Latest News Releases 14 January

A molecule of RNA called CARMN has been found in abundance in the healthy smooth muscle cells that help give our blood vessels strength and flexibility, and distinctly decreased in vascular diseases like atherosclerosis, a major cause of heart attack and stroke, scientists report.

Physician researchers from UT Southwestern Medical Center have developed an innovative nanotherapeutic drug that prevents cancer from spreading to the liver in mice.

In a paper published in Science China Earth Sciences, Chinese scholars have found that the mesoscale SST (Sea Surface Temperature ) anomaly near Kuroshio Extension can enhance the synoptic transient eddy and the atmospheric circulation anomaly over the North Pacific in winter is forced by positive feedback of synoptic transient eddy. The large-scale SST anomlay warming enhances the diabatic heating, and the atmospheric circulation anomaly is forced by feedback of diabatic heating.

Aliena, a tech spin-off from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), has today deployed into space a nanosatellite fitted with a fuel-efficient engine it has developed. The nanosatellite was sent from the SpaceX Falcon 9’s Transporter-3 mission which launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, US.

Researchers studying how small worms defend themselves against pathogens have discovered a gene that acts as a first-line response against infection. They identified “ZIP-1” as a centralized hub for immune response, a finding could have implications for understanding human immunity against viruses.

This project is at the forefront of neurorehabilitation research using immersive virtual reality (VR) technology. The to-be-developed treatment is an intensive, game-like rehabilitation program leveraging a combination of VR and eye-tracking technologies to implement an oculomotor exercise protocol based on smooth eye pursuit. “Knowledge gained from this clinical study will advance patient care by identifying the neural basis of visual neglect due to TBI at rest and during smooth pursuit eye exercise,” said Dr. Chen. “Reaching our goals will lead to improved visual health and quality of life for civilians, as well as active-duty military and Veterans with trauma-related visual dysfunction.”

Scientists have pinpointed a gene that helps deadly E. coli bacteria evade antibiotics, potentially leading to better treatments for millions of people worldwide.

A new test predicts whether an early melanoma is likely to spread or return in people who have experienced this deadly form of skin cancer. The test developed by Newcastle University scientists is based on new understanding of the mechanism of skin cancer growth published in the British Journal of Dermatology.