A study published in PLOS ONE introduces a new flow cytometry method for diagnosing male urethritis, which is faster and more precise than existing methods. The study found that gonorrhoea causes the highest inflammatory reaction and bacterial count in urine, highlighting the potential of this technique for rapid screening.
A recent study has identified a genetic variation that influences cognition and IQ in people with schizophrenia, suggesting the possibility of developing new therapies to target learning and memory problems. Higher levels of a specific brain chemical were found to be associated with better visual and working memory.
Researchers found southern Australian long-finned pilot whales can mimic killer whale calls and engage in 'duetting' with other whales, revealing a complex acoustic communication system. The study's findings raise questions about the extent of home ranges for these whales.
Researchers are using cutting-edge technology to analyze immune cell interactions in lupus patients, identifying potential targets for new therapies. The Lupus Mechanisms and Targets Award will support innovative studies aimed at improving diagnostics and treatments for the disease.
At a depth of 1,180 meters, temperatures of up to 120 degrees Celsius were reached, but microbial populations collapsed at around 45 degrees. Endospores, dormant cells of certain bacteria, increased rapidly and persisted in hot zones.
Researchers found that coral reef ecosystems can no longer retain deposits of calcium carbonate due to ocean warming and acidification, leading to accelerated erosion. By the end of the century, coastal protection will be lost, impacting infrastructure and communities.
A new study demonstrates a high-definition brain prosthesis that can recreate complex shapes and letters in the minds of macaque monkeys. The device, containing 1024 electrodes, successfully evokes phosphenes and allows animals to recognize patterns.
A study published in PLOS Computational Biology found that certain animal species are susceptible to COVID-19 due to distinct structural features of the ACE2 receptor protein. The researchers used 3D modeling to simulate protein interactions and identified key features that enable viral entry into human cells.
Scientists at the University of Illinois have developed a new way to model hypersonic flow, allowing for a better understanding of thermal protection systems and heat shields. The research uses quantum physics and machine learning to simulate the interactions between molecules and atoms in extreme environments.
Researchers suggest a cluster of Alaskan islands may be part of a single, undiscovered giant volcano, with implications for understanding caldera-forming eruptions and the frequent explosive activity at Mount Cleveland. The proposed caldera would be even larger than Okmok and could have had significant global effects.
Researchers discovered that a molecule related to tire preservative 6PPD is highly toxic to coho salmon, causing acute mortality. The team identified 6PPD-quinone as the culprit chemical, which transforms when exposed to ozone and kills salmon.
Researchers from the University of Barcelona, HZDR, and TU Darmstadt investigate the effects of simultaneously exposing alloys to magnetic fields and mechanical stress. They found that certain materials can boost their cooling efficiency by up to doubling it with commercially available neodymium permanent magnets.
A study by St. Petersburg University found that vaccination against tuberculosis with the BCG vaccine can slow down the spread of COVID-19 and reduce its course. The analysis showed a correlation between BCG vaccination and lower mortality rates in countries where national immunization programs are well-established.
Researchers found that residual disinfectants in drinking water distribution systems react with chromium in iron pipes to produce carcinogenic hexavalent chromium. The study recommends reducing the use of pipes with high levels of chromium alloy and using a less reactive disinfectant.
Researchers use ultra-bright X-rays to measure ion velocity and concentration, providing unprecedented insight into battery performance. The breakthrough discovery opens doors to optimizing battery designs for specific uses.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have derived a new intermediate embryonic stem cell type that can contribute to chimeras and create precursors to sperm and eggs in culture. This discovery could lead to advances in basic biology, regenerative medicine, and reproductive technology.
Researchers ran supercomputer simulations to track material from the early Earth and a Mars-sized planet, Theia, after their collision. Simulations produced an orbiting body that could potentially evolve into a Moon-like object.
National mortality trends following cancer surgery improved for Black and white patients, with a 0.12% and 0.14% decline per year, respectively. However, the racial gap in mortality rates persisted, indicating a need for targeted efforts to address disparities in cancer surgery outcomes.
Researchers evaluated the efficacy and safety of fibryga, Octaplas, and Octaplex in treating congenital and acquired bleeding disorders. Fibryga demonstrated efficacy in on-demand treatment and perioperative prophylaxis for patients with rare congenital fibrinogen deficiency.
The NCCU project aims to apply evidence-based findings into real-world applications, addressing health disparities in underserved communities. Community advisory boards and focus groups will be formed to engage communities and support mentoring and networking efforts.
