Blog

  • GATE complex discovery sheds light on CMV’s evasion of immune defenses

    GATE complex discovery sheds light on CMV’s evasion of immune defenses

    New research from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and La Jolla Institute for Immunology, published today in Nature Microbiology, reveals an opportunity for developing a therapy against cytomegalovirus (CMV), the leading infectious cause of birth defects in the United States.

    Researchers discovered a previously unappreciated mechanism by which CMV, a herpes virus that infects the majority of the world’s adult population, enters cells that line the blood vessels and contributes to vascular disease. In addition to using molecular machinery that is shared by all herpes viruses, CMV employs another molecular “key” that allows the virus to sneak through a side door and evade the body’s natural immune defenses.

    The finding might explain why efforts to develop prophylactic treatments against CMV have, so far, been unsuccessful. This research also highlights a new potential avenue for the development of future antiviral drugs and suggests that other viruses of the herpes family, such as Epstein-Barr and chickenpox, could use similar molecular structures to spread from one infected cell to the next while avoiding immune detection.

    If we don’t know what weapons the enemy is using, it is hard to protect against it. We found a missing puzzle piece that represents one possible reason why immunization efforts against CMV have been unsuccessful.”


    Jeremy Kamil, Ph.D., senior author, associate professor of microbiology and molecular genetics at Pitt

    In the United States, approximately one in every 200 babies is born with congenital CMV infection. Of the babies infected, one in five will have birth defects, such as hearing loss, or go on to have long-term health challenges. For most adults, CMV infections are asymptomatic. But a CMV infection during pregnancy presents significant health risks to the unborn child and could be deadly for people who are immunosuppressed, including organ transplant recipients.

    Because of the large size of its genome and its complicated molecular machinery, CMV long evaded attempts to develop prophylactic treatments. Similar to other herpes viruses, CMV relies on a protein called gH to enter cells of the vessel lining. But unlike other herpes viruses, which use a protein partner called gL to facilitate infection, the new study found that CMV replaces gL with another partner called UL116 and recruits a protein called UL141. The resulting complex of gH-UL116-UL141, called GATE by the authors, then becomes an alternative tool for breaking into cells lining the blood vessels and causing internal damage while simultaneously preventing the body’s own immune system from recognizing the signs of infection.

    The newly discovered GATE could become a potential vaccine target for CMV and other herpes viruses.

    “Previous attempts to generate a CMV vaccine have failed, but that was before we identified the GATE complex. We hope that new strategies targeting GATE will improve our chances to combat CMV infection, and also perhaps cleanse our bodies of this lifelong infection,” said Chris Benedict, Ph.D., associate professor at La Jolla Institute for Immunology and co-senior author of the study with Kamil and LJI professor, president & CEO Erica Ollmann Saphire, Ph.D., MBA. “If we can develop antiviral drugs or vaccines that inhibit CMV entry, this will allow us to combat the many diseases this virus causes in developing babies and immune-compromised people.”

    Other authors of this research are Michael Norris, Ph.D., of the University of Toronto; Lauren Henderson, Mohammed Siddiquey, Ph.D., both of Louisiana State University Health Shreveport; and Jieyun Yin, Ph.D., Kwangsun Yoo, Ph.D., Simon Brunel, Ph.D., Michael Mor, Ph.D., and Erica Ollmann Saphire, Ph.D., all of La Jolla Institute for Immunology.

    This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health (grants AI11685, AI139749, AI101423 and T32HL155022) and by ARPA-H APECx contract 1AY1AX000055.

    Source:

    Journal reference:

    Norris, M. J., et al. (2025). The GATE glycoprotein complex enhances human cytomegalovirus entry in endothelial cells. Nature Microbiology. doi.org/10.1038/s41564-025-02025-4.

