Burt’s Bees® presents clinical evidence demonstrating ability of nature-based products to support barrier function and microbiome health in sensitive skin and lips

Clinical studies from the 2023 Integrative Dermatology Symposium showcase how ingredients from nature support the lip and skin microbiome, in addition to improving the appearance of age spots and hyperpigmentation

Meeting Announcement

SPECTRUM SCIENCE

DURHAM, N.C., Oct. 27, 2023 – Burt’s Bees, the #1 dermatologist recommended natural skin care brand* and a pioneer in skin care solutions, announced its latest research findings on the benefits of nature-based regimens to cleanse, nourish, and protect skin health. The studies will be presented at the hybrid Integrative Dermatology Symposium (IDS) from Oct. 27-29, 2023.

The latest research findings from Burt’s Bees highlight:

• The ability of a topical treatment with a unique blend of botanicals to improve appearance of age spots in diverse skin.
• The impact of a lip care product with naturally derived plant oils, butters, beeswax, and turmeric extract to maintain a healthy lip microbiome.
• The effectiveness of a nature-based skin care regimen to maintain a balanced skin barrier and microbiome in sensitive skin populations.

 

“Each person has a unique microbiome, and we want to support that one-of-a-kind balance to best promote each patient’s skin health. This means first, do no harm. In other words, do not cause dysbiosis or disrupt the microbiome,” said Hemali Gunt, Ph.D., head of clinical and scientific affairs at Burt’s Bees. “These nature-based formulas have been shown to do exactly that — maintain the unique microbiome in both face and lip skin — and improve the skin’s appearance.” 

 

New Burt’s Bees data being presented at IDS 2023 include:

• Topical treatment with a unique blend of botanicals containing Glycyrrhiza glabra, Curcuma longa, and Terminalia chebula improves the appearance of age spots in a multi-ethnic panel; Gunt H., Levy S. and Draelos D.; Oct. 28, 2023, poster presentation from 2:45-3:15 p.m. PDT.
  • About the Research: The study evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of a nature-based topical cream in reducing the appearance of age spots across different skin types and tones.
    • A 12-week study was conducted in 40 female participants with moderate age spots and photodamage.
    • A dermatologist-investigator assessed the product efficacy by clinical grading and with skin colorimeter measurements obtained from a target pigmented spot and from a corresponding clear site on the face, all performed at baseline, weeks 4, 8, and 12.
    • Topical treatment with Glycyrrhiza glabra, Curcuma longa, and Terminalia chebula was determined to be clinically safe and effective in reducing the appearance of hyperpigmentation in photodamaged skin within a variety of skin types and tones.
• Impact of a lip care product with naturally derived plant oils, butters, beeswax, and turmeric extract on the lip microbiome – in vitro and in vivo examinations; Gunt H. and Levy S.; Oct. 28, 2023, poster presentation from 2:45-3:15 p.m. PDT.  
  • About the Research: An in vitro assay and a clinical study were conducted to evaluate the effects of a lip treatment on the lip microbiome.
    • In vitro results showed no significant differences in the diversity of bacteria in the presence of the product when compared to the control.
    • Clinical grading and subject assessments in 43 females for 2 weeks showed a reduction in the appearance of lip dryness and enhanced the overall look of lip health compared to baseline. In addition, lip microbiome assessments showed no significant changes in the lip microbial diversity.
    • Daily use of a nature-based lip care product maintains lip health and assists in maintaining microbial diversity.
• Maintaining a balanced skin barrier and microbiome in sensitive skin using a nature-based skin care regimen; Gunt H., Levy S. and Draelos Z.; Oct. 27, 2023, poster presentation from 3:00-3:30 p.m. PDT.
  • About the Research: A nature-based, bakuchiol-containing skin care regimen was evaluated to assess the effects on skin moisture barrier and the microbiome in sensitive skin populations.
    • The 4-week baseline-controlled clinical study was conducted in 45 female participants with sensitive skin who used a daily skin care regimen of cleanser, serum/toner, and cream.
    • Skin hydration and barrier function/transepidermal water loss were measured to assess tolerability and efficacy of the skin care regimen along with assessment of the skin microbiome via 16S rRNA analysis.
    • Results indicated that the nature-based skin care regimen containing bakuchiol improves skin barrier function without disrupting the skin microbiome in a sensitive skin population.

