Researchers at UC San Diego developed a soft eel-like robot that can swim silently in salt water using artificial muscles filled with water. The robot's undulating swimming motion is generated by electrical charges that activate the muscles, allowing it to move without making any sound.
Researchers found that three antiretroviral drug regimens taken by pregnant women with HIV pose similar risks for adverse birth outcomes, including premature delivery and death. TDF-FTC-ATV/r appears to have a lower risk of preterm birth and low birth weight compared to other regimens.
A collaborative study led by the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine found that a monoclonal antibody cocktail therapy was effective in clearing the virus from pregnant women's blood but failed to prevent fetal transmission and treat infected fetuses. Researchers are now working on engineering antibodies to target the fetus.
Scientists have developed a novel TEM technique that captures dynamic reactions at the nanoscale, allowing researchers to study material transformations in real-time. This breakthrough enables better control over nanoscale properties and has significant implications for designing materials with desired properties.
Forest elephant populations across Central Africa exhibit genetic similarity, highlighting the importance of conserving this critically endangered species. Conservation efforts can save many species by protecting one, as forest elephants play a vital role in maintaining plant diversity and ecosystem balance.
A UK study found a link between long-term use of certain anticholinergic drugs and an increased risk of dementia in patients over 45. The study suggests that clinicians should avoid prescribing these drugs to older patients due to potential cognitive effects.
A study analyzing extensive death records data from 1990 to 2014 found that years of life lost declined by 28% among blacks, primarily due to decreasing heart disease, HIV, and cancer mortality. This improvement is attributed to public health interventions.
Researchers at Rice University have extended a 100-year-old modeling formula to account for complex surfactants in enhanced oil recovery. The new model, developed by Walter Chapman and Xiaoqun Mu, incorporates temperature, pressure, composition, and other conditions to provide a more accurate prediction of oil behavior in wells.
Researchers found kefir supplementation reduced endotoxins, blood pressure, and improved intestinal permeability in hypertensive rats. Kefir restored the natural balance of bacteria and an enzyme essential for normal nervous system function, suggesting a gut-brain axis connection.
A new guide from QUT's Dementia Centre aims to prepare those who care for people with dementia to cope during natural disasters. The Preparing for a Natural Disaster Guide highlights the increased risks faced by carers of people with dementia, including exacerbated symptoms and potential harm.
Research suggests genetic factors drive increases in teen substance use, with environmental influences playing a smaller role. The study used twins to tease apart genetic and environmental effects on substance use between early and late adolescence.
Researchers developed an MRI-based approach to identify high-risk patients who will develop psychosis, with 80% accuracy. This method may help reverse the trajectory of psychosis by providing early-intervention therapy.
A five-year experiment found that corn yield was highest in the plastic mulch plot, but soil organic carbon was highest in the straw mulch plots. Straw mulch increased soil's ability to store carbon, whereas plastic mulch increased microbial activity that used up organic carbon.
A new study from UCSF reveals the fetal immune system can trigger preterm labor when it mistakenly identifies the mother's cells as foreign. The researchers found activated immune cells in the cord blood of preterm infants and higher levels of inflammatory chemicals, leading to uterine contractions.
Researchers from Singapore University of Technology and Design used fractional factorial design to optimize Sb2Te3 crystal quality, growing high-quality crystals over a 4
Glacier ice mass in the Russian Arctic has nearly doubled over the last decade due to rising temperatures. The research, led by Cornell University, reveals that glaciers in Franz Josef Land are shrinking at a faster rate than previously thought.
A study found structural changes in the brain's sensory system, which processes sensations and movement, in people with restless legs syndrome. These changes may be related to symptoms such as uncomfortable sensations and an irresistible urge to move the legs.
A recent awareness and management programme for sepsis has led to increased E. coli blood stream infection cases, raising questions about the effectiveness of existing targets. The programme's success in sepsis detection suggests considering alternative measures, such as positive-to-negative sample ratios or urine analysis.
A new method of predicting how chemical compounds will interact has been identified by researchers at the University of Kent. The study used computer modelling to exhibit desired properties before the compounds even exist in real life, potentially speeding up drug development and reducing costs.
The Morris Animal Foundation is awarding $750,000 to eight research projects aimed at improving horse health by preventing and treating foal pneumonia, laminitis, and septicemia. The studies will also investigate health problems in grey alpacas, including the development of a genetic screening test.
