A study by Lancaster University and Memorial University found that women who wear the hijab or niqab while testifying in court are perceived as more credible than uncovered women. The researchers suggest several possible explanations for this bias, including the idea that religious garments signal honesty and dispel common rape myths.
Scientists have discovered proteins that regulate mucin production in the body, which could lead to new treatments for diseases such as asthma and colorectal cancer. The study also found a calcium sensor protein that controls the thickness of the mucus layer in the colon.
Newer versions of gene therapy cassettes deliver better performance, increasing muscle strength and protecting against contraction-induced injuries in animal models. The treatment, micro-dystrophin, has been restructured to enhance its functionality.
The American Gastroenterological Association has announced the 2019 recipients of the annual recognition awards, honoring outstanding contributions to the field of gastroenterology. The award winners include John I. Allen, MD, MBA, AGAF; Harry B. Greenberg, MD; and Timothy C. Wang, MD, AGAF.
Patients treated at minority-serving hospitals have only about two-thirds the odds of receiving palliative care compared to those receiving care at typical hospitals. The study found that racial and ethnic minorities are less likely to receive end-of-life palliative care than their counterparts, regardless of race or ethnicity.
The AFLEET Tool and its online version enable fleet managers to compare the costs and benefits of alternative fuels and vehicle technologies, optimizing their purchasing decisions. With over 8,000 users, the tool is based on Argonne's GREET model and provides a comprehensive and easier way to make informed decisions.
By combining experimental results with simulations, researchers can gain insights into the atomic structure of 2D materials like graphene. This breakthrough could lead to the development of more efficient batteries and other electronics.
Studies show that lactic acid bacteria positively impact coffee fermentation, yielding fruity notes and enhancing flavor. Microbial communities also affect the build-up of fermentation-related metabolites on coffee beans, influencing overall quality.
Researchers at IBS confirmed wave spreading mechanisms in a cloud of quantum particles, extending computational horizons from one day to 60 years. They used novel toolbox and Discrete Time Quantum Walks for fast simulations, revealing subdiffusive cloud spreading up to record timescales.
Researchers found that insect-borne microbes often outperformed soil bacteria in stopping antibiotic-resistant pathogens, including MRSA. A new antibiotic, cyphomycin, was discovered from a Brazilian fungus-farming ant and showed effective antimicrobial action without toxic side effects.
A University of Illinois study characterizes the chemical composition of fiber in rice and rice coproducts, which could lead to diet interventions for improved digestibility. The primary carbohydrates found were arabinoxylans, with varying ratios between arabinose and xylose influencing functionality.
Scientists developed a new method to study ADP-ribosylation, a process linked to cancer growth and other diseases. The ELTA technique enables researchers to attach molecular beacons to ADP-ribose molecules, allowing for detailed studies on how this process affects cells in health and disease.
Researchers at Florida State University have found that abrupt variations in the seafloor can cause massive destruction from rogue or freak waves. The study, published in Physical Review Fluids, reveals that these extreme events follow a gamma distribution, a mathematics function that defies traditional bell curve patterns.
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have successfully created a chip-scale laser that emits light with a fundamental linewidth of less than 1 Hz, quiet enough to move demanding scientific applications to the chip scale. This breakthrough uses stimulated Brillouin scattering to produce extremely quiet light and has significant implications ...
The Merck Family Foundation has donated 350 thousand euros to the Gulbenkian Institute of Science to support two initiatives: Lab-in-a-Box kits for secondary schools and Lab-in-a-Suitcase portable labs for universities. These projects aim to stimulate experimental teaching and research in Portuguese Speaking African Countries.
A comprehensive analysis of medications prescribed for children and adolescents with anxiety disorders found SSRIs to be the most effective and best-tolerated treatment. The study examined over a dozen medications from 22 randomized controlled trials, providing guidance for clinicians in selecting evidence-based medication treatments.
Experts find that folate levels decrease in summer due to increased UV radiation, recommending higher intake of folate-rich foods during this period. Low folate levels are linked to various health conditions, including megaloblastic anemia and cardiovascular diseases.
Researchers create scalable method to grow cellulose nanofibrils and co-deposit nanoscale building blocks, resulting in bulk nanocomposites with high mechanical strength and electrical conductivity. This breakthrough enables potential industrial applications for functional bulk nanocomposites.
The discovery of ancient molecules, including bisnorgammacerane, reveals that predatory plankton played a crucial role in shaping the evolution of modern ecosystems. This finding suggests that massive predation helped 'clear' out bacteria-dominated oceans and create space for algae, paving the way for more complex lifeforms to evolve.
