Benefits Of NAD+ Supplementation For Aging And Cellular Health

Aging is a natural process, but science and nutrition are continually finding ways to ease its impact on our bodies. One promising avenue of research is the role of Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD+) in cellular health and longevity. This coenzyme is found in all living cells and plays a critical part in metabolic processes. Resources like nad.com provide comprehensive information on this coenzyme. 

While NAD+ is a critical enzyme, its levels decline with age, leading to various age-related health issues. NAD+ supplementation can potentially help replenish these declining levels, thereby supporting better health outcomes. Below, we explore the remarkable benefits of NAD+ for aging and cellular health. 

The Science Behind NAD+ Supplementation And Anti-Aging 

The connection between NAD+ and aging hinges on its ability to enhance the activity of sirtuins, which are sometimes referred to as "longevity genes". These genes protect cells from dying, regulate inflammation, and manage DNA repair—processes that are at the core of slowing down the aging process. By supplying the body with NAD+, sirtuins can perform optimally, potentially leading to a healthier, longer life. 

Studies involving NAD+ precursors have shown promising results in age-related conditions such as muscular degeneration, neurodegenerative diseases, and metabolic disorders. For example, mice supplemented with NMN demonstrated improved age-related metabolic decline and increased longevity. This has provided a scientific basis for exploring the effects of these supplements in humans. 

Clinical trials on NAD+ supplementation in humans are in progress. They evaluate not just its potential anti-aging effects but also its impact on diseases related to aging and metabolism. While the mechanism in human biology is complex, the research aims to establish a firm connection between increased NAD+ levels and improved health span. 

Improving Metabolic Functions Through NAD+ Boosting 

One of the standout features of NAD+ is its ability to support and improve metabolic functions. It is intricately involved in redox reactions, which are fundamental processes for converting food into usable energy. Improved metabolism is not just about having more energy; it also involves better regulation of blood sugar levels and reduced fat accumulation, which are important for preventing metabolic diseases. 

Enhancing NAD+ levels through supplementation has shown potential in improving insulin sensitivity and preventing metabolic abnormalities. This could be particularly beneficial to those with type 2 diabetes or other metabolic syndromes. With better cellular energy production, the body can function more optimally, supporting overall health and wellness. 

Beyond these metabolic pathways, NAD+ also influences circadian rhythms, which control sleep patterns, hormone release, and eating habits. By stabilizing these rhythms, NAD+ might help to align these functions more harmoniously, which could improve metabolism and potentially lead to healthier aging. 

NAD+ Supplementation For Enhanced Energy And Brain Health 

The search for increased vitality often leads to the realm of cellular health, where NAD+ supplementation is steadily gaining recognition. Feeling energetic is a direct result of robust cellular energy production, and with NAD+ being pivotal to this process, it forms a crucial element in addressing fatigue and low energy levels. The link between higher NAD+ levels and improved energy is one of the reasons many seek out these supplements. 

But the benefits of NAD+ go beyond just a boost in physical energy. Cognitive functions are also positively influenced, as the brain is one of the most energy-demanding organs in the body. With improved mitochondrial function, essential for cognitive processes, NAD+ can support brain health, leading to better concentration, mental clarity, and memory. 

Age-related cognitive decline is a major concern, and research suggests that NAD+ might play a role in protecting against neurodegenerative diseases. While more studies are needed to confirm these benefits in humans, the prospect of supporting brain health through NAD+ supplementation is an exciting development in neuroscience and gerontology. 

Altogether, the prospects of NAD+ supplementation present an exciting frontier in the bid to support cellular health and combat aging. With ongoing research, the hope is to refine our understanding of how to utilize this coenzyme to its full potential, offering a brighter future for those seeking to preserve vitality and well-being as the years progress.

6 Benefits Of Injection Molded Surgical Devices

Medical equipment is exceedingly delicate. Surgical instruments must meet strict requirements to function efficiently and must withstand a variety of stressors. In medical contexts, chemical reactions pose a considerable concern because reactive materials can contaminate crucial medications or testing procedures, as a result, medical device items must be designed from the start with the ultimate objective in mind, taking into consideration structural design elements as well as resource selection techniques to create the best component for each case. 

Medical-grade plastics are fast becoming the medium of choice for a diverse variety of surgical instruments. The superior mechanical qualities of healthcare molding polymers allow for the total elimination of metals from operational instrument designs. In other cases, metal and plastic elements can be combined to make a better item with features that would be impossible to achieve with either an all-metal or all-plastic technology. 

Injection molding allows device manufacturers to create complicated parts with high part-to-part consistency, but selecting the apt material and method is crucial. The cost-effective medical plastic injection molding technology is excellent for massive production operations and applications that need uniformity and strict standards; molding procedure in the fabrication of medical equipment prototypes for FDA approval and test procedures. 

Material Usage 

Durable plastic materials with high molecular mass and chemical and thermal resistance are used in the medical injection molding process. Polycarbonate is a pharmaceutical-grade plastic that is inherently clear and often used for surgical equipment. It has good tension, shearing, and modulus of elasticity. It's also more heat resistant, has a lower humidity absorption rate, and is more durable than acrylics. 

PEEK is a rare genetic plastic material that is chemically robust, resistant to breaking and strain, and can be autoclave sterilized. It has a UL 94 V-0 combustibility certification and is FDA approved for contact with food. Ultem is another material that is used in medical equipment and can be sterilized in an autoclave. It is hard and brittle and chronic conditions, has great structural accuracy, and is rigid. 

Let us look at some top benefits of Injection Molded Surgical Devices 

1. Cost Quotient 

Injection molding is one of the most cost-effective manufacturing technologies today, notably when producing large quantities. Plastic injection mold is virtually usually the most cost-effective solution when healthcare supplies, equipment, and gadgets are needed in large quantities. 

Due to the sheer cheaper price-per-part, large manufacturing quantities tend to repay manufacturing costs over time. As a result, injection molding is ideal for equipment such as tanks, pipes, and single-use hospital instruments such as syringes. All of your healthcare industry demands may be met by using injection molding. 

