A systematic review of medical masks vs. N95 respirators found that the former did not increase viral respiratory infection or clinical illness; however, N95 respirators are best for aerosol-generating procedures. The study suggests preserving N95 respirators for high-risk care and using medical masks for routine treatment.
Researchers have made significant progress in gene editing tools for ocean microbes, enabling functional studies of thousands of new genes. This breakthrough has the potential to improve our understanding of life's origins, biotechnology, medicine, and pharmacology.
Recent discoveries by ASU professors Xiaojun Tian and Xiao Wang explore the impact of memory circuit topologies on host cell behavior, revealing a first in the field of synthetic biology. The research expands scientific understanding of complex interactions between engineered gene circuits and biological host cells.
A new study reveals that the risk of transmitting the virus PPRV does not significantly increase with age, unlike its sibling virus measles. Instead, animals from pastoral areas are more likely to become infected compared to agropastoral areas.
Scientists have correctly determined the age of whale sharks using radioactive legacy of Cold War nuclear bomb tests. The discovery will help ensure the survival of the endangered species by accurately estimating its growth rate.
Researchers created pollen-based paper with responsive properties to humidity, allowing fine-tuning of responsiveness through variations in thickness and surface roughness. The material absorbs moisture, curls, and resumes its shape, demonstrating self-actuation and environmental sensitivity.
A global group of scientists warns of the accelerating rate of insect extinction, which could have severe consequences for the environment. The team highlights practical steps individuals can take to help conserve insects, such as reducing lawn mowing frequency, avoiding pesticides, and supporting conservation organizations.
A team led by Professor Shigeru Ida from Tokyo Institute of Technology suggests that Uranus was struck by a small icy planet, which tipped the young planet over and left behind its unique moon system. This model reproduces the current configuration of Uranus' satellites and may help explain other icy planets' configurations.
Scientists at Nanyang Technological University created a paper-like material from pollen that responds to changing humidity levels. The pollen paper can bend, flip, and move, making it useful for applications such as soft robots, sensors, and artificial muscles.
A study analyzing 2,646,550 college entrance tests in Chile found that removing a penalty for incorrect answers narrowed the gender gap in test scores, particularly among high-performing students in some STEM fields. This policy change also reduced the gender gap in the number of questions skipped.
The A4 study found that higher levels of the amyloid protein in the brain are associated with an early stage of Alzheimer's disease. The study analyzed data from 4,486 participants and showed that amyloid burden is linked to a family history of disease, lower cognitive test scores, and reports of daily cognitive decline.
A new study published in the Journal of Business Venturing found that older business entrepreneurs can be just as successful as their younger counterparts. The study also showed that women's chances of success increase with age. Meanwhile, midlife is considered a challenging time to start a business due to child care and elder care obl...
University of Groningen scientists study the rapid formation of thin films in real-time during spin-coating from solution. They discovered that adding a small amount of a 2D material to tin-based perovskites helps orient the crystals but forms an insulating layer that reduces efficiency.
A team of researchers from RIKEN has developed a new single-cell RNA sequencing method called Quartz-seq2 that outperforms other methods in terms of accuracy and reproducibility. The method was benchmarked against 13 different methods using a set of approximately 3,000 cells, and it scored highest on the benchmark.
Researchers from Kumamoto University found that the DsbA-L protein plays a crucial role in maintaining lung function in the elderly. They discovered that variations in the DsbA-L gene are associated with changes in respiratory function and antioxidant functionality. The study suggests that boosting DsbA-L expression may help promote he...
The study reports a counterpoint to the Casimir Force theory, exploring fluctuation-induced force between two plates immersed in isotropic turbulence. The findings have implications for understanding bacterial behavior and potentially influencing micro and nanomanufacturing.
Researchers found that ursolic acid promotes myelin repair in the central nervous system, even in chronic autoimmune disorders like multiple sclerosis. The study suggests a potential dual effect of ursolic acid in treating MS through both immunomodulation and direct remyelination.
New Medicare rules lowered procedural volume requirements for hospitals offering TAVR, increasing access for people with aortic stenosis and low surgical risk. However, concerns exist about whether the increased access will be in areas where it is truly needed, particularly in rural regions.
Studies involving over 2,800 people show that individuals prioritize environmental benefits over harms when allocating resources. Presenting solutions in terms of benefits rather than harms can help equate environmental conditions across communities and reduce environmental inequality.
