#Bone marrow-derived

[sentientsky]

you're in a car with a beautiful (not-) boy and you don't know how you've managed to stay intact this long, how you haven't fractured at the edges yet, lit up from the inside with all that aching, cataclysmic want you've fought so hard to keep quiet—to keep from thrashing in your chest like a sparrow against glass.

you're in a car with a beautiful not-boy, and you're not human but if you were, you're certain this longing would have killed you by now, would have left you in the cool green earth—rotted you down to the quick—a thousand times over (and if that didn't kill you, then the look in his eyes now certainly would). and you don't, can't, won't believe in god because how could She create such a being and then not let you press your palms to the side of his face, not let you hold him, not let you open your mouth like a confession box and tell him, there is a bird inside my chest and you are the center of every solar system and i'm willing to play the part of icarus if only you'd let me. and you don't/can't/won't believe in god, but his eyes open and its like the sun in a three-piece beige suit and you're pretty sure you stopped breathing the moment he got in the car (hell, you haven't tasted oxygen since the moment he stood on the cliffside, hands all empty of swords and fire).

you're in a car with a beautiful not-boy, and you're all spitfire and grief and six thousand years of whispered half-syllables into the dark of a lonely night, of savouring the way his name burns your tongue like sacrament (holy, holy, holy).

and he's handing you a thermos now, and his hand brushes yours and it's been nearly thirty years, and still you'd let him turn you to salt if it meant he might touch you again.

... but you go too fast for him. you always go too fast, with all your ugly, hollow-boned want and your burning yellow eyes and your hands, sullied with the weight of sin; fingertips that look more like claws than anything you'd ever want to touch with any scrap of volition.

and you're in your car with this beautiful boy who is not a boy and you're burning up, plummeting like a waxen-winged thing. and he's looking at you and you're falling, and the world is twisting around the edges, and he's stepping out of the car and your ribcage is becoming a slaughterhouse—an abattoir with all its knives turned up towards the sky. and then you're in a car, and you’re alone. and that is all.

[rockymountainregenerative]

Bone Marrow Derived Stem Cell Therapy: A Breakthrough in Regenerative Medicine

Bone marrow derived stem cell therapy represents a promising frontier in the realm of regenerative medicine, offering potential cures and treatments for a variety of debilitating conditions. Stem cells, particularly those sourced from bone marrow, possess remarkable regenerative capabilities that can transform the landscape of modern medicine. This article explores the fundamentals, applications, and future prospects of bone marrow derived stem cell therapy.

Understanding Bone Marrow Stem Cells

Bone marrow is a spongy tissue found in the hollow interiors of bones, particularly in the hip and thigh bones. It is a rich source of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). HSCs are responsible for generating blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. MSCs, on the other hand, can differentiate into a variety of cell types such as bone, cartilage, and fat cells, making them invaluable for regenerative therapies.

Mechanism of Action

The therapeutic potential of bone marrow derived stem cells lies in their ability to repair and regenerate damaged tissues. When introduced into a patient’s body, these stem cells can migrate to the site of injury or disease, where they can differentiate into the required cell types and initiate the repair process. Additionally, these cells secrete various growth factors and cytokines that enhance tissue repair and modulate the immune response, creating a conducive environment for healing.

Applications in Medicine

Hematological Disorders: Bone marrow transplants, also known as hematopoietic stem cell transplants, have been a cornerstone treatment for conditions like leukemia, lymphoma, and aplastic anemia. By replacing diseased or damaged bone marrow with healthy stem cells, patients can achieve remission and, in many cases, a cure.

Orthopedic Conditions: MSCs derived from bone marrow are being used to treat various orthopedic conditions such as osteoarthritis, bone fractures, and cartilage defects. These stem cells can differentiate into bone and cartilage cells, promoting the regeneration of damaged tissues and enhancing the healing process.

Cardiovascular Diseases: Research has shown that bone marrow derived stem cells can improve heart function and repair damaged heart tissue following a heart attack. These cells can potentially regenerate cardiac muscle cells and blood vessels, reducing scar tissue and improving overall heart health.

Neurological Disorders: Emerging studies suggest that bone marrow derived stem cells may offer therapeutic benefits for neurological conditions such as stroke, spinal cord injuries, and neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. These cells can potentially replace lost neurons and support the regeneration of neural tissues.

