The use of peritoneal dialysis increased significantly among US patients with kidney failure following a Medicare payment policy implemented in 2011. More patients initiated dialysis with peritoneal dialysis and switched from hemodialysis to peritoneal dialysis, indicating a positive impact on an underutilized form of dialysis.
NASA's Terra satellite captured an image of Tropical Storm Fung-Wong, showing strong thunderstorms around its low-level center. The storm is moving north and weakening rapidly, with maximum sustained winds of 55 knots (63 mph/102 kph).
The University of Illinois Chicago will help young breast cancer survivors navigate post-treatment care and survival with a $1.8 million CDC grant. The program aims to reduce disparities in survival and quality of life due to social factors among breast cancer survivors.
A new study found a decline in sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among American children and teens, with significant reductions in soda consumption. However, the study also revealed that nearly three-quarters of SNAP recipients still consume sugary drinks on a typical day.
Researchers uncover the first steps in chromatin-opening process, revealing pioneer transcription factor Rap1's role in regulating gene expression. The study provides a biological model for other pioneer transcription factors and tools for investigating them at the single-molecule level.
A study from Penn Medicine researchers analyzed online reviews of 539 Pennsylvania facilities to identify common themes associated with high-quality and low-quality care. The analysis found that five-star reviews were more likely to mention focus on recovery, staff helpfulness, and compassionate care, while one-star reviews were often ...
The Ivy Brain Tumor Center is collaborating with SonALAsense to develop and test sonodynamic therapy, a promising new treatment for recurrent glioblastoma. The Phase 0/2 clinical trial will assess the safety and efficacy of this non-invasive therapy in patients with glioblastoma.
Researchers at UFABC in Brazil developed a glycerol fuel cell powered by niobium, promising to replace batteries in small devices and power electric vehicles. The technology reduces the need for fossil fuels and offers a sustainable energy solution.
A new coral disease has been found to alter the community of microbes on host corals, and measuring these changes may be a useful tool for monitoring coral health. The disease, known as 'grey-patch disease', was characterized by the growth of cyanobacteria, forming a biofilm that overgrew live coral tissue.
Researchers found associations between sensory difficulties, cognitive impairments, and disease severity in individuals with multiple sclerosis. Sensory processing deficits also affected functional performance of everyday life activities.
Researchers found that financial therapy improves couples' overall well-being and financial stability by understanding how financial behaviors are tied to feelings and beliefs. Nearly all participants wanted to learn more about their financial behaviors and communicate better after sessions.
Researchers found that minute facial sweating can measure stress during knowledge production, while presenting views to management is more stressful than producing them. The study also revealed that spell checkers save time in long writings and that neurotic individuals perform better with email distractions.
Researchers at Stevens Institute of Technology have completed the first census of Wikipedia's 1,601 bots, shedding light on their functions and interactions with human users. The study found that bots play nine core roles, including fixers, connectors, and protectors, which together account for about 10% of all activity on the site.
The study found that globally, in 2016, 81% of 11- to 17-year-old school students did not reach WHO recommendations for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. The gap between boys' and girls' physical activity levels has grown, with more than 80% of girls being inactive.
A study assesses landscape plants using consumers' activity levels, revealing four quadrants: actively immersive, passively immersed, actively absorptive, and passively absorptive. This segmentation can improve marketing efforts for plant producers, wholesalers, and retailers.
A recent study by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev found that consumers make more accurate purchasing decisions using desktop computers compared to smartphones. The researchers discovered that mobile-friendly websites reduce information output and require more searching, whereas PC-based sites provide a clearer shopping experience.
A comprehensive study by Harvard scientists found that music pervades social life in similar ways worldwide, with behaviors such as infant care, healing, dance, and love associated with specific musical features. The Natural History of Song database collected recordings from 315 societies and 5,000 song descriptions, revealing common p...
A new Boston University School of Public Health study provides specific data on when young children reach different developmental milestones. The researchers found that a high percentage of children demonstrate behaviors by the ages specified in CDC guidelines, but only half meet certain milestones.
The Devil Worm's genome reveals an unusually large number of heat-shock proteins and extra copies of cellular survival genes, suggesting its evolutionary adaptation to lethal environmental conditions. The discovery may provide lessons for humans on how to adapt to a warming climate, with potential applications in understanding life bey...
A team of scientists has detected extremely energetic light particles from the violent death of a heavy star, shedding new light on gamma ray bursts. By measuring the distance and energy of these particles, researchers gained insights into the extreme physical processes involved in star deaths.
