Articles
Uncomfortable ethics for autonomous vehicles
Self-driving cars, or autonomous vehicles (AVs), are an inevitability on our roads. That’s probably a good thing – most accidents are the result of human error. Ironically, humans will still need to programme the ’thinking’ part of an AV, especially when it’s presented with ethical dilemmas. But how important is this for AV manufacturers? Dr Tripat Gill of Wilfrid Laurier […]
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Heart health, fat consumption and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
Cardiovascular disease is a major contributor to deaths globally. One of the most prominent risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL). Special focus has been placed on looking at the effects of fat consumption on LDL particle size in healthy individuals as a way to increase awareness among people in terms of diet and lifestyle. Dr […]
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Optimising solvent extraction for metal recycling
The platinum-group metals play a central role in several technological applications including fuel cells, electronic devices, and catalysts for oil refining and automobile converters. Owing to the scarcity of these metals, methods for their recycling from end-of-life devices are in increasing demand. Hydrometallurgy, which exploits the ability of specific molecules to selectively dissolve metal ions and separate them from unwanted […]
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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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To edit or not to edit: Changes in microRNAs are associated with asthma severity
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition of the airways. While many people respond to inhaled medications, this treatment is not effective for everyone. Understanding more about the molecular pathways that promote severe asthma may provide opportunity for new therapeutic approaches. Dr Kevin M Magnaye, while a graduate student with Professor Carole Ober at the University of Chicago, explored changes in […]
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A parametric framework for multidimensional linear regression
While Ordinary Least Squares regression establishes fundamental concepts in data analysis, it requires the independent variable to be error-free and the error term to be constant. Dr Stanley Luck, statistics consultant and founding member of Vector Analytics LLC in the US, has developed an innovative parametric framework for multidimensional linear regression. This provides a more general framework for establishing measurement […]
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Food Waste-to-Energy: A project-based school learning experience
One of the challenges facing the uptake in renewable energy and waste-reduction methods is sufficiently changing peoples’ perceptions to ensure a cultural shift needed for momentum. A possible model for achieving this sits in the small village of Potsdam in the US state of New York. Professors Jan DeWaters and Stefan J Grimberg at Clarkson University have established an ongoing […]
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Self-concept and social support: A key psychological relationship influencing academic success for male African American undergraduates
The significant strides to address racial and gender imbalances on university campuses in the United States may have borne fruit, but with unintended consequences. One of those is the shortfall in research into why males – African American males in particular – may underperform at university. Professor James Morris III, formerly at Lewis University, has explored a neglected area of […]