A group of seven interdisciplinary scientists published a review paper highlighting specific gaps in the research on live microbes and health outcomes. They argue that there is only weak evidence to date confirming the link between live microbes and better human health, and propose a plan for quantifying this relationship.
The study uses self-reported data from over 2.8 million users to provide accurate estimates of COVID-19 prevalence and incidence, detecting regional hotspots and informing policy makers on targeted testing capacity. The app's daily data release enables early detection of changes in incidence or prevalence.
A new software developed by Johns Hopkins University researchers can accelerate genetic testing and deliver diagnoses outside of labs. The technology reduces sequencing time from 15 days or more to just three days.
Researchers at Huntsman Cancer Institute have identified a potential drug combination to treat uveal melanoma by targeting genes GNAQ and GNA11. The study showed that using trametinib and hydroxychloroquine together led to more cell deaths than the drugs alone.
Researchers at UBC Okanagan have conducted extensive wind testing on tall mass-timber buildings and found that they can withstand high-wind events up to 20 storeys. However, for taller buildings, aerodynamic and structural improvements are needed to address excessive wind-induced motion.
A recent study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that the Andes virus, carried by wild rodents, can cause severe respiratory disease in humans through extensive person-to-person contact. The outbreak in a small village in Argentina had the most extensive recorded human-to-human transmission of the virus to date.
The new data includes exceptionally accurate measurements of the 300,000 stars within the closest 326 light years to the Sun. Researchers predict how the star background will change in the next 1.6 million years and confirm that the Solar system is accelerating in its orbit around the Galaxy.
A new study from the University of Eastern Finland found that consuming blackcurrants after a meal can attenuate the rise and fall of blood glucose levels. The beneficial effect is attributed to berry-derived polyphenolic compounds, specifically anthocyanins, which slow down glucose absorption and reduce oxidative stress.
Researchers found bacteria that feed on toxic halogenated compounds, providing a potential mechanism for measuring exposure to semi-volatile organic compounds. The study suggests that certain SVOCs are correlated with the abundance of bacterial and fungal species in children's guts.
Researchers propose minimal extension to classic equilibrium model, capturing high specificity and noise in eukaryotic gene expression. The new model suggests a trade-off between specificity and noise, with high specificity leading to increased noise.
A prototype 16-channel head AIR coil from GE Healthcare has been shown to perform better than a conventional 8-channel head coil for in vivo whole-brain imaging, but not as well as a 32-channel coil. The coil's lightweight and flexible design exhibits improved electrical characteristics that could lead to future design improvements.
Research by KAUST reveals that sand temperatures at Red Sea nesting sites have exceeded the pivotal temperature threshold of 29.2 degrees Celsius, leading to feminization of hatchlings and potential mass mortality.
A new laser-based method allows researchers to map the electronic structures of crystals at room temperature, revealing potential capabilities for solar cells, LED lights, and artificial photosynthesis. The technique also enables the design of novel semiconductor-based quantum devices.
Researchers found metformin use reduced mortality risk by 21-24% among female patients hospitalized for COVID-19. The study suggests inflammation reduction as a key mechanism, but more research is needed.
A new University of Washington study examines the effects of early police contacts on Black and white adolescents, finding that Black youth are more likely to be treated as 'usual suspects' after a first encounter, leading to subsequent arrests. White youth with early police contact are not significantly more likely to be arrested later.
A team of Geisinger researchers developed a computational model to simulate ventilator sharing, finding that patients with similar lung function and oxygen saturation levels are most likely to succeed. The study provides guidelines for clinical patient selection in extreme circumstances.
According to a Georgia Institute of Technology researcher, shutting down fossil fuel power plants by 2035 may not require as many early closures as previously thought. By allowing existing plants to reach their typical lifespans, the cost of closure can be reduced and financial liabilities minimized.
Researchers found that individuals with gambling disorder focus on irrelevant information from previous gambles, rather than considering optimal probabilities and prize sizes. This impaired decision-making can lead to continued gambling despite mounting losses.
Researchers discovered that cowpea plants harbor receptors on their cells that can detect caterpillar saliva, triggering anti-herbivore defenses. The discovery sheds light on how plants activate their immune systems to defend against hungry insects.
Researchers from University of Helsinki developed Lazypipe to identify both known and novel viruses, demonstrating its efficacy in detecting SARS-CoV-2 without reference genome. The pipeline overcomes challenges in viral metagenomics, enabling rapid detection of emerging infectious diseases.
