The self-assembly of molecules into complex superstructures underpins the functionality many biological processes and physical materials. Many such structures stem from amphiphilic monomer units, with attractions repulsions between their ends determining structure state assembled system under equilibrium, which affect its function. photophysical electronic properties fullerene (C60) have been e...

echocardiography is a non-invasive diagnostic technique which provides information on cardiac morphology, function, and hemodynamics. it is the most frequently used cardiovascular diagnostic test only after electrocardiography. in less than five decades, the evolution in this technique has made it the basic part of cardiovascular medicine. herein, the evolution of various forms of echocardiogra...

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is known to play a role in experience-dependent plasticity of the developing visual cortex. For example, BDNF acutely enhances long-term potentiation and blocks long-term depression in the visual cortex of young rats. Such acute actions of BDNF suggested to be mediated mainly through presynaptic mechanisms. A chronic application of BDNF to the visual cor...

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is known to play a role in experience-dependent plasticity of the developing visual cortex. For example, BDNF acutely enhances long-term potentiation and blocks long-term depression in the visual cortex of young rats. Such acute actions of BDNF suggested to be mediated mainly through presynaptic mechanisms. A chronic application of BDNF to the visual cor...

Bone plays a pivotal role in storing calcium and phosphate in vertebrates. This tissue is maintained by the balance of bone formation and bone resorption. Osteoblast-lineage cells, consisting of osteoblasts, osteocytes and bone lining cells, are engaged in bone formation. Bone resorption is mediated by osteoclasts. Recent research revealed that receptor activator of NF-κB (RANK)-RANK ligand (RA...

The architecture of the lung is discussed with special focus on lung parenchyma. The lung parenchyma is mainly comprised of numerous air-containing passages and intervening fine structures, corresponding to alveolar ductal lumens and alveoli, as well as alveolar septa and small pulmonary vessels occupying 10% of total parenchymal volume. The shapes and relative arrangements of alveolar ducts an...

The cell interior is a busy and crowded place. A large fraction of the cell volume is taken up by organelles that come in a variety of shapes and sizes. These organelles are surrounded by membrane that not only acts as a diffusion barrier, but also provides each organelle with its unique morphology that contributes to its function, often in ways that are poorly understood. Here we discuss recen...