Omar Saleh, a UCSB professor, has been awarded the Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award for his work on soft and biological matter. He will use the €45,000 award to collaborate with German researchers on a long-term project focused on artificial DNA systems.
A recent study reveals that many plant species are resorting to 'last-stand' strategies, such as shrinking in size and suspending growth effort, to survive in deteriorating environmental conditions. The research found that these species are more vulnerable to further changes and disturbances due to climate change.
A study of 1488 adult patients found that 20% experienced adverse reactions to antibiotics, with gastrointestinal and kidney issues being the most common. Nearly a fifth of these adverse effects were unnecessary and occurred in patients who didn't need antibiotics.
A new study suggests that the experimental drug GGTI-2418 can block a specific protein from degrading another protein that helps kill cancer cells. This discovery has important implications for treating cancers with defective PTEN, as it may allow for a combination of inhibitors to target multiple pathways involved in tumor growth.
A study found that telemedicine treatment was not inferior to traditional office visits for non-acute headaches. The researchers also assessed the safety of using telemedicine and found only one missed diagnosis in each group, estimating a 20,200 consultations-to-diagnosis ratio.
A new imaging technique called Fluorescence Optical Imaging (FOI) is more effective than ultrasound at detecting inflammation in the absence of symptoms and signs in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. FOI provides greater information on microcirculation and can be performed by non-medically qualified personnel.
Researchers warn that building hundreds of hydroelectric dams in the Amazon River Basin will cause massive environmental damage, affecting nine countries and the entire system. The Amazon Basin's unique ecosystem and biodiversity are at risk due to the dams' impact on sediment flow, regional climate, and food supply.
A new imaging test, Ga-68 PSMA PET/CT, has been shown to detect cancer that conventional imaging missed, changing treatment plans for 51% of patients. The test also improved management for patients with recurrent disease, with 69% receiving radiation therapy and 64% undergoing surgery.
A new study published in Cell Host and Microbe has uncovered the immune mechanism driving diarrhea and its role in pathogen clearance. Researchers found that diarrhea resulting from the signaling of specific molecules helps promote pathogen clearance and limit disease severity.
Researchers analyzed data from over 50 million people and found that prior statin use was associated with a higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease. The association was more noticeable in people taking lipophilic statins, and was most robust for those using the medication for less than two-and-a-half years.
A recent grant from the NEA will study the impacts of arts enrichment on students' academic and social outcomes. The Arts Access Initiative in Houston, a partnership between schools and dozens of arts organizations, is being evaluated to gauge its effectiveness.
Researchers at WMG, University of Warwick, discovered that intelligent management of vehicle-to-grid technology can improve EV battery life by up to 10% while powering large buildings. Their 'smart grid' algorithm optimizes energy transfer without degrading batteries.
Researchers at Monash University have developed a therapeutic approach that promotes muscle mass growth by inhibiting three proteins responsible for muscle wasting. The approach, combining molecules to target activin A, activin B, and myostatin, resulted in a 150% increase in skeletal muscle mass in preclinical models.
A new study found that increased amyloid plaque buildup in the brain predicts faster cognitive decline in middle-age adults over four years. The research used PET scans to detect amyloid deposits in 184 healthy middle-age and older adults, revealing a link between higher amyloid amounts and vocabulary decline.
Twenty PhD candidates from four universities in Singapore compete at Nanyang Technological University for the main prize of EUR 2,000 to attend the Asia-Pacific 3MT event. The 3MT competition aims to hone communication and presentation skills among young researchers.
Researchers identify new Aleodon species in Brazil, previously thought to be Chiniquodontids. The discovery strengthens the correlation between probainognathians from South America and Africa.
Researchers at Tulane University have developed a subsidence map of coastal Louisiana, revealing the region is sinking at an alarming rate of over 9 millimeters or just over a third of an inch each year. The map provides critical information for policy decisions on coastal restoration and planning of large sediment diversions.
Researchers deployed planes to measure chemicals and particles in real-time, discovering a significant increase in fine particle levels. The study's findings highlight the importance of prescribed burns as a potentially effective strategy for reducing wildfire pollution.
A new study from Washington University School of Medicine has found that a molecular decoy can target and reduce E. coli bacteria in the gut, reducing the risk of UTIs. The treatment, known as mannoside, works by binding to the bacteria's pilus, allowing it to be flushed out with urine.
Wireless charging technology overcomes distance limitations to enable continuous recharging of electric vehicles. Stanford researchers developed an efficient system that allows for dynamic charging without manual tuning.
