scholarly journals Metabolic Basis of Creatine in Health and Disease: A Bioinformatics-Assisted Review

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1238
Author(s):  
Diego A. Bonilla ◽  
Richard B. Kreider ◽  
Jeffrey R. Stout ◽  
Diego A. Forero ◽  
Chad M. Kerksick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Energy ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Target Cells ◽  
Disease States ◽  
Energy Demands ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Creatine Transport ◽  
Metabolic Basis ◽  
And Migration

Creatine (Cr) is a ubiquitous molecule that is synthesized mainly in the liver, kidneys, and pancreas. Most of the Cr pool is found in tissues with high-energy demands. Cr enters target cells through a specific symporter called Na+/Cl−-dependent Cr transporter (CRT). Once within cells, creatine kinase (CK) catalyzes the reversible transphosphorylation reaction between [Mg2+:ATP4−]2− and Cr to produce phosphocreatine (PCr) and [Mg2+:ADP3−]−. We aimed to perform a comprehensive and bioinformatics-assisted review of the most recent research findings regarding Cr metabolism. Specifically, several public databases, repositories, and bioinformatics tools were utilized for this endeavor. Topics of biological complexity ranging from structural biology to cellular dynamics were addressed herein. In this sense, we sought to address certain pre-specified questions including: (i) What happens when creatine is transported into cells? (ii) How is the CK/PCr system involved in cellular bioenergetics? (iii) How is the CK/PCr system compartmentalized throughout the cell? (iv) What is the role of creatine amongst different tissues? and (v) What is the basis of creatine transport? Under the cellular allostasis paradigm, the CK/PCr system is physiologically essential for life (cell survival, growth, proliferation, differentiation, and migration/motility) by providing an evolutionary advantage for rapid, local, and temporal support of energy- and mechanical-dependent processes. Thus, we suggest the CK/PCr system acts as a dynamic biosensor based on chemo-mechanical energy transduction, which might explain why dysregulation in Cr metabolism contributes to a wide range of diseases besides the mitigating effect that Cr supplementation may have in some of these disease states.

Dielectric Elastomer Energy Harvesting and its Application to Human Walking

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Lai ◽  
Chin An Tan ◽  
Yong Xu
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Knee Joint ◽  
Mechanical Energy ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer ◽  
Metabolic Energy ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
Human Walking ◽  
Wide Range

Human walking requires sophisticated coordination of muscles, tendons, and ligaments working together to provide a constantly changing combination of force, stiffness and damping. In particular, the human knee joint acts as a variable damper, dissipating greater amounts of energy when the knee undergoes large rotational displacements during walking, running or hopping. Typically, this damping results from the dissipation, or loss, of metabolic energy. It has been proven to be possible however; to collect this otherwise wasted energy through the use of electromechanical transducers of several different types which convert mechanical energy to electrical energy. When properly controlled, this type of device not only provides desirable structural damping effects, but the energy generated can be stored for use in a wide range of applications. A novel approach to an energy harvesting knee joint damper is presented using a dielectric elastomer (DE) smart material based electromechanical transducer. Dielectric elastomers are extremely elastic materials with high electrical permittivity which operate based on electrostatic effects. By placing compliant electrodes on either side of a dielectric elastomer film, a specialized capacitor is created, which couples mechanical and electrical energy using induced electrostatic stresses. Dielectric elastomer energy harvesting devices not only have a high energy density, but the material properties are similar to that of human tissue, making it highly suitable for wearable applications. A theoretical framework for dielectric elastomer energy harvesting is presented along with a mapping of the active phases of the energy harvesting to the appropriate phases of the walking stride. Experimental results demonstrating the energy harvesting capability of a DE generator undergoing strains similar to those experienced during walking are provided for the purpose of verifying the theoretical results. The work presented here can be applied to devices for use in rehabilitation of patients with muscular dysfunction and transfemoral prosthesis as well as energy generation for able-bodied wearers.

Microfabrication research at the National Submicron Facility

1983 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
pp. 86-89
Author(s):  
E.D. Wolf
Keyword(s):  
Integrated Circuits ◽  
Particle Physics ◽  
High Speed ◽  
New Technology ◽  
High Energy ◽  
High Energy Particle ◽  
New Science ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Intermediate Domain ◽  
Circuit Function

Most microelectronics devices and circuits operate faster, consume less power, execute more functions and cost less per circuit function when the feature-sizes internal to the devices and circuits are made smaller. This is part of the stimulus for the Very High-Speed Integrated Circuits (VHSIC) program. There is also a need for smaller, more sensitive sensors in a wide range of disciplines that includes electrochemistry, neurophysiology and ultra-high pressure solid state research. There is often fundamental new science (and sometimes new technology) to be revealed (and used) when a basic parameter such as size is extended to new dimensions, as is evident at the two extremes of smallness and largeness, high energy particle physics and cosmology, respectively. However, there is also a very important intermediate domain of size that spans from the diameter of a small cluster of atoms up to near one micrometer which may also have just as profound effects on society as “big” physics.