Future Prospects and Challenges

While the potential of bone marrow derived stem cell therapy is immense, there are several challenges that need to be addressed. One of the primary concerns is ensuring the safety and efficacy of these treatments. The risk of immune rejection and the possibility of uncontrolled cell growth leading to tumors are significant hurdles that researchers are striving to overcome. Moreover, large-scale production and standardization of stem cell therapies pose logistical and regulatory challenges.

Nevertheless, advancements in genetic engineering and tissue engineering are paving the way for more effective and personalized stem cell therapies. The development of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and the use of CRISPR technology for gene editing hold promise for creating patient-specific treatments with reduced risks of immune rejection.

For More Info:-

Stem Cell Therapy in Spinal Disorders

Ozone Therapy for Arthritis

[bishtmeenakshi]

3 Key Insights on US$ 15 Bn Opportunity in the Global Stem Cell Banking Market - Ken Research

Driven By the increasing prevalence of infectious diseases and rising individuals’ awareness regarding the therapeutic potentials of stem cells, the Global Stem Cell Banking Market is forecasted to Cross US$ 15 Bn by 2028 says Ken Research Study.

Stem Cell Banking is the collection and cryogenic storage of stem cells from a newborn infant's umbilical cord blood and tissue which can be further used in cell treatments or clinical trials. It has the potential to treat a wide range of diseases, as well as the ability to mortgage stem cells from multiple family members and use an individual’s own stem cells (autologous transplant). Furthermore, individuals with spinal cord injuries, type 1 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, stroke, burns, cancer, and osteoarthritis may also benefit from stem cell therapies.

“Ken Research shares 3 key insights on this high opportunity market from its latest research study”

Stem Cell Banking Market Continues to Grow Owing to The Growing Newborn Population Worldwide.

The Global Stem Cell Banking Market is expected to witness stable growth during the forecast period, owing to the increasing newborn population, and rising individuals’ awareness regarding the therapeutic potentials of stem cells. The global stem cell banking market was valued at ~US$ 4 billion in 2017, it is estimated to be ~US$ 7 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach a market size of ~US$ 15 billion by 2028 growing with a CAGR of ~12%.

North America is the dominating region in the Global Stem Cell Banking Market due to the increasing incidence rates of diseases, such as cancer, neurological disorders, and diabetes. Furthermore, the growing government initiatives and investments in stem cell therapies are contributing to the region's growth in stem cell banking.

To learn more about this report Download A Free Sample Report

The Rising Prevalence of fatal Chronic Diseases, Such as Cancer, Cardiovascular Diseases, Neurological Disorders, Immunological Disorders, and Other Rare Metabolic Diseases is Propelling the Market Growth of Stem Cell Banking.

The growing geriatric population worldwide, who are more exposed to chronic and infectious diseases, including immunological disorders is propelling the stem cell banking market. In addition, the increasing prevalence of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes, and nephrological diseases is widening the use of stem cells as a potential treatment option.

For instance, according to Scientific American, an American science magazine that covers science, health, and social justice issues, several autoimmune diseases affected nearly 4.5% of the world's population in 2021.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a United Nations agency responsible for global public health, nearly 18 million people die every year as a result of cardiovascular diseases.

Visit This Link: - Request For Custom Report

High Operational Cost Associated with Stem Cell Banking, along with the stringent regulatory Frameworks May Impede the Market Growth of Stem Cell Banking.

Stem cell therapies have grown in popularity in recent years as individuals seek out alternative treatments for a variety of chronic diseases. Every day, new types of therapies are introduced, and individuals from all over the world are turning to them in place of traditional drug treatments and hospital visits. Despite the significant increase in demand for stem cell therapies, they remain prohibitively expensive to pursue. Simple joint injections cost close to US$ 5000, and more advanced treatments cost up to US$ 100,000, depending on the condition.

Furthermore, the stem cell field remains highly specialized and has yet to be adopted by citizens or insurance companies. Additionally, the field is further limited by older laws in some countries, most notably the United States. That means that there are relatively few sources for stem cells, and labs equipped to perform stem cells.