GEDI, a NASA instrument, is collecting data on forests using its waveform-based measurement technique to analyze the shape of returned light signals. This allows scientists to obtain three-dimensional structure information, useful for mapping wildlife habitats and biodiversity.
Researchers at MUSC created an online software package to train health care workers using simulation in safe Ebola disease response, increasing knowledge of effective prevention by up to 19% and reducing critical errors. The program aims to reduce the number of critical errors and risky actions committed when treating an Ebola patient.
A study by UC Santa Barbara found that moderate fertilizer and irrigation treatments resulted in the best biomass yields and carbon storage for prairie grasses. This approach also minimized competition with food crops and greenhouse gas emissions. The findings suggest a more tailored, ecologically friendly approach to biofuel productio...
Scientists have discovered new messenger molecules, miR-494-3p, that regulate genes involved in maintaining neuron health. The study found that introducing this micro-RNA into astrocyte-motor neuron cultures significantly improved neuron survival rates, potentially leading to new therapies for ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases.
The nTIDE January 2019 Jobs Report shows a flattening of economic indicators for Americans with disabilities, while those without disabilities experience steady improvement. Efforts like Lights! Camera! Action! 2.0 aim to promote diversity and inclusion in the media industry.
Researchers discovered rhomboid enzymes can move quickly through cell membrane by warping surroundings, allowing them to glide rapidly across. This ability enables them to scour the membrane for targets to cut, providing real-time signals to other cells.
For the first time, researchers have created carbon fibers with uniform pores, enabling greater surface area and improved energy storage. This breakthrough, achieved using block copolymers, opens up new possibilities for designing functional materials.
A team of researchers has identified a connection between infection control and how well antiviral T cells respond to diverse HIV sequences. This study suggests that individual T cells differ widely in their ability to recognize peptide variants, which may be clinically significant in controlling HIV infection.
Researchers have developed advanced stretchable electronics, including rubbery integrated circuits and sensory skins, using metallic carbon nanotubes to improve carrier mobility. This breakthrough could lead to significant advances in smart devices like robotic skins and human-machine interfaces.
A major Australian study has found that suicidal thoughts do not accurately predict suicide, challenging a widely held belief. The meta-analysis of 70 studies showed that only 1.7% of people with suicidal ideas died by suicide, while about 60% of those who did die had denied having suicidal thoughts.
Researchers at PSI develop a new method that uses a small but efficient lens to create high-resolution images of X-ray microscopes, providing absorption and phase contrast information. This technique has the potential to reveal material properties and improve image quality for biological samples.
Researchers found that the Greenland ice sheet was more sensitive to warming in the past million years, and that geothermal heat beneath the ice sheet played a crucial role in its formation and melting. The team's hypothesis suggests that past geological changes can help predict future ice sheet behavior.
Researchers are developing a novel detection method for autoantibodies in Lupus patients using top-down mass spectrometry. This may lead to novel biomarkers and early intervention strategies for the disease.
Researchers from NIMS and Hokkaido University discovered that proton transfer in electrochemical reactions is governed by the quantum tunneling effect, revealing a novel physical process. This breakthrough may accelerate basic research leading to highly efficient electrochemical energy conversion systems based on quantum mechanics.
Scientists discovered that Antarctic meltwater streams retain their chemical composition regardless of flow rate, with high levels of chemical weathering being the primary mechanism. This finding has implications for understanding stream behavior and predicting water quality changes in temperate watersheds.
Researchers on an international ocean drilling expedition are studying the West Antarctic Ice Sheet's history to understand its role in future sea level rise. The study will help determine how changes in seawater and air temperature have affected ice gain or loss over millions of years.
The KIT National Center for Efficacy Evaluation of Respiratory Disease has secured funding for its second phase, which will focus on developing domestic respiratory disease products. The center will utilize a one-step solution combining inhalation testing with toxicology evaluation and clinical studies to evaluate product efficacy.
The American Thoracic Society has developed a new clinical practice guideline for home oxygen therapy in children with chronic hypoxemia. The guideline makes specific recommendations for treating various respiratory and pulmonary conditions, such as cystic fibrosis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and interstitial lung disease.
Researchers at TU Dresden develop programmable transparent organic luminescent tags that can be written, read, and erased using light. The tags use a thin layer of organic molecules that can emit light when exposed to ultraviolet radiation.
A new study by Duke University reveals that Indonesia's deforestation rate is changing, with wildfires, mining, and small-scale farming playing a larger role than previously thought. This shift highlights the need for policymakers to adjust their conservation policies and practices to account for the varied causes of forest loss.
Two common e-cigarette chemical flavorings, diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione, have been linked to impaired lung function by altering gene expression related to cilia production. This study suggests that even low levels of these chemicals can be hazardous, highlighting the need for stricter safety standards.