    Continue Reading

  • England name XI for Edgbaston Test against India – ICC

    England name XI for Edgbaston Test against India – ICC

    1. England name XI for Edgbaston Test against India  ICC
    2. ENG vs IND 2nd Test: Edgbaston pitch report, Birmingham weather forecast  Business Standard
    3. Credit to Archer for hardwork done and be in position to play Tests again: Woakes  Yes Punjab News
    4. No Fear! Jofra Archer Might Struggle Against Team India: See Why?  Crictoday
    5. IND vs ENG Test: Jofra Archer misses training ahead of second Test, here’s why  Times of India

    Continue Reading

  • German premiere with live flight demonstration: German industry team showcases electromagnetic combat from the air

    German premiere with live flight demonstration: German industry team showcases electromagnetic combat from the air

    In the live flight demonstration in Manching, the team of German defense companies simulated a scenario close to real operations in front of numerous representatives of the German Armed Forces: the evacuation of German citizens from a crisis area equipped with comprehensive air defense systems. A Pilatus PC-12 turboprop aircraft, a simulated Airbus A400M military airlifter, a SHARCS technology demonstrator serving as an unmanned remote carrier, and an SA-8 air defense missile system representing the enemy’s air defense were used.

    The PC-12 was equipped with an electromagnetic surveillance and jamming system. It acted as a stand-off jammer, or jamming aircraft, which detected and classified the SA-8 system from a safe distance, jammed it with electromagnetic countermeasures, and rendered it incapable of combat. Without functioning enemy air defenses, the simulated A400M was able to fly into the crisis area undetected, land, and evacuate citizens.

    The SHARCS remote carrier, equipped with a stand-in jammer, provided support by simultaneously suppressing communications, thereby delaying a response from enemy forces. The seamless communication between friendly forces, the exchange of reconnaissance and effect data, and the processing and AI-supported analysis of the data took place in a secure cloud.

    The demonstration showed how effectively forces of electromagnetic combat (EC) can operate and protect friendly forces during missions. Since EC operates without ammunition and is non-kinetic, there is also no damage.

    The capability demonstrated in the demonstration is an essential component of the German defense project “luftgestützte Wirkung im elektromagnetischen Spektrum” (Airborne Effects in the Electromagnetic Spectrum), or luWES for short, in which the German Armed Forces are building up EC capabilities. Developing the technologies for this is the declared goal of Airbus, bKEC, HENSOLDT, IBM, MBDA, PLATH, Rohde & Schwarz, and Schönhofer. Under the motto “EC made in Germany for Germany,” they want to enable the German Air Force to deploy these capabilities independently and sovereignly. Following the flight demonstration, the next step will be to further develop the individual luWES components.

    luWES will form a “system of systems” consisting of complementary and modular subsystems that provide electromagnetic protection from the air for armed forces. The stand-off jammer operates from a great distance and enables enemy radar and communications systems to be jammed outside their direct range. This not only protects friendly forces, but also increases their effectiveness, as enemy sensors are suppressed before their area of operation is entered.

    The escort jammer operates alongside manned mission platforms. It actively protects them in enemy territory by continuously jamming enemy radar and missile systems. The stand-in jammer penetrates directly into the enemy’s effective range. It suppresses enemy air defense systems at close range, protecting friendly weapons and thus increasing their effectiveness and assertiveness.

    Continue Reading

  • Unlocking the role of Lcn2 in COVID-19 lung damage

    Unlocking the role of Lcn2 in COVID-19 lung damage

    P7 stain infection significantly augmented the secretion of Lcn2 in macrophages. After infecting BALB/c mice with the P0 strain and P7 strain, the lung was collected at 3, 5, and 7 dpi for RNA-Seq analysis, Western blot, ELISA, and multiplex IHC staining.

    GA, UNITED STATES, June 30, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ — A new study reveals that the protein Lcn2, secreted by lung macrophages, plays a central role in exacerbating severe pneumonia caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Researchers developed a lethal pneumonia mouse model using an adapted viral strain and found that elevated levels of Lcn2 directly correlate with disease severity. Lcn2 not only enhanced inflammatory signaling and neutrophil adhesion but also disrupted endothelial barriers, leading to heightened lung damage. This research sheds light on a critical pathway—NLRP3-mediated Lcn2 secretion—that drives the escalation of inflammation in the lungs. The findings suggest Lcn2 as a potential diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for severe respiratory infections such as COVID-19.

