A University of Illinois study found that shifting from round to oval plates with smaller surface areas can significantly reduce food waste in dining halls. The researchers observed significant reductions in food selection, consumption, and waste when diners used the oval plates, resulting in nearly 20 grams less food waste per plate.
A landmark study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that treating critically ill COVID-19 patients with rheumatoid arthritis drugs tocilizumab and sarilumab can significantly improve survival and reduce time in ICU, with a 8.5% reduction in mortality.
Researchers sequenced African leopards' genomes, finding high genetic diversity comparable to Amur leopards. This may give them an advantage in coping with environmental changes, including climate change and habitat destruction.
Researchers found significant changes in patients' personality profiles after effective anxiety therapy, scoring lower on neuroticism and becoming more extroverted. Metacognitive therapy produced the greatest effect on both symptoms and personality.
A recent study published in PLOS Medicine found that genetically determined vitamin D levels do not have a large effect on risk of type 1 diabetes among Europeans. The researchers used a Mendelian randomization design to examine the causal effect of vitamin D levels on the disease.
A University of Colorado Boulder-led study found record melting on Antarctica's northern George VI Ice Shelf during the 2019-2020 summer season. The extreme melt coincided with record-setting stretches when local surface air temperatures were at or above freezing point, posing a threat to ice-shelf break-up and sea-level rise.
Researchers at Goethe University Frankfurt discovered that clustering of receptors, such as the Y2 receptor, can trigger cell movement similar to the neuropeptide Y signal. The study used light-sensitive matrices and laser spots to control the direction of cell movement with high precision.
A shift in beverage sales towards medium-sized plastic bottles could reduce PET waste by 1% each year, resulting in a potential reduction of 9,052 tonnes. Medium-sized bottles with capacities above 2,265 milliliters deliver the highest volume of beverage for the lowest packaging weight.
New research finds that social norms and experience with extreme weather events significantly influence professional action on climate change among East African natural resource managers. A study suggests that aligning climate services with social norms could offer a low-hanging fruit for designing more effective interventions.
Researchers have successfully probed electronic angular momentum to a chemical reaction at the quantum state-resolved level, offering a detailed understanding of molecular crossed beam experiments and theoretical simulations. This breakthrough reveals subtle influences of electronic angular momentum on chemical product distributions.
An artificial neural network called MotionNet has provided new insights into human motion perception, revealing common optical illusions like phi and reverse-phi motion. The system shows that neurons are tuned to the direction of movement, leading to mistakes in perception.
A study by the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio found that bladder cancer is more advanced and deadly in South Texas residents than in many parts of the country. The disease disproportionately affects Latinos and women, with worse survival rates regardless of geographic location.
Researchers studied sea star shapes and found that their unique shape creates a
The NIH has awarded UC San Diego $33 million over four years for five COVID-19 diagnostic projects, including RADx-UP and RADx-rad initiatives. These efforts focus on managing data centers, expanding testing in disadvantaged communities, and developing innovative approaches to address gaps in COVID-19 testing.
Research found that post-pandemic tourism is influenced by a behavioral immune system, leading to increased nationalism, xenophobia, and avoidance of crowds. Tourists may choose familiar destinations over new ones, increasing destination loyalty. This could have long-term implications for businesses during the COVID-19 era.
Researchers discover that male lyrebirds use mimicry to recreate the panicked alarm calls of a mixed-species flock during courtship and mating. This 'acoustic illusion' may be a crucial sexual behavior for males, helping them gain reproductive advantage by tricking females into responding as if they're at risk from a predator.
A modeling study suggests that pre-existing conditions like obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and heart failure contribute to most COVID-19 hospitalizations. The study found that improving cardiometabolic health through lifestyle changes could reduce hospitalizations and health care strains.
Rice University scientists develop a new theory that can help identify materials for advanced spintronic devices, which depend on electron spin states. The theory predicts heteropairs of two-dimensional bilayers that enable large Rashba splitting, making room-temperature spin transistors possible.
Researchers developed polymeric nano-micelles that target specific levels of c-Myc expression, a key factor in cancer cell proliferation. The study showed varying efficacy depending on tumor c-Myc expression levels, with higher expression associated with better antitumor activity.
Researchers are exploring a novel approach to target disease-causing proteins in human cells. This method, utilizing ubiquitin ligases, aims to overcome traditional drug discovery limitations by targeting more disease-causing proteins, offering new therapeutic possibilities for various conditions.
