A Duke University study reveals that hospital rooms and patients can spread germs through contact with healthcare personnel. The research found that nurses' clothing and patient room surfaces were frequently contaminated with pathogens, highlighting the need for enhanced infection control measures.
Researchers at West Virginia University have directly measured the 3D patterns of flowing plasma striking fusion and space propulsion device walls. The measurements show that plasmas accelerate parallel to the wall before impact, causing rapid erosion of the devices' lifetimes.
A new whole-genome analysis reveals that chimpanzees and bonobos had a historical genetic flow, which sheds light on processes that may have played a recurring role in great ape evolution. The study found evidence of gene flow between the two species between 200-550 thousand years ago.
Researchers at the University of Warwick have developed a blood test to detect early-stage osteoarthritis (OA) and distinguish it from other self-resolving inflammatory joint diseases. The test identifies biomarkers in plasma proteins damaged by oxidation, nitration, and glycation, enabling early detection and treatment.
A new study suggests that global warming above 1.5°Celsius will drastically transform Mediterranean ecosystems, producing species never seen before in the past 10,000 years. The region's biodiversity and services, including clean water and carbon storage, are critical to human well-being.
Researchers found that exhausted T cells, which are supposed to fight cancer, have a distinct epigenetic profile that prevents them from becoming durable memory cells. This limits the effectiveness of checkpoint inhibitors, which temporarily boost their activity but don't lead to long-lasting benefits.
Researchers at UC Davis created a computer model that predicts the behavior of E. coli bacteria, using a massive dataset called Ecomics, which includes profiles of gene expression and protein activity across various conditions. The model, MOMA, can help scientists design experiments and identify key pathways for antibiotic resistance.
The University of Illinois Chicago will send 15-20 UIC undergraduates on a 17-day journey across the Canadian Arctic's Northwest Passage as part of a $3 million NSF-funded project. Students will participate in climate and marine research, learn navigation and sailing skills, and contribute to live broadcasts streaming from the ship.
Scientists have found a 'thermometer' molecule in plants that measures night-time heat to stimulate growth and trigger springtime budding. This discovery could help breed tougher crops resistant to climate change.
A new study found that pulses of glucose can reactivate the insulin clock in beta cells, which regulate blood sugar. The research suggests that controlled glucose solutions may be used to treat Type 2 diabetes.
Researchers have proved the existence of spin-spirals in a quantum liquid, where neighboring spins fluctuate collectively as spirals. This phenomenon, known as a 'spiral spin-liquid', was observed using polarized diffuse neutron scattering on an instrument at Forschungszentrum Jülich.
Researchers found that long-leg plasma exhaust channels can handle high power densities, exceeding material limits. The configuration promotes the build-up of high gas pressures in the legs, enabling a stable radiating layer to fully accommodate plasma heat exhaust.
Researchers discovered that midwater crustaceans have transparent bodies and optical coatings on their legs and bodies that reduce reflections by up to 250-fold. The coatings appear to be made of living bacteria, with each species having its own symbiotic optical bacteria. This discovery has potential technological applications.
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University have developed a new test to determine immune cell strength, which could help predict patient reactions to various threats. The CaFlux test uses calcium channel detection to assess T-cell responses, offering insights into potential allergies or autoimmunity.
Researchers found thousands of genetic translocations in both healthy and cancerous mouse cells, highlighting the importance of considering individual genetic backgrounds. By using 'de novo assembly', scientists can compare a patient's cancer cells to their own healthy cells, reducing errors in translocation discovery.
Researchers from the University of Granada have discovered 62 satellite DNA families in the migratory locust, a species with no previously known satellite DNA. This discovery expands the genetic information available to date about the species, revealing new insights into its genome and potential applications for chromosome identification.
Early Pacific seafarers likely harnessed El Nino and other climate patterns to settle Remote Oceania. The research suggests Samoa as a key staging area for East Polynesia colonization.
The Wellcome Trust is transferring two major research programs, DELTAS Africa and H3Africa, to AESA's Alliance for Accelerating Excellence in Science in Africa, aiming to increase Africa-led research and address pressing health challenges. This shift reflects a significant change in international funding partnerships with African insti...
Sally Dawson received the J.J. Sakurai Prize for her contributions to theoretical particle physics, specifically her work on the Higgs boson's properties and predictions. Her research aims to improve the accuracy of particle production and decay processes at the LHC.
