Menu

Blog

Page 4564

Feb 18, 2022

Light-driven micro-swimmers for responsive drug delivery

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, robotics/AI

In recent years, scientists have introduced a wide variety of robots of all shapes and sizes. Among these are microswimmers, carefully engineered microstructures that can move in water and other liquids.

Microswimmers could have numerous interesting applications, for instance allowing doctors to deliver drugs to targeted regions inside the human body, or scientists to introduce specific substances in water-based environments. While some of these robotic systems achieved remarkable results, most of them were found to be unable to efficiently move inside the human body.

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (MPI-IS) have recently developed new light-driven microswimmers that could be more suited for navigating within biological systems, including body fluids. These microswimmers, introduced in a paper published in Science Robotics, are simple microparticles based on the two-dimensional (2D) carbon nitride poly(heptazine imide) or PHI.

Feb 18, 2022

CPUT is Hiring a Director of F’SATI & ASIC

Posted by in categories: innovation, space

CPUT is recruiting a Director to spearhead the French South African Institute of Technology (F’SATI)/African Space Innovation Centre (ASIC).

Feb 18, 2022

The hepatoprotective effects of fennel seeds extract and trans‐Anethole in streptozotocin‐induced liver injury in rats

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, food

Hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities of fennel have been recorded in numerous investigations. The study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of fennel or its active component trans-Anethole (TA) on streptozotocin-induced liver injury in rats. Rats were injected with a single dose of STZ (65 mg/kg) and treated with fennel (200 and 400 mg/kg), TA (80 mg/kg), or metformin (300 mg/kg) for 35 days. Serum lipid profile and liver enzyme activity (aminotransferases), oxidative stress markers, and the degree of fibrosis in the liver tissue were assessed. Both fennel and TA decreased blood glucose levels, reduced liver enzyme activity, food, and water intake, and intensity of weight loss, reduced serum triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c). Additionally, fennel and TA significantly reduced MDA concentration while increased CAT activity and thiol content and reduced the degree of injury and fibrosis in the liver of diabetic rats. Our results suggest that fennel seed extract and its active compound TA are able to protect the liver against diabetes-induced hepatic injury in rats, probably via hypoglycemic and antioxidant effects.


The effects of fennel seed extract and its active compound trans-Anethole were investigated in the STZ-induced liver injury in rats. Both fennel and trans-Anethole effectively reduced blood glucose l…

Feb 18, 2022

Russian atomic cannons move closer to Ukraine’s border

Posted by in category: military

Russia has not let up with a military build-up along the border with Ukraine and deployed to border areas its 203-mm self-propelled guns, that could fire tactical nuclear shells.

Social media users posted videos showing 2S7 Pion self-propelled artillery guns at Vesela Lopan, Belgorod region, just 17 kilometers (10 miles) from the Ukrainian border.

Some experts said that this could be an upgraded version of an artillery system called the 2S7M “Malka”.

Feb 18, 2022

Tracking Biomarkers of Aging

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, chemistry, life extension

The basics for tracking include blood biomarkers that have been studied for 50 – 100+ years, depending on the biomarker. Most of these biomarkers are commonly measured at a yearly physical, and are relatively cheap (35 $USD for the standard chemistry panel and complete blood count).

Feb 18, 2022

Giant solar eruption seen

Posted by in category: space

It lashed out for millions of miles beyond the sun’s surface.

NASA and the European Space Agency’s (ESA’s) Solar Orbiter spacecraft captured the largest solar prominence eruption observed to date.

Continue reading “Giant solar eruption seen” »

Feb 18, 2022

Three’s a crowd (non-annotated)

Posted by in category: futurism

Feb 18, 2022

Astronomers discover the largest-ever galaxy thanks to a “stroke of luck”

Posted by in category: space

Feb 18, 2022

Neuralink admits monkeys died during its projects but not due to cruelty

Posted by in category: neuroscience

Feb 18, 2022

Long-Term Space Travel Can ‘Rewire’ Astronaut’s Brains, Study Suggests

Posted by in category: space