VIRAL AND RICKEITSIAL DISEASES

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1955 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 358-366
Author(s):  
Frederick C. Robbins ◽  
Eli Gold

INTRODUCTION IT WILL not be possible to cover exhaustively the field of virus and rickettsial diseases in this brief summary. The growth and basic properties of viruses and rickettsiae as well as the pathogenesis of diseases due to these agents will be reviewed in outline form. Epidemiology and immunity and current opinion on prophylaxis and therapy will be discussed. Finally, we will consider some recent developments and speculate a bit on what the future may offer. It is hoped that some of the more basic material presented, although admittedly elementary, will help to orient the reader. An understanding of some of the procedures conducted in the virus laboratory may make the physician aware not only of what can be done to help diagnostically, but also what cannot be done. FUNDAMENTAL INFORMATION CONCERNING PROPERTIES OF VIRUSES AND RICKETTSIAE A) Size 1) Rickettsiae are large enough to be seen with the light microscope and do not pass through porcelain filters. The rickettsia of Q fever does have filtrable form. 2) Viruses vary tremendously as to size. Some are highly complicated organisms (e.g., vaccinia), others such as tobacco mosaic virus, are apparently large protein molecules. Psittacosis and related organisms occupy intermediate position between rickettsiae and true viruses. B) Culture No virus or rickettsia has ever been propagated except in the presence of living cells. C) Life Cycle Most of time available information concerning infection of time cell and multiplication of viruses is derived from studies with bacterial viruses (bacteriophage). This may or may not be fully applicable to animal viruses but the cycle is represented below:

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 883-886 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice N. Maina ◽  
Christina M. Farris ◽  
Antony Odhiambo ◽  
Ju Jiang ◽  
Jeremiah Laktabai ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Zahra Shahbazi ◽  
Horea T. Ilies¸ ◽  
Kazem Kazerounian

Proteins are nature’s nano-robots in the form of functional molecular components of living cells. The function of these natural nano-robots often requires conformational transitions between two or more native conformations that are made possible by the intrinsic mobility of the proteins. Understanding these transitions is essential to the understanding of how proteins function, as well as to the ability to design and manipulate protein-based nano-mechanical systems [1]. Modeling protein molecules as kinematic chains provides the foundation for developing powerful approaches to the design, manipulation and fabrication of peptide based molecules and devices. Nevertheless, these models possess a high number of degrees of freedom (DOF) with considerable computational implications. On the other hand, real protein molecules appear to exhibits a much lower mobility during the folding process than what is suggested by existing kinematic models. The key contributor to the lower mobility of real proteins is the formation of Hydrogen bonds during the folding process.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boniface Pone Kamdem ◽  
Eutrophe Le Doux Kamto ◽  
Hugues Kamdem Paumo ◽  
Lebogang Maureen Katata-Seru ◽  
Dieudonné Emmanuel Pegnyemb ◽  
...  

Background: Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants is an aromatic herb native to South America, but also distributed widely throughout Africa and Europe. This plant is traditionally used to treat various ailments including, pain and swellings, flu, parasitic diseases, and as analgesic, antipyretic, and wound healing. Phytochemical analyses of D. ambrosioides revealed the presence of terpenoids, flavonoids, coumarins, fatty acids and miscellaneous compounds among others, which might be responsible for its modern pharmacological actions. Objective: The present work summarizes recent developments on phytochemistry, ethnomedicinal use, pharmacology, and toxicity of D. ambrosioides. A critical assessment of the literature information of D. ambrosioides is also presented. Methods: The available information on D. ambrosioides was collected through libraries and electronic databases [Scifinder, ACS, Scielo, Science direct, Pubmed (National Library of Medicine), Wiley, Springer, PROTA, Web of Science, Google Web, Yahoo search and Google scholar] from respective inception until january 2021. Results: More than 150 compounds, including terpenoids, flavonoids, coumarins, fatty acids, and miscellaneous compounds etc.. were identified from D. ambrosioides. D. ambrosioides exhibited a wide range of pharmacological activities, including antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, anticancer, insecticidal, antigiardial, among others. Metal nanoparticles synthesized from D. ambrosioides extracts presented enhanced pharmacological activities as compared to the crude plant extracts counterparts. Conclusion: D. ambrosioides is a promising medicinal plant, however, more in vivo experiments, cytotoxicity tests, and mechanisms of actions of its extracts and compounds are recommended to transubstantiate the ethnomedicinal claims of this plant into scientific rationale-based information.


