Technology News

Substance from Brazilian spider venom could be used against cancer

Technology News / By Ashley Cornell, email: [email protected]

The Vitalius wacketi spider is native to the coast of São Paulo and belongs to the same family as tarantulas, Theraphosidae. Tiago Robles hit Brazil with meteors 03/02/2024 2:00 p.m. 5 min

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwideresponsible for approximately 9.6 million deaths in 2018 alone. Several studies have been conducted to find therapeutic alternatives (and even a cure) for this disease.

And now a new hope is emerging: As part of joint research, scientists from the Butantan Institute and the Societe Beneficente Israelita Brasileira have discovered Albert Einstein a molecule in the venom of the spider Vitalius wacketi with the potential to treat cancer. The arachnid lives on the coast of the state of São Paulo (Brazil).

How is spider venom promising in treating cancer?

The corresponding molecule (a polyamine) is obtained from the venom of the crab spider Vitalius wacketi, which belongs to the same family as tarantulas, Theraphosidae. These molecules were isolated, purified and synthesized, resulting in this promising compound.

The substance was synthesized in Butantan's laboratory and purified by Einstein (removing all impurities and enhancing its effects). It successfully eliminated leukemia cells, a tumor that affects certain blood cellsduring in vitro testing, as well as leukemia cells that are resistant to chemotherapy.

The molecule found in the venom of the Brazilian spider Vitalius wacketi offers hope for cancer treatment as it was able to eliminate leukemia cells in in vitro tests.

This substance has several positive points. The difference is that the tumor cells successfully die through apoptosis (programmed death) and not through necrosis, ie The cell destroys itself in a controlled manner without triggering an inflammatory reaction. And that's an advantage because generally more traditional oncological treatments cause necrosis.

Incredible: Chernobyl wolves develop an anti-cancer genetic mutation!

“Death by necrosis is an unprogrammed death in which the cell collapses, leading to a significant inflammatory state. “During apoptosis, the tumor cell signals to the immune system that it is dying and then eliminates the cell fragments,” explains Einstein researcher Thomaz Rocha e Silva.

One of the advantages of this substance is that, due to its low molecular weight, there is no problem of immunogenicity – when a foreign substance present in the body triggers a response from the immune system – said Pedro Ismael da Silva Junior, scientist at the Butantan Institute. Laboratory of Applied Toxicology.

Over and beyond, Another advantage is that the new molecule is small and the synthesis process is much simpler and cheaper than other available moleculeswhich can make access to the product easier.

the next steps

The molecule was obtained through an innovative production process, which is the result of many years of studyDue to its great potential, it has been patented by institutions. The idea is to license this technology to a company capable of producing the substance on a large scale and developing tests on animals – and in the future on humans if they prove safe and efficient. From now on, Institutions are seeking partnerships with the pharmaceutical industry to secure the investments required for further development.

This major discovery may revolutionize the fight against breast cancer!

“We have already identified potential interested parties and are in contact with certain companies. This could speed up the study so that it becomes a product and gets to patients more quickly ” said Cristiano Gonçalves, Innovation Director of Butantan.

According to scientists This discovery is already mature enough to go through new stages of development. In the next steps, they will conduct tests on lung and bone cancer cells. In addition, the technology is being studied on healthy human cells to confirm that it is non-toxic, that is, whether it is selective and only harms cancer cells.

News reference:

Butantan portal. “In joint research, Butantan and Einstein discovered a substance in spider venom that has potential against cancer cells“, 2024.

Substance from Brazilian spider venom could be used against cancer Read More »

In his new novel, René Manzor tells the breathtaking story of a writer accused of murder who flees to find the real perpetrator and exonerate herself.

Technology News / By Ashley Cornell, email: [email protected]

René Manzor, an extraordinary filmmaker, screenwriter and novelist, immerses his readers in a very tough thriller full of unpredictable twists and turns that goes from the plateaus of the Vercors to the depths of the jungle in Colombia. The shadow of the innocentHer new novel is about a successful writer who is accused of murder. Her DNA is found on the murder weapon… and she has no choice but to run away to find the real perpetrator and clear her name.