A Duke University study finds that underfed worm mothers buffer their babies from early starvation's effects, consistent with the thrifty phenotype hypothesis. Baby worms reared in lean conditions thrive despite prenatal malnutrition.
Researchers found resveratrol reversed mouse heart dysfunction by improving pumping efficiency and reducing oxidative damage. The study suggests potential for resveratrol and similar substances to treat Chagas cardiomyopathy in humans.
Researchers found that the plant hormone ABA did not yet regulate water balance in early land plants like ferns. Instead, it played a key role in sex determination. The study suggests that the evolution of ABA's function changed as plants transitioned to flowering plants.
A new analysis suggests that Medicare's current system is misaligned, penalizing hospitals for low readmission rates while allowing high mortality rates. The researchers propose a revised incentive structure that would incentivize both good outcomes and patient survival.
Researchers at General Atomics have developed a new tool for controlling fusion plasmas, allowing for separate and continuous specification of power and torque. This breakthrough has the potential to improve magnetic fusion in machines worldwide.
Researchers found that injecting large quantities of neon gas can rapidly cool and extinguish magnetically confined fusion plasmas hotter than the sun's center. This process converts plasma heat into an intense flash of light, uniformly illuminating the interior wall to avoid damage.
A new study found that vitamin D supplements are less effective in raising levels in pregnant women if they deliver in winter or have low early pregnancy levels. Customized doses can be used to protect bone health and maternal health.
Researchers discovered a fungus, Piriformospora indica, that colonizes plant roots and suppresses their immune defense through the protein FGB1. This allows the fungus to avoid being attacked like disease-inducing fungi, facilitating a long-term symbiotic relationship.
Researchers discovered CD98 promotes AML, a type of aggressive cancer, and inhibiting it with the anti-CD98 antibody IGN523 blocks AML growth in patient-derived cells and mouse models.
Hurricane Seymour is experiencing a fast weakening trend in the Eastern Pacific, with maximum sustained winds dropping to 125 mph and then further decreasing to near 90 mph. The storm's asymmetry indicates it's losing its rotational strength.
Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center discovered that inactivating the TAZ protein in liver cells reverses fibrosis, a primary feature of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. This finding has potential implications for treating nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, a serious condition that can lead to liver failure and cancer.
A study has found that a protein-folding gene plays a new role in wound healing, accelerating closure in diabetic mice. The researchers used zebrafish to test the hypothesis that Hsp60 promotes inflammation and cell proliferation, leading to tissue regeneration.
Researchers develop a metamaterial device that can blend into its surroundings like a chameleon, using vanadium dioxide to trigger phase changes. The device's ability to change state is tunable by altering the current flowing through it.
A recent study conducted at UBC's Okanagan campus found that individuals with higher levels of psychopathic personality traits are more likely to engage in intimate partner violence. The research also suggests that it is the personality traits themselves, rather than substance use, that are associated with violence.
The Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) experiment in Germany has achieved impressive initial plasma results, pushing the boundaries of magnetic confinement. The device uses a unique twist design to optimize plasma confinement on both individual-particle and macroscopic scales.
Scientists used GRAIL data to create a computer model that recreated the rings' formation, revealing new details about the interior structure of Orientale. The team estimates that about 816,000 cubic miles of rock was blasted away during the collision.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have demonstrated improved control over and understanding of implosions in a Z-pinch, enabling the creation of thermonuclear fusion-relevant densities and temperatures. The breakthrough was enabled by unforeseen physics that led to unprecedented implosion stability due to helical modes rather...
Researchers found that chronic low-dose-rate ionizing radiation can induce molecular changes in the brain resembling Alzheimer's disease. Studies exposed mice to cumulative doses of radiation, inducing changes in the hippocampus, a key region for learning and memory.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology developed a system that teaches people Morse code in four hours using vibrations felt near the ear. Participants were 94% accurate keying a sentence and 98% accurate writing codes for every letter, even while playing games and feeling the taps without paying attention.
Researchers have developed a device that mimics the effects of cigarette smoke on human lungs, providing new insights into how non-smokers and COPD patients respond to smoke. The device enables the comparison of physiological responses in healthy individuals and COPD patients before and after exposure to cigarette smoke.
Scientists have confirmed a long-suspected phenomenon, finding a bubble-like center of protons in the silicon-34 nucleus. The discovery was made possible by the use of an unstable, radioactive isotope and takes advantage of MSU's NSCL facility.
