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    Category Biology/Biotechnology

    A new Bio-inspired Solar Leaf design with Increased Harvesting Eficiency

    August 16, 2023, Categories  Physics, Biology/Biotechnology, Environment/Geology

    Concept of a PV-branch of PV-leaves
    Concept of a PV-branch of PV-leaves. Gan Huang

    New research suggests a new solar energy design, inspired by nature, may pave the way for future renewable energy technologies.

    Photovoltaic solar energy is obtained by converting sunshine into electricity—and researchers from Imperial have developed a new leaf-like design with increased efficiency.

    The new photovoltaic leaf (PV-leaf) technology uses low-cost materials and could inspire the next generation of renewable energy technologies.

    A series of experiments has demonstrated that a PV-leaf can generate over 10% more electricity compared to conventional solar panels, which lose up to 70% of the incoming solar energy to the environment...

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    Surprise COVID Discovery Helps Explain How Coronaviruses Jump Species

    August 15, 2023, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    DNA-tethering and fusion of SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviruses and virus-like particles (VLP). The experiment design is schematized in panel (a), where DNA-functionalized viral particles are added to a microfluidic flow cell and allowed to bind to protein-free liposomes functionalized with complementary DNA. After unbound particles are washed away, fusion is initiated by addition of a soluble protease and monitored via lipid mixing, detected as fluorescence dequenching of Texas Red dye in the VLP or pseudoviral envelope. Representative images of a 10.1 × 9.6 μm sub-micrograph before and after lipid mixing are shown in panel (b) with a fusing particle outlined in magenta. The corresponding fluorescence intensity trace is plotted in panel (c).

    Unexpected new insights into how COVID-19 infects ce...

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    Scientists Identify Genes linked to High Production of Key Antibody

    August 15, 2023, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    A rendering of a nanovial, a microscopic bowl-shaped container that the scientists used to capture individual cells and their secretions. The dark, donut-shaped object to the right is a cell; the blue-and-yellow objects to the left are secreted immunoglobulin G antibodies. (Image courtesy: Rene Chang/University of Washington)

    A collaboration led by UCLA and the Seattle Children’s Research Institute has yielded new knowledge about the genes responsible for the production and release of immunoglobulin G, the most common type of antibody in the human body.

    The finding has the potential to advance manufacturing of antibody-based therapies for diseases such as cancer and arthritis, as well as the development of medical treatments that rely on the production of antibodies.

    Antibodies a...

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    Common Cold Virus Linked to Potentially Fatal Blood Clotting Disorder

    August 12, 2023, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    Image: Red-colored region depicts region on platelet factor 4 (PF4) molecule recognized by VITT-like antibodies obtained from patient 2 (adult). Credit: Mercy Daka (co-author) and Dr. Ishac Nazy (co-author)

    A new observation suggests that a life-threatening blood clotting disorder can be caused by an infection with adenovirus, one of the most common respiratory viruses in pediatric and adult patients.

    Platelets, or thrombocytes, are specialized cellular fragments that form blood clots when we get scrapes and traumatic injuries. Viral infections, autoimmune disease, and other conditions can cause platelet levels to drop throughout the body, termed thrombocytopenia.

    After a robust clinical and research collaboration, Stephan Moll, MD, and Jacquelyn Baskin-Miller, MD, both in the UN...

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