René Manzor publishes L'ombre des innocents with Éditions Calmann Levy. © Editions Calmann Levy

This complex story begins in Paris in the offices of a publisher. Just as famous writer Marion Scriba is describing her next thriller, the police arrive and arrest her. The mother is accused of a high-profile murder and her DNA was found on the murder weapon.

Marion Scriba is taken into police custody and protests her innocence. But who can deny DNA evidence? Marion only sees one solution: escape, find the perpetrator and prove her own innocence.

Wim Haag, a Europol agent who had retired a few years earlier, is called back to take part in the investigation. He notices that something is wrong: this woman with a well-ordered life, who writes stories, has a lot of instinct in her escape…

DNA, the queen of evidence

René Manzor has written a super well-made and well-researched thriller. “The trigger for writing the novel was the D'Outreau affair, a monumental miscarriage of justice in which a number of people were accused of pedophile acts. In fact, it was all wrong. I had the feeling that I had been tricked into believing that people were guilty,” he explains in the interview.

“I said to myself: If something like this were to happen today, what could put someone at the center of all the hate? It's DNA. Because DNA is the queen of evidence. Today we condemn with DNA. It is ultimately stronger evidence for a jury than testimony or an alibi.”

René Manzor began studying how DNA was the queen of evidence. “Studying with specialists made me realize that we are not creating a genetic fingerprint, but rather a profile. So, to establish this profile, we relied on the expertise of 13 markers. DNA is ideal for exonerating someone because all it takes is one of the 13 markers to be wrong. But two different individuals can have the same 13 markers.”

Upon further research, René Manzor discovered that studies showed the percentage error was 1%. “So one in a hundred people could be charged even though they are innocent. I said to myself, wait… if one in 100 planes crashed, would you fly?

We want someone who is guilty…

He decided to plan a conspiracy in which a mother with three children would be accused of a crime she did not commit.

“The media and almost political pressure to find the culprit is so great that we are moving almost too quickly. We want someone. We want someone who is guilty. The heroine’s lawyer will advise her to plead guilty because the Queen of Evidence has spoken.”

Marion Scriba will only have one solution: escape. “And suddenly a hunt begins. A double hunt: she is looking for the real perpetrator and at the same time is being hunted by this Europol agent who has been called back to this investigation. It will be interesting to see how this woman who is a novelist ends up using her imagination to escape whoever is chasing her.

The shadow of the innocent

René Manzor

Calmann Levy Editions

Approximately 362 pages

▶ In bookstores from February 28th.

René Manzor is a novelist, director and screenwriter.
It has established itself as one of the references of the French thriller.
His novels have won several awards.
We owe him something The one whose name is no longer, Apocryphal, live (Grand Prix Iris Noir Bruxelles 2021 and Prix de l'Embouchure 2022, From the depths of the ages.
He shoots the trailers for his novels himself. You can see that from The shadow of the innocent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQv-yG6WYoQ
He has family in Quebec.

“Kassar turned and saw through the barbed wire a small figure leaning against the dilapidated concrete wall. Around him, scientific police officers in white overalls were busy with closed faces. The commander stepped forward, knowing that sooner or later she would have to face reality.

The icy wind continued to blow through the openings of the ruined building. The halogen light filtering through the shattered windows gave the scene a sacred atmosphere that did nothing to soften the raw spectacle Kassar was about to discover.

