In clinical trials, only an estimated 10% of medications that have undergone animal testing prove to be effective, as the variation between species complicates the application of data from animal studies to humans.

Inspired by the art of paper cutting, the team from Zhejiang University has developed an alveolar microphysiological system that can simulate respiratory control of local deformation with a biomimetic alveolar basement membrane.

This innovative approach has established a connection between data from animal experiments and clinical trials, opening up a new research pathway for alveolar drug screening and the exploration of alveolar physiological and pathological mechanisms.

DENVER/Oct. 31, 2023 – A new paper published in Frontiers of Veterinary Science revealed a concerning finding: Less than 40% of dogs in the longitudinal Golden Retriever Lifetime Study were on preventive heartworm medications at baseline. This is a troubling discovery, as heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition that is preventable in dogs.

- This team developed the PAINT technology that controls the adhesive properties of new organic materials, analyzes melanin formation processes, and facilitates selective melanin formation. - A research paper on the technology, which fabricates local patterns based on melanin-like pigments, was published in Nature Communications, an international academic journal.

A new amphipod species thrives at record temperatures in nearby hot spring pools of an ancient Inca city, defying norms for these typically cold-dwelling animals. Unraveling its key adaptations can give clues for the survival of other freshwater creatures in our warming world.

While challenging, research for promising catalysts using effective methods has an immense impact on the environment.

Human activities and the burning of fossil fuels result in carbon emissions, which release significant greenhouse gases that lead to global warming. Achieving carbon neutrality is critical in combating the climate crisis. Dr Bolong HUANG, Associate Professor of Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), is dedicated to research in catalysis for the development of new catalyst materials that support sustainable energy supply and conversion technologies, aligning with the global vision of protecting the environment.

A team of A*STAR scientists has made a significant breakthrough in understanding how Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) is processed by the human body.

Researchers at Concordia have developed a new system using tiny nanosensors called carbon dots to detect the presence of the widely used chemical glyphosate. The researchers employed a ratiometric self-referencing assay to determine glyphosate levels in a solution. The red fluorescence emitted by the carbon dots when exposed to varying concentrations of the chemical and different pH levels is compared with a control in which no glyphosate is present. In all the tests, the blue fluorescence remained unchanged, giving the researchers a common reference point across the different tests. They observed that higher levels of glyphosate quenched the red fluorescence, which they accredited to the interaction of the pesticide with the carbon dots’ surface.