 

“Protecting the skin microbiome is essential as it augments the physical barrier between the skin and the external environment,” said Stanley Levy, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and study consultant. “Our study demonstrated the ability of a nature-based skin care regimen to improve skin barrier function without disrupting the skin microbiome, which is particularly important for those with sensitive skin.”

 

In addition to the three poster presentations, Hemali Gunt, Ph.D., will discuss the full mechanisms and forms of Burt’s Bees cleansers at the breakfast Product Theater session on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 8:00 a.m. PDT. Gunt will also be featured on LearnSkin’s podcast with Dr. Hadar Lev-Tov and Dr. Raja Sivamani, where they will discuss the latest in lip health and lip microbiome research from Burt’s Bees. The podcast will air on Nov. 9, 2023.

 

About Burt’s Bees | Burt’s Bees® is the #1 dermatologist recommended natural skin care brand, born in the woods of Maine, and known for its original Beeswax Lip Balm. Burt’s Bees products are consciously made with ingredients from nature to nourish skin from head to toe. From responsible sourcing to mindful packaging and landfill-free operations, Burt’s Bees is made with care by nature, for nature, for all—since 1984. NYSE: CLX-B.

 

*Based on a September 2021 NielsenIQ national survey of U.S. Dermatologists

 

Hidden way for us to feel touch uncovered by Imperial researchers

Peer-Reviewed Publication

IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON

Imperial researchers have discovered a hidden mechanism within hair follicles that allow us to feel touch.

Previously, touch was thought to be detected only by nerve endings present within the skin and surrounding hair follicles. This new research from Imperial College London has found that that cells within hair follicles – the structures that surround the hair fibre – are also able to detect the sensation in cell cultures.

The researchers also found that these hair follicle cells release the neurotransmitters histamine and serotonin in response to touch – findings that might help us in future to understand histamine’s role in inflammatory skin diseases like eczema.

Lead author of the paper Dr Claire Higgins, from Imperial’s Department of Bioengineering, said: “This is a surprising finding as we don’t yet know why hair follicle cells have this role in processing light touch. Since the follicle contains many sensory nerve endings, we now want to determine if the hair follicle is activating specific types of sensory nerves for an unknown but unique mechanism.”

A touchy subject

We feel touch using several mechanisms: sensory nerve endings in the skin detect touch and send signals to the brain; richly innervated hair follicles detect the movement of hair fibres; and sensory nerves known as C-LTMRs, that are only found in hairy skin, process emotional, or ‘feel-good’ touch.

Now, researchers may have uncovered a new process in hair follicles. To carry out the study, the researchers analysed single cell RNA sequencing data of human skin and hair follicles and found that hair follicle cells contained a higher percentage of touch-sensitive receptors than equivalent cells in the skin. 

They established co-cultures of human hair follicle cells and sensory nerves, then mechanically stimulated the hair follicle cells, finding that this led to activation of the adjacent sensory nerves.

They then decided to investigate how the hair follicle cells signalled to the sensory nerves. They adapted a technique known as fast scan cyclic voltammetry to analyse cells in culture and found that the hair follicle cells were releasing the neurotransmitters serotonin and histamine in response to touch.

When they blocked the receptor for these neurotransmitters on the sensory neurons, the neurons no longer responded to the hair follicle cell stimulation. Similarly, when they blocked synaptic vesicle production by hair follicle cells, they were no longer able to signal to the sensory nerves.

They therefore concluded that in response to touch, hair follicle cells release that activate nearby sensory neurons.

The researchers also conducted the same experiments with cells from the skin instead of the hair follicle. The cells responded to light touch by releasing histamine, but they didn’t release serotonin.

Dr Higgins said: “This is interesting as histamine in the skin contributes to inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema, and it has always been presumed that immune cells release all the histamine. Our work uncovers a new role for skin cells in the release of histamine, with potential applications for eczema research.”

The researchers note that the research was performed in cell cultures, and will need to be replicated in living organisms to confirm the findings. The researchers also want to determine if the hair follicle is activating specific types of sensory nerves. Since C-LTMRs are only present within hairy skin, they are interested to see if the hair follicle has a unique mechanism to signal to these nerves that we have yet to uncover.

