

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