Researchers say new diagnostic methods can accurately detect Lyme disease earlier, improving patient outcomes and avoiding severe long-term health problems. The improved tests are less susceptible to false-positive or false-negative results associated with current antibody-based tests.
A new study reveals that extinct marine reptiles called sauropterygians evolved similar inner ear proportions to modern aquatic reptiles and mammals. The research found that nearshore sauropterygians had ears similar to those of crocodiles, while fully-aquatic plesiosaurs had ears similar to sea turtles.
A new study by NYU College of Global Public Health and the University of Michigan found no evidence of an 'obesity paradox' among people with new cases of cardiovascular disease. This contradicts prior research that suggested obesity may be associated with improved survival in people with existing cardiovascular disease. The study used...
New guidelines permit full spectrum of conscientious objection, allowing trainees to opt out of abortion or contraceptive services due to personal beliefs. However, they must prioritize patients' sexual and reproductive health needs first.
Seemingly identical sea snake populations revealed to be genetically distinct, emphasizing the importance of preserving biodiversity. Targeted research on habitat and diet requirements is crucial to understanding the sudden disappearance of sea snakes from Australian reefs.
New Caledonian crows manufacture hooks from plant stems, with techniques influenced by material properties and cutting methods. Deeper hooks are more efficient, but experienced birds may avoid making them due to increased time and effort required.
Researchers successfully used microstimulation to elicit movements in monkeys by associating specific areas of the premotor cortex with particular actions. This breakthrough could lead to the development of brain/computer interfaces that bypass damaged brain areas, benefiting individuals with stroke or neurological disorders.
Researchers at the University of Warwick have developed a new 'double-glazed' solar power device that uses gas to transport electrical energy, unlike existing solar panels. This innovative approach could lead to improved solar power generation methods and open up new possibilities for advanced photovoltaics.
A study found that many discarded kidneys from deceased donors could have potentially been transplanted with good outcomes. The majority of discarded kidneys had traits considered unappealing, but their partner kidneys performed well after being used for transplantation.
A new gene-editing technique has improved the efficiency of producing medicines, renewable fuels and food supplements from algae, increasing yields 500-fold compared to previous methods. The breakthrough could unleash the potential of the global algae industry worth $1.1 billion by 2024.
A Russian scientist discovered how a polymer sample with magnetizable particles responds to external magnetic fields, revealing potential applications in various industries. The study found that the arrangement of particles affects the material's elastic properties, leading to significant changes under moderate magnetic fields.
A special issue of Advances in Atmospheric Sciences highlights recent research on Arctic-midlatitude linkages. The study aims to improve understanding and prediction of Arctic change, which influences extreme weather events in the mid-latitudes.
The UK government has allocated £11 million to three interdisciplinary research consortia, advancing healthcare sensing systems research and addressing pressing health issues. The funding will support the continuation of vital collaborations, furthering the UK's status as an innovation nation.
A comprehensive new report examines three systems used to understand mental health disorders: ICD, DSM, and RDoC. The report finds that these systems have similarities and differences in how they classify and conceptualize mental disorder, highlighting the need for a nuanced approach that considers individual factors.
Researchers have discovered that macrophages form a barrier around kidneys and that dendritic cells communicate with each other to control the magnitude of the immune response. This complex mechanism challenges previous ideas about how the kidney reacts to injury, and may lead to new strategies for protecting individuals' kidney health.
Researchers at the University of São Paulo and San Diego State University found that niobium boride does not exhibit superconductivity, contrary to traditional manuals. Instead, pure niobium filaments in the material are responsible for its high-temperature superconducting properties.
Researchers discovered that an enzyme called squalene monooxygenase (SM) responds to increased cholesterol levels by being destroyed, reducing cholesterol production. This finding could lead to new treatments targeting SM, potentially decreasing cholesterol levels.
The University of Texas at San Antonio is partnering with Southwest Research Institute to develop innovative technologies for corrosion and energy projects. The two projects will focus on mitigating cracking and corrosion in piping and transportation systems.
A study by Dr. MG Carta et al. found a high prevalence of symptoms of depression among healthcare workers in Italy, with significant risks for physicians, nurses, and surgeons. The study highlights the impact of job stressors on mental health and quality of life among healthcare professionals.
A new study reveals that extinct sauropterygians evolved inner ear proportions similar to those of modern aquatic reptiles and mammals. Researchers found similarities between the inner ears of ancient sea monsters like plesiosaurs and modern animals such as crocodiles, whales, and sea turtles.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University are developing new technologies for understanding the brain, including high-throughput fluorescence synapse quantitation and a confocal fluorescence microscopy data repository. They aim to identify how and where synapses develop and change to understand learning, development, and disease.