Researchers found that urinary cortisol levels were strongly associated with asymptomatic coronary heart disease in both women and men. Surprisingly, dopamine was inversely related to heart risk, indicating higher levels are linked to lower coronary calcium buildup.
Researchers have successfully developed gluten-free beer using Witkop teff grains, which could provide an alternative to traditional barley beers. The study found that custom malting equipment would be required to produce the beer on an industrial scale.
A new study has investigated the use of one-needle versus two-needle procedures for ultrasound-guided irrigation in treating rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy. The results showed that using two needles was more efficient for hard calcifications, while one needle was sufficient for fluid calcifications.
Researchers at Queen's University have created unique 2D sheets, called domain walls, which exist within crystalline materials and can appear, disappear or move around without permanently altering the crystal. These breakthroughs could revolutionize tiny electronic devices by enabling constant reconfiguration of electronic circuits.
A new study warns that hundreds of built and proposed hydroelectric dams in the Amazon basin will harm life and ecosystems. The dams, which are expected to provide renewable energy, will trap sediment and alter river dynamics, putting thousands of species at risk.
SLU researchers have made a breakthrough in understanding muscle regeneration, identifying the nuclear receptor REV-ERB as a key player. By targeting this receptor, scientists may be able to develop new drugs to treat a range of muscle disorders and injuries, including muscular dystrophy and sarcopenia.
Researchers at the University of Nottingham have successfully simulated black hole conditions using a specially designed water bath, demonstrating the phenomenon of superradiance. This achievement provides new insights into the physics of black holes and has implications for further research on astrophysical observations.
Researchers created a quantum dot transistor that can store and process information directly in memory. The device simulates the functions of neurons by using light to control electrical charging and discharging of quantum dots.
Researchers at Osaka University found a new mutation in the MUC1 gene that may act as an early marker of medullary cystic kidney disease type 1 (MCKD1). The mutation was discovered through whole-exome sequencing and suggests a potential biomarker for non-genetic testing to evaluate the risk of MCKD1.
Researchers have created a water-soluble molecule, dubbed molecular ruby, to measure temperature in various environments. The molecule emits different wavelengths of infrared radiation depending on the temperature, allowing for accurate contactless temperature measurements.
A new study published in Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology found that consuming unsaturated fat can lead to fatty liver disease, contrary to its previously touted health benefits. The research used mice fed diets supplemented with either saturated or unsaturated fat, revealing the latter can cause liver damage.
Researchers elucidate mechanisms behind synaptic vesicle motion, finding that type, size of synapse and vesicle composition impact motility. Tracking vesicles reveals active transport to specific destinations, providing clues for neuronal diseases.
A study suggests that peer-led self-management programmes have limited effect on adolescents' asthma symptoms and health outcomes, highlighting the need for new approaches to address their unique challenges.
Research reveals ground spiders produce exceptionally tough and stretchy silk, but less sticky than other piriform silks, allowing them to ambush prey quickly. The silk's unique properties are adapted to overcome larger prey and arachnids, highlighting the trade-offs in their hunting strategy.
Researchers found that a single docking site uses a single cluster of calcium channels and that both numbers change with brain age, establishing the first clear link between morphology and function of docking sites.
A new study from Harvard Medical School suggests that RNA splicing errors, caused by a specific mutation in the C9ORF72 gene, may lead to the development of both Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The researchers found that toxic peptides produced by this mutation can prevent accurate assembly of the...
A study of predominantly African-American women found that decreases in vaginal microbiome diversity between the first and second trimesters are associated with preterm birth. Researchers hope to design targeted therapies focused on the microbiome to prevent early delivery.
A team of astronomers advocates for a statistical comparative approach to find habitable planets and life beyond the solar system. By studying large numbers of exoplanets with less detailed measurements, they can estimate the frequency of habitable environments and life on those planets.
Researchers created new alloys by mixing materials with different atomic arrangements, revealing a predictive route for properties of other alloys. The breakthrough allows for the use of commercial thin film deposition methods to fabricate heterostructural alloys for real-world semiconductor applications.
Researchers have developed a genetically engineered mosquito-killing fungus that can target disease-carrying mosquitoes with high efficiency, while being safe for humans and other insects. The fungus uses spider and scorpion toxins to block calcium and potassium channels in the mosquito's nervous system.
