A training program to support advance care planning in nursing homes is expanding to over 170 facilities across the US. The program aims to provide patients with consistent and high-quality care that aligns with their treatment preferences.
Novel optical elements enable multiplication and division of orbital angular momentum (OAM) of light, offering a promising solution to increase information capacity of optical networks. The research results have been published in Light: Science and Applications.
A phase-one clinical trial will test the safety and tolerability of emtricitabine in 35 patients with Alzheimer's, while evaluating its effect on inflammation markers. The trial aims to determine if the drug may benefit people with Alzheimer's by reducing age-related cellular inflammation.
Researchers at Weizmann Institute of Science have visualized electrons flowing through graphene, mimicking the flow of liquid through a pipe. This behavior has important implications for creating new electronic devices with reduced resistance.
Researchers propose transforming low-productivity agricultural land into conservation reserves, which could help nations meet their United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The approach recognizes the value of uncontested lands, allowing for quicker and cheaper conservation efforts than traditional methods.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh found that amyloid beta and tau proteins work together to hamper key genes responsible for brain messaging in people with Alzheimer's disease. This damage can be reversed by reducing the presence of tau proteins, according to the study.
A new system allows thousands of patients in rural Africa to provide anonymous feedback on their care using a basic USSD tool. The results showed promising outcomes, with users enthusiastic about empowering themselves to communicate their experiences.
A $2.64 million grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services will support a program to improve outcomes for children and families affected by addiction. The partnership aims to increase well-being, permanency, and safety for children in out-of-home placements due to parental substance misuse.
Researchers at the University of Arkansas are developing a new data-driven map, TransMap, with $1.5 million funding from the US Department of Transportation. The system will utilize the Internet of Things to provide real-time, interactive maps and geospatial data for transportation infrastructure planning.
Researchers discovered a connection between gastric bypass surgery and the release of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a hormone regulating appetite. The study found that mHMGCS, an enzyme triggering ketone body formation in the small intestine, inhibits GLP-1 release.
Cinnarizine and sodium valproate show promise as preventive agents for pediatric migraine, reducing headache frequency by over 50% compared to placebo. The study suggests these medications may be a new option for children and adolescents with migraine, but long-term safety concerns need further investigation.
Researchers at Clemson University's Center for Human Genetics have identified hundreds of metabolites that may serve as indicators for disease. The study found correlations between genetic variation, metabolite levels, and specific traits, such as stress resistance and aggression.
Researchers have made a breakthrough in predicting June rainfall in the lower Yangtze River Basin with four-month accuracy. The Met Office's seasonal forecasting system successfully identifies variations in mei-yu rainfall linked to atmospheric circulation patterns.
A new decision aid tool has been shown to reduce the time patients spend speaking with genetic counselors while increasing their knowledge of the benefits of genomic sequencing. The study found that patients who used the Genomics ADvISER needed to spend 24 minutes less speaking with a counselor than those who did not access the tool.
New studies examine prescribed fires' effectiveness and explore wildfires' characteristics as predictors of firefighting resource demand. Researchers aim to improve wildfire risk assessments and optimize fire management resource allocation.
Tracking methane emissions is crucial to meeting global climate warming targets, with a need for improved measurement and modeling techniques. New technologies including isotopic variants and satellite mapping will help quantify emissions and understand mechanisms causing changes.
A new study found that Huntington's disease patients are at risk of therapeutic misconception due to a lack of understanding about clinical trial risks and benefits. Investigators recommend improving patient-doctor communication to address this issue.
Researchers found that a lower body mass index (BMI) is associated with reduced type II diabetes risk, including in individuals who are not overweight. A study of 287,394 British individuals found that a 1 kg/m2 BMI reduction lowered diabetes risk by 37% among non-overweight people without a family history of diabetes.
A study by Max Delbrück Center researchers explains that avian influenza A viruses are unable to transform infected human cells into effective virus factories due to a lack of the matrix protein M1. The virus requires this protein to export its genetic material from the cell nucleus, which is necessary for building new viruses.
A study found that more than 25% of lung cancer patients are prescribed medications with potential cardiac risk, and almost 10% take multiple such medications. The researchers argue that these criteria may be excessive and could be too strict, excluding patients who don't pose a cardiac risk.
Gastric intestinal metaplasia is a marker associated with increased risk of gastric cancer, prompting the need for standardized clinical practice. The new AGA guideline provides evidence-based recommendations for testing H. pylori eradication and surveillance strategies.