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Key Topics Covered in the Report

Snapshot of the Global Stem Cell Banking Market

Industry Value Chain and Ecosystem Analysis

Market size and Segmentation of the Global Stem Cell Banking Market

Historic Growth of the Overall Global Stem Cell Banking Market and Segments

Competition Scenario of the Market and Key Developments of Competitors

Porter’s 5 Forces Analysis of the Global Stem Cell Banking Industry

Overview, Product Offerings, and Strengths & Weaknesses of Key Competitors

Covid-19 Impact on the Overall Global Stem Cell Banking Market

Future Market Forecast and Growth Rates of the Total Global Stem Cell Banking Market and by Segments

Market Size of Source, Service Type, Application, Cell Type Segments with Historical CAGR and Future Forecasts

Analysis of the Global Stem Cell Banking Market

Major Production/Supply and Consumption/Demand Hubs within Each Region

Major Country-wise Historic and Future Market Growth Rates of the Total Market and Segments

Overview of Notable Emerging Competitor Companies within Each Region

Notable Key Players Mentioned in the Report

CBR Systems, Inc.

Cryo-Cell International, Inc.

ViaCord

Sartorius AG

StemCyte, Inc.

Smart Cells International Limited

Global Cord Blood Corporation

Vita 34

LifeCell International Pvt. Ltd

Cordlife Group Limited

Notable Emerging Companies Mentioned in the Report

CyroHoldco

Generate Life Sciences Inc.

Hope Biosciences

Cell Care

ReeLabs Pvt. Ltd.

BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics, Inc.

CellSave a CSG-BIO Company, Inc.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company

Key Target Audience – Organizations and Entities Who Can Benefit by Subscribing This Report

Stem Cell Banking Companies

Biopharmaceuticals Companies

Cord Blood Banks

Machinery and Equipment Suppliers for Stem Cell Banking

Cryogenic Healthcare Equipment Manufacturers

Biotechnology - Therapeutics and Diagnostics Companies

Pharmaceutical Companies

World Marrow Donor Association

Cord Blood Association

The International Stem Cell Banking Initiative (ISCBI) – PubMed

Healthcare Research Institutes

Healthcare Technology Research Institutes

Healthcare Technology Regulatory Authorities

Government Ministries and Departments of Healthcare

Period Captured in the Report

Historical Period: 2017-2021

Forecast Period: 2022E-2028F

For more insights on the market intelligence, refer to the link below: -

Global Stem Cell Banking Market

Related Reports By Ken Research: -

Global Stem Cell Banking Market Outlook to 2028

[tourettesdog]

DPxDC Prompt:

Jason has had a repeating dream for years now. It started when he first crawled out of the Pit, when his mind slid back into proper place.

The dream is always a little different, but always too much the same.

A town he's never been to, far smaller than Gotham. The sky dark and studded with stars. A cold breeze that sends a shiver down his spine.

Green flickers haunt the corners of his vision. Shadows dance on the edges. Jason's never believed much in ghosts, but he doesn't know what else to call the shapes that solidify enough to show fangs and claws.

Jason's never had a more vivid dream. It almost feels real-- the chill of the wind, the crunch of gravel under his boots--

The ache in his legs when he wakes, as though he's spent all night walking.

It's a dream, Jason tells himself over and over. He never shares it-- never wants to know what meanings someone might derive from wandering an empty town alone, haunted by blots of Lazarus green.

It's a dream, Jason has told himself over and over again…

It's not a dream, he thinks, staring at the town just over the hill. There's a sign out front, one he's seen a few times but never been able to read.

Amity Park. A quaint name-- nothing quaint enough to warm the chill settling into the marrow of Jason's bones.

[xplainthexmen]

Jay & Miles X-Plain the X-Men, Episode 455 - Space, Geeks, and Galactus

In which Roadhouse is basically a Wolverine story; Spider-Man does crimes; space names are derivative; there are lots of good reasons to yell at Professor Xavier; the X-Men do Doctor Who; Galactus is not interested in your puny human feelings; Marrow gets a new look; the Skrulls need a crash course in UI; and we overthink bones.

X-PLAINED:

The time the Skrulls did “A Piece of the Action”

The trouble with benevolent dictatorships

X-Men #89-90

Uncanny X-Men #370

A New York City that is not in fact New York City

“Spider-Man”

A ruse

Faces

Skrull problems

Mar-Vell

Adam Warlock

Sass vs. joviality

Skrull Cop City

Disguises

Nova (Frankie Raye)

How Galactus eats planets

Condiments

Several melees

Bone pubes

Skrull UI

Whether Moopsy could drink Wolverine’s bones

X-Musicals

NEXT EPISODE: The return of Douglock!

The Roald Dahl short story whose title Jay couldn’t recall is “Beware of the Dog.”

The visual companion to this episode will be up later this week!

Find us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

Jay and Miles X-Plain the X-Men is 100% ad-free and listener supported. If you want to help support the podcast–and unlock more cool stuff–you can do that right here!

