Environmental brain effects.
A stimulating environment helps to keep the hippocampus young through molecular mechanisms affecting gene regulation. Studies in mice by the German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases provide clues as to why an active, varied lifestyle can help preserve mental acuity in old age.
Their insights are described in Nature Communications: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23993-1
#sciencenews #environment #biology
A stimulating environment helps to keep the hippocampus young through molecular mechanisms affecting gene regulation. Studies in mice by the German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases provide clues as to why an active, varied lifestyle can help preserve mental acuity in old age.
Their insights are described in Nature Communications: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23993-1
#sciencenews #environment #biology
Nature
Environmental enrichment preserves a young DNA methylation landscape in the aged mouse hippocampus
Nature Communications - Decline of brain function during aging is associated with epigenetic changes, including DNA methylation. Here the authors provide evidence that environmental enrichment...
Viruses fighting cancer.
Researchers at the Luxembourg Institute of Health have developed a cancer-destroying virus that binds to laminins on the surface of cancer cells to gain entry to the cell before ultimately killing it. The viruses hold significant potential for deployment in targeted cancer therapies.
The work has recently been published in Nature Communications: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-24034-7
#sciencenews #medicine #health
Researchers at the Luxembourg Institute of Health have developed a cancer-destroying virus that binds to laminins on the surface of cancer cells to gain entry to the cell before ultimately killing it. The viruses hold significant potential for deployment in targeted cancer therapies.
The work has recently been published in Nature Communications: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-24034-7
#sciencenews #medicine #health
Nature
Oncolytic H-1 parvovirus binds to sialic acid on laminins for cell attachment and entry
Nature Communications - Rat H-1 parvovirus (H-1PV) is in clinical development for oncolytic therapy. Here, Kulkarni et al. identify LAMC1 as a modulator of H-1PV cell attachment and entry and find...
Fighting Alzheimer’s.
Researchers from the University of Barcelona are working to develop new compounds that can bind to specific receptors in the brain linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Their studies in mice improved the cognitive deficit and the biomarkers related to the disease.
Their work has been published in the European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0223523421003895?via%3Dihub
#sciencenews #biology #neuroscience
Researchers from the University of Barcelona are working to develop new compounds that can bind to specific receptors in the brain linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Their studies in mice improved the cognitive deficit and the biomarkers related to the disease.
Their work has been published in the European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0223523421003895?via%3Dihub
#sciencenews #biology #neuroscience
Sciencedirect
Benzofuranyl-2-imidazoles as imidazoline I2 receptor ligands for Alzheimer's disease
Recent findings unveil the pharmacological modulation of imidazoline I2 receptors (I2-IR) as a novel strategy to face unmet medical neurodegenerative …
Kirigami cameras.
University of Houston researchers have developed a kirigami-inspired camera with a curvy, adaptable imaging sensor that could improve image quality in endoscopes, night-vision goggles, artificial compound eyes and fish-eye cameras.
Learn about their system in Nature Electronics: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41928-021-00600-1
#sciencenews #sensors #physics #optics
University of Houston researchers have developed a kirigami-inspired camera with a curvy, adaptable imaging sensor that could improve image quality in endoscopes, night-vision goggles, artificial compound eyes and fish-eye cameras.
Learn about their system in Nature Electronics: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41928-021-00600-1
#sciencenews #sensors #physics #optics
Nature Electronics
Curvy, shape-adaptive imagers based on printed optoelectronic pixels with a kirigami design
Curvy and shape-adaptive imagers with high pixel fill factors and tunable focusing power can be created by transferring an array of ultrathin silicon optoelectronic pixels with a kirigami design...
Vision in mice.
Mouse vision was thought to be different to that of humans because humans have a region of the retina specialized for fine details called the 'fovea' whereas mice do not. However, researchers from the Netherlands Institute of Neuroscience have shown that the visual cortex of mice in fact contains a region of enhanced visual sensitivity - the 'focea'. This makes mice a better model for human vision than previously predicted.
The results can be read in Nature Communications: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-24311-5
#sciencenews #biology #neuroscience
Mouse vision was thought to be different to that of humans because humans have a region of the retina specialized for fine details called the 'fovea' whereas mice do not. However, researchers from the Netherlands Institute of Neuroscience have shown that the visual cortex of mice in fact contains a region of enhanced visual sensitivity - the 'focea'. This makes mice a better model for human vision than previously predicted.
The results can be read in Nature Communications: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-24311-5
#sciencenews #biology #neuroscience
Nature Communications
Mouse visual cortex contains a region of enhanced spatial resolution
Nature Communications - The representation of space in mouse visual cortex was considered to be relatively uniform. The authors show that mice have improved visual resolution in a cortical region...
