Researchers at University of Akron investigate high microbial communities in BIF caves, theorizing microbes use iron to respire and cause rust-like oxides to become soluble. This process could be responsible for voids forming within the cave walls, eventually leading to new cave formation.
A new drug targeting technique has been developed to target specific cells in the body, potentially improving therapies for immune-related diseases. The approach preferentially targets harmful macrophages while leaving healing cells unaffected, offering a promising solution for conditions such as arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases.
Researchers used high-resolution imaging to monitor finger contact formation with glass and rubber surfaces. Contact area and friction coefficient increased over time, with soft surfaces forming contacts faster due to non-hydration limits.
The device uses a temperature difference between the hot and cold sides to generate electricity, with a high temperature difference of 20.9 °C, much higher than conventional wearable thermoelectric generators driven by body heat.
A study examines the role of fungi in drought tolerance in pinyon pines, finding that parent and offspring trees share similar fungal communities and that these communities differ between drought-tolerant and intolerant trees.
A study by UT Southwestern Medical Center found that clinicians' prior image-ordering habits and equipment ownership are strong indicators of unnecessary MRI orders. This highlights the need for physicians to offer financially responsible care, particularly in cases of uncomplicated back pain and headaches.
A neuroimaging study reveals that blind individuals perform better on a touch discrimination task when their hands are crossed due to stronger frontal-parietal connectivity. In contrast, sighted individuals show greater activity in parietal and premotor areas with uncrossed hands.
Researchers used gene therapy to improve heart function in a large animal model, finding a 25% improvement in left ventricular function and a 20% improvement in left atrial function. The treatment also reduced heart size by 10%.
Patients with both HIV and HCV are at increased risk of end-stage liver disease, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Drinking three or more cups of coffee daily halved all-cause mortality in these patients. The anti-inflammatory properties of polyphenols in coffee may protect the liver and reduce inflammation.
A new study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found no association between prehospital advanced cardiac life support and survival for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Instead, the study suggests focusing on increasing bystander CPR, decreasing response times, and defibrillation.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have developed a new MRI contrast agent that can pinpoint breast cancers at early stages and distinguish between aggressive and slow-growing types. The agent is more efficient, safer, and easier to flush from the body than traditional agents.
Researchers found two types of T cells respond differently to cancer antigens, with one starting strong but exhausting quickly and the other staying on target for a longer antitumor effect. The study suggests that targeting the persistent T cell type could lead to more effective cancer vaccines.
Scientists report that four penguin species target gelatinous animals for meals, providing a new link in the food web. The findings suggest that gelatinous organisms play an underrated role in the carbon cycle and can sustain large marine animals.
A University of Washington-led study found that group project dynamics affect academic performance, with students who report being uncomfortable in their groups faring worse. Jigsaw activities were shown to promote more collaboration, reducing the likelihood of a 'dominator' in the group.
Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory found that increasing sugar levels in plant leaves increases oil content, which could lead to the production of biofuels and useful chemicals. By selectively breeding plants with specific traits, they successfully tipped the balance of plant metabolism to favor higher oil production.
Researchers found that climate change led to a sharp rise in volcanic activity as the Mediterranean Sea dried up, contradicting previous hypotheses. The study used numerical models to test scenarios and confirmed that the massive loss of sea level was the primary cause of increased magmatic activity.
Researchers at Rutgers University created brain cells from blood samples of individuals in a three-generation family with Tourette syndrome. The study found that a mutation in the PNKD gene is likely the cause of the disorder, which affects one in every 100-150 people in the US.
A team of scientists from five countries analyzed sediment cores to reconstruct the past 1 million years of the Atlantic Rainforest biome in southern Brazil. The research aimed to understand how vegetation responded to climate change, using sediment samples that contained information about plant cover, rainfall, and subsoil communities.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have created a new two-dimensional film that can direct non-mixing liquids into exotic architectures, offering potential for soft robotics, liquid circuitry and energy conversion. The 'bijel' substance is made of polymers and nanoparticles and has been simplified to be easier to produce.
Mice exposed to scents before and shortly after birth show increased responses in specific neurons to various odors. The study demonstrates how early experience shapes the brain's processing of smell, with mice exposed to scented diets displaying heightened mitral cell responses to all presented odors.
