Articles
Look at those feet! Early evolution of rodents and lagomorphs
Rodents and lagomorphs form Glires, a group of gnawing mammals with enlarged ever-growing incisors. In the beginning, Glires were neither ‘true’ rodents nor lagomorphs; we call them basal or stem taxa. Species from this incredibly successful group had different heel structures to suit different lifestyles. Fast running or jumping requires different heel shapes compared to slow clambering or climbing. Dr […]
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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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A new method to predict adult-onset type 1 diabetes
Adult-onset type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease often mistaken for type 2 diabetes. Distinguishing adult-onset type 1 diabetes from type 2 diabetes is vital so that appropriate treatment can begin immediately. This is mainly achieved by identification of GADA, an islet autoantibody found in patients with adult-onset type 1 diabetes. A radio-binding assay is currently used for GADA detection, […]
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The Open Notebook and the art of science journalism
The importance of quality science journalism has been widely recognised throughout the long months of the COVID-19 pandemic. What is less frequently discussed is the unique skillset that is required to undertake this vital form of translation: ensuring that the complexity of cutting-edge research is communicated in such a way that it remains exciting, accurate, and digestible. The Open Notebook […]
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New theories expand cognition to fungi
Consciousness is an elusive concept. Professor Nicholas Money of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio has argued for a new philosophy of cellular consciousness and suggests that fungi have minds. When we explore the sensitivity of fungi and other microbes and recognise their ability to interpret and respond to their environment, it seems logical to extend the definition of consciousness to […]
Elucidating the substance use disorder-HIV health syndemic
Dr Bryan Garner is a Senior Implementation Research Scientist with RTI International. His latest research explores the neglected overlap between HIV and substance use disorders (SUDs). In May 2019, clients of AIDS service organisations (ASOs), ASO staff, and HIV/AIDS Planning Council members participated in a Stakeholder-Engaged Real-Time Delphi (SE-RTD) survey exploring the prevalence and individual-level negative impact of five SUDs […]
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The fiscal management of foreign aid in sub-Saharan Africa
Foreign aid is managed by governments whose countries are in need. Their decisions on how that money is managed greatly affect countries’ subsequent economic performance. Loujaina Abdelwahed, Assistant Professor in Economics at The Cooper Union, argues that whether aid is received permanently or temporarily is an overlooked determinant of how a recipient country’s fiscal performance reacts. She focuses her research […]
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How can we understand photo-sharing decisions on social media, and how can we curb its dangers?
Photo sharing is a cornerstone of social media, but for those appearing in the photos spreading across the internet, the attention is not always invited, nor appreciated. Professor Bennett I Bertenthal has joined researchers in the fields of psychology and computer science – Apu Kapadia, Kurt Hugenberg, Mary Jean Amon, Rakib Hasan – to get a better understanding of why […]
Tomato seed saponins promise to cure dermatitis
Dr Hiroshi Shimoda from Oryza Oil & Fat Chemical Co Ltd and Professor Toshio Morikawa of Kindai University conducted a study on the chemical composition and bioactive properties of tomato seeds. The researchers found steroidal saponins called lycoperosides, previously associated with skin-health promotion, to be the major seed components, more abundant in seeds than in tomato fruits. The researchers further […]
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Myocardial lipid metabolism: Targeting CD36 to treat cardiac disease
Jan Glatz, Emeritus Professor of Cardiac Metabolism at Maastricht University, conducts research into the transmembrane protein CD36, which regulates cellular lipid metabolism. CD36 facilitates the uptake of long-chain fatty acids in cardiac muscles while the recycling of CD36 between endosomes and the sarcolemma regulates this uptake. Heart diseases are commonly associated with changes in the uptake and use of its […]
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