Researchers from the John Innes Centre discovered that simple shifts in gene activity in the leaf bud provide a flexible mechanism for forming leaves of all shapes and sizes. The study reveals how cup-shaped leaves evolved from flat sheets through simple genetic changes, offering a simple mechanistic explanation for diverse leaf forms.
A new study predicts that wildfires in Oregon's southern Blue Mountains will become more frequent and severe due to climate change. By the end of the century, high-elevation species may be replaced by more fire-resistant ones, leading to a less resilient landscape.
A recent study suggests that wound healing in mucous tissues during early SIV infection may prevent disease progression and AIDS. The researchers found that African green monkeys, a natural host for HIV, quickly activate regenerative wound healing mechanisms in their mucosal tissue, interrupting the course of the disease.
Researchers at UTSA are developing new methods to synthesize organosulfur compounds, which are widely used in pharmaceuticals. The goal is to improve the accuracy and speed of these synthesis processes, leading to more effective medicines and potentially advancing functional materials.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have created a protective membrane made of cellulose that significantly reduces fibrotic tissue formation around cardiac pacemaker implants. The membrane's unique surface structure impedes protein deposition and cell adhesion, leading to reduced tissue growth and improved surgical outcomes.
Researchers aim to provide evidence for micro-fragmented adipose tissue as a viable alternative to surgery for treating meniscal tears. The one-year study will monitor changes in meniscal tissue, pain levels, and functional activity.
Researchers found transposable elements and gene expansions related to antioxidants in the rat lungworm parasite, suggesting adaptive evolution. The study also discovered convergent evolution of a key enzyme with flukes, which share similar host requirements.
Researchers at Stanford and UMass Amherst develop a new technique to create machine-learning algorithms that can learn to avoid undesirable outcomes such as gender bias and excessive risk. Their approach, called the Seldonian algorithm, enables users to specify what behaviors they want an AI system to avoid with high probability.
A University of Seville study found that over 17% of classrooms in Andalusia exceed WHO-recommended CO2 levels, with 42% showing concentrations above 2000 ppm. The research highlights the need for controlled mechanical ventilation systems to improve air quality and student health.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have discovered that neural activity patterns can predict which individuals will develop compulsive drinking behaviors after a single binge drinking experience. The study identifies a specific cortical-brainstem circuit as a biomarker for the development of compulsive drinking behavior.
A neural circuit in the brains of mice controls the development of compulsive drinking disorders, identified by a biomarker that could become a target for alcohol use disorder therapies. Effective treatments are needed, and this finding offers an extremely promising step forward.
Researchers used human induced pluripotent stem cells and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to model chemical changes in GFAP protein associated with Alexander disease. The study reveals differences in GFAP modifications depending on symptom onset time, allowing for new drug development opportunities.
A new study from the University of Notre Dame found that ethics training can reduce misconduct in the financial sector. Researchers analyzed nearly 1.2 million investment advisers and found those with more ethics training were one-fourth less likely to commit offenses.
A simple computational model explains why different four-legged animals adopt similar gaits, revealing that walking at slow speeds and running or trotting at intermediate speeds are globally optimal strategies. The results support the idea that mammals utilize movement strategies that optimize energy use when they move.
Tropical Storm Sebastien is being pushed towards becoming a hurricane due to strong winds and low pressure. NASA's Terra satellite has captured images showing the storm's clouds and showers have been displaced by wind shear, weakening its rotation.
Researchers exploring how chronic stress impacts brain function and increases risk of depression, finding link to complement system and inflammation in prefrontal cortex. Chronic stress may instigate destructive cycle leading to depression through immune response and inflammation.
Researchers discovered that an extract from ginseng can induce Enterococcus faecalis, which produces myristoleic acid to activate brown adipose tissue and reduce adiposity. Increasing BAT activity could be a novel therapeutic approach for obesity and related diseases.
Kalmaegi, known as Tropical Cyclone Ramon in the Philippines, was a tropical depression that dissipated over the South China Sea. The storm's weakening was confirmed by NASA's Aqua satellite, which captured images of its shapeless form on November 21.
Research reveals that MDA programmes often fail to reach marginalized communities due to inequitable treatment delivery, affecting PC NTD prevention. The study highlights the need for consideration of gender and equity issues in health systems to address these disparities.
Molecular electronic devices use molecules to build ordered systems with quantum effects, offering advantages like small volume, easy synthesis, and high efficiency. However, research is still theoretical, and device manufacturing reliability, repeatability, and cost need improvement.
