A new gene therapy aims to 'switch off' genes that promote cardiovascular disease by reducing fatty material buildup in arteries. The treatment, developed at the University of Sheffield, has the potential to slow or stop the progression of heart disease.
A study of over 1000 people aged 70 found that those who played non-digital games scored better on memory and thinking tests. Increasing game playing during their 70s also predicted maintaining certain thinking skills as they grew older.
A new analysis from Texas Tech University shows two-thirds of people who sext do so for non-sexual reasons, including relationship reassurance and favor exchanges. The study found three main motivations behind sexting: foreplay, relationship reassurance, and favor exchanges.
Researchers have developed ternary organic solar cells with non-fullerene electron acceptors or polymer donors, improving spectral response and photon-harvesting capabilities. The addition of these third components enhances energy and charge transfer, leading to increased efficiency and potentially semi-transparent solar cells.
Researchers from POSTECH successfully developed a photodiode with increased absorption of the near-infrared light by using the hourglass principle. The new device has been shown to have 29% increased near-infrared photoreseponse and less than 1% error rate in heart-rate measurement.
Between 1968 and 2017, object-related choking deaths among children and teens decreased from 1.02 per 100,000 in 1968 to 0.25 per 100,000 in 2017, with a total of 20,629 reported deaths during this period
Researchers found that a plant-based compound called halofuginone improves the immune response to a potential dengue vaccine in mice, producing twice as many antibodies and binding more strongly. The compound mimics amino acid starvation, activating a pathway that results in better antibodies.
A new study found that a one-off dose of ketamine can significantly reduce urges to drink and prolonged decrease alcohol intake in heavy drinkers. After reactivating their drinking-related memories, participants who received ketamine showed rapid improvement and sustained reduction over nine months.
A new software tool, developed at KAUST, allows researchers to visualize and design catalytic pockets using topographic steric maps. This helps improve the understanding of how known catalysts function and guides exploration of chemical modifications to create better catalysts.
Researchers argue that climate change has a disproportionate impact on disabled populations, limiting access to knowledge and resources. The study highlights the need for urgent research into the intersection of disability rights and climate change.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a method to automatically identify memes and apply prewritten templates to add descriptive alt text, making them intelligible via existing assistive technologies. This system aims to bridge the gap in accessibility for meme usage among people with visual impairments.
A novel theranostic reagent has been developed to detect and treat metastatic prostate cancer, achieving high imaging accuracy. The reagent targets STEAP1 antigen, identifying lesions in patients with a significant number of positive results.
A new study found that biennial mammography screening resulted in smaller and less advanced breast cancer tumors compared to annual screenings. The study also discovered that women receiving biennial screenings tended to have more aggressive treatment options, such as chemotherapy and axillary lymph node dissection.
Researchers propose a new safety barrier for large Light Water Reactors, which they claim could have prevented the devastating accidents at Chernobyl and Fukushima. The barrier is expected to reduce the probability of core melt to that of a large meteorite hitting the site.
Choking deaths in US children have decreased by 75% over the past 50 years, attributed to choking hazard regulations. Despite this progress, 184 child deaths occurred in 2017, highlighting the need for continued vigilance.
A Brazilian consortium is working with international partners to develop new treatments for Malaria, Chagas disease and visceral leishmaniasis. The goal is to create a rapid-acting anti-malarial molecule that can eliminate the parasite without resistance development.
A new algorithm developed by University of California, Riverside researchers can spot patterns in massive datasets quickly, improving earthquake detection and monitoring insect vectors. The SCAMP algorithm has been used to detect 16 times more earthquakes than previously known and can also analyze the behavior of chickens.
Researchers at Queen's University Belfast have developed a low-cost technique to convert brewery waste into carbon, which can be used as a renewable fuel or in water filters. The method creates activated carbon and carbon nanotubes from barley waste, reducing emissions linked with the agriculture sector and creating a high-value product.
Researchers have used physics-based redesign to optimize the industrial bread dough kneading process. Their simulations showed that radial mixing in a spiral kneader is more effective than vertical mixing, leading to improved bread quality. The findings could lead to enhanced mixing performance and reduced over- or under-kneading.
NASA is sending five airborne campaigns across the US to investigate fundamental processes that impact human lives and the environment. These campaigns will conduct science on high-altitude aircraft, autonomous gliders, and floats to study snowstorms, ocean eddies, and river deltas.
