Articles
Testing in silkworms provides preventative diabetes treatment
Diabetes is a common and life-long condition. The number of people diagnosed with diabetes has reached epidemic proportions worldwide. The search for new therapy to treat diabetes has taken an unlikely twist and led to the discovery of a potential benefit in silkworms. The silkworm is an economically important insect known for producing silk, however, Dr Yasuhiko Matsumoto and his […]
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Unravelling the properties of membrane proteins
30 years ago Matthias Wilm laid the scientific foundation for a methodology which today facilitates the synthesis and self-assembly of lipid membranes with proteins, granting insight into a complexity that has evolved over a million years of membrane protein evolution. From a biomedical to an environmental context, the use of molecular beams promises radical changes to how scientists solve problems […]
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Experimental and computational studies of plant ion channels
The yields and nutritional profiles of crops are affected by their intake of nutrients. To understand how plant ion channels uptake and regulate sodium and potassium, Dr Janin Riedelsberger at the Center for Bioinformatics, Simulation and Modeling (CBSM), University of Talca and her collaborators combine computational and experimental approaches. The computational methods are used to model the channel protein’s molecular […]
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Diet and cancer: Investigating the mechanisms of polyphenolic compounds in extra virgin olive oil
The health benefits of extra virgin olive oil are widely acknowledged, but we still have much to learn about the compounds which provide these benefits. Dr Limor Goren, Hunter College of the City University of New York, has recently completed her PhD which explored the anti-cancer effects of oleocanthal, a phenolic compound found in extra virgin olive oil. Dr Goren […]
Proactive strategic recruitment in research groups
Dr Jouni Kekäle, Human Resources Director at the University of Eastern Finland, has developed a proactive recruitment model to promote strategic academic recruitment. Successful recruitment is a significant aspect affecting academic outcomes. Proactive recruitment demonstrates how intrinsic motivation together with diversity within the research group and academic freedom are crucial elements required to promote the innovation that universities are searching […]
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Old medication, new cure? Arsenic and autoimmune diseases
A staggering 8-10% of the world’s population is affected by autoimmune diseases. This group of conditions, where the body’s immune system attacks one’s healthy cells, includes common diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Lupus and type 1 diabetes. Medsenic, a French biotech is investigating the use of arsenic salts, strikingly successful in acute promyelocytic leukaemia, in an entirely new area: autoimmune […]
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Longevity adjustment of retirement age
The rise in longevity is exerting pressure on public finances with increases in pension and elderly care expenses. Svend E. Hougaard Jensen, Professor of Economics at the Copenhagen Business School, discusses regulating the pension age in line with the average increasing life expectancy. His research also highlights the significance of extending these models to encompass the variability associated with physical […]
Pure Green Pharmaceuticals Inc.
The company at the forefront of medicinal cannabis product development
Cannabis is said to relieve many ailments but much remains unknown about its therapeutic potential and high-quality scientific research is desperately needed. Pure Green Pharmaceuticals Inc., headed by Steve Goldner, is a cannabis drug company at the forefront of research into the therapeutic qualities of cannabis. Its clinical trials programme is well under way and aims to reveal the potential […]
Insights into nature of science and evolution education
Dr Lawrence C. Scharmann, Professor of Education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, has been working with non-major biology and science teacher students to enhance the teaching and learning of evolution. His students note that science theories are powerful tools and when they are presented with new ones, they do not have to give up other tools, such as their religious […]
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9 billion regressions: A multiverse approach to statistical analysis
Researchers never fully know if the statistical method that they choose provides the best possible model for their data. Their choice of how to analyse the data also influences the results. Dr Cristobal Young, Associate Professor of Sociology at Cornell University is using multiverse analysis to offer a rigorous and transparent framework to tackle the intrinsic issues of model uncertainty. Model uncertainty […]
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