    Since the emergence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), understanding the mechanisms underlying severe pneumonia has remained a major research challenge. Although mouse models exist, most mimic only mild to moderate disease, limiting the ability to study life-threatening respiratory outcomes. Emerging data show that immune overactivation, especially through macrophage-driven inflammation, plays a decisive role in worsening COVID-19. Among many inflammatory mediators, lipocalin 2 (Lcn2) has been increasingly associated with respiratory disease severity, yet its regulatory mechanisms and pathological consequences are not well defined. Based on these challenges, there is a pressing need to investigate the upstream pathways and downstream effects of Lcn2 in virus-induced lung inflammation.

    In a letter-style study published on August 24, 2024, in Protein & Cell, researchers from the Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, CAMS & PUMC, etc., reported that macrophage-secreted Lcn2 significantly worsens SARS-CoV-2-induced pneumonia in mice. By adapting the Beta variant to wild-type BALB/c mice, the team established a model of severe pneumonia, enabling detailed investigation into immune responses. The researchers identified Lcn2 as a key proinflammatory mediator activated through the NLRP3 signaling pathway, linking it directly to alveolar injury and systemic inflammation in viral lung infections.

    To create a more accurate model of severe COVID-19 pneumonia, the researchers developed a mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2 strain (P7) that induced intense lung pathology and high mortality. P7-infected mice exhibited elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines and profound lung tissue damage. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses revealed that Lcn2 expression was markedly upregulated following P7 infection. Further studies showed that macrophages were the main source of Lcn2, and that its production was driven by the NLRP3 signaling pathway. Inhibiting NLRP3 significantly reduced Lcn2 levels, confirming the pathway’s central regulatory role. Functionally, Lcn2 was shown to amplify pulmonary inflammation by stimulating endothelial cells to express adhesion molecules (e.g., VCAM1), increasing neutrophil adhesion to endothelial cells, and weakening intercellular junctions. This resulted in compromised vascular integrity and greater immune cell infiltration. The team also discovered that a specific W682R mutation near the furin cleavage site in the viral spike protein may contribute to the enhanced infectivity and inflammation observed in the P7 strain. These findings provide crucial mechanistic insights into how viral evolution and host immune responses interact to produce severe lung pathology.

    This study identifies Lcn2 as a key inflammatory mediator that drives severe lung damage during viral infection, said Dr. Linlin Bao, corresponding author of the study. By establishing a wild-type mouse model that closely mimics severe pneumonia, the researchers were able to uncover how the NLRP3-Lcn2 axis contributes to the pathogenesis. This opens new doors for understanding disease mechanisms and for targeting inflammation at its source, potentially leading to novel treatment strategies for severe COVID-19 and related respiratory diseases.

    The discovery of Lcn2’s central role in promoting severe pneumonia has broad implications. It positions Lcn2 not only as a biomarker for early detection of disease severity but also as a candidate for therapeutic intervention. Targeting the NLRP3-Lcn2 axis may offer a new strategy to mitigate lung injury in severe respiratory infections. Moreover, the established mouse model provides a valuable tool for testing antiviral and anti-inflammatory treatments. As new SARS-CoV-2 variants continue to emerge, understanding host-pathogen interactions like these will be critical for preparing for future public health threats.

    References
    DOI
    10.1093/procel/pwae045

    Original Source URL
    https://doi.org/10.1093/procel/pwae045

    Funding information
    This work was supported by the National Research and Development Project of China (grant no. 2023YFF0724800), the CAMS Initiative for Innovative Medicine of China (grant no. 2021-I2M-1-035), the Sector Fund (2060302), and Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by CAST (YESS) (grant no: 2020QNRC001).