A new criterion for studying post-traumatic stress disorder in children has been developed, identifying those who need support services after a disaster. The study found that two-thirds of distressed children recover naturally over time, with factors such as social support and coping skills playing a key role.
Researchers found that treating donor grafts with bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMC) before surgery improves bone integration and speeds recovery in biologic joint restoration surgeries. BMC pretreatment resulted in 43% bone integration at six weeks, compared to 25% of untreated grafts.
Researchers at the University of Georgia's Regenerative Bioscience Center have developed a new US pig model for stroke treatments, which will provide essential preclinical data and speed up the drug discovery process. The model uses induced neural stem cells to replace stroke-damaged brain tissue and stimulate neuroplasticity.
Researchers found significant differences in tumor infiltrating lymphocyte count between African-American and European-American women with triple negative breast cancer. Higher counts of TILs were associated with better survival in early-stage African-American TNBC patients, suggesting a potential prognostic biomarker.
The research team discovered a neural signal in the brain's ACC that detects unexpected outcomes, offering clues to the cellular origin of feedback negativity. This finding has significant implications for our ability to detect situations where we can learn more effectively.
A recent analysis found that there are only six studies with empirical data on factors associated with terrorism, and most have variable quality. The lack of research in this area underscores the importance of addressing it to inform national security.
Researchers at the University of York discovered that transcription factors operate as spherical clusters of molecules, not single entities. This discovery may provide insights into human health problems associated with genetic disorders and cancer, offering new avenues for understanding gene expression.
Researchers have discovered that planarian fission occurs in three stages: waist formation, pulsation, and rupture. This process is crucial for the regeneration of missing structures, allowing flatworms to reproduce asexually and potentially giving rise to diversity in populations.
Researchers found that catheterization potentiates MRSA infection by inducing an inflammatory response and releasing the fibrinogen protein. This results in the facilitation of targeted treatments for MRSA CAUTI.
Researchers used geospatial analysis to identify patterns of death and disease within African nations' states, finding significant differences in child mortality rates. The study's findings can inform targeted interventions to reduce under-5 mortality rates and achieve the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.
UTA engineer Andrew Makeev will lead a project to develop more accurate methods for predicting the remaining useful life of composite airframe structures. The goal is to improve sustainability and maintenance in the aviation industry by identifying when components might fail.
The University of Texas at San Antonio has received a $354,617 grant to support the development of a novel microscope for detecting prostate cancer through urine samples. This noninvasive approach aims to improve accuracy compared to current clinical practices.
The ForPAc project aims to improve drought and flood forecasting in Kenya through weather-climate forecasts and identify barriers to acting on that knowledge. The project will put in place effective early warning systems to save lives and reduce long-term progress setback due to severe droughts.
A new study finds that US multinationals operating in tax havens often report earnings by broad categories instead of individual countries, making it harder to track profits and identify potential tax avoidance. Larger companies and those in resource-intensive industries are particularly likely to be vague about their reporting.
Botanic gardens conserve nearly two-thirds of plant genera and over 90% of plant families, yet face a significant imbalance between temperate and tropical regions. The majority of plant species are tropical, yet only 25% of these are represented in botanic gardens.
The University of New Hampshire has been awarded a $10 million NIH COBRE grant to establish an integrated biomedical and bioengineering research center. The grant will support the development of clinically relevant tools and treatments, as well as the mentoring and career development of junior faculty members.
A University at Buffalo-led team has developed a non-contact, remote biometric tool using the dimensions of your heart as an identifier. The system, which was three years in the making, continually monitors a user's heart to ensure only authorized individuals can access their computer.
A new study by University of Nottingham researchers found that a positive mood on the day of flu vaccination can significantly increase its protective effect. The study, which measured factors such as mood, physical activity and diet, showed that good mood was associated with higher levels of antibody after vaccination.
Tropical Storm Lee strengthened into a tiny hurricane after being forgotten following Hurricane Irma and Maria's impact. It is expected to move west and northeast over open ocean waters, with maximum sustained winds near 90mph.
Agricultural insurance can have a range of unintended ecological and social consequences, including declining biodiversity and soil quality. Insured farmers may adopt riskier cultivation strategies, leading to further environmental problems.