2. Weight Quotient 

Mechanical characteristics of modern treatment polymers, especially filled polymeric materials, are comparable to those of traditional metals. Polymer resins are a direct replacement for metals in several instances, giving the equivalent performance of the device while drastically decreasing equipment mass. Reduced weights can assist surgeons to work more efficiently in the surgical procedure by reducing tiredness during protracted operations. 

3. Durability Quotient 

Many injection-molded plastics are sturdy and durable, withstanding severe conditions, vibrations, and pressure without snapping, fracturing, or exploding. Many injection molding plastics are also resistant to heat, allowing them to be disinfected regularly using an autoclave or other methods. 

Tight-tolerance manufacturing is crucial in the medical sector, where millimeters or microns may make or break a product's effectiveness. Appliance injection molding factories with advanced technology can create large numbers of systems and sensors with excellent precision and minimal variation from unit to piece. 

4. Versatility Quotient 

Several synthetic plastics are readily accessible on a commercial scale and can be used in production. Fortunately, many of these polymers may be used in medical equipment. These plastics have well-understood physical and thermal characteristics, making it simple to select the one that is best suited to the final application and atmosphere. Thermostable, chemical resistant, robust, inexpensive, biodegradable, and nontoxic resins are available. 

When it comes to prostheses, replacement joints, and other diagnostic implants that will be in constant touch with the person, plastics are becoming incredibly common. You can discover the perfect match for your healthcare gadget among the many plastics accessible for the injection molding process. 

5. Functionality Quotient 

Coating surgical equipment is impractical, and colorization is limited to the simple metal color. Injection molding makes for easy coloring inside the plastic, as well as organic clarity in some cases. It brings some path-breaking opportunities: surgical tools and gadgets can be the color scheme for simple recognition, or doctors can see through transparent plastics for better sight during surgeries. 

Medical devices injection moulding plastics are designed to be foreign - body resistant and easy to sterilise. Furthermore, the injection molding technique is simple to comply with FDA and other regulations. 

6. MRI Compatibility 

Most metals can not be used in large magnetic fields, such as those encountered in MRI situations, due to their magnetic characteristics; plastics are impervious to the electromagnetic field, therefore, injection-molded equipment is safe when it is used near or beside MRI scanners. 

Overmolding is the process of molding a polymeric covering over a section of metals to transmit specialized characteristics, such as increased handle and controls while keeping the underlying metal tool's toughness and energy absorption. Alternatively, since certain elements are pricey out of metals, plastic can be utilized to substitute a sophisticated section of a gadget. 

Final Words On Injection Molding For Surgical Devices

The way things are progressing in both technical and medical domains, the surgical devices and equipment are upgrading at such rapid speed that the future is bright for both the surgeons and the patients. The advancement in technology has already made operations precise. With such improvements, the process has given confidence to surgeons to take bold steps and save more lives than before. 

It is why plastic injection molding is so well-suited to medical equipment fabrication: the molding process is reliable and systematic, ensuring a stable quality month by month, season after season, and the ability to produce massive volumes of identical components.

Chloramine Filtration Water Filter Installation

There are so many contaminants that are present in the normal tap water which may lead you to unhealthiness and sickness. But most people will surely not want to drink or use the water that has many harmful contaminants such as lead, chlorine, chloramines, iron, and many other contaminants. So it will be beneficial for people to install a water filter system that will make the water healthy and pure. Whether you are using the normal tap water for drinking or you are using it for bathing or washing clothes, it is harmful to your healthy life. The best thing that almost everyone is using to keep themselves and their family members safe. 

The chloramine filtration system is what most people are installing at their homes for the removal of impurities. This type of water filtration system will be able to remove the contaminants when the water will enter your home. So the chloramine filtration system needs to be installed at the point before the water will enter the main fixture at your home. It will surely reduce the contaminants in the main water line before it will enter through the home. 

In this article, we are going to provide you information about how you can be able to install the chloramine filtration system. You will just have to follow one simple and easy procedure in order to install the water filtration system. We are going to guide you with a step by step procedure on installing a house water filter system. So that you can be able to use clean and healthy water to cook, bathe, drink, etc. It will be beneficial for you to follow all the steps that we did mention here carefully to install the chloramine filtration system. 

Procedure For The Chloramine Filtration System Installation 

In order to install the chloramine filtration system, you will just have to follow the simple and easy steps. Here is the step by step guide that will help you to install the water filter system at your home. 

Choose Filter Location

First of all, you will have to choose the filter location which is easily accessible for you or any other person. You will have to access the place where you are going to install the water filter for so many times. It is because you will have to change the filter cartridges whenever it is time to replace them with a new one. Also, you need to be sure that no obstacles will come in the water while the installation is in the process. You will have to select a position near the main water shut off valve and ensure that the filter is by the wall or floor joist. 

Cut The Pipe Appropriately 

After ensuring that the water supply is off, you will have to mark the pipe at the exact location. You have to also follow the manufacturer's instructions and make sure that you have to cut the pipe enough to accommodate the filter. You can use the tube cutter to make two cuts at the marks. Then you will have to remove the section of the pipe where you will place the filter. Remove burrs on the cut pipe with the help of a reamer or a deburring tool. 

Assemble Parts And Install The Filter 

• Install a shut-off valve 
• Dry fit all the fittings to ensure a good connection. 
• Fittings will include a compression nut, ferrule, and fittings to connect a waterline for the incoming and outgoing sides of the filter assembly. 
• Use PTFE taps for fittings 
• Also, you will need an adaptor to join your size and type of pipe 

Add A Grounding Jumper Cable If Needed 

As some older homes use metal water pipes, you will have to determine the water filter system has a ground wire attached securely. You will just have to make sure the installation of grounding clamps to the metal pipes on either side of the filter. Also, secure a length of the heavy-gauge wire from clamp to clamp and secure the tightness of the wire. This way, you can be able to install the chloramine filtration system yourself at home. 

