Recreating the Chameleon: Material Mimics Color Changes of Living Organisms

a) This is a photograph of the spherical colloidal crystals containing 0.20 wt% carbon black (CB). The size of the fine silica particles ranges from 200 to 300 nm, and 11 different sizes were used. b) This is a picture of a weevil drawn using spherical colloidal crystals prepared using monodispersed silica particles with various particle sizes and CB. The surroundings of the weevils are drawn with spherical colloidal crystals that do not contain CB and change with the color of the background. Credit: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

a) This is a photograph of the spherical colloidal crystals containing 0.20 wt% carbon black (CB). The size of the fine silica particles ranges from 200 to 300 nm, and 11 different sizes were used. b) This is a picture of a weevil drawn using spherical colloidal crystals prepared using monodispersed silica particles with various particle sizes and CB. The surroundings of the weevils are drawn with spherical colloidal crystals that do not contain CB and change with the color of the background. Credit: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Researchers at Nagoya University develop a composite material that, by adjusting its composition and exposing it to different types of light, can mimic animals’ changes in color...

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The Na/K-ATPase Oxidant Amplification Loop Regulates Aging

Effects of pNaKtide on adipocyte phenotype, senescence, and apoptosis in C57Bl6 aging mice. (A) H&E staining in visceral adipose tissue. Images taken with 40X objective lens; scale bar represents 100 µm. Arrows mark “crown like structures” indicative of inflammation. (B) Quantitative analysis of adipocytes area in visceral adipose tissue. (C) Representative images of TUNEL assay with quantification in C57B16 aging mice. Images taken with 40X objective lens; scale bar represents 25 µm. (D–F) qRT-PCR analysis of ApoJ, p21 and PPARγ in C57Bl6 aging mice with GAPDH as a loading control. Y, young; Y + P, young + pNaKtide; OB, old baseline; O, old; O + P, old + pNaKtide; O + WD, old + western diet; O + WD + P, old + western diet + pNaKtide. N = 8/group, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 vs Y, #p < 0.05, ##p < 0.01 vs O, &p < 0.05, &&p < 0.01 vs O + WD.

Effects of pNaKtide on adipocyte phenotype, senescence, and apoptosis in C57Bl6 aging mice. (A) H&E staining in visceral adipose tissue. Images taken with 40X objective lens; scale bar represents 100 µm. Arrows mark “crown like structures” indicative of inflammation. (B) Quantitative analysis of adipocytes area in visceral adipose tissue. (C) Representative images of TUNEL assay with quantification in C57B16 aging mice. Images taken with 40X objective lens; scale bar represents 25 µm. (D–F) qRT-PCR analysis of ApoJ, p21 and PPARγ in C57Bl6 aging mice with GAPDH as a loading control. Y, young; Y + P, young + pNaKtide; OB, old baseline; O, old; O + P, old + pNaKtide; O + WD, old + western diet; O + WD + P, old + western diet + pNaKtide. N = 8/group, *p < 0.05, **p < 0...

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Computational Model analysis reveals Serotonin Speeds Learning

A new computational-model designed by researchers at UCL based on data from the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown reveals that serotonin, one of the most widespread chemicals in the brain, can speed up learning.

A new computational-model designed by researchers at UCL based on data from the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown reveals that serotonin, one of the most widespread chemicals in the brain, can speed up learning.

Study provides insight into the role of serotonin in neural plasticity. A new computational-model designed by researchers at UCL based on data from the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown reveals that serotonin, one of the most widespread chemicals in the brain, can speed up learning.

Serotonin is thought to mediate communications between neural cells and play an essential role in functional, and dysfunctional, cognition...

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Low-cost Plastic Sensors could Monitor a Range of Health Conditions

A low-cost sensor made from semiconducting plastic could be used to diagnose or monitor a wide range of health conditions, such as surgical complications or neurodegenerative diseases. Credit: KAUST

A low-cost sensor made from semiconducting plastic could be used to diagnose or monitor a wide range of health conditions, such as surgical complications or neurodegenerative diseases. Credit: KAUST

An international team of researchers have developed a low-cost sensor made from semiconducting plastic that can be used to diagnose or monitor a wide range of health conditions, such as surgical complications or neurodegenerative diseases. The sensor can measure the amount of critical metabolites, such as lactate or glucose, that are present in sweat, tears, saliva or blood, and, when incorporated into a diagnostic device, could allow health conditions to be monitored quickly, cheaply and accurately...

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