The study found that siblings of infants who died suddenly and unexpectedly are at a 10-fold increased risk of suffering a similar death, with rates nearly 4 times higher than the general population. Modifiable risk factors for SUDI include smoking, mental health issues, unsafe sleeping, and child abuse/neglect.
Researchers create microfluidic lab-on-a-chip that uses sound waves to manipulate and transport droplets, overcoming surface absorption issue. The device enables on-site diagnostics or laboratory research with minimal energy and complex setup.
A new analysis confirms SARS-CoV-2 RBD as a specific target for antibody tests, with over 95% of patients developing antibodies within nine days. This suggests that RBD-based antigens could be used to estimate SARS-CoV-2 recovery rates and inform pandemic policies.
The nickel-based catalyst precursor proved effective for in-situ conversion of asphaltenes, reducing the content of resins and asphaltenes. The catalyst also reduced viscosity by destroying carbon-heteroatom bonds and interacting with aromatic rings.
A new review reveals COVID-19 poses a global threat to the nervous system, causing neurological manifestations in about half of hospitalized patients. These symptoms include headaches, seizures, and muscle pain, and may appear before fever or cough.
A team led by Christos Papadimitriou proposes a new computational system, the Assembly Calculus, that encompasses operations on assemblies of neurons involved in cognitive processes. The system is consistent with recent experimental results and has been demonstrated to be plausibly realizable at the level of neurons and synapses.
A new AI-driven system called ModGraProDep has been developed to predict cancer survival and risk. This innovative tool uses probabilistic modeling and machine learning to provide personalized predictions for patients, enabling more effective treatment planning and improved patient outcomes.
Researchers at MIT suggest that making pavements stiffer could improve truck fuel efficiency by reducing deflection and wear on the road. Adding synthetic fibers or adjusting aggregate sizing can increase stiffness, while switching to concrete pavements offers more durable solutions with equal or lower costs.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine honored three trainee investigators for their exceptional sleep research. Kent Werner, MD, PhD, received the top prize, while Michael R. Goldstein, PhD, and Samira Naime, MD, were awarded honorable mentions for their work on sleep disturbances and gender parity in medicine.
A study published in Molecular Psychiatry shows that fish oil creates an antidepressant response when tested in patient-derived adult stem cell models. Researchers found that the treatment works through a different mechanism than prescription antidepressants.
A new study finds that sea otter recovery generates significant economic benefits, including increased tourism and carbon capture, which outweigh the losses to commercial fisheries by up to $46 million annually. However, the costs of recovery are not evenly distributed, with Indigenous communities experiencing disproportionate impacts.
A study published in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry has identified coal-tar-sealant as the primary source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Great Lakes tributaries. The research highlights the need for further analysis to determine the potential effects of PAHs on aquatic life in these areas.
A recent study found that regular physical activity can help maintain or improve frailty in older adults. The research suggests that individuals who engage in low-to-moderate energy activities on a regular basis tend to be less physically, psychologically, and socially frail compared to those with lower levels of activity.
A new study in Scientific Reports reveals that medieval European plague victims were infected with both the plague and a disease related to syphilis, called yaws. This discovery challenges the prevailing theory that syphilis originated in the New World and instead suggests that yaws may have contributed to the outbreak in Europe.
Researchers at the University of Basel have developed a new communication protocol that offers ultimate privacy protection by adding artificial noise to information about the crypto key. This allows for security guarantees even in cases where devices are unknown entities, overcoming a significant obstacle to experimental implementation.
Researchers at ICFO have successfully built a new type of cavity for graphene plasmons, enabling the confinement of light in the smallest volume ever achieved. This breakthrough has promising implications for molecular and biological sensing technologies.
A new study using international radio telescope data reveals galaxies are nearer than predicted, exacerbating a discrepancy in the Hubble Constant measurement. This finding bolsters the need to revise the standard cosmological model of the Universe.
Researchers found microplastics in remote and protected areas of western US National Parks, highlighting the importance of reducing plastic pollution. Atmospheric transport plays a crucial role in distributing microplastics globally, with smaller particles traveling farther under dry conditions.
A new study from Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital found that three hours of weekly strength training combined with protein supplements can break the vicious circle of muscle loss in patients with cirrhosis. This leads to improved muscle strength, size, functional capacity, and quality of life.