A Rice University study of home-schooled children aged 10-17 found that many fall short of daily exercise goals despite participating in organized activities. The researchers recommend increasing unstructured physical activity time to ensure children meet their fitness needs. Parents are encouraged to provide more opportunities for out...
A study projects a 147% increase in opioid overdose deaths from 2015 to 2025, with illicit opioids causing most deaths. Interventions targeting prescription opioids are expected to have only a minimal impact on reducing overdose deaths.
A research team at Tokyo Medical and Dental University classified hepatocellular carcinoma into three distinct subgroups based on mutation patterns, gene expression, and immune system characterization. The findings suggest that each subgroup has a unique clinical profile, enabling targeted treatment approaches.
Researchers developed a designer enzyme with an unnatural aniline side chain, increasing its activity by a factor of 90. Directed evolution led to variants with higher conversion rates, showing the potential for this method in producing highly effective enzymes.
Researchers estimate carbon emissions from farmland reclamation in China over the past 300 years, with vegetation emissions ranging from 1.58 Pg and soil emissions from 1.35 to 4.03 Pg. Carbon emissions vary greatly across ecosystems, with forests releasing the most and deserts acting as carbon sinks.
Researchers identified a crucial link between polyamines and the MYCN oncogene, revealing a new therapeutic approach to disrupt cancer cell growth. A combination therapy of DFMO and AMXT-1501 showed significant increase in survival in mice with established neuroblastoma tumours.
Research at UT Southwestern Medical Center found exercise reduces visceral fat more significantly than medication per pound of body weight lost. Exercise can melt visceral fat, lowering risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Researchers at Rice University have fine-tuned a pyrolysis technique to remove petroleum contaminants from soil, restoring its fertility. The method uses gentle heat to preserve the soil's essential clays, eliminating 99.9% of total petroleum hydrocarbons and 94.5% of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
Scientists at Nagoya Institute of Technology discovered Na2V3O7, a material with fast charging performance and long battery life, offering an alternative to lithium-ion batteries. However, further research is needed to improve the material's stability throughout the entire charging duration.
Researchers used X-ray diffraction to track dynamic processes in feldspar minerals during simulated meteorite impacts. The results show that structural changes occur at varying pressures depending on the compression rate, highlighting a need for further investigation to understand impact conditions.
A two-year science visioning process has identified thirty specific research strategies to improve minority health and reduce health disparities. The NIH Strategic Plan on Minority Health and Health Disparities will be guided by these strategies, enabling a coordinated research approach to promote equal opportunities for all populations.
Researchers have discovered the genetic puzzle behind a mollusk's ability to produce magnetite nanomaterials. The study found that specific proteins are involved in transforming raw materials into magnetite, which could lead to the development of next-generation electronics and energy sources.
Researchers found that walking about 100 steps per minute constitutes moderate intensity and vigorous walking begins at about 130 steps per minute. A simple guideline provides walkers with a concrete way to track their activity level without relying on exercise devices or complicated calculations.
Researchers are searching for an explanation for the imbalance between matter and antimatter in the universe. One theory suggests that this imbalance is a fundamental aspect of the cosmos, existing from the beginning of time. Physicists are investigating possibilities to extend the standard model of physics to include this phenomenon.
A new study highlights the importance of involving all family members in nutrition education programs for children. Researchers found that many mothers face conflicting advice from older female relatives on feeding their babies, which can lead to unhealthy eating habits. To balance family harmony and healthy diets, mothers use strategi...
A study of 32,000 butterflies found that semi-natural grasslands with surrounding forests support the highest number of butterfly species, while agricultural fields have limited resources. The results highlight the importance of preserving landscapes with diverse habitats to ensure the survival of pollinators.
A study of 28,000 childhood cancer survivors found that exposure to different anthracycline chemotherapies results in variable long-term cardiovascular risk. Specifically, daunorubicin was associated with decreased cardiomyopathy risk compared to doxorubicin, while mitoxantrone appeared to have greater long-term cardiomyopathy risk.
A team of researchers led by Professor Hopi Hoekstra conducted a years-long study on the survival of light- and dark-colored mice in different habitats. The results confirmed the intuition that light-colored mice survive better in light-colored habitats, and also pinpointed a mutation related to survival that affects pigmentation.
Researchers found that ancient asteroid impacts played a crucial role in creating the early evolved crust on Earth, which later gave rise to continents. The impact melts produced layered magmatic intrusions and made the crust more evolutionarily complex.
A University of Southampton study reveals that salmon egg membranes adjust their structure to cope with reduced oxygen levels in rivers. This adaptation enables embryos to incubate successfully. The research found that membrane thickness, porosity, and permeability vary among different salmon populations.