Researchers have solved the structure of the 'ready to fire' bacterial speargun, a nano-sized weapon that injects deadly toxins into competitors. The T6SS speargun works by rapidly contracting and pushing out a toxic spear, drilling a hole into target cells with incredible speed.
A study found that women with a specific strain of Lactobacillus iners had an increased risk of chlamydia infection. The researchers suggest that specific signatures of vaginal microbiota may indicate increased susceptibility to acquiring STIs.
The NASA Mars 2020 rover will feature a new SuperCam instrument with Raman spectroscopy capabilities, allowing it to detect carbon-based signatures of organic materials. The instrument uses a conduction-cooled laser system and can produce 1000 shots in one burst, significantly improving sampling efficiency.
The UIC College of Engineering has received a grant to provide scholarships, mentoring and internship opportunities to academically-talented low-income engineering undergraduates. The program aims to improve graduation rates and job placements for students from low-income backgrounds.
A phase II trial found that patients with HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer who received half the standard radiation dose achieved equally high cure rates at two years, with 95% tumor control and 89% disease-free survival. The reduced treatment also resulted in lower side effects compared to standard therapy.
A recent study identified a gene associated with schizophrenia risk that plays a critical role in early brain development. The gene, ZNF804A, regulates essential processes such as protein translation and neuronal migration. Understanding its function could lead to more effective treatments for the disorder.
A survey of breast cancer clinic patients found that short- and long-term side effects were often better than anticipated, with 83% and 84% of respondents reporting similar expectations. Women reported lower fears and more positive experiences after treatment, highlighting the need to address misconceptions about radiation therapy.
Researchers overturn widely-held idea that visual attention is guided by saliency, instead finding meaning plays a key role. A new map of meaning in images reveals areas with higher meaning attract more attention than those with high contrast or brightness.
A study found that rats whose mothers ate a junk food diet during pregnancy had offspring that preferred fatty foods and showed altered brain reward circuitry into adulthood. A balanced diet in childhood seemed to reduce this preference, but did not eliminate it entirely.
Researchers found that stopping long-term low-dose aspirin therapy increases the risk of cardiovascular events by 37%. Stopping aspirin use can lead to a 'rebound effect', with increased clotting levels causing an elevated risk of cardiovascular events that does not diminish over time.
A phase 3 study of children ages 6-12 years with ADHD found that a delayed-release, long-acting formulation of methylphenidate improved ADHD symptoms and functional impairment in the morning. The medication provided sustained release throughout the day, reducing the need for multiple doses.
Researchers found that metabolism directly impacts malaria development and severity. A study by Instituto de Medicina Molecular revealed that dietary shifts can lead to a 90% reduction in parasite load.
The university's researchers compiled a large solar dataset from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory mission, making several hundred thousand solar events available to the public. The dataset has improved the quality of the data and will accelerate computer vision research on these solar images.
A 45-year-old woman developed a rare but life-threatening condition called fat embolism syndrome (FES) after undergoing liposuction. FES is notoriously difficult to diagnose due to a lack of standardized diagnostic criteria, emphasizing the need for clinicians to think outside the box and consider alternative diagnoses.
A recent evidence review found that collision sports, such as youth rugby, carry high rates of injury, including concussions. Experts argue that banning tackle and scrum in school rugby could significantly reduce these risks. In contrast, other strategies like wearing protective equipment have weak evidence supporting their effectiveness.
Researchers found that katabatic winds in Antarctica cause sublimation of snowflakes, reducing precipitation and affecting the ice sheet's mass balance. This phenomenon could be worsened by climate change.
A new fatigue cost calculator reveals that US employers can lose up to $1.4 million annually due to employee sleep deficiency. The calculator estimates costs for absenteeism, productivity loss, healthcare expenses, accidents, and other occupational costs associated with exhausted employees.
Researchers at Tokyo Tech create a method to produce monodispersed zero-valent platinum clusters with precise atomicity using platinum thiolate complexes. This breakthrough enables the synthesis of high-performance catalysts for next-generation energy grids.
Researchers have identified networks of genes related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that may also be involved in cancer, potentially leading to new treatment options. The study used a computational technique to account for gene interactions, revealing genes that could affect similar pathways.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered a four-component alloy with tunable optical properties, which could lead to more efficient solar cells and light-emitting diodes. The alloy's optical bandgap can be altered by changing the growth temperature, making it a promising material for various applications.