– René Manzor, The Shadow of the Innocents, Éditions Calmann Levy

• Also read: Books to watch in 2024

• Also read: “From the Depths of the Ages” by René Manzor: Nightmare in Antarctica

• Also read: An investigation that drives you crazy

• Also read: Thriller about the time of Jesus

In his new novel, René Manzor tells the breathtaking story of a writer accused of murder who flees to find the real perpetrator and exonerate herself. Read More »

The anatomical origin of whale song discovered: the study

Technology News / By Ashley Cornell, email: [email protected]

The underwater kingdom is home to many fascinating creatures, including whales. These huge mammals are famous for their Melodies complex and suggestive. In fact, their mystery is why they attract the attention of scientists and the curious. I sing. But recently a team of Danish, Austrian and Japanese researchers clarified the problem. mechanism anatomical what does that enable? whale “song”. whales Mysticetesof which they are a part Whales, fin whales and humpback whalesThey developed one larynx with an anatomical shape suitable for producing sounds underwater in the depths of the ocean.

Whale songs have been studied for centuries 50 years, but it was not known in detail how these mammals were able to produce a wide range of sounds, and some aspects were still unknown. Thanks to new research, all the anatomical and physiological details of the larynx of these animals have been described and modeled. The results of the study were published in the renowned journal Nature.

The researchers managed to extract that larynx They examined and reconstructed a few specimens of three whale species stranded on the Danish coast, fin whales and humpback whales, using sophisticated methods. Model 3D their three-dimensional anatomical models. They also identified the exact “route” of theAir in the larynx.

The organ is designed to circulate air and prevent the inhalation of water when vocalizing. Part of the larynx has one “U” shaped structure in contact with some kind of fat pad; When air escapes from the lungs, the laryngeal system begins to vibrate and produce sounds. The scientists also reconstructed and demonstrated a sound model of vocalizations on the computer These are low-frequency signalsto the maximum 300Hzcan only spread over medium distances.

For comparison, consider that a woman's voice has a maximum frequency of approx. 250 Hz. Unfortunately, this frequency matches that of most engines on fishing boats and transport vessels, thus disrupting cetacean calls. In the darkness of the ocean depths, sound exchange between individuals is essential as a guide for hunting, movement or courtship, and therefore disturbances generated by ship engines can confuse and alter the behavior of these animals.

The anatomical origin of whale song discovered: the study Read More »

Telescope and archeology | What to do in Estrie during spring break?

Technology News / By Ashley Cornell, email: [email protected]

Archeology at Maison Merry

From March 6th to 10th at 2:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., Maison Merry de Magog presents the activity These Secrets Under the Earth, which invites the whole family to discover the world of archeology. The site, which has been the subject of three archaeological excavations that have uncovered 4,000-year-old artifacts, outlines its activities as follows: “Search for artifacts, place them on a timeline, reconstruct native vases and browse our exhibits to find clues.” ! A treasure hunt that will give you a wonderful time with your family!”

Regular admission to the museum: $10 for adults, $8.50 for seniors, $7 for students and free for children under 5. Voluntary contribution for Magog residents.

The Museum of Nature and Science is active

In addition to the usual exhibitions, MNs2 has no shortage of selection throughout the week. Reservations are strongly recommended for all activities. These are included in the museum's usual price, with the exception of the visit to Bishop's University on March 9th.

Interactive show The great discoveries

On Sunday, March 3, at 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., this interactive show promises demonstrations on chemistry, electricity, air and light!

Free

Scientific hodgepodge

On Monday, March 4th, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. everyone is warmly invited to talk to those interested in astronomy, physics, mathematics, geology and biology.

Fire and ice show

According to MNS2, you can attend “fiery” science demonstrations on Tuesday, March 5 at 9:45 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:15 p.m.

Falcon Educ

On Wednesday March 6th at 9:45 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. MNS2 offers interest in the world of birds of prey, their characteristics, their role in the environment and the differences between birds of prey nocturnal and diurnal.

Marie Curie in floral slippers

On Thursday, March 7, at 9:45 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:15 p.m., the funniest moments in the discovery of the connection between atoms and energy will be revealed in a mix of humor, storytelling and experiments.

Spot the robot dog

Friday, March 8 at 10 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. Spot, the robot dog that automates routine and repetitive tasks, is ready to meet young people.

Visit to Bishop's Human Kinetics Laboratory

Saturday, March 9th, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Limited places.