Synthesising cancer treatments.
Rice University chemists have developed a simplified method for the facile synthesis of halichondrin B and related compounds. This important molecule has potent anti-tumour properties of great interest to medical research.
Their insights are published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society: http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jacs.1c05270
#sciencenews #chemistry #cancer
Rice University chemists have developed a simplified method for the facile synthesis of halichondrin B and related compounds. This important molecule has potent anti-tumour properties of great interest to medical research.
Their insights are published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society: http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jacs.1c05270
#sciencenews #chemistry #cancer
ACS Publications
A Reverse Approach to the Total Synthesis of Halichondrin B
A new strategy is described for the total synthesis of halichondrin B featuring reversal of the sequential construction of a number of its cyclic ethers from the classical approach by instead forming C–O bonds first followed by C–C bond formation. Employing…
Gravitational waves from black holes swallowing neutron stars.
Scientists from LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA have detected gravitational waves generated over 900 million light-years away by the merging of a neutron star with a black hole, broadening the field of gravitational wave astronomy to another astrophysical system.
The preliminary report has been published in Astrophysical Journal Letters: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ac082e
#sciencenews #astrophysics
Scientists from LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA have detected gravitational waves generated over 900 million light-years away by the merging of a neutron star with a black hole, broadening the field of gravitational wave astronomy to another astrophysical system.
The preliminary report has been published in Astrophysical Journal Letters: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ac082e
#sciencenews #astrophysics
Sensitive coronavirus testing.
A new corona test developed at the University Hospital Bonn can simultaneously analyse a large number of swabs using sequencing technology and has a similarly high sensitivity to the common qPCR tests. The innovative method offers great potential for rapid systematic testing without the drawbacks of most methods.
The test is described in Nature Biotechnology: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-021-00966-9
#sciencenews #coronavirus #molecularbiology
A new corona test developed at the University Hospital Bonn can simultaneously analyse a large number of swabs using sequencing technology and has a similarly high sensitivity to the common qPCR tests. The innovative method offers great potential for rapid systematic testing without the drawbacks of most methods.
The test is described in Nature Biotechnology: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-021-00966-9
#sciencenews #coronavirus #molecularbiology
Nature
LAMP-Seq enables sensitive, multiplexed COVID-19 diagnostics using molecular barcoding
Nature Biotechnology - SARS-CoV-2 detection with LAMP-Seq combines isothermal amplification and barcoding with high-throughput sequencing.
Cancer testing from blood.
A microfilter device that can easily separate and capture trace amounts of cancer cells in blood has been developed by a Kumamoto University research group. The palm-sized device is being used to develop new cancer diagnostic technologies, detecting even at concentrations of just 5 cancer cells per millilitre.
The research is reported in Talanta:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0039914021001600?via%3Dihub
#sciencenews #cancer #medicine
A microfilter device that can easily separate and capture trace amounts of cancer cells in blood has been developed by a Kumamoto University research group. The palm-sized device is being used to develop new cancer diagnostic technologies, detecting even at concentrations of just 5 cancer cells per millilitre.
The research is reported in Talanta:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0039914021001600?via%3Dihub
#sciencenews #cancer #medicine
Sciencedirect
Detection of cancer cells in whole blood using a dynamic deformable microfilter and a nucleic acid aptamer
Cancer cell count in the blood of cancer patients is extremely low. If these cells are easily detectable, cancer diagnosis may be possible by simply u…
Laser control with metasurfaces.
Harvard University researchers have developed a single metasurface that can effectively tune the different properties of laser light, including wavelength, without requiring additional optical components. The metasurface can split light into multiple beams with controlled shape and intensity in an independent, precise, efficient manner.
Their work is published in Nature Communications: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-24071-2
#sciencenews #photonics
Harvard University researchers have developed a single metasurface that can effectively tune the different properties of laser light, including wavelength, without requiring additional optical components. The metasurface can split light into multiple beams with controlled shape and intensity in an independent, precise, efficient manner.
Their work is published in Nature Communications: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-24071-2
#sciencenews #photonics
Nature
Multifunctional wide-angle optics and lasing based on supercell metasurfaces
Nature Communications - The angular dependence is a well-known issue in metasurface engineering. Here the authors introduce a supercell metasurface able to implement multiple independent functions...
Building better wind farms.
A study from the Carnegie Institution for Science shows how the placement of wind turbines is hugely important to their efficiency. They looked at the wake of individual turbines and larger scale networks to understand how the power generation capabilities can be optimized.
The study is published in PNAS: http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2103875118
#sciencenews #environment #energy
A study from the Carnegie Institution for Science shows how the placement of wind turbines is hugely important to their efficiency. They looked at the wake of individual turbines and larger scale networks to understand how the power generation capabilities can be optimized.
