Microbial communities in Alpine soils under threat as global temperatures rise due to climate change. Early spring snowmelt disrupts seasonal transitions, impacting biogeochemical cycles and winter ecosystem functioning.
A new comprehensive course has been developed to enhance disaster preparedness for healthcare personnel, incorporating an interdisciplinary approach. The training program, conducted at the World Bosai Forum, focuses on skills such as psychological first aid, public health intervention, and crisis communications.
Researchers have sequenced 64 full human genomes, capturing genetic diversity and enabling population-specific studies on genetic predispositions to human diseases. The new reference dataset reflects 25 different human populations and better captures genetic differences than previous composite genomes.
Researchers at Nanyang Technological University have developed a laser system that generates random numbers at speeds over 100 times faster than current technologies. The system uses an hourglass-shaped cavity to create unique patterns, which are then used to generate random sequences of information.
A new type of electrolyte weakly binds to lithium ions, enabling a battery to retain its capacity at -60 degrees Celsius. The researchers discovered that the binding strength between lithium and the electrolyte determines the battery's performance at low temperatures.
A study by researchers at the University of Bologna found that sea turtles have high levels of plastic debris in their faeces, which can alter their gut microbiota and compromise their health. The Adriatic Sea is a major hotspot for marine pollution, with over 10 million tons of plastic entering the oceans every year.
Remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) treatment may improve recovery from intracerebral hemorrhage, the deadliest type of stroke. RIC reduces inflammation and promotes new blood vessel growth, accelerating functional recovery.
Larvae of long-bodied crane flies have cryptic coloration and patterning, as well as fleshy lobes that serve multiple purposes. The study reveals that these lobes aid locomotion by assisting larvae in crawling on moss carpets, contradicting previous hypotheses about their function.
A rare Australian native bee species, Pharohylaeus lactiferus, has been found again after 100 years, with only six individuals previously recorded. The discovery highlights the species' vulnerability to habitat destruction and wildfires in Australia's rainforests.
Researchers have discovered a new pathway in the brain that provides pain relief and reduces opioid cravings. The study found that transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) targeting the motor cortex was significantly more effective at reducing pain and opioid urge than targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC).
Researchers at Heidelberg University developed a novel fluorescence marker called RhoBAST to enable super-resolution RNA imaging in live cells. The method reveals details of subcellular structures and molecular interactions involving RNA, improving image resolution.
A new study identifies a potential link between blast exposure and Alzheimer's disease in soldiers. Researchers found that even healthy neurons with subtle synaptic pathology may be an early indicator of Alzheimer's-type pathogenesis.
A study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that girls with excess body fat developed fully mature breasts more slowly but started their period sooner. The researchers also found higher levels of reproductive hormones, including testosterone, in girls with obesity.
As the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, experts emphasize the need for vocational rehabilitation to prioritize access to technology and home-based employment for individuals with disabilities. This shift is crucial in preparing them for the new global workplace, where many jobs have transitioned to remote work.
A new study by computer scientists found that individuals are more willing to sacrifice their own safety when peers are more likely to do so in programming autonomous vehicles. The researchers also showed that the social component of decision-making is often overlooked and that transparency in machine programming is crucial for public ...
A new study by University of Alberta researchers reveals that urban coyotes consuming human food have more human-like gut bacteria, leading to poor health outcomes such as lower body fat and stressed immune systems. The study suggests limiting access to protein-poor human food could be an effective solution.
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.