Reservations required, $10 per person.

Activities are planned for the spring break at the AstroLab in Mont-Mégantic. (Mathieu Dupuis/SEPAQ)

White Week in Mont Mégantic National Park

Access to the park is free for one week. We are planning astronomy evenings with torchlight hikes and film screenings “Emergence”, “Cosmic Evolution” and a day. March 7th is dedicated to the family and offers treats in addition to observing the sun through a telescope.

Quebec Games

The 58th Quebec Games finals come to Sherbrooke over spring break. Sports fans? Several competitions of all kinds are held in the region.

playground

The public is also invited to enjoy the Place des Jeux, located in the Armand-Nadeau pavilion on the banks of the Lac des Nations, from March 1st to 9th. Jacques-Cartier Park offers free activities for young and old. The program includes shows for children, musical actors, comedians and the broadcast of competitions.

Benefit show

Music fan? The organization will host a large charity show on Wednesday March 6th at 8 p.m. at the Palais des Sports: the Méga Party Rock by PA Méthot and its musicians Les Pas Propres, accompanied by Brigitte Boisjoli, Jonas Tomalty, Sara Dufour and Martin Deschamps.

Tickets are $57 for the grandstand and $63 for the auditorium.

La Tribune will also be covering key moments from the games throughout the week.

The Sherbrooke Carnival is in full swing

On March 2nd and 3rd the party starts at 10 a.m. at Jacques-Cartier Park in Sherbrooke.

For more information, see our text on this topic.

More than half of the activities are free. All Access Pass for $10.

Telescope and archeology | What to do in Estrie during spring break? Read More »

“We are not being listened to”: Scientists complain about the melting of Antarctica

Technology News / By Ashley Cornell, email: [email protected]

For the third year in a row, Antarctica's ice level has reached a record low, but the catastrophic consequences of this situation “do not seem to matter for the world's population,” complains geologist Miguel Angel de Pablo: “Scientists don't listen to us.” “

“Teams studying Antarctic glaciers are finding widespread acceleration in glacier mass loss […] This creates an imbalance and the glaciers lose volume “much faster,” the Spanish geologist on the island of Livingston, almost 1,000 kilometers from the coast of southern Chile, tells AFP.

Mr. de Pablo, a professor at the University of Alcala in Madrid, has been studying the properties of Antarctica's frozen soils affected by the climate crisis caused by massive emissions of greenhouse gases for 16 years.

“The problem is that it is not easy to recover from this damage. Even if we stopped everything today, if we changed the rhythm of our lives in Western societies, the decline of glaciers would not stop tomorrow, nor would the frozen soils be lost or ecosystems affected,” he says, saying was “very worried”.

“We may multiply the warnings to make society aware of what is happening, but it seems to me that we scientists are not listened to, that we are alarmists, if it does not correspond to reality, let's just say what we say “We see,” adds the researcher of this island complex in the south of the Shetland Islands on the Antarctic Peninsula.

According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center in the United States, the ice extent of the White Continent was less than two million square kilometers in the last three months of February, during the austral summer. Unparalleled encrypted data. “The trend in sea ice extent in Antarctica has declined sharply almost every month since August 2016,” emphasizes the institute.

“Glacier mass loss is generally increasing,” Mr. de Pablo says next to the Spanish base of Juan Carlos I, on a black-sand beach surrounded by numerous blocks of ice floating at sea.

“We find thin icebergs, which are simply the result of the ice breaking up that forms in the winter, which is not a concern and is normal.” The problem is when you find large icebergs, because that indicates that the ice shelf is breaking up “, he says.

“Thinking about future generations”

For some scientists, satellite monitoring of Antarctica is not enough to determine with certainty the connection between global warming and melting ice on this side of the continent, as is the case in the Arctic.

But for Mr de Pablo the main reason is “global warming”. “It warms some of the ice on the surface […] and also the oceans. And when the water is warmer, “the glaciers underneath warm up and melt much faster.”

