Channel protein converts vibrations to electrical signal
...e think that the ankryin repeats actually form the elastic element that had been defined biophysically," Corey said. He plans further experiments to test this possibility. Additionally, Corey suspects that TRPA1 might play a role in the amplification of sound signals, a process that increases sensitivity an...New source for heart bypass replacement blood vessels: Fibrin-based TEVs
...cal steps. So the need for a source of strong, yet elastic -- and physiologically responsive replacement blood vessels has been the subject of laboratory searches and experimentation for decades. The study, "Fibrin-based functional and implantable small diameter blood vessels," was written by Daniel D. Swa...Story tips from the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory
...ratch testing, surface feature imaging and dynamic elastic modulus mapping. Sub-micron-scale information gained from tests performed in Blau's lab at the High Temperature Materials Laboratory is critical to developers of new ceramics, plastics and coatings for surgical implants such as artificial hips and kn...Study in Royal Society journal on evidence for impact of global warming on bird populations
..., Physical and Engineering On the distribution of elastic forces in disordered structures and materials. I Computer simulation by Dr AHW Ngan Many engineering materials designed to cushion impacts (eg granular packings and foam materials) have random internal structures. When these materials are subjected t...Endurance running may be key to evolution of human body form
...and foot effectively store and release significant elastic energy during running, but they're not needed for walking. "There were 2.5 million to 3 million years of bipedal walking [by australopithecines] without ever looking like a human, so is walking going to be what suddenly transforms the homini...Harvard scientists discover how the venus flytrap snaps
...relies on both an active biochemical and a passive elastic process, say Mahadevan and former students and pos...aves, once stimulated, provided the means by which elastic energy was stored and released, creating a simple yet effective jaw-like movement. "In essence, a...Like the famous doughboy, nanotubes give when you poke 'em
...e-versa to see how these changes affect the tubes' elastic properties....Inner structure of cells behaves much as molten glass
...d the cell as a viscous fluid core contained by an elastic cortical membrane, but their findings did not at all conform to that picture. The team's experiments show that the cell is a strange intermediate form of matter that is neither solid nor fluid, but retains features of both. Moreover, as the cell goes...Scripps research scientists discover new key to pulmonary edema in respiratory distress syndrome
...he gas exchange with blood occurs. The alveoli are elastic cavities lined with a tiny amount of fluid and a molecule called surfactant, which prevents these airways from collapsing in on themselves. Surrounding the alveoli are networks of tiny capillaries that carry oxygen-depleted blood around the outside o...Shark skin saves naval industry money
... other. Liedert produced a synthetic shark skin of elastic silicone, which has a significantly decreased contact surface. This reduced contact surface makes it harder for barnacles to attach, and reduces fouling by 67%. When applied to the ship hull, this artificial surface enables ships to self-clean, and ...Chemical 'band-aid' prevents heart failure in mice with muscular dystrophy
... direct effect of P188's ability to restore normal elastic properties in individual cardiac myocytes. To examine the effects of P188 on mdx hearts under stress, U-M researchers gave the mice a drug called dobutamine to make the heart work harder and faster for 30 minutes. "During the stress test, 40 percent...Hamill Foundation funds innovation program at Rice
...l properties of the protein titin. Titin, a large, elastic protein, plays a central but poorly understood role in the formation and function of heart tissue. Using a combination of experimental and theoretical studies, the group hopes to develop a solid understanding of titin's mechanical properties, both at...Spiders help scientists discover how muscles relax
...mon protein in muscle cells, responsible for their elastic and contractile properties. The thick filaments are arranged in parallel with thin filaments of another muscle protein, actin. When the actin and myosin filaments slide along one another, the muscle contracts or relaxes. Padrn's study focused on the ...... up of cells, the rest is the material that endows elastic tissue, bone tissue, ligaments and tendons with their physical and functional properties that's what we call the matrix. "Our research aims to define the contribution of cell interactions with matrices to human diseases, and develop approaches for p...Housecat-sized Siberian tiger cubs get collared
...est wild tigers to be tracked by scientists. The elastic collars, which eventually fall off as the tigers grow, weigh just over five ounces and would fit on a large house cat. They give researchers crucial insights into the needs of tiger cubs and may help improve the survival and reproduction of this lar...Inherent vascular repair key to atherosclerosis
...ls themselves change, creating a narrower and less elastic artery. The Duke team focused on the role of a specialized bone marrow cells known as vascular progenitor cells (VPC). These cells circulate throughout the blood stream, respond to the initial damage to the arterial lining and initiate the repair pro...Protein 'nanosprings' most resilient found in nature
...lled "ankyrin repeats," exhibit such unprecedented elastic properties could lead to a new understanding of ho...udent Gwangrog Lee further examined the molecules' elastic properties by attaching one end of the molecules to a glass slide and gently pulling at the other en...Stable polymer nanotubes may have a biotech future
... tiny droppers called micropipettes to pull on the elastic membranes to form long, double-walled tubes that are less than 100 nanometers in diameter. (View a movie of this process at: http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/images/Polymer_Nanotubes_Animation.htm .) A chemical was added to break bonds between ato...New Georgia Tech probe revolutionizes nano imaging
...system was used to image the topography as well as elastic and adhesive properties of carbon nanotubes simultaneously, which is another first. FIRAT's new speed and added features may open up many new applications for AFM. For instance, FIRAT is capable of scanning integrated circuits for mechanical and ma...Blood pressure medication may revolutionize treatment of Marfan syndrome
...rotein that is required during development to make elastic fibers in a range of tissues throughout the body. ...e are born without a proper quotient or quality of elastic fibers. So this really suggested that at birth, someone with Marfan syndrome already has an obligate...