Articles tagged with Acidity
Researchers from the University of Utah School have discovered that IFITM3 contributes to the body's defense against viral infections. The protein plays a critical role in the structural stability and function of vacuolar ATPase (v-ATPase), which regulates cellular waste disposal and pH levels.
A team from Graz University of Technology has developed a new method for measuring pH in enzyme reactions using luminescent dual-life-time referencing. This method, known as DLR-based pH meter, combines a pH indicator and a reference standard to provide real-time characteristics of enzyme reactions.
A team of UC San Diego bioengineers created a self-healing hydrogel that can bind in seconds and withstand repeated stretching. The material has numerous potential applications, including targeted drug delivery, industrial sealants, and self-healing plastics.
A new study finds that the world's oceans may be turning acidic faster today from human carbon emissions than during four major extinctions in the last 300 million years. This could lead to the loss of organisms such as coral reefs, oysters, and salmon. The ocean acidification rate is at least 10 times faster than 56 million years ago.
A comprehensive study of ocean acidification has made key findings, showing that some marine ecosystems are already experiencing acidity levels not predicted to occur until the end of the century. The study used sensors developed at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and found variability in seawater pH within and across ecosystems.
Submarine springs in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula reveal how ocean acidification may impact coral reef ecosystems. The study found that some coral species can calcify at low pH, but these are not the dominant framework builders of Caribbean reefs.
Researchers found respiratory alkalosis in children with febrile seizures and metabolic acidosis in pediatric patients admitted for gastroenteritis. The study suggests that applying 5% carbon dioxide to breathing air could be a possible treatment for febrile seizures.
Researchers discovered that a small domain in spider silk proteins is responsible for forming strong threads. The N terminal domain plays a crucial role in designing long threads with great tensile strength.
Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine used evolutionary clues to reveal how a key clotting protein assembles. They found that two histidines play a crucial role in sensing pH changes and guiding the assembly of von Willebrand Factor, leading to new insights into common bleeding disorders.
California mussels are vulnerable to acidification due to climate change, which can weaken their shells and reduce body mass. This decline could have significant impacts on other organisms that rely on them for food and habitat.
A Baylor University study reveals that drought conditions make certain chemicals more toxic to fish and other aquatic life by altering the natural pH levels of the water. The researchers found extreme fluctuations in pH levels during record-breaking droughts, coinciding with increased toxicity to aquatic organisms.
A team of scientists has discovered that marine plankton, specifically coccolithophores, employ a similar pH-regulation mechanism as vertebrate cells to combat ocean acidification. The armour scales formed by these phytoplankton are found to be dependent on external pH levels.
Coastal communities can address localized ocean acidification hotspots by applying federal and state laws and policies at a local level, reducing the impact on marine environments.
A new study from North Carolina State University has identified a specific microbe that is the key to methane production in landfills. This anaerobic bacterium, Methanosarcina barkeri, consumes acids and increases pH levels, making other areas habitable for more methanogens.
Researchers at Purdue University have developed a new type of biological and chemical sensor using thin stripes of a gelatinous material called a hydrogel. The sensor is highly sensitive and can measure changes in pH smaller than one-1,000th on the scale, enabling environmental monitoring and glucose monitoring.
Scientists have developed a synthetic version of the self-healing sticky substance used by mussels to anchor themselves to rocks. The new material exhibits both strength and reversibility through metal bonds, allowing it to repair tears within minutes.
Researchers propose using oil-field brine and carbon dioxide to reduce the pH of bauxite residue, making it less toxic. The process involves dissolving carbon dioxide in water-based brine, which counteracts alkalinity and forms a less-toxic compound.
A team of University of British Columbia researchers found that phosphatidic acid, a type of fat present in all cells, serves as a cellular pH sensor. This discovery has important implications for understanding human metabolism and disease.
The European Research Council has awarded a €3 million grant to study corals and global warming. The five-year CoralWarm project aims to create a mathematical model predicting coral reef changes due to temperature and acidity increases.
Research reveals that increased acidity in Chesapeake Bay is reducing rates of juvenile oyster shell formation, highlighting the need for better monitoring and measurement protocols. Acidity levels vary across different regions of the Bay, with some areas becoming more acidic and others more alkaline.
NIST researchers use a chemical trick to change the acidity of a solution instantly, allowing them to study how nanoparticles behave when exposed to sudden changes in pH. This technique has implications for designing nanoparticles for medical applications, where pH can vary significantly within cells.