DIYers with just a moderate amount of experience can be able to install carbon chloramine filtration. If you are going to follow all these steps carefully and appropriately. Then you will surely be able to install the chloramine filtration system. As you know that the water filter system is essential for the healthiness of you and your family members, you must have to install it. 

If you have any kind of difficulty or if you are facing any kind of problems installing the water filter system. Then you can follow the step by step instruction that we are providing you in this article. It will be beneficial for you to have the chloramine filtration system at your home. So that you can enjoy clean and healthy water in each and every faucet in your home.

Interesting Facts: List of The Things That You Should Know

There are many individuals on this planet that always wonder about small or big things. They are the ones that don’t know how to stop being curious and thinking about what they see online, in history, technology, and a lot more. Well, we are living in a world where there are still unexplained things to us that we need to know and to explore. It is also our curiosity that drives us to question things and be aware of the facts that we still don’t know yet. 

Every one of us is indeed hungry to know the origin of a specific technology, the most profound history, unusual and interesting facts, and even how an event unfolds. If you think about not caring, then there would not be a question that will arise to your mind. But mostly, more people wonder about mysterious things about this world that they want to discover. Besides this list, you can check out more interesting facts to ease your mind. With that, here’s a list of interesting facts that you should know. 

Red And Yellow Can Stimulate Hunger 

Picture out all the top fast-food restaurants in your area. What does KFC, McDonald’s, Chick- fil-a, and Popeyes all have in common besides being popular fast-food chains? Their branding and logos are affiliated with yellow and red. It is because those colors can stimulate hunger, psychologically. And color psychology is a marketing trend for many years. 

But do you ever think about how does color can affect how you feel about the food that you eat? The best example is the red color because restaurants often use it, then followed by orange and yellow. The combination of orange and yellow can also make individuals feel hungry. Red can be associated with passion and emotion. So if you see that color red is being combined with orange and yellow, you will be passionately hungry. 

You Can Cook An Egg In More Than 100 Ways 

People use eggs in their main dish, baking, and even in making desserts like pudding and flan. According to some people, the chef’s hat folds represent the many ways a chef can cook the egg, and only experts in culinary can wear the hat with 100 folds. But there are genuinely more than a hundred ways how to prepare eggs. If you search the web about egg recipes, you will find there the different ways how you can cook it. 

People can cook eggs alone, and there are several ways to do that like egg omelet, hard- boiled, poached egg, and a lot more. They can also use eggs in making main dishes, desserts, bread, and even drinks. That only shows that there are many ways to cook an egg. 

People Who Are Color Blind Have Great Night Vision 

Since people who are color blind differently perceive color, they can detect camouflage color than people with regular eyes can’t see. As you know, a cone is a pigmented photoreceptor that can distinguish color at the level of light more than twilight. Colorblind individuals don’t have complete cone pigments for them to discriminate colors. They are not the missing cones replaced by the rods. It is also a hereditary case, and experts call it achromatopsia, which means that they are the people born with no cones. Luckily, these are the people with excellent night vision compared to ordinary people. Their views are sometimes not better than a vision of 20/200 because they lack the foveal cones that enable them to have better visual discrimination. 

Interesting Facts Takeaway 

It’s better if we always research for something that we want to know. We need to gain more knowledge so that we use it in the future. You can also search for more interesting facts to be informed about some of the things in this world.

Some Of The Amazing Facts That You Need To Know About

There are people in this world who always wonder about many things, big or small. They are the individuals who don’t stop thinking about the stuff that they see in every corner of this world. The world is full of things that we don’t know yet, that is why some of us want to explore more. It is our curiosity that makes us aware of what we know and what we don’t know. 

All of us indeed want to know the origin of some things, how it is made, and it was named. If you don’t think that way, then you don’t care about the things around you. But many people ever wondered about the facts that this world has and what they don't know. Aside from this list, you can also check out more amazing facts. So here are some of the most surprising facts that you need to know about. 

The Person Who Invented Basketball Is James Naismith 

He is also the person who designed the first helmet for football. Dr. Naismith invented basketball because he needs a game that he can play indoors in winter. Basketball is a major American sport that people can identify who originated the game. 

James Naismith also wrote basketball’s 13 original rules to be part of a class assignment during December 1891 at a YMCA’s training school at Springfield, Massachusetts. James Naismith was educated and born in Canada. He came south because he wants to pursue his passion for Christian ministry and physical education. He also expanded on a task to make a game that they can play in the gyms of the YMCA in the winter season. 

The Reindeer’s Eyes Changes Color By The Seasons 

It is also among the reindeer’s surprising, amazing facts. A reindeer’s eyes change to blue from gold to assist them in adapting to light levels extreme changes. This type of ability also enables them to be aware of predators around them and let them escape skillfully. Scientists discovered it during their research, and it is the only time it happened and shown in mammals. 

A British study also showed that some animals adapt uniquely during Arctic winters, especially reindeers, which they experience continuous summer daylight and constant winter darkness. Like some mammals, reindeer eyes can reflect some light through their retina, and those eyes turn to gold. 

Abraham Lincoln Is A Champion in Wrestling 

Before he was named the president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln was also known to be a good wrestler, and he won a lot of awards during his wrestling time. Moreover, among his big matches was with Jack Armstrong, his rival. Many people only think that he was a president, but many don’t know that he was good at this sport. However, it turned out that he was a great wrestler, and he was even given the honor to be one of the Hall of Famer in National Wrestling. 

Lincoln was a great competitor, and he has a great wrestling frontier-style that brings out brute strength to help players throw their competitors off of their feet. It is also similar to a hand to hand fighting style rather than grappling. When Lincoln was 21, that is the time he claimed the title of wrestling champ in 1830 in his country. His height is also 6’4, and that’s why wrestling is perfect for him. 