A new study found that Chicago neighborhoods with limited internet access and low health insurance coverage had higher COVID-19 death rates. Neighborhoods with high rates of COVID-19 mortality were often characterized by social vulnerability factors such as low educational attainment and high percentages of Hispanic/Latino residents.
A UNSW study demonstrates all-electrical spin-to-charge conversion without magnetic field, enabling fast detection of spin accumulation in strongly spin-orbit coupled materials. The non-linear method facilitates orders of magnitude faster detection and time-resolved read-out down to 1 nanosecond resolution.
Researchers identified 10 metabolites associated with the risk of stroke, including a lower risk for ischemic stroke and higher risk for hemorrhagic stroke. Histidine and high-density lipoprotein cholesterols were found to have protective effects, while pyruvate increased the risk of ischemic stroke.
A large-scale survey of over 1,300 Syrian school children found negative impacts from nine years of conflict, including high levels of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), problematic anger, and mental health issues. Girls reported worse mental and physical health than boys and a higher probability of PTSD.
A RUDN University professor suggested using a spacecraft-collector to remove space debris from lower orbits, which requires more complex equipment. For geostationary orbits, a tow-based approach is proposed, where the collector transports debris objects into the disposal orbit.
A new diagnostic tool has been developed by MIT engineers to detect both fatty liver disease and fibrosis, which can lead to liver failure. The sensor uses nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology to measure water diffusion in tissue, revealing the presence of fatty or scarred tissue with high accuracy.
Researchers used videoscope analysis to study the Neanderthal skeleton from Altamura, Italy, gaining detailed information about its dental structure. The findings provide valuable data on ancient human oral health and offer a unique perspective on Neanderthal biology.
New Yorkers remain optimistic about economic recovery and government's ability to control the pandemic. However, anxiety and depression levels remain steady, while trust in fellow citizens erodes significantly.
A team of scientists from Michigan State University discovered that supernovae can forge carbon atoms over 10 times faster than previously thought. This finding challenges existing theories about the creation of Earth's heavy elements, particularly ruthenium and molybdenum isotopes.
A new method to measure polarization angle developed, achieving precision twice that of previous work. A hint of parity symmetry violation found in the cosmic microwave background radiation with 99.2% confidence level.
A Korean research team has made a breakthrough in understanding the electrochemical conversion of CO2 to ethylene, a challenging process that could produce high-value-added chemicals. The study identified key intermediates and proposed copper hydroxide nanowire as a promising catalyst for enhancing selectivity.
Researchers discovered a new epigenetic function for CHD7, which regulates cardiac neural crest cell development. The study also found that a single point mutation in the CHD7 gene can cause severe developmental defects and embryonic lethality.
Researchers have developed new compounds that kill bacteria responsible for diseases in rice, kiwi and citrus. The plant-inspired alkaloids work by increasing levels of reactive oxygen species in the bacteria, causing cell death.
Researchers found that men who expected to work in jobs without a college degree but faced declines in the job market were nearly three times as likely to suffer early deaths by suicide and drug poisoning. The study suggests closed pathways to sustaining working-class jobs contribute to increased rates of suicide and drug-poisoning mor...
A new whole-body tissue map of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) modifications was published, expanding understanding of a global biomarker for disease diagnosis. The map confirms 5hmC as a prevalent gene activation mark with superb tissue specificity, providing a resource for future diagnostic tests.
Scientists at UT Health San Antonio found that acute exposure to alcohol inhibits norepinephrine release, a chemical that activates vigilance-dependent astrocyte calcium activation. This leads to impaired attention and motor coordination, contradicting the cerebellum's role in motor control.
Scientists have created a method to expand lipids in cell membranes, enabling the imaging of proteins and organelles with unprecedented resolution. This breakthrough allows for detailed insights into bacterial infection mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.
Purdue University scientists have created a patterned sheet of domes that can store energy in its skin, enabling strong mechanical tasks and programmable data processing. The technology has potential applications in flexible robotics and mechanical computing, where energy storage and efficient processing are crucial.
A study by Florida International University researchers found that young Hispanic males who experienced ethnic discrimination on social media had higher levels of depression and anxiety. The study's lead author noted that the impact may be due to increased exposure to discriminatory content specifically targeting men, threatening their...
Researchers analyzed national organ transplant data from 2008 to 2017 and found a wide variation in organ procurement organizations' efficiency. They proposed three new metrics that would give a more accurate and equitable representation of performance, highlighting the need for improved evaluation of the organ donation system.