Nature ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 378 (6555) ◽  
pp. 419-419 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dennis Bray

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 347-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yihui Shen ◽  
Fanghao Hu ◽  
Wei Min

Imaging techniques greatly facilitate the comprehensive knowledge of biological systems. Although imaging methodology for biomacromolecules such as protein and nucleic acids has been long established, microscopic techniques and contrast mechanisms are relatively limited for small biomolecules, which are equally important participants in biological processes. Recent developments in Raman imaging, including both microscopy and tailored vibrational tags, have created exciting opportunities for noninvasive imaging of small biomolecules in living cells, tissues, and organisms. Here, we summarize the principle and workflow of small-biomolecule imaging by Raman microscopy. Then, we review recent efforts in imaging, for example, lipids, metabolites, and drugs. The unique advantage of Raman imaging has been manifested in a variety of applications that have provided novel biological insights.


2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-64
Author(s):  
Adefolake Adeyeye

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the implications of foreign bribery and perceptions that bribery is just a cost of doing business in Africa in light of recent reports and developments in the global attempt to curb bribery and corruption. Design/methodology/approach The research relied on primary data from anti-corruption legislation, surveys and monitoring reports and secondary data from publicly available information, journal articles and media reports to analyse recent developments in the fight against corruption with a special focus on Africa. Findings The research findings and analysis suggest that foreign bribery, which is illegal but largely carried out with impunity and perceived as a just a cost of doing business in Africa, has heavy costs on developing nations and on corporations and individuals that are prosecuted. Although much has been done to curb corruption, it seems active enforcement takes place in only a limited number of countries. There is still the need for enhanced enforcement by nations, increased societal awareness of effective measures against corruption and improved corporate compliance and responsibility. Originality/value The paper contributes practical insights into improvements and lapses in the fight against foreign bribery and corruption. Using recent and relevant analysis, the paper revisits the resilience of bribery and corruption in spite of increased anti-corruption actions and the need for multiple and varied measures. The information provided will be useful for governments, corporations and civil society in the fight against corruption, which requires constant multilateral action and examination.


1976 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 276-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Ellis

With the ever increasing information rates characteristic of modern electronic systems it is not surprising that display technology is one of the most vigorous fields of current research. A wide variety of phenomena is being exploited in order to produce displays suitable for a diversity of applications. This paper, which was presented at a meeting of the Institute in London on 17 December 1975, with Captain B. J. Calverb in the Chair, reviews recent developments in both emissive and passive displays, emphasizing the advantages of alternative types for particular applications.Man's knowledge of the world in which he lives is steadily increasing and, compounded with a rapidly increasing capacity for communication, this leads to a need for new means of displaying the available information. The development of computers further increases this requirement since they make large quantities of information quickly accessible. It is to be expected that in many situations, where formerly the printed page or spoken word would at best have been the only practical possibilities, the advantages offered by modern electronic displays will increasingly be appreciated. In both civil and military applications it is clear for example that much information transmitted at present by letter could be better sent telegraphically, once suitably convenient displays are available; the need for ‘hard copy’ can be met where required. Considerable savings in time and convenience, not to mention paper, could clearly be made.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abbi Hamed ◽  
Sai Chun Tang ◽  
Hongliang Ren ◽  
Alex Squires ◽  
Chris Payne ◽  
...  