The Boston Celtic’s Name Was Chosen Over Olympians And Whirlwinds 

If you’re going to ask a modern-day basketball enthusiast about Celtics, they would assume that you talk about the Boston team. However, its name was made famous by an old club. 

Way back in 1911, they started the first basketball league in New York City. Most of the teams are the reflection of their hometown, an Irish group of immigrants coming from Chelsea, and undoubtedly, they took the Celtics name. The team also was a local success, but they are dissolved when the US entered WWI. 

After World War I, Thomas and Jim Furey had ideas. The ideas were to rebrand the team to be the Legit Celtics, and they shifted to the professional field; not before long, Celtics dominated the basketball scene in New York City. Eventually, they were barnstorming and won almost all of the games. 

While the first Celtics reinvented the game, they got the credit with the first zone defense, play of low post, and shifting with the team's defense to man-to-man, and they are not on the top anymore. The team then joined the ABL, and after that, they were trying to go back to barnstorming using mixed success. Then, they faded in the 1940s’ early years. 

There Is A Scientific Term For Ice Cream Headaches 

Ice cream headaches are also called as brain freeze, cold headache stimulus, and its scientific term sphenopalatine ganglion neuralgia. It’s a short duration of headache, and it’s a result of fast consumption of cold drinks, ice pops, and ice cream. 

Brain freeze can occur when a freezing substance touches the mouth roof or upper palate. It’s a common thing that happens when a person consumes frozen food rapidly in scorching weather. 

The scientists of Harvard Medical School also researched the brain freeze’s cause, and they believe that the findings can make way for an effective cure for many headache types, like the migraine-related conditions, or pain from brain injuries.

Nikola Tesla’s Statue Offers Free Wi-Fi 

It is also among the fascinating facts about Nikola Tesla’s statue that people can find in Silicon Valley. The statue itself doesn’t only provide Wi-Fi, but it also has a time capsule that’s dated to open in 2043. While Nikola Tesla’s influence stays in a lot of ways through electricity and technology advancement, it’s also great to see his physical image to provide wireless tech to the people. 

Amazing Facts Takeaway 

The mentioned above are just some of the world’s amazing facts, but the truth is that there are still more that you don’t know. Those are the facts that might be shocking and will blow your mind when you hear them.

7 Key Tips for Managing a Productive Lab

Being a lab manager is no easy job. Especially on those days where materials go missing, samples don’t cooperate, and equipment turns out to have broken half a month ago.

Whether it’s a funding deadline or your superior looking down on you and putting pressure onto the lab’s productivity, there is usually something important on the line.

To keep your team pushing towards those goals, they rely on your laboratory management. So, here are seven critical tips for a productive lab, so you can keep your management skills top-notch.

Let's dive in!


What Makes a Great Lab Manager?

Before we jump into our list of useful tips, let’s take a quick look at the overarching qualities an effective lab manager should possess.

• Organizational Skills
• Leadership in Decision-Making
• Setting and following Rules and Regulations
• Managing Budgets
• Management from the Front
• Communication
• Project Management

Chances are if you are in this field, you have already checked most items on that list. But how can you improve on your lab management or make sure your current standard is maintained? It’s all about setting good habits.


1. Keep an Inventory of Everything

That much seems obvious. But how to organize your inventory? It’s crucial to find a method to categorize, identify, and track samples. One way to do so is by using barcodes.

The next important thing is that everything should have a correct label so you can alphabetize and organize however you see fit.

Keep in mind that some samples (and labels) will have to withstand different environments. 

Cryogenic labels, for example, are great for specimens stored in liquid nitrogen. 

Once you have devised a system to categorize all tubes, vials, and boxes you might be handling, it’s important everyone is on the same page and knows to restore components to their designated place. 


2. Be Organized

It’s worth investing time in workflow management so you can make it easier to track inventory, improve sample traceability, and improve the time management and the overall productivity of your staff. 

The best way to do so is to implement a laboratory information management system (LIMS), as this will note down the movement of each sample through the resting process.

It will also track the chain of custody, and allow users to schedule downstream processing, testing, and analysis. Already we refer back to point one - Barcode Labels are critical to making the most of a LIMS, as both will aid with similar things.

For a LIMS to be appropriately implemented and any time of workflow management to work, you and your personnel need to be on the same page at all times.

It’s essential to learn to coordinate and communicate. Habe regular lab meetings to set up and maintain any LIMS you wish to employ, and keep clean records of all lab activities using both the LIMS and annotated lab books.

Detailed, comprehensive lab books and SOPs are crucial to keeping a lab running long-term, especially in an academic field where students perform the majority of the work over several years and then leave their notes to future students. 

An excellent way to keep your documents organized is by using the same labels in your lab book as you use for the samples you're analyzing.


3. Maintain Lab Infrastructure

This is integral to ensuring your samples and reagents are untarnished and respond as they should in the future.

Maintenance measures include keeping freezers and refrigerators at the right temperature. Some equipment, like nitrogen tanks, will require replenishing and balancing. 

You can help automate this process by installing a system that can monitor your storage equipment, provide real-time updates and notification, and keep detailed logs.

A cloud-based framework can incorporate all reports into a single interface and alarm the members of the lab when something goes wrong or missing. 

And of course, always follow lab best practices. Contamination can be avoided by continually cleaning benches and used lab equipment with sanitizing wipes, bleach, or 70% ethanol solutions.

You should also replenish the water supply of water baths regularly, de-ice your freezers occasionally, and apply UV to your biosafety cabinet consistently.


4. The Fault Lies in the System

No matter how organized a lab is, it is inevitable that an error will occur sooner or later. We can learn from the field of medicine that the ‘bad apple’ approach where anyone that makes a mistake is reprimanded doesn’t work.

It's much better to discuss the errors and designing barriers that will reduce the likelihood of them reappearing. Remember that it is the system that should be held responsible and improved in response, not the people.

Your staff is more likely to avoid errors if all systems support the optimal workflow, such as recording all relevant information in the lab book, using the right labels, keeping an organized inventory, and maintaining equipment.


