Researchers at the University of Houston have developed a new formula to calculate the maximum efficiency of thermoelectric materials, which could lead to breakthroughs in clean energy generation. The formula takes into account temperature-dependent properties and can determine whether devices are efficient enough to be worth pursuing.
Researchers found significant decreases in skin scarring and expression of molecular markers after treating SSc patients with fresolimumab. The study suggests that targeting TGF-beta may provide a major treatment advance for scarring-mediated organ dysfunction.
A new study published in PNAS found that conservatives outperform liberals in tasks requiring attention regulation and persistence. Conservatives demonstrated greater self-control than liberals when they believed freewill had a beneficial impact on their behavior.
Experts have proposed new policies to address retirement security, healthy aging, and long-term services. These policies aim to promote healthier aging, improve retirement security, and increase access to long-term services and supports.
Observing white Americans engage in small nonverbal acts like smiling and making eye contact increases positive attitudes towards Black Americans. This study found that positive micro-nonverbal behaviors can be contagious, reducing racial bias and stereotypes.
Researchers have created a smart insulin patch that can detect increases in blood sugar levels and secrete doses of insulin, potentially replacing painful injections for diabetes. The patch uses microneedles to administer insulin, which is released when blood glucose levels get too high.
Researchers have pushed back the time period of sophisticated Pueblo culture by at least 150 years, suggesting a more complex society with relationships to Mesoamerican cultures. The discovery of scarlet macaw remains in ancient settlements has provided early evidence of social hierarchy and trade networks.
Perimeter Institute has secured over $4 million in funding for fundamental research, training, and outreach through strategic partnerships. The investments will support renowned physicists and early-career researchers, fueling innovation and advancements in theoretical physics.
Researchers discovered that cavitation bubbles can pull in nearby particles like black holes, potentially leading to new cleaning methods. The effect depends on particle size and distance from the bubble, with smaller particles moving faster towards the collapsing bubble.
RIT professor Hans Schmitthenner is designing molecular imaging compounds that selectively target prostate cancer cells, using contrast dyes for improved detection. The preclinical phase project aims to enhance image-directed biopsies, potentially reducing pain and side effects.
A new study assesses ecosystem service supply capacities for irrigated rice cropping systems in Southeast Asia, revealing differences between more and less intensively managed areas. The findings suggest that ES-based information can help provide alternative management options for decision-making in agricultural systems.
A recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that more than half of long-term smokers and ex-smokers who pass lung-function tests have respiratory-related impairments. The researchers evaluated 8,872 people aged 45 to 80 who had smoked at least a pack of cigarettes a day for 10 years.
Researchers examined nationwide trends in erectile dysfunction and surgical management from 2001 to 2010. The study found that while erectile dysfunction prevalence increased, penile prosthesis use decreased, but was more common in sicker patients.
A 40,000-year-old jawbone discovered in Europe has revealed that modern humans interbred with Neanderthals after their arrival in the continent. The study, led by HHMI investigator David Reich, found that six to nine percent of the individual's genome is from Neanderthals, indicating a recent ancestry.
Scientists have discovered a new material that exhibits extremely large magnetoresistance due to its superfast electrons. The material, niobium phosphide, has the potential to revolutionize the design of electronic components, enabling faster processing and storage of data.
A new Penn study shows that preserving social network boundaries can facilitate the spread of complex ideas, contradicting previous theories. By analyzing computational models and correlations between individual characteristics, researchers found that stronger group ties allow for more effective knowledge sharing across organizations.
A lightning strike sparked the Washington Fire near California Highways 4 and 89, fueled by strong erratic winds and severe drought conditions. The fire has grown to 8,000 acres since initial firefighting efforts began on June 19.
A recent review highlights the impact of stress on cat behavior and welfare, including changes in exploratory behavior, social grooming, and urine marking. Strategies to prevent or reduce stress include a three-phase reintroduction protocol, environmental enrichment, and breeding strategies that promote well-balanced temperament.
Researchers from the University of Valencia analysed 154 brands of beer and found that heavy drinkers consume toxic substances exceeding safety limits. The study reveals low exposure for average consumers, but highlights concerns among those who drink large quantities of beer daily.
Tropical Storm Kujira experienced strong vertical wind shear, displacing convection from its center. The strongest storms had coldest cloud top temperatures, indicating potential for heavy rainfall.
