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Highly efficient photodynamic-immunotherapy by combining AIEgen with Poly(I:C)
The study reports the design and preparation of erythrocyte membrane-bound nanoparticles (M@AP), for tumoral photodynamic-immunotherapy. The M@AP is formed by self-assembly of aggregation-induced emission polymer (AIEgens) (named P2-PPh3) and polyinosinic : polycytidylic (Poly(I:C)), followed by erythrocyte membrane encapsulation. The M@AP nanoparticles combines the PDT properties of the AIE-active polyelectrolyte and immunotherapy properties of Poly(I:C) to achieve synergistic activation of the immune system for anti-tumor activity.
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Light as a fairy tale: What makes a feel-good film feel good?
'Feel-good films' are usually dismissed by film critics as being sentimental and without intellectual merit. But their popularity with audiences, who seek them out precisely because of their 'feel-good' qualities, tells a more favorable story. Now, for the first time, this popular movie genre has been examined scientifically.
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Researchers describe rare case of heart rhythm problem in newborn with Turner syndrome
Doctors treating babies born with Turner syndrome need to look for heart rhythm abnormalities, in addition to the usual heart problems of high blood pressure or left-sided structural heart defects, according to Meena Bolourchi, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine.
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International study: Humans accelerate the change of biodiversity
Humans have significantly altered biodiversity in all climate zones of the Earth. This has been shown by a study now published in "Science". Led by Prof. Dr. Manuel Steinbauer at the University of Bayreuth, and Dr. Sandra Nogué at the University of Southampton, an international team has investigated how the flora on 27 islands in different regions has developed over the last 5,000 years. Almost everywhere, the arrival of humans has triggered a markedly accelerated change in species composition in previously pristine ecosystems.
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Holographic histopathology enables fast, precise diagnostics
Traditional methods in histopathology are generally limited to thin specimens and require chemical processing of the tissue to provide sufficiently high contrast for imaging, which slows the process. A recent advance in histopathology eliminates the need for chemical staining and enables high-resolution imaging of thick tissue sections. As reported in Advanced Photonics, an international research team recently demonstrated a 3D label-free quantitative phase imaging technique that uses optical diffraction tomography to obtain volumetric imaging information.
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'Pokemonas': Bacteria related to lung parasites discovered, named after Pokémon
'Pokemonas' live in round amoebae, similar to Pokémon, which are caught inside balls in the popular video game.
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IAC is participating in the DALI experiment, searching for axion, proposed component of dark matter
The detection of the axion would mark a key episode in the history of science. This hypothetical particle could resolve two fundamental problems of Modern Physics at the same time: the problema of Charge and Parity in the strong interaction, and the mystery of dark matter.
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Too much salt suppresses phagocytes
Small changes of sodium in the blood reduce the amount of energy produced in the mitochondria - the power plants of our cells. This has consequences for immune cells. An international research team led by MDC scientists hasdiscovered the mechanism behind this phenomenon and published their findings in the journal Circulation.
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Research spotlights Minnesota's successes in eradicating Palmer amaranth
Palmer amaranth is a hard-to-control noxious weed that can significantly reduce crop yields. It was first introduced in Minnesota in 2016 through contaminated seed mixes used for conservation plantings.
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Prior SARS-CoV-2 infection rescues B and T cell responses to variants after first vaccine
A single dose of vaccine boosts protection against SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus variants, but only in those with previous COVID-19, a study has found.
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Surgical quality improvement driven by data surveillance, standardized processes and systems
Evidence from the medical literature that contributes to adopting a new practice into clinical care is integral for surgical quality improvement. Part II of a comprehensive review of five key principles of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Quality Verification Program demonstrates the role of data surveillance and standardized processes and systems to identify problems and improve the quality and safety of surgical patient care.
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Social factors did not impact families' acceptance of telehealth in early pandemic
Social, economic, and demographic factors that can influence health did not affect families' acceptance of telehealth for their children's cardiac care during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study presented at the Pediatric Academic Society 2021 Virtual Meeting. The study, by research team members at the Nemours Children's Health System, suggests that telehealth is a feasible tool for families regardless of household income, language, or insurance type.
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Important factor in the development of dendritic cells identified
Dendritic cells are divided into Type 1 (DC1) and Type 2 (DC2) dendritic cells. Each type fulfils different functions: DC1 provide an immune response to bacteria and viruses, DC2 protect against fungal or parasitic infections. In a recent study conducted at MedUni Vienna's Institute of Cancer Research, researchers found that a particular group of proteins plays a major role in the development of Type 1 dendritic cells. This
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Awake brings proton bunches into sync
Important milestone for next-generation acceleration experiment
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Navigating the squircle
Successful navigation requires the ability to separate memories in a context-dependent manner. For example, to find lost keys, one must first remember whether the keys were left in the kitchen or the office. How does the human brain retrieve the contextual memories that drive behavior? J.B. Julian of the Princeton Neuroscience Institute at Princeton University, USA, and Christian F. Doeller of the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig, Germany, found in a recent study that modulation of map-like representations in our brain's hippocampal formation can predict contextual memory retrieval in an ambiguous environment.
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World's first fiber-optic ultrasonic imaging probe for future nanoscale disease diagnostics
Scientists at the University of Nottingham have developed an ultrasonic imaging system, which can be deployed on the tip of a hair-thin optical fibre, and will be insertable into the human body to visualise cell abnormalities in 3D.
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DNA building blocks regulate inflammation
Shortage of DNA building blocks in the cell releases mitochondrial DNA
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Brazilian Amazon released more carbon than it stored in 2010s
The Brazilian Amazon rainforest released more carbon than it stored over the last decade - with degradation a bigger cause than deforestation - according to new research.
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Decoding the effect of body mass index on breast cancer
Medical researchers at Flinders University have established a new link between high body mass index (BMI) and breast cancer survival rates -- with clinical data revealing worse outcomes for early breast cancer (EBC) patients and improved survival rates in advanced breast cancer (ABC).
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Move over CRISPR, the retrons are coming
Researchers at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University have created a new gene editing tool called Retron Library Recombineering (RLR) that can generate up to millions of mutations simultaneously, and "barcodes" mutant bacterial cells so that the entire pool can be screened at once. It can be used in contexts where CRISPR is toxic or not feasible, and results in better editing rates.
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