5. Think Outside the Box

As any scientist worth their salt knows, breakthroughs are seldom achieved by repeating what has already been done. Be willing to get creative and think outside of the box.

Make creative problem-solving part of your process, and encourage your team to do the same.


6. Master Common Sense

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to lab management. Each lab has different requirements and faces different challenges while working on entirely different projects.

No team can be compared to another, and facilities always have different resources available to them. This is worth embracing and adapting to your philosophy when it comes to management.

It’s important to know what to prioritize in your specific situation and find simple solutions rather than overly complicated ones.

When you keep organization and finances in mind during your decision making, many processes become bright ideas. Like sign-up sheets for machines or bio-safety cabinets, and checklists for often-repeated procedures.


7. Communicate, Collaborate, and Conquer

When everyone is working on different tasks for the week, it’s easy to forget that there is a team of people available at any time to support. Sometimes lab management requires stepping back to let others shine. 

Keep your team communicating and collaborating actively. One easy way to do this is by having a lab meeting at the start of each week. Use this time to go over what everyone is doing, what their tasks are, and where people could use assistance if necessary.

Allow the whole team to pitch into solving problems and encourage your team to form relationships inside and outside of the lab.

When professionals care about each other, they are naturally more inclined to help and support one another. Encourage this by remembering to bring a cake for any team member’s birthday.


These Habits Can Improve Your Laboratory Management

There are endless solutions to the challenges you face in your lab, but with that in mind, organization, maintenance, and communication can help you establish efficient and successful workflows.

Improving your laboratory management style and focusing on improving your existing pain points will ensure the gratitude of your team and superiors. For more tips on managing and budgeting, check out the rest of our website.

EMP Safety: How to Prepare for a Nuclear Attack

When most people think of surviving a nuclear attack, they envision a massive explosion, physical devastation, and the inevitable radiation issues. While these are all important factors, people also need to worry about an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) created the explosion.

The EMP could do just as much if not more long-term devastation than the nuclear explosion, but few people understand what it is and how it works. We’ll examine the facets of an EMP and what you can do to protect your family and yourself from its aftereffects.

If there is a attack on American soil or in the atmosphere, you need to know how to prepare for a nuclear attack.


What Happens During a Nuclear Explosion?

There are two ways a nuclear attack can happen. It can be detonated on the ground or in the upper atmosphere. A ground attack would create a devastating explosion that would obliterate almost everything within a few miles of the explosion.

There would be shockwave created by the explosion that would knock down buildings and almost everything else in it’s past. Once the explosion is over, there is radiation exposure based on wind directions and proximity to the blast site.

The blast also creates an EMP that could knock out all electrical equipment within a certain radius of the blast.

If the detonation happens in the atmosphere, then the primary danger would be radiation fallout and the EMP, which could impact a far greater number of devices.

The EMP could knock out power, cars, telecommunications, the Internet and any other electronic devices within its range.


What is an EMP?

An EMP is an energy burst that can impact turned on electrical devices and power stations. It causes a large pulse of electricity to flow through wiring such as power lines or even cell phones.

They can occur naturally through solar storms or through nuclear explosions. The exact impact the EMP would have on society is unknown as there has not been much testing on the situation.

An EMP attack could cause major short-term and long-term chaos by disrupting power and telecommunications systems throughout the nation.

Due to American’s reliance on electronics, the Internet and automated systems, the impact could include a complete shutdown of the electrical grid and infrastructure leading to years of problems.

How an EMP caused by a nuclear attack would impact the United States depends on where it was detonated and the power of the bomb. There are three distinct pulses created during a nuclear explosion.

The first is a blast of electromagnetic radiation created soon after the explosion. This EMP impacts only a small area. The second emp comes soon after the first and is like electromagnetic lightning, which causes little damage.

When the nuclear explosion pushes against the earth’s magnetic field, it creates an EMP that impacts a large area and is the one commonly associated with causing widespread devastation.


How to Prepare for a Nuclear Attack

Like any major doomsday scenario, survival depends on your preparation. We’ll discuss what can be done about two main concerns: the blast and radiation.

As with any emergency, you must be prepared to survive for several days or even weeks on your own. This includes a supply of food and water, blankets, flashlights and medication and first-aid supplies, etc. This is simply a disaster preparedness kit that you need for all situations.

If you have enough warning to get into your basement or fallout shelter before the explosion, then be prepared for a large boom followed by the shockwave. Depending on your proximity, your home and anything else above ground could be destroyed.

If you can’t get to the basement, then get under a desk or other surface.

Radiation fallout will be considerable near the blast site and decrease the further out it goes. There is still nuclear fallout in the air and will follow the path of winds in the area. This could extend the range of the fallout for many miles and last for many days or weeks.

It’s best to not go outside unless given the all-clear that the radiation has passed. It’s possible to protect yourself from some radiation by taking iodine pills. If you have or are building a fallout shelter, then you’ll need at least 5 inches of steel, two feet of packed earth, three feet of water or 16 inches of brick to protect from radiation.

You’ll also need an air filtration system or oxygen system independent from outside air as it can bring the radiation into the shelter.


How to Prepare for the EMP

Since the EMP impacts electrical equipment, turn off all necessary equipment prior to the blast. It will keep them from shorting out.

The only thing to protect electronics active during the blast is a Faraday cage. It’s a cage constructed of conductive material that blocks electromagnetic fields. It’s the only thing that can protect electronics from an EMP blast.

You can build one yourself or purchase them pre-made. Once the EMP hits, it could be a martial law situation. It could be weeks or months before some semblance of normality appears and not everyone will be as prepared as you.

When the radiation clears and you exit your shelter, you could run into mobs of people seeking food and shelter or sick and injured people suffering from radiation burns. There could be starving animals that attack on-site and other dangers.

It’s important to be able to protect yourself and your family until law and order can be restored.