According to a European Space Agency study published in October 2023, the volume of about 40% of the floating ice on the White Continent has declined “significantly” over the past 25 years.

This phenomenon has “impacts” such as sea level rise, changes in ocean salinity due to the addition of fresh water and changing temperatures, notes Mr. de Pablo.

“We influence currents and how the oceans regulate the climate. Even though we are far from any inhabited part of the planet, what happens in Antarctica actually affects everything,” he points out.

To counteract global warming, experts recommend reducing fossil fuels, promoting renewable energy, stopping deforestation, recycling and using water sparingly.

“We have to ask ourselves if the rhythm of life and the way we live every day is really worth it, because at the end of the day we will lose the planet, there will be no second planet and we have to think. “about our future, our descendants and subsequent generations,” he warns.

“We are not being listened to”: Scientists complain about the melting of Antarctica Read More »

The CSN criticizes the decision of the School Service Centers

Technology News / By Ashley Cornell, email: [email protected]

The School Support Area of the Federation of Public Service Employees (FEESP-CSN), which represents the largest number of support staff in the education network, contacted the Federation of School Service Centers so that it can formulate clear instructions on how to proceed on April 8, the day of the solar eclipse .

According to the FEESP-CSN, the association does not yet intend to make a corresponding recommendation.

Last week, several school service centers (CSS) in Quebec announced their decision to suspend classes on April 8 while daycare centers remain open. The Laval School Services Center (CSSL) announced this decision on Wednesday, February 28th.

Controversial decision

“This decision defies logic,” claims Annie Charland, president of FEESP’s school support division, in a press release. “The CSS fears that teachers will not be able to care for students during the eclipse, but they are not afraid to keep them in daycare, even as the ratio between educators and students explodes in many schools.”

Like the Association for the Teaching of Science and Technology in Quebec (AESTQ), Annie Charland believes that this rare phenomenon can represent an interesting learning opportunity for students.

However, she also emphasizes that the recommendations must be communicated immediately to all school staff.

“The lack of consistency in the measures taken by various school service centers is a matter of great concern and creates uncertainty for students, parents and staff in the educational network,” continues the president of the school support sector of the FEESP-CSN in the press release. There needs to be clear and consistent lines for everyone.” (CP/IJL)

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To access your news and stay connected to the source, Courrier Laval invites you to download its application. You can continue to read your news for free and in real time with a lower proportion of advertising. Don't forget to turn on notifications and spread the word to your loved ones and contacts!

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The CSN criticizes the decision of the School Service Centers Read More »

Moon: The Japanese SLIM probe has been put on ice again

Technology News / By Ashley Cornell, email: [email protected]

Japan's SLIM spacecraft, which had been stationed on the moon since late January, has been put back into hibernation until further reactivation later this month, the Japanese space agency Jaxa said on Saturday.

“SLIM was put back to sleep after sunset at 3:00 a.m. on March 1, or 6:00 p.m. GMT on February 29, Jaxa reported on X.

The spacecraft was able to reactivate on February 26 after enduring two weeks of lunar night, although it landed at an angle and its photovoltaic cells were unable to replenish sunlight.

“Although the risk of outage increases due to significant temperature fluctuations, we will attempt to reactivate SLIM when light returns in March,” the agency added on Saturday.

The SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating Moon) module successfully landed on the Moon on January 20, 55 m from its original target, the United States, the USSR, China and India.

However, due to an engine problem in the last dozen meters of its descent, SLIM landed at an angle, depriving its west-facing photovoltaic cells of sunlight.

SLIM landed in a small crater called Shioli, less than 300 meters in diameter. The machine was able to land its two mini-rovers normally to conduct analyzes of rocks coming from the Moon's internal structure (the lunar mantle), which is still very poorly understood.

On Thursday, another probe, Odysseus, operated by American company Intuitive Machines, also landed on the moon, a first for a private company.