Patients qualifying for Medicare due to disability have the highest rates of opioid overdose deaths. The majority of these deaths occur among individuals with substance misuse or psychiatric diseases, highlighting the need for targeted treatment programs.
A new National Institutes of Health study reveals that uncommitted neural stems cells generally survive La Crosse virus (LACV) infection, while neurons are more susceptible. Interferon therapy successfully protects neurons from LACV-induced death in a cerebral organoid model.
A new study presents a minimally invasive procedure using focused ultrasound to reduce tremors and improve quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease. The treatment, known as MRgFUS thalamotomy, shows substantial improvement in 95% of patients, with significant reductions in tremor severity and quality of life.
Researchers at the University of Birmingham are exploring how mast cells play a role in DVT, a condition that affects tens of thousands of people in the UK each year. By studying mast cells in mice and humans, they hope to develop new medicines that can reduce the risk of bleeding while preventing the condition.
Researchers from VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research found that HMGB1 controls the actions of neutrophils, a specific type of immune cells, in skin wounds and that this is crucial for cancer initiation. Targeting this pathway could be beneficial in diabetic wound care and in patients suffering from skin blistering diseases.
A study published in PLOS Medicine found that co-prescribing benzodiazepines with opioid agonist treatment increases the risk of overdose death by three-fold. Doctors should avoid this practice, especially for patients who have recently left treatment or continue to use opioid drugs.
Researchers developed a rapid diagnostic method for detecting celiac disease antibodies, offering a promising solution to overcome the vast underdiagnosis of this condition. The new method, called RFS, can provide results in less than half an hour, significantly reducing the time and complexity of current testing procedures.
Research reveals that inhibiting Mcl-1 protein can induce apoptosis in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cells, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy for this type of cancer. The study also found that combining Mcl-1 inhibition with ABT-263 increased cell death in ER+ breast cancer cells.
A new integrated conversion process reduces emissions by 40-96% using ethanol, making biofuels more sustainable. Researchers developed a one-step conversion method to lower costs and environmental footprint.
Economists propose a novel approach to measuring inequality, accounting for individual relationships and social interactions. The new method correctly calculates the Gini coefficient by considering differences between individuals' wealth, not just individual values.
KAUST scientists have identified MAP4K4 as a key player in plant immunity, essential for proper responses to environmental pathogens. The discovery reveals targets in a molecular pathway that could be manipulated by crop breeders to make plants more resistant.
A team of investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital has identified a specific microRNA, miR-30d, that increases during peak disease in MS patients. Orally administering a synthetic version of the microRNA prevented disease in a preclinical mouse model.
A study found that clownfish population persistence depends on high-quality habitats, not shared genes. The researchers identified individual fish and their DNA over five generations to assess reproductive success.
Scientists have identified nearly thousand ISG15 sites on protein targets during bacterial infection, revealing a link between ISG15, cellular metabolism, and autophagy. This discovery may lead to novel antimicrobial drugs.
Researchers at NUS used machine learning tools to discover that stable information can be found within the changing neural population code in the frontal lobe. This finding has broader implications for understanding cognitive flexibility and multiple brain regions interacting with each other.
Research found that individuals with long-term muscle inactivity lose more explosive strength than maximum strength. Rehabilitation programs should focus on building explosive strength to help prevent joint injuries and balance issues.
Researchers found that space travel disrupts intestinal epithelial cell barrier function even after return to Earth. The microgravity environment weakens the immune system and increases gastrointestinal permeability.
A new study suggests that summer monsoons from Asia and Africa reached the Middle East at least 125,000 years ago, providing suitable corridors for human migration. This finding corresponds with cyclical changes in Earth's orbit that brought increased summer precipitation, supporting animal and human migration into the region.
A multi-drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus lineage known as the Bengal Bay clone has spread globally, causing severe disease and raising concerns about antibiotic resistance. The bacteria combines high virulence potential with multi-drug resistance, making it a significant public health issue.
Renée Fleming, acclaimed soprano and neuroscience research advocate, will receive the Isadore Rosenfeld Award for her commitment to research advocacy at the intersection of music, brain function, and wellness. Her work with the Sound Health Initiative enhances public awareness about how the brain interacts with music.
