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Extreme energy lability in human children: An overlooked and central aspect of human biology
Full text linkA four year old child devotes half their total energy expenditure (TEE) to their brains. Even by 10 years-of-age it is still 30% (compared to an adult’s ≈12%). This extreme energy use results from a high brain/body size ratio – combined with a doubling of cerebral gray matter energy utilization (due to synaptic exuberance during cognitive neuromaturation). 

With extreme energy expenditure goes extreme vulnerability to hypoglycemia: (1) children become hypoglycemic after 24-36 hours of fast (compared to 60-72 hours in adults), and (2) their brains suffer neurological impairment (shown in disrupted P300 potentials) at a lower decrease in plasma glucose: 3.6 - 4.2 mmol L-1 in children rather than < 3.0 mmol L-1 in adults (against a normal level in both of 4.6-4.8 mmol L-1). Human biology has selected adaptations that buffer and protect children from this energy lability. A physiological one is that energy metabolism in skeletal muscles is biased towards using fatty acids, and this minimizes uptake competition of plasma glucose between muscles and the brain. Behavioral adaptations (in human hunter-gatherers) include adults cooperatively pooling high energy foods with juveniles for ≈15 years, this provides juveniles with a reliable ≈3.5-7 MJ per day. 

Hunter-gatherers share food with juveniles due to gossip enforced indirect reciprocity. This reciprocity depends for its existence upon adult cognitions that require prolonged energy- expensive neuromaturation. This raises the possibility that human adult cognitions are both a cause of children having extreme energy lability (by requiring prolonged energy expensive neuromaturation), and a means (by enabling indirect reciprocity) by which the risks of such lability are mitigated
Genome Replikin Count Predicts Increased Infectivity/Lethality of Viruses
No full textThe genomes of all groups of viruses whose sequences are listed on Pubmed, specimens since 1918, analyzed by a software from Bioradar UK Ltd., contain Replikins which range in concentration from a Replikin Count (number of Replikins per 100 amino acids) of less than 1 to 30 (see accompanying communications for higher Counts in tuberculosis, malaria, and cancer, associated with higher lethality). Counts of less than 4.0 were found in ‘resting’ virus states; Counts greater than 4.0, found to be associated with rapid replication, were found invariably to accompany or to predict virus outbreaks, by as much as two years, in viral hosts examined from salmon, to birds, to livestock, to humans. X-ray diffraction showed Replikins to be on the surface of the hemagglutinin gene of influenza and to spread as the Count increased from 3.2 to 10.1, prior to, then during, the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic. The degree of lethality of these outbreaks was found to be a function of the statistically significant increase in Replikin Count, particularly in the influenza polymerase gene p B1 or its equivalent in other viruses. Prediction up to two years in advance of the outbreak, and the geographic location of the outbreak, now done in 7/7 trials (see Bogoch, Nature Precedings), has permitted the solid phase synthesis of Replikin vaccines in 7 days, with time to permit manufacture, adequate testing for safety and efficacy, and distribution freeze-dried to all populations. These completely synthetic Replikins vaccines so far have been shown to be effective against Taura Syndrome virus in shrimp, and H5N1 in chickens. Thus for the first time this new technology provides the practical possibility to prevent pandemics rather than just to react to them
A prelude report on molecular docking of HER2 protein towards comprehending anti-cancer properties of saponins from Solanum tuberosum
Full text linkSaponins are extensively known for many biological activities e.g. antimicrobial, anti-palatability, anti-cancer and hemolytic. As cancer cells have a more cholesterol-like compound in their membrane structure the saponins bind cholesterol due to their natural affinity to bind cancer cell membrane. This prevents them from entering the body through the intestinal tract, where they have the ability to attach themselves to vital organs and grow. This study reports the effective use of lower dose saponins like immunotoxin so that they can inhibit the proliferation of cancerous pancreatic cells. The investigation of pancreatic cancer metabolic pathway it was found that proteins 3H3B produced by genes HER-2 are involved in the enhancement of this type of cancer. Further docking studies showed that there is an effective interaction between saponins and cancer cells. The glide score of the saponin analogue compound with CID 21573770 (Pubchem) was -6.30 followed by score of -6.05 and -5.29 for 5-Florouracil and gemcitabine respectively. The interaction was observed in the GLU and GLN rich region, saponins made H-bonds with GLU-188, GLN-119, VAL-72 and GLN-71. This study indicates an effective way towards leading newer prospects for developing saponin analogue based cancer-fighting drugs with improved cancer cell inhibition property without killing normal cells
Long double stranded RNA is present in scrapie infected cells and tissues
Full text linkThe nature of the infectious agent causing scrapie and other Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies remains an enigma despite decades of research efforts. The protein-only prion hypothesis posits that abnormal conformer of a host protein is the infectious agent. Virus and virino theories include host-independent nucleic acid as the genome of the infectious agent in addition to protein component (in case of virino a host protein and in case of virus a viral protein). Viral or sub-viral nucleic acids have long been sought in scrapie to explain the existence of multiple agent strains. Many different approaches were undertaken to find such nucleic acid. Despite that no scrapie specific nucleic acid sequences have been found in infected cells or tissues. Most viruses induce synthesis of long double stranded RNA (dsRNA) during their replication in cells. Therefore the presence of long dsRNA would be an indication of viral infection in cells. J2 monoclonal antibody against long dsRNA is a great tool for easy screening of cells and tissues for the presence of suspected unknown viral infection. This antibody has not been used for testing of scrapie infected tissues.
Evidence is presented here for long dsRNA in scrapie infected cells and tissues. Such dsRNA is also found in scrapie free tissue culture cells
Chromium uptake by Fenugreek
Full text linkFenugreek (Trigonella foenum- graecum) is both herb (leaves) and a spice (seed) belonging to the family Fabaceae. Fenugreek leaves and seeds are used in the cuisine of India. Fenugreek also has medicinal value. Fenugreek seeds are known to reduce serum glucose and improve glucose tolerance and hence are prescribed to diabetic patients. In the recent past supplemental Chromium is being prescribed to diabetic patients to activate (increased- insulin binding, insulin receptor number, insulin receptor phosphorylation) insulin. Plants can uptake substantial quantities of toxic metals from contaminated soils if these soils are well ameliorated. 