Buy rad swag at our TeePublic shop!

[bpod-bpod]

Blood to Brain

Bone marrow-derived (haematopoietic) stem cell transplants (HSCT), such as may be given for treating leukaemia, are being investigated as a means of delivering therapeutic proteins to the central nervous system. In this study, mice deficient in a protein called progranulin – mimicking the cause of neurological disease in humans – had levels restored by HSCT

Read the published research article here

Image from work by Pasqualina Colella and colleagues

Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA

Video originally published with a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Published in Nature Communications, July 2024

You can also follow BPoD on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook

[remedyxtragedy]

Scintilla--

(picture created by me) Dainty heads are rested onto pillows of sunflowers and orange carnations as grief-stricken hearts bid them farewell, squeeze at their hands, and leave to them trinkets of endearment as they go on in dull locomotion Guiltless, dauntless, rageless eyes observe from a nearby hedgegrow, basking in, drinking in the melancholic display he's woven with juxtaposing joy Such beautiful pictures they painted, nails glossed a youthful crimson and all the while there they lay in those small bodies hardly shy of maturity adorned in red dresses, sprawled across their beds of rest so elegantly yet capriciously like petals ripped from a rose and scattered by the elements of nature Flickers of a life once precious and pure dance across their cold pale faces, iridescent of the beauty that still graces them even in their eternal calm There's a scintilla of something sweet and fruitful that beckons fiendish hands, beyond their untainted flesh and bone, nestled deep in their supple marrow, bashful and wary of the knives that threaten to carve them, the fingers that yearn to pry at them, and the eyes that linger to shamelessly relish their vernal allure The taste of their vibrance is one that's never failed to ensnare and capture a man who's heart, mind, and soul has long since been consumed by flames of lust and lechery New Autumns and springs are telltale of another collection of nosegays he pricks and fondles at till they bleed the essence he so fancies, another fragment of his former self that will now corrode and wither off into ash with the very conceptions that once restrained him from frolicking too deep into the meadows of desire that enticed him deviously

With a skill he's honed through every vibrant flower he's ever met to pluck from its garden and later desecrate for thrill, he treats them no different than a tender fruit and peels back the layers that keep him from the richness buried inside

The succulence and freshness, however, can only be preserved for so long before the flavor goes stale, the color fades away, and the petals begin to wilt, and so in his own way the man bids them farewell, a proper departure most deserving for a flower now dull and dry and all devoid of the vibrance it once yielded, dissolved of the very thing that gave it value

Always, will the Scintilla of innocence embedded in any flower desirable to the eye ignite the dawn of a new harvest

Decided to post a poem today instead of a Remedy talks, which I'm frankly kind of glad about because this is the first poem I've ever actually put intricate thought and effort into and I'm actually, surprisingly, kind of impressed with the results. However, I'm far more interested in other people's thoughts and their interpretations; I had a particular story to tell and I want to see if people can actually derive that from what I've created

But without further ado, toodles

[pokemonshelterstories]

Yoooo hit me with some unhinged Pliny the elder passages. What'd this guy think pokemon could cure and how?

i mean, the dude had a cure derived from pokemon for just about everything. mudbray urine mixed with the mud it regurgitates is supposed to be an anti-itch cream. the ruff of a midday lycanroc protects against magic, while the ruff of a midnight lycanroc increases its effects. the effects of certain poisons could be cured by eating fresh gogoat cheese, while other poisons required a drink made by boiling a gogoat's bone marrow in its blood. really a fascinating read!

[1hoverman0k]

I formulated the cure for giving a fuck and Its derived from my Bone Marrow

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Mornings and Evenings with Jesus by William Jay

The living know that they shall die. — Ecclesiastes 9:5

But there are limits to this knowledge: let us consider these. “The living know that they shall die,” but they know not when. If there are persons who have seemed to have some kind of apprehensions or intimations previously of the time of their dissolution, these were casual and not prophetic; events alone rendered them predictions. “There is an appointed time to man upon the earth; his days also are like the days of an hireling;” God has appointed his bounds, which he cannot pass; it is he who has filled our glass, and he knows how many sands there are to run out.