Compact back-scattered electrons' energy analyzer for standard SEM

1994 ◽  
Vol 52 ◽  
pp. 488-489
Author(s):  
S. Likharev ◽  
A. Kramarenko ◽  
V. Vybornov
Keyword(s):  
Depth Resolution ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Primary Beam ◽  
Layer By Layer ◽  
Energy Analyzer ◽  
High Energy Part ◽  
Small Window ◽  
Energy Part ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
High Voltage Supply

At present time the interest is growing considerably for theoretical and experimental analysis of back-scattered electrons (BSE) energy spectra. It was discovered that a special angle and energy nitration of BSE flow could be used for increasing a spatial resolution of BSE mode, sample topography investigations and for layer-by layer visualizing of a depth structure. In the last case it was shown theoretically that in order to obtain suitable depth resolution it is necessary to select a part of BSE flow with the directions of velocities close to inverse to the primary beam and energies within a small window in the high-energy part of the whole spectrum.A wide range of such devices has been developed earlier, but all of them have considerable demerit: they can hardly be used with a standard SEM due to the necessity of sufficient SEM modifications like installation of large accessories in or out SEM chamber, mounting of specialized detector systems, input wires for high voltage supply, screening a primary beam from additional electromagnetic field, etc. In this report we present a new scheme of a compact BSE energy analyzer that is free of imperfections mentioned above.

Kaempferol Improves TRAIL-Mediated Apoptosis in Leukemia MOLT-4 Cells by the Inhibition of Anti-apoptotic Proteins and Promotion of Death Receptors Expression

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (15) ◽  
pp. 1835-1845
Author(s):  
Ali Hassanzadeh ◽  
Adel Naimi ◽  
Majid F. Hagh ◽  
Raedeh Saraei ◽  
Faroogh Marofi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Necrosis Factor ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Tumor Necrosis ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Annexin V ◽  
Death Receptors ◽  
Target Cells ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Apoptotic Proteins ◽  
Necrosis Factor

Introduction: Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL or Apo2L) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily, which stimulates apoptosis in a wide range of cancer cells via binding to death receptors 4 and 5 (DR4/5). Nevertheless, TRAIL has noticeable anti-cancer abilities; some cancer cells acquire resistance to TRAIL, and consequently its potential for inducing apoptosis in target cells is strongly diminished. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia MOLT-4 cell line is one of the most resistant cells to TRAIL that developed resistance to TRAIL via different pathways. We used TRAIL plus kaempferol to eliminate resistance of the MOLT-4 cells to TRAIL. Material and Methods: First, IC50 for kaempferol (95 µM) was determined by using the MTT assay. Second, the viability of the MOLT-4 cells was assayed by FACS after Annexin V/PI staining, following treatment with TRAIL (50 and 100 nM) and kaempferol (95 µM) alone and together. Finally, the expression levels of the candidate genes involved in resistance to TRAIL were assayed by real-time PCR technique. Results: Kaempferol plus TRAIL induced apoptosis robustly in MOLT-4 cells at 12, 24 and 48 hours after treatment. Additionally, we found that kaempferol could inhibit expression of the c-FLIP, X-IAP, cIAP1/2, FGF-8 and VEGF-beta, and conversely augment expression of the DR4/5 in MOLT-4 cells. Conclusion: We suggest that co-treatment of MOLT-4 cells with TRAIL plus kaempferol is a practical and attractive approach to eliminate cancers’ resistance to TRAIL via inhibition of the intracellular anti-apoptotic proteins, upregulation of DR4/5 and also by suppression of the VEGF-beta (VEGFB) and FGF-8 expressions.

scholarly journals Low-Energy Electron Damage to Condensed-Phase DNA and Its Constituents

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (15) ◽  
pp. 7879
Author(s):  
Yingxia Gao ◽  
Yi Zheng ◽  
Léon Sanche
Keyword(s):  
Condensed Phase ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Dna Lesions ◽  
Low Energy ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Strand Breaks ◽  
Sequence Of Events ◽  
Wide Range

The complex physical and chemical reactions between the large number of low-energy (0–30 eV) electrons (LEEs) released by high energy radiation interacting with genetic material can lead to the formation of various DNA lesions such as crosslinks, single strand breaks, base modifications, and cleavage, as well as double strand breaks and other cluster damages. When crosslinks and cluster damages cannot be repaired by the cell, they can cause genetic loss of information, mutations, apoptosis, and promote genomic instability. Through the efforts of many research groups in the past two decades, the study of the interaction between LEEs and DNA under different experimental conditions has unveiled some of the main mechanisms responsible for these damages. In the present review, we focus on experimental investigations in the condensed phase that range from fundamental DNA constituents to oligonucleotides, synthetic duplex DNA, and bacterial (i.e., plasmid) DNA. These targets were irradiated either with LEEs from a monoenergetic-electron or photoelectron source, as sub-monolayer, monolayer, or multilayer films and within clusters or water solutions. Each type of experiment is briefly described, and the observed DNA damages are reported, along with the proposed mechanisms. Defining the role of LEEs within the sequence of events leading to radiobiological lesions contributes to our understanding of the action of radiation on living organisms, over a wide range of initial radiation energies. Applications of the interaction of LEEs with DNA to radiotherapy are briefly summarized.