The Society for Risk Analysis announced the 2019 winners of Best Paper and Best Poster awards. Terje Aven, Sayanti Mukherjee, Christian Blanco, Edward Oughton, and others won top honors for their significant contributions to risk analysis theory and practice.
A study led by Mary Robinson and Jinwen Chen found potential biomarkers of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) that could be used to enforce the ban on its use in horses within 10 days of a race. The researchers detected changes in five inflammatory factors, including TNF-? levels, up to three weeks after ESWT treatment.
Researchers found that strong social connections, especially with favored partners, increase a macaque's survival chances by 11%. Macaques on Monkey Island showed better survival rates with stronger social ties.
A new study suggests that California could more than triple its southern sea otter population by repopulating the largest estuary on the coast, the San Francisco Bay. This would be a huge boost to conservation efforts, potentially lifting the species out of endangered status.
A new study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that scenes of unjustified and justified violence in movies activate different parts of the adolescent brain. Viewers show a synchronized response in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex when watching justified violence, suggesting they see it as acceptable for self- or f...
A recent study on sorghum explores the complex relationship between humans, crops, and the environment during domestication. Researchers found that birds with a taste for sorghum seeds may have driven farmers to select varieties with condensed tannins, which provide a defense mechanism against bird damage.
A new study published in Scientific Reports found that a geostationary satellite can obtain more cloud-free observations than polar-orbiting satellites, allowing for continuous monitoring of vegetation changes. The Himawari-8 AHI sensor captured seasonal vegetation changes in Central Japan with greater frequency and accuracy.
The new research project will investigate the communication, traffic, and trade between the islands in the Lesser Antilles during the period 1650-1850. Historians believe that the islanders were deeply dependent on each other due to limited resources and vulnerability.
Rochester Institute of Technology received a grant from the National Science Foundation to fund scholarships and develop faculty programming for economically disadvantaged, academically talented students. The S-D CoMETS initiative aims to create a student-centered support network with knowledgeable faculty and peers.
A new study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that Electronic Medication Complete Communication (EMC2) Opioid Strategy improved safe dosing of opioids, but not actual use. The intervention also boosted patient knowledge about medication risks.
A Baylor University researcher has developed a new tool, the Treatment Adherence Perception Questionnaire (TAPQ), to help patients adhere to their treatment plans. The TAPQ assesses two key attitudes: perceived benefit and perceived burden, which are strongly associated with motivation to adhere to treatment.
Professor Alexander J Smits has been recognized for his seminal contributions to the understanding of wall turbulence, particularly in its structure and behavior at extreme conditions. His work on bio-inspired propulsion and drag reduction has inspired new interests in biomimetic flows.
A genetic variant found in 3% of individuals of African ancestry is a significant cause of heart failure, but it's significantly underdiagnosed. The FDA has approved a therapy for this condition, allowing for earlier diagnosis and treatment.
The European Research Council has awarded EUR 600 million to 301 top scientists and scholars across Europe, covering a wide range of topics in physical sciences, life sciences, social sciences, and humanities. This funding will create over 2,000 jobs for postdoctoral fellows and PhD students.
Researchers have found a way to stimulate skin cells to secrete naturally occurring antibiotics called Antimicrobial Peptides, which target and kill bacteria. By modulating caspase-8 levels in the skin, AMP release can be controlled to prevent infections in diabetics and patients with weakened immune systems.
A new study reveals that approximately 30% of patients taking opioids experience adverse drug interactions, which can lead to decreased efficacy and increased risk of addiction and overdose. The authors emphasize the importance of a thorough medication history and consulting a pharmacist before prescribing opioids.
Researchers at UMSOM are testing a combined Shigella-ETEC vaccine to offer protection against diarrheal diseases, which cause millions of deaths worldwide. The vaccine has been developed with $4.5 million funding from Emergent BioSolutions.
A University of Washington atmospheric scientist will lead a NASA field campaign to fly through major snowstorms along the East Coast, observing snow as it forms in clouds to help with satellite monitoring. The goal is to understand how snow distributes unevenly across the storm and improve forecasts.
The Hastings Center Report highlights concerns over GoFundMe's role in facilitating unproven medical treatments, which can harm donors and recipients. The report also explores the doctor burnout crisis, advocating for legal interventions to safeguard healthcare workers' safety and well-being.