Researchers have identified a molecular regulator Hv1 that controls human sperm ability to fertilize eggs. Hv1 operates as a pore in the outer membrane of sperm cells, increasing internal pH levels. The findings provide new insights into male infertility treatment and marijuana's effect on sperm motility.
Increasing ocean acidity poses a significant threat to marine species, with potentially profound ramifications for food chains. A UAB expert warns that the effects of climate change on the world's oceans are undeniable and urgent.
Researchers have identified a protein mechanism that senses bicarbonate fluctuations and adjusts blood pH levels. The breakthrough discovery, led by the University of Alberta team, opens new avenues for regulating blood pH in the human body.
A team of researchers has made a breakthrough discovery about the defective protein that causes cystic fibrosis, understanding its special relationship with pH levels inside cells. By regulating acid-base balance, the protein controls salt transport and cell survival, offering hope for developing new therapies to restore function.
A new study by University of Iowa researchers shows that breathing carbon dioxide can trigger panic attacks by increasing brain acidity, which activates a brain protein involved in fear and anxiety behavior. The study suggests new approaches for treating panic and anxiety disorders by targeting the brain protein ASIC1a.
A new Swedish study reveals that exposure to alkaline substances can damage teeth by destroying organic content and leaving enamel more vulnerable. The study found that high pH values can cause flaked enamel, markedly increasing the risk of caries and other dental issues.
Researchers at the University of Utah created a vaginal gel that turns semisolid in response to semen, trapping AIDS virus particles. The gel, designed to protect women from HIV infection, works by forming a microscopic mesh that blocks the virus from infecting vaginal cells.
Researchers at Northwestern University use nanodiamonds to deliver insulin for wound healing, demonstrating a method for localized release of therapeutic proteins. The nanodiamond-insulin clusters show promise for wound-healing applications and could be integrated into various treatments.
A new study using SmartPill capsules found that patients with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis have more acidic conditions in their colons compared to healthy individuals. This discovery may impact the effectiveness of mesalamine treatments, which rely on specific pH levels for release.
Researchers at MIT have created an implantable device that can track tumor growth and respond to treatment in real-time. The device uses magnetic nanoparticles to detect target molecules, providing valuable insights into tumor behavior and metastasis.
A Yellowstone alga has been found to detoxify arsenic through a process of oxidation, reduction, and conversion, rendering it less toxic. The discovery could have significant implications for bioremediation efforts and the potential for life to exist on other planets or moons.
A recent study published in Science reveals that three to 15 per cent of the oceans' calcium carbonate comes from fish intestines. This discovery could help solve a mystery of rapid ocean acidification due to global CO2 emissions.
Researchers warn that ocean acidification could have far-reaching effects on marine ecosystems, impacting phytoplankton and the food chain. The increased acidity may also affect developmental processes and populations of various organisms.
A new study reveals ocean acidification is occurring at a rate 10 times faster than previously predicted, posing severe threats to marine food webs and species diversity. The increasing acidity of the ocean harms certain sea animals and could reduce its ability to absorb carbon dioxide.
New research reveals that alkaline pH activates TRPA1 protein in human cell lines and mouse nerve cells, leading to pain sensation. The study suggests that activation of this protein might be the mechanism underlying some human alkaline pH-related pain sensations.
A study published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology found no association between ineffective esophageal motility and gastropharyngeal reflux disease. Patients with IEM had similar acid clearance times as those with normal esophageal motility, suggesting that conventional manometry may not be able to evaluate true esophageal effe...
The world's oceans are becoming more acidic due to increased carbon dioxide levels, causing sounds to travel farther underwater. This change could improve communication for marine mammals but increase background noise, affecting their behavior.
A study with sheep found that blocking acid-sensitive potassium channels prevents damage to the fetal cerebellum, which is vulnerable to injury from alcohol. The researchers also found that a drug called doxapram can block these channels, preventing damage and reducing the number of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum.
A new study predicts that acidic ocean conditions could significantly harm the earliest stages of marine life, including a 25% decline in sea urchin fertilization success by 2100. The researchers warn that this could have far-reaching consequences for ecosystem viability and key species like lobsters and corals.
A team of researchers found that infectious prions have highly flexible loops, absent in non-infectious forms, which differ significantly in their molecular structure. The study suggests that the molecular structure is a key factor in determining a protein's infectiousness.
