Spare parts from small parts: Novel Scaffolds to grow Muscle

Spare parts from small parts: Novel Scaffolds to grow Muscle

Spare parts from small parts: Novel Scaffolds to grow Muscle

Australian biomedical engineers have successfully produced a 3D material that mimics nature to transform cells into muscle. The researchers have for the first time incorporated the natural processes of embryonic development to build a material that can more naturally communicate with stem cells for effective tissue repair. The breakthrough offers hope to people suffering from injuries where their muscles cannot repair themselves due to trauma or disease, and our rapidly aging population.

Led by Dr Richard Williams from RMIT University, in Melbourne Australia, the researchers have combined lab-made peptides with natural proteins and polymers to create a 3D “hydrogel scaffold...

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Wine Polyphenols could Fend off Bacteria that cause Cavities and Gum Disease

Inhibition of Oral Pathogens Adhesion to Human Gingival Fibroblasts by Wine Polyphenols Alone and in Combination with an Oral Probiotic

Inhibition of Oral Pathogens Adhesion to Human Gingival Fibroblasts by Wine Polyphenols Alone and in Combination with an Oral Probiotic

Sipping wine is good for your colon and heart, possibly because of the beverage’s abundant and structurally diverse polyphenols. Now researchers report in ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry that wine polyphenols might also be good for your oral health. Traditionally, some health benefits of polyphenols have been attributed to the fact that these compounds are antioxidants, meaning they likely protect the body from harm caused by free radicals. However, recent work indicates polyphenols might also promote health by actively interacting with bacteria in the gut...

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Laser-ranged Satellite measurement now accurately reflects Earth’s Tidal perturbations

Laser-ranged satellite measurement now accurately reflects Earth's tidal perturbations

The Lustbühel Satellite Laser Tacking. Credit: Jörg Weingrill (CC BY 2.0 [5])

The most precise ever laser satellite measurement method provides new clues to relativity. Tides on Earth have a far-reaching influence, including disturbing satellites’ measurements by affecting their motion. This disturbance can be studied using a model for the gravitational potential of Earth, taking into account the fact that Earth’s shape is not spherical. The LAser RElativity Satellite (LARES), is the best ever relevant test particle to move in Earth’s gravitational field.

In a new study published in EPJ Plus, LARES proves its efficiency for high-precision probing of General Relativity and fundamental physics...

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Magnetic field traces Gas and Dust Swirling around Supermassive Black Hole

The colour scale in the image shows the amount of infrared (heat) radiation coming from warm dust particles in the filaments and luminous stars within a light year of the Galactic centre. The position of the black hole is indicated by an asterisk. The lines trace the magnetic field directions and reveal the complex interactions between the stars and the dusty filaments, and the impact that they and the gravitational force has on them. Credit: E. Lopez-Rodriguez / NASA Ames / University of Texas at San Antonio. Click for a larger image

The colour scale in the image shows the amount of infrared (heat) radiation coming from warm dust particles in the filaments and luminous stars within a light year of the Galactic centre. The position of the black hole is indicated by an asterisk. The lines trace the magnetic field directions and reveal the complex interactions between the stars and the dusty filaments, and the impact that they and the gravitational force has on them. Credit: E. Lopez-Rodriguez / NASA Ames / University of Texas at San Antonio. Click for a larger image

Astronomers reveal a new high resolution map of the magnetic field lines in gas and dust swirling around the supermassive black hole at the centre of our Galaxy, published in a new paper in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society...

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