But he communicates not this knowledge to any man; and therefore every man must say, with Isaac, “I know not the day of my death,” nor the week, nor the year. “The living know that they shall die,” but they know not where, -whether at home in the bosom of the family, or among unconcerned strangers,-in the garden, in the field, or on the road. Where have not persons died? Some have died in the house of God; some have died at the card-table; some have died in the playhouse. Ehud died in his summer parlour, and Pharaoh in the Red Sea. There seems hardly to be a place which has not, at one time or other, been a door of entrance into eternity. “The living know that they shall die,” but they know not how, -whether suddenly or slowly, whether by fever or by dropsy, whether by accident or by the hands and device of wicked and unreasonable men. “One dieth,” says Job, “in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet; his breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow. Another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure. They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.” “The living know that they shall die,” but not what it is to die.

Thus Joshua said to the Jews, “Ye are going a way that ye have not gone heretofore.” It will be a new path to all of us. Here is a case in which no information can be derived from experience, -none from our own experience, none from the experience of others; for no one, however charged or importuned, ever returned to let

“the fatal secret out, And tell us what it is to die.”

[bbboar]

ngl came up with the names for my Durge and Tav on a whim but then i reverse engineered it so now theres lore for both.

Seafoam

Meta reason for name=They have curly blue hair and sea foam was the first word that popped into my head when looking at it

Canon reason for name= Their parents both worshiped Umberlee bcs their dad was a sailor and their mum a fisherwoman. Seafoam hates the name and just goes by Tav (Derived from their last name, Tavreous).

Marrow

Meta reason= I thought it was a cool edgy name, also i like the look of those letter together. Also when i think of marrow i think red+white, which are the default durge dragonborn colours

Canon reason= His foster mum used to call him things like "blood of my veins", "beat of my heart", "marrow of my bones", with the later being the most frequently used. Eventually he was just Marrow(affectionately). After the urge made him kill his foster parents he repressed a lot of his earlier memories, but that name is something he held onto to.

[tourettesdog]

Jason has had a repeating dream for years now. It started when he first came out of the Pit, when his mind slid back into proper place.

The dream is always a little different, but always too much the same.

A town he's never been to, far smaller than Gotham. The sky dark and studded with stars. A cold breeze that sends a shiver down his spine.

Green flickers haunt the corners of his vision. Shadows dance on the edges. Jason's never believed much in ghosts, but he doesn't know what else to call the shapes that solidify enough to show fangs and claws.

Jason's never had a more vivid dream. It almost feels real-- the chill of the wind, the crunch of gravel under his boots--

The ache in his legs when he wakes, as though he's spent all night walking.

It's a dream, Jason tells himself over and over. He never shares it-- never wants to know what meanings someone might derive from wandering an empty town alone, haunted by blots of Lazarus green.

It's a dream, Jason has told himself over and over again…

It's not a dream, he thinks, staring at the town just over the hill. There's a sign out front, one he's seen a few times but never been able to read.

Amity Park. A quaint name-- nothing quaint enough to warm the chill settling into the marrow of Jason's bones.

[tariqchosenone]

The book of Ariana Grande's and Tariq Degraffinreed's love

Tariq found God and celebrated the passover and he had a social life.

Behold, Tariq gave up sex for God a total of 5 times in 7 years for an allotted time.

Something that is rare.

Why oh God must I suffer this harsh sexual jealousy. My fruit is withered away and and my loins are shriveled like raisins to a grape.

Thy leave from the tree of life can not sustain thee, how much more shall my privy member suffer at your hands.

My friends laughed at the dinner table and they applauded the wicked one and they gave honour and wealth to the adversary, but my fruit celebrated not, it was clothed in the sackcloth of darkness and suffering.

But I shall hope in the Almighty because I am not from Adam, I shall hope in the Almighty because I did not fall for the subtility of the serpent, instead I shall be restored and remade in the image of God and I shall replenish the earth and multiply my seed and subdue the maidens of earth why my privvy member.

Ariana Grande watered my plant and she did eat my fruit, I can not quit you she said and she did lick and caress the withered plant and it became holy in the Lord God's sight.

Ariana Suffered and her fans dwelled in darkness but her fans that died in Manchester were robots who hated God they had no soul and they had no awareness of their consciousness.

Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson were Adam and Eve, Pete had a good heart but it is not known whether he had a good heart or a evil heart.

Pete Davidson had lips smoother than oil and he spoke in the flattery of tongue and Tariq Degraffinreed tried to warn Ari about Pete but she fell victim to his wicked charms.

All of Ariana Grande's boyfriends taught her valuable lessons of wisdom about who she is.