This work was funded by Engineering and Physical Research Council (EPSRC, part of UKRI), Proctor & Gamble, Wellcome Trust, and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC, part of UKRI).

For more information contact:

Caroline Brogan, Media Manager (Engineering)

Imperial College London

caroline.brogan@imperial.ac.uk

+44(0)20 7594 3415

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. “Mechanical stimulation of human hair follicle outer root sheath cultures activates adjacent sensory neurons” by Higgins et al., published 27 October 2023 in Science Advances.
2. To download embargoed paper and image of the science in action see: https://imperialcollegelondon.box.com/s/l4ctp0bd7kuadpxzxi6yh4kyi4stjww0
3. About Imperial College London 

Imperial College London is a global top ten university with a world-class reputation. The College's 21,000 students and 8,000 staff are working to solve the biggest challenges in science, medicine, engineering and business.    

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 found that it has a greater proportion of world-leading research than any other UK university, it was named University of the Year 2022 according to The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, University of the Year for Student Experience 2022 by the Good University Guide, and awarded a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for its COVID-19 response. 

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/

 

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JOURNAL

Science Advances

DOI

10.1126/sciadv.adh3273 

ARTICLE TITLE

Mechanical stimulation of human hair follicle outer root sheath cultures activates adjacent sensory neurons

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

27-Oct-2023

 

Intermittent fasting is safe, effective for those with Type 2 diabetes

Peer-Reviewed Publication

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO

Time-restricted eating, also known as intermittent fasting, can help people with Type 2 diabetes lose weight and control their blood sugar levels, according to a new study published in JAMA Network Open from researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago.  

Participants who ate only during an eight-hour window between noon and 8 p.m. each day actually lost more weight over six months than participants who were instructed to reduce their calorie intake by 25%. Both groups had similar reductions in long-term blood sugar levels, as measured by a test of hemoglobin A1C, which shows blood sugar levels over the past three months. 

The study was conducted at UIC and enrolled 75 participants into three groups: those who followed the time-restricted eating rules, those who reduced calories and a control group. Participants’ weight, waist circumference, blood sugar levels and other health indicators were measured over the course of six months. 

Senior author Krista Varady said that participants in the time-restricted eating group had an easier time following the regime than those in the calorie-reducing group. The researchers believe this is partly because patients with diabetes are generally told to cut back on calories by their doctors as a first line of defense, so many of these participants likely had already tried — and struggled with — that form of dieting. And while the participants in the time-restricted eating group were not instructed to reduce their calorie intake, they ended up doing so by eating within a fixed window.

“Our study shows that time-restricted eating might be an effective alternative to traditional dieting for people who can’t do the traditional diet or are burned out on it,” said Varady, a professor of kinesiology and nutrition. “For many people trying to lose weight, counting time is easier than counting calories.” 

There were no serious adverse events reported during the six-month study. Occurrences of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) did not differ between the diet groups and control groups.

Today, 1 in 10 U.S. residents has diabetes, and that number is expected to rise to 1 in 3 by 2050 if current trends continue, the researchers explain. Finding more options for controlling weight and blood sugar levels for these patients, therefore, is crucial.  

Just over half the participants in the study were Black and another 40% were Hispanic. This is notable as diabetes is particularly prevalent among those groups, so having studies that document the success of time-restricted eating for them is particularly useful, the researchers said. 

The study was small and should be followed up by larger ones, said Varady, who is also a member of the University of Illinois Cancer Center. While it acts as a proof of concept to show that time-restricted eating is safe for those with Type 2 diabetes, Varady said people with diabetes should consult their doctors before starting this sort of diet. 

The other current and former UIC authors on the paper are Vasiliki Pavlou, Sofia Cienfuegos, Shuhao Lin, Mark Ezpeleta, Kathleen Ready, Sarah Corapi, Jackie Wu, Jason Lopez, Kelsey Gabel, Lisa Tussing-Humphreys, Vanessa Oddo, Julienne Sanchez and Dr. Terry Unterman. Other authors are from Northwestern University, the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, and the University of Southern California.