Researchers at Tokyo Medical and Dental University identified equivalent monocyte progenitors in humans, expanding our understanding of immune cell development. The study found distinct subgroups of cells with different protein expressions, shedding light on potential therapeutic applications targeting these cells.
A new study published in Radiology found that uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) can help restore fertility in women with uterine fibroids. After an average follow-up of six years, 41.5% of women who underwent the procedure became pregnant and gave birth to 150 babies.
A team of researchers has identified novel structures on bacteria using high magnification imaging, revealing a wealth of unknown information about well-studied species. The discovery is expected to lead to improvements in medicine, environmental science, and multiple additional fields where bacteria play a critical role.
Researchers have developed a new sequential multiple assignment randomized (SMART) trial method to test two hypotheses at once. This approach allows for the simultaneous evaluation of different treatments, potentially leading to more accurate results and increased efficiency in clinical trials.
A study published in JAMA found that drones carrying automated external defibrillators arrived at simulated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest locations in less time than emergency medical services. The median response time for the drone was 5:21 minutes, significantly reducing the overall response time by 16 minutes.
Research from the University of Chicago reveals that loneliness increases self-centeredness, which in turn contributes to further loneliness. This creates a negative feedback loop that can worsen social isolation. The study suggests targeting self-centeredness as part of an intervention to reduce loneliness may help break this cycle.
A Penn State researcher is leading a five-year project to investigate adolescent-specific changes in face processing during pubertal development. The study will test three groups of adolescents and young adults, exploring how facial processing changes influence behaviors and social relationships.
Researchers at ETH Zurich developed a simple yet effective hybrid filter that can remove heavy metals, radioactive waste, bacteria, and other toxic substances from polluted water. The membrane is made of denatured whey proteins and activated charcoal and has been patented in 90 countries.
Researchers at the University of Bath have developed a new process to make polycarbonate plastic from sugars and carbon dioxide, offering a more sustainable alternative to traditional plastics. The resulting plastic is biodegradable, bio-compatible, and can be used for medical implants or as scaffolds for growing tissues or organs.
Researchers identified natural genomic variation in Cryptococcus neoformans, influencing prevalence and disease severity. The study found specific variants associated with clinical isolates linked to known virulence factors.
Researchers have identified 18 new lung cancer susceptibility loci, including 10 novel ones, in the largest genome-wide association study to date. The study found variation around a subunit of the nicotinic receptor and genes related to telomere function play a significant role in adenocarcinoma risk.
A new study by University of Pennsylvania researchers found that pediatric nurses who work in poor environments and have high patient loads are more likely to miss required care. The study, published in Hospital Pediatrics, revealed that over half of pediatric registered nurses reported missing at least one care activity, with those in...
Researchers have developed a graphene-based transistor that can produce massive jumps in computing speed and efficiency. By applying a magnetic field, the resistance of current flowing through the device can be controlled, allowing for faster processing speeds and reduced power consumption.
Researchers found no difference in important clinical outcomes for pediatric trauma patients who received routine ultrasound evaluations compared to those without. The study aimed to determine whether ultrasound could safely decrease CT scan use and improve resource use, but results showed minor savings of $1,200 per patient.
New research from the University of Waterloo found that people who can sustain focus in daily life are more likely to report maintaining passion in their long-term objectives. The study suggests that mindfulness training exercises like meditation may help mitigate mind-wandering habits and achieve goals.
Researchers at Goethe University Frankfurt discovered that anesthetics decrease local information generation in specific brain areas, which can lead to reduced signal transmission and consciousness loss. This finding challenges the previous assumption that anesthetics disrupt signal transmission between brain areas.
A study found that fever during pregnancy, especially in the second trimester, increases autism spectrum disorder risk by 40 percent. The risk is further elevated for children of mothers who experienced three or more fevers after the twelfth week of pregnancy.
Berkeley Lab researchers have found that carrageenan, a seaweed derivative, acts as a stabilizer in lithium-sulfur batteries, allowing for more cycling and an extended lifetime. The discovery opens up new possibilities for low-cost, high-energy energy storage solutions.
A team of marine scientists developed an inexpensive yet accurate method to estimate the number of fish in a spawning aggregation based on their mating calls. This technology can help fisheries managers design effective management practices and monitor the ongoing health of a fishery, protecting endangered species from overfishing.
A Dartmouth study reveals that Big Food companies have little control over the farmers who supply their raw materials, despite ambitious goals to reduce emissions and environmental degradation. The companies' reliance on commodity trading companies for staple ingredients further limits their knowledge and influence.