    Lucy Wang
    BioDesign Research
    email us here

    Legal Disclaimer:

    EIN Presswire provides this news content “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability
    for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this
    article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.

    Continue Reading

  • Experts call for human-centric CPEC to establish Balochistan as gateway to growth

    Experts call for human-centric CPEC to establish Balochistan as gateway to growth

    – Advertisement –

    ISLAMABAD, Jun 30 (APP):Leading experts, diplomats, and policymakers unanimously urged on Monday to embrace a shift toward human-centered, integrated development for Balochistan under Phase-II of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to establish the latter as gateway to sustainable growth and development.

    The Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) under its Monday Seminar Series organized a high-level policy seminar titled “Balochistan’s Gateway to Sustainable Development: Market Opportunities and Investment Pathways under CPEC” moderated by Engineer Ubaid-Ur-Rehman Zia, Head of SDPI’s Energy Unit, said a press release.

    Opening the session, Dr. Hassan Daud Butt, Senior Advisor, Energy China and former project director CPEC, emphasized that “Gwadar is not just a port, it’s Pakistan’s gateway to Eurasia.” Highlighting Balochistan’s untapped economic potential, he pointed out the province accounts for 44% of Pakistan’s landmass and 40% of the country’s livestock, while also possessing one of the largest wind energy corridors in South Asia. By 2050, Balochistan’s population is expected to grow to 24 million, further amplifying the urgency for sustainable development planning, he added.

    He noted that Chinese and Kazakh investors have shown interest in Balochistan’s rail infrastructure, with Kazakhstan alone willing to invest $500 million. “Projects like ML-1 and the establishment of an oil city in Gwadar are long-term, but we need sustainable growth along the coast immediately,” said Dr. Hassan Butt, adding that Gwadar is strategically positioned to become a petrochemical and industrial base.

    Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, President of the Institute of Regional Studies, noted that Balochistan holds one of the largest reserves of critical earth minerals—making it pivotal to global supply chains. “Pakistan can become a $40 billion transit economy by 2035 if Gwadar is developed effectively,” he remarked, also calling attention to Balochistan’s agricultural strengths including high-value fruits and vast livestock reserves.

    However, he strongly criticized governance inefficiencies, corruption, and lack of basic amenities in Balochistan, urging a re-evaluation of CPEC to ensure it benefits local communities. “Without focusing on vocational training, technology transfer, and grassroots engagement, CPEC will fail to deliver,” he warned.

    Ahad Nazir, Head of Policy at SDPI, stressed that without institutional reform, CPEC’s connectivity gains won’t translate into development. “Balochistan is mineral-rich but human-poor. Policy inconsistency, lack of coordination, and political interference are key barriers,” he said. He outlined five strategic levers including the establishment of an Investment Facilitation Unit and agro-business clusters.

    He also cited international models, like Chile’s royalty reinvestment in mineral-rich regions, as pathways Balochistan could follow. Nazir also cautioned that public distrust, water scarcity, and security gaps pose risks to investor confidence.

    Dr. Faiz Kakar, former provincial minister for Health, and Environment pointed out that despite ambitious plans, not a single motorway under CPEC runs through Balochistan. While Gwadar boasts a new international airport, major SEZs remain underdeveloped due to bureaucratic deadlock. “Chinese firms have proposed $2 billion investments, but demand a unified and streamlined one-window operation,” he said, stressing the need for urbanization and climate resilience planning.

    Renowned anthropologist Dr. Quratulain Bakhteari, Founder and Director, Institute for Development Studies and Practice (IDSP) raised a unique cultural lens to the debate, cautioning that reducing Balochistan to minerals and trade ignores its people. “Business and trade do not unite nations—people do. Development must be rooted in the community,” she urged.

    In his closing remarks, Ambassador Saleem appreciated the “diverse, timely, and out-of-the-box” perspectives shared at the seminar. He underscored the importance of cultural understanding, community participation, and policy consistency to realize Balochistan’s role as a true gateway to regional development.