Written by Emily Stone

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JOURNAL

JAMA Network Open

DOI

10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.39337 

ARTICLE TITLE

Effect of Time-Restricted Eating onWeight Loss in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes A Randomized Clinical Trial

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

27-Oct-2023

COI STATEMENT

Ms Ready reported being a member of the Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and being employed as a clinician at Ascension Medical Group Weight Loss Solutions and Diabetes Education outside the submitted work. Dr Chow reported receiving nonfinancial support from DexCom Inc outside the submitted work. Dr Vidmar reported receiving consulting fees from Rhythm Pharmaceuticals Inc, Hippo Technologies Inc, and Guidepoint Inc and grant funding from DexCom Inc, outside the submitted work. Dr Varady reported receiving grant funding from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) during the conduct of the study; receiving personal fees from the NIH for serving on the data and safety monitoring boards for the Health, Aging and Later-Life Outcomes and Dial Health studies; receiving author fees from Pan MacMillan for The Fastest Diet; and serving as the associate editor for nutrition reviews from Elsevier outside the submitted work. No other disclosures were reported.

 

Possible cause of male infertility

Bonn researchers decode gene that blocks sperm maturation in mice when altered

Peer-Reviewed Publication

UNIVERSITATSKLINIKUM BONN

 

IMAGE: 

POSSIBLE CAUSE OF MALE INFERTILITY:

GINA ESTHER MERGES AND PROF. HUBERT SCHORLE STUDY GENES INVOLVED IN SPERM MATURATION.

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CREDIT: UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL BONN (UKB) / ROLF MÜLLER

Bonn, 27. October - Mature spermatozoa are characterized by an head, midpiece and a long tail for locomotion. Now, researchers from the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) and the Transdisciplinary Research Unit "Life & Health" at the University of Bonn have found that a loss of the structural protein ACTL7B blocks spermatogenesis in male mice. The cells can no longer develop their characteristic shape and remain in a rather round form. The animals are infertile. The results of the study have now been published in the scientific journal "Development".

 

Male sperm cells are constantly produced in large quantities in the testicles during so-called spermatogenesis. In this process, the typical elongated sperm cells are formed from round germ cells. This enormous change in shape requires the fine tuned reorganization of specialized structural proteins. One of these structural proteins is ACTL7B. "Since it is exclusively made in humans and mice during the maturation of male sperm, it has been postulated that the protein is important for this phase of development," notes corresponding author Prof. Hubert Schorle from the Institute of Pathology at UKB, who is also a member of the Transdisciplinary Research Area (TRA) "Life & Health" at the University of Bonn.

 

To investigate the role of the structural protein in spermiogenesis, Prof. Schorle's team generated a mouse model with a mutation in the Actl7b gene using gene-editing technology. This results in a complete loss of function of ACTL7B. "Without ACTL7B, development is blocked, the cells often remain in a roundish shape, usually do not form the elongated, typical sperm shape and die to a large extent ," says first author Gina Esther Merges, a doctoral student in Professor Schorle’s laboratory.

 

Disruption in the network of proteins

 

In this context, the Bonn researchers found that ACTL7B is required for the reorganization of the cytoskeleton of spermatids. Using mass spectrometric analyses, they identified two interaction partners of ACTL7B, DYNLL1 and DYNLL2. "We were able to show that without the structural protein, DYNLL1 and 2 are not correctly localized in the round spermatids. Since it is probably a larger protein complex with further interaction partners, we attribute the above described effect to a loss of temporally and spatially precisely regulated and targeted redistribution of these proteins," Prof. Schorle notes.

 

This explains why the sperm of male mice with a mutated Actl7b gene is not able to develop the characteristic shape. Due to this, the animals are infertile. In addition, according to other research, there is evidence that levels of the protein ACTL7B are reduced in some fertility patients. "Our study shows that mutations in the Actl7b gene could be the cause of male infertility," says Prof. Schorle.

 

Publication:
Gina E. Merges, Lena Arévalo, Keerthika Lohanadan, Dirk G. de Rooij, Melanie Jokwitz, Walter Witke and Hubert Schorle; Development (2023) 150, dev201593;

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.201593

 

Press contact:

Dr. Inka Väth

Deputy Press Officer at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB)

Communications and Media Office at Bonn University Hospital

Phone: (+49) 228 287-10596

 

About the University Hospital Bonn: The UKB cares for about 500,000 patients per year, employs about 9,000 people and has a balance sheet total of 1.6 billion euros. In addition to the more than 3,300 medical and dental students, another 585 people are trained in numerous health professions each year. The UKB is ranked first among university hospitals in North Rhine-Westphalia in the science ranking and in the Focus clinic list and has the third-highest case mix index (severity of cases) in Germany. The F.A.Z. Institute has named UKB the most sought-after employer and training champion among public hospitals in Germany in 2022 and 2023.

