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IMAGE: Computational modeling shows that mutations on SARS-CoV-2 s spike protein that enhance the virus ability to bind to the ACE2 receptor occur in two clusters or mutation hotspots. view more
Credit: Image courtesy of Hin Hark Gan and Kristin Gunsalus, NYU s Department of Biology
SARS-CoV-2 has evolved to acquire mutations on the spike protein the part of the virus that protrudes from its surface and latches onto cells to infect them that enhance the coronavirus ability to bind to human cells or evade antibodies. A new study from the Centers for Genomics and Systems Biology at New York University and NYU Abu Dhabi uses computational modeling to assess the biological significance of spike protein mutations, uncovering versions of the virus that bind more tightly or resist antibodies and offering a promising public health surveillance tool.
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IMAGE: Visualization of the percentage of a building s repair cost to its replacement value after a magnitude 7.0 earthquake in San Francisco. view more
Credit: Chaofeng Wang, SimCenter, UC Berkeley
Artificial intelligence is providing new opportunities in a range of fields, from business to industrial design to entertainment. But how about civil engineering and city planning? How might machine- and deep-learning help us create safer, more sustainable, and resilient built environments?
A team of researchers from the NSF NHERI SimCenter, a computational modeling and simulation center for the natural hazards engineering community based at the University of California, Berkeley, have developed a suite of tools called BRAILS Building Recognition using AI at Large-Scale that can automatically identify characteristics of buildings in a city and even detect the risks that a city s structures would face in an earthquake, hurricane, or tsunami.
Credit: Kazan Federal University
Problems for eigenmodes of a two-layered dielectric microcavity have become widespread thanks to the research of A.I. Nosich, E.I. Smotrova, S.V. Boriskina and others since the beginning of the 21st century. The KFU team first tackled this topic in 2014; undergraduates started working under the guidance of Evgeny Karchevsky, Professor of the Department of Applied Mathematics of the Institute of Computational Mathematics and Information Technology.
In this paper, the researchers discuss a model of a 2D active microcavity with a piercing hole and the possibility of a compromise between high directionality of radiation and low threshold gain. The analysis performed is based on the lasing eigenvalue problem (LEP) formalism. This LEP is a boundary value problem for the system of Maxwell equations with boundary and radiation conditions, adapted to study the threshold modes of open resonators with active regions. In LEP, each eigenvalue is a pair of two re
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Scientists from Tomsk Polytechnic University and Université Grenoble Alpes (France) have proposed a more accurate method for loading capability assessment of power transformers. As an example, the scientists defined the loading capability of the power transformer in Tomsk and Grenoble. The research findings are published in the
International Journal of Electrical Power and Energy Systems (IF: 3,588, Q1).
The cost of a power transformer can reach a few hundred million rubles that makes it the most expensive element of an electrical grid. Therefore, power engineers tend to use the loading capability of transformers in full. The method proposed by the TPU scientists can help to operate power transformers closer to their thermal limit. It will allow operators to control power systems of higher transfer capability, grid electricity suppliers to postpone investment to change power transformers, end-users to use cheaper electrical energy.
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The support app provides tailored advice to patients undergoing treatment for cancer,, and the app will be trialled in colorectal, breast and lung cancer patients across four NHS sites - helping them to better self-manage their medications, side effects, symptoms and lifestyles.
The app seamlessly integrates with smartphone technology, and it is hoped that its use can improve quality of life and reduce the use of emergency healthcare in patients undergoing treatment.
It is anticipated that 300 patients will be recruited, and randomised to receive either standard of care or standard of care and additional support through the app.
The trial will be sponsored by University of Surrey and run by Surrey Clinical Trials Unit, led by Professor Simon Skene and Dr Agnieszka Michael.