A study of nearly 7,000 resident surgeons found widespread racial/ethnic discrimination in US general surgery programs, linked to increased burnout and suicidal thoughts. The investigation aims to shed light on the prevalence and impact of these issues, highlighting the need for greater inclusivity and support.
Researchers at UAB create novel boron-rich boron-carbide material with 37% the hardness of cubic diamond, showing promise for applications under extreme conditions. The new material has a chemical formula B50C2, chemically stable and acting as an insulator.
SourceUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham·JournalScientific Reports·DateApr 15, 2020
Researchers at Lancaster University's T2K experiment have found that almost half of the possible parameter values governing matter-antimatter asymmetry in the Universe have been disfavoured. This discovery suggests a basic property of neutrinos, one of the fundamental particles making up the Universe.
Researchers used a new geochemical tool to analyze volatile elements in Earth's interior, revealing that nitrogen has been present since the planet's formation. The method, which identifies air contamination, provides valuable insights into the evolution of our planet and may also be used to monitor volcanic activity.
SourceWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution·JournalNature·DateApr 15, 2020
Researchers have found that neutrinos and antineutrinos behave differently, providing a possible explanation for the universe's dominant matter content. The T2K experiment detected subtle discrepancies in their oscillation rates, shedding light on physics' deepest mysteries.
SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalNature·DateApr 15, 2020
A large cohort study found that donor lymphocyte infusion and intensified conditioning improve outcomes for patients with relapsed/refractory leukemia, achieving high 3-year leukemia-free survival rates. The study also showed that these interventions have varying impacts on different types of leukemia and donor recipients.
SourceScience China Press·JournalScience China Life Sciences·DateApr 15, 2020
Researchers used satellite galaxies Draco and Fornax to test the self-interacting dark matter (SIDM) model, which explains diverse dark matter distributions. SIDM produces novel signatures in subhalos that differ from the prevailing Cold Dark Matter theory.
SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 15, 2020
A new low-cost imaging system can accurately identify Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which spread Zika, dengue, and yellow fever. The system enables faster and more targeted control of mosquito-borne diseases, saving lives.
SourceOptica·JournalBiomedical Optics Express·DateApr 15, 2020
The University of Texas at El Paso has been awarded a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation to establish engineering leadership academies. The program aims to improve undergraduate STEM education, particularly at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), by supporting non-tenure-eligible Engineering Instructional Faculty.
Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine found that adult brain cells revert to an embryonic state after injury, allowing them to regenerate new connections. The study identifies the essential genetic pathway involved in this process, which sustains regeneration by a gene known as Huntingtin.
SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalNature·DateApr 15, 2020
The researchers have demonstrated a world record for the largest spectral, color-tuning range from an atomically thin quantum system. By stretching the material, they induced mechanical expansion of the quantum source, resulting in dramatic tuning range of colors emitted by quantum light.
SourceUniversity of Technology Sydney·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateApr 15, 2020
Abnormal stem cells in COPD patients drive key features of the disease, including mucins that block airways and fibrosis and inflammation. Researchers have identified specific cells responsible for COPD pathology and are screening them against drug libraries to discover new treatments.
Researchers developed tools to help emergency response and relief managers assign volunteers efficiently. The 'Largest Weighted Demand' (LWD) policy assigns volunteers to the task with the most work left, prioritizing importance. However, for tasks with unclear workloads, alternative policies like 'Largest Queue Clearing Time' (LQCT) m...
SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalOmega·DateApr 15, 2020
A team of scientists has developed a new 2D catalyst that can improve the efficiency of water purification using hydrogen peroxide. The catalyst, composed of two co-catalysts on one nanosheet, was designed to increase the efficiency of the process without additional chemical treatment.
SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 15, 2020
A new imaging technique combining high-resolution imaging with quantitative measurement of tissue elasticity can detect cancer within resected margins of breast-conserving surgery. The study found QME to have high sensitivity and specificity for detecting cancer, reducing the need for additional surgeries.