The study is published in PNAS: http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2103875118
#sciencenews #environment #energy
PNAS
Spatial constraints in large-scale expansion of wind power plants
Wind comprised 6.1% of worldwide electricity generation in 2020. If this share is to substantially grow to decarbonize electricity systems, the size of future wind farms may extend far beyond that of current installations. The spatial scale of a wind farm…
Equitable immunogenomics.
Most large-scale immunogenomic studies exploring the association between genes and disease were conducted with a bias toward individuals of European ancestry. University of Louisville researchers are leading a call to actively diversify the genetic resources used in their work to advance genomic medicine more equitably.
Their vision is outlined in Nature Methods: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41592-021-01169-5
#sciencenews #immunogenomics #bioscience #diversity
Most large-scale immunogenomic studies exploring the association between genes and disease were conducted with a bias toward individuals of European ancestry. University of Louisville researchers are leading a call to actively diversify the genetic resources used in their work to advance genomic medicine more equitably.
Their vision is outlined in Nature Methods: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41592-021-01169-5
#sciencenews #immunogenomics #bioscience #diversity
Nature Methods
Diversity in immunogenomics: the value and the challenge
Nature Methods - Immunogenomics studies have been largely limited to individuals of European ancestry, restricting the ability to identify variation in human adaptive immune responses across...
3D printing with functional gels.
A study from Dartmouth College describes a process using heat to change the arrangement of molecular rings on a chemical chain creates 3D-printable gels with a variety of functional properties. Printing objects with different mechanical strengths using a single ink could replace the costly and time-consuming use of multiple inks for printing.
The results are published in the journal Chem: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chempr.2021.06.004
#sciencenews #chemistry #3dprinting #engineering
A study from Dartmouth College describes a process using heat to change the arrangement of molecular rings on a chemical chain creates 3D-printable gels with a variety of functional properties. Printing objects with different mechanical strengths using a single ink could replace the costly and time-consuming use of multiple inks for printing.
The results are published in the journal Chem: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chempr.2021.06.004
#sciencenews #chemistry #3dprinting #engineering
Sciencedirect
Kinetic trapping of 3D-printable cyclodextrin-based poly(pseudo)rotaxane networks
Synthetically trapping kinetically varied (super)structures of molecular assemblies and amplifying them to the macroscale is a promising, yet challeng…
Increased infectiousness of coronavirus variants.
A team of researchers at Duke University has combined concepts from structural biology with computation to show that multiple mutations on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein independently create variants that are both more transmissible and resistant to antibodies.
The mechanisms are explained in Science: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2021/06/23/science.abi6226
#sciencenews #biosciences #covid
A team of researchers at Duke University has combined concepts from structural biology with computation to show that multiple mutations on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein independently create variants that are both more transmissible and resistant to antibodies.
The mechanisms are explained in Science: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2021/06/23/science.abi6226
#sciencenews #biosciences #covid
Science
Effect of natural mutations of SARS-CoV-2 on spike structure, conformation, and antigenicity
SARS-CoV-2 variants with multiple spike mutations enable increased transmission and antibody resistance. Here, we combine cryo-EM, binding and computational analyses to study variant spikes, including one that was involved in transmission between minks and…
Nanoscale thermoplasmonics.
Research from Kazan Federal University demonstrates a new approach using plasmon-assisted optical heating to determine the glass transition temperature in polymers. The optical heating is controllable by adjusting the substrate conformation to probe the temperature in a broad range.
Their results are available in ACS Photonics: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsphotonics.1c00256
#sciencenews #physics #photonics
Research from Kazan Federal University demonstrates a new approach using plasmon-assisted optical heating to determine the glass transition temperature in polymers. The optical heating is controllable by adjusting the substrate conformation to probe the temperature in a broad range.
Their results are available in ACS Photonics: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsphotonics.1c00256
#sciencenews #physics #photonics
ACS Publications
Nanoscale Sensing Vitrification of 3D Confined Glassy Polymers Through Refractory Thermoplasmonics
Advances in plasmonics have been fundamentally rooted in minimizing ohmic losses in metallic nanostructures. However, the losses at resonance can play a positive role; for instance, in optical heating, there are two sides to every story. Under laser illumination…
Looking at tumours through a new lens.
Work from the Institute for Systems Biology describes a new method to look at tumours using machine learning-based image analysis for multiplexed spatial profiling of proteins. The method can be used to uncover the molecular features that determine the effectiveness of immunotherapies.
