A new study from the University of Cincinnati suggests that taking online breaks at work can have benefits for productivity and worker well-being. The study found that workers take online breaks to balance their work and personal responsibilities, leading to greater levels of satisfaction and focus on their job.
Researchers at Aalto University found that shifting to vegetarian diets can reduce green water use by up to 21% and blue water use by up to 14%. This could secure food supply for an additional 1.8 billion people without increasing water resources.
Researchers found that natural hydraulic fractures formed over time spans of 33 to 35 million years, driven by the slow generation of natural gas. These fractures play a crucial role in modern hydraulic fracturing production, connecting pores in reservoir rock to the hydraulic fracture and wellbore.
Researchers will use radioactive labelling to track where key materials used in nanomedicines accumulate in the body. This study aims to inform regulation and development of safer nanomedicine options for chronic conditions.
Researchers at UC Riverside have developed a versatile platform technology called Co-solvent Enhanced Lignocellulosic Fractionation (CELF) to produce biofuels from biomass more efficiently. The method uses tetrahydrofuran as a co-solvent and achieves high yields, reducing the cost of producing fuels and chemicals.
Research suggests that interval walking training increases insulin sensitivity and improves glucose metabolism, leading to better blood sugar control. The study found no significant benefits from continuous walking training, highlighting the potential of interval training as a more effective approach for managing type 2 diabetes.
A new model for clinical depression takes into account the dynamic role of the immune system, highlighting different phases and their implications for treatment. This understanding may lead to more effective treatments, as common medications may not work for all patients in certain phases of illness.
Researchers predict that effective new drugs and widespread screening will reduce hepatitis C cases, prevent liver cancer and deaths. By 2036, the disease is expected to affect only one in 1,500 people in the US.
The Voyager and IBEX missions have greatly expanded our understanding of the outer heliosphere, providing detailed information about interactions at its edge. Recent studies have focused on the enigmatic ribbon of enhanced emissions, which was only detected by IBEX in 2009.
A Rutgers study found that positive emotions, even those viewed through a distorted lens, may play a role in fueling eating disorders like anorexia nervosa. Women with the illness often feel emotionally positive about their weight loss progress, which can lead to a vicious cycle of continued weight loss and disordered behaviors.
A UCLA-led analysis found that changes in treatment over the past decade have associated with higher survival rates for all patient groups, regardless of age or risk factors. The study tracked 6.5 million patients treated for heart attacks between 2002 and 2011 and found improved outcomes with earlier cardiac catheterization
The discovery of the plant phytochrome's three-dimensional structure may enable the development of technologies to grow plants at higher densities, increasing crop yields and reducing resource usage. By manipulating the light sensor, researchers can alter the conditions under which plants grow and develop.
Researchers develop a novel fuel cell design that protects sensitive catalysts using a redox hydrogel. This shield prevents deactivation caused by oxygen and extreme electrical potentials, allowing for efficient and long-term energy conversion. The breakthrough has major implications for the development of sustainable energy solutions.
NASA captured images of a large swath of smoke from Canadian wildfires hovering over the Great Lakes and settling over the Bay of Baffin, which borders Greenland. The fires have been raging this summer, with some smoke drifting southward into the US.
A new UCLA study reveals that California diabetics living in low-income neighborhoods are 10 times more likely to lose a toe, foot or leg than those in affluent areas. The research highlights the need for earlier medical care and expanded access to treatment to prevent amputations.
Research suggests two distinct whale shark populations exist in the Indo-Pacific and Atlantic Ocean with minimal mixing. Genetic diversity at Ningaloo Reef in Australia has declined over five consecutive years, potentially indicating a recent bottleneck.
The study reveals that scenes of execution in American film can provoke awareness of the political responsibility inherent in voters' identities as democratic citizens in a killing state. Researchers argue that these films offer a unique opportunity to engage with the complexities of capital punishment and its implications for society.
A team of researchers found that healthy breast cells can differentiate into various cell types similar to those seen in metaplastic carcinoma, a type of triple-negative breast cancer. This discovery challenges the traditional understanding of terminal differentiation and suggests that mature cells may retain some flexibility.
Gastroenterology and Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology journals received record-high impact factors, with Gastroenterology having the highest at 13.9. The journals' commitment to disseminating top clinical research is recognized by the GI community.
Researchers seek to reduce inflammation in kidney transplants by increasing regulatory T cells, either through infusions or pharmacologically. The goal is to maximize long-term organ survival and improve graft success rates, which have remained unchanged at 4% loss annually.