A new machine learning method can predict battery health with 10x higher accuracy, enabling safer and more reliable batteries for electric vehicles and consumer electronics. The method is non-invasive and uses electrical pulses to measure the response of lithium-ion batteries.
Researchers discover ursolic acid reduces further damage to neurons and helps rebuild protective sheaths in MS, reversing damage. The compound suppresses harmful immune cells while activating precursor cells to produce myelin-sheath-making cells.
Researchers explore using CRISPR in nongenetic model plants, overcoming technical obstacles with adapted transformation systems. Polyploidy studies reveal the biological underpinnings of genetic consequences.
A new program in Boston improves child health by 32 percentage points and reduces anxiety and depression among parents within six months. Coordinated housing services address families' specific needs, leading to better overall health outcomes.
A recent study published in Injury Prevention journal reveals that men are more likely to drive dangerous vehicles and pose a higher risk to other road users. The researchers suggest that greater gender equity in road transport jobs could help lessen these risks.
Researchers at Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown identified a novel digestive-brain axis that influences food choice and behavior. The study found that post-ingestive signals from the liver through the Vagus Nerve play a crucial role in learning to prefer nutritious foods.
A new algorithm aims to protect operating room team members from Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and conserve personal protective equipment. The guideline assumes patients could be infected unless proven otherwise by a negative RT-PCR test.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies found that consuming a diet high in fiber was associated with a reduced incidence of breast cancer. The findings suggest that soluble fiber and higher total fiber intake are linked to lower risks of breast cancer, particularly in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.
A 900 AD human dispersal event occurred in eastern Polynesia, preceding colonization of the southern Cook Islands. Regional drought may have driven an incremental expansion into the region.
Researchers at the University of Bristol identified new mechanisms by which nanopillar structures kill bacteria, including cell impedance and oxidative stress. This breakthrough aims to develop antimicrobial surfaces for biomedical applications, such as medical implants and devices.
The chemical industry can achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by using carbon capture and storage (CCS) or carbon capture and utilization (CCU), which require more energy. Biomass-based production is another option, but with intensive land use requirements.
Researchers at Texas A&M University discovered that a majority of fungi associated with cotton can reduce galling caused by the Southern root knot nematode. The study found highly repeatable reductions in gall formation across independent trials, suggesting these fungi may have previously unappreciated positive effects on plant health.
A new study identifies consistent grip strength cut points relative to body weight, gender, and age group in a large nationally representative sample of participants. Researchers found that assessing normalized grip strength can routinely screen for type 2 diabetes in apparently healthy adults.
Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch have created a reverse genetic system for SARS coronavirus 2, allowing for quick development and evaluation of vaccines and diagnosis of infected patients. The system enables high-throughput testing in 12 hours, significantly reducing turnaround time compared to conventional methods.
Scientists successfully incorporated noncanonical amino acids into human hematopoietic stem cells, enabling the production of ncAA-containing proteins in living organisms. The modified stem cells provided a tool for studying human proteins in cell culture and living systems.
A new theoretical model breaks down vertical atmospheric movement into dry and moist components, explaining regional patterns of extreme precipitation sensitivity. The model suggests that climate warming impacts vary by latitude, with the dry component dominating in mid-latitudes.
Researchers investigate how ancient practices can inform modern resilience strategies in the face of climate change. Ancient communities adapted by leaving coastal areas during sea-level rise, using prickly pear cactus as a defensive barrier.
Researchers investigated restored prairies and found that first-year weather conditions have a lasting impact on their success. This unexpected finding suggests that long-term weather forecasts can help inform planting decisions to mitigate weed growth.
A new Johns Hopkins University study finds that for every percentage point increase in roads and impervious surfaces, annual floods increase by 3.3% on average. The research team used a large dataset of streamgages and impervious surface data to isolate the effect of urbanization on flooding.
Researchers found high concentrations of selenium in stream insects and spiders that eat them, indicating pollutants move from water to land as they form the food chain. The study showed that even streams without mining contamination can still have selenium-rich spiders, highlighting the persistence of toxic substances.
The Annual Review of Public Health has converted to open access, with all articles published under a CC BY license, thanks to the Subscribe to Open program. This move makes the journal's 2020 volume and back volumes freely available for new audiences and contributes to enhanced population health.
