news 2021
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AI standards in biomedical research
Guidelines published , to ensure quality and reproducibility of predictive methods An international group of scientists, including the ELIXIR Machine Learning Focus Group , developed a set of guidelines for better reporting standards for AI methods aiming to classify biomedical data. Examples of such methods are machine learning predictors that try to identify, based on genetic and other data, whether someone suffers from a particular rare disease or predictive methods that aim to identify the drug to which a cancer patient would respond best.
Guidelines published , to ensure quality and reproducibility of predictive methods An international group of scientists, including the ELIXIR Machine Learning Focus Group , developed a set of guidelines for better reporting standards for AI methods aiming to classify biomedical data. Examples of such methods are machine learning predictors that try to identify, based on genetic and other data, whether someone suffers from a particular rare disease or predictive methods that aim to identify the drug to which a cancer patient would respond best.
The regions that form the reading network in the brain mainly develop in the first two years of primary school. After that, the growth of these brain regions stabilises. This has been shown by a year-long study conducted by KU Leuven. Neurobiological differences in dyslexia are already present at pre-school age The regions that form the reading network in the brain mainly develop in the first two years of primary school.
KU Leuven researchers expose some surprising similarities with animals that are 600 million years of evolution removed from us. Although octopuses have been wandering a different evolutionary path for around 600 million years, the formation of their brain cells shows some surprising similarities with that of humans.
Team led by VUB professor reach milestone in pancreatic cancer research
Healthy pancreas contains cells similar to most aggressive tumour cells, study finds Wednesday, August 11, 2021 — A team of researchers from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, the UZ Brussel and elsewhere in Belgium and abroad, led by VUB professor Ilse Rooman, have discovered a cell in the pancreas of healthy people that is very similar to the most aggressive pancreatic cancer cells.
Healthy pancreas contains cells similar to most aggressive tumour cells, study finds Wednesday, August 11, 2021 — A team of researchers from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, the UZ Brussel and elsewhere in Belgium and abroad, led by VUB professor Ilse Rooman, have discovered a cell in the pancreas of healthy people that is very similar to the most aggressive pancreatic cancer cells.
Chasing neutrinos in Greenland
VUB leads pioneering project to search for cosmic particles from space with radio antennas Researchers from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) are part of a unique installation on the Greenland ice cap that will try to observe almost elusive particles from space. The Radio Neutrino Observatory Greenland (RNO-G) is a pioneering project that uses a new method to detect cosmic neutrinos with very high energy using radio antennas.
VUB leads pioneering project to search for cosmic particles from space with radio antennas Researchers from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) are part of a unique installation on the Greenland ice cap that will try to observe almost elusive particles from space. The Radio Neutrino Observatory Greenland (RNO-G) is a pioneering project that uses a new method to detect cosmic neutrinos with very high energy using radio antennas.
The soft spaghetti of proteins, essential for the resistance of bacteria
IN BRIEF: University of Louvain (UCLouvain) scientists have identified destructured segments, still unexplored to date , in proteins necessary for the life of bacteria The result? These segments, shaped like soft spaghetti , are essential for the life of bacteria This discovery, published in the prestigious scientific , contributes to the search for new antibiotic treatments ARTICLE: Bacteria are increasingly resistant , especially to antibiotics, which is a major global health problem.
IN BRIEF: University of Louvain (UCLouvain) scientists have identified destructured segments, still unexplored to date , in proteins necessary for the life of bacteria The result? These segments, shaped like soft spaghetti , are essential for the life of bacteria This discovery, published in the prestigious scientific , contributes to the search for new antibiotic treatments ARTICLE: Bacteria are increasingly resistant , especially to antibiotics, which is a major global health problem.
Size doesn’t matter in ecosystem resilience, study in PNAS shows
Mangrove forests were once dominant in the tropics, but they have disappeared at alarming rates around the world. Little is known, however, about the impact of this deforestation on the functional diversity and resilience of resident fauna. A team including Farid Dahdouh-Guebas of VUB's Ecology & Biodiversity Research Unit Researchers addressed this question and found that mangroves have among the lowest faunal diversity of any of the planet's ecosystems, making them especially vulnerable to environmental change.
Mangrove forests were once dominant in the tropics, but they have disappeared at alarming rates around the world. Little is known, however, about the impact of this deforestation on the functional diversity and resilience of resident fauna. A team including Farid Dahdouh-Guebas of VUB's Ecology & Biodiversity Research Unit Researchers addressed this question and found that mangroves have among the lowest faunal diversity of any of the planet's ecosystems, making them especially vulnerable to environmental change.
Important factor in transplant rejection identified
KU Leuven researchers have revealed the importance of a newly identified mechanism of kidney transplant rejection. These results could increase the chances of a successful transplantation in the future. Each year, about 500 people in our country undergo a kidney transplant. 15 to 20% of these patients experience rejection symptoms.
KU Leuven researchers have revealed the importance of a newly identified mechanism of kidney transplant rejection. These results could increase the chances of a successful transplantation in the future. Each year, about 500 people in our country undergo a kidney transplant. 15 to 20% of these patients experience rejection symptoms.