Research team around Dr Thomas Böttcher studies phage-host interactions to understand the transition from latent to active states, with potential applications for developing alternative antibiotics. The team aims to uncover molecular signals controlling dormant phages and their impact on the human microbiome.
The study reviews a new method called emergent constraints, which uses current climate information to constrain future climate evolution. This approach aims to reduce uncertainties in climate sensitivity and improve the accuracy of climate model projections.
Dr. Jeanne Zanca, a senior research scientist at Kessler Foundation, was named Fellow of the ACRM for her outstanding record of professional service and national significance in spinal cord injury rehabilitation research. Her work focuses on prevention and management of secondary complications of SCI.
A study by the University of Saskatchewan has discovered that liquid crystal monomers from LCDs are present in nearly half of household dust samples, with 90% of these chemicals showing concerning properties. The findings raise concerns about the potential toxicity of these monomers to humans and the environment.
Researchers found that energy-producing mitochondria in muscles were abnormal and showed signs of oxidative damage, contributing to chronic muscle weakness. The study suggests the need for antioxidant therapies or other treatments to restore mitochondrial health.
Researchers at Tallinn University of Technology have improved the efficiency of monograin layer solar cells by replacing copper with silver in absorber material. This innovation increases efficiency by 2%, making it an attractive solution for renewable energy production.
A RMIT University study found that floral foam breaks into tiny pieces, ingested by freshwater and marine animals, causing stress responses. The vast majority of florists dispose of foam particles down the sink or drain, contributing to microplastic pollution.
A recent study found that under 30% of young patients with substance use history were tested for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), emphasizing the importance of improved screening and treatment. The study highlights the need to connect those found to have current infection to treatment, particularly among young people who inject drugs.
Researchers successfully synthesized a graphene nanostructure with magnetic properties, fulfilling a decades-old prediction. The structure's high exchange coupling energy enables stable spin-based logic operations at room temperature.
Researchers at Columbia University have developed a new approach to create autonomous microrobots that can detect and repair defects in synthetic materials. The microrobots use shape-shifting materials to navigate and perform tasks such as distributed sensing, delivery of therapeutic cargo, and on-demand repairs.
Researchers found that labelling food with the amount and type of exercise needed to burn off its calories can lead to a reduction in daily calorie intake. PACE (Physical Activity Calorie Equivalent) labelling was associated with an average reduction of 65 fewer calories per meal, and up to 200 calories less per day.
Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago will conduct 3,000 eye exams among Latinos living in Chicago and Miami to study common eye conditions like glaucoma and macular degeneration. The goal is to identify patterns or causes of disease that can be prevented or slowed with treatment.
A large clinical trial has found that fresh red blood cell transfusions do not reduce the risk of organ failure or death in critically ill children. The study included 1,461 patients and showed similar outcomes between fresh and older red cells.
Researchers discovered genetic variations in RNF5 dampen CFTR protein expression, potentially reducing lung infections. This study offers a new approach to understanding cystic fibrosis and developing targeted treatments.
A new study found that female grape berry moths detect a subset of volatile organic compounds emitted by grapes, as well as nearby plants like gray dogwood and apple trees. The researchers suggest that the moths use these common volatiles to find their target habitat before using other cues to locate specific berries.
Researchers clarify the process by which gamma-ray flashes are generated from thunderstorms, discovering they can produce an ultraviolet emission known as an Elve. The findings reveal that high-electric fields produced just prior to a lightning bolt within the thunderstorm cloud trigger the TGF.
Nader Motee is investigating real-time perception and planning for networks of robots, aiming to improve efficiency and resiliency. His research also focuses on risk-aware planning and control to mitigate effects of local failures in nonlinear dynamical networks.
Researchers propose using transient elastography as a screening method for detecting liver fibrosis in primary care. The study shows that this approach is highly cost-effective and can improve patient outcomes, with a 12% probability of cost saving.
The Air Force has awarded a $1.5 million grant to Imaginestics LLC, a company developing an artificial intelligence-powered system for managing additive manufacturing data. The system, called AMAS, will provide the Air Force with a method to store, manipulate and present AM data effectively.
A study published in Science reveals that the three major oxygenation events on Earth occurred spontaneously due to feedbacks between the global phosphorus, carbon, and oxygen cycles. This new theory drastically increases the possibility of high-oxygen worlds existing elsewhere, making intelligent life more common.