Likewise, it was also euthanized in the hopes of being able to reactivate it after the lunar night.

Odysseus is the probe that landed furthest south on the Moon, an area of particular interest to the major powers because it contains water in the form of ice.

NASA eventually wants to send its astronauts there as part of its Artemis missions.

Moon: The Japanese SLIM probe has been put on ice again Read More »

Invest in happiness and reap success

Technology News / By Ashley Cornell, email: [email protected]

THE VISION OF BRIGITTE JALBERT

For Brigitte Jalbert, the path to entrepreneurship was not clear. Today, the businesswoman is president of an established company in Quebec and has learned to recognize her leadership qualities.

Right at the beginning, when Brigitte Jalbert summarizes her career, she confirms that the path to management was far from being part of her plans. And for good reason, she published a book in 2022 called “The CEO Who Never Thought She Would Become One.” “I knew I was on my “X” at 45,” the CEO says with a laugh.

At first it was just a summer job as she almost reluctantly joined the ranks of Emballages Carrousel, founded by her father in 1971. At Cégep, Brigitte Jalbert was more interested in photography before graduating from high school, collecting three university degrees in very different fields. At the same time, she quietly and secretly joined the work team, which at that time consisted of about thirty people. The “fun factor,” as she calls it, has found its way into her. It has now established itself as a core value of the company.

Discover its value

Over time, she realized that listening, humility and passion are worth their weight in gold and cannot be acquired in school. “At times I was afraid that I was not up to the task and I doubted my knowledge of the business world to serve as company president. » Little by little, she discovered the leadership qualities that her colleagues found in her. Confidence has found its way into the language of Brigitte Jalbert, who eventually took on the role of CEO in 2011. “Today I consider emotional intelligence to be even more important than knowledge itself.” »

The sixty-year-old is now expressing loudly and clearly what she has always been convinced of. “I tell myself: When employees are happy and well and feel in a safe space where they can develop and achieve their full potential, THEN profits follow. » If some male colleagues once interpreted this as a form of naivety, the company's success seems to prove Brigitte Jalbert right. In the ten years following his appointment, Emballages Carrousel saw its turnover and number of employees double.

Turn challenges into opportunities

Sensitive to the environmental challenges of our time, the building contractor does not allow herself to be seduced by the status quo, which she finds uncomfortable. “I like innovation, risk, daring and new ideas. » Since 2019, Emballages Carrousel has launched several initiatives to better conserve the planet's resources, including the most recent, the Éco-innov knowledge center. It is a collaborative space that brings together, publicizes and promotes laws and best practices related to sustainable development among customers and suppliers. In this way, Emballages Carrousel is positioning itself as an industry leader and paving the way for the environment to become part of the thinking of companies of all sizes across the country.

The institution is making good use of the space it has gained in the market. “In a way, we have the necessary influence to shape the course of events with our suppliers and our customers. » In collaboration with Polykar, Emballages Carrousel has also introduced Carrou-Cycle. The stretch film recycling initiative (pallet film) won the 2023 Circular Initiatives Prize, awarded by Québec Circulaire and RECYC-QUÉBEC.

From CEO to mentor

The next step for Brigitte Jalbert is to lead her team to achieve the ambitious goal of making the family project a must for environmentally conscious packaging. She is quietly and secretly preparing for the succession with the aim of keeping the promise she made to her father: never to sell the company to a multinational corporation.

She will release her second book, Mentors: Unfiltered Conversations with Local Businesswomen, on April 23, 2024. It tells twelve stories of women who, like her, have brilliantly overcome their doubts and insecurities. “I think there are as many leaders as there are people. You can be a leader with your own colors, of course with your strengths, but also your weaknesses. » Her journey alone demonstrates the magnitude of her humility and her ability to positively influence future generations of women.

This content was created by Le Devoir's special publications team in collaboration with the advertiser. The Le Devoir editorial team was not involved in the creation of this content.

Find out more about Emballage's Carrousel

Invest in happiness and reap success Read More »