Originally shared by nullSciTech #ScienceSunday
Digest - 22/2016.Permalink here: http://www.scitechdigest.net/2016/05/mapping-ncrna-computers-driving-maths.htmlMapping ncRNA, Protein modularity, Better infrared light capture, Clutter busting robots, Computers driving maths & science, Automatic DNA origami, Scaling quantum dots, Cancer immunotherapies, Reducing amyloid plaques, Large-scale IoT. 1. Mapping Non-Coding RNA from Junk DNAA new technique called LIGR-Seq captures interactions between different RNA molecules, isolates them, sequences them, and so identifies novel functions for new non-coding RNA molecules
http://www.thedonnellycentre.utoronto.ca/news/shedding-light-%E2%80%98dark-matter%E2%80%99-genome. Types of non-coding RNA’s include the following: rRNA, tRNA, snRNA, snoRNA, piRNA, miRNA, and lncRNA. Only 2% of the genome codes for mRNA and proteins. The other 98% was thought to be junk, but it turns out that 50% - 75% of this “junk” is transcribed into non-coding RNAs now thought to have many functions in the cell and that previously had been incredibly difficult to identify, study, and characterise. This new tool changes that and should significantly boost our understanding of the cell and ways to manipulate it.
2. Better Understanding Protein Modularity and DesignA new evolutionary analysis of protein structure-function reveals strong conservation over time and across species for modular protein components that form loops for active sites that bind molecules or other proteins
http://singularityhub.com/2016/05/25/scientists-unearth-key-evolutionary-link-in-proteins/. These modules are essentially used over and over again in different genes throughout different species and their identification provides avenues for directed synthetic biology applications, combining different modules to create proteins with novel functions. This phenomenon, known as hierarchical modularity has been observed in other complex man-made networks.
3. Efficiently Capturing Infrared LightBy etching thin grooves into semiconducting thin films a group has created ultraefficient infrared light absorbers capable of capturing 99% of infrared light instead of the conventional approaches that manage 7.7%
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-05/uos-obt052416.php. The structure of the grooves direct the light sideways into the material and drastically reduce reflections; I wonder if they are trying similar techniques for photovoltaics? Applications include much cheaper and more portable night-vision capabilities, thermal imaging generally, and perhaps types of sensing spectroscopy.
4. Robots Dealing with ClutterNew software is helping robots better deal with clutter via “rearrangement planning”, especially when pick-and-place becomes unfeasible or too time consuming
http://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2016/may/robots-clutter.html. Obvious applications in sorting objects in complex environments and also in path planning when traversing cluttered and uneven surfaces. Next step is to incorporate additional levels and means of feedback for the robot to react and adjust to the environment as it goes about rearranging things. Meanwhile a new robot quickly sorts different types of rubbish for recycling applications
http://spectrum.ieee.org/view-from-the-valley/robotics/industrial-robots/to-reycle-or-not-to-recycle-a-trash-robot-knows-for-sure.
5. Computers Solving Maths and Mining ScienceThe largest ever mathematics proof has been announced, in this case for computationally cracking the Boolean Pythagorean Triples problem, and is contained in a 200 Terabyte file
http://www.nature.com/news/two-hundred-terabyte-maths-proof-is-largest-ever-1.19990?. Such brute-force proofs are becoming increasingly common and are no doubt useful, but people question whether they actually lead to increased mathematical understanding as is the case with general proofs. In related news machine learning techniques are being used to help researchers filter immense volumes of scientific papers and data to better direct research efforts, ask better questions, and reduce wasted efforts
http://singularityhub.com/2016/05/26/machine-learnings-next-trick-will-transform-how-research-is-done/ and
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/601589/the-first-visual-search-engine-for-scientific-diagrams/.
6. Automating DNA Origami DesignDAEDALUS is a new software algorithm that allows a user to design and specify a 3D structure, complete with holes, for which it then automatically designs the optimised sequence and number of DNA strands needed for form that particular DNA origami nanoparticle
http://news.mit.edu/2016/automating-dna-origami-opens-door-many-new-uses-0526. Such a tool will further accelerate the field of self-assembled DNA nanostructures, and broaden its accessibility to more people across more fields. Applications include designing better gene-delivery vehicles, conjugation with proteins for functional targeting, functional memory blocks, basic nano-scale building blocks, functionalisation with metals for quantum dots, next-generation nanomachines and nanodevices.
7. Scaling Up Quantum Dot ProductionAnother recent technique for scaling up quantum dot production makes use of bacterial fermentation to do so
https://www.ornl.gov/news/ornl-demonstrates-large-scale-technique-produce-quantum-dots. In this case zinc sulfide nanoparticles were fabricated by bacteria in a fermentation / biomanufacturing technique that results in the quantum dot nanoparticles being produced outside of the cell, and possibly 90% cheaper than other methods. Seems we really are getting closer to mass manufacturing of nanometer-scale quantum dots with magnetic, photovoltaic, and catalytic properties for a wide range of applications in electronics, energy generation and storage, and imaging.
8. Nuances in Cancer ImmunotherapiesIt turns out that techniques for activating a patient’s own immune cells to attack cancer cells may not be as effective as introducing immune cells taken from healthy volunteers
https://www.fightaging.org/archives/2016/05/borrowed-immune-cells-to-fight-cancer/. The introduced cells turned out to be much better at recognising the cancer cells as cancerous, which the patient’s own immune system had otherwise failed to recognise; this is probably one of multiple mechanisms for the benefits of parabiosis. Immunotherapies are some of the most promising techniques currently being trialled and advances like this should only help to make them more effective.
9. Reducing Amyloid Plaques SystemicallyIt appears that organs and tissues peripheral to the brain play a role in removing and clearing Amyloid-beta protein and reducing the levels of Amyloid plaques the brain that are characteristic of Alzheimer’s Disease
https://www.fightaging.org/archives/2016/05/the-possibility-of-reducing-amyloid-in-the-brain-by-reducing-it-elsewhere/. Amyloid produced in the brain appears to be somewhat cleared in the periphery, and boosting this clearance in the periphery helps to prevent Alzheimer’s Disease pathogenesis. This could be a source of low-hanging-fruit for temporarily pushing back Alzheimer’s Disease in humans to buy time for more advanced therapies.
10. First Large-Scale Internet of Things NetworkBuilding of the first nation-wide network dedicated to the Internet of Things has been announced by Samsung, to be tested and rolled-out through South Korea
http://nextbigfuture.com/2016/05/samsung-and-sk-telecom-to-build-world.html. This brings together a range of innovations in wireless communications, networking, data analytics, and electronic sensing to demonstrate a viable and effective nation-wide Internet of Things platform that people can expand and build applications on top of. As an example streetlights will collect weather and traffic information to facilitate lighting adjustments and pollution monitoring.
SciTech Tip Jar: http://www.scitechdigest.net/p/donate.html 