The developments of medical practices and medical technologies have always progressed concurrently. The relatively recent developments in endoscopic technologies have allowed the realization of the “minimally invasive” form of surgeries. The advancements in robotics facilitate precise surgeries that are often integrated with medical image guidance capability. This in turn has driven the further development of technology to compensate for the unique complexities engendered by this new format and to improve the performance and broaden the scope of the procedures that can be performed. Medical robotics has been a central component of this development due to the highly suitable characteristics that a robotic system can purport, including highly optimizable mechanical conformation and the ability to program assistive functions in medical robots for surgeons to perform safe and accurate minimally invasive surgeries. In addition, combining the robot-assisted interventions with touch-sensing and medical imaging technologies can greatly improve the available information and thus help to ensure that minimally invasive surgeries continue to gain popularity and stay at the focus of modern medical technology development. This paper presents a state-of-the-art review of robotic systems for minimally invasive and noninvasive surgeries, precise surgeries, diagnoses, and their corresponding technologies.


2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 555-562 ◽  
Author(s):  
James S. Italia ◽  
Yunan Zheng ◽  
Rachel E. Kelemen ◽  
Sarah B. Erickson ◽  
Partha S. Addy ◽  
...  

In the last two decades, unnatural amino acid (UAA) mutagenesis has emerged as a powerful new method to probe and engineer protein structure and function. This technology enables precise incorporation of a rapidly expanding repertoire of UAAs into predefined sites of a target protein expressed in living cells. Owing to the small footprint of these genetically encoded UAAs and the large variety of enabling functionalities they offer, this technology has tremendous potential for deciphering the delicate and complex biology of the mammalian cells. Over the last few years, exciting progress has been made toward expanding the toolbox of genetically encoded UAAs in mammalian cells, improving the efficiency of their incorporation and developing innovative applications. Here, we provide our perspective on these recent developments and highlight the current challenges that must be overcome to realize the full potential of this technology.


2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Tait Graves

In legal disputes where one party claims that it submitted an idea to another party and alleges that the latter used that idea without permission or compensation, two categories of California intellectual property law have increasingly come to resemble one another: (1) trade secret law, most often applied in business or technical contexts; and (2) idea submission law, primarily applied in cases involving film scripts and other media productions. Over the decades, these regimes have developed separately, within distinct business and legal cultures. But recent developments in California trade secret law have brought the two closer together; in some areas, they may even be approaching a unified body of law. This Article explores that possibility. It concludes that although a partial merger is inevitable, the two core causes of action—for asserted trade secrets, a misappropriation claim; for idea submissions, a so-called Desny claim for breach of implied-in-fact contract—will and should remain distinct. A partial merger, however, would lead to beneficial exchanges in areas where their doctrines already overlap: (1) idea submission’s “independent development” and trade secret’s “independent derivation” defenses; and (2) statutory preemption under California’s Uniform Trade Secrets Act (CUTSA). California’s idea submission cases have developed sophisticated and robust means to adjudicate the concept of “independent development”—that is, a defendant’s assertion that despite receiving the plaintiff’s idea, it nonetheless came up with the disputed film, television show, or other concept on its own. By contrast, the important and analogous defense of “independent derivation” in California trade secret law remains underdeveloped. This Article argues that the idea submission cases offer a far more rigorous analysis of the defense and could inform similar decisions under trade secret law. In particular, it proposes a methodology that courts can use to adjudicate the independent derivation defense, inspired by the idea submission cases. The idea submission cases largely survived copyright preemption challenges in the 1990s and 2000s after Ninth Circuit rulings preserved the viability of some idea submission causes of action under state law. But surviving copyright preemption is not the same thing as surviving CUTSA trade secret preemption. This more recent form of IP preemption is broad, and it subsumes tort claims seeking to protect information said to be confidential. This Article argues that the CUTSA preempts peripheral idea submission tort claims such as breach of confidence, but it does not preempt the core claim at the heart of California’s idea submission regime—the Desny claim for breach of implied-in-fact contract. The proposed partial merger recognizes the public policy ends of each regime: protecting weaker parties who submit ideas to film and media studios (in narrowlydefined circumstances), and ensuring that litigants cannot use tort claims to subvert the protections the CUTSA and related employee mobility rules provide for the free use of publicly available information that does not meet the statutory definition of a trade secret.


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