Two studies based on GRAIL data provide clearer pictures of the Orientale impact basin, one of the largest and youngest craters on the Moon. The studies reveal that the transient crater has a smaller diameter than previously thought and estimate a minimum amount of material redistributed from the lunar crust during the impact.
A research team at CRCHUM discovered that the ABHD6 enzyme in certain brain neurons plays a key role in controlling body weight. Blocking this enzyme disrupts normal metabolism and prevents mice from losing weight, even under ideal conditions.
Researchers found that supplementing healthy mice with NMN reduced signs of aging such as weight gain, loss of insulin sensitivity, and declines in physical activity. Long-term effects showed improved energy metabolism, better liver function, and increased tear production.
Researchers found that tranexamic acid effectively reduces bleeding in patients undergoing heart surgery. Additionally, studies suggest witholding common blood pressure medications before surgery may improve patient recovery and mortality rates.
A first-of-its-kind study of 900,000 hospital admissions found a significant increase in ESBL positive organisms (322%) and C. difficile cases (222%), while MRSA rates decreased by 32%. The study highlights the need for new diagnostic tests to address the growing threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
JILA physicists identified a long-missing piece of the puzzle of fossil fuel combustion contributing to air pollution and a warming climate. They observed a key molecule that appears briefly during a common chemical reaction in the atmosphere, revealing the reaction mechanism and quantified product yields.
Senescent cells drive the formation of fatty streaks in animal models of atherosclerosis. These lesions progress to larger plaques through the recruitment of immune cells, ultimately leading to unstable plaques prone to rupture. Eliminating senescent cells selectively can reduce plaque size and preserve cap integrity.
The study found that when mitochondria are disrupted, stem cells lose their ability to self-regenerate, but stressed cells initiate a growth program leading to tissue regeneration. This highlights the fundamental role of functioning mitochondria in regulating intestinal tissue renewal.
A new study found that common cuckoo eggs experience similar amounts of decalcification during embryonic development as warbler eggs, maintaining thicker shells. This adaptation helps ease hatching and reduces the risk of host bird puncture.
Researchers used Stampede supercomputer to simulate largest atomic level system of p53 protein, identifying new 'pockets' to reactivate the tumor suppression protein. The simulations revealed complex dynamics between p53 and DNA sequences, offering insights into a potential anticancer therapeutic strategy.
Researchers have developed an innovative skin graft process that combines split thickness skin grafts with a specially engineered sheet of stem cells to maximize natural healing power. The new technique shows promising results in treating large or complicated burn injuries, preserving hair follicles and oil glands.
Researchers at Uppsala University developed a new approach to study cancer cells' reactions to treatments, enabling the identification of promising drug combinations. 3D tumor models mimic real-world conditions, where cancer cells have limited access to nutrients and oxygen.
A team of neuroscientists studied fruit flies' behavior when deprived of specific nutrients, discovering that their brain mechanisms influence food choices and exploration patterns. The findings suggest individual variability in metabolism and feeding behavior may be linked to physiological and neural characteristics.
A systematic review of 14 studies found that mobile app users with type 2 diabetes experienced a reduction in average blood glucose levels, with an approximate 0.5% decrease in HbA1c. Younger patients reported more benefits from using apps.
Researchers at Lund University found that common swifts spend 10 months in the air, migrating and hibernating without landing. The birds' physiology is still not fully understood, but the discovery provides new insights into animal behavior.
Researchers at Huntsman Cancer Institute have identified a group of existing drugs that reduce or eliminate childhood brain tumors while sparing normal brain tissue. The zebrafish animal model system developed by the researchers closely resembles an aggressive subtype of pediatric brain tumors.
A new study suggests that pregnant women respond differently to vitamin D supplementation depending on their individual attributes, such as season of delivery and weight gain during pregnancy. Tailoring supplement levels according to these factors may be necessary to achieve optimal vitamin D concentrations.
Researchers developed a method to ensure fractional order stochastic differential inclusions can be controlled. This breakthrough applies to complex systems like financial markets and quantum systems. The team demonstrated controllability for both convex and nonconvex cases, enhancing device design and functionality.
A new study reveals that a small number of super-emitting natural gas wells are responsible for more than half of US methane emissions. The findings suggest that focusing on finding and fixing the biggest leaks can significantly reduce emissions.
Researchers at Brown University have identified 98 proteins that are likely to bind to the cancer-linked enzyme PP2A, making them potential partners in crime worth investigating. The discovery could help scientists predict how strongly each protein binds PP2A and offer clues on how to prevent disease-causing misregulation.