It is then probable that the medicinal efficacy of Fenugreek in the case of diabetes could be enhanced if it takes up chromium from the soil. Preliminary studies are being conducted to note the chromium uptake by Fenugreek from soils which are applied with potassium dichromate
Isoglitter
Full text linkDescribed herein is a novel crystalline pattern in space group Ammm, that is a model of a C allotrope. This so-called isoglitter structure-type is an analogue to the graphite-diamond hybrids. A DFT geometry optimization and band structure calculation indicates that the lattice is metallic in a C realization
Range of motion in intervertebral joints: why we don’t trust DinoMorph
No full textAttempts to quantitatively reconstruct the range of motion of sauropod necks are intrinsically flawed because of ubiquitous distortion in preserved cervical vertebrae. This is true even for specimens that are usually considered particularly well preserved, such as the Carnegie Diplodocus and the Berlin Giraffatitan
Quantization makes relativity compatible with superluminal phenomena
Full text linkNews shocked the physicist society that neutrinos may move faster than light. Most physicists affirm that this is impossible, according to the well-established relativity. Some try to find a new theory other than relativity to explain the phenomena. In the following we show it may be explained within relativity, if the quantum theory is also taken into account
Protective effect of (-) α-bisabolol on markers of oxidative stress in erythrocytes subjected to oxidative insult
Full text link(-)-α-bisabolol is a sesquiterpene alcohol found as a major component of essential oil of chamomile (Matricaria recutita L., Chamomilla recutita L., Matricaria chamomilla L.; Family Asteraceae). Chamomile, one of the most ancient and widely recognized herbs to mankind, has been used traditionally for centuries as an anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, carminative, mild astringent and healing medicine. It is also known to be very helpful as an external agent for encouraging the rapid healing of ulcers and burns without infection, as well as persistent skin problems such as eczema and psoriasis. Since clinical trials and human studies are limited, we have investigated the effect of (-)-α-bisabolol on markers of oxidative stress in human erythrocytes by incubating with hydrogen peroxide (2mM) and tert-butyl hydroperoxide (10 µM). Subjecting erythrocyte to oxidative stress caused a significant alteration in reduced glutathione GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration as well as superoxide dismutase and catalase activity compare to control. Presence of (-)-α-bisabolol as low as 0.1µM in incubation medium protected the erythrocytes from oxidative stress and helps to maintain the basal level of GSH and MDA. The activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase were also restored in a concentration-dependent manner (0.01-100µM). The effect was also compared with L-Ascorbic acid, quercetin and BHT. Our findings provide evidence for the protection of oxidative stress in erythrocytes by (-)-α-bisabolol that could be considered for further studies
Concentration-dependent free radical scavenging and ferric reducing ability of Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash: Protective effect of vetiver root extract during oxidative stress
Full text linkVetiveria zizanioides, popularly known as ‘KHUS’ grass, has been known to India since ancient times. It is the major source of well-known oil of vetiver, which is used in medicine and in perfumery. A concentration-dependent ferric reducing, free radical scavenging and antioxidant activity of two genotypes, namely KS 1 and gulabi of vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides L. Nash) root, were evaluated by using in vitro assays: the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 1, 1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), total phenolic content (TPC), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and reducing power (RP) assay. A positive co-relation was observed between FRAP, DPPH and TPC of cv KS 1, whereas TAC and RP showed a negative co-relation. A significant protective effect of cv KS 1 (100 [mu]g/mL) extract was also observed in erythrocytes reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration after subjecting erythrocytes to oxidative stress by incubating them with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Our observations suggest that cv KS 1 has better antioxidant activity compared to cv gulabi of vetiver and may, in part, explain the use of spent/waste part of vetiver root as an economically viable source of natural antioxidant against complications arising from oxidative stress