A pilot program testing bundled payments for orthopedic procedures in California failed to meet its cost-saving objectives, mainly due to low participant volume and administrative burden. The study's findings highlight the need for sufficient case volume, simple bundle definitions, and financial risk management to make bundled payment ...
Researchers at Rice University and the University of Kansas Medical Center have developed modular genetic circuits that can handle multiple chemical inputs simultaneously. These new tools allow scientists to design synthetic cells for specific tasks, such as biofuel production, environmental remediation, and disease treatment.
Over-the-counter enzyme supplements can aid digestion, reduce inflammation, and even have anti-cancer effects. However, evidence is limited, and potential side effects include gastrointestinal upset and increased risk of bleeding in certain individuals.
New research from Rockefeller University suggests that the speed of a signal plays a crucial role in determining an embryonic cell's fate. The study found that cells respond better to signals with pulses rather than continuous ones, and that slower increases in signal strength can lead to weaker responses.
Researchers found hundreds of juvenile whale sharks gathering on coral reefs near Saudi Arabia, providing a rare insight into their daily lives and movements. The study tracked the sharks' movements over years, revealing frequent deep dives and a sex ratio of 1:1 at the site.
A new SUNY research project aims to understand the connection between frailty and dementia, with the goal of maximizing patient outcomes and enhancing quality of life. The project will develop tools to assess frailty risk factors and determine their correlation with cognitive assessments.
A new study suggests that using animal metaphors to describe violent crimes can lead to increased punishment for perpetrators due to heightened perceptions of risk. This study found that such descriptions result in significantly harsher punishments compared to non-animalistic descriptions.
The American College of Physicians recommends a full-night polysomnography test for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea. A computer model predicts that new therapies will make chronic hepatitis C a rare disease by 2036. Physical therapy and corticosteroid injections provide equal relief from shoulder pain and disability, with MPT patien...
A 20-year study found that midlife hypertension was associated with a moderate decline in cognition compared to individuals with normal blood pressure. The study used the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study and analyzed data from 13,476 participants.
The researchers developed a framework for effective social media communication about food safety, highlighting the need for dialogue and engagement with key audiences. The guidance aims to reduce the risk of foodborne illness by leveraging platforms like Twitter and Facebook.
Fires and smoke are as widespread as they were in July, with hundreds of fires detected across the region. The Air Quality Health Index reached 12 on August 3, indicating a high health risk due to air pollution.
Researchers at Vienna University of Technology have created a semiconductor structure consisting of two ultra-thin layers, tungsten diselenide and molybdenum disulphide, which exhibits excellent optoelectronic properties. This material has the potential to be used in future low-cost solar cells with improved efficiency and flexibility.
A study by Cornell researchers found that nurses exposed to natural light had lower blood pressure, communicated more with colleagues, laughed more, and served patients in better moods. Access to natural daylight and optimized electric lighting can support circadian rhythms and work performance.
A new study by Oxford University found that young people who played video games for less than an hour a day were associated with being better adjusted than those who played more or never. They reported higher sociability and fewer friendship problems compared to heavier gamers.
A team of scientists has found that genetic changes in a bacterial pathogen may be caused by chance environmental events rather than genetic mutations. The study, published in PNAS, analyzed 149 genomes of Salmonella enterica serovar Paratyphi A and found that the pathogen had not changed dramatically over its 450-year history.
A team of engineers has created a portable device for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy using minuscule chips, reducing the footprint for multidimensional analysis of molecules. The devices can operate accurately over a wide temperature range and may be assembled into a massively parallel array to accelerate analysis of com...
A study led by the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy found that community pharmacist interventions can significantly boost drug adherence rates. The project showed a 3-4% increase in medication adherence across five common medication classes, resulting in substantial cost savings for healthcare systems. By leveraging pharmaci...
Researchers at MIT have developed a new technique for studying the hepatitis B virus lifecycle, allowing them to investigate immune responses and drug treatments. The model could help find a cure for the disease by understanding how the virus interacts with liver cells.
A new study published in PNAS suggests that migratory birds evolved from species that lived year-round in North America. Researchers created a model to analyze the evolutionary changes of migratory bird species and found that most species originated from temperate regions before migrating to tropical areas.
A team of researchers has identified 5-lipoxygenase as a target for therapeutic management of stem cell-like cells in acute myeloid leukemia. Inhibiting this enzyme selectively attacks and eliminates leukemic stem cells in both cell culture models and mouse models, suggesting a promising approach for treating the disease.
