Development of new device for measuring the thermal conductivity of polymeric nanocomposite materials

Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Mirror Neurons: Findings and Functions

Mirror neurons (MNs) are a set of premotor neurons that fire both during the performance of a motor action, and the observation of someone else performing the same action. Since their discovery, they have been the subject of great controversy. This survey provides a short overview of the history and the most important findings of MN research in animals and humans. Special focus is given to the latest findings on empathy and relevant disorders i.e. autism, schizophrenia and psychopathy, in the context of MNs. Finally a review of the criticism on MNs is provided and discussed

On the friction coefficient of straight-chain aggregates

A methodology to calculate the friction coefficient of an aggregate in the continuum regime is proposed. The friction coefficient and the monomer shielding factors, aggregate-average or individual, are related to the molecule-aggregate collision rate that is obtained from the molecular diffusion equation with an absorbing boundary condition on the aggregate surface. Calculated friction coefficients of straight chains are in very good agreement with previous results, suggesting that the friction coefficients may be accurately calculated from the product of the collision rate and an average momentum transfer,the latter being independent of aggregate morphology. Langevin-dynamics simulations show that the diffusive motion of straight-chain aggregates may be described either by a monomer-dependent or an aggregate-average random force, if the shielding factors are appropriately chosen.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figures, revised version. To appear in the Journal of Colloid and Interface Scienc

Vitamin D and Autoimmune Diseases

Vitamin D has many and profound effects on the immune system. Vitamin D deficiency is known to be related to the development of autoimmune diseases. In particular, vitamin D deficiency is related to the development and the severity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA develops in patients with vitamin D deficiency, and the activity of the disease is related to vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency is also related to the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). SLE develops in patients with vitamin D deficiency, and the activity of the disease is also greater in patients with vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency is also related to the development and the severity of multiple sclerosis. Vitamin D should be administered to patients with multiple sclerosis, and this seems to mitigate the symptoms of the disease and to prevent disease progression. Vitamin D deficiency is also observed in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and may be related to disease severity. Low vitamin D levels have also been observed in patients with autoimmune Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Low vitamin D levels have been observed in patients with systemic sclerosis, especially in the diffuse form of the disease. Optimal vitamin D levels appear to be required for normal immune function and for the prevention and treatment of autoimmune diseases

Thyroid Cancer: From Genes to Treatment—Recent Developments

Thyroid cancer carries a good prognosis in most cases and is treated by thyroidectomy, radioiodine administration thereafter, thyroxine treatment. Although, most cases of thyroid cancer are curable, if thyroid cancer loses the ability to concentrate iodine and thus becomes refractory to radioiodine, and if thyroid cancer becomes a progressive disease, the need for targeted treatment becomes necessary. Research in the area of the biology of thyroid cancer and in particular the discovery of somatic genetic mutations involved in the pathophysiology of thyroid cancer as well as research in the treatment of other cancer types with tyrosine kinase inhibitors have led to the application of tyrosine kinase and angiogenetic factor inhibitors in the treatment of thyroid cancer. The application of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in other tumor types led to the discovery that they target the thyroid. Thus, tyrosine kinase inhibitors entered the field of radioactive iodine refractory and advanced thyroid cancer treatment. Multi-kinase and angiogenetic factor inhibitors have provided a novel method that targets thyroid tumors and have revolutionized the treatment of radioiodine refractory and advanced thyroid cancer