Ariana and Tariq dwelled in deep darkness for 7 years and they embodied the spirit of suffering and evil.

You must feel some type of pain in order to learn who you are as a person.

Behold Jake Paul tried to love Ariana Grande and God permitted their love for a little season.

God stirred up female social media influencers and female viners and female A-list celebrities to fight over Tariq's fruit and his two stones within his loins.

Behold in the spirit of jealousy there is more wisdom about your character and your heart than in the book of Job.

Jealousy is source of life for the the Lord God because it teaches him all of his weak areas and strong areas of judgment.

Therefor it is good to be a little jealous in order to grow and sometimes it shall be overbearing and it will overcome you

A man or woman will gain wisdom and knowledge on how to get many wisdom and a woman will not gain wisdom by obtaining a wealthy husband but only through the spirit of jealousy that dark angel who dwells as king of the bottomless pit, Apollyon can a man and woman find knowledge and wisdom.

A man who was jealous and a woman who was jealous both of their bones will be filled with light, the fat of marrow, and their blood shall be overcome not with the breath of life from Adam but they shall be overcome with fruitfulness derived from the image of God.

[farsight-the-char]

Pillar Men from JJBA influenced my ideas for vampires in one solid way and that the idea of "Something That Is To Vampires What Vampires Are To Humans".

Really solid premise, especially for explaining the origin of Vampires (potentially).

....

For Grey Rose, these are the "Magi-Phage", extra-dimensional creatures that feast on the planet's life and magic energy. The original Vampiric Blood derives from the bone marrow of the mightiest of these monsters, "The Primarch".

Also from Grey Rose, Trueborn. Trueborn are born Vampires, created from the sexual union of 2 standard vampires. Several times more powerful then their parents, but requiring twice the amount of blood feeding (sonetimes more if they frequently draw on magic). Vampire Families typically have them as symbols of unity between two families sharing territory.

[maaarine]

The Song of the Cell: An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human (Siddhartha Mukherjee, 2022)

“In immunology, as with any science, there are moments of grand synthesis, when seemingly disparate observations and seemingly inexplicable phenomenon converge on a single mechanistic answer.

How does the self know itself?

Because every cell in your body expresses a set of histocompatibility (H2) proteins that are different from the proteins expressed by a stranger’s cells.

When a stranger’s skin, or bone marrow, is implanted into your body, your T cells recognize these MHC proteins as foreign—nonself— and reject the invading cells. (…)

Autoimmunity, the attack on self cells, generated an obvious question: What if the immunological toxicity could be turned on cancer cells?

After all, malignant cells occupy the disturbing boundary of the self and the nonself; they are derived from normal cells and share many features of normality, but they are also malignant invaders—rhinoceroses in one perception, and unicorns in another. (…)

Cancers, varied as they are, share some common features—among them, their invisibility to the immune system.

In principle, T cells can be potent immunological weapons against tumors. As Clarence Little and Peter Gorer had shown as early as the 1930s, when a tumor is implanted onto genetically mismatched mice, T cells from the recipient mouse reject the tumor as “foreign.”

But the tumor/recipient systems that Little and Gorer had chosen were grossly mismatched: the tumor brandished, on its surface, an MHC molecule that could instantly be recognized as “foreign” and thus swiftly rejected.

More recently, in Emily Whitehead’s case, her CAR-T cells had been specically modified to recognize a protein on the surface of her leukemia cells.

Most human cancers, though, represent a vastly more subtle challenge for the immune system.

Harold Varmus, the Nobel-winning cancer biologist, called cancer a “distorted version of our normal selves.”

And so they are: the proteins that cancer cells make are, with a few exceptions, the same ones made by normal cells, except cancer cells distort the function of these proteins and hijack the cells toward malignant growth.

Cancer, in short, may be a rogue self—but it is, indubitably, a self.”

[astralarchilocus]

I said I was going to do it today, so here’s the first batch of avian chimera infodumping stuff!

Avian chimeras (and most other winged or otherwise hexapodal ones) have two sets of scapulae! The first, normal pair is a fair bit smaller in them in order to accommodate the second pair.