Researchers at the University of Iowa have identified a brain pathway that reacts to low pH levels, shutting down seizure activity. The study reveals that an acid-activated ion channel, ASIC1a, plays a crucial role in terminating seizures, providing new insights into the condition and potential therapeutic approaches.
Research on ocean acidification reveals that the oceans have become 30% more acidic since the industrial revolution, with predicted pH levels dropping by 0.4 units by the end of the century. This could lead to devastating effects on marine life and ecosystems, including coral reefs and fisheries.
Researchers at MIT have developed ultrathin films made of polymers that can control bacterial adhesion, offering a potential solution for reducing hospital-acquired infections. The films can be designed to prevent hazardous bacteria accumulation or promote growth of desirable bacteria.
Biologists at Purdue University have determined the structural changes that enable dengue virus to mature and become infectious. The researchers found that the changing acidity plays a vital role in this process, allowing the virus to fuse with cell membranes and infect new host cells.
Researchers developed a pH-sensitive pseudorotaxane nanovalve that can switch between open and closed states. The valve uses cucurbituril molecules to control the flow of guest molecules in porous silica spheres, offering a potential solution for targeted drug delivery.
Researchers discovered a new mechanism in worm defecation that could be applicable to humans, involving pH signaling and potential therapeutic implications. The study found that positively charged hydrogen ions are used to send signals between cells, which may be involved in cell-to-cell communication.
Researchers developed a temperature-independent pH buffer to maintain sample stability during freezing and thawing. The new buffer showed minimal pH changes, even after repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
Scientists create a surface pair that sticks together in response to an environmental stimulus, allowing for reversible detachment. This discovery could lead to innovative applications in microfluidic systems, actuators, and pharmacological agents.
Researchers found that E. coli groups exposed to fluctuating pH levels exhibited generalist fitness patterns, with no significant cost in any environment. The bacteria adapted to specific environments, but the varied pH conditions didn't hinder adaptation.
A new protein fragment called pHLIP has been demonstrated to target and accumulate in human breast tumors, enabling detection and potentially treating cancer. The protein's ability to navigate acidic environments makes it a promising tool for detecting various disease states.
Researchers at the Technical University of Munich have successfully produced genetically engineered spider silk protein using genetic engineering, revealing crucial insights into the spinning process. The study found that the interaction between hydrophilic and lipophilic properties of the proteins plays a key role in thread formation.
Scientists have developed tiny gel particles that can be injected into damaged intervertebral discs to restore mechanical properties and regain mobility. The 'microgels' have the potential to offer a non-surgical alternative to spinal fusion surgery, reducing recovery time and preserving disc flexibility.
Researchers at the University of Utah have developed a new vaginal gel that turns into a gel-like coating when inserted, releasing an antiviral drug when exposed to semen. The 'molecular condom' has potential as a daily or monthly prevention method for AIDS, with hopes of being up to 90% effective.
A team from the University of California, San Diego has identified the cells and protein responsible for detecting sour taste. The researchers found that each of the five basic tastes is detected by distinct receptors in separate cells, challenging a popular view that different tastes map to specific areas of the tongue.
Researchers have created a nano-sized pH meter using nanoparticles that can detect pH changes with high accuracy. The device, called the pMBA sensor, could enable non-invasive 'optical biopsy' to measure acidity in cancer tumors, revolutionizing medical diagnosis.
The pHLIP peptide accumulates in cell membranes at low pH and translocates molecules into cells without relying on traditional entry pathways. This technology has potential applications in imaging, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases associated with acidic environments.
Researchers discovered that hagfish can regulate their acid-base balance and have a greater capacity for rapid pH compensation than any other fish studied. The hagfish's ability to maintain a stable body temperature and salt concentration in its blood enables it to cope with high levels of CO2.
Researchers found that acidifying bleach with vinegar significantly improves its ability to kill bacterial spores. The study compared the effectiveness of alkaline and acidified bleach dilutions in disinfecting surfaces contaminated with dried Bacillus anthracis spores, finding that acidified bleach was virtually effective.
Researchers developed effective methods to remove arsenic from drinking water using zero-valent iron and granular titanium dioxide adsorbent. The studies demonstrated that high DO content and low solution pH increase iron corrosion, while TiO2 adsorbent is very effective for removing arsenic in groundwater.