Researchers at Hiroshima University found a correlation between telomere G-tail length and endothelial dysfunction, as well as stroke and dementia, in patients with chronic cerebrovascular disease. The study suggests that telomere G-tail length may be a useful biomarker for predicting cardiovascular risk.
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have engineered a new version of the gene-editing tool CRISPR-Cas9, enabling it to target an expanded range of DNA sequences. The new variants show improved specificity, reducing off-target mutations and expanding the potential applications for CRISPR technology.
Eleven early-career physicians received one-year, $50,000 fellowships to study various aspects of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The fellowships aim to increase the number of scientists expertly treating these conditions.
A large clinical trial led by The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa found that CT scans do not improve cancer detection in people with unexplained blood clots. Approximately four percent of patients from each group were diagnosed with cancer within the next year, with no difference in cancer-associated deaths.
Researchers have developed a new method to create oxide Josephson junctions, which could lead to high-temperature superconducting electronics. The direct-write approach allows for mass production of high-quality junctions, reducing costs and enabling applications such as biomedical magnetic imaging.
Ten new subsocial cobweb spider species were found in Madagascan colonies, with most belonging to genus Anelosimus. The discovery highlights the vast unexplored biodiversity of Madagascar's arthropod groups.
A team of researchers has discovered that the presence of salty impurities in ice can push the formation of electrically conducting ice to occur at higher pressures, potentially explaining the magnetic fields of Uranus and Neptune. This finding challenges current assumptions about the physics of icy planetary bodies.
A new study found that certain immune responses may play a role in blocking systemic HIV infection after exposure. T-cell responses against specific HIV-1 antigens were significantly higher and more frequent among those who remained uninfected compared to those who became infected, associated with reduced risk of infection.
Researchers tracked nanoparticles in animal models, finding they accumulate mainly in the liver, while shell molecules distribute throughout the body. This discovery sheds light on nanoparticle properties and medical applications.
Researchers have discovered more than 800 'ultra dark galaxies' in the Coma Cluster, which are characterized by their diffuse and extended structure. The galaxies are thought to be enveloped by a massive amount of dark matter, which accounts for over 99% of their total mass.
Astronomers have successfully commissioned a new type of optic that can reveal the image of an exoplanet next to its parent star. The vector-APP coronagraph uses advanced liquid crystal technology to cancel out starlight, allowing fainter planets to be imaged.
A new article highlights key action areas for healthcare professionals to improve the quality of life of older adults by maintaining brain health. Action areas include formal cognitive assessments, screening for risk factors, and promoting physical exercise and social engagement.
A recent study found that adult Americans aged 25 and older have become increasingly obese, with 67.6 million estimated to be obese and 65.2 million considered overweight.
A new study by Rice University found that the legacy of slavery contributes to black-white education disparities through greater public-private school racial segregation. The research also shows a correlation between historical geographic slave concentration and modern-day K-12 school segregation, with white students being underreprese...
Researchers found that CpdR binds to the ClpXP protease, priming it for engagement with substrates, allowing for broad recognition of multiple pathways. This mechanism enables cells to control multiple pathways with a single regulator, facilitating rapid response to stress.
A new report by The Lancet suggests that climate change could wipe out health progress over the past 50 years, but effective climate action may improve global health. The report highlights positive co-benefits of reducing emissions, such as lower incidence of respiratory diseases and obesity.
A new analysis found a decline in high-grade cervical lesions among U.S. women aged 18-20 after HPV vaccination became available. However, this trend may be influenced by changes in cancer screening recommendations.
Corina Logan's research using CT scans to measure endocranial volume found that external skull measurements are not accurate for predicting brain size in the great-tailed grackle. The study highlights the importance of validating and quantifying predictive accuracy of brain size proxies for each species and sex.
Researchers found that cardiac device wearers should hold phones to opposite ear and not store phone in pocket over device to prevent unwanted electromagnetic interference. The study evaluated the effects of smartphones on pacemakers and ICDs and recommended a safe distance to maintain function.
Researchers at Brown University found that largemouth bass use their swimming muscles to generate suction power for feeding. The study revealed that up to 95% of the power required for suction comes from the swimming muscles, not the mouth bones.
A study by University of Pennsylvania researchers found that maternal stress during pregnancy can 'reprogram' the developing brains of her children through changes in the vaginal microbiome. This initial exposure affects gut microbiota, metabolism, and brain development.