Their method is presented in Nature Communications: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-24293-4
#sciencenews #machinelearning #oncology
Work from the Institute for Systems Biology describes a new method to look at tumours using machine learning-based image analysis for multiplexed spatial profiling of proteins. The method can be used to uncover the molecular features that determine the effectiveness of immunotherapies.
Their method is presented in Nature Communications: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-24293-4
#sciencenews #machinelearning #oncology
Nature
Resolution of tissue signatures of therapy response in patients with recurrent GBM treated with neoadjuvant anti-PD1
Nature Communications - The response to neoadjuvant immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) in patients with recurrent gliolastoma multiforme (GBM) has been challenging to interpret. Here the authors...
Drinkable seawater.
Around 10% of the world’s population lack a clean source of drinking water. The Korea Institute Of Civil Engineering and Building Technology has developed an electrospun nanofiber membrane to turn seawater into drinking water through a membrane distillation process in just a few minutes.
Their device is described in the Journal of Membrane Science: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376738820316008?via%3Dihub
#sciencenews #nanomaterials
Around 10% of the world’s population lack a clean source of drinking water. The Korea Institute Of Civil Engineering and Building Technology has developed an electrospun nanofiber membrane to turn seawater into drinking water through a membrane distillation process in just a few minutes.
Their device is described in the Journal of Membrane Science: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376738820316008?via%3Dihub
#sciencenews #nanomaterials
Topological fingerprints.
Scientists at the UNSW have made a breakthrough in the search for the topological magnetic monopole referred to as the Berry curvature. They identified an unconventional Hall effect, driven by an in-plane magnetic field in semiconductor hole systems, stemming from the Berry curvature.
Their insights are published in Physical Review Letters: http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.256601
#sciencenews #physics
Scientists at the UNSW have made a breakthrough in the search for the topological magnetic monopole referred to as the Berry curvature. They identified an unconventional Hall effect, driven by an in-plane magnetic field in semiconductor hole systems, stemming from the Berry curvature.
Their insights are published in Physical Review Letters: http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.256601
#sciencenews #physics
Physical Review Letters
Generating a Topological Anomalous Hall Effect in a Nonmagnetic Conductor: An In-Plane Magnetic Field as a Direct Probe of the…
We demonstrate that the Berry curvature monopole of nonmagnetic two-dimensional spin-$3/2$ holes leads to a novel Hall effect linear in an applied in-plane magnetic field ${B}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}$. Remarkably, all scalar and spin-dependent disorder contributions…
New high-temperature semiconductors.
Skoltech researchers have investigated the properties of novel lanthanum and yttrium ternary hydrides. By alloying the two metals they increased both the stability and the critical temperature for superconductivity.
The properties of the alloys are described in the journal Materials Today: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1369702121001309?via%3Dihub
#sciencenews #physics
Skoltech researchers have investigated the properties of novel lanthanum and yttrium ternary hydrides. By alloying the two metals they increased both the stability and the critical temperature for superconductivity.
The properties of the alloys are described in the journal Materials Today: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1369702121001309?via%3Dihub
#sciencenews #physics
Biomass to biofuel.
A Technical University of Munich team has determined the role of water molecules in the process of converting biomass to biofuels with zeolitic catalysts. Their insights should enable increased reactivity at low temperatures, improving the energy efficiency of the process.
The preliminary report has been published in Science: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/372/6545/952
#sciencenews #environment #energy
A Technical University of Munich team has determined the role of water molecules in the process of converting biomass to biofuels with zeolitic catalysts. Their insights should enable increased reactivity at low temperatures, improving the energy efficiency of the process.
The preliminary report has been published in Science: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/372/6545/952
#sciencenews #environment #energy
Science
Role of the ionic environment in enhancing the activity of reacting molecules in zeolite pores
Brønsted acidity is introduced into microporous zeolites through the addition of framework aluminum. Pfriem et al. show that in the presence of water, the limited volume in the microchannels of zeolite H-MFI leads to a high concentration of hydrated hydronium…
Integrated frequency combs.
Research from Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne has shown how entire optical frequency comb systems can be integrated in a silicon-based platform. Their process is compatible with standard foundry fabrication methods, allowing its scalable implementation to optical communications devices.
Their method is detailed in Science: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/373/6550/99.abstract
#sciencenews #physics
Research from Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne has shown how entire optical frequency comb systems can be integrated in a silicon-based platform. Their process is compatible with standard foundry fabrication methods, allowing its scalable implementation to optical communications devices.
Their method is detailed in Science: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/373/6550/99.abstract
#sciencenews #physics
Science
Laser soliton microcombs heterogeneously integrated on silicon
The realization of optical frequency combs, light sources with precisely spaced frequencies across a broad spectrum of wavelengths, in dielectric microresonators has affected a range of applications from imaging and ranging to precision time keeping and metrology.…