    He concluded that Balochistan’s future under CPEC must go beyond infrastructure to invest in its people, environment, and institutional capacity.

    Continue Reading

  • Wimbledon: 10 things to know about Philippines tennis sensation Alex Eala – Gulf News

    Wimbledon: 10 things to know about Philippines tennis sensation Alex Eala – Gulf News

    1. Wimbledon: 10 things to know about Philippines tennis sensation Alex Eala  Gulf News
    2. ‘Something I’ve always dreamed of’: Maya Joint opens up after ‘surreal’ Wimbledon debut  Nine
    3. Eastbourne open tennis: Maya joint beats eala in final to clinch Women’s title  Ptv.com.pk
    4. Joint, Fritz claim Eastbourne titles  Dawn
    5. How to watch Eastbourne Open 2025 tennis for FREE: Can Taylor Fritz defend his grass court title?  Tom’s Guide

    Continue Reading

  • Thales Alenia Space to develop SOLiS very-high-throughput laser communications demonstrator

    Cannes, June 30th, 2025 – Thales Alenia Space, the joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), has been selected by the French space agency CNES, as part of the space component of the France 2030 program launched by the French government, to develop a very-high-throughput laser communications demonstrator.

    Called SOLiS — for Service Optique de Liaisons Spatiales Sécurisées (secure optical space link service) — this project aims to demonstrate the technical and economic viability of an optical communications service relying on geostationary satellites.

    SOLiS © Thales Alenia Space/ E.Briot

    Such a service is designed to make intercontinental networks more resilient at a time when there is a growing number of acts of sabotage targeting land and undersea optical fiber links. Geostationary satellites offer an effective and cost-effective solution for ultra-secure transfers of large amounts of data between two users on Earth, delivering very high data rates of up to one terabit per second despite distances and atmospheric disturbances.

    SOLiS harnesses technologies developed through the government-backed Optical Communications (CO-OP) project led by CNES and a group of 17 SMEs and large primes, and draws on the outcomes of demonstrations delivered for the VERTIGO project funded by the European Commission.

    Thales Alenia Space will lead the SOLiS project consortium, composed of large industry primes and mid-tier firms (Safran Data Systems, Bertin Technologies, Exail, Keopsys), SMEs (Cedrat Technologies), startups (OGS Technologies, Reuniwatt), and a research center (ONERA), most of which have already worked on the CO-OP project.

    SOLiS plans to develop an optical communications payload and a pilot ground station designed to demonstrate very-high-throughput laser communications. In accordance with a memorandum of understanding between Thales Alenia Space and operator Hellas Sat signed in 2024, this payload will be flown on the Hellas Sat 5 geostationary communications satellite, while the pilot ground station will be set up at the operator’s teleport in Cyprus. This station will communicate with CNES’s FROGS station already operating at the Côte d’Azur Observatory on the Mediterranean coast.

    Building on the accomplishments of the CO-OP project, SOLiS will put French manufacturers — large primes, mid-tier firms, SMEs, and startups — at the forefront in space communications for the 2030s as they strive to address the challenges of security, resilience, fast data rates, and multi-orbit interoperability (between the ground, constellations, and geostationary satellites).

    “We are delighted to be starting development of the payload for the optical communications system, marking a crucial step toward establishing a secure, very-high-throughput optical network,” said Alcino De Sousa, Executive VP, Telecommunications at Thales Alenia Space. “Satellite laser communications projects like SOLiS are set to usher in a new era in telecommunications services, driving development of multi-orbit communications networks.”
     

    About free-space optics

    Free-space optics (FSO) is fast becoming the standard for data transmission in space, offering far superior transmission speeds on the order of one terabit per second compared to a few tens of gigabits per second with current satellite communications systems. This technology is expected to revolutionize space communications infrastructures, in the same way that optical fiber has transformed communications here on Earth.