 

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JOURNAL

Development

DOI

10.1242/dev.201593 

ARTICLE TITLE

Actl7b deficiency leads to mislocalization of LC8 type dynein light chains and disruption of murine spermatogenesis

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

27-Oct-2023

 

Membrane transporter ensures mobility of sperm cells

Newly discovered mechanism contributes to a better understanding of molecular foundations of fertility

Peer-Reviewed Publication

HEIDELBERG UNIVERSITY

 

IMAGE: 

STRUCTURE OF THE NEWLY DECODED PROTEIN FOUND IN THE MEMBRANE OF SPERM CELLS. COLOURS MARK THE DIFFERENT UNITS OF THE PROTEIN, WHICH CAN BE PUT TOGETHER TO MAKE A FUNCTIONING PROTEIN LIKE THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF A LEGO TOY.

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CREDIT: MARTIN F. PETER

Special proteins – known as membrane transporters – are of key importance for the mobility of sperm cells. A research team from the Heidelberg University Biochemistry Center (BZH) headed by Prof. Dr Cristina Paulino has, with the aid of cryo-electron microscopy, for the first time succeeded in decoding the structure of such a transporter and its mechanism. According to the researchers, these findings will enable a better understanding of the molecular foundations of reproductive capacity and could, in the long term, contribute to developing new approaches to treating fertility disorders and new methods of specific contraception.

Sperm cells differ fundamentally in structure and function from other cell types. After all, their only task is to track down and fuse with the egg. Sperm cells only achieve their full activity in what is called capacitation, which means the maturing of the cells in the semen. One of the final steps of this biochemical process involves increasing the sperm’s mobility. If the cells are not able to move autonomously, or only to a limited extent, the result is generally reduced fertility or a complete lack of reproductive capacity. The sperm cells cannot reach and fertilise the egg cell.

Within this final maturation process, special proteins found in the sperm membrane have a particular role. Known as membrane transporters, they are responsible for transporting nutrients, for instance, into or out of the cell. “Transporting certain ions into the cell leads to a rise in sperm mobility. For that reason, the proteins responsible for the transport are directly linked to the fertility of a sperm and thereby with the male capacity for reproduction,” Prof. Paulino underlines. Her research group at the BZH is working on the membrane transporters of sea urchins, a model system for investigating sperm.

With the assistance of cryo-electron microscopy, the scientists have now been able to decode the structure of an important sperm membrane transporter at the molecular level. Amongst other things, they discovered what its functional units look like, and how they interconnect and interact. “We have observed that the key protein is, like a lego toy, constructed from different building units. These building blocks are basically known from other proteins, but have never been observed in such a combination. With the aid of this information, we were able to decode the mechanism of this transporter for the first time,” explains Dr Valeria Kalienkova from the University of Bergen (Norway), a former member in Prof. Paulino’s research group.

According to Dr Martin Peter, a member of Prof. Paulino’s research team, these new findings will be helpful in the next step, developing potential substances that influence this mechanism. They may make it possible to activate or deactivate the functions of the proteins. The extent to which these findings can be transferred to the mechanisms of human sperm will call for further investigation. In the long term, they contain potential for finding new ways of treating infertility, or vice versa, of preventing the sperm from fertilising the egg cell.

The results of the research studies have appeared in the journal “Nature”. Due to the research group moving from the Netherlands to Germany, the studies were carried out both at the University of Groningen (Netherlands) and at the Heidelberg University Biochemistry Center. They were funded by the Dutch Research Council, and the Swiss National Science Foundation.