Mental illnesses like depression, bipolar disorder, and PTSD affect nearly 1 in 5 adults in the US. Psychologist Lee Anna Clark proposes revisiting diagnostic manuals to address complex factors causing these conditions. The phenomenon of mental illness is multi-determined and less categorical than previously thought.
The evolving nature of biotechnology introduces new cyberbiosecurity risks, including accidental breaches and intentional threats. The authors recommend employee training, systematic analyses, and new policies to prevent and detect security incidents.
Researchers developed an algorithm to predict antidepressant effectiveness based on depression subtypes, achieving higher accuracy than existing methods in clinical settings. Clinicians found the tool more user-friendly, which could significantly impact patients' lives, with a 50% failure rate for first and second treatment attempts.
The combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy significantly improves progression-free survival in patients with advanced non-squamous NSCLC. The study showed that the addition of atezolizumab to bevacizumab and chemotherapy leads to a median PFS of 8.3 months, compared to 6.8 months with bevacizumab and chemotherapy alone.
A large-scale international study has identified 25 genetic loci associated with exceptional longevity in 389,166 UK biobank participants. The study found that genes involved in senescence and inflammation play a significant role in determining human lifespan.
The Gulf Research Program aims to develop new technologies to improve understanding and management of systemic risk in offshore oil and gas operations. The program focuses on addressing the risks associated with hydrocarbon releases, which pose threats to human health, safety, environment, and infrastructure.
Researchers use ultrafast laser to study camphor molecules' photoionization, finding that mirror images emit electrons in opposite directions. This asymmetry could be key to understanding the homochiral nature of living organisms.
A study by Temple University researchers found that mice fed canola oil daily suffered impaired working memory and increased amyloid plaques, indicative of neuronal damage. The findings suggest that long-term consumption of canola oil may be detrimental to brain health.
A team of researchers from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard has developed a new compound that can protect kidney cells from death and restore kidney function in multiple animal models of progressive kidney disease. The compound, called AC1903, works by blocking a damaging feedback loop involving the protein TRPC5.
A study found that police officers are highly responsive to rules and supervision, leading to more conservative tactics after the NYPD mandated detailed stop reports. The intervention increased the perceived level of supervision, resulting in a sharp drop in unnecessary stops and a rise in the hit rate.
Researchers found that controlled dam pulses and flood magnitudes significantly impact fisheries. The study suggests prolonged drying followed by sudden flooding could increase fish yields by a factor of 3.7, offering a promising solution to sustainable fisheries.
A team of researchers is working with the oil industry to predict when an offshore drilling rig is at risk for a potentially catastrophic accident. They aim to develop new methodologies to monitor hydrocarbon flow and prevent accidents like the Deepwater Horizon explosion in 2010.
A recent study found a genetic relationship between hCMV reactivation and GVHD, suggesting personalized antiviral treatments could reduce complications in stem cell transplant patients. Researchers sequenced the DNA of 77 donors and recipients, identifying similarities between hCMV peptides and those expressed in GVHD-affected tissue.
New research by the University of East Anglia and Stockholm University found that staff who feel treated unfairly at work are more likely to be off sick for longer periods. The study also discovered that higher levels of job insecurity increase the risk of long-term sickness absence.
Researchers at University of Maryland School of Medicine identified a type of cell in the brain's primary processing area that responds to sound, providing new insights into early sensory development. This breakthrough has implications for diagnosing autism and other cognitive deficits emerging early in development.
Researchers at IST Austria have found that superfluid helium droplets act as magnetic monopoles from the perspective of molecules immersed inside them. This discovery opens up new possibilities for studying magnetic monopoles and reveals a previously unknown property in these systems.
A study by Lawrence University researchers found that musicians and nonmusicians performed similarly on transcribing vocoded sentences, suggesting no significant advantage of musical experience in interpreting degraded speech. However, the research suggests potential applications for understanding normal speech in noisy environments, w...
Researchers at Princeton University used optogenetics to study social behavior in mice, revealing a neural substrate for social learning that could lead to new treatments for autism. The study also highlights the importance of spatial learning in social interactions, which are essential for humans.
Astronomer Jeyhan Kartaltepe is leading a team that will use the James Webb Space Telescope to study the formation of the universe's first galaxies. The Cosmic Evolution Early Release Science Survey will provide detailed information about galaxy structures and physical conditions.