You Can Survive a Nuclear Attack

Whether the attack is caused by a foreign nation, terrorists or natural events, preppers can survive a nuclear attack and EMP blast. Follow these prepper tips and you’ll be able to protect your family from one of the deadliest threats to mankind.

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The Use Of Chromatography Columns In Scientific Testing

The Chromatography Column is a lab device that is used for the separation of chemical substances and liquids. The device contains the stationary component and allows the mobile component of the liquid to pass through it conveniently. The device can be effectively used for the separation of both gas and liquids. 

What Are The Types Of Chromatography Columns Used In Laboratories Today? 

There are two types of chromatography columns used in labs today. They are liquid chromatography and gas chromatography. Given below is a brief description of both:

Liquid chromatography column- The liquid chromatography columns that one used to get in the past were made of glass. Today, one will find these columns made of stainless steel, acrylic glass, and borosilicate glass. To stop the stationary liquid from getting out of the device, one uses a net made of ceramic or stainless steel. The size of the net will depend upon the application process. 

Gas Chromatography Column

The gas chromatography column like the liquid chromatography column in the past was made of glass and metal. The latter was often packed with solid stationary particles. Now, changes have been made, and the device has become narrow. They have a coating on silica on the inside of the column that serves the same purpose as the stationary particles that were used in the past. The gas chromatography columns are quite long primarily because they do not have a very high resistance to the flow of the carrier gas. Both the material of which the column is made of as well as the stationary phase of the gas should be compatible with the operating temperatures of the procedure that often might go as high as 300 degrees Celsius and above. 

Buy The Right Chromatography Column From Credible Sources 

One can find both small and narrow chromatography columns to large industrial based ones in the market today. There are credible online websites that helps one find an accurate device for lab projects and testing. These websites are focused on quality materials that are safe and recommended for chromatography lab projects and tests. 

Order Chromatography Column Devices Online 

Thanks to the presence of these credible and esteemed websites, one can effectively order chromatography columns online. The biggest advantage of these online websites is you can effectively order all the products you want from the comforts of any place. The products will be shipped and delivered to your destination without hassles at all. Moreover, when you want to save time and money, make sure you check the online ratings and reviews of these websites before making a purchase. 

Compare Testing Websites

Last but not least, compare websites and choose the best one for your needs. Some websites will also customize the products you want for your needs. Talk to experts and allow them to understand your product specifications so that you can get them on time. With the right websites, you effectively can buy quality products that are safe, certified and perfect for laboratory use and tests! 

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Research Paper: Gene Malfunction in Autism

Gene Malfunction in Autism

            The genome is the most complicated and intricate entity ever discovered. Billions of building blocks come to together in perfect harmony to encode for life. The complexity and extreme specificity of coding produced in the DNA of every living organism, and within every living cell, is comprised of only four nucleotides. It is amazing to ponder the idea that all of life can be explained by the assortment and rearrangement of just four simple building blocks, Adenine, Thymine, Guanine, and Cytosine. In a healthy and stereotypical organism, the organization of these nucleotides is carried out flawlessly in almost every cell throughout the body, each containing the same set of perfectly ordered pairs. Although the human genome is nearly perfect in its attempt to copy and organize its DNA to allow man to thrive, a small minority of people are unfortunate enough to endure the wrath of this near perfection.

            So what happens when the human genome endures a problem in its coding of nucleotides? Often, a mistake in the DNA coding goes unnoticed, meaning the mutation in the ordering of nucleotides does not affect the organism as a whole. However, when the mutation is significant, dramatic changes in the organism are evident, and often devastating. There are countless diseases that are caused by a simple miscoding among nucleotides, which impair the person and negatively affect their development and ability to function. In order to better understand and perhaps find a cure for these genetic based diseases, science must first grasp and interpret the malfunction occurring on the DNA level. Although these diseases have permeated mankind for thousands of years, the strides in genomic based science has allowed an imperceptible growth of understanding. These diseases, such as autism, are an urgency that must be better understood in order for man to escape the tragic and devastating blight that they inflict.

            In a recent study conducted by Dr. Simon Gregory published in the BioMed Central Journal, the mystery of the genetic causes of autism were discussed. The experiment and subsequent analysis of possible genetic malfunctions related to autism proposes a correlation between a deficiency in the oxytocin receptor in the human body. The method in which the experiment was conducted was that a high-resolution genome-wide microarray and comparative genomic hybridization identified variants within 119 probands from families with multiple cases of autism. Next, the experiment continued by undertaking DNA mythylation analysis of peripheral blood and temporal cortex DNA of autism cases and compared that with a control group. One aspect in identifying the mechanism that causes autism is the genes that characterize copy number variants, or CVNs. The most important and significant aspect of the experiment discussed is that the deletion of the oxytocin receptor gene, OXTR. These findings were further explored by observing the correlation between OXTR and autism by using epigenetic analysis of the promoter region of this. Although autism is a complex and intricate disease, just like any genetic disorder, the misregulation of OXTR is the main focus of the experiment in an attempt to explain the disorder.

            In the experiment it was determined that the CVNs were extremely significant in a correlation with autism in patients. In the 119 autism probands a total of 113 within 111 autistic individuals exhibited one or more deletions or duplications, ranging from one to six CNVs per individual. Previously, only one of the genes in question were associated with autism, yet the experiment reveals that there are far more than that. Now not only is a deletion on the chromosome 8q22.2 associated with this disorder, but also deletion of sections within the chromosomes 2q24.1-2q24.3, 15q11-13, and 3p25.

            Similarly, the deletion of OXTR could result in a reduction in levels of OXTR available during the development of a child in utero, which may lead to the development of autism. Although this is a possibility, it does not account for the fact that one child in a family with this deletion of OXTR may have autism, but a child in the same family with the same deletion does not have autism. Thus, this study reveals that there must be another mechanism that has a profound influence on autism. In conjunction with this idea, it is determined that the increase in DNA methylation leads to gene silencing, which can be a factor in autism. An increase in DNA methylation of found within a critical region of OXTR regulation may be a more important factor and could represent a more generalized reason for autism. For example, in the study a group of autistic males with an increase in methylation in the .934 site exhibited 20% less expression. Thus, OXTR has a significant correlation with decreased expression of the gene associated with autism.