Scaling up opioid agonist treatment (OAT) to 40% of people who inject drugs could avert between 12-24% of all drug-related deaths, including 13-19% of overdose deaths. Longer treatment durations and prison-based OAT are predicted to have significant additional impact.
Scientists have discovered the mechanism by which plant hormone cytokinin regulates stem cell division, controlling cell proliferation and mitosis. The study reveals that cytokinin activates the transcription factor MYB3R4, promoting its nuclear localization and activating key cell cycle genes.
A first national study found that rural Americans were less likely to wear face coverings in public and work from home compared to their urban counterparts. However, some factors such as age, education level, and income influenced the likelihood of following COVID-19 prevention guidelines.
PFAS substances are ubiquitous in the environment, found in soil, water, and wildlife. Research highlights the need for effective management strategies to mitigate potential toxicity to humans and wildlife, with data gaps identified for devising an approach.
Critical care clinicians are at risk of burnout, which threatens clinical care quality and safety. Health professional societies can play a key role in addressing burnout by promoting practices that value clinician well-being.
A new study found that while hand washing is a common practice, other infection control behaviors such as social distancing and wearing facemasks at home are less common. Researchers emphasize the importance of embedding these behaviors into daily life to reduce virus spread now and in the future.
A new, openly available SARS-CoV-2 laboratory research toolkit was published in PLOS Biology. The toolkit includes a 'single plasmid reverse genetics' system allowing researchers to manipulate the coronavirus genome and study individual mutations. This will fast-track investigation of COVID-19 research, including novel variants, drug d...
Expanding vaccine capacity can accelerate completion of widespread immunization and generate substantial global benefits. Investing in additional capacity could save hundreds of dollars per course, dwarfing current prices of $6 to $40.
A new prototype of an intelligent underground robotic system has been developed to reduce noise and pollution in civil works. The system consists of a surface vehicle with a geo-radar and an autonomous underground robot that drills from one point to another, eliminating the need for digging ditches.
Researchers created a stamp-sized microfluidic chip that measures SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein concentration in blood serum, enabling rapid diagnosis of COVID-19. The device uses programmed magnetic nanobeads and an electrochemical sensor to deliver accurate results within minutes.
A new reference dataset reflects 64 assembled human genomes, capturing genetic differences across 25 populations from around the world. This comprehensive resource enables accurate study of genetic variants and their role in disease, paving the way for personalized medicine.
A Cornell University scientist is receiving a USDA grant to study the relationship between insulin, ceramide, and lactation in dairy cows. The goal of the research is to identify mechanisms that control insulin resistance in early lactation, with potential benefits for improving milk production efficiency and animal health.
A Canadian pilot study on gene therapy for Fabry disease shows the treatment is working and safe, enabling patients to produce normal levels of the defective enzyme. The trial, led by Dr. Aneal Khan, treated five men with a single dose of gene therapy, which resulted in stable patients who are no longer requiring replacement therapy.
A new virus detection method has been developed by KAUST researchers using magnetic nanoparticles, allowing for fast, safe and cheap testing of viruses in clinical and wastewater samples. The method rivals commercial viral-RNA extraction kits while lowering the risk of handling potentially infectious samples.
New research reveals chimpanzees use areas away from villages more intensively, but enter human-occupied land for fruit when scarce. The study provides insights into how wildlife balance risks and rewards in anthropogenic landscapes, informing coexistence strategies.
A new multiscale coarse-grained model of the complete SARS-CoV-2 virion has been developed using supercomputers, providing a holistic understanding of the virus's behavior. The model reveals cooperative motion among spike proteins on the surface of the virus, which is informative of how it explores and detects host cell receptors.
A wayward comet-like object has been spotted near a family of captured ancient asteroids, called Trojans, orbiting the Sun alongside Jupiter. The object shows signs of comet activity, such as a tail, outgassing, and an enshrouding coma of dust and gas.
Researchers found a pattern where carnivorous dinosaur communities lacked medium-sized species between 100-1000kg, with juvenile megatheropods filling the gap. This discovery suggests that growth and development played a significant role in shaping ecosystem dynamics.
The study argues that trophic levels are insufficient to assess aquaculture sustainability due to changing feed compositions and energy requirements. Researchers advocate for more nuanced assessments, such as voluntary certifications and incentives for environmentally responsible practices.