SourceAmerican Association for Cancer Research·JournalCancer Research·DateApr 15, 2020
Researchers found baloxavir treatment reduced infectious viral shedding and transmission of the flu virus among infected ferrets. The study suggests antivirals could reduce community-based viral spread and support the idea that decreasing viral shedding could also reduce influenza transmission in humans.
Researchers at Stockholm University have developed a method to speed up quantum computing using giant Rydberg ions, which can exchange quantum information in under a microsecond. This breakthrough could lead to the creation of scalable quantum computers for complex calculations.
Researchers discovered a key role for H2-O chaperone protein in protecting the immune system from autoimmunity, which causes diseases such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. The study found that the absence of H2-O disrupted normal helper T cell function, leading to autoimmune reactions.
SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalPLOS Biology·DateApr 15, 2020
Researchers measured oxygen consumption in wild-caught lesser treeshrews across various temperatures. The study found that Bornean treeshrews have a high upper limit of the thermoneutral zone, contradicting current assumptions.
SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalPhysiological and Biochemical Zoology·DateApr 15, 2020
A new clinical trial aims to find effective alternative solutions for critically ill COVID-19 patients, reducing the need for treatment with a ventilator and improving patient outcomes. The RECOVERY-RS Respiratory Support trial will compare standard care with non-invasive treatments using masks or high-flow oxygen.
Researchers develop strong, comfortable fabric that adapts to changing weather conditions by absorbing and releasing thermal energy. The fabric, made from silk and chitosan with phase-changing polymer PEG, can be worn indoors or outdoors, reducing the need for air conditioning or heat.
SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateApr 15, 2020
A recent study by University of Guelph researchers found that logging in Ontario's boreal stands is threatening the population of endangered woodland caribou. The team analyzed video collars attached to 30 caribou, as well as GPS-tracking radio collars on wolves and caribou, to monitor their movements and find evidence of predation.
SourceUniversity of Guelph·JournalJournal of Wildlife Management·DateApr 15, 2020
A new study found that households with children emit over 25% more carbon dioxide than childless households. Parents' concerns about the environment do not translate to a reduction in carbon footprint, but rather increased transportation and food consumption. This disparity is likely due to time constraints and the need for convenience.
SourceUniversity of Wyoming·JournalPLOS ONE·DateApr 15, 2020
A study of over 9,500 women veterans found that those with PTSD or moral injury are more likely to experience negative pregnancy outcomes and postpartum depression. The researchers highlight the importance of screening for these conditions in obstetric settings.
SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalJournal of Traumatic Stress·DateApr 15, 2020
Probiotic intervention has been found to have a positive impact on neurologic manifestations of neurological and psychiatric disorders, including depression and cognitive impairments. Regular intake of probiotic bacteria has been shown to improve gut health and strengthen the brain-gut axis.
SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalThe Open Microbiology Journal·DateApr 15, 2020
Researchers have created a faster and more accurate COVID-19 test using plasmonic photothermal sensing, detecting SARS-CoV-2 RNA in minutes. The test can discriminate between SARS-CoV-2 and its close relative, reducing false-positive results.
SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Nano·DateApr 15, 2020
New research reveals that mature forests do not retain extra carbon absorbed from elevated CO2 levels, but instead release it back to the atmosphere. The study's findings have significant implications for climate models and future carbon sequestration strategies.
SourceEstonian Research Council·JournalNature·DateApr 15, 2020
Researchers at VTT have successfully broken down FODMAP compounds using enzymes, creating new stomach-friendly plant-based food products. This innovation allows for a more inclusive plant-based diet, reducing the need to avoid healthy foods that contain FODMAPs.
SourceVTT Technical Research Centre of Finland·JournalTrends in Food Science & Technology·DateApr 15, 2020
Research analyzing genetic data of over 42,000 children reveals a strong link between childhood emotional and psychiatric issues and increased risk of adult depression, insomnia, and other conditions. Higher genetic vulnerability scores were associated with reduced educational attainment and emotional wellbeing.
SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalJAMA Psychiatry·DateApr 15, 2020
Researchers study pterosaur fossils to understand their wing anatomy and flight capabilities, revealing novel tactics for bioinspired flight technology. By analyzing the morphology and predicted flight mechanics of these ancient creatures, scientists may be able to overcome hurdles still hindering man-made flight.
