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Lipid nanoparticle-based mRNA therapeutics for infectious diseases
No full textInfectious diseases remain one of the most pressing global health challenges, despite decades of therapeutic research. Many existing treatments are constrained by limited efficacy, adverse effects, and reduced adaptability to rapidly evolving pathogens. The COVID-19 pandemic marked a turning point in vaccine development, leading to the swift creation of mRNA vaccines delivered via lipid nanoparticles (LNP-mRNA). Developed within a year and deployed globally, these vaccines demonstrated exceptional safety, efficacy, and scalability. Their success has driven significant interest in LNP-mRNA platforms for a broader range of infectious diseases. This manuscript presents a comprehensive overview of recent progress in LNP-mRNA therapeutics targeting Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Zika virus, Rabies virus, and SARS-CoV-2. Key strategies to enhance mRNA stability, improve intracellular delivery, and enable controlled or targeted release are discussed. Advances in lipid nanoparticle formulation and mRNA sequence engineering are also examined, with emphasis on cell-specific and tissue-specific targeting. The manuscript further outlines current translational challenges, including optimization of LNP composition, biocompatibility, immune system interactions, and clinical development hurdles, supported by recent preclinical and clinical findings. Collectively, the findings discussed highlight the transformative potential of LNP-mRNA therapeutics for development of next-generation, personalized treatments for infectious diseases.<br/
Culture and Climate Connections - Great Hall Queen's University Belfast Tue 11 Nov 2025. Event Report
No full textThis report provides a description of an information exchange event organised by Graeme Stevenson, Director, Research Strategy at Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI). The event brought together approximately 50 participants including artist practitioners, arts organisations, government departments, voluntary/community organisations, and ACNI staff. It aimed to:• Strengthen dialogue between government and the arts sector on climate change.• Provide a platform for the arts sector to share actions, needs, and challenges.• Develop a route map for ACNI and partners to establish a stronger climate policy direction.The report is written by Ben Twist, with contributions from his co-facilitator Ali F|itzGibbon, and provides some reflections on the discussions and the outputs of the workshop but is not in itself an action plan: it is expected that ACNI will digest the information provided here, and staff members’ own experience and learning, to inform the next steps.<br/
Sampling for non-destructive spectroscopy with a particular focus on agriculture, food and feed
No full textSampling plays a pivotal role in the analytical process, particularly when employing non-destructive spectroscopic sensors (NDSS). This review bridges Theory of Sampling (ToS) and Design of Experiments (DoE) to address sampling challenges in NDSS agri-food applications. Sampling quality is the primary driver of overall uncertainty, often significantly surpassing laboratory and instrumental errors. Non-destructive spectroscopic setups inherently sample through their optical configurations. We highlight the importance of replication methods to determine sources of variance, particularly in physical sampling procedures, and provide practical guidelines for achieving representative sampling. Additionally, the review briefly discusses computational augmentation and resampling techniques. Practical considerations and case studies from food and feed applications illustrate the constraints and solutions for effective sampling, providing insights for researchers and industry aiming to optimize NDSS measurements.</p
Progenitor cells—origins and endothelium regeneration
No full textThe endothelium constitutes a single-cell layer that intricately lines the inner surface of blood vessels, forming a biophysical barrier that controls the passage of molecules and cells between the bloodstream and surrounding tissues. This strategic positioning endows the endothelium with a pivotal role in various physiological responses, including the maintenance of vascular tone, the regulation of leukocyte circulation, the facilitation of angiogenesis, and significant contributions to overall homeostasis and hemostasis. Before exploring the intricacies of endothelial cell regulation and its impact on homeostasis, it is imperative to explore its origins and distinct nomenclature. Thus in this chapter we will analysis the origin and role of progenitor endothelial cells in normal and atherogenic processes
Formulation development of a dapivirine-releasing subdermal implant for HIV prevention
