A History of Universalism: Conceptions of the Internationality of Science from the Enlightenment to the Cold War

That science is fundamentally universal has been proclaimed innumerable times. But the precise geographical meaning of this universality has changed historically. This article examines conceptions of scientific internationalism from the Enlightenment to the Cold War, and their varying relations to cosmopolitanism, nationalism, socialism, and 'the West'. These views are confronted with recent tendencies to cast science as a uniquely European product

Antibodies raised against different extracellular loops of the melanocortin-3 receptor affect energy balance and autonomic function in rats

Melanocortin receptors (MCR) play an important role in the regulation of energy balance and autonomic function. In the present studies, we used active immunization against peptide sequences from the first and the third extracellular loop (EL1 and EL3) of the MC3R to generate selective antibodies (Abs) against this MCR subtype in rats. Immunization with the EL1 peptide resulted in Abs that enhanced the effects of the endogenous ligand alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), whereas immunization with the EL3 peptide resulted in Abs acting as non-competitive antagonists. The phenotype of immunized rats chronically instrumented with telemetry transducers was studied under four different conditions: a high-fat diet was followed by standard lab chow, by fasting, and finally by an intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Under high-fat diet, food intake and body weight were higher in the EL3 than in the EL1 or the control group. Blood pressure was increased in EL3 rats and locomotor activity was reduced. Plasma concentrations of triglycerides, insulin, and leptin tended to rise in the EL3 group. After switching to standard lab chow, the EL1 group showed a small significant increase in blood pressure that was more pronounced and associated with an increase in heart rate during food restriction. No differences between the EL1 or the EL3 group were observed after LPS injection. These results show that immunization against the MC3R resulted in the production of Abs with positive or negative allosteric properties. The presence of such Abs induced small changes in metabolic and cardiovascular parameters

A Pharmacologically Active Monoclonal Antibody against the Human Melanocortin-4 Receptor: Effectiveness After Peripheral and Central Administration

The hypothalamic melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) is a constituent of an important pathway regulating food intake and energy expenditure. We produced a monoclonal antibody (mAb) directed against the N-terminal domain of the MC4R and evaluated its potential as a possible therapeutic agent. This mAb (1E8a) showed specific binding to the MC4R in human embryonic kidney 293 cells expressing the human MC4R and blocked the activity of the MC4R under basal conditions and after stimulation with α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH). The inverse agonist action of Agouti-related protein was significantly enhanced in the presence of mAb 1E8a. After a single intracerebroventricular injection into the third ventricle, mAb 1E8a (1 μg) increased 24-h food intake in rats. After 7 days of continuous intracerebroventricular administration, mAb 1E8a increased food intake, body weight, and fat pad weight and induced hyperglycemia. Because the complete mAb was ineffective after intravenous injection, we produced single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) derived from mAb 1E8a. In pharmacokinetic studies it was demonstrated that these scFvs crossed the blood-brain barrier and reached the hypothalamus. Consequently, the scFv 1E8a increased significantly food intake and body weight in rats after intravenous administration (300 μg/kg). The pharmacological profile of mAb 1E8a and the fact that its scFv was active after peripheral administration suggest that derivatives of anti-MC4R mAbs may be useful in the treatment of patients with anorexia or cachexia

Sit-to-stand biomechanics : a systematic review

Objective: This review focuses on studies that enhance our knowledge of the biomechanics of the sit-to-stand (STS) quantitatively. The questions asked and the methods of study have led to the partitioning of the STS into components, or phases. Our goal is to summarize the methodological approaches and define the phases of a STS transfer in order to provide a standard practice for STS. Data Sources: Electronic database searches were conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar from inception to February 2021. Study Selection: Articles with a combination of the keywords “sit-to-stand”, “biomechanics”, “stability” and “postural control” were searched. Only the articles that provided quantitative biomechanical insights of the STS movement were included. Data Extraction: We categorized the studies by the questions posed, the measurement techniques used, and the definition of phases. Data Synthesis: Seventy-two papers published between 1976 and 2021 that provided quantitative biomechanical insights of the STS movement itself were included in this review. Among the studies that qualified for this review, research interest in the STS may be parsed into the following categories: a) how the movement is performed, b) use of the STS to understand postural stability, and c) use of the STS to understand clinical differences in performance. Conclusion: Definitions of events in the STS that define phases are inconsistent. The major reason identified is due to differences in the purpose of the studies or equipment used. Four studies dividing STS into 2 phases, eight studies divided STS into 3 phases, and 2 studies divided STS into 4 phases and 2 studies divided STS into 5 phases. At a minimum, the STS is typically deconstructed into two phases, with seat-off being the demarcation of transition between phases. This is based on the characteristics of muscle power or on select kinematic events. However, 10 different ways in which the event of ‘seat-off’ has been defined shows the impact of differences in measurement technique. These differences between studies result in contradictory definitions of the same event. These findings reveal a need for standardization of event definition and recommendations on measurement techniques.Kinesiology and Health Educatio