Antibiotics may help to treat melanoma
Some antibiotics appear to be effective against a form of skin cancer known as melanoma. KU Leuven researchers examined the effect of these antibiotics on patient-derived tumours in mice. Some antibiotics appear to be effective against a form of skin cancer known as melanoma. KU Leuven researchers examined the effect of these antibiotics on patient-derived tumours in mice.
Some antibiotics appear to be effective against a form of skin cancer known as melanoma. KU Leuven researchers examined the effect of these antibiotics on patient-derived tumours in mice. Some antibiotics appear to be effective against a form of skin cancer known as melanoma. KU Leuven researchers examined the effect of these antibiotics on patient-derived tumours in mice.
Second coronavirus wave in Europe after summer 2020 mainly due to introduction of new virus strains
More than half of the COVID-19 strains that were circulating in the late summer of 2020 in Europe were only introduced after 15 June.
More than half of the COVID-19 strains that were circulating in the late summer of 2020 in Europe were only introduced after 15 June.
Olive oil and other unsaturated fats are liquid, but researchers have now developed an unsaturated fat that still remains solid at room temperature. Their product can help food companies to develop healthy alternatives to existing high-fat products. Olive oil and other unsaturated fats are liquid, but KU Leuven researchers have now developed an unsaturated fat that still remains solid at room temperature.
A study involving virtual instead of real patients was as effective as traditional clinical trials in evaluating a medical device used to treat brain aneurysms, according to researchers from the University of Leeds and KU Leuven. Furthermore, the 'virtual' approach required far less time and money. A study involving virtual instead of real patients was as effective as traditional clinical trials in evaluating a medical device used to treat brain aneurysms, according to researchers from the University of Leeds and KU Leuven.
Research on albinism in Tanzania
Successful pilot project to tackle discrimination 13 June is International Albinism Awareness Day One in 1,400 people in Tanzania has albinism. These people are often socially excluded, heavily discriminated against and sometimes even have to fear for their lives. Dr Tjitske de Groot of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel set up a pilot project for her doctoral research and investigated what actions and means could be used to reduce the stigma of albinism - as well as other stigma - and actively contributed to this on site.
Successful pilot project to tackle discrimination 13 June is International Albinism Awareness Day One in 1,400 people in Tanzania has albinism. These people are often socially excluded, heavily discriminated against and sometimes even have to fear for their lives. Dr Tjitske de Groot of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel set up a pilot project for her doctoral research and investigated what actions and means could be used to reduce the stigma of albinism - as well as other stigma - and actively contributed to this on site.
Dinosaurs lived in greenhouse climate with hot summers
New climate reconstruction method provides precise picture of climate 78 million years ago Palaeoclimatologists study climate of the geological past. Using an innovative technique, new research by an international research team led by Niels de Winter (VUB-AMGC & Utrecht University) shows for the first time that dinosaurs had to deal with greater seasonal differences than previously thought.
New climate reconstruction method provides precise picture of climate 78 million years ago Palaeoclimatologists study climate of the geological past. Using an innovative technique, new research by an international research team led by Niels de Winter (VUB-AMGC & Utrecht University) shows for the first time that dinosaurs had to deal with greater seasonal differences than previously thought.
A new bacteria, made in Belgium (and UCLouvain)
In brief: A research team from University of Louvain (UCLouvain) has discovered a new bacterium in the human intestine.
In brief: A research team from University of Louvain (UCLouvain) has discovered a new bacterium in the human intestine.
Research results show that news diversity in Flanders is decreasing. The cause, according to his research, is the concentration of media organisations in the Flemish news landscape.
Bois de la Cambre in Brussels: park or thoroughfare?
VUB and ULB research into traffic preferences shows divide between respondents in centre and periphery Sunday, May 30, 2021 — Traffic in the Bois de la Cambre in Brussels has been the subject of intense debate for some time. Should it be open or closed to traffic? Researchers from VUB and ULB, with the Brussels Studies Institute (BSI), conducted a survey on people's wishes for the park.
VUB and ULB research into traffic preferences shows divide between respondents in centre and periphery Sunday, May 30, 2021 — Traffic in the Bois de la Cambre in Brussels has been the subject of intense debate for some time. Should it be open or closed to traffic? Researchers from VUB and ULB, with the Brussels Studies Institute (BSI), conducted a survey on people's wishes for the park.
Wednesday, May 19, 2021 — The annual World Hypertension Day on 17 May prompted the publication of a review article on hypertension that appears today in the leading journal The Lancet. In this article, Prof Sofie Brouwers, OLV Ziekenhuis Aalst and Vrije Universiteit Brussel, and her colleagues present the current state of affairs regarding arterial hypertension.
New research has identified various flaws in the security of Wi-Fi connections. Attackers could take advantages of these weaknesses to get access to private data. New security updates were announced yesterday. New research has identified various flaws in the security of Wi-Fi connections. Attackers could take advantages of these weaknesses to get access to private data.
Brook lamprey or brown trout soon to be back in our rivers? Then we’ll need to make a bit of an effort
The chance of us finding brook lamprey or brown trout in our brooks and rivers again in a few years is particularly small.
The chance of us finding brook lamprey or brown trout in our brooks and rivers again in a few years is particularly small.