    The European Commission’s VERTIGO project, and CNES’s CO-OP, DYSCO (Démonstration et sYstème SatCom Optique), and now SOLiS projects are focused on research and development, seeking to demonstrate very-high-data-rate space optical links transmitting through the atmosphere to connect a multitude of users via multiple orbits, ground facilities, and applications.

    These developments show that optical communications technology is a good fit for a range of end-to-end applications, including universal Internet access, direct and permanent data transmission from Earth-observation satellites, private links to data centers, and backup for terrestrial optical fiber in the event of a crisis.

    By reducing the number of satellites required, free-space optics will help to make orbital infrastructures more sustainable while curbing space clutter.

    About Thales Alenia Space 

    Drawing on over 40 years of experience and a unique combination of skills, expertise and cultures, Thales Alenia Space delivers cost-effective solutions for telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, environmental monitoring, exploration, science and orbital infrastructures. Governments and private industry alike count on Thales Alenia Space to design satellite-based systems that provide anytime, anywhere connections and positioning, monitor our planet, enhance management of its resources, and explore our Solar System and beyond. Thales Alenia Space sees space as a new horizon, helping to build a better, more sustainable life on Earth. A joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), Thales Alenia Space also teams up with Telespazio to form the Space Alliance, which offers a complete range of solutions including services. Thales Alenia Space posted consolidated revenues of €2.23 billion in 2024 and has more than 8,100 employees in 7 countries with 15 sites in Europe.
     

     

    Continue Reading

  • Samsung Galaxy S25 series gets another One UI 8 beta update

    Samsung Galaxy S25 series gets another One UI 8 beta update

    Samsung is seeding the third One UI 8 version update to beta users in the UK, India, Germany and South Korea. The US and Poland are expected to get the latest software update sometime today.

    The update itself is 1.2GB in size and comes with several bug fixes. For instance, an overlap between the status bar of the recent apps and the running app has been fixed, along with an unwanted keyboard input that occurs when rebooting on the Security Folder PIN input screen. There was also a text input error when using the swipe gesture, which has been addressed.

    The long wait time when entering the Mode/Routine menu has been reduced. Galaxy S25 Ultra users will no longer get an error when inputting text using the S Pen.

    The changelog mentions other software optimizations and performance improvements.

    If the initial rumors are true, Samsung will roll out One UI 8 sooner this year alongside the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7, which would make this third iteration of the software the final beta release.

    This isn’t officially confirmed by Samsung, so Galaxy users might have to wait longer for One UI 8.

    Via

    Continue Reading

  • This AI tracks lung tumors as you breathe — and it might save lives

    This AI tracks lung tumors as you breathe — and it might save lives

    In radiation therapy, precision can save lives. Oncologists must carefully map the size and location of a tumor before delivering high-dose radiation to destroy cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. But this process, called tumor segmentation, is still done manually, takes time, varies between doctors — and can lead to critical tumor areas being overlooked.

    Now, a team of Northwestern Medicine scientists has developed an AI tool called iSeg that not only matches doctors in accurately outlining lung tumors on CT scans but can also identify areas that some doctors may miss, reports a large new study.

    Unlike earlier AI tools that focused on static images, iSeg is the first 3D deep learning tool shown to segment tumors as they move with each breath — a critical factor in planning radiation treatment, which half of all cancer patients in the U.S. receive during their illness.

    “We’re one step closer to cancer treatments that are even more precise than any of us imagined just a decade ago,” said senior author Dr. Mohamed Abazeed, chair and professor of radiation oncology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

    “The goal of this technology is to give our doctors better tools,” added Abazeed, who leads a research team developing data-driven tools to personalize and improve cancer treatment and is a member of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University.

    The study was published today (June 30) in the journal npj Precision Oncology.

    How iSeg was built and tested

    The Northwestern scientists trained iSeg using CT scans and doctor-drawn tumor outlines from hundreds of lung cancer patients treated at nine clinics within the Northwestern Medicine and Cleveland Clinic health systems. That’s far beyond the small, single-hospital datasets used in many past studies.