            The article was significantly more difficult to read than any other article thus far. It was difficult to infer the meaning of the information because most of the terms were not familiar, and the context clues surrounding them were just as or more difficult. However, the ideas behind the words were relatively easy to understand. The implications of understanding the mechanisms behind a serious disease like autism has profound real world applications. Although this is just one of many studies that must be done to understand the reason for autism on a genetic level, it is a small preview of what is to come. It may seem like an impossibility for autism to be cured, but once it is fully understood and personalized genomes are economically sensible, it is a distinct possibility that autism, and related diseases, may be a worry of the past. This is an urgency of the twenty-first century, yet with sufficient research and experimentation science will discover a solution.

Works Cited

Gregory, Simon. "Genomic and epigenetic evidence for oxytocin receptor deficiency in autism." BioMed Journal (2009): n. pag. Web. 15 Nov 2009.

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Research Paper: Enhancing Chemotherapy

Enhancing Chemotherapy

            The human body is an amazing entity. It is composed of trillions of cells, each specifically engineered in order to function within its own section of the body, ultimately allowing the whole to survive. Cells are constantly created, in an extraordinarily brilliant and precise action that is almost flawlessly carried out millions of times each day. The creation of new cells in the human body is an amazingly precise process but there are countless opportunities for it to fail. Sometimes during the millions of cell divisions this process goes awry resulting in a cellular mutation. Although it does not take one mutation to cause cancer, the first mutation is an initial step towards it.

            Once enough mutations occur, cancerous cells emerge. Treating cancer is an extremely difficult process both attacking the cancer cells and limiting the damage to healthy cells during this process. Chemotherapy is a common treatment for destroying tumors, yet its repercussions on the non-cancerous cells in the body is tremendous. A chemotherapy patient endures horrific pain and suffering from both the cancer and the treatment. Not only does this take a physical toll on the patient, but also an impalpable mental toll as well. In order to advance in the treatment of cancer, man needs to find a mechanism that not only allows for the chemotherapy treatment to work, but also negates its negative effects. Although the solution to this problem seems impossible, there may be an answer closer than we think.

            In a recent study conducted by Dr. Guie Dong discussed in the American Journal of Physiology the problems associated with chemotherapy could be a thought of the past. The study’s focus was two anticancer agents’ cytoprotective effects of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) and Trichostatin A (TSA). These chemicals inhibit histone deacetylases. The study was conducted on rat kidney proximal tubular cells in order to observe the effects of both SAHA and TSA in protecting healthy cells against cisplatin nephrotoxicity. If the chemicals could protect against DNA damage and associated p53 activation resulting in suppression of tubular cell apoptosis (cell suicide) in rats, the implications of this for humans would be tremendous.

            The results of the study revealed a true potential for these chemicals, or similar more advanced chemicals, to aid in chemotherapy. During cisplatin treatment massive apoptosis occurs. In the experiment, the group that was just given cisplatin treatment the RPTC cell apoptosis was 53%, but when treated with SAHA prior to the cisplatin treatment the cell apoptosis was reduced significantly to 21%. Similarly, when RPTC cells were treated with TSA the cisplatin was reduced by 17%. Both chemicals inhibit the negative apoptosis that the cisplatin treatment causes. This part of the experiment was conducted over a short period of time. For practical use the success of SAHA and TSA needs to be long-term the experimenters also observed its success over an extended period. Forty-eight hours after cisplatin treatment the morphology and amount of cell protein recovered was observed for each of the experimental and control groups. In the group of RPTC cells that were just issued the cisplatin treatment the long-term effect was staggering. Almost no cell protein was recovered and the cell population was quite low. In stark contrast, the groups treated with SAHA and TSA observed a considerable difference. A large amount of protein was recovered and there was significant cell survival.

            Another aspect of the experiment was to test the effects of SAHA and TSA on the signaling pathway that leads to cisplatin-induced renal cell apoptosis and DNA damage and p53 activation. One intrinsic property of HDAC inhibitors is that they block the structural alterations of chromosomes, which is an effect of cisplatin. Thus, this could aid in the cytoprotective effects of SAHA and TAS by protecting cells from DNA damage. A major cause in the damage to a cell’s DNA is caused by p53 activation. Through the results of the experiment it was determined that SAHA has a moderate, yet significant, influence by suppressing the effects of p53 which protects the RPTC cells during cisplatin. SAHA does not deflate the damage to DNA that is caused by cisplatin, yet it does interfere with an activation molecule (Chk2) that causes p53 activation.  Similarly, TSA pretreatment leads to the suppression of cisplatin-induced p53 acetlyation. However, TSA does not have lasting effects, which suggests that this has the potential to slow down p53 activation.

            Although it is important to limit the negative effects of chemotherapy, the integrity of the treatment must not be compromised because of its importance in fighting cancer. Thus, the experimenters observed the implications of SAHA and TSA treatment in its anti-cancer efficacy. The results of the experiment reveal that not only do the chemical not obstruct the apoptosis in HCT116 colon cancer cells but they also increase it. The combination of cisplatin and SAHA increased the apoptosis in the colon cancer cells from 20% (only using cisplatin) to 73%. Thus, it is possible to infer that while SAHA interferes with p53 signaling in RPTC cells, it increases the signaling in HCT116 cells to increase apoptosis.

            The implications of these findings are tremendous. Not only are healthy cells that are not the target of the chemotherapy better protected, but also the cancerous cells that are targeted are more efficiently killed. Because the cells that are not targeted are less likely to be harmed the health of the cancer patient is infinitely increased. The long-term effects of cisplatin is damage to major organs located near the site of the treatment, yet with the results of this experiment this could be  a thing of the past.

