Complex biological systems, by definition, are composed of multiple components that interact non-linearly. The human brain constitutes, arguably, the most complex biological system known. Yet most investigation of the brain and its function is carried out using assumptions appropriate for simple systems-univariate design and linear statistical approaches. This heuristic must change before we can hope to discover and test interventions to improve the lives of individuals with complex disorders of brain development and function. Indeed, a movement away from simplistic models of biological systems will benefit essentially all domains of biology and medicine. The present brief essay lays the foundation for this argument.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2016.00267 | DOI Listing |
Annu Rev Biomed Eng
January 2025
1Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; email:
Biochemical signals in native tissue microenvironments instruct cell behavior during many biological processes ranging from developmental morphogenesis and tissue regeneration to tumor metastasis and disease progression. The detection and characterization of these signals using spatial and highly resolved quantitative methods have revealed their existence as matricellular proteins in the matrisome, some of which are bound to the extracellular matrix while others are freely diffusing. Including these biochemical signals in engineered biomaterials can impart enhanced functionality and native-like complexity, ultimately benefiting efforts to understand, model, and treat various diseases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFACS Chem Biol
January 2025
Biogen, Chemical Biology & Proteomics, 225 Binney Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States.
Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is an established oral therapy for multiple sclerosis worldwide. Although the clinical efficacy of these fumarate esters has been extensively investigated, the mode of action and pharmacokinetics of fumarates have not been fully elucidated due to their broad-spectrum reactivity and complex metabolism in vivo. To better understand the mechanism of action of DMF and its active metabolite, monomethyl fumarate (MMF), we designed and utilized clickable probes to visualize and enrich probe-modified proteins.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPLoS One
January 2025
Department of Anthropology, Gender and African Studies, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
East Coast Fever (ECF) is one of the leading causes of livestock mortality and reduced productivity across Eastern Africa, and while a live vaccine against it known as the Infection and Treatment Method has existed for three decades now, its adoption by affected communities remains low. This study sought to provide a detailed examination of the dynamics that shape Infection Treatment Method (ITM) vaccine adoption behaviours. The study examined individual, socio-cultural and ecological- level factors influencing ITM adoption using the socio-ecological model.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Aim: To investigate the peculiarities of deviations of preoperative values of biochemical markers of inflammation in the blood serum of patients with degenerative diseases of the lumbar spine after transpedicular fixation, with a complicated postoperative course to predict the development of various postoperative complications.
Patients And Methods: Materials and Methods: The content of glycoproteins (GP), sialic acids (SA), C-reactive protein (CRP), seroglicoids (SG), haptoglobin (HG), Veltman`s test (VT) were investigated. The results are comparable by the Student-Fisher method.
PLoS One
January 2025
Division of Kinesiology and Health, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, United States of America.
The inversion effect in biological motion suggests that presenting a point-light display (PLD) in an inverted orientation impairs the observer's ability to perceive the movement, likely due to the observer's unfamiliarity with the dynamic characteristics of inverted motion. Vertical dancers (VDs), accustomed to performing and perceiving others to perform dance movements in an inverted orientation while being suspended in the air, offer a unique perspective on this phenomenon. A previous study showed that VDs were more sensitive to the artificial inversion of PLDs depicting dance movements when compared to typical and non-dancers if given sufficient dynamic information.
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