In order to properly take off at their sizes, avian chimera have very large wingspans relative to body size (well over three times their armspan and typically around 20-30 feet on average), and the wings themselves have extremely powerful and very well developed muscles even in chimeras that predominantly use gliding or soaring flight. Unlike in birds, the power necessary to provide the downstroke isn’t just derived from the pectoralis muscles, and comes from both them and the muscles in the back, the latter of which both fill the role of the supracoracoideus and provide additional strength on the downstroke. Likewise, the musculature of the pygostyle is also quite powerful to allow for effective assistance in air control. However, the wing muscles alone aren’t enough to allow for flight, and they also possess ludicrously powerful hind limbs, with both highly developed leg musculature with a sizeable amount of fast twitch muscle fibres and specialized and resilient elastic energy storing tendons in their hind legs, akin to those possessed by galagos. These make avian chimeras powerful runners and capable of inflicting an extremely nasty kick, but most importantly, it allows them to be exceptionally good jumpers, well capable of leaping well over four times their body length in a single bound. Without this leg strength, they’d likely be unable to get airborne.

As the large amounts of energy and accordingly high metabolic rates required for flight require a lot of oxygen to maintain, avian chimera respiratory systems have developed some very unique and bizarre adaptations to make their respiration as efficient as remotely possible, and are very weird as such. As is the case with other volant chimeras, their hearts are roughly 10-15% larger than those of normal humans or non volant chimeras to provide a sufficient blood supply to fuel and maintain the wing muscles. Like birds, they have postcranial air sacs connected to their respiratory system, which are located in the chest and both near and inside their wings and their supporting secondary set of scapulae. As avian chimeras, being mammals, are unable to hollow out most of their skeleton due to the requirement of marrow for blood cell production, they anatomically compensate by specializing some already present equipment to augment their respiration. The primary air sacs are derived from the vocal air sacs seen in other primates and several other chimeras (they’re most similar to those of other hominids and gibbons, and are connected to the larynx). The air sacs are connected back to the rest of the respiratory tract by a paired set of small but strong tubes (derived from tissue near the cricothyroid muscle) that run along the trachea’s exterior and properly connect at the base of the trachea close to the bronchi. This allows the air sacs to pump the air they hold into the lungs without it being caught in exhalation. The wing bones and secondary scapulae, being excess bone that lacks marrow, are pneumatized to reduce their weight. This comes together to grant avian chimeras what is effectively a mix of bird and mammal respiration with unidirectional airflow. In their breathing cycle, additional oxygenated air that is initially inhaled is sucked and cycled into the air sac system and then pushed back into the main lungs during exhalation, allowing gas exchange to occur a second time. Only the primary air sacs have active use in respiration, but the air sacs in the wings still have an important role in flight augmentation and are functionally similar to the subpectoral diverticulum, with similar variation based on flight style. However, since they are unable to hollow out the rest of their skeleton or displace other organs to accommodate more internal air sacs, avian chimeras have developed a bizarre solution to the problem of linking the wing air sacs to the respiratory system and throat air sacs: air sacs in the skin. Avian chimeras possess subcutaneous air sacs akin to those possessed by screamers, with these usually being most concentrated in the upper back and wing area, although they always are present on the neck skin (where they link up with the respiratory tract via a paired set of diverticula near the base of the primary air sacs) and commonly extend throughout much of the body’s epidermis in many chimeras, even the digits (Ari is an example of this condition). This links everything together, can help in thermoregulation via acting as a subcutaneous insulator, and can act as a sort of biological bubblewrap to cushion against impacts in some chimeras (much like those possessed by gannets).

Peculiarly, in addition to the primary air sacs, which can have a vocal function, avian chimeras also generally possess a syrinx (well, more technically a syrinx analogue, but it’s so anatomically and functionally similar that it may as well be called one), which plays a role in vocalization and gives them many of the same vocal abilities that various birds have: it in essence allows them to make weird bird noises in addition to normal speech, which can augment communication. There’s nothing preventing the theoretical possession of both types of vocal organs, and chimeras have done weirder with their physiology and anatomy, so we ball.

Expectedly given the high energetic demands of flight, even with radiotrophism as a buffer, avian chimeras have very high metabolic rates for their size, generally up to 30-40% higher than the average human (although chimeras trend towards higher metabolic rates generally), and usually have a resting body temperature around 4-6 degrees higher than a normal person or non volant chimera, occasionally higher than that: their enzymes and other functions are thoroughly tuned to this accordingly. The mitochondrial leakage as a form of heat production (similar to what sea otters and some other animals can do), an ability reasonably widespread in chimeras, the other sophonts, and many other Astraean animals as an adaptation to the cold, also adds to this. To regulate this, many volant chimeras have considerable control over their metabolism, and can dip their metabolic rates to preserve energy when necessary: many are also capable of voluntarily entering torpor (Ari and Kori can do so) to maximize this.