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JOURNAL

Nature

DOI

10.1038/s41586-023-06629-w 

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Cells

ARTICLE TITLE

Structures of a sperm-specific solute carrier gated by voltage and cAMP

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

25-Oct-2023

Sperm's secret voltage switch: Scientists unlock the mystery of motility

Peer-Reviewed Publication

STOCKHOLM UNIVERSITY

 

IMAGE: 

CHEMO-ATTRACTANT BINDING TO SPERM CAUSES A CHANGE IN VOLTAGE, WHICH ACTIVATES THE TRANSPORTER SLC9C1. THE STRUCTURE OF SLC9C1 IS HERE DESCRIBED FOR THE FIRST TIME. ONCE ACTIVATED THE SLC9C1 PROTEIN EXCHANGES NA+ FOR H+ IONS AND THIS MAKES THE SPERM FLAGELLUM MORE ALKALINE AND, TOGETHER WITH CAMP, LEADS TO THE OPENING OF CA2+-CHANNELS THAT RESULTS IN A DIRECTED MOVEMENT OF THE SPERM. THIS SEQUENCE OF EVENTS, PRESENT IN SPECIES AS DISTANT AS CORALS AND HUMAN, ARE ESSENTIAL FOR FERTILIZATION.

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CREDIT: ILLUSTRATION BY VED MEHTA/STOCKHOLM UNIVERSITY.

Researchers at Stockholm University have unveiled the hidden intricacies of how sperm go from passive bystanders to dynamic swimmers. This transformation is a pivotal step in the journey to fertilization, and it hinges on the activation of a unique ion transporter.

Imagine sperm as tiny adventurers on a quest to reach the ultimate treasure, the egg. They don't have a map, but they make use of something even more extraordinary: chemo-attractants. These are chemical signals released by the egg that act as siren call, directing and activating the sperm. When these signals bind to receptors on the sperm's surface, it triggers a series of events, starting their movement towards the egg. And in this intricate scenario, one key player is a protein known as "SLC9C1."

It's exclusively found in sperm cells, and it is usually not active. However, when the chemo-attractants interact with the sperm’s surface, everything changes.

“SLC9C1 operates like a highly sophisticated exchange system. It swaps protons from inside the cell for sodium ions from the outside, temporarily creating a less acidic environment within the sperm. This change in the internal environment triggers increased sperm motility“, says David Drew, Professor in Biochemistry at Stockholm University. 

The activation of SLC9C1 is driven by a change in voltage that occurs when chemo-attractants attach to the sperm. To accomplish this, SLC9C1 uses a unique feature called a voltage-sensing domain (VSD). Typically, VSD domains are associated with voltage-gated ion channels. But in the case of SLC9C1, it's something truly exceptional in the realm of transporters.

Researchers, led by David Drew, have unveiled the secrets behind SLC9C1's inner workings and provides the first example of voltage-sensing domain activation of a transporter and its connection via an unusually long voltage-sensing (S4) helix.

“The VSD domain responds to the change in voltage by pushing its rodlike S4 helix inwards. This clears the way for ion exchange by SLC9C1, ultimately initiating sperm motility”, says David Drew. 

“Transporters work very differently than channels and, as such, the VSD is coupled to the sperm protein in a way that we have just never seen before, or even imagined. Its exciting to see how nature has done this and perhaps, in the future, we can learn from this to make synthetic proteins that can be turned-on by voltage or develop novel male contraceptives that work by blocking this protein”, David Drew notes. 

The research was made possible through funding from the European Research Council (ERC) grant EXCHANGE. 

 

Contact info: David Drew, Professor in Biochemistry, Stockholm University
Email: david.drew@dbb.su.se
Phone: +46 72-14 627 44

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JOURNAL

Nature

DOI

10.1038/s41586-023-06518-2 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Experimental study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Cells

ARTICLE TITLE

'Structure and electromechanical coupling of a voltage-gated Na+/H+ exchanger'

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

25-Oct-2023

 

Medication abortion safety and effectiveness with misoprostol alone

JAMA Network Open

Peer-Reviewed Publication

JAMA NETWORK

About The Study: The findings in this study of 637 callers to safe abortion hotlines and accompaniment groups in Argentina, Nigeria, and Southeast Asia suggest that misoprostol alone is a highly effective method of pregnancy termination. Future research should explore strategies to maximize the effectiveness of misoprostol alone in clinical and nonclinical settings. 

Authors: Ruvani Jayaweera, Ph.D., of Ibis Reproductive Health in Oakland, California, is the corresponding author. 