No full textThere have been several significant advances in recent years around long-acting strategies for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, including DapiRing® (a 1-month dapivirine (DPV)-releasing vaginal ring), Apretude® (a cabotegravir intramuscular injection administered every two months), and Yeztugo® (a twice-yearly lenacapavir injection). With the goal of developing new drug delivery devices that can extend antiretroviral release for 12 months or longer, we report here our preliminary efforts to design a subdermal implant releasing the antiretroviral drug DPV. These reservoir-type rod implants (length 40 mm, cross-sectional diameters 2.5, 3.2, 3.5 or 4.0 mm) comprised a silicone elastomer core containing solid crystalline DPV (loading 10, 20 or 40 % w/w) and an open-ended non-medicated rate-controlling silicone elastomer membrane (thickness 0.5, 0.8 or 1.0 mm). DPV in vitro release rates could be modulated by adjusting the membrane thickness. Continuous in vitro DPV release ∼12 μg/day was demonstrated over 330 days, with sufficient residual drug content (∼87 mg/∼95 %) to extend release for at least 5 years. In particular, the study highlights the challenges in designing subdermal implants providing sufficient DPV release to maintain systemic/vaginal concentrations at protective levels.<br/
Multiphysics modelling and experimental validation of road tanker dynamics: stress analysis and material characterization
No full textCrossland Tankers is a leading manufacturer of bulk-load road tankers in Northern Ireland. These tankers transport up to forty thousand litres of liquid over long distances across diverse road conditions. Liquid sloshing within the tank has a significant impact on driveability and the tanker’s lifespan. This study introduces a novel Multiphysics model combining Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to simulate fluid–structure interactions in a full-scale road tanker, validated with real-world road test data. The model reveals high-stress zones under braking and turning, with peak stresses at critical chassis locations, offering design insights for weight reduction and enhanced safety. Results demonstrate the approach’s effectiveness in optimising tanker design, reducing prototyping costs, and improving longevity, providing a valuable computational tool for industry applications
A limpet's eye view of post‐glacial isostasy: fixed biological indicators provide new sea‐level index points for the Mid‐Holocene relative highstand in eastern Northern Ireland
No full textEmpirical data for Holocene relative sea level (RSL) changes around the coast of north-eastern Ireland are sparse. Fixed biological indicators (FBIs), in the form of bioerosional marks made by limpets (Patella) and endolithic traces of other intertidal/subtidal organisms, are preserved significantly above present mid-tide level on a limestone cliff at Portmuck, in Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland. The limpet marks indicate a mid-tide level (MTL) for the Mid-Holocene relative highstand (MHRH) at +7.8±0.55 m relative to MTL today. This is >3 m higher than previous empirical data for the region but is consistent with recent glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) models. Shells of intertidal molluscs (Patella, Littorina and Nucella) recovered from fissures below the limpet marks show a significant spread of 14C ages, with the oldest a close match for the date of the MHRH but others as much as 2750 years younger. They indicate that RSL fell no more than ~2.5 m in that time from a highstand at ~6.3 cal. ka BP, a pattern comparable to that seen in southern Scotland but 1.5–2 ka later. This chronological offset is consistent with models that predict shoreline diachroneity in moving away from the centre of isostatic uplift in southern Scotland.<br/
Hierarchical human activity recognition with fusion of audio and multiple inertial sensor modalities
No full textIn everyday life, individuals engage in a multitude of activities, and recent technological advancements have facilitated the development of Artificial Intelligence systems that analyse these activities through data in various contexts. Human activity recognition, an essential Artificial Intelligence application in healthcare, detects deviations from normal activities, such as falls, which may indicate health issues. The widespread adoption of mobile and wearable technology enables the development of personalized activity recognition solutions. Given the critical importance of these Artificial Intelligence applications in healthcare, designing systems with high recognition accuracy is imperative. Moreover, these systems must be lightweight to ensure they operate seamlessly on end-user devices like smartphones without compromising their primary functions. Our research introduces innovative input representations and advanced methods in data fusion and multimodal learning that surpass previous methods in recognition accuracy while reducing computational and memory demands. We propose a streamlined neural network model that creatively integrates inertial and audio sensor data to generate color-coded image representations. This implemented Artificial Intelligence system was tested using a complex, publicly available activity recognition dataset organized hierarchically. Compared to earlier studies, our solution demonstrates significant performance enhancements, achieving a 91% balanced accuracy rate in activity recognition and offering substantial improvements in Central Processing Unit and memory efficiency