While capable of doing bipedal launches, avian chimeras generally prefer to do quadrupedal ones, in a loosely similar fashion to pterosaurs. These involve the chimera crouching down onto all fours, spreading their arms to stabilize themselves, pushing off with the legs while spreading their wings. and then tucking in their arms for streamlining as the process of powered flight starts. When landing at higher speeds, they’ll also often do it quadrupedally for better stability and to more evenly distribute the impact from landings. The takeoff is quite similar to what galagos and other vertical clinging and leaping primates do when performing and landing their leaps.

Because they’re large volant animals, avian chimeras are capable of covering a lot of ground very quickly, and this expectedly makes them fast fliers, even when cruising. Ari and Jei in particular are the swiftest fliers out of the main squad, which is achieved via specialized wing morphology and, in Jei’s case, jet propulsion (cyborg antics go brrr). However, these ludicrously high speeds are very energetically and physiologically taxing (if not potentially hazardous) for avian chimeras to sustain, and so they’re usually reserved for situations when they’re legitimately needed (like dogfights or other such aerial battles). They usually cruise at notably lower speeds than what they’re capable of achieving at full tilt, and many often employ a lot of gliding to save energy when necessary. Even if chimeras have their mutualistic radiotrophic Asterivorax bacteria to provide additional energy via converting light and other forms of sugar to carbohydrates, flight is still very expensive to maintain.

The combination of powerful leaping abilities, grasping feet (generally similar to arboreal primates, opposable first toe included), ankles that can rotate 180 degrees like those of squirrels and some primates, and wings that can also be used to assist in climbing and leaping alongside their use in powered flight make avian chimeras very swift and agile climbers. They primarily use vertical clinging and leaping and wing assisted incline running in arboreal locomotion (alongside more normal climbing), but suspensory behaviour, proper brachiation, and gliding are all equally important parts of their climbing repertoire.

Chimeras have a diverse array of maintenance behaviours, and expectedly, avian chimeras spend a great deal of time preening their plumage and performing other maintenance behaviours (like dust baths) to properly maintain their plumage. To make this more efficient, a wide variety of combs and other such tools specialized to help in this have been created. However, even with these, reaching some spots on your own is difficult, even if avian chimeras and some others generally have sufficient flexibility in the hips to scratch their necks and upper bodies with their feet (it’s a bit awkward, but it still works. Ari has that preening claw for a reason). Preening is most efficient when done socially, and as such mutual preening or allopreening is an important part of chimera interactions, and has basically come to fill a similar role to allogrooming in other primates. It often helps in establishing or strengthening friendships and reducing stress, and as it isn’t exclusive to avian chimeras (near anyone can help them preen their plumage, regardless of which sophont they are: ghostjays, willowdrakes, and moonsprites all do have allogrooming as a big part of their social interactions, after all), it’s something that can really help in tying people together that much more effectively.

Avian chimera plumage isn’t limited to the wings and pygostyle alone (as shown quite clearly in Kori’s design description), and in all avian chimeras, the plumage also extends to most of their upper back and the base of their neck. The covering of feathers on the rest of the body is highly variable in regards to its extent. As the plumage is important to avian chimera body language, clothing for avian chimeras often leaves this plumage exposed in some way so it can be used for communication, similarly to how said clothing also has sleeves or other such accommodations for their wings. Photophore distribution is also influenced by this: the light producing glands are generally not present where feather covering is thick (although there are some exceptions, Ari has photophores basically everywhere, in part because they use them to help in camouflage over just being a communication tool).

Avian chimeras also have some weirdness going on with their eyes. Like most chimeras, they have a redeveloped tapetum lucidum (probably most structurally similar to those seen in strepsirrhines, but there’s a lot of individual variation) and the accompanying good night vision), and, thanks to the unusual development of a fourth cone type, are capable of seeing into the ultraviolet wavelength range and are tetrachromats like birds and most other non mammalian vertebrates (albeit again, there is a lot of individual variation in this). However, the majority are incapable of seeing ultraviolet in low light conditions, although there are exceptions in very nocturnally specialized ones (such as Ari). Additionally, they have a redeveloped nictitating membrane, and have full conscious control over it. This serves basically all of the purposes that it does in birds, but avian chimeras still blink in more normal mammalian fashion regardless of its presence. It’s generally used to help clean and protect the eye, but specifics in function are individually variable.