scholarly journals Optically transparent and very thin structure against electromagnetic pulse (EMP) using metal mesh and saltwater for shielding windows

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Duy Tung Phan ◽  
Chang Won Jung
Keyword(s):  
Electromagnetic Pulse ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Metal Plate ◽  
Optical Transparency ◽  
Shielding Effectiveness ◽  
Concrete Wall ◽  
Metal Mesh ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Optically Transparent

AbstractAn electromagnetic pulse (EMP) with high energy can damage electronic equipment instantly within a wide range of thousands of kilometers. Generally, a metal plate placed inside a thick concrete wall is used against an EMP, but it is not suitable for an EMP shielding window, which requires not only strong shielding effectiveness (SE) but also optical transparency (OT). In this paper, we propose a very thin and optically transparent structure with excellent SE for EMP shielding window application. The proposed structure consists of a saltwater layer held between two glass substrates and two metal mesh layers on the outside of the glass, with a total thickness of less than 1.5 cm. The SE and OT of the structure are above 80 dB and 45%, respectively, which not only meet the requirement of EMP shielding for military purposes but also retain the procedure of good observation. Moreover, the OT of the structure can be significantly improved using only one metal mesh film (MMF) layer, while the SE is still maintained high to satisfy the required SE for home applicants. With the major advantages of low cost, optical transparency, strong SE, and flexible performance, the proposed structure can be considered a good solution for transparent EMP shielding windows.

Enabling highly reversible sodium metal cycling across a wide temperature range with dual-salt electrolytes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akila C. Thenuwara ◽  
Pralav P. Shetty ◽  
Neha Kondekar ◽  
Chuanlong Wang ◽  
Weiyang Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wide Temperature Range ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Liquid Electrolyte ◽  
Metal Cycling ◽  
Temperature Range ◽  
Sodium Metal ◽  
Wide Range

A new dual-salt liquid electrolyte is developed that enables the reversible operation of high-energy sodium-metal-based batteries over a wide range of temperatures down to −50 °C.

scholarly journals Performance Characteristics in Runner of an Impulse Water Turbine with Splitter Blade

Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 303
Author(s):  
Lingdi Tang ◽  
Shouqi Yuan ◽  
Yue Tang ◽  
Zhijun Gao
Keyword(s):  
Energy Conversion ◽  
Flow Direction ◽  
Mechanical Energy ◽  
Experimental Tests ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Negative Energy ◽  
Water Turbine ◽  
Conversion Performance ◽  
Water Turbines ◽  
Current Energy

The impulse water turbine is a promising energy conversion device that can be used as mechanical power or a micro hydro generator, and its application can effectively ease the current energy crisis. This paper aims to clarify the mechanism of liquid acting on runner blades, the hydraulic performance, and energy conversion characteristics in the runner domain of an impulse water turbine with a splitter blade by using experimental tests and numerical simulations. The runner was divided into seven areas along the flow direction, and the power variation in the runner domain was analyzed to reflect its energy conversion characteristics. The obtained results indicate that the critical area of the runner for doing the work is in the front half of the blades, while the rear area of the blades does relatively little work and even consumes the mechanical energy of the runner to produce negative work. The high energy area is concentrated in the flow passage facing the nozzle. The energy is gradually evenly distributed from the runner inlet to the runner outlet, and the negative energy caused by flow separation with high probability is gradually reduced. The clarification of the energy conversion performance is of great significance to improve the design of impulse water turbines.

scholarly journals Carbon Nanotube Films for Energy Applications

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 1890
Author(s):  
Monika Rdest ◽  
Dawid Janas
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Nanotube ◽  
Mechanical Energy ◽  
Research Community ◽  
Thermal Interface Materials ◽  
Thermal Interface ◽  
Conductive Coatings ◽  
Storage Devices ◽  
Energy Applications ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Interface Materials

This perspective article describes the application opportunities of carbon nanotube (CNT) films for the energy sector. Up to date progress in this regard is illustrated with representative examples of a wide range of energy management and transformation studies employing CNT ensembles. Firstly, this paper features an overview of how such macroscopic networks from nanocarbon can be produced. Then, the capabilities for their application in specific energy-related scenarios are described. Among the highlighted cases are conductive coatings, charge storage devices, thermal interface materials, and actuators. The selected examples demonstrate how electrical, thermal, radiant, and mechanical energy can be converted from one form to another using such formulations based on CNTs. The article is concluded with a future outlook, which anticipates the next steps which the research community will take to bring these concepts closer to implementation.

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