Focal adhesions are known as signalling platforms broadcasting the information of the biochemical and physical qualities of the extracellular matrix into intracellular signalling cascades. However, focal adhesions remain unstudied in the context of human pluripotent stem cells.
An international team of astronomers has used the optical HiPERCAM camera of the Gran Telescopio Canarias in La Palma and NASA’s NICER X-ray observatory aboard the International Space Station to create a video of a growing black hole system at an unprecedented level of detail. The study has increased scientific understanding on the immediate surroundings of black holes.
Researchers have discovered new changes in blood samples which are associated with Alzheimer’s disease. A new international study examined Finnish twins. The study was conducted on disease-discordant twin pairs: one sibling who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and one who was cognitively healthy. The researchers utilised the latest genome-wide methods to find out whether the twins’ blood samples had any disease-related differences in chemical marks, so-called epigenetic marks, which are sensitive to changes in environmental and lifestyle factors.
Scientists at the Biodiversity Unit of the University of Turku have studied the diversity of tropical parasitoid wasps for years. Parasitoid wasps are one of the most species rich animal taxa on Earth, but their tropical diversity is still poorly known. Recently, the research group sampled Afrotropical rhyssine wasps, which are among the largest wasps. Scientists from three countries and research institutes participated in the research which was led by the University of Turku research group.
New study by the University of Turku and Cornell University shows that long-term elimination of herbivorous insects from plants changes the way they communicate with each other. The study focused on Solidago altissima, i.e. tall goldenrod, and indicated that communicating about threats also benefits the plant sharing the information. Different communication strategies between plants can be explained with the differences in the volatile organic compounds the plants release.
Researchers from the Turku Bioscience Centre have found changes in molecules in the blood that might be new markers of type 1 diabetes. The new findings may help understand the early pathogenesis of the disease.
The proportion of young people in Finland diagnosed with depression in specialised services is increasing, showed a study based on an extensive set of national data. An increasing number of adolescents seek and get help, but the increase in service use burdens specialised services. The study was conducted by the Research Centre for Child Psychiatry at the University of Turku.
Enteroviral infections are common viral infections with usually rather few symptoms, and they are also believed to be linked to the onset of type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is a disorder in which the pancreatic insulin-producing beta-cells are destroyed, and it is more common in Finland than anywhere else in the world.
The University of Turku participates in the SHIFT Business Festival on 29–30 August with two themes: using technology in the sustainable development of the maritime and food industries and the interaction between humans and machines. The theme of SHIFT 2019 is Shapeshifting intelligence, which looks beyond the hype for a more holistic view of intelligent business.
There are nearly fifty open vacancies for fixed-term doctoral candidate positions at the University of Turku from 1 January 2020 onwards. The call for applications is open 2–20 September 2019. This is already the seventh year that the University of Turku Graduate School (UTUGS) opens a call for paid doctoral candidate positions. This time, the programmes include the new doctoral programme of the INVEST project that is part of the flagship programme of the Academy of Finland.