Researchers create sugar-tagged drug compounds to target chemotherapy-resistant prostate cancer cells, exploiting the Warburg effect. The new compound shows improved efficiency in killing cancer cells compared to traditional chemotherapeutic drugs.
Researchers developed new engineering models that consider different sand grain shapes, leading to more accurate assessments of sand movement and impacts on coastal areas vulnerable to sea-level rise. The models, published in Scientific Reports, correct overestimation of transport rates by 35 percent for carbonate sands.
A new study reveals that eels can serve as a key indicator of freshwater biodiversity, and their protection could greatly contribute to the recovery of ecosystems. The research found that two species of eel were widely distributed in Japanese rivers, serving as umbrella, indicator, and flagship species for conservation.
Researchers have discovered a compound, tartrolon E, that effectively kills multiple parasites responsible for various infections, including malaria, toxoplasmosis, and cryptosporidiosis. The compound is found in the gills of wood-eating clams and has shown promise in killing these parasites in vitro and in animal studies.
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute found that a protein which helps fight viruses can later interfere with lung tissue repair. This could prolong lung damage and increase risk of subsequent bacterial infections.
Researchers at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center have uncovered an environmentally sensitive male sterile phenotype in flowering plants. The discovery of this genetic pathway's role in regulating pollen production could lead to improved seed production and crop yields.
Researchers found that Trinidadian guppies use a unique strategy to evade pike cichlid attacks by turning their irises black, drawing attention to their head rather than body. Larger guppies were better at escaping using this method, potentially due to increased size allowing them to reverse the negative effect of reduced agility.
Researchers developed a new model to study early human development using human embryonic stem cells, allowing them to observe the formation of the body plan and potentially reveal causes of birth defects and diseases. The model, called gastruloids, resembles an embryo at around 18-21 days old.
A new study published in the American Journal of Pathology reports that a single dose of visual chromophore 9-cis-retinal improves visual function in diabetic mice by reducing oxidative stress and cell death. This treatment may represent a potential therapy for early diabetic retinopathy.
Researchers from EPFL have solved the high-resolution structure of an activated form of a dopamine receptor in a native lipid membrane environment. By combining computational allosteric and de novo protein design approaches, they created a highly stable but activated receptor whose structure could be studied and solved.
Researchers at EMBL Rome reveal that protein glycosylation plays a central role in DNA methylation, inducing gene silencing by modifying regulatory factors. This breakthrough sheds light on the mechanism behind the most studied epigenetic modification.
A study published in Scientific Reports reveals that plastic objects found in the deep sea, such as a plastic bag and curd box, show no signs of degradation after 25 years. The findings indicate that microbial communities on plastic surfaces differ from those in surrounding sediments, suggesting a potential impact on marine ecosystems.
Researchers have developed a new non-invasive ultrasound method that compensates for distortions in soft tissue structure, providing ideal resolution and contrast optimized for each pixel. This approach has applications in biomedical diagnosis, optical microscopy, and industrial material inspection.
A study found that older adults who engage in light physical activity and spread it throughout the day have a lower risk of developing major mobility disability. The researchers recommend building strength and balance first, then increasing moderate-to-vigorous intensity activity, and finally adding light activity.
The UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology has developed the free Environmental Planner tool (E-Planner) to help farmers make informed decisions on agri-environment options. The tool assesses suitability of unproductive land for four interventions, including pollinator habitats and woodland creation.
The authors argue that the resurgence of racism and far-right ideologies is not driven by popular demand, but rather a top-down process legitimized by elite behaviors. They suggest that real concerns and radical alternatives can help build egalitarian futures.
Using data from NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft, scientists at Durham University measured the rates at which neutron particles leaked out from Venus and Mercury. The findings suggest a neutron lifetime of 13 minutes, with implications for our understanding of the Standard Model of particle physics.
A new study shows that the collapse of terrestrial ecosystems during the Permian-Triassic extinction, also known as the Great Dying, directly disrupted ocean chemistry. This finding highlights the importance of understanding inter-connectedness of ecosystems in the face of environmental challenges.
Researchers have developed an underwater wireless system that supports internet services using visible light signals, allowing for faster and more reliable data transmission. The Aqua-Fi prototype demonstrated a maximum data transfer speed of 2.11 megabytes per second and an average delay of 1.00 millisecond.
A new treatment combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy has been shown to improve overall survival by 20.4 months in patients with inoperable malignant pleural mesothelioma, exceeding the expected survival time of 12 months with chemotherapy alone.