A study surveyed 2,400 US 12th-graders from 2015 to 2018, finding an increase in marijuana vaping and edible use. The researchers also found that smoking marijuana was the most common method of use among this age group.
Researchers have developed a platelet-rich plasma lysate that, when teamed with antibiotics, can eradicate bacterial biofilms common in joint infections. The therapy has shown great results in horses and may also be applied to humans and dogs.
Researchers at OIST Graduate University developed a new method to diagnose frailty using metabolomics and identified key biomarkers in the blood. The study found that 22 blood metabolites correlate with frailty, cognitive impairment, and hypomobility, offering potential for early diagnosis and treatment.
Grafted neurons derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells functionally integrated into brain circuitry and restored motor function in stroke-injured rats. The study suggests that stem cell-derived neurons can replace dead cells to restore motor function.
The new material exhibits high toughness, excellent electrical conductivity, high ambient stability, and good electromagnetic shielding performance. This innovation has the potential to revolutionize various fields such as electronics and energy storage.
Research reveals stronger Atlantic currents are key to 'Atlantification', where temperate species like Emiliania huxleyi thrive in Arctic waters. Satellite images show turquoise oceans reflecting the microalgae's shell, a phenomenon observed from space.
A phase II clinical trial found that immunotherapy significantly shrinks or clears tumors in patients with non-metastasized colon cancer. In the MSI subtype, all 20 patients (100%) benefited from the therapy, while 25% of those with MSS tumors also responded well.
New research reveals that up to 93% of North Atlantic Subtropical Mode Water has been lost in the past decade due to ocean warming, weakening its ability to absorb heat and carbon dioxide.
Researchers at Texas A&M University have made significant progress in developing drugs to treat COVID-19. The team, led by Wenshe Ray Liu, has refocused on searching for antiviral medicines to counteract the virus and its variants, with a focus on preventing replication inside human cells.
The University of Liège has developed an automated test for detecting SARS-CoV-2, allowing for 2000 daily tests. The technique enables rapid and reliable detection of carriers, regardless of symptoms, using a three-step process.
Heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm Irondro was displaced southeast of the center due to strong wind shear, with light rain throughout the rest of the storm. The storm had maximum sustained winds near 40 knots despite wind shear, and is expected to become a cold core low pressure area later in the day.
A team of NYU Abu Dhabi researchers have developed a new, one-pot synthetic approach to obtain water-stable and ready-to-use gold nanoparticles. These nanoparticles can be heated with a simple green laser, improving their ability to penetrate and destroy malignant cells through hyperthermia while releasing chemotherapeutic drugs.
Research from Joslin Diabetes Center found that autoantibodies against heart muscle proteins are associated with increased volume of the left ventricle, reduced pumping function, and higher risk of failure. The study suggests a novel process involving the heart linked to poor glycemic control in type 1 diabetes patients.
A clinical trial is underway to assess the potential treatment of COVID-19-related respiratory failure using the anti-clotting drug tPA. The trial aims to evaluate whether tPA can reduce deaths among patients with severe lung injury, alleviating an expected shortage of ventilators for critically ill patients.
Gliomas alter astrocyte function, preventing the brain from removing excess excitatory chemicals, which can lead to seizures. The study found that scar-forming astrocytes surrounding tumors play a crucial role in this process.
Researchers from Denmark and Italy found a probable correlation between air pollution and mortality in northern Italy's Lombardy and Emilia Romagna regions. High levels of air pollution may weaken patients' bodies, making them more susceptible to COVID-19 complications.
A new study found that religious believers see God as encouraging people to treat others in a more universal manner, across different religious groups in Fiji and Israel. This suggests that religious belief can attenuate, rather than promote, religious tension.
A Rutgers-led study uses radioactivity from nuclear explosions to estimate whale shark ages, revealing the oldest known individuals at around 50 years old. This research provides crucial information for conservation strategies, as whale sharks are highly susceptible to human impacts such as ship strikes.
A Stanford study reports a new smart toilet that monitors for signs of disease using motion sensing, video analysis, and molecular testing. The device can detect various biomarkers, including those for colorectal or urologic cancers, and is designed to provide precise, individualized health feedback.
University of Arkansas physicists have discovered materials with higher quantum spin numbers and applied physical strain to tune magnetic states. This expands the list of potential candidates for Kitaev-type quantum spin liquids, a key step towards proving their existence.