A study by Georgia State University found that 43% of US adults consider e-cigarettes to be as harmful as cigarettes, while 8% believe they are more harmful. The increase in perceived harm may reflect growing concerns about the teen vaping epidemic and the recent outbreak of vaping-related illnesses.
A study by Politecnico di Milano used smartphone accelerometers to detect heart rate and stress levels with high accuracy. The research involved placing the phone on the abdomen for short periods, allowing it to capture signals associated with mechanical cardiac activity.
Physicists from the University of Exeter have theoretically found a quantum system where time correlations survive for an infinitely long time, breaking the no-go theorem for genuine time crystals. The discovery could lead to the development of novel atomic clocks and shed light on condensed matter physics.
Researchers at FAU Harbor Branch and Wageningen University developed a breakthrough in marine sponge cell culture, demonstrating rapid cell division in nine species. This discovery forms the basis for developing marine invertebrate cell models to understand early animal evolution and determine the role of secondary metabolites.
The American Pediatric Society (APS) has announced 45 new members, including leading experts in pediatric research, education, and clinical practice. These individuals are recognized for their outstanding contributions to the advancement of child health.
A new theory by Assistant Professor Kyle Smith predicts how fluid flow affects molecule reaction at porous electrode surfaces in redox flow batteries. The research enables prediction of mass transfer coefficients based on microscopic pore structure, enabling engineers to design optimal structures.
Researchers at UMass Amherst and Stanford have designed a new framework for fairer, safer machine learning algorithms. The Seldonian framework allows users to specify safety and fairness constraints, enabling the development of more responsible AI applications.
Researchers have successfully transplanted human neurons into a mouse brain, allowing them to study human neural circuit formation and potential diseases. The transplanted cells followed a months-long period of maturation typical for human neurons and were able to function in the mouse neural circuits.
A Belgian-American research team has uncovered a new mechanism of neurodegeneration in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, revealing that tRNA synthetases can interfere with gene transcription in the nucleus. This discovery could lead to new therapeutic approaches for CMT patients.
People living with or beyond cancer are more than twice as likely to die of a stroke compared to the general population. Certain types of cancer, such as breast, prostate, and colorectum cancers, were found to be most commonly associated with fatal strokes.
Acinetobacter baumannii is a highly resistant bacteria that causes persistent skin and soft tissue infections. Researchers are investigating the use of selenium as an antimicrobial agent, which has shown promise in inhibiting bacterial virulence.
Researchers at Salk Institute discover a brain circuit controlling alcohol drinking behavior in mice, which can predict compulsive drinking. The study found that neural communication patterns between two brain regions are related to the development of compulsive drinking.
Researchers are studying ice loss on Greenland's Helheim glacier to better predict sea-level rise. The four-year project brings together experts in geology, atmospheric science, and oceanography to investigate the complex processes driving glacier melting.
Cenobamate reduces seizures by 55% in patients with treatment-resistant epilepsy, offering new hope for those who have limited success with traditional medications. The study, led by Johns Hopkins lead investigator Gregory Krauss, involved 437 participants across 16 countries and found significant improvements in seizure control.
Researchers say nanomaterials hold the key to improving energy storage technology, which is crucial for integrating renewable energy sources into the grid. The technology can help stabilize energy supply and demand, making it possible to manage intermittent energy generation from solar and wind power.
Researchers have developed 'combo' nanoplatforms using graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide to enhance chemotherapy therapy. These nanocarriers can target tumors and improve drug delivery, reducing side effects on normal cells/tissues.
Researchers identify virulence factors in Aeromonas hydrophila infection, showing microbes modulate infection progress and strain interactions. The study's findings aim to develop therapies for lethal necrotizing fasciitis caused by the bacterium.
The ETH Zurich team's project, 'A Data-Centric Approach to Extreme-Scale Ab initio Dissipative Quantum Transport Simulations,' developed a new framework called DaCe OMEN for simulating heat in transistors. The simulation achieved a two-orders-of-magnitude speedup and can help design better computer chips.
A new study reveals that 31.7% of tropical Africa's vascular plant species are potentially threatened with extinction, while an additional 33.2% are potentially rare. The RAINBIO database was used to identify four regions in Africa most exposed to threats.
Researchers found that using diet pills and laxatives for weight control increased the odds of receiving a subsequent first eating disorder diagnosis by 80% and 320%, respectively. The study calls for policies to restrict access to these products, including banning their sale to minors.