Researchers found that amphipod claws snap at nearly 100 km/h, accelerating to over 30 meters per second. This unique adaptation could inspire human engineering for fast-repeated movement.
Researchers at OHSU have developed a new method to quickly map single-cell genomes and clarify spatial cell positions within complex tissues. This technique has the potential to precisely identify and target cells in diseases like cancer or stroke, allowing for novel therapies.
A new study found that face mask distribution and mandatory use corresponded with a significant reduction in viral transmission in Italy. The use of face coverings may have reduced official COVID-19 cases by up to 30,000 during the first half of 2020.
Researchers induced artificial magnetic texture in nonmagnetic graphene by pairing it with a magnet, overcoming a long-standing obstacle in the field of spintronics. The findings have potential to revolutionize electronics and enable more powerful semiconductors, quantum computers, and other devices.
Assistant Professor Guoyu Lu is creating an AI system that uses smartphones to analyze crop roots, enabling quick and efficient analysis of root shape, surface area, and angles. The goal is to develop a mobile app that can assess various crops and improve breeding resilient crops.
Repeated fires alter tree communities, reducing biomass and individual trees by up to 72% over 50 years. Regions with extreme climate variations are most sensitive to fire frequency changes.
A non-invasive electroceutical developed to detect early preterm labor and suppress uterine contractions. The device uses a donut-shaped electrode inserted into the cervix to sense signals of uterine contractions, providing a potential breakthrough in preventing premature birth.
A recent study estimates that 858,000 Americans use opioids for knee pain, resulting in $0.5 billion annual costs and nearly $14 billion lifetime costs. The study suggests substantial savings from preventing opioid use for knee osteoarthritis pain management.
A study found that recreational marijuana legalization was associated with increased cannabis use by women before, during, and after pregnancy. Researchers analyzed data from over 1 million pregnancies, showing a significant increase in cannabis use among those living in states where recreational marijuana was legal.
Researchers from WMG, University of Warwick found that LiDAR sensors' effectiveness decreases in heavy rain, hindering object detection. The study simulated real-world roads and weather using the WMG 3xD simulator to test LiDAR sensor performance.
Researchers at UC Berkeley developed a new way to harness light waves, enabling the simultaneous transmission of vast amounts of data. The technology uses twisted laser beams and exploits the property of orbital angular momentum, which offers exponentially greater data capacity.
Researchers at Aarhus University and hospital have identified the fundamental step linking hypertension to atherosclerosis, finding that hypertension causes increased accumulation of bad cholesterol in arterial walls. This discovery may aid in developing new treatments targeting disease mechanisms.
The report reviews available tools and current understanding of the health status and trends of individual whales and the species. It concludes with recommendations for additional information needs and necessary management actions to enhance the health of individual right whales.
A new framework allows designers to assess environmental impact early in the design process, reducing costs and increasing sustainability. By rapidly simulating tens of thousands of design iterations, architects can make more informed decisions and achieve greater efficiency.
A University of Oklahoma-led team identified limits in the major greenhouse emission database EDGAR, which underestimates paddy rice methane emissions. The researchers developed annual paddy rice maps to quantify spatial-temporal changes and improve simulations of models estimating methane emission.
Scientists studied how the cross-sectional geometry of 3D nanowires affects domain wall dynamics and Walker breakdown phenomenon. The research found that oscillatory behavior can be explained by energy changes due to deformation during rotation, promising new possibilities for nano-oscillators and radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation.
Scientists have found consistent evidence that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation has weakened unprecedentedly in over 1000 years. The slowdown is linked to human-caused global warming, which disrupts the deep convection mechanism driving the ocean current.
Researchers at the University of Birmingham have developed a method to measure intraocular pressure using soundwaves, which could help detect glaucoma earlier. This non-invasive technique uses a smartphone to scan people's eyes, prompting early diagnosis and treatment to prevent blindness.
A new model created by Penn State researchers finds that healthcare workers' illness during outbreaks significantly increases overall case counts and mortality rates. The model suggests that high loss impact paired with low redundancy leads to the most severe epidemic outcomes.
A recent study by Cornell University researchers found that European unions have been practicing solidarity in many cases, improving working conditions for peripheral workers. In contrast, some unions have adopted a dualist approach, prioritizing their own members' interests over those of non-unionized workers.
A new study proposes a plan for farmers to protect themselves from financial losses while preserving endangered predators, such as snow leopards. Community livestock insurance contracts could benefit both farmers and conservation efforts.