The V-FOREST project aims to develop mobile and decentralized processing pathways for damaged forest biomass, producing bio-based cosmetic ingredients. The consortium will combine pretreatment, fractionation, and chemical/biological conversion routes to create scalable solutions with real societal impact.
A new framework for describing military compliance with political preferences has been introduced by a doctoral thesis at Åbo Akademi University. The framework, which proposes four ideal-type roles of the armed forces in policy implementation, is applied to Putin's military campaigns in Georgia and Syria. The results show that Western ...
The study shows that Finnish support for NATO is linked to current perceived threats, increasing rapidly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Material factors like assets and emotional attachment to Europe also influence people's willingness to defend the nation.
A new doctoral thesis explores how companies and users collaborate to establish norms and values on social media. Anna Granstedt's findings reveal that ethics on social media is a dynamic process influenced by company communication, user reactions, and platform algorithms.
Recent research highlights thriving as a cornerstone of high-quality aged care, encompassing medical, social, and psychosocial competencies. Factors influencing thriving include resident attitude, care quality, activities, environment, and health.
A new herpes virus-based vaccine has been developed that targets cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. The vaccine, which includes a gene encoding the protein decorin, was shown to enhance its cancer-killing effect on lung cancer cells and reduce tumour angiogenesis in liver cancer in chicken embryos.
A study reveals that HSF2, a transcription factor, helps activate gamma-herpesviruses causing cancer. Increasing HSF2 levels boosts viral gene activity, while reducing it leads to a significant drop. The protein binds to key genes, making chromatin more open for activation.
The Westermarck Archives, stored at Åbo Akademi University Library, have been inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. The collection contains correspondence, manuscripts, notes, and photographs from Westermarck's field studies in Morocco, providing insights into anthropology, sociology, and local cultures.
A groundbreaking study found that AI-powered interviews with children can improve the accuracy of witness accounts by improving questioning style and efficiency. The study compared the performance of a Large Language Model (LLM) and untrained human interviewers in interviewing children about a mock event.
A team of researchers at Åbo Akademi University found that Talin-1 can be located in the cell nucleus, regulating genes that control cell-to-cell connections. This discovery challenges established views on Talin-1's function and has important medical implications for diseases such as cancer and cardiomyopathies.
A new discovery by Åbo Akademi University researchers enables the creation of more efficient and stable organic solar cells with an outstanding efficiency of over 18% and a lifespan of 24,700 hours. This breakthrough paves the way for larger-scale production of efficient organic solar cells.
Researchers at Åbo Akademi University have discovered a crucial protein, TLNRD1, that helps maintain blood vessel stability in the brain. The study highlights the potential for targeted molecular therapies to improve patient outcomes in CCM disease.
A new platform called CellTracksColab has been introduced to simplify cell tracking data analysis, enabling researchers to study cell movement and behavior. The tool provides a user-friendly interface for analyzing complex data, leading to new insights into diseases such as cancer metastasis.
A recent study from Åbo Akademi University reveals significant human-induced pressures on coastal invertebrate communities in the Åland archipelago. The research highlights the impact of wind-waves and fish farming on these communities, shedding light on their responses to environmental drivers and effects on ecosystem functions.
The European Association of Psychology and Law has launched a white paper with 10 key recommendations to enhance the validity, reliability, and child-friendliness of forensic interviews. The guidelines aim to standardize interviewing methods and warn against harmful practices.
A study found that invertebrate abundance and diversity decreased near human activities like shellfish harvesting and heavy metal pollution. In contrast, environmental factors like water temperature and salinity impacted invertebrates further away from human settlements.
A comprehensive study found that distance plays a crucial role in eyewitness identification accuracy, with longer distances making it harder to recognize individuals. Facial masking, particularly with sunglasses, also significantly impairs identification, even at close proximity.
A recent study analyzing 34 Hollywood films found that stereotypical gender roles persist, with men depicted as aggressive and powerful, and women as loving and caring. However, the analysis also showed a significant increase in female representation over the past two decades.
Research by Åbo Akademi University found that companies with more women on their boards tend to make fewer high-risk corporate acquisitions and are more willing to write down goodwill for unsuccessful deals. This suggests that female representation can lead to a more conservative approach to risk-taking and improved financial governance.
Researchers have developed a cloud-based platform called ZeroCostDL4Mic that uses artificial intelligence to analyze microscopy images, improving image quality and detecting features such as tumors in biopsy samples. The platform is freely available online and requires no coding expertise, making it accessible to non-experts.
A new study by Åbo Akademi University found that weak math students feel more shame in high-performing classes, while stronger students feel bored. The so-called big-fish-little-pond effect affects feelings of pride and shame more among weaker students.
A new learning model, Deliberative Walks, combines citizens' juries and development walks to engage citizens in urban planning. The method aims to collect all opinions, not just expert views, and promotes inclusive discussions, leading to increased civic engagement and understanding of participatory democracy.
A study by Abo Akademi University found that environmentally friendly shipping practices can lower emissions and freight costs. Investments in sustainable technologies, such as solar panels and optimized propellers, are economically profitable.
Researchers found that cell-to-cell contacts are essential for human cells to survive protein-damaging conditions and stress. Impaired cell adhesion may make cancer cells more vulnerable to drug treatment.
Researchers found that working memory training relies on task-specific strategies to improve performance, rather than increasing capacity. Hundreds of commercial programs claim to boost memory, but their effects are limited to similar tasks.
A recent study reveals that eelgrass meadows store significant amounts of organic carbon, comparable to tropical seagrass species and mangroves. The distribution area of these meadows has decreased by at least 1/3rd over the past 50 years, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts.
A new study reveals that working memory training with a strategy leads to rapid improvements, contradicting the idea of increased capacity. The findings suggest that task-specific strategies developed during training are key to benefits.
A comprehensive review of 152 studies on bilingualism and executive functions found no significant benefits for bilinguals. Bilingualism is beneficial for communication between people and cultures, but not for cognitive skills like focusing attention or switching tasks.
Researchers at Åbo Akademi University and Moffitt Cancer Research Centre are developing AI-driven precision cancer medicine to identify effective multi-drug therapies for each patient. The project combines molecular data with network modelling to analyze interactions between drugs and inhibitors, reducing the risk of drug resistance.