    After training, the AI was tested on patient scans it hadn’t seen before. Its tumor outlines were then compared to those drawn by physicians. The study found that iSeg consistently matched expert outlines across hospitals and scan types. It also flagged additional areas that some doctors missed — and those missed areas were linked to worse outcomes if left untreated. This suggests iSeg may help catch high-risk regions that often go unnoticed.

    “Accurate tumor targeting is the foundation of safe and effective radiation therapy, where even small errors in targeting can impact tumor control or cause unnecessary toxicity,” Abazeed said.

    “By automating and standardizing tumor contouring, our AI tool can help reduce delays, ensure fairness across hospitals and potentially identify areas that doctors might miss — ultimately improving patient care and clinical outcomes,” added first author Sagnik Sarkar, a senior research technologist at Feinberg who holds a Master of Science in artificial intelligence from Northwestern.

    Clinical deployment possible ‘within a couple years’

    The research team is now testing iSeg in clinical settings, comparing its performance to physicians in real time. They are also integrating features like user feedback and working to expand the technology to other tumor types, such as liver, brain and prostate cancers. The team also plans to adapt iSeg to other imaging methods, including MRI and PET scans.

    “We envision this as a foundational tool that could standardize and enhance how tumors are targeted in radiation oncology, especially in settings where access to subspecialty expertise is limited,” said co- author Troy Teo, instructor of radiation oncology at Feinberg.

    “This technology can help support more consistent care across institutions, and we believe clinical deployment could be possible within a couple of years,” Teo added.

    This study is titled “Deep learning for automated, motion- resolved tumor segmentation in radiotherapy.”

    Continue Reading

  • Green credit scheme for recycling plastic bottles launched in Lahore

    Green credit scheme for recycling plastic bottles launched in Lahore

    Listen to article

    A new eco-friendly initiative has been launched in Lahore aimed at tackling plastic pollution by incentivising citizens to recycle used plastic bottles, it emerged on Monday. 

    Under the programme, residents can deposit empty plastic bottles into Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) and earn up to Rs1,000 in “Green Credit” per kilogram of plastic — roughly 20 one-and-a-half litre bottles.

    The project, led by ISP Environmental Solutions with support from the Intratech Group and the World Bank, is part of Punjab’s Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Credit Program. The project aims to transform how urban waste is managed and perceived by offering financial incentives in exchange for used plastic.

    Lahore produces about 500 tons of plastic waste daily, much of which pollutes waterways and landfills, according to Intratech Group Chairperson Gulfam Abid.

    “These new Reverse Vending Machines will collect single-use plastic items, including bottles, cups and plates,” he explained. “The collected material will be repurposed into raw materials for footpaths, road repairs and environmentally sustainable bricks.”

    Read: Tariff cut on chemicals, plastic stokes concerns

    Each RVM is capable of storing up to 25kgs of plastic and is equipped with weight-sensitive sensors that reject non-plastic materials. Users simply insert the bottles into a designated slot, press button “A,” enter their mobile number, and press button “B” to view their credit details on the screen. The same information is also accessible via a dedicated mobile application.

    The app not only tracks credit but also connects users directly with waste dealers. Citizens can sell their plastic through the platform, and company representatives will collect the items from their location. More than 18,000 local scrap dealers have been onboarded into the system, and they too can earn green credit in addition to their regular profits.

    In the initial phase, the machines are being installed at four private universities in Lahore. Later, the project will expand to both public and private spaces.

    While the machines are locally manufactured in Pakistan, they incorporate advanced Chinese technology. Each unit costs around Rs800,000 to produce.

    An “Eco Bricks Plant” has also been established in the Sundar Industrial Estate as part of the program. It will manufacture construction-grade bricks using the collected plastic. The plant’s inauguration is scheduled for July.

    Officials emphasize that the project goes beyond just installing machines — its broader goal is to instill a sense of environmental stewardship among the public. “We want people to view plastic not as waste, but as a valuable resource that can be reused for environmental and economic gain,” one official said.

    Continue Reading