Researchers at Lehigh University developed a new phase-locking technique to achieve record-high output power for terahertz lasers, resulting in the highest radiative efficiency for any single-wavelength semiconductor quantum cascade laser. The breakthrough enables higher intensity and brightness, paving the way for applications in iden...
A new MIT study examines 26 types of businesses, measuring their economic importance and risk. Banks perform the best in terms of economic impact and relatively low crowding, while liquor and tobacco stores rank poorly due to high crowds and limited economic importance.
Researchers from ITMO University have proposed a new data encoding method for the 6G standard using terahertz pulses. The method involves extending the pulse in time to increase its duration and achieve interference between two chirped pulses, enabling faster data transfer.
Researchers find that mountain height is determined by the balance of forces in the Earth's crust, rather than erosion. This new understanding opens up opportunities to study the long-term development and growth of mountains.
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in varying outcomes across countries with different income levels, with lower-income nations facing more severe economic and mental health consequences. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions to address these disparities.
The COVID-19 pandemic is worsening existing drug shortages in the US, particularly for cancer treatments and critical care medications. Experts recommend improved communication and sharing mechanisms among hospitals and healthcare providers to address these shortages.
A study by Carnegie Mellon University found that displaying fraudulent reviews alongside nonfraudulent ones increases consumer trust in review platforms. Consumers tend to trust information from platforms that display suspicious reviews, especially when they are uncertain about product quality.
Researchers discovered ancient crocodile footprints with evidence of bipedalism, similar to that of dinosaurs. The discovery suggests that these prehistoric creatures may have walked upright on their hind legs.
Researchers found that many plant pathogens can specialise on particular temperatures or host plants, but also have wide temperature or host ranges. This study provides key insights into the co-evolution between pathogens and their hosts, allowing scientists to better understand where and when pathogens could strike next.
Researchers at Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology create unique micro-springs from natural polysaccharide fibers with self-assembling twisted microstructures. The sacran fiber behaves like a mechanical spring under humid conditions, enabling fast bending and stretching responses to changes in humidity.
A new study has announced the discovery of well-preserved 110-120-million-year-old footprints belonging to a large bipedal ancestor of modern-day crocodiles from South Korea's Jinju Formation. The tracks suggest that these ancient animals were 3-4 meters long and walked on two legs.
The red palm weevil has been confirmed on Socotra Island, Yemen, putting the livelihoods of residents at risk due to its devastating impact on date crops. The pest is considered one of the most problematic pests of date palms in the world, with potential economic losses estimated to range from $5.18 to $25.92 million.
Researchers from Chalmers University of Technology have developed a new method for making metasurfaces, which can control light and create ultra-thin camera lenses. This breakthrough could lead to significant improvements in optical technology, including portable electronics, sensors, and space satellites.
A mathematical model reveals that territorial behaviors can dampen disease prevalence, but at the cost of increased disease persistence. This study suggests that indirect communication could play a more important role in disease transmission than previously thought.
Researchers used EEG to measure brain waves in sheep sedated with high doses of ketamine, finding a temporary halt in brain activity that corresponded to human users' reports of disconnection from their body. The study aims to better understand the effect of therapeutic drugs on the brains of people living with Huntington's disease.
A recent study estimates that over 237 million medication errors occur annually in England, resulting in significant financial and human costs. The majority of these errors are minor, but some can have serious consequences, such as hospital admissions and deaths.
Researchers discovered large well-preserved footprints of a new species of crocodylomorph, which are ancestors of modern-day crocodiles. The tracks are more than twice as large as previously found batrachopodid tracks and indicate that the animals walked on two legs.
A new deep-water dogfish shark, Squalus shiraii, has been discovered in the tropical waters of Southern Japan. The species boasts distinctive features, including a tall first dorsal fin and caudal fin with broad white margins.
Researchers at Utah State University found that more than 1000 tons of microplastics are deposited onto protected lands in the western US each year, equivalent to over 123 million plastic water bottles. The study's findings highlight the source, transport, and fate of plastics on Earth surfaces.
A recent study found that consuming calories later in the day can worsen glucose tolerance and reduce fat burned. The effects were more pronounced in people with obesity or diabetes, who already have compromised metabolism.
Researchers have found evidence of a major 'stirring up' in the mantle layer around 3.2 billion years ago, indicating the start of global plate tectonic activity. This discovery has implications for our understanding of the evolution of life on Earth and the formation of mineral and energy resources.