E-cigarettes may be as effective as nicotine replacement therapy in quitting smoking, but concerns over addiction and youth smoking initiation remain. However, experts argue that the risks are largely irrelevant for most vapers, and e-cigarettes can help smokers quit as part of a comprehensive anti-smoking strategy.
Researchers create glycine, an essential amino acid, from simple molecules in a laboratory experiment that mimics astrophysical conditions. The study suggests that the combination of star dust and radiation could have formed life's building blocks in space, leading to their arrival on Earth via comet or meteorite impact.
Researchers discovered that Stromal derived factor-1 (SDF-1) secreted from adipocytes reduces insulin effectiveness and glucose uptake in cells. In SDF-1 knockout mice, insulin-induced glucose uptake increased and insulin efficacy improved.
Researchers demonstrate a new algorithm to simulate quantum channels using IBM's cloud quantum computer, enabling efficient open system quantum simulation and exploring its applications in quantum communication. The method reduces gate complexity compared to Stinespring dilation, making it scalable for higher dimensions.
A 3,000-year-old horse burial in Sudan has provided significant insights into the Kushite state formation and the role of horses in ancient Nubian culture. The discovery, dated to around 950 BC, reveals that horses were central to the state's identity and foreshadowed later developments in Nubian kingship.
Researchers found that using nanoparticles to bind molecules can trigger immune cells more effectively against cancer in laboratory studies. The combination of two therapeutics on a single nanoparticle showed higher rates of T-cell stimulation and tumor attack than separate deliveries.
NASA's Aqua satellite detected Tropical Cyclone Fakir weakening in the Southern Indian Ocean with coldest cloud top temperatures as low as minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit. On April 25, Fakir's maximum sustained winds decreased to 35 knots, and the system is moving southeast, indicating potential for heavy rainfall.
A new study from an international team of researchers found that an imbalance of the sexes leads to single parenting in birds. The researchers discovered that when there are more males than females or vice versa, the parenting roles shift, leaving the males to care for the chicks.
Researchers have developed next-generation contrast agents that can be turned off using ultrasound, allowing for clearer MRI scans. The new technology relies on nanoscale structures called gas vesicles, which bounce back sound waves and react differently to magnetic fields.
Researchers linked two sites in South Africa to the Toba volcanic eruption, demonstrating that ancestors thrived during the event. Microscopic glass shards found at these sites provide a precise temporal link between activities at one site and another.
A new study published in Journal of Clinical Oncology shows a four-year overall survival rate of 96 percent for patients with stage IV Wilms tumors with lung metastases, compared to 84 percent on the predecessor study. The approach resulted in sparing initial upfront lung radiation and reducing long-term risks for nearly half of patients.
TeleHuman 2 brings actual holograms to life, allowing people in different locations to appear before one another in life-size 3D. The system enables face-to-face interaction with a realism that cannot be achieved with traditional video conferencing tools, promoting empathy and emotional connotation.
Bento browser eliminates 'tab overload' by storing each search session as a project workspace, keeping track of relevant parts of visited web pages. Users can identify useful pages, trash unhelpful ones, and pick up where they left off later.
A study published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine found that opioid-related deaths among young adults in Ontario nearly tripled from 2000 to 2015. The rate of opioid-related deaths in this age group increased dramatically, with over 1 in 9 deaths being opioid-related by 2015.
A new report by Silent Spring Institute finds that dozens of hazardous chemicals are present in hair products marketed at Black women, including hormone-disrupting chemicals and fragrance chemicals. The study highlights the need for better disclosure of ingredients and encourages manufacturers to develop safer products.
A new study has identified a mismatch between two MRI methods that can signify early stroke status, allowing the use of 'clot busting' drug tPA in patients with unwitnessed strokes. The study found similar outcomes to those previously reported for patients receiving tPA within 4.5 hours of witnessed strokes.
A new study found higher cortisol levels in medical students during the summer months than in winter. The research contradicts traditional notions of increased stress in winter and relaxed ease in summer.
New studies show that sunlight transforms oil on the ocean surface more significantly and quickly than previously thought, reducing the effectiveness of chemical dispersants. This process, known as photochemical weathering, alters crude oil into different compounds that dispersants cannot easily break up.
A new analysis of video footage supports official findings that John F. Kennedy was shot by Lee Harvey Oswald from the Texas School Book Depository building. The study uses fundamental classical mechanics to analyze the forward head snap in the Zapruder film, which shows President Kennedy's reactions after being shot in the head.
Researchers found that urban-induced warming in Beijing increased with urban land expansion, but the rate of increase slowed down after 2000. The study also revealed an interrelationship between urban-induced warming and heat waves, suggesting that urban expansion may heighten heat waves in urban areas.