A new study documents the successful application of a Benson-Henry Institute program at a Boston high school, showing significant reductions in anxiety levels and improved stress management among students. The program teaches relaxation strategies, positive psychology techniques, and helps students build long-term resiliency.
A new study found that higher levels of soluble TNF receptor type two (sTNF-RII) are linked to reduced memory performance among breast cancer patients before treatment. Memory impairment was observed in patients compared to age-matched control subjects.
The study found that Akkermansia muciniphila is associated with lower fasting blood glucose and insulin levels, as well as a smaller waist:hip ratio and reduced body fat cell volume. Those with higher abundance of the microbe showed stronger improvement in their metabolic profile after calorie restriction.
The brain's electrical activity displays statistical hallmarks of criticality, a state where information processing is optimized. Spontaneous avalanches in the brain hold it at this balance point, with sensory input momentarily pushing the cortex away but adapting back to optimal critical regime.
A team of researchers from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München has developed a candidate vaccine against Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and demonstrated its efficacy in a mouse model. The vaccine, named MVA-MERS-S, uses a modified virus to induce protective immunity against the coronavirus.
Scientists at UC Riverside identified a safe and affordable repellent, butyl anthranilate (BA), to protect fruits from the spotted wing Drosophila insect. Lab experiments showed BA effectively warded off the insect from blueberries, reducing fruit damage during ripening.
A gene previously suspected of influencing human obesity has been cleared of its connection, according to a new study. The researchers developed tools to analyze complex genomic regions, including the AMY1 locus, and found no association with body mass index.
Researchers found that stress hormones, including glucocorticoids used to treat chemotherapy side effects, can stimulate growth of breast cancer cells resistant to anti-estrogen therapy. However, adding prolactin may prevent this expansion, offering a potential countermeasure.
Severely obese individuals undergoing weight-loss surgery experience substantial improvements in urinary incontinence, with a majority achieving remission three years after bariatric surgery. The more weight lost, the higher the chances of improvement, and those who were older or had severe walking limitations showed less improvement.
Researchers at UC San Diego have developed a new method to control electrical transport through high-temperature superconductors, enabling the creation of sophisticated electronic devices capable of measuring tiny magnetic fields in the brain or heart. This breakthrough paves the way for improved satellite communications and novel tech...
Current monitoring of pacemakers and defibrillators may underestimate device problems, according to a new study. The researchers found that device concerns were identified in exactly half of the 22 sudden deaths - four pacemakers and seven defibrillators.
Researchers developed a temporary pacemaker procedure allowing patients to assess potential benefits before committing to a permanent implant. Six patients with bradycardia underwent the test drive, resulting in improved exercise tolerance and quality of life after choosing permanent pacemaker implants.
A new review by the International Osteoporosis Foundation confirms the success of the Capture the Fracture Best Practice Framework as a single set of quality standards for Fracture Liaison Services globally. The framework helps raise standards, reinforces international guidelines, and identifies common challenges faced by FLS worldwide.
A mid-level solar flare, peaking at M6.6, was emitted by the sun on June 22, 2015. This event may disturb the atmosphere and affect GPS and communications signals.
Research reveals that legume plants selectively regulate access to symbiotic and endophytic bacteria, maintaining competitive symbionts in the soil. The study provides insights into genetic mechanisms controlling compatibility and identifies layers of accommodation for these microbes.
The Independence at Home Medicare demonstration program saved over $25 million in the first year by improving geriatric care and reducing hospital readmissions. The program, which provides home-based medical care through house calls, resulted in improved patient satisfaction and reduced healthcare costs for Medicare beneficiaries.
Researchers at Penn Vet used blood plasma and serum in glucometers for more accurate measurements than whole blood, finding results closely aligned with a gold standard machine. This simpler method may soon be adopted for human patients relying on glucometers.
A study found that men who feel they fall short of traditional masculinity ideals may exaggerate characteristics such as height and athletic ability to reassert their manliness. The researchers suggest that this pressure can lead to negative consequences, including aggressive behavior and unrealistic expectations of male roles.
Research teams from GEOMAR and CAU discover the Southeast Pacific has been significantly underestimated as a source of nitrous oxide. Continuous measurement data show the region emits up to 1.4 megatons of nitrous oxide each year, exceeding similar areas in other tropical oceans.