 To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/

(doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.40042)

Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

Embed this link to provide your readers free access to the full-text article 

 http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.40042?utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_term=102723

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JOURNAL

JAMA Network Open

SwRI, GTI Energy, GE celebrate mechanical completion of $155 million supercritical CO2 pilot plant

Supercritical Transformational Electric Power (STEP) Demo pilot plant will use sCO2 power cycle to increase efficiency, lower costs and decrease environmental footprint

Business Announcement

SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE

 

IMAGE: 

SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE, GTI ENERGY, GE GLOBAL RESEARCH AND THE U.S. DOE NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY CELEBRATED THE COMPLETION OF THE STEP DEMO 10 MWE SCO2 PILOT PLANT, WHICH BEGAN CONSTRUCTION ON SWRI’S SAN ANTONIO HEADQUARTERS IN 2018. THE $155 MILLION, 10-MEGAWATT SUPERCRITICAL CARBON DIOXIDE (SCO2) TEST FACILITY WILL DEMONSTRATE THE NEXT GENERATION OF HIGHER-EFFICIENCY, LOWER-COST ELECTRIC POWER TECHNOLOGY.

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CREDIT: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE

SAN ANTONIO — October 27,2023 —Southwest Research Institute (SwRI®), GTI Energy, GE Vernova (GE) and the U.S. Department of Energy celebrated the ribbon-cutting of the Supercritical Transformational Electric Power (STEP) Demo pilot plant today. The $155 million, 10-megawatt supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) test facility at SwRI’s headquarters in San Antonio will demonstrate an innovative new method of higher-efficiency, lower-cost electric power generation.

“STEP will undoubtedly change the way we think about power generation,” said SwRI President and CEO Adam Hamilton, P.E. “It’s exciting to officially launch this pilot plant, which is home to potentially revolutionary technology developed right here at SwRI.”

“We are excited to collaborate with our partners through the STEP Demo pilot project to showcase the benefits of supercritical carbon dioxide technology for power production,” said Dr. Paula A. Gant, President and CEO, GTI Energy. “This innovation is set to deliver cost-effective, highly efficient, and transformative benefits.”

Unlike conventional power plants, which use water as the thermal medium in power cycles, STEP is designed to use high-temperature sCO2, which increases efficiency by as much as 10% due to its favorable thermodynamic properties. Carbon dioxide is nontoxic and nonflammable, and when CO2 is held above a critical temperature and pressure, it can act like a gas while having the density near that of a liquid. The sCO2 power cycle technology is also compatible with concentrated solar power and industrial waste heat.

“STEP Demo represents a shift toward more sustainable and efficient power generation, which has only been possible because of the ingenuity of the remarkable team that has supported this project at every stage,” said Dr. Tim Allison, director of SwRI’s Machinery Department.

One advantage to using sCO2 as a working fluid is that STEP Demo’s turbomachinery is approximately one-tenth the size of conventional power plant components, making it possible to shrink the footprint and construction cost of any new facilities. For example, STEP Demo’s desk-sized sCO2 turbine could power up to 10,000 homes.

SwRI’s John Klaerner, lead turbine engineer, and Dr. Jeff Moore, the principal investigator of the STEP Demo project, are pictured with the sCO2 turbine developed by SwRI for the 10 MWe demonstration plant. SwRI, GTI Energy, GE Global Research and the U.S. DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory celebrated the completion of the STEP Demo 10 MWe sCO2 pilot plant on October 26.

CREDIT

Southwest Research Institute

SwRI, GTI Energy, and GE broke ground on the STEP Demo site on October 15, 2018, and building construction was completed in 2020. The pilot plant achieved its first operation of its compressor with CO2 at supercritical fluid conditions earlier this year. Commissioning of the facility will continue through early next year.

The STEP Demo pilot plant is one of the largest demonstration facilities in the world for sCO2 technology. The project’s central goal is to dramatically improve the efficiency, economics, operational flexibility, space requirements and environmental performance of this new technology. SwRI, GTI Energy, and GE collaborated on the design of the plant, which is specially conceived to evolve over time to keep pace with industry advancements. The facility’s skid-mounted components provide flexibility and a unique, reconfigurable design.

SwRI is an industry leader in the development of sCO2 power cycles. Staff members have conducted numerous U.S. Department of Energy projects advancing the efficiency, reliability and commercial readiness of sCO2 power cycle turbomachinery, heat exchangers, cycles and systems. The team brings extensive experience with sCO2 technology and the key building blocks to make the STEP Demo project a success and a landmark demonstration.

For more information, visit https://step.swri.org.