SourceCell Press·JournalTrends in Ecology & Evolution·DateApr 15, 2020
A team of Stanford engineers has created a new lidar technology using a single silicon chip, reducing costs from $8,000 to $30,000. The breakthrough enables the mass production of affordable lidars, a crucial component for autonomous cars.
SourceStanford University School of Engineering·JournalNature Photonics·DateApr 15, 2020
A recent study found that young adults in Australia are leaving it 'too late' to seek help for eating disorders due to various barriers. Concerns about autonomy, fear of being a burden, and perceptions of the illness's severity prevent many from seeking professional advice.
SourceFlinders University·JournalInternational Journal of Eating Disorders·DateApr 15, 2020
China's wine culture dates back over 9,000 years, with archaeological evidence showing the oldest known alcoholic drink. Viticulture emerged around 8,000 years ago in Georgia, but China played a significant role in Eurasian wine history.
SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·DateApr 15, 2020
Researchers at UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center identified a possible new drug, NSPP, that prevents cognitive decline in mice after radiation therapy for brain tumors. The study found the drug did not reduce radiation treatment efficacy.
SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalNeuro-Oncology·DateApr 15, 2020
In the context of a resource-scarce COVID-19 treatment, ECMO physicians outline their approach to care and provide guidelines for medical centers to respond to patients' needs. The guidance emphasizes optimizing resource utilization to prioritize patients with severe respiratory failure but without other significant co-morbidities.
SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAnnals of the American Thoracic Society·DateApr 15, 2020
Caspase-6 plays a critical role in regulating the ZBP1-NLRP3 inflammasome, facilitating PANoptosis during viral infection. Modulation of caspase-6 could be beneficial for treating viral diseases like influenza and other inflammatory diseases including cancer.
SourceSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital·JournalCell·DateApr 15, 2020
Scientists have discovered a way to directly reprogram skin cells into light-sensing rod photoreceptors, enabling blind mice to detect light after transplantation. The technique, which took only 10 days to produce functional cells, has the potential to model eye disease and advance therapies for age-related macular degeneration.
SourceNIH/National Eye Institute·JournalNature·DateApr 15, 2020
Scientists are working at breakneck speeds to develop new diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines for COVID-19. Researchers are testing existing drugs, developing brand-new diagnostics, and utilizing gene-editing tools like CRISPR to combat the novel coronavirus.
SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateApr 15, 2020
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara find the skin's elasticity helps process tactile information, enabling efficient data compression. This discovery may lead to new prosthetic limb designs and improved tactile sensing for robots.
SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 15, 2020
A study by Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin reveals that the amoeba Entamoeba gingivalis plays a key role in periodontitis, causing inflammation and tissue destruction. The parasite's elimination may improve treatment outcomes for patients with gum disease.
SourceCharité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin·JournalJournal of Dental Research·DateApr 15, 2020
Researchers used network pharmacology to analyze Zhichan powder's effects on Parkinson's disease, identifying 18 major active components. This study provides new insights into the mechanism of action of Traditional Chinese Medicine prescriptions.
SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalCombinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening·DateApr 15, 2020
Researchers at HKU discovered that corals' reliance on certain nutritional sources underpins their bleaching susceptibility in warming oceans. The team found that predatory corals can withstand warmer temperatures longer than photosynthetic corals.
SourceThe University of Hong Kong·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 15, 2020
Researchers created a universal model of nanobubbles to study the behavior of trapped substances. The model predicts bubble shape under thermodynamic conditions and describes molecular structure.
SourceSkolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech)·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·DateApr 15, 2020
Research found that breastfeeding significantly influences viral populations in infant guts, providing a protective effect against pathogenic viruses. Even small amounts of breastmilk can reduce the risk of early gastrointestinal disorders.
SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalNature·DateApr 15, 2020
Regular aspirin use is linked to reduced risk of bowel, oesophageal, stomach, and pancreatic cancers. Aspirin doses between 75-500mg/day are associated with increased cancer risk reduction.
