Articles
Optimal lipid metabolism with disease-preventing functional foods
Dietary lipids (fats) from plant and animal sources are important components of the human diet as they provide essential nutrients for growth and development. However, overconsumption of lipid-rich foods can lead to hyperlipidaemia – a key risk factor for metabolic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Modulating lipid digestion and absorption through the design of food structures, matrices and […]
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A blow to the head impairs the autoregulation of brain blood flow: Neural consequences
Billions of cells make up the human brain. To keep this super-computer functioning, a carefully autoregulated blood supply provides oxygen and nutrients and removes waste products from the brain cells. In addition, cerebral circulation is involved in the regulation of the pressure inside the cranium. But what happens if this autoregulatory process is disrupted? Building on years of research into […]
One cell’s death is a microbe’s DINNR: How intestinal bacteria use our dying cells as fuel
Until now, a great deal has remained unknown about the relationship between programmed cell death and bacterial infections. However, recent work by Dr CJ Anderson and Professor Kodi Ravichandran from VIB-UGent, Belgium, has shed new light on this topic and introduced a new layer to the complex host–pathogen interaction. The team has shown that dying mammalian cells produce and shed […]
A delicate balance: Should we return green crop residues to the soil?
Returning crop residues to soil for decomposition is considered a common management practice, but it can result in increased emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent greenhouse gas. Dr Gwenaëlle Lashermes, Dr Sylvie Recous, and Engr Gonzague Alavoine, from INRAE, the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment, investigated in collaboration with European partners the decomposition of nine […]
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Advancing imaging biomarker development and translation through the National Cancer Imaging Translational Accelerator (NCITA)
It is estimated that someone is diagnosed with cancer every two minutes in the UK. Clinical imaging offers a minimally invasive way of diagnosing and managing a variety of cancers. The National Cancer Imaging Translational Accelerator (NCITA) consortium now provides researchers with the infrastructure to conduct high-quality, multi-centre clinical research in the quest to develop standardised imaging biomarkers and accelerate […]
Documenting Japan’s scarecrow village: A living museum to rural life beyond growth
An ageing society and rural depopulation are ongoing issues in Japan. At Brock University, Canada, Dr Atsuko Hashimoto, Dr David J Telfer, and Sakura Telfer (Brescia University College) explore the use of tourism to rejuvenate rural communities. The remote village of Nagoro (Shikoku Island) has less than 30 residents remaining, most of whom are over the age of 70. Thanks […]
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Is monoclonal antibody therapy effective and achievable in hospitals with limited resources?
Monoclonal antibody therapy (MAT) is a way of treating COVID-19 for people who have tested positive, have mild to moderate symptoms, and are at high risk of developing more serious symptoms and complications. Although there are already studies showing promising results, the number of patients in the US, especially ethnic minorities, who have so far received MAT is small. Dr […]
Using agent-based modelling to understand social phenomena
Agent-based modelling (ABM) is used to understand the behaviour of a system and establish what governs its outcomes. Professor Shigeaki Ogibayashi, from the Chiba Institute of Technology, Japan, proposes that, if the agent-based model is constructed entirely bottom-up, it should be possible to build a model where the causal relationship emerging from the artificial society is the same as that […]
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Take a breath: Is it time to re-think how we diagnose COPD?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has significant health, social, and economic impacts. However, the diagnosis criteria for the condition remains broadly general and relies on the use of lung function tests, such as spirometry, which can be inaccurate in some cases. Professors Marie Breyer and Emiel Wouters, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Lung Health, Austria, explain that a new taxonomy is […]
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Invoking human rights to stop ivory tower bullies
Higher education institutions are not immune to workplace bullying. In fact, research shows that they can be virulent breeding grounds for a particularly pernicious form of bullying – one cloaked in popular perceptions of civility. In higher education, bullying is even delegated to subordinates. However, because workplace bullying inhabits a grey legal area, prosecuting cases is challenging. Dr Leah P […]
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