News by Subject Technology & Engineering

A team of researchers has verified that it is possible to engineer two-layered nanofibers consisting of an ordered row of alternating peptides, and has also determined what makes these peptides automatically assemble into this pattern. The fundamental discovery raises the possibility of creating tailored "ABAB" peptide nanofibers with a variety of biomedical applications.

Researchers at the University Of Liverpool, in collaboration with NUI Galway and TU Berlin, have identified the key technological and scientific challenges of producing hydrogen through seawater electrolysis.

Few studies have examined how the neighborhood's physical environment relates to cognition in older adults. Researchers categorized 4,716 individuals by apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype -- a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) to determine if there are cognitive benefits of living in neighborhoods with greater access to social, walking and retail destinations. Results showed that the positive influence of neighborhood environments on cognition are strongest among those who are at the lowest risk for AD, specifically APOE ε2 carriers.

Researchers from Osaka University have shown that the enantioselective organocatalyzed Rauhut-Currier and [3+2] annulation sequence in a microflow system can rapidly produce functionalized chiral spirooxindoles (up to 89% yield, 98% ee) within one minute. Although conventional methods for developing a flow synthesis procedure can be costly and labor-intensive, the researchers efficiently optimized multiple parameters by applying a machine learning algorithm. This unique approach may help realize novel synthetic routes in flow systems.

Researchers have demonstrated a new, green technology for both accelerated screening and retrieving 'switchable' solvents used in green chemistry applications. The new approach makes the screening process hundreds of times faster and drastically accelerates the rate at which solvents can be retrieved from solution.