A study published by Springer found that many women with high breast cancer risk are not receiving MRI scans, while those at lower risk are being screened too frequently. This highlights a missed opportunity to use technology that can help detect breast cancer early in high-risk groups.
Researchers at Salk Institute reveal specific neurons called RORbeta interneurons inhibit transmission of disruptive sensory info, promoting a fluid gait during walking. This sophisticated spinal cord processing highlights the nervous system's ability to selectively shut off irrelevant information.
A new study by Kansas State University found that compounded formulations of doxycycline lose potency within three weeks, with many becoming sub-therapeutic after 21 days. This loss of potency could impact veterinarians who rely on this drug to treat various infections.
A study by Lancaster University found that people with Huntington's Disease welcome discussing assisted death but feel restricted from doing so. The participants feared prolonged suffering and believed they should have the right to make decisions about their own deaths.
Experts at HSE found that foreign direct investment (FDI) can facilitate the success of export-oriented strategies by increasing diversification of funding sources, participation in global value chains, and access to cheaper credit resources. This can offset poor corporate governance and lack of institutional development.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University found that stopping a planned behavior requires fast choreography between brain areas, including the prefrontal cortex and pre-motor cortex. They also identified the importance of timing in making successful changes to plans.
A study comparing smoking rates and regulations between the US and Turkey found that current smoking rates are higher in Turkey at 27%, while cessation rates are higher in the US at 25%. The researchers hope to inform global health leaders on effective interventions to reduce tobacco use.
East Greenland narwhals display paradoxical reactions when escaping from threats, including a downregulated heartbeat and increased swimming speed. This joint response puts extreme stress on the cardiovascular system, highlighting why deep-diving marine mammals are vulnerable to manmade disturbances.
A recent article by Dr Kalim Siddiqui argues that the Bolshevik Revolution inspired Indian independence movements, with Britain's exploitation causing economic decline. The author claims that Marx and Lenin's ideas influenced anti-colonial sentiment, leading to decolonisation and a shift in world history.
A study by Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute founds a previously unknown regulatory axis that controls aldosterone levels, offering new avenues for drug discovery of secondary hypertension. The findings suggest that the adrenal glands' structure and cholesterol biosynthesis play a crucial role in hyperaldosteronism.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute and Duke University have made the first determination of TRPM8's atomic structure using cryo-electron microscopy. The findings reveal unexpected binding pocket locations for menthol and other cold-sensing molecules, opening new avenues for drug development.
A new study shows people accurately extract social category information from groups of faces, perceiving the sex ratio in half a second. The researchers found that as the number of men in the group increases, so does the perceived threat level, impacting group cohesion.
A new web-based tool, Learning Moment, tracked medical students' learning experiences and found that most took place in patient rooms. The study concluded that the bedside remains an important component of medical education for students entering multiple specialties.
A new study by Michigan State University scholars reveals that discrimination harms not only the victim's health but also their partner's. The research found that experiencing unfair treatment has a significant impact on an individual's mental health, including depression, and can strain relationships.
Researchers discovered a unique process to create highly resistant lenses using calcite nanoparticles, mimicking the brittle starfish's ability to produce super-tough glass. This breakthrough could lead to improved materials for optical lenses, automotive turbochargers, and biomaterial implants.
A study published in Molecular Cell sheds light on the molecular mechanisms controlling Amplified in Liver Cancer 1 (ALC1) enzyme activity. Researchers found that ALC1's 'macro domain' interacts with its ATPase motor, switching off activity when not needed.
A team of researchers is mapping areas at risk from liquefaction, a devastating form of seismic phenomenon caused by earthquakes. The LIQUEFACT project aims to assess community resilience to liquefaction-induced disasters, producing a framework for building vulnerability evaluation and mitigation strategies.
Recent studies reveal that humans left Africa multiple times prior to 60,000 years ago, interbred with other hominins in Eurasia, and left genetic traces in modern human populations. The analysis confirms the traditional 'Out of Africa' model can no longer be seen as the full story.
Researchers used brain scans to analyze how people at risk of drug use process anti-drug messages. They found that certain neural connections in the brain predicted which messages were most persuasive, improving accuracy for high-risk participants.
A young scientist's groundbreaking work reveals that microbial communities' metabolic processes are influenced by environmental constraints rather than species interactions. The study uses high-throughput sequencing technology to analyze the DNA of entire microbial communities, providing insights into bioremediation and ocean chemistry.