242 articles from FRIDAY 23.4.2021

Researchers uncover activation mechanism of a cell growth protein that can trigger cancer

The uncontrolled growth and division of cells can lead to the creation of tumours. The signalling molecule SHP2 is believed to play a crucial role in this process. But the question of how SHP2 becomes activated has never been fully resolved. Understanding the activation mechanism is, however, of fundamental importance for the development of anti-cancer drugs. Massimiliano Anselmi and Jochen Hub...

Response options should be at the center of climate risk assessment and management

A team of researchers from the Africa Climate and Development Initiative (ACDI) led a global team of 21 climate risk scholars to better understand and inform decision making around climate change risks in Africa and globally by examining how the drivers of risk interact. Their work extends on existing risk frameworks with the hope that this research could help decision makers, managers and...

Simple robots, smart algorithms

Inspired by a theoretical model of particles moving around on a chessboard, new robot swarm research led by Georgia Tech shows that, as magnetic interactions increase, dispersed "dumb robots" can abruptly gather in large, compact clusters to accomplish complex tasks. Researchers report that these "BOBbots" (behaving, organizing, buzzing bots) are also capable of collectively clearing debris that...

Skeletal defects may be ameliorated after immobility in the womb

Researchers from Trinity College Dublin have discovered that some skeletal defects associated with a lack of movement in the womb during early development may still be ameliorated after such periods of immobility if movement resumes. The discovery was made using chicken embryos, which develop similarly to their human equivalents and which can be easily viewed as development takes place - raising...

Targeting drug-resistant breast cancer with estrogen

Researchers at Dartmouth's and Dartmouth-Hitchcock's Norris Cotton Cancer Center show better long-term control of drug-resistant breast cancer growth in mice by switching between estrogen and anti-estrogen therapies. An ongoing clinical trial will determine whether this cycling strategy is effective in human patients with advanced breast cancer. By studying molecular characteristics of cancer...

The type of blood vessel damage determines its path to regeneration

Researchers from the University of Tsukuba discovered how cells marked by platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRa+) residing predominantly in the outermost layer of blood vessels (adventitia) respond to vascular injury and contribute to neointima formation. By inducing various forms of vessel injury and tracking PDGFRa+ cells, they found that PDGFRa+ cells respond differently to...

Toward new solar cells with active learning

Scientists from the Theory Department of the Fritz-Haber Institute in Berlin and Technical University of Munich use machine learning to discover suitable molecular materials. To deal with the myriad of possibilities for candidate molecules, the machine decides for itself which data it needs.

UNH research: Climate change affects deep-sea corals and sponges differently

Corals and sponges are important foundations in ocean ecosystems providing structure and habitats that shelter a high number of species like fish, crabs and other creatures, particularly in the seamounts and canyons of the deep sea. Researchers at the University of New Hampshire have discovered that when it comes to climate change not all deep-sea corals and sponges are affected the same and some...

US and Iranian researchers collaborate on Lake Urmia restoration

Lake Urmia -- a massive salt lake in Iran's northwest and a sister to Utah's Great Salt Lake -- has lost nearly 95 percent of its volume over the last two decades. Researchers from Utah and Iran are working together to better understand how the changes will impact the lake's ecosystems services.

Violence-legitimizing verses in religious scriptures increase support for lethal violence

Extremist perpetrators of violence often quote verses from their religion's holy scriptures that authorize, or even prescribe, attacks on enemies of the faith. However, whether the religious motivation that extremist perpetrators of violence emphasize is causally related to their actions is often doubted. Now, WZB researchers Ruud Koopmans and Eylem Kanol can prove for the first time that verses...

VR visualization supports research on molecular networks

Networks offer a powerful way to visualize and analyze complex systems. However, many visualizations are limited. Protein interactions in the human body constitute such a complex system that can hardly be visualized. Scientists at CeMM and Max Perutz Labs developed an immersive virtual reality (VR) platform that solves this problem. With the help of VR visualization of protein interactions, it...

Australia set to host clinical trial of genetically modified Covid nasal spray vaccine

Australian company applies for permission to conduct trial of men and women aged 18 to 55Australia is set to host the first human clinical trial of a genetically modified adenovirus vaccine for Covid-19 delivered via nasal spray.Avance Clinical, an Australian contract research organisation, has applied to the office of the gene technology regulator for permission to conduct the phase 1 clinical...