Researchers predict that widespread screening and treatment of hepatitis C will reduce liver-related deaths by 161,500 and liver transplants by 13,900 from 2014 to 2050. The model also estimates that nearly 1 million cases of hepatitis C would be identified in the next 10 years under universal screening.
Scientists have discovered how combining metformin with SGLT2 inhibitors reinforces each other, reducing blood sugar levels effectively and prolongingly. This new approach has the potential to be an effective treatment strategy for type 2 diabetes with minimal side effects.
Researchers found that functional electrical stimulation promotes endogenous neural precursor cell proliferation and improves motor function in acute cerebral infarction rats. The treatment also enhances expression of basic fibroblast growth factor and epidermal growth factor.
A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology suggests that patient navigation can lead to better breast cancer care for high-risk populations, including minority women. Researchers found that patients assisted by trained navigators were more likely to start recommended treatments, such as hormonal therapy.
A US study found significant variability in maternal outcomes across hospitals, with complication rates varying five-fold between high- and low-performing facilities. Researchers recommend a national quality reporting system to improve maternal outcomes for over 4 million women who give birth annually.
A new study by University of Chicago researchers found that long-distance migration in New World birds evolved from ancestral species in North America. Contrary to previous hypotheses, the team discovered that shifts southward were more common than northward movements.
Researchers at UCL developed an equation to predict happiness based on recent rewards, expectations, and neural activity. The study involved 18,420 participants and found that moment-to-moment happiness reflects not just how well things are going but whether they're better than expected.
A new study reveals that Denver's sports stadiums have excessive parking spaces, leading to heat islands and missed economic opportunities. The research suggests transforming inefficient parking into better investments to incentivize carpooling and other modes of transportation, improving the spectator experience and downtown businesses.
Researchers are studying how a new IBS drug, linaclotide, helps alleviate stomach pain by normalizing gut-brain communication. The study assesses the effectiveness of linaclotide in 45 IBS patients over 10 weeks.
A study review by María José Martínez-Patiño and others highlights the need for refined policies to protect female athletes from media attention and sex tests. The International Olympic Committee's hyperandrogenism policy is being called into question, with experts advocating for greater equity and inclusivity in sports.
A nationwide study involving over 5,000 teenagers found that playing mature-rated video games associated with increased deviant behaviors, including alcohol use and smoking cigarettes. The researchers suggest changes in personality, attitudes, and values contribute to the findings.
Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin discovered that gold nanoparticles can form small clusters in a solvent made from chicken feed and urea, which enables efficient catalytic reactions. The particles arrange themselves into groups of up to twelve nanoparticles with average diameter of five nanometres.
Tropical Storm Nakri formed on August 2 and struggled to organize for a week, eventually becoming visible to NASA's Suomi NPP satellite. The storm dissipated just one day later while approaching the Korean peninsula, with its maximum sustained winds reaching near 40 knots.
The UTSA and Alamo Colleges partnership provides a 10-week Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) CIMA Undergraduate Research Program, funded by a $1.5 million NSF grant. Students work alongside UTSA faculty mentors on research projects in various STEM fields.
Researchers investigated how neurons in the inferior colliculus respond to paired sounds producing precedence-effect illusions. After local GABA application, responses to lagging stimuli were suppressed, providing a potential new approach for improving speech perception in patients with hearing aids under background noise.
A meta-analysis of nine cohort studies found that children with fever over 102 degrees, infection with organisms other than E.coli, or abnormal kidney ultrasonography findings are at high risk for renal scarring. The study developed a clinical prediction model to identify nearly 45% of children who scar.
African parasites undergo significant shape changes during their life cycle, enabling adaptation to varying environments. Researchers found that adjusting a key protein's expression can trigger these transformations, allowing the parasites to survive and reproduce for multiple generations.
Fires in California and Oregon are burning due to lightning strikes, affecting over 36,000 acres. The Beaver Complex fires have reached 20% containment despite shifting wind conditions and weather inversions aiding firefighting efforts.
Over 90% of gay and bisexual men in the US have used lubricants for anal intercourse and other activities, minimizing skin tears and potential HIV transmission. Public health practitioners can use these findings to promote routine lubricant use as a key aspect of sexual health interventions.
A new study finds that US life expectancy gap between blacks and whites has declined nationally, but still varies across states. Northeastern states have made greater progress in reducing the gap, while western states have seen less improvement.