            The article was invariably difficult to understand, yet the most important messages were clear. The article emanates a feeling of hope because of the exciting implications that these findings in rats can have in humans. However, it is clear that there is much work to be done in order to make the ideas discovered in the experiment applicable to humans. An improved method of treating cancer is an urgent matter. Through the continued research related to this experiment it is possible that cancer treatment can not only improve but have almost no negative side effects.

Works Cited

Dong, Guie, Jia Luo, and Zheng Dong. "HDAC Inhibitors Block P53 Activation." American Journal of Physiology (2009): n. pag. Web. 8 Nov 2009.

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Research Paper: Proteins as the Database of Mankind

The Database of Mankind

            Proteins are integral building blocks of life. Their function and structure drive every process in the human body, allowing man to thrive. Although there is a vast amount of information known about proteins, science is still struggling to discover the seemingly infinite sum of knowledge that remains unknown about them. Because proteins are involved in almost every bodily function it is crucial to identify both their structure and function in order to further the field of medicine. Countless diseases and plights upon humanity are caused by a malfunction in protein related disorders. If man can grasp a better understanding of these proteins humanity can greatly benefit.

            However, a pivotal problem involved in understanding proteins in order to better understand how the human body works is not the process of classifying these proteins, but rather organizing and analyzing the immense quantities of data amassed. In recent history the amount of information regarding proteins deposited in the Protein Data Bank is expanding exponentially. With the integration of skills from both mathematicians and biologists identifying the region of proteins involved with their function is a distinct possibility. Although it may be impossible to define the region of every protein that dictates its function, science is making extraordinary strides in achieving this possibility.

            In a recent study conducted Dr. Tracey Bray in the BioMed Central Journal the idea of using bioinformatics to predict the functional site of a protein is discussed. In recent history, structural genomics groups have made a substantial effort to define the structure of proteins, yet have failed to acknowledge their functions. The study is interested in shedding light upon the function of a protein by identifying the part of the protein that is most likely integral in determining its function. The most common method to determine the function of a protein is to compare proteins in regards to the sequencing of their amino acids. Since most functions of proteins are assumed to be evolutionally conserved, their functions can be predicted by determining structurally important residues in already characterized proteins. Although this has an obvious benefit to proteins that have already been classified, it has a just as obvious drawback; what about proteins that have not been classified yet? Similarly, proteins that have residues conserved for structure rather than function will yield a false conclusion regarding their function. Thus, another bioinformatic technique must be instituted.

            New and improved sequence-based methods fall into two categories; one that identifies structural similarities with an already know protein and its function and one that predicts functional sites through geometric structures as well as electrostatic properties. In order to utilize these two techniques databases are constructed to not only encode the information about known proteins structures and functions, but to also predict the function of unknown proteins using algorithms. In regards to enzymes, it has been determined that enzyme active sites are found in the largest surface cleft of the respective enzyme. With the analysis from these databases these sites can be identified with startling accuracy. Although structural approaches yield high accuracies, the precision of identifying activation sites is best when both structural and sequencing conservation techniques are combined.

            Despite the accuracy of this combined technique, there are very few large databases that are available to those who are concerned with this information. Thus the strides made in implicating the SitesIdentify functional site prediction tool are crucial. Although there are similar databases and prediction software available, the author stresses the importance of not only it’s accessibility but it’s intrinsically user friendly qualities.

            The method in which SitesIdentify operates is by placing a 2A grid over the protein structure and applying a uniform charge on each non-hydrogen atom. The electrostatic potential is then calculated using Difference Poisson-Bolzmann calculations and the peak potential is predicted. Once the peak potential is identified (there is error in this method) this area is defined as the centroid of the functional site. In contrast, the other method utilized is by combining the method discussed above in combination with sequence conservation techniques. Similar homologues are identified by putting the sequence into PSI-BLAST and then calculating a conservation score using amino acid and stereochemical diversity and gap occurrence at that position. The peak potential is determined in the same manner as before, but is further refined by determining a single central atom in each amino acid weighted with the conservation scores.

            When a submission is made, SitesIdentify utilizes two different approaches. If a conservation approach is selected by the user it identifies the homologues through Conserved Residue Colouring program that runs sequences contained in SEQRES that records the results in the PDB file. From this, conservation scores are produced for every residue that determines the peak potential’s location on the protein. When SitesIdentify fails to recognize a homologue, the method switches to one that uses charged-based calculations.

            When a user does not select the conservation method the CRC program is nullified and immediately calculates the location of the peak potential through a calculation that integrates a uniform charge-weighting method. Then a user-supplied radius is determined around the predicted centroid and residues are selected. Thus, the possible functional sites are highlighted and produced in a list.

            There appears to be countless reasons why SitesIdentify is an important and possibly integral technology for the future of classifying the structure and function of proteins. First of all, SitesIdentify is accessible to anyone without a license or an account. Not only can anyone upload a structure file, but SitesIdentify also informs the person who submits the structure if it is not possible to identify or if it was identified. Furthermore, the average time to calculate the peak potential was only six minutes using the conservation method and only two minutes if it only utilizes charge-based calculations. Also, SitesIdentify can distinguish between enzymes and non-enzymes with precision. Because enzymes have large surface accessible clefts, SitesIdentify can determine between the two using this property.

            The optimism of identifying the structure and function of proteins through SitesIdentify is promising. The study leaves the reader with a feeling of hope. Even though there are obvious imperfections in SitesIdentify due to the fact that the peak potential is just a prediction of where the function site is, this system appears better than others that are similar. Overall, the article was relatively difficult to understand because of the language barrier that exists to those who are not familiar with bioinformatic practices. However, the underlying message was clear. With the use of SitesIdentify it is possible to understand the functional site of proteins, and from that there exists a potent possibility for the improvement of health care in regards to protein related health issues. If the mechanisms of proteins’ functions are discovered man can discover solutions to inhibit or stimulate these sites in order to rectify the problems that exist in the effected patient. This possibility is tantalizing. Perhaps in the near future these protein based diseases and disorders will fade into our past. 

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