A meta-analysis of 44 studies on neonicotinoid insecticides' effects on arthropod performance found similar negative impacts on abundance, behavior, condition, reproductive success, and survival. The research suggests that these insecticides affect not only pollinators but also detritivores and predators.
A study published in Health Psychology found that labeling alcoholic drinks as lower in strength increased the total amount of alcohol consumed. Participants who tasted drinks labeled with lower strength labels consumed more than those who didn't have any label or had a regular label.
Experiments show that asteroids can retain up to 30% of their water content after impact, suggesting a mechanism for water delivery to the early Earth. This process could also explain later water activity in the solar system.
Research reveals that Chinese young people buy counterfeit products based on cultural influences, with some viewing it as a way to express anti-corporate ideology and prudence. The study found four types of consumers: victim brand illiterates, larkers, anti-corporate activists, and status matchers.
Researchers from the University of Münster found that accuracy of children's self-perception of their motor competence is a key factor in future physical activity. The study shows that excessive over- or underestimation can have negative effects on physical activity in childhood and sports later on.
A new review concludes that stem cells derived from adult body tissues can differentiate into mature body cells with similar efficiency to those from younger donors. This validates induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) as a viable alternative to embryonic stem cells in regenerative medicine.
A study found that ride-sharing platforms, such as Uber, may be performing similar roles to human managers, but with limited driver input. The platform prioritizes the needs of riders over drivers' concerns, leading to a blurred line between employee and contractor status.
A new study published in PLOS Medicine found that early childhood interventions may have some efficacy in boosting measures of child health and development, particularly in language skills. However, the interventions did not significantly impact cognition, motor skills, or adaptive behavior, highlighting the need for further research o...
Researchers found a statistical link between long-term PPI use and pneumonia in older adults, highlighting the need for caution. The study analyzed data from medical records and identified over 75,000 patients who received PPIs, suggesting that these medications may not be as safe as previously thought.
Researchers developed an 'Am I Stoned' app that helps users understand their impairment through phone-based tasks. The app showed promise in detecting THC-induced impairments in a natural setting, paving the way for future use in assessing individual performance.
The Boras extend their language reach by a factor of 100 using drummed speech with rhythmic units encoded in pauses between beats. Drummed speech allows them to convey meaning and distinguish words through tone and rhythm.
Mammary stem cells from dairy cows may help heal damaged tissue and combat bacterial infections, potentially reducing antibiotic use and improving milk quality. The secreted factors of these cells have been shown to promote tissue regeneration, form new blood vessels, and protect epithelial cells from damage.
Researchers developed a new method for creating extremely precise clocks using controlled nuclear transitions in thorium-229 nuclei. The frequency of transitions can be increased or decreased by dozens of times, potentially increasing precision by an order of magnitude.
Physicists at MIPT and their colleagues revealed the mechanisms leading to photocurrent in graphene under terahertz radiation. The study sets the stage for developing high-sensitivity terahertz detectors, essential for medical diagnostics, wireless communications, and security systems.
A study of 32 children under 10 found significant DNA damage from small amounts of sun exposure, similar to levels in Danish adults. Parents are advised to use rigorous protection measures and consider vitamin D supplements.
Researchers have developed a low-cost, portable laboratory on a phone that works nearly as well as clinical laboratories to detect common viral and bacterial infections. The device was tested with 771 patient samples and found to be accurate in detecting 12 common diseases such as mumps, measles, herpes, and Lyme Disease.
A study of 800 participants who consumed milkshakes found new uncommon gene variants affecting patients' responses to a cholesterol drug. The variants were associated with changes in triglyceride and LDL-cholesterol levels after consuming high-fat meals and taking the medication.
Researchers have identified key molecular events and genomic profiles in clear-cell renal carcinoma, a type of kidney cancer. The study's findings could lead to the prediction of metastasis patterns and potentially inform new treatment strategies.
Two new studies presented at the Experimental Biology 2018 meeting found that consuming dark chocolate with a high concentration of cacao (minimally 70% cacao) has positive effects on stress levels, inflammation, mood, memory and immunity. The flavonoids in cacao are believed to support cognitive, endocrine and cardiovascular health.
A team of researchers discovered that deep ocean aquifers can break down more refractory carbon than previously thought. Microbes in the aquifer consume carbon, changing the composition of the surrounding seawater. This finding has the potential to reshape our understanding of carbon cycling in the deep ocean.