SourceEuropean Society for Medical Oncology·JournalAnnals of Oncology·DateApr 15, 2020
Researchers developed an extremely low-density tin 'bubble' to overcome EUV light source limitations. This innovation enables efficient and low-cost production of compact, high-performance integrated chips.
SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalScientific Reports·DateApr 15, 2020
Children have an insatiable appetite for understanding why things happen, leading them to be 'little scientists'. A new study suggests that storybooks rich in causal information can increase children's interest in reading. By choosing such books, parents and teachers can foster early literacy and language skills.
SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateApr 15, 2020
The T2K Collaboration has published new results showing the strongest constraint yet on the parameter governing the breaking of matter-antimatter symmetry in neutrino oscillations. The analysis of data collected through 2018 reveals a significant enhancement of the oscillation probability of neutrinos, favoring values close to δcp=90º.
Research suggests exercise can prevent or reduce severity of ARDS, a major cause of death in COVID-19 patients. Regular physical activity increases production of antioxidant EcSOD, which may provide protection against severe respiratory disease.
SourceUniversity of Virginia Health System·JournalRedox Biology·DateApr 15, 2020
Research published in Diabetologia found that obesity increases type 2 diabetes risk by at least 6 times, even among those with low genetic risk. The study highlights the importance of weight management and healthy lifestyle in preventing type 2 diabetes across all genetic risk groups.
Researchers discovered evidence of milk processing in ancient pottery from east Africa, confirming the story that bones have been telling us about pastoralist societies' way of life. The findings suggest that herders who specialized in cattle were drinking milk and survived better due to lactase persistence.
SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 15, 2020
Researchers propose Anticipated Learning Machine (ALM) for precise future-state predictions based on short-term data. ALM efficiently reconstructs dynamics even with a small number of samples by constraining to a low-dimension space.
SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·DateApr 15, 2020
A Korean research team has developed an ultrathin MXene film with exceptional absolute electromagnetic shielding performance, outperforming any other material reported to date. The film's thickness can be customized to provide 99% electromagnetic shielding efficiency.
SourceNational Research Council of Science & Technology·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateApr 15, 2020
Multispecific drugs have the potential to target 85% of currently thought-of-as-undruggable proteins. By inducing proximity between targets and natural enzymes or cells, they can harness biology's power to go beyond conventional drugs.
Researchers at the University of Arkansas will lead a multi-institutional project to protect solar technologies from cyberattack. The project aims to develop cybersecurity systems for photovoltaic energy technology and devices, including solar PV inverters.
A Ludwig Cancer Research study discovered that a gut microbiome metabolite, isoDCA, enhances the generation of regulatory T cells in the colon. This boost helps suppress chronic intestinal inflammation, a major driver of colorectal cancers.
SourceLudwig Institute for Cancer Research·JournalNature·DateApr 15, 2020
Scientists have successfully determined the density of liquid iron and sound propagation speed through it at extremely high pressures. They found the density of the molten outer core to be about 8 percent less dense than pure liquid iron, suggesting the presence of additional lighter elements.
SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 15, 2020
Scientists at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory have developed a new technique to predict fusion energy performance using advanced mathematical modeling. This approach combines millisecond behavior with longer-term forecasts, enabling accurate predictions of plasma temperature profiles and heat fluxes at significantly reduced computa...
SourceDOE/Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory·JournalPhysics of Plasmas·DateApr 15, 2020
A WPI researcher's paper on the novel coronavirus has been published in a leading virology journal, revealing key findings on its structure and potential targets for treatment. The study found similarities between the COVID-19 virus and SARS, suggesting new antiviral strategies.
SourceWorcester Polytechnic Institute·JournalViruses·DateApr 15, 2020
The study found that exceptional atmospheric circulation patterns contributed significantly to the record ice loss, which may be underestimated by current climate models. The lack of snowfall and resulting clear skies led to increased melting and runoff, resulting in a sea level rise of about 1.5 millimeters.
SourceColumbia Climate School·JournalThe Cryosphere·DateApr 15, 2020