Analysis of US life expectancy reveals a nearly 10-year increase from 69.9 years in 1959 to 78.9 years in 2016, driven by factors such as drug overdoses, suicides, and organ system diseases among working-age adults.
NASA used infrared data from its Aqua satellite to identify the storm's strongest areas, where coldest cloud top temperatures were recorded. The research indicates that these cold temperatures are indicative of strong storms capable of producing heavy rain.
Researchers found that a specific toxin in Staphylococcus aureus prevents tolerance and maintains the immune system's vigilance. Early-life exposure to commensal bacteria like S. epidermidis leads to immune tolerance, while later exposure to pathogenic S. aureus results in a vigorous immune response.
A new VCU study finds that mortality among 25 to 64 year-olds is increasing, particularly in Rust Belt states and Appalachia. The trend of rising death rates is linked to causes such as drug overdoses, alcohol abuse, and suicides, as well as organ system diseases.
The Bulwer's petrel can fly up to 1,800 kilometers from the Canary archipelago to the Azores in search of food. The new study provides the most comprehensive scientific data on the species' space ecology, diet and daily/annual movement patterns.
Researchers Éric A. Cohen and Tram NQ Pham have discovered a method to suppress HIV infection in humanized mice by boosting the levels of plasmacytoid dendritic cells, which can help control the spread of the virus at its early stages.
Researchers created a high-electron mobility transistor with record-low gate leakage current, high on/off current ratio, and high current gain cutoff frequency. The device has the potential to expand bandwidth for wireless communication systems, enabling more information transmission in less battery life.
The University of Texas at Arlington is conducting pioneering research on concrete pipes reinforced with synthetic fibers to test their strength and durability. The project aims to develop longer-lasting pipes that can last for over 100 years, reducing the need for frequent replacements.
A 12-month trial in Guangzhou found significant reduction in weight gain among children participating in a physical activity and healthy eating intervention. The CHIRPY DRAGON programme also improved fruit and vegetable consumption, less screen time, and more physical activity.
New research from La Trobe University found that public health policies on alcohol and tobacco implemented in the 1960s significantly reduced Australian cancer death rates. The study, published in BMC Medicine, analyzed data from 1911 to 2013 and found that key policies such as random breath testing programs, plain cigarette packaging,...
A study found that women without children increased their binge drinking from 21% to 42% between 2006 and 2018. In contrast, men without children reported the highest levels of binge drinking, while young men with children experienced a decline. The researchers suggest physicians should screen all adults for alcohol use disorders.
Researchers found that type I interferon disrupts the urea cycle in liver cells, leading to altered serum metabolite concentrations and reduced liver pathology. This regulation affects antiviral immunity and reduces liver damage.
A new study reveals that caspase-8 controls multiple cell death mechanisms, including pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis. The research found that the enzymatic activity of caspase-8 is required to inhibit pyroptosis, while inactive caspase-8 induces pyroptosis when necroptosis is blocked.
Researchers will enroll 129 patients with upper extremity hemiparesis and limited hand movement to test contralaterally controlled functional electrical stimulation (CCFES), a new rehabilitation intervention developed by Jayme S. Knutson, PhD. The study aims to determine the optimal method for restoring hand function in stroke survivors.
Researchers on Australia's first space research mission to the International Space Station will investigate how microgravity affects aggressive cancers like ovarian, breast, and lung cancer. The mission may lead to new treatments that enhance existing therapies.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have discovered a significant overlap between genetic mutations causing autism and those related to Alzheimer's disease. The study found thousands of mutations in the aging brains of Alzheimer's patients, including those affecting the protein ADNP.
A new modeling approach can help researchers, policymakers and the public better understand how policy decisions will influence human migration as sea levels rise. The approach suggests that global policy decisions about greenhouse gas emissions and coastal policies will determine whether people need to migrate and where they may go.
Brazilian researchers have reinterpreted the second law of thermodynamics by introducing statistical fluctuations, revealing that entropy can sometimes decrease. This study has practical interest for nanoscale machines and establishes a floor for fluctuations in thermodynamic quantities.
Scientists explore how fire ants build rafts to respond to changes in their environment during floods. The ants' ability to sense and adjust to fluid forces enables the formation of durable and safer rafts.
A new program, CRUP, simplifies analysis of enhancer regions and their target genes in the